|
|
Post by jkr on Feb 1, 2009 19:07:18 GMT -5
What happens now? With Lang likeley gone for the season I think something must be done to replace their leading scorer. I don't think this VL thing has legs any more but there isn't much out there to get them through the season.
I heard Weight's name come up last night. 38 years old, 33 points, 4.5 cap hit that expires this year. I took a quick look around but don't see a lot. Arnott has 2 years left on his deal & looks to get around 60 points this year.
Any other names anyone can think of?
|
|
|
|
Post by Doc Holliday on Feb 1, 2009 20:29:48 GMT -5
...a severe blow to an already weak centerline.
Saku and Pleks must simply step up now. Max is already playng at full throttle. We modify our strategy and revert to playing 3 lines with the occasional 4th line shift from Begin and Co.
Tanguay was a cente before being converted by the Avalanche.
|
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Feb 1, 2009 20:53:33 GMT -5
Saw the injury and knew it was bad by the way Lang went off, but I didn't think it was THAT bad.
I honestly don't know who would be available but it will be hard for Gainey to come out on top of a deal at this point. There's no way opposing GMs will help us win in our 100th season.
It's really too bad for Robert Lang. He couldn't wait to get to Montreal when he first heard of the trade. He'll probably be alright given time, but he was also one our more consistent performers over the past while.
Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by The New Guy on Feb 1, 2009 22:11:27 GMT -5
Lang is going to be a hard pair of skates to fill. He's quietly been our best player this season, and we simply don't have anyone in the system who can replace his combination of size, skill and leadership. Gainey has to go after a centre in trade now, even though the organization could really use another good defenseman. I don't know who's out there to be had, but he's gotta try something.
In other news, who thinks the Prince Vince rumour mill is going to pop into high gear tomorrow morning?
|
|
|
|
Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Feb 2, 2009 1:03:50 GMT -5
Replace him with Tavares next year.
Yeah, I know, but it's soooooo.... frustrating.
Sitting in front of the TV waiting for Kovalev to score is like sitting on a rooftop in New Orleans waiting for FEMA.
|
|
|
|
Post by blny on Feb 2, 2009 7:33:14 GMT -5
What a tough thing to happen. I knew it wasn't a sprain when I saw the play, but still couldn't see how he cut it. I could see a rupture though. Either way, that's a really tough injury to recover from.
BG has to make a move now. Plain and simple. He's going to have to overpay likely as well, because the trade is necessitated by injury.
CBC mentioned Doug Weight Saturday night. He might be an interesting pick up. He's had a comeback year, and he's a good PP guy. He might help us on two fronts.
|
|
|
|
Post by BadCompany on Feb 2, 2009 9:13:58 GMT -5
Tkachuk and Brewer. Kill two birds with one stone.  Its a huge blow, but not insurmountable in my opinion. I think Gainey has to WAIT before making a trade actually, cross his fingers and pray for the team to rally around the "let's not let the injuries ruin our season" mantra. Tanguay and Laraque will be back soon, and Paciorretty and D'Agostini have shown they can play in the NHL, as has Stewart in a fourth line role. Or Alex Henry. Carbonneau should shorten his bench, go with three lines, with perhaps one of them his dedicated checking line (Higgins, Lapierre, Kostopoulos?) and ride it out. Then, once the furor has died down Gainey will be in a better position to make a trade. |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Feb 2, 2009 11:23:59 GMT -5
Tkachuk and Brewer. Kill two birds with one stone. Its a huge blow, but not insurmountable in my opinion. I think Gainey has to WAIT before making a trade actually, cross his fingers and pray for the team to rally around the "let's not let the injuries ruin our season" mantra. Tanguay and Laraque will be back soon, and Paciorretty and D'Agostini have shown they can play in the NHL, as has Stewart in a fourth line role. Or Alex Henry. Carbonneau should shorten his bench, go with three lines, with perhaps one of them his dedicated checking line (Higgins, Lapierre, Kostopoulos?) and ride it out. Then, once the furor has died down Gainey will be in a better position to make a trade. With Lang gone for the year, that frees up 32% of Lang's contract (assuming we have to wait 10 days to put him on LTI). So we have 1.3 million to add to the $800k we are under the cap right now ... so we have 2.1 million dollars which allows us to add about $9.5 million in annual cap space at the deadline. Will Bob use it though? Tkachuck (4.0 million) and Brewer (4.25 million) are alright .... but if we want to kill birds with stones, I'd prefer Arnott (4.5 million) who has won at every stop he has had (except Nasville). Sure we now have enough cap-space to get really crazy and heat up those Boumeester/Vinny rumours again ... |
|
|
|
Post by Doc Holliday on Feb 2, 2009 12:29:43 GMT -5
... so we have 2.1 million dollars which allows us to add about $9.5 million in annual cap space at the deadline. Will Bob use it though? ...interviewed during the All Star break about the Lecavalier rumours, Gillett mentioned Vinny's contract... Not saying I want to revisit those Vinny rumors but with Lang out for the season, as you mentioned, the HABS CAN do pretty much any kind of deal and that is a big plus in Gainey's hands. If Gainey already had the fame of some deals in place he has the leeway to do it both in terms of depth and cap. Biggest problem right now is that the majority of teams have not clearly identified themselves as sellers or buyers yet but most teams have needs and finding a dance partner is not an impossible task. |
|
|
|
Post by franko on Feb 2, 2009 12:46:26 GMT -5
Well, Ottawa is a seller . . . but do they have anything we want?
Murray says that he's going to "evaluate who wants to be on this team" in the next month [as he tries to find a puck-moving defenseman].
The model Canadian franchise's stock has dipped as far as Nortel's.
|
|
|
|
Post by Doc Holliday on Feb 2, 2009 13:09:36 GMT -5
Well, Ottawa is a seller . . . but do they have anything we want? Murray says that he's going to "evaluate who wants to be on this team" in the next month [as he tries to find a puck-moving defenseman]. The model Canadian franchise's stock has dipped as far as Nortel's. Just like us, the Sens are a team with a lot of talent but not necessarely anything to really hold it tight. They don't have the depth we have to do a 3 for 1 kinda deal, but they have the kind of players that they can trade and get many good young guys for, the 1 for 3 kind of deal. mmmmmmm... |
|
|
|
Post by Boston_Habs on Feb 2, 2009 14:49:44 GMT -5
Well, Ottawa is a seller . . . but do they have anything we want?. How about Spezza, Heatley, or Alfredsson? |
|
|
|
Post by Doc Holliday on Feb 2, 2009 15:05:40 GMT -5
Well, Ottawa is a seller . . . but do they have anything we want?. How about Spezza, Heatley, or Alfredsson? ...the first 2 yes. The last one no; we have a similar beast on board. |
|
|
|
Post by blny on Feb 2, 2009 16:00:33 GMT -5
No interest in Spezza. IMO, he's the center of the issues in the locker room there. Heatley I'd take.
|
|
|
|
Post by franko on Feb 2, 2009 18:28:42 GMT -5
No interest in Spezza. IMO, he's the center of the issues in the locker room there. Heatley I'd take. Spezza's really the only one available . . . the others have NT/NMCs. |
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Feb 2, 2009 18:33:25 GMT -5
Well, Ottawa is a seller . . . but do they have anything we want?. How about Spezza, Heatley, or Alfredsson? I'd take Alfie over Spezza... at least he has heart and does not do AHL moves, but IMO, Ottawa will never get rid of Alfie. He'll retire a Sen and be a team ambassador. Spezza would have been really good if we still had Ryder. IMO Ryder could have been a 40 goal guy easy. We need shooters. Heatley with Koivu and Tanguay would be pretty scary, but Heatley's price tag would be way too high. |
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Feb 2, 2009 20:40:10 GMT -5
How about signing Hartsburgh as a defense coach? Then teach him French on an intensive basis. I think he's a good coach, who was in a bad situation with a strange crew. A little more NHL experienced now, he was a great defenseman and could help our guys out a lot. At least he probably knows his X's and O's better than our current crew. I know this has nothing to do with replacing Lang, but I'm with BC, bring up Chips and let's handle it internally. Pleks and Koivu have to take it up a notch and let Lapierre become the #3 centre with freedom to score more.
|
|
|
|
Post by halihab on Feb 2, 2009 21:25:05 GMT -5
Would the Sens trade us Neal and Vermette ? If so, what would they want in return ? I like the way these two play and they may be obtainable right now.
What do you think ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Feb 2, 2009 21:49:02 GMT -5
Would the Sens trade us Neal and Vermette ? If so, what would they want in return ? I like the way these two play and they may be obtainable right now. What do you think ? I was thinking about if the Habs could land Neil this weekend. He would definately add toughness and would drop the gloves. He and BGL would definately allow the small guys to play 6 inches taller. Lats - Lappy - Neil. That would be an interesting 3rd line. I would love to get either Vermette or Kelly, moreso Kelly because he is a great PKer. |
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Feb 2, 2009 22:21:56 GMT -5
Would the Sens trade us Neal and Vermette ? If so, what would they want in return ? I like the way these two play and they may be obtainable right now. What do you think ? 90% of the trades that will occur between now and deadline day are going to involve UFAs. Many have been asking for him for years but Ian Lappierre is UFA. I still say we need an Arnott type player .... Cole (who is UFA), Langenbrunner (who isnt available) , someone like that. With Lang gone for the year, we can attempt to get that stud d-man (Boumeester for example) without losing much from the team (I don't care if it costs the farm). And use Higgins to try and get Arnott .... |
|
|
|
Post by blny on Feb 3, 2009 7:01:47 GMT -5
Zero interest in Vermette. To me he's a skill player that doesn't produce. At times he'll look like a poor man's Havlat out there, but most of the time he's beyond invisible. Neil would add jam, the ability to play, and PIMS.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Feb 3, 2009 12:06:23 GMT -5
I don't think one marginal player is going to make a difference this season. For that reason, I expect Bob to stand pat.
On the other hand if an impact player (stud Dman please) pops up and the cost is within what Bob is willing to pay, then go for it.
The Habs offense can get immediately better once Tanguay returns and if Pleky and Kovvy ever return to anywhere near what they were doing last season. None of those moves cost draft picks, prospects or roster players. Bob and Carbo need to fully exercise that option first. The latter two need to get their game back in order pdq.
|
|
|
|
Post by jkr on Feb 3, 2009 12:40:58 GMT -5
The Habs offense can get immediately better once Tanguay returns and if Pleky and Kovvy ever return to anywhere near what they were doing last season. None of those moves cost draft picks, prospects or roster players. Bob and Carbo need to fully exercise that option first. The latter two need to get their game back in order pdq. I don't expect anymore from Kovalev & Plekanec than we have right now. The Kovalev of this season looks like the AK from 2 years ago - we kept waiting for the breakout that never came. And Plekanec is simply the biggest disappointment on the team. |
|
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/6F6VF25GCFF2HFJCOITRJSGNPE.jpg)
