Gauthier for Yannic and sunny ?

[Doc Holliday]

In the Herald, they are speculating that a HABS/Calgary deal could make sense for both team.

Personally I think Gauthier would be a welcom addition IF Rivet is sent packing for some help up front. Rivet's play has been spotty, uninspired for the most part and certainly not physical enough. Bouillon is playing too much and so is Quintal, Hainsey isn't ready and it seems like the brass doesn't think Komo should see prime time either. HABS can use a good stay at home dmen that is willing to punish the opponent.

As for Yannic and Sunny, well, neither have been able to prove they are necessary and neither would be missed much.

thoughts ?

www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=d72f0c6d-943f-4152-b876-0c69ec383ae6

[blny]

Well, if one of Sunny or Dacks is a tough call. Dacks is cheaper, and better on the PK. Sunny has more skill and is younger. Sunny can, and has played the LW, which makes him more versatile, and Ward on the RW adds some toughness. Jason has also done pretty well with the PK duties.

I agree that bringing in Gauthier would require moving Rivet or someone else. The room would have to be made. I wonder, with KD coming up for a stint is it possible that Karl would be part of a package going the other way. The only reason KD would be called up is if some GM is interested.

With the prospect of moving Rivet, I wonder how Saku would react. It's no secret that he and Craig are best friends, and I know that both would take it hard. I don't see Calgary interested in Craig with his contract. It's too steep for them.

The rumours are awfully persistant regarding Gauthier to Montreal. That makes me think that there is some validity to it. I would have thought that had it been a "skunk" it would have dissipated by now. I would also infer that the inclusion of Sunny with Perreault has a couple of meanings. One, Perreault's lackluster play has diminshed his value. Two, Yelle has struggled this season, and the Flames may be looking for defensive depth. Three, Sutter had Sunny in SJ. Might he want him back?

[blaise]

The Habs aren't that deep in checking players. Sundstrom is worthwhile keeping, certainly ahead of Kilger. He's better defensively than most Habs, including Ward, and he's a better scorer than Dackell or Bégin.

[Boston_Habs]

Cmon, Doc! You don't want to screw up the C-H-E-M-I-S-T-R-Y do you?

I'd do that deal. Yanic is square peg in a round hole at this point, and while I like what Sunny can do, I think he's a spare part that we can replace easily. Gauthier would add some more bulk on the LD, which could come in handy at playoff time

[Rimmer]

I think that deal would favour us since Yanic is a UFA and Sunny is a RFA to whom we would have to offer around $1.8M to retain his rights which I think is too much for a 3rd line player who can be easily replaced with Bulis and returning Dackell or Ward. according to the NHLPA, Gauthier earns only $1.3M, although I think he's a RFA after this season, which means at least a 10% raise.

actually, I don't think there's much sense in it for either team unless something else is following. we would really have a surplus of dmen and Calgary is doing fine, having a chance to reach the playoffs after years of failure. so why would they give a young physical dman for two players with expireing contracts? if they needed a center, wouldn't it make more sense to go after someone like Zhamnov? or Cassells who would come cheaper?

R.

[Doc Holliday]

Blaise said:

The Habs aren't that deep in checking players. Sundstrom is worthwhile keeping, certainly ahead of Kilger. He's better defensively than most Habs, including Ward, and he's a better scorer than Dackell or Bégin.

I know this is thinking ahead a bit much, but if you move Sunny and Yannic to land Gauthier, you can put Bulis back on the checking line (where he plays great) and use Rivet plus something to get a good offensive LW with some size.

[blny]

Here's what Bruce Dowbiggin said

Problem? Perreault and Sundstrom make $3.7 million between them while Gauthier's tab is around $1.3 million. Sutter's been told he can't add payroll without dumping an equal amount. Even with Perreault an unrestricted FA at year's end, you're still heavy on the Gauthier/Sundstrom equation.

Have to add another pricey body. Craig Conroy. Martin Gelinas. Hmmm . . . would the Habs take on Conroy, who started his career there?

He talks about the money issue first. The difference between Gauthier and Sunny isn't THAT much. Sunny makes $1.95m this year, and Gauthier $1.3m. They're both group two's so you'd have to qualify them, I believe, at 10% raises. The writer claims that Sutter was a big fan of Sundstrom when he had him in San Jose. Perhaps the extra 600,000 isn't too much of a pill to swallow. The teams could also swap picks if both players are retained - our 4th for their 5th or something.

Therefore, I disagree with the notion that another body would have to be added, coming our way, in the deal. Conroy would be nice, but where does he fit in? Craig's unrestricted, so it's not like we'd have him for next year -post Juneau. Maybe Mike Commodore? Mike is a depth defenceman with a lot of size. He'd be good for Eastern Conference games. I'm getting creative here, but what if we swap Bouillon in the deal to get Commodore. Commodore is another Group 2 we'd have to qualify to retain, while Franky is under contract for $500,000. As far as I can tell Franky is not an impending free agent of any kind.

www.geocities.com/floridapanthers2000/free2004.html

So ....

To Calgary
Perreault
Sundstrom
Bouillon

To Montreal
Gauthier
Commodore

[Doc Holliday]

I also believe that Sunny's salary is almost all paid for by SanJose as part of the Hackett deal.

[blny]

Rimmer said:

I think that deal would favour us since Yanic is a UFA and Sunny is a RFA to whom we would have to offer around $1.8M to retain his rights which I think is too much for a 3rd line player who can be easily replaced with Bulis and returning Dackell or Ward. according to the NHLPA, Gauthier earns only $1.3M, although I think he's a RFA after this season, which means at least a 10% raise.

R.

Sunny makes $1.95 this year, and is a group 2 (like Gauthier). We'd have to qualify him at least at $2.145m which is way too much. Dackell would be cheaper for Calgary, and thus might appeal more to them. However, as I said (and the Herald writer) Sutter is apparently high on Sunny and may pay the premium to get him.

[BadCompany]

I think this would be a great trade for Montreal, and I don't think there would be any need to trade Rivet afterwards either. Chemistry, you know.

Seriously though, for our good friend from Bossen, there is a world of difference between trading an assistant captain and noted locker room presence (good or bad, depending on who you listen to) like Rivet, and trading a 4th liner who may or may not be pouting about his lot in life, and a 3rd liner who I don't think has ever said a word in his life. Is he a deaf mute? Does anyone know what Sundstrom's voice sounds like?

I can't see why Calgary would want to make this deal, as I think they could do a lot better for a rugged presence like Gauthier than this. Money-wise, I don't think its a big deal, as Sundstrom's salary is virtually paid for, and with the new CBA coming up, who knows where middle-tier Group 2's like him are going to fall. I suspect there will be a billion of them on the market, when things finally shake out, and Sundstrom would be more than willing to simply play for a contract, never mind worry about getting a raise.

Gauthier would continue to build upon our new philosophy of being a difficult team to play against:

Souray - Quintal
Gauthier - Brisebois
Markov - Rivet
(Bouillon)

Demote Komisarek to the minors. I'd take that blueline into the playoffs...

[britten]

I don't like this trade because it doesn't think far enough ahead. We have only a few Defensive prospects, and they are a few years away. The left side is the one place on our blue line that we are solid. It is the other side that we need to be worrying about.

While it would be nice to have Gauthier, it is not that effective a move. We need to be preparing for the eventual holes in the right side once Quintal retires and Rivet is moved.

[TheHabsfan]

Rehashing old news....

In Montreal, they've been panting for Denis Gauthier/draft pick to the Habs for Niklas Sundstrom/Yanic Perreault.

This is NOT news coming from Calgary...this is most likely Dowbiggin picking up on the TEAM990 rumour being tossed around a few days ago. I would jump at the chance of getting Gauthier, but I don't think that this 'new' rumour brings any validity to the first one.

Don't mean to be a party pooper!

THF

[AH]

25% of Sunny's salary is paid for by SJ, the rest is paid by MTL (approx. 1.3 for this season). To qualify him, Calgary would have to dish out 1.95 million. The 10% raise applies to those making less than the league average of 1.2.

So ... Gauthier and Sunny's salaries cancel out for this year. Like BC says, Sunny is the type of player who will probably have to sign for less (a lot less) post CBA if he wants to play in the NHL.

Perreault ? who cares ...

Gauthier > Sunny.
Perreault for free.
=
good trade for both teams.

[sergejean]

I'm surprised that the Calgary Flames would even consider that trade... What type of player has the most value? A young hard hitting d-man who specialize in open ice hits or a fringe players with good defensive abilities who will not even make it to 10 goals this season while playing an average of 15 minutes per game?

For me, "poser la question, c'est y répondre"

Make this trade right now before Calgary change their mind!!!

[TheHabsfan]

TheHabsfan said:

Rehashing old news....



This is NOT news coming from Calgary...this is most likely Dowbiggin picking up on the TEAM990 rumour being tossed around a few days ago. I would jump at the chance of getting Gauthier, but I don't think that this 'new' rumour brings any validity to the first one.

Don't mean to be a party pooper!

THF

Sometimes I swear that I type for nothing....

THF

[blaise]

I just read Dowbiggin's entire column. He doesn't impress me as a writer. I wonder if he's intelligent enough to interpret his sources correctly.

[Marvin]

Being here in Calgary, I read B Dowbiggin's column quite often. He's actually a pretty good writer and well-respected also. As far as the trade rumor goes, everyone in Montreal wants to make it happen, but I can't see Sutter going for it - even if he does like Sundstrom. Perreault is just too soft a player for Sutter's liking.

Marvin

p.s. Dowbiggin is an ex-Mtl'er

[franko]

Marvin said:

Dowbiggin is an ex-Mtl'er

But does he still work for CBC?

[jkr]

Blaise said:

I just read Dowbiggin's entire column. He doesn't impress me as a writer. I wonder if he's intelligent enough to interpret his sources correctly.

I'm with you on Dowbiggin. I never really felt he truly knew what he was talking about.

When he came out for the PGA and against Casey Martin that sealed it for me.

[HFTO]

I think I'd do it but I'd explore the possibility of maybe a bigger deal unless it could be done by exchanging Dacks instead.for the reasons mentioned I think even on the third line we could get some offense out of Sundstrom also.
HFTO