RFA Pezzetta re-signs with Habs

[folatre]

Pezzetta signs two-year deal (AAV $812,500). For me this signing was a no-brainer. Montreal needs more toughness, not less. Also, Pezzetta was plenty production for a fourth liner in 63 games as 7 goals, 9 or 10 fights, and a top five league ranking in hits per 60 minutes attest to. It is nice to see a kid like him work hard and carve out a NHL career.

Going back to the bigger picture issue of team toughness, I am in fact a little worried that moving on from Edmundson will subtract a guy who opponents were loath to mess with while potentially not adding anyone of a similar ilk on the back end or somewhere else in the lineup.

[Willie Dog]

Gotta have guys like Pez, just happy to be with the team, tough, sticks up for teammates, happy with his role and he is a positive high energy guy... he is the opposite of drouin and dadanov...

No more signing or drafting guys whose last name starts with a D

[seventeen]

Thank god Michkov's not Matei Dichkov.

I'm kind of torn on Pezzetta. He made some more skill plays late in the year, so maybe Marty was having an effect on him. A more skilled Michael Pezzetta is definitely welcome. What I'm not crazy about is having a tough guy like Ryan Reaves because your team needs protecting. If your team needs protecting, you need more courageous skill players. It's up to every player to be able to fight back and I don't mean with your fists. Don't be afraid to hack the guy on the back of the ankle if they keep trying to intimidate you. Players have to make it known they're not backing up. Henri Richard didn't get into fights, but you won't find anyone tougher. Having said that, a guy like Xhekaj, who has some skill and can intimidate right back, is always welcome on my team. If Pezzetta can be that type, awesome.

As an aside, Carolina's fan base is lobbying for a 'policeman' as they feel their team isn't tough enough. Maybe it isn't but will a policeman solve the problem? Would't I rather have someone other than Noesen who has that magnetic attraction to a goalie's chest?

[folatre]

Seventeen, for sure, I do not want old fighters who can't skate (Reaves, Simmonds, Lucic, etc.). If Hughes could magically make Armia or Gallagher disappear, I would love to have a scary mean guy on the right side (e.g. Olivier) who can keep up with the pace of play. But, alas, those guys are not going anywhere and the numbers game may preclude management adding any muscle up front.