|
|
Post by Neo on Mar 2, 2004 13:41:34 GMT -5
IMO, I think that the HABS should try and add some more toughness and grit to their lineup before the trade deadline. We could end up playing Philly or even Toronto in the first round and those will be very hard teams to beat.
What do you all think? I would personally go after players like Simon/Grier/Barnaby. The last thing I want to see is our team getting pushed around. Begin and Langdon certainly help but I'm not sure it will be enough.
|
|
|
|
Post by Boston_Habs on Mar 2, 2004 13:45:17 GMT -5
Well, Viktor Kozlov was available for a song and Gainey either passed or wasn't paying attention. Perhaps size doesn't matter.
|
|
|
|
Post by Neo on Mar 2, 2004 13:47:59 GMT -5
Well, Kozlov may be big but he definitely isn't tough. He's soft and fragile....something we dont need.
|
|
|
|
Post by Douper on Mar 2, 2004 14:10:14 GMT -5
I'd go for Barnaby, mike him up against the leafs and listen to what he and Tucker say to each other in a 7 game series.
Kozlov is a non factor....Doesn't play physical and way too injury prone for a playoff player.
|
|
|
|
Post by Boston_Habs on Mar 2, 2004 14:14:55 GMT -5
I think Kozlov isn't a very aggressive player, but I wouldn't really call him soft. He HAS produced at the NHL level, but just doesn't play up to his potential.
It will be interesting to see how he does in NJ. Lou Lamoriello is usually pretty shrewd about these things I wouldn't be surprised if Kozlov lifted his game and became an important piece of NJ's stretch run. Jason Arnott was underachieving in Edmonton before becoming a key part of NJ's Cup run.
|
|
|
|
Post by Douper on Mar 2, 2004 14:18:03 GMT -5
No doubt Viktor has talent, he should help the Devils cause they needed help on the top 2 offensive units. But for us would Kozlov be better than Koivu or Ribs? I doubt it.
|
|
|
|
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Mar 2, 2004 14:33:17 GMT -5
The additions of Bégin and Langdon have by osmosis toughened the team as a whole. Quintal and Rivet no longer have to shoulder the load exclusively. Souray also factors into that effect. Having just a couple of hard-boys on your side suddenly makes everyone a bit braver. Look at Brisebois, he's throwing bodychecks, not just pushing people.
I don't see the addition of a tough guy as a necessity. Though if someone like Erik Cole or Brendan Witt could be had without giving up an arm and a leg, I'm all for it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Boston_Habs on Mar 2, 2004 14:36:37 GMT -5
Kozlov is a C/RW, who I believe prefers to play on the wing. You replace Pierre Dagenais (let's not kid ourselves about his ability) with Viktor Kozlov on Ribs' wing and all of a sudden you have 2 very solid offensive lines:
Bulis/Koivu/Ryder
Zednik/Ribeiro/Kozlov
Plus there is no downside for NJ in this deal. The Devils essentially gave up two AHL players - not even top prospects. If you picked up the paper this morning and read that the Habs had traded Benoit Gratton and Karl Dykhuis for Viktor Kozlov, you would have been psyched to get a guy with that kind of ability for practically nothing.
|
|
|
|
Post by blny on Mar 2, 2004 14:38:41 GMT -5
Of the the three Neo mentions, I'd be most interested in Simon. Chris has shown a knack for goals, and has performed well in past playoffs. He's also not as prone to the bad penalty as Barnaby, and isn't a distraction. Chris is a little older and a little cheaper (32 vs. 31, and $1.5m vs. $1.58m). Both players are UFAs at season's end. It shouldn't take much to pull off a deal if BG were interested. Perhaps, they'd take Kilger in return? Or Perreault? One can dream.  |
|
|
|
Post by AH on Mar 2, 2004 14:57:52 GMT -5
Since when did it become ok to acquire $4 million injury prone enigmas who are softer then soft ?
I would personally have Dagenais at 500K.
I am telling you, some people have an obsession with stiffs ... O'Neill, Kozlov, and so on ...
|
|
|
|
Post by Forum Ghost on Mar 2, 2004 16:16:15 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind BG picking up one of Simon or Barnaby. Both are very tough, gritty players who can play hockey as well as duke it out.
|
|
|
|
Post by sergejean on Mar 2, 2004 16:35:46 GMT -5
I think that Simon or Barnaby could be good pick ups to add some depth in our 3rd and 4th line... however, I think what we really need is a top 2 line player... So we are looking for skill and hopefully, size... I would be interested in Anson Carter if he can have him without giving out to much...
|
|
|
|
Post by patate on Mar 2, 2004 16:50:21 GMT -5
It would be good to finally have a player that people love to hate on our team (Barnaby). He's no Tucker  but I sure would like to see him with Begin on the ice. Like the good old days of Chris Nylan. |
|
|
|
Post by ethan on Mar 2, 2004 18:51:28 GMT -5
Two words, Chris Simon.
Obviously toughness helps during the playoffs, and I'd much rather see him coming of the bench to crash and bang while our scorers rest than Andreas Dackell or Chad Kilger.
NY is selling, and if Gainey doesn't want to give up much while rounding us into playoff shape, I think that a move to get Simon would be ideal.
|
|
|
|
Post by jkr on Mar 2, 2004 19:30:45 GMT -5
I'd rather have Simon. He is a legitimate heavyweight and a real deterrent. Barnaby won't back down from anyone but is more in the pest category.
I would be very surprised if Muckler didn't pick up one of these guys. Muckler had Barnaby in Buffalo and he needs an agitator that can play a regular shift in the playoffs.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Mar 2, 2004 20:42:47 GMT -5
Of the three I would take Barnaby.
Our third line is too good to go messing with now. Our fourth line has Langdon.
Barnaby could actually go on the top line and not look out of place, and protect Koivu and Zednik ala Semenko in the 1980's.
If we get another pick-up for the top line, then who ever the tough guy is just takes Langer's spot on the fourth line and what's the use of that.
|
|
|
|
Post by AH on Mar 2, 2004 21:59:56 GMT -5
Goons rarely have an impact in the post-season. Stay away from Simon. Barnaby takes too many stupid penalties. He would put the team in deep trouble in the post-season.
|
|
|
|
Post by HabbaDasher on Mar 3, 2004 11:50:58 GMT -5
I think 1 or 2 tough players would help....
|
|
|
|
Post by blaise on Mar 3, 2004 16:43:04 GMT -5
Goons rarely have an impact in the post-season. Stay away from Simon. Barnaby takes too many stupid penalties. He would put the team in deep trouble in the post-season. Why stay away from Simon? What's the drawback? |
|
|
|
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Mar 3, 2004 17:32:39 GMT -5
Why stay away from Simon? What's the drawback? Playing short-handed sucks louder in the playoffs than does playing short-handed in the regular season. |
|
|
|
Post by FREEHAB on Mar 3, 2004 20:31:06 GMT -5
We need to stay away from Matt Barnaby. I play golf with his cousin, and it's his general opinion, the opinion of his whole family, that Matt will eventually end up killing someone. On the ice or off the ice, it really doesn't matter. This is a close cousin, who openly admits that this guy has some serious mental problems. He say's it's only a matter of time before he has a total melt down. Most of the teams he's played for have been able to keep his behaviour under wraps. We all saw the media swarm when the Theodore family became front page news. Could you imagine what it might do to the team if we picked him up and that ticking time bomb blew? When the Barnaby family warns of trouble, you know it ain't good. I only think of him as a momentum killer. IMO Simon is the type of player that we need inforcing the law in Hab land. Barnaby is just Gino Odjick gone insane. Who wants that?
|
|
but I sure would like to see him with Begin on the ice. Like the good old days of Chris Nylan.
