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Post by Bob on Jun 5, 2004 14:15:18 GMT -5
trade rumours (mostly involving draft picks) heat up.
As Hab fans we tend to toss around ideas about various players that might interest us.
If you look at it from the other team's perspective first, I believe the trade ideas would become more realistic.
Take St. Louis for example. They need goaltending, they are looking for more youth and don't have a lot of talent in the minors to draw from, they want to add a player with some offensive ability and probably could use on offensive defensemen to groom as an eventual replacement of McInnis.
The names of Theodore, Ribeiro and Hainsey fit that profile (as do others of course). And each of these players has some issues surrounding their play in Montreal.
Theodore is dogged by personal problems, Ribeiro wants to be the #1 center but isn't and Hainsey is an enigma in much the same way Malakhov was. A fresh start for all three could be what the doctor ordered.
The question is, how much damage would losing these three cause.
Garon could be elevated to #1 and share the duties with a veteran goaltender signed as a UFA. It's a stretch but a possibility. There would be a drop-off in overall ability but sometimes you have to take chances.
Hainsey didn't even play with the Habs last year so losing him would have no effect.
That leaves a hole at center where Ribeiro would have to be replaced. If someone like Theodore cannot bring us at least a #2 center then something is wrong.
Plekanec could easily replace Juneau as the #3 center and Dowd could be resigned as the #4.
In this unlikely scenario, St. Louis has no one that fits the bill as #2 unless you consider Pavol Demitra as a candidate.
Other assets of interest in St. Louis could be Jay McClement, Shawn Belle and Colin Hemingway as well as draft choices. The only one with above average potential would be Belle but successful teams need grinders, too.
This isn't a trade proposal or a rumour but an example of how we may want to look at possibilities in the future.
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Post by blny on Jun 7, 2004 7:23:48 GMT -5
I like Belle a lot. He's got good size and is lightning fast. That said, I wouldn't be so quick to pencil in some players as you have. Pleks isn't being groomed as a centre. Putting him in as the checking centre would be a flop IMO.
A trade of Hainsey would have an effect on the team. Despite his mental state (which is all that appears to be holding him back), we haven't got a slew of defensive prospects with NHL written all over them. He's also the only one with legit offensive skills. Komi is a stud, but he's a defensive one. He's going to be our Scott Stevens. Hainsey could be our go to clutch performer. I'd also be leary of trading him to a team with Pronger. Pronger will be back in StL, and he'd mentor Hainsey for sure.
The jury is still out on Ribs. He's made great strides. He's reached a level not many thought he'd ever get to. Now he has to do it again. He has to prove he can perform in the playoffs. Ribs will have next season to do that. If he steps it up again, he'll be a fixture on the team. If not he'll be moved.
Theo is at a crossroads. He's got off-ice issues to deal with and is entering the last year of his contract. Hopefully the latter will motivate and focus him.
While all three players you mention could be traded, I don't see all three going in the same deal. That would be a huge, huge trade.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2004 22:08:16 GMT -5
Garon is not that good.
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Post by Doc Holliday on Jun 8, 2004 15:15:59 GMT -5
...In essence we'd trade a young top 10 goalie, our regular season point leader who's not even 25 and a stud dmen prospect for some question marks… sorry but that's not how I see the future at all. These 3 are potentially guys we should build onto not ship away because of some off-ice gossips. Any trade involving ALL 3 of those players would have to bring back a spectacular return otherwise it just playing demolition.
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Post by Bob on Jun 8, 2004 18:41:30 GMT -5
...In essence we'd trade a young top 10 goalie, our regular season point leader who's not even 25 and a stud dmen prospect for some question marks… sorry but that's not how I see the future at all. These 3 are potentially guys we should build onto not ship away because of some off-ice gossips. Any trade involving ALL 3 of those players would have to bring back a spectacular return otherwise it just playing demolition. First of all if you read the post you can see it wasn't a trade proposal. It was simply a matter of approaching from the other side. These are players St. Louis might want... do they have anything that might help our team. Like you, I believe they fall short of the mark in terms of young talent available for trade. Secondly, is Theodore really a top ten goaltender? Is he hot one year and cold the next. Another season will help to clarify the situation. If Kovalev signs, will Ribeiro be among our top 3 scorers or even our top 4. As his PP time is reduced, it could be difficult to maintain his production. Does he fit the model the club desires for a number 2 center?. And finally, that is the first time I have heard Hainsey described as a stud defenseman. A smooth skating defenseman with offensive flair, definitely. But a stud defenseman... I'm not so sure. After all is said and done, I do expect all three to be with the Habs for the next season and I will be cheering for all three to succeed. |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Jun 8, 2004 18:55:09 GMT -5
First of all if you read the post you can see it wasn't a trade proposal. It was simply a matter of approaching from the other side. ...I don't see that other side you claim to approach from. To me it looks like and attempt to chase out 3 players you don't like. How about approaching from another side and trading away Koivu, Zednik and Garon for some unsure return ? Doesn't sound too appealing eh? Theo maintained himself in the top 10 among starters. #9 in GAA, ahead of guys like Belfour, Brodeur, Turko and Khabibulin. Ribeiro finally provided a productive second line to this team. I'd work on improving his line rather than trying to demolish it. Hainsey was a highly touted dmen, chose in the first round. His one big sin is that Komi develloped quicker than him in the pros. Still he's a very talented dmen who WILL play in this league. Nobody is shielded from being traded and if any trades, involving any player can make the team better, I am all for it, but I have a hard time thinking we'll get better from the substraction of these 3 guys. |
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Post by blaise on Jun 8, 2004 19:36:27 GMT -5
I think it would be premature to trade Hainsey because the Habs don't have anyone else in the same mold at D. It would also be premature to trade Garon or Ribeiro right now. The only player who sticks out like a catcher's glove on a first baseman is Dagenais. He scored his 17 goals, for which we thank him, but I'd prefer to see a more rounded player move his gear into Dagenais's locker.
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Jun 8, 2004 19:38:46 GMT -5
Hainsey did pay his rent this past season.
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Post by Bob on Jun 8, 2004 19:52:26 GMT -5
...I don't see that other side you claim to approach from. To me it looks like and attempt to chase out 3 players you don't like. Ummm... whatever. Personally, I think all three are or have the potential to be top quality players. But then again, I don't think you understood the point of what I wrote. I was writing from the point of view a St. Louis fan and trying to determine from that point of view who they might want from the Canadiens. I could have picked any team but used them as an example. Would they want Koivu... maybe but they already have Weight and probably wouldn't want another big salary. Would they want Garon... I'm sure they would. Why don't we substitute him for Theodore if it would bring us someone who would add to the team. Zednik, they might want him too... but for me they would have to give up more to get Zednik than they would to get Hainsey. But IT WASN'T A TRADE PROPOSAL... ah, never mind. |
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Post by blaise on Jun 8, 2004 20:21:13 GMT -5
Hainsey did pay his rent this past season. But did he pay his dues with the Hamilton Bulldogs? How close is he to returning to the source of his exile in the Paris of North America? |
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Post by PTH on Jun 8, 2004 22:03:02 GMT -5
I think it would be premature to trade Hainsey because the Habs don't have anyone else in the same mold at D. It would also be premature to trade Garon or Ribeiro right now. The only player who sticks out like a catcher's glove on a first baseman is Dagenais. He scored his 17 goals, for which we thank him, but I'd prefer to see a more rounded player move his gear into Dagenais's locker. No argument on most of that, but Hainsey has one major problem - he's going to be waiver-eligible very soon, I think even in Sept. 04. In other words, I think he needs to make the NHL out of training camp; otherwise, we might as well deal him for whatever we can get rather than lose him to waivers for zilch. |
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