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Post by Cranky on Nov 5, 2006 17:07:16 GMT -5
Yes he was. He was passing out the peanut butter sandwiches. This team is ONE HIGH QUALITY center away from contention. The only problem is that we have to acquire him and to do that, we are going to lose a truck full of future or barrel of decent quality NHL players. There is no magic button anymore unless that button willingly sews itself to our sweater. I think we needed one DECENT second line center. Kovalev is decent IMO. Now all we are missing is an ABOVE AVERAGE defenseman. While our defensive corps is made of replacable parts, our center position is one injury away from a disaster. In reverse..... If we had a Brad Richards as a second center, it would create HAVOC for the other teams line changes. We would have two equally disturbing offensive lines and neither would be the sole focus of defensive attention. With home ice and last change, that would leave either line to play against the others teams weakest line. |
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Post by Skilly on Nov 5, 2006 17:16:10 GMT -5
I think we needed one DECENT second line center. Kovalev is decent IMO. Now all we are missing is an ABOVE AVERAGE defenseman. While our defensive corps is made of replacable parts, our center position is one injury away from a disaster. In reverse..... If we had a Brad Richards as a second center, it would create HAVOC for the other teams line changes. We would have two equally disturbing offensive lines and neither would be the sole focus of defensive attention. With home ice and last change, that would leave either line to play against the others teams weakest line. I agree ..... but if we had the chance to get Brad Richards or Wade Redden ... I'd want Redden. Defense wins championships. |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Nov 6, 2006 14:53:02 GMT -5
I agree ..... but if we had the chance to get Brad Richards or Wade Redden ... I'd want Redden. Defense wins championships.[/quote] ..and All-Star defensive corp in Ottawa never made it too far while a Richard lead all-offensive Tampa Bay team to the Cup... ...Given that choice: I'd take Richards. |
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Post by Skilly on Nov 6, 2006 15:58:21 GMT -5
..and All-Star defensive corp in Ottawa never made it too far while a Richard lead all-offensive Tampa Bay team to the Cup... ...Given that choice: I'd take Richards. There are exceptions to every rule.  But Montreal has relied on the goalie for years to bail out the offense. But this year we are on pace for 271 goals (we had 243 last year) ... We also saw last year with Edmonton, how far a stronf defense can bring you .... and look at Anaheim this year. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Nov 7, 2006 1:18:09 GMT -5
I agree ..... but if we had the chance to get Brad Richards or Wade Redden ... I'd want Redden. Defense wins championships. ..and All-Star defensive corp in Ottawa never made it too far while a Richard lead all-offensive Tampa Bay team to the Cup... ...Given that choice: I'd take Richards.[/quote] Me 2. Richards is a rare talent, loaded with drive and desire. He always produces, consistent, more effective than flashy (see Kovalev and Speeza). |
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Post by Skilly on Nov 7, 2006 7:05:56 GMT -5
Oh yes I forgot ... we like players in Montreal with no pizzazz ... those who wear their hard-hats and come with their lunchpails and produce...
Oh wait....
Richards 15GP 12 points .... 0.80ppg
Spezza 13GP 15 points .... 1.15ppg
Kovalev 13GP 10 points..... 0.77ppg
Tell me again about this rare consistent offensive producing talent again? Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to see brad Richards in a Habs uniform. He is a great player. But this year's addition of the Habs doesn't seem to need more offense. But we do need an anchor on the defense corps to show them how defense is played. To win this year we need 1) a good defenseman and 2) an average second liner.
If we want to win in a few years time ... then Brad Richards if we enter the bifdding war is a good piece of that puzzle.
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Post by Doc Holliday on Nov 7, 2006 8:07:50 GMT -5
Oh yes I forgot ... we like players in Montreal with no pizzazz ... those who wear their hard-hats and come with their lunchpails and produce... Oh wait.... Richards 15GP 12 points .... 0.80ppg Spezza 13GP 15 points .... 1.15ppg Kovalev 13GP 10 points..... 0.77ppg Tell me again about this rare consistent offensive producing talent again? Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to see brad Richards in a Habs uniform. He is a great player. But this year's addition of the Habs doesn't seem to need more offense. But we do need an anchor on the defense corps to show them how defense is played. To win this year we need 1) a good defenseman and 2) an average second liner. If we want to win in a few years time ... then Brad Richards if we enter the bifdding war is a good piece of that puzzle. Personally I think Kovalev is an imperfect solution at center. Sure it will work for some times and it's better than the other options we have on the team but it won't work long term and we have zero depth in terms of offensive center (no I don't buy into the Grabovsky frenzy). That being said, I agree that if Souray goes, it's gonna look really bad on the back end. IMO, Gainey needs to turn his abundance of wingers and goalies into a center and a dmen. |
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Post by Doc Holliday on Nov 7, 2006 16:04:40 GMT -5
...just as a follow up, Ecklund has it that Bob is indeed chasing Vinny...
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Nov 7, 2006 16:48:54 GMT -5
...just as a follow up, Ecklund has it that Bob is indeed chasing Vinny... Vinny will get away. He's younger and faster. |
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Post by Toronthab on Nov 7, 2006 16:54:49 GMT -5
I think he's the kind of player who needs to be in a big market to reach his full potential, and that market is Montreal, imo. Nobody cares about hockey in TB. They had to practically give away tickets to get fans to come to their PLAYOFF games! That's not the kind of environment that brings out the best in certain players, imo. And IMHO any player who "needs" to have his name chanted or needs to play in a big market to reach his potential can "reach" somewhere else - Can you say Ovechkin? Staal? Anze Kopitar? Are these big hockey markets? If Vinny needs that big market I say let him go to Toronto.... Now there's a curse....heh heh. |
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Post by Toronthab on Nov 7, 2006 16:56:01 GMT -5
...just as a follow up, Ecklund has it that Bob is indeed chasing Vinny... Vinny will get away. He's younger and faster. Hahahahahaha! Too good; I crashed the car. |
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Post by franko on Nov 7, 2006 17:38:17 GMT -5
...just as a follow up, Ecklund has it that Bob is indeed chasing Vinny... There it is, folks: confirmation that Vinny is not coming to Montreal. |
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Post by Andrew on Nov 7, 2006 17:56:20 GMT -5
I'd take Richards. In 5 seasons he's never played less than 80 games and has improved his career best point total every year (with the exception of his second where he equaled his rookie total). That's the kind of consistency that I would want to build around.
Defence may win championships but so does strength up the middle. With the exception of Jersey, the last 10 cup winning teams have been very strong up the middle:
Staal / Brindamour
Richards / Lecavalier
Yzerman / Federov
Sakic / Forsberg
Modano / Niewendyk
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Post by Skilly on Nov 7, 2006 18:10:18 GMT -5
I'd take Richards. In 5 seasons he's never played less than 80 games and has improved his career best point total every year (with the exception of his second where he equaled his rookie total). That's the kind of consistency that I would want to build around. Defence may win championships but so does strength up the middle. With the exception of Jersey, the last 10 cup winning teams have been very strong up the middle: Staal / Brindamour Richards / Lecavalier Yzerman / Federov Sakic / Forsberg Modano / Niewendyk Looks to me they all been strong defensively and in goal too. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Nov 8, 2006 2:28:21 GMT -5
...just as a follow up, Ecklund has it that Bob is indeed chasing Vinny... Vinny will get away. He's younger and faster. Bob is chasing Lecavalier. Bob is chasing Richards. Old Daisy Duke saying, "If you chase two rabbits, they both get away." |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Nov 20, 2006 4:11:16 GMT -5
Oh yes I forgot ... we like players in Montreal with no pizzazz ... those who wear their hard-hats and come with their lunchpails and produce... Oh wait.... Richards 15GP 12 points .... 0.80ppg Spezza 13GP 15 points .... 1.15ppg Kovalev 13GP 10 points..... 0.77ppg Tell me again about this rare consistent offensive producing talent again? Don't get me wrong, I would absolutely love to see brad Richards in a Habs uniform. He is a great player. But this year's addition of the Habs doesn't seem to need more offense. But we do need an anchor on the defense corps to show them how defense is played. To win this year we need 1) a good defenseman and 2) an average second liner. If we want to win in a few years time ... then Brad Richards if we enter the bifdding war is a good piece of that puzzle. Last time I checked we were doing better in the goals against department than the goa;s for department. Good defense starts with forwards that backcheck. Even Rivet and Souray would look good if Carbo or Jarvis or Gainey was backchecking for them. I could stop Speeza if Carbo and Gainey were steering him to the boards, at least as well as Souray does without any help. |
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 30, 2007 22:10:59 GMT -5
...just as a follow up, Ecklund has it that Bob is indeed chasing Vinny... hmmm...almost nine months later...bump |
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 31, 2007 10:05:28 GMT -5
...just as a follow up, Ecklund has it that Bob is indeed chasing Vinny... hmmm...almost nine months later...bump Who knows what le Bob is going to do ... Lecavalier will be expensive regardless. I really don't know what TB is looking for; a centre and defensive help in return maybe? Might as well have some Internet fun with it I guess (sighs). Three-way scenario between SJ/Mtl/TB that sees the main players being: Mtl: Lecavalier SJ: Ryder/Pleks/prospect TB: Marleau/defensive help The combinations of players/prospects/draft picks just boggles the mind. Have to go back to work. Cheers. |
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Post by Marvin on Jul 31, 2007 10:47:00 GMT -5
In a trade, TB will ask for the world for Lecavalier, as they should. As a free agent, I don't believe that Lecavalier will come to Mtl. He'll play the same cards as Briere: talk about how much he wants to play in Mtl, and then go to the highest bidder.
Marv
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jul 31, 2007 10:55:32 GMT -5
In a trade, TB will ask for the world for Lecavalier, as they should. As a free agent, I don't believe that Lecavalier will come to Mtl. He'll play the same cards as Briere: talk about how much he wants to play in Mtl, and then go to the highest bidder. Marv Kind of hard to argue with that, Marv. Cheers. |
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 31, 2007 11:28:11 GMT -5
In a trade, TB will ask for the world for Lecavalier, as they should. As a free agent, I don't believe that Lecavalier will come to Mtl. He'll play the same cards as Briere: talk about how much he wants to play in Mtl, and then go to the highest bidder. Marv There's an easy answer to that: be the highest bidder. I would give him the league maximum long term. Without listing all his attributes we just plain NEED him desperately. He's the answer to everyone's dreams; all fans, coaching staff, management, president and owner. He will elevate the value of the franchise overnight. He is the modern day Beliveau. He IS the man. He's kinda ugly but he's got major game. From our untouchable core I'd even give up Higgins for him in a package. And I absolutely love Higgy, in a brotherly way of course. Vinnie or bust. |
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Post by halihab on Jul 31, 2007 12:23:37 GMT -5
In a trade, TB will ask for the world for Lecavalier, as they should. As a free agent, I don't believe that Lecavalier will come to Mtl. He'll play the same cards as Briere: talk about how much he wants to play in Mtl, and then go to the highest bidder. Marv There's an easy answer to that: be the highest bidder. I would give him the league maximum long term. Without listing all his attributes we just plain NEED him desperately. He's the answer to everyone's dreams; all fans, coaching staff, management, president and owner. He will elevate the value of the franchise overnight. He is the modern day Beliveau. He IS the man. He's kinda ugly but he's got major game. From our untouchable core I'd even give up Higgins for him in a package. And I absolutely love Higgy, in a brotherly way of course. Vinnie or bust. I agree, Show him the Money !! |
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Post by Marvin on Jul 31, 2007 12:24:09 GMT -5
The ONLY way Mtl gets Vinny is via free agency. Unless Feaster has a brain cramp and asks the equivalent of Sturm, Stuart, and Primeau from the Habs, Gainey will not be prepared to give up what TB asks in return, and I don't blame him.
Marv
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Post by jkr on Aug 1, 2007 9:46:48 GMT -5
This specualtion is just Eklund thinking out loud.
If Lecavalier is not the best player in the league then he is number 2. And Feaster has gone on record as saying that he doesn't want to be known as the guy that traded V.L. It's just not going to happen.
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Post by HFTO on Aug 7, 2007 11:17:38 GMT -5
Foreget Vinny until he's a UFA with the new Tampa ownership led by Doug Mclean no way Vinny leaves.
HFTO
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Post by cigarviper on Aug 7, 2007 16:29:48 GMT -5
I'd like to know how much McLean has invested in this group and how he came to be in possession of that kind of money.
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Post by HFTO on Aug 9, 2007 11:44:02 GMT -5
I'm sure he has a modest stash but given his relationship with the other partners one being a former Blue Jacket employee/real estate guru he's probably more of a front man.
That being said I wonder what kind of role he'll play and if the days are numbered for Feester and Tort?.........that'll be interesting to watch.
HFTO
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Post by cigarviper on Dec 2, 2007 14:44:43 GMT -5
So apparently, the deal to buy the Lightning has fallen through and the current ownership have demanded a reduction in payroll. Feaster has 2/3 of his big three situated with NTCs. So, speculation by those who stand to profit from such speculation have Vinny being shopped around the league.
Keeping in mind the idea is to reduce payroll significantly (VL will make $7.167 through next year and is UFA in '09) while making the team competitive to keep fans interested, what would YOU offer Feaster for the Messiah?
Given their goaltending woes I think any offer has to start with Price...
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Post by seventeen on Dec 2, 2007 15:03:33 GMT -5
I'm not convinced he'll move Lecavalier. While St. Louis and Richards have NTC, that doesn't mean they can't be traded, just to certain teams. (Of course, given how we're playing, the odds of Montreal being a destination is like the snowball's chance.....)
I don't think we should give up Price, even for Vinny. By next year or the year after, this guy has a good chance of being another Brodeur, and he'd be only 22. A franchise goalie is the cornerstone. It's our bad luck to need a great forward, too.
I think you'd have to offer at least a short term fix (Huet) and some top prospects who are cheap. That means no Ryder, but more guys like McDonough, O'Byrne, maybe even Pacioretty. I wouldn't be averse to giving up any number of other guys (Kostitsyn, Plekanec, Halak), but I don't think those are going to do it. I would not be keen on giving up Komi or Higgins.
In fact, from a value standpoint, I wouldn't mind Richards, though Vinny would be the prize, of course. You might get away with giving up less for Richards. Either guy would boost us a whole bunch and we'd have enough prospects to replace the guys we've given up. If we played our cards right, Tampa might even want the Cube or Breezer, as they're weak on the back end and could use some veteran stability (nyahar, nyahar).
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Post by Neo on Dec 2, 2007 15:50:25 GMT -5
If TBay are stupid enough to move him, then they will definitely want Price. Without him, I don't see the Lightning dealing Lecavalier to Mtl,
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