Gainey looking at Hossa...

[clear observer]

jkr said:

admin said:

If confident I could sign Hossa, I pull the trigger on this.

Didn't know you had that kind of money CO.

Are you kidding? I'm loaded.


Brrrrrrrrrrrrp.

[MC Habber]

bostonhabs said:

On the other hand, management may be looking at the roster as seeing the emergence of A. Kostitsyn, the potential of S. Kositsyn and Latendresse and feel that Higgins (who is signed through next year and will be RFA the year after) may be expendable. We all like Higgins' energy, hands, quickness, two-way play but what is his upside? If management feels that 1. the addition of Hossa would instantly make us Cup contenders in the East, and 2. the loss of Higgins could be compensated by other players in the system, and 3. if we make a big playoff run the odds of signing Hossa improve.... then I can almost see the roll of the dice.

I really wonder if Higgins has a place on the Habs long term. He believes he can score 40 goals, but so far it aint happening, and with the emergence of the Kostitsyns and Latendresse, he may end up on the third line. While I would LOVE to have a third line with Higgins on it, he may eventually want to go to another team to get a chance to prove he can be a top 6 player. OTOH, he's a life-long Habs fan, seems to like the city, is good friends with Komisarek, and seems to be a team-first guy (if you go by what he says at least), so maybe he'll be happy in that third line role.

[franko]

disgruntled70shab said:

Looking down the road a bit. Let's say for kicks and giggles:

* Hossa does come to Montreal.

*Gainey signs him to a long-term deal.

* Where does this leave us WRT future cap space?

Man by man?

* Komisarek

He's gotta be locked up, and fast

* Koivu

I think next year will be his last, unless he signs for less. He's wearing out.

* Kovalev

Ditto

* Bouillon

* Dandenault

Ditto and ditto

* Streit (this year)

That's a good question. He's cheap insurance, and will either grab big $ elsewhere (not likely) or small $ with us or not. If we keep him it won't be much of a hit.

As to the RFAs? We'll see, I guess . . . 2 of 'em may be in Atlanta!

I note you didn't mention Ryder, who is UFA.

[franko]

machabby said:

While I would LOVE to have a third line with Higgins on it, he may eventually want to go to another team to get a chance to prove he can be a top 6 player. OTOH, he's a life-long Habs fan, seems to like the city, is good friends with Komisarek, and seems to be a team-first guy (if you go by what he says at least), so maybe he'll be happy in that third line role.

But will he be happy with third line money?

[Douper]

That's a good question. He's cheap insurance, and will either grab big $ elsewhere (not likely) or small $ with us or not. If we keep him it won't be much of a hit.

With the season he's having he will get more than what Bouillon, Dandy and Smoke got.

[HFTO]

I like that Higgy believes he's a 40 goal score but just because he says it doesn't mean he can do it.
I love the guy he tries hard but he can't finish.
Reminds me a bit of Bulis whom would have unbelievable chances but couldn't bury most of them.
He may score 30 through hard hard work but that'll be with almost 300 shots.
Higgy is one of this the character guys you need,but still is probably better suited as a third liner.
He may not see it that way but he's good defensively and would be more valuable in that roll scoring 20,moreso than scoring 30 with a million chances.
Mcguire was alluding to the number of interviews Higgy does, it's way too many atleast a couple a game.
I've thought for along time it's too much and in every one he's putting pressure on himself or calling the team out.
With him not being an elite superstar it's impossible for him to live up to his hype.
HFTO

[habmeister]

higgins i believe should focus on becoming the next selke trophy winner rather than 40 goals. he was a good stop gap, and he may not even get 30 this season, but he's still very young and learning, i say lock him up long term for 5 more years at about $2.5ish and turn him into a two way player on the 3rd line, who gets bumped up to the 2nd or 1st when injuries happen or he gets hot.

he's still learning guys, and he will get better, his biggest lesson is to stop putting too much pressure on himself, expecting too much, and just have fun and play the game the way he knows how.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Higgins gives 110% and works hard. He also has leadership qualities. We get blinded by Kovalev's skill and hilight reel goals, but the day-in day-out effort and leasership from Higgins does more to improve the players around him.
Kovalev is having a great year this year.
Last year, pffffffft.
Next year, ??
We know what Higgins will give us next year.
Remember, last year Ryder scored more goals than Kovy. (and the year before that)

[franko]

habmeister said:

i say lock him up long term for 5 more years at about $2.

Nice thought, but I don't think he'll take it. 1.9 next year, and who knows how much people will "be worth" after that -- especially iwth Ryder at 2.95 this year. But sure! Except you say that

he will get better

and if he thinks he will, then he'll want to be compensated so.

[blny]

I can't knock Higgy for the interviews. If people want to routinely bring him into intermissions or get sound bites at other times that's there prerogative.

I think he's got the game to be a routine 30 goal man. A few more bounces and he can be a 40g man on a great line. Comparing him to Bulis baffles me.

[Skilly]

disgruntled70shab said:

franko said:

Still chewing on this. 2 first round picks plus a goalie that will pay off and play for the Thrashers, leaving us with a [probably more happy] Danis and a need to sign Huet for a guy that can skate and score but has yet to prove himself in the playoffs.

Sometimes, though, ya gotta bite the bullet. Two months ago we were complaining that Gainey wasn't doing anything. Now that its rumoured that he is we are complaining that he might be giving away too much.

"Ryder and Locke, Don . . . take it or leave it. . . . Hey, where are you going?"

Looking down the road a bit. Let's say for kicks and giggles:

* Hossa does come to Montreal.

*Gainey signs him to a long-term deal.

* Where does this leave us WRT future cap space?

A guy like Hossa will command what? $7/8 million/season. I don't know if these are accurate figures or not. But, let's say I'm in the ballpark. According to www.nhlnumbers.com the following players are coming due in the 09/10 season:

RFA

* Higgins

* Plekanec

* Latendresse

* Chipchura

UFA

* Komisarek

* Koivu

* Kovalev

* Bouillon

* Dandenault

* Streit (this year)

Which players would be affected should Hossa sign long-term in Montreal? Gainey has to consider this as well because he won't know what the cap is.

Would love to see Hossa in Montreal and I think he'd love being in a hockey-mad environment like the one there.

Cheers.

It is rumoured that the cap is going up by 3-4 million next year. You can bet your booty it isn't going down. So that puts the cap at 55M

Higgins and Chipchura = 3 million, they come off the book when they go to Atlanta.

Ryder and his 3 million will be gone too. Smoke and his 2 million will also be gone. And Brisebois and his 1.4 million.

So with Hossa at 7 million (for arguments sake):

S,Kosty+Koivu+Hossa = 12.5 million
Kosty-Pleky-Kovalev = 10 million (assume 3.5 for Pleky and 2 to big titty)
Lats-Lapierre-Paccioretty ...ok ok .. say Grabs part deux = 3 million
Striet-Begin-Kostopolous = 3.5 million

Total = 29 million

The only defensemen we have to sign next year are Gorges and O'Byrne. In all liklihood another rookie will be in the lineup (Emelin, Valentenko or McDonnagh all only gonna cost $850k or so)

Our defense is gonna cost 19 million tops.

Carey Price is 2.2 million and Huet if signed (4 million) = 6.2 million

That 54.2 million ... tops.

[habmeister]

habsfaninla said:

Higgins gives 110% and works hard. He also has leadership qualities. We get blinded by Kovalev's skill and hilight reel goals, but the day-in day-out effort and leasership from Higgins does more to improve the players around him.
Kovalev is having a great year this year.
Last year, pffffffft.
Next year, ??
We know what Higgins will give us next year.
Remember, last year Ryder scored more goals than Kovy. (and the year before that)

higgins loves the habs, loves playing for montreal, works hard, puts a lot of pressure on himself to succeed, sounds like a player i want on my roster. carbo, and nhl gm's and scouts don't just look at boxscores, that is why they send scouts to watch the player live, to see what he does away from the puck. unfortunately 99% of fans only watch the puck and miss a lot of away from the play. i watch players, not pucks.

[seventeen]

Should be careful....those damn things fly over the glass sometimes and if you're not looking, pow!

[habmeister]

next thing you know they'll put nets up to protect people like me!

[Marvin]

Eklund is now mentioning that a Higgins + ? for Hossa trade could be announced as early as tomorrow. : (

[habmeister]

marvin said:

Eklund is now mentioning that a Higgins + ? for Hossa trade could be announced as early as tomorrow. : (

it'd be a sad day for me too marvin, love higgins, and think he has a great future, but you don't get a chance to get a hossa very often, only if we can negotiate a contract extension contingent on the deal. if the +? is emelin i'll cry a 2nd time, that kid is going to be a beauty, and it may turn into a bad deal only in that their age makes them cheap for many years whereas hossa eats up a lot of money.

gainey opened the vault last july for briere and was turned down, i'd rather have hossa than briere.

[NWTHabsFan]

Higgins and either Emelin, Valentenko or Emelin would be too big a price for me. I want all those kids on the team for a long time. Higgins funk does not worry me, he is still a classy guy who already bleeds the bleu-blanc-rouge. You don't get rid of those guys easily.

[Marvin]

This may sound a bit melodramatic, but I'll shed many tears if Higgins is traded for ANYBODY. I love the guy, love what he brings, love the fact that HE LOVES the Habs. This is a guy who wants to play here, and in this day and age, those players are impossible to find.

[cigarviper]

marvin said:

Eklund is now mentioning that a Higgins + ? for Hossa trade could be announced as early as tomorrow. : (

Higgins and a 1st. I would like this very much. Brings a huge new dimension to the team.

[seventeen]

Sometimes you have to be a cold, cruel SOB to be a good GM. If Higgins is in the mix, there'd better not be much else. I'm not convinced Higgins isn't going to be another, better scoring Lehtinen.

It would really hurt, and it might hurt with Komi and he being close buddies. Hossa would have a hell of a lot to live up to.

But if Hossa is that missing great scorer that covers up for a lot of ills......

[Marvin]

There is no one I'd trade Higgins for. Sounds crazy right?

[MetalHab]

Gotta love Marv's passion - respect! But if Mr Ovechkin wanted to wear the CH#21......well sir..I would buy ole Chris a steak & a beer & then drop him off at the airport personally....
Hossa...that's an interesting one...the "X" factor as you pointed out is in the value you place in Higgins "love for the team" commodity..I personally value that quite high so unless there's a guaranteed contract involved for Hossa..I don't even look at this one...Higgins for a rental is too much.
peace
MH

[Marvin]

Ok so I'd trade Chris for Ovechkin or Crosby, but no one else!

[HFTO]

Anybody notice who the Habs play on deadline day ..........the Thrashers.
Should the deal ever go down and at the deadline it's creepy how things like that always seem to work out.
HFTO

[cigarviper]

Today he's backtracking and reporting another "source" told him the opposite and that the Habs and Thrashers aren't even talking. "I only report the rumours I hear."

[CentreHice]

marvin said:

There is no one I'd trade Higgins for. Sounds crazy right?

So, what's his problem this year, Marvin?

Chronic ankle? Linemates?

I'm not being argumentative....I value your opinion here.

[jkr]

cigarviper said:

Today he's backtracking and reporting another "source" told him the opposite and that the Habs and Thrashers aren't even talking. "I only report the rumours I hear."

I read that too - went from the famous e4 to never even happened. Isn't the guy even embarassed.

[Yeti]

Wadell- the Atlanta GM- is following the Habs these days.

The fact that O'Byrne is playing tonight despite the recent events tells me that he's part of a (potential) package for Hossa... I'm wondering what else the Habs are offering? Halak? Higgins?

[cigarviper]

yeti said:

Wadell- the Atlanta GM- is following the Habs these days.

The fact that O'Byrne is playing tonight despite the recent events tells me that he's part of a (potential) package for Hossa... I'm wondering what else the Habs are offering? Halak? Higgins?

yeah, Waddel is in Sunrise to watch this game tonight. It ain't to scout the Lightning...something's up with this and to me it looks like the proposal was put forward by Gainey and now the ball is in the Thrasher's court.

[Marvin]

centrehice said:

marvin said:

There is no one I'd trade Higgins for. Sounds crazy right?

So, what's his problem this year, Marvin?

Chronic ankle? Linemates?

I'm not being argumentative....I value your opinion here.

Even with his slump, I still believe that Higgins brings a passion and a drive that is lacking in other players. Sure the guy could have 30 goals by now if all those missed shots hit the net. Maybe I'm just passionate and sentimental for those who wear the C-H on their hearts and sleeves, as Higgins does.