^^good post, though I'd like more of the Euro players to get their noses dirty like Detroit's Holmstrom (hense the notion of picking up a rugged two-way player). If only they all had Koivu's heart...

The cap space is insurance for that kind of player/defenceman at the trade deadline and/or for injuries, imo. If Lang ever regains something close to the scoring touch he had with Kovalev in Pittsburgh, then Gainey will def look like a genius.

why would a team that focuses on speed change that all of a sudden? Laraque was brought in to get his hands dirty an d let the talented players focus on talent. Komisarek led the league in hits and blocked shots. If that is not grit i don't know what is. No one goes in that side with their head down.

Transition hockey is what this team is about. Lang will get some PP minutes too because he is over 50% in the faceoff circle.

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quote:

Originally posted by elFreak why would a team that focuses on speed change that all of a sudden? Laraque was brought in to get his hands dirty an d let the talented players focus on talent. Komisarek led the league in hits and blocked shots. If that is not grit i don't know what is. No one goes in that side with their head down. Transition hockey is what this team is about. Lang will get some PP minutes too because he is over 50% in the faceoff circle.

it's not about changing philosophy, it's adding to what the team may be lacking. The core of this team matches up well with other finesse teams like Detroit, Washington, Pittsburgh, for example. Montreal is fortunate to have a team that plays a great brand of hockey, with a lot of youthful upside (those free agents, notwithstanding).

If Lang can push Plekanic for playing time with Kovalev, then he's def worth his weight in salary. But the Habs are still lacking something, a fourth 'D' (which you've already mentioned) and a hard-nosed player that can play decent minutes on the first two or three lines, imo.

Komisarek will play over 23 minutes a game...come on.

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yeah, but he plays defence. That Boston series exposed some things that hopefully a healthy Komisarek, Koivu and now Laraque, Lang and Tanguay can address (not to mentioned a more experienced Price). Anyways, we'll have to wait and see I guess.

man, another D?? are you nuts? we're stacked on D right now: markov, komi, hamrlik, gorges, o'byrne, breezer, bouillon, dandenault.

Most teams don't carry 8 NHL caliber Ds, it's usually 7 at most and of those, only 6 play. Watch for dandenault to be bought out if anything, but some of his salary will still count against the cap. Plus there's no room for him to play up front anymore with the forwards we acquired in the off-season.

As of today, we only have 1 mil in cap space. Schneider can't come here because he makes 5 mil+ in Anaheim...it's just not gonna happen. Gainey said his roster was set for the beginning of the season anyways.

If you want a sick cap tracker, check out this link: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=MON

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i think the team is set....

I think we're the best offensive team in the LEAGUE.

If Price can prove he is a top 5 goalie, we may be even better than Detroit...

we are missing a number 4 defenceman bertuzz

we have a great 1-2-3 but after that the others are nothing but 5's and 6's.

i like josh george, but youth and cup runs at that position do not happen.

look at recent cup winners

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quote:

Originally posted by UneeK i think the team is set.... I think we're the best offensive team in the LEAGUE. If Price can prove he is a top 5 goalie, we may be even better than Detroit...

that Wings team is disgusting now, with Hossa now in the mix. And they have some blue chip prospects too. Detroit is in a class of its own.. 'should have beaten Anaheim the year before, too.

Habs will probably make their moves at the trade deadline when needs are better assessed.

freak ur right about the recent cup winners and their D-Men...but who's to say O'Byrne wont pull a beauchemin and become a true #4?

I'd say the only team that had an amazing top 3 Ds of recent cup winners were the Ducks: Pronger, Neidermayer and Beauchemin. With the addition of Schneider, they're pretty tought to beat D-wise (even if they choked last year).

Detroit had Lidstrom and Rafalski.
Tampa had Boyle.
Carolina had....errrr....Frantisek Kaberle and Aaron Ward...lol


In any case, no need to argue but I don't think anything will be happening between now and the start of the season. If anything, come wintertime, before the trade deadline, we'll have a lot of UFAs to deal with and probably then if we're in good shape for a late playoff run, we can fix any position that's lacking.

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Last edited by Bertuzz on Sep-15-2008 at 02:32