Comments on: Bob Gainey is not the worst thing ever…

By: rojoke

rojoke — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 01:23:36 +0000

Which was $500k less than the deal Savard signed him to, after his Vezina/Hart wins.

By: nychabfan

nychabfan — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:49:13 +0000

Very well put, I totally agree with everything. Just might add that GM' ineptitude at the trade dead line will probably cost what could have been received for other pending UFA's as well. If Washington got a good return for Zubrus and Zednik, then Mtl would get something for Bonk,Johnson, Markov, Niinimaa etc. Nothing now, and they will probably walk away on July 1.

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:04:08 +0000

Gainey resigned him to a 3 year contract on Sept. 2, 2005.

By: rojoke

rojoke — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:50:43 +0000

Savard signed Theodore. Summer of 2002. Gainey took the GM job in July 2003.

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 09:28:31 +0000

Stop praising Gainey for trading guys that HE signed to contracts. Gainey has handed out more albotross contracts than almost any other GM. Gainey signed Ribiero then traded him. Same with Theodore. If you want to make Gainey king of the do-overs be my guest.

You notice he's paying 4.5 and 4.75 to Kovalev and Koivu while Smyth who is an a different league from them will get 5 to 5.5.

As far as wanting to dump Ribiero, I think very few intelligent fans thought that an offensively lacking team should trade its former team leading scorer for a $2.5 million healthy scratch. With regard to Samsonov, fans like myself (and you can go check the HTR archives for my note on this) noted that Samsonov and Johnson combined did not have more even strength goals last season than the guys they replaced. It was pretty friggin obvious that without powerplay time, Samsonov would have an off year. It was also painfully obvious from the very first practice that they had no linemates for him.

I don't need a crystal ball, I just need to analyze the stats and watch the practices.

By: RealisticNick

RealisticNick — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 11:52:27 +0000

Ok, I do like how you responded with a legitimate answer instead of just name calling like most on the site, good debate. I just think Souray also gave Gainey some leverage when he claimed he has "unfinished" business in Montreal.

By: Komic-J

Komic-J — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 03:01:52 +0000

Believe me...if Souray posts the same kind of numbers next season, I'll be the first one to admit that I was wrong. But that's not the point anyway.

I just think Gainey gambled a lot by not trading him at the deadline. Not only because we don't know if he wants to stay with the team, but also because we have no idea what kind of money we can afford to spend on someone like him. Sure, he has 23 goals and creates a lot of room on the ice for the other players on the Power Play...but personally, I'm not ready to spend five millions for that. I just think it would have been a better idea to deal him, and keep on building the team, focussing on the 08-09 campaign.

True, we have a lot of good young talent on the team, and in the minors. But we're still missing that franchise player. I'm not saying we could have gotten that kind of player in return of Souray alone, but let's say Gainey finds a wa to acquire another decent prospect and another first round pick. That's three first rounders...which could maybe be dealt for a first pick overall...which could give us a franchise-type of player.

Then again, that's my opinion, you don't have to agree with it. You're saying Souray is too valuable to the team to be traded, hell Gainey thinks that too. And I'm okay with being "wrong" here. But Gainey better sign Souray this summer, cause if he don't, then he clearly missed a chance to help the team. Buyers were giving a lot this year, especially for defensemen...and if we end up losing Souray for nothing, then I'll blame Gainey.

The other point I was trying to make regarding Souray is that Gainey just gave him all the cards for his contract negociation. He made a commitment, and Souray and his new agent Don Meehan will surely take advantage of that. Gainey knows he'll look pretty bad if Souray leaves as a free agent...and Souray and Meehan know it too. And knowing Meehan, he will go for the big bucks, and won't sign a deal unless he gets the money he wants...ask Kevin Lowe !

---

Now, the Theodore part.

It's always good to have a proven back-up...but at that time, and still today, the Canadiens had other needs. Having two potential starters is a luxury that the Canadiens just couldn't afford, not with the holes they have in the lineup. I mean before even looking at backup players, you have to look at your starters.

I don't know if you're a football fan, but it's the best way I can explain it. It would be like the Falcons trading one of their starter on defense for a quarterback...when they still have Matt Schaub in the line-up, waiting for some playing time. It just wouldn't make sense.

When it became quite clear that Theodore wasn't our number one, and that he was going to be shipped somewhere else, everybody thought that Danis would be brought up and finally get a shot at being the number two. And it would have been just fine...Aebischer played 7 games for Montreal that season. The Canadiens had their number one in Huet, they just didn't need Aebischer...well, at least not as much as a right-handed center or a big winger.

The bottom line is that we traded our former number one, who a lot of people thought only needed a change of scenery to be back in shape, and a playmaking center, which we are kinda lacking of right now...and a year and half later, we'll have nothing to show up for these trades. I'm not blaming Gainey for moving these two...but I'm blaming him for not getting any players the Canadiens needed (and still need) in return...no matter how overpaid, or how much of a cancer they were in the lockeroom, when you trade a former Vezina and Hart winner, and the former leading scorer of your team, you have to at least get something that will help your team. And Aebischer and Niinimaa aren't helping, and never will.

By: RealisticNick

RealisticNick — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:41:42 +0000

Why would his production go down? It was good last year and went up this year, why would it not continue or go up more? He traded Jose because Huet was hot and he was getting a similar goalie yet cheaper to be the back-up, if he did not get abby in that deal he leaves himself wide open to be without a starter if Huet falters or is injured, I.e right now, what if that would have happened then?

By: Komic-J

Komic-J — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:46:57 +0000

The only reason why Gainey could even afford to trade Theodore in the first place was because he had faith in Huet, no matter if it was his first hot streak or not. There's no way in hell he could have done that move if it wasn't the case.

By not trading Souray, he just gave him the cards for his future negociation. Gainey just told all the fans that Souray is important for the team, not only now, but in the future. And there's no way he can let him walk away for nothing now. Which means, Souray can ask now for a big paycheck...Gainey just handcuffed himself.

Yeah, he has 20+ powerplay goals...and yeah, he gives a lot of room to the otehr players on the ice. And I'm the first one to cheer when he does it. But for everything he brings to the team, there are some downsides. And signing him, mid or long term, to a very lucrative contract would be a waste of money in my book. The chances that Souray puts the same kind of numbers next year, and the year after that, are somewhat slim...and eventually, he'll just become another one of those "non-tradable" player, which we'll let go for, yet, another player that we don't need.

I didn't build a championship team in Dallas...Bob Gainey did. However, he didn't do it in Montreal yet...so until he does, I feel it is my right to question his vision.

...because any fans that care should do it when the team doesn't progress after 4 years !

By: RealisticNick

RealisticNick — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 13:50:20 +0000

So you are not going to sign your #1 goalie who won the Vezina? You make it seem like it was his fault, Jose was a good goalie right up until after the lockout.