Decision Time: The Habs Need A Plan…
It may be the case for most of the teams, but what can I say…I’m a diehard Habs fan, so…
They never said it in public, but the Canadiens were rebuilding the last couple of years. It was quite obvious that they weren’t going to push for a playoff run before, but now…they need to make important decisions. Decisions that will affect the future of the organization for years.
I spent a lot of time debating this topic with my friends in the last couple of weeks, so thought I would try to post it here and see what kind of reaction I would get.
Most of our young prospects are on the team now…and better yet, they are producing.
Michel Ryder, Chris Higgins, Thomas Plekanec, Alexander Perezhogin, Guillaume Latendresse, Mike Komisarek…the organisation spent months and months selling these players to their fan base. And rightfully so…
Only four more to graduate; Andrei Kostitsyn and Kyle Chipchura will most probably win a spot in the line-up next year, while we’ll have to wait a couple of years for David Fisher and Carey Price.
But my point is…the Canadiens will have a lot of important decisions to make in the next couple weeks/months.
2ND LINE CENTER
Some fans want to see Chris Higgins there, and while I disagree, it could be a good move. However, I’m not sure Higgins would be as good as he was when playing with Koivu. A lot of fans criticized Gainey’s move when he gave a very expensive contract to our beloved captain, but I guess everyone can see it now with Michael Ryder, Chris Higgins and Guillaume Latendresse…Saku Koivu makes everybody look better. He may not have the goals nor the points, but he’s a true leader.
Alright, so let’s say we’re keeping Higgins on the first line. We still need another player there ? What’s the problem with our second line ? Well, it’s obvious they need a legitimate second line center…but what about splitting Kovalev and Samsonov ? They’re both playing the same kind of hockey. They both like to control the puck, and you just can’t have two players like that on the same line…it never works !
Kovalev spent the last two years *****in’ about not having chemistry with his linemates. Why ? Because eversince he was placed on the second line, the coaches kept changing it. He started with Mike Ribeiro…and whoever could play on the left side that game. Then, they signed Samsonov…and tried both of them with about 4-5 different centers. True, Kovalev lacks heart sometimes…but know what…I blame him and the organisation for that.
I say bring him back on the first line with Koivu and Higgins…and keep it that way ! To be efficient, Kovalev needs stability. He needs to know exactly what his linemates will do.
This would also help Sergei Samsonov. Such a disapointment since he arrived in Montreal. But I think Samsonov just needs to feel that he’s the playmaker on his line to feel more comfortable. He likes to control the puck, let him do it. You’ll need someone to create some room though. Now wait a minute ?!? Guillaume Latendresse isn’t playing on the first line anymore ? Hmmm…this could be interesting. But that leaves Michael Ryder with no spot on the first two lines ?
I can’t help but think that Ryder never really was part of the plan for the Montreal Canadiens. They kept signing him to one-year deals, and he’s the type of player who has been overachieving in the NHl eversince he joined the big team. Not so long ago, everybody was saying that he was the player with the best value on the market. I’m not sure it’s the case anymore, as I think that Chris Higgins is now. But still, maybe we could get a decent return for him…like a second line center. Who should be our dancing partner ? I really don’t have a clue…but I really think we should try to move him.
Why ? Because eventhough he worked on his skatting in the offseason, Michael Ryder will always be a one-dimension type of player. He doesn’t hit, he isn’t a solid defensive player…and lately, he can’t even complete a pass. Still, a lot of teams could be interested in a legitimate 20-25 goal scorer.
Yeah, well the Canadiens need that too. True…but we need a second line center more than we need Ryder in my book.
OUR 3RD AND 4TH LINES
I gotta say, I was very happy when Gainey traded Zednik for a draft pick, then used another pick to add Mike Johnson to the line-up. That was a brilliant move. And right now…it’s not only brilliant…it’s a freakin’ steal !
I still think Begin would be a better fit than Perezhogin on the third line…but if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it, right ? I would just like to see Perezhogin playing with Plekanec and Kostitsyn on our 4th line. Let’s face it, Kostsitsyn has a lot more to offer than Garth Murray. And you can afford to bench Kostitsyn to put in Downey if you’re facing a tougher opponent.
Other than that…no need to rush any decision there. We’ll have to make room for Chipchura eventually, but not right now.
OUR DEFENSEMEN
This is a critical aspect right now. The Canadiens will have to make a very important move here. Our three best defensemen are set to become un-restricted free agent at the end of the season, and unless they find a way to save some money elsewhere, the chances they’ll be able to sign all three are very…very slim !
You gotta start with Andrei Markov here. A lot of team will be interested in him, and you gotta sign him before the season ends. In my book, Andrei Markov is one of the league’s best kept secret at the blueline. Fans outside of Montreal don’t realize how good this guy is…or maybe you do, but most of them just see him as a decent/good defenseman with an offensive upside, while he’s so much more than that. I’ll go on record and say that Markov will be a Norris nominee in the next five years. He might not win it, but he’ll be on the list of possible winners.
That leaves Souray and Rivet. They’re both physical, but make mistake defensively. Souray brings more offense, while Rivet brings leadership. Tough call, as I don’t think we’ll be able to afford the two of them.
I’ll go with Rivet here, and here’s why. First of all, I think Rivet will sign at a cheaper price than Souray. He also mentioned a lot of times that he would like to end his career with the team, while Souray made no such comments, eventough he’s been asked the question like a thousand times.
The question remains; do we keep him for the 82 games, or should we try to move him to a team trying to capture the cup this year as a rental player ? If I’m Bob Gainey, and no I’m not, I’m moving Souray shortly after Christmas. The longer you wait, the less you get in return. You could then receive a decent prospect on the blueline, which we are lacking of, and maybe a pick on top of it. You’re saving money…and you can always make a push for Souray later in the offseason if you think you have to money to sign him.
The way I see it, the Canadiens aren’t Stanley Cup contenders…not right now anyway. They are on the way to become one, but not quite yet. And with the youth we have on the line-up now, might as well make a push to become an elite team in the next two-three years, than holding on to all of our players hoping we can become the Cinderella team.
Oh…how could I forget about Janne Niinimaa ? Well, it’s pretty easy…the guy just stopped in Montreal, and will probably leave at the end of the season. His contract his way too heavy to move him, so we’ll just let him go or put him on the waivers hoping someone will bite. I’ve never been a fan of Mike Ribeiro, but I think Gainey kinda messed up on that trade. We needed a defenseman, sure…I just don’t see why it had to be Niinimaa.
AND THE GOALTENDERS
It’s been the focus of trade talks in Montreal eversince Aebischer joined the team. Everyone knows that the Canadiens will have to trade one of them. Personally, I like that tandem, but I also understand that Aebischer will have to re-negocia
te his contract, and wants to prove to everyone in the league that he can be a number one. Right now, they’re both keeping their mouth shut…but it’s a matter of time before they start complaining.
I’ve said it before, personally, I would trade Huet. I think that, just like Ryder, we are quite lucky he performed the way he did so far for us, but I can’t help but think that it’s gonna end sometimes. It happened with Theo…with Hackett…with Moog. It’s gonna happen to him. I don’t think any of the two has what it takes to bring us to the Stanley Cup, not with the team we have right now anyway.
Trading Huet would clear a bit of cap space, and his value right now is higher than Aebischer. And quite frankly, I don’t see enough difference between Huet and Aebischer…nothing that justifies one being paid $2.0m more than the other. Sure, Huet is on fire right now…and he has been in the second half last season, but so were Aebischer at the beginning of this season while Huet was looking shakky at best.
But…the Habs can’t do that. I know it, everybody knows it. You can’t trade Huet, you just can’t. The fans would be so pissed !!! So I guess Aebischer is the one leaving. Let’s just hope we can get something in return. And not a goaltender, we don’t need one. Halak and Danis are both ready for a backup role in the NHL.
But the Canadiens have to get something significant for Aebischer. Because if we end up losing Mike Ribeiro and Jose Théodore for nothing, then Gainey is one of the worst GM ever.