Hockey Trade Rumors

According to TSN.ca, the Habs have dealt a 7th round pick in this years draft to the Rangers for prospect Ryan Russell. Russell had 30 goals and 46 assists in 58 games to rank 16th in the WHL in scoring while playing for the Kootenay Ice.

With his new 23 million dollar contract tucked firmly into his pocket, Andrei Markov will now be earning an average of 5.75 million dollars per season for the next four years. Such a large contract has many Habs fans doubting the signing of unrestricted free agent Sheldon Souray. GM Bob Gainey has said, however that his “priority will be Sheldon Souray,” adding “I expect to have talks with Sheldon’s agent in the coming days.”

Ok…I’m bored and I felt like doing a little analysis on the Habs for a 2007-2008 roster analysis.

I took a quick look at the RFA’s they have to re-sign and who they have signed currently.

According to RDS.ca, Andrei Markov finally received an offer: +5M$ for the next 4 years, so that’s a +20M$ contract…

Alex Kovalev told Gainey that he didn’t want to be back on the team if he was treated the same way he was this season. I heard if Souray and Kovalev go, Gainey is going to pick up a Headlined UFA.

Spring 2007 will go down as a particularly long season for Hab fans everywhere, not only for the ugly finish but also for the overall roller-coaster season. The team certainly did not finish within expectations. Through December, they clearly showed they were capable of skating with the better teams in the NHL until inconsistency, individualism and bad coaching moves happened. The team started off the year as a tightly knit group, some players even mentioned how they were getting dinner tables for 20 instead of several groups of 4-5 guys. That stopped after a few months when rookie coach Carbonneau made the wrong moves at the wrong times. I will admit that he has a bright future as a coach but he mishandled a couple of situations with some of his better players including Kovalev, Samsonov and Rivet. As he pressured them on, the individualists in each one of them shone out. They tried to play harder, to produce more, but in the end they hindered the team’s success more than help it.

The offseason will be more meaningful, if not more roller-coastery, than the regular season for the Montreal Canadiens.

In the last winning stretch to contend, the Habs were led by a core of young players.
In the two-game meltdown to lose the berth, they were let down by the vets; Kovalev’s give aways and Koivu’s penalties.

I know it’s only Carbo’s first season, but he’s made a lot of mistakes this year. His latest was benching Kovalev during most of the 3rd period of the leafs game. He barely played Kovalev during the powerplays, even though he’s awesome in the powerplay. He also did something when he touched the puck, unfortunately his linemates couldn’t do much.

After missing out on the playoffs this year its time for Gainey to focus on next year and not just the futur every time.
First of all get rid of Samsonov and Kovalev(maybe even Huet) and clear up alot of space. Next, let Niinima walk.

Currently sitting in the final playoff spot the Habs have won 5 straight and have been on fire as of late. With recent wins coming against Toronto, Boston twice, Washington and more impressively the New York Rangers, the Canadiens look to be a major contender for one of the last 3 spots available. They have also won 7 out of 8 and show no signs of quit.

The Habs are on a roll! 5 wins in the last 6 games; flashback to this previous fall? I think so! Habs are in a battle right now for 8th spot in the east and their young guys are stepping up and Jaro Halak, what an impact he’s had. I’m gonna predict, and I may be wrong, the Habs will finish in 7th. And as for the off-season, that’s not for another 4 months. We need to be concerned about now and making it to the cup. I can see this team being a repeat+ of the Oilers last year. Don’t laugh because its happened before. To all Habs fans: Go Habs Go! To all Leafs Fans: Outside looking in!

Who wants to see the K.O. line…I know I do. Why doesn’t Carbo see what would work, why havn’t Koivu and kovalev played together more? I want to see the lines like this.

Habs win Habs win…. Well with a 1 – 0 victory over the Boston Bruins the Habs move into a tie for eighth spot and alot of the credit has to go with the starting Halak. The rookie looked mature in net and was calm under pressure. The only problem with this is, he is still a rookie.