Comments on: Off-Season for Habs

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:01:18 +0000

the website i checked say the following:

The Canadiens have confirmed to CJAD's Abe Hefter that defenceman Alexei Yemelin, Montreal's third-round pick in the 2004 NHL entry draft, has signed on to play in Russia. However, Russian law stipulates that Yemelin could get out of his contract with two weeks notice. The Canadiens appeared to be primed to announced Yemelin's signing, but Yemelin was apparently already deep in conversations with a Russian Elite League team to pull out of those talks.

Alexei Emelin, a member of Team Russia at the '07 World Championships and the Montreal Canadiens' third-round draft pick in '04, has turned down a contract offer from the Canadiens to sign a two-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Super League, as announced earlier today on the Ak Bars web site, as well as by Soviet Sport.

The Soviet Sport article quotes the 21-year-old defenseman as saying that by the time the Canadiens had offered him a contract, he already had an agreement in place with Ak Bars, and that the negotiations with Ak Bars had been on-going since prior to the World Championships (in late May). When asked if his contract with Ak Bars included an out clause if he were to sign an NHL deal, Emelin either seemed unaware of such a provision, or refused to discuss it, saying, "I play for Ak Bars now, and I will only think about this team."

By: habsrock99

habsrock99 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:30:52 +0000

if Emelin isnt coming til 09, then why are all the sports stations telling everyone that he was signed and that he has the best shot at making the team among the rookies? not only have they said this, so did Gainey in an interview like 4 days ago.

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:15:28 +0000

this is possible if you are talking about an aggressive gm, but gainey doesn't do that kind of stuff.

briere isn't leaving a team that dominated the regular season to play for a team that missed the playoffs. marleau has only one year left on his contract. emelin won't be here til 09 at best. schneider isn't coming back. habs can't trade bouillon, they have no depth on defense.

By: habsrock99

habsrock99 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:10:08 +0000

ok, just one thing, i hadn't heard about Walker and putting the Kostitsyns with Lapierre would be a smart thing considering he centred Andrei in Hamilton before ther call ups. And ya my solution may be a "quick fix" but wat else r u gonna do with the empty roster spots? by feeding the rookies to the fire will hurt more then it will help so by adding players to help with the here and now lets those potential stars develop at ther own pace. And no, Bouillon won't bounce back cuz he was a one year wonder and having him on the team will hurt more then it helps. like ive always said, they should move Bouillon to the wings, put him on the 3rd line maybe.

By: sakurulz

sakurulz — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:19:23 +0000

ironic how in a ''realistic post'', you're pretty far from reality....

why would SJ trade their 2nd centerman, which gives them their offensive strength, for a michael ryder, when they have lots of great yung talent on the wings?

Why would SJ want Halak when they have nabokov and toskala in nets?

also, begin is a fourth liner, scott walker a potential top-6 forward (who just resigned btw)...so how do you consider ''replacing begin by walker''????????

also, it's like you guys don't really read what's going on before coming posting your articles here.....gainey mentionned more than once that Price would be a n.1 goalie next season so if it isn't with the habs, it's back to hamilton!
He needs to play doesn't need to heat the bench....so either n.1 in mtl, either n.1 in hamilton!got it?

in case you don't live in mtl, emelin will stay in Russia for now.....

trading bouillon? last yr he wasn't that good it's true but he missed training camp and was injured so....he'll probably be back better than ever....even if he is small, he is one of the hardest hitting players on the team......+ he has a NTC with a contract signed just last summer so i doubt gainey will start tading every player he just signed....

the kost. bro's won't be on 4th line....andrei will prob have top 3 line (possibly even top 2) role while sergei will prob start the season in AHL....
putting lapiere with kost???really?
you're mixing a 4th liner no talented but a lot of heart player with one of the most skilled young players in the team offensively....are you kidding me???

aside from that, not bad!

By: Antero

Antero — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:02:09 +0000

really, you're a habs fan.
i couldn't tell.

i think most of what you propose is plausible.
i don't see this being a cup contender anytime soon.
and i'm pretty sure Walker resigned already.

By: MtlHabs09

MtlHabs09 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:50:40 +0000

Awesome, down-to-earth article. Realizing that we won't be able to sign a dream team this year, but are still able to grab some more than decent players. Thank you for the Huet thing, he's an amazing BACKUP goalie. I can easily see Price starting around mid-year with the team, in my opinion, struggling off the bat. Good article man, keep it up.

By: Avim86

Avim86 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:33:02 +0000

Very nice article , I agree with most of the stuff you listed. Habs can't go for the quick fix , and waste all our prospects on risky trades. I'd let our youngsters develop those that make the line-up will and those that don't will make it next year. If we get a free agent star to help our youngsters then it would be good but trading off our future is not the solution....Only time will tell. Go Habs Go