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Montreal Acquire Shawn Belle


pitbull12

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At 6-2 232lbs, he seems to be what the HABS are going for now. We have a few very good, puck moving defensive prospects, Fisher, Carle, Webber, Subban. We need more tough, gritty guys like Komi (ie McDonagh, Paquette, now Belle). We have to be able to develop these guys, you may be able to teach defence, but you just can't teach size and mean!

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Valentenko is an offensive D-man? I must have missed the memo.

16 points in 57 games for the 'Dogs. Along with an average of one penalty minute per game and a +3 rating.

Sounds pretty well rounded to me.

Either way, good trade for a former first rounder who has played with Price. He will feel comfortable here.

And Locke? Too bad he wasn't going to fit here. Small centers who can't skate well are not our priority right now.

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And just when I thought we couldn't get any less deep at center, we trade away who is arguably our third best offensive center left after the Grabovski trade. I know we picked up Trotter, but still.

Locke did not give us depth at center, hopefully he can help Minny.

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And just when I thought we couldn't get any less deep at center, we trade away who is arguably our third best offensive center left after the Grabovski trade. I know we picked up Trotter, but still.

Ryan White and Ben Maxwell also will play this season in Hamilton. Or did you mean the depth we have in the NHL? Tanguay and Higgins could also be moved to center for a short-term solution. An Locke wouldn't have been anything more than that. Replacing a center for a few games. If we have a season-ending injury to Koivu or Plekanec Bob would pull the trigger and trade for a center anyway. No matter if Locke would still be in this organization.

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Ryan White and Ben Maxwell also will play this season in Hamilton. Or did you mean the depth we have in the NHL? Tanguay and Higgins could also be moved to center for a short-term solution. An Locke wouldn't have been anything more than that. Replacing a center for a few games. If we have a season-ending injury to Koivu or Plekanec Bob would pull the trigger and trade for a center anyway. No matter if Locke would still be in this organization.

Well I know Hamilton will have other players, I'm talking players who can easily fill in Montreal. Looking back, I probably shouldn't have mentioned Trotter though.

Higgins was brutal at center last season, Tanguay, I don't know if he can still play center; but in either case then you're just robbing yourself in another area. Very short term, a few games, maybe this is a non issue. Long term, Gainey would try to trade, but this is easier said than done. Top six centers aren't easy to get without giving up something significant. Could Locke be a long term option on the second line? Probably not, but he did give us some extra depth and another offensive option. It's not that I'm angry we moved Locke, it's just that the combination of losing 3 of our top 7 centers off last year's depth chart has me concerned (Grabovski is the biggest lost), and with Straka now also gone, I'm not sure what the plan is if Sundin doesn't pan out. I really think Gainey should have pushed for Federov.

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Valentenko is an offensive D-man? I must have missed the memo.

16 points in 57 games for the 'Dogs. Along with an average of one penalty minute per game and a +3 rating.

Sounds pretty well rounded to me.

Either way, good trade for a former first rounder who has played with Price. He will feel comfortable here.

And Locke? Too bad he wasn't going to fit here. Small centers who can't skate well are not our priority right now.

You're absolutely right... Valentenko's a grinder, I also heard somewhere that he might be joining the team sooner than expected or being given a chance (forget where I heard or read it, was recently).

As for Belle, BG is definitely trying to bulk up the team, fans have been complaining for the last few years about our small forwards. The year we tried to pick up Shanahan and ended up with Samsonov, everywhere people were up set cos we got yet another small player. BG is finally adding some size to the line up, wether it be for this season or for seasons to come, I think it's a great move. I doubt he'll play much in Mtl, but he's a big guy that can be called up if need be. From what I hear the guy can skate as well, he's got to be faster than Lats.

I kinda had hope for Locke, but if last seasons play-offs taught us anything, it taught us that we desperately need to bulk up. Looks like we're forming a mean team, imo he'll be playing in Hamilton, looks like BG might be thinking of bringing up a few guys.

Could this mean that Boullion and Brise are on their way out?

Btw, love the name "BadBrains"... Is this name taken from the DC Bad Brains?

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Well I know Hamilton will have other players, I'm talking players who can easily fill in Montreal. Looking back, I probably shouldn't have mentioned Trotter though.

Higgins was brutal at center last season, Tanguay, I don't know if he can still play center; but in either case then you're just robbing yourself in another area. Very short term, a few games, maybe this is a non issue. Long term, Gainey would try to trade, but this is easier said than done. Top six centers aren't easy to get without giving up something significant. Could Locke be a long term option on the second line? Probably not, but he did give us some extra depth and another offensive option. It's not that I'm angry we moved Locke, it's just that the combination of losing 3 of our top 7 centers off last year's depth chart has me concerned (Grabovski is the biggest lost), and with Straka now also gone, I'm not sure what the plan is if Sundin doesn't pan out. I really think Gainey should have pushed for Federov.

Seriously Higgins has been playing on the wing too long, I'm sure after last season, the coaching staff is working with certain players training them to fill in at center . S Kos seemed really pumped about playing center last year for Koivu, unfortunately he sucked on face offs.

Let's hope it's an injury free season, in case it isn't, it's always good to have experience NHLer's who's able to take over at center, instead of bringing up some kid who's either never player in the NHL or who was only called up for the odd game to fill in on wing. Much easier of a transition coming up from Hamilton to start on wing, then move to center once ready. Sure for some player's the transition is an easy one, most get a real reality check after their 1st face off.

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Well I know Hamilton will have other players, I'm talking players who can easily fill in Montreal. Looking back, I probably shouldn't have mentioned Trotter though.

Higgins was brutal at center last season, Tanguay, I don't know if he can still play center; but in either case then you're just robbing yourself in another area. Very short term, a few games, maybe this is a non issue. Long term, Gainey would try to trade, but this is easier said than done. Top six centers aren't easy to get without giving up something significant. Could Locke be a long term option on the second line? Probably not, but he did give us some extra depth and another offensive option. It's not that I'm angry we moved Locke, it's just that the combination of losing 3 of our top 7 centers off last year's depth chart has me concerned (Grabovski is the biggest lost), and with Straka now also gone, I'm not sure what the plan is if Sundin doesn't pan out. I really think Gainey should have pushed for Federov.

Do you really think that losing Locke makes us in any way less deeper at center??How long has he been with the organization and how many games did he play?.I like Locke but there's a reason he didn't stick....too small,too slow ..nice hands but no good if you can't fight off what is becoming a very large NHL...thats why another good sign by BG...got a young big D-man with an up-side

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And just when I thought we couldn't get any less deep at center, we trade away who is arguably our third best offensive center left after the Grabovski trade. I know we picked up Trotter, but still.

I dont know. You may be right that Locke was our next most logical centre call up, but I still dont think he would/qill cut it in the big leagues.

I wonder if yet another centre being moved means Sundin will be announcing something soon? :P hehe.

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I dont know. You may be right that Locke was our next most logical centre call up, but I still dont think he would/qill cut it in the big leagues.

I wonder if yet another centre being moved means Sundin will be announcing something soon? :P hehe.

Thanks for getting all habs fans hopes up :P

If Sundin doesn' sign i blame you for getting my hopes up!

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I watched Corey Locke put up back-to-back 50 goal seasons with the Ottawa 67s. He can play hockey. However, it was obvious that he was not going to get a shot in the big leagues with Montreal.

As with Grabovsky, Bob Gainey has traded a player with potential but who just does not fit it in with the plans of the Canadiens and he has received something of value in return. I think BG learned from Perezhogin leaving for Russia.

I have always liked Corey Locke and I would have liked to have seem him get a steady gig with the Canadiens. However, since that was not in the cards I hope he gets that steady gig in Minny. I believe he can help them.

I don't know much about the player Minny gave up so I cannot really judge the trade, although having another big defenceman in the system is probably not a bad thing.

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I dont know. You may be right that Locke was our next most logical centre call up, but I still dont think he would/qill cut it in the big leagues.

I wonder if yet another centre being moved means Sundin will be announcing something soon? :P hehe.

Hope you're right.

Thanks for getting all habs fans hopes up :P

If Sundin doesn' sign i blame you for getting my hopes up!

Same lol.

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Do you really think that losing Locke makes us in any way less deeper at center??How long has he been with the organization and how many games did he play?.I like Locke but there's a reason he didn't stick....too small,too slow ..nice hands but no good if you can't fight off what is becoming a very large NHL...thats why another good sign by BG...got a young big D-man with an up-side

I dont know. You may be right that Locke was our next most logical centre call up, but I still dont think he would/qill cut it in the big leagues.

I wonder if yet another centre being moved means Sundin will be announcing something soon? :P hehe.

It's not so much Locke himself. This deal seems pretty good for us, just like the Grabovski one. My concern here is the combination of these moves and not re-signing Smolinski or signing any of the UFA centers so far. I don't know if Locke ever would have cut it here, but at least he gave us some depth and options. Now as long as Gainey can get us a legitimate top 3 center with some good offensive upside I'll be okay with losing all these centers, but I am just lost as to his plan here. If Sundin signs, great; if not, then what? I'm not trying to say Locke would be a Sundin replacement, but he was a center with some offensive upside at least. It's the timing of these deals I don't understand, would we get that much less return had we waited until we actually sign someone?

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I'm not worried about lack of centers or the timing of these two trades (which netted two big defence prospects and a pick). Prospect camp is on now, the entire evaluation crew for Habs organization is in full gear right now, and Gainey knows what he has in Maxwell, White, Trotter (getting to know in this case), Desharnais, Aubin, as well as all our other wingers who've shown possibility of being a decent center (Sergei Kost for example). The incredible depth (IMO) we have in defence are ALL tradeable for a top flight center when the time comes for Gainey to pull the trigger.

AND i'd be comfortable starting the year as we are, with Koivu, Pleks, Chipchura, and Laps. Trade may come in October straight to the trade deadline in February.

Smolinski is still available if we want him, and he is probably still here.

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