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Canadiens Sign Chipchura To One-year Contract


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I think it's time to start him in the NHL and see what he can do. No more up and down. Give him a REAL chance. He may not be a top point production guy, but he is a clutch performer, team leader, and responsible defensively (awesome +/-). He was captain of the World Juniors and captain of the Calder Cup Hamilton team. His AHL playoff statistics are great (both goals and assists), showing that he can elevate his game when it counts (something that last years Canadiens simply could not do). In actuality I think he fits in better than D'aggostini does at this point. D'aggostini may be a better scorer, but he's not as well rounded and is younger and less experienced. Although I expect to see both players in the lineup this year, I think Chippchura will impress if given a proper chance.

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He had better get a fair shake at earning a roster spot in training camp or this will be yet another first-round pick going down the drain.

With our cap situation, if what RDS is reporting (500,000) is true I think he definitely has an inside track.

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I think Chipchura will earn his roster spot this year.

If he plays like the 2 way player we all think he can,

Like he did in the worlds and on the Calder cup winning Bulldogs, he will fit in really well.

This is his year to prove himself. The one year contract I think will motavate him to play at his best to get a better contract.

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At that kind of money assuming $500k is the real number would indicate to me that Chips has done what Lapierre did last season. Gave up money to get a one-way contract. Therefore if it is a one way contract he will either make in Montreal or win another team. I really think he has the game to play in the NHL for a long time. A long NHL career is not a 1st round bust. IMHO. There are lots and lots of 1st round draft picks that never have 8 to 15 year career in the NHL. It is also very rare for a 1st round pick to become the franchise player or All Star unless they are top 3 as per a comment recently made by Trevor Timmins.

I think Chips can be a good 3rd or 4th line center. Not sure a checking center would ever become a 2nd line center. But a solid team player. PK, shutdown situations, and leadership. If the top two lines provide the offense they are supposed to provide the 3rd and 4th lines can focus on providing energy or checking. Montreal was supposed to have 3 offensive lines last season but in reality it had one offensive line that sometimes was the Lang line, sometimes the Koivu line and sometimes was the Lapierre line. Rarely was it the Pleks line. Let's hope with the house cleaning this summer that our team will now have two offensive lines, one checking line, and one energy line.

I think the TSN article was wrong. Chips is the captain of the Bull Dogs this past season but I am fairly certain that he was not the captain when the Bull Dogs won the Calder Cup. Just an important member of the team.

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This is a great signing. I think that Gainey is going to silence his critics this year. We are a well rounded team now and I am hoping that Chips is centering our fourth line all year long. He is NHL ready IMHO! Good hardworking Alberta boy could be the future captain of our beloved Bleu, Blanc et Rouge.

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That makes no sense, why would he take less than his qualifying offer, which would have been close to 1 million?

It has to do with the fact that he wasn't up here for the entire season, according to the CBA, this is how a qualifying offer works:

if the Player's prior year's Paragraph 1 NHL Salary is less

than or equal to $660,000 for that League Year, 110% of

the prior year's Paragraph 1 NHL Salary.

However the key words there is what I bolded, the defintion of that is such:

The salary earned by a Player for play

in the NHL, as set forth in Paragraph 1 of his SPC.

With the key words being earned and in the NHL, which means its only money given for being in the league, aka on the roster.

Couple that with his minor league salary, which on a two-way QO has to be paid as such:

if a Player is eligible to receive a Two-Way Qualifying

Offer, the Paragraph 1 Minor League Salary component

shall not be less than the higher of the Player's prior year's

Paragraph 1 Minor League Salary, if any, or the minimum

Minor League salary.

Wih a Paragraph 1 Minor League salary being:

the salary earned by a

Player for play in the minor leagues, as set forth in Paragraph 1 of his SPC.

And the maximum minor league salary being 67,500.

Therefore if you think about it, Chips actually got more than the minimum.

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I think the TSN article was wrong. Chips is the captain of the Bull Dogs this past season but I am fairly certain that he was not the captain when the Bull Dogs won the Calder Cup. Just an important member of the team.

Correct. Ajay Baines was the Captain.

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I really feel this is his year to make it. His skating has improved, couple that with a need to make some space under the cap and his contract. He's looking like the 4th line Centre to replace Metro.

If he has a good showing in camp he gets the nod to start the season, if he competes and improved his faceoffs he stays on the line and Metro gets waived.

I really hope he pulls it together because I'd hate to see another 1st rd pick fall to the wayside. He's had 4 years to develop now throw him in the deep end and lets see if he can swim.

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I honestly believe that the people who doubted Chipchura in the past are gonna eat their words this season.

Not too quickly I hope ! I just did my grocery !

Seriously, if he ever pans out, I'll be glad, as it will be better for the team.

But in the meantime, I'm not even remotely close to cook my words.

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I honestly believe that the people who doubted Chipchura in the past are gonna eat their words this season.

Tough to say - although I do believe that within a couple of years you will be right...just not sure if this will be the year or not that he makes an "impact." I do believe he will be with the team this year though.

Not too quickly I hope ! I just did my grocery !

Seriously, if he ever pans out, I'll be glad, as it will be better for the team.

But in the meantime, I'm not even remotely close to cook my words.

Hehehe.

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