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Habs Sign Jeff Halpern To 1 Yr Deal


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I rather have them keep Moore, but Halpern is a good two way player who can help the team. What worry me a bit is how he will perform under pressure, since he played most of his NHL carreer under palm trees <_<

Moore would of asked for more than Moore. Halpern is just there in case one of our young-ins are struggling.

Like I said before, it's a depth move.

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I honestly like this move. It doesn't upset me at all. I wanted Halpern back when he was with Dallas, at the time. And with Martin creating our new defensive system, Halpern was made to play for this team.

Boyd - Eller - Lapierre

Pyatt - Halpern - Moen

Darche

Any combination of those 6-7 players is gold.

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This was not only predictable, it was so predictable we didn't even expect it in the post-Gainey era. :lol: It makes a lot of sense, though... Gauthier responsibly watched his cap, then after getting the team squared away with the Price signing, used the additional cash to sign a competent, affordable, decent 3rd line center. Not a bad decision, just not really exciting news for a group of fans that were excited for the season to start two months ago.

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This was not only predictable, it was so predictable we didn't even expect it in the post-Gainey era. :lol: It makes a lot of sense, though... Gauthier responsibly watched his cap, then after getting the team squared away with the Price signing, used the additional cash to sign a competent, affordable, decent 3rd line center. Not a bad decision, just not really exciting news for a group of fans that were excited for the season to start two months ago.

this.

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I hope the Habs make the play offs

I have faith they will. I think Gauthier has made some shrewd moves, and well not overly improving this team, he has certainly added two aspects that help: size and youth. I think we have just as good a shot as we did last year...and hopefully it is more convincing than 8th by a shootout loss:P

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I'll bet the city and fans will fall in love with this guy like we usually do with our bottom 6 centers.

This time next year, we'll sign another random FA bottom 6 centerman, and we'll say: I can't believe it, what a stupid move, why couldn't we have kept Halpern! :D

Smolinski/Bonk/Johnson/Begin/Moore/Metro....

Who else?

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Juneau, Sundstrom, Dackell, Van Allen, Lindsay...

The nice thing is a lot of the guys named like Begin, Bonk or Dandenault were signed to longer term, overpriced deals.

Like I said before, this is a whatever signing but it's 1 year, it's cheap to the point that it's probably cheaper to keep him around than any prospect and he actually can fill some roles on the ice or sit in the press box.

Not much to really like but nothing to really dislike.

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The nice thing is a lot of the guys named like Begin, Bonk or Dandenault were signed to longer term, overpriced deals.

Like I said before, this is a whatever signing but it's 1 year, it's cheap to the point that it's probably cheaper to keep him around than any prospect and he actually can fill some roles on the ice or sit in the press box.

Not much to really like but nothing to really dislike.

Yeah not much really to dislike in all of PG's moves this season (with the exception of the Halak move, but you never know how that will turn out). We have brought in some solid young players (Lars Eller, Ian Shultz) as well as depth at forward (Dustin Boyd, Jeff Halpern) and defense (Alexandre Picard) and goaltending (Alex Auld). Montreal is a better team than last season because they are deeper, and have a lot of players who under the circumstances, could end up improving quite a big on thier last seasons numbers. I like what PG has done with this team and the limited cap space. Montreal didn't get anyone big, but they didn't need anyone big, and if we had gone for somebody with a big salary we would have ended up losing more than we gained unless we got that player via trade. So i am excited to see what the habs will produce, and excited that Montreal has a GM who isn't afraid to make bold moves.

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Is there a method to what seems to be this madness by Pierre Gauthier? Depth move or more?

The general opinion would suggest that Halpern will be 4th line center and a frequent visitor to the press box... perhaps.

However, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Jeff penciled in at the 3rd line center spot between Travis Moen and Lapierre. It would create a checking line with experience and very good size that can agitate, be physical and has the potential for an offensive upside. It is kind of like what the Ducks had back when Moen was playing with Samuel Pahlson (can't remember right now who the other winger was?). Halpern could help Moen's game and Lapierre's IMO.

The taste that we all had with Dominic Moore indicated that there was a need for more experience down the middle... and though perhaps not the first choice for many, Halpern does fill that need short-term and comes with a low cap hit.

Surely the hope for some prospects is subsequently diminished. But this signing may also provide further flexibility that could lead to a potential trade in the near future and open up another spot as some have suggested (in the top six perhaps). I wouldn't be at all surprised to see at least one prospect included with an established player and being currently ear-marked as such. I don't think PG is done yet.

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The biggest plus out of this to me is that it creates an excellent first PK unit;

Pyatt- Halpern

Gill- Gorges

and the second unit likely;

Moen - Lapierre

Markov - Hamrlik

We definitely take minutes away from our top 6 where they really shouldn't be used wasting precious energy!

I love it, a character guy that is one of the best perenial faceoff men in the nhl who knows he is coming in to fill a role. This will give Montreal a legitimate checking line that they really haven't had in forever, it will be a line that can play against top lines and not have the pressure to score but to stop the other top lines and frustrate them... a combination of;

Moen - Halpern - Boyd/Pyatt/Darche/Lapierre

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The Gazette's Pat Hickey, always well-connected, reports the deal is worth $600,000 for the year. Halpern earned $2 million last season.

Big pay cut ..........wait until he gets his first pay cheque and sees the taxes :lol:

Seriously, maybe just maybe he'll be able to afford a house on Ile-Bizarre.

If not, there's always the Point or St Henri. :P

And that's about a 5-10 minute drive from the Bell Centre. ;)

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