2012-13 State Of The Habs

[maddienmike]

Hey Folks I am back AGAIN,my computer that was given to me was a dud,I am in the library typing this.So far I don't think we have improved a great deal, a bit more toughness but not a lot of scoring,which is what we so desperatly need,just have to wait and see when they get on the ice,D doesn't look that bad.

GO HABS GO

[CATATAFISH]

I BELIEVE DAMNIT lol

LOL

I'm torn!

On one hand I would love to sign him, I know Jagr would help this team out a bunch.

On the other hand I would like to lead him on and then when he agrees to sign just stop taking his calls.

I would have liked to do that to Shanahan and Sundin and um....who else?

[Nine1One]

LOL

I'm torn!

On one hand I would love to sign him, I know Jagr would help this team out a bunch.

On the other hand I would like to lead him on and then when he agrees to sign just stop taking his calls.

I would have liked to do that to Shanahan and Sundin and um....who else?

when rejected him i think

[Guest habs1952]

The Habs may very well have the best PK in the league this year.

[roy_133]

Actually, are we planning to sign another winger? I mean Pacman, Cole, Gionta, and Bourque aren't a bad top four if Bourque can put last season behind him; but Gionta and Cole are both getting older (production could slow at any point, injury concerns), Bourque is coming off a terrible season, and even in the best of situations you can have injuries. Armstrong is decent insurance, but I'd prefer having Bourque start out on the third line and be moved up in the case of injuries.

Compared to last season, in players who could potentially play in the top-six, we've lost Cammy and Kostitsyn and gained Bourque and Armstrong: that's a pretty big downgrade (even if Bourque can return to form) and doesn't leave much room for error. I hope we make a nice signing but our roster is already looking fairly full so I'm not sure what Bergevin's plans are.

We've also kind of gained Gionta but although I was initially really on board with signing a veteran to fill out our lineup, the more I think about it the more I understand that there has to be room for a young player to make this team, whether it's on the 2nd line instead of Bourque or on the 3rd line with Eller. It could be Leblanc, who was rehabbing an injury all summer last year and probably wasn't as strong as he needed to be but he has more experience and hopefully strength now. Obviously I think you can't rule out Galchenyuk making this team on the 3rd line (probably as a winger), you at least can't shut off the possibility. Gallagher, we'll see.

[BeanCountingHab]

@JohnLuTSNMtl: #Habs Bergevin says youngsters like Brendan Gallagher and Louis Leblanc will be given chances in camp to earn a top 6 forward spot.

23 hours ago

@JohnLuTSNMtl: #Habs Bergevin says he spoke to Jagr and Semin's representatives (among several top 6 fwds) but didn't find any of them to be a good fit.

Might be equally relevant in the free agency class.

[henrique_rauen]

The Habs may very well have the best PK in the league this year.

The forwards, yes. The Ds, not so sure. We have Gorges and Subban, but to have a great PK we would need another shutdown D. Not sure markov will be able to take that role. But yes, our PK will probably be top 5.

[Werzoth]

@JohnLuTSNMtl: #Habs Bergevin says youngsters like Brendan Gallagher and Louis Leblanc will be given chances in camp to earn a top 6 forward spot.

23 hours ago

@JohnLuTSNMtl: #Habs Bergevin says he spoke to Jagr and Semin's representatives (among several top 6 fwds) but didn't find any of them to be a good fit.

Might be equally relevant in the free agency class.

That is good to hear for Gallagher I like the kid already.

[FirstStar]

That is good to hear for Gallagher I like the kid already.

I like the kid too, a tad small, but works very hard.

As for Semin, I'm glad we're not going for him. I don't think Montreal is the place for him. Hab fans expect a lot from their players, so a guy who's not always giving 100% (for the money he's being payed), fans and media will be all over him.

[Graeme-1]

As for Semin, I'm glad we're not going for him. I don't think Montreal is the place for him. Hab fans expect a lot from their players, so a guy who's not always giving 100% (for the money he's being payed), fans and media will be all over him.

Mostly agreed, he's not the sort of player I want to see us build around. I wouldn't have minded him on maybe a 1-2 year deal to play with Plekanec and Gionta (we could always send him to the minors if he became a distraction), but some idiot GM will give him a 5 year contract.

[grecohab]

Mostly agreed, he's not the sort of player I want to see us build around. I wouldn't have minded him on maybe a 1-2 year deal to play with Plekanec and Gionta (we could always send him to the minors if he became a distraction), but some idiot GM will give him a 5 year contract.

The Avs...Varlamov will make the phone call 6Y/6M...

[BigTed3]

Mostly agreed, he's not the sort of player I want to see us build around. I wouldn't have minded him on maybe a 1-2 year deal to play with Plekanec and Gionta (we could always send him to the minors if he became a distraction), but some idiot GM will give him a 5 year contract.

I wouldn't have minded him her on anything up to 5 years, at up to 5.5m per season. I certainly think he's worth around what Cammy was and we really haven't replaced the goal-scoring we lost with Cammalleri and Ak46. At this point, we have a lot of "two-way" forwards and depth guys but we have a big need for a guy who can consistently put the puck in the net. And by consistently, I'm not talking game-to-game but season-to-season. Semin is highly-skilled and I think he'd do well playing with any one of our "passing" centers. I can understand not going higher than 5 years or reproducing his current close-to-7m salary, but I think he can still be effective over a 5-year period, or at least remain tradeable within the limits I set out above.

[Habitom]

I wouldn't have minded him her on anything up to 5 years, at up to 5.5m per season. I certainly think he's worth around what Cammy was and we really haven't replaced the goal-scoring we lost with Cammalleri and Ak46. At this point, we have a lot of "two-way" forwards and depth guys but we have a big need for a guy who can consistently put the puck in the net. And by consistently, I'm not talking game-to-game but season-to-season. Semin is highly-skilled and I think he'd do well playing with any one of our "passing" centers. I can understand not going higher than 5 years or reproducing his current close-to-7m salary, but I think he can still be effective over a 5-year period, or at least remain tradeable within the limits I set out above.

He's too irratic for my liking and expensive. IMO AK46 would be a cheaper fix. IMO he has made himself look bad with Nashville and if he genuinely wants back BM should seriously consider it. Sometimes "you don't know what you had until is gone", I think Joni Mitchell said that. "Maybe he comes back and earns his redemption', I said that.

[BigTed3]

He's too irratic for my liking and expensive. IMO AK46 would be a cheaper fix. IMO he has made himself look bad with Nashville and if he genuinely wants back BM should seriously consider it. Sometimes "you don't know what you had until is gone", I think Joni Mitchell said that. "Maybe he comes back and earns his redemption', I said that.

Ak46 and Semin are nowhere close to the same level. We can replace Ak46 easily enough. It's very difficult to find a guy who can score as much as Semin and especially a ufa whose value has taken a big a hit as him. If the bidding gets too high, I would back out, but as I've said, I think it'd be worth a call. Looking through the Habs farm system, there really aren't any top 6 LW's coming up. At center, we have some depth. On the right side, we have plenty of guys coming up (LL, kristo, Collberg, Gallagher, etc.). But on the left side, all we have after Pacman are pluggers. Semin would be the easiest way to change that without giving up assets.

[Habitom]

Ak46 and Semin are nowhere close to the same level. We can replace Ak46 easily enough. It's very difficult to find a guy who can score as much as Semin and especially a ufa whose value has taken a big a hit as him. If the bidding gets too high, I would back out, but as I've said, I think it'd be worth a call. Looking through the Habs farm system, there really aren't any top 6 LW's coming up. At center, we have some depth. On the right side, we have plenty of guys coming up (LL, kristo, Collberg, Gallagher, etc.). But on the left side, all we have after Pacman are pluggers. Semin would be the easiest way to change that without giving up assets.

I agree on "it'd be worth a call". MB wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't at least check it out. I just don't like flakes on big $/long term deals.

[BeanCountingHab]

I agree on "it'd be worth a call". MB wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't at least check it out. I just don't like flakes on big $/long term deals.

I mentioned earlier in the thread but per John Lu's twitter Bergevin said he had spoken to both Semin and Jagr's representatives but that neither was a good fit. Now maybe Semin's demands will come down as time goes by and they can revisit? Who knows.

[weepingminotaur]

No one would be talking about Semin being erratic if he weren't Russian. Let's not let media-generated bigotry cloud our judgment here. He's got top-end skill, and he's in his physical prime. He managed 21 goals and 54 points last year despite playing in a defensive system, mostly under a coach who thought it was great to give third-line grinders more time than his stars. I'd have no problem taking a flyer on Semin.

[NewfoundlandHab]

If we did manage to land Semin it would clearly make us a better team. I understand why one would be a little weary about signing him long term, given his history of being inconsistent and "lazy", but as we all know, we have a glaring hole on the left side and to pass him up if we have a chance at him is just foolish.

I'd consider breaking up the top line and putting DD with Semin. I feel like that might be the best way to get the most out of Semin because of how crafty DD is. On the other hand, Pleks with some good linemates could probably be just as effective.

[BeanCountingHab]

If we did manage to land Semin it would clearly make us a better team. I understand why one would be a little weary about signing him long term, given his history of being inconsistent and "lazy", but as we all know, we have a glaring hole on the left side and to pass him up if we have a chance at him is just foolish.

I'd consider breaking up the top line and putting DD with Semin. I feel like that might be the best way to get the most out of Semin because of how crafty DD is. On the other hand, Pleks with some good linemates could probably be just as effective.

Same. DD and Semin with a big North South guy like Cole. That would leave you Pleks, Gionta and Patches for your second line which is an upgrade on the Gomez, Gionta and Patches line that was very successful for a short stint.

[jennifer_rocket]

I'd take Alexander Semin, just not on a HUGE contract that lasts for ten years. I believe he's also a right wing, is he not? I know he shoots right-handed. I suppose Cole could be moved back to the left wing since he shoots left, instead of playing his off wing. Unless Semin also plays his off wing. We need a winger. Gallagher, Leblanc, Palushaj... They're not going to be able to fill a top six role right now. If Alexander Semin's agent was willing to listen to deals of three years or four years I think making a pitch makes sense.

[BigTed3]

I'd take Alexander Semin, just not on a HUGE contract that lasts for ten years. I believe he's also a right wing, is he not? I know he shoots right-handed. I suppose Cole could be moved back to the left wing since he shoots left, instead of playing his off wing. Unless Semin also plays his off wing. We need a winger. Gallagher, Leblanc, Palushaj... They're not going to be able to fill a top six role right now. If Alexander Semin's agent was willing to listen to deals of three years or four years I think making a pitch makes sense.

Semin plays LW. A lot of the russian players prefer to play on the opposite side from how N.A. players line up because they are able to break to the middle of the ice more easily and one-time shots.

[dwdemonwolf]

I'd love to get Semin on a fairly reasonable deal. He is an elite talent.

Semin-Plekanec-Gionta

Pacioretty-Desharnais-Cole

We'll keep the Two And A Half Men line intact, and Plekanec finally gets TWO wingers who can score and skate like the wind.

That said, the Havlat rumors are interesting. He's been injury prone but he is one of the fastest skaters out there, and he's a great player in both ends of the ice. He'd fit really well with Plekanec and the captain.

[weepingminotaur]

I doubt any of these rumours will come to anything. If we were serious about improving the team with quality players -- not 5th d-men and bottom-six forwards -- we'd have already done so instead of making the signing of Francis Bouillon a priority on day one of free agency.

I hope the thinking is that it's a development year. It's the only way to justify Bergevin's otherwise abject failure to do anything to improve our blue line.

[dwdemonwolf]

Just out of curiosity weep, is there any d-man signed so far you'd want for the amount of money they have signed for?

Maybe Allen then. Anyway, I wouldn't rule out eventual trades.

[Graeme-1]

I hope the thinking is that it's a development year. It's the only way to justify Bergevin's otherwise abject failure to do anything to improve our blue line.

What I'm guessing is it may be more of an evaluation year than an outright development year. What I mean is it's not so much that our defense is bad as much as it has a large number of question marks, primarily:

- can Markov stay healthy and is he still a top-pairing, or at least top-four defenseman?

- was last season just an off-year for Kaberle? Is that player we remember from Toronto still in there somewhere?

- can Subban continue improving and become a consistent player we can count on in all situations?

- can Emelin be a legitimate top-four dman?

Bergevin may have preferred seeing how things go this season to getting into free-agent bidding wars where we'd have to drastically overpay someone and likely be saddled with a long-term contract. If everything goes horribly wrong, next year we look at buying out Markov and Kaberle and making a big splash in free agency. If things go well, we can maybe be a bit more patient and let guys like Tinordi develop.

I would have liked to have seen a reasonably big signing, but given the amount of uncertainty with this team, I can kind of see maybe holding off for a year when hopefully we'll have a clearer picture of where this team truly lies.