Five Burning Questions - July 1st edition

[BigTed3]

1. What grade would you give Marc Bergevin for his work so far this off-season?

2. Who was the biggest loss - Gorges, White, Gionta, or Briere?

3.Which of these players has the best chance of making the team next year - Dumont, Andrighetto, Thomas, or Pateryn?

4. Will the Habs go after another top 6 forward before the start of the season?

5. Which player isn't in the opening day starting 6 D men: Beaulieu, Tinordi, or Weaver?

[jeff33]

1. B. so far. we need at least one, preferably 2 top 6 wingers. if he can pull off getting at least one id give it a B plus. an A would be landing 2.

2. gorges for sure. gionta cant really score anymore and hes a midget on a team of midgets. it was better that we move on. white at the end of the day is a guy who couldnt really even crack the 4th line, briere is another midget whos even further past his game than gionta.

i understand the move, and im actually in favor of it but gorges was a heart and soul guy and we'll miss his character, not to mention his 300 blocked shots a year

3. id say none, hahaa....if anything pateryn seems to have earned the longest look

4. refer to 1. id say we better go after MORE than one

5. weaver will be for sure, whichever kid has a better camp will be on his left, a trend which will go on all year

[habsisme]

1 - B: Solid improvements but no major moves and we're in desperate need of a first line winger

2 - Gorges but I'm okay with moving him

3 - Pateryn (but I honestly don't know)

4 - Doubt it but I want them to (specifically a first line guy, we have no need for a "top 6")

5 - Tinordi

[THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123]

1. A, A+ if he manages to fit another top 6 winger on a reasonable contract in the cap space we have. To earn the A+, he also needs to sign Subban for 8 years(no less) and Seller to long-term deal. Trading Gorges, as sad as it is, and using the salary on Gilbert and Weaver was a great move, and the Briere for Parenteau deal was a steal. He upgraded on White with Malhotra and managed to sign a low-risk, potential high-reward player to an ELC. IMO he didn't overpay for any of the players he resigned or signed and I have no problem with the players he resigned a the ones he didn't. The rest of the off season should be interesting.

2. Gorges. Gionta was a big loss too but Gorges is more valuable. He is a good #4 tough minutes defensive defenseman and was paid fairly too. It sucks that we had to trade him but Gilbert isn't really a downgrade IMO and I really like the acquisition. The second rounder, Weaver(who we might not have gotten if we didn't do the trade), and the ability to move Emelin to the left is great.

3. Andrighetto. Pateryn is close but there are too many defensemen ahead of him and I only see him as a call up when injuries happen. There are no fourth line spots left at the moment so that rules Dumont out and Thomas isn't as good as Andrighetto IMO. Andrighetto had a great rookie year on a terrible Hamilton team and I can definitely see him winning a spot in camp like Gallagher and Bournival did the past two years.

4. I would say yes. It's tough to say though, because it depends on how much cap space we have left after Subban and Eller resign, and if Bergevin makes any more trades. We have been rumoured to be interested in Vrbata, and I can see that happening. Players like Kulemin and Setoguchi might be interesting too. We'll see.

5. I'll say Tinordi. I think that Weaver will definitely start as the right on the third pair and one of Beaulieu and Tinordi plays on his left. It depends on what happens in training camp but I have Beaulieu ahead of Tinordi on the depth chart. I think he's the better player and I think Therrien agrees with me.

[kinot-1]

1,,,, A

2,,,,Gorges, obviously

3,,,,Toss-up between Andrighetto, and Pateryn.

4,,,,Only if they can trade for someone.

5,,,,,I'll say Weaver, because MT & MB will want to see how the others perform.

[BigTed3]

1. B+ thus far for Bergevin. I love the Briere-for-Parenteau trade for dealing away from a position we have too much of (small forwards) for an area of need (RW). I like the signing of Gilbert. Not so fond of the Gorges trade return nor of the decision to replace White (a righty who's younger) with Malhotra (who I still think will be okay though). i think MB still needs to address the fact we don't have a right-handed face-off man and he needs to move along Moen and one of Budaj/Tokarski. So unfinished business as of yet.

2. Gorges was easily the biggest loss for me. We needed to clear out the left side and build up the right one, which we did, but we should have been able to get more for Gorges and we haven't really replaced his defensive ability completely.

3. I think Pateryn will have a hard time, given that MB said he was going to give his two "left-handed young defencemen" a chance to make the team. No mention of a righty and no room for more than two youngsters. So it comes down to Andrighetto or Dumont. Dumont to me has the best chance right now because he's older and can take draws. But if there's no one else signed and Andrighetto has a good camp, he could force the Habs' hand like Bournival did last year.

4. I think they might still be in on Vrbata, who won't make a decision today and hopefully they're looking at Mueller. In the end, I don't think we'll sign another UFA top 6 winger though. If it comes, it'll be via trade. In the end, I think we'll be done for now and save the cap space for the trade deadline.

5. I see Beaulieu and Weaver as the third pairing, so to me Tinordi starts the year as #7. Wouldn't be surprised if Emelin is on a short leash though, as Tinordi could easily step in to partner Gilbert.

[RicochetII]

1. What grade would you give Marc Bergevin for his work so far this off-season?

An easy "A".

The only disappointing factor was the departure of Gorges over Emelin, otherwise it was a move made out of necessity.

- He improved our defense corps while also leaving room for young players.

- He improved our forward group, at least marginally.

- He picked up the most sought after KHL prospect acquisition in Sekac.

- He balanced our team picture substantially through lateral movements.

- He saved cap space for Eller and Subban, with enough flexibility for further improvements.

- He didn't make any potentially devastating commitments, which is a difficult thing for GM's to avoid, especially on this day.

2. Who was the biggest loss - Gorges, White, Gionta, or Briere?

Gorges is the biggest loss both on the ice and emotionally.

3.Which of these players has the best chance of making the team next year - Dumont, Andrighetto, Thomas, or Pateryn?

Dumont. Not on his own merits necessarily, but because he would be the most suitable call-up in an injury situation. We have bottom 6 forwards who will be bumped into a more offensive role before Andrighetto or Thomas, which leaves the hole on the 4th line, where Dumont is a serviceable replacement.

4. Will the Habs go after another top 6 forward before the start of the season?

Yes, but we will not be overly aggressive.

We have to make at least one more movement to drop a goaltender.

We have an unused asset in Nygren.

We have Bourque and Moen who should be upgraded.

We will have the cap space to pursue one more player.

A package trade for a top 6 forward would make sense, and we have the space available to take on a short term contract, preferably a full-season rental who is unrestricted at the end of the season. Our trade deadline should be in September this year, so we can maximize the return on Bourque, Tokarski/Budaj, and Nygren.

5. Which player isn't in the opening day starting 6 D men: Beaulieu, Tinordi, or Weaver?

Weaver. An opening day atmosphere on the road will help prepare Beaulieu and Tinordi for our home opener (or at least reduce the shock). We need to start steeling their nerves as early as possible this season.

[Guest Regis2]

1. B+ . Unloaded Briere, didn't re sign Gionta and didn't make any long term commitments ....yet

2. Gorges even though he signed Gilbert and they have 3 rookies , his leadership will probably be missed.

3. Pateryn

4. Probably not

5. Probably Tinordi

[31Careyprice]

1. A: Got rid off Briere and Gionta and replaced them with Parenteau and Malholtra making the habs bigger, younger and better. Acquired Sekac a young promising player who reminds me of a bigger Gionta and lastly loosing Gorges is a big loss but got Gilbert who is more of a need and a 2nd round pick.

2. Gorges is the biggest loss but I think Bergevin did a great job replacing him.

3. Don't like any of the choices I go off the board and say Jiri Sekac.

4. Yes top 6 winger

5. Weaver

[MergenTatara]

1. What grade would you give Marc Bergevin for his work so far this off-season?

2. Who was the biggest loss - Gorges, White, Gionta, or Briere?

3.Which of these players has the best chance of making the team next year - Dumont, Andrighetto, Thomas, or Pateryn?

4. Will the Habs go after another top 6 forward before the start of the season?

5. Which player isn't in the opening day starting 6 D men: Beaulieu, Tinordi, or Weaver?

1. C Letting all the big name UFAs go e.g. Iginla, Stasny, Stralman, Niskanen etc. Except for Parenteau, signed all the unknowns

just to save cap space. Looking at the acquisition made by other divisional rivals, we'll see whether his choices come back to bite

him come April next year.

2. Gorges hands-down.

3. Pateryn. He has waited for his chance for a LONG time.

4. Yes, still missing a RW despite Parenteau.

5. Tinordi. But hopefully, he'll get his chance as the season goes on.

[THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123]

I understand disappointment in not signing big names, but we're an ECF team and don't need a big splash and need to save cap space for Subban and Eller. The only big name we missed out on that really hurts foe me is Ehroff since he signed for well below his value and we could've fit him in. I would have went as high as 6mil on the one year he wanted. Not sure he would have accepted but it was worth a shot.

[CaptWelly]

1. What grade would you give Marc Bergevin for his work so far this off-season?

2. Who was the biggest loss - Gorges, White, Gionta, or Briere?

3.Which of these players has the best chance of making the team next year - Dumont, Andrighetto, Thomas, or Pateryn?

4. Will the Habs go after another top 6 forward before the start of the season?

5. Which player isn't in the opening day starting 6 D men: Beaulieu, Tinordi, or Weaver?

1) B - 2) Goerges 3) Pateryn 4) No 5) Tinordi

[Noob616]

1. A. Absolutely great stuff in the past week. If you told me a month ago that Briere, Gionta, Gorges, Murray, and Bouillon would be gone, and replaced with Parenteau, Gilbert, Weaver, and Malhotra, I would have laughed at your optimism. Adding Sekac and a couple of picks is just gravy. In a vacuum it's a shame to lose Gorges for just a 2nd but the gong show killed his value, and it's pretty clear now that the master plan was Gorges out, Emelin to the left, and signing Gilbert/Weaver which is a great set of moves. Only guy I'm disappointed we missed out on was Ehrhoff but I think getting him for 4M in Pittsburgh was a Crosby/Malkin discount and not realistic to expect here.

2. Gorges.

3. Going to go with Andrighetto as the only hole on the roster right now is a top 9 RW. Pateryn probably doesn't make the team with the right side D set with Subban-Gilbert-Weaver already, and Dumont/Thomas haven't been as good as Andrighetto in the AHL.

4. I don't think so unless there's another Briere-Parenteau rabbit to pull out of the hat, I think they might look at a 3rd line RW and go with Parenteau and Gallagher in the top 6. If there's another top 6 forward in the works it would have to be through a trade, we don't have the space to fit a Vrbata under the cap at this point, maybe someone will take on Bourque.

5. Beaulieu because our first game is against the Leafs so I imagine Tinordi will draw in. I think Beaulieu/Tinordi will be platooning on the 3rd pairing next to Weaver so it's a bit of a coin flip to predict it right now.

[Guest mrsmarkov]

1. Um. B-. Letting go of Gorges is something I will never be able to stomach, I still can't believe it happened. The signings during free agency weren't the greatest, but they weren't horrible. Though signing a goalie was completely pointless, just like when he signed Dubs . Though Bravo on the Marky and Weaver signings! :D :D

2. Gorges by a long shot! I'm sickened by it and can't believe he's actually gone. I'm not even going to go on about Gorges...I've been like a broken record on so many posts involving Gorges. All I have to say is, foolish move and MB will be crying about it later. I also don't want to lose Whitey, but that's just me being selfish. He's worked so hard on improving himself as a whole and he's ready to be a permanent player in the lineup. He's been left to collect dust on a shelf, he deserves to play. I want to keep him, but I know he deserves to go somewhere else where he will actually be appreciated.

3. Um Pateryn I guess. That's all I'm going to say. I'm not so much into the youth...don't ask. Though he's not that young, he should be playing now and has waited long enough. But I can care less.

4. Um, NO.... . MB .................... . I love the guy, but sometimes he looks like a genius and other times....

5. Beaulieu for sure!