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Montreal Canadiens Blogger •
The Canadiens completed an absolutely wild day on the market, where they spent a record amount of money in free agency on Brian Gionta, Mike Cammelleri, Jaroslav Spacek, and Hal Gill, who were all added a day after the Canadiens pulled off a major deal for Scott Gomez. Subtracted from the fold: Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Alex Tanguay, Mike Komisarek, Robert Lang, Mathieu Schneider, Mathieu Dandenault, Francis Bouillon, Tom Kostopoulos, and Patrice Brisebois.
My take on things:
Gainey believes he's pretty much done, but don't be surprised to see a couple of changes in the coming months leading up to the season. I still believe there's a strong chance Mathieu Schneider could be signed towards the end of the summer, as the team's 6th/7th defenseman. Also, there's reason to believe Gainey could shop for a winger on the second line, but that's a situation that could linger as the team tests Sergei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresse, Matt D'Agostini, and Max Pacioretty next to Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn.
As for the moves made at the top of the roster, I believe Montreal has made 3 upgrades to their number 1 line. Gomez and Gionta have made magic together before, and Cammelleri is a talented, young, Canadian player who scored 82 points, 39 of which were goals last season. That being said, this line will have to make up in speed what it lacks in size.
On the blueline, Jaroslav Spacek isn't quite as gifted as Mark Streit offensively, but he's got a great slapshot, and is certainly talented 5 on 5, and on the powerplay. Spacek is also a better defensive defenseman, and he could be easily paired with Andrei Markov, or next to countryman Roman Hamrlik. Josh Gorges will help round out the top 4 defensemen in Montreal.
The Hal Gill signing was easily the surprise of the day. Montreal fans are well aware that the physicality they lost in Mike Komisarek would have to be replaced by a couple of guys, and Gill is certainly one who the Canadiens will depend on in their bottom pairing. He's got a great deal of experience, and was instrumental in helping Pittsburgh capture a Stanley Cup just less than a month ago. He's not a very mobile defenseman and he does make mistakes in his own zone, but Gill always puts in a strong effort, and his leadership will be appreciated on a Canadiens team with an entirely different face.
**************
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Mike Komisarek signing with the Leafs for 2 million more than the Canadiens supposedly offered is an absolutely swift kick in the pants to the Habs and their fans. His decision suggests he was never seriously considering returning to Montreal, where they treated him as well as any organization could treat one of their players. After Komisarek's injury they put him behind the bench with the coaching staff, a move that emphasized how highly regarded he was around here. He was the first, and only one of two, to receive a contract offer from the Canadiens (over the captain, who had been in Montreal for 12 seasons), and he would've been a guy they likely would've made captain, sooner than later. It'll take a long time for Canadiens fans to get over Komisarek's decision to leave for the Toronto Maple Leafs, if they're ever able to.
Congratulations to Steve Begin. When the Canadiens lost this guy there was never any doubt that he'd come back to haunt them in one way or another. Well after years of being punished by Begin, the Boston Bruins were likely salivating at the opportunity to sign him. Begin took 850,000$ to get six chances, and perhaps a playoff matchup, to smash up the Canadiens. If there's any question about how excited Boston is to have added him, how many 850,000$ players were signed to deals with new teams yesterday?
************
Cammelleri-Gomez-Gionta
Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kostitsyn
Latendresse-Lapierre-D'Agostini
Laraque-Metropolit-Stewart
Markov-Spacek
Gorges-Hamrlik
Gill-O'Byrne
Weber
Price
Halak
The Canadiens have $47.97 mil committed to next season's cap, and have to sign Tomas Plekanec, Guillaume Latendresse, Kyle Chipchura, Gregory Stewart, and Matt D'Agostini. They will likely have plenty of wiggle room to complete another transaction, be it a trade or signing before the season begins. After that they'll likely still have a bit of room to add something at the deadline.
My take on things:
Gainey believes he's pretty much done, but don't be surprised to see a couple of changes in the coming months leading up to the season. I still believe there's a strong chance Mathieu Schneider could be signed towards the end of the summer, as the team's 6th/7th defenseman. Also, there's reason to believe Gainey could shop for a winger on the second line, but that's a situation that could linger as the team tests Sergei Kostitsyn, Guillaume Latendresse, Matt D'Agostini, and Max Pacioretty next to Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn.
As for the moves made at the top of the roster, I believe Montreal has made 3 upgrades to their number 1 line. Gomez and Gionta have made magic together before, and Cammelleri is a talented, young, Canadian player who scored 82 points, 39 of which were goals last season. That being said, this line will have to make up in speed what it lacks in size.
On the blueline, Jaroslav Spacek isn't quite as gifted as Mark Streit offensively, but he's got a great slapshot, and is certainly talented 5 on 5, and on the powerplay. Spacek is also a better defensive defenseman, and he could be easily paired with Andrei Markov, or next to countryman Roman Hamrlik. Josh Gorges will help round out the top 4 defensemen in Montreal.
The Hal Gill signing was easily the surprise of the day. Montreal fans are well aware that the physicality they lost in Mike Komisarek would have to be replaced by a couple of guys, and Gill is certainly one who the Canadiens will depend on in their bottom pairing. He's got a great deal of experience, and was instrumental in helping Pittsburgh capture a Stanley Cup just less than a month ago. He's not a very mobile defenseman and he does make mistakes in his own zone, but Gill always puts in a strong effort, and his leadership will be appreciated on a Canadiens team with an entirely different face.
**************
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Mike Komisarek signing with the Leafs for 2 million more than the Canadiens supposedly offered is an absolutely swift kick in the pants to the Habs and their fans. His decision suggests he was never seriously considering returning to Montreal, where they treated him as well as any organization could treat one of their players. After Komisarek's injury they put him behind the bench with the coaching staff, a move that emphasized how highly regarded he was around here. He was the first, and only one of two, to receive a contract offer from the Canadiens (over the captain, who had been in Montreal for 12 seasons), and he would've been a guy they likely would've made captain, sooner than later. It'll take a long time for Canadiens fans to get over Komisarek's decision to leave for the Toronto Maple Leafs, if they're ever able to.
Congratulations to Steve Begin. When the Canadiens lost this guy there was never any doubt that he'd come back to haunt them in one way or another. Well after years of being punished by Begin, the Boston Bruins were likely salivating at the opportunity to sign him. Begin took 850,000$ to get six chances, and perhaps a playoff matchup, to smash up the Canadiens. If there's any question about how excited Boston is to have added him, how many 850,000$ players were signed to deals with new teams yesterday?
************
Cammelleri-Gomez-Gionta
Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kostitsyn
Latendresse-Lapierre-D'Agostini
Laraque-Metropolit-Stewart
Markov-Spacek
Gorges-Hamrlik
Gill-O'Byrne
Weber
Price
Halak
The Canadiens have $47.97 mil committed to next season's cap, and have to sign Tomas Plekanec, Guillaume Latendresse, Kyle Chipchura, Gregory Stewart, and Matt D'Agostini. They will likely have plenty of wiggle room to complete another transaction, be it a trade or signing before the season begins. After that they'll likely still have a bit of room to add something at the deadline.
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