Ladd and Buff became a first liner and a top-pairing defender. Not sure if they count as "fringe" though.
- AdamFrench

Nobody that left the Hawks has gone on to do anything after they left. Nobody.

It's still the best Radio has to offer.
- TheMussel

Cannot agree there my friend.

4 would be the absolute max, but for under $3m at that point. 2-3 is preferable for a guy like Shaw.
- lumlums

Agreed. He’s a big risk for spending a lot of time on the IR the way he plays.


I don’t understand how he got a better deal as an rfa than Beleskey did as a ufa. Good to see bergevin making mistakes.

based on 64 games?
- AdamFrench

yeah.. sometimes thats all it takes..

You watch Subban play and you see someone who just wants attention.. I dont see that in Gos.. He skates hard all the time and you can just see that he wants to get better every game... Subban whines too much.

Have any of the fringe players that left the mighty Hawks, gone on to do anything, other than gather a big pay ???
- bixll

Nope.

Not that I can think of...

Cannot agree there my friend.
- fifty__missions

Will still take the same old classic rock over nickelback, lumineers, arcade fire, and all the bands with no guitarists and 3 synth players who call themselves rock, each and every single day.

Nobody that left the Hawks has gone on to do anything after they left. Nobody.
- bixll

Trevor Daley

You need depth that can score... Like Pitt has with Rust, Sheary, Cullen etc..

You see this every year on different teams..
- Tanooki

right...also those 3 had a cap hit of like 2 mil combined

I just don't see how the bolded is possible.

Unless somehow his injury has lowered his level of play (which by all reports shouldn't be the case), he's just that dominating that every game the Habs lost by 1 goal last year could easily become wins.

Remember that, before last year, Habs finished near the top of the Eastern conference with a similar lineup....
- Scabeh

I think Price is capable of carrying the team on his back, but i don't think it's something you can rely on happening again and again.. The lose by 1 goal argument is common among leafs fans with bernier.. The Habs havent made many changes to the lineup you're right, but that doesnt help them at all.. All the other teams around them are getting better, but MTL is just staying the same.

Have any of the fringe players that left the mighty Hawks, gone on to do anything, other than gather a big pay ???
- bixll

this is very much a Brian Burke-esque, Benning-esque move

Will still take the same old classic rock over nickelback, lumineers, arcade fire, and all the bands with no guitarists and 3 synth players who call themselves rock, each and every single day.
- TheMussel

I can't do it anymore. Its just.....been too much of that for too long. Plenty of guitar-based bands on CFNY.

I think Price is capable of carrying the team on his back, but i don't think it's something you can rely on happening again and again.. The lose by 1 goal argument is common among leafs fans with bernier.. The Habs havent made many changes to the lineup you're right, but that doesnt help them at all.. All the other teams around them are getting better, but MTL is just staying the same.
- Tanooki

Did you just compare Price to Bernier?

yeah.. sometimes thats all it takes..

You watch Subban play and you see someone who just wants attention.. I dont see that in Gos.. He skates hard all the time and you can just see that he wants to get better every game... Subban whines too much.
- Tanooki

NHL needs more Subbans.

Agreed. He’s a big risk for spending a lot of time on the IR the way he plays.


I don’t understand how he got a better deal as an rfa than Beleskey did as a ufa. Good to see bergevin making mistakes.
- Tumbleweed

Spot on.

I love to see people over-valuing intangibles. Here's a hint: If it's important, we try and find a way to quantify it, rather than putting it under one big cloak of mystery and talking about that which we cannot measure.

yeah.. sometimes thats all it takes..

You watch Subban play and you see someone who just wants attention.. I dont see that in Gos.. He skates hard all the time and you can just see that he wants to get better every game... Subban whines too much.
- Tanooki

Meh. Half his points on the PP with known PP specialists like Giroux and Simmonds. 60% offensive zone starts. We'll see how he fares next season.

NHL needs more Subbans.
- senstroll

Hell yeah.

Subban is amazing.

Did you just compare Price to Bernier?
- Scabeh

No.. i compared the one goal arguement and how had they had better goaltending they could win more of those games.. Price being the goalie that could win them more games, Bernier being the reason the Leafs lose 1 goal games.

NHL needs more Subbans.
- senstroll

Sure.. but no more PKs...

Meh. Half his points on the PP with known PP specialists like Giroux and Simmonds. 60% offensive zone starts. We'll see how he fares next season.
- AdamFrench

Simmonds is a PP specialist?

You're saying Gos only put up the points he did because he plays with Simmonds?

I think the Montreal market is similar to Toronto's.... people are passionate about their team and want them to win, so in a sense you're right it would be tough to go full rebuild like the Leafs but, obviously it's possible.

I understand what you mean and the lack of quality prospects (especially up front) is a problem, too many 2nd rounders for rentals have been wasted and Montreal didn't have much succes in the draft since 2010 and it's starting to show.

This being said, I don't think they're in that bad of a situation. Price, as you mentionned, is probably the best at his position in the whole league and can pretty much carry the team like a Crosby or Toews can for their respective teams. Subban is an all-star defender, the kind of who raises his level of play when needed. Pacioretty is one of the best goal scorer in the league in the last 4 years and Galchenyuk is close to being a number one center in this league (we'll see if he keeps improving).

I think the Habs have interesting pieces in their core and 3 of them (Patch, Subban and Price) are in their prime so we should expect some success in the next few years.

Will it be enough to win a cup? Not without some outside help IMO (either great drafting or a major trade bringing elite offense). But it should be enough to be a good team in the eastern confrence.
- Scabeh

I agree, the markets are quite similar. The language issue, can get in the way of progress for Montreal. In the sense that there is a need to hire Francophone coaches and managers to appease the fan base. Toronto has enjoyed financial success, despite missing the playoffs 10 times in the past 11 years. I am not so sure that Montreal would sellout every game under similar circumstances. Shanahan made a significant change by spending serious money on management and scouting. The management team currently employed - for me is better than any the Leafs have ever had. I am confident they are on their way to be a really strong franchise again. With the Habs, I think they need to rebuild. One of the biggest obstacles will be approval from the fan base to rebuild. Just making the playoffs or just missing the playoffs - should never be the goal. Elite offense is usually gained by drafting at or near the top ten - Bergevin had a chance to get Edmonton's fourth, I think it was a mistake to pass it up.

Hell yeah.

Subban is amazing.
- Scabeh

I like P.K. a lot. He gets waaay too much criticism in Montreal.

first time i'm seeing details on the freddy andersen contract on GF:

Modified NTC (10 team no trade list) starting in 2017-18 season.

2020-21 salary: $5,000,000 bonus: $4,000,000

I think Price is capable of carrying the team on his back, but i don't think it's something you can rely on happening again and again.. The lose by 1 goal argument is common among leafs fans with bernier.. The Habs havent made many changes to the lineup you're right, but that doesnt help them at all.. All the other teams around them are getting better, but MTL is just staying the same.
- Tanooki

a new coach is in order?

Nobody that left the Hawks has gone on to do anything after they left. Nobody.
- bixll

I think the jury is out on Sharp in Dallas. He landed on a good team.

Simmonds is a PP specialist?

You're saying Gos only put up the points he did because he plays with Simmonds?
- Tanooki

Simmonds has 42 PPG's in the last 3 years. Only guys with more are OV and Pavelski...so...yes...