Pk is definitely the better defenseman...not a good trade for mtl.
- Joel_Eh

It really was such a weird trade.

What's the overall feel out up there amongst Habs fans?

I think Shea is good, not the end-all-be-all Defenseman, though. I think he's pumped up a lot for two major reasons:

1. His shot (which has taken on an almost-Herculean status over the years from announcers pumping it up so much)
2. He's one of the last of his kind: big, strong, stay-at-home D man

But when it comes down to the big PK/Weber trade, PK is the superior Defenseman and all-around player in my opinion.
- Hank3Henshaw

Not when Mike Babcock is coaching the team.

I wasn't a fan of Brad Richards two years ago. He won't be any better now. He would get some freebie points from being out there with Kane and Panarin, if that is where he plays, but would he really be that much of an upgrade over anyone else? He is 36, slow, not physical and not good defensively.

Why did they lose to St. Louis? Not physical enough, not fast enough, and not good enough on defense as a team. I don't see how Richards helps fix any of that. Or anyone else they might find in the scraps left in the bargain bin of free agency at this point.

It really was such a weird trade.

What's the overall feel out up there amongst Habs fans?
- Hank3Henshaw

Nobody likes the trade...i think the best you can possibly say about it is that it shouldn't have a huge impact for the next 3 years or so.

I've come to terms with it and i really do like weber but 3 or 4 years from now it's going to look disastrous.

Not when Mike Babcock is coaching the team.
- RickJ

What do you mean?

Not when Mike Babcock is coaching the team.
- RickJ

Babcock doesn't coach Montreal or Nashville. How does he factor in?

(2) Vesey may be a better prospect than, say, Schmaltz or Motte or put-your-own-favorite-name in there, but he's still a prospect - a college player who has not played one minute with or against professionals; I doubt that Bowman is counting on Vesey for solving any problems at a championship level this year. (Perhaps that should be "HOPE he isn't".)
- StLBravesFan

I agree that until vesey or ANY KID shows he can weathert the long season the Q style play where you simply must understand read where the abckside pressure MUST be appliled and actually do it w/o interfering, I think you can rate everyone from Hartman Vesey, Motte or Schmaltz as equals and as you said they play well enough to see the ice for many minutes, they are all equals.

(Granted the alure of Vesey is that he was this six foot kid who didn't get picked in his first draft year, and he continued to put in the work and fix the deficiencies, and was almost 6" 2" in the year he finally got selected....but it didn't end there; he got a bit more puch in his quickness and gradually learned when to pour and when to glide. He always had passing hands excellenst stickhandling, and great on-ice sense, but he added a fiery killer closing ability and that is what drove to equal the quality talent the first rounders displayed.)

I dunno...I will go out on the limb and say Jimmy Vesey wouldn't end up being Marko Dano if he was on the flank of Toews. This is a Saad-like deceptively smooth mover who can slash (in the same way Matthews did in junior) and quickly shot or go to the open man, no hesitation.

He plays...wherever he signs, in the big leagues in my humble opinion.

All our rookies stink ,it has been determined all ready . Pittsburgh apparently had a bunch of Phenomena .My belief is with a flat cap all teams will have holes ,and rookies will be needed to fill holes Cheap . Maybe coach Q will have to run a few more practices ,become a bit more of a teaching coach .

What do you mean?
- Hank3Henshaw

Team Canada. Babcock wants nothing to do with PK. Played him in a meaningless game in the Olympics I believe, didn't even select him for this year's World Cup.

Team Canada. Babcock wants nothing to do with PK. Played him in a meaningless game in the Olympics I believe, didn't even select him for this year's World Cup.
- RickJ

A lot of people that could easily be on those teams don't get selected. Doesn't make Weber a better player than PK.

(JR for Zhamnov still makes me sick as well.)
of Crosby, letang, malkin, kessel... so that trophy still can return here once or twice.
- RedFeather

Al. back me up...they way I heard the JR departure is old man Wirts invited him to dine and praised him, stay off business, and then hit JR with I wants to offer you this, and that's what the offer is, with the hints he would be gone if he balked.

JR's representation had NO idea this dinner was going to be a business dinner, or maybe JR's dinghy ass just never articulated he was doing it to his agent.

The agent went crazy told old man Wirtz and Butter Wirtz told them get him outta here quickly.

Babcock doesn't coach Montreal or Nashville. How does he factor in?
- pjm901

World Cup will be Babcock's 3rd time as Team Canada's coach. PK doesn't get much consideration when that team is chosen and the coach has some real input in player selection. Weber is always in, PK never.

World Cup will be Babcock's 3rd time as Team Canada's coach. PK doesn't get much consideration when that team is chosen and the coach has some real input in player selection. Weber is always in, PK never.
- RickJ

Doesn't someone else handle roster selection? Pretty sure they have a GM.

Nobody likes the trade...i think the best you can possibly say about it is that it shouldn't have a huge impact for the next 3 years or so.

I've come to terms with it and i really do like weber but 3 or 4 years from now it's going to look disastrous.
- Joel_Eh

No doubt. Weber is certainly not a bad player by any means. I think you're right about the 3-4 years. Age might start showing after that window, but who knows.

Did you see that article on ProHockeyTalk yesterday about the Habs players saying they didn't have an issue with PK and that it was the front office that did.

There was one last week that discussed how the analytics guy made a big presentation on why they should keep PK and fought the trade. He was then removed from his position.

Kind of interesting.

Doesn't someone else handle roster selection? Pretty sure they have a GM.
- pjm901

Babcock has massive amount of input. This year they selected 7 other defenceman ahead of PK.

Doesn't make PK a bad player or prove Weber is better. But it tells you somebody doesn't care much for what PK brings to the table when selecting an elite team.

In other words, the "window" sort of closing.

Toews, Kane, Keith & Seabrook locked up for another 7 years.
Hossa for another 5.

And the window is closing already? That sucks. So are the next 7 years just throw aways then?

Sorry not trying to insult but,

Shea Weber is a NHL marketing player...there are lots...

As a guy who saw 6 teams added at once, and all the past expansions, the press has to find these positive candidtes to place on the local thrones in each city especially thse still building a fan base.

Weber was his best when paired with the unrated Ryan Suter.

No one is denying his shot maybe the best fasted hardest.

No one is doubting he can put the muscle on at times,

but he just isn't that great at recognizing things getting repositioned, and even reading the transition outlets.

Someone said it correct: he is the OLD paradign idea of NHL defender that the PR departments espouses about.

Would I want him? Yes if I am a Cap open team.

But we no longer can even rank/rate the players with that Cap hit, and we will eventually be at a crossroads with our top forwards and defenders here too.

He was less of a difference maker game in and game out and made mistakes that lead to bad things happening. It's ok, it you were sucked into the "he's a REAL star" publicity...it is all over the sport, and there is reason for it...filling the seats.

Toews, Kane, Keith & Seabrook locked up for another 7 years.
Hossa for another 5.

And the window is closing already? That sucks. So are the next 7 years just throw aways then?
- wolphnuts12

yeah, kinda like the Flyers window since 2010 and the shutters are still closed, no matter how much we hear about the stable of prospects.

Al. back me up...they way I heard the JR departure is old man Wirts invited him to dine and praised him, stay off business, and then hit JR with I wants to offer you this, and that's what the offer is, with the hints he would be gone if he balked.

JR's representation had NO idea this dinner was going to be a business dinner, or maybe JR's dinghy ass just never articulated he was doing it to his agent.

The agent went crazy told old man Wirtz and Butter Wirtz told them get him outta here quickly.
- wiz1901

Wiz..I know for fact that JR wanted to leave..wanted to be in front of a microphone and showboat/promote himself more. He became way more self involved and alienated team mates. There were separate situations where highly respected vets pulled him aside and told him he's screwing up (and a lot had to do Mr. Abbott) but he was getting different advice. I can PM more details that I know happened if you ever wanted

Prior to last season many people here were skeptical on Panarin, could he adjust to NHL ice, was he strong enough etc. are you more skeptical when it comes to Vesey?
- Dabearshawks

There are questions about almost every rookie as their should be. Until a player has proven themselves on NHL ice they are still a question mark.

Does that mean rookies shouldn't be played or this team will fail if they have 1-2 rookie forward? Certainly not. Does it mean the team will find 1-2 rookie forwards that can stick with the team? Certainly not.

The good news is that the team is not relying on these rookie forwards. They would be supplemental pieces to a great core. The team likely needs 1 rookie forward in the bottom 6 and that shouldn't been too difficult to find. However, finding a rookie for the top 6 will be more challenging. But it will be interesting to watch the situation unfold. It's not like the team has never has a void in the top 6 before. Before Anisimov there was always a gap at 2C that was patched over with guys like Richards and Handzus.

Will the Blackhawks make the playoffs? I don't see why they wouldn't. Will they win the Cup? I think there's a chance, although the chances aren't as good as previous years.

Could be.
- Dabearshawks

Have to believe the Hawks are in on him. If they get him, that might be the preclude to another deal. If not, then a fallback option on left wing. Seems Stan would have something in the works either way. A lot of depth defenceman that won't be crackin the top 6. Trade chips.

Sorry not trying to insult but,

Shea Weber is a NHL marketing player...there are lots...

As a guy who saw 6 teams added at once, and all the past expansions, the press has to find these positive candidtes to place on the local thrones in each city especially thse still building a fan base.

Weber was his best when paired with the unrated Ryan Suter.

No one is denying his shot maybe the best fasted hardest.

No one is doubting he can put the muscle on at times,

but he just isn't that great at recognizing things getting repositioned, and even reading the transition outlets.

Someone said it correct: he is the OLD paradign idea of NHL defender that the PR departments espouses about.

Would I want him? Yes if I am a Cap open team.

But we no longer can even rank/rate the players with that Cap hit, and we will eventually be at a crossroads with our top forwards and defenders here too.

He was less of a difference maker game in and game out and made mistakes that lead to bad things happening. It's ok, it you were sucked into the "he's a REAL star" publicity...it is all over the sport, and there is reason for it...filling the seats.
- wiz1901

I would think Subban is better for marketing and PR.

yeah, you know JJ, I totally forgot how in his early Rangers and even Bluejackets career, Artem Anisimov did play on the wings...
when they had Vermette in Columbus he was flanked out as I recall.

JR was a great player, but he was always something of a ahole and dbag. One of the funniest things ever during an intermission was when the dork on the NBCSN panel said keep it simple stupid and for a second JR looked like he was going to demolish him.

yeah, kinda like the Flyers window since 2010 and the shutters are still closed, no matter how much we hear about the stable of prospects.
- wiz1901

What are you sore about? I'm shocked if the whole closed window thing is the case. I didn't realize that was the consensus opinion. 2010 was a fluke anyway. Flyers had no goalie (well 3 of them actually) and only even got into the playoffs on a last game of the season shootout. Flyers probably shouldn't have even made the playoffs this past year.

So with that many people locked up for that long...is the window really closed?