I don't think so. Last 3 blogs I've sent in have been completely ignored and either Paul or Brandon have put out similar blogs a day or two after... so if I had to guess...
- kev1586

well at least Ek is a real class act and lets you know where you stand.
what a joke.

well at least Ek is a real class act and lets you know where you stand.
what a joke.
- Fountain-San

I am SHOCKED about this unprofessional treatment coming from a respected journalist like Eklund.

SHOCKED.

I am SHOCKED about this unprofessional treatment coming from a respected journalist like Eklund.

SHOCKED.
- Scabeh

your big screen TV and xbox are lost in shipping!

you watch hockey much? weber is one of the best dmen in the game and yes he is a very good puck mover. i dont care about the habs, but this is not one of your better moments. just an fyi...
- joenardonesson

Believe what you want to, as you can see above I'm not the only Habs fan who doesn't think he's a great puck mover. I certainly wouldn't say his offensive vision is fantastic enough either to earn that label. Most of his goals are blasts from the point.

well this was a mistake

Well the comments are really bashing Markov Wow! He hand a good season better than alot of other d-men in the league and yes He made 4.25 million. I really think he can find a spot on this team but think the term is the issue. The comment :There is a very solid D group assembled in Montreal for the upcoming season I have to disagree with I think that is an area of concern Can you say they are improved over last year in that area ? My last point for the comment of Markov slowing down in the playoff Well to be honest the WHOLE team slowed down.

Believe what you want to, as you can see above I'm not the only Habs fan who doesn't think he's a great puck mover. I certainly wouldn't say his offensive vision is fantastic enough either to earn that label. Most of his goals are blasts from the point.
- apex123

You are right that he should not be labelled a PMD based on his skating and his offensive vision. That being said, panicking because we don't have D to get the puck to our forwards is the basis of this argument, and in that respect, Weber more than gets the job done. In fact, he's even better than many PMDs in the league because if the pass isn't there, and he doesn't have room to move up with it himself (which he does more often than you give him credit for), he isn't afraid to chip it out off the glass instead of turning it over, something Petry or Beaulieu or even Emelin would get caught with.

So the whole OMG we need a PMD is over-rated because although Weber is not a PMD, he is a complete defenseman that gets that job done on that pairing if need be. Notice I said if need be... yes, having Markov there would be that much better so that both partners can handle that aspect of the breakout to make it less predictable. So between Weber, Petry, and hopefully Jerabek on the third pairing, we should be fine in regards to getting the puck up to forwards...

Believe what you want to, as you can see above I'm not the only Habs fan who doesn't think he's a great puck mover. I certainly wouldn't say his offensive vision is fantastic enough either to earn that label. Most of his goals are blasts from the point.
- apex123

I think Weber can be a good puck mover when he wants, it's true he can make nice passes, and when controlling the puck while he doesn't skate fast, he has nice puck protection abilities. But for some reason he often decide to depend on his D partner (except maybe when he was paired with Emelin) to get out of his zone. He often, after having gained the puck after board battles in his zone, make a short pass to his partner and let him exit while staying a bit behind. Not necessarily a bad thing if he's paired with the correct guy, but sill.

Weber does have good abilities with the puck and we he try he can exit the zone in control surprisingly well, but too often he doesn't even try. Come with his "low-risk reliable" style of play I guess.

I really dont think anyone is in the market for a 6 million dollar 38 year old Dman. Perhaps at a cheaper price he might find a home but a lot of teams seem like they are set.

I really dont think anyone is in the market for a 6 million dollar 38 year old Dman. Perhaps at a cheaper price he might find a home but a lot of teams seem like they are set.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Markov's value to the Habs is greater than his value on the open market.

Imo, Bergevin is being wise not giving him the contract he's asking for, hopefully he accepts the Habs offer for less.

I think Ek was scared by my lawsuit
- Not_Yan

Howard is in Milan

Anna Galchenyuk is in Milan

25stanley‏ @25stanley 43 minil y a 43 minutes
Plus
Stéphane Da Costa serait en discussion avec les Canadiens de Montréal → http://bit.ly/2ueZJRk #Habs

You are right that he should not be labelled a PMD based on his skating and his offensive vision. That being said, panicking because we don't have D to get the puck to our forwards is the basis of this argument, and in that respect, Weber more than gets the job done. In fact, he's even better than many PMDs in the league because if the pass isn't there, and he doesn't have room to move up with it himself (which he does more often than you give him credit for), he isn't afraid to chip it out off the glass instead of turning it over, something Petry or Beaulieu or even Emelin would get caught with.

So the whole OMG we need a PMD is over-rated because although Weber is not a PMD, he is a complete defenseman that gets that job done on that pairing if need be. Notice I said if need be... yes, having Markov there would be that much better so that both partners can handle that aspect of the breakout to make it less predictable. So between Weber, Petry, and hopefully Jerabek on the third pairing, we should be fine in regards to getting the puck up to forwards...
- kev1586

I'm not panicked personally, I was just arguing the label more than anything. When I think great puck mover, the first one who comes to mind is Subban. Yeah I know he holds it too long sometimes to a teams detriment, but in terms of raw puck moving skills he has great skating mobility and makes amazing breakaway passes. Don't get me wrong this was no knock on Weber, I just don't consider that label correct for him. Yeah I agree we don't have to worry about getting a PMD, although if we don't resign Markov/do something interesting our team is at best equal to last years.

Markov's value to the Habs is greater than his value on the open market.

Imo, Bergevin is being wise not giving him the contract he's asking for, hopefully he accepts the Habs offer for less.
- Scabeh

Give him 3 years at 13M

lower the cap and make him happy.

25stanley‏ @25stanley 43 minil y a 43 minutes
Plus
Stéphane Da Costa serait en discussion avec les Canadiens de Montréal → http://bit.ly/2ueZJRk #Habs
- WaterBoy

Interesting.

25stanley‏ @25stanley 43 minil y a 43 minutes
Plus
Stéphane Da Costa serait en discussion avec les Canadiens de Montréal → http://bit.ly/2ueZJRk #Habs
- WaterBoy

Is this something to get excited about (I'm serious)?

25stanley‏ @25stanley 43 minil y a 43 minutes
Plus
Stéphane Da Costa serait en discussion avec les Canadiens de Montréal → http://bit.ly/2ueZJRk #Habs
- WaterBoy

Is this something to get excited about (I'm serious)?
- apex123

Didn't he get like 96 points in 94 games in the KHL ?

Didn't he get like 96 points in 94 games in the KHL ?
- WaterBoy

Howard is in Milan

Anna Galchenyuk is in Milan



- stinger67

Didn't he get like 96 points in 94 games in the KHL ?
- WaterBoy

He did.

It would be an interesting signing.... I wonder how much he'd ask for.

If it's not much, go for it Bergefail!

He did.

It would be an interesting signing.... I wonder how much he'd ask for.

If it's not much, go for it Bergefail!
- Scabeh

Don't they already have enough fringe NHL players signed? I mean, how many guys do they want battling for 1-2 spots on the roster?

Weber is absolutely not a puck-moving d-man. Not sure where you got that from. That'a why he was so tradeable in Smashville. They needed the puck-moving skills PK to go with the type of offense they were trying to run. To quote an article from Nashville when he was traded, it was written that as much as they loved Weber for all he could bring to the team, he handled the puck like a live grenade. What the Habs so sorely lacked in the playoffs was what they traded away (thrice now in the last year!) Big guy. Big shot. Not a puck-mover.

Don't they already have enough fringe NHL players signed? I mean, how many guys do they want battling for 1-2 spots on the roster?
- BashCH

Well the Habs don't have many options at Centre/RW and he plays both positions.

As a depth signing that could actually surprise, even though the odds are low, why not?