Steven Hindle: Centennial Season, Eat Your Heart Out! - Centennial Season, Eat Your Heart Out!

Good post. I think it is a pretty realistic assessment of situation. Sets up Montreal as a seller at the deadline. Also puts them in hunt for lottery pick.

Best analysis of the situation I have read so far. People who are accusing PG of lying about the age of these trade discussions cannot possibly be watching this team. Anyone with a brain cell who is watching this team knows Cammy had to go... and I called the wisdom of picking up Bourque weeks ago. I suspect Cammy knew the trade was coming eventually and chose to do 2 things. First, he hit the gas with his comments. Second, he fed his own ego and made it seem like the trade was his initiation. This is a good move. Never mind what Bourque brings. It offloads a bad contract, and I suspect Pleks will look better real soon.

Habs got what they needed but failed to make the most of this opportunity IMO. While, as a Leaf fan, I think MTL did ok in the trade and got what they wanted, I think PG seriously undervalued his player and also moved him just a bit too early. (I know Cammy's recent comments accelerated the process). But look at what has been gotten for fairly similar players recently, and while there's no denying Cammy has had a bad season, I still think they could have gotten more. Especially with the unexpected seasons so many teams are having... many will be desperate very soon.

And then you hear things from other GM's like: "I wish I knew Cammy was available, i would have made an offer:"..... Wha? Really?!?!?! (Mackenzie,TSN)

So PG has apparently been working this since December and all he's been doing is shopping with one team? Don't think you should open up the bidding wars and maximize your return? I seriously think he dropped the ball huge this way. Maybe it wouldn't have netted them anything better (although I seriously think it would have), PG should still have been much more diligent in this process; especially considering he's been wanting to trade him for a month....

So overall, yes the Habs got what they needed (size and $$) from this trade, but they failed to maximize return at a time of great uncertainty for the franchise. I mean look at what Burke got for overpaid, underachieving Beauchimin

Fire PG and bring in Lemaire.

Habs got what they needed but failed to make the most of this opportunity IMO. While, as a Leaf fan, I think MTL did ok in the trade and got what they wanted, I think PG seriously undervalued his player and also moved him just a bit too early. (I know Cammy's recent comments accelerated the process). But look at what has been gotten for fairly similar players recently, and while there's no denying Cammy has had a bad season, I still think they could have gotten more. Especially with the unexpected seasons so many teams are having... many will be desperate very soon.

And then you hear things from other GM's like: "I wish I knew Cammy was available, i would have made an offer:"..... Wha? Really?!?!?! (Mackenzie,TSN)

So PG has apparently been working this since December and all he's been doing is shopping with one team? Don't think you should open up the bidding wars and maximize your return? I seriously think he dropped the ball huge this way. Maybe it wouldn't have netted them anything better (although I seriously think it would have), PG should still have been much more diligent in this process; especially considering he's been wanting to trade him for a month....

So overall, yes the Habs got what they needed (size and $$) from this trade, but they failed to maximize return at a time of great uncertainty for the franchise. I mean look at what Burke got for overpaid, underachieving Beauchimin

Fire PG and bring in Lemaire.
- Blue_Waffles

Cammi has a limited NTC, he had 7 teams he couldn't be traded to. Who knows if that GM who wasn't contacted was or not on that list.

Win win for both teams. Flames drastically improve their number one line. Iggy-Jokinen-Cammi will be an absolute lights out line. Gives the Flames the ability to compete for the Playoff spot they so desperately want. Cammi always has better seasons playing with those more talented and larger than him. Evidenced by his top two years with Kopitar and Iggy. They give up a guy that was among their top goal scorers for two years but wasn't competing enough for them.

Habs automatically improve their size up front and replace an equal amount of goals. Bourques won't be as pretty but he's proven he can also score as often. A guy like this will further insulate the small centers on the team and will allow a guy like Pleks to worry more about his skill game and less about going in the hard areas.

The other parts of the trade do help both teams. Ramo stocks up the Flames goaltending future a bit more with the eventual retirement or departure of Mikka. Habs pick up a prospect and pick to help fill the cupboards.

In some ways I'm sad to see Cammi go. No doubt he was our most offensively skilled player. However his heart wasn't in it anymore. His game without the heart is pointless. He scores goals when he tries hard. No doubt he'll do better with the Flames but the Habs are definitely not worse without him.

Win win for both teams. Flames drastically improve their number one line. Iggy-Jokinen-Cammi will be an absolute lights out line. Gives the Flames the ability to compete for the Playoff spot they so desperately want. Cammi always has better seasons playing with those more talented and larger than him. Evidenced by his top two years with Kopitar and Iggy. They give up a guy that was among their top goal scorers for two years but wasn't competing enough for them.

Habs automatically improve their size up front and replace an equal amount of goals. Bourques won't be as pretty but he's proven he can also score as often. A guy like this will further insulate the small centers on the team and will allow a guy like Pleks to worry more about his skill game and less about going in the hard areas.

The other parts of the trade do help both teams. Ramo stocks up the Flames goaltending future a bit more with the eventual retirement or departure of Mikka. Habs pick up a prospect and pick to help fill the cupboards.

In some ways I'm sad to see Cammi go. No doubt he was our most offensively skilled player. However his heart wasn't in it anymore. His game without the heart is pointless. He scores goals when he tries hard. No doubt he'll do better with the Flames but the Habs are definitely not worse without him.
- Routs

Well said. I think Bourque will be awesome for you guys. He has wanted to be a Hab for a long time.

Well said. I think Bourque will be awesome for you guys. He has wanted to be a Hab for a long time.
- whipper334

Your keyboard to God's inbox.

Best analysis of the situation I have read so far. People who are accusing PG of lying about the age of these trade discussions cannot possibly be watching this team. Anyone with a brain cell who is watching this team knows Cammy had to go... and I called the wisdom of picking up Bourque weeks ago. I suspect Cammy knew the trade was coming eventually and chose to do 2 things. First, he hit the gas with his comments. Second, he fed his own ego and made it seem like the trade was his initiation. This is a good move. Never mind what Bourque brings. It offloads a bad contract, and I suspect Pleks will look better real soon.
- CaseysHabs

This!

Cammi has a limited NTC, he had 7 teams he couldn't be traded to. Who knows if that GM who wasn't contacted was or not on that list.
- Symba007

Fair enough. But that still leaves 23 other teams to consider. It's also likely that the teams he would block wouldn't have been in the market for him anyways (maybe Islanders, Columbus etc...), either because they arent buyers at the moment or don't have moveable assets.

Like I said, I think the Habs got what they needed, I just think they could have done even better if they handled this differently. Yes, the Cammy comments this week definitely forced PG's hand but as he said himself, he has been discussing trading him for a month... imo he should have fielded as many offers as possible during that time to ensure he maximized his return. Maybe this would have been the best option, but given the comments surfacing around the league, most feel it wasn't; and assuming it is the best option without fully exploring the other options is foolish....

Cammi has a limited NTC, he had 7 teams he couldn't be traded to. Who knows if that GM who wasn't contacted was or not on that list.
- Symba007

Same thing happened when Phaneuf got traded, maybe its just a team that no one wants to trade with, or a division rival (OTT). I was hoping the Avs would make an offer for him. I had David Jones and Tyson Barrie as an initial offer on the table

Finally a responsible move by Habs management

Why keep Gomez then?

Why keep Gomez then?
- bixll

Merchandise Sales

Merchandise Sales
- DDM-Coga

Those sweaters must be going like hot cakes.

Those sweaters must be going like hot cakes.
- bixll

Alaska/Mexico are an untapped markets

Alaska/Mexico are an untapped markets
- DDM-Coga

They can't get squat for Gomer. They are stuck with him..

Why keep Gomez then?
- bixll

Because he blows too much for anyone to want him

Every team goes through its ups and downs. We are having an off year but still look pretty darn good most nights and have a ton of talent. I am ok with the trade and yes Cammy could have been shopped more, but when even the naysayers have 3 or 4 good things to say about the trade I take that as a positive sign.

I still love my team and pray they make the playoffs, and if not I know they are not a bad team and will be so back next year!!!

Why keep Gomez then?
- bixll

It's his production off the ice that gives him value...

He cleans the Bell Centre after games and concerts.

Why keep Gomez then?
- bixll

Because selling Gomez is like trying to sell fire to the devil.

Good post. I think it is a pretty realistic assessment of situation. Sets up Montreal as a seller at the deadline. Also puts them in hunt for lottery pick.
- spatso

They need picks and $. Good move in my opinion by Gauthier.

They should bury Gomez in the AHL and focus on getting a top center. The draft is probably their best chance to get him.

Because selling Gomez is like trying to sell fire to the devil.
- CaseysHabs

So what your saying is that there is a rumor that Gomez is going back to the Devils in a package for Parise? I like your thinking and your "source"...

So what your saying is that there is a rumor that Gomez is going back to the Devils in a package for Parise? I like your thinking and your "source"...


- Routs

God I would love Parise but there is no way he ends up here if he is looking for a contender.

if they can get rid of gomez or at least his cap hit, then they can really put themselves in a good position going forward.

Lose gomez and back a dumptruck of money up to shea weber's house see if he bites. (although i predict he goes to detroit if lidstrom retires..just a guess)

If they can move out some guys like Gill at the deadline for some picks they could make some moves at the draft as well. I just hope they do the right things for once, a couple of bad seasons to get much better down the road is a small price to pay imo.

The future has lots of potential...

Eller, Emelin, Price, PK, Tinordi, Beaulieu, Gallagher, Bournival, Kristo, Avtsin...


Call me crazy but im tiring of PK, if he gets his game back online, id trade him in a heartbeat for a top line forward, if it could be done. This team could use a star player up front more than at the back..assuming Markov ever plays again, if not see my Weber scenario..never hurts to try.