Petry's already signed for next season man. He gets a pretty small raise for the following season to lock him up for the next 4 years after next season. This was an excellent move.

Great story but Bobby Ryan isn’t worth $7M
- Canada Cup

Obviously, but that's not the point. Blah blah it's a business, but there should be an aspect of humanity to it. Just a tiny bit; when your employees are public figures it becomes a different kind of business. It's not like they really plan on competing, so just keep him to hit the cap floor and buy him out next year. See if a sober year makes any difference. It's a bad look for the owner, the guy who wanted to be "the saviour" of the city a few years back.

Maybe there's a financial aspect I miss aside from the cap hit, but I don't understand buyouts sometimes. Wennberg for instance. You're telling me that rather than being on the hook for six seasons that they're not better off just retaining 50% and actually get some kind of return? I'm sure someone would take him at $2.45M.

And Fleury. Why buy him out? There's definitely takers at $3.5M and they're clean in two years rather than four.

Please, someone explain to me what financial implication that I may not be seeing in the form of actual pay, bonuses, etc...

Obviously, but that's not the point. Blah blah it's a business, but there should be an aspect of humanity to it. Just a tiny bit; when your employees are public figures it becomes a different kind of business. It's not like they really plan on competing, so just keep him to hit the cap floor and buy him out next year. See if a sober year makes any difference. It's a bad look for the owner, the guy who wanted to be "the saviour" of the city a few years back.
- cnatch

He still gets 2/3rds of what is owed to him.

He can sign with a new team, get a fresh start.

Hell, he'll probably sign a minimum contract with the Flyers and fulfill a lifelong dream.

Maybe there's a financial aspect I miss aside from the cap hit, but I don't understand buyouts sometimes. Wennberg for instance. You're telling me that rather than being on the hook for six seasons that they're not better off just retaining 50% and actually get some kind of return? I'm sure someone would take him at $2.45M.

And Fleury. Why buy him out? There's definitely takers at $3.5M and they're clean in two years rather than four.

Please, someone explain to me what financial implication that I may not be seeing in the form of actual pay, bonuses, etc...
- Rinosaur

Agreed. Good point.

He still gets 2/3rds of what is owed to him.

He can sign with a new team, get a fresh start.

Hell, he'll probably sign a minimum contract with the Flyers and fulfill a lifelong dream.
- Atomic Wedgie

I'm not saying he's going to be living in his car or anything; it's just a bad look when you fire the guy that people love, and right after he wins an award for his dedication to the sport. It's like firing Milton Waddams. Buy him out next year.

BIG if true.
- dozerD10

i cant imagine any way that Lundqvist wants to play in NJ. he is looking for a cup and NJ is nowhere near ready.
- gskalt

lol. Where will he be backing up?

lol. Where will he be backing up?
- LordHumungous

The Brink's truck?

6.25 for Petey?? Wow, that's a huge steal. Bergy strikes again!

Maybe there's a financial aspect I miss aside from the cap hit, but I don't understand buyouts sometimes. Wennberg for instance. You're telling me that rather than being on the hook for six seasons that they're not better off just retaining 50% and actually get some kind of return? I'm sure someone would take him at $2.45M.

And Fleury. Why buy him out? There's definitely takers at $3.5M and they're clean in two years rather than four.

Please, someone explain to me what financial implication that I may not be seeing in the form of actual pay, bonuses, etc...
- Rinosaur

Wennberg's buyout is only 1/3. Not even a million bucks on the cap. That's why it's way more valuable to buy him out, and why all the "we'll take Wennberg but give us a 1rst round pick" talk was rubbish.

Edit : Wennberg's buyout was 1/3 because he was 25 years old. I just noticed he turned 26 four days ago. Aouch. I wonder if the Jackets have some kind of agreement in place with the league. Was all the under 25/over 35 age bullpoop frozen according to the original calendar? It would suck soooo hard for the Jackets. That buyout was a foregone conclusion 6 months ago.

Petry's already signed for next season man. He gets a pretty small raise for the following season to lock him up for the next 4 years after next season. This was an excellent move.
- Lato649

Doesn't Petry turn 33 this December? Paying him 6.25 until he is 38 does not sound like an excellent move to me.

Habs using up cap space fast!! they are fine for this year, have about 10 million in space left to sign Domi and 2-3 spare parts but next year is another issue, a lot bigger contracts are up and will need to be renewed, not sure how it all fits? that's an expensive blue line.
- Ross77

That's rich coming from a team that has no blue line. Laine will commend more money than any Hab next year and yes that includes Price so pay up or he gone!



Damn it really sucks to have a Top 5 D core in hockey.

That's rich coming from a team that has no blue line. Laine will commend more money than any Hab next year and yes that includes Price so pay up or he gone!



Damn it really sucks to have a Top 5 D core in hockey.


- Komisaurus Rex

What? A top 5 D in hockey? The Habs? Dude....

Petry is gold, but Weber is getting slower every year, and your #1LD is Ben Chiarot. At the moment Karl Alzner is your 3rd pair RD.

Habs' D is fine, probably in the better half of the table, but faaaaaaar from being a top unit.

Ek reads Sportsnet too

What? A top 5 D in hockey? The Habs? Dude....

Petry is gold, but Weber is getting slower every year, and your #1LD is Ben Chiarot. At the moment Karl Alzner is your 3rd pair RD.

Habs' D is fine, probably in the better half of the table, but faaaaaaar from being a top unit.
- redseerpf

If you think Alzner is slotted in the Habs defense let alone as a RD...then your IQ is just not high enough period to be making an accurate assessment on their skill level.

If you think Alzner is slotted in the Habs defense let alone as a RD...then your IQ is just not high enough period to be making an accurate assessment on their skill level.
- Komisaurus Rex

Salty.

But sure man, keep dreaming.

If you think Alzner is slotted in the Habs defense let alone as a RD...then your IQ is just not high enough period to be making an accurate assessment on their skill level.
- Komisaurus Rex

If Montreal buys out Alzner and then signs Pietrangelo or Krug, then it's the best defense in the NHL. If they miss out on them, and then go hard after Cody "the Consolation Prize" Ceci, then they should have just kept Alzner.

If Montreal buys out Alzner and then signs Pietrangelo or Krug, then it's the best defense in the NHL. If they miss out on them, and then go hard after Cody "the Consolation Prize" Ceci, then they should have just kept Alzner.
- Kooleus

It would be a major improvement, but far from the best in the NHL. Weber is a bionic man on the wrong side of the aging curve. Behind him and Petry, there isn't much. Krug would be a good add, but he's not going to tip the scales significantly. Look at his numbers this season - not exactly overwhelming and his performance in the postseason was lackluster. Pietrangelo is better, but he's going to cost the sun, moon, and stars. Weber's giant caphit is one thing, but add Pietrangelo to it and you have a ton of cash socked into two D-men, one of whom is almost ready to join AARP.

Best defense in the league right now:

Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Cernak, Shattenkirk, and pick one.

Ok, it's a homer pick I know, but I'd rather that defense over Montreal's - even if they sign Krug or Pietrangelo or both.

It would be a major improvement, but far from the best in the NHL. Weber is a bionic man on the wrong side of the aging curve. Behind him and Petry, there isn't much. Krug would be a good add, but he's not going to tip the scales significantly. Look at his numbers this season - not exactly overwhelming and his performance in the postseason was lackluster. Pietrangelo is better, but he's going to cost the sun, moon, and stars. Weber's giant caphit is one thing, but add Pietrangelo to it and you have a ton of cash socked into two D-men, one of whom is almost ready to join AARP.

Best defense in the league right now:

Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Cernak, Shattenkirk, and pick one.

Ok, it's a homer pick I know, but I'd rather that defense over Montreal's - even if they sign Krug or Pietrangelo or both.
- GalacticStone

Just on the top of my head, Vegas, Tampa, Columbus, Carolina and Dallas have a better D than Montreal. That's already 5. Depending on the UFA signings, a lot more could join that group.

Having traded for Edmundson, Montreal will not sign Krug, even less so Pietrangelo. They D is set for next year, except for tiny moves.

But eh, Rex seems to be absolutely stoked with a LD depth chart currently consisting of Chiarot/Edmundson/a russian rookie who hasn't played a game in the NHL. Good for him.

Sarcasm alert.

Just on the top of my head, Vegas, Tampa, Columbus, Carolina and Dallas have a better D than Montreal. That's already 5. Depending on the UFA signings, a lot more could join that group.

Having traded for Edmundson, Montreal will not sign Krug, even less so Pietrangelo. They D is set for next year, except for tiny moves.

But eh, Rex seems to be absolutely stoked with a LD depth chart currently consisting of Chiarot/Edmundson/a russian rookie who hasn't played a game in the NHL. Good for him.
- redseerpf

Stoked wouldn't be the word, glad that they finally addressed a major issue on the team that was there for years is more like it. When I said Top 5 I meant I think they can play up to that ability, they might not be Top 5 on paper but they are realistically a Top 10 D core and that depends on how well and quickly Romanov adjusts. Obviously you would prefer a Krug or Piets over an Edmundson type, Habs don't have the luxury of Free Agency like majority of teams do due to the tax disadvantage and the league still refuses to even acknowledge it so that problem will never get resolved. Therefore you have to do the majority of building through the draft. If Romanov is the real deal he jumps Chiarot and Edmundson moves to the better suited 6 hole then all the sudden that defensive core is looking very solid. As I said they still have a ton of guys coming, Romanov, Struble, Norlinder, Harris, Brook, Fleury, Fairbrother, LeGuerrier -- there's a few NHLers of that bunch. And all that being said with a Top 3 goalie tandem in the NHL now you don't need to have thee best defense, they just have to be steady.

It would be a major improvement, but far from the best in the NHL. Weber is a bionic man on the wrong side of the aging curve. Behind him and Petry, there isn't much. Krug would be a good add, but he's not going to tip the scales significantly. Look at his numbers this season - not exactly overwhelming and his performance in the postseason was lackluster. Pietrangelo is better, but he's going to cost the sun, moon, and stars. Weber's giant caphit is one thing, but add Pietrangelo to it and you have a ton of cash socked into two D-men, one of whom is almost ready to join AARP.

Best defense in the league right now:

Hedman, McDonagh, Sergachev, Cernak, Shattenkirk, and pick one.

Ok, it's a homer pick I know, but I'd rather that defense over Montreal's - even if they sign Krug or Pietrangelo or both.
- GalacticStone

Keep in mind, Shattenkirks gone, Cernak (RFA) Sergachev (RFA) are all free agents along with Ciirelli who'll be up for a big pay day. That D core will not look the same next year.

That's rich coming from a team that has no blue line. Laine will commend more money than any Hab next year and yes that includes Price so pay up or he gone!



Damn it really sucks to have a Top 5 D core in hockey.










- Komisaurus Rex

Are we better on D than in years past? ... Yes I think so.
But Top 5 is really stretching it IMO.

We also have some good propects coming but until they prove what they can do at the NHL level I prefer to reserve judgment.

I would HATE it if the Devils signed the Queen. Too much hatred for the Rags organization to welcome him onto our team. Besides what value would he bring? His best days are behind him. We didn’t even sign Brodeur when he was washed up, why would we do it now? Would rather sign Greiss for 2 years to backup Blackwood, even if we overpay.
- Crushers68

okay dude