Gerry <gerry14 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in
news:8a1e0c90-dc49-48d3-a3a1-293572ecc205@l42g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:
> On Jul 1, 8:19 pm, "John" <jpkenn... RemoveThis @ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> So it looks like Hossa and Sundin are not coming to the Habs. Their
>> price
> of
>> admission is to high. ho else should Gainey target?
>
> I think that's a good question, the right question. I mean who knows
> with Sundin, maybe teams do spend themselves out of contention on him
> and in a couple weeks we're the only game left in town. But you can't
> really be thinking about that now.
>
> Jagr is perhaps interesting in a mini-Sundin way. He may take a
> short- term deal. He could be a dominant player. Or a bit of a
> headache.
Ya know, this is the guy being overlooked. I guess some people think he's
unattainable because he'll either prefer to stay in NY, or jump to the
big money in Russia. OK, but let's wait.
Assume the Rangers don't show enough interest. Maybe that give Jagr
"something to prove".
Then let's look at Russia. Yes, it is waaaaay more money than we can
offer. But we do offer other things.
1. a chance to play in a place hockey matters a lot, and where he will be
appreciated if he puts in his best efforts, like Kovalev did last season.
Montreal is a hockey meca again, and as a contender, not the wasteland it
was.
2. A chance to win another Stanley Cup late in his career, not some
meaningless trophy for a new Russian league.
3. Finally, we offer the chance to play in a place that's, well, not
Russia!
I mean, is there really much thrill in spending two season's in dingy
Russian rinks just for a wad of cash for a player that already has more
cash than he'll ever spend? Jagr doesn't need to cash out, he already did
years ago with Washington. He got the crazy dough. He's a Czech too, not
Russian, so it's not a homecoming. Maybe more the opposite! Does he
really want to spend two years playing in an inferior league, a big fish
in a small pond, protected by body guards every where he goes? I'm not so
sure about this.
So, I say throw the Sundin money at him. Koviu with Jagr and
Tanguay...could you imagine the cartwheels Koivu would be turning!
>
> Naslund as a mini-Jagr also on a short-term (preferably just 1 year)
> deal might be the other dice roll you could still take on getting an
> impact player up front. He looks finished-ish. But who knows. I
> don't think I'd step any further down the list than Naslund, though,
> when it comes to looking at more offense-oriented players. Fedorov is
> still out there, isn't he?
If we miss out all other players, yes, I guess I'd be willing to do
Naslund on the one year. He might rebound with a fresh perspective.
>
> I think we can mostly all accept now that Forsberg is too high-risk to
> put into this category. Oh sure, if our money is still sitting around
> in August, I guess it can't hurt to throw it on pretty much any
> gamble, even Forsberg, for 1 year. But that's not on the radar now.
Wouldn't be surprised if that's where we end up.
>
> You have some veteran PF/character types like Owen Nolan or Brendan
> Shanahan around. I think Shanahan is pretty much finished as a
> player, but he's probably a good character guy. And maybe you get
> guys like these for 1-year $2M or less deals.
Yeah but...meh. Probably wanting more ice time than they'll get, there's
a risk that character will become more grumpiness. Although their overall
careers might have been better than Smolinski, I think their contribution
would be much the same, and IMO, that's not needed.
Or perhaps a Peca or
> Laracque in slightly different directions. Or return to Smolinski, I
> guess. If you're looking for lower line grit/defense/toughness.
> Which I do think could be a consideration. To a point. Marty
> Reasoner is a decent lower line guy I might think about if we got to
> that stage.
Well, this is just soft of fiddling around the edges. If Gainey thinks
any of this is a need, a bit of a question IMO, he can sign one of these
guys much later. One or more will still be available, and perhaps a
bargin as well.
>
> To me, I still like the idea of adding another D. Not an offensive
> guy, though. Streit is probably gone for lots of money, maybe to SJ,
> I don't know, but at the prices we're seeing today, I wouldn't start
> to entertain thoughts of coming back to him.
At double you original highest price, for 5 years? Here's my predicition.
Once you read what he got, you'll take this statement back.
Maybe you could combine
> some of the veteran leadership/grit element by taking on a Keith
> Carney or Jason Smith type if the price is right.
>
Yes. One solid top-6 d-man would be useful, of almost any sort IMO as
long as he's decent defensively.
> We still need a #3 goalie at some point too. I think most anybody who
> might have challenged for #2 is gone, so hopefully that idea is erased
> from the minds of any stubborn few who were still thinking that way.
> But we do need to have a starter in Hamilton who we can feel
> comfortable in calling up in case of injury. JS Aubin, Jocelyn
> Thibault, Curtis Sanford, Johan Holmqvist, Marc Denis, and Scott
> Clemmensen are candidates I can see in that category.
>
> Of course, I won't be greatly disappointed if we don't really sign
> anybody either. So long as _some_ progress is made, preferably in
> extending next year's FA candidates, if we can't sign anybody this
> year.
>
There might be trades out there. By the end, some teams might have spent
themselves in a cap pickle.
Can teams still buy-out players, or has that option passed? Can someone
could still be waived at any point?
Marty
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