Unsigned Players

Jim Herriot <bimpsyno.RemoveThis@spamsasktel.net> wrote in
news:slht44pmmmbulj46913mtltcs91b33jcsm@4ax.com:

> UFA's:
>
> Ryder
> Smolinski
> Streit
>
> RFA's
>
> A. Kostitsyn
> Halak
> O'Byrne
> Gorges
> Grabovsky
>
> Of the UFA's Streit is the only one who we can be pretty sure Bob will
> try to sign. As the 3rd highest scoring defenseman in the league, he
> might be a little pricey.
>
> Of the RFA's Kostitsyn and Grabovsky will likely be the most difficult
> to sign. The Russian league will likely put in competitive offers.
> Keeping them could be expensive. Grabovsky has loads of talent but is
> unproven in the NHL. I think he will likely get an offer that Gainey
> will be unwilling to match.
>
> I think it is crucial to sign Kostitsyn, O'Byrne and Halak. And Streit
> might be really missed too.

Don't forget UFA Brisebois
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Runs for cover ...
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

My $.02

> Ryder
Buh-bye

> Smolinski
Keep him as a filler

> Streit
Sign him

>
> RFA's
>
> A. Kostitsyn
Sign him

> Halak
Sign him or package him with Grabs for a decent trade

> O'Byrne
Sign Him

> Gorges
Sign Him

> Grabovsky
See Halak above
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

On Jun 10, 6:47 pm, Mike <m....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> My $.02

> > Smolinski
>
> Keep him as a filler


Get rid of him. They need an upgrade a center = the position Smolinski
used to occupy. They need someone who will show up an be effective all
season rather then one who coasted through the year. Then had a strong
game or 2. Sorry he didn`t do enough to make him worth signing.
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

On Jun 10, 2:41 pm, Jim Herriot <bimps... DeleteThis @spamsasktel.net> wrote:
> UFA's:
>
> Ryder
> Smolinski
> Streit
Brisebois

I'd expect them all to depart. I think it's a no-brainer that we can
have a better player than Brisebois in his spot, anyway. For the
others, it looks more like a cost issue. I don't know why Ryder would
sign with us for a pittance and look to get back on track here, where
he really was never afforded the opportunity to do so this season.
He'll be gone. I don't think Smolinski is entirely useless, having a
depth forward option who makes a positive dressing room contribution
isn't a bad thing... as long as you're not spending any real money
it. For $500-750k, not $2M.

Streit is the contentious issue. While I'd sort of like to dream that
he'd take a big discount to stay with us, the reality of the modern
NHL marketplace probably says he can scoop a much bigger salary. He's
worth $2M or less to me, but perhaps double that on the open market.
So I have to lean towards thinking the lure of the open market is the
better option there.

> RFA's
> A. Kostitsyn
> Halak
> O'Byrne
> Gorges
> Grabovsky

I'm not worried about any of the RFAs. As with Lapierre, they'll all
be brought into line. Grabovsky may be the only risk there, but
that's not exactly one which affects our team much.

l8r,
Gerry
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

On Jun 10, 3:08 pm, Jim Herriot <bimps... DeleteThis @spamsasktel.net> wrote:
>
> After checking athttp://www.nhlscap.com/salarynumbers/montreal.htm
> I see we have 15 players signed for 2008-09 (including Chipchura) for
> a total of $35,035,000. That leaves 8 roster spots open.  D'Agostini
> can likely make the jump and maybe Valentenko too.  If Bob only signs
> 5 of the 8 guys above, I think he'll have to venture into the free
> agent market.  But, if he signs both Streit and Kostitsyn, he may not
> have the cash to go after someone like Hossa.

The cap is probably going up to the vicinity of $55M. He'll have
enough to go after a Hossa no matter who or how many of the incumbents
re-sign. (Although that said, Hossa wouldn't not be a priority to
me).

I also think Valentenko and D'Agostini would be best-served playing
another season in the AHL. They clearly still have work to do, and
we're a reasonably competitive team that really shouldn't need to rush
anybody before they're optimally ready. But I think we have basically
all of our roster spots sewn up nicely without them (or any other
promotions from the AHL, aside from Chipchura if you count him as a
promotion).

l8r,
Gerry
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

I would consider a 3-year $9 mill offer to Streit. I think he's worth that,
easy, and the security and "place where I started" feelings may make him
accept the deal.

Steve

"Gerry" <gerry14 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f3ea28c8-e23b-47db-8dc6-664275f15530@c58g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 10, 2:41 pm, Jim Herriot <bimps... RemoveThis @spamsasktel.net> wrote:
> UFA's:
>
> Ryder
> Smolinski
> Streit
Brisebois

I'd expect them all to depart. I think it's a no-brainer that we can
have a better player than Brisebois in his spot, anyway. For the
others, it looks more like a cost issue. I don't know why Ryder would
sign with us for a pittance and look to get back on track here, where
he really was never afforded the opportunity to do so this season.
He'll be gone. I don't think Smolinski is entirely useless, having a
depth forward option who makes a positive dressing room contribution
isn't a bad thing... as long as you're not spending any real money
it. For $500-750k, not $2M.

Streit is the contentious issue. While I'd sort of like to dream that
he'd take a big discount to stay with us, the reality of the modern
NHL marketplace probably says he can scoop a much bigger salary. He's
worth $2M or less to me, but perhaps double that on the open market.
So I have to lean towards thinking the lure of the open market is the
better option there.

> RFA's
> A. Kostitsyn
> Halak
> O'Byrne
> Gorges
> Grabovsky

I'm not worried about any of the RFAs. As with Lapierre, they'll all
be brought into line. Grabovsky may be the only risk there, but
that's not exactly one which affects our team much.

l8r,
Gerry
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

Chuck <barberphoto411.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in news:2360cccf-3659-4c7c-ab22-
e89389ab4724.DeleteThis@m44g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:

> On Jun 10, 6:47 pm, Mike <m....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>> My $.02
>
>> > Smolinski
>>
>> Keep him as a filler
>
>
> Get rid of him. They need an upgrade a center = the position Smolinski
> used to occupy. They need someone who will show up an be effective all
> season rather then one who coasted through the year. Then had a strong
> game or 2. Sorry he didn`t do enough to make him worth signing.
>

I think we all hope to see Chipchura step into the 3rd line center role.

Rick
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

3 mill a year for someone who can't crack the top 6 D or play forward
on the first two lines ? Streit is a specialist on the power play and a
very useful guy to have around but certainly not for as much money as
some GM will be ready to give him. I bet someone will offer him more
than 3 million a year.

On 2008-06-11 09:00:45 -0400, "Preacher" <sdean53N0SPAM RemoveThis @N0SPAMcogeco.ca> said:

> I would consider a 3-year $9 mill offer to Streit. I think he's worth that,
> easy, and the security and "place where I started" feelings may make him
> accept the deal.
>
> Steve
>
> "Gerry" <gerry14 RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:f3ea28c8-e23b-47db-8dc6-664275f15530@c58g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> On Jun 10, 2:41 pm, Jim Herriot <bimps... RemoveThis @spamsasktel.net> wrote:
>> UFA's:
>>
>> Ryder
>> Smolinski
>> Streit
> Brisebois
>
> I'd expect them all to depart. I think it's a no-brainer that we can
> have a better player than Brisebois in his spot, anyway. For the
> others, it looks more like a cost issue. I don't know why Ryder would
> sign with us for a pittance and look to get back on track here, where
> he really was never afforded the opportunity to do so this season.
> He'll be gone. I don't think Smolinski is entirely useless, having a
> depth forward option who makes a positive dressing room contribution
> isn't a bad thing... as long as you're not spending any real money
> it. For $500-750k, not $2M.
>
> Streit is the contentious issue. While I'd sort of like to dream that
> he'd take a big discount to stay with us, the reality of the modern
> NHL marketplace probably says he can scoop a much bigger salary. He's
> worth $2M or less to me, but perhaps double that on the open market.
> So I have to lean towards thinking the lure of the open market is the
> better option there.
>
>> RFA's
>> A. Kostitsyn
>> Halak
>> O'Byrne
>> Gorges
>> Grabovsky
>
> I'm not worried about any of the RFAs. As with Lapierre, they'll all
> be brought into line. Grabovsky may be the only risk there, but
> that's not exactly one which affects our team much.
>
> l8r,
> Gerry
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

On Jun 11, 9:03 am, Rick Currie <rickcurri....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> Chuck <barberphoto....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in news:2360cccf-3659-4c7c-ab22-
> e89389ab4....RemoveThis@m44g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:
>
> > On Jun 10, 6:47 pm, Mike <m....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> My $.02
>
> >> > Smolinski
>
> >> Keep him as a filler
>
> > Get rid of him. They need an upgrade a center = the position Smolinski
> > used to occupy. They need someone who will show up an be effective all
> > season rather then one who coasted through the year. Then had a strong
> > game or 2. Sorry he didn`t do enough to make him worth signing.
>
> I think we all hope to see Chipchura step into the 3rd line center role.
>
> Rick

I am hoping they sign a UFA center who has the passing skills to push
Koivu. Which would make the 4th line center position up for grabs.
Chipchura gets it, pushes Lapierre to the wing and Begin off the
roster.
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

On Jun 11, 1:58 pm, sowhat <nos... DeleteThis @all.com> wrote:
> 3 mill a year for someone who can't crack the top 6 D or play forward
> on the first two lines ? Streit is a specialist on the power play and a
> very useful guy to have around but certainly not for as much money as
> some GM will be ready to give him. I bet someone will offer him more
> than 3 million a year.
>

Has he ever been given a chance to play an extended period of time
with top two line quality linemates?
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

On Jun 11, 1:58 pm, sowhat <nos....TakeThisOut@all.com> wrote:
> 3 mill a year for someone who can't crack the top 6 D or play forward
> on the first two lines ? Streit is a specialist on the power play and a
> very useful guy to have around but certainly not for as much money as
> some GM will be ready to give him. I bet someone will offer him more
> than 3 million a year.

I agree that somebody probably would offer him more than $3M a year.
A PP specialist actually is a fairly high demand item for some teams
out there. Not for our team, though, and I wouldn't pay a premium for
it on the Habs.

$2M per year is probably my personal ceiling on a new deal for
Streit. I could probably understand Gainey going a bit above my $2M
since the Habs do seem to have a bit of a track record for
compensating guys who were maybe playing well on bargain contracts the
year before, and Streit has definitely been a HUGE bargain for us on
his recently expired deal. But still, that kind of thing only goes so
far, and I'd be critical if we re-signed him above $2.5M per.

Perhaps naively, I still hold out some hope that Streit would actually
take that kind of money to stay with the Habs, though, and pre-empt
the opportunity to see just how high his pricetag could go on the open
market. But who knows.

l8r,
Gerry
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

On Jun 12, 9:00 am, Rick Currie <rickcurri....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I'm gonna have to disagree about bumping Begin off the roster.  I think
> he is more valuable than people give him credit for.  He's a high energy
> player than can produce the odd timely goal.  I notice that they are a
> different team sometimes without him in the lineup.  He's not top line
> material, but 8-10 minutes a game and he can be highly effective.  The
> only knock on him is he seems a litte injury prone, but I would say that
> is directly related to the way he plays the game, he has no respect for
> his body on most of his shifts.

Totally agreed. Begin is also ready to put his teeth in front of a
shot while killing penalties, and he's a more effective agitator than
anybody else on the roster (more annoying and willing to get dirt
under his fingernails than Lapierre IMHO).

It's too bad he can't seem to stay healthy, of course. I think lately
he has mostly been playing with a variety of nagging problems. But
doesn't anybody remember back a little bit before this year, when he
was a real flavour-of-the-month popular guy when he was 100% healthy,
some people promoted him for a letter, were wishing we had a team of
20 Begins based on his work ethic and ability to chip in. I think
he's still an effective member of a 23-man NHL roster based on his
2007-08 performance, mind you. But if he ever rebounded to 2005-06
levels, he'd be a hero again. We have ample room for that.

There's nobody in Hamilton who is capable of stealing that spot on the
team. I'm not even sure there's anybody capable of unseating
Dandenault, which is more worrisome. But at any rate, a lack of
really gritty grit might still be considered something of a weakness
from the Habs last year, so removing Begin from the equation would be
all the more unthinkable from that perspective too.

l8r,
Gerry
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players 

Chuck <barberphoto411.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in news:42adf877-cbae-4671-accc-
c41b57200e36.DeleteThis@m73g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

> On Jun 11, 9:03 am, Rick Currie <rickcurri....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Chuck <barberphoto....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in news:2360cccf-3659-4c7c-
ab22-
>> e89389ab4....DeleteThis@m44g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:
>>
>> > On Jun 10, 6:47 pm, Mike <m....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> My $.02
>>
>> >> > Smolinski
>>
>> >> Keep him as a filler
>>
>> > Get rid of him. They need an upgrade a center = the position
Smolinski
>
>> > used to occupy. They need someone who will show up an be effective
all
>> > season rather then one who coasted through the year. Then had a
strong
>> > game or 2. Sorry he didn`t do enough to make him worth signing.
>>
>> I think we all hope to see Chipchura step into the 3rd line center
role.
>>
>> Rick
>
> I am hoping they sign a UFA center who has the passing skills to push
> Koivu. Which would make the 4th line center position up for grabs.
> Chipchura gets it, pushes Lapierre to the wing and Begin off the
> roster.
>

I'm gonna have to disagree about bumping Begin off the roster. I think
he is more valuable than people give him credit for. He's a high energy
player than can produce the odd timely goal. I notice that they are a
different team sometimes without him in the lineup. He's not top line
material, but 8-10 minutes a game and he can be highly effective. The
only knock on him is he seems a litte injury prone, but I would say that
is directly related to the way he plays the game, he has no respect for
his body on most of his shifts.

Rick
 >> Stay informed about: Unsigned Players