The Montreal Canadiens Thread

kenshunt

Rygar wrote:

Yeah awesome season, shitty post-season.
Now we wait for October.
Bets on where Ryder goes?

Calgary for Tanguay lol, i dunno

Phantom Pain

Rygar wrote:

haha, see you on the green in 4!

Don't think so !

It's going at least 6 or 7 games

I give the Flyers a good shot

Rygar

kenshunt wrote:

Calgary for Tanguay lol, i dunno

Nah, Ryder is UFA I believe. Gone for nothing, but I don't think he'll be landing the 3 million anywhere else.

Rygar

Phantom Pain wrote:

Don't think so !

It's going at least 6 or 7 games

I give the Flyers a good shot

Six will be a stretch, IMO. I'll go with 5.

Rygar

Rygar wrote:

Six will be a stretch, IMO. I'll go with 5.

LOLSTERS @ my 2008 playoff accuracies.

In the meantime:

Off-Season Game Plan from TSN.ca:

The Montreal Canadiens topped 100 points in a season for the first time since 1992-1993, a surprising development from a team stocked with young talent.

Off-Season Game Plan looks at one of the most talented young teams in the league, and what they might do in an effort to take the next step and get back to competing for the Stanley Cup.

Bounced by the Flyers in the second round of the playoffs, the Canadiens haven't advanced beyond the second round since 1993 (the last time they won the Stanely Cup, yet there is still a great sense of optimism surrounding the team because they have such quality young players on the rise to support their established veterans.

With guys like Alex Kovalev and Saku Koivu holding leadership positions on the team, the Habs can't afford to waste their productive years. Thus, adding another veteran could help speed the Habs along the development curve.

Free agency hasn't been terribly kind to Montreal in recent seasons, but the team's improving reputation as one of the league's up-and-coming young teams may help sway the decision of a potential big-name addition.

If young players like Tomas Plekanec, Chris Higgins and the Kostitsyn brothers -- to say nothing of Carey Price -- improve, the Canadiens will have to be considered among the contenders heading into next season and that kind of potential is attractive.

So, what kind of player might the Habs want to get?

"We want to play a fast game," general manager Bob Gainey told the Montreal Gazette. "Could we be bigger and more rugged? Perhaps, but our philosophy is we're quick, we're exciting, we're on the attack and we're ready to score."


That's a style of play that isn't just attractive to free agents, but it makes the Canadiens one of the more entertaining teams in the league to watch.

Just like old times.

kenshunt

Sources tell TSN the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to encourage Mats Sundin to decide his playing future before July 1.

In the past 24 hours the Montreal Canadiens were granted permission by the Maple Leafs to speak to Sundin's agent J.P. Barry about the possibility of the 37-year-old centre signing in Montreal.

"We gave Montreal permission," Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher flatly told TSN. "Nothing else to say."

The Leafs would have to trade Sundin's negotiating rights to the Canadiens to facilitate an early signing.

It's too early to say whether or not the two Canadian teams will make that move, as the Canadiens' reluctance to give up any assets for the privilege to get to the Leafs' captain may be based on his willingness to speed up his decision making.

At this point, Sundin remains uncertain as to whether he or not he will play at all, so the Canadiens' attempt to get a head-start may turn out to be a fruitless exercise.

The Canadiens believed they were close to a deal to acquire Sundin at the trade deadline, but Sundin refused to waive his no-trade to accomodate that deal, or the potential for any other.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241233&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

Rygar

kenshunt wrote:

Sources tell TSN the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to encourage Mats Sundin to decide his playing future before July 1.

In the past 24 hours the Montreal Canadiens were granted permission by the Maple Leafs to speak to Sundin's agent J.P. Barry about the possibility of the 37-year-old centre signing in Montreal.

"We gave Montreal permission," Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher flatly told TSN. "Nothing else to say."

The Leafs would have to trade Sundin's negotiating rights to the Canadiens to facilitate an early signing.

It's too early to say whether or not the two Canadian teams will make that move, as the Canadiens' reluctance to give up any assets for the privilege to get to the Leafs' captain may be based on his willingness to speed up his decision making.

At this point, Sundin remains uncertain as to whether he or not he will play at all, so the Canadiens' attempt to get a head-start may turn out to be a fruitless exercise.

The Canadiens believed they were close to a deal to acquire Sundin at the trade deadline, but Sundin refused to waive his no-trade to accomodate that deal, or the potential for any other.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241233&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

I like my edit: http://img154.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sundinhabib8.jpg

PS: The odds of Sundin going ANYWHERE are very slim. He's in Toronto or he's retiring.

kenshunt

never say never, cito gaston is back as jays manager after 11 years, so anything is possible lol.

Rygar

kenshunt wrote:

never say never, cito gaston is back as jays manager after 11 years, so anything is possible lol.

hahahaha
I said slim

kenshunt

i have a feeling mats may be a canadien by july 1 if not sooner :(

Rygar

kenshunt wrote:

i have a feeling mats may be a canadien by july 1 if not sooner :(

Why???
Don't worry yourself, my friend. We'd only give up a draft pick in exchange for his rights, and you guys will ask for more than that, so that puts us to July 1st with no change (oh, and thanks for spelling the name right) and like I said a few posts back, it is inconceivable that he'll leave Toronto for any reason other than permanent retirement.

kenshunt

Rygar wrote:

Why???
Don't worry yourself, my friend. We'd only give up a draft pick in exchange for his rights, and you guys will ask for more than that, so that puts us to July 1st with no change (oh, and thanks for spelling the name right) and like I said a few posts back, it is inconceivable that he'll leave Toronto for any reason other than permanent retirement.

It's just that damn Prime Time Sports im listening to, they are making me uncomfortable lol.

Rygar

kenshunt wrote:

It's just that damn Prime Time Sports im listening to, they are making me uncomfortable lol.

Bah, stop listening to Toronto media and you'll be fine

Rygar

Please don't trade Higgins to Toronto.....

Rygar

Only slightly interesting free agency period for my boys. Good pick up in Tanguay, I'm betting he'll want to stick around come next season (and we'll want him provided he gives us a little production). Hopefully he will settle for a little less dough, though.

Laraques signing isn't too bad. Lost Ryder, which kinda sucks. I liked him even if he stunk the place out last year. Hopefully he rebounds for the Boo-urns.

Grabovski to Toronto is an interesting move. Kid's got potential, but it's hard to say if he'll ever reach an NHL level of play.

Lost Streit to NYI. Nice payday for him, good luck to him. He'll need it on that team.

What the hell we signed Denis for is beyond me, other than to handle duties FOR THE FARM TEAM.

And I'm glad we kept Higgie. Now go get Selanne, Shanahan and Federov

Rygar

With the start of training camp just three weeks away, the Montreal Canadiens aren't holding out much hope of landing unrestricted free agent Mats Sundin.

General Manager Bob Gainey discussed the team's attempts to try to sign the centre on Tuesday and admitted there's been little response from Sundin's camp.

"It's hard to be optimistic," Gainey told TSN's sister station RDS on Tuesday. "We haven't had much contact with him. It appears he's not interested. He hasn't asked many questions about the organization."

The Canadiens were seen as the front runners for the 37-year-old after the team acquired his negotiating rights from the Toronto Maple Leafs in late June. But the former Leaf captain remains undecided on whether or not he wants to return for another NHL season.

As many as six teams have expressed interest in Sundin's service, including the Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers. While teams have remained in contact with Sundin's agent J.P. Barry, Gainey has not heard anything as of late.

"We haven't spoken to Sundin's camp for at least a week," he told RDS. "There's nothing new, he hasn't decided anything yet. He told me he'd decide in August and today's the 26th. We'll know, provided he respects his own due date, his decision should come sometime throughout the next week."

Gainey, however, has not given up all hope.

"We're going to wait for his decision until September if we have to," he said. "On paper, we have the perfect team for him. There's certainly room for him with our team."

With the team's centennial drawing closer, there's added pressure for the Canadiens to put a Stanley Cup contender on the ice. And if the Sundin plan falls through, Gainey may be willing to explore other options to improve his lineup.

"I know that certain other teams are presently over the salary cap," he explained. "We'll have to see. If Mats doesn't join us, maybe we'll discuss things with those teams."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=247648&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

Lostdoggie

Mats on this team would be a perfect fit but I also have my doubts he will join, which kind of sucks. We need a 1st line center and unfortunately those aren't readily available. I wonder what Bob's back up plans are.

Rygar

Lostdoggie wrote:

Mats on this team would be a perfect fit but I also have my doubts he will join, which kind of sucks. We need a 1st line center and unfortunately those aren't readily available. I wonder what Bob's back up plans are.

Bobs backup plans are to go for a center from a team over the cap. I have heard Robert Lang mentioned (not a first line center), but don't believe rumors.
I've maintained for quite some time now that Sundin isn't signing in Montreal, but you're right - on paper it's the perfect fit. Toronto or Vancouver (MAYBE NYR, but that is a long shot imo).

Rygar

C'mon October...
http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/Portal/product.jsp?OID=61195

Rygar

November 22nd, Roy's number goes to the Bell Centre rafters.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=249142&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main