UFAs

D’Agostini signs and next year’s contracts

Today it was announced that Matt D’Agostini has signed a 1 year deal with the Montreal Canadiens. D’Agostini certain came out of the gates after being called up last year flying offensively but then after a short time slowed down like the entire team.

I wonder what role D’Agostini will play this season. He seems to have a decent shot. Will Jacques Martin play him on the 2nd line? 3rd line? Time will tell.

I’m hopeful that Martin will have success in further developing these young guys just as he seemed to do in Ottawa with the Senators.

After July 1st and the few weeks that followed Gainey has signed many one year deals. That just got me thinking a bit. Here’s a list of players broken down into the length of contracts.

Players with 1 year under contract ’til 2010-2011
UFA – Tomas Plekanec
UFA – Glen Metropolit
RFA – Sergei Kostitsyn
RFA – Guillaume Latendress
RFA* – Maxim Lapierre
RFA – Matt D’Agostini
RFA* – Kyle Chipchura
UFA – Paul Mara
RFA – Carey Price
RFA* – Jaroslav Halak
* = Arbitration Eligible

Players with 2 years, ’til 2011-2012
RFA* – Andrei Kostitsyn
UFA – Georges Laraque
UFA – Andrei Markov
UFA – Roman Hamrlik
UFA – Hal Gill
RFA* – Josh Gorges
RFA* – Ryan O’Byrne

Players with 3 years, ’til 2012-2013
UFA – Travis Moen
UFA – Jaroslav Spacek

Players with 5 years, ’til 2014-2015
UFA – Scott Gomez
UFA – Mike Cammalleri
UFA – Brian Gionta

It’s just my thought but next year will probably bring some more changes. Probably not a whole lot in terms of trades but it’s likely that some of the players we have today will not likely be back.

One of the reasons is going into next year Carey Price will need to be re-signed and he will get a raise.

All trade rumors and speculation aside going into next year Gainey will once again have his work cut out for him replacing and/or re-signing the RFAs and some UFAs to fill out his roster. Some of those young guys will demand a raise next year.

At the same time it could make it alot easier for him to move them if he finds a suitable trade.

Most of the defense is locked in for 2 years. If Weber and/or Subban don’t come up this year they’ll be up next year.

The message I get from all these 1 year deals is:
It’s time to produce guys.

What do you think?

These are just some passing thoughts that I’ve got…

Scott Gomez – Welcome!

Scott Gomez, when I first heard of that trade, I’ll say that I really didn’t like the deal. Not at all.

Tom Kostopoulos – Farewell

First off, I gotta say that I really enjoyed watching you play in Montreal the last 2 years.

When you were first signed, I wasn’t familliar with you at all.

But, over the last 2 seasons in Montreal you showed the kind of player you were. We could always count on you to work hard and stick up for any of your team mates.

You were one of the players that I would have loved to keep in Montreal.

Best wishes to you with your new team.

Welcome Paul Mara

The first of the 2 players announced as signed by the Montreal Canadiens at the end of last week was Paul Mara.

Now I’ll start of by saying that about the only thing that I know about Paul Mara is that he’s played with a few different teams, he play defense and he’s about 6′4.

I haven’t really dug around to much for any information on Paul, but I found this great little video on YouTube and I gotta tell you that after watching this video on Mara.. I’ve grown to like him a bit already.

Plus, being a Habs fan, who can resist a guy that fought Tucker.

I’m really lookin’ forward to seeing that enthusiasm in the upcoming season. He could be a solid pick up in the new Jacques Martin system which I’m sure insulating Carey Price is part of the plan.

So welcome Paul Mara!

Welcome Travis Moen

At the end of last week, it was announced that Gainey signed to more players.

One of these is Travis Moen.

Travis Moen will likely be the replacement to Tom Kostopoulos… he’s a real team guy who will try to block every shot he can and certainly won’t back down in the rough stuff.

Here’s a taste of Travis squaring off with Carcillo (from Pheonix):

I’ll say it again, because I have said it before, that I’m impressed with the changes that Gainey has been able to make. In a mere few weeks the team has a new coach and coaching staff, a whole new look when it comes to the players on the roster (10 guys not back…. maybe more to come??)…

Unreal.

The addition of Moen goes to address alot of the early comments that the team will once again be too small…. champions aren’t always the biggest team. But Gainey has certainly added some pieces to make sure they’ll be able to mix it up a bit more physically. So those Montreal VS Boston games, Montreal VS Toronto games will be lots of fun.

Plus, Moen has playoff experience. His name is on the cup. I’m not sure how much that really matters… but at least some experts can say that he is a tough customer… and knows what it takes to win.

So, Travis Moen…. welcome to the Montreal Canadiens!

A clarification on Kovalev

Yesterday, I had written an email to PJ Stock over at the Team990 about Kovalev being in Ottawa. And as I’m not writer, I think I came out sounding a bit harsh.

Basically, I’ve always loved Kovalev in Montreal. I would have gladly taken him back.

I’m actually a bit sad to see him go… and according to reports, he did want to stay in Montreal… and Gainey did want him back. A lack of communication it seems.

Now, one thing that I don’t understand is that while people have been to the streets in Montreal prior to his (Kovalev) signing in Ottawa, in attempts to convince Bob Gainey to sign him, is that while he was a member of the Canadiens, I would often hear and read comments by people calling him the best player on the face of the earth… and other comments calling him a bum.

The opposite ends of the spectrum.

We all know that Kovalev is likely one of the very top skilled forwards in the world. I don’t think there is any doubt. But, consistency has dogged him.

Mind you, last year has been called a disappoint… but it was far better then the 2007-2008 season. Statiscally, I don’t think it was that bad a year. Since the whole team seemed to go down the drain at the mid-way point. People just see what talents he has and believe (or expect) that he should carry the team… be the offensive leader.

And while some people were calling to put the “C” on Kovalev in Montreal. I’m not so sure. In a way, if he would have signed, it certainly would have been major motivation for him. In another way, I would put the “C” on someone who brings it every night without a doubt… someone who buys into the system the team is playing… etc.

Kovalev might indeed have been a good captain and player in Montreal for the proposed 2 years / 10 Million. But, we’ll never know.

Alex, once again. Have a great year in Ottawa. Loved your time in Montreal and I will keep watching you play for Ottawa. But I hope you understand, I gotta cheer against you when you’re playing against Montreal….

No hard feelings right??

Operation facelift – 2009 edition

Over the last several days the Montreal Canadiens have gone through enormous changes.

Going into “Free agent frenzy”… I was “super looking forward” to that date.. to see what if anything was gonna happen with my loved Montreal Canadiens.

I was floored when Gainey pulled off that trade for Scott Gomez. I was totally floored…

I didn’t like that deal at all. Gomez comes with a hefty price tag. Mind you, I do think that he comes with considerable puck moving skill… but it was obviously a commitment to take on that contract.

By noon time, July 1st…. I had a doom and gloom feeling… and couldn’t shake it… but as soon as the signings started (not montreal’s… but in general) I felt much better.

Montreal’s day started with the signing of Jaroslav Spacek, an offensive defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres. I was not thrilled at this signing…. 3 years for a 35 year old… but after checking out his numbers… he has seemed very durable… and fairly consistent… he has pretty much always been a “plus” player in +/-… except in his Columbus years…

Then later… Hal Gill… which I didn’t like at all either… essentially, I had gone through about 2 days of Mr Negativity in regards to the Habs after the draft. Then when I thought about Gill, I actually felt a bit better. He’s big…. and what sold me a bit on him, was that he made it to the cup finals 2 years in a row and won last year. And he was used in both playoff runs. He could be effective in clearing room for Price… which we need.

I was ready to step out.. and go with the family to the July 1st fireworks… when all of a sudden, I saw that the Habs signed Mike Cammalleri.. at first I thought.. “wow.. Gainey landed Mike Cammalleri!”.. all of a sudden, it was looking better. I was starting to become very optimistic.

When I got back late that night… what??? Gainey signed Brian Gionta?? Now, I was floored.. the face of the team was changed… and changed much more dramatically then anyone could have guessed.

Now, most of these guys are small…. which seems like a problem. But I gotta say… 2 years in a row… 2 puck possession teams won the cup. Some of their most important players weren’t huge in stature… (think of Crosby and Maxim Talbot)

It surely didn’t seem to be a problem when the Canadiens finished 1st in the east 2 seasons ago and all the “experts” picked them to contend for the cup.

There are many variables that come into play for a team to succeed. Is the team well disciplined? Do they really play within their coach’s plan? Are they having an injury free season (Habs 2 seasons ago)? Are they having an injury filled season (Habs last season)? Do the players get along? How is the dressing room? etc…etc.. etc..

If rough and tough teams won the cup every year… then Philly should have won several years running…

Talk was about re-signing Kovalev… which I had hoped for … some talked about Tanguay.. Koivu… Even though there has been an overwhelming consensus about changing the team’s core. But that wouldn’t really “changed” the face of the team.

I would certainly welcome back any of those guys if Gainey and Martin think they fit. I’m hoping that Martin runs a tight defensive system this year… and shots on goal go down…. Gionta and Gomez played their best years under such a system.

I love Kovalev… I love Koivu… Koivu has been one of my favorite players for years and years. I would take them back in a heartbeat.

Tanguay… if it’s true he chose not to play in a little pain in last year’s playoff… I don’t mind him going.

After a couple of days to think all this over… I’m very positive about this year’s team. Although, there are still a couple of holes to fill. Gotta have 1 more D-man.. And, get a bigger center.

I’m really lookin’ forward to the pre-season camps…. really really lookin’ forward to it.

So we have 3 new core guys locked in for 5 years….. next year, I believe there’s only 1 guy who will be UFA… so this will be the core for a few years.

I’m optimistic.

Go HABS!

Habs sign Mikael Johansson

Habs Inside/Out reports that they’ve signed swedish elite leaguer Mikael Johansson to a 1 year (2 way) deal.