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2009 NHL Offseason - Canadiens Watch

Summer Update

August 31st 2009 17:32
Hello all, I've pretty much ignored this blog this summer due to my shock and inability to cope with all the changes that happened in the Montreal Canadiens organization. All the free agents have gone to other pastures, and although a deep cleansing was required in that toxic locker room, it is still hard for me to move on and embrace the new players. Training camp is just around the corner so I'll be back soon. Right now, I'm writing a piece on all of player departures, especially Koivu and Kovalev. It might take awhile for me to finish it, so expect to see it in a week or two.



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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: 2009 NHL Offseason
   


Canadiens Sign Forwards Mike Camalleri & Brian Gionta, Add Defensemen Hal Gill & Jaroslav Spacek

July 4th 2009 02:02
Montreal Canadiens, Habs, Mike Cammalleri, Jaroslav Spacek, Brian Gionta, Hal Gill
Canadiens' newest signings clockwise: Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Hal Gill, Jaroslav Spacek
Despite taking on Scott Gomez's huge contract the day before July 1st, Bob Gainey still add a considerable amount of cap space to make one or two splashes in the free agency period.


The Montreal Canadiens GM started the day by signing veteran defensemen Jaroslav
Jaroslav Spacek, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Habs
Spacek to a three-year, $11.5 million deal. A puck-moving defenseman, the 35-year-old had 45 points (eight goals, 37 assists) with the Buffalo Sabres last season. His acquisition brings a much needed outlet for the Canadiens' transition game. Apart from Andrei Markov, Montreal defensemen able to make a decent outlet pass are few and far between. Spacek also provides a solution for the Habs' second wave of the powerplay. Here again, the Canadiens were weak except when forcing Markov to take a double-shift. Although he's old, Spacek averaged more than 22 minutes of ice time in each of the past two seasons. His size might be an issue. Indeed, at 5'11'' and barely over 200 pounds, his presence doesn't really bring much intimidation on a team that lacked toughness last year which brings us to Hal Gill's signing.

The hulking 6'7'', 250 pounds Stanley Cup champion is a stay-at-home defenseman brought in to compensate Mike Komisarek's departure. Signed to a two-year, $4.5 million contract, Gill is the kind of defenseman who fits well on a second or third D-pairing. His lack of speed makes him a liability
Hal Gill, Montreal Canadiens, Habs, Pittsburgh Penguins
against several teams' top lines but his experience and long reach turn him into a decent defenseman when taking speed out of the equation. Still, it bothers me when people who were calling Gill “a huge pylon” two months ago are now praising his size and toughness simply because he signed with Montreal. I remember how Claude Julien, Michel Therrien, and Guy Carbonneau all used to exploit Gill's presence on other teams' defense in order to establish a cycling presence in the offensive zone. That won't change now that he's with the Habs.

Mike Cammalleri, Montreal Canadiens, Habs, Calgary Flames
Cammalleri was Gainey's best move of the day
It's in front that Gainey arguably made his biggest move of the day. Off of a 82-point (39 goals, 43 assists) career season, left-winger/center Mike Cammalleri was brought in from the Calgary Flames with a five-year, $30 million contract. Also on the small side – Cammalleri is 5'9'' – is a proven sniper who, in theory, will complement Scott Gomez's playmaking abilities. The 27-year-old is also a force on the powerplay, ranking second in the NHL with 19 powerplay goals last season. This signing combined with the acquisition of Gomez essentially forces Alex Tanguay out of Montreal. You've got to feel for a guy who's been replaced twice by Cammalleri in the span of two years.

Finally, the Canadiens concluded their spending frenzy by signing free agent Brian Gionta to five-year, $25 million contract. Another hardened veteran, Gionta had his best year in
Brian Gionta, Montreal Canadiens, Habs, New Jersey Devils
2005-2006 where he had 89 points (48 goals, 41 assists) playing alongside Scott Gomez. Although he stands at only 5'7'', Gionta is known for his tenacious play and willingness to crash the net. The Canadiens will hope that he and Gomez rekindle their magic for a couple more seasons.

Although none of the forwards acquisitions are impressive (except maybe Cammalleri), all three are players who have no problem adhering to a system and won't necessarily ignore their defensive duties. The question mark will be the size issue. It's one thing to be gritty, and not shy away from confrontation, but it's another thing to do it night in, night out when you don't have teammates in the likes of Jarome Iginla, Patrik Elias, and Jamie Langenbrunner. But then again, no one knows what will happen until they step on the ice, so I guess it's wait and see.

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: 2009 NHL Offseason
   


UFA Watch: Mike Komisarek Signs With The Toronto Maple Leafs

July 2nd 2009 16:31
Mike Komisarek, Montreal Canadiens, Habs, Toronto Maple Leafs
Komisarek drops ex-Leafs Darcy Tucker
Mike Komisarek was dubbed “The Next Captain” of the Montreal Canadiens. Drafted seventh overall in 2001, the hulking 6'4'' defenseman quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his numerous highlight-reel worthy, bone-crunching hits. Always quick to defend his teammates, soft-spoken in interviews, Mike was simply a classy guy. Then, Milan Lucic happened.

In a game against the Boston Bruins on November 13 2008, Komisarek decided to drop the gloves against Lucic in order to salvage some pride in what was looking to be a embarrassing defeat for the Habs (Bruins were leading 5-1 at the moment of the fight). Komisarek's action didn't have the intended effect as Lucic suprised him by putting up a great fight, leaving the Canadiens feeling more inadequate than before. The worst part was that Komisarek also injured his shoulder during the fight and missed one month of action.

From that point on, Komisarek had almost no bite to his game. After picking up another injury against the Senators early in 2009, the 2007-2008 Komisarek was completely gone. Without his characteristic physical play, he became a defensive liability in his own end who didn't react quick enough and made the wrong decision more often than not. It got to the point where Mathieu Schneider had to play with Markov in order to let the Canadiens' MVP play at peace.

Despite all those shortcomings, re-signing him was still deemed a priority. Although he has no offensive skills to speak of, his stay-at-home, hard-hitting defensive style fit well with Markov's smooth-skating, offensive-minded style. Unfortunately, interviews at the end of the season showed that Komisarek had already moved on and wasn't coming coming back. Where almost all of the Canadiens' free agents pronounced themselves open to a comeback, Komisarek spoke of his time with the Habs in the past tense – sign of a player ready to play elsewhere.

His decision was confirmed this past week as he received a contract offer from the Habs right after the draft and never bothered responding back, opting instead to test the free agent market. As if not coming back to the team which had drafted and developed him wasn't enough, Komisarek accepted a contract from the Habs' most-hated rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The contract will see him get $22.5 million over a period of five years, an amount not too far off from what Bob Gainey was offering. Looking at who is on the Leafs' roster, there's certain feeling that Komisarek not only defected, but also ran to the Leafs. In Toronto, he won't have to be the team's number-one tough guy and other teams' goons will leave him alone, which wasn't the case in Montreal. I wish him the best of luck but also hope that he stays the same mistake-prone defenseman he was last season. I leave you with a compilation of his best work with the Habs.

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: 2009 NHL Offseason
   


Canadiens Trade Christopher Higgins For Rangers' Scott Gomez

July 1st 2009 18:22
Scott Gomez, New York Rangers, Christopher Higgins, Montreal Canadiens, Habs, Blueshirts
Gomez - in, Higgins - out

If there was one good thing to come out of the Montreal Canadiens' disastrous Centennial season, the huge cap space available at the end of the season with 10 unrestricted free agents was surely it. Indeed, with the salary cap estimated to go down in two years, having as much space to maneuver as the Canadiens do this summer is surely an advantage.

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: 2009 NHL Offseason
   


Molson Family Buy Montreal Canadiens For $500 Million

June 21st 2009 17:24
Montreal Canadiens, Habs, George Gillett, Molson

It's finally over. After months of speculation, George Gillett finally sold the Montreal Canadiens along with the Bell Centre to the Molson family. As many as six groups were in the race to buy the storied franchise but it's the brothers Geoffrey, Andrew and Justin Molson who won the lottery. The Molson Coors company already owned 20% of the Canadiens' shares. By buying George Gillett's 80% share, the team is completely under Molson ownership even though the two entities – Molson Coors and Molson family – will stay separate.

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: 2009 NHL Offseason
   




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