Ann 2Montreal Canadiens 2008 Free Agents Market Watch
July 2nd 2008 03:43
Lots of activity went on today when the free agency period began. Here's a look at the Montreal Canadiens UFA/RFAs' new contracts.
Andrei Kostitsyn, Left Wing
The man they call “Special K” has re-signed with the Canadiens for three years, $3.25 million per. He will, thus, continue to play with his younger brother who becomes an RFA in two years. Andrei K. was GM Bob Gainey's first priority and, even though it took awhile, it's nice to see that he will stay in Montreal.
Cristobal Huet, Goaltender
The French goalie has signed a $22.5 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks for four years. That's $5.625 million per year. Although Huet is a good goalie, a deal at more than $4 million per year is grossly exaggerated for goaltender that can come up with the best along with the absolute worst performances in the course of a season. He is also injury-prone and has never lasted a full season. Furthermore, the Blackhawks are still keeping goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, their number-one goaltender, and have signed defenseman Brian Campbell for eight years at $7.1 million per. That puts Chicago several millions over the cap and they will have serious problems in the coming years.
Mark Streit, Defenseman
The versatile player will go on to play for the New York Islanders after signing a five-year $20.5 million contract – a hefty raise from last year's $600,000. Although Streit is a great utility man, he was never good enough to have a regular spot in Montreal's defensive corps and wasn't strong enough to be a third-line forward. His true specialty is playing point on the powerplay, and like Sheldon Souray in 2007, the Canadiens powerplay will live on without the “Swiss Knife.”
Michael Ryder, Right Wing
After a disastrous season where he scored 14 goals and spent the playoffs' second round in the pressbox, Michael Ryder somehow managed to hit it big, signing a three-year $12 million contract with the Boston Bruins. Despite his back-to-back seasons where he scored 30 goals, Montreal was very reticent to give him more than three million for a year, and here he is making four million a year from now to 2011. Ryder will be reunited with his old coach Claude Julien in Boston. Maybe that will help get his career back on track.
Pending UFA/RFAs are defensemen Patrice Brisebois, Josh Gorges, Ryan O'Byrne; forwards Bryan Smolinski, Mikhail Gabovski, Corey Locke, and goaltender Jaroslav Halak.
Andrei Kostitsyn, Left Wing
The man they call “Special K” has re-signed with the Canadiens for three years, $3.25 million per. He will, thus, continue to play with his younger brother who becomes an RFA in two years. Andrei K. was GM Bob Gainey's first priority and, even though it took awhile, it's nice to see that he will stay in Montreal.
The French goalie has signed a $22.5 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks for four years. That's $5.625 million per year. Although Huet is a good goalie, a deal at more than $4 million per year is grossly exaggerated for goaltender that can come up with the best along with the absolute worst performances in the course of a season. He is also injury-prone and has never lasted a full season. Furthermore, the Blackhawks are still keeping goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, their number-one goaltender, and have signed defenseman Brian Campbell for eight years at $7.1 million per. That puts Chicago several millions over the cap and they will have serious problems in the coming years.
Mark Streit, Defenseman
The versatile player will go on to play for the New York Islanders after signing a five-year $20.5 million contract – a hefty raise from last year's $600,000. Although Streit is a great utility man, he was never good enough to have a regular spot in Montreal's defensive corps and wasn't strong enough to be a third-line forward. His true specialty is playing point on the powerplay, and like Sheldon Souray in 2007, the Canadiens powerplay will live on without the “Swiss Knife.”
Michael Ryder, Right Wing
After a disastrous season where he scored 14 goals and spent the playoffs' second round in the pressbox, Michael Ryder somehow managed to hit it big, signing a three-year $12 million contract with the Boston Bruins. Despite his back-to-back seasons where he scored 30 goals, Montreal was very reticent to give him more than three million for a year, and here he is making four million a year from now to 2011. Ryder will be reunited with his old coach Claude Julien in Boston. Maybe that will help get his career back on track.
Pending UFA/RFAs are defensemen Patrice Brisebois, Josh Gorges, Ryan O'Byrne; forwards Bryan Smolinski, Mikhail Gabovski, Corey Locke, and goaltender Jaroslav Halak.
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