101st Season

[dustyrockon]

So what should be done this offseason to improve the 24 time stanley cup champs.

Lets begin by finding a decent head coach... Bob Hartley, Marc Crawford? Other ideas?

Now if the team is sold, perhaps a new GM? Lets hope so.

The Canadiens have a decent list of UFA's to sign. Here are the players the Canadiens should let test the free agent market.

Alexei Kovalev
Mathieu Dandenault
Mike Komisarek
Patrice Brisebois
Kyle Chipchura?
Francis Bouillion?

The players I would resign...

Alex Tanguay UFA--------------------------- 5 years 5M per season
Saku Koivu UFA------------------------------2 years 4M to 4.5M (Give or Take)
Robert Lang UFA-----------------------------1 year 1.5M to 2.5M
Chris Higgins RFA----------------------------6 years 2M, 2.75M, 3M, 3.5M, 3.5M, 4M (Aprox)
Tomas Plekanec RFA-------------------------3 years 2M to 2.5M per season
Tom Kostopolous UFA------------------------2 years 975K per season
Guillaume Latendresse RFA-----------------3 years 1.25M, 1.5M, 2M
Matt DaGostini RFA---------------------------3 years 700K per season 2 way contract
Greg Stweart RFA-----------------------------2 years 500K per seasron 2 way contract
Kyle Chipchura RFA---------------------------2 years 600K per season 2 way contract(IF signed)
Francis Bouillion UFA-------------------------1 year 1.6M (IF signed)
Mathieu Shneider UFA-----------------------1 year 3M

Reasons for signing the following players....

Alex Tanguay--- Great playmaker, able to score goals, 80 point guy. Probably one of the habs best players if not injured.

Saku Koivu--- Is an underated playmaker, has good puck controle and should probably retire with the canadiens seeing as he has been around since the start.

Robert Lang--- A good veteran center who showed he still had it at the beggning of the season. If his injury doesnt end his career he is a deffinate player to resgin.

Chris Higgins--- 6 Years may seem long so its a give or take. He could flop or get better. But he is a pretty consistent 20 goal scorer. Perfect on the 3rd line.

Tomas Plekane--- A decent 2nd line center. Despite have a slow season does not mean he can't bring his game back on next season.

Tom Kostopolous--- A perfect 4th line grinder. He demonstrates alot of grit and determination.

Guillaume Latendresse--- Still young, has gotten faster over the past couple years and has shown that he can score goals and work his way to the net.

Matt Dagostini--- He is still young and still needs to prove himself at an NHL level. But the very fact that he came in and scored 12 goals shows us that he has what it takes to be more competitive in a couple years if not this upcomming season.

Greg Stewart--- Also young, talented, and loves to stir things around out on the fight. Not afraid to drop the gloves for his teamates in any situation Stewart is a go to guy to put on the lineup while playing a rival.

Kyle Chipchura--- Is looking like a player the habs probably wont need. But a two way contract to keep him around would be alright.

Francis Bouillion--- Bouillon has never played a full 82 game season. 33 years old hes been with the habs his entire career except a short time with nashville. Is it time for him to try the Free Agent market? Its possible unless he takes a small contract.

Mathieu Shneider--- Despite being old has shown that he can still play the PP and put up points.


With cap space still left for signing some Free Agents some key players to look into could possible be...

Mike Cammelari
Marian Hossa
Marian Gaborik (Probably Not)
Martin Havlat (Probably Not)
Francois Beachemein
Brian Gionta
Johnny Oduya
Andrew Alberts
Mike Knuble

The list goes on.

A star forward would be key to replace Kovalev. And a solid reliable defenseman would also be useful. Seing as PK Subban will proabably be joining the Habs next season and possibly Mcdonaugh the loss of bouillion and dandenault should'nt hurt the Habs. Also the Canadians should look at acquiring a veteran goal tender to backup Price. Someone Like Garon perhaps.

In the draft we will probably be drafting around 14th 15th. The 09 draft being one of the deepest there are good chances we get a good prospect.

Peter Holland
Pos.: C
Shoots: L
Height: 6.02
Weight: 190
Birthdate: 1991-01-14
Hometown: Caledon, ON
He has smooth skating and speed that would fit in nicely with the Habs. Also being a powerplay specialist as well as being able to play the penalty kill his contribution to the habs would be great. He put up 28 goals and 67 points this season with the Guelph Storm. At 6-2 and weighing in at 185 pounds his presense will be seen on the ice in the last few minutes of a game


Also trades could be completed at the deadline that could find the Canadians with more offensive punch.

This is how the 09-10 season looks to probably play out. What do you guys think?

[Mr. Hockey]

The habs offer Alexei Kovalev 1 year between 6 to 7.5 mil.

The habs offer Mike Komisarek a long term deal for 4 mil a year.

They have to sign Alex Tanguay. I love him

[V-HAB]

I wouldn't give Koivu that much. If he wants to stay here, he'll probably take a paycut. I'd say 3 million would be reasonable.

At 3 million I wouldn't re-sign Schneider, but it could happen. I think he'd take less.

I'd like to have Komisarek back, but not at more than 4 million per season, and he's apparently already declined such an offer. More than that is too much for a defenseman that is only good in one zone.

Tanguay has stated that he would sacrifice money for length. I'm hoping giving him an 8 year contract or something like that could cut down his cap hit to somewhere between 4 and 5 million, but something like you mentioned wouldn't be horrible either.

As for Free Agents, I'd obviously love it if Hossa ended up here, but I do think the Habs' priority is to secure some defensemen is Komisarek and Schneider leave. I'd definitely throw a lot of money at Bouwmeester, and we might have a bit more of a chance now that he knows the new Habs coach well.

And I believe the Canadiens are drafting 18th overall, and it's looking like Louis Leblanc would be the best option, a local guy who plays center and has a decent scoring touch.

[Mr. Hockey]

rumor has it Koivu is not in the plans for montreal