Would you not say that Gainey is the one taking the huge risk? After all, Theodore may be in a funk this season, but I know you haven't forgotten that he won a Hart Trophy just a few seasons ago. Montreal has historically been a very hard place for a goalie, especially one that is Quebecker. There is a rich history of great goalies, of whom you all know, and playing in the fishbowl known as Montreal can get to some GK's. With little to pressure in Denver, I can see Theodore shine. One other thing: Huet and Aebischer - how confident are you in that tandem? Huet is having a fluky season, if you ask me, and Aebischer has the Aki Berg syndrome - plays great for his country, and crappy for his NHL team...
I'm not saying Aebischer is something to be completely excited or confident about, but he has some good experience already and has been very good for the Avalanche. Certainly much better than Theodore has been this season. The key as mentioned though was the room this frees up under the salary cap for the Habs. Gainney will have some nice $$$ to work with in the summer. As far as the Leafs go, why Luke Richardson? The guy is pretty much done. Even Klee is more useful at this point. Kudos however for getting one of the Devils top prospects and only giving up Klee. Edmonton looks like the overall most improved team after deadline day.
Edmonton really did well, picking up Roloson and Samsonov as rent-a-players. Most of the trades were minor, which was expected given the new NHL environment, with the cap and all. As for my Maple Duds, I have written this season off, and also next season. The Leafs could've done something more to try to make next season work by trading guys to play-off teams for prospects and picks, but they dropped the ball 'cuz the team thinks that it is a play-off team. Silly monkeys in the front office...
Richardson is a good pick up need his presence for next year when 3 rookies will play D. It takes time to build, seconds to destroy. As for Montreal, they suck period.
Your analysis there is useful because now I know which hockey posters to skip over. Anybody that thinks Richardson is the guy that was aqcuired to "mentor" and nurture young defencemen must be nuts. Also, it's ok for you to state your opinion that the Habs suck, but can't you elaborate as to why you believe that? Beyond the Leafs getting lucky and beating them last week? If the Habs suck please tell me what your Leafs are. Currently one is starting to solidify a playoff spot, while the other is floating in space.
The Maple Leafs should either fire their current Management or start the rebuilding process. The Leafs should hang onto their core youth - players like Antropov, Steen, Stajan, and begin trading off their more valuable commodities for either draft picks or prospects/young players. Players like Sundin, Tucker, O'Neill, Allison, McCabe, should help the Leafs with that process. The Leafs could take a page out of the Panthers, Lightning, Oilers, and the Carolina Hurricanes, who've started their rebuilding process to some successes. The trade deadline was probably the most boring in history really. I guess with the league being as closely competitive as it is with the parity, and the salary cap constricting budgets, the big player trades were almost non-existant. I'll say good pick ups by the Senators, Canucks, and Oilers - Canadian teams are always in the thick of it, it seems. The Sens picked up Arnason - a quality centremen from the Blackhawks who's still got quite a few years left. The Canucks picked up Mika Noronen, a finnish keeper from Buffalo, who was surplus parts, but has a decent upside. The Nucks also picked up veteran blueliners - Carney and Weinrich, bolstering their defense into the playoffs. Lastly, the Oilers got the steal of a deal, trading off thirdline centre - Reasoner, a Bostonian, plus a 2nd round draft pick and a prospect for Samsonov. Samsonov is an unrestricted free agent thsi summer, but I'll bet Lowe convinces him to sign next season - and if he does, its a coup by Lowe yet again. Samsonov give the Oil a little more bite on their forward lines. Acquiring Roloson for a first round pick was a little much by Lowe, but, there isn't many good quality 'backup' keepers at the moment, and not too many teams are willing to part with their starters, because they're either in a playoff drive themselves, or want to much for him. Lowe is obviously desperate to make the playoffs, as this will undoubtedly help the Oilers make some money in the postseason - where ticket prices go for even more money and games are always sold out.
tell me who you have comming? leafs have Kronwall Wosznieski, Colovacio, Harrison, Bell White, Ondrus Sublogov plus steen, Pony, Stajan,Wellwood. Come on tell me if you have anyone NHL ready. Nice goaltending also. Oh and in Goal Rask, Pogge.
LOL Ondrus? Think you might be overrating these players just a little?. Not one of them will be a first line player or a 1 or 2 defenseman. Steen is the only really good player on your list and even he wouldn't crack most teams first line.
The Leafs have depth, yes the Defencmen will be 3 thru 6. You dont have a NHL defencmen in your sysytem, look at your farm team shred with Edmonton and they stink the Bulldogs, you can support a whole farm team. We have 2 teams deep with talent and coaching.
Ya it sure is, we have a future. what will you do when Huet signs as a free agent elswhere, be crap like the last 13 years.
Say what you want hab loser, leafs have never put the team in the hands of a Rejean Houle and Mario Tremblay, what did they do trade your # 1 player od all time. Peddie is fine. We shead more money 25 million, does your payroll even come clsoe to what Toronto shed, Mogilny roberts newy nolan Leetch. We had to get rid of them. ******** you dont have one player who coul;d replace any opf them. habs are loser for ever, they cry small market. The days when tjey got the #1 player in Quebec are long over. They dont have the NHL helping them any more, no more bullshit refs giving them to many men and stick penalties, Face it habs are hit
You must be like 13 years old! You know what is sweet! Thats the Habs put the final nail in the coffin that held te Leafs playoff hopes. "NO PLAYOFFS FOR YOU, COME BACK ONE YEAR" NEXT!
LMAO!!! Even Leaf fans will laugh hard at that comment. Are you just really young? Or just plain ignorant when it comes to hockey. Luke Richardson is just lucky to still have a job in the NHL. Well, If the Habs complete dominance over the deadbeat Leafs the last couple of games doesn't shut them up, I don't know what will. Not only did the Canadiens win, they destroyed the Leafs and exposed them for the bunch of slow skating, washed-up hasbeens they are. As far as comparing the Habs and Leafs prospects and depth, look up some sites online that show you where teams are ranked in the prospects department. Toronto would be fairly low on that list. That's one of the organizations main areas to improve upon, is scouting and drafting. P.S. Darcy Tucker is the biggest ********** I've ever seen to lace up skates. Tie Domi is a chicken moron who's intimidating days have past about 5 years ago. A lot of yapping but no action.
Goaltending depth is not a problem at all in Montreal: Huet Aebischer Price - most coveted goalie in hockey at the last draft Halak
Quiz of the day: How many Stanley Cups have the Maple Leafs won since expansion? ZERO. So no cup for the so called "Capital of Hockey" since the league had only 6 teams...lol Bertoia go watch some tapes and read some books on the game. Look outside of the toronto media garbage too. That's the problem with Leaf fans they dont look outside the little bubble known as Toronto hockey media who can't get their heads out their asses.
It's kind of hard to get any objectivity out of Toronto media hack writers like Simmons and Cox who are just absolutely pathetic. Cox was jumping all over McCabe's rod early in the year calling him the best defensemen in the NHL. I am a Leaf fan and wrote him an email telling him that he was out of his mind.