GOHABS.com Message Board

Considering all this negative talk about the recent signings and transaction of Bob Gainey. I felt compelled to point out some facts.

Saku Koivu was captain of this team for 10 years, during those years he brought the team to the playoffs 5 times of which he won a total of only 3 rounds. Put in another way, as captain of the Canadiens for 10 years he won only 3 rounds in the playoffs. Wasn't the legendary Jean Beliveau that stated a couple years ago that this team lacked leadership.

The habs finally were supposed to put a decent showing this year in the season and the playoffs and during the second half of this season the wheels fell of this team (You can say all you want about Robert Lang getting injured, but it's still Robert Lang and not Sidney Crosby). Reports of players partying like theres no tomorrow. Is this the sign of leadership and players commited to winning.

If your core group doesn't win you make changes. The time was rip for a change in the core of players and he did. We may have lost a couple of decent players and some of those players we did not get anything in return. That is my only concern with the Habs management. I think the Higgins deal was good caused you traded him when he had valued and not in the last year of a contract when he destined to become UFA.

Way to go Bob.

Also Christopher Higgins was 26 years old and was a RFA. He signs a one year deal and then next year he's schedule to become an UFA (UFA rules by age 27 or older he can become an UFA). If you didn't trade him now you would have lost him for nothing.

Really well put Pat.

Nicely articulated.

What do you think JohnM???

I dont know JohnM much. I haven't posted on this board in a while.

I think we all are can have our own opinions. Sometimes we need to look at the facts though

Solid post Pat.

Well put Patg.

Also, with BG probably wanting to shed Higgs who some say was also a party animal. It made it easier not to resign Koivu as these two were really close especially since the loss of Rivet.

well put and not a bad strategy. Bob's direction was to lock up a core group of skilled players for 5 years. Saku doesn't have 5 years left. He's welcome back at a discounted price and can play 3rd line/PP/PK. He can be the C. But he's not, and never was, the key piece. Not his fault. He was our best player for his entire career. On any other team, #11 is going up to the rafters. Anyway, if/when he signs elsewhere, he's not going to get booed in Montreal like Komisarek and the rest.

Fact - Gainey's just now starting the 5 year plan he talked about.....

It certainly didn't have to happen this way though Figs...trying to build around Koivu caused a major regression...that No Trade Clause hurt. It was as if BG was biding his time and waiting for it to end and merely kept spending every dollar on deadwood to try to keep the fire burning.