Insanity - Part Deux

I was asked to submit an article to the Down Goes Avery season ending blog where 30 bloggers were challenged to take a irreverent look at their teams past season, off season and outlook for next season.  Here is an expanded version of events as I see them. Without a doubt this off-season will be interesting to watch in habland. Please feel free to leave a comment-they are always appreciated by all  bloggers all the time.


Free Agency: Insanity

The definition of insanity according to Einstein is to do the same thing repeatedly and expect different results – so yes my team is insane.  So far Pierre Gauthier has taken to doling out one year contracts to all the same players at the same money. Last I checked none of them are getting any younger, nor are they getting any quicker and certainly are not growing vertically.  They have a lot of free agents on the defence this time around, so we will sign some of the billion defensemen that were around last year, BUT only the ones so far that were around at the beginning of last season.  

The update on this is two restricted free agent signings on the offense – the long and the short of it, Max Pac and David Desharnais.  Good signings for a good price – 2 year contracts for each of them at least they may be around at the end of next season.  I expect the Habs to look at free agency to bolster the first two lines - I hope for Laich or Leino of course so does every one else. What we will get is probably Dupuis or Talbot or Jagr any of whom would be an upgrade on Pouliot whom I do not believe will be brought back.

The defense at the time of this writing consists of Subban, Gill, Yemelin, Spacek and now Markov. RFA's are Weber, Gorges, and Picard. UFA's are Wiz, Sopel, Mara and Hamrlik.  In the crystal glass I see signing of Weber (he has stated he will be at the Canadiens hockey camp for youngsters) Gorges should be either signed or dealt this week.  Unfortunately this all means that Wiz, Sopel, Picard, Mara and Hamrlik will not be re-signed.  the one I really hate to see go is Hamrlik - He has been able to step up to the plate whenever he has been asked and has served extraordinarily well in trying circumstances. If by some miracle Spacek can be moved or convinced to possibly retire then I would definitely have Hamrlik back in the fold no doubt about it. Wiz's rights should be moved at the draft hopefully to a western conference team.

Coulda/woulda/shoulda time at this time next year perhaps, but it looks like almost the whole team will be free-agents at the end of next season.

2011/12 Outlook: Reality Bites

So with essentially the same team as last year with a couple of changes it looks like same top 6 (barring any trades or signings) and some minor changes in the bottom 6.  

I am hoping for a big free agent signing for the Habs but in reality it hardly ever happens.  The big news in Montreal will be who is not coming back rather than who is added to this roster. Maybe there will be addition by subtraction. If I hear one more time this is a tight knit group I am going to scream so loud the south americans will call and advise me to keep it down. Time to step up to the plate, cowboy up, get er done because there are a whole lot of free agents at the end of this season including Price and Subban and not everybody will survive. In other words, in my humble opinion, this is the last season for this group as we know it.

Hey, let’s plan the parade.  Do I think this is a possibility? Check that definition of insanity again.  But then again....there is a reason they play the games.

Let me say This about That

Now that the Stanley Cup has been awarded I have some things to say (surprised?) I will be blogging all summer but intermittently because of commitments.

*The Bruins won Lord Stanley's shaving mug - pretty fitting.  In my opinion, it was preordained by the WWE oops I mean NHL.  And my congratulations to the winners.

*Twitter is once again saying Benoit Brunet is not going back to RDS. Is that not what we heard last year? So, until official - same as usual expect no changes.

*Markov to sign with the habs is another good one. It has been imminent for a while - wake me up when it is done please or when it is decided he should take a hike. FYI I think it does get done.

*Gorges and Pacioretty are RFA. (Duh-I know) They should be signed soon I hope.

*Does anyone know or care what happens on Hockey Night in Canada vis-a-vis Bob Cole and the Bruins broadcast team?  That sounds like a bad band name. - And now ladies and gents give it up for Bob Cole and the Cherry Bruins Corporation.

*Wonder how the Bruins fans feel about screaming Diver and Faker to Kesler now - do they care?

*Kaberle- after all the but i don't wanna leave - he has his name on the Stanley shaving mug and has a chance at free agency. Maybe he will end up on a defensive pairing with Hal Gill...hmmmm on second thought no that would be too bizarre and besides we already have too many.

*Gomez will have a better 2011/12 season....I mean can he possibly do worse?  we shall see won't we.

*When looking at the Habs past season please remember without Price - they would possibly be a lottery pick team.

*Ever wish you could combine players and amalgamate them - I am always looking for Pooche but not finding him on the roster. For my two non-habs fan readers it would be pouliots body and talent combined with Darche's work ethic and determination and sounds better than Darliot.

*speaking of Pouliot I am hoping he does not get re-signed - or I may have to rename my twitter account to DownGoesPou...something you really should not do to your own team (It was suggested I use DownGoesSubban but ummmm NO)

*Recchi's career is finally over and he will undoubtedly make it to the hall.  Too bad he had to step out of his perceived persona to do it.

*There will be a master blog coming out next week on DownGoesAvery next week and I am the Habs contributor. There will be a companion piece on this site when it is available.

Please add to the list in the comments section I 'd love to hear from you.