According to Tony Marinaro of the Team 990, the Canadiens will soon re-sign all-star defenceman Andrei Markov for two season.
The deal is reportedly valued at $11.5 million.
The Russian blue-liner has missed most of the last two seasons with various injuries, playing only 52 games.
After the report spread via Twitter, Markov’s agent, Don Meehan, denied a deal was imminent this week, but added a deal could be done by next week. Meehan is supposed to meet with Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier in Minnesota later this week during the NHL entry draft.
Loading ...
Only thing left is cold blooded murder. THAT frees up the cap.Swear to gosh, look at the fine print!Ok, sooo…how do we do this, execution-style or gangland-style?
s’e'ek’c'ou’ga’r.c óm–.it is the first and best club for y’ounger women and old’er men, or older women and y’ounger men,to int’eract with each other. Maybe you wanna ch’eck ‘it out or tell your friends!
Like many here, I like the Wiz and it would be great to see him on the team for many of the reasons stated. May happen.
But it’s a tough one… you’re not going to sign him for much less than he would expect to make from others in free agency – he could be close to Markov territory with longer term. The price will be inflated. And Montreal fans know more about the trouble caused by inflated contracts than most… expectations are going to go way up (paid like Markov you better play like Markov) and competing for PP time with Subban/Markov may put him in a less advantageous position to meet them.
We can sign him and then trade him close to trading deadline for the Top 6 winger we are looking for… but with the inflated contract he becomes harder to trade – especially if he has not had the opportunity to properly justify the contract. Besides, if he even sniffs this possibility, why would he sign here?
I like the option some others have stated below – try to trade his rights to negotiate before free agency and with luck get back something close to the draft pick we gave up for him.
Well no need to watch the draft upcoming, Pierre Mcguire has done his mock draft and Montreal Drafted Brandon Saad. Pierre says we need him to improve our physical play. In Pierre we trust….
Glad to see some realistic views on here. So in that spirit, letting go of the EA sports NHL GM in me, I would like to say this:
In this year’s UFA bunch the pickings are slim. I see only Laich as a possible fit for the top six. It’s not a perfect fit and he’ll be sought after, therefore cost too much. But more importantly, it’s a big gamble to count on him choosing mtl.
I don’t know that we have the assets currently to fill that spot through trade, at a price we’re willing to pay.
So, I would like to see PG sign the Wiz and Poulette because they are assets… Would be a real shame to loose them for nothing.
Add a big tough fourth liner and this lineup should win it’s share of regular season games, especially if Gomer produces reasonably. Cammy should have a better year and the kids are going to keep developing. I don’t see this team doing worst than last season in any case.
The big challenge for PG is to make the necessary adjustment during the season to adress the size and grit issue, which as we’ve seen is a necessary come playoff time.
If we’re close enough, the goat can make a splash at the deadline and put this team over the top.
Just wanted to repost this eklund vid as he has Habs interested in Ryan Malone rumor up. Where would he play with Camm/MaxPac playing LW on the first two lines? -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzMuCM01MtY
My armchair GM 11/12 Habs –
rough salary guess-timates in brackets = cap hit of 56.044 mill
leaving 7.206 million for in season adjustments (cap ceiling rumored to be 64 million)
Camm 6 – Pleks 5 – AK46 (off-wing) 3.25
MaxPac 1.625 – Gomez 7.357/ Desharnais 0.850 – Gio 5
Darche 0.7 – Eller 1.27 – Trotter (0.750)
Moen 1.5 – Engqvist 0.900 – White (0.9)/Weber (righty) (1) (and on PP a la Streit)
Pyatt (0.6)
First call up – Palushaj
Markov (lefty) (5) – Gorges (lefty) (3)
Gill (lefty) 2.25 – Subban (righty) 0.875
Yemelin (lefty) 0.984 – Weber (righty) (1)/Spacek (lefty) 3.833
Spacek (lefty) 3.833 – Diaz (righty) 0.9
first call up – Nash (lefty)
Price 2.75
Auld (1)
-0.5 Laraque buyout
(would be better if could move Gomez and/or Spacek)
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com/2011/02/gomez-effect.html
http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2010/11/24/1833979/disecting-the-gomez-connundrum#storyjump
Gomez for captain of the Hamilton Bulldogs?
Eklund is full of sh*t and Malone has a NMC. You have 25 players listed here… I very much doubt Trotter, Engqvist or Diaz would start the season in mtl.
Enqvist has an outside shot, especially if we don’t sign a 4th line Centre, but there’s no way the other two guys make the squad.
- Honestly yours
Agreed, but it’s unlikely we won’t sign a 4th liner. Wonder if white will ever play center again…
Really good sign !i think markov is done with all the injures he had the last couples of years and he is gonna bounce back !i love reading nice news like that !keep going Gauth !
go habs GO
One way or the other we have to find a way to draft this kid Gabriel Landeskog, currently of the Kitchener Rangers. SeriousFan, what’s the story on this kid? I just watched a video of him on BarstoolSportsPhiladelphia, he looks like money in the bank for whoever drafts him. Swedish kid that everybody thinks is Canadian because of how he plays and he learned english well enough that he outdoes teammates in school, he’s 18. He’s obviously smart and from what I saw super talented.
Born and Bred in Enemy Territory (Boston).
Wow. I don’t know what a sure bet looks like in junior and these promo videos are always a thing of beauty, but this kid is interesting. Smart, big, fights, overachiever…
How high is he slated to go? Ouch. No 2… He’s going to Colorado… Just as long as he’s not a Bruin, I’ll be happy.
“To be irreplaceable, you have to be different”.
Andy Warhol
Go PK Go!
He’s a top-5 pick, from what I read.
I forgot where I heard it, but someone told me he has huge bust potential.
Not rare at all for Scandinavians (Danes, Swedes and Norwegians) to speak excellent English. When my dad was growing up in Denmark in the 1930′s and 40′s, they were required to take a number of languages each year, with Danish and English basically mandatory most years. He ended up being fluent in Danish, English, Swedish, Norwegian, German and Latin (although he never could get a handle on French, and always claimed that Finnish was a bear to learn).
We already have our top six:
Cam-Plek-AK46(none of us are too crazy about)
Patches-Gomez-Gio
Bottom 6:
Darche-Desharnais- Eller/ Pouliot(???)
Moen-(ufa)-White(c/rw)
Defense(not in this order):
Subban-Gill
Yemelin-Markov(WILL sign)
Spacek/Weber – Gorges (Likely to sign)
UFAs: Wiz ( hopefully but I have a feeling he’ll take a spot in Detroit), Halpern…. was supposed to be our faceoff guy but spent more time being kicked out of the circle than in so I doubt it. Mara and Sopel…Ciao. Hamrlik if Wiz doesn’t sign is likely but not for sure. We’ll have roughly 7 mil left over and if management feels the D is strong enough then that cash could land something notable.
With one or two more in that category I feel confident the Habs will be a cup contender next year. Not saying all the way but semis at least. I’ve questioned some of PG’s moves in the past but overall I think he’s securing a helluva team for the next two years and won’t have too much difficulty retaining it afterwards. We’re headed in the right direction.
-When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro-
You know what’s sad? Markov can still get paid the same money as his last contract even though he has barely played the past couple of seasons and is a potential house of cards. What happened to the days of incentives? I would have given him a $3M base and he could earn up to $3M more depending on how many games and minutes per game he played.
L Train
Even though Markov loves this team, he would have laughed in Gautier’s face and walked off to free agency to earn more money than he’s getting now if we offered him a base salary of $3m. I’m sure he’s more concerned about his injury and future security than we are; he probably would not accept a games played bonus when even he’s uncertain about re-injury.
Realistically, on the market he’d probably have gotten a longer term and/or a higher base salary than we gave him.
Totally agree. He should get the 3 to 4 base and an extra 1 if he plays x amount of games and another 1 for a full 82. Thats just me. I’m sure PG and his agent will have another idea but hey, we’re all here to express our opinions as armchair GMs afterall……
-When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro-
Ridiculous.
Sorry, Maio, but more to gain by signin’m and more to lose by not.
It’s an EXCELLENT contract.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
CBA prohibits performance bonuses except in entry-level contracts and contracts for players age 35 and older.
That’s not entirely accurate. Provisions are made for player that have missed significant injury time over the previous few years. Markov definitely falls into that category, and would be eligible for a bonus-type contract. That being said, this is the final year the CBA, so any bonuses would count against the cap anyways. Might as well just give him the whole deal regardless. No sense in alienating him.
Know what’s sad? Thinking Markov would have signed for 3mil. What you been smoking?
If I were PG I would absolutly sign Wiz (even though with Markov signed that money would be better spent on a top 6 forward) for the following reasons:
1) in case Markov gets injured, he is as best a backup plan we could find
2) If Markov is back to his old self and things are going well with our D, we could use Wiz as trade bait for a solid top 6 forward at the trade dead line.
I think this is the best option since we all know that there really isnt much available right now in terms of top 6 forwards UFAs and this is the only way to ensure we do not lose another Solid player for whom we paid a 2nd round pick for nothing…
btw, I just read some of the other posts and reallized this is pretty much already said …lol so sorry if it seems like I repeated something I saw here b/c I hadnt read the posts before I posted this…
For you wizmaniacs out there, PG has around 14 million left. He still has to sign white, webber, gorges, a backup goalie, an ass kicking 4th liner (we hope). That’s going to cost about 7. That leaves another 7. We know PG likes keeping a couple million in leaky roof money, so figure 5 mill for a top 6 or the wiz. I’m thinking they make a play for a top 6 with size. If that doesn’t work, they may take a run at wiz but he may be a bruin or redwing by then. they may end up with that money unspent. You never know on ufa day.
A top 6 forward with size is probably our club’s biggest need, but this year’s FA pickings are rather slim. As such, I’d rather we signed Wiz to a fair contract. At the very least he’d be a good back-up plan on the PP if Marky gets hurt again. Plus, we’d also then be able to trade him after a year or two for that top-6 winger, or maybe high draft picks or good prospects (depending on the team’s needs). This way we don’t lose him for nothing along with the 2nd round pick we spent to get him.
- Honestly yours
Good ideas as usual. I think there’s a good chance Gauthier is on the same page, making it all come together is a different story though.
Thanks man. And yeah, you’re right. Making it all come together depends on a lot of things, mostly Wiz’s intentions and PG’s plans.
- Honestly yours
Markov – Gorgie
Soobie- Jimmy
Webber-Gill
7) Spaceman
8) Emelin/Diaz
Edit: huh, so that’s what #8 + right parenthesis does…
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
It looks good to us armchair GMs on the internet Bugs, but a veteran who makes 3.5M (or whatever) doesn’t get the pressbox. It just doesn’t happen.
Ballard was making $4M in the press box most of the playoffs…
If a newcomer has proven to be more able-bodied in a majority of the facets of the game, yes it does happen.
The argument works against Emelin (that I said on previous page), not necessarily againt Webber.
Webber has a case; Emelin doesn’t.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
the habs pp while in the top 10 did not have a solid feel to it…i my be wrong but is seems they scored their pp goals in bunches and had many poor games…the pp did not have the feel to it that it can score clutch goals
As I recall, our power play was consistently impressive through the mid to late season. It was, however, consistently abysmal at the start of the year, accounting for it not being ranked higher.
With the return of Markov and Subban’s continued offensive development throughout last season and into the next, I foresee it being an even greater strength next year.
Further, it scored a very clutch goal in the playoff-clinching Blackhawks game, and in game 7 with the Bruins.
Scores in bunches, just like every other team.
Didn’t “feel” like a clutch PP? Subban, game 7.
Finally able to log-in and it was worth it seeing this news.
Has anyone ever thought about what we could do if they bought out Space-case and used the increase in cap space to sign the Wiz??
“Space-case” is over 35, signed at over 35 and is beyond the second year of his contract, thus buying him out would not result in a decrease to his cap hit.
Talik, yes this is true, but you also free up half of his salary. What is he making this up coming season?? Half of it goes to the cap, yes for the next 2 years, but that $1.5 you save this year along with the increase in cap space allows for his buy out leaving you similar numbers to this past season
not when you are over 35. you don’t free up half. you take on the full 3.75
Kooch….. ah fair enough! The minors it is then!!!!
um, Dave… nevermind.
@ LeDave
No, even if we sent him to Hamilton, we’d still be on the hook for his cap hit. That’s the way it goes for players on 35+ contracts.
Even if he left to sign in Europe or elsewhere we’d still be on the hook, I think.
The only way we can remove his cap hit from our books is if we traded him to another team.
- Honestly yours
@Mike D. What if Spacek decided to retire, not that he would or anything.
@ habrez
Same thing if he retires. We’d still be on the hook for the full cap hit unfortunately.
- Honestly yours
Only thing left is cold blooded murder. THAT frees up the cap.
Swear to gosh, look at the fine print!
Ok, sooo…how do we do this, execution-style or gangland-style?
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Bugs, don’t the Kostitsins know a guy…?
Isn’t this also the guy who said Gomez was leaving before the trade deadline?
I’ll never forget that Markov signed for us for 4-yr a deal. He a Hab, through and through. If there’s one player that is a true Hab, it’s him!
I saw him at Alexandre’s and bought him a beer once, just after he re-signed.
http://andyfroncioni.com
Hope Tony is right. If so, I would be happy if PG traded the rights for the Wiz to Detroit for a pick, signed Laich and went with the lineup below to start the season.
Cammi-Pleks-Laich
MaxPac-Gomer-Gio
AK46-Eller-DD
Moen-White-Darche
Halpern
Marky-Gorges
PK-Gill
Yemlin-Weber
Spaceman
Price
Auld
*Listen to my instrumental tribute entitled “Habs at War” at http://web.me.com/ptolias/Music/OtherOriginalMusic.html
who is your centre on the third line?
Ah, see?
THIS is an Emelin pairing I could accept.
BUT…not as starting line-up. The hockey gods say Spaceman gets his shot first.
Yes?
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Agreed.
Good to see Marky signed. Now Gauthier it is time. It is time to bring in the beef. Go out and get the muscle to protect this talent and hammer the Bruins. The players want some muscle as well. Any of you that have ever played hockey know what I am taking about. Skilled players love when their backs are covered. Go get the beef Pierre. Pierre are you there.
Question: Why does everybody think the increase in salary cap will benefit us? It’s a wash, no? Sure, players benefit, but every team’s purchasing power is the same. The cap increasing doesn’t make it any easier for us to sign that last guy over any other team. Am I missing something?
Why???
Cuz we’re RICH, bi…!
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
every team is richer, so no team is richer
players are richer, sure
He means that our owner has the assets to field a team that is at the cap ceiling, while some other teams struggle to reach the cap floor.
This may not be an advantage over some of our rivals and strongest competitors, but may be one over some of the weaker teams.
…which is an advantage unto itself, yes, Talik gets it.
Just practical; just biness. Be fools not to take advantage.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Because unlike Montreal a fair number of team’s won’t spend to the cap.
“Epp also represents pending RFA blueliner Josh Gorges of the Montreal Canadiens and said there hasn’t been any talks on that front yet.”
I wonder whats going how come there hasn’t been any talks with Gorges.
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
One thing at a time…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Maybe I was dreaming for most of last season, but I really felt like Hal Gill struggled mightily for the first 2/3 of the season. Yes, he turned it on and played amazing in the playoffs. But if he is a step slow for most of the year again, the Habs could be in trouble. Spacek has clearly lost his footspeed almost entirely, and Yemelin/Weber are still somewhat unknown.
I LIKE the Habs defence corps and I am all for playing the young guys…they need to get in the line-up sometime. But I am a little reluctant to annoint a proposed defence corps (if the Markov signing isn’t just a misplaced rumour) of Markov-Gorges, Gill-Subban and Spacek-Emelin (with Weber as a swingman) as even being better than the group from 2007-08 (Markov-Komisarek, Hamrlik-Gorges, Bouillon-O’Byrne/Brisebois with Streit as a swingman), let alone the best since the mid 1990′s.
I truly hope I’m wrong, but there are more question marks on that proposed blue line than usual: two guys coming off potentially career altering knee injuries, two guys who have clearly lost a step that probably shouldn’t be asked to play heavy minutes and two unproven players at the NHL level. And that isn’t even factoring in the potential for the dreaded sophomore slump for P.K. Subban.
Looking around the league this past season, you have to marvel at some of the top-4 or even top-5 defence that were put together (when healthy):
Pittsburgh: Letang, Michalek, Orpik, Martin
Philadelphia: Pronger, Timonen, Carle, Coburn, Meszaros
Vancouver: Bieksa, Hamhuis, Salo, Ehrhoff, Edler
Chicago: Keith, Seabrook, Campbell, Hjalmarsson
Detroit: Lidstrom, Stuart, Rafalski, Kronwall
And then there are the up and coming blue-lines:
NY Rangers: Staal, McDonagh (sigh!), Del Zotto, Girardi, Del Zotto
St. Louis: Brewer, Pietrangelo, Johnson/Shattenkirk, Colaicacovo
Washington: Green, Carlson, Alzner, Schultz, Poti
The league is pretty rich in good defencemen right now…it is really amazing!
Gill always struggles. He’s someone who’s clutch in the post season it seems.
That’s because he can clutch (and grab) more in the playoffs.
In the regular season, he can sometimes masquerade as a pylon.
As a player, Gill shows his worth in the playoffs. As a leader in the room, he’s full value 100% of the time.
- Honestly yours
Gill struggled when he wasn’t paired with Subban. That was pretty obvious. However he is a very good compliment to Subban’s rambunctiousness. That and Subban was so good in the last 50 games of the season that he was able to make Gill look good against top competition.
Gill will be better with Markov and Gorges back. Those two will eat up minutes that he was forced to take this season. Hopefully Jacques Martin will also give lots of ice time to the youngsters Yemelin and Weber, and bring these guys along. Gill should be fresh as a rose come playoff time.
Gill has shown good chemistry with PK, they complement each other well. We can get another good season out of him and reevaluate next season.
———————————
“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Ehhhhhxcellent.
Now it’s just Gorgeous Gorges to ink, and we’re looking like we’re on our way. Be nice if Wizzy could stick around, but I’d rather have some beef up front instead.
Don’t forget, though, we do need depth in D if last year’s injuries come back to haunt us…
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Good news if he signs – a fair price. With Hamrlik’s money off the books, it’s a good deal.
Ok, random thought and looking for opinions. Send the rights to negotiate with Wisniewski to Boston, on the condition he signs the Habs get Jordan Caron. Do you do it?
Not yet – maybe in a few days something better comes up. But – if we have no intent to sign him, get what you can for the rights.
Yes. Caron is a former first-round pick. He is also a local boy with size and some skill. As much as I would hate to see Wiz go to Boston, that could happen on July 1 anyway, and I doubt we could get a better return for his rights.
That’s my thinking. And he would fit in there well, as annoying is that is. It would be a massive upgrade for their D and take pressure off of Chara offensively.
I’d do it in a heartbeat, but I can’t see the Bruins making that trade. With time running our before free agency, I can’t see us getting anything more more than a late third round pick for Wisniewski’s rights.
Toronto might be willing to make a trade in that vein, though.
It would be a very high price, I agree. However the B’s have tons of forward depth and desperately need help on D. Outside of Chara that’s an AHL squad. Wiz is the best out there and you know teams like Detroit will be calling. Exclusive rights could be enough.
I hope you’re right, and that Gautier has the will to make that kind of move, rather than letting go of a proven asset for no return. Further, I agree entirely about Boston’s lack of depth at defense. I hadn’t even considered that obvious factor in regards to Wisniewski’s attractiveness to them, though Caron may be too high a price for them to pay.
Caron is definitely way too high a price, I’m just daydreaming.
I would do it, but why would Chiarelli? There aren’t that many teams that have the cap space to add a defenceman of Wiz’s offensive talent, and there are a significant number of excellent defencemen on the market this summer: Wisniewski, Ehrhoff, Bieksa, Brewer, Pitkanen and Kaberle. You can even toss the aging Bryan McCabe and Ed Jovanovski into the mix…McCabe still has a shot, while Jovanovski’s numbers are probably being significantly stunted in the Phoenix defensive system.
The Bruins system is starting to be a bit bare, and they think very highly of Caron. I don’t see them giving up their #2 prospect (behind Seguin) for the chance to sign Wiz when they’ve got the draw of a Stanley Cup winning roster and some cap space to appeal to one of the aforementioned UFA defencemen.
Only one of Ehrhoff and Bieksa is likely to hit the market if either of them do. And the rest you named are either clearly a step behind Wisniewski in almost all aspects of the game, or near the end of their careers.
As for competition, with the cap going up your statement isn’t true at all. San Jose, Boston, New Jersey, Buffalo and Detroit can all use a player like Wiz and have the cash to spend.
As for Boston’s system getting bare, Marchand and Seguin are still young and they have a plethora of high picks in this deep draft year.
I would argue SJ doesn’t have a NEED for Wiz. They have Boyle and Vlasic.
- Honestly yours
Vlasic of the 34 points in the last 144 games? Boyle is overworked in SJ, and they have no one else on the blueline who can bring it offensively.
You are putting a LOT of emphasis on Wisniewski’s one excellent season, coming in a contract year. Prior to this year, Wisniewski wasn’t much of a sure bet, and I’m sure that that will be factored in.
Having the cash to spend and having the draw were interrelated. You mention a number of teams, but let’s be honest: in that list, only Detroit, Montreal, San Jose and Boston have significant cap space a legitimate shot at contending next year.
Picks in this draft year are not going to step in for 2-4 years time in all likelihood. Other than Seguin (74 games) and Caron (23 games) no Bruins prospect drafted since 2007 has played more than 20 NHL games. As another example, no Montreal draft pick from the 2008, 2009 or 2010 drafts has set foot in an NHL rink yet.
They all could, but the pipeline tends to be a bit longer term than 1-2 years. The Bruins are drafting #9, which MIGHT yield a player who could play as early as this year or next, and that’s it for the first round (by winning the Cup, the Kaberle trade sent their #30 pick to the Leafs). The rest of this year’s picks aren’t likely to yield an NHL player for 2-3 years time, by which time they will have to replace guys like Thornton, Kelly, Peverley and probably Paille.
Would do that in a heartbeat if Wiz is for sure out of the picture. While I doubt Boston would do it, it would be a steal for the Habs
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
Boston wouldn’t do it. They just won a cup with the squad they have so why give up a decent prospect. They will resign Kabby for a similar contract of well under 5 mill a season.
enough with the Bruins ads on the right hand side already
On the subject of Defencemen TSN did a redraft of last years draft and bumped Tinordi up to 8th!
Not to change the subject so dramatically but I’ve just now come to realize how ludicrously contrived the plots are for “24″.
Everything and anything that can put a crimp in Bauer’s mojo happens and no one gets any sleep, not a nap, not a slight doze, nuthin but lo!, everyone’s fresh as a daisy, what the hell?
Ohhhh, the bad guy was just PRETENDING to do that and when he was stopped, it turns out he was actually a good guy pretending to be the bad guy’s lost good guy cousin…who’s now been turned into a REALLY bad guy, ohhhhh, ok.
Instead of “24″, they should call it “1 and three quarters” and be done with it already.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
If the good people at FOX had any sense, they would have gone with my idea for “24″.
In my version, Berkshire guzzles one like there’s no tomorrow and is then locked inside a Roman Catholic church filled with Broonz fans.
The whole thing’s slapped on tape, of course.
Do I at least get weapons? I’ll settle for Marchand’s nose.
I can offer you exclusive access to the pulpit.
I’ll even throw in a big hat.
A cowboy hat at least?
Forgive me the both’o'yehs for not gettin the inside reference but if you’ll now excuse me, one of my favorite character actors has just walked in, Tony Todd, he of the GREATEST line in “The Rock”:
- Excuse me, SIR…but we’re not “soldiers” anymore. The day we took hostages, we became mercenaries. And mercenaries get PAID! I WANT. My EFFIN. MONEY!
Gotta see where THIS is goin.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
Too much for a question mark…2 years for 11.5M? Really?
Not doubting the guy’s skill, but doubting a wonky knee is a whole other story…Sorry, don’t like this contract…Too risky…I would prefer 1 year..
——————
Yes, I’m a Hab fan..Wanna fight about it?
Maybe he would not sign a 1 year….. would you risk losing Markov lets say to the leafs and him getting back his all star form and haunting us for years too come!!!!!!
He doesn’t have enough “truculence” to play for them..lol
I just think its a risk giving so much of a cap hit to a guy that has been injured for the majority of the last 2 seasons…Knees are a terrible injury for a pro athlete…I hope he does come back and be the same player, but I doubt it…Injuries of this nature tend to play with your mind….It has a psychological effect as well as a performance effect..
——————
Yes, I’m a Hab fan..Wanna fight about it?
A one year offer would have been lame. He deserves better treatment.
——————————————————————-
” There were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that (The Deluge), when the Sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Life is full of risks. Some believe in loyalty, showing confidence and appreciation for a (still young) Hab vet who has proven much to this organization and city.
——————————————————————-
” There were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that (The Deluge), when the Sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
I don’t think anyone in their right mind should call Markov a ‘Question Mark’.
He’s been with the organization through thick and thin, he’s never done anything but work hard and be extremely effective.
If it weren’t for his humility, he’d be captain of this team.
Habs are doing right by him with this deal, and I’m glad of it.
—Hope Springs Eternal—
Dear sweet deuce6,
my signing a possibly 2 year deal with a defenseman from another continent who’s played solid hockey for a team whoom he signed for less to stay with on his currently expiring contract does not scare me (wobbly knee or not) as your picture. You look scary. This deal does not. Why? the upswing. He’s had plenty of time to PROPERLY heal. do you know anything about loyalty deuce6? Do you know anything about loyalty? do you know anything anout how valid a point theese values come into play when a man decides to take an oath and swear to a country like he did? Do you? DO YOU. absolutely not. You stay in that basement of yours deuce6, stay and ASSume all you want. But if this deal is valid and comes through I hope he (he being Markov) comes through with flying colors this season. Puss & boots like you who never pushed a puck in their lives and act like NHL GM’s from their mother’s basement make me as sick as watching the bruins hoist a tainted cup.
Although wide open and fixed to a point the eyes did not register…
2 years and no raise in annual salary does reflect a reluctance on management’s behalf. If it weren’t for the knee, this deal would have been long-term and he would have earned a fat raise.
He GOT offered one year; he and his agent wanted 5.
Pretty good compromise, ask me.
Gone figuratively fishin filibusts L. B. Potter, esq.
People have forgotten why Wis was signed in the first place. The cap space should be reserved for acquiring a top 6 bruiser with hands. If not in this offseason, then before the trade deadline for that playoff run. Laying down some moolah for a solid backup goalie or promising up-and-comer would be wise too..Mtl is boring without that controversy
——————————————————————-
” There were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that (The Deluge), when the Sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Bold prediction. PG won’t bother to offer a contract to Wiz, which is fine with me. Wiz is going to sign with Boston, for term and over $5M. Because Kaberle’s name is MUD in beatown, I am calling Wiz to sign there. Wouldn’t YOU? Also, I predict a nice, well-deserved RFA raise to Gorges. And I think the Habs will come out better in that exchange.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Wiz signed in either Boston or Detroit. Both stable, winning franchises that can offer him coin. For some reason I think Detroit will make a stronger push and come away with him though
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
I hope he signs with the red wings
Boston is not a winning franchise.
Yes, they won this year due to a combination of dumb luck and cheating combined with arrogance that would make Lance Armstrong blush. But they are not a “winning franchise”.
I’m no Boston fan (I dispised them and the way they play), but I’m mearly talking about the win/loss columns. Not being a winner the way the Habs and Red Wings are winners. Trust me, I agree with you 100% on those sentiments.
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
If Wiz signs in Boston I will hate him for a long time. Anywhere but there.
if wiz signs in Boston, the bruins will have improved their team substantially.
when you mentioned below that wiz was “slightly” more physical than weber, I was surprised
wiz is nasty.
habs need to get talented players who have a nasty side, an edge, and the balls to to clear the front of the net or score in front of the opponent net.
I hear that Yemelin is nasty – so thats a good start.
Wiz is nasty! – did I mention that already??
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Did I say slightly? That was a poor choice of words. What I should have said was that he’s slightly stronger. I think Weber gets less credit than he deserves, along the boards he’s pretty good imo.
Wiz is nasty for sure, something Weber doesn’t have, but as long as that nastiness is replaced (Emelin) I don’t see the huge deal.
The issue with Newsy is more about other GMs than it is PG. JW has a high perceived value which was only further enhanced after he wore the bleu-blanc-et-rouge for a few months. The only way he signs in Montreal is because he craves the atmosphere after bein’ starved by the Isles for a season.
I’m not bettin’ on it.
What really grinds my gears, however, is the Florida Panthers cap Marky’s wearin’ in the pic.
See and I thought that last thing wouldn’t offend someone who’s mutilated the sacred CH. *cough*
On Newsy though, you’re right.
Couldn’t we just give Wiz Hamrlik’s salary?
So, is Markov in Montreal or Russia? If it’s Russia, we won’t know anything until tomorrow.
A confirmed text msg rumor from afar is as official as a dried ink signature rumor. Besides, can went beyond his patriotic duty by getting his canadian citizenship last year.
——————————————————————-
” There were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that (The Deluge), when the Sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Great signing though a little more than he’s worth especially if his next two seasons are like the past two, should have signed him for 9 mill 2 yrs.
Now sign Stamkos to a qualifying offer at 7.5/yr for 5 yrs and send Gomez to the minors.
Stamkos is nothing without help from St. Louis.
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
Marinaro seems to have the sources when it comes to Markov. He was right on the Price/Markov incident and got the scoop on Markov’s injury this past season.
___________________________________________
Eyes on The Prize! and on Twitter
I just think we would bring Wiz back because we spent a second rounder to get him plus he younger and hasn’t had any knee problems. What ever happens I have to trust PG knows what he is doing.
I’d like to see him back too but keep in mind he has had his fair share of knee injuries aswell.
3 surgeries to the same knee for Wiz. Same as Markov.
- Honestly yours
We all saw the games last year…I remember Wiz just fitting in real nice with our lineup. He’s got that attitude that we need and he backs up his smack and he was awesome for a long stretch on the power play. I honestly thought we would bring back both Gorges and Wis and try to deal Markov for some picks…but I am not a GM I guess
I think Wiz had some major surgery on his right knee a few season ago.
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
Wizniewski has had three knee injuries. The positive in his case is that he seems to have fully recovered as he demonstrated last year.
———————————
“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Three knee injuries, one surgery, all on the right knee.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=2291
I’d still sign him, over any other UFA’s.
———————————
“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
Craig Button on TSN said if Tinordi was being picked he would go much higher. He really likes his progress.
Yea Markov!
NorthTOHab
So happy to see that! It was also nice to see Kadri go lower, he’s overrated IMO.
25 before 14
If this report is true…which d-man do we sign next? Gorges or Wiz?
Wiz for sure, you can’t compare….go look at Wiz stats last year…very impressive! 7 goals, 23 assists for 30 goals in 43 games and a +4.
They must sign the guy, he is only 27 years old…he is in his prime years!!!
Go Habs Go!
I totally agree with you Auscan. I think Wiz can give us an edge especially against those f-ing Bruins.
Oh yeah 2 points in the playoffs in 6 games with a -2 rating. While Weber was 2 points in 3 games with +1. They’re the same height and about the same in weight. Weber is still developing too.
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
What do you think about Brandon Nash possible getting some PT this year?
I still think Nash has some sharpening to do in his defensive game in the Hamilton top 2, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be one the 1st to be called during the season. Remember Weber has spending between Hamilton and Montreal during his 3 seasons of his ELC.
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
How many more defensemen do people want here. Wiz will not come back unfortunately. In a cap world, we can’t just stack up as many expensive players as we want. I bet ya same people who want Wiz to be signed are the same people who has been saying we need a top six winger. I realize we might actually have enough to get a good winger to play with Plek and Cammy.
Go! Hockey! Go!
With injuries to defencemen being common, and considering the fact that there aren’t many quality forwards available anyway, I think it makes great sense to sign Wiz.
It might not be the Big 3, but it could be the Fleet 3, him and Markov and Pk would absolutely improve the offence, on the power play and at even strength. If the experiment doesn’t work, and we find that we have glaring holes elsewhere on our roster, then we can deal from a position of strength and trade an asset down the road. Letting a valuable player like him walk away makes no sense.
———————————
“I hate the Bruins more than the Nordiques, who I hate more than the Flyers.”
http://relentlessineptitude.blogspot.com/
I agree with you, I do see him as a valuable player as well. It will depend how much and for how long he will demand. We have developing young talent like Weber and Subban, Yemelin seems to be one of them. I think we have all the tools we need at this point in defense.
Now let’s get Laich plus a good size grinder to play with Moen and White, and we will be contenders next season.
Go! Hockey! Go!
don’t see PG signing any new offence, if he thinks the D alone is gonna win a cup, he’d better wake up and smell the coffee.
Perhaps you should smell some of your coffee first. Defense wins championships.
if your so smart what happen to vancouver #1 Defence in the league.
They faced Thomas. And his defensive buddies who shut down the Sedins, you know the guys who where supposed to provide SOME offense.
Without mentioning how 2-3 of the Vancouver defense was injured or suspended.
Habs already proved defence alone don’t win that’s why they couldn’t beat Boston. Boston have both Defence and Offence that’s why they’re stanley cup champions. when the Habs get more offence some day they’ll be there, so I’ll say it again Defence alone don’t win stanley cups.
Minus Dan Hamhuis, Rome etc..
Tough to sign NEW offense before July 1st, don’t you think?
Whether he’s signed or not, it’s only a matter of time. If this reported deal is the way it goes down, it’s good for both sides. The Habs aren’t locked up long term and Markov still get’s his money and no feelings are hurt on either side
I’ve also decided that if Timmons takes J.T. Miller or Tyler Biggs over Phillips, Saad, McNeill, Scheifele, Oleksiak, Jensen, or others from the CHL, it’s time for the axe. USHL kids are good 2 round prospects on down. They aren’t first rounders.
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
Tinordi and Leblanc have been our last 1st round picks. Both CHL players.
Take a chill pill.
That Timmins guy has found some nice value picks from rounds 2 through 7. Not to mention some nice ones in the first round like Price and Pacioretty.
And Subban in the second round!
LeBlanc played at Harvard before jumping to the CHL and played before that in the USHL. Tinordi is another USHL guy but the Habs (like the did when LeBlanc jumped ship to the Juniors) got lucky when he spurned Notre Dame to go London.
Timmins best 2 picks during his time during his time as Habs scouting director have been Price and Subban, both CHL guys (Pacioretty looks like the only homerun hit out of how many USHL picks? LeBlanc and Tinordi the jury is still out. Same with Kristo). The USHL is a second rate development league compared to the CHL. Paired with the NCAA they produce nice complimentary players and the occasional star like Parise, but for the most part if you want an impact player in the first round you draft from the CHL or Europe.
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
And you’re in a better position to evaluate talent than Timmins?
My apologies re: Leblanc. Absolutely right.
Probably not. He’s been in his business for decades and had fantastic success in Ottawa. But I haven’t been a fan of his body of work in Montreal and I stand by that. I’m not going to kiss his rear just cause he’s a Habs employee. I’m not one of those people who hate everything Habs just cause they didn’t win (I think Gauthier has done a good job so far and JM is an alright coach as far as I’m concerned) but I haven’t been a Timmins fan for a few years. If he can change my mind then I’ll be happy. Just not a USHL believer
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
If I really cared about this thread I’d go through the last few drafts to look at CHL bust prospects, but I know you’re blowing smoke up everyone’s respective ass, so I won’t.
It really doesn’t take much to get people riled up here does it? I wasn’t trying to piss anyone off but I’m not going to back off my opinion either.
Re your second paragraph, 1 it’s Timmins (perhaps if you’re going to decide it’s time to fire him, you should at least know his name) & 2 Timmins’s picks have been the best in two decades. I’m sorry you do not see this. But look at the prospects coming in, they are his picks.
I’m not arguing the Price or Subban picks. But how many has he swung and missed on? The 2003, 2004, and 2006 drafts were all completely bungled. The scouting staff reshuffling was his second chance, we’ll see what he does with it.
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
2003 ? You mean when Halak was drafted in the last round or so ? Yeah 1st round was not the best, but hindsight is 20/20, and I tend to look at the bigger picture…
And that was a phenomenal pick. But the 2nd round was also a disaster that year when they passed on Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, and David Backes for Cory Urquart and Max Lapierre (it’s too bad he didn’t pan our in Montreal though. I always had a soft sport for him). And sorry, but Timmins body of work since he came on board with Andre Savard in 2001 (I believe) is nothing to right home about
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
28 other teams passed on each of those players, what’s your point ?
My point is look at the big picture, no team has nailed a home run each and every round.
Lay off Timmins, he is doing a great job!
By no means am I saying that Timmins needs to be perfect. Not even Detroit is perfect. And I know that Timmins walked into a team with almost no high end prospects when he got there so does he deserve some kudos, absolutely. And you know what, the Habs draft record has definitely improved since 2007 (which I have to give Timmins major kudos for, he did a phenomenal job that year). I’m not saying that Timmins can’t make a believer out of me, I’m just not one right now. Frankly I’m hoping that Timmins proves me wrong. We’ll see if he can.
Pacioretty and McDonagh real second round talent there.
Oleksiak does not play in the CHL.
He’s my exception. Worth the gamble at 17 even if he does play NCAA
http://5-10andagamemisconduct.blogspot.com/
How convenient, you have exceptions to the rule of firing the best Head Scout the Habs have had in 20 years….
Haha I’m not going to argue that he’s done a better job then whoever was running things under Houle, but not buying that he’s the second coming of Sam Pollock either.
Markov signing is on Twitter so it must be true that Markov WILL sign……..lol
Just looking at the d-corps and assuming the obvious (that Gorges will sign), this is the best and most balanced defensive corps we’ve had since 93 or maybe even further back.
Markov – Gorges
Gill – Subban
Spacek – Emelin
Weber
That’s damn solid. Even with Spacek possibly becoming more of a liability, Emelin can play either side so you can take Spacek out, put Emelin on the left side and Weber in. 3 defense pairings that can play in their own zone and generate offense. 2 pairings that can handle 1st line assignments. The only thing I’d like to see added to that group is perhaps a veteran guy to be 8th D if both Emelin and Weber need to sit. No one special is needed, Mara would be serviceable and you know he loves playing here.
Not sure about Gorges. Arpon think it should be at a 3M+ price tag, but to be honnest, at this price, I would much rather take the Wiz and his 5M price tag, as he brings so much more to the table.
Imagine this group:
Markov – Wiz
Gill – Subban
Spacek – Emelin
Weber
That would be a force to reckon with. By the way, I am liking more and more your thought about putting DD with Eller and AndreiK.
The chemistry Gorges has in the locker room. Is worth more then you know…
He would take a bullet for the Habs, and his teammates appreciate it.
He sorta did, a Mike Green blast off his bucket. So hard the the puck indented the logo into it.
___________________________________________
Eyes on The Prize! and on Twitter
Wiz brings more to the table offensively, there’s no question about that. But with Markov, PK, Weber and Emelin you have to remember the defensive side of the puck as well. Gorges is an elite level penalty killing defenseman and close to that level at even strength as well. He can play against the best offense other teams can throw out and thrive. Wiz can’t do that.
I’m all for having lots of puck movers, ideally I’d go for a 4-2 split between offensive-defensive minded players, but we have Spacek for another year and he’s in the middle and not great at either but good at both.
I don’t think pairing Wiz with Markov would work out. Markov needs to be able to wheel and deal, and Wiz isn’t able to cover up when it goes bad. Markov could definitely cover for Wiz, but then he wouldn’t be playing his game. I think we all saw that when Subban was put with Markov. He hung back to cover rookie mistakes instead of playing his game and making smart pinches. For the way teams roll out line matching so well nowadays, I like the idea of having a defensive minded shut down guy on each of the top 2 pairings, with an elite puck mover. I think it just works better. That’s my thought process.
That does seem like a nice 3rd line eh? Plus the size of Eller and AK allows DD to wheel and deal. Not to mention it allows Moen to play on the 4th line where he’s most effective, hopefully with White and a faceoffs specialist (I’d take Halpern back) to crash and bang against physical teams, or with Darche to mop up easy assignments when we need more scoring.
I’m just as excited about the $10 million in cap room Gauthier will have when all of the expected free agents are locked up.
I don’t want to be rude, Andrew, but how much do we really know about Emelin?
I will wait until I see him play at least 20 NHL games on NHL ice before I am convinced.
And Spacek??
Please, he is finished.
Weber has not yet played anywhere near a full NHL season.
You are showing me a very solid top 4 – I agree.
But from 5 -7 there are “at least” question marks; very real question marks.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Yemelin is physical Ed. You’ll love him. He will make his mistakes sure, but he won’t take any bs in front of the net, won’t be afraid to check the Lucic’s and Richards and won’t be afraid to drop the gloves for the team and himself.
Get excited. You will be an admirer.
I’m looking forward to seeing Emelin, especially if he is as you describe. – watching another year of Spacek, not as much.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Very creative passing as well, typical Russian, haha.
Yemelin has been playing with big boys in Russia for 3 years. He is not small and apparently has a nasty side of him. I’m not expecting any less from this kid.
Go! Hockey! Go!
You’re not being rude, you’re challenging what I’ve stated politely. I think that’s what this site is for.
On Emelin, I watched him intently during the WHC and he was easily Russia’s best defenseman. It wasn’t even close. His hockey IQ is really solid and he’s rarely caught out of position, although he does do ‘the Komisarek’ at times and take himself out of the play for a big hit. However unlike Komisarek he can chip in offensively and he won’t be getting top pairing minutes, so at 5th or 6th D, that’s nothing to gripe about when a Cup winner iced Andrew Ference as their 4th man.
On Spacek, he’s slowed down, that much is inarguable, but I don’t think he’s “done” or without value. He never looks pretty out there but he gets the job done. Last year over 59 games he lead the Habs with a +9 rating, and his qualcomp numbers were very high, higher than Subban’s. So if he’s played against 3rd and 4th lines all year for a year at 13-18 minutes a game, he’s going to be fine, even if he doesn’t chip in much offense.
On Weber, you’re right that he hasn’t played a full NHL season, and he might not next year either. However towards the last 1/3 of this season I noticed a marked change in his play. He was much more sound defensively and started to play with more confidence. He even got a little time on the PK. He didn’t get into the lineup much late in the season however as with Gorges out Martin felt he needed a PK specialist like Sopel. However I doubt you’ll find many people who think Sopel is a better all around player than Weber. As a 7th D he’ll be more than adequate, and just like Subban he’s needed some time to adjust to NHL speed and allow his offensive colours to show. Plus all of his career goals are against Boston, how awesome is that?
This is my ideal lineup as well.
Some people think we should keep Wiz cause he has a cannon of a shot. Well there is a kid on the back end that has a cannon aswell his name is PK…. Remember that blast thru Tim thomas in game 7 to send it to OT!!!!!!!!
No one’s forgot PK’s shot or any of his special talents. But having ANOTHER Dman with a cannon of a shot is nothing to sneeze at.
- Honestly yours
Mariano said “Markov WILL Sign” Not that he’s signed….
“I have a different constitution. I have a different brain; I have a different heart; I got tiger blood, man.” – Charlie Sheen.
Still no news of this from the Mckenzie’s/Dreger’s/Friedman’s/Lebruns…
I’ll believe it when they report it, sorry Tony.
Would it kill him to wear a Habs cap?
Subban, Cammalleri and Price rarely wear Habs caps.
Thank goodness they wear the jersey instead.
Gotta love the feigned offense by the people on this site.
“OMG Markov supports his country! Waahhhhh….”
Who gives a damn. No one complains when Cammalleri is hocking BioSteel during the season.
Oh you wait, Andrew. It’s only a matter of minutes before we hear about how Markov quit on the Habs to heal his injury for the Olympics.
I’m sure it’ll be brought up. Even if he could have played those 2 games I couldn’t care less. I think you and I know where he wants to play.
Your BFF Laraque wears those natty TechSavvy caps!
Speaking of which, has anyone seen Laraque on “Le Match”?
Poor George, you should stick to …. fundraising, I guess.
He can’t be my bff anymore until I get right with jeebus.
I’ll pray for you while I eat my quinoa burger.
Probably wouldn’t kill him…but might chafe his bald spot.
Don Meehan states otherwise.
What does he know? He’s just the stupid agent.
Thats totally awesome!
“Responding to the media , or playing to the media, or listening to the fans is the quickest way to start losing” – Sam Pollock
it doesn’t matter if we agree or not who PG signs he holds the purse strings. you may like it now, we’ll see down the road.
I’m very happy we’re keeping such talent. But I have to tell this.
My wife and I bumped into Markov at the Saint Constant Cosco last friday, and my asking if he was coming back was not well received.
If anything, it looked as though he was going to toss his cookies. As a player, I think he’s one of the best. But he and all of the other prima donna athletes should remember how they manage to earn the salaries they earn….who pays for that? It’s thanks to the fans they meet out here.
don’t take it personally – just because you were having a good day doesn’t mean Markov was.
Markov is a quiet, modest, world class athlete.
He is not the type of guy who is extremely comfortable in public.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Maybe not, and that’s what my wife said. But how hard is it to smile?
I met Plekanec at the Atwater market last year…just walked up to just wish him the best, and he chatted me up for 10 minutes, and until then I thought he was shy. I know there guys must get bombarded from all over the place, but just a thank you and a smile would have made today’s news all the sweeter.
Any chance it wasn’t Markov?
No it was him. Big, wide shoulders, no smile, the ears (no insult intended) and shaved head. He had an escort with him. My wife said it might be his body guard, but Markov had 3 inches and 30 pounds on him.
Some aren’t as chatty. No need to judge because of his perhaps private nature. He’s not a wide-eyed wet-eared rookie either, and I’m sure the constant attention can be a little much, especially in Montreal.
——————————————————————-
” There were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that (The Deluge), when the Sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
I’m sorry, you seem like a polite enough fellow. But do you really think he owes you something other than what he produces for your favourite team on the ice?
I’m not gonna get all philosophical, and again, just like ed, you’re probably right as well. But given how much they make, and to think that some of us can only afford a couple of games per year (and some none), they should show that they truly do count their blessings.
Bump into Jean Beliveau any day of the week, and tell me he isn’t ready to give you a minute of his time. Doug Gimour was the same way. The year I took my son to a closed practice and Koivu was there, in civvies. He was recovering from Cancer, when was that….2002? I swear to you, he picked my son up, sat him on the players bench while they were practicing, and must have talked to him for 20-25 minutes. I’ll never forget it, and neither will my boy. That’s the true spirit of sportsmanship.
A thirty second meeting doesn’t exactly illustrate whether or not a player feels that he is or isn’t fortunate to be in his position. I won’t argue with you about Jean Beliveau and there are hundreds of players just like him who will take time. What Koivu did for your son is great and you’re fortunate that you caught Gilmour while he was sober enough to have a conversation.
I don’t disagree that in a situation like that a player should be cordial and pleasant. And I have a great story about Brian Hayward if you’d like to hear it.
My point here is that there are a number of circumstances away from the rink that could prompt an athlete with his celebrity to be hesitant in engaging in conversation with you. For all he knew you could have shouted out “IT’S ANDREI MARKOV EVERYBODY” the second he confirmed his identity by responding to your question. I’m not saying you would have, I’m saying that he doesn’t know. If he had answered your question about the negotiations in the negative he could’ve thought that you would be a threat physically. The reasons go on and on.
So happy to officially have Marky back if this is true.
Welcome home Andrei!
- Honestly yours
Officially? I hope so.
Go! Hockey! Go!
Markov is a world class player. Very fair deal.
I believe that there would have been at least 1 team in the free agent market who would have offered 3 years.
I think Markov was very fair signing BEFORE July 1.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
I really have zero interest in signing Wiz. I think that money would be way better spent up front.
I don’t even think that it would be in Wiz’s best interests to sign here, what with Markov the clear PP QB, and PK the clear up-and-coming QB of the second wave. I don’t see how signing him would benefit either party. The Habs’ bigger need is in the top six.
Wiz won’t necessarily have to be the PP QB (though not a bad thing to have two on the same PP unit), but he does have a cannon for a slap shot that would come in handy regardless of whether he is expected to be a QB or not. It makes it harder for opposition to defend too, because you can’t just assume that Marky will be the passer and Wiz will be the shooter. Wiz could be the passer while Marky sneaks in for the backdoor play that he’s so excellent at.
- Honestly yours
I’d like to see him back – I don’t see him as quite the all-world talent that some do, but I tend to think that you can’t have enough offense coming from the back end. (JM’s gameplan seems to require it).
But you gotta think the idea of replacing Rafalski in Detroit is mighty tempting for him. Who wouldn’t drool at the thought of feeding Zetterberg and Datsyuk breakout passes?
I think that he may indeed sign with Montreal – but it won’t be until after he kicks the tires on the free agency. And really…who could blame him?
He is as good as gone, for exactly the reasons you mention. I will bet anyone on here a buck that PG won’t even talk to his agent about a new contract.
Oh I think he gets offered a very reasonable contract by Montreal – but he’s earned the right to test the market by having a career offensive year.
If he doesn’t take our offer – we work on plan B. Which in my mind would be Laich/Tanguay and Talbot. Try to shore up the forward corps and be safe in the knowledge that Weber will have had a season of NHL experience under his belt and looks ready to take the next step in adding the offensive aspect of his game in the NHL.
Back in the 70′s Habs found enough quality ice for Robinson, Savard and Lapointe.
Having 3 top d-men makes the Habs much more competitive.
A few examples:
1) if 2 are first line PP, they face first line PK of opposition; then the 3rd d-man still comes on to lead the 2nd wave.
2) if 1 of them gets hurt, and d-men are always getting hurt, we have the depth to keep rolling
3) less overall wear and tear on all 3 of them; Markov will not have to play as many minutes, which means he will be that much stronger come playoff time.
Having this type of depth, creates a real ADVANTAGE for the Habs lineup.
Its like having 3 lines that can score instead of 2.
The opposition must respond with equal depth or we have the advantage.
And, finally, there are simply not the 5 million dollar forwards on the free agent market this year that would make a huge splash.
Once someone signs Brad Richards, everyone else is very average.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Back in the day, there was no salary cap, and the Habs could afford to buy an entire league if they wanted a specific player in that league.
Times have changed, Ed. There is this thing called the cap.
I think he was referring to ice time, not so much salary.
He is right though – there just isn’t a forward with as much offensive impact available on the market outside of Richards.
But it does leave some room to acquire a contract from another team. Teams don’t need to be limited to signing UFAs, they can trade as well. Having the cushion gives major flexibility in that regard.
This years UFA pool is thin indeed- I will agree with that.
Oh I agree – that trades are available. I don’t know how many moveable prospects we have though. The ones we have look to be key cogs in our future (Leblanc, Tinordi, Avtsin, Kristo).
To make trades a team needs both cap space and prospects/picks. It’s tough.
There’s also the emergence of Yannick Weber on the right side and the addition of Emelin to boost the depth on D. I love Wiz but I don’t see a place for him without pushing out a young up and comer. I wish Wiz all the best, hopefully he signs with a team I like.
I like Weber, but he can be used as trade bait.
Yes. considering Wiz is only 27, I would push Weber out to make room.
Spacek is gone next year, and Gill very likely as well.
So we’re losing d-men as quickly as Gauthier is signing them.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
Agree. Besides- he is at a career stage where he wants to stop being a journeyman and get a term contract, and I don’t think MTL is in a position to do that. I don’t think his value exceeds Gorges, so I’d rather see money and term go to Josh.
@Ed Weber has the potential to be as good as Wiz, if slightly less physical. Luckily the physicality is coming in through other players as Emelin comes in and Tinordi will be around soon after Gill is gone to replace his size and increase team toughness. The biggest difference between Weber and Wiz however is that Weber will make about 800K for the next little while to maybe 2M in a couple years. Wiz will get 5 right now. It’s about being smart with the cap as much as it is about being smart with personnel.
Yes Wiz is young, but we can afford to take a slight downgrade on his offense if we use the leftover money up front. This team is shaping up excellently.
@Chorske I agree, my friend. With Subban, Markov, Weber and Emelin already signed, Gorges has more value to the team than Wiz. Not to mention he’s a leader in the room as well, and a suitable partner for Markov to handle top minutes.
They did just that for Beliveau.
NorthTOHab
Very good point Ed!…The Habs will be a force with Top 3 d’s such as Markov, Wiz and Subban. And with Emelin, Spacek and Gill, they have a good mixture of talent, experience and size.
They can now trade Gorges and Weber and get a good natural right winger.
Go Habs Go!
See, the fact that you would trade Gorges (I almost barfed a bit typing the words) makes me suspect you haven’t been watching the games. If you had, you would recognize that JG is a leader, plays WAY above his size class, NEVER quits, and is the best, most reliable stay-at-home Dman we have.
Trading Gorges and keeping Wiz is madness- all the more because JG is a bargain because he is RFA! Jaysus Murphy, I could outline twenty reasons why trading Gorges would be colossally dumb.
I hope this is accurate, and if so I’m happy to hear it.
now get get the Gorges thing done PG
agree.
NorthTOHab
Will Markov even be fit enough to play next season? Nothing against Markov, but for that kind of money we could have signed a world class superstar in his twenties who can take a few hits without ending up in hospital.
I hope I’m wrong, but I have a feeling that re-signing Markov will not serve our play-off and cup ambitions very well if the last two seasons are any indication.
Which superstar would that be, available in this year’s UFA pool? Don’t quote me some garbage trade that no team would make either
Max-Pac, DD, Markov – waiting to hear about Josh….how about it, PG?
Great news. Salary and term sound about right. And there’s still 10 days to free agency, plenty of time to either sign the Wiz (which I’m hoping for) or deal his negotiating rights.
Wiz is gone, I guess?
Not necessarily. If the cap goes up as much as expected, the money should be there to offer him market value.
It’s all up to Wisniewski it would seem.
With the 5.5M from Hamrlik they can re-sign the Wiz!
Can you imagine the powerplay with Markov and Wiz?
Go Habs Go!
Leaves about 14 left to sign white, georges, webber, a 4th liner(with some muscle) and a backup goalie. That will probably cost about 7. That leaves 7 for that elusive powerforward.
about $5.5 a year based on a handfull of games over the last few years?
I HATE BOSTON
- Honestly yours
we all hate Boston – I won’t watch a game in which the Bruins are playing.
In fact, since I know many of the Red Sox fans are the creeps at the Garden, I,ve stopped watching Red Sox games as well.
I used to hate Philly….now I understand what real hate feels like.
Habs hockey is “smart” hockey – we play 5 man defence, not just 2 – we move up the ice as a 5 man unit, we back check with 5.
LOL – good stuff Ed.
My reply to dudurules was more of a homage to him as he posted those very same 3 words daily for weeks. Actually this is the first post of his I’ve seen that wasn’t “I HATE BOSTON”. Just giving him a shout-out is all.
- Honestly yours
If true, sounds about right.
Marky’ll be 34 when the contract expires. If he’s good to go, really awesome, if not, he’ll finish out his career elsewhere.
Here’s hopin’ to fully recovered knee action and the better part of the next two seasons on the ice.
Yesssss
If this news is correct, then IMO it is a very fair deal for both sides in terms of contract length & amount involved.
Hope that Markov can get his former game back and stay healthy.
PG, how about the Wiz now?
PS: RDS says that Meehan denied any signing happened so far!!
Ali B.
Way to go Marky!
No brainer – well done PG lol
——————————————————————-
” There were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that (The Deluge), when the Sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4
“We don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” – Anais Nin
Awesome!
The current CBA doesn’t allow for such clauses or bonuses. I believe only entry-level contracts and 35+ contracts are eligible for special clauses and performance bonuses.
- Honestly yours
Too bad, he’d look good in a Habs jersey.
Born and Bred in Enemy Territory (Boston).