Top UFA Targets for the Habs

[Team_Spirit]

This year UFA corp suck balls.

Hope we keep Markov.

 

[BigHabs]

boyle from the ranger would be a good pick up especially if we trade Pleks maybe for sharp. boyle is big a good pk man. he wouldn t be too expensive n ranger have cap issues

I would like both acquiring Sharp for Plekanec and Boyle as a FA.

Pacioretty Desharnais Sharp
Galchenyuk Eller Gallagher
Bourque Winnik Briere
Prust Boyle Weise

Bournival / Moen

Gorges Subban
Markov Emelin
Beaulieu Greene

Tinordi / Weaver

Price
Tokarski

 

[JuicyHam]

I would like both acquiring Sharp for Plekanec and Boyle as a FA.

Pacioretty Desharnais Sharp
Galchenyuk Eller Gallagher
Bourque Winnik Briere
Prust Boyle Weise

Bournival / Moen

Gorges Subban
Markov Emelin
Beaulieu Greene

Tinordi / Weaver

Price
Tokarski

I think if we acquired sharp he would play with eller. make good two way line.

 

[Darkstorm]

If you go after Stastny, you would have to trade either Desharnais or Plekanec, cause Lars Eller is your 3rd line center again next season, unless you switching to LW and have Plekanec on the 3rd line as your center, then you would have 3 good centers

1st line: Stastny
2nd line: Desharnais
3rd line: Plekanec
4th line: whoever can fill it, I see Bournival having it.

 

[Darkstorm]

I would like both acquiring Sharp for Plekanec and Boyle as a FA.

Would Chicago even accept this trade? I doubt they will

 

[overlords]

This year UFA corp suck balls.

Hope we keep Markov.

Always a ton of diamonds in the rough in free agency. Quite a few guys I would want on my team if we already didn't have such a full roster.

 

[Whitesnake]

No love for Hemsky?

 

[Teufelsdreck]

1. Vanek
2. Stastny
3. Kovalchuk

You'd have to drag Kovalchuk kicking and screaming from Russia. Remember, he abandoned the NHL despite the efforts of the Devils to retain him.

I'd take a shot at A Kostitsyn if he'd accept 2 years @ $2M per and put him on Plekanec's line.

 

[Ice Poutine]

l
We need to target the shortest center possible to stand in front of the goal. His being short wont be a trouble for him since he will be with giants like Desharnais Gionta and Briere, thus making his adaptation easy...

 

[overlords]

No love for Hemsky?

I'd take him, but I think HF Habs would pull a fit.

 

[Whitesnake]

I'd take him, but I think HF Habs would pull a fit.

True. We might. But the idea is to try to get a top 6 player. And Hemsky is probably the closest to give us that. We will have to think that he's not the greatest candidate ever....but he might very well be the best we can do.

 

[SakuSauce]

No love for Hemsky?

He's asking for 5-5,5m per. Big no for what he brings to the table.

 

[Whitesnake]

He's asking for 5-5,5m per. Big no for what he brings to the table.

You need to replace Vanek. Who else out there, aside from trades, could be the best to do the job. Almost a PPG for Hemsky with the terrible Sens this year. He might be looking for that...but for how many years?

 

[Em Ancien]

True. We might. But the idea is to try to get a top 6 player. And Hemsky is probably the closest to give us that. We will have to think that he's not the greatest candidate ever....but he might very well be the best we can do.

The main problem I have with Hemsky is that you're going to pay him for his top form. Which means, he's getting upwards of 5M$ and term. It seems a bit risky of an investment to cash-strap ourselves with a solid top 6 player that only addresses part of our team's problems. Generally speaking, he's going to replace Vanek, he brings an ability to generate his own offense and create some for others and brings a wealth of experience.

The issue is that he needs to perform at a top level, and all we've done really is replace a player we're losing. We still lack skill across the board, we still lack size and the ability to play a puck pressure game which is what Therrien is emphasizing and our defense is still ****.

Not to be negative, but I feel next year is a one-step-back, two-steps-forward in the future kind of thing. We have some young players that need to take ahold of the team and we need to find bargains that are going to complement those guys and allow us to move forward in the future. I don't see Hemsky fitting the bill. But if we're adding Hemsky to replace Vanek and replace Gionta's salary with one or two players that shape up our team better moving forward, I'd be more than fine with it. I feel we're going to keep Gionta and try to add marginal pieces through FA though, so adding Hemsky and retaining Gionta really puts us in a bind for 2015-2016 and forward.

 

[HabsFan76]

If you go after Stastny, you would have to trade either Desharnais or Plekanec, cause Lars Eller is your 3rd line center again next season, unless you switching to LW and have Plekanec on the 3rd line as your center, then you would have 3 good centers

1st line: Stastny
2nd line: Desharnais
3rd line: Plekanec
4th line: whoever can fill it, I see Bournival having it.

In a perfect world, it would be Plekanec as the Habs 2nd line center, Eller as 3rd line center and DD traded in the offseason.

 

[SakuSauce]

You need to replace Vanek. Who else out there, aside from trades, could be the best to do the job. Almost a PPG for Hemsky with the terrible Sens this year. He might be looking for that...but for how many years?

I understand that we need to replace Vanek. But on the brightside, Habs did quite well without him during most of the year and most of the playoffs. No need to overpay someone who has had 2 20+ seasons in his career. I'd take him for 3,5-4M. 20 games last year with the Sens won't change what he's done his whole career. I find there's better options in Iginla, Gaborik, Vrbata, Callahan, Downie, Kulemin who each bring something different to the table that the Habs need.

 

[19VJ17]

I'd take him, but I think HF Habs would pull a fit.

I think he would be a perfect RW, that the Habs need. He plays suck a Kamikaze style of game that the Habs fan would love....no fear in this guy game.
I think a oilers fans quote sums it up best.
"Ales Hemsky when he was at his very best was one of the most electrifying and exciting players in the entire NHL. He was able to handle the puck at top speeds in a way few other in the league could match. He played with a reckless abandon that at times I both admired and cringed at. He was never afraid to take a thunderous hit to make a play"

I think the last few years in Edmonton have been really tough on him...but when traded to OTT you could see a spark in his game again.
I really hope the Habs can sign him. To me a good RW and RD is what the Habs really need.

 

[JuicyHam]

steve ott?

 

[Lshap]

Prust has been anything but great.

The only question with Prust is health. Yeah, I know - big question. But a healthy Prust gives us an excellent 4th line. And even without him, Weise combined with Bournival, White or Moen gives us brains, speed and shutdown skills. This past season has shown us how incredibly huge it is to have a superior 4th line, and I see no reason to screw up what we have.

I am so done with Gionta. But Therrien has a lot to do with it too. If he needs to juggle the lines, Gionta will be back in the top 6 again with Plekanec. Something I don't ever want to see again. Plus, Galchenyuk will be put in a defensive role once again.

I know Habs just made it to 3rd round, but I still want to see some big changes like replacing our "captain" and giving Galchenyuk some real offensive players.

We mostly agree. I'm hoping Plekanec can develop chemistry with the younger guys so that Gionta can be bumped down to the 3rd line. If it's not a fit or he's unhappy with that arrangement, I can see him walking. Mostly, it depends which wingers we have who can take a top-six spot.

 

[rockjngo]

I would do the following if I was Bergy:

*Trade Plekanec, Moen and White for Hansek and Edler (with Kesler leaving, Plekanec would be a good replacement), Edler wants a trade and will replace Markov's big minutes, and Hansek is very underrated winger with speed.

*Let Gionta, Markov, Vanek walk.

*Sign Gaborik (coming off his Cup, similar player as Marian Hossa), resign Weaver in case Tinordi, Beaulieu or Pateryn aren't ready, sign Brian Boyle, he's big, has speed and is a faceoff specialist.

*Demote Budaj to the farm.

Lineup for 2014-2015 season:

Goaltenders:
Price 6'3" 220lbs
Tokarski 5'11" 180lbs

Defensemen:
Edler 6'4" 210lbs - Subban 6'0" 210lbs
Emelin 6'2" 210lbs - Tinordi 6'6" 227lbs
Gorges 6'1" 200lbs - Beaulieu 6'2" 200lbs
Pateryn 6'3" 201lbs - Weaver 5'10" 190lbs

Forwards:
Hansek 6'1" 190lbs - Galchenyuk 6'1" 200lbs - Gaborik 6'1" 200lbs
Pacioretty 6'2" 200lbs - Desharnais 5'6" 170lbs - Gallagher 5'9" 188lbs
Bourque 6'2" 210lbs - Eller 6'2" 215lbs - Weise 6'2" 210lbs
Prust 6'0" 200lbs - Boyle 6'7" 244lbs - Bournival 6'0" 200lbs
Briere 5'8" 180lbs

Speed, size, character, faceoff specialist, toughness, we have all that.

 

[Ezpz]

Hansek is Hansen I assume? I don't think Vancouver would do that deal. We'd have to replace White with an asset of usefulness.

 

[CN_paladin]

Callahan is another smurf and even most of his beloved Rangers fans would admit he's been a no show in the playoffs. He didn't do squat when his new team got swept by us.

 

[Natey]

Hansek is Hansen I assume? I don't think Vancouver would do that deal. We'd have to replace White with an asset of usefulness.

Yeah, they'd need someone like Tinordi to make it work, IMO.

 

[Draft]

I don't think I want to sign any FAs... including ours. I don't see anyone who would be an impact player on our team that would sign for a reasonable amount.

 

[le_sean]

Callahan is another smurf and even most of his beloved Rangers fans would admit he's been a no show in the playoffs. He didn't do squat when his new team got swept by us.

I'd say that entire team was a no-show except for Palat and Stamkos.

I'd stay away. He probably has three very good years left but will covet a 6-7 year contract.