They say don't put all your eggs in one basket, but this may be a phrase Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey isn't too familiar with.
Need an example?
Well, how about trading Crisobal Huet to the Caps for a second-round pick leaving 19-year-old Carey Price to carry the load, and watch him lack consistency in the playoffs.
Need something more recent?
How about the failed attempt at signing UFA Mats Sundin all the while losing out on guys like Hossa, Redden, and Naslund.
Gainey may have just backed himself into a corner with Sundin landing all the punches now because he is the only player left that will improve this team. Which means he is worth his weight in gold.
Let's get it straight people, the Habs most likely just had a fluke season, and if history tells us anything, rookie stand-out goalies rarely post the same numbers in their sophomore season.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Need proof?
Cam Ward went from winning a Stanley Cup for the Carolina Hurricanes to missing the playoffs in 2006-07 posting a 2.93 goals against average.
Andrew Raycroft went from winning the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year with a 29-18-9 record and a sparkling 2.05 goals against average in 2003-04 with the Bruins to not being able to stop wet paper bag in Toronto.
Anyone remember Jim Carey in Washington? He won a Vezina and played 33 games with three different clubs after the fact.
So Bob Gainey hasn't shored up his goaltending going with youngsters in Price and Jaroslav Halak. The defense is the same one that was pushed around by the Flyers in the quarter finals, and Alex Tanguay was his only real acquisition up front and that was via trade.
What now?
George Laraque isn't gonna get you to the playoffs.
The fact is, Bob Gainey didn't have a "plan b" after his "plan a," which was to land the big fish in Mats Sundin.
Canadiens’ fans should be ultra disappointed that Gainey spent his time going after what may have been a lost cause when other clubs like Chicago were signing Huet and Brian Campbell or the Rangers picking up Redden and Naslund.
Toronto even allowed Gainey to talk to Sundin well before the July 1 UFA date.
Did he not realize Sundin was going to take his "swede" time?
This stubborn act may just come back to bite him in the ass, just like sticking with Carey Price as his number one tender did.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
In this case, the horse is Sundin, and Gainey may be the one hitting the bottle.
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4 months ago
great article, daniel
4 months ago
Geezus..
A fluke season..
I cannot believe you wrote that..
How many Habs game did you watch? I watched all of them, except the last 4 against the Flyers.
#1 offense and power play in the league, not just our division or conference, but the league. That ain't fluke.
Did you sleep all summer? Cuz so much happened already, I cannot believe you missed this in your analysis.
Plan B, C and D have been executed already, all we need is to accomplish the Plan A and put us exactly where the Red Wings are:
Top Dogs.
Plan B: Alex Tanguay
We desperatly needed a good winger and we got him in Alex Tanguay. A good winger is not going to bring us to the Stanley Cup, but it will allow a great center to perform as we expect him, as we need him.
Plan C: Toughness
One of the most common criticisms fans, experts, journalists and ex-players/coaches made about the Canadiens last season was our lack of toughness. Kostopoulos could not handle the job, Bégin was barely able to hit, Komisarek shouldn't fight, Lapierre is another Claude Lemieux and Latendresse is still learning the ropes of being an adult, a man.
By adding George Laraque, Shawn Bell, and Ryan Flynn, Montreal now has very good toughness, and amongst the best in the league in this department, if not the best.
Plan D: An experienced goalie
With the departure of Cristo, many had doubts about a young pair of goalies. Acquiring Marc Denis was the best thing Montreal could have done. A french canadian, a fairly young goalie, which, like José Théodore, could very well bounce back as a very good prime goalie in this league.
So, when you analyze the team, the only two weakness that Montreal really needs to patch, to become a Top Dog like Detroit are on the right wing, were we only have Kovalev and youngsters and a #1 center.
But even without these two players, even if we get only a good center or a good right wing like Selanne (which could transform back Koivu as a #1 center), Montreal will be definitely be fighting for a top spot in the Conference and I don't see any team in our division that could really give us much trouble to achieve that goal.
I still cannot believe you think it was a fluke season..
Daniel from Tricolore.ca
4 months ago
good article, although i think carey price will be a good goaltender next year, and for years afterwards. but you do give prime examples of once great rookie goalies failing in their sophomore seasons.
4 months ago
Just because the Habs may not get Sundin, doesn't mean this team is doomed to a bad year. They did acquire Alex Tanguay who will certainly help their offense not to mention they still have the Kostitsyns, Kovalev, Koivu, and Higgins to lead their offense. Not to mention their defense is still very good. Despite the fact I don't think Carey Price is the 2nd coming of Patrick Roy, he still is a decent goalie who will learn and get the job done for the Habs. Their powerplay is outrageously awesome. These guys are fine with or without Sundin.
4 months ago
Just because other goalies in the leaguy have failed in their sophomore season, doesn't mean price will. What makes you so sure that he will play horribly next year? This was a tremendously shitty article and you should be a shamed of yourself for even saying that the habs will be a horrible team and that it was A FLUKE SEASON????. If you ask me, all they did was improve. And trading cristobal Huet wasn't so bad after all. He was asking for WAYYYYY too much money to be re-signed. Gainey did the RIGHT thing by trading him because atleast we got something in return for him. I would rather have a 2nd round pick then A) nothing or B) a goalie who is wasting our money and who is over-payed. Never write an article like this ever. I know this may be YOUR opinion, but I will say this, you have a shitty opinion. EVERYTHING that Daniel said is all true, plus Gainey may also accuire Marleau, so before you write an article like this, stop yourself, and turn away from the computer and walk away. You should also think twice (or even a first time). How do you know that Gainey won't improve his roster in the next couple of days? do you see the future or something? please enlighten me.
4 months ago
All this bickering........ Sundin has already come to an agreement with the habs. They are just keeping hush to make some more cap space!!!!!!!!!Watch and see.
4 months ago
a. kosti-sundin-kovalev
tanguay-plekanec-s.kosti
higgins-koivu-lattend
kostopo-chipcura-laraque
I see this as the stongest combo lines in all nhl. Give me any third line that beats the habs? Gainey is a genius.
4 months ago
Of course you talk about goalies who have failed without mentioning those who have done great. Brodeur, Roy, Lundqvist, Dryden. If you believe the experts in general (i.e. not only the French Press, and certainly not you) he is of their caliber.
Going after Sundin was not putting all the eggs in the same basket, it was going after the only real need the Habs have, a big center who can score. Name me one other player that fits this description and was a free-agent this year? You mention not going after Hossa, well Gainey probably did, but Hossa snubbed all teams that offered him good contracts to sign with the Stanley Cup champs... tough to compete against that, even the Finalists (Pittsburgh) could not. As for Redden and Naslund (and others), they simply are not what the Canadiens need and signing them at the amount they got would have been a ridiculous mistake.
The Habs have both young and experienced players. They are fast, they are talented. Instead of tackling the real problems they might have, such as again losing their power-play weapon, or not being big enough (even though they added Laraque), you pin point the strengths of this team in their acquisition of Tanguay and their dynamic talented goaltending duo.
You muse be a bitter Leafs and Canucks fan looking at your profile.
4 months ago
How has Gainey failed? All he has done is shown patience. He has decided that Sundin is “his guy”, nobody will bring what Sundin can bring and so he wont settle for anything else until Sundin decides either way. Also he’s set the terms for the offer if Sundin doesn’t agree he might budge a little but he’s not going to bend over and sell the farm. He has his price and it’s up to Sundin to decide if it’s fair or not.
This team was first in the division so how bad could they be and what basis are you using to determine it was a fluke season? Second Gainey has also decided not to overpay during free agency, he’s decided to wait it out and if Sundin decides not to play he’ll wait till the season starts and then make a trade for the person HE wants not the person that is available and asking ridiculous money. Have you noticed the Habs seem to be stockpiling defencemen? Do you think that is just by accident? Gainey has determined that teams are looking for mobile defencemen with upside, so when necessary he can make a trade with a full deck of cards and still have players who can step in and replenish as he sheds salaries or acquires new talent.
Just a suggestion but you should consider looking at the big picture when you make these kinds of statements, your tunnel vision is showing.
4 months ago
Garbage article ...you are wrong on too many counts to take you seriously.
The B plan is stick with the lineup that won the eastern conference. A young line up that should improve.
Beyond Sundin ...who else could help us? (we don't need another winger so don't say Hossa and the other options (i.e. Rolston or Marleau) are not upgrades over the centers we have).
4 months ago
A stupid article written by a stupid person.
4 months ago
Very funny to see how some people (like this guy) can be so ignorant.
Montreal have already one of the best offense in the league, with or without Sundin. Montreal have probably the best defense in the East and Carey Price is such a quality youngster that few teams can say they have.
Man, you should be fired for lack of competence.
4 months ago
What a rediculous writer. To say the habs had a fluke season? To question Ganey's moves this year? To question Gainey's bid for Sundin. Don't quit your day job buddy and if this is your day job good luck. You are obviously not from Montreal (probably Toronto) and I would say 90% of the reporters in toronto would disagree. There is no such thing as a fluke season with this much parity and competitiveness in the league. Getting rid of Huet was a good investment for the future both in terms of the 2nd rounder and getting Price experience. Price could have gotten us further still. The habs team is much improved with the recent acquisitions even without Sundin (whom will most likely come to Montreal or haven't you heard). Talk about putting your foot in your mouth with yoour title. Lastly Carey Price is no fluke Theodore, Raycroft, or other.
4 months ago
plan b add shannahan
4 months ago
Oh well. It's particularly amusing to see the bias of some reporters.
I needed a good laugh and look forward to your next article on how "This Will Be a Great Rebuilding Year for the Leafs" or, better yet "How the Bruins will now get a Cup with the acquisition of Ryder".
I guarantEEEE you cheer for one or the other
4 months ago
wow.... do you know anything about hockey? "stop wet paper bag" never heard that analogy before when referring to goaltending... well ive heard it when referring not being able to fight your way out of a wet paper bag.. anyway...
anyway, montreal finished first last year... and they have improved in many ways this off season already.... which is a lot more than almost every other team in the east can say...
well see what happens
4 months ago
LOL.... what a hack... where did you learn about hockey,,, you say you have family and friends in the game ... what league??? street hockey ??? LOL as someone above said .. you must be a frustrated leaf fan .. go write about something you know because it certainly is not hockey or better still stop writing all together,, (although i have to admit. it did give me a good laugh)
4 months ago
If your going to use metaphors, say em right... "break his way out of a wet paper bag"
I also don't agree with a word you have said. Since you enjoy flashbacks so much, remember the 2007-2008 season. When the Canadiens were slated to place 14th? But they stormed the standings for 1st? You do remember? Good! They didn't make a single huge acquisition that past off season, but they did place first afterall! And how? NO NOT A FLUKE? Through improvment of young players! And now this season with Gainey's new improvements he has added the Canadiens are set for another shot at first place and the Cup.
4 months ago
Hahaahah, looks like everyone agrees with me on this one, you're a horrible writer and you don't know much about hockey.
"All this bickering........ Sundin has already come to an agreement with the habs. They are just keeping hush to make some more cap space!!!!!!!!!Watch and see."
That could very well be true, I wouldn't be surprised seeing as how more and more rumours are popping up with Sundin going to Montreal and how in some newspapers, they say he already came to a decision to play and an agreement to play for Montreal.
4 months ago
Holy bitter Leafs fan Batman! I like how you cherry pick a couple of goaltending busts. How about a few success stories that just happened to take place in Montreal?
> Patrick Roy 20 years old - 1985-86 NHL All Rookie Team, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup. Stanley Cup again in 1992.
> Ken Dryden - Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup in 1971 followed up with the Calder Trophy the next year! Plus several Stanley Cups to follow.
Also, what makes you think losing Huet was so costly? He went out in the first round this year with a 2.93 GAA, remember? He was a very inconsistent goaltender during his time in Montreal. Gainey had seen him long enough to know the Habs' future did not include Cristobal. And don't overlook Halak - he led the AHL in goals against average in his rookie year 2006-07 and has played well in the NHL when he's gotten his chances (2.11 GAA and .934 save percentage during 2007-2008).
With or without Sundin, the Habs are definitely moving in the right direction. In a sense, so are the Leafs. Offering a pre-season game for free at least insures that the fans will get what they pay for - for this one game at least.
Go Leafs! Hahahahaha
4 months ago
The Habs are going down...they did have a break out year, but not enough substance to carry over to this year...points? at least -10 or more, In fact I think they'll be lucky to make the playoffs, hey this aint the 70's boys in red and more then likely BLUE
The Captain
TOsports.ca
4 months ago
Hey I'm not hoping the Habs can't get it done, I think out of all 6 Canadian clubs either the Flames or them have the best shot next year. I just don't buy the fact they are a number one in the east team, but hopefully they prove me wrong. It just seemed like Gainey's pursuit of Sundin may have ruined the chance at signing another player, I hope they land him, I honestly do, he would be foolish to go to the Canucks for $10 million a season, 'cause they ain't goin anywhere. Once again thanks for all the positive comments haha.
Has anyone seen wet paper on ice?
4 months ago
You absolutly know nothing about managing a hockey club...MOntreal don't need a Redden, don't need a Naslund, don't need a Marian Hossa at 9million. Montreal Need a #1 center. why signin for the fun of signin, like the rangers like to do. Look the leafs, who did it whit a guy like Jason Blake and see what happen now. not the big deal. Montreal weakness is on center, not wing, we want to give some ice time to player like the kostitsyn brothers, we got kovy, tanguay, higgins, don't realy need top 6 winger. so, that WHY bob gainey have ONE plan, Mats Sundin, not a plan b or c or d.....cause he need ONE thing, so, if he can't get it, too bad...we go with koivu and plekanec
4 months ago
Damn, it's tough to write on Bleacher Report. You can get nailed very fast by readers.
I like it.
I'll have to take out my gloves and prepare. Cuz my next article will surely make some noise, especially amongst out southern neighbors. :-P
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