According to many Canadiens' fans, Bob Gainey shouldn't bring in a star forward in before this year's Trade Deadline. He should just let the team like it is, and/or make a few minor tweaks, and let the group grow as a whole.
Personally, I think we shouldn't.
Firstly, like the Ottawa Senators showed us a few Saturdays ago, we have only one competent line, and if it is shut down, so is the complete team. This should show us that the 1st line needs to step up as well, like the "2nd" has done all year long. Guy Carbonneau has tried different combinations, and as trading or "demoting" Koivu to a lower line is not an option, we have to seek out-of-town help. Please don't tell me that Ryder is "back" and that "he is like a trade acquisition, without giving up anything". Yes, he's had one good game all year long, and as he showed us after his first "wake-up" in Florida, he'll fall right back to sleep as soon as possible.
Secondly, we lack playoff experience. Hossa fits the bill (55 GP). Personally, I would not want to go into the playoffs with only Hamrlik, Koivu, Kovalev and Markov with serious playoff experience (Dandy does not count as he is not a regular fixture, as of late, in the lineup). We need to surround our youngsters with talented veterans who are capable of leading them.
Thirdly, Higgins, who we would probably traded with others for Hossa, is a nice young player, yes, but very streaky and slightly injury-prone. As well, every GM in the game knows, "you have to give something, in order to get something". He also does not seem to click with Koivu all the time, only during his hot streaks, and since Andrei Kostitsyn is a fixture on the 2nd line, there is no "premium" space left for him on the team.
Fourthly, we have one of the deepest farm systems in the league. Dealing one or two of our prospects will not change our fate, as we are so deep that they would not even have any spot in the lineup if they were even on the club.
All these reasons spell the same thing: GET HOSSA!
Keep faith fellow Habs fans!
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