Bob Gainey Tribute

Saturday, February 23rd 2008 will be a very special day for Bob Gainey. On that day, the Peterborough, Ont. native will have his number 23 raised to the rafters by the Montreal Canadiens.

Let’s have a quick look at Mr. Gainey’s 16-year NHL career:

In 1973, he was selected in both the NHL and WHA amateur drafts, 8th overall by the Montreal Canadiens and 7th overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints. Gainey ultimately chose to play for the Canadiens, with whom he became one of the best defensive specialists of all-time, winning four consecutive Fran J. Selke trophies (awarded to the league’s best defensive player) from 1977-78 to 1980-1981.

He also won, with the ”Bleu, Blanc et Rouge”, 5 stanley cups (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986).
He was also the Canadiens’ captain from 1981, until his retirement in 1989.

In total, he appeared in 1160 regular season games, scored 239 goals and registered 263 assists.

In 1992, he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. According to Viktor Tikhonov, a legendary Soviet national team coach, he was the world’s best all-around player and, therefore, for the majority of his career, he was regarded by many in the Soviet Union hockey system as the greatest hockey player ever.
In 1998, he was ranked 86th in The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
From 1992 to 2002, he was GM of the Dallas Stars, with whom he won the Stanley Cup for a 6th time in 1999.

A year and a half after having stepped down as GM of the Stars, he was named GM of the Montreal Canadiens, with whom he has been ever since.

Canadiens Prospects: Ryan O'Byrne

Birthdate: July 19th, 1984
Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia
Position: Defense
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 6'5"/225
Drafted: 2003, 3rd Round Pick (79th Overall)

Assets:

- Big Frame
- Skating speed
- Mobility
- "Can flat out crunch players"
- Heavy shot from the point

Flaws:

- Too many minor penalties
- Needs to improve on his reads and reaction time

2006/07 Stats: 80 GP: 0 G, 12 A, 12 PTS, -7, 129 PIM

Note: With the lack of real depht on defense, O'Byrne has a serious shot at making the team out of training camp.

Canadiens sign Kostopoulos

MONTREAL-- Bob Gainey wasn't lying yesterday when he told the Media that he still was looking at some players, on whom to spend his remaining US$2 million.

He has spent, according to TSN, US$900,000 of it on veteran winger Tom Kostopoulos.

The 28-year old will be playing for his 3rd NHL team, after stints with Pittsburgh (2001-2004) and Los Angeles (2005-2007).

He has totaled 70 points (25-45) in 231 NHL games.

Note: This signing surprises me, as I would be tremendously stunned to see Kostopoulos making the team out of training camp, with guys like Mark Streit, Andrei Kostitsyn, Kyle Chipchura competing seriously.

Gainey had US$2 million to spend on a replacement for Mike Johnson, and has wasted half of it on a career 4th line/reserve player. Instead of putting convincing offers on the table for guys like Glen Metropolit, Kyle Calder, Jeff O'Neill... he gave up, and signed a "10 point a season" guy.

Those are the players you want!

MONTREAL-- Signing defenceman Roman Hamrlik and center Bryan Smolinski were moves Canadiens GM Bob Gainey is not likely regret, as both players are quite happy to be playing in Montreal:

Hamrlik: "I got a few offers from teams in the U.S., but I told my agent I'd love to play in Canada," the 33-year-old Hamrlik said from Zlin, Czech Republic on a conference call, comparing hockey in Canada to playing soccer in England. "It's great hockey."

Smolinski: "Being in Ottawa a a few years and seeing that rivalry with Montreal, it'll be interesting to see it from the other side. "It's a beautiful city and it's an Original Six team. It'll be an honour to wear that jersey."

As you may have seen with the previous quotes, both skaters are tremendously motivated to be playing for the NHL team with the most Stanley Cup wins, an emotion that wasn't necessarily present last season when the Canadiens signed winger Sergei Samsonov, who was just happy somebody signed him. He was never welcomed in Montreal after his slow start and his bad mouthing of the French media.

Bob Gainey has played it "safe" this offseason, adding players who's "no.1 choices" were Montreal, and who have put up consistent numbers throughout the years.

On the other hand, Samsonov had been plagued by injuries and had put up incosistent numbers over the seasons, when he was signed by the Canadiens last offseason.

Gainey has changed his strategy this offseason, going after hard working players who bring team spirit and leadership to the dressing room, instead of over-paying for selfish players.

Should we re-sign Sheldon ?

MONTREAL-- Eventhough defenceman Sheldon Souray will command a salary over US$5 million, why wouldn't Canadiens' GM Bob Gainey retain him?

With the loss of Daniel Briere and Ryan Smyth to the Flyers and Avalanche, there are no more US$6 million players on the market, therefore the Canadiens have the money and cap space to re-sign Souray, and a couple of tier II/III forwards.

Add to that the fact that all defencemen who could of replaced Souray are off the market, like Mathieu Schneider, Scott Hannan, Tom Poti and Brian Rafalski, and the Canadiens basically have no choice.

Although Souray has some serious defensive issues, his offense is irreplaceable. He led all defencemen with 26 goals, 19 of which came with the man advantage. He also ranked 3rd among blueliners with 64 points.

The question is, does Bob Gainey think that his offense makes up for his defense?

The answer is far from being known, but I can say that I do not think it does.

But let's face it, he's the best option we have.