Why the Canadiens should acquire Marian Hossa

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!

Hossa closer to coming to Montreal

Yesterday, RDS reported that the Montreal Canadiens have ordered Hab-colored equipment for forward Marian Hossa.

This does not mean Hossa has been acquired, but this could indicate that the Canadiens are very close to acquiring his services from the Atlanta Thrashers.

Top 10 players to watch at the Trade Deadline

The following is a list of the top 10 players to watch at the Trade Deadline, if they are not dealt before that. Every player is accompanied by his 07-08 salary and his status after July 1st, 2008.

10- C Sergei Fedorov (CBJ), US$6.08 M, UFA
9- D John-Michael Liles (COL), US$1.4 M, UFA
8- D Barret Jackman (STL), US$2.2 M, UFA
7- RW Michael Ryder (MTL), US$2.95 M, UFA
6- D Rob Blake (LAK), US$6 M, UFA
5- C Olli Jokinen (FLA), US$ 5.25 M, signed thru 09-10
4- LW Vaclav Prospal (TB), US$1.9 M, UFA
3- D Brian Campbell (BUF), US$1.75 M, UFA
2- C Mats Sundin (TOR), US$5.5 M, UFA
1- RW Marian Hossa (ATL), US$7 M, UFA

Report: Habs to acquire Tanguay

Update, 7:44 PM:

This seems to be a rumor since neither TSN nor RDS are reporting the trade and since CKAC has posted on their website that the Canadiens have resumed talks about Tanguay with the Flames, and have not mentioned any trade on this site. This report seems to be officially "shot down". Sorry the confusion, but stay tuned...

Original message, 7:00 PM:

According to multiple sources (The Score, CKAC, Vancouver Team 1040, Bob McKenzie), the Montreal Canadiens are set to acquire forward Alex Tanguay from the Calgary Flames, in exchange for impending UFA Michael Ryder and a draft pick.

The deal is, reportedly, being submitted for NHL approval.

Tanguay has 11 goals and 35 assists in 60 games played, to go along with a +12 plus-minus rating.

The St. Justine, Quebec native would fill the Canadiens' first line left wing duties, due to Chris Higgins' current lack of production.

Unbelievable Comeback!

Cristobal Huet and Mike Komisarek celebrate the Canadiens' victory

In near 100 years of history, the Montreal Canadiens had never won a game after trailing by 5 goals. Yesterday night, they did!

The game got off to a bad start for the Habs as Carey Price gave up 3 goals on 11 shots, which caused him to be replaced by Cristobal Huet. Huet wasn't better, being scored on twice by Brendan Shanahan and Chris Drury, both on the Powerplay. From a Montreal Canadiens point of view, the game was over. The Habs were being beaten up by the Rangers and their lead seemed to be impossible to close in on, even though there were 14:57 left to the 2nd period, and therefore 3/4 of the game left to come back.

Indeed, it was time which gave us an advantage, as well as the Rangers' overconfidence.

In these remaining 14 minutes of the 2nd period, Michael Ryder, of all people, scored twice, his first goal being a beautiful shot up-high on Rangers' keeper Henrik Lundqvist. Even after these goals, the Montreal Faithful didn't think any comeback was possible, but there was still hope...

The 3rd period was decisive. Two goals scored by Alex Kovalev and Mark Streit (more or less, he deflected a Michael Ryder shot with his left leg...) trimmed the Rangers' lead to 1 goal.

Then, Marek Malik took a selfish penalty for slashing at 14:22 of the 3rd Period, bringing the league's best powerplay onto the ice. 1:14 later, Alex Kovalev ripped a shot to Lundqvist's right and scored.

The game was now tied and off to overtime. The Rangers had the best chance of scoring and therefore erasing their mistake during the overtime period, as Scott Gomez, came very close to re-directing a Brendan shanahan pass past Canadiens' keeper Cristobal Huet.

The game was now off to shootout. After 4 missed opportunities, Saku Koivu came onto the ice as the Habs' 2nd shooter. Koivu came in slowly on Lundqvist, and then deeked him out rapidly, to score. The Rangers' 3rd shooter, the streaky Jaromir Jagr, had to score to extend the game. As he drew close to Huet's crease, he lost control of the puck while attempting a deke. The game was over, the Canadiens had won, 6-5!

Olli Jokinen: Pros and Cons

Dear Readers, I present you, without further adue: Olli Jokinen.

Olli Jokinen is a 29-year old center playing for the Florida Panthers. His natural goal-scorer instincts and his above-average hands, as well as his good face-off abilities, have turned him into a star-superstar player at the NHL level. On February 5th, Jokinen reached the 200 goal mark. Over his past 3 seasons, Jokinen has scored at least 29 goals, and over his past 2 (not including 2007-08) has had 89 points or more.

Jokinen’s talent, goal-scoring ability and his “affordable” contract according to today’s market (08-09: 5.25M, 09-10: 5.50M), have turned the Finn into a hot commodity.

Many teams, like the Montreal Canadiens, could benefit from the acquisition of such a talented player, even though the bounty required to acquire him would be quite high. As an estimation of Olli’s worth, from a Habs’ point of view, expect the Canadiens to trade Chris Higgins, Ryan O’Byrne, Mikhail Grabovski and 1st round and 3rd round Draft Picks to the Panthers if Jokinen were to be acquired.

Although Jokinen’s team, the Florida Panthers, seems to be going nowhere, even with the acquisition and stellar play of goaltender Tomas Vokoun, Jokinen hasn’t voiced his displeasure publicly or hasn’t gone to see his GM Jacques Martin to ask him to be traded, but who knows, as the Trade Deadline draws nearer, he might.

Keep faith fellow Habs fans!

Ty Conklin: A feel good story

A few months ago, nobody spoke Ty Conklin’s name. Now, nobody can neglect it when somebody mentions “hot goaltenders”.

On December 6th, the Anchorage, Alaska native was called up by the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he had signed a contract back on July 18th, due to Penguins’ goalie Marc-André Fleury’s injury.
Everybody thought that, with his recent past, the 05-06 Stanley Cup Finals and his Columbus days that is, that he was just days away from being sent right back down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

But that was not going to be the case. Even though he wasn’t “sharp” during his first start, giving up 3 goals on 15 shots, he started again 9 days later.
On that night, he was more consistent, giving up 4 goals on 41 shots and he even earned the win.
That game was a precursor to what Conklin would show Penguins’ fans and the rest of the NHL, as that game was the 1st win of a 9 game winning streak.

Conklin has compiled, since that December 20th start, a fantastic record of 15 wins, 4 losses and 3 overtime losses, as well as a 2.19 Goals Against Average.

Conklin’s rise up the goalie ladder has been sensational, as it was not that long ago, that Conklin was a member of the 2005-06 Edmonton Oilers and that he came into replace Dwayne Roloson after he had injured himself in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals.
In that same game, Conklin committed a huge blunder, giving up the puck to Hurricanes captain Rod Brind’Amour, who would score an empty net goal at 31.1 seconds of the 3rd period, putting an end to a 4-4 tie.

Conklin was never seen again wearing an Oilers’ uniform as Oilers’ GM Kevin Lowe declined to exercice his team option for the 2006-07 season.
He later went on to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets, mostly for their AHL affiliate and for the Buffalo Sabres, backing up Ryan Miller throughout the rest of the season after they had dealt Martin Biron.

Conklin’s story is another one of those showing us hockey people that perseverance can get you anywhere, especially in this tough game we all love.