CTC Off-Season Outlook Anthony Wyng Style: MONTREAL CANADIENS

Team #16

MONTREAL CANADIENS

The problems that could not be overcome during the 100 year anniversary were very disappointing to the players, brass, and fans worldwide.

It’s no secret, that this year GM Bob Gainey had totally lost his edge and went into panic mode.  First, the firing of Guy Carbonneau as coach (when the team was starting to play very well again) was shocking, and a mistake.   It looked like the tides were starting to turn for Montreal, and then the axe falls and nothing get’s fixed. When Gainey filled the void as coach, it didn’t help matters much at all.

For the second year in a row, Bob Gainey did not deliver. Sure, he got Schneider which helped the struggling Power Play, however, that was not the addition to help the main areas of need. He did not deliver a true need at or prior to the trade deadline in order to improve his club, especially when he had the pieces to do so. It left the team in question, and left many questioning Gainey as to why he didn’t pull the trigger on anything of a bit more significance.

The team lost it’s edge, Price lost his flow, and the fans practically lost their minds. One of the few teams that can compete with the overhaul that the Wild could possibly have are your Montreal Candiens.

Already controversy, as GM Bob Gainey has found his man to be the new bench boss.  He hired, a few short weeks ago, Jacques Martin (ex-GM/coach of the Florida Panthers) and we all know how that has been foreshadowed. Could this damage the possible returns of Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, Alexei Kovalev (although I do not think the Habs should bring him back, at ANY price!), etc. ?  Time will tell as the season starts and moves on, on just how well Martin will be a coach to this young Habs organization.

Mike Komisarek, and Alex Tanguay should be Gainey’s top two priorities at this point, and I will break that down further below.  However, there are needs and adjustments that MUST be made, especially now with this off-season and all the names that can walk if not happy.  Gainey has his hands full, so let’s see if we can give him a little help.

The Blue Line:

Andrei Markov, Roman Hamrlik, Josh Gorges, Ryan O’Byrne, Yannick Weber

Cap Hit: $13.6 million

UFA: Francis Bouillon, Mathieu Dandenault, Mike Komisarek, Mathieu Schneider, Patrice Brisebois

RFA: none

If the cards are in place, and Gainey plays them properly, Komisarek and Schneider will be re-signed and the youth can fight it out for the 6th and 7th d-man slots.

Cap Hit after re-signings (estimated): $21 million

The Forwards:

Andrei Kostitsyn, Georges Laraque, Maxim Lapierre, Sergei Kostitsyn, Max Pacioretty, Glen Metropolit

Cap Hit: $8 million

UFA: Alex Tanguay, Saku Koivu, Alexei Kovalev, Robert Lang, Tom Kostopoulos

RFA: Chris Higgins, Tomas Plekanec, Guillaume Latendresse, Matt D’Agostini, Kyle Chipchura, Greg Stewart

To me, there are a lot of names that need to be brought back to the Habs orgainzation.  First and foremost, Alex Tanguay.  When healthy, Tanguay could very well be a 70-75 point player (41pts in 50 games and a +13 rating in Montreal this season), and given that he did play well in Montreal when he wasn’t out of the line up, showed that he can play in Montreal.

Personally (but hey, I am not the GM), I’d like to see Lang back as well (if healthy), with him and Pleks possibly fighting it out for the top line Center role. Tanguay, as I’ve stated, needs to return, and then the rest of the pack is the RFA’s, who should hopefully all be brought back. So, let’s hypothetically say that Lang is healthy and returns, along with Tanguay, and the RFA’s get the appropriate offers, or are qualified, your estimated (in my eyes) cap hit: $24.4

In net:

Carey Price
Jaroslav Halak

Cap Hit: $1.65 million

Total team (estimated) cap hit: $48 million

Team needs: To sign their RFA’s, to bring back Tanguay and Komisarek, to get a top line Center, and to acquire a pure sniper.

Sure, it’s nothing close to being easy, rather easier said then done, but the money is there to get the players back under contract, as well as hit the UFA market. It’s now up to Silent Bob to put the plans in place.