panoo

The Gazette
Published: Friday, June 29, 2007

While Canadiens fans wait to see whether the team can keep Sheldon Souray or lure a free agent like Daniel Briere, who turned down a five-year offer from Buffalo yesterday, general manager Bob Gainey did some housekeeping.

Gainey bought out both players he acquired from Chicago in return for Sergei Samsonov - defenceman Jassen Cullimore and forward Tony Salmalainen.

The team saved money by buying out Cullimore's $1.9-million U.S. deal and Salmalainen's $725,000 rather than dealing with the $3.5 million they owed Samsonov.

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BE-LEAF-ABLE

I honestly don't think that Souray will be back with Montreal. Is he worth whatever he'll be asking for (which will be high) jus tfor his offencive performance? I mean, he is a defenceman, and the situation could draw some comparisons to that of Bryan McCabe and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.