I'm not to sure about that Joce as the Habs won a great deal of those games with Huet and we all no how price performed in the playoffs.
So i'll argue that goaltending was a huge part of Montreals success and as of now it's a huge question mark that could set the Habs back as they try to go forward.
In spite of the numbers being in his favour, Huet was not as big a factor as some may think. He would allow a bad goal every game or two. Goaltending is the least of my worries.
__________________ Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.
July 10, 2008 | 11:16am ET Still room for Mats TheFourthPeriod.com
With defenseman Josh Gorges locked up to a new contract, and a deal still waiting for Ryan O'Byrne, the Montreal Gazette reports the Canadiens have cap space left over to sign Mats Sundin, if he wants to play for them.
Sundin continues to ponder his future and weigh offers from the Canadiens (believed to be worth more than $7 million per season on a two-year deal), Vancouver Canucks (two-years, $20 million) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (one-year, $7 million).
The Canadiens traded for Sundin's exclusive negotiating rights during the NHL Entry Draft and hoped to ink him to a new deal before July 1.
Sundin is believed to be impressed with the Canadiens' organization, but remains undecided about his future.
The Canadiens are approximately $7.5 million under the $56.7 million salary cap, and if they add Sundin, they may need to trade a player or send one down to the AHL.
To add to this, the Gazette also states that the cap they're referring to has 23 men on the roster, not counting "Rhino Burn". So when they sign O'Byrne, if Sundin is coming to Montreal, a player will be sent down to Hamilton, traded or bought out for them to get to the 24 men roster maximum allowed by the league.
__________________ Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.
In spite of the numbers being in his favour, Huet was not as big a factor as some may think. He would allow a bad goal every game or two. Goaltending is the least of my worries.
The world is coming to an end because I'd go to war with either Price or Halak.
The only thing I would worry about if I'm a habs fan, is Kovalev, he needs to repeat last season. Shouldn't be a problem, it is afterall a contract year for him
Well, the rumblings are right now that Sundin is preparing to sign with Vancouver, and he'll make it official within the week.
You wonder if he was just waiting to see what both team's final rosters were going to look like, and now that the Canucks have added some firepower in Demitra, it cemented things for Mats.
Not only did the Habs make the playoffs last year, they won the conference! Because they took their championship team and added to great addition without subtracting anything too valuable doesn't make them weaker, but stronger.
The Canucks? They got rid of the little offense they had in Naslund's 25 goals and 55 points and replaced it with Dimitra's 15 goals and 54 points. What else? They got rid or their true second line center who was injured most of last year in Morrison and replace him with Kyle Wellwood! They didn't make the playoffs last year and I doubt they'll make them again this year.
Now add Sundin to both line-ups and see the depth. I don't know why I'm even debating this, really. In all due respect, it's not even close.
Exactly.
Well, then you're just not seeing things clearly, man.
What happened in Vancouver wasn't about talent. You'll notice that they were essentially the same roster that registered 105 points and won their division the year before.
Injuries, off ice distractions, and finally surrender by the team's leadership in the last ten games lead to them missing the playoffs.
A healthier season, a focussed Luongo, healthier leadership and the added size means there is really no reason why they can't get back to 105 points, even without Mats.
As for Montreal, you have a team that relied heavily on their powerplay last season and lost a big piece of that powerplay in Streit. And there are the huge question marks in goal, as Dougie pointed out.
Has it occurred to you that Montreal may have had one of those seasons where a whole whack of their players all managed to have career years at the same time, and wonder where they'll be if they don't get a repeat performance of that this season? It does happen, you know. We saw it here in the Rim in 02 / 03.
In reality, the debate is a lot closer than you think.
The world is coming to an end because I'd go to war with either Price or Halak.
The only thing I would worry about if I'm a habs fan, is Kovalev, he needs to repeat last season. Shouldn't be a problem, it is afterall a contract year for him
Agreed about Kovalev. Having said that, if Sundin decided to sign with us, an so-so year by Kovalev wouldn't have as big of an impact as what team wouldn't like to go into a season with Plekanec as its third center? This would give us the much needed depth and size up the middle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordfish
Well, then you're just not seeing things clearly, man.
Correction: Because I may not see it the same way you do doesn't mean that I don't see things clearly, nor does it mean that you don't. It's a difference of opinion and just as my opinion isn't any better than yours, the same can be said the other way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordfish
As for Montreal, you have a team that relied heavily on their powerplay last season and lost a big piece of that powerplay in Streit. And there are the huge question marks in goal, as Dougie pointed out.
This story is amazingly familiar... wait... oh yeah... Sheldon Souray! That's it! Even I thought that we'd suffer the loss of Souray, that we didn't have anyone to step into his shoes. I was wrong. Streit isn't half the offensive PP weapon that Souray was. We'll do just fine as our PP doesn't rely on our trigger man at the point. We have tons of other weapons and add Sundin to the mix, we're even stronger on the PP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gordfish
Has it occurred to you that Montreal may have had one of those seasons where a whole whack of their players all managed to have career years at the same time, and wonder where they'll be if they don't get a repeat performance of that this season? It does happen, you know. We saw it here in the Rim in 02 / 03.
Or is it that our young players are developing, taking more of a front role on the team? Guys like Higgins, Plekanec, Latendresse, Gorges, O'Byrne, Komisarek, Lapierre, Price and company... and as I've replied to Doug, goaltending is the least of my worries this season. People will see what I'm talking about.
__________________ Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.
Multiple sources are saying that the recent optimism that we are seeing tonight has come from the fact that Mats Sundin has indeed decided to play hockey this season.
In Vancouver radio reports are rampant that Mats is "really really close to signing with the Canucks." and indeed sources are indicating to me that the entire Canucks organization has locked it down and zero'd in on "some kind of Mats news that was surprising and came unexpectedly."
How intriguing has this become?
In Montreal meanwhile, behind a fortress of steel and electric fences, it would appear as though the Canadiens too have become renewed, although not as much nor not as openly enthusiastic as the Canuacks staff..
But then again the Habs are always reserved and always in shut down mode.
Either way it is blatantly obvious that "something big has happened tonight and that something has been told to the Canadiens and Canucks, and has given both teams a reason to believe that each has a definite shot at this.
One source speculated, "If I didn't know better I would say Mats told them that it is between the two of them and that they should both put forth their finest offer and in 7-10 days Mats will decide."
I continue to hear that Mats is leaning towards wanting to do a "one off" deal in case things dont work out. This is an option many of his peers have opted for as well at this point in their careers.
Whatever happens, whatever his decision is, as a fan, especially of one of the teams involved in this saga, here's hoping that Sundin makes a decision very soon so that we can all move on with this story. Not a knock on Mats, just an observation as a hockey fan. This situation is eating a lot of people, probably the player himself.
__________________ Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.
One solution to the low attendance figures in Pheonix is to paint the front of each seat with Bettman's face so that 12,000 smirking little Bettmans can be beamed to households and sports bars across Canada during games televised from Jobing.com Arena
The Mats Sundin watch... finally over!
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