The Montreal Canadiens dealt the goaltender who led them through their incredible postseason run, as the club has traded Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues.
It was an upcoming unrestricted free agency thingy that caused it. Halak made $800K last season. He'll be guaranteed to be up past $3 mil per year starting next year. He probably won't even be in training camp or play a single game with the Blues unless they cough up big time for him. Habs probably figured that keeping him would have wiped out their cap space for other signings over the off-season. Price is still a good goalie. Unfortunately, thanks to his confidence being shattered by the insane criticism from the Montreal media and too many of those demented fans, he won't be a great goalie until he's traded elsewhere.
"Thanos" said It was an upcoming unrestricted free agency thingy that caused it. Halak made $800K last season. He'll be guaranteed to be up past $3 mil per year starting next year. He probably won't even be in training camp or play a single game with the Blues unless they cough up big time for him. Habs probably figured that keeping him would have wiped out their cap space for other signings over the off-season. Price is still a good goalie. Unfortunately, thanks to his confidence being shattered by the insane criticism from the Montreal media and too many of those demented fans, he won't be a great goalie until he's traded elsewhere.
There's the problem, Price is a GOOD goalie but not a great goalie and even trading him won't guarantee him becoming great. Halak had more promise but salary caps being what they are, he's the one gone. As a Bruins fan I like this deal but as a hockey fan I can't help but shake my head.
Try being a Flames fan for a while. They haven't done anything that isn't a total head-scratcher since they first hired Mike Keenan. Drop Cammileri to get Jokinen. OK, everyone else thought it was a good idea at the time. But then get rid of Jokinen for Ales Kotlalik? D'uh? Even worse, the Phaneuf trade. Dump a former first-round defenseman to Toronto for a bucket of pucks and then see him get named a couple of months later as the new Leafs captain with T.O. looking at him as the second coming of Wendel Clark. And everyone In Calgary said it was a good thing they got rid of him because he "caused trouble in the dressing room", as if some silly idea of off-ice social cohesion was more important than unit cohesion while on the ice.
Habs will still compete, even minus Halak. Toronto will surely improve, probably quicker than anyone thinks. But Calgary? Har! For the next five years we're totally fuk't.
It seems that any time Mike Keenan has a team, they're screwed for several years after he leaves, look what he did to Vancouver when he was there. Him and that over rated pudknocker Mark Messier.
But I do think this trade for Montreal is a mistake, but as always, time will tell.
"QBC" said It seems that any time Mike Keenan has a team, they're screwed for several years after he leaves, look what he did to Vancouver when he was there. Him and that over rated pudknocker Mark Messier.
But I do think this trade for Montreal is a mistake, but as always, time will tell.
The Canucks were slagging before Keenan arrived. They never should have promoted Pat Quinn. Pavel shouldn't have gotten hurt.
"2Cdo" said I'm a Bruins fan Thanos, and believe me I've seen my share of headscratching deals over the last 35 years.
My sympathies. I forgot all about that Mike Milbury clown act that was allowed to go on for way too long. It's almost enough to make me stop complaining about what the Sutters have done to both the Flames long- and short-term prospects.
I don't get this one at all...Brain dead.
What Pierre Gauthier was thinking ???
Whoever signed the deal should be shot.
It was an upcoming unrestricted free agency thingy that caused it. Halak made $800K last season. He'll be guaranteed to be up past $3 mil per year starting next year. He probably won't even be in training camp or play a single game with the Blues unless they cough up big time for him. Habs probably figured that keeping him would have wiped out their cap space for other signings over the off-season. Price is still a good goalie. Unfortunately, thanks to his confidence being shattered by the insane criticism from the Montreal media and too many of those demented fans, he won't be a great goalie until he's traded elsewhere.
There's the problem, Price is a GOOD goalie but not a great goalie and even trading him won't guarantee him becoming great. Halak had more promise but salary caps being what they are, he's the one gone. As a Bruins fan I like this deal but as a hockey fan I can't help but shake my head.
Habs will still compete, even minus Halak. Toronto will surely improve, probably quicker than anyone thinks. But Calgary? Har! For the next five years we're totally fuk't.
But I do think this trade for Montreal is a mistake, but as always, time will tell.
It seems that any time Mike Keenan has a team, they're screwed for several years after he leaves, look what he did to Vancouver when he was there. Him and that over rated pudknocker Mark Messier.
But I do think this trade for Montreal is a mistake, but as always, time will tell.
The Canucks were slagging before Keenan arrived. They never should have promoted Pat Quinn. Pavel shouldn't have gotten hurt.
I'm a Bruins fan Thanos, and believe me I've seen my share of headscratching deals over the last 35 years.
My sympathies. I forgot all about that Mike Milbury clown act that was allowed to go on for way too long. It's almost enough to make me stop complaining about what the Sutters have done to both the Flames long- and short-term prospects.
Why would you do this? This goes beyond shooting yourself in the foot; it's like dropping a nuke on your own headquarters.
Don't forget we traded Huet for a second round choice....
Bob Gainey is still there it seems.