1. The re-signing of defenseman Hal Gill. If you're a Habs fan this is important news. I won't insult you by rehashing all the reasons this is a good deal for the Canadiens but I will list in point form: leadership in the room, mentorship of the youngbloods, penalty killing prowess and as a total bonus I particularly enjoy, this guy is totally hilarious. Check out this interview with Marc Antoine Godin of LaPress (French). I love how Gill doesn't like the Bruins and come to think of it he doesn't like the Canucks either. I will admit to hoping for a discount since he's 36 and just getting slower, but I still think he's worth the money. I'm not surprised he got re-signed, as I expected it all along.
2. Because I'm a Habs fan Gill got the first mention but the biggest news still remains the relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg. This sucks for the Atlanta market and its fans because this is the second time they've had an NHL team yanked out from under them. Winnipeg fans are rightfully rejoicing and I'll cop to loving that Canada gets one of its teams back, but I am trusting the owners of the yet-to-be-named team to do a better job, and that the fans will bite the bullet and buy the reasonably priced tickets. Bettman already put a couple of warning shots across the bow lest Winnipegers forget that he hates moving franchise teams, unless it's OUT of the country.
3. Colin Campbell is apparently stepping down as chief disciplinarian of the NHL, and Brendan Shanahan is expected to take over. My first reaction went to timing. With the Bruins headed into the Cup finals no doubt Campbell - whose son Gregory plays for Boston - wants to avoid an appearance of favoritism and impropriety. Instead all he did was shine a new spotlight on the fact that a lot of his tenure at the helm of the NHL's discipline has smacked of incompetence and favoritism when it comes to the Bruins. Kyle Roussel wrote an insightful and must read piece on this very thing.
4. KHL teams are reporting that Kyle Klubbertanz, Dustin Boyd and Nigel Dawes have all signed contracts for the upcoming season. I'm not sure I care about the last 2 - I never expected them to make the Habs team really - but I dislike Klubbertanz going. Also, since they are still technically RFAs can't Pierre Gauthier put his foot down here? I don't like it when people jump the gun, and I think it looks bad when the AHLers walk out the door before they're supposed to. It strikes me as unprofessional and just bad form.
5. I don't care who wins the Stanley Cup. I'd prefer Vancouver because I have great Canucks tweeps on twitter and because I hate Boston more. But I have no real love for Vancouver. I do tend to default to Canadian teams before US teams (yes even the Leafs) but really it's all a wash for me. I might watch a game or two of the Cup finals, but I'm more likely to watch a horror movie. Same damned thing.
I'm tickled about Gill staying around, too, and for most of the same reasons as you. Will be interesting to see how the rest of the signings go.
ReplyDeleteWell I expected Markov to get done first but Gill was always going to be re-upped if Gauthier could help it. I do think that other than the no-brainers (like Gorges and Pacioretty) a lot of the other deals will wait until the Markov situation gets resolved.
ReplyDeleteNice point form run down of what's happening today. I agree with all of them; Gill is a nice signing, and Markov can't be far behind. Think of this scary scenario: Rafalski retired; Lidstrom follows suit. Habs drag their heels...Red Wings need a new #1 d-man and set all of their sights on Markov. Habs do NOT want to run that risk...do they?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the plug on my blog post. That item has had triple the hits as my previous most popular blog post...and I just wrote it off the cuff in about 20 minutes. Strange how this blogosphere works.
For the SCF, I am rooting for the Canucks all the way. The possibility of seeing the Bruins hoisting the Cup is too much to bear. Imagine Shawn Thornton having two cup rings before Saku gets one! Or that little douche Marchand having one before...well anyone that doesn't yet have one.
Kyle you're freaking me out with your scenarios! No Habs do NOT want to run that risk. We need Marky Mark locked up toot sweet. You're welcome for the plug. It's a keeper article - one of my faves - and yes, it is strange sometimes. OMG on the Bruins having the Cup... I can't imagine. My mind clamps down hard & refuses to even go there! Thanks for stopping by. :)
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteHal Gill's return is not surprising, and I guess PG felt his "intangibles" were worth extra $$... or perhaps that he is close to a deal with Markov and feels he has sufficient cash?
I am happy for the Winnipeg Whatevers (or Manitoba Mysteries, I guess), and Campbell's departure his waaaayyy overdue!
The only thing PG can do with his RFA is qualify their rights, but he can't force them to play in Hamilton. As for the KHL, there have been a couple of free agent signings /comebacks from the experience (i.e. Emery) AND it doesn't have the same "inferior league" label as the AHL.
Is Klubertanz going to the KHL? I thought he was going back to Sweden, from whence he came.I guess he signed for one year to give himself one last shot to reach the NHL 9he's 25, and seeing it was not to be, opted for better pay and less Tim Horton's...
His departure will hurt the Bulldogs more than the Habs: who will play defense? Ah, well, player movement is a staple of the AHL. Expect a couple of WTF free agent signings (à la Petruic, or... Klubertanz) this summer !
Good to read you!
Hey HABraCHadabra thanks for taking the time to stop by and all the lovely commentary! I think Gill is getting same money as last year - no raise. I am happy for Winnipeg too, but I think Campbell's departure is mostly cosmetic at this point. We'll have to wait and see if Shanahan makes any sort of difference before I start to be impressed. I'm too jaded at this point I guess. LOL
ReplyDeleteI agree it will hurt the Bulldogs more but I think it sends a negative message about the farm team, and that's what I don't like the most. Yeah, we usually get a few WTF signings, don't we? Will be interesting to see. Thanks again!
Yah... once Habs are out of the cup running, the season is dead to me. There's just too many other things I have to do. And since this season was the first season since lockout days where I was paying full attention to the team, my life has been in limbo mode far too long.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm constantly trying to catch up. Front yard is finally rising above "disgrace of the neighbourhood" status into "respectable work in progress." I almost forgot I had a class last night (thank gawd I remembered). Tonight I'm packing up crap and purging stuff for the garage sale on Saturday. And I've *FINALLY* been properly catching up with friends. Geez...this full-time Habs fan business is hard work.
Oh wait...I didn't really say anything about your blog. My comment is all about me <*insert narcissistic hair flounce*>. ;-)
Yay, Hal's staying!!!
There, I fixed it. ;-)
LMAO Love it! My fave comment of all-time so far!
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