tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703672817425686916.post1658864196339443685..comments2023-11-03T09:15:38.743-04:00Comments on The Daily Hab-it: Hi operator? Can I have a number for François Giguère?Arpon Basuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11896844844557916169noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703672817425686916.post-10308769211357443692008-11-05T14:42:00.000-05:002008-11-05T14:42:00.000-05:00Apparently, at least according to his defence coac...Apparently, at least according to his defence coach in Wisconsin, he's not doing so hot. Check it out in today's La Presse:<BR/><BR/>http://www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/hockey/200811/05/01-36339-meconnaissable-ce-ryan-mcdonagh.php<BR/><BR/>Regardless, he's at least two years away because I would imagine he'll play a season in Hamilton before coming to Montreal.Arpon Basuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11896844844557916169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703672817425686916.post-17405162014707820952008-11-05T11:34:00.000-05:002008-11-05T11:34:00.000-05:00Off topic, I suppose, but how is that McDonough ki...Off topic, I suppose, but how is that McDonough kid doing? How far away is he? Two years?Arjunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06051966548813673687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-703672817425686916.post-55738602125886721992008-11-04T22:30:00.000-05:002008-11-04T22:30:00.000-05:00I like the way you think Arp, but I don't agree th...I like the way you think Arp, but I don't agree that re-entry waivers are not a problem. If the Habs need to waive Denis in order to trade him to Colorado, the Avs could just claim him and get him for half the price. That would leave the Habs on the hook for the other half of the salary AND the cap hit.<BR/><BR/>Also, if the Habs do trade Halak anywhere they are opening themselves up for a potential goaltending problem. They'll need a backup goalie to replace him on the big club, meaning one option would be to call Denis up from the A. If Denis gets claimed by some desperate team (see New Jersey in about two weeks from now), all of a sudden Cedric Desjardins is the only other decent goalie in the organization.<BR/><BR/>In order to prevent that from happening I would expect to see one of two things happen:<BR/><BR/>1. Gainey calls up Desjardins to the NHL as backup, leaving Denis to carry the load in the minors. I don't see that happening because I don't think Gainey would want Desjardins playing 25 games this season for the Habs.<BR/><BR/>2. Either Raycroft or Budaj would have to come back to the Habs in the deal. Both are making only $800K this year, Raycroft is going to be a UFA after this season and Budaj (whose cap hit it actually only $700K) will be an RFA.<BR/><BR/>I see scenario 2 being more likely, with Raycroft being the throw-in by the Avs. It gives the Habs a backup goalie at a bargain basement price that is at least a known entity in the NHL. It also allows Desjardins to continue to grow in the minors and it prevents Gainey from having to expose part of his cap by having Denis claimed on re-entry waivers.<BR/><BR/>As for Leopold, I like him, but Pierre McGuire on Melnyck today said Leopold didn't have the edge he needs to be a good player when the going gets tough (i.e. in the playoffs). Maybe that's less of an issue when you're a number four instead of a top-two d-man.<BR/><BR/>In the end, I disagree with all the pundits and I will stand by my assessment of a few weeks ago in this space when Gaborik rumours were the flavour du jour. I think Gainey should stand pat. If O'Byrne continues to mess the bed or if an injury crops up somewhere down the road maybe I'll change my mind, but Halak's value will only rise as we get deeper into the season, so what's the hurry?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com