Halak left quite an impression in Denver

For what it's worth, veteran Avalanche beat writer Adrian Dater is reporting that Jaroslav Halak may be on his way to Denver, something that Dater first reported months ago and which was probably fuelled by Halak's 46-save masterpiece in Colorado last week.

I'm not sure what the Avalanche have to offer the Habs in return now that Mathieu Schneider is in town. The names being mentioned as on their way out of Denver are Jordan Leopold (who may have been Bob Gainey's Plan B if Schneider didn't work out), Ruslan Salei and Brett Clark. I'm not sure any of those players would interest Gainey now.

Ian Lapperriere would be a welcome addition to the Canadiens, seeing as Georges Laraque doesn't really like fighting, but that would not be nearly enough compensation for Halak. Perhaps Laperriere and one of the aforementioned defencemen?

Also of interest is Don Waddell's take on the Schneider trade. He says Gainey convinced him that a move was going to be made either Monday or Tuesday, and that if Waddell didn't pounce he felt he would have missed the boat. He also mentions how he tried to pry away some of the Canadiens prospects, but Gainey would have none of it.