Canadiens draft twice in first three rounds…Jagr still being mentioned Montreal destination…..Kirk Muller unemployed…Flyers follow Gainey’s lead….Hamrlik coming back?…..Hometown discount from Markov…..
There seems to be mixed opinion about Roman Hamrlik’s overall contribution to the Canadiens. Some, myself included, think he paid a physical price for the heavy load he was forced assume this season. I think Hamrlik, in the right situation, still has a lot to offer a hockey club. But not at 5.5 million dollars. And maybe not in a top-four defensive role.
With only two players under contract, and as many as nine possiblities, Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier is going to have an interesting off-season configuring his defence for next season. Jaroslav Spacek and P.K. Subban are set for the coming season. Josh Gorges is a restricted free agent. Markov, Wisniewski, Hamrlik, Gill, Mara and Sopel are all unrestricted. Gauthier is going to have to decide who to let go and with whom to negotiate.
Pierre Gauthier was criticized for failing to make a trade deadline deal to bolster the Canadiens offense. Leading up to the deadline he had a more pressing problem. Because of injuries to his defense, the top penalty killing team in the NHL had slipped to tenth ranking in just nineteen games. Gauthier went to work and landed two veteran defensemen who were a very large presence in last night’s win in Atlanta.
The Montreal Canadiens have only two defensemen under contract for next season, Jaroslav Spacek and P.K. Subban. There are four unrestricted and three restricted free agents that general manager Pierre Gauthier will have to deal with before the first of July. One of the unrestricted free agents is newcomer James Wisniewski, who has become a fan favourite in the month he’s been with the team. Can the Canadiens sign him for next year or will the salary cap numbers game prevent it.
It turned out nicely after all, at least on the ice. The week’s schedule featured three games in less than four days (67 hours). It started with that home game against Edmonton Wednesday in which the Canadiens blew a 3-0 lead, losing 4-3 in overtime. The Canadiens came back the next night with a 5-1 win over the injury plagued and struggling Devils in New Jersey before returning home to grind out a 3-1 win over San Jose Saturday afternoon. In the end, the Canadiens took five of a possible six points
The three Canadiens games in four nights produced two wins and one overtime loss, five of a possible six points. Untimely penalties hurt the Canadiens vs.Tampa Bay Wednesday. Carey Price faced 47 shots. Friday in Buffalo, the Canadiens halved the opposition shots on goal, got both goals from the defence (Picard & Gorges) and shut down the Sabres in the third period for a 2-1 victory. Saturday night they fell behind 3-1 against Ottawa and came back thanks to the Plekanec line. Ottawa was limited to 2 shots in the third period.
Roman Hamrlik’s right knee injury stretched the limits of the term “day-to-day”. It has been ‘day-to-day’ since September 17th when he came into training camp having suffered it in an unofficial practice session collision with Jaroslav Spacek. Fortunately, the Canadiens coaching and medical staff is more patient than the average fan or even the media, which is always a good thing.
Finally, Hamrlik has been declared fit to play and will be in the lineup tomorrow night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Rumours are also being spread that Andrei Markov is very close to returning as well, which would make him a month ahead of schedule.
The Canadiens assigned five to the minors today with no surprises in the group. They open their season with some question marks. Carey Price suffering from the flu; Roman Hamrlik has had an injury setback; Michael Cammalleri is suspended and Andrei Markov is still rehabilitating from May knee surgery.
Did you know the Canadiens have seven players with no-trade clauses in their contracts including Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik, both of whom will be unrestricted free agents at the end of this season? The trade restrictions on the two defensemen ends on February first, 2011, meaning the Canadiens can make a deal for them at the trade deadline if they wish. At the end of the coming season, Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier will have to deal with five unrestricted and eight restricted free agents. He will have just over twenty-five million dollars to sign thirteen players with defensemen Markov and Josh Gorges the top priorities.
And indication of the hockey world in the salary cap era, the Canadiens presently are committed to only four contracts two years from now, Gomez, Cammalleri, Gionta and Plekanec. And they are committed to only one contract, Plekanec, in the 2014-2015 season.
