In what will obviously be an extremely busy off-season, Bob Gainey must address the challenge of putting a much-improved product on the ice for 2007-2008. By stepping back to analyze what has transpired over the last couple of seasons, it has become rather obvious that the Canadiens are missing certain elements that would propel them to the higher ranks of the NHL standings.
Two years ago the Habs came out on fire, shocking everyone in the league by posting 15 wins in their first 20 games. Koivu and Kovalev went down for a couple of weeks and the team fell into a losing spell that would ultimately lead to the end of Claude Julien’s coaching days in Montreal. Despite saving the season and busting into the playoffs to face Carolina, few off-season changes were made coming into ’06-’07. The lessons from the season before were not fully digested because the Habs managed to have a similar collapse in the middle of this season, forcing them to put up as strong a finish as they’ve ever had to. While the onus had been put on the inexperience of a young Canadiens line-up, unable to deliver a consistent effort in ’05-’06, it has become evident that repeating the same mistakes may be squarely due to problems with the core of this team.
I was certainly not surprised to see Craig Rivet traded at the deadline. Although some people figured it was certain that Souray would be on his way out, his value to the team was undeniable. Say all you want about his inability to play solid defense, if it wasn’t for Shelly’s sonic booms we wouldn’t have even been in the race. Say what you want about the fact that his family’s situation almost automatically puts him out of Montreal come summer, Bob Gainey obviously felt the team would be able to save the season if Sheldon stuck around, and he must have thought there was an opportunity to sign him thereafter.
Getting back to Rivet, he was a victim of circumstance. With Mike Komisarek and Francis Boullion beginning to flex NHL-type muscles, Rivet slowly became a man with no role on our blueline. We’ve all been privy to the type of leader Craig Rivet was with the Canadiens, but keeping him for 2.5 million a season in a “ra-ra, great locker-room guy” capacity was no longer an affordable option. I’m sure it was taken into account that if Rivet decided to return in the offseason for a less prominent role, and a smaller paycheque that he’d be welcomed with open arms. Given that Montreal has three d-men set to become UFAs, that may of course still be a possibility.
So what will Mr. Gainey do next? It’s no secret that top priority is getting Andrei Markov a long-term contract to stay in Montreal where he belongs. Perhaps the greatest obstacle to getting this done is the fact that Markov’s wife and kid still live in Russia. If he’s made up his mind that he’d prefer to make a pretty good living playing in the Super League the Canadiens will have a near impossible task of replacing not only him, but most likely Souray as well.
Lets face it, despite the hope that Souray instilled in Montreal fans with his most recent comments concerning his situation, Sheldon is headed west. I think Gainey will do everything in his power to resign Souray, but his numbers place him legitimately in the same ballpark as Bryan McCabe. If I had to advise Sheldon on what to do, it would be hard to convince him not to take the highest offer. But I’d try and drive home the point that no matter what he decides he’s going to take a lot of heat next year, even if he plays an above average season. It’s not that he’s incapable of putting up the same numbers, but it would be near impossible to repeat the type of success he had this year. Sheldon might want to learn a thing or two from Patrice Brisebois, and search for a contract that guarantees him a solid amount of money over an extended period of time. I find it hard to believe that any of the GMs would be willing to throw 5.5 million/season at him for 4 or 5 years given his rep as a defensive liability, and of course taking into account the gravity of the nature of injuries he has suffered throughout his career. If I were Sheldon Souray I’d take a five-year contract, laden with incentives, for 4 million dollars a season. That way if he chooses to play hockey in a city like Montreal he won’t be treated the way Bryan McCabe is by leaf fans. But even if he chooses an unconventional market he will not evade league-wide criticism when he doesn’t live up to the standard they are paying him by. In any case, whether you’re a Habs fan or not, it should be really interesting to see how one of the biggest stories of the off-season will write itself.
As for the rest of the team, the situation is a little easier to read, with a couple of exceptions. Dumping Zednik, Sundstrom, Dagenais, Ribiero, and Theodore was a message that players who consider themselves to be above the team, or content to just collect a paycheque are no longer welcome in the Montreal locker-room. Needless to say, Sergei “I’m worse than Berezin was with the Habs” Samsonov falls into that category. David “I re-invented the position” Aebischer might have a tough time finding another gig in the NHL let alone one with the Canadiens. Something tells me Janne Ninimmaa wasn’t overly thrilled about his role as the Canadiens Press Box ambassador. But what about Alex “I left my hands at home today” Kovalev? Is he poised for a big comeback after the embarrassment that ensued this year? If he is, I get the feeling it won’t be for the Habs…but I’ve been wrong before. Pat Hickey recently addressed the Michael Ryder situation. Is he worth a pay increase that he will most certainly command? What will happen with Alexander Perezhogin who seems to be an eligible bargaining chip given the ascendance of other hot prospects?
Lastly, the time has come to send Saku Koivu a message. “We will support you!!!!” What does this man have to prove in order to convince everyone that he is worth keeping around? Most fans will agree with me about his importance to the team. Normand Flynn of RDS just wrote a blog about how we need to finally say goodbye to him…RIDICULOUS! As I mentioned before the defense of Saku Koivu deserves it’s own blog, so you guys can look forward to that one tomorrow!
It’s press conference time…we shall have much to discuss in the days to come…stay tuned; things are about to get interesting!
EE
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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