Lots of interesting stuff circulating about the Montreal Canadiens right now. According to Aftonbladet in Sweden, and passed along by Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazeete, the NHL is blocking Georges Laraque’s attempt to move to Sweden. According to the Swedish paper, the issue has to do with Laraque’s no-trade clause, something that makes little sense since Laraque is presumably willing to waive it to play overseas.
Also of interest is this addendum to the report that goaltender Carey Price was called out by teammate Andrei Markov last week. Again from Dave Stubbs, but this time via Twitter:
Price just gave Markov a BIG hug… then looked up to the pressbox, laughing.
That is awesome stuff; exactly the right response from Markov.
Yesterday’s article on Garnet Exelby and Jamal Mayers sparked a bit of conversation on the Leafs decision to move their first round pick (as well as their second round pick and next year’s first round pick) to Boston in exchange for Phil Kessel. The issue isn’t as simple as asking if Kessel is a better player than whoever the Bruins end up drafting. The question is whether Kessel plus the $5.4 million Toronto spent to sign him is worth more than that draft pick, and I think that’s probably not the case. I can see why Burke made the trade, and it isn’t a one-sided issue, but if he knew at the time that Toronto was going to be a lottery team I doubt he would have pulled the trigger.
Sticking with Mayers and Exelby, it was nice to hear Ron Wilson speak candidly about what he thought of their desire to leave town:
“Just play better as simple as that and your numbers show if you play well or not. Nobody’s entitled to ice-time. Unfortunately a lot of players today actually believe they’re entitled no matter how they’re performance is to just automatically play without accountability or responsibility.”
Rumours have been circulating for a few days now that Phoenix might be open to moving Peter Mueller, and if so he could be a major bargain for whoever ends up acquiring him. Kent Wilson took a long look at Mueller over at Five Hole Fanatics, and I’m in agreement with his take for the most part, with the single exception being that Dave Tippett has done his best to shelter Mueller, who was the eighth overall pick in the 2006 Draft.
Finally, I couldn’t resist passing along this scathing critique of a piece by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Morrissey. According to Morrissey, the biggest issue with those photos that to light over at Kurtenblog a few days ago isn’t anything to do with partying, drinking, or the like – it’s that John Madden doesn’t look like Bob Probert when he takes his shirt off. I’ll leave the long critique to the good people at Second City Hockey, but I’d personally like to thank Morrissey for doing his part (however small) to contribute to the demise of print media. Thanks, Rick.
I’ve never read Rick Morrissey before, is he always that much of a dick? I thought the article was tongue-in-cheek when it started, but then it just kept going and going. I just can’t even picture the thought process here. Is he really worried that Cam Janssen and Darcy Hordichuk are going to see these photos and go “hehe, Kane looks wimpy. Next time I play them I’m going to try and lean on him a little.” Do you really think nobody’s thought of that tactic before there, Rick?
And has Rick seen any recent photos of Bob Probert? The man looks like he’s pushing 60, and he’s about to turn 45. If there’s a more cautionary tale not to play like Bob Probert (or, maybe more appropriately, not to live like Bob Probert) than Bob Probert’s face, I’m not sure what it might be.
What does kessels salary have to do with anything? hes going to be worth much more than that in the near future and given how we have a thrid of the season left we dont know well be a lottery pick because its a whole new ball game after the trade deadline. As well if you look at how scouts have been saying this draft year as well as next years draft are going to be the weakest drafts in a long time it becomes pretty clear we payed a reasonable price for a VERY good player.
Bruce – Let’s play a hypothetical game. Toronto decides not to sign Kessel and instead signs Mike Cammalleri for 6MM. They retain all their draft picks. Are they better off? Probably; that’s why salary enters into it, because they would have spent that money on some other player who could replace at least some of what Kessel brings to the table.
It’s not that Kessel’s overpaid, it’s just that you have to consider what else they would have doen with the money when looking at the transaction.
Hate to pick on you, Bruce, but how could Kessel possibly be worth more than $5.4 million a season in the near future? Guys who are making that much money are never bargains. If you had Alexander Ovechkin at that cap hit you’d call it a bargain, but Kessel? He’s the 57th highest paid player in the game. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf are making less. Hossa’s cap hit is less. He’s not as overpaid as Shawn Horcoff or Bryan McCabe or Chris Drury, but even if he scores 40 goals you’re not going to say “wow, he’s a steal at $5.4 million.” At that salary level you’re never underpaid; you’re always overpaid or paid appropriately. If he scores 65 at some point during the length of this contract, sure, but how likely is that?
And I’m going to have to ask you for a source on “scouts are saying this year’s draft is one of the weakest in a long time.” I’ve heard that for 2011, but never for 2010, except from Leaf fans.
I think Leaf fans are just going to have to face facts: if either of the draft picks you guys handed to Boston for Kessel end up being top five, you overpaid. If both of them end up being top ten, you overpaid. If this year’s ends up between about 12-20 and next year’s is somewhere after, hmm, I’m gonna say 10, you probably paid about the right amount. The only way the Leafs were going to actually win this trade would be if at least one choice were between 25-30 and the other one was no higher than 20.
And face facts: there’s 28 games left. Even if the Leafs win 20 of them, they’re still not going to make the playoffs, and that 2010 draft pick is probably a top 10 pick. And they ain’t gonna win 20 of their last 28.
Kessel was brought in because Burke had to do something that classified as a major move. I am not a fan of him, but the pressure Burke is under to make this team better is enormous. If he hadn’t brough Kessel in then everyone would be even angrier because we’d be lower in the standings…Although we would have our pick. I wish we had waited, but from his perspective he didn’t have much choice.
Kessel to me still has way more potentail then the average person gives him credit for, when you watch him shot and dangle he is up there with the best and with more talented linemates the sky is the limit. When he was drafted he was unfairly given the “think of him as an american crosby” but I think he is more like a Rick Nash style without the size of course. I wouldnt have given up two 1st rounders for him with the 2nd being in the deal, I would have however given up a 1st and a 2nd, because he is much further developed then what we would draft and at 22 is still super young, where as yes say a Hall or such could be just as good maybe better BUT and I cant stress this enough there is always chances they will pan out to be nothing but 3rd or 4th liners aswell Boyd Deavaeraux was a first rounder after all and where is he at age 30?