[grimes]

Take a look at Gainey's record in Montreal, and the fact that he's got two whiney, unproductive Russians on the books next season for $8 million +, and I'm hard pressed to understand why Gainey doesn't take half the heat JFJ does. Not that I'm defending JFJ.....but Gainey hasn't exactly turned the Habs into something special.

At least Habs' fans have something to look forward to. The Hamilton Bulldogs won the Calder Cup tonight, and I think Gainey's drafting might have had a little bit to do with that. They were led by Carey Price in net, who had a .936 save % and 2.06 GAA on his way to the playoff MVP as a 19 year old, after coming up from junior in April. Meanwhile JFJ's "goalie of the future" put up a rather Raycroft-esque .896 save % and 3.03 GAA with the Marlies this season.

[cferneyh]

Take a look at Gainey's record in Montreal, and the fact that he's got two whiney, unproductive Russians on the books next season for $8 million +, and I'm hard pressed to understand why Gainey doesn't take half the heat JFJ does. Not that I'm defending JFJ.....but Gainey hasn't exactly turned the Habs into something special.

At least Habs' fans have something to look forward to. The Hamilton Bulldogs won the Calder Cup tonight, and I think Gainey's drafting might have had a little bit to do with that. They were led by Carey Price in net, who had a .936 save % and 2.06 GAA on his way to the playoff MVP as a 19 year old, after coming up from junior in April. Meanwhile JFJ's "goalie of the future" put up a rather Raycroft-esque .896 save % and 3.03 GAA with the Marlies this season.

While winning the Calder Cup is all fine and dandy, didn't the Flyers' AHL team win it last year? How'd that work out for the Flyers this year? :lol:

I'm just saying......Gainey's record as Montreal's GM is no better than JFJ's in Toronto, yet the Montreal media attacks the players, while the Toronto media attacks the GM.

As for Antropov, I actually don't mind him. I just wish he'd put up a full season so that we could see if he could be a 30 goal scorer (and in my books, a 30 goal scorer for $2MM is pretty good). Sadly, I think the Chicago Blackhawks are more likely to win the Stanley Cup next season than Antropov is to play a full 82 games.

[tommygunn]

While winning the Calder Cup is all fine and dandy, didn't the Flyers' AHL team win it last year?

The Caps' affiliate, the Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup last year.

[grimes]

While winning the Calder Cup is all fine and dandy, didn't the Flyers' AHL team win it last year? How'd that work out for the Flyers this year? :lol:

I'm just saying......Gainey's record as Montreal's GM is no better than JFJ's in Toronto, yet the Montreal media attacks the players, while the Toronto media attacks the GM.

As for Antropov, I actually don't mind him. I just wish he'd put up a full season so that we could see if he could be a 30 goal scorer (and in my books, a 30 goal scorer for $2MM is pretty good). Sadly, I think the Chicago Blackhawks are more likely to win the Stanley Cup next season than Antropov is to play a full 82 games.

It was actually the year before that Philly won the Calder Cup...and obviously you can't expect all those kids to immediately be called up and be stars in the NHL. No matter, my point was simply that when I look at the prospects in the Habs' system, I'd say they're in better shape for the future than the Leafs are.

As for Antropov, I agree that this past season under Maurice he did show flashes of being a solid player. The problem is that's all they were - flashes. In addition to his injury problems, he also has consistency problems when he is playing. Considering he's a seven-year NHL veteran that's never played in more than 66 games in a single season, you're bang on that he can't be counted on for a full season. And considering he's never scored more than 18 goals in a season, 30 seems like wishful thinking.

[cferneyh]

Considering he's a seven-year NHL veteran that's never played in more than 66 games in a single season, you're bang on that he can't be counted on for a full season. And considering he's never scored more than 18 goals in a season, 30 seems like wishful thinking.

Yeah, but pro-rate his goals over a full season (I know....I know) and you get a guy that apparently could approach 30 if he somehow managed to stay healthy.

My favourite line was from a buddy of mine who said that he heard Nik tore a bunch of ligaments in his wrist while signing the contract.

[fingernailsonhull]

Considering he's a seven-year NHL veteran that's never played in more than 66 games in a single season, you're bang on that he can't be counted on for a full season. And considering he's never scored more than 18 goals in a season, 30 seems like wishful thinking.

Yeah, but pro-rate his goals over a full season (I know....I know) and you get a guy that apparently could approach 30 if he somehow managed to stay healthy.

My favourite line was from a buddy of mine who said that he heard Nik tore a bunch of ligaments in his wrist while signing the contract.

Cfern, c'mon. That's wishful thinking for a sickly player who has never lived up to expectations. When are we going to stop expecting him to bust out and finally cut him loose?

[The Horrible Esthete]

Travis Rogers, producer of The Jim Rome Show.

Dude never picked up a hockey stick in his life. :lol:

[grimes]

Considering he's a seven-year NHL veteran that's never played in more than 66 games in a single season, you're bang on that he can't be counted on for a full season. And considering he's never scored more than 18 goals in a season, 30 seems like wishful thinking.

Yeah, but pro-rate his goals over a full season (I know....I know) and you get a guy that apparently could approach 30 if he somehow managed to stay healthy.

My favourite line was from a buddy of mine who said that he heard Nik tore a bunch of ligaments in his wrist while signing the contract.

That's a good one :lol:

Yes I will agree that this past season, if you pro-rated his 18 goals he'd be close to a 30-goal scorer. But that's one season out of seven. Every other season he's played, even with pro-rating he wouldn't be a 20-goal scorer, let alone 30. Like I said earlier I did see some improvements in him this past year, so I don't necessarily mind the fact that they are bringing him back. I just think it's absurb that JFJ would look at this guy and think "he deserves a 100% raise."

[cferneyh]

Considering he's a seven-year NHL veteran that's never played in more than 66 games in a single season, you're bang on that he can't be counted on for a full season. And considering he's never scored more than 18 goals in a season, 30 seems like wishful thinking.

Yeah, but pro-rate his goals over a full season (I know....I know) and you get a guy that apparently could approach 30 if he somehow managed to stay healthy.

My favourite line was from a buddy of mine who said that he heard Nik tore a bunch of ligaments in his wrist while signing the contract.

Cfern, c'mon. That's wishful thinking for a sickly player who has never lived up to expectations. When are we going to stop expecting him to bust out and finally cut him loose?

I think my posts made it abundantly clear that I know it is wishful thinking. My point is that at $2MM a season, I think it is a risk worth taking. Especially when you consider that a guy like Samsonov got $3.525MM per season from Montreal and his goal totals over his previous three seasons were 23, 17, and 5 (and he responded with a total of 9 goals last season, which I think was equivalent to the number of times he cried to the media about not being used properly, wanting out, wah wah wah).

[cferneyh]

I just think it's absurb that JFJ would look at this guy and think "he deserves a 100% raise."

Again, you need to put it in the context of the market as a whole. Do you honestly think no other GM out there would offer a 6'6", 230 lb 27 year old who just put up a career high in goals a $2MM deal? I've heard/read that Hartnell is likely going to get offers of $4MM+......and his best season was 48 points!

[Hard Canadian]

HAMILTON BULLDOGS: AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!! :rambo:
at least we brought one cup back to Canada.

[grimes]

I just think it's absurb that JFJ would look at this guy and think "he deserves a 100% raise."

Again, you need to put it in the context of the market as a whole. Do you honestly think no other GM out there would offer a 6'6", 230 lb 27 year old who just put up a career high in goals a $2MM deal? I've heard/read that Hartnell is likely going to get offers of $4MM+......and his best season was 48 points!

Maybe, but at that point I'd just as soon let him go. He certainly wouldn't be missed.

[tth_fan]

HAMILTON BULLDOGS: AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!! :rambo:
at least we brought one cup back to Canada.

I love how the mascot is in the team photo! :lol:

[cochise]

Cup on the Tonight Show

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=E1UFy-vmhqk">http://youtube.com/watch?v=E1UFy-vmhqk</a><!-- m -->

[NWOntario]

I'll be fine with the Antropov signing if he isn't a first-liner next year. He would be a dream third-liner/solid second-liner, but trying to force him into becoming the proverbial "winger to play with Mats Sundin" is just plain dumb, imo. To be fair to Nik, when he's on (and he was for much of the second half of the season) he's a force to be reckoned with; if he can stay healthy and produce the way he's capable of producing, he might make JFJ look pretty smart.

And THAT, as we know, isn't easy.