HabsWorld.net -- 

The week may have started off slow for the both
the Habs and Bulldogs, but ended with a trio of victories for each team. 
Not only will we grade the Canadiens like normal, but also evaluate the chances
that certain players could be moved.  As always, we’ll also have the
Bulldog stats, plus some trade options there, and a double final thought for
your reading pleasure, in the Recap.

 Trades
& Grades

A small change of pace this week with the trade
deadline upcoming.  Rather than the weekly grade appearing beside the
player name, there will be a ranking between 1 and 5, corresponding with the
potential of that player being dealt (1 being low chance, 5 being very high.) 
The comment will also pertain to the trade rating.  Weekly grades and each
player’s average will appear after the comment.  Players are sorted by the
trade potential rating by position (G, D, F), so the weekly grades are not in
order like in other weeks.

Goalies:


#39 – Cristobal Huet:  2.0 
I don’t think he’s actively being shopped, but being a UFA at year’s end, some
teams may be calling Gainey about him. (WG:
7.0  SA:
7.61)

#31 – Carey Price:  1.0 
Technically, no one is truly untouchable, but I think this is as close as it
gets to an untradeable player in Montreal. (WG:
9.0  SA:
7.61)

Defence:


#3 – Ryan O’Byrne:  3.5  If
the big move is made to bring in an impact player, O’Byrne is very much the type
of player rebuilding teams will command in return.  (WG:
7.0  SA:
6.80)

#26 – Josh Gorges:  3.5  Has
shown he can be a regular on the blueline; his age and cheap contract makes him
attractable in most deals involving the Habs trying to make an upgrade.  (WG:
7.0  SA: 6.89)

#32 – Mark Streit:  2.5  His
versatility will attract many suitors, and his impending free agency may have
Gainey exploring his options with him.  (WG:
6.5  SA:
7.05)

#51 – Francis Bouillon:  2.0 
At this time, some teams like to try and add a depth defender towards the
deadline, but there will likely be cheaper options than Bouillon.  (WG:
8.0  SA:
6.97)

#71 – Patrice Brisebois:  1.5  I
think he’s being shopped, but the market just isn’t going to exist for an old
defenceman playing through injury.  (WG:
6.0  SA: 6.67)

#44 – Roman Hamrlik:  1.5  I doubt
that Gainey is looking to move him, but with his contract, I think he’d listen
if an offer is made for him.  (WG:
7.0  SA:
7.29)

#79 – Andrei Markov:  1.0 
When the team gave him the extension last offseason, it was to be the team’s top
defenceman, nothing’s changed since then.  He’s staying put. (WG:
8.0  SA:
7.48)

#8 – Mike Komisarek:  1.0  He’s
exactly the type of player teams need for the playoffs.  Obviously, this
includes the Habs.  (WG:
7.5  SA:
7.60)

Forwards:


#73 – Michael Ryder:  4.5 
Nothing’s a guarantee (which is why this isn’t a 5), but there’s a mutual need
and desire to get a deal done.  (WG:
7.0  SA: 6.68)

#40 – Maxim Lapierre:  3.0 
Rebuilding teams want young players coming back, Lapierre is certainly that,
with a little bit of upside still.  (WG:
6.5  SA: 6.73)

#84 – Guillaume Latendresse:  2.5  I
think if other teams want a young roster forward in a big (upgrade) deal,
Latendresse will be the first guy suggested by Gainey.  (WG:
7.0  SA: 6.78)

#22 – Steve Begin:  2.5 
Although he’s the consummate team player, Gainey may want to move his contract, especially
with him fighting to stay in the lineup regularly.  (WG:
7.0  SA:
7.14)

#21 – Chris Higgins:  2.5 
Many teams will come looking for Higgins and may insist on getting him in a big
deal (ie: the
alleged Hossa rumours.)  (WG:
7.5  SA:
7.58)

#25 – Mathieu Dandenault:  2.5  A
veteran with big game experience that can play both wing and defence, the only
thing that will deter some teams is his contract.  (WG:
6.5  SA:
7.05)

#20 – Bryan Smolinski:  2.0 
The NTC was in there to make sure Smolinski could play for a contender down the
stretch, he’ll either waive it to go to one (likely out West), or stay with the
Habs.  (WG: 6.5  SA:
6.91)

#74 – Sergei Kostitsyn:  2.0 
He’s shown flashes of potential that will have several teams inquiring about him
over the next week.  (WG: 7.0 
SA:
7.25)

#6 – Tom Kostopoulos:  1.5 
When toughness is limited to put it lightly, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense to
deal arguably the toughest forward on the team.  (WG:
6.5  SA:
6.73)

#14 – Tomas Plekanec:  1.5  It would
have to be one doozy of an offer to pry him off the team, but stranger things
have happened.  (WG: 8.0  SA:
7.73)

#46 – Andrei Kostitsyn:  1.5 
Like Plekanec, it’d take a lot to get him, and I think there’s several other
players the team would try to toss in an offer for an upgrade before Andrei. 
(WG: 8.0  SA:
7.38)

#11 – Saku Koivu:  1.5  Deep
down, I think Koivu is committed to staying in Montreal, which makes dealing him
all but impossible, whether the team wants to or not. (WG:
7.0  SA:
7.25)

#27 – Alexei Kovalev:  1.0  The
team’s leading scorer and has plenty of playoff experience, I think he’s
sticking around.  (WG: 9.0 
SA:
7.83)

Week’s Average:
7.24
Season Average:
7.19

 The Dog
Pound

Mikhail Grabovski finally is healthy again, and
he had by far his best week as a professional, leading the team to 3 wins and
3rd place in the division.

 Results:

Games 50-53 of the season.

February 13
1		 2 3
Tot
PP
SOG
Toronto 2 0 3 5 1/2 28
Hamilton 1 0 1 2 0/2 35

Attendance:  3,559
3 Stars:  1) Williams – TOR  2) Clemmensen – TOR  3)
Battaglia –
TOR

February 15
1		 2 3
Tot
PP
SOG
Toronto 0 3 1 4 0/3 28
Hamilton 2 1 4 7 2/7 34

Attendance:  6,585
3 Stars:  1) Grabovski – HAM  2) D’Agostini – HAM  3) Carle
– HAM

February 16
1		 2 3 OT SO
Tot
PP
SOG
Lake Erie 0 3 0 0 0 3 0/3 43
Hamilton 0 1 2 0 1 4 1/4 26

Attendance:  4,675
3 Stars:  1) Grabovski – HAM  2) Stewart – LEM  3) Corso
– HAM

February 17
1		 2 3
Tot
PP
SOG
Hamilton 1 2 1 4 2/6 22
Rochester 0 1 0 1 0/7 34

Attendance:  6,529
3 Stars:  1) Grabovski – HAM  2) Halak – HAM  3) Degon
– HAM

 Stats:


The offence finally woke up this week, led by some of the players that haven’t
exactly been lighting it up so far this season.

SKATERS
# Player GP G A +/- SH PIMS
4 Marvin Degon 4 1 1 +1 8 0
6 Conrad Martin 2 0 0 -1 0 4
7 Eric Manlow 3 1 0 E 5 2
12 Jean-Phillipe Cote 4 0 2 +1 7 16
15 Daniel Corso 4 0 6 -1 9 0
16 Greg Stewart 3 1 0 -1 3 20
17 Kyle Chipchura 4 0 3 +1 3 0
18 Brett Engelhardt 2 0 0 -1 4 2
19 Duncan Milroy 4 2 1 -2 8 4
21 Jonathan Ferland 4 0 2 +3 6 2
22 Matt D’Agostini 4 1 4 E 17 0
25 Pavel Valentenko 2 0 0 -1 0 4
27 Janne Lahti 3 1 0 -3 4 0
31 Mikhail Grabovski 4 5 5 +1 15 2
32 Ajay Baines 3 1 0 +2 6 2
34 Mathieu Biron 4 1 0 -1 10 2
39 Brock Trotter 2 0 1 +1 1 2
55 Andrew Archer 4 0 1 +2 0 2
72 Mathieu Carle 4 2 0 -3 5 7
84 Corey Locke 4 0 2 -3 6 2

GOALIES
# Player MINS SF SVS GA
30 Jaroslav Halak 149 83 78 5
35 Yann Danis 96 49 42 7


SHOOTOUT-SKATERS
# Player G/ATT
15 Daniel Corso 1/1
22 Matt D’Agostini 1/1
31 Mikhail Grabovski 1/1
84 Corey Locke 1/1


SHOOTOUT-GOALIES
# Player SVS/ATT
30 Jaroslav Halak 2/3

Season Leaders: 

Goals:  Locke (20)
Assists:  Locke (24)
Points:  Locke (44)
+/-:  Milroy (+12)
PIMS:  Stewart (110)


 Schedule:


February 19:  Hamilton vs Iowa
February 20:  Hamilton vs Quad City
February 23:  Houston vs Hamilton
February 24:  Hamilton vs Toronto

Hamilton
Trade Talk


Rather than the stat of the week, let’s stick with the trade theme and look at
some of the Bulldogs that could be on the move, and what GM Julien BriseBois may
be looking to accomplish.  Note that not all the players will be covered,
just some of the more notable ones.


 Available?


#35 – Yann Danis:  3.0  There’s no
future for him in Montreal/Hamilton, there are other teams out there that could
use him.

#19 – Duncan Milroy:  2.5 
An impending free agent, and he’s done very little to earn a deal.  I think
the Habs are shopping him, I’m not sure there’s much of a market for him though.

#31 – Mikhail Grabovski:  2.5 
The Habs may be looking to take advantage of his strong week, there may be a
team or two interested in taking a flyer on him.

#27 – Janne Lahti:  2.0  He has
not lived up to expectations with the Bulldogs, but the upside that prompted
Montreal to pick him up may entice another team to take a shot.

#84 – Corey Locke:  1.5  I
sense that the Bulldogs will want to keep him unless he’s part of a large
significant deal involving the Habs – and considering he’s already cleared
waivers this year, that’s not likely.

Needs


You’ll notice that there’s no defencemen on the above list.  That’s because
not only do most of the defencemen that would be available have next to no value
(Archer, Cote), but there’s a genuine need to improve on the back end. 
After just losing 1 regular in Valentenko, the D-corps look very thin at best,
with a pair of players on AHL-only deals that are now going to be counted on to
play significant minutes.  If there’s a strictly minor league deal to be
made, expect the Bulldogs to go after a defender.

Final
Thought


I was hoping to talk more about the deadline this week, but there’s a couple of
things that really caught my attention this week that deserve some discussion.

The recently signed Brock Trotter made his AHL debut this week, picking up an
assist in his first contest.  This is nice to see, but can we stop the Andy
McDonald comparisons and the talk of a steal already?  The Habs thought
enough of Trotter just months ago to include him on their draft list, traded to
add a late pick when he was still available and used it to pick…someone else. 
In fact, they took a player that they likely won’t even have to worry about
until into the next decade.  Now, I’m not going to suggest that Trotter’s
stock hasn’t gone up since then, but to the degree that he’s now a future NHL’er
in the making?  I’m not ready to go that far, and after just a pair of
minor league games, I don’t think too many others in the organization are
either.

With the arrests of Tom Kostopoulos and Ryan O’Byrne this week, some of the more
prominent retired Hab greats decided it was appropriate to take a shot at them,
essentially saying that they have disrespected the organization. 
Meanwhile, Guy Lafleur, a former Hab that still has direct ties to the team, is
in between trial dates after being charged with perjury, yet those players said
nothing about him.  I’m not going to take sides and debate which is worse,
but I’m concerned that a double standard exists.  If former players and
fans are going to hold the current and ex-players to a certain standard, I
certainly hope that it would be equitable.  The comments made this week
suggest otherwise.  Personally, I think it would be best to let things play
themselves out in both cases, as quietly as possible.  As fans, there are
more important and exciting things to concern ourselves with. 

Note that the trade ratings previously mentioned in this article are not
based on any inside information, they are merely a statement of opinion on who
could go, nothing more.