The Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals Add Depth and Experience.
Yesterday saw the Montreal Canadiens come away with two very solid signings. Montreal signed forward Travis Moen to a three-year $4.5 million contract and veteran defenceman Paul Mara to a one-year deal. They added some size to the back end and some toughness, Moen, who will probably play on the third line. I think he would be a great fit on the third line with Guillaume Latendresse and Ian Lapierre. The rugged 6-foot-2, 215-pound winger was acquired after the San Jose Sharks did not make him a contract offer when the season ended. Moen is a strong, physical, 2-way presence that has had some success in a shutdown role. He also has a track record of winning, and his character in the locker room would compliment Montreal’s talented forward corps. Moen won the Stanley Cup in 2007 while playing for the Anaheim Ducks.
Paul Mara brings some serious size and toughness to the Canadiens blueline. At 6′4″ 215 lbs not to many people are going to stay on their feet once they get hit by Mara. He also brings a level of experience having ten years of NHL play under his belt. Mara was the 7th overall player selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning back in the 1997 NHL entry draft.
Detroit Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler plans to play in the Continental Hockey League this upcoming season. Hudler, a restricted free agent who had filed for NHL salary arbitration, agreed to a two-year, tax-free deal with Moscow Dynamo worth anywhere from $3 million to $5 million annually. The contract was filed and registered with the Russian league Thursday. What I don’t get is how do you walk away from a current contract to go play in another league when you’re legally contracted to play for the Red Wings. When a restricted free agent files for salary arbitration, in the eyes of the league it is acknowledgment of a player’s intent to play in the NHL the following year. So Unless I’m missing something the NHL can contest the validity of this new deal and possibly prevent Hudler from leaving. Hudler, who made $1.15 million this past season, had 23 goals and 57 points, both career highs.
One last note, veteran centerman Brendan Morrison was signed by the Washington Capitals on Friday to play on the 2nd line taking Sergei Federov’s place after the Russian bolted the Caps to return to his home country to play in the Russian premier league. Morrison, who turns 34 next month, has played 12 seasons with Dallas, Anaheim, Vancouver and New Jersey. He has 175 goals and 330 assists in 755 career games, with career highs in goals (25) and assists (46) in 2002-03 with the Canucks. If he really is healthy then he will be an extremely solid addition to a Washington team that can use all the help it can get.
Jul 13th, 2009 at 10:22 am
As for the Montreal Canadiens one is going to have to use a program book in order to recognize the players that will represent their team this year. Seven new players have been signed to date with 10 of them from last years team that either have not yet been signed or have been signed by an other team. To be in general manager Bob Gainey’s shoes at this moment is not an enviable place to be. He will either be a hero for all the changes that he has made or he will be looking for a new job before the end of the season. As well, the Habs have a new coach in Jacques Martin who will be implementing a new system for his players. Let us say a prayer for LES CANADIENS.