The Montreal Canadiens Get Revamped. Gainey Adds Firepower!

Out with the old and in with the new.  Of course I’m referring to GM Bob Gainey who so far this off season has shown no fear when it comes to attacking the free agent market.  He had roughly $30 million to spend and he started spending quickly ensuring the Canadiens would have the necessary weapons to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup.  The Players that were shown the door were stalwarts like 13 year captain Saku Koivu ( who just signed a one year deal with the Anaheim Ducks ) and leading point getter Alexei Kovalev ( who signed with the Ottawa Senators for 2 years at $5 million a year ).  Others include defensman Mike Komisarek ( who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs ), forwards Robert Lang, Alex Tanquay and Chris Higgins.

The players shown the red carpet started with the signing of Buffalo Sabres free agent defenseman Jaroslav Spacek to a three year $11.5 million contract replacing the departed Komisarek.  Pittsburgh Penguins champion Hal Gill was also added to the Montreal blueline.  He signed a 2 year $4.5 million contract.  Both players will fit nicely with Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik, along with Yanick Weber and Josh Gorges the Habs should be solid.

On offense they signed Calgary free agent Mike Cammelleri to a 5 year deal worth $30-million.  Last year in his only year with the Flames, he scored a career high 39 goals.  In Cammalleri, the Canadiens get a two-time member of the 30-goal club, who has netted more than 80 points in two of the last three seasons.  The 27-year-old has posted 132 goals and 155 assists for 287 points in 364 career games.  He spent the first five seasons of his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings, before being acquired by Calgary at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, as part of a three-way trade with the Kings and the Anaheim Ducks.

Montreal’s next move was acquiring center Scott Gomez from the New York Rangers in exchange for foward Chris Higgins.  Gomez, a nine year veteran played his first seven years with the New Jersey Devils before moving on to the Rangers.  Some people say that Gomez is a little on the small size but I feel that if you outskate and outwork your opponents then you will outplay them and that’s what counts.  After playing his entire seven year career in New Jersey, Brian Gionta is on the move having signed a five-year,  $25 million deal with the Montreal Canadiens.  The former Devils forwards are suddenly teammates for a second time in their careers.  Each player had his best season in 2005-06 with the Devils, when center Gomez had 33 goals and 51 assists and winger Gionta scored 48 goals and added 41 assists.  A plus for the former Devils is that they flourished in a defensive-oriented system in New Jersey.  That is how the Canadiens are expected to play under new coach Jacques Martin.

The last piece of the puzzle for the habs is to take care of their goaltending issues.  They have two really good goalies in Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak.  Price’s problem is not between the pipes where he has turned in stellar performances, the problem is between his ears.  Last year, with the Canadiens collapse after the All Star game and a 4-0 sweep in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the Boston Bruins, the young netminder’s confidence along with their hopes of winning the Stanley Cup went down the toilet.  Head coach Jacques Martin has the enormous task of restoring Price’s confidence and get him playing like the player we all know he’s capable of being.  Halak is a very good and steady backup that can come in and give you quality play.  He is the type of player who has shown glimpses that he is able to shoulder the load for short periods of time without any drop-off in play.

With the 18th pick in the draft the Canadiens selected center Louis Leblanc.  Leblanc was considered the best player in his year in Quebec, but opted to play for Omaha in the USHL this year to keep his NCAA eligibility.  His hands and his evasiveness with the puck are what separates him from other players on the ice right away.  Leblanc is headed for Harvard in the fall and says he plans to stay at least two years in college, majoring in business.  With all the changes Montreal has made Leblanc can take his time getting ready for the vigor’s of the NHL.

So there you have it, the Canadiens have made so many changes to there roster that next year is sure to be very exciting.  The players that have been acquired all have the capability to put the puck in the net and make plays, something the Habs were definitely lacking this past season.  General manager Bob Gainey will be hoping and praying that all this activity pays off, if not, then this time next year Gainey will be looking for a new job.