Desperation Mode

With precious few players under contract for next season, Bob Gainey was forced into making several splashes in the free agent pool.  It's obviously too early to tell what kind of impact the players he signed will have, but in my opinion, I think this is an example of a desperate general manager who has found a way to re-direct the blame if things go sour again in 09-10.  

The Canadiens had a disappointing campaign this year - one that was supposed to celebratory as the team enjoyed it's 100th anniversary.  Not only did they under-achieve (relative to expectation) on the ice, but they were swarmed by controversy off it.  In the end, much of the blame fell on Bob Gainey.  Now, having parted ways with longtime captain Saku Koivu and several other players, and replacing them with big-name, high-priced talent like Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, and Jaroslav Spacek, the blame will likely fall on these and any other new players if things don't get better in October.

Over $100 million dollars has been invested in the new guys, a list that also includes former Leaf and recent Stanley Cup winner Hal Gill.  Are they worth it?  Probably not.  Spacek fills a glaring need on the PP (which was hit hard by the departure of Sheldon Souray, and then Mark Streit a year later) but his best defensive years are behind him.  Gill will not get the kind of goaltending behind him in Montreal that he had in Pittsburgh and Toronto to cover up for the mistakes he frequently makes due to his lack of speed.  Up front, Scott Gomez might care less about winning than any other player since he signed his whopping contract a few years ago.  Cammalleri and Gionta will score, but will it be enough?  And will their scoring continue if Montreal qualifies for the post-season?  Furthermore, the knock on Montreal for the past several years has been their lack of size.  This trio of forwards might not be able to meet the height restrictions on some of the rides at Canada's Wonderland.

The Habs are in for another tough year.  What's worse is that this one will cost them more.  Good timing Molson brothers.

Heat

I've publicly criticized Dany Heatley for many things - his attitude, his effort, his demeanor, and more specifically, his most recent playoff performance.  There's also the Dan Snyder tragedy, which doesn't speak to his capabilities as a hockey player, but as a human being, and I think it's an incident that will forever call his character to question.  His latest antics (demanding a trade less than a year after signing a lucrative contract extension only to quash the only good offer the Senators received for him) have left an even worse taste in my mouth.  If he wasn't happy under the new coaching regime in Ottawa - one that makes him accountable for his inconsistent play - that's fine.  But don't go public with it, you owe the organization and its fans at least that much.  Once you come out and say you want to be traded, you don't exactly put your GM in an advantageous bargaining position.  

Miraculously, Bryan Murray managed to negotiate himself a pretty decent offer.  I think the Senators would be a better team tomorrow if they dressed Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav Smid instead of Dany Heatley.  The trio offered up by Oilers' GM Kevin Lowe helps Ottawa in several areas of need.  So, Heatley wants out... but apparently he's not going to Edmonton.  I guess beggars can in fact be choosers.

At the end of the day, Heatley's actions have hand-cuffed his current team, disappointed the fans of two Canadian teams, and embarrassed three NHL players, who now have the awkward task of walking back in to Rexall Place and moving forward as though Lowe never tried to trade them.  It's time that the NHL look to the NFL-model of allowing for contracts that aren't guaranteed to avoid problems like this in the future.  Everyone effected by this saga, except he who set it all in motion, deserves better.