Andrei Markov - 3 years, $5.75M per. I’m surprised but happy that it’s 3 years; I think everyone was expecting 2 given his recent injury history, but then again he’s just so good and could possibly be making more elsewhere but always expressed a desire to stay in Montreal. He’ll retire in a Habs jersey (not necessarily after this contract…he’ll be 35 when it ends), having been drafted by them in the sixth round in 1998. Not many players play their entire careers for one team.
Still waiting for Gorges. Can’t wait to have him back!
Heh - Gary Bettman just got booed by fans at the start of the Draft, but it got cut off quickly as the GMs/team staff stood and applauded. The fact that two little girls and a widow were standing there with him possibly also had an effect.
No real surprise that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins went first to Edmonton.
I’ve had a grin on my face since I heard the owner of the Winnipeg franchise announce the Winnipeg Jets were ready to make their first round pick.
Sure, I’ve had some awareness of NHL competition during the past 15 years. I’ve watched the playoffs most years and had knew about the big stories. But since 1996, I haven’t had a team to cheer for.
I do now. Again.
I’m feeling like a kid on an extended Christmas morning following the events unfold.
I also thought it was…funny? weird? insulting? it wasn’t a big thing for me but…odd? … that when Pierre Gauthier honoured his fans - likely mostly watching on RDS, in French - by wishing them a Happy St. Jean (which is today), some of the crowd at the Draft booed and started chanting “USA! USA!” I have a friend who is American-born and married to a Canadian (husband’s cousin) and when he posted a “Happy St Jean” on Facebook, nearly all of his friends replied with “USA #1!!!” “AMERICA!!!” and likewise. It’s…strange.
I understand disliking particular teams and booing them - whatever, it’s a sport - but this was just as weird and inappropriate as the few - and it is a few- Canadiens fans who boo the American national anthem. Just a giant WTF and “why does this matter to you?!?”
The term “classy” gets used a lot in hockey - I’m guilty of it - but I kind of wonder if most people know what it means, or whether it’s so overused as to have no meaning?
Overall, I guess it’s worth commenting on, but meaningless in the long run.
Kirk Muller looks to be going to the Chicago Wolves (AHL) as head coach next year. I wish there was some way to keep him in Montreal, but I wouldn’t want to hold him back in his career either. Take care of him, Chicago, and send him back when he’s NHL ready!
Hell, they booed Bettman at the Awards the other night!
It looks like Max Talbot’s going to be leaving Pittsburgh. Yes, I knew that was likely, but it still sucks. He’s my favorite player. They’re still negotiating with Pascal Dupuis.
Unlikely. He’s got a reputation for defensive responsibility but that’s about it. Got canned from a bad team and hasn’t been a HC since… probably for a reason.
Everything out of NJ is that they’re looking for someone who can help grow and grow with the youngins and Hitch is pushing 60.
The beat reporters are saying Mike Eaves, the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, and Craig Ramsey, formerly of the Atlanta Thrashers, are the leading candidates.
Lou gets a bad rap for not getting along with his coaches but really he just expects a lot and isn’t afraid to make a change if expectations aren’t being met. People like to point to all the coaching changes in the past decade as evidence, but conveniently overlook that not every coaching change was on Lamoriello.
I should add that Ramsay’s age likely removes him from true consideration also. Some other names are being kicked around like Mike Haviland (NJ native), Marc Crawford, Peter DeBoer and Craig MacTavish… but the name du jour is Eaves because it came out of seemingly nowhere.
After what he did with a HORRENDOUS Senators team that shouldn’t have been anywhere near a playoff spot two seasons back, I’m surprised Clouston doesn’t get a second look. He was a finalist for the spot in Dallas, apparently.
As a Hawks fan, I’m thrilled that all these teams are passing on Haviland for their head coach jobs.
In other Hawks news, they traded the rights of impending UFA Tomas Kopecky to Florida for a 7th round pick in 2012 or 2013. It doesn’t mean all that much but I’m taking it as yet another sign that Bowman intends to go balls-to-the-wall after Brad Richards on the first.
There’s a contingent of Devils fans who wanted him last year before MacLame was named coach. For someone who’s so highly touted it is strange that so many teams are passing up on him. Makes one wonder if they’re passing or he is…
He very well may be. Lamoriello is notorious for keeping things close to the vest. The rule of thumb is that if it’s not in the papers it’s probably closer to being true than what the rumors say… and I haven’t even heard his name in connection to the job.
They’re still negotiating with Pascal Dupuis.