Habs to let Koivu walk, Kovalev to be next captain

So basically what you are saying is, this is all just BS and Gainey is digging himself a bigger hole by suggesting this?

He's gone for sure, this is just a silly move, IMO.

SensGirl11 wrote:So basically what you are saying is, this is all just BS and Gainey is digging himself a bigger hole by suggesting this?

He's gone for sure, this is just a silly move, IMO.

BS? No, Gainey made Kovalev a silly offer apparently. It just remains to be seen whether Kovalev wants to go back to Montreal, or play in Russia relatively tax free.

Gainey is a desperate man I think at this point, with all the uncertainty of ownership changes, he is probably not even sure if he will still be employed come draft time, and to be honest with you, he shouldn't be.

This is an absolutely terrible idea. Gainey can't seriously be thinking about this. How could some Russian sports paper know what Gainey is thinking of doing? This sounds a lot more like a story Kovy's manager put out to the press in an effort of getting more on July 1st.

SPECTOR'S NOTE: Godin suggests the Russian media love rumors regarding North American teams. I'll go one further and suggest that any reports coming out of Russia regarding contracts talks between NHL teams and their free agents are to be taken with not just a grain of salt but the entire shaker. Kovalev did nothing last season, or for three of the past four seasons with the Canadiens, to merit such a huge raise, let alone the captaincy. I doubt very much there's anything substantial to that rumor.


Spector calls BS.

http://www.spectorshockey.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=773:the-latest-on-the-hurricanes-capitals-and-canadiens&catid=34:articles&Itemid=55

504Heater says: Where there's smoke, there's fire.

Should be interesting to see what happens... Spector's rep could be on the line...

504Heater wrote:SPECTOR'S NOTE: Godin suggests the Russian media love rumors regarding North American teams. I'll go one further and suggest that any reports coming out of Russia regarding contracts talks between NHL teams and their free agents are to be taken with not just a grain of salt but the entire shaker. Kovalev did nothing last season, or for three of the past four seasons with the Canadiens, to merit such a huge raise, let alone the captaincy. I doubt very much there's anything substantial to that rumor.


Spector calls BS.

http://www.spectorshockey.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=773:the-latest-on-the-hurricanes-capitals-and-canadiens&catid=34:articles&Itemid=55

504Heater says: Where there's smoke, there's fire.

Spector ALWAYS calls BS. That's what Spector does...

at any rate i would be normal to let koivu leave and the fans here in montreal love kovy and would be outraged to see him go. now i doubt that montreal will be able to trade for lecavalier but if they could that would make them acceptable if not great 1st and 2nd line centers. but i doubt this will happen.

it's too bad because bad management caused them to loose a player to free agency, when they could of signed him over the year, then trade him for something at least.\


I could aggree more however that kovalev should be the captain of that team.

HowieMorenz wrote:it's too bad because bad management caused them to loose a player to free agency, when they could of signed him over the year, then trade him for something at least.\


I could aggree more however that kovalev should be the captain of that team.

You agree that he should be the captain?

Markov should be the captain. Their best player, and he isn't a soft, lazy, uninterested loser like Kovalev.

504Heater wrote:

HowieMorenz wrote:it's too bad because bad management caused them to loose a player to free agency, when they could of signed him over the year, then trade him for something at least.\


I could aggree more however that kovalev should be the captain of that team.

You agree that he should be the captain?

Yes, kovalev captain fore sure ... koivu ok, but is no captain ...

it would be like having fisher capn instead of alf :p

How many times has Kovalev out and out quit on the team?
Or shown up "when he felt like it"?

I'd have a hard time that anyone in Montreal would buck tradition to that extent and allow him to be named captain, even if his potential is good. It took someone of Koivu's heart and soul for them to choose a foreigner, and even non-Quebecers have to be something special to be considered (Mike Keane may be the exception here...)

This story should be total BS. If they make Kovalev captain:

1. Good luck getting a good coach.
2. They will have overpaid.
3. Gainey will/should be fired.

Hitting the free agent market, I think Kovalev will have a tough time getting a big contract.

I'm not saying he's good, but he's best they got, and no one else has his leadership on that team. Koivu was a bit of a tool for leadership. No young stars on montreal ... markov not bad idea, and a good player, be he sorta a tool too, not to mention a playoff choker.

I've said it before, i say it again, it is finished in montreal for years to come. Yes gainey's days are numbered, a good coach could maybe get them an 8th spot in playoffs again if lucky.

HowieMorenz wrote:
Yes, kovalev captain fore sure ... koivu ok, but is no captain ...

it would be like having fisher capn instead of alf :p

I definitely won't argue with you, you know the Habs a lot better than me, but I'd think the time of Markov being captain might be near. Kovalev? He might be a good assistant, but an actual captain? Sounds odd personally.

TSN is reporting on these rumours as well... there's gotta be something to it.

TSN is saying a 1-year deal with captaincy...

Doesn't add up.

shabbs wrote:TSN is reporting on these rumours as well... there's gotta be something to it.

TSN is saying a 1-year deal with captaincy...

Doesn't add up.

No offense to the Habs, but I hope it happens.