Canadiens sign Paul Mara to 1-year contract

I've been listening to Team 990 lately (why can Montreal still have a decent sports talk show while Ottawa has to resort to near 24/7 ESPN crap?) Yesterday or the day before they were discussing Montreal's D, and wondering how Price may feel with what they've left him with. This was before Mara, but the consensus was pretty much that their D was pretty think once you got pas Markov. Yes, Gill is big, and yes, Mara is big and, yes, the Habs' top line could skate circles around and through those guys' legs. Problem is, most teams in the East have much bigger forwards. If Markov ever gets injured again (and since he's likely to be playing 25 minutes/game he probably will) they will fade right out of playoff contention.

We could always pay more for extra Kulka/Peabrain/etc.

I'll bring up the suggestion again - start a podcast, and assign a bunch of the regulars to be the "hosts" with a larger group being "reporters, researchers, etc". Start with once weekly snippets (5-10 min would do, maybe debates between hosts with pre-established topics and boundaries). Once you get sufficient listenership (iTunes gives that info, no?), then getting reporters credentials wouldn't be out of the realm of possiblity. From there, the occasional interview piece, and you are off to the races. (I believe there are a few graphics experts here; perhaps vid-casts could be done periodically too).

Re: Montreal - I think this is the year that you will see Price either carry the team or completely implode.

They are facing a season without a functional defensive core. They have a new forward line who are getting paid over $100K per inch of height, and their returning forwards are devoid of any leadership capacity.

My money is on Gainey and Price leaving Montreal this year.

I've been on the "Gainey must go" bandwagon since he fired Carbo (if not before) but he has proven to be resilient. He's been allowed to bring in an almost completely new coaching team, which doesn't sound like a short leash. Has the team offically been sold yet?

Mara a good addition ... I see montreal's defense stronger than last year's ... I have no idea why they signed Travis .... a fourth line plugger at best ... join the powerhouse line of

Chipchura - Metropolit - T Moen

lol!

With all these Dmen how is Weber supposed to make the team? Let alone Subban (who I don't think is that good, but the Habs seem to like him.)

Tuk Tuk Goose wrote:With all these Dmen how is Weber supposed to make the team? Let alone Subban (who I don't think is that good, but the Habs seem to like him.)

Yeah your right, I don't know how they will get a chance, especially Weber, at least he's already in Hamilton ....

I dunno really what the plans are, ... i guess injuries will provide adequate ice time for the young guys. Mcdonaugh is gone, but they also have first rounder 2006 David Fisher, who i hear is attenting training camp (i don't know how since he literally diasappeared for 2 years)

HowieMorenz wrote:Mara a good addition ... I see montreal's defense stronger than last year's ... I have no idea why they signed Travis .... a fourth line plugger at best ... join the powerhouse line of

Chipchura - Metropolit - T Moen

lol!

Where is this coming from? Moen is a great 3rd liner with a great attitude. Kills penalties, is physical, shuts down the other team's best players, fights, and chips in now and then. Room for that guy on my team, any day.

rooneypoo wrote:

HowieMorenz wrote:Mara a good addition ... I see montreal's defense stronger than last year's ... I have no idea why they signed Travis .... a fourth line plugger at best ... join the powerhouse line of

Chipchura - Metropolit - T Moen

lol!

Where is this coming from? Moen is a great 3rd liner with a great attitude. Kills penalties, is physical, shuts down the other team's best players, fights, and chips in now and then. Room for that guy on my team, any day.

Just not a big fan ... i'm a little teed off that they can't justify money for kovy or a tanguay, but the dish out for a Moen and a Spacek ,.....

HowieMorenz wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

HowieMorenz wrote:Mara a good addition ... I see montreal's defense stronger than last year's ... I have no idea why they signed Travis .... a fourth line plugger at best ... join the powerhouse line of

Chipchura - Metropolit - T Moen

lol!

Where is this coming from? Moen is a great 3rd liner with a great attitude. Kills penalties, is physical, shuts down the other team's best players, fights, and chips in now and then. Room for that guy on my team, any day.

Just not a big fan ... i'm a little teed off that they can't justify money for kovy or a tanguay, but the dish out for a Moen and a Spacek ,.....

I'll be shocked if MTL fans don't fall in love with Moen right away. The guy is Chris Neil but better overall hockey sense and better hands.

I think not bringing back guys like Kovalev and Tanguay has everything to do with changing the culture of that team and its locker-room. It needed to happen. Plus, Tanguay is the definition of a soft player, and he's also damaged goods (bum shoulder). You're better off without him.

Which is not to say I particularly like the signing of the smurf trio either, tho'...

The funny thing is, Gainey *fired*Carbonneau for failing to win with the lineup he gave him, then he lets 10 of those guys walk, signing a completely different bunch. So , is he admitting he made a mistake, but still throwing an ex team-mate under the bus as well? Just what the heck is Gainey trying to do? Maybe when the GM is acting the way Gainey has, it's not that easy to "fix" the room.

HowieMorenz wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

HowieMorenz wrote:Mara a good addition ... I see montreal's defense stronger than last year's ... I have no idea why they signed Travis .... a fourth line plugger at best ... join the powerhouse line of

Chipchura - Metropolit - T Moen

lol!

Where is this coming from? Moen is a great 3rd liner with a great attitude. Kills penalties, is physical, shuts down the other team's best players, fights, and chips in now and then. Room for that guy on my team, any day.

Just not a big fan ... i'm a little teed off that they can't justify money for kovy or a tanguay, but the dish out for a Moen and a Spacek ,.....

Howie, the Habs were going nowhere last year with Kovalev and Tanguay...

Having watched Mara fairly often last season, he looked to me like a reliable, tough defenseman. At 1.675 for a year, IMHO a good signing.

This also buys the Canadiens some time to develop their d-prospects like Subban and Fischer.

Yeah, i like the Mara signing, i was complaining about Moen ... I hear good things though, I've never noted his play, just pretty much looking at the stats ...

HowieMorenz wrote:Yeah, i like the Mara signing, i was complaining about Moen ... I hear good things though, I've never noted his play, just pretty much looking at the stats ...

Howie> Moen is not about putting up points...he's about rearranging the opposition's dental work and scrambling their brains with well-timed aggression. Which, from what I've seen, he does rather well.

Don't you agree Le BleuBlancRouge needs a little 'black n' bleu'?

davetherave wrote:
Howie> Moen is not about putting up points...he's about rearranging the opposition's dental work and scrambling their brains with well-timed aggression. Which, from what I've seen, he does rather well.

Don't you agree Le BleuBlancRouge needs a little 'black n' bleu'?

Pretty much Howie, this is how I would look at the Moen signing as well.