Line-up changes

[Zee]

I don't think Gomez is a right fit in this argument because Gomez's mammoth contract was inherited by Montreal. Connolly was awarded his deal by Burke.

That's not really true. The Habs actively chose to take on that contract.

I don't really have any attachment to Connolly as a player on this team. If they can shed him by sending him to the minors I hope he takes Lombardi and Armstrong with him. Dunno if MLSE is willing to pay 11 million dollars for guys to play in the minors.

The saving grace of the 3 guys mentioned is they're all coming into the last year on their respective contracts.  Maybe they can trade each one separately in the summer?  It's a long shot but what's the going rate for an underperforming forward on a significant contract--4th or 5th round pick?

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

I don't think Gomez is a right fit in this argument because Gomez's mammoth contract was inherited by Montreal. Connolly was awarded his deal by Burke.

That's not really true. The Habs actively chose to take on that contract.

I don't really have any attachment to Connolly as a player on this team. If they can shed him by sending him to the minors I hope he takes Lombardi and Armstrong with him. Dunno if MLSE is willing to pay 11 million dollars for guys to play in the minors.

The saving grace of the 3 guys mentioned is they're all coming into the last year on their respective contracts.  Maybe they can trade each one separately in the summer?  It's a long shot but what's the going rate for an underperforming forward on a significant contract--4th or 5th round pick?

I think Lombardi and Armstrong can be dealt in the summer. Though I would hang onto Armstrong till the trade deadline, if his play improves he might fetch a better return from a team looking for some grit gearing up for a play off run (Gaustad went for a 1st for crying out loud). Connolly you can probably dump in the minors, since Fingers 3.5 deal is coming off finally he would be a good fit to replace it. However, since the UFA center crop is so thin (much so with Grabovski now gone) Connolly might actually be trade-able.

 

[proteus2000]

I don't think Gomez is a right fit in this argument because Gomez's mammoth contract was inherited by Montreal. Connolly was awarded his deal by Burke.

That's not really true. The Habs actively chose to take on that contract.

I don't really have any attachment to Connolly as a player on this team. If they can shed him by sending him to the minors I hope he takes Lombardi and Armstrong with him. Dunno if MLSE is willing to pay 11 million dollars for guys to play in the minors.

The saving grace of the 3 guys mentioned is they're all coming into the last year on their respective contracts.  Maybe they can trade each one separately in the summer?  It's a long shot but what's the going rate for an underperforming forward on a significant contract--4th or 5th round pick?

I think Lombardi and Armstrong can be dealt in the summer. Though I would hang onto Armstrong till the trade deadline, if his play improves he might fetch a better return from a team looking for some grit gearing up for a play off run (Gaustad went for a 1st for crying out loud). Connolly you can probably dump in the minors, since Fingers 3.5 deal is coming off finally he would be a good fit to replace it. However, since the UFA center crop is so thin (much so with Grabovski now gone) Connolly might actually be trade-able.

I didn't consider him tradeable until I saw how weak the UFAs for C's are, it would be nice to dump him off on a team that needs to get to the cap floor next yr. Nice that this $11 mil will be off the books.

Too bad we're stuck with Komi's $4.5 cap hit with a NMC for 2 more years. Perhaps with the amount paid being $3.5, mil, instead of the $5.5 mil this yr (top 25 paid dmen in the league), the Isles will finally come to call Komi home.

 

[Tigger]

Sorry guys but at this point Connolly is not a minor league player and, barring some drastic change in his abilities, won't be going to the minors any time soon.

 

[cw]

Sorry guys but at this point Connolly is not a minor league player and, barring some drastic change in his abilities, won't be going to the minors any time soon.

Carlyle said something to that effect yesterday. (paraphrased) "The only way Connolly would not be in the lineup is if he's hurt."

 

[Bonsixx]

Sorry guys but at this point Connolly is not a minor league player and, barring some drastic change in his abilities, won't be going to the minors any time soon.

Carlyle said something to that effect yesterday. (paraphrased) "The only way Connolly would not be in the lineup is if he's hurt."

Sounds like a threat!

Did he crack his knuckles menacingly as he said it?

 

[cw]

Sorry guys but at this point Connolly is not a minor league player and, barring some drastic change in his abilities, won't be going to the minors any time soon.

Carlyle said something to that effect yesterday. (paraphrased) "The only way Connolly would not be in the lineup is if he's hurt."

Sounds like a threat!

Did he crack his knuckles menacingly as he said it?

He was fairly laid back with his delivery. The media asked about the guys in certain color (4th line) jerseys and one mentioned Connolly specifically. Obviously, if the $4.5 mil man was sitting out, that would be a "story" so I can't fault the media for asking.

 

[pnjunction]

Sorry guys but at this point Connolly is not a minor league player and, barring some drastic change in his abilities, won't be going to the minors any time soon.

Carlyle said something to that effect yesterday. (paraphrased) "The only way Connolly would not be in the lineup is if he's hurt."

Sounds like a threat!

Did he crack his knuckles menacingly as he said it?

Haha..."keep your head down out there, Tim!"  :

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Paul Hendrick ‏ @HennyTweets

Carter ashton takes early morning flight to pittsburgh and will make his maple leaf debut tonight.#leafs

 

[The Red Polar Bear]

Paul Hendrick ‏ @HennyTweets

Carter ashton takes early morning flight to pittsburgh and will make his maple leaf debut tonight.#leafs

So, is this an "emergency injury call-up", or is this the 4th of 4 post-deadline call-ups, meaning we won't see Kadri, Coulubourune or Holzer for the rest of this year?

 

[maplesyrup]

Apparently Ashton has been promoted to the Bozak/Kessel line. I mean, great for Ashton but how bad have things gotten for it to come down to this. 

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Apparently Ashton has been promoted to the Bozak/Kessel line. I mean, great for Ashton but how bad have things gotten for it to come down to this. 

This kid is Caputi 2.0 but I hope I'm wrong.

 

[maplesyrup]

I hope not... Lots of room/time for this kid to develop.

 

[Deebo]

Apparently Ashton has been promoted to the Bozak/Kessel line. I mean, great for Ashton but how bad have things gotten for it to come down to this. 

Clearly winning doesn't matter anymore, I'm all for trying out different line-up combinations.

 

[maplesyrup]

Apparently Ashton has been promoted to the Bozak/Kessel line. I mean, great for Ashton but how bad have things gotten for it to come down to this. 

Clearly winning doesn't matter anymore, I'm all for trying out different line-up combinations.

I suppose that's true. It's a tremendous opportunity for the kid to to get an early jump on a roster spot next year too.

Edit: He may already be a better option that Armstrong.

 

[Kin]

Yeah, I wouldn't read anything into this outside of Lupul is hurt and they're trying things out.

 

[pnjunction]

He hasn't looked like Caputi 2.0 to me but I suppose part of the point of giving him lots of ice is to find out.  To me he looks very involved physically and was finding some open ice but of course we'd like to see numbers.

Who else to put up there anyways?  Somebody pointed out that Mac doesn't add much grit, the line is soft as butter with those three together, and we already know how the Connolly experiment turned out this year...

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

He hasn't looked like Caputi 2.0 to me but I suppose part of the point of giving him lots of ice is to find out.

Who else to put up there anyways?  Somebody pointed out that Mac doesn't add much grit, the line is soft as butter with those three together, and we already know how the Connolly experiment turned out this year...

At this point it doesn't really matter. I'm glad they are giving the kid a chance. I'd really like to see a Frattin, Kadri, Ashton line in action. The tree of em have a mean streak in their game.

 

[maplesyrup]

I just brought up Armstrong.... I remember when we signed him, a lot of folks (including myself) viewed him as a physical guy who you could play on any of the 4 lines. - He played that way before we signed him but it don't work out. Perhaps Ashton can evolve into the player we thought we were getting in Army. Anyone else see the similarities? 

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

I miss Lupul

/broken record