Max celebrates: We have a team! Who needs a goalie?

With the signing of Mad Max Laps Lappy Lapierre to a one-year, $900,000 contract, the Habs now have 12 forwards and seven defensemen under contract for the upcoming season. Backstopped by legendary goalie Alex Auld, the Habs are sure to win... some games.

First off, congrats to the Habs for not giving Max a contract of any length whatsoever, at a price I can live with. I think we can all look back on the regular season last year when he sucked. No doubt the Bertrand Raymonds of this province will take this as one more sign the Habs hate francophone players, but this is smart. When he has another sucky regular season, we won't be stuck with him.

Now what's left? Hmmm, ahh, let me think. Nobody really comes to mind. Oh right, a certain Franchise Saviour^TM this franchise has pinned its saving hopes on. Cap Geek has the Habs with about 4.7 mil left, so that is more than enough for Carey, and maybe even someone else! Dare to dream, kids! Suggestions?

Habs sign some guy only Panger's heard of

Habs just announced that they have signed David Desharnais to a two-year, two-way contract. As I read that article closely, it says he played three pre-season games with us this year and even recorded two assists. Man, I really did not pay attention to pre-season, because I swear I never heard of him (make your own meth joke here).

We are going to need a game soon before I lose it.

Bye Bye Sheldon

If there was any question whether "Boomer" Souray would return to the Habs fold despite the allure of joining his smoking hot wife (are they divorced or not?) and little children in Cali, was answered when Kimo Timonen (or Kimo-Timo to his friends) pulled out pictures of Paul Holmgren drunk in the company of several strippers and blackmailed the Flyers for $6.3/year for 6 (!) years.

OK, I have no evidence for blackmail, but $6.3 (!) over 6 years?? That puts Souray's ballpark at $6M minimum - and there is no way Gainey can pay his number 2 (or three) D-man (Souray) more than his number 1 (Markov).

Besides, as much as I love Souray and his point shot, I don't love Souray and his, um, lack of defensive accumen (see Spezza, Jason). And what are the chances of a repeat of last year's stats? Or is it more likely that someone shells out big bucks a la $6M per year on a long term contract and he returns to his pre-2006/07 stats, meaning he is trade bait (or a buy-out candidate) within 2 years.

Wouldn't it be more productive to sign a second tier UFA like Tom Pressing, or maybe go after Scott Hannan or Brad Stuart (although that may cost as much as Souray)?

NEXT: To Draft Angelo Or NOT To Draft Angelo

Souray or not Souray? That is The Question

The age old debate that has raged over the last season hovered around the pending Markov Souray UFA dilemma. Who would the Habs keep if they had the chance to sign one? Would they be able to sign them both?

Everyone with any pull in the matter has said the right things. Souray favored Montreal. Gainey wanted them both. Markov wanted to stay and after several seasons with the Habs issued a statement through a translator stating: "I like Montreal, Montreal is good". This astounding vote of Shakespearean confidence prompted Gainey to offer his Russian roubleback the largest contract in Canadiens history. Yes. Andrei Markov is the beneficiary of the richest contract ever offered to a Montreal Canadien. Why that irks me, I don't know. Maybe because it makes no sense whatsoever, yes that would be a good start.

Sheldon, my love, you one trick pony you, St-Laurent will never be the same. I will miss the frequent attempts to LOCATE the puck on the REPLAY of your bombs. I never could. You said you wanted to stay, but of course while you could have broken the bank here, you will certainly raise a Chase Manhattan roof elsewhere.

Did the Habs do the right thing? If you like the glitz, then the answer is Nyet. If you like the elegance of certainty and grace, then all I can say is добро пожаловать домой, Andrei. (Gonna have to work for that one.)