Montreal Canadiens Trade Rumors

Cammalleri might return on Saturday against the Leafs
Comment
March 15
Montreal Gazette
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"More news might come early this week on the return of forward Michael Cammalleri, who's missed the past 14 games with a knee injury suffered Jan. 30 in Ottawa. The Habs' leading goal-scorer might be ready to return next Saturday in Toronto vs. the Maple Leafs."
Jaroslav Spacek suffers cut and possible concussion; status will be reviewed Saturday
Comment
February 13
Montreal Gazette
 
"Dominic Moore, the newest addition to the Montreal Canadiens' family, summed up the team's 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers by saying: "We ran out of time." The reality is the Canadiens started too late as they turned in yet another of those games in which they fell far short of playing 60 minutes. The Canadiens spotted the Flyers a 3-0 lead before coming to life early in the third period. Glen Metropolit and Moore scored goals in a 47-second span to get back into the game, but they handed the momentum back to the Flyers by taking three consecutive penalties. The Canadiens played without Andrei Markov and, while rookie P.K. Subban had an impressive National Hockey League debut – he ..."
Bergeron out 6 to 8 weeks
Comment
February 9
Montreal Gazette
 
"Marc-André Bergeron wasn't at practice Monday and the word is that he will out of action for six to eight weeks. Bergeron left the Feb. 4 game against Boston after he was hit in the leg with a shot. He missed the weekend games against Pittsburgh and Boston and was limping noticeably in the press box Saturday."
Gainey to resign as Canadiens GM: report
Comment
February 8
Montreal Gazette
 
"The Montreal Canadiens have called a 4 p.m. press conference at the Bell Centre. Team president Pierre Boivin will make an announcement regarding the Canadiens' "hockey management." Reports indicate that general manager Bob Gainey will step down. If that is the case, assistant general manager Pierre Gauthier will take over until the end of the season."
Habs' Markov grows into leadership role
Comment
January 7
Montreal Gazette
 
"Andrei Markov doesn't need the prestige. He surely doesn't need the aggravation. And moving two letters up the alphabet, from a vowel to a consonant on the left breast of his jersey, wouldn't pay him a penny more. So it tells you something about how much the Canadiens mean to the all-star defenceman when you hear him say he'd seriously consider and probably accept his club's captaincy if it were offered to him. Markov spoke yesterday after an off-ice workout at the Canadiens' Brossard practice facility, his club having held a team meeting then adjourned to the gymnasium to work up a noon-hour sweat. The 31-year old veteran talked about Russian Christmas, which he hopes to mark after ..."
Jaroslav Halak at centre of trade rumours
Comment
January 4
Montreal Gazette
 
"As seen by Allan Walsh, the agent of Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak, Bob Gainey doesn't have a problem in nets. Montreal's general manager, Walsh says, has an issue. And it's a good issue, he suggests, that many NHL general managers would love to have. No matter how the situation is defined, Gainey has two young goaltenders who both wish to be designated No. 1. They'll tell you their common enemy is the puck, not each other, even as both crave the lion's share of work while they skate toward restricted free agency at season's end. Since he was the Canadiens' first pick in the 2005 entry draft, No. 5 overall, British Columbian Carey Price has been pegged the team's goaltender of the ..."
Bet on Gionta returning to Canadiens lineup against Senators
Comment
December 28
Montreal Gazette
 
"The moment of truth will come Monday morning, but the smart money says Brian Gionta will return to the Canadiens' lineup for Monday night's game against the Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m., TSN, RDS,. CJAD Radio-800). "I feel pretty good," Gionta said after the Canadiens practiced Sunday afternoon at the Carleton Ice House. He has been out of the lineup since Nov. 14 with a broken foot, but he left the team last Tuesday in Carolina so that he could return to Montreal to get medical clearance to play. "I can do everything, but we'll wait until tomorrow to see how it reacts," Gionta said. "If it reacts positively, there's a possibility I'll play tomorrow." Gionta practiced Sunday on a line with ..."
Bergeron and Mara injured in Canadiens win
Comment
December 22
Montreal Gazette
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"But the victory may have been a costly one. Bergeron, who also scored a power-play goal at 18:15 of the third period to send the game into overtime, crashed heavily into a goalpost on the winning goal. The dressing room was closed for 15 minutes after the game as doctors examined Bergeron and debated whether to send him to hospital. It was finally decided he was well enough to accompany the team on its charter flight to Carolina. The Canadiens also lost defenceman Paul Mara late in the second period when he injured his left hand. Zach Bogosian opened the door for the Canadiens when he took a penalty with 2:09 remaining in regulation time. Bergeron scored on a shot from the blueline to tie ..."
Trade rumours swirl around Halak
Comment
December 16
Montreal Gazette
 
"As the Canadiens prepare to face the New Jersey Devils Wednesday night (7 p.m., RDS, CJAD Radio-800), the focus will be on a goaltender, and it's not Martin Brodeur, who is in position to break Terry Sawchuk's NHL record for career shutouts. The man in the news is Canadiens backup Jaroslav Halak, who may or may not have asked general manager Bob Gainey for a trade. While Gainey told veteran ruefrontenac.com columnist Bertrand Raymond that he has talked to the Philadelphia Flyers about Halak, the goaltender was coy on Tuesday. "Maybe I did and maybe I didn't; it's between me and my agent (Allan Walsh)," Halak said when he met the media after being coached by a member of the Canadiens' ..."
Markov skates again; looks to be getting closer
Comment
December 12
TSN.ca
 
"Montreal Canadiens' defenceman Andrei Markov looks like he will return to the ice well ahead of the initial February projection he received after suffering lacerated tendons during the Habs' first game of the season on Oct. 1. The Russian blueliner, who scrimmaged with the team on Wednesday, was on the ice for almost an hour on Friday. Markov started the session with teammate Yannick Weber, but Weber did not skate for long."
Habs wait for word on Kostitsyn; Pouliot getting closer
Comment
December 6
TSN.ca
 
"The Montreal Canadiens still do not know the extent of the lower-body injury to Sergei Kostitsyn, but head coach Jacques Martin does not think it will keep the forward out for long. "I think it's just day-to-day, we'll re-evaluate him on Monday and see if he is capable of playing Monday night or is going to need extra days, but it's nothing serious," said Martin following practice on Saturday. Kostitsyn was injured during the second period of the Canadiens' 5-1 victory against the Boston Bruins on Friday night. The 22-year-old fell and the Bruins' Shawn Thornton landed on top of him. He has three assists in six games since returning from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League ..."
Canadiens trade Chipchura to Ducks for 4th-round pick
Comment
December 2
TSN.ca
 
"The Montreal Canadiens have traded Kyle Chipchura to the Anaheim Ducks for a fourth-round draft pick in 2011. The 23-year-old forward was having a difficult season with the Canadiens, with no points and a -10 rating in 19 games. He played just 1:59 on Tuesday against Toronto, and was on the ice for both of the Leafs' first two goals. He was benched for the remainder of the game."
New faces dot Habs' lineup
Comment
December 1
Toronto Sun
 
"To the pantheon of great Montreal Canadiens please welcome ... Tom D'Agostini, Jay Leach and Tom Pyatt? Hey, you work with what you have, and the Habs are trying to stay afloat near .500 with a patchwork roster that has leaned on a number of callups for injured starters. That will put them at something of a disadvantage again tonight when they play the near-healthy Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre. Names such as Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Andrei Markov and Andre Kostitsyn have been shelved in recent days. "We've taken a beating lately," said ex-Leaf defenceman Hal Gill, who himself is trying to make it back from a hairline foot fracture by tonight. "Hopefully, we'll be the better for it ..."
Habs' Markov skating, aims for January return
Comment
November 27
Montreal Gazette
 
"Andrei Markov, sidelined with a sliced tendon in his left foot since Game 1 this season, skated briefly at the Bell Sports Complex Thursday morning, for roughly 10 minutes. The Canadiens' all-star defenceman turned a few laps earlier this week, too, but playfully wouldn't say where. Markov spoke to the media on a quiet day of optional practice, only six Canadiens having skated: himself, Scott Gomez, Matt D'Agostini, Benoît Pouliot, Georges Laraque and Jaroslav Spacek. Spacek had taken a shot off his foot in last Saturday's game against Detroit. He was wearing special boot protection today in his one-man practice. Audio of him to come later."
Pacioretty joins growing Team Clinic after hit
Comment
November 26
Montreal Gazette
 
"The last thing the Canadiens need is another injury and that's why head coach Jacques Martin will be holding his breath as he awaits an update on the condition of Max Pacioretty. The 21-year-old Pacioretty scored the Canadiens' lone goal in a 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he as unable to share his thoughts on the moment because he was undergoing medical treatment after the game. "We hope he's going to be okay but we'll have a better idea tomorrow," Martin said. Pacioretty, who also rattled a shot off the crossbar, was hit by Michael Rupp in the late stages of the game. He left the ice under his own steam, but he was moving gingerly and did not return to the game. With eight ..."
Wild put Brent Burns on injured list, trade for Canadiens' Guillaume Latendresse
Comment
November 24
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The concussion tally for the Wild is becoming a big headache. On another active day Monday, defenseman Brent Burns went on the injury list with his second concussion of 2009. "(Concussions) are difficult to diagnose and it's nearly impossible to predict when a person recovers fully from it," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "In the meantime, we have some quality players and have to move on." Fletcher added what he believes is more quality to that list Monday when he dealt forward Benoit Pouliot, the fourth overall NHL draft pick in 2005, to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Guillaume Latendresse, who was picked 45th overall in the same draft. "We like Guillaume," Fletcher said. "We ..."
Burns out indefinitely with concussion
Comment
November 24
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"An eventful day for the Wild began with the team announcing another significant injury to another significant player and ended with the Wild and Montreal Canadiens flipping a pair of maligned wingers desperate for changes of scenery. Three hours after revealing defenseman Brent Burns is out indefinitely because of another concussion, the Wild traded Benoit Pouliot to the Habs for Guillaume Latendresse. Pouliot, 23, who grew up 75 miles from Montreal, never lived up to the lofty expectations in Minnesota that came after the Wild drafted him fourth overall in 2005. Latendresse, 22, the 45th pick in the same draft, was expected to grow into a star but found himself buried on the fourth line ..."
Canadiens send Latendresse to Wild, call up Sergei Kostitsyn
Comment
November 24
Montreal Gazette
 
"The Canadiens traded one problem child for another on Monday, sending Guillaume Latendresse and his unfulfilled potential to the Minnesota Wild for Benoit Pouliot, who arrives in Montreal with even more unfulfilled potential. The trade came several hours after Canadiens' head coach Jacques Martin and assistant coach Perry Pearn both expressed their frustration over Latendresse's play. Pearn, who is known as a first-class teacher, took Latendresse by the shoulders during the Canadiens' practice yesterday morning at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard and positioned him in front of the net in what was probably the last attempt to convince Latendresse that he had to take advantage of his size ..."
Habs' Laraque suspended five games for hit
Comment
November 24
Montreal Gazette
 
"Georges Laraque has been suspended five games for his knee-on-knee collision with Detroit defenceman Niklas Kronwall, who is out a minimum of four weeks. Laraque had a hearing, via telephone, with NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell this morning. Montreal wags suggested the vegan enforcer "turned down a face-to-face meating." The NHL announced Laraque has been suspended for five games without pay, and will forfeit $38,860.10 in salary."
Laraque faces disciplinary hearing
Comment
November 23
Montreal Gazette
 
"Montreal Canadiens winger Georges Laraque will have a hearing with NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell on Monday to review Laraque's knee on knee hit of Detroit's Niklas Kronwall during the first period of Saturday's game. Laraque was given two minutes for tripping, tacked onto his double minor for high-sticking Red Wings' Darren Helm. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said the hit was dirty, though Laraque said after the game there was no intent to injure and that four officials on the ice decided to give him only a minor for tripping."
Canadiens lose Gionta to broken foot
Comment
November 19
TSN.ca
 
"The Montreal Canadiens, who have struggled scoring goals this season, will have to continue to try to do so without winger Brian Gionta for the foreseeable future. The winger has a fractured bone in his left foot and will be out indefinitely. "The players will have to raise their game to try to make up for it," coach Jacques Martin told reporters after practice. "It opens a door for someone. We've been waiting for that since the start of the season.""
Russian league team pushing to sign Forsberg
Comment
November 4
Denver Post
 
"The Russian team Ak Bars Kazan in recent days has made a significant push to sign former Avalanche star Peter Forsberg, attempting to steal him away from a potential NHL comeback. According to various news reports in Sweden and Slovakia, Ak Bars Kazan, a team from the country of Tatarstan, offered a large contract to Forsberg to play in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League. Forsberg also is being pursued by several NHL teams. Yahoo Sports reports the Philadelphia Flyers are the leading candidate to lure the former all-star back to NHL. The Washington Capitals, Montreal Cananiens and the Avalanche also have shown interest, according to Yahoo."
Habs sniper Cammalleri could have been a Leaf
Comment
October 31
Toronto Star
 
"Mike Cammalleri was almost a Maple Leaf. Twice. The mere thought of the first time Cammalleri slipped through Leaf fingers makes the Richmond Hill native – who grew up a Leaf fan – chuckle. "Aki Berg," Cammalleri said over the phone from Chicago where the Habs played Friday night. The Leafs traded a second-round pick in 2001 to the Los Angeles Kings for Berg, a middling defenceman at best. With the pick, the Kings chose Cammalleri, a 5-foot-9 centre who emerged as a point-a-game player. "It said on the draft board, `L.A. from Toronto,'" Cammalleri recalled. "It was just the draft, so it's not like I was ever (Toronto) property, but obviously there was a lot that appealed to me about ..."
Habs face captain, Kostitsyn crisis
Comment
September 30
Sportsnet.ca
 
"For the first time in its storied history, the Montreal Canadiens announced on Wednesday that the club will start the season without a captain. The void was left when Saku Koivu departed for Anaheim as a free agent this summer. Koivu was named the club's first European captain in the autumn of 1999, the 27th captain in franchise history. He wore the C on his jersey for nine seasons and 563 games. It was reported earlier in September that defenceman Andrei Markov turned down a request by the coaching staff to become captain."
Report: Alex Tanguay, Lightning agree to terms of deal
Comment
August 29
St. Petersburg Times
 
"The Lightning has been looking for a top-six forward, and it appears the team found one. Left wing Alex Tanguay, 29, and the Lightning agreed to terms of a contract pending a physical, Canadian media outlet RDS reported late Friday. TSN, a Canadian sports Web site, said the two sides have been in negotiations since July but it was not until two weeks ago when Tanguay was contacted by Lightning stars Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis that he decided to join the team. The 6-foot, 192-pound Tanguay was sidelined 28 games with a shoulder injury last season with the Canadiens. He finished with 16 goals and 25 assists."
Report: Tanguay to sign with Bolts
Comment
August 29
Tampa Tribune
 
"The Lightning appeared to have jumped back into the free agent pool and landed a former All-Star. A report by French television website RDS.ca and sister station TSN out of Toronto stated that Tampa Bay has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free agent left wing Alex Tanguay pending a physical. Tanguay missed 30 games last season with a shoulder injury suffered, ironically, against the Lightning in December. The deal could be announced as soon as Saturday's during the team's Fan Fest event, although it's not expected to be official until early next week after Tanguay undergoes an examination by team doctors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed and a message left for the ..."
Tanguay passes on Wild
Comment
August 29
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Wild waited patiently for free-agent winger Alex Tanguay to make a decision on his future, and it appears that decision has been made. Canada's RDS reported Friday night that Tanguay has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sources said Friday morning that the Wild hadn't budged on a one-year, $2.5 million offer -- the max it could legitimately offer the playmaker and still be comfortably under the $56.8 million salary cap ceiling -- but the Wild continued to talk to both Tanguay and his agent. Agent Ritch Winter, who could not be reached for comment Friday, said last week that Tanguay, 29, was doing as much homework as possible so he could determine the best situation. Tampa ..."
Canucks close to signing Schneider
Comment
August 25
Sportsnet.ca
 
"The Vancouver Canucks are very close to signing free agent defenceman Mathieu Schneider to a one-year deal, sources tell Sportsnet. Schneider split time between Altanta and Montreal last season, recording nine goals and 23 assists in 67 games. Canucks GM Mike Gillis has been saying he'd like to sign one more defenceman to the roster, and Schneider would also fit the bill of a power-play quarterback the Canucks have been seeking."
Gainey leaves door open for big trade
Comment
August 4
Montreal Gazette
 
"I called general manager Bob Gainey yesterday and received the usual message: "Hi, this is Bob Gainey. I'm not in. You can leave a message, but don't expect a call back until I do something." There's no reason to expect a call from Gainey, who was busy last month. He said goodbye to 10 unrestricted free agents and brought in seven new bodies. The roster appears set with 20 players under contract and about $2 million left to sign restricted free agents Matt D'Agostini and Gregory Stewart. So why are there all the rumours about an impending trade and some expensive, big-name players? Perhaps, it's because Gainey himself left the door open on July 1 when he announced the first wave of ..."
Habs could facilitate Heatley trade to Sharks
Comment
August 3
Ottawa Sun
 
"Dany Heatley's quest to get out of Ottawa isn't dead yet. Senators GM Bryan Murray confirmed in an e-mail to Sun Media that he could have "an option" to move the disgruntled left winger, but with the clock ticking toward the opening of training camp Sept. 12 at Scotiabank Place, the club will have to move quickly. Sources say the San Jose Sharks have more than a passing interest in the two-time 50-goal scorer, but if they're going to make the deal, they might have to get a third team involved — possibly the Montreal Canadiens — because the Senators won't accept what the Sharks have on the table. The Senators don't want anything to do with winger Jonathan Cheechoo, who has been offered as ..."
Players looking for jobs
Comment
August 3
Montreal Gazette
 
"Charles Darwin ... meet Gary Bettman. With about six weeks left before National Hockey League training camps open, dozens of players are still looking for jobs. Their agents are busy these days, sending out resumés and calling general managers. Some players will be lucky, but many won't. It is part of the price they paid to end the season-long, 2004-05 lockout. Of course, it wasn't clear initially this would be a by-product of the new collective bargaining agreement. But the introduction of the salary cap, which was NHL commissioner Bettman's price for peace, ultimately brought with it a vicious, midsummer scramble for jobs. Those left without work after teams reached the salary-cap limit ..."
Tanguay on teams' wish lists
Comment
July 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"The Panthers are one of five or six teams in the mix to sign free-agent winger Alex Tanguay, his agent said Monday. "They're one of the teams we've talked to, but that's about all I can say," Tanguay's agent, Robert Sauve, said. He added that he has received "a few offers," but wouldn't say whether one of those was from Florida. Panthers assistant General Manager Randy Sexton wouldn't comment on Tanguay when asked last week, noting only that "we're constantly looking to improve our team." Tanguay, 29, had 16 goals and 25 assists in 50 games with the Canadiens last season. He made $5.375 million, with a salary cap hit of $5.25 million, but is expected to take a pay cut. The Senators, Stars, ..."
Gainey sizes up his plan
Comment
July 11
Montreal Gazette
 
"Let's hope Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey has a few dollars left in the kitty. It's going to cost him a small fortune to buy nameplate letters for the uniforms of all his new players. Gainey yesterday signed unrestricted free-agent defenceman Paul Mara, most recently of the New York Rangers, to a one-year deal estimated at $1.675 million U.S. Then a few hours later, he put the name of rugged San Jose Sharks winger Travis Moen on a three-year contract reported to be worth $4.5 million. Both players said last evening they chose Montreal because they see the revamped Canadiens as an opportunity to challenge for the Stanley Cup. The Mara signing satisfies Gainey's desire to add one more ..."
Wild waiting on decision from Saku Koivu
Comment
July 3
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"One day after signing winger Martin Havlat to a six-year, $30 million deal, General Manager Chuck Fletcher spent much of Thursday trying to fill another significant hole in the Wild's lineup. Fletcher said "negotiations are ongoing with Saku" Koivu, the decorated older brother of Wild center Mikko Koivu. But according to sources, the deal appeared to be heading south fast after the team believed Koivu-to-Minnesota was a lock Wednesday night. "We've expressed some interest. I think a lot of teams have expressed interest," Fletcher said. "He's a great hockey player and there aren't a lot of centermen in the market place, so I'd be stunned if 10 or 15 teams haven't reached out to him by this ..."
Gainey sizes up NHL market
Comment
July 2
Montreal Gazette
 
"Detroit bills itself as Hockeytown. The folks in Minnesota describe it as the State of Hockey. Montreal is rapidly becoming the Land of the Smurfs. Size has been a problem for the Canadiens up front, but when general manager Bob Gainey had a chance to radically change the face of the Canadiens, the team became smaller. During the last two days, the Canadiens have said goodbye to four of their top forwards and replaced them with a top line of newcomers who could moonlight in the next Disney on Ice production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Centre Scott Gomez is 5-foot-11. Left-winger Mike Cammalleri is 5-foot-9. Right-winger Brian Gionta is 5-foot-7. You could argue that Rangers general ..."
Report: Kovalev back with Canadiens
Comment
July 1
NHL.com
 
"Despite a disappointing season, the Montreal Canadiens reportedly have re-signed top-line forward Alexei Kovalev to a two-year contract. Sportsnet.ca is reporting the value of the deal to be $9 million. Kovalev led the Canadiens in scoring with 65 points in 78 games despite being sent home for a few days during the season by General Manager Bob Gainey. The season was a drop-off from Kovalev's resurgent 2007-08 output, when he had team-highs of 34 goals and 84 points, and led the Canadiens to the best record in the Eastern Conference."
Wings' offer might not be enough for Marian Hossa
Comment
July 1
Detroit News
 
"As NHL free agency moved toward Wednesday's noon start, it appeared Marian Hossa of the Red Wings was ready to shop around. Hossa and agent Ritch Winter turned down an offer from the Wings for at least eight years at $4 per season. On the free-agent market, Hossa is expected to get offers significantly higher -- perhaps worth $15 million to $20 million more over the life of the contract -- due to the Wings' salary cap restrictions."
Habs get Gomez from Rangers
Comment
June 30
TSN.ca
 
"Getting a jump on the free agent market, the Montreal Canadiens moved to secure their centre ice position, making a big trade with the New York Rangers Tuesday. The Canadiens acquired centre Scott Gomez, winger Tom Pyatt and defenceman Mike Busto from the New York Rangers in exchange for winger Chris Higgins and defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko from the Montreal Canadiens. Gomez, 29, is coming off a down season for the Rangers, finishing with 58 points, his lowest total since 2002-2003. A two-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils, Gomez was a blockbuster free agent signing for the Rangers in the summer of 2007. Gomez is signed through 2013-2014, at a salary cap ..."
No progress on trade front
Comment
June 30
Ottawa Citizen
 
"With one day to go before a $4-million bonus is electronically transferred into his bank account, Dany Heatley remains an Ottawa Senator. General manager Bryan Murray tried again Monday to find a deal for Heatley, who earlier this month requested a trade, but got no closer to finding another National Hockey League trading partner. He talked several times to Heatley's agents, J.P. Barry and Stacey McAlpine, and they're trying to help arrange a match. Whether they can before the Senators must pay the bonus on Wednesday is another question, but it doesn't appear so unless there's a drastic reduction in Murray's asking price, which would be an unwelcome signal of defeat. While there continue ..."
Don't expect Habs to jump on big UFAs
Comment
June 30
Montreal Gazette
 
"Was it only a week ago that Canadiens fans were twisting themselves out of shape celebrating reports that a "blockbuster deal" was in the works at the draft? You may remember Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey was suggesting (wink! wink!) a deal was a real possibility heading into Friday's NHL entry draft. It didn't happen. The fact is there was only one trade worthy of note, and that was when the Anaheim Ducks dealt Chris Pronger to the Philadelphia Flyers. Now, the question is whether or not the Canadiens will exercise the "B" word tomorrow when a number of high quality unrestricted free agents become available. It's only a guess, but don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen, ..."
Sedins on Canadiens' free-agent radar
Comment
June 30
Montreal Gazette
 
"With the Vincent-Lecavalier-to-Montreal rumours laid to rest for at least another week, expect the Canadiens' focus to turn to Swedish twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Talks between the Sedins and the Vancouver Canucks have stalled and it appears they will be on the open market when they become unrestricted free agents tomorrow. The Sedins won't come cheap - they are looking for long-term deals worth at least $6.5 million a season each - but Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey has more than $30 million available to go shopping. The Canadiens are one of several teams interested in the 28-year-olds and the bidding could be another chapter in the long rivalry between the Canadiens and the ..."
It's decision time for GM Gainey
Comment
June 29
Montreal Gazette
 
"The Canadiens' continuing failure to secure a big centre has left general manager Bob Gainey with a sizeable dilemma. Gainey has some decisions to make in the next few days because the Canadiens currently have only two centres under contract - Maxim Lapierre and Glen Metropolit. Gainey had hoped to trade for a big centre during the National Hockey League entry draft on the weekend, but it was one of the quietest drafts in recent memory, with the Canadiens general manager describing it as a logjam. Montreal's hope was to land île Bizard native Vincent Lecavalier, but Len Barrie emerged as the winner in his personal feud with Tampa Bay co-owner Oren Koules and vetoed any deal involving ..."
Stud centre tops Habs' wish list
Comment
June 26
Montreal Gazette
 
"The National Hockey League entry draft is centre stage at the Bell Centre, but Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey said he hopes to steal the show with a trade that would fill the team's need for a big centre. "It hasn't been a secret that we've always been in the market for a big, strong, first-line centre and wherever that player may be, that's where we'll be looking," Gainey said yesterday during an informal gathering to discuss the Canadiens' plans for the draft, which begins tonight (7 p.m., TSN, RDS) with the first-round selections. "I think it's going to require some patience, maybe a little bit of luck. We feel we have some of the assets needed to put a deal together if we have a ..."
Canadiens leave Koivu hanging
Comment
June 26
Montreal Gazette
 
"With eight days remaining before he can become an unrestricted free agent, Canadiens captain Saku Koivu is in limbo. Koivu's agent, Don Baizley, said yesterday that he and Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey have talked, but the club has not extended an offer. "Saku would like to stay in Montreal, but we're waiting to see what the team has in mind," Baizley said. Gainey said this week that he has talked with several of the 10 unrestricted free agents on the roster, but that any serious talks were on hold until after this weekend's draft. Koivu made his debut with the Canadiens in 1995 and has been the captain since 1999. He has never had any problem reaching a contract agreement with the ..."
Koivu's on the outside looking in
Comment
June 25
Montreal Gazette
 
"With eight days remaining before he can become an unrestricted free agent, Canadiens captain Saku Koivu is in limbo. Koivu's agent, Don Baizley, said yesterday that he and Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey have talked, but the club has not extended an offer. "Saku would like to stay in Montreal, but we're waiting to see what the team has in mind," Baizley said. Gainey said this week that he has talked with several of the 10 unrestricted free agents on the roster, but that any serious talks were on hold until after this weekend's draft. Koivu made his debut with the Canadiens in 1995 and has been the captain since 1999. He has never had any problem reaching a contract agreement with the ..."