Something’s Gotta Give

July 1, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Something is really troubling me this morning. And no. It’s not the fact I liked trading Scott Gomez just for Chris Higgins because it cleared cap space and addressed a need.

But how is it possible that Glen Sather, who is as dumb as it gets when it comes to overpaying free agents could somehow get one of Montreal’s best D prospects? Apparently, that’s how good Ryan McDonagh is. So good that he hasn’t decided if he’s returning for his junior year at Wisconsin.

A little more background on the 20 year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota who the Habs chose 12th overall two years prior. Here’s a scouting report via HF:

Talent Analysis

McDonagh’s key asset is his speed, which has been described by the club’s director of player development and acquisition, Trevor Timmins, as “dimensional.” Added to this is his ability to play an all-ice game. He’s responsible in his own end and has the size to be a physical force. He combines that with an ability to contribute on the offensive end of the rink, making the smart pass and keying the rush.

Future

McDonagh has it all and is expected to play a key role in the Canadiens’ fortunes for the next decade. If not a number-one blueliner, he would be considered a 1A, with the talent to easily stake a long-term claim on the first defensive pairing.

Now, it’s hard to say why the Canadiens parted with him. Is it that they felt P.K. Subban and Yannick Weber made him expendable? They also boast Golden Gopher David Fischer, who has one year of eligibility left. So, the Habs do have a trio of promising blueliners. So, maybe that explains it. But hell-o! Is Bob Gainey this dumb? Sather wasn’t holding a gun to his head and he did him a favor taking Gomez’ contract, helping the Blueshirts partially out of cap Hell.

Let me make this clear. Gomez is a better player than Higgins but the Long Island kid ain’t chopped liver. In a good season, he’s capable of 20-25 goals and 50 points while playing PP and PK. So, Ranger fans should take to him. In a good season, Gomez is a 75-80 point centerman but needs players around him. The Habs must fill that hole or they’ll have the same issue the Rangers did. I kinda think they’ll be in the mix along with Toronto (Brian Burke) for The Sedins or maybe deal for Simon Gagne. Just a guess.

Now, I already noted that Tom Pyatt should be a future NHLer but he reminds me of a lesser skilled Ryan Callahan. A third liner at best who provides solid energy and can kill penalties. How does that translate???

Further breaking it down, the other player we gave up Mike Busto has been an ECHLer the past couple of years. And somehow, the Blueshirts got 21 year-old Russian Pavel Valentenko, who while not nearly as highly thought of was a fifth round pick three years ago and has played in the AHL and for Moscow Dynamo of the KHL.

How can Gainey explain this to one of the most pressure packed intense hockey fanbases? Judging from some of the reaction over at TSN, they want him hung from the gallows.

Will Gomez help their team? He should. Maybe this even serves as a wakeup call for a player that sometimes coasts. However, Gomez should never be confused with Vinny Lecavalier, who the Habs have no realistic shot at landing now that their GM committed to take on the former Ranger pivot.

In assessing this deal, if the kid McDonagh is as good as advertised, it doesn’t even matter that our GM has become D-sessed. He just might have found a future top 2 D and got a solid forward back for a cap headache.

Here’s the bigger question. With Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Michal Rozsival, Wade Redden along with kids Matt Gilroy, Mike Sauer, Michael Del Zotto, Bobby Sanguinetti and Corey Potter in the mix for jobs this Fall, can someone please explain how they can add another defenseman? Scary but he sounds better than every one with the possible exception of Del Zotto. If you counted Valentenko (cool name), that’s 11 blueliners- six of which are 25-or-younger.

So, what’s the plan headed into today? Isn’t it obvious? There’s no way Slats is keeping all these guys. It just makes no sense. The team desperately needs a finisher. As much as I hate him, my guess is Dany Heatley is Broadway bound. The question is what’s going back to Ottawa. You can start with part of that list.

I’d really love to be wrong here. I want Phil Kessel on Broadway as he’s younger and would still be in his prime signed longterm. But that doesn’t seem like the plan. With the Sens on the clock to get Heatley unloaded before midnight, figure something to get done.