Pierre G. is denying it but it was CLEARLY a panic move...and EXACTLY like the panic move with Roy a decade and a half ago.
One thing i've realized about these Habs management types is that they NEVER tell the truth.
Shipping Cammallery off to Calgary was obviously a panicky move, even though The Ghost has denied it. Would he admit it? No way.
However, i think it's actually a pretty even trade for both these teams. The biggie for Mtl is the increase in cap space. Considering #13 wasn't scoring anymore, it's no big loss to the Habs considering he would have cost them a fortune in years to come.
Other panicky moves by the Habs which they wound up regretting:
a) Patrick Roy traded to Colorado for a bunch of stiffs. Colorado wound up winning the Stanley Cup because of that trade alone.
b) Mike Ribeiro traded to Dallas for a couple of stiffs, one named Ninimaa.
c) Jose Theodore being let go by "La Sainte Flanelle" because of possible affiliations to Hells Angels.
d) Guy Carbonneau sent to Dallas after his picture appeared in a local paper where was shown giving the finger to a photographer.
e) Guillaume Latendresse shipped to Minnesota for stiff Benoit Pouliot. Latendresse has played extremely well for the Wild while healthy. Pouliot now with the Bruins.
f) Chris Chelios traded to Chicago for an old Denis Savard. One of the worse trades in Habs history. Chelios had been dubbed a 'problem' by the organization. Chelios wound up winning the Norris, Stanley Cup, and is a HOFer.
g) Guy Lafleur forced into retirement by Serge Savard & Jacques Lemaire. They coaxed him into thinking he was finished & refused to trade him or release him. Le 'Demon Blond' returned 4 years later with the NY Rangers & proved that he was far from being a 'finished' player. The Habs basically kicked out their last true superstar, if you exclude Patrick Roy. He is also one of the most beloved icons in Quebec's history.
h) Firing Alain Vigneault.
i) Firing Claude Julien.
j) Letting Pat Burns sign with the Leafs.
k) Firing Michel Therrien.
l) Firing Serge Savard & Jacques Demers after the team started off slowly.
m) Replacing them with the unproven Rejean "Peanut" Houle & Mario "Bluet" Tremblay, a move that took the team back 10 years.
n) Firing Guy Carbonneau.
o) Firing Bob Gainey. Sorry, asking him to 'step' down.
p) Replacing Bob Gainey with Pierre Gauthier.
q) Trading Claude Lemieux because he was deemed a problem.
r) Trading Stephane Richer to the Devils for Sylvain Turgeon.
s) Firing Perry Pearn, one of the team's assistant coaches. Why?
t) Re-signing Andrei Markov. They were under the impression he'd sign with another team & panicked, giving him everything he asked.
u) Not re-signing Mark Streit. Big mistake.
v) Not re-signing Mike Komisarek. A very high-draft pick, they let him walk as a free agent. He was very good playing alongside Andrei Markov & would have re-signed for a decent price had they made him an offer. At the very least, they should have re-signed him & then trade him, if they didn't want him. At least he wouldn't have walked away for nothing.
w) Not keeping legendary coach Scotty Bowman with the organization. Bowman left the Habs to join the Sabres. Later, he joined the Red Wings & won more Cups. He later joined Chicago as an advisor to the GM (his son) and they won the Stanley Cup that same year.
So many more PANICKY moves.................................................not enough time to list them all.
