As the Doc sees it.....
-Jaromir Jagr is indeed a specimen. I attribute his longetivity to spending a few years in the KHL a few years ago. It gave him the chance to rest his body from the grind of an NHL schedule. I doubt he'd still be playing had he remained in the NHL for his entire career.
-The Canadiens overpaid for Markov, but they didn't much of a choice. They have an extremely miserable defence & they had to find a way to keep Markov. He wanted 4 years with a raise, they wanted to keep him for two. Rumours are they tried to lowball him a few weeks ago with a one-year offer. I doubt if it's true, even though that was the word going around the Mtl media at the time. I prefer my own sources than these ninkenpoops. So they found common ground and gave him 3 years for the same amount they were already paying him. It's a gamble on the Canadiens' part, but one they had to make.
-I doubt they'll be able to re-sign Subban before July 1st. He's in the driver's seat and knows it. He also plans on making the most of this opportunity and will allow teams to talk to his agent (Don Meehan, the best in the biz) and possibly offer him a contract. I expect he'd only sign an offer sheet if the amount of money is out of this world, similar to what the Flyers offered Shea Webber two years ago ($14 milllion per season). Nashville matched that ridiculous amount feeling it had no choice, but they missed the playoffs this season & i believe a large part of the blame for this was that they gave Webber way too large of a share of their team budget instead of sharing the money around & possibly sign a couple of other valuable players instead.
-I wonder if they'll re-sign Gionta. My guess is that at his age, he'd want to stay in Mtl. But if he goes, i see him signing with possibly the Devils or the Rangers. If the habs try to lowball him, he might get pissed off and sign somewhere else for more money. Then the habs may regret this move or have to up the ante, which means it'll be hard to sign other free agents & even P.K. Subban, whom i'm guessing won't accept anything lower than $10 million per season if he has to sign for long-term. He's not worth it, but he's aware some teams are willing to give him what he wants. He'd love to play in Toronto, but the Leafs are capped out unless they can find a way to unload some cap money (e.g Dion Phaneuf).
-Scott Hartnell was traded to the Jackets today. The Philly fans are very upset at this trade. Funny, but Hartnell would have fitted right in with the Canadiens.
-Gerard Gallant was now Florida's new coach. How much will he departure affect the team's psyche?? Many insiders attributed the team's success solely to Gallant. Any idea who may replace him?
-And finally, congratulations to the late Pat Burns for finally being elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Well overdue!!
Btw Jagr is a physical specimen and what he is doing at his age is rare, very rare. Markov is no Jagr. I would love to see what Markov has left at 42. When Jagr was markovs age he only put up 96 points with the Rangers.
