Post by habsgm on Aug 8, 2011 21:50:21 GMT -5
With day one of the NHL Entry Draft almost over, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves facing the next season with a very different look to their team. After missing the playoffs this year, they retooled their roster by adding several impact players to their forward ranks. Gone are familiar faces such as Carey Price and PK Subban, but new in town are stars such as Danny Briere and Thomas Vanek.
Thomas Vanek
Vanek was brought over in a trade a few days prior to the deadline that involved star defenseman PK Subban going back the other way to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals. Thomas Vanek scored 28 goals for the Capitals last season. A proven goal scorer who's reached 40 before will be a massive boost to a Canadiens offense that struggled at times to find the back of the net last season. The speedy forward looks to have a good season with his new linemates in a fresh new hockey market. Also coming over with him to Montreal were: young forward Mathieu Perreault, a center with skills in the offensive end. Goaltender Dustin Tokarski, a former gold medal winning netminder with a bright future, grinder Jamie McGinn and a first round draft pick that belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That draft pick was later traded for...
Daniel Briere
The playmaking center from Carolina came across with prospect Gregory Hoffmann in a deal for Andrew Cogliano and the first round draft pick acquired in the Subban deal. Briere finally gives the Habs the playmaking first line center that they wanted and hoped that Cogliano would've been. Briere finds himself as a lucky man, playing up the middle with two proven snipers on both of his wings to create what should be one of the more dangerous lines in the league this season.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky has big shoes to fill, coming into a red hot hockey market as the successor to Carey Price, one of the best goaltenders in the league. Bobrovsky himself is no slouch. He managed to stay above a 0.900 save percentage on a very bad Minnesota team in his rookie year. He won just 7 games in 46 starts,but that appeared to be more of a detriment to a weak supporting cast than his talent alone. Bobrovsky should get a bit more support in his new market.
Mike Labbe
Labbe was drafted 9th overall in this year's entry draft with a pick that once belonged to the New Jersey Devils. A Montreal native, the big lumbering defensemen Labbe helps soften the blow of losing Subban, and gives the Canadiens something to look forward to on the back end. He may be a couple of years away from making an impact, but when he does, he's sure to be a force on the blueline.
These new faces are just some of the changes happening within the Montreal Canadiens organization. Fans will miss favorites Price and Subban, but they can't deny the electrifying top line that they will now have in place for the upcoming season. Expectations are high, as they always are, in Montreal.
Thomas Vanek
Vanek was brought over in a trade a few days prior to the deadline that involved star defenseman PK Subban going back the other way to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals. Thomas Vanek scored 28 goals for the Capitals last season. A proven goal scorer who's reached 40 before will be a massive boost to a Canadiens offense that struggled at times to find the back of the net last season. The speedy forward looks to have a good season with his new linemates in a fresh new hockey market. Also coming over with him to Montreal were: young forward Mathieu Perreault, a center with skills in the offensive end. Goaltender Dustin Tokarski, a former gold medal winning netminder with a bright future, grinder Jamie McGinn and a first round draft pick that belonged to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That draft pick was later traded for...
Daniel Briere
The playmaking center from Carolina came across with prospect Gregory Hoffmann in a deal for Andrew Cogliano and the first round draft pick acquired in the Subban deal. Briere finally gives the Habs the playmaking first line center that they wanted and hoped that Cogliano would've been. Briere finds himself as a lucky man, playing up the middle with two proven snipers on both of his wings to create what should be one of the more dangerous lines in the league this season.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky has big shoes to fill, coming into a red hot hockey market as the successor to Carey Price, one of the best goaltenders in the league. Bobrovsky himself is no slouch. He managed to stay above a 0.900 save percentage on a very bad Minnesota team in his rookie year. He won just 7 games in 46 starts,but that appeared to be more of a detriment to a weak supporting cast than his talent alone. Bobrovsky should get a bit more support in his new market.
Mike Labbe
Labbe was drafted 9th overall in this year's entry draft with a pick that once belonged to the New Jersey Devils. A Montreal native, the big lumbering defensemen Labbe helps soften the blow of losing Subban, and gives the Canadiens something to look forward to on the back end. He may be a couple of years away from making an impact, but when he does, he's sure to be a force on the blueline.
These new faces are just some of the changes happening within the Montreal Canadiens organization. Fans will miss favorites Price and Subban, but they can't deny the electrifying top line that they will now have in place for the upcoming season. Expectations are high, as they always are, in Montreal.