Free Agency Fracas

So plenty to report from the brief holiday.

Some Triple A Bad News Bears antics at The Nat. A heated Canada Day ball game, in which Dice C and I revisited our Grade 5 selves. And of course the wild world of free agency, which has apparently plunged an icy dagger into the hearts of Habs fans.

This installment will focus on the recent free agency and the angst and hair pulling that goes with.

While the Skip and I conferred on the subject today, we seem to view this 2009 UFA round a tad differently. Most notably what Gainey's trying to gain in:

1. Montreal. More specifically Mike Cammalleri. While I think that this was a great pick up by the Habs, the Skip has put forth that he's over paid and only played well in a contract year having Jarome on the wing. A valid point indeed. But watching him last year against the Canucks (as well as following his play for Team Maniwaki) I have to say that this guy is not a flash in the pan. He's smart. He's skilled. And he plays with heart. He will deliver again. People of Montreal, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. Especially after having to deal with Alexei Kovalev last year.

2. Vantown. When I woke up on Canada Day and read that the Sedins and their agent had hoodwinked Gillis into signing them for five years with a no trade clause, I immediately smashed myself in the head with my cup of coffee. Which was still full. Having visions of Naslund squared three years down the road, I questioned the GM's inability to read their obvious ploy to ask large and settle in the middle, wanting the middle the entire time.

But then when I read about some of the nonsense contracts flying around the league (ie Hossa getting 12 years from Chicago!!!) I was a tad more forgiving. It's not like I don't like the twins. They put up 160 points year in, year out. They're getting better each year. However, I look at our squad and ask if this truly a team that's going to put us over the top and bring us The Cup. After watching the Pittsburgh's and Detroits of the world (and their savvy drafting and deal making) the response is a resounding, "Nay." For at least the next 5 years and 60 million.

3. Cowtown. Fuck if I have to hear one more time about how Jay Bouwmeester walks on water and is the second coming of Bobby Orr, I'm going to go down to Cowboys, take Theoren Fleury sized doses of illicit substances, hijack a mechanical bull and ride that mecha-bronco down the red mile itself. Could the guy learn to speak in full sentences for god's sakes?