Crazy Eight – Mind Boggling Questions About the Habs

By J.D. Lagrange, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

Here at All Habs Hockey Magazine, we are fortunate enough to have writers with a broad array of perspectives, who contribute an even wider variety of articles and materials to entertain us, to make us think, even to make us laugh (or cry) at times. To borrow the words of our fearless leader Rick Stephens, we at All Habs offer observational analysis, statistical analysis and editorial opinion. But we also like to let our hair down (for those who still have some.)

PENTICTON, BC. – Here’s something a bit lighter in this mid-summer, something to make us think, but not too much. Something to make us laugh, cry or give ourselves a concussion from simply shaking our heads. I’m proposing to have a Yay or Nay type of approach, to see if we are all on the same page. Some of the topics and/or suggestions were read on Twitter (or elsewhere) recently, others will be totally made-up by yours truly. I ask the question, you answer Yay or Nay. Of course, all of those are for fun so forget about the cap just for the exercise and make your decision based on the players involved.

1. Would you trade Alex Galchenyuk for Eric Staal, one for one?

I asked the question this weekend on Twitter and no Habs fan dared say Yay. Something tells me that if we asked the Carolina Hurricanes fans, few would say Yay either. Even better, if Eric Staal played for the Habs and Galchenyuk was still a somewhat unproven prospect for the Hurricanes, would Habs fans say Yay or Nay? I guarantee you that it wouldn’t be unanimous. Staal is only 30 years old and has had no one to play with for the past few seasons, explaining in great part his lower offensive production. He was dominant at the last Winter Olympics and the 6-foot-four-inch number one centre has one year left to his contract at $8.25 million cap hit.

2. Would you trade Tomas Plekanec for Joe Thornton?

I wrote an article on that last year and it did bring up some good conversations amongst Habs fans. A year later means that Plekanec is on the last year of his contract while there are two more years to Thornton’s, who is 36 years old but managed 65 points in 78 games. He also was dominant in the faceoffs circle, winning 58 percent of the draws. He was seventh in assists in the entire NHL and one would think that with him as his centre, Pacioretty could very well be a 45-50 goal scorer.

3. Would you trade David Desharnais for Vincent Lecavalier?

We can’t make it too easy for you! A couple of Twitter followers and I had fun with this a few days ago. Desharnais is the scapegoat of the team for many, many fans and a few articles have been directed his way since he’s signed his latest contract. We know that Lecavalier’s play has regressed in recent years and that he has three more years with a cap hit of $4.5 million, while Desharnais has two years left with a cap hit of $3.5 million. And what if the Flyers were willing to eat some of his cap hit, just to throw a curveball here?

4. Would you sign UFA Alexander Semin for one year at around $2 million?

Recently bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes, a contract which was paying $7 million per season for the next three years, Semin is now a free agent. In justification to paying the high price of buying out the Russian winger, Canes’ GM Ron Francis had this to say: “We want guys who want to be here and want to play hard every day.” Semin had six goals, 19 points and was minus-10 last season. Would you take a chance or would you rather give a chance to the team’s young prospects and see what they can do?

5. Would you give Eric Fehr a three or four year contract?

Fehr is coming off a good season with the Capitals where he scored 19 goals in 75 games, his best season since 2009-2010. He only managed 33 points however. The 6-foot-4-inch winger is good in the slot and is not afraid to go in front of the net. The 29 year old’s skating is however about average, if that. He had a $1.5 million cap hit the last two years, and he can expect to double that, one would think.

6. Would you trade young goalie prospect Zachary Fucale?

Selected in the second round, 36th overall by the Canadiens, Fucale won the Gold medal at the World Junior Championships last Christmas. But his last season in the QMJHL has been a rollercoaster to say the least, to the point where he had lost his starter’s job late in the season and had to battle to regain it, which he did when his team battled in the Memorial Cup. According to some fans, he will never pan out and the team should trade him while he still has value. According to others, they preach patience. What’s your take? Don’t forget that there are two ways to trade him: him alone, which would have limited return, or in a package in a bigger trade.

7. Would you immediately fire head coach Michel Therrien and hire Guy Boucher?

That is assuming he has an out from his contract in Switzerland, of course. With David Desharnais, Michel Therrien is the other favourite scape goat from a portion of the fan base. While some of the criticism is fair, a lot of it is also smoke in the mirror and stories are made-up to support the belief that he’s no good. The truth likely sits somewhere in between. If you were to fire him, do you think that Guy Boucher, the guy who brought forward the 1-4 forecheck while coaching the Tampa Bay Lightning, would be the man to get more out of the Canadiens, who have a record of 144-79-23 in regular season under Therrien?

8. Would you trade Jarred Tinordi to the Penguins for RW Beau Bennett?

We know that Tinordi will have to go through waivers if sent down to the AHL and as a top end prospect defenseman with size, a former first round pick, it is very unlikely that he would get through without being claimed. Bennett is a 6-foot-2-inch right-handed forward who can play both wings. The 23-year-old has very good instincts with the puck and he has a good shot. With the Penguins, who are deep at the forward position, he has yet to be able to make a solid impression but he was also selected in the first round (20th overall). He does have top-6 potential.

You can enter your answers in the comments below or on our Facebook page! Have fun with it, as that’s the intent.

Go Habs Go!!!