Poll: Halak Trade - Good, Bad, Other?

Serious HM! I’ve been on the Habs Eyes on the Prize blog all day trying to figure it out. This is what gets me; 1) Why do this after the guy carries you in the playoffs? 2) Why all of the confidence in Price? 3) Most of all: WHY NOT TALK TO HIM BEFORE YOU TRADE HIM?!

Sure, you say you “know” what he would go for, but why not talk to him? What’s the harm? Nobody has had an answer to that question yet.

In my opinion, Montreal has had it’s wagon hitched to Price and nothing outside of a Stanley Cup would have kept Halak in Montreal.

Actually – I keep seeing that there are a ton of UFA goalies this summer. And that’s part of the reasoning people are speculating this was done. I have to put my kids to bed but the Globe and Mail (James Mirtle) or maybe Pierre LeBrun just posted something on it before the trade was announced.

See, even this would make it more understandable, but then he goes on talking about how they have all the confidence in the world with Price in net. It doesn’t look like they’re going this route, but who knows.

Agreed, especially with his attitude. I would just be so angry if I were a Habs fan that Gauthier didn’t even talk to Halak. Crazy.

I’m with your logic all the way. To me it makes no sense to not at least talk to the guy, unless this: let’s say Gauthier is set on going with Price. If he talks to Halak and Halak gives him a reasonable number, then Gauthier looks even worse by letting him go, especially after the playoff performance he had. But this way, he can just say “I know what he would want”, he escapes the possibility that he has to turn down Halak on a reasonable price. I don’t think it was about money, it’s about being set on Price and never going with Halak no matter what, which is a whole other head scratcher.

As I heard on XM this a.m., Gainey is still an adviser to Gauthier and the Habs. He was a HUGE Price backer, so i wonder if that influenced things. On the same note, I wonder if Montreal will look at Marty Turco, who was drafted by Gainey in Dallas and, I think, played a season or two there before Gainey left the Stars.

I thought of putting one, but didn’t want to incite a Habs flame-war.

oh and best to luck to Halak! – he has a special place in my <3 along with Subban after these playoffs

Both are kind of similar. Sure, Halak got hot, but so can any goalie. On HEotP they did a story on how MTL gives Price like zero support against tough opposition while Halak gets easier opponents in general with more goal support. Either way, neither has played enough to get a good sense of how good they are, and Price is younger, so I don’t see how you don’t go with Price (except for the MTL factor—I don’t think Price will stop being a headcase until he’s outta there).

Plus, Halak’s trade value will never be higher.

You are all much to sober to appreciate the quality of the deal. I think it takes an alcohol level approaching blind drunk to then comprehend the deal. Of course, the hang over is hell.

Thanks for the inside info Nickolas!

Interesting to see how this all came to be.