Puck On The 'Net: Habs Fans Sing The Blues

So I go out camping for the weekend (I'm back in briefly and heading back out here soon) and lo and behold huge hockey news breaks. I should have figured.

I have a number of people asking me via email and Twitter to comment on Jaroslav Halak trade. So here goes:

• It seems inconceivable that Montreal, of all teams, would trade their new found playoff hero. After all, they would never have traded Ken Dryden in 1971 or Patrick Roy in 1986 or for that matter Steve Penney in 1986 or maybe even Jose Theodore in 2002.
• But it is not a complete surprise. Two schools of thought here - trade him now because his value will never be higher, or trade him because he is unsignable in Montreal.
• Both schools of thought fail here though. High trade value? Montreal fans would disagree that getting a couple of prospects in exchange for the hottest goalie in hockey is a just return. Granted he was traded unsigned, but weren't the Flyers offering Jeff Carter in exchange for Halak just a few short months ago? On the other front, Halak should be a signable asset. GM Pierre Gauthier suggested Halak would net around $4M for next season via arbitration this summer.
• Apparently we can not even suggest it was due to long term contract negotiations, as apparently he and the Habs have not talked contract since their playoff season ended. Bob McKenzie suggests that means the Habs had every intention of moving Halak and keeping Carey Price even before the final whistle went on their playoff run.
• The only way Montreal comes out of this looking good in the short term - Halak signs with the KHL and the Habs claim they knew he was leaving. Longer term? Halak is the next Steve Penney or even Jose Theodore.
• This puts even more pressure on Carey Price now. Questions still remain about whether he can handle the Montreal pressure-cooker already. If Price falters this season, there may be another riot in Montreal. 
• Amazingly, St. Louis apparently had no contract talks with Halak prior to completing the deal. Taking Halak without a contract keeps the price down, but that is very much a risky tactic

Keep Halak, But At What Price?

Regardless of what happens the rest of these playoffs, the toughest decision the Montreal Canadiens faced this summer has already been made for them. Which goalie to keep and which goalie to move? Keep Jaroslav Halak, move Carey Price.

Halak has been nothing short of spectacular since say January 1st, leading Montreal to the playoffs, upsetting the NHL's best regular season team, and giving Slovakia a genuine shot at a medal at the Olympics. He has earned the job, and the fans demand it be his.

Now we should be careful not to anoint him as the next Ken Dryden or Patrick Roy just yet. A few great months does not make a career. While it may seem improbable that Halak will not be a star for years to come right now, Montrealers once felt the same about goalies named Steve Penney and Jose Theodore.

Nonetheless, Halak will head into the summer knowing he will get a healthy raise over his $800,000 salary. He is a restricted free agent (would another team dare give him an offer sheet?) which should allow Montreal to get him to a couple of years at a reasonable rate. $4 million per year maybe? That's just a guess.

Montreal will have to be salary cap-conscious. They've already committed $45 million in contracts next season, with the cap expected to remain around $57 million. That leaves $12 million to get Halak and/or Price, UFA Tomas Plekanec and approximately 8 other roster positions under contract. That's not a lot of wiggle room, and if there is one thing that is obvious this post-season it is that Montreal does need to overhaul their team somewhat, especially up front, as they are dreadful 5 on 5.

With a weak UFA class in 2010, one way of finding some NHL ready forwards would be to trade Price. Given his age, pedigree and potential, he would still command great interest from other teams. You could argue trading Halak would earn an even greater return right now, but doing so would not sit well with the fans. Besides, it is fairly evident that Price needs a change of scenery to reach his potential. Could you imagine the pressure on him next October if he is anointed as the Habs goalie instead of Halak? The Canadiens know that might ruin him altogether. They can't start next season by choosing Price over Halak.

There is the possibility that Montreal could return with both Halak and Price. Those in the know, SportsNet's Nick Kypreos being the one I trust the most, say there is no way Halak will return to Montreal with Price as the back up. He feels he has earned the right to be the undisputed #1. Montreal probably would prefer stability in net rather than the circus they've had at times in the past couple of years.

My guess is Montreal will sign Halak and move Price as their biggest move of the off-season, bringing in a couple of good forwards. Fan favorite PK Subban will replace Marc Andre Bergeron and Paul Mara on defense. Plekanec's future will be interesting, but with or without him the Habs will be looking to upgrade their forward depth