Boy what terrible moves....

After watching another TSN program (The Reporters) where they ripped BG for his moves on July 1st (along with the Gomez deal), I decided I have had enough. Brian Burke gets high praise for locking up Komisarek, Colton Orr and dealing for Garnet Exelbey/Colin Stuart, yet Gainey is run through the mud for signing the 1st and 6th top scoring UFA's, along with the 2nd highest scoring d-man. All year we heard was how Gainey had screwed himself by allowing so many players to test the free agent market. He was able to go out and replace those players with other quality free agents and change the team after a difficult year to say the least. So let's breakdown the moves to see how Gainey did.

*Points (Goals-Assists=Points)

Cammalleri-39-43=82 / Kovalev-26-39=65

Gomez-16-42=58 / Koivu-16-34=50

Gionta-20-40=60 / Tanguay-16-25=41

Spacek-8-37=45 / Schneider-9-23=32

Gill-2-8=10 / Komisarek-2-9=11

So in comes 85 goals and 255 points. Out (for now) goes 69 goals and 199 points.

*Salaries (cap hit in millions)

Cammalleri-$6.0 / Kovalev-$4.5

Gomez-$7.357 / Koivu-$4.75

Gionta-$5.0 / Tanguay-$5.25

Spacek-$3.833 / Schneider-$5.625

Gill-$2.25 / Komisarek-$4.5 (new salary)

So the Habs spent $24.458 and let $24.625 walk. Obviously, four out of the five free agents listed above have not yet signed deals, so cap hit are based on last years salary (minus Komisarek who has a new deal)

*Age

Cammalleri-27 / Kovalev-36

Gomez-29 / Koivu-34

Gionta-30 / Tanguay-29

Spacek-35 / Schneider-40

Gill-34 / Komisarek-27

Average age of new players is 31, average age of players moving on is 33.2.

*Size (as per TSN inches, lbs)

Cammalleri-69, 185 / Kovalev-73, 224

Gomez-71, 200 / Koivu-70, 187

Gionta-67, 175 / Tanguay-73, 189

Spacek-71, 204 / Schneider-71, 195

Gill-79, 250 / Komisarek-76, 240

Average size of new player is 71.4 inches and 202.8 lbs. Size of guys leaving is 72.6 inches and 207 lbs.

So in looking at the above areas, the only area where the new guard comes up "short" is size. Now in 2007-08 the Detrioit Red Wings (now I am in no way comparing the Habs and Wings) were the smallest team in the league, yet won the cup. So why is everyone so hung up on size?

The same "experts" that are ripping the new Habs are the same ones that were ripping the old ones. Pierre Maguire, whose obsession with the Leafs and Brian Burke is starting to get creepy, talked about how bad the Habs moves were, specifically the Gomez one. He failed to consider the fact that Cammaleri and Gionta both noted the acquisition of Gomez was one of the reasons they signed with the Habs. Cammaleri was TSN's 5th best UFA, if the Leafs got him they would be showered with praise. In the next breath he talked Brian Burke up for his key signing of Colton Orr and snagging Mike Komisarek from the Habs. Guess he forgets Komisarek's season last year, where he was the Habs worst defenceman, coughing the puck up on a nightly basis. I don't have anything against Komi, despite his decision to join the Habs biggest rival, but let's not forget the guy brings ZERO offence, a weak first pass, and his physical game in the 2nd half of the year was no existent. For $4.5 million you can have him TO.

Others talk about Gainey spending too much on free agents and "letting Sather off the hook" by taking Gomez. The Habs had $33 million in cap room. Did people honestly think Gainey was going to start the season with $20 million to spend? Who cares when he spends the dough, he made moves that he thinks will make the team better. He brought in, for the most part, younger players who they can build around.

So there you have it. I have been watching hockey for far too long to say for certain that the players added will make the team better. We will have to wait to see how next year plays out. But last years team ended the year by limping into the playoffs then losing four straight to the Bruins. The core of the team was aging and with 10 UFA's everyone knew there would be changes. But let's wait until the team actually plays a game to pass judgement.