A correction for you: the Gomez cap hit is $7.35 M a year, which is bad all things considered. Mtl have not addressed their problems with these signings, they still lack toughness and resolve that must be present to make a deep cup run. They have replaced their outgoing players with players of similar style, perhaps a bit better and with better attitude. IMHO, that will get them into the playoffs, but only as a first round exits.

Solid Free Agents. Undersized and lack toughness,

Gainey needs to address these points as soon as possible or the team will be pushed around in the fall.

Uniform color will go from Red to Pink.

Nothing more then a good ,small, expensive 2nd line. Montreal's to small, same  old story in Montreal.

The Gomez deal was brilliant... if you're a Rangers fan.  You dump an extremely overpaid center and get a good player in return.

Like it or not... you were hosed on that deal and the only upside is that reuniting him with Gionta will spark a resurgence in Gomez.

You also lost a huge intimidation factor when Komisarek left.  Spacek and Gill combined are not as tough as Komisarek.

Well...looks like the Habs have their own JFJ on their hands. Some of Gainey's moves were bewildering at best. The Gomez deal in particular was strange. I understand the Higgins for Gomez trade, two under achievers, but throwing in one of your top defence prospects in Ryan McDonagh? Sather wanted to get rid of Gomez and his HUGE contract, that much was obvious, he just managed to pry way to much from Gainey.

The Habs got skill, but at the expense of toughness and with the absolute brutal physical game the Leafs D-corp is going to bring next season, the Leafs may not have as much skill but they'll pound the Habs into a little more than dust.

I'm optimistic, I like the trades they're as good as any other team has made.  Montreal never won Stanley Cups being physical and these guys can grind it out as any others.  In the end it will be skill and speed that will get them there and these players are the beginning to an end.

Komisarek , McDonaugh and Higgins are old ? Column should be headed ; Out with the young and on with the smurfs and aging recycledmen . Welcome to the land of Lillyputz's might be just as appropriate . I guess you plan on playing the Oilers next season in cup final ,as we are about your size ?

I like Ego42  point about montreal never winning a cup with being physical.  Yes the times have changed and the game is different but at the end of the day its Skill and Talent that win you games.. I dont think the PENS were a tough team at all and they won the Cup. I like Montreals signings so far, I think they are going in the right direction and I respect Gaineys actions. none of this 10-15 year "building" process like the leafs have been doing. Just go nuts and build a team for crying out loud.  

The Habs can't have Gomez, Cammalleri and Gionta on one line they need a big man.  Maybe have Pacioretty play on that line instead of Gionta or make a trade for a big winger.  Another thing is what the hell is Bob Gainey waiting for to sign Beauchemin?!  I mean Spacek is good but you could have Beauchemin for that price.  Before I say anything about Gill I'll see how he does.  He had good days and bad in Boston, he was awful in Toronto and pretty good in Pittsburgh and you know the minute he screws up the Habs faithful are gonna be unrelenting towards him.  Another thing is why put McDonagh in the deal for Gomez.  I could live with Fischer getting traded and would of been ecstatic if O'Byrne was gone but losing McDonagh hurts and will hurt when he's a top 2 defenceman on another team.

I think Bob Gainey hasn't finished yet and we'll see some more changes during the summer.

This is not a team that can push for a cup however.

Lacks:

- Toughness

- Consistency

Also you have to consider the fact that those free agents signed did good in their previous years, but they were around MUCH BETTER players where they came from.

Mike C had great players in Calgary, in Montreal though, it lacks... BIG TIME.

Gill, he'll hit for you, but don't expect much of offence from him.

Spacek is a decent player, but I think persuing Beauchemin would have been a better deal to consider.

Gomez is questionable, he wasn't terrific in NY, so maybe he can turn it around in Montreal but still has teammates are nowhere up to NY was.

Gionta may very well end up being the best player out of the signings, the guy is basically solid so he should put up his standard stats.

Chris I think your wrong about a couple of things.  Firstly last year wasn't Cammalleri first year scoring over 30 goals.  He did it with the Kings.  Aside from Iginla what other great players on Calgary were you referring to?  Montreal does not lack talent.  They have Gomez, Gionta, Markov, Kostitsyn, Plekanec, D'Agostini, Pacioretty.  Now take out a couple of the names I just mentioned and add couple of names with size and grit and Montreal has a pretty good team.  

Secondly,  Gomez's Ranger teammates weren't better than what Montreal had or has.  I think that Gomez, Gionta and Cammalleri will have a good season next year but like I said earlier Gainey needs to add some big men and I don't think Gainey is finished yet.

As a Sen fan and not being at all biased other then my hate for the Habs. I have to say I do like the way the Canadiens have gone. Guys like Koivu, and Kovalev weren't going to get it done that much was obvious. Still looking at certain parts of this team.

They are a playoff contender but not much else. Still question marks in goal with Price and Halak. And some quesitons about the offense and defense. Ultimately they are the best of the eastern Canadian teams but that's really not saying much ha ha.

Gomez trade if a horrible deal...Gomez is not a bad player, just way over paid at a 7+ million cap hit.  When conference rivals make bad signing decisions, why would you help them out  by taking that bad contract over.

Cammalleri isn't a bad signing though.  He's a skilled scoring forward in his mid twenties with a way better attitude then Kovalev.

At the end of the day however, habs are not better, and as it is they barely squeaked into the playoffs.  They took a giant step sideways and are likely a 7th to 10th place team in the east for 09-10.

"Out with the old.......in with the overpaid.............