Offer In Souray's Hands, Will He Bluff?

It has recently been made known that Canadiens GM has quickly extended Habs free agent defenseman Sheldon Souray a contract offer. Gainey is acting lightening fast on this Souray portfolio, only days after inking fellow D-man Markov, as he surely understands that time in this case, is of the essense.

Why the hurry, you may wonder?

My theory is that it is because Souray, whether he intends so or not, has the ability to hold the Habs hostage with his decision. Gainey in all common sense, does not want to arrive at July 1 still doubting his PP specialists intentions. This offer has been tendered to establish fact, sooner than later.

The connundrum is that a Souray holdup, (not intended as a pointed gun - pun! ) could deviate Gainey's foray into other free agent territory come July.

I have a fear of this portfolio dangling a little too long based on comments from Souray's agent Paul Theofalous. When he suggests that the offer will be pondered, sat upon, rethought ad nauseum, I take it as they want to have a strong card to play in this deal. Gainey, a straightshooter, but a sly gamer, won't appreciate extended bluffing.

He'll want to know as soon as possible from the Souray camp, exactly where it is that the bear takes a dump!

























Though we will likely not be priveledge to daily updates, I expect offers to go back and forth until Souray either signs or demands a deal that says he'll by sitting by the phone on July 1.

I would also expect that Gainey will try as he might to avoid the same 4 year term handed to Markov. I'm sure he won't want to dance this waltz again come four years time. Sealing up two big contracts at once tends to play against each singular deal.

Considering that dollars turned away by Souray could translate into another future players riches also makes Gainey anxious for the time of day.

The trouble on the horizon is that Souray and agent won't truly know their worth until the fateful day comes. Speculation on an offer can swing like a pendulum when a player is far from an assured value.

Some schmuck to take Souray's place?























I make mention of that in regard to Souray's liabilties on defense. Truth is, Souray ain't every GM's cup of tea, as the Kings Dean Lombardi has stated in his own case. The Kings likely lost interest in Souray, all the way back when they fleeced Carolina of prospect Jack Johnson.

That snub could translate into an extra card in Gainey's hand, should he play it right. That the Habs would be making an offer, knowing full well what Souray's deficiencies are, is a committment the big defenseman is unlikely to find elsewhere. Gainey should be almost bombastic in getting this across!

How I see some of this card game playing out has much to do with Gainey establishing some sort of cutoff date, a take it or leave it offer, possibly one week prior to serious business day. The closing window may get the Souray camp plausing the known more than the unknown, with Lombardi-like comments ringing in their ears.

The primordial reason for using haste over waste in this off season is that this is not one of the more overflowing free agent pools worth dipping into in recent memory. If the Canadiens are considering adding a defenseman to their ranks via this market, slim pickings at fools prices are what awaits them.



















Secondary to Gainey's haste is the fact that RFA's such as Higgins, Ryder, Plekanec, and Komisarek are up for better than pay scale increases that will undoubtably cut into money targetted for a potential free agent. Count on one giving Gainey a hard time.

Working in the Canadiens favor, is the fear factor that Markov brought up as one of his reasons for staying put. With so much transition in Souray's personal life, call it instability if you will, he may be tempted to side with the intangibles he knows await him in returning to Montreal.

A city he is adored, understood, and appreciated in, is something no other organization can offer him.

The feelings have always seemed mutual, and Souray has never shied from letting it be known. He has always stood up for pride and team, and it would seem unlike of him to bolt if Gainey's offer is a good an honest one.

























Much of the speculation will have to do with where Souray sees himself heading to, should July 1 not bring any resolve. Other than the much bantered about preferential West coast destinations that I do not believe will unfold, what I fear most is Souray being lured to a team of great promise, such as a perenial contender like Detroit, or a soon to be knocking at Stanley's door team, such as the Penguins.

I recall two different defenseman who left Montreal under opposite circumstances, but with similar characters. More recently, there is Craig Rivet, humbled and traded away, and back a few years, and Stephane Quintal, offered moon, beach, and sundeck by the New York Rangers upon free agency.

While Rivet spit an untasty venom upon his leaving, Quintal shouted from Manhattan rooftops that there was nowhere like Montreal to play. His misguided loyalty earned him a dubious Blackhawks jersey faster than you can say "Thank-you!"

All three of these rugged rearguards were team - first guys while Habs, and surely Souray remembers how Quintal felt as he was spurned by not receiving an offer from the Canadiens until after the deadline. Souray won't have to feel that sense of detachment, offer in hand.

It makes me wonder if Souray ever thinks about Quintal and greener dollars not being greener grass.

Here's hoping he has!

I remember Souray not doing all too well in some Poker tournament awhile back. Perhaps his bluffing is not up to snuff.

For some personal insight into Souray's home life and a little background info, try these links.

Guillaume Well Grounded For Success

Early comparisons to Crosby did little to faze Habs winger


















With Guillaume Latendresse having scored 4 goals in his last three games, many are mentioning that he is beginning to come into his own, as an NHL force. The Canadiens forward is playing with the same confidence he displayed as a 16 year old junior with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, four seasons back.

His prowess at the time led many to measure him against another 16 year old making a name for himself in the Quebec league.

Sidney Crosby and Latendresse were the first two players chosen in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft in 2003. They were also drafted into the NHL on the same day in 2005. The comparisons end right there.

At that time in 2003, Crosby was destined to become the NHL's best player over the course of the next 15 years. Two season in, he's already there.

Latendresse, on the other hand, will one day be regarded as one of the better power forwards in the league with the Canadiens. He is a player whose usefulness to the team will take on greater importance as time passes, without a doubt.

During his first training camp with the Canadiens, it was often brought up that he and Crosby had been the top two Quebec league picks.

While Crosby's second and final season with the Rimouski Oceanic was being played under the national limelight, Latendresse was perceived as being just a few notches below the budding superstar. That could be seen now as pourring it on a little heavy.

A seventeen year old at the time, Latendresse was being interviewed by Bertrand Raymond of Le Journal De Montreal, when he initially set the record straight in regards to comparisons to Crosby.

"People suggest that I'm playing in Crosby's shadow", said the big winger. "That's so false, there is an ocean of difference between the two of us."

The quote was hardly an attempt by Latendresse to rid himself of unwarranted pressures. He was simply being realistic.

Crosby is the beneficiary of every God-given talent and skill a hockey player can have. When one is 19, and on ice feats and accomplishments are comparable to Wayne Gretzky's, it is because the player can do it all on an NHL ice surface.

"He's way better than I am", said Latendresse, without needing to make the point. "He's in a class by himself. I never played in his shadow in junior, I just stuck to applying myself to the things I needed to improve upon."

"Certain times, there are little things that account for players progressing more quickly than others, while in other circumstances, some players take steps back", he observed. "Sidney, in junior, continued to become exactly what was foreseeen for him to be. Myself, I slowed down some."

The Canadiens rookie has changed alot since then. He has worked doubly hard at getting through those setbacks to be where he is now. The Canadiens organization is quite pleased with the progress made by the player. He has matured a great deal in the space of two seasons. He has become more at ease on the ice.

In the Canadiens last game against Crosby in Pittsburgh, in early Febuary, Latendresse with a little luck, could have notched a pair of goals. He was constanly in the right position, slotted in the crease and open, without the puck finding him.

Crosby, of course, was putting on a show that night. Regardless of the incident with Maxim Lapierre that opened the game, the one in which Crosby made a simply shove appear as though it was a shotgun blast to the heart, he was in top form.

The Penguins phenom didn't score that night. He settled for three assists in picking apart the Canadiens.

The young Penguins squad have all the tools, especially on the power play, to put away any opponant in minutes. With Crosby leading the way, it is a scene that will play itself over in Pittsburgh for years to come - likely culminating in a Stanley Cup sometime in the not too distant future.

No one is predicting the same glory for Latendresse in that space of time. But time and only time, will make Latendresse an impact player in his own right.

There could not have been two Crosby's in the 2005 draft. However, with the rapid progress being made by Latendresse, it could be said that as the 45th pick overall that year, the burly Habs winger has been one of the steals of the draft.

The same claims could also be made for Anze Kopitar, taken 11th by the Kings and Paul Stastny of Colorado, who was snapped up in the pick just proir to Latendresse.

The Canadiens did well to flip-flop draft choices with Rangers upon the occasion of seeing Latendresse available so late in the pecking order.

Of the 60 players chosen in the first two rounds, ten were made from the QMJHL. Apart from Crosby, only Latendresse and Marc-Edouard Vlasic with the San Jose Sharks have made the jump to the NHL so far.

Two other prospects outside the QMJHL sphere have made small noises in the pro's so far, at 19 years of age. Benoit Pouliot with Minnesota and Gilbert Brule with Columbus Blue Jackets, picked 4th and 6th respectively, are seemingly behind Latendresse's development at this point.

Other bona fide's in the 2005 draft have already been traded. Jack Johnson, chosen 3rd by Carolina, is now L.A. Kings property. Ryan O'Marra, taken 15th by the Islanders, is now an Islander, from the Ryan Smyth trade. Ryan Parent, went from being a Predator to a Flyer in the Peter Forsberg deal.

It is doubtful that they have endured close to the same pressure and scrutiny Latendresse has, in first being compared, somewhat misguidedly, to Crosby, and then by annointed the French superstar heir apparent in the media mad Montreal hockey mecca.

That Latendresse has achieved 15 goals in a Montreal uniform by the age of 19 bodes extremely well for his future.

Rarely has a rookie appeared on the scene with such composure and maturity. His few critics should take note.