Season 2, Episode 3: The First Cut is the Deepest

Ah training camp. The one time in the hockey season where the individual performances are actually more important than the final score. It’s in that spirit that we’ve come together once more to record another Habs podcast.

Just an hour before Pierre Gauthier and Jacques Martin made their first round of cuts, the three sages (Pat, Eric, and Tal) came together to discuss what they have seen so far and what they expect in the near future. In typical Tal fashion, Aaron Palushaj was cut by the Habs barely an hour after T. Pinch predicted he would push for a final roster spot. So you might want to ignore his advice the next time you play the stock market.

Nevertheless, this pre-season has already been ripe with intrigue. So just two weeks before opening night, les boys come together with plenty of discussion and a whole lot of booing. And not all of it for Carey Price.

Bargain Bin Deadline Ends, no Big Moves for Habs…And I Yawn…

Not much of a market, in the end, eh?

But let’s review: Paul Mara, Glen Metropolit, Marc Andre Bergeron. I know. Try not to salivate at the GREAT DEALS we had for other teams (’BUT FOR YOU, SPECIAL PRICE’).

A review of our “assets”: MAB is injured, Mara’s been a disappointment. If there were any takers – a fourth round pick, the proverbial bag of pucks, some cookies from Ottawa – PG would have relinquished. Gladly. Metro has been helpful, but did PG dangle him? He could have got some value – especially since Metro won’t be back with the Habs next season – but probably no higher than a second round pick, which we all know PG doesn’t want.

Anything else?

Oh yes…..trading Matt D’Agostini for 20 year old St. Louis prospect Aaron Palushaj?

Why do I get the sinking feeling this one will come back to bite the Habs in the arse? I have more faith in D’Ags than I do in coach’s ability to get the best out of the Habs forward prospects.

D’Ags was injured this year and his minutes shrank when he returned. He had no chance. Best case scenario: The Habs basically press the reset button on D’Ags, go younger and let Palushaj develop with guru Boucher (isn’t it funny how Boucher has become the fixer for this organization’s dudlier prospect picks?)

We’ll see who won this trade in two years, or never.

Bottom line: This trade deadline was for the birds, both for the bargain-bin quality of players who were available (Jeff Halpern, Frederik Modin and Stephane Yelle OH MY!!??!!!), and the feeding frenzy desperation with which the major websites treated this all important day.

Yawn!

As for the Habs – after the way BG’s succession was handled and realizing most of our local roster is several notches below Olympics quality, my confidence in this organization is pretty low. So I’m just happy no really stupid decisions were made rummaging through the bin.

Hey – I’ll take the victories where I can find them.

And I promise to be cheerier tomorrow.