Bruins make "monster offer" for Kaberle

Not sure it is that "monster," but two first rounders, a third and a top prospect is pretty good.

http://community.nesn.com/blogs/nhl_lowdown/archive/2009/03/01/3711275.aspx

Gazette: Canadiens After Top End Defenceman

Bouwmeester mentioned, Kaberle more likely, Pronger anyone?

Link here:

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/mtl090228.html

• The rumour, by the way, is Higgins and Subban or McDonaugh for Kaberle

You know things aren't going great when...

...a major media outlet in Montreal is calling for Les Canadiens to sign Yanic "No Panic" Perreault. Now, I loved Perreault, and maybe he could help, but the guy hasn't been in the NHL for a year, and it would take him a while to get going (see Sundin, Mats). 

http://www.corussports.com/hockey/pourquoi_pas_yanic_perreault-c-20090214-1416043.html

Other rumours today: Habs are hot-to-trot for Olli Jokinen and Derek Morris (TSN), Frantisek Kaberle is going on re-entry waivers and could be the key to a team luring Tomas Kaberle into waiving his no trade clause (CBC), and apparently the Avalanche have made big winger Ian Laperriere available (CBC). Wow, would he look good on a line with Begin and Laraque. That would be one mean combination.

And Halak is officially pegged as the starter tomorrow by Guy Carbonneau. When asked what he thought of his performance against Colorado, Guy was quoted as saying "Halak it like that." Ok, he didn't really say that, but I had to write it.

What's to Gain-ey?

Trade rumors continue to swirl around the Habs, but if history is to be believed then it's unlikely that Bob Gainey will rush into a move of any type. He knows that dealing from a position of desperation never yields the same types of results, so it seems a bit far fetched to expect that we'll be seeing any sort of major deal in the near future.

With that said, I expect the team to make a deal for a puck-moving defenceman some time before the deadline. The powerplay is stagnant, and recent games have shown an alarming decrease in the efficiency of the outlet pass from their own zone (I don't think I've ever seen so many icing calls in a single game as I have last night). The name of Jay Bouwmeester keeps getting thrown around, and I have to assume that the Habs will at least inquire to see what it would take to get him to Montreal (even if it's just for the stretch drive). Tomas Kaberle is another very reasonable option when he comes back from injury, and if Brian Burke can be convinced to make a deal within the Division then he may very well be an economical option.

The forwards and goaltending will likely be secondary, although a big presence up front would clearly help (like people have been saying for the last 10 years or so). Based on the crippling contract Lecavalier just won't happen (as much as people would like to believe it will), but maybe somebody like Erik Cole could still be possible. Also, with Halak picking up his game yesterday the backup situation seems a little less panicked than it did a few days ago, but some experience and a calming influence would certainly be an added bonus if it could be attained in a cost-effective manner.