Samsonov's Gone in 3....2....1....

We have been talking about trades in recent times, and Samsonov seems to be a stones throw away from Chicago with the looks of it. At this time it would be wise to point out a few things.

First off, it is no secret this team, with its current members has proven capable of dancing with the best of them. Earlier on in the season, prior to our yearly post holiday slump, the team posed no doubt in our minds of making a serious run at the cup. Since then the synergy and the chemistry in the locker room has faded. A trade will only make thi matter worse by instilling doubt and fear in to peoples minds. So why have we been talking about it? Because at a certain point things will get to a dead end stand still, and a trade will remain the second to last plan to (just before firing the coach) to try and jolt this team. Does a kick in the proverbial but guarantee a fix? Not in the least. However it will lead to change. No guarantees that the change will be for the better, but when things are bad enough, odds are in your favour that things will only get better.

Every bit of hockey and HABS sense I have points to this being a secondary motivation for Bob with respect to Samsonov. A deal is practically done. Whether he’s goin g to Chicago or somewhere else, I knew (and maybe the historian can find this update) the day Samsonov spoke out after being benched and questioned his coach publicly, that Bob would begin to shop him around. His trade has less to do with shaking the team up, as it does with Samsonov following the path of the other rotten eggs we had in the locker room. Since Gainey’s involvement with the team, players with bad attitudes, no matter their skill level, have been banished one at a time, and the next in line is Samsonov.

Whether he has publicly requested a trade (just another sign of his personality) or not, he will be traded. He sealed his fate long ago. I do wish him the best of luck wherever he may end up, and I’m sure that he will, like most players who leave Montreal, end the season with a bang. However no matter what numbers he puts up, I’m glad we have a GM who puts sportsmanship on as high a pedestal as winning, and does not compromise an inch. There is a man who has his ethics, and that cannot be said about too many GM in any sport.

One more point I’ll throw out there is that knowing Gainey’s ability to foresee things beyond any of our visions, we will probably obtain a player in return for Samsonov that will make any sense in terms of our need for the roster. Rest assured that there is always more behind the scenes and eventually the pieces will fall in to place (case in point Carey Price). SO be patient and keep close to your PC’s and TV’s cause whatever’s going down, it’s happening soon and will get us all going "huh?"