[Imagined] The Montreal Canadiens land a top Free Agent on July 1st... but who?

[franklin]

Sign as a FA to play for that A$$hat of a coach?!?. Nope. Life is too short and other opportunities abound. Habs are not going to get who they want.

If I'm a NHL player, the number one reason to not sign with the Habs is the media. The journalism behind the Montreal Canadiens is really really bad.

[yougo]

If I'm a NHL player, the number one reason to not sign with the Habs is the media. The journalism behind the Montreal Canadiens is really really bad.

It's not worse than any other big market. Look at Kessel in Toronto? He's the best player they've had since Sundin and the media basically ran him out of town.

Vancouver media was pretty harsh on Luongo and the Sedins also for years.

[franklin]

It's not worse than any other big market. Look at Kessel in Toronto? He's the best player they've had since Sundin and the media basically ran him out of town.

Vancouver media was pretty harsh on Luongo and the Sedins also for years.

You're not completely wrong, but find me another city where they are talking about hockey 24 hours a day? I don't want to argue about that, but for me the Montreal medias are crazy.

[Bass56]

If I'm a NHL player, the number one reason to not sign with the Habs is the media. The journalism behind the Montreal Canadiens is really really bad.

It's not worse than any other big market. Look at Kessel in Toronto? He's the best player they've had since Sundin and the media basically ran him out of town.

Vancouver media was pretty harsh on Luongo and the Sedins also for years.

Some players actually thrive with the added lights and cameras (i.e. Subban). From another pesperctive, character players like Toews and Crosby don't let the hype affect them. But I do agree that the media circus can and does distract many of the players that are there to ''play'' and nothing more, but you know what, that whole schenanigan helps generate the big paychecks that they command so tough! Typically, the media attention goes hand in hand with the dollars you make (of course this is not a general rule though). Unfortunately, as franklin says, a player would more often than not opt to play in a sunny destination with little media buzz as opposed to facing cold canadian winters + media frenzies galore like what we have in Montreal.

[evans334]

You're not completely wrong, but find me another city where they are talking about hockey 24 hours a day? I don't want to argue about that, but for me the Montreal medias are crazy.

In a city where something like this happened you're absolutely right.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpo...8-76a0bad8d88e

What happened, according to Beauchamp, is Koivu was in one of the hospital waiting rooms with a friend who had brought him some food. Another man entered the room, called Saku by his name and introduced himself as a Journal de Montreal reporter.

Shortly after, a Journal photographer entered the room and snapped some photos with a flash.

Koivu's doctors had told him to avoid bright lights while his injury is healing.

[Moses]

In a city where something like this happened you're absolutely right.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpo...8-76a0bad8d88e

+1 for the dig and link

[Thunder]

Lucic would be my wet dream but extremely unlikely. Ladd would be my second choice, but I fear he'll be asking for too much.

I think Eriksson could be a good fit.

Boedker is also intriguing. His speed could mesh well with the team, although he's not a huge goal scorer which is what the team needs most.

[2014olympicgold]

Martin st Louis comes out of retirement and habs fans/media announce he's the next 90pt scorer for the team

[Zorro]

I think Lucic would fit in great with all 30 NHL teams.. I think Okposo would be the Habs choice for a scoring winger!!

[Thunder]

I think Okposo would be the Habs choice for a scoring winger!!

Yes, that's what I initially thought. But I was a bit concerned to see an inordinate amount of Isles fan on HF boards being extremely critical of him, particularly of his alleged lack of hockey IQ.

I don't see him play often, so that raised some red flags for me.

Of course, I'm sure last year the boards were to be full of opinionated Leafs fans who thought Kessel was just worthless, so you have to take it all with a grain of salt.