Don't funk wit it....Thrashers deal!!!

[Cheese]

The Thrashers have been in a funk since making a deal to acquire Zdeno Chara a month ago or so....so today they flipped him back to where he came from. No not his mother!
The Thrashers and Canadiens made a deal today that hopefully helps bpth clubs get into a better groove.

Coming back to Atlanta is Brian Rafalski, Hal Gill, and Branko Radivojevic for Zdeno Chara and Dan Boyle.

[JiriHrdina]

Hmmm. Interesting deal.

Atlanta gives up an 83+79

And get back a 77+75+72 though the 75 is a pending UFA.

On paper this deal looks very good for the Habs. However, Chara does seem to be one of those players that doesn't seem to do well in the sim. That being said, i still like the deal from the perspective of Montreal.

[Beerfund]

The Habs feel that we have created a solid defensive core from which to build on going into the summer. It is with a fair amount of saddness that we will bid adieu to Hal Gill. However recent communications with Mr.Gill's agent made it quite clear that he would persue free agency this summer. We did not want to risk losing a valuable asset which we traded for prior to this season. So, moving Gill along with Rafalski and Radivojevic for Chara and Boyle, we feel we have been able to retain our assets. Chara is one of the top defensive dmen in this league. Boyle played well in Montreal and we feel he will adequately replace the great things Rafalski was able to bring to our club. Losing Radivojevik will hurt our club, as we have felt his absence over the past few weeks.
Ultimately we look at this deal as a Rafalski/Radivijevic for Boyle/Chara. We could have persued the market for Gill a bit more, but decided that getting the combo of Chara and Boyle was sufficient. Unless additional offers come our way, the habs will go with
Chara 83
Johnsson 79
Boyle 79
Zidlicky 74
Mitchell 74
as our top 5 Kudorc and Fahey will continue to round out our top 7

[nyrcrisfer]

Cheese did need a little shakeup so it could work for him this season. But Montreal definately got a good deal from their point of view. Habs have enough forward depth to deal Rado and not get hurt so he's a cheap price to pay to upgrade the blueline. And it's a pretty big upgrade, both for this year and next.