Halak to the Blues

[glen a richter]

HOLY CRAP!

[xbleed83bluex]

We could have just kept Eller and signed Ben Bishop as a number one, re-signing Mason for one more year as a backup to see how things pan out, then Bishop could be our consistent number one eventually.

[JPonder94]

We could have just kept Eller and signed Ben Bishop as a number one, re-signing Mason for one more year as a backup to see how things pan out, then Bishop could be our consistent number one eventually.

Bishop isn't going to be NHL quality. Sorry.

[glen a richter]

We could have just kept Eller and signed Ben Bishop as a number one, re-signing Mason for one more year as a backup to see how things pan out, then Bishop could be our consistent number one eventually.

Bishop isn't going to be NHL quality. Sorry.

I was on the Bishop train for a long time, but he just isn't going to be the one.

Jake Allen maybe, but time will tell on him. I'm happy with Halak + the other guy they traded for today replacing Eller.

[DaDitka]

We could have just kept Eller and signed Ben Bishop as a number one, re-signing Mason for one more year as a backup to see how things pan out, then Bishop could be our consistent number one eventually.

Bishop isn't going to be NHL quality. Sorry.

Not even close. I doubt he'll ever be a solid #2 in the league.

I'm glad to see the organization has finally realized that as well.

You know what I really like about this move (besides it means the end of Mason who could put up stats but could steal a game to save his life), Montreal fans are pissed! All over they are talking about how they traded the wrong goalie.

[hullisgod]

What a suprising trade. As Blues fans we always have a few guys we follow through the minors with hopes they will transform our team and for me Eller was one of them. I was really hoping he was going to be an impact player, but we just got what we all have wanted for a long long time. Halak showed everything you would want from a #1 goalie playing in a market with ridiculous pressure. At 25 he should be our #1 for many years to come.

Eller might go on to be a point per game player, but I would rather a goalie who can put a team on his back when needed.

[jaro]

First timer. I look forward to being a positive poster. I love that we have Halak and (probably/hopefully) the stud in goal we have all been saying is a gotta get for us to truly reach a higher level of Blues Hockey. However. I don't believe Montreal got skinned in this trade. I hated to see Eller go. He will provide the Habs with a true star with near ppg production and do it with an attitude.

As others have stated today...here's hoping he isn't crushed by expectations. I'm betting he has the stones to deal with it and steps up. Hope he does and wish him well.

[joosforjihad]

Great move. Potential and promise for results and 9 playoff victories (cough Roman Turek cough). Sorry, didn't really intend to invite that comparison. Eller may turn out to be an upper echelon forward, but in hockey a lights out goalie trumps any goal scorer; see Halak V. Crosby and Ovechkin. I just hope management can get him to sign something like 3 years 15 mil as opposed to some obscene Luongo or DiPietro type deal. If we can make strides and maybe win a playoff game or two, there will be plenty of time for 30 year trillion dollar contracts when he's in his late twenties.

Completely OT: I, along with Mexico and most of Ireland, am enjoying France's 250+ minute goalless drought and their prompt exit from the tournament.

[section319]

I don't think Halak is going to command that much more money than Mason was wanting. I believe Strickland's newest article he said Mason was looking to get $3.75 mil and that Halak is going to be wanting around $4 mil. So, really the salaries are a wash between gaining Halak and losing Mason.

I think this is a big deal trade and will be well worth it on our part. I don't think it is as much of a gamble as some of you guys think it is. You guys are worried Halak just had a flash in the pan season, but Eller is guarunteed to pan out? I mean I hate to lose Eller too, but Halak was an absolute stud last season and in the play-offs. It also makes me feel better that the Montreal fans are pissed they lost Halak. They knew they were going to have to get rid of one of the goalies and from the reaction of Montreal fans I think they'd rather have gotten rid of Price. All I can say is thank god we didn't get Price. Price may have all the potential in the world, but he has really had trouble finding his game after his rookie season.

Saw this posted over at the Asylum.. http://blog.fagstein.com/wp-content/upl ... -Trade.mp3

Feels nice to see the Blues getting attention, of course on the The Post's homepage there is no sign of this trade, but you can read an article about Skip's batting avg. I know this is nothing new in this city and it is baseball season, but it still irks me a little bit.

Why doubt this trade already? Being a Blues fan isn't a very rewarding thing to be if you like to win or see your team make blockbuster trades, so might as well enjoy the fact that as we sit right now, we have an all-star goalie and arguably one of the best players in the playoffs last year. It is a good day to be a Blues fan.

[dmiles2186]

Halak had some pretty decent numbers even in the regular season. He went 26-13-5 this past season with a 2.40 GAA and .924 save percentage. If I'm not mistaken, that save % was near the top of the league. This was the regular season, never mind the postseason when he shut down two of the league's best offenses. I woke up today and said to my wife, "We got a goalie!" It is still hitting me how sneaky of a deal this was. My wife doesn't care really, but I'm just giddy about the deal. This is awesome. Sign Halak and let's add some talent around him. If we can buy out Brewer or Jackman or get those guys out of here in some way, I'll feel even better about this team going into 2010-2011.

[DaDitka]

I hated to see Eller go. He will provide the Habs with a true star with near ppg production and do it with an attitude.

Welcome!


But as for PPG......Eller has never shown any indication at any level that he's anywhere near that kind of player so why would he suddenly put up those kind of numbers at the highest level of competition?

If Eller pans out, he projects as a possible 20 maybe 25 goal scorer down the road. Not bad, but just bear in mind the organization has been overselling everyone of these kids to sell tickets without spending too much. Just because JD and and some of the player loving media around town have talked these guys up, doesn't make them legit top end prospects. He projected to be a nice 'guy', you know maybe an OK second liner. I'll trade that for a possible #1 goaltender any day. Especially if it mean we're not going to waste more seasons treading water with Mason.

[gaijin]

Halak wants 4 million? For ONE postseason? Yeah, if he performs at that level for a couple seasons in a row, sure. 4 million NOW? Dunno. Not my decision, not my money, so who cares!

No problem if he gives up rebounds- other team's forwards get right around our defensemen anyway, so the rebounds should go right to them!

Although I should clarify- I'm still pretty stoked about acquiring him!

[SteveO]

I don't think anyone has heard a word about what he WANTS to make, just ballparking what we THINK he'll get.

Hiller's the closest comparison I can find and he got 4 years 18M after his breakout playoff performance.

[ViPeRx007]

I don't think Halak is going to command that much more money than Mason was wanting. I believe Strickland's newest article he said Mason was looking to get $3.75 mil and that Halak is going to be wanting around $4 mil. So, really the salaries are a wash between gaining Halak and losing Mason.

I think this is a big deal trade and will be well worth it on our part. I don't think it is as much of a gamble as some of you guys think it is. You guys are worried Halak just had a flash in the pan season, but Eller is guarunteed to pan out? I mean I hate to lose Eller too, but Halak was an absolute stud last season and in the play-offs. It also makes me feel better that the Montreal fans are pissed they lost Halak. They knew they were going to have to get rid of one of the goalies and from the reaction of Montreal fans I think they'd rather have gotten rid of Price. All I can say is thank god we didn't get Price. Price may have all the potential in the world, but he has really had trouble finding his game after his rookie season.

Saw this posted over at the Asylum.. http://blog.fagstein.com/wp-content/upl ... -Trade.mp3

Feels nice to see the Blues getting attention, of course on the The Post's homepage there is no sign of this trade, but you can read an article about Skip's batting avg. I know this is nothing new in this city and it is baseball season, but it still irks me a little bit.

Why doubt this trade already? Being a Blues fan isn't a very rewarding thing to be if you like to win or see your team make blockbuster trades, so might as well enjoy the fact that as we sit right now, we have an all-star goalie and arguably one of the best players in the playoffs last year. It is a good day to be a Blues fan.

That song is gold.

[cprice12]

Apparently Minnesota wanted Eller as well and offered Harding.

[dmiles2186]

Apparently Minnesota wanted Eller as well and offered Harding.

Hmm...Harding was on my radar (not that it matters to Blues management, of course) for a long time. You wonder if they asked just a bit more in terms of another piece in the trade. Or maybe the price was the same and upper management just wanted Halak more.

[cprice12]

Blues pull off a trade shocker
[url]http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/blues/story/96563F4272387FEE86257746000ACADD?OpenDocument
JUNE 17, 2010 -- The Blues traded Lars Eller (right) for Jaroslav Halak of the Montreal Canadiens.
By Jeremy Rutherford
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/18/2010



As stunning as Jaroslav Halak's performance in the Stanley Cup playoffs was this season, his trade to the Blues Thursday for a pair of prospects might have topped it.

The move was met with shock in both Montreal and St. Louis. Halak had appeared to earn the No. 1 job with the Canadiens, and the Blues, meanwhile, were in negotiations to re-sign Chris Mason.

But that all took a wild turn Thursday when the Blues finalized a deal with Montreal for Halak and notified Mason that they were moving on. The club gave up promising forward prospect Lars Eller, the 13th overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft, and forward Ian Schultz, a third-round pick in 2008.
MORE BLUES

"We explored all options, from re-signing 'Mase' to looking at the goalies available (in free agency)," Blues President John Davidson said. "We've been studying the market place since early last season. This is what it comes down to .. Montreal had to make a decision (about which of its two goalies to keep) and we were able to put a deal together.

"It's not an easy deal to make. ... We gave up two young players we respect and like. You've got to give to get. ... We've worked hard to build up assets, and once you do, that's when you can do something. It's a good, smart deal for the Blues."

The Blues are getting one of the top young goaltenders in the NHL in the Slovakian-born Halak (5-foot-11, 182 pounds), who turned 25 last month. His record in last year's regular season was 26-13-5 with a .924 save-percentage, which ranked fourth in the league, and a 2.40 goals-against average, which ranked ninth.

In the playoffs, Halak was No. 1 in the NHL in save-percentage (.923), second in wins (9) and third in GAA (2.55). He led Montreal to the Eastern Conference finals, helping knock out Washington and Pittsburgh with Game 7 wins.

"When you think of where he was drafted (9th round in 2003), and the road he's had to take to become who he is today, he's excelled in all areas," Davidson said. "The East Coast (Hockey) League right up through the NHL and the playoffs. He helped Montreal get into the playoffs, he played well in the playoffs, he played well in the Olympics. ... We're just simply excited to have him here in St. Louis."

Many are wondering how Halak became available. Carey Price, who was the league's fifth overall pick in 2005, surrendered the starting job in mid-December and finished with a regular-season record of 13-20-5 with a 2.77 GAA and a .912 save-percentage. Price played in only four playoff games, in which he was 0-1 with a 3.56 GAA and an .890 save-percentage.

But when Blues incoming general manager Doug Armstrong contacted the Canadiens recently, he learned the unexpected. "The initial call was just to say, 'We may be in the market for a goaltender,'" Armstrong said. "They had two young goaltenders. I asked (Pierre Gauthier) what direction he was going to go in. He told me he was going to keep Carey and make Jaro available. That spurred the conversation to the first phase of the assets he would need back."

In the meantime, the Blues were negotiating with Mason's agent, Tom Laidlaw, about a contract extension. The two sides spoke on June 7 and again on Wednesday. Laidlaw said that he was told the Blues would get back to him Friday. Instead, he heard from them Thursday, but it was to notify him that they had made the trade.

"We were moving along trying to get a deal done," Laidlaw said. "They gave us every indication they wanted Chris to be the guy. They owe Chris nothing ... he's a big boy ... but they led us to believe we were working toward a deal and they had to have some internal meetings. I don't expect them to say, 'Hey Tom, we're working on a trade,' but it wasn't the way I would've handled it."

Said Davidson: "That's one man's opinion."

Mason learned of the Halak trade during a phone call with Armstrong.

"I was pretty shocked," said Mason, who will become a free agent July 1 after compiling a record of 57-43-15 with a 2.47 GAA in two seasons with the Blues. "We had been talking the last couple of weeks, and I felt pretty good about getting a deal done this week.

"It was just a matter of getting confirmation and getting everything in order. It was delayed a couple of times and now we know the reason why. I'd be lying if I didn't say it was disappointing. I loved being a St. Louis Blue and I thought I was going to continue to be."

But now the Blues' crease belongs to Halak, who also expressed surprise.

"I don't know a lot (about the Blues), but I spoke to the GM and he told me about the team ... that they have a young team," Halak said. "I'm very happy to be there and be a part of a young team."

Halak, whose agent, Allan Walsh, had no conversations with Montreal about a contract extension, will be a restricted free agent on July 1. He does hold arbitration rights and Gauthier admitted that Halak's potential contract demands played a part in the Canadiens' decision to trade him.

"We have not talked contract with Jaro yet," Armstrong said. "I had a great conversation with the player and his agent and told him how excited we are to have him part of the Blues' family. He's a player that falls right into the age group of all of our young players ... We think that we've added a young piece, a 25-year-old, that can fit in and grow with this team."

Eller, 21, played in seven games with the Blues last season, scoring two goals. He had 18 goals and 39 assists in 70 games with the Peoria Rivermen, the Blues' American Hockey League affiliate. Schultz, 20, played the last four seasons in the Western Hockey League.

In another trade Thursday, the Blues acquired forward T.J. Hensick from Colorado for minor-league forward Julian Talbot. Hensick, 24, has played 68 games with the Avs the past two seasons, posting five goals and 19 assists. Talbot spent the last three seasons in Peoria.[/url]

[DaDitka]

Apparently Minnesota wanted Eller as well and offered Harding.

Guess that shows how little they (Minnesota) thought of Eller.......if they thought we would swap him for Harding.

[cprice12]

[youtube][/youtube]

[jaro]

DaDitka, thanks for the welcome! You, of course, are correct sir, he has yet to show ppg skill. I wont't/can't say I am sure he will but it is just one of those feeling you get way down in the scrotal area. I just believe he is going to be a bonafide stud. Good hands, sense, vision and plays with a tude. Isn't afraid of the corners or the boards. I wish him well, no matter what level of success he reaches. But, DaDitka, remember...you heard it here FIRST!!