La meilleure équipe de la division???

Depuis quelques jours, Bob Gainey a reçu de la part du monde journalistique plus de pots que de fleurs. Pour eux, le CH a signé 3 attaquants inconstants, petits et surpayés. Il a aussi signé un des défenseur les moins mobile de la LNH en Hal Gill et un défenseur vieillissant en Spacek. Bref, pour eux, le travail de Gainey semblait se résumer par le titre de cet article paru sur Sportsnet : "Bad Management".

La situation est-elle à ce point dramatique? Absoluement pas, s'il faut en croire le journaliste Neil Keefe de NESN (New England Sports Network, un réseau de Boston, propriété des Red Sox et des Bruins). -lien -

Je copie ici les derniers paragraphes de son article :

Gainey went out and got himself two-thirds of the “EGG” line that won a Stanley Cup in New Jersey by trading for Scott Gomez and signing Brian Gionta. Just missing Patrick Elias from the 2002-03 Cup winners’ top line, the Canadiens did one better by signing the blossoming big-time goal scorer in Mike Cammalleri.

With what could be the most productive line in the game (though I’m sure fans in Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago will tell you otherwise), the Canadiens may have the best scoring punch in the Northeast. And with an improved defense that now includes Jaroslav Spacek and (gulp) Stanley Cup champion Hal Gill, the Habs have some much-needed experience at the point.

Some might point to the fact that Carey Price had a less-than-stellar postseason performance, but the young netminder will turn just 22 in August and will be between the pipes for the Canadiens for a long, long time. He has plenty of time to change hearts and minds in Montreal.

Right now, the Bruins have their work cut out for them as not only the Canadiens, but the Maple Leafs, Sabres and Senators also joined in on the free-agent fun. It’s hard to say who the best team in the Northeast is right now, but it’s also tough to think the Bruins are still the clear-cut favorite.

Have the Canadiens passed the Bruins as the team to beat in the Northeast? They might have.

Cela dit, le journaliste oublie un des ajouts majeurs de l'été : Jacques Martin. (et il perd beaucoup de crédibilité en croyant que Steve Bégin évolue à la défensive!!!)