My views on the upcoming offseason for the Canadiens...

Hey all!

It's been a slow week on the blog so far. But if a post on the Canadiens can't spark interest again, I don't knoe what can.

So, we've hear it all so far. There's rumours going around that Lecavalier could be coming to Montreal for Aebischer. People are talking about the Canadiens making a run at a #1 defensemen, and the names of Chara, Redden, Jovanovski and Lidstrom have been mentioned. it is also said that the Canadiens are looking at bringing in Jason Arnott and Tie Domi, and that Bob Gainey might have an eye on getting Todd Bertuzzi.

Well, first, let's put to rest some of these rumours. As sad as it may be, Lecavalier will not be in a Montreal uniform next year. I don't think Jay Feaster will trade. In my mind, Feaster would prefer to get less than market value for Martin St.Louis can getting a fair exchange for Lecavalier. Lets' face it: Lecavalier is exteremly popular in Tampa. This year, we saw Mike O'Connell get sacked for trading Joe Thornton, and I do not think that Feaster would dare take the same road. That being said, the reports of Feaster and Gainey talking are apparently true. If something ever gets done between those 2 teams, we might indeed see Aebischer move to Tampa, perhaps with Mike Ribeiro or Michael Ryder following, in exchange for a Ruslan Fedotenko or Frederik Modin. But Lecavalier will stay put.

As for getting a big-time defenseman, again, I don't think that will happen through free agency. It looks like Ottawa will be able to retain Redden. Chara might be on his way out, but he would prefer to play in the NY area. Lidstrom will stay in Detroit. As for Jovanovski, there are 2 possible scenarios: either the Canucks trade Bertuzzi and sign Jovo, or he's deading to the Panthers.

Which brings us to Big Bert... is there a chance he might end up in Montreal? Maybe. But it is a very small chance. First, the Canadiens biggest bait right now is Aebischer (taking for granted Gainey will resign Huet). But the Canucks already have Dan Cloutier and Alex Auld, who played really well this year. After that, the Canadiens could offer Ribeiro, but the 'Nucks are set at center. So that leaves Michael Ryder. They could package him with Sheldon Souray, and there's been talks about such a trade happening. But will someone offer more? My bet is yes.

So we are left with Jason Arnott. I think there is an 80% chance of him winding up in Montreal as a free agent. He knows Carbonneau and Gainey very well, and more importantly, they know him very well. He could become that dangerous 2nd center the Canadiens so desperately need. His arrival would probably mean that Ribeiro will be shopped around the league. My guess is, he will be shipped somewhere in the western conference for a 3rd or 4th defenseman. I also think Huet will stay, and I don't believe Aebischer will be leaving. The Canadiens would do well to enter the season with both, making goaltending a position of strenght on the roster.

Bob Gainey likes to build from within, and so I don't see Montreal being that active in free agency. I think he will make a run at Georges Laraque, and he might get him. He'll likely bring Arnott in the fold. And with Sundstrom, Ribeiro, Bulis and Zednik likely heading elsewhere, it will make room for a couple of young guys to come up. If he can get a solid, physical (if unspectacular) defenseman and keep his goaltending duo, he will turn the Canadiens into serious contenders.

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People are talking in the land of Led Zeppelin fans, as well as in the land of Tea Party fans. Rumours of a collaboration between famed Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and Tea Party mastermind Jeff Martin started a few months ago when, after releasing his first solo record, martin made allusions to the partnership in interviews. What's the link, you will ask?

First, Martin and Page are acquaintances from long ago. Back in 1995, when Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (for those who don't know, he was the singer for Led Zeppelin) played in the Montreal Forum, a young band by the name of The Tea Party opened for them. After the show, Page met Martin and the two became friends. And it doesn't stop here. The drummer on Jeff Martin's solo record, Michael Lee, was also behind the drums when Page and Plant recorded 'Walking into Clarksdale' and played with them throughout the world tour.

So the story goes that after spending a week in Ireland working with Jeff Martin, Lee told him about secret sessions he and Page had, where they recorded 16 songs. They tried to get Robert Plant back in the fold, but Plant already had his 'Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation' project going on. So Lee asked Page about getting Martin in to write lyrics and perform vocals, and apparently Page loved the idea.

So, right now, rumours are swirling around that Jimmy Page and Jeff Martin have actually spent some time in the studio together (none of this is confirmed) and that the new stuff sounds very middle-eastern-ish. One thing I've learned though, is that rumours in the music business are a lot less likely to happen than in sports. So, I'm not taking anything for granted. But Jimmy Page and Jeff Martin are two of the greatest artists rock n' roll has ever blessed with. And if such a partnership ever happens, we might be treated to one of the great rock albums of all time. In my mind, such a project would likely bring Page back into the limelight, and could become Martin's crowning achievement. As a big music fan, all I kind do for now is cross my fingers and hope this doesn't fall between the cracks, as so many projects are doomed to.

Dwarf out.