What is the reaction in Montreal concerning the Huet trade then and now?

It's a double edge sword because Gainey did the right thing to trade Huet because he was going to become a UFA come July 1st and if he became a back up to Price he probably wouldn't re-sign. So Gainey made the right call. However, in being traded to Washington, Huet helped The Caps win the Southeast division, clinch a play-off berth, go the distance in 7 games in round one and only to lose the 7th game in OT. With all that, all Gainey got back in return for Huet was a 2nd round draft pick in 2009. So Gainey got severely short changed in that trade.

Now as for ESPN, I only heard about Hossa because the media here in Montreal kept saying it was a done deal and a rumor even went around on trade day here that the Habs already had a jersey an equipment ready for Hossa that day (coincidentally the Thrashers were in Montreal that day). Never heard a mention of Hedberg in the deal so I can't comment on that, only that we thought Gainey would take the chance and keep Huet and risk losing him for nothing.

There was also the rumor here that the Habs had a deal on the table for none other than Mats Sundin that the Leafs were in favor of but Sundin once again wouldn't waive his no trade clause.

hahaha you would rather listen to what espn was saying instead of listen to some of the more dedicated habs fans on this site. wow.

anyways when the trade happen on the peoples end they were calling murder on gainey's head, but on managements side they already knew that they had a great kid who has boatloads of potential to be an nhl goalie, and they also knew that the kid was good at dealing/handling pressure and more responsibility. anyone who had seen carey play would support gainey, and anyone who blindely loved huet (who wasn't even on top of his game most of this season, last season, etc...) were very mad.

my thing was why not keep huet in as backup and give carey price the 1 spot. i didn't have a problem with the habs declaring price #1, but to have two rookies, one starting and one as backup on your bid to win the stanley cup isn't usually a good idea. carey price is good, but he's not a phenom goalie. if you've seen montreal play, i personally thought it was an excuse that would allow price/carbo to become the scapegoat at the end of the season if the habs lost. and apparently gainey didn't want the saftey net of huet for carbo to use. i doubt it's an elaborate setup to see how the coach stands and manages his team, but time will tell.

and montrealers really respect the kid. granted some of them may be talking bad about gainey, but the kid is the future for this team. him and their young players.

holding Huet might want to had worked, as i trust Montreal develop into better defensively than Washington, the position he did not play all that undesirable. cost enable in some comfortable objectives tonight. yet they have him locked up at $850,000 in line with for next 2 seasons. So now we are able to work out if cost builds in this adventure or sinks. Gainey will both seem as if a genius or a fool, as maximum GM's are seen after a commerce.

I dont think Huet played all that great with Washington, but still played better than Price, and wouldve given Montreal a better chance to win

Price : now we have only one first goalie, he had 2 shutouts in 8 games, he has been eliminated in the second round and he is very young.

Huet : he has been eliminated in the first round and he were underestimated in Montreal.

it could have been a good trade but Montreal had only a second round choice in 2009 - there were only Hossa in the rumors I heard against Ryder, Higgins.. stuff like that

My reaction

The flyers beat them both would it have mattered