Hal Gill signs with the Montreal Canadiens

by Hooks Orpik on Jul 1, 2009 4:55 PM EDT in Pittsburgh Penguins free agents Comment 11 comments

Pittsburgh Penguins' Hal Gill (2) falls onto Washington Capitals' Alexander Ovechkin (8), of Russia, in front of Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, in Pittsburgh on Monday, May 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

6 months ago: Pittsburgh Penguins' Hal Gill (2) falls onto Washington Capitals' Alexander Ovechkin (8), of Russia, in front of Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, in Pittsburgh on Monday, May 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Two years, $2.25 million per season for the big defenseman to join Les Habs.

Gill reportedly took the offer back to the Penguins to see if they would/could match, but Ray Shero obviously decided not to.

Gill becomes the first significant member of the Penguins Stanley Cup winning team to move on. Acquired for a 2nd and 5th round pick at the trading deadline in 2008, Gill was a solid addition to the Pens blueline.

Three cheers for the USS Hal Gill.

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Later Gill. Enjoy the strip joints in Montreal.

Now, how bout the Scuderi guy?

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Jul 1, 2009 5:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not a big surprise. And not a terrible loss.

P is for Latrobe.

by holiday park on Jul 1, 2009 5:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Probably more sentimental than anything. Gill was a nice guy, a personable one and the Pens won with him. Personally I’ll miss that more than anything else.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Jul 1, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Luck Hal

Made some good contributions to the Penguins D, a big physical presence, but way too slow and out of position too much. Looking at the Cap, there was no way they were going to be able to keep him. Good Luck in Montreal HG.

by Dutch71 on Jul 1, 2009 5:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Too Bad, but not really

I’ll miss Gill’s reach and his cross checks to Holmstrom’s back. We’ll probably miss some of his abilities on the penalty kill…but his lack of speed and what he couldn’t do with the puck soften the blow. We need to keep scuds now, but we should be ok with our defense. Gill’s speed limited a lot of his physicality to the corners or in front of the net and too often he’d miss his poke-check with the 12000 ft reach and let the guy come out of the corner on the cycle.
Lovejoy can be another big physical defensemen and with the guys in front of him, can be put in situations to succeed and develope now.
Gill was a good D-man and was good on the team, but at that price, he deserves to take the money and run. Good luck to him and I wish him well but I don’t think we’ll miss him too much.

by Smooth555 on Jul 1, 2009 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for your contributions Hal…… best of luck!!!!

by ween on Jul 1, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great for us, but not a big loss

As everyones said above me, hopefully this clears the way for Scuderi to be brought back

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jul 1, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Losing Gill means the Pens MUST, MUST, MUST sign Scuderi. Otherwise, the shut down pair is GONE and replaced by Gogo and Lovejoy.

If forced to choose between Gill or Scuds I pick Scuds, but either way the Pens had to get at least one knowing that getting both was not going to happen.

Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying

by Dr Tre on Jul 1, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So long, Hal

He got his Stanley Cup and gave the Pens two very good playoff performances, so I would say they did right by him.

Heart, Max Talbot has it by the mile. The Pens are your 2008-2009 Stanley Cup Champions.

by Malsby on Jul 1, 2009 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

His size and “long reach” will be missed, but I’m okay with letting him go.

Now I can concentrate on biting my nails over Scuderi.

"Miracles require hard work."--Agent Gibbs, NCIS

by GreenEyedLilo on Jul 1, 2009 6:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nothing to say, but thanks!

Big contributor to this cup. I will always hold a place for him and Scuds as a great D pairing for the Pens. In the reality that is the NHL, some have to go.

by Ulf Murphy on Jul 2, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs