Re: The NHL Thread
 

Per capfriendly, he as a modified NTC and a NMC. For the NTC they say he can list 18 teams he would be traded to. The rumors are that NMC players have to be protected. He doesn't strike as guy who would screw the team out of spite and would agree to be moved. Not too many quality markets need a goalie right now though. Next summer Vancouver will need a goalie. Seems like a nice city.

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I feel like it's come out for sure that only players with with no movement clauses will be automatically protected, but no trade clauses don't guarantee protection. I may be wrong about that, I haven't been following expansion details super closely.

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Subban is an excellent skater

and if you're factoring in postseason success for him then you have to do it for everyone...seems unfair

Subban makes a Power Play so hard to defend...if he ever learns how to defend in his own end he'll be incredible

man, you guys are all over Pietrangelo...i don't see it

stop stop stop i don't wanna think about MAF leaving :(

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I honestly didn't know the difference between NTC and NMC. It will be interesting to see what happens.

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NMC you are not going anywhere. Can't waive, trade, send to minors...nothing. But a NTC just says you can't be traded which you wouldn't do in an expansion draft.

I'm very happy the Wings have 0 NMC so they can protect who they want.

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http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2016/06/16/...-fleury-trade/

And there's that....

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yea there were rumors flying about Calgary all week

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When it comes to all around defense, he's right up there. Fantastic skater, can play equally effectively on the PK and PP, has fantastic vision which makes him one of the better passers in the game. Isn't overly physical but can play a physical game. And great instincts in his own zone. The hardest part about playing defense in hockey is being positionally sound. He's got that in spades.

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Not shocked. Jimmy Howard has been rumored to go there too. They need a goalie.

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For Matty, Sakic (the 2nd best #19 behind Yzerman) saying Tyson Barrie will not be traded.

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yea i mean, admittedly i don't watch a ton of Blues hockey but he just seems solid, nothing overly spectacular

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yup and they have cap space IIRC

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Ha! Sakic will always be #1 in my heart. And of all the Red Wings out there, Yzerman and Lidstrom are the ones I just can't bring myself to hate. At best, I will say Yzerman and Sakic are both #1, if for slightly different reasons.
You're right - he is extremely solid, which is exactly what you want for a #1 defenseman. Someone that can step into any situation against any player and be effective. Subban can play on the PP and Hjalmarsson can shut down another team's best line, but someone like Pietrangelo can do both. He's cut from the same cloth as Duncan Keith and OEL.

You're perfectly describing the old adage about defenseman: You never notice the good ones until they mess up. If you don't notice them, they're doing their job. That's how Pietrangelo is, and that's why he sticks in my top 10 over more one-dimensional players like Byfuglien and Subban

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believe me i appreciate the unnoticed defenseman. i got to watch Brooks Orpik for a decade in his prime. and to me, Pietrangelo doesn't even come close to an Orpik in his prime (but again, i don't watch the Blues nearly as much)

i also think Subban's salary hurts his image in the hockey world...he's way overpaid. but if he was making a more reasonable salary, i think he'd be rated higher by more people.

but anytime a team has to game plan for an opposing defenseman (like Subban, Letang, Doughty, Karlsson etc.) they are someone i value highly. especially if we can get back to the 90's ways of smaller goalie pads, more penalties called and higher scores in general.

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I believe fleurys nmc is for 12 teams. Gotta think he is gone though. Just the way he lifted the cup.

Also wouldnt mind getting kunitz cap off the books.

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Could see fleury to dallas for someone like nuke.

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I think Dallas has enough goalies.

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Agree completely on your view of Subban and Hjalmarsson - and that is not me just being a homer. Guy is just a stubborn lock down D man who blocks shots and rarely shows up on the score sheet.

Yeah, Subban is a good skater but objectively speaking he is not even in the same ballpark as the other defensemen that have been noted.

I only mentioned his postseason success to contrast his relative lack of success in the regular season.

Yeah, he is rock solid the power play but he has more of an offensive mindset than defensive mindset every shift, PP or not. Add in that he takes far more penalties than he is worth and you have a guy who is a fan favorite but quite over-rated IMO.

Agreed that he is a sub par defenseman in his own zone. I'd love to say he'd mature a bit but he's been in the league too long for me to believe he will suddenly turn a page.

Pietrangelo is a stud on D and helps out a lot on offense. He is one of those guys any team would want anchoring their top D line IMO.

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no way...doesn't really make sense for either team

Dallas is already clustered at goalie and the Pens need draft picks and defensemen

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if Matt Cooke can do it, anyone can.

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I get that sometimes you have a small sample size in terms of how much you watch a guy play. But try to take in a few Blues games next season and I know you'll see what I'm talking about. You're a smart guy.

Subban is a strong NHL player, but not a strong defenseman... if that makes sense. That's why he doesn't crack my list.

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god damn it Matty

i was so ready for hockey to be over after the long run by the Pens but now, after this discussion, i just wanna watch again :lol

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Regarding Pietrangelo, I get that you don't watch him that often since he is on St. Louis, different conference, different time zone so they rarely face the Pens. As a Chicago fan the bastard has been frustrating the Hawks for 6 years now - hell without him I doubt they beat the Hawks in that first round, he played amazing.

Agree on Subban's salary, he just does not warrant that contract.

Yeah, they sure do - problem is that they are all equally capable of shutting out a team one night and then giving up 5 goals the next game. Also worth noting is that outside of Jordie Benn and johnny Oduya their defense is very subpar for a good team hoping to win a cup. Bad D and inconsistent goaltending is not a recipe for a deep playoff run regardless of how much firepower they have on offense.

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John Lidstro--- I mean, Klingberg.

Kid's got it.

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Oh don't act like he is John Scott who can change his play style well into his career! :lol

Agreed, to use a soccer example he would be a perfect fit in the midfield. Very capable of attacking but not all that great defending anyone with a lot of skill.

Oh just get the DVD when it comes out! That's what I did when the Hawk's won last year and after the initial euphoria wore off I was thinking 'shit, no more hockey for a while!' :)

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:lol Glad I could help.

But seriously, it opens up a whole new world when you're watching hockey just to see how a specific player plays. Especially defensemen, since so much of what they do doesn't immediately involve the puck or where the eye is naturally drawn. Give it a shot next season - just watch the defensemen, no matter where the puck is. You'd be surprised at how hard it is at first... your eye naturally wants to follow the puck... but it really helps you notice cool intricacies of the game. And yes, I fully acknowledge that you're a good hockey fan already and already appreciate many of those intricacies. Definitely not a noob.

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You are right, I forgot about him. Kid has it and truthfully if I were the Dallas GM I would protect him over Goligoski (who is solid himself but getting older and takes too many dumb penalties) if it comes to an expansion draft.

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yea i'll focus on a specific player from time to time, especially in the regular season when the intensity in significantly down compared to the playoffs

but i do need to make it a point to watch more western conference games in general. i try, i really try to catch matchups that intrigue me. but then midnight hits and i still have the whole 3rd period to go and it becomes a chore :shrug

maybe i should DVR some west coast game then speed watch them w/o commercials the next day

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H2P will get it immediately by just watching a couple periods. Pietrangelo shuts down passing lanes, blocks shots, clears the zone and can start a charge up ice with the best of them.

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Im not sure the way he lifted the cup has anything to do with him staying around. He didnt feel part of the playoff run, thats understandable.

Also, Kunitz has one more year on his contract, I dont see him going anywhere, especially after how he played in the playoffs. Getting him onto a 3rd line role would be ideal.