Re: The NHL Thread
 

Saw "copping a feel" getting love on the Twitter from Baicker. I :loled

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yep, I certainly agree that in a wide open East they've got a better chance at getting to the FINALS (probably even the playoffs with how the Central has gotten even better :lol ), but I was talking about actually winning a Cup. I suppose we could use the old "Once we're in the Finals anything can happen argument" and imagine a different outcome. I will say this, never count out the Red Wings.

I agree in terms with you of being unsure where he would fit if Alfredsson re-signs. Another almost 40 RW on a team that's getting younger?

I was actually legitimately bummed for you yesterday, my friend. Nothing seemed to pan out. Do you think they pursue a trade at this point? Sights set on Yandle?
I agree. Bolland is making too much money for the 3rd line role he will play, but it is what it is because of the Panthers. Offer more to get them there, and also to get to the cap floor. Plus, he'll need that money to buy some sunscreen, cuz that dude is PASTY.

I think another justification for giving that type of money to him is the leadership element. With his two Cups and proven playoff pedigree, they'll expect more from him than just on-ice play. Wouldn't be surprised to see a letter on his jersey at the start of the season, maybe even a C (him or Mitchell).

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Speaking of which, we've got the need for new captains this coming season on a number of teams, and you know me...

BUF: Gorges. Yeah, I know Gionta's already been a captain, but it just seems like it would be a good fit for a guy like Gorges on a team like the Sabres
CBJ: C'mon, just give it to Murray already
FLA: Bolland or Mitchell
MON: Pacioretty
NYR: Girardi
OTT: Phillips... for now.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol Great stuff from OMGCG. I love how they took the time to say, "alcohol is believed to have been involved."

Re: The NHL Thread
 

If you get to the finals anything can happen. I mean NYR gets a few breaks and you at least go to game 6. Heck they could have been up 2-0 in that series if they could hold a lead.

I'm bummed in a way but like I said, Boyle while nice didn't impress me, especially for basically $5mil a year. But what ya gonna do? These guys made up their own minds and it's a level playing field these days. And who knows with all the negative things said about Nisk yesterday, maybe it's better they didn't get him.

Yandle and Myers are still on the radar from most accounts, also a few other guys. Petry from Edmonton was one I read today but don't know much about him. He'd obviously be MUCH cheaper than the first two. We know Yandle is available so here's hoping the Wings pull the trigger. Yes it'll cost you some but you have a future still and a present. Myers I worry about. Talent is there but what if he can't turn it around? Then you give your division rival young players and assets to play against you for years to come and maybe Myers is gone in a few years. Yandle is my boy and other than being a lefty, what the Wings need and want. I mean

Kronwal - Ericsson
DeKeyser - Yandle
Quincey - Smith
Lashoff (they trade Kindl)

I like that.
@cotsonika 1m
What's the big deal? The Giroux thing is just a minor holding penalty.

OmgawwwwwwdCG

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Not a chance he would get it over McDonagh or Staal.

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If Holland is looking for a 4-5 defenseman, Petry is his guy. Fairly solid, but won't revolutionize the Wings D corps or anything like that.

Myers as a Red Wing is intriguing just because of his potential. He's not coming close to meeting it in Buffalo, but I would love to see what Babcock could do with him. He's an expert at squeezing everything he can out of his guys. Also wouldn't hurt to be surrounded with quality character guys who've been around the block a few times like Ericsson and Kronwall.

That tweet is hilarious. Best I've seen yet.

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I think he would be the perfect captain. A great lead-by-example guy. McDonagh would be awesome as well. :thumbsup

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:lol:lol:lol

But seriously, he's an idiot.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

i see the NHL, and the caps specifically, are eager to overpay former penguins

yikes, especially to that orpik deal...happy for the guy, orpik is my favorite penguin of all time, but 27 mil? caps gonna regret these deals, unless they win a cup like, now

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Don't really see an issue with the Niskanen deal

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Chris, Marty, and Bonzo, I can't tell you how much I love the Brad Richards signing. It easily has the potential to be on the best of the offseason in terms of what Richards can do compared to the money/term, and how it succinctly addresses a long-standing need in Chicago. He seemed a bit past his prime in NYR, but who knows what the change of scenery and coming to the Hawks could do for him? And for a year at $2 million? Hell yeah.

Other winners from yesterday, IMO:
- Dallas. After one day, they have two legitimate top two scoring lines
- Buffalo. They overpaid in order to get to the cap floor, but in the process added some good leadership pieces who should help the rebuilding process along. I don't think yesterday makes them SC contenders - they probably won't even challenge for the playoffs - but I think they took steps in the right direction
- Pittsburgh. Added a solid, relatively inexpensive backup in Greiss and put themselves in a good "let's see how this works" situation with Ehrhoff.
- Tampa Bay. Can't tell you how much I love Brian Boyle. The Nabokov signing was astute.
- Calgary* - Has an * because I love the Hiller signing, but think the Engelland deal was easily one of the worst of the day.

Iffy still on Avs and Iginla. Like I said last night on my tirade, I love having him on the team, but I don't love the price we paid. If we could have not signed him at all and used the money to get someone like Niskanen, I would've been happy. But I do really like the Stuart acquisition.

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my issue is that i don't think he's worth nearly 6 mil a year, he played his contract situation perfectly

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Yeah this. Maybe he ends up worth it, but the thing is, we don't know. I see the skepticism here with the deal. Maybe all the critics are wrong but the guy has only had one good year.

edit: Marty Lapointe did that in 2001. Always a great secondary player, scored 27 goals that year and got a 4 or 5 year deal worth over $5mil per. Never scored more than 17 again and only did that once I think.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

he might, i was always a nisky guy, love how he plays but i just don't see that contract being a smart signing

could be wrong though

caps are going to have, what, 11.5 mil wrapped up each year in nisky and orpik alone? just sounds irresponsible to me

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah I mean I get all of that. But Niskanen was the guy to get leading into FA, Brian MacLellan went out and got him, and is now being crucified for it. By media and fans alike. 100% of Caps fan would've said on June 30 that the Caps number one need was actual NHL level defenseman. BMac goes and gets two of them, and now we all scream for McPhee back (the guy who added zero defenders via free agency in 16 seasons). So I dunno. Kinda seems like having your cake and eating it too. The Caps improved the quality of their defensive core significantly yesterday. That's a win in my book. Did they overpay? Yeah probably, but pretty much everyone else did too.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Guys they needed but high prices. For Nisk it's unproven and for Orpik he's old and doesn't give you much value at that price. , he's making more than Duncan Keith. But cap goes up and yeah he's paid a lot, but it might not hurt you as much in a few years cap-wise.

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Also, Mike Green's contract does expire at season's end, which frees up $6mil more. I expect them to try and trade him, unsuccessfully

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Yeah not at that price. I'd take him for half his price for a season.

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When you watch Niskanen from a fundamental level, strip away team and all that stuff, you see he's got all the necessary talent to be successful at a high level in the NHL. He's got fantastic on-ice vision that leads to a great first pass and makes him adept at running a PP. He's a good judge in his own end and is able to gauge and match speed (probably the hardest thing for an NHL defenseman to learn how to do) of just about any forward - this doesn't mean he needs to be as fast as them, just means he needs to put himself in a position to move them off the puck. He's also a good situational player; he seems to know when is the right time to poke check, body check, block a shot, etc. These fundamental skills are what it takes to succeed on any team.

But, I'm of course looking through rosy colored glasses if I think the NHL is all about just having fundamental skills. So much rides on the situation a player finds himself in. The Caps took steps to improving their D core, and Niskanen is a big part of that. I'm very interested to see how the Caps as a whole play with a new coach and two effective defensemen. Despite Orpik's ridiculous contract, he is the type of guy they were missing and needed.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Exactly. The contracts might seem high, and obviously Orpik's is, but they needed help very desperately. And they got it

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fair enough, just an outsider's opinion after watching those guys every night...the caps def got better on the blue line, it's not the talent i'd be worried about, it's the $



haha no one is going to trade for green

sure, nisky is fundamentally sound, but how much of leading the league in +/- and powerplay prowess was system generated? we'll find out in october i guess

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Orpik's contract is still morbidly obese.

The Nisky contract is surprisingly modest IMO. Fully expected him to be offered somewhere around $7 million for 5 years after seeing what the rest of the market looked like. The term of seven years for a guy that overachieved in his contract year is risky, but was probably what sold him on the deal.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yep, that's what I meant by my rosy-colored glasses comment. The success of ANY player is due in part to the team and system he is a part of. That's part of what makes hockey great. No successful hockey player is an island... something Ovechkin has yet to learn.

But the point I was trying to make with my "fundamentals" comment is Niskanen has the skills that should theoretically help him be successful in ANY system. It's that foundational layer of hockey sense and skill that everyone strives to build off. Niskanen's got it. It's what every hockey player worth his pads aspires to be: the type of guy that can be used in any situation and any given time.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yea i agree, like i said im a nisky guy, but that contract is sticking out like sore thumb next to orpik's, thats all

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Bitch got paid, that's for sure. :thumbsup

I still can't believe Orpik got that kind of money though. And I think I saw somewhere today that he got like a $5 million signing bonus???

I have no problem with the Niskanen contract. Go compare his numbers last year to PK's and tell me PK couldn't get the contract Nisk just got, if not more.

Orpik's contract is so bad. So so so bad. Orpik is bad too.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

So who's left for today?

Grabovski
Vrbata
Alredsson (Detroit or retirement on him though, right Tim?)
Brodeur
Legwand

Who am I missing?