Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I don't think they do it. Just seeing what he's worth. The longer it goes the more likely they buy him out.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Letang ends up signing for 8 years and 58mil. Goodbye much flexibility starting next year.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

They'll be fine. With the ntc to only half the teams, it'll be a movable contract if need be in a few years. Plus the cap is going to go up. there is a risk, but He'd likely get a lot more than that on the market.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

That's a lot of money for a mediocre defenseman that can score a lot.

Oh sorry....ZOMG Shero is teh best!!1

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Bron gonna Bron. You are such an idiot

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Good argument. Letang is still average (at best for a defenseman) in his own zone and they are paying him like he's an elite d-man. Yes he is very talented offensively but $7m+ a year for him when he is a year from free agency? That seems like an overpay.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I talked to Boyd last night. He said Seth Jones is going to go 1st overall.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Allan Walsh @walsha Talking with some NHL people who say the League is projecting the Upper Limit to go up 33% over 3 years. That's a $80M Upper limit.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Pens have 8 players signed for $45mil. That's a lot. In a few years will have some relief but cap going up next year won't be much.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

And our boy Dreger reporting what our tranny Jackets fan is not gonna like, shopping Bob since he wants $6mil+. That's a lot for a guy who hasn't proven anything yet. I understand him wanting it but also understand CBJ not wanting to hand it out.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

26 year old Norris finalist Kris Letang is only worth $1m-$1.5m more than 35 year old Mark Streit and 39 year old Sergei Gonchar. The pens pool of blueline prospects makes the decision to re-sign Letang even easier. We can fill out the rest of the blueline with guys on entry-level contracts over the next 3-4 years, with Letang leading the way. He is still at a bargain basement price of 3.5 next year, so even if the cap doesn't go up that much after, PIT only needs one ELC to come through as a top4 D and they are at a good. Otherwise he can still be shopped next summer after PIT used up his cheap years and everyone else has seen some more star contracts after in the new CBA signed an is over this idea that everyone should be compared to whatever Boyle or Pronger signed half a decade ago.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Watch Philly try to trade for him.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The current Boston Bruins have 41 million tied up amongst 8 guys, as do the Kings.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

And that's a lot is all I'm saying. Those are the decisions you have to make. I'm just surprised they didn't trade him with all the young talent on D everyone says they have.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

As for Philly and Bob it wouldn't surprise me but with the $$ he wants it won't happen. How about Bryz signing with CBJ? lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

yeah, my gut was telling me he'd be traded. it was playing exactly like the staal situation last year. apparently the deal isnt actually complete yet, so maybe he does. i think at the end of the day, shero probably feels better about giving letang this deal than going with 4 or 5 rooks in a year when orpik and martin are gone.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Hilarious overpayment by Pittsburgh. Letang is a top teir offensive talent on the blue line, yes, but when you have $48 million committed to 7 players now next season...that's a problem.

It becomes even more of a problem when one of those is a goaltender that really needs solid defensive defenseman in front of him (which has been made painfully obvious the last two playoffs) and Letang isn't one of those.

Everyone saying that they can just "shop MAF" if they have to...TO WHO? Who is going to take a struggling goaltender? It sounds nice in your head, but you still have to find someone to actually take him and his contract. And unless you find some solid defenseman in their own end VERY fast, he's going to continue to struggle.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Its really not. He'd get a ton more on the market. Look at what Streit and Gonchar got. Teams pay for Offensive dmen.


and now Lebrun saying Bob and the jackets are close on a deal. :lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Was just gonna come to post the LeBrun report. A quick turn around there.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Very quick. Makes you wonder if one side leaked that to get things moving.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

This is always my least favorite argument out there.

Just because he'd fetch more on the open market, doesn't mean that Pittsburgh can afford to pay them what they did.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I was watching NHL Network last night and they were doing NHL Combine stuff. The part I caught was the interview process with Seth Jones and the Blue Jackets. The GM of the BJs really has his shit together. I'm impressed.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Imagine if Orr was playing in his prime now?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

That is true. At the same time, the team would better with him than without. To be honest, i see both sides here, but i think that with the cap going up, its a no brainer.

Hawks are reportedly shopping Nick Leddy....

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Agree to disagree. I think it's an overpayment for Pitt to be making it. Now if someone else made it? It makes sense, but I don't see Pitt getting better by this signing, and they're really making life difficult for themselves later.

They need a stay at home defenseman that's really solid in his own end. Hjalmarsson-esque. At least one, if not two, of those types of guys.

I realize Hjalmarsson's don't just grow on trees, and he's an incredible talent as a stay at home defenseman, but they need guys that play like that. MAF is absolutely more talented than Crawford between the pipes, but you get guys like Hjalmarsson, Seabrook, Oduya, etc. that protect your goaltender, and you mask a lot of inadequacies.

I could get on my soapbox about how much the NHL overvalues defenseman like Letang and Karlsson now adays, but that would take way too much time. I'd much rather have a guy like Keith/Doughty that's extremely solid defensively most of the time, and produces some offense, than a guy that is very offensively talented, but leaves his goaltender out to dry way more often than he should.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It is not an overpayment at all. Was it a dumb decision cap wise, yes, but it is not an overpayment.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

He dreams in color, he dreams in red. Can't sign Leddy-man.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Tyler Kennedy to Sharks for 2nd rd pick.

Good move for both teams.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It's draft time! And great move by both teams in that trade. Sharks get a good third liner and the Pens can take advantage of a deep draft and pick defense (if they go that route)

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Well that's just odd. While great goalies are incredibly valuable, even the performance of great goalies can vary significantly year-to-year. Look at Quick this year. So to me, spending $6m+ on any goalie is foolish when you can probably get something like 85% of the performance for 50% of that money.

And as far as the Letang deal goes.....it's still an overpayment to me, but the more I think about it the more I can understand it. He is still a year away from free agency. When you consider Letang's injury history the past two seasons, if he gets hurt or doesn't improve defensively or doesn't have the same crazy offensive numbers this season, the deal is going to look like a mistake. If he scores 10-20 goals and finishes with 80 points then it's going to look like a great deal, though.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Flames talking to Bruins..Seguin to Flames?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Can't believe tk got a second.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

IMO he's a pretty underrated player though he definitely had a rough year.

If Hawks are shopping Bolland, then I would have to say it would be a similar return. On one hand Kennedy is RFA but the Sharks now get chance to sign him for multiple years at less money than Bolland will get in his last year of the deal. But I would say Bolland is a bit better player.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Bettman embraces the hate

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Here we go...Avs take...McKinnon. Still think they should have taken Jones.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Mackinnon it is.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

"Nobody remembers no. 2"

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I don't know Tim. Hard to go against Jones, considering the Avs' needs. But to me if you think Mackinnon is the best talent that's who you take. I have no expertise so I don't know who is the better talent. But to me, you have a 17-yr old who most think is the best FW in the draft and can help you likely immediately. And young forwards are more valuable and develop quicker than young defensemen and the Avs need to improve ASAP.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Barkov second. No Jones still.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I just think the Avs have the offensive skill. I just think the passed on need. McKinnon is not a bad pick just Jones is a huge need. McKinnon might be better but hard to win games without D.

So Jones is going to Nashville prolly.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Dammit to hell

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Nashville is a defenseman factory.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Maybe Jones will fall to #15 :D

Smith resigning with Yotes (though they had no money) is one less goalie for Snow to choose from. He was the fall back guy I wanted as he'd be an upgrade over Nabby but would have liked to acquire/sign someone better than Smith.

Right now, I can cringe to say DP is the only goalie under an NHL contract by Islanders.

and there he goes to the Preds.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Holy shit Pierre McGuire is blowing his load right now.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Nashville just got beyond lucky.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Pierre gushing over Jones.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Surprised at how few trades we've seen.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

1. Colorado - C Nathan MacKinnon
2. Florida - C Aleksander Barkov
3. Tampa Bay - LW Jonathan Drouin
4. Nashville - D Seth Jones
5. Carolina - C Elias Lindholm
6. Calgary - C Sean Monahan

Pretty good draft so far

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It's a pretty deep draft so a lot guys who are top 10 talent in other years will go outside the top 10, which is why I hope Isles just keep the pick. Therefore, I think teams are valuing their picks more. That big F Mantha is my target guy.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Clutterbuck to the isles?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

There a trade. Nino for Clutterbuck. Wow, hope we got something for a top 5 pick, who could still be a star in this league. Not a fan of this. I wanted to trade a young asset for talent this summer but not 3rd line talent. I do like the added snarl, though.

Only seen him once or twice a year. Thoughts, guys?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

they're playing themed songs for every team. Jurassic Park theme for the Preds, "Lightning Crashes" for Tampa and just now Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" for the Oilers.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

he is a shit stirrer. going to make the isles tougher to play against.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

huge trade. Schneider to the devils

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Schneider to the Devils! Holy shit!

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Holy shit, switched to the draft for the Schneider trade

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Wooooow!

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Lou you are staying put. Guess they didn't want to buy him out and get nothing. Awkward situation for him now.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Hahhaa Canucks what a joke. Gillis :lol

Lol Nucks

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Gotta say. A lot of folks hate on Pierre but he has been outstanding on this broadcast.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

So Schneider for Bo horvak. Ok

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Way too little return for Schneider, and even though I don't like this for Vancouver, I iwll play devil's advocate....

Luongo is still a very solid goalie and we have seen that for the most part goalies age a lot better than skaters.

And another center picked 9th. Logan Couture in 2007. So if you end up with another guy like that....good on you. Fact is, the Sedins aren't getting any younger and Vancouver needed to improve their prospect pool.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I'm laughing at Lou. Had to forfeit a 1st rounder cause of the Kovy contract. Didn't give up #29 last year and trades #9 this year. Now he won't have a #1 next year. Head scratching.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

this is a good point.

also, those stars jerseys. eckkkk

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The Flyers have picked D Sam Morin with the 11th pick. Very good pick. Idolized Chris Pronger. Helps he's built like him

http://flyers.thecheckingline.com/bl...ct-d-sam-morin

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Roose just curious have Flyers ever made a bad move?? :lol

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

A 50 goal scorer at #20..not bad. Looks like he'll require some work but I like it.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Kane is so white.

http://nesn.com/2013/06/patrick-kane...concert-video/

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I guess the Avs are thinking that if MacKinnon ends up being a star, they'll try to trade a forward for some help at the blue line. I'm still not sure that, as Tim said, given their needs, passing on Jones was a good call. But that's the gamble you have to take. They'll all popcorn in the pan, right?

Clearly, Colorado wasn't the only team thinking that way about defensemen if Jones slipped to the Preds.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I don't wanna rub it in everyone's faces but...

I TOLD YOU ALL THAT SCHNEIDER WOULD BE THE ONE THAT IS TRADED! I TOLD YOU I TOLD YOU I TOLD YOU I TOLD YOU!

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

-Bryzgalov
-Streit's contract only sucks in the last two years (and if they trade Coburn)
-I did want them to pick Pulock or Zadorov over Morin, but he's still a good pick

What's your point?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Habs take the top goalie in the draft Zachary Fucale

Dave Bolland to Toronto for 3 picks.

Ill love you forever.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Put Chris on suicide watch. Sorry buddy. Loved me some Dave Bolland, too. This was cap space move.

It's time for some of Morin/Leblanc/Pirri/Smith to step up.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I wouldn't be surprised if Lou still asks to be traded. I mean this guy was told they wanted him out for the kid and now they want him to commit. He didn't want to talk to TSN about it so obviously he wants to think things over.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Well...I hate life.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Enjoy Bryan Bickell.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFKt9UEsEQk

My hero. I'll always love you 36.

I remember watching him in 2007-2008 while there were 20 people in the United Center. I'll miss his pesky-ness greatly.

The pick of Hartman really was the writing on the wall for Bolly. Sigh.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

sorry Chris. Sucks when that happens to players you like a lot.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Press release:

The logo is sharp!

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Michael Frolik traded to Winnipeg.

If this is all to sign Bickell to a $4+ million contract...FUCK THAT.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Win Cup, trade away depth. Win Cup trade away depth. I think this team has more young guys to take over but you get my point.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

The depth in the AHL is incredible for sure, but it still sucks.

Ben Smith, Brandon Pirri, and Jeremy Morin all would have been on a NHL roster by now in 70% of the teams in the league.

I understand why these moves had to be made, but now the Hawks have 13+ million in cap space, and they better damn well use it on someone other than Bickell, Kruger and Leddy.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

That's the plan. Bowman doesn't want to spend big in FA per his own statements today.

Having the cap space isn't the end of the world. We have to extend Kane and Toews after this season.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Well there goes some cap space.

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: Bickell's deal is $16 M over 4 yrs

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: Bickell deal: $1 M bonus plus $2 M salary for next season. $4 M in 2014-15; $4.5 M each of last 2 yrs

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Fucking cock bag dick face fuck shit fucking cock dick.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

God fucking damnit.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

You going to be ok?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

No. After winning a Cup, today has been my nightmare. Could not have imagined much worse.

The Frolik trade I'm ok with...but this signing just makes no fucking sense to me. You have a LW that was just nominated for the Calder, and an all-star LW signed through the 2017 season for $5.9 million.

You're paying Bickell top-6 money for one playoff performance after being a disappointment for his entire career. WHY?! WHY WHY WHY? Where does Saad fit now, who anyone with ANY hockey knowledge could tell you has twice the skill of Bickell...

It's a baffling signing. For a guy that supposedly was taking a home team discount, he got fucking overpaid. Fuck.

My guess.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

That's definitely a very big overpay for Bryan Bickell who, in my opinion, piggybacked off the speed of Stalberg & Shaw this season, and then off Toews & Kane in the playoffs. He's got a great shot, he's one of the few guys who hits on this team. But IMO Stalberg is the better player.

To me, Bryan Bickell at $4m is ludicrous. IMO this could be the next Ville Leino contract. And it does not help when you have $4m on the books when you are trying to re-sign Saad, Toews, and Kane in a couple of years.

Guess they chose Bickell over Bolland and Frolik. Doesn't help you defensively.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Well that's just wrong. Neither are all that special, but Stalberg isn't better than anyone on that roster.

The rest I agree with. Definitely seems like the next Leino.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Stan has a history of overpaying his guys, IMO. Hasn't really hurt him that much, but it's not a great idea.

They must believe that out of Smith, Morin, Hayes, Pirri, LeBlanc....that they can replace the guys they are losing. Bolland & Fro were basically 4th liners at the end of the season and that's a lot of money for 4th liners. At this point guys like Morin and Pirri and Smith don't have anything left to prove in the AHL.

I don't really agree with the moves but just playing devil's advocate.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I dunno. Stalberg's speed on the forecheck is part of what made that 3rd line work this year. Same pts as Bickell this season. Had a much better season than Bickell last year.

Bickell has more of a nose for the net and he has a better shot, no doubt. Maybe he proved something over these playoffs. Stalberg wasn't really given a chance, though.

But either way, the contract that Stalberg gets in free agency will tell us whether this was a really bad deal or not.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Which makes the signing of Bickell all that much more ridiculous, that they have SO much depth, especially at LW.

Awful signing.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Stalberg had to walk either way, no offense intended my friend, but his speed makes him incredibly overrated by the fans that don't really comprehend what he does all so poorly. Yes, he's fast, but that's really all he has going for him.

He has GOD AWFUL hands, a terrible shot, no real offensive game, and is a liability defensively. He never backchecks, is often in the wrong place defensively and on the breakout. He generates a couple chances a game by getting behind the defense, but rarely does that do anything. For every chance he generates, he leaves a lot of people scrambling to make up for poor positioning and overall lazy defensive play. He was much better for the beginning of the season, but that went away and he became old Stalberg pretty quickly. Also, he often was lazy on the forecheck too, letting the other team break out of the zone pretty easily. It's the couple of plays he seemed to make that people always noticed, but ignored the bad ones.

I would have liked to see them both walk in free agency. Thanks for the memories, but it's a business.

If you give me the choice of Bickell or Stalberg straight up, I'll take Bickell every time. But if you give me the choice of Bickell at $4 million and Stalberg at $1.5 million, I'll say thanks but no thanks and take neither.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Man, I really wish I could bitch about a depth player leaving after celebrating a second Stanley Cup in four years a mere week ago.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

It's gotta suck for Bolland. He scored the game winning goal to bring the cup back and he's gone with little thought. Makes you think they had this plan for a while