The NHL Thread
 

So Lockman can stop having temper tantrums about us talking offseason hockey. In all seriousness, I figured let's just start it now. Doesn't matter who does really.

Flyers acquired Mark Streit from the Islanders: http://flyers.thecheckingline.com/bl...reit-islanders

Penguins extend Dan Bylsma to a two-year extension.

BREAKING: Asterisk to be put on the Stanley Cup for the 2013 season (not really, but it doesn't count :lol)

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I'll throw in the tweet about the Coyotes again since it does mean more for next season.

Patrick Caisse ‏@PatrickCaisse
Is it still possible to relocate the Phoenix #Coyotes in mid-June? "We will see where we are on Friday" - Bill Daly.

I hope they move. This has gone on too long.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

I forget the list but what cities have an arena that's ready to hold an NHL franchise? Quebec City, Seattle and Kansas City come to mind first.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

So.... whaddya guys wanna talk about? ....

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Quebec is building already and KC has one. Last I heard KC didn't have an ownership group. I did read something about Seattle is still possible but without an NBA team a new arena isn't guaranteed. If they move to Quebec it'll be interesting how they treat the re-realignment in the fall for the 14-15 season. They said Detroit and CBJ were staying the East but it would take some creativity if that's true.

It's just better for the league to get out of Phoenix.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

So are the Avs trading that pick or taking Seth?

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

They'd be dumb not to take Seth unless they trade down to 2 or 3.

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:thumbsup It's time. Past time, really.
They won't trade the pick, although there are some rumblings that they will take McKinnon over Jones on the premise that 1) you don't pass up offensive talent like that, and 2) high defensive draft picks rarely seem to live up to expectations (ahem, Tyler Myers).

All that being said, with the talent the Avs already have up front combined with their absolutely atrocious defensive corps, drafting Jones should be a no-brainer. Even if it takes him a couple years to develop, he's a cornerstone player who they could really use back there.

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Yeah you could end up like the Oilers and have a crap ton of offense and nothing to help keep the puck out.

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It's a shame because they're wasting the skill they do have.

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As an Oilers fan, I'm conflicted about the Eakins hiring.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Exactly. EXACTLY.

The way I see it, you need to have young/semi-young cornerstones in every zone to build long-term success in the NHL (seems obvious but teams still ignore the concept). Not necessarily their "dream team line", but guys to build the rest of the team around. For the Avs, it could look something like this:

Forwards: Duchene, Landeskog, O'Reilly
Defense: Jones, Johnson
Goalie: Varlamov

And yes, I still contend that Varlamov is good enough to be a starting goalie in the NHL. I know not many of you watched the Avs on a regular basis (can't say I blame you), but he kept them in it night in and night out. I can think of maybe 2-3 "bad" games he had all season, and even those were riddled with defensive miscues.

Anyways, that's a pretty damn good foundation to build around. But if you don't draft Jones, that's leaving a big chunk out that you really need for success.

There's no doubting Nathan McKinnon's potential, and the team that drafts him at no. 2 may see immediate dividends that the Avs may not see with Jones after his rookie season. HOWEVER, I think in terms of overall team building and long-term success, Jones is the clear-cut answer for this Avs team.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Why is that? I think it's a perfect hire. Sucks for Krueger but this guy showed he can help out the young kids and that's what they need it seems.

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I really hope it works out for you, swordo. I would love to see the Oilers succeed. :thumbsup

I think growing pains are inevitable. Depending on egos, you may have some youngsters "rebelling" at the strict discipline Eakins is known for, but he's gotten guys to buy into his system before, to great success at lower levels. I think a lot will depend on the Oilers' player leadership (Horcoff, Hall, Eberle) and the example they set for the rest of the team. If they buy in, it will help others do the same. This, to me, is one of the most intriguing storylines of the season.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Edmonton has always been a franchise I've had interest in. I want to see them be relevant again. I like Hall, RNH and love Ebs. Horcoff reminds me of Keith Primeau a bit. They just need competent defense.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

To all above, I'm just in the mindset that these guys need a coach who's won in the NHL and knows what it takes to do so. I don't know if a coach going through that learning process with his players is the best of ideas. That being said, what do I know?! All the talking heads/pundits/insiders say its a great get. I do like that he coaches to individual players and their tendencies rather than preach a system.

I still think they need to flip Yakupov for a top level d-man.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

This. Yakupov has a high ceiling and high trade value. They could center a deal around someone like Yandle

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Roose, why the hell did you make this thread? Now we're going to lose in the Finals next year. Thanks, Kev.

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I'd be happy if they get to the Finals next year :lol:lol:lol

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They have to make it into the playoffs before they can lose in the finals. ;)

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You know, you're a Pens fan--you're kind of in a worst spot than the Flyers so I wouldn't talk too much. ;)

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I don't know, his team has two of the four best players in the world and he's actually seen a Stanley Cup champion.

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:lol:lol

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But he doesn't have OMGCG

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Yes, but the fact that it's one, and not oh--three. That's the point.

Put two of the four best players in the world on the same team, on any team, you're going to see a Cup.

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What is this, the NBA? It takes more than that in the NHL, LeBron.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

They Leafs are in for a strange off season.

As they have been in need of for the past several years, they are still searching for a top line center. I don't expect they'll find one and I also expect they'll be down a center at the start of next year. Rumour has it Bozak wants 5.5m. Which is absolutely ridiculous. 4-4.5m AT MOST. He is best friends with Kessel and should take a discount to stay with the team that gave him first line minutes for the past three seasons when he hadn't earned the minutes yet.

I expect Grabovski to be bought out if they sign back Bozak. His contract is such a large contract. I was a big fan of Burke and appreciated a lot of the things he did for the Leafs franchise, but some of his off season moves and contract extensions were absurd. Grabo at 5.5.? come on, give your head a shake Burkie.

The Leafs are strongest along the wing They have a very solid top 6 along the wings, Kessel, JVR, Lupul, Kulemin, with Frattin able to move up and down the lineup. I feel good about that group of wingers. They are a group that can compete with most teams in the league.

The young players are getting older and growing together in a very positive light. It took Gardiner most of the year, Post-AHL concussion to find his game again, but when he was inserted into the Boston Series he was a difference maker. He was noticeable every shift on the ice.

Kadri had a great year all things considered. For a while he sat top 10 in scoring. He fell off closer to the end but for a quality stretch of time, he was the best player on the ice every night. If he can continue to improve, he could be the top line center everyone is looking to find.

The defense is where I get a little scared. Phaneuf have proven he's a top 2 d-man on any team. I don't think he's a #1 D-Man though. He has shown time and time again that he can't regularly play 26+ minutes a night. I think Gardiner can grow into a quality role like this, but I don't see him pairing well with Phaneuf. That means the Leafs are in need of a top tier D-man. Like first line centers, they don't come around the bend to often. I like Gunnarsson as a top 4 d-man. He gives safe, smart, quality minutes no matter who he plays with. Franson and Fraser were a superb bottom pairing group this year. I'd go as far as to say they are sitting pretty as one of the best bottom pairings in the league.

As far as young D prospects go. I feel the Leafs have some quality D-men coming up through the pipeline. They have Percy, Rielly and Blacker. I see the first two as high quality prospects. They both provide an entirely different skill set but I think they have a strong future in the NHL. Blacker may always be a tweener but he has the raw skills to be a solid NHL player in the future.

The Leafs also have a bit of a funny conundrum to negotiate this off-season: Paul Ranger. As a former top-4 D-man for the Tampa Bay Lightning he has the pedigree and experience to transition nicely onto most NHL D-Corps. This guy had a bit of a tough year last year. When he was in the lineup he was superb. He ate up a ton of minutes in every situation. The issue is he was hurt alot. He signed a one year AHL contract last year and has to renegotiate this year. The rumour is that he left Tampa for familial reasons. As a Toronto native, it would make sense that he wouldn't want to sign anywhere else so he could stay close to his family. If so I see him sliding into the NHL roster nicely.

I feel like after Reimer's year last year you have to give him a chance this year. Any major move (Luongo) will be a negative one rather than a positive one. They are likely in need of a veteran back-up goalie to pitch in 20-30 games next year. I do like Scrivens, their current back up goalie. He speaks to the media with a certain level of candor and grace that I have not heard the likes of in a long time. I just don't see him as the goalie to help the Leafs win enough games to be a top 4 team in the Eastern Conference.


Nonis is in tough this year. He has a lot of important decisions to make with less cap space than the previous year. Burke did well and organized it that he has a lot of cap space to play with. I am looking forward to the off season.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Bettman and Daly both just publicly acknowledged Coyotes might not play in Glendale next year during the state of the league. Says time is short but no deadline which contradicts itself. Glendale is meeting on the 18th I think so that's probably the deadline.

Also they said they have the new names of the divisions but won't announce until the schedule is released in July.

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

Lot of interesting comments on my FB post about Streit. One guy had a semi valid point, but the problem is he will either a hit or a complete bust with the latter being a more likely scenario:

Re: The NHL 2013-14 Thread
 

One more thing on Phoenix, I got the feeling from Daly saying "we've given our best" or something like that, that they are gone. Just my guess.