Re: The NHL Thread
 

Brad Richards might sign a 1 year deal with the Wings...WTF?!?!? I...don't...understand.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Are you not happy with that?

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It just seems odd. With all the RFA's signed and Franzen healthy (big if there) they have 15 forwards now. So if Franzen is healthy, someone is gonna have to go. I thought Landon Ferraro earned his shot with how he played in the playoffs but now he might be out. I guess it could Joakim Anderson but they JUST re-signed him. Again just seems odd. That's my only question is how does he fit in and who might have to go.... Just looking at him and not the ramifications, great deal.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Gotcha....was not familiar with team needs related to how many forwards were signed.

I am interested to see the $ and if he was able to parlay his season into another nice chunk of change while still getting paid handsomely by the Rangers.

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Agreed. $6mil a year still sounds high but Green's coming off a great year and you can't argue with that term

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Oh God. Being a Leafs fan is the worst. Actually.

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Kapanen seems legit, FWIW

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This day is bananas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIoYcF809Dw

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Damn it....Belesky to the Bruins means they won't take Bickell.

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Bruins favorite for Beleskey???

And Richards is $3mil plus some type of playoff bonus for another million.

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Can we just please trade Bickell?

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Beleskey's deal reportedly around Frolik's $4.3. Not as bad as I would have thought if true.

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Fixed so this actually happens.

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That's a lot of money for Frolik. Good on him for getting paid.

Still my fondest memories of him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYYHNvS2ffk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs_-T-jwfJY

Was at that Vancouver game. Still the greatest live event I've ever attended.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Frolik literally tearing Schneider's nutsack.

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$3.8 per for Beleskey for 5 years. If he can put up 20 goals, great but that's the big question. Like I said I expected a lot more.

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Vermette gone from Hawks?

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Wow Vermette back to the Coyotes

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Good for Vermette.

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Goodbye Williams. I'll miss you, you sexy man.

http://1.cdn.nhle.com/kings/images/u...luation_DL.jpg

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Happy about the Williams signing

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You should be. Considering what some of these guys are getting, that's a really fair deal for both player and team. One of the better signings today. :thumbsup

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Agree. He hated leaving but got his Cup and got to go back. Too bad it's a cluster fuck of and organization and city.
Nice get.
Have here been that many bad ones though? Sekera's deal is probably the worst. Green got a big cap # but only 3 years, Beleskey is under $4mil but the term is quite a bit. But honestly other than Sekera's nothing is as bad as many expected.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That was a fun back read. Sadly, it sucked to work 13 hours yesterday, grinding out every minute so much that I honestly forgot about the NHL and didn't even think to check the tracker. Working on July 1st should never happen.

- Don't worry Crash..I hate the Pens, too, though I might a little less this year now that the pos Downie has moved on. The Leafs wanted to shred Kessel or DIon and Kessel was more desirable. I think the Pens win the deal but the Leafs likely feel they win based on shredding that salary, which they think helps their rebuild. I was surprised it was the Pens, though, based on their top end guys and how much they get in respect to their cap %. If Crosby doesn't get Kessel to try harder and be in shape, then all hope is lost.

- Glad to see the Isles got a quality backup. I have been using Greiss for years for spot starts in Fantasy. I'd rather have retained Neuvirth but Greiss was the next best. I think he will be solid.

- There are still plenty of quality pieces out there and would still love for the Isles to be in on Ward but I doubt we do anything else. We already have too many forwards. Wish we could trade Grabner.

- I was surprised the Green deal was so short. I would think he could have gone longer elsewhere. He must have wanted to play for a winning franchise.

- biggest overpays seemed to Beuchemeim , though to lure him away from a top team, they likely needed to pay a little extra. He is 35 already. I know someone mentioned Sekera. He is not a 5.5 guy either. Leddy and Boychuk deals looking better and better.

- is it time for training camp yet?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

After waking up today, I'm even more excited about Williams than I was when I saw it last night. Great, great signing. Really good contract from BMac. Williams makes so much sense for this team, especially in the wake of losing a guy like Joel Ward, Williams is easily an upgrade. Justin Williams brings the type of winning attitude this team so desperately needs. And if you're a fancy stats person (which I'm not really) Williams will make you cream your shorts. Good lord, have you seen those possession numbers?

They're still probably gonna have a little bit of cap space left too if they wanted to add elsewhere

Great job, MacLellan

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Pretty accurate. Yeah I forgot about the Avs adding Matty's new favorite d-man. That was a bad deal. Even though it's only 3 years, at 35 that's quite a bit.

I was a little surprised by Green too. He said (although who knows how true) after talking with Holland that Detroit was the only place he was really considering. He got $6mil and the Wings got only 3 years. Nice trade off imo.

Sekera, I don't know enough about him but it's not just $5.5mil, it's that for 6 years and it's on (at the moment) not very good team. Even with him their D is not good at all so he could struggle.

Who is still out there? Ward, Oduya, Franson, St. Louis, Semin, Weiss now and Ehrhoff are the ones I can think of. Figured those first 3 would have been snatched up by now.

Thinking about the Wings, Holland said there will have to be some moves done to fit people in. I'm curious as to what happens. A lot of Wings fans I saw on twitter, yelling about trying to trade D but I'm not so sure on that. Kronner, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Gree, Quincey and Smith are your top 6. Kindl is still on the team but he's your #7. Fans want one of the kids on the big club of Ouellet or Marchenko but with the top 6 the Wings have they wouldn't be guranteed to play regularly. Even if they could dump Kindl doesn't mean regular minutes since Kindl is #7. Both of the kids are waiver exempt one more year so I say let them play in GR and get big minutes unless they play so well at camp you can't say no. This also gives you depth. Kindl can come in if someone is hurt in the short term or not playing well and if there is long term injury, then call up one of the kids.

Up front they sure need to find some room if Franzen is healthy. It really comes down to Andersson (who they just signed to a one year deal) or Landon Ferraro. I trust Holland, unlike many Wings fan it appears, so it'll be interesting. I want cap here now. Excited to see how this year goes. Wings are improved if they are healthy.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

From what I understand, he did. That was more important to him than finding the biggest possible pay day. He seemed genuinely bummed that more wasn't accomplished while he was in Washington and really truly wants to win and stay competitive. He'll need to keep his game where it was last year though if he wants to be a contributing part of a winning team, and I'm skeptical about that. Bad Mike Green comes out a little too easily sometimes.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Post was getting long so wanted to start a new one. Looking at the East first, who has improved?

Boston made changed and have more cap space but playoff team? I'd say about where they were last year. They might get in or might not.
Sabres are for sure better but not a playoff team.
Canes.....hmm prolly not
Jackets are better but they have more healthy issues in the past than anyone else.
Detroit is improved but in today's NHL can still miss the playoffs.
FLA is the same. Team just on the outside.
Montreal did not improve. They had no offense and still have no offense.
NJ..nope
NYI...about the same.
NYR...same. Interested how they are.
Sens are about the same although shedding salary and a goalie worked. I dunno if they are a playoff team or not.
Philly has done a nice job trying to get better in the long run but not a playoff team.
Pens are better with Kessel but don't have a lot of depth after their top 2 lines.
Tampa...same which is good for them.
Washginton is improved but...sorry Barbs....they are the Caps so...

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Hey, at least we're not the Leafs. They're so bad you didn't even mention them ;)

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they could end up having the best 3rd line in the league if they stay healthy

Dupuis--Sutter--Kunitz

thats a great 3rd line IMO

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actually did that on purpose.

I've become more confident. Wings are improved and I think Blash will be a breath of fresh air. Then most teams around them haven't improved so stay healthy and play the way you can and they'll hit year #25.
That is a pretty good 3rd line. A little overpaid but...so is life in the NHL these days.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol don't be nice, it's a WAY overpaid line, especially Kunitz

but if they produce it'll be worth it

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I'm gonna be fucking pissed if Mike Green goes to Detroit and wins a Stanley Cup. Like, really fucking pissed. Just wanted to put that out there now.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

just pictured Mike Green holding the Cup and had a good laugh

thanks for that :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I fully realize Time your post is likely off yesterday. NYI, while not improving on paper yesterday, should be better this season so I could argue we will not be the same. The kids will keep getting better and last year's playoff experience will only better us for the coming season. Maybe it doesn't equal to too many more points during the regular season but I would hope our team will be better.

There is also still a long way til opening and how the rosters will look.

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The scary part is he's a Red Wing now and the Red Wings are one of those teams I always consider dangerous until they're out

I mean, who's more likely to win a Cup next year? Caps or Wings?

I'm not saying it's gonna happen and it probably won't but it might. And I will be extra sour

Re: The NHL Thread
 

its hard for me to picture anyone from the East winning the cup because the entire conference is murderer's row

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Oh if I were to pick a Cup winner right now it's obviously either Chicago or LA. Probably Chicago again honestly

Re: The NHL Thread
 

all those games are going to start catching up to chicago i think

they have had LONG seasons for a while now

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I agree actually.
LA is dangerous but such a cluster fuck right now.
I'd think it would eventually catch up to them as a team. I'd still be scared to face them. Hell even in 2011 after they shed all those players the previous year and were not as dangerous they still took a good Canucks team to 7 after being down 3-0.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yea don't get me wrong, chicago is a true powerhouse now, but playing 100+ games for 6 years is really tough

not to mention their core, although still in their primes, will be yet another year older

still super scary though

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Meh I don't really put that much stock into the extended seasons thing. These guys are pro athletes, and top level pros at that. And I understand playoffs are way more intense and injuries and all that, but their bodies can more than handle playing games 7-8 months a year vs 6.

I can't really think of anyone that could reasonably beat Chicago in the playoffs, except LA. But they just lost Williams. Maybe Anaheim doesn't drop another game 7? Maybe, but maybe not. Nashville or St Louis? Meh, I doubt it. The East? :lol Sure, they definitely could lose to anyone. But there's no reason to think they will.

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as a former non-pro athlete, this was never a deal.
i've played 2 90 minute soccer games in the same day.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol:lol:lol:lol

excuse me while i go clean the egg off my face

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if it's healthy vs. healthy, I would have easily said Rangers in 6. You get to the SC final though...and you have guys at 70% or not in your lineup. Unfortunate.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

as a former non-pro athlete, this was never a deal.
i've played 2 90 minute soccer games in the same day.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

As a former non-pro athlete thiswas never the deal. I've bowled for 5 hours straight before

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:lol:lol

shomer fucking shabbos

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Nope, there haven't. Never said there was, just said the Williams deal was one of the better ones.

I don't like Beauchemin's deal, just because he's older and I've seen the effects of that over the past two-ish seasons. I feel like the Avs think they're signing 2007 Francois Beauchemin instead of 2015 Francois Beauchemin. But what do I know?

I also question Anisimov's... maybe Sekeras's - unless he can rock playing top-pair minutes like they're banking on. But yeah, there have actually been some real sensible signings, both in dollars and term.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

]

Before my back derailed me, I golfed 36 holes, walking usually, in the heat many times. So there :D

Slow news day so far. Come on. I'm off work today. Let's go!!!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

You can read this for entertainment.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/p...s/201507020185

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that was really unprofessional

but i agree with almost everything :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah that was unproesstional. The draft pick thing I am 100% with. No 1st rounders from 13-16. I'm sure they feel the pressure with Chicago doing what they are doing and teams like the Kings won two Cups out of nowhere basically because before 2012 no one thought they'd be doing that. And here are the Pens who a lot thought would be a dynasty with nothing since 2009.

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yea i expected multiple cups by now, especially after they won 1 rolling out that 3 center model

i'd love for them to find a way to get back a 1st round pick but that will be really hard

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They'll probably be ok in the short term but could bite them in a few years. I always hate July 1st because most of the time I get excited for the season to start and we're 3 freaking months away.

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That was funny, yet, like you guys said, unprofessional. I hope he has a good relationship with Francis because you aren't going to be attracting a quality gm, executive treating people like that.

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Just throwing this out there.

Blackhawks: Toews/Kane/Hossa 26.5 mil/yr

Pens: Malkin/Crosby/Kessel 25 mil/yr

for all those "pens are top heavy" arguments

Re: The NHL Thread
 

thats what i try telling people

and people try to lump Fleury into there as well but Fleury's contract is a STEAL given his talent level

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I think we all know they are top heavy, too. The problem you have is that they 3 Cups in 6 years and then Pens have nothing to show for that top talent since 2009. Something isn't working.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

but the penguins arent top heavy, they're actually really deep...

they just dont perform in the playoffs

this top heavy stuff is so wrong

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I do think the Pens need to address their lower lines. It's not about finding scoring talent as much as it is finding guys who can play their part well. It's the Marcus Krugers of the league. That, to me, is one of the bigger differences between Chicago and Pittsburgh, despite similar payrolls. There's some talent there, yes. But maybe some more attention paid would be a good thing.

But here's the thing about the whole "top heavy" argument: Teams are SUPPOSED to be top heavy to a degree. Your big guys SHOULD be making a lot of the money. Now, that doesn't mean you just fill in your 3rd and 4th lines willy nilly with leftovers (that can be a big differentiator between a good team and a bad team). You still need to take a targeted approach to rounding out your team. But your big guns should be making the big money.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That's next year. This past season those 3 plus Saad, Kurger and Sharp come to about 26.3. Hawks will have less depth this year because of the now 21mil going to Kane and Toews. I'm sure they'll still be good but no more Saad and probably not more Sharp.

Edit: To add to what Matty is saying, yes you want to be top heavy and most teams would rather have that problem. It just makes it tough if your bottom lines can't produce. It's what the cap does to teams like the Hawks and Pens and eventually probably the Oilers and Sabres. When you accumulate that much talent from being bad for years and it works out, you have to pay those stars.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yes, it will be interesting to see how Chicago handles depth decisions going forward. I don't think they're in trouble or that they'll fail necessarily, but it will be different.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yes, the cap makes it ever sticky and tricky. You constantly have to be moving with your team-building.

The best way, of course, to handling depth is to develop players internally really well and have them playing on ELC's and bridge deals. But then, of course, if they continue to play well you have to make the decision to pay them more and move them up the depth chart (probably pushing someone higher than them out), or move them to another team. Then, of course, you've got to have developed other prospects sufficiently enough to take their place on the lower lines. It's definitely a challenge.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That's why I'm happy and beyond fortunate that the Wings didn't have to deal with a cap pre-2005. They were able to spend money to cover up their lack of high picks and still win a few Cups. But because of it guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk came in at much lower salaries and slowly got larger ones. Same is happening to Tatar and Nyquist that follow. If those guys were playing on worse teams and getting more points, Tatar wouldn't be making under $3mil per year to score 30 goals. Because of that Wings are able to add Green and Richards to have another push for a Cup before Hank and Pavel are gone. On top of that they have Larkin and Pulkinen and maybe Mantha and some others coming along too.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yep, the Wings are a good example. You've just gotta have a long term plan in place. As you're moving young guys up into bigger roles, you've gotta have in mind who you're going to move out so those young guys can take their place. Then, at the same time, you've gotta know who you're going to move into those vacated positions lower on the depth chart. The good teams always have someone waiting in the wings to fill those spots.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Plotnikoff is going to be a big help next year. As is getting back Dupuis. Those two guys alone, plus Kessel already make your top 3 lines much stronger. That also possibly pushes Beau Bennett down to a 4th line role.

3rd line of Kunitz/Sutter/Perron? looks pretty damn good

Re: The NHL Thread
 

i love the way Nyquist plays and i can't put my finger on exactly why. dude can finish. i would pay him for sure

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'm a big fan of Sutter when he's played in the correct role. :thumbsup

Re: The NHL Thread
 

3rd line is gonna be Dupuis--Sutter--Kunitz i bet

Beau Bennett is probably gone,he'd be a waste on the 4th line...if not, i see something like this:

Kessel--Crosby--Perron
Hornqvist--Malkin--Bennett
Dupuis--Sutter--Kunitz
?????--Sundqvist/Wilson--????

Letang--Maatta
Cole--Pouliot
Lovejoy (christ)--Dumoulin/Scuderi (barring a buyout)

that's looking like a pretty deep team to me...health is always an issue with them though

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Plotnikoff is being brought in to play Top 6 with Malkin. Bennett will either be dealt or probably in WBS, Sundqvist and Wilson definintely on 4th line. Personally I think Dupuis will play with Sid and Kessel, just for pure speed sake. Im sure we'll see a little bit of everything.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That's because he comes from good stock. His dad, Brent, was my first favorite Islander and my first Islanders jersey, #21, said B Sutter on the back because his brother Duane was still on the team. I still have that jersey today.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

if Duper plays with Sid thats the dumbest thing they could do

and yea, forgot about Plotnikoff

so he'll take Bennett's spot which means Bennett is done here

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Obviously, we are few years away from worrying about this but if things falls into place they are supposed, we will have this good problem to have in about 3 years. Luckily, I think JT will take less to stay. He won't be looking for $10 million even if it is deserved.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah for reals. I've still got tons of hockey cards of all the Sutter boys. so many :lol
For sure, the Isles are an example of this working in the early stages. So far, pretty good.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Martin St Louis retires

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/m...om-pro-hockey/

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Say It Ain't So St. Louis!

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Not really surprised and kinda relieved. You would assumed he'd want to be near him CT home and NYR wasn't gonna be it and Boston wasn't so either NYI or NJD and neither of those make much sense. Happy he didn't force another year though.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Hockey is losing a guy who always seemed like he was a class act. Good for him

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Other than when he whined like a little bitch and wanted out of Tampa.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

yea St. Louis was one of the good ones for sure

those mid-2000's Lightning teams were fun to watch

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Good for him on a great career. Whining or whatever aside, he set a great example that regardless of stature, you CAN succeed in the NHL if you want it badly enough.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

So wait, there's a tennis player named Dustin Brown?

I see "Dustin Brown" trending on Twitter... "Oh, cool." <click> "Wait a second..." :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Same guy, multitalented guy

Re: The NHL Thread
 

fuck marty st. louis

Re: The NHL Thread
 

So is the real Dustin Brown white, or black?

n/r

Re: The NHL Thread
 

my guess is that he's brown

Re: The NHL Thread
 

So Voynov pleads no contest and gets 3 years probation and 90 days in jail. Waiting for that contract termination...oh he can still play so you won't do that? oh ok.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

:lol Winner
Silly Tim, he's still a part of LA's future plans! ;)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Can't terminate his contract while the league has him on suspension.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Fantastic letter from Paul Martin. Super classy, and some cool insight into how some players are behind the scenes.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/pau...nguins-letter/

Re: The NHL Thread
 

easily one of my favorite penguins in the Bylsma/Johnston era

gonna miss him....class act, reliable, consistent

Re: The NHL Thread
 

People have been saying this for a couple years. Still waiting for it to be true.

Really don't think that's an issue.

Clicking with so many new faces? That might be an issue though. So many new Russians on the team.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

hey, it might not be an issue at all

but a few years ago when people were saying this, the core guys were a few years younger

i'm just saying its worth mentioning...they make deep runs every year (which im super jealous of) so its not out of the question

Re: The NHL Thread
 

wow oshie to the caps.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

That's an interesting move. Brouwer is a solid performer and playoff guy. I like him and Oshie isn't anything special, except in the shoot out. Don't know much about the goalie Washington dealt and the money is close to the same.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

TJ Oshie has always been a classic case of "unrealized potential" to me. He has so much more skill than his stats dictate, I'd love to see him succeed somewhere else than St. Louis. Best of luck to him.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Not surprising coming from a Flyers fan.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Of course Oshie in the pens division... but Brouwer was really good last season... in reality, not a massive upgrade swapping those two, still an upgrade, Oshie with a way higher ceiling

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Holy shit. That came outta nowhere