Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Myers and kudos to the Sabres for locking up the future face of the franchise. He's got all the potential to be a Norris-type player, not to mention the leader of the Sabres. In a couple years I expect him to get the C.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Great perspective on the recent deaths and the role of the enforcer from Stu
"The Grim Reaper" Grimson.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...6/the-survivor

I had no idea he was a lawyer now. Can you imagine going up against that guy in the court room?!:eek

The only thing I don't like is the writer stating that Belak hung himself as if it's been confirmed (to my knowledge, it never was).

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

So....aren't the Sabres like way over the cap this year?

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Not that I know of. They were more than $3 million under last year, and the cap went up about $5 million for this season. Plus, Myers' deal doesn't start until next season.

ETA: Hmm...you may be right. Looks like they're about $3 million over at the moment. Lots to be lost in non-roster salaries, though. Rochester needs a roster, too.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

But they signed Leino for 4.5per and Ehrhoff for 4per....

http://capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=8

$3.5m over??

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

You must have posted while I was editing, 'cause I just saw the same thing you did.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Eklund has it that Schenn has signed a multi-year deal. In typical Eklund fashion, there has been no mention of any specifics.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

So the Draft. Is everyone cool for the 25th (Sunday) at 9:30EDT? I can do earlier if I have to.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Yep, that's 7:30 for me so that would be great. I'll try to actually make it this year and pick my own team, instead of letting the computer do a crappy job for me ;)

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I'll try for the draft but go to bed early cause well ya know..baby. Sleeps well but I want the most sleep I can get.

As for Myers nice salary and in a few years it'll be a steal. The one thing the cap has done is make teams commit longer term earlier to not lose players. I like that especially for a market like Buffalo who has lost players in the past.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Contraction might actually be on the horizon. With this and the NJD news, although they are denying it. Doesn't look like the Stars will go anywhere but if teams that have had success in the past are doing this what does that say about the NHL?

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=588402

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Hmm...Sun Belt expansion was a bad idea? ;)

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Yeah but NJD is one of the teams struggling and Dallas used to be good. I think if they want a strong NHL as a whole we need to cut a few teams. I wish 26 teams but 28 would be easier. Move FLA to Quebec, cut like Phoenix and Nashville. While the Preds aren't the worst team in terms of money they don't seem to have the revenue to keep their team together. Are they always gonna be a team that sits 5-8 and wins maybe a round? Fans will lose patience with that eventually.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Bucci is posting fantasy hockey team names on his Twitter right now. Some gems:
Backes Streit Boyes
No Country for Old Beauchemin
Honey Nut Chelios
Malkin Cookies
Eberle Hills 90210
Turn Your Head and Nabokov
Don't Cry For Me Jan Hrdina
Giroux Legit 2 Quit
It's Not a Job, it's a Kariya
Straight Outta Conklin

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Jeremy Roenick is a little pissed that Philly fans got on him for his comments on us:

http://www.crossingbroad.com/2011/09...illy-fans.html

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Selanne re-ups for one more year. Twitter reporting $4m

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

This announcement does nothing but make me feel old, because I watched him play in person during his 1992-93 rookie season, when he set the rookie records of 76 goals and 132 points and was in a hotel room in Syracuse while on the road for a juniors hockey tournament I was playing in, watching on TV when he broke Mike Bossy's old record of 53 rookie season goals.

Actually, this announcement makes me smile, too. Not many guys from back then are still playing these days. It must be like my parents felt taking me to games in the early 80s, when there were still players playing without helmets, grandfathered in from before the helmet was required. They'd been Sabres season ticket holders from the year the team came into the league (their first big marital purchase, I think) and were used to it. To me, those guys stuck out like a sore thumb.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

I know. Just messing with you, although it's strange that New Jersey is one of the teams struggling. Didn't they just get a new arena, like 3 years ago? That'll usually sustain a franchise for awhile, to say nothing of the fact that, last year aside, they still put together a good, winning franchise almost every year (I think they've won 2-3 of the last 5 Atlantic Division titles).

You and I have talked about contraction/moving before, and I'm still where I was as far as moving a team or two back to Canada. Given the placement of the salary cap, the comparative strength of the Canadian dollar, and the fact that Canadians love the damn sport, there's no reason to think that a franchise couldn't sustain itself nowadays, as compared to the 1990s, when Quebec and Winnipeg bolted.

As far as Dallas, I don't know much about the area, except that they love the Cowboys unconditionally, and other things when it's convenient, which is true of this town, too--Dolphins always, everyone else when they're good. The Texas Rangers get the crowds right now because they're going to win another division title, but I'd imagine the formula for them and the Stars goes something like no success = no crowd.

The Panthers (and all non-Dolphins franchises) down here, same thing. There is a group of about 10-12,000 die-hard Panthers fans, and on the occasions that I've gone, they're the ones that know the franchise's 20-year history (can't believe it's been that long) inside and out and show up night after night wearing John Vanbiesbrouck jerseys. Trouble is, it's a 19,200-seat arena that's stuck on the outskirts of a suburb that no one wants to travel to, especially to see a team that's been so poorly run since Bryan Murray and Doug MacLean were dismissed (that was 15 years ago...)

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Kotalik is 1000% going back down to Roch. That's 3 mil right there, I believe.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Flyers rookies win series over Caps rookies this is greater than a stanley cup!!!!!!!!

/Brohan

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

If that happens, Sabres are still $595,357 above the cap

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Deal with it!!! Uncle Terry can do whatevah he wants

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

seriously, after every goal scored in that game, there was a fight. :lol

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

And god knows I loved arguing with you about it the entire series. :lol The "non-boarding" call where Connelly got hurt, which had nothing to do with a goal, was my particular favorite. Of course, every time a goalie held a save in that series, someone was getting rammed into a net's crossbar, and somehow 27 people were arguing and shoving in front of the net. Our two teams don't like each other much, do they?

ETA: You had no quotes in your post, so I'm assuming you're talking about the Sabres-Flyers 1st Round Series. If not, well, I don't mind stirring that shit up again...;)

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Oh, I was talking about the rookie game. But if we're going there, you guys should be ashamed of yourselves losing to a team who was in completely disarray.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Ah. Touche. Well, as soon as Darcy Regier figures out how to cut $3.5 million in salaries (seriously, I had no idea that Mr. Pegula had spent that much over budget; he loves us fans and our team, what can I say?), I'll get back to you on that...:rolleyes

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

had my first fantasy draft. first pick was a keeper:
6 Jonathan Toews, Chi F
15 Evgeni Malkin, Pit F
26 Nicklas Backstrom, Was F
35 Pekka Rinne, Nsh G
46 Dan Boyle, SJ D
55 Mark Streit, NYI D
66 John Tavares, NYI F
75 Marian Gaborik, NYR F
86 Paul Stastny, Col F
95 Jimmy Howard, Det G
106 James Wisniewski, Cls D
115 Mike Ribeiro, Dal F
126 Jack Johnson, LA D
135 Niklas Backstrom, Min G
146 Tyler Myers, Buf D
155 Jamie Benn, Dal F
166 Cam Fowler, Ana D
175 James van Riemsdyk, Phi F
186 Jordan Staal, Pit F
195 Erik Cole, Mon F
206 Scott Gomez, Mon F
215 Victor Hedman, TB D
226 Stephane Robidas, Dal D

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

New Jersey is a surprise. Our local NJD fan hasn't been around so maybe he could answer what's up there. Ever since the current owner took over they haven't had too much success. Playoffs yeah but nothing else.

Dallas I think the reason, or part of, is the owner Tom Hicks has stopped really putting money into it like he used to. And when the owner stops caring in a market like Dallas the fans will stop too probably.

There are too many owners who don't put the effort in. FLA and ATL come to mind. When you don't care, don't put money in and don't put a good GM or president in you are going to fail. This isn't the NFL where you make money no matter what. You need to work at it. That's why cutting back in teams might be good. Quebec needs a team back and then we can see who to cut after that.

Re: NHL 2011/2012 Thread
 

Just picked up tickets to the Pens' home opener.