Re: The NHL Thread
 

Cap is a huge part of it. Those in-between guys have their production (or 80-90% of it) more easily replaced by younger guys for half the cost.

Everyone is trying to follow the Blackhawks/Penguins model of signing your core "star" players, and then filling in holes elsewhere for cheap. Makes it hard for the fringe guys.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Thank goodness for the KHL giving all these guys employment, amirite?

But seriously, how bad would it suck to work your whole life towards becoming a professional hockey player, and then be out of a job by the time you're 30?

I get it, and I'm not saying it should be different, just the empathetic side of me feels for those guys.

And let's be honest, the Hawks/Pens way of doing it works. You gotta go with what works.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

hell, if you make it to age 30 on a pro roster, you're still doing better than 90% of guys

i get that it still sucks, but staying hungry and humble can cure a lot of things (which is why hockey is awesome because you see that hunger more in hockey players than any other athletes IMO)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Oh, Matty, for sure. Totally agree.

Look what happened with Versteeg. Dude is 30. He put up 15 goals and 23 assists in 77 games last year. You'd think that would find him at least a $1.5-2m contract somewhere? Dude's on a PTO with the fuckin' Oilers.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I wonder if there's going to be a trickle down effect of guys playing in AHL for a season, just to get the chance at a one-year deal the following season for a NHL team.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I assumed as much but hey, what can we expect from a Caps fan who thinks Jamie Benn is a center? :lol

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Wow, I'm glad we're just retroactively taking my mistake and putting it on Brohan.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Don't you dare.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I was gonna say.

And everyone knows Matty has like eleven wives.

Jamie, pull yourself together man.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

wtf just happened

Re: The NHL Thread
 

8 wives, guys. It's only 8.

C'mon, I'm just one man here.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Meant Barbs, not you - was just kidding about the Benn part as well. :)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yakupov finally gone. F yeah.


Oh, went to Stl for a conditional pick.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Great use of a #1 by the Oilers.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Jesus Christ.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yak essentially for a 3rd (or 2nd if he scores 15 or more goals).

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Wow, Edmonton. Wow.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

They had to ditch him. I would have been happy to get a bag of pucks back. The new execs inherited the uselessness that was Yak. Terrible pick from day 1. He's been on the market a long time, and Edmonton got fair value back.

I'm very happy with the trade, just wish he wasn't drafted in the first place - that is what makes me angry.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'd hardly call that fair value, but they did get something.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Its clearly what the market dictated. If someone had offered something more substantial he would have been gone months ago.

You (not you specifically) need to stop looking at him as a #1 overall pick. He had no business getting that designation. Flawed, flawed draft choice. He should be looked at as what he actually is: A below average winger who MIGHT get 30 points in a season and someone who doesn't know what the word 'defense' means.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Interested to see what he can do with Tarasenko.

That kind of "manufactured chemistry" rarely works, but who knows.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I'd be willing to bet he puts up somewhere in the 35-40 point range. Maybe even closer to 45.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Speaking of great uses of first round draft picks. Griffin Reinhart didn't make the Oilers and was sent down. Might go down as one of Garth's best deals when he traded him to Edm for the 16th and 33rd picks. Both kids Garth picked in 2015 might make the team or be one of the last cuts this weekend. Barzal and Beauvillier have both been real impressive. Might be a home run for Garth.

Almost there boys and girl. Just a few more days.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Congrats. So happy to only have boys, myself.

And as Matty said, this shit they call parenthood ain't getting any easier, either. Different age = different battles.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I agree with all of this.

My comment was in regards to how poorly the Oilers have handled the last 5 or so years. So much missed opportunity.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yak didn't play in the World Cup, correct?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

It's also going to be pretty interesting to see him being coached by Ken Hitchcock too.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

When are we drafting?

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Right now it says Mon 6:45pm (EST)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Drove past / under the new Rogers Place today. It's sweet, totally changed the face of that part of downtown.
Yak gone, I truly hope he does well elsewhere, great kid, not great hockey player. David Oconnor or what that kid is called new captain, no pressure, he'll do great though.