Around the League '16-'17 There are no games after 82 edition

[Ziggy Stardust]

Missed opportunity from the Oilers...

 

[kovacro]

I'm guessing stand witness to the future? Didn't the Blue Jackets use the same slogan? Ha. I've seen it on numerous posts.

Either way it's terrible, just like the We Are All *insert any team here* slogan. So weak. My slogan would be - "Playoff Hockey UP YOUR ASS!" with a stick sticking out of a toilet!

That slogan would be very popular with proctologists...and Cosmo Kramer.

 

[deeshamrock]

Some interesting theories in the Montreal Gazette speaking to the future of the Habs and Price. Price is entering the last yr (6.5) on his deal and with Weber already making almost 8 M, how much could they afford to pay him what he (his agent) feels a top 3 NHL goalie is worth. And they still don't have a legit #1 center. Giving Price 7 - 8M per would handcuff them , esp since any #1 center should make something in the 8M range. And if Price feels the pressure to win is too great there, given their history of not supporting him in the scoring area, leaning too much on 2-1 games, maybe he would prefer to play elsewhere.

As Bob McKenzie pointed out, they have a lot of questions to be answered, how much to give Radulov? What to do about the defense? Bergevin's reluctance to part with an asset to get Duchene at the deadline, has to be revisited. ANd he also pointed out the Price contract.

 

[kovacro]

Some interesting theories in the Montreal Gazette speaking to the future of the Habs and Price. Price is entering the last yr (6.5) on his deal and with Subban already making 9M, how much could they afford to pay him what he (his agent) feels a top 3 NHL goalie is worth. And they still don't have a legit #1 center. Giving Price 7 - 8M per would handcuff them , esp since any #1 center should make something in the 8M range. And if Price feels the pressure to win is too great there, given their history of not supporting him in the scoring area, leaning too much on 2-1 games, maybe he would prefer to play elsewhere.

As Bob McKenzie pointed out, they have a lot of questions to be answered, how much to give Radulov? What to do about the defense? Bergevin's reluctance to part with an asset to get Duchene at the deadline, has to be revisited. ANd he also pointed out the Price contract.

You mean Weber?

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Some interesting theories in the Montreal Gazette speaking to the future of the Habs and Price. Price is entering the last yr (6.5) on his deal and with Subban already making 9M, how much could they afford to pay him what he (his agent) feels a top 3 NHL goalie is worth. And they still don't have a legit #1 center. Giving Price 7 - 8M per would handcuff them , esp since any #1 center should make something in the 8M range. And if Price feels the pressure to win is too great there, given their history of not supporting him in the scoring area, leaning too much on 2-1 games, maybe he would prefer to play elsewhere.

As Bob McKenzie pointed out, they have a lot of questions to be answered, how much to give Radulov? What to do about the defense? Bergevin's reluctance to part with an asset to get Duchene at the deadline, has to be revisited. ANd he also pointed out the Price contract.

I'd be shocked if Price signed for $7-8 million. Lundqvist's cap hit is $8.5 million. Price will want at least $9 million.

 

[KINGS17]

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/04/22...o-blackhawks-after-unacceptable-playoff-exit/

Change comes in many different ways. So the specifics of how we are going to change things into next year are not really meant for this forum. But I can promise you we need to be better. Joel is our head coach. he will continue to be our head coach. Joel and I are going to work together to make sure this never happens again.

Here is the problem the Blackhawks are going to be facing this offseason when it comes to making changes: They are an extremely top-heavy team that is lacking the type of depth it had when it was winning Stanley Cups, while they have some massive contracts that are either going to be really difficult to move (no-move clauses or just contracts that other teams might not be able to take on), or are players they are not going to want to move.

...and some interesting reactions from Hawk fans:

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2221211

One in particular we mind find interesting:

Bowman changes are reason this team is mess it is

- It was Bowman who cost Hawks Saad
- It was Bowman who turned Sharp/Johns into trash we got from Stars
- It was Bowman who caved into whining Daley and made horrific series of Scuderi trades which ultimately lead to significant dead cap space
- It was Bowman who extended Seabrook at horrific term/cap hit
- It was Bowman who brought in trash like Rundblad , Svedberg and Gus thinking they were actually viable NHL talents
- It was Bowman who extended Kruger to god awful deal
- It was Bowman who turned a 1st + Dano into a deadline rental
- It was Bowman who gave away Danault + 2nd for absolute trash
- It was Bowman who was forced to give away TT because he failed miserably managing cap and needed to dump his previous biggest mistake (Until Toews , Seabrook and Kruger deals of course)

The changes that need to come to organization wont truly come

1) Trash like Kruger and Seabrook must go
2) Underwhelming and costly players such as Anisimov should go (Schmaltz is better option now and going forward at C)
3) Toews should no longer wear the C

Bowman should not have a job after his performance these past two seasons. He is up there with Lombardi for how to ruin a good thing

Bowman can not judge talent and it is why so many of his player acquisitions have been absolute #### since taking over as GM

Only way Bowman can succeed is to have 95% of the work done for him. As was the case here in Chicago with Smith , Pulford and Tallon building the Hawks into best organization in NHL

Only thing Stanley has done is prematurely end best era of Hawks hockey and its hopes of winning another Cup

 

[deeshamrock]

You mean Weber?

Yup. my bad. and it's 7.8 , not 9. boy I was off. Somebody didn't have her Irish breakfast tea yet, caffeine shortage!!!

 

[deeshamrock]

I'd be shocked if Price signed for $7-8 million. Lundqvist's cap hit is $8.5 million. Price will want at least $9 million.

Agree, but what he wants and what he will sign for might be 2 different numbers. Not many teams are in a position to carry a 9M goalie.

Speaking of Price, the questions /rumors are out and he was asked about his intentions:
'

John LuVerified account @JohnLuTSNMtl
#Habs Price on contract issue: "I want to stay here. I know we'll figure out a way to make all the pieces fit & bring a championship here."

Which is the answer he had to give. He's not going to tell the fanbase that he's for hire. And doesn't change the fact that if the Habs aren't offering what he feels he's worth, he will be changing zip codes.

 

[deeshamrock]

Toronto fans applauding the beginning of a winning era. Can't say I blame them.

Whole lot for them to be excited for, they will compete for the division next year. This playoff run , and all the OT's, pressure that comes with great experience for the rookies (of the 10 players who'd never been in the playoffs)
Babcock did a great job with this team, handing a couple rookies in their first playoff run, ice time usage, etc. it tough. To do what he did with all of them, how well he coached/motivated, just illustrates why he's won a championship every place he's coached.
I thought they were the better team for most of the time played, and had the Caps on the ropes, looking gassed by the 3rd.
They'll learn from this, trade for a top D and go forth next year to bigger things.

And unless the Caps play a lot better, they won't see game 6 vs the Pens.

 

[KINGS17]

Some interesting theories in the Montreal Gazette speaking to the future of the Habs and Price. Price is entering the last yr (6.5) on his deal and with Weber already making almost 8 M, how much could they afford to pay him what he (his agent) feels a top 3 NHL goalie is worth. And they still don't have a legit #1 center. Giving Price 7 - 8M per would handcuff them , esp since any #1 center should make something in the 8M range. And if Price feels the pressure to win is too great there, given their history of not supporting him in the scoring area, leaning too much on 2-1 games, maybe he would prefer to play elsewhere.

As Bob McKenzie pointed out, they have a lot of questions to be answered, how much to give Radulov? What to do about the defense? Bergevin's reluctance to part with an asset to get Duchene at the deadline, has to be revisited. ANd he also pointed out the Price contract.

Every agent and player wants the max salary for the max number of years.

Then as soon as they have signed, the player isn't responsible for the franchise being unable to sign the depth required to compete for a cup. Yet they all say they want to win.

Montreal isn't a great team with Price making a cap hit of $6.5M. Will having Price make a cap hit of $8M make them better?

 

[KingsFan7824]

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/04/22...o-blackhawks-after-unacceptable-playoff-exit/





...and some interesting reactions from Hawk fans:

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2221211

One in particular we mind find interesting:

And every GM/team that is successful will have to go through the same process. Chicago, LA, Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit, all have gone through it. Pittsburgh and Chicago lucked out in that they won a Cup with at least one of their big guys still on their ELC. Kopitar and Doughty already took up $14m in cap space by the time 2012 rolled around. That's one reason why the Kings may not win as many Cups as Chicago and potentially Pittsburgh. You can lose it all at the drop of a hat too. Pittsburgh looks good for years to come right now, but who knows for sure. If all the hype around Toronto is real, they may explode quickly, leaving even the Penguins in the dust.

One way or another, you either pay now or pay later with the cap. If you try to always get out ahead of the cap, you could end up like the Ducks and never have quite enough to win. Up to this point, the Ducks have outlasted the Kings and Hawks, who they lost to in 2014 and 2015, but is this the year they get over the hump? Maybe? If not, it'll always be what if, just like it is for most teams every year.

 

[deeshamrock]

Every agent and player wants the max salary for the max number of years.

Then as soon as they have signed, the player isn't responsible for the franchise being unable to sign the depth required to compete for a cup. Yet they all say they want to win.

Montreal isn't a great team with Price making a cap hit of $6.5M. Will having Price make a cap hit of $8M make them better?[/QUOTE]

Not without recognizing the other important criteria they need to get the the SC, namely, center strength. They are weak down the middle and w/o that, they are playing golf again next spring.

Price and Lundy are both elite goalies, but the Rangers had better forward depth and that was the difference.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Agree, but what he wants and what he will sign for might be 2 different numbers. Not many teams are in a position to carry a 9M goalie.

Speaking of Price, the questions /rumors are out and he was asked about his intentions:
'

John LuVerified account @JohnLuTSNMtl
#Habs Price on contract issue: "I want to stay here. I know we'll figure out a way to make all the pieces fit & bring a championship here."

Which is the answer he had to give. He's not going to tell the fanbase that he's for hire. And doesn't change the fact that if the Habs aren't offering what he feels he's worth, he will be changing zip codes.

Habs fans will run Bergevin out of town if he trades Price.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Whole lot for them to be excited for, they will compete for the division next year. This playoff run , and all the OT's, pressure that comes with great experience for the rookies (of the 10 players who'd never been in the playoffs)
Babcock did a great job with this team, handing a couple rookies in their first playoff run, ice time usage, etc. it tough. To do what he did with all of them, how well he coached/motivated, just illustrates why he's won a championship every place he's coached.
I thought they were the better team for most of the time played, and had the Caps on the ropes, looking gassed by the 3rd.
They'll learn from this, trade for a top D and go forth next year to bigger things.

And unless the Caps play a lot better, they won't see game 6 vs the Pens.

It will be interesting to see if the Leafs (or the Oilers for that matter) can take advantage of their opportunity before the cap gets them, and it won't be long, i'm sure McDavid and the Oilers will discuss a long-term deal (in the neighborhood of $10M) and Draisaitl is an RFA this summer. The Leafs will need to address Nylander, Marner and Matthews next summer and the following, given their projection, I can't see them coming cheap.

 

[TonySCV]

DeBoer says Thornton was playing through a torn MCL and ACL.

I mean, I get playing through injuries, but that is nuts. That is not courage, it is idiotic.

 

[KINGS17]

DeBoer says Thornton was playing through a torn MCL and ACL.

I mean, I get playing through injuries, but that is nuts. That is not courage, it is idiotic.

The clock is ticking on Thornton's career. Probably feels like he had nothing to lose.

Valiant effort, but he is probably risking all kinds of debilitating effects on his knee as he gets older.

Admire the guy's courage, but yeah kinda dumb.

 

[KINGS17]

It will be interesting to see if the Leafs (or the Oilers for that matter) can take advantage of their opportunity before the cap gets them, and it won't be long, i'm sure McDavid and the Oilers will discuss a long-term deal (in the neighborhood of $10M) and Draisaitl is an RFA this summer. The Leafs will need to address Nylander, Marner and Matthews next summer and the following, given their projection, I can't see them coming cheap.

I don't see any of these guys getting $10M contracts. They are RFAs.

They will be paid very well, but they won't get cap busting contracts.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Dwight King played 17 games with the Habs had 1 goal. In 6 playoff games he had 0 points. Ouch.

 

[KINGS17]

And every GM/team that is successful will have to go through the same process. Chicago, LA, Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit, all have gone through it. Pittsburgh and Chicago lucked out in that they won a Cup with at least one of their big guys still on their ELC. Kopitar and Doughty already took up $14m in cap space by the time 2012 rolled around. That's one reason why the Kings may not win as many Cups as Chicago and potentially Pittsburgh. You can lose it all at the drop of a hat too. Pittsburgh looks good for years to come right now, but who knows for sure. If all the hype around Toronto is real, they may explode quickly, leaving even the Penguins in the dust.

One way or another, you either pay now or pay later with the cap. If you try to always get out ahead of the cap, you could end up like the Ducks and never have quite enough to win. Up to this point, the Ducks have outlasted the Kings and Hawks, who they lost to in 2014 and 2015, but is this the year they get over the hump? Maybe? If not, it'll always be what if, just like it is for most teams every year.

Add 50% to this figure and you have what they will be eating up in 2019-20. The cap will have likely increased by only 8-10% at most.

The Kings and Blackhawks both had choices. They had already won multiple cups. Both GMs failed to recognize the odds of winning another while paying players approaching the end of their prime years big money were extremely unlikely.

You don't HAVE to pay outrageous amounts for past performance and success. Handing out the Kane/Toews, and what will ultimately be the Kopitar/Doughty contracts had no effect on the winning of the cups.

Anaheim is much better positioned than the Kings or Blackhawks going forward, but it still might not be enough, because Edmonton kept getting low cost, talented players by sucking for so long.

 

[BigKing]

I applaud a guy known as the Tin Man and a choker to go out there on a torn up knee and give it a go.

Good on him.

 

[KopitarFAN]

I don't see any of these guys getting $10M contracts. They are RFAs.

They will be paid very well, but they won't get cap busting contracts.

I don't know, let's say McDavid signs an 8 year deal, the 3 UFA years are worth at least the $14M (highest paid player in the league) that Kopitar got this year, that means they can't pay him any less than $7M in the other 5 years, that's $77M right their, not even taking into account the 30% rule.

 

[KopitarFAN]

double post.

 

[KINGS17]

I don't know, let's say McDavid signs an 8 year deal, the 3 UFA years are worth at least the $14M (highest paid player in the league) that Kopitar got this year, that means they can't pay him any less than $7M in the other 5 years, that's $77M right their, not even taking into account the 30% rule.

Big assumption on your part.

 

[KingLB]

Add 50% to this figure and you have what they will be eating up in 2019-20. The cap will have likely increased by only 8-10% at most.

The Kings and Blackhawks both had choices. They had already won multiple cups. Both GMs failed to recognize the odds of winning another while paying players approaching the end of their prime years big money were extremely unlikely.

You don't HAVE to pay outrageous amounts for past performance and success. Handing out the Kane/Toews, and what will ultimately be the Kopitar/Doughty contracts had no effect on the winning of the cups.

Anaheim is much better positioned than the Kings or Blackhawks going forward, but it still might not be enough, because Edmonton kept getting low cost, talented players by sucking for so long.

The problem with this theory, is that for it to work. You constantly have to build a team, and win a cup in more or less 3 year windows. The second your "star" or "stars" get out of the ELC now-a-days they are getting paid. You gonna do a full rebuild every 3 years? What percentage of rebuilds work?

Edit-Note: I don't entirely disagree, as I have been advocating the trading of Carter/Amart to get younger cheaper assets that can help with the "miny-rebuild" in the next 2-3 years. And use up the last of prime Doughty years.

 

[kovacro]

30 Thoughts: Islanders working hard on John Tavares extension pitch

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-islanders-working-hard-john-tavares-extension-pitch/

20. Los Angeles reached out to University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery about joining John Stevens on the bench. That won’t happen, but it gives you an idea into what they are thinking. There are rumblings Montgomery will meet with Florida this week. Very serious candidate. Dave Hakstol set a high bar when he left North Dakota for about $2 million per season in Philadelphia. That might be what it takes to get Montgomery.

He is a legit HC candidate and as I mentioned in another thread, I would not be surprised to see him behind a bench as an HC come next season.