Around the league part 2

[Raccoon Jesus]

PLD-Roy pairing confirmed.

Honestly after seeing Kovalchuk on the 4th line and in front of the net on the PP I can't believe anyone is legitimately arguing with me over this.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Damn Vince Dunn got PAID
4-year, $29.4M

 

[Fishhead]

I'm not sure what Seattle is thinking here. That's a lot of scratch for one great season, although he's a really good player. I've always thought of him in Muzzin's class, waiting to see if this season was a breakout or an anomaly. Risky, but could pay off.

What puzzles me most is the 4 years. If you are going to toss that kind of cash out there, how can you not buy more UFA years? I think 6 years at that AAV would have been fair for both sides. Dunn had some leverage because of arbitration, but not that much leverage. For 4 years I feel he should have been about $1M lower.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

They get his prime for cheap compared to the cap over the following 3 years imo. Not risk free by any means, and Larsson should be making the defensive part of his salary, but it's a fair deal for both.

 

[YP44]

I think the Dunn contract will age well.

Came here to ask, has anyone heard anything on Lehner's health? if he comes back Vegas is screwed cap wise right?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I think the Dunn contract will age well.

Came here to ask, has anyone heard anything on Lehner's health? if he comes back Vegas is screwed cap wise right?

Lehner is like 50lbs overweight and can't even pass a physical. And that's assuming he's injury free, which by all accounts he isn't.

Vegas has cap problems for sure but Lehner will ride off into the LTIRetirement sunset.

 

[YP44]

Lehner is like 50lbs overweight and can't even pass a physical. And that's assuming he's injury free, which by all accounts he isn't.

Vegas has cap problems for sure but Lehner will ride off into the LTIRetirement sunset.

Where did you hear about the bolded?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Where did you hear about the bolded?

Scuttlebutt in Las Vegas. Who knows if it’s real

 

[Schrute farms]

Scuttlebutt in Las Vegas.

I hear that's the nickname for Lehner among the workers at the casino buffets.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I hear that's the nickname for Lehner among the workers at the casino buffets.

It's actually the name they're giving his new venereal disease.

 

[Bandit]

Scuttlebutt in Las Vegas. Who knows if it’s real

Probably as real as there being sex in the champagne room.

 

[Herby]

I’m happy to see Bergeron call it a career while he’s still an effective player and didn’t have to leave Boston to play 1-2 seasons in some jersey he will look ridiculous in.

I remember when he was in his first camp with the Bruins, there was a ton of hype about their 2nd round pick, and amazingly he lived up to it right away, as an 18 year old. He scored his first NHL goal at Staples Center against Cechmanek.

The Kings passed 4 times on him, including the pick right before he was taken.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I’m happy to see Bergeron call it a career while he’s still an effective player and didn’t have to leave Boston to play 1-2 seasons in some jersey he will look ridiculous in.

I remember when he was in his first camp with the Bruins, there was a ton of hype about their 2nd round pick, and amazingly he lived up to it right away, as an 18 year old. He scored his first NHL goal at Staples Center against Cechmanek.

The Kings passed 4 times on him, including the pick right before he was taken.

At least the Kings wound up with Konstantin Pushkarev, who was highly ranked by the Red Line Report.

 

[Herby]

At least the Kings wound up with Konstantin Pushkarev, who was highly ranked by the Red Line Report.

Fans in 2004 when Taylor continually just takes the highest ranked player on CSB.

“The Kings are winning all these drafts, getting all these guys who fall, the system is loaded”

Fans in 2006

“Taylor’s drafting sucked, all he did was draft the highest ranked player every year. We need more in-depth scouting”

Fans in 2023

“You can’t blame Blake or the scouts for any of these picks flopping, he just took the highest ranked players on the CSB list”

Full circle

Getting back to Bergeron. I think it’s going to be a long time until we see a defensive center this good. Him and the Selke was like Lidstrom and the Norris. I think some years the voters just got bored of giving it to the same guy.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Fans in 2004 when Taylor continually just takes the highest ranked player on CSB.

“The Kings are winning all these drafts, getting all these guys who fall, the system is loaded”

Fans in 2006

“Taylor’s drafting sucked, all he did was draft the highest ranked player every year. We need more in-depth scouting”

Fans in 2023

“You can’t blame Blake or the scouts for any of these picks flopping, he just took the highest ranked players on the CSB list”

Full circle

Getting back to Bergeron. I think it’s going to be a long time until we see a defensive center this good. Him and the Selke was like Lidstrom and the Norris. I think some years the voters just got bored of giving it to the same guy.

Thankfully staying on board with the highest rated prospects worked out for the team on two occasions in 2003 and 2005, because rumors were abound the team wanted Hugh Jessiman before the Rangers took him in 2003.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Imagine if LA drafted Boyle, Tambellini, and Jessiman in that loaded 2003 first round lol

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The fact that they got a quote from Taylor talking highly about Hugh Jessiman in this article from 2013 tells me they did have their eyes on him.

Deep NHL draft draws comparisons to stellar 2003 haul

n a year in which scouts are salivating at not only the top-end players but the depth of talent available, there could also be a haul similar to that of 2003

nationalpost.com

Missing out on Jessiman is why the team took Boyle later in the first round.

 

[psych3man]

Getting back to Bergeron. I think it’s going to be a long time until we see a defensive center this good. Him and the Selke was like Lidstrom and the Norris. I think some years the voters just got bored of giving it to the same guy.

I think Kopitar is as good or better. 11 had to work more minutes and in tougher situations with less talented line mates. Switch their teams from the start and Kopitar is talked about like Bergeron is now.

 

[Herby]

I think Kopitar is as good or better. 11 had to work more minutes and in tougher situations with less talented line mates. Switch their teams from the start and Kopitar is talked about like Bergeron is now.

You just listen to what other players say about him and it seems there is very much a consensus over who the best def forward of his era is. I don’t think that takes anything away from AK, who himself was an all-time great two-way player.

 

[psych3man]

You just listen to what other players say about him and it seems there is very much a consensus over who the best def forward of his era is. I don’t think that takes anything away from AK, who himself was an all-time great two-way player.

I hear you, my issue is the east coast bias is so strong and led to Bergeron > Kopitar becoming conventional wisdom that is repeated and becomes fact over time.

 

[bland]

I hear you, my issue is the east coast bias is so strong and led to Bergeron > Kopitar becoming conventional wisdom that is repeated and becomes fact over time.

No bias, its true - Bergeron was the better player of the two.

If anything its our own West Coast bias that thinks that they should be comparable. Bergeron has been the best two-way forward in the game for over a decade, no shame in being one of the runners up. Its recognition, not a competition.

 

[Statto]

No bias, its true - Bergeron was the better player of the two.

If anything its our own West Coast bias that thinks that they should be comparable. Bergeron has been the best two-way forward in the game for over a decade, no shame in being one of the runners up. Its recognition, not a competition.

I agree. There’s certainly certain seasons AK was the better player (I forget which season but I strongly felt AK was robbed of at least one Selke) but overall Bergeron edges it… just.

 

[Herby]

I think a case can be made that Kopitar was a better all around player because his offense makes up the difference in D ability.

Defensively though, you just hear how players talk about Bergeron’s defensive play and it’s apparent that players consider him a class by himself.

 

[Sol]

I think it is hard to overlook that Bergeron played with someone like Marchand on his side for so long. Marchand is and was a very good player. I don’t think Bergeron is the better player of the two. I think Bergeron has had better chemistry and better linemates.

I think there is also truth to the exposure that Bergeron got in the NHL. The biggest markets are on the east and so was the coverage.

 

[King'sPawn]

Both can be true that ultimately, Bergeron was better defensively while still pointing out that Kopitar has often been underappreciated and under-recognized.