Around the League thread: Phil in Pitt. And other NHL topics

[wulfio*]

Phaneuf for kessel.

 

[Mess]

Could Vancouver be looking for change in player personnel also?

 

[Swervin81]

Could Vancouver be looking for change in player personnel also?

I hate the Canucks so I hope they keep Benning since he has no clue what he's doing. He just traded Kassian for Prust and a 5th. Like... huuuh??? Not to mention that Miller contract. They badly need a rebuild, and they instead seem to be going full JFJ. No rebuild, throw mediocre crap at the wall and hope it sticks.

 

[Mess]

I hate the Canucks so I hope they keep Benning since he has no clue what he's doing. He just traded Kassian for Prust and a 5th. Like... huuuh??? Not to mention that Miller contract. They badly need a rebuild, and they instead seem to be going full JFJ. No rebuild, throw mediocre crap at the wall and hope it sticks.

Lupul playing the wing with Sedins would be a nice fit.

 

[Swervin81]

Now if Lombardi doesn't terminate this, we have a huge problem.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Now if Lombardi doesn't terminate this, we have a huge problem.

mhhmhm. i'd say this is material breach, right?

 

[Semantics]

Just read about the Vancouver stuff. What are they doing? I'm not a fan of theirs so there'll be schadenfreude, but it's kind of scary that in this day and age when just about every team is being progressive with stats, drafting, and cap management that they would fire all their analytical thinkers and step back into the 2000s style of running things. Man, that would be heartbreaking as a fan, imagine if Shanny, Hunter, and Dubas got us to the finals and then the team faltered a bit and they got replaced by Lowe and MacTavish.

 

[hfdshdh]

Just read about the Vancouver stuff. What are they doing? I'm not a fan of theirs so there'll be schadenfreude, but it's kind of scary that in this day and age when just about every team is being progressive with stats, drafting, and cap management that they would fire all their analytical thinkers and step back into the 2000s style of running things. Man, that would be heartbreaking as a fan, imagine if Shanny, Hunter, and Dubas got us to the finals and then the team faltered a bit and they got replaced by Lowe and MacTavish.

There still seems to be a surprising amount of backwards-assed thinking around the NHL.

But I'm all for it. The longer it goes on, the more of an advantage we'll have.

 

[Semantics]

And now I just watched Benning's presser from yesterday. He makes Nonis, Loiselle, and Poulin look like geniuses. His public speaking reminds me Dion Phaneuf. No mention of winning a championship. His goal is to "make the playoffs", and all their moves are about getting in the near future. He wants to add more toughness. Sound familiar? Can't believe that guy is running an NHL team. I hope Dubas is calling him every day.

 

[Daisy Jane]

And now I just watched Benning's presser from yesterday. He makes Nonis, Loiselle, and Poulin look like geniuses. His public speaking reminds me Dion Phaneuf. No mention of winning a championship. His goal is to "make the playoffs", and all their moves are about getting in the near future. He wants to add more toughness. Sound familiar? Can't believe that guy is running an NHL team. I hope Dubas is calling him every day.

(sigh). I wouldn't wish "to make the playoffs" on anyone, it's such a short sighted goal. Like - I can understand that should be a step and I've often argued I wouldn't get so mad, moves were made to, you know - move past on "making the playoffs" especialy in a league where unless you are Edmonton or Us, it's easy. but that shouldn't be your underlying goal.

I missed his presser though.
and to be honest, other than trying to get his first and 2nd round picks, I don't know why Dubas would waste his time.they have nothing we need.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

The UFA contracts have been much more reasonable this season.

Sekera 6 years X 5.5M is much better value than MacDonald/Orpik contracts IMO, Beleskey signed for 5 years X 3.8M, much less than the rumoured Clarkson numbers, Green only got a three year contract, etc.

Due to a lower cap increase than previous years of course. Exchange rate is hurting the small market Canadian teams for sure as well.

GMs are likely uncertain where the cap might go beyond this year as well. The trend could continue - hard to say.

But, for whatever reasons, it does seem like teams/GMs are thinking harder and are more reluctant to lock players into longer term, big $ contracts. The idea that the draft is the #1 team building tool has long since been established already.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Due to a lower cap increase than previous years of course. Exchange rate is hurting the small market Canadian teams for sure as well.

GMs are likely uncertain where the cap might go beyond this year as well. The trend could continue - hard to say.

But, for whatever reasons, it does seem like teams/GMs are thinking harder and are more reluctant to lock players into longer term, big $ contracts. The idea that the draft is the #1 team building tool has long since been established already.

but we've already seen what's going to happen -
the drama is no longer going to be UFAs... it's going to be RFAs.

if you price yourself out - you'll be moved. end of story. and if you have multiples RFAs at once....

 

[Kyle93]

Pens put a "fresh start for Biggs" article on their site. Some of the comments on it are funny stuff.

dude this kid is a top propect he was injured last year. He thrilled for a fresh start man. Im the same age as this kid. He grew up playing in canada because he was so good at a young age. He played major junior and for our NTDP team.

Big forward, 22nd pick, huge potential.

 

[showtime8]

Oilers are streaming their intra-squad game that features McDavid.

Last time I looked, there was close to 3800 live viewers of the game. It's a Monday night in July & you can get that many people wanting to see the future Crosby.

Makes me wonder how many people would watch a Leafs scrimmage.

 

[keon]

Pittsburgh in Cap Hell

I think Pittsburg is seriously up against the cap with only 16 regulars signed and only $5.7m in available cap space. They have 2 RFA's to sign in Brian Dumoulin and Beau Bennett. They will have to move out one or more of Rob Scuderi, Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis, or Brandon Sutter. They will likely have to add assets to get rid of any of these veterans. The first 3 have 2 years left at $7m total term. It would be nice if we could recoup another asset by taking on one of these contracts. It would be nice to pry Brian Dumoulin out.

 

[Daisy Jane]

well, we can't get another asset from Pittsburgh be cause all of those lovely cap dumps won't waive their no trades to come to Toronto. Which is why we had to retain on Phil. so. there ya go.

 

[keon]

well, we can't get another asset from Pittsburgh be cause all of those lovely cap dumps won't waive their no trades to come to Toronto. Which is why we had to retain on Phil. so. there ya go.

With the No Trade/No Movement clauses Rutherford will have his problems. Pittsburg is a Top Heavy Talent/Top Heavy Cap club. Maybe Perron could be available.

 

[mcleex]

Imagine Biggs turns it around playing in Pittsburgh lol

With our luck I wouldn't be surprised even tho he seems like a huge bust

 

[showtime8]

well, we can't get another asset from Pittsburgh be cause all of those lovely cap dumps won't waive their no trades to come to Toronto. Which is why we had to retain on Phil. so. there ya go.

Not only would they not come, but Pittsburgh would be hard pressed to let go of any of their other prospects.

They are getting down to having nothing in their system. Maatta & Pouliot would be their 2 prized pieces and outside of that, nothing too special.

 

[Mess]

Big payday @ $7.5 mil AAV.

 

[Community]

(sigh). I wouldn't wish "to make the playoffs" on anyone, it's such a short sighted goal. Like - I can understand that should be a step and I've often argued I wouldn't get so mad, moves were made to, you know - move past on "making the playoffs" especialy in a league where unless you are Edmonton or Us, it's easy. but that shouldn't be your underlying goal.

I missed his presser though.
and to be honest, other than trying to get his first and 2nd round picks, I don't know why Dubas would waste his time.they have nothing we need.

Horvat, Tanev, Virtanen, are all very nice pieces that would be good to add.

A big center (not tall, but 6'0 and over 200lbs - built like a truck) who is great at faceoffs and looks to have Ryan Kesler upside (1B/2A C who puts up points while being good defensively) would be an awesome addition.

Tanev is a good defensive defenseman who can put up a few points and is already a top 4 dman at 25.

Virtanen would be a nice big body winger to add to our prospect pool. I think he's a bit over-rated and shouldn't have gone #6 overall, but he's still a prospect that should be a top 6 forward with a physical game and great shot that would compliment a player with good vision like Nylander pretty well.

1st + Virtanen for Phaneuf + 2nd seems like an alright deal to me (Van's pick should be around 15-20th, our 2nd around 31-37). I mean, I'd push for more but that seems like a deal Vancouver could like if they believe they can make another push with the Sedins still.

 

[Community]

Big payday @ $7.5 mil AAV.

Much deserved though... He's a helluva good player! While it is a bit risky as he's only had one season where he put up numbers that deserve that kind of payment (or more), I have no doubt he'll have many similar performances in the years to come.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Tarasenko could make a case as the best forward in the league last season. Terrific possession player, great point production, big ES role, terrific at their PP and a beast shorthanded (he wasn't on for a single goal against SH last season, and their SH was at their best with him on the ice).

 

[HoweHullOrr]

So how much cap space do we have left? Lots I'm guessing?

Can we throw a bunch of money at Martin St. Louis for a 1 year contract? Then retain 50% and flip him at the deadline?

MSL retired.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Due to a lower cap increase than previous years of course. Exchange rate is hurting the small market Canadian teams for sure as well.

GMs are likely uncertain where the cap might go beyond this year as well. The trend could continue - hard to say.

But, for whatever reasons, it does seem like teams/GMs are thinking harder and are more reluctant to lock players into longer term, big $ contracts. The idea that the draft is the #1 team building tool has long since been established already.

but we've already seen what's going to happen -
the drama is no longer going to be UFAs... it's going to be RFAs.

if you price yourself out - you'll be moved. end of story. and if you have multiples RFAs at once....

Money/cap issues are still the root cause though. Offer sheets, or the threat of offer sheets seems to played a larger role this year, unless they managed to keep them under the radar in years past.