Around the NHL: Free Agent Frenzy begins July 1 at noon

[Woodhouse]

How many has he had ?

At least two concussions in 2015 per this blog post:

Rick Curran, who represents Ehrhoff, was adamant that there were no hard feelings between his client and the club, no frustration at the way Ehroff’s two concussions down the stretch were handled.

“They were actually extremely cautious to ensure that even if he wanted to play – which he did that during that timeframe – he not play unless he was 100 percent,†Curran said. He wanted to play. That’s why he came there. They were extremely cautious, as you would hope.â€

Ehrhoff suffered his first concussion Jan. 28 at Washington, then returned in D.C. on Feb. 25. He played just that one game before symptoms returned and didn’t play again until March 14.

A March 24 game against St. Louis and a hit along the boards put Ehrhoff out for good, and he never returned.

 

[B U F F A L O]

I see the Flyers signed Provorov to his ELC. I was a real big fan of his as early as leading up to the WJC. 2nd best D behind Hanifin all year. Anyone think he makes the jump to the NHL? I think he'll get his 9 games at least.

 

[RoofIt5hole]

I have all sorts of respect for the blackhawks and their turnaround. I love chicago and would move back there in a heart beat

But my god has Chicago's success gone straight to this writer's head:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...ks-trade-saad-rosenbloom-20150701-column.html



No idea when this guy started covering Chicago sports, but I really doubt Columbus was chosen as a punishment. Less than a decade removed from playing front of empty barns the writer thinks Chicago is so special players will bow down and take paycuts. Kane and Toews certainly didn't.

Rosenbloom has been covering Chicago sports for a long time, he's just not particularly knowledgeable about hockey, much like most sports writers in Chicago. I like the Hawks, but listening to uninformed "hockey fans" that only started paying attention when they started winning, preach about how great Chicago is and disparage other cities is unbearable. I think part of is that many Chicagoans have an inferiority complex when compared to NYC, LA, & Boston and thus take any opportunity to disparage other cities... the whole "he should take a patch to stay" narrative has been widespread in Chicago. Unlike the Sabres, the Blackhawks get unanimously favorable coverage, particularly from the Trib. What I found funny was that they didn't repay any of the writers by giving them any heads up about the Saad thing and it was first reported by not a Chicago guy. Particularly when the local media turned a blind eye to a number of off ice issues throughout this season... The Sabres need to hire whoever is running the Blackhawks media because nobody locally seems to dare say anything negative about the organization.

 

[UnleashRasmus]

I'm still very interested in Chris Stewart, Curtis Glencross, and Matt Irwin.

 

[Djp]

Benoit signed with St Louis



St. Louis BluesVerified account
‏@StLouisBlues The Blues have signed defenseman Andre Benoit to a one-year, two-way contract. >>> http://*******/1IEJvB3 #stlblues #OurBlues

 

[Jim Bob]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/paul-martin-pittsburgh-penguins-letter/

At the start of last season, one of the guys put on this clip from the movie Semi-Pro in the locker room. If you’ve never seen the movie, Will Ferrell plays a washed up ’70s ABA basketball player named Jackie Moon, and he ends up boxing a grizzly bear as part of the post-game entertainment. Long story short, before Jackie gets in the ring with the Dewey the Bear, the animal trainer tells him that if he’s in any real danger, just yell out “Spumoni.†That’s his safe word.

So he gets in the ring and Dewey is just confused at first. Then Jackie karate chops him in the neck and the bear jumps up and starts attacking. Jackie’s yelling out “Spumoni! Spumoni! Not my hair! The only thing I care about is my hair!â€

Flash forward to a game a few weeks later. I get caught out on a long shift with Rob Scuderi, and we are getting peppered. We just couldn’t get the puck out of our end or even get a whistle, and Marc-Andre Fleury is standing on his head making save after save. Flower is hooting and hollering after every shot like he usually does. And I mean we just can’t get the puck out. We’re so gassed. Finally, another shot comes in from the point and Scuderi yells out, “Spumoni! Spumoni!â€

I’m in the corner just dying. We eventually get a whistle and I’m practically doubled over laughing, trying to hide it as I’m skating to the bench. If Scuds would’ve finished the scene with, “If you have a small child, use it as a shield!†they probably would’ve had to stretcher me off the ice.

 

[Beerz]

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/paul-martin-pittsburgh-penguins-letter/

Funny story there from Martin, but I guess he gave up on those Stanley Cup dreams signing with San Jose.

 

[Woodhouse]

If you need a hockey fix, McDavid will feature in the Edmonton scrimmage at 8:30PM ET:

 

[Zman5778]

If you need a hockey fix, McDavid will feature in the Edmonton scrimmage at 8:30PM ET

Only scored 5. Safe to call him a bust yet????

 

[VaporTrail]

Lol...wow 5 goals....

 

[Jagemon]

Also no contact. Thats like CHL

 

[vcv]

Damn I forgot how filthy McDavid is with the puck in close.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Hard to see Eichel keep up with McDavid for ROY.

 

[haseoke39]

Hard to see Eichel keep up with McDavid for ROY.

Especially with a guy like Taylor Hall potentially on his wing. McDavid's going to be top 10 in the league in scoring if he stays healthy.

 

[joshjull]

Hard to see Eichel keep up with McDavid for ROY.

Based on 5 goals in a prospects game? McDavid may very well outscore Eichel. But I would't take much out of what either does in a prospects game.

 

[Myllz]

Especially with a guy like Taylor Hall potentially on his wing. McDavid's going to be top 10 in the league in scoring if he stays healthy.

Depends. If Eichel plays with Kane, they'll put up points. McDavid will still probably outproduce Jack this year, though.

 

[haseoke39]

Based on 5 goals in a prospects game?

Based on everything. It's not like we just learned this kid's name last night.

 

[Zman5778]

Pretty much the same deal we just gave ROR. Could be a real steal in a few years.

 

[joshjull]

Based on everything. It's not like we just learned this kid's name last night.

The poster in question is responding after a 5 goal prospects game performance.

When these kids are playing NHL teams trying to stop them and pound on them. Then we'll start to get a feel for what each of them can do.

 

[TalkingProuder]

Pretty much the same deal we just gave ROR. Could be a real steal in a few years.

Only one season over 30 goals and one season over 50 points. Overpaid.

 

[joshjull]

Pretty much the same deal we just gave ROR. Could be a real steal in a few years.

Its technically more expensive since its buying up RFA and UFA years. I think its 4 of each (half and half). Every year of ROR's deal is buying up UFA years.

 

[Zip15]

As one astute poster on the trade board pointed out, he's hardly worth 7 Kucherov's.

#RORdealAnalysis

Pretty much the same deal we just gave ROR. Could be a real steal in a few years.

The same cap hit. We bought seven (7) UFA years and zero (0) RFA years. St. Louis bought four (4) RFA years, and four (4) UFA years.

That's a material difference.

 

[Mattilaus]

ROR: 24 years old, .72 ppg over the last three years, Lady Bing, excellent defensively

Tarasenko: 23 years old, .75 ppg over the last three years, no hardware, great goal scorer (for one season anyways)

ROR at 7.5 for 7 ufa years? way too much, we will regret it

Tarasenko at 7.5 for 4 RFA and 4 ufa years? Biggest bargain in league history

To clarify I am not saying I wouldn't want Tarasenko, it's just ridiculous how ROR deal is seen by comparison.

 

[TalkingProuder]

ROR: 24 years old, .72 ppg over the last three years, Lady Bing, excellent defensively

Tarasenko: 23 years old, .75 ppg over the last three years, no hardware, great goal scorer (for one season anyways)

ROR at 7.5 for 7 ufa years? way too much, we will regret it

Tarasenko at 7.5 for 4 RFA and 4 ufa years? Biggest bargain in league history

To clarify I am not saying I wouldn't want Tarasenko, it's just ridiculous how ROR deal is seen by comparison.

Figuring out RFA vs UFA is too complicated for most on this board. Most casual fans also just look at points and not the player. Tarasenko is a great player but he is getting paid quite well since he isn't even UFA. I hope Sabres do this for Ristolainen.