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Official NHL Off Season Thread
- Thread starter Wolf
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Now that reference has been removed from the article, still on the salary page though.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=3964&hubname=
Yep its been confirmed:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=170991&hubname=nhl
I like Havlat and all but come on, no way is he worth that much. That probably screws Bobby Clark over though in re-signing Gagne, so that atleast makes me happy.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=3964&hubname=
Yep its been confirmed:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=170991&hubname=nhl
I like Havlat and all but come on, no way is he worth that much. That probably screws Bobby Clark over though in re-signing Gagne, so that atleast makes me happy.
TemplaerDude
Member
Can't blame Chicago too much. No one wants to sign there so they got a crap load of cap space.
Crazymoogle
Member
Sandman42 said:
Well, they do have some big tickets already though: Khabibulin, Lapointe, and Cullimore probably make big chunks of change (regardless of quality.) The team problem is they have a boatload of young guys to grow around them, and the nonsensical ownership to keep achievers from sticking around very long.
Doug Wilson comes through again. Bell should fit in beautifully on the left of Thornton and Cheechoo. I guess this move makes Nils Ekman expendable. I loved what he did the past 2 regular seasons (the first more than the second, given that he was playing alongside the ultimate combo for most of last year), but the guy got pushed around during the playoffs. It's a shame to lose Preissing, though. There must be another offensive defenseman on the way.....please?
TemplaerDude
Member
Canucks sign Chouinard to a two year, 1 million per contract.
3rd line center... ? He's apparently good at faceoffs which is definitly something this team needs... unless we're shipping off Morrison though (please please please), he doesn't get much farther than third.
3rd line center... ? He's apparently good at faceoffs which is definitly something this team needs... unless we're shipping off Morrison though (please please please), he doesn't get much farther than third.
Cold-Steel
Member
There's just no way Morrison is going to be our number one center going into next season.
He's a number two center and a damn good one at that but he does not belong on the first line.
He's a number two center and a damn good one at that but he does not belong on the first line.
Cold-Steel
Member
Here we go, the TSN analysis of Chouinard:
Assets: Has great size and reach. Is good on face-offs and does the little things in order to survive the NHL game. Can play both center or right wing.
Flaws: Has skating issues. Was supposed to put up much bigger offensive numbers in the pros but has been a major flop in terms of production.
Career potential: Checking line center.
Most interesting...if his production goes up then this could be another Anson Carter scenario.
Assets: Has great size and reach. Is good on face-offs and does the little things in order to survive the NHL game. Can play both center or right wing.
Flaws: Has skating issues. Was supposed to put up much bigger offensive numbers in the pros but has been a major flop in terms of production.
Career potential: Checking line center.
Most interesting...if his production goes up then this could be another Anson Carter scenario.
TemplaerDude
Member
So he had the potential. Maybe being stuck in the Wild system stagnated that. Stick him with the right people on this team and he might do better than we expect.
Cold-Steel
Member
:lol :lol Every time is a great time with Domi and pizza!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbTn47zmbnc&search=mcgrattan
Bring on the hate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbTn47zmbnc&search=mcgrattan
Bring on the hate!
:lol :lol @ that Habs pic...
Ya think? Wasn't it you or one of your fellow Mensa candidates bleating about how he couldn't sign for less than 3 million since "that's what Willie Mitchell got"? Why would he sign for 2 million with the most offensively throttled team in the league if this big payout is what he's looking for?dem said:
ForzaItalia
Banned
Fight for Freeform said:
You know this might sound weird but I think this guy always tears it up when he goes to a new team (including his back)
I think he'll do the same wherever he signs...
Discharger
Member
Malakhov said:
Yeah, wtf?
Maybe he caught a bad case of Pronger disease
The Pens' first 5 games of the season...
Thu., Oct. 5 PHILADELPHIA 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 7 DETROIT 7:30 p.m.
Thu., Oct. 12 @ NY Rangers 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 14 CAROLINA 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 18 NEW JERSEY 7:30 p.m.
****ing OUCH. Please stop the pain this season. Please oh please let the hurting stop and give me something positive to go on.
Thu., Oct. 5 PHILADELPHIA 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 7 DETROIT 7:30 p.m.
Thu., Oct. 12 @ NY Rangers 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 14 CAROLINA 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 18 NEW JERSEY 7:30 p.m.
****ing OUCH. Please stop the pain this season. Please oh please let the hurting stop and give me something positive to go on.
Pens will start 5-0. Hey, they play them for a reason. I'm not going to concede anything. Of those teams, really only Carolina and New York look any better than they did last year so far. At the very least, the Penguins should improve on last year's 0-4-5 start.
In any event, I'll definitely be there on October 5th for Evgeni Malkin's NHL debut. Less than three months!
In any event, I'll definitely be there on October 5th for Evgeni Malkin's NHL debut. Less than three months!
I still haven't seen anything saying that Malkin's actually been signed on the official site. It kind of worries me, but I'm sure a deal will get done before the start of the new season.
A 5-0 start against these teams would be amazing. We'll see what happens. I have faith in Sid and feel he'll make an even bigger impact this season. I'm just wondering who else is going to play wing with him on the first line. Armstrong and...?
A 5-0 start against these teams would be amazing. We'll see what happens. I have faith in Sid and feel he'll make an even bigger impact this season. I'm just wondering who else is going to play wing with him on the first line. Armstrong and...?
Mike Works
Member
Alucard said:
Malkin hasn't been signed because the Russian agreement hasn't been officially ratified. Supposedly, his team in Russia is tying things up because they don't want him to leave for what the transfer fee will be. But there's little chance of him being stuck in Russia. The Russian federation has already agreed to participate in the transfer agreement. Russia's own president is the guy who pushed for it to get done. Somehow, I don't think one team's wishes is going to override the president's. Besides all that, reportedly Russian labor laws can't stop Malkin from just leaving. Since he fully intends to be in the NHL this year, I can't see how he wouldn't be.
Your guess is as good as mine as far as Crosby's other linemate. It seems like Recchi could be back after all, in which case, he'll probably be on Crosby's LW. Otherwise, there are still guys left on the free agent market, trade possibilities, and at worst someone like Christensen could come up from the minors and get a chance. And then there's the very slim chance that Jordan Staal makes the team out of training camp.
Whatever the case, 2006-2007 Pittsburgh Penguins, most improved team in the NHL.
Your guess is as good as mine as far as Crosby's other linemate. It seems like Recchi could be back after all, in which case, he'll probably be on Crosby's LW. Otherwise, there are still guys left on the free agent market, trade possibilities, and at worst someone like Christensen could come up from the minors and get a chance. And then there's the very slim chance that Jordan Staal makes the team out of training camp.
Whatever the case, 2006-2007 Pittsburgh Penguins, most improved team in the NHL.
Mike Works
Member
Oh, they got some defense in the off season when I wasn't looking, did they?pops619 said:
Minnesota will be the most improved because, A) they've improved their roster offensively in the off season while giving little up from their old roster and, B) their division rivals have either stayed the same or gotten potentially worse.
Mike Works said:
As the season wound down last year our defense actually wasn't THAT bad. Gonchar was actually around a +5 after the Olympic break. I'm more than confident in our D core for this season...
Gonchar - Whitney
Eaton - Welch
Orpik - Cairns/Melichar/Odelein/Scuderi
Cairns was solid last year, Welch was awesome in the 5 games he did play, and the addition of Eaton will hopefully work out too. Leading shotblocker on Nashville and apparently just a really hard-working defensive dman, which is totally what we need.
Odelein's gone. Cairns is a seventh defenseman at best. The Pens' defense by the end of last season was more inexperienced than anything. Whitney and Orpik have a lot of potential. Welch does too. Eaton was a solid signing. Gonchar was much improved by the end of the year. And in goal, Fleury hopefully will take the next step up. Don't get me wrong, the defense is still the biggest problem on the team, but it's improving. Hopefully, the team will grow into their system more, improve the penalty killing, and play better overall team defense. They really were a huge mess last year. They weren't a 58 point team on paper. They're going to be better than expected, especially if they can bring in a Sykora or Carter to play on one of the top two lines.
Watch out for Crosby and Malkin. They're going to going down in history.
Watch out for Crosby and Malkin. They're going to going down in history.
Mike Works
Member
The problem I have with people predicting the Penguins are going to be such a better team this year is that every person- literally EVERY person I've heard say this immediately lists Malkin and then other secondary scoring threats as the reason why.
Offense was not Pittsburgh's problem at all.
Andre-Fleury has the potential to be an amazing goalie, but even Patrick Roy would've floundered at this young an age with THOSE players in front of him. Eaton is a good pick up, but I don't know, to think they're suddenly going to go from worst or second worst in the conference to most improved in the league is a long shot from where I'm sitting.
There's potential, but I don't know how realistic.
Offense was not Pittsburgh's problem at all.
Andre-Fleury has the potential to be an amazing goalie, but even Patrick Roy would've floundered at this young an age with THOSE players in front of him. Eaton is a good pick up, but I don't know, to think they're suddenly going to go from worst or second worst in the conference to most improved in the league is a long shot from where I'm sitting.
There's potential, but I don't know how realistic.
scissorfight
Banned
Wow. Apparently Jiri Fischer is trying to get clearance to play, understanding that he would obviously have to sign a waiver.
Everyone says he should just forget about it and live his life...but I can see why he wouldn't want to give up on his life's dream. I don't know if management would go for it though...but it sure would be nice to knock Lilja off the 1st pairing down to the 3rd :lol
Everyone says he should just forget about it and live his life...but I can see why he wouldn't want to give up on his life's dream. I don't know if management would go for it though...but it sure would be nice to knock Lilja off the 1st pairing down to the 3rd :lol
My main worry is that we have to play the Rangers, Devils, and Flyers 8 times each throughout the year. We also play the Islanders 8 times, which sounds a little easier, but those 3 big teams have consistently held the advantage over the Pens.
The D totally needs to step it up. I'm hoping for big things from Eaton and Welch. Ruutu was a pretty decent pickup too. Him on a third line with Leclair and one of the youngin's may be a good thing.
I'm optimistic, but also realistic...none of our wing players, outside of Armstrong, has shown that they can play consistently in the NHL. Ouellet started out as a monster rookie in his first dozen games or so, but totally disappeared by the end of the season. Malone did just enough at the end of the season to keep a roster spot, but he's another guy that needs to be more consistent...still think he's a little slow and lazy in his own end. I like Christensen, but not as a winger. Make him a 3rd line center, maybe with Leclair and Ruutu on the wings. We'll see how things look at the start of the season.
Also, Thibault is still listed as the second-string goalie on the official site. Gimme Caron please!
The D totally needs to step it up. I'm hoping for big things from Eaton and Welch. Ruutu was a pretty decent pickup too. Him on a third line with Leclair and one of the youngin's may be a good thing.
I'm optimistic, but also realistic...none of our wing players, outside of Armstrong, has shown that they can play consistently in the NHL. Ouellet started out as a monster rookie in his first dozen games or so, but totally disappeared by the end of the season. Malone did just enough at the end of the season to keep a roster spot, but he's another guy that needs to be more consistent...still think he's a little slow and lazy in his own end. I like Christensen, but not as a winger. Make him a 3rd line center, maybe with Leclair and Ruutu on the wings. We'll see how things look at the start of the season.
Also, Thibault is still listed as the second-string goalie on the official site. Gimme Caron please!
Well, like I said, it wasn't necessarily so much the Pens' defensemen as it was the overall team defense. They played with no system for half a season and were conditioned terribly. Then they played the second half trying to implement a system while most of the roster was made up mostly of very inexperienced players and scrubs.
Just having Therrien running the training camp will do a lot, as they have a lot of time to work on a system of play they're already somewhat familiar with, and they sure as hell won't go into the season in anything less than tip-top game shape.
I agree with you that the offense wasn't and won't be a problem. Malkin will just make an area that was sort of a strength by the end of the year to one that will be a definite strength. Any other improvements the Pens have will be because Shero has constructed a real checking line and brought in forwards who can help the defensemen out. It will be because he's brought in guys who can actually kill penalties to improve a terrible PK (Malkin and Eaton already are a big upgrade here). It will be because guys like Orpik, Whitney, and Fleury improve and come closer to reaching their potential.
The Pens haven't been all that active in free agency, but I suspect when they're done, the team will look a lot more solid than it has in a while. They've got a foundation of young players that can be very good if they reach their potential.
Just having Therrien running the training camp will do a lot, as they have a lot of time to work on a system of play they're already somewhat familiar with, and they sure as hell won't go into the season in anything less than tip-top game shape.
I agree with you that the offense wasn't and won't be a problem. Malkin will just make an area that was sort of a strength by the end of the year to one that will be a definite strength. Any other improvements the Pens have will be because Shero has constructed a real checking line and brought in forwards who can help the defensemen out. It will be because he's brought in guys who can actually kill penalties to improve a terrible PK (Malkin and Eaton already are a big upgrade here). It will be because guys like Orpik, Whitney, and Fleury improve and come closer to reaching their potential.
The Pens haven't been all that active in free agency, but I suspect when they're done, the team will look a lot more solid than it has in a while. They've got a foundation of young players that can be very good if they reach their potential.
I agree with all that was said about the pens, and it make me happy to hear others talking about them. I am optimistic as ever about them and hope for the best....
I do think they need to sign one more player from free agency though. Their lineup is pretty thin right now. Carter, Sykora or Bulis would be nice fits, but I don't know if they will pony up the money for their asking prices....
I'm not going to proclaim any predictions about them this year though as I stuck my foot in my mouth last year. Only thing I predict is that they will be better then a 58 point team this year since they actually have a coach instead of a meatball sandwich behind the bench.
I'm sure going to have fun on NHL2k7 / NHL2007 with the youngsters though
Jordan Staal has the best chance out of the top 5 drafted this year to crack the league this year because of his size as well... But I don't know if it will happen as that is expecting a lot.
LETS GO PENS!
I do think they need to sign one more player from free agency though. Their lineup is pretty thin right now. Carter, Sykora or Bulis would be nice fits, but I don't know if they will pony up the money for their asking prices....
I'm not going to proclaim any predictions about them this year though as I stuck my foot in my mouth last year. Only thing I predict is that they will be better then a 58 point team this year since they actually have a coach instead of a meatball sandwich behind the bench.
I'm sure going to have fun on NHL2k7 / NHL2007 with the youngsters though
Jordan Staal has the best chance out of the top 5 drafted this year to crack the league this year because of his size as well... But I don't know if it will happen as that is expecting a lot.
LETS GO PENS!
Alucard said:
They bought Caron out of his contract. Same with that lurch Shane Endicott. They are no longer with the team. Same as Konstantin Kolsov and Andy Hilbert (I'm pissed about them not resigning him). We are stuck with T-Bound for this season unless Shero can unload him.
What? They're playing this year. I don't mind the schedules so much, playing just a few western conference teams makes it seem cooler, like interleauge play in baseball or something. I do agree that division opponents are played way too much though, something they could remedy by knocking 10 games off the schedule! (note: will never happen)
Letting Hilbert go was surprising and a little disappointing, but I'm confident that whoever they bring in to replace him will be better. He's a pretty smart player, but there's no doubt most of what he did was a result of playing with Crosby. He's replaceable, at the very least.
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