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Official NHL Off Season Thread

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P

pops619

Member
Evgeni Malkin backlash: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2548273

There are some great quotes in there.

"They all like to talk about democracy, the American way and then they shamelessly steal our best players. This is pure sports terrorism," said the Metallurg general director.
Click to expand...

"Don't forget, Malkin is a young kid, he is still very naive and it was easy for them to get into his head all that stuff about the American dream and how great the NHL is," he added.
Click to expand...

"We've put so much effort, resources and money into Malkin's development as a player. He was our gold diamond, our prize possession. He had a contract with us, we were building the whole team around him and now he is gone," Velichkin said.

"But don't think we'll just sit there and do nothing. We'll go to court to get what we believe is proper compensation."
Click to expand...

"In soccer, a fee for a player of Malkin's caliber would be into tens of millions of dollars," he said. "He is a franchise player and we won't be satisfied with anything less."
Click to expand...

Good luck with that one. He had a one-year deal in Russia that was worth a few million at most. No way they're going to get "tens of millions of dollars" for someone they only had rights to for one more year. And even then, Malkin had a legal way out of it. I don't expect the Russians to win this thing.

I can't tell you how great this feels. I was pretty certain that Malkin would be here, but I had lost pretty much all hope after the news from the last week up until yesterday. Now, he's either on his way or is already in North America somewhere. I can't wait for this season.
 
M

May16

Member
Good for Evgeni. They should make a movie about him now. Escaping the Red Menace to live the American Dream? And with such an awesome commie villain like that coach? I'd watch that.

Also, I love to see this kind of stuff from athletes. A player with the balls to just pack up and secretly leave the country is something I think is just damn cool.
 
N

negitoro7

Member
calder said:
I know who I hope they send:
urban_bourne_supremacy.gif

We'll see how tough Andre Roy really is.
Click to expand...

Is that Eomer?
 
C

calder

Member
Come on GAF, your pop culture sense needs to be sharper than this! Yeah, it's Karl Urban playing the Russian hitman / shady government operative Kirill, who killed Marie and then chased Bourne through Moscow. I never recognized him as Eomer until after the movie, I spent all of Bourne Supremecy wondering what I knew him from.


I hereby proclaim "This is pure sports terrorism!" to be one of my favourite hockey phrases for the upcoming season. I love how some of the REL teams act like they don't want a transfer agreement because they want to keep all their players and stop the shameful poaching of their talent by evil foreign leagues, when really they want the ability to extort NHL teams as effectively as possible. :lol
 
P

pops619

Member
Crosby and Malkin will help bring pure sports terrorism to the rest of the league, that's for sure. I expect the Pens to be a force this year. They're going to score a lot of goals, and while the defense may not necessarily be good, it should be improved a good bit.

Velichkin's been good for great quotes throughout this whole process. A rough translation of an interview he did earlier this summer stated that Malkin would not leave for the NHL because "he does not do that!" The guy seems to be a crazed fanatic. It doesn't surprise me at all that he's calling this an "act of terrorism." It's funny that he's blaming the NHL and the Penguins when Malkin left on his own free will.
 
R

Reilly

Member
pops619 said:
I expect the Pens to be a force this year.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure how much better they'll be. Malkin still doesn't speak english and despite how awesome he looked this past year, we can't pencil him in as a 100 point superstar just yet.
 
S

soundwave05

Member
The Pens are still a couple of years away from being a "force".

The important thing for the Pens this season is to get some more stability and professionalism injected into the franchise. It's not good to have young players in a situation where they're in a franchise that's in a bit of chaos.

I know they dumped they coach last year, which is a start. They need to get their ownership issues figured out too, like if they're actually for sure going to be in Pittsburgh long term.
 
P

pops619

Member
I'm not exactly saying the Pens will legitimately contend for the Cup this season or anything. I do expect that they'll be dramatically improved. They definitely should be an offensive force. I'd bet on them being one of the highest scoring teams in the league. Malkin could very well out-do Crosby and break the 100 point mark himself. More reasonably, I expect him to get 70-80 points since he's going to be a second liner. I wouldn't doubt his abilities for a second, though. His skill has been compared favorably to Crosby's and Ovechkin's. It's not like he's some 18 year old kid either. He's 20 with several seasons in the Russian Super League under his belt. Plus, he's got the drive and toughness to do what he has to do to succeed. Just look what he's going through to get to the NHL.

Like I said, the Pens are looking strong on offense. Crosby and Malkin is a tough duo to match. Armstrong, Malone, Recchi, and Ekman are more than talented enough to produce alongside those guys. They've got good offense coming from the D with Gonchar, Whitney, and Welch. And John LeClair's still a presence in front of the next. All those parts will combine to improve upon what was already a strong power play.

Of course, it's not all offense, but Shero has addressed pretty much all the team's major weaknesses with his moves this summer. Adding Malkin along with Ekman, Moore, Eaton, Ruutu, and Petrovicky improves the team's speed, defensive ability, penalty killing, and toughness in a big way. I don't expect them to be a good defensive team, but with those additions and probable improvements from guys like Whitney, Orpik, and Fleury, they're going to cut the goals against a decent amount. Combine that with the increase in offense and they should be a plus team.

I know it's not common for a team to go from worst to the playoffs in the span of one season, but this isn't the typical team. I think they underachieved last year anyway. By the end of the year, they were playing decent hockey. From the group that ended the season, they got rid of basically all the dead weight and replaced them with guys who fill a specific need and role. The only guy they lost that actually did much of anything was Andy Hilbert, and he got most of his points because he was playing with Crosby at his hottest. Pens will be back in the playoffs this year. I'd bet money on that.
 
S

scissorfight

Banned
Cleary was slated for the 4th line center spot again...With either Lang/Draper centering the 3rd line. Wings are too deep at center as it is.

Maybe the plan is to play Lang on the wing...and continue to pretend that Draper is a top-6 quality forward. *shudder*
 
S

sefskillz

shitting in the alley outside your window
Well Johnson's best quality is his defensive play, pretty solid on the powerplay. Maybe they're just looking for some fill ins? Kinda weird at any rate. Crowd reception should be interesting next year when our old captain comes back as a red wing
 
F

FightyF

Banned
calder said:
I hereby proclaim "This is pure sports terrorism!" to be one of my favourite hockey phrases for the upcoming season.
Click to expand...

I was gonna use that in the "CancerKid's Baseball Travesty" thread but I don't think anyone would have understood it.

Crosby and Malkin will help bring pure sports terrorism to the rest of the league, that's for sure.
Click to expand...

*LOL* QFT

rusty said:
Wings sign Greg Johnson

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=174194&hubname=nhl

WTF? I have no idea what this is all about, unless a trade is in the works.

headscratchtm6.gif
Click to expand...

I just don't know what's going on. Granted, I've been out of the loop on the Wings during this whole post-season (and I'm not talking about actual moves, which there seems to be only a couple or so, but reading up on possible rumours).

I live in Grande Prarie now and the Oilers will be doing their tryouts and Joey Moss game up here, I got tix to that as well as an "evening with the Edmonton Oilers". Apparently you have to wear lingerie to attend that event. :p j/k It should be neato to watch all the young up and comers. It's kinda funny that some of the talent may not even make the team. Can you imagine Pisani not making the cut because of all their scoring talent? Realistically it's going to be Schremp that's cut...but you never know if he brings it big time.
 
F

ForzaItalia

Banned
Looks like somebody wants to play with Edmonton for a change.....at least this time:

Edmonton is nowhere near the Eastern seaboard, and although Leetch rejected the Oilers gestures a year ago, a source close to the future hall of famer says he might be more inclined to consider that option now. I'm sure Edmonton will make the obligatory call.
Click to expand...
 
S

soundwave05

Member
I dunno about Leetch. I think really all Lowe needs to do is to bring the D-corps up to par with Buffalo and Carolina's last year because that's the style the Oilers will play next year.

Neither Buffalo or Carolina really had a "name" d-man, just a bunch of guys that worked hard behind a stacked front line.

It's a bit of an ego thing with UFAs too. They want to go to a team that has good talent, but they also want to go to a team where they will play a vital role at the same time. So I can Leetch looking at our forward corps feeling like he wants in on the blueline.

Do we want to give him $2 million though? I don't know.
 
Malakhov

Malakhov

Banned
In the THN yearbook, NHL insiders provide their predictions for 06-07, here's the eastern ones:

New Jersey
Montreal
Ottawa
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Carolina
Florida
Boston
--------------
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Toronto
NyI
NyR
Pittsburgh
Washington
 
S

sefskillz

shitting in the alley outside your window
Strong rumors that Kariya/Preds are close to negotiating an extension, I don't see it personally. He's gotta be thinking his numbers can take a huge jump this year with Arnott on his line.
 
B

bishoptl

Banstick Emeritus
Damn, Lombardi just roasted the shit out of Anson Carter. "Only as good as the two guys he played with" COOOOOLD BLOOOOODED

:lol get your ass into camp, Anson. At a *reasonable* rate of pay, thank you very much.
 
S

soundwave05

Member
Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Toronto are looking at Carter from what I understand.

I think the problem is he wants a longer term 3-year type deal, instead of settling for a 1 or 2 year deal. That's the hold up. He's probably going to end up in Toronto with a 2 year deal.
 
N

negitoro7

Member
Malakhov said:
In the THN yearbook, NHL insiders provide their predictions for 06-07, here's the eastern ones:

New Jersey
Montreal
Ottawa
Buffalo
Philadelphia
Carolina
Florida
Boston
--------------
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
Toronto
NyI
NyR
Pittsburgh
Washington
Click to expand...

Holy crap Montreal at 2nd? I haven't been following their off-season moves, are they legitimate contenders this year?
 
R

R_GILL

I'm tanking for Kabanov!
Florida might choke again, I can't believe they don't think the Rangers will make the playoffs. I wouldn't discount a team with a healthy Jagr on it.
 
P

pops619

Member
I will guarantee you that 2-3 teams from this list will not even make the playoffs next season.
Click to expand...

Agreed. New Jersey at tops is laughable considering they're going to have to cut through their depth to get under the cap limit at the very least, if not drop a significant player like Rafalski. They're really screwed if they can't get out of Mogilny's contract. I still expect them to make the playoffs, but they're likely going to be fighting for a bottom spot, not topping the East.

I don't see Florida coming close to the top eight. Going from Luongo to Auld/Belfour figures to be a major downgrade. I kind of doubt Bertuzzi, even at his best, is enough to make up for that.

I have big doubts about Boston too. They will be improved, but it seems like the typical overrating because they picked up a couple significant free agents. Chara's going to be a big help, for sure. Savard's good, but I doubt he even comes close to doing what he did last season. Playing with Kovalchuk and Hossa got him a lot more money than he's worth, in my opinion.

There's no reason to believe the Rangers will drop that much. They've improved their depth with Shanahan and Cullen. As long as Jagr and Lundquist come close to what they did last season, that team will be fine.

I doubt many will agree with me, but I see the Pens making the playoffs. They're going to be too good offensively and the defense will be improved a good amount. They certainly won't be that close to the basement. Aside from the impending major addition of Malkin, they've made a handful of other solid moves to round out the roster and address the major weaknesses they had last year.
 
M

May16

Member
pops619 said:
Aside from the impending major addition of Malkin,
Click to expand...
The first time I read that, I read it as "major addiction of Malkin," and I was like "Yeah, I can kinda see myself getting addicted to that."
 
A

Alucard

Banned
*hoping for Malkin mania to sweep the NHL and for him to have a fantastic rookie campaign*



...really just hoping that we see him in a Pens uniform this season.
 
P

Pochacco

asking dangerous questions
It'd be awesome if Malkin has to play undercover to hide from the Russian authorities; perhaps he can wear a Jani Rita jersey?
 
K

Kingpen

Member
Pochacco said:
It'd be awesome if Malkin has to play undercover to hide from the Russian authorities; perhaps he can wear a Jani Rita jersey?
Click to expand...


so sad.. cause of the reality of it to us pens fans the past years, but so funny it hurts. Damn that guy sucked.... so glad he is gone...
 
D

DopeyFish

Not bitter, just unsweetened
there's a rumor out there

montreal trading Ryder, Ribeiro, Souray, Aebischer and a first rounder to Pittsburgh for Evgeni Malkin

would be good for montreals future, but would be bad for their upcoming season imo
 
K

Kabuki Waq

Member
DopeyFish said:
there's a rumor out there

montreal trading Ryder, Ribeiro, Souray, Aebischer and a first rounder to Pittsburgh for Evgeni Malkin

would be good for montreals future, but would be bad for their upcoming season imo
Click to expand...

:lol who the hell started this rumour?
 
P

pops619

Member
I'm sure Pens will go for that. Makes sense to me, talk all summer about how you're counting on having Malkin as the #2 center. Watch him flee his country and his family because he wants to play for your team that badly. Then trade him for a couple forwards who combined don't bring what Malkin would bring on his own, another offensive defenseman, and a goalie you don't need. Why haven't they signed off on this trade yet?

Keep in mind the Pens couldn't even make that move financially. They'll have to budget around $4 million for Malkin with all his bonuses. That puts them around $33 million, which is the high end of a $31-33 million estimated budget. Those four players combine to make over $8 million.
 
K

Kingpen

Member
But surely a GOLD DIAMOND is worth more then that proposed fleece job from montreal...

Stupid rumor that is if ever was made, would be PURE SPORTS TERRORISM.

All you other teams can drool of the new hotness of having a Gold Diamond in the lineup as the pens are about to get...

Malkin just officially submitted his 2 week resignation from Russia as well... What good news!
 
M

May16

Member
1-Meredith.jpg

It's almost like a trap, this girl being in this outfit. You see the pretty face and you're like "Yeah, I'd get on that," but then your eyes curiously wander downward and it's like "Oh damn, Islanders logo. Woodkill."
 
S

SickBoy

Member
May16 said:
1-Meredith.jpg

It's almost like a trap, this girl being in this outfit. You see the pretty face and you're like "Yeah, I'd get on that," but then your eyes curiously wander downward and it's like "Oh damn, Islanders logo. Woodkill."
Click to expand...

She's actually next in line for a top exec job in Long Island.
 
P

pops619

Member
More Malkin: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=174392&hubname=nhl

Malkin's whereabouts is not currently known. However, sources tell TSN he is not in Canada and it is believed he will be escorted out of Europe by one of his representatives and into the United States within the next 24 hours. Upon arrival in the United States his location will be exposed and the entire saga, including Malkin's reasons behind his sudden change of heart, will be made public.

The pressure on the 20-year-old Malkin has been immense. A Russian source close to Malkin alleges team officials swarmed his car recently and followed him home in an effort to encourage him to agree to a new deal.
Click to expand...

No wonder he got the hell out of there.
 
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