NHL Off-Season Thread

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:30 pm

Well, the MVP award goes to Sid the Kid for most outstanding player with R. Luongo & Vinny Lecavalier runner ups. Among other winners, Marty Brodeur wins the Vezina, E. Malkin is the rookie of the year and A. Vignault coach of the year.

Among other news, guess who's back coaching? Iron Mike Keenan is the new Flames coach. With the July 1st deadline many UFA's will be changing address soon.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:42 pm

This just in Selanne took the cup on a picnic !!!!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:38 am

Luongo should have won the Vezina, and Pahlsson should have won the Selke.

But since both play out West, the Eastern hockey media didn't get to see much of either due to the NHL's ridiculous unbalanced regular-season schedule. Plus Pahlsson's coming-out party came in the playoffs, and voting for the awards takes place at the end of the regular season.

Take care,
PK

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:15 am

pk500 wrote:Luongo should have won the Vezina, and Pahlsson should have won the Selke.

Marty sets a single season record for victories and Luongo should have won the Vezina? I whole-heartedly disagree.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:27 am

ScoopBrady wrote:
pk500 wrote:Luongo should have won the Vezina, and Pahlsson should have won the Selke.
Marty sets a single season record for victories and Luongo should have won the Vezina? I whole-heartedly disagree.

Trying not to be biased it would have been nice if Louie won the Vezina but Marty did set a record for most wins in the NHL and had 12 SO's. All that without the services of Scotty Niedermayer too. A close vote. But I do agree on the time zone difference where some Easterners don't have the chance to witness as much talent from the West where I think Pahlsson should have won the Selke award.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:11 pm

Rumors are that J. Muckler will be canned in OTT and B. Murray will take over.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:28 am

What is going on in Boston? Will that franchise EVER turn around?

This new GM is as bad as o'connell.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:13 pm

http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey ... 4-sun.html

Good read

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:55 pm

Good pickup today for the Blackhawks as they signed Sergei Samsonov. Sammy is still a very useful player when motivated.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:07 pm

The Philadelphia Flyers have dipped into the free agent market a little early, thanks to the Nashville Predators.

Because of Nashville's uncertain ownership future and an expected tight budget in the coming year, sources tell TSN the Predators arranged with the Flyers to give them exclusive negotiating rights to two coveted free agents - defenceman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell.

Sources tell TSN the Flyers have now signed both Hartnell and Timonen to long-term contracts.

Hartnell, who is openly gay, was scheduled to become a free agent on July 1, signed with Flyers on a 6-year, $25.2 million deal for a cap hit of $4.2 million per year.

The Flyers also agreed to terms with Timonen on a 6-year, $37.8 million contract for an annual cap hit of $6.3 million.

In exchange for giving up the rights to the two free agents the Predators knew they would not be able to sign, Nashville received back its own first round pick that it gave to the Flyers as part of the Peter Forsberg trade.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:15 pm

10spro wrote:Rumors are that J. Muckler will be canned in OTT and B. Murray will take over.

Rumors prove to be true...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2907946

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:17 pm

Sudz wrote:The Philadelphia Flyers have dipped into the free agent market a little early, thanks to the Nashville Predators.

Because of Nashville's uncertain ownership future and an expected tight budget in the coming year, sources tell TSN the Predators arranged with the Flyers to give them exclusive negotiating rights to two coveted free agents - defenceman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell.

Sources tell TSN the Flyers have now signed both Hartnell and Timonen to long-term contracts.

Hartnell, who is openly gay, was scheduled to become a free agent on July 1, signed with Flyers on a 6-year, $25.2 million deal for a cap hit of $4.2 million per year.

The Flyers also agreed to terms with Timonen on a 6-year, $37.8 million contract for an annual cap hit of $6.3 million.

In exchange for giving up the rights to the two free agents the Predators knew they would not be able to sign, Nashville received back its own first round pick that it gave to the Flyers as part of the Peter Forsberg trade.

This deal is setting a VERY dangerous precedent, giving one team exclusive negotiating rights to free agents.

The Flyers paid an awful lot for two very good players, so I hope this thing blows up in their face. It makes a mockery of the free agency system. It's obvious that Paul Holmgren learned how to cheat the system from Bob Clarke.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:22 pm

The top 10-selling jerseys at NHL.com from May 1-31:

TOP 10 SELLING PLAYER JERSEYS ON SHOP.NHL.COM (May 1-31, 2007)
1. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
2. Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
3. Chris Drury, Buffalo Sabres
4. Daniel Briere, Buffalo Sabres
5. Maxim Afinogenov, Buffalo Sabres
6. Teemu Selanne, Anaheim Ducks
7. Peter Forsberg, Nashville Predators
8. Thomas Vanek, Buffalo Sabres
9. Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks
10. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Man, Buffalo fans loves their Sabres!

Take care,
PK

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:37 pm

No Francois on the list?

That seems pretty shady that somebody could effectively pull off a trade of sorts. Why are they allowed to let anybody negotiate with players that they couldn't sign? I guess it's not much different than the NFL teams allowing a player's agent to work out a trade, but it sure SEEMS different. Probably just my unfamiliarity with it all.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:39 pm

pk500 wrote:
Sudz wrote:The Philadelphia Flyers have dipped into the free agent market a little early, thanks to the Nashville Predators.

Because of Nashville's uncertain ownership future and an expected tight budget in the coming year, sources tell TSN the Predators arranged with the Flyers to give them exclusive negotiating rights to two coveted free agents - defenceman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell.

Sources tell TSN the Flyers have now signed both Hartnell and Timonen to long-term contracts.

Hartnell, who is openly gay, was scheduled to become a free agent on July 1, signed with Flyers on a 6-year, $25.2 million deal for a cap hit of $4.2 million per year.

The Flyers also agreed to terms with Timonen on a 6-year, $37.8 million contract for an annual cap hit of $6.3 million.

In exchange for giving up the rights to the two free agents the Predators knew they would not be able to sign, Nashville received back its own first round pick that it gave to the Flyers as part of the Peter Forsberg trade.
This deal is setting a VERY dangerous precedent, giving one team exclusive negotiating rights to free agents.

The Flyers paid an awful lot for two very good players, so I hope this thing blows up in their face. It makes a mockery of the free agency system. It's obvious that Paul Holmgren learned how to cheat the system from Bob Clarke.

Take care,
PK

Holy s***! $4m for Hartnell and 6 for Timonen! That's some serious scratch.

I don't have big qualms with the 'ethical' side though. What they're doing is perfectly legit, and if anyone is making out like a bandit it's Nashville, who stood to lose two of its better players for nothing in 2 weeks, but instead got a first round pick for them.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:48 pm

no way they are worth 1st rounders.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:57 pm

This is nothing more than the beginning of Nashville trying to gut their team to drive fans away. If people quit coming then the NHL will have to approve the sale and allow Balsillie to move the team to Canada. Also the current owner Leipold has told the NHL that even if they don't approve the sale to Balsillie he will drastically cut payroll. The NHL is over in Nashville after this season. A couple more moves by Nashville and they will have locked up the John Tavares sweepstakes next June. You gotta think that the NHL would love to have their next superstar stay in Canada.
Balsillie doesn't even own the team yet and is taking season ticket deposits in Hamilton!

By the way that Forsberg deal now looks like this.

Forsberg for Hartnell, Timonen, Parent, Upshall and a 3rd

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:17 pm

Sudz wrote:no way they are worth 1st rounders.

I'd argue that Timonen is. He was set to be the most coveted defenseman amongst this year's FA crop. Lay the blame on the Preds. With their ownership situation up in the air, they decided to get what they could for two quality players before losing them for nothing. It's been rumored around here for months that the Flyers wanted Timonen, and his younger brother is currently playing for the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms.

With that said, I don't think the Flyers are done. I still believe Briere or Drury will end up in Philly soon. Martin Biron has been quietly pitching Philly to Briere since he signed his extension.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:42 pm

The Flyers have a nice mix at forward...speed, grit..etc, However that defense needs some major help. Timonen will help out for sure but he is 30 years old. Do the Flyers have the cap room for Briere? They just added about $8mil of cap today alone.

snate · Post by **snate** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:18 pm

Sudz wrote: Hartnell, who is openly gay, was scheduled ...

Is that your commentary? It is not in the TSN article you quoted.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:31 pm

A great move by both teams as it will enable the Flyers to sign these guys prior to the first of July and Nashville gets good value for two guys they were losing anyway. I Like Timonen, he's got good wheels, a good point man but I don't know if he's worth all the mula Philly will be paying him. With all the new players Philly should be renamed the Philadelphia Predators once Nashville moves out of the city.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:04 am

Bruins sign Claude Julien as head coach. Damn good move, damn good coach who can turn things around in Boston if given a little time.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:09 am

pk500 wrote:Bruins sign Claude Julien as head coach. Damn good move, damn good coach who can turn things around in Boston if given a little time.

Take care,
PK

they need decent players...they are going to be reeling from the joe thornton trade for years.

and tim thomas was a pretty cool story...but his goaltending is suspect

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:13 pm

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=11063&hubname=

top 2 prospects are US born.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:31 pm

The Blues have 3 picks in the first round and should be wheeling and dealing this weekend if not before. I would say there is about a 100% chance they move a defensmen, most likely Christian Backman.