NHL Off Season Talk

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:12 pm

Dan Cloutier will be reunited with M. Crawford in LA, I guess it's not much of a surprise since the signing of R. Luongo. Maybe that extra money will go on to sign A. Carter and some other forwards that the Nucks need in the absence of T. Bertuzzi.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 6:20 pm

Spacek is a Sabre. PK, drive over to Buffalo and boo him on opening night.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:01 pm

edm is falling apart.

losing a ton of players.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:26 pm

PK...what do you think of Georges Laraque...my Coyotes just signed him to a two year deal and I don't know a damn thing about him.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:50 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:PK...what do you think of Georges Laraque...my Coyotes just signed him to a two year deal and I don't know a damn thing about him.

he is a goon. usually goons have 1 or 2 seasons where they score 15 goals and everyone thinks they are going to become cam neely...never happens.

he is a character guy...doesn't fit in the new nhl...was scratch in th finals when they were on the ropes.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:11 am

The Coyotes need a few goons...they were a bunch of pussies last year. Will be nice to have one on the backline. Add him to Jeremy Roenick (I know he's old but he's always been one of my favorite players)...and we've got some guys that will scrap now.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:54 am

The role of the goon is pretty much diminished in the new NHL, and when it comes to playoffs time, they hardly play a role if any. If you want to have any success, speed and skill are mandatory today, not the ability to fight. Having said that, Laraque is one tough SOB, maybe top two with D. Brashear. And when you look at Phoenix's division, I question why Gretzky and CO signed him.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:38 am

I'm VERY sad about Laraque leaving Edmonton. He has been my favorite Oiler for at least the last six or seven years. He had played since 1997 in Edmonton -- his entire career.

Laraque is the best fighter in the NHL. He will give Phoenix instant toughness. But any thoughts of Laraque scoring 15 goals are a f*cking pipe dream. He might give Phoenix five goals next year. But he's tough to move off the puck in the corners and will be a solid fourth-line player.

Plus I give Laraque approximately two months until he is the most popular Coyotes' player. The guy is such a quality human being it isn't funny. Big in the community; hell, he's even responded to my two e-mails to his personal e-mail address within 24 hours.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:40 am

didn't mean that he'd score 15...

and i agree...goons are losing their place in the nhl...gone are the days where guys like kristov oliwa and aaron downey can have long careers. i think we will still see goons in the nhl....but they will need to do a bit more than just fight.

and he was a 2nd round pick!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:54 am

DB:

One more thing you need to know about Laraque: 6-3, 245 to 250.

The guy is an absolute rock -- has the physique of an NFL linebacker. Almost impossible to separate from the puck in the corners.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:34 am

i think a guy like this would be awesome on the penquins....get him skaing with malkin and crosby....

he'd score 30...seriously....

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:44 am

Sudz wrote:i think a guy like this would be awesome on the penquins....get him skaing with malkin and crosby....

he'd score 30...seriously....

Hey, if Mario could help Warren Young score 40 as a 28-year-old rookie, then anything is possible!

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:07 am

look at andy hilbert this year....

pens picked him up....kid scored a ton...

i know i'd score at least 20 playing with crosby...

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:32 am

Ice Chips for Thursday, July 6

* Flyers forward Simon Gagne did not file for arbitration. "We want a long-term contract and the Flyers want a long-term contract," Gagne said from Quebec, "We started talking last week, and hopefully we will find a solution." Bob Sauve, who represents Gagne, rejected the Flyers' initial four-year proposal last week and countered with his own. Gagne is seeking about $5 million per season. - Philadelphia Inquirer

* The Detroit Red Wings have offered forward Brendan Shanahan one- and two-year deals each worth approximately $4 million per season, almost double the $2.28 million Shanahan made last year. Other teams interested are reported to be Boston, the New York Rangers, Montreal and Los Angeles. - Detroit Free Press and Detroit News

* The Red Wings put prospective goaltender Ed Belfour through a three-hour physical Wednesday at the Detroit Medical Center. Afterward, Belfour met again with general manager Ken Holland, then left for the airport. Holland did not return a phone call, but if Belfour, who is coming off back surgery, passes the medical tests, the Wings will offer him a contract. The Panathers are also reportedly interested in Belfour as a backup. - Detroit News and Detroit Free Press

* Former Penguins right winger Aleksey Morozov, coming off two excellent seasons in the Russian Super League, still is a candidate to return to the NHL this winter. but it doesn't look like it will be with the Penguins. General manager Ray Shero said this week that Morozov is "not [in] my price range." Morozov, an unrestricted free agent, is believed to be seeking at least $3 million per season, although his precise contract demands are not known. - Post Gazette

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:04 pm

The one plum defenseman still out there is Kenny Jonsson, who was the best defenseman on Sweden's winning team in the Olympics. If he decides to leave the Swedish league and return to the NHL, I'd love to see him in Edmonton.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:43 pm

Sudz wrote:i think a guy like this would be awesome on the penquins....get him skaing with malkin and crosby....

he'd score 30...seriously....

Since the importance of the goons have been diminished in the new NHL, Pens got former Canucks super pest J. Ruutu, he can throw a good punch too and will protect those young guys.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:09 pm

The Oil just signed Daniel Tarnqist or however you spell it from the Wild.

Don't know much about him, tho he apparently can play 20 minutes plus for the Wild, so hopefully he'll eat up some Pronger minutes.

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:53 am

The Wings talked all offseason about getting younger and faster and then they resign Chelios and are trying to get Shanahan and Belfour? WTF!?

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:04 am

laurenskye wrote:The Wings talked all offseason about getting younger and faster and then they resign Chelios and are trying to get Shanahan and Belfour? WTF!?

no kidding.

belfour?

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 10:27 am

Ice Chips for Friday, July 7

* According to a knowledgeable source, the possibility of free agent winger Brendan Shanahan signing with the Bruins is now dead. Reportedly, St. Louis and Detroit are in the running for the 37-year-old's services. - Boston Herald

* The Red Wings got the results of free-agent goalie Ed Belfour's physical Thursday. And they liked what they saw. General manager Ken Holland said the tests showed Belfour's rehabilitation from back surgery in April has been successful. Belfour could be signed in the next couple of days - Detroit News

* Mark Recchi's agent Rick Curran said Thursday that he had spoken with general manager Ray Shero about a possible return to Pittsburgh - Tribune Review

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:18 am

Even though the Flyers are having trouble getting Gagne and Pitkanen signed with the salary cap, I'm glad this system is in place and richer teams don't have an unfair advantage any more.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:53 am

E. Belfour despite his age ha been a solid keeper for many years and TO bailed out on him not knowing how his back would react, but more importantly his salary is too high. DET maybe thinking "we are always in the playoffs" but never with a proven playoff goaltender, since D. Hasek (who's still looking for a team). There are other options out there and much cheaper than Belfour like M. Biron from BUF.

Shanny is getting there in age too but he's asking like 5 million per, I don't know about that, even though he scored 40 goals last season.

One of the destinations M. Peca has asked to play for is TO, interesting choice since D. Tucker is still there and who can forget the 02 playoffs when Peca was playing for the Isles and Tucker just about ripped his knee apart.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:15 pm

An interesting article on how fighting is fading in the game:

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/stor ... a6&k=40750

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:42 pm

Looks like I can remind Ty Conklin in person how he f*cked up in Game 1 of this year's Stanley Cup Finals. Columbus signed Conks to a deal as the team's No. 3 goalie for the upcoming season, with a shot at becoming No. 2 for Columbus.

If Conks stays No. 3, he most likely will start in goal this season in the AHL for my hometown Syracuse Crunch.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:45 pm

10spro wrote:An interesting article on how fighting is fading in the game:

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/stor ... a6&k=40750

I LOVE Laraque -- my favorite player in the NHL. But it would be silly for any team to offer a fourth-line fighter a no-trade clause and guarantee him ice time. Phoenix was dumb enough to do that; I'm glad Edmonton was not, even though I'm very sad to see Georges go.

And it's also INSANE of Phoenix to pay $1.2 million per season for two years to a fourth-liner who might get six minutes of ice time per night.

Take care,
PK