NHL Off Season Talk

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:49 pm

The Coyotes needed someone to protect JR and his glass jaw.

It makes sense that they gave him what he wanted. The Coyotes were a bunch of sissies last year and it was painful to even watch. They needed a guy like Laraque according to your description of him PK. The Coyotes are quickly remaking their defenses...also adding Jovanovski. They are trying to get tougher...and it seems like they are doing that. They still don't have the firepower to compete for a title or anything, but it's a decent start as far as I'm concerned. I'm actually looking forward to hockey season now that my favorite Coyote ever is back in uniform. Just hope he doesn't go Brett Hull last year on Gretzky.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:48 pm

DB:

You'll LOVE Laraque. A superb guy, big hitter and ferocious fighter. When he has the puck in the corners, he's almost like Shaq in the paint during his prime -- an immovable force.

Very funny dude, too.

Take care,
PK

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:40 pm

Was Erik Johnson going to college "well known" before the draft? If so, I missed it somehow. I understand he talked it over with the Blues, but it still seems surprising.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:40 pm

EZSnappin wrote:Was Erik Johnson going to college "well known" before the draft? If so, I missed it somehow. I understand he talked it over with the Blues, but it still seems surprising.

Minnesota, where he committed to play, sure expects him to be a Golden Gopher in the fall:

http://www.gophersports.com/SportSelect ... PSID=38856

http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle ... LID=300995

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:41 pm

EZSnappin wrote:Was Erik Johnson going to college "well known" before the draft? If so, I missed it somehow. I understand he talked it over with the Blues, but it still seems surprising.

Yeah there was a pretty good indication that the Blues weren't going to rush him. Also with the new CBA and the age of free agency it's better for the Blues that Johnson play at least one year of college hockey. It's really a no brainer and if he plays well enough, I wouldn't be suprised to see the Blues sign him after the college season is over. He could lead the Gophers to a national championship next season and if he does that he'll be celebrating right here in St. Louis as the Frozen Four will be played here next season!

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:59 pm

Thanks for the info. I knew he had committed to the Gophers, but that doesn't mean squat if he chose to go pro. I didn't realize that St. Louis was cool with that decision, as it just isn't that common for players at the top of the draft not to join the club or at least their farm system.

If he signs after the frozen four would he be playoff eligible? (I know, that could be assuming too much about the Blues next year, but it's fun to play "what if.")

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:42 pm

EZSnappin wrote:Thanks for the info. I knew he had committed to the Gophers, but that doesn't mean squat if he chose to go pro. I didn't realize that St. Louis was cool with that decision, as it just isn't that common for players at the top of the draft not to join the club or at least their farm system.

If he signs after the frozen four would he be playoff eligible? (I know, that could be assuming too much about the Blues next year, but it's fun to play "what if.")

yep. just has to be on the playoff roster.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 6:39 am

If a team wants to sign a goon in today's NHL, he' s worth about $500.000 and playing on a fourth line.

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 11:32 am

10spro wrote: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.

That doesn't make sense. Belfour and Shanny are two of the biggest playoff flops. I would much rather take Biron with his cheaper salary and put a younger hungrier forward in place of Shanny and still have 7 million to play with.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:37 pm

legace had 37 wins last year...

wtf?

chelios is 45...

they are going down

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 3:59 pm

And in the end B. Shanahan signs for team nobody expected him to. He'll be joining the Czech team, I mean the Rangers for 1 year, 4 million big ones.

Gangrel · Post by **Gangrel** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:50 pm

Havlat and Smolinski are gone from Ottawa in a three way:

Havie and Smoke to Chicago
Mark Bell from Chicago to San Jose
Chicago sends Tom Preissing and Josh Hennesy (from the bell trade), prospect Michal Barincka, and an 2008 2nd rounder.

The main reason Ottawa traded Havlat was because he only wanted to sign a one year deal so he could "test the UFA market" next year.

So, what does he do? Sign a 3 year 18 mill extension with the Blackhawks.

Wow.... I wonder what the papers will say tomorrow.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 11:05 pm

Here's an eye opener. Tom Poti former Oilers and NY Rangers just moving across town to the Isles for: $ 2.75 million a year.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:41 pm

The Hawks finally did something! Martin Havlat is now a Hawk thanks to a 3-way trade. They also get Brian Smolinski. I like how they signed Lalime to backup Khabibulin and hopefully Denis Arkhipov will turn out too. They can't suck forever can they?

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:29 pm

ScoopBrady wrote:The Hawks finally did something! Martin Havlat is now a Hawk thanks to a 3-way trade. They also get Brian Smolinski. I like how they signed Lalime to backup Khabibulin and hopefully Denis Arkhipov will turn out too. They can't suck forever can they?

Havlat at $6mil per year, wow that's a lot of cash and he's not going to have anywhere near the talent around him in Chicago that he had in Ottawa, hope it works out for you though! Hope you have better luck with Lalime than the Blues did last year.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:35 pm

Looks like eventually DET will sign E. Belfour or D. Hasek as their main man in between the pipes. While other teams want to get younger, it doens't seem to be an issue with the Wings.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:51 am

Forsberg isn't going to have ligament surgery on his left ankle, so he may be ready for the season opener in October.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports ... 017060.htm

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:30 pm

The new 06-07 season schedule is out guys. Just got to NHL.com to check your team. Canucks play 11 out of the 14 games away from home in OCT, ouch.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:49 pm

samsonov to MTL

are the pens gonna sign ANYONE?

wtf?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 1:30 am

Taylor Pyatt for a 4th rounder to the Nucks. Don't know much about him other than he's 6'4 forward with good speed. What can you say about this guy Sabres' fans? Maybe GM Nonis is considering him to take Bertuzzi's place.

Latest rumour has E. Lindros (remember him?) playing for the Stars.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:22 am

Sudz wrote:samsonov to MTL

are the pens gonna sign ANYONE?

wtf?

Are the Oilers going to KEEP anyone?

In good Oil news, Horcoff signed a three-year deal without arbitration yesterday with Edmonton. Horc developed into a fine two-way, first-line center last season.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:55 pm

It's official. Big E. Lindros signed with the Stars on a one year contract, 1.55. Lots of mula for a guy with health problems.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 3:59 pm

Lose Bill Guerin, add Eric Lindros. What's the difference, other than the name on the jersey?

Both are big, slow and well past their primes. Lindros is even more injury-prone, too.

Lindros had a solid start last season in Toronto. And then he got hurt, of course.

Lindros is the direct descendent of Wendel Clark, with more talent. Both entered the game playing a very physical style and had scoring talent. Both never changed their style of play to stay on the ice for 80 games per season, and both are sad cases of wasted talent.

Is Lindros a Hall of Famer? I think not. A waste, considering this guy was the best prospect since Lemieux when he was drafted.

Messier is a classic example of a guy who entered the league with big physical play and scoring talent and changed his game to endure and excel. In Mess' first two or three years in Edmonton, he would fight anyone -- and usually win -- and hit anyone.

But Glen Sather and John Muckler pulled him aside and told him that if he was to reach his full potential, he needed to channel his physical play in doses and use more of his offensive skills, staying out of the penalty box and off the trainer's table.

I'm glad Mess listened.

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:49 pm

The Guerin signing was a good signing for the Blues with the one year contract and he could rekindle some magic with Doug Weight. He's going to score more than 13 goals this season. I'm penciling him in for 30 goals!
By the way I went to the Blues prospect camp today, Eric Johnson is just going to be a complete stud. He really doesn't even belong at the prospect camp, he's a man among boys out there. Some NHL scouts are quoted saying he's better than Dion Phaneuf right now and you can just about see it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:12 pm

Tim:

Did you see the CSB pre-draft video of Johnson? NHL.com had an index of every top prospect's Central Scouting Bureau highlight video. I sat here for 90 minutes one night and watched them -- I'm a geek, I know! -- and Johnson was the only kid I saw, including Staal and Kessel, that made my eyes pop and made me say, "Holy f*ck, this kid is good."

Johnson just seems so smooth and always is in the right position. And in the rare times he appeared out of position in the video, he's such a siky skater for a big kid that it only took him a couple of strides to return to the proper spot.

An exciting player, for sure. Must have been great to see hockey in July!

Take care,
PK