NHL Off-Season Thread

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:57 pm

We all know that most likely we've seen the last days of the flyin Finn T. Selanne, but is Scott Niedermayer following his steps? The smoothest skater in the league is only 33 and could go easily on playing another five years. But with all the hardware he's won...

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:08 pm

Hartnell with a pretty humorous response when asked if the Preds were done in Nashville:

"You seem to think so. You look at Nashville and who ever thought hockey would work in Nashville. Let's be honest. I've been there 7 years and it's come a long ways since I been there.

"They used to cheer for a guy shooting the puck, missing the net, it hits the glass and made a loud sound. They cheered. Now they know what plays are good, what is a good hit. They know the styles of a forecheck.

"It would be sad to see hockey leave Nashville. They have a lot of die hard fans. It lacks the corporate, big company sponsorship of the team. Is is the beginning of the end? Maybe. But I hope for Nashville, as a city, they don't lose a good draw and entertainment thing like the Predators."

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:27 pm

Naples39 wrote:"They used to cheer for a guy shooting the puck, missing the net, it hits the glass and made a loud sound. They cheered.

Sad thing is, half the fans in Anaheim probably still do that. Yet they have a Stanley Cup.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 5:56 pm

10spro wrote:We all know that most likely we've seen the last days of the flyin Finn T. Selanne, but is Scott Niedermayer following his steps? The smoothest skater in the league is only 33 and could go easily on playing another five years. But with all the hardware he's won...

Interesting fact about Niedermayer from TSN.ca: He's the only player in hockey history to win these six titles:

Stanley Cup
Memorial Cup
World Junior Championship gold
World Championship gold
Olympic gold
World Cup of Hockey

Plus he has won a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Norris Trophy. I guess he could stick around to try and win a Hart Trophy!

Seriously, the guy has done it all. A first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:06 pm

Even though the new cap may rise to 50 million or more next season, I do wonder whether some GM's understand the new CBA. Philly signing Timonen for almost 38 million which makes it about 6.3 a year and Hartnell for over 25 million is ridicolous. 6.3 a year is almost what S. Niedermayer and Pronger make and although he's a good pick up for the Flyers, I don't know if he's worth all that money especially when he's got only six points in 16 playoffs games.

With the draft just days away, I expect more trades and deals to be accomplished this year prior to the selections, not the best draft for sure, some teams will be looking for a quick fix.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:18 pm

TSN.CA REPORTS THE CAROLINA HURRICANES HAVE RE-SIGNED FORWARD SCOTT WALKER TO A THREE-YEAR, $7.5 MILLION CONTRACT. WALKER WAS ELIGIBLE FOR UFA STATUS IN JULY.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:57 pm

OKAY THANKS BUT NO NEED TO SHOUT IT

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:18 pm

Naples39 wrote:"They used to cheer for a guy shooting the puck, missing the net, it hits the glass and made a loud sound. They cheered.

I was in Nashville during the Preds second or third year down there and I went by the stadium. There were signs advertising for fans to come to the game early and learn how it's played. The Predators really wanted to make sure they would get a following and it worked.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:51 pm

pk500 wrote:
10spro wrote:We all know that most likely we've seen the last days of the flyin Finn T. Selanne, but is Scott Niedermayer following his steps? The smoothest skater in the league is only 33 and could go easily on playing another five years. But with all the hardware he's won...
Interesting fact about Niedermayer from TSN.ca: He's the only player in hockey history to win these six titles:

Stanley Cup
Memorial Cup
World Junior Championship gold
World Championship gold
Olympic gold
World Cup of Hockey

Plus he has won a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Norris Trophy. I guess he could stick around to try and win a Hart Trophy!

Seriously, the guy has done it all. A first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Take care,
PK

Whats even more amazing to me is that he did without most really noticing. He just got it done and done at the highest possible level on both sides of the ice.
Great freaking player.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:34 pm

Well, he did play on the same team as Scott Stevens for all those years. That made it difficult for anyone outside of New Jersey to really appreciate how good he was. God, I wish he was still a Devil.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:01 am

Even the Great One thinks a possible move by the Predators is the best thing for the game of Hockey.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/stor ... ockey/home

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:06 am

ScoopBrady wrote:Well, he did play on the same team as Scott Stevens for all those years. That made it difficult for anyone outside of New Jersey to really appreciate how good he was. God, I wish he was still a Devil.

Stevens, Niedermayer, Daneyko, Madden and Brodeur on the same team, playing the neutral-zone trap to death -- how the hell did ANYONE score on the Devils five or six years ago?

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:37 am

Emery will undergo wrist surgery. Well, at least now he'll have a convenient excuse for when he sucks next year.

Yes, I think Emery is a one-year wonder who is technically unsound and overrated.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:53 am

pk500 wrote:Emery will undergo wrist surgery. Well, at least now he'll have a convenient excuse for when he sucks next year.

Yes, I think Emery is a one-year wonder who is technically unsound and overrated.

Take care,
PK

Two Words: Blaine Lacher

cam ward? hmmm.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:58 am

Bruce Garrioch reports league sources claiming Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster might be willing to shop Brad Richards and his $7.8 million per season contract to Chicago, Philadelphia or Phoenix in hopes of landing one of the top three picks in this year's draft. Garrioch claims Richards, who married his 3rd cousin in a cermony last June, might be expendable after the Bolts acquired centre Chris Gratton last week from Florida, and this move would be done to clear up cap space to land a quality goaltender. The Blackhawks want an impact player "and Richards would fit the bill", writes Garrioch, who suggests parting with the first overall pick would be "a high price to pay".

expendable after acquiring GRATTON? umm....no. come on...gratton has done nothing since he went to philly.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:37 am

What is the relevance of Richards' marriage to his third cousin in the story, other than his family tree might have shorter limbs than others?

Sometimes reporters baffle me.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:01 am

pk500 wrote:What is the relevance of Richards' marriage to his third cousin in the story, other than his family tree might have shorter limbs than others?

Sometimes reporters baffle me.

Take care,
PK

that was me being an ass.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:11 am

Sudz wrote:
pk500 wrote:What is the relevance of Richards' marriage to his third cousin in the story, other than his family tree might have shorter limbs than others?

Sometimes reporters baffle me.

Take care,
PK
that was me being an ass.

Hook, line, sinker -- you are the DSP Bassmaster! Nice work.

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:50 pm

Eric Duhatschek seems to think that Ryan Smyth to the Flames is a very real possibilty. PK can you handle that?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:43 pm

tjung0831 wrote:Eric Duhatschek seems to think that Ryan Smyth to the Flames is a very real possibilty. PK can you handle that?

It's a sure sign that the Apocalypse is upon us. Plus I don't think there are enough Mounties on duty to protect Smyth if he returns to Rexall in a Flames' sweater.

Seriously, that would rip my hockey heart out and prove that Smyth never gave a f*ck about Edmonton. All of the tears and kind words last year at the farewell press conference at the airport would turn out to have been just a big act.

Let's hope it's just wishful thinking from The Hat.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:33 pm

I am sure PK could handle anything since the day that #99 was traded to LA. No other player was untouchable in Oil town since then. Having said that, there are of course a lot of rumours going around with trades prior to draft day as the crop of youngsters is not as deep this year.

What I heard about Ryan is that G. Snow is trying to trade the rights of Smytty to Toronto and then J. Ferguson Jr sign him before July 1st. Just what P. Holmgren did in Philly. Going the other way would be B. McCabe and picks. A player that seems to be going to cowtown instead is A. Aucoin who played under M. Keenan already when he was in Vancouver.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:18 am

Giguere signs w/ducks. 4 years $24,000,000

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:58 am

Latest Oil rumor: J. Smith and Horcoff to Ottawa for Redden and Vermette.

I DON'T like this deal at all. Gator is a leader, a superb defensive defensemen who had a rough year last year only because he played so many minutes and was paired with rookies. Horc is a solid two-way center, and the Oil needs him because Stoll still is uncertain due to concussions.

Apparently Bryan Murray is balking at the deal because he wants Lupul instead of Horcoff. Christ, that makes the deal more attractive for Edmonton. Get rid of Lupul NOW!

I would be more receptive to Gator and Lupul for Redden and Vermette than Gator and Horc. Those two guys are pure grit, leaders in the room. They're also good hockey players.

Take care,
PK

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:14 am

Sportsnet.ca is reporting that the Oilers and Flyers are trying to broker a deal with New Jersey for the negotiating rights to Scott Gomez.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:18 am

One thing for sure tonight, the Oils are going to be one of the most active teams wheeling & dealing as they have three first round picks.

So fellas who's going to be the number one pick tonight?