Hockey Night - 2013

[10spro]

Scary defense in Nashville.. don't know anything about the Blues picks.

Yep. Jones and Weber on the same blue line should make foes afraid. Very afraid.

Maybe, maybe not. I am quite curious as to why the AVS didn't pick him first knowing that they need help at the back. Jones has been touted as the#1 pick yet three teams passed him by before NAS took the jump. He's got a nasty streak for sure but I wonder.

[tjung0831]

I'm just glad Drouin didn't fall to Nashville. Nashville's biggest problem is they can't score and Drouin would have been an excellent fit there. As for why the Avalanche didn't pick Jones...it's simple, McKinnon was the best player in the draft. You want another reason to pass on Jones, I'll give you the best one....Erik Johnson 2006. It's just to risky to take a dman #1 overall especially when there are superstar forwards available in McKinnon and Drouin. Remember Sakic and Co. were going to take Jones but then they hired Roy and he put a stop to that real quick.
Loved what Vancouver did yesterday....trading up to get Horvat and then getting a steal with Shinkaruk later in the draft. Calgary had a great draft as well but will regret passing on Shinkaruk with their 2nd pick. My favorite player in this draft though was Ryan Hartman and he goes to Chicago at #30....sucks for me being a Blues fan but it is what it is. Hartman is such a great player...gonna be a pain in the rear for years to come for Blues fans!

[Naples39]

It really seems to me Gillis bungled the goalie situation. I don't recall the deals he turned down for Luongo, but he held onto him for so long and he became untradeable. Now ownership wouldn't give him the money to buy him out, so he trades the cheaper up-and-comer and is stuck with an expensive guy who has surely mentally checked out from Vancouver.

While some may question Luongo's attitude, I don't think he's a malcontent, but Gillis has created a very awkward situation.

[10spro]

It really seems to me Gillis bungled the goalie situation. I don't recall the deals he turned down for Luongo, but he held onto him for so long and he became untradeable. Now ownership wouldn't give him the money to buy him out, so he trades the cheaper up-and-comer and is stuck with an expensive guy who has surely mentally checked out from Vancouver.

While some may question Luongo's attitude, I don't think he's a malcontent, but Gillis has created a very awkward situation.

No doubt. I am not worried about Luongo's attitude in fact he's handled the whole process with great aplomb last season. As a true professional without whining about being a back up. Gillis always wanted more for Luongo but he misjudged how difficult his contract became with the new CBA. He waited and waited and yes you can say that it backfired on him.

This is LU's team again but you got to wonder if #1 can make that mental switch back to Lotus land. Like a good guy that he's is, he probably will as he even admitted that his contract sucked hoover.

The next guy to be shown the door would be indeed the GM himself if all this doesn't pan out as he planned.

Welcome to the goalie graveyard in Canucks' land.

[10spro]

Don't the Flyers have other pressing needs than signing Vinny to a 5 year deal? I don't understand what Holmgren is trying to do.

[Naples39]

Don't the Flyers have other pressing needs than signing Vinny to a 5 year deal? I don't understand what Holmgren is trying to do.

With all the talk of goaltending and defense, lack of secondary scoring was a major issue for them last season which everyone forgets. They expected a lot from Schenn and Couturier and didn't get it. They wanted to get bigger up front too. This solves that need pretty emphatically and gives a major boost to their 2nd line.

I wouldn't have made this my top priority, but assuming Coburn or Meszaros goes out to make a little more room, the Flyers still have the cap space to add a goalie and tweak their D and forward mix.

There's already some buzz that they'll sign Tim Thomas to a 1 or 2 year deal.

Never a dull moment with the Flyers!

[Diablo25]

Don't the Flyers have other pressing needs than signing Vinny to a 5 year deal? I don't understand what Holmgren is trying to do.

With all the talk of goaltending and defense, lack of secondary scoring was a major issue for them last season which everyone forgets. They expected a lot from Schenn and Couturier and didn't get it. They wanted to get bigger up front too. This solves that need pretty emphatically and gives a major boost to their 2nd line.

I wouldn't have made this my top priority, but assuming Coburn or Meszaros goes out to make a little more room, the Flyers still have the cap space to add a goalie and tweak their D and forward mix.

There's already some buzz that they'll sign Tim Thomas to a 1 or 2 year deal.

Never a dull moment with the Flyers!

Well put Naples. He is essentially replacing Briere and his numbers are better. Sure his numbers have been declining but for the money you get a quality guy to replace a hole from last year. I love that he CHOSE the Flyers. Remember he's still getting $$$ from TB so money probably wasn't as big an issue in the signing.

[Diablo25]

By the way, I hope Mezzaros is shown the door

[Naples39]

By the way, I hope Mezzaros is shown the door

Coming off a poor, injury-riddled season, and a UFA after this season, he has very little trade value. Flyers might trade him for a bag of pucks.

Either that, or they could trade Coburn for something more significant, even making a package with Couturier or Schenn now that Lecavalier is on board and Laughton is coming up.

Just wrote a blog entry for those interested for a slightly deeper consideration of the Lecavalier signing. Upon analysis, the signing looks pretty damn good.

[10spro]

Don't the Flyers have other pressing needs than signing Vinny to a 5 year deal? I don't understand what Holmgren is trying to do.

With all the talk of goaltending and defense, lack of secondary scoring was a major issue for them last season which everyone forgets. They expected a lot from Schenn and Couturier and didn't get it. They wanted to get bigger up front too. This solves that need pretty emphatically and gives a major boost to their 2nd line.

I wouldn't have made this my top priority, but assuming Coburn or Meszaros goes out to make a little more room, the Flyers still have the cap space to add a goalie and tweak their D and forward mix.

There's already some buzz that they'll sign Tim Thomas to a 1 or 2 year deal.

Never a dull moment with the Flyers!

Expecting a lot from Schenn and Couturier is a bit of a risk. They are still very young and the signing of #4 pushes Schenn down to the third line and maybe out of position. To me, forcing Schenn to play out on the wing slows his growth, and I would rather keep him than Couturier. Holmgren needs to show his patience with them. He wasn't with Bobrosky and Sbisa and we know how well they developed in their respective teams.

Buying out the horrible contract on Bryzgalov and and in a less desperate act on Briere, was to clear cap space but yet Holmgren signs two veterans worth almost 10 million not to mention 38 years old Timmonen at 6 per, and finds himself pressed again against the cap while some forwards need to be resigned as well.

Don't get me wrong, the deal itself on Vinny seems pretty reasonable. Getting a second line center for $4.5 million is almost a bargain by today's standards. While his best days are behind him, he still brings leadership and size.

I was referring more to the actual needs for the Flyers instead of getting yet another center. Obviously I don't think the GM is finished yet (Couturier-Coburn will bring some good values back) and will need hard to find another goalie to complement S. Mason. But as you mention, priority seems to be a bit off with Holmgren.

[RallyMonkey]

Goodbye Tyler Seguin. We hardly knew ye...but we knew enough. Interesting move by the B's. I think Seguin grows up soon and lives up to his potential, so this trade may be a bust long term, but after the horrible showing in the post season, you just knew the growing up wasn't going to happen in Boston. Eriksson is another Bergeron style player and will fit in nicely. I think we see a pretty active Bruins off season.

[Diablo25]

Flyers extend Girioux.
http://m.espn.go.com/nhl/story?storyId=9450983

[10spro]

Goodbye Tyler Seguin. We hardly knew ye...but we knew enough. Interesting move by the B's. I think Seguin grows up soon and lives up to his potential, so this trade may be a bust long term, but after the horrible showing in the post season, you just knew the growing up wasn't going to happen in Boston. Eriksson is another Bergeron style player and will fit in nicely. I think we see a pretty active Bruins off season.

Good pick up for BOS. Eriksson is in his prime a good two way forward that can play center or wing. With Rask getting a big raise most likely, you're not going to keep a 6 million dollar guy playing in the third line. GM Chiarelli also had enough of his off ice behaviour and the trade just makes sense.

DAL didn't stop there as they got S. Horcoff and will be a much improved team under Ruff.

[pk500]

DAL didn't stop there as they got S. Horcoff and will be a much improved team under Ruff.

Horc was a quality guy in the room, the team captain. But his contract became an albatross to this organization almost immediately after he signed it in the vapors of the Oil's run to Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.

Horcoff had 12 points last season and made $5.5 million. That's $458,333 per point.

He had to go.

[10spro]

I thought that Alfie would want to finish his career in OTT but the Wings snapped him for 5.5. Good money for a 40 year old, my question is why didn't they try to resign Filppula?

[Diablo25]

Flyers get Ray Emery for 1 year. I like it. Word is he was disappointed with his first tour when he had the hip issue. Mason and Emery are a solid duo...in my novice hockey opinion. What do you think Naples?

[Naples39]

Flyers get Ray Emery for 1 year. I like it. Word is he was disappointed with his first tour when he had the hip issue. Mason and Emery are a solid duo...in my novice hockey opinion. What do you think Naples?

I think they're getting good value. Dirt cheap cap hits, didn't give up anything in a trade. All things equal, I'd prefer Thomas or Bernier to Emery, but Thomas would be more expensive and Bernier required a trade.

There's always a chance it could blow up in their faces and neither goalie is up to the challenge come playoff time, but I'll take my chances that this duo can manage. If they suck the Flyers have no commitment beyond this season either.

No complaints.

[10spro]

Big pick up for the Sens after losing out on Alfie. Bobby Ryan will score bunches with Spezza.

[Macca00]

As a casual Sens fan (living in Toronto...don't ask) I hope Alfie does well with the Red Wings. Will be weird to see him in another jersey though.

I think Weiss is going to rip s*** up with the Red Wings. I think he's a really underrated player.

Bruins lose Nathan Horton but my understanding was that he was out for a part of next season anyway with a shoulder problem.


Congrats to David Clarkson on winning the lottery.....

[pk500]

Oil signs Andrew Ference and Jason Labarbera. Glad to see MacT making bold moves by rummaging through the scrap heap.

[Macca00]

Oil signs Andrew Ference and Jason Labarbera. Glad to see MacT making bold moves by rummaging through the scrap heap.

I saw that and thought of you. To be fair, all those years MacT didn't wear a helmet he probably has quite a bit of acquired brain damage....at least he has an excuse (unlike Kevin Lowe).

[pk500]

Oil signs Andrew Ference and Jason Labarbera. Glad to see MacT making bold moves by rummaging through the scrap heap.

I saw that and thought of you. To be fair, all those years MacT didn't wear a helmet he probably has quite a bit of acquired brain damage....at least he has an excuse (unlike Kevin Lowe).

Lowe wore a Jofa helmet for almost his entire career, so he's not far behind MacT in the scrambled eggs category. A pasta colander provided more protection than a Jofa.

[XXXIV]

I now like Ference.

[RallyMonkey]

Iginla takes a shortcut through Pittsburgh, but lands in Boston anyway.

[10spro]

D. Perron will add good size and skill to the Oils as Paajarvi and a second rounder goes to the Blues. If Perron stays healthy he can help the younger core immediately.

T. Rask gets a nice 7 year contract reward.