Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Reportedly the Leafs want Glen Murray. Its about time they spent the appropriate resources on a player who has something left in the tank. I think this guy is the hidden gem of the offseason market. His signing would be a huge coup for the Leafs, HUGE. Personally I hope the Isles buckle down to sign him, but I would probably be better off banging my head against the wall. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Olympic Slam Report post Posted July 8, 2004 Granato was doomed from the start I'm afraid. He could have taken the Avs to game 7 of the finals and loose to TB and the NHL pundits would STILL place the blame on him. Why? Because he's Tony Granato a third-line winger fresh from retirement. If he had a double chin and 15 years of retirement under his belt then the pundits might actually take him seriously as a coach. He doesn't have "experience" which in NHL circles means getting fired from at least 7 different organizations and not realizing that the NHL of the 2000's is a much different game today. Quenville was a good choice though. He, unlike in St. Louis last season, might actually have something to work with in Denver. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2004 Granato had a very good regular season record, but his team fell apart in the last 20 games of this season and it cost them big-time. They went from being a top seed, with home ice advantage, to a 4 seed (I think it was 4, maybe it was 5, though) and thus had to be on the road for the second round. Even Lacroix should admit that hiring a guy with only 31 games coaching experience (and all those as an assistant) was not the best move. Olympic Slam, you act as if there aren't any shades of grey, like either a guy is freshly retired or he's been around for one hundred years. John Tortorella spent time coaching in the minors, then assisting in the NHL, before he got the nod as a coach. Oh yeah, and won a Cup and a Jack Adams Award. Bobby Francis, another Jack Adams winner, was an assistant for a few years before getting hired as a head coach. It's the normal progression, a player retires, spends time coaching in the minors or assisting in the NHL to learn the ropes a little better, and then gets promoted to the top job. Granato will most likely get another chance to be a head coach, but really was pushed to the moon too fast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2004 Exactly, he was pushed too fast, and had FAR too high expectations on him. Maybe if he'd gotten the job with Atlanta or Columbus or something, where he could help his young guys around, make a surprise playoff appearance and be seen as a success. As it is, his team blew a 3-1 series lead in 2003 and was outmatched in every way by San Jose in 2004. Each time, he was outcoached by a long way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted July 8, 2004 The Blue Jackets claimed Geoff Sanderson off of waivers recently. Glad to see their bringing him back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Urban Warfare 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2004 Rolston signs multi-year deal with Wild The Minnesota Wild have signed free agent winger Brian Rolston to a multi-year contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. TSN.ca Full Story: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=90495 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2004 Fucking Bruins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treble 0 Report post Posted July 8, 2004 Man, does anyone want to play with the Bruins? Thornton signs with Swiss team Davos The Boston Bruins' dramatic offseason continued Thursday as IMG Hockey announced that they have finalized a new contract for client Joe Thornton to play with HC Davos of the Swiss Elite League for the upcoming season. The Bruins' captain and three-time NHL All-Star is a Group II Restricted Free Agent without a contract. "I am very excited about the opportunity to play with Davos," said Thornton in a statement released by IMG. "It is a fantastic hockey environment and has a long tradition of excellence in European hockey circles." HC Davos has long been recognized as one of the most top hockey franchises in Europe and competes in the Swiss Elite League. The club is also well known for its annual Spengler Cup tournament held every December. "We are very happy for Joe. Davos is one of the premier hockey clubs to play for in Europe," said his agent, J.P. Barry. "As we are all aware there may not be NHL Hockey next season and this agreement will allow Joe to play hockey at the highest level in a unique environment that he may otherwise not have ever experienced." The news comes as another chapter in a topsy-turvy offseason saga for the Bruins, who have already lost core players to the summer's free agent market. Forward Mike Knuble signed with the Philadelphia Flyers as an unrestricted free agent Saturday, and defenceman Sean O'Donnell signed a three-year, $6-million deal with the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday. Reports also indicate that forward Glen Murray appears close to signing with a new team, but the biggest story to hit the rumour mill came Sunday when the New York Post reported that Thornton wanted out of town. General manager Mike O'Connell told the Boston Globe Wednesday that he spoke to Thornton and got no indication that he was disgruntled. "I read the article (yesterday) morning," O'Connell told the paper. "Someone told me about it. I called Larry (Brooks) and I told him, 'I don't know where you got this,' and he said he got it from very reliable sources. But I spoke with Joe in Toronto at the awards dinner. Never did he mention anything to that effect to me. I met with his agent at the NHL draft and never was it brought up that he wanted to be traded. It's all news to me." The Post story said Thornton, who was held pointless while playing with a rib injury in the playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens, was unhappy he wasn't supported more by management. Thornton led Boston last season with 23 goals and 50 assists in 77 games. He was also named to Canada's team for the 2004 World Cup of hockey. These 2 guys at work are huge Bruins fans, so this should be fun to rib them about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Olympic Slam Report post Posted July 9, 2004 Olympic Slam, you act as if there aren't any shades of grey, like either a guy is freshly retired or he's been around for one hundred years. John Tortorella spent time coaching in the minors, then assisting in the NHL, before he got the nod as a coach. Oh yeah, and won a Cup and a Jack Adams Award. Bobby Francis, another Jack Adams winner, was an assistant for a few years before getting hired as a head coach. It's the normal progression, a player retires, spends time coaching in the minors or assisting in the NHL to learn the ropes a little better, and then gets promoted to the top job. You're right, which is why all the analysts jumped all over Granato. He didn't go to the minors to coach like Torts. He was still to everyone "Tony Granato that right winger" not Tony Granto "master strategist of the NHL." He didn't pay his dues toiling in the minors or being an assistant coach for a crappy team. For the analysts to take him seriously, he would have to dissapear for awhile. No amount of success or failure by the players on the ice was going to change everyone's opinion of Granato. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Report post Posted July 9, 2004 Without the possibility of having Thorton and Murray the Bruins will be in last place...again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 I remember reading that most of the players that were going to sign with international teams would have contracts that would allow them to leave that team and come back to their standard NHL team if/when the lockout's over. Thornton better choose to opt out of that deal and come back to Boston. If Thornton does come back next year, the B's shouldn't be too bad: Thornton/Bergeron/some new signee as the top line Nylander/Samsonov/some new signee as the 2nd Green/Axelsson/Lapointe as the checking random scrubs, fighters and AHL call-ups as the 4th I really think a lot of players will be made available if/when the lockout ends, especially if there is a cap. There are so many teams with huge payrolls, if there is a cap (and it's between $31 million & $40 million USD, as rumored) there will be a bunch of teams that will need to unload talent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 Without the possibility of having Thorton and Murray the Bruins will be in last place...again. That sound you heard? That was Max Power blowing his brains out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 nl5'll probably do it too. You know, I've stuck by Thornton through all of his BS. I've sat by patiently while he disappeared at clutch time, hoping that Muzz would pick up the slack. If Thornton doesn't opt out of this Swiss deal and stays playing there instead of the NHL AND Murray isn't resigned by crack Bruins ownership, I think I've pretty much had it with the black and gold. I know that Patrice Bergeron and Sergei Samsonov will be there, and Razor will be in net, but without that physical presence in Thornton and the lethal Glen Murray, what do they do? nl5, what signings do you see them making? Overpaying for a veteran by 4 million dollars? Oh wait, that's already happened. They HAVE the players to make the run. They just choose not to resign them. Rolston's gone. Muzz is all but gone. Thornton has no motivation. Fuck them all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 I don't think that I'd out-and-out kill myself over the Bruins ... but I'm already thinking of which team I'll root for once the Bruins have finished ripping my heart out. It's tough, though, I never thought that I'd have to abandon the black & gold. Ralston was good but not great; his role can be filled by Travis Green IMHO. Knuble, I think, they could have gotten for relatively short money, and should have made a bigger effort to re-sign. I'm glad that they let SOD walk, he was a good presence in the locker room but it's time to let players like him and Moran call it a day and let the Delmore's and Girard's prove if they're NHL calibre players. (Of course, if you go to bostonbruins.com, the big headline is "Bruins resign Moran" ... way to go guys, lose 3 of your top forwards and potentially lose your franchise player but proudly announce the resigning of an injury prone #6 defenseman.) Muzz, though, will be very tough to replace. 35+ goals a year is huge in today's NHL, and he and Joe worked VERY well together. Truthfully, though, paying anyone $6 million a year (which is what I've heard he wants) is very risky right now; if there is a cap, and let's say it's $31 million (as reported in The Hockey News) the B's would have $17 million of that tied up in 3 players (Joe, Muzz, and Lapointe). That leaves $14 million to go to the other 20 players on the roster. Talk about a 1 line team. Who could I see them going after to replace all that they've lost? Maybe another Anson Carter-era. Maybe Martin Rucinsky. Maybe Kip Miller. Or, they'll most likely just wait and see what the cap is, and see which teams are dumping players to get under that cap. I'm sure the Rangers/Flyers/Red Wings/Stars will be looking to unload some players, and will probably have to offer to pay some of their salaries to make it happen. Maybe get Billy Guerin back here, and see if the stars would pay $4-5 million of his contract. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 hey if Montreal plays Boston again in the playoffs, I can bet they can beat them in four now . HUGE NEWS: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=90575 Recchi agrees to terms with Penguins TSN.ca Staff 7/9/2004 Mark Recchi is looking to finish his career where it started. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who drafted Recchi in 1988, have agreed to terms with free agent right winger on a multi-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Craig Patrick. In accordance with club policy terms of the contract were not released. Recchi, 36, a 16-year NHL veteran, led the Philadelphia Flyers in goals, assists and points during the 2003-04 season, recording 75 points on 26 goals and 49 assists while playing in all 82 games. He has scored 20 or more goals in each of the last five seasons and in eight of the last nine seasons, and has scored 25 or more goals in a season 11 times in his career. Recchi ranks in the top ten in Flyers' history in goals (tied 10th), assists (6th) and points (8th). A veteran of 1,173 career games, Recchi has recorded 456 goals and 745 assists for 1,201 points with the Penguins, Flyers and Montreal Canadiens. And he's durable - his consecutive regular season games played streak of 570 (10/4/91-12/11/98) is the eighth longest streak in NHL history. A seven-time NHL All-Star, Recchi began his career with the Penguins, playing in 225 games from 1988-1992, recording 252 points. He led the Penguins in scoring during the 1990-91 regular season, recording 40 goals and 113 points in 78 games. In 24 playoff games that year, Recchi recorded 34 points, helping the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup Championship. Recchi was traded by the Penguins to Philadelphia on February 19, 1992 with Brian Benning and a first round draft choice in exchange for Rick Tocchet, Kjell Samuelsson and Ken Wregget. He played in parts of four seasons with the Flyers (1992-1995), setting career highs in goals (53) and points (123) during the 1992-93 season. After a 40-goal season in 1993-94, Recchi was traded by Philadelphia to Montreal on February 9, 1995 with a third round draft choice in exchange for John LeClair, Eric Desjardins and Gilbert Dionne. In parts of five seasons with the Canadiens (1995-1999), Recchi eclipsed the 25-goal mark three times. He was traded back to Philadelphia on March 10, 1999 in exchange for Dainius Zubrus, a second round draft choice and a sixth round draft choice. In five-plus seasons with the Flyers (1999-2004), Recchi scored 20 or more goals in a season five times and played in 79 or more games four times in five seasons. The 5-10 and 190 pound native of Kamloops, British Columbia was drafted by the Penguins in the fourth round (67th overall) of the 1988 Entry Draft. Where the hell did Pittsburgh find money to scoop up Recchi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 Pittsburgh probably found it in their back pocket.... Seriously, how the hell did they find it in them to sign Recchi? Does this mean then that Andre-Fleury will actually be starting for the Penguins next season? Only way I'd explain them picking up Recchi is if they have money to burn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 You can't possibly believe they didn't turn a profit when they had 0 salaries on their roster, do you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 http://tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=90608 Dogs add Ricci to their signings of Sean O'Donnell and Boyd Devereaux Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Olympic Slam Report post Posted July 10, 2004 I'm surprised Ricci signed with a team like the Coyotes. He was starting to become a square peg in San Jose (we played better, sadly when his ice time was reduced). I thought he'd go to a near contender but it looks like he wants a bigger role. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2004 You can't possibly believe they didn't turn a profit when they had 0 salaries on their roster, do you? Or you know, Pittsburgh has only three players, while everyone else is playing for minimum wage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Baron 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2004 Theodore playing in Russia? Oh shit... http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=90622 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ether Report post Posted July 10, 2004 Recchi's contract will probably put the Penguin's contract at around $24-25 million, which will still be rather low. The team "only" lost 1-2 million last year, which can be made up with improved attendance. The addition of a fan favorite and lowered ticket prices should help. Hopefully, this will be team that at least competes for a playoff spot; that would definitely help. The signing will also help with support for a new arena. That would be worth any short-term loss. Where they will find the money to sign Alexei Zhamnov or John LeClaire, which is the rumor now, I have no idea. Regarding Joe Thorton, I find it hard to believe that any star NHL player, especially a North American one, would prefer to play in Europe rather than the NHL. Even if a salary cap goes through, the stars will still make their money (like the NFL). The 3rd and 4th line players that nobody goes to see will be taking the biggest paycuts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stahl 0 Report post Posted July 10, 2004 Regarding Joe Thorton, I find it hard to believe that any star NHL player, especially a North American one, would prefer to play in Europe rather than the NHL. Even if a salary cap goes through, the stars will still make their money (like the NFL). The 3rd and 4th line players that nobody goes to see will be taking the biggest paycuts. They are just playing in Europe until the lockout which will happen, ends. Once the season starts the guys who signed with European teams will go back to the NHL> Thortons problems seems to be with Boston though, not the NHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 http://tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=90925&hubName=main Devils sign Richard Matvichuk, ending his long run with the North Stars/Stars franchise. Anyone get an idea that the signing of an excellent defenseman means that the Devils are giving up on Scott Niedermayer? He's said that he won't sign on and wants to test free agency. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Report post Posted July 13, 2004 Where would Neidermyer go? Possibly the Ducks? I'll just throw out a team Los Angeles Kings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted July 13, 2004 So I guess Mike Modano is the only Minnesota North Star left in Dallas? Too bad. I think if the NHL gets FUBARed so bad this year that they can't muster up a season, they should loan out the Stanley Cup to the college teams or something, set up an amateur tournament or ANYTHING just to make sure this isn't like losing the World Series. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted July 13, 2004 All I can say about this is that it's rather unexpected... From TSN,ca Report: Van Hellemond borrowed money TSN.ca Staff 7/13/2004 Tuesday's Globe and Mail reports that Andy Van Hellemond had resigned from his position as the National Hockey League's director of officiating because he was borrowing money from some of the league's on-ice officials. Reportedly, several on-ice officials were concerned that Van Hellemond was giving out prime playoff assignments to the referees that loaned him the money. A source told the paper, "That's why Colin Campbell selected the officials for the final and Mike Murphy was installed as the supervisor for the final. Usually, the director of officiating is the supervisor for the final." NHL vice president and chief legal officer Bill Daly released the following statement: ''We do not intend to further comment on the circumstances relating to Mr. Van Hellemond's decision to step down from his role as the NHL's Director of Officiating. Having said that, we can say unequivocally that we are satisfied that staffing decisions for all NHL games during Mr. Van Hellemond's tenure were made entirely on the merits of the officials involved.'' Another source analyzed the situation this way: "Van Hellemond didn't do anything illegal and he has since paid back the loans. He just made a very bad decision." The loans apparently ranged from $100 to $10,000. Van Hellemond replaced Bryan Lewis as the league's director of officiating before the 2000-01 season. Van Hellemond was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November of 1999 after a 25-year career in which he set records for officiating 1,475 regular-season games and 227 playoff games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted July 13, 2004 This does not paint into good light the professional sport of hockey. The guy who co-ordinates the rules is taking "loans"?! Um, excuse me while I really question how the last playoffs went down now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted July 13, 2004 Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted July 14, 2004 http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=91037 Mellanby was going to come back to the Panthers, but Keenan yanked the offer off the table. Keenan's already getting on my nerves, as I'd love someone like Mellanby on this team. After the Kozlov trade, they need size. http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=91038 Ink-blots offer Ron Francis a front-office position, even though he hasn't announced his retirement. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
