NHL Off-Season Thread...

[nl5xsk1 0]

Actually, the B's can get enough 4th liners ...

 

... unless they lose a few this offseason there's already Doull, Grosek, MacDonald, Zamuner, Fitzgerald, Hilbert, not to mention the various Providence guys that get called up for some games each year.

 

And, sadly, that's with Lapointe & PJ already taking up 2 spots on the third line. So, unless the big plan is to have one good line, one average line, and 2 lines of scrubs, the team needs to pick up some real talent. Badly. And quickly.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I can only think of 2 that are necessary, Max ... Massachusetts to take care of Sinden and MOC, and NY to take care of Jacobs.

Yeah, but I need to get up to MA somehow.

 

I'll get there eventually.

 

Fucking Bruins.

I hate to post again so quickly, but I didn't see Max's post.

 

Don't worry, I'll find some time this weekend to, ahem, have a conversation with MOC and Harry. We'll just need to make sure that Jacobs is gone first, he's the one that'll hire another cheap piece of crap to replace the two that I'll be removing from office.

[the max 0]

But we both know that picking up talent costs money, which is something that won't be happening.

 

At this rate, they'll be having "PLAY FOR THE BRUINS NIGHT" at all the home games.

 

*bangs head on desk*

 

 

 

 

 

 

They need to have an overhaul in upper-management. They aren't "Chicago Blackhawks" level yet, but they're getting awfully fucking close.

[the max 0]

http://tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=92978

 

Blues re-up Pronger on a one year...9.5 million dollar contract.

 

This means that Demitra is essentially out of St. Louis...*crosses fingers* Boston needs the help...and the need to sign a SOMEBODY.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Max, you and I both know the next Demtra story will end with him in either Detroit, Colorado or NY.

[the max 0]

I know, I know.

 

But hey, look at the bright side, we got Tom Fitzgerald.

[nl5xsk1 0]

nl5's bold prediction of the day: Tom Fitzgerald will never score as many as 7 goals in a season again.

 

See, now I have another reason for the CBA to be agreed upon without impacting the season ... so Tommy F. can have the entire season to try & break 7 goals.

[starvenger 0]

nl5's bold prediction of the day: Tom Fitzgerald will never score as many as 7 goals in a season again.

 

See, now I have another reason for the CBA to be agreed upon without impacting the season ... so Tommy F. can have the entire season to try & break 7 goals.

Hey, he's a local boy, right? That's good for at least one more goal...

[nl5xsk1 0]

Yeah, because Ian Moran sure lit the lamp from the blueline. Same with Ms. Gill, she's good for 3 or so a year. And don't get me started on Donny Sweeney.

 

... "but those are defensemen," you say. ...

 

To which I reply: Mike Sullivan scored about 5 his one season as a B. Or Kevin Stevens, who averaged 30+ with the Penguins, and then scored TEN as a Bruin (I think, I might be a little off).

 

Off the top of my head, the best recent local scorer was McEachern, who scored 20-something. (although I must be missing someone ... any help here?)

[the max 0]

Don't forget Dedham's own...Ted Donato...although he retired, so I don't know if he counts or not.

 

 

 

 

 

In other news, the Habs signed Radek "soft" Bonk to a three year contract.

 

http://tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=93016&hubName=main

 

*holds back laughter until realizing that the Bruins signed Tom Fitzgerald and haven't replaced three key players who left via free agency*

 

 

*cries*

[Guest Rrrsh]

Chubarov and Allen signed today for the Canucks, the Sedins and Auld didnt.

 

I want Auld signed NOW, and dont really care if we tell the Sedisn to fuck off and trade them. I like them as third liners, but our retarded coach plays them as second liners and no team will ever win with them on the secodn line.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Why? Auld isn't exactly a top-calibur goalie. I have no idea why they gave Cloutier 3 million, but they've already wasted enough money at the position. Cheap, competent backups shouldn't be too hard to find.

 

Glad Allen are Chubarov are locked up. Both solid young players.

[Guest Rrrsh]

Auld is a guy who could actually take some of the load off Cloots. Plus he is better than any backup out there.

 

Cloots is worth more than 3 mill, we are lucky to have stole him for that.

 

Chubarov is soft and cant score. Deal him to an east team where is checking style fits in.

[the max 0]

Cloutier isn't the one to lead the Canucks deep into the playoffs. He's collapsed in big games for them in the past (ie, games 6&7 against Minnesota in 03). If I'm a fan of an opposing team, I'm confident going into the playoffs against them. They can score, sure, but their goalie can't stop the puck, and until he pulls a Roy and practically DRAGS his team to a Cup, that reputation will always come with him.

 

Cloutier is a good regular season goaltender, but the fact that he makes 3 million a year makes me want to punch someone in the face. The Nucks could have reupped Auld, kept Hedberg, and possibly gone after Osgood. As it is, the money Cloutier got results in Arvedsson being hard to resign. Granted that Arvedsson was injured much of last year, but he's an excellent defensive winger that the Canucks could use.

 

If the Sedins and Auld didn't sign, does that mean they're holding for arbitration? Does this mean that the Sedins are going to become free agents? Bruins? *hyperventilates*

[Guest Rrrsh]

Hedberg licks, Auld is umproven and Osgood is AWEFUl.

 

 

By the way, Cloots single handely won Game 7 vs the Blues and our shitty TEAM D lost to Minnasoda, not just Cloots.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Hedberg licks, Auld is umproven and Osgood is AWEFUl.

 

 

By the way, Cloots single handely won Game 7 vs the Blues and our shitty TEAM D lost to Minnasoda, not just Cloots.

He did have an amazing game vs the Blues. But come on, the goalie needs to step up despite shitty D. That's the mark of a great goalie. Look at Luongo out in Florida, the guy is pretty much the only reason Florida was competetive.

 

I agree about Hedberg/Auld/Osgood. But I think everyone can agree Cloutier isn't worth three million. He's always good for at least one weak goal every game. Good goalies don't do that. He hasn't carried the Canucks on his back over a significant period of playoff time. A $3 million goalie should do that.

 

Compared to the other goalies available, Cloots isn't too bad a choice. But he was completely and totally overpaid, and it will hurt the team.

[nl5xsk1 0]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=93456

 

Rick Nash signed with HC Davos, the same club that had picked up Thornton a few weeks back. Not a bad pair of NHLers to go after, put them on a line together and you're guaranteed a few points a game.

 

 

(and, yes, this was mainly just to bump it back to page 1 ... too many stupid fucking threads keep popping up and sending this to page 2)

[the max 0]

Yeah, I wish this would get pinned.

 

 

 

http://tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=93457&hubName=main

 

Nashville resigned Steve Sullivan, who meshed very well with them down the stretch last year.

[the max 0]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=93481

 

THANK FUCKING GOD!!!!!!!!

[nl5xsk1 0]

Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell says he'll accept the decision.

 

''Sergei is one of the premier offensive defencemen in the game,'' said O'Connell. ``He moves the puck very well, has great awareness on the ice and he will continue to be a key contributor to our team.''

 

''I think it's a fair number for the player,'' O'Connell said.  ''But as I said before the process, once he filed for arbitration, we knew he was signed and we were happy.  We want him on our team.''

 

I was still wicked scared that the B's wouldn't sign him for this amount, until I read the words that I bolded. It sounds like they knew that they had to let Ralston, SOD, Knuble, etc. walk in order to have enough for Gonchar, Samsonov, & Thornton. And, hopefully, Muzz.

 

My only question, though, is how much will the arbitrator give Thornton? And will it price him out of the Bruins neighborhood??

[the max 0]

Knowing our luck, somewhere stupid like 7-8 million, just enough for them to choose Joe over Murray (he's STILL AVAILABLE, teams should be doing backflips to sign this guy).

 

My guess on their lines next year...

 

Sammy/Joe/Nylander

???/Bergeron/Zamuner (still need to resign him)

Axelsson/Green/LaPointe

???(bring up Darren Van Oene?)/Hilbert (still needs resigning)/Fitzgerald

 

 

The defense, outside of Mrs. Gill isn't TOO bad with Gonchar and Boynton. Too bad they need three more defensemen. They let Delmore walk, Slegr hasn't been resigned, McGillis is as good as gone, they have Moran though..

 

 

I hope they don't wait until the last minute to sign some guys. They'll end up at the scrap heap.

 

Needs:

 

1- DEFENSE

2- Back-up goalie

3- Better forwards

[nl5xsk1 0]

Max, I don't think that the D will be too bad ... I'm thinking that they'll probably, once all is said & done, end up with Slegr and/or Delmore still wearing the spoked B. I can't see either of them getting too much attention on the free agent market, so could come back to the B's at less than they earned last year.

 

And I think that the Bruins are counting on Girard coming back this year ... I was never a huge fan of his pre-injury, but it seems like he's shown more passion for the game now that he nearly lost his life, and could be a good 3,4,5 defenseman.

 

If their top 6 defensemen were: Boynton, Delmore, Girard, Gonchar, McGillis & Slegr, I'd be content. Keep Moran as a healthy-scratch, and spot-starter, and that's not that bad of a unit.

 

The forwards, on the other hand, is questionable. The fact that we might be looking at Robbie Z as a 2nd liner is sketchy ... the Bruins NEED to resign Muzz, and then another decent winger, in order to have 2 legitimate lines. PJ, Lapointe & Green are a good 3rd line, and as we've both noted they have enough 4th line players to cover that.

 

My priorities list:

1) 2 legitimate scoring threats

2) veteran back-up goalie (willing to play 15-20 games, max, without complaining)

3) an actual enforcer that can protect the skilled players (I liked Doull and all, but we need a guy that can play more than 2 minutes and actually, you know, win a fight when needed)

[the max 0]

I hope they can resign Slegr and Delmore. Delmore is a good offensive defenseman and Slegr fit pretty well with them last year (19 points in 36 games from a defenseman).

 

I was never sold on Jonathan Girard, and don't like him as a defenseman, even if he's on the bottom line of D. Let Girard walk, and pick up Jason Marshall (still available for ~1 million). He can spot start, play a nasty game, and be their enforcer.

 

 

And no doubt that Muzz needs to be resigned. Very important part of the offense there. The problem with picking up another winger is that a lot of them are either overpaid and won't take a cut or make 500K for a reason.

 

My list:

 

1- MURRAY

2- Matt Cullen (likely won't make near the 1.75 million he made last year)

3- Make a run at Allison again. He likely won't make even CLOSE to 8 million.

[Guest Rrrsh]

Hedberg licks, Auld is umproven  and Osgood is AWEFUl.

 

 

By the way, Cloots single handely won Game 7 vs the Blues and our shitty TEAM D lost to Minnasoda, not just Cloots.

He did have an amazing game vs the Blues. But come on, the goalie needs to step up despite shitty D. That's the mark of a great goalie. Look at Luongo out in Florida, the guy is pretty much the only reason Florida was competetive.

 

I agree about Hedberg/Auld/Osgood. But I think everyone can agree Cloutier isn't worth three million. He's always good for at least one weak goal every game. Good goalies don't do that. He hasn't carried the Canucks on his back over a significant period of playoff time. A $3 million goalie should do that.

 

Compared to the other goalies available, Cloots isn't too bad a choice. But he was completely and totally overpaid, and it will hurt the team.

Cloots is worth 3 Mill in comparison to the rest of the league.

 

Very few guys are like Roberto in Florida. Most goalie who who are really good or great in this league have great D. Our whole team chocked vs Minny and our D was weak and pathetic vs Calgray.

[the max 0]

So you're going to pay a goaltender 3 million to play behind a bad defense and not step up when it counts? If that's the case, I'd like to make 3 million.

 

Cloutier's playoff numbers:

 

10-13

.875 SP%

3.38 GAA

 

 

Hmm...doesn't seem like he's carrying his weight, let's look at other goaltenders!!

 

Mystery Goaltender:

 

Salary: 2.575 million

21-20

.918 SP%

1.9 GAA

 

 

There's a difference between the two. Both make simular money, but the Mystery Goaltender gives his team a HELL of a better chance to win than Cloutier does. Problem is that he played on a soft team, so note the W-L. Given the choice between Cloutier and the Mystery Goaltender, which would you take to help your team in the playoffs?

[Guest Rrrsh]

I need to know the defenseman with the mystery goalie and what type of system the team has.

 

 

That matters 10 times more then the stats.

[the max 0]

The Mystery Goaltender (MG) played on a better defensive team, yes, but the offense in front of him was average at best. Fact remains that he kept his team in it, which is the point in the playoffs. Steal a game here or there by playing out of your head, but keep your team in it. MG did this. His team played a good defensive game, but they fit into the same bag as Vancouver does.

[treble 0]

So the Leafs wasted a million and a bit on Mr. Glass Nik Antropov. He's so worthless, so I doubt he has any trade value outside of a late draft pick.

 

And Ed Belfour is now the part-owner of the Dallas WHA franchise and might play for them if there's a lockout. I have a very bad feeling about this.

[Guest Rrrsh]

The Mystery Goaltender (MG) played on a better defensive team, yes, but the offense in front of him was average at best. Fact remains that he kept his team in it, which is the point in the playoffs. Steal a game here or there by playing out of your head, but keep your team in it. MG did this. His team played a good defensive game, but they fit into the same bag as Vancouver does.

Well, if the offence is average, tell me this

 

 

Is it a trap team?

 

 

Because The Canucks play the anti-trap with half tehir defenseman convinced tehir fowards.

[Guest Rrrsh]

The Mystery Goaltender (MG) played on a better defensive team, yes, but the offense in front of him was average at best. Fact remains that he kept his team in it, which is the point in the playoffs. Steal a game here or there by playing out of your head, but keep your team in it. MG did this. His team played a good defensive game, but they fit into the same bag as Vancouver does.

Also, Cloots has kept his team in may games. He is very streaky, so dont fool yourself into thinking Cloots dosnt steal games.