2006 NHL Offseason Thread

[Draft Dodger]

mother fucking what???

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

mother fucking what???

$4.5 mil, FOREVER. Yeah, he's not going to hold out at some point in the future.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

mother fucking what???

You have to admit having this Wang guy as an owner in the league does keep things interesting. He's like a less vocal 10x's more insane Daniel Snyder or Mark Cuban.

I love it!

[bbor]

Originally Posted by bronconick

Islanders sign Rick DiPietro to a 15 year, $67.5 million contract.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I think someone forgot to tell Garth that NHL contracts are guarenteed.

[Draft Dodger]

Isles apparantly have also signed Viktor Kozlov

[Maple Leafs]

Who's handing out the contracts in Long Island? Some former goalie without any GM experience?

Oh.

[MikeVic]

WTF??? That's insane!

[Ksyrup]

From hockeybuzz.com:


NHL MAY NOT APPROVE DIPIETRO DEAL
Today @ 9:47 AM ET | Comments (11)

Word coming down on several fronts right now..First the deal is 65M over 15 years, and secondly I am being told by several sources that the NHL is looking hard at this deal and may not approve it.

Rumor is that last year the Isles and DiPietro almost signed a 15 year deal and the NHL shot it down before it became reality and Wang decided against it ...Could get interesting today...I am told that it is "highly possible that the NHL lawyers, who are looking over this now, may find a loophole and nix it."

It is also possible that the deal does get approved, since the previous one did not and Wang has made the needed corrections to this one.

Stay tuned

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/09/281882.html
"Clubs are free to make their own decisions within the confines laid out in the collective bargaining agreement and other applicable league rules," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "Some decisions turn out well, others not so well.

"Time will tell whether this will be a good decision or a bad one for the Islanders."

[Ksyrup]

So the natural progression from here is for DiPietro to star in a series of commercials for Molson as the hockey version of Grandmama, right?

[Joe Canadian]

So I guess the decided against the getting the sumo wrestler as a goalie, thats too bad.

[NoSkillz]

Originally Posted by Joe Canadian

So I guess the decided against the getting the sumo wrestler as a goalie, thats too bad.

I was really looking forward to hearing the public address announcer on that...

"In goal for the Islanders, #31...YOKOZUNA!!!!!!!!!"

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

So the natural progression from here is for DiPietro to star in a series of commercials for Molson as the hockey version of Grandmama, right?

By the time his contract is up, he'll be almost old enough to be a Grandmama.

[MikeVic]

Why are they so intent on signing him to such a long contract?

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

By the time his contract is up, he'll be almost old enough to be a Grandmama.

he'll be two years older than Garth Snow is now.

[Travis]

Oilers have reportedly come to terms on a 3 year, 7 million dollar deal with Joffrey Lupul ensuring that he'll be to camp on time.

As plain and ordinary as our defense is looking right now, our forwards depth is unreal right now.

Proposed line combos heading into camp:

Smyth - Horcoff - Hemsky
Mikhnov - Sykora - Lupul
Torres - Stoll - Pisani
Moreau - Reasoner - Winchester

That group of 12 still leaves us with Robbie Schremp, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Jean-Francois Jacques and Andrew Cogliano as players who have a shot at cracking the starting lineup (and a few others like Kyle Brodziak and Reddox that could compete for the extra two forward spots). Realistically the Oilers are hoping that Mikhnov and/or Schremp can step into a second line role, but even if neither can, you can bump up Stoll or Torres, then add one of Pouliot/Jacques to the fourth line while elevating Moreau or Reasoner. If both appear ready to roll, then they'll almost have to deal somebody to make roster room prior to the season.

There's always the rumor mill going that the Oilers are doing what they can to potentially lure Leetch here, but this abundance of young talented forwards still has me believing that we'll see a trade for a top pairing defenseman by New Years. If we can bring in a well rounded top pair guy to not only anchor the defense this year, but to help with the development of guys like Bergeron, Greene and Smid, well, could make the memories of Pronger and Spacek fade awfully quickly.

[Draft Dodger]

so, remember when NHL owners didn't have money?

http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=24

[TurnerONU22]

Blue Jackets add Anson Carter

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=177386&hubname



I like this, as Zherdev's agent is asking for 3 years, 8.5 million dollars, which is crazy for a player who has accomplished as little as he has. MacLean has taken his offer of 3 years, 6.9 million off of the table and will still negotiate.

In other news, DM said on the radio that Dan Fritsche's agent turned down his last contract offer, and DM has informed Fritsche's people that he will NOT be attending training camp.

It's one crazy day in Columbus.

[Dr. Sak]

Keith Primeau to announce his retirement tomorrow.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Who's handing out the contracts in Long Island? Some former goalie without any GM experience?

Oh.

SI

[sachmo71]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

so, remember when NHL owners didn't have money?

http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=24

The market will have to self-correct at some point though. The cap isn't going anywhere, and teams will soon find themselves unable to sign any of the superstars that bring the fans in.

I hope.

[Maple Leafs]

Did anybody see that move Robbie Schrempf pulled in a charity shootout?

Jesus.

[Draft Dodger]

wife bought our tickets today for Avs at Bruins (10th row, close to the Avs bench). This will be my first Avs game. pretty stoked. surely Sakic will be traded days before.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Did anybody see that move Robbie Schrempf pulled in a charity shootout?

Jesus.

Is this the guy (I didn't hear his name) that did the Tiger Woods-esque thing with a golf ball and club right after? He bounced the ball on the head of the club and hit it 250 yards straight out? That's what I understood from watching SportsCentre this morning...

[Maple Leafs]

Same guy, although I think golf clip was from a different event and they just added it to show that he's kind of a showoff.

[Joe Canadian]

With Frantisek Kaberle out for a good while due to injury, the Canes are apparently looking for a defencemen. And it sound like Jack Johnson is what they are waiving in front of other teams, since he's decided once again to stay in college.

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Same guy, although I think golf clip was from a different event and they just added it to show that he's kind of a showoff.

Anyone find any online clips of this stuff? I can't find any.

[Maple Leafs]

They have it on tsn.ca in the audio/video section. However, you need to register to view the clip.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Same guy, although I think golf clip was from a different event and they just added it to show that he's kind of a showoff.

Haven't seen the clip, but I'm just wondering how duplicating Tiger's golf trick is showing off? Does he get a bit verbal about it during/afterwards?

Just curious as the knock on him when he got drafted was his attitude, and while he is more polished in interviews now and around the team, it's probably still the 1a concern with him. That said, he's not close to being the type of jackhole that Kovalchuk is, at least so far anyway.

We're hopeful that he'll earn a spot on the team this year and really click with the likes of Hemsky/Lupul/Sykora/etc. and be an addition without distraction.

[Joe Canadian]

Canucks match Kesler offer sheet: http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=177497&hubname=

NHL increases stick curves by a 1/4 of an inch: http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=177493&hubname=

[NoSkillz]

Pretty hilarious stuff in Buffalo. The webmaster puts up a 'Countdown to the new jersey' ticker on the home page complete with a blurred out version of the jersey.

Of course, some fans with time on their hands were able to unblur the image and voila! We can see the jersey!

http://sabresfans.com/articles.asp?id=1764&ref=24

I'm still not a fan of the logo and having the number on the front seems a bit weird (although the NHL may be going to that league-wide next year)...but I'll be damned.

I don't hate the jersey.

I'd still like to see swords featured more prominently (there will be a sword through the letter 'B' on the shoulder) but what can you do.

I REALLY dig the colours though.

[Draft Dodger]

ditto. I think the logo is fucking ridiculous, but the colors and those stripes are pretty cool. I like the number on the shoulders too.

[Joe Canadian]

Not a fan of the logo or colours, but thats probably because when I heard they were going back to the old uniforms I wal all hyped for the blue one's as their main jersey.

[Karim]

The pros hit the ice today! First pre-season game Sunday!

[Joe Canadian]

Originally Posted by Karim

The pros hit the ice today! First pre-season game Sunday!

Has anyone been able to find network schedules for the preseason? Last season TSN & Sportsnet East had a number of games on in September...

[Karim]

I've read Leafs games are on LeafsTV or whatever their channel is called. None of the western teams have pre-season games televised.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Same guy, although I think golf clip was from a different event and they just added it to show that he's kind of a showoff.

Here's a direct link to the video clip:
http://media.tsn.ca/nhl/hotdog_hi.wmv#

[Suburban Rhythm]

Pittsburgh Post Gazette reporting Malkin will [b]NOT[b] require surgery for his dislocated shoulder and should be back on the ice in 4-6 weeks.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Yzerman has just been named as a vice president for the Wings.

Not surprising. It's good to have him in the front office and still associated with the team.

[Draft Dodger]

methinks the person who named the clip had a low opinion of him

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Here's a direct link to the video clip:
http://media.tsn.ca/nhl/hotdog_hi.wmv#

that was pretty sweet. and his second one (that actually went in) I think was even sweeter.

[Maple Leafs]

The Tie Domi divorce story has been front page news the past few days. As far as sports scandals go it's not bad -- you've got the scorned wife, the other woman (a famous Canadian politician who's also been linked to Bill Clinton), even Tia Carrera and Brad Pitt.

Apparently they've now settled... just when it was getting good.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Where do Tia and Brad fit into all of this?

[Joe Canadian]

The Carolina Hurricanes have traded defenceman Oleg Tverdovsky and the rights to defenceman Jack Johnson to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenceman Tim Gleason and centre Eric Belanger.

[Draft Dodger]

Carolina got freaking robbed. that is simply stunning.

also, Steve Konowalchuk retired.

[Joe Canadian]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

Carolina got freaking robbed. that is simply stunning.

Yup... the only logical explanation I can think of is that Johnson may have told Carolina that he would never sign with them. But then again, if that's the case we probably would have heard something...

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

Carolina got freaking robbed. that is simply stunning.

also, Steve Konowalchuk retired.

That's sad. I also liked Konowalchuk. I expect Greg Johnson to retire shortly as well.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Joe Canadian

The Carolina Hurricanes have traded defenceman Oleg Tverdovsky and the rights to defenceman Jack Johnson to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenceman Tim Gleason and centre Eric Belanger.

Remember a little while back, at draft time, speculation was the Pens would send the #2 pick, or use the pick for Jordan Staal and reunite the Staal bros in Carolina? And people thought the Pens were not offering ENOUGH?

Good God did Carolina get robbed. It won't really have any effect on this season, as Johnson mostly likely returned to school, and Tverdovsky rotted in the press box. But they basically gave away what they netted with the #3 pick just a few years ago.

[Joe Canadian]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Remember a little while back, at draft time, speculation was the Pens would send the #2 pick, or use the pick for Jordan Staal and reunite the Staal bros in Carolina? And people thought the Pens were not offering ENOUGH?

Good God did Carolina get robbed. It won't really have any effect on this season, as Johnson mostly likely returned to school, and Tverdovsky rotted in the press box. But they basically gave away what they netted with the #3 pick just a few years ago.

What's funny is when TSN first reported this, their front page said... Canes acquite Gleason. They've since changed it to say... Kings acquire Jack Johnson.

[Wolfpack]

I don't know what to make of this move at all. My initial reaction was "WTF?" After seeing all your comments, I'm pretty well convinced this was a bad move. I do think that part of the problem is that Jack Johnson didn't want to play for Carolina. Time will tell if this is true, depending on how quickly the Kings are able to sign him. It rankled people in the organization a lot when he turned down the chance to join the team for the stretch drive to the playoffs last year, thus the constant speculation about the deal to Pittsburgh for Jordan Staal.

However, many Carolina fans don't mind the loss of Tverdovsky, who wasn't close to living up to his rather high contract number. I've got no clue what we got in return and whether it justified giving up on Johnson, though. Naturally, the Canes website is spinning this as a good move to get immediate defensive help and add forward depth. Given that we lost Stillman and Kaberle for a sizeable portion of the early going in the season, depth is a concern, but if Johnson is the stud defender everyone believes him to be, is the short-term gain worth a long-term sacrifice? Wesley is most likely in his last year in the league and Hedican isn't that far behind him. The only thing I can think of is they think they can make it without Johnson because they may have some good prospects in the system.

Still, on the face of it, this sounds like a negative for Carolina.