The OFFICIAL 2007 NHL Offseason Thread

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Chubby

Jan 1 Sabres vs Pens at the Ralph it looks like. I should be there

Read that this morning in the paper in Pittsburgh too, to be announced officially by the NHL next month.

Now trying to convince my wife it would be a good idea to try and get tickets and sit outside for 3 hours in Buffalo

Also...I inadvertantly had the Sabres listed 7th when I first posted. Should be 5th. Since edited.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Going to just put the total standings predictions out there. Again, anyone interested in a team's prospects, or any part of the preview, let me know.

East

1 Ottawa
2 NY Rangers
3 Carolina
4 Pittsburgh
5 Buffalo
6 Tampa Bay
7 New Jersey
8 Atlanta
9 Philly
10 Washington
11 Toronto
12 Florida
13 Montreal
14 NY Islanders
15 Boston Bruins

West

1 Detroit
2 Anaheim
3 Calgary
4 San Jose
5 Minnesota
6 Vancouver
7 Nashville
8 Colorado
9 St. Louis
10 Chicago
11 Dallas
12 LA
13 Edmonton
14 Columbus
15 Phoenix

[johnnyshaka]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Read that this morning in the paper in Pittsburgh too, to be announced officially by the NHL next month.

Now trying to convince my wife it would be a good idea to try and get tickets and sit outside for 3 hours in Buffalo

Also...I inadvertantly had the Sabres listed 7th when I first posted. Should be 5th. Since edited.

I was at the Heritage Classic (Montreal vs. Edmonton) a few years ago...definitely one of the best sporting events I've ever attended. Mind you, seeing the Oilers' of the 80's out there before the NHL game was a major part of the attraction for me.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Ducks

2nd in the West....but are the pick to take home the Cup, back-to-back

1 B Ryan - RW (2nd in 2005), NHL ETA 2007-08
2 M Mitera - D (19th in 2006), 2009-10
3 L MacMillan -C (19th in 2007), 2009-10
4 B Mikkelson - D (31st in 2005), 2008-09
5 JP Levasseur - G (197th in 2005), 2009-10
6 B Skinner - D (Trade w/ VAN), 2008-09
7 E Tangradi - C (42nd in 2007), 2010-11
8 B Salcido - D (141st in 2005), 2009-10
9 P Wirtanen - C (172nd in 2006), 2009-10
10 R Carter - C (FA, 2006), 2007-08

Kings

12th in the West

1 J Johnson - D (Trade w/ CAR 2006), NHL ETA 2007-08
2 J Bernier - G (11th in 2006), 2009-10
3 T Hickey - D (4th in 2007). 2009-10
4 T Lewis - C (17th in 2006), 2008-09
5 B Boyle - C (26th in 2003), 2009-10 [side note, Boyle listed in the prospect as a C, but in the roster as D...I know they had discussed moving him, any idea?]
6 L Tukonen - RW (11th in 2004), 2008-09
7 O Moller - C (52nd in 2007), 2010-11
8 J Quick - G (72nd in 2005), 2010-11
9 W Simmonds - RW (61st in 2007), 2011-12
10 S Parse - LW (174th in 2004), 2009-10

To answer your question, I haven't heard anything recently. I have heard that about Boyle, but I think they were leaning to keeping him at D going into the offseason (which for the Kings means, April).

[Chief Rum]

Oh, and thanks for the breakdowns. Curious, did the Ducks' pick include Teemu and Niedermayer or no?

We'll still be very good without them, but I don't know if I would rush out and pick us for the Cup without them. Well, okay, I would.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Oh, and thanks for the breakdowns. Curious, did the Ducks' pick include Teemu and Niedermayer or no?

We'll still be very good without them, but I don't know if I would rush out and pick us for the Cup without them. Well, okay, I would.

Nope...the 1 page story about their Cup pick mentioned they'll be without Teemu and Nieds, so they are planning on them both retiring. It talks about Burke taking a risk bringing in Bertuzzi.

But, in an example on how dated some of the info is...they reference that Perry and Getzlaf will be expected to take a big step forward...as well as Penner

I realize some of the material needed to be compiled a few months back, but I'd think you might go back and update the first page of the preview section??

Of course, that slip is nowhere near as bad as the Pens prospect rankings. Daniel Carcillo is listed as the 8th prospect...except he was traded to Phoenix in February for Big Georges. Oops.


Also, by the way, they are not only predicting a Ducks repeat, but a Finals rematch, with the Sens falling again.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

To answer your question, I haven't heard anything recently. I have heard that about Boyle, but I think they were leaning to keeping him at D going into the offseason (which for the Kings means, April).

That just seems odd to me, if he's played his entire life as a forward, why you'd consider the move now. Seems like drastically increasing the chances of a bust.

[Wolfpack]

Wow. Carolina 3rd? That's a pretty good bounce-back from last year. How are they rating out on prospects? It totally sucks that they couldn't get things to work out with Jack Johnson as we really need to start turning over on defense.

Now that I've moved back to Raleigh, I'm finally going to get a chance to see the Canes in person again. Granted, as a single-income household, it's not going to be very often, but along with getting to see the Pack play, it's something I'm going to thoroughly enjoy about being back home.

[Suburban Rhythm]

1 B Sutter - C (11th in 2007), NHL ETA 2009-10
2 J Peters - G (38th in 2004), 2009-10
3 J McBain - D (63rd in 2006), 2010-11
4 H Reed - RW (93rd in 2006), 2009-10
5 B Hughes - C (123rd in 2006), 2010-11
6 D Bowman - C (72nd in 2007), 2010-11
7 N Blanchard - C (192nd in 2005), 2009-10
8 D Manzato - G (160th in 2002), 2009-10
9 C Borer - D (69th in 2004), 2008-09
10 B Carson - D (109th in 2004), 2008-09

In general, they kind of blast the Canes prospects, and say dealing Johnson was "ill-advise with spite written all over it."

[RPI-Fan]

Islanders 14th is completely laughable... (yes I know you guys will make stupid joke about how it should be 15th...)

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

Islanders 14th is completely laughable... (yes I know you guys will make stupid joke about how it should be 15th...)

Your paranthetical stole my thunder...

[Suburban Rhythm]

Only because 16th isn't possible??

[Draft Dodger]

Dallas seems low to me. Did I miss something?

[RPI-Fan]

Chicago ahead of them is certainly puzzling...

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

Dallas seems low to me. Did I miss something?

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

Chicago ahead of them is certainly puzzling...

Agreed.

What happened to Dallas all of a sudden? Marty Turco get hit by a bus? Is Modano's marriage to Willa Ford going to hurt his game that much? Did Zubov lose a limb?

[miked]

Rangers suck. Devils will be higher than 7th.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Apparently Sean Avery and Elisha Cuthbert have split up.

And, as noted above, Mike Modano has married Willa Ford. This is just one more stone in the mountain of evidence that proves that hockey players, far and away, get the hottest women.

[scooter]

My Hockey News Yearbook has arrived! The season may now begin.

[Dr. Sak]

Lindros has announced that he will be retiring. The official announcement could still take place today if not it will follow the holiday weekend.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Patrick Marleau signs 2 year extension with SJ. $6.3M per year...and continuation of the no trade clause from the original deal.

[Dr. Sak]

JR signs with San Jose

[Johnny93g]

The Leafs Mark Bell has been suspended indefinatly, more then a year after his drunk driving arrest. I'm not against the punishment, i just question the timing. Oh ya, can someone remind me why Dany Heatly isn't still serving a suspension...

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by bsak16

JR signs with San Jose

I really liked JR back in the day, but I really think he should have followed Lindros' lead...

Speaking of, I know this is nothing new, but what a shame about Lindros' career. He had it all for a while there. He was living up expectations with his size, strength, and skill. I still remember when he obliderated Joel Otto in that Canada Cup game. The injuries just cut him down completely.

He certainly wasn't the most likeable guy, but I always liked the concept of him being a dominant player.

[Travis]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I really liked JR back in the day, but I really think he should have followed Lindros' lead...

Speaking of, I know this is nothing new, but what a shame about Lindros' career. He had it all for a while there. He was living up expectations with his size, strength, and skill. I still remember when he obliderated Joel Otto in that Canada Cup game. The injuries just cut him down completely.

He certainly wasn't the most likeable guy, but I always liked the concept of him being a dominant player.

Call it jealousy or whatever you will, but while I'd never wish injury on a player, I had always hoped that he'd fall flat after the crap he pulled coming into the league. I did feel bad for his brother though, not the same hype, but like Paul Comrie, some pretty good potential snuffed out by concussions.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Just another reason to love hockey...

It took a couple of seasons but Matt Greene finally got a shot at Oilers prospect Geoff Paukovich and made the most of it.
Here's the deal, back in 2004-05 in the WCHA Final Five, Paukovich playing for the Denver Pioneers crushed Greene's teammate Robbie Bina of North Dakota with an ugly hit that broke Bina's neck. (Bina has since returned to play).

Greene, the Fighting Sioux's captain, exchanged words with Paukovich telling him their would be a day of reckoning at a later date. (Note:this would be the politically correct translation of what was said!).
As you all know you can't fight in College hockey but you can in a conditioning camp.

Paukovich now an Oilers prospect showed up at Clare Drake Arena the other day for the U. of A. Conditioning Camp, and Greene of course is an Oilers regular.

Greene was late for a session, and the two were slated to be on the same team, when he saw Paukovich in a drill.

Greene immediately skated over to Paukovich and told him the day of reckoning had arrived and proceeded to according to onlookers..make short work of Paukovich.

The one-sided tilt lasted 15-20 seconds.

The two shook hands after the fight.

Classic!

[Pyser]

according to tsn, this will be the last season of the unbalanced schedule!

[RPI-Fan]

Wooooooooooot! I have HATED this new schedule from the moment they announced it.

I love me some East-West non-gimmicky late night hockey in the deep winter months.

[Draft Dodger]

I'll believe it when I see it. The league doesn't exactly have a great track record of making intelligent decisions.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I am watching hockey!

The NHL Center Ice Online is up and operational. Everything looks pretty smooth and the picture is clean, though I don't know how to mute it.

Wings are up 4-1.

[Honolulu_Blue]

As for the schedule, I think it will change. Mike Ilitch (the Wings' owner) came out a few days ago and gauranteed that it will change next year. While he's only one owner and probably wants the schedule changed more than anyone, I think he has a good sense of where the league is heading.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I am now watching three hokcey games!

Can't seen to get the Bruins/Islanders game to work.

[sterlingice]

Shouldn't there be a new thread for 2007-08 NHL?

SI

[Pyser]

eh, we're still 2-3 weeks away.

went to the kings-sharks game last night. man i missed hockey

[Pyser]

dola, me and my friends have taken to calling the sharks the san jose dolphins now

their new jerseys are AWFUL

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Pyser

dola, me and my friends have taken to calling the sharks the san jose dolphins now

their new jerseys are AWFUL

funny how everyone has such wildly different opinions. Sharks are my favorite of all the new jerseys.

I hate, hate, hate the new Avs jerseys, and I'm generally unimpressed with most of the new stuff. Thanks Reebok!

[Pyser]

really? youve seen the added orange and yellow or whatever stripes they added?

incidentally, the kings new jersey is badass. they removed the purple stripes below their stomach, so they are all black from chest down. looks cool. also, the took the glitter effect down a bit, which is nice.

[Pyser]

a very mixed bag for the devils at the start of camp.

langenbrunner and janssen are both out for the next 2 months or so with injuries that need surgery. white took a puck to the eye (calm down, pumpy!), but no word on how serious it is yet

on a more positive note, i absolutely LOVE sutter so far as coach. he already has called elias' captaincy into question, saying he doesnt know who will be captain, and has said no more forwards will play on the point on the pp. we only got burned for like 10 sh goals last year, so, thank god. in addition, i just love the way he has handled himself in the press. i think he'll be the coach here for a long time (in devils time, that means more than one season).