2012 NHL Offseason Thread: ROCK OUT WITH YOUR LOCKOUT

[BadKarma]

Why the hell edmonton....they are at least 2-3 years from contending to be the 8th seed in the west.

Incoming Stanley Cup run.

[Bregor]

Why the hell edmonton....they are at least 2-3 years from contending to be the 8th seed in the west.

Because he's not a finished product either?

[Sepukku]

Why the hell edmonton....they are at least 2-3 years from contending to be the 8th seed in the west.

Hes from Canada, despite playing USA college hockey.

He wants to play NHL-level hockey from Day 1 (he still has to sign the standard 800k-ish 3 year entry deal, which only pays like what? beer and gas money? at the AHL level) and Edmonton has no D-depth.

And the Oilers aren't THAT far off. I expect them to challenge this year for a bottom seed and get their inexperienced asses handed to them in the first round if they do steal the 7th or 8th seed.

[Palin]

He can grow with Edmonton and probably will be their #1 D-man. Makes sense to me.

I feel bad for Ducks fans.

None of those are really a surprise, republican cities in the Bible Belt all have the most advantageous taxes for wealthy people.

Miami and Tampa are definitely not Republican cities btw.

[Vaspinne]

Before the beginning of last season, a guy came into the restaurant I used to work at and swore that the Oil were gonna not only make the playoffs last year, but be cup contenders.

I responded by cutting off his liquor.

[vagus]

Why the hell edmonton....they are at least 2-3 years from contending to be the 8th seed in the west.

Rumor he wanted in writing he'd get X amount of play time. Vancouver refused to do that. Ottawa & Edmonton the only 2 Canadian options. Personally with all the firepower in Edmonton, i expect the franchise to mismanage at some point. Also, 1 major injury to any of their stars and the bricks will crumble. Honestly surprised he didn't head to Ottawa.

[BadKarma]

>Parents are season ticket holders for Canucks

>>Signs with territorial rival

[Deader2818]

Edmonton needs to get their goaltending and defense in order before they even think about making a run, let alone being a contender.

[CrosisX]

I really say Edmonton is 2-3 years away is because they are a young team. Once all their talent develop though they might look pretty scary in the west.

[Deader2818]

St. Louis, Edmonton and Los Angeles are my top 3 teams in the west in the next few years. Oilers have a year or 2.

[Deader2818]

I keep hearing a lot about Doan signing with LA. I'm not really sure how I feel about that. Others have said maybe Hudler and im not sure how to feel about that either, lol.

[BadKarma]

ESPN jumped the gun




LOL

[Izzy]

Reports that Gaustad signed a 4 year deal with the Preds.

[Sepukku]

He can grow with Edmonton and probably will be their #1 D-man. Makes sense to me.

I feel bad for Ducks fans.



Miami and Tampa are definitely not Republican cities btw.

It doesn't matter what a city is; the state as a whole is Republican courtesy of 20 bazillion old fogies and the state as a whole has favorable state-level taxation policies. If the NHL had 5 teams there, they'd all constitute the top 5 cities for a UFA to sign in, even if all 5 cities were liberal, younger party grounds. If everyone in the state voted, I suspect it'd flip democratically, but as it is, its 50/50 at best from a Democratic POV. Sure Obama pulled a rabbit out of his hat in 2008, but the state gov't is largely Republican courtesy of all the other years when the young liberal body isn't stirred to action.

[Sepukku]

>Parents are season ticket holders for Canucks

>>Signs with territorial rival

And by signing to a team in Canada, he can still marry a black guy to get back at daddy.

[Sepukku]

All UFA rumors at this point other than re-signs (such as Gaustad with Nashville) are 100% bogus. Teams aren't even allowed to vaguely hint to a player before midnight that they'll be making an offer of any nature to them, otherwise its tampering. If a GM is asked in an interview, "Are you going to make a run at signing Parise?" the GM usually responds, "Hes one of the players we're evaluating" blahblahblah. It sounds like they're being political and just trying not to show their hand, but actually they're just trying to avoid league penalties. If Ray Shero or any other GM were to definitively say, "I'm looking forward to giving an offer to <UFA name>" they'd incur league penalties for tampering, even if they said it at 11:55 tonight. League penalties can range anywhere from fines and loss of a draft pick up to the inability to make roster changes for 24 hours.

[Deader2818]

I would say that teams give other teams permission to talk to UFAs. We see signings right as UFA opens and it takes more than a few minutes to get a contract together.

Also, Flyers are pressing hard for Nash it seems. NHL.com says jackets want Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier -- or one of them with several other players. How the hell can the Flyers even fit 7.8 mil?

[BadKarma]

I would say that teams give other teams permission to talk to UFAs. We see signings right as UFA opens and it takes more than a few minutes to get a contract together.

Also, Flyers are pressing hard for Nash it seems. NHL.com says jackets want Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier -- or one of them with several other players. How the hell can the Flyers even fit 7.8 mil?

70 mill salary cap helps

[Thoronas]

Gaustad getting 3+ mil a year is hilarious. I get the feeling someone is going to max offer Suter or Parise out of desperation. Incoming Minnesota offer of 13 mil for Parise.

[Brill Weave]

It's like Christmas Eve!