NHL Offseason Thread: Plugged Up Cat Butts and Unknown Russians

[NynJa]

Someone already posted this.

I know, just sayin, Habs troll game > Bruins troll game.

6 year $6.75mil extension for Giordano. Now we have Gio and Dougie signed for 6 years and Brodie for the next 5. Really happy about that and the number for Gio too!

Thats a lot of money and term for a D who had his career year at 31 years old i think. And it doesnt seem to be frontloaded either, just 6.75 for 6 years ever year, unless those details arent released yet.

[Vaspinne]

It's $6.75 each year except the first 2, which are $4.75 with $2mil signing bonuses both years. Personally I'm fine with the term, Gio has been a consistent fixture in our defense for the last couple years. In Norris talks last year, was in consideration for team Canada 2 years ago (both of which he missed out on because of injury). But he's been a solid player for a few years now.

Honestly, considering how well paid some of the best dmen are in the league, I was kind of dreading him asking for more, so $6.75mil is more than fine for me

[NynJa]

Well the only good thing is most of your team will still be RFA before his contract is up, and yeah, 6.75 is good for a top D. I still think the term is high, is 37 year old Giordano gonna be worth 6.75?

[Aragon of Odin]

I thought I read the contract doesn't kick in until after this season, and that the contract expires 3 months prior to his 40th birthday. I wouldn't have given him such a long term at that price, the price is good for a couple years, but that's pricey to be paying someone from 36-39 years of age to still be playing, but who knows, maybe he's got it in him to stay good that long.

[Vaspinne]

He's 31 now, contract kicks in next year when he's 32 and will be done when he's 38. In comparison, a guy like Chara is gonna be 41 when his current contract expires in 3 years and he's a $6.9mil cap hit until then.

[NynJa]

In his prime, chara >>>>> gio, and chara was already done last year (37 i believe)

[Vaspinne]

Well yeah, I'm not gonna argue that. But Chara was all sorts of average last year and Boston has him for another 3 years yet. Where as Gio's contract will be wrapping up as his decline begins, while Dougie and Brodie will be hitting their prime :D

[Cutriss]

I expect Sweeney probably tried to trade Chara for a sack of magic beans this year, and everyone figured there was a catch.

[Richybear]

Mostly the catch being it's 2015 and not 2005.
Don't get me wrong, Chara would still be a stud to have here, but not for close to $7m, at 37/38.

[Richybear]

Mike Richards officially charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Court hearing on Sept 10th, and he'll sign with the Rangers that afternoon*












* Isn't that where the substance abusers always end up? Fleury, Stoll.... just makes sense Richards will follow suit.

[Richybear]

Blues Patrik Berglund is having shoulder surgery so Scott Gomez invited to camp to lead them to another great playoff collapse.

[Richybear]

Al Arbour passed away this morning. I didn't realise he was 82

Hey Vasp, Flames suck
etc etc
this thread is ronery

[Vaspinne]

Hey Vasp, Flames suck
etc etc
this thread is ronery

Hockey season can't come soon enough ;_;

[Brill Weave]

Well when Brooks Laich being engaged to Julianne Hough is still up on the front page of the NHL section on Yahoo you know we've hit the dead time.

[Vaspinne]

Hahaha.... rookie camp can't come soon enough ._.

[Bregor]

Well when Brooks Laich being engaged to Julianne Hough is still up on the front page of the NHL section on Yahoo you know we've hit the dead time.

Gonna get a 21 HOUGH jersey

[Cutriss]

This was posted in Deadspin's Why Your Team Sucks series on the Panthers, but I found it somewhat illuminating and amusing (regarding the Canes):

I want to co-sign what Jim said above, everyone thinks a big banking economy in the heart of (allegedly) good weather Sun Belt territory means a huge growth market for every sports venture.

At The Daily News in Jacksonville, N.C., our marketers — this was not editorial, this is what our business operation would survey to direct our efforts — would often poll our readers interests. A typical ranking:

1. ACC Basketball
2. NASCAR
3. NFL
4. ACC Football
5. Outdoor sports (hunting/boating/fishing)
6. Pro wrestling (we were never sure how to handle this)
7. NBA
8. MLB
9. NHL <---------------------- (emphasis mine)
(etc)

People forget how much the RVs and the gas cost for all of the North Carolinians who travel for Nascar, saying nothing of your contribution to the Rams or Wolfpack Club for basketball or (god forbid) football. The Hornets were a sensation because they were our first major league team (yes, I know of the WFL and the ABA, let’s be real), I can’t name four people in my town who give a damn for them today, or who even gave a damn for them when they went to the eastern conference semifinals before the move.

We were an utterly saturated sports market without a “major league” team, when you figure in NASCAR, ACC basketball, God rest its soul the NWA, and even ACC football, before the Panthers arrived. North Carolina needed major league validation for its own inferiority complex (especially Charlotte’s laughable “rivalry” with Atlanta) but the truth is we were big league all along.

And then...

I forgot golf. Golf polled better than MLB.

So yeah, Canes fandom.

[Cutriss]

There is a dude in line for the XIV panel at PAX in a Nordiques cap.

[NynJa]

It might be rata

[Cutriss]

Not sure if serious.