NHL Season 08-09

[Thoronas]

Report: Luongo, Canucks talking about long-term extension

Luongo wants a multi year deal worth around 8 mil/per. Not sure I'm super stoked on that. But we'll have to see.

[Oxyminus]

Fuck Messier

No.

Draft Day!!!!

I'm curious to see what the Rangers do today. Been reading a few blogs and checking up on prospective picks at the #19 spot, but I'll mostly read up on them when the picks are made. Personally, I'm more interested to see what Sather does to try to move (at least) one of the bad contracts (Drury, Gomez, Redden, and to a lesser extent Rosival). If he can move any of them by way of taking on a slightly less bad contract (less money, or less years) by tossing a pick or two the other way, it sort of has to be done. This team is hand-cuffed by salary. As long as none of the prospects are going, this needs to be TOP priority.

Edit - Did anyone hear? apparently Gaborik bought a house in the Vancouver area. Might be planning for the Sedins to move out

[Arnwulf]

I saw that report about Gaborik, I could see him being part of Vancouver's "Option #2" if they are unable to sign the Sedin twins. Although I'd have to question why they think gambling on Gaborik is a good idea. That dude reminds me a lot of Fredrik Modin (albeit Gaborik is much more skilled offensively), they both could be so good if they would just freaking stay healthy.

Sather better have something up his sleeve this offseason or in 1-2 years the Rangers are going to be the laughing stock of the league.

[Thoronas]

Gaborik, Demetra and Kesler as a first line wouldn't be terrible. There is already rumours swirling around that Vancouver may give up their fifth round pick to get the first shot at signing Bouwmester. It looks like Gillis is already well into Plan B.

Edit: Other rumours have the Rangers trading Rossival for Healtey or something along those lines. They would then have to send a pretty good player to the farm team to make room.

[Richybear]

LOL. TSN is reporting that Boston wants to trade Kessel to Toronto for Kaberle and their 7th pick overall. It'd be fine as a 1-for-1 deal, but asking for the pick as well? No GM would go for that.
....
maybe Mike Milbury would.
But he'd trade Malkin and Crosby for a half eaten sandwich.

[Oxyminus]

Someone is going to take a chance on Gaborik, it's just going to happen. I think how the Sedins want their contracts worked out, each would have a 5.25mil cap hit. Not that bad for guys who consistently put up 70-80 points a year. Not great contracts either. I'm not a fan of this new trend of signing guys to insanely long contracts just to keep the cap hit down. Feels like borrowing from tomorrow to pay for today.

Back to Gaborik, him and Demitra (now with the nucks) played well together in Minny, that combo could work again in Van. But again I don't think they "add" anything by losing the Sedins and bring in Gaborik.

Rangers are already VERY close to being the laughing stock of the league. They own 3 of the 10 worse contracts, and none of them are elite game-changers in ANY regard. Biggest problem the Rangers are facing is they're staying at about the same level since the lock-out ended, making the playoffs and dying off in the first two rounds.

They have very nice complimentary pieces (Dubinsky, Callahan, Girardi, Drury, Zherdev if he comes back) but the only real "threat" they have is Lundqvist (not sure if a goalie qualifies as a threat, but he will always keep them honest) and Staal is turning into a stud D-man. Some nice prospects in the wings, but again, no elite talent.

Problem is they're not getting bad enough to fully rebuild, and are not "a player away" from a real cup run. They're in hockey limbo, and it sucks!

[Ishido]

Draft day, where I am most excited about the Wings' last pick as opposed to their first.

[Palin]

Pronger to Phillie.

[Palin]

Tavares goes first.

[Makaveli]

Pronger for Lupul Sbisa and 2 firsts.

Like giving up Lupul's salary and getting Pronger but wish we kept Sbisa oh well fair enough trade.

[Ishido]

Pronger to the Flyers is so appropriate.

Lots of Swedes going in the first round, everyone has found out the Wings' secret.

[Sepukku]

Not sure if I agree with Pronger/propsect for Sbisa/2 1st rounders/Lupul.

Seems like Philly is throwing away a good bit of their future in hopes of success within the next 3 years. Sbisa is only 19, Lupul is like 24ish(?), and 2 firsts for a guy who has 3-4 years left? Anaheim got the better end of the deal, although Prongers physicality will fit in well in Philadelphia.

[Abraxas]

im still deciding whether i like it. ill get back to ya

[Bregor]

Jumping the gun on unrestricted free agency? Worth a shot for another UFA and a third round pick I guess...

Flames acquire Bouwmeester from Florida - NHL - Yahoo! Sports

[Thoronas]

Bwahaha. Sutter is taking a huge gamble here. I hope Bouwmeester shoots him down.

[Arnwulf]

I don't really see it as that big of a gamble, all they really lost was one draft pick for the exclusive rights to negotiate with JayBo. Leopold wasn't going to re-sign anyway, so I think it was a worthwhile trade for the Flames if they really want him.

[Oxyminus]

Calgary is going to have a Beast blueline if they do sign JayBo...

Philly overpaid in that deal, which I'm cool with. But ugggh, the thought of facing Pronger 6 games a season pisses me off. Even worse, we're without Nigel "I made one good play the whole season, and it was making Chris Pronger look like a fucking tool" Dawes. Irony!

[Brill Weave]

I don't like the Philly trade, at all. Chris Pronger is a 35 year old aging defenseman. His skills are nowhere near as potent as they once were. He's become a slow skating, bad penalty taking, cheap shot machine. In other words he replaces Derian Hatcher perfectly. Giving up Lupul and Sbisa was far too pricey imo. Lupul is a bit of an underachiever, but he can be counted on to pot 20-25 goals a year. Sbisa is too young and hasn't played enough for me to make a fair assessment but I like what I see. Anaheim got away with one here.

[Arnwulf]

Philly was dumping salary, that's all there is to that deal. Btw, if Calgary signs JBo, to what most people think will be about the same money as Phoeneuf, they will have $46million tied to 7 players next season, leaving them $10mil for the entire rest of the roster. And they thought they had problems last season haha.

[Abraxas]

Philly was dumping salary, that's all there is to that deal

pronger makes 6.25/yr

lupul and sbisa together make 3.1/yr

dumping salary how