NHL Season 08-09

[Oxyminus]

In other news, Fedotanko signed to a one year deal for a significant pay cut because he wants another chance to win the cup. While that's what I like to see from a player, I'm not sure if I agree with all the one year deal resignings. The cap is speculated to go down next year, and off the top of my head we have going into UFA: Gonchar, Letang, Fedotanko, Guerin, Cooke, Eaton, Dupuis I think? and Kennedy will be a RFA.

I dunno, I mean I'm glad we were able to resign Feds and Guerin, and I'm almost certain Guerin won't be in the NHL next year and he'll just quietly retire, but next year is going to be a pain in the ass.

I'd say it's smart in some cases, I imagine the league will allow teams some way to deal with a falling cap, but no reason to nor be ahead of the curve

[Ratatapa]

I'm back from vacation and holy shit at MTL!

If they can sign Kovalev + tanguay or only tanguay shit will be awsome!

As for hal gill, i havn't seem him play alot but, he will replace Komisarek good imo. All we needed from Komisarek was give some hits, to give space to Markov and he never did it, hope that Gill will be able to do it.

Back line for MTL imo?

Markov + Gill
Spacek + Hamerlik
Georges + Webber.

Also didnt saw much spacek, but i know he can play well, but if i put him on first def line, well 2nd will suck

Foward gonna see if they can Sign Tangay (hope they do)

[Brill Weave]

Prepare to be disappointed Rata. Hal Gill hits nobody. He is not a physical defenseman at all. He uses his body to kind of clog up the road. But he doesn't hit. Ever. It's almost like he goes out of his way to avoid a hit if anything. Plus he's so slow by the time he lines someone up they are already back at the red line.

[Abraxas]

Why we brought in the likes of of Brashear and Boyle. Fuck with our guys, we do te same to yours. Gaborik is no different than any other player in that regard. Besides, his injuries came from hip/groin issues, not from hits dealt frm other players.

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!

FUCK THE RANGERS!!!!!

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!1

rinse and repeat

[Brill Weave]

I thought it was Fuck the Rangers, Let's go Ranger, then Fuck the Rangers? I heard they are interested in signing Battleship Kelly!

[Abraxas]

kovalev signs 2 year deal with Ottawa

[Oxyminus]

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!

FUCK THE RANGERS!!!!!

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!1

rinse and repeat

Are we gonna start this again? And the season hasn't even started yet.

Are you even trying to make a point there?

I was against the Brashear signing from the second it happened

[Brill Weave]

I think it's more of a chance for us to heckle you indirectly Cause that's how we roll! Kovalev in Ottawa is a bit of a head scratcher for me. Going from a playoff team to what is pretty much a non-contender is kind of silly. Guess the $$$ was too good to pass up.

[BadKarma]

on a less important note: The Rangers signed Tyler Arnason.

[Arnwulf]

Big rumor going around today that the Sens and Jackets have a deal in the works to trade Heatley to Columbus in exchange for a combination (not all) of, Filatov/Huselius/Brassard(hell no)/Boll/Methot.

[Arnwulf]

I think it's more of a chance for us to heckle you indirectly Cause that's how we roll! Kovalev in Ottawa is a bit of a head scratcher for me. Going from a playoff team to what is pretty much a non-contender is kind of silly. Guess the $$$ was too good to pass up.

That, plus Montreal told him to get out lol, he was just taking what he could get I would imagine.

[Oxyminus]

on a less important note: The Rangers signed Tyler Arnason.

It's a 2-way contract. Anticipating Anisimov will be in New York, not Hartford; which is where Arnason will end up.

[Brill Weave]

Ansimov has too many tools to keep him in the minors. I mean, he's a big boy. You don't come across too many power forwards who actually physically represent the role. He's 6'4" with some offensive talent. The important thing is to remember that power forwards take a little more time to develop than most other players. With them it's as much mental as it is physical. My concern is the NY will want him to come up and immediately fill Antropov's slot. I look at Ryan Malone as my example.

When he got here in Pittsburgh he had a great rookie season because he was the only offensively talented player here. The next three or four seasons he "underachieved." Then when Malkin got here, Malone started playing the game his way. He took the beatings in the front of the net. He finished checks. He fought whoever dropped the gloves with him. He became the stereotypical power forward. The Penguins let him grow into that role. They never pushed him, which I don't think NY is going to do. Malone's never going to have amazing numbers. But 60 points a year is an easy figure for him to get. I see Ansimov doing that as well but with a bit more offensive upside.

Arn, you bitches in Columbus have more rumors than I've seen in a long time lol. Heatley in Columbus would be interesting though. Especially considering they can now dangle years of playing with Rick Nash in front of Heatley.

[Oxyminus]

Ansimov has too many tools to keep him in the minors. I mean, he's a big boy. You don't come across too many power forwards who actually physically represent the role. He's 6'4" with some offensive talent. The important thing is to remember that power forwards take a little more time to develop than most other players. With them it's as much mental as it is physical. My concern is the NY will want him to come up and immediately fill Antropov's slot. I look at Ryan Malone as my example.

Anisimov will be the 3rd line center. I don't think he was ever viewed as Antropov's replacement, Anisimov has been one of our top prospects for a while. He got a few games in last season, but it made more sense for him to get real playing time in Hartford than marginal minutes here. A big reason Gomez could be traded was because the Rangers figured Anisimov is ready to go. But the only way I see him playing higher than 3rd line is of he clicks with someone (say Gaborik) VERY well.

[Abraxas]

Are you even trying to make a point there?

if the point was a snake, it would have bit you!

[Brill Weave]

Don't mess with the bull son, you'll get the horns.

[chiyio]

That, plus Montreal told him to get out lol, he was just taking what he could get I would imagine.

From my understanding, Gainey offered him a nice contract, but Kovalev's agent told Gainey he'd wait to see if he could get better elsewhere. Gainey wasn't exactly able to wait, so he went along and signed other players. After which, his agent spoke up about taking that contract, but after it was too late and cap space made it impossible.

I've even heard Kovi will be going as far as to seeking a new agent for this fuckup, as he did want to stay in Montreal. Ottawa is roughly a 1 hour drive away, so its very possible that he really did want to stay near Montreal and opted for Ottawa for that reason. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back before the seasons over.

[Oxyminus]

if the point was a snake, it would have bit you!

Whatever it is, I'm missing it lol.

As far as actual hockey stuff goes... Larry Brooks (take that for what it's worth. Anyone who is unfamiliar, he is a very bad NY Post Rangers writer) suspects the Rangers aren't going to re-sign Zherdev who filed for arbitration. They QO'd him at 3.25Mil, and general consensus seems to be he's looking for something in the 4-4.5Mil range. Interesting dilemma for the Rangers; Zherdev would no longer be expected to be "the guy" on offense, and could be a good 60 point guy on the 2nd line, but 4.5mil would be a bit steep of a price.

[Arnwulf]

Looks like Maxime Talbot is on the shelf for 4-5 months after surgery.

Penguins forward Talbot out 4-5 months after shoulder surgery

[Brill Weave]

3.5 - 4 at the most is a reasonable salary for a player like Zherdev. You never know what guy you're going to get with him from one season to the next. If he wants higher than 4 I would buy him a plane ticket to the KHL and say sayonara. His offense is a big help, but others can pick up the slack especially now that they have Gaborik. So those seven games Gaborik plays next season you won't even think of Zherdev.












Sorry Oxy. It's just too hard to pass those up