2010 NHL Offseason Thread

[Ishido]

Nah, I'm not trying to knock Lidstrom, but just glad he isn't a finalist for the Norris this year just because he's Nick Lidstrom.
I'm happy they're acknowledging younger and younger d-men for it, as opposed to just naming one young player - who'll have no shot at it, and guys older than Chelios' grandpa, and the winner by default is #5 from the Wings.

And even though it's supposed to be based more around the regular season, you can't help but take Keith losing 7 teeth into consideration.
If his name was Fedorov and he broke his nose, he'd wear one of those 1500's diving helmets and miss 8 weeks.

As for the draft, just watch the first few picked as Ishido pointed out, and then keep an eye the last round's pick by the Wings. <3 their scouts for that.
You also gotta keep in mind that the first handful of picks are going to the shittiest teams, so it can be harder to make an impact right away sometimes.

I agree, I think Keith and Doughty's play this year deserve the Norris. On the other hand I think Lidstrom is still a better all-around defenseman than Green, but hey he's already got 6 trophies and is 40 now so what are you going to do...

I want to see what would happen if Crosby lost 7 teeth in a game. I already know Ovechkin would just take another shot of vodka and then take a charging penalty at whoever shot the puck.

[Ivaden]

Someone would pick up his teeth and sell them on ebay most likely.

[Bregor]

I want to see what would happen if Crosby lost 7 teeth in a game. I already know Ovechkin would just take another shot of vodka and then take a charging penalty at whoever shot the puck.

Fuck me I didn't rehost that gif of Crosby breaking his stick on Halak's goal and then flinging it at the boards, and now it's gone. But yeah something like that probably.

[Callisto]

lol'd

Should be an interesting scenario with goalies come July 1st. I can't imagine the Sharks handing the keys to Greiss, they might go for Niittymaki or Ellis to split time and bring him along slowly. On the flip side, who's gonna pay $5 million+ for Naby at this point? Can't imagine the market for him being that big, since everything I read is "blah blah Chicago won with Niemi blah blah only $800k blah blah copycat league."

Shit's changing, I do wonder if someone like a Ryan Miller is even going to finish his career with a Cup. It seems now that riding a great goaltender isn't so much the winning formula as is riding a hot top-four defensive group that can make clean outlet passes under pressure.

[Callisto]

2 more days til the draft! Should be some wheeling and dealing done that day as well. Khabibulin has his court hearing on the 7th for his DUI charge, and apparently if there's a charge, the Oilers can get out of his contract. I'm just hoping that if he is charged, they don't bring in Huet or something. Though I'm sure Callisto would be like "Oh yeah, take him... he's wonderful! ...... suckers." He'd fit right in with Montreal's ex-sewage of Souray. >.<

In all seriousness Huet really isn't that bad, he just gets paid wayyyy too much for his level of play which is A) the real issue and B) Dale Tallon's fault, not Huet's. If he was making something in the 2m/year range he'd be a good pickup. He was a pretty important part to this past season, he went 26-14-4 which really isn't bad, and took a good chunk of the load off of Niemi while he was still coming into is own.

The downside is that he seems to be the king of letting in flukey-ass goals, between that and the pressure of losing his job to a rookie fucked his confidence up, I'm sure he'd do better on another team if he got a shot. Unfortunately for him that shot's going to be in the AHL.

[Deader2818]

Its funny because they said since the Devils won the cup in 2003, all the teams that won werent exactly lead by "elite" Goaltenders. Mostly good goalies that got hot at the right time.

[Callisto]

Pretty much, at this point if they're Finnish and under 30 I'll put money on them

[Deader2818]

Main reason why im not so fast to give up on Quick. Dude is up and down a lot but hes shown when he gets on his game, he is very solid so I could actually see him going on a hot streak during playoff run.

Although, might not matter with Breiner.

[Bregor]

Shit's changing, I do wonder if someone like a Ryan Miller is even going to finish his career with a Cup. It seems now that riding a great goaltender isn't so much the winning formula as is riding a hot top-four defensive group that can make clean outlet passes under pressure.

Well when Brodeur and Roy was racking up Cups, everybody wanted the big-time goalie. Then people remembered Detroit's been the dominant team in the league for the last 15 years, primarily with Osgood and the withered husk of Hasek. If someone like Ryan Miller when nuts in the playoffs and won a Cup for Buffalo, I think it'd be a very different market.

Its funny because they said since the Devils won the cup in 2003, all the teams that won werent exactly lead by "elite" Goaltenders. Mostly good goalies that got hot at the right time.

It might be too early to tell, but Fleury could be called borderline elite.

[Ratatapa]

The trend for 'Concession' Goalie's is over.

[Callisto]

If someone like Ryan Miller when nuts in the playoffs and won a Cup for Buffalo, I think it'd be a very different market.

That's just it, Miller did go nuts, hell Rask went fucking super-saiyan(1.97/.931 jesus), but shit doesn't matter if you don't have guys clearing rebounds and scoring goals in front of you. If you aren't scoring 3-4 per game you probably won't be winning a Cup anytime soon.

[Melena]

That's just it, Miller did go nuts, hell Rask went fucking super-saiyan(1.97/.931 jesus), but shit doesn't matter if you don't have guys clearing rebounds and scoring goals in front of you. If you aren't scoring 3-4 per game you probably won't be winning a Cup anytime soon.

QFT and dear god I wish the Sharks will learn this. I'm curious as to what they will be doing goalie wise, as they said they may grab a vet through trade or free agency to be a backup. With the dumping of Nabby and Blake's retirement, we are a much younger team. He's 35, Blake was 40. Nichol and Walin will be the old farts at 35, but they are not prominent players on the team. Everyone else will be 32 or younger at the start of the regular season.

[Ishido]

It might be too early to tell, but Fleury could be called borderline elite.

rofl

[Bregor]

What? He's 25, has two SCF under his belt already, and there's no reason to think he won't get better. Last season was shaky at times but I'll stand by what I said.

[Bregor]

Just for you Calli:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/con...id=35&id=72732

[Ivaden]

The thing with ol' #29 Swiss cheese is, I think emotionally he's very similar to what people think of Price. As soon as he lets in a softie, it's game over, might as well turn the channel, because the Penguins are going to lose. He lets a bad one in and he just falls apart. If he can get over this mental road block within the next few years, he definitely has a shot at becoming something great. He has the potential, he's just holding himself back.

[Callisto]

Just for you Calli:

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/con...id=35&id=72732

ugh I want to punch him in his hair so bad

[Glowstickthetaru]

as per tsn.ca

Byfuglien, along with Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Akim Aliu, will be headed to Atlanta in exchange for the 24th overall pick at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the 54th pick, Marty Reasoner and Jeremy Morin.

[Deader2818]

I guess might as well trade them while their stock is high, lol.

[Callisto]

FUCK

just saw that on ESPN