The Swamp

16 teams playing, 16 teams looking forward to December. Good time for a thread start.

Needs to be said those updated Buffalo unis are sexy as hell.

amen to that.

for owners that are complete fuckups in nearly every regard, it's about damn time they hit a home run; i can't think of a uni in the NHL i like more than those whites.

Yeah, those are pretty and its a really good shade of blue. Almost looks like a fan design, but in a good way.

royal blue - the original (AND CORRECT :P) jersey shade.

i know what you're saying about almost looks like a fan design, it does. I'm particularly happy that there are no bullshit frilly things/stripes/patches/etc. the only adornments are the threading in the buffalo (which i'm meh about but whatever) and a neat homage to the city of Buffalo flag on the inner collar that you can't even see when worn. A+

and yeah 9 years (NINE) of literally rooting for the laundry is tiring and unbelievable.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:06 am Yeah, those are pretty and its a really good shade of blue. Almost looks like a fan design, but in a good way.

It really is an A+ kit. The stitching on the buffalo's "mane" and hilt of the sword are fantastic, as are the colors.

MaxWebster wrote: ↑Wed Aug 12, 2020 10:12 am royal blue - the original (AND CORRECT :P) jersey shade.



and yeah 9 years (NINE) of literally rooting for the laundry is tiring and unbelievable.

Oh, it could be worse.

Don’t know how many of you guys read The Athletic, but there is an entertaining article today, in which Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford rips into his team. He defends Jack Johnson but certainly appears ready to let UFA Justin Schultz walk away.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:49 am Don’t know how many of you guys read The Athletic, but there is an entertaining article today, in which Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford rips into his team. He defends Jack Johnson but certainly appears ready to let UFA Justin Schultz walk away.

That one was a couple of days ago. Yesterday's post-mortem article had a ton of anonymous quotes from players and other teams. Even more salacious.

(Their Penguins coverage really is pretty great. Some of the writers do other things, but they have at least 4 of them that regularly write about them.)

LA Kings mascot suspended after sexual harassment lawsuit.

Pretty standard stuff really except as I'm reading I see the last paragraph:

Smith has worked for the Kings organization since 2007. He was previously sued for harassment in 2017 by a man who alleged he grabbed his buttocks during an elevator ride. The lawsuit was settled in July 2018.

How do you get to keep your job after your employer had to settle a lawsuit where you were accused of grabbing another dude's (or any person's, for that matter) ass? White privilege is real.

Its fun to see twitter speculate kinda-but-maybe-not-totally-kidding that Pittsburgh though they were getting Liljegren when they got Lindgren because the value seems so off.

I'm happy for Lehner, but what the fuck? Have they not seen this pending goalie market?

Seems obvious now that Vegas would expose MAF to the expansion draft. But, at his age and salary, would Seattle want to take a Krak at him?

sancarlos wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:35 pm Seems obvious now that Vegas would expose MAF to the expansion draft. But, at his age and salary, would Seattle want to take a Krak at him?

Vegas doesn't have to expose anyone in expansion draft. MAF will either be traded this offseason (he has a 10-team list no trade clause) or (more likely) be bought out.

brian wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:38 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:35 pm Seems obvious now that Vegas would expose MAF to the expansion draft. But, at his age and salary, would Seattle want to take a Krak at him?

Vegas doesn't have to expose anyone in expansion draft. MAF will either be traded this offseason (he has a 10-team list no trade clause) or (more likely) be bought out.

Ah, yes.

Give you Martin Jones for him! (Smiley face emoji).

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:13 pm I'm happy for Lehner, but what the fuck? Have they not seen this pending goalie market?

Has this been confirmed by anyone? Seems too good to be true for VGK.

I meant the other way around. There are going to be more goalies than teams this offseason.

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:44 pm I meant the other way around. There are going to be more goalies than teams this offseason.

And, the Sharks are stuck with Martin Jones' contract. I haven't heard anything about a buyout, so they will probably pass on signing a better goalie. [sigh].

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:44 pm I meant the other way around. There are going to be more goalies than teams this offseason.

Yeah, though some (most?) seem like they'll be over that price point. $5M/yr for Lehner up to his age 35 season seems like a good deal to me (except for maybe having to eat $3.3M a year in dead cap space for four years.

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:44 pm I meant the other way around. There are going to be more goalies than teams this offseason.

Would you say he's anywhere outside of the top 3 available in the market? I know it's flat cap this year but to take half the market rate for the last 3 elite goalies signed seems crazy. I thought he would have at least commanded 7.5/8 for a 5 year term. It's absolute robbery for VGK

Value wise I'm sure its fine, but there's a huge opportunity for teams to get quality this offseason without that kind of term commitment.

I think there are a couple of things a play here. First, it's a flat cap so teams won't be blowing their brains out during free agency like they normally would. Secondly, in the case of Lehner, I think after all his struggles and trials and tribulations he just wanted a home. He wanted a team that wanted him and supported him so money wasn't really the biggest issue for him. And Nevada is tax friendly!

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:53 pm Value wise I'm sure its fine, but there's a huge opportunity for teams to get quality this offseason without that kind of term commitment.

The term commitment was what Lehner specifically wanted though so that was a requirement to get him. I assume this all came together because of the front office and coaching staff's comfort with him and I know they think that his style complements VGK's playing style better than Fleury. It will be interesting to see what kind of deals are out there though with all of the goalies on the market. There definitely might be some relative bargains.

Take this for whatever it is worth as well:

Lou Lamoriello looks like Mr Magoo

Laviolette to the lead the Caps

Eric Staal had a 10 team NTC and probably strategically left buffalo off. LOL.

Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton
Winnipeg

meanie.

but seriously what is Minnesota thinking here - only advantage i see from their POV is that Mojo is 6yrs younger, but Staal is still demonstrably better in pretty much every facet. Both 1 yr left on contracts. ??

Not that i care, this seems to be the literal perfect zero-risk get for the Sabres right now. KEVYNYN AYDYAMS I'M SORRY I DOUBTED YOU.

(jk the Pegulas are full trash)

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 4:51 pm Eric Staal had a 10 team NTC and probably strategically left buffalo off. LOL.

I would very, very much like Eichel but his contract means it has to be a volume deal versus top-heavy.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 11:48 am I would very, very much like Eichel but his contract means it has to be a volume deal versus top-heavy.

That reminds me of the old Julio Franco quote:

Whenever the Indians get a guy who can really play, they trade him for three guys who can’t.

Much like the Sabres and the Ryan O’Reilly trade.

Its an impossible trade to mock up because we have three untouchables (Kakko, Fox, #1 overall) and refusal to include atleast one should be a deal-breaker, except its a flat cap and, once you write-off every other team's untouchables, we still might have the best potential offer.

I would totally trade the #1 for the #3 and #5, or the #3 and one or two Ottawan studs.

You heard it here first, Lundqvist signs a cheap deal with the Islanders and wins his first Cup.

You heard it here first: Shut the fuck up.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 5:38 pm I would totally trade the #1 for the #3 and #5, or the #3 and one or two Ottawan studs.

I kinda wondered if there was some feasible scenario where Ottawa decides they need Lafreniere and trades #5 plus to get LA’s pick knowing LA can afford to pass on the top Cs to get Drysdale at slot. Rangers would presumably have to have either Byfield or Stutzle graded near Lafreniere and really like the other, plus add on their side? Would never happen, but maybe one where you could create a trade that all three teams would take? Maybe?

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:11 pm

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Tue Sep 29, 2020 5:38 pm I would totally trade the #1 for the #3 and #5, or the #3 and one or two Ottawan studs.

I kinda wondered if there was some feasible scenario where Ottawa decides they need Lafreniere and trades #5 plus to get LA’s pick knowing LA can afford to pass on the top Cs to get Drysdale at slot. Rangers would presumably have to have either Byfield or Stutzle graded near Lafreniere and really like the other, plus add on their side? Would never happen, but maybe one where you could create a trade that all three teams would take? Maybe?

I don't know enough about their farm systems to offer potential trades. For the record, I was in the "Eichel will be as good as Connor camp", so I may not know what I am talking about.

I hate this buyout on every single possible level.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:13 am I hate this buyout on every single possible level.

A very sad way for the ending to occur. One of their all-time greats to wear a Ranger sweater.

Somewhat similar to what we saw in San Jose with Pavelski and might see soon with Thornton and Marleau. (Not as buyouts, but as a fade away rather than a celebrated retirement.)

Can someone explain to me how much glee I should get out of mister d's sadness? I mean, the Rangers haven't been relevant in like 25 years, so it seems like punching down. But he roots for the Yankees so it all works out?

Oh, haha on LaSalle's baseball team. BURN.