The Swamp

Reports that a deal is on the table to trade Kessel to MIN.

The deal has been on the table for days. It is believed the only holdup at this time is Kessel, who has the right to veto the trade.

I was thinking about starting this thread yesterday. There's going to be some really fascinating offseasons for some teams. There's probably more elite FAs than there has been in any recent offseason I can remember.

Been meaning to start one of these threads as well, to discuss how interesting the Ralph Kruger hire is to me.

So, the question is -- which team is it going to be? Because he's probably going to get signed even if it isn't during this offseason.

The NHL doesn’t care much about head shots on players so I guess we shouldn’t expect them to care much about head shots on women.

Maybe I should, but I don't really care if Kuznetsov or anyone else is consuming recreational drugs. Though that said, the NHL's drug testing program for cocaine, marijuana and other non-performance enhancing drugs is probably the best of the four major sports leagues since their emphasis is mostly on trying to identify players with potential substance abuse issues and getting them help.

brian wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2019 5:38 pm So, the question is -- which team is it going to be? Because he's probably going to get signed even if it isn't during this offseason.

I think you find the vet GM who knows better than his owner that he should already be on the hot seat.

Just imagine having a time machine and going back to tell a Maple Leafs fan in 1967 after they won the Stanley Cup that an NBA Finals and World Series would be contested in Toronto before another Stanley Cup was. (And because I was curious I looked it up and I couldn't believe this was true either, but Toronto has only won one division title in the last 52 years. Even as bad as the Lions have been they won like three or four division titles in the 80s and 90s).

brian wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 1:46 pm Just imagine having a time machine and going back to tell a Maple Leafs fan in 1967 after they won the Stanley Cup that an NBA Finals and World Series would be contested in Toronto before another Stanley Cup was. (And because I was curious I looked it up and I couldn't believe this was true either, but Toronto has only won one division title in the last 52 years. Even as bad as the Lions have been they won like three or four division titles in the 80s and 90s).

Toronto hasn't had any of the best players since expansion.

The only major individual trophy they have won since 67 is Auston Matthews' Calder in 2017.

No Hart, Norris or Vezina trophy winner since 1967, in fact no Maple Leaf has ever won the Norris.

The Lions had Barry Sanders, the Leafs haven't come close to that caliber of player.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 2:17 pm

brian wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 1:46 pm Just imagine having a time machine and going back to tell a Maple Leafs fan in 1967 after they won the Stanley Cup that an NBA Finals and World Series would be contested in Toronto before another Stanley Cup was. (And because I was curious I looked it up and I couldn't believe this was true either, but Toronto has only won one division title in the last 52 years. Even as bad as the Lions have been they won like three or four division titles in the 80s and 90s).

Toronto hasn't had any of the best players since expansion.

The only major individual trophy they have won since 67 is Auston Matthews' Calder in 2017.

No Hart, Norris or Vezina trophy winner since 1967, in fact no Maple Leaf has ever won the Norris.

The Lions had Barry Sanders, the Leafs haven't come close to that caliber of player.

I suppose their years of mediocrity is particularly galling to their fans, given that Toronto is the capitol of the hockey world.

They did have several pretty good players over the years - Mats Sundin, the young version of Wendell Clark, Darryl Sittler, Doug Gilmour, Borje Salming, Felix Potvin...

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 2:22 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 2:17 pm

brian wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 1:46 pm Just imagine having a time machine and going back to tell a Maple Leafs fan in 1967 after they won the Stanley Cup that an NBA Finals and World Series would be contested in Toronto before another Stanley Cup was. (And because I was curious I looked it up and I couldn't believe this was true either, but Toronto has only won one division title in the last 52 years. Even as bad as the Lions have been they won like three or four division titles in the 80s and 90s).

Toronto hasn't had any of the best players since expansion.

The only major individual trophy they have won since 67 is Auston Matthews' Calder in 2017.

No Hart, Norris or Vezina trophy winner since 1967, in fact no Maple Leaf has ever won the Norris.

The Lions had Barry Sanders, the Leafs haven't come close to that caliber of player.

I suppose their years of mediocrity is particularly galling to their fans, given that Toronto is the capitol of the hockey world.

They did have several pretty good players over the years - Mats Sundin, the young version of Wendell Clark, Darryl Sittler, Doug Gilmour, Borje Salming, Felix Potvin...

The Cat!

#stugotz

They have two of the 15(?) best skaters in the NHL right now?

mister d wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2019 3:03 pm They have two of the 15(?) best skaters in the NHL right now?

They have great top-end talent with Mathews, Marner and Tavares. And, Rielly, Nylander and Kapanen aren't far behind them. If they can manage their cap and keep their stars, they are certainly a team to be feared.

My kid is headed to Boston Wed-Fri for a school trip (relatively small group, so no parent chaperones) and I while I'm leaning St. Louis in this series anyway, I was really rooting for them last night to avoid any chance of her group getting stuck in the middle of an impromptu Stanley Cup celebration while they try to get back to their hotel after seeing the Blue Man Group on Thursday night.

They should definitely check out Trillium.

I've heard it's great!

(and this should have been the playoffs thread, which was sunk somewhere behind this one, my bad)

Hayes was a weird/bad fit for Philadelphia before I remembered AV was their new coach.

File under interesting: Nevada casino owner in "advanced stages" of talks to purchase Arizona Coyotes.

But it's not a Fertitta, sadly, for Houston fans.

Reading the tea leaves would indicate that regardless of what he's saying, this would be a play to make it work in Phoenix, but I think it's pretty obvious the Coyotes aren't viable playing in Glendale. My understanding of this guy from his rep as a casino owner in Reno and Vegas is he's a ballbuster, so I wouldn't rule out a potential move eventually though. This has all the makings of a showdown to get Phoenix to pony up for a new arena and if he doesn't get it, threaten to move to Houston.

(My personal opinion has been stated many times -- I think the Coyotes can work in Phoenix, but the arena would have to be downtown or at least somewhere like Tempe/Scottsdale. Moving the Coyotes to Houston for the 21-22 season when Seattle comes in and Arizona moves to the Central Division just makes too much sense though.)

Ugh.

Trades can start again!

Caps trade Niskanen to Flyers for Gudas.

Rumors here are VGK are going to try and package Colin Miller and/or some extra picks to try and move up from #17 to around #7 to try and get Cole Caufield.

degenerasian wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 8:44 am Trades can start again!

Caps trade Niskanen to Flyers for Gudas.

Gudas sucks and should be in prison but that's a zany trade, especially with the Flyers retaining. They must really hate that excess cap space.

mister d wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 9:30 am

degenerasian wrote: ↑Fri Jun 14, 2019 8:44 am Trades can start again!

Caps trade Niskanen to Flyers for Gudas.

Gudas sucks and should be in prison but that's a zany trade, especially with the Flyers retaining. They must really hate that excess cap space.

The stuff I have read clearly point to Niskanen being better than Gudas (despite a down year by Niskanen) but his contract and cap hit disappear after next season. This gives the Caps a chance to see if the young guys can be a top 4 dman and helps with some UFAs they want to keep.

Huge trade tonight!

LeBrun is reporting 8 years, $90-$92M.

I hate Gudas, of course.

I love resigning Hagelin.

Bummed that Niskanen had to go, but... As WLU said, they need to free up cap space AND Niskanen sure looks like he's headed down the back slope of his career. He started looking a little shaky in 2017 and by last year he'd become almost a liability up until after the trade deadline.

What's going to get very complicated for the Caps is resigning Backstrom and then Ovechkin, whose respective contracts run out next year and the year following. They are signalling "sentimental" contracts, which is fine when it's one guy (Lidstrom or Sakic or whatever) but when you have to take 10-15 percent of the cap on two guys (if not more) you are looking at some really tight confines to build the rest of the team.

Sancarlos is ok?

Eriksson for 8 years 11.5 AAV.

Ottawa gets San Jose's 2nd round pick in 2012.

I am very pleased that the Sharks retained Erik Karlsson. From late December until he got injured in early March, the Sharks had the best record in the NHL and Karlsson led the charge. He tried to play through injury in the playoffs but was a shell of himself. Therein lies the risk. If he has injury troubles going forward, his contract will be a millstone around the necks of the Sharks. But, in general, in pro sports you need elite players to separate yourself from the pack, and Karlsson is undeniably elite, and at 29 right into his prime. So, I'm happy they rolled the dice and went for it. Not a lot of cap room for Timo Meier (restricted), or big Joe or the big Pavelski. But, in Doug Wilson I trust.

Timing!

Those moves were related. Rangers were likely to get Karlsson if he hit FA.

Surprised the Rangers gave up Pionk as part of that deal. He looks like a promising young guy.

Sancarlos, I promise you there isn’t more than a handful of Rangers fans who are anything but thrilled. Pionk is, at best, an defensive liability third pair D and he might not even be that.

(I’m waiting to find someone speculate this was part 2 of the Hayes trade and wink-wink agreed upon at the deadline. It would make more sense that way.)

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2019 9:45 pm Sancarlos, I promise you there isn’t more than a handful of Rangers fans who are anything but thrilled. Pionk is, at best, an defensive liability third pair D and he might not even be that.

(I’m waiting to find someone speculate this was part 2 of the Hayes trade and wink-wink agreed upon at the deadline. It would make more sense that way.)

Oh, I agree that this is a great trade for the Rangers. I just thought they might've valued Pionk enough to keep him out of the deal.

Since that was the same pick that went back and forth, it was Hayes and Pionk for Trouba, right? Given that Hayes was a pending free agent, a big win for the Rangers.

And Brendan Lemieux, who seems to be a capable 4th line annoyance who scored double digits. Solid player to have while he’s cheap.

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Jun 17, 2019 10:51 pm And Brendan Lemieux, who seems to be a capable 4th line annoyance who scored double digits. Solid player to have while he’s cheap.

I just learned that he is the son of Claude Lemieux.

Seems like slightly less of a dick but someone I'm sure will infuriate me with a hit atleast once next season.

I've decided I'm officially ... not in on Panarin. I won't be overly upset to get him, it wouldn't be some horror signing, but I worry about 13-14% of the cap tied up in a wing when you can split that and possibly get some solid contracts off cap strapped teams.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:02 am Seems like slightly less of a dick but someone I'm sure will infuriate me with a hit atleast once next season.

I've decided I'm officially ... not in on Panarin. I won't be overly upset to get him, it wouldn't be some horror signing, but I worry about 13-14% of the cap tied up in a wing when you can split that and possibly get some solid contracts off cap strapped teams.

This would be the year for a team like the Rangers to do an offer sheet on Timo Meier or William Karlsson. San Jose or Vegas could make matching work, but it would be hard for both and force some other difficult decisions (for SJ could mean parting with Pavelski; for Vegas would mean probably having to trade someone like Reilly Smith.

And then of course there's Marner....

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:02 am Seems like slightly less of a dick but someone I'm sure will infuriate me with a hit atleast once next season.

I've decided I'm officially ... not in on Panarin. I won't be overly upset to get him, it wouldn't be some horror signing, but I worry about 13-14% of the cap tied up in a wing when you can split that and possibly get some solid contracts off cap strapped teams.

Somewhat unrelated, but Panarin probably earned himself a couple additional shekels during the playoffs. He was clearly Columbus' best player.

Going to be tough on those guys if they lose all of Bobrovsky, Duchene, Panarin, and Dzingel. And, Werenski is a RFA.

brian wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:09 am

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:02 am Seems like slightly less of a dick but someone I'm sure will infuriate me with a hit atleast once next season.

I've decided I'm officially ... not in on Panarin. I won't be overly upset to get him, it wouldn't be some horror signing, but I worry about 13-14% of the cap tied up in a wing when you can split that and possibly get some solid contracts off cap strapped teams.

This would be the year for a team like the Rangers to do an offer sheet on Timo Meier or William Karlsson. San Jose or Vegas could make matching work, but it would be hard for both and force some other difficult decisions (for SJ could mean parting with Pavelski; for Vegas would mean probably having to trade someone like Reilly Smith.

And then of course there's Marner....

Speaking of Marner, everything I've read indicates that he wants a deal comparable to what they gave Auston Mathews. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see a holdout similar to what they had last year with Nylander.

Brayden Point is another interesting case, though he doesn't appear to be playing hardball with Tampa. But they probably won't give him more than Kucherov makes ($9.5M), but if someone signs him to an offer sheet for $10.5M or so, then what? Of course the player has to sign the offer sheet and Point doesn't seem like a guy who wants to leave Tampa and who understands that signing for $9M a year in Tampa is basically the same as signing for $10.5 a year in New York.