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- Brayden Point Watch
  
  TropicalFruitGirl26 posted a topic in Tampa Bay Lightning , August 9
  
  Nope. No signs yet that Point will sign with the Lightning, however, from what I have been reading the Bolts are confident they can get something done before training camp starts.
  
  A few links:
  https://www.tampabay.com/sports/lightning/2019/07/26/why-lightning-fans-dont-need-to-freak-out-about-brayden-point/
  
  https://www.rawcharge.com/2019/7/26/8931246/quick-strikes-where-its-still-all-quiet-on-the-brayden-point-front-gritty-toronto-maple-leafs-trade
  
  https://www.gohabsgo.com/articles/report-brayden-point-rejected-habs-offer-sheet/
  
  One very good thing in the Bolts' favor is that Points seems to WANT to stay in Tampa Bay.
  And why wouldn't he? Not only is it the organization that gave him his chance to be a star player, but it is a wining organization that, despite recent setbacks, still is on track to be a legit Stanley Cup contender for a few years to come.
  
  From what I understand, the locker room is pretty tight knit as well and players all over the league, both current and retired, can probably attest to how important that is not only for a winning culture, but for how much fun a player has "coming to work everyday".
  
  Montreal supposedly made a nice offer to his agent...it was turned down....and Point even seems to understand the situation with the Bolts' cap situation, though he obviously wants to maximize his own earning potential...and rightly so.
  Probably why things have taken as long as they have been.
  
  Some things I've seen talked about were bridge deals. A lesser amount than he would like, for a shorter term, to then, afterwards, cash in on a big max term, max dollar contract.
  3, 4, or 5 year bridge deals are being talked about. And with Point being only 23, it means that even after a 5 year bridge deal, he would still be in his prime at 28 to sign a big deal either with the Lightning or somewhere else.
  
  And is it a coincidence that the time frame for such a bridge deal goes right with when contracts such as Alex Killorn, Ondrej Palat, or even Tyler Johnson expire (each of those players are making anywhere from 4.5M to 5.2M each)? Hmmmm…….
  
  Will post things regarding Brayden Point on this thread as they become available.
  Other posters, are of course, more than welcome to add stuff as they hear them (links would be nice) or simply comment on the Point negotiations, how long a contract he ultimately gets and whether he stays on after a bridge deal (if that is the case).
  
  13 replies
  
  Picked By
  TropicalFruitGirl26, August 9
- Coyotes New Owner: "We Are Staying in the Desert"
  
  TropicalFruitGirl26 posted a topic in Arizona Coyotes , August 2
  
  From MSN
  https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/alex-meruelo-purchase-of-coyotes-finalized-making-him-nhls-first-latino-majority-owner/ar-AAF1PJi
  
  From the Washington Post
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nhl/billionaire-alex-meruelo-takes-ownership-of-coyotes/2019/08/01/e9d2b5c8-b4ac-11e9-acc8-1d847bacca73_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6d33112bbf91
  
  Looks like those saying the Arizona Coyotes will be moving elsewhere are gonna have to wait a bit longer.
  New majority owner Alex Meruelo, known for turning around failed businesses, said upon buying the team that he fully intends on keeping the team in Arizona and making it "a viable business".
  
  Great news for Yotes fans (the few I've met really are hardcore, believe it or not) and if this works out, he might be known as the "Jeff Vinik of the Southwest".
  Jeff Vinik, of course, is the Lightning owner, who, since taking over the team, has put lots of hard work, hired excellent hockey people, and has turned the Lightning from NHL joke, to perennial contender.
  
  May help Mr. Meruelo's efforts that his Yotes will be moving to the Central division in 2021 where he will be with teams and fanbases from Minnesota, St. Louis, etc...…. not only are the fanbases in the Central seemingly more rabid than those in the Pacific (taking nothing away from the Western Canadian team fanbases), but many retirees come from some of those Central division cities so even as the Yotes look to garner their own solid fanbase, they at least will more easily fill the building as Central division teams make their way to play the Coyotes with more regularity.
  
  I'm actually glad to hear this coming from the new owner as I honestly hate to see cities and areas lose pro teams.
  Sincerely hope he can put his past successes at turning around floundering businesses to work here and that he is successful.
  
  Hey, people said Florida was not a viable hockey market, and for awhile, that looked like the case...till Jeff Vinik came in (and pretty much had the same type of attitude towards turning things around that Alex Meruelo seems to have) and MADE it a viable hockey market.
  
  Much success to his efforts....and even now, he has a not-so-bad collection of players to work with.
  
  6 replies
  
  Picked By
  TropicalFruitGirl26, August 3
- Post in Paul Fenton has been fired as GM after just one season.
  
  ruxpin posted a post in a topic, August 1
  
  It's possible. But I think right now your biggest issue is timing. The Wild fired Fenton at a time is year where the replacement pool is such that if the candidate were any good, he'd already be working.
  
  Leipold should get a lot of "credit" for badly bungling this situation (and it's on him if what you describe is accurate, and I think it is up an extent). His statements indicate this started at exit interviews.
  
  First of all, if you did any credible due diligence, you knew this before. But make a decision when you did realize it. You don't go to the end of July, in hockey's no man's land (we'll call it "Miami," for short) and then make this move.
  
  Leipold is nearly single-handedly destroying his own franchise.
  
  Picked By
  hf101, August 3
- Post in What makes a good NHL GM?
  
  rottenrefs posted a post in a topic, December 9, 2018
  
  To answer your question, what makes a good NHL GM?
  
  You noted player personnel wins and losses... But didn't cover anything else. Understandably, I get it, but IMO there's a ton more behind being a good GM.
  
  Looking at it from a fan perspective player personnel is about the only thing one could care about. But from an operations standpoint, or from an owners standpoint, generating $$ is all they ever put much emphasis on. Business, or rather being a successful business equals follow the money.
  
  Something I brought up several years ago was the Wild, under Doug Risenbrough, were an economically successful team. The team never spent to the Cap but they had sellout after sellout. Contrary to some the previous ownership claimed they were losing money. Where have we heard that with the Minnesota North Stars? Hence, they left for Dallas and won a Stanley Cup, 2 Conference Titles, 2 Presidents Trophies and 8 Division Titles... They're doing well generating revenue. They were bought for $84 million in 1995 and are now valued at $525 million. The Dallas Stars are a prime example of spending more (wisely) can create residual earnings. Which is something the Minnesota North Stars never figured out.
  
  Insert the Minnesota Wild. So under Robert Naegele, Jr., and GM Doug Risenbrough, as mentioned they ran a tight ship on spending. Wild fans here viewed them as cheap. The results as some pride themselves as describing, they're a successful team because they've had so many sellouts in a less than desirable "Hockey Market" because everyone here keeps reminding everyone (nationally) that Minnesota isn't a very good hockey market. (That's something I totally disagree with.) Minnesota probably has more hockey pucks and hockey arena's per capita than any other state or Canadian Providence... To match it's 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' boast.
  
  Granted, it's a bit off-topic talking about Minnesota's hockey market, but in the grand scheme of things no one can match Minnesota's superior high school hockey programs or the number of successful college hockey programs... Fans following them could have gone to more North Stars games, or more Wild games... But why if neither of those teams have anything to show for their efforts except being on the losing end of highlight reels (nationwide)?
  
  Okay, back on topic now that I've eliminated any just cause that Minnesota can't be a major hockey market.
  
  Read more ... https://www.hockeyforums.net/topic/71822-what-makes-a-good-nhl-gm/?do=findComment&comment=390931
  
  Picked By
  hf101, December 10, 2018
- Post in Fire Hextall, gut senior management and the coaching staff
  
  ruxpin posted a post in a topic, October 30, 2018
  
  The more I'm thinking about this the more I'm coming to the conclusion it's not simply the coach but the result of the coach trying to compensate for the goaltending -- which is ultimately on Hextall.
  
  The centers ARE a mess. And so is Ghost. Why? Because the centers are not staying low in the offensive zone and--Patrick and Coots in particular--not mucking it up in the slot to cheat back to hedge against being caught.
  
  Ghost is doing less going low or pinching much for the same reason. It's possible they're doing this on their own. Whether deliberate or not, it's a natural response to the knowledge that any mistake, any odd man or often even man rush the other way will end up past the incompetent sieves in our net.
  
  It's just as likely that this is per coach directive much for the same reason.
  
  The question remains--bluntly--how does a competent GM look at his goaltending this past summer and not move to fix this while leaving $10M in cap space on the table?
  
  How does that same competent GM go through the summer knowing he doesn't have a 3C and not move to correct that in any sober way? Again, with the $10M sitting there.
  
  I know he doesn't want a contract that blocks kids and doesn't want to move said kids for it, but that effectively and explicitly tosses this season away.
  
  Meanwhile, the tickets are still full price.
  
  You see the results in the stands during the game. The last game, the stands had all the energy of a wake.
  
  There was apparently zero thought of putting out a quality product this season. And there's no good reason for it.
  
  I do like what Hextall has done with draft picks. But it sucks that the most exciting time of year is the lead up to the draft. Only to keep saying, "boy, in five years!"
  
  I've been uncharacteristically calling for patience the last couple of years. Those who have been around for awhile--especially those from the silly.com days--know how out of character that really it. But the patience has waned. At this point, supplement through trade. Move out "leadership" that isn't leading.
  
  Do SOMETHING other than punish kids you yourself have damaged only to bring up other soon to be damaged kids. Wake the hell up and get the lumina out of neutral and go get us some damn halibut!
  
  We're starving!
  
  Picked By
  hf101, October 31, 2018
- Why no Canadian NHL team will win the cup
  
  Fanboy posted a topic in Around the NHL, August 11, 2017
  
  Gary Bettman who is the commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL) was brought in 30 years ago with one agenda, and that was to grow the game of hockey in the USA. In Canada the game of hockey is like a religion, with winters lasting 6 months all there is, is hockey. Fans are passionate and it's the number one sport. Football and baseball come second and third. Unfortunately for fans in Canada, no Canadian NHL team has won the Stanley Cup for 25 years since the Montreal Canadians have won.
  
  This thesis will explain why no Canadian team will win the Stanley Cup until at least 2050.
  
  40 replies
  
  Picked By
  hf101, August 26, 2017
- The random (hockey related) picture thread.
  
  WingNut722 posted a topic in General Hockey, January 26, 2012
  
  Hey It works!
  
  284 replies
  
  Picked By
  hf101, July 30, 2017
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