Vanflyer

I don't think he does. There are RFA types of restrictions that I am too lazy to go look up (Aziz is a good person about these things). What I do know is he was never waived to begin with. He has not played a game with the Flyers this year. I think his status is similar to Bourdon and Marshall- he can be called up and sent down without exposure to claim Read away- I am too lazy. . http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2009/11/26/1174855/waivers-101-a-guide-to-the-nhl

It pains me to say this, but Marshall has always been foot slow. I liked him allot with the Maine Maniacs and watched him run ruffshod over many player in the Memorial Cup. But it is clear that he may never be NHL ready. To me, Guftason (sp) is ahead of both these guys. It depends what you want for a 6th / 7th developing d-man.

Truthfully, I think the rumor is bunk. I mean his long term contract is already enacted. Even if he is miserable banging Ohio State University chicks instead of the Old City or Jersey Shore skanks, he can at least make it one season there.

Many Flyers Fans wanted Turris instead of JVR. I watched Turris in BC and a great talent in lower leagues, but to me a bust in the NHL. What an asshole to hold Phoenix hostage. He reeks of Lindros parents situation doing what he did. What has he accomplished to hold out AND demand a trade??? 25 points last season. WTF. He is now 22. I can't imagine how the Phoenix fans (those that remain) will not want to spit on him!! I would if he was a Flyer!!!

Well, he is alive for one more day. 4-3 win over coyotes.

I think Briere is having trouble finding the right chemistry this year. I know his cap hit is a bit high, but I think it is way too early to give up on him. He is ULTRA clutch in the Playoffs. Would you rather have a Carter who pots 35-40 goals in the regular season and disappears for the playoffs or Briere who is streaky during the regular season and turns it up three notches for the playoffs??? As long as he is not LOSING us games, I don't mind at this point.

Well then he should have never signed a SEVEN year EXTENSION contract making him the fourth highest paid centre in the NHL. Sorry, but he has 8.25 million reasons to man up and play his heart out in Carolina. No More Staal-ing The highest-paid primary centers for the 2009-10 season, which is when Eric Staal's new $57.75 million, 7-year deal kicks in: Salary Vincent Lecavalier, Lightning $10M Sidney Crosby, Penguins $9M Evgeni Malkin, Penguins $9M Eric Staal, Hurricanes $8.25M Chris Drury, Rangers $8.05M Source: nhlnumbers.com On the flip side, Carolina is the third lowest payroll in the NHL (with Colorado and Nashville taking top honors respectively- always amazed at that Nashville operation).

But waivers does not really get it done in regards to moving him. Unless you are suggesting that Carolina just do it to eat half of his salary (assuming he would be gobbled up on re-entry waivers by another team), with zero assets being returned? That seems insane to me. I think Carolina failed to realize that Staal needs quality line-mates to be an effective player himself. Carolina is winger poor in regards to the top two lines.

Look no further then.....drum roll.....PHIL KESSEL!!! ha ha ha ha

Here is the thing that really gets me. HNIC has always been about highlighting a CANADIAN team. There yearly schedule always has a Canadian team. While some will argue that 70% of the league is Canadian players, the whole point of HNIC has always been to premiere a team that plays in Canada. I think Crosby is a great talent and that he has matured and am pleased that he is returning to the league. But this Media and League stuff with him just has to stop. Talk about saturation overkill. In an earlier post, I suggested they televise the Wednesday game (St Louis v. Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh) as it would be a nice gesture towards the American Thanksgiving. I also suggested they could Televise the Saturday night game Pittsburgh at Montreal. Well, low and behold, I just looked up the HNIC schedule and the Pittsburgh @ Montreal game is already on the books. So, why in the world do they need this "special" MONDAY night game against the LOWLY Islanders??

Good point. I know the OP on the other board intended score sheet, so I guess that is a good clarification. What causes you to project Huberdeau more on the score sheet than Couturier? They are 6 months apart in age, and while Coots was in his 3rd season in the Q last year, he put up nearly identical numbers to Huberdeau in his second year as Huberdeau did in his second year. Whats the deal on the Q draft rules (ie. Couturier is 6 months older than Huberdeau, yet he already played 3 years in the Q while Huberdeau only had two at the point of last summers NHL draft). Huberdeau does ALREADY have 28 points this year in the Q after 13 games. Makes you wonder if perhaps he might of been ready for the NHL- despite his unpolished defensive game.

Of course Hopkins- phonetic slip up. Colorado has a barn full of up and coming d-men in their pipe line. No less than 4 blue chip prospects. I wonder what it would take to pry one away?

Good point. I could mostly careless about football regardless what day / night it is played. I still think that Wednesday game makes better sense, but that is just me.

I would agree. But the Kings are not without problems. Dustin Penner has a been a TOTAL bust in LA and is a UFA at the end of this season. I see LAK trying to just salvage what they can (they only have about 600k in cap room, so he could be moved at the deadline or before as he is the 3rd highest paid on the team). Doughty has been average thus far. Jack Johnson has been head scratching as usual (if there was ever a case for a player to have been sent to AHL for development prior to starting NHL career, I think Jack is / was a poster child for that). Goaltending has been good, but Bernier can't be happy about only getting 3 starts out of 20 this season. At one point he was the heir apparent, but Quick has wrestled the job away from him and won't give it back. I can't think it is not healthy to only have Bernier getting 12-15 starts this year. I also think that the Kings really miss an energetic gritty winger (ala Simmonds). So, lots of talent and potential, but certainly not without cracks and problems.

At least they are not in our division or conference. That is the silver lining. I would love to see a LAK - Flyer SC matchup, but I don't think this will be the year (for either team).

Ha ha on Shelley and Carcillo. The Blues - Pittsburgh game is TG eve (Wednesday night). While tradition for allot is to go out Wednesday night, allot finish errands for Thursday and take it easy Wednesday night). For me a Wednesday night game of Blues - Pittsburgh is much more appealing than the Islanders Monday night game (that in US will go up against Monday night football).

I guess, but if it was me I probably would of done a American Thanksgiving eve game (St Louis @ Pittsburg) and then Saturday night Pittsburgh @ Montreal. While Crosby's return will have a certain level of appeal, the Pittsburgh - Islanders have zero appeal for me. I would rather see Blues - Pittsburgh and then Pittsburg - Montreal. But, thats just me. (I didn't realize he was out for almost a year). I guess I would ask to name another player that is out for a year and would they do a "special" HNIC episode, particularly one on a horrible ratings night on a horrible match-up?

I actually thought Crosby was maturing last year as compared to previous seasons and it was harder to hate him than it was before. What will be interesting is to see if the rest of the team "cruises" a bit more because the "savior" is back or if they give 100%. I also am interested to see how Neal plays. He has had a fine year thus far in Crosby's absence.

Huberdeau in and no Couturier???

Saw this in another forum and pirated it. The following is the OP opening post: Predict the top twenty forwards in 4 years time. Plain and simple. Who do you think will dominate the score sheet by the 14-15 season? IMO: 1-Claude Giroux. 2-Tyler Seguin. 3-Sidney Crosby. 4-Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. 5-Taylor Hall. 6-Matt Duchene. 7-Evgeni Malkin. 8-Gabriel Landeskog. 9-Alex Ovechkin. 10-Jordan Eberle. 11-Paul Stastny. 12-Loui Eriksson. 13-Jordan Staal. 14-Niklas Backstrom. 15-Steven Stamkos. 16-Jeff Skinner. 17-Patrick Kane. 18-Evander Kane. 19-Sean Couturier. 20-Johnathan Toews. The likelyhood that my predictions will be 100% right is ridiculously low. Also, I'm not including players in this coming draft, like Grigorenko or Yakupov. I'd like to see who other people think will be in this list and who won't be. EDIT: Forgot Tavares. Definitely should be in the top ten. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I personally don't think I see Staal there and would put Neal in his place.

From the Columbus Dispatch: http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/content/stories/2011/11/19/carter-denies-report-that-he-wants-to-be-traded.html

CBC to broadcast game upon Crosby's return. Crosby is an enormous talent, but to send the CBC trucks to Pittsburgh for Crosby's return for a Monday night game against the Islanders no less is just too much for me. Its great for the game that he is back, but can the league and media stop sucking on his cock so much?? There are 29 other teams, many of which have GREAT players. Why does Crosby continue to be the face of the league? http://www.breakingnews.com/item/ahBicmVha2luZ25ld3Mtd3d3cg0LEgRTZWVkGI61qwUM/2011/11/20/special-hockey-night-in-canada-to-carry-crosby-return-pens-isles-game-starts-on-cbc-at-7-pm-et-crosby

Edmonton's kids light up Black Hawks 9-2. Many are saying Hawks are not as good as their record. Hodgkins sets 18 y/o rookie record with 5 assists. Hall has hat trick. Its good to see Edmonton having glimmers of hope. http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011020285&navid=sb:recap

Perhaps. Not sure where I would list Jeff Carter on my attendance "draw" list.

I just don't get what Columbus was thinking. Voracek is 10 times the play maker that Carter is. He plays in all game situations (ev, pk and pp). He is only 22 and while I think Columbus had higher expectations for him, he is a fine player. He is on pace to score 55 points this season (a career high) and at 2.2M is a very good value. The whole irony is that Couturier is the EXACT kind of Center that Columbus needs. Their GM should be shot for that trade. Columbus could have been set at center for their future with Couturier and 2010 pick Ryan Johansen (who is made the club this year)- and they would still have a young Voracek.