yave1964

They are set at forward, though Semin would be a nice top six forward to add to the mix, freeing up a Helm Abdelkader or whoever to add defense.

Any cut in quality is going to hurt the game. And I think the European exodus could occur as they return home, but wouldnt be surprised if they dont steal more than a few canadien/United states boys as well. Nashville losing a Shea Weber and being forced to replace him with a Ryan Parent would be very harmful to the game.

I doubt there will ever be much of an exodus, barring a lockout. That is kind of my point. In the event of a lockout, european teams offering two or three year contracts for favorite sons to return home will be common. Some will take them, you know, the old be it ever so humble and all that. A major sticking point with the owners is they want ten years in the league before you can become an UFA. An absurd amount of time based off the other major sports, dont see it happening. Lets look at Shea Weber, and keep in mind I am strictly speculating. He has six years in, is scheduled to be an UFA at the end of the upcoming season. Lets say that come January the NHL and players agree to a contract with UFA pushed back to eight years, costing Weber another year in Nashville. He comes across as a stubbon cuss, what if he signs with Moscow for two or three years at 20-25 million a year? It could happen. Then the war begins in earnest between the two leagues. The peace has been very uneasy since the KHL fired the first shot a few years ago with Jiri Hudler and Alexander Radulov. The lockout, strike if it occurs will cost the NHL more than just money, if they cannot work things out instead of losing a Pahlsson they may lose the Sedins or Ovie.

Nick Johnson signed with the Coyotes and Christenson is now in the KHL. Dont see Zucker making the team this year, insert Bouchard there. Not a bad lineup. I agree with the goalie tandem, I thought Tampa or even Detroit would have gone hard after Harding this offseason and was surprised at how easily he was retained by the Wild (He always kills my wings). Torrey Mitchell is one of those great depth guys, fourth line unsung minutes but kills penalties and plays the last minute of any period when his team has a lead. Kenopka is not one of my favorite type of players, I love team toughness but a three minute a game goon is dead weight of a roster spot, granted he is slightly above average when it comes to this type. Overall, one hell of an offseason. Does it make the Wild a playoff team? They are certainly in the mix, Detroit, Nashville, the Sharks are are worse, The Kings and Blues are due for a bit of a slip, The Avalanche and stars are both improved, the Coyotes are worse but never count a Tippet team out. Over all, they are unlikely to challenge the Canucks for the division but they are right there with everyone else to contend for any other spot. Are they cup contenders? Likely not, but with as much or more young scoring talent as anyone in the league on the way, damn good goaltending and a couple of legitimate stars joining the ranks, the Wild are relevant again for the first time in a long time.

Sure the players could demand a opt out clause, but lets say you have a pending free agent the following year, and the KHL signs them to a two or three year contract. The strike settles in January or so, and the player decides to ignore his NHL contract to stay in his home country. Then a true war breaks out between the two leagues, a war that seems that most of the talent is over here the NHL has the most to lose. I am not chicken little crying the sky is falling, this is likely to happen if the lockout/strike goes for too long.

The reason for that is the potential of a strike could force NHLers to play in Europe and this will in theory force the KHL to honor NHL contracts. In Theory. So lets say the strike starts, October gets wiped out, followed by November. Some players decide to sign to finish out the season in the KHL, and the strike gets settled. It is gonna get messy.

Well, I hear Howson wants forwards who can step in right now, I think it would cost Filpulla and Helm plus a number one at the least. It leaves you short a forward, so you bring Holmstrom back for this year. It gives you lines of.... Nash Datsyuk Bertuzzi Franzen Z Samuelson Cleary Nyquist Holmstrom Tootoo Abdelkader Miller Eaves and Emmerton in reserve Still short of defense, if the Flames would consider a package out of Andersson, Tatar, or Mursak for Bouwmeester we are retooled. There Thats about it.

The Khl has established itself as a alternative to the NHL, kind of a European version of the old WHA. During the free agency period that has just passed, we have watched them sign among others.... Russians returning home in after proving unable to adjust to the North American game either on or off the ice, such as Filitav, Radulov and Engqvist. North American borderline players such as Erik Christenson, Trevor Gillies, and andrew Raycroft, looking for a chance to reestablish themselves or continue their careers. Europeans heading home for one last big payday such as Sami Pahlsson, Sami Lepisto or Niklas Hagman. The Khl and other european leagues have provided a way for former stars to continue their careers long after their prime, players such as Slava Kozlov, Sergei Federov, Jagr, Donald Brashear,J.P. Dumont, Alexander Frolov, Martin Gerber, Rob Niedermayer, Jarkko Ruutu, Martin Straka, Miroslav Satan among others dot the european landscape. The Khl also is a breeding ground for top prospects, some such as Evgeny Kuznetsov who has his North American rights owned by the Capitals seem quite content to stay in their home country long after the Capitals want him to come over here. Where does this league go from here? The tragic plane crash that killed the entire Lokomotiv hockey team, including former NHLers Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei amd Brad Mccrimon among the deceased set back the league in the eyes of the world, but they are ready to move forward in a big way. The elite league in europe, with apologies to the Elitserien league in Sweden, I see them making a big splash among NHL free agents in the next couple of years. Imagine, Shea Weber signing a two year, fifty million dollar contract to play for Minsk. It could happen. some time in the near future, a Canadien farm boy, a Flin Flonner if you will, will cause nashing of the teeth and rending of the clothes by signing with Moscow or Dinamo Riiga. Brett Hull did it with the WHA, it is bound to happen with this upstart league which is getting legs. And after one, there will be more. Ovechkin, Datsyuk or a Kovalchuk returning home while still in their prime is almost a certainty. The Russian league is here to stay and is now ready to be a threat to the NHL.

God I love this guy!! He plays like he is the biggest cat in the jungle, even though he is a little guy, he can be pushed around in front of the net a bit and loses his physical style when in a crowd but he is the best open ice hitter in the game bar none. Do his feet leave the ice when he hits? Sometimes, ask Brierre and a few others, but most of the time, Kessler, Havlat and Hemsky come immediatly to mind he just stalks you, waiting on you to come up ice with the puck and your head down. He steps back like he is going to go with the play to disarm his unsuspecting victim then moves forward with a shoulder at full speed and destroys his opponent. Almost every one of his hits look alike, it is amazing how people still fall for his ploy. And for the most part, it is legal. The Voracek hit, with apologies to Flyer fans is my favorite, even more than the Havlat one. Voracek looked up, saw Kronwall gliding backwards, then looked down to admire how pretty the puck looked on his stick. The next thing he saw was the quiet room off the locker room, and someone waving fingers in front of his eyes to see how many he could see. Glad Jake is okay, I like his style, like the way he plays glad he is okay but wow wow wow if you didnt like that play start watching the ice capades.

Thats kind of my point, he was everything good and bad that was expected of him, he showed flashes of brilliance in the regular season, was their leading scorer against my Wings then took the team down with his selfishness against Phoenix. He met everyones expectations in a matter of a month and a half, both good and bad. Good riddance.

The Khl is getting its all time leading scorer back Radulov is returning to Russia, signed a four year contract with the CSKA team in the league. He derailed the Nashville Predators season. The team had a hell of a year, traded for Gill, Kostitsyn and Gaustad at the deadline, then managed to Convice Radulov to return. Many felt he would be a disruptive force who would tear a solid team apart, others felt he would be a point a game force who would help the teams offense. Everyone was right. He is gone for four years, the best player not playing in the NHL is again not in the NHl. I wish him luck and of course he will be back again someday, hopefully a more mature player who helps his team.

The man can shoot, not much of a passer and a bit of a one way player, but seriously, right team, right situation he could easily score 20 plus. Sharks have done a poor job of judging talent lately, if your not the next Marleau or Thornton they concentrate too much on what you cannot do and dont look at your plusses, look at what Jamie Mcginn did with the Avalanche after he got free of the San Jose to Worchester shuffle. Ferrierro could follow his lead.

I loved Homer, he got more with less than about any player in the game. He couldnt skae, couldnt play defense, but he had a big butt that he put in goaltenders faces and a heart the size of a small state and played to his limited strengths and to our hearts. Youth must be served, it is time for him to retire, he will be missed, he is the last of the 97 and 98 team, and I have so many wonderful memories and thank him for his years of service but it is time to leave the crease and head for home.

The stars moves have been confusing. First trading Ribeiero for elkins looked like they were going for a youth movement, then acquiring Jagr, Whitney and Roy, looks like they are looking for a senior discount on air travel. But unlike my beloved Red Wings at least they did something rather than watch from the damn sidelines.

I am a wings fan but kind of follow the Canes because of the Rutherford connection, still mad at them for trying to steal Federov in 98, lol. Site is mostly flyer fans but I will keep an eye on your posts.

A unique player, not very big but easily the hardest hitter in hockey. I remember him destroying Havlat, with Marty laying on the ice with his eyes rolling in the back of his head while big Buff and Kronner traded punches over Havlats remains. The closest to Konstantinov the wings have had. Love this guy, provides a touch of offense as well. That said, he does have holes in his game. He can be skated around, he is more rugged than skilled. Nonetheless, his half a dozen victims that wind up on sports center every year are some of my favorite plays of the year.

The only reason I dont want Columbus to move is I live 45 minutes away and get to see my wings four times a year, plus a few other games against teams I like. If Nash gets dealt and it turns into a Kovy/Lindros franchise killing deal I will miss that.

Howson has proven himself to be less than competent as a general manager and continues to do so by demanding more than any team in their right mind will pay for him. Supposedly he turned down Pavelski, clowe and Demers from the Sharks, leaving all other GMs shaking their head. It was where two fools met, the Sharks for offering it and Howson for turning it down. I think it is still likely that Nash is dealt before the start of the season but not the lock that I would have thought it was at the end of the last season.

Lets say we have a chance at Nash, nobody is talking about the cost. The jackets are wanting a top six forward and a top four d-man plus a first rounder minimum, would anyone be willing to part with Brendan Smith, Valterri Filpulla and a number one? At the start of last year I would have jumped on it, but Val has shown great signs of developing, and with the retirement of the perfect human and Stuart moving on, we likely cannot afford to make a move like this. Supposedly the Sharks offered Pavelski, Clowe and Demers as well as a first and were turned down by Howson, I dont know what more anyone will offer than that. As far as Colaiocovo, he would be fine, with the additional benefit of hurting a division rival, kind of like Tootoo. If he were to sign with the Wings, I would like to see..... Kronwall White Colaiocovo Quincey Ericsson Kindl Brendan Smith Smith to me is the wild card. I see him as capable of winning the Calder, a fourty point, 100 PIM season should be very regular, an agressiveness with the puck and sand paper and grit in his own zone.

Wow, knew Roy was a bit of a trouble maker, didnt know the extent. Thanks. And let me make it clear, I like Ott. Third liner who is a faceoff specialist, has improved some facet of his game or another every year. His intensity has caused him to draw bad penalties at the wrong time though, and he provides 3rd line offense, if he is a top six forward you are in big trouble. I like your top three Wings, was hoping Detroit would make a pitch and acquire Stafford at the deadline. Leino was a poor signing who you guys are stuck with, but I LOVED the Hodgson trade for you guys last year. I agree, you guys need another center, though I do love Ennis and Hodgsons upside so I could see the team going into the season with your current bunch of forwards and a wait and see how it pans out attitude..

Outside looking in (red wings fan no axe to grind) I think this is a horrible deal for Buffalo. Roy is a 70 point a year player, top six forward.Undersized and streaky but 70-80 point potential year in year out. Ott is a fantastic faceoff man who scores 35-40 points a year and takes too many stupid penalties. Pardy is a seventh d man, responsible in his own zone who offers zero offensively. I dont get it. Buffalo was pushed around a bit last year, (think Milan Lucic) but the biggest problem was scoring. They should have renamed the team the Buffal Sabres because there was no 'o' (Groan). No offense doomed this team, and they just traded a top six forward for a third line center IMO. I watch western conference hockey constantly, Ott is a Sean Avery without the headcase mentality. Not denigrating your team. Hodgson and Ennis will be your top two centers, both have nice upside. Any team with Ryan Miller has to be taken seriously. Just dont think this deal was a good one for you guys.

A look at the Wings offseason and what to do from here..... 1. Lidstrom, one of the three greatest d-men in the history of the game retired leaving the Wings scrambling, made them intent on signing Suter at all cost. Instead he signs with the Wild. 2. Stuart needing/wanting to be closer to his kids is traded to the Sharks, leaving the defensive core down two of of top four. 3. Samuelson signs to replace Hudler, who goes to the flames. Samuelson when healthy can play the point, is more responsible defensively and plays an all around better game. 4. Tootoo is signed to replace Holmstrom, a gut wrenching but utterly correct thing to do. 5. Spare parts Conner and Murray are allowed to leave and sign elsewhere. 6. Gustafsson signs to be Howards backup and reclaim his career, Joey Mac getting stuck again with Grand rapids, Ty conklin mercifully fo him and us moving on. What to do from here? The wings as currently set up have twelve forwards of nhl caliber not counting the kids, Nyquist, Tatar Andersson and Mursak. I think we need to sign Semin, freeing up a body or two to give to Calgary for Jay Bowmeester. We also need to sign a boring stay at home d-man to replace Stuart, a Lepisto,Kubina type. Not a sexy signing but a guy who can play safe minutes. In all likelyhood, Bouwmeester will cost us Filpulla. Signing Semin offsets this. Painful loss, been frustratingly fun watching Val grow up, he seems to have found his stride and is an overpayment for Bouwmeester but with no d-men left Calgary can demand a solid top six forward for him. Odviously Yandle would be a sexier pickup but like Suter I dont see it happening. So that leaves us with..... Semin Datsyuk Bertuzzi Franzen Z Samuelsson Cleary Helm Nyquist Tootoo Abdelkader Miller Eaves, Emmerton and a fair amount of talented kids Defense would look like Kronwall Bouwmeester Kubina White Ericsson Kindl Quincy Smith Is this a playoff team? Hard to say. Health and luck will play a big factor. I see the hundred point streak coming to an end. I dont see a stanley cup in this group, and for the second year in a row we lost out on the big free agents even though we had money and the winged wheel. Last year we signed White after missing out on Jovanoski and wizniewski, This year we wiffed on Parise, Suter, Parenteau and most of the rest, this is likely the year we stare down the end unless a miracle occurs. Oh, and the Weber watch is on. Only 359 days until free agency 2013.

Carolina is an improved team, Staal from the Pens went from the shadow of Sid to being in the shadow of his older brother but should be a good fit, albeit at a high price. Corvo seems to always be coming or going but is a nice fit as usual. Losing Dadenov hurts a bit, this is a team needing to make up 10 points on a playoff spot, kind of the Calgary Flames of the east, but they have hope this year. If they add Semin they have to be considered a serious playoff team, if not they are a bubble team likely on the outside looking in.

Wow. Did NOT in any way see this coming. Congrats Wild fans, a great day for hockey, as bad as I wanted the Wings to sign Suter this was a great move for hockey

The sad truth is that even tho Parise has a family history in the twin cities, even tho the Wild have a ton of money to spend and want to spend it, the sad fact is Parise will likely wind up in Pittsburgh because they are relevant and minnesota is not. Doesnt seem fair, hope it has a happy ending would love to see the wild get him but they will likely get stuck with a Hudler or semin who will take the money and mail in the effort.