some thought maybe a good time for a general NHL thread.
William Nylander deadline is tomorrow at 5pm ET. Options for Leafs still remain sign him or trade him. After 12/1 he's got to sit the year (or at least can't play in the NHL).
A lot of eyes on this contract, RFA's now want/expect to get paid like FA's and it's going to set a tough precedent for other NHL teams depending what the Leafs do.
At the same time, I'd absolutely trade a lot for Nylander.
A 22 year old legit top line center coming off back to back 60 point seasons. lethal on the PP and proven to be good on the dots given the chance.
Some say the Leafs may sign him and then trade him shortly after (like the Habs did with Subban)
Other topics:
Shocked Hextall was fired
Shocked McLellan was fired and Chiarelli keeps his job
Impressed more and more with the youth in the game, Matthews, Laine, Pastrnak, Petterson, etc...all elite not to mention McDavid, but then Crosby comes back from injury and shows me again why he's one of the best to play the game.
He's the player I show the most to my kids when I want to demonstrate "the right way" to play. And I don't mean skills I mean back checking cycling, skating (tight turns, stop and go, moving without the puck, etc.) and passing.
Anyway, figured see if anyone wants to discuss these or other topics...(or I can just post back and forth to no one...LOL).
Any word on why Shattenkirk was benched last night?
I hated that signing for them since the day it was made and felt like fans thought he was a different player than he is.
I hated the Karl Azner signing even more and at least the Habs DFA'd Azner and he's now in the AHL - making a shit load of money.
Any word on why Shattenkirk was benched last night?
I hated that signing for them since the day it was made and felt like fans thought he was a different player than he is.
I hated the Karl Azner signing even more and at least the Habs DFA'd Azner and he's now in the AHL - making a shit load of money.
It was weird. I didn't see the game last night, but the Rangers guys were saying that Shattenkirk was playing pretty well last night and then was inexplicably benched.
Good for the coach not throwing the player under the bus publicly.
You never know with college coaches, but I like Quinn so far. Face some adversity and you'll see the true test.
The Canes apparently have had some serious discussions with the Leafs and Toronto needs to shore up their defence while the Canes are desperately wanting a first liner to help their lacking offence.
The Canes apparently have had some serious discussions with the Leafs and Toronto needs to shore up their defence while the Canes are desperately wanting a first liner to help their lacking offence.
makes sense to me. I really liked the Canes off-season other than Francis, but that's more for my admiration of Ron Francis the player. I don't really know if he was a good front office executive.
same reason I wanted Adam Oates to be a great coach. I loved him as a player.
If they don't give up players from their roster, adding Nylander puts the Canes right in the hunt IMO in the Metro. And they do have a surplus of D so they could withstand losing D.
Pepperidge Farm remembers!
He didn't seem like anything special and I didn't get the clamoring to bring him back.
Jon in NJ was a big, big Zherdev fan as well.
Jon in NJ was a big, big Zherdev fan as well.
Correct. Slight overreaction on my part. Only slight!
I wasn't anti-Tkachuk, but I definitely didn't expect him to be this good this soon.
Some people were dead set against him, saying he'd be a bust.
Pronman had a great piece today or yesterday in the Athletic about "prospects I was wrong about" and Tkachuk was in it and he fell in the same line of thinking as a lot of other people "he didn't score at an elite level in college"
Well, he was the youngest player in NCAA or close to it and he still excelled, just not on the scoresheet which obviously is where many fans look (me included).
Anyway, I was wrong, but some people were more wrong.
I don't wish the Habs took Tkachuk over Kotkaniemi but he was without a doubt a top 5 pick in this draft class and he'll IMO be a star in this league.
I'm also definitely glad the Habs didn't take Zadina. Kotkaniemi is better than I thought.
Zadina is going to be good, but not as good as Tkachuk or Kotkaniemi and not at C.
I know you're being facetious, but I think the Leafs need D.
What would they do with Hayes and/or Zucc?
Neither played would crack Toronto's top 6.
Yet, Ron Hainsey is a top pair D in Toronto.
Rielly is awesome, but Hainsey was bad 8 years ago (and I should like him as a former Hab and CT kid).
If I were the Kings I'd look to package Kovy and Doughty (or worst case Martinez) for Nylander and use Nylander as a major piece for the rebuild.
Kings have the oldest team in the league and being old and bad is a rough combination.
Kings would need to eat salary though, not sure if they're ready to do that on the newly signed Kovalchuk, but I would for Nylander. Doughty is a FA after the season.
The Leafs with Kovy and Doughty would be even more insane offensively.
I think they have to sign him - wherever he goes. Nylander is not under contract right now, he's an RFA.
Quote:
If they re-sign him the 2nd round pick becomes a 1st.
I think they have to sign him - wherever he goes. Nylander is not under contract right now, he's an RFA.
Sorry I meant a contract for more than this season.
I don't know the players that well on the Devils, but possibly.
Nylander is looking at a 7 year $50M contract. He's asking for $8M per and apparently the Leafs are around $7M per.
I'm not sure how a trade works of an unsigned RFA, if he's traded does the acquiring team still need to sign him or if he signs first with the Leafs then gets traded and if he signs with the acquiring team is the deadline extended?
I know if he's still with the Leafs after 5pm 12/1 and hasn't signed a contract he can't play in the NHL for anyone this season.
I think he'll be suspended again for this.
no idea what's in this guy's head. He could be a top 20 player in the league with his combo of size, speed, physicality and skill but he's a POS.
Link - ( New Window )
- Toronto-based Neurologist who examined Ewen in 2015 and found no evidence of CTE, which finding Bettman widely touted in his naysaying to the Players' Ass'n in its suit, and she provided expert testimony for the NHL--her impartiality and/or her science are now in question after a BU neurologist found that Ewen had clear cut case of CTE. Links to NYT don't work in BBI, here it is anyway:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/sports/hockey/todd-ewen-cte-hockey.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fsports&action=click&contentCollection=sports®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront
- Rangers were simply outclassed at Ottawa Thursday night, Sens skated circles around them, Henrik made a blundering attempt to clear the puck behind his own net (what else is new?), Sens kept it in, then Lundquist failed to make what looked like a makeable save. First and third goals he couldn't have done much about. Strome getting fair amount of ice time.
lonk - ( New Window )
Wow, great deal for Toronto.
As much as the Canadians were hated, the arrogance of a NY Yankees' like dominance of the old NHL, I thrilled at the sight of their uniforms on ice, their home reds (I think) conjuring thoughts of the Soviet Red Army team, some thought matchless.
My cousin was dating Teddy Green in the late 60s, so she/they took me a couple of times to the old Forum, what a kick to take in a couple of games in the steep tiers of seats of that hockey shrine.
Luke Witkowksi (Red Wings) laid a perfect center ice hit in Krejci and because of that Nordstrom drops the gloves with Witkowski?
If you have to defend yourself for a clean hit, that's not what fighting in hockey is supposed to be for (in my world).
Link for hit below
Link - ( New Window )
Including the officiating... I swear they still get home brewed officiating to this day. And don't forget the draft... they held exclusive rights to all players from Quebec (as did other teams, but Quebec was a hell of a lot better than NYC... lol)
Now that has to be some great memories!
The Mark Stone effect is real so that helps Tkachuk's stats but he's an excellent player.
Ottawa is about as close to last in the east as they are to the last Wildcard spot... East is insanely tight at the bottom right now. I assume Ottawa will sink to the near bottom, but I actually really like a lot of their roster. Stone and Duchene are fantastic. White, Tkachuk and Batherson are rookies that look like future (or current) strong top 6 players. Chabot is phenomenal and there are a few young D that are emerging or developing nicely. But there are too many black holes on that team that need to be replaced.
Anyway, at least the East is wide open, one good week and you peek your head above the wildcard line. Better that than bottom feeders with no hope. All of our teams (NYR, NYI, NJD, Mtl, Ott, Car) all seem to be in the same boat. All contending/pretending for the 8th spot. Maybe we can all come together for a comming outcome - ABC... Anybody But Crosby