stevkrause

Where there's smoke, there's fire... I think there was some merit to it being presented at the deadline, now how far the talks went are a different thing, could have been as simple as a phone call just putting out feelers, it could have been a package they couldn't come to terms on in the 13th hour that fell through, that we'll never know and Holland is smart enough to play his cards close enough to his vest that we never will and that is one of the reasons he is such a good GM... Now that they're moving to Winnipeg and owned by True North, I don't see them letting any of their stars get away... so the odds of Bogo being a Wing now probably dipped to <1%, whereas, before, who knows how high the chance was...

I don't think anyone is "untouchable" short of Dats and Z, although it'd take one HELL of an offer to part with quite a few other guys (Helm, Kronwall, Cleary, Howard) With the way Flip played in the playoffs, I'd hate to see him go, but we may be able to get the most for him... I don't think Cleary is going anywhere (see above) and I think Huds played his value too low to make it worth trading him, unless a team specifically wants him and essentially "overpays" to get him... This is a joke, right? MAYBE (and that's a HUGE maybe) I'd consider him if he were in the last year of his deal, where it was a one year try-out so to speak, but he is a turn over machine and is injury prone and makes more than 1m+ more than DATSYUK... no thanks...

He looked STELLAR at the Olympics and pretty good at the worlds... EDIT - for fact-checking I wonder how high he'll go at the draft... and I don't think we can afford moving up that high to grab him... also, there's the fact that he's most likely going to need some AHL seasoning first, so although he'd be a nice addition, he wouldn't fix our immediate need...

True North has deep pockets and wants to keep their stars, I don't see them even letting Bogo go now, I'm sure even he is off the table, but I think there's ZERO chance they trade Enstrom, unless it's for a kings ransom... he's young, cheap still and has tons of upside, plus already showing skill as you stated... no way WINNIPEG lets him go...

Maybe be can re-sign Lang and trade him to Wash for Green straight up, thus completing the cycle, haha

Bogo could be had for a reasonable price, since it would just be trading for rights... we REALLY do need at LEAST 1 more right handed dman though, it he trades for Bogo and signs Bieksa, I'd be ok with that for the off-season... I still want to see them sign Bieksa and Montador(a more modest contract and fills the bottom pairing need) and really hit FA hard next year when we most likely will need a true number 1 d-man or decide on going by committee... *cough* Brent Burns *cough*... also keep in mind, we will need to re-sign Kronwall and Stuart next year (2012) There's not much out there in trade market for d-men either right now... sign Bieksa and Montador, give Kindl an everyday spot and some PP time and call it a day... If Ericsson thinks he deserves more than 2m, he can walk...

I personally think our offense is fine, but the D is where the focus needs to be, especially now with Raffi gone - My perfect off season will include signing Bieksa and Montador... Lidstrom-Bieksa Kronwall-Stuart Kindl-Montador Janik great blend of puck movers and defensive minded guys on the back end... with the story coming out that E turned down 2+ a year, I'm fine with letting him walk...

Kid could have been the next Ryan Miller from the sounds of it, but even hockey skill aside, this is a very tragic cautionary tale...

He is reported to be planning on reporting to camp in the fall: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Nabokov+opts+join+Isles+after/4814507/story.html I still think they will trade him and I think he's only playing nice to get into NHL shape and prove enough to get traded... if he's still an Islander come Jan 1st, I could see him retiring, or bolting back to Russia...

Looks like there's a good chance he'll be pursued by Phi... that'd be a great pickup for them, especially for him being a mentor to Bobrovsky... http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/phi110523.html

haha, yea, there's that!

I suggested this before too and it would still be a marked improvement over the current system, the problem, is that you would end up with essentially all the biggest markets in the North and that isn't good for the league... either way, something's got to change...

EDIT, just checked my facts and it wasn't back, he has had hip problems as well... scary injuries for goalies

Agreed 100% - I think as soon as the Isles claimed him, his chances of ever being a Wing went down to <1% In regards to your list, the only 3 on that list I see worth pursuing are Conklin, Auld or Theodore... I fully believe Smith will re-sign in TB, I think Hedberg will re-sign in NJ, Turco had a bad year and I think there's too much bad blood with the Wings (not from anything other than all the losses we've given him) for him to come here... even with him being a Mich grad and Boucher and Harding I don't care for, or think they're consistent enough to be a reliable backup here

I think there's always that chance of his rights being dealt before or at the draft, without ever having donned a NYI jersey, however, being a full year removed from NHL action and having a poor World's probably lowered his trade value, so they may want to keep him and see if they can't up his value... never know though...

So you're saying there's a 90% chance then? haha Seriously though, with the way Montoya played for them at the end of the year, they might be best served hitching their wagon to him anyway and giving him the starting position regardless of who else they have at camp... he's still young and wasn't a top pick for nothing, he just has to get his confidence back and he looked like he was starting to at the end of the season... if they're smart (which this is Snow we're talking about, so take that for what it's worth), they'll deal Nabby, and make DiPi the backup, he'd be better served playing less games at this point anyway and there's no way they're getting out of that contract...

Agreed and it sucks... unfortunately, what WILL happen and what should VERY rarely ever line up in the NHL

Agreed. The long and the short of it is that the league needs to get away from an East/West format for conferences, however they split up the divisions after that, I'm cool with it, as long as ALL teams have a somewhat equal travel for the season. Otherwise, parity is not there.

Especially with the Winnipeg deal going down and the league not wanting to move Detroit East due to revenues in the West... this NEEDS to happen, if they want parity, MAKE parity, the travel on the West compared to the East is BS right now and does not make an even playing field...

I'm pretty sure he's under contract with the KHL and I don't think he wants to leave a head gig to be an asst anymore... who knows though, stranger things have happened, I'd welcome him back with open arms!

As I've said all along, I would prefer he get a little seasoning in the AHL donning the coaching cap first, but I wouldn't be opposed at all to him stepping into an NHL gig right away, he's a rare breed and I think one of those guys that is just a natural coach...

understandable, it is such a joyous day, that one's excitement can get the best of them!

GRAMMAR POLICE, GRAMMAR POLICE, GRAMMAR POLICE :siren: Sorry, but of all the grammar snafu's, the "Your/you're, there/ their/they're" one is at the top of my list

He didn't do his job and needed to be replaced. simple as that. His sole responsibilities were PK and D - our PK and GA have taken drastic downturns during his tenure. Our prospects development (Ericsson, Meech, Kindl) all hit walls when they got to him and he hardly helped move them forward in their games and let them become stagnant. To blame 100% if our playoff exit on him is indeed shortsighted and naive, but to write off the vitriol towards him as strictly being treated as a scapegoat, is way over-simplifying the facts. We are a better team with him out of the equation. EDIT - I was a big proponent of bringing back the minuses, but whoever gave you a minus for an opinion is kind of ridiculous, I am going to give you a plus for an opinion I disagree with, just to even it out...

yea, that's not happening...