kliq

I see where our differences come from, I don't have the same level of admiration towards LaBron James that you do. He is now #1 in scoring in the playoffs, but it took him 216 games (compared to 179 games of Jordan), and playing in a weak conference on stacked teams ensuring going to the finals every year to do so. IMO he is nowhere near the level of a Michael Jordan and never will be. But this is not the place for this argument. Also, my argument with Crosby was PPG not total points. Based on what you think of LaBron, I would agree with what you are saying. Since I dont agree with your opinion of LaBron, I obviously dont agree with your opinion. I agree to agree to disagree lol.

Unfortunately there is no way to know. Lidstrom's adaptability to the evolution of the game was absolutely amazing, Konstantinov could have struggled, or he could have adapted better. It's all guess work. Such a sad story.

I haven't seen any of the games, but I have been reading about everything and it really sounds like he is being exposed these playoffs. Based on what you have watched of him at the AHL level, do you think he has what it takes to be a good NHL backup on a playoff team? Or is he a career AHL guy? He's not hurt is he?

Just create a Holland is an idiot thread then, or pull up one of the many anti Holland threads. It just gets annoying when every thread turns into the same rhetoric. Anyways....JVR is a good player, but we don't need wingers, and we especially don't need expiring contracts when it will take young talent or future assets to get them. I actually agree with @frankgrimes, we need the same thing that the Leafs need, so it's not happening.

I don't agree with shocky, but I think Crosby is a bit better then what you are describing him as. Crosby has been the best player in the NHL for over a decade. As far as I know Bird never did that, and Kobe didn't either. I think Malkin and Ovie would be closer comparisons to those two. Not to mention, playing in an era where scoring is down, Crosby still has managed to put himself 6th in points per game at 1.313 PPG, the guy is a generational player, and LaBron is a good comparison. Both have dominated since they came into their respective leagues.

http://www.tsn.ca/report-flat-nhl-salary-cap-expected-for-2017-18-1.775862 "Brooks notes that concern over stagnant revenue will likely lead to the PA appointing Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios as a special ombudsman in preparation for upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The players can opt out of the current CBA prior to the 2019-2020 season. There is also the idea of creating a committee of active players to support the union, but this would not constitute a challenge to NHLPA president Donald Fehr."

I think Big Dylan is going to get a chance on the Wings this year, not as a top 6, but as a call up at some point.

We need cap room, but we are not desperate for it this season. I would much rather a guy like Howard who only has 2 years left be allowed to play out his contract, then trading him away with assets to find someone to take him, or buying him out. Now if we get an offer for Howard where we gain, sure take it. If he is picked in the draft, awesome. But I would only give up assets along with the contract dump if LV was taking a guy under contract long term like E or Nieslen, but with Nieslen's NMC that is not happening. Our best bet IMO is to ask LV to take E in the draft and then trade them someone they value that we can part with in exchange for them taking E since I believe this draft is the only way to move E (he has a NTC right?).

If this isn't proof of Towes being overrated, I am not sure what else is. If Toews was on almost any other team or was European, nobody would talk about him in this manner. The NHL has decided to create a narrative to sell it's product, and so many people fall for it, its crazy. Toews is a very very good player. But to say he's at the same level as Crosby/Ovie AND that he's the 2nd best leader in the history of the sport is just not true.

I think his signing in a bubble is ok, but combined with Nielsen, Abby, E, Howard etc. I think it was a bad signing. Now if we were to trade the 4 guys I named above, I would have no problem with it. You need to have some vets to help mold the kids, and I think Helm is a great 3C.

That's right! I remember you posting that. I could see it happening. If Howard could equal a nice draft pick in his final year, add a veteran presence in net to lean on for the next year or so, plus add salary for a short term to help the team hit the cap floor, that could be a more valuable asset then a #5 or #6 d-man or bottom 6 center/winger.

There was a rumor a while back that Vegas was going to take a lot of goalies so they could control the goalie market this summer. Could be BS as I dont remember the source, but hopefully this is true. Cap hits for the first couple years should mean nothing for Vegas. They should be going for guys that are either the future, or assets that can translate into future picks at the trade deadline. A guy like Howard may be a very valuable trade asset come trade deadline 2019 for a contender needing a goalie.

HAHA I was thinking the same thing!

Do you consider Bergeron and Kopitar on the same level as Ovie and Crosby? Because those are the best comparables to Toews just without the media jamming them down our throats.

The first "deal" has been worked out. I wonder if we could do something like this? Allow them to take Sheahan on the condition they trade for E? (or trade them Sheahan on the condition they draft E) http://www.tsn.ca/golden-knights-close-to-agreement-for-van-riemsdyk-kruger-1.766336

There is no denying this, Toews is a very good player who has been blessed to be on extremely talented teams his entire career. However this is not a metric to define greatness which is the incorrect narrative that some fans like to come up with. This has nothing to do with me liking him, or not liking him, it's purely assessing his skill set fairly and accurately. I have said this before, but I put Towes up there with Bergeron and Kopitar, I do not put him up there with Crosby and Malkin where some do. And come on Frank lol, I know you know that winning Gold for Team Canada does not make you "great", there are literally like 40+ players that can say that because of how stacked that team is. Take Towes off and that team does not miss a step.

Ya....he Hasek and Luc were all brought in prior to the season.

I'm not a fan of LaBron James, but to say he is not tough enough for the NHL is a joke. He is a crybaby, but I don't see how he is any different then Crosby. The majority of the crap LaBron pulls is a part of the culture of the NBA anyways. Guys dive like crazy in an attempt to get "And 1's" all the time. Also, like @kickazz said, anyone who has studied kinesiology knows that you cannot play Basketball if your quadriceps muscle is in full spasm. I dont care if you are LaBron James, Scott Stevens or Gordie Howe. The muscle stops working.

He is a UFA July 1st.

In the NBA a star player can be the difference between a team being good or being bad, in the NHL I agree they mean less, but I do believe that certain players can help a team get over the hump.

Ya in 25 years it's not even close, easily LIdstrom. If you go back to 1983 then it's a lot closer between Yzerman and Lidstrom

I have a very hard time believing that star players don't matter enough to influence outcomes. If just having a good team on paper and replacing one star with another doesnt mean anything, then Washington would have multiple cups right now and this doesnt even touch on the energy that one guy like that can bring to the room.

The elite teams have been able to stay elite, there is doubting that, but dont kid yourself into thinking there is no parity in the NHL. Parity is not defined by ONLY who's wins the championship, but rather who contends for it. Just look at the standings this year: In the Atlantic the top 4 teams didn't even make the playoffs last year. In the Eastern Conference only 3 of the 8 playoff teams made the playoffs last year. Look at Ottawa, didnt make it last year, were 1 goal away from making the Stanley Cup finals this year. Dallas was the #1 seed in the West last year, didnt make the playoffs this year. The Pens keep winning because they have the best 2 centers in the world locked in long term, not because of some big conspiracy. There is no denying parity. You want to see a league with no parity, look at the NBA.

I'm pretty exited for this finals, I like Nashville a lot this year and I hate Pittsburgh. Has all the makings of an entertaining series.