frankgrimes

It is really simple, if people are asking for predictions there will usually be all sorts of outcomes...Being a realist isn't the same as being a debbie downer just like being optimistic isn't the same as being a delusional fanboy. Anyway, given our outstanding record since 2009 and another wonderful UFA period here are mine: 1. There will be injuries and our stars are aging, so their bodies will need longer to recover. So yeah if Pasha and Z can play a combined 130 games I would be very happy with that. 2. Top 2 - 3 in the East will only happen if some former all-stars are using their Delorian, then sign with the team in their prime years (yes I'm talking about Lids, Y, Mr. Hockey...). Pittsburgh and Boston will have the number 1 and number 2 spot locked up, after them it will be a battle between Tampa, Montreal, Rangers, Columbus and the Caps. Wings will fight with Toronto, Philadelphia for the last remaining spot. 3. The goaltending is not that bad, if Howard struggles again I'm more than comfortable with Gustavsson having to bail him out again. No goalie not even the King would look good behind such an atrocious defense and this is nothing new. 4. I'm sure Alfie will be back so this is going to be the exact same roster like last year, only 1 year older. Of course other teams are now knowing well how to shutdown our kidline and this will make life harder for Tatar, Nyquist and Sheahan. So I can't see how the exact same roster which barely made the playoffs all of a sudden would be able to climb near the top of the league again. 5. Team is again soft as butter and it only takes one iltimed check for an injury to reaccure, since other teams won't have to fear anyone on this team Z's back will for sure be a target...great times... 6. Kronwall will be asked to play in an uncomfortable position again (running the PP) and even forget his former nickname too bad his hits often created excitment back in the days. 7. Mantha hopefully - I pray - will get a full season in the AHL to bulk up even more and learn the in and outs of the pro-game. Sproul might be able to get the first 9 games on the roster and then we will see. 8. The saddest part, this will be the last year of watching the best coach in hockey using his magic to get a rapidly declining team into the playoffs again. If he succeeds in that regard he should be the frontrunner for the Jack Adams (long overdue).

Brassard is represented by Craig Osther of Newport Sports. Imagine the New York Rangers without him, their center depth after Stepan would have been atrocious and the team would also been as soft as the Wings. Brassard brings some intangibles and they did pay for 4 UFA years, that's going to cost you. Is he overpaid ? Yes, but only by 0,5k with an ever rising cap that's not much. Kent Hughes - the agent for Pouliot - is hired by MFive Sports (didn't ever hear of them before).

Hardly, there is definately some information about the agencies and how they are dealing with their clients. I.e Titansports didn't knew that a matched offersheet means the matching-team doesn't have to add NMC/NTC clauses, otherwise Titansports would have done a better job in telling Nashville not to match the os.

Where is the harm in that ? Both are very experienced guys with a ton of knowledge so they could help out our struggling GM. I know they aren't superb choices but at the end of day there is nothing better available and I'm sure Burke already has the contracts written for both guys.

Leafs just fired their Co GMs and Loiselle is considered a cap guru, so maybe he could help us with an outside perspective.

20 players 20 letters laughs

Loiselle was responsible for the cap so you can't blame him for the on ice failures. As for the guy they've hired that's some damn impressive career at 28 but that being said, the media is already setting him up over the top as.the new wunderkid. Also I'm not sure what Shanahan has done to deserve that position over Nonis

Well the Habs have elite goaltending, so that's why I've put them above us. Bolts downfall in the playoffs was Lindberg but with the additions, probably Drouin making the team they look dangerous for years to come. Rangers have elite elite goaltending and a great defense, Caps really pumped up their defense this offseason and Trotz is an outstanding coach and yeah Pittsburgh has Crosby, Napkin, Letang, Ehrhoff plus that Maataa Kido. Blue Jackets, Flyers are closer yes and we should be better than the Panthers, Sabres, Send and Isles but that's not the type of category the Wings should be finding themselves in.

If he tops out as either Vlasic or Girardi that would be fantastic just wait till he bulks up and his hits will arrive.

Well than I'm rather wrong than delusional. Pens, Bolts, Habs, Blue Jackets, Rangers are clearly better. Flyers may be a toss up but their physicality gives them the edge.

No worries I see three groups: 1. Pens, Bruins, Tampa, Habs, Caps 2. Flyers, Blue Jackets, Rangers 3. Hurricanes, Wings, Leafs, Senators, Isles And then obvious McDavid candidates Sabres and Panthers. Given the last few (barely playoff bound) seasons I think group fits which is sad but reality

The difference now is the Caps hired a world class coach, someone who will teach and expect defensive responsibilities from everyone. Add to that that Niskanen signing and although overpaid Orpik is a hitting machine so their defense is extremely improved. Caps are going to make the playoffs. The Wings barely made the playoffs last season so with the caps in I think the chances of the same roster making it this year are...very slim. Yeah Boston lost their best scorer but they are still a top team. Isles did nothing to improve their defense they will be a better team but I don't think they are playoff bound. Toronto, Carolina, New York, Ottawa and Detroit have to hope that some of the 8 better teams will have a subpar season.

I also thought about Kevin Big Sexy Nash, the guy only had two nicknames Diesel and Big Sexy *lol* the other one I associate with Diesel is that fast and furious superstar Vin Diesel. As for Tatar: The guy has shown tremendous loyality after playing through the most difficult time of his life, so I really hope he gets some sort of reward for that.

If we lose either one purely for money I'd call this the worst offseason since two decades.

Guys and girls let's not overreact here. Don't get me wrong I would love such a beautiful arena with all the lighting and colloseeum like seating but so far these are only pictures of the project. When it comes down to actually building it nobody knows if they aren't going to chance some things here and there just to get it done in time etc. I honestly believe there should and can't be any discussion about the name, it has to be named after an ex player or even more deservingly about the guy who turned this franchise around from top to bottom, our very own Mr. Mike I. I love the term ICE (Ilitch Center of Entertainment) Arena :-)

I'm worried about both of them. The way this offseason has gone for the Wings has me honestly very worried about the Holland term "fair deals". If I'm Dekeyser's agent and the deal is a joke compared to the one Quincey got well he wouldn't hear back from me too soon either and once he he does my counter-offer would start at the 4 mill ballpark I really believe Dekeyser has earned it.

For me it is easy to side with O'Reilly here: The Avs just didn't handle him well, so the relationship went sore soon and now they are willing to do the same thing again ? Is O'Reilly worth 6,5 per right now ? Probably not but he could very well be worth it in the future. Also keep in mind if a player signs an offer-sheet he is basically telling the team: "ok this is going to be my pricetag going forward"...if the team matches => the player and agent will think "good they are fine with it" Nobody could have predicted that stupid "internal cap structure" Duchene is the excemption, yes, he is a better player than Ryan but he really took an underpaid contract guy would have gotten 6,5+ on the open market, same goes for Landeskog. But expecting every player to fall into that cap structure will soon lead to a disaster, Statsny didn't want to do it and neither does O'Reilly which to me is completely understandable, I wouldn't either (1 million over lets say 6 years = 6 million less at the bank..), that's one heck of a beautiful house or 15 over the top cars. Also keep in mind what type of message the Avs are sending out this summer, it's like: if you play for us you won't be allowed to make more than 6 AAV which won't work at all with an ever rising cap ..

From what I know Diesel is the nickname for that Oilers pick. Anyway if the Dekeyser camp asks for 4 mill per and deservingly so, Holland only has himself to blame because HE signed Quincey to that 8.5 tow year deal. You don't piss off RFA's with lowball offers like that. Tatar will for sure get more than 1.5 per. If things are going really really well I could maybe see both settleing in on around 3,25 per which I would consider a steal.

I fully agree about the Ryan O'Reilly saga, the guy came of a career year the Avs were willing to match the offersheet and now they expect him to take less ? And if he doesn't play along they take him to club filed arbitration ? Wow just wow. Thankfully O'Reilly is a Newport Sports client and they won't cave one bit here, why should they. Yeah Duchene took less money for longer term but that doesn't mean every player has and will do the same. Sakic really has to think about the bottom line here: Ryan O'Reilly on the open market would get easily get something close to 7 aav, so expecting him to 1 mill less per year is just insane. Dater has a really good inside article about the whole thing http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs If the Avs clearly believe in that "Duchene cap" good luck signing top UFAS in the free agent market, it's not going to happen they've already lost Statsny and are now willing to risk another loss in O'Reilly. If I'm O'Reilly I'm thinking :,, Okay, they don't think I'm worth more than 6 million after a career year although they've matched an offer-sheet and all because of some internal "cap structure"...You know what screw that, Meahan should get me the best arbitration deal possible I'm going to sign a one year deal, so my trade value will be low, having my best offseason workout ever and when all is said and done I'm going to a team that values me and my skills..." Top centers are so hard to come by in the cap era and the Avs are looking at losing two of them in a span of one year, wow. Just goes to show you how happy we can be with Mike Ilitch guy would spend whatever it takes to ice a winner, sadly the NHL doesn't allow it.

Yeah I've never seen an arena doing something like this but it looks so damn cool. Also the options are endless if you artists are holding concerts there they could display the cover of their newest cds.

Well even if you technically lose him for nothing, it gives us a free roster spot to feel while it may not be much at least it's something. Also DeKeyser is simple a must sign, very steady defender who just needs to bulk up more and he will only get better, plus he is a michigan boy AND young. With some of the contracts given out this year it really wouldn't surprise me if he gets - and deserves - around 4 mill per.

I love Haikus so Kane and Toews are paid Blackhawks are on the decline soon enough That's not just worthless stuff As for the dream of Seabrook forget it, Bowman would be incredible stupid to destroy their top pairing and a big reason why Keith can be that offensive weapon is the steady defensive play of Seabrook. In my mind he is one of the top defenders in the game just gets underrated because he doesn't wow you with a lot of points but I'd rather have him on the ice during the last minute of the game than the "gamebreaker" Keith who is an unbelievable defenseman too.

What's wrong with havinga winner ? Different sports are having different metrics and just because a stupid sport like soccer is having a tie, doesn't mean hockey should do so too. The most important part in all of this is how are the players thinking about the shootout ?

Agreed I really hope the name it after one of the all time greats or Ilitch god knows Mike deserves it.

It looks like a new colloseum, the lighting effects with the RW logo are great. Gotta be the first arena to do that. But overall I agree I think a place somewhere outside would have been a better choice.