kickazz

Probably not good. The longer a player plays for the team the higher the cap recapture penalty I think. Capgeek had a calculator but since the website's been gone I can't find any other source to do the calculation

Yeah 20 goals from Pulk won't impress me. I thought the guy was supposed to be a pure goal scorer. Given the oppurtunity to play (will you Blash?) I'd expect him to score 30+ The main reason folks don't have an issue with guys like Ovie sucking on defense is cause Ovie scores like 50 goals. If Pulk ain't doin jack on the defensive side then he needs to be scoring like a goal scorer. Not 50, but 30 sounds reasonable. Maybe not next year but at least in 2 years. Settin the standards high.

McDavid no doubt is the best rookie. But I think we came to a conclusion here months ago that the one with the highest points usually wins the ROY. Unless a d-man is involved. Not sure how the writers vote if that's the case. Gost could very well win over Panarin

Panarin (should win too), Gostisbehere, Eichel Over course of season there's no guarantee that a player will maintain his PPG ratio. McDavid had a nice 3 month rest the way I see it. I know I'm being picky but so much could be argued against his case. A 45 game sample for rookie of the year is just too small when comparing to others who played 80+ games. 80 games is an insane grind for a rookie and 45 games is much, much easier to shine in. Larkin had 30 points in 43 games but ended up at 45 point in 80 games played. See how dramatically his PPG changed? Anyway, I'm pretty sure Panarin will win it. But I really won't be surprised if McDavid got it. Cuz it's McJesus.

Neuther should have nominated imo

I believe Fedorov is the GM of the team he plays for added with his being Datsyuk's teammate internationally. I'm sure he's heard good things about the org.

Would be great if they retired. Datsyuk already screwed us with his $7.5 cap hit now all we need is Z, Kronner and Ericsson to retire and that about be about another $15 million. Hell yeah! I'm on board lets bring there guy here! The best part is we'll get to blame Holland for that $22.5 million cap deficit once those 4 are gone. Muahahaha.

Yeah unfortunately Larkin fell off the radar after the All-star game due to his big slump. And of course McDavid is a finalist even though he missed a ton of games and didn't even finish top 3 in points and missed like 3 months.. Won't be surprised if they picked McDavid over Panarin (who is the obvious winner according to their own standards).

Kronwall getting opinions on his bad knee. http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2016/05/02/detroit-red-wings-niklas-kronwall/83840966/

Quenneville, Trotz, Tippet, Sutter. Any of those 4 would be in good competition for Babs as top 3 coach imo. Can you imagine how Quenneville would be seen if he got to coach team Canada? Guy already has 3 Stanley cups, add on the gold medals that Babs got for his international coaching position.

Nah I was pretty damn aware of Kessel's situation which began on ice during practice (fight with David Booth) into the press where he called the press out for being pretty s***ty towards Dion Phaneuf. Players treated like crap by press, fans being disrespectful, having insanely high standards for a team that hasn't won in 40 some years. Kessel (like you just said) was forced out, although most of us here will agree that he was happy to leave and likely was all for it. All this and your bolded point is exactly what I'm talking about. Why would players want to go to Toronto when they could end up with a real contender like Chicago, LA and the other 8 team still in the playoff race. Stamkos might have a good reason because from him it's going back home. From what I've seen veteran players have been unloaded by Toronto and are happy in their new environment. Also when I bring up the fact that Babcock doesn't attract free agents, it's to show that around here for YEARS that's what the narrative was. But all of a sudden, now that Babs is in Toronto, people seem to have switched their minds and are saying "Free agents will flock to Toronto because they have Babcock the best coach and Shanny". See how the LGW narrative has changed? I'm mocking it. Truth be told, I couldn't tell you what players think about Babcock. I don't have telepathic ability. And I don't really think one can say Babcock is a top 3 coach. Not yet. If he can win the cup with Toronto. I'll be the first to admit he's the best coach in all of hockey. But winning one cup with a hall of fame team isn't much of an accomplishment (especially since he lost to Dan Balysma in 2009). He couldn't get past round two since 2010 (lost to Todd Mclellan in 2010 who is now coaching Edmonton btw). And from what I can see our rookie coach got to the same position he did last year. Except the rookie had a worse off Zetterberg/Kronwall (new whipping boys of LGW) and a Datsyuk who produced 0 points in 5 games. I once thought Babs was the best coach in the league but after repeated early round exists my opinion has changed. I'm at the point where I think Toronto is his true test. So until then I'll hold off on giving him any titles.

I don't see the need to move his contract if it's going to cost more than a 4th rounder. We have some cap relief from Franzen on LTIR if I'm not mistaken.

Lol you mised the point completely. I'm well aware of Kessel trade. Players wanted out not in. And around here the narrative was that players don't like Babcock and that's why free agents would not come here. And my other point was McDavid wasn't a god that changed Edmonton's record. Similarly Mathews won't either. On one hand Edmonton has been rebuilding for years and years while Toronto JUST started. So yeah in terms of the long process Edmonton is in a better position. They have key pieces, Toronto still needs more. It's a long re-build for them. Lou, Shanny and Babcock have already mentioned time and again not to expect fast results like ya'll are talking about. And lets not overrate Shanny and Babs lol. One has been president of the org for one year while the other has one Staneley cup and couldn't get far in the playoffs since 09. Now I can see if people think Babcock and Shanny's hair are attractive enough to go to them.

Even if they asked for something in return (I'm not sure why they would because at this rate neither Carolina nor Arizona will be able to reach cap floor) it won't be anything crazy. Worse comes to worse, Ken Holland could just keep Datsyuk's contract for the year. He wouldn't risk an asset for one year of salary and Arizona and Carolina know that. We have less to lose than they do. Especially because Shane Doan is 39 years old and there is no way they would resign him for 7 million dollars just to make up for cap lol. For one, Shane Doan might not be playing for Arizona. Carolina is in an even worse position. They barely made the cap floor last year and this year Cam Ward's $6.3 million cap hit is up.

Actually there's teams out there who need the cap hit to reach the minimum floor. Moving Datsyuk's contract won't be an issue. I believe the cap floor is around $52.8 million. Next year Arizona is would be at $33 million. They need to "spend" about $20 million this summer. The Red Wings would be doing them a favor by giving them Datsyuk's contract. Carolina is another team in the same situation. http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=PHO

I'm not saying they won't be a playoff team but I certainly don't think they will just go out and win the Stanley cup. Austin Mathews could be the next Rick Dipeitro for all we know. Yeah I'm overexaggerating but nothing Toronto has done has come into fruition. They haven't even signed Stamkos AND even if they do there is NO guarantee he will be a player he once was. The guy is on blood thinners after a blood clot in his shoulder. That's an injury that might lead to an early retirement for all we know. As far as Toronto being a "Free agent" destination. Last I checked their best forward left for Penguins. Okay they have Babcock now so maybe free agents might come (lol remeber the theories around here that free agents DON'T come because players don't like Babcock)..? But why would a top free agent risk coming to a team that's known to be a place where players go ruin their careers? Like Frank said, I think Edmonton and Buffalo are in a better position. But even they are struggling and for Edmonton this has been a long winded process. Toronto will not be an exception to this long process. Btw Dan Balsyma and Todd McLellan are great coaches.

This is your way of telling me you agree with me about the logo on the roof

Legace wasn't a terrible goalie. He just wasn't a clutch playoff goalie. I thought he was a good season goalie and honestly one of the best backups in the league in the early 2000s. Looking at that video, so many bad defensive miscues. Like why was Hemsky left wide open on that 4th goal lol.

What came out of that situation? Interesting dilemma for sure. He better have cleaned that aggressiveness over if he wants to play for us. Again, if he has, then take him, just like we took Bertuzzi.

Was it an accident? I don't remember this. You would think if it was on purpose he would have been suspended from the league. Maybe you're right. That said I'd still have him on the team. It was an incident from the past, no different than Bertuzzi. (at least he didn't paralyze the coach)

You misread my entire post. My stats showed the Oilers did better without McDavid when he was injured than with him when he came back. McDavid didn't bring the Oilers out of the crap team they are and neither will Mathews. My points is Toronto won't simply turn it around with Mathews or one or two other players. They need a lot more than that (for starters having Nazem Kadri has your center is a mistake). Which goes back to my original point that they will not win a cup under Babcock's current contract. I'm willing to take bets on this matter - I stated this twice already this year in the forums. The Maple Leafs will not win the Stanley cup under Mike Babcocks current contract. Edmonton has been tanking for years and have plenty of young promising players but somehow ALWAYS seem to miss the playoffs. What makes you think the Maple Leafs will turn it around in 3 years? Don't tell me Babcock. He had a hall of fame roster with both experienced vets and 2 best forwards in the league from 2005-2012 and only won once.

If they came out and said LED lights are a go... the stadium is back to being badass. Otherwise it's just any other arena. I guess I think it's just too plain right now. The LED lights were something to brag about. Honestly I was fine with JLA and didn't feel like a new arena was necessary. The LED lights is what sold me when they came out with the presentation couple years ago.. I was like DAM!!!!!

True but if he isn't signed by July 1st, we wait. If Avs are making an offer then I guess Holland pulls the trigger and we go for Okposo + Radulov for 2016/17. Still not a bad addition overall.

I mean offer him July 1st and hold off on Radulov till after. I'm not sure if Radulov has decided on going anywhere just yet. The Avs and Wings seem to be the top two choices.

Rooney family (Steelers), Kraft (Patriots) probably regarded as the best in sports. Illitch might be the best owner in NHL though but not sure about sports overall. Maybe if the Tigers didn't lose the World Series in 2012 Illitch could have claimed the title. But I digress. Anyways, I don't think the name or logo issue will make Illitches any less respected by fans. I don't think anyone in the press or social media has said anything negative about them. Folks just pissed about the name and thats that.