chaps80

It is if Bishop doesnt do well in Dallas, which he might not. Like I said before, he's overrated and may be exposed by their defense.

Well, if they buy out Niemi, they have around $13 million for three goalies for one year technically, but two on the roster. Niemi should find at least a backup job elsewhere. After next season, Lehtonen's contract is done. So they have Bishop at $5 million and Niemi's $1.5 million buyout for one season, plus a backup at $1.5 million give or take for $8 million total, which is average or less around the league. So yeah, Nill made a mistake with Lehtonen/Niemi, but that's been known for awhile. He signed probably the top UFA goalie available for less than $5 million a season, has a $13 million goalie cap hit for one more season (already had $11 million anyways), then down to $8 million for one, then around $6.5 million after that. Bad moves, but good job fixing them imo. I think some Stars fans can forgive him for those blunders with moves like Eriksson for Seguin and Eaves for a first rounder too. Then again, some are never happy.

I dunno about next year. Too many holes in their team. But if they take the right guy first overall and get a good return from Kovalchuk's rights, they'll have a good start. Yep. Once your season is over you can make trades with any other teams who aren't still in the playoffs. No signing any pending NHL free agents until July 1 though, unless you trade for their rights and they sign. But once the deadline for XDraft protection lists hits, no deals until LV has selected their roster. Then free game again.

I could honestly see it. Lol

Craig Andersen first star of the game. He's playing lights out right now.

Sens draw first blood! 1-0 series lead!

Three more Preds! Dooooo itttttt!!!

Yep, perfect opportunity to name the arena in Gordie's memory with him passing fairly recently. Should have been a no-brainer. Name it after pizza or the greatest NHL player of all time who has been with or around the team in some aspect since the mid-1940's...hmmmmm..... Dumb.

Exactly. He's got on year left on his contract, buying that out won't be bad at all. $3 million total at $1.5 million for two seasons. Buying out Lehtonen would be $1.7 million for two seasons (actual cap hit of $2.7 million in the first season). No buyouts currently on their books. If Holland bought out Howard last summer with three years left and the Weiss buyout already on the books, that's a bit different. But the Niemi buyout is peanuts. $1.5 million for two seasons. They currently have almost $3 million in cap space with no LTIR used.

It is a lot of money, but it will be cut down before the season starts somehow. At worst they'll have Bishop and one of Lehtonen or Niemi for one more season after the expansion draft or a buyout or trade. 6 years is quite a bit to give a goalie, but I'm sure there was a lot of interest in him and he was looking for a long term deal. Just under $5 million a season is less than he could have gotten elsewhere as well. I'd trade his deal for Nielson's. Lol least he'd be moveable.

Coreau is pretty well Bishops size, but I find he tries to be too "athletic", instead of using that size to his advantage like Bishop does. If he kept it simple, he could be a solid NHL goalie. He should get a couple looks this season, hopefully he fares better.

Well, he's caught a lot of s*** for the 12 million dollar Lehtonen/Niemi tandem dumpster fire already. He had to do something. With only one year each left on their deals which gives him some flexibility, Bishop was a good signing. Had it been 2 years ago, hell no. Now to see how Bishop fares in Dallas behind a lesser D.

I doubt that. Bishop is pretty overrated. He was nothing but an NHL backup/AHL starter until he got to Tampa, where he benefitted greatly from a much better team in front of him. Not to say he didn't play well when called upon, but it's hard to suck that bad at stopping pucks when your 6'7 and 220lbs, and add goalie equipment to that, even taller and wider. He just needs to stand there and there's very little to shoot at that he can't stop with little movement. Add a great defense to that and it's very hard to get quality chances on him. I'd watch how he does in Dallas with the defenders they have. No Stralman or Doughty there. If he played behind the Detroit defense, he wouldn't fair any better than any of their goalies.

Lehtonen and Niemi's contracts expire end of next season. Vegas may take Lehtonen, and if not, Nill can buy out Niemi, waive and bury him if not claimed, or trade him for "future considerations" if any team is interested (doubtful). Either way, one of the two will be gone before next season starts and the other will be a UFA at the end of it.

Man, that LC logo on the roof hahaha I still can't believe that's real and they actually went through with that name. Little. Caesars. Arena. What a shrine for Hockeytown.

Probably, but every team has a contract they regret with the cap in place. Remember when the 2004 Wings had 18 million tied up in goalies? Lol the good days.

Yeah I have no idea how they came to that low a number, even for a 6 year deal. Plus he'll only be 36 when the contract ends. Nill does have a pile of well paid goalies now to deal with, but both Lehtonen and Niemi's contracts expire after this season. He's gonna have to buy one (likely Niemi) out, bury them in the minors, or give them away for pretty much nothing if Vegas doesn't snag one of the two. Minor detail though.

That's kinda scary. Coreau was clearly not ready when he was up last time. I know Blash likes him, but I hope if Howard is moved that he lets them battle it out in camp before promoting one. Yeah they will have to do whatever it takes to get rid of him. His contract is up after this season anyways I think.

Bishop just signed a 6 year deal with Dallas worth $4.92 million a season. So now they have three expensive goalies. I guess Nill is banking on Lehtonen or Niemi being taken by Vegas or being able to trade one. Could buy one out as well or try waivers I guess.

Yeah I know. Even before the cap being a top 5 goalie year in year out didn't mean you'd win a Cup. Joseph rounded out the top 5 of his generation along with Brodeur, Hasek, Roy, and Belfour, but he was the only one not to win a Cup. That was his main reason for leaving Toronto (a city he loved playing in) for Detroit. Couldn't pass up the opportunity to join the defending Cup champs who still had a loaded roster. But In his three seasons there he suffered a first round sweep to Anaheim, a six game semifinal loss to Calgary, and a lockout. Not to mention a battle with Hasek and being put on waivers and sent to GR for a spell. After that, he just fizzled out playing in Phoenix, Calgary, then retired after a badly failed return to Toronto.

I meant for Mrazek to hit the next level. Lol Howard is what he is. I'm looking forward to seeing what Matej can do as well. I think he can challenge and maybe pass Coreau on the depth chart and for the starting job in GR.

Ya, Bishop is now on his 6th team, but he was in Tampa for a good stretch. Would have been re-signed too had Vas not been waiting to take his place. The Tampa-LA thing was just Yzerman getting something while he still could, and the LA-Dallas move was the same with them protecting Quick. Hard to count those two unless he signs in Dallas, but he has been moved quite a bit for a top goalie. He's only been a top goalie on Tampa though. Watch him sign a huge deal with Dallas and flop. Lol

Of course Howard doesn't want to move to help out the team that gave him a big contract he hasn't earned and who he hasn't taken past the second round even once. Five playoff games played since 2014 out of a possible 17. Needs to stop worrying about staying put and fighting to start a portion of the games for the Wings next season in a rebuild and go somewhere he def will start all the games he can be healthy for, like Winnipeg or Calgary, who is actually a playoff team. At 33, you think he'd want the chance to join a team a lot closer to a Cup. Goalies are weird though... I agree Mrazek's problem is mental, and I honestly think moving Howard would help him hit that next level. It shouldn't bother him, but goalies are weird, like I said, and some don't like being on a team with another starting goalie, like Cujo with Hasek. Leads to problems.

Abby, Glendening and a 6th?

Oh, and the pick Dallas got for Eaves is now bumped up to a first rounder with Anaheim reaching the Conference Final and Eaves playing in at least half the games (7 of 11).