e_prime

That's a blogger's opinion based upon 32 games played. 2010-2011 New York Islanders NHL 32 GP 3 Goals 18 Ast. 21 Pts. Here's THN assessment: ASSETS: Has plenty of offensive capability, including the skills to play the point on the power play. Is aggressive by nature. Skates very well and is at his best in an up-tempo system. FLAWS: Lacks discipline as a defender, including his positioning, decision-making and being overly aggressive. Lacks ideal size and reach. CAREER POTENTIAL: Aggressive defenseman with all-around ability.

Hmmmm. You don't say. Most high school students are ******-bags in their own way. Just like I refuse to hold the fact that he's been traded several times against him, I refuse to hold his high-school douchebaggery against him. Now if you think that what he did in high school might translate to his behavior in the locker-room... Searching ye olde' interwebs there is very little to report about his locker-room presence other than speculation and opinion by various bloggers. He was supposedly a very good teammate in Chicago and did not want to leave there. He enjoyed his time with Anaheim and was happy that he got a deal done, only to be traded to the Islanders. It's obvious that he never wanted to be traded to the Isle, but while he was there he was a seemingly good teammate. Snow is Snow. So, who knows why he wasn't kept around longer. I think it was mainly the fear of his impending paycheck. Montreal is unlikely to re-sign him for that very reason as well. I still think what he brings to the table in the way of hockey play is exactly what this club could use if the price is right. He hates that he's never played for the Wings. ...and yes, stranger things have happened. Hossa.

No to Selane. No to Kariya. No to "veteran top six wingers" over 35.

On the trade from Chicago to Anaheim: In a move made right at the NHL's trade deadline on Wednesday, the Blackhawks acquired center Samuel Pahlsson from the Anaheim Ducks in exhange for defenseman James Wisniewski and center Petri Kontiola. The Hawks also received defenseman Logan Stephenson and a conditional draft pick. Wisniewski had two goals and 11 assists in 31 games for the Hawks this season and was popular with his teammates. In his third season with the Hawks, Wisniewski missed most of the first half of the season recovering from off-season knee surgery. Coach Joel Quenneville made Wisniewski a healthy scratch for two games in mid-February but the blue liner had been seeing significant playing time the last nine games. "It's a little heart-breaking but there are very few guys in this league who play for one team their whole career," Wisniewski said. "It's going to happen sooner or later. It's sad to go but it might be better off for me. "I thank the Chicago organization for sticking with me and all the help they've done to get me back to 100 percent. Coming off the injury they threw me right in there with the wolves and they had a lot of confidence in me and now they needed a checking centerman and they got it for me and it's probably best both ways. For me, I have to turn the page now. I have a job to go to Anaheim and help them win." http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/icing/2009/03/nhl-trade-deadline-update.html On the trade from Ducks to Isles: Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski was worried he was going to be dealt by Anaheim on trade deadline day, reports the Orange County Register. Wisniewski, who is in the final year of his current contract, was the subject of numerous trade rumors heading into Mar. 3's deadline. He is set to become a restricted free agent July 1 and could command a hefty raise. "I think you just kind of look at it as a business," Wisniewski told the Register. "If it happened, it happened and I'd go somewhere else and play. But, you know, I'm happy to be here. I like playing for this organization. It's just a great bunch of guys. "Hopefully we can do what we did last year and crawl into the playoffs. You never know what can happen." (The 4th Period) When I read that the Ducks avoided arbitration by signing James Wisniewski to a one-year, $3.25 million deal, I wondered how the cash-strapped Anaheim Ducks would really act. It didn’t take long for the team to show its penny pinching ways, as Ducks GM Bryan Murray decided to trade the defenseman to the New York Islanders for a conditional third round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, according to Katie Strang of New York Newsday. (James O'Brien - NBC Sports) On the trade from the Isles to Montreal: The Islanders pulled off a nifty buy-low, sell-less-low maneuver by picking up James Wisniewski for a 3rd and then flipping him for a 2nd and change after 34 games (minus two for the Avery suspension). They become the third team to trade Wisniewski while a contract extension was looming. As discussed round and round in comments yesterday, I suspect that has to do with a difference between his expected asking price and his performance: Wisniewski collects points -- playing 5 minutes per game on the powerplay will do that for you -- but the rest of his game leaves questions. http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2010/12/29/1902392/islanders-gameday-life-without-wisniewski

I'm sure that Doan would love to go back to Winnipeg, but at his current number I'm not sure that's going to happen until his contract is up. Winnipeg has been slated by the talking heads of hockey as a mid-level budget team around $53-54 million as how much they're going to be able to spend. Additionally they've stated they won't be very aggressive with free-agency and will build through the draft. It's also been noted that it will be hard to lure players there and maybe keep players there because of the city and climate. They've got almost $36 million dollars locked up for next season for 15 players leaving about $18 million. Their first major test is going to be if they can get Andrew Ladd to sign a reasonable extension. He is the team captain and it will be interesting to see if he wants to play in Winnipeg. Then they've got make decisions on Wheeler, Maxwell, Schremp, Steward, Bogosian and Feasterling as RFAs. Dvorak, Boulton, and Meyer as UFAs. Signed Players: FORWARDS Nikolai Antropov ($4.062m) / Evander Kane ($3.100m) / Bryan Little ($2.383m) Alexander Burmistrov ($1.500m) / Jim Slater ($1.000m) / Chris Thorburn ($0.866m) Patrice Cormier ($0.854m) / Tim Stapleton ($0.525m) DEFENSEMEN Dustin Byfuglien ($5.200m) / Ron Hainsey ($4.500m) Tobias Enstrom ($3.750m) / Johnny Oduya ($3.500m) Mark Stuart ($1.700m) GOALTENDERS Chris Mason ($1.850m) / Ondrej Pavelec ($1.150m) CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS Budget: $54,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $35,941,666; BONUSES: $3,087,500 CAP SPACE (15-man roster): $18,058,334

Guess you really don't want him around then, huh? He will get a better offer from EVERY OTHER TEAM at that amount. *sheesh* That's what happens when other people miss the "spirit" of your post. I don't think he's as overrated by this board as you might believe. He takes quite a lot of flack for spotty play and is regularly forgotten about because he is not a Swedish puck-moving defenseman. That being said he's an important part of our defense because he's really the only true stay at home, defensive defenseman we have.

Really? Just once, Eva. Try no Hudler. ONCE?

Eva's trying to make a point? Does it exist in some existential plane where Hudler scores 70+ points in an extrapolated algebraic equation?

I do not care about class. I care about hits, scoring, and winning.

Holland never plays his hand when it comes to prospects. I'd love to see Smith ready for the "bigs." ...but honesly, with all the question marks with our Defense moving into next year. I'm more than willing to err on the side of caution when it comes to Smith.

It's the summer of the Beastie Boys for me... and here's a good mix. http://ztrip.bandcamp.com/album/z-trip-presents-all-access-a-beastie-boys-megamix 6:45 - 9:50 (for any Helmet fans out there.)

...and there are people out there complaining about the FA market? All of a sudden Campbell is a good move?

You hope.

I went to the bar this afternoon and came home to a multitude of Mutli-Quotes. Sorry, but it must happen. golden stev. golden. Sorta like us landing Yandle. Why IN GODS NAME would THE LEAGUE give away Yandle. Campbell? Really? You guys are talking about Brian Campbell? Sounds about right. Front load it... it's okay. 1. Agreed. 2. That's his contract. 3. Facts. 4. Fact. 5. Fact. 6. Fact. 7. It's Brian "Ridiculed by this board less than two years ago for being a pathetic player" Campbell ..and so, we've got our new Rafalski in another Brian. Often thought as over-payed, an offensive defenseman at his core, subject to much ridicule, and often times soft with the puck. really? Really? REALLY? I love you. really? you say? honestly? I AGREE! yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. Campbell. WORSE! He plays in the ACTUAL NHL! Plainly and simply. SOME OF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR GODDAMN MINDS.

2011/04/27: Andy Greene is willing to sign with the New Jersey Devils before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. "This is the choice. This is where I want to be," Greene said. "If there is an offer there that is good and I felt was right, I'd definitely take it. I'm not dragging my feet waiting for July 1st. We'll let it play out." Devils GM Lou Lamoriello wants to re-sign Greene, so we wouldn't be surprised if the two sides come to an agreement. (Source: New Jersey Online) Not so sure that the Devils will let another puck moving defenseman slip away to the Wings.

damn my feed is WAYYYYY behind.

To be clear, Bieksa is not my top choice. Both he and Ehrhoff can be re-signed if they let Salo go, but like us Vancouver needs to shore up their offensive core as well. Signing both those guys to $4+ million deals, plus resigning Alberts, AND their third and fourth lines. Not so easy. So Kenny should make some offers to some Canucks. Reasonable offers. I think we're on the same page in a lot of ways. I don't want Babs to over-spend either but I don't want him to be timid either. Going after Rafalski was a big move. I'd like something ballsy like that. Just sayin'. EDIT: and I'll bring that other past back to neutral. it's solid thinking. just soft.

No. Seriously. Who are these more attractive free agents that are available next year?

Now that's just crazy talk. I don't think you're being the fun police... but I don't understand why you're being so cheap! We have $6 million (plus) for defensemen... Additionally, I'm baffled as to why everyone is griping about the FA market this year. Look at next year... it isn't as if there are any huge franchise defensemen on that list either. You don't think we have a shot at Bieksa, Ehrhoff, etc. but MAGICALLY we have shots at JML or Suter next?? C'mon. ...and I don't know why you have to be the party pooper. Ken Holland might just surprise us all with some deft off season moves. He has the money, so I hope he makes some moves and solidifies our defense instead of just standing around waiting for something to happen for us. Make a trade for Carle, make a trade for Burns. Sign Wiz or Ehrhoff. Don't sell the farm in making these things happen, but jeez. Why not? EDIT: poor copy/pasting skills

Hejduk is neither restricted nor unrestricted. He is also not a defenseman, which is where this thread has gone in the last few posts. Maybe you're suggesting we trade our Czech for theirs? ...just trying to help.

You sir, sound like you need a stiff drink. :beerbuddy: Cheers. Things will sort themselves out. We're talking about the Red Wings. amirite?! :colorbounce:

Indeed he is. Maybe Minny would take Hudler and a pick for Burns?

Pretty sure that those reports have been refuted, by Ericsson himself. I think he will try to keep Ericsson. I just hope it's at the right price. I think hope he can grow into the #4 role. He's still not a $2 million/year player though... I hope he realizes that. If not, we can replace him.

Do those teams have the cap space we now have? ...and how many of those teams have multiple players to re-sign whose agents will think their players deserve raises because of how far their respective teams went in the playoffs. It goes both ways. If Kenny isn't moving in that first wave this year, we're in deep s***... and yes, I do understand that some of these teams can sign their players before they even hit free agency.

I stand corrected.