e_prime

Ugh.

Mute technology is amazing.

I dunno. This guy's a little over the top for me. EDIT: But he does have a strong voice.

I'm gonna save my thoughts about NEXT season until THIS ONE is done.

...in the other Pulks thread. I thought you were suggesting: Abdelkader - Zetterberg - Pulkkinen Tatar - Datsyuk - Helm Nyquist - Sheahan - Weiss Miller - Glendening - Jurco Andersson rotating in ...which wouldn't be too shabby either. Either way... great minds... as they say.

What about if it was: Abdelkader - Zetterberg - Pulkkinen Tatar - Datsyuk - Jurco Nyquist - Sheahan - Weiss Miller - Helm - Glendening Andersson rotating in

Would be best... Many have mentioned in this thread that it would be unlikely for the Wings to buy out Franzen without some discussion with him, nor would Franzen likely retire without consulting with the team first... but we shall see. I really hope he can get back on track and back on the ice. You know, maybe as our "trade deadline acquisition"

The over-35 thing only applies when a player signs his contract when he's over-35. Which Franzen was not when he signed the contract. If he retires now, part of his cap-hit stays because of the cap-recapture penalty in the new CBA. It's the big F-U from the league for all those front loaded cap deals. EDIT: WingingItInMotown has the breakdown of numbers on their site. http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2013/1/8/3850352/nhl-cba-the-luongo-rule-cap-hit-recapture-what-it-means-for-the-red ...but here's a table of just Franzen's cap hit penalties depending on when he retires. Johan Franzen Total Recapture Pool 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 Retires Summer '15 $7,272,730 $1,454,546 $1,454,546 $1,454,546 $1,454,546 $1,454,546 Summer '16 $8,318,185 $2,079,546 $2,079,546 $2,079,546 $2,079,546 Summer '17 $7,863,640 $2,621,213 $2,621,213 $2,621,213 Summer '18 $5,909,095 $2,954,548 $2,954,548 Summer'19 $2,954,550 $2,954,550 So, if he were to up and retire this summer it'd be approximately $1.5million against the cap over the next 5 years. EDIT: ACK! That table looks like s***. EDIT: Okay, slightly better.

No. No one is. Nestrasil, as stated by krsmith, on the other hand, probably will... Reading. It's fun-duh-mental. In other news: Players that move on from the Wings often time play some decent games for the team they're playing for now. It happens. ...but when you're speaking of asset management, you have to pick and choose. Not every player needs to stay. Not every player that gets moved should have gone. If there's a team in this league that knows about asset management it's this one. Let's not get confused. We haven't had any major botches... such as trading away a Filip Forsberg type player since... well... I can't quite recall. Anyone?

*bwahahahahhahhaha* smooth subban.

Did your phone change it to SANTA as well? Okay, that could be short for Santorelli... but autocorrect is such a nightmare.

Yup. Big and fast are the Jets. Wings... Not so big.

Hmmm... Would I want to play for a team that's playoff bound for years to come... Or a team that's in "scorched Earth" mode?

Rather: How does Eddie O's brain NOT explode when the Pens play the Hawks and he has to call the game?

Agreed. They finally look like a team ready to compete.

Agreed Red Crazy. Feel like Maurice is completely underrated as a coach. He's been doing a great job with the Jets starting back last season -- getting them motivated and playing well. Wouldn't hurt for them to add another scorer but...they're currently sitting in a good spot for the Wild Card. Going to be hard for them to catch Nashville or St. Louis, but catching Chicago isn't completely out of reach. Now that Chevy has actually made a move; jettisoning Kane and Bogo, the team might actually feel like they've got what they need to really compete in the playoffs.

Leipsic is a 20 year old prospect. Leading scoring in the WHL last year... Nothing to scoff at. How we got to a first rounder and Santorelli in the mix... I'm guessing it went down something like this: Poille: "I've got a second round pick and Leipsic for Franson" Nonis: "Well... we really want a first." Poille: "I'm not giving you a first for a rental. What else can you do?" Nonis: "Well, I'm not..." Shanny: "Ok, David... How about Franson and Santorelli for the first and Leipsic?" Nonis: "But Bren..." Shanny: "Look Dave. Neither Cody nor Mike are gonna re-sign here, let's get that first round pick we need." Nonis: ... Poille: "Great. I can give you an expiring contract back if it'd make you feel better about this deal." Nonis: "That sounds fair." Poille: "Olli Jokinen" Shanny: "...whatever..."

Not a surprise at all. ...or Petry. ...or that guy "We Like Our Team"

Is Danny Cleary still on the roster? Can't we waive him already so we can carry these three goalies, plus 8 defensemen... please? LOL.

Well, I am at work and have to at least pretend that I'm working from time to time... so thanks for taking the two minutes... I guess? I could only get back to Bouwmeester before I got called to answer some questions.

So well before the last lockout. Teams still figuring out that they needed to build through the draft? Damn. Those picks ended up being Max Pacioretty for MTL and Varlamov for Washington. ...and then neither player re-signed with the team they were traded to. Rivet went on to sign with Buffalo the next year and Witt to the Isles. So, really expensive trades!

Can someone tell me the last time a team got a first round pick for a rental defenseman? It was Bouwmeester, right? ...or did he still have a year left on his deal when he was traded to St. Louis? I hate that CapGeek is no more. EDIT: Nevermind. Found it. http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/jay-bouwmeester/ 'scuse me while I talk to myself. So, again, I ask... Can someone tell me the last time a team got a first round pick for a rental defenseman?

Laughable. Seriously. Does Toronto think they've got any leverage in this situation? Toronto wants to deal him. Get something for a guy that isn't going to re-sign with them. Teams know that Toronto wants to deal him because they can't really afford to sign the guy to the contract he wants. So, why anyone would give the Leafs what they want? A 1st round pick {PLUS} for a guy who in all likelihood could end up just being a rental? A week ago, word on the street was a second rounder could get you Franson. Now it's a 1st++. Talk about lessons in negotiations. You start high and go from there... not the other way around.

So... Pittsburgh let Ottawa climb back into the game last night. What gives?! Why they no do that for us?! Also, thanks to the Oil and Blues for keeping Montreal and TB grounded last night. ...although I guess the Habs did get a point.

Malik loves to play both sides... "I'm a journalist! I hate when people refer to me as just a blogger! ...but I'm a fan too! ...and I can react to wins and losses just like you guys. ...but you should take me serious as a journalist -- not a blogger." I'll leave my criticism of him at that, but needless to say, I stopped following him on twitter when I discovered I was hearing more about family trips to the doctors more than I was reading about hockey. For the record: I love a$$e$. Thanks to the Kip Effect, I'm loving them even more. ...as far as a trade goes: Still hoping for a right handed puck moving defenseman.* (*My default response when the thread needs to get back on track)