e_prime

Gold DD! Gold!

Wasn't Malik's tweet... but a Malik follower. Malik is an apologist through and through. He's fan that wants to be a "reporter" but ultimately is a re-poster/re-tweeter. I go there for the facts and summaries, not for his opinion. He finds no fault in Cleary. That's enough for me to know that he can't be trusted.

George Malik ‏@georgemalik 21m .@Mjurgh I call July 1st the "great disappointment" because even if KH signed everybody, Wings fans would still be upset.

I think we should devote this thread to "our lists" List your moves you'd like to see Ken Holland make. Rank the order of importance.

smoke and mirrors.

Parenteau was in Roy's doghouse. He was going to be traded. Probably has little to do with the Stastny situation.

With EVERY CONTRACT, there are always risks. ...and yes while 5/25 would be much easier to swallow, as you said: "that's not going to cut it." So either Kenny steps up, makes his best offer... or he doesn't. EDIT: I'm glad that there are more options than just Niskanen. So if KH does step up and make an offer and someone beats us out for his services it won't be the end of the world. (see: not landing Suter)

So, the cap didn't go up as much as many of us would have liked, but honestly... Niskanen for a six-million dollar cap-hit until he's 34 years old. I'll take it.

I know this is tongue in cheek... but the Smith Bros. on the team together would be awesome. ...and Boychuk. Yes, please.

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 41m "@Real_ESPNLeBrun: Tim Gleason, Anton Volchenkov and Shane O'Brien put on unconditional waivers today". Jovo also cleared. Added to the free agent pool. Last day for buyouts.

I think we will only sign one defenseman, unless we trade away Smith. ...and I agree, I think we can/should sign Alfie to a very small cap hit if there is a roster spot made for him and AFTER we sign another legit top six forward.

To piggy-back Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 1m Wings did not qualify Cory Emmerton, Gleason Fournier, Max Nicastro, Trevor Parkes and Willie Coetzee, relinquishing their rights. NO MORE EMDOG!!!

Tampa retained salary (real monies) not cap (cba monies) Also, limited time... Gagner has a NTC that kicks in on July 1.

THIS. All important information. How things really work for GMs. This is also a good article summarizing the transactions: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/oilers-pick-up-teddy-purcell-sam-gagner-lands-in-arizona-1.2691553

They're not, Frank. Which means he's ripe for the picking!! *drools* ps: CapGeek is THE BEST!! I waste so much time on that site.

Just as long as Ken Holland isn't scared. Niskanen is a risk. Sure. I get it. ...but I think it's a calculated risk, and this team needs to get out of it's comfort zone. The truth is... I want a grand slam. I want both Ehrhoff and Niskanen, but I'd lean more towards Ehrhoff. I've always liked the guy. Coveted him when Lids was wrapping up his career. Felt it was a big miss when we weren't able to sign him. Now we have another opportunity to grab him up... I think it's time Ehrhoff is in the Winged Wheel. I know, I know... he's not right-handed. ...whatever...

From what I understand Gilbert did really well on the first pairing in FLA last season. Of course, being on a terrible team and not being a *superstar* caliber defenseman. You're pretty much fly under the radar and get panned as a nobody with little worth. Gilbert would be fine if everyone else slips through our fingers. He's not the home-run that everyone will be looking for tomorrow afternoon, but I think I would prefer him to Boyle as he wouldn't be as expensive and would probably allow flexibility for trades later in the season -- if necessary. I would slot him in as our #5 D-man to pair with a kid. He's definitely not a 1st or 2nd pairing guy on our team. So worst case scenario: Kron - Smith Deke - Ericsson Gilbert - *Kid* Lash If I had my little way, I'd take them both (Niskanen and Ehrhoff) and I'd trade away Smith and Kindl. Kron - Ehrhoff Deke - Niskanen Ericsson - Kid Lash

They don't have a choice. They're so screwed cap-wise. Edit: The only way the Pens could even entertain the thought of making Niskanen an offer is if they first traded one Kris(topher) Letang.

Ehrhoff's my boy!!! ...and now we don't even have to trade for him??!! YESSSSSSSSS!

Players don't live in the city. They live in the nice posh 'burbs. Like Bloomfield Hills or Birmingham. Get real.

Lets make this clear. Kesler didn't want to come here. He had a two team list. It's that simple. We can stop worrying about why we didn't get him immediately. Also, after his comments post trade... He sounds like a sore loser. Dude, you got what you wanted... you're out of VAN. Shut your yapper and move on. As far as Neal goes: Although TSN is reporting otherwise, many GMs are grumbling that Rutherford really didn't shop Neal around and that many would have made better offers if they had been given the opportunity.

All those talking about Myers.... .... Shhhhhhhhh. *whispers* Ehrhoff.

With four days left in which teams can buy out players, I had started writing a lengthy post about which teams might create some interesting UFA options via a buyout. Then I searched the interwebs and found that Sportsnet had already done that and has been updating via a tracker. See here: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/countdown-to-nhl-buyout-season-what-we-know/ Here are some of my thoughts before I found the Sportsnet article. (I'm putting it up because I typed a lot. Some of my thoughts may be 'off-base' but... whatevs. A lot of this was written last week too, so some moves have already happened. Hopefully someone enjoys my late night speculation.) TWO BUYOUTS LEFT: Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Florida, Los Angeles, Ottawa, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, San Jose, St. Louis, Winnipeg ONE BUYOUT LEFT: Detroit, Edmonton, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nashville, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, Washington Anaheim: I would be surprised if they used a compliance buyout. They have plenty of cap-space and seemingly no one is over-paid or has a contract with bad term. Boston: They're in a tight space when it comes to players signed/cap-space. Key free-agents need to be signed. No one has unreasonable term on their contracts, but they need to free up some cash. I'm guessing they will probably make a trade before they use a buyout on someone like Marchand, or Boychuck. (The two players most rumored to be moved.) Buffalo: Leino. Ville Leino. They'd be dumb not to use it on him. As far as the other large contract on the books and big question-mark , Tyler Myers... gotta be more value in a trade or keeping him than buying him out... but he was a former Calder Trophy winner that hasn't had any shine since then. The Sabres don’t need Myers for their future, as they have Rasmus Ristolainen, Nikita Zadorov and Jake McCabe to build around, as well as Ehrhoff signed for the foreseeable future at a decent cap-hit. Not to mention all those draft picks. Trade up and grab Ekblad? Calgary: Gotta think that they see more value in trying to trade some of their players under contract than buying them out. With 14 players signed and $32million under the cap, I can’t imagine that they’re trying to shed salary and their most expensive players are at forward: Huds and Jones are at $4million which isn’t completely outrageous. Wideman on D at $5.25 followed by Giordano at a smidge over $4. Carolina: So, Semin is not compliance buyout eligible. (How the hell did Rutherford make that move?!) Cam Ward is… as is Eric Staal. Two cornerstone pieces of your Cup-winning team. Do you buy them out and truly move on with this franchise? Probably not with Staal, but I could see them moving on from Ward with a buyout if no one bites on him via trade. Colorado: It’s been speculated that they will not use either of their buyouts. They have 17 players signed and almost $26million in cap space. What happens with O’Reilly’s arbitration and if they decide to re-sign Stastny are their big question marks at this point. Colombus: Again players that they may want to move on probably have more value in a trade than just buying them out. Umberger would be a welcome addition to some teams. He does have a modified-NTC so if they’re determined to move him and he doesn’t want to budge… although unlikely, I could see them using it. Dallas: They just used one on Aaron Rome. I don’t see any others being used. Florida: Nope. Los Angeles: Mike Richards if they decide not to keep him and he can’t be traded? Dean Lombardi says, “No.” Ottawa: Nope. Spezza will be traded. Turris, while eligible, won’t be bought out. They have 19 players signed and $20million in cap space. No need to make any moves to clear space and for roster space, they’ll make some trades. Phoenix: Nope. Pittsburgh: $16million in cap-space with 14 players signed. Some moves have got to be made. Compliance eligible players not named Sid the Kid and Geno Malkin are: James Neal, Kris(topher) Letang, and Marc Andre Fleury. Good luck, Rutherford. San Jose: Players eligible for compliance buyout: Forwards: Havlat and Burish, Defenseman: Brent Burns (Does he play defense anymore?!) They’ve got 18 players signed with just over $9million in cap space. Thorton and/or Marleau CANNOT be bought out but are rumored to be on the trading block. If one or both do not move, I could see them using the buyout on Havlat to create some additional space on the roster. St. Louis: I can’t imagine they’d buyout anyone. They’ve got a few open roster spots to upgrade, tradable assets if necessary, and $22.5million in capspace. Winnipeg: Pavelec for sure. If they don’t buy him out… I dunno. Cheveldayoff has said they aren’t going to buy him out which I do not understand!! Winnipeg certainly could use an upgrade in net and there will be upgrades available. Detroit: We already know that Tootoo will be our second compliance buyout if he can’t be moved. Edmonton: They’ll make some trades before using another buyout.

He didn't say he wanted out nor did he ask to be traded... he told Tallon that he'd be willing to waive his no movement (or no trade... whichever it is.) if anyone asked and he felt it was a good fit.

Actually, we wouldn't have to get him to sign. Columbus paid him. We just have to have Columbus actually want to trade him. Which they don't/shouldn't. Then get him to actually waive his NTC/NMC. Why would he do that? Then get him to Detroit on his list of places he wants to be traded to. NEVER (inamillionfreakingyears!) GONNA HAPPEN. God I wish KH would have made him a fair offer back in the day. There would have been a lot less crying about how KH wasn't prepared for Nick Lidstrom's retirement. ON TOPIC: Get Alfie to camp. See what he's got. Go from there. In the meantime, don't let other free agents and trades slip through your fingers, Ken Holland. okthanksbye.