russianswede919293

Okay, I think that this is a more complicated issue than most people think. In my opinion Garth Snow gets a lot of heat that he doesn't deserve, he does the best with what he is given. Its hard to win with an owner like Charles Wang, and Snow has to do what Wang tells him to or he is out of a job, and until he establishes himself as a respectable GM he cannot afford to lose his job because he won't get another one. Garth Snow is a young GM that is up and coming, and is trying to build a reputation before he can afford to find another job, and that means accepting what Wang tells him to do. Now Wang tells Snow that since in Nolan's first year he took a bunch of overachieving nobodies to the playoffs that it is best for the team to continue letting high-priced players leave and bring in the nobodies. In addition to that the Islanders have pretty much sucked for the last 15 years, and no offense to the Long Islanders, but its a bunch of farm land, who wants to play for them...NOBODY... So Snow has to try to piece a s*** puzzle into a golden nugget. I think he does a decent job for the fact that he'll only be able to attract 2nd-3rd tier Free Agents until the Islanders establish themselves. I mean he pulled the Smyth deal out of his hat at deadline that got them into the playoffs 2 years ago, and he threw a bunch of money at Smyth, he just didn't want to stay, that is not his fault (similar issue to the Campbell-San Jose scenario). Now Nolan wants to get better talent and complains to Snow, and Snow says listen Ted its not going to happen. Ted gets pissed but Snow's options are now defy Ted Nolan and hire a new coach or defy Charles Wang, and get a new job (which at his prestige would be tough). Garth is in between a rock and a hard place and is just trying to make a name for himself, and I think that Wang deserves the blame on this one, but Snow will get cast aside as a joke by hockey fans, even though I don't think he is, he is getting experience, and I think will be a pretty good GM when he is done with it. I mean Satan was overpaid, and Fedotenko is alright, but he got Guerin (who hopefully can turn it around) and Streit who should be a good PP addition. I also think Nolan is escaping some blame here. This is the second time he has lost a job due to disagreements with the upper-level management. I am not saying that he is the sole source of blame, just that to me it seems that losing your only 2 NHL jobs because you didn't get along with management means that you probably not a very easy person to get along with, and that maybe despite your talent as a coach you are not employable due to your attitude. Again here I am taking extremes to prove my point that this isn't just because of Garth Snow, and that he isn't a bad GM like all the hockey world seems to say, he is just inexperienced. I think that it is part Nolan's fault, part Snow's fault, and mostly Wang's fault. EDIT: Nobody here can tell me that they have NEVER been in a position where they have had to do things that they didn't agree with because thats what the boss says and you know that it will be hard to find another job at the same level. Those are Garth Snow's shoes, and not even the hockey world is exempt from the reality of the working world. It is a position that Snow is in and accepts and a position that I think Ted Nolan has trouble accepting, which is why he has lost 2 jobs to disagreements with management.

Snpw

They pulled a trick on me. Mine came in today not next week Was very good.

NFM we were let down. I checked, no shipment today. I called NHL.com store and they told me that it wasn't scheduled to be sent out until the 15th. LAME!

Unrestricted (10): Adam Berkhoel, Chris Chelios, Carl Corazzini, Mark Cullen, Aaron Downey, Dallas Drake, Brad Ference, Mark Hartigan, Darren McCarty, Garrett Stafford Restricted (8): Jonathon Ericsson ($522,500), Valtteri Filppula ($660,000), Igor Grigorenko ($661,267), Jimmy Howard ($660,000), Logan Koopmans ($544,500), Francis Lemieux ($522,500), Kyle Quincey ($522,500), Ryan Oulahen ($522,500) From LGW Salary Chart. I bet Berkhoel, Corazzini, Ference, and Hartigan all leave. Drake will retire. Stafford and Cullen already both signed elsewhere. I think Grigorenko and Koopmans will be left unsigned. And I hope Lemieux and Oulahen are kept. Everyone else should be back. Whats everyone else think.

They are. Its saying that Lysenkov thinks the 2 million dollar offer is humiliating, and he hopes it convinces Feds to go to the KHL. Nowhere does it say that Feds found it humiliating. Plus Russian press ALWAYS exagerates these kind of things, remember all the stuff they said about Grigorenko too last sesaon. I think Feds is waiting to work something fair out with Washington, and I bet its a 1-2 year deal worth about 3-3.5 a year.

In my opinion this was mostly just a formality. I doubt Filppula expects to actually go to the hearing. This move lets the team know where he stands, and lets the fans know where he stands. Plus it puts a time-table on finishing his contract to plan on the Chelios and McCarty/Downey payments. Good move by Flip to do so.

No but I think it would be smart if somebody did do it. Filppula is worth about 2.5 million right now, but he is 24 years old and had a great post-season...He very well could be worth 4 million dollars within the next 3 years.

You cannot sign an RFA without overpaying because it will be matched, it is a risk a team takes that he WILL be worth that amount within the contract. The problem is the same as it was before the lockout the owners screw themselves. The players can ask for whatever the hell they want to ask for. Its the owners that give it to them.

Maybe Satan will regain some of the old scoring touch playing with Malkin..possibly not.

Not a big deal, but I thought he was a good veteran depth AHL d-man to keep the kids rolling in Grand Rapids. Oh well.Link EDIT: Forgot Link

Seems like players are taking less to stay in Pittsburgh to keep the core together as well. Good for them, maybe we will see each other again in the next few years.

keep in mind that you can spend i think its eith 5-10% over cap. So they can retain everyone. Quincey, Lebda, Meech, Ericsson, Downey, McCarty, Chelios, Filppula And then sort it out at camp. say ericsson (non-waiver send down) and meech are the odd men out. They no longer count against cap. Then there is room for Samuelsson, Kopecky, Helm, Downey, etc to battle for the last 2 spots in camp, the rest are traded or GR bound and don't hurt the cap. No harm no foul Everyone stays We have Hossa for a year, we maybe win the cup again, everyone is happy.

There is 4.027 million left, I don't think padding for a trade deadline move is a necessity this year. So Filppula signs for 2.65 (Zetterbergs RFA contract) you have 1.377 left. What you have to keep in mind is according to nhlnumbers.com Kopecky is .5 against cap, Meech is 0.483 against cap and Lebda is 0.65 against cap, so no matter how the roster shakes out relieve .483-.65 from the cap and you have 1.8 million left in reality. That is enough to sign chelios and mcCarty/Downey Plus they could always trade somebody like Samuelsson and get cap relief that way. plus also keep in mind you can be 10% over cap until opening day so they can spend more to keep filppula chelios and mccarty or downey and sort out the cap crunch, waiver and trade crap later.

not either of them. Maybe Samuelsson, or kopecky... but not hudler or lilja... also helm will probably play in the AHL this year now if the Wings still want to carry an enforcer.

I think that its possible that they could convince Filppula to take a one year deal at 2 million and then give him the bigger money next year... I hope... He may be gone... Or we trade Sammy...

Holy hell that is amazing. I never thought that he would take that much under market AND a one year deal to come here to play. s*** he wants the cup, and I think we will get it for him! Downside is Somebody Ballsy gives flip 4.5 mill offer (feasable) he is gone.

Terrific move. This brings in the experience that we could need if Ozzie gets injured. Great move Holland. Now bring in Bertuzzi/Naslund/ or Fedorov on a 1 year deal, re-sign Filppula and I'l be thrilled

Great move I am thrilled

I honestly think he may be the best option for the Wings at a 1-2 year deal worth 4 a year.

I think for the price he could go for he is a great option. I think playing for a winning team will bring some passion back. And to all the feds posts, I wish it weren't true but no way he signs here, its going to be Washington, no question. Naslund I think would get 50-60 points on our second line and could bring Filppula's point totals up with him.

good move, for the price we pay for him Lilja is great. He is a great shot blocker and a good penalty killer. I take this deal any day of the week, no matter how much i love to hate him.

I wouldn't mind if the Wings got Tucker.

The Griffs re-acquired the right to form their own coaching staff from the wings and started by firing Stothers. Hope this can help get them back to a winning formula next season.

I ordered mine from NHL.com but it is possibly the crappiest online shopping store on the planet. Its backordered for 4-6 weeks... Last time that happened to me they canceled my order and told me they don't carry the product I ordered anymore...