T-Ruff

Eklund's gained credibility over breaking this new offer is actually more interesting than the offer itself lol. It's nice that this will lead to a deal but it's annoying that everyone involved knew it would probably be January till a deal was done pretty much right from the start. We as fans cannot let the owners/players forget about this BS lockout, not for a long time.

You're in the minority there I think, the player's initial offer was just as laughable as the league's, and everything I've read/listened to/talked to repeats the rhetoric that most fans weren't on either side and they saw the attempts from both sides to reach out to them as pathetic and disingenuous. Most fans were on the Fan's side this lockout i.e. "Just get it done and stop disrespecting us". The NHL certainly has gained some PR from this offer, but that's only because it actually is substantial and not just more empty words.

You have to take everything that is said publicly with a grain of salt, it's all posturing and/or trying to win PR. Luckily they were quick to realize most fans weren't taking sides and were just furious and confused at both sides silliness and now are actually getting down to business.

My "feeling" is based on the fact that this lockout is nothing like the last one, both sides knew where middle ground would be found from the start (just like all of us fans). They just needed the situation to get a little "real" like cancelling games and losing out on a full 82 game season. There is no huge issue like a salary cap this time, the league is experiencing unprecedented growth, they have the biggest Winter Classic of all time coming up and need to keep HBO doing 24/7 in the interest of the growth of the sport as a whole (Which means hockey in 2-5 weeks at the latest). What do you all think now after today's optimistic news? That's what I mean, I have no idea what all the doomsdayers were/are basing their opinions on, regardless of Bettman's track record, a full lockout this year over these issues never added up.

It's a rather significant stretch to say "The season is toast anyway". No chance there won't be hockey by November at the latest with the way I'm feeling this all play out. I'll hop on the Bettman hate train and admit I was wrong if it does go a full season though (not to say he's blameless of course but the other side shares just as much of it this time around).

So 70% of you are insane... Pretty shocked by these poll results

The owners love him and he's doing a great job for them increasing the value of the league so much over the past bunch of years so he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That said, I think Burke's refusal to sign long term contracts and stuff like that is an indication that he wants a clean record because he wants to be commissioner one day.

This is going to be a steal very soon, great signing

On a one year no risk deal with the amount of cap space we have, I'd be happy to give him $8.5m, was really hoping we'd end up with him if it was one year, too bad

Lots of admirable players but if I had to choose one it would be Erik Karlsson Honourable mention to Spezza, Alfredsson, Selanne, Giroux, Doughty, Koivu, Patrice Bergeron, Burns

I know you qualified it as an extreme example but it's still a pretty pointless comparison, Philly's picks will all be 25-30 pretty much, it's more like: Vancouver: 2009 - Jordan Schroder (22nd overall) 2010 - Quinten Howden (25th overall) [Panthers had the pick] 2011 - Nicklas Jensen (29th overall) 2012 - Brendan Guance (26th overall) Pittsburgh 2007 - Angelo Esposito (20th overall) 2008 - Dalton Levielle (29th overall) [Atlanta had the pick] 2009 - Simon Despres (30th overall) Damn that 30th overall spot this year lol 2010 - Beau Bennet (20th overall) etc.

Doesn't seem like anything significant besides he wants a deal longer than 1 year, he would certainly take a $5m per on however long it ends up being IMO.

If it's only a one year deal it doesn't really matter how much we sign him for with all our cap space. I'd offer Semin 1 year $8m if it got him to come here for a season instead of going somewhere else for a multi-year deal with less per. Would love to see if Babcock, Datsyuk and company can settle him down and make him the elite player he has the skill to be.

The reason they feel they can trade Yandle is because they have these guys along with OEK, they won't be trading them before Yandle who can land them a better return.

The ripping/dismissing of Minnesota in this thread is laughable, they are a Backstrom trade to the Leafs for some D away from being a contender and they have a great prospects cupboard as well. And even with their team last year they were 20-8-3 or something before getting some injuries. They will be a team to be reckoned with in the West next seaon. Putting aside my personal disappointment on not getting one or both (besides the fact that I'm happy we didn't give those contracts) this is a great and very well deserved day for the Wild franchise. I'm chalking this up as an acceptable loss since I've always been fond of the Wild.

Philly really could have used him and he did well as their starter for a year, definitely thought he'd end up there. Great signing for the Rangers.

Yeah, if he retires he comes off the Cap, so its a no-brainer signing by the Penguins and well deserved by Sid. This guy literally saved their franchise from moving to Canada and built them a new arena. Bobby Mac's speculating that the final 3 years will be 3-4m (when he's 36+) That's far from ridiculously low and not an unreasonable age either. Zetterberg and Franzens deals are still worse offenders in that sense since they get paid less in the final years at an older age, this deal won't have a problem going through it looks like, if Bob is right.

With how well respected Snow is around the league, I have to believe this preposterious idea came from above him. Howson doesn't have an excuse though. Marek and Wyshynski made a great point as well on their podcast today: You simply can't make this offer as the Islanders with how much pressure it immediately puts on the kid. He'll forever be the guy the team traded their entire draft for, and that's just not fair.

How do you figure? I'm extremely discouraged by this cap clearing stuff Pittsburgh is up to. Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be 34 and 32 this season. Crosby and Malkin will be 25 and 26 are a better pair of players comparing them as pairs. Crosby and Parise are friends, from his perspective it seems like a no brainer considering the length of time you're virtually guaranteed to be a contender. Now if the Penguins move Martin's $5m and you're Ryan Suter and you see that team with Parise and an opening to play with Letang on D.... argh, this is just the worst. Hopefully it's all good news on July 1st but I'm certainly discouraged.

I think it'll work out well for both teams. The Leafs put Schenn in the NHL too early and while he had a great rookie season he's been below average since but he still has the potential to be a solid stay at home #3 or #2 perhaps. JVR certainly has a higher ceiling but it's obvious his stock has fallen due to his injuries this year since it was only straight up. Lupul, Kessel, JVR, Mac/Kulemin, decent set of top 6 wingers now. If they get Luongo (just a matter of time IMO) they'll be in the playoffs.

No thread about it yet and it's a pretty significant trade Mike Ribeiro for Cody Eakin and the Caps' 2nd pick in this draft. This makes them real, real solid down the middle. Backstrom, Riberio, Laich, Johanssen, Hendricks, Perreault. Some used as wingers like Laich and Johanssen but real solid nonetheless

The thing is, if we (or any other team not named the Hurricanes) acquired him, he would only be a Wing for a year, seems pretty clear he wanted to go to Carolina to be with his bro

Great call Matt, I never like the mega threads like the one discussing all summer signings, its the off season the big ones like Karlsson, Harding deserve their own threads and it probably stimulates more discussion and activity that was as well. Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

Now lets hope we get to watch these all and on time

Minnesota is a better location I would say, and the media intrusion is probably about the same. Detroit might have the edge in teammates but that could be me being biased as well. As far as a chance to win, they're not far off from being regular playoff contenders IMO, especially if you add Parise to the mix. That said I think Detroit still has the edge over Minnesota, I just found it really odd that they were being dismissed as a UFA destination so readily.