NHL 2010 Off Season Thread
 

Yeah, Grats to the Hawks on their Cup, they deserve it.

Now Toronto is the longest without a cup :lol:

And props to Phillys unsung heros, Boucher and Leighton.

A bit premature for me to bring this up, but during the coming off-season months:

Is Price as good as gone from the Habs now? Halak demonstrated that he is a franchise goalie. Or do the Habs cash in on Halak's playoff value and attempt to gain some star power in the goal scoring department?

Hate to see Price traded away, he had a great "prologue" with his junior career, world junior performance, Caldar Cup performance in Hamilton, but he's hit some stubling blocks with the Habs and his development as a successor to Roy and Dryden.

Lecavalier? Could he return to being one of the league's elite with a move to his home in Montreal? Or would he cumble under the extreme attention and pressure with playing in Montreal with such high expectations?

edit added:

Do the leafs make a push for the playoffs? Do they still have a first round pick for next year's draft? Do they continue rebuilding in hopes of a high pick next year? Is Wilson gone if they leafs are out of the top 8 come November?

Caps will drop Jose Theodore

This is just the 2010 offseason. 2011 is next year.

Or just call this the "NHL 2010 offseason thread for the 2010-2011 season"

Laughing at toronto is pretty pointless tbh. Not like they ever had a chance!

Sharks are probably dying to get rid of Nabokov.

I'm hoping too see some changes to the Flames this off-season and I'm curious what happens with the Caps goal tending situation.

Kinda got lost on NHL.com with the Hawks winning last night.

Reports: Rob Blake to retire


Wednesday, 06.09.2010 / 4:53 PM / News
NHL.com
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According to an exclusive report on Comcast SportNet Bay Area, San Jose Sharks captain Rob Blake will announce his retirement in the coming days.

The report indicated Blake is waiting until the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final to make it official and an official announcement is expected early next week. The Sharks declined comment on the report.

Blake has played 1,270 regular games with the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche and Sharks. Blake was a member of Colorado's 2001 Stanley Cup championship team.

He was named Sharks' captain prior to the 2009-10 season, appearing in 70 games, scoring 7 goals and 23 assists. He had 1 goal and 1 assist in 15 playoff games this spring.

Damn, thanks for the good times Mr. Blake. you will be missed.

Also, have to say upon reading more into the Leafs history, I have come to the conclusion that they are the most insanely fucking stupid franchise in the world.

My reasons.

1) They had the territoral rights to the first and only defenseman to win the league scoring title, Bobby Orr. They took a pass and Boston got him, albeit not cheaply.

2) 1990 NHL Draft - They had 10th overall pick, Martin Brodeur was taken 20th.

3) A player who was offered 8 million for a one year deal in 1995 to sign with Vancouver, but turned it down because the Leafs made an offer although at a MUCH lower salary then backed out due to not wanting to spend so much on an older player.

That player then went to the Rangers. He retired April 19th/1999 as the current holder of 61 league records.

Wayne Gretzky.

4) Total points by the 9 players chosen by Toronto in the 1999 NHL Draft? 1


If anyone is a leafs fan, just try to argue, I dare you.

I really doubt back in 1990 anyone thought Brodeur would be where he was today.

Except NJD.

I doubt it. He could've gone to the Leafs, and ended up a nobody because they didn't play the trap effectively.

Toronto was an abysmal defensive team before Burns and Fletcher came aboard. They scored in bunches though.

Toronto's failure in the 70's and 80's had alot to do with Harold Ballard was is quite possibly the worst owner in the history of the NHL.

The Leafs were on the way down in 95 FA so I doubt Gretzky would have made any impact so that point is retarded.

In its near 100 year history, they have had only 5 fifty goal scorers, 3 were the same guy.

Ballard hands down.

Sundin put up 90+ points the following season. Gretzky would have broken 100. Would have been only the 3rd leaf to do so.

The leafs were horrible in th 95-96 season. Gretzky wouldn't have made the difference.

Who cares if they have only had 5 50 goal scorers. Kovalchuk scores 50 every year and can't get out of the first round.

Who gives a fuck about the Leafs? They are garbage. Thank you for Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin...

Now lets move on.

Seguin, Read somewhere that oilers intend on Hall.

Still can't believe they traded all that for Kessel. Though they do have a nice defensive core in phaneuf, kaberle and schenn.

Hoping the Leafs re-sign Kulemin, but Kulemin is holding out for alot of money. Really liked the chemistry shown by him, Kessel and Bozak.

One free agent that I'd like to see the Leafs take a run at is Colby Armstrong. Hard checker, scores between 18-20 goals, solid pk guy.

I'm guessing the Leafs are going to sign Aaron Asham since they want to fill the spot vacated by Jamal Mayers: someone to fight all the players that haven't been murdered by Colton Orr.

Colby Armstrong is such a piece of shit

And who can score more then 4 times in 82 games?

Calling it now, they sign Matt Cooke.

Dion Phaneuf named new Leafs captain


Monday, 06.14.2010 / 3:20 PM / News
NHL.com
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Dion Phaneuf was introduced as the new captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Real Sports Bar & Grill at Maple Leaf Square on Monday. He becomes the 18th captain of the Maple Leafs and the 22nd in the long history of the Toronto franchise dating back to the roots of the Toronto Arenas and Toronto St. Patricks. On hand to assist with the special announcement were former team captains George Armstrong, Wendel Clark and Darryl Sittler.

Toronto Maple Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke said, "Today is a very important day for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have had many great players fulfill this role in the long history of the franchise, and we wouldn't be taking this direction if we didn't think it was absolutely the right step. We liked the impact Dion made with players, coaches and fans alike since his arrival and we consider him a building block toward future team success."

Phaneuf, 25, was obtained by the Maple Leafs in a multi-player trade with the Calgary Flames on January 31, 2010. He played in 26 games after his arrival and recorded two goals and eight assists while picking up 34 minutes in penalties. He averaged 26:21 in ice-time with the Maple Leafs. Overall in 2009-10, he collected 32 points (12g, 20a) in 81 contests.

The native of Edmonton, Alberta leads all NHL defencemen in goals (77), powerplay goals (48), game-winning goals (22) and shots (1237) since entering the league in 2005-06. He has played in at least 79 games in all of his five NHL seasons since entering the league in 2005-06.

He was runner-up for the James Norris Trophy as the NHL's most outstanding all-around defenceman in 2007-08 and was a nominee for the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2005-06

Im guessing Mr. Kaberle will be out of town this summer.

lol Phaneuf being the captain of the laughs is fitting

After Halak's showing in the playoffs, I wouldn't be surprised.

ROFL

Habs are looking for Stamkos.

Reports are coming in that Yzerman is in the hospital with uncontrollable laughter.

The Bolts should go after Price, young and talented, he's got so much promise. I could see Lecavier going back to the Habs in the deal. There's more factor than the 1 to 1 deal here.
We'll see.

Blues acquire Halak from Montreal


Thursday, 06.17.2010 / 4:36 PM / News
By Dave Lozo - NHL.com Staff Writer
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Jaroslav Halak, who was being compared to Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden during this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, had his rights traded Thursday by the Montreal Canadiens to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospects Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.

The 25-year-old goaltender is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 after one of the more remarkable and unexpected runs in playoff history. If the Blues are unable to sign Halak, they will receive compensation depending on the size of the offer sheet.

Halak carried the eighth-seeded Canadiens past the top-seeded Washington Capitals and defending-champion Pittsburgh Penguins before running out of gas in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers. Halak finished the postseason with a 2.55 goals-against average and a League-leading .923 save percentage, but the Canadiens decided to hitch their future to Carey Price, the 22-year-old who became an afterthought once Halak got hot toward the end of the regular season.

Price has yet to build on his outstanding rookie season of 2007-08, but now there is no one in Montreal to stand in his way. Halak went 26-13-5 this past season with a 2.40 GAA and .924 save percentage. Price went 13-20-5 with a 2.77 GAA and .912 save percentage. Both Halak and Price entered the offseason as restricted free agents, but it was Halak who was shipped away despite an outstanding performance this spring.

The Canadiens trailed the Capitals 3-1 in their best-of-series, but Halak stepped in after being benched in Game 4 and stopped 131 of 134 shots over the final three games of the series to spark the upset. Halak continued his heroics in the second round against the Penguins, making 71 saves on 76 shots to help win Games 6 and 7 and overcome a 3-2 deficit in that series.

It's hard to find a comparable situation to Halak's, but goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin backstopped the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup in 2003-04. He posted a 1.71 GAA and .933 save percentage that spring, but wasn't brought back when he became a free agent after the lockout and signed with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blues were looking for an upgrade at goaltender with Chris Mason hitting the market as an unrestricted free agent this summer. Mason finished 2009-10 with a 30-22-8 record, a 2.53 GAA and .913 save percentage. Ty Conklin, who is signed through next season, will likely be Halak's backup.

"Jaroslav's play in this year's regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs was remarkable," Blues president John Davidson said in a statement. "He has had very impressive numbers in the NHL and we are thrilled that he will be wearing the Bluenote for us."

The 21-year-old Eller is a native of Denmark who spent two seasons with Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League before playing for the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL this past season. In 70 games with Peoria, the center had 18 goals and 39 assists. Eller also had 2 goals in 7 games with the Blues in 2009-10.

Schultz, the younger brother of the Capitals' Jeff Schultz, is a more raw prospect who currently plays with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. The 20-year-old right wing had 24 goals and 31 assists in 70 games this past season.

Jaw meet Floor.

I hope Bob gainey, and Gautheir and who ever else all lose their heads for this. Seriously, fire them all. Montreal is making the playoffs this year, unless they sign another top 3 forward and and top 2 defence. Seriously if this is just to clear space to re-sign Plakanec than they are retarded, the guy was a non-factor in the playoffs. I expect big things to happen by way of trade, or signings or I am seriously question the sanity of Montreals managment.

Halak traded WOW

Fucking retarded.

He's just a goalie that got hot.

Oh you mean like Craig Anderson who got hot in Florida and stayed hot in Colorado? And Halak was better then Price all season long. Stupid choice to trade away the better of your two goalies.

Can't believe I just defended Halak, gotta shower now, feel dirty.

Tampa Bay needs a gaolie, your telling me they wouldnt move one of there over paid players, either Lacavilier or St Loius for halak? Come on. Detriot needs a goalie. Philly. No one was willing to give up more than 2 unproven minor leaguers? Like Come on now guys.

It's all about the team around the Goaltender.

Blackhawks goaltender sucked, but yet they were the best team. In Salary Cap era why would I spend extra money on Halak who got outplayed by the medicore Michael Leighton?

You just finished stating it's all about the team around the goaltending in one sentence, and then ignore your statement in the next. Philly outplayed a tired and undermanned Montreal team. If it wasnt for Halak, they wouldn't have gotten out of the first round.

IC, Jimmy Howard would like to have a word with you.

Pffft, Jimmy Howard should shut his mouth, and watch some of the weak goals he gave up in round two.

Right then Halak got cold and fell apart with the rest of the team. Why not use the money for other needs that a team has, and not something that can just come down to luck every year it seems?

The luck factor is the hot goaltender. Sell the guy while he is hot, becuase he will not be worth the price he is asking for. He'll never be that good again.

Umm you realize Price is going to cost something similar, maybe a bit less. How can you say he wont be that good again? The man has some ridiculously quick feet, and takes away the lower half of the net better than anyone. He controls rebounds, and has a good glove. But he just got hot, for the entire season, Olympics, and the playoffs. It was luck though.

You are just retarded for saying he won't be that good again, when he has proven that he can be. I mean come on and use your head. And they got NOTHING for him. They gave him away. Trading and getting nothing now, or trading and getting nothing later, is still nothing.

In happens every year with some goalie it seems. They are good in the playoffs then next year they fall off the face of the Earth.


It will happen again next year to someone. I would be shocked if he remained the starting Goalie for the Blues next year.

Ty Conklin is going to step his game up and become a starter? I don't think so.

I'm sure someone said the same thing about Hasek and Roy, and every other goalie that has come from nowhere. Hell I remember Curtis Joseph wouldnt be good in Edmonton, and then he was done when he went to Toronto the first time. There are also plenty of cases of guys who have there coming out parties in the playoffs. But again, Halak was solid all year long, and has been the better of the two since Price showed up.

Hasak and Roy are the two of the greatest goalies of all time. The chances of Halak being as good as them has to be pretty low?

Now the year before Price was good the entire year correct? I'm basing this off of that

I would just keep Price, and hoped he turned it back around or get someone cheaper build the team up, and see where the chips fall.

I'm not saying he's a hasek or Roy, I was using them as examples and for comparisons.

Of course you would keep Price, you don't watch the Habs, and probably haven't looked at his numbers from this past season, pretty mediocre. Price gives up softy's and isn't mentaly ready yet. You want to save some cash, thats great. In football you don't skimp on paying your quaterback, and in hockey you don't cheap out on a goalie. Now go watch the phillies play lol.

Great move by St. Louis and dare I say Montreal. I'm not sold on Price, he seems to have a head-case issue. BUT the Habs know him way better than we do, so if they think he's the one to get behind, then I'll go with the decision. I really liked Halak's game though. St. Louis just got a lot better. Let's see what the prospects MTL got in return can do.

The problem I have with the trade is, they could have gotten more I think and the fact I have almost no confidence in Price anymore.

I just don't think he is the right goalie to be starting 60 games.

Halak? The Blues indeed just got a lot better. I'd love to see St. Louis back in the playoffs.. always liked them and Kariya is one of my all time favs

Considering that Halak is an RFA, the Habs got a pretty good return in my opinion. Lars Eller is a great prospect, I have heard him being compared to Anze Kopitar.

Eller is a great prospect, but him and a 4th liner for Halak just seems so cheap.

I can't find where I read it now, but Toronto intends to trade Kaberle when his trade window opens July 1st.

Souray wants a trade out of Edmonton as well.

Could the Habs have gotten more for Halak?
I don't think so. His value was at it's highest right now and Eller is a great prospect. I believe Price would have gotten them less. Price is young and has great upside. They're banking that he gets his form back. I think he needs to see a sports psychologist or something to that effect in order to get his MOJO back

The Habs could have only got more for Halak if they signed him first then traded him. Remember, the Blues still have to sign Halak as he's an RFA.

Schedules are out

Articles way to long, but Scott Niedermayer retired. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=5...id=DL|NHL|home

Annnnd the Sharks finally give up on Nabokov.

Hortan to Bruins for Wideman and 15th overall pick
Plekanec signed to 6 year contract

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Not a fan of Plekanec.

Bruins just got so much better!!!! FINALLY we stole a trade...

Lucic Savard Horton
Seguin/Hall Krejci Ryder
Sturm Bergeron Recchi/Wheeler
Thornton Sobotka Campbell

Chara Seidenberg
Boychuk Stuart
Ference Hunwick

Rask
Thomas


If we can somehow get ride of Thomas and get another good D man... wow.

Tampa Bay is trying to create a deal to get Thomas which would explain why they didn't go after Halak.

Only issue I have with Bruins trying to get rid of Thomas is who would be Rask's backup in case he gets hurt or needs a game off.

Well there is a few choices...

Johan Hedberg
Patrick Lalime
Vesa Toskala
Manny Legace
Wade Dubielewicz
Dan Ellis
Martin Biron
Alex Auld
Ray Emery
Chris Mason
Antero Nittymaki
Andrew Raycroft
Jose Theodore

Or we can make the trade with Tampa and get Mike Smith in the deal...

What spilly said.

Caron third line RW would be nice as well.

The Chicago Blackhawks reportedly have dealt playoff hero Dustin Byfuglien to Atlanta as part of a multi-player deal.

ESPN.com and TSN report that the Hawks sent Byfuglien, Ben Eager, defenseman Brent Sopel and a prospect to the Thrashers for the first-round pick (No. 24) Atlanta acquired from New Jersey in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade, a second-round pick (No. 54) that also came from New Jersey, prospect Jeremy Morin and veteran forward Marty Reasoner.

TSN reports that the prospect going from Chicago to Atlanta is Akim Aliu, a second-round choice by Chicago in 2007.

The Hawks and Thrashers have a connection -- Rick Dudley, the Thrashers' new general manager, worked for the Blackhawks for five years before joining Atlanta last summer and being promoted to GM this spring.

Byfuglien, a 25-year-old forward, had 17 goals and 17 assists in 82 games with the Hawks during the regular season, then added 11 goals – including five game-winners, during Chicago’s run to the Stanley Cup. Sopel, 33, had 1 goal and 7 assists in 73 regular-season games and was 1-5-6 in 22 playoff games. Eager had 7 goals and 9 assists with 120 PIM in 60 regular-season games. He played 18 playoff games with 1 goal, 2 assists and 20 PIM.

"It is what it is," Byfuglien said on "The Afternoon Saloon" on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "It's part of the job. You're not going to stick in one spot the whole time, so I've got to go."

Reasoner, a 33-year-old who's played 11 NHL seasons, had 4 goals and 13 assists in 80 regular-season games. Morin was taken in the second round (No. 45) by the Thrashers last year. He had 47 goals and 36 assists for Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League in 2009-10, and also scored 2 goals and 5 assists for Team USA’s gold medal-winning squad at the World Junior Championship.

"You can't beat going to a team that just won the Stanley Cup," Reasoner told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's website.

"It's always a little shocking to be traded, but we've all gone through it before," he said of being traded. "I would have liked to stay in Atlanta for another year and help that team build, but it's a new chapter. It will be exciting. You can tell from watching the playoffs that the Blackhawks have taken over the city."

Bruins have the second pick? Damn

Wow, didnt expect the Byfuglien trade at all.

Myers wins Calder, Datsyuk wins the <s>Datsyuk</s>Selke.

Haha, both expected.

Ovy for Hart and Miller for Vezina

Don't know if anyone else is watching the awards show, but lol @ the Getzlaf/Ryan thing they just showed.

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What I was talking about.

I was half right, grats to Sedin for winning the Hart.

Rofl at that Ryan/Getzlaf bit.

http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2010-n...s-by-position/

Could be an interesting "free agent season" this year.

Calder and A Vezina is hotness. If only we could make a few moves maybe we could add a cup.

I know I'm in dreamland here, but I'd love to see Frolov or Kovalchuk take a pay cut and go to Pittsburgh.

Buffalo is a good team, Vanek and Roy just kinda had off years.

I'm really curious too see where Mary Turco ends up and I think Taylor Hall will be picked #1 by the Edmonton Oilers it's just a hunch I dunno why though.

They traded for a center, I dont think they are going to take another center myself. I see Hall, Seguin, Gublanson, Fowler, Niederreither in the top 5.

I would guess, San Jose or Philly.

What!? Chicago traded Buff? That is completely unexpected. Especially after his performance in this year's playoffs. The Halak trade surprises me as well.

On an unrelated but also important note, The Sharks decided not to offer Evgeni Nabakov a contract. I know it's been mentioned already but I'd like to reiterate it seeing as I'm from San Jose. They did sign Marleau and Pavelski though for the next 4 years.

I love what Chicago has done. Good move by them to free cap money.

CHicago is in CAP HELL. They droped salary and got GREAT value in return. Buff is a man, but his value is inflated right now. Hes a hella good playoff player, but you still need players to get you there and he is only a 17 goal scorer. Great way for Chicago to stock the cupboards.

Buffalo is in the shit. THye are a good team, they are not built for a playoff run. THey are really soft.

Roy, Stafford, Connoly, Pomminville. You cant make a deep run with them as 4 of your top 6. They really need to just shake it up a little bit. Some of these guys are too cocky, they were on the Back to Back Conference finals teams, and still think they are elite.

It seemed like they realized this when halfway through the boston series they brought up prospects and put them on the ice.

I am excited for a Full year of Tyler Ennis. If he can improve his finishing he could be a game changer with his speed and skill.

Myers is my favorite player already. He is a premier talent.

At the end of the day, the Sabres have 14 million in cap space, and plenty of parts to swap, and I just don't see them pulling the trigger on anything.

We need a puck moving defenseman, and there are rumors we are interested in Kaberle, but there is no way Darcy Regier makes that trade.

I would shit my pants if they just throw 8 milion a year at Kovalchuk and put him on a line with Roy and Vanek.

Need another top Defense and a good young RW and I think Buffalo has it.

Kovalchuk seems like another soft playoff player.

Well in his defense, he's never been on a team that's gotten past the 1st round.

Well Buffalo is most likely letting their 3rd and 4th bes defenders walk, so they need to make a splash. Craig Rivet is too old to be a top defender. THey got a kid named Webber who is ready to play next year, so they can park him on the 3rd pair with Steve Montador. Or maybe even on the 2nd line with Rivet, but they need to add someone to pair with Myers.

RW is the sabres weakest spot. Pommoniville is a good 2nd line skill player, but they need someone big on the front line. Stafford just never developed. They were interested in Horton, but of course that didnt happen.

Chicago IMO made some pretty smart moves, they had like 5 people with ridic salaries

I hope the Leafs trade Kaberle for a pick or a centre

Kaberle is such an asset, I don't quite get the overwhelming desire to part with him.

Tyler Seguin motherfuckers!!!!

Kassian? You know that guy they drafted in the first round not so long ago that would be a perfect fit.

That would be the smart thing to do, sadly it will likely be for a 2nd Rounder or Scott Gomez.

He has to much talent to play for Toronto.

I know theres like 1.5 Flyers fans here, but Flyers apparently traded for Nabokov. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=533023

Are you out of your mind. Detroit does not need a goalie

They need an enforcer.

Kassian got in trouble for getting into a bar fight in windsor. Now they have decided not to sign him this year. Kassian is going to be amazing when he finally makes it to the show next year though.