National Hockey League 2009 - 2010

[UberBeaver]

A couple of observations about the NHL Draft and free agency so far:

1. Boston can suck it. Seriously, take Tyler Seguin, I really don't care. I wish that the Toronto media would give it a fucking rest already. I wasn't all that pleased with the trade in the first place but what is done is done. Can we please stop talking about it now?

2. Kovulchuck needs to make up his fucking mind already and sign with someone stupid enough to pay him. Seriously, dude is holding up a lot of other possible trades, just pick LA or NJ and get your $100 million over the next 15 or 17 years or whatever. It blows my mind that this greedy little fool will be making more than Ovechkin or Crosby after this...

3. I'm actually pretty pleased with where the Leafs are at this point. We are lacking in the top 6 but defensively and in goal we are looking good. If Burke can work some magic trading Kaberle for a top 6 forward we actually could compete for a playoff spot this season.

4. The Calgary Flames are fucked. Seriously, what is Sutter smoking over there? Jokinen and Tanguay are your big moves? Good luck with that...

1. You guys got Burke'd, son!

2. He should be an Islander. We'll take him.

3. I'll agree with you just cause I don't have anything to say.

4. LOLLLOOOLOLOLLLOLOL. What a douche. And how about the Rangers drafting a "fighter" in the 1st round while Fowlder and Gormley were still available. And then signing Boogaard for 4 years @ 1.65M per. HAHAHA. Sather vs Sutter for GM Douche Award. Dopes.

 

[UberBeaver]

see above

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

lol, I wasn't really paying attention to the draft for obvious reasons but yeah, that seems like a dumb move.

 

[liz9640]

A couple of observations about the NHL Draft and free agency so far:

3. I'm actually pretty pleased with where the Leafs are at this point. We are lacking in the top 6 but defensively and in goal we are looking good. If Burke can work some magic trading Kaberle for a top 6 forward we actually could compete for a playoff spot this season.

You guys will just LOVE Lebda
I'll be interested to see how long it takes for Leafs fans to want to rip his head off.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

the way I look at it is

a. It's hard to look good next to Lindstrom and Rafalski, so even if he's average we'll be okay.

b. We have a pretty deep D as it is so he'll probably be on the third line and not see a lot of action anyhow.

 

[UberBeaver]

We have a pretty deep D

L to O to LOLOLLOLOLOLLLOLO.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

YouTube - Dion Phaneuf hits Kyle Okposo and Phaneuf vs. Morency

see you on October 18th

 

[liz9640]

the way I look at it is

a. It's hard to look good next to Lindstrom and Rafalski, so even if he's average we'll be okay.

b. We have a pretty deep D as it is so he'll probably be on the third line and not see a lot of action anyhow.

he didn't play with Lidstrom or Rafalski too much.
It was usually Lebda/Ericsson or Lebda/Lilja (that pairing was great for us during the 2008 playoffs). At times you would see him with Kronwall or Stuart.
Never really got any Power Play time in Detroit either, but that wasn't his fault. Although, I'd would have rather of seen Lebda on the 2nd PP unit over Jason fucking Williams any day!

He has a habit of pinching at the wrong time, taking really stupid penalties, and just bad turn overs. When he was on the ice and a penalty was called, it was almost always on him! Usually hooking or holding.

Then he'd have the nights where he played really well. His best play for Detroit came during the 2008 playoffs. He needs to be paired with a stay-at-home guy though.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

sounds like he'll make a good Leaf

 

[UberBeaver]

YouTube - Dion Phaneuf hits Kyle Okposo and Phaneuf vs. Morency

see you on October 18th

Phaneuf = pussy.

That was low. Why not just post the Darcy Tucker hit on Peca next?

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Remember when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup? Holy shit, that was cool.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

yeah, good luck doing that again this year....

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

We'll try. As hard as we can. But it would only be the topping. Because we've already felt what it's like. And it's fucking beautiful.

I hope you can feel it someday, elfa.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

Boom goes the dynamite:

FREE AGENT KOVALCHUK DECIDES TO STAY IN NEW JERSEY

NEWARK, N.J. -- Unlike the NBA's LeBron James, the biggest prize on the NHL free agent market isn't moving.

Ilya Kovalchuk is staying with the New Jersey Devils.

Kovalchuk's agent and the team announced on Monday that the high-scoring left-wing has agreed to a multi-year contract, ending weeks of speculation where the league's leading goal scorer since 2001 would be skating next season.

Several reports pegged the deal at 17 years and around US$100 million.

"This was a long arduous process that has taken frankly a little longer than I thought," agent Jay Grossman said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "But you know what, nothing is worth anything unless you work for it. I can tell you he is very happy to be with the New Jersey Devils."

The Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Devils and SKA St. Petersburg of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League talked with Kovalchuk after free agency started on July 1.

The final decision came down to the Kings and the three-time Stanley Cup champion Devils, who haven't won a title since 2003.

Grossman refused to say that Kovalchuk decided to stay because he felt the Devils had a better chance to win the Cup again.

"This was so far complex that I don't want to get into those questions," Grossman said. "Obviously his goal is to win the Stanley Cup. If he didn't think there was an opportunity to do that, then he would not have gone there."

Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello, coach John MacLean, and star forward Zach Parise didn't immediately return telephone messages seeking comment.

James disappointed Cleveland Cavaliers' fans earlier this month when he signed with the Miami Heat for a chance to chase an NBA title with Dwyane Wade and former Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh.

The Devils' only major loss in free agency was defenceman Paul Martin, who went to the Atlantic Division-rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 27-year-old Kovalchuk was traded to the Devils by Atlanta in February after rejecting a 12-year, US $101 million extension offered by the Thrashers.

Kovalchuk had 41 goals and 44 assists last season when he earned $7.5 million. He posted only 10 goals and 17 assists with the Devils.

When the trade with the Thrashers was completed, Lamoriello believed his team finally had the goal scorer it needed to make a run at a fourth Cup championship in 15 seasons.

It didn't work out that way. Kovalchuk had two goals in the post-season when the Devils were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in five games in the opening round. It was New Jersey's third straight exit in the first round.

The Devils have been very active since the playoffs ended. MacLean was named to replace Jacques Lemaire, who retired. The team reacquired veteran centre Jason Arnott in a trade and signed defencemen Henrik Tallinder and Anton Volchenkov and goaltender Johan Hedberg in free agency.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NHL draft, Kovalchuk has scored 338 career goals -- the most in the NHL in that period. He has only been to the playoffs twice in eight NHL seasons, winning only one game.

Kovalchuk was acquired from the Thrashers along with defenceman Anssi Salmela for forward Niclas Bergfors, defenceman Johnny Oduya, prospect Patrice Cormier, a first-rounder and a swap of second-round picks.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

And the fallout begins:

FLYERS TRADE FORWARD GAGNE TO LIGHTNING FOR WALKER, 2011 PICK

The Philadelphia Flyers have traded forward Simon Gagne to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenceman Matt Walker and a fourth-round draft pick in 2011.

Gagne, a 30-year-old native of Quebec and a career Flyer, had reportedly agreed to waive his no-trade clause earlier in July.

Gagne, a four-time 30-goal scorer, will make $5.25 million this season, the last year remaining on his current contract.

The addition of Gagne continues the rebuilding effort in Tampa by new general manager Steve Yzerman.

Yzerman, who was hired by the Lightning at the end of May, has already signed Martin St. Louis to a four-year extension, inked free agent goaltender Dan Ellis and re-signed defenceman Pavel Kubina.

The Gagne deal marks the second trade Yzerman has made with the Flyers, after he sent defenceman Andrej Meszaros and his large contract to Philadelphia for a draft pick on July 1.

In the 2009-10 season, Gagne had 17 goals and 23 assists in 58 games, missing the other 24 games with a sports hernia. He returned in time for the post-season, adding nine goals and three assists in 19 playoff appearances.

He was selected 22nd overall by the Flyers in the first round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

In 664 career regular season games with the Flyers, Gagne had 259 goals and 265 assists. His best season came after the lockout in 2005-06, when he registered 47 goals and 32 assists.

 

[PhilsFan]

Fucking shit. What a horrible, horrible trade.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

yeah it looks pretty bad - nice to see they would rather take a chance on the train wreck that is Nikolia Zherdev but pitch out a 10-year veteran for a shitty defensman and a fourth raound pick....

btw, here is the reported breakdown of Kovy's contract:

2010-2011: $6 million
2011-2012: $6 million
2012-2013: $11.5 million
2013-2014: $11.5 million
2014-2015: $11.5 million
2015-2016: $11.5 million
2016-2017: $11.5 million
2017-2018: $10.5 million
2018-2019: $8.5 million
2019-2020: $6.5 million
2020-2021: $3.5 million
2021-2022: $750,000
2022-2023: $550,000
2023-2024: $550,000
2024-2025: $550,000
2025-2026: $550,000
2026-2027: $550,000

un-fucking-believable...

 

[UberBeaver]

Those front loaded contracts are ridiculous.

 

[Chizip]

yeah it looks pretty bad - nice to see they would rather take a chance on the train wreck that is Nikolia Zherdev but pitch out a 10-year veteran for a shitty defensman and a fourth raound pick....

btw, here is the reported breakdown of Kovy's contract:

2010-2011: $6 million
2011-2012: $6 million
2012-2013: $11.5 million
2013-2014: $11.5 million
2014-2015: $11.5 million
2015-2016: $11.5 million
2016-2017: $11.5 million
2017-2018: $10.5 million
2018-2019: $8.5 million
2019-2020: $6.5 million
2020-2021: $3.5 million
2021-2022: $750,000
2022-2023: $550,000
2023-2024: $550,000
2024-2025: $550,000
2025-2026: $550,000
2026-2027: $550,000

un-fucking-believable...

makes a sham of the salary cap. it allows the devils to pay him 11 million dollars with only a 6 million dollar cap hit, and then they can easily buy out the last 5-6 years of the contract.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

this still makes me laugh:

YouTube - Ron Wilson making fun of Patrick Kane at the Pre-Game Skate Press Conference (HD)

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

oh snap!

NHL REJECTS KOVALCHUK CONTRACT FOR SALARY CAP CIRCUMVENTION

The NHL has rejected Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on the grounds that it circumvents the NHL's salary cap.

Kovalchuk was slated to earn $95 million over the first 10 years of the deal and then just $7 million over the last seven seasons. That would translate to an annual cap hit of $6 million per year.

TSN Insider Darren Dreger explains that the deal was rejected due to the fact that the NHL does not believe that either Kovalchuk nor the Devils expected the 2004 Rocket Richard trophy winner would be playing near end of the contract and that it is a case of artificially lowering the annual average value of the contract. The Devils must now either file the contract once again or the Players' Association can file a grievance.

Should the NHLPA decide to file a grievance, the contract would remain dead until an arbitrator determines otherwise.

The current CBA explains circumvention as the following in section 26.3:

(a) No Club or Club Actor, directly or indirectly, may: (i) enter into any agreements, promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind, whether express, implied, oral or written, including without limitation, any SPC, Qualifying Offer, Offer Sheet or other transaction, or (ii) take or fail to take any action whatsoever, if either (i) or (ii) is intended to or has the effect of defeating or Circumventing the provisions of this Agreement or the intention of the parties as reflected by the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation, provisions with respect to the financial and other reporting obligations of the Clubs and the League, Team Payroll Range, Player Compensation Cost Redistribution System, the Entry Level System and/or Free Agency.

The 27-year-old rejected a $101 million, 12-year extension from the Atlanta Thrashers before being dealt to the Devils in February.

Kovalchuk had 41 goals and 44 assists last season, including 10 goals and 17 assists with the Devils.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

What do you guys think about Marty Turco?

 

[UberBeaver]

What do you guys think about Marty Turco?

He's kinda like the LO in LOL. A few years ago he may have just been the L, but he's lost a step or 9.

 

[No spoken words]

In the past you could count on a strong regular season and then a playoff meltdown.

Now, you just get the meltdown all season long.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Great.

 

[No spoken words]

Great.

He's like Kevin Barnes: he'll make you feel very uncomfortable. None would argue that the best goaltending is made this way.

 

[UberBeaver]

He always did seem like a helluva nice guy though. So there's that.

 

[liz9640]

What do you guys think about Marty Turco?

I love Turco, it's always a win for Detroit when he's in net!


Couldn't Chicago have traded someone else and kept Niemi? 2.75 didn't seem that bad.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Niemi wasn't traded because of performance. He was completely embraced by the fanbase and, uhhh, won the Stanley Cup. It was purely a money thing. And unfortunate that it didn't work out.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

yeah, good luck doing that again this year....

I'm going to repeat this again just because I'm a bitter Leafs fan...

seriously though, I'm assuming since no one wants to inherit Campbell's 7+ million a year contract for any worthwhile return, it really would have come down to Niemi or Sharp. Tough choice for anyone to make I'm sure...