xXx..CK..xXx

26* 🙂

The Radulov off season was two years ago. We made some a terrible decisions and it was obvious that we didn’t have a chance at the cup because we left 8 million in cap space on the table. I’m not a negative fan, but I made posts on here about how that off season was the first off season in my life that I knew we didn’t have a chance to win the cup. Of course we haven’t won the cup in 26* years, but I had more hope in general until the off season of 2017. Last year we again left cap space on the table but I’ll admit that the team definitely improved from the season before. Last year’s off season which is the season you are referring to was not as bad as two years ago. I think letting both Markov and Radulov were mistakes individually, but letting Radulov walk was the bigger mistake. I use “mistake” loosely as I’ll admit Radulov chose to leave to a place with lower taxes as well. He’s one of the best Russians to ever play the game though, and we let him walk.

I want Markov on the team but I agree there is a lot of sentimentality going on. He’s much older now and did slow down last season. The problem would not be having Markov on the team. I’d love it. The issue would be mainly that we would still be fixing the same hole that was created when he left. We need a left handed defenceman or two who are clearly higher than him on the depth chart. We need to focus on acquiring a better LD than him.

I would have liked to sign Dzingel, taking into consideration the fish that are left. Instead, he goes to the Canes.

I think Hudon can be a contributor given an opportunity in the top 6 on an NHL team. The problem is that this can possibly be said for quite a few players. In order to solidify that type of spot, he needs to stand out. Statistically in their young careers, I would have to actually say that I trust Hudon a little more to produce. The difference comes when arguing about their “potential” as Puljujarvi was a 4th overall pick, whereas Hudon was a 5th rounder. I can see the argument where someone may feel as though Puljujarvi is going to break out given a change of scenery but at this point I think the team would need to get him almost for free to even consider going after him.

Say it with me: Who, DON?

Carolina matched. If anything, Aho's agent "suckered" Carolina's brass into signing a contract they would not have initially wanted. He didn't really sucker Montreal into doing anything they were uncomfortable with, whether Carolina matched or not. Aho signed a fair deal, one that many on here thought was too light an offer. How can we have it that we should have made a higher offer and also have the theory that Aho's agent "maximized the dollars in his pocket."? Aho would have been happy in either place. He just wanted this deal done as soon as possible. There's nothing more complicated than that to this.

Problem for me is not that I mind the offer sheet, because I didn’t mind the parameters. It’s that I’m not a big fan of Gardiner if he’s the main fish left. Nothing to do with his game 7 giveaways. I just don’t like his speed or lack there of. I guess he would look good compared to our other left D but I’d wish for another answer myself.

Aho accepted this deal. I think an offer sheet should be a borderline tough deal for the team matching. Not one that is so impossible for them to match that the team that offered the contract will get them 100%. In the last case your team becomes the one who grossly overpaid for a player because it was so “obvious” the other team would not match. The simple fact that we got Aho to sign is a good move on its own. If he doesn’t sign, we only “lose” out on some available free agents who we may not have signed anyway. I’m expecting that if there really is someone we had a chance at, or someone we are really interested in signing, we would have/will still pursue them regardless of this deal. I’m one who thinks that Carolina will also match. The bottom line is that we got Aho to accept this deal, though. Not that we should have signed him for more than he was willing to accept.

First off, while even mentioning the word downvote has a “stigma” around here I do agree that one shouldn’t have to be “worried” to even post something positive about the fact that Subban got dealt out of Nashville. This becomes a personal issue to some, rather than an actual valid reason to downvote someone. With that being said, there is no one anywhere on here that I’ve seen who has ever mentioned that either Subban or Weber aren’t great players on their own. The one thing is that there were many who were stating that a player like P.K. Subban should never be traded out of any organization and to that I have to say well lookey what we have here. All I do know is that I’d rather have Shea Weber on our team than Davies, another player I can’t remember, and two second round draft picks, which is what Nashville received for Subban. In that sense, what a great trade for us.

I guess that skews the trade in our favour in the long run. Subban traded for Santini, Davies, and two 2nd round draft picks from Nashville to New Jersey. Years ago Subban was traded on the same day (or within a few days) as Taylor Hall was when many felt New Jersey got the better of Edmonton in their deal, and now New Jersey gets Subban as well. One would have to think that the winners on that day when looked at on June 22nd, 2019 would have to be..: 1) New Jersey 2) Montreal 3) Nashville 4) Edmonton

A lot of people were talking about Thornton going back and potentially facing the Bruins in a final but not many people are talking about the fact that Backes is going back to face the old tram he captained in St. Louis. Should be an interesting feeling for him.

It's already 3 years ago that people were telling me Matt Duchene was over the hill when I was demanding we trade for him because of our (past) center woes. I never agreed, though I seemed to be on an island of my own, and still don't.

I've heard about his strong analytics. I see that he has great offensive numbers. When I watch him play, however, I don't like his lack of speed. Hte's going to be another Alzner. Okay, I've lost all credibility with that comparison, but I mean it in that he will get overpaid and won't live up to expectations. I also have a hunch his offensive stats were inflated on the Leafs. This is my own opinion based on what I've seen from him as well as my gut telling me it's so. I would much prefer Karlsson who can skate like the wind, regardless of him being a right handed shot. Admittedly when we compare someone like Mete and his 0 goals to what Gardiner would provide, it's a no brainer. I just see a defense pairing with Weber and Gardiner as its integral core getting ripped apart by speed come playoff time. Gardiner would improve our team but I don't see it placing us into the top tier category, (if that even exists right now). Rather, it might keep us stuck in the middle. In regards to your question, it's a good one. The pickings are slim and this is part of the reason I'm wary about signing Gardiner. He might be the best out of a small crop and that's not enough to convince me that it matches with some of the league's best at the position. Gardiner is a better age than Edler or Kronwall, but I'd personally prefer Edler over Gardiner. If it has to be free agency, he'd be my pick. Otherwise let's make a trade.

I really do not want Gardiner.