dlbalr Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 With the playoffs now over, it's time to get the offseason thread going to discuss signings, trades, hirings, rumours, etc. Today, we saw Vancouver take Mason Raymond to arbitration (likely in an attempt to slightly lower his salary) although there is some risk. In most arbitration cases teams can walk away from the award but because it's club-elected, they're stuck with whatever he's awarded. We've had some re-signings in recent days as well. The biggest shocker to me was Chris Kelly in Boston, 4 years at $3 million per year with a full no-trade clause. For a guy who is thought of as a good 3rd liner, that's a bit on the expensive side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazy26 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 With the playoffs now over, it's time to get the offseason thread going to discuss signings, trades, hirings, rumours, etc. Today, we saw Vancouver take Mason Raymond to arbitration (likely in an attempt to slightly lower his salary) although there is some risk. In most arbitration cases teams can walk away from the award but because it's club-elected, they're stuck with whatever he's awarded. We've had some re-signings in recent days as well. The biggest shocker to me was Chris Kelly in Boston, 4 years at $3 million per year with a full no-trade clause. For a guy who is thought of as a good 3rd liner, that's a bit on the expensive side. Looks like the NHL thought so too; they rejected it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Looks like the NHL thought so too; they rejected it. Which I think is wrong. If a team wants to make a silly cap mistake? Let them. Then again, the NHL stepped in and vetoed the Lecavalier trade to Montreal so... maybe I shouldn't talk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Looks like the NHL thought so too; they rejected it. The NHL only rejected it because it would have put the Bruins over the current 64 mill cap hit. On July 1st at 12:00 the salary cap will be 70 mill. At 12:01, Kelly will sign his contract with the Bruins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted June 14, 2012 Author Share Posted June 14, 2012 The NHL only rejected it because it would have put the Bruins over the current 64 mill cap hit. On July 1st at 12:00 the salary cap will be 70 mill. At 12:01, Kelly will sign his contract with the Bruins. Long live the tagging rules...Matt Carle in Philly has reportedly re-signed as well but tagging prevents them from announcing it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share Posted June 15, 2012 Tampa gets their goalie...Anders Lindback from the Preds. Going the other way are a couple of 2nd's, a 3rd, plus the completely useless rights to Sebastian Caron (who I think is signed overseas already, that smells like a 50-man roster throw-in). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sakiqc Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Tampa gets their goalie...Anders Lindback from the Preds. Going the other way are a couple of 2nd's, a 3rd, plus the completely useless rights to Sebastian Caron (who I think is signed overseas already, that smells like a 50-man roster throw-in). This looks like a solid move by the 2 teams. I give the edge to Tampa. Lindback should be pretty solid for TB and have a significant impact right now, vs the picks, despite being good picks, we never know the outcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 two 2nd rounders plus a 3rd rounder is pretty good value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 A lot of Twitter talk that Luongo to the Leafs is nearing finalization but it'll likely be announced at the draft. Talk is that there is big pressure on Burke from the front office now for the first time since he has come in to get the team into the playoffs. Nearly the entire Leaf forward corp is UFA next summer so they have a lot of room to trade rentals to teams. Toronto has a lot of trade flexibility and I'm honestly expecting them to sell major assets this year for Luongo and Nash (though the talk is that the Leafs are cooling on Nash). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 I think Luongo could be in big trouble if he goes to Toronto, mentally I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 I think Luongo could be in big trouble if he goes to Toronto, mentally I mean. He'll immediately struggle with the fact he's dealing with a weak defence. Every Leaf blueliner is prone to two or three boneheaded plays in a game. Some have the excuse of age like Schenn and Gardiner but Phaneuf is now 27. He's supposed to be their leader and it's sad when guys like Gardiner outplay him. Phaneuf/Schenn/Liles/Gardiner is no Bieksa/Edler/Hamhuis/Ballard and Luongo will realize that very quickly. Another issue is that Toronto has a weak bottom six. Their top six is more than manageable and they get some good things out of them but their bottom six never gives much pressure. There are good pieces there (Steckel, Armstrong) but the rest is a mish mash of barely NHLers and guys who shouldn't be told to shadow. That all said, I think Luongo would be good in the long run for Toronto. He would be a stabilizing goaltender like Joseph and Belfour was. If the Leafs want to make the playoffs they need someone to get them out of their slumps and Luongo is the type of goalie who can definitely steal games for them during a slump. Reimer will make an excellent backup. I think we'll see MacArthur, Gunnarson and a 2nd go for Luongo, maybe a first for next year or one of the Leafs better prospects added. Leafs believing they'll get him for a song are dumb. If they get the trade done in the next few days I expect Toronto to draft a blueliner with the 5th Overall pick instead of what everyone assumes in a forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share Posted June 18, 2012 Barret Jackman gets 3 years, $9.5 M from STL. Brad Stuart gets 3 years, $10.8 M from SJ. And the defence FA market gets a whole lot thinner. For the Habs, I wouldn't be surprised to see them try and take a run at acquiring Niklas Hjalmarsson from Chicago. He fits what they're looking for in a stay-at-home guy and might be able to offset a bit of salary in going the trade route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazy26 Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Barret Jackman gets 3 years, $9.5 M from STL. Brad Stuart gets 3 years, $10.8 M from SJ. And the defence FA market gets a whole lot thinner. For the Habs, I wouldn't be surprised to see them try and take a run at acquiring Niklas Hjalmarsson from Chicago. He fits what they're looking for in a stay-at-home guy and might be able to offset a bit of salary in going the trade route. I'd love to see him in a Habs jersey, but I'd hate to have to type his name on a regular basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share Posted June 18, 2012 I'd love to see him in a Habs jersey, but I'd hate to have to type his name on a regular basis. You're a writer, you'd get used to it. I find it pretty easy to spell for some reason. In other news, Angelo Esposito will go unqualified by Dallas (his 4th team already). And I thought his stock had already fallen as far as it possibly could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazy26 Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 You're a writer, you'd get used to it. I find it pretty easy to spell for some reason. I guess once I added it to my dictionary, it'd just show up on spell check anyway. It does look like Chicago could afford to shed some D, especially with Leddy coming along. But who/what do you figure MTL has to pry Hjalmarsson out of Chicago? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 The guy to steal is Douglas Murray out of San Jose now that they signed Stuart. If you can, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share Posted June 18, 2012 It does look like Chicago could afford to shed some D, especially with Leddy coming along. But who/what do you figure MTL has to pry Hjalmarsson out of Chicago? I think a younger, cheaper D would be something they want for that 3rd pairing. That's likely Diaz. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. The guy to steal is Douglas Murray out of San Jose now that they signed Stuart. If you can, of course. I think Demers will be the guy they look to move but Murray would be a terrific fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 MAGodin is saying the Sharks are in the Nash sweepstakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLassister Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Montreal + Douglas Murray would = me happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 He'll immediately struggle with the fact he's dealing with a weak defence. Every Leaf blueliner is prone to two or three boneheaded plays in a game. Some have the excuse of age like Schenn and Gardiner but Phaneuf is now 27. He's supposed to be their leader and it's sad when guys like Gardiner outplay him. Phaneuf/Schenn/Liles/Gardiner is no Bieksa/Edler/Hamhuis/Ballard and Luongo will realize that very quickly. Another issue is that Toronto has a weak bottom six. Their top six is more than manageable and they get some good things out of them but their bottom six never gives much pressure. There are good pieces there (Steckel, Armstrong) but the rest is a mish mash of barely NHLers and guys who shouldn't be told to shadow. That all said, I think Luongo would be good in the long run for Toronto. He would be a stabilizing goaltender like Joseph and Belfour was. If the Leafs want to make the playoffs they need someone to get them out of their slumps and Luongo is the type of goalie who can definitely steal games for them during a slump. Reimer will make an excellent backup. I think we'll see MacArthur, Gunnarson and a 2nd go for Luongo, maybe a first for next year or one of the Leafs better prospects added. Leafs believing they'll get him for a song are dumb. If they get the trade done in the next few days I expect Toronto to draft a blueliner with the 5th Overall pick instead of what everyone assumes in a forward. My guess is Bobby Lou will thrive in TO. This is a guy who wants to win so badly that he tends to get rattled when victory is in sight - he wants it TOO much. This, compounded with some pretty insane fan pressures in Vancouver, made him arguably an imperfect fit for that environment, which really calls for a cool-headed, easy-going, water-off-a-duck's-back type (a la Brodeur). In Toronto, the D may be questionable, but because the Cup is not an option and because the media and fans are almost comically uncriticial, the pressure will not be anything like it is in Van. He flourished in Florida behind mediocre teams and I'd expect the same here; watch him pull the Leafs into the playoffs and become a 'national' hero as per the CBC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 In a surprise move, Wild re-sign Josh Harding. I would have thought he would leave to try and get a starters job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted June 19, 2012 Author Share Posted June 19, 2012 Josh Harding signs a 3 year deal in Minnesota, cross another goalie off the list for teams needing one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Josh Harding signs a 3 year deal in Minnesota, cross another goalie off the list for teams needing one. I was faster... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted June 19, 2012 Author Share Posted June 19, 2012 I was faster... I was more specific (3 years), that counts for something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 watch him pull the Leafs into the playoffs and become a 'national' hero as per the CBC. Remember the 2009 summer when Gainey cleared house and signed several UFAs? Expect that next summer. Seven forwards will be UFA and I'm betting Burke will see that as a huge opportunity to make some big signings. He'll have room to get any one of Getzlaf, Staal, Perry, Horton, Ribeiro, Eriksson, Morrow, Filppula, Weiss, Zajac, Clarkson, Hartnell and Crosby (lol). The Leafs could have their Miami Heat moment and sign Getzlaf and Horton for example while talking about how they are going to change their entire team dynamic. Burke needs the Leafs in the playoffs for next season so teams will be more willing to sign with them. Having Luongo might bite a bit into their cap but trust me, he sees the UFAs and knows he could have the opportunity to pick the best possible UFA summer and turn the Leafs into a powerhouse like he has claimed he would. This Luongo deal I see getting done. It's all about pushing Gillis to go lower on the cost and when Gillis stops budging, he'll pull the trigger on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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