Official NHL Thread

[Major]

The real problem is this: When JFJ was GM, he gave no-trade clauses to EVERY SINGLE PLAYER!!!

And this is why guys like McCabe, who we could really use in a trade, will not leave, forcing us to continue being a bad team.

But don't worry, Fletcher is the man, he is, after all, the guy who brought Sundin in.

[MangoKidHoops]

And my (well, MVP and Benzo's as well) Blueshirts just keep getting stronger...

Markus Naslund is off the available list for free agents, as the Swedish winger has signed a 2-year contract with the New York Rangers worth $8 million.

LINK

[fancylad]

wow. one more reason to like the rangers.

[fancylad]

Originally Posted by Major

You guys will see, the Leafs are making the playoffs this year. BOOK IT!!!!

major.


how do you figure?

The Leafs who already had a shitty roster in the past few seasons are going to have an even lesser one come next year.

Sundin is not coming back. A. Toronto would be really really stupid to want him back. B. Sundin would be really really stupid to want to come back.

I'd say the best Leaf player is Kaberle, second best Antropov. It's arguable if ANY of the Leaf forwards would even be considered top line forwards on most over .500 teams. I don't tkink so myself.

If you're pushing to make the playoffs, why buy out Tucker?

This is the Maple Leafs begrudgingly beginning an odd rebuilding phase.

At least that's my take on this team. and i don't even know that much about or follow hockey closely. Even with that in mind, I can guaran-F'ing-tee you that the leafs won't be a playoff team next year.

Hockey experts: back me up.

[The MVP of West Hollywood]

I'll eat my own penis if the Leafs make the playoffs next year

Do they even have one above average forward? They're the NHL equivalent of a D-League team.

[Major]

Alrite everyone just calm down for like 5 minutes.

Its July 4th today. Season starts in 3 months. That's a lot of time to make some deals/signings. Its been 3 days since Free Agency has opened and you guys are already bashing away. Just calm down. Cliff Fletcher is a good GM okay? Let the man do his job. I have a lot more faith in him than JFJ thats for sure.

Sure we don't have an above average Forward at the time. But there are a lot of UFA's out there with great skill. And if we can't get that we'll trade. Peter Forsberg is 33. And hasn't been signed yet. Brendan Morrison, Jason Williams.

For our defense there's still UFA's like Paul Mara, Marek Malik. But defense isn't our problem at all, with the help of the addition of Luke Schenn. Goaltending isn't the problem either. Toskala is one hell of a goalie. And with Justin Pogge turning 22 a few months ago, he will start to prove that he is capable of backing-up Vesa.

We also brought back Cujo, yes i know he's 41 but he's still alright. Niklas Hagman should help us a little bit. At least now he have a goal scorer. He had 27 last season. Jeff Finger, I know, I've never heard of him either, but he's a physical defenseman which we need right now. These guys are both in their prime and should perform well this season.

We've got a great coaching staff now. Ron Wilson was with the San Jose Sharks, nuff said. Cliff Fletcher was the man who brought in Sundin, arguably the greatest player to put on a Leaf Jersey, nuff said. Joe Nieuwendyk may even come back to head the front office.

3 months. We have 3 months still to make some changes and test out our new roster. I see a good 08/09 season in this team. And I'm not begging you guys to agree with me or anything, but this is just my opinion. I believe we will have what it takes to be a playoff team this year.

[Dr. J. Naismith]

Rumour has it that the Sens are very close to signing Jason Smith to a 2 year deal. I hope to hell Murray can pull this one of considering how thin we are at the blue line right now. Smith adds a ton of leadership and toughness too. With Ruutuu signing and Donovan resigning, look for McAmmond and Neil to be dealt soon too seeing how their pretty much expendable now.

[Major]

Looks like Leafs are making another move.

Originally Posted by The Star

The Toronto Maple Leafs are moving closer to signing Swedish defenceman Jonas Frogren, a mainstay of the Tre Konor national team.

"It hasn't happened yet, but it will happen," one insider close to the deal told thestar.com today.

Frogen, a 6-1, 200-pound stay-at-home defenceman negotatiated his release from Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League. He told the Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet, that he would soon sign with the Maple Leafs.

Oh here's the status on McCabe, looks like he's gone

Originally Posted by The Star

He (Cliff Fletcher) said he knows what seven defencemen he wants on the team, adding Bryan McCabe "probably" isn't one of them.

"I said probably he wouldn't be one of them," said Fletcher. "There's a big difference."

Fletcher is hoping McCabe will ultimately relent, waive his no movement clause and allow himself to be traded, but there was no movement on that front yesterday.

[Major]

Dan Boyle and Rob Blake to the Sharks

This teams is going to be strong, if they weren't already last year.

Originally Posted by CBC.ca

Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Dan Boyle was dealt to the San Jose Sharks on Friday after the blue-liner agreed to waive his no-trade clause.

The deal sends Boyle and defenceman Brad Lukowich to San Jose in exchange for young defenceman Matt Carle, a 2009 first-round pick, a fourth-round pick in 2010 as well as prospect Ty Wishart.

"It's pretty rare when a player like Dan becomes available," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "He's one of the elite players in this league. He's won a Stanley Cup … he'll be the quarterback of our power play for a long time."

Originally Posted by Los Angeles Times

Faced with being part of another rebuilding job with the Kings, Rob Blake instead just said no.

The six-time All-Star defenseman Thursday signed a one-year, $5-million deal with the San Jose Sharks, the Kings' Pacific Division rival and a team that is a Stanley Cup contender.

In doing so, Blake, 38, leaves a team where he has spent 14 of his 18 NHL seasons, but one that is far from being a Cup contender and is expected to infuse the lineup with even more youngsters. The decision was made only after it became apparent that he and the Kings could not reach an agreement.

[JayJayW]

Leafs are in it for the taveras hunt another disappointing season

[Superjudge]

Originally Posted by Major

The real problem is this: When JFJ was GM, he gave no-trade clauses to EVERY SINGLE PLAYER!!!

And this is why guys like McCabe, who we could really use in a trade, will not leave, forcing us to continue being a bad team.

But don't worry, Fletcher is the man, he is, after all, the guy who brought Sundin in.

Most teams have at least 4-5 no-trades on thier roster. It isn't a JFJ phenomenom.

[Superjudge]

Originally Posted by JayJayW

Leafs are in it for the taveras hunt another disappointing season

Hedman.

Not Taveres.

[Major]

Originally Posted by Superjudge

Most teams have at least 4-5 no-trades on thier roster. It isn't a JFJ phenomenom.

Okay but at least 4-5 of those players are franchise-calibre.

And for the Leafs its more like 6-7 players

[IggyPosterizes]

My Flames just signed Bertuzzi to a 1yr/1.95mill contract, decent signing and a low risk high reward move

Iggy and Bert on the same line will scare a lot of teams.

As for the guy who said the sharks are gonna be good cuz of the Boyle and Blake acquisitions, prepare to be disappointed, Boyle is injury prone and Blake well...lets just say he sucks as a player and as a person.

[The MVP of West Hollywood]

Being in the Tavares hunt would be great for the Leafs

[Major]

Well of course it would, it would be great for any team.

Leafs have gotta make a decision, if they wanna go in rebuilding mode, then get rid of Sundin and go for bottom 5, I would actually be okay with that.

If they wanna make a run at the playoffs, then get Sundin, get another high-scoring winger, and go for that last playoff spot.

BUT NOT 9TH, ANYTHING BUT 9TH PLACE!!! I'm sick of that.

[Adequate Swag]

Originally Posted by IggyPosterizes

My Flames just signed Bertuzzi to a 1yr/1.95mill contract, decent signing and a low risk high reward move

Iggy and Bert on the same line will scare a lot of teams.

As for the guy who said the sharks are gonna be good cuz of the Boyle and Blake acquisitions, prepare to be disappointed, Boyle is injury prone and Blake well...lets just say he sucks as a player and as a person.

A skate falling off it's hook and cutting a guys wrist makes him injury prone?

[Major]

Wings vs Blackhawks at Wrigley Field on New Years 2009.

Originally Posted by Chicago Tribune

In what is fast becoming the worst-kept secret in hockey, an official announcement appears imminent that the Blackhawks will play host to the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on Jan. 1 in the second Winter Classic.

A Hawks source told the Tribune in June the team was confident it would be awarded the outdoor game, and late Sunday the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported the matchup and venue were approved last week when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met with the Hawks, Cubs and Mayor Richard Daley.

What a way to bring back an old rivalry from 90 years ago. Should be pretty exciting.

[Adequate Swag]

That is just fantastic.

The cup champs against maybe the most exciting young team in the league.

At Wrigley Freakin Field!!!

This is going to be a great thing for the league. Hopefully they keep this up every year. It's not often you hear someone like Charles Barkley bring up how awesome a hockey game was, and last year's didn't have nearly this kind of significance.

[MangoKidHoops]

Bert's a shadow of his former self. His last 3 coaches have been Keenan,Babcock and Carlisle..and granted there have been injuries, but he hasn't been the same since he came back to play since the suspension.