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[Discussion] Colorado Going after the big two
IBatch replied to Squamfan's topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
And they have Girard....where the heck do they find these guys anyways? -
[Discussion] Colorado Going after the big two
IBatch replied to Squamfan's topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
Without the Blake’s and the Borques, the Selannes and the Kariyas. They really loaded thing up there for awhile, and it eventually clicked. The only team that really could give Detroit a run for they money...except maybe NJ. On paper the NYR teams should have won a few cups too...Lindros, Bure, Fluery, Jagr and on and on...those teams were unreal, like an all-star team. COL current doesn’t really compare, YET...If Makar and Byram work out that might change. They definitely are an up and coming team that has McKinnon locked into one of the best deals right now. Rantanen will get a monster deal now, or a bridge followed by even a bigger deal...and eventually they will have their one cap issues. They need a Roy to really put them over the top, adding Panarin and Bobrovsky will make me count our lucky stars that we are no longer in the same division. -
[Discussion] Aqualini and Benning Missing the mark
IBatch replied to J.I.A.H.N's topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
That said is it really as good as they are saying it will be? We had a run of amazing drafts from McDavid - AM - Dahlin with EPs draft like the recent one being a little more ho humm. Lafrenniere isn’t really as hyped (yet) as those three guys were, even Hughes got a pretty good chunk of praise the last two years. Im not saying it won’t be a very good draft, because it’s already shaping up to be, but aside from a few guys near the top not much is been talked about it other then it’s going to a good one. Time will tell I guess, our chances of making the playoffs without Miller would be 50/50, likely a modest improvement to around picking 13. Still a lottery ticket no doubt but almost definitely picking left overs. Adding Myers and Miller and a full years of Hughes and maybe Bear completely changes things. Two guys bumped off the left side, and one the right. Miller with EP could ignite things for them, or at the very least share the burden a lot better then Goldobin and chumps. I’d say the odds are closer to 80/20 now, making the playoffs and that once in you never know. Rousell and Beagles value go way up come playoff time too, which means Benning could either keep them for the run, or trade them at the deadline is it’s the right move for extra picks in this “great” draft. -
[Proposal/poll] A Zaitsev deal that makes sense
IBatch replied to JM_'s topic in Proposals and Armchair GM'ing
Good. -
I watched a biography when he was with the NYR, he said he was going to the casino and blowing one million bucks twice a month..just sad.
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Let’s just say I’m biased as he was a Canuck killer early in his career...that said begrudgingly I’d have to say I’d have him about Roenick and below Mogilny. And my respect for him is had gone way up since his retirement and his story is more public. He had demons the moment he stepped onto the ice until he hung them up but still managed more then almost anyone. Too hundred in scoring - check. 400 goals check. PPG 1000 points check. Half a career in the dead puck era check. One day he will make it and as one of the best little guys ever to play the game..
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I’ve been saying Zubov needs recognition for years. Just saw this and I’m stoked that he’s finally getting induction. Scored like 72 points as a 35 year old after the lock-out and the new rules....definitely deserving of the honour after suffering through years of the dead puck era. Still think Mogilny and Barasso need their turn maybe Osgood and Vernon too...otherswise we have to wait for others to get their turn. Don’t think Roenick or Fluery will ever get in and they shouldn’t.
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Two books you should read...Ken Dryden’s it’s generally considered the hockey bible and also 99 Gretzky’s book. The second one won’t be what you think it’s an insightful look at the history of the NHL through his eyes, modest to a fault. Just for fun if you like the tough stuff read Proberts book, and Tiger Williams, both are fun reads. Of those if I had to choose one id pick 99’s, because he was the best hockey player ever and probably ever. Zero ego.
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Does the RFA $ Grab Imply Coming Economic-Mayhem?
IBatch replied to Nuxfanabroad's topic in General Hockey Discussion
You bet..Tavares, AM, Marner, Nylabder ...McDavid Drasaitl plus plus even Stamkos, Kucherov, Point, Herman or Patches, Stone, Karlsson plus or Wheeler, Laine etc... That said it’s nice problem to have..and I can’t wait to have our own problems, just hoping it’s a more balance one with a little extra for those guys that help come playoff time...which I definitely think is still possible given the unknowns...would rather have six Horvats and Miller’s then then Tavares, AM, and Marner right ?!! -
Does the RFA $ Grab Imply Coming Economic-Mayhem?
IBatch replied to Nuxfanabroad's topic in General Hockey Discussion
That would work well for our cap planning. Benning probably will end up running close to the cap this year after all things are said and done, but will have more and more breathing room as the chaf contracts start to expire and or get moved out. That bottom six depth he’s acquired over the last few years will organically disappear...with that hope that the Linds, Maddens and Woos, even this years second (he is in the SHL already, a better league then the AHL and not far off the KHL) are ready when the time comes. With a little bit of reflection at least for now we are not in danger of wrecking our cap situation...it’s far better then most of the other NHL teams, some like TO and soon TB (Point and Kucherovs contracts will kick in) are in hot water still.. I believe you can run 10% over the cap until the season starts, so there will definitely still be some movement with teams looking to make it under the cap (Vegas too) and hoping to acquire some wiggle room for later. This year is probably the first one of many that Benning will have to make a cautious and calculating approach for what he need to for this season and the remainder of the next cores window. Having Luongos hit could even work out as a blessing in disguise as it will force management to live with less for the next three years. Edit: He will have to start planing for Podz soon too. Good problem to have. His ELC just might end up being our best window cap wise... -
Does the RFA $ Grab Imply Coming Economic-Mayhem?
IBatch replied to Nuxfanabroad's topic in General Hockey Discussion
Most of Boston’s salaries won’t be affected by the RFA goofiness, with the exception of maybe McAvoy...for the most part it’s still relying heavily on the old guard (Rask, Bergeron, Marchand, Kriejci and even Chara). Same with St Louis although Alex P is up soon. One could argue that Tarasenkos contract is on the high side for an RFA and it was when it was signed, but now it would be even goofier so good thing he’s locked in. The teams like Boston and St Louis that have good balance and aren’t crippled by their core guys, same with WSH to a certain degree and PIT ... all still have a decent window left. It’s the up and comers like EDM, CAL (MT is going to get a big raise), VAN, CAR, ARI etc that will be seeing a big pinch once their RFAs are up or are already suffering (EDM). COL has Mckinnon at a great deal which will help, but Rantanen is going to eclipse him by a wide margin according to the experts, Makar and Byram will eventually give them a solid core but at a high cost. Sucks that this happening now when our team is close to making the next step...Hope Benning can at least manage to lock Boeser in on the low side (under the old system he’s worth 4-5 at most, if Tavares gets 50% of top dollar, Boeser would definitely get less than that), which right now is anything under 7. I’d do 7.5 x 8 in an instant because I think we’d end up winning big time the way things are going on a deal like that. -
Does the RFA $ Grab Imply Coming Economic-Mayhem?
IBatch replied to Nuxfanabroad's topic in General Hockey Discussion
I’m not sure your paying close attention to whats been happening the past three or four years. Each year the elite keep grabbing a little of the pie as owners just can’t help but overpaying their guys... The “middling” players include guys like Vanek that are actually pretty good getting one year contracts after scoring 50 plus points at 2 per season. Guys that used to be given a fourth contract aren’t getting them anymore and are forced out early so the money can be given to two ELCs or some desperate vet that will sign for anything just to stay in the league. For the most part these guys are better then the guys replacing them, which means overall we have an inferior product. Now RFAs are getting third contract money ... teams can no longer build through the draft and expect to have the same window or cash to plug holes with UFAs like both CHI and LA did. Who’s going to make up for that? In the end it will require half the roster players making close to the league minimum to support the five or six guys that can afford five houses and a stable of spots cars. Dont see how this will fix itself without intervention. Perhaps the NHLPA will be fed up, as 80% of them are making less then 20% of the money, they definetly could get the votes to help prolong their careers and get better paying jobs. For comparison Eichel signs his 10 million mega deal with stats that are similar to Boesers, but with a pedigree that would have him going first in most drafts..Tavares was a higher touted prospect, one of the few granted special status growing up and hyped as at least a franchise center if not a generational one (in other words a better pedigree then Eichel, by far factually, hyped since he was 14). His RFA contract was for 5 million and at the time the best we’re making almost 10. EK was already one of the top defenseman in the league but he didn’t get paid like one while he was an RFA, same with Doughty. Stamkos was already Richard winner and one of the best goal scorers in the league and he didn’t get paid like one etc. Why? Because the THIRD contract is supposed be the one that sets someone’s life up for a legacy IF the player earns it. Now thanks to Dubas and several others (AM is NOT a top five center yet, or a top three player for that matter) this years crop of RFAs have comparables that will make it almost impossible to reverse the trend. If Boeser, Aho, Rantanen, Point, Marner also all cash in, which they make certainly will, like Ive said before you won’t get the Djini back in the bottle. The middle class just lost another year or two of their careers and will have to accept even less. As well the AHL will soon be much more active sending fringe players that really have no business being in the NHL, into their teams just to cut corners and save a little cash here and there. Thank GOD most of our guys have one-three year deal left, as we need Spooner, Sutter, LE, Beagle, Rousell etc money to both pay EP and Hughes and to prepare to add a bunch of fringe NHLers and prospects to replace them. -
Näslund was more then just a top LW he was also considered a top player in the league for a few years, including the best player voted by his peers with the Pearson, close Hart finalist, and missed out on an Art Ross by one point I think. He also did this in the dead puck era...three time first all star selection ...captain of the WCE team (although I did think he was the right choice). These are things that’s Bure never achieved despite all his skill. If he had played in a different era 1000 points wouldn’t be out of the question, same with becoming a bubble HHOF a candidate. At some point the Hall might have to re-look at some of the guys that played in that era, Zubov in particular...was a big reason Dallas won their cup and returned to the final (one writer says no way they win without him), consistently scored 50 points a season in the Dead Puck era, and scored over 70 at 35 after the rule changes in the lock-out, which to me puts an exclamation point beside the top scorers during that time Näslund would be at or near the top of the list. Stajonov had less goals then Näslund had first line all-star selections wow what a steal. He’s also one of four players we’ve ever had break 100...which in the early nineties would be like 120. Näslund is at least as deserving as Bure’s number, heck Mogilny could be up there under the same debate although so far the HHOF has snubbed him, he was undoubtedly one of the best that ever played for us right up there or even past the Sedins skill wise. Linden and Smyl are undeniably fan favourites and two of the greatest captains the teams ever had, slam dunk candidates IMO for retiring numbers. The Sedins also. Im ok with both Bure and Näslund too, although both of them are not as deserving as the others, they were two of the best we’ve ever had. If you take all the players that played during the same time as Naslund, I truly wonder where he’d match up in scoring? Almost 400 goals and 900 points ...take out the PIT years and id bet he’d be top ten, possibly top five. His PPG is comparable to the Sedins and he played almost his entire career in the Dead Puck era, largely agreed as starting 1995-96...what he managed was impressive, three 40 plus goal seasons, a pile of 25-35 goal years on top of that...one of the best goal scorers of his generation.
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Does the RFA $ Grab Imply Coming Economic-Mayhem?
IBatch replied to Nuxfanabroad's topic in General Hockey Discussion
It does imply a further squeeze of the middle class players... The league should seriously look at installing an RFA cap. It can’t afford to pay both RFAs and UFAs the same money. Could be the best cap days have already come an gone as far as on ice product goes if they don’t get ahead of this somehow...not sure it’s possible now the Djini is out of the bottle with McDavid, Eichel and AM deals... -
Those guys are also easy to trade as rentals if they are healthy and still have gas in the tank..not that we’d do that if we are in the hunt this year, but the following one is a different story, especially if we need a few extra bucks in cap space going into the off season...
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Jim Benning: June 27th, 2019 (Recapture penality/free agency)
IBatch replied to Rush17's topic in Canucks Talk
Nah that’s usually the next GMs job in a situation like this... -
Glad that at least security let the fans act that way when they were there...at first i was a little embarrassed at the quality of super fans the city created but they won me over in the end. Brushing your leotard ball-sack against the glass upside down takes some skills...
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Agreed especially on the two years away thing. Fans might be sleeping a little on Lind, he took some time to adjust to the change of pace, it’s a bit step going from juniors to playing in one of the best leagues in the world below the NHL. He was also not 100% physically. If things go right it wouldn’t surprise me if he takes a big step this year. The thing about losing a Beagle or Rousell is they will both be close to the end of their careers by then, and really as placeholders anyways. If Lind looks close by then or has already played some games it will make it tough for management. OJ would really have to bomb to not get protected. Tryamkin comes back we have to protect him too...which leaves one more defenseman...
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Thanks I think we see things pretty much the same way. It would be great for our team if Markstrom locks the door the first few months and we trade him later at the TDL for a first...Demko would also have to be lights out for Benning to consider this though, especially if we are in the playoffs. I think maybe the following year he will get traded unless they want him around to avoid losing someone else in the expansion draft, either way it’s a win win for us, unless or course Seattle takes someone else anyways...so trading him might be the safest course.
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Absolutely. One of the higher touted goalies in recent memory, way more then Demko is/was. Personally the difference to me is the soft goals he used to let in like clockwork sometime early in the game. After that he usually locked in and played well. Like a mental block or something...just taking that one element out of his game it makes him a solid goalie. Don’t think he’s elite, but he definitely has the tools to be elite. Wonder what management plans to do with this...a 5 x 4 contract seems reasonable but only if he keeps it up for another year. Like to see him get more shutouts/steal entire games. That’s one area that’s very weak still despite his better play.
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Markstrom caliber guys? Well Elliot owns the modern era record for lowest GAA and how many teams has he played on? Markstrom started last year ranked lower then many back-ups and pretty much every starter...yes he had a great season Dec on, but so have a hundred or so other goalies the last few decades. Who has the record for modern day consecutive shutouts? Remember his name? Hint part of the ten year PHI revolving door fiasco. I really don’t think Markstroms done nearly enough to be considered a quality number one, those guys are consistent year in year out like Bishop (wasn’t he traded?). Talbot...well he was great in NY but not so much in EDM. Grueber. I gather by your post you consider Markstrom a true number one. Schneider who some had as a top five goalie at the time, definitely a top ten and very young, got a 9th overall. No way Markstrom gets that. Again Lacks sp was .920 during our time with us (what is Markstrom again overall?) and some thought he should get the reigns over a seasoned vet and he got some picks .... I think that’s the best we could expect unless we find a team maybe even Florida, who’s desperate and pays above market value. There are only 62 goalie jobs available in the NHL....there are piles of goalies that if given the chance could do what the back-ups do, and some could even do better then mid-ranged number ones if given the chance. Binnington case in point and last year Vegas was on their 4th stringer and still winning. Look what happens year to year. Look at how many rookie goalies that show so much promise (CLB Guy MasonTO guy Raycroft, PIT guy Murray) and then sink. That’s why they Quick, Lundqvists, Luongo (not anymore), MAF, Rinne’s, Bobrovskies of the world are so valuable. I agree those guys don’t often get traded. This year I’m sure their will be a different group of Vezina finalists...maybe some of the same guys from before and probably a new guy. Demkos stats aren’t far off Markstoms...sure he’s getting the easier teams though. For us to get something good for him he needs to do what he did last year for at least one, if not two more years. Look at Holtby, one day a Vezina goalie, the next year fighting for his job. He’s got a way better pedigree, similar age, what do you think he’d cost in a trade like Markstrom he’s a UFA up for an new contract soon...and who would you rather have...
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Question is has he done enough to warrant a first ballot entry? Considering one goalie is ranked higher by some in all-time lists (Barasso,two cups, Vezina, Calder three all-star selections one first ranked 26, Luongo 29) and others are arguably comparable (Cujo) and waited a long time now ... Also guys like Vernon (two cups conn Smythe etc.) and Osgood (way better winning percentage 11 all-time ore shoot-out 400 wins, three cups two as a starter and an elite sp in the playoffs last final elite .930 and he was a front runner for the Conn Smythe had they won and that was when he was almost done... You can bet the HHOF will do the math when they compare him to other members and change his shoot-out wins (around 60) and consider them ties, same with the losses...he’s still undeniably Hall worthy but it takes a lot of shine off. Cujo isn’t in because he never won any hardware/cups or was first or second all-star spots. Luongo has three of those and two gold medals, one as a starter in 2010 when he was a top goalie for a stretch of five years or so. Is he going in? Absolutely. Right now there isn’t any recent retirees that are up so the thought is some of these guys that have been waiting for a while might get the call. Jagr and Selanne are recent greats ... then the Sedins, Joe Thornton when he hangs them up and Luongo will be up. Wouldn’t it be neat if they get in together (the Sedins and Luongo?). It’s entirely possible. edit: I will be happy as long as Keith doesn’t retire soon and get the call the same time as then. If they do i hope afterwards the three of them (Sedins and Luongo) take turns elbowing him in the head in the parking lot...ok just kidding...sort of
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Pretty sure they have a few guys from the teams that won way back when.. Cy Denny ... a few ... next time I’m there I will take a picture and add it.. edit: according to google Frank Finnagens number 8 is retired, only other guy then #11....considering how long they have been around now (not 26 years?), it would comparable to us in 1996, at the time only Smyl’s number was retired...only Chara’s number maybe should be considered but his best years started after the trade so who knows...would be similar to us with Bure i guess...they really have nobody else to consider...they Hate Heatley...Spezza? Nah. Maybe Karlsson when he retires, they love him still...
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It’s the guys like Lind that they have to worry about too...someone out of the woodwork might have a great camp before the expansion draft and force us to protect him too. Losing an average vet is fine. We just don’t want to lose a promising young player like CLB did with Karlsson, or Theodore in ANA...man they both got burned big time, bet they wish a re-do. edit: OJ needs protection too doesn’t he?
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Markstrom can still have a long career if he’s the type of goalie that peaks in his thirties...happens from time to time...heck Thomas was 37 when he beat us and won a bunch of hardware two years in a row... That would be great for the Canucks ... we’d have options, it really depends more on how Demko plays and if he’s really going to be an upgrade...everything points in that direction, he’s better then Markstrom was at the same age..but for now anyways he’s going to be sheltered, play the easier teams etc. When Schneider was pushing Luongo he was really really good...time for a good old fashioned goalie battle..