SingleThorn

The interesting sidebar to this match up. Both teams have Bettman's ear and have input ( way more input than most teams ) into NHL policy. Whomever loses will be whining about changing the post season playoff brackets. Maybe both teams will try to get things changed ! Expect changes !

As a member of the 'we hate Bettman' club, the only time I 'don't hate' GB is when he is being boo-ed ! He handles it very well and is almost likeable for a brief moment !

There's not a CDCer that would be upset with EK being on our opening day roster ! The devil is in the details, and the details aren't too much of a mystery. EK played less games than Chris Tanev this season. You've possibly noticed how quickly the villagers of CDCville drag out the torches and pitchforks when CT's health is discussed. We also have a player who was signed to a long term, high cost contract. Has made folk a tad gun shy for these high cost, long term contracts. Now if EK comes over for a 4 year term at high dollars, probably no problem. Seven years for a fragile player would make this fan base nervous. EK's playoff resume will dictate a great deal of his next contract.

Not when coming from Europe. We own his rights, so as @theo5789 ^^ says, that might only apply to 'free agents'. The Ryan O'Reilly offer sheet meant that if he had signed with Calgary, he would have to pass waivers to get to the NHL. Obviously different situations, but I get easily confused !

So, can someone with a better memory than me, tell me if goal #1 in game #1 and the last goal in game #82 were both EP40 and were the same slapper from the same-ish area ?

Without digging into the stats, I'd say that goalie is the one position where being 30+ means nothing. Many seem to peak in the 30+ part of their careers.

I don't think that Hutton can expect a big raise. He was given a generous contract. Last year, JB's contract took a lot of flack, as BH flopped. This year, things were greatly improved, but his contract would fall into the 'fair' zone rather than a massive under payment. Rafferty looked great. For no practices, I am impressed. Look forward to next training camp. Teves looked out of his depth and appeared to be very 'slight' ( listed @ 170lbs ). At 24/25, don't know if he can improve on that too much.

Since Edler's ELC, he's enjoyed $43mil ( on paper ) in salary. Always a straight and narrow, family approach to life, probably, means that money is not an all consuming part of these negotiations. Obviously he's not staying for 650k for 2 years, but really don't don't see money to be a problem. Do Mrs AE and the little AEs want to stay in Vancouver ? Term probably plays a bigger part and the ED seems to be a big issue.

Probably close to zero, but we're in Canuck country, so..............?

Hmmmm........would he have to pass through waivers to get on our roster ? If not, welcome back !!!!

Sadly, @granpappy's sarcasm is the 'Canuck way' !

So.......how would you deal with the ED ? The main point in the 'think about trading a goalie' conversation is that losing either Markstrom or Demko at the ED is too expensive. You keep rolling your eyes at the stupidity of this thought. So.......a) you think it's okay to lose a goalie at the ED or b) you have a cunning plan to 'not lose' a goalie at the ED. If the answer is 'a', we disagree. If the answer is 'b', please elaborate ! In normal times, this never becomes a conversation ! the ED changes everything !

Luongo has a fairly complex NTC. Many decisions and dates to be met. All of that ended in 2018. CapFriendly doesn't say where things stand today. If I have it right (...it could happen ! ), he must supply a 5 team trade list. He only partly controls his destiny. I really feel that a win/ win/ win situation is in there somewhere. Could end up on our books with Florida retaining salary !

Don't believe that trading McD is an option, but I'd be surprised if his agent isn't blowing up the phone lines letting Oilers know that things need to change !

I'm not sure where the 'Schneider bombed' narrative comes from, but NJDs needed a #1 goalie and got 6 solid #1 seasons from Schneider. He has had troubles coming back from injury this season, but this year doesn't mean they won't get more good years from him.

I think that having both Heiskanen and Dahlin will help EP40. If there was only one top rookie dman, it would be a tougher road. Dahlin, being in the East, will probably end up being the alpha dman rookie. Binnington is the one that I really can't get a read on. Definitely a spoiler, but for whom ?

Didn't know that 650 was not an option in the valley. Explains why @chilliwiggins sounds like a 1040 employee !

One of our Calgary CDCers posted that JV was always ( except for one game ) listed as a right wing on the Hitmen roster !

Neither. Listened to 650 for the first time in a couple of months. 9:15 am ( don't know names ) ....the themes were Virtanen must be traded and can JB last another year ! It was like CDC when only the negative ninjas are allowed to post. Garbage ! ( 1040......ex-Pratt and Sekeres.....get lost )

The age thing was triggered by the Eastern block players starting to come over. They had years of professional time under their belts and the feeling at the time was that the rookie tag was being tarnished. Makarov I think was the final straw. ( only two players over 26 ever won the Calder. )

This is a real issue ! The ED means the Canucks have to make a tough choice. Markstrom or Demko. It's almost decision time. Both look good ( great on occasion ). You have to have a plan to deal with this issue ! If there was no ED, @aGENT's thoughts would be odd, but these are not 'normal' times !

Agreed. But......if JB doesn't move one or the other by the ED and loses one to Seattle, the villagers will be getting out their torches and pitchforks ! The whole asset management thing gets us back to 'should we trade Demko ?'. Normally, the answer is absolutely not, but the ED changes that !

Who are you protecting at the ED ? It can't be both !

With the ED coming up, a lot of 'outside the box' thinking will be going on. I think that Markstrom can be pencilled in for the next +/- 7 years, so a Demko move might be discussed !

Useless trivia time.......Gerry Rafferty was in a band ( Humblebums ) that comedian Billy Connolly was a big part of. ( pre Baker St.. )