Vinny in Vancouver

That (chance at a Stanley Cup or getting assets for JT) would be a good problem to have, no? Not sure why that would be "scary" - that's what those guys are paid a lot of money to decide. Look at it this way - if the Canucks are not in the playoff race, the other teams may end up lowballing the Canucks as they would know that the Canucks are desperate to trade JT. The 2 worst things that can happen right now is that the Canucks give up JT Miller for an underwhelming return or re-sign him to a huge, long-term contract. There are so many days between now and the trade deadline so there's still time.

Imo, the full quote did not sound as bad ("I always dreamed about playing a tad closer to home. It didn't matter where I was signing. Our decision was it was best for us not to go back to Calgary.") I've never heard him get interviewed before until this week, and my impression is that he's not particularly eloquent or politically correct. He expounded a bit more on his decision a bit more in his last interview. Fwiw, here's my understanding of what he said: He and his wife were looking for a place for his family to settle long after his hockey career was over. He sounded really excited about the city of Columbus - called it a hidden gem. He contacted a bunch of Blue Jackets players and ex-players and they all highly recommended the city. He and his wife wanted to be close to family but not that close as they wanted to put their own stamp to their family. So East Coast was his top priority. He said that they did consider Calgary because that's where he "grew up" and they already had a lot of friends there. It sounded like he barely talked with Kekalainen. I wouldn't be surprised if it was his camp that first approached the Blue Jackets and not the other way around. As a side note, they currently don't have enough cap room to sign Laine to a decent AAV so it puts a lot of pressure on Kekalainen to clear some space now.

If we're including the whole offseason and not just the UFA: Biggest winners: Senators - they now have a decent chance of making the post-season Oilers - solidified their goaltending, re-signed Kane and Kulak Hurricanes - got Burns and Pacioretty Tampa Bay - managed to re-sign key players to fairly reasonable deals Biggest losers: Flames - Gaudreau just basically gave them the finger Blackhawks - not really sure what they're trying to do; I thought they were trying to tank by the way they have been trading good players for nothing but they signed Domi and Athanasiou - but only for a 1-year contract

Everybody?

Yeah, almost as bad as those Leafs lunatics buying playoff tickets.

Finally! From: https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/34245374/ioc-reinstates-jim-thorpe-sole-winner-1912-olympic-decathlon-pentathlon Jim Thorpe, stripped of his 1912 gold medals because he'd been paid to play minor league baseball, was reinstated Thursday as the sole winner of that year's Olympic decathlon and pentathlon by the International Olympic Committee. Thorpe, voted the greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century by The Associated Press, won the decathlon and pentathlon at the Stockholm Olympics. However, because he had played minor league baseball in 1909-10 -- earning a reported $2 per game to $35 per week -- he was stripped of the medals in 1913 for violating the existing amateurism rules. The Amateur Athletic Union in the United States withdrew Thorpe's amateur status, and the IOC unanimously stripped Thorpe for being a professional. The decision has been controversial ever since, especially to Native American communities. Thorpe was a member of the Sac and Fox Nation, and was the first Native American to win a gold medal. "This is a most exceptional and unique situation," IOC president Thomas Bach said. "It is addressed by an extraordinary gesture of fair play from the concerned National Olympic Committees." "We are so grateful his nearly 110-year-old injustice has finally been corrected, and there is no confusion about the most remarkable athlete in history," said Nedra Darling, the co-founder of Bright Path Strong, a group created to share Native American voices and a leading organization that fought for Thorpe -- who died in 1953 -- to regain his medals. She is also a citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. "Jim Thorpe is a hero across Indian Country, and he is an American hero," she said. "He represented this country before it even recognized Native Americans as citizens, and he did so with humility and grace. Even after he was wronged by his coach, the American Athletic Union, and many others, he never gave in to bitterness and led with a spirit of generosity and kindness. I pray that Jim, his family, and our ancestors are celebrating that the truth has been respoken today, on this 110th anniversary of Jim being awarded his Olympic gold medals." A petition on the Bright Path Strong website, asking the IOC to reinstate Thorpe as sole champion in both events, drew 75,000 signatures. The news of Thorpe's reinstatement was first reported by Indian Country Today. Thorpe played professional baseball with the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds and Boston Braves. He returned to football with the Canton Bulldogs, and was a member of the NFL's first all-decade team in 1931. He retired from professional football in 1928 at the age of 41, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Given how quickly Madison Bowey was snapped up by the Canadiens, I'm guessing there's slim pickings out there?

Man, our roster has just lost 1 of those 2-word last names: High More Thank goodness, we still have: Wrath Bone Pear Son Pool Man Hog Lander Lock Wood (NOTE: has been a very slow day for Canucks' news; I can only enjoy viewing the agony in the Flames' reddit so much)

Could be that Allvin's ask is very high...

Dylan Strome will be their 1C replacement for the injured Backstrom? If so, they may not make the playoffs.

I thought I am a big Josh Norris fan, but not at that AAV. Wow. The Sharks must be really kicking themselves now. Karlsson for Norris and Stultze.

Bubble Beast Bo, Baby!

Especially since the difference between Gaudette and Gaudreau is only the last 4 letters.

Joke, of course. I don't know Milan personally. (Or even if I do, I won't admit it here).

I just phoned Milan Lucic. He texted me this screenshot:

I think Johnny's the one that needs to be baby-sat..

They were hoping to have his parents for baby-sitting help...

As much as I like JT Miller, it's nowhere near the love that the Flames fans have (had) for Johnny. His neighbours were shovelling his snow, and having lived in Calgary, that's a lot of snow to shovel over the years.

Vegas making a play for one of the centers out there - maybe JT Miller? Is there anybody there we want?

I now understand why Erik Gudbranson got that insane contract: Gaudreau requested that Gudbranson needs to be his bodyguard - he'll really need it when the Blue Jackets visit Calgary. Gaudreau got to the MVP level only after Gudbranson joined the Flames. Gud-reau sounds close enough to Gud-branson that maybe Johnny G thinks they're related...

So much for it being a family decision that Treliving and Johnny's agent said it was - Columbus is not a close drive to Gaudreau's birthplace in Salem, New Jersey, and it's not close to Philadelphia (his wife's home)...Hmm, maybe Johnny Gaudreau thinks that the Columbus Blue Jackets play in Columbus, New Jersey???

When you say "Miller played mostly on the wing", are you talking about this past season???

Not good enough for the Leafs, welcome to the Oilers! See: Barrie, Campbell, Hyman, Ceci, Brown (maybe), Griffith.

I think the Leafs are getting desperate and are willing to try anything. They're now looking for crystal suppliers.