Out of Town - 2019/20

[seventeen]

Gnick, never underestimate the desire of a rich person to have more. Obviously, it's not what the money can buy because there's no practical difference between $1B and $2 B. The money is a measuring stick and they have to keep proving they're smarter and better than whoever they thunk they're competing against. If Molson really wanted to win the Stanley Cup, he wouldn't give the CAP a second thought. And he'd hire a top flight Management team, get the best scouts, etc. He seems happy with the status quo, and given the results of the past few years, what is that saying?

[seventeen]

In Tampa’s game yesterday, Sergachev made such a smart play on Hedman’s goal. The puck was rimmed around the boards toward the right point. Sergachev was closest and raced for it along with an Islander. Sergachev took the hit and angled his stick with one hand so the puck deflected off it and went right to Hedman who moved into the middle and blasted his goal. That was an intelligent and physical play. Elite.

[Willie Dog]

Sept 8, 2020 18:06:02 GMT -5 seventeen said:

In Tampa’s game yesterday, Sergachev made such a smart play on Hedman’s goal. The puck was rimmed around the boards toward the right point. Sergachev was closest and raced for it along with an Islander. Sergachev took the hit and angled his stick with one hand so the puck deflected off it and went right to Hedman who moved into the middle and blasted his goal. That was an intelligent and physical play. Elite.

An elite defenceman... gee could we use that...

Sergachev trained by Markov for a couple of seasons would have been amazing

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Sept 8, 2020 13:02:07 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Gnick, never underestimate the desire of a rich person to have more.

Give a man a hundred million dollars and you make a frustrated billionaire.
- Stephanie Kaplan

[GNick99]

Sept 8, 2020 20:41:09 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Sept 8, 2020 18:06:02 GMT -5 seventeen said:

In Tampa’s game yesterday, Sergachev made such a smart play on Hedman’s goal. The puck was rimmed around the boards toward the right point. Sergachev was closest and raced for it along with an Islander. Sergachev took the hit and angled his stick with one hand so the puck deflected off it and went right to Hedman who moved into the middle and blasted his goal. That was an intelligent and physical play. Elite.

An elite defenceman... gee could we use that...

Sergachev trained by Markov for a couple of seasons would have been amazing

Yup, and he is a free agent this off season. As RFA, most he will command is around 7 million a year. Still, think we shouldn't be in on top free agents?

[jkr]

I'm trying to watch Vegas & Dallas but the lack of goals makes it tough to watch. The 1st period just ended and surprise, it was scoreless. Through 7 periods there has been a total of 4 goals.

I wish Colorado had beaten Dallas.

[GNick99]

Sept 10, 2020 19:48:30 GMT -5 jkr said:

I'm trying to watch Vegas & Dallas but the lack of goals makes it tough to watch. The 1st period just ended and surprise, it was scoreless. Through 7 periods there has been a total of 4 goals.

I wish Colorado had beaten Dallas.

They would have if they had gotten Price.

[jkr]

Theodore ties it but shortly afterwards, Lehner allows a brutal goal as Benn's slider goes between his legs and in.

2-1 Dallas with about 10 minutes left.

Tuch ties it. I thought Stone made contact with Khudhobin but it's allowed. Vegas now gets a PP.

Shots 17-3 Vegas with about 4 minutes to go in the 3rd. Khudobin is laboring. Wondering if he has pulled something. Been very busy in the 3rd. If it goes to OT I wonder if he'll be able to go.

Going to OT.

[CentreHice]

Sergachev with a statement play. Ties the game at 1.

At the opposition blue line, he sees the opening in the middle...circles around backwards...heads to the slot...gets the pass...and roofs a backhand.

[folatre]

So Radulov with yet another OT winner last night and Sergachev with an absolute stunner of goal to tie the game tonight. Dear God, the summer of 2017 was unkind to the Habs.

Pittsburgh traded Bjugstad to Minnesota tonight. Not surprisingly Rutherford got nothing back (7th rounder) because the transaction was predicated on clearing a little cap space (Penguins retain 50 percent but still save $2 million against the cap). What I find interesting is that it fits with a new mandate for frugality in real money expenditures by the Penguins.

Kapanen carries a $3.2 million AAV, but over the next two seasons he is only owed $4.2 million in real money (generous Toronto already ate most of the money in his contract). Bjugstad is owed $5.25 million in real cash this season and even with the Pens retaining $2.05 million, the Wild get the privilege of depositing $3.2 million in the player's account this season. The signs are all there. If a franchise with as much success as Pittsburgh over the last 10-15 years (3 Stanley Cups, playoffs every year) is trying to save a million or two in real money wherever they can it tells us something about how a lot of owners plan to approach the next couple of off-seasons.

[Willie Dog]

Were Tampa ever babies at the end of the game... I cant stand them.

[Willie Dog]

Sept 10, 2020 19:48:30 GMT -5 jkr said:

I'm trying to watch Vegas & Dallas but the lack of goals makes it tough to watch. The 1st period just ended and surprise, it was scoreless. Through 7 periods there has been a total of 4 goals.

I wish Colorado had beaten Dallas.

Dallas are a dirty team... and they get away with it

[Willie Dog]

Sept 11, 2020 20:39:07 GMT -5 folatre said:

So Radulov with yet another OT winner last night and Sergachev with an absolute stunner of goal to tie the game tonight. Dear God, the summer of 2017 was unkind to the Habs.

It would be nice if Geoffey watched the games and thought... I have a moron for a GM.... nah... he was too busy fiddling while Habs fans burn

[Willie Dog]

Watching the post game and seeing Sergachev with a lightning hat pisses me off more than anything in MBs tenure...

[seventeen]

That was a sweet goal he scored.

[seventeen]

Sept 11, 2020 20:39:07 GMT -5 folatre said:

So Radulov with yet another OT winner last night and Sergachev with an absolute stunner of goal to tie the game tonight. Dear God, the summer of 2017 was unkind to the Habs.

Pittsburgh traded Bjugstad to Minnesota tonight. Not surprisingly Rutherford got nothing back (7th rounder) because the transaction was predicated on clearing a little cap space (Penguins retain 50 percent but still save $2 million against the cap). What I find interesting is that it fits with a new mandate for frugality in real money expenditures by the Penguins.

Kapanen carries a $3.2 million AAV, but over the next two seasons he is only owed $4.2 million in real money (generous Toronto already ate most of the money in his contract). Bjugstad is owed $5.25 million in real cash this season and even with the Pens retaining $2.05 million, the Wild get the privilege of depositing $3.2 million in the player's account this season. The signs are all there. If a franchise with as much success as Pittsburgh over the last 10-15 years (3 Stanley Cups, playoffs every year) is trying to save a million or two in real money wherever they can it tells us something about how a lot of owners plan to approach the next couple of off-seasons.

I've said that this summer is a defining moment for Bergie. Not only will the CAP crunch provide some rare opportunities, he has some critical decisions to make about who to keep and who to trade. Decisions that will affect the team for years to come. I'm not confident.

[PTH]

Sept 11, 2020 23:46:29 GMT -5 seventeen said:

I've said that this summer is a defining moment for Bergie. Not only will the CAP crunch provide some rare opportunities, he has some critical decisions to make about who to keep and who to trade. Decisions that will affect the team for years to come. I'm not confident.

Of course, in hindsight he'll be wrong on some points, and some others we can only assume better options were available, for example, I'm convinced we could have gotten Price on a more reasonable contract, but of course I can't know exactly what would have been possible.

What I'd really like is to put together all our various assumptions about what needs to be done, and how things will progress.

For example, I'm in for moving Domi and/or Danault, on the basis that Suzuki and KK are likely to turn into, at worst, Plekanec and Jordan Staal. And I'm willing to give up on Mete, just because I don't see him amounting to anything.

It would be interesting to re-read this later on, since I know that a lot of people like to criticize past decisions, but sometimes with distance it's harder to remember what was, and wasn't, obvious at the time. (ie: some claim that with Subban, Pacioretty and Price in 2012, it was clear we were on a major upswing. I contend it wasn't nearly that obvious).

[seventeen]

Sept 12, 2020 3:06:48 GMT -5 PTH said:

Sept 11, 2020 23:46:29 GMT -5 seventeen said:

I've said that this summer is a defining moment for Bergie. Not only will the CAP crunch provide some rare opportunities, he has some critical decisions to make about who to keep and who to trade. Decisions that will affect the team for years to come. I'm not confident.

Of course, in hindsight he'll be wrong on some points, and some others we can only assume better options were available, for example, I'm convinced we could have gotten Price on a more reasonable contract, but of course I can't know exactly what would have been possible.

What I'd really like is to put together all our various assumptions about what needs to be done, and how things will progress.

For example, I'm in for moving Domi and/or Danault, on the basis that Suzuki and KK are likely to turn into, at worst, Plekanec and Jordan Staal. And I'm willing to give up on Mete, just because I don't see him amounting to anything.

It would be interesting to re-read this later on, since I know that a lot of people like to criticize past decisions, but sometimes with distance it's harder to remember what was, and wasn't, obvious at the time. (ie: some claim that with Subban, Pacioretty and Price in 2012, it was clear we were on a major upswing. I contend it wasn't nearly that obvious).

I'm al for that and always willing to be graded. No one ever get everything right except my wife. RE the 2012 team, the key parts I've thought we needed (elite D, scorer and strength up middle) were there except for the strength up the middle. You don't win a cup with Pleks as your #1 Centre and a rotating door at #2. That team had to be added to. As to how....that's a more difficult matter

What would I do now? There are some players I don't think we will need in 2 years. In fact, it's shorter to list the core players I'd keep. All the young kids, of course, including Romanov, Suzuki, KK, and the draftees who haven't made the team yet. I might trade some of them if the return is good enough and young enough. Of the vets:

Keep for sure:
Defense: Petry, Chiarot, Juulsen, Kulak

Forward: Gallagher, Armia, Lehkonen, Suzuki, KK, Poehling (Poehling I'd move if the return was good)

Goal: Price, Primeau.

That's a short list and I'm not saying you trade all the other guys, but I wouldn't miss them either. The return is the key of course. I'd concentrate on 2 more defensemen and two more quality wingers. Once Primeau is established and I feel confident he's a #1 goalie, we don't need Price any more. He and Weber are the two millstones around the CAP neck and need to be moved to provide salary flexibility. Of the other guys I'd try and move faster, Tatar and Domi head the list but Drouin is not too far behind. I'm just not sure how much value JD has any more and it may be more worthwhile to keep him.

That's my very rough plan.

[Willie Dog]

Drouin has to go, he's the highest paid forward... put him on waivers and free up the cash... or buy him out.... with a flat cap this is the year to bring in an impact player. Bridge Domi and see how he does this year... If Danault doesnt want to be 3C... move him and give Peohling and Evans a chance to prove themselves.

There needs to be a culture change and only winning can do that otherwise your stuck with anything can happen.

[seventeen]

Yeah, Domi might be a better bet than Drouin, but I'm not crazy about him at C and it sure seems like that's where he wants to play.

[Andrew]

Sept 12, 2020 13:43:40 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Drouin has to go, he's the highest paid forward... put him on waivers and free up the cash... or buy him out.... with a flat cap this is the year to bring in an impact player. Bridge Domi and see how he does this year... If Danault doesnt want to be 3C... move him and give Peohling and Evans a chance to prove themselves.

There needs to be a culture change and only winning can do that otherwise your stuck with anything can happen.

I'm not ready to give up on Drouin. He had a strong start to the year before being injured, with 15 points in 19 games. In the playoffs he showed some chemistry with Suzuki. I'd like to see what that duo can do over the course of a full season. He has the most skill out of all of our wingers, and we badly need production out of our wingers.

[Willie Dog]

Sept 12, 2020 15:38:20 GMT -5 Andrew said:

Sept 12, 2020 13:43:40 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Drouin has to go, he's the highest paid forward... put him on waivers and free up the cash... or buy him out.... with a flat cap this is the year to bring in an impact player. Bridge Domi and see how he does this year... If Danault doesnt want to be 3C... move him and give Peohling and Evans a chance to prove themselves.

There needs to be a culture change and only winning can do that otherwise your stuck with anything can happen.

I'm not ready to give up on Drouin. He had a strong start to the year before being injured, with 15 points in 19 games. In the playoffs he showed some chemistry with Suzuki. I'd like to see what that duo can do over the course of a full season. He has the most skill out of all of our wingers, and we badly need production out of our wingers.

I think given what he showed might make him moveable but do we think he will live up to his salary or could his cap hit be better used to land an impact player?

[Andrew]

Sept 12, 2020 16:39:03 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

Sept 12, 2020 15:38:20 GMT -5 Andrew said:

I'm not ready to give up on Drouin. He had a strong start to the year before being injured, with 15 points in 19 games. In the playoffs he showed some chemistry with Suzuki. I'd like to see what that duo can do over the course of a full season. He has the most skill out of all of our wingers, and we badly need production out of our wingers.

I think given what he showed might make him moveable but do we think he will live up to his salary or could his cap hit be better used to land an impact player?

I'm all for it if MB can find a way to land an impact player in a deal that makes sense. I'm struggling to see who that might be, however. I don't believe the reports that Winnipeg are shopping Laine. Hall has had two great seasons, a long history of injuries and several seasons with sub-par point totals for a first line winger. There's no reason to expect that he'll put up point totals significantly higher than what we might get out of Domi or Drouin. What impact players might be available?

[jkr]

I caught the very end of a segment in which Burke was rating the CDN teams. He rates the Leafs as # one citing their offensive talent but says they must upgrade their D. Doesn't mention their goaltending at all. I didn't see the rest of it.

He puts Edmonton at # 2 & the Habs at 6 with only Ottawa below them. Anyone see the whole segment?

[folatre]

I did not see it, though I would like to.

Of course, it is not crazy to say well Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver are blessed with multiple high end difference makers in their prime years so they have to be regarded accordingly. I guess Calagary and Winnipeg have more offensive talent in their top six than Montreal, though other areas of those clubs seem shaky.

[jkr]

Not arguing wigh the Montreal rating. Would be interesting to hear the whole segment. I'll look for it.

[jkr]

Dallas being out shot by a 2-1 margin but lead 2-1 After two periods.

[Willie Dog]

Sept 12, 2020 17:25:11 GMT -5 Andrew said:

Sept 12, 2020 16:39:03 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

I think given what he showed might make him moveable but do we think he will live up to his salary or could his cap hit be better used to land an impact player?

I'm all for it if MB can find a way to land an impact player in a deal that makes sense. I'm struggling to see who that might be, however. I don't believe the reports that Winnipeg are shopping Laine. Hall has had two great seasons, a long history of injuries and several seasons with sub-par point totals for a first line winger. There's no reason to expect that he'll put up point totals significantly higher than what we might get out of Domi or Drouin. What impact players might be available?

No free agents then offer sheet...

[seventeen]

Sept 12, 2020 20:42:52 GMT -5 folatre said:

I did not see it, though I would like to.

Of course, it is not crazy to say well Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver are blessed with multiple high end difference makers in their prime years so they have to be regarded accordingly. I guess Calagary and Winnipeg have more offensive talent in their top six than Montreal, though other areas of those clubs seem shaky.

Calgary is the only Canadian team, besides Montreal, who one could argue does not have a truly elite player. Gaudreau does not do it for me and while Giordano is great, he's also 34. Tkachuk is close and better than anyone on the Habs right now. Ottawa has Chabot and might add two more guys this draft. The Habs have by far the fewest top echelon skaters in the NHL. It's already proven that no matter how well Price plays, he can't carry the team.

I'd say Burke is right and the Habs might be #7 before too long.

[Willie Dog]

Looks like it'll be the bolts v the stars... Tampa better be ready for some abuse