Around the League Thread: 2017 Season Begins

[Swervin81]

The stars jumbotron operator back at it again

 

[Welsh Maple Leaf]

I think they are going for a full re-build without the "re"

What type of players could they pick up? Only players in the minors like Leipsic?

 

[Anthrax442]

What type of players could they pick up? Only players in the minors like Leipsic?

Not only, they got Neal and FLeury too.

 

[Welsh Maple Leaf]

Not only, they got Neal and FLeury too.

How were they available to be picked up? Both looked very good yesterday. Why would their teams let them be apart of the expansion?

 

[Anthrax442]

How were they available to be picked up? Both looked very good yesterday. Why would their teams let them be apart of the expansion?

Clear their salaries for whatever reason. I don't know why Nashville got rid of Neal, they always have a problem scoring. Fleury had to go since they have a younger and cheaper Murray.

 

[Menzinger]

I don't think the Preds had much of a choice, especially with the number of D men they wanted to protect.

Flurey was the right calm for the Pens too. Had lost his starters job and that contract is a hefty one to carry for a backup​

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[hockeywiz542]

The partnership that owns the Calgary Flames proposed a deal for a new arena that would give the private company a chance to transform into the real estate developer for a potentially lucrative new community, according to documents obtained by The Globe and Mail.

Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. (CSEC), which owns the Flames and other sports teams, made its first arena offer to the city in a letter and two-page list of terms Feb. 21. The documents provide a glimpse of the club's vision for a complex more extensive than just an arena.

As part of the proposal, the Flames' owners insisted on receiving an option to buy and develop land near the events complex, a slice of the Stampede Casino's revenue, all parking revenue from major events it would manage at the events complex and other goodies. The demands included the city of Calgary covering the cost of flood insurance, reimbursing the club for all provincial property taxes that may be imposed on the facilities, and requiring local ratepayers to pick up the bill for a public gathering place suitable for festivals next to the arena.

The documents underscore how the multimillion-dollar arena negotiations are – for both camps – about far more than a concrete structure in Victoria Park, an underdeveloped zone east of Calgary's downtown.

If Calgary acquiesced to the terms, for example, it would give some of Canada's wealthiest men business opportunities in part thanks to financial support from taxpayers. Further, some of the sticking points would affect the Calgary Stampede's balance sheet. The Stampede, which hosts the city's famous 10-day festival and other events, is a not-for-profit organization and parking and gambling revenue are important to its operation.

"Our proposals in the enclosed term sheet outline the minimum requirements for a robust competitive sports environment and the infrastructure needed to compete on the world stage from an entertainment perspective," Ken King, president of CSEC, said in the letter.

Any deal that is "not consistent" with the Flames' demands would be "a disappointment and would create an untenable environment," Mr. King wrote. The city rejected the deal.

 

[carko32]

Devils will be better this year. Got some young blood that will definitely improve them.

And listening to Ken Daneyko, this means loves his Devils, you can hear it.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Devils will be better this year. Got some young blood that will definitely improve them.

And listening to Ken Daneyko, this means loves his Devils, you can hear it.

Huge blow if Palmieri is out. I would argue that he is their best forward for this season.

 

[Suntouchable13]

I like how they have Ottawa's first Saturday night game on SN1. They won't even move the MLB playoffs for the Sens.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Brownbeard]

The Stars thing was hilarious. Nothing wrong with that.

Good on the Stars for doing what they did for Vegas last night, too, especially sharing a blueline. That was very classy.

 

[Mikeyg]

Man the Jets are a true breed of terrible... that franchise is a real turd. They have talent but they just don't have any actual game. Can't defend, lousy goaltending, lazy players... Destined for the dumpster I say.

Oh and HF darling trouba sucks too. Dude is SERIOUSLY overrated.

 

[thewave]

Man the Jets are a true breed of terrible... that franchise is a real turd. They have talent but they just don't have any actual game. Can't defend, lousy goaltending, lazy players... Destined for the dumpster I say.

Oh and HF darling trouba sucks too. Dude is SERIOUSLY overrated.

Trouba is very overrated but saying that is invitation to projectiles @Face.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

I like Trouba and would love him on the Leafs, but he's been getting the Rasmus Ristolainen treatment lately at HF. Why make them out to be something they're not, they aren't elite #1 Dmen, and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Mikeyg]

Trouba is very overrated but saying that is invitation to projectiles @Face.

As if i've ever been scared to stir the pot.

 

[bunjay]

Trouba might be overrated, but he might still live up to that hype. There's that Hedman guy who's now debatably the best d-man in the league who took a few years to live up to the hype of his draft position...

On the other hand, this Jets organization might just implode this year.

 

[Menzinger]

Shipachyov is reportedly looking to head back to the KHL already

McPhee doing his best early on to secure the title of "worst GM" in the NHL

 

[Daisy Jane]

Shipachyov is reportedly looking to head back to the KHL already

McPhee doing his best early on to secure the title of "worst GM" in the NHL

I don't get why he chose Vegas, vs. Us, or the other teams you know not trying to be bad.
but it also sounds Olympic fueled too. so i'm glad we don't have that drama.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[Pi]

The Devils don't have as many young stars as we did last year but their team kind of reminds me of us last year.

They are spanking the Sabres right now. The East isn't that great, it would still be hard for the Devils to make the playoffs with that roster but I don't think it will be as hard as I thought it would be for them a couple months ago.

 

[weems]

Newflash.........Buffalo still sucks.

But but I thought it was all because of Bylsma LOL.

The reality is so many times fans blame the coach when the true problem is their players just arent nearly as good as they think.

 

[BertCorbeau]

If Jersey has Schneider playing well, they'll be in the mix for awhile

 

[Voodoo Child]

I know it's early but it's hard not to smile looking at our division.

Tampa looks good, as usual, but past that...

Boston has some intriguing young prospects, but their best young player is a winger, Marchand is the youngest of their core (30 this year), Bergy is 31, Krejci 31, Chara 40(!) and Rask is 30. A lot needs to go right for them to not step back in the next few years, McAvoy replacing Chara being first among them.

The Panthers built up a decent D a few seasons ago and then sell it off for pennies on the dollar, only to give Mike Matheson, of all players, maximum term (he's a 5 year deal guy, not 8) and brutally overpay a barely proven Ekblad. They have some nice young pieces sure, but no help in goal incoming and an okay pool. I have no idea what they're doing, but to be fair I don't think they do either.

Montreal...as long as they have Price they will stay in games, but you can't count on him getting a shutout or letting in less than two goals every night, and they also have a bad prospect pool.

Ottawa is a darkhorse but they don't scare anyone. Goalie is aging out, no number one center and perenially cheap ownership really makes you wonder...will Karlsson stay? It's 50:50 at this point, but at least they have some nice kids in the system (still no replacing Karlsson though).

Buffalo just gave 10 to a kid who has yet to earn it, not that he won't, but I would have waited until after the season (so if he only gets 65 points you can lock him in at 8). After that Ror is good, Kane may or may not stay and Reinhart needs to step up, but the real problem is the D; it's Risto, who can't defend, and 6 other guys, one of which is a #5 making over 5 a season, for two more seasons after this one.

In summation;

Tampa and Toronto: very good to potentially great teams.
Ottawa and Boston: good teams with caveats.
The rest: not even shook.

Not saying we win cups, but the time to get points and favorable matchups and home ice in the playoffs for us is now, it all starts this year. We're either 1st or 2nd in the division this year, maybe 3rd if there's some Cinderella play from Boston, Ottawa or Price Montreal.