Speculation: IV. 2014 Stars Offseason Thread: Declaration of Free Agency

[BigG44]

Hey James Neal ... enjoy.

Nick Kypreos ‏@RealKyper

#NHL signing. Olli Jokinen 1 year deal. 2.5m. # Preds

 

[Bluesoma]

Man, look at the Perds go after Centermen. Surprised they weren't all in on Fidds.

 

[BigG44]

I love that Jokinen really isn't even the best option. It's either Grabovski or Legwand ... and they can't go back to Legwand really after saying they were done with him.

Jokinen and Neal are two shooters that don't tend to use their teammates all that well. They're shoot first.

They could still end up with Grabovski which I don't think would be bad.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Is it me or does Spezza have a freakishly long thumb in that picture?

Also, LOL @ the Mississauga Ice Dogs.....Cherry's first foray into team management and it was a colossal failure.

 

[defensorfidei]

Spezza is on Norm right now. His laugh is as good as advertised.

Link?

 

[NukeJukes43]

Anyone wanna try and take a stab on what's going on with our forwards if we're "pursuing" fiddler? Who's the odd man out? Cole? Horcoff? Some fans are starting to sweat on it having to do with RFA talks going sour but that's highly unlikely in my eyes.

 

[Ogi1Kenobi]

How long into the season before James Neal pulls a Jeff Carter and demands a trade?

 

[Caseman]

Link?

http://www.theunticket.com/usave-it/

Click on "The Musers - 07/02/2014" and go to 4:09:30 mark.

EDIT: 4:13:30 mark is when the Spezza giggles begin.

 

[mattTHERIPPERsanchez]

and Nill is on ESPNradio now.



http://player.listenlive.co/20601

 

[Stars99Lobo37]

Link?

http://downloads.stars.nhl.com/podcasts/7214spezzaticket.mp3

 

[Stars99Lobo37]

http://www.theunticket.com/usave-it/

Click on "The Musers - 07/02/2014" and go to 4:09:30 mark.

EDIT: 4:13:30 mark is when the Spezza giggles begin.

Stars have been pretty good with posting all the audio interviews recently thankfully so we don't have to do ^ all the time.

 

[MetalGodAOD*]

Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey 4m

Nill: We're going to add one more strong depth, character player. Then we're pretty well set. #Stars

Ali wasn't wrong

 

[BigG44]

Ali wasn't wrong

Nill said that last night. Ali was quoting him from their interview when she tweeted that.IN that quote he called them a 3rd/4th liner though.

 

[Caseman]

Stars have been pretty good with posting all the audio interviews recently thankfully so we don't have to do ^ all the time.

Ah, well. Just my archaic way of doing things

 

[Satan]

Ali is never wrong

 

[Dallasman]

Nill said that last night. Ali was quoting him from their interview when she tweeted that.IN that quote he called them a 3rd/4th liner though.

Fiddler's not strong

 

[Klockis]

Ali wasn't wrong

Oh man, we're getting *InsertRandomCanadianGrinder*.

 

[Caseman]

Kinda disappointed there's no immediate help for this defense, but I guess patience is better than forcing a signing/trade. We have plenty of assets to pick up a defenseman later if Nill believes it's worth it.

 

[BigG44]

Kinda disappointed there's no immediate help for this defense, but I guess patience is better than forcing a signing/trade. We have plenty of assets to pick up a defenseman later if Nill believes it's worth it.

I've come to accept he truly believes they're ready, and like you said we have assets to react if they don't impress.

I still have some hope they could possibly snag one of these non-qualified guys like Del Zotto or McBain for cheap, cheap to replace Gonchar. Still same competition at camp ... but it's all young players with upside.

 

[Hull Fan]

Like I said on DBD I find it very odd that he's so bullish on the young defenders but has basically done everything he can to block the young wingers for at least another year. Anyone got a clue why?

 

[DaStars99]

Like I said on DBD I find it very odd that he's so bullish on the young defenders but has basically done everything he can to block the young wingers for at least another year. Anyone got a clue why?

I'd say it has to do something with the cost of the type of defenseman we would need. Nobody on the free agent market was much better than who we had (not saying Stralman or Erhoff wouldn't have been nice but they really the only ones) and nobody is trading the type of defenseman we would need either. We have a bunch of 3-4 type guys and that was what was out there. Let hope some of our talent grows into some 1-2 type guys.

tl;dr
The cost is much higher for what we need IMO

 

[ginblossoms]

Like I said on DBD I find it very odd that he's so bullish on the young defenders but has basically done everything he can to block the young wingers for at least another year. Anyone got a clue why?

it could be that the defense prospects have more professional experience. oleksiak and nemeth have been in austin for 2 years. klingberg and jokipakka have played top euro for years also, with jokipakka having 1 year in austin, too.

most of the forward guys we've been discussing around here have been in austin for just 1 full season.

couple this with it being relatively easier to get forwards than defensemen in free agency.

that's my stab at it.

 

[Stars99Lobo37]

From Mark...

Asked Stars GM Jim Nill where prospects like Brett Ritchie, Scott Glennie, Curtis McKenzie fit right now: “They are all in the mix. There can always be injuries. You start the season with what you think is your team and it can change awfully quick with one or two injuries. The door is open. I am excited about the competition. I want everybody to come into training camp to show what they can do. There are going to be openings and there are going to be injuries. It’s a long year and it’s a battle. I just want everyone to know to come in and do what you are supposed to do.”

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1s2bfrr

 

[BigG44]

Like I said on DBD I find it very odd that he's so bullish on the young defenders but has basically done everything he can to block the young wingers for at least another year. Anyone got a clue why?

The simple answer is probably he believes the D is ready, and he's not ready for the forwards yet.

A 1 and 2 year contract isn't blocking anyone from developing. That's a pretty extreme stance.

 

[BigG44]

This comment makes me think Ritchie has very small, outside chance in the Top 6 ...

Also get the uneasy feeling they'll try to sneak Glennie through waivers ... which in the end could be good for him. It's a terrible decision though if he doesn't clear. Seems like they'll have to do the 3 year structure and pray to hope it works ... who knows.

Asked Stars GM Jim Nill where prospects like Brett Ritchie, Scott Glennie, Curtis McKenzie fit right now: “They are all in the mix. There can always be injuries. You start the season with what you think is your team and it can change awfully quick with one or two injuries. The door is open. I am excited about the competition. I want everybody to come into training camp to show what they can do. There are going to be openings and there are going to be injuries. It’s a long year and it’s a battle. I just want everyone to know to come in and do what you are supposed to do.”