League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) - 2020 Bubble Hockey Edition - Vol. 9

[max21]

I’m happy for Tampa fans but that was a really boring playoffs and I’m glad it’s over. The qualifying rounds were the most exciting. Weird to think the regular season start would be starting like this week

 

[Devil Dancer]

The asterisk talk is bullshit, they won that Cup after a 16-team best-of-the-NHL (well, mostly) tournament. And both Tampa and Dallas beat good teams to get there. All without seeing friends or family for two months. It's a legit Cup.

I didn't love it though. I think the fans make a big difference on the televised product. It just wasn't the same on TV.

 

[Chokingdogs]

I agree. No fans made it boring as shit.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

It was definitely boring. But it was also a legitimate cup win.

 

[um]

It was boring because Dallas was there... same quality of team as Vegas in 2018, but Vegas was more unique.

Since the Blackhawks and Kings have stopped dominating the West has been pretty weak.

 

[sycamore]

I don't like Tampa winning, but being from DC I love seeing any team out of Dallas lose.

 

[Melkor]

Lundqvist is expected to be bought out today. End of an era. They gonna go with two russians in net. Smart move to let kids figure out who's the guy and who needs to go.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Lundqvist is expected to be bought out today. End of an era. They gonna go with two russians in net. Smart move to let kids figure out who's the guy and who needs to go.

Akin to the Caps w Varlamov, Neuvirth, and Holtby

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

I guess I get the cap considerations for the Rangers but I still think it's kind lame that they bought out Lundqvist. Hank was their backbone for 15 years and didn't bail on them when they quickly fell from a Stanley Cup finalist to a lottery doormat and then just as they're getting good again they buy him out of his last year? Not great. At first glance it doesn't even seem like they need the cap space this year for a big contract, just to re-sign some RFAs and a few low-budget UFAs that won't command a lot. CapFriendly has them with ~$23mm in cap space with 8 forwards, 4 defensemen, and 2 goalies under contract next year. Their RFAs are Di Giuseppe, Strome, Lemiuex, Deangelo, and Georgiev and their UFAs are McKegg, Haley, and Fast. I don't think any of those players will break the bank and they don't seem like they're in a position just yet to go big game hunting but who knows.

 

[Cappy76]

I guess I get the cap considerations for the Rangers but I still think it's kind lame that they bought out Lundqvist. Hank was their backbone for 15 years and didn't bail on them when they quickly fell from a Stanley Cup finalist to a lottery doormat and then just as they're getting good again they buy him out of his last year? Not great. At first glance it doesn't even seem like they need the cap space this year for a big contract, just to re-sign some RFAs and a few low-budget UFAs that won't command a lot. CapFriendly has them with ~$23mm in cap space with 8 forwards, 4 defensemen, and 2 goalies under contract next year. Their RFAs are Di Giuseppe, Strome, Lemiuex, Deangelo, and Georgiev and their UFAs are McKegg, Haley, and Fast. I don't think any of those players will break the bank and they don't seem like they're in a position just yet to go big game hunting but who knows.

They throw big money at Pietrangelo?

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

They throw big money at Pietrangelo?

Can't see that being realistic with big money committed to Trouba and how high they are on Fox. They also have Deangelo on the right side.

 

[895]

Edmonton not QOing AA after trading two 2nd round picks to get it. Dreadful from Holland.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Edmonton not QOing AA after trading two 2nd round picks to get it. Dreadful from Holland.

And they have so many strong wingers too... can totally see why they wouldn't want a 25-year old who is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and scored 30 goals two years ago.

 

[Bieronymus Trotz]

Edmonton not QOing AA after trading two 2nd round picks to get it. Dreadful from Holland.

To be fair, at the time of the trade no one was expecting a flat salary cap.

 

[Melkor]

I guess I get the cap considerations for the Rangers but I still think it's kind lame that they bought out Lundqvist. Hank was their backbone for 15 years and didn't bail on them when they quickly fell from a Stanley Cup finalist to a lottery doormat and then just as they're getting good again they buy him out of his last year? Not great. At first glance it doesn't even seem like they need the cap space this year for a big contract, just to re-sign some RFAs and a few low-budget UFAs that won't command a lot. CapFriendly has them with ~$23mm in cap space with 8 forwards, 4 defensemen, and 2 goalies under contract next year. Their RFAs are Di Giuseppe, Strome, Lemiuex, Deangelo, and Georgiev and their UFAs are McKegg, Haley, and Fast. I don't think any of those players will break the bank and they don't seem like they're in a position just yet to go big game hunting but who knows.

He was their 3rd goalie. It would not have been wise to let a solid young goaltender go just for Hank to play out the last year of his contract. Also, first and foremost, Hank didn't leave NYC initially because it's New York, not because he's so in love with Rangers although I'm not claiming he hates em. He has a certain lifestyle and life habits that he didn't want to get rid of and he chose to sign with them because of that. Now it's just 1 or 2 years of being a journeyman in hopes to win the chip. And back in big apple again.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

He was their 3rd goalie. It would not have been wise to let a solid young goaltender go just for Hank to play out the last year of his contract. Also, first and foremost, Hank didn't leave NYC initially because it's New York, not because he's so in love with Rangers although I'm not claiming he hates em. He has a certain lifestyle and life habits that he didn't want to get rid of and he chose to sign with them because of that. Now it's just 1 or 2 years of being a journeyman in hopes to win the chip. And back in big apple again.

Sure he's the third goalie now but Georgiev needs to be moved as well prior to next year's expansion draft or they lose him in the ED (or they make a deal to protect him). I would have traded him now, kept Hank, and then figured out a veteran backup for Shesterkin after the ED next year.

 

[895]

Vegas signs Lehner to 5x5. Seems like a good enough deal but now it makes moving Fleury an imperative. Who's going to eat 2x7m for a 35 year old backup goalie? Thats another team that can't afford Holtby.

 

[AussieCapsFan]

Vegas signs Lehner to 5x5. Seems like a good enough deal but now it makes moving Fleury an imperative. Who's going to eat 2x7m for a 35 year old backup goalie? Thats another team that can't afford Holtby.

They'll have to retain half his salary in order to move him, I guess, but I wouldn't be surprised if he stays. Their goaltending depth is poor. Dansk would be the backup and I'm not sure he's reliable enough.

 

[hb12xchamps]

Maatta traded to LA for an ECHL player. Chicago freeing up some salary cap space before free agency

 

[LightningStorm]

Lightning fan visiting here. I thought the Caps long journey that included a lot of heartbreak before finally winning the cup was a great inspiration for the Bolts. The obvious lesson was a cup is never guaranteed and not to take things for granted, but also not to give up in the midst of heartbreak. The 2018 ECF was a series where you showed us you can't take anything for granted, as I thought you guys had more hunger that series (as well as Trotz outcoaching Cooper).

Anyways, cheers to both of us for having these great eras for our teams forever validated in the history books. Cool how we also have the 2 leading goal scorers of the last decade (and only 2 to score at least 60 in a season post 1996).

 

[Hivemind]

It feels like only yesterday when Maatta was Pittsburgh's prized rookie and the "Next Great DMan." How things turned south for him.

 

[Marshall]

CapFriendly
@CapFriendly
28m
With 3 years remaining Jack Johnson's contract, a buyout will span 6 years. The buyout details are as follows: 2020-21 cap hit: $1.67M 2021-22: $1.67M 2022-23: $1.9M 2023-24: $917k 2024-25: $917k 2025-26: $917k

Nooooooooooooooooooo! Play him top 4 minutes!

Talk about a sad day for the Metro.

 

[caps4cup]

Good for them for getting out of that contract. Would be better if they hadn’t traded for another bottom pair LD making 5mil per year. Over 6mil against the salary cap for Matheson and Johnson is still terrible. Rutherford seems to just be throwing shit against the wall at this point.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

It feels like only yesterday when Maatta was Pittsburgh's prized rookie and the "Next Great DMan." How things turned south for him.

I'm old enough to remember when people here wanted us to draft Maatta over Wilson in 2012.

I do think his career would have turned out far differently if he hadn't gotten hurt a bunch.

 

[John Price]