All Purpose Trade / Roster Building Thread pt 8- wait we're spending HOW MUCH?

[DaveG]

I don't recall Balsillie torpedoing the new arena - as I remember it, the issue was that when the state of PA came calling with money for new stadia, the Pens opted for money for a renovation instead of a full arena - that was before the sales process started - and afterwards that well had run dry so they had to go the casino route. But it's been well over a decade so my memory may be a little hazy there. My memory of Balsillie's attempt to purchase the Pens was his refusal to publicly promise to adhere to the non-relocate clause.

I may have the move order wrong on that, but yeah the refusal to adhere to the non relocation clause was the ultimate clincher I remember that for sure.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

On further review, it’s hard for individuals to compete with corporations. Kokusai Green, ASG, Ralston Purina were objectively the worst, mainly because they had that impersonal corporate attitude toward shaking down an organization until it was a husk, then selling off the liability and moving on. Individuals can’t really do that... even the very worst like Ballard and Melnyk are at some level trying to turn a profit. Scammers are probably the closest you can get to the corporate vulture culture. Which would make Spano the worst individual, except that he hilariously managed to save the franchise with the most ridiculous TV deal in sports.

I mean I guess you could argue Kokusai Green was somehow less evil because the Lightning served Kokusai's...ahem...owners interests as a legitimate business with which to launder cash...

 

[tarheelhockey]

I don't recall Balsillie torpedoing the new arena - as I remember it, the issue was that when the state of PA came calling with money for new stadia, the Pens opted for money for a renovation instead of a full arena - that was before the sales process started - and afterwards that well had run dry so they had to go the casino route. But it's been well over a decade so my memory may be a little hazy there. My memory of Balsillie's attempt to purchase the Pens was his refusal to publicly promise to adhere to the non-relocate clause.

Wondering if Dave’s thinking of Balsillie trying to torpedo the Preds’ relationship with the city of Nashville, hoping he could turn them against each other and relocate the franchise.

 

[DaveG]

On further review, it’s hard for individuals to compete with corporations. Kokusai Green, ASG, Ralston Purina were objectively the worst, mainly because they had that impersonal corporate attitude toward shaking down an organization until it was a husk, then selling off the liability and moving on. Individuals can’t really do that... even the very worst like Ballard and Melnyk are at some level trying to turn a profit. Scammers are probably the closest you can get to the corporate vulture culture. Which would make Spano the worst individual, except that he hilariously managed to save the franchise with the most ridiculous TV deal in sports.

What's truly sad is that I can't figure out if being mismanaged by Ralston Purina is better or worse than being a literal front for the Yakuza, and still sucking. I mean say what you will about Pablo Escobar but when he bought a team to launder money they at least became a quality team.

 

[DaveG]

Wondering if Dave’s thinking of Balsillie trying to torpedo the Preds’ relationship with the city of Nashville, hoping he could turn them against each other and relocate the franchise.

No that one is also up there for me though in having him as one of the biggest villains of all time. I definitely remember something really shady going down in regards to the penguins financing for a new arena though

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Wondering if Dave’s thinking of Balsillie trying to torpedo the Preds’ relationship with the city of Nashville, hoping he could turn them against each other and relocate the franchise.

That could be. Balsillie's had his hands in a few different processes (Pittsburgh, Nashville, Arizona)...I'm a little surprised he never approached Karmanos about the Canes (or if he did that it never became public)

 

[tarheelhockey]

What's truly sad is that I can't figure out if being mismanaged by Ralston Purina is better or worse than being a literal front for the Yakuza, and still sucking. I mean say what you will about Pablo Escobar but when he bought a team to launder money they at least became a quality team.

December 29, 1997.
The secretive back room of an exclusive Ginza nightclub.
Menacing Yakuza operatives, each wearing dark sunglasses inside the neon-lit room, surround the lair of the oyabun, who is also wearing dark sunglasses.

The lifeless body of a captured rival is dragged from the room as the DJ segues to a remix of “Da Dip”. The oyabun gestures for his advisor to approach.

Advisor: *bows deeply* “Two urgent pieces of news have come to us from overseas, oyabun-sama. First, our meth trafficking operation has failed.”

Silently, the oyabun makes the subtlest of gestures to a shadowy man lurking in the corner. He slips stealthily through a hidden door. By morning, nobody will be alive to speak of any trafficking operation.

Oyabun: “And the other?”

Advisor: “The...”
*nervously glances toward the hidden door*
“... the Oilers are offering Jason Bonsignoire for Roman Hamrlik.”

The Oyabun sits silently. “Da Dip” segues into “Barbie Girl”. Long moments pass. Someone coughs, then apologizes.

Finally, the Oyabun removes his sunglasses.

Oyabun: “What the hell does that even mean?”

Advisor: *can only open his mouth and gesture vaguely*

Oyabun, glancing around the room: “Anyone? Who’s involved in this? Haruto?”

Haruto: *shrugs* “I’m more of a soccer guy. Yoshi got a call from the team the other day. Ask him.”

Yoshi: “It was some guy named Espo. He didn’t speak any form of English that I recognize.”

Oyabun: “Has not one of you fools yet unlocked the power of the Internet???”

Advisor: “With deepest respect... I was able to access the World Wide Web for 2 hours today. In that time, I was just able to download a stat sheet. It shows me the leaders in PIM and +/-.”

Oyabun, helplessly: “The **** is a PIM!?”

Advisor: “I think it’s like... a point? Kinda? I’m not sure if it’s like golf where lower is better. Most of it’s written in Canadian so the spellings are all ****ed up.”

Oyabun: *contemplates*

Oyabun: “Very well. Respond to these “Oilers” and tell them that we will only accept Bonsignoire for Hamrlik if they add more Canadians who will provide many PIMs and very low +/-. If they refuse, you know what to do.”

Advisor: *bowing deeply* Your wisdom is boundless as always, oyabun-sama.


The next day.

Lightning fan: “WHAT THE ****, MAN!?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Epilogue

October 29, 1999


Advisor: *bows deeply* We have finally washed our hands of the ice sport nonsense...”

The oyabun smiles silently

Advisor: “... but what of the other disaster — the failure of our meth trafficking operation?”

Oyabun: “Not to worry...”

He leans back, finishes his sake, and puts his sunglasses back on.

“... there is another way.”

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Spano was going to fire Mike Milbury, so he can't be the worst.

I'd vote for those guys who used the money they made from the Saw movie franchise to buy the Lightning just because they somehow managed to be worse than the regime that was a yakuza money laundering scheme. Also PK for refusing to sell to Vinik.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

As far as top 6 forwards are concerned, Nashville could use more RHD to shelter Dante Fabbro a bit, and their offensive forward depth is leaving pending UFA Mikael Granlund as the odd man out. I wonder if the Canes are looking into getting him for TVR + as a buy-low opportunity.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

As far as top 6 forwards are concerned, Nashville could use more RHD to shelter Dante Fabbro a bit, and their offensive forward depth is leaving pending UFA Mikael Granlund as the odd man out. I wonder if the Canes are looking into getting him for TVR + as a buy-low opportunity.

Craig Smith over Granlund. It also would fit under the cap without more going to Nashville.

 

[AD Skinner]

Smith is a righty as well

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Craig Smith over Granlund. It also would fit under the cap without more going to Nashville.

Preds have enough space under the cap to retain a little bit if need be. If Carolina can ice a healthy lineup soon, though, they can acquire either of them without retainment by the deadline. I don't think the Preds want to trade Smith in a Cup contending year, though, as he can play a very solid 3rd line game if he isn't scoring. I still think Granlund is the right guy to go after despite the left-handedness; he simply seems like a guy who has been snakebitten in Nashville. Every other year, he's been one of the more underrated top-6 play-drivers in hockey.

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Preds have enough space under the cap to retain a little bit if need be. If Carolina can ice a healthy lineup soon, though, they can acquire either of them without retainment by the deadline. I don't think the Preds want to trade Smith in a Cup contending year, though, as he can play a very solid 3rd line game if he isn't scoring. I still think Granlund is the right guy to go after despite the left-handedness; he simply seems like a guy who has been snakebitten in Nashville. Every other year, he's been one of the more underrated top-6 play-drivers in hockey.

I think a TVR and McGinn for Smith and a re-signing conditional pick (doubt we can squeeze a 2nd out of it).

We have enough snake bitten players on the squad. Dont need another and cant bank that he'll be nino 2.0. Smith doesnt score a lot but he is a righty who can take draws. He plays a similar game to McGinn. We get a righty version of McGinn who can take draws and shed his 2nd year which, we can replace with Maenalenan or other checkers. The preds get a similar version of Smith, cheaper, and has a 2nd year as well as a RHD to help with their depth.

 

[Joe McGrath]

Richard Gordon sucked.
I don’t have much more to add.

 

[MinJaBen]

December 29, 1997.
The secretive back room of an exclusive Ginza nightclub.

Took me three reads before I realized that this didn't say "Ginsu knifeclub."

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I think a TVR and McGinn for Smith and a re-signing conditional pick (doubt we can squeeze a 2nd out of it).

We have enough snake bitten players on the squad. Dont need another and cant bank that he'll be nino 2.0. Smith doesnt score a lot but he is a righty who can take draws. He plays a similar game to McGinn. We get a righty version of McGinn who can take draws and shed his 2nd year which, we can replace with Maenalenan or other checkers. The preds get a similar version of Smith, cheaper, and has a 2nd year as well as a RHD to help with their depth.

Personally, I'm of the view that there's no such thing as too many swings on Nino-types. Even when guys like him are not scoring, they still contribute positively to the team by holding more pucks on their side and giving the opposing team fewer chances on our side. Granlund, to me, fits that profile to a T.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Took me three reads before I realized that this didn't say "Ginsu knifeclub."

I give @tarheelhockey's story a 9 out of 10 because one of those fingers was amputated for displeasing the oyabun.

 

[Helsinki Hurricanes]

I think Granlund is better player than Smith and also more likely to be moved (or if not moved at least not extended). Couple years ago he was just magical, great 70 point two-way playdriving winger. Definitely a pass-first player. Now that I think about it he's quite similar to Turbo.

Nashville is also in win now mode. Not sure if TVR + Brock is enough quality. Granlund is in his contract year which makes me believe he should start playing better. Just snakebitten right now.

 

[Lempo]

I don't want my Yakuza listening to Aqua.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I don't want my Yakuza listening to Aqua.

Clearly they'd only be listening to the Billboard Number One Single on 12/29/97 - Candle in the Wind 1997.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I think Granlund is better player than Smith and also more likely to be moved (or if not moved at least not extended). Couple years ago he was just magical, great 70 point two-way playdriving winger. Definitely a pass-first player. Now that I think about it he's quite similar to Turbo.

Nashville is also in win now mode. Not sure if TVR + Brock is enough quality. Granlund is in his contract year which makes me believe he should start playing better. Just snakebitten right now.

Not to mention, we could always build up Little Finland just a little bit more. Granlund, to me, just screams like a good change-of-scenery candidate. Put him on Aho's RW (he traditionally has played his off-side) and see what he does.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I don't want my Yakuza listening to Aqua.

Down here in NC, I tend to think Aqua (the utility) is owned by the Yakuza

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

One thing that I will say is that I think that I'm now on board for extending Edmundson to a 4-by-4 and running Slavin/Dougie, Edmundson/Pesce, Gardiner/Fleury until the Expansion Draft. They can then protect Slavin/Pesce/Bean, let Seattle have their pick of Eddy/Gardiner/Fleury next year, and introduce Bean into the lineup in 2021-22. It's truly fun to have so many riches on defense after watching the likes of Jamie McBain and Jay Harrison in the top 4 LMAO

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

4x4 for Edmundson???