GAMO1992
#ThankYouIggy
Here's the new thread, preemptively starting the new thread. here are some of the latest write-ups.
Continued...
Brian Gionta retires!!
NHL ENTRY DRAFT
-- The Carolina Hurricanes won the draft lottery, so the Buffalo Sabres hold the 2nd overall, 9th overall and 25th overall picks in the NHL Entry Draft. Boy... were the Sabres ever active on the trade front on this day...
BUFFALO SABRES' TRADES
SABRES RECEIVE | AVALANCHE RECEIVE
LW Ryan O'Reilly|D Tyler Myers
COL 2015 4th round pick (98)|NYI 2015 1st round pick (25)
SABRES RECEIVE | JETS RECEIVE
LW Evander Kane|LW Matt Moulson
C Mathieu Perreault|RW Joel Armia
|LW William Carrier
|LW Brendan Lemieux
|RW Nicholas Baptiste
SABRES RECEIVE | HURRICANES RECEIVE
CAR 2015 3rd round pick (62)|D Mike Weber
|BUF 2016 3rd round pick
TOP 5
Selection # | Team | Player | Position | Age | Overall | Potential
1|Carolina|Connor McDavid|Center|18|81|4 Green
2|Buffalo|Jack Eichel|Center|18|79|4.5 Green
3|Winnipeg|Ivan Provorov|Defense|18|72|4.5 Gold
4|Vancouver|Daniel Sprong|Right Wing|18|65|4.5 Gold
5|Edmonton|Mitch Marner|Center|18|67|4.5 Gold
BUFFALO SABRES DRAFT PICKS
Selection # | Player | Position | Age | Overall | Potential
2|Jack Eichel|Center|18|79|4.5 Green
9|Zach Werenski|Defense|17|78|4.5 Gold
55|Parker Wotherspoon|Defense|17|62|4 Gold
62|Nicolas Roy|Center|18|63|4 Gold
91|Carter Folk|Left Wing|19|65|3.5 Gold
98|Gabriel Gosselin|Center|18|53|4 Red
121|Gustav Backstrom|Defense|20|67|3.5 Gold
133|Justin Spagrud|Left Wing|19|64|3.5 Gold
151|Gauthier Descloux|Goalie|18|65|3.5 Gold
153|Markus Eisenschmid|Center|20|65|3.5 Gold
IN (via trade)
Evander Kane, Mathieu Perreault and Ryan O'Reilly are the newest members of the Buffalo Sabres
OUT (via trade)
Tyler Myers, Matt Moulson and Mike Weber were all traded at the entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres
This write-up was a bit different. I won't focus on the signings and re-signings in this write up, the focus was more on the draft and the big trades. Next write-up will be back to form, or I may split them up and have a trade deadline update, then update from the deadline - end of playoffs and then a separate post for all the off-season stuff. I'll see.
Post-Cup Win 2017 OffseasonRetirees
RW Joel Ward
NHL Draft
NJD Trade
C Paul Gaustad 83/35/3 mil over 2 years
to CGY for
2017 2nd Round Pick (46th Overall)
-Needed to recoup a decent pick after dumping quite a few in my last couple trades. Gaustad was really good but I feel I can either find a cheaper slightly worse guy in UFA or just bring up an AHLer (Give Latta the spot again)
Notable NJD Picks
Round 1 30th LW TWF Nolan Volcan 64/18/4 gold star
Round 2 16th C PLY Mason Shaw 51/18/4 red star
Round 4 30th G HYB Toni Nurmi 69/20/3.5 gold star
-These are probably the only guys with shots at making the NHL, rest were really bad, took some chances on some homerun picks in the very late rounds and they appear to be all definite flops
Re-signing
Resigned Boll 77/31/3 white 1 year 800k
Resigned Boucher 83/23/3.5 gold 2 years 1.6
Resigned Puempel 82/24/4 red 3 years 1.5 (steal)
Reisgned Severson 81/22/4 gold 3 years 1.1 (STEAL)
Released Budaj
Released Steve Bernier
Released Tedenby
Qualified all AHL RFA
Signed all pending UFA prospects
UFA
Signed G Reimer 82/29/4 white 1 year 1.5
Signed C Brodziak 81/33/3 white 2 years 1.3
Signed G Mack Shields 80/22/4.5 gold star 3 years 800k (2015 11th overall)
2017/18 Line-up
Hagelin 86 - Kesler 86 (A) - Monahan 87
Boucher 83 - Granlund 86 - Eriksson 86
Puempel 83 - Henrique 85 (A) - Ruutu 81
Latta 78 - Brodziak 80 - Boll 77
Merrill 85 - Larsson 85
Gunnarsson 84 - Greene 81 (C)
Harrington 79 - Severson 81
Bob 91
Reimer 82
Top 5 Prospects
G HYB Mack Shields 80/22/4.5 gold (2015 11th overall, BUF)
D TWD Nicolas Meloche 76/20/4 green (2015 8th overall, NJ)
RW SNP Daniel Sprong 76/20/4.5 red (2015 68th overall, NJ)
LW TWF Nolan Volcan 65/19/4 gold (2017 30th overall, NJ)
D TWD Ben Thomas 76/21/3.5 gold (2014 119th overall, TB)
Have to say I'm surprised by the lack of growth in Harrington/Severson/Monahan/Boucher. But I think If I can put together another good season of winning hockey and a good playoff run they should hopefully get a good jump. (I do have quite high assistant coach)
Kesler and Greene appear to have regressed quite harshly, Greene moreso. Will perhaps look at moving his big contract out and starting a new captain's reign
Press Conference/Season Preview
Martin Ward held a press conference today to discuss the moves made during the off-season, what they mean and what to expect. Without further ado:
M.W: Good afternoon folks, thank you for coming out today. I will be taking questions later so please have them handy. Over the course of the summer we have drastically altered the makeup of our team and moved out some big players. I am aware that their is concern among some of you that we are undertaking a full scale rebuilding. That is not the case. As you know we have so promising young players coming up. Our goal has always been to improve every year and to make the playoffs. Over the course of the summer we had been presented with opportunities that would make our club better going forward. Some of these were trades for now, and some for the future. We believe in giving every player a chance to succeed and take on a role best suited for their game and their development. We are not reluctant to give our young players a chance. Over the past summer we made moves that opened up spots for our young players, acquired young players and prospects with the goal of improving our team. I believe that as a result of these moves we are a better hockey club going forward. I will now take questions.
Josh Todd: Martin, Josh Todd here from the Winnipeg post, how can we believe that the Jets have improved over the summer when you have subtracted 2 top 6 forwards and replaced them with a top 2 D ? Where will the goals come from ?
M.W: I understand your concern. From the start of my tenure I have talked about how we lack dynamic talent, and how we want to become more dynamic. We have a young player by the name of Nikolaj Elhers whom we believe will step in and be capable of handling top 6 minutes immediately, in order for him to succeed and develop into the player he can be, he will need to play a top 6 role. We felt we were lacking a true number one defenceman and a physical element at the back. Tyler Myers is a number 1 defenceman and has a dynamic physical element to his game along with a well rounded all around game, a chance to acquire a player like that does not come along every day. We believe that by allowing less goals we can win a few more games, and that our core players will be able to contribute more given another year of development. We also believe that Brett Connolly is an adequate replacement for Dustyn Byfuglien.
J.T: You traded a 40 goal scorer, and a 30 goal scorer, and expect 2 unproven players to replace 70 goals ?
M.W: Our team will be able to makeup the lost production. Kane had 37 goals, and Dustyn Byfuglien had 23 in a year which he put up 48 points, perhaps you should get your facts straightened out.
J.T: Great response, love it. Why would you trade a dynamic player like Evander Kane ?
M.W: Evander had requested a trade under previous and current management, we tried to work things out but could not come to an agreement. That's all I have time for, thanks for coming out.
J.T: Mr.Ward what about the players you drafted ? What about Dustyn Byfulgien ?
Ward: No comment.
JT: There you have it, Martin Ward being elusive about his team expectations. It will be a long season in Jet land, when you lose 70 goals and don't replace them you can't expect to return to the playoffs after already being a low seed. The Jets are likely too strong to land Auston Matthews at the draft, but not good enough to fight for a playoff spot. The 10-14 range in the conference would be a reasonable expectation. For the Winnipeg post, I'm Josh Todd.
James Duthie here previewing the Winnipeg Jets, and as you can see from the press conference not many are optimistic about the Jets chances going into the year. They made some intruiging moves during the off-season and are betting high on their youth. However some at TSN think the Jets will surprise.
Bob: That's correct James. Teams are underestimating the Jets here, they are well coached and well balanced team. They have gotten rid of a big locker room distraction in Evander Kane and have a very promising and underrated team.
Craig: At the end of last season there were times where I found Mark Scheiffle was the best player on the ice, he looked dominant out there. Nikolaj Ehlers is a dynamic playmaker who will do more damage then most think, this kid is unreal and will be sheltered at the start. He will likely play with Scheiffle and Connolly and my god will he benefit from that.
Bob: The Winnipeg Jets believe that Wheeler, Ladd and Little are about to peak and are expecting big things, I think that line will be very productive this year and will surprise many. Tyler Myers is a top pairing D that the Jets sorely lacked. The Jets don't have the most physical backend, and wanted more grit. Matt Greene and Tyler Myers make them harder to play against.
Pierre: The Jets aren't expecting Brett Connolly to score 60 points here, they'll be thrilled if he can get to 40 points. He's coming off a 28 point season as a 3rd liner in Tampa, he should be able to produce more in a bigger role with better players. At this point he is both a project and a stop gap while Meier and Garland develop, however he could be a steal. Adam Lowry is another to watch for. He scored 38 goals in 76 games last year in the AHL, that's a goal every 2 games. He's a young powerfoward. He won't match that pace but I wouldn't be surprised if he hit 20. The Jets added some leadership at the back and on the 4th line, while also getting a bit gritter. I say they make the playoffs, a lot will depend on Pavelec being able to match last years form.
Predicted Lines:
Ladd(86)-Little(87)-Wheeler(86)
Elhers(84)-Scheiffle(87)-Connolly(84)
Lowry(83)-Perrault(84)-Frolik(83)
Halischuck(80)(Richardson(82)-Gionta(82)
Enstrom(86)-Myers(88)
Bogosian(84)-Trouba(84)
Stuart(82)Greene(79)
Pavelec(84)
Hutchinson(81)
Trade Deadline 2018
Duthie: It's Deadline day, where rumors become reality, where players move along, and teams let go their dreams of competing for Lord Stanley's Cup. This year is no exception to the whole rumor mill. Along with me, James Duthie, is Pierre McGuire, Aaron Ward, and former NHL'er Jeff O'Neill. So guys, what names have you heard churning throughout the last 12-24 hours.
Ward: New Jersey is still looking to unload some of their older veteran guys. They for whatever reason are still clinging onto some of them, and it baffles me why they haven't dealt them off yet, get some assets for them. They still lack some elite level prospects and with no clear direction, they need to do something there in New Jersey.
Pierre: Minnesota is another team that is looking to unload it's UFA players and or aging veteran players. They have really declined over the last few seasons without Josh Harding in the net, and their team is in shambles right now. Notable guys on the block right now are Jason Pominville, the former 40 goal scorer at one time, is apparently wanting a move out of Minnesota, they also have Mikko Koivu who at the age of 34, is definitely on the downtrend in his career. And then there is Ryan Sutter who, at 33 years of age, can still play some meaningful hockey still but is owed still north of 8 mill per season and is signed for another 8 years. If anyone wants to take on that contract, remains to be seen.
O'Neill: Philly is a team that is looking to get younger and move out some of their expiring contracts in Matt Read and Michael Del Zotto. It's going to be an interesting day for sure.
Duthie: Thanks guys. As we await for any potential deals, let talk about the surprise of this year, the Carolina Hurricanes. Many people would never have thought of them being in the thick of the playoff hunt like they are, but here they are, at the trade deadline, in the thick of it. What do you guys think of their team, record, chances to make any deals and their chances in the post season, should they make it?
Pierre: Well if you would have asked me before the season would Carolina be right in the playoff hunt, I would have thought you were crazy. Well, call us all crazy for not believing in GM Moore and his vision he implemented a few seasons ago. I strongly believe that the GM will go out and acquire at least 1 more veteran player to help with the push, if he doesn't, well that's a fireable offense!
Ward: I always thought that while it'd be slim, the Hurricanes would make the playoffs. Sporting a 38-23-2 record, and sitting just in 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division, the time to act is now for Carolina. I think they make make a move or 2.
Duthie: Alright it looks like we have our first trade to announce, let's go to out Trade Breakers, Bob McKenzie, Darren Dregger and Gord Miller
Bob: Well, Carolina draws first blood today as they acquire LW Curtis Glencross from Arizona for a goalie prospect they signed last offseason, Benedict Roberg.
Curtis Glencross joins the Canes from the struggling Coyotes.
Duthie: Alright we have Curtis Glencross on the phone right now, what's it feel like to jump ship from the Coyotes to a hopefully playoff bound Hurricanes squad, and what can you add to their team?
GlenX[Talking on phone]: Well it was a shock to be honest. I didn't see it coming, then all of sudden I wake up this morning to a bunch of texts from my agent and Don(Maloney) the GM, so it came as a definite but pleasant surprise. I think I can add some speed, some grit, some leadership to the team, they have a young team down there in Carolina, but I'm looking forward to my fresh start with my new team.
Duthie: Alright thanks Curtis. That was Curtis Glencross the newest member of the Hurricanes.
**an hour later**
Duthie: We have another trade to announce?
Darren: Indeed James. Carolina again, they acquire RW Matt Read, C Vinny Lecavalier, and D Mark Fistric from Philly for D Prospect James Bell, Center prospect Adam Musil and LW prospect Blake Clarke.
Matt Read pictured above is the newest face of the Hurricanes.
Duthie: Okay, on the phone with us right now is Matt Read. Matt how did you find out about the trade, and were your surprised, expecting it to happen, or were you nervous it wasn't going to happen?
Matt[Talking on phone]: Um, yeah I was surprised, about how I found out, I was on the phone with my agent a couple times today talking about the possibility of being moved and then my wife came rushing up to me saying I've been traded. So I hang up on him(agent) and I call Ronny, and he picks up and says he's been trying to reach me for the past 10 or so minutes to announce the trade. But I'm definitely looking forward to my time in Carolina. Philly has been nothing but the classiest of organizations, giving me the chance to be a player in the league, but I'm hoping I can contribute to my new team and make the playoffs and push for the Cup.
Duthie: Alrighty, funny story, thanks Matt. That was Matt read, the newest member of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Other notable trades:
2019 1st(ANA)
C Alexandre Andreville 3 G
G Jeremy Belisle 4 G
D Marc Staal
-------------------------------------
D Kyle Quincey
LW Drew Miller
3 3.5 star scrub prospects
-------------------------------------
D Andrej Sekera
RW Tyler Kennedy
2019 1st(SJ)
D Jakub Zboril 3.5 gr
scrub player
------------------------------------
D Michael Del Zotto
2019 1st(PHI)
C Chase Harwell
**End of the day**
Duthie: Wow, it certainly was a flurry of trades today. What do you think of the day for the Hurricanes.
Pierre: I think it was a win, I said if they didn't make at least 1 move, it'd be bad, but they made 2. They added 2 solid veteran players in Glencross and Read. Both can help out with the lack of depth goal scoring, and without giving up B prospects or higher. Solid day, A from me.
Ward: What can I say that Pierre already hasn't said. Solid day for them. They addressed their lack of scoring options on the 2nd and 3rd lines, and they made some solid moves. Rumor was that they were in serious talks to acquire Mark Giordano from the Calgary Flames, but weren't willing to pay the price it'd take, so the talks fell through.
Duthie: Alright, what about Anaheim? They seemingly load up ready for that Cup run, adding another Staal in Marc.
Ward: They made another solid addition, shoring up their defense that has needed that #1 option since Fowler failed to meet their expetations. But for them, this is it. It's make or break. With under 1M in cap space they need to win the cup this season in order for the moves they've made to be successful.
Duthie: Alright thanks guys, this was Trade Deadline on TSN, I'm James Duthie and for the rest of the Deadline crew have a good night folks.
2016 NHL Trade Deadline...
Duthie: Welcome in everyone to our coverage of the 2016 NHL trade deadline, the day when teams pick up that last piece of the puzzle, or trade away a pending free agent. Alongside me are TSN insiders Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie. Alright let's get this thing started, right off the bat we have the Senators strengthening their 4th line, something GM Alfredsson said was a concern leading up to the deadline.
McKenzie:Yes, it's been a concern because Matt Halischuk had 15 points in 22 games last year(56 point pace), but only has 14 points in 62 games this year, so here's the trade...Ottawa trades Jacob Culek, Buddy Robinson, Derek Grant, and a 3rd round pick in this year's draft to Carolina in exchange for Nathan Gerbe and a 2016 5th.
...2 hours later...
Dreger: The Sens have made another trade, It's Devan Dubnyk, Francois Perron, Matt Halischuk, and Vincent Dunn heading to Carolina, and a 2016 3rd, 2017 3rd, 2016 4th, 2017 4th, and a 2016 6th heading back the other way
...1 hour later...
McKenzie: And in the dying minutes of the 2016 trade deadline, a blockbuster deal is made, that turns Ottawa from a good team, to being Stanley Cup contenders. Here is the trade, Ottawa sends their 2016 1st, Curtis Lazar, Paul Bittner, and Brendan Bobos to the Jets in exchange for Evander Kane, J.C. Lipon, and a 2017 2nd.
Dreger: Wow that turns Ottawa into a real dangerous team
Duthie: What a great trade by the Sens, giving up no roster players, and 3 prospects who are too far down the Sens depth charts to make the team any time soon, and most likely a late 1st round pick, and they still keep their other first rounder. Great trade.
Here is how the new lineup looks:
Kane(87)-Turris(87)-Ryan(87)
Hagelin(87)-Brassard(87)-McDavid(74)
Michalek(86)-Zibanejad(85)-Atkinson(82)
Gerbe(81)-Pageau(77)-Stone(79)
*decided to send Reinhart down to juniors, didn't want to play him bottom 6
Karlsson(90)-Cowen(88)
Staal(87)-Wiercioch(85)
Ceci(84)-Vatanen(81)
Lehner(85)
Gibson(83)
