[NHL] Offseason Talk

[Eomer]

Yeah, I'm not saying that the other offer is better in the NHL's eyes, but better in Leopold's eyes so long as it goes firm and doesn't remain conditional like Balsillie's.

I can understand the league being leery of moving any teams, right now. Because there's a lot of marginal franchises, and if one moves, what's to prevent 3 or 4 others from trying to move? I can also understand them being leery about teams moving to Canada, because while I think Hamilton will be a solid market no matter what, others like Winnipeg, Quebec City, or even Halifax are only looking attractive right now with a $0.90+ Canadian dollar. If it goes into freefall in 5 years, then what?

And hell, if I was a player about to become a UFA, there's no way I'd sign until after July 1st. Unless they threw a ridiculous number and term at me, a la Timmonen and Hartnell, who are still laughing (along with 29 other GM's). May as well see what else is out there.

And speaking of stupid, there's rumors that the Isles are thinking of offering Smyth a 6 to 8 year term at over 6 million a season average. I think he's definitely a 5-6 million dollar guy right now, but the way he plays he may only have a few good years left in him before he hits a steep fall off. And while he's a really good player, he's not great, nor is he a franchise player IMO.

[EmpireF4i]

Originally Posted by Moontayle

3 days to free agency and not a word about Briere or Drury. I think it's time to consider them gone.

Looks like Briere didnt take the offer from Buffalo so he will be UFA I think on the first.

[Moontayle]

Originally Posted by EmpireF4i

Looks like Briere didnt take the offer from Buffalo so he will be UFA I think on the first.

Fuck him then. I've long since had a huge disdain for players who leave a good team just because they want a huge payday.

[EmpireF4i]

Yeah that sucks. Buffalo had a great team this season. I dont know where he thinks hes going to go. Guess its just the cash hes after and doesnt care where he goes. I would like to see him play in the Western Conference, but I dont know how he would do out here.

[Eomer]

Fuck him then. I've long since had a huge disdain for players who leave a good team just because they want a huge payday.

In some respects, I agree with you, in others I don't. I think players are crazy when they leave a team they just won a championship with or that is on the verge of it, for a terrible team just because they gave them more money (Khabibulin --> Chicago, but he's a lazy Russian amirite?).

But on the other hand, if another team is willing to pay you a lot more or give you a more secure future with a longer term contract, why would players just pass it up? I mean yeah, what's 6 million if you're already making 5 right? I'm sure you'd pass up a 20% raise from your boss's competitor because of loyalty, right? Right?

A lot of it has to do with the NHLPA and agents, though. Players are brainwashed by the NHLPA from the time they're 18, and most of them are either not very bright or not very educated to begin with. Ryan Smyth during the lockout, for example, made some pretty ridiculous comments, and you could tell that all he was doing was just repeating what he'd been forcefed by the PA because he's too simple to form his own opinions (he wears 94 cause that's the year he got his HS diploma, he and his family were so happy because they never expected him to). They're trained to basically always take the highest offer, no matter who it's from, and I'm sure there'd be some ostracizing if a player turned down a large pay raise to stay with a team, unless said player is of pretty damn high stature. They've got to keep driving up the market, right?

And don't even get me started on agents.

As far as Briere goes, there's about 10 teams that would happily pony up 6+ million for him, for a 4-6 year term. The rumor is that Buffalo offered him the same 5 million 5 year contract they did last summer, when he opted for arbitration and the 1 year 5 million contract. They may as well have hit him in the face with their dicks.

[Ishad]

Originally Posted by Eomer

As far as Briere goes, there's about 10 teams that would happily pony up 6+ million for him, for a 4-6 year term. The rumor is that Buffalo offered him the same 5 million 5 year contract they did last summer, when he opted for arbitration and the 1 year 5 million contract. They may as well have hit him in the face with their dicks.

Bit of clarification, it's not the same conctract they offered him last summer. It was the contract he wanted last summer, that they wouldn't give to him. He went to arbitration and got a 1 year 5 mil deal, and then went out and had a carrer year.

But yea, in the end the result is the same. Buffalo management fucked up. They could've had him under contract for four more years as we speak, but they opted for arbitration and look like retards now if they lose him.

And speaking of the free agency market, according to the Tennesean, Kariya is done in Nashville. He's an interesting free agent because I doubt he'll even consider a team that isn't in cup contention and would probably take a big pay cut to fit onto a team that has a good shot at it.

[Eomer]

Oh whoops, I guess I misread the article. Okay so they aren't hitting him in the face with their dicks, but they're certainly not making him an offer he'd consider.

Fantastic blog by McKenzie on the Balsillie thing (and it's an actual blog for once, not merely a transcript of his on-air analysis): TSN : TSN¿TALENT - Canada's Sports Leader

The more I read about Balsillie, the less I like how he's handled this whole thing. The guy's a dick.

[Himeo]

Does hockey have a pre-season? If not, when do they start playing again?

[Eomer]

Yeah, training camps typically start in August, and pre-season runs through September, I believe 7 or 8 games. The season starts mid October.

[Ishad]

Cap number is in: 50.3 million up 6 million from last year and 2 million higher than expected.

Expect a bunch of big money deals to follow.

[Moontayle]

Briere camp tells Sabres he's headed to free agency; Smyth anxious for Sunday - NHL - Yahoo! Sports

So Briere is out. Even with an extra $6m to work with I don't see Buffalo doing what they did last year and finding themselves right up against the cap. They've said so all this offseason and they sent a message about wanting people passionate about playing the game without thoughts on money when they hired Ruff at below market value.

Briere will probably get a 3-4 year deal worth between $6-7m a year. Will be interesting to see where he goes.

Anyhoo, I think this is probably going to be a circus starting Sunday. A lot of high profile people going to free agency and plenty of teams with cap room, especially when you've got $50m to work with.

[Eomer]

Yeah, look for one of Gomez, Drury, Briere or Nylander to get offered some ridiculous 8 million dollar contract.

[EmpireF4i]

Originally Posted by Eomer

Yeah, look for one of Gomez, Drury, Briere or Nylander to get offered some ridiculous 8 million dollar contract.

I think of all those names the one not on there will come the closest to 8 mill. Ryan Smyth.

I think Kariya is going to try to get back with the Ducks and convince Teemu to play another year. I still cant stand the guy, but if it means having Teemu for another year Ill take it. He would have to do the same thing Teemu did and play for about $2m at the most for a year contract.

[Ishad]

And the first day of free agency comes out swinging:

Brier to philly for an 8 year 52 million dollar deal

Schnieder to the ducks for 2 year 5.5 and 5.75 a piece. (Chances of Neids retiring just left 10 fold in my mind, otherwise their D just went from sick to downright retardly good)

Rafalski signs with Detroit for a 5 year 30 million contract

[EmpireF4i]

God damn. 8 years, with 10m the first year for Beiere. Atleast Philly is making some moves.