NHL Offseason: All 10 weeks of it

[Kontiki]

McCabe is definitely being overpaid, but I'm not so sure about overrated - I'm not aware of too many people outside of Toronto that actually think he is that good. Hell, prior to the end of the season even alot of the Toronto media was saying he was in for a rude awakening if he thought he was going to get offers in the $5 million range. Leafs' management never fails to disappoint, though. These are the same guys who think Domi is worth $1.25 million and Sundin is worth $7.6 million.

I'm starting to wonder if Asher has wet dreams about Phaneuf, though.

[cinch]

According to tsn.ca, Redden will stay in Ottawa. 2 years, 13 mil. Basically in the range that was expected.

Well, there go the Redden/Oilers rumours... I knew they were too good to be true.

We're really going to need to get a D-man in return for Pronger now.

[cinch]

Also: Stars waive Guerin, setting him up for a buyout.

What are the chances this guy has a comeback season or two left in him?

[Kontiki]

Luongo signed a four year deal with Vancouver. Sweet. And good negotiating skills, Keenan.

[Asher]

I'm starting to wonder if Asher has wet dreams about Phaneuf, though.

Also: Stars waive Guerin, setting him up for a buyout.

Phaneuf pwn3d Guerin in a fight.

[cinch]

Originally posted by Kontiki
Luongo signed a four year deal with Vancouver. Sweet. And good negotiating skills, Keenan.

Keenan definitely made some mistakes, but the big difference here was just plain ol' money. Keenan and Luongo were haggling in the 5-6 range, and if I'm not mistaken, this new deal is well above 6.

Still, good on Nonis. If he can afford some D-men, the 'Nucks'll have a bright future.

[Asher]

It's scary because next season the NW has so many damn good goaltenders, provided Edmonton ditches Roloson.

Fernandez, Kiprusoff, Luongo, Theodore...and Markkanen?

[Asher]

In continuing their tradition of becoming the league's retirement residence, the Leafs may get Gary Roberts again.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=170007&hubname=nhl

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Flubber
Oh and on the Phaneuf -Mccabe debate, while Asher overstates the case, I think you would not find any GM that would give up Phaneuf for McCabe even-up, even if their salaries were equal.

The kid in his rookie year had all the tools. Sure he made some rookie mistakes but he's the real deal and barring injury, a future Norris winner.

McCabe is a successful offensive defensman but one who is pretty much as good as he is going to get.

Flames fans are so delusional. To them, a flash in the pan is a massive forest fire.

A rookie D-man has a good year, and they declare him a future Norris winner. Any sensible fan would realize that it is too early to say.

The Flames fail to make the playoffs seven years in a row, they make an improbable run to the final, then the next played season, poof, back to their losing ways as they flame out in the first round. And the Flames fans think they have a winning team.

The Flames have only managed to win the Cup once and the Flames fans think they have a dynasty in the making and the winningest team in NHL history.

The Flames have only one the Cup once.
The Leafs have won the Cup 11 times.

Now the Leafs have gone through a drought, but that's mainly because of the Ballard years when Ballard did all he could to preven the team from winning.

Since then we've seen what can go wrong, and can say with experience that the Flames are heading down the path of defeat.

As for McCabe, a top three d-man for points, top three on the powerplay, which is vital in the new NHL, a player with a proven record of producing points, and a player who had the skills to adapt to the new NHL.

Who would a coach take? Depends on what a team needs. If the team needs a offensive d-man, then they go with McCabe. If they need a veteran d-man who they can rely on, they go with McCabe. If they a player who can put in 25 minutes plus a game, they go with McCabe.

Meanwhile, the Redden deal is further proof that McCabe is being paid a fair salary.

[notyoueither]

Phaneuf is a monster. He played really well and was a legitimate Caulder candidate (even if he was overshadowed by the Ovechkin-Crosby duel).

He is very promising. Were I a GM, I wouldn't be trading him if future is important.

Consider the camera angles. Get it just right and bingo, Frankenstein, and just about as big.

[notyoueither]

Let's settle the question of who is the best GM and judge of talent or value.

$44million. Fill your team. You can change it around til training camp starts, after that it's frozen.

You can sign 25 players. You can only count the best 12 forwards, 6 d, and 2 goalies.

We'll come back in 10 months and see who had the best team.

[Asher]

Flames fans are so delusional. To them, a flash in the pan is a massive forest fire.

What's with you and this "flash in the pan" nonsense? Whenever a good player from the Flames establishes himself, you chant "flash in the pan! flash in the pan!" The last time you said that was for a guy named Kiprusoff, who was such a "flash in the pan" that the very next season he won Vezina.

A rookie D-man has a good year, and they declare him a future Norris winner. Any sensible fan would realize that it is too early to say.

Any true follower of hockey would know that Phaneuf has had "more than a good year". Some of us have been fortunate enough to watch him play for years before he even made the NHL. People had enormous expectations of him in his rookie season, and he surpassed them all. If you watch the man play, you know he has what it takes -- future Norris winner is not an unfair thing to say, considering how much he's improved every year and how awesome he is already.

The Flames fail to make the playoffs seven years in a row, they make an improbable run to the final, then the next played season, poof, back to their losing ways as they flame out in the first round. And the Flames fans think they have a winning team.

The Flames had terrible coaches and GMs during that stretch (including the infamous Button). But the entire management and the vast majority of the team is wholly different now.

I am unsure how you can say the Flames went back to their "losing ways" since their regular season play was better than it was even in 1989, when they won the cup. Yes, they lost in the first round to Anaheim who was incredibly hot (and who subsueqnetly swept Colorado on Bryzgalov's nightmarishly good goaltending). There were problems on the team last year (namely the lack of a competent centre), but it was a winning team. And since you're quite unintiated with hockey, I'll spell out what that means to you: they win more than they lose. Which is what the Flames did last season.

The Flames have only managed to win the Cup once and the Flames fans think they have a dynasty in the making and the winningest team in NHL history.

The Flames have only one the Cup once.
The Leafs have won the Cup 11 times.

1) I haven't seen anyone here but you talk about "dynasty"
2) I haven't seen anyone here but you talk about "winningest team in NHL history"

What Flames fans are talking about, and in fact what most people who had any concept of how hockey is played would talk about, is the Flames have a very, very good team. Add Tanguay in with the mix, and it could very well be deadly.

By the way, winning the cup "11 times" doesn't really count anymore when you consider:
1) It was 40 frickin' years ago
2) When you won the cup there were, at most, six teams in the entire league -- much easier to do back then!

Toronto hasn't won in 40 years. That is a pathetic team, any way you want to paint it.

Now the Leafs have gone through a drought, but that's mainly because of the Ballard years when Ballard did all he could to preven the team from winning.

40 years is a "drought"? It's an extinction.

Since then we've seen what can go wrong, and can say with experience that the Flames are heading down the path of defeat.

Aye, they've only improved substantially year-over-year while Toronto has declined yet again. And with the post-season trades made so far, adding Tanguay to Iginla's line, clearly they are on the path to defeat.

As for McCabe, a top three d-man for points, top three on the powerplay, which is vital in the new NHL, a player with a proven record of producing points, and a player who had the skills to adapt to the new NHL.

Who would a coach take? Depends on what a team needs. If the team needs a offensive d-man, then they go with McCabe. If they need a veteran d-man who they can rely on, they go with McCabe. If they a player who can put in 25 minutes plus a game, they go with McCabe.

ROFL

McCabe is NOT reliable -- he's got tons of turnovers and takes bad penalties and is generally a douche with the puck. That's why he didn't finish above 0 in +/-. He's strictly an offensive defenceman, and frankly I think those are rather worthless. If a d-man isn't competent defensively, he shouldn't be a frickin' defenseman and he should only be out on the powerplay. Even then, he's overrated (look at his stellar Olympics play!).

Meanwhile, the Redden deal is further proof that McCabe is being paid a fair salary.

Redden is twice the defenceman McCabe will ever be, or ever has been.

Honestly, Tingkai. You're either trolling for fun, or you're the typical Leafs fan in that you play a different kind of hockey than the rest of the league -- and that's why it's been 40 years since you've won the cup. The fact that people in Toronto have such arrogance and self-important to lecture everyone else how to play hockey despite their impressive losing pedigree is simply ridiculous.

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Let's settle the question of who is the best GM and judge of talent or value.

$44million. Fill your team. You can change it around til training camp starts, after that it's frozen.

You can sign 25 players. You can only count the best 12 forwards, 6 d, and 2 goalies.

We'll come back in 10 months and see who had the best team.

So we can use the 2006-2007 wages (if announced) and otherwise 2005-2006 salaries?

[notyoueither]

2006-07.

They are released before the start of camp?

[Asher]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Phaneuf is a monster. He played really well and was a legitimate Caulder candidate (even if he was overshadowed by the Ovechkin-Crosby duel).

He is very promising. Were I a GM, I wouldn't be trading him if future is important.

Consider the camera angles. Get it just right and bingo, Frankenstein, and just about as big.