Official 13-14 NHL Regular Season Thread

[philou21]

The Avs picked the BPA with their #1 and it was MacKinnon. Even if they have Duchene and Landeskog there's not much after that in their pool prospect for offense as well. But for defense, they have good prospects but of course they're not as good as Jones. They have Barrie, Siemens and Elliot. Don't know yet how they will turn though, time will tell.

[Manimal]

Callahan is probably asking for well over 5 million and a 5 or 6-year contract.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pittsburgh puts in a trade offer for him, but I'd hate to see him there

[batdad]

My list of teams needing D was just random in many ways. Forgot Colorado and I agree they do need D with experience.

Now that being said...philou....in Colorado management opinion they took the BPA in the draft. I am likely one of the few who disagree....but none of the top 3 teams took the BPA. I have seen Seth Jones a ton, and without having seen the others enough before the draft, I would have said ... those others better be Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr or Messier. Jones is going to be a super stud.

Now that i have seen them a bit more since the draft...same thought. Best prospect available in last year draft was SETH JONES. It is not even close IMHO. Colorado may never regret it, but with dmen so hard to come by....they IMHO should have selected JOnes. So should have Tampa and Florida.

[philou21]

Yeah I remember you talked about Jones as a really good upcoming player. But I still think Colorado did a good choice. At least it seems it was "their" BPA. Colorado is weak in both position when it comes to propsects so both wouldn't hurt. So far Nathan is far from proving they were wrong with him, his adaptability seems really good. Jones seems to have a good season as well in Nashville but I'm not following them that much.

[batdad]

Colorado is weak at C prospects? Really? Duchene, O'Reilly, Landeskog, and now Mackinnon is weak? Wow..what do you want there?

Gretz
Messier
Lemieux
Yzerman
Sakic
Sundin
Healthy Lindros

one or two more???

[jesterx7769]

Statsny isn't a "prospect" but he has been playing quite well.

[philou21]

I never mentionned the C position? I was talking more about their offense in general. Stastny is good but he is not putting numbers as he used to be. Tanguay is getting old and Parenteau is 31-32? Might not even finish the year with them. O'Reilly will be good but he doesn't like a futur player of 80 pts per season.

[batdad]

In prospects alone you have 2/3 of the top 6 in your forward lineup. Insane to worry about the forwards on the Avs. Just insane. That team is as stacked up front in young top 6 forwards as the Oilers are. Perhaps more so.

ROR is Ryan Kesler. Going to be your best two way player. Provided he resigns and is not dealt. I think this summer will be dealt for D help, but not til then as Avs are too far up in the race playoff wise. That 6.5 mill Qaulifying offer is going to kill.

[philou21]

As much as the Oilers? Come on. Oillers have Yakupov, Eberle, NH, Hall. Colorado got MacKinnon, Duchene and Landeskog. O'Reilly will be a good two-way yes but he's not on the same level and I got the feeling he will be trade as well. Even if I like the three guys I mentionned they are not on the same level as Hall or Eberle. Oilers got more potential IMO.

[batdad]

O Reilly plays 2 ways...can you name any Oiler forward that does? You need at least one or two of those. Oilers are all one way with the possible exception of Hall.

Colorado is set up front in prospects. If they fill out back end, they will be better than Oil. Oil has LOTS of work to do on back end. And Justin Schultz and all the Schultz named players in the world are not the answer.

[philou21]

Colorado now are okay for a long time. They should definitely look for d-men in the futur! But what's done is done. I've would've approved both choice.

[batdad]

Nothing wrong with Mackinnon. Just saying that to me...Jones was the right pick.

[philou21]

Habs traded Diaz to Vancouver for Weise. Batdad, what can you say about that guy?

[batdad]

4th line guy. A little speed, a little toughness. Not enough of either.

[philou21]

Good to know. Medias are already trying to convince people he will add more toughness to the team. Well, I guess if you look at the Habs overall he will.

[Primis]

Some Red Wings fans freaking out over the Diaz trade. Some wanted him and think DET should have gone hard for him. But I think they forget Tootoo's salary is very unpalatable.

These trades as of late only make me think even moreso that the league is in a real rut.

[philou21]

I don't think Diaz would have done anything good in Detroit even in their current situation. He's just an okay guy.

[Primis]

I don't think Diaz would have done anything good in Detroit even in their current situation. He's just an okay guy.

It's an overreaction, same as with Del Zotto. Neither Del Zotto or Diaz would really address a DET need right now, but that's where some of the DET fans have been reduced to: hoping that just some random defenseman would bloom in DET.


I just... don't get the Toughness thing. I really don't. Every 4-5 years it seems DET falls into that trap of thinking they need a guy and taking a flyer on one, and it almost always ends badly.

[jesterx7769]

Don't care about the Diaz trade from a Detroit fan standpoint as he wouldn't really matter. Del Zotto would have been nicer but not concerned with not getting him or Smid who I previously mentioned. Holland has made it clear the last two years they aren't doing in season trades. The toughness thing I disagree on however, they have been a finesse/hardworking team without enforcers and I think it hurt them a lot last year against the Blackhawks. It would be nice if some of the guys from Grand Rapids could be young energetic tough guys like Miller was or Shaw for the Hawks.

[Primis]

Just because I know it'll drive batdad insane... Yan Sauve playing for Vancouver tonight in Detroit is the Canucks' second call-up this year that has spent significant time in ECHL Kalamazoo.

[batdad]

Scrub call up. Lol. How many d injuries? And he sucks

[jesterx7769]

Poor Torts in his return. What do you think they are going to do w/Lack/Luongo going forward Batdad?

[coombs14]

I don't think Diaz would have done anything good in Detroit even in their current situation. He's just an okay guy.

Exactly. He can skate well and has a good first pass but beyond that is not great.

With so many injuries in Vancouver he's a good fit. But then again at this point anyone with NHL experience would be a good fit.

Also, Vancouver seems to be collecting Swiss defencemen who used to play for Montreal. They just need Streit for the hat trick!

[batdad]

Poor Torts in his return. What do you think they are going to do w/Lack/Luongo going forward Batdad?

Huh? Not sure I get this. Lou is clearly the #1. The only way anythng happens here is if Lou brings them something in return and well...that has not happened and it is not likely to with Miller and what 5 Duck goalies available? Lack played last night because Van plays Boston tonight.

If someone comes and says we will take Lou's cap hit and here is a prospect player or pick of value-the Canucks have to look at it. But they won't.

[Primis]

Poor Torts in his return. What do you think they are going to do w/Lack/Luongo going forward Batdad?

Huh? Not sure I get this. Lou is clearly the #1. The only way anythng happens here is if Lou brings them something in return and well...that has not happened and it is not likely to with Miller and what 5 Duck goalies available? Lack played last night because Van plays Boston tonight.

Yeah Lack was not great. I'm a bit confused after the game. DET played pretty poorly through most of it and yet, VAN apparently found a way to play worse I guess. At one point VAN had 2 straight PP's *and* a PS and still nothign was happening. That first period in particular was kinda' awful hockey to watch. If Lack doesn't give up the softie to Abdelkader it's likely the game stays fairly lifeless like the 1st was. I can't imagine Lack supplanting Luongo as #1 either.

It is interesting that the reverse of what normally occurs happened for DET. Gustavsson was in and they were lifeless. He left dizzy, so Howard came in and the team seemed to play better in front of him. Usually it's the other way around and they hang Howard out to dry.


I'm starting to really welcome the idea of the NHL not going to the Olympics anymore. It steals their executives' attention, and the months leading up to the Games seem to have an effect on the players who will or might participate, and a LOT of teams seem to struggle to play good, hard hockey in the couple weeks before. I think it's better for the league going forward if they don't go, and I'm betting the impending trainwreck that is Sochi anyways is going to grease the wheels for that decision.