EHM The Blue Line

I'll add to the choir: whee, they paid a king's ransom for Forsberg.

And as for re-signing him, he says it isn't even a given that he'll play hockey next season -- although PF's "I might retire this off-season" schtick is growing a bit old.

BTW, does anyone think this makes the Predators a front-runner for the cup? I'm asking because when I look at them, what I see still isn't a cup champion but the model 2006 Red Wings (or the model every-darn-spring Sens).

Yeah, I think Preds are now the front-runners. Have a look at this lineup:

Sullivan - Arnott - Dumont
Kariya - Legwand - Erat
Hartnell - Forsberg - Radulov
Nichol/Tootoo/Fiddler/Smithson

Hamhuis - Weber
Timonen - Zidlicky
Vishnevski - Suter
Zanon

Vokoun
Mason

I mean, you couldn't be more set for the playoffs.

I wouldn't have given the pick let alone the players to get Floppa

However I wouldn't be very confident in the NHL viability of a kid no matter the talent that has had to sit out most of a season already with a bulging disc in his back. You can blow out a knee, break a leag, separate a should etc. and made pretty much a full recovery but back problems are always there, and given that hockey involves constantly bending over and being jarred by other players back problems are notoriously bad for players. So Parent might not be as much of an asset as it seems.

Still I'd think they could have paid a 1/4 of this and gotten for example Keith Tkatchuk and not worried about him every second he's on the ice that he'll get hurt. Obviously they're trying to bring in size/grit as they also added Visnevski who was alllll over the ice in his first game nailing people... so this seems to be a deal made for the ideal perfectly healthy Mythical Ideal of Forsberg which has to be tempting because you might just get it, but the odds are stacked seriously against it.

They took the "nobody else is going to outbid us because for us this is The Move" tact here and I think it was a miscalculation no matter what amount of postive impact Floppa might have on the team.

Speaking of miscalculations... Shane Doan has finalized a $22.5 million dollar deal to possibly stay a Coyote for life as it would "mean more to win with the Coyotes" I think that's a double edged bad move. If the Yotes really wanted to build for the future you deal Doan when the "10 to 15" teams wanted him for a playoff push and if you're Doan this is the silliest possible time to resign. Why not wait to see what the team actually does with moves and field some free agent offers to see what the market is like? Dumb and dumber:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=196350&hubname=nhl

That was exactly the same I was thinking (talking about Doan here): why resign now??

I mean, if he really wanted to stay in Phoenix he could have signed also in the offseason but right now he could have a shot at the Stanley Cup with another team if the Yotes would have traded him....like that the Yotes also would have got a good deal in return.

Dont understand that, but I guess they know what they do

Iam also one who thinks the Preds have paid way too much for Foppa....but wasnt it the Predators who traded a first round draft pick last year for Brendan Witt???
So it doesnt surprise me

Really bad operation for Doan and the Yotes

Same for the Preds. Foppa might be a strong asset, but he may be injured sooner or later, and may retire at the end of the season...

They should have paid far less for another experienced guy for the playoffs, and a healthy one! Tkachuck? With Sullivan and Kariya, i'm not sure they'd need an other LW. But with Arnott and Legwand, i'm not sure they needed a center guy either

Shadd666 wrote:Foppa ... may retire at the end of the season...

That rumor has been floating around for years, and not once has it been true.

Systemfel wrote:

Shadd666 wrote:Foppa ... may retire at the end of the season...

That rumor has been floating around for years, and not once has it been true.

Yep, but he's closer of his retirement than of his rookie season And with all the injuries he regularly have, he should retire very soon Maybe not this season afterall, but it's still a possible option...

Take Ryan Parent out of the deal and I think its a pretty even trade that both teams should benefit from.


But What the Dickens is Nashville thinking giving up all that AND Parent? Yikes.

On the Doan thing. I find it admirable that he does not wish to go to another team and win the cup as a 'rental'. He wants to stay in Phoenix, does not want to play anywhere else and wants to WIN There. Yeah, it may never happen, but I think Doan is showing the strength, leadership and loyalty of a player like Yzerman by doing this deal, and saying what he has said.

Doan is the last remaining Winterpeg Jet on the Coyotes. Doan is a Coyote for life, like Yzerman was/is a Red Wing for life. And the Coyotes---well sheesh, they coulda traded him...but maybe, just maybe Barnett, Gretzky et al are showing some of that kind of loyalty too. Almost makes me a Yotes fan!

As for Foppa...Yep big price, but with the way Nashville is market wise...the team has to show they are making every effort to fill the seats, win a championship. If it does not work, the Nashville Predators will be moving in the next two-four years. There is a clause in the Preds lease that is nasty: If they do not sell 14K tickets, then the TAXPAYER through the city must buy up the tickets to that point. The Preds are doing all they can to make that not hapen. If it does, you can see the team looking to relocate.

Seattle Supersonics owner is looking into the viability of NHL hockey in Seattle. He is apparently running a study. Team 1040 radio (team1040.ca) has podcasts of their conversations about this over the last few days if you are interested. The Sonics owner wants a new building and would need another tenant. This could get very interesting, in terms of Nashville, Pittsburg, KC, Vegas, Oklahoma City...relocation and possibly expansion.

Anyway, back to the point: Doan being loyal is kind of cool. Phoenix being loyal is even cooler. I like the move. Maybe some day it will be an Yzerman like move. Doubt it, but maybe.

Again, apologies for the essay.

He'll be an Yzerman type when he puts up Yzerman numbers and wins the Stanley Cup!

It is refreshing to see someone being loyal in hockey these days though.

Yep...that is why I said "Strength, loyalty and leadership", and NOT performance. And added a "doubt it, but maybe" later.

New Jersey sends the rights to Alexander Korolyuk back to San Jose for a 3rd rounder.

I like the trade for Korolyuk, he put up decent numbers in his last NHL season, he know the style of play, most of the players, has deadly speed and can finish, so for a 3rd round pick, yeah id take that.

Systemfel wrote:

Shadd666 wrote:Foppa ... may retire at the end of the season...

That rumor has been floating around for years, and not once has it been true.

Except the year that he actually did retire of course... and then returned only for the playoffs.

Minstrel wrote:

Systemfel wrote:

Shadd666 wrote:Foppa ... may retire at the end of the season...

That rumor has been floating around for years, and not once has it been true.

Except the year that he actually did retire of course... and then returned only for the playoffs.

That's one of the things I don't like about Foppa - the 'un-retiring'.

In fact, I tend not to like any athlete that hangs em up, only to change their mind X number of years down the road. To me, if you retire from pro sports, you'd better have a darn good reason (ie. health issue, family problem, management job-offer, etc.). And once you've made the decision, you'd better stick with it, lest you look like a money-hungry, washed-up, FORMER pro athlete.

Stevey Y did it right. Played for one organization, retired, got a job with them - done. There's talk he's even considering a position with Hockey Canada, which would be sweet. But do you think we're ever going to hear about the Return of Yzerman? No. And that's a good thing.

Cheers.

E5150_ca wrote:Take Ryan Parent out of the deal and I think its a pretty even trade that both teams should benefit from.


But What the Dickens is Nashville thinking giving up all that AND Parent? Yikes.

My guess is Poile had to throw in one of Parent or Upshall to top the bid of a rival team (Anaheim?) The 'original' deal probably included one or the other, IMO.

Cheers.

Sorry catchup...Considering a position with Hockey Canada??? Stevie is already the GM of the World Championship team this season for Hockey Canada. (And I waited more than 2 minutes.)

ok, seriously, are you trying to become my nemesis?

We're in the same city, so we could have a Batman/Joker thing going on.

It is that Habs logo...just makes me hate you.

On topic: So who is the next big name to go and next team involved?

batdad wrote:It is that Habs logo...just makes me hate you.

On topic: So who is the next big name to go and next team involved?

LOL you guys are just naturally oil and water

I think the next move has to involve one of Guerin or Tkatchuk from St. Louis now that Forsberg has been moved and Doan has re-signed with Phoenix.

Minstrel wrote:I think the next move has to involve one of Guerin or Tkatchuk from St. Louis

Strange, in my EHM game i just traded for Guerin AND Tkachuk

And the Blues should trade both in real life too, according to their lack of highly talented prospects. They really need to rebuild, and both Guerin and Tkachuk aren't really rebuilding options for them

Iam just "thinking loud" here....but I think Sheldon Souray is also UFA at the end of the season...and looking on how the Habs are playing lately it seems they will be missing the playoffs too, so why not trade him?? Iam sure some playoff team would be willing to trade for a goal-scoring d-man, right??

Togheter with Samsonov in a pack maybe???

Shadd666 wrote:And the Blues should trade both in real life too, according to their lack of highly talented prospects. They really need to rebuild, and both Guerin and Tkachuk aren't really rebuilding options for them

Yeps, this is one of the possible letdowns when u are 25 consecutive years in playoff...that u always have high draft choices and u really need a good scouting department!!!

Well, at least lately they have done better with TJ Oshie, Erik Johnson, Patrick Berglund, Marek Schwarz or Carl Soderberg....but we have to see if they all can make an impact in the NHL...

flea wrote:Iam just "thinking loud" here....but I think Sheldon Souray is also UFA at the end of the season...and looking on how the Habs are playing lately it seems they will be missing the playoffs too, so why not trade him?? Iam sure some playoff team would be willing to trade for a goal-scoring d-man, right??

Togheter with Samsonov in a pack maybe???

If the Habs do trade Souray, I believe they'll move him to a Western team. He's playing better than the ever has right now (IMO) and the Habs will never get more for him. If the Habs lose 1-3 of their next few games I think Gainey will be a seller. If that's the case, Souray is one of the first to go, as he almost definitely won't re-sign in MTL.

If I was Gainey, I'd be scouting the rubbish out of San Jose and Anaheim - 2 teams rich in prospects that might make a play for Souray.

Just my thoughts, though I'm sure batdad is lurking over his keyboard, ready to refute.

Cheers.

Trade announcement: Souray and a 1st goes to Detroit for Chelios. Cause he is a great prospect.

Nah, actually I would not be surprised if Souray moves to SJ...but it won't be Anaheim. They have enough on the blue line. Also could see Vancouver in the mix for him.