Official lead up to 2015-16 season thread

[philou21]

LOL The RCG is currently investigating Mike Richards for something that has happened "off-ice". Things are getting interesting in his case, especially after been buy-out for "some reasons".

Also about Semin, I personally wouldn't take a risk with him, even at 1 million! His attitude seems so horrible I wouldn't want that guy around.

[Peter_Doherty]

You have some points but AV is not a super defensive coach, atleast not in Rangers, add to that the fact that Rangers is not a defensively solid team even if we have strong names on D. Rangers are actually close to the worst teams when it comes to giving away high danger shots, multiple shot attacks and shot attempts. I think Kings advanced stats back your claims up so add that to the fact that Jones just haven't been looking that great when i've seen him i'm inclined to agree with you on that one.

Agree that the young goalies do get too hyped way too early, there were Rangers-fans that wanted to bench and/or trade Hank because Talbot had a good stretch (both this season and his rookie season)

And to answer to what you said about me: I have never said that i think Jones is the real deal though, just thought it was fun that you talked him down aswell after you already talked Talbot and Lehner down a few days ago I have talked up _2_ young goalies and that is Lehner and Talbot. I think Jones has potential to be a starter but this might be too early for him and i don't think Sharks is the organisation to be a young goalie in right now either. Time will tell, feels like it's doomed to fail though, hope for his sakes he can bounce back if it does.

I meat quite honestly...your thoughts are so polar you have never met an average player in the game of hockey. He sucks or he is a god. that is all you have.


Every guy you post about is either going to be great or going to be horrible. There is no in between but it is quite humorous considering that only 5% of the NHL players are stars and only 5% should not be in the league.

What? How do you even come to this conclusion? That's just not true at all.

I don't understand the last sentence either, why do you feel the need to attack me like that for no reason?

[batdad]

NOt an attack young man. It was in response to your comment asking me if I liked anyone as a young goalie prospect.

And if you do not understand that post,.... well...I cannot help you there. It is pretty clear. 5% of the NHL players are great, 5% are barely able to play in the league and the rest are in the middle. Yet, people seem to either think a player is in the top 5% or bottom 5%...with no in between. You come across as one of those people. Black or white. There is alot of grey in the world that are just...average. Just okay. Not good, not bad. Just average players who make a difference on their teams because of their style of play, or how they mesh with the good or bad players on the team.

The elite player is at best 5% of the league and always will be. The weak player is at best 5% of the league and always will be. You tend to polarize your ratings of players way too much and that is why when I read your posts about players I giggle alot. it is not calling you out, it is showing the truth. It is not an attack, it is showing you that it is silly.

[Peter_Doherty]

I just don't get what qualifies me as THAT guy, because that's not me at all. "showing the truth", your arrogance

In other news, Elliotte Friedman reports that Chicago and Columbus is close to a deal involving Saad, wow...

Edit: Saad apparently traded to CBJ now, Bob just tweeted that it's done... Rumored that Anisimov and Dano is part of the package, i expect 2016 1st aswell but we'll see.

[batdad]

Wow. Guess the Hawks, like I thought...did not get much of an offer in return for Sharpie.

[Peter_Doherty]

Feels weird that they couldn't dump Bickell though, bad contract sure but he's not a horrible player and there are teams close to the floor. When i say dump i mean dump as in get close to 0 return, maybe even add a 5-7th round pick from Hawks. Or just lower the expectations on the return for Sharp... Maybe Saad just wants out for some reason and is being unreasonable ala Hamilton in their contract negotiations, let's see if Hawks get a good package back, twitter is saying Anisimov+Dano +

[batdad]

whatever they got back..Stan Bowman is a very good manipulator of these dump trades...he will do well here. Or at least well enough for Chicago to stay at the top/

[Peter_Doherty]

#CBJ acquire Brandon Saad and two prospects from #Blackhawks for Anisimov, Dano, Morin, Troop and a 4th rd pick in 2016

Decent trade for Hawks even though i'm surprised they didn't include 2016 1st, guess they wanted roster players back instead which is fair enough, picks are overrated anyway. Anisimov is solid, Dano has big potential and Morin has some upside aswell.

[philou21]

Ahhhh that sucks I really liked Saad with the Hawks.

[Peter_Doherty]

Understand that they traded him now though, crazy demands, he must have known Hawks couldn't pay this?

CHI traded Saad because he was looking for 6 yrs with AAV of $6.5M. May have been an offer sheet coming tomorrow from a team with those #s. -Bob on twitter.

Edit: Saads agent is refuting that they asked for a 6 year deal.

[Prowl]

If those demands are true, he'd be making more than Keith!! Wow and the offer sheet threat is real indeed. Fun for us but not as fun if you're Don Sweeney, Stan Bowman, or a good team with good RFA's to re-sign

[Peter_Doherty]

First off season where threats of offer sheets actually made several teams trade their young studs? Fun new aspect i think Stepan should be safe from offer sheets i hope, getting a little bit nervous but don't think there's a threat

[philou21]

Each years people talk about offer sheets like crazy and they barely finish by happening.

[Peter_Doherty]

Yeah, that's what i mean, this is the first time the threats actually do something? I know there have been offer sheets actually made but that's not what i mean... Threats of offer sheets made 2 GMs trade their "future stud"...

[philou21]

Did the Jackets got offer sheet for Dano?

[Peter_Doherty]

Pretty sure he's not eligable for offer sheet even, he should still be on his ELC right? Also, this was a trade, not offer sheet.

Trade happened because other teams (Pens among them i think) threatened to offer sheed Saad.

Edit: Can't say this is a boring off season atleast, holy smokes we're getting some action I will hate playing against CBJ now though Saad-Johansen-Foligno will be a nightmare.

[CJ]

Has anyone heard of that prospect?

I know only a little. I don't think he'll ever be an NHL player..

[batdad]

BIeska as Don Cherry would say off to play with his best friend Kelser. LOL.

[philou21]

Yup for a second round pick.

[CJ]

Pete and bat; you guys should start your own discussion/debate thread for yourselves!?

[philou21]

haha good one CJ.

[Peter_Doherty]

2nd for Bieksa, wow.. Isn't he super bad nowadays?

Edit: If he is as bad as i've read he is (don't watch much Nucks at all) then Ducks are in trouble since he's replacing Beauchemin by all reports... Ducks won't be a contender if that's the case

[batdad]

LOL CJ. But no thanks.

I think it is funny, because in his latter years here, those two did NOT get along all that well.

[philou21]

Ducks are letting Beauchemin go?

[Peter_Doherty]

Ducks are letting Beauchemin go?

Looks like it since he's not resigned yet and they traded for Bieksa, rumors are he wanted $5m a year for 3 years, guess Ducks didn't like the term.