NHL 2011-2012 Season

[Eli26]

Its good to be here Eli. I watch Hockey I just don't have a lot to say to be honest. Well, not enough to participate in here.

Yup... this is my little hockey haven... so what's up?

 

[Grenouille]

As much as Chiarelli has been trying to keep almost every part of this team together I figure, Paille is gone this summer.

Swing and a miss. Chiarelli signs Paille to a 3 year deal today.

And Ray's underachieving son too.

 

[The Josh]

Yup... this is my little hockey haven... so what's up?

Not much. Just thought I'd post in here instead of lurk.

 

[Eli26]

Swing and a miss. Chiarelli signs Paille to a 3 year deal today.

And Ray's underachieving son too.

I think that's a rather short-sighted perspective on the signings. Especially in Chris Bourque's case! Great player for development and maybe a late bloomer like a Mike Knuble or Jason Blake. Not everyone starts their NHL career at age 18-21. I am not sold that Bourque can't be an NHLer. In some cases, it's not always the player's fault. Environment, timing, and patience of said team also play a big factor. Worst case scenario, he's great for the farm (Providence). He's a superstar scorer in the A. Led that league in scoring, and his leadership, skill-set, and veteran experience could rub off of some of their prospects, like say a Khokhlachev or a Spooner. Both are CHLers and as such can not play in the AHL until they are 20. But alas, it gives guys like those in the system some further incentive to perform when you have a stud like Bourque on the team. Not every deal a GM makes has to be for a gung-ho NHL level 1st line forward, top pairing defenseman, or starter goalie.

These depth signings are just as important. I think Bourque was a good signing. He's still young (26), and has been signed to a 2 year deal. The first season is two-way, at 550,000 in the NHL, and 200,000 in the AHL. Which is good money for an AHL top scorer, and the following year is one-way, at 550,000. Which means if he does stick, great, he may be a good depth scorer for you guys up in Boston. Or he doesn't make the club, gets sent down... Naturally at that point he has to clear waivers, and I see nobody taking him from Boston if he fails to make the Bruins. And if they do, they take his contract off the books. Win-win situation.

 

[Grenouille]

I think that's a rather short-sighted perspective on the signings. Especially in Chris Bourque's case! Great player for development and maybe a late bloomer like a Mike Knuble or Jason Blake. Not everyone starts their NHL career at age 18-21. I am not sold that Bourque can't be an NHLer. In some cases, it's not always the player's fault. Environment, timing, and patience of said team also play a big factor. Worst case scenario, he's great for the farm (Providence). He's a superstar scorer in the A. Led that league in scoring, and his leadership, skill-set, and veteran experience could rub off of some of their prospects, like say a Khokhlachev or a Spooner. Both are CHLers and as such can not play in the AHL until they are 20. But alas, it gives guys like those in the system some further incentive to perform when you have a stud like Bourque on the team. Not every deal a GM makes has to be for a gung-ho NHL level 1st line forward, top pairing defenseman, or starter goalie.

These depth signings are just as important. I think Bourque was a good signing. He's still young (26), and has been signed to a 2 year deal. The first season is two-way, at 550,000 in the NHL, and 200,000 in the AHL. Which is good money for an AHL top scorer, and the following year is one-way, at 550,000. Which means if he does stick, great, he may be a good depth scorer for you guys up in Boston. Or he doesn't make the club, gets sent down... Naturally at that point he has to clear waivers, and I see nobody taking him from Boston if he fails to make the Bruins. And if they do, they take his contract off the books. Win-win situation.

I'd really hoped they'd use Paille's spot to work in some of the younger guys on the 4th line in the same vein that they did Marchand, but it's not that big a deal. If they bring back Campbell as well I can't really complain. Having quality depth at the AHL level for when the inevitable injury bug hits will be nice. It will be a big difference calling up the likes of a Jared Knight and Ryan Spooner instead of Josh Hennessy and Trent Whitfield.

Bourque has shined in the A, and hopefully will get his shot to play for the big club. My memories of the entitled kid who had to leave BU after his frosh year because he liked to party a bit too much may have clouded my opinion of him.

 

[Eli26]

I'll go as far as saying the cost and length of the contract on both is good, especially with Chris Bourque. He's a bubble player that is a high risk/high reward player in the NHL, but at that contract, it's not as big of a risk. In the end, I think he makes Providence a much stronger team in the next two years, and happy prospects in a winning culture right off the bat at the pro level, could only help to further their development on a positive. Excellent signing!

As a comparable, the Canucks/Moose signed then forward Chicago Wolves and AHL scoring champ, Jason Krog to a one year one-way deal worth 700,000. For the same reason as Boston signing Bourque. So you guys got a bargain. Both organizations knew he would end up with the Moose, and help to develop our prospects, by helping the team out with a deep playoff run, knowing very well that nobody would claim him when he got sent down. We made the Calder Cup Final that year. That's huge for player development and experience! At the time he was a 30-something year-old. His future with the team was that. That was the price to bring him over to help the Canucks better develop their prospects, yet also helping the Moose push for that elusive Cup!

Key in that Bourque is younger and on the cheap in comparison, and I say you guys did very well.

 

[Eli26]

Not much. Just thought I'd post in here instead of lurk.

Who's your favorite player?

 

[The Josh]

Currently Crosby I would guess all-time like a lot of people Gretzky.

 

[Eli26]

Currently Crosby I would guess all-time like a lot of people Gretzky.

Good choice on the first, not-so-much on the second. The correct thing to say is Crosby now, and Mario Lemieux of all-time. hehe

Crosby has mad skills. Love him... and it annoys people in this thread that I like him.

 

[The Josh]

I've seen you annoy plenty of people in here.

Mario is pretty good too.

 

[Eli26]

I've seen you annoy plenty of people in here.

Mario is pretty good too.

Well, I do have a "STFU" reputation to uphold!



And pretty good? And JFK was a so-so President...

 

[The Josh]

 

[SixMillionDollarMan Guy]

I've seen you annoy plenty of people in here.

You're welcome here anytime Josh.

 

[SixMillionDollarMan Guy]

So there was the report earlier today that Tim Thomas moved his family to Colorado mid-season and now he's thinking about taking next year off.

Seriously, I hope this _______ is gone July 1 or very soon afterward.

Yeah, it really seems like the Bruins were never the same after Thomas made the White House comments. I might be wrong though.

 

[The Josh]

You're welcome here anytime Josh.

Thanks

I don't follow it closely enough to know a lot of the players anymore but I do enjoy catching a game or two. I tend to follow the Pens and Avs as both teams are fairly close. The Blues are real close but not really a fan of them for some reason.

 

[Deeznutz6]

Currently Crosby I would guess all-time like a lot of people Gretzky.

This is a smart man

 

[Eli26]

This is a smart man

He's half smart. He should have gone full smart by liking Lemieux. But he's half smart and half retard. Never go full retard Josh!

 

[The Josh]

This is a smart man

He's half smart. He should have gone full smart by liking Lemieux. But he's half smart and half retard. Never go full retard Josh!

Now to be fair I did say I like Lemieux. I would love to see kc end up with either a NHL or nba franchise in the new arena we have.

 

[Eli26]

Now to be fair I did say I like Lemieux. I would love to see kc end up with either a NHL or nba franchise in the new arena we have.

NHL! Players are more respectful. I would like that as well.

The Kansas City Fire Chiefs

 

[The Josh]

I would be totally ok with that. I've had a blast at this minor league hockey teams games here. So an NHL game would be a blast.

That's a great name Eli.