NHL General Discussion

[KitFisto]

Nisk's contract isn't bad. He's 27 years old, not 33. How much do offensive defenseman get pain in this league? Many are north of 6 mil per and he's at 5.75. This is the last year of Green's contract so I see Nisk as Green's replacement. That will be 6.2 coming off the cap next hear if he's not traded before. Orpik's deal is the head scratcher. He's the type of player they needed since no one on that team plays with any sandpaper in their game, but he's 33 so I don't understand 5 years at 5.5 per. I'd have been happier at 3 years and 4 mil per, but I'm still glad he's here.

 

[Eli26]

Nisk's contract isn't bad. He's 27 years old, not 33. How much do offensive defenseman get pain in this league? Many are north of 6 mil per and he's at 5.75. This is the last year of Green's contract so I see Nisk as Green's replacement. That will be 6.2 coming off the cap next hear if he's not traded before. Orpik's deal is the head scratcher. He's the type of player they needed since no one on that team plays with any sandpaper in their game, but he's 33 so I don't understand 5 years at 5.5 per. I'd have been happier at 3 years and 4 mil per, but I'm still glad he's here.

I agree for Matt Niskanen's sake at least. To land big Summer FAs you have to overpay and give a nice contract length, especially if you're a team like the Washington Capitals who's window is shrinking. They are a team of now and haven't played like it. Or be a team that a guy like Paul Stastny really wants to play for, and will take a shorter term. Unfortunately, those are far and few between. 90% of players opt for the long terms. I think that was a bad move for Stastny. If he regresses, his value is less long term in years 5, 6 and 7, than it would have been had he just accepted the long term deal Colorado gave him. Anyway, back to Washington's signing. Matt as an example is a great age for the term he received. This is roughly the age for a player's big pay day, so they look for a big contract with a long term. Niskanen is young enough where he can still be a good value by year 7 on his contract. Washington needed guys that are quality... NOW! With Barry Trotz behind the helm and some good D on the back end, Washington is going to make a huge jump in the standings. I don't know how this will equate in the playoffs.. because neither Trotz as a coach or Washington as a team have had great success there, but it does make the Caps a serious contender. I also heard Mike Green is still in the plans. Plus, who's going to trade for a guy with such a big cap hit, who hasn't lived up to the reason he got that big fat pay grade, and is a band aid boy. The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the same boat with Kris Letang. Both are great players, but have holes defensively. You can never know what you'll get from them in terms of production and games played. Too much of an expensive high risk, so don't expect them to be moved. People are saying Brooks Laich could be gone? Or at the very least, they want him gone.

 

[Eli26]

Just saw this today and have to agree....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blog...ks-orpik-was-worst-july-1-free-agent-signing/

"And Brooks Orpik is good at his job, but that kind of term, that age, when he skates like that, that is going to be tough for them to handle down the road. That might just be a little too long for Brooks Orpik.” - Mike Johnson

 

[KitFisto]

Just saw this today and have to agree....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blog...ks-orpik-was-worst-july-1-free-agent-signing/

"And Brooks Orpik is good at his job, but that kind of term, that age, when he skates like that, that is going to be tough for them to handle down the road. That might just be a little too long for Brooks Orpik.” - Mike Johnson

I said the same thing. I'd have been happier at 3 years at 4m per. 5 years puts him at 38 if he doesn't retire.

 

[cokebabies]

I realistically couldn't see that Schneider signing going any better for NJ. Great terms for the level he'll bring.

I thought the Toews / Kane contracts were a bit high, but what are you going to do - not re-sign them? But to make the Hawks feel better (you know, besides the two Cups they brought the team) - the Parise / Suter signings still cost $30 million more in total.

 

[Grenouille]

I thought the Toews / Kane contracts were a bit high, but what are you going to do - not re-sign them? But to make the Hawks feel better (you know, besides the two Cups they brought the team) - the Parise / Suter signings still cost $30 million more in total.

I have to believe that the Blackhawks are counting on significant cap increase in the next few years. If it doesn't happen then they may find themselves in a similar bind that the Bruins are in this off-season.

 

[Eli26]

Evander Kane is such a ****. Yes, I said t w a t. I do not like his attitude with the Winnipeg Jets. Sucks that our most talented player (arguably) wants out. Athletes get paid millions. They have no right to cry where they should play. It's so frustrating. You're being paid an absurd amount of money to play a sport you love, that many would dream of... and you have the audacity to cry wah wah I deserve to go and play else where. Grow the eff' up!

 

[KitFisto]

Evander Kane is such a ****. Yes, I said t w a t. I do not like his attitude with the Winnipeg Jets. Sucks that our most talented player (arguably) wants out. Athletes get paid millions. They have no right to cry where they should play. It's so frustrating. You're being paid an absurd amount of money to play a sport you love, that many would dream of... and you have the audacity to cry wah wah I deserve to go and play else where. Grow the eff' up!

Players get sick of losing year after year after year with not much hope of ever contending. After a certain point they want to move on. Getting paid millions doesn't mean you enjoy losing forever.

 

[cokebabies]

Players get sick of losing year after year after year with not much hope of ever contending. After a certain point they want to move on. Getting paid millions doesn't mean you enjoy losing forever.

Plus the fact that he seems to get an undue amount of negative attention from the press there. I know a large chunk of the rationale is, "He gets paid a lot - he can ignore it", but eventually that's gotta wear you down. Being part of a winning environment probably helps with the ignoring part, and he obviously doesn't have that.

 

[Eli26]

Yeah Kevin said it's not easy on a guy who's name pops up in trade rumours all the time, but still it's part of the business and he's had a **** attitude since Day 1. Also we just got the team recently, but we have been drafting well. Look where our prospect pool ranks, and where it did before it came to Winnipeg. Anyone can see that franchise is turning around. I still think it doesn't give a player the right to behave like that... you're very fortunate to get paid millions to do what you enjoy... if someone paid me millions to draw, I would be in Heaven.

I just don't think he's very professional. I am entitled to that opinion, which is shared by many. If he was your player, you would understand.

 

[KitFisto]

We've had our share of whiney players who've wanted out of Washington. Yes, I say "then get them outta here" if they don't want to be here, but I also understand they are people and people get unhappy with their employment situations all the time no matter how much they get paid. The difference is that you or I can quit and find another job somewhere. These guys are very restricted in what they can do so yeah, they can go public in hopes of getting a trade and that's about it. Is there a professional way to do that? Sure, but it doesnt matter how you do it people will still turn on you.

I'm must saying that I can see why players can get a little pissy sometimes. Money isn't a cure all.

 

[Eli26]

I know, but we're talking about unrealistic sums of money (what most people would take hundreds of lifetimes), for something that they grew up playing because of the love for the game. I feel this is much different than some grunt or office job being paid peanuts. It's just worlds apart. People in Evander's situation should look at it as a privilege and be thankful.

We will have to agree to disagree.

I am glad my city has an NHL team again, but I prefer the AHL. It was cheaper and you had a sense the guys, even the vets like your Jason Jaffrays and Mike Keanes (who played for the love of the game)... and it showed. Yes I mentioned Keane. He is a multi-millionaire. He made peanuts here compared to his old NHL days. His love of the game in this case transcended the money. Jason Jaffray is a career AHL lifer, and still has a smile on his face. He's just happy to make a decent living wage playing the game he loves. Many people would love being in his shoes... I am referring to Jaffray's. Getting 80-125 K per year to do what they love.

 

[Eli26]

The fact we resigned a useless 4th liner (Chris Thorburn), who wasn't overly strong defensively and physically, and has no offensive game to speak of, to a 3 year deal worth 3.6 million USD, tells you just how much the Winnipeg Jets want to appease Evander Kane. Huge overpayment and unnecessary for a body who pretty much was our worst forward roster player. I take that back, his use is he's Kane's best friend. He was retained to make Evander happy. That says a lot imo that a team will invest that much into a roster player which hasn't done what his new salary worth is. So he has a use, making our young sniper happy. Or at least that was the plan. Plus he's a great locker room guy. So he was paid 1.2 million USD per year to be a locker room presence. Damn, that's professional sports for you. Oh well, it's still not as bad as Chris Bosh or LeBron James' 24 million max per year contracts. lol

 

[KitFisto]

So.....no matter how bad a team is for however many years, you should just shut up, take it and be fine with it because you get paid a lot? That's ridiculous.

 

[Deeznutz6]

Pens shopping Letang... He gave them a list of 15 teams, still don't think anyone is dumb enough to take that contract

 

[The Ween]

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/n...vorite-new-holiday-horror-show-180057585.html

 

[Grenouille]

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/n...vorite-new-holiday-horror-show-180057585.html

I saw these a while back. There's a Chara one coming out in September. Too bad it's release is too late, I'd wear that all around Quebec next month when I visit my father.

 

[Grenouille]

The NHL Hate map



I get NY, Jersey and Washington which is probably filled with Canuck fans. I'm not getting the Bruins hate in the hockey hotbeds of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nevada, Arkansas and New Mexico.

This one is just a thing of beauty. I'm kinda sad Alberta had to hate the Canucks more.

 

[Deeznutz6]

The NHL Hate map

View attachment 125819

I get NY, Jersey and Washington which is probably filled with Canuck fans. I'm not getting the Bruins hate in the hockey hotbeds of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nevada, Arkansas and New Mexico.

This one is just a thing of beauty. I'm kinda sad Alberta had to hate the Canucks more.

View attachment 125820

These maps are way off, everyone knows all of Canada hates the Leafs... Lol

 

[Eli26]

Yeah I don't get those maps. The Canada map is a big gag though. lol Alberta being the Canucks. lol