2025 NHL Off Season thread

[Cobra Mgr]

Don't you wish the Stanley Cup could talk?

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Don't you wish the Stanley Cup could talk?

I would imagine it would have a few complaints to make!

Panthers have reportedly 'cracked' the Stanley Cup on the Montreal section

Photos shared on social media upon closer inspection showed a dent to the Stanley Cup base and a chip in the bowl




Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup damage just the latest mishap in the trophy's storied history

Hockey's holy grail has been dropped several times, swam in pools and the ocean, and used both a baptismal font and an accidental toilet




EDIT: Oops, apparently there is a paywall triggered based on page view count, I think. If you cannot access those articles, see the "Misadventures" section of this Wikipedia article: Traditions and anecdotes associated with the Stanley Cup. See it anyway; it's an extensive list of misadventures!

EDIT 2: This is good to know: "In 1970, after much wear and tear, the Cup was fully replaced with a duplicate known as the "Presentation Cup" made in 1963 and a second duplicate called the "Permanent Cup", which remains at the Hockey Hall of Fame. From this point on, in official functions and player days with the Cup, it is the Presentation Cup that is in circulation." It explains why drunken guys are allowed to walk around neighborhoods with it at 5AM, ringing doorbells. Oh, they were drunk all right, I am sure.

[Cobra Mgr]

That's what I'm sayin'. I bet the Cup would listen to the Diddy trial & say "Hold my beer."

[Amazin69]

Recent NHL trades include:

Mason Marchment to Seattle for a 3rd and a 4th
Kraken also send Burakovski to Chicago for Joe Veleno
Kraken also acquire Frederick Gaudreau from the Wild for a 4th

Nothing seems likely to have major impact, although Marchment could break out, I guess

Trevor Zegras to Philadelphia for Ryan Poehling, a 2nd and a 4th

This shocks me, since Zegras was supposed to be a cornerstone and he's only 24. And it's not as if the Ducks don't have the cap space.

Evander Kane to Vancouver for a 4th rounder

I bet I keep on hating both Kane and the Oilers, but it's probably best to separate them

Sabres send JJ Peterka to Utah for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring

Josh's dad, Shane Doan, was Mr. Arizona Coyotes…but they're not in Arizona and they're not the 'Yotes any more, so enjoy Buffalo, Josh

Daniel Tarasov to the Panthers for a 5th

Better than Vanichek…or just cheaper?

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

so enjoy Buffalo, Josh

Is that possible?

[SDCore]

Draft soon

[Amazin69]

NYI trade Noah Dobson to Montreal for Emil Heineman and the #16 and 17 picks, then draft Matthew Schaefer at #1.

Rebuild Time! Probably a good idea.

Avalanche send Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to Columbus for Gavin Brindley, a #3 and a conditional #2 in 2027.

Probably a good deal for the Avs; I like Coyle, but this feels like an overpay.

[Cobra Mgr]

Been fighting sleep all night and then the Canes trade their 1st pick.

[Amazin69]

Ken Holland's tenure as Kings GM begins with their trading back in the 1st Round to pick up a 2nd, which might work out, and then their reaching to take Henry Brzustewich, who wasn't even the best defenseman on his Junior team. That's…troubling.

Even more worrying is the part where they haven't come close to re-signing Gavrikov and will probably lose him if he declares FA. And apparently they are going to move Jordan Spence for…reasons??

ESPn says the Kings had a deal in place to get The Little Ball of Hate at the trade deadline, but I guess he snubbed us. And now we can spend the next few days waiting to give the GNP of Ecuador to Mitch Marner, so he can choke in the playoffs for us instead of for the Leafs. Oh, joy.

Because a guy who can't score in the crunch even with Auston Matthews drawing the majority of the coverage is TOTALLY whom you want to make the face of your franchise, I guess. To quote Steve Austin, "What?"

[Cobra Mgr]

I've seen the Canes Draft given everywhere from an A to a C-.

[Amazin69]

Hope y'all enjoy that extra 3rd-rounder we got from Ottawa for you. Apparently, Ken Holland thinks that Jordan Spence is too small be useful in the playoffs (Jim Hiller scratched him all 6 games) so off he goes.

Mind you, given that Gavrikov is apparently en route to the Rangers (meaning that we traded Jonathan Quick for absolutely NOTHING), trading Spence means that our RD line-up consists of Drew Doughty (getting old, missed over half the season with injury last year), Brandt Clarke and who-tf-knows? There's a rumor the Kings might try to get Bowen Byram from the Sabres, which has two problems:

Byram is a downgrade from Gavrikov
Byram is a LD, he doesn't play on the right.

I grant you, I wasn't thrilled with last off-season and Foegele and Edmundsson were just fine, but oy vey

[Cobra Mgr]

This NHL FA season is turning into a dud. Almost everyone is staying put.

Marner agreed to a sign & trade w/Leafs & is headed to Vegas for a rumored 8/$96M

Bennett resigned w/the Panthers last week 8/$64M. Marchand (37yrs old) signed for 6 years. & Ekblad is also coming back for 8yrs, $48.8M

Bouchard is back w/the Oilers

Brent Burns was a surprise re-signing w/Carolina. I think the market drying up made this possible.

Taveras stays in Toronto for 4 more season @ $4.38M per

[Amazin69]

Also Stankhoven remains a 'Cane

Demko stays in Vancouver

And Carolina's "third time is the charm" dreams were crushed, as Tony D'Angelo re-signed with the Islanders.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Also Stankhoven remains a 'Cane
Demko stays in Vancouver

And Carolina's "third time is the charm" dreams were crushed, as Tony D'Angelo re-signed with the Islanders.

Thankful on both fronts

[Cobra Mgr]

Canucks keep Boeser for the next 7 yrs

[Cobra Mgr]

Canes acquiring K'Andre Miller from the Rangers. No word on compensation for NYR yet. Checks a few boxes for the Canes. More O from the blue line & better size.

[Amazin69]

Kings signings:

Joel Armia, age 32, to kill penalties. (2 years, $2.5 million per)

Okay, I guess.

Brian Dumoulin, age 33, because he was part of 2 championship teams in Pittsburgh. (3 years, $3 mn per)

Sure, why not? Maybe a bit of an overpay, but he won't hurt you.

Anton Forsberg, age 29, to battle Copley for the back-up goalie job. (2 years, $2.25 mn per year)

Well, David Rittich blew his chance, I guess.

Noted Asshole Corey Perry, who has lost the Cup Final in five straight years, because Holland had him in Edmonton and he's superstitious, I guess. (1 year, $2 million, plus bonuses he won't get.)

Oh, **** me. At least it's only 1 year. And losing the SCF is a step forward, that's true.

And…Cody ****ING Ceci, age 31, who was PATHETIC in Toronto FIVE years ago to a FOUR year deal (4 years, $4,500,000 PER YEAR)

Because Holland is a moron, it appears. JFC. I wouldn't even pay Ceci the $4.5 mn total for the four years!!

In a year or two, when Holland has to let somebody actually good go because they don't have the cap space, this will be the reason why! You couldn't pay Gavrikov, but you're paying this pile of ****???

ARE YOU ****ING KIDDING ME????



The Stars fan who tweeted this graphic titled it "Cody Ceci was Cody Ceci in Edmonton, he was Cody Ceci in San Jose, and he continues to be Cody Ceci in Dallas." Now he can be Cocy Ceci in LA. Oh, joy.

A defense-only defenseman who makes terrible decisions, time after time after time. Just what we needed…said nobody, ever.

Man, he must be awesome on the casting couch or something. Holland had the sense to move on from him in Edmon****, but I guess it's an "I can't quit you" situation.

God help us all.

(Good news: the Kings extended Kuzmenko. Bad news: it was only for 1 year at $4.3 mn. That hardly seems like long-term planning.)

[Bluenoser]

RIP Alex Delvecchio - a legend in Detroit as part of the Production Line playing along side Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay.

So glad I had the pleasure of watching them play.

Thanks for the memories Alex.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/detroit-red-w...t-93-1.2329885

https://www.nhl.com/news/detroit-red...ses-away-at-93

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Canes acquiring K'Andre Miller from the Rangers. No word on compensation for NYR yet. Checks a few boxes for the Canes. More O from the blue line & better size.

Canes extend Miller 8 yrs @ $7.5M per. Rangers receive Scott Morrow, conditional 1st in '26 & 2nd in '26.

[Amazin69]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

RIP Alex Delvecchio - a legend in Detroit as part of the Production Line playing along side Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay.

So glad I had the pleasure of watching them play.

Thanks for the memories Alex.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/detroit-red-w...t-93-1.2329885

https://www.nhl.com/news/detroit-red...ses-away-at-93

A class act. You were indeed lucky. RIP, Alex.