2007-08 NHL Thread...

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Blackhawks get Samsonov in trade for Cullimore and Salmelainen

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid...e&service=page

CHICAGO (AP) -The Chicago Blackhawks acquired left wing Sergei Samsonov from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Jassen Cullimore and left wing Tony Salmelainen.

Not a bad deal for both teams. There is always a chance of Samsonov tearing it up on a line with Ruutu and Havlat(?). With the Habs, they save money in a buyout with Cullimore then trying to do the same with Sergei, and Salmelainen is probably starting in Hamilton but some say he has potential.

Ahhh and I just read this over on another board -

btw pierre meguire was right the whole time... something was happenin between mtl and chicago

He got something right? MONSTER right!

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

dola,

If they sign a good goalie, the Panthers will represent the East in the finals next year - you heard it here first!

And they will lose to the Wild!

[Long_Long_Name]

I had been a Samsonov fan ever since he started out in the NHL, but it clearly didn't work out. If they can lighten the financial burden of buying him out, then good, because he clearly wasn't in the plans anymore. Maybe the extra money will convince Gainey to make a better offer to Sheldon Souray... a player who really shouldn't play outside the PP.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

I had been a Samsonov fan ever since he started out in the NHL, but it clearly didn't work out. If they can lighten the financial burden of buying him out, then good, because he clearly wasn't in the plans anymore. Maybe the extra money will convince Gainey to make a better offer to Sheldon Souray... a player who really shouldn't play outside the PP.

Oh no doubt! -28?! Last among all D-men, even Derian freaking Hatcher was above him

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by Chappy

Let's start this one off properly...

Finally, somebody recognizes a superstar when they see one.

Oh, because you mean Ovechkin in 07, Lecavalier in 06, Naslund in 05, Heatley and Sakic in 04, Iginla in 03 and Lemieux in 02 weren't superstars? Staal is the weakest player to be on the cover since Owen Nolan in 2001, fanboy .

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Oh no doubt! -28?! Last among all D-men, even Derian freaking Hatcher was above him

Yet 64 points, including 26 goals of which 19 were scored on the PP, giving him the all-time record for a defenseman, is not something to frown upon, and he is apparently the undisputed leader of this team. Still, Gainey made the right decision by offering Markov a contract before Souray - he is one of the NHL's best defensemen, and the best player of this hockey team.

Still, if it had been up to me, I would've tried to trade him at the trade deadline. I can understand players not wanting to negociate contracts during the season, but... it's agents that negociate for the vast majority of them, so I think that's a rather bad argument. I think GMs are making a bad decision when they do not make offers to free agents during the season preceding their free agency. If I were a GM, come the trade deadline I'd like to be able to know if my upcoming free agents will be back in the following year or not.

[piperclap]

I'm hoping for crashing and burning. I hate the flames, almost as much as I hate the canucks.

[piperclap]

Dola, I forgot to hit the quote button, so that last post is completely nonesensical.

Anyway-looking towards the draft: Who do you want your team to pick?

The Wild interest me-they lose a few 3/4th line Centers to free agency (Todd White is not worth resigning, imho.) They need to re-up Skoula, and if they can find a taker for Fernandez in a trade, they should be in position to make some moves.
I'd love to see them make a run at a Drury or Gomez, but I'm not going hold my breath for a big name free agent.

I also noticed this week we let our rights for AJ Thelen pass-if you remember, he was a hot shot prospect from Burnsville(Savage) who got kicked off the team at Michigan State and then went to play for some WHL team. He was a 2nd team All American as a freshman at MSU, and won a MemCup-could of helped a team that is short on defensive prospects.

I'd love to see Plante drop this far-he'd be a perfect pick for the Wild at this point. And who knows, maybe Esposito goes this far?

[darkenigma510]

The only certainty is that the Leafs will draft poorly yet again.

[Kekkonen]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Salmelainen is probably starting in Hamilton but some say he has potential.

He's fast -- really fast -- but that's all there is to his game. Poor hands, questionable attitude, mosquito-level size... I wouldn't expect much.

[Kekkonen]

Originally Posted by piperclap

if they can find a taker for Fernandez in a trade, they should be in position to make some moves.

Actually... I need another good/great season from Bäckström before I'm convinced that he's an NHL goalie. He looks good now, but because of his past performance in international play, I would not be totally shocked if he turned out to be Jim Carey all over again.

[Big Hugg]

13 more days left in the "Will the Blue Jackets buyout Sergei Fedorov?" game.

Never would've happened under MacLean, but wouldn't surprise me now that Howson is at the helm.

I'd prefer they didn't, but I'd understand why if they do. Columbus gets to be the center of the hockey world for 2 days next weekend, should be good times. I wish I could go, but I have to work and the draft is sold out anyway.

[Long_Long_Name]

I'm a bit sour about the draft going from town to town every year. Montréal is the birthplace of hockey by most analysis, and yet it doesn't have the Hall of Fame. The entry draft was, for a very long time, the only exclusive event this city had in the hockey world, in comparison with its eternal rival, the Maple Leafs. I have nothing against traveling sideshows, but isn't that already the All-Star game's function? I think it's too bad that this tradition got lost.

[Elendil]

Muckler has been fired??

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=211070&hubname=

Holy overreaction, Ottawa!

[Long_Long_Name]

Originally Posted by Elendil

Muckler has been fired??

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=211070&hubname=

Holy overreaction, Ottawa!

Yet Mad Mike kept his job for 11 years (and highly qualified successor Neil Smith stayed for less than 11 weeks. It's odd sometimes.

[piperclap]

Originally Posted by Kekkonen

Actually... I need another good/great season from Bäckström before I'm convinced that he's an NHL goalie. He looks good now, but because of his past performance in international play, I would not be totally shocked if he turned out to be Jim Carey all over again.

Dont forget, Harding is pretty good too. I'd say roll the dice taht one of those two turns out OK, and get what you can for Manny in a sellers market for goalies.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by Elendil

Muckler has been fired??

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=211070&hubname=

Holy overreaction, Ottawa!

It's Ottawa! Why should this be any different to any other playoff season? They feel the need to send someone to the guillotine, it's their way of ending the season

[Kekkonen]

Originally Posted by piperclap

Dont forget, Harding is pretty good too. I'd say roll the dice taht one of those two turns out OK, and get what you can for Manny in a sellers market for goalies.

Yeah, there's Harding... never seen him play, but I've read good things about him. And even though neither Harding nor Bäckström is quite a known quantity yet, we know Manny is overpaid at $4-4.5 million.

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

It's Ottawa! Why should this be any different to any other playoff season? They feel the need to send someone to the guillotine, it's their way of ending the season

They should adopt a stragety of keeping folks through thick and thin, rgardless of their performance history. it works for the Leafs.

(and yes I agree that while I'm not a fan of the guy, firing him is a wee bit silly)

[Starshadow]

Originally Posted by Long_Long_Name

I'm a bit sour about the draft going from town to town every year. Montréal is the birthplace of hockey by most analysis, and yet it doesn't have the Hall of Fame. The entry draft was, for a very long time, the only exclusive event this city had in the hockey world, in comparison with its eternal rival, the Maple Leafs. I have nothing against traveling sideshows, but isn't that already the All-Star game's function? I think it's too bad that this tradition got lost.

I don't think Gary Bettman has any idea that the NHL has any kind of tradition.