Official NHL thread?

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Originally Posted by JDC

I :heart: Joe Thornton. Signed an extension at a reduced rate, leaving room for other extensions(Marleau most likely) or free agents. I think it really showed his commitment to the team and organization.

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Now Joe Thornton *IS* a superstar player that deserves a 6 million dollar type contract. And I think that it's incredibly classy of him to play at a reduced pay. I have all the respect in the world for those type players.

At the same time, it in fact *can* hurt the organization to have a player like that. Hear me out here...

A good friend of mine is a die hard Boston fan. Their owners have been for years one of the cheapest in the game.

Ray Bourque played at below his market price for years while he was there. And the owners would use that against the players in their contract negotiations saying "Well we're only paying Ray Bourque X amount... how in the world can we pay you close to what Bourque makes?" Thus, many players would be unhappy with being pressured into playing for Boston for less money than what they were worth elsewhere.

I don't get the sense that the Sharks are like that... I only say it because it has happened before.

For years, Boston has been one of the top selling franchises (including merchandise) and has been one of the bottom paying teams in the league.

Frustrated my friend to no end.

Yeah, I'll bet Lupul has some untapped ability in there somewhere. I heard he had a rough time being a hometown boy over there; pressure is what caved Pitkanen in as well. Sounds like both needed a change to regain their bearings.

It's tricky figuring out where to play Lupul, though. I don't think he deserves Knuble's spot on the top line with Briere and Gagne, and he doesn't skate well enough to play with Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell.

The fourth line is defensive forwards/ bruisers, so he can't play there either. I guess he joins a group of about five guys fighting over the two wings on the third line.

What I really like about Smith being here (besides his game) is that now the youngest of our dmen can spend another year growing up in the AHL without having to contribute right of the bat.

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Yeah, I'll bet Lupul has some untapped ability in there somewhere. I heard he had a rough time being a hometown boy over there; pressure is what caved Pitkanen in as well. Sounds like both needed a change to regain their bearings.

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For whatever reason, it sounds like playing for your "hometown" never works out. Unrealistic expectations?

Lupul is still very green and has a lot of growing to do, but I'd hardly panic on the guy. Getting another 28 goals (or better) isn't very realistic I think for such a young player.

And Pitkanen only had three fewer points than he had in his "breakout" season. I wouldn't hit the panic button with him either. Both will probably welcome a change in scenery.

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It's tricky figuring out where to play Lupul, though. I don't think he deserves Knuble's spot on the top line with Briere and Gagne, and he doesn't skate well enough to play with Jeff Carter and Scott Hartnell.

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LOL!

Tough problem to have... figuring out where to play a player with good potential. Probably a lot of teams would like to have those problems...

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The fourth line is defensive forwards/ bruisers, so he can't play there either. I guess he joins a group of about five guys fighting over the two wings on the third line.

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Yea... no 4th line for him. His +/- was terrible... for both Edmonton AND Anaheim. Seems like thats the case for a lot of young players... until they learn how to play D.

Ryan Smyth's first real (i.e. full) season in the league had him scoring 39 goals... but his +/- was awful. Lupul may just need to learn the importance of backchecking.

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What I really like about Smith being here (besides his game) is that now the youngest of our dmen can spend another year growing up in the AHL without having to contribute right of the bat.

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Very true.

And what a person for them to observe playing.

Check this out: according to some reputable philly insiders (not media), the Lupul situation has been resolved. The plan is to trade one of the extra third line types (RJ Umberger, Stephan Ruzicka, maybe Ryan Potulny) for...

*drumroll*

Derek Boogaard. I would love this. We have lofty investments in forwards who will need protection. Philly has four or five guys who will fight to stick up for teammates already, but I think a top 5 heavyweight is needed here in the east to compensate for guys like Orr, Laraque and McGratton. Apparently it's soon to be announced, so it could be BS. But I hope it works out. Boogyman on Broad Street!

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

Philly has four or five guys who will fight to stick up for teammates already, but I think a top 5 heavyweight is needed here in the east to compensate for guys like Orr, Laraque and McGratton. Apparently it's soon to be announced, so it could be BS. But I hope it works out. Boogyman on Broad Street!

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I actually have the highest recommendations for Laraque. And that was not the case when he first started with the Oil... he won me over.

Other than being a top 5 heavyweight, he actually adds another dimension to the team that doesn't get any recognition.

On the powerplay, he is an absolute LOAD in front of the net. The immoveable force. I think with the potential to be 10x more disruptive than Holmstrom from Detroit. I have seen it and for the life of me couldn't figure out why Edmonton didn't do it ALL the time. He won't score many goals that way (like a Ryan Smyth) but he is absolutely unmanageable in front of the net for any defenceman in the league. I saw Derian Hatcher unable to move him... and of course even a guy like Hatcher is not going to take the liberties (i.e. the slashes across the wrists) with a guy like Laraque.

Along the boards he can (and has) changed the momentum of a game. I have seen him move up and down the boards with the puck and with the checkers absolutely unable to knock him off the puck. This may sound absolutely useless, but it kept the puck in the offensive zone, drained the checkers of energy, and got the home crowd (in Edmonton) going wild. I have seen it change the momentum in a game... and it's something that would not stand out on any stat sheet.

All of this AND he is one of the top 5 enforcers in the league.

I'm not too sure why Edmonton let him go... I suspect that even his low salary seemed to be a little too much for them. He was a crowd favorite.

Yeah, Laraque can actually play hockey as well as drop 'em. I don't anticipate the Pens letting him go but I'd take him. Laraque, Boogaard, Godard would be my top choices for a super-heavyweight.

It needs to happen though, we really missed Brashear's presence last year. If they don't get one of these, the Fly guys will be forced to call up Martin Grenier, who is a true monster but is also a liability on the ice.

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

If they don't get one of these, the Fly guys will be forced to call up Martin Grenier, who is a true monster but is also a liability on the ice.

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Yea... nobody wants that in their goon.

This was exactly why I wasn't keen on Laraque joining the Oil when he started.

But then I saw that he could actually bring more to the table.

Wow, EDM signs Souray:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=213373&hubname=nhl

Jesus, him and Pitkanen on the powerplay. That's going to be sick. I hope some of the other Oilers can play defense!

Yup!

Spank_Me is one happy camper!

:)

we'll have to see what his defensive capabilities are. Hopefully, Montreal was just a bad system/team for him.

He is big, rough, and has one of the hardest shots in the League.

They also got a really good Russian prospect that the Kings drafted and was ready to play last year. Starts with a G (weird Russian name).

I think that the biggest weakness from last year (no offensive defencemen) has been corrected.

I would like to see ther Oil get one bona fide sniper now. Not sure if it's going to happen. Not a real biggie though... they actually have a lot of top prospects at forward and hopefully a few start panning out. On top of what they already have.

But wouldn't every team want an extra sniper?

LOL!

The trouble here is that both Souray and Pits are top-pairing guys, but shouldn't be paired together (5 on 5) or they will be minus players. I know Joni needs to have a truly defensive minded partner to cover his back, and i get the impression that Souray is the same way.

Actually, Jason Smith would have made a great partner for Pits.;)

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

The trouble here is that both Souray and Pits are top-pairing guys, but shouldn't be paired together (5 on 5) or they will be minus players. I know Joni needs to have a truly defensive minded partner to cover his back, and i get the impression that Souray is the same way.

Actually, Jason Smith would have made a great partner for Pits.;)

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LOL!

Yes he would have...

I agree that the two should not be paired together... unless it's the powerplay.

Staois is a defensively minded guy. So is Matt Greene (big d-man who can benchpress 500lbs).

And then there are two good prospects that I don't know enough about their game to say whether they are defensively minded (Smid... came over in the Pronger trade) and the Russian kid (who's name starts with a "G").

I think that their "D" is now set.

Grebeshkhov, that's the Roosky your thinking of.;)

Funny how we have the Stars here in Dallas, but they still can barely fit in time for them on the radio between the Cowboys and the Mavs. :)

In seriousness, I never really watch hockey or basketball, but I'm disappointed that I don't have any news on the stars.

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

Grebeshkhov, that's the Roosky your thinking of.;)

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That's the guy!

He sounds like he has good potential. In fact, from what I've read, he sounds like he's ready to play in this league.

Between him, Smid, and Pitkanen... the Oil looks set for young defencemen with potential.

My friend, who is a Kings fan, was PISSED when he heard that he was traded a few years ago. I told him that what the Kings got in return (Jack Johnson) more than made up for it.

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Originally Posted by monroeski

Funny how we have the Stars here in Dallas, but they still can barely fit in time for them on the radio between the Cowboys and the Mavs. :)

In seriousness, I never really watch hockey or basketball, but I'm disappointed that I don't have any news on the stars.

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Dallas is usually a big-spending club, but this year they didn't make a splash in free agency. NYR, Philly, LA and Edmonton vacuumed everyone up. Anyway that's probably the reason there's no news.