Official NHL thread?

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Sky-high potential, not sure if he has the mindset to ever get there. He's the guy Philly took when they traded for TB's fourth overall in...'02? taken right after Boumeester. He's a stud, and proved it his rookie year. He's big but not overly physical, but does everything well offensively. I've seen this guy storm in and bury game winning goals, not just fire them from the point. Good passer. Used to have a good nasty streak, but lost a bunch of swagger after a muscle tear.

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Wow.

I'm going to have to do some research on this guy!

:eek:

"Swagger" I think can be restored. But a player had to have some of it to begin with. Being on a winning team and enjoying success will usually bring it back pretty quick. And the right coach or mentor (Scott Steven, or Ray Bourque type) can help.

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It's an analogy that I'm tired of seeing, but it fits: he's either the next Lidstrom, or he's another Jani Niennema who I'm sure you remember.

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That's a pretty tough comparison.

Lidstrom is a hall of famer for sure. Not many people are going to measure up to those stadards. 1/2 of a Lidstrom is still pretty good.

As for Niimmina, yea... of course I remember him! A good friend of mine is a die hard Philly fan. Bobby Clarke (who I think is a moron) said that he'd NEVER get rid of Niimmina after his rookie year. The very next year he gets shipped out to Edmonton. Nobody would ever confuse Niimmina with Lidstrom (as you mentioned), but Niimmina was pretty good in his own right... still is I think. He played several All Star games when it was in the North America vs. the rest of the world format. Niimmina is still of enough quality to be on most teams top line defensemen combos.

Maybe Niimmina never reached his potential, but he was a pretty good defencemen.

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He has all the tools but is still too young to tell, like most d-men in their early twenties.

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I don't know how many scouting reports that I've read on players that "ooze" potential. Some of them have all the physical skills nessessary to be superstars in this league.

But I think there are two things that can't be measured... heart and instincts... and enither can be taught.

Both are what I think seperate underachievers to "good" players like Niimmina, from the superstars like Lidstrom.

I'd say the instincts are there, maybe not the heart. It's funny you mentioned having the right mentor--I think that has a lot to do with bringing Kimmo Timonen on board. Another high-end Finn, to keep the guy on track and take the pressure off from being the #1 dman for now. philly had a defensive core full of call-ups last year, and Pitkanen had to play way too many minutes to compensate.

I'd like for Edmonton to have Niimmina back at this point... they have ZERO in the way of offensive defensemen. And they look like they traded their only prospect who was ready for this league last year in Marc-Andre Bergeron.

But I'll wait to see what happens in free agency before hitting the panic button.

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I'd say the instincts are there, maybe not the heart.

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If so, then given what you have already mentioned... he'll still be a pretty good hockey player. As long as he doesn't have the heart of Alexei Yashin!

:eek:

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It's funny you mentioned having the right mentor--I think that has a lot to do with bringing Kimmo Timonen on board. Another high-end Finn, to keep the guy on track and take the pressure off from being the #1 dman for now.

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That never hurts.

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philly had a defensive core full of call-ups last year, and Pitkanen had to play way too many minutes to compensate.

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Sounds like Edmonton and Philly had the same issue.

Too few NHL calibre defensemen trying to cover for too many players who aren't ready for the bigs yet.

Wow! I sure hope that Edmonton can swing a deal for Pitkanen! Sounds like Edmonton is trying to give up Raffi Torres... and as much as I like Torres, I would be much happier with Pitkanen.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=p...70137&tab=crst

Last year was a bad year for him... but I think that goes without saying for everyone in the Flyer organization.

What was eye popping was his 46 points in just 58 games in his sophmore season! Almost unheard of for such a young defenceman!

I would like to see some consistentcy before declaring him a superstar, but with only three seasons under his belt, you can't really ask for that.

I think his second season shows some all star potential.

He may go a long way to solving Edmonton's woes on their blueline.

Yep, he will get us a good return if traded based solely on offensive potential at his age. Most Philly area journalists are convinced he is indeed done in that town, it's like they are trying to get him run off or something.:confused:

You're right about his stats last year, too; had a beyond terrrible +/-, but imo that is not a good indicator of individual ability. He still had plenty of points.

I like Torres, but it's going to take more. Half the teams in the league will make offers and Holmgren will have the luxury of being picky. This type of player is such a hot commodity right now, that teams will have to overpay if they want to trade for a guy like Joni. Stoll would make a better centerpeice from your end than Torres.:)

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You're right about his stats last year, too; had a beyond terrrible +/-, but imo that is not a good indicator of individual ability. He still had plenty of points.

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I think that more than any other stat, +/- is the best indicator about a defenceman's quality.

That being said, there are 5 other guys on the ice on yuor team. You can be the Genghis Khan of hockey and still end up with an awful +/- through no fault of your own. I would not judge too hardly on that stat from just one awful year on an awful team. His other two years he had a great +/-.

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I like Torres, but it's going to take more. Half the teams in the league will make offers and Holmgren will have the luxury of being picky. This type of player is such a hot commodity right now, that teams will have to overpay if they want to trade for a guy like Joni. Stoll would make a better centerpeice from your end than Torres.

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True.

Pitkanen is a hot commodity I'm sure. There will be no shortage of top suitors for him.

I like Torres for two reasons... I think that he has the potential to be a top end power forward in this league (who can actually skate... Edmonton doesn't tolerate a bad skater)... and good power forwards who can skate don't grow on trees in this league. And also he can, and likes to hit. Big hitters are intimidating, and a big hit can change the momentum in a game.

Torres to me represents a top "prospect" in Edmonton. He had a bad year last year (as all Edmonton players did), but scored 25 goals the year before. 25 goals for such a young player represents great potential. As he grows and gains more experience, I don't think it's much of a stretch to envision him being a consistent 40 goal scorer. That is a very real possibility.

Stoll is another good prospect (Edmonton is loaded with them at forward). What stands out in his game to me is his shot. He has a great one timer. I see him getting a lot of powerplay time, and in fact sometimes he mans the blueline on the powerplay because of his shot.

If I had to pick to choose Torres or Stoll to keep, I'd be hard pressed... both look to be very good players in this league. Both have different strengths.

But as much as I like both, Edmonton has an overabundance of good forward prospects... and they need an top offensive defenceman like Pitkanen looks to be. I'd part with either for Pitkanen (though reluctantly).

Maybe we can sweeten the deal by throwing in Pisani with one of those two... and a bag of hockey pucks!

:D

Calgary may have joined the sweepstakes today with the news that R Regehr wants out. It would make sense to get a dman in return. You've probably seen a lot more of Regehr than I, is he still a hard-nosed, positionally sound dman? This could get interesting, and that would be better than Carolina's reported offer of Wallin +.

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

Calgary may have joined the sweepstakes today with the news that R Regehr wants out. It would make sense to get a dman in return. You've probably seen a lot more of Regehr than I, is he still a hard-nosed, positionally sound dman?

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Regehr is VERY sound defensively. Maybe a younger version of Adam Foote. Reliable stay home defenceman who isn't afraid of the rough stuff.

Makes sense that he may want out as well considering that Calgary traded for Acouin on draft day, and picked up Brad Stuart at the trade deadline last year.

Calgary has an over abundance of defencemen right now. They already have a good offensive defenceman in Acouin... so picking up Pitkanen is a little confusing. And I don't think they have a lot of cap room either.

I also hear that Kipper and Dion Phaneuf will be unrestricted free agents next year.

Phaneuf is the leagues new Scott Stevens, and I'd LOVE to see him on Edmonton.

I can't find a link in english, but multiple boards are posting that PHX just waived Nic Boynton and Kevin Adams. Damn, Boynton would be a nice pickup--and the team with the worst record gets the first crack at signing him.:D

I just found out... ESPN also has Brad Stuart as an unrestricted free agent.

Calgary may have also signed Acouin to compensate potentially losing Stuart.

I'd like to extend a big, Broad Street welcome to Danny Briere, the newest Flyer.

Now toughen up a bit, or you'll get boo'ed out of the building.:p


ANA--neids retires--maybe.
ANA--signs Mathieu Schneider

CGY--signs Cory Sarich

CHI--signs Yannic Perreault

SJ--extends Joe Thornton

DET--signs Brian Rafalski

PIT-- extends Ray Whitney


WAS--signs Tom Poti:o

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Originally Posted by r'aggro

I'd like to extend a big, Broad Street welcome to Danny Briere, the newest Flyer.

Now toughen up a bit, or you'll get boo'ed out of the building.:p


ANA--neids retires--maybe.
ANA--signs Mathieu Schneider

CGY--signs Cory Sarich

CHI--signs Yannic Perreault

SJ--extends Joe Thornton

DET--signs Brian Rafalski

PIT-- extends Ray Whitney


WAS--signs Tom Poti:o

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Well, Edmonton did it!

They got Pitkanen for what I thought was a reasonable trade.

They get Pitkanen, Geoff Sanderson (will be interesting to see what he has left in the tank), and a third round pick.

Hopefully, their offensive defencemen woes are healed for the next season. They also got another good defensive prospect that was originally drafted by the Kings (can't say the name... Russian... starts with "G"). My good firend who is a Kings fan was mad to see him get traded off the Kings a few years ago. Hopefully he pans out as well.

Edmonton gave up Lupul who didn't fare well in Edmonton after scoring 28 goals for the Ducks the year before. He didn't have a good year, but scoring 28 at such a young age shows some good upside. A player with good potential for the Flyers. Edmonton could afford to lose him as they have WAY too many forward prospects. Jason Smith (also traded) is a good defensive defenceman. Philly fans will be happy with his defensive abilities. He's a gritty player who's not afraid to stick his nose in and do the dirty work. Edmonton will miss him.

Overall, I think the trade was good for both teams. Both teams improved areas that needed to be improved.

Of all the reat of the movements, the only one that really angered me was seeing Smyth sign with COLORADO!

:mad:

Now we'll have to play him like 8 times a year... and rest assured he'll make my teams life miserable!

:mad:

I was thinking that he may resign with Edmonton, and if not that he'd sign with the Islanders (my 2nd favorite team). But no... he had to become a player on a major competitor!

:mad:

The only saving grace is that I think Colorado VASTLY overpaid for him at 6.25 million per year. :D

Last year was a career year for him. He's never had a year as good as that. And at 31, I doubt that he has any more left like that. He was usually a good, but not a great player. When he left Edmonton, and Edmonton missed getting him for 5.5 million, I thought that it was too much for him. Glad to see that he'll hit Colorado in the pocket book much harder.

:D

He's a very hard player, and adds some intangibles... and he may do quite well playing with Sakic and Hedjuk... but I don't see him justifying 6.25 million per year. And now that there's a cap... teams have to be smarter than that with their money.

It doesn't really affect me, but I thought that teams WAY overpaid for Briere, Drury, and Gomez. I think that those players too are good, but not GREAT. The only negative as far as I can see is that the trully great players can now use them in their own contract negotiations... saying "Well look at how much X is getting paid... I'm a WAY better player than them." and thus driving up the costs of what a great player really does cost.

Will be interesting to see what other moves occur during the next few days.

Jason Smith rocks, but he'll be a ufa next year and I don't see where/ how we needed Lupul. If Smith is here only temporarily then I hate this trade.

I understand Pits was unhappy in Philly after being booed here, etc, but there must be more to this. He may have demanded a trade and given Homer no other option but to get what he could. Again, Smith is exactly the kind of D-man i like best but with his age and contract status you guys really stole Pits from us.:(

The big $$ for Briere I'm okay with, same as Hartnell and Timonen. They would have gotten that much or more somewhere, so I'm glad our gm got the guys he wanted.

The Rangers--:eek: :mad:

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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Jason Smith rocks, but he'll be a ufa next year and I don't see where/ how we needed Lupul. If Smith is here only temporarily then I hate this trade.

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That, I did not know (i.e. Smith's contract status). That would suck if he's just a one year rental. And yes... his age is starting to become an issue.

As for Lupul... you may be pleasently surprised (or you may not). It's hard to know exactly. He had 28 goals with the Ducks (who the previous year weren't exactly an offensive juggernaugt) and is VERY young (i.e. has lot's of room to grow and improve). I think that he has a lot of potential.

And Edmonton simply has too many guys like that on their roster... so he was expendable (in fact, I'm glad thus far that they kept Torres).

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He may have demanded a trade and given Homer no other option but to get what he could.

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LOL at "Homer"!

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The Rangers--:eek: :mad:

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I think that Sather is one of the smartest GMs in the game.

If Drury and Gomez pay off the way that people are expecting them too, the Rangers could be really tough this year.