That was embarassing...I guess you can't buy a Cup!

From last blog, your giving Chara and Seidenberg 0 credit. They had no room in the Boston zone. Barely any scoring chances and only scored 2 goals in 4 games. Chara did the same thing to the Nash line in the series before
- sbroads24

Pitt also couldn't get any speed in the neutral zone, with no attacking speed the Boston D found it less difficult to take away space once Pitt got into the Boston zone.

How much better than Vokoun is he over the last 3 years? And is that enough to warrant a price 3 times higher?
- schiefer466

Miller is better than Vokoun for sure, I'll admit we relied on Miller for clutch saves quite a lot. Though he's very streaky he's still pretty damn good when you absolutely need him to be, better than Vokoun and Fluery at least. Facing more shots than any other goalie doesn't help your stats at all.

Miller Myers Grigerenko and 2 #2s for O'Reilly and the #1 pick in the draft

Miller Myers Grigerenko and 2 #2s for O'Reilly and the #1 pick in the draft
- hafgod

Can't do that. O'Reilly can't be traded until January or February.

How much better than Vokoun is he over the last 3 years? And is that enough to warrant a price 3 times higher?
- schiefer466

Not much better. Vokoun has been better the last 2 years but a lot of that has to do with the teams he was playing behind.

Vokoun was a 5.7M goalie 3 years ago, theres a reason he went from 5.7M to 1.5M.

Can't do that. O'Reilly can't be traded until January or February.
- buffalofan19

ugh. Is that because of lockout or no player can be traded in offer sheet year 2

ugh. Is that because of lockout or no player can be traded in offer sheet year 2
- hafgod

Sort of the second part. I think he can't be traded for a calendar year after the offer sheet or something like that.

Pitt also couldn't get any speed in the neutral zone, with no attacking speed the Boston D found it less difficult to take away space once Pitt got into the Boston zone.
- BigStew

Also BOS PK was excellent, that also had 0 to do with taking Pitt of their game. They shut down Pitt plain and simple.

Look at the package for Staal with 1 year left and only 1 team bidding for him. And that "franchise goalie" you speak of only has 1 year left as well. Either way Buffalo doesn't have what it would take to land Malkin. And anyone convinced he goes back to the KHL has a very short memory and is forgetting the crap he dealt with to leave. He saw what that league and its owners are really like and probably isn't in a hurry to go back.
- schiefer466

Carolina massively overpaid for staal

Goes to show you can't buy love or a championship

Carolina massively overpaid for staal
- Danformo

Correct. Staal proved he wasn't ready to be a premier player. The difference between him and Brandon Sutter is not overwhelming either

Miller Myers Grigerenko and 2 #2s for O'Reilly and the #1 pick in the draft
- hafgod

I believe O'Reilly has to have a cap hit of at least 6.5 for his new contract at the end of this year. Are you willing to pay a guy whos never hit 20 goals 6.5 million?

Gonchar 2 years 10 mill from the Stars, to much for a 39 yr old.

I believe O'Reilly has to have a cap hit of at least 6.5 for his new contract at the end of this year. Are you willing to pay a guy whos never hit 20 goals 6.5 million?
- Rally_Shots

No.

And how many of the Bruins D are First over all picks???? Way to build a team Boston. Prooves you do not have to let your team stink or drop to the bottom to have a successfull team.

I believe O'Reilly has to have a cap hit of at least 6.5 for his new contract at the end of this year. Are you willing to pay a guy whos never hit 20 goals 6.5 million?
- Rally_Shots

That's not exactly true
If they are unable to reach an extension with him,
Then when he becomes a RFA they will have to give him a "Qualifying Offer" to retain his rights, otherwise he becomes a UFA
In order to do so, they'd have to "qualify" him at 6.5mil for ONE year
However,
They can avoid all this by signing him to a contract extension...
Something like 5mil per is prob what O'reilly is looking for
Although,
If he wants out, he can refuse to sign an extension & simply tell them to either trade him, otherwise all he'll sign is the 6.5mil per Qualifying Offer they'll have to do every year until he becomes a free agent

Gonchar 2 years 10 mill from the Stars, to much for a 39 yr old.
- SABRES 89

That's just a weird deal
Does Dallas really think they have a shot at making a run next year?
They didn't even make the playoffs
Unless they're thinking that signing Gonchar will show other UFAs that they're serious and maybe they'll have a better chance to sign a guy like Clarkson, or whoever?

But I just don't see it happening

And how many of the Bruins D are First over all picks???? Way to build a team Boston. Prooves you do not have to let your team stink or drop to the bottom to have a successfull team.
- 89mogo

Couple of them were FA signings. It's risk to build your team like that especially since Buffalo is likely to strike out most years on the top UFA.

I find it ironic how many people who call for the officiating to go back to the 2006 levels are cheering for the Bruins. That team is tailor made for the clutch and grab era, and would find themselves shorthanded at least 40% of the time in 2006.
- buffalofan19

Don't like any of the 4 teams left(no real underdogs and many players that are easy to dislike). But I was hoping for a PIT-CHI SCF for entertainment purposes, that matchup would feature the most skill, speed and offensive hockey.

It's another dream scenario... but Miller and Vanek (and probably a draft pick or a 3rd player) for Fleury and Malkin. The Pens are against the wall in terms of the salary cap and Vanek's deal won't be as much as Malkin's long term. The Pens get clearly the better franchise goalie and the Sabres get the franchise forward they covet. Malkin has been better when not playing in Crosby's shadow anyways. Trust me, I'm fully aware that this very likely would never happen... but a guy can dream, right?

I believe O'Reilly has to have a cap hit of at least 6.5 for his new contract at the end of this year. Are you willing to pay a guy whos never hit 20 goals 6.5 million?
- Rally_Shots

Avs can't trade O'Reilly until next February. That is part of the stipulation of matching a RFA offer sheet... team cannot trade the player until 1 year after the deal is completed. So this deal can't happen, sorry.

Gonchar 2 years 10 mill from the Stars, to much for a 39 yr old.
- SABRES 89

I don't get it

Gonchar 2 years 10 mill from the Stars, to much for a 39 yr old.
- SABRES 89

$TAR$

I don't get it
- sbroads24

I guess that makes Mark Streit 6 mill a year.