Horvat doesn't have a father that does the negotiating for him, or make demands of teams so that's a plus!
- DariusKnight

For what it's worth, I believe Bo, Subban and Hunter are Don Meehan clients.

Maybe Gillis was targeting Meehan guys this year.

He's blackballed, he'll never get all 30 teams to agree to let him be back in the league, let alone sign elsewhere. Not to mention that I think you'll see in the next CBA, that removes all loopholes in regards to cap hits, and that the caphit for a contract will be set at the highest paid year instead of the average as it is now. That's the only way I can see teams and GMs make better financial choices than they do now.
- DariusKnight

That's a tough one. How do you control a player who says he wants to leave? I agree they need to look at loopholes, but players, agents and GM's will always find a way to get around them. They were smart by limiting the length of contracts, and I think teams will find ways around the cap hit by having "local companies" sign players to endorsement deals. Like Kesler (whomever) doing commercials for Aquilini Investment Group.

I actually like the Gaunce pick as well, and do realize he would be more of a 3LC, maybe a 2LC. Happy with the pick considering where we were in the draft.

Horvat has potential to be 1LC down the line, and possible captain material (many years down the road). Too bad this is the same thing I was saying about Coho.
- immature_male

Yeah, but Horvat's supposed to be a better skater than CoHo. I really like the Gaunce pick too. Would be very happy if he turned into a great 3rd line center and Horvat turned into a #1 or a great #2.

Horvat doesn't have a father that does the negotiating for him, or make demands of teams so that's a plus!
- DariusKnight

I can't imagine what it must have been like to deal with DadHo. I like how MG came out and stated he had spent more time dealing with Coho issues than the rest of the team combined (before goalie gate started).

That's a tough one. How do you control a player who says he wants to leave? I agree they need to look at loopholes, but players, agents and GM's will always find a way to get around them. They were smart by limiting the length of contracts, and I think teams will find ways around the cap hit by having "local companies" sign players to endorsement deals. Like Kesler (whomever) doing commercials for Aquilini Investment Group.
- immature_male

That could be an interesting trend to watch for.

Like say if Tim Hortons bought the Penguins and continued getting dough from them to do commercials.

So Sid, your cap hit is a million, but we'll pay you 10 to make a couple of commercials.

Yeah, but Horvat's supposed to be a better skater than CoHo. I really like the Gaunce pick too. Would be very happy if he turned into a great 3rd line center and Horvat turned into a #1 or a great #2.
- KB3Point0

That's my hope as well. By the time twins retire and Kesler contract up I am hoping we will have some reliable options available to us. Would still like to see Torts try Kesler on the wing, I don't like having a shoot first center, I prefer the playmaker center to distribute the puck to the shoot first wingers.

Yeah, but Horvat's supposed to be a better skater than CoHo. I really like the Gaunce pick too. Would be very happy if he turned into a great 3rd line center and Horvat turned into a #1 or a great #2.
- KB3Point0

He's also got about 20 lbs on Cody, so the bodes well to.

He's blackballed, he'll never get all 30 teams to agree to let him be back in the league, let alone sign elsewhere. Not to mention that I think you'll see in the next CBA, that removes all loopholes in regards to cap hits, and that the caphit for a contract will be set at the highest paid year instead of the average as it is now. That's the only way I can see teams and GMs make better financial choices than they do now.
- DariusKnight

They've done a pretty good job of eliminating the loopholes now with the limits on term and the limits on the annual difference in salary. The easiest solution would be to shrink the annual differences in salary even more.

That could be an interesting trend to watch for.

Like say if Tim Hortons bought the Penguins and continued getting dough from them to do commercials.

So Sid, your cap hit is a million, but we'll pay you 10 to make a couple of commercials.
- IanEsplen

I think you will start seeing a lot more local company deals (excluding the Nike/Reebok etc..). Someone who is buddy buddy with the owner could sign a player for a few million a year and they magically get a deal on their luxury box for the season. The owners will find a way to get around the cap, and the players and agents won't care as long as they are getting paid.

Hamill probably does nothing or next to it at the NHL level. He is a bust and has proven that already in his career. Just being honest with what to expect from the kid, lets not try to delusion ourselves.

That could be an interesting trend to watch for.

Like say if Tim Hortons bought the Penguins and continued getting dough from them to do commercials.

So Sid, your cap hit is a million, but we'll pay you 10 to make a couple of commercials.
- IanEsplen

You should do a blog on which Canuck would be the best to represent local companies.

That's a tough one. How do you control a player who says he wants to leave? I agree they need to look at loopholes, but players, agents and GM's will always find a way to get around them. They were smart by limiting the length of contracts, and I think teams will find ways around the cap hit by having "local companies" sign players to endorsement deals. Like Kesler (whomever) doing commercials for Aquilini Investment Group.
- immature_male

You get a transfer agreement with the KHL (which the NHL still hasn't been able to do) that states that both leagues agree to honor each other's contracts and will refrain from drafting/signing/recruiting players from either league while still under contract. Make it so that Russians who want to play in the NHL for a few years to raise their profile to use as a negotiating tactic with their KHL teams be undrafted free agents, that way it's no longer a risk. And because of the transfer agreement, any Russian who DOES get drafted has to play out their contract before they can go to the KHL and then you'll see the Kovy Effect disappear. Kovy really set the Devils back several years by retiring, I don't think Lou would have traded the 9th overall pick for Schneider if he knew he was losing Kovy a week later. The Devils will have no first round pick until 2015 which right now is considered a very weak draft, I don't envision the Devils being any good for a decade at least.

That's my hope as well. By the time twins retire and Kesler contract up I am hoping we will have some reliable options available to us. Would still like to see Torts try Kesler on the wing, I don't like having a shoot first center, I prefer the playmaker center to distribute the puck to the shoot first wingers.
- immature_male

I'm curious how Kesler will fair with a healthy Booth and Burrows on his wings this year (assuming that's how the lines turn out). He might be shoot first, but his wingers the last few years have been horrendous. I could easily see him distributing the puck better this year given better linemates. It's also nice to have a center who can distribute the puck, but also isn't absolutely terrified to shoot it every now and then.

You get a transfer agreement with the KHL (which the NHL still hasn't been able to do) that states that both leagues agree to honor each other's contracts and will refrain from drafting/signing/recruiting players from either league while still under contract. Make it so that Russians who want to play in the NHL for a few years to raise their profile to use as a negotiating tactic with their KHL teams be undrafted free agents, that way it's no longer a risk. And because of the transfer agreement, any Russian who DOES get drafted has to play out their contract before they can go to the KHL and then you'll see the Kovy Effect disappear. Kovy really set the Devils back several years by retiring, I don't think Lou would have traded the 9th overall pick for Schneider if he knew he was losing Kovy a week later. The Devils will have no first round pick until 2015 which right now is considered a very weak draft, I don't envision the Devils being any good for a decade at least.
- DariusKnight

They have an agreement in place where you can't sign players under contract in the other league. The Devils could have tried to block Kovalchuk's move if they wanted, but due to the financial situation they're in it was largely beneficial to have the rest of his contract off the books. It was their choice.

You should do a blog on which Canuck would be the best to represent local companies.
- immature_male

you might have something there.

ahaha that's how I pick prospects after the 3rd round.
- blizzzard

Really? Which team do you run?

Hamill probably does nothing or next to it at the NHL level. He is a bust and has proven that already in his career. Just being honest with what to expect from the kid, lets not try to delusion ourselves.
- TheLeafsInsider

He's got 20 games in the NHL under his belt

The Vancouver ‪#‎Canucks‬ have signed F Ronalds Kenins to a 2 year contract and he will join them for the 2014/15 season.

The Vancouver ‪#‎Canucks‬ have signed F Ronalds Kenins to a 2 year contract and he will join them for the 2014/15 season.
- annoyance_101

Who?

Who?
- Greg7705

@TEAM1040: Canucks sign forward Ronalds Kenins. 22-year-old had 17pts in 45 games with the Zurich Lions and has played for Latvia at three World Champs

Oh

Who?
- Greg7705

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=120591

The Vancouver ‪#‎Canucks‬ have signed F Ronalds Kenins to a 2 year contract and he will join them for the 2014/15 season.
- annoyance_101

Wasn't he one of the guys scouts were drolling over a year or so because of how he played at the IIHF?

@TEAM1040: Canucks sign forward Ronalds Kenins. 22-year-old had 17pts in 45 games with the Zurich Lions and has played for Latvia at three World Champs

Oh
- Greg7705

You mean that tells you everything you need to know about a player? Yikes...

I liked Hamill back in 07 too, and still think he could be something

Wasn't he one of the guys scouts were drolling over a year or so because of how he played at the IIHF?
- IanEsplen

I'm reading about him, and I think that could be true...I just saw a video of him playing, since I've not seen him play, but he likes to throw his weight around... something canucks drastically have needed

The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Ronalds Kenins on Tuesday.

Kenins spent last season with the Zurich Lions, collecting three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 45 games.

On the international stage, the 22-year-old represented Team Latvia at the last three World Hockey Championships.

Kenins also played in the 2010 World Junior Championships as a member of the Latvian national team, collecting four points in six games.