Differences between Kessel and Kessler: GO!
- SolidGoldBricks

1 Nut vs 2

I wouldn't say trading Kessel will be very promising, Ek,....
- MrBeanTown

so whats more likely. that the "person" ek quoted spelled the name wrong or that Ek completely made up the quote to look like he has sources?

1 Nut vs 2
- DDM-Coga

so whats more likely. that the "person" ek quoted spelled the name wrong or that Ek completely made up the quote to look like he has sources?
- jarmstrong

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNERRRR

If Gillis trades Kessel that would be shocking......and impossible
- Gambi99

Luongo contract was bad (only because of the term). Current Burrows contract is, as well.

But go look at some of the other contracts he's gotten players to sign—some of the best bargain contracts in the NHL the last 10 years.

Gillis's problem has always been trading, not contracts.

Haha, Lawton's team? First time I've ever hear someone bring up Lawton as a solid GM. Just cause he was there before Stevie Y? Lawton was GM for less than two years and did very little to make it his team. Feaster, you can make an argument for, but Lawton? That's crazy...
- 13sundin13

he signed Gary Roberts and overpaid Malone though. Two crucial cogs in their current core.

The only similarity between trading Kesler and trading Lou is that they both play on the same team.

Kesler has a great contract and is younger.

Lou has a terrible contract which no one wanted and is older.

No one has mentioned any legitimate offers the Canucks received for Lou. Is it possible every GM in the league who could have been interested were confident of an off season buyout? I"m thinking so.

If Lou was only signed for 2 more years he would have been dealt a long time ago.

But sure, lets just assume that all the GM's were offering the Canucks decent packages and Gillis was simply too stubborn.

Stop it!!! ...we all know my Devils are moving there
- Gambi99

That comment is an embarrassment to REAL DEVILS FANS!

Luongo contract was bad (only because of the term). Current Burrows contract is, as well.

But go look at some of the other contracts he's gotten players to sign—some of the best bargain contracts in the NHL the last 10 years.

Gillis's problem has always been trading, not contracts.
- Fosco

this...

Any the cap compliance penalty changed the situation pretty significantly.

Added to his poor trading record is his drafting record. Much of the blame needs to be put on the scouting staff but MG is in control of that.

A gold medal?
- Gambi99

Uhm, no?

ZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZzzzzZZZZZ

lets have a look at brian lawtons team vs yzermans team....

lawton:

traded prospal to philly for alexandre picard (gone)

traded richards for jussi jokinen, jeff halpern, mike smith and a pick (all now gone)

traded dan boyle and lukowich for matt carle (gone then came back), ty wishart (gone), a 1st and 4th rounder

hired barry melrose as coach then fired him to be replaced by rick tocchet.

he drafted stamkos and hedman but those were flat out obvious picks at 1st and 2nd overall.

fired torts. everyone said lawton and OK were liars.


welcome yzerman:

brought in a bunch of guys that got us to the east finals in his first year then cleared out all the guys we didnt need

brought in cooper who will win the jack adams this year
bought out lecavalier a move we needed to do but no one would ever do it
traded for bishop
drafted connolly, drouin, vasilevskiy, palat (a 7th rounder now on our top line)
signed filppula
resigned all the young guys we needed and kept guys like thompson
brought in sami salo to mentor hedman
got matt carle back
traded for lindback


literally the only guy left from lawton and OK hockey is marty, stamkos and hedman. everyone else on this team wasnt here when lawton left.

the fact that you are seriously comparing yzerman to lawton right now just blows my mind.

Looking at EK’s rumor chart indicates his knowledge of the west coast of Canada. 52 players in total, 9 are from the west and are all Flames & Oilers who will be obvious sellers, not rocket science. No mention of Vancouver because he has no idea of what is going on in BC, other than the Winter Classic this Sunday E5.

I like how it's always the last guys team until the current guy is fired...than the new guy inherits the last guys team and not 2 guys ago team...lol, does that read right?

MAYBE Steve brought in the right systems and coaching staffs to develop the talent he inherited...maybe?

lets have a look at brian lawtons team vs yzermans team....

lawton:

traded prospal to philly for alexandre picard (gone)

traded richards for jussi jokinen, jeff halpern, mike smith and a pick (all now gone)

traded dan boyle and lukowich for matt carle (gone then came back), ty wishart (gone), a 1st and 4th rounder

hired barry melrose as coach then fired him to be replaced by rick tocchet.

he drafted stamkos and hedman but those were flat out obvious picks at 1st and 2nd overall.

fired torts. everyone said lawton and OK were liars.


welcome yzerman:

brought in a bunch of guys that got us to the east finals in his first year then cleared out all the guys we didnt need

brought in cooper who will win the jack adams this year
bought out lecavalier a move we needed to do but no one would ever do it
traded for bishop
drafted connolly, drouin, vasilevskiy, palat (a 7th rounder now on our top line)
signed filppula
resigned all the young guys we needed and kept guys like thompson
brought in sami salo to mentor hedman
got matt carle back
traded for lindback


literally the only guy left from lawton and OK hockey is marty, stamkos and hedman. everyone else on this team wasnt here when lawton left.

the fact that you are seriously comparing yzerman to lawton right now just blows my mind.
- boltsfan48

the fact that people pay for this site with statements like lawton v yzerman blows my mind

Ek, question for you since you obviously want to question Yzerman's commitment to the Bolts organization. What did he do immediately following the Olympics? Oh that's right, resign from his duties with Team Canada. So yeah, his loyalty definitely is with the organization he just resigned from and doesn't lie with the organization he is still running.

As for scouting for Team Canada on the Bolts dime??? Last time I checked, his record as GM of the Lightning is quite exemplary. We have how many rookies playing or played for us this year (most the results of his excellent drafting) with our best prospects not even here (#1 ranked prospect group by multiple outlets). From where the Bolts were pre-Yzerman to where we are now is literally night and day. He has built a world class ORGANIZATION with the help of a very good owner and yet you question where his loyalty lies. Sorry Ek, but you probably should think about this before you write crap like that. Ban me all you want but you are way off-base with this.

On the other hand MSL is and has been treated like a "god" in this city. He is loved by the fans and rarely if ever questioned. But here he is in the final stages of what could/should be a playoff run and he's requesting a trade b/c of something that happened that didn't involve the Lightning. Talk about a lack of loyalty to an organization.

lets have a look at brian lawtons team vs yzermans team....

lawton:

traded prospal to philly for alexandre picard (gone)

traded richards for jussi jokinen, jeff halpern, mike smith and a pick (all now gone)

traded dan boyle and lukowich for matt carle (gone then came back), ty wishart (gone), a 1st and 4th rounder

hired barry melrose as coach then fired him to be replaced by rick tocchet.

he drafted stamkos and hedman but those were flat out obvious picks at 1st and 2nd overall.

fired torts. everyone said lawton and OK were liars.


welcome yzerman:

brought in a bunch of guys that got us to the east finals in his first year then cleared out all the guys we didnt need

brought in cooper who will win the jack adams this year
bought out lecavalier a move we needed to do but no one would ever do it
traded for bishop
drafted connolly, drouin, vasilevskiy, palat (a 7th rounder now on our top line)
signed filppula
resigned all the young guys we needed and kept guys like thompson
brought in sami salo to mentor hedman
got matt carle back
traded for lindback


literally the only guy left from lawton and OK hockey is marty, stamkos and hedman. everyone else on this team wasnt here when lawton left.

the fact that you are seriously comparing yzerman to lawton right now just blows my mind.
- boltsfan48

Too much facts and knowledge for a hockeybuzz post

Stop it!!! ...we all know my Devils are moving there
- Gambi99

As long as we have a team I don't really care which one

Gillis is not a fan of playing without leverage.


- Eklund

I'm guessing this goes for all GM's Ek... Problem is that Gillis not unlike a few other GM's out there think their players are all worth 2 first rounders a prospect and a top 3 player. Hence they end up screwing themselves in the end due to overvaluing.

Kesslers a really nice player, but best guess is the most he warrants in return is prospect and/or a first and 4 - 6 player.

This and not to mention only wanting to go to the Rangers.
- ses111

If the Rangers offer them Callahan straight up I hope Yzerman makes him play out his contract. Sather has him by the balls now bcs of St. Louis. Hopefully Stevie Y holds his ground.

Ek, question for you since you obviously want to question Yzerman's commitment to the Bolts organization. What did he do immediately following the Olympics? Oh that's right, resign from his duties with Team Canada. So yeah, his loyalty definitely is with the organization he just resigned from and doesn't lie with the organization he is still running.

As for scouting for Team Canada on the Bolts dime??? Last time I checked, his record as GM of the Lightning is quite exemplary. We have how many rookies playing or played for us this year (most the results of his excellent drafting) with our best prospects not even here (#1 ranked prospect group by multiple outlets). From where the Bolts were pre-Yzerman to where we are now is literally night and day. He has built a world class ORGANIZATION with the help of a very good owner and yet you question where his loyalty lies. Sorry Ek, but you probably should think about this before you write crap like that. Ban me all you want but you are way off-base with this.

On the other hand MSL is and has been treated like a "god" in this city. He is loved by the fans and rarely if ever questioned. But here he is in the final stages of what could/should be a playoff run and he's requesting a trade b/c of something that happened that didn't involve the Lightning. Talk about a lack of loyalty to an organization.
- uf1910

TLDR

Uhm, no?
- SolidGoldBricks

lets have a look at brian lawtons team vs yzermans team....

lawton:

traded prospal to philly for alexandre picard (gone)

traded richards for jussi jokinen, jeff halpern, mike smith and a pick (all now gone)

traded dan boyle and lukowich for matt carle (gone then came back), ty wishart (gone), a 1st and 4th rounder

hired barry melrose as coach then fired him to be replaced by rick tocchet.

he drafted stamkos and hedman but those were flat out obvious picks at 1st and 2nd overall.

fired torts. everyone said lawton and OK were liars.


welcome yzerman:

brought in a bunch of guys that got us to the east finals in his first year then cleared out all the guys we didnt need

brought in cooper who will win the jack adams this year
bought out lecavalier a move we needed to do but no one would ever do it
traded for bishop
drafted connolly, drouin, vasilevskiy, palat (a 7th rounder now on our top line)
signed filppula
resigned all the young guys we needed and kept guys like thompson
brought in sami salo to mentor hedman
got matt carle back
traded for lindback


literally the only guy left from lawton and OK hockey is marty, stamkos and hedman. everyone else on this team wasnt here when lawton left.

the fact that you are seriously comparing yzerman to lawton right now just blows my mind.
- boltsfan48

You forgot handed Lecavalier an albatross deal that Yzerman had to unload

Eklund: Don't Count on a Kesler Trade Happening. Tampa fans against Marty?
- Eklund

So you think this is Yzerman's fault? Here's the scenario the media has painted:

"I want still want to be traded. I'm mad you didn't select me for Olympics, and I don't care that I got to go and win a gold medal anyway. Oh and BTW you will trade me to the Rangers because it is near my house."

If you know this goes deeper why can't you say what the story is? Your an anonymous rumor blogger.

I always remember St.Louis as the guy who slashed at the bare hand of Eric Desjardins in the playoffs years ago. It wasn't anything deserving of a penalty, but one of those unwritten rules that you just don't do. Desjardins had dropped his glove and was reaching with the gloved hand on the stick in an attempt to poke the puck away from another Lightning player. St.Louis was trailing Desjardins & slashed at the bare hand. The obvious pushing and shoving ensued afterward.

Probably not indicative of St.Louis as a player, just something I vividly remember.