We have plenty of cap space, the deal doesn't hurt us in the slightest. I'd take our forwards and goaltending over the Leafs, our defense isn't good but we have 5-6 players who may turn this into a strength as early as later this year. We're a bubble team that's a legit top 4 defenseman away from being a playoff team. Cup contender? Nope, but our greatest weakness last year was goaltending and that's a strength this year.
- Isles_since_6

Saying your goaltending is better than the Leafs' is laughable. Don't hang you hat on Halak...he'll just disappoint you. The Blues couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

Long shot but not inconceivable that they finish ahead of Dallas and Anaheim if everything goes right for them, and everything goes wrong for the Stars and Ducks. If anything, goaltending and a return to form for the Sedins will make the difference.
- Jeropotato

I'd be pretty surprised if they make the playoffs. I'm predicting 9th/10th. But of course there's never been in an NHL season in the modern era where the consensus top 8 during pre-season all actually make the playoffs.

Long shot but not inconceivable that they finish ahead of Dallas and Anaheim if everything goes right for them, and everything goes wrong for the Stars and Ducks. If anything, goaltending and a return to form for the Sedins will make the difference.
- Jeropotato

The Ducks? Good one...

The problem with Vancouver is that the Sedins are old, and there's no support for them. It's been shown for years that when other teams can focus solely on them they're completely neutralized. That's what will happen this year.

Plus Miller will suck.

They're still in the McDavid sweepstakes. They just don't know it yet.

I'd be pretty surprised if they make the playoffs. I'm predicting 9th/10th. But of course there's never been in an NHL season in the modern era where the consensus top 8 during pre-season all actually make the playoffs.
- Nucker101

I don't actually think they will either, but like you said, what are the chances that everything works out for all of Anaheim, Dallas, Minnesota or Colorado? All it takes is a couple major injuries to a key player to (frank) things up.

The Ducks? Good one...

The problem with Vancouver is that the Sedins are old, and there's no support for them. It's been shown for years that when other teams can focus solely on them they're completely neutralized. That's what will happen this year.

Plus Miller will suck.

They're still in the McKinnon sweepstakes. They just don't know it yet.
- djamon

Horvat, Virtanen, 1st, Shinkaruk, McCann, Gaunce, Kassian for MacKinnon?

The Ducks? Good one...

The problem with Vancouver is that the Sedins are old, and there's no support for them. It's been shown for years that when other teams can focus solely on them they're completely neutralized. That's what will happen this year.

Plus Miller will suck.

They're still in the McKinnon sweepstakes. They just don't know it yet.
- djamon

Stranger things have happened.

The Ducks? Good one...

The problem with Vancouver is that the Sedins are old, and there's no support for them. It's been shown for years that when other teams can focus solely on them they're completely neutralized. That's what will happen this year.

Plus Miller will suck.

They're still in the McKinnon sweepstakes. They just don't know it yet.
- djamon

Read my post above, I know you dislike the Canucks but you'e smart enough to realize that enough poop happens so that the consensus top 8 don't all make the playoffs. I'm not saying the Canucks will make it, but I'd bet a ton of money on one of the consensus top 8 missing.

Horvat, Virtanen, 1st, Shinkaruk, McCann, Gaunce, Kassian for MacKinnon?
- Nucker101

Damn...I keep doing that. Retreat.

You're right...Vanek couldn't leave soon enough. They offered him a huge contract because he cost you so damn much. The Vanek/Moulson situation should have cost Snow his job, lucky your owner thinks the point of the season is to draft as high as possible. No wonder he loves Snow.

Our tank job was so spectacular...so long and painful...that we only managed to finish 5 points ahead of the Isles. Embarrassing.
- djamon

This is exactly my point. Ripping on another nonplayoff team is like winning a slap fight, it's just pathetic. For the record, I fully agree with you regarding snow and our owner. Both should have been gone, our team has been mismanaged and I don't want either, but this summer has been a productive one for us, the first in a very long time.

Read my post above, I know you dislike the Canucks but you'e smart enough to realize that enough poop happens so that the consensus top 8 don't all make the playoffs. I'm not saying the Canucks will make it, but I'd bet a ton of money on one of the consensus top 8 missing.
- Nucker101

Depends who the consensus top 8 are. Colorado may slip, but who else?

On the other hand, there are other 4 pretty bad teams in the West, so I guess it may not take as much as I thought.

Saying your goaltending is better than the Leafs' is laughable. Don't hang you hat on Halak...he'll just disappoint you. The Blues couldn't get rid of him fast enough.
- djamon

And were worse without him.

This is exactly my point. Ripping on another nonplayoff team is like winning a slap fight, it's just pathetic. For the record, I fully agree with you regarding snow and our owner. Both should have been gone, our team has been mismanaged and I don't want either, but this summer has been a productive one for us, the first in a very long time.
- Isles_since_6

Yeah...fair enough.

Depends who the consensus top 8 are. Colorado may slip, but who else?

On the other hand, there are other 4 pretty bad teams in the West, so I guess it may not take as much as I thought.
- djamon

Injuries can turn a good team into an average one. I think the Canucks will hang around and miss, but it only takes a couple of key injuries to ruin a season.

Depends who the consensus top 8 are. Colorado may slip, but who else?

On the other hand, there are other 4 pretty bad teams in the West, so I guess it may not take as much as I thought.
- djamon

Well it seems like the majority of fans here and at HF are predicting the same 8 as last year to make it. I highly doubt all 8 will, too much parity in the NHL, especially with so many 3 point games that basically decide the 6-10 spots in each conference. Then you have the unknown of injuries, breakout players, guys who have down seasons, coaches who lose their locker room, etc. Trades also made during the season.

Too many variables for me to buy that all 8 make it again.

Well it seems like the majority of fans here and at HF are predicting the same 8 as last year to make it. I highly doubt all 8 will, too much parity in the NHL, especially with so many 3 point games that basically decide the 6-10 spots in each conference. Then you have the unknown of injuries, breakout players, guys who have down seasons, coaches who lose their locker room, etc. Trades also made during the season.

Too many variables for me to buy that all 8 make it again.
- Nucker101

I agree, someone's going to underachieve. Colorado wasn't expected to jump up like that. Weird things can happen

Well it seems like the majority of fans here and at HF are predicting the same 8 as last year to make it. I highly doubt all 8 will, too much parity in the NHL, especially with so many 3 point games that basically decide the 6-10 spots in each conference. Then you have the unknown of injuries, breakout players, guys who have down seasons, coaches who lose their locker room, etc. Trades also made during the season.

Too many variables for me to buy that all 8 make it again.
- Nucker101

San Jose, Chicago and St.Lou are locks...

If Colorado, Anaheim, Dallas or Minnesota have goaltending issues they could slip.

If La waits for the last (frank)ing minute (again) to make the playoff's and say 2 of Quick, Kopitar, or Doughty get injured.....

...like I said, stranger things have happened.

I disagree. #1 is true. Johansson should get the 6 mill for 2 years but Miller will be good in vancouver and for once they have a full top line with Vrbata and I really like Bonino. I also think Grabovski and Kuelmin will do well for NYI. They finally have a 2nd line

Kulemin is a very bad hockey player. Anyone who watches him will see this very quickly. He has a heavy shot, which he uses a little over once per game. He has a big strong body, but he's a wussy who backs away from any confrontation.

If anyone is interested I'd wager Komarov beats Kulemin in every important stat this year.
- djamon

ill take this wager in a heartbeat.

goals and points are the easy ones.
but lets also wager advanced stats.
ill bet kulemin has a tougher qualcomp. as well as a better corsi and better possession numbers

Can we put that guy who said Leaf players are lucky to play in Carlyle's defensive system #1?
- RogerRoeper

sure

ill take this wager in a heartbeat.

goals and points are the easy ones.
but lets also wager advanced stats.
ill bet kulemin has a tougher qualcomp. as well as a better corsi and better possession numbers
- hugefemale dog77

Seeing as Kulemin was bad in every one of those stats last year I'd say that's an easy bet.

who in their right minds would take both sedins. Pavel Bure is the greatest canuck to ever play and Mogilny should be a very close second. Messier is not factored into the equation because of his short stint. He was good but lacked tenure. the sedins are good but no one will take both and their contracts. damn primadonnas for saying they will not play if they are not together. good job firing torts.

San Jose, Chicago and St.Lou are locks...

If Colorado, Anaheim, Dallas or Minnesota have goaltending issues they could slip.

If La waits for the last (frank)ing minute (again) to make the playoff's and say 2 of Quick, Kopitar, or Doughty get injured.....

...like I said, stranger things have happened.
- Jeropotato

Dallas has moved up with the addition of Spezza. Benn and Seguin are great players. they should easily make the playoffs. Colorado signing Iginla makes no impact due to the loss of Stastny. Colorado will be in there. Wild signing Vanek? are they still going to overplay Suter? Will Harding be able to play? If Harding is healthy enough to play and continues to play as well as he was then the Wild can cause some havoc. what 2 straight years having the best record before January 1st. Lets see if they can do it for a full season, not just half. The kings will be fine as they are stacked and a healthy gaborik can only make them better. the west will be a dogfight all year long.

who in their right minds would take both sedins. Pavel Bure is the greatest canuck to ever play and Mogilny should be a very close second. Messier is not factored into the equation because of his short stint. He was good but lacked tenure. the sedins are good but no one will take both and their contracts. damn primadonnas for saying they will not play if they are not together. good job firing torts.
- BluesDroogie

Messier was a joke with the Canucks. All talk while he refused to backcheck or play hard. Pavel was up there tied with Linden imo.

And were worse without him.
- Isles_since_6

Halak was a good goalie for the Blues. His contract made him expendable. He has his ups and downs because he is a head case as with many goalies. He lets goals get to him too much. he is a very capable goalie that requires a lot of shots against to stay active. with the blues he regularly faced 20 shots or less and he needed more. with goalies its more mental than anything else.

Messier was a joke with the Canucks. All talk while he refused to backcheck or play hard. Pavel was up there tied with Linden imo.
- Isles_since_6

damn I cant believe I forgot about Linden.