I disagree. A loyal fanbase who sticks with the team in the bad times deserves more than a bunch of Johnny come lately Chicago fans fair-weather fans who only come out when the team is winning.
- lumlums

Doesn't mean they deserve to win..

No one deserves anything when it comes to sports. Even Leicester didnt deserve to win. Edmonton fans aren't anymore deserving than any other Canadian team.

You could be right. But you need to take into account that nobody in Ottawa thought that the Sens could move contracts for Greening, Michalek and Cowen. Ottawa has a really strong core of great young Dmen and the reasoning goes that Phaneuf can be a real help to the young guys. Nobody seems overly concerned by his contract. If the Sens make the playoffs this year it will likely have something to do with the renewal of Phaneuf. It is going to be a lot different for him playing #4 rather than having to log #1 minutes. He seems in good shape. His skating looks solid. He might not be Larry Murphy but he will help.
- spatso

How can you not understand that paying a #4 defenseman 7M a year is a major problem? Let alone paying him that as his play will inevitably decline until 2021.

what was the ++??..Got nothing to do with Matthews/McDavid....

Matthews/Rielly and a 1st for McDavid??..
- Fruitcakenipple

Can't remember. I'd have to think hard about that one because I think next year first won't be a top ten. I see the leafs surprising and squeaking into the playoffs.

No, I wouldn't do those three either. If you were Pitt would you trade Crosby and Malkin for Mcdavid?
I think I would.
- hunglikeapuck

I would too..

It would set them back a few year because the'd have to offload Kunitz and a few other too.. But in the long run Pitt would probably be better off... But maybe Pitt could get more for those two than just McDavid.

That would be huge for the league. Sadly it doesn't happen if Chiarelli doesn't find us a couple of defensemen.
- Ihatebrianburke

Indeed. How do you feel about Talbot? Is he good enough to be THE starter for you guys going forward? (I don't see as much of the Oilers now that I'm down in the US)...

Can't remember. I'd have to think hard about that one because I think next year first won't be a top ten. I see the leafs surprising and squeaking into the playoffs.
- hunglikeapuck

It really could go either way...

Teams will really need to skate to keep up with the Leafs, but scoring on them shouldnt be that hard.

Doesn't mean they deserve to win..

No one deserves anything when it comes to sports. Even Leicester didnt deserve to win. Edmonton fans aren't anymore deserving than any other Canadian team.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Apart from Toronto

I would too..

It would set them back a few year because the'd have to offload Kunitz and a few other too.. But in the long run Pitt would probably be better off... But maybe Pitt could get more for those two than just McDavid.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

On the flip side, I don't think the Oilers would do it. I feel they've been in this rebuild to long to abandon ship for superstars that are on the tail end of their prime.

That team would be lethal though at the same time it would still kind of remind me of the times when the Pens didn't have much for defense.

How can you not understand that paying a #4 defenseman 7M a year is a major problem? Let alone paying him that as his play will inevitably decline until 2021.
- RickJames77

I think it is impolite to notice that his contract is front end loaded and his salary actually declines significantly near the end making early retirement (without penalty) or buy out a realistic option for everyone.

I have far less concern about Phaneuf aging and losing his skill as I do with Bobby Ryan. Not a fan of his contract at all.

I think it is impolite to notice that his contract is front end loaded and his salary actually declines significantly near the end making early retirement (without penalty) a realistic option for everyone.

I have far less concern about Phaneuf aging and losing his skill as I do with Bobby Ryan. Not a fan of his contract at all.
- spatso

If he retires he'd have to leave that money on the table though, right? I don't see that happening.

His salary declining is one thing, but that hit is scary.

I would too..

It would set them back a few year because the'd have to offload Kunitz and a few other too.. But in the long run Pitt would probably be better off... But maybe Pitt could get more for those two than just McDavid.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Definitely.

Apart from Toronto
- lumlums

Gotta earn it..

Leafs need a win bad.. but they don't deserve it anymore than say Florida or Nashville..

On the flip side, I don't think the Oilers would do it. I feel they've been in this rebuild to long to abandon ship for superstars that are on the tail end of their prime.

That team would be lethal though at the same time it would still kind of remind me of the times when the Pens didn't have much for defense.
- RickJames77

Yeah they would never trade McDavid..

Poor Connor

On the flip side, I don't think the Oilers would do it. I feel they've been in this rebuild to long to abandon ship for superstars that are on the tail end of their prime.

That team would be lethal though at the same time it would still kind of remind me of the times when the Pens didn't have much for defense.
- RickJames77

No way they do it. Just summertime random hypotheticals

Ya.. given what people expect Rielly/kadri to get and what they actually signed for not sure it's worth the time trying to figure out what it would take to sign JVR..
- Fruitcakenipple

I think it’s either he signs for a reasonable price or is traded.

Pretty much the view that needs to be taken with everyone … outside of elite level players.

The age 'ol leaf question. You have a good winger, but what can he do with a good centerman

It really has been a long time since they had a high end center. Having neither that or a #1 Dman can really drive you crazy
- RickJames77

But we should take Laine.

If he retires he'd have to leave that money on the table though, right? I don't see that happening.

His salary declining is one thing, but that hit is scary.
- RickJames77

No worse than Tampa buying our LeCavalier and they seem to be doing fine. Nobody in Ottawa management seems concerned with the Phaneuf contract. In fact, Brian Murray seemed to be saying he was very content with the terms.

How can you not understand that paying a #4 defenseman 7M a year is a major problem? Let alone paying him that as his play will inevitably decline until 2021.
- RickJames77

Phaneuf is much better than a #4.

I like ragging on Sens fans as much as the next guy, but lets keep this rational.

But we should take Laine.
- underhill14

It's crazy how they affect the game and in order to have a successful team, you can't have one without the other. The Bruins have a #1 and arguably 2 #1s, but zilch for D and look where it go them.

That's why teams rarely trade them, unfortunately (Bring on the Bruins trade blunders )

Yep. Look at Rielly. Sure he was the only player who averaged over 20 mins for Team Canada, sure he was great in a shutdown role, but he only had 3 points. And the Leafs signed him for 6 years at 5m per year!
- Steven_Seagull

It's funny, Sens fans were talking like Ceci was taking over, after being given first line minutes in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th games. In reality, all they were doing was giving their best players a rest by playing their depth against lesser hockey nations. When they got back to top hockey nations, Rielly was by far their number 1 Dman. Had they decided to play him all the way through, he would have averaged far more ice time.

No worse than Tampa buying our LeCavalier and they seem to be doing fine. Nobody in Ottawa management seems concerned with the Phaneuf contract. In fact, Brian Murray seemed to be saying he was very content with the terms.
- spatso

But that was a compliance buyout that did not count against the cap, so that's comparing apples to oranges. Also, you ever hear of the saying two wrongs don't make a right?

Phaneuf is much better than a #4.

I like ragging on Sens fans as much as the next guy, but lets keep this rational.
- Atomic Wedgie

His words not mine.

I agree with you.

Can't remember. I'd have to think hard about that one because I think next year first won't be a top ten. I see the leafs surprising and squeaking into the playoffs.
- hunglikeapuck

While no question McDavid would be the best player in the trade i'm not convinced the difference is worth giving up Morgan Rielly for..Need more than one player to build a winner...

Young guy like Rielly has pretty big value in this league...Top pairing D-man at his age not easily found..

No worse than Tampa buying our LeCavalier and they seem to be doing fine. Nobody in Ottawa management seems concerned with the Phaneuf contract. In fact, Brian Murray seemed to be saying he was very content with the terms.
- spatso

Because BM thinks his team is better than they are..

Just like BB did when he traded for Kessel.

Because BM thinks his team is better than they are..

Just like BB did when he traded for Kessel.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Am I wrong that Lecavalier's was a compliance buyout as well? Could've sworn it was...if so that makes it two totally different cases.