Cheers it was a close affair - who the (frank) was that machine in your net?? Talk about trying to win the game single handed!

As Jumbo said, he thinks next season is going to be your big 1!
- Aussiepenguin

Jones was stellar, definitely proved he was worth the 1st round pick (29th) And even before the season started I was thinking next year would be our best shot. Everyone with a year of experience under deboer and hopefully players like meier and goldobin ready to make the team.. so we'll see Already can't wait for the new season to start.

duchene would be a god send for sid. macinon even better.
- martox

Until we realize that Duchene has a different playing style and thus must have his own line...the 4th line!

Im all set for game 7 tonight...whos with me?!?!?!

Jones was stellar, definitely proved he was worth the 1st round pick (29th) And even before the season started I was thinking next year would be our best shot. Everyone with a year of experience under deboer and hopefully players like meier and goldobin ready to make the team.. so we'll see Already can't wait for the new season to start.
- sjsharksss

People keep talking about how much older Jumbo and Marleau are going to be but keep failing to talk about the extra year of XP guys like Donskoi, Melker Karlsson, Hertl, and Couture will have.

duchene would be a god send for sid. macinon even better.
- martox

The Avs are really dumb. I'm not particularly interested in trading for Duchene or Barrie at this time because I don't want a major shake up, but I have the feeling that whoever the Avs trade for will leave me scratching my head and saying "Hu???? Even we could have beaten that...."

People keep talking about how much older Jumbo and Marleau are going to be but keep failing to talk about the extra year of XP guys like Donskoi, Melker Karlsson, Hertl, and Couture ( aka guy who does everything Crosby is hated for but gets away with it because of who he is) will have.
- Victoro311

Anyone who thinks their not going to compete and possibly put on another good run is not very smart to say the least. Their core is good and like you said just gained a lot of experience. Along with the fact the highest paid player for them that will be a UFA in July is Spaling. If thats the only player you lose from a finals team you're in good shape.

It comes down to how many gamblers will decide to bet a live game in person. For the kinds of people that vacation to Vegas, the novelty of being able to go to a game they can actually bet on may end up being more than a novelty. If that ends up being a big hit the NHL will never leave Vegas and the NFL and NBA will follow soon
- Victoro311

I always thought the NBA and even MLB would end up in Vegas, not hockey. I agree, if there is success, others will follow. I'm not sold on the success coming.

The Avs are really dumb. I'm not particularly interested in trading for Duchene or Barrie at this time because I don't want a major shake up, but I have the feeling that whoever the Avs trade for will leave me scratching my head and saying "Hu???? Even we could have beaten that...."
- Victoro311

100%

People keep talking about how much older Jumbo and Marleau are going to be but keep failing to talk about the extra year of XP guys like Donskoi, Melker Karlsson, Hertl, and Couture will have.
- Victoro311

Really liked what I saw from Donskoi in the series and same with Karlsson. Donskoi was a former Florida draft pick. I guess he didn't impress the brass during camps and they didn't sign him.

The Avs are really dumb. I'm not particularly interested in trading for Duchene or Barrie at this time because I don't want a major shake up, but I have the feeling that whoever the Avs trade for will leave me scratching my head and saying "Hu???? Even we could have beaten that...."
- Victoro311

They are going to f up something in the offseason. They NEED defense, but they are trading Barrie? LOL.

Really liked what I saw from Donskoi in the series and same with Karlsson. Donskoi was a former Florida draft pick. I guess he didn't impress the brass during camps and they didn't sign him.
- Oneonta Penguin

The forwards I was most impressed with in each round were:

Rangers: DNQ
Capitals: Burakovsky
Lightning: Drouin
Sharks: Donskoi

I knew Burakovsky was legit but he was the Caps most consistent forward for my money. On a team with Ovi, Kuznetsov, Backstrom, and Oshie, that's damn impressive.

Drouin made the Lightnings brass look like fools this post season. Hopefully the damage is done and the Lightning still trade him. That team has enough talent.

Didn't even know who Donskoi was. That kid is for real.

The forwards I was most impressed with in each round were:

Rangers: DNQ
Capitals: Burakovsky
Lightning: Drouin
Sharks: Donskoi

I knew Burakovsky was legit but he was the Caps most consistent forward for my money. On a team with Ovi, Kuznetsov, Backstrom, and Oshie, that's damn impressive.

Drouin made the Lightnings brass look like fools this post season. Hopefully the damage is done and the Lightning still trade him. That team has enough talent.

Didn't even know who Donskoi was. That kid is for real.
- Victoro311

There wasn't a forward for the Rags that screamed "impressive". The only guy that caught my eye as far as being good was Skjei, the young Dman.

Washington - Burakovsky didn't do anything as far as point production. Did some good things, but ....

Tampa - agree

SJ - we agree.

There wasn't a forward for the Rags that screamed "impressive". The only guy that caught my eye as far as being good was Skjei, the young Dman.

Washington - Burakovsky didn't do anything as far as point production. Did some good things, but ....

Tampa - agree

SJ - we agree.
- Oneonta Penguin

Right, Burakovsky didn't do much in way of production, but I didn't particularly expect him to. I expected Ovi, Kuz, Backstrom, and Oshi to, however, and they each disappointed to a certain extent, especially Kuz.

Skjei is great. Hope Girardi, Staal, and Nash prove immoveable and they are forced to trade people they don't want to.

The forwards I was most impressed with in each round were:

Rangers: DNQ
Capitals: Burakovsky
Lightning: Drouin
Sharks: Donskoi

I knew Burakovsky was legit but he was the Caps most consistent forward for my money. On a team with Ovi, Kuznetsov, Backstrom, and Oshie, that's damn impressive.

Drouin made the Lightnings brass look like fools this post season. Hopefully the damage is done and the Lightning still trade him. That team has enough talent.

Didn't even know who Donskoi was. That kid is for real.
- Victoro311

Matt Murray. You know when you buy a new pair of shoes without walking around in them long enough? You get home and for weeka you make excuses for the poor purchase before finally admitting it ws a bad purchase. This is kind of like Matt Murrays season. but his team dragged him to a stanley cup so now were stuck with uncomfortable shoes. I agree with the rest.

Matt Murray. You know when you buy a new pair of shoes without walking around in them long enough? You get home and for weeka you make excuses for the poor purchase before finally admitting it ws a bad purchase. This is kind of like Matt Murrays season. but his team dragged him to a stanley cup so now were stuck with uncomfortable shoes. I agree with the rest.
- Grinder47

you know when you buy new shoes but there are holes everywhere. that is how having fleury in goal feels

I couldn't see us taking off Barrie without moving maata. We would lose a top 6 wing which we don't have a ton of and then have a log jam of top 4 d. Letang, maata, Daley, dumoulin and then Barrie would alone top 2 pairing guys. Isn't Barrie looking for like 6 per year. Only guy we could trade them is maata since dumoulin is cheap this year.
- sditulli

Assuming we could sign him to a reasonable deal, I would totally trade Maatta for Barrie.

So

Maatta + Hornqvist + ? for Duchene + Barrie

It's an on the spot blockbuster so I'm prepared for that to be ripped apart.

Matt Murray. You know when you buy a new pair of shoes without walking around in them long enough? You get home and for weeka you make excuses for the poor purchase before finally admitting it ws a bad purchase. This is kind of like Matt Murrays season. but his team dragged him to a stanley cup so now were stuck with uncomfortable shoes. I agree with the rest.
- Grinder47

Trolling today I see. Murray went from God level to league average goaltending. He's a pup and has a few flaws to fix.

Really liked what I saw from Donskoi in the series and same with Karlsson. Donskoi was a former Florida draft pick. I guess he didn't impress the brass during camps and they didn't sign him.
- Oneonta Penguin

Agree. I didn't even know who Donskoi was but had to look him up and was shocked he only had 11 goals. Seems like a great player but light on production.

Assuming we could sign him to a reasonable deal, I would totally trade Maatta for Barrie.

So

Maatta + Hornqvist + ? for Duchene + Barrie

It's an on the spot blockbuster so I'm prepared for that to be ripped apart.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Duchene at 6 per. Barrie I'm guessing 6 per in new deal. So we need to find 3.3 or so in cap. Trade fleury I guess

To even make it debatable the + is either sprong and a 2nd or both 2nds this years a next years 1st

Duchene at 6 per. Barrie I'm guessing 6 per in new deal. So we need to find 3.3 or so in cap. Trade fleury I guess

To even make it debatable the + is either sprong and a 2nd or both 2nds this years a next years 1st
- sditulli

If Maatta rebounds he's gonna be really cost effective for us. Definitely more cost effective than Barrie at 6 mil. Barrie is a borderline 1D with a bit more potential left that could be unlocked on a good team. We have a legit 1D already (albeit slightly fragile), so Barrie would be a luxurie. That being said, he's a better systemic fit than Olli and we have a bigger need at RD than LD. Barrie can also serve as Letang endurance where as Dumo and Maatta, for as good as they are, really can't.

I'd consider Maatta for Barrie we had a good feeling we could resign Barrie to ~5 mil.

Right, Burakovsky didn't do much in way of production, but I didn't particularly expect him to. I expected Ovi, Kuz, Backstrom, and Oshi to, however, and they each disappointed to a certain extent, especially Kuz.

Skjei is great. Hope Girardi, Staal, and Nash prove immoveable and they are forced to trade people they don't want to.
- Victoro311

Dan Girdardi- NMC
Marc Staal- NMC
Ryan McDonagh- NTC (but obviously NYR protect him)
Brady Skjei- Played a full pro season this year between NYR/Hartford, so he will have 2 pro seasons at the end of next year.

Expansion draft rules- Only 3 D can be protected.

uh oh! The Ranger may need to choose between Skjei and McDonagh if they can't find a way to move either Girardi or Staal by the expansion draft. Love it.

Assuming we could sign him to a reasonable deal, I would totally trade Maatta for Barrie.

So

Maatta + Hornqvist + ? for Duchene + Barrie

It's an on the spot blockbuster so I'm prepared for that to be ripped apart.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I don't know why Colorado is looking to deal one of its two competent Dmen and its best PMD. Sakic is a moron really if he does deal him. I don't see a plan in Colorado at all. I don't know how that helps Colorado to be honest. That ??? better be big.

Duchene at 6 per. Barrie I'm guessing 6 per in new deal. So we need to find 3.3 or so in cap. Trade fleury I guess

To even make it debatable the + is either sprong and a 2nd or both 2nds this years a next years 1st
- sditulli

I was actually going to include Fleury in the deal but I have no idea how Varlamov's off-ice situation is.

Either way, yes, Fleury or Kunitz would need to be dumped at some point. Maatta is a great young player and I think he will rebound but theres enough question marks with his skating. A deal like this would make a fast team even faster.

I don't know why Colorado is looking to deal one of its two competent Dmen and its best PMD. Sakic is a moron really if he does deal him. I don't see a plan in Colorado at all. I don't know how that helps Colorado to be honest. That ??? better be big.
- Oneonta Penguin

That's the only reason I threw it out there. I have no idea why Colorado would trade either player but its being talked about as much as Drouin was last TDL. The plus is probably Sprong or at least 2nd round picks. I think Colorado is a prime team to rob blindly so we dont need to go overboard on making it a fair deal.

Based on past history they will value guys like Hornqvist and Maatta like gold nuggets imo.