How much did you lose the last two years??
- Mr.FunFacts

Actually, I won the year prior. I knew that losing Boychuk and our D looked too darn bad to get in.

Last year, I lost $50. I wasn't sold on them. People forget that this team had a real shot of winning the division just this past season. They were right up there with Florida/ Tampa for most of February/ March. They missed the playoffs by the slimmest of margins. They have a much improved team and it's still only July. I think Sweeney will try to bring in a top defenseman.

Hall-Larsson trade from Edm's perspective:
Subban - Weber trade from Mtl's perspective:
Matt Pfeffer's firing:
George McPhee's career:
Tyler Seguins dad: "With all respect to David Krejci or Milan Lucic, when the game is over, they go out with their family and hang out in the back of a restaurant. They’re nice and quiet and no one tweets about it. Tyler looks to his friends for comfort and where do his friends go? They go to the local bar."

This blog reeks of Richard Cloutier

Actually, I won the year prior. I knew that losing Boychuk and our D looked too darn bad to get in.

Last year, I lost $50. I wasn't sold on them. People forget that this team had a real shot of winning the division just this past season. They were right up there with Florida/ Tampa for most of February/ March. They missed the playoffs by the slimmest of margins. They have a much improved team and it's still only July. I think Sweeney will try to bring in a top defenseman.
- Bruiniak

Well guess we have to wait and see I wouldn't bet on them if i were you.

Well guess we have to wait and see I wouldn't bet on them if i were you.
- Mr.FunFacts

Haven't been this confident in a while. If you haven't heard in David Pastrňák yet, this would be a good year to take him in your pool.

This blog reeks of Richard Cloutier
- prismo

When there is no one like you, they have to compare you to guys who wish they could do what you do.

When there is no one like you, they have to compare you to guys who wish they could do what you do.
- James_Tanner

James, tell me why you think the Bruins aren't a good team. Forget about the other teams. Give me your analysis of the Bruins. Also, forget about the analytics BS.

Rask was never behind Pogge. He was always way ahead of Pogge. In the world juniors the shortly before he was traded Rask won tournament MVP for Finland who finished with Silver - losing to Canada and Pogge. But it was very obvious that Rask was a much better goalie.
- Njuice

Let me take you through a little timeline.

Leafs draft Pogge 90th overall in the 2004 draft. He's basically nobody.

Leafs draft Rask 21st overall in the 2005 draft.

2005-06 season. Pogge starts playing out of his mind.

Pogge beats out Carey Price to make Team Canada.

Pogge signs a contract with the Leafs on December 19, 2005.

Globe and Mail writes an article about him that will absolutely melt your heart. I'm not kidding here - shut your office door and read it. Tears will be streaming down your face:

http://www.theglobeandmai...r/article740835/?page=all

Leafs Nation falls in love with Pogge.

Pogge wins the WJC (Yes, Rask was the best goalie there).

End of 2005-06 season: Pogge wins WHL league MVP (not just goalie - all players), CHL Goaltender of the Year and the award for best GAA. Also has most shutouts.

The most important thing in all of this is what I bolded: Pogge has a signed contract.

Rask does not.

So if you are Rask, your options are to sign a contract and fight it out for top prospect, against a very, very, very highly regarded goalie who just so happened to win a gold with a maple leaf on his chest.

Or door number two: don't sign, continue playing in Sweden (which you were playing on doing anyways) and go back in the draft in one short year.

I hate JFJ as much as the next guy, but let's at least be fair. Pogge was an incredible prospect at the time - something that people conveniently forget.

Rask was not going to sign with Toronto. JFJ had to trade him.

The mistake was asking for Raycroft, who the Bruins were about to release.

Hall-Larsson trade from Edm's perspective:
Subban - Weber trade from Mtl's perspective:
Matt Pfeffer's firing:
George McPhee's career:
Tyler Seguins dad: "With all respect to David Krejci or Milan Lucic, when the game is over, they go out with their family and hang out in the back of a restaurant. They’re nice and quiet and no one tweets about it. Tyler looks to his friends for comfort and where do his friends go? They go to the local bar."
- DeflatedPucks

Montreal won just getting rid of PK

It's unfortunate that he rubs many people the wrong way but that's the way the cookie crumbles, ever try working with someone who just makes your blood boil to even hear them speak....that's what PK does to many I'm guessing.

At least they got an equal or close to as possible for the next 3-4 years.

I don't see PK turning Nashville into Champions...or being the sole reason at least.

The Benning, Sweeney and Chiarelli trifecta are excellent for league business!

OK, let's try again. The Hip's farewell tour is coming to town, and you missed out on getting a $100 ticket. You have to buy one off the web to catch the show you really want to see, costs you $200. Do you do it? An overpay for something that you feel will be valuable to you, it's not that crazy of a concept.

Like everyone else on the planet, I know that the Hall trade was not fair value, but I'll give Larsson some time to see what he can bring in Edmonton before I harshly over-criticize the deal.
- Beergu

I am starting to wonder if this is really that true.

Like you and every other armchair GM that posts on here I thought Hall's value was more than what was returned. It took me a couple of days to get over the shock but after looking into Larsson and watching as much video on him as I can I have warmed up to the trade and think the Oilers will be a better team next year because of it.

The one thing the perplexes me about Hall supposed value is that there were 28 other GM's that were fully aware that probably anyone on the Oilers was available except McDavid for the right price. Hall's name was even in the media for awhile. We either as a fan base had no real idea of what the true market value for RHD that can play in the top 1-2 pairings was or there were 28 GM's that should be fired, unless they had no need for a LW like Hall, that could make a better deal.

Which is it? All the GM's that work in NHL or all the fans that pretend they are GM's in the NHL?

I am starting to wonder if this is really that true.

Like you and every other armchair GM that posts on here I thought Hall's value was more than what was returned. It took me a couple of days to get over the shock but after looking into Larsson and watching as much video on him as I can I have warmed up to the trade and think the Oilers will be a better team next year because of it.

The one thing the perplexes me about Hall supposed value is that there were 28 other GM's that were fully aware that probably anyone on the Oilers was available except McDavid for the right price. Hall's name was even in the media for awhile. We either as a fan base had no real idea of what the true market value for RHD that can play in the top 1-2 pairings or there were 28 GM's that should be fired, unless they had no need for a LW like Hall, that could make a better deal.

Which is it? All the GM's that work in NHL or all the fans that pretend they are GM's in the NHL?
- EastCoastOiler

Rask was never behind Pogge. He was always way ahead of Pogge. In the world juniors the shortly before he was traded Rask won tournament MVP for Finland who finished with Silver - losing to Canada and Pogge. But it was very obvious that Rask was a much better goalie.
- Njuice

If my memory serves me right it was our choice of what goalie to send. Boston was ok with either Pogge or Rask going for Raycroft. For some reason our scouts/management chose Rask.

If my memory serves me right it was our choice of what goalie to send. Boston was ok with either Pogge or Rask going for Raycroft. For some reason our scouts/management chose Rask.
- sparky

I thought I read Rask didn't even want to play for TO

Montreal won just getting rid of PK

It's unfortunate that he rubs many people the wrong way but that's the way the cookie crumbles, ever try working with someone who just makes your blood boil to even hear them speak....that's what PK does to many I'm guessing.

At least they got an equal or close to as possible for the next 3-4 years.

I don't see PK turning Nashville into Champions...or being the sole reason at least.
- Garnie

Not so much PK, but Weber. Whose older and already seemingly on the decline. I think PK was traded because his personality/play clashed with the Therrien system

I see Weber being more of a disappointment

I really can't wait to watch Larsson do well in Edmonton. Never had any Powerplay time here in NJ and was given brutal defensive assignments with a very mediocre forward group that couldn't help keep the puck out of the zone. With all the talent and fast feet in Edmonton, I would assume his offensive numbers (due to pp time plus a forward group with more skill) and underlying numbers to increase. The kid learned from one of the most steady and extremely quiet defensemen in the league in Andy Greene. He's really becoming Greene 2.0 with unused offensive upside. Even back when Greene was given those offensive opportunities that he and Lars were never given, he put up 37 points in 09-10.

Larsson is extremely smart and patient. He shoots for deflections and can also shoot to score when he sees the right opportunity. He was never given offensive assignments in NJ. I'm sure he'll receive his fair share of those in EDM and will transitions very nicely there.

I thought I read Rask didn't even want to play for TO
- Garnie

See my painfully long post above.

James, tell me why you think the Bruins aren't a good team. Forget about the other teams. Give me your analysis of the Bruins. Also, forget about the analytics BS.
- Bruiniak

Their defense is a joke after Chara. Miller is OK.

They consistently make horrible moves - trading Seguin, drafting low ranked players without trading down, signing Backes, not signing Eriksson......

Their best player is getting pretty old - though he's still awesome - and they have a good goalie. Rask and Bergeron should be enough to get you close to the Playoffs at the least.

But they have no great prospects, Krejci is not very good without the puck, Backes will be a disaster.

And Don Sweeney is objectively horrible.

Its the blog that keeps on giving...

Click, click, click...

The Benning, Sweeney and Chiarelli trifecta are excellent for league business!
- DeflatedPucks

If only some teams actually hired smart enough people to take advantage.

Montreal won just getting rid of PK

It's unfortunate that he rubs many people the wrong way but that's the way the cookie crumbles, ever try working with someone who just makes your blood boil to even hear them speak....that's what PK does to many I'm guessing.

At least they got an equal or close to as possible for the next 3-4 years.

I don't see PK turning Nashville into Champions...or being the sole reason at least.
- Garnie

Based on how much charity work he does, how excited he is about the game, how hard he works at his game, how well-spoken he is, how thoughtful, interesting and just all-round classy.........actually never mind.

I hear Gretzky was traded cause he had character issues and wouldn't wait his turn to board the bus...

And you traded Subban, a top 5 defenseman in this league, for a defenseman that is signed until he's 41 years old and has already begun a rapid decline. Eriksson was a top winger when PC traded for him. Seguin was being an a-hole and the Bruins were trying to win another cup. It didn't work. That's life
- Bruiniak

You defending the Seguin trade would be like me defending the JVR - Schenn trade. It was an awful trade, get over it.

Their defense is a joke after Chara. Miller is OK.

They consistently make horrible moves - trading Seguin, drafting low ranked players without trading down, signing Backes, not signing Eriksson......

Their best player is getting pretty old - though he's still awesome - and they have a good goalie. Rask and Bergeron should be enough to get you close to the Playoffs at the least.

But they have no great prospects, Krejci is not very good without the puck, Backes will be a disaster.

And Don Sweeney is objectively horrible.
- James_Tanner

We'll agree to disagree. You didn't even mention Krug in your analysis of our D. He along with Chara and Miller make for a solid top 3. I firmly believe Sweeney will bring in another top 4 defenseman before the season starts. Then, we'll start talking about a good defense instead of an area of weakness. With Bergeron, Krejci, Rask, Backes along with younger players like Pastrňák and Hayes, you have a solid team. One, I believe, that is strong enough to win the division.

Sorry, I forgot Price. The guy who became a superstar after playing one great season in a Michel Therrien system that promotes 5 guys standing at the blueline. Price certainly had à dominant year last year.

I don't consider Price a star. Sorry. I would take Rask ahead of Price any day of the week.
- Bruiniak

You're killing it to day man