I wouldn't mind Zuccarello but Radulov I'm definitely not understanding the fascination there. I understand he's offensively talented but so was zheredev.
- JoeRussomanno

What did Zherdev hurt, other then his own worth? As a matter of fact hating Zherdev might have actually brought the rest of the team together.

I disagree.. Zherdev is supremely talented.. He has posted 61 points and 58 points in the NHL... Radulov never broke 60 points.. They both have the talent to be elite players... but they lack heart and drive.

Very very similar players
- jak521

Zherdev was also a top five pick only a year before Radulov was drafted, and played significantly more in the NHL than Rads. Nick Zherdev flirted with the same nearly sixty point, 20-25 goal range Radulov was in during his two season in the NHL. I see them as very similar players, both in poor temperament and in scoring prowess. If anything, Zherdev was a marginally more reliable gamble as a free agent.

absolutely... but that wasnt the argument. Jagr has said money is not the factor... but his role with the team is.
- jak521

I'm sure money will play a small part also. I don't see Jagr taking a paycut imo.

If the Taliban combined a team with Al Qaeda I would want them to beat the Devils 50-0.

The last round Devs/Rangers was tough, I dislike the Devils franchise with every fiber of my being, but I also hate Tortorella with the strength of a million burning suns. I had no one to root for there.
- PLindbergh31

see I cant hate the devils. When they had Claude Lemieux, Scott Stevens and Stephan Richer, yea I could trade my left kidney to watch their franchise become the Winnipeg jets but over the years I can't help but admire the way Lou has built a team with frugality and just good old fashion sound judgement.

He puts up very good offensive numbers and sees a lot of icetime. It's not in any way semantics.
- MJL

I dont think he is a top pairing guy, which by my defination is a 2nd tier guy... You obviously have a different defination of 2nd tier then I do... it is semantics, and frankly not worth argueing about.

Could you please elaborate? Why you think this? Thanks.
- coffee junkie

He is prone to costly mistakes, and often makes very questionable reads. He put up some good offensive #'s this year, but wasnt so great in his own end.

What did Zherdev hurt, other then his own worth? As a matter of fact hating Zherdev might have actually brought the rest of the team together.
- RooNosHockey

he was a waste of a Roster space and such a defensive liability he couldn't see the ice in an offensive system. The idea is to maximize your roster not hinder it with under-achievers and risk corroding your locker-room.

I'm sure money will play a small part also. I don't see Jagr taking a paycut imo.
- stveshdy

i wouldnt be surprised.. but it wouldnt be a big cut...

He has.. He wants to play in the top 6, get pp time and have a right handed center (if I remember correctly).
- jak521

Columbus meets that criteria. And he can play along side Letestu or Johanson.

see I cant hate the devils. When they had Claude Lemieux, Scott Stevens and Stephan Richer, yea I could trade my left kidney to watch their franchise become the Winnipeg jets but over the years I can't help but admire the way Lou has built a team with frugality and just good old fashion sound judgement.
- JoeRussomanno

I respect what they have built, and Lamoriello is one of the best executives in all of sports, I still dislike them.

If the Taliban combined a team with Al Qaeda I would want them to beat the Devils 50-0.

The last round Devs/Rangers was tough, I dislike the Devils franchise with every fiber of my being, but I also hate Tortorella with the strength of a million burning suns. I had no one to root for there.
- PLindbergh31

I told my Rangers friend that if he paid for all my beers at the bar I would root for the Rangers till the end of the year.... Never said which Rangers, so he was pretty pissed when I boo'd a Rangers goal.

I dont think he is a top pairing guy, which by my defination is a 2nd tier guy... You obviously have a different defination of 2nd tier then I do... it is semantics, and frankly not worth argueing about.
- RooNosHockey

Its not semantics though.. He is going to get paid handsomely by some team.. If he was in the 3-4.5 mill range id agree that he would be a 2nd tier guy.. but I honestly think he will see Wisniewski money.

Columbus meets that criteria. And he can play along side Letestu or Johanson.
- 77rams

are they contenders? Thats part of it. He wants to win again..

Id bet that if the Rangers offered him the role he wants and 3mil.. or the Blue Jackets offered him the role he wants and 5mil.. hed be a Rag.

see I cant hate the devils. When they had Claude Lemieux, Scott Stevens and Stephan Richer, yea I could trade my left kidney to watch their franchise become the Winnipeg jets but over the years I can't help but admire the way Lou has built a team with frugality and just good old fashion sound judgement.
- JoeRussomanno

But the same system they used to win, also made sure they had ZERO fan support. So not only do I hate the franchise as a rival, I despize the fact that a fan base about as fanatical as the Atlanta Thrashers has all those Cups... What a waste.

Souray = left handed

But the same system they used to win, also made sure they had ZERO fan support. So not only do I hate the franchise as a rival, I despize the fact that a fan base about as fanatical as the Atlanta Thrashers has all those Cups... What a waste.
- RooNosHockey

he was a waste of a Roster space and such a defensive liability he couldn't see the ice in an offensive system. The idea is to maximize your roster not hinder it with under-achievers and risk corroding your locker-room.
- JoeRussomanno

He wasn't a waste of space, they waived him. Besides he did score like 12-15 goals on the 4th line in the limited time he did get... I don't think he was a waste, just a gamble that didn't work out. He didnt hurt anyone but himself.

I disagree.. Zherdev is supremely talented.. He has posted 61 points and 58 points in the NHL... Radulov never broke 60 points.. They both have the talent to be elite players... but they lack heart and drive.

Very very similar players
- jak521

Ok forget what I said about Radulov and Zherdev. I'm just not a huge fan of comparing for comparisons sake.

Regardless, Radulov would not work here. Every mistake he would make would be heavily scrutinized a la Bryz.

Souray = left handed
- MrPerfect316

And broken.

Its not semantics though.. He is going to get paid handsomely by some team.. If he was in the 3-4.5 mill range id agree that he would be a 2nd tier guy.. but I honestly think he will see Wisniewski money.
- jak521

You see Wideman getting $5M+ ?

26 goals and 58 points as a 21 year old
- bradleyc4

Yep, still not a more proven NHL player over Zherdev.

I'm with you. There's noway I make a play for Radulov.
- stveshdy

Why are we even talking about signing offensive guys? We had the 3rd most goals for in the league last year and may only lose Jagr from that lineup. Homer is going after D and going after it hard.

Why are we even talking about signing offensive guys? We had the 3rd most goals for in the league last year and may only lose Jagr from that lineup. Homer is going after D and going after it hard.
- Jimmygrazz

Defense is first priority. How many defenseman do you see Homer adding?

He wasn't a waste of space, they waived him. Besides he did score like 12-15 goals on the 4th line in the limited time he did get... I don't think he was a waste, just a gamble that didn't work out. He didnt hurt anyone but himself.
- RooNosHockey

He was an absloute waste. And he absloutely hurt the team with his lackadaisical play and poor work ethic. He was given an opportunity and squandered it. And that 2M Cap space could've been used elsewhere. Not interested in going down that road again.

Defense is first priority. How many defenseman do you see Homer adding? BTW, Daman is the Da Man
- stveshdy

I see him adding one, at most.

Thought for the day - what is the most you would be willing to sacrifice (picks and players) to get Weber?