Does any awful contract even compare to DiPietro's?
- InvisibleOrange

Gomez ?

I just hope that Stan Bowman makes moves that get this NHL roster better now, I hate prospects. Ive just always felt you gotta try and win the cup. Get rid of all the prospect for NHL talent, when that talent get too old and the team turns bad then you get high picks and rebuild that way. Multiple years of 1st round exits with cap space remaining drives me nuts.
- mrpaulish

This is the time that SB needs to get the bulk of whatever changes he's going to make done now. He can't wait until the TDL because too many teams have a shot at making the playoffs so as we saw last season too many buyers > sellers = no significant trades.

This is the time that SB needs to get the bulk of whatever changes he's going to make done now. He can't wait until the TDL because too many teams have a shot at making the playoffs so as we saw last season too many buyers > sellers = no significant trades.
- jhawk159

The next two weeks is a really big deal for the Hawks , Bowman , the Fans , this core and this current window of opportunity.

We've talked about the Flyers moves before and I'm still of the same opinion.

I think the Flyers made out great, the roster is very well balanced IMO.. but now that the Kings won the Cup with Carter and Richards, they end up the winner until Philly can win one with the players they got in the deals..

I give Holmgren a great deal of respect for the balls he's had over the last couple of years..

What do you think of the Nash and Philly stuff?
- pri$ey

I think it's very real. I'm cautiously nervous about it cause I could see Homer make a move for him. They NEED defense but how could I say no if they can get him for JVR, Bob, and a 1st. I don't think Homer pays more than that with alternatives like Ryan, Parise, Suter, Bouwmeester, and possibly weber on the market.

Nash-Giroux-Jagr
Hartnell-Briere-Voracek
Schenn-Couturier-Simmonds
Sestito-Talbot-Read
Rinaldo

that does look nice.

I wouldn't so quickly discount Nashville based on proximity to Madison, WI. Is Chicago closer? Duh. But it's not like we're talking about a possible commute from Lynchburg, TN.
Smashville > Chicago or Madison/Milwaukee is a super quick plane ride.

I'm with you except here. Honestly, who wanted Mike Smith last summer? Do you think Stephan Waite could have worked the magic that the Phoenix goalie coach worked with Smith? I don't.
- NewToHockey

Ya, it is interesting. I don't think Smith was high on anyone's list, but he should have been.

But is it Burke or the Phoenix system? Ilya went to Philly and wasnt too impressive. But was that Ilya playing for a contract or away from the phoenix system or away from Burke?
But i thought SB was going to try to take the Detroit approach concerning goalies and try to stay around 1mil to 1.5 mil. We did win a cup with a 600k goalie. But we were lucky. But last year, a few goalies really performed well, Brodeur, Quick and Smith and you can say Thomas the year before.

I wouldn't so quickly discount Nashville based on proximity to Madison, WI. Is Chicago closer? Duh. But it's not like we're talking about a possible commute from Lynchburg, TN.
Smashville > Chicago or Madison/Milwaukee is a super quick plane ride.
- TNGuy04

You keep telling yourself that. When Suter signs with a midwest team, what excuse are you going to cook up then?

Count Floyd just made Soriano look like garbage. Just sayinz' all
- John Jaeckel

Congratul-effing-lations, your guy just owned an overpaid d-bag with no plate discipline.

Count Floyd.... Really ?!

I wouldn't so quickly discount Nashville based on proximity to Madison, WI. Is Chicago closer? Duh. But it's not like we're talking about a possible commute from Lynchburg, TN.
Smashville > Chicago or Madison/Milwaukee is a super quick plane ride.
- TNGuy04

Geography is only part of the reason why Suter won't re-sign. Nashville screwed the pooch by not locking them up earlier. The Preds can certainly afford Suter and Weber but what's left?

Geography is only part of the reason why Suter won't re-sign. Nashville screwed the pooch by not locking them up earlier. The Preds can certainly afford Suter and Weber but what's left?
- golfbard

I feel like both will be gone from Nashville eventually. If Suter signs in Chicago , then Detroit will balls to the wall offer sheet Weber.

It's late - but I have this thought -

1) Crawford and Montador for Bobby Lu (solves our Goalie issue)
2) Hammer and Frolik for Z. Smith and N. Foligno (adds toughness)

Saves us 1.3 million on salary.
- powerenforcer

And who's your defence in front of this mental midget??? #2, 7, 8, 27 and .....

For that head-case goalie, I'd want to have about the best 1-through-6 D in the league in front of him.

I like that 2nd move but there has to be some significant improvement in overall team defence.

Geography is only part of the reason why Suter won't re-sign. Nashville screwed the pooch by not locking them up earlier. The Preds can certainly afford Suter and Weber but what's left?
- golfbard

Plenty my friend, plenty.

I feel like both will be gone from Nashville eventually. If Suter signs in Chicago , then Detroit will balls to the wall offer sheet Weber.
- mrpaulish

I don't know if Detroit will offer sheet Weber. That's a tough call. I could see Weber doing one more year in Nashville before flying the coup via free agency.

I feel like both will be gone from Nashville eventually. If Suter signs in Chicago , then Detroit will balls to the wall offer sheet Weber.
- mrpaulish

Well, I feel like you're wrong.

And who's your defence in front of this mental midget??? #2, 7, 8, 27 and .....

For that head-case goalie, I'd want to have about the best 1-through-6 D in the league in front of him.

I like that 2nd move but there has to be some significant improvement in overall team defence.
- blackhawk24

The only thing Luongo has won is an olympic gold medal. He had 6 legit #1 defensemen playing in front of him for that.

Luongo will never have that many quality defensemen playing in front of him in the NHL.

That head case is never going to win a Stanley Cup.

Well, I feel like you're wrong.
- TNGuy04

If you feel like he's wrong, then why haven't both of them re-upped already?

I feel like both will be gone from Nashville eventually. If Suter signs in Chicago , then Detroit will balls to the wall offer sheet Weber.
- mrpaulish

DET is going to give up four 1st-round picks if NSH doesn't match?!

Well, I feel like you're wrong.
- TNGuy04

Detroit has about 25m in cap space.

If they lose out on Suter,they've got no Lidstrom and No Suter.

Do you think Nashville would match an 7 year 8m offer sheet ??

DET is going to give up four 1st-round picks if NSH doesn't match?!
- blackhawk24

They're just picks. probably 25-30th picks too

Our hero: "We're a little bit ahead of it compared to previous years," Bowman said Tuesday. "We have a lot of these guys taken care of before we hit July. There are a lot of teams looking to find players so I think it's kind of dealing from a position of strength if we choose to make moves.

"Some teams have six, seven holes they need to fill and they probably have a different task with a lot of uncertainty but for the most part we know what our roster is going to be with some minor tweaks here and there."

Minor tweaks...ehhh....bring on the lockout. I don't want to see a rerun of the past 2 years.

Sure hope he just blowing PR smoke!!!
- bogiedoc

It all depends what you want to take away from his comments yesterday...Also had comments concerning making bigger moves to improve etc...

Not all that much to be gained by trying to analyze...

Was basically a waste of time except for the Hossa, Montador comment which wasn't detailed.

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

Detroit has about 25m in cap space.

If they lose out on Suter,they've got no Lidstrom and No Suter.

Do you think Nashville would match an 7 year 8m offer sheet ??
- mrpaulish

Four 1st round picks to a division rival is a lot to give up.

They're just picks. probably 25-30th picks too
- mrpaulish

More like 20-30th picks. Still, that's a lot of picks to give up. However, the odds of them being blue chip prospects is sketchy.

It's a real hard call to give up those picks to offer sheet someone, even Weber. If I was in Holland's shoes, I'd be really torn as to which way to go with that decision.

If you feel like he's wrong, then why haven't both of them re-upped already?
- EKolb13

Agent and the way the market works. This isn't rocket science. Would you sign before you had multiple offers to drive up price? Of course not. The player wants maximum value AND a good fit.

Detroit has about 25m in cap space.

If they lose out on Suter,they've got no Lidstrom and No Suter.

Do you think Nashville would match an 7 year 8m offer sheet ??
- mrpaulish

I don't think Suter gets $8 mill and probably not $7 mill per on a longer deal...and it would not be an offer sheet....You probably meant offer.

All signs are Suter is going to sign a 7-10 year contract....

More like 20-30th picks. Still, that's a lot of picks to give up. However, the odds of them being blue chip prospects is sketchy.

It's a real hard call to give up those picks to offer sheet someone, even Weber. If I was in Holland's shoes, I'd be really torn as to which way to go with that decision.
- EKolb13

Hi Ekolb

Still smoke free?