.....And not even a bad GM is going to take Bickell with injury concerns without getting money held back and that doesn't work now....Maybe later but not now.
- Al

Why does money have to be held back? He is in the first year of the contract and for what it's worth the contract it is at a fair market value. If this was his 2nd or 3rd year and he was riddled with injury during that time I could see money being held back as a concern or a need. However like I said, if you have a team going into a rebuild and/or already in one than why not take a player like Bickel who is young, had a strong post season, and his cap hit is not going to kill you......4 million per year in his third year of his contract could be a steal.....and two years from now even if he has been "often injured" the dollar amount won't scare teams away from taking a chance.

Alright ...check these out

Pete Yorn
Matt Pond Pa
Gaslught Anthem
The Hold Steady
Richie Kotzen
Alberta Cross
Jarrod Gorbel
The Shore
Sloan
Old 97's
- UnnamedSource

Already like Gaslight and Pete Yorn. First listen through of everyone and Alberta Cross and Jarrod Gorbel stand out. I'm more an acoustic and slower paced guy so some of that stuff is a little heavy for me, but thanks. And, The Apache Relay, The Decemberists, TV on the Radio, Portugal. The Man (my favorite band right now), Milo Greene, and Cold War Kids. If you're into any other genres outside of rock let me know, I'm a fan of pretty much every kind of music outside of metal. Thanks for sharing man, love hearing new music.

I'll be waiting in line. I'll save you a spot.
- Elbows15

No wait for you....u front of da line

Hit him with the recycled beer already and get it over with. He has an incurable case of the Suck.
- Q...argh

Seems like Regin is a shot in the dark for Stan and co....i like the fact he played a nice chunk of the season in the NHL...but his numbers are zzzzzzzzzz

Already like Gaslight and Pete Yorn. First listen through of everyone and Alberta Cross and Jarrod Gorbel stand out. I'm more an acoustic and slower paced guy so some of that stuff is a little heavy for me, but thanks. And, The Apache Relay, The Decemberists, TV on the Radio, Portugal. The Man (my favorite band right now), Milo Greene, and Cold War Kids. If you're into any other genres outside of rock let me know, I'm a fan of pretty much every kind of music outside of metal. Thanks for sharing man, love hearing new music.
- rollpards19

Matt Pond is good if you like acoustic........Cold War Kids is a great band....

Never heard of any of these guys. Can any of them skate? Are they hitters? Can ANY of them fill the damned 2C hole?
- mohel

One of them may get votes for the Calder.....like 37

Seems like Regin is a shot in the dark for Stan and co....i like the fact he played a nice chunk of the season in the NHL...but his numbers are zzzzzzzzzz
- philco28

I still think Regin is a low risk move. Who knows if Regin will be the 2C, 13th toward or something in between. For a 4th round pick you won't do much better. If it works out great, if not then ship him to Rockford and try something else.

Can't get away with that unless you are PK Subban.

I don't mean to dismiss Johns....But unless he is a true standout in College, considering he is a senior...I wouldn't count on seeing him in Chgo for some time.
- Al

The only 35 game a year college kid defencemen that jump right into the NHL are those with offensive skills and great mobility. And it's usually a bad NHL team that that does it, not a Cup contender.

If Johns is just a big, aggressive kid with lots of flaws in his game right now he"ll get undressed quick - in both the NHL and the AHL.

No wait for you....u front of da line

- philco28

You think I am only doing this once?

One of them may get votes for the Calder.....like 37
- UnnamedSource

"Let the record show your Honor, it was him that brought this shame to our great thread." "It was free of this pestilence until such time as one Mr. US had to broach the subject that has divided this house". "So cast your aspersion upon this rabblerouser".

"Let the record show your Honor, it was him that brought this shame to our great thread." "It was free of this pestilence until such time as one Mr. US had to broach the subject that has divided this house". "So cast your aspersion upon this rabblerouser".
- Elbows15

I will take my lashings your honor......but it was after midnight.....like late night cable

I will take my lashings your honor......but it was after midnight.....like late night cable
- UnnamedSource

What? Keeping up with Kardashian doesn't do it for ya?

Yep. Music is an extremely personal thing TC. Hard to take? Finger nails on a blackboard is a more pleasant sound.

What is called classic rock is what i grew up with. I am tired of it.

FWIW. I hate (frank)ing Eric Clapton and Fleetwood Mac too.
- Elbows15

I assume you hate the Stevie Nicks/ Lindsay Buckingham Fleetwood Mac.

Try the Peter Green version - early FM that was a straight-ahead British blues band - and one of the best.

Green was a better axe-man than Clapton.

Nope.

When it is clear that Dave Bolland's agent is clear that he can get 5 million for Bolland in the UFA market, Bickells 4 mil is no hardship...
does it get you Callahan long term, then maybe I would smell smoke.

Not happening, l'il Ecklund!
- wiz1901

Any GM that pays Bolland $5 mill should be fired. Are you nuts. A walking wounded soldier, that is Bolland. Why even last season he was hurting in the playoffs. Not the same Bolland as the first Cup. Though he had a big moment against Bruins.

Any GM that pays Bolland $5 mill should be fired. Are you nuts. A walking wounded soldier, that is Bolland. Why even last season he was hurting in the playoffs. Not the same Bolland as the first Cup. Though he had a big moment against Bruins.
- jhawk59

Find another analogy please. I, as much as anyone, use crazy stuff to make a point. To compare a hockey player to a soldier wounded in battle is outside the line, imo.

Why does money have to be held back? He is in the first year of the contract and for what it's worth the contract it is at a fair market value. If this was his 2nd or 3rd year and he was riddled with injury during that time I could see money being held back as a concern or a need. However like I said, if you have a team going into a rebuild and/or already in one than why not take a player like Bickel who is young, had a strong post season, and his cap hit is not going to kill you......4 million per year in his third year of his contract could be a steal.....and two years from now even if he has been "often injured" the dollar amount won't scare teams away from taking a chance.
- UnnamedSource

Why SHOULD a team take that chance on Bryan Bickell? He's 6'4" 230 lbs. He theoretically should be a menace to play against with that size and wrist-shot ability. If it wasn't for his "magical" post-season, would he still even be wearing an Indian sweater this season? If I'm paying a player $4 million annually, I expect production. I certainly don't expect him to be in the dog-house or a healthy scratch every now and then to wake him up. And I certainly am not paying him that kind of money to produce a mere 20 points and a negative +/- (albeit worst on the team) of a Stanley Cup contender.

THIS is exactly why you don't take gambles on "one year wonders" or in this case, "one playoff wonders." I understand in this day and age with the salary cap increasing and players salaries inflating every year that $4 million isn't what it used to be, but rather "market value", but that's still a good chunk of the salary cap that could be attributed elsewhere.

If you find ANYONE to take on Bickell and that contract, you don't think twice. He's on pace for his third straight 20-point season. He certainly leaves more to be desired, and that hasn't changed during his four-year tenure in Chicago.

Bickell to Philly.... I hope not

Bickell and McNeil for Bourque and Eller. There is no other way.

Why does money have to be held back? He is in the first year of the contract and for what it's worth the contract it is at a fair market value. If this was his 2nd or 3rd year and he was riddled with injury during that time I could see money being held back as a concern or a need. However like I said, if you have a team going into a rebuild and/or already in one than why not take a player like Bickel who is young, had a strong post season, and his cap hit is not going to kill you......4 million per year in his third year of his contract could be a steal.....and two years from now even if he has been "often injured" the dollar amount won't scare teams away from taking a chance.
- UnnamedSource

nobody is gonna want bickell, and if they do, they're aren't going to give up anything remotely valuable to get him.

the guy is a 2.0 - 2.5 mil player, who went on a heater at the best possible moment, and got paid for it. GMs are going to look at his entire career, realize that he's a good 3rd liner on a bad contract, and make offers accordingly. there are tons of players EXACTLY like him who will be available, and who don't come with a 4 mil cap hit for the next 3 seasons.

and for the record, bickell isn't that young.....he's gonna be 28 in like a week. not sure why a rebuilding team would be interested in him.

When Bickell brings the nasty he is something special.



Thats like 10 games a year though......

When Bickell brings the nasty he is something special.



Thats like 10 games a year though......
- mrpaulish

bickell reminds me of colin greening in ottawa. is big, has all the physical tools to be dominant, but cant' seem to find any kind of consistency.

you keep thinking that a flash of greatness, here and there, is a sign that they'll finally live up to all that potential........but they always let you down (except of bickell's playoffs last year, that was ridiculous)...

and, they're both on bad contracts.


edit: my comparison is kind of freaky (at least to me, lol).....i just looked at both their stats/bios, and they even have the exact same birthday 9 mar 86, and the exact same ppg at 0.38 over their careers.

Duncs is playing excellent defense....but what are we gonna do about the 2 % shooting percentage ?
- philco28

Hey Phil I think he's still third in the league in assists or something ridiculous like that...which isn't all that bad. And another Norris on the way.

bickell reminds me of colin greening in ottawa. is big, has all the physical tools to be dominant, but cant' seem to find any kind of consistency.

you keep thinking that a flash of greatness, here and there, is a sign that they'll finally live up to all that potential........but they always let you down (except of bickell's playoffs last year, that was ridiculous)...

and, they're both on bad contracts.


edit: my comparison is kind of freaky (at least to me, lol).....i just looked at both their stats/bios, and they even have the exact same birthday 9 mar 86, and the exact same ppg at 0.38 over their careers.
- sensarmy_11

Freaky
..



Like the State Farm talking mime......

Any GM that pays Bolland $5 mill should be fired. Are you nuts. A walking wounded soldier, that is Bolland. Why even last season he was hurting in the playoffs. Not the same Bolland as the first Cup. Though he had a big moment against Bruins.
- jhawk59

Bolland is overpaid at his current salary. I was hoping he would come back this summer at $1 -1.5 but I guess there is no chance of that happening unless he gets a reality check during the off-season and gets caught without a chair.

Freaky
..



Like the State Farm talking mime......
- mrpaulish

i had to google it, dont' get that commercial up here.