Wouldn't "transplants" still be loyal to the team they grew up supporting, or supported all their lives?

If that's the case, then as a "transplant" they are not invested in the local team. And if the local team is a consistent loser, why spend the dollars to go see them?
- EKolb13

True. But, over time, the local team could grow on them, especially if it is from a different conference. Or if they have kids that grow up supporting the local team.

Until the team gets that wheelhorse stud defenceman, the Isles (and other teams) with great young players won't make the big step to Stanley Cup Final contention. That's where the Lightning have the leg up on the rest of the East - Hedman.
- RickJ

Are u discounting NYR - McDonough, MTL - Subban bc there on elite level, difference is that the lightening have a better offense then those 2 teams. Even though I get ur point, I slightly disagree bc I think a more collective group of Dmen are required w/at least 1 being elite... Lets not forget the G who plays the biggest part...

Thank You!!! ^^^^^^^

Also Flyers and Isles fans.. how exactly does one show decline during an offseason? Because Sharp had fine numbers through last season and was put on the 3rd line before the season started. I'm guessing Q just knew somehow he was declining based upon his offseason of rest and relaxation? Grasping at straws boys.

If you had two seasons back to back of decline I'd say you are right. But one season while spending time on the 3rd line does not say definite decline. It says his role changed which caused the decline.
- CaptainInsano

theres a reason he was moved to a 3rd line checking role. if his skills were still the same, and q thought him to be the same player, he wouldnt be moved to a 3rd line role. its pretty simple to understand.

Or....wait for it..........the Chicago Cubs?
- SteveRain

Not that place is a dump.

theres a reason he was moved to a 3rd line checking role. if his skills were still the same, and q thought him to be the same player, he wouldnt be moved to a 3rd line role. its pretty simple to understand.
- flyershockey

It's simple if you watched the games. Saad upped his game and passed Sharp in effectiveness on the first line. Sharp was still the same Sharp, Saad was just a young guy doing way better.

theres a reason he was moved to a 3rd line checking role. if his skills were still the same, and q thought him to be the same player, he wouldnt be moved to a 3rd line role. its pretty simple to understand.
- flyershockey

And he was put back on the top line during the latter half of the SCF, when the 'Hawks went 3-0 vs the Bolts, outscoring them 6-2. Besides, Q is always changing line combo's.

Are u discounting NYR - McDonough, MTL - Subban bc there on elite level, difference is that the lightening have a better offense then those 2 teams. Even though I get ur point, I slightly disagree bc I think a more collective group of Dmen are required w/at least 1 being elite... Lets not forget the G who plays the biggest part...
- Ur Not Me

How often do coaches gameplan to get their scorers away from a guy like McDonagh or Subban, or even Karlsson?

Guys like Keith, Weber, Doughty, Hedman, and Chara (to a lesser extent these days) are the ones who can impact games just based on matchups. Notice a theme? 3 of those guys won cups, and another was just in a very close final.

Is this a new team that hasn't been discussed?
- Vukota

No idea, what it says is what I was told, great source (Canadian)

And he was put back on the top line during the latter half of the SCF, when the 'Hawks went 3-0 vs the Bolts, outscoring them 6-2. Besides, Q is always changing line combo's.
- blackhawk24

sometimes to the detriment of his own team

theres a reason he was moved to a 3rd line checking role. if his skills were still the same, and q thought him to be the same player, he wouldnt be moved to a 3rd line role. its pretty simple to understand.
- flyershockey

If you don't watch the Blackhawks then why are you commenting? The Hawks 3rd line is not a checking line, it's a scoring line. He was put there to add an additional threat on that line and create more difficult matchups.

The fourth line is the checking line in Chicago, and has been since about 2011.

No idea, what it says is what I was told, great source (Canadian)
- John Jaeckel

Gotcha thanks

You're misinformed. Average annual value of the full contract.
- Sandus

As others have commented - the "5 year" thing is for offer sheets - as in an offer sheet can have a term of up to 5 years. Other term limitations are 8 years to re-sign your own free agent, and 7 years to sign a free agent from another team. But in all cases AAV ("cap hit") is total contract $ divided by number of years.

MLB expanded to Tampa after Jerry threatened to move the Sox their back in the early 90s to leverage that dump he calls US Cellular out of the state.

With that being said, the reason they looked at Tampa was all the east coast snow birds and retirees who they thought they could get. instead, those same fans remained loyal to the NYY and Boston Red Sox. All you have to do is look at Tampa's and Miami's attendance in baseball and it's pretty clear.

If I'm a professional athlete I would NEVER want to go to Florida to play. To live? Sure....tax breaks. To play? Nope....unless you are a Miami Dolphin.
- SteveRain

Steve, no problems for the Lighting, they mostly sell out

If you don't watch the Blackhawks then why are you commenting? The Hawks 3rd line is not a checking line, it's a scoring line. He was put there to add an additional threat on that line and create more difficult matchups.

The fourth line is the checking line in Chicago, and has been since about 2011.
- Sandus

Hard to disagree with this post. Hits the nail on the head with everything he says.
Sandus-1
flyershockey-0

Until the team gets that wheelhorse stud defenceman, the Isles (and other teams) with great young players won't make the big step to Stanley Cup Final contention. That's where the Lightning have the leg up on the rest of the East - Hedman.
- RickJ

The Isles have Leddy.

And he was put back on the top line during the latter half of the SCF, when the 'Hawks went 3-0 vs the Bolts, outscoring them 6-2. Besides, Q is always changing line combo's.
- blackhawk24

in the last 3 games he had 1 goal, 1 assist, 13 16 and 15 min respectively, and 4 shots on goal. his role (or impact) didnt really change that much.

theres a reason he was moved to a 3rd line checking role. if his skills were still the same, and q thought him to be the same player, he wouldnt be moved to a 3rd line role. its pretty simple to understand.
- flyershockey

He had decent production in the playoffs. 23GP 5G, 10A. End result....??? What was it??

Wait, I thought the cap hit was derived by using 5 years as a calculating number even if the term is longer..

Somebody help me out here... am I misinformed?
- Katana777

yes.

Yep...and Sharp went to college at Vermont. he's an east coast guy.

Agreed 100%. Campbell deal is up in 1 year. Unlikely he stays in FLA and Sharp doesn't want to be left watching Bolland sit on the IR for 40+ games and playing in front of 5K fans a night in his final year of his deal.
- SteveRain

and hes so damn good looking.

If I'm understanding this correctly, FLA has to have one of their own rostered players approve said-trade because he has a NTC.

The Panthers with NTC's are:

Bolland - Nope.
Jokinen - Double-nope.
Campbell - Way too expensive - nope.
Mitchell - Possibly, but hefty hit for a 38-year-old. Nope.
Bobby Lu - Hmmm ....
- TommyHawk

What about Marc savard. He is on LTIR, was his contract insured or are the Panthers paying for it?

The better question is who would not have Chicago on their trade list?

If you don't watch the Blackhawks then why are you commenting? The Hawks 3rd line is not a checking line, it's a scoring line. He was put there to add an additional threat on that line and create more difficult matchups.

The fourth line is the checking line in Chicago, and has been since about 2011.
- Sandus

every teams 4th line is a checking line. and so is the 3rd, for the most part. the guys on the 3rd line obviously have more ability to score than a 4th line, but hardly a scoring line, as evidenced by sharp's decline in numbers.

sometimes to the detriment of his own team
- flyershockey

You got a point. Q is only batting .429 with the 'Hawks. Three cups in seven seasons.

theres a reason he was moved to a 3rd line checking role. if his skills were still the same, and q thought him to be the same player, he wouldnt be moved to a 3rd line role. its pretty simple to understand.
- flyershockey

No, it's not that simple. Line choices depend on chemistry and how each player's style fits with his line mates. Saad provides more of a burst than Sharp. That would have been true whether Sharp was a rookie or a vet. Sharp is probably better on the boards. Saad was solid on a 3rd line in 13 but Q wanted to couple that outside speed with T and H. He also trusted Sharp to fit lower for many reasons.

I'm not sure Sharp has lost a step. Maybe. I have no doubt his numbers would have been better on line 1. Shooting percentage this year vs his career sort of back this up. The eye test does as well. When Sharp was moved up late in the POs he was much more noticeable. Even when he was 3rd line he had a few games in the early rounds where he was one of their best players on the ice. Cite his TOI and points as much as you want. Those of who watched the team all year saw the difference.

I go to Hollywood for a week in March every year. First year we went my wife and I thought we would go to a Panther's game on a late Sunday afternoon. I naturally assumed the rink was sort of downtown Miami. When I found out where Sunrise was I was shocked and then understood the reason for attendance issues.
- RickJ

Transportation didn't seem to matter when the Hawks played their last Winter, the place was filled

He had decent production in the playoffs. 23GP 5G, 10A. End result....??? What was it??
- niceMelons35

yes, patrick sharp was the difference between winning the cup and not winning the cup, youre right.