in regard to GUS, yes if you get a great offer maybe you do move him to a team that is competing for a cup this year and needs cheap good players. but if not I think we could or should be a playoff team if we are healthy and there is nothing wrong with basically having gus as your big trade deadline deal. meaning keeping him and losing him for nothing compared to trading him for a 1st and then at the deadline picking someone up for a 1st. for the 4-5 teams competing for a CUP and in CAP hell he could have some real strong value. is there a better D out there at 1.2 that could be traded for? unless SAAD brings back a really solid d I'm not sure why you trade him?

I know people will kill me, but I would move Keith this year. his numbers are inflated being on the power play but he is a power play killer. he should PK only so his OFF stats will take a big drop if Coltan does this. Keith Seabs murph and maata is to slow IMO. I would consider Murph as well if someone wants to overpay for 4/5 RD on a cheap contract.

Listened to a podcast by Pat Boyle, Slavko Bekovic and Charlie Roumeliotis, all three had the Blackhawks taking Byram. But then again they all thought he could play in Rockford next season, so what do they know?
- walleyeb1

Yeah that was embarrassing for them. After mentioning Byram playing in Rockford, Boyle caught himself and asked the question if Byram is eligible to play in Rockford next season and one of the other guys said Zadina did last season and they all thought that was a good answer and moved on.

It's always amazed me how lazy many reporters/journalists are. Not just in hockey but in other sports and walks of life too. When guys on internet blogs who also have regular jobs know more than the paid professional whose job it is to know stuff about the team/sport/whatever it is he is supposed to be covering - that speaks volumes on the time spent and effort given by the so-called professionals.

Definitely the way we say it in the West.
- breadbag

Are you guys saying "the cottage" thing is more of a Ontario thing?

I do not know who Bowman will pick with the third overall pick, but Dale Tallon will get a better player with the 13th overall pick. And don't get me going about cap management, trades, or free agent signings.

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Are you guys saying "the cottage" thing is more of a Ontario thing?
- Beaver-Warrior

Yes. I actually work for a company that owns the "Cottage Life" brand.

Ain’t that the truth. We’re all just guessing with minimal information, time will tell.
- walleyeb1

Both guys seemed to step it up come playoff time for the Jr teams. Boqvist was leading the OHL in goals for the post-season when his team was eliminated (10 goals in 11 games). There was another dman who eventually ended up with 10 post-season goals, but he played 24 games.

It was just interesting to see that when London was defeated, it was Boqvist leading the playoffs in goals and his teammate (Oilers draft pick) Bouchard leading in assists and points. Two guys from the blueline really contributing offense.

Boqvist should be a really dynamic player when he is ready, but we all know the question mark will be his ability to physically handle forwards and shoring up his defense. It was pretty clear last pre-season he was pushed around too easily and forwards were able to shake him and get free to create chances.

Pierre McGuire was talking to GMs last night and he said the chatter is that there will be offer sheets this year and there's a really good chance that someone takes a run at Marner.

Kapanen, to a lesser degree could be targeted as well.
- Tyler Cameron

This is what I’ve been saying. Offer sheet Marner for 5 years $10.567 mil to avoid compensating 4 1sts and force TOR to make a move early.

Definitely the way we say it in the West.
- breadbag

Right. Besides, wtf is a cottage?!

Are you guys saying "the cottage" thing is more of a Ontario thing?
- Beaver-Warrior

The only “cottage” here is cheese....

This is what I’ve been saying. Offer sheet Marner for 5 years $10.567 mil to avoid compensating 4 1sts and force TOR to make a move early.
- Assman22

The other consideration is if the Hawks do land Marner, this would be the last season of ADB, because the Hawks would not be able to afford him, of course you would probably get at least one first rounder back.

That's been done before
- paulr

Now now ... we mustn't speak ill of the "departed".

As far as I know Tyler hasn't been guilty of that and I'm sure we all appreciate it ... we love you Tyler ... now give us rumors.

Any idea where Byram would have ranked in last years defense heavy draft?
- mike7076

I heard behind Hughes ahead of Boquist, Bouchard and Dobson

Is he worth 2 firsts, a second and a third if the Hawks offered $10.5mil?, especially since the Hawks have drafted 8th and 3rd the last two years? Anything over $10.5 is 4 firsts, which I think is too rich a price.
- LAHawk

There is NO scenerio where Toronto does not match a 10.5 million offer sheet.
So, be prepared to lose 4 1sts if you are serious about trying to get Marner.

kapanen may be the better bet to be offered....

Are you guys saying "the cottage" thing is more of a Ontario thing?
- Beaver-Warrior

I think it may be a middle of the northern part of the continent thing because my buddies up in Minnesota say cottage.

Are you guys saying "the cottage" thing is more of a Ontario thing?
- Beaver-Warrior

Definately seems to be the case....

There is NO scenerio where Toronto does not match a 10.5 million offer sheet.
So, be prepared to lose 4 1sts if you are serious about trying to get Marner.

kapanen may be the better bet to be offered....
- hawk35

Well that would be the ultimate goal, Marner signs for $10.5, the cap goes to $81.5, and Toronto has to look to dump salary, circa Blackhawks June 2010.

This is what I’ve been saying. Offer sheet Marner for 5 years $10.567 mil to avoid compensating 4 1sts and force TOR to make a move early.
- Assman22

The player has to agree to sign the offer sheet and if he's turning down $11M from Toronto - he's probably not going to sign an offer for less.

@SportsnetSpec
Mark Spector Retweeted Sportsnet
Puljujarvi won’t play for Oilers next season. If he’s not traded, he’ll head for Europe.

@DhaliwalSports

6 million per season for Edler in a new 2 year deal.

I think it may be a middle of the northern part of the continent thing because my buddies up in Minnesota say cottage.
- EbonyRaptor

I think for Canada it also comes back to building materials. Cabin usually made from logs(wood) and cottage usually made from other things, Brick, Stone, etc... which is way more common in the East.

For me, living in Western Canada, Brick/Stone is expensive to build with, so wood means cabin.

Well that would be the ultimate goal, Marner signs for $10.5, the cap goes to $81.5, and Toronto has to look to dump salary, circa Blackhawks June 2010.
- LAHawk

If he would sign for 10.5.....I think that deal would be done about now. Look for 11+

If he would sign for 10.5.....I think that deal would be done about now. Look for 11+
- hawk35

I thought Toronto was hoping he would sign for $9 mil.?

SI: "Following a breakout 94-point season, Marner wants over $10 million per year. Contract negotiations have reached a stalemate as the Leafs have less than $8.8 million to sign Marner and five more players to complete an active roster.

Destinations: The Devils have the No. 1 overall pick, a ton of cap space and a need to lure Taylor Hall into a contract extension. In the West, the Blackhawks have a short window to capitalize on Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane’s careers and enough prospects in the system to swallow losing draft capital. Fantasies aside, Marner will be back in Toronto one way or another."

Pierre McGuire was talking to GMs last night and he said the chatter is that there will be offer sheets this year and there's a really good chance that someone takes a run at Marner.

Kapanen, to a lesser degree could be targeted as well.
- Tyler Cameron

Offer sheets cannot be extended til July 1, correct?

If Panarin was on the team, they would of traded him at the trade deadline or signed him to a contract with an AAV of $10mil. and would be in cap hell. Plus even with Panarin (less Saad), the Hawks would of been a bubble team at best.
- LAHawk

Yeah the Blackhawks saw the massive contract coming and I think made the call that they didn't want to shell it out for Panarin. He's definitely better than Saad overall, but Saad offers a lot at a much lesser rate, so I don't think it was that terrible of a trade, the fact of the matter is that players can't just be valued on how good they are at playing hockey, but have to be valued based on how good they are at hockey and what their contract looks like.