Bettman said exactly that in a presser last weekend.

You gotta love the snide SOB - he couldn't resist pointing out that he got considerable heat for not naming the bubble cities earlier - and he was proven right to hold off until the last moment.

I know I'm the only one on earth, but I love the Bettman.
- Atomic Wedgie

I don't love him, but I like him and I think he has been good for the league.

Askarov
- AdamFrench

Kids a beauty, drafting goalies high makes me want to vomit though.

Marner and Tavares weren't good enough?

Matthews and Nylander weren't the right guys?
- Atomic Wedgie

We all saw Kapanen wasnt a good fit to those pairs. I said he's a 3rd liner with some 2nd line potential - depending on fit to his linemates.

It is so funny how all of a sudden people are so down on Kapanen after he's traded (btw, go back to the prediction thread on how I thought about Kapanen and how others posted about him)

Marner and Tavares weren't good enough?

Matthews and Nylander weren't the right guys?
- Atomic Wedgie

Nailed it!

Keefe has had success at every level and to do that you can't be a one-trick pony who relies solely on offense or defense.

Let's give Keefe a chance to run with a team for an entire season. A team that isn't severely flawed (Dubas, fix the damn d-corps and add some sandpaper to the forward group!).

Agreed on the goalie situation though. One wonders how Andy would do with a team that could be a bit more well-rounded?
- mjones242

This is simply not true.

He won at that weird level with the Pembroke Lumber Kings - where he had the most money to spend.

He didn't really do jack-squat with the Greyhounds.

And he won at the AHL level - with a budget 3X what every other team had.

I worry that Dubas relies too much on guys from his past, dismissing other candidates.

Worst top 6 player in the NHL, will have to retain salary AND throw in a treasure trove of premium sweetener pieces to get rid of him. 🤣
- joel878

fixed

Do you ever feed your dog Wedgie? It sure seems to eat lots of your stuff.
- Aetherial

You frankers have obviously never had a Labrador.

The legend is that they were bred to jump into the icy waters of the Atlantic to retrieve stray nets from ships, so they are used to eating fish guts and other barely-edible food (I have no idea if this is true or not).

If you ever see a Labrador in the park and it isn't 30 lbs overweight, go up to the owner and congratulate them on being a good pet owner. Because not over-feeding them is tough.

Guhle at #15 and Shakir Mukhamadullin at #44
- winsix

The way he's playing to start the year, I think he goes top-25 at least.

We should know a lot more about the financial position of teams beginning Sep 25th.

Lots of buyouts will show how desperate some teams are to save cash.
- The Law

The way he's playing to start the year, I think he goes top-25 at least.
- AdamFrench

Then move up and grap him. He's a big hard hitting dman with a rocket of a shot. I want to hear Hughson mispronounce his name every game. Maybe he'll start to call him Tanev.

We should know a lot more about the financial position of teams beginning Sep 25th.

Lots of buyouts will show how desperate some teams are to save cash.
- The Law

Kim Pegula is making rice crispie squares - $1 each. bottles of water and apple juice boxes will also be sold.

This is simply not true.

He won at that weird level with the Pembroke Lumber Kings - where he had the most money to spend.

He didn't really do jack-squat with the Greyhounds.

And he won at the AHL level - with a budget 3X what every other team had.

I worry that Dubas relies too much on guys from his past, dismissing other candidates.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yes. Dubas is more old school 'I bring in my people' than Lou

Kim Pegula is making rice crispie squares - $1 each. bottles of water and apple juice boxes will also be sold.
- Atomic Wedgie

That's just for the ex GM's and coaches still on the payroll for the Bills and Sabres.

You frankers have obviously never had a Labrador.

The legend is that they were bred to jump into the icy waters of the Atlantic to retrieve stray nets from ships, so they are used to eating fish guts and other barely-edible food (I have no idea if this is true or not).

If you ever see a Labrador in the park and it isn't 30 lbs overweight, go up to the owner and congratulate them on being a good pet owner. Because not over-feeding them is tough.
- Atomic Wedgie

You clearly are NOT overfeeding yours

I'm wondering if a few small market teams will elect to do nothing on the first day of free agency.

Just sit and watch the clouds go by for a couple of months, hoping to get a better picture of what the situation will be.

If it turns out that it's only a 48 game season with limited spectators, some teams may be OK with simply doing nothing, gritting their teeth and getting through the season, and worrying about improving the team a year later.
- Atomic Wedgie

Ya, it's going to be fun to see how this plays out. I wonder if (aside from the big UFA's and maybe a few obvious signings) any team really jumps into free agency early. Why not wait to see what the league draws up for next year first?

We all saw Kapanen wasnt a good fit to those pairs. I said he's a 3rd liner with some 2nd line potential - depending on fit to his linemates.

It is so funny how all of a sudden people are so down on Kapanen after he's traded (btw, go back to the prediction thread on how I thought about Kapanen and how others posted about him)
- MaximusAurelius

Saying it was a great return isn't being down on him.

No it isn't just you.

Signing high priced free agents has never been a good strategy. Tavares is no exception and neither is Pietrangelo.
- Aetherial

Agreed.

I think about Kadri @ $4.5M or JT @ $11M = can't really decide if the Leafs are better for this or not. Could sure use some almost $7M in Cap space right now.

And on AP, I've vacillated on this and was leaning towards if they can, then they must. But then a little voice whispers "Shattenkirk" and I think....and pose this question to all of you...

What if AP is good because the Blues are a better defensive team with a mix of the right pieces? What if AP comes to Toronto and sucks in our system?

I still think a combo of Gudas, Demelo, Dillon, Vatanen, Manson....is less risky for the team success and CAP flexibility going forward.

Move Nylander for Manson (or someone close)...even it out with picks/prospects.
-I like Nylander but it's obvious you need to give to get and we need to balance the money from F to D.

Sign Demelo and Gudas
Move Dermott

Rielly, Manson
Muzzin, Demelo (Vatanen)
Sandin, Gudas
Lehtonen, Holl


Move Andersen ONLY if the D is fixed like this so the next goalie isn't hung out to dry...at least we know Andersen can handle that "most" of the time.

If you can move Andersen out and save money, you use that money to fill out the forwards. Add Maroon, Perry and/or Simmonds....at least two of these type of guys.

Hyman, Matthews, Marner
Micheyev, JT, Robertson
Johnsson, Kerfoot, Perry
Maroon, Spezza, Simmonds
Engvall

Move the wingers around as they fit...over the first month of the season. Watch that team make the playoffs. JMHO. FWIW.

Edit: and the return for Kapanen was amazing for the time of the trade and money constraints. 15th, good prospect, AND CAP SPACE!!! (the money savings cannot be under valued during this weird time)

I don't love him, but I like him and I think he has been good for the league.
- Aetherial

I'm still a little mad about how he did close to nothing to keep the Jets and Nordique from moving to the states.

But overall, you can't deny the results. He's done a very good job for the owners.

And Nylander should be making more...
- RogerRoeper

He's making 7.5 and that's enough.

fixed
- Aetherial

Tom Cochrane, Big League.

This needs a massive bump (posted by Fake)

http://faceoffcircle.ca/2...ursuing-alex-pietrangelo/

I've said all along, not on the Pietrangelo train but I would live with it. Regardless, it shouldn't be a slam dunk and this guy does an immaculate job explaining why.

Looking at you Jones. 😉

Yes. Dubas is more old school 'I bring in my people' than Lou
- MaximusAurelius

"

Agreed.

I think about Kadri @ $4.5M or JT @ $11M = can't really decide if the Leafs are better for this or not. Could sure use some almost $7M in Cap space right now.

And on AP, I've vacillated on this and was leaning towards if they can, then they must. But then a little voice whispers "Shattenkirk" and I think....and pose this question to all of you...

What if AP is good because the Blues are a better defensive team with a mix of the right pieces? What if AP comes to Toronto and sucks in our system?

I still think a combo of Gudas, Demelo, Dillon, Vatanen, Manson....is less risky for the team success and CAP flexibility going forward.

Move Nylander for Manson (or someone close)...even it out with picks/prospects.
-I like Nylander but it's obvious you need to give to get and we need to balance the money from F to D.

Sign Demelo and Gudas
Move Dermott

Rielly, Manson
Muzzin, Demelo (Vatanen)
Sandin, Gudas
Lehtonen, Holl


Move Andersen ONLY if the D is fixed like this so the next goalie isn't hung out to dry...at least we know Andersen can handle that "most" of the time.

If you can move Andersen out and save money, you use that money to fill out the forwards. Add Maroon, Perry and/or Simmonds....at least two of these type of guys.

Hyman, Matthews, Marner
Micheyev, JT, Robertson
Johnsson, Kerfoot, Perry
Maroon, Spezza, Simmonds
Engvall

Move the wingers around as they fit...over the first month of the season. Watch that team make the playoffs. JMHO. FWIW.

Edit: and the return for Kapanen was amazing for the time of the trade and money constraints. 15th, good prospect, AND CAP SPACE!!! (the money savings cannot be under valued during this weird time)
- underhill14

Quantity over quality....
I think it is the right approach, although it would be really, realy nice to have Pietrangelo.

He's making 7.5 and that's enough.
- bobbyisno1

cap hit is still $6.9M

You frankers have obviously never had a Labrador.

The legend is that they were bred to jump into the icy waters of the Atlantic to retrieve stray nets from ships, so they are used to eating fish guts and other barely-edible food (I have no idea if this is true or not).

If you ever see a Labrador in the park and it isn't 30 lbs overweight, go up to the owner and congratulate them on being a good pet owner. Because not over-feeding them is tough.
- Atomic Wedgie

The problem is lazy owners, they are working dogs, if you don't work them they just lie around