Considering it'll be a year from now, why would Huberdeau's 10.5 be the ceiling? Willy is leading the team in goals and points while 3 other players on the team make way more than him.

I mentioned this before, I think Willy is pricing himself out of town. No way they can afford Matthews' and his contract increases the same year. You're looking at adding about 5-6 million between them.

Sure, cap is going up a bit, but it won't be anywhere near where they expected it to be at the end of those contracts.

It seems like this is the year they have to make it all happen with this core 4.
- Leaffrog

Why? I think that Huberdeau's 10.5 is on the high end likely because he was more of a UFA signing then a re-sign and Calgary needed to sign him.

Gaudreau 9.75 .....Barkov 10M ......many more comparable in between 9 and 10.

You say "no way" they sign both Willie and Matty ....I'd bet my house they do unless they trip hard this year and Dubas is fired.

Are you going to back that up?? Can’t make those kind of claims without backing it up.

Right??
- TurdFergeson

Sure you can. JT is better.

Is it too early for pizza?
- Canada Cup

It's never too early.

Awesome…. Been a tough 2022, but we’re through it.

How are things with you?
- .HOHO.

We're in 2023 now, I hope the bad things will stay behind!

It's been good. Although a little tiring between work, volunteer work, trying to stay in shape, coaching my son's hockey team, etc.

I desperately need to slow down in the coming months.

Objectively, he is faster, a better and more crafty skater, and a better puckhandler. He's also a smoother passer - but not necessarily with the same vision that players like JT have. He's Marner-lite. He doesn't have a league average shot, but is an above average passer, who can skate the puck out of trouble and into the opposition's zone well.

I think Barzal is an excellent player - but next year he's up to $9.2m. I'd rather have Marner for an extra $1.7m. Marner's next contract may make be balk at these comments, but he's definitely worth more than Barzal.

As for JT, he is a better worker, wins puck battles, scores goals, has an excellent shot with an excellent release, is an above average passer and has excellent offensive vision.

For the Islanders, you keep JT at, say, $11m, or you keep Barzal @ $7m (at the time), knowing that you've got a lot of guys who can win board battles already, and other guys who can pot the puck in the net if Barzal gets them the puck. Barzal was younger with more long-term upside, but JT was still the better player in the near-term - I get the decision.
- Monkeypunk

Also, Barzal floats around a lot, plays on the wing, plays in the 2C hole, etc. When Matthews is hurt, JT is our #1 center without question. Even when Matthews is not hurt, JT is usually taking on the tough matchups, despite that diminishing as Matthews gets older.

So really, we're comparing a winger/center with a below average shot, above average speed/playmaking to a natural center with an above average shot, below average speed, above average playmaking/vision, above average strength with the puck...

... contract length/cap hit aside, JT's 7 years older, so there is that.

I think it would depend on the team. Would the Coyotes on rebuild #1654 rather build their franchise around JT today or Barzal? I think they'd take Barzal no question.

Bruins looking to go on a run and need to fill out their #2 hole (Krejci hurt long-term)? I think they'd probably take JT.

He's also overrated and grossly overpaid.
- mjones242

Now tell us about JT Miller 🤭

Also, Barzal floats around a lot, plays on the wing, plays in the 2C hole, etc. When Matthews is hurt, JT is our #1 center without question. Even when Matthews is not hurt, JT is usually taking on the tough matchups, despite that diminishing as Matthews gets older.

So really, we're comparing a winger/center with a below average shot, above average speed/playmaking to a natural center with an above average shot, below average speed, above average playmaking/vision, above average strength with the puck...

... contract length/cap hit aside, JT's 7 years older, so there is that.

I think it would depend on the team. Would the Coyotes on rebuild #1654 rather build their franchise around JT today or Barzal? I think they'd take Barzal no question.

Bruins looking to go on a run and need to fill out their #2 hole (Krejci hurt long-term)? I think they'd probably take JT.
- gravyface

I'll fill out your #2 hole

I'm giving the Islanders full credit for what they've accomplished in back-to-back seasons a few years ago.

But it does seem like they've gone as far as they could with that group.
- Scabeh

I think two years ago you could argue that the Islanders were into retooling territory, but they didn't really use that time and now they are moving into rebuilding territory.

Lou has not done a lot as the GM of the Islanders, when you really look at it:

- Acquire Pageau for a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (that 2nd was flipped to the Leafs and became Hirvonen; the 1st was used to select Ridly Greig)
- Trade Devon Toews for 2 2nd round picks
- Trade a 1st, a 4th and 2 warm bodies for Zajac and Palmieri
- Pay the Arizona Coyotes 2 2nds and a 3rd to take Ladd's LTIR off their hands
- Trade a 1st for Romanov and a 4th

From those acquisitions, he also

- Resigned Pageau to a 6 year x $5m deal, which is a bit high for a 20 goal guy, although he is their most deployed forward in the PK, even if he is probably one of their least successful in terms of shot suppression effectiveness
- Resigned Kyle Palmieri to a 4 year x $5m deal, whcih is a bit high and a bit long for an aging guy who is already breaking down a bit
- Resigned Romanov to 3 x $2.5m, which is a solid bridge deal for Romanov

I like the Romanov deal. But he traded Toews, who is better, for 2 2nds, and gave up a 1st for Romanov.

The team is getting older, not better. Even their prospect depth isn't particularly appealing - Raty is clearly their best - and is he even actually interested in hockey? He's playing NOW, but . . . who knows?

Lou once preached to Kyle Dubas as his assistant, "If you have time, use it."

Lou is rapidly running out of it.

I'll fill out your #2 hole
- Zezel

My #1 hole is going to get pretty jealous. Should we bring a friend?

My #1 hole is going to get pretty jealous. Should we bring a friend?
- gravyface

Yeah Wedgie's pretty cool once your party him up enough

Good morning to all my friends from Calgary:

https://twitter.com/weath...tatus/1617567848884322317

Yeah Wedgie's pretty cool once your party him up enough
- Zezel

Good morning to all my friends from Calgary:

https://twitter.com/weath...tatus/1617567848884322317
- Atomic Wedgie

I'm turning into my Pops ....all I see is a dumbass shovelling snow and ice in her crocs with no jacket on.

I'm turning into my Pops ....all I see is a dumbass shovelling snow and ice in her crocs with no jacket on.
- The Law

thats what crocs are for and its too warm for a jacket

Good morning to all my friends from Calgary:

https://twitter.com/weath...tatus/1617567848884322317
- Atomic Wedgie

Thank god she didn't have airpods in and got out of the way.


That moose must be scared out of it's mind though.

I think two years ago you could argue that the Islanders were into retooling territory, but they didn't really use that time and now they are moving into rebuilding territory.

Lou has not done a lot as the GM of the Islanders, when you really look at it:

- Acquire Pageau for a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (that 2nd was flipped to the Leafs and became Hirvonen; the 1st was used to select Ridly Greig)
- Trade Devon Toews for 2 2nd round picks
- Trade a 1st, a 4th and 2 warm bodies for Zajac and Palmieri
- Pay the Arizona Coyotes 2 2nds and a 3rd to take Ladd's LTIR off their hands
- Trade a 1st for Romanov and a 4th

From those acquisitions, he also

- Resigned Pageau to a 6 year x $5m deal, which is a bit high for a 20 goal guy, although he is their most deployed forward in the PK, even if he is probably one of their least successful in terms of shot suppression effectiveness
- Resigned Kyle Palmieri to a 4 year x $5m deal, whcih is a bit high and a bit long for an aging guy who is already breaking down a bit
- Resigned Romanov to 3 x $2.5m, which is a solid bridge deal for Romanov

I like the Romanov deal. But he traded Toews, who is better, for 2 2nds, and gave up a 1st for Romanov.

The team is getting older, not better. Even their prospect depth isn't particularly appealing - Raty is clearly their best - and is he even actually interested in hockey? He's playing NOW, but . . . who knows?

Lou once preached to Kyle Dubas as his assistant, "If you have time, use it."

Lou is rapidly running out of it.
- Monkeypunk

The "should have kept Lou" narrative has slowed to an occasional drip.

Even I kinda enjoy that clip these days.


The Habs finally doing a rebuild the right way has been great so far. Sucks that Slaf and Caufield are injured and can't finish the year but it's not like the results this season matters anyway.
- Scabeh

It does, I think he could have broken 40. I didn't even know he was injured.

That said, you ever notice now teams that need to bottom out and are going for a lottery often lose their best players to season ending surgeries? Almost like the GM approaches them and their agent on the QT and says, "Look, if you have any nagging injuries, any minor surgeries, anything you're putting off - now would be a great time to get it done. You'd be fully recuperated for next year, and have most of the off-season to fully rehabilitate everything - and if you're lucky, next year you line up beside Connor Bedard."

In 2015, some teams did similar things. We hired Peter Horachek, but while he did his best, it wasn't enough.

So in 2016, JVR had a setback in his rehab, and Garret Sparks came to our rescue. Lupul also had Sports hernia surgery about the same day. In fact all of that poop culminated around February 5th or so - and the Leafs were awful - in 4th last - but not terrible enough. But after all the season-ending surgeries, setbacks, and new goaltending - worst team in the league over the final 30 games.

Hello, Auston Matthews.

Was that luck? A poopstorm of epic proportions? Or did Lou make his own luck there.

thats what crocs are for and its too warm for a jacket
- drexel

Yes, crocs are for dumbasses ....but no snow = put a jacket on.

Skalapy would have had proper boots on and grabbed the moose by his pencil neck.

It does, I think he could have broken 40. I didn't even know he was injured.

That said, you ever notice now teams that need to bottom out and are going for a lottery often lose their best players to season ending surgeries? Almost like the GM approaches them and their agent on the QT and says, "Look, if you have any nagging injuries, any minor surgeries, anything you're putting off - now would be a great time to get it done. You'd be fully recuperated for next year, and have most of the off-season to fully rehabilitate everything - and if you're lucky, next year you line up beside Connor Bedard."

In 2015, some teams did similar things. We hired Peter Horachek, but while he did his best, it wasn't enough.

So in 2016, JVR had a setback in his rehab, and Garret Sparks came to our rescue. Lupul also had Sports hernia surgery about the same day. In fact all of that poop culminated around February 5th or so - and the Leafs were awful - in 4th last - but not terrible enough. But after all the season-ending surgeries, setbacks, and new goaltending - worst team in the league over the final 30 games.

Hello, Auston Matthews.

Was that luck? A poopstorm of epic proportions? Or did Lou make his own luck there.
- Monkeypunk

Well it certainly makes sense to heal up any injuries now instead of waiting in the summer and miss part of next camp.

From what I understand, Caufield has been dealing with issues with his shoulders for 2-3 months now. It didn't stop him from scoring but might as well get that taken care of now.

The fact that it will only help us sink as low as possible is only a happy coincidence.

The "should have kept Lou" narrative has slowed to an occasional drip.
- The Law

Lou spends his time waiting for the rice pudding and trying to resign Komorov

The "should have kept Lou" narrative has slowed to an occasional drip.
- The Law

It was never a "should have kept Lou" for me. I appreciated what he did here, and you have to respect what he's done in the league and how clever he is - finding his own loopholes, and making a niche. He architected a team that won 3 cups.

I did find it laughable when he won GM of the year a few years back - but I've never felt that we need to compare to Lou - we had a choice to make - keep the young guy who we thought was going to take us forward and who had demonstrated strong abilities, and who Lou, himself, had praised as a logical successor - or keep a guy who could decide to retire any day. We made the right decision.

I'm more influenced by the fact that I, unlike some guys, don't hate the Islanders and I think they had the chance to remain relevant, but instead of retooling, decided to re-up with some aging guys who are already into physical decline. That basically shifted the team's trajectory and it really did give them a number of contracts that are going to have little-to-no value if they need to move them.

Well it certainly makes sense to heal up any injuries now instead of waiting in the summer and miss part of next camp.

From what I understand, Caufield has been dealing with issues with his shoulders for 2-3 months now. It didn't stop him from scoring but might as well get that taken care of now.

The fact that it will only help us sink as low as possible is only a happy coincidence.

- Scabeh

not a chance on that

Well it certainly makes sense to heal up any injuries now instead of waiting in the summer and miss part of next camp.

From what I understand, Caufield has been dealing with issues with his shoulders for 2-3 months now. It didn't stop him from scoring but might as well get that taken care of now.

The fact that it will only help us sink as low as possible is only a happy coincidence.

- Scabeh

The Caufield injury saved the Habs a poopload of money. If he had actually hit 50 goals he would have cashed in even more. The “would have hit 50” isn’t worth as much

Yes, crocs are for dumbasses ....but no snow = put a jacket on.

Skalapy would have had proper boots on and grabbed the moose by his pencil neck.
- The Law

i guess albertans can handle 6 degrees better than most

i guess albertans can handle 6 degrees better than most
- drexel

We’re all excited by the 6 Degrees of Separation Act being implemented