NHL '11/'12 Thread

[rodfarva]

If Backstrom and Semin play like crap like they did in the playoffs , they won't go past the second round again next season. They didn't have a bad goalie this year , Neuvirth was solid most of the time. So although I must admit Vokoun is an improvement for them , it's not that big of an improvement over Neuvirth.

Vokoun is an astronomical improvement over Neuvirth/Varlamov/Holtby. A three-man goaltending rotation pretty much means you have no goaltender, which was the case last season. The trifecta in Washington may have had good stats, but I think we all know that they were pretty lacklustre goaltenders. The additions of Vokoun, Joel Ward, and Roman Hamrlik give this team something they've never had: guys who can and have performed up to or greater than their talent levels on the big stage. Their team is a whole new animal now, in my opinion. I think they actually have a chance to make the Cup with this team, and I would've never said that beforehand.

However, their big stars like Semin, Backstrom, and Ovechkin will have to do what they've never done before and deliver in the playoffs, so I'm still not betting on this team.

 

[Mauser98k]

as per Bob Mckenzie: MIN trades Havlat to SJ for Heatley. that's a BIG one

 

[STDiva]

How long until Heatley gets unhappy and fucks the dog all season?

 

[Doc Scurlock]

Vokoun really had no option. the only team looking for a solid #1 was Colorado and they fucked themselves by taking a guy who was interested in returning to Russia.

that would have been Tomas' only other option: Europe or Russia. to stay here, he took a huge pay cut. kinda wish Stamkos had his agent because this is annoying. but, i digress.

Washington may have just gotten into the Cup Final with that move.

Colorado fucked over Vokoun as they told him to sit tight and that they'll call him back meanwhile they were working on the Varlamov deal. Needless to say if I'm Vokoun I'm firing my agent. Luckily, it's only a one year deal so if he plays awesome for the Caps than he should get a big payday next offseason.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

as per Bob Mckenzie: MIN trades Havlat to SJ for Heatley. that's a BIG one

Another shitty trade. Our by far best defencemen and then one of our very few ever all star forwards ever. This franchise is just begging to get North Stars attendence again. If you see someone with a brown paper bag over their head at a Wild game next year, it might be me. :anonymous


Just want to be clear I've always been a Heatley fan but he has never put up the numbers I always thought he could, although he has had very good numbers.

 

[rodfarva]

How long until Heatley gets unhappy and fucks the dog all season?

He already has done so. Heatley is a giant douchebag. And he's regressed big time the last couple of years in San Jose. Martin Havlat will actually care about winning and playing hard. San Jose improved at the detriment of the Minnesota Wild in a big way this offseason.

 

[STDiva]

He already has done so. Heatley is a giant douchebag. And he's regressed big time the last couple of years in San Jose. Martin Havlat will actually care about winning and playing hard. San Jose improved at the detriment of the Minnesota Wild in a big way this offseason.

I know he has. I meant in Minny.

 

[feller469]

Erik Cole in Montreal will backfire. He left Carolina once, for Edmonton, and failed miserably. The pressure of Montreal will cook him. Plus, add his back and other injuries into the mix and he is no spring chicken.

I liked watching him play in Raleigh, but I think this is a bad deal for him and the Habs.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

I'm rethinking the deals. Maybe if we stick Heatley and Setoguchi on a line that my produce. I still think Havlat was pretty solid, which is why he was only recently an all star. The odd thing about all this is these d-bags on the local sports wrap said the fans wanted a big change/mixup. Are the fans that stupid to want to get rid of their anchor, BB? We'll see what happens in the upcoming season...

He already has done so. Heatley is a giant douchebag. And he's regressed big time the last couple of years in San Jose. Martin Havlat will actually care about winning and playing hard. San Jose improved at the detriment of the Minnesota Wild in a big way this offseason.

I know he has. I meant in Minny.

Am I missing something here?

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Good article on the Heatley/Havlat trade:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/pu...harks-traded-Dany-Heatley-for-?urn=nhl-wp8568

Wild might have got damaged goods. Don't know. Again, the season only knows.

 

[brodkill]

heatley has gone downhill ever since his days in ottawa

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

heatley has gone downhill ever since his days in ottawa

That was my immediate reaction.

 

[Thunderbolt]

Erik Cole in Montreal will backfire. He left Carolina once, for Edmonton, and failed miserably. The pressure of Montreal will cook him. Plus, add his back and other injuries into the mix and he is no spring chicken.

I liked watching him play in Raleigh, but I think this is a bad deal for him and the Habs.

Montreal does the same thing every season , they overpay a good player to make him look like he's a big super star. Cole is good but his best years are behind him. It would have been a great move if they had signed him to a contract worth no more than 3 million/year.

 

[LukeEl]

What is going on with Stamkos is he going to sign back with Tampa? It would be insane if he signed with the Bruins.

 

[Marlo Manson]

Just a thought about Heatley, maybe when he accidentally killed his friend / teammate in that accident when he was playing in Atlanta really affected him more than anybody lets on, and maybe he will flourish in Minny since he will be one of the top go to guys in the Wilds offensive scheme, I am just saying maybe he was spread to thin in SJ, like having to ration ice-time with other highly skilled players in SJ and not getting the ice-time or the puck enough hurt his game. :2 cents:

I don't know, I don't follow Heatley closely, but, some players don't do as well when there around too many super stars or high end players like themselves. maybe when he is on the ice almost every other shift in Minny his #'s will improve. :dunno: If his #'s don't improve in Minny, then maybe his skill level has dropped off or he doesn't have the desire to play anymore, just thinking out loud.

Jumping teams and players according to Salary Cap rules and regulations the signing of Maxime Talbot is / was illegal and he is again an UFA, does he go to another team or are the Flyers gonna re-do the contract and retain Talbot or is he now to expensive and not wanted by the flyers anymore? I've always liked Talbot maybe the Red Wings can grab him now.

 

[Mauser98k]

What is going on with Stamkos is he going to sign back with Tampa? It would be insane if he signed with the Bruins.

any offer sheet that he signs (and we'll only know about those, he could have received some already and not signed them) Tampa will match. he's not going anywhere. and despite the rumors running rampant, we're not trading him. Yzerman is not a retarded monkey.

i do want his agent, Don Meehan, dead though.

 

[STDiva]

Just realized Colorado traded their 1st and 2nd for Varlamov. HA! What a steal for Washington. That trade is worse than the Kessel trade. Which top 5 pick will Washington draft next year? Yakupov? Murray? Grigorenko? What a baaaaaaad trade.

 

[Thunderbolt]

Just realized Colorado traded their 1st and 2nd for Varlamov. HA! What a steal for Washington. That trade is worse than the Kessel trade. Which top 5 pick will Washington draft next year? Yakupov? Murray? Grigorenko? What a baaaaaaad trade.

Yeah I agree , they could have had Vokoun instead and they would still have their 1st and 2nd round picks. Washington really screwed them over.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Wild just picked up MN native and AHL 30 goal scorer Jeff Taffe yesterday. Grew up playing against him and Hastings - we played them all the time. Taffe has some skills but clearly another snoozer, although I do like to see them get more native talent.

We are just under the cap now so likely very little more to happen from them. This team is a coin flip as to where they might go. I will probably try to grab tix for a Winnipeg game but they will be hard to get this year with Manitoba demand and them being neighbors.

 

[lurkingdirk]

This just in: Prince William not likely to be drafted in the NHL this year.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/07/05/royal-tour-yellowknife.html