The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Eh, Michalek was pretty average in his time here. He honestly never really fit in during his time in Pittsburgh, and we won't miss him that much. I'm excited about Despres coming up and I hoping for good things from Morrow, Harrington and Pouliot.

Either way, I hope we make a play for Parise. We learned the hard way that Dmen can be hit or miss.

He's rumored to be available as well lol. Seems like it's from an unreliable source though.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Question to Leaf fans: Has Schenn improved his skating at all?

Definitely not. Biggest issue is he's still a turnstile. He excels at dealing with forwards that want to battle in corners to in front of the net. As long as they aren't trying to beat him with their feet he's a mean fellow. Surprisingly terrible fighter and really struggles to keep the puck in the offensive zone at the blue line and doesn't have much of a shot. Philly is going to need him to progress to get value in this trade.

I'd be hard pressed to say he is as good as Grossmann defensively at this point, but he is still young and I think the potential is there to get a lot better. Ron Wilson and co. kind of ruined him a bit with terrible coaching. Laviolette will be good for him.

[slickdtc]

Plus, he'll have a better team around him. Change of scenery. I think he'll do well. Full Pronger's void? Hell no. But be a quality 3rd/4th D-man, definitely.

[Fiddy]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Eh, Michalek was pretty average in his time here. He honestly never really fit in during his time in Pittsburgh, and we won't miss him that much. I'm excited about Despres coming up and I hoping for good things from Morrow, Harrington and Pouliot.

Either way, I hope we make a play for Parise. We learned the hard way that Dmen can be hit or miss.

Z was average here bc of the system. same goes for Martin. you will see some big changes IMO to how they play. HCDB and GMRS talked about that at the end of the year.

He's rumored to be available as well lol. Seems like it's from an unreliable source though.

it wouldnt shock me if that was true. they are loaded with depth on the backend, got to give to get. if the right deal is there and he can bring back a forward that can help, im all for it.

im not getting my hopes up on the Pens getting Parise or Suter. i hope they do, but i dont want to be disappointed when they sign elsewhere.

[AC]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Question to Leaf fans: Has Schenn improved his skating at all?

He's still growing, but it got a bit better. Some guys are just SO hard on him. When we went on our hilariously, comically long losing streak, we had three guys playing well (Kessel was OK); Lupul was playing great, Jake Gardiner continued to be a revelation, Schenn was our only defensive defenceman.

Philly fans; Is Van Riemsdyk anything more than a guy who had one good playoff run? And is he always as injury prone as last year?

[kai123]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

it wouldnt shock me if that was true. they are loaded with depth on the backend, got to give to get. if the right deal is there and he can bring back a forward that can help, im all for it.

im not getting my hopes up on the Pens getting Parise or Suter. i hope they do, but i dont want to be disappointed when they sign elsewhere.

Shero has always been boasting about Depres and Danny B loves the guy too, I think he stays. As for Parise/Suter, I want the Pens to get Suter moreso because he's a Franchise D-man but I can see Parise joining the Pens.

[slickdtc]

Philly fans; Is Van Riemsdyk anything more than a guy who had one good playoff run? And is he always as injury prone as last year?

I think a change of scenery and increased minutes will do him wonders. I don't think he'll live up to #2 overall status but 70 points isn't out of the question. Those playoff spurts were JVR living up to potential; big, strong, fast. It just wasn't there consistently in Philly, and I think it's because we had so many other guys (which is what allowed us to trade him dealing from a strength).

Injuries aren't a concern. Last year was a fluke.

[AC]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

I think a change of scenery and increased minutes will do him wonders. I don't think he'll live up to #2 overall status but 70 points isn't out of the question. Those playoff spurts were JVR living up to potential; big, strong, fast. It just wasn't there consistently in Philly, and I think it's because we had so many other guys (which is what allowed us to trade him dealing from a strength).

Injuries aren't a concern. Last year was a fluke.

Oh thank god. I'm starting to get more comfortable with this trade, but I still love Schenner. I think that it's in the best interest of the Leafs, but I still don't like it.

[rdnk]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Interesting trade, a lot of GM's would not have the balls to pull of such a deal, because of the fear or dealing away the better player long term. Methinks that Burke pulled the trigger on this deal because he didn't draft Schenn. From what I have seen he would not have the ability that he missed on one of his high draft picks.

Anyways, JVR has the potential to become a true power forward and Schenn could become a shut down defenseman. So I think in the long term Toronto will win this deal, since power forwards are more valuable in my opinion than shut down defenders. Especially if you subscribe to the puck possession school of thought (Schenn's possession metrics are dreadful). However, as I said above, it's so hard to judge a deal with such young players; this could be a great win-win deal or it could be hugely one sided when Schenn becomes a career pylon and JVR becomes Rick Nash.

[AC]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Interesting trade, a lot of GM's would not have the balls to pull of such a deal, because of the fear or dealing away the better player long term. Methinks that Burke pulled the trigger on this deal because he didn't draft Schenn. From what I have seen he would not have the ability that he missed on one of his high draft picks.

Anyways, JVR has the potential to become a true power forward and Schenn could become a shut down defenseman. So I think in the long term Toronto will win this deal, since power forwards are more valuable in my opinion than shut down defenders. Especially if you subscribe to the puck possession school of thought (Schenn's possession metrics are dreadful). However, as I said above, it's so hard to judge a deal with such young players; this could be a great win-win deal or it could be hugely one sided when Schenn becomes a career pylon and JVR becomes Rick Nash.

Or Schenn could become Scott Stevens and JVR becomes a beggar on Bay St. LOL.

Burke didn't draft Schenn, but the Leafs moved up to get him because Burke loved him so much, so Fletcher was just doing everything he could to set the table for Burke. Schenner was basically his man-crush.

[slickdtc]

I think it's gonna be a win-win, and fits what each team needs. To the Flyers, a shutdown defenseman is what we need way more than another forward. For all the love Flyers drafts have gotten recently, whose the last really good defenseman we've developed? I can't even name one. Gustavsson, maybe?

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Minnesota's (obviously) a great hockey market. But if it was a true pressure-cooker, the Xcel Energy Center would've been filled with boos and fires for most of the last decade.

Instead we fill the place and cook the players hot dish. Minnesota nice don'tchaknow.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

I think it's gonna be a win-win, and fits what each team needs. To the Flyers, a shutdown defenseman is what we need way more than another forward. For all the love Flyers drafts have gotten recently, whose the last really good defenseman we've developed? I can't even name one. Gustavsson, maybe?

Pitkanen, but he wasn't around very long.

[AC]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

http://www.thestar.com/blogs/article/1216435--cox-maple-leafs-could-pry-roberto-luongo-loose-with-offer-for-cory-schneider

Just thought everyone could enjoy a nice laugh today. I wonder if Cox knows how to read, cause he definitely can't write...

[Money99]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Pens fans, get your pitchforks out because I'm going to slam Jordan Staal.

Yes, my opinion is most likely skewered from the '09 finals, but I think J.Staal is severely overrated and I think Pittsburgh got a great deal for him.
Sutter is a perfect 3rd-line centre. He's young, locked up to a very manageable contract and he's scored 20 goals already in his short career.

Jordan is a good player with some nice hands, but I don't know if he'll ever give you $6M worth of elite production. I think the most he's capable of is 25 goals and 55-60 points.
Stats not worth thumbing your nose at, but I don't think that's worth a 10-year, $60M deal.

I have my reservations that Eric will be able to move to the wing full-time, and I think Skinner is a much better pivot than winger as well.
Jordan could find himself in a very similar role in Carolina; on the 3rd line.