The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Oilers parted ways with coach Tom Renney, looks like Tambellini is still running things!!! They'll have another 1st overall pick next year.

I don't think it'll be too bad if they get Brent Sutter, which all signs are pointing to.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

I don't think it'll be too bad if they get Brent Sutter, which all signs are pointing to.

Wouldn't really matter if Tambellini keeps on bringing in washed up veterans.

Hejduk coming back for one more year!

[Psyblast]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/combine+just+another+piece+puzzle/6685626/story.html

Has there been a hotter ticket than New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise on the free-agent stage in the last 10 years?

You can see how badly he wants to win, the pistons pumping as he hunts down a loose puck in the neutral zone and sends it into the open net to ensure the Game 5 win for the Devils at Madison Square Garden.

He’s the engine that drives the Devils, with due respect to the big wheel Ilya Kovalchuk, who is much better than I thought he’d ever be when they gave him that lifetime contract as a free agent.

But how can there be room for both players next season and beyond when the Devils ownership is an absolute mess and Parise can easily get $8 million US on the open market?

The Devils have no wiggle room because Elias ($6 million) and Dainius Zubrus ($3.4 million) aren’t unrestricted free agents until July 2013, the same with Marek Zidlicky on defence.

There are four scenarios: Parise stays in New Jersey; he goes to Detroit, where the Red Wings will sell him on playing with Pavel Datsyuk, he slides over to the New York Rangers; or Parise, who turns 28 in July, goes home to suit up for the Minnesota Wild.

The Rangers know going after Parise is a better deal than trading for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash and his $7.8-million salary in exchange for some young assets such as Chris Kreider, Tim Erixon, Derek Stepan or J.T. Miller, a 2011 first-round pick.

If I was handicapping, I’d say Parise winds up with the Red Wings, who have had pro scout Mark Howe watching him all season, with the Rangers No. 2, the Devils No. 3 and the Wild No. 4.

The Rangers have gone after two other Devils in free agency — Bobby Holik and Scott Gomez. But Parise is a different kettle of fish. He’s as good as Nash, not as big, but he does more things.

If the Rangers signed him, and cleared Brandon Dubinsky’s $4.2 million for the next three years, they could afford him, and not have to give up any of their young players.

In Minnesota, the citizenry are awash with expectations that Parise might want to come home. His dad, J.P., runs the hockey program at the exclusive Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school and Parise’s girlfriend is from North Dakota and one of J.P.’s best friends is former North Stars GM Lou Nanne, who holds significant sway in that area. But then again, plenty of NHLers don’t want the pressure of playing before friends and family.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Kovalchuk's salary raises up to $11M as well, it was at 6M this past year so it's going to be interesting this offseason.

http://www.tsn.ca/showdown/2012/

What's wrong with Eberle's eye?

[BlueNGold]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sport...626/story.html

I think if he wins the Cup, he'll sign with the Wild. If he doesn't, he'll sign with the Wings or Rangers.

[RealmK]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Sounds like a perfect player for the Sabres.

Ville Leino could have some company up in the Leino Lounge (pressbox)

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

I think if he wins the Cup, he'll sign with the Wild. If he doesn't, he'll sign with the Wings or Rangers.

I think he'll be a Wing regardless, I'd like to see him stay in NJ or go to Minnesota (or even NY just so he doesn't go to Detroit) but I just can't see him going anywhere but Detroit.

Really don't want to see him on the Wings for the next however many years.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Johnny ODyua re-signs with the Blackhawks for 3 years, cap hit of 3.375M per year.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Seems like Bob Hartley will be the new coach for the Habs. So much for my Roy to Montreal prediction. Hartley can speak French FYI.

[Psyblast]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

BREAKING: The Red Wings have scheduled an 11:00 AM press conference tomorrow at Joe Louis Arena. Nick Lidstrom and GM Ken Holland are expected to address the media.

[DrJones]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

BREAKING: The Red Wings have scheduled an 11:00 AM press conference tomorrow at Joe Louis Arena. Nick Lidstrom and GM Ken Holland are expected to address the media.

They're signing Parise immediately following Game 1 of the Final? Classless.

[NYRBlue88]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

BREAKING: The Red Wings have scheduled an 11:00 AM press conference tomorrow at Joe Louis Arena. Nick Lidstrom and GM Ken Holland are expected to address the media.

I hope that he doesn't retire just yet.

A press conference for a re-signing would be strange and I'd be surprised to see him announce his retirement, taking away some attention from the Cup finals. Maybe it's to announce a re-signing and his final year? I would have to believe that the Winter Classic, at the very least, would be of interest to him.

The timing of this press conference is very strange.

[kai123]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

I hope that he doesn't retire just yet.

A press conference for a re-signing would be strange and I'd be surprised to see him announce his retirement, taking away some attention from the Cup finals. Maybe it's to announce a re-signing and his final year? I would have to believe that the Winter Classic, at the very least, would be of interest to him.

The timing of this press conference is very strange.

Darren Dreger <s>@</s>DarrenDreger Sure sounds like Lidstrom is retiring. Holland won't confirm. Says Lidstrom has earned the right to make his announcement tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/#!/DarrenDreger

its official....

Aaron Ward <s>@</s>aaronward_nhl According to source,Nic Lidstrom will announce his retirement tomorrow in Detroit. <s>#</s>TSN

https://twitter.com/#!/aaronward_nhl

[NYRBlue88]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

https://twitter.com/#!/DarrenDreger

its official....



https://twitter.com/#!/aaronward_nhl

That sucks! I'm surprised he would do it during the Cup finals. Then again, Patrick Roy did the same thing in 2003. Still, it's surprising.

Now the Wings have to go hard after Suter.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Official NHL 2012 Off-Season Thread

Johnny ODyua re-signs with the Blackhawks for 3 years, cap hit of 3.375M per year.

Well at least his cap hit went down from the 3.5 per year he had been making, but he is so inconsistent he'll play great for a stretch then he looks like he doesn't know what hes doing.

We still need to add at least 1 more dman this offseason IMO.