The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

[Edmontonoilersfan70]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Ah, yes, the player with the 5th most points in the last five years isn't worth two high end prospects and a first. Management is behind a full rebuild and the only bright spot on this team right now is Morgan Reilly. Nonis better make some moves.

I guess you're used to your team getting fleeced in deals, though.

I didn't realize that points were the only thing that mattered in today's game, yes? I am a Leafs and Kessel fan as well, but his lack of character has been shown before and will hurt his trade value. He has a high cap hit (as he should), and he has been called a 'coach killer'. Define high end prospects. If I am a team like the Detroit Red Wings, why would I give up a supposed package of my first round pick, Anthony Mantha (which is a high end prospect), Dylan Larkin (yet another high end prospect who had an unbelievable World Juniors), and say a Kyle Quincy? Doesn't make sense.... Kessel isn't a defensive wonder, but of course he doesn't have to be.... But hey, you're right! What do I know? I forgot that I'm an Oilers fan so I guess I'm used to being fleeced in trades! Good thing I don't know my hockey!

I apologize for stating my opinion, I didn't know it would cause such a ruckus. Although a few Leafs fans did point out my mistake for value in Kessel in a way that made me realize my mistake (thankyou bad_philanthrophy, your argument makes a lot of sense)

[Edmontonoilersfan70]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

The Leafs are gutting the team. The reports are out. Nonis has no say, and is a lame duck GM at this point. The MLSE board has approved Shanahan's scorched earth rebuild. Kessel and Phaneuf are not part of the plan.

Kessel's character and fitness issues aside, he is an 80+ point goal scorer. Has been a top 10 scorer in the league the past three years with Tyler Bozak as his centre. He's also a tremendous natural athlete, and great skater.

When he's played in the playoffs there have been no performance issues, and he was pretty good at the Olympics too.

I think a lot of Kessel's problems are him being cast as a cornerstone for the Maple leafs, and well, that just speaks to the Leafs being what they are.

Great post, the last line really solidifies your argument. Are the Leafs going to be dealing from a position of strength, or do teams know that the Leafs are going to be actively shopping Kessel (drop in value?) Really hoping the Leafs don't get fleeced in this deal (I.e. The Tyler Seguin deal that Boston made...) and that they get back parts to get them back on track. Living in Toronto and the Leafs being my third favourite team, I hate seeing them stuck between the awkward transition phase of not good enough for the playoffs but not bad enough for a high draft pick... Of course, I'm not a hardcore Leafs' fan so my opinion may be different than others. I apologize if I offended some or sound ignorant. That is not the way I would like to perceived in this forum.

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-day-the-nhl-died-how-far-have-we-come-since-the-canceled-2005-season/

Ten years since "The Great Lockout of 2005".

Good points made. I especially liked the line that described NHL lockouts as a feature, not a bug, of the game. Good breakdown of the revenue the league is making, which pales in comparison to all the other leagues.

If they do this expansion, it's gonna be a yet another misguided step for the NHL. Things are great -- now. Will those new teams survive when the money isn't rolling in at a crazy pace? These are business men, they should know about risk. But just too much greed for the NOW instead of for the long term.

[DaRK]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

I didn't realize that points were the only thing that mattered in today's game, yes? I am a Leafs and Kessel fan as well, but his lack of character has been shown before and will hurt his trade value. He has a high cap hit (as he should), and he has been called a 'coach killer'. Define high end prospects. If I am a team like the Detroit Red Wings, why would I give up a supposed package of my first round pick, Anthony Mantha (which is a high end prospect), Dylan Larkin (yet another high end prospect who had an unbelievable World Juniors), and say a Kyle Quincy? Doesn't make sense.... Kessel isn't a defensive wonder, but of course he doesn't have to be.... But hey, you're right! What do I know? I forgot that I'm an Oilers fan so I guess I'm used to being fleeced in trades! Good thing I don't know my hockey!

I apologize for stating my opinion, I didn't know it would cause such a ruckus. Although a few Leafs fans did point out my mistake for value in Kessel in a way that made me realize my mistake (thankyou bad_philanthrophy, your argument makes a lot of sense)

Oh, please. He's been called a coach killer by Toronto media. I'm sure he was really the reason that Carlyle was fired. It definitely wasn't that Toronto has had multiple collapses in each of the past three seasons and Carlyle's insistence to play the "defensive juggernaut" of JVR-Bozak-Kessel. If you actually believe that Phil Kessel is a coach killer, then I don't know what to say.

Yes, a high-end scorer like Kessel would probably get something along the lines of two high end prospects and a first round pick. Natural born scorers have a lot of value. We're talking about the guy who got 37 goals twice playing alongside Tyler Bozak. He's also a playoff performer.

I'm not going to pretend I 100% know Kessel's market value. There's no comparable trades that have been made in the last few years. But Kessel's value is definitely huge.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

I'm not going to pretend I 100% know Kessel's market value. There's no comparable trades that have been made in the last few years. But Kessel's value is definitely huge.

Let's not forget that pending-UFA, mid-30's Tomas Kaberle fetched a first round pick and Joe Colborne. Say what you will about Colborne now, but at the time he was a similar prospect.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

I had no idea Arcobello played for the Coyotes.

[daflyboys]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Simmonds and Emery give you efforts like that and you give the Blue Jackets their FIRST win of the season when trailing after 2 periods??

Horrendous.

[Edmontonoilersfan70]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

What teams do you guys think are interested in Kessel? Obviously everyone would want to add a 30+ goal scorer, but what teams actually are in desperate need of him?

As well, would a player like Jonathan Drouin be classed as a high end prospect? I can't imagine a prospect of Drouin's caliber going along with other aspects to Toronto for Kessel. Kessel is a great scorer, but I can't see a team being able to part with the requisite parts that the Leafs are looking for.

[slickdtc]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Simmonds and Emery give you efforts like that and you give the Blue Jackets their FIRST win of the season when trailing after 2 periods??



Horrendous.

This **** is just depressing.

[Majingir]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Nothing that new, but seems like big holdup in NHL to Seattle thing is mainly just the lack of suitable arena. Don't really know why that'd be the major hold up,when Seattle has KeyArena which can hold 17,000 people. Vegas has MGM Grand,which holds 16,800 and NHL has no problem going there if there's enough interest

Not to mention KeyArena would only be temporary until Seattle builds a new arena. Vegas doesn't have any plans to get a new arena. Seattles plans for new arena would be to host a NHL and NBA team.Something that I think would happen for sure,if they get a guarantee of at least 1 pro team playing in that arena. That could be part of agreement too. Something like they'd move a team to Seattle under the condition that Seattle approves plans to build a new arena to be completed by a specific time,and the NHL team plays at KeyArena in the meantime.

What teams do you guys think are interested in Kessel? Obviously everyone would want to add a 30+ goal scorer, but what teams actually are in desperate need of him?

Boston(I'm serious bout that answer) and Montreal are 2 teams who need a player like that(since both are bottom 10 in the league in scoring,despite being playoff teams right now),but neither would actually go after him cause you know the price will be even higher if those teams are asking the Leafs.

[TracerBullet]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Nothing that new, but seems like big holdup in NHL to Seattle thing is mainly just the lack of suitable arena. Don't really know why that'd be the major hold up,when Seattle has KeyArena which can hold 17,000 people. Vegas has MGM Grand,which holds 16,800 and NHL has no problem going there if there's enough interest

Not to mention KeyArena would only be temporary until Seattle builds a new arena. Vegas doesn't have any plans to get a new arena. Seattles plans for new arena would be to host a NHL and NBA team.Something that I think would happen for sure,if they get a guarantee of at least 1 pro team playing in that arena. That could be part of agreement too. Something like they'd move a team to Seattle under the condition that Seattle approves plans to build a new arena to be completed by a specific time,and the NHL team plays at KeyArena in the meantime.

Where to start...

First: KeyArena only holds 15,177 for Hockey/Ice skating. Much like the Barclays Center, it would have obstructed seating. Also would only be bigger than the MTS Centre and way less up-to-date than the aforementioned Barclays Center.

Second: There's a privately funded, $375 million arena being built in Vegas right now by MGM and AEG for the team if it happens. It would hold 17,500 for hockey. It is expected to be completed April 2016 and broke ground last May. They wouldn't be at the MGM Grand which holds 8,000 for hockey I believe.

Third: Current MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for the SODO arena calls for an NBA team to be secured before the arena can be built. NHL currently is not acceptable as the only tenant. That could possibly change if Chris Hansen -- owner of the land and guy who put this all together -- decides he wants to work with the city on that, but it's nowhere near guaranteed they change or that he would want it to change. The EIS (Environmental Impact Study) for the site has been pushed back a few times now and is now scheduled to be done this summer. Nothing is happening here until that is done and I wouldn't bet on them finishing it this summer.

Fourth: Seattle's best hope right now for an NHL team probably isn't in Seattle. It's in Tukwila which is just south of Seattle. Bellevue could be a possibility east of Seattle, but I don't trust that one to happen. Neither Bellevue nor Tukwila would have anything to do with Hansen, the ownership group he has allied with, the Seattle government or the NBA.

Here's a breakdown of the owner groups and issues from NHL to Seattle:

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Vanek has scored 2 goals in one game. Everyone remain calm.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Nice play by Myers to set up the goal.

Bernier on that 2nd shootout attempt by Montreal was hilarious.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Seguin out for about a month after a dirty knee shot. Ouch.

[Kobalt]

Re: The Official 2014-15 Regular Season Talk Thread

Holden sees Stuart going for the puck, still skates into him anyways.

Spoiler