NHL 2013: Off-Season Running Thread

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Although he is entering Staal-ville, I will be interested to see how he plays now that he is out of Ovechkin's shadow. I am surprised he actually got a raise over last year, thought for sure he'd be taking a haircut.

The Hurricanes have vastly improved their team up front this year, and I don't think many are talking about the leap they potentially could make, especially if Semin plays at even 3/4s of his potential. A lot to be excited about if you are Whalercane fan or your name is Sam Mills 51.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Is Semin Alexei Yashin 2.0? Sure plays like it a lot of the time.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

At least it's just a one year deal. But I think it is an apt comparison for now.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Thought I would resurrect this before the league shuts down in two weeks. There's been a few big signings of young players the last week.
First the Oilers re-sign Taylor Hall for seven years and $42 million.

The Senators yesterday then extended Kyle Turris for five years and $17.5 million

And today the Oilers re-signed a second young gun Jordan Eberle for six years and $36 million.

GMs clearly trying to get young guys locked up long term before the new CBA comes in where longer deals may be limited to just four or five years.

Oilers also lock up two of the big pieces of their future, which of course has me excited.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=404230

I'm shocked with these developments./bluefont

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Hello boys and girls,

Tomorrow is Sept. 1. You might want to actually start thinking of talking about a new CBA and the potential for a season before you make like it is 2004 all over again and have to get slammed into the boards with a reality check to realize most people will find something else to do. Even the lame-brain NBA got its act together in time to salvage a season last winter.

But it sounds like you aren't even trying. Mr. Fehr and Bettman, you got REAL lucky in 2005 that the fans came back after a year-long lockout and the game has prospered since. But don't be so foolish as to take people's loyalty for granted all over again. Start acting like mature adults and make some compromises to save and continue to grow a terrific sport... not ruin it with your greed.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

I don't know about you guys, but that brings goosebumps to my arms.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Well ... Gary and the owners have decided that despite raking in $3.3 billion last season, they're going to pull the NFL and NBA model and stick up the players for a bigger piece of an absurd pie.

For revenue to climb from $2.1 billion in the 2005-06 season to $3.3 billion in 2011-12 and for about half the organizations to be losing money, they must have no idea how to operate within some quite generous budgets. Yet ... they're the idiots offering decade-long contracts worth high-eight and, in Alex Ovechkin's case, nine digits.

Funny ... are the players responsible for the stupid offers front offices make to those players? Are the players responsible for guys like Wideman to be offered silly money in relation to his skill level in Calgary?

Yeah ... Gary and the owners, get over yourself. And know that, in some areas not North of the Border, some fans will start getting upset enough to not return.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Do league-wide revenues really tell the story? I was under the impression that a few teams print money and many don't.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

The NHLPA and Donald Fehr are proposing revenue sharing. The big problem, IMO, is that the owners have moved the goalposts and are demanding, pouting and whining - i.e., what Gary Bettman does best - that the negotiation start from there.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Just for fun ...