NHL awards/draft/off-season/training camp/preseason running thread

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Didn't Pronger like Edmonton too?

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Souray couldn't sell his wares to the big boys so he limps home trying to pawn a story about his hometown return - give me a break. Souray's financial demands and his lackadaisical effort on defense is why this defenseman from Alberta had no choice but to sign a contract offered by the 2007 Dumb GM of the Year, Kevin Lowe.

Why sign Souray with Joni Pitkanen on the roster? Talk about duplicating efforts at $4.5 million per.

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

No. Just the TV reporters.

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Sutter chokes up during announcement to resign from Red Deer Rebels.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=76316322-c845-4bc6-af8a-b2165129f51a

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Hold on a damn second. Jonesy says Souray's wife Angelica is happy about signing with Edmonton?

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/Hockey/2007/07/13/4336228-sun.html

When did they become un-estranged?
Are they back together?
Has she stopped accusing him of beating the ever-loving shit out of her?

I'm confused. I must have missed something.

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Well, see I thought for sure they were still split, and that is why this deal made sense for Edmonton, they didn't have to worry about a wife demanding a trade after one year - or hell before he could even pen his name to a contract [/maynylanderrot]

Again I like this deal, hell if they aren't going to get any scoring out of their forwards, they might as well get it out of their defence. Only two of them can really be called defensive defencemen – Greene and Staios – while the rest – Souray, Smid, Tarnstrom, Grebeshkov, Gilbert, Pitkanen – are all very much offensive minded. Their power play should be scarry to say the least. Souray also brings some much needed experience and a physical presence to the back end.

The Oil still have the prospects and the picks to make a trade to get a top end forward. Or they can just let everything settle, bite the bullett on this season and let all of their young forwards and defencemen - many of which have that star potential - to get a year of NHL seasoning under their belt. At the very least they should be fun to watch, unlike the back end of last season.

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Dumb GM of the year? The one mistake he made was not re-signing Ryan Smyth, and he admitted that saying he didn't think the cap would jump to $50 million. Had he known that he would have resigned him. He's just run into a lot of bad luck this off season.

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Our good friend EF has a great piece in his blog on Gary Bettman's sticking it to Canada--and hockey.

Bang on, Elliotte.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/sportsblog/2007/07/gary_bettman_doesnt_care_about.html

And this little addendum:

By the way, this is not about Canadian hockey snobs, as someone wrote in a Nashville paper this week. I love the city. It is one of the best road trips in the NHL, and those who play there say it's a fantastic place to live. But, anyone who claims this market is better for the league than Hamilton is taking Barry Bonds' cat tranquilizers.)

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Very good column, and I have to admit I was one of the brainwashed few Edmonton Fans about the lockout. Shit if it wasn't for the improved Can Dollar the Oil would be in a whole heap of trouble right now.

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

I've been to Nashville twice - first time was for the NHL Draft - and it's one of the best places I've ever visited. I rave about it when people ask me what it's like. I'd go back again in a heartbeat. I know a guy who played for the Preds who loved his time there. Still, it ain't no hockey town.

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Beef03 - Why is Lowe crying about losing Nylander? He was going to overpay a second tier center and then goes out and actually does the same with Souray. Or how about refusing to pay Ryan Smyth but willing to spend money on Nylander and Souray. The man just doesn't know how to run an organization. He couldn't parlay those #1 picks into NHL talent or move up higher in the draft.

Having said this, he was able to rob NY blind getting Robert Nillson, Ryan O'Marra, and the draft pick for Smyth. The only issue is Nillson knee injury and what happens with O'Marra and '07 pick.

 

Re: 2007 NHL awards, draft and off-season running thread

Bettmans stance has everything to do with the fact that he is the head of a for profit enterprise with 80% of members situated in the USA. Yeah the six Canadian teams are bringing in hella profit right now, but that is completely about the soaring loonie and nothing else. It's a gate driven league in The States. Edmonton and Calgary and Ottawa just don't draw. Neither would Hamilton.
Sure the Atlanta Nashville matchup doesn't draw either, but those two markets help you to get that elusive national Television deal.

Why aren't the 6 Canadian teams up in arms about the Hamilton chicanery?

Because they want that US TV Deal also.

Stop scape goating Bettman. He is doing their bidding.