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NHL 2013 off season thread

Subbed.

AS with many teams, the B's will be all about cap space management, I don't see any big outside moves.

Their big UFA's are Horton and Ferrence
The big RFA is Rask - I assume they would want to keep him and will find the money to do it.

Jagr is a UFA but I don't think they will retain him.
Khudobin, the backup goalie, is a UFA and I think he is as good as some #1's out there. The B's like him and I would assume will try to retain him, but I wonder what he is worth on the open market.
 
So, what are your biggest concerns/questions regarding your team?

For the Pens...
Will the Pens trade Letang?
Will they really continue to ride Fleury as their top goalie, or are they just trying to drive up his trade value?
Will they be able to resign Dupuis? Cooke? I think and hope they retain both.

Players from other teams...
There are rumblings and trade rumors about Dion Phaneuf. Probably just rumors...
Where does Bryzgalov land? Maybe he just says **** it, and goes and plays in the KHL. I hope he stays in the NHL though. I'd like to see him play for a team and city that appreciates him, and turn his career around.
 
ference and Jagr are gone and I see horton as a 50/50. I imagine Rask will sign with the B's, can't see how they mess that up.

Subbed.

AS with many teams, the B's will be all about cap space management, I don't see any big outside moves.

Their big UFA's are Horton and Ferrence
The big RFA is Rask - I assume they would want to keep him and will find the money to do it.

Jagr is a UFA but I don't think they will retain him.
Khudobin, the backup goalie, is a UFA and I think he is as good as some #1's out there. The B's like him and I would assume will try to retain him, but I wonder what he is worth on the open market.
 
Bryzgalov, as predicted by a few in our threads, is a goner!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

-Mike

Early on, I thought they'd buy him out. But when Bernier signed with Toronto, I thought Bryz would stay at least one more year. I really liked Bobrovsky, and wasn't very happy when they let him go. I do think that Bryzgalov has a lot of good goaltending left in him. If he lands on a team/city where he feels comfortable, Holmgren will once again look foolish.

Early on in Holmgren's tenure, I thought he made a lot of very good decisions. Not so much the last couple of years though. I guess when you go 38 years or more between Cups, you tend to make some desperation moves. But it's a new season coming up, so once again, "Lets Go Flyers!!". (Sigh...)
 
It will be interesting to see what the Flyers do,...I feel like Bryz could have improved in Philly and I think Mason could also resurrect his career there. But without Bryz there is a serious hole to fill. Mason hasn't proven to be a solid starter; plus the defense is still shoddy at best and injury prone IMO.

Read up on the potential goalies here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Luongo's name gets thrown around. I would be okay with that. I've joked with a friend in the past that I'd love it if Lou came to play for the Flyers.
 
Really bummed with the ending of last night's game, crappy night's sleep, long day of work (*I work outside, as an arborist, and it was 90 degrees and humid all day), finally home now. Took an outdoor shower, cracked open a Green Monstah IPA from Wachusett Brewery (soon to have another..) but wanted to say - Congrats Chicago. They are the better team.

Good series, Boston should be in good shape next year. You guys are really fun to talk hockey with, regardless of how my favorite team does. People on the NHL TB threads are openminded, smart, informed and respectful.

I look forward to many more great discussions, jokes and hilarious PDF's and Gifs.


Peace out for now, need another beer...:D Cheers guys!

Pete
 
A Jeff K sighting. I knew this thread would rouse him from hibernation. :D

-Mike

I actually enjoyed the playoffs much more than I thought I would this year. I mean I ALWAYS enjoy playoff hockey; but it just seemed weird not having the Flyers taking part.

The finals were awesome. I just didn't post in the thread very much because frankly, I didn't give a flying **** about either team. ;) Very fun to watch though. It was easy to be objective because I didn't care who won or lost. Sorry for the detour. Back to the off-season discussions. Lets go Flyers! :D
 
You guys are really fun to talk hockey with, regardless of how my favorite team does. People on the NHL TB threads are openminded, smart, informed and respectful.

I feel the same. It was just a few years ago that I started following the NHL again, and it was the guys in these threads who educated me. A few of those guys no longer post, which is a major bummer for me, but new guys have come along to fill in the gaps. These threads are my main source of NHL info and commentary. I supplement it with NHLN, TSN.ca, and ESPN.com or local newspaper websites from the cities of the teams I am interested in.

-Mike
 
And here's why hockey is the best sport :)

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The NBC guys were saying Hossa and Chara are neighbors in Slovakia. They'll probably sit together on the plane flight home.

-Mike

But it definitely won't be in coach. Can you imagine Chara trying to squeeze his legs between two "normal" airplane rows?! (Great pic by the way. And you're right about the handshake tradition. I've always loved that.)
 
. . . but wanted to say - Congrats Chicago. They are the better team.

Thanks--it's been an unbelievable year for the Hawks, and the opponents in the playoffs/SC Finals have really made the postseason more spectacular and memorable than the record run to begin the season.

Last time the Hawks won the SC, it was bittersweet, because everyone knew the team would have to be dismantled that offseason. It is nothing short of amazing that the front office has been able to keep the core of Toews, Kane, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook, and Hossa intact. But losing Ladd, Byfulien, Niemi, and so many others that offseason really hurt. It is nice going into this offseason knowing that we won't have to completely overhaul the roster. There aren't the major cap issues this time. I'm sure several of our FAs will get picked up. Whoever picks up Ray Emery will pick up a goalie that had as good a season as any in the NHL, though incomplete. I'm sure Stan Bowman will make a roster tweak here and there. But the Blackhawks everybody saw in 2013 should be the same Hawks team everybody will see in 2013-14.