NHL Season 2018-19

[dangnewt]

Even though I'm a Flyers fan?

Yup. Don't tell Chara, but I even appreciate and learn from the Habs fans here! Maybe since, as bass players, we are all on the same team, it allows us to talk about our sports teams without devolving into a flamefest. I remember some years back I spent a lot of time on a baseball thread and ended up appreciating a Yankee fan - TB is a weird, wonderful place.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Yup. Don't tell Chara, but I even appreciate and learn from the Habs fans here! Maybe since, as bass players, we are all on the same team, it allows us to talk about our sports teams without devolving into a flamefest. I remember some years back I spent a lot of time on a baseball thread and ended up appreciating a Yankee fan - TB is a weird, wonderful place.

Ok, let's not get crazy here... next thing you know you'll be singing kumbaya with a Cowboy fan!

 

[dwm74]

Tom Wilson re-signs with the Caps...six years, $31M.

Seriously, $5M per year for a guy that scored a career high 14 goals last season? And that was playing on the first line. If he gets bumped off that line he'll be back in single-digits again. Yeah, I know he brings that intangible presence on the ice, but FIVE MILLION A YEAR???

I'm predicting a buyout by year three.

 

[dwm74]

Sabres pick up Jeff Skinner form Carolina. What a steal, especially if they can sign him to an extension. Carolina gives up it's (arguably) best player for a prospect and three picks, as they continue their ongoing rebuild. Nine years with no playoffs for the Canes...and extending that to 10 years is almost a guarantee. How bad do things have to be when a player waives his no-trade clause to go to Buffalo? LOL

The Sabres, on the other hand, could make a somewhat noticeable splash this season. Not yet a contender but at least they shouldn't finish in the bottom five again.

 

[MJ5150]

I noticed a handful of Pens fans crying about how the Pens should have grabbed Skinner.
Yeah, sure. The Pens need another forward.

-Mike

 

[DerekW]

Hey, been off TB for the last few weeks.
Still shaking my head at the Wilson deal. Not only is it way too much, but it just drives other agents to think their boy is worth more.
You know a whole lot of agents are going “Well, Wilson got $5.2/yr!” And Gm’s are going “Well, and we all know how stupid that was.” (See nylander comment below)

Skinner to Buffalo was a steal for the Sabres.
They may be the sleeper team to watch in the east this year

From the Leafs side, not concerned yet, but wondering what’s taking so long to get Nylander extended. Like I said earlier, with Wilson getting $5.2m, you’ve got to look at him as a $7.5-$8m player. He has a bit to prove still, not a sure thing like Marner. I’m wondering if they go for a 2 year bridge deal, but with upcoming cap issues for the Leafs next year, it would be beneficial to get him signed long term.

 

[MJ5150]

Anyone in this picture look familiar to hockey fans?

-Mike

 

[dwm74]

Andre the Giant (Pens could use his size!)

Carol Vadnais on the left? (Total guess...going from memory)

And some kid from Parry Sound. Don't know if he ever amounted to much as a player.

 

[dwm74]

A little perspective on his size...

Seriously, strap some goalie pads on him and send him in there. He wouldn't even have to move to make a save.

 

[arbitrary]

There are some absolutely incredible stories about Andre the Giant. Apparently the playwright Samuel Beckett used to give him a ride to school as a boy.

 

[DerekW]

There are some absolutely incredible stories about Andre the Giant. Apparently the playwright Samuel Beckett used to give him a ride to school as a boy.

And apparently he drank 156 beers in one sitting.

 

[dwm74]

About time something happened to bump this thread back to life!

Canadiens got fleeced badly...sending captain Pacioretty to Vegas for (drum roll) underachieving and overpaid Tomas Tatar, a prospect, and a 2nd rd pick. Uh, another wing and still no centers. Monsieur Bergevin might as well be packing his bags before he's run out of town on a dogsled.

Now we sit back and wait for the Karlsson deal to materialize.

 

[fokof]

They bought themselves the last place in NHL so they'll have a better chance to draft first ......

 

[dwm74]

Didn't expect the Karlsson deal to happen this early, but he's heading to San Jose. Ottawa gets back a couple average players, two prospects, and a pick (or two).

A footnote about him going to the Sharks is that's where Ottawa traded Mike Hoffman earlier, the guy whose girlfriend was giving EK's wife all that grief. (Hoffman was immediately traded to Florida the same day he was acquired, but seems odd that both were dealt to Doug Wilson.)

I'm just glad EK didn't end up with one of the Pens' eastern rivals.

Oh, and Tyler Seguin finally got that eight-year deal he was looking for. Good move for Dallas. He's got a lot of good years left in the tank.

 

[Basshappi]

Well this is the year I begin to follow hockey.
I have been needing a sport to follow when there is no BASEBALL, I dislike football and detest basketball.
As a complete newbie to the sport I don't have a team yet. The locals are the Coyotes but this season I'm planning to just watch as much as I can and learn the sport and the players/teams (and following this thread of course ).

 

[DerekW]

Didn't expect the Karlsson deal to happen this early, but he's heading to San Jose. Ottawa gets back a couple average players, two prospects, and a pick (or two).

A footnote about him going to the Sharks is that's where Ottawa traded Mike Hoffman earlier, the guy whose girlfriend was giving EK's wife all that grief. (Hoffman was immediately traded to Florida the same day he was acquired, but seems odd that both were dealt to Doug Wilson.)

I'm just glad EK didn't end up with one of the Pens' eastern rivals.

Oh, and Tyler Seguin finally got that eight-year deal he was looking for. Good move for Dallas. He's got a lot of good years left in the tank.

Best part of the conditional picks, is that if Karlsson ends up back in the eastern conference this season, SJ gives them another pick, burned once by SJ on the Hoffman deal, not twice, lol, and agreed, they were just desperate to get rid of EK before he walked for nothing.

 

[MJ5150]

Well this is the year I begin to follow hockey.
I have been needing a sport to follow when there is no BASEBALL, I dislike football and detest basketball.
As a complete newbie to the sport I don't have a team yet. The locals are the Coyotes but this season I'm planning to just watch as much as I can and learn the sport and the players/teams (and following this thread of course ).

Welcome!
I learned a lot about hockey from these very threads myself, so you are in for a treat.

One thing to know right away, the team from Toronto is overrated.

-Mike

 

[DerekW]

Welcome!
I learned a lot about hockey from these very threads myself, so you are in for a treat.

One thing to know right away, the team from Toronto is underrated.

-Mike

Fixed it for you.

 

[dwm74]

Saw an article the other day that places Toronto (yes, Toronto!) in the top five Cup contenders, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hey, the Leafs are certainly closing the gap between pretenders and contenders but I can't see them being favored over the Pens, with their pedigree and recent success. Of course, Murray is the wildcard in any of the Pens success (or failure), but overall, there's still a lot of experience and skill to win another one.

Can't wait for the season to begin!

 

[dwm74]

Well this is the year I begin to follow hockey.
I have been needing a sport to follow when there is no BASEBALL, I dislike football and detest basketball.
As a complete newbie to the sport I don't have a team yet. The locals are the Coyotes but this season I'm planning to just watch as much as I can and learn the sport and the players/teams (and following this thread of course ).

Welcome to the thread, neighbor! Although I do like football I'm right there with you regarding basketball.

One thing to remember as you learn the sport is that there are no dumb questions, so feel free to ask anything. I guarantee you that nobody here will treat you differently as a newcomer. Lots of good members on this thread the past few years. Glad to have another NHL fan in our midst!