NHL Season 2019-20

[dwm74]

Talk about peaking at the right time. TB understood the bubble, kept their heads in the game better than anyone else, and reaped a well-deserved Stanley Cup.

Even though this season will always have an asterix in every sport, the rules were the same for every team and the Lightning prevailed. Congrats, Florida!

And yes. Absolutely, Bettman should have gotten prerecorded boos.

I agree with your first two points.

I've never understood all the animosity toward Bettman. Under his watch, the NHL has grown and expanded to many non-traditional markets, exposing our sport throughout the Sun Belt and other places nobody ever thought hockey would exist. Players are making more money than ever, parity is high, and whether one liked it or not, the league worked tirelessly through difficult circumstances and managed to pull off a 100% successful post-season bubble with absolutely ZERO positive Covid tests. (Actually TWO bubbles.) It appears to me like things are going better than in any other sports league.

 

[GonePlaid]

I agree with your first two points.

I've never understood all the animosity toward Bettman. Under his watch, the NHL has grown and expanded to many non-traditional markets, exposing our sport throughout the Sun Belt and other places nobody ever thought hockey would exist. Players are making more money than ever, parity is high, and whether one liked it or not, the league worked tirelessly through difficult circumstances and managed to pull off a 100% successful post-season bubble with absolutely ZERO positive Covid tests. (Actually TWO bubbles.) It appears to me like things are going better than in any other sports league.

I think booing Bettman is kinda like hollering "Free Bird".

 

[Inky13]

I agree with your first two points.

I've never understood all the animosity toward Bettman. Under his watch, the NHL has grown and expanded to many non-traditional markets, exposing our sport throughout the Sun Belt and other places nobody ever thought hockey would exist. Players are making more money than ever, parity is high, and whether one liked it or not, the league worked tirelessly through difficult circumstances and managed to pull off a 100% successful post-season bubble with absolutely ZERO positive Covid tests. (Actually TWO bubbles.) It appears to me like things are going better than in any other sports league.

It's 1967. The league is about to expand for the first time in decades. What would they think if they knew that there would be teams in Florida, Texas, California, Arizona? Pretty amazing, actually.

 

[Picton]

I agree with your first two points.

I've never understood all the animosity toward Bettman. Under his watch, the NHL has grown and expanded to many non-traditional markets, exposing our sport throughout the Sun Belt and other places nobody ever thought hockey would exist. Players are making more money than ever, parity is high, and whether one liked it or not, the league worked tirelessly through difficult circumstances and managed to pull off a 100% successful post-season bubble with absolutely ZERO positive Covid tests. (Actually TWO bubbles.) It appears to me like things are going better than in any other sports league.

I totally agree with you.

But at this point, it's just another NHL tradition. It was just plain weird, seeing him come up there for a presentation in... silence.

 

[dwm74]

It's 1967. The league is about to expand for the first time in decades. What would they think if they knew that there would be teams in Florida, Texas, California, Arizona? Pretty amazing, actually.

An observation...
When you think about it, there are just as many NHL teams in the Sun Belt (7 in the four states you mention) that there are in Canada. Who'd have ever thunk?

(Not even counting Nashville & Carolina.)

 

[Picton]

Tuukka opted out this morning. Of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I hear Seattle needs a goalie. Cam Neely ought to give them a call.

Revisiting this little nugget, because the Bs aren't wasting time here...

Link Removed

 

[GonePlaid]

Revisiting this little nugget, because the Bs aren't wasting time here...

Link Removed

I'm shocked! Shocked, I say. Not really.

 

[Guild B301]

Stars goalie, Anton Khoudobin is an unrestricted free agent this year. He was our backup, but played the entire playoffs with Ben Bishop injured. Khoudobin made $2.5 million a year. Bishop has a no trade clause, and makes $4.9 million.
Our coach (Rick Bowness) is still the interim coach since he replaced Jim Montgomery in December. Crazy times for the Stars.
The draft is Oct 6th. Free agency begins Oct 9th. Off-season workouts begin Oct 15. Crazy season.

 

[Picton]

Stars goalie, Anton Khoudobin is an unrestricted free agent this year. He was our backup, but played the entire playoffs with Ben Bishop injured. Khoudobin made $2.5 million a year. Bishop has a no trade clause, and makes $4.9 million.
Our coach (Rick Bowness) is still the interim coach since he replaced Jim Montgomery in December. Crazy times for the Stars.
The draft is Oct 6th. Free agency begins Oct 9th. Off-season workouts begin Oct 15. Crazy season.

I loved Khudobin when he was Tuukka's backup here. He's got a lot of upside.

With or without Tuuk, the Bruins seem to have mishandled their depth chart on the goalie side...

 

[dwm74]

Thinking of how many Cup-winning goalies are out there (potentially) available.
Rask, Murray, Fleury, Holtby, Crawford, Howard.
Plus Lundqvist, Khudobin, Markstrom, Anderson, Smith, Elliot...the list of former top goalies as UFAs or those likely to be moved is astounding. Yeah, age is an important factor but most of these guys still have something left in the tank.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

This is going to be an off-season like no other! Teams that have planned and paid for high price talent, nudging them right up to the salary cap are going to start dumping salary over the next week. Just because the cap says one thing, it doesn't really equate to what OWNERSHIP will be willing to spend in a year that will likely have few or no bums in the seats. Revenue is obviously down and likely to stay that way for another year or two. Ownership will be looking at every penny spent, handcuffing team's GM's.
Now we are all thinking that these billionaires have tons of cash, they shouldn't have to cut, well, their core businesses in many cases are also hemorrhaging cash, so their pet projects (Professional sports teams) will be down the list of priorities
as they to, try and weather this pandemic.
There will be tons of movement this off season and teams with cap space are getting calls from teams without; there will be bargains out there, for teams with space.
Fishheadjoe

 

[dwm74]

This is going to be an off-season like no other! Teams that have planned and paid for high price talent, nudging them right up to the salary cap are going to start dumping salary over the next week. Just because the cap says one thing, it doesn't really equate to what OWNERSHIP will be willing to spend in a year that will likely have few or no bums in the seats. Revenue is obviously down and likely to stay that way for another year or two. Ownership will be looking at every penny spent, handcuffing team's GM's.
Now we are all thinking that these billionaires have tons of cash, they shouldn't have to cut, well, their core businesses in many cases are also hemorrhaging cash, so their pet projects (Professional sports teams) will be down the list of priorities
as they to, try and weather this pandemic.
There will be tons of movement this off season and teams with cap space are getting calls from teams without; there will be bargains out there, for teams with space.
Fishheadjoe

You are spot on. Even teams that are habitually below the cap like Arizona are now up against it and have very little flexibility. I forgot how many times the Coyotes were the dumping ground for large contracts of players who never suited up for them (Datsyuk/Pronger/Hossa to name a few). Not anymore.

Even so, you gotta feel for a guy like Taylor Hall and the rotten luck he's had. His first 10 years in the league he was stuck on crappy teams and only saw the playoffs twice. And now when he's finally due for a big payoff in Free Agency, this stuff happens. Don't get me wrong, he's still a multi-millionaire and set for life, but his timing couldn't be worse.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

I'm expecting to see one year contracts for free agents in the coming weeks. Until there is some level of revenue consistency, clubs are going to go into survival mode for the foreseeable future.
Fishheadjoe

 

[MJ5150]

This is going to be an off-season like no other! Teams that have planned and paid for high price talent, nudging them right up to the salary cap are going to start dumping salary over the next week. Just because the cap says one thing, it doesn't really equate to what OWNERSHIP will be willing to spend in a year that will likely have few or no bums in the seats. Revenue is obviously down and likely to stay that way for another year or two. Ownership will be looking at every penny spent, handcuffing team's GM's.
Now we are all thinking that these billionaires have tons of cash, they shouldn't have to cut, well, their core businesses in many cases are also hemorrhaging cash, so their pet projects (Professional sports teams) will be down the list of priorities
as they to, try and weather this pandemic.
There will be tons of movement this off season and teams with cap space are getting calls from teams without; there will be bargains out there, for teams with space.
Fishheadjoe

Except the Pens.
Rutherford pushed the Pens deeper into debt running Hornqvist out of town.

-Mike

 

[MJ5150]

Yes!!!! Great news out of Pittsburgh today: Penguins sign All-Star goalie Jarry to 3-year deal.
Time to package up Murray and Johnson and ship them off for a bag of pucks and some poutine.

-Mike

 

[dwm74]

Yes!!!! Great news out of Pittsburgh today: Penguins sign All-Star goalie Jarry to 3-year deal.
Time to package up Murray and Johnson and ship them off for a bag of pucks and some poutine.

-Mike

Interesting since Jarry's deal has an AAV of $3.5m... Murray's expiring deal was $3.75m. Who knows what he was expecting with a new contract but yeah, I'm relieved it won't be with Pittsburgh.

I'm not expecting much in return for a Murray/Johnson package, as they will have to do what they did with Matt Hunwick a few years ago... Basically pay a team to take him (Johnson) off their hands.

 

[Guild B301]

I am actually proud to be a NHL hockey fan, because of how the players handled the playoff 'bubble'. Compared to all the other big sports leagues (football, basketball, baseball), who have had a lot of problems keeping players in line, and away from the COVID virus, and are having to cancel and postpone games - NHL players, all were serious about playing and keeping themselves healthy. I'm glad they take their jobs seriously.

 

[GonePlaid]

I am actually proud to be a NHL hockey fan, because of how the players handled the playoff 'bubble'. Compared to all the other big sports leagues (football, basketball, baseball), who have had a lot of problems keeping players in line, and away from the COVID virus, and are having to cancel and postpone games - NHL players, all were serious about playing and keeping themselves healthy. I'm glad they take their jobs seriously.

 

[dwm74]

Well, @MJ5150, your wish is coming true...

Penguins place Jack Johnson on waivers, will buy out remaining 3 years of contract

From the article: "The Penguins will be paying $1 million or $2 million under the salary cap for each of the next six years for Jack Johnson not to play for the Penguins."

Oddly enough, they did make a qualifying offer to Murray, at last year's salary. If I understand the strategy, if he accepts, it will make him much easier to trade.

 

[MJ5150]

Well, @MJ5150, your wish is coming true...

Penguins place Jack Johnson on waivers, will buy out remaining 3 years of contract

From the article: "The Penguins will be paying $1 million or $2 million under the salary cap for each of the next six years for Jack Johnson not to play for the Penguins."

Oddly enough, they did make a qualifying offer to Murray, at last year's salary. If I understand the strategy, if he accepts, it will make him much easier to trade.

Yes!!
I think Rutherford should personally pay for Johnson not to play since it was his dumb idea to give him that big contract.

-Mike