LTS

I think the Sabres are in good shape if they don't land a top FA. Frankly it's usually overpayment day anyway. I'd rather the Sabres continue their controlled build than try to go out and swing for the fences. There has to be some limit to how many contracts the Sabres can go out and get right now as well unless they also move someone right?

Ahh I see what you are getting at. The additional revenue from the 8th year he would get signing the "NEXT" contract. Fair enough.

Not sure what you are getting at... the extra year is calculated into the overall contract value and total taxes paid.

You might find this interesting... punch in $12M AAV for Buffalo and check the net amount differences to Tampa.

It's not uncommon for teams to let a free agent test the waters to see where the market is being set and then agree to match that market value. I would imagine that kind of happened here. The nuance of the deal seems to align with all the economic analysis on how much Stamkos truly makes based on taxes, etc.

As I think about it more.. I think Montreal is really looking for the stable back end presence that will allow their forwards to play more confidently. Subban, for all of his talent, is still prone to making some incredibly stupid decisions with the puck. If a forward can't rely upon his defender and he has any concerns about the well being of his team he's bound to play more defensively than normal. The other thing I wonder now is if Nashville is going to consider trading away a different D player. They do have an embarrassment of riches on the blue line.

I guess Subban really impressed Nashville while he was down there for the All-star game. Perhaps Montreal acquired Weber to beat up Zetterberg again? Hell.. I'm confused. But in the realm of possibilities... does Montreal have too many players they feel they would need to protect in the expansion draft so they moved Subban? I've got nothing else.

That's absolutely classic. And I'm fine with Stamkos in TB. I prefer athletes stay with their teams.

I'm dying here. Well.. we used to say the Sabres were the most pathetic franchise in the NHL and I was always happy I wasn't an Oiler fan given how many #1 picks they can rack up and still suck. This just cements it. They are the worst franchise in the NHL.

Thanks missed that. Yep... also not thinking. Good point. So, the only other issue I have it the cap hit. I'm not sold on teams having that much in one player being that successful especially when they will have to have other players in that neighborhood as well. But.. if it forces the Leafs to overspend.... :)

Peters... I've never had a personal interaction with Kane but he's not winning me over with his ability to get his name into police reports.

No chance I buy NHL 17 given the catastrophe that NHL 15 and 16 were. NHL 16 is so horrendously flawed. Adding all the arena crap is just throwing lipstick on a pig.

Perhaps I missed it somewhere but I don't recall seeing it. Is there a compelling reason to NOT be worried about his blood clot issues from this year? I'm not sold on sinking a major contract on a guy who might have to retire prematurely.

If you are going to hate on professional sports and the millionaires in it being excessive you probably should stop being part of their financial support system.

I can't stand the guy. I ran into him one night at Flight (a wine bar near Blue Cross Arena). Didn't notice him at first until he insisted on telling everyone around that he was choosing the music that was playing and if they didn't like it they could kiss his ass. Good to note he was at the bar by himself no less. Meh. It's an accusation that he did it and nothing more. I'll wait to they review the gigs of security camera footage, cell phone camera footage, etc. DISCLAIMER: This isn't absolving him of anything on my part. The guy is not even charged so I'm not getting bent out of shape over it. The report details something that is absolutely despicable behavior though and I recognize that.

So the Sabres draft Pu and Asplund thus ensuring they will continue to be the butt of NHL jokes.

Couldn't catch all of the draft... I wouldn't be surprised if the Sabres tried to trade up for Chychryn but the price was high. Arizona can throw their money away this year. They are targeting the year after. The picks fell as they fell. Nothing too spectacular except for Columbus at #3... unless their Finnish GM had some kind of scoop to go the other way. Finally, Bono earned a lot of respect in my books when he wouldn't let the stewardess take his briefcase. I'm not sure why all the hate.

I think Eleven hates this because he wears 92...

What if Murray is trying to get Montreal to make the trade so they get Fowler and give up their #9 pick? Murray believes this will make the Canadiens weaker next year? Just having fun..

No way on Earth should they trade the pick. Ennis/Zemgus & Pysyk I could get behind. Fowler upgrades Pysyk and the #8 fills the pipeline. Ennis/Zemgus are expendable, especially if they are going to drop Vesey into the top 6. I think Girgensons would be the player the Ducks really want. I see him fitting in with Getzlaf/Perry types.

Not at a bar you don't. I mean.. slam the price point but I what did a pint of Budweiser cost at the same establishment?

The Sabres do not have enough #1 picks to ever be considered that awful. The Oilers have defined the lowest level of suckitude ever achievable in a major sports program. That said... if the Sabres are at the bottom again I'm going to check out for a long time.

phrasing...

The other one? You might be the only one. Then again I finished the game and was up at 5:45. No one is watching the game when its in the middle of the day and they need to start late enough to pull in the West Coast viewers. You really have to credit the level of shot blocking that Pittsburgh had and not necessarily blame the Sharks. The Sharks could not get the puck into space. The level of hockey that the Pens played was incredible. I don't like them but holy crap were they good... really good. I am sure there will be stats that will come out to show it. All I saw was a Pens team that let the Sharks play their speed generating passing style and lulled them into carefully controlled spaces where they could force the turnover and use their actual speed to dominate. Congratulations to them... now I just don't want to hear anymore about them. :) And let the goalie controversy begin.

Not many people have as a great an impact on the sport or profession in which they played/participated. He's the most unique hockey player that ever played.