PerreaultForever

Ya, coincidentally, we took goalies that year. Barrasso and then Puppa in the same draft. They didn't scout those Euro leagues as much in those days and Hasek had a weird unorthodox style, Chicago was pretty much gambling when they drafted him. I doubt they ever thought he'd be much of anything.

Well, I sort of agree but disagree. No, there is no shortcut, and huge salaries on a few players is definitely the wrong approach imo, if you are going to have one huge contract, star goalie is the position to spend that money on. Hasek leading the pluggers is the perfect example, as is Carey Price with Montreal right now. Great goaltending can take you further than great any other position. The almost cup with Hasek is always talked about but back in the 70s the only thing we didn't have was super goaltending. Ours was just okay. The bullies had the star goalie and we didn't. You switch goalies and we have that cup not them, Kate Smith and all. As I've said elsewhere, to right this franchise, goalie has to become a primary concern, not an afterthought as it has been for ages now. But back to Hasek, as much as he loved winning the cup in Detroit, I think his greatest hockey moment for himself was winning the gold. 3:44 mark, that save is just insane.

You can spin that as a narrative but it's not true for me. I never blamed Perreault (even though he did slack some nights) nor Peca or Drury or Briere or Hasek or whoever from the past. Turgeon was a slacker and the LaFontaine trade was a huge win. To me, our current so called stars are in the Turgeon boat. I'm on the record not being in favour of the Skinner signing. My call every year is for mid level free agents not stars. I'm totally on board with building a balanced roster, but if you dump all your money on stars who cannot lead and do not win, it'll be a disaster. However you want to categorize these guys (put the blame on the team breaking them or them failing doesn't matter) either way they're broken and they are thus part of the problem. playing for a contract/trade. He's had chances to shine before. Where was the leadership when we needed it??????????????

As much as I'd love to get rid of Skinner (in any way) there's simply no point in these things. Skinner isn't going anywhere. He wanted to be near southern Ontario and he just don't care so he's here until his contract is over unless we excommunicate him to some remote place as we've done before. We're stuck with him like it or not.

yes please.

Equally however, a decent mid level goalie looks much better behind a great D. Who were the stars in the last 2 playoff games? First Pieterangelo (and their entire D really) and tonight Hedman.

Sorry, 2 goalies in the system isn't enough. Draft one every year. Not saying 1st round, but somewhere. Can never have too many. They are always a valuable commodity.

This is NOT a fact, it is an assumption. They certainly haven't improved us.

lol, well Reinhart to Seattle would keep me from becoming a Kraken fan 🙂

Only if they are self centered money grabbing losers and you open up the vault for them. When was the last time you ever heard a player say they love being here and would take a pay cut to stay? I certainly don't remember it.

Oh I expect it'll be Granato and have said so for a while. It's not MY choice but I think it'll be the Sabres choice. It's easy, it's safe, and it's cheap. My guess is a 2 year deal. As for Power, that is my choice, but this franchise is dumb so who knows.

yes I agree. Goalies are a different breed.

Rangers will be in the playoffs next year you just watch. The speed they already had combined with his coaching that will be a very tough team to play against.

Well it's not Gallant. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/new-york-rangers-hire-gerard-gallant-head-coach/ takes me one small step closer to the door.

I don't think trying to sign ANY big name big money free agent is a good idea. Guys in their late 20s like him are either looking for a contender because they care about winning and want a cup OR they no longer care and they just want cash and that's what Buffalo would get because clearly, at this point, we are not a contender. I suspect Philly will go heavy on trying to land Hamilton. They're going to go after D one way or another that's for sure. Toronto says they are going to bring in a "big name surprise" so who knows what that is perhaps Hamilton. In any event, I don't think this is the right approach. Better to draft Power and let this team grow with youth. But yes, trade Risto. many possible destinations. Now is the time.

idk. they're all bad last few years. This, the tank, last year because of the expectation of being better, the complete collapse after the hot start that year, all of them suck. The dull apathetic hockey at the start of this season certainly in the running though. Sad we have this thread at all.

Ya but they did cheat. Yes, the rules are there and they exploited them, but the real issue relates to Kucherov's actual health. If he comes back when he's actually healthy, they don't have cap room to add Savard and they are over the cap. So they hold him out until the first game of the playoffs. The way he played game 1, stamina, level of compete etc. it was clear to anyone with even half a brain that he was not just coming off an injury. Clearly he was in peak conditioning and had been ready for a while. That's the cheating. The failure by the league, which also lets it happen , is they do not have a provision for independent medical examination of players in this sort of situation. So you can argue it's not "cheating" but it is a clear abuse of the rules and as far as I'm concerned that is cheating. If it was the Sabres that had done it I'd say sure they cheated but I'd be okay with it. As I'm not a Tampa fan I'm not okay with it. They are the cheaters and I loved the Islanders beating them and hope they win the series. Hell let them win the cup. The takeaway for Sabres fans with the Islanders success should be - see, it's okay to lose your star player/captain, life and success can go on. You can in fact be better. Coach, goaltender, team D, that's the model. Follow it.

nolan patrick plus ? for Seth Jones is the latest rumour I read.

Friedman seems to have us moving Reinhart all over. First he said Merzlikins, now he's saying LA actually wants Sam and maybe not Jack or maybe it's both. Sometimes I think Friedman is just an old lady gossip.

I'd do it without the throw in. So Lindholm Comtois and the pick for Eichel. If there was a way to get Zegras I'd prefer that.

Good news though. the Bruins moved up a little in the draft to 20th so that second rounder is a little better.

I don't know about that. I don't think attitude (for lack of a better catch all word) was part of Murray's considerations. Lehner had huge issues, Bogo was an addict, ROR was a bit of a drunk, Eichel wasn't multi problemed but there were a few questions about him, and Kane, well no point to even comment there. I'd also add the second effort level of people like Reinhart but that leads to the usual arguments and tangents so leave that as a matter of opinion. We haven't had many players in a long time that were devoted and committed like Briere was or Peca, others. I know it's a new era and these rich guys are maybe harder to keep in line or keep them motivated but there are still those types out there. Cousins definitely is. Peterka I think is as well. When your leaders are like that it rubs off or even guilts others into the same level. Every year I read comments from ex players about how "it was a great bunch of guys" but "it just didn't work for some reason" but rarely (never?) do I see players here commenting on a pursuit of excellence and a need to win and be better. Taking it on themselves.

I don't. I love his attitude and hope he's as good as we think he might be. Then I want him and Cousins and Power (?) and whoever else to collectively lead this team.

Eichel for Crosby. Wow. That's a good one. Sure give Pittsburgh another decade.

No need to act like a dick Terry.