pi2000

The more I think about all these moves, the more I'm on the fence. It just seems like a big roll of the dice, but in reality he didn't have any other option at this point. I'm not going to be surprised no matter what the outcome. They could be great, they could be average, they could be in the basement again. At least he's trying.

Hall fired for relationship with Brandon

2. JBOT is rolling the dice with Hutton and Ullmark... which may work out. But there's also a chance it doesn't. I don't consider Hutton an experienced starter... he's an experienced backup. Ullmark has no experience. He could've made a move for an experienced starter... he choose not to. 3. Bieksa, Beauchemin, Hainsey, Martin, etc.. there's a bunch of guys in that category that would provide a calming presence on the blueline.

If this team is really bad again it will be because of any of 3 things. 1- Player's not responding to Housley. 2- No starting goalie. Hutton is a career backup. Ullmark is a rookie. There is nobody else in the sytem.. not even a former starting goalie. If Hutton nosedives, and and Ullmark struggles, like he did for Roch down the stretch, then this team is screwed 3- Dahlin struggles because of no veteran presence on the blueline to guide the young Swede. Scandella has played some games, sure, but they need a guy who has been to the top and played 10 seasons or so.

Everybody talking about talent and goaltending.... I'm more concerned with wether or not they show up every game.. take periods off... how they react to adversity. They've proven to be mentally fragile. Can Phil keep them focused and motivated?

I don't think Botterill is done. He needs to launch Larsson and Girgensons yesterday. They also need a veteran defenseman. And I'd also look at what other goaltenders are available.

This is where TRpm comes in to play. Skinner was a -27 but and also had a -19 TRpm... that's on the level of Okposo bad. A TRpm of 0 means he was on par with his teammates. A -19 TRpm means he was a huge liability compared to the rest of his team.

-27 last year... oh boy. TRpm is roughly -19.... brutal. That's Okposian bad. Maybe the Houslian plan is to put them on the same line.

Not sure how I feel about this.

IMO on a different team, Dahlin is Calder material. I just don't see an 18 year old on a 31st place team putting up the numbers. Mittlestadt... depends how much time he gets on PP1, and if he gets top 6 minutes. He could be in the mix.

"....sniping winger Alex Nylander." stopped reading after that.

Agree 100%. However, given his contract... they have no other choice to but to do everything in their power to get him healthy and back as a significant contributor. He's untradeable. With only 2 years left on his current deal, they have to be hoping he gets somewhat healthy and shows something.. anything positive, which may make him a tradeable asset at the deadline. The other option is a buyout, which would result in a $2m cap hit for the next 4 seasons. Not ideal, but something to consider if he can't stay healthy again.

Tuesday at 8p EDT? Yeah that's fine.

Derek Grant played 66 games for the Ducks last season, scoring 12 goals and 12 assists. That would make him the top bottom 6 scorer on last years Sabre's team..... hardly a JAG imo.... well, OK, maybe an NHL JAG, but not a Buffalo JAG.

Nelson in the top 6 is sad.

Just Absolute Greatness

works for me

I'm less concerned about buying UFA's years than I am about wether or not he'll actually live up to the dollar amount. We still don't know what he is. That said, I'd go 2 years at 4m/yr.

I'm west coast time so that would be around 6pm.... I may be traveling home from my boy's tournaments in Simi Valley/Valencia at that time.... but if that time works for everyone else, then I'll figure something out.

I believe the target was Wahlstrom.

Doesn't matter, they already won.

There's a practice in hockey, probably other sports too, where pending FA's are often rewarded for past performance in their next contract. Does WSH win the Cup without Wilson? Personally I don't think they do... and for that he was rewarded with a sizable pay increase. That said, I look at his contract as more of a reward for past performance, rather than future expectations.

Players responding like this to random fan opinions is a telling sign about the player himself.

Tom Wilson is worth what he is. He deserves to be paid fairly. The Capitals value him more than what we see on the ice, which they have every right to do. Value contract? No. Bad contract? Maybe.