pi2000

You have a sport played on a surface of frozen water, so you physically evaluate the players on dry land? OK. They should do it like the NFL combine... game specific drills, all on the ice, agility tests, shot speed, 40 yard sprint, etc... that would be must see TV. But no, the NHL would rather evaluate their ability to play the fastest game in sports by doing an exaggerated curtsy..... brilliant.

That was different. ROR was traded to BUF with 1 year remaining on his deal, he wasn't a UFA like Stamkos where multiple teams will competing for his services, which will drive his price up and up and up..

Murray will overpay for him. He's got a man crush on him, and the money and term will be outrageous and we'll all moan about all the money tied up in him for years down the road.... but we'll all sing a different tune when he's leading us to playoff glory.

I'd rather watch the draft on TV, get close ups of the players and interviews and whatnot. Otherwise you're just sitting there watching a crowd of people move around, I don't get it.

noooooooooooooo

I could see him landing in DAL, assuming they can trade one or both of Lehtonen/Niemi. Lehtonen's deal will be difficult to move, they eat some of his remaining salary... or outright buy him out.

Chad has frequent moments of brilliance, but the goals he lets in are often of the weak variety. His numbers might be good, but it's the types of goals he allows that take the wind out of the sails.

No way GMTM brings in the shortest goalie in the league.

Next 5 years most successful teams: FLA, SJS, DAL, TBL, CHI Teams like BUF are on the upswing, but still a few years away from competing with the top 5 teams list above.

1 - McDavid 2 - Kane 3 - Crosby 4 - Ovechkin 5 - Benn ..... 691 - Matthews

Yes, and he's already fully grown (he's been the same size since he was 16, and he missed last years draft by 2 days), so really how much upside is there? The fact he choose to get paid in Europe vs getting his high school diploma in time to play NCAA, raises the question about what's driving him to play.... what does he value. What makes him push himself in training day in and day out, and will that same fire still burn after he gains lifetime financial security? Is he dreaming of hoisting the Cup? Or being able to financially support his family for the rest of their lives? Or both? Time will tell, but IMO he has all the makings of a guy who is likely to pack it in (and make poor decisions) when his payday comes. No doubt he is supremely talented, but it takes more than natural talent to have a hall-of-fame type career. That said, I don't hate the guy, I'm not hoping he fails... I hope I'm wrong and he has a fantastic career, it would be great for the NHL and USA Hockey if he does find success.

I predict success for him in his first few years, peaking out at a top 10-15 scorer, a few All-Star games, etc... However, I see his career taking a dive after he signs a long term deal. I don't believe he has that inner drive to beat the guy lined up opposite him, that burning desire to win, which makes great players great over the entirety of their career. Once he gets paid, I think he'll pack it in. He chased the money to Europe, and he'll chase the money (not the Cup) in the NHL.

The older established NHL players have families and such, and they have short amount of time to spend with them in the off-season. North American players grow up dreaming of winning a Stanley Cup. European's dream of World Championship and Olympic glory. And then you have Auston Matthews who dreams of making fat stacks yo.

Based on what exactly? He hasn't even been drafted yet!

I'll like where you're going with this.... however..... They can't "go after" Vesey. He's NSH property. If and when he becomes a FA, it will be his choice where he wants to sign. I wouldn't make room for him in the meantime, I believe he's headed to TOR to play with Matthews... good for him, good luck with that. Draft wise, Sergachev, Juolevi, McAvoy, or Chychrun. Nash? No thanks. Stamkos? Yes please! 7yr/$62.5mil, Captain. I think Guhle makes the team, filling one of the top 6 spots. Risto, Bogo, Guhle, McCabe.... and Gorges probably sticks around (I hope not). Add one of Barrie, Vatanen, Lindholm, or Shattenkirk. Fashcing, Bailey, Rodrigues likely start in Roch.... Guhle would need to go back to juniors if he's not ready. Moulson will be given a chance, but if he shows no signs of life, I expect him to get moved out sooner than later, likely a buy out and released.

He just needs a Mark Kelso style helmet or pillows...

see it listed now, thanks

You sure about that? I don't see it listed on their schedule, just golf and motocross.

Most players will.

So the semi-finals aren't televised in the states? NBCSports shows every USA game up to to the quarterfinals, then.... nothing?

He ears have a strange shape. 0/10 would not bang.

He certainly made it look easy. It's not an easy move to pull off, the majority of NHL'ers would lose the puck trying to dangle it back and forth so quickly and still get a shot off. Certainly not a flashy move, but very high level difficulty and effective. That said, he will never live up to expectations at the NHL level :)

Duchene and O'Reilly are very close friends. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=15508222

from http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2016/5/15/11678100/michal-kempny-blackhawks-free-agency-rumors-nhl-khl-2016 "He’s a mobile defenseman," Bowman said. "He’s got that mixture of offense and defense. I would call him a really well-rounded guy. He can defend well in his own end. Mobility, he’s a good skater. He can transition the puck. He can sort of play a well-rounded game, which I think as a defenseman, you’ve seen our team play a lot, you have to be able to defend for our coaches to be able to rely on you. He’s got that ability to sort of play both ways."

He's 5'8, that's the best they could do?