Ducky

Here is something I just read at Hockey News... Which five NHL teams do you feel are in the best position when it comes to prospects and which five are in the worst position? – Keenan Clarry (@KeenanClarry) Here’s my best: Edmonton – The high end of Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse vaults the Oilers to the top since McDavid is such a sure thing. I’m also a big William Lagesson fan. Buffalo – Jack Eichel is the Sabres’ McDavid equivalent, plus you have Sam Reinhart, Justin Bailey and some nice long-term catches in Will Borgen and Christopher Brown. Winnipeg – The deepest pool. Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Morrissey, Nic Petan, Connor Hellebuyck, Eric Comrie, Kyle Connor, Erik Foley…it’s almost unfair at this point. Arizona – Another great assembly with Max Domi, Anthony Duclair, Dylan Strome, Christian Dvorak, Max Letunov, Brendan Perlini and Nick Merkley, Anaheim – Already a great team, the Ducks have reinforcements ready in Nick Ritchie, Nic Kerdiles, Shea Theodore and Kevin Roy, plus longer-term gems such as Julius Nattinen and Jacob Larsson. And my worst, with the caveat that some of these teams are in a win-now window and have therefore sacrificed prospects: San Jose – Timo Meier and Nikolay Goldobin are solid, but not much depth behind them. Pittsburgh – Derrick Pouliot used to be surrounded; now he’s one of the last elite prospects in the pipeline. New Jersey – Pavel Zacha will help, but there isn’t much more scoring coming otherwise. Toronto – Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Scott Harrington have all really helped the Leafs’ outlook recently in this category, but they were thin before. New York Rangers – Just don’t have the critical mass of prospects since they’re in their Stanley Cup window right now. Adam Tambellini and Pavel Buchnevich are good, though. It seems he has us pegged at 3rd place.

Ladd-Little-Ehlers Stafford-Scheifele-Wheeler Burmistrov-Lowry-Perrault Thorburn or Peluso-Petan or Copp-Armia or Hali Enstrom-Myers Buff-Trouba Stuart-Chiarot Pavs-Hutchinson Ladd and Little bring along Ehlers as does Perrault and Lowry to Petan 4th line won't see much time. I expect to see Burmi getting some time on the PK. Hopefully, Morrissey cracks the lineup.

My guess.... he is charged and gets an acquittal. Did he do it? Nobody but those two know.

Has to be a done deal. Both cities have buildings and wealthy ownership groups. We know the NHL wants to go to Vegas. They literally have no choice now but to go with Quebec. I suspect they will make Quebec play in the west for a couple of years. Why not just push Detroit west? Detroit just went East. I think if both teams enter and Quebec goes East and Vegas goes West, the next team (Seattle?) goes to the West.

Just our luck. The Jets will be a powerhouse of young players just in time to lose a couple of top six/top pairing guys to expansion. Not if the rules don't change much from the last expansion draft. Scheif, Troubs and Lowry would need to be protected as would Hutchinson, Hellebuyck, Komaschuk, Copp, Lipon, Armia, Olsen and Telegin. ELC players are exempt from the draft. Protect 1 goalie Hellebuyck 5 d-men Trouba Myers Buff Enstom Chiarot 9 forwards Scheifele Lowry Wheeler Ladd Little Copp Armia Perrault if he extends Burmi? Komaschuk? Lipon? this is 11 forwards which is 2 too many. I don't think I am forgetting anyone higher on the prospect list. We might lose Stuart and we'd probably lose Hutch. If we lost Komaschuk and Lipon would it hurt us that much? Now, if the draft happens in 2018, we would lose some quality players; however, we might be able to lose an expensive contract of an aging player, too.

If both teams come in at once, I wonder what the protection rules will be for the expansion draft....I think the last one was something like ... 1 goalie, 5 D-men and 9 Forwards. We're smiling if that's the case. I am assuming a draft in 2017.

http://www.arcticicehockey.com/2014/6/6/5780288/lukas-sutter-bloodlines-hit-a-dead-end-winnipeg-jets-prospect

The Philadelphia Flyers signed forward Jakub Voracek to an eight-year, $66 million contract extension on Thursday. The deal holds an average annual value of $8.25 million.

I've always thought Hawerchuk was the best player on the ice during that final game against Russia. What a team, almost as good as the team for the 76 Canada Cup. Here are the D from the 76 team... Orr Lapointe Potvin Robinson Savard Vadnais Jimmy Watson The forwards are equally impressive.

I wouldn't give him much more than 3m a year over 6...maybe 3.25m.

He was productive in the AHL before being traded.

I don't know, I am just saying what I would sign him for...

I think a full TC and he would look really nice on the 4th line and even 3rd in case of injuries....I'd sign him for 2 year at at 1m to 1.25m per year. I'd rather sign him than Tlusty.

I honestly don't think they sign for shorter term. Would you? Both Buff and Ladd are in their prime. You make hay while the sun shines. If Buff can put his game together and be more consistent and both stay healthy, we have 2 very good players locked up. Buff can and has controled a game. He can put the team on his shoulders and carry them. We've seen it. If there were any way to put clauses in a contract considering staying in shape and coming to camp in shape, I would want to see them in Buff's contract. Having said that, I think he will continue to stay in shape and be in shape for TC this fall. If Buff signs long term, I wouldn't have any problems trading him if he began to decline but with no trade clauses, the player has the leverage. I see both Buff and Ladd signing long term deals and Trouba, Enstrom, Myers and Buff being our top 4 with Buff moving to the left side. When Morrisey is ready, Armia, Scheif and Buff would make a formidable line. Also, Trouba will not be signing a bridge contract. The Jets will be worried about offer sheets on Trouba and he will be getting Hamilton like money....does anyone know when they can negotiate with a player that is under an ELC? I can't seem to find the info.

I posted this on the Free Agency thread... Here is what I think these 5 contracts should be negotiated for... Ladd Current 4.4m 2m more 6.6 per for 6 Buff Current 5.2 2.3m more 7.5 per for 6 Trouba Current .894m 5.7m more 6.6 per for 8 Scheifele Current .863 2.5m more 3.333 per for 3 Lowry Current.8282 2m more 2.8 per for 3 This will add 14.5m per year to our cap and the team's payroll is at 40.5. so that will make it approximately 55m and leaves about 16m or so left. We could easily afford these pay raises. Of course there are players whose contracts will expire that season but we would still be under the cap.

If you mean the 1.1 per, I would also sign Stempniak to that as well.

Here is what I think these 5 contracts should be negotiated for... Ladd Current 4.4m 2m more 6.6 per for 6 Buff Current 5.2 2.3m more 7.5 per for 6 Trouba Current .894m 5.7m more 6.6 per for 8 Scheifele Current .863 2.5m more 3.333 per for 3 Lowry Current.8282 2m more 2.8 per for 3 14.5m more than this year as cap hits. These would all kick in for the 2016-2017 season. I really don't believe in the no-trade clauses but I guess they are here to stay. I would offer Trouba one but Buff and Ladd would only get the first 3 years as no trades.

I heard on the radio today that Derek Stepan is asking for 7.25 per for 7 years.

He's probably worth that if he p l ayed only PP time. I'd have no part of him. Complete waste of talent.

Willy has to shoulder some blame for that late time count violation. Gimme a break, if you see you aren't going to get the ball in time, call a time out already.

Scrimmaging the ball from the 3 yard line for a two point conversion should be a gimme, shouldn't it?

Very little extra revenue compared to cost of installing. Unless you think they should have kept room for 1000 front row seats somehow. 1500 seats at 90 bean for 44 games is 5.94m a year. Almost 60m in ten years. Not chump change. Also, another 1500 fans to spend money on concessions and in the neighbourhood before/after the game.

MTS should have been built with an eye on expansion. If needed in the future, it would be easier and less expensive to expand. Another 1000-1500 seats wouldn't hurt and how much extra revenue would that bring in? Lots. If the need isn't there, they still have the 15k seat building.

Hawks and Avs will struggle this season.