I'm hoping for 8.5 for both Kane and Toews. Hoping for under 5 for Hammer. But like you said, giving him 5+ won't kill us
- tomcat24

Bowman has been quoted as saying you don't give large contracts to defensemen who don't put up points. It'll be interesting to see if that philosophy will change with Hjalmersson.

Bowman has been quoted as saying you don't give large contracts to defensemen who don't put up points. It'll be interesting to see if that philosophy will change with Hjalmersson.
- paulr

Judging by what Bowman has given to Keith and Seabrook, going a little over $5 million per season for Hjalmarsson isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

EDIT: I just read the part about points. I guess I should have had my coffee before I posted.

Detroit is dead
I cant believe the red wings want to stay there when half he population of the city is illiterate and could not spell red wings
Detroit is the perfect example of government central planning and its eventual results. just think fifety years ago Detroit had the highest per capita income in the united states
Noone is moving back to Detroit and anyone that can is moving out
The red wings should go across the river to Ontario for their new home
- molly2522

come on mol, I love ya but that's tough to say, we have alot of good hockey buddy's up there that we have played against in tournaments over the years. the burbs are nice, they'll turn it around, look at the garbage we have to put up with here on the south & west sides. but I knew you meant well there buddy, just like my old ass , it came out not properly phrased.

Judging by what Bowman has given to Keith and Seabrook, going a little over $5 million per season for Hjalmarsson isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

EDIT: I just read the part about points. I guess I should have had my coffee before I posted.
- EKolb13

Contract inflation continues, though. Keith's contract is now one of the best values in the NHL, and Seabrook's is pretty good, too, when compare to recent top end defensemen contracts. Paying Hammer 5M in today's market might be a really big number in a year or two, and isn't enormous right now.

Agreed. One thing I never hear attached to his name is Hall of Fame. In my opinion he's a Hall of Fame coach.
- golfbard

Oh, that appears in the cards now

Judging by what Bowman has given to Keith and Seabrook, going a little over $5 million per season for Hjalmarsson isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

EDIT: I just read the part about points. I guess I should have had my coffee before I posted.
- EKolb13

Next time I see you I'll buy you one.

It's difficult seeing so many of the players we as fans have come to appreciate, and dare I say love, moved for business reasons but if we want the team to continue being a contender Management will have to continue making unpopular moves to ensure the the team doesn't get old with bloated contracts that cannot be moved.

IIRC, walleye are of the perch family: are northern (and Muskie) perch too?
- StLBravesFan

No, Northern and Musky are Esox, different family

Next time I see you I'll buy you one.
- paulr

Thanks.

I'm hoping for 8.5 for both Kane and Toews. Hoping for under 5 for Hammer. But like you said, giving him 5+ won't kill us
- tomcat24

I think you're right about 8.5 each, but I think they would be signing those contracts knowing that when it comes to pure 'hockey money' they could be getting at least 9 per, maybe 9.5... That being said, the financial advantages away from hockey likely outweigh the premium in contract money they would get going elsewhere.

My daughter teaches at the Native reserve of Kashetchewan on the west coast of James Bay on the Albany river. The Natives took her fishing for pike last year on the Albany and she reeled in a 38 pounder. One of the Natives said he would clean it for her and return it the next day. She never saw it again.
- paulr

I've fished that system (which is huge) by the way, saw evidence of gill nets in one lake in the middle of nowhere about 100 miles north of Armstrong, where there were basically zero fish left, just a shame.

A 38 pound pike is a monster, but I personally would not want to eat it as the meat in the really large pike (over 10 pounds) is mushy and not really good.

I once hooked a nice 22 pounder in the NWT just as my reel fell apart in my hands. So I had to hold the line with this huge pike fighting on the line while also trying to get the reel back together, which I did, and got the fish in. A pic of me with that fish was on the cover of a Canadian Tire fishing insert in Canadian outdoor pubs in 2005. True story.

I think you're right about 8.5 each, but I think they would be signing those contracts knowing that when it comes to pure 'hockey money' they could be getting at least 9 per, maybe 9.5... That being said, the financial advantages away from hockey likely outweigh the premium in contract money they would get going elsewhere.
- PuckAndSticks

So - any NBA player of note, any PGA player, has a shoe/apparel contract paying him more than his team or tour earnings.

Anything similar for hockey players? We don't see it here in the US, but maybe in Canada?

Next time I see you I'll buy you one.

It's difficult seeing so many of the players we as fans have come to appreciate, and dare I say love, moved for business reasons but if we want the team to continue being a contender Management will have to continue making unpopular moves to ensure the the team doesn't get old with bloated contracts that cannot be moved.
- paulr

Bolland the perfect example. I will hate to see him playing against us on another team. But there were already 2+ players (Shaw and Krugs) on team who could replace his production at less money. Each year, they are well served to move out one player like that. Bickell will never serve out his 4 years. Sharpie a candidate as well in a 2-4 years. Seabs down the line. Their real core is Toews/Kane/Keith...maybe Hoss. Hammer, Bicks, Seabs, Sharp...temporary core. And the future success comes from the farm system continuing to backfill that temporary core.

My daughter teaches at the Native reserve of Kashetchewan on the west coast of James Bay on the Albany river. The Natives took her fishing for pike last year on the Albany and she reeled in a 38 pounder. One of the Natives said he would clean it for her and return it the next day. She never saw it again.
- paulr

38"?

No, Northern and Musky are Esox, different family
- John Jaeckel

i have never spent one minute fishing but I do know there are no walleye in Canada. Only pickerel! They turn into walleye when they swim across the border.

When has accounting ever appeared glamorous on TV or film?
- EKolb13

The first episode of LA LAW....all accountants remember it well...

The first episode of LA LAW....all accountants remember it well...
- wiz1901

I was too young when that aired on TV. I don't think I'm missing much.

Bolland the perfect example. I will hate to see him playing against us on another team. But there were already 2+ players (Shaw and Krugs) on team who could replace his production at less money. Each year, they are well served to move out one player like that. Bickell will never serve out his 4 years. Sharpie a candidate as well in a 2-4 years. Seabs down the line. Their real core is Toews/Kane/Keith...maybe Hoss. Hammer, Bicks, Seabs, Sharp...temporary core. And the future success comes from the farm system continuing to backfill that temporary core.
- Cmonalready

Anything is possible, but I expect both Bickell and Sharp will finish their contracts here. In 3-4 seasons a cap hit of $4 million for a player like Bickell will be a bargain. Sharp's cap hit is on the higher side but he'll still bring value and could still play a variety of roles towards the end of his deal.

i have never spent one minute fishing but I do know there are no walleye in Canada. Only pickerel! They turn into walleye when they swim across the border.
- RickJ

Wrong. I have done a lot of fishing in western Ontario, and a few parts west of there. At least 15 different lakes in those parts of Canada. I have never heard that fish called a pickerel once where I've fished. Always walleye. I've fished a lot in Wisconsin and Minn. never once heard "pickerel", only walleye. When I've fished in Kentucky, I caught pickerel! From my experience, I've always thought of walleye Chicago and north, pickerel south of Chicago.

I haven't fished eastern part of Canada, or east coast US, so can't respond on walleye vs pickerel there. But never once in all my fishing in the parts of Canada where I have fished have I nor anyone else around me caught a "pickerel".

Wrong. I have done a lot of fishing in western Ontario, and a few parts west of there. At least 15 different lakes in those parts of Canada. I have never heard that fish called a pickerel once where I've fished. Always walleye. I've fished a lot in Wisconsin and Minn. never once heard "pickerel", only walleye. When I've fished in Kentucky, I caught pickerel! From my experience, I've always thought of walleye Chicago and north, pickerel south of Chicago.

I haven't fished eastern part of Canada, or east coast US, so can't respond on walleye vs pickerel there. But never once in all my fishing in the parts of Canada where I have fished have I nor anyone else around me caught a "pickerel".
- Cmonalready

Maybe you were fishing in Canada beside a bunch of Americans??

Either way, pickerel and walleye taste delicious.

i have never spent one minute fishing but I do know there are no walleye in Canada. Only pickerel! They turn into walleye when they swim across the border.
- RickJ

If they swim back to Canada do they turn back into Pickerell? If so that proves evolution!

Wrong. I have done a lot of fishing in western Ontario, and a few parts west of there. At least 15 different lakes in those parts of Canada. I have never heard that fish called a pickerel once where I've fished. Always walleye. I've fished a lot in Wisconsin and Minn. never once heard "pickerel", only walleye. When I've fished in Kentucky, I caught pickerel! From my experience, I've always thought of walleye Chicago and north, pickerel south of Chicago.

I haven't fished eastern part of Canada, or east coast US, so can't respond on walleye vs pickerel there. But never once in all my fishing in the parts of Canada where I have fished have I nor anyone else around me caught a "pickerel".
- Cmonalready

I have always called them Pickerell here in Ontario.

If they swim back to Canada do they turn back into Pickerell? If so that proves evolution!
- paulr

Yes,they do but they have to clear Cdn. Customs at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo.

Yes,they do but they have to clear Cdn. Customs at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo.
- RickJ

only after they pick up their duty free liquor.

Kostka is an excellent under the radar signing at very reasonable money. Good, late developing player who will stay at home and mind the area around his own net, kill penalties etc. The Hawks know that Rozsival can't play 82 games and they probably also think some of their other D men will get banged up over the course of the season which will again be compacted because of the 20 day Olympic break. It also says to me that Clendening won't be seeing the NHL for a couple more years which is a good thing.

The Leafs were stuck because they have Phaneuf at huge money; overpaid, useless J-M Liles who Carlyle doesn't care for; had to sign Gunnarson or trade him for next to nothing; want to play Jake Gardiner this year and have Mark Fraser and some good kids in the AHL that will be pushing for a job soon.
- RickJ

I think you're right on Rick. This coming season is a compacted 82 game season, not 48 like last year. There figures to be some pulled muscles and such early on and after that 2 week break there figures to be a few more coming down the stretch. Couple that with the best players tired and jet lagged. Seems to me that depth is the trump card more so than normal this year. You make a good point.

I have always called them Pickerell here in Ontario.
- paulr

One of my golf buddies owned the Erie Beach Hotel in Port Dover for many years before selling the business to his kids. I have had hundreds of meals at that establishment and have never seen Walleye printed on his menu - only pickerel.

I think it is a Canadian thing - walleye do exist in Canada but they are referred to a pickerel (probably incorrectly).