Just curious
would you rather have
Niskanen 7 years 7 million cap hit
Stralman 6 years 5 million cap hit
or
Timonen 1 year, 4.5 million cap hit

I'd prefer Timonen in that scenario
- BiggE

I absolutely agree. I don't think you'll see any of these three, however.

I think he clearly has a knack for being around the puck. And I think he showed that he has the skills to make plays with the puck at the NHL level. And he should be given a legitimate opportunity to win a job in camp. I just think that the patience of a Coach with that kind of player is going to be thin, if he doesn't produce well enough offensively.
- MJL

given the fact he wasn't called up once until game 81 or 82 (i forget which) suggests their are trust/belief issues from the coaching staff, and it's reasonable to think he'll be on a short leash. i think that's foolish. the fact that he wasn't stapled to the bench or scratched after the game 1 double minor, to me, is a good sign they'll show some patience and allow for mistakes and growing pains. granted, penalty mistakes have nothing to do with production. unless they make some moves for a monkey pipe lock spot on the wing, what other options do they really have for speed and skill on the farm?

Just curious
would you rather have
Niskanen 7 years 7 million cap hit
Stralman 6 years 5 million cap hit
or
Timonen 1 year, 4.5 million cap hit

I'd prefer Timonen in that scenario
- BiggE

Thats a lot for Stralman. He'd be making almost as much as Girardi

Just curious
would you rather have
Niskanen 7 years 7 million cap hit
Stralman 6 years 5 million cap hit
or
Timonen 1 year, 4.5 million cap hit

I'd prefer Timonen in that scenario
- BiggE

I'm pretty impressed with Niskanen. He's been really good. Considering what MacDonald got, I think I would be ok with that contract for him. At the end of the deal Niskanen would only be 34-35.... Holmgren doesn't usually give out long term contracts until players reach that age.

Instead of bringing Timonen back, how bout Holmgren does something creative and land Niskanen? Hell I would even settle for Anton Stralman. He's be an upgrade. Stralman is better than MacDonald.
- PLindbergh31

Spending big money on a top free agent is creative? I thought that was considered typical Holmgren.

Spending big money on a top free agent is creative? I thought that was considered typical Holmgren.
- BulliesPhan87

Well with the current cap situation, he would have to get creative to move some players first.

Spending big money on a top free agent is creative? I thought that was considered typical Holmgren.
- BulliesPhan87

I think creative would be to try to get Ehrhoff from Buffalo without trading a roster player. Like a 1st rounder + Hagg

This is another instance of where fancy stats has created a false culture.
- MJL

Dude, live and let live.

We're all just here to enjoy ourselves, talking about the team from varying perspectives. We don't always have to agree, or come to the same conclusions in the same way.

Not every off-hand/maybe mention of stats analysis needs to be met with the same diatribe over and over again -- you've made your position well known and you don't have to keep repeating yourself.

Spending big money on a top free agent is creative? I thought that was considered typical Holmgren.
- BulliesPhan87

Yea I was trying to figure out how going after the biggest free agent fish (Dman) in the sea this offseason was "creative".

Dude, live and let live.

We're all just here to enjoy ourselves, talking about the team from varying perspectives. We don't always have to agree, or come to the same conclusions in the same way.

Not every off-hand/maybe mention of stats analysis needs to be met with the same diatribe over and over again -- you've made your position well known and you don't have to keep repeating yourself.
- Tomahawk

I didn't use any fancy stats. Dude retreats in the neutral zone. How is that a stat?

What type of contract do you see Stralman getting?
- PLindbergh31

Probably 3 years @$3.5M or so. At least, that's about what I'd offer.

I didn't use any fancy stats. Dude retreats in the neutral zone. How is that a stat?
- FlyersSteve118

Who knows.

I think creative would be to try to get Ehrhoff from Buffalo without trading a roster player. Like a 1st rounder + Hagg
- FlyersSteve118

Too much.

I really like Ehrhoff. He's 31 and would provide this team with exactly what they need. He's signed to a very good number and has the ability to play at a high level for another 5 years.

I would part with Laughton OR a first rounder for him.

Yea I was trying to figure out how going after the biggest free agent fish (Dman) in the sea this offseason was "creative".
- eayost

Well actually landing the big fish free agent would be new. Big difference between going after, and landing.

Probably 3 years @$3.5M or so. At least, that's about what I'd offer.
- jmatchett383

I think he's going to get a better deal than that. Something like 5 years 4.5 per

I didn't use any fancy stats. Dude retreats in the neutral zone. How is that a stat?
- FlyersSteve118

# of retreats x calories in a Nutri Grain bar / (days in a moon cycle + number of times Homer has smiled in the past month) = CORSI...or something.

Too much.

I really like Ehrhoff. He's 31 and would provide this team with exactly what they need. He's signed to a very good number and has the ability to play at a high level for another 5 years.

I would part with Laughton OR a first rounder for him.
- PhillySportsGuy

he's signed for the next 293 years though

I think creative would be to try to get Ehrhoff from Buffalo without trading a roster player. Like a 1st rounder + Hagg
- FlyersSteve118

I'm not making that trade. We're just starting to see some viable prospects coming up and we're stripping two assets out of the farm for a player who won't make that much of a difference.

I think he's going to get a better deal than that. Something like 5 years 4.5 per
- PLindbergh31

He might. And I'd walk away. I'd also LIKE to land Sidney Crosby, but it's probably not happening.

# of retreats x calories in a Nutri Grain bar / (days in a moon cycle + number of times Homer has smiled in the past month) = CORSI...or something.
- jmatchett383

WITCH!!

#fancystats

He might. And I'd walk away. I'd also LIKE to land Sidney Crosby, but it's probably not happening.
- jmatchett383

1 goal in the last 14 playoff games..... He sucks.

I'm not making that trade. We're just starting to see some viable prospects coming up and we're stripping two assets out of the farm for a player who won't make that much of a difference.
- mayorofangrytown

Absoutely.
Let's date.

This is another instance of where fancy stats has created a false culture. Every play has to be looked at individually, to see if a defenseman made the right read, or had the support to stand up and challenge. And some defenseman are aggressive, and like to come up and challenge physically, and some like to contain and keep players to the outside. Both can be effective. But ever since zone entries have been kept, it's one of the new fads. As if the defenseman on the side of the ice that the puck came into the zone on, is the only player on the ice responsible for an opposition's successful zone entry carrying the puck. He's playing in a vaccuum I guess, and it's one on one hockey all the time. Comical.
- MJL

To clarify, you don't think MacDonald has an issue with gap control?

I think he's going to get a better deal than that. Something like 5 years 4.5 per
- PLindbergh31

I see anywhere from 3.8 to 4.25. I doubt he'll squeeze out 4.5 when he was close to being benched at times this season. I think he will struggle without the rangers smothering defense around him.

Too much.

I really like Ehrhoff. He's 31 and would provide this team with exactly what they need. He's signed to a very good number and has the ability to play at a high level for another 5 years.

I would part with Laughton OR a first rounder for him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Why is everyone in such a hurry to trade Laughton? Have you guys not watched the kid play? You should be excited to add him next season not trade him away for an aging Dman.