Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Wednesday Quick Hits

I frequently have my last name pronounced "rasmussen" ... Sounds like a solid prospect nonetheless.

Cant believe the penguins let their foot off the gas... Might be time to part ways with bylsma.

I frequently have my last name pronounced "rasmussen" ... Sounds like a solid prospect nonetheless.

Cant believe the penguins let their foot off the gas... Might be time to part ways with bylsma.
- JoeRussomanno

Yup, I'd be shocked if Bylsma was behind the Pens bench next year. Their problems go deeper than that though, they have cap issues going forward and don't have a first round pick til 2016.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Wednesday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

Hopefully, the Flyers can lock him up. I prefer going the European route to the NCAA route, in terms of undrafted UFA. Seems there are more NHL ready guys, that make a bigger impact that route.

I frequently have my last name pronounced "rasmussen" ... Sounds like a solid prospect nonetheless.

Cant believe the penguins let their foot off the gas... Might be time to part ways with bylsma.
- JoeRussomanno

The Pittsburgh beats are intimating that Lemieux and Burkle just might set fire to the whole thing, drop Shero, too.

The beats seem to feel -- and those guys are pretty connected -- that the beating that Crosby took from the Rags (which was exactly like what Giroux took, I might add) was completely unacceptable and that they might want a significant roster overhaul...but will likely keep both Malkin and Crosby.

Interesting. I've always said the worst thing for a franchise are expectations -- when you have them and don't meet them, that's about the quickest way to get your ticket punched out of town as anything.

I said it before the Pens series that I have this sickening feeling the Rags are going to win the cup this year. I know there are better teams left, but the feeling is just sitting there in the pit of my stomach.

Hopefully, the Flyers can lock him up. I prefer going the European route to the NCAA route, in terms of undrafted UFA. Seems there are more NHL ready guys, that make a bigger impact that route.
- Jsaquella

Agreed

I said it before the Pens series that I have this sickening feeling the Rags are going to win the cup this year. I know there are better teams left, but the feeling is just sitting there in the pit of my stomach.
- funmaster18

Hurry up and throw up to get that feeling out of there!

The Pittsburgh beats are intimating that Lemieux and Burkle just might set fire to the whole thing, drop Shero, too.

The beats seem to feel -- and those guys are pretty connected -- that the beating that Crosby took from the Rags (which was exactly like what Giroux took, I might add) was completely unacceptable and that they might want a significant roster overhaul...but will likely keep both Malkin and Crosby.

Interesting. I've always said the worst thing for a franchise are expectations -- when you have them and don't meet them, that's about the quickest way to get your ticket punched out of town as anything.
- AllInForFlyers

Not going to be easy to overhaul that roster due to the cap
Crosby and Malkin are big hits, and, coming off a stroke and a poor playoff, Letang is virtually unmovable. So unless they can and want to move MAF, they will have limited flexibility.

IMO, their biggest problem is a combo of an overall commitment to team D and depth at forward. Even with Dupuis, their bottom 6 is just weak.

I said it before the Pens series that I have this sickening feeling the Rags are going to win the cup this year. I know there are better teams left, but the feeling is just sitting there in the pit of my stomach.
- funmaster18

Not to worry, I really don't see the Rangers beating Boston or Montreal.

Not going to be easy to overhaul that roster due to the cap
Crosby and Malkin are big hits, and, coming off a stroke and a poor playoff, Letang is virtually unmovable. So unless they can and want to move MAF, they will have limited flexibility.

IMO, their biggest problem is a combo of an overall commitment to team D and depth at forward. Even with Dupuis, their bottom 6 is just weak.
- BiggE

Yeah -- the beats said that Crosby/Malkin take up 27 percent of the salary cap.


That's just difficult to work around, by itself. Yes, players like that are worth it overall -- still got 82 games to play to get to the playoffs, and you need to be winning at least 40 of those to even sniff the playoffs -- but at the same time, having difference makers doesn't matter if you can't put any pieces around them.

Pittsburgh's going to be interesting. St. Louis might have to look to do something big with scoring, every beat in Ottawa thinks Jason Spezza's getting moved, the cap's going up a few million, Toronto's not coming back with the same roster probably since Carlyle's still there...this offseason is going to be really, really interesting, much more than last year's, I think.

Yup, still pissed about how the Hawks won that game last night.

I also think it'll be interesting to see who Vancouver hires as GM and then, who they hire as coach.

They totally effed up the goaltending. Words can't even describe how badly they effed up their goaltending.

But if they hire the right coach and GM, then you can salvage that roster and maybe not sell off a guy like Ryan Kesler. They underachieved because Fonzie's time in the NHL has passed, just like Mike Keenan's did a decade ago, but they still have some pieces that you can work with if you don't want to tear it down immediately.

If it's me...I don't tear Vancouver down this offseason. I'd maybe hire a coach and see what's available over the course of the season. All their key guys are under contract, so you don't have to do anything right now if you don't want to.

Yup, still pissed about how the Hawks won that game last night.
- Giroux_Is_God

At this point I'm pulling for Montreal (only due to Briere) or Anaheim.

The King and Kane last night. Everyone's favorites right? RIGHT?

At this point I'm pulling for Montreal (only due to Briere) or Anaheim.
- BiggE

I'm with you

I'm with you
- funmaster18

Me three

The King and Kane last night. Everyone's favorites right? RIGHT?
- PLindbergh31

Kane didn't score that goal. The (frank)ing glass partition did

At this point I'm pulling for Montreal (only due to Briere) or Anaheim.
- BiggE

Ugh...can't bring myself to root for Michel Therrien to win anything. Ever. That guy's a douche, world-class, IMO.

I'd be OK with Bruce Boudreau getting one -- he's been around the game for a long, long time, not just the NHL. I wouldn't mind seeing him get rewarded.

Hurry up and throw up to get that feeling out of there!
- Streit2ThePoint

It will be the rags on the back of 4 game 7 victories. History will be made (frank)ed

Kane didn't score that goal. The (frank)ing glass partition did
- Giroux_Is_God

I didn't see it, but another weak game/series clinching goal?

Yup, still pissed about how the Hawks won that game last night.
- Giroux_Is_God

Once it went to overtime, you knew it would be Kane. You just knew.

Minnesota only had like 14 breakaways in regulation too

Kane didn't score that goal. The (frank)ing glass partition did
- Giroux_Is_God

I would trade Lecavalier for the glass partition. Depending on it's cap hit.

I didn't see it, but another weak game/series clinching goal?
- funmaster18

You have to look it up.

Dump it, rattles off the boards funny right to Kane who has a slam dunk.

I was going nuts.

Ugh...can't bring myself to root for Michel Therrien to win anything. Ever. That guy's a douche, world-class, IMO.

I'd be OK with Bruce Boudreau getting one -- he's been around the game for a long, long time, not just the NHL. I wouldn't mind seeing him get rewarded.
- AllInForFlyers

The 10 biggest Dbags in the NHL (no particular order)
James Neal
Michel Therrien
Sidney Crosby
Milan Lucic
John Tortorella
Gary Bettman
Dan Carcillo
Matt Cooke
Shawn Thorton
Pierre Maguire (yeah he's not technically in the league, but he is too big a douche to leave off the list!)