Bettman and Daley were in Seattle again... looks like it's going to happen.

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

could that have ended any other way, really?

bryz's last playoffs in 2012 end by an own goal shooting the puck in off clarkson, or whoever the (frank) that was. last night, it's a bounce off the partition on a dump in in OT, by captain (frank)face. ugh.

Bettman and Daley in Seattle again... looks like it's going to happen.
- Tomahawk

But is someone being relocated, or is it expansion?

I PRAY for the latter.

Bettman and Daley in Seattle again... looks like it's going to happen.
- Tomahawk

according to them, it's all "nothing to see here, move along." yeah, right.

Bettman and Daley were in Seattle again... looks like it's going to happen.
- Tomahawk

But is someone being relocated, or is it expansion?

I PRAY for the latter.
- mochoson

You just know it's going to be expansion... VL is going to look great in Seattle green.

If the Rangers want to play boring defensive, mugging hockey against Boston, it will backfire. The Bruins will be happy to win four 1-0 games. And with Chara and Lucic in the lineup, they can take mugging to a whole new level.
- BiggE

i would be fine with this. give them a taste of their own medicine. and rask is no fleury either. price was fluery, but not any more.

i would be fine with this. give them a taste of their own medicine. and rask is no fleury either. price was fluery, but not any more.
- hammarby31

Price looks all world so far

Price looks all world so far
- Marc D

I'm not sure that team is even PO-worthy w/o him... he's been the big equalizer all year.

You just know it's going to be expansion... VL is going to look great in Seattle green.
- Tomahawk

VL for OEL

Nooooo he's not
- mochoson

Please. Enlighten me as to how

You just know it's going to be expansion... VL is going to look great in Seattle green.
- Tomahawk

I like where your heads at sir

What about Barry Trotz to the Pens? That seems like a good match

You just know it's going to be expansion... VL is going to look great in Seattle green.
- Tomahawk

expansion would be a mistake, so yes, that's what will happen.

I'm not sure that team is even PO-worthy w/o him... he's been the big equalizer all year.
- Tomahawk

I think they are still play off worthy without him, but doubt they sweep Tampa and likely lose in 5 or 6 to Boston without him. But they are absolutely a contender with Price the way he is playing now. He looks completely calm and in control. Rask looks much shakier in comparison, and Rask is damn good.

What about Barry Trotz to the Pens? That seems like a good match
- PhillySportsGuy

book it Dano.

VL for OEL
- PhillySportsGuy

this seems fair

Please. Enlighten me as to how
- PhillySportsGuy

One guy is slightly above average at providing good, solid defense. The other guy is slightly above average at providing offense from the blue-line.

They are both "good", not "great" defensemen. They both happen to just a smidge better than the other at opposite ends of the ice. But production wise and in terms of value, they are essentially the same player.

Anyone looking at Niskanens 46 point, +33 stat line at age 27 (and I'm not saying you are) and thinking "Ohhhh, shinyyyyy!" should take their ball, turn around, and go home.

One guy is slightly above average at providing good, solid defense. The other guy is slightly above average at providing offense from the blue-line.

They are both "good", not "great" defensemen. They both happen to just a smidge better than the other at opposite ends of the ice. But production wise and in terms of value, they are essentially the same player.

Anyone looking at Niskanens 46 point, +33 stat line at age 27 (and I'm not saying you are) and thinking "Ohhhh, shinyyyyy!" should take their ball, turn around, and go home.
- mochoson

His possession numbers this year were off the charts. His numbers are no fluke this year.

I don't think he's a true #1 defenseman, but he's a top pairing guy and he's right handed and he can qb a top PP.

Amac is a 3/4 defenseman with horrible possession numbers and nowhere close to the offense of Niskanen.

this seems fair
- Marc D

Yup. Hexy should be fired if he doesn't make that deal then lead the team to a Stanley Cup with several other good moves. I want him to be patient with the young guys, but I want them to contribute now. Ok go.

I like where your heads at sir
- mochoson

Here's a fun (maybe) game... assuming you could only protect 1 goalie, 5 D, and 9F in the entire organization for the expansion draft, who would you protect?

Doesn't include guys on ELCs, right?

I guess it has to or otherwise I can only come up with two defensemen.

Mason

Coburn
Streit
Ghost
Morin
Hagg

Giroux
Couturier
Simmonds
Voracek
BSchenn
Read
Laughton
Raffl
Leier

Here's a fun (maybe) game... assuming you could only protect 1 goalie, 5 D, and 9F in the entire organization for the expansion draft, who would you protect?
- Tomahawk

I can't think of 5 D...

Here's a fun (maybe) game... assuming you could only protect 1 goalie, 5 D, and 9F in the entire organization for the expansion draft, who would you protect?
- Tomahawk

Mason

Coburn, Ghost, Morin, Hagg, Schenn

Giroux, Jake, Simmonds, Couts, Schenn, Read, Laughton, Raffl, Akeson

Edit: I got stuck on the last forward. I like Leier a lot, but I think you have to take the more proven guy.

His possession numbers this year were off the charts. His numbers are no fluke this year.

I don't think he's a true #1 defenseman, but he's a top pairing guy and he's right handed and he can qb a top PP.

Amac is a 3/4 defenseman with horrible possession numbers and nowhere close to the offense of Niskanen.
- PhillySportsGuy

No poop his posession numbers were off the charts, he replaced Kris Letang for most of the year. Any competent, top-4 defensemen could have done a similar job. Niskanen has always had offensive ability. The Penguins are a great possession team period.

In no way, shape or form is he a top pairing dman. AndyMac played the majority of the year on a putrid defensive team. His numbers didn't really change here, but to argue he didn't play well would be silly. He'll get acclimated. The Flyers aren't the best posession team as a whole. There is much room for improvement.