Mainly because teams tend to need 2 goalies I'm told
- mlindsay

Pfft. I have it on good authority from right here on this very board that having two quality goalies is NOT necessary, especially when one of them is Mr. Matt "I-Never-Saw-A-Shot-From-The-Side-Of-The-Net-I-Ever-Felt-Like-Stopping" Murray. They can take him and save some dough with a Shooter Tutor as backup.

Definitely would protect Jenner over Atkinson. Younger, more upside, better leader, more consistent.

Overpaid Yes, but they don't have anyone to replace what he does...and even McPhee isn't taking that contract. So you could risk exposing him, but I don't see it.

Canes need his contract just to help get to the cap floor.

GMRF is not going after any high dollar FA. His plan is simple...draft, develop, make trades with cap strapped teams, and save the high dollar long term contacts for when the young Canes get near UFA...see Rask.

Lots of young good talent in the Canes pipe line...for once!
- rocheccw

I doubt Jordan steal is even overpaid. Still had 48 pts last year and is one of the best defensive forwards. I think if he was Ufa he would likely get the same money and maybe even more.

Honestly, why would any team bother protecting a goalie when everyone on this board knows either Fleury or Murray is going to be taken by Las Vegas?!?!
- Kineada

Because the rules say you have to protect a goalie?

I'm trying real hard not to worry our goalie situation heading into expansion. If it wasn't for expansion I'd have given this offseason an A+, but still having Fleury around could turn into a huge problem come next June. From a strictly next season standpoint, it's better to have Fleury around one more year to see have an elite goalie tandem while Murr is still on ELC and also just to make sure Murray isn't a flash in the pan type like Cam Ward. But the expansion draft throws a huge wrench into everything.

I doubt Jordan steal is even overpaid. Still had 48 pts last year and is one of the best defensive forwards. I think if he was Ufa he would likely get the same money and maybe even more.
- sditulli

He'd get $5+ easily.

He'll be used in a more offensive role next season as well.

2 things

- Chicago should exposed Kruger and hope someone takes him up. Albatross contract for an overrated "defensive" player
- Columbus' roster sucks balls
- DeflatedPucks

If Kruger can be a solid 3C then the contract is good and pretty standard. Thing is that Kruger has become a fan favorite over there because he's been a kick ass 4C. If he starts to flounder in the more expanded role of 3C then the shine's going to wear off of him very quickly. No fourth line center should be paid a cent more than 2 mil.

This may be the first time (next season), that trade deadline day sees overpayment for poop players!! How many teams will be trading for players that fit the expansion rules & regs that teams will use to protect good players??? Blowjobs & Pens are 2 teams right now.

Bring on the madness!

would be crazy if they landed jenner. These are nice reads to get us through the summer

would be crazy if they landed jenner. These are nice reads to get us through the summer
- MikeBabcock

Agreed.

Because the rules say you have to protect a goalie?

I'm trying real hard not to worry our goalie situation heading into expansion. If it wasn't for expansion I'd have given this offseason an A+, but still having Fleury around could turn into a huge problem come next June. From a strictly next season standpoint, it's better to have Fleury around one more year to see have an elite goalie tandem while Murr is still on ELC and also just to make sure Murray isn't a flash in the pan type like Cam Ward. But the expansion draft throws a huge wrench into everything.
- Victoro311

I'm not as worried about the goalie situation as most are, as I see it the absolutely worst case scenario is that they are forced to basically dump MAF for below market value. Mismanagement of assets is typically a bad thing but I don't mind mismanaging an asset or 2, in terms of not getting appropriate value, to win while the championship window is open. If you live in fear and don't take a few chances you never really give yourself the best chance for success in any given season.

I really like both players but I just can't fathom protecting Atkinson over Jenner. Many of the reasons have already been pointed out but I can't honestly come up with a justifiable reason to actually make a move like that other than just blindly being a slave to possession without considering any other aspects of the game.

I'm not as worried about the goalie situation as most are, as I see it the absolutely worst case scenario is that they are forced to basically dump MAF for below market value. Mismanagement of assets is typically a bad thing but I don't mind mismanaging an asset or 2, in terms of not getting appropriate value, to win while the championship window is open. If you live in fear and don't take a few chances you never really give yourself the best chance for success in any given season.
- jaydogg1974

I don't mind dumping MAF for pucks after this season at all granted that Murray continues to improve like we hope. I'm worried about there not being anywhere to dump him to.

I don't mind dumping MAF for pucks after this season at all granted that Murray continues to improve like we hope. I'm worried about there not being anywhere to dump him to.
- Victoro311

Maybe I'm just being overly optimistic but I just can't see how they could/would not be able to unload a 32yo former SC winner who is still playing at a very high level and is on a decent contract.

Maybe I'm just being overly optimistic but I just can't see how they could/would not be able to unload a 32yo former SC winner who is still playing at a very high level and is on a decent contract.
- jaydogg1974

I just feel like more and more teams are catching on to the fact that as long as goalies aren't sinking you, the advantage you gain by having a better goalie in net is marginal unless you have a real show stopper like Schnieder, Price, or Lundqvist. Besides those three and maybe a couple more, cap space is better spent elsewhere when you can have a Jones or an Eliot in net. There's no need to pay the next tier of guys like the Rasks, Fleurys, Luongos, and Crawfords of the world when average goaltending can get you just as far.

Another interesting factor is when Las Vegas will be able to start trading with other teams?

If they are able to start trading with other NHL teams before the Expansion draft they could as an example trade their second year first round pick for "PLAYER X" allowing the team "PLAYER X" came from to protect another player instead...

[]


Another issue is whether Las Vegas can sign any UFA's before the expansion draft. ***NOT PENDING UFA's***

Example: PLAYER Z last played in the NHL in 2015 but, did NOT sign a NHL contract in 2016 season remaining a free agent all year long... could he sign before expansion draft giving Las Vegas an asset to trade or use as leverage?


[]

Maybe I'm just being overly optimistic but I just can't see how they could/would not be able to unload a 32yo former SC winner who is still playing at a very high level and is on a decent contract.
- jaydogg1974

Ask Dallas, they couldn't move Niemi this offseason, and his numbers are nearly identical to MAF's, outside of being on a cheaper contract.

Ask Dallas, they couldn't move Niemi this offseason, and his numbers are nearly identical to MAF's, outside of being on a cheaper contract.
- Antilles

Over the past two seasons Marc Andre Fleury has been a top 10 goalie and vastly superior to Niemi.

Another interesting factor is when Las Vegas will be able to start trading with other teams?

If they are able to start trading with other NHL teams before the Expansion draft they could as an example trade their second year first round pick for "PLAYER X" allowing the team "PLAYER X" came from to protect another player instead...


- Chukkles[]


Another issue is whether Las Vegas can sign any UFA's before the expansion draft. ***NOT PENDING UFA's***

Example: PLAYER Z last played in the NHL in 2015 but, did NOT sign a NHL contract in 2016 season remaining a free agent all year long... could he sign before expansion draft giving Las Vegas an asset to trade or use as leverage?


[]

For point one, expansion teams typically can after the Stanley Cup finals end. But Vegas trading draft picks for players is extremely unlikely, they have almost no farm system to start. What normally happens would be more like Pittsburgh trades their 2016 2nd to Vegas in exchange for Vegas agreeing to not take Murray in expansion draft.

Vegas can probably sign UFA's after Cup ends as well. But why in the world would they? There is no UFA's then that would have any trade value or be leverage. That's why no one else signed them.

Winnipeg's Heritage Classic jersey is sick.


- cap1681

Would look better with dark pants instead of red

Over the past two seasons Marc Andre Fleury has been a top 10 goalie and vastly superior to Niemi.
- Victoro311

And in his entire life has played like a top 10 goalie come playoff time twice, an average goalie twice, and sucked in playoffs 4 times in juniors, 3 times in the AHL, and 6 times in the NHL. No one wants to pay 6m a year for a guy they know they can't rely on come playoffs, let alone give up assets to acquire said guy or help the Cup champs to keep a better goalie by taking him off their hands.

And in his entire life has played like a top 10 goalie come playoff time twice, an average goalie twice, and sucked in playoffs 4 times in juniors, 3 times in the AHL, and 6 times in the NHL. No one wants to pay 6m a year for a guy they know they can't rely on come playoffs, let alone give up assets to acquire said guy or help the Cup champs to keep a better goalie by taking him off their hands.
- Antilles

I agree with you but he is definitely better than Anti Niemi, who's been a lot worse.

For point one, expansion teams typically can after the Stanley Cup finals end. But Vegas trading draft picks for players is extremely unlikely, they have almost no farm system to start. What normally happens would be more like Pittsburgh trades their 2016 2nd to Vegas in exchange for Vegas agreeing to not take Murray in expansion draft.

Vegas can probably sign UFA's after Cup ends as well. But why in the world would they? There is no UFA's then that would have any trade value or be leverage. That's why no one else signed them.
- Antilles

Las Vegas has the unusual position to offer college UFA's and KHL/Euro league FA's the chance to play in the NHL in year one with no time spent in the minors. lets say for example using this years offseason... Jimmy Vesey (or comparible college UFA)can sign with Las Vegas and have 90% chance to be a NHL player not AHL. OR Alex Radulov is offered a 3 year $7Mil contract to become the face of Las Vegas hockey.

This is what I am referring to...

Using the Penguins as an example...

Penguins trade (G)Sean Maguire and (F)Matthias Placa to Las Vegas for 2018 3RD rd pick. Now Las Vegas has a decent (G) prospect and chooses not to take Matt Murray from the Penguins but instead takes DP as a defenseman. The trade for Maguire may change LV mind about taking a goalie that only has 1 yr left on contract...

Best Centers in the game:

Crosby
McDavid
Tavares
Malkin
Kopitar

Honorable mentions: Toews/Seguin/Bergeron

Because the rules say you have to protect a goalie?

I'm trying real hard not to worry our goalie situation heading into expansion. If it wasn't for expansion I'd have given this offseason an A+, but still having Fleury around could turn into a huge problem come next June. From a strictly next season standpoint, it's better to have Fleury around one more year to see have an elite goalie tandem while Murr is still on ELC and also just to make sure Murray isn't a flash in the pan type like Cam Ward. But the expansion draft throws a huge wrench into everything.
- Victoro311

Cam Ward had more than one good year and injuries are really what has beat him down not wasted potential. The more I look the more I see a few potential homes for MAF beyond Dallas and even though the return will diminish substantially the longer we hold onto him there are deals out there to be made for him. Anderson in Ottawa is 36 and Hammond is no future number 1. Lehner in Buffalo is the Beau Bennet of goaltending and someone over there is already a big fan of Fleury. Calgary is still an option if it turns out that Elliot is not a fit. Edmonton could decide Talbot is really just suited to be a backup. Dallas of course has the worst goaltending situation in the league with how much they are spending on garbage. Nashville could give up on Rinne if he gets yet another injury. There are only 2 elite level goalies available right now, Fleury and Bishop and Bishop is going to cost a fortune to retain. Maybe it is best to wait a bit? One of those teams or another might be forced to make a deal with us and we can capitalize.

Cam Ward had more than one good year and injuries are really what has beat him down not wasted potential. The more I look the more I see a few potential homes for MAF beyond Dallas and even though the return will diminish substantially the longer we hold onto him there are deals out there to be made for him. Anderson in Ottawa is 36 and Hammond is no future number 1. Lehner in Buffalo is the Beau Bennet of goaltending and someone over there is already a big fan of Fleury. Calgary is still an option if it turns out that Elliot is not a fit. Edmonton could decide Talbot is really just suited to be a backup. Dallas of course has the worst goaltending situation in the league with how much they are spending on garbage. Nashville could give up on Rinne if he gets yet another injury. There are only 2 elite level goalies available right now, Fleury and Bishop and Bishop is going to cost a fortune to retain. Maybe it is best to wait a bit? One of those teams or another might be forced to make a deal with us and we can capitalize.
- Dcoms

I don't even care about capitalizing. Assuming Murray proves he's our guy this year, if Fleury is traded by next offseason before expansion, even if its for an 8th round pick, I'll admit that holding onto him was a good idea. We don't need to use his cap hit to improve somewhere else on the roster this season (LW is weak, but it's not like we could have signed anyone or really traded for anyone), so its better to have an elite goalie tandem than to not have one. But losing Murray to expansion or buying out Fleury to prevent losing Murray would be a failure of seismic proportions which I would not forgive Rutherford for.