Congrats to connor for hart and art ross. Noone can challenge him now when crosby is gone
- martox

That SUCKS about Crosby

Benn and Kane are always at the top of the league as well though.

bonuses?
- DDM-Coga

They don't count unless earned.

Would be surprising if he hit all his bonuses.

I thought that's what they were planning on using RNH for this year? More of a second line shutdown center... at least that's what I had heard off and on? It does seem like the NHL is going 4 lines deep with offense now. Players like ML seem to be a dime a dozen in the NHL. Can win draws and play the PK but not much else. I think the Oilers would be much more dangerous rolling out a 4th line that can fly and score.
- mnhockeyguy

That's exactly what Nuge has done and will continue to do, but I'm of the mind that you need more than one shutdown-capable line, particularly when icing two rookies in the lineup. I think they're trending towards that with Kassian and Pitlick positioned where they are, but shutting down will still be a part of their role. I see it like this:

Lucic- McDavid- Eberle (crazy stacked line, will be tough to suppress)
Pouliot- Nuge- Draisaitl (quality cycle line capable of shutdown play)
Maroon- Caggiula- Versteeg (soft minutes line [also Puljujarvi's slot])
Pitlick- Letestu- Kassian (grindy, aggressive line capable of shutdown play)

They don't count unless earned.

Would be surprising if he hit all his bonuses.
- Tumbleweed

oh I know that but other than bonuses, Im not sure what he meant by an expensive ELC

That's exactly what Nuge has done and will continue to do, but I'm of the mind that you need more than one shutdown-capable line, particularly when icing two rookies in the lineup. I think they're trending towards that with Kassian and Pitlick positioned where they are, but shutting down will still be a part of their role. I see it like this:

Lucic- McDavid- Eberle (crazy stacked line, will be tough to suppress)
Pouliot- Nuge- Draisaitl (quality cycle line capable of shutdown play)
Maroon- Caggiula- Versteeg (soft minutes line
- MaximumBone[also Puljujarvi's slot])
Pitlick- Letestu- Kassian (grindy, aggressive line capable of shutdown play)

Told you guys Eberle would be McDavid's RW, and not Yakupov

they did. and hes deserves a shot.

but the other rookie puju should go down to start i think.

this is where losing hall hurts so much.
despite all the failures and losing, the one thing we potentially had was pretty nutty high talent depth up front that if we ever turned that corner, that was the thing that was gonna set us apart and move us into that truly elite category.
but i guess its chicken and egg that we may have never taken that step without said trade...

either way, at least until puju is seasoned, it seems now we're either a pretty standard 2 line team, or really stretching it think to try and run 3 skilled lines if we separate leon fron nuge. which we will at some point going forward.
- HB77

Injuries to bottom 6 already throwing the team for a loop. Just wait until one of the top 6 or top 4 d inevitably go down. This team still can't score.

That's exactly what Nuge has done and will continue to do, but I'm of the mind that you need more than one shutdown-capable line, particularly when icing two rookies in the lineup. I think they're trending towards that with Kassian and Pitlick positioned where they are, but shutting down will still be a part of their role. I see it like this:

Lucic- McDavid- Eberle (crazy stacked line, will be tough to suppress)
Pouliot- Nuge- Draisaitl (quality cycle line capable of shutdown play)
Maroon- Caggiula- Versteeg (soft minutes line
- MaximumBone[also Puljujarvi's slot])
Pitlick- Letestu- Kassian (grindy, aggressive line capable of shutdown play)

That does look pretty balanced. Also Kassian has scored some points in the past so perhaps with more time spent together Letestu can bump up his points total?

Told you guys Eberle would be McDavid's RW, and not Yakupov
- laughs2907

Didn't need to tell me! I'm glad I don't have to watch one line botch 5 zone entries per game anymore.

I disagree that we're suddenly just a standard two-line team. Certainly we're not AS dangerous without Hall, but our strength is still there even without Puljujarvi.

Maroon- McDavid- Eberle
Lucic- Draisaitl- Caggiula
Pouliot- Nuge- Versteeg
Pitlick- Letestu- Kassian

That's still a team with a deep offense and the capacity for six 40 point scorers (McDavid, Eberle, Lucic, Nuge, Pouliot and Draisaitl) from its forwards. The team now also has some scoring depth in guys like Caggiula, Maroon, Puljujarvi and Slepyshev. It might not look as explosive, but it's a very balanced attack that- if used correctly- would still be the biggest factor leading to this team's success.
- MaximumBone

caggilua is a total question mark. as is maroon without mcdavid. as is versteeg.

this isnt about questioning the trade as going into another season without some form of top pairing quality would have been the definition of insanity. but saying "as" dangerous almost seems as though youre downplaying halls level. we took a massive step down from the high end skill i mentioned without him. again, the type of high end skill that may have been what set us apart and had so many pundits assuming greatness for so long

and thats not even taking into account that until nuge actually puts up gawdy numbers, he cant just be considered a dominant offensive guy that can carry a line.
same kinda goes for draisaitl without hall.

its not a mess by any means, butin that scenario and in name power alone, we could potentially have one great line and two fairly average ones

i just want meaningful steps forward this year, but while i dont agree with doom and gloomers per se, i do see what some of what the people like iggy are saying in that now we may be better, but never truly elite

They don't count unless earned.

Would be surprising if he hit all his bonuses.
- Tumbleweed

The signing bonus counts no matter what. It gets subtracted from his remaining contract if the rest slides. Same goes for Bear and Jones. Or any ELC sent down for that matter.

Injuries to bottom 6 already throwing the team for a loop. Just wait until one of the top 6 or top 4 d inevitably go down. This team still can't score.
- Iggysbff

absolutely a concern.

The signing bonus counts no matter what. It gets subtracted from his remaining contract if the rest slides. Same goes for Bear and Jones. Or any ELC sent down for that matter.
- Iggysbff

Was that the way under the prior cba?


It doesn't count now. If you go over the cap because of bonuses, you get hit with bonus overage penalties in the following year...

Was that the way under the prior cba?


It doesn't count now. If you go over the cap because of bonuses, you get hit with bonus overage penalties in the following year...
- Tumbleweed

Only the signing bonuses count. The performance bonuses do not. And yes bonus overages go against next year's.

It's not a huge deal as signing bonuses are capped at $92,500

Only the signing bonuses count. The performance bonuses do not. And yes bonus overages go against next year's.

It's not a huge deal as signing bonuses are capped at $92,500
- Iggysbff

Got it

caggilua is a total question mark. as is maroon without mcdavid. as is versteeg.

this isnt about questioning the trade as going into another season without some form of top pairing quality would have been the definition of insanity. but saying "as" dangerous almost seems as though youre downplaying halls level. we took a massive step down from the high end skill i mentioned without him. again, the type of high end skill that may have been what set us apart and had had so many pundits assuming greatness for so long

and thats not even taking into account that until nuge actually puts up gawdy numbers, he cant just be considered a dominant offensive guy that can carry a line.
same kinda goes for draisaitl without hall.

its not a mess by any means, butin that scenario and in name power alone, we could potentially have one great line and two fairly average ones
- HB77

If the concern is strictly regarding this year, sure I get recognize there could be a couple issues. I'm not convinced they'd make the difference between playoffs and not, but there is room for concern.

I recognized that there would be a drop-off without Hall, but I'm not worried about it. Nuge doesn't need to be a dominant force offensively; he merely needs to keep doing what he's done his whole career (50ish points while helping shutdown the opposition) and he'll be among the league's best 2nd line Cs.

Leon's offense may drop-off but if he's played with Nuge and Pouliot regularly, I have a hard time seeing him post less than 40 points. Even if he isn't on their line, he's sheltered behind one superstar and a great 2C. You've gotta imagine he can put up numbers at least comparable to Cody Eakin (playing behind Seguin and Spezza).

On an aside, that lineup was more the idea I'm getting of a starting lineup, not one to maintain the whole year. My ideal is far more balanced.

Only the signing bonuses count. The performance bonuses do not. And yes bonus overages go against next year's.

It's not a huge deal as signing bonuses are capped at $92,500
- Iggysbff

The max Pulju can receive in bonus/salary is 2.5 mil, so unless the Oil add a pretty significant contract this year they shouldn't have any carry over.

And with Fayne, Russell and Ference all expiring before McJesus ELC is up I can't see cap being a huge concern.

Didn't need to tell me! I'm glad I don't have to watch one line botch 5 zone entries per game anymore.
- MaximumBone

Agreed...

Next question/comment... Why do people find Kevin Hart funny?

If the concern is strictly regarding this year, sure I get recognize there could be a couple issues. I'm not convinced they'd make the difference between playoffs and not, but there is room for concern.

I recognized that there would be a drop-off without Hall, but I'm not worried about it. Nuge doesn't need to be a dominant force offensively; he merely needs to keep doing what he's done his whole career (50ish points while helping shutdown the opposition) and he'll be among the league's best 2nd line Cs.

Leon's offense may drop-off but if he's played with Nuge and Pouliot regularly, I have a hard time seeing him post less than 40 points. Even if he isn't on their line, he's sheltered behind one superstar and a great 2C. You've gotta imagine he can put up numbers at least comparable to Cody Eakin (playing behind Seguin and Spezza).

On an aside, that lineup was more the idea I'm getting of a starting lineup, not one to maintain the whole year. My ideal is far more balanced.
- MaximumBone

the concern is both for this year and going forward.

playoffs or not- i wont even know what to say if we get to a point where we arent at least in the hunt till the end. lose one of nuge/leon and we're probably staring that right in the face.

going forward, a ton rides on puljujarvi succeeding to get into the echelon we all hope. but that remains to be seen so i wont say much about it other than if he doesnt work out- i see mediocrity moving forward.

as far as where leon plays- again, you play him with nuge, that 3rd line is a total question mark. in fact every bit as much reason to believe it struggles as there is the opposite. which as i mentioned, makes us a two line team. which isnt what i envisioned when i saw the talent we had accumulated from all the losing. ( you well know ive always been a stretch the depth out guy to make us tough to match up with top to bottom)

and in the 3 line scenario, i think youre forced to hurt that top line by taking lucic off it to insulate one of the other two centers. and theyll still have a question mark winger on the other side.
although i do see some merit in maroon there instead. just saying though

i guess my point is that with hall we have two guys that can unequivocally carry a line on their back. and in that case, you can almost stack the 3rd to look as good as either of the first two. we now have nowhere near that capability and are one injury away from disaster up front

The max Pulju can receive in bonus/salary is 2.5 mil, so unless the Oil add a pretty significant contract this year they shouldn't have any carry over.

And with Fayne, Russell and Ference all expiring before McJesus ELC is up I can't see cap being a huge concern.
- Mr.Bobby

McDavid, Drai, Puljuju, Nurse, Slepy, Caggiula, Reinhart all have potential performance bonuses totalling $ 12.025 mill.

haha that jazzca1974 flames fan is pretty easy to mess with. such a spaz of a poster

McDavid, Drai, Puljuju, Nurse, Slepy, Caggiula, Reinhart all have potential performance bonuses totalling $ 12.025 mill.
- Iggysbff

Once Ference goes on LTIR Oil will have nearly 12 mil in space. If all those guys max out their bonuses, congratulations you probably just had the most successful season in franchise history

the concern is both for this year and going forward.

playoffs or not- i wont even know what to say if we get to a point where we arent at least in the hunt till the end. lose one of nuge/leon and we're probably staring that right in the face.

going forward, a ton rides on puljujarvi succeeding to get into the echelon we all hope. but that remains to be seen so i wont say much about it other than if he doesnt work out- i see mediocrity moving forward.

as far as where leon plays- again, you play him with nuge, that 3rd line is a total question mark. in fact every bit as much reason to believe it struggles as there is the opposite. which as i mentioned, makes us a two line team. which isnt what i envisioned when i saw the talent we had accumulated from all the losing. ( you well know ive always been a stretch the depth out guy to make us tough to match up with top to bottom)

and in the 3 line scenario, i think youre forced to hurt that top line by taking lucic off it to insulate one of the other two centers. although i do see some merit in maroon there instead. just saying though
- HB77

Then let's compare:

_____- McDavid- Eberle
Lucic- Drasaitl- Puljujarvi
Pouliot- Nuge- _____

Klefbom- Larsson
Nurse- Sekera

Vs


_____- McDavid- Eberle
Hall- Drasaitl- _____
Pouliot- Nuge- Puljujarvi

Klefbom- _____
Nurse- Sekera

Maybe it's just me, but I'm not worried in either scenario. In the latter scenario, I'd actually be more concerned about the on account of what Hall's next contract would end up being (around 8mil) and what filling that top pair RD slot would cost. Cap has to be considered, as well.

Once Ference goes on LTIR Oil will have nearly 12 mil in space. If all those guys max out their bonuses, congratulations you probably just had the most successful season in franchise history
- Mr.Bobby

Shouldn't be a concern but we still haven't signed Versteeg and who knows what other retarded contract we may end up with.

haha that jazzca1974 flames fan is pretty easy to mess with. such a spaz of a poster
- DDM-Coga

Just read through, that level of posting makes me appreciate and miss JB, dudes got to be an alt, trolling and putting on an act.

oh I know that but other than bonuses, Im not sure what he meant by an expensive ELC
- DDM-Coga

Bonuses are a huge consideration. I doubt he hits all of them, but a reasonable season could see him cost 2x as much Parenteau at least