Uhm, you seriously don’t see the differences here?

One literally said “I would be way better if I wasn’t playing with my linemates to a reporter in a contract dispute.

The other may or may not of said he’d prefer not to play witg Kapanen in a possible leaked conversation between coaches.
- Santo_44

of course there are differences.
matthews quite a bit more clever - laine speaks from the heart.
probably as well because he's quite frustrated being in wpg and the coach not helping him..

btw - if put on waivers, I'd like Toronto to pick up Joe Hicketts from Detroit to be bottom pair d-man / 7th d-man.

same for backup goalie options:
- lindgren (mtl)
- comrie (wpg)
- jarry (pitts)

all better (although unproven) options than hutchinson, and neuvirth being injured again doesn't give a lot of confidence either...

"Malkin wants his own team" must be the most overused, inaccurate and yet undying rumor of all-time.
- JohnFergusonJr

He justed wanted to get away from Kessel.

Anything is possible, I guess. Florida has no cap room, so they'd have to trade Ekblad to make $8m in space.

If I'm Winnipeg, I don't know if I want a 33 year old guy making 9.5m, but it would be that centre that Laine needs to play with . . . oh. Right.
- Monkeypunk

It appears that the Jets found some cap space. Byfuglien stumbled across Hossa's jock strap. They have the money to sign Laine, which is not the problem. Otherwise an offersheet would have happened by now. Even teams like Minnesota who throw big money at mediocre players like Parise and Spurgeon haven't showed significant interest. Ottawa should trade for him - he would be their best player and possibly replace the first rounder they threw away. They have they money but el cheapo might want to remain at the salary floor.

people criticizing Laine for saying he wants to be on a line with the best C on the team.
same people not criticizing Matthews for prefering to not have Kapanen on his wing.

I understand Laine and I understand Matthews - Laine can get 100points with Wheeler and Scheifele, and Kapanen just doesn't complete Matthews' play very well. (although in playoffs, Kapanen should be on Matthews' line).

Top player will want to have a say in who they play with.
(you guys really think McDavid doesn't have a say on who's on his line? or Crosby?)
- MaximusAurelius

Saying it to the press after sucking for half a season while at the same time asking for tons of money is a little different....

I'm not saying Nylander's better, I'm saying Nylander is going to get more points this season.

Not sure why he would need a warmer climate, he's Finnish.
- Zezel

Bro I despise winter. Give me 35 and humid allday errday over winter.

Bro I despise winter. Give me 35 and humid allday errday over winter.
- TheMussel

I'm with you on that. Winnipeg despite having significant cap space to sign both their young RFA's appear to be a team headed down. I believe playoffs is far from automatic for them this year, despite all the weak teams in the west.

Bro I despise winter. Give me 35 and humid allday errday over winter.
- TheMussel

Just saying he should be able to play and not be a female genitalia about it, he's not a tropical flower.

Just saying he should be able to play and not be a female genitalia about it, he's not a tropical flower.
- Zezel

This is true, but if you had a choice and were going to make a list of which cities you wanted to play for, where do you think Winnipeg would be rated?

This is true, but if you had a choice and were going to make a list of which cities you wanted to play for, where do you think Winnipeg would be rated?
- winsix

Somewhere near Edmonton, Likely below Calgary and Minnesota and Columbus

Tier 1
Tampa
Miami
Phoenix
Dallas
Anaheim
L.A
Vegas

Tier2
Nashville
Vancouver
San Jose
New York
Long Island

Tier3
Raleigh
Montreal
Toronto
Denver
Boston

Tier4
Washington
Pittsburgh
Chicago
St. Louis
Philly


Tier5
Columbus
Minnesota
Calgary
Ottawa
Jersey

Tier6
Detroit
Buffalo
Winnipeg
Edmonton

It appears that the Jets found some cap space. Byfuglien stumbled across Hossa's jock strap. They have the money to sign Laine, which is not the problem. Otherwise an offersheet would have happened by now. Even teams like Minnesota who throw big money at mediocre players like Parise and Spurgeon haven't showed significant interest. Ottawa should trade for him - he would be their best player and possibly replace the first rounder they threw away. They have they money but el cheapo might want to remain at the salary floor.
- winsix

That's exactly it. I sort of dismissed Ottawa, because Melnyk is ruining that team. He limits their options. The guy I feel bad for is Dorion, because we'll never know if he actually sucks or is doing a brilliant job of doing something when it's completely impossible to maneuver with the handcuffs Melnyk has him wearing.

Although, I didn't know "I'm just not feelin' it, you know" is a reason to be put on LTIR!

This is true, but if you had a choice and were going to make a list of which cities you wanted to play for, where do you think Winnipeg would be rated?
- winsix

I'm the opposite of Musseler because I prefer cold to extreme heat so I would put it above the Florida teams, Dallas, Vegas, etc, and also the teams with half empty rinks. I don't mind a small city vibe either and for me it's Canada, so maybe it'd be middle of the pack.

I just think Laine should stfu and be a gud pro and play his way onto the top line. He's not convincing me that he's the next Ovechkin right now. Maybe he has a great shot but the league is figuring out his one dimension and he's not willing to work so his stats crashed. I don't know, just glad we have AM instead and wouldn't trade Marner for him either.

This is true, but if you had a choice and were going to make a list of which cities you wanted to play for, where do you think Winnipeg would be rated?
- winsix

If you're strictly talking about the city itself, 31. Winnipeg is a poop hole.

Somewhere near Edmonton, Likely below Calgary and Minnesota and Columbus

Tier 1
Tampa
Miami
Phoenix
Dallas
Anaheim
L.A
Vegas

Tier2
Nashville
Vancouver
San Jose
New York
Long Island

Tier3
Raleigh
Montreal
Toronto
Denver
Boston

Tier4
Washington
Pittsburgh
Chicago
St. Louis
Philly


Tier5
Columbus
Minnesota
Calgary
Ottawa
Jersey

Tier6
Detroit
Buffalo
Winnipeg
Edmonton
- TheMussel

I'm sorry, what is this list?

I'm sorry, what is this list?
- gravyface

Pure rubbish...

Must win tonight!

Seriously though, hopefully we see some of these plugs/young guys step up and earn spots. Would like to see more from some of them...

Expect a ‘fun’ night from Marner, hopefully he gets a warm reception!

1967

Pure rubbish...
- SofaKingBored

Glad I'm not the only one

Glad I'm not the only one
- gravyface

Yeah, free agents are clamoring to sign with Vancouver and Long Island over Toronto or Montreal... dafuq?

Yeah, free agents are clamoring to sign with Vancouver and Long Island over Toronto or Montreal... dafuq?
- SofaKingBored

If it was based on the cities where I would want to live should I be a free agent smart guy

Yeah, free agents are clamoring to sign with Vancouver and Long Island over Toronto or Montreal... dafuq?
- SofaKingBored

His list looks purely climate based. He's not considering the actual city or merits of each franchise. Just going by the whether in January I think he's pretty close.

If it was based on the cities where I would want to live should I be a free agent smart guy
- TheMussel

Did you just assume my intelligence? We've experienced this interaction differently...

His list looks purely climate based. He's not considering the actual city or merits of each franchise. Just going by the whether in January I think he's pretty close.
- viper488

I put some merits of cities in there, maybe a tad biased towards Canada in and around tier 3.

Did you just assume my intelligence? We've experienced this interaction differently...
- SofaKingBored

Going purely on your profile picture

Going purely on your profile picture
- TheMussel

I need to get some brown face on there... Arabian Nights... DAAAAAYOOOO

Ayyy-O!

But for realsies, ur probably right. For the past 2 seasons I’ve been calling for LA to blow it up and rebuild. They could probably get really good prospects or high picks for some of their players. This years draft is apparently the draft of the decade, maybe they could get Lafreniere of Byfeild.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

The draft of the decade happened a few years ago.