Well now that the Kings have won it, it is time to talk about the next season. It is going to be a major off season. Many questions will be answered this year. 1. Will Tim Thomas spend his year off campaigning for Ron Paul? 2. Will Nash ever make it out of Columbus? 3. Will the Leafs ever make it to the playoffs? 4. Where will Zach Parise end up? 5. Will there even be a 2012-2013 season or will the Collective Bargaining Agreement fuck us out of another season? These questions and many more will be answered this year...
1. No 2. Yes 3. Fuck that noise 4. Anywhere but here, I want Suter!!! 5. They'll lose preseason at the most. Full season will be played.
Do we think the league will change up the divisions and conferences? What draft prospects do we all like?
Hmmm, I think they already have decided that. Aligned by geography, with the proviso that every team plays each other twice in a season; at home and away. Giving the fans a chance to see all the stars of the NHL. All the kids from Canada, because that is what the Bruin's like.
The bruins never go Sweden that is for sure. I thought the realignment was still in the debate phase?
Owners approved, Union said no. Makes sense in that it gives them a bargaining chip during CBA negotiations, but then I haven't heard a single player come out against it, so... mostly they vetoed it because they could. The last version I saw had MN, WPG, STL, CHI, DAL, CBJ, NSH all lined up for some midwestern hatred. That would be a good division - Minny's games with the Jets and Blues have been very good lately, and we still hate the Stars for leaving.
Dream on GB, Suter should go to the wings. We have lots of cap space, an opening for a #1 D, and an owner who wants to spend. You bet they throw huge canvas bags stuffed with cash at him. Seriously though I think they will try and get him on one of those big money front loaded long term deals.
So do the Wild. Loads of great prospects in the system as well, including Koivu's buddy Granlund (wild message board folks mock all the Finnish Fanbois by calling him Baby Jesus ) as well as Coyle, Phillips, Bulmer... Besides, how could Suter resist playing with WI teammate Gilbert? There were a bunch of conspiracy theorists who claimed the one-for-one Schultz for Gilbert trade was simply window dressing to pursue Suter. I dunno, one way or the other, except the Wild's biggest need is #1D.
Suter or Parise....??? You have to be kidding that you would not like Parise over Suter. Not that Suter is not a good player by any means. If that is managements option, you will get Parise.
Organizational need, short and long term. We spent the entire year last year pinned down in our own end because our shit-tastic D couldn't make an outlet pass or clear the zone. Another forward to back check and circle the neutral zone waiting for the pass that never comes? Nope. Wild need a stud on D. They do have a lot of cap space, but there aren't many big names out there on D, and they'll need to make a big splash to get Suter. Plan B would be Wideman, Carle, etc. Parise is local, and has said before that he doesn't want to come here and be the hockey version of Joe Mauer - overexposed, overextended, and under intense pressure to do it all. I don't blame him. And I think he stays in NJ.
TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Hopefully he heals up ASAP, and WTF Thomas....still WTF.
Jackman and Stuart both signed. Defensemen are dropping off the UFA market like flies. You can bet that as soon as Suter signs somewhere, Wideman and Carle get grossly overpaid. They must be giggling.
Draft day tomorrow...I take the quiet nature on here to mean everyone knows this draft class blows.....
There may be rough diamonds here, but no one is getting their dance card filled out on both sides. The awards ceremony was interesting. With all the "new hollywood" hockey fans.
