spook007

But but but.... win % and bla bla bla...

Bang Garly

Yes probably... not sure, but wouldn't be surprised to see both gone.

Cheers Higgy... Great that somebody has better memory than me Yes this has been a huge surprise... There were a fair few posters happy with the pick, but even they will have been amazed at his production... There are still some talk about his defensive abilities, I believe, but if he can overcome that, its another homerun...

Lekkerimaki for Kuz almost covers it...

Believe it had something to do with injuries... May be wrong. Memory box not always as hood as it used to be

Well, while that is true, it was a big question mark, when JT signed his contract. If JT had been 25 years old, there is no chance we would have signed him now to that contract. JTs contract involved the risk of him falling over a cliff edge some time before the end of his contract, (don't think he will, but doubt he'll be the same player his entire contract). Petey signing an 8 years deal would cover him throughout his prime, and better than average chance he would be able to lay around the 100-100+ mark throughout the contract. Big difference between the 2. I actually think, this might be the issue, why Petey hasn't signed yet. Petey might only want to sign a 3 year deal in order to cash in on a 8 year deal afterwards. When their playing days are over, Petey is very likely to have the bigger points total over his carreer. JTs biggest problem was, he didn't really break through till later (or get the opportunity)... a bit like mcCann in Seattle.

Yeah well there is a difference in team building. Its not just about the mega wages being paid. If toronto spent the big wages handed out to Nylander and Tavares on a proper top pairing D which should be possible wiith $24M, they may actually be able to a lot better than they are now. Same with Oilers. Its all very well to say we just flip the picks for other players, but those players need to be available. We syruck gold with Hronek, but he is going to get a new contract, and how high are you willing to go with him? Is he partly a product of QH or is he a legit 1st pairing D? Are we going to just flip him again for picks if we think he is too expensive? Point being, while there is a limit for any player, you'll get nowhere if you keep flipping the players everytime they get good. At some stage you got to run with your horses. Blackhawks two main players Kane and Toews were close to generational players and definitely elite players. You don't just flip some picks and prosoects and acquire players like them. You draft them or get them like Florida got Tkachuk cause they don't want to play for a franchise. But those players wants paid just like Petey. So if you hope to draft them, you may as well start all over, cause you rarely find that level of talent outside top 3... Petey, is around the same points total as JT but 5 years younger and just about to enter his prime. You get Lekkerimaki and Willander to come in on cheap elcs or 2nd contracts to support (provided they continue their progress) and suddenly the money is available to pay Petey. Regardless, JR and Allvin have been through the same with superstars in Pittsburgh, so they know exactly, what can and can't be achieved. If they feel Petey isn't worth the money he wants, he'll be gone zero doubt about it, but up to $11-12M isn't far tetched if the cap is expected to continue to rise. 12M x8 years. If the cap goes up 5% each year after 4 years it represents 12% of the cap. At the end of his contract it represents 10.2% $11M after 4 years 11% and at the end of his contract 9.5%... Is that wild? And how about QH?

Yep spot on....

Assets? what assets? Picks and prospects, and then wait longer to hopefully go for it? We can afford Petey and QH (when he comes around) being paid top dollars. Especially with JT at $8M... We can't afford to over pay for supplementary players... But a few stars we can. Letting go of Petey for assets is going to be a massive gamble... There is no guarantee, we get players even close to Petey for smaller $... Brock and Kuz are not line drivers and they are paid $5-7M with a raise soon. Lets say around $8M for non line drivers... Peteys agent knows this, line drivers cost money and they will all be getting increases as their deal matures. $11-12M may be a big hit now, but in 3-4 years, it may look decent or like a steal, if the cap is now going to continue going up... If it goes up 5% each year over the next 8 years (if there is any reason it won't, please let me know as I'm none too sure), that is a 40% increase in cap. divided by 2 for average increase in 20%. Suddenly a $11-12M contract isn't wild salary... But of course its a lot of money and a lot of maybes... Real question is, will this core, Petey, Miller, Hughes and Demko be able to lead us to success (continued participation in the play offs, as nobody can be sure of a cup). If so, then the contract will easily be worth it. I still hope for no more than between $11-11.5M but haven't got a clue...

Definitely agree on that. My point was more towards it being very likely we have a player on our hand. A RHD drafted in the 3rd round on top of that... now that is massive.

A good playoffs beard and its a match...

So far Bouchard, DeAngelo, Hague and maybe Raddysh has made it... only two doesn't seem to have broken through.... Good chance Hunter will... What a boost that would be.

As soon as the shipped OEL out, it showed their hand... they wanted play offs now... Time will tell if they were too optimistic. Expect there will be two good windows of opportunity for this group this year and next and then in 3-5 years (when Lekki and Tom gets settled)

the tears....

This.... Pointed this out as well a few week ago... Let's see some fingers.... yeah didn't think so....

Spot on amigo.... It isn't that long ago we were considered canon fodder, and now after 1/2 a good season some folks seems to expect us to smash the league and everyone in it... Unreal.... I don't give a hoot if Ottawa is bottom of the league or not. You score 6 goals lucky or not, that's good in any book... on top of that, They had a lots of break aways they just couldn't convert... it happens. Yes they have been really good at bounce backs, when they had a loss... that's a measure of a good team... If we get out of this road trip at .500 we've done fabulously... Let the joy continue...

hmmmm.... they'll find something

Thank you....

Is this comedy? 1 period of decent hockey... decent? 5 goals scored... wonder what a great period of hockey looks like to you They scored 5 goals in the 1st and won 6-3 and you feel cheated? Why would you bother go to games, if this is how you feel? Can't begin to imagine how you'd feel if they lost a game? Talk about fickle fans...

Good level headed analysis @JamesB Its hard for teams to keep the foot on the pedal, when leading 5-0 after 1st period... The game was won at that time despite, what a a few posters seem to suggest... But of course, if we are searching for something to complain about, I guess its something... I like you are looking at our D, and how good or at least above decent they've been. I did not expect Juulsen to be as secure as he has been, and it looks like all he needed was the security of playing more than a few games despite making a mistake or two... Confidence is a fickle thing, but trust is a major step in the right direction... Pleased for the boys.... A tough away trip coming up now... afternoon and early games galore. Even a b2b, and with less than 48 hours in-between any of these its going to be a tough tough road trip. If they can come home with a 0.500 I will be very pleased, and think they all will. After that a more relaxed home schedule followed by another extended break will do them the world of good.

Bingo.... points on the boatd is all that matters... point % and garbage statistics like that are just that.

Millers tip in goal...

Well its also almost certain if the dog didn't sit for a poop, it would have caught the hare.... if and if....