The Official 2008-2009 NHL Thread

Wasn't Umberger due to become an RFA? If his asking price was too high, it may have been a good move to keep the team's salary from skyrocketing while re-stocking the prospect pool. Any money not spent on Umberger could be spent on a UFA.

The other advantage to building from within is that it's cheaper. Teams loaded with young players on entry-level deals save a lot more money than teams who shop around for veterans. When free agency comes around, these teams are the ones with the most cap room.

True, but prior to the cap the Wings were one of the highest spending teams. They, like the Devils, had a good measure of success unlike the Leafs or Rangers.

Oh, well see, I didn't know that. In that case, fair move. But he was such an important player for their success this year.

And Ister, it was R.J. Umberger.

it's a shame cos i loved continuously saying umberger when he had the puck, you know, from the new pink panther movie when he's trying to pronounce hamburger. yea simple things in life...

As much as I hate to say it, I did something fairly similar. It's a funny name.

Umberger was not one of our better players ... he was good, sure, and had a sick series in the playoffs, but he is far more expendable than say Jeff Carter, who had a lot of trade rumors going around too.

Well yeah. I mean he really delivered when he needed to and that gets him mad props in my book. He really showed what he was about in the playoffs and made himself a valuable player for Philly in that stretch.

Regardless, it's not like they got rid of Briere or Timonen or anything, so it's all fine.

what a douche, i hope the lightning pick first again next year.

























and rangers 4th..

Wait, you're calling Barry a douche?

I'll miss him on ESPN, but it would be awesome to play under him, I think he would make a great coach though, seems like he could really bear down and push his team.

he often talks about things as a matter of holier than thou i know it all stance, so i'm eager to see what he can do with that team. i'm not a fan of his rants.

I think he's a good ambassador for the game, once you embrace his hairstyle. He's an entertaining guy.

sooooooooo

I hope you guys understand the Montreal Canadiens will win the 08-09 Stanley Cup

We got Tanguay and Sundin is coming our way pretty fast. wewt.

Predictions like that don't have a very good track record after last season.

Really? I didn't think he was actually going to leave the Leafs.

I will be so pissed if Sundin goes to Montreal. Any other team (except Ottawa) would be okay.

a cup for the centennial year eh? oh hell no you won't.

Toronto already gave Montreal exclusive negotiating rights with Sundin.

well duh, look at my earlier post in this thread. doesn't mean he's going there though.

Why not?

I think it would be legendary. But that's not like the Habs really needed it, that team is already a walking legend.

The only major subtraction from Montreal this offseason is possibly Streit, and Tanguay already offsets that. Price will be a year older/more experienced. Wouldn't surprise me if Montreal takes the east again this year. It WOULD surprise me though if they beat whoever comes out of the west, especially if that's Detroit which it probably will be for the next 5 years or so.

hahaha, you're actually going to pull a yankees on me? it's been a while my friend, even the rangers gave up their 94 special coverage.

You can't really understand the influence that team had on our culture.

let's go back to the yankees reference shall we?

I thought that it was exclusive to Montreal and NY Rangers?

Just Montreal for the moment though NYR are interested. This only lasts until free agency begins anyway. Mats has said he's not even sure he wants to play next season anyway, and if he does I have to believe Toronto will be highest on the list.

He has stated that he wants to retire as a leaf hasn't he?

Yeah, many times over he's stated that his heart and loyalty are here. Last season may have been one of his most trying because of all the media speculation and them calling out his loyalty for refusing to help them by being traded (which is pretty ass backwards if you ask me) but I still think he loves it enough here that he'll come back.

A walking legend? Who is even on the Canadiens? I know Koivu, but after that, I don't recognize anybody's name.

Carey Price is possibly the next Patrick Roy and Alexei Kovalev is one of the better snipers out there. Other than that there really isn't a whole lot of "name" talent but there is a very high standard of play for all of their players. Not unlike, say, New Jersey in the late 90's/early 00's. Also, most of Montreal's talent is young and will continue to develop.

By "walking legend" I'm sure he's referring to the fact that the Habs have won more cups and have more hall of famers than any other team by far.

@Symphony: You were right. Rangers have the right to talk to Sundin as well. I wasn't aware since it hadn't been reported in the local papers but I just saw it on the Sportsnet website.

edit: or not? Leafs are saying only Montreal has the right to talk to Sundin. Lots of rumours going around that might not be true.

for 100 years, one would hope, you wouldn't want to be a team of original six and only have, say, 4 cups.

Who are you referring to?

Yet again, you are just thinking about how many cups the team won, while I'm talking about how the team had a major impact on our society here over the last 75 years.

I meant the whole organization, not the players.

Blackhawks' record is even worse but the original six was never about being an equal partnership.

I never thought hockey would be so hot.




Yes, that is Hayden Panettiere.

I think I speak for all men when I say:

I wish I was the Stanley Cup.

way to post the entire article yea he's going to stay with tampa for the rest of his career probably, i doubt that was a good decision for him but let's hope for his sake that the draft picks help the franchise.

If I was one of the best players in the league the last thing I would want to do is spend my entire career in Florida.

There's career and legacy suicide, right there.

I would rather take less money and go to a team that wins and is a real hockey city.

Niedermayer returns to Ducks, damn, i was hoping he would retire so we could retire the number, oh well another year.

God I wish they would do this to the Red Wings.

But the Rangers? Just as good. Kick 'em both out, pretentious "original 6" faggotfranchises.