And away we go NHL thread!!!!

[Shawn Lutz]

the cap issues worsen for Chicago as they matched the offer for Hjalmarson..

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-blackhawks-hjalmarsson

[Tekky]

Yeah, if it weren't for San Jose getting involved, we'd have a little bit of time to get creative with Jelly's contract.

[Spivonious]

Gagne to the Lightning for an average defenseman and a 4th round pick. Ouch.

[atomic charvel guy]

No sympathy for you Spiv. Especially not when Sather is
close to signing 69 year old Rod Gilbert back to the Rangers to help bolster the offense.

[Hellbat]

It really surprises me how many teams will move a leading player just to "get something for them" if they don't think the player will re-sign with their team. Hopefully they got a puck bag thrown in as well.

[atomic charvel guy]

that's the beauty of being a yankee fan, they have been able to always hold on to the players they didn't want to lose.

[Hellbat]

Yeah I guess it comes down to whether you are for or against salary caps. I kind of like them because it forces good management and stops the 'xbox' managers from unrealistic aquisitions. It also shines a light on teams that have no idea on how to build a successful team under a cap. (Hello Calgary Flames!)

[atomic charvel guy]

the yankees pay a luxury tax and revenue profit rape to MLB as well, they don't care, they just want the best team possible on the field.

[Tekky]

The Kovy sweepstakes is over! (I'm glad, that's all I was hearing on radio and TV was where Kovy was going. ) He stays in NJ for 17 years for just over $100M

[Hellbat]

Brutal that they can use these contracts to get around the salary cap. I don't have much room to complain since my team did it for Luongo (but not the Sedins?) but I can see the smack being put down on these types of contracts in the next CBA.

[cheese0tron]

This has nothing to do with guitar

[toejam]

This has nothing to do with guitar

Were you dropped as a baby?

[javert]

lol, this guy is everywhere.

[cheese0tron]

lol, this guy is everywhere.

lol

[goodwood]

Yeah I guess it comes down to whether you are for or against salary caps. I kind of like them because it forces good management and stops the 'xbox' managers from unrealistic aquisitions. It also shines a light on teams that have no idea on how to build a successful team under a cap. (Hello Calgary Flames!)

I think Calgary was much better building a team without it because they had a tighter budget to deal with. When they started working 'with the cap' they went out and spent money on 'bigger names' who weren't as strong fundamentally. Look at all of the great players in the NHL who left Calgary basically because Calgary didn't want them. Some of that started prior to the cap but the cap accentuated it.

...and yes, I should have responded 4+ months ago!!

As for Buff...he's had his moments this year. I have to say that he's played much better than I had expected. He'll surely get over the 17 goals that I said he wouldn't get and he has a good number of assists & is showing great leadership. I am surprised.