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On July 16 2015 00:48 JimmiC wrote:
Oduya to the stars for 2 years. That will help there back end.
Edit: 2 year 7.5 m
That's a sad one for a Hawks fan. He was the clear #4 defenseman and was losing a step this past year, but was still extremely valuable. He was often the guy who had to eat the pairing with the 5th or 6th defenseman in the playoffs and for the most part he held those pairings together. I was hoping the Hawks could get him on a short term contract like the Stars just did. Kind of disappointed that they didn't match it. Maybe even that much was too much for the Hawks with the cap squeeze.
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On July 16 2015 09:37 RenSC2 wrote:Show nested quote +On July 16 2015 00:48 JimmiC wrote:
Oduya to the stars for 2 years. That will help there back end.
Edit: 2 year 7.5 m That's a sad one for a Hawks fan. He was the clear #4 defenseman and was losing a step this past year, but was still extremely valuable. He was often the guy who had to eat the pairing with the 5th or 6th defenseman in the playoffs and for the most part he held those pairings together. I was hoping the Hawks could get him on a short term contract like the Stars just did. Kind of disappointed that they didn't match it. Maybe even that much was too much for the Hawks with the cap squeeze.
The Hawks are absolutely fucked with the cap with Bickells shittastic contract. He isn't worth half of what he's getting paid and won't ever play up to the contract. Bickell is another player in a long line of players that's had 1 good postseason and gets paid way too much as a result
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yeah but Oduya is only making $350k more than Daley (and is a better player too).
That Kesler contract is bad. THe guy hasn't broken 50 pts since 2010-11. And he's now 30 and plays an extremely physical game. He obviously is a good 2nd line center but that term is pretty baffling. and it's got NTC/NMC for all years.
I mean it's pretty clear Anaheim is gunning to win in the next 2-3 years, future be damned. But still
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That's a pretty great signing for Dallas. Looking at the available free agents, I thought Oduya was definitely their best option.
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Dallas was right on the cusp of a playoff spot this year. They only really missed it because the Central is the Thunderdome and someone had to miss the playoffs. The only question they really have this year is can they stay healthy and can their defense and goaltending stay strong enough behind their great offence. If they do then they could easily make the second round if not further in the playoffs.
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Honestly? I dont consider anyone an absolute lock in the West. Maybe Ana just because the rest of the Pacific is definitely weaker and they are clearly in a win now state of mind. Outside of them I don't think anyone is an absolute lock especially in the Central. Nashville spent a good chunk of the season in 1st in the Central and 1 bad losing streak dropped them out of it. The Flames probably overachieved last year a bit and EDM is still a couple years away from being a legitimate threat.
This year is really a defining season for SJ and LA. If they do well and miss the playoffs again I can easily see both teams entering rebuild mode. Vancouver is probably in the same boat. That leaves PHX who we all know wont be any sort of threat for a playoff spot.
My top 8 if I had to make a prediction? Ana, Stl, Chi, Nsh, Wpg, Min, Dal, then Col/SJ/Cal for the 8th spot. I really do not think Col is as good as people think they are. They overachieved 1 season and dropped back down to their average in an incredibly tough division this year and it showed
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St. Louis, Chicago and Anaheim at least are basically locks for the playoffs. Like yeah, they could pull an LA and suddenly drop out, but there's no logical reason to think that they won't make it. They've all put up consistent performances for years. Nashville are nearly a lock as well.
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On July 18 2015 04:33 JimmiC wrote:
Not totally disagreeing with you but then who is not going to make the playoffs?
I think Chi, Stl, Ana are in 100%
Then Nas, Min are pretty certain (min finished the year as hotest for last half
Cal got way better in the offseason
Wpg played well to finish and won't lose anyone.
LA will come back hard and improved.
SJ improved there roster
Col should bounce back
Van I think should fail.
My 8 would be Ana, Stl, Chi, Nas Cal Min LA, then umm... Wpg? could be Dal, Sj col or whatever, but I don't htink in the west you can consider Dal even close to a lock.
Winnipeg is still pretty meh compared to most of those teams. I also think the Wild's actual level of play is still good but definitely much lower than their 2nd half performance would have you think. They're not going to shoot that high as a team and Dubnyk isn't going to post a .935 or whatever the hell he had down the back stretch.
I think Nas and Calgary are teams that I could easily see missing, but I think they're both legit. Nashville was heading that way but I think Calgary having a monster offseason and a another year of exp for the young guys means a lot to them. While they weren't corsi darlings their moves and that extra experience for the young guys means that should go up i'd think. Seriously I think that Hamilton move is going to be one of the bigger steals of this decade. Hopefully we still get a few more peak years out of Gio, who is one of the most underrated players in the league.
LA would be my pick to bounce back but I don't feel the same way about SJ. LA has much more talent, both high end and depth. SJ has some but their depth leaves a lot to be desired and they're gambling on a 25 year old guy with under 40 nhl games as their starting goalie
But as noted I think everyone minus Vancouver really got better. I think Col and SJ are more lateral movements than better in some ways but Van was really the only one that actually got worse. I am not enitrely sure that Dallas' moves get them in the playoffs since their D/G situation leaves a lot to be desired. But they definitely improved on offense.
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I think the Jets are often underrated. There are better teams but Pavelec might be the worst starting goaltender in the NHL. Well, close to the worst. The Jets have a lot of young talent too and have been drafting very well. I think they should be competing for a playoff spot for years to come.
I also think the Wild aren't as good as their finish would suggest. I love Doobie but his normal play is about league average, not the lights out, Vezina-nominee performance that carried the Wild into the playoffs. I'd put them below the Jets, if the Jets could get goaltending figured out.
The obvious picks for the west are the Blues, Hawks and Ducks - we all agree on that. Then you have Nashville and everyone else. LA is still better than everyone else (maybe Nashville included) but maybe just needed some time off after so many long playoff runs. They should rebound.
If I had to guess 8 teams to make it, I'd go with Blues, Ducks, Hawks, Preds, Jets, Kings, Flames and then either Stars or Wild. I honestly feel the Flames were pretty lucky in 14/15 but will be a legitimate playoff team in 15/16.
Canucks will be worse, and everyone else (Oilers, Yotes, Avs) will still be bad.
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Yeah we basically agree about the Jets. They remind me of a less talented Blues, lots of depth and bleh goaltending, except they're not actually as good or deep as the Blues, and their goaltending is 10x worse. I think that's actually a decent fringe team with above average goaltending. Pavelec is seriously awful
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I really think people are overestimating how much of a difference the Stars moves have been. Sharp is good no doubt, but he's getting older and being a Hawks fan I definitely think this last season wasn't a decline due to all the off ice bullshit completely. He got injured and never looked the same. Hes gotten older and hit his decline.
Oduya is still a good Dman, but he did benefit from having a partner in Hjallmerson that literally throws his body at ever shot he can. Will he help Dallas' pathetic blue line? Yeah for sure, but it doesnt help their lack of a competent goalie.
The Wild are that team everyone sleeps on, but is actually better than they're given credit for. Yes Dubnyk played his fucking mind out down the stretch, but even in the playoffs they beat a Blues team that almost no one had them getting past and while they got swept against Chicago they were in every game. That series could have easily gone longer if it wasnt for Suter being a turnover machine and them getting 1 or 2 lucky bounces.
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I thought the consensus here and elsewhere was that Dallas is going to be fun to watch but not necessarily a good team since they're going to have to win 6-4 every night.
The Wild are odd. Dubnyk is absolutely due for a correction but I see now reason they can't get around .920 or so from him for a whole season. He looked competent at times behind some ass Edmonton teams (breaking .920 once) and looked miles better on a much better club. I would be amazed if he has another Vezina level year, but he's still a good enough goalie
Minny's issue is that they pay out the nose for big, older names who don't produce anywhere near their cap hit and their overall depth is eh. I see them as a fringe team, a group that might sneak into the 2nd round but not much else. They've got 4 forwards making more than $5m (including three over $6m) and only one of those guys broke 60 points last year.
Them beating the Blues was an upset, but certainly not one that surprised people imo. lots of people thought the blues weren't that good and that minny was playing hot
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RE: Dallas:
I think of Dallas as a fringe playoff team somewhat on their strengths, but also because there are enough teams who should be worse than them. They need a fair bit of help on defense but their chances are really going to hinge on Lehtonen bouncing back. Lehtonen was brutal last season - way below his career average. Had he put up normal numbers, the Stars likely would have surpassed the Flames.
The Stars picked up Niemi as insurance against another Lehtonen pants-caking, which could be a big deal - though I think the smart money is on Lehtonen returning to form.
As always, the battle for that last seed is going to be a lot of fun - hopefully Dallas can give up less than 260 goals or whatever, lololol.
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uh, so Lou Lam apparently isn't retiring and is now the GM of the Leafs.
Quite honestly I thought he's been pretty bad for at least 3-4 years. Part of that was due to circumstance I think but yeah. I don't get that decision because his last few years were basically all bad contracts and shitty drafting of forwards. He's 72 and the Leafs are at least 2-3 years from being remotely competitive.
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Toronto should have kept Kessel. He wouldn't have fucked around if he knew that his GM might come into the dressing room and throw a jar of jam at him.
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EPT
