2014-15 NHL Season Thread

[Hollywood]

With free agency fast approaching, I figured it was time to have an all-purpose thread for hockey discussion! I did this for the 2010-11 season (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=87496) and it was pretty popular, so VT hockey fans, I summon you!

To kick things off, my team, the Ducks, just made a huge move:

To Anaheim:
http://2.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8470616.jpg
Ryan Kesler
'15 3rd Round Pick

To Vancouver:
http://3.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8474009.jpghttp://2.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8474579.jpg
Nick Bonino
Luca Sbisa
'14 24th Overall Pick
'14 85th Overall Pick

I'm going to miss Bonino a lot but we've needed a legit 2nd line center for years. Kesler fits the bill perfectly, I can't wait to see how he'll fit in with Anaheim.

[Hollywood]

http://3.cdn.nhle.com/coyotes/v2/photos/mugs/8467371.jpg
Mike Ribeiro
The Phoenix... err, Arizona Coyotes have just bought out Mike Ribeiro, one year into a five year, $25,000,000 contract. Now that's spending your money wisely. The Coyotes GM said: "Mike had some real behavioral issues we felt we could not tolerate going forward." Not surprised, Ribeiro has always been a POS.

http://1.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8474037.jpg
James van Riemsdyk
Also hearing rumors that James van Riemsdyk might be a part of a deal from Toronto to Florida for the Panthers' first overall pick. Now that would be interesting.

[Hollywood]

http://2.cdn.nhle.com/nhl/images/upload/2014/05/thumb_1399582273939_600927.jpg
Aaron Ekblad
So the Panthers decided to not be stupid and held on to the 1st overall, drafting defenseman Aaron Ekblad. I haven't been this excited about a 1st overall pick in a while, I can't wait to see him in action, most likely in the upcoming season.

There was also another noteworthy trade, this one between Pittsburgh and Nashville:

To Nashville:
http://2.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8471707.jpg
James Neal

To Pittsburgh:
http://1.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8471887.jpghttp://3.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8474096.jpg
Patric Hornqvist
Nick Spaling

I gotta say, I was caught off-guard by this one. Neal seemed like such a good fit in Pittsburgh, I figured he was going to be there for a long time. That said, they got a pretty decent return and it'll give the Pens some depth. Neal will probably work well with Laviolette's style in Nashville.

[Hollywood]

I love free agent frenzy. Let's see what's happening...

To Dallas:
http://1.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8469455.jpg
Jason Spezza
Ludwig Karlsson

To Ottawa:
http://1.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8475163.jpg
Alex Chiasson
Nicholas Paul
Alexander Guptill
'16 2nd Round Pick

Going to be very, very weird seeing Spezza in another jersey. Honestly, they got a pretty below average return for him, I'm not convinced that Chiasson is good enough to be the centerpiece here.

Now, onto the big signings:

http://3.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8471669.jpghttp://1.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8469555.jpghttp://2.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8469500.jpghttp://1.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8467096.jpg
http://3.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8471245.jpghttp://1.cdn.nhle.com/nhl/en/v3/photos/mugs/8468011.jpghttp://2.cdn.nhle.com/photos/mugs/8473972.jpghttp://1.cdn.nhle.com/nhl/en/v3/photos/mugs/8470598.jpg
Paul Stastny - From Colorado Avalanche to St. Louis Blues (4 yrs, $7M per)
Christian Ehrhoff - From Buffalo Sabres to Pittsburgh Penguins (1 yr, $4M per)
Mike Cammalleri - From Calgary Flames to New Jersey Devils (5 yrs, $5M per)
Dan Boyle - From San Jose Sharks to New York Rangers (2 yrs, $4.5M per)
Dave Bolland - From Toronto Maple Leafs to Florida Panthers (5 yrs, $5.5M per)
Ryan Miller - From St. Louis Blues to Vancouver Canucks (3 yrs, $6M per)
Jonas Hiller - From Anaheim Ducks to Calgary Flames (4 yrs, $4.5M per)
Tomas Vanek - From Montreal Canadiens to Minnesota Wild (3 yrs, $6.5M per)
Jussi Jokinen - From Pittsburgh Penguins to Florida Panthers (4 yrs, $4M per)
Ales Hemsky - From Ottawa Senators to Dallas Stars (3 yrs, $4M per)
Brooks Orpik - From Pittsburgh Penguins to Washington Capitals (5 yrs, $5.5M per)
Brian Gionta - From Montreal Canadiens to Buffalo Sabres (3 yrs, $4.25M per)
Matt Moulson - From Minnesota Wild to Buffalo Sabres (5 yrs, $5M per)

I'll update this post as some of the bigger signings happen.

[Hollywood]

It's been almost a week now and it's fair to say the biggest moves are done, so here's my opinion on some of the moves that went down:

Paul Stastny - St. Louis Blues - $7M/yr, 4 years
The Blues get a consistent and reliable offensive center for a reasonable price and very reasonable term. It seems like the Blues are always one piece away but never get there (see: Ryan Miller). Maybe Stastny will be the hometown hero?
Grade: A

Mike Cammalleri - New Jersey Devils - $5M/yr, 5 years
The Devils sure do love their veterans. Cammalleri has always had the offensive firepower, but the real question is: can he stay healthy? Cammalleri has not managed a full season since 2008-09 and can only seem to manage 60-70 games a year at the most. He'll be a big help to the Devils, but only if he can avoid getting bit by the injury bug again.
Grade: C+

Dave Bolland - Florida Panthers - $5.5M/yr, 5 years
It's easy to spend money when you're not even at the cap floor, but it's obvious Dave Bolland is nowhere near worthy of this kind of money. The term is the worst part, however. That kind of money for two years would've been fine, just enough to get the Cats over the floor before their youngsters start asking for big bucks. Five years is simply too long for a forward who has never even hit 50 points before.
Grade D-

Ryan Miller - Vancouver Canucks - $6M/yr, 3 years
Despite Miller's meltdown in St. Louis last season, he's still an elite goaltender and there just so happens to be a sudden shortage of those in Vancouver. It is a bit confusing though, the Canucks say they're rebuilding their team, and yet they sign an elite goalie to try and contend? If they're really rebuilding they should've passed the torch to Eddie Lack, but they didn't. So what're they really up to?
Grade: C+

Brooks Orpik - Washington Capitals - $5.5M/yr, 5 years
Brooks Orpik, the sometimes physical defenseman with so-so defensive abilities and no offensive abilities whatsoever. He makes a decent #5-6 defenseman on a contender and perhaps an as-needed top four defenseman. And for the next five years, that same Brooks Orpik will be making $5.5M a year. What. This contract is almost in David Clarkson territory, just plain awful. Orpik is not a top pairing defenseman, he never has been and he's already passed his peak. He'll be 38 years old when the contract ends. The Capitals are stupid.
Grade: F-

Jonas Hiller - Calgary Flames - $4.5M/yr, 2 years
Good term, good salary, good goalie. It'll be interesting to see how Hiller does on a rebuilding squad as opposed to a contender, but even if it goes badly at least the Flames are actually trying to improve now.
Grade: A-

Thomas Vanek - Minnesota Wild - $6.5M/yr, 3 years
"Wow, I can't believe this!" said no one. The "Vanek to Minnesota" rumors started years ago and now it's finally happened. The salary is more than reasonable and the term is just right. This is a great signing for everyone involved, I have a feeling Vanek is going to fit in very well in Minny.
Grade: A+

Matt Moulson - Buffalo Sabres - $5.5M/yr, 5 years
Moulson must really love Buffalo. He likely had a chance to go to a playoff team for the first time in his career, but instead he invests in the long-term potential of Buffalo's youth. Of course, I doubt the contending teams offered Moulson this kind of money, but still. Hopefully Moulson can prove once and for all that he wasn't a product of John Tavares.
Grade: C

Brad Richards - Chicago Blackhawks - $2M/yr, 1 year
It's fair to say Richards is no longer concerned about money, seeing how the Rangers will be paying him to not play for them for the next 12 years. Richards takes a big discount to play for a contender, and the Blackhawks finally get a solid 2C. This deal could and should pay off big time for both parties.
Grade: A+

[Hollywood]

So, Mr. Carrie Underwood is going to be out 4-6 months with a ruptured tendon. Probably not exactly what the Preds were hoping for.

[Hollywood]

So Kane and Toews just got PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYED.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6guSTq7TTuA/UGM4DSN4OGI/AAAAAAAADPM/adbTaCM1oW8/s320/lil-wayne-money.gif

8 years, 10.5M/yr for each. Yeah, they had to re-sign them, but good luck finding the cap room to pay for the rest of the roster Hawks.

[hockeyfan]

I will start by saying that I'm a Montreal fan and sad to see the departure of Josh Gorges.
The Anaheim Ducks r obviously a young team.
The Coyotes r now Arizona to remind anyone who's forgotten.
I think that Pittsburghs made some mistakes.
Montreal is missing a piece of a puzzle called defence.
Vancouver will probably make the playoffs after a disappointing 2014 season.
The Metropolitan Division will be tight.
Nashville will make the playoffs with Neal and Volchenkov.

[Hollywood]

Finally, another person!

I think that Pittsburghs made some mistakes.
Montreal is missing a piece of a puzzle called defence.
Vancouver will probably make the playoffs after a disappointing 2014 season.
The Metropolitan Division will be tight.
Nashville will make the playoffs with Neal and Volchenkov.

- They shouldn't have hired a washed up GM who hasn't done anything of note in about a decade, that's for sure. The Neal trade was a pretty good one though, I'll give him that.

- True

- I doubt it, they haven't gotten much better since last year. I'm skeptical that Miller can carry the team.

- Probably so.

- They have a good shot, definitely. Volchenkov is pretty useless these days but Neal will fit in well with Lavy.

[Hollywood]

Things have been pretty quiet this offseason, so I figured I'd post something. Things like this remind me why I love being a hockey fan:

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