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Random Offseason Musings on a Calm Summer Night, August 3rd.
by Hippy Dave on 08/03/09 at 08:43 PM ET | View all posts by Hippy Dave
Comments (7)
Man what a time to have a crippling, monster cold. It’s the middle of summer, the weather’s beautiful, the beer is cold, and there are all sorts of reasons to be outside having the time of your life and not thinking about hockey. For those of us without that luxury, the offseason makes for a very…. very, slow day at the house.
So here’s my attempt at injecting a little life into the blogosphere for those of us who are just bored enough to have the time to be checking these sorts of things:
- I’m appalled at the hooplah over the whole Spezza wedding thing. Ok, the Elisha Cuthbert thing was funny. This is not. For the last time, when it comes to the private lives of athletes, nobody gives a damn! And if they do, they’re rank amateurs as hockey fans go. These guys spend 3/4 of the year in the spotlight, give them a few days off for chrissakes.
- My big fat guess as to where Heatley will end up next: New Jersey; the only real contender with money to spend. My big fat guess as to when: If he doesn’t show up at the Senators training camp: October. If he does: March 2010. Disclaimer: If he ends up in Anaheim at a discount, god help us all.
- Mats Sundin will retire. So will a lot of other people this year. More will play internationally this year. Forced out by what happens when the salary cap meets a recession meets the insanity of the owners. Welcome to your new league, folks, and the KHL is laughing all the way to the bank.
- That being said, does anyone know any good (legal) internet or televised avenues to watch international games? With the olympics coming up, I’d like to start watching some international play. I’ve heard the IIHF streams a hockey package during the season…
- The Olympics. Who are you going to root for? Last time for me, it was Sweden, obviously. This year? Not so much. “But you’re from the USA, Dave,” Root for the USA? C’mon, please. That’s about as useful as rooting for our soccer team. USA thumbs its nose at international sports and it deserves to get trounced for it. Every time. I’m rooting for Canada this year. I’m rooting for Stevie.
- Next year will be the year of the goalie. Forwards have become so balanced that, mark my words, next year the teams that make the final four will all have their goalie to thank for it. Varlamov, Smith, Hiller, I’m looking at you, kids.
- The Wings now have $2.8-3M to play with. Sykora? Tanguay? Afinogenov? I bet Ken’s called them all. I think who calls back is about the most interesting thing going on during the dog days of hockey right now.
- Does anyone have any prognostications on the upcoming Fantasy Hockey season? Anything. Up and comers? What site is the best to use (I’m a Yahoo fan, I hear CBS is nice, for a price)? Big sleepers this year? Hello? Is this thing on?
That’s all I’ve got for now… as usual, your comments are welcome… return to your normal lives…
*cough*
Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Talk | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Tags: offseason+musings+rant+spezza+heatley+olympics+international+wings+fantasy+hockey,
Comments
HD. You got a league going in yahoo? I had one here in michigan, but only got mild interest in it (and inactive management) . Need another manager in yours?
Posted by ColdWar on 08/04/09 at 07:04 AM ET
- My big fat guess as to where Heatley will end up next: New Jersey; the only real contender with money to spend. My big fat guess as to when: If he doesn’t show up at the Senators training camp: October. If he does: March 2010. Disclaimer: If he ends up in Anaheim at a discount, god help us all.
There’s no way Heatley can take a discount anywhere he goes. Contracts in the NHL cannot be renegotiated and their terms are final from the moment they sign them, with only four ways out: Retirement, buyout, indefinite demotion to minors, the Radulov maneuver.
The NHL’s CBA doesn’t function like the other leagues where, say, a veteran with a high cap hit can resign for longer term to lower his cap hit. All that the NHL CBA allows you to do is sign a contract and go with it- then, in the last year of your contract (and only during the last year), you can negotiate an “extension” with your current team. It’s misleading and false to call it an extension, though, because it’s essentially just a completely different, new contract. The old one is done and shredded when the new one takes effect.
Posted by shanetx on 08/04/09 at 10:31 AM ET
Ah you’re right shanetx, I forgot about that little bit of info in the thick of my ranting. Shouldn’t matter anyway, a trade with any team would free up cap space.
ColdWar - nice site - I’ll hit you with an email. Not sure if there will be room or not but I’ll let you know come fantasy time.
I don’t see us getting Williams, who seems ambivalent, at best, about being a Wing again, although his NHL price may be right. Let him become a rich man playing for Amur Khabarovsk.
Here here, Seaner.
Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 08/04/09 at 03:02 PM ET
I don’t see us getting Williams, who seems ambivalent, at best, about being a Wing again, although his NHL price may be right. Let him become a rich man playing for Amur Khabarovsk.
Damn, there goes my fortune telling career down the tubes. I guess I spoke too soon. My bad.
Hippy Dave, do you go to many Sharks/Wings games? If so, we should meet up for some beers. We live fairly close to the Tuna Can and see the Wings every time they’re in these parts.
Wings’ Nation, West Coast branch.
Posted by Seaner in Sharkville from Silicon Valley on 08/06/09 at 09:07 PM ET
Whew yeah I’m eating crow on that one too, Seaner. I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit when that one scrolled over the fold. These are the risks you take when you shoot from the hip.
My random drunken predictions overall, I bet, will still hold up better than Eklund.
I indeed do go to nearly every Sharks/Wings game when the wallet affords. I typically go with the Kezar Pub’s bus trip (they grab the box at one of the ends of the ice, buffet, drinks, it’s nice), or grab a six pack with the wife and take the train down from the city. Or both. Us west coast Wings fans have to stick together. Someone has to teach these animals what an icing is.
Look for the Hippy. Then buy him a beer.
Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 08/11/09 at 02:44 AM ET
Look for the Hippy. Then buy him a beer
Will do, amigo. The Lost Tiburones fans won’t know what hit ‘em.
Better than Eklund? Stoned monkeys throwing shit at a wall couldn’t do worse, so I think you’re in good shape.
Peace.
Posted by Seaner in Sharkville from Silicon Valley on 08/16/09 at 12:05 AM ET
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Nicely done. Thanks for relieving the boredom during the dull days of hockey.
I agree that it would be better to see Heatley head to NJ and not to Anaheim.
While it would be cool to see a USA gold, this does seem as pointless as rooting for our soccer team in international play. I like Sweden’s chances, but I’m going with Canada, too.
I think Kenny’s got a bizarre and wonderful trick up his sleeve in the free agent market. Who? I can’t say. I do know that he does not throw money around lightly. I think that whoever he gets will want to play for us and do it (relatively) cheaply. Thus, I don’t see us getting Williams, who seems ambivalent, at best, about being a Wing again, although his NHL price may be right. Let him become a rich man playing for Amur Khabarovsk.
Anyway, hope you’re feeling better, Hippy Dave.
Posted by Seaner in Sharkville from Silicon Valley on 08/04/09 at 04:22 AM ET