This is Butch Goring. At the trade deadline in 1980, Bill Torrey needed to add a quality player at center to improve the depth chart (C's that year included Bryan Trottier, Bob Bourne, Wayne Merrick, Lorne Henning and Steve Tambellini). Torrey-a brilliant hockey man-made a deal for Goring and the Islanders won their first of 4 Stanley's that spring with the LA King pickup playing a major role.Sometimes things just break right, but the key is being smart enough to make the move when it comes available.
--
The Montreal Canadiens continued their "summer of curious decisions" tour today by announcing they would not sign Dominic Moore, Glen Metropolit and David Fischer.
Music!
Moore is a solid 2-way center with some sandpaper; his FO % last season was 55.8% in Florida and then 53.2% with Montreal (after he was dealt to the Habs). Metropolit is an inexpensive 2-way veteran capable of playing any position. Fischer did not progress in college and will begin his pro career as an extreme underdog.
Moore looks like that 3line C we've been talking about for awhile; Metropolit might be able to mentor some of these skilled kids on the finer points (good positioning, busting your ass on a turnoever in the neutral zone) and Fischer is the ultimate flyer.
I'd be happy if the Oilers signed any one of these discarded Habs. Montreal is making some poor decisions (new GM) and someone is going to take advantage. Here's hoping Steve Tambellini makes a call.
Gotta sift through other teams discards to find value.
ReplyDeleteIs Moore the next Mike Johnson?
Hey, has Mike Johnson filed his retirement papers? Just saying....
Deano: So, you're suggesting Moore isn't a useful NHL player?
ReplyDeleteI think the Brad Moran pick up is a nice move. Seems very capeable as an AHL guy with an outside shot at being a depth call-up type player. Lots of good news at that level this summer so far.
ReplyDeleteAs for Moore... I think it's amazing how far his stock fell just because he wasn't getting spoon fed top line minutes from a desperate team anymore. He's a solid NHLer and was a good soldier for the Habs in the playoffs. Don't see why he wouldn't fit in a team's bottom 6.
ReplyDeleteNo in spite of being useful, Mike Johnson could not find a job as I recall.
ReplyDeleteMoore is useful and nobody wants him back.
Collectively, hockey GM's ain't that smart (quite often) is my point.
I agree about Moore and have had my eye on him ever since discovering his contract status last year. He'd be a nice fit for the Oilers I think. Is there any reason why he might be a better fit than Eric Belanger? Both might put up the same points, both might be the same cap hit, both play a good two way game, and I think both are better than average on faceoff percentage with a slight edge to Belanger. I think its fairly reasonable to assume that Tambellini is sniffing around both of these guys.
ReplyDeleteMoore looks like that 3line C we've been talking about for awhile
ReplyDeleteHe looked like it last summer, too.
Back to the Future
Anyone know if Moore or Metropolit got a lot of PK time?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that if either can win a face off and kill a penalty it'd make a difference because that's still a very big hole on this team (other than what's in goal right now).
Hey LT, haven't heard anything about Chicago signing or planning on signing Marty Reasoner. Would he be a good fit for the 3line C role? He would be a great guy in the room and another solid vet to help mentor the kids. I wonder if his lack of foot speed would put him behind Moore or Metro on the wish list. Also, great stuff LT that you're pumping out on your blog and ON. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOilerdago: Metropolit never played on the PK. And he got fed with PP time. He's inflated. Tough he's a minuteman. He has some skill for a bottom 6 guy.
ReplyDeleteMoore played the PK, and was useful on the faceoffs. I'm puzzled as to why they didn't resign him. Well. I mean outside of prooving the Halak trade wasn't shit by clearing the way for Lars Eller.
Sigh. Fuckheads directing my team.
Also, on Fischer.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine the NOISE if the Oilers threw a 1st-rounder back?
Oi-vey.
The other side is that the Oilers have signed every damn pick - Pitton, Paukonnen, Rohlffs....
Its part of the reason their farm teams have stunk.
oilerdago:
ReplyDeleteJohn Fischer at In Lou We Trust did a nice comparison of the free agent centers 4-on-5: http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2010/6/1/1496840/2010-devils-offseason-ufa-centers
Dominic Moore averaged 1.33 TOI/60 in a secondary PK role and had a huge positive impact on SA ON/60, ranking 12th (out of 176 forwards who played at least 30 games and had 4-on-5 TOI >1) in SA ON IMPACT.
Along with his very good FO%, there are some nice things there.
Lowetide, maybe you can bring this up to "management" at Oilers Nation but one of the best assets of your blog, aside from the daily posts i've been reading for 5+ years, is the links on the side. It enables me to make your page the first page I visit when I wake up, when I get home, when I want to read something new. I just open your page and if nothing is here, I check our mirtle or cult of hockey or whereever.... So long as Oilers Nation fails to give me links to other blogs, they will not be the first page i open and they will not get the traffic from me that pays them via their ad links...
ReplyDeleteFeel free to forward :-)
I always came back to your page first, 25 times a day, because I could read more on another page and then just click back to go "home" to Lowetide...
It might seem petty, but I will only use a site that gives me other options and more reading as my primary website... Unless Oilers Nation is putting up 20 posts a day... I can't land there.
This makes the move frustrating as I still come here first...
Hope you are enjoying the change in scenery... I'll continue reading as you are the best there is, but they could get more hits from me if they gave me an option to go elsewhere - even a top 5 links...
Kurri_17
Debakey: You mean like Marc Pouliot?
ReplyDeleteIt might seem petty, but I will only use a site that gives me other options and more reading as my primary website... Unless Oilers Nation is putting up 20 posts a day... I can't land there.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you just set up bookmarks (links) in your bookmark bar (or whatever its called in your browser) and then you can click links regardless of what site you are on. Its easy to do. I use Chrome and it is easy and fast to flip between pages using bookmarks. You can just put all of your favorite hockey blogs in a single directory.
Laziness probably :-)
ReplyDeleteHonestly though, I have been a huge user of favorites and hate digging through subdirectories there...
okay, that's laziness. I can't be the only one though :-)
kurri_17
er, have never been a huge user of favorites...
ReplyDeleteand I can never remember my Google password either :-) Epic fail.
Kurri_17
Anon - There's a blogroll dropdown menu on the right side. They could use a few more links...but it's there.
ReplyDeleteThats actually why I love Coming Down the Pipe. On the side of his site is links broken down by category (Oilers... CHL... etc...), and it shows when they were last updated.
ReplyDeleteJim V - thanks ...
ReplyDeleteas Yoda would say, "hidden, it was, but sneakily, yes"
Kurri_17
With the exception of the end of and start of a season in Minny Moore has been an Eastern Conference player. I wonder if coming to the west is a priority for him. I imagine he'd like to stay in the east should an offer come along.
ReplyDeleteThat being said I'd take him on the Oilers in a heartbeat. Maybe with Pisani trolling the right wing for him?
Are the Habs that close to being cap-fucked or is Moore asking for too much money -- he's done that before -- or are they just making way for Eller like the kid said.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Tambo was willing to break up all the kids by signing Neidermayer then why wouldn't he do it by signing Moore?
We don't really know if the Oilers want to farm out Eberle or MPS or if they'll give them every chance to stick but right now 13-67 would make up the genesis of a third line and is anyone comfortable with that?
Tambo wasn't if he was chasing the other Neidermayer.
sign guerin for 1-2 years.
ReplyDeletegive him the captains chair.
whip these kids and nhlers¡ into shape!
Dennis,
ReplyDeleteI think 13 is already traded in ST's version of the roster.
Kovy not signing is holding up a few things I think.
both of these guys are names I was hoping to hear on July 1st...i'd ecstatic if either of these guys were brought in for 3rd C....is Cogs not being dealt by now a sign his value isn't what we think it is or is just related to the unexpected slow down in FA signings and trades after the 1st day of free agency?
ReplyDeletedoes Tambo hire guys like Metro or Moore if Cogs is still here to sharethe spot with Brule?
Dennis:
ReplyDeleteI think rather than committing to a 7 in July Tambellini would prefer to invite a couple 6's to camp.
Tambellini mentioned that if the kids look ready in camp he wants to have a spot available for them so it might be the year of the invite.
Hi LT, I know that you are new on OilersNation, but I was hoping that you could make a few changes. First, could you get rid of all of the other posters. Then could you remove all of the ads and replace them with a Smurf Blue background. Following that, perhaps you could make the text white and the background black. Lastly, if you could make the comments more like Blogger that would be fantastic. Here is a sample site that would make a good template.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't make those changes, I will withdraw from you the pleasure you receive every day from me visiting your site and reading your materials. This is because I am either offended by everything that is not perfect (from my perspective) or I simply can't be bothered to make extra internet clicks to skip other stories, etc. I mean, it is not like I have all day to click my mouse. Its up to you LT, OilersNation or me¡
LT - I come to Lowetide numerous times a day although never (or at least almost never) post. The articles are great as are the comments. Some of the lengthy discussions and the thought that go into them is to be commended.
ReplyDeleteI don't know any of you other than by reading your posts on a daily (or hourly) basis, but isn't it about time to layoff LT? It's his blog, and I can't imagine the amount of time he puts into it with no pay. I understand it is ultimately for the love of it, but considering he still posts here as well as ON, if people don't like ON, don't go there. I'm sure he is getting tired of hearing about it joking or otherwise.
So many of the posters sound like LT has come calling on your girlfriend or something.
Shouldn't we be happy that he does the posts he does and addresses comments the way he continues to do? I know I am.
Do what you want LT.
I'm sure he is getting tired of hearing about it joking or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right - sorry about that LT, but I just had to take my one jab in at the whiners.
In case you didn't catch it suntory - I was meaning to be sarcastic in my post.
Hey, it's all good. As someone who grew up in a house full of males (and a Mom), it feels comfortable. :-)
ReplyDeleteno problem Bookie - I added the joking part after rereading your post and noting that. I'm glad I had that in there. But ya, it was more to the general posts as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI posted on the last thread that David Fischer should get a look from the Oilers. Reading up on his development, it looks more like his surroundings and less like the player is the problem. Since D-men are notoriously slow to develop, I'd take a run at him. 20th overall in 2006 warrants at least a look-see...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he is getting tired of hearing about it joking or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that I left the continent for 9 days and this is what happens. I will never travel again.
Moore is a priority. Simply for the defensive/FO strengths of his game, which have been discussed here and elsewhere repeatedly. There is also the 'actual NHL player' aspect to him which would make him a useful pickup.
Steve has done well, far better than I would have thought him capable of, to this point but the team still has major holes which are fixable.
Lowetide, an off topic question but why isn't MC79's website linked? I think you two are my favourite Oiler's bloggers, and I'm like Kurri_17 in I go to your website first and check others. I might just be an idiot and overlooking it somehow.
ReplyDeleteLowetide, an off topic question but why isn't MC79's website linked?
ReplyDeleteTry Mudcrutch
If LT banned all of the jerks, none of us could post and the comments would not be any fun.
ReplyDeleteBe careful what you wish for.
I just have to state that this site feels kind of like the Expos and ON is the blog version of the Yankees. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone looked at Boston's cap situation?
ReplyDeleteChiapet needs to sign 5 more players and only has 2.7M to do it with.
These would include new contracts for some of their RFA's:
F Wheeler, Blake » RFA - $2.8m
D Stuart, Mark » RFA - $1.3m
F Lehtonen, Mikko » RFA - $0.8m
F Campbell, Greg » RFA - $0.8m
D Bodnarchuk, Andrew » RFA - $0.7m
D McQuaid, Adam » RFA - $0.6m
Serendipity might also take the form of taking advantage of a superior cap position to pry a useful player from a competitor for peanuts.
Chia might have a problem moving Savard.
I'd be banging on his door to take Ryder + Toronto's 1st off his hands for next to nothing and hope he gets forced into doing it.
Blue skying a ton here with including the Leaves 1st next year, but when teams need to get to the cap I think shooting for the moon is a good place to start.
At the very least you might be able to turn Ryder into another pick at the deadline.
Maybe serendipity also takes the form of preying on cap teams.
What about taking a shot at Carter?
The cap space is there, he's the right age and position, and RFA at the end of next year.
I know this is supposed to be a building year but if you can add someone like Carter, without giving up MPS or Hall, I think you have to look at doing it.
WG - I suggested a few days ago that I thought you could get Greg Campbell from the Bruins with an offer sheet for a second and you could get Jack Skille from the Hawks the same way for a third.
ReplyDeleteMoore is a good player, sure. But on the habs, where he wouldn't see PP time all year long and would most probably play with Lapierre and Moen, he'd be a 25 points guy.
ReplyDeleteMy guess goes along FPB's ; the habs will populate the #3/4 C spots with a switch-a-roo of Eller, Desharnais, Boyd, Pyatt and possibly Maxwell.
A nice clusterfuck. And not a single winger who can lift the fucking puck to save his life.
LT ban bookie. He's a jerk.
ReplyDeleteI hope you either missed my sarcasm mark or forgot yours...
hmmm, not sure if I should post this as I am pretty sure yours was sarcasm...
Moore should defiantely be on the Oilers radar. He's exactly what the team needs in that he's an excellent penalty killer who can play third line minutes effectively and he can win faceoffs. I liked the idea of signing him last year and I don't see why it wouldn't be a grand idea again this year.
ReplyDeleteDeano,
ReplyDeleteGood young guys for sure, and should be targeted.
What about offering $3M (1 2nd rounder max) to Hjalmarsson?
I agree that Moore would be another good pickup. I am a broken record re 3rd line centers (Pssst .....trade for Boyd Gordon) but Dom Moore is in the same mold albeit a wee bit better scorer
ReplyDeleteJesus Bookie
ReplyDeleteThat was actually funny. Really really funny
LT getting paid is the single best thing I have read in the Oil world....... we all get to read and comment on unbelievably well thought out and thought provoking topics (plus Jill Hennessy and Salma Hayek photos)and it brings a smile to each and every one of us.
We all also think: geez how does he put out such a prodigious amount of great stuff: but if he can make a buck from it, I am glad.
Never met LT, would not know him if I saw him but I am delighted he gets a few shekels for stimulating GREAT discussion
Did I mention that Shawn Horcoff is better than Crosby?
Course that was Norm Crosby the comedian
ReplyDeleteI'm really pissed they let Moore go. He played great in his season stint and in the playoffs. With heart, and he was versatile. Worth a good 1,5 M$.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't know where theyr heading. They have confidence in the young guys, which isn't completely out of place but heh.
They have 3 centers to fill the 3rd line. (Well a winger, but pacioretty's been shaky)
Desharnais-Eller-Pacioretty/Boyd
And then the mixup for the 4th
Moen-Lapierre-Pyatt and the rest out of camp.
I like Desharnais, he just progressed continually and killed the AHL. Pacioretty and Eller = Rolling the dices.
Hope you roll a seven, so the house doesn't take all.
FPB, I found it odd that they'd let both Metropolit and Moore go as well.
ReplyDeleteMoore could very well have been asking for too much though, as he did in Toronto before.
Metropolit I'm not sure about, he seemed to be a decent 3-4 line player that could be had fairly cheap.
I don't know any reason why someone would slam Lain for writing for a cite where Robin Brownlee has ultimate power.
ReplyDeleteBookie: Now THAT'S sarcasm;)
@Woodguy - You want to take advantage of a team up against the cap... lets look to Chicago - man they are in a world of cap hurt.
ReplyDeleteAccording to capgeek, they have 14 players total (9-F, 4-D, 1-G) with just $3.613 remaining to sign 9 players (approx $401K per player). Capgeek is showing a $4.16mil carry over bonus penalty which also applies against their cap (they are showing a $345k hit on us).
They have 6 RFA's, one of which is their future goalie (Niemi).
They are going to have to shake loose one of Campbell, Keith or Seabrook on the backend. I'm assuming thay Keith is the only sure lock their, what could we offer for Seabrook?
And with the Hossa cap hit, I don't know how they can keep Sharp and/or Bolland (though Bolland is over-priced). What can we offer for Sharp?
Like the Guerin suggestion; though I've liked that for a few years now.
ReplyDeleteBoston is certainly ripe for the picking. Target's got to be Wheeler.
LMHF#2 would be overjoyed if we signed Metropolit. He's one of those random players that for some reason you just really enjoy watching succeed.
Is it at all possible we wind up in some sort of freakish timewarp where this team ends up with Smyth, Guerin and Comrie???
Hahahaha. That'd be about the only way I'd tolerate Smyth; if we're going very retro.
Hall-Horcoff-Hemsky
Smyth-Comrie-Guerin
Penner-Gagner-Brule
W/e for 10-14
That'd be hilarious, but probably pretty decent...SCG could be those secondary minute-eaters we keep looking for.
Course that was Norm Crosby the comedian
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding me? Horcoff is a 7 million dollar 3rd line centre on a 30th place hockey team. No way could he cut it on Laugh-In.
;)
Interesting that Tambo got a mention as a player here. I knew he played for the Isles but for some reason I thought he went out to Colorado before they won anything.
ReplyDeleteYou would almost think that Bookie actually had a financial interest in Oilers nation.
ReplyDeleteAs people were posting about how much they appreciated the quality of LTs blog and that ON was not their first choice, Bookie asked "Why all the animosity toward ON"
Later on I posted that my preference was Lowetide over ON and Bookie again came running to the defence of ON.
And now we have a "sarcastic" post again digging at people who prefer LT and are not as excited about ON.
Hey Bookie it is called personal preference and we are all entitled to our opinions......feel free not to respond to this post as we have heard yours already (the last bit was sarcasm if you want it to be)
You know, I'd be all for the retro line. Smyth Comrie Guerin might not be a killer line, but it would sure be fun to have them all back.
ReplyDeleteSomeone get on the batphone and tell ST to make it happen. Not only will that make for a great story this coming year, but it will just about guarantee that Eberle and Pajaarvi spend most of the year on the farm and ripen a little more before they are brought up to the big league for good.
And of course it would help the marketing of OKC too...
You would almost think that Bookie actually had a financial interest in Oilers nation.
ReplyDeleteOr, alternatively, that he thinks people shouldn't try to make LT feel bad about finally making some money from the top quality product he's been giving away free for years.
Or, alternatively, that he thinks people shouldn't try to make LT feel bad about finally making some money from the top quality product he's been giving away free for years.
ReplyDeleteI think we are all big boys Steve and recognise that we live in the real world
~Egads! is nothing sacred? not even a blog's comment section?
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, I like the Moore idea. Not sold on Metropolit. Don't know enough about Fischer.
Question: If two players file for arbitration then there is a phase 2 buyout before the beginning of the season, correct? If so, can anyone be bought out? I guess I'm asking is it possible that Souray is bought out in August (or whenever phase 2 begins)?
Yeah Bookie I wasn't being serious.
ReplyDeleteNBOilerFan, Chicago management has been stating for some time now that the untouchables are Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Toews, and Kane who they consider their core. Niemi & Hjalmarsson would likely be untouchable as well. I doubt they want to move Hossa. I don't think any of these players are going to be plucked out of Chi-town.
ReplyDeleteIf any defenceman is going to be traded it's Campbell, but not many will stomach his contract.
BDHS and a few others stated it before, but the best thing for them to do, and they probably will, is to bury Huet in the minors. That's 5.625 million to play with right there. If they ever decide to bury Campbell in the minors (which I doubt) then they have no more cap issues.
@uni - Yea, I know, sorry, just blue-sking a bit early this morning. Ignore previous post.
ReplyDelete:-)
I think we are all big boys Steve and recognise that we live in the real world
ReplyDeleteWell, act like it. The drama with which some posters have proclaimed that they will not be following LT over to ON is selfish, annoying, and childlike. That is why I commented a few times.
I have no personal interest in ON, however over the years I have benefited greatly from LT's posting here. I respect him and what he brings to us a great deal. I think the negativity that some of you have shown towards him is selfish and unnecessary.
Anyway, its a topic that should die out, so I won't mention it again. I hope others will respectfully do the same.
I'd be banging on his door to take Ryder + Toronto's 1st off his hands for next to nothing and hope he gets forced into doing it.
ReplyDeleteThis has officially achieved "meme" status.
Bookie, Chill out.
ReplyDeleteI think pretty much everyone has been really classy about the whole thing. (Your taunting post might change that.)
Some people have said they won't read ON or won't post there, but they respect LT greatly and are happy for him. They're being honest and expressing their preferences.
They then point out that one probable consequence of this is that it means the comment section will continue to degrade. That's just being honest, saying the obvious. It's not whining. No one has said, "LT please quit ON" don't think it's reason for LT to not do what he's doing. (Plus, he's like an adult and whatnot. I think he can say, "well that's what they want, but I can't really change that.")
Quite frankly posters like you and me don't bring the interesting stuff that the guys at coppernblue, tyler, vic, JW, and LT did to the comments page. LT will now post here a little less. As a result this comments section will be more BS from you, me, and Traktor and no real analysis. (I suppose that was happening anyway...)
You assume we are "whining" and implying that LT shouldn't go. I mean, you're pretending people said something they didn't so you can beat up on a straw man and stir up controversy.
It's ridiculous and frankly immature.
I dunno, I didn't have a problem with most of Gauthier's moves so far -- Halak for prospects was good especially given the deal he signed, S. Kostitsyn for anything was good, Auld is fine as a backup though I'd have preferred Ellis -- but Moore was an effective 3C, which makes this very curious. Metro had good counting numbers on the PP, but 4.96 G/60 in 2PP minutes is hard to buy: I know SH% goes up on the PP, but 17.5% still seems incredibly unlikely, especially with a 6.6% EVSH%.
ReplyDelete(I can speak less to the Habs' personnel needs and moves not made than Olivier or FPB, not following them as closely as I do the Oilers, but the moves made until now haven't offended or confused me.)
having scored chances on every habs game (well, 100 of 101), I feel confident in saying this:
ReplyDeleteDon't touch Metro with a 10 foot pole. He is done. Cooked. Stick a fork in him. He does have decent hands and was used as a second RH shot on the PP with Gomez and Gionta, hence the nifty goal total. Gomez is a curious player, infuriating sometimes (can't shoot to save his fucking life and yet keeps firing 200+ pucks at the net a year) but even I would score 5 goals / 60 minutes on the PP with him.
Metro was the nominal #3 C on the habs, with Plekanec and Gome soaking up all the hard minutes and he still had trouble holding his own. He was decent early on with Moen and Pacioretty but from december onward, injuries meant his qualcomp went up and he fucking imploded. I mean why do you guys think the habs:
a) Got Moore
B) Moore had such an impact on the team?
Moore is your man, of course. He ain't a premier ES C, but he is decent and can play the toughs starting in his own zone. It's ugly when he does, but he survives. For 1.5 million bucks or so, you can do worse (*cough* Laraque *cough*).
@FPB: Gauthier's thinking seems to be that Boyd can be counted on for #4C and maybe #3, while one of Eller/Desharnais will keep taking steps forward. ES icetime for C on the habs is basically leftovers from Gomez and Pleks and there isn't a lot of tough matchups there. Add the fact that Martin is decent at dishing said icetime to the guy playing the hot hand (I wrote recurringly about the tricks he pulled when half of the lineup was out of commission in december) and you see where we are headed.
I'm still not convinced about Gauthier tough. Eller is probably a decent return, and I guess they *had* to trade halak, but still... Shipping Latendresse (Gainey, I know, but Gauthier's all over that move) and SKostitsyn for, oh, Benoit Pouliot and Dustin Boyd? That's talent flushed down the toilet, plain and simple. Cheap talent. I'm afraid Gauthier's a tool.
Oh well, enough threadjacking, right?
book¡e said...
ReplyDeleteThat is why I commented a few times.
I think that's the real problem.
I doubt too many people have posted more than once on this issue to offer congratulations and/or express some disappointment or excitement. There are just a lot of posters on this site and these comments have trickled in over time and apparently offended your delicate sensibilities. I'm sure everyone is really heartbroken that their opinions have disappointed you.
This is now the second time I have posted on the issue and I'd rather not have said anything more about it after the first one. Thanks.
Nabokov's deal in Russia is $24MM over 4 years - not 6 years as I initially passed on.
ReplyDeleteI t would be serendipitous indeed if we were fortunate enough to snag Moore. He would be a better fit in the puzzle than any remaining likely candidates in that role. Could we be that fortunate?
ReplyDeleteFor LT:
Since the Al Gore was created in part to allow us lesser lights to voice our opinions alongside stars like the esteemed Lowetide, I will share my thoughts on his new assignment at ON. Lain has been an extremely gracious host at this site for a long time now, and he has, along with some significant others (we know who you are too!), helped elevate the hockey fan forum discussion. How he continuously comes up with relevant posts that would be a credit to a professional columnist is beyond me, as is his good natured ability to keep the resulting debates within the bounds of civility found nowhere else (at least since ID was a HF moderator, anyway!).
His dedication to this site always struck me as remarkable, especially in light of the fact that there is no advertising or visible means for him to even pay the bills associated with his efforts. I think we all recognize that Lowetide deserves some reward for his efforts, and putting up with the slightly more chaotic scene that is Oiler Nation is a small price to pay to continue to enjoy his wit and wisdom.
Like Semenko with Gretzky, we got your back LT. You don't even have to give us a New Yorker...
Well Moore (and/or his agent) out priced themelves last season and perhaps they are doing the same this season? I suspect Montreal got a sense of Moore's asking price. I wonder if there might also be an issue about his personality or not being a good team player or dressing room guy? I have not heard any thing like that, but it could be a factor possibly?
ReplyDeleteBeing a 30th team in a major rebuild, I suspect it will be hard to sign guys like Moore and Belanger (unless they continue to overprice themselves into Oct). Though Metropolit would be more likely, or perhaps even a Madden or Morrison or Conroy?
Also Wouldn't mind seeing Torres back.
PS - My god, i hope Kovy makes up his mind soon and hopefully breaks the logjam ... this waiting is getting boring.
ReplyDeleteLT made a post last week entitled, When you see a chance" and we've seen ST working on items #7-#10, getting itchy for items #1-#6.
:-)
@ Olivier...
ReplyDeleteExcellent comments on these players. Thank you.
I can't see Moore coming here if he can possible avoid it, and Metro is done.
ReplyDeleteWG, w.r.t. your comment last night, would you trade Gagner straight across for Carter?
There sure are some strange looking rosters out there right now... Chicago has no forwards, Boston has no cap space for their RFAs, ATL has nothing but cap space, PHA is over the cap. LAK have a massive hole at 2LW and no one is showing any interest in Frolov, yadda yadda yadda...
Something has to bust loose this summer.
But is this the summer (for us) to make a move?
I think we need to answer that question first.
NBOilerFan, I hope Kovy does too. Although I just had a waking nightmare of the Oilers holding a press conference to announce Kovalchuk signed to a 12 year contract at 11.8 million per year with Lowe, Tabellini, and Katz all standing shoulder to shoulder beaming with vacuous smiles splayed across their faces. *shudder*
ReplyDeleteAs for the Oilers Nation thing, I have no problem with it. I dislike ON with a passion and find the name itself trite and unimaginative but I'm happy that they've given LT a way to benefit in a tangible way for the tremendous effort he puts forth in his posts.
I just have to get used to fast strike process; go to the ON site, look for anything by Lowetide, read it quickly, then leave the site as quickly as I can. Johnathan Willis's posts sometimes delay me though =).
For those who don't like ON's other content, you can bookmark this link to see just LT's work.
ReplyDeleteI probably won't comment over there (ya never know), but I'm glad LT is making some dough off of his hard work and I will read it anywhere.
I scrolled through the comments section there and it was kind of cool to see questions like "What is this NHLE you speak of?". LT can introduce some really cool stuff to the unwashed masses at ON and that has to be rewarding to some extent.
I do really hope this blog is kept alive in some capacity, though. It's been so good to us.
spOILer,
ReplyDeleteI like Gagner a lot, but I do Carter for him in a heartbeat if I can get a 5 year extension in place.
Having him as 1C makes the rest of the forward questions fall into place in a hurry.
Carter and 10 taking on the top 2 makes this team almost playoff spot competitive today if you can also find a 3D and pray for goaltending to hold up.
If 10's shoulder is finally healed and he bounces back the top 6 looks very good and Hemsky would love playing with a hard nosed shooting C like Carter.
Gagner for Gagne = Win/Win?
ReplyDeleteSorry...had to do it.
Gagner for Gagne = Win/Win?
ReplyDeleteTo win/won, if we wish to be literal. But still: nicely done.
It is a month too early for offers to players like Moore until they salary demands for dollars and term come dwon.
ReplyDeleteKovalchuk will also cause cap problems for the team that signs him, and the fallout will shake loose players as the Kovy winner has to move players. The Oilers should wait to see what might fall out of the tree (Ryan Smyth) first before going for UFA forwards.
The Cogliano or the Souray trade might also be bringing back a centre.
Let the UFA forwards stew until the prices and term come way down.
Darren Dreger latest tweet:
ReplyDeleteSome NHL execs think Philly will place Gagne on waivers, if a trade isn't found very soon.
Finishing last comes with it's perks if you can pick up someone like Gagne off waivers.
Now that would be sweet.
Olivier:
ReplyDeleteOn SK: They just wouldn't have had to trade them if they didn't fuck up the situation earlier. He got sent down and was replaced by tools who couldn't play, just for the sake of ''breaking him''. (See Laracques, D'agostini, Stewart...) He still played the toughs and had good results, but was constantly brang down.
Halak: They didn't have to trade him... we all know it's to calm the crowd. But he could have gotten a cheaper backup and it would have done the trick.
I agree Gauthier is a tool, a puppet. Annoying. They changed GM to see the same shit.
Shelter Price (Again) and draft an American in the first round. When will they learn the USA just doesn't provide as much talent? (Oh and that worked out fucking great so far?)
As for Latendresse... I think it's excusable, since he did little to nothing in the end, and Pouliot has the tools to become a legitimate every top 6 guy. Sure he's inconsistent, but you can't deny the skill is there.
Dreger is saying the Flyers may put Gagne on waivers if they can't find a deal soon.
ReplyDeleteIf you're the Oilers don't you HAVE to claim him? If for no other reason than to flip him later on (at the deadline).
I can't imagine that no team wants him, so it must be that Kovy is holding things up on the trade front or people are concerned about his injuries. But being a UFA next year, what's the risk?
RiversQ - I'm just doing my best to save the Internet one comment at a time - Thanks for your support!
ReplyDeleteYou almost have to grab Gagne just to sell him at the deadline.
ReplyDeleteLW is awfully full already, but that's a nice freebie.
Woodguy
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. The going rate for a top line forward at the deadline is a young roster player, a blue chip prospect and a low first round pick. It's worth doing it for that alone.
He's also another forward who can play tough minutes, which could make a huge difference as we work in at least two rookie forwards.
Lebrun reported in ESPN today that Philly have a deal in place to sign Zherdev, which I think adds credence to the idea that they considering waiving Gagne
Re: Gagne
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a deadline payoff (barring injury). It would also push the kids to really earn their spots.
Assuming Hall draws in at C, is this our 13F (until March)?
Gagne-Horcoff-Hemsky
Penner-Gagner-Eberle
MPS-Hall-Brule/Cogliano
Jones-Fraser-Stortini
SMac
Drop one of Eberle or MPS down if we get that veteran C/W we've been talking about.
Yeah Gagne has been one of the top tough minute LW for years.
ReplyDeleteHis knees are almost done though, gotta pray for health at the deadline.
Finishing in 30th - the gift that keeps giving.
ReplyDeleteGagner + Gagne = Win/Win/Win.
ReplyDeleteWearing 21, is it inevitable that MPS will eventually get sadled with the nickname "Black Jack"?
ReplyDeleteBecause that would be kinda sad.
Hmm, Gagne...
ReplyDeleteI've been pining for a Gagne move over the past couple of years, but now I think the time is wrong.
His health has only deteriorated further, and now we're loaded for bear on LW (although the move would allow Hall to play C).
But an out and out freebie, with nothing given in return, that can be flipped for picks at the deadline... Sheesh it would be tough to waive Gagner on down the line.
Fehr has signed in Washington. 2.2M X 2yrs. Sorry if it has already been posted. Tough rightie with 21 goals last year (his second).
ReplyDeleteI like claiming Gagne off waivers to flip better than writing offer sheets as a way to turn cap room into talent.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Gagne makes real money, not just cap dollars.
I'd fully endorse picking up Gagne off the waiver wire, but I don't expect Philly is serious about doing it. They are threatening to do it to get better trade offers for him.
ReplyDeleteThe key is that Gagne is an expiring contract. No long term implications.
It will be interesting to see how the Oilers play this if Gagne does indeed go on waivers because on one hand you have his salary hit -- his cap hit's not gonna matter because we won't be tight to the line anyway -- versus what he might bring as a rental in a trade come the deadline; there's also the issue of his health and if he'd even remain well enough to have real value come march.
ReplyDelete