Hockey's Future: Another large goalie who uses his size well, Tuohimaa joined Jokerit's A junior team this season after playing his youth hockey and two Junior A seasons with cross-town rival HIFK. How much of his success can be attributed to playing for third-place Jokerit is debatable, but Tuohimaa was one of the busiest goalies in A juniors, playing in 37 regular season games and seven playoff contests and had the top save percentage in the league, stopping over 93 percent of the shots he faced. While Tuohimaa has not been as highly regarded as some of the other goalies in his age group, and has played for Finland's junior program in some international matches but never at the U-18 or U-20 world championships, his play this season did attract the attention of the scouting community.
Not ranked by CSS and undrafted in 2010, he was rated the sixth among European goalies by CSS in their final 2011 rankings.
Pretty amazing LT, radio and internet simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteKnow nothing about this kid.
TSN has an update up on Smyth but nothing new in the article. Comments section of ON has Brule out with "concussion-related depression". Guess the Bono thing didn't perk him up much.
He's had everything this year except Lou Gehrig's.
lol.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why we had to draft two goalers after taking two decent ones in the past two years. At least Terry Jones will be happy.
ReplyDeleteWoodlief called this year's goalie class very weak. He did have Perhonen though and had this to say about him:
One goalie who was surrounded by a lot of hype early on was Finland's Samu Perhonen. He has the excellent size and athleticism NHL scouts crave, and looks every bit the part of today's modern butterfly goalie. But he plays way too hyper a style for our liking with a lot of wasted movement. He overcommits on everything near his crease and often ends up beating himself. He also lacks any sense of anticipation for developing plays and comes up small on the big stage in important games. We suspect he'll be taken fairly high on his very projectable size/athleticism combination, but he'll require years of refining and technique work with a good goalie coach to realize his potential.
That scouting report makes it look like the Oilers' second chance to develop JDD.
ReplyDeleteSorry. Meant to say he did have Perhonen though in his top 10.
ReplyDeleteI think Bono might want to take back his, "I want to be Gilbert Brule" comment.
ReplyDeleteGotta give Bono some credit for trying to inflate Brule's trade value for us.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, not even Bono's praise can save this deal.
If they were going to take Brule + a 4th/5th and then buy-out Brule, wouldn't JUST a 4th/5th be a better deal for LA? Is Tambo not willing to do that? Can't he just send Brule to the minors if he can't make the team with Smyth on the wing? Is Katz not willing to pay Brule's wage to not play him but fine with paying Souray's wage to not play him?
ReplyDeleteWeird...
I don't think Tambi really wanted to give up a pick out of this year's draft. Seemed like he was perfectly happy playing the delay game and kudos to him for not caving to Lombardi's pressure. Hopefully they can get something done now the draft is out of the way.
ReplyDelete@SpOILer
ReplyDeleteGood point... a late draft pick in 2011 is worth more than a late draft pick in 2012 simply because it'll take that much longer for the 2012 draft pick to develop and potentially pay dividends.
HBomb, if you see this, say hi to OGM for me. And ask for my liver back.
ReplyDeleteThe New York Rangers refused to qualify Matt Gilroy. As a result Gilroy will be hitting the open market as a UFA. Gilroy had rejected an alternate deal offered by the Rangers. Wherever he lands, he will have nominal fantasy impact. (Source: Larry Brooks on Twitter)
ReplyDeleteThat guarantees Erixon a spot in the starting 6. That was too big of a contract for a guy who had done nothing at the NHL level yet and now he's too expensive for what he brings to even QO.
LA's options with Smyth may be even worse now than they were a couple days ago.
ReplyDeleteAfter deal Regehr/Kotalik and signing Tanguay, the Flames have 13 forwards and 4 defenceman signed with $7.5M left in cap space. Even if the round out their roster with 3 more defencemen at low salaries (say, $800,000 each) that would leave them with $5.1M in space. They'd then need to clear more than $1M to be able to sign Smyth and then be right up against the cap. It could be done, but that money seems much better sent on improving the defence.
LA has about $10.5M in space but needs to sign 5 players, including Doughty. Assuming they want to make a few more improvements in FA, they really could use Smyth off the books by July 1. Like Calgary, they could probably sign Doughty and fill out the roster without moving Smyth, but they'd be forced to go the budget route.
Long story short: the Kings have an interest in getting Smyth off the books, the Flames still can't really take him and Smyth's NMC gives him all the leverage. If he doesn't get dealt soon, the Kings may have to buy him out.
Wow... So, with Steve playing the waiting game on Smyth, does this make him v. 4.0 now - rogering other GMs because he can?
ReplyDeleteIf so... I suspect I would not be alone in saying I like it.
Maybe they'd like Foster and a 7th instead of Brule? =-D
Yup, it appears Tambo has Deano overabarrello.
ReplyDeletePer Dan Tencer
ReplyDeleteFormer Oiler Marc Pouliot was traded to Phoenix today in exchange for the 201st overall selection. He was a good 1st rounder, eh?
Pouliot lost value faster than a used AMC Gremlin.
ReplyDelete"I don't think Tambi really wanted to give up a pick out of this year's draft. Seemed like he was perfectly happy playing the delay game and kudos to him for not caving to Lombardi's pressure. Hopefully they can get something done now the draft is out of the way."
ReplyDelete"Seemed"? It's been reported ad nauseum all day that it's because of Tambellini's apparent insistence of Brule being included, and Brule's health being total shit as per always. There is no skill being exhibited here by Tambellini at all.
Do we really think Tambo deserves credit for playing hardball?
ReplyDeleteReading the tea leaves from actions as well as comments from Lombardi, Mackenzie, Matheson etc. it seems pretty clear Tambo (or perhaps the entire management group) had little interest in bringing Smyth back.
Personally I don't agree with that assessment but I wish he would just have the balls to stand up and state his reasons and move on. Now it appears he has been pressured into the trade (assuming it goes through) and if you were Smyth would you really feel welcomed back?! It all comes across as a continuation of the bush league antics the Oilers seem to have become famous for.
Nothing like having a "good guy" in your locker room with a bruised ego and an axe to grind. Sheldon Souray anyone....
Tambo and the crew have really made this into a complete cluster f*ck.
Dear Darryl. I hope you read this blog and give your head a shake. I am stunned you could get to where you are in the business world with those kind of management skills/instincts.
Meanwhile the guy picked after Pouliot just won the Selke Trophy and the guy picked after that just garnered Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a second rounder. What a disaster of a pick.
ReplyDeleteAre you freaking kidding me? LA was to buy out Brule when they got him? For fricks sakes. Just send them the fourth and buy the guy out yourself!
ReplyDeleteGalling.
Tambellini having little interest in paying a big price for Smyth and Tambellini having little interest in Smyth are two different concepts.
ReplyDeleteCome on, people. Relax, and let the man do his job.
Brule buyout cap hit...$308,333
ReplyDeleteNo one can buy out Brule.
ReplyDeletewhat about Bono? :D
ReplyDeleteWhat is the rush on the Oilers end?
ReplyDeleteCome on, people. Relax, and let the man do his job.
ReplyDeleteYeah, come on guys. Stop foolin', you be trippin' if you think Tambo's a chump.
Now that we're talking about 2012, I think we're talking about picks that are worth much less to the Oilers. If Brule's inclusion was in order to sweeten the pick, they should just offer the better pick and get on with it.
I know his health problems means no buyout..but jeebus. Who cares? Just leave Brule out of the deal when you find that out.
ReplyDeleteTambellini having little interest in paying a big price for Smyth and Tambellini having little interest in Smyth are two different concepts.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
Brule's inclusion was the opposite of sweetening the pot.
ReplyDeleteI know the internet is not the place to urge patience, but...
ReplyDeletePatience.
There's no incentive for either side to have this finalized before July 1st, so people just need to relax. You can start freaking out on Thursday night if nothing is done.
Can we trade Brule for Adam Clayton, the Edge and a 5th in 2012?
ReplyDeletemagisterrex.
ReplyDeleteA mid to late round draft pick in a "weak" draft is a big price for a very popular local player?! troy brouwer to the caps for a first round pick is a big price. this is someone who clearly does not want to do a deal but is too much of a shrinking violet to actually say so.
If you have followed these boards you would likely concur I have always taken a "wait and see" attitude towards management's moves. However; I can certainly now understand the reaction of some astute observers who questioned why we hired the twice (thrice?) passed over GM candidate of a team that has won nothing in 40 years.
Maybe this "health concern" stuff is coming from the Brule camp. Getting bought out and only making 1/3 of what you think you were going to make would get anyone's attention. I think we would all try to use whatever method was at our disposal to prevent that from happening.
ReplyDeleteBy what I've read about Brule (Bono thing, helping the sick kid in Edmonton...that's about it), he seems like an upstanding citizen, so don't think he would do this just to spite the Oil. But business is business, and you can't mess with a person's livelihood, regardless of how much they make...
The anti-Tambellini rhetoric is getting dialled up quite a lot. Smyth at $2.6 MM is probably a little more palatable to the cheque-writer than Smyth at $4.5 MM real dollars, they tried to move salary for salary even if it wasn't equal exchange. But hey, it's only Katz's millions - spend 'em, I say. Maybe Tambellini should offer them a second rounder and apologize for the trouble he caused in trying to ship out Brule.
ReplyDelete"angthr" = "Steve Tambellini is an agent of the devil" - by golly, maybe there is something to it after all.
@visiondude: My understanding is an injured/disabled player can't be bought out period. The players have won a few concessions over the years, and that's one of them.
ReplyDelete"Are you freaking kidding me? LA was to buy out Brule when they got him? For fricks sakes. Just send them the fourth and buy the guy out yourself!
ReplyDeleteGalling"
Exactly.
Now that we're talking about 2012, I think we're talking about picks that are worth much less to the Oilers. If Brule's inclusion was in order to sweeten the pick, they should just offer the better pick and get on with it.
But apparently it's not a sweetener. LA is just going to buy Brule out, thus his inclusion is being foisted on LA in order to trade for Smyth.
Tambellini having little interest in paying a big price for Smyth and Tambellini having little interest in Smyth are two different concepts.
Exactly.
Not exactly. If as all the usual trusted NHL writers are saying is correct, it's Brule's poor health that is holding the deal up or breaking it. NOT Tambellini GM Obi-Wan skills man. Jeez.
@Bruce: yup...that's why it's interesting when Tambi is saying on the radio that Brule has been medically cleared for awhile. The only person that benefits from saying that there are medical problems is Brule. I mean his buyout number is basically nothing, so neither team benefits by bringing up the health concerns.
ReplyDeleteI say if LA wants a roster player send them Fraser...his buyout would only be $275,000...
Not exactly. If as all the usual trusted NHL writers are saying is correct, it's Brule's poor health that is holding the deal up or breaking it. NOT Tambellini GM Obi-Wan skills man. Jeez.
ReplyDeleteDid Brule include himself in the deal? How did he get in there? Tambi put him in there to change the price of the deal. I stick by my exactly.
Pouliot lost value faster than a used AMC Gremlin.
ReplyDeleteHey, don't talk about LT's kid that way!
If you have followed these boards you would likely concur I have always taken a "wait and see" attitude towards management's moves.
ReplyDeleteNo offense, but I don't track people's comments. More power to you if you have a comment database somewhere that permits you to determine if a particular comment is out of character or not.
"Did Brule include himself in the deal? How did he get in there? Tambi put him in there to change the price of the deal. I stick by my exactly."
ReplyDeleteHuh? So Tambellini has included Brule on purpose knowing he has an injury issue and can't be bought out, so the deal won't happen, and he won't have to acquire Smyth? Am I reading that correct?
Anyone know who Brule's agent is?
ReplyDeleteTo me it seems a probable timeline was something like this:
ReplyDelete1) LA and Oil agree to Smyth for Brule + 4th. Ryan waives his no-trade.
2) Tambi calls Brule's agent says they are about to trade him. Agent asks to whom.
3) Agent calls Lombardi to ask what he plans on doing with Brule. Finds out buyout is likely.
4) Agent plants doubt with Lombardi that Brule is medically fit.
5) Lombardi is shocked considering Tambi never said anything. Calls Tambi to find out if this is true.
6) Confusion between both teams as they scramble to find out the exact wording in the CBA about the definition of "medially cleared"
7) Trade in holding pattern as no one in the NHL or NHLPA available to translate...
Sounds about right?
@ Shane L: Tambi in an interview with Gregor specifically said that Brule is medically cleared. So I think he's as confused about this as everyone else is.
ReplyDeleteHave no idea if Lowetide's would be interested but I think it would be kinda neat if we the readers (freeloaders in a business sense), sponsored Lowetide to go to next years draft on OUR dime.
ReplyDeleteFlights, hotels, hookers (oops that's Vegas) McDonalds 3 times a day.......
It would not cost anyone of us much (by way of donations) would be really cool, think the draft junkie LT is would really appreciate it, and we would all Forever be able to refer to him as "my guy at the draft".
Now if Mrs. LT thinks it is a terrible Idea......it was Danny and Ducey's idea LOL!!
Really just an easy way to say thank you to someone who puts so much into a site I read everyday FREE wherever I am and thoroughly enjoy
Shane... do you know for sure that Tambellini knew Brule was still injured? There is a post above of a report above that he had been medically cleared. And depression is an ephemeral thing, and one would think quite treatable judging from what pharmacists drive (not used Gremlins).
ReplyDeleteDid Tambo even know when he decided on what to offer that Lombardi would decide to buy that particular player out once he found out who it was?
Why were the Kings, Oilers, NHL meeting until the late hours last night if everything was so clear cut.
Now maybe more details come out about the Brule issue but right now there's not much there.
TOJ: That's a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree...and if Mrs. LT has LT on a short leash, I'm sure we could russell up a few more bucks to send her too :D
ReplyDeletebackingl - backing LT to go to the draft in 2012...what are the odds for that captcha...
Bruce
ReplyDeleteYou remember we paid Souray $5 million to play somewhere else and our backup in OKC $1m to not play much. So while I agree trying to offset Smytty's salary is nice but not quite crucial for a top 6 forward
TOJ: I think that'd be a fine idea if LT is interested. Would not be hard to setup a Paypal donation account either.
ReplyDeleteThanks to LT and all the other fine Edmonton-area writers and bloggers for all their hard work this weekend. I know that my enjoyment of draft weekend (as a prospect nerd) is greatly enhanced by all of their efforts.
Shane... do you know for sure that Tambellini knew Brule was still injured?"
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything. As none of us could about any of this. I was asking you because of this comment you made:
"Did Brule include himself in the deal? How did he get in there? Tambi put him in there to change the price of the deal. I stick by my exactly."
If Tambellini is trying "to change the price of the deal" as you say, it's to force Lombardi to take Brule's contract. And if that's the case, as it appears you are saying, then Tambellini doesn't want Smyth, and will be roasted for it on numerous levels because of this ploy. IF that's what you've been implying, and IF that's what Tambellini has been up to.
I don't know, this is retarded. If Tambellini is sure of Brule's health being good, and this deal will go through, in days/weeks/years time, fine. But, all this over a few hundred thousand dollars (Brule's buyout for whomever club) when he coulda dropped the whole Brule inclusion by now, and just made the trade of a pick for Smyth by now seems numb or worse.
You remember we paid Souray $5 million to play somewhere else and our backup in OKC $1m to not play much.
ReplyDeleteTOJ: You're durn tootin' I remember it, and I'll bet you Katz's money that Katz does too. $2 MM for him may be like $200 for me, but I'm still not about to piss away $200 just because. Salary for salary is standard fare these days, even if it's uneven (e.g. Campbell for Olesz) it does balance the scales some.
If Brule and his salary can't be included that changes the equation.
If I was an agent and my client was in danger of being bought out after ending the season on the injured list, I might be suggesting to him that maybe there are some lingering after effects of said injury. Smytty's not the only guy with leverage in this rather convoluted deal-gone-sideways.
Bruce
ReplyDeleteIf you are so worried about Smyth salary, we can send simply send them Foster. He has 1 year left, I believe, and we will not missed him on our back end. Better yet, let Souray play and we are saving even more of Katz's $$
If I was an agent and my client was in danger of being bought out after ending the season on the injured list, I might be suggesting to him that maybe there are some lingering after effects of said injury. Smytty's not the only guy with leverage in this rather convoluted deal-gone-sideways.
ReplyDeleteThat makes a lot more sense than some of the "Tambellini must be the village idiot" scenarios.
I'd keep Foster - no way he has another year like the last one - and replace Brule in the deal with Fraser.
ReplyDeleteTOJ: Great idea, assuming LT's interested.
ReplyDeleteTOJ and Bruce: to piggyback on Bruce's defence, not only does Katz not want to spend more money than he needs to, but its in Tambellini's interest to get the best deal possible.
Let's say I have two apples, but can only eat one. I wish to sell the second apple to you in order to get some kind of return for it. I want an orange and a dime in return.
You'd like to buy my apple, but you know you don't need it. Furthermore you know that I can't wait forever to sell it. If you think that after some time, I'll be willing to give you the apple for just a dime, doesn't it make sense to wait a little, even if the orange and the dime would still be a fair deal?
Good GMs aren't just about making a fair deal - they're about making the BEST deal.
I'm not going to say LA doesn't know what they're doing but:
ReplyDeleteDoesn't Brule's contract go on LTIR and then they can just go over by that amount ? (Or just go over by the amount the buyout will afford) And when he gets healthy, just buy him out.
Speaking of Souray and Smyth ...... After looking at nhlnumbers ......anybody else have concerns as to how the Oilers get to the cap floor?
ReplyDelete"If I was an agent and my client was in danger of being bought out after ending the season on the injured list, I might be suggesting to him that maybe there are some lingering after effects of said injury. Smytty's not the only guy with leverage in this rather convoluted deal-gone-sideways."
ReplyDeleteAnother way to look at it. If Brule is having a rough time (depression, etc etc) then maybe Tambellini as management should be more concerned about Brule as a person, and not his contract, or trying to get rid of him?
@FPB: Except they have to pay the actual $$$ while he's on LTIR. What was initially a $600K cost of doing business just became $1.8 MM.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that anybody here who says "what's an extra million bucks?" isn't an actual millionaire.
I'm sure they will figure something out but man, this is frustrating. LA is basically willing to give the Oilers a 20 goal scorer that the fan base loves for free and they're trying to add salary back the other way.
ReplyDeleteIf it worked, it would have been great. It almost did! But when it falls apart because you don't know the health of your own player that you plunked into the trade, figure something out quickly and get it done. This shouldn't be so difficult.
TOJ: not really, they are around 10 mil under the cap floor. They still have to deal with Souray on some front as well as they only have 10 forwards, 4 Dmen and 2 G under contract. Might have to overpay someone, but the Oilers are going to need bodies anyway.
ReplyDelete<>
ReplyDeleteYea... for sure, lets russle up enough to cover off a pop-up tent trailer for LT. Hopefully (for his sake) it doesn't rain too heavy.
Magisterrex.
ReplyDeleteNo offense but you didn't respond to the crux of the post.
Do you think the Oiler brain trust want Smyth back? Do you think a mid/late round draft choice is a high price? Perhaps you do but if you don't why would Tambo not just consummate the deal with a 5th rd pick and get the deal done?
Either Katz is being awfully tight with his money; imo penny wise but pound foolish in this situation, or Tambo needs no help looking like the village idiot.
I guess I'd rather have a DFL team that had issues with the cap floor than the cap ceiling, but FFS!
ReplyDeleteBruce.
ReplyDeleteI see your point on Katz's money but don't you think just maybe this has caused more than million or two in bad press among the ticket buying public, players and agents?
As Ribs points out. If they really wanted to get this deal done it shouldn't be that difficult.
I guess I'd rather have a DFL team that had issues with the cap floor than the cap ceiling, but FFS!
ReplyDelete@Nelson88: Whether we are talking about 625,000,000 pennies, 450,000,000 pennies, or just 185,000,000 pennies, that's a hell of a lot of pennies. They'd probably weigh a few pounds.
if the Oilers are really interested then they'll make this happen.
ReplyDeleteand if it doesn't then they really weren't.
it's really as simple as tjat/
Well fer sure this thing is messed up... if Tambo has started he believed that Brule was cleared medically.
ReplyDeleteSay it was true that the agent said something to LA about Brule niot being 100% - wouldn't that agent have had some sort of obligation to keep Tambo informed of that?
If not, the agent should be tared and feathered.
This whole thing smells awful fishy and once again it seems that Tambo is going to look like the idiot. Maybe its justified... time will tell.
Oops, weird double post. Sorry.
ReplyDelete@Nelson88: A million or two in bad press? How did you come up with this figure? Same source as your other comments? You seem hellbent to put as negative a reading on this situation as possible.
My heart says, get Smytty back. My head says, no need to bend over to facilitate the process.
Actually Bruce I would rather not pay $7000 grand to watch a DFL team at all.
ReplyDeleteBut do agree if you are targeting DFL way better at the floor than the ceiling. Course this team has done DFL both ways..... So maybe they are learning
I wonder what the deal with the Flames would have been?
ReplyDeleteJust looked at Florida....... Sweet jesus we may be able to move both Khabby and Souray to them...... They are MILES from the floor
ReplyDeleteTOJ: Thats why Florida traded for Campbell yesterday. Them and the Islanders might have some issues. Phx might as well.
ReplyDeleteMy heart says, get Smytty back. My head says, no need to bend over to facilitate the process.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
Tambo just needs to sign Jagr...
ReplyDelete.... for $13M
if the Oilers are really interested then they'll make this happen.
ReplyDeleteand if it doesn't then they really weren't.
Exactly again, Let's judge this when and if it becomes a dead issue. I'll be the first to rip Tambo apart if it doesn't end up happening, but till then I'm not going to beat my face with my knee.
The only bending over I'm seeing in the Smyth oredeal is Tambo telling Lombardi how far to bend over...and I'm not sure thats good business either.
ReplyDeleteListening to Brownlee on gregor's show, it sounds like the media is getting tired of Tambo's shit. The guy is such a stick in the mud. Makes brian Burke look like Dane Cook.
@DangerMan:
ReplyDelete1) I don't mind the idea of our GM bending somebody else over once in a while.
2) Taking the 35-year-old end of a $6.25 MM cap hit to facilitate LA's acquisition of Mike Richards is not exactly my idea of bending him over in the first place. Doing him a favour, more like it.
3) It's the Oilers. Ain't never, ever going to happen the easy way. No such thing.
"Listening to Brownlee on gregor's show, it sounds like the media is getting tired of Tambo's shit. The guy is such a stick in the mud. Makes brian Burke look like Dane Cook."
ReplyDeleteAlong with echoing a couple others here: The collateral long term chunkiness of this possibly on Tambellini is damaging to him. Whatever point he's trying to get out of the continued Brule thing is wasted now. This is long since dragging on now and will look likely foolish just like the Heatley pandering did. The Pronger deal in all it's disgust happened more timely. Pathetic.
Bruce: it's only speculation, but I think Lombardi's pissed because if he was going to free up cap room, he'd rather move Penner than Smyth. Now that he can't, he doesn't see this salary dump as much of a favour.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the Oiler brain trust want Smyth back? I hope the level of desire for Smyth is mitigated by a thorough analysis of what costs and benefits he brings, and not on any emotional recollection of his time here and/or circumstances of his departure.
ReplyDeleteDo you think a mid/late round draft choice is a high price? Depending on which draft it is, and what you mean by a mid round draft pick. Clearly, Tambellini doesn't have to open the purse strings to get this deal done, so I salute him for not sacrificing a potential piece of the future for one more year of the past.
Perhaps you do but if you don't why would Tambo not just consummate the deal with a 5th rd pick and get the deal done? There could be a variety of reasons. For example, it might disrupt the timetable for contracts to be awarded to young players; it might not be Tambellini asking for a player (Lombardi may be the guy requesting a warm body in return). TSN just showed us all that just because you have a little information, you might not have the whole picture, and could get the story completely wrong.
"2) Taking the 35-year-old end of a $6.25 MM cap hit to facilitate LA's acquisition of Mike Richards is not exactly my idea of bending him over in the first place. Doing him a favour, more like it."
ReplyDeleteWhile this has some truth to it, the Smyth ordeal, I'm pretty sure was orchastrated by Smyth and the Kings had to react to it. I'm not sure Richards had anything to do with it. Even with Richards and Smyth they are at 53.5 mil with Doughty left to sign and to grab a couple of forwards and another Dman, they should be fine.
Another factor is L.A.'s ownership. Does Lombardi have an internal cap that he's been given, regardless of how high the NHL's salary cap might rise this year? If so, that would also explain his urgency in dumping salary.
ReplyDeleteHelene Elliot has been updating this story.
ReplyDeleteApparently the paperwork clearing Brule to play was never filed with the league so he could not be traded, waived or bought out. He apparently IS healthy.
Now there's somebody who effed up.
Bruce. We'll have to agree to disagree. You are one of the posters I most often follow on this fine site and C&B but that post is so lame it doesn't justify a further response.
ReplyDeleteSpoiler: that sounds like Dale Tallon was involved!
ReplyDeleteSo, it shouldn't take long to file that with the league, right? And then we can make this happen.
and who was responsible for filing it? team or agent?
If Tambellini doesn't get this done, it doesn't mean he's a bad GM.
ReplyDeleteIt means they didn't want Smyth.
A drunk monkey can get this deal done.
The argument would be "Does not wanting Ryan Smyth for a small return (assuming a 4th or 5th is correct) make Tambellini bad GM?"
For reasons everyone has expounded on, I think Smyth is a great fit with the kids, so I would vote "Yes, not wanting Smyth for the rumored price makes v3.0 a bad GM"
We are still a long ways from the deal being dead.
v3.0 has taken the opportunity to try to dump Brule and I applaud him for it. Its hit a snag, maybe Brule passes tests in the next few days, maybe they figure something else out.
The only timing that is important is July 1st, and its only important for Lombardi.
I don't mind v3.0 trying to drive the price into the gutter. He's not bidding against anyone.
There would be fallout if the deal doesn't get done.
Casual fans love 94 and all the rope v3.0 has for the rebuild would be cut.
Whatever, or how many different scenarios, posturing, games have been going on since this all began, it must make the Oilers org look ham handed or amateur to other clubs.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Souray and Smyth ...... After looking at nhlnumbers ......anybody else have concerns as to how the Oilers get to the cap floor?
ReplyDeleteNot really.
They have $37 million for 14 players.
Add Smid at $2 million
Peckham at $800 K
Cogs at $1.5 million
Thats $41.3
Add in Souray's buyout. Thats $2.4 million this year
Now at $43.7
On top of that the need about 3 forwards and 2 dmen. If these guys average $1 million per player, they are over the Cap floor of $48 Million.
burnside had a good article up on ESPN...looks like Lombardi is asking for a warm body...seems the story has been taken down now though...interesting...
ReplyDeletefound a copy of the article on ABC...
ReplyDeletehttp://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/sports/pro/hockey&sa=NHL&eid=6704102
But apparently it's not a sweetener. LA is just going to buy Brule out, thus his inclusion is being foisted on LA in order to trade for Smyth.
ReplyDeleteExactly which is why I said Brule was there to sweeten the pick. Maybe the offer was a 5th rounder or a 4th rounder if they would take Brule.
James L. Unfortunately, not even Bono's praise can save this deal.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lombardi quietly hums I still haven't found....what I'm looking for
Hey WG, when you take the emotions out of this deal, it's still a 35 year old player on an atrocious cap hit contract--albeit for just a year.
ReplyDeleteOther than Feister who must be insane, which other NHL team outside of Florida would be lining up to help Lombardi out with his cap situation?
If the Oilers weren't struggling to make the cap floor, how many fans would be begging for the return of the mullet?
Put another way, would you rather have Smytty brought back or the cap money spent on a number one/two dman and a vet center? Lol okay, that's not a fair question since Tambo wouldn't pick those up anyway. :p
Before I get killed here for a dissenting opinion, I'm just playing devil's advocate. :p
Relax everyone, I'm sure this will get done and if it doesn't maybe just maybe V3.1 will try to pick up some better vets during free agency. Okay, now I'm just playin with y'all.
As for Brule, I'd have post concussion depression too if I woke up from partying with Bono to find out from my agent that I was facing a buy out instead of centering Jones and Smac on the Oilers 4rth line.
Sorry, for clarity, by "better vets," I meant better vets than JFJ, Smac, Fraser, Strudwick, etc...
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest of my nonsense, I'm just trying to lighten the mood here.
@Nelson88: Uhh, thanks. Not sure which post you found lame, or maybe it was just all of them? Anyway, sure, let's disagree.
ReplyDeleteI actually do want Smyth back but I'm not in such a rush that I'm prepared to pay whatever price it takes. The deal has to make sense for both sides. Financial issues aside (which they never are, for long) Oilers got too many bodies at forward, and the Kings have a Wayne Simmonds-sized hole for a youngish, aggressive RH shooter type.
This particular deal is fascinating in that it has to make sense for all four sides, since both players have a hole card - Smytty's NMC, Brule's injury protection against a (possible) buyout - and are using it.
It would be more fun to watch if I could just clear my head and get my heart to stop pumping out "SMYT-TY! SMYT-TY! SMYTTY!" 94 times per minute.
Lombardi's perspective:
ReplyDelete"Lombardi said he doesn't want to trade Smyth, who had a strong season for the Kings last year. But having resigned himself to acquiescing to Smyth's request, Lombardi said he won't be penalized twice.
He said he needs to make a deal that will continue to give him cap space to try and fill Smyth's place on the roster.
"Without getting into the details I guess, no, I don't think we're closer," Lombardi said. "The way we had always proposed it, we were always very clear on what we could take back.
"The thing that's hard about this is this isn't a player we were counting on losing. Because actually he had one of his best years for us. He was the first one in the weight room. I thought his first 40 games he was one of our best players. He tailed off a little bit in the last 40 and then in the playoffs he was Ryan Smyth, everything you wanted.
Lombardi said he looked at comparable trades involving veteran players in the final year of their contracts, including deals that involved Simon Gagne and Jason Arnott, which both yielded position players when they went to Tampa Bay and Washington, respectively.
"To me it was kind of simple. Alright, if something has to come back to make this work then there has to be certain things in place that allow me to run my cap," Lombardi said. "And if they're not in place then this makes no sense. Because I have to replace this player. That's the only urgency for me is that I have to replace him. In order to replace him, whatever I'm taking back has to allow me full freedom to keep that (cap) space available. If that is not there I can't do this deal."
what about the info where someone forgot to file the paperwork on 67?
ReplyDeleteBruce.
ReplyDeleteI would insert your post here but I am too old to learn new tricks ;)
I was referring to your request to somehow quantify the phrase "a million or two of bad press".
Hopefully we can perhaps agree this whole episode does not look good on the Oilers or their GM?
As I stated in my original post I too would like to see Smyth back for hockey and leadership reasons but not at any price. I guess I just don't view a 5th round draft pick as particularly dear.
While everything is open to debate it seems pretty clear to me that Tambi has very muted interest in Smyth's return (see also Matheson and Mackenzie tweets). Obviously that is management's perogative. However; imho the shit show this has become could have been easily avoided by having the backbone to shut it down early or deciding to do the deal (even if only for optics) and giving up a mid round pick.
For the record. I believe the deal will eventually get done. LA doesn't have many options and the fan pressure will be to high on the Oilers. The issue being a well run organization would not have been so bush league in the handling.
102 Comments, geez I guess Frans Tuohimaa has gotten everybody pretty excited...
ReplyDelete@Nelson88: I don't think this episode looks good on a whole lot of people. To name a few - Tambellini, Lombardi, TSN & other media outlets, possibly Brule and his agent, definitely Smytty himself and his agent. It's been a dog's breakfast of a deal (finally done this morning). I just don't buy in to the popular line of reasoning around some quarters that when something goes wrong it's automatically all Tambellini's fault.
ReplyDelete"anger" - well, I don't guess that needs a translation.