# General NHL Offseason Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 15, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241 "2010-06-15T02:07:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/121 "2010-09-02T15:10:38Z")
Good for the Sharks. They were out of their minds to think the Niittymaki could take them anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/122 "2010-09-03T01:08:53Z")
And the Habs have announced that they have signed Price to a [two-year deal.](http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Habs+sign+Price+year+deal/3474737/story.html) > [@](#): > > While there is no confitmation on the financial aspect of the deal, which will take him until the end of the 2011-12 season, RDS is reporting that the amount is $5.5 million for two seasons, with $2.5 million for 2010-11, and $3 million in the second year of the deal. > > Read more: [http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Habs+sign+Price+year+deal/3474737/story.html#ixzz0yQMjCRms](http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Habs+sign+Price+year+deal/3474737/story.html#ixzz0yQMjCRms) Also, Markov is reportedly skating again and there’s talk about him coming back much earlier than expected, perhaps even being ready in time for the start of the season! ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/123 "2010-09-03T20:48:07Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Good for the Sharks. They were out of their minds to think the Niittymaki could take them anywhere. He was good enough to take them to their annual playoff loss to a lower seeded team. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/124 "2010-09-10T20:06:43Z")
The Habs have signed veteran Jeff Halpern to a 1-year/600K deal, for reasons that aren’t quite clear to me. Perhaps a trade is in the offing. I’d look hard at seeing if I could find a buyer for Kostitsyn the Elder. I don’t think he’s worth $3.25 million, and they’ll have to offer him at least that much when he becomes an RFA in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/125 "2010-09-10T21:43:59Z")
I guess Stephen Harper decided that his polling numbers haven’t slid far enough this summer, because the Conservatives have been hinting recently that they’d been willing to give away $180 million to help build an NHL arena in Quebec City. Early indications seem to be the Canadian voters still aren’t as stupid as American voters and that the coming backlash against funding an arena will cause the federal government to quickly squash any such plans. Just like the _last_ time the feds(that time Liberals under Chretien) decided to give away money to NHL teams. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/126 "2010-09-12T17:46:57Z")
Any local Pens fans planning on going to the open practice next weekend? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/127 "2010-09-12T18:08:22Z")
Anyone know some sports talk stations that stream online which have hockey talk/programming? ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/128 "2010-09-12T22:25:57Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Anyone know some sports talk stations that stream online which have hockey talk/programming? You might try [The Team 990](http://www.team990.com) out of Montreal. It’ll probably be Canadiens heavy though. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/129 "2010-09-13T19:54:22Z")
Roberto Luongo has [relinquished](http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=537329&navid=DL%7CNHL%7Chome) the captaincy of the Canucks. Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler are among the frontrunners to replace him. And some footage of Sidney Crosby [belting a homerun at PNC Park.](http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=75027) ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/130 "2010-09-14T01:21:55Z")
The NHL [slapped](http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=333690) the Devils down hard over the original Kolvalchuk contract, fining them $3 million and making them forfeit a 1st and 3rd round pick. Ouch. One would think that teams will not be so eager to try and find further loopholes in the salary cap. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/131 "2010-09-15T02:33:30Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > Roberto Luongo has [relinquished](http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=537329&navid=DL%7CNHL%7Chome) the captaincy of the Canucks. Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler are among the frontrunners to replace him. > > And some footage of Sidney Crosby [belting a homerun at PNC Park.](http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=35&id=75027) He’s probably better than most of the Pirates. (Bob Nutting is probably gnashing his teeth) ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/132 "2010-09-15T15:54:09Z")
Scotiabank Place in Ottawa will [host the 2012 All-Star Game](http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=537526&navid=DL%7CNHL%7Chome). The 2011 game is set for Raleigh. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/133 "2010-09-16T02:09:50Z")
[Happy dance] One week until pre-season hockey! RDS is airing three of the six pre-season games (Bruins@, Panthers@ and Buffalo@). [/Happy dance] ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/134 "2010-09-16T02:53:38Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > The 2011 game is set for Raleigh. I can’t wait to see it! > [@mnemosyne](#): > > [Happy dance] > > One week until pre-season hockey! > > RDS is airing three of the six pre-season games (Bruins@, Panthers@ and Buffalo@). > > [/Happy dance] [Snoopy Dance]I’m tailgating for both preseason games next week![/Snoopy Dance] ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/135 "2010-09-16T03:48:46Z")
One week from now I’ll be watching the Pens play on our brand new flat screen! _Happy Snoopy Dance_ ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/136 "2010-09-16T13:49:13Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > [Happy dance] > > One week until pre-season hockey! > > RDS is airing three of the six pre-season games (Bruins@, Panthers@ and Buffalo@). > > [/Happy dance] Only three? I thought Quebecers _loved_ their hockey. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/137 "2010-09-16T14:39:25Z")
Yeah, I thought it was weird too. I can understand not showing the away game at Ottawa, but the Friday night at home against them could be shown. Then again, that might conflict with a CFL game, which RDS also shows. None of the three weekend games are being aired. They do show all 82 regular season games, Sens home games on nights the Habs aren’t playing (Le Hockey Subway des Senateurs, usually with Bob Hartley!), and have the entire French-language rights to the playoffs (any teams, not just the Habs) so we do get a ton of hockey once it starts for real! Then there’s TSN, TSN2, RogersSportsNet, the CBC…we get our fix! ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/138 "2010-09-16T14:55:42Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Yeah, I thought it was weird too. I can understand not showing the away game at Ottawa, but the Friday night at home against them could be shown. Then again, that might conflict with a CFL game, which RDS also shows. None of the three weekend games are being aired. > > They do show all 82 regular season games, Sens home games on nights the Habs aren’t playing (Le Hockey Subway des Senateurs, usually with Bob Hartley!), and have the entire French-language rights to the playoffs (any teams, not just the Habs) so we do get a ton of hockey once it starts for real! Then there’s TSN, TSN2, RogersSportsNet, the CBC…we get our fix! I’ll watch the Habs on RDS over TSN any day of the week, doubly so if Pierre McGuire is part of the TSN broadcast. And I’m an anglophone. Like you said a while back, hockey was made to be watched in French. And it looks like Gionta is on deck to be the captain. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/139 "2010-09-16T20:28:53Z")
I watch TSN or _shudder_ CBC if RDS has no game that evening (when the Habs or Sens don’t play, generally) or in the playoffs if it’s a match-up I prefer. RSN is really only good for Sens games, but RDS doesn’t air them all, so it’s a backup choice. I can’t wait…_et c’est le BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT!!_ Gionta’s a good choice, though it isn’t official yet. I have a feeling it’s true, but I’m half wondering if _La Presse_ didn’t decide to make something up just to stop having to talk about the stupid PQ-alleged Habs-as-a-federalist-front-to-defeat-sovereignty team. Then again. Gionta doesn’t speak French, and he’s American… **shock! horror! treason!!!** Last night on the local news there was a little bit where they were talking about the fact that the new giant banner on the Bell Centre shows Markov with the A clearly on his shirt, same with (IIRC) Cammalleri, but the way it’s drawn you can’t see if Gorges has a letter or not. He’s a dark horse at best in this race, but he’s been involved with the team all summer doing all kinds of promotional stuff, and he was at the Draft to greet the new guys (kind of funny since he wasn’t drafted himself) and, well, I love Gorges and kind of want it to be him because then there’d be more interviews and he’s funny. ETA: Habsinsideout reporting that when asked how he’d feel about Gionta maybe being captain, Gomez replied “He’s not an asshole”! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/140 "2010-09-16T21:13:56Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Gionta’s a good choice, though it isn’t official yet. I have a feeling it’s true, but I’m half wondering if _La Presse_ didn’t decide to make something up just to stop having to talk about the stupid PQ-alleged Habs-as-a-federalist-front-to-defeat-sovereignty team. Then again. Gionta doesn’t speak French, and he’s American… **shock! horror! treason!!!** That’s the price of having the Habs as religion (not just sport) in Quebec. It started with the [Richard Riot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Riot) (Coles notes version: French superstar gets slapped down by English establishment, shit hits fan. Also thought by some to be the catalyst for the Quiet Revolution, five years before Jean Lesage was elected premier.) Even today, if a Francophone gets traded for an Anglophone, it’s seen as a personal attack by some. Serge Savard’s best trade ever was to trade Stephane Richer, a talented but inconsistent player, for Kirk Muller, who was instrumental in the last Cup, later became captain (for about three months) and is now a key assistant coach. And he still got roasted for it. While I think Leaf fans _en masse_ are generally nuts, at least I’ve never heard them complain about a GTA product getting traded for an American or Swede, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241.md?page=8)