NHL 103 (2019/2020 season) pre-season thread

The Game Room
1

Since the very good idea for an off-season thread was made (& seconded) in the tail end of last season’s thread, I thirded the idea and went ahead and started this.

This will be the 103rd season of operation for the NHL, but only the 102nd season of play, so I went with 102 for the thread title.

Our first piece of news came in the tail of last season’s thread:

My first news contribution is that the Islanders signed Jordan Eberle to a 5-year, US$27.5M contract extension, which is actually a pay cut. IMO this is a smart move for the Islanders, giving them a consistent scorer for the foreseeable future at a very agreeable price.

2

Yeah, at least we can talk hockey if not watch it.

Stars fan here; it’s starting to sound like we can get Zuccarello signed (please please please) and we have Polak and Janmark for at least a year. And Lindell for 6 years. Next year should be a lot of fun with the usual “if everyone stays healthy” provision.

3

I would love to see the Stars play again like they did around the turn of the century; they had fantastic teams for a decade or so there.

4

And Mike Bales signs with Buffalo as their goaltending coach. That sucks, he was really good at managing the goalie rotation last season.

5

I can’t believe I missed this a year and a half ago!

Let’s Do That Hockey!

(SNL sketch where a basketball announcer has to fill in for a hockey announcer)

That’s what’s up!

6

Not available in Canada. Which makes sense since hockey isn’t very popular here. :rolleyes:

7

Try this google link for one that you can watch; sorry I don’t know how to be more help.

8

Thanks Bo. That was pretty funny!

9

I’m not sure about Eberle – he was good in the playoffs, but his regular season was so-so. I was hoping to see him go for some cap space. They could really use someone who can be a actual scoring threat – it’s hard to do it all on defense.

10

Caps used that salary cap space to sign Carl Hagelin. One Twitter “wit” said the Penguins paid him to play for us last year, the Flyers will pay for him to play for us next year.

11

Sharks are giving Karlsson $92M for 8 years of his hockey goodness. I guess they were happy with his try-out season eh.

12

Olli Maatta’s going to Chicago in exchange for Dominik Kahun

13

Ducks hire Dallas Eakins as head coach.

14

Rangers land Jake Trouba from the Jets for Neal Pionk and the 20th Overall.

The Rangers got that #20 from Winnipeg at the deadline this year. That trade was a rental of Kevin Hayes for WPG’s 1st and Brendan Lemieux.

So it’s basically

Hayes (rental) + Pionk for Trouba and Lemieux.

Hoping Zuccarello signs with the Stars, as the Rangers will get Dallas’ first if he does and third if he doesn’t

15

Wow, 11.5.
Great D, great career, but I’ll bet he has only four (at most) good seasons left in him, mainly due just to wear and tear.

16

I don’t see it, but the Rangers just signed Kevin Hayes $50M/7Y. I know he had a good season but that seems optimistic to me.

17

The Flyers are the team that signed Hayes to that contract.

18

:smack:
Thanks.

19

Hmm, I’d say I’d be willing to take Zuccarello in exchange for that pick exchange. He’s small, but he works. We’re much better with him than without him, it seems.

20

Excellent NHL Awards this year with some moving moments, with Robin Lehner, the Masterton winner (who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey), speaking about mental health issues (“I’m not ashamed to say I’m mentally ill, but that doesn’t mean I’m mentally weak”) and this throat-lumping part when Hab’s “superfan” Anderson Whitehead - whose mom passed away from cancer last year - met up again with his hero Carey Price.

Hart Trophy - most valuable player - Nikita Kucherov

Vezina Trophy - best goalie - Andrei Vasilevskiy

Norris Trophy - best defenseman - Mark Giordano (for ages it was bugging me - who the hell does he remind me of? Finally, tonight, I’m like - oh, right: Andre Agassi)

Selkie Trophy - best defensive forward - Ryan O’Reilly

Lady Byng Trophy - most gentlemanly player - Aleksander Barkov (only eight minutes in penalties this season!)

Jack Adams Trophy - best coach - Barry Trotz (2nd time!)

Ted Lindsay Trophy - (my favourite award) - best player as voted by NHLPA - Nikita Kucherov again!

Calder Trophy - best rookie - Elias Pettersson (ok…many would think Jordan Binnington, for trillions of reasons - including being arguably the main factor in bringing Lord Stanley to St. Louis - would be the winner, but Pettersson played a much fuller season, which is a crucial consideration for this award, as well for trillions of reasons of his own.) (damn he’s incredibly awesome)

Don Sweeney Trophy - best GM - Don Sweeney

King Clancey Memorial Trophy - player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community - Jason Zucker

Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award - recognizes an individual, who like Willie O’Ree, has worked to make a positive impact on his or her community, culture or society to make people better through hockey - Rico Philips (geez, hate to say this, but not a whole real lotta difference with this award compared to the King Clancy. Is there?)

Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award - Wayne Simmons - recognizes an individual as a superior leader within their sport, and as a contributing member of society (wow, again, kinda samey to the previous two, possibly)

Anyhoos - more or less spot on, good stuff.