Here’s a thread to discuss the NHL offseason.
Remember those massive contracts in 2012? Ryan Suter and Zach Parise? Both gone now, definitely didn’t work out for the Wild.
Also, Pekka Rinne retired
Well I’ll be a gurn-spittle craw-shank!
::slowly rubbing hands (or at least Seattle is) over who might be up for grabs::
Jesper Fast, Canes, great two-way player.
Vladimir Nametsnikov, Red Wings, young little show-off who, sure, is technically IMO in the top five skilled players in the game already.
John Larsson, LV, providing depth as maybe a third line centre.
Radko Gudas, Flo’ida, yeah, everyone’s favourite occasionally unhinged chippy goon - I’d still have him on my team.
Kyle Clifford, St. Louis, more grit. 
Braden Holtby, 'nucks, surprisingly not bad season, all things considered, but confident that Thatcher Demko can become Van’s no. 1 now.
Kyle Turris, Oilers, more depth at centre.
Mark Boroweicki, Nashville, rock-solid blue-liner who, if paired with Gudas, would not be a blue line you’d wanna face if you’re not crazy about possible decapitation. 
Justin Schultz, Oilers, not the be-all-and-end-all like his linemate Darnell Nurse, but is almost as strong on the point during power plays as the Knights’ Shea Theodore (who IMHO is the King at that).
All those players will be on the final seasons of their deals during Seattle’s inaugural campaign.
Oh and the previously mentioned Parise and Suter, plus maybe even the Caps’ TJ Oshie (oooooooooo!)
Like - break out the Miles Cowperthwaite drool-buckets! I’m betting (metaphorically, of course) that in the next five years Las Vegas and Seattle will have the two most winningest franchises.
Yeah, Rinne…an overall fine goalie who unfortunately could’ve rose to the occasion a bit more in the play-offs.
Would they pick Carey Price, and risk approaching the salary cap? The Canadiens appear to be willing to give up his $10 million for each of the next five seasons.
Hockey now has its first openly gay NHL prospect:
Yeah hopefully Burkey’ll put in a good word for that.
The Kraken line-up:
FORWARDS
- Morgan Geekie (Carolina Hurricanes)
- John Quenneville (Chicago Blackhawks)
- Joonas Donskoi (Colorado Avalanche)
- Calle Jarnkrok (Nashville Predators)
- Nathan Bastian (New Jersey Devils)
- Jordan Eberle (New York Islanders)
- Colin Blackwell (New York Rangers)
- Brandon Tanev (Pittsburgh Penguins)
- Alexander True (San Jose Sharks)
- Yanni Gourde (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Jared McCann (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- Kole Lind (Vancouver Canucks)
- Mason Appleton (Winnipeg Jets)
DEFENSEMEN
- Haydn Fleury (Anaheim Ducks)
- Tyler Pitlick (Arizona Coyotes)
- Jeremy Lauzon (Boston Bruins)
- William Borgen (Buffalo Sabres)
- Mark Giordano (Calgary Flames)
- Gavin Bayreuther (Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Jamie Oleksiak (Dallas Stars)
- Dennis Cholowski (Detroit Red Wings)
- Adam Larsson (Edmonton Oilers)
- Kurtis MacDermid (Los Angeles Kings)
- Carson Soucy (Minnesota Wild)
- Cale Fleury (Montreal Canadiens)
- Carsen Twarynski (Philadelphia Flyers)
- Vince Dunn (St. Louis Blues)
GOALIES
- Chris Driedger (Florida Panthers)
- Joey Daccord (Ottawa Senators)
- Vitek Vanecek (Washington Capitals)
Bear in mind of course with this line-up, it definitely won’t be the same one stepping onto the ice in October, given the upcoming amateur draft (with Kraken getting 2nd overall pick), qualifying offers for unrestricted free agents this Monday, then free agent period, then waivers in training camp, and then start of the season.
Just like with Vegas being in good hands with John McPhee, so is Seattle with the absolutely unimpeachable Ron Francis.
George McPhee, or GMGM, back when he was a GM anyway.
Ah yes thanks. 
So the NHL schedules have been released and they left room for the Olympics. I assume this means the NHL players will be participating.
Oh, and if you’re a ‘Canes fan, you should be furious.
Nedeljkovic to the Wings for a 3rd???
Another weird trade. Blue Jackets trade Cam Atkinson to the Flyers for Jakub Voracek
Fleury to Chicago? Ugh.
This wasn’t paywalled for me:
Seems like there’s always a mess around Evander Kane. Not sure what to think of the gambling although it’s rumored he’s completely broke. Looks like the money phone is gone.
“Money phone”?
The completely broke rumor seems to not be a rumor – he filed for bankruptcy, according to that article.
Here’s Kane with the money phone
I knew about the bankruptcy but didn’t know if it was just to weasel out of some obligations or if he was at the point of not even being able to make ends meet
Ah, thanks.
“Ladies and Gentlemen – Elvis has just left the building!”
Lange Retiring from Play-By-Play, Remaining with Penguins Radio Network
Talk about end of an era!!! I can’t imagine a Pens game without him! 
Yeah when that fucking money-phone photo came out, I was like, yeah, this kid’s fucked.
(oh to have been a fly on the wall to see how - back in Winnipeg - teammate Dustin Byfuglien dealt with EK, being EK. (apart from throwing EK’s track suit in the shower, which we do know)
Whoa! For 46 years! huh.
Winnipeg Jets will require all fans to be vaccinated at their home games. I’m a strong supporter of this.
Great news.
If only all teams did that. School will be real horroshow, soon enough, so it would be cool to see the NHL set an example for not just other leagues, but beyond that.