The Official NHL Thread

[Romeo Delight]

Well...it's "official"...sort of.

Looks like the Oilers have leaked the fact that the reason Pronger and family want out of Edmonton is that Chris's wife doesn't like the city.

Bitch.

I can't blame them for wanting the truth out there.

For future free agents, they need to know that there isn't some hidden issue that makes that team or that city less desireable.

[Romeo Delight]

Then again, a team can move you on a whim.

At least it's not "There's no food...I can't find a Taco Bell or a Sizzler" a la NBA ers

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Well, I look at it this way....

Edmonton is going to get about 3 NHL-ready players....

That's a pretty good trade off....

[guwapo_rocker]

The Leafs trade a prospect for Raycroft whoo hooo Stanley Cup!!!

[Romeo Delight]

Originally posted by Va Beach VH Fan
Well, I look at it this way....

Edmonton is going to get about 3 NHL-ready players....

That's a pretty good trade off....

I still say Pronger was the Conn Smythe, taking nothing away from a great performance from Ward.

It sucks and they will be lucky to get back equal value.

I say wait , wait, wait until the trading deadline.

[Romeo Delight]

Cuban, Marino Want To Buy Penguins

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=169885&hubname=nhl

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Mark Cuban is known for baiting NBA officials, and Dan Marino is the most prolific passer in NFL history. But the Pittsburgh natives now want to expand into a different sport in their hometown - hockey.

The two have joined with a New York City financier in trying to buy the NHL's Penguins from Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux's group, which is selling the two-time Stanley Cup champions even as the team seeks a new arena deal.

The group of prospective Penguins owners is headed by Andrew Murstein, the president of Medallion Financial Corp., a company that finances New York City taxicab medallions and originates consumer loans for recreational vehicles. Also included are principals in Pittsburgh-based Walnut Capital, a real estate management and development company.

Walnut Capital CEO Gregg Perelman recently teamed with Cuban to buy a nine-story downtown Pittsburgh office building. Cuban, who grew up in suburban Pittsburgh, is the billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner whose holdings include a movie production firm and high-definition TV channel.

Adding Cuban and Marino is expected to strengthen the group's estimated $150 million US bid not only financially but perception-wise. Neither Cuban nor Marino have any interest in moving the Penguins from Pittsburgh - Cuban has made it a condition of his participation - even though the team has yet to land a deal to build an arena to replace 45-year-old Mellon Arena.



Murstein was in Dallas on Tuesday, presumably to meet with Cuban about his involvement in the group. In the past, Murstein expressed interest in buying two NHL franchises, the Blues and Ducks, and the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer.

Todd Reidbord, Walnut Capital's president, said recently his group was the only one interested in buying the Penguins that has fully committed to staying in Pittsburgh. At least four other groups have expressed interest in the team, which is expected to be sold before the start of the NHL season in October.

Lemieux's ownership group, which also includes California businessman Ron Burkle, bought the team in federal bankruptcy court in 1999 - partly to protect the nearly $30 million in deferred money owed Lemieux on his contract. Lemieux's group has since paid back all money owed by the club before its bankruptcy filing, a rarity during such procedures.

The uncertainty over the Penguins' arena status has clouded their future in Pittsburgh. Lemieux's group has partnered with Isle of Capri Casinos, which has agreed to build a $290 million arena if it wins the solitary license that will be awarded for a slot machine casino in the city.

However, Isle of Capri is not seen as the favourite, and two other groups seeking the slots license - Harrah's and Majestic Star Casino - have not pledged full arena funding.

Gov. Ed Rendell has asked those two bidders to give $7.5 million a year toward an arena, with the Penguins contributing $8.5 million from the start and an additional $4 million per year, including $1.1 million in naming rights. The Penguins have declined to sign off on the deal, as the Isle of Capri bid would not require the team to make a financial contribution toward replacing the NHL's oldest arena.

Murstein revealed the addition of Cuban and Marino in his group in an interview Tuesday with Pittsburgh radio station WEAE, an ESPN affiliate. Cuban did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press, but confirmed his involvement in an e-mail to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Cuban was interested in buying into Lemieux's group in 1999, but declined to accept a role that would not include input in the team's day-to-day operation. Marino, the former University of Pittsburgh and Miami Dolphins star quarterback, expressed interest in buying into the Pittsburgh Pirates in the mid 1990s but never did so. Cuban also is interested in buying the Pirates at some point, but the current ownership has given no sign of wanting to sell.

[Romeo Delight]

Luongo signs 4 Year Deal With Canucks

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=170025&hubname=nhl

Goaltender Roberto Luongo finally has the long-term deal he's always wanted, signing a four-year, $27 million US contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

According to CKNW Radio in Vancouver, the new deal will pay Luongo $6 million US in the first year, $6.5 million US in the second year, $7 million US in the third year, and $7.5 million US in the final year. The contract also contains a no-trade clause for the final three years.

"We are pleased to have agreed to a long-term deal with Roberto today," Vancouver GM Dave Nonis said in a release.

"Roberto has proven himself to be an elite goaltender. His international experience, Vezina Trophy nomination and ability to consistently play at the highest level are tremendous assets that we believe will make the Vancouver Canucks competitive each and every night."


The Canucks qualified Luongo at $3.2 million US earlier this week, which gave the club his rights for the 2006-07 season, but Luongo's agent Gilles Lupien also met with his client in Montreal this week to discuss the prospects of a long term deal.

His $6.75-million average salary matches Chicago's Nikolai Khabibulin for the highest-paid by any goaltender in the NHL.

"It's up to me to deliver," Luongo said Thursday.

"The Canucks have had a great team over the last few years. Unfortunately they had a few injuries last season and didn't make it but they're committed to winning. And that's really important for an organization. That's something that I really respect.

"There's no doubt in my mind that once I get started, we're going to make a run for the Stanley Cup and that's why I'm coming there."

Luongo, 27, played 75 games with the Florida Panthers in 2005-06, posting a record of 35-30-9 with a 2.97 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Over his five-year NHL career, Luongo has played a total of 341 games, with a record of 115-168-41, a 2.72 GAA and a .919 save percentage.

He was also part of Canada's Olympic team in Turin and captured back-to-back gold medals when he starred in net for Team Canada at the 2003 and 2004 IIHF world championships.




That's Right!!!

[Romeo Delight]

The latest inside "news" on Pronger was that his wife hasn't been back to Edmonton since she left there around the Olympic break...

Why, you ask????

Apparently, he was cheating on her and she found out.

She was from Edmonton, hence the "family issues"

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Free agency started at noon today, and it's in FULL swing already....

A few doozies already....

Chara and Savard to the Bruins...

Kubina and Gill to the Leafs....

Jovanowski to the Coyotes...

Grahame to the Canes....

Nothing from the Pens yet, the bastards....

[Romeo Delight]

Canucks have Willy Mitchell from Minnesota.

HARD -hitting D-man.

Excellent.

I wonder if Naslund is going to be moved on the quiet?

He has no-trade.

[Golden AWe]

Pronger to the Ducks...

[Romeo Delight]

Pronger and Neidermeyer on the same team?

Holy shit.

[Romeo Delight]

It seems with the cap that guys are getting lucky...and by that I mean if there is a perceived need and you are available at the right time, you can get more than your market value.

Guys who may have previously received their market value may find that teams have spent their cap and they may have to receive less to play on a decent team.

Pronger's deal looks like a bargain now.

I still say that the NHL should allow teams to go over the cap and have that team pay money to distribute to the lowest revenue generating teams.

It sucks that a team can build a winner, and achieve some cohesion and player identity with the fans only to have that disappear when the team and player's success dictates higher pay and thus cap-incompatible.

[POJO_Risin]

Well...the NHL is still playing here...I think you can come to a point where you have a minimum and max that allows the big money teams to still spend...

look at the Canes this year...they weren't going over 30 million...

and they didn't...they win the cup...

cap goes up 5 million to 44 million...

and their new cap is 40 million...

You are talking a soft cap Flamma...like the one in baseball...and it really doesn't work very well...

I like the Hard Cap...it gives everyone a chance...

sure...it allows certain players to bolt...

but I think you'll see major players staying with their teams longer...because...like Eric Staal...when his contract gets up around 7-10 million dollars...he truthfully won't get more anywhere else...

yeah...you can lose the heart of your team...

but...if you're an owner...and you do your job...you should be able to find more heart...or younger players to fit the bill...

IMO...this puts the pressure where it should be...the GM's and the coaches...

[POJO_Risin]

Guys...I'm going to close this thread soon...

I'm not big on plopping ALL the hockey news in one thread...I like it much better with separate headlines...so shit is easier to find...

not sure yet though...

lmfao...since only 4 or so are posting in here...