Draft Day Notes >>>

[chickameng33]

I could live with that trade price considering that the word was that when Nonis sniffed around Forsberg last year for a rental the price was Bourdon/Morrison/a 1st and a 3rd rounder.

Heck yeah .... and you figure what did even do for Nash.... so I can see that trade being a much better consideration..... Either way I see Nucks still making a tough fight..... I like Luongo better the Brodeur this year IMO! I think he can get them a 4-6 spot in the west IMO. I know if the Sedin's are available next fantasy draft in the second round I am going to be hunting for them!

JML you must be pretty close to Grand Bend! See you in BUf!

[flmmkrz]

I couldn't see the sabres wanting to deal any offensive talent either but that's a couple rumours involving the sabres now just thought i'd check if the sabres faithful were hearing anything on their end.

I don't know how it is in TO but locally there are some guys who report any rumour and then there are a couple guys you go to for the real deal info and one has reported that the Elias and Higgins talks as legit talks between Nonis and the respective players teams. Whether they materialize or not we'll see but Nonis has being saying all offseason that he's looking to trade from a position of strength for some offensive help and somebody to play with Nazzy. Most of the rumours are bs but the team is saying it wants to do something and the only way its doing something is via trade so there's a little more reason to look into the trade rumours than in normal offseasons for us canuck fans .

As for the asking price for the guys I mentioned, the asking price for good players is almost always gonna be high but if you got the chips to play better to do it now and get players who can help and will stay on your roster for a couple seasons + vs pay a similar price for a rental players later in the season. The Elias rumour as reported was him and a dman (wasnt confirmed which one) coming this way for Ohlund/Morrison and a first. I could live with that trade price considering that the word was that when Nonis sniffed around Forsberg last year for a rental the price was Bourdon/Morrison/a 1st and a 3rd rounder.

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

No way the Sabres give up any of those young talented forwards! They already lost Briere and Drury, and beacuse they thought they were getting thin up front from the defections, they were forced to match on Vanek. Much like it is in Toronto and Montreal, it's just your local media trying to sell papers...you know what the Canucks would have to give up for these guys your listing? A hell of a lot. Elias, Gionta? try your 2 best young players, plus a 1st rounder. We'll see I guess...

Chick...Toronto's about 2/2.5 hours away.

[chickameng33]

:beerbang: :beerbang: 15 minutes for me!

Being that you are right there have you heard anything in the Buffalo news about the ICE Bowl actually happening??? I am about 3 and half but its an easy drive .... just off I90...

No offense to the Nucks, but I like Max in Buf.

and my wife went to high school with Roy and from how I understand it he loves Buf... keeps him close to home. You would think that BUf would want to retain a goal scorer to from the recent loses of Drury, and Briere.

[flmmkrz]

Not to be an ass either, but how credible can a site be, when they cant even spell Max's last name right??? lol....need I say more....its not afinoganov.....Maxim Afinogenov

lol, I thought it was but I took his spelling as I figured he'd take the time to spellcheck. As far as the rumor makers go that guys supposed to be a little more legit but rumours are rumours for a reason so you can't believe much of what you read online.

[vazman05]

Not to be an ass either, but how credible can a site be, when they cant even spell Max's last name right??? lol....need I say more....its not afinoganov.....Maxim Afinogenov

[vazman05]

Vaz you hearing any rumours out that way about the nucks talking to the Sabres brass about Afinoganov? Yet another rumour involving my team, started with Pominville, to Elias to Gionta to Ryder to Higgins to Afinoganov now. Managements gonna pull something I'd love to see Connolly personally or even Roy if they're gonna work out something with you guys.

Nothing at all... Connolly will be the teams #1 Center, Max will be counted ro replace some of the scoring, and Roy, a RFA, who knows what direction the Sabres will go with him....he sure will get a hefty raise, I wouldnt be surprised if he gets 3 Mil/year....Pominville and Max, and even Timmy will be Sabres next year....Jim Kelley, a former Buffalo News writer, comes on the Howard Simon radio show every once in a while, and according to him, he expects the Sabres to be just about done transaction(signing UFA or trades) wise...
if VAN can add some scoring, with the way Loungo can carry them, they can be poised to make another run at the cup.....just a few weeks away from Traning Camp!!:beerbang:

[flmmkrz]

Vaz you hearing any rumours out that way about the nucks talking to the Sabres brass about Afinoganov? Yet another rumour involving my team, started with Pominville, to Elias to Gionta to Ryder to Higgins to Afinoganov now. Managements gonna pull something I'd love to see Connolly personally or even Roy if they're gonna work out something with you guys.

[vazman05]

How far is that to Wilson Stadium for you JML???

:beerbang: :beerbang: 15 minutes for me!

[chickameng33]

I think my main point about this is that Bettman and the NHL are just flat out inept at marketing their game, and their new star. They have a gift from god in Sidney Crosby, at a time when they need someone to be the so-called "savior". If they are going to do this game (which is a GREAT idea that the local people will absolutely love, and good hockey fans would tune into in droves as well if it's done at the right time), then they picked almost inarguably the worst possible day to do it.

The NHL hire-ups just don't seem to get it. Maybe FlyersFan can run the league and JML can be the director of marketing. Crosby's agent and marketing director must look at Bettman and be like, "What the **** is wrong with you?"

Cuse it makes you wonder if anyone with half a brain outside the forum looks at this stuff. I think if you got the Bob's from Office Space to come in to NHL and evaluate performance from just the marketing department/Bettman then you are going to see Bettman and the marketing department saying "I am a people's person I am ******* good with people" then security escorting the fabulous group out the door! I think everyone will agree how dismall the marketing of the sport is and seriously not being just a homer but come on Sidney Crosby, he has been in the league two years and you arent trying to put him on every bill board 300 miles near a hockey city and on any commercial Reggie Bush, King James, or Derek Jeter isn't already hired for(and i mean on behalf of the NHL not Crosby and signing endorsement deals). And Come on lets be real if you are trying to market the game to its fullest why doesnt crosby have his agent sign with Nike IMO. I am not saying it is a quality hockey product but come on the power Nike has Across the world to market anything..... they could sell ketchup popsicles to people in white gloves IMO.

JML I hope they go National with it. It will be the only way they can compete. I am/would be curious to look at the rating numbers if it does pop up on US national TV. Where the heck do you get all the insight to. I am just curious since we dont get the press coverage or it seems like links to half the information that is readily provided for Ontarians. Any helpful sites to would appreciate JML or anyone else!

Michel Therrien to the Pens until the end of 2009.... nothing notable but good stepping stone for the Pens in the right direction

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

I think it will be National, Cuse...I'm reading it's sort of a joint venture between the NHL and NBC. The NHL will agree to anything that gets them on US network TV, but from NBC's standpoint...I think they're saying..."well, we're going up against College Bowls, we don't have the rights to any bowls...why don't we try this gimmick, call it the ******* Ice Bowl, and try and get a couple million viewers away from the bowls, instead of running a Jim Carrey movie? Hell, it's not going to cost us much, why not. (they will pay nothing for the rights, and only share advertising with the NHL in the deal!)

[CuseFan10]

I think my main point about this is that Bettman and the NHL are just flat out inept at marketing their game, and their new star. They have a gift from god in Sidney Crosby, at a time when they need someone to be the so-called "savior". If they are going to do this game (which is a GREAT idea that the local people will absolutely love, and good hockey fans would tune into in droves as well if it's done at the right time), then they picked almost inarguably the worst possible day to do it.

The NHL hire-ups just don't seem to get it. Maybe FlyersFan can run the league and JML can be the director of marketing. Crosby's agent and marketing director must look at Bettman and be like, "What the **** is wrong with you?"

[CuseFan10]

I have actually done some research as well and if the game does commence as talked about it wont make national TV. Bettman the genius is doing it for the FSN or VS. Network only......

No NHL games are on national TV on Tuesdays (which is what New Years Day is this year). They barely get playoff games on national TV, nevermind a Tuesday in January against the Rose Bowl early and Sugar Bowl late.

Also, I'm guessing Bettman went to school maybe once or twice in his life time, you know considering he's a lawyer and all. Cornell undergrad and NYU law school do anything for you? Pretty good schools, eh?

[chickameng33]

Chickmeng....Actually, Bettman is an American from NYC. He has a Law degree from Cornell. Also...the game will be televised for sure, and not on fox or vs...it is slated to be on NBC nationally, and marketed as the "Ice Bowl".

Appreciate the heads up there. Would have never guessed he went to Law school. And that would be nice if they did do it on fox.... would promote a little more ratings (Not a ton but some).

And the tickets become available tomorrow to the public right? I know that they go on sale tomorrow here and release the promotions for the Pens any how.

How far is that to Wilson Stadium for you JML???

Ice Bowl, at least they thought of a game that fits the time of year and other big sporting events going on..... if nothing else the not so smart/unavid college fan might mistake his TV guide and watch the Hockey Game instead..... You never know.

I believe we have a group of about 4 committed with 10 potential road trippers ...... Including my Leaf Fan Wife!

[JohnnyMapleLeaf]

Chickmeng....Actually, Bettman is an American from NYC. He has a Law degree from Cornell. Also...the game will be televised for sure, and not on fox or vs...it is slated to be on NBC nationally, and marketed as the "Ice Bowl".

Ang....I don't think tickets will go like they did in Edmonton, it will most likely sell out eventually, but they surely won't need a lottery system like the Heritage Classic. That had a lot of different elements with Gretzky, Messier, Lafleur and all the oldtimers coming back to play for the first time in years...which was almost the main event instead of the actual NHL game! The stadium in Buffalo is also alot bigger than Commonwealth (Heritage classic had 57,000 people...Ralph Wilson Stadium holds 74,000).

Anyway...hopefully the Buffalo game isn't as cold as the Edmonton game! lol. I am actually pretty excited for this game...my friends and I talked about it on Saturday during my CFL party, and there are 4 of us committed to go already....and it might turn into a van trip party with 8+! Sweeet.