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[Crothian]

I don't know man. Defense was where you needed help most, and with the addtion of Foote, you got it in spades.

The addition of Brule took your offensive potential from B+ to A...

You need help in Goal, but other than that, I'm seeing a good, solid team that could easily get on a roll.

I'm hoping for it, the team can use it. Before the strike we had a great home crowd and I'm hoping that stays as it is. I've still got my part of a season tickets and some friends are talking about going to even more games this year. I'm really looking forward to hockey season.

 

[devilbat]

Devilbat, answer your PM's

Answered

You need help in Goal

As far as goalies are concerned, Columbus only has Denis under contract. I'll bet you they're not done with the free agent market. They're not stacked with goalies in the system, so I would look for them to make a move. My bets are Curtis Joseph or Sean Burke.

 

[Teflon Billy]

My bets are Curtis Joseph or Sean Burke.

Do they have money/cap room to try for Khabibulin?

 

[devilbat]

Do they have money/cap room to try for Khabibulin?

They have both, but it's unlikely they will be able to sign Khabby.

Columbus seems to be the antithesis of the apathy that is in many U.S hockey markets. The Bluejackets have a season ticket base of 12,000, and they average 17,376 per game. Those are some pretty good numbers. so money is not a problem. They were sitting at approx. 17 million with 17 players under contract prior to Foote signing. So now they sit at 21 million/18 players. Still plenty of room for a pricey goalie.

I doubt Khabibulin will leave Tampa Bay. He's a god to floridian hockey fans, and word is that the Lightning want him back. Without Khabibulin, I think they are an above average team, but not a repeat champ. I can see an older goalie in Columbus. Someone who will get a guaranteed number of games, and who wants to get one last kick at the cat. CuJo would be a great fit. Especially after the lousy experience he had in Detroit.

 

[Kaodi]

Hockey...

'Twould be ironic if this is the year the Leafs take home Lord Stanley's Cup since way back before I was born. Go Leafs, Go.

On another note, it really, really ticks me off that the fans of cities like Toronro, Montreal and Vancouver will have to support cities that shouldn't be fielding a team in the NHL. Somewhere I read that Canadian teams make up over 50% of the revenue of the entire NHL for television. Do the math. Grrr...

 

[Teflon Billy]

'Twould be ironic if this is the year the Leafs take home Lord Stanley's Cup since way back before I was born. Go Leafs, Go.

What would be ironic about that? Golf Leafs Golf

But I don't think it's the leaf's year as they now have most of their cap tied up in Brian McCabe, Mats Sundin and Ed Belfour.

Leaves the rest of the team a little thin.

On another note, it really, really ticks me off that the fans of cities like Toronro, Montreal and Vancouver will have to support cities that shouldn't be fielding a team in the NHL. Somewhere I read that Canadian teams make up over 50% of the revenue of the entire NHL for television. Do the math. Grrr...

I don't know if I'm 100% against it.

A) I don't really care if Vancouver's owner (McCaw) makes less coin. With the cap it's not like it was going back into the team anyhow.

B) Certain of the unlikely Expansion Franchises have solid hockey fans behind them: Columbus, Nashville, Minnesota...even Atlanta seems serious this time around.

C) I'm not certain that revenue sharing (even the half-baked version practiced by the NHL now) will hurt the league in any way (Again, given the cap) and seems to be actually making every franchise competitive if this whole UFA week has been any example.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Local media is reporting that Vancouver has re-signed league-leading scorer and team Captain Markus Naslund

Whew!

 

[King_Stannis]

It will be interesting to see if Crosby has an immediate impact with my Pens.

 

[spatha]

I

Which leaves Goal. Denis isn't really a disaster or anything, but let's just say that I expect the focus of this team to be outscoring their opponents

Still quite a team for such a young franchise

See I think Dennis is a damn good goalie. The odd game or two he played for Colorado he did good. He also backstopped, I believe it was the Team Canada Juniors and was amazing there. With the addition of Foote this hould take some pressure off of him. I think he will mature to be the next Roy/Broduer.

 

[Davek]

Sorry, that question comes too close to violating my "Closet Gamer" status.

No problem, just curious.