Ando wrote:

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...that is And-o's prediction! Arbitration hearings begin this Thursday.  Scott Gomez is slated for Friday and his $2 million could quite conceivably turn into $+4.5 million (heck, if Saku can get that - why on Earth would Gomez accept a penny less???).  Anyway, it seems that many GM's are "circling in the water" so-to-speak for this case to get resolved! Michael Ryder is due for his raise next Tuesday (And-o would be insulted by any offer less than $2.5 million)! ....where there is smoke - there is fire!!! By next Wednesday...something has got to give!

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I agree with you And-o, there will be some major moves made due to the outcome of high profile arbitration cases such as Gomez, Briere,Nagy. Unfortunatley even though it seems inevitable that Jersey will be forced to trade Gomez due to their salary cap position and the fact that Gomez will easily be awarded in excess of 5 million ( compare his last three seasons of 209 points in 244 games versus Brad Richards of 244 points in 244 games) I don't think it is realistic that Gomez will be flipped for Ryder. Jersey probably would prefer to trade him to the western conference, and a perfect designation would be Phoenix. The Coyotes have 19 players committed to only 32 million dollars, so they have plaenty of cap space. Phoenix has Nagy going to arbitration, and he probably comes in around 3 million, a more workable salary for the Devils. Phoenix has Comrie, another center also heading for arbitration, so a deal between those teams looks possible.

Given the fact that the Habs have always had difficult contract negotiations with Ryder, perhaps something will happen, maybe to Edmonton for Hemsky?

Ando wrote:

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...that is And-o's prediction! Arbitration hearings begin this Thursday.  Scott Gomez is slated for Friday and his $2 million could quite conceivably turn into $+4.5 million (heck, if Saku can get that - why on Earth would Gomez accept a penny less???).  Anyway, it seems that many GM's are "circling in the water" so-to-speak for this case to get resolved! Michael Ryder is due for his raise next Tuesday (And-o would be insulted by any offer less than $2.5 million)! ....where there is smoke - there is fire!!! By next Wednesday...something has got to give!

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Saku gets that for his leadership qualities

Yup, it should be an interesting next couple of weeks, for sure! I can also Ryder dealt, but if a center comes back our way, you have to be certain that Ribs will be part of the deal... what else would we do with him? I would prefer to have Dandy move up beside Bonk and Begin and then for us to go after a top-D like Bouwmester before we grab a center... even if it means giving Ribs a chance! I can't believe I just wrote that... :)

Habtastic

I hear Lou Lamourello wants any team that grabs Gomez to also be able to take on one of his mistake contracts that are hurting the devils cap (Mogilny and Malakhov).  So it would need to be a team with plenty of Cap room.

Washington needs to hit the Salary floor so they might be an ideal trading partner if none out west can be found.

How good would a Zednick - Gomez - Alex Ovechkin line look with Alex Mogilny on the second line tutoring the young Russian phenom.

Scary!!!

brew wrote:

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Hey Barry, not that i like Ribeiro but Bob didn't negociate his contract!!! It was just a qualifying offer which is an automatic 10% increase from the season before. If you don't qualify you loose the guy. As for Bouillon, he would have gotten more on the market.

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Then why nickel and dime our only legitmate goal scorer?  And although I do not have the exact figures, my understanding is that his raise was alot higher than 10% Nilsey, our resident accountant?

-- Edited by barry33 at 12:27, 2006-07-20

barry33 wrote:

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 Then why nickel and dime our only legitmate goal scorer? 

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  Probably the reason might be,even though he did score 30 gaols he was a -5 in company with Ribs and Sunny as the worst +/- for the forwards. I could see a raise if he wasn't such a defensive liability.

barry33 wrote:

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brew wrote: Hey Barry, not that i like Ribeiro but Bob didn't negociate his contract!!! It was just a qualifying offer which is an automatic 10% increase from the season before. If you don't qualify you loose the guy. As for Bouillon, he would have gotten more on the market. Then why nickel and dime our only legitmate goal scorer?  And although I do not have the exact figures, my understanding is that his raise was alot higher than 10% Nilsey, our resident accountant?-- Edited by barry33 at 12:27, 2006-07-20

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Sorry, Barry, I don't know the relevant numbers............

Muller93 wrote:

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barry33 wrote:  Saku gets that for his leadership qualities hmmm. Ask Higgins if koivu is worth the cash...and if he gets paid for his "leadership qualities". Cripes, you would think he was relegated to Denis Savard's bogus role during the 93' cup run. koivu is/was? easily a top 10 center in this league when you take all his abilities into consideration etc. For that matter ask Joe Thornton if Koivu  gets paid for his l"eadership qualities.".. For a litlte spice here...Barry have you ever considered being a politician? Your posts are very transparent, however have that "spin" to them that allows you to back peddle when needed. Nothing wrong with that...it is very clever. Politics Barry...you could make a mint... Hey,  I get it...BG screwed CJ... and Koivu did not say nice thinks ala Souray after the axe fell...whatever.. The team performed better after CJ left...with koivu leading the way. 

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Mulsey- I get it. I make a comment regarding St Koivu and all of a sudden a post pops. up from Johnny regarding my Gainey bias and now you. To say that all of my negative Koivu or anti Gainey posts are fed by resentment over Julien is akin to me saying that all of your pro Koivu comments are clouded because of your love for the guy. Was the reason that you and John have bashed Ribs teh past 2 years because he got into that tussle with Koivu 2 years ago or is it because you have legitimate concerns about his abilities?!?? I do not for one minute believe that. Cripes 10 years from now if Julien has won 3 cups in Jersey, if I make a comment against Gainey or Koivu or STephen Harper for that matter will it be construed and twisted to be because I am bitter?!?? Give it up boys. I have an opinion just like anyone else on this board and it is not fed by any bias towards something that happened last year.

Face it. At this time of year there is not much to discuss except the GM and player moves.

Does anyone here ever listen to anything other than this board?!?? Some of the comments I make are the same as expressed in some papers and by sports talk radio stations. Are they all bitter over CJ being fired?!!??? PJ Stock and Tony Maronaro on the Team 990 have expressed concerns over how Gainey has spent this year. Hmmm..I wonder if they are upset over CJ? Or maybe Gainey tok thei rparking spot one time last year and they just cannot get over it!!!

I make comments to provoke debate, conversation. John asked me if CJ had any bitterness towards Gainey and I answered him. None. He is extremely happy and excited as I am for him. If you want to turn any negative comment I have into me having a personal vendetta then go ahead.

-- Edited by barry33 at 19:05, 2006-07-20

-- Edited by barry33 at 19:22, 2006-07-20

  Mulsey- I get it. I make a comment regarding St Koivu and all of a sudden a post pops. up from Johnny regarding my Gainey bias and now you. To say that all of my negative Koivu or anti Gainey posts are fed by resentment over Julien is akin to me saying that all of your pro Koivu comments are clouded because of your love for the guy. Was the reason that you and John have bashed Ribs teh past 2 years because he got into that tussle with Koivu 2 years ago or is it because you have legitimate concerns about his abilities?!?? I do not for one minute believe that. Cripes 10 years from now if Julien has won 3 cups in Jersey, if I make a comment against Gainey or Koivu or STephen Harper for that matter will it be construed and twisted to be because I am bitter?!?? Give it up boys. I have an opinion just like anyone else on this board and it is not fed by any bias towards something that happened last year. Face it. At this time of year there is not much to discuss except the GM and player moves. Does anyone here ever listen to anything other than this board?!?? Some of the comments I make are the same as expressed in some papers and by sports talk radio stations. Are they all bitter over CJ being fired?!!??? PJ Stock and Tony Maronaro on the Team 990 have expressed concerns over how Gainey has spent this year. Hmmm..I wonder if they are upset over CJ? Or maybe Gainey tok thei rparking spot one time last year and they just cannot get over it!!! I make comments to provoke debate, conversation. John asked me if CJ had any bitterness towards Gainey and I answered him. None. He is extremely happy and excited as I am for him. If you want to turn any negative comment I have into me having a personal vendetta then go ahead.-- Edited by barry33 at 19:05, 2006-07-20 -- Edited by barry33 at 19:22, 2006-07-20

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WHOOPISH...Spoken like a guy towel whiped in a debate.

fact is...zippo negatore Koivu comments/BG comments prior to the habs fall debacle. In fact once CJ was gone and the dust settled...THEY DID BETTER.

Hey...here it is...if the habs don't beat last years point totals by 10 points and get past the first round....I will also begin to question BG. But to start in before any outcomes? seems a bit bizzare/jaded to me...

Not sure why my second post ended up BEFORE my first one...

Anyhow...its summer...just having a bit of fun...at Barry's expense.

Where is And-o? He has a back like a trout. things just slide right of it...I love it.

Ando wrote:

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Muller93 wrote: And-o.....has a back like a trout.....things just slide right of it..... ...kinda like Mulsey's melon! (good to see you all getting in a few full contact workouts before training camp!)

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And O ..barry33 is disappointed! Ya left me hung out to dry on this one!! You are supposed to be my enforcer patrolling the left wing and ya left barry all alone getting pummelled. Chris Nilan would have been there fo rme.

Ando wrote:

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 Truth be told...And-o would flip them both for an Ace!!!  Cripes...who would return that offer???

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And-o. name that "ace". Who would you want at center that might actually be available( i.e Crosby and Thornton would not be traded for 10 first round draft picks/Koivu/Riblet). Other than those two...anyone could be had for the right price. Who is THAT MUCH better than Koivu huh?

In fact name me 10 centers in this league that you would rather have. I got Crosby to start just based on potential. I would also take Thornton even though I think he is a bit of a wus.

Anyhow, name me 10.

Barry, how did I get brought into this post. I have recently said how I hope Ribs does well, haven't made a Koivu comment in awhile and just wanted to know why the bitterness towards BG.

Since I have been brought in, I will say, I am sure alot of GM's would drool to have Koivu in their lineup. He's a true playoff performer and the Habs know that. He's being paid what he deserves in the new NHL (I think it's too much) but would much rather have him center my #1 line than Arnott for example.

He does have injury problems and that has been his downfall since he was ripping up the league in his first season and that's why it is so important to have a second line center who is actually able to pick up his game come crunch time.

 

and-o all those names , i dont know where to start . i edited you list . i took out players i think are not equal to saks or equal to saks but earn more or dont have the intangables he has , some of the names on you 2nd tier list are laughable , it just shows how little you like koivu , lindros or roenick , please at least look like you know something .the rookies could be better could be daigle , who knows . what is left are players i feel are above saks but not leaps and bounds like you suggest , of the ones that are make 7mil per so they are being paid way too much , so is saks but not when you consider tenure , loyalty , on ice and office contributions . just my 2 cents


top tier

B. Richards

E. Staal

H. Zetterberg




J. Sakic

J. Thornton

M. Modano

M. Sundin

O. jokinan

P. Forsberg

P. Marleau


S. Crosby



Next, “second tier” guys (And-o counts a MAX of 5-to-8 guys on this tier that Saku could be offered straight-up for without drawing fits of uncontrollable laughter from the other party)





Second Tier Centres





































S. Gomez



S. Horcoff























Finally, “rookies/prospects”…(And-o could have easily added about 5 more names here)





Rookies



P. Kessel



J. Staal



J. Toews



P. Mueller