I'm starting this thread now since technically the season has started.

Thoughts on signings, trades and what not?

I think Suter and Parise going to the Wild will make the upcoming years interesting. I don't think either of those guys are top 10 in the league but adding them will make a below average team much better. It will take some pressure off of the forwards and defencemen on the team because of the talent coming in.

Nash going to the Rangers - no surprise really. I was pretty sure he was going to a team like that.

Weber staying in Nashville - again, not a surprise. Nashville would have to match or start from square one basically. At least this way they managed to keep 2/3 of their stars.

Semin signing for 7.5 million - I'm shocked honestly. I think his attitude puts him more in the 4-6 million range but that's just me. 1 year isn't too risky and you add his talent to the Staal brothers and you've got a lot more firepower on that team.

I can't think of any other big moves right now but at least this should get this thread going.

Elara : come post here! We'll keep this thread alive if no one else does

also, can I get this stickied?

Oh the Suter and Parise thing... I got so sick of listening to the radio while all of that was going on. The Pens wanted them so badly... according to the radio people at least. I am kinda surprised that they both went to the Wild though, that was rather interesting, and yeah, I think the Wild will be a much better team for it.

There was also Jordan Staal going to the Hurricanes at the start of free agency. I wasn't shocked to see him go, and I respect that he didn't take more money than we offered him... he just wanted to play with his brother. But you would have thought that it was the end of the world they way some people around here reacted. He's a good player, don't get me wrong... much better than a third string, which is all he would be here... but he was third string because Crosby and Malkin are better (when they are on their game). As for Semin... yeah... that amount is just ridiculous! I think Staal only signed for like 6.5 or something like that.

Oh yeah, Staal going to Carolina. I guess I sort of mentioned that in passing. I think it's a good thing. I think the Pens got a good young third-line center (an actual third-liner) and some other good things from the trade and saved some cap space. I think they also got a 1st round pick too and someone else. I can't remember. Still, overall I think both teams get what they needed with this trade.

Oh, I also think Winnipeg improved this year. Signed Oli Jokinen which is big. He's not a superstar but he's a solid 1st/2nd line center. There are a few other signings they made that improved them a bit. I really hope Winnipeg can improve over the next year and make the playoffs. I really like watching them play.

Elara : re-summon. You should favorite this thread so I don't feel the need to summon you every time I post in order to get a reply

It has been added to the favorite list. And yeah, honestly I think it was a good trade... people around here are just stupid.

I hope that Winnipeg improves this season, it was so sad to see them not make the playoffs in their first season back.

Yeah, obviously it would have been nice to sign Jordan Staal but he didn't want to stay. I'm impressed that Ray Shero got what he got for a player who wanted to leave. I assume he was still RFA but you don't want to play games with offer sheets and such.

Yeah, I hope they make it this year. A lot of teams have finished 5-8th in the last 10 years and have made real pushes into the playoffs. If they can make the playoffs their home ice will be a big advantage for them.

Oh, you'll appreciate this next comment: aren't you glad that Philly got NO ONE this off-season. I heard they went after pretty much every big name and no one went to Philly. Even after Weber signed the offer sheet he was kept by Nashville. And they lose Jagr and trade away Van Riemsdyk. I don't know if they'll be nearly as strong as they have been the last couple years.

I think this season, Adam Larsson on New Jersey will have a big year this year. I expect the Flyers to make the playoffs but I don't think they will win a cup under Ilya Bryzgalov. Rangers and Bruins will be good again this year. Penguins and Lightning will both have their all-stars at full health and will have good a good season. Carolina will hold a home ice advantage first round playoff series if Cam Ward plays to his potential. James Van Reimsdyk will not be enough to lead Toronto to the playoffs this year. I think Edmonton gets out of the basement of the Western Conference, but missed the playoffs again. Columbus will miss the playoffs again this year. I expect St.Louis to take a step back this year, but still will likely make the playoffs. I predict San Jose will miss the playoffs this season. I think Jerome Iginla may be traded this season.

those are some interesting predictions. It'll be fun to see how many of them play out.

I'm so excited for the beginning of the season. I hope labor dispute talks get settled really soon. I don't think I can handle another lockout. I'm looking forward to the Canada-Russia mini series starting in a week or so.

I didn't get into the sport until after the last lockout, but I have heard the tales and I do not want to see something like that come about again, so I also hope this contract negotiation goes smoothly.

Yeah, the negotiations for the lockout seem to be getting no where at the moment.  I really hope we don't see a lockout similar to the Football one.
As for predictions, I really hope that the Blues and Blackhawks have good years, with the Blues winning the Stanely Cup.

I would like to see Gary Bettman get fired and have that Fehr guy take over for him.

He has experience settling lockout disputes in multiple sports, so he is very qualified.

I swear if there is a lockout this season, then Bettman has got to go.

Bettman has needed to go for awhile. There is actually a petition going around online now for it even. I will have to find the link later though, since I don't have the time at the moment.

Well when you do find it, please let me know, because I would gladly go along with help get Gary Bettman fired.

With everything happening in Phoenix, it is just a mess. If Bettman just let Balsillie move the team to Hamilton, then the team would not be in crazy debt.

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-nhl-fire-gary-bettman-as-nhl-commissioner

There it is!

I'm not much of a hockey fan, but I hope you guys have a good season.  I haven't really done anything hockey besides old videos games lol. Wish you guys best of luck.

It looks like there is going to be a lockout

Although, there is a chance that the KHL will televise some hockey games if the lockout lasts.

Also, the majority of the NHLers will be heading to the KHL because the Swedish elite league made some stupid rule about full year contracts.

So there may not be NHL hockey, but there may still be hockey to watch.

There are no words for how displeased I am over this. I only hope I can get some of those KHL broadcasts.

Can we PLEASE fire Bettman now?

I really hope this lock out doesn't last the entire season like it did in 2004. It has never made sense to me how they go about this CBA negotiation process. I mean the main issues are about money but if there is a lockout neither side is making money.  They had 6 years to negotiate and figure out what they wanted but both sides don't start talking to each other until the CBA is up. Am I the only one that sees that this process is flawed?

If I were in charge I would try to get a 1 year extension done to the previous CBA agreement and spend the entire season negotiating the new deal. Than again I am no businessman.

On the brightside, I might go see some WHL games this year. It will be nice to watch a first place team (Oil Kings) compared to the last few seasons of watching a last place team lol.

In other hockey related news I'm very happy to see both Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall signed for long term deals with the Oilers.

Hey, at least you got to see Eberle and Hall play. You also won the rights to that highly touted free agent Justin Shultz and have Yakapov under contract. We here in Toronto have no stars to cheer for. We got extremely fortunate in the Beaucheman deal that we got both Lupul and Gradiner. This is because the rest of our team is garbage. Now Schenn is gone, and Kessel is still making 5 mil a season for being just good. I would say Kessel is worth 3.5-4mil tops. He is a puck hog, which doesn't fit well with the team. Also, Grabovski, Mccarthur and Kulimen all had down seasons and Armstrong was hurt for most of his contract with us. We still do not have a top center so I think it is going to be another down year for Toronto. I hope that Morgan, Van Reimsdyk, Cobourne and Reimer can step up their games to help lift the team to the playoffs. I still believe we are still a few years away from a playoff birth however.