2018-19 Hockey Megathread: Lightning-Proof Jackets

[Shofercia]

True, but he's a proven goal scorer, who's found a way to score from any position, and to top it off, he's a powerplay specialist. Also, he's only getting $6.25 million, rather than the $10 million he was offered to play for a non-contending team. He can also play 4 on 4, and 4 on 3, just ask Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foiE5l4j6ug (7 mins into it)

Your dig might actually mean something if it wasn't referencing something from a decade ago.

Whatever Kovalchuk has done in the past, he's not that player anymore. And with so much time spent away from the NHL, I'm not sure anybody really knows what kind of player he'll be once he comes back.

Certain KHL clubs can go toe to toe with NHL clubs, and Kovalchuk was a member of one such club. I think you're confusing the KHL with the AHL. In 2011-2012 season, he averaged 42 goals in 36 KHL games and 31 goals in 37 NHL games, so the difference is roughly three-fourths. In the 53 games last season, he had 63 points, meaning that there's a possibility of him producing a point a game on the NHL level. Oh, and he held back a bit during the last KHL season, wanting to focus on the Olympics. He's not going to hold back right now, since the Stanley Cup's the only thing he's missing. In 2017, when he wasn't holding back, he produced 78 points in 60 games.

[Camicon]

Your dig might actually mean something if it wasn't referencing something from a decade ago.

Whatever Kovalchuk has done in the past, he's not that player anymore. And with so much time spent away from the NHL, I'm not sure anybody really knows what kind of player he'll be once he comes back.

Certain KHL clubs can go toe to toe with NHL clubs, and Kovalchuk was a member of one such club. I think you're confusing the KHL with the AHL. In 2011-2012 season, he averaged 42 goals in 36 KHL games and 31 goals in 37 NHL games, so the difference is roughly three-fourths. In the 53 games last season, he had 63 points, meaning that there's a possibility of him producing a point a game on the NHL level. Oh, and he held back a bit during the last KHL season, wanting to focus on the Olympics. He's not going to hold back right now, since the Stanley Cup's the only thing he's missing. In 2017, when he wasn't holding back, he produced 78 points in 60 games.

If you want to compare the best KHL clubs against the worst NHL clubs then yes, you will find matchups that favour the KHL. But that would be disingenuous.

And I'm not confusing anything. Hockey in the NHL and hockey in the KHL are played differently. That's why Shipachyov didn't end up playing for Vegas, despite being a league star in the KHL; he wasn't able to adapt to the NHL-style game.

Kovalchuk got signed for a big chunk of change for multiple years on the speculation that he'll be able to live up to that contract, despite being seven years removed from the NHL and twelve years removed from his career highs in goals and points. He's older, slower, and as with virtually all hockey players past the age of thirty, on a downwards trend. That does not bode well for his return to a style of game that is getting younger and faster year after year, especially when he's going to a Kings team that is older, slower, and pushed up against the salary cap with next to no room to swing free agency deals or trades to change that.

[Shofercia]

Certain KHL clubs can go toe to toe with NHL clubs, and Kovalchuk was a member of one such club. I think you're confusing the KHL with the AHL. In 2011-2012 season, he averaged 42 goals in 36 KHL games and 31 goals in 37 NHL games, so the difference is roughly three-fourths. In the 53 games last season, he had 63 points, meaning that there's a possibility of him producing a point a game on the NHL level. Oh, and he held back a bit during the last KHL season, wanting to focus on the Olympics. He's not going to hold back right now, since the Stanley Cup's the only thing he's missing. In 2017, when he wasn't holding back, he produced 78 points in 60 games.

If you want to compare the best KHL clubs against the worst NHL clubs then yes, you will find matchups that favour the KHL. But that would be disingenuous.

And I'm not confusing anything. Hockey in the NHL and hockey in the KHL are played differently. That's why Shipachyov didn't end up playing for Vegas, despite being a league star in the KHL; he wasn't able to adapt to the NHL-style game.

Kovalchuk got signed for a big chunk of change for multiple years on the speculation that he'll be able to live up to that contract, despite being seven years removed from the NHL and twelve years removed from his career highs in goals and points. He's older, slower, and as with virtually all hockey players past the age of thirty, on a downwards trend. That does not bode well for his return to a style of game that is getting younger and faster year after year, especially when he's going to a Kings team that is older, slower, and pushed up against the salary cap with next to no room to swing free agency deals or trades to change that.

Kings have a $9 mil salary cap hit cushion at the moment, and as for the rest, let's wait and see how the season plays out. Shipachev's star in the KHL depended on having good line mates. Kovalchuk's didn't.

[Camicon]

If you want to compare the best KHL clubs against the worst NHL clubs then yes, you will find matchups that favour the KHL. But that would be disingenuous.

And I'm not confusing anything. Hockey in the NHL and hockey in the KHL are played differently. That's why Shipachyov didn't end up playing for Vegas, despite being a league star in the KHL; he wasn't able to adapt to the NHL-style game.

Kovalchuk got signed for a big chunk of change for multiple years on the speculation that he'll be able to live up to that contract, despite being seven years removed from the NHL and twelve years removed from his career highs in goals and points. He's older, slower, and as with virtually all hockey players past the age of thirty, on a downwards trend. That does not bode well for his return to a style of game that is getting younger and faster year after year, especially when he's going to a Kings team that is older, slower, and pushed up against the salary cap with next to no room to swing free agency deals or trades to change that.

Kings have a $9 mil salary cap hit cushion at the moment... *snip*

What? They have 3.1 million in cap space, the lowest in the league, and four UFAs.

[The Royal Kingdom of Quebec]

Kovalchuk's gotten a lot older since his last game in the NHL, but his KHL performance was still excellent.

He should be good for at least a season and half, though afterwards I'm not sure on.

[Shofercia]

Kings have a $9 mil salary cap hit cushion at the moment... *snip*

What? They have 3.1 million in cap space, the lowest in the league, and four UFAs.

Hmm, odd, I usually use NHL Numbers: https://www.nhlnumbers.com/team-salarie ... salary-cap

Cap Space: $9 mil

Kovalchuk's gotten a lot older since his last game in the NHL, but his KHL performance was still excellent.

He should be good for at least a season and half, though afterwards I'm not sure on.

He's tough. But yeah, a two year contract would've been better.

[Camicon]

What? They have 3.1 million in cap space, the lowest in the league, and four UFAs.

Hmm, odd, I usually use NHL Numbers: https://www.nhlnumbers.com/team-salarie ... salary-cap

Cap Space: $9 mil

Their information is out of date (they have Forbot listed as making $625 000, when he's actually making $2 525 000) and added incorrectly ($44 391 897 + $20 900 000 + $7 437 499 = $72 729 396, not $66 131 897). They also aren't counting Mike Richard's recapture and termination cap penalties.

[Shofercia]

Hmm, odd, I usually use NHL Numbers: https://www.nhlnumbers.com/team-salarie ... salary-cap

Cap Space: $9 mil

Their information is out of date (they have Forbot listed as making $625 000, when he's actually making $2 525 000) and added incorrectly ($44 391 897 + $20 900 000 + $7 437 499 = $72 729 396, not $66 131 897). They also aren't counting Mike Richard's recapture and termination cap penalties.

Ok, so we'll use your site from now on. Damn, that's not a lot of cap room. Thankfully, the Kings have most of their line up set to go!

[Camicon]

Their information is out of date (they have Forbot listed as making $625 000, when he's actually making $2 525 000) and added incorrectly ($44 391 897 + $20 900 000 + $7 437 499 = $72 729 396, not $66 131 897). They also aren't counting Mike Richard's recapture and termination cap penalties.

Ok, so we'll use your site from now on. Damn, that's not a lot of cap room. Thankfully, the Kings have most of their line up set to go!

They've got four spots on the roster to fill, and only 3mil to do it. Either they give away a good piece to dump cap, or those four spots are going to be plugs and AHL players; not exactly a cheery spot to be in.

[Shofercia]

Ok, so we'll use your site from now on. Damn, that's not a lot of cap room. Thankfully, the Kings have most of their line up set to go!

They've got four spots on the roster to fill, and only 3mil to do it. Either they give away a good piece to dump cap, or those four spots are going to be plugs and AHL players; not exactly a cheery spot to be in.

From your link:

Kovalchuk-Kopitar-Brown
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
Clifford-Lewis-Thompson
Rempal-Kempe-Iaffalo

Muzzin-Doughty
Phaneuf-Martinez
Forbort-Brickley

Quick (Campbell)

Where are the holes?

[Camicon]

They've got four spots on the roster to fill, and only 3mil to do it. Either they give away a good piece to dump cap, or those four spots are going to be plugs and AHL players; not exactly a cheery spot to be in.

From your link:

Kovalchuk-Kopitar-Brown
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
Clifford-Lewis-Thompson
Rempal-Kempe-Iaffalo

Muzzin-Doughty
Phaneuf-Martinez
Forbort-Brickley

Quick (Campbell)

Where are the holes?

Their healthy scratches who, when injuries occur, and when bottom-line players aren't playing up to standard, will find themselves in the line-up.

That may seem petty, but if a team can't rely on every player they put on the ice then they're not going far in the playoffs. That includes those who might not crack the initial roster.

[Impaled Nazarene]

I hate Pittsburgh right now. They traded Sheary to the Sabres for a 4th rounder. Goddamn its like they hate him. Or who knows maybe Buffalo will become the new Vegas overnight.

[United Kingdom of Poland]

I hate Pittsburgh right now. They traded Sheary to the Sabres for a 4th rounder. Goddamn its like they hate him. Or who knows maybe Buffalo will become the new Vegas overnight.

as a sabres fan... we won't pull that off unless the rest of the division goes to complete garbage or half our current defense has a collective heart attack so we can get those swedes playing right off the bat. I'm just glad they didn't listen to the talking heads and trade O'reilly.

[Camicon]

I hate Pittsburgh right now. They traded Sheary to the Sabres for a 4th rounder. Goddamn its like they hate him. Or who knows maybe Buffalo will become the new Vegas overnight.

They needed cap space

[Impaled Nazarene]

I hate Pittsburgh right now. They traded Sheary to the Sabres for a 4th rounder. Goddamn its like they hate him. Or who knows maybe Buffalo will become the new Vegas overnight.

as a sabres fan.

All Gods have mercy on your souls.

I hate Pittsburgh right now. They traded Sheary to the Sabres for a 4th rounder. Goddamn its like they hate him. Or who knows maybe Buffalo will become the new Vegas overnight.

They needed cap space

Of all the players to dump for cap they dump a productive winger...

[Camicon]

They needed cap space

Of all the players to dump for cap they dump a productive winger...

20-30 pts per season isn't irreplaceable; and, among forwards on the Penguins with a similar cap hit, Sheary wasn't particularly standout.

[United Kingdom of Poland]

as a sabres fan.

All Gods have mercy on your souls.

Well we still have a team, so I'd say they are.

Of all the players to dump for cap they dump a productive winger...

20-30 pts per season isn't irreplaceable; and, among forwards on the Penguins with a similar cap hit, Sheary wasn't particularly standout.

plus Pittsburgh has a good pipeline going so they can take that loss.

[Camicon]

20-30 pts per season isn't irreplaceable; and, among forwards on the Penguins with a similar cap hit, Sheary wasn't particularly standout.

plus Pittsburgh has a good pipeline going so they can take that loss.

Eh. Not really. Pittsburgh has been at the top of the league long enough that their prospect pool is just about the shallowest in the NHL.

[Gim]

I hate Pittsburgh right now. They traded Sheary to the Sabres for a 4th rounder. Goddamn its like they hate him. Or who knows maybe Buffalo will become the new Vegas overnight.

They needed cap space

What...they're going for Tavares?

[Camicon]

They needed cap space

What...they're going for Tavares?

No, they've got some important players they need to re-sign: Zach Aston-Reese and Jake Guentzel are RFAs next year, and are going to be due for big raises. Trying to clear cap space while also trying to re-sign Aston-Reese and Guentzel would force the Penguins to accept a trade even less favourable than the one they just made.

[The Serbian Empire]

They needed cap space

What...they're going for Tavares?

Tavares wouldn't be anything more than a 3C on this team. I doubt that's the purpose of trading Sheary.

[Gim]

What...they're going for Tavares?

No, they've got some important players they need to re-sign: Zach Aston-Reese and Jake Guentzel are RFAs next year, and are going to be due for big raises. Trying to clear cap space while also trying to re-sign Aston-Reese and Guentzel would force the Penguins to accept a trade even less favourable than the one they just made.

Yeah, I forgot about Guentzel.

[United Kingdom of Poland]

I hate Pittsburgh right now. They traded Sheary to the Sabres for a 4th rounder. Goddamn its like they hate him. Or who knows maybe Buffalo will become the new Vegas overnight.

as a sabres fan... we won't pull that off unless the rest of the division goes to complete garbage or half our current defense has a collective heart attack so we can get those swedes playing right off the bat. I'm just glad they didn't listen to the talking heads and trade O'reilly.

me and my big fat mouth... at least we got a decent haul for him.

[Shazbotdom]

Marc-Andre Fleury has been re-signed to the Knights

[Tarsonis]

Marc-Andre Fleury has been re-signed to the Knights

Was there any doubt?