discussion Crazy day in the NHL today!

[GregH]

Taylor Hall traded to New Jersey for Adam Larsson.
PK Subban traded to Nashville for Shea Weber.
Stamkos re-upping in Tampa (suck it Leafs)

As an Oilers fan I'm pissed about the Hall trade, especially after seeing a comment from an unnamed GM saying he wished he'd been called as they could have done a package deal including a #1 D that was better than just Larsson.
I guess the Oilers will end up better off now that they have that legit #1 D they've been looking for, but I just wish they could have at least gotten a draft pick or two out of New HJersey as well.
Hall is 3rd in the entire league in 5v5 pts per 60 behind I think only Crosby and Benn.
Lucic signing as he's reported to be will help a little, but the last two years of his contract (I'm assuming he'll sign for 6 years) are gonna suck. Hopefully he takes a sizeable discount for those extra years as was rumoured.

Not sure what the hell the Habs were thinking about trading away Subban for Weber. A little bit of cap space freed up I guess, but Weber is on the decline. Maybe issues between PK and Therien? If that's the case though I can the coach before moving PK.

 

[SugarJ]

PK is rumored to be poison in the dressing room, very full of himself. Way better to move a player like that than change coaches.

 

[CMetaphor]

I'm by no means an expert, but it seems PK's "attitude" and "antics" got him kicked. Plus, he takes a lot of risks on the ice that dont often end well.
Weber Was on the decline, but it's freaking Nashville. No one wants to be there, haha. I think he'll be delivering some wonderful cannonballs for the Habs in no time.

 

[Caldezar]

I have an inside man on the mentality with the Hall trade, and it appears that Hall was an absolute cancer in the locker room. And that got much worse when McDavid came on board and Hall wasn't the clear #1 anymore. But that still doesn't explain to me why they sold him at such a low price. At the very least, Edmonton could have gotten a much better D and likely a pick or 2. This trade has left me wondering just how much Edmonton left on the table. I think heads might roll in Edmonton on the fallout from the trade.

The PK trade makes sense both ways overall really. PK is rumored to be a complicated locker room guy, and Montreal on a whole is trying to turn their team mentality around. So to trade out PK and get a much more physical D that's a true leader is a big step for them. Unfortunately, Therien's coaching style still leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to locker room camaraderie. He calls his players out in public way too much, rather than spreading the blame out to the team. That puts a lot of public stress on players.
On the other hand, Nashville gets a younger, #1 D man, and dumps one of the worst contracts in the league. Plus, a forward moving D is going to be a good offensive change in Nashville.

Stamkos re-signing in TB makes me chuckle as there's at least 3 teams that made solid efforts to free up huge amounts of cap space in order to make a run at him. It's going to be interesting to see how that pans out with the remaining UFA's. Unfortunately, I think it will drive the price way up on some of the remaining guys... (Lucic, Erikkson, etc.)

 

[chrisk]

Toronto media had Stamkos as practically a guaranteed signing with the Leafs. I guess those Leafs Stamkos jerseys will be sold at a discount now. On the radio tonight they were already talking about Tavares....

I don't like the PK trade. If there were issues with him in the room, maybe, but thats all rumour in my books. He seems to be a lightening rod and I'm not sure why. I heard all the rumours of a trade, and I thought it was all baloney...proven once again what I really know.

 

[Arinoth]

My thoughts on yesterday's NHL action.
New Jersey won the trade, they are getting a top tier forward while only having to give up a top defenseman. The trade will or should make both teams better, and thank god that the Oliers are FINALLY doing something about the half of their team that is also required to win games. You can't be dueling teams 6-5.

Nashville won the trade, kind of surprising at all, especially with the quote made last week over in Montreal that they weren't shopping P.K. at all. He 'may' not he been the best guy in the dressing room, he was one of their best on the ice. I can see Montreal wanting to get a more play it safe sort of guy, Weber sort of makes sense, a straight trade doesn't. P.K. will probably fit in better in Nashville and I wouldn't be surprised if we see him posting better numbers with them.

The only thing I was surprised about the Stamkos re-signing is for how little he resigned for, especially if you look at what players like Kane and Toews. My only guess at him coming in at a lower figure is that he always wanted to stay with the Lightning and knows that in order for the team to stay good and be sign/re-sign players that are also well skilled is to NOT handicap the team with a ridiculous salary cap. We also need to remember NHL salaries are nothing compared to sponsorship deals, and I imagine he is or will still be getting quite a few offers in that department. As a whole, the signing helps the Lightning keep their core, who with the right small tweaks can be or remain cup contenders for the next half decade (at the minimum).

 

[Rison]

I'm a huge habs fan. PK trade had to happen, cancer in the locker room just brings down the team. It's just business, in the corporate world when you have a disgruntled worker who brings down company morale, he/she is given the boot (for whatever reason). In hockey it's easier, you just trade away your issues.