Taro T

Think the Hawks would be interested in his rights as part of a package for Kane?

And would be ok w/ them bringing in Kane if they can get him for ballpark what they gave up for Skinner. But if they have to start giving up real assets for him, would rather they chance him not being available in 1 year. Hoping they don't land Campbell. Just something about goalies that spent significant time in TO; they never seem to hold up to scrutiny. Swapping for their prospects has worked for the B's, but they weren't grabbing guys that had become established.

Thus his inclusion of the word "AND" between "team" and "again." Again was referring to his being repetitive with his comments about Russian Players, NOT that the Sabres were a bubble team last year.

Adams and Pegula met w/ all 4 of their "big" NCAA prospects at the Frozen Four. (Presuming they spoke w/ Huglen too then, but not positive.) Adams spoke of Portillo before that and somehow almost always seems to forget to mention him since. Adams definitely, at minimum, has suspicions.

Was going to say something to this effect. You stated it better. 🍺

Yep. And, prior to him & Pegula flying out to the Frozen Four, Adams did talk about Portillo and also that he was OK with any of the college kids deciding to stay in college. After they spoke with Portillo, Johnson, & Levi and came back with Power he pretty much hasn't spoken of Portillo at all. Right when they came back, didn't consider not mentioning Portillo in one or 2 media sessions as a big deal. But now that it's literally months later and he still isn't brought up, yeah, there is something to be read into that. It seems that not only is Portillo staying in school to work towards his MBA & run the business he started but he also seems to want to test FA. Whether that's because of them trading for Levi's rights or some other reason, would be perfectly fine with his rights being included in a trade package at the draft.

Before ending it, do you have someone at work who would be willing to let you put the tracker thingy in their car for a few days? How she reacts to that might tip you off to how you should plan to play your next card.

Thing is, they HAD to do that when the new (2012) version of the CBA came out because of the way the contract was written. Had they traded him & he then retire before reaching the end of the deal they'd've had HUGE cap recapture penalties that could've gutted the team for a year or 2 which might've forced them to jettison all their high price talent and become one of the league's bottom feeders for ... 🤔 Hey! Wait 1 durn minute ...

It just doesn't feel like Canada Day w/out the Free Agent Frenzy. Kind of like Memorial Day Weekend minus the Indy 500.

Good to see you back posting this week. 🍺 Bishop & Anderson are definitely only building blocks. But, until Adams actually checks off those checkmarks further up the list, he has not gotten one of those GT "must do NOW" items checked off in 3 years of trying. Stephen R. Covey would not be impressed with him avoiding Quadrant I like the plague (though he would give him marks for the Quadrant II activity: trading for Levi).

Does anybody else picture the Mets Comptroller shouting AND TWENTY CENTS like Steve Martin in The Jerk while writing that check over and over? (Yes, the Comptroller doesn't actually write nor individually sign the checks, we know. But still ...)

Where Lambert is tracking now, he does fit the Wings profile. But the way he's dropped goes completely against it. Will be interesting for sure but would guess he doesn't end up there.

Yes. 😉

No.

No games canceled/ postponed. (Would go bolder & say that will be true leaguewide.) Mittelstadt gets at least 60 points & likely 65.

Had this thread been open the entirety of Thursday would've had a pretty good rant about ERs and lack of communication therein and how it could turn a 2 hour stay prior to hospital admittance into a nearly 6 hour stay prior to it. But am too tired from only 3 hours of sleep to bother. So, guess that's the complaint - too tired to complain.

Anderson & UPL penciled in as the 4 & 3 respectively would be better, but isn't realistic. Was hoping that they'd have a true #1 AND a better #2, but Adams was on record as stating this was something he hoped would happen, so am fairly blase about it. If they really can hold his starts to 25 or fewer he might actually be a good backup but am expecting him to be a 'meh' backup. And agree that the timing of this is fine. Understand why people would have liked this to be announced after a starter is signed, but unless that guy is coming via trade it couldn't happen for 2 more weeks and most teams willing to trade a goalie probably expect the best bang for their buck at the draft. Once the paperwork gets to the NHL office, the signing becomes public the next day, so the only realistic way to hold off the announcement is to not put pen to paper. And if they do that, maybe Anderson decides to walk away from the deal in the interim. Adams seemingly got bit last year by having what he thought was a deal in place just minus the signature. No way he makes that mistake again. You don't have a deal until the ink is dry. Another 'meh' move. But now they officially have a battery of goalies signed: Anderson & Bishop. Which would've been a very good tandem about 10 years ago. 😉

Nice signing. He's a good AHLer and could help if the parent team has a rash of injuries.

Nice story. But did you ever have the team president call you asking you to not give up your seasons & answer your questions for 20+ minutes? 😉

Yes. Granato or Adams (can't remember which) confirmed he'd been playing with a broken hand after it had fully healed.

Wonder if that's because he's still mulling whether to sign this off-season or if it's to give 4 other teams a good look at him in a non-NCAA setting.

If he'd go for it, that would be the deal IMHO.

Thanks for that. 🍺

Am curious to see how they'd run a 5 team tourney. Short round robin games w/ the top 4 out of that slotted into a pair of semifinals would seem most likely IMHO.

5-12 you say. Hmm ...