shrader

That's assuming he signs. I can't imagine anyone in his camp had any influence on this deal. Has there been anything out there suggesting that?

He could sign today if he wanted to.

I think it's a perfect example though of why they're not going to go crazy right now and load up. They've been very open about their plan of developing this group for a while now. Do a pair of horribly timed injuries make you panic and break that plan when the payoff is getting curb stomped by Boston or Carolina? I do expect one or two more minor moves, but they're riding these kids to that potential curb stomping. And I also think they're beyond that point of critical mass with forward prospects at this point. We'll be seeing more of that moved to bulk up the blue line depth. It's a neverending cycle. They need to find a way to break into that top 6 group. I think they're two pieces away but unfortunately they won't be finding them until the offseason.

Thanks folks, now I'm thinking about trying to find the best beef on weck in NC. There's actually a pretty good food truck but they're not scheduled anywhere until 3/14.

I know the playoffs are important and all, but do you really want to watch 4 of last night's game? Waiting for the playoffs for 85 years and then not even wanting to watch the games, it's a weird place to be.

This is not a loop hole. It's by design and explicitly written into the CBA.

Ok, he’s flexible.

And what does that have to do with needing to change the rules?

Right, because Chicago can't actually trade someone who doesn't have a contract with them. They could turn around and sign him right now if they really wanted to. Chicago: Ha, the joke's on you, we got Bjork for free. Buffalo: Ha, the joke's on you, we didn't have to give you anything to take Bjork.

When you draft a player out of major junior, you have 2 years to sign him. When you draft a player out of college, you have 4 years to sign him. Those lousy no good cheating college kids... make it 5 years. edit: It's already been addressed. But this topic comes up over and over again. Someone spurned my team, so we need to change the rules so I can't ever be hurt again. What, the rules already favor my team in that situation? I don't care, rejection sucks.

I just got an email saying ESPN+ is streaming TSN's trade center tomorrow. Finally, I haven't been able to watch their coverage for years.

So off the active roster and over to one of the non-roster categories. The way they word that stuff in the CBA, its not easy to find.

As a professional math guy, I have to say that the math is accurate.

I don't think I've seen a win in person in over 10 years at this point. You need to take a page out of my book and just take one for the team. Stay far, far away. Edit: Oh god, it's over 12 years at this point. The last game I ever went to in Boston was Lucic/Miller and they sure as hell have never won since I moved to North Carolina.

I skipped over a lot of the middle of this thread so I have no idea if it was mentioned. I noticed in pictures attached to the story that he wears his father's number. That's pretty cool to see. I mean, there can't possibly be any other way that he wound up with number 61.

There's some major fan service in Mandalorian that I think you'll enjoy. I'm trying to avoid any spoilers for you, but you'll know it if/when you see it. My directv time officially ended last week. It's amazing how many crappy offers they've been emailing me lately since I decided to walk away.

So they're off the roster the second they're waived? I always assumed it was once they were claimed/cleared. You have those guys every so often who are waived but then never sent down.

It's a pretty significant challenge. They have a very tight window to bring him up to speed if he's going to be a contributing piece to this playoff push. I hope there's one more blueliner headed our way.

Kids these days. I'd have been shut up by my parents so fast if I was begging for even a puck. The little guy wanted a stick? I hope he never sits next to the owners box and starts demanding a small share of the team.

I can't imagine that too many 63 year olds choose to take a year off and then come back.

They probably needed to do it temporarily even before this trade thanks to that day where Houser was on the NHL roster.

I do wonder what goes through the heads of certain Blackhawk fans. We all know what carrot is dangled in front of that organization, but for the more casual fan, it's pretty tough to sell them some draft picks from 2050.

I'm wondering if they do it now just in case someone may try to poach him later for their AHL team. Normally you'd be able to call someone's bluff and just claim him on waivers as they try to send him down. Problem is, you're already carrying 3 goalies and you don't have the space to make that claim anymore. I think it's definitely insurance against him getting poached, but I really can't come up with good reasons for that other than the obvious limit on bodies right now for the AHL net. I'm mostly curious as to whether or not this changes the value of his AHL contract at all.

So has he still been sitting for these entire 2.5 weeks?

Whether or not the players make it, that's a lot of ammo for future trades that they no longer have.