2021-22 NHL Miscellaneous Thread

[Pucking Lamplighter]

Now that ESPN has hockey again, they’re beefing up their ancillary programming.

John Buccigross will host a weekly show on Thursdays at 3pm in ESPN2 and ESPN+ called The Point. It debuts next Thursday at 5pm. It will also air daily on October 12-15 as part of opening week coverage. The downside? Expect a heavy dose of Melrose.

Maybe they'll want to clue in their radio hosts. The only NHL talk I hear from ESPN radio is when something bad happens. Nobody on their radio programming has a bit of NHL knowledge or passion. I'm stuck with terrestrial radio and the lack of their NHL coverage is appalling. Come on ESPN, at least act like you won the NHL broadcasting contract. All I hear besides NFL talk is ESPNBA and I don't give a $#!T about that nonsense.

Jim

 

[cmaleski2]

Vancouver signed Pettersson, 3 years/$22.05 million ( $7.35 million AAV) and Hughes, 6 years/$47.1 million ($7.85 million AAV)

Vancouver did well to get those guys signed given their cap situation. The only concern is that Pettersson's next contract is going to end up with an AAV with 8 digits now if he keeps playing at the same level. But by then the Canucks should have a better cap situation.

 

[andyt]

According to the article below, TNT hired Donut Don permanently. ESPN countered by hiring Dave Jackson as a rules analyst. He retired from the league in 2018.

Referee Dave Jackson Joins ESPN NHL Broadcast Team

In 2018, NHL referee Dave Jackson hung up his skates. Now he’s picking up a mic to join the ESPN NHL broadcast crew.

scoutingtherefs.com

 

[andyt]

Josh Archibald from the Oilers has myocarditis as a result of contracting Covid over the summer. He’s out indefinitely.

 

[jeffbear]

According to the article below, TNT hired Donut Don permanently. ESPN countered by hiring Dave Jackson as a rules analyst. He retired from the league in 2018.

Referee Dave Jackson Joins ESPN NHL Broadcast Team

In 2018, NHL referee Dave Jackson hung up his skates. Now he’s picking up a mic to join the ESPN NHL broadcast crew.

scoutingtherefs.com

I'm honestly not convinced either of those two guys actually know anything about the rulebook.

 

[cmaleski2]

Why the Detroit Red Wings aren't worried about goalie Alex Nedeljkovic's rough preseason

Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic has let in 6 goals in his first 2 preseason games with the Detroit Red Wings after being acquired in an offseason trade.

www.freep.com

 

[jeffbear]

Why the Detroit Red Wings aren't worried about goalie Alex Nedeljkovic's rough preseason

Goalie Alex Nedeljkovic has let in 6 goals in his first 2 preseason games with the Detroit Red Wings after being acquired in an offseason trade.

www.freep.com

I mean ... you know how I feel about judging goalies based on pre season form, but you'd certainly like to see a keeper you invested that much in come out and look better.

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

E Staal still looking for a job. Maybe an injury will get him a better offer. I assume he has offers now that he has not accepted yet.

 

[jeffbear]

Speaking of old guys ... Buffalo waived goalie Aaron Dell, going with the tandem of Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski. Tokarski is a veteran AHL journeyman while Anderson is ... checks notes ... 400 years old. I mean, it's not like Dell is any good or anything. But he has been in the actual NHL for 5 consecutive seasons and Buffalo went to the trouble of signing him as a free agent this summer. On the upside (?) it looks like the Sabres have finally (!) decided to share medical info on Jack Eichel and there are other clubs who may actually be interested in trading for the guy. Fun franchise you have there, Kevyn Adams.

 

[andyt]

Kings forward Quinton Byfield fractured his ankle last night and is out indefinitely.

 

[jeffbear]

Kings forward Quinton Byfield fractured his ankle last night and is out indefinitely.

Bad news (avoiding the obvious pun here is ... difficult). That kid looks like the real deal and I was looking forward to seeing him duel with Anaheim's Zegras this season.

 

[andyt]

This is huge. The NHL and NHLPA have announced that Carey Price will be away from the team to voluntarily take part in the Player Assistance Program. This is not just for substance abuse issues, it also covers mental health issues.

 

[jeffbear]

This is huge. The NHL and NHLPA have announced that Carey Price will be away from the team to voluntarily take part in the Player Assistance Program. This is not just for substance abuse issues, it also covers mental health issues.

Whoah. Montreal was saying something along the lines of he was taking a while to recover from a non-Covid illness as recently as yesterday. I mean, I guess that fits the description of a mental health concern that would warrant joining the Player Assistance Program ... but for me there's a big leap between the two. I guess they had to say something bland and noncommittal.

 

[jeffbear]

FWIW, Price's wife released a statement on Instagram and mentioned mental health specifically. Here's hoping that Price gets whatever help he needs and that fans and the press give him the room to do what needs to do for himself and his family.

 

[HNIM]

FWIW, Price's wife released a statement on Instagram and mentioned mental health specifically. Here's hoping that Price gets whatever help he needs and that fans and the press give him the room to do what needs to do for himself and his family.

Are you suggesting rumors, speculation, and innuendo aren't helpful? Because I bet it's already too late in that market.

 

[jeffbear]

Are you suggesting rumors, speculation, and innuendo aren't helpful? Because I bet it's already too late in that market.

Checking a couple of comments sections ... yeah. Why did I go and do that?

 

[jeffbear]

Friedman reporting that Sasha Barkov's contract is getting extended in Florida. 8 years, $10 mil AAV ... mostly in bonuses. That would kick in starting next season since he has one more year on his existing deal at a Cap hit of $5.9 mil. He's going to be 27 when the new deal starts, so that locks him up through age 35. Which, as always, seems like a couple of years too much.

 

[andyt]

Friedman reporting that Sasha Barkov's contract is getting extended in Florida. 8 years, $10 mil AAV ... mostly in bonuses. That would kick in starting next season since he has one more year on his existing deal at a Cap hit of $5.9 mil. He's going to be 27 when the new deal starts, so that locks him up through age 35. Which, as always, seems like a couple of years too much.

LeBrun says that $70 million is bonus and the money fluctuates year to year.

 

[jeffbear]

Did anybody watch the Leafs' All or Nothing series on Amazon Prime? IMO it's fairly terrible until you get to the train wreck that is the last episode. Will Arnett narrating as a huge Maple Leafs homer and using the term "we" to refer to the team was ... a decision. The breakout star of the thing is Austin Matthews' dog, and he is criminally under-utilized. Also, the ending is jarring AF ... season's over, we're done. Boom.

 

[jeffbear]

LeBrun says that $70 million is bonus and the money fluctuates year to year.

Hard to argue with the money for a guy with his level of impact. The bonus structure? Whatever. It's becoming a trend to play games with bonus money but for me that's all a matter of timing and the only reason it might actually matter is in a potential lockout year.

Like, as recently as 3-4 years ago there was pretty much nobody on LTIR and it was rare to see a significant bonus component even on high end contracts. Trends come, and they go.