The 2005/2006 Hockey Season Thread

[SeanDMan]

...I'm going to pretend that you didn't just say that.

[Toe]

Why would you get a Belfour jersey? He won't be with the team next season.

Get a Alexander Steen Maple Leafs jersey.

[NobBe Nobbs]

...I'm going to pretend that you didn't just say that.

[Toe]

Doug Ast is a fighting robot designed by the top Canadian scientists to fight crime and stand up for those who are oppressed. And play hockey.

[EndOfAnEra]

Latest Pronger rumor has him headed to Pittsburgh for Gonachar and Fleury. Now that I like.

[NobBe Nobbs]

Damn, that would be a good deal for both sides. But fuck off Pittsburgh, I want Pronger the Maple Leaf! You've got your fucking prospects, leave the rest of us alone!

[Clawson]

Get a Alexander Steen Maple Leafs jersey.

[Toe]

How about he gets Stajan, then I go out and get Wellwood?

Coyotes traded Paul Mara and a 3rd rounder in 2007 or 2008 to Boston for Nick Boynton and a 4th round pick in 2007. I don't really care about the trade, Mara has a little more of an offensive game while Boynton has a bit of a harder edge. If I was either team, I would have kept who I had.

Edited June 27, 2006 by desiredtoe

[Clawson]

I'm gonna get a Stajan away jersey eventually too.

[Toe]

You bastard. At least leave me with Wellwood or Tucker or someone cool. I don't really want a Belak jersey.

[SeanDMan]

Mara for Boynton = bad deal for Boston.

Haven't seen one of those for a while.

[Guest Grapehead]

I have a Caps jersey with my own fucking name on it, yeah.. original as hell. However, I badly want a Heatley Sens jersey.

[NobBe Nobbs]

How about he gets Stajan, then I go out and get Wellwood?

[The Sultan of Swank]

Habs signed Huet for 2 years 5.75M, Hopefully he didn't have a flash in the pan season. It looks like Boullion might not resign, and the Habs aren't persuing Sundstrom, Bulis or Simpson. Hopefully Gainey will pick someone up in the free agent market. A power forward to push Koivu to a second line center would be good. So would be a big, fast defenceman.

[Toe]

Habs signed Huet for 2 years 5.75M, Hopefully he didn't have a flash in the pan season. It looks like Boullion might not resign, and the Habs aren't persuing Sundstrom, Bulis or Simpson. Hopefully Gainey will pick someone up in the free agent market. A power forward to push Koivu to a second line center would be good. So would be a big, fast defenceman.

[The Sultan of Swank]

Yeah, that's gotta be our biggest fault after leadership. We have skilled players, but no size. The biggest player we have who's a force is Souray and Komisarek and even then....

That and the Habs rely on Koivu way too much. Someone else has got to step up.

[Toe]

Yeah, that's gotta be our biggest fault after leadership. We have skilled players, but no size. The biggest player we have who's a force is Souray and Komisarek and even then....

That and the Habs rely on Koivu way too much. Someone else has got to step up.

[CKN]

Associated Press

6/27/2006 7:28:03 PM

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Mark Cuban is known for baiting NBA officials, and Dan Marino is the most prolific passer in NFL history. But the Pittsburgh natives now want to expand into a different sport in their hometown - hockey.

The two have joined with a New York City financier in trying to buy the NHL's Penguins from Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux's group, which is selling the two-time Stanley Cup champions even as the team seeks a new arena deal.

The group of prospective Penguins owners is headed by Andrew Murstein, the president of Medallion Financial Corp., a company that finances New York City taxicab medallions and originates consumer loans for recreational vehicles. Also included are principals in Pittsburgh-based Walnut Capital, a real estate management and development company.

Walnut Capital CEO Gregg Perelman recently teamed with Cuban to buy a nine-story downtown Pittsburgh office building. Cuban, who grew up in suburban Pittsburgh, is the billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner whose holdings include a movie production firm and high-definition TV channel.

Adding Cuban and Marino is expected to strengthen the group's estimated $150 million US bid not only financially but perception-wise. Neither Cuban nor Marino have any interest in moving the Penguins from Pittsburgh - Cuban has made it a condition of his participation - even though the team has yet to land a deal to build an arena to replace 45-year-old Mellon Arena.

Murstein was in Dallas on Tuesday, presumably to meet with Cuban about his involvement in the group. In the past, Murstein expressed interest in buying two NHL franchises, the Blues and Ducks, and the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer.

Todd Reidbord, Walnut Capital's president, said recently his group was the only one interested in buying the Penguins that has fully committed to staying in Pittsburgh. At least four other groups have expressed interest in the team, which is expected to be sold before the start of the NHL season in October.

Lemieux's ownership group, which also includes California businessman Ron Burkle, bought the team in federal bankruptcy court in 1999 - partly to protect the nearly $30 million in deferred money owed Lemieux on his contract. Lemieux's group has since paid back all money owed by the club before its bankruptcy filing, a rarity during such procedures.

The uncertainty over the Penguins' arena status has clouded their future in Pittsburgh. Lemieux's group has partnered with Isle of Capri Casinos, which has agreed to build a $290 million arena if it wins the solitary license that will be awarded for a slot machine casino in the city.

However, Isle of Capri is not seen as the favourite, and two other groups seeking the slots license - Harrah's and Majestic Star Casino - have not pledged full arena funding.

Gov. Ed Rendall has asked those two bidders to give $7.5 million a year toward an arena, with the Penguins contributing $8.5 million from the start and an additional $4 million per year, including $1.1 million in naming rights. The Penguins have declined to sign off on the deal, as the Isle of Capri bid would not require the team to make a financial contribution toward replacing the NHL's oldest and smallest arena.

Murstein revealed the addition of Cuban and Marino in his group in an interview Tuesday with Pittsburgh radio station WEAE, an ESPN affiliate. Cuban did not immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press, but confirmed his involvement in an e-mail to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Cuban was interested in buying into Lemieux's group in 1999, but declined to accept a role that would not include input in the team's day-to-day operation. Marino, the former University of Pittsburgh and Miami Dolphins star quarterback, expressed interest in buying into the Pittsburgh Pirates in the mid 1990s but never did so. Cuban also is interested in buying the Pirates at some point, but the current ownership has given no sign of wanting to sell.

[Toe]

I know there is a group wanting to move the Penguins to Hamilton.

Mark Cuban as an NHL owner? If this new group gave the Pens the enough money to put a good roster on the ice around Crosby, Malkin, Fleury and now Staal, then that team could win some more Stanley Cups in the future.

[The Sultan of Swank]

Yeah, that's gotta be our biggest fault after leadership. We have skilled players, but no size. The biggest player we have who's a force is Souray and Komisarek and even then....

That and the Habs rely on Koivu way too much. Someone else has got to step up.

I don't think you guys rely on Koivu too much, at least when it comes to scoring. You had plenty of people putting up points, like Ryder and Kovalev. You don't have any leaders past Koivu though. The Leafs due, when Sundin went out after the first game, Lindros stepped up and led, Tucker stepped up and led. You guys have no one who can go out and inspire the rest of the team, except for your brand spanking new goaltender.