2014-2015 NHL Offseason/Regular Season Thread
 

Free Agency starts today. I'm probably the worst candidate to keep up an OP with player movement and the like, but figured it would be cool to have a repository for all things NHL leading up to next season.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anaheim acquires Kesler from Canucks for Bonino, Sbisa, and picks.

-Dallas acquires Spezza from Montreal for Chiasson, others, and a 2nd round pick.
-Avs acquire Briere for Parenteau and a late pick.
-Predators acquire James Neal for Spaling and Hornqvist.
-Marian Gaborik re-signs with Kings.
-Ryan Miller to Canucks via UFA.
-Paul Stastny to the Blues via UFA.
-Jarome Iginla to the Avs via UFA.
-Dan Boyle to the NYR.
-Brad Richards to the Blackhawks.
-Vanek to the Minnesota Wild.
-Robidas to the Maple Leafs.
-Niskanen to the Caps via UFA.

Feel free to add other moves and I'll do my best to update.

Every time I see a news alert about the Avs pop up on my phone, I fear it's going to be confirmation that Stastny is gone.

Between his and O'Reilly's situations, this offseason has put a bit of a damper on the Avs accomplishments last year so far.

:sulk:

You never know...Stastny might come back. I just hope he doesn't land with Chicago, although with the looming contracts of Kane and Toews, I don't see how they pull that off.

He might. It's just a tough situation. The guy was drastically overpaid by the Avs (based on his production) for five years ($6.6m). He comes back this year and has a great year, and now it's time for his payday again.

From the Avs perspective, they got burned on his contract once, and don't want it to happen again. They also don't feel he's worth more than Duchene, who is making $6m per year.

From Stastny's perspective, there's no doubt he'll get more elsewhere than what the Avs can give him.

It just sucks.

Oh, and don't get me started on O'Reilly. I like the guy as a player, but he has a dramatically over-inflated sense of his own worth. At this point, I'm almost to the point that we get his number set in arbitration and then trade him for a good d-man. He's clearly more about the paycheck than the team, so **** him.

Blues sign Finnish speedster Jori Lehtera from the KHL.

There was a rumor that Dallas was pushing hard for Stastny, so maybe the Spezza trade is good news... unless the Sens are clearing room for him now.

What could be better than playing between Landeskog and MacKinnon?

Welcome home, Paul Stastny.

4 year deal., $28M.

God dammit.

May he disappoint you for 4 years the way he did us.

$7m per year? Good on him I guess.

In much less interesting news:

@MileHighHockey
Avalanche sign F Jesse Winchester on two-year, one way deal for $900k per year

Wow. The Blues aren't ****ing around.

A weakness has become a strength in 35 minutes.

Now we're able to move Backes back to wing, and maybe move Berglund completely.

Steen - Stastny - Backes

Schwartz - Lehtera - Tarasenko

Sobotka - Berglund - Oshie

Brad Stewart traded to Colorado.

Being reported that Stastny took less money and shorter term to sign with STL.

Deal also includes a full no-trade clause.

It's gonna be a fascinating deal to watch. If he plays like he did this past year, it's a great pickup for the Blues. If he doesn't, you're stuck with him.

@MileHighHockey
Avs got a good deal on Stuart. Second round pick in 2016 and 6th round in 2017

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun">@Real_ESPNLeBrun</a>: Stastny breakdown in St. Louis: $6.5 million, $7 M, $7 M and $7.5 M. Plus NTC -- <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash">#stlblues</a></p>&mdash; Lou Korac (@lkorac10) <a href="https://twitter.com/lkorac10/statuses/484016977304772608">July 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Welcome home, <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulyWalnuts26">@PaulyWalnuts26</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stlblues?src=hash">#stlblues</a> <a href="http://t.co/cvpRT6cIne">pic.twitter.com/cvpRT6cIne</a></p>&mdash; St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) <a href="https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/statuses/484013427883405312">July 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

nhlfreeagents @NHLFREEAGENTS
REPORTS: Vancouver Canucks sign Ryan Miller to three year contract

I'll be curious as to the money and term, considering no one else was really interested.

Hemsky to Dallas.

Our division is shaping up to be one of the toughest in the league for the forseeable future.

Yep.

Miller: 3 years/$18M

Surprised he didn't have to take more of a pay cut.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Don&#39;t underestimate the impact of new alignment &amp; playoff system on how teams react/approach. Divisional play matters a great deal now.</p>&mdash; Chris Kerber (@chriskerber) <a href="https://twitter.com/chriskerber/statuses/484021909710180352">July 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Preds gotta hope the NHL expands West and they get to move to the lEast.

Got to give credit to Stillman and company they aren't afraid to spend money.

You need a team to move from the East to West.

Dave Bolland to Florida. :spock:

nhl.com sucks today... they're usually pretty quick, but had to switch to tsn.

I don't see any new teams making the playoffs this year in the West.

They signed Jussi Jokinen as well. 4/$16M.

Vanek to the Wild.

Shawn Thornton to Florida.

Bigger deal to Avs fans than anyone, but...

MHH @MileHighHockey
Avs extend Nick Holden: 3 years, $4.95M sbnation.com/e/5625769

Avs signed Iginla to a 3 year deal.

And I don't see anyone in the East who would beat any of the existing Western Conference playoff teams in the SCF.

Last year, I would have wagered on Chicago, St. Louis, Colorado, Minnesota, Anaheim, and San Jose to beat the NYR in the Final. Dallas is the only team I would have picked NYR to beat.

This offseason continues the power shift to the West.

LA retained Gaborik, but they're gonna have their hands full with Anaheim + Kesler this year.

Willie Mitchell leaves the Kings and heads to....Florida. LMAO

2 year deal, over $8 million total.

If he can keep his production up for 3 years, I'm OK with swapping Stastny for Iginla. We definitely could use some veteran leadership. I just hope he doesn't break down right off the bat. We had enough troubles with Tanguay on that front.

Rule changes for the year are out:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=730165

Rule 1.8 – Rink - Goalkeeper's Restricted Area

The trapezoid will be expanded by two feet from the goal post on both sides of the net.

Rule 23 – Game Misconduct Penalties

A new Game Misconduct category will be created. Clipping, charging, elbowing, interference, kneeing, head-butting and butt-ending move from the general category into the same category as boarding and checking from behind ("Physical Fouls"), whereby a player who incurs two such game misconducts in this category would now be automatically suspended for one game.

Rule 24 – Penalty Shot

The 'Spin-O-Rama' move, as described in Section 24.2 of the 2013-14 NHL Rule Book, will no longer be permitted either in Penalty Shot situations or in the Shootout.

Rule 38 – Video Goal Judge

Video review will be expanded in the following areas:

* Rule 38.4 (viii) has been modified to allow broader discretion to Hockey Operations to assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals (e.g., to ensure they are "good hockey goals"). The revised Rule will allow Hockey Operations to correct a broader array of situations where video review clearly establishes that a "goal" or "no goal" call on the ice has been made in error. The new expanded rule will also allow Hockey Operations to provide guidance to referees on goal and potential goal plays where the referee has blown his whistle (or intended to blow his whistle) after having lost sight of the puck.

* In reviewing "Kicked in Goals," Hockey Operations will require more demonstrable video evidence of a "distinct kicking motion" in order to overrule a "goal" call on the ice, or to uphold a "no goal" call on the ice.

Rule 57 – Tripping

The rule relating to "Tripping" will be revised to specifically provide that a two minute minor penalty will be assessed when a defending player "dives" and trips an attacking player with his body/arm/shoulder, regardless of whether the defending player is able to make initial contact with the puck.

But, in situations where a penalty shot might otherwise be appropriate, if the defending player "dives" and touches the puck first (before the trip), no penalty shot will be awarded. (In such cases, the resulting penalty will be limited to a two-minute minor penalty for tripping.)

Rule 64 – Diving / Embellishment

The supplementary discipline penalties associated with Rule 64.3 (Diving/Embellishment) will be revised to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in an attempt to draw penalties. Fines will be assessed to players and head coaches on a graduated scale outlined below.

Incident # Player Fine(s) Head Coach Fine(s)
1 Warning N/A
2 $2,000 N/A
3 $3,000 N/A
4 $4,000 $2,000
5 $5,000 $3,000
6 $5,000 $4,000
7 $5,000 $5,000
8 $5,000 $5,000

Rule 76 – Face-offs

To curb delay tactics on face-offs after icing infractions, in situations where the defending team is guilty of a face-off violation, following an icing, the defending player who is initially lined up for the face-off will be given a warning, but will be required to remain in the circle to take the face-off. A second face-off violation by the defending team in such situation will result in a two minute minor bench penalty.

Rule 84 – Overtime

* Teams will switch ends prior to the start of overtime in the regular season.

* The entire ice surface will undergo a "dry scrape" prior to the start of overtime in the regular season.

* The procedure requiring the head coach to submit a list of the first three shooters in the shoot-out has been eliminated.

Rule 85 – Puck Out of Bounds

There have been further rule changes made relating to face-off location to avoid penalizing teams for plays intended to create bona fide scoring opportunities. Specifically, the following are "categories of plays" where face-offs will remain in the attacking zone despite the fact that the attacking team was technically responsible for the stoppage in play: Shots at the net by a player on the attacking team where: (i) the shot breaks the glass; (ii) the shot goes off the side of the net and deflects out of play; (iii) the shot goes off the dasher boards or glass and deflects out of play; (iv) the shot is tipped or deflected out of play by a teammate; and (v) the shot becomes wedged in or on the exterior of the goal net.

In addition, the following rule change will be enacted for the 2014 preseason and may be continued for the 2014/15 regular season if approved by the League and the NHLPA.

Rule 1.9 – Rink – Face-off Spots and Circles – Ice Markings/Hash Marks

The hash marks at the end zone circles will be moved from three feet apart to five feet, seven inches apart (international markings).

The modification of 38.4 is a direct result of this:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pjEhhfVbQHs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Anything for the NYR?

****EDIT****

Yay?

I was just about to post that video.

I wish they wouldn't call diving and the original penalty, or give the diver an additional 2 minutes for delay of game if it's obvious enough.

Exactly. If someone was guilty of embellishment, then the logical assumption is that the other person didn't commit a penalty.

https://twitter.com/ArponBasu/status/518923584920911872

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>P.K. Subban just admitted he intentionally farts in front of the net to annoy the opposition. I&#39;m sure Carey Price must love that.</p>&mdash; Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArponBasu/status/518923584920911872">October 6, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Holy fart, it's two days away.

Thanks hockey gods for beginning the season with a home and home vs the Wild. :#

No joke on that. I've gone to the home opener the past two seasons, but no way in hell will I ever pay to see that team play again (unless it's in the playoffs).

I guess it's nice to get a couple out of the way, so there's only 4 more the rest of the season, but their first two home games are the Wild and Panthers, then finally the Canucks on the 24th.

Whooooooooo! Hockey's on!!!!

Good luck boys. Here's to my Kings going back-to-back. :D

PBJ

Got $25 off Gamecenter with a coupon that came with NHL 15.... $135 for ~2000 hockey games. :D

Not bad. I'd definitely consider it if I weren't local. :)

I hate the Wild. So very, very much.

Well, that was fun.

Got to see all of a period and a half of Stastny before Dan Girardi knocks him out of the game with a cheap knee on knee.

It's like a replay of game 3... or game 4.



And WTF, Pronger is going to be part of player safety, while still on the Flyers' payroll for the next two years? LMAO
As you can see here, the player receives a cross check in the back after his team scores, which I'm completely okay with...

JFC.

Well, we opened up the season last year against Anaheim and won 6-1, so I'm predicting the Avs will be the best in the West this year. :)

Holy shit. LMAO

As much as I feel bad, I think I'm done. This is cringeworthy.

So, baseball...

Yeah, they started waking up a little, but no amount of comeback mojo from last year is going to get it done tonight... hopefully they're ready to work on Saturday.

Good story in the Blues game tonight Jaden Schwartz got a hat trick tonight. If you know the story about his sister, pretty cool what happened tonight.

Goalie interference. No goal. Seriously.

<iframe src="http://gfycat.com/ifr/UnimportantFlashyAcaciarat" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="500" height="278" style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);" ></iframe>

Interference on his skates or the ice?

What in the fu......

This is beautiful.

http://i.imgur.com/2QCIydi.gif

I watched basketball tonight but just caught the highlights. Vladimir Tarasenko is turning into a superstar. 6 straight for the Blues.

That is SICK! I had been on the fence with comparing Toffoli and Tarasenko, but that pretty much ices any confusion, holy shit!

Slumping Kings is depressing me, they are worn out as shit and getting it handed to them all over the place. :/

Avs aren't giving me much to get excited about either. I still have hope they'll climb out of this slump and be fine, but they really need to get it in gear.

Pens won 5th straight

Tarasenko. Damn kid is a stud.

Insane to have two goals like this in a week.

<iframe src="http://gfycat.com/ifr/PlaintiveAcidicEel" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="500" height="250" style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);" ></iframe>

Showed this kid during BC/BU intermission.... he's ELEVEN.

http://www.letsgoflyers.net/2014/11/...hockey-phenom/

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kwALB_Ypuy8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Not only can he score, he can freakin dish it!

His teammates sure do suck though...

Avalanche are imploding.

MacKinnon with a 5 minute major in the first for barely touching Schenn, who went head first into the boards. Flyers got two goals off the penalty... and in the past few minutes, Iginla picked a fight with Schenn, McLeod gooned it up, and now they're on a 5 on 3 PK.... and now it's 4-0.

They're good for a bout one good game out of every 4 this year. :sulk:

Penguins are beating the Sabres 6-1 at the 2nd Int.

Well, 4-3 with 8 minutes left...

Flyers are trying to choke this game away