Well I don’t like having Jay Bouwmeester locked up in 2017-18 with a NTC so that the Blues only get to protect two quality top-pairing-type D-men. Also I’m a Blues fan. So I guess we don’t all get what we’d like.

Is that what he is? I thought he was a mammal/amphibian turtle hybrid.

It’s a tricky one, for sure.

As long as we have Southpaw, I’m going to lay low on Clark the Cub.

yeah, that’s a good question. I guess I’m operating under the idea that they are, but im not 100% sure.

He would not be a third year player- his second full season would technically be over but his third professional year won’t start until he plays in his first game, so he is technically a second year player. Us Sabres fans have been following that development very closely because of Eichel and Reinhart.

Yeah. Panarin is way too valuable, especially with Kane, who will still be in his prime. I see your other comment — Seabrook could go, depending on whether this year marked the beginning of the end or was a just a down year. Hossa may be retired or declining by then, even though he was solid this year. Panik could be…

What separates the top teams is the level of skill of the players that they will keep and players at the bottom of the roster. the 9-12th best players across most teams tend to rather fungible throughout the league albeit a function of playing style, cap hits, etc.

I’m a Hawks fan and I immediately started thinking about who might be forced to go. That said, it’s a year away and I don’t know the contract situations. Does TT go instead of Panarin? I wouldn’t be upset if the Hawks played it so that one of the young D men go — Svedberg et al haven’t showed enough yet, but let’s see…

Okay. So...Kane, Toews, Hossa, Teravainen, Anisimov, Kruger, Panarin.

shoot, if I’m the Blackhawks, I ask Hossa to waive his NMC and don’t protect him. Late thirties, terrible contract for the cap if he retires before it ends, not a sure fire bet that LV would take him as they need to balance adding 30 players, the cap (to which they’re probably going to be at $60MM to start), and…

The thing is, no one likes established cup contenders other than the fans of that team. It’s boring to have the same teams there over and over again, so most people probably aren’t going to be too sympathetic to your stance. Most people I know don’t really hate on the Blackhawks (I find them enjoyable to watch) but…

I’m more bitter that my Caps didn’t receive any help when they got the expansion, were the worst expansion team ever, weren't competitive for decades, I'm bitter. Obviously, this makes sense and no team should go through what the Caps did when they got the expansion, but after going 8-67-5 in their first year, I want…

I’d be pissed if we lost Teravainen. That kid has some great potential.

Describe AJ in five words or less

“Yep and it’ll most likely cost her her job.”

Yeah, that’s what you did.

Ah, fair enough. It didn’t read that way, but lord knows we all need the right to clarify.

Sure, but that makes the criticism all the more valid. It’s like Romney’s 47% bullshit. It gives you a peek behind the curtain, allowing you to see what people actually think when they aren’t putting on a show.

You rang?