August NHL News - Whither Cody Franson?

[kenneycb]

Because the calendar has turned a page and we are finally rid of the lousy Smarch weather. 
 
In actual news, Cody Franson is still a free agent.  His saga is like the ole '74 San Diego Panda Watch.

 

[McDrew]

I tried to get an interview with him, but they said no, you can't do that he's a live bear, he will literally rip your face off.

 

[McDrew]

Khokhlachev's rights traded for Yuri Alexandrov....in the KHL.  He's still a Bruin. 
 
http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2015/8/3/9089963/alexander-khokhlachevs-khl-rights-traded-for-yuri-alexandrov-koko

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

Khokhlachev or Alexandrov?

 

[cshea]

Koko. I believe we traded Yuri to the Islanders a few years ago after he left Providence to go back to Russia.

 

[Greg29fan]

wowie
 
https://twitter.com/SWhyno/status/628687229934632960

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Patrick Kane is apparently in some sort of legal trouble again.
 
The police didn't release the blotter to the local paper about the incident, and they have forbidden the officers from talking about it. Very strange. Not Kane's first brush with lawless stupidity. Bears watching.

 

[Dropkick Izzy]

Updated to note that police are investigating an "alleged incident involving...Kane and a woman that began at a bar in Evans."

 

[Corsi]

Tim Graham ‏@ByTimGraham  54s54 seconds ago
The Patrick Kane investigation is a rape investigation.

 

[soxhop411]

 
Tim Graham ‏@ByTimGraham  54s54 seconds ago
The Patrick Kane investigation is a rape investigation.
 

yikes

 

[TSC]

Oof. This will not end well, no matter what actually happened.

 

[Leather]

Oof. This will not end well, no matter what actually happened.

 
For the victim?  Probably not.
 
For Kane?  If history is any guide on this sort of thing, he'll be fine.
 

 

[Scoops Bolling]

 
For the victim?  Probably not.
 
For Kane?  If history is any guide on this sort of thing, he'll be fine.
 

Tell that to Slava Voynov. If charges are filed, I have no doubt Kane faces an indefinite suspension immediately. If he's convicted, he's done in the NHL (if for no other reason than he would no longer be able to enter Canada).

 

[Red Right Ankle]

Well, that and the jail sentence.

 

[The B’s Knees]

While this isn't exactly "NHL" news, I didn't want to start a new thread.
Top rated prospect Auston Matthews is opting for the Swiss pro league, rather than the WHL next year.
I suspect he must be fairly mature for his age to venture to Europe as a 17/18 year old, even if he's getting paid.
 
http://www.tsn.ca/top-prospect-matthews-to-play-in-zurich-1.342161

 

[kenneycb]

Probably he more just wants to get paid and play primarily against actual adults as opposed to young adults and teenagers.

 

[BigMike]

Probably he more just wants to get paid and play primarily against actual adults as opposed to young adults and teenagers.

 
Plus it is the Swiss league which is almost the equivalent of a no check adult league as far as I can tell. He's probably safer there than in the WHL

 

[Red Right Ankle]

Checking's allowed, but only secretly and there's no offsides because the whole rink is neutral zone.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

Oh, and all fines must be paid in Nazi gold.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

This is gold.
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/phil-kessel-s-first-penguins-pic-leads-to-photoshop-hilarity-152259243.html

 

[LogansDad]

Checking's allowed, but only secretly and there's no offsides because the whole rink is neutral zone.

Late on this, but nicely done 

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

Aaron Portzline ‏@Aportzline  30s30 seconds ago
UFA D Christian Ehrhoff continues to listen, consider #NHL offers, but nothing imminent. Europe/KHL not a consideration at this point. #CBJ
 

 

[Fred not Lynn]

New arena and stadium on the table in Calgary - they're calling it transformative. It will be for me, as it's less than a mile from my house...

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/flames-reveal-details-of-900m-downtown-arena-stadium-plan

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/08/18/calgary-flames-to-unveil-calgarynext-arena-project

 

[McDrew]

Daniel Alfredsson is headed back to Ottawa to join their FO
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/daniel-alfredsson-returning-to-senators--joining-front-office--report-163526500.html

 

[McDrew]

Auston Matthews, the current front-runner for the #1 pick in the next draft, is going to the SEL instead of the Canadian minors or college.  He can't officially play for the team until he turns 18 in September.  By going to the SEL, he's getting paid (400k) and he's getting a different level of play.  He did win the tourney MVP of the u18's in Switzerland last year, which contributed to his exposure there.
 
More info on: http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/13481950/nhl-auston-matthews-embarking-grand-hockey-experiment

 

[Greg29fan]

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/635494452434485248

 

[cshea]

$1.5 million. Nice move for the Kings. Ehrhoff in a nice spot getting paid by the Sabres for the next decade and a half so he can take these short contracts.

 

[twothousandone]

The contract amnesty sure provided a huge boost to a handful of players -- while I don't think any teams are wishing they hadn't agreed to the feature. As with Richards last year, they get money coming in, and can then weigh ice time, team competitiveness, city, money, years in whatever order they care.

Ehrhoff reportedly had an offer from Columbus, which I can only imagine he was shopping. Gotta' figure it would be tough for the Blue Jackets to top the Kings, unless they went with a lot more money or years. But two years, or three, at $1.5 million each would be a bit foolish, given Ehrhoff's injury last year.

I really like the Kings offseason.

 

[cshea]

The Voynov and Richards situations are elephants in the Kings room though. Those could be problematic down the road.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Flames resign Giordano for 6 years, $6.75AAV
 
Yikes.

 

[FelixMantilla]

What could go wrong with signing a soon to be 32 year old player to a six year deal?  :c070:

 

[kenneycb]

At least it wasn't the 8 year deal that was originally reported in the first day of free agency.

 

[Fred not Lynn]

At 6 years he isn't even going to get to play in the new arena. Probably wouldn't have at 8 either...

 

[cshea]

Mike Richards has been formally charged with possession of a controlled substance by the RCMP.

The Kings and union are going to fight over the contract. Kings terminated due to a material breach. I am not a lawyer and all, but from where I'm sitting, I don't see how the Kings can argue this while holding on to Voynov through his arrest and legal issues.

Anyways, in more alarming news, apparently the Richards deal that the Kings had done at the draft and fell apart due to the arrest was with.....the Boston Bruins. Yowzers.

http://www.si.com/nhl/2015/08/27/mike-richards-charges?xid=si_social

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Holy hell, talk about a bullet dodged...

 

[Salem's Lot]

I'm trying to think of any possible way that would work cap wise. Maybe they were taking a contract or two back in an expanded version of the Lucic deal?

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Almost wonder whether Krecji was going to be in the deal.

 

[BoSoxFink]

The Kings would have eaten a great portion of the contract for sure.

 

[veritas]

I actually like the Giordano deal for the Flames. Sure it'll probably be a bad contract for the last couple years, but it's way below market for the first few years, assuming he doesn't fall off a cliff.
 
Giordano had all the leverage here. The Flames have a window where they could be a legitimate top 4 team in the west over the next few years after being terrible for so long. They needed to re-sign their franchise player, and did so at way less than most people expected.
 
edit: That reminds me, I need to change my avi 

 

[NYCSox]

Al Arbour passed away today at age 82. It's easy to forget now how scary good those Islanders teams were and the long road and upsets they had to endure to get there,
 
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/13532455/hall-famer-al-arbour-coached-new-york-islanders-four-stanley-cup-titles-dies