Well, the draft is over, and Development Camps are pretty much over, and Free Agent Frenzy is pretty much over...
What the hell am I supposed to do with myself for the next eight weeks? Once again, I'll no doubt find myself watching U-16 tournaments from Sweden...
My Broons made some logical moves, but nothing that's going to move the needle. Meantime, Montreal has finessed improvement and Toronto made what look to be smart changes. And out west, San Jose and Anaheim both made moves that suggest the Pacific Division should be no longer be considered the Pillow Fight Division. SJS especially - they're going to be fun to watch.
And meantime, all tremble at the thought of what Florida has become...
Gosh, but summer is useless.
DW and me are all of a sudden into MLB.
50 years ago, She was a hot 1st base. I was already learning to serve as a bad example.
Jays fans are invading Seattle
quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97Jays fans are invading Seattle
Doesn't seem to bother Jackie much.
Skip: "What the hell am I supposed to do with myself for the next eight weeks?"
Well, iffin you can get a copy of the 2026-27 schedule you could start commenting on the "playoff implications" now ... beat the experts (?) to the punch. 
I'd a rather Skinner signed with the Panthers than the Jets .... but I wasn't consulted. 
Go Yankees! Go!!
More spine-tingling heroics at the Steroid Competition….
share.icloud.com/photos/061ocz...HQrZHnszw
Edited by - chuckv97 on 07/03/2026 16:32:13
You could watch the real football (a.k.a. soccer) going on right now, or at least the recaps.
Played organized soccer for 4 years as a young teen,, I enjoyed it, but to watch it is a different challenge altogether. Not only that but I usually avoid overly-hyped stuff,,, including going downtown to watch the Stampede Parade…. (I don’t watch old clips of Woodstock either ;-)
Edited by - chuckv97 on 07/03/2026 18:48:52
quote:
Originally posted by Paul RYou could watch the real football (a.k.a. soccer) going on right now, or at least the recaps.
There's nothing wrong with "real football" that couldn't be fixed by reducing the pitch by 60%, replacing the turf with ice, giving everyone a club to swing and putting knives on their feet.
I'm with Chuck.
I remember before high school I could run like a deer. I loved to play soccer, but watching, not so much.
It was about 9th grade (1977) they sold Coor's for less than Pepsi, by the six pack.
So it's not my fault. Yeah. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Edited by - Nopix on 07/03/2026 19:23:59
Yeah, but with the recaps the game is only ten minutes long, and way more exciting.
Well, so much for the risk of boredom. There are some real fireworks going off in the NHL right now.
Philadelphia has issued an offer sheet to Leo Carlsson of Anaheim. Carlsson was the #2 pick overall in the 2023 draft. He's a restricted free agent, making him eligible for an offer sheet. He's been playing with the Ducks for the past three seasons, improving his points and TOI every season. And he's just 21 years old.
Offer sheets aren't common in the NHL. If you're unfamiliar with how they work, a team interested in an RFA can issue an offer sheet. If the player accepts it, the team that holds that player's rights has a week to match the terms of the offer sheet - exactly as written. If the team doesn't match, the player goes to the new team and the old team gets compensation in the form of draft picks.
What picks, and how many, is a function of the amount of money the new team is willing to pay the player. It's not particularly expensive at the low levels, but it does get expensive as the offered Average Annual Value (AAV) grows.
The offer to Carlsson is eye-popping. It's a five-year, $90mm contract with an AAV of $18mm. But the way the terms are structured is even more amazing:
| Season | Clause | Cap Hit | Cap % | AAV | P. Bonuses | S. Bonuses | Base Salary | Total Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | - | $18,000,000 | 17.3% | $18,000,000 | - | $19,950,000 | $850,000 | $20,800,000 |
| 2027-28 | - | $18,000,000 | 15.9% | $18,000,000 | - | $18,100,000 | $900,000 | $19,000,000 |
| 2028-29 | - | $18,000,000 | 14.7% | $18,000,000 | - | $17,050,000 | $950,000 | $18,000,000 |
| 2029-30 | - | $18,000,000 | 13.7% | $18,000,000 | - | $15,200,000 | $1,000,000 | $16,200,000 |
| 2030-31 | - | $18,000,000 | 12.9% | $18,000,000 | - | $15,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $16,000,000 |
| TOTAL | $18,000,000 | - | $18,000,000 | $0 | $85,300,000 | $4,700,000 | $90,000,000 |
If Anaheim doesn't match the offer - see below - the cost to Philadelphia is its next four first-round picks.
Bottom line is that this kid is due nearly $40 million in the next year, and under these terms the kid never makes more than a million in salary but banks major dough at the start of each year.
And the deal expires when he's still very much in his prime, with plenty of time left to play!
This puts Anaheim in a real bind. Now, that team is known for being cheap and paying its players at rock bottom. But they also have some upcoming contracts - including for Cutter Gauthier THIS YEAR - that need to be addressed (Gautier actually posted more points this year than Carlsson). So while they've got cash to match this year, the actual amount of money they'd have to shovel out in years upcoming is punitive. Bottom line is that Philadelphia has Anaheim over a barrel.
And you can bet that all the other teams in the league are watching this carefully - in a "There but for the Grace of God go I" kind of way. Many teams are limited by their available future draft picks from making a deal of this magnitude. But this is blazing new territory - Carlsson will be the highest-paid player in the league this season, regardless of where he plays, and aggressive offer sheeting may become more common.
Elliotte Friedman explains it all, for those interested.
Edited by - eagleisland on 07/04/2026 09:21:46
So it’s a free-for-all ,, whoever has the loot gets the best present-day players. But the draft picks they give up could come back to haunt them.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 07/04/2026 12:13:43
quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97So it’s a free-for-all ,, whoever has the loot gets the best present-day players. But the draft picks they give up could come back to haunt them.
Same as it ever was... same as it ever was...
.Barilko had scored the Cup-winning overtime goal that year.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 07/06/2026 18:48:40
quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97.Barilko had scored the Cup-winning overtime goal that year.
Wow. There's a sad story...
And so,,, Rogers has decided to drop FAN 960 in Calgary along with other radio stations in the country,,, which means the Flames will not have radio play by play next year. Ridiculous, imo
.
If’n you can name these players you win a cigar ,,, that doesn’t blow up
Far left: Gordie Howe.
quote:
Originally posted by Alex ZFar left: Gordie Howe.
Ok, you're à Michigander, Alex,,,, there are 3 more Red Wings in that pic
Howe, Elmer Lach, Doug Harvey, looks like Roger Crozier [but 1952 sounds too early for him?], Ab McDonald, Ted Lindsay.
Gotta know deez guys cuz they played into te 1960’s,,, the goalie is Terry Sawchuk. Our friend from the “Friendly” might’ve known , Terry was from Winterpeg…& fer cryin’ out loud, Ab McDonald wasn’t even with the TeePees yet in ‘52. That’s Red Kelly, future Honourable Member of Parliament.
..... ^^ yer probably right. 
[Obviously a bit more "thinking time" would have benefited me..... but, but, but Yer Honour, in my defense: we have family visiting, and I was doing the "things shut off?" routine as it was already past my bedtime. P.S. I'd have tried harder IF it was for a fake see-gar. ]
And furthermore and moreover, 4 out of 6 is better than I did on some of my U. exams.
Edited by - Owen on 07/10/2026 07:24:18
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)
Copyright 2026 Banjo Hangout. All Rights Reserved.
