Rich

If money didn't come into the picture I would take Frolik over Burmi for sure. Burmi has a lot to prove in terms of attitude and being a positive for the team. Those intangibles don't show up on a stat sheet, and Frolik brings that stuff in spades.

This article is a year old, but it is still very applicable since Frolik's numbers last year were very similar to the year before. I don't think Frolik will improve drastically on his numbers on where he is today. Plus the cap hasn't really gone up a whole heck of a lot, so there shouldn't be that much of an escalation in the comparables. The article is an interesting read, but I won't quote all of it. http://www.arcticicehockey.com/2014/5/30/5763416/how-much-is-michael-frolik-worth Granted, there was one year of RFA factored into the suggested contract number, so I don't believe the $3M number to be accurate. I would be fine with a $4M salary escalating to $5M over 3 - 5 years *Probably $5.5M if he signs 5 years). But if your salary is starting at $5M in year 1 and escalating from there, I think it is too much of an overpay.

Yes. And then next year? "Well Ladd isn't really a #1 LW and he's going to want to be paid like one so we better get rid of him." And the year after that -- "Well Perreault isn't a #2 C/LW and he's going to want to be paid like one so we better get rid of him." And so on, and so on. I mean, who exactly are you comparing Frolik to when you say he's a sub-par 2RW? Look around the league and you might be surprised by who is passing for a #2 RW on other teams. We could do a lot worse. And Burmi is a lot worse, if that's the solution. You can't look at Chicago and say "Well player X wouldn't be a second liner on Chicago so we shouldn't pay him like a second liner." No, I'd be prepared to pay Ladd more then I am Frolik. As for Perreault,if he is looking for 5 - 6M AAV, then I'm not sure I would take him at that price either.

Yes.

And yet one wants $5 million and one could probably be had for $1.5-ish. Burmi is a very good possession player. I'd be comfortable with him at 3RW if the other option is over-paying Frolik to play 3RW and get paid like a 2RW. I prefer the combination that gives us the better team. If it all fits under the salary cap, who cares if Frolik is overpaid by a million/year. If you do that for every player, you've suddenly used up a 1/3 of your cap. Term matters just as much as that dollar value But Frolik is going to want term. Who's talking about every player though? We need to establish a solid top 6 and have good depth guys in the bottom 6 capable of moving up. You can't just sign no-one and say "OK let's go with a **** lineup this year because otherwise our hands will be tied in the future." You can't mortgage the future for the present but you can't sacrifice the present for the future either. It really depends on what dollar value and term Frolik wants. There are times when you are better off sacrificing the present for the future. Sometimes you have to walk away from a deal if it isn't the best thing for you. Frolik is very good, and I want to re-sign him and keep him. But is Frolik a legitimate 2nd line winger on a contending team? I know there is a lot of PK and other things he does well, but if you are going to pay him as a 2nd line winger, then that is as good as your team will be.

And yet one wants $5 million and one could probably be had for $1.5-ish. Burmi is a very good possession player. I'd be comfortable with him at 3RW if the other option is over-paying Frolik to play 3RW and get paid like a 2RW. I prefer the combination that gives us the better team. If it all fits under the salary cap, who cares if Frolik is overpaid by a million/year. If you do that for every player, you've suddenly used up a 1/3 of your cap. Term matters just as much as that dollar value But Frolik is going to want term.

How big? Is #3 as high as they think they can move? If they made an offer to Arizona, would we assume they've talked to Edmonton and Buffalo as well or do we assume both those teams have zero interest in dealing? 3 is absolutely as high as any team can move up in this draft. The way Buffalo acted getting #2 I sort of wondered if a Lindros-level offer could be had there, though what team would make that offer, I dont know. Problem is, Arizona will be getting multiple offers for that pick. How bad do the Jets want it...will they give up Petan? Look how good the Lindros offer worked out for Philly. Avs won the cup in large part to what they got from that deal.

Yeah it would have to be Winnipeg or Philly. Arizona is obviously out. Edmonton and Buffalo don't make sense to move down. Don't think Toronto would give up a 2nd first rounder to move up one spot.

Teams that have multiple 1st round picks: Arizona - 3 & 30 Buffalo 2 & 21 Edmonton 1 & 16 Philadelphia 7 & 29 Toronto 4 & 24 Winnipeg 17 & 25

It would suck if we lose both of them, but I'd rather lose them then overpay and hurt the team cap / budget wise down the road. May mean taking a step backwards next season playoff wise, but we have a bunch of young prospects coming up to fill those roles and you would hate to not be able to afford a Trouba / Scheifele / Lowry when their contracts are up because you overpaid now. Many teams have had a bad hangover regret after over paying in free agency. You really need to build a contender and able to attract free agents at a reasonable price.

I've put them in there other years. Bomber games I will probably do. Jets games are too many because I have to enter them in manually. No import. oh, so I just noticed. I just it was May when I last looked at it or something I just added them. Turns out there is an import function. The whole CFL schedule is in there. I've subscribed to the Jets calendar as well, but I don't think it is updated yet since the schedule was just released today. Curious to see if they use city names or team names. Winnipeg @ Ottawa will be confusing on the overlap months. But I'm sure people can figure it out.

I've put them in there other years. Bomber games I will probably do. Jets games are too many because I have to enter them in manually. No import.

Don't know if the Grey Cup scheduling was on purpose, but if so, nice thing to do for the CFL

I try to be as optimistic as the next guy but 7 "what ifs" are about 5 - 6 too many.

No the Pick 'Ems don't work on the mobile version.

Top 50 in a nine team league seems a bit too much.

Here is to hoping that only people in your poll vote! If things mess up just say the word and I'll give you guys a password protected forum to use.

I think it is going to be absolutely crazy because you will have your primary offers ready, and your secondary and tertiary discussions should have happened to give you an idea of what salary range your plan B's and C's are in. Than throw in how little the cap has increased this year, and it will be very interesting to see what happens as the dominoes begin to fall and who moves quickly to get the players they want.

Well, I can agree with 50% of your teams.

Separate thread here as Free Agency is pretty much a week away. An interesting tidbit in recent Free Press article: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/Burmistrovs-future-big-storyline-for-Jets-at-draft-309360161.html So while I know that talks with Frolik have apparently begun to "heat" up, if we don't get a deal done by Thursday he will be able to start getting a feel for what kind of money and term other teams would be willing to give him. Must be the busiest time of the year for GMs with the Draft this weekend and Free Agency soon after. With GMs able to talk to agents on Thursday, and pretty much all agents and GMs being at the draft, I expect a huge flurry of singings July 1st when they can officially submit contracts.

NHL Draft is approaching soon, so thought I'd start an official thread to discuss the draft and any trades that happen between now and then.

Just so everyone is clear. You don't need to post your picks in this thread like the Lock Of The Week or how Pick 'Ems are done on other sites We have Pick 'Em software built into the site. If you don't put your picks in here, they won't be registered: http://morningbigblue.com/community/index.php?app=pickems&do=games&pid=6&wid=71

And just for bragging rights, here are the Top 3 contestants from previous years: 2014 Season http://morningbigblue.com/community/index.php?app=pickems&do=leaderboard&pid=5 1st Place - saskbluefan - 64 Correct Picks 2nd Place kelownabomberfan - 61 Correct Picks 3rd Place (Tie) - Detroit Guy - 60 Correct Picks 3rd Place (Tie) - MOBomberFan - 60 Correct Picks 2013 Season (Pool started in Week 8) http://morningbigblue.com/community/index.php?app=pickems&do=leaderboard&pid=1 1st Place - Rich - 30 Correct Picks 2nd Place (Tie) - JPan85 - 29 Correct Picks 2nd Place (Tie) - MOBonberFan - 29 Correct Picks 2nd Place (Tie) -Tony Fresco - 29 Correct Picks

With Week 1 of the CFL season kicking off, we are launching the MBB Pick 'Em contest again! Rules are simple: Pick the winners of each game each week (no spread) and whoever has the most correct picks at the end of the year gets a $50 Blue Bombers Store Gift Certificate (substitutions can be made if you are from out of town / province or fan of a different team) All picks for the week must be in before the FIRST game of the week starts. After that time picks for all games that week are closed. To enter your picks, click on the Pick'Ems link in the header of the website. Also, a reminder post will be sent out each week a day or two before the weekend games kickoff with a link to that weeks games. Week 1 kicks off with Ottawa @ Montreal 6:30 PM on Friday June 26 Get your picks in and good luck! http://morningbigblue.com/community/index.php?app=pickems&do=games&pid=6&wid=71

That would be one of our first round picks, Josh Morrissey, and Mark Scheifele. Ask high and go down from there?