[News] With the 16th OA pick, the Flames select D Juuso Valimaki

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Beach is not close. It's far from close. Stockton is terrible. It's a little bit danger.

Inglewood was in a crap neighborhood too. Did anyone think the Kings were in danger or subject to bad influences when they played there?

Ever been to United Centre or White Sox Stadium?

[868904]

Stockton is dangerous? Good.

Eat at home, go to the rink and gym, practice, eat, sleep.

Work your butt off to make it to the NHL.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by 868904

Stockton is dangerous? Good.

Eat at home, go to the rink and gym, practice, eat, sleep.

Work your butt off to make it to the NHL.

Drinking alone in your room is regrettably another option.

[AC]

@RyanNPike: If #Flames sign Juuso Valimaki before the end of 2017, his ELC can slide twice. (He turns 19 after Sept. 15, so there's a CBA quirk there.)

@RyanNPike: In other words, he could play in the AHL in 2018-19 and his deal wouldn't start to run. Big developmental bonus for #Flames.

[bubbsy]

How does Valimaki compare to liljegren?

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

So then a Välimäki signing must be imminent, given Tri-Cities was apparently tipped off in advance? You'd think the Flames would've advised them.

That's interesting news!

FWIW there is a rule that CHL teams can go over on imports if they are NHL draft picks (may just be for first rounders), so they don't get shafted on imports if a guy goes pro. They can only play two and have to release down to two at a certain point, but they are allowed to draft additional players.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by AC

@RyanNPike: If #Flames sign Juuso Valimaki before the end of 2017, his ELC can slide twice. (He turns 19 after Sept. 15, so there's a CBA quirk there.)

@RyanNPike: In other words, he could play in the AHL in 2018-19 and his deal wouldn't start to run. Big developmental bonus for #Flames.

Where does waiver eligibility fall into this mix? I mean I'm looking at Poirier/Shinkaruk being waiver-eligible next year, while Klimchuk is waiver-exempt next year, and not really feeling the advantage of the ELC slide...

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Where does waiver eligibility fall into this mix? I mean I'm looking at Poirier/Shinkaruk being waiver-eligible next year, while Klimchuk is waiver-exempt next year, and not really feeling the advantage of the ELC slide...

Guys like Poirier and Shinkaruk either step up by the time they are eligible for waivers or pass through waivers every year.

Sliding contracts are great, especially when you can have them playing pro in the AHL before their contract even kicks in ala Kylington.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by cannon7

It's Stockton, not Compton. Have you ever been there? Even Oakland is looking at lot better these days.

Stockton is literally as bad as it's reputation. Compton is actually not what it used to be and is a lot safer believe it or not. Oakland has a lot of baaaaad parts.

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Beach is not close. It's far from close. Stockton is terrible. It's a little bit danger.

Yes! A Nakladal reference. That interview was so charming haha.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

This article was posted this week. 4 murders last week in Stockton. The mayor is considering a program to pay gun owners not to shoot their guns. More in the article below:

http://www.kcra.com/article/stockton...other/10267025

[GreenLantern]

All I know about these California towns is what I learned from 90's gangsta rap.

Inglewood, up to no good.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

This article was posted this week. 4 murders last week in Stockton. The mayor is considering a program to pay gun owners not to shoot their guns. More in the article below:

http://www.kcra.com/article/stockton...other/10267025

Imagine being an NHL player in Chicago...must be super hard to funct...Oh wait 3 Championships in the past 8 years in the murder capital of the US.
There are always nice communities in ####ty cities, you do know this right?

[Poe969]

unless they're playing street hockey, who cares. They're there to play hockey and if it's a crappy town then they should focus on playing hockey and training.

[timbit]

Detroit (1) , St. Louis(2) , Stockton (8) and Buffalo (10) have more violent crime per 100000 than Chicago.

https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mlj4.../#62326e853f39

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Since1984

Imagine being an NHL player in Chicago...must be super hard to funct...Oh wait 3 Championships in the past 8 years in the murder capital of the US.
There are always nice communities in ####ty cities, you do know this right?

A) Chicago is a far, far larger city than Stockton. I imagine in Stockton you're never far away from the bad parts.

B) NHL players have far more resources to shelter themselves from the bad parts of Chicago. They live in swank, exclusive neighbourhoods. Go to high-end restaurants and bars. Money can insulate you from a lot.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Since1984

Imagine being an NHL player in Chicago...must be super hard to funct...Oh wait 3 Championships in the past 8 years in the murder capital of the US.
There are always nice communities in ####ty cities, you do know this right?

Ya but point really is that Chicago has other things to do and redeeming qualities. Stockton has nothing other than lots of new cookie cutter houses all bought with pre crisis loans. It was ground zero for financial crisis. People who couldnt afford a house were able to get loans somehow. Employment is low. Not much to do. Drugs. Guns. So players stay confined...get bored.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Ya but point really is that Chicago has other things to do and redeeming qualities. Stockton has nothing other than lots of new cookie cutter houses all bought with pre crisis loans. It was ground zero for financial crisis. People who couldnt afford a house were able to get loans somehow. Employment is low. Not much to do. Drugs. Guns. So players stay confined...get bored.

San Francisco: 1.5 Hours away
San Jose: 1.5 hours Away
Oakland: 1.25 hours away
Sacremento: <1 hour away
Lake Tahoe: 2.5 hours Away

Seems like if you know where to go there is tons to do when you have a day or two away from the rink.

Also you could literally live next door to the Arena, baseball stadium, Civic Auditorium all while having access to the waterfront and your basic necessities. I do feel there is quite a lot to do when you actually research the area.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Since1984

San Francisco: 1.5 Hours away
San Jose: 1.5 hours Away
Oakland: 1.25 hours away
Sacremento: <1 hour away
Lake Tahoe: 2.5 hours Away

Seems like if you know where to go there is tons to do when you have a day or two away from the rink.

Also you could literally live next door to the Arena, baseball stadium, Civic Auditorium all while having access to the waterfront and your basic necessities. I do feel there is quite a lot to do when you actually research the area.

A three hour round trip makes it inherently unfeasible to do on a regular basis while you're also being a minor pro hockey player.

[socalwingfan]

I wouldn't want to live in either - but I would live in Stockton over Bakersfield without question. That is one ####ed up place, unless you're a huge Buck Owens fan

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

A three hour round trip makes it inherently unfeasible to do on a regular basis while you're also being a minor pro hockey player.

I get all your points and they are valid, I am just saying there is quite a lot to do if you have the time. As a minor hockey league player you may not but would this not be the same in say Bakersfield?

I understand there is less crime there but it almost seems like a bunch of posters on a message board think they know better than the actual NHL executives that chose this location in first place. Hell there are a million better places to be, but it may be possibly that none of them were viable for what Calgary wanted to do with its minor league team?

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have an AHL team in say a nice Canadian city but there is only a small few without pre-existing markets that would seriously draw away from the AHL coffers.