[News] Formenton, Dube, Hart, Mcleod, Foote suspended until Dec 1.

[Knut]

Can Hart play Defense ?

[MegaErtz]

None of these players are coming back to the NHL, even Hart. The blowback from advertisers would be immense. If any NHL team sign any of these five, I will personally lead a boycott campaign of that team's advertisers.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

None of these players are coming back to the NHL, even Hart. The blowback from advertisers would be immense. If any NHL team sign any of these five, I will personally lead a boycott campaign of that team's advertisers.

1. Of course they will, this is the NHL. They’ll just ‘not convicted’ and ‘took our 2 week course on how to be a good human’ the problem away.

2. I doubt gambling companies care about boycotts. Might as well boycott the opiate pharma companies too. They cater to addictions, no amount of picketing is going to keep people from feeding their habits.

Also, was this even a story south of the border?

I hope you are right, but I don’t have high hopes.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Is he even a upgrade? He was pretty bad his last 2-3 years and hasn't played at a significant level in ~2 years. Go for it if you want Oilers but he ain't worth the PR nightmare to follow.

Not that I want or think he can or should play, but I could see him regaining his form. Especially in a market where NHL is the least important sport in town. Goaltending is at least 50% or more mental ability. It's not hard understanding his game falling off the last couple years with that crap weighing him down. Getting to a place where no one pays too much attention would probably suit him and the team well, at least in performance.

Having said that, I think the KHL is where they all should head off and disappear, preferably Siberian teams or the like.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

None of these players are coming back to the NHL, even Hart. The blowback from advertisers would be immense. If any NHL team sign any of these five, I will personally lead a boycott campaign of that team's advertisers.

Never say never

[Bourque's Twin]

I hope the Oilers sign Hart. Slim chance he improves their goaltending and it would be a huge distraction plus another contract on the books.

None of the other players are good enough to justify the PR mess a team would go through in order to sign them.

[Iniggywetrust]

Anyone saying that these won’t get signed or hoping that there’s a quiet agreement between GMs not to sign them are naive to how bad hockey culture can be.

If these guys can still play, they will be given every chance to play in the NHL.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I think Dube was outside Winsport chatting to people in the parking lot today. Looked like him. Had shades on. I might be wrong

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust

Anyone saying that these won’t get signed or hoping that there’s a quiet agreement between GMs not to sign them are naive to how bad hockey culture can be.

If these guys can still play, they will be given every chance to play in the NHL.

Don’t think it’s a statement about hockey culture but more the competitive nature of pro sports. No stone is left unturned. My guess is some of them will at least get a PTO.

Definitely a shot in the KHL.

[sureLoss]

I don't think PTO is an option.

The Athletic and ESPN says they can't train with teams until Nov 15.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

None of these players are coming back to the NHL, even Hart. The blowback from advertisers would be immense. If any NHL team sign any of these five, I will personally lead a boycott campaign of that team's advertisers.

Disagree. I would be surprised if Hart doesn't end up on the Oilers.

[activeStick]

None of these guys are going to earn a spot on any team in any camp they're invited to. They've been away for too long. Even the Oilers have better options in net than Hart.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

I don't think PTO is an option.

The Athletic and ESPN says they can't train with teams until Nov 15.

That is interesting, thought I overheard (who I thought was) him mentioning trying to get back by the new year as I walked past

That’s literally all I heard

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

I hope the Oilers sign Hart. Slim chance he improves their goaltending and it would be a huge distraction plus another contract on the books.

None of the other players are good enough to justify the PR mess a team would go through in order to sign them.

Just mix in PR to the rest of what we’ve already coined “Hey Connor, it’s a Mess”.

[Slava]

I don’t really understand why they’re delaying this. If the intent is to say “the courts cleared them, and if a teams wants to sign them we won’t stand in the way”, why make the players wait until next month and not be able to play for another couple months?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don’t really understand why they’re delaying this. If the intent is to say “the courts cleared them, and if a teams wants to sign them we won’t stand in the way”, why make the players wait until next month and not be able to play for another couple months?

I don’t think they want them to play and I think this is probably the most they can reasonably do towards that.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

None of these players are coming back to the NHL, even Hart. The blowback from advertisers would be immense. If any NHL team sign any of these five, I will personally lead a boycott campaign of that team's advertisers.

Virtanen got a PTO and it was a similar situation. It's not like he was an awesome player either.

I would not be shocked at all if one of these 5 gets a look from some team. I'm not betting on it, but I wouldn't be shocked either.