Free Agency Open Thread
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 1:49 PM PDT
in News
478 comments
The wonderfully crazy free agency period begins again this summer. Every year it seems that general managers have learned that it's a bad idea to spend oodles of money on less-than-elite talent and then every year you have a guy like Jeff Finger sign for four years and $3.5M per year. Who are this year's terrible mistakes going to be? That's half the fun! I just hope it's not the Oilers (again).
Here at the Copper and Blue we'll be using this space for general discussion and I'll update the page with any new signings. Any Oiler news will get it's own article for discussion and I'll provide a link here. And what about those Oilers? Derek has already spelled out his general plans, his plan for the forwards and his plan for the defense over the last few days. After the jump, I'll talk a bit about what I'd like to see from the Oilers this off-season.
Update: Edmonton Oilers sign Kurtis Foster.
I'm of the mind that this year is about moving on from what was an awful season a year ago. The goal for 2010-11 isn't to tank, but to be competitive and hope that individual players and the team as a whole improves. Last year was awful for so many reasons but one of them for fans was hoping for the team to fail. This year, I'm hopeful that they put that attitude behind them and the moves that have been made so far seem to suggest that this is the case. It's a year for learning about what we have. Can Ladislav Smid be an effective shut-down defender? He best prove it now. Is Andrew Cogliano going to be good on the wing? If he's not moved, this is a question that needs to be answered. How ready are the kids to help?
If we get to the end of 2010-11 and the answer to that last question is, "They're ready to help," then the goal for 2011-12 should be to take a run at the Stanley Cup without sacrificing too much of the future. I know that seems early in the cycle, but as we've seen with every Stanley Cup winner since the lockout, it takes value contracts to win. In 2011-12, the Oilers could have a tonne of them. Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky should both provide surplus value relative to their paychecks and a rookie group of Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall could easily provide good support on a winning team. It's time to go for it.
With that as backdrop, here's what I would try to get done over the next weeks and months at each position:
Goaltending
The Edmonton Oilers have bad goaltending. Very bad goaltending. It's a problem that shouldn't be completely ignored and the Oilers need to go into 2010-11 with something a bit better than the junk they had on this team last season. Nikolai Khabibulin is the likely starter on this club and Devan Dubnyk seems to be penciled in as the backup. His selection over Jeff Deslauriers to Team Canada at the World Championships would seem to confirm that. I tend to agree that Dubnyk is superior to Deslauriers but I'm pretty unconvinced that Dubnyk is a capable NHL goaltender. That's one of the things we hope to discover this season. The thing is, Khabibulin is made of glass, so if he gets injured and Dubnyk can't handle the load, the Oilers should really have a capable netminder in the AHL who can come up in an emergency. That means signing a guy like Yann Danis to the league minimum and putting him in the minors so that if Khabibulin gets injured, there's a reasonable back-up waiting in the wings.
Defensemen
Looking forward to 2011-12, the Oilers have two defensemen they can count on to play top four minutes effectively in Tom Gilbert and Ryan Whitney. They'll need (at least) two more. Since 2010-11 is a year of discovery, I think they only need to sign one more top four guy for a shut-down role to play alongside Ladislav Smid. This search for one solid shut-down defender ought to be "the whale-hunt of the summer." I'd be pretty comfortable spending up to $4.5M over some term if the right player is available through either free agency or trade. Both Zbynek Michalek and Dan Hamhuis have youth on their side and both have played tough minutes in the Western Conference but $4.5M seems a bit rich for a couple of players who generate good but not great results. Further, $4.5M may not be enough to even win their services! My focus would therefore be on trade. A few players who are particularly intriguing to me via trade are Marc Staal of the Rangers, Brent Burns of the Wild, and Nicklas Grossman of the Stars. We'll see if the Oilers can make it happen. The Oilers also need a couple more defenders for the bottom of the roster in addition to Jim Vandermeer but two veterans on one year deals shouldn't be too hard to achieve when the dust clears after the first week.
Forwards
Up front, I don’t think the Oilers don't need to chase a big fish. What they do need are guys who can play reasonably tough minutes at reasonably low cost on mid-term deals. I'd like to see them go for three more players capable of playing in the top-nine on deals no shorter than two years and no longer than three for an average cost of $2M each. The beauty is that they don't need to get them all now as players will likely come available throughout the season and into next off-season. Still, a guy like Alex Tanguay or Colby Armstrong on a three-year deal would be perfect if they can get it done in the $2.5M range. If it turns out they only get two or one or even none, then it's time to move toward veteran stop-gaps. The Oilers have nine NHL forwards under control plus the three star rookies. If they don't get any really good forwards, bringing in Andy Hilbert, Adam Hall and Richard Park to push the kids to earn their jobs while commanding a salary that approaches the league minimum seems like a very good option.
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I’d go nuts if the Oilers snagged Grossman, Foster, Armstrong and Park.
Cogliano and Souray for Grossman?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Meszaros to Philadelphia – does that mean that Coburn is available?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Meszaros is an interesting cat. He’s still young, he’s played some against the toughs but hasn’t had a lot of success. I think he’ll look good in Philadelphia though since he’s likely to play with either Pronger or Timonen. They could probably flip him after a year for something better than a second round pick.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions
I really do wonder what happened to him… he had ‘franchise’ all over him and is now invisible. He wasn’t even good for Slovakia at the Olympics. Maybe it was the other Ottawa D men that made him look so good!
I don’t think he played tough minutes in Ottawa which surely helped. Do you remember who he played with? Does Redden make sense?
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions
That sounds right to me.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Not sure… Philly just signed him to a 2 year deal @ 3.2 per.
Who the hell have the Flyers lost that allows them to add $7+ mil in payroll? Weren’t they in cap troubles all year?
I think they’re fine to add that much but have very little left to fill out two or three more forwards and one more defender. Like, 600k or so per player. Plus, that leaves them with Leighton and Boucher in goal.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions
And probably one more to sign. It is a lot – a LOT – to spend on defense but they’ve got really cheap (and poor) goaltending and it looks like they’re going to have a cheap bottom end of the roster at forward too.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Biron signs with the Rags for just under $1mil/season. Probably a better value than the $1.55 Leighton just signed for.
Philly and their strange goaltending strikes again.
Agreed. This is a great move but a strange one from Biron. He must have been spooked about falling out of the league because he’s the clear back-up to Lundqvist over the next two years.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions
I think after mis-reading the market so badly last year he’s got a pretty good idea of where he fits.
No one is going to pay him as a starter right now. But yeah, curious as to why he’d pick the Rags. Lundqvist is a starts machine so playing time could be at a premium unless the Rangers are going to hold back some of his starts (which seems to be what most teams are leaning towards now).
Yeah, I just meant that it’s sort of a pre-cursor to falling out of the league, sort of like agreeing to be Luongo’s back-up as an unrestricted free agent. It’s great that you have a job, but you probably won’t get another one.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I was sort of agreeing with you. He knows he is going to be a backup, but unless the Rags want to start limiting Lundqvist to 50-55 stars it doesn’t make sense for the Rangers.
That being said, I think Valiquette would be a good option for your Vet AHL goalie idea.
Tortorella has said 15-18 starts he wanted.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Thanks. That helps it to make sense, though I doubt they actually start Biron that many times. When you’re on the bubble to make the playoffs, it’s awfully difficult to play the lesser goalie when the better one says he’s good to go.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed..he said the same thing last year. Though Hank’s been banged up each of the last few years, I think it’s a legit organizational concern to start getting him down to 60-65.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m a bit scared by Valiquette’s implosion last year but he did only play 17 games and his track record previous to that is along the lines of what I had in mind. I’m hopeful that someone better will still be around two weeks from now when that decision needs to be made.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Gonchar to the Sens for 3 years @ $5.5 per.
Is Ottawa in much position to get much value out of this deal?
bad signing
I love Gonchar but 3 years for that much? Will make for a sweet powerplay though… pretty much kills the ‘Michalek to join his brother though’.
Dawes clearing waivers is suprising.
I’ve liked Gonchar but paying that much for a guy to play between 36 and 38 strikes me as a bad idea. They are screwed if he goes into the tank because those 35+ contracts don’t leave you with many options if things go wrong.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions
I like the signing and not the term. This relieves a lot of pressure from Karlsson’s shoulders and get a very good mentor
I don’t know that you can like the deal if you don’t like the term. The term is part of the deal.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I just don’t think that you can divorce the deal from the player when it comes to a UFA signing. I mean, Kovalchuk at $3M and eight years is awesome, but Kovalchuk at $10M and eight years is awful, awful, awful. Is Gonchar a good player? Yeah. But so what?
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions
When did this shit start? So many people say that now!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Huh. No-trade clause with this deal as well.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
That’s a great move. I’m surprised he got so little. It didn’t seem like he enjoyed Calgary all that much so a sweetheart deal there seems unlikely. I wish the Oilers had gotten in on that with a bit more money and even longer term if he wanted it. Sad story.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions
He signed a similar low deal last year to join the Lightning.
He had a bad year last year as well so I don’t think he was in any position to get much of a raise.
A 32% pay cut certainly isn’t much of a raise! I was thinking that $2M over three years would have been great. I also didn’t think he was really all that bad last year. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t awful either.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions
yeah but he is a one dimensional offensive player and when the points arent coming, then u cant really ask for a lot
I don’t think he’s one dimensional at all. He’s a very under-rated defensive player.
He made his mark via his point production, but he developed into a pretty good hockey player. He had a poor year last year but was very good the previous 6 (even in his down years offensively).
Agreed with dawgbone here. He’s a very good offensive player and he’s generally been an outscorer at evens. A damn good hockey player.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions
well he had 30 points last season. at a SH% 11.
Since 06-07, his point totals have reduces every season. and he might be an outscorer at evens, but he rarely plays at PK.
I’m not sure if you’re talking just EV points above there, but 30 EV points is actually pretty good. I wouldn’t have a problem paying a guy $2M to provide solid EV out-scoring against decent comp. Bad year on the PP though. Only 7 points.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Ah, I see. It’s important to remember that the guys who win you hockey pools aren’t always the same guys who win you hockey games.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
His 41-point year in Montreal was marred by injury. He only played 50 games.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Staggeringly excellent signing. That sort of thing is the reason that Sutter will never be as bad as Tambellini no matter how many times he trades Olli Jokinen.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions
What do you guys think will Philly do?
Timmonen @ 6.33
Pronger @ 4.921
Coburn @ 3.2\
Meszaros @ 4
Carle @ 3.438
They’ll likely move a defender but they actually don’t need to. They’ve got 11 F’s, 6 D, and 2 G signed with about $2M in space to go. They could go with three players at $0.6M at the bottom of the roster and go with what they have. They’ll run into problems next year though since some of their better forwards need new deals.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions
As a guy getting traded? That seems like a hard deal to move unless you’re willing to take back money.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
What do they have coming back from Buffalo?
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Erik Christensen signed for two years at $975K per year for the Rangers. I’m not a big fan of Christensen but it’s under $1M so it’s hard to go too far wrong.
That’s a great deal for Babchuk. Too bad they couldn’t give him a bit more coin for a few more years.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
In other news, Steve Tambellini thinks that Jean-Francois Jacques is the best depth player available.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Hard to go wrong, but not impossible. Definitely not impossible.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions
I like Mitchell but that concussion is a big risk.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t want to trade for Bieksa. He’s not really a tough minutes guy.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
They’ve got Canucks stink all over them. You never come back from that.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
5.5 per is a good number for St. Louis.
I think he’s better than Lecavalier and has done a better job driving results. As soon as he moved off Vinny’s line Stamkos started going and Vinny dropped.
It’s a great deal so long as he can maintain his level but it takes him all the way to age 38 so he’s bound to decline somewhat.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Basically, I can see why both sides think they got a good deal. I could be excellent value for the team or it could be a total flop (which would be excellent value for MSL).
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
he still has one more year on his deal, so this extension kicks in next year. He will be 39 in his last year
I didn’t see that, thanks Sum. That makes it even riskier for the club and that much better for MSL.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Little surprised that MSL got a raise on his previous deal ($21 MM / 4). He delivered great value on that deal, but it’s hard to see him maintaining his current level of effectiveness into his late 30s. That said, he’s surprised us before.
My favourite player in the NHL.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Resigning a whole team like that? And not even a good team! Wow! Wow! Wait, that’s not what you meant.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Jesse Winchester re-signs with Ottawa for two years at $0.75M per year. I don’t know if he was being zoomed by Regin but both of those guys had a monster Corsi for the Sens last year.
Regehr is an elite defensive defenseman. Building from the back out is never a bad strategy, even if Boston seems to need the scoring a bit more.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
None of Regehr’s calibre. Except Chara, of course. But as the New Jersey Devils could tell you you can get a long way with some ace defenseman and a great goaltender.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions
So, how long until Fernando Pisani signs with Calgary? And I slam my head into my desk until one of them breaks?
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:09 AM PDT reply actions
You can’t do that yet. You have to eat the Cornet post first!
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I’ll schedule the “Steve Tambellini Killed Me” post before I get slamming. That’ll be good for some eyeballs.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Zbynek Michalek seems to officially be a Pittsburgh Penguin. Jesus Christ.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:13 AM PDT reply actions
Maybe Tambs should try to call a devastated Paul Martin on the rebound.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Michalek for 5 years at $4M per is great. It sure does pay to be an already good team that can sell winning.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions
That could be the steal of the draft…. they essentially saved money and traded Michalek for Gonchar… when Michalek is 30 and Gonchar is 38 (making 1.5 million more a year) this will look like genuis!
That will depend largely on how good Letang and Goligoski are on the PP as the go-to point-men. Early returns suggest that they’re both something less than Gonchar though.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Just about every point man in the NHL is something less than Gonchar. He’s a beauty.
That said, PIT never did replace their stay-at-home duo of Scuderi and Gill, and wioth your offensive-minded guys bubbling under it was time for a rethink. Michalek plus $1.5 MM in cap room is a good exchange.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
aw fuck me. i thought he’d get 4.5-5, or go to ottawa with his brother. that’s a great goddamn deal. fuck.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions
I think his signing for $4M in Pittsburgh implies he had offers for more elsewhere.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Tambellini’s probably sleeping in for Canada Day, a bottle of Canadian Club half-empty on his bedstand…
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m okay with nothing. Look at the picture on the post.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Indeed. I’m hoping he’s calling Phoenix and New Jersey about Souray. Or he can call the Rangers and offer Eberle and Souray for Staal.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
How hard would you laugh at the Rangers? That seems like a pipe dream but it is Sather after all.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
I hate you.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
This works for everyone except you.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I dunno..I see a bunch of “you can’t trade Eberle.”
Give me MPS and I’ll take your stupid Souray.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
He’s been hypnotized! Ben, say something more helpful!
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
I hope your verb choice is prescient.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
You can’t trade Eberle.
You can’t. Trade. Eberle.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Also, he’s really done well at every level for universally lousy teams. We mock the clutch thing but he’s really quite good. Not Bobby Hull, but good.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Seven years of Marc Staal is gooder.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Not as much as Jordan Eberle. I’d take him for Jean-Francois Jacques, sure.
(Or, for a serious answer, any combination of non-Eberle/Hall/MPS prospects you like.)
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
It would take one of them (well, hall is unrealistic) for Sather to bite, I believe.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t really want him used as bait anyway.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Stop the madness. I don’t want to relive that moment yet, though I’m a little more keen on the draft now.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
well oilers dont need to get in now, right away. patience can work wonders, esp if u see how last year was
If the Oilers stick to the no-whales plan, they wait until July 3 and see what’s left. Not too many value signings on the 1st. (Although that Michalek deal looks pretty fine.)
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Vladimir Sobotka to St. Louis (the team, no problem Ben) for one year and $750K. I’m kind of surprised he found a one-way deal. I think that’s my new base-line for what O’Sullivan should be able to find.
Sobotka is an NHLer. One-way, fourth line money is just right. He’ll help St. Loo.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed. He’s the kind of guy I had in mind for Valiquette+ if he was available two weeks from now.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
What does everyon think about A Malone for Souray swap?
We get a couple more years out of the deal but we get a quality winger who can play both sides.
I would not be a fan. They need some less expensive pieces to provide support up front so that they can fill out a reasonable defense. I’m a big fan of the Souray for Brewer swap just to get the contract off the books after next season (plus Brewer fills a need for this season).
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions
But speaking of that i read the other day that Dustin Boyd wasn’t qualified by Nashville, so if he isn’t already signed by Montreal would be UFA. He could be an interesting reclaimation project for the Oilers somewhat similairly to Brule.
I don’t think Dustin Boyd is even a reclamation project. He’s there. He can do it already. But this is a team that couldn’t qualify Marc Pouliot so yeah.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Dustin Boyd is a very reasonable fourth line player who may still get better.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
More than I’d have offered for Horcoff’s right wing.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Yeah, a decent deal but it doesn’t leave a lot of room for out-performance. It’s the top end of what I expected him to get.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
huh. wanted him, but yeah, that’s no great deal.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
That’s a decent deal for an average goalie. Nice move by the Sharks.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Niittimaki is like a less-overrated Lehtonen. Injury issues, but upside is over the moon.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Two years and two million per is definitely not a particularly high risk deal.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Although it on a saw him good level, I always thought Nittymaki was brutal for the Flyers in the playoffs. So I supose he should fit right in in SJ.
He’s only played two playoff games! They were brutal but… two games!
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions
He also was the MVP of the Turin Olympics, if you want performance in small sample size.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Robin Brownlee has been pimping John Scott for a while I hope we dont sign a useless player like him or Boogard
Robin Brownlee is just some blogger who lives in his mother’s basement. This isn’t Amateur Hour.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hear hear
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
On the other hand if the Flames trade Regher to Boston, and we signed Boogard and sat him the whole bloody season the chances of a healthy Hemsky for 82 games rise significantly.
I’m interested in what you think the rise actually is. More or less than 5%?
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Well we play the Flames and Wild six times each per season, about fourteen and a half percent of our games with this wonky divisional rivally thing. Of the players on those teams I’d likely deem those two players the most likely to injure Hemsky although its entirely possible the same could arise from ordinary play by their teammates. I’d probably peg it at somewhere betwee five to seven percent as far as improvements to the odds go. Although I supose it would be more substantive in the unlikely event that we wound up in a playoff series with either of the aforementioned teams. Admittedly this is a rather difficult thing to quantify.
I think it’s less than that but either way, I don’t think that’s worth the money and roster space it costs to sign Boogaard.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Well that assumes that Boogard has no other value. I think there may be some value to have him eating popcorn in the press box as our nuclear deterrent.
If I were to assign a dollar value to that, I wouldn’t reach a dollar.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I wouldn’t pay Boogard more than 1 million. But I wouldn’t be unhappy to have him at one million or less.
I would be upset to have Boogaard at camp on a try-out. Goons are just a huge waste of money and roster space. Further, I doubt he deters anything when he’s in the lineup let alone the pressbox. It’s like Israel trying to deter Palestinian resistance by shooting some of them. It’s bound to work eventually!
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
This analogy is going to break down fast so I’ll leave it and say that if your goal is hurting people Boogaard is great but if your goal is preventing your guys from getting hurt, Boogaard probably hurts more than he helps.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions
If I were to assign a dollar value to that, I wouldn’t reach a dollar
… and that’s before you subtract out the cost of the popcorn.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Everyone who doesn’t work for TSN does.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
…and Manny Malhotra for 3 years at $2.5M. That’s exactly the kind of player they needed.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions
I actually think it’s similar to Armstrong where it’s pretty much the top end of his value. But he’s young and exactly the kind of player they need. It also expires when Hodgson, Burrows, Schroeder and Edler need new deals. I think it’s a very sensible deal for the Canucks.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Seems like an overpay to me.
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
He just fits the Canucks so well. He’s one of the best FO men in the league, can handle good comp, is used for d-zone draws, can PK. He’s exactly what they need.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions
i agree. Sedins clearly are best used being force-fed OZ draws, and the canucks were, until today, banking on like Hodgson and ????? to play the third-or-so of the game that Kes or Hank don’t.
the only thing that’s got me grumpy is that Gillis din’t jump on this shit last year, when manny signed for 30% of that.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, really. What’d he make in SJ, $700 K or something? I could see $1.2 or $1.5, but $2.5? Yowser.
In other news, Marcel Goc should fire his agent.
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions
it’s fucking unfathomable to me that an enterprising team could have signed Goc and Malhotra last year for, like, 1.5, maybe 2, combined. the rangers could have one of the best 2-3 centre combos in the league for what they’re paying boogaard next year. that is ninety kinds of hilarious.
by Passive Voice on Jul 2, 2010 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions
My understanding is that the team in question would need to be a Cup contender as Malhotra knowingly signed under market value because he was Cup-chasing.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 2, 2010 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions
And now that he’s in Vancouver he wants full dollar cuz he’s no longer a Cup contender? Hehe
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 2, 2010 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Not really when you see that Michalek was only an extra $1m more per year.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
I somehow doubt that Michalek was willing to take the same $4M from a team that’s less likely to be good.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe..but it makes you wonder what went on there.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions
In Phoenix? They’re not close to as good as Pittsburgh. He probably asked for more to stay there or never had any intention of staying there, similar to Kovalchuk in Atlanta.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Pretty reasonable money for a solid top four defender and he could outperform. That said, he’s not exactly a spring chicken, 32 y/o next season. The difficulty for Phoenix is that they need every contract to be a good one.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
We can’t even afford Jonathan Willis.
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:D Good one
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Sean O’Donnell signs for one year and $1M in… Philadelphia! That puts them awfully close to the cap now. They have enough for two min. wagers to make 13 forwards.
that’s a pretty nice little deal though. very low-risk for Philly.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed. He’s likely a 5 of 6 on that defense which he should be able to handle without a problem.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree but you can only spend so much on goaltending. If he would have come here for $2M on a short-term deal, I’d have been happy with that (and would waive Khabibulin hoping someone picks him up or he heads to Russia).
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Really? Awesome. Gabe will be pissed that he went that low and will heap praise on the Lightning. As will I. Good deal for them. I too wish we would have tried that $2M per over 2 years. Let him know Khabby is being waived and drive on. Missed opportunity for sure.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Ellis and Leighton signed for the same. Bizarre.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Philadelphia clearly traded for the rights to the wrong goalie.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Ellis >>>>> Leighton
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Jody Shelley is the latest member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Leave some free agents for the rest of the league!
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 11:19 AM PDT reply actions
Three years, $1.1M per year is absolutely brutal.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
A Boy Named Sue. Squared.
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Joey Crabb signs a one-year deal with the Leafs. Two-way deal that pays him $200k in the AHL and $525k in the NHL. I wonder if that’s the kind of thing Liam Reddox will be looking for.
Yep, Paul Martin with 5 years at $5M per year going to Pittsburgh. Underrated player. Good on the power play and a history of outscoring top competition at evens. He’s also pretty young. Really good deal for the Penguins.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Do you think it’s a good deal at $5 MM per? That’s a lot of scratch Hard to call a guy with a $25 MM contract “underrated”.
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
In that I think it’s fair value and “the chorus” thinks it’s an overpay, I’d say “underrated” works just fine. I think he’s a very good player.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s a great player, rated or not. A much better deal than paying Gonchar like Ottawa did.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
My God, yes. Takes on top competition and has good offence. He could have a monster year with the Penguins if they give him softer comp.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Their top 4 is outstanding now. I don’t know if they leave Orpik and Letang together and put Martin and Michalek together against the toughs, but that works out well for both pairings.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
It would be awfully tempting to at least see if Michalek and Orpik could handle the toughs and then let Martin run wild with Malkin and co. I’d at least try it.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I’d be concerned about the Michalek/Orpik pairing moving the puck up ice.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I would too, but I’d still try it for ten or so games to start the year and see how it goes.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Don’t get me wrong, I think Martin is a helluva player. He’s been flying under the radar for years. Maybe he can remain underrated even as he is no longer underpaid.
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Results-oriented thinking for the win!
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
he would have to score a metric fucktonne of goals to be “best value” at that cap hit. what’s he make, like 10 times what Goc does?
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m with you. Goc may have been the best signing of all last summer.
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions
didja see gabe’s corsi overachiever article in like mid march? I think Goc was the top player in the entire NHL on his list. crazy crazy crazy how cheaply nash got him.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Nashville is crazy good at competing on a budget.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Not only did they get him at $550K they re-upped him for another year at $775. A nice raise in one sense, but not exactly Manny Malhotra money is it?
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions
But Goc doesn’t have Malhotra’s track record either. He’s had one really effective season playing in a depth role which is fine but not the same as what Malhotra has done. He’s never had to play against top competition or had to take a lot of own-zone draws and his track record on the PK isn’t much more than the fact he’s done it. I think Goc is a good player but Malhotra has a much higher level already established.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions
to be fair, Goc has been tasked with quite a few OZ draws over the last two years.
by Passive Voice on Jul 2, 2010 1:31 AM PDT up reply actions
You’re right on that score. I do it constantly, but I read the “zone-finish” column as the “zone-start” column. Ugh. Still, it’s really just last season where he was tasked with a lot of own-zone draws (and he did very well). He did it on a relative basis in San Jose, but that still left him around 50% just because that team has been so good. I’m sure that if he does it for another season or two and starts playing tougher competition he’ll get to where Malhotra is on the pay scale too.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 2, 2010 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions
And if you thought Shelley's was brutal...
Wait til you get a load of the absolute moronic nature of Booger’s deal.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions
It’s $2m more than mine.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Four years, 1.65 MM per is the rumour. If true, that’s atrocious.
A posse ad esse.
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by Jonathan Willis on Jul 1, 2010 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions
Atrocious is being kind. They need to invent a new word for it.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
All of a sudden a Staal-for-Cogliano deal starts to look pretty plausible…
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions
No…apparently we only pay good money for things that hit stuff.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
May as well. Throw in JF Jacques now…anyone else that just hits stuff?
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Dammit! I should have just offered Jacques. Stortini is an overpay!
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
If we hadn’t of foolishly waived Moreau you could have gotten him too. He usually hits guys with his stick and hits the glass with his shot!
So Moreau is 80x more skilled that Boogaard then?
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
i’m honestly not sure i can remember a worse deal.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
The Screw-Up Derby
After being smoked by Tambo’s signing of the Bulin Wall last July 1.
Glen Sather was determined to regain the crown in 2010.
Don’t discount Sutter. He’s in this to win this.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
It’s true. Remember when I said “but it is Sather after all.” Yeah. Good God. The hilarious thing is that he just finished buying out Brashear and learned nothing from it.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
According to the brightest mind in hockey, Boogaard has a negative value.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I think most Kindergarten classes could identify how bad he is.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
incorrect: he has huge entertainment value to those of us who are fans of other teams.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m going to miss having him in the Northwest Division.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I think a blog created just to comment on this deal would be the greatest thing this side of "S**tmydadsays*
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha! Thanks for that. Brightened my morning.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 2, 2010 5:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m surprised Lydman hasn’t been picked up by a team yet. He seems like the kind of guy who would be a low-key good value signing.
any chance you could mention the fact that the canucks haven’t traded a fourth-rounder to phoenix for Martin Hanzal?
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s a pretty good deal for the Ducks. I think Steve Eminger or James Wisniewski was their second best defender before that deal. They really needed some defensemen.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
wisniewski killed it last year though eh? but i assume he was most paired with niedermeyer.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Tallinder / Foster
Is there a chance?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Souray
If Jersey can’t get Hamhuis – Souray to Jersey?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I have no clue why Jersey would want to take that deal on but the rumour is persistent. They just don’t have anything to send back.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
I’d also take nothing for him, but I assume Jersey doesn’t want to take on the extra cash.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Whitney to PHX. 2 years @ $3mil/year.
Not a bad signing. Good PP guy, starting to slow down a bit though, but should be good for around 25g and 50p.
Only two years makes it palatable. Phoenix will really depend on him for scoring. I hope for their sake that he delivers.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
oilers said to have offered boogey 4 years but got out "when money got on the silly side"
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
To be fair, it was four years and Boogaard pays us $500,000.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish I wasn’t. Every once in a while Sather seems to do something to help Edmonton. Maybe he heard Boogaard was talking with the Oilers, thought “WTF Tambo! You’re rebuilding!” And then he saved us.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
And traded us Petr Nedved in 2003-04 for… I guess just because he figured he should help us out.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
The best part of that theory is the way the Rangers are still much better than we are.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 1, 2010 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m not sure, Boogaard just made us about 10 pts worse.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Heh. I’ll trade for your team right now, I’ll keep Dubinsky and Lundqvist you can keep any two you want.
Anything that will get rid of Boogaard.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Give me something else to cushion it. Aaron Johnson?
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Crap.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
They could try but I don’t think they will. I don’t know what kind of influence Mark Bell’s case would have but he served jail time and didn’t get his contract terminated.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Curtis Sanford signs for one year with the Canadiens on a two-way deal, 550k in the NHL and 105k in the AHL. He would have been a really good “insurance” guy for the Oilers in OKC.
Whoops. It’s 550k in the NHL and 200k in the AHL.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions
3.5 per? i dunno, that doesn’t seem that shitty.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Until they decide they need out of it and trade him for Derek Boogaard and Wade Redden.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
I do agree that it’s not a horrible deal at $3.5M per, but it’s just so funny.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
the “optics”, having traded him for utter shit, is pretty hilarious, but in-and-of itself, i think it’s okay.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions
They gave up so much to get him then took useless crap back to get rid of him. Now they’re signing him as a free agent. Unfreaking believable.
So that they can take more crap back again! Olli Jokinen is the gift that keeps on giving!
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s so funny…it almost makes me get over Booger.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Dan Tolensky tweet:
June 2011 – BREAKING NEWS: Flames buy out the final year of Olli Jokinen’s contract. Cap hit $1-1.17 mil for the next two years.
Priorities
Leopold / Foster / Stone / Ponikarovsky?
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
2 minutes before it happens – boom Foster.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
One of my main targets. Awesome. Now get Colaiacovo on the cheap.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Hey Scott (or anyone else), any idea where I could find underlying AHL stats? specifically for a guy named Brett Carson?
I’m not sure about a general AHL stats thing. You should ask Gabe Desjardins at BtN.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
pretty happy, but i dunno if there’s huge value available.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions
er…on the deal. not sure if there’s a lot of opportunity to outplay it.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Yea I don’t think he’ll outplay his value but I think there is a good chance that he plays to value.
was Hamhuis playing with a different partner last year than the two previous? he suddenly went from toughest zone starts to easiest for the D.
i think this means that Bieksa is available…
going strictly on qcomp numbers, it looks like he went from toughest minutes with de vries in 07 and zanon in 08, to 2nd-toughest duties (behind Suter+weber pairing) with, i guess, kevin klein this year.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, he took a step back in difficulty this year but he’s still a very good defender. The Canucks will really need to move some defensemen out with the additions of Hamhuis and Ballard and it means Mitchell probably isn’t coming back but I think this makes the Canucks better if they can shed some weaker defenders.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
If the Oilers are stretched for D, wouldn’t they be interested in someone like Bieksa (maybe for Cogliano or picks)? He’s had his troubles, but mostly because he’d like to be more than he is, and b/c he has absolute bad luck with skate blade injuries. But he’s mobile and can handle the puck, and only signed one more year.
If I were running the Oilers, I wouldn’t be interested. They need a shut-down guy and Bieksa just isn’t that. Further, one year of Kevin Bieksa is kind of useless to the Oilers.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions
But he’s also a penalty machine. Columbus just took Edmonton’s penalty machine.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
No, no, no. Shane O’Brien is a penalty machine. I don’t even need to look that up. That guy is off the hook.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
O’Brien takes the obvious ones, Bieksa takes the rest:
O’Brien – 26 minors in 65 games: .4000 penalties per game
Bieksa – 20 minors in 55 games: .3636 penalties per game
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
But Bieksa plays way more minutes and this season was actually an improvement for O’Brien. Check it out.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
SOB’s hilarious. i kinda suspect he could use medication.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, you guys are right, why take Bieksa’s penalties on. I was just trying to think for what team he might be useful. I thought actually as a one year solution to plug a hole, which doesn’t come with any kind of long contract commitment. And, a new coach might do him a world of good.
Plus, he has an awesome stare-down before he fights.
I hear the Moose have a few holes on the back end. Always room for one more!
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 2, 2010 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Goalies just don’t get money in free agency. I wonder if Nabokov and Turco will accept that or if they’ll retire / go to Europe.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
I think there is work for them if they take a huge salary cut. But I can’t see them getting what they’re used too.
That’s what I mean. When they realize they aren’t going to get top dollar, what’s going to happen?
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions
But they can both likely get way more than that overseas. Especially Nabokov. The other guy probably still hoping to get paid is Jose Theodore.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Yea, not sure what they can expect to get from the KHL. Sometimes the money is good, sometimes you don’t get paid….
I think that’s a pretty overblown narrative. If you sign with a rich team, you’ll get paid.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I still can’t believe it happened. Two years and $3M per is actually a pretty decent deal but the whole thing seems like it should be a practical joke.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Volchenkov for only 4.25 a year. Man Lamorillo is seriously an evil genius. That’s a value deal for a top five in the league shut down defenseman.
Yeah, that’s a good deal. He’s still young enough that it doesn’t eat into the scary years but the Devils have a weird defense now. Tallinder, Volchenkov, White, and Salvador. Not many guys with great passing skills in that group.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Ivan V. is supposed to be a good defensive prospect but… he’s been traded twice in the last year now. I’m pretty surprised they didn’t want to keep Ladd. I wonder what he’s asking for.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Doesn’t matter really. Assuming Huet leaves for Russia or goes to the AHL, they have $9.7 million in cap space and 11 guys under contract.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I guess that might be true. I really thought they’d put the screws to Campbell but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Johnsson is another injury guy. He and Mitchell probably won’t get the kind of deals the others have gotten. Kubina is an interesting player. I’m not sure what to expect for him.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions
If you can sign a guy like Mitchell or Johnsson to a one year deal at 2 million or less i pull the trigger. You’re gambling but its a good gamble. More than one year I probably wouldn’t do more than 1.5 per for two years.
Not a lot of value for the Oilers on a one-year deal unless you figure you have a better chance of re-signing the player if he does well. Which maybe you do. That would actually be pretty interesting. Maybe the Oilers try Mitchell for one year at $3M with the hope of signing him long term if he ends up being healthy.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Well the value would obviously be to stop the bleeding on the back end and protect the kids to some extent. On the other hand a short term deal also means you aren’t bogged down with boat anchors if the injuries don’t leave them with anything left.
Yeah, I agree with what you’re saying with this one. It could work out well if one of them is interested in a short term deal.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
but as a rebuilding team u r ok with them missing about 20 games….lets the kids get good 20 odd games
Vancuver realise thier mistake ……they need a Tembellini in their organisation….let dad go.,.so they sign the son
Steve Tambellini avoids some bad optics with his kid signing elsewhere. Do you know if it’s a one-way deal?
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Johan Hedberg signs for one year with the Devils at $1.5M and gets a no-trade clause to boot. That seems like a pretty brutal overpay considering the other goalies going in that range but will give Martin Brodeur a stiff test in the shot prevention department because Hedberg is really good at that.
Yeah, I like Hedberg, he’s better than his save percentage, and shot prevention is a big part of that. He should fit the Jersey system nicely, and this may be the year they finally give Brodeur 15 or so nights off.
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by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Adam Burish signs for two years with the Dallas Stars for $1.15M. That seems pretty hefty for a fourth line player, especially since the Stars aren’t going to be a cap team.
When in doubt…remember the Booger deal. Everything looks cheaper.
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by George E. Ays on Jul 1, 2010 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Matt Cullen signs with the Wild for three years and $3.5M per year. That seems like it’s on the high end of what he could possibly be worth. He’s had quite a few injuries over the years and this will be for his 34 to 36 y/o seasons so, if anything, his performance is probably on the downswing. My first impression is that this isn’t a very good deal for the Wild.
yeah, i’m not convinced. as an aside, how much are they paying Koivu?
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions
250k less. haha, he’s gonna get paid next year.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions
He most certainly is and he deserves it. Koivu is great.
by Scott Reynolds on Jul 1, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
indeed. he can play the “well, you’re giving Backstrom and Cullen 10 mil combined…surely I’m worth 8” card.
by Passive Voice on Jul 1, 2010 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I have trouble convincing myself Matt Cullen is worth any $3.5 MM. I know he’s better than his stats, but an eight-figure contract? Wow.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s a pretty bad signing, but by percentage, giving Nystrom $1.4 million per is worse.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
And giving Boogaard $1.65 worse still, let alone for four years. Sather is out of his mind.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Jul 1, 2010 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Kovalchuk
Does the fact that no one has signed him yet mean that GMs are being more cagey, and looking more and more to micro stats to make sure they don’t sign an anchor? Most of the signings, except Boogard, seem calculating, and careful.
No good teams have the space for him and he doesn’t want the bad teams. Here’s hoping he gets half of what Atlanta offered him.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
As soon as Souray’s traded, Moby Tambellini will go whale hunting.
by Benjamin Massey on Jul 2, 2010 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Not if he has to bring back a similar salary.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
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