Free Agent Signings

[fix]

Woah

Nashville really jumped right in there with their signing of J Allison.

[JD]

Nice one. Didn't catch me, but I like the context.

[Shoalzie]

The real fun starts at noon Eastern. I haven't seen a final list of who's going to be available but there are some huge names out there on the open market. Goaltending is a little thin...Khabibulin is the most attractive name but then there's a drop off to guys like Joseph, Dunham and Burke. The exciting part about this will the fact that more than just a handful of teams will be able to get these free agents. Teams like Detroit, Colorado, Philadelphia and Toronto won't have as much to spend on other team's free agents as they did in the past. Those clubs will have to be more creative with how they work within a budget to put out a quality team. We'll see if some of the smaller market teams will be able to pick up a big name free agent or two.

[fix]

The real fun starts at noon Eastern. I haven't seen a final list of who's going to be available but there are some huge names out there on the open market. Goaltending is a little thin...Khabibulin is the most attractive name but then there's a drop off to guys like Joseph, Dunham and Burke. The exciting part about this will the fact that more than just a handful of teams will be able to get these free agents. Teams like Detroit, Colorado, Philadelphia and Toronto won't have as much to spend on other team's free agents as they did in the past. Those clubs will have to be more creative with how they work within a budget to put out a quality team. We'll see if some of the smaller market teams will be able to pick up a big name free agent or two.

Here you go...

Goalies

01. Nikolai Khabibulin
02. Roman Cechmanek
03. Mike Dunham
04. Curtis Joseph
05. Sean Burke
06. Chris Osgood
07. Brian Boucher
08. Brent Johnson
09. Johan Hedberg
10. Steve Shields
11. Jamie Storr
12. Felix Potvin
13. Fred Brathwaite
14. Jan Lasak
15. Ron Tugnutt
16. Byron Dafoe
17. Milan Hnilicka
18. Trevor Kidd
19. Corey Schwab
20. Artus Irbe
21. Tyler Moss
22. Zac Bierk
23. Steve Passmore
24. Jason LaBarbera
25. Sebastien Centomo
26. Sebastien Charpentier
27. Dany Sabourin
28. Neil Little
29. Dieter Kochan
30. Jm Pelletier
31. Travis Scott
32. Joey MacDonald
33. Martin Brochu
34. Adam Hauser
35. Mathieu Chouinard
36. Marc Lamothe
37. Matt Underhill

Defensemen

Scott Niedermayer
Sergei Gonchar
Adrian Aucoin
Adam Foote
Brian Leetch
Mathieu Schneider
Roman Hamrlik
Brian Rafalski
Alexei Zhitnik
Al MacInnis
Scott Stevens
Mike Rathje
Vladimir Malakhov
Derian Hatcher
Chris Chelios
Patrice Brisebois
Boris Mironov
Dan McGillis
Aleksander Khavanov
Bryan Berard
Teppo Numinen
Andy Delmore
Glen Wesley
Mark Eaton
Joel Bouchard
Jason York
Jiri Slegr
Chris Therien
Mathieu Dandeneault
Yannick Tremblay
James Patrick
Mathieu Biron
Drake Berehowsky
Stephane Quintal
Don Sweeney
Igor Ulanov
Deron Quint
Brad Bombardir
Scott Ferguson
Brad Ference
Bryan Marchment
Curtis Leschyshyn
Jamie Pushor
Stan Neckar
Karl Dykhuis
Lyle Odelein
Darrel Scoville
Marc Bergevin
Stephane Robidas
Scott Lachance
Jason Marshall
Jason Doig
John Slaney
Pavel Trnka
Chris Tamer
Christian LaFlamme
Robert Scuderi
Jeff Finley
Tomas Kloucek
Kyle Rossister
Travis Roche
Murray Baron
Patrick Boileau
Bobby Allen
Dan Focht
Jean Luc Grand-Pierre
Ray Shultz
Brad Fast
Steve Poapst
Brad Norton
Allan Rourke
John Gruden
Zbynek Michalek
Patrick Traverse
Maxim Kuznetsov
Tomi Pietinen
Shawn Heins
Robert Schnabel
Alain Nasreddine
Jeff Paul
Brett Clark
Dj Smith
Joe DiPenta
Nikos Tselios
Nolan Baumgartner
Todd Rohloff
Francois Beauchemin
Chris Hajt
Garret Stafford
Andy Berenzweig
Luke Sellars
Todd Simpson

Centers

Centers
01. Petr Forsberg
02. Alex Zhamnov
03. Mike Modano
04. Jason Allison
05. Bobby Holik
06. Eric Lindros
07. Jozef Stumpel
08. Joe Nieuwendyk
09. Vincent Damphousse
10. Pierre Turgeon
11. Andrew Cassels
12. Dave Scatchard
13. Ron Francis
14. Mark Messier
15. Andrei Nikolishin
16. Yannic Perreault
17. Robert Reichel
18. Darby Hendrickson
19. Cliff Ronning
20. Jan Hrdina
21. Brian Holzinger
22. Craig Johnson
23. Jim Dowd
24. Jason Krog
25. Travis Green
26. Claude Lapointe
27. Kip Miller
28. Shaun Van Allen
29. Eric Perrin
30. Tony Hrkac
31. Mike Eastwood
32. Eric Chouinard
33. Steve Martins
34. Craig Darby
35. Erik Westrum
36. Gavin Morgan
37. Craig MacDonald
38. Shawn Thornton
39. Brad Moran
40. Kris Vernarsky
41. Tommi Santala
42. Brett Lysak
43. Carl Corrazini
44. Andre Savage
45. Steve Moore
46. Colin Forbes
47. Mark Hartigan
48. Eric Manlow
49. Peter Sarno
50. Peter White
51. Jim McKenzie

Wingers

Wingers
01. Markus Naslund
02. Alex Kovalev
03. Zigmund Palffy
04. Paveol Demitra
05. Alex Mogilny
06. Glen Murray
07. Paul Kariya
08. Gary Roberts
09. Adam Deadmarsh
10. Miroslav Satan
11. Petr Bondra
12. John LeClair
13. Ray Whitney
14. Martin Straka
15. Martin Gelinas
16. Tony Amonte
17. Teemu Selanne
18. Dallas Drake
19. Shawn McEachern
20. Cory Stillman
21. Martin Rucinsky
22. Vladimir Orszagh
23. Jan Hlavac
24. Richard Park
25. Valeri Bure
26. Andrew Brunette
27. Dave Andreychuk
28. Martin Lapointe
29. Scott Young
30. Anson Carter
31. Darren McCarthy
32. Trent Klatt
33. Brian Savage
34. Dean McAmmond
35. Petr Schastlivy
36. Mike Keane
37. Rob Zamuner
38. Rob Dimaio
39. Dave Lowry
40. Bill Mucklat
41. Steve Thomas
42. Tom Kostopoulos
43. Tie Domi
44. Donald Audette
45. Mariusz Czerkawski
46. Shayne Corson
47. Ivan Novoseltsev
48. Ben Clymer
49. Andreas Johansson
50. Jason Ward
51. Igor Korolev
52. Michal Grosek
53. Craig Adams
54. Mikael Samuelsson
55. Dan Lacouture
56. Dan Cleary
57. Bates Battaglia
58. Randy Robitaille
59. Rem Murray
60. Scott Pellerin
61. Brad May
62. Pascal Rheaume
63. Tyler Bouck
64. Sandy McCarthy
65. Corey Larose
66. Jiri Bicek
67. Eric Messier
68. Denis Hamel
69. Jaroslav Bednar
70. Andrei Nazarov
71. Kelly Buchberger
72. Blake Sloan
73. David Ling
74. Jim Campbell
75. Landon Wilson
76. Brad Chartrand
77. Dan Bylsma
78. Wyatt Smith
79. David Olivier
80. Ty Jones
81. Rob Ray
82. Darren Haydar
83. Zdenek Blatny
84. Michael Ryan
85. Brad DeFauw
86. Damian Surma
87. Eric Boulton
88. Norm Milley
89. Bill Lindsay
90. Sean Pronger
91. Derek Bekar
92. Richard Scott
93. Steve Webb
94. Travis Brigley
95. Boyd Kane
96. Pat Kavanagh
97. Ryan Ready
98. Chris McCalister
99. Chris Bala
100. Kirby Law
101. Darcy Verot
102. Joey Tetarenko
103. Reid Simpson
104. Garret Burnett
105. Paul Healey
106. Pj Stock
107. Rob Skrlac
108. Gordie Dwyer
109. John Tripp
110. Brian Maloney
111. Jim Cummins
112. Brian McGrattan
113. Denis Bonvie
114. Steve McKenna
115. Peter Worrell

[Cuda]

Otis, just list the ones who aren't washed up.

Goalies & centers you'll probably have 10 or less in each category

Defensemen probably 20 or less & probably less than 50 wingers

[fix]

Roberts AND Nieuwendyk sign with Florida..

I get the feeling this thread isn't going to go well for Leaf fans... :(

[Cross Traffic]

Mike Keenan's motto:

Sign the OLDEST players available and for way too much money

[JD]

Roberts AND Nieuwendyk sign with Florida..

I get the feeling this thread isn't going to go well for Leaf fans... :(

Depends on your outlook, I guess, but if doing nothing is a good move, then the Leafs made a good move.

Roberts and Nieuwendyk are winners and have heart, but their best days are waaaaaaaay behind them. I thought Florida had a good, young up-and-coming team with Weiss, Horton, Bouwmeester, and Stewart. Now those young guys are going to have some decent role models to look up to, but their playing time will suffer. Typical Keenan move, I guess.

Now the Leafs have some space for younger, hungrier guys that don't eat up all their cap room.

And on that note, I'll suspend my propping of the Leafs. Makes me sick to my stomach.

[RSoxFan]

Woah

Nashville really jumped right in there with their signing of J Allison.

I thought you meant Jason Allison.

[Shoalzie]

Here is a list of the free agents broken down by classification and team...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/stor ... freeagents

http://www.nhl.com/players/freelist05.html

[Shoalzie]

Mike Keenan's motto:

Sign the OLDEST players available and for way too much money

Roberts wasn't overpaid but I think Nieuwendyk is. $2.25 million for a guy who can score 30 goals and provide leadership is a decent price. Shanahan's player option was for $2.28 million...both players bring about the same thing to the table. Nieuwendyk has had injury problems recently but he did score 6 goals in 9 games in the 2003-04 playoffs. Both guys will provide a veteran presence in the dressing room and if they can add a defenseman to go along with Bouwmeester and re-sign Luongo, this could be a team that could compete for a playoff spot.

[Smoked Meat]

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/nhl050801.html

Might be a silly question but can someone clarify something for me pls. If you scroll down the site, a list of available players is posted with a "Teams of interest" section. Does that mean the listed teams have shown interest in acquiring the player or the player would personally like to sign with one of these teams. Thank you.

[fix]

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/nhl050801.html

Might be a silly question but can someone clarify something for me pls. If you scroll down the site, a list of available players is posted with a "Teams of interest" section. Does that mean the listed teams have shown interest in acquiring the player or the player would personally like to sign with one of these teams. Thank you.

My interpretation of it is that those teams would have an interest in them.

[JD]

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/nhl050801.html

Might be a silly question but can someone clarify something for me pls. If you scroll down the site, a list of available players is posted with a "Teams of interest" section. Does that mean the listed teams have shown interest in acquiring the player or the player would personally like to sign with one of these teams. Thank you.

To me, it looks like they'd have worded it better if they said, "Rumoured destinations".

That's the second list I've seen set up just like that. And both have suggested the Flames are a potential team to sign Adam Foote. I just can't understand why that would be a possibility, considering the Flames have a younger cheaper version of Foote in Robyn Regehr.

The rumours surrounding the Flames possibly signing Scott Niedermayer make more sense, as the Flames could use a more offensive-minded blueliner. The idea behind that one seems to be that if Iginla takes less money, Sutter will chase Niedermayer. If he was successful in landing that big fish, it would open up a potential trade of one of the Flames' talented young defensemen, likely Toni Lydman.

But despite all those rumours, I'd expect that if the Flames sign any big names, it would more likely be a centreman.

[Cross Traffic]

Kariya in a Kings jersey?

Getting Satan and pairing him with Palffy would be scary. :)

Getting Zhitnik back would right one of the worst trades the Kings ever made.

[JD]

Sounds like Adam Foote landed in Columbus with a 3 year, $4.5M/year contract.

Good signing for them, even if they did overpay by about $2M per season. He'll help some of their younger defensemen grow up.

[Shoalzie]

That's a hell of a pick up for the Jackets. They could use a #1 center as well.

From TSN, Modano appears to be on his way to Boston...
http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=132175

[Hapday]

Roberts AND Nieuwendyk sign with Florida..

I get the feeling this thread isn't going to go well for Leaf fans... :(

JFJ is damned if he signed them and damned if he didn't. Leaf haters will now say it's a mistake and letting the team's heart sign elsewhere. Had the Leafs signed the pair the haters would have laughed at the Leafs staying old. As it stands right now, the Leafs are a LOT younger of a team but lacking talent in a lot ot areas. The next two years may not be pretty for the Leafs, but they are rebuilding and heading in the right direction.

[JD]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132178

The Blackhawks overpay for Adrian Aucoin...

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132177

and the Flyers follow suit with Rathje and Hatcher.

Since when are defensive defensemen worth over $4M??? Do these GMs remember they have a salaray cap to work under?

[Cross Traffic]

Norstrom and Miller are getting $2.6 mil each this season from the Kings, which is in line with the current cap. $4.5 million for a defensive d-man is way too much.

[Hapday]

Aren't the Flyers in cap trouble already? If they paid $4 million for either Hatcher or Rathje that is a joke.

[jiminphilly]

Aren't the Flyers in cap trouble already? If they paid $4 million for either Hatcher or Rathje that is a joke.

Flyers move to shore up defense

Team signs free agents Hatcher, Rathje and Therien

By Tim Panaccio

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER


In one mighty swoop the Flyers have leveled the ice surface along their blue line by signing two, big, bruising defenseman, Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje, while also bringing back Chris Therien.

The Flyers also re-signed Phantoms forward Jon Sim to a a one-way NHL contract. Sim played with Hatcher in Dallas.

To make cap room for all four players, the Flyers traded defenseman Danny Markov to the Nashville Predators, according to league sources. That trade will be announced later today.

What haunted the Flyers heading into free agency was the possibly of yet another season in which Ottawa Senators forwards Marian Hossa, Daniel Alfredsson, Martin Havlat would come across the blue line and smile, knowing no one was there to intimidate them.

Those smiles have been wiped off the collective faces of the Senators this morning.

A long-time Dallas Star before moving to Detroit two seasons ago, Hatcher stands 6-feet-5 and weighs 235 pounds. If the 14-year veteran is fully recovered from the torn knee ligaments in his right knee that caused him to miss 64 games as a Red Wing, he can again become one of the game's dominating presences. :roll:


Hatcher was a favorite of Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock in Dallas where he averaged 26 minutes of ice time a game and never played a lick on the power play. If healthy, he is durable and he puts up decent offensive numbers. Three years ago, he was plus-37 with 22 assists.

The 6-5, 235-pound Rathje was a draft choice and developed product of the San Jose Sharks and their former general manager Dean Lombardi, who is now a pro scout for the Flyers and pushed heavily for Flyers GM Bob Clarke to sign him. He has 12 years of NHL experience. Rathje averaged 24 minutes of playing time for the Sharks. Three years ago, he led the defense in goals (7), assists (22) and points (29).

The 6-5, 235-pound Therien is no stranger to Flyers fans, having been drafted and developed by the organization and playing here for 10 years. He was moved at the trading deadline to Dallas in 2003-04.

The signings figure to leave the Flyers with a payroll of between $36.5 and $37 million. The NHL salary cap is $39 million this season.


Not real happy with the signings but this is what happens with a salary cap. I really like Markov but his salary was hurting the team's chances and singing other players.

[Bizzarofelice]

this is the hot stove league condensed into a couple weeks. although devastating to teams and their established persona(s), its great.

i'm actually quite excited about hockey.

[jiminphilly]

this is the hot stove league condensed into a couple weeks. although devastating to teams and their established persona(s), its great.

i'm actually quite excited about hockey.

Could not agree more. I like the drop in ticket prices too... the Flyers have a family section for single game seats.. $20 adults..

[Shoalzie]

The Flyers are going to have one of a blue line but they're going to have to trade somebody to make room for Esche and Johnsson, who are restricted free agents. I've seen some rumors about Gagne being on the trading block. The Flyers are going to have two Calder Trophy candidates in Richards and Carter...they can afford to move Gagne.

[Shoalzie]

To make cap room for all four players, the Flyers traded defenseman Danny Markov to the Nashville Predators, according to league sources. That trade will be announced later today.

Looks like they heard me. :wink:

Good add for the Predators to go with their young blueline.

[JD]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article. ... 22646_4724

Holik is now a Thrasher. Also extremely overpaid.

$4.25M for a guy that probably won't even pot 20 goals?

The same teams that cried poor in the past are now shelling out big dollars for players that shouldn't get that kind of money.

Pretty soon the money is going to run out and there are going to be some good players without jobs.

[Hapday]

I guess you can never prevent GMs from overpaying for players. I find it funny, even as a Leafs fan, that big market teams are now getting outbid by small market teams for players and crying poor.

[Cross Traffic]

4.25 for Holik after he got a HUGE buyout from the Ranger$? That means he is going to get almost $10 million this season. :roll: Talk about double dipping.

[al?]

Yzerman back for the farewell tour.

http://www.nhl.com/news/2005/08/231640.html


Enjoy Lurch in Philly, Flyer fan. Enjoy him getting torched wide shift after shift. Enjoy him taking stupid penalties. Enjoy him standing around looking stupid after his man scored (again).


Enjoy
:D

[JD]

http://www.bostonbruins.com/

Bruins get Murray back and sign McEachern. Depends on the terms, but I'd say good signings for the B's. McEachern finally gets to play at home, and Murray has been a real sniper for the Bruins the last few years.

And it might be reassuring for Thornton to see his supporting cast is still around.

[Cuda]

Sounds like Adam Foote landed in Columbus with a 3 year, $4.5M/year contract.

Good signing for them, even if they did overpay by about $2M per season. He'll help some of their younger defensemen grow up.

That's going to fucking hurt the Xvalanche.

C-Bus still won't make the playoffs, btw

[Cross Traffic]

8/2/2005

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with unrestricted free agent goaltender Jason LaBarbera, Kings Senior Vice President/General Manager Dave Taylor announced today. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

LaBarbera, 25, played in 53 games this past season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. With the Wolf Pack, the 6-3, 224-pound native of Prince George, British Columbia, had a 31-16-2 record, six shutouts, a 1.84 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .934 save percentage. LaBarbera’s GAA ranked second amongst all AHL netminders, his save-percentage ranked third, his win total was seventh and his shutouts were tied for eighth best.

“In Jason we have added another promising young goaltender who we expect to play a key role with the Kings this season,” said Taylor. “We like his size and feel has a tremendous upside as he has been on of the top young goaltenders in the American Hockey League the last two years and has shown steady improvement as well.”
.

I thought the idea was to get a VETERAN goalie, not another kid. If those are the 2 goalies the Kings start with this season, they are in trouble. Less than 50 combined games NHL experience.

[JD]

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/nhl/free_agent_tracker.html

Kings have also added Pavol Demitra. Not a bad option, but he really does nothing more than replace Straka and Palffy. He signed at about $4.5M/year for 3 years, which I think is a fair deal for an offensive player like him.

[Cross Traffic]

Kings have been wanting him for years, considering he has kicked our ass as a Blue.

[godzilla2002]

I'd like to see Forsberg and Naslund pull a Kariya-Selanne and play with the Avs

[Mustang]

Enjoy Lurch in Philly, Flyer fan. Enjoy him getting torched wide shift after shift. Enjoy him taking stupid penalties. Enjoy him standing around looking stupid after his man scored (again).Enjoy :D

I like big Hatch but I'm kind of glad to see the Stars not coughing up big $$$ for aging former players. Al knows, though. I can see Philly fan livid at Hatcher as he gets spun around time after time after time. Another interesting thing I haven't seen anyone bring up....his relationship with Jeremy Roenick. Back in c. 1993, Lurch messed up Roenick's knee and knocked him out for the season...then in 1999, broke his jaw with a monster hit in the corner. Imagine that dude leaving his feet at full speed to make a hit....yikes!

Modano, on the other hand is being wooed by Boston, among others. He says he'll take whatever he gets offered and allow the Stars to match it. I shudder to think of that guy in someone else's sweater but he doesn't skate like the wind anymore and his 04-05 season was gawdawful. But do you allow your team's all-time stud fly? Tough call.

[JD]

I'd like to see Forsberg and Naslund pull a Kariya-Selanne and play with the Avs

Dream on. With Sakic and Blake already on board for a hefty sum, and plenty of other mid-range players to sign, the Avs are tapped out in the FA market.

Lacroix basically had to choose between Sakic and Forsberg. Unfortunately for AvsFan, he chose the sentimental guy rather than the guy who's a better fit long-term.

You won't get one of those two let alone both.

[al?]

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/nhl/free_agent_tracker.html

Kings have also added Pavol Demitra. Not a bad option, but he really does nothing more than replace Straka and Palffy. He signed at about $4.5M/year for 3 years, which I think is a fair deal for an offensive player like him.

Demitra's best years are waaaaaaaaay behind him. The soft attitude of L.A won't help in either.

Decent players + King jerseys = IR

Expect to see Pavel out indefinately before the all-star break.

[Bizzarofelice]

I'd tell you that Demitra never did anything in the playoffs, but playoff performance is not an issue for the non-playoff qualifying Kings.