Free Agent Signings

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:37 pm

Kings only have Sean Avery as an enforcer, they need to get a legit enforcer and dress him every game. Hopefully the disaster of the past 2 seasons will show Andy Murray and Dave Taylor that you need a deterrent from getting your stars smashed up.

jiminphilly · Post by **jiminphilly** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:39 pm

Mustang wrote:
al? wrote: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.

Hatcher was a +37 in his final season with Dallas (only played 15 games with Detroit). I admit I have not seen him play much but how much can the guy be spun around if the team is a +37 with him?

JD · Post by JD » Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:39 pm

al? wrote:Demitra's best years are waaaaaaaaay behind him.

That's a bit of a reach. Dude's only 30 years old, and scored 58 points in 68 games in his last one.

Bizzarofelice · Post by **Bizzarofelice** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:02 pm

Cross Traffic wrote:Kings only have Sean Avery as an enforcer.

What about my fave ex-Blue Ian?

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:11 pm

Ian signed with the Dives before the lockout for about 1.5 mil per.

al? · Post by **al?** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:35 pm

Ok....Demitra's best years aren't waaaaaaaaay behind him, but he had a decent supporting cast in St. Louise. It doesn't look like it will be that way in L.A.

I'm betting we've seen his best seson (points/production wise)

As for Lurch....sure he was a plus 37 that year, but he played nearly 30 min. a game on the team with the 7th best goals for and the third best goals against. The only other team closer to those numbers that year was Ottawa. That year the Stars, under Hitchcock were a trapping team ('sup Hap) that was very well balanced in an era of tight checking. You'll see what happens to him this year. He'll be lucky to be +20 with 30 points. For not even half what they paid Lurch, Philly could've picked up a ton of these......

and saved mad cap room. Shit, I betcha 'ol coney there could've pulled in at least a +15 on that Stars team, and Turco would've bounced a couple off him for a few assists.

No.......Hatcher is a bum, and a goon, and Bob Clarke wins the MENSA 2005 award for spending 14.5 mil on a toothless pylon. Like I said Philly fan.............enjoy.

SoCalTrjn · Post by **SoCalTrjn** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:10 pm

Cross Traffic wrote: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.

But Miller normally only plays half the season anyway so he is actually earning 5.2 million

SoCalTrjn · Post by **SoCalTrjn** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:13 pm

Cross Traffic wrote:Kings only have Sean Avery as an enforcer, they need to get a legit enforcer and dress him every game. Hopefully the disaster of the past 2 seasons will show Andy Murray and Dave Taylor that you need a deterrent from getting your stars smashed up.

The Kings have Ryan Flinn who could beat the shit out of just about anyone in the league. The problem isnt that LA has no enforcers, its that LA has a high school coach who is too big of a cunt to dress an enforcer or allow anyone else on the team stand up for a mate.

al? · Post by **al?** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:37 pm

BUHHWWWWWAAAHAHAHAHA Flame fan.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:13 am

What's so funny about the Flames signing Tony Amonte?

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:25 am

JD wrote: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?

Gee, I thought that this salary cap was supposed to be the saviour for Bettman's new fiscally sound NHL.
There sure seems to be a lot of money being tossed around for a bunch of teams that were crying wolf...

And yet... the teams that have an abundance of financial resources are sitting there with their hands tied.

:roll:

Hey now that's a great idea... let's watch a league where it's two most prominant markets (in respective countries) stand a chance of being out of contention in January or not making the playoffs

Nice job Gary

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:53 am

Otis wrote:
JD wrote: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?
Gee, I thought that this salary cap was supposed to be the saviour for Bettman's new fiscally sound NHL.
There sure seems to be a lot of money being tossed around for a bunch of teams that were crying wolf...

And yet... the teams that have an abundance of financial resources are sitting there with their hands tied.

:roll:

Hey now that's a great idea... let's watch a league where it's two most prominant markets (in respective countries) stand a chance of being out of contention in January or not making the playoffs

Nice job Gary

I think a few teams can afford $39 million without crippling their ability run a team. You see a team like Atlanta, Columbus or Calgary be able to sign a notable free agent. Granted, they are guys teams couldn't keep because of finances but it's the beginning of the trickle down effect. I think we're seeing a flurry of activitiy early on because teams just want to get the best players possible. Most teams were only at $10-20 million back on August 1 so they have some money to work with. I think it would be great to see most teams be able spend near the cap figure...we should see a very balanced league as a result.

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:56 am

Hapday wrote:
Otis wrote:
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.

I'm seriously starting to believe that JFJ has his head up his ass...
Look at the different scenarios then.. If the plan was to get younger and throw this season into the tank, then why even bother bringing Belfour back when they could have bought him out and given Telly the starting goal job to see once and for all if he could handle it.
Hell, for that matter they should have bought out Klee too.
But instead they screwed around with Roberts and Joe... so now they're gone.
They supposedly made a pitch for Aucoin and Murray... so that tells me they're still looking to sign UFA's..
JFJ (and this one really makes no sense) goes ahead and gives qualifying offers to fuck'n Berg, Belak, Antropov none of whom should be in any future plans...
Shit, if the plan is to write this season off to get younger and gain more f'n cap space then get rid of all the dead wood, don't sign anyone this season, play it with a team comprised of Marlies and tell the Leafs nation, sorry but this is Gary's league... take it out on him.

godzilla2002 · Post by **godzilla2002** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:06 am

JD wrote: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.

I like Sakic over Forsberg for a better fit “long-term”. But I really like… Sakic, Forsberg and Naslund right now! On the other hand, I would hate to see either Hejduk or Tanguay have to go, already had to see Foote go. The only way Forsberg and Naslund play in Denver is if both Forsberg and Nasuland decide to play under market value and the Avs give up Hejduk or Tanguay or both. Watch Forsberg and Naslund end up in Vancouver…OUCH!

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:11 am

Cross Traffic wrote: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.

The Thrashers are going to have to give atleast $5 or 6 million to both Heatley and Kovalchuk since they gave that much to Holik. It's a good pick up but just a little too much money. He wouldn't be what I'd call a #1 center but they definitely need help up the middle.

al? wrote:BUHHWWWWWAAAHAHAHAHA Flame fan.

Good for Darren. I held no ill will towards him...it wasn't his fault that the Wings couldn't keep him under their budget. Good to see him land somewhere where his grit and lunch bucket mentality will go over well. The Amonte addition is an upgrade from Gelinas...both signings are very nice. They still have to worry about re-signing Iginla and Kiprusoff.

JD wrote: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.

Add to that, they also pick up Dave Scatchard. Plus with the rumors of getting Modano...the Bruins are doing a heck of a job early on. They were one of the few teams that went into the free agent period with only a handful of guys under contract and lots of money to work with. One crazy rumor I heard on the radio today was Datsyuk for Thornton but I don't think the Wings would be able to afford Thornton.

Crazy day of signings...

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:25 am

The New York Rangers announced that the club has re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Kevin Weekes, unrestricted free agent forward Martin Straka and unrestricted free agent defenceman Marek Malik.

Terms of the Weekes deal were not disclosed, but Straka signed a one-year deal for $3 million, while Malik signed a three-year deal for $2.5 million per season

North Carolina (Ticker) - After a career year in the Sunshine State, Cory Stillman is moving up the East Coast.

Stillman, who finished the 2003-04 season tied for seventh in scoring, agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Looks as if the Canes just replaced O'Neill.

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Islanders signed defenceman Alexei Zhitnik to a four-year, $14 million US deal

And the Islanders replace Aucoin...

Meanwhile JFJ still has his head up his ass....

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:29 am

Nice pick up by the Rangers...Malik was one of the league leaders in +/- in '03-04.

All these signings today and Forsberg, Naslund, Niedermayer and Khabibulin have yet to sign...should be a crazy next few days. With only a month until camp...teams can't sit on their hands to fill out their team. We'll probably a couple weeks of signing sprees like this.

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:30 am

Donovan wrote:What's so funny about the Flames signing Tony Amonte?

Not a thing...

Especially when they turn around and also grab Darren McCarty.

Props to the Flames for improving themselves.

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:33 am

Shoalzie wrote:Nice pick up by the Rangers...Malik was one of the league leaders in +/- in '03-04.

All these signings today and Forsberg, Naslund, Niedermayer and Khabibulin have yet to sign...should be a crazy next few days. With only a month until camp...teams can't sit on their hands to fill out their team. We'll probably a couple weeks of signing sprees like this.

It's what everyone expected to happen.
The downside to all of this is I can't forsee the trade deadline being worth a shit anymore with everyone trying to match salaries and cap levels.

godzilla2002 · Post by **godzilla2002** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:35 am

Shoalzie wrote:Crazy day of signings...

Think NHL GM’s are getting any sleep?

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:38 am

godzilla2002 wrote:
Shoalzie wrote:Crazy day of signings...
Think NHL GM’s are getting any sleep?

Yup.. this guy is in a deep deep sleep

Asleep at the wheel

godzilla2002 · Post by **godzilla2002** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:38 am

LMAO!!!

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:13 am

I like the fact that Sather brought in a capable Defenseman. Not too sure about Straka, but they need Centers. Hope he can somehow land Forsberg.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:14 am

Otis wrote:
Shoalzie wrote:Nice pick up by the Rangers...Malik was one of the league leaders in +/- in '03-04.

All these signings today and Forsberg, Naslund, Niedermayer and Khabibulin have yet to sign...should be a crazy next few days. With only a month until camp...teams can't sit on their hands to fill out their team. We'll probably a couple weeks of signing sprees like this.
It's what everyone expected to happen.
The downside to all of this is I can't forsee the trade deadline being worth a shit anymore with everyone trying to match salaries and cap levels.

Very true...unless any of the top teams spend only $35-37 million and leave a couple million to work with, they could do something at the deadline. The ones right at the cap is only going to be able to trade contract for contract...sort of like what happens in the NBA. The deadline won't be the same as it used to be but there's still going to be teams out of the hunt dealing high priced players or potential free agents to contenders to free up cap space for the next offseason. I don't think you'll see guys making $5-7 million switch teams but guys in the $1-2 million should be able to go from team-to-team without a problem.

AcidQueen · Post by **AcidQueen** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 5:40 am

Shoalzie wrote:Nice pick up by the Rangers...Malik was one of the league leaders in +/- in '03-04.

Well shit.

SoCalTrjn · Post by **SoCalTrjn** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 7:23 am

Otis wrote: Hey now that's a great idea... let's watch a league where it's two most prominant markets (in respective countries) stand a chance of being out of contention in January or not making the playoffs

Nice job Gary

New York and Los Angeles are by far the two largest markets in North America and neither have had their teams contend in more than a decade

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:04 pm

SoCalTrjn wrote:
Otis wrote: Hey now that's a great idea... let's watch a league where it's two most prominant markets (in respective countries) stand a chance of being out of contention in January or not making the playoffs

Nice job Gary

New York and Los Angeles are by far the two largest markets in North America and neither have had their teams contend in more than a decade

With all due respect to the hockey fans of LA.. they're not in the top 2 most prominent hockey markets.

Toronto
New York

Hapday · Post by **Hapday** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:55 pm

Otis wrote:
Hapday wrote:
Otis wrote:
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.
I'm seriously starting to believe that JFJ has his head up his ass...
Look at the different scenarios then.. If the plan was to get younger and throw this season into the tank, then why even bother bringing Belfour back when they could have bought him out and given Telly the starting goal job to see once and for all if he could handle it.
Hell, for that matter they should have bought out Klee too.
But instead they screwed around with Roberts and Joe... so now they're gone.
They supposedly made a pitch for Aucoin and Murray... so that tells me they're still looking to sign UFA's..
JFJ (and this one really makes no sense) goes ahead and gives qualifying offers to fuck'n Berg, Belak, Antropov none of whom should be in any future plans...
Shit, if the plan is to write this season off to get younger and gain more f'n cap space then get rid of all the dead wood, don't sign anyone this season, play it with a team comprised of Marlies and tell the Leafs nation, sorry but this is Gary's league... take it out on him.

You are preaching to the choir. I thought the Leafs should have bought everyone out execpt Sundin. Now that hindsight is a perfect 20/20 they should have even bought out Sundin. They could have easily iced a better team and been in a better stuation under the cap.

I have NO FREAKIN' IDEA why JFJ re-signed Aki Berg, Antropov, or Belak. I would easily bet that those three bums are the worst players in the NHL right now.

The Leafs NEED one more high-quality defensemen right now. That way the Leafs defense would look something like:

Defenseman X McCabe
Klee Kablerle
Berg Belak/Coliacovo

No the best top six defense in the league, but not a complete disaster. Well, unless McCabe decides to disappear again like he did three years ago.

The Leafs also need at least two half-decent left wingers to play with Sundin and Allison. If Allison stays healthy (he is supposed to sign any minute) he will be playing for the league minimum and will be a steal. Paul Kariya would be perfect for the Leafs, and I don't think he comes with that big of a price tag.

All is not lost yet. JFJ just has to sign a couple of players and this team is at least a seventh or eighth seed team. The Leafs also are going to be putting a LOT OF FAITH in Eddie's spinal chord.

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:39 pm

Hope the Rangers enjoy Straka when he gets injured again. He is not effective at faceoffs (42%) and was a team WORST -25 in 03-04.

al? · Post by **al?** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:43 pm

Holy Shit Calgary.

Nice Job.

Same for Edmonton.

HOLY GUACOMOLE!!!

This is fun, isn't it?! Here's hoping today is half as interesting as yesterday.

Mustang · Post by **Mustang** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:59 pm

jiminphilly wrote:
Mustang wrote:
al? wrote: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.
Hatcher was a +37 in his final season with Dallas (only played 15 games with Detroit). I admit I have not seen him play much but how much can the guy be spun around if the team is a +37 with him?

Oh, I'd love to see him flourish in Philly. He's a real decent guy. +37.....gotta' admit, I didn't even know that. It just always seemed like players were always cruising by him. If things go the way I'm thinking, half the fans will like him, half will not. There is something cool about having giant defensemen the Flyers signed. Let's see how they'll move the puck.

JD · Post by JD » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:13 pm

Some new signings:

Gonchar to Pittsburgh. Apparently it's a 5-year contract at $5M/year... Lots of long-term deals.

Skoula to Dallas. Skoula sucks. Dallas can have him.

Markus Naslund re-signs for 3 years at $6M/year in Vancouver. Sorry Toronto!! Word is two other teams offered him the same, but Naslund felt Vancouver was in a better position to compete for the Cup. Heh... those teams must have had horrific goaltending!!

Hapday · Post by **Hapday** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:16 pm

JD wrote:
Markus Naslund re-signs for 3 years at $6M/year in Vancouver. Sorry Toronto!! Word is two other teams offered him the same, but Naslund felt Vancouver was in a better position to compete for the Cup. Heh... those teams must have had horrific goaltending!!

Toronto was never seriously in the running for him or Forsberg. The Leafs aren't going to sign any big names, unless they want to play for $1.5 million a season.

The players I can see the Leafs getting would be players they can get cheap like: Palffy, Kariya, Lindros, and Selanne and hope to hell they all stay healthy.

JD · Post by JD » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:21 pm

What makes you think Palffy will come cheap?? He hasn't been THAT injury-prone.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article. ... 01106_4144

While it's still just a rumour, Jarome Iginla re-signs with the Flames for 3 years at $7M/year. A little more money than I was hoping, but it's probably just about right as far as value. The nice part is that it prevents Iginla from becoming unrestricted next summer, which is what a lot of "experts" were predicting.

The Flames are holding a press conference this afternoon where I'm sure they'll be presenting all their recent signees. There's still a nasty rumour out there that group will include Scott Niedermayer. I just can't see how the Flames can afford him on top of what they've already done.

al? · Post by **al?** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:30 pm

They signed Amonte and McCarty for cheap, adding Neidermayer isn't totally out of the question.

I'm betting Scott goes to Vancouver. Pronger to Edmonton is still blowing my mind.

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:37 pm

Palffy is looking for 3-4 years at 4-5 mil per. His injuries have been legit, like having fucking Keith Carney hook Palffy under his shoulder, ripping it out of its slot.

Hapday · Post by **Hapday** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:40 pm

Cross Traffic wrote:Palffy is looking for 3-4 years at 4-5 mil per. His injuries have been legit, like having fucking Keith Carney hook Palffy under his shoulder, ripping it out of its slot.

He is out of his mind if he wants that kind of money. Good luck to whatever teams signs him for that. IMO, I would much rather have Forsberg who probably will sign for not much more than that.

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:42 pm

Could be a reason the Kings signed Demitra, who is a couple years younger.

JD · Post by JD » Wed Aug 03, 2005 3:55 pm

al? wrote:They signed Amonte and McCarty for cheap, adding Neidermayer isn't totally out of the question.

You're right, it's not out of the question, but Niedermayer would have to take less than he would get elsewhere to sign here and make it fit.

I'm betting Scott goes to Vancouver.

I was under the impression that signing Naslund has pretty much put them out of the free agent market. They've still got big contracts tied up in Bertuzzi and Jovanovski.

Pronger to Edmonton is still blowing my mind.

Me too, but I love it!! The Battle of Alberta is going to be even more intense now. They have their player they can build around and create an identity with, and we have ours. Seeing Iginla go toe-to-toe with Pronger 8 times a year is NOT going to suck!! Honestly, it was almost sad to see the Oilers have to gut their identity so often lately. How can I hate a team that has no identity?

Captain Haddock · Post by **Captain Haddock** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 5:52 pm

I heard the Pens signed Gonchar

..anyone else heard this?