NHL offseason thread (free agency, draft, camp, etc.)

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:35 pm

tjung0831 wrote:McGratton was traded to the Coyotes I believe.

Correct you are, for a fifth-rounder last Friday.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:36 pm

Rolston spurning Tampa's offer:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242117& ... lines_main

Still could go to Tampa, but I can't blame him for looking elsewhere.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:50 pm

PK, I would agree with Tim's assessment of your Oils. They have a fine young team and I honestly I don't think that Brule was given the neccesary chances to do what he's capable of in COL. He did have an injury that slowed him down quite a bit and his confidence went downhill when he was sent down to the minors. This guy has a lot of talent and I watched him do some amazing things in the WHL. I actually like Brule's trade more than Cole's.

The role of the Goon these days is way overrated. Unless you have a Crosby or AO in your team, I don't see the urgency to sign the big guys. TPA got Malone & Roberts to protect their recent protege S.Stamkos. DET was the best team by far and they are not a big team by any means. It's been said before, in today's NHL you better have all four lines rolling that can skate and play with speed.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:56 pm

Tampa Bay signs Vrbata! The Lightning are signing everybody!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:10 pm

tjung0831 wrote:Tampa Bay signs Vrbata! The Lightning are signing everybody!

A bit of a bargain at $3 million per season considering the dude scored 27 goals last season in Phoenix, wouldn't you say?

Cujo rumored to sign a one-year, $700,000 deal to be Toskala's backup in Toronto. I think Cujo wants to play in the NHL until he's 65.

Still, he'll be a positive veteran influence for Toskala and the rest of the team.

Take care,
PK

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:24 pm

tjung0831 wrote:Tampa Bay signs Vrbata! The Lightning are signing everybody!

They may get Kolzig too.

Who needs defensemen anyway?

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:24 pm

NHL live reporting that Tampa is close to signing Olaf Kolzig

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:56 pm

tjung0831 wrote:NHL live reporting that Tampa is close to signing Olaf Kolzig

Interesting. I thought Olie's big beef last spring after Washington got Huet was that he insisted on being a starting goaltender in the NHL.

Guess Kolzig figures he can beat Smith for the job in camp or that Smith will be a flop early in the season. Either that, or Olie realized that a backup's paycheck while living in the Tampa sun is better than no paycheck at all.

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:50 pm

Reports of the Canucks and Rangers offering Sundin 3 years and $30mil!!!

Kruza · Post by **Kruza** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:01 pm

To those who aren't aware, the Red Wings signed Brad Stuart for 4 years, $15M.

Heh, no more NHL posts for me.

Kruza

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:20 pm

By the way, James Mirtle's blog is a great place for real-time information on the facts and rumors today:

http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2008/07/free ... -blog.html

Stuart signing was smart, but the Wings may have gotten the steal of Free Agency Day, signing Ty Conklin as a backup goalie for $750,000. Conklin was outstanding last season in Pittsburgh during Fleury's injury.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun is reporting that Vancouver is one of the teams offering Sundin $10 million per season, so you know it's not true. The only difference between Garrioch and famed inaccurate rumor-mongering blogger Eklund is that Garrioch actually is employed and paid as a journalist.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:25 pm

Now TSN is reporting Vancouver is offering two years, $20 million overall to Sundin.

So either Garrioch is right -- a rarity -- or TSN is following his dead-end lead.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:36 pm

Agree with Mirtle on this one:

>>>Jeff Finger has signed a four-year deal with Toronto worth $3.5-million a year, $14-million total. I find it absolutely incredible that Finger gets double what Sauer received from the Coyotes.<<<

Finger is underrated and good. But is he twice as good as Sauer? Nope.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:58 pm

Kevin Lowe is off the hook as Dr. Evil of NHL GM's: Vancouver has made an offer sheet to illustrious RFA David Backes of St. Louis.

Is Backes one of those guys who has potential, Tim?

Take care,
PK

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:07 pm

pk500 wrote:Kevin Lowe is off the hook as Dr. Evil of NHL GM's: Vancouver has made an offer sheet to illustrious RFA David Backes of St. Louis.

Is Backes one of those guys who has potential, Tim?

Take care,
PK

I'll be honest...the kid has vast untapped potential and there is no telling how good he could be. His skating holds him back a little but there is no doubt he's a future power forward in this league and he's tough as nails to boot. He's also a great team guy too.
The Blues knew what could happen so they are gonna have to match or they felt comfortable knowing that this could indeed happen and are prepared to lose him. The fans are freaking out though for sure!

Tim

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:24 pm

Great -- I get to scream at Darcy Tucker eight times next season, as Colorado signed him to a two-year deal at $2.25 million per year.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:42 pm

Sens get Alex Auld at a bargain basement price. Somehow I don't see a goalie tandem of Gerber and Auld scaring anyone, let alone carrying the Sens to the Cup.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:45 pm

This will be a vastly improved CHI team this coming season. I don't know if Campbell is worth 7 big ones though. He signed for 8 years

.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:52 pm

I can't recall a July 1st that ressembles more like trading deadline in February in awhile.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:54 pm

10spro wrote:This will be a vastly improved CHI team this coming season. I don't know if Campbell is worth 7 big ones though. He signed for 8 years .

Not only $7 million a year, but an eight-year deal! It would be one thing if Campbell was 25. But he's 29, so Chicago better hope he puts out well into his middle 30s.

Still, Campbell is less susceptible to injury than a more physical defenseman. Chicago sees Campbell as another Brian Rafalski, a slick, puck-moving defenseman who's still playing at an elite level at age 35.

Kane, Toews, Campbell: Chicago has a hell of a nice foundation for its hockey renaissance. The Hawks are taking a chance with Huet and Khabibulin between the pipes, but they're pretty strong with skaters.

Now, on to Hossa, Sundin and Rozsival. What a fun day for puckheads!

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:08 pm

pk500 wrote:
10spro wrote:This will be a vastly improved CHI team this coming season. I don't know if Campbell is worth 7 big ones though. He signed for 8 years .
Kane, Toews, Campbell: Chicago has a hell of a nice foundation for its hockey renaissance. The Hawks are taking a chance with Huet and Khabibulin between the pipes, but they're pretty strong with skaters.

Now, on to Hossa, Sundin and Rozsival. What a fun day for puckheads!
Take care, PK

And don't forget their 1st round draft pick this year, a guy I wished the Canucks would have chosen: K. Beach; this guy is going to be a power forward for years to come.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:10 pm

pk500 wrote:Great -- I get to scream at Darcy Tucker eight times next season, as Colorado signed him to a two-year deal at $2.25 million per year.

Take care,
PK

For you it's better than screaming at the rumored earlier Flames' interest in him.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:17 pm

The Blues have matched the Canucks offer to David Backes....

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:24 pm

tjung0831 wrote:The Blues have matched the Canucks offer to David Backes....

And speaking of Devils, B. Rolston will be going back to the team that first drafted him: NJD. Average is 5 million per, I don't have a problem with that, he's a 30 goal scorer for the past three seasons, the only negative, he's already 35.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:31 pm

These are the teams that I think have improved their rosters and will be causing some headaches next season: TPA, EDM and CHI. And those pesky Yotes will be much tougher to play with with their signing of T. Fedoruk today and C. McGratton last week.