NHL Offseason 2011

[pk500]

Jagr to the Flyers! Hahahaha! He'll need some bodyguards when the Flyers play in Pit.

There's just a little less money that could be flashed at Stamkos.

[Feanor]

$3.3m seems like a lot.

[pk500]

$3.3m seems like a lot.

Agreed. Jagr is such a wild card. He has immense talent. But is any of it left? And if it is, is he motivated enough to use it, or is this just a healthy paycheck for playing one year of shinny with his NHL buddies?

Risky.

[Naples39]

I was all for the Jagr signing at around 2.5m-ish. He better be fully committed at 3.3.

Flyers are a completely team than 2 weeks ago.

[XXXIV]

I was all for the Jagr signing at around 2.5m-ish. He better be fully committed at 3.3.

.

I was hoping the he would land with the Canadiens. I know its a bigger ice surface allowing for his natural talent to show, but he looked really good at the Worlds teamed up with the Hab's Plekanec. Would have been a great fit.

It will be interesting to see if he is here to take one last shot at another Cup or to cash a check.

[HipE]

I was all for the Jagr signing at around 2.5m-ish. He better be fully committed at 3.3.

.

I was hoping the he would land with the Canadiens. I know its a bigger ice surface allowing for his natural talent to show, but he looked really good at the Worlds teamed up with the Hab's Plekanec. Would have been a great fit.

It will be interesting to see if he is here to take one last shot at another Cup or to cash a check.

I think he already answered that today. He has basically answered it the same way over and over in his career, his loyalty is to the dollar, nothing more.

As a Pens fan, I had mixed feelings about their pursuit of him. I liked the idea of him repairing his legacy in Pittsburgh and having his number retired and jersey hanging in the rafters. I didn't like the risk of the distraction he could be if he didn't fit in with a young and hard working team. I never expected him to sign with Philly though. So much for his Penguins legacy, I hope the extra 1.3 million is worth it to him.

Just a few words that sum up how Mario and the organization are feeling right now:

“I was thinking about it and if Mario would call me and say, ‘I’d like you to play for our team,’ I would think about it a lot,” Jagr said. “I would play for the minimum salary. I would play for $350,000 just for him because I owe him my hockey life. I want to pay him back because he has made me what I am…besides my parents.”

To this tweet by a Pittsburgh writer:

RobRossi_Trib: Told, emphatically from several people, that this deal with #Flyers cuts ties betweens #Pens and Jaromir Jagr. #tribpens

[Naples39]

Talbot to Flyers too. Weird day for Flyers/pens rivalry.

[ScoopBrady]

Hawks sign 4 free agents today including Mayers and Brunette. Average age of those 4 players is 36. Sad to see Brouwer go but he disappears at stretches as does Kopecky. Campbell is a defensive liability and was a huge cap hit and the primary reason there was so much turnover last year. The Hawks are finally in a situation where they have cap space and can start building around the big contracts of Toews, Kane, Hoss, and Keith. It will be interesting to see what they are able to do.

[pk500]

Oil signed Ben Eager today. Hemsky has a proper bodyguard for what will probably be his last season in Edmonton. But Gagner and Hall need physical protection, too.

[Feanor]

Talbot to Flyers too. Weird day for Flyers/pens rivalry.

I'm more excited about Talbot than Jagr.

Where does Leino go now?

[Naples39]

Leino to Buffalo, 6 years $27m. Massive overpayment for a 50 point player.

Also, the more I think about it, I think it's a bit much for the Pens to expect Jagr to play for 40% less than what he can get elsewhere for an organization he hasn't played for in 10 years, but he also shouldn't have been saying that crap if he wasn't going to follow through.

Also sources still say Flyers chasing Brad Richards. WTF.

[pk500]

Erik Cole at $4.5 million per year for four years is a nice pickup for Montreal. Dude is a proven scorer and a veteran leader in the room. Plus he played 82 games last season, a good sign for a guy who has been brittle in the past.

[HipE]

Leino to Buffalo, 6 years $27m. Massive overpayment for a 50 point player.

Also, the more I think about it, I think it's a bit much for the Pens to expect Jagr to play for 40% less than what he can get elsewhere for an organization he hasn't played for in 10 years, but he also shouldn't have been saying that crap if he wasn't going to follow through.

Also sources still say Flyers chasing Brad Richards. WTF.

I don't know that the Pens necessarily expected him to do it. I saw it more as they gave him an opportunity to go out on top in Pittsburgh and potentially be the only 3 time cup winner in team history. With the way Jagr has spoken about Mario, the city and the organization over the past few years, and with Mario reaching out to him personally this week about coming back and making things right, I really thought it was going to happen. Given his history in Pittsburgh and the way he left (similar to the drama you had with TO and the Eagles), I'm not at all surprised he would let them think they had an agreement only to switch to the highest bidder. Yes, 40% is significant, but when you look at it as 1.3 million vs the 100+ million he has made in his career, and the chance to go out as a Pittsburgh great, it does feel like a bit of a slap in the face yet again. I'm not sure you can put a price tag on that (oh wait, he did, it's 1.3 million ).

As for Talbot leaving, I have no hard feelings, nothing wrong with getting your first big payday. I originally thought 1.8 million/year for 5 years for a 4th liner was way too high, but given what people are signing for today, it is right in line. I'll have to post a little tribute to his time in Pittsburgh later. Needless to say, I'm guessing he won't be passing these tshirts out in the locker room:

[toonarmy]

Richards and Kaberle have to be happy about what transpired today. Teams are throwing all sorts of money at players, which should only serve to inflate what Richards and Kaberle will get in a group that is not stellar this year.

[XXXIV]

Erik Cole at $4.5 million per year for four years is a nice pickup for Montreal. Dude is a proven scorer and a veteran leader in the room. Plus he played 82 games last season, a good sign for a guy who has been brittle in the past.

Two thumbs up.

[10spro]

Erik Cole at $4.5 million per year for four years is a nice pickup for Montreal. Dude is a proven scorer and a veteran leader in the room. Plus he played 82 games last season, a good sign for a guy who has been brittle in the past.

Two thumbs up.

Much more appetizing than the earlier possibility of Jagr wearing the red and blue.

[10spro]

Oil signed Ben Eager today. Hemsky has a proper bodyguard for what will probably be his last season in Edmonton. But Gagner and Hall need physical protection, too.

I prefer Darcy Hordichuk's signing to protect the youngsters better than Eager. As proven during the playoffs he's a more of a liability with his lack discipline.

[10spro]

I have a feeling that Richards will pick between the Rangers or LA.

I like what BUF and FLA have done to improve their respective teams. A couple of inflated signings but it should help over their mediocrity.

[XXXIV]

Erik Cole at $4.5 million per year for four years is a nice pickup for Montreal. Dude is a proven scorer and a veteran leader in the room. Plus he played 82 games last season, a good sign for a guy who has been brittle in the past.

Two thumbs up.

Much more appetizing than the earlier possibility of Jagr wearing the red and blue.

Absolutely.

[ScoopBrady]

Hawks add the noticeably lacking toughness by signing Carcillo. I like it.

[Naples39]

Hawks add the noticeably lacking toughness by signing Carcillo. I like it.

He can be a goal scoring threat for short stretches, but prepare for him to wear out the penalty box door. He makes his share of stupid mistakes, but refs call him for EVERYTHING and he never draws a penalty even if its obvious.

[ScoopBrady]

Yeah, I'm willing to take the penalties in exchange for his toughness. The Hawks obviously were not happy with the lack of physical play judging by their moves today. I am happy with their moves so far.

Pk, enjoy Eager we still miss him.

[Feanor]

I wanted Carcillo gone ever since he picked that stupid fight against the Penguins in Game 6 in 2009 which directly led to Pittsburgh overcoming a 3-goal deficit.

I don't see how the Flyers can really be in the Brad Richards sweepstakes, and whatever issues Mike Richards really had in Philly, getting rid of him and then paying a lot more money per year to another center who is five years older would be very hard to understand.

[10spro]

In the end B. Richards settles in Manhattan whom I thought they would always match any offers being entertained yesterday after C. Drury was bought out.

Nine year deal worth 58.5 million.

After all the UFA frenzy yesterday, they were some signings that made me cringe and say what the hell was the lock out all about?

[toonarmy]

What a crazy contract with Richards. Talk about front loaded -- $50 mil first 5 years. NYR keep giving big contracts to players. Maybe this one will work out for them, lol.