NHL Off-Season Thread

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:43 am

If this article holds its value, C. Leopold should have his head re-examined. Moving the team to Kansas and for 40 million less.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/stor ... d8&k=13390

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:03 pm

10spro wrote:There are twelve candidates for the HOF on Thursday. M. Messier should be a shoe-in, ditto for R. Francis and S. Stevens. Among the candidates are Al Macinnis, Igor Larionov and A. Oates.

I think only 4 can be voted in so obviously Messier, Francis and MacInnis are virtual locks. Stevens should be the 4th but I could see them going Larionov for sure. MacInnis before Stevens though for sure!

Tim

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:56 pm

It's official...Messier, Francis, MacInnis, and Stevens all elected.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212137&hubname=

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:21 pm

One of the easiest classes for voters in a long time ...

Are the rest of you puckheads hearing the increasing volume of the clock ticking as the free agency frenzy nears? It's open season on free agents starting this Sunday!

Take care,
PK

Leebo33 · Post by **Leebo33** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:46 pm

The Penguins have halted season ticket sales and are starting a waiting list!

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07179/797858-100.stm

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:51 pm

pk500 wrote:One of the easiest classes for voters in a long time ...

Are the rest of you puckheads hearing the increasing volume of the clock ticking as the free agency frenzy nears? It's open season on free agents starting this Sunday!

Take care,
PK

Briere possibly close to resigning with Buffalo for 6 years and 36mil is a rumor right now.
Blues and Penguins possibly talking deal for Barrett Jackman.
Tkachuk offered a 2 year $7mil deal by the Blues today...still hasn't signed.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:40 pm

TSN is having a three hours special on Canada's day just for the free agents frenzy. Talk about a country crazy for Hockey. The big names are of course Briere, Drury, Smyth and Gomez. I think one of the soon to ex Buffalo will end up in LA and Smytty may resign with NYI. Once the free agents are signed I think a series of trades will follow.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:31 pm

The Blues have resigned Keith Tkachuk....2 years and $8mil. $3.5 this season and $4.5 2008-09. Great deal for the Blues and a damn good bargain considering what the big guys are going to get starting tomorrow. I expect the Blues to at least take a run at Ryan Smyth.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:55 am

Report: Bruins acquire Manny Fernandez

It looks as though the Boston Bruins have acquired a new goaltender. According to the Pioneer Press, the Minnesota Wild have traded Manny Fernandez to the Bruins for forward Petr "Turnip" Kalus and a future fourth-round draft pick.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:10 pm

Flyers have made the first move getting Briere, 29, for 8 years at 6.5 per.

I like the deal as a Flyers fan. Briere was my personal pick of the centers out there. Gomez doesn't score enough, and I'm not convinced Drury can carry the load offensively as 'the guy.'

$6.5 is pretty reasonable given the market I think, but the 8 years length will be very iffy.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:24 pm

No movement clause is a biggie in Briere's deal, Naples. He better not go south on the Flyers in a hurry.

Tom Poti is getting $3.5 million per season for four years from the Capitals? Tom Poti is worth that much? That's nuts.

Brian Burke showed today why he is the top GM in hockey. Great move hedging against Niedermayer's retirement to sign Mathieu Schneider. If Niedermayer quits, the Ducks still will have a puck mover in Schneider. If Niedermayer stays, the best defensive corps in the league just got that much better.

Still, Detroit gets the better end of the deal in the long term because it signed Rafalski from New Jersey to fill Schneider's place.

Other than Briere, no Earth-shaking moves yet. The rich (Detroit, Anaheim) just seem to be getting more wealthy.

Take care,
PK

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:04 pm

The Edmonton Oilers have traded captain Jason Smith to the Philadelphia Flyers.

TSN REPORTING THIS

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:08 pm

gomez to NYR

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:28 pm

Sudz wrote:The Edmonton Oilers have traded captain Jason Smith to the Philadelphia Flyers.

TSN REPORTING THIS

Horrible deal for the Oilers. PK must be pulling his hair out. The Flyers though are putting together a nice little lineup for next year.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:32 pm

Sudz wrote:gomez to NYR

Still only a rumor...WFAN posted it and then retracted it. The Kings have been quiet today, hard to believe they are going to let all these big guys get away.

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:37 pm

tjung0831 wrote:
Sudz wrote:gomez to NYR
Still only a rumor...WFAN posted it and then retracted it. The Kings have been quiet today, hard to believe they are going to let all these big guys get away.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2922738

Scott Gomez is staying in the Tri-State area, but not with the only team he's played for in his seven-year NHL career.

Gomez, one of the top centers on the free-agent market, signed a seven-year deal with the New York Rangers, ESPN The Magazine's E.J. Hradek reports.

Financial terms are not yet known.

Gomez, who won two Stanley Cups with the Devils, has scored 116 goals in his stellar career and assisted on 334 more.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:43 pm

Sudz wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:
Sudz wrote:gomez to NYR
Still only a rumor...WFAN posted it and then retracted it. The Kings have been quiet today, hard to believe they are going to let all these big guys get away.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2922738

Scott Gomez is staying in the Tri-State area, but not with the only team he's played for in his seven-year NHL career.

Gomez, one of the top centers on the free-agent market, signed a seven-year deal with the New York Rangers, ESPN The Magazine's E.J. Hradek reports.

Financial terms are not yet known.

Gomez, who won two Stanley Cups with the Devils, has scored 116 goals in his stellar career and assisted on 334 more.

Yeah I just saw it. TSN is behind on that one. I wonder what the Kings are going to do now.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:47 pm

Rangers also land Chris Drury according to Sportsnet

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:40 pm

tjung0831 wrote:
Sudz wrote:The Edmonton Oilers have traded captain Jason Smith to the Philadelphia Flyers.

TSN REPORTING THIS
Horrible deal for the Oilers. PK must be pulling his hair out. The Flyers though are putting together a nice little lineup for next year.

As a Flyers fan, I actually don't like the deal. Getting rid of Sanderson is all well and good, but Joni Pitkanen is the most talented defensemen I've ever seen play for the flyers. I know he had a bad year last year, but the kid doesn't have work ethic problems. His head may not be there yet, but if he works, his talent is simply too much too keep him down for long. No guarantees, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if 2 years from now he is a Norris trophy candidate. Smith only has one year left on his deal, so he very well may not even be a Flyer then.

Also, does anyone think Lupul is worth anything these days?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:17 pm

I don't think the deal with the Flyers is a bad one. It's more of a push.

Smith clearly lost a step last year. Whether it was because he was covering for rookie partners or because he's 33, I don't know. I think it was a combination. But he was looking a bit "Hatcheresque" in terms of foot speed last year.

Lupul was a bust in Edmonton. There are some guys who can handle the pressure of playing in their hometown. Lupul is not one of them. He is mentally soft and never fit in Edmonton. Lazy as all hell and rarely pays attention to his defensive responsibilities. But he has promise and could return to his rookie form, but it wouldn't have happened in Edmonton.

Pitkanen can be a very good puck-moving defenseman. He was a good player in 2005-06 who had a rough season last year. But like Lupul, he's young with many good years ahead of him if he finds the right system and right address. Plus he fills a big need for Edmonton, a puck-moving defenseman.

Sanderson is a smart veteran with a scoring touch. He also is attentive to his defensive responsibilities and could help lead and develop some of the young Oilers' forwards.

Basically, the deal is a wash. Useful veterans and underachieving youngsters who can fill important holes going each way.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:23 pm

Naples39 wrote:Also, does anyone think Lupul is worth anything these days?

No, because Lupul is different from Pitkanen in that he is just lazy as hell. I can't tell you how many times I yelled "F*CKING LUPUL!" at the TV screen while watching the Oil last season. At least once per game.

Jason Smith will be a heart-and-guts leader for the Flyers and will block a ton of shots. But the worm has turned as far as speed in the NHL, with the Eastern Conference being more of a skill and finesse conference than the West. So Smith's loss of speed will be exacerbated even more playing against quick teams in the East like Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Buffalo and others.

I'll miss Gator, as he was a wonderful captain and rugged timber on the back line for the Oil for the last seven seasons. But the door to Rexall Place can't hit Lupul in the ass fast enough.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:29 pm

ESPN also reporting Drury and Gomez to the Rangers.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:43 pm

Lots of breaking news in this hour:

-- Hannan signs with Avalanche.
-- Niedermayer to announce retirement. Makes signing of Schneider all the more sensible.
-- V. Kozlov signs with Caps.
-- Another outlet, The Globe and Mail, reports Drury and Gomez signed with Rangers.
-- Zubov signed contract extension with Dallas.
-- Jason Blake signs five-year deal with the Leafs.

Man, what a late flurry. How late will the cell phones be buzzing among NHL GM's tonight?

This is some fun sh*t. This day and trading deadline day are the two most intriguing days of the hockey year.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:42 pm

Well, I like what the Rangers did, acquiring two excellent centremen in Gomez & Drury. I thought for sure Chris would end up back with the Avs or SJ but NY is pushing for the Cup and spending crazy money as prior to the lock up season.

I don't like the eight year term of D. Briere in Philly, he'll make an instant impact with his new team. But for a guy that just fluorished the last couple of seasons and being paid for what he was paid plus a 5 million signing bonus is a big steep IMO.

Pitkanen is the guy the Oilers needed last season and will fit the bill just fine in EDM. But they lose experience & grit in Smith and I would have given Lupul another chance to fluorish as he did in ANA. Personally I think G.Sanderson's best days are behind him.

Astute move by ANA and DET in signing their respectively UFA's to cover their gap holes in D.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 10:54 pm

The only doubt now is where will R. Smyth end up? Rumors have him in either COL or back to NYI.