The Official NHL Offseason/Free Agency Thread

Post by **inSTAALed** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 9:12 pm

Yeah, it was announced today Peca to the Leafs

Looks like the Maple Leafs actually want to make the playoffs this year.

Post by **inSTAALed** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:59 pm

Another trade today, this one between the Canes and Preds.

Canes trade Vasicek to Predators for Scott Walker.

Shiny

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:04 pm

When was the last year the Leafs made the playoffs?... I think it was a long time ago,no?

It would be good to see them again

---

It seems to be a good trade for the Canes,no?

Post by **E5150_ca** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:48 pm

Leafs playoff's over the last 10 years.

2003
Lost to Philadelphia, 4-3, Eastern Conference quarterfinals

2002
Defeated N.Y. Islanders, 4-3, Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Defeated Ottawa, 4-3, Eastern Conference semifinals
Lost to Carolina, 4-2, Eastern Conference finals

2001
Defeated Ottawa, 4-0, Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Lost to New Jersey, 4-3, Eastern Conference semifinals

2000
Defeated Ottawa, 4-2, Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Lost to New Jersey, 4-2, Eastern Conference semifinals

1999
Defeated Philadelphia, 4-2, Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Defeated Pittsburgh, 4-2, Eastern Conference semifinals
Lost to Buffalo, 4-1, Eastern Conference finals

Post by **Shadd666** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:00 am

My mistake,i thought they weren't so often in playoffs...

Good work in erasing the Sens three consecutive years

I suppose there's a big rivality between the two teams,no?

Post by **inSTAALed** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 4:21 am

Can I highlight 2002, frame it and hang it on my wall?

Weirdness · Post by **Weirdness** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:38 am

Although this is old, former Flame UFA Chris Simon was signed to the New York Islanders.

Kinda sad to see him go, I really liked him. I will never forget the time when he just beat the rubbish out of Wade Brookbank last season. THat moment stuck with me so much that I almost got this picture printed on a T-shirt with some snappy caption to go along with it (something like "Simon says: SIT DOWN!"). Too bad he couldn't beat up Georges Laraque.

But, the reality is that he's really, really slow, and that kills you in the "new NHL." He did show some good chemistry with Lombardi and Kobasew last season, but it was too little too late i guess. I hope he finds some success with the Islanders, even if they are turning into a gong show.

...OK thats enough of my blubbering. Welcome to the Flames, Tanguay!

Post by **Shadd666** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:35 am

Weirdness wrote:...OK thats enough of my blubbering. Welcome to the Flames, Tanguay!

Sad to see Chris Simon leaves the Flames organization,for sure

But with Tanguay in,i think we'll have some better and faster things

Don't know if you know it,but Tanguay will play at centre next year... That's what have been announced on the Flames site.

http://www.calgaryflames.com/cgi-bin/ne ... 0000000890 (end of the third line)

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:20 am

The Oilers continue to lock up their young players before arbitration (as they've done with Horcoff and Stoll) and coming up with a big ole six year 24.6 mil deal for Ales Hemsky:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=172338&hubname=nhl

Also, for some reason LA has gone back on their saying they are done with Avery and brought him back though they claim he's on "double secret probation"; I still say let someone else play 1.1 million dollars for a gigantic bag of problems...

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=172185&hubname=nhl

Also, the Recchi back to Pitt deal has been completed and they are paying him the same 2.28mil option that was on his contract.

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:12 pm

Scott Gomez has been awarded $5M in arbitration. Finally a fair award.

Post by **Minstrel** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 9:04 pm

Split my historical rant off of the thread into it's own thread

Some news from today though of note on the 'walkway rights' side of arbitration; upon the decision of a figure by the arbitrator the team has a right to walkway from the contract at which point he player in question becomes an unrestricted free agent.

This has been done recently by the Bruins with regard to defenceman Tanabe and a bit more surprisingly the Sabres have done so with J.P. Dumont. Both are mainly Cap concern issues but in the case of Buffalo JP was awarded the same as Calder's 2.9 mil and I'd think they could have found a trade partner for him as the Hawks did with Calder who they in effect walked away from.

Also Philly Defenceman Eric Desjardins has announced his retirement.

Post by **Minstrel** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:44 pm

There are still a lot of big name free agents especially RFAs that remain unsigned but the Bruins have gotten Bergeron signed to a $23.75 mil 5-year deal:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=175013&hubname=nhl

DuMont's agent personally burst the bubble of Montreal fans/media who have been saying the team is pursuing the Montreal native: ""We've never had an offer from Montreal," his agent Yves Archambault said Wednesday. "I've spoken to several teams. At this point we're really looking at 3-4 teams."

More on that along with some other assorted unsigned player news/notes:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=175107&hubname=nhl

Post by **E5150_ca** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:41 pm

JFJ would be a moron not to pick up Carter. Sundin needs atleast one capable winger.

Post by **Minstrel** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:34 pm

Carter is holding firm on 2.5 a year for three years I think it was last reported and I'm not sure how many teams will want to take that gamble on a guy that could easily go back to being a 20 goal a year instead of 30 goal a year guy. I can't blame him for wanting to cash in on a career year but I also can't blame teams for not lining up to meet his new demands.

Post by **Minstrel** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:52 am

Wow... Nashville was able to sign JP Dumont for two years paying him 2 mil this season and 2.5 the next. The intertwining of the roots on the trees of history between the Blackhawks and Preds continue to tangle and deepen

If Vokoun does stay healthy this year and their other forwards don't miss as much time as they did last year they are going to be one helluva tough team to beat in a seven game series.

Speaking of teams tough to beat in seven games, defending Cup Champ Carolina recently announced the addition/reunion of David Tanabe and Brad Isbister with the team. There's two players I personally believe could be huge if things just "click" for them and I think they're both great moves. Both have huge upside with players that are still young enough to make an impact far beyond the risk you'd take on them.

With a hopefully healthy Cole and another year along the track to superstardom for Eric Staal and Cam Ward along with the addition of Ladd full time who could easily follow the same tragectory as Staal this is still going to be one helluva scary team to deal with.

Post by **batdad** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 6:38 pm

I have been wondering how Hawk fans would react to the Dumont signing. Puts Chicago in an even bigger black hole than they were in before. Never mind beating them in a 7 game series Minstrel, think about how hard it is going to be to beat them 5 times in the regular season. (I would put a smiley here if I could figure out how to get em in. They are turned on, but I am old as some people have mentioned here, and cannot get it to move over. darn electricity)

Post by **Minstrel** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:22 pm

That Dumont deal brings up the spectre of one of the Deals That Shall Never Again Be Spoken Of

you can look at his profile on TSN to see what I mean if you don't know. It is trouble for the league in general though, they are a helluva tough team.

As for the present, yeah, with the heavily unbalanced schedule and that the two teams have already had giant brawls and other assorted incidents the Preds continue to make the road rocky for the Hawks to travel. And our 'vehicle' is rickety enough as is running on bald tires with no brakes...

It will still be interesting to see how things turn out this year just based upon sheer volume of change here in ChiTown but needless to say I'd happily swap rosters with the Preds and would trade management/owenership even if it meant taking 10 years off my life to do it. Fer reals.

BTW - if you click on the 'Fast Reply' to open a window to type your message into just click on one of the smileys to insert it; if you are in the full Reply screen with the smilies on the left click on any of them to insert them...

Post by **batdad** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:56 pm

Yeah, I know of which trade you speak. But you got a Left Winger with a ton of potential.

You don't love Bill Wirtz?

I totally agree that Nashville will be a team to watch out for. As should be Anaheim. Scary but I think the Western Conference is rapidly changing to the point where you could see the normal tops of the divisions much closer to the bottom than ever before. Detroit is still middle, Dallas could really topple, Colorado will topple, and my hometown team (Canooks) are all an injury away from being bottom feeders. Not that the Canucks have been that good recently ( Recently-meaning the last 25 plus years).

And as you can see, I figured out the BTW

Post by **Minstrel** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:37 am

Big deal done today as Simon Gagne has gobbled up the remaining Cap room in Philly signing a 5 year 5.25 mil extension.

I think they are perilliously close to the Cap as they currently barely have the money to bring in someone at the league minimum; this from a team that basically had to open their own wing at the hospital/rehab clinic this offseason and still has the chronically injured Peter Forsberg coming off surgery. That's an interesting situation to watch this year...

Post by **batdad** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:36 pm

15 years $67.5 million...Guess what team and GM signed that deal? Atta boy Mr. Snow, way to get Dipietro signed. Good $ for the cap situation per year. Can't wait for 3 years from now when Rick holds out for $10 mill more.

Post by **E5150_ca** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:13 pm

Someone's smoking rock on the Island.

Post by **Minstrel** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:51 pm

I can't possibly think that short of his transforming into the second coming of Terry Sawchuk that he'll be worth that contract in even half of the years that contract covers. That's just insanity!

15 years!! Think back to how much has changed since 1991 and try to wrap your brain around how much will change in the next fifteen that this contract runs... the mind boggles.

I think it officially crosses the Islanders off as a Challenge team for the next decade or so too

who wants to take over a team that has 4.5 mil owed to a player for the next 15 years?!?! I can't imagine that would be a contract you could even give away!

ETA: This is so insane it deserves it's own thread... meet y'all there

Post by **batdad** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:05 pm

Are GM's all on crack? Or just the Atlantic Division GM's?

TSN.ca is advising of Ryan Kesler signing an offer sheet from Philadelphia for 1 year $1.9 million. $1.9 mill for a 3rd line centre, who had 1 assist in his first 40 games last season, and ended 10 goals 13 assists. Christ.

TSN.ca

ETA: The Canucks do have the right to match, or they get a 2nd round draft from Philly. No way they match. However, now maybe Anson Carter gets to Van?

Post by **E5150_ca** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:29 pm

Like.... NHL clubs really need to start hireing top EHM players to be GM's.

I'll be gracious enough to throw my hat into the mix.

Post by **inSTAALed** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:50 pm

You'll probably end up with the Panthers and we know about your love affair with all southeast teams.