The Official NHL Offseason/Free Agency Thread

[E5150_ca]

And in this fantasy world, where would your EHM skills land you?

[Minstrel]

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

It so verrrry seldom that teams are en masse rolling out moves that actually make Hawks Management look cool, calm and calculated that this is truly a wonderous week I can see rolling the dice on Kesler, he's still very young and has a good pedigree and skillset. The money may be a stretch but it is only one year and if the kid blossoms you can wrap him long term The crazy part of this though is that it's Philly!! They have Jeff Carter AND Mike Richards who are both Center and who are both fantastic so this ain't exactly taking a chance at an overpaying situation in order to fill a pressing need. The last thing they need is another young talented center. What, are you going to have your top three lines centered by guys who are 21 and 22??

[batdad]

Nah...Dave Nonis in his wisdom is going to match apparently. Wahoo! I say let Kesler go to Philly, then sign Carter. Although apparently this offer may have something to do with the fact that Philly was going after Anson Carter, and the Canucks had been talking with Anson again this past week. By forcing Nonis's hand, with Kesler, Vancouver can't negotiate with Anson, and Philly thinks they can then get him a little cheaper. Others think this is because of the Naslund-Gagne deal breaking down, because Nonis would not give up Kesler in the deal.
This is just Vancouver radio speculation, so there is no real link. Team 1040 Vancouver.

To Sum up: Charles Wang idiot, Bobby Clarke idiot, Dave Nonis (if matches) idiot, and Bill Wirtz, Dale Tallon et all...geniuses. Now Dale: get Tuomo to camp or trade him to Pitt where he can play fourth line centre with his brother.

[Minstrel]

Sorry batdad; Tuomo (if he can stay healthy ) will be staying in Chicago; they've signed him to a two year deal to get him back here in time for camp Two years, 3.75 mil which is again starngely reasonable and not to mention well timed for anything related to the Hawks but you won't hear me complain.

The Jax also signed Fritsche to a two year deal today so their camp should be very interesting to watch.

The Leafs alos got a two year deal done with Stajan who was their last RFA.

There is a great article on TSN about Bobby Clarke and his making the offer for Kesler that starts:

"I don't give a (expletive deleted) if nobody likes me, I could care less,"

check it out:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=177368&hubname=nhl

He actually does make some valid points though:

"I lost Kim Johnsson to (unrestricted) free agency because the Minnesota Wild gave him $4.8 million. Well, the Flyers had to give (revenue sharing) money to Minnesota and other teams and I don't like that but it's the rules. And then Minnesota takes that money and signs my player and there are no rules to say I can keep him if I match. I wish I had all the options with Kim Johnsson that Vancouver has with Kesler. They can match and keep him or they can let him go. It's up to them."