The Official 2008 NHL Off-Season Transactions Thread

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:35 pm

Well the NHL draft is tonight. I know they're airing it on VS in the US. Canada is probably getting better coverage. Tomorrow the second half (or do they just do the first round tonight?) is being aired on the NHL Network. I don't even think I get this channel. Anyhow, it's supposed to be a deep draft. Lots of talented defensemen in the first round!

I'm also hearing lots of trade talk. There are rumors floating around that Malkin is up for grabs. I'm also hearing talk of Jokinen and the Sedins moving. This could be an interesting next day or two.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:32 pm

Speaking of Malkin...

just saw this news "tickered" on ESPN:

Russia after Maklin?

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:44 am

Is McLean still running the Blue Jackets? a 1st & 3rd rounder for Umberger????

The guy scored 17 goals and 50 points. He did well in the playoffs, but he is not the #1 center/Nash feeder that CBJ needs. Ugh... I had high hopes for Howson, but this is kinda ridiculous. If this was a trade for Carter or Richards (and jack the 3rd to a 2nd) and I'd be extatic. But Umberger...he's a 2nd liner at BEST, more likely a 3rd liner.

Add this to the fact that Howson drafted YET ANOTHER WINGER in the first round. Sheesh... CBJ needs high-end centers and defense from the top down. I can only hope that they make more deals with these two questionable acquisitions to fill the gaps that are keeping them from being a playoff team.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:59 am

I'm sure many fans here in Philly will be upset as well. - Umberger really played an impressive game this year, and was looking, in my eyes at least, like he was finally becoming a reliable player.

But in the end, it's about need. We already have enough at centre, plus we could use the financial room to re-sign Carter... who's also stepped his game up quite a bit this year, and has the leadership skills to make him more worthwhile than Umberger.

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:40 am

Jokinen to Phoenix, f***, that's a trade of the night for me. And Leafs allowed Canadiens to have talk with Sundin. Calgary acquired Cammalleri and they sent out to Montreal Alex Tanguay. Sweet trades. And hopefully more to come!

bigargon · Post by **bigargon** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:40 pm

B. Stinson wrote:I'm sure many fans here in Philly will be upset as well. - Umberger really played an impressive game this year, and was looking, in my eyes at least, like he was finally becoming a reliable player.

But in the end, it's about need. We already have enough at centre, plus we could use the financial room to re-sign Carter... who's also stepped his game up quite a bit this year, and has the leadership skills to make him more worthwhile than Umberger.

ahhh. i liked umberger... but a 1st and a 3rd is a good deal

umberger was was quite the sparkplug in the playoffs..he will be missed

Post by **batdad** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:51 pm

Hypno--GM's have to draft the BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE. That is what breeds success. If he is a winger, and you have 10 wingers. It is a winger. Filatov could very easily have been the best player in the CBJ slot. He could be a star. Now, he could also be an issue. But since he is coming to the CHL next year, and wants to be in the NHL I doubt it.

I honestly think the Jax did a good job. Yeah, maybe paid a bit much for Umberger...but the guy showed up and played bigger in the playoffs. He also has big playoff experience now...unlike the guys in CBJ. I think the Jax did okay.

Jokinen to Phx--Big deal, guy has issues all over the place though. Ballard could be a star, but won't be in Florida. They will mess him up good.

Cammalleri--How did this guy get so much attention, ever? OVER RATED

Tanguay-Soft, small, disappears at important times alot since not with the Avalanche and their power house. But he will do well in Montreal.

vancouver--Cody Hodgson. The Canucks just picked their next Trevor Linden. With more talent. Cool!!! Add Yann Sauve and the Canucks have done a good job on the floor....maybe.

One thing you guys have to understand..no matter what the scouts, newspapers, GM's say now...it is 5-8 years down the road before you can judge what your GM did on draft day for the most part.

Look at the Islanders--everyone thinks they are stupid. Josh Bailey, Corey Trevino,Aaron Ness, Travis Hamonic,David Toews, Jyri Niemi, Kirill Petrov, Matt Donovan, David Ullstrom, Kevin Poulin...and this is just the first 5.

Islanders fans are widdled about the top 2...but then you look at the next 6. This team could have one hell of a core for the next few years. Toews, Niemi, Petrov, Ness...What a stockpile.

Post by **Shadd666** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:38 pm

Tanguay off: good news for the Flames! However, i'm not so sure he'll do better in Montreal. IMO, he has the skillset, but don't use it the right way. He seriously needs to improve in deciding when to shoot and when to pass. His bad season in Calgary was partially due to too much attempts of high risked passes when the play called a shot. However, even with that, he is useless when it matters.

Cammalleri in: I'm not that thrilled... Not highly enthusiastic either... He fills Tanguay's spot at 3.6M$ instead of 5.25M$, but other than that, i see few benefits out of it.

Jokinen to Phx: Jokinen+Doan? Sounds tasty for sure! But well, not that far in the past, Tanguay+Iginla sounded pretty tasty, but turned out being a useless cap eater + Iginla... so beware...

batdad wrote:Look at the Islanders--everyone thinks they are stupid.

Yashin 10 years... DiPietro 15 years... Isn't it enough to say they are stupid?

As for their prospects, the only one i really know is Petrov, so i can't really judge.

Post by **batdad** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:10 pm

yashin, Dipietro were not Snow. And that DiPietro one could still turn out to be the best deal any GM has ever made. If he plays well and manages to stay healthy, in 12 years he could be worth $15 mill per season the way the cap is always increasing. Although...I don't think it will continue to increase.

And yeah..Yashin deal was ick. Milbury the moron.

Petrov could be a stud, but I more interested in the development of Ness and Niemi in particular.

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:12 am

batdad wrote:Hypno--GM's have to draft the BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE.

Umm...yeah...I'm afriad I'm going to have to disagree with you there. I don't know much about the kid and from a consensus point he may have been the best player available. Maybe not. But was he really so much better than Colin Wilson (a center, and a position CBJ needs, who was drafted immediately after Filitov) that it warranted using the 1st rounder on Filitov instead? I doubt it. Personally I think this attitude is a cop-out. That mindset gives GMs the pathetic "We should be winning...we always drafted the best players available" excuse. Mean while, they have a group of good players capable of putting up numbers but no team capable of winning consistantly.

I certainly hope he turns into a star (sooner rather than later) so he either forces Zherdev or Modin to be traded or he himself is good enough to get a true #1 center or a top pair defenseman in his prime. Like you say, we will not know how this will actually work out for a couple of years, but I'm not sure the fans in Columbus are going to tolerate too many more flubs and mistakes. The mob is getting restless down there.

Post by **batdad** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:22 am

So if you were a GM..you don't draft the best/most talented guy out there, and then if you have too many at one position move someone to fill needs? Wow! And you are Wings fan? With all 22 centers that they have? And Datsyuk playing wing because of it?

And if I recall correctly--Brassard, Fritsche, Brule are not exactly supposed to be chopped liver. Although I know I know Gilbert has really stunk. But he should not have..is not the GM's fault the coaches have not developed him. At least not directly. Indirectly for not telling them to dump the kid back to Junior and then the minors yeah but...the others have not taught him well.

Oh...and I believe Umberger can play center pretty well. Not a playmaker fo sho. But he can play it.

So you know...I am typing as I read...so now I see your Modin/Zherdev movement idea. Exactly what would happen when you draft BPA and not by positional need.

Sorry, but yeah I think Filatov could turn out much better than Colin Wilson. But who knows.

And CBJ fans should not tolerate any more misses. Hitch has to get it done, and NOW. (I really don't think they missed with Gilbert...I think they handed him things too fast after they picked him...and now he will have to go somewhere else to get it going)

Post by **B. Stinson** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:56 am

I don't think 'positional drafting' is the way to go.

I think it's best to draft with the intent of your draftees being your main team players whenever they come around, whilst your weak spots can be filled with cheap-o free agents.

And besides, most prospects aren't ready to jump into the league for at least a few years... so drafting them with the intent to fill a hole right now is flirting with danger. If he plays poorly, the hole will still basically exist; plus he could be ruined for the future - rendering the whole pick a waste, along with the years spent trying to make him work.

Post by **archibalduk** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:04 pm

I agree - positional drafting isn't the way to go. The prospects a team drafts can take years to develop into NHL talent. If you have a hole in defence, you can't go about drafting defencemen to plug that hole because it's going to take years before they will be able to do so. Plus, you don't know how a player is going to turn out - they may not even be able to fill that hole because they may turn out not to be NHL quality.

At least if you sign the best player in the draft, you can use the NHL rights to trade for a player already in the NHL. So you if you draft the top prospect from the 2008 Draft you can trade his rights for a good NHL defenceman (or whatever position) to fill a gap for next season. The better the players you draft, the better the player you could could get in exchange for trading his rights.

I think drafting is about increasing the potential value of the team, not about filling gaps in the roster.

Post by **Shadd666** » Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:21 pm

I agree with both Batdad, B. Stinson and Archi here.

There might be a moment when you target a specific position at the draft though. Well, 2 moments in fact. The obvious is in the extremly rare case that the player you can draft is already NHL ready. But the likes of Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin are not here every year, so that's nearly a no-option.

The other time is when you've got multiple players you estimate being of about the same quality. One of them plays a position where you don't have enough talented prospects (and i meand prospects, not current holes), and the other(s) one(s) are playing at positions where you're already well enough loaded with prospects. If you consider they all have the same talent and all fit the same way with your team, you obviously take the one that fills the hole in your prospect depth.

But you NEVER fill current holes with the draft. Well, unless you've got an Ovy or some monster like that. Current holes are filled by trades and free agency. Not by draft.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:47 pm

Hypnotist wrote:Is McLean still running the Blue Jackets? a 1st & 3rd rounder for Umberger????

The guy scored 17 goals and 50 points. He did well in the playoffs, but he is not the #1 center/Nash feeder that CBJ needs. Ugh... I had high hopes for Howson, but this is kinda ridiculous. If this was a trade for Carter or Richards (and jack the 3rd to a 2nd) and I'd be extatic. But Umberger...he's a 2nd liner at BEST, more likely a 3rd liner.

Add this to the fact that Howson drafted YET ANOTHER WINGER in the first round. Sheesh... CBJ needs high-end centers and defense from the top down. I can only hope that they make more deals with these two questionable acquisitions to fill the gaps that are keeping them from being a playoff team.

For what the Blue Jackets gave up, they should've been talking to Florida about Jokinen. That would've been a more fair deal.

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 12:08 am

bruins72 wrote:For what the Blue Jackets gave up, they should've been talking to Florida about Jokinen. That would've been a more fair deal.

Thank you!

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:06 pm

Well, the annual free agency frenzy begins today! I'm curious to see if the Bruins land Hossa. I'm hearing some crazy talk about them offering him 12 years for $100M. That's just insane!

I also just saw that Batdad's boy, Gilbert Brule got traded to the Oilers for Raffi Torres.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:23 pm

Yeah, Brule traded for Torres. Visnovsky traded to Edmonton for Jarrett Stoll and Matt Greene. Tampa Bay dealt picks for Gary Roberts (signed), Ryan Malone (signed), Vinny Prospal (comes back, signed) and Brian Rolston (will test the FA market). The Bolts will have a terrifying offense next year!

Still no defense and no goalie, but tons of offense! Their games may be fun to watch, ending 7-3 or 8-5 everytime

Hossa declined an offer at 7M$/year from the Pens. So you can expect him to go at an insane value! 100M$ over 12 years? Seems a bit long, but the 8,3M$/year may be what he'll agree to sign for...

Should be an interesting market... There aren't a lot of big names on the market, and therefore we'll probably see more deals...

Not a surprise, but Hasek retires. Probably others too

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:31 pm

Edmonton continues to trade... They acquired Eric Cole from Carolina for Joni Pitkanen...

Rene Bourque goes from Chicago to Calgary for a 2nd round pick.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:11 pm

Vrbata signed with the Lightning...

CuJo to Toronto...

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:27 pm

I'm hearing rumors that Kolzig is headed to the Lightning as well.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:32 pm

I've heard that one too... There are other rumors here and there, but nothing definitive yet. Malkin is also rumored to re-sign with the Pens at more or less the same value than Crosby.

Zidlicky to Minnesota for Ryan Jones (prospect) and a 2nd round pick.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:15 pm

Jose Theodore to Washington for 2 years
Andrew Raycroft to Colorado (1 year; 800K$)
Ty Conklin to Detroit (1 year; 750K$)
Todd Fedoruk to Phoenix for 3 years
Jeff Finger to Toronto (4 years; 3.5M$/yr)
Curtis Joseph to Toronto (1 year; 700K$)
Cory Stillman to Florida (3 years; 10.6M$ -> 3.5M$/yr)
Cristobal Huet to Chicago (4 years)
Vancouver signs RFA forward David Backes to an offer sheet, 3 years 7.5M$. St. Louis has seven days to match or accept a 2nd round draft pick as compensation.
Darcy Tucker to Colorado (2 years; 4.5M$ -> 2.25M$/yr)
Olaf Kölzig to Tampa Bay (1 year; 1.5M$ + bonuses)
Alex Auld to Ottawa (2 years; 2M$ -> 1M$/yr)
Patrick Lalime to Buffalo (2 years; 2M$ -> 1M$/yr)
Brian Campbell to Chicago (8 years; 56.8M$ -> 7.1M$/yr)
Mike Commodore to Colombus (5 years; 18.75M$ -> 3.75M$/yr)
Ossi Väänänen to Philadelphia (1 year; 1M$)

That's a lot of goaltenders movement... With Huet in Chicago for the next 4 years, i guess Khabibulin is on the go. He enters in the final year of his contract, but i doubt the Hawks are willing to pay him 6.5M$ one more year... Plus, the signing of Campbell at over 7M$ per year probably doesn't let that much cap space, even with a cap gone at 56.7M$

Kölzig in Tampa? Probably as a backup/n°1= to mentor Smith. But 1.5M$ (plus bonuses!) for a backup? Hem, maybe not the smartest move by the Bolts lately. They are highly active though, which is probably a direct effect of the new ownership.

Tucker and Raycroft to Colorado... I don't really know what to think about that... Both come from the Leafs... It can't be good

Theodore in Washington... well... Considering that Kölzig is too old for n°1 duty, and considering that the negociations with Huet weren't progressing well, the Caps had to make a decision quickly! Theodore had a very good season, but had some very poor ones before. So it's a bit of a gamble, but the Caps had few other decent choices.

Conklin to Detroit. I'm a bit sad for Ty. No doubt he'll be Osgood backup since Hasek retired. But after the excellent job he did when MA Fleury was injured, i hoped a team would give him a chance to be a starter. On the other hand, he is 32 years old, so it may be time to think about winning a Cup...

EDIT:
Brian Rolston to New Jersey (4 years; 20M$ -> 5M$/yr)

EDIT2:
Michael Rozsival to the NY Rangers (4 years; 20M$ -> 5M$/yr)
Bobby Holik to New Jersey (1 year; 2.5M$)
Niklas Hagman to Toronto (4 years; 12M$ -> 3M$/yr)
Wade Redden to the NY Rangers (6 years; 39M$ -> 6.5M$/yr)

Post by **Shadd666** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:56 am

Mark Streit to the NY Islanders (5 years; 20.5M$ -> 4.1M$/yr)
Michael Ryder to Boston (3 years; 12M$ -> 4M$/yr)

It seems that the Bruins play it safe... In case they can't get Hossa, they would still have Ryder to replace an expired Glen Murray

Sundin grabs a lot of interest... Four teams already made an offer, including the Canucks, who put 20M$ over 2 years on the table. I'd love to hear Batdad's comments if the deal goes ahead

FalkkY · Post by **FalkkY** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:22 pm

I'm a bit curious to see Bobby Holik playing in New Jersey, that's the right team for him and i think he'll do finally a good season after years and years playing awful...
Sad to see Streit leaving Montreal after one tremendous season, but life continues and he only moved because of the money, and we've to respect that, but he'll never win a cup at the Isles...
I don't know why didn't the Bruins yet Bought-out Murray's contract, he earns much more than he deserves and the only impact he makes is on the player budget =x
Campbell @ Chicago, what a move by the BlackHawks, I'm looking forward to see Seabroke & Campbell playing together at least on the same PP line, that will give a tremendous dynamic to Chicago.