The Official 2008 NHL Off-Season Transactions Thread

Post by **Shadd666** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:44 pm

I agree that Mats was the best center available on the FA market. And the Nucks need a #1 center for sure. But well, Phoenix needed a #1 center too... They didn't make an offer on aging Sundin or Sakic, but made a deal to land Jokinen...

I mean, putting this kind of offer on the table on the first minute was maybe not a bad idea, but with time going on and Mats still undecided, wouldn't it have been better to try to sign another guy and make a deal to be sure to land a #1 center?

Of course, Demitra is the plan B if Mats doesn't sign to Vancouver. But having Pavol on the wing with a real #1 center to feed him would be so much more effective! And by waiting for so long, the Nuck could end up without that #1 center if Mats decides to sign elsewhere or simply retires. Or they'd have the center, but would miss a winger.

Sure, if Mats signs in Vancouver, the problem is solved. He would be overpaid for sure, but would have a normal paycheck in his second season with another stupid high increase of the salary cap

Post by **batdad** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:12 pm

[Changed this post. Not thinking clearly}

Sundin--Is an OPTION, not a final option. There are trades that can be made. There is a Sedin-Demitra-Kesler possibility in terms of centre. Considering the Nucks barely missed the playoffs last year, adding Demitra and Bernier while losing Mo, Naslund may not be much of an issue for them. Healthy Demitra + healthy Bernier > than anything Mo/Nazzy have done the last few years. With Roberto now in a stable family situation, and not distracted by the birth of a baby, illness of his wife. The team should get better just off that.

How much better? Not gonna say...but a little. Maybe enough without Mats. Maybe not.

Oh and again, with Roberto...why the hell would the Nucks have to add a name guy? Umm...no. He is the name. He is the team. He is the leader. He is the man. Stick a "c" on whoever...Roberto is the man and the A-personality in the room. TOP DOG. NO matter who comes to Vancouver or who does not. Roberto is the dog.

I know nothing about Jokinen either. Cept, that well...when you ask for BOTH Sedins AND EDLER for him. Well...not gonna happen. And when Jokinen has issues with his heart...Not physical ones. Welll...why bother. Canucks did not pursue Jokinnen. Now what might the Nucks know that others (Phoenix for example do not) about Oli?

Hmm...Roberto in net, spent a little time with Oli.
Hmm...SCott Mellanby as a Canuck staff member...spent a little time with Oli.
Both may know a little about his attitude. Hence pursue Sundin not trade with Panthers.

Now if don't get Sundin, Gillis will be looking to make a deal. But if not, he still has a pretty decent team. Albeit one that won't be a scoring team, and will have to play well defensively. Still a good shot at playoffs this season.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:57 pm

When i talked about the Jokinen trade and trading for a center rather than signing Sundin, i didn't mean trading especially for Oli, but just "trading for a center"...and using the Oli deal as an example.

Of course, if the asking price was that high (Sedins + Edler), there's no way the deal happens.

Then i totally agree with you: Sundin or not, big name in or not, THE big guy in Vancouver is Luongo. No doubt. Without him, the Nucks would have been dead last in the NW division last year, with no shot at all for the playoffs. Roberto is one of those rare goalies that gives a huge plus to a team.

Oh well, just 2 more days to wait before Sundin makes his announcement about playing or not... We'll soon be fixed...

Post by **batdad** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:25 pm

Yeah, and then another 3 weeks of him deciding what team he wants to play for if he decides to play. No way everything comes out on Aug 1. But meh, if the Nucks get him...they get him. If they don't..they do something else.

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:36 pm

batdad wrote:Yeah, and then another 3 weeks of him deciding what team he wants to play for if he decides to play. No way everything comes out on Aug 1. But meh, if the Nucks get him...they get him. If they don't..they do something else.

Wait a minute...is he about to announce only whether he keeps playing or not? Duh, if he doesn't announce where he decided to go, he would seriously piddle me off.

Post by **batdad** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:20 pm

He has never nor has his agent said...I will decide if I am playing AND what team I am playing for on Aug 1. He has said as has his agent "I will decide if I am going to play another year by Aug 1."

So.....the media and the internet populous are all over this date as THE DATE. But, it may not be. Who knows.

Hypnotist · Post by **Hypnotist** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:25 am

Mats will lose a lot of juice in my book if he decides to play but not for the Leafs. He said he wouldn't waive his NTC because he wanted to stay a Leaf. He could have stepped up and helped Toronto build for the future so if he changes his tune now, consider his integrity shot all to heck. JMO.

Post by **Shadd666** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:40 am

I double Batdad: Mats only announced that he'll decide on wether he'll play next season or not. He didn't say anything about when he'll take his decision about which team he will (eventually) play for. I hope he'll anounce both at the same time though, so that we should be finally fixed about him. But i seriously doubt he will.

Hypno: I am thinking the same way. But give me 20M$ over 2 years, and i may put my heart aside and take the bucks

Sometimes, the dark side is sooooo tempting...

Post by **batdad** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:21 pm

Hypnotist wrote:Mats will lose a lot of juice in my book if he decides to play but not for the Leafs. He said he wouldn't waive his NTC because he wanted to stay a Leaf. He could have stepped up and helped Toronto build for the future so if he changes his tune now, consider his integrity shot all to heck. JMO.

Not really the case. Mats wanted to stay a Loaf yes. But to be asked 2 years in a row to waive that clause, and asked repeatedly in the second case, is a dig at him and his personal life. The Business of hockey is clearly winning out over the loyalty on both sides..management and player. management asked Mats over and over even though he had said he wanted to remain a Laff. Showing his loyalty to the organization. In return for this..what did the Laffs do? Oh yeah, asked him again. Tried to be pushy with him. Sorry, but I would not want to move either. Maybe a bit selfish, but then when you look at it again after the season is over, you start to wonder...how loyal are these guys to me? Maybe I do want a change.

But...I still do not think Mats is going to Vancouver, but the NHLPA will be all over him if he does not take the best deal he has in front of him. Unless he retires.

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:23 pm

So something non-Sundin related now. Mark Parrish has been released from Minnesota Wild, they bought up his contract (three remaining seasons). So they lost Rolston, Demitra now Parrish,...hm...I don't think they can hold up to last year's results. Oh well, we'll see...

...and the day D is almost here. I wonder what Sundin chooses : the loyalty, the money, or the shot at Stanley Cup? oh wait...he's not gonna decide which club he's gonna play for, right? -_-

Post by **batdad** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:30 pm

Parrish is brutal. I would not be shocked to see him out of the NHL in Russia or something. He is sooooo lazy.

Post by **Shadd666** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:12 am

Sundin's case will probably be the tale of August, as he won't make his decision today/tommorow.

TSN wrote:Barry (Sundin's agent) also told the Team 1040 that Sundin might not be making any decisions by August 1st.

''He's still taking his time, and he hasn't given us an indication or not if he's going to keep playing or not. You know, when he was speaking in Sweden about August, unfortunately a lot of people picked up 1st of August. He meant August. He meant sometime in August he would definitely decide because he'll definitely be in training camp.''

It's also seems that many people are willing to sign him, according to the same article...

TSN wrote:The number of teams legitimately interested in the services of Mats Sundin has increased to six according to his agent JP Barry.

''The number has gone up, not gone down since July 1st,'' Barry told the Team 1040 Sports Radio station in Vancouver. ''The other three (teams) would like not to be discussed as much publicly because it just provides more scrutiny.''

Barry did admit that Detroit is not one of the teams interested.

''There are other teams that have said, 'We're that interested in a short-term, one to two year deal. We just want to let you know that if you give us some time, we'll make room'." Barry told the Team 1040. ''So I don't think the demand will slow down if he takes longer. I think there's enough teams out there interested in his services that it's kind of a unique situation.''

This very last sentence makes me wonder about what the agent is thinking about?... Unique situation to take loads of $, probably, so that the agent takes a bigger comission (he must love Vancouver actually...)

Other than Sundin now...

- Modry leaves NHL and goes to Czech Republic. LINK

- The Blue Jackets re-signed Pascal Leclaire to a 3 years, 11.4M$ (averaging 3.8M$/yr) LINK. At least a team who doesn't sign its star players for 150 years... But they dealt Brule and Zherdev, while signing Huselius 4M$ a year... Hmm...

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:09 pm

I was just about to post that Sundin article, I wonder if any of these three clubs are European-based, like Jokerit or a club from Swedish league.

Ah those fake illusions that he would make up his mind today...duh...how could I be so naive?

Post by **batdad** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:22 pm

No..in the radio report JP Barry said that they were all American teams, when pushed by the hosts. Meaning USA, not Canadian, Swedish or KHL. But would that be fun? Sundin to the KHL where he plays on a line with Jagr.

Anyway, Tambellini leaves to Edmonton to be GM. Cannot wait to see how he does there. He should have been Vancouver's GM. Not Gillis. But, well....lets see how he does in Oil town.
Scotty Bowman is a Hawk...now if there was any sign that the Hawks were ready to go on a big upswing...this would have to be it. Bowman is a hockey god!

gibson41 · Post by **gibson41** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:50 am

Meszaros to Tampa Bay for Filip Kuba and Alexandre Picard?

I do not like this deal. I mean, Tampa Bay needs a serious defense, and now they traded a Dman for another one, it doesn't help things. Oh well, for Meszaros it should be good deal, Ottawa looks like it's on decline, Tampa Bay should have a pretty successfull season.

Post by **batdad** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:38 pm

Tampa PAID too much for Meszaros. But at the same time...Kuba sucks. Alex Picard Dman version has sure dropped off the map as a prospect. At one point he was VERY highly touted. Now...he is just a plopper in a trade that is about anything other than him.

Wow.

So...Mats Sundin, the New Petr Forsberg...I am sure we are all shocked. Now saying will decide by when NHL training camps start. Whatever Mats...go golf. No one cares anymore.

Post by **Shadd666** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:01 pm

McCabe and a pick to the Panthers in exchange for Van Ryn. TSN article

NoPantsTuesday · Post by **NoPantsTuesday** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:12 am

bout time McCabe was finally traded. Although as bad as he was on the leafs, I can't help to think that Florida got a better deal in the end.

Post by **getzlaf15** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:17 am

Hate McCabe. Overpayed, overated and greedy, and i think this quote proves it,

"McCabe, who already has moved to South Florida, was due a $2 million deferred signing bonus that was scheduled to be paid by the Leafs on Labor Day. Once that payment was finalized, McCabe, who was the Leafs highest-paid player, agreed to waive his no-trade clause and join the Panthers."

So he knew he was moving, thought he'd cash in on labor day (whenever that is

), as soon as he cashed in he packed up (which he had already done), and move.

Good move Leafs if you ask me.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:30 am

Meh. Part of the deal the Leafs signed. Why should they get out of it? I think this move by McCabe would be made by any smart player.

But yeah, he is overrated and overpaid. Leafs however, signed that silly deal so should have to cough up the bucks.

And the LEafs never make a good move.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:14 pm

The Bruins signed Stephan Yelle. This one is a bit surprising. I know Yelle is really good checking line, PK, and face-off guy but the Bruins are pretty well stocked at forward. There were a couple of young guys that played really well last year on the bottom 2 lines that I figured would've gotten the call here instead. Still, he's a good veteran influence with a couple Stanley Cup championships.

Loosie · Post by **Loosie** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:05 pm

News on Sundin!!!

...

....

......

He has yet to make a decision

Post by **batdad** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 6:02 pm

Quelle surprise. Mats to Toronto, Mats to Montreal, Mats to NYR, Mats to VAn, Mats to Tampa, Mats to Ottawa, Mats to Detroit. Mats to HF51, Mats to Djurgarden, Mats to golfcourse, Mats to massageparlor, Mats to haircut, Mats to Manicure, Mats....sucks! Bye Mats, have a nice time.

I think we should ban the words Mats and Sundin for real life, just like we banned the word Marleau for awhile re EHM.

God I hope now he does not come to Vancouver. He will be Mark Messier part 2...collect $$$ and do nothing

Post by **Shadd666** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:36 pm

Who's this guy you're all talking about?

Post by **getzlaf15** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:59 pm

Haha. Sundin is just like the Niedermayer situation from last year. Which the Ducks suffered for as they had to sign Mathieu Schneider to 'replace' him. Then Scotty decides to return and the Ducks therefore had to trade away Andy McDonald (which they did beforehand) to make room for Niedermayer. I thought Niedermayer was selfish to not decide on his return and it was his decision that affected the Ducks for the season if you ask me.

Hurry up and make a decision, even though i dont think the Leafs will be too strong with or without Mats next year.