EHM The Blue Line

Lowe is an idiot. piddle off 29 GM's? yeah smart...then they will make deals with you. Oh well, good news folks there are only 4 teams in the North West Division now..if you count the Keeflemmes which I guess you have to.

Lowe is just off his rocker...Edmonton fans are widdled at him, so he is trying anything. Edmonton is not a place the guys want to go play (or more importantly the guys wives don't want to live) so he has to do something. But an offer sheet? For Thomas Vanek? Um...stupid.

Next up is Cammaleri.

I don't know if the Sabres did right in matching Vanek's offer... He's now overpaid and the Sabres missed a chance of having 4 first round picks, maybe picking Tavares, like Batdad said... And they should have embarrassed the Oilers with that deal, which would have pleased me

Sure, the fans reaction would have been very negative. But well, Sabres lost Drury and Briere for nothing and are now unable to return to the conference finals, let's be honest, and so could loose other big players for nothing on the UFA market in the upcoming years. Here, they were given the opportunity to bring in 4 first round picks...some of them would have been used in trades to bring a big name or two.

So all in all, i'm not totally convinced the Sabres made the best decision here... Oh, not a bad decision, but maybe not the best.

This is sad..I kind of agree with Eklund, now that I read him as to what the Oilers are doing here. It is legal dirty pool serving notice he wants to have one of the RFA's that have not filed for arbitration dealt to him. Plus the arb awards these guys will get now that Vanek has this huge deal will handcuff alot of GM's. Especially the ultimate target's GM--Lou Lamoreillo.

Lowe wants Parise and is trying to outsmart Lou? Maybe. Trade me Zac or watch what the offer sheet is. It will be well less than the 7 mill per year for Vanek...and will be one that costs a 1st, a 2nd and 3rd...but even those $ could muck up Lou. With the arbitration guys seeing the Vanek deal...oh boy. INteresting, and could get even more so.

This is what I'm saying. I think it was a wily move by Lowe.

Yeah I am just thinking that going for Vanek instead of the real target right off the bat was dumb. What would have happened in Edmonton if the Sabres did not match? 4 first round picks? For one player? ouch....I know the Sabres said they would match anything, and Regier was saying that Vanek and his agent would not negotiate with him...waiting for offer sheets....but what if the Sabers said..."kevin...thanks for your 4 high first rounders, and walked away from Vanek". darn....that would be hilarious.

Anyway, I just think Lowe should have right off the bat gone after who he wanted...never mind the silliness. Game playing...dumb

batdad wrote:Anyway, I just think Lowe should have right off the bat gone after who he wanted...never mind the silliness. Game playing...dumb

I still say wily. I don't get all this rubbish about the 'unwritten' rule - 'thou shalt not try to sign other teams' RFAs'. Totally bogus. If it's in the CBA, Lowe should be able to do whatever he wants, without taking flak. He's doing the only thing he can to get good, young players to come to Edmonton.

Ryan Rishaug sums it up nicely.

I can kind of see your point, Catchup. I know the NFL has been doing it this way and it doesn't cause any major distention. It's part of the rules. Either match it or let him go for the picks. I was actually reading an article a couple days ago that said Chiarelli was planning on doing the same thing. They never said who he was going to try to sign to an offer sheet but they figured they'd be giving up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick (which would make them need to acquire a 3rd round pick).

I have no issue with offers to RFA's but...

1. Go after the guy you really want, not some other guy to make a point.
2. Don't do it just because you want to piddle someone off (Clarkey) because they won't trade you someone you really want for what you want. You really want someone (Kesler) offer what the other team is asking, or at least negotiate....

So yeah, the idea of the RFA offer is fine, but no way did Lowe really want Vanek at over 7 mill per year. That was just to make a point. A silly one to scare other GMs....Get on the phone Kevin and talk to those guys you really want, and their GMs...or give those guys (Zajac) an offer.

Shadd666 wrote:I don't know if the Sabres did right in matching Vanek's offer... He's now overpaid and the Sabres missed a chance of having 4 first round picks, maybe picking Tavares, like Batdad said... And they should have embarrassed the Oilers with that deal, which would have pleased me

Sure, the fans reaction would have been very negative. But well, Sabres lost Drury and Briere for nothing and are now unable to return to the conference finals, let's be honest, and so could loose other big players for nothing on the UFA market in the upcoming years. Here, they were given the opportunity to bring in 4 first round picks...some of them would have been used in trades to bring a big name or two.

So all in all, i'm not totally convinced the Sabres made the best decision here... Oh, not a bad decision, but maybe not the best.

I agree 100%, the sabres i now believe are in a rebuilding phase with the loss of their star players, and 4!!! first rounders is huge.

Wings' signed Drake to a 1 year deal. I'm not real thrilled with this one. I've always been proud that Detroit rarely has dirty players, or players that have a history of being suspended on their team. Now they add this guy...

Detroit has to deal with the Ducks somehow...but if Dallas Drake is the guy they chose to do that...BWAHAHAHAHAHAAH. Drake sucks.

Nah, I am not opinionated. Dallas Drake is one of the most overrated dirty,chippy players out there. Not only does he screw it up, he always, always gets caught. Unlike Ruutu, Cooke, Tucker...he can't do the agitating without getting caught.

Bieksa signs extension in Van. 3 years 11.25 mill.

Yep. Nonis strikes again. Kevin will play this season at his $550K salary (for the cap) and then has his 3 years at 3.75 mill in the cap.

This could be considered a risky move by many. 1 big year. But with Kevin being a UFA next season...27 years of age. 3 years at 3.75 for a young tough, mobile, skilled defenseman is alot better than what other teams are doing. I mean...anyone think signing Cory Sarich for $4 mill for 5 years is a good idea?

Hamrlik 4 years $22.5 mill? Come on...this for Nonis is a steal. Bieksa would have got more on the open market even if he has an average season.

Something is up in Vancouver. Canucks sign Aaron Miller

Ummm

Bieksa-Mitchell
Ohlund-Salo
Krajicek-Miller
Bourdon-Edler


With all of these guys, speculation here is the Canucks have a deal for a forward up their sleeve in the near future, involving one of the top 4--And not likely to be Bieksa or Mitchell. So Ohlund/Salo could be on the block for forward help...Which fits in nicely with that NJ Devil rumour noone likes.

batdad wrote:anyone think signing Cory Sarich for $4 mill for 5 years is a good idea?

Well, when it means letting go an aged and slow Hamrlik and his 5.625M$/yr, it's not that bad afterall! It even sounds honest when you look at the crazy prices we've seen over the last weeks! But for sure, Bieksa's deal is better, no doubt.

batdad wrote:Which fits in nicely with that NJ Devil rumour noone likes.

Hmm... Which rumour?

Crosby extend his contract for 5 more seasons and 45M$. LINK

Hmm... Which rumour?

The one that has Lou talking to Nonis about just about any one of his offensive stars in exchange for Ohlund. Gionta, Elias, Langenbrunner....have all been mentioned. Although Langenbrunner as part of a lesser deal not involving Ohlund. The Ohlund issue is his No trade clause.

batdad: not surprising... Lou must feel naked in defense now that Rafalski's gone... Brodeur would give half his salary to see Stevens, Niedermayer and Daneyko back to protect him... On the other hand, the Devils don't score enough with Gionta, Elias, and co, and it won't get better if one of those go... Sounds like a loooooong year to come for New Jersey... with a short end when spring comes

You don't believe that Vishnevski is the answer to Jersey's defensive issues?

crosby87 wrote:You don't believe that Vishnevski is the answer to Jersey's defensive issues?

Hmm...Nah! He is slow enough to play in France, but won't answer anything in the NHL

"Yashin not happy with offers"
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=213273&hubname=

Awww! Poor Yashin!

Apparently Brent Sutter to leave Red Deer, for the land of CRAZY...New Jersey..to coach

So Does Lou guarrantee him the job through the playoffs?

Sportsnet.ca reporting the Oilers have signed Sheldon Souray. Whatever...wait for TSN. And Souray coughs up the puck, Sedin scores. Pitkannen coughs up the puck, Naslund scores. BWAH I am loving Edmonton's desperation...NW Division may only have 4 teams next year. Of course I could be completely wrong and Edmonton's defense will outscore their forwards and the Oil will win the cup.

TSN has Souray to Edmonton now

All NW Division goal scorers except those in Edmonton will be smiling now. Iggy, Sakic, Hejduk, Sedins, Nazzy, Bouchard. Gaborik, Demitra, Huselius just had their point totals increased!!!

i was sure he would go to San Jose as well, they need to sign someone quick, they are runnin thin on good Defenseman. I'm not complaing though, i don't like them.