Page 1 of 3
The Official NHL Offseason/Free Agency Thread
Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:31 pm
by Devils88
oh man...
i thought the clubs will not throw their money to the players anymore. don't they know they have a salary-cap...
some singings are really unbelievable:
joe corvo ottawa 3,5 mio. per Year,over 3 Y for a player who is just a pp-quarterback. CRAZY
matt cullen nyr 2,8 mio. pY over 4Y..good playoffs, but a third line center.
jay mckee stl 4mio. pY...can accept the price, but what the hell is he doing in st. louis?? from a stanley cup favorite to nirvana. takes the money but will never touch the cup
dwayne roloson oilers 3,6 mio. pY over 3 Y. if he falters, no one will take his salary. 36y. old. i thought there were other priorities in edmonton than signing an old goalie
mike sillingerislanders 2,2 mio pY over 3Y. faceoff player, scored 31 goals last year...but he would have taken less money.
tampa bay has spent 21mio of their 44mio budget on three players (richards/levacalier/st.louis). who plays on the other lines?? or will they play only with ONE line. than these three players earn their money
didn't think lou would resign elias. 6mio. is a very high salary for a devils player. that will make gionta and gomez even more expensive

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 6:26 pm
by Shadd666
Many mistakes have already be done,for sure...
Where did you find the infos relative to the salaries? I've seen the moves on nhl.com,but i don't think they had mentionned all the salaries...
I'm a bit anxious about how much the Flames will pay Alex Tanguay,and for how long... He is exactly the kind of player the Flames missed last year to go far in the playoffs,but i hope they'll be able to sign for a long time without ruining themselves... (yes,i'm a Flames fan! lol)
Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:11 pm
by munky
Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:23 pm
by Devils88
Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:36 pm
by Shadd666
okay

tank you guys
The Flames seem to be the only team which doesn't disclose anything about the contracts they signed...
Is anyone knows why? or have a suggestion?
It's the first year i can really follow what's happening during the off-season,so i'm not totally used of the teams strategies... Sorry for my ignorance...

But i'll do my best to learn fast

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:07 pm
by Minstrel
TSN has a link to all teams' salary commitments in the sidebar of their main nhl page but here's a link to
Calgary's Page
I've Officializedâ„¢ the thread so we can keep it all together like we did at the deadline. If you want to post about trades in their own threads cool but keep all the "Team X Signed FA Player Z" talk to this thread.

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:42 pm
by Molasky_13
I have to agree wholeheartedly with Devils88...some of these contracts and wages seem quite loco. It´s as if some teams (and, more importantly, some players methinks) have learned diddly squat from the lockout. Seems that they´re just expecting the cap to go up each season and there´ll be hell to pay, if it goes down gain...literally, probaly, in the form of buyouts.
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 1:58 am
by Minstrel
Well, the Cap did increase to $44mil this year so teams do have more room than they did last year but the money does still seem to be as whacked as ever
BTW - If you want to try and get a grasp on/comment about the Goalie Carousel that has been spinning wildly since the trade deadline check out the 'Starting Goaltenders for 2006-2007?' thread as I've just posted a full team-by-team movements/depth charts list there.
It's bit like that "Trace any actor back to Kevin Bacon in five or less steps" game: for example, Tampa let Grahame go to Carolina as a FA because Carolina let Gerber go to Ottawa as a FA, Tampa then traded for Marc Denis from Columbus
Jovonovski signed with Phoenix who also made a nice move in my opinion picking up Mike Morrison as a FA. I think he still has some upside and with Jovo in front of him and a veteran 'tender in Joseph shouldering most of the load it could really work out for them.
I find it cool that Rob Blake has gone back to LA; that's a move I'd love were I a Kings fan.
What do our Bruins fans think of getting the big Z on D? I can't say that I envisioned them picking up Chara but I'd be pretty happy as a fan.
Kubina going to Toronto seems to hint that they don't plan on McCabe sticking around doncha think?
I love the signings Columbus and Nashville made bringing in Modin and Arnott repsectively. Nashville desperately needs the size with Sully and Kariya both of whom are about 5'9 with a few decks of cards in their boots

Columbus is going to be a tough darn team (gigantic goaltending question aside) I think and having Modin and Nash on LW with centers like Federov and Brule along with Frtische, Zherdev, Vyborny, Balastik, Svitov (recently signed) that's a lot of firepower. You anchor that with Foote and Berard on D and it's probably got some surprises up it's sleeve for next year.
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:25 am
by Shadd666
Minstrel: thanks for the Flames page link
For sure,Nashville should make great thinks next year.
The Bruins have actually a good market,with big Z and Marc Savard (poor substition for Thornton,but better than nothing)
I'm a bit anxious about the Canucks... Of course,Luongo's a good goalie,but they lost a key D-men with Jovanovski. Luongo gives a lot of rebounds,so if no-one is there to take them and protect a bit the 'tender,it might be an easy way to score in the Canucks defense...
Dallas seem to let his veterans go away... Bill Guerin to St. Louis, Jason Arnott to Nashville, and Johan Hedberg to Atlanta. And nothing came in,actually... Are they trying to rebuild the team? Or do they liberate some money under the cap to take a big UFA or a big RFA?
Detroit lost their soulmaster,as Yzerman retires after a 22 years carreer...
Is any of you guys knows a site where we can see a team by team in/out board? it might be much easier to view which teams will improve and which will fall...

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:24 am
by Systemfel
Shadd666 wrote:Is any of you guys knows a site where we can see a team by team in/out board? it might be much easier to view which teams will improve and which will fall...

http://www.forecaster.ca/thestar/hockey ... season2006
Very sad to see Stevie, the greatest captain of all-time, go yesterday...but I support his decision.
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 7:07 pm
by Shadd666
Systemfel: Thanks a lot for the! That's exactly what i wanted
Sad for Steevie,for sure...

But he's 41 now,and it seems that the young generation is taking the control of the league,so he'd better go than becoming nearly useless on the nice
But he has a wonderfull career which will surely lead him to the Hall Of Fame.
Lemieux...Yzerman...two monsters are gone this year...
Ovechkin...Crosby...two futur monsters (and already great!) came this year...

It's just the renew of the generations...
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:49 am
by Minstrel
We lost a ton of players with no farewell fanfare due to the "didn't know at the time it's be their last year" season prior to the lockout that was the last for... just off the top of my head I can think of Al MacInnis, Ron Francis, Mark Messier, Scott Stevens and Brett Hull (though he quit a month or so in this season). Lemieux and Luc Robitaille will also not return for next year; possibly joined by Dave Andreychuk, Keith Primeau and Jeremy Roenick. The last two due to health concerns. Speaking of which Adam Deadmarsh never returned to the 'New NHL' due to his own concussion problems.
This is a giant compliment coming from a diehard lifelong Blackhawks fan; I admire the hell out of Steve Yzerman and it's a great loss to the league if only just by living example to have Stevie Y retire. If he wants to he seems the kind of cerebral type guy who could make a very good coach which would be cool for him to continue to make the other skaters around him better, even if he only actually skates with them in practices

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:53 am
by E5150_ca
Roenick signed with the 'yotes, so he'll be back.
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:38 am
by Minstrel
I'm sure he'll play but I really view him as one of those guys that at any moment could end up with another concussion or other injury that would cause him to retire. He's been real close to doing so numerous times already

So he always springs to mind when injury/retirement or the combo of the two pops into my head.

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:39 pm
by Systemfel
Oh my God...the Red Wings are bringing in Ed Belfour for a physical and are also rumored to be interested in signing Dominik Hasek (again).
In a desperate move, GM Holland has thrown out a one-year/$4M offer to winger Brendan Shanahan. Shanney's nice and scored 40 goals, but there is no way I want him back for over 2.5 mil.
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:57 am
by noctambulist
Minstrel wrote:What do our Bruins fans think of getting the big Z on D? I can't say that I envisioned them picking up Chara but I'd be pretty happy as a fan.
I'm pretty psyched, but I'm still in shock to see the Bruins spending money for players in their prime or close to it. I was sure that we would go for Guerin.
Looks like we are building a pretty good D-line with Mara, Stuart, the big Z, and Tanabe. I'm also pretty happy with the Savard signing.
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:50 pm
by Systemfel
Tanabe? What about Jurcina and Alberts? Just trade Tanabe for a pick.
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:08 am
by noctambulist
Well ya, those guys too. I like Jurcina and Alberts but I think they still have some maturing to do. I like Tanabe, even though he's not a good fantasy-type player who scores a lot, he has good speed and moves the puck well.
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 2:50 am
by flea
Systemfel wrote:Tanabe? What about Jurcina and Alberts? Just trade Tanabe for a pick.
I would prefer to trade Tanabe for a solid left wing!!!
Jurcina and Alberts arent going nowhere....at least thats what it seems. Chiarrelli wants them resigned ASAP.
We are gonne be hard to score on when all our youngsters D-men are growing up!!!
EDIT: BTW, Samsonov a Hab

Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 4:12 am
by noctambulist
We did sign Chris Collins who's a left winger, but he's unproven in the NHL, though he did have a good season at Boston College. He might turn into a good player down the road. But yeah, we need a left winger and I'd give up Tanabe for one. We really only have Axelsson and Sturm as natural LWs.
Posted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:36 am
by flea
noctambulist wrote:We did sign Chris Collins who's a left winger, but he's unproven in the NHL, though he did have a good season at Boston College. He might turn into a good player down the road. But yeah, we need a left winger and I'd give up Tanabe for one. We really only have Axelsson and Sturm as natural LWs.
I really would like to see Chris Collins perform well in Boston....but IMHO I think hes going to start in Providence at the beginning of the season, but who knows...perhaps he will convence Chia & co. in the prospect camp and he could earn a spot with the "big guys"??
Also Kalus and Karsums had both great seasons last year, so they could also fit in for a spot in a line, but they are unproven too in the big league.
We will see.....until now Chiarelli and Gorton have made a great job...hopefully they can come up with something more for us Bs fans!!!
Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:25 am
by Minstrel
It looks like the Stars may soon be signing Eric Lindros to a one year deal in the one million dollar or so range soon. Personally as a GM I couldn't sign a guy I see as one hit from retired but with the giant flashing neon "If he can stay healthy" disregarded this could be a good deal for them.
That is one of the bigger "ifs" in professionally hockey right now though and as a Stars fan it'd have me on a steady diet of TUMS antacids all year and I'd be constantly playing through "worst case scenarios" in my head all year.
Speaking from experience here; the real problem is that if they sign Lindros they are counting on him to fill a gap that is then not being addressed by addition or another player. This is what the Hawks did with Daze... disregarded his chronic back problems and three back surgeries in four years and just penciled him into the planned lineup along with say 35 goals at wing this year. No need to bring in another scorer; Daisy has it covered. Well the guy didn't play a single game and those goals were missing all year on a team that couldn't score.
This is what could happen to Dallas as well, and if you're talking worst case scenarios it is this: Lindros is awesome, has a year like Jagr had last year. But then he has a playoffs exactly like Jagr had last year, injuried early and a total non-factor with the team that get bounced from the playoffs in the first round. Those are the visions I'd be having all year were I a Stars fan no matter how well Lindros plays.
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:48 am
by Minstrel
The Lindros deal is done and they are supposedly on the brink of signing Michael Peca as well...
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:58 am
by inSTAALed
No the Maple Leafs are on the brink of signing Peca, not the Stars.
[Minty edit: Ooops... caught once again in the evershifting sands of the FA market... was thinking of Lindros and the Leafs last year]
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:45 pm
by E5150_ca
He's been signed, it just hasn't gone through the NHL offices and such just yet
~2.5million.