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Eastern Standings
Battle No.1 Picks
Free agency thought$
July 1, 2008 · Derek Felix · Jump to comments
So, we’re only in Day One and already there’s been nine zillion changes of address. Of course, I’m batting an ice cold .000. 
My God. There’s been so much movement that it’s almost impossible to keep up! Well, at least I had Cory Stillman in the right division. Come on. That should count for something. Haha.
I’ve come to the conclusion that NHL free agency is crazzzzzzyyyyy. I mean look at what’s gone on already today. Mats Sundin was offered a multi-year deal worth $20 million from the Canucks whose plan apparently is to corner the market on players from Sweden and then rename themselves the Vancouver Swedes and change their jerseys for the 9,000th time. Hey. Yellow and blue would be an improvement over what they got now even though the throwback navy blue, green and white is kind of cool.
So, I was reading some of the responses on TSN and you had angry Canadian fans who have apparently forgotten that it’s not the players who are asking for these outrageous offers. It’s the GM’s. Hell-o McFly! Anyone home?!?!?!?!?! Remember when the beloved cap was supposed to keep things $ane? So much for logic.
I’m still trying to figure out how Bryce Salvador got four years out of Lou Lamoriello. Is he nuts? Bryce Salvador! I don’t think I’d have committed more than two for the physical stay-at-home D. I’m just not crazy about giving a 32 year-old player that many years when his style says he’ll miss some games and wear down by the final year. Same goes for a four years younger and undersized Sean Avery if you caught my take on him yesterday.
What’s the craziest thing so far? How about the Lightning bringing in every forward possible while ignoring how mediocre their blueline is? How do you give three years to Adam Hall? He’s a glorified fourth liner who maybe plays third line at best and he can’t finish to save his life. You know it’s gone to hell when he’s signed for three years. Granted. He’s a decent penalty killer but come on! Well, at least it’s cheap.
Tampa also landed Radim Vrbata and were the team who had too many fancy drinks or spent too much time in the sun committing seven years to Ryan Malone. They also added the ageless Gary Roberts, who will soon be on Social Security. Remember when his career was kaput a decade ago? How the heck is he still in the league? Olaf Kolzig also is a member of the Lightning. He apparently will be their team mascot while Mike Smith and Karri Ramo split duties. I’m being facetious. 
I like Olie the Goalie and think getting an experienced netminder isn’t a bad way to go cause he can give them a few pointers.
What on God’s name convinced the Caps to let Cristobal Huet walk to Chicago and then award Jose Theodore three years as his replacement? Who would you rather have? I just don’t get that at all.
Darcy Tucker is now a member of the Avalanche. Who saw that coming? I’m still in shock that they gave a mediocre defenseman in John-Michael Liles four years, 16 million. He is so one-dimensional, it isn’t funny. Imagine what the look on Brian Campbell’s face was when he saw that.
I like what the Oilers have done. They acquired Lubomir Visnovsky yesterday. Then dealt the overrated Joni Pitkanen to Carolina for power forward Erik Cole. And somehow got Gilbert Brule for Raffy Torres. I have always dissed him but kudos to Kevin Lowe, who apparently also wants to bring in Marian Hossa if you buy what TSN is saying. Would they like to put some cash on it?
Good move by Washington locking up Mike Green. Sure. The four years at an average of $5.25 million was a bit steep for a player who just had a career year. But for the cynics, would you prefer them overpay a 30+ year-old free agent committing too many years? It makes a lot more sense to keep a player who should only get better and be an integral part of their future. Besides. Who isn’t overpaid these days?
I’m a little surprised that Brad Stuart stayed in Detroit for four years but he cashed in on his solid playoff performance netting an average of $3.75 million. Overpayment. But hey. Maybe he just fits the Red Wings’ system. It’s damn good. Also a good move by Ken Holland inking Ty Conklin to a one-year deal to backup Chris Osgood. They really don’t need to do much else.
Anyone else believe that Cujo is back with the Leafs? I guess he’ll never hang’em up. They also landed former Av D Jeff Finger for four years (I’m sensing a theme) at an average of $3.5 million. Uh. What? He’s okay but come on. That is crazy!
The Sens replaced Ray Emery with Alex Auld to backup Martin Gerber. Auld performed well for Boston after looking like he was headed out of the league with a brutal season with Florida in the Roberto Luongo deal.
Other news of note:
-The Ducks re-signed Corey Perry for five years, $26.625 million. Over a five million average for a player who will soon crack the 40 goal barrier.
-The Flyers re-upped Jeff Carter for three years, $15 million the other day. He and Perry are pretty similar. The money’s about right for both emerging stars.
-The Pens re-signed Pascal Dupuis for three years. He’s a solid two-way player who fit in well. Who wouldn’t playing alongside Sidney Crosby? And he didn’t get overpaid. The average between 1.4 and 1.5 is a bargain. Nice to see a player taking less to stay in a place where he knows he’ll do well.
-The Wild acquired Marek Zidlicky for prospect Ryan Jones and a second round pick. A good pickup as they add a skating offensive blueliner who’s still got a couple of years left on his deal. That should help out their D. They also inked underrated complementary winger Andrew Brunette to a three-year $7 million contract. The well traveled vet has played for Jacques Lemaire before and done well. He can still put up decent numbers though he’ll turn 35 next month. I probably would’ve gone only two years. But it seems teams have to go the extra year(s) to get these players signed.
As Hasan reported earlier, still no word on some of the big guns including Jaromir Jagr and Hossa. My guess is they’ll wait and evaluate the kind of offers they get before deciding. Same goes for Campbell, Avery and Sundin.
I got to head out to the ballpark and cover the SI Yanks. So I’ll try to have more at some point.
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Well technically you’re not .000, you did correctly have Pandolfo and Salvador returning to the Devils. But you’re 0-10 as far as UFA activity after 12 PM so far lol.
true that. i was thinking about that last nite. lmao
Well now you’re three out of 20 (and ten of your 30 still to be decided) with Valiquette returning to the Rangers. But in all seriousness, it is hard picking which one out of thirty teams someone winds up especially with how nutty UFA is to begin with.
[...] Free agency thought$ …an experienced netminder isn’t a bad way to go cause he can give them … The average between 1.4 and 1.5 is a bargain. [...]