Braden StokesNHL Free Agency so far...
July 3rd 2009 00:04
The NHL’s free agency meat market is underway so I thought I’d give some thoughts on who changed addresses and what it may mean for their respective teams.
Great
Craig Anderson (G) – Colorado Avalanche. I think this deal is right up there with the best. The Avalanche had a terrible season behind Andrew Raycroft and Peter Budaj (see below), finishing last in the Western Conference. The 28 year old had a very good season in Florida as a backup, posting the third best save percentage (.924) and three shutouts. Those numbers were even better considering the protection offered from the Florida blue line. Will be given the controls as the number one guy.
Ian Laperriere (F) – Philadelphia Flyers. Wow how tough are the Flyers now? Firstly adding Chris Pronger earlier in the week was a significant move and now they have a great role player patrolling the checking lines. Laperriere was a fan favourite in Denver and will be missed. Chips in with the odd goal and can drop the gloves if required, making up somewhat for the loss of Knubble (see below). Only query is the 2 year deal for the 37 year old.
Sedin Twins (F) – Vancouver Canucks. Considering their initial demands where long term deals, the Canucks have done well to sign their leading scorers to 5 year deals which will give the club salary cap space in the future.
Mike Komisarek (D) – Toronto Maple Leafs. Great deal for the young Leafs, helping to add some grit to the blue line. Five years for $22.5 million isn’t a bad price to pay for one of the game’s best shutdown defensemen and a 2009 All-Star.
Nikolai Khabibulin (G) – Edmonton Oilers. Proven big time goalie going to a team in desperate need of a number one guy between the pipes. Given a rocket early in the season when placed on the waivers in Chicago, he answered his critics with 2.33 GAA and .919 save percentage. Despite some durability concerns the Oil managed to ink the 36 year old Russian for four years and $15 million. A previous Cup winner with Tampa, Khabibulin will need to be healthy and consistent for the Oil to reach the playoffs.
Jay Bouwmeester (D) – Calgary Flames. His rights were acquired by the Flames before the market opened and in the end it turned out to a masterstroke when they signed him to a 5 year deal worth $6.6 million a season. The move now creates a really formidable blue line with Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr.
Rob Scuderi (D) – Los Angles Kings. A vital cog in the Pittsburgh Cup victory, Scuderi now resides on the West Coast. Not an offensive defensemen by any stretch but a solid shut down guy who can log some minutes on the penalty kill. Four years and around $14 million is up there for a relatively unknown but I still think this is a good move.
OK
Marian Gaborik (W) – NY Rangers. After dealing away Scott Gomez (see below) and his big deal they sign Gabby on another big contract. Not surprising given its NY! Gaborik if healthy is definitely one of the top talents in the league, but as we have seen over the years it’s a big if. Will hopefully gel with Chris Drury and relish been out of the Minnesota defensive system.
Sami Pahlsson (C) – Columbus Blue Jackets. More help up the middle for the Blue Jackets. A proven shut down specialist, Pahlsson will more than likely take the position held by the more offensively minded Manny Malhotra.
Mike Knubble (W) – Washington Capitals. Really good deal for the Caps. Two years for $5.6 million brings grit and scoring punch. Knubble keeps producing 20 goal seasons end on end and will no doubt reach that mark again. May even go higher surrounded by the offensive guns in the capital.
Dwayne Roloson (G) – NY Islanders. Good reliable veteran on his last contract at 39. Was solid and the main reason Edmonton stayed in the playoff race last season. Will get some starts when, not if, current Islanders number one Rick DiPietro goes down.
Mike Cammalleri (C/W) – Montreal. Was super playing alongside Jarome Iginla with a team leading 39 goals last season after coming across from LA. Will look to mesh with new Canadiens Gionta and Gomez but may not nudge the 40 goal mark. He is a fine player, however Montreal may have overpaid slightly (5 years at $30 million) and with Gomez’s big deal also now on the books this could be trouble into the future
John Madden (W) – Chicago Blackhawks. A good replacement for the departed Pahlsson. Getting long in the tooth now but a one year deal for the 36-year old makes sense now and for the expected squeeze on the Blackhawks roster this time next year.
Scott Clemmensen (G) – Florida. Benefited from super goalie Martin Broduer going down last season in New Jersey and was very solid in keeping the ship afloat. With Anderson jumping across to Denver, he now gets the chance to backup Tomas Vokoun who has a habit of beginning the season slowly. May get some early starts.
David Booth (F) – Florida Panthers. Continues to improve and resigning him makes perfect sense. Led the team in shots and tallied a career high 31 goals, which has now earnt him a six year extension.
Chris Neil (F) – Ottawa Senators. Haven’t the Senators slipped. While the Dany Heatley fiasco continues to play out at least the Sens have got something right. Neil is much loved and will be a welcome return to the line-up during difficult times in Ottawa.
Bad
David Koci (W) – Colorado Avalanche. Who? After losing Laperriere by offering well under the odds, they go out and sign a giant goon. Surely the Avs have enough grit down on the bottom lines to do without this guy.
Marian Hossa (W) – Chicago Blackhawks. Definitely a top player and will no doubt play well in the Windy City, but the length and amount on the contract (12 years for $63 million) is a worry. With the cap expected to come down next season, key free agents looming and large contracts already on the books (Campbell and Huet), GM Dale Tallon is hoping to knock off the Red Wings before trouble hits. Interesting times ahead for the Blackhawks.
Ty Conklin (G) – St Louis. Why St Louis? Sure they surprised a lot of experts by making the playoffs behind Chris Mason but I would have thought Conklin would make a run at a starting job somewhere else? Maybe Colorado, Philly or even back to the Oil?
Donald Brashear (W) – NY Rangers. Veteran goon who was signed to replace Colton Orr who fled to Toronto. Not sure this is a good move considering the issues it brings after the Blair Betts hit during the playoffs.
Ugly
Hal Gill (D) – Montreal Candieans. Big, slow defensemen who had a good season last year winning the cup while playing a shutdown role. It just doesn’t seem a good fit though and no where near an effective replacement for Komisarek. If called upon to play a lot of minutes it will be trouble.
Brian Gionta (W) – Montreal. Maybe an ok deal when you consider he is rejoining Scott Gomez, but 5 years and $25 million is a stretch. His production has plummeted after a great 48 goal season in 2005-06 and I just don’t think this move and some of the others made by Montreal will be effective. They have thrown the cash around but it remains to be seen where the value is.
Peter Budaj (G) – Colorado Avalanche. Surely has run out of chances in the number one chair in Denver. Pencilled in as the number one man last season, Budaj had a terrible season rotating the number one spot with the equally terrible Raycroft. Posting a .899 save % really indicated how soft his play was yet the new management ‘rewarded’ Budaj with an extension. If his shaky play continues look for him to spend some time with Lake Eire.
Tour De France preview coming up soon!
Great
Craig Anderson (G) – Colorado Avalanche. I think this deal is right up there with the best. The Avalanche had a terrible season behind Andrew Raycroft and Peter Budaj (see below), finishing last in the Western Conference. The 28 year old had a very good season in Florida as a backup, posting the third best save percentage (.924) and three shutouts. Those numbers were even better considering the protection offered from the Florida blue line. Will be given the controls as the number one guy.
Ian Laperriere (F) – Philadelphia Flyers. Wow how tough are the Flyers now? Firstly adding Chris Pronger earlier in the week was a significant move and now they have a great role player patrolling the checking lines. Laperriere was a fan favourite in Denver and will be missed. Chips in with the odd goal and can drop the gloves if required, making up somewhat for the loss of Knubble (see below). Only query is the 2 year deal for the 37 year old.
Sedin Twins (F) – Vancouver Canucks. Considering their initial demands where long term deals, the Canucks have done well to sign their leading scorers to 5 year deals which will give the club salary cap space in the future.
Mike Komisarek (D) – Toronto Maple Leafs. Great deal for the young Leafs, helping to add some grit to the blue line. Five years for $22.5 million isn’t a bad price to pay for one of the game’s best shutdown defensemen and a 2009 All-Star.
Nikolai Khabibulin (G) – Edmonton Oilers. Proven big time goalie going to a team in desperate need of a number one guy between the pipes. Given a rocket early in the season when placed on the waivers in Chicago, he answered his critics with 2.33 GAA and .919 save percentage. Despite some durability concerns the Oil managed to ink the 36 year old Russian for four years and $15 million. A previous Cup winner with Tampa, Khabibulin will need to be healthy and consistent for the Oil to reach the playoffs.
Jay Bouwmeester (D) – Calgary Flames. His rights were acquired by the Flames before the market opened and in the end it turned out to a masterstroke when they signed him to a 5 year deal worth $6.6 million a season. The move now creates a really formidable blue line with Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr.
Rob Scuderi (D) – Los Angles Kings. A vital cog in the Pittsburgh Cup victory, Scuderi now resides on the West Coast. Not an offensive defensemen by any stretch but a solid shut down guy who can log some minutes on the penalty kill. Four years and around $14 million is up there for a relatively unknown but I still think this is a good move.
OK
Marian Gaborik (W) – NY Rangers. After dealing away Scott Gomez (see below) and his big deal they sign Gabby on another big contract. Not surprising given its NY! Gaborik if healthy is definitely one of the top talents in the league, but as we have seen over the years it’s a big if. Will hopefully gel with Chris Drury and relish been out of the Minnesota defensive system.
Sami Pahlsson (C) – Columbus Blue Jackets. More help up the middle for the Blue Jackets. A proven shut down specialist, Pahlsson will more than likely take the position held by the more offensively minded Manny Malhotra.
Mike Knubble (W) – Washington Capitals. Really good deal for the Caps. Two years for $5.6 million brings grit and scoring punch. Knubble keeps producing 20 goal seasons end on end and will no doubt reach that mark again. May even go higher surrounded by the offensive guns in the capital.
Dwayne Roloson (G) – NY Islanders. Good reliable veteran on his last contract at 39. Was solid and the main reason Edmonton stayed in the playoff race last season. Will get some starts when, not if, current Islanders number one Rick DiPietro goes down.
Mike Cammalleri (C/W) – Montreal. Was super playing alongside Jarome Iginla with a team leading 39 goals last season after coming across from LA. Will look to mesh with new Canadiens Gionta and Gomez but may not nudge the 40 goal mark. He is a fine player, however Montreal may have overpaid slightly (5 years at $30 million) and with Gomez’s big deal also now on the books this could be trouble into the future
John Madden (W) – Chicago Blackhawks. A good replacement for the departed Pahlsson. Getting long in the tooth now but a one year deal for the 36-year old makes sense now and for the expected squeeze on the Blackhawks roster this time next year.
Scott Clemmensen (G) – Florida. Benefited from super goalie Martin Broduer going down last season in New Jersey and was very solid in keeping the ship afloat. With Anderson jumping across to Denver, he now gets the chance to backup Tomas Vokoun who has a habit of beginning the season slowly. May get some early starts.
David Booth (F) – Florida Panthers. Continues to improve and resigning him makes perfect sense. Led the team in shots and tallied a career high 31 goals, which has now earnt him a six year extension.
Chris Neil (F) – Ottawa Senators. Haven’t the Senators slipped. While the Dany Heatley fiasco continues to play out at least the Sens have got something right. Neil is much loved and will be a welcome return to the line-up during difficult times in Ottawa.
Bad
David Koci (W) – Colorado Avalanche. Who? After losing Laperriere by offering well under the odds, they go out and sign a giant goon. Surely the Avs have enough grit down on the bottom lines to do without this guy.
Marian Hossa (W) – Chicago Blackhawks. Definitely a top player and will no doubt play well in the Windy City, but the length and amount on the contract (12 years for $63 million) is a worry. With the cap expected to come down next season, key free agents looming and large contracts already on the books (Campbell and Huet), GM Dale Tallon is hoping to knock off the Red Wings before trouble hits. Interesting times ahead for the Blackhawks.
Ty Conklin (G) – St Louis. Why St Louis? Sure they surprised a lot of experts by making the playoffs behind Chris Mason but I would have thought Conklin would make a run at a starting job somewhere else? Maybe Colorado, Philly or even back to the Oil?
Donald Brashear (W) – NY Rangers. Veteran goon who was signed to replace Colton Orr who fled to Toronto. Not sure this is a good move considering the issues it brings after the Blair Betts hit during the playoffs.
Ugly
Hal Gill (D) – Montreal Candieans. Big, slow defensemen who had a good season last year winning the cup while playing a shutdown role. It just doesn’t seem a good fit though and no where near an effective replacement for Komisarek. If called upon to play a lot of minutes it will be trouble.
Brian Gionta (W) – Montreal. Maybe an ok deal when you consider he is rejoining Scott Gomez, but 5 years and $25 million is a stretch. His production has plummeted after a great 48 goal season in 2005-06 and I just don’t think this move and some of the others made by Montreal will be effective. They have thrown the cash around but it remains to be seen where the value is.
Peter Budaj (G) – Colorado Avalanche. Surely has run out of chances in the number one chair in Denver. Pencilled in as the number one man last season, Budaj had a terrible season rotating the number one spot with the equally terrible Raycroft. Posting a .899 save % really indicated how soft his play was yet the new management ‘rewarded’ Budaj with an extension. If his shaky play continues look for him to spend some time with Lake Eire.
Tour De France preview coming up soon!
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