NHL Free Agency Starts Today

Firsttime

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2005
2,517
0
76
Anyone else been watching their team's signings today?

I'm kind of surprised to see my Senators sign Gonchar. He will give us a really nice power play, but we have pretty much no cap room now for anyone else.

Some other big ones so far are:
Hamhuis to Vancover, Volchenkov to the Devils and Martin to the Penns.

I've got to say Pittsburgh and Phoenix both have really solid looking teams for next season, and Buffalo is building up a ton of cap space, wonder if they have something up their sleeves.
 

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
118
116
I think we got Malhotra too. That's what my elevator told me. :hmm:

KT
 

Firsttime

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2005
2,517
0
76
Yeah the Canucks have been busy these last few days. Ballard, Hamhuis and Malhotra. Not much cap space for your remaining forwards though. Apparently the Canucks have like 6 d men making 3 mil+ this season now.
 

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81
That is too much for Hamhuis. I was stunned by OJ going back to Calgary and the Antero Nitty signing is questionable. Gonchar is still a top player, but he is injured a lot.
 

Dominato3r

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2008
5,109
1
0
I really don't understand the fuss around Jokinen. He's a much better deal for Calgary now that his cap hit is way less than the $5million he had before.
 

Dominato3r

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2008
5,109
1
0
Yeah the Canucks have been busy these last few days. Ballard, Hamhuis and Malhotra. Not much cap space for your remaining forwards though. Apparently the Canucks have like 6 d men making 3 mil+ this season now.

Yea, and the thing is they haven't signed Mason Raymond yet. Canucks are throwing their prospects under the rug. Malholtra is great, but where are you going to put Hodgson now?

Their strength lies with their young guns.
 

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81
I really don't understand the fuss around Jokinen. He's a much better deal for Calgary now that his cap hit is way less than the $5million he had before.

I was stunned because that was not a happy split. There was a little nastiness. I guess they were able to mend the fence though.
 

Firsttime

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2005
2,517
0
76
Yeah I was under the assumption Olli wasn't liked by, nor liked Calgary. But whatever I guess. I would think there are better talents they could have gone after with their money, but I guess they want him.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
I'm really hoping the the Devils are able to keep Kovalchuk and not sacrifice too much in the process. A lot of people thought he didn't produce enough, but I think he just needed more time to adjust (i.e. realize he didn't need to do it all himself). To me it looked like he and Parise worked harder and cared more than anyone else.

I think he'd be crazy to give up the $42 million he'd get for 3 years in Russia, but he can't win a Stanley Cup in Russia.

If the Devils are paying $1.5 million for a backup goaltender, I hope they give Brodeur more than 5 games of rest next year.
 

Firsttime

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2005
2,517
0
76
I don't think with Volchenkov signed today the Devils have the cap space to sign Kovalchuk. They would have to trade Arnott at the very least for almost nothing in return. It seems like he will either go to LA or the KHL.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
I don't think with Volchenkov signed today the Devils have the cap space to sign Kovalchuk. They would have to trade Arnott at the very least for almost nothing in return. It seems like he will either go to LA or the KHL.

It'd be awesome if they could get someone to take Rolston. Same salary as Parise for half the goals and half the points.
 

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,688
126
I don't think with Volchenkov signed today the Devils have the cap space to sign Kovalchuk. They would have to trade Arnott at the very least for almost nothing in return. It seems like he will either go to LA or the KHL.

:eek: Arnott hasn't been on the team in 10 years!

And Volchenkov doesn't affect us much because we lost almost the same contract with Martin.
 

Firsttime

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2005
2,517
0
76

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,688
126
What the heck? Did we trade for him? I didn't even see this on HF boards. No, you're right that if we have Arnott at $4.5 there's no way we're signing Kovy unless we can unload Rolston or something.

:(

Damn, I really wanted Kovy to stay. For a guy that only played a couple of months here, I'm damn near heartbroken. By far the best offensive weapon this team has ever had.
 

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,688
126
What the heck? Did we trade for him? I didn't even see this on HF boards. No, you're right that if we have Arnott at $4.5 there's no way we're signing Kovy unless we can unload Rolston or something.

:(

Damn, I really wanted Kovy to stay. For a guy that only played a couple of months here, I'm damn near heartbroken. By far the best offensive weapon this team has ever had.

Holy crap this happened two weeks ago, lol, I'm really out of the loop. Damn, we lost Halischuk. He's a good prospect.
 

Dominato3r

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2008
5,109
1
0
Not as long as you have luongo in the pipes. He's the next Chris Osgood, except the nucks aren't as good now as the wings were.

He was played to much, plus he has a new coach now. Expect a new Luongo next season. Besides, they have the best AHL goalie under them right now. He just had too much pressure as a goalie, hopefully the Canucks will look over their leadership roles over the Summer, there is a lot of work to be done on that front.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
i dont want to hear any bitching from any of you. the canes are shooting for a self imposed cap of ~44 million.

/thats right, this season is going to be *amazing*
//thanks for signing cam ward to a multiyear 30 million dollar contract
 

BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,700
0
76
What the heck? Did we trade for him? I didn't even see this on HF boards. No, you're right that if we have Arnott at $4.5 there's no way we're signing Kovy unless we can unload Rolston or something.

:(

Damn, I really wanted Kovy to stay. For a guy that only played a couple of months here, I'm damn near heartbroken. By far the best offensive weapon this team has ever had.

I'm REALLY hoping there's some way for the Devils to sign Kovalchuk. I agree with mugs; Kovy just needed time to adjust to being able to rely on his teammates.

As much as people say the Devils are a boring team, the truth is they have some VERY talented offensive stars. This team was good enough on paper that they could have won the cup, so it would be sweet if Kovalchuk stuck around for slightly less money and give himself a chance to win a cup.

On the other side of things, if Kovy goes to LA, they'll have a STRONG team next year. They're way better than their record showed last year.

*EDIT*

How the hell is Rolston making 5 MILLION?!?! He's a good player, but he's not worth that!
 
Last edited:

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,688
126
How the hell is Rolston making 5 MILLION?!?! He's a good player, but he's not worth that!

I never liked that signing from the beginning. I liked Rolston but $5 million was just too much for a guy that was 31 and already showing signs of decline. It's too bad because he was a great hockey player in Boston and Minnesota, but he finishes his career as an overpaid 20 goal scorer.