NHL Offseason 2009

moneyp · June-27th-2009, 10:21 AM

Thought I'd open this up:

Happy to find out that Scotty is back for one more year. In response, the Ducks trade Pronger and a spare forward for Lupul, a spare d-man, two first round picks in 2010 and 2011 and a conditional third. Great deal for a guy with one year left on his contract. I'm betting the Bruins wish they had made the alleged deal centering around Pronger for Bergeron. Wish the Ducks had made that deal as well.

Ambivalent about getting Loops back. He brings some offense (which we need) but not much else, and he's overpaid, but overall I'm really pleased with the job Murray has done so far. So much so that I honestly believe Burke moved on at the right time for this franchise.

patricia · June-27th-2009, 02:51 PM

Looks like the Flames will have two of the Sutter brothers at the helm next season. Brent seems to have decided to take on coaching duties from Mike Keenan and with Darryl as the GM, they hope this will be the magic combination. Darryl was the coach, as we know, when the Flames were thisclose to the Stanley Cup in '04. Maybe they can recapture the magic of that season.
Of course, I hope they do.

Mike Schwartz · June-27th-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patricia

Looks like the Flames will have two of the Sutter brothers at the helm next season. Brent seems to have decided to take on coaching duties from Mike Keenan and with Darryl as the GM, they hope this will be the magic combination. Darryl was the coach, as we know, when the Flames were thisclose to the Stanley Cup in '04. Maybe they can recapture the magic of that season.
Of course, I hope they do.

Keenan has coached in 8 cities....I don't know what the scoop with him where he seems to wear out his welcome
at each stop along the way.

patricia · June-27th-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

Keenan has coached in 8 cities....I don't know what the scoop with him where he seems to wear out his welcome
at each stop along the way.

FWIW, I was getting quite dizzy as Keenan played musical chairs with almost all the lines through most of the season.
I wasn't quite sure what it was that he was trying to accomplish. It seemed to me that the beauty of teams, like the Wings, is that their lines work together like a well-oiled machine, knowing where each other are, all the time and developing plays that capitalize on each player's skills.

I noticed how un-coordinated the Wings seemed when many of their major players were injured and had to be replaced. It wasn't that the replacements were not excellent players. It was that they were not the Siamese Triplets that the usual lines are, which makes them such a joy to watch play.

I don't know how Sutter will manage the Flames. But, there are some new members now, with the draft. So, it will be interesting to see what develops.

moneyp · June-30th-2009, 07:38 PM

Things that make me think I could be a general manager:

The Rangers ship Scott Gomez and change to the Habs for Chris Higgins and change. I really don't understand what's going on in Bob Gainey's head. Gomez is on the hook for $8 million per until 2013-14 and coming off his worst season. He's not an impact guy by any stretch and he's severely overpaid. The Habs got the worst of the draft picks as well.

I don't see many people talking about it, but the Flames acquiring Bouwmeester's rights likely means that one of Phaneuf or Kiprusoff are gone. Not enough cap room to keep those three and Iginla on the roster. I'm guessing they try to move Kipper.

patricia · July-1st-2009, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

Things that make me think I could be a general manager:

The Rangers ship Scott Gomez and change to the Habs for Chris Higgins and change. I really don't understand what's going on in Bob Gainey's head. Gomez is on the hook for $8 million per until 2013-14 and coming off his worst season. He's not an impact guy by any stretch and he's severely overpaid. The Habs got the worst of the draft picks as well.

I don't see many people talking about it, but the Flames acquiring Bouwmeester's rights likely means that one of Phaneuf or Kiprusoff are gone. Not enough cap room to keep those three and Iginla on the roster. I'm guessing they try to move Kipper.

Move KIPPER???? Bite your tongue!!

Chris D · July-1st-2009, 10:00 AM

One thing about Keenan is that he's a hard ass who grates on the players.

His first year usually brings an improvement as he cleans up the ship.

His act wears thin starting in the second year with a team.

Dale Tallon keeps opening the Hawks' wallet to keep restricted free agents. I have a feeling this will come back to haunt. For instance, his big contract to Bolland might mean the end of Havlat in Chicago.

Chris D · July-1st-2009, 12:57 PM

Kings reportedly have a huge offer out to Havlat.

Rumors have the Hawks on Hossa.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patricia

Move KIPPER???? Bite your tongue!!

I know you love him and for your sake, I hope they find a way to keep him, but he really hasn't been a top goalie for a couple of years now, and they're paying him quite a bit.

The Sedins staying together in Vancouver for five more years. I know Larry used his considerable mojo to try and break them up.

The Lightning sign Mattias Ohlund until he's 40. Given that he already looks like he's in decline, I'm sure they won't regret this deal in the slightest.

Regarding Heatley and other players who "request to be traded," I'm not sure why teams don't just say, "duly noted, but we're not trading you unless it's in our best interest, and since we have a contract that you agreed to in which we're paying you millions of dollars, we expect you to fulfill your end of it."

And yes, this could have applied to Edmonton and Pronger as well, but given that it appeared to be his wife hating the city, he might have actually retired. With Heatley it seems he's just not happy with the team.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 01:51 PM

And congrats to Dupre! Hossa is apparently a Blackhawk.

Chris D · July-1st-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

And congrats to Dupre! Hossa is apparently a Blackhawk.

A 12-year deal?!?!

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

A 12-year deal?!?!

Really? I hadn't heard that. Kane, Toews and Barker all come up for renewal next year. How are the Hawks going to pay all of them?

They need to get Campbell and Huet off the books somehow.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 02:16 PM

Ah, just saw it. Yeah, signing players until they're 40 (in Hossa's case, 43) seems to be a trend. The yearly salary is decent, only $5.2 million, but when the last 5-7 years of the deal have the potential to look really really lousy. If I was an owner, it would take a special young player of the Crosby/Ovechkin level to consider signing a player over five years.

Chris D · July-1st-2009, 02:18 PM

Word is Tallon is trying to deal Huet now, but he'd pretty much have to have Khabibulin around to do it.

The Hossa deal is allegedly $5.2 million a year for 12 years.

You are right about Toews, Kane and Barker. Maybe someone will take Byfuglien and his oversize contract off their hands after his playoff showing.

patricia · July-1st-2009, 02:21 PM

So, my Flames have Bouwmeester, but have cut Adrian Aucoin loose. Can't afford both.
So far, Kipper looks like he's staying, and of course, Iggy. If the team lost either of those two, the fans would revolt.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 02:43 PM

The Hawks also sign Tomas Kopecky. If you can't beat them, steal their players!

Both the Ohlund and Hossa deals are heavily frontloaded to an almost bizarre extent and extend beyond the player's likely retirement. I guess the thinking is that if there's not a lot of actual salary coming in the later years, they'll be encouraged to retire earlier or else get demoted to the minors. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing the Franzen deal is constructed the same way.

I've been saying ever since the league imposed the cap structure that actual dollars should mirror the salary cap hit, otherwise you risk teams working a loophole into the system. It looks like they found one. I still say long term deals are risky and you'd rather have some flexibility from year to year, but you can't blame GMs for working this stupid system.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patricia

So, my Flames have Bouwmeester, but have cut Adrian Aucoin loose. Can't afford both.
So far, Kipper looks like he's staying, and of course, Iggy. If the team lost either of those two, the fans would revolt.

Aucoin was a free agent, so he doesn't figure into the salary cap mess they're currently in. Calgary has only four forwards under contract past this year.

Chris D · July-1st-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

The Hawks also sign Tomas Kopecky. If you can't beat them, steal their players!

Piling up the Czechs....

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 02:59 PM

The Isles also sign Roloson until he's past the age of 40, but in this case, that's only two years. Having Rick DiPietro as your starting netminder means paying the backup $2.5 million to just be healthy. It's a good thing his contract doesn't last for another 12 years. Oh, wait.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 03:12 PM

Scotty officially back in the fold for the Ducks, 1 year, $6 million plus bonuses. If they re-sign Beauch, I'll dance a jig.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 03:19 PM

Best comment on the Niedermayer signing on HFBoards. "It's like the players wait for Eklund to post a rumor and do the exact opposite."

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 03:22 PM

Okay, second best comment on the Niedermayer signing:

Poster #1: "I wonder what the bonuses are?"

Poster #2: "He gets 100k for every month he doesn't ponder retirement."

patricia · July-1st-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

Aucoin was a free agent, so he doesn't figure into the salary cap mess they're currently in. Calgary has only four forwards under contract past this year.

Just re-read the item in the sports section of today's paper.
It wasn't about money. It was about what position they play.
Both Boumeester and Aucoin are defencemen. Boumeester, at 25, is ten years younger than Aucoin.

Aucoin's agent said, "If Darryl is able to sign Bouwmeester, obviously there won't be room for Adrian. We'll be working under the assumption that there may not be room for him. But I have a good rapport with Darryl. I enjoy Darryl. So I'll always get back to him before we do anything."

So, all hope is not lost, but Aucoin concedes the chances are slim, perhaps non-existant, of a return to Calgary.
The Aucoin family has settled into Calgary and Adrian's wife is expecting their fifth child.
It's rough to not know where you'll be living, if you have a family, even if you know that part of the job of being a hockey player is that you are subject to the whims of circumstances every year.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 06:46 PM

Sami signs with the BJs, three years, $2.65 million per. He's my favorite Duck of all-time and even I don't think he's worth that much any more. Still, I wish him all success.

Ducks are allegedly trying hard to re-sign Beauch. Koivu is another name that's been speculated on, presumably due to the Teemu connection and the team's pressing need for a second-line center. I don't think it's going to happen, though. I think the Ducks will try to talk themselves into Lupul as a center option, since none Perry, Loops or Teemu has any experience playing the left side.

Enforcer · July-1st-2009, 10:38 PM

I'm way behind, too busy in general to keep up with the dealings. But I can say with conviction that I'm glad that jinxed, playoff choking dog motherfucker is GONE. And with his departure comes valuable cap space. The Wings are doing this right, keeping the players they need and ditching the big contract.

Your boys will do fine with him, Chris, but from me I can only extend to Marian Hossa a FUCK YOU.

Enforcer · July-1st-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

Scotty officially back in the fold for the Ducks, 1 year, $6 million plus bonuses. If they re-sign Beauch, I'll dance a jig.

Yeah, this is good news for the Ducks. I still think Pronger was a more critical piece, but if they resign Beauchemin, they're still dancin' on the blueline.

Pronger going to Philly has its advantages. 6 games a year where he hopefully puts that spoiled, petulant little fuck through the glass.

moneyp · July-1st-2009, 11:46 PM

Which spoiled, petulant little fuck are you talking about, Larry? There are so many!

In terms of Scotty vs. Pronger, Earl Sleek at Battle of California had an interesting analysis:

http://www.battleofcali.com/2009/6/2...3-year-look-at

The stats favor Pronger, but the Ducks record is better with Scotty in the lineup. I'm going with my eyes over the spreadsheet on this one. The team looks better to me with Scotty rather than Pronger in there.

And in any case, it's not really Scotty vs. Pronger but Pronger vs. Scotty plus Lupul, Sbisa (the more I read about him, the more I like), and two first-round draft picks. That's a no-brainer.

Rangers sign Gaborik to five years, $7.5 million per. From one boat anchor contract to another...

Habs pretty much get an entirely new first line since yesterday, adding Cammalleri and Gionta to Gomez. Is that trio really better than Tanguay, Koivu and Kovalev? They're getting paid more.

Happy to see Beauch still out there. He was reported to be looking for four years at $4.5 million per. Honestly, if the Ducks can talk him down a little from that, I'd be fine with it. Komisarek got five years at that rate and he was considered a more valuable commodity.

Mike Schwartz · July-2nd-2009, 01:17 AM

Speaking of 40 year old players, the Sharks resigned Blake for another season.

Chris D · July-2nd-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enforcer

Your boys will do fine with him, Chris, but from me I can only extend to Marian Hossa a FUCK YOU.

If he loses his third Cup final in a row, that's progress for our guys!

Enforcer · July-3rd-2009, 06:40 AM

You'd know better than me, Mone, just watching your team more than I do. Niedermayer is a guy anybody would want on his team. Pronger is a great addition to the Flyers, though. That's exactly the kind of d-man they've been lacking. And you know damn well who I'm talking about

I would love to see Beauchemin in the Winged Wheel, but the Wings already made their moves before the offseason and there are no big signings in the cards. They have all the players they need at this point and can keep Hudler now, which would have been impossible if they tried to keep Hossa.

And for Pete's sake, let's see Aaron Downey or another suitable heavyweight in the lineup this year. The guy was a freakin' rabbit's foot in 2008 and the extra toughness they dressed at the expense of skill didn't hurt them one bit in the regular season or the playoffs.