NHL Free Agency Thread

[rh71]

From the viewpoint of the Washington GM regarding the FA frenzy... (just another perspective)

"We've been involved and we've made offers that made sense to us
for the present and the future, but this market is really overpriced,"
McPhee said. "It's like jumping into the stock market at its peak --
it's the wrong time to do it."

An example of the way salaries have escalated in many cases instead
of decreasing is forward-defenseman Andre Roy, just signed as a free
agent by Pittsburgh. Roy, an enforcer who will be responsible for
protecting a bevy of new Penguins, made $825,000 during 2003-04 with
Tampa Bay but will make $1 million for each of three seasons with his
new team.

"We think teams are going to regret many of these signings," McPhee
said. "We're one week into the new CBA, and we already have some teams
in [salary] cap trouble. We've had teams calling and offering us
players, but we think the market will continue to get better."

One school of thought believes some teams currently holding onto
players may have to dump them later to get under the $39 million cap,
and that's when they become affordable.

Of course, the Caps are in no financial trouble (they are rich)... they're just going through a rebuilding period so they wouldn't make a huge FA signing regardless... I don't know why McPhee is making it sound like they're being smart... they're just not in the market.

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Pittsburgh about to decide on signing Cujo?

they must've really sold a lot of season tickets. Forget the fannies in the seats... Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone...

Hardly. Veterns like Cujo could care less about Crosby. They simply want to play for a team that wants them and is willing to pay them a reasonable salary. That's what it is about.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - Signed unrestricted free agent defenceman Scott Niedermayer.

:|

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Pittsburgh about to decide on signing Cujo?

they must've really sold a lot of season tickets. Forget the fannies in the seats... Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone...

Hardly. Veterns like Cujo could care less about Crosby. They simply want to play for a team that wants them and is willing to pay them a reasonable salary. That's what it is about.

Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone because he is selling all these tickets for the team, enabling a bankrupt team to spend millions. How's that sound now ?

 

[meltdown75]

Chicago Blackhawks sign G Khabiboulin... 4 years, 6.75mil per year

edit: not to mention Jim Dowd, who is a pretty nice pickup!

 

[jalaram]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Chicago Blackhawks sign G Khabiboulin... 4 years, 6.75mil per year

edit: not to mention Jim Dowd, who is a pretty nice pickup!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bulin wall is gone. Well, let's hope that Grahame can fill that hole.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: jalaram

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Chicago Blackhawks sign G Khabiboulin... 4 years, 6.75mil per year

edit: not to mention Jim Dowd, who is a pretty nice pickup!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bulin wall is gone. Well, let's hope that Grahame can fill that hole.

YEAH BABY now the Lightning aren't as tough... I can't believe they let him get away.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: jalaram

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Chicago Blackhawks sign G Khabiboulin... 4 years, 6.75mil per year

edit: not to mention Jim Dowd, who is a pretty nice pickup!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bulin wall is gone. Well, let's hope that Grahame can fill that hole.

YEAH BABY now the Lightning aren't as tough... I can't believe they let him get away.

They offered me 100 million rupee but I turned them down

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: jalaram

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Chicago Blackhawks sign G Khabiboulin... 4 years, 6.75mil per year

edit: not to mention Jim Dowd, who is a pretty nice pickup!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bulin wall is gone. Well, let's hope that Grahame can fill that hole.

YEAH BABY now the Lightning aren't as tough... I can't believe they let him get away.

it is strange that they would let him go - after making it to the finals with him. i'd ride that horse until it's legs were broken.

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: jalaram
Well, let's hope that Grahame can fill that hole.

hahahahahahahahahahahaha.













PS. i'm a bruins fan

 

[jalaram]

Originally posted by: meltdown75

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: jalaram

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Chicago Blackhawks sign G Khabiboulin... 4 years, 6.75mil per year

edit: not to mention Jim Dowd, who is a pretty nice pickup!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bulin wall is gone. Well, let's hope that Grahame can fill that hole.

YEAH BABY now the Lightning aren't as tough... I can't believe they let him get away.

it is strange that they would let him go - after making it to the finals with him. i'd ride that horse until it's legs were broken.

From what I read, Bulin wanted to test the FA waters, so to speak, to see what he was worth. TB wanted him back badly (well duh), but because he was an unrestricted FA, they couldn't stop him from looking around.

The only upside is that they now have money to throw at Vinny and Martin to keep them.

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: jalaram

Originally posted by: meltdown75

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: jalaram

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Chicago Blackhawks sign G Khabiboulin... 4 years, 6.75mil per year

edit: not to mention Jim Dowd, who is a pretty nice pickup!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bulin wall is gone. Well, let's hope that Grahame can fill that hole.

YEAH BABY now the Lightning aren't as tough... I can't believe they let him get away.

it is strange that they would let him go - after making it to the finals with him. i'd ride that horse until it's legs were broken.

From what I read, Bulin wanted to test the FA waters, so to speak, to see what he was worth. TB wanted him back badly (well duh), but because he was an unrestricted FA, they couldn't stop him from looking around.

The only upside is that they now have money to throw at Vinny and Martin to keep them.

oh snap i didn't know he was a UFA. well, he's the man now then dogs.

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Pittsburgh about to decide on signing Cujo?

they must've really sold a lot of season tickets. Forget the fannies in the seats... Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone...

Hardly. Veterns like Cujo could care less about Crosby. They simply want to play for a team that wants them and is willing to pay them a reasonable salary. That's what it is about.

Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone because he is selling all these tickets for the team, enabling a bankrupt team to spend millions. How's that sound now ?

How about the fact that they've been unloading costly talent for 2 years now, and have a lot more money to spend. How's that sound? Your logic of ticket sales alone being the reason doesn't hold water. When Lemieux returned a few years back after retiring the Penguins sold out all their home games, yet they still weren't able to spend millions on new players. The reason they have some money now is simply because they unloaded pricey contracts over the years. Crosby helps even more now, but bottom line is they were spending more then they were making.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Pittsburgh about to decide on signing Cujo?

they must've really sold a lot of season tickets. Forget the fannies in the seats... Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone...

Hardly. Veterns like Cujo could care less about Crosby. They simply want to play for a team that wants them and is willing to pay them a reasonable salary. That's what it is about.

Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone because he is selling all these tickets for the team, enabling a bankrupt team to spend millions. How's that sound now ?

How about the fact that they've been unloading costly talent for 2 years now, and have a lot more money to spend. How's that sound? Your logic of ticket sales alone being the reason doesn't hold water. When Lemieux returned a few years back after retiring the Penguins sold out all their home games, yet they still weren't able to spend millions on new players. The reason they have some money now is simply because they unloaded pricey contracts over the years. Crosby helps even more now, but bottom line is they were spending more then they were making.

1) You misunderstood my statement about Crosby from the beginning, isn't that right ? Then you do a 180 on your response ?
2) Lemieux is in the process of selling the team to another businessman... you're telling me that the team all of a sudden (before Crosby) had money but Lemieux still wanted to do this ?
3) The Pens were nowhere and playing kids the last 1.5 years. Rebuild period. They were not going out to sign pricey FAs because they thought they had a chance. They didn't. What you're suggesting is that they spend all this money just after they got out of the hole ? What's the point in that ? More bankruptcy ?

Crosby and what he's reportedly brought in with season-ticket sales has everything to do with it. It makes perfect sense. Kid brings in fan money, you give the fans what they want to see, which is a competitive team. Without Crosby, less fans --> less money --> less FAs signed --> less competitive team --> continued rebuild.

Point is, they're not gunning for all these guys because they saved a ton of money the last few years. They've continued to be in the red for a while...

 

[Aquaman]

Atlanta Thrashers - Signed unrestricted free agent forward Eric Boulton.

Calgary Flames - Sign defencemen Steve Marr and Brett Palin and forwards Derek Couture and Warren Peters.

Chicago Blackhawks - Signed unrestricted free agent goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin and unrestricted free agent centre Jim Dowd.

Colorado Avalanche - Signed unrestricted free agent forward Brad May.

Dallas Stars - Signed unrestricted free agent Johan Hedberg. Re-signed restricted free agent defenceman Stephane Robidas, defenceman Mario Scalzo and forward Junior Lessard.

Edmonton Oilers - Signed unrestricted free agent defenceman Igor Ulanov and goaltender Jussi Markkanen.

Nashville Predators - Signed unrestricted free agent forward Paul Kariya.

Phoenix Coyotes - Signed restricted free agent defenceman Brad Ference.

Tampa Bay Lightning - Re-signed restricted free agent defenceman Nolan Pratt, signed defencemen Brandon Elliott, Brady Greco and Timo Helbling and forward Mitch Fritz.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Signed unrestricted free agent centre Jason Allison.

Vancouver Canucks - Re-signed restricted free agent forward Brendan Morrison.

Washington Capitals - Signed centre Alexander Ovechkin to a three-year contract.

 

[Aquaman]

Kariya is a Pred

Ovechkin signs 3 year deal

Brad May is an Ave now that is wierd considering Moore is suing him for making a threat :Q :confused

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Fingolfin269]

WOO NASHVILLE PREDS

I'm only happy because this is the first time our ultra small market team has ever even considered, much less actually signed, an elite level player.

 

[rh71]

Wow do they like asians in Nashville ?

Good pickup by the Leafs in Allison.

 

[MrCodeDude]

Dear Doug Wilson, I hate you. Unless you sign Hossa, I will probably cry.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: jalaram
From what I read, Bulin wanted to test the FA waters, so to speak, to see what he was worth. TB wanted him back badly (well duh), but because he was an unrestricted FA, they couldn't stop him from looking around.

The only upside is that they now have money to throw at Vinny and Martin to keep them.

Word around here is he wanted near the max amount allowed. I heard Jay Feaster say they offered him a 5 year deal at $30 million. He signed with Chicago for what, 6.75 per year. Oh well, he was great during the playoffs but John Grahame filled in well when Khabi had that slump. Grahame's numbers were even better during the regular season. Hopefully the Bolts will get someone who can go 30 games or so and let JG do the rest of them. This will be an interesting season for sure.

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Rudee

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: meltdown75
Pittsburgh about to decide on signing Cujo?

they must've really sold a lot of season tickets. Forget the fannies in the seats... Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone...

Hardly. Veterns like Cujo could care less about Crosby. They simply want to play for a team that wants them and is willing to pay them a reasonable salary. That's what it is about.

Crosby is bringing in all these high-priced players by name alone because he is selling all these tickets for the team, enabling a bankrupt team to spend millions. How's that sound now ?

How about the fact that they've been unloading costly talent for 2 years now, and have a lot more money to spend. How's that sound? Your logic of ticket sales alone being the reason doesn't hold water. When Lemieux returned a few years back after retiring the Penguins sold out all their home games, yet they still weren't able to spend millions on new players. The reason they have some money now is simply because they unloaded pricey contracts over the years. Crosby helps even more now, but bottom line is they were spending more then they were making.

1) You misunderstood my statement about Crosby from the beginning, isn't that right ? Then you do a 180 on your response ?
2) Lemieux is in the process of selling the team to another businessman... you're telling me that the team all of a sudden (before Crosby) had money but Lemieux still wanted to do this ?
3) The Pens were nowhere and playing kids the last 1.5 years. Rebuild period. They were not going out to sign pricey FAs because they thought they had a chance. They didn't. What you're suggesting is that they spend all this money just after they got out of the hole ? What's the point in that ? More bankruptcy ?

Crosby and what he's reportedly brought in with season-ticket sales has everything to do with it. It makes perfect sense. Kid brings in fan money, you give the fans what they want to see, which is a competitive team. Without Crosby, less fans --> less money --> less FAs signed --> less competitive team --> continued rebuild.

Point is, they're not gunning for all these guys because they saved a ton of money the last few years. They've continued to be in the red for a while...

Im not saying they're gunning for all these guys becausea they have saved money by unloading contracts, what I'm saying is that the talent that is coming to Pittsburgh this year - other then Crosby - has nothing to do with Crosby himself. As I previously mentioned, they sold out when Lemiux returned, and they were winning games, but still in red ink. The people that are coming to Pittsburgh are not coming because they have a chance of being competitive, they are coming because they are wanted and they are given an offer from Pittsburgh that is better then they've previously received. Plain and simple. They're gunning for these guys because the price is right, they have a minimum cap to adhere to, and they want to improve their team, not because these guys begged their agent to be traded to Pittsburgh because Crosby by some miracle is going to save the franchise. NHL'ers are smarter than that.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: rh71
Wow do they like asians in Nashville ?

Good pickup by the Leafs in Allison.

I dunno. Allison used to be good, but it's been like 3 or 4 years since he's played at all. I'm not convinced he will be as good as he used to be.

I guess only time will tell.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Rudee
Im not saying they're gunning for all these guys becausea they have saved money by unloading contracts, what I'm saying is that the talent that is coming to Pittsburgh this year - other then Crosby - has nothing to do with Crosby himself. As I previously mentioned, they sold out when Lemiux returned, and they were winning games, but still in red ink. The people that are coming to Pittsburgh are not coming because they have a chance of being competitive, they are coming because they are wanted and they are given an offer from Pittsburgh that is better then they've previously received. Plain and simple. They're gunning for these guys because the price is right, they have a minimum cap to adhere to, and they want to improve their team, not because these guys begged their agent to be traded to Pittsburgh because Crosby by some miracle is going to save the franchise. NHL'ers are smarter than that.

You completely missed my original point again then, even after I clarified by inserting more words. I've already said Crosby the player isn't the reason they're coming. Crosby the money brought in is. Isn't this why you then made the 2nd response above about where they're getting the money ?

 

[TreyRandom]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
WOO NASHVILLE PREDS

I'm only happy because this is the first time our ultra small market team has ever even considered, much less actually signed, an elite level player.

Sweet!!! :thumbsup:

 

[SSP]

Originally posted by: MrCodeDude
Dear Doug Wilson, I hate you. Unless you sign Hossa, I will probably cry.

Hossa is a RFA. Start crying. :laugh: