The OFFICIAL NHL 2009-10 Offseason Thread
 

Do the Wings keep Hossa? What about Hudler? Does Jeremy Roenick finally retire already? Most importantly, what happened to Pumpy?

All the answers will be right here in the next few months...

Probably should add NHL to the title ;)

SI

dang. good call SI. Good call.

Wow you guys aren't wasting any time.

Will the Bruins deal Phil Kessel? Will they trade Patrice Bergeron or Michael Ryder?

For the truly dedicated, the 'NHL' is not necessary.

What route will the Penguins choose for the victory parade?

:devil:

Good job Pens. I never thought you would pull this one out before it started.

I'm not really that bummed. It was a great series and the Wings are still the best franchise in hockey and set up for the future very well.

Anyway, congrats Pittsburgh!

This is the offseason thread. Pens ain't won sheet yet here! :D

I just clicked the first thing I saw that said 'NHL'. :D

Heh heh yeah, that's what I figured. :p

Hell no, we don't need two congratulatory threads for the Pens (no offense, SR ;) ).

I can't imagine the Wings resign Hossa.

I didn't catch who, but some reporter in Canada is reporting the Ducks have dealt Pronger to the Kings for Jack Johnson and the #5 overall.

Both teams deny it (especially since it would be illegal anyway, this was before tonight's game).

Certainly a deal I would consider for Pronger, although one of my main concerns is we need to add offensive depth in our forward groups and get a top six center for the second line, and this deal does not do that. What happens to Pronger could key the Ducks' whole offseason. Well, and knowing what Niedermayer and Teemu are going to do, too.

If Anaheim did that, then that might be the worst deal ever. I know JJ is gonna be a FA but LA isn't going to contend for a while still, and like Anaheim, they need offense badly. Just doesn't make sense but it wouldn't shock me.

Be interesting if Pronger and Heatly end up in LA.

Ahhh...the off season....a time for optimism for Leaf fans.

That is until Sept 1st :)

I cannot see why the Kings would make that trade. Pronger > Jack Johnson PLUS a 5th overall pick?

Ahh - it's good that the off-season is here.

This is the one time of year us Oil fans can believe we have a chance at the Cup. I mean, we've got our new head coach that we've all been begging for. If you believe the rumors, apparently we're somehow going to acquire J-Bo, Heatley and get the #2 pick. It's a great time to be an Oil fan!

(Of course, none of that will come true, and 4 months from now we'll be out of the playoff race again.)

I can't either. seems crazy.

it looks like Ian Laperriere is headed to free agency, as the Avs are lowballing him (1 year deal at less than the 1.15 he made last year). Avalanche fans, already suffering through the horrible season, the embarrassing Roy snub and the dreadful front office shuffle are just up in arms right now. He is an immensely popular player in Denver.

Actually, this thread is two months late.

Why would anyone want Heatley? His heart and commitment are certainly suspect. Edmonton can, apparently, be a tough place to play for those who cannot handle the demands. Why bring in somebody that we already know has twice put in trade demands? Because he will help us get to the playoffs and then demand a trade?

Hudler, Hossa, Pronger... how has no one mentioned the Coyotes decision? You know, the thing that could change how North American sports leagues operate? That's the biggest story right now by far.

Joining Emery as the Flyers goalies might be none other than Mr Neck Beard himself...Robert Esche.

From what I read, no decision has been released.

I can see where the Flyers scouting department spent its winter...

Apparently it was NOT watching tapes of Emery.

The ladies in Russia can be quite distracting. ;)

This is what I wrote in the other thread about this...

am on the fence with this signing. The Flyers don't have much cap room and they need to sign 2 goalies and a defenseman. Emery comes with a price tag of $1.5 million for 1 year. They aren't investing much in him and if he acts up they can just cut ties and not really worry about losing money long term.

There is hope that Emery will shape up. Yea I know it could be a losing battle, but I guess the playing conditions of the KHL are way worse than the NHL. So he might have some incentive to behave.

Exclusive: Emery Had to Rough It in Russia

They can't afford to keep Biron, he wants something around $4 million per for 4 or 5 years. I like Biron and do not blame either years playoff losses on him. But he is not worth that much for how inconsistent he is during the regular season.

I know all about his bad attitude and that mixed with Philly is a lot of the times a volatile mixture. I think it is a calculated risk. One of the Flyers management guys Peter Lukko has kept in contact with Emery a lot of last season, it isn't something they are just jumping into.

And when you look at the other potential FAs for goalies, what they will demand for how good they are...the return isn't really that positive.

Oh - I agree 100%.

With that being said, I'm not sure where else they would get a 40 goal scorer that the team needs.

fixed.


Ummm....Marian Hossa?

Marian Gaborik?

The market is flush right now with goal scoring Marians.

Jason Blake..........Please?;)

He has to be undervalued by Ottawa for this to work. This is only good for Edmonton if it is a massive underpayment. Overpaying for some guy who wants to bail after the season would be a big mistake. Besides, Pat Quinn will work with whatever Tambellini provides him, but I doubt he wants somebody with demonstrated commitment issues.

Gaborik is the really intriguing name out there.
Most likely to pull a Hossa-- sign a 1 year, under market, deal with a contender.

Ah yes, offseason questions.

"Will the Sharks get a heart transplant in time for next April?"

Seriously, their questions probably surround whether to resign Blake and at what (preferebly less then the $5 million they just paid), whether Marleau is still captain (I'm preferential to Boyle after the playoffs and post-season meeting with fans), how much Nabokov has left in the tank (groin injuries don't really ever go away for goalies) and whether they can find a suitable backup and whether anyone in the pipeline can be his eventual replacement. Cheechoo and his $3 million per year salary may also be on the move, as he's lost his top-6 forward slot and you don't pay that much for a checking line guy who has gotten scared (due to injury) of scoring the dirty goals that got him 56 3 years ago.

The kneejerk moves (Trade Thornton, Marleau, Nabokov, etc.) are all out because of NTC anyway and Wilson seems unlikely to even ask.

Ducks priorities IMO:

1) Resign Niedermayer
2) Resign Wisniewski
3) Don't resign Selanne (sorry Teemu, thanks for the memories but unless he takes a BIG pay cut there are a million better ways to spend the money. He was pretty ineffective in the playoffs and his speed is clearly deserting him)
4) If there is enough money after 1-3 try to resign Beauchemain and Marchant in that order
5) Go after somebody decent in FA to replace Selanne as a second line scorer
6) See if there is a market for Giguere. No sense in keeping him around and creating controversy, Hiller is clearly the man now. Even if there isn't a market, see if somebody will pick him up on waivers or for peanuts. Could use the money somewhere else and find a cheaper backup.
7) See if the Kings will actually do that god-awful deal for Pronger :D

Teemu's already signed for next year actually. Only issue is whether he'll retire or not.

I'm not too worried about Wiz. We'll get a deal done there. He's restricted anyway, so wouldn't be easy for him to leave.

Niedermayer's probably the focal point.

I don't know what his current salary is at, but as someone who watched most of the Ducks' playoffs games, I'd have to disagree. After the top line, he was the only forward who was a threat.

Do you really think he signs in Edmonton? He had the chance last season, but turned down whatever insane amount Lowe offered him to try and win a cup.

I bet he re-signs in Detriot.


A good choice - but I'd be worried about his injury history. Maybe if he was willing to sign a contract with lots of bonuses for games played...

I really have no idea where he signs, but I would not place a bet on Ken Holland bringing back Hossa. The Wings are a very "results" orientated organization, and the results from Hossa's playoffs were not good.

Unconfirmed at this point, but

Rob Blake back to SJ: 2 years/ $9M

+1

Temmu was def one of their better players IMHO.

Too high, in my opinion. Cheechoo *has* to be on the block if that's the case, or they plan on losing Clowe as a RFA, and I'd rather have Clowe.

Really? The guy with 6 points in 12 games and 0 goals until the last game in the SJ series? We must have been watching different playoffs. He did look good at times against Detroit (the main time when we learned Chris Chelios was done) but he was woefully anonymous for most of the playoffs.

He's a decent player still. He still has a good shot and he's very savvy, but his legs are going and that is really a huge part of his game.

However, just looked it up and he's signed for 09 for 2 million. If he wants to come back and play for that number, that sounds pretty good to me. For some reason I thought he was up in the 4-5 million range, and at that price we'd be better spending the money somewhere.

Agree. I first read it as $4.5 total, not per, and thought that's OK. Then re-read.

Cheechoo is going to be moved-- people keep pointing at Pittsburgh as a destination.

We have the same cap issues once Malkin and Staal's extensions kick in. They are paying Kunitz $3.7M, and can maybe give one other winger over $3M. Given my choices, Cheechoo is not that guy.

The Penguins look to be in pretty good shape. They really aren't losing anybody all that irreplaceable and have some money to spend. Scuderi really stepped up and getting him back would be good, but Hal Gill and Boucher should be replaceable by guys with less salary.

Forward-wise Satan, Sykora and, to a lesser extent, Fedotenko, are the very epitmoe of NHL replaceable parts. The Penguins could look to upgrade one or two of those spots and still not really lose all that much. The core of the team (Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Gonchar, Orpik and Fleury) remains and they still have the main group of grinders (Talbot, Cooke, and Kennedy). Kunitz's contract may be a bit inflated, but not by much and he has the ability to play up to, if not, over it.

I never thought I'd say this, but I thought Fedotenko was more than just a replaceable part, from what I saw of the Pens in the playoffs. For a guy that looks like he's 14 and who I always figured was pretty chumpy, he looked like one of the best Pens on many nights. Obviously playing next to a guy like Malkin helps, but I thought he was better than Guerin or Kunitz for sure.

I agree. The Pens should keep Fedotenko and dump Satan.

Gaborik is intriguing if you want a pane of glass playing on your first line. Pretty damn good when he plays but he is oft-injured.

The Oilers had better go out and get themselves a centre or even 2. They do not have a number 1 centre. Shawn Horcoff is an ok 2 or 3 guy but no way is he a 1st liner.

Judge rejects sale of Phoenix Coyotes to Jim Balsillie, move to Canada - ESPN

PHOENIX -- The Coyotes are staying in Phoenix.

A bankruptcy judge has rejected the proposed sale of the team to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, who would have moved the team to Hamilton, Ontario.

Judge Redfield T. Baum issued a 21-page ruling late Monday afternoon, concluding that the June 29 deadline imposed by Balsillie did not allow enough time to resolve the complex case.

"Simply put, the court does not think there is sufficient time [14 days] for all of these issues to be fairly presented to the court given that deadline," the judge wrote.

The ruling is a victory for the NHL, which had argued Balsillie was using the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to make an end-run around the league's rules over who owns teams and where they are located.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly declined immediate comment Monday, saying the league needed to read the entire opinion before issuing a statement.

The judge's decision is also a win for the city of Glendale, which had spent $183 million to build an arena for the Coyotes and had contended the franchise could not use bankruptcy to evade its lease.

This is the third time Balsillie -- whose company makes the BlackBerry -- has tried and failed to buy an NHL team. His previous attempts to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators fell through.

Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes took the NHL by surprise when he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 5, proposing to sell the team to Balsillie for $212.5 million, contingent on the franchise moving to Ontario.

The NHL said that commissioner Gary Bettman was in a car on his way to deliver a letter of intent to Moyes from Jerry Reinsdorf to purchase the team and keep it in Glendale. However, any bid to buy the team in Arizona will be far less than the offer Balsillie made.

"I think people are going to be shocked when they see the value of this team remaining in Glendale," Moyes' attorney Thomas Salerno said. "It's going to be materially less than the offer we have on the table."

Salerno said Moyes is disappointed and is evaluating his options. Moyes says he has more than $300 million invested in the team and would have recouped about $100 million if the Balsillie sale had gone through.

The NHL says it has had four parties, including Reinsdorf, file preliminary applications to investigate purchasing the team and keeping it in Arizona. However, if no buyer can be found, the league would look to relocate the franchise.

Really? Bettman hand delivers letters?

Nashville fans watch out.

Satan is gone. Period.

I think Talbot has earned at the very least a chance to stay in the top 6, or maybe top 9, if someone like Kennedy is given a chance to move up.

Still, they need to find two more guys to play in the top 6. Kunitz is the only definite at this point.

Guerin made $4.5M last year, he'd have to cut that in half, and take a 1 year deal.

Fedotenko had a slow start, then got hurt punching Colby Armstrong's big schnoz. But from March forward, he was pretty good. Not great, but what you'd expect from $2.25M.

Sykora...at the beginning of the year, I thought it was a no brainer he'd get a slight bump from $2.5M, or maybe an extra year to keep the cost lower, but that he'd be back. He went through an awful stretch, and then was hurt. I've been a huge fan, but I think they let him walk. Only if he gets no other great offers, and comes back at a discount. He worked really well with Malkin, better than Fedotenko has, but when he's not scoring, he's pretty useless. Still, someone will pay him, and he is still a 25 goal guy.

On D, it's hard to believe that about 3 1/2 years ago, Scuderi was HATED. Hell, I am sure I posted it here myself. He was paired with Joe Melichar on those awful teams sandwiched around the lockout. I think he's going to get alot more than the Pens can match from someone like Atlanta or the Isles (he's a Syosset native). But he also seems like the type who is grateful for the chances he got, coming up in the Pens system, and will take a discount to play for the same team and a contender. He made $712K this year, if he'll take like $7M over 3 or something like that, he'll be back. Anymore, might be tough.

Gill is pretty much gone. He was, IMO, alot worse this year than he was when he originally came over in the trade last season. He was criticized in Boston and Toronto, but he serves a role. The problem in the prior two stops, he was put in a role he couldn't handle. He's not a top pairing guy. But as a #4/5 type, play 17 mins, play PK, he's a good fit. But, you can't pay him $2+M when you have to save somewhere.

Set in goal, MAF signed an extension last year. He'll get backed up by John Curry, rather than a vet, I think, and save about $1M against the cap.

The 3rd line is intact. Jordan Staal showed why it's OK to pay 3 centers that much money. Would it be better if he could shift to wing? Maybe. But he's 20 freaking years old!

They'll probably try to move some other "expensive" guys like Dupuis, whose making $1.4M. He's good on the 4th line, fast as hell, and plays the PK, but you can find guys who do that for 1/2 the price.

Godard is back, and pretty cheap. They probably try to keep Craig Adams or Mike Zigomanis to center the 4th line.

Kunitz - Crosby - XXX
Talbot - Malkin - XXX
Cooke - Staal - Kennedy
Godard - Adams/Zigomanis - XXX

Internally, they have two guy who might be top 6 material in Eric Tangradi, part of the Kunitz-Whitney deal, and Luca Caputi. I think they've prefer not having to hand them a spot. They have plenty of guys who played some this year, like Dustin Jeffery, who can fit the 4th line role-- skate, hit, win faceoffs and PK. All for $450K.

Orpik - Gonchar
Eaton - Letang
XXX - XXX

Obviously, they hope to keep Scuderi. Otherwise, they look outside for a veteran guy who can PK. Alex Goligoski played most of the first 4 months of the year in Pittsburgh, until Gonchar was healthy, and played well. He's a smaller guy, but good skater and puck mover. Also, Ben Lovejoy was huge in Wilkes-Barre this year. Yeah, it's the AHL, but he was +46. So, he should at least compete for the #7 spot.

They can not target top end guys- Hossa, Gaborik, etc. They might not even be able to go after the mid-tier guys. Gionta might be a fit, but would need to come in around $3M.

Another option is stick with Guerin and Fedotenko on 1 year deals, and look at D, like Beauchemin on a multi year deal, rather than another group of 1 year guys.

One dark horse guy, who I've always thought SHOULD break out and be a 25 goal guy, but never has- Taylor Pyatt. But that is a big risk, since if he can't score, and your 3rd line is pretty much set, you are paying free agent $ for a guy you don't need.

Holy shit, that ended up really long

i got as far as satan is good and gave up on it :)

You wasted your time on that! ;)

Goligoski given a 3 year / $5.5M deal. A little more, $1.8M, than I expected.

It's not so bad, by the end of that, when he hopefully levels off as a 2nd pairing guy and on the PP. But, it's this season, when you are paying that to what is in essence your #6. I was expecting around $1.2, and for a team tight against the cap, that $600,000 hurts.

This Heatly thing is getting UGLYYYYYY.

Rumour has it that the Sedins want 63 mil over 12 years....EACH!!!!

I love Swedish twins.

I want to be married to Kate Walsh but that isn't happening either. But chances are they'll find a stupid owner quicker than she will realize she wants to marry me.

Yeah, despite Healty possible being one of the best power forwards in the history of the NHL (right, Lathum?), I can't see trading for his huge, long term contract. He can score a ton of goals, but he seems to lack quite a few intangibles.


That means they need to find a team willing to pay $126 over the course of 12 years for their services. That cap hit, around $5.25 per year, isn't terrible for a first line forward, but, still, that's a LOT of money and a long, long time.

some pics from the party lemieux threw at his house. cup is in the pool. again.

hxxp://sportscracklepop.com/2009/06/17/wonder-if-the-stanley-cup-canonballed-into-the-pool/

I love how Lemieux has a name plate on his desk in his own house.

Who’s that young looking girl with Crosby? She has the exact same smile and pose in both of her pictures.

Just wait til Phil Bourque gets ahold of it again

"When you have players come ask you for a trade, I tell the players 'don't finish that sentence,' because once you ask, I'm going to move you.... I'm not kissing anyone's ass to play in my town, so to hell with you, don't finish the sentence."
- Brian Burke

I don't know, based on what I've heard about his community service in Atlanta, Heatley doesn't need any tips on how not to finish a sentence.

Burke said earlier this week that he in no way would ever want Heatley on his hockey club because he went public with the trade request.

I am really looking forward to seeing Heatley and Tavares playing together on Torontos top line next season.:D

20% off at NHL Shop.

Code: AFFTP7 (case sensitive)

Good thru 6/30/09

Yeah, the stuff is overpriced to begin with, but I thought you guys might want to stock up on your 2009 Cup Champs gear.

:p

Heard anything new sami?

I've said it before, I don't think management is head over heels for Kessel like many fans are, but I do think they will offer him a Krejci type contract. If they trade him though, they better be getting back a STUD D-Man.

You mean like how he dealt for Pronger a few years ago?

All I've been reading online is that the experts believe the Bruins absolutely need more depth on the blueline, specifically big, ideally mobile defensemen. One article I read said that while Ference and Hunwick are good players, they are both small, as are most Boston defensemen, and the Bruins need more height to take the physical punishment late in the year and in the playoffs. They also need someone to help Wideman move the puck out of the zone. Jay Bouwmeester would be a great add but of course the Bruins probably can't afford him.

I do think they'll deal Kessel and if it happens I think it could happen during the draft next week.

fuck you, brent sutter.

seriously.

fuck you. HARD.

Rangers have plenty of supposed high quality defensive prospects.

As for the Wings, nothing will be decided until the cap is set. Even then, it will be a hard choice.

Everyone is basically looking at the situation as if the wings have two options: 1) Keep Hossa and let Samuelsson and Hulder walk or 2) Keep Hudler and Samuelsson and let Hossa walk.

I don't think it's quite that simple. Obviously if the Wings keep Hossa, they wont be able to resign either of those guys. Even if Hossa walks, I am not sure both Hudler and Samuelsson coming back is a sure thing. It all depends on what these guys feel like they can get elsewhere. Samuelsson has more options as an UFA and Hudler has fewer since he's an RFA. Hudler had a pretty good year, his best ever, scoring 29 goals. He does a lot with limited ice time. That said, he only gets limited ice time because there are many limits as to what he can do. He's not a great skater. Not big. Doesn't play great defense. He's got a good knack for the puck, sees the ice pretty well and good on the power play. I just can't see the Wings paying him anymore than $2 million a year, tops. They already have Cleary and Filpulla just above that and I'm not sure how many 3rd line/power play forwards who play around 10-12 minutes a game one can be willing to pay $2+ million. You already have Holmstrom getting paid at around that level.

It will be really interesting to see what happens. I've always thought that it was either Hossa or Franzen. In fact, I always figured the Wings would re-sign Franzen and always figured Hossa would be a 1 year gamble. Still, over the last 15 years, the Wings have always been incredibly good to their own. While they don't hold on to players who don't develop, those who do and play well are rewarded for it. It's unlike them to just let go good soldiers in order to chase outside help. In the pre-cap world this wasn't an issue. Guys like McCarty, Draper, Maltby, etc. go their due and the Wings were still able to go out and get Hulls and Robitailles and Ray Whitneys. Obviously, that has changed and this is really the first time, since just after the lockout when the Wings were forced to buyout contracts, that they are really forced with some very tough decisions.

Personally, if Hossa is willing to take a cap friendly deal to stay, I'd love it. I just don't see that happening. He'd really need to sacrifice a lot of money and I am not sure how comfortable Holland would be having so many super long term contracts (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa, and Franzen). If Hossa does re-sign, the Wings will likely run into cap issues almost every year. I think having some cap flexibility is important, especially given how many unknowns there are from year to year (i.e., cap level, development of younger players, decline of play of older players, etc.) Given all of that and the fact that there are some teams out there with loads of cap space burning a hole in their pocket, I think Hossa is out of here.

I think the Bruins will want experienced players rather than prospects that need to develop. They think they can win now.

Yes, hi, you were calling about the Kubina/Kaberle package deal?

I believe he is gone as well. I would like to see them keep Samuelsson and Hudler and let Hossa walk. Yes, he had a 40 goal regular season, but he essentially disappeared in the playoffs. The Wings proved last year that they can win the Cup without Hossa (and previous years as well). I just don't see the long term benefit of signing him to a multi-year deal.

I believe that Maltby is probably done in Detroit and Chelios is certainly finished with the Wings. I would not be surprised to see him play with Chicago one final year before retirement (although in my opinion he should have retired 3 years ago). The Wings have some talent that needs to come up to the big club and get some minutes - Abdelkader, Ericsson, Hudler, Filpulla, Leino. Another year or two for Lidstrom and Draper is about all we can expect. Lidstrom especially looked tired in the Finals (albeit groin surgery does not help). A changing of the guard is in order for some of the long time Red Wing players.

I guess we'll never know what the Pronger deal really was (or if there even was one), but I'm still surprised the B's couldn't get it done. If it was Kessel and a pick then I'd be amazed if they get better value this offseason. I still think Boston + Pronger win the cup last season hands down, and he'd still be around for another year.

What is the max the Wings can play Hossa? Assuming Samuelsson and Hudler are gone, and replaced by cheap (minimum salary?) guys like Helm and Abdelkader.

Also heard recently, for the first time, that it was believed had Hossa won his Cup, he would have returned to Europe. Was anything like that rumored in Detroit?

I've never heard anything about Hossa returning to Europe. It's possible, but this is the first I've heard of it.

According to NHLnumbers.com, which is pretty good, the Wings' current cap number (with no UFAs or RFAs signed) is at $51.255. So, even if the cap stayed the same, the Wings have about $5.4 million left. I am not sure if that number includes Abdelkader, Helm and/or Ericsson.

If Hossa is going to say, he's going to need to sign a deal similar to what Franzen signed. It'd be something very long term, but a cap hit somwhere's around $4-$4.5 tops. Even that type of deal would be dependent on the cap increasing by some amount, say, $2-3 million or so. I just don't see eother of those things happening.

The only other alternative is try to and trade a player to free up cap space, but that's not too likely or cut a guy like Draper (not going to happen) or Maltby (possibly, but unlikey, and, even if so, that's still not a lot of money coming back).

Yeah we need Draper to come in on breakaways and shoot it directly at the goalie. His defense is so overrated. I'd take someone with even "less" defense who can actually contribute elsewhere on the ice over Draper anyday. He is so overhyped IMO.

Love the Wings though, looking forward to another run next year.

The best thing for Detroit would be Holmer retiring. Won't happen I am sure but it'd be whats best for the Wings.

The whole return to Europe thing was mentioned on a Pittsburgh sports call-in show, with rotating hosts. This guy is pretty awful (none are great). So, it could be entirely made up.

I honestly can't see him taking $4M, but what do I know.

And as far as the cap, everything I've read is steady this year, somewhere around $56M, but 2010-11 season could drop to around $50. So, I know you'd have Lidstrom's contract up, but also Osgood (I think) and need a replacement there.

Sak and I were discussing, about 24 teams would be screwed under that situation. They'd have to discount the previously signed contracts like they did after the lockout, or there'd be 400 free agents.

Very similar to Pittsburgh, we've got guys who are overpaid, like Dupuis making$1.4M, but to cut him, be on the hook for 1/2 that, and need to pay his replacement, there is no savings.


But who would talk for Lidstrom?

Yeah. Draper has lost some of his effectiveness and Holmstrom was downright awful the last 40+ games or so. The problem, however, is that I'd really be surprised if the Wings cut/waived/forced out any of these guys. It's certainly possible, but Detroit has been a destination franchise for years because of how it treats its players. The organization has been incredibly loyal to its own and that combined with the success of the team are two big parts of what make the organization as great as it is. (It's not like the city is all that).

Once you start waiving long time saltwarts and well-respected veterans, I think that begins to tarnish the organization's reputation a bit. Then again, being too loyal to these guys and sacrificing competitiveness also isn't doing the team any favors. This is why this is Holland's toughest summer to date. Other than that first post-lockout summer when teams were forced to buyout contracts, he really hasn't been forced to make any tough decisions regarding established guys. Most of his summers, the Hossa deal aside, was spent tinkering around the edges and plugging smaller gaps in the line-up.

Me either. I don't see it happening at all.


As horrible as it would be for the league for the cap to drop so dramatically in one year, it would be sort of fascinating to see what happened. All of a sudden, you could have a bunch of high-priced free agents on the outside looking in. Their only option would be to take a very low deal or play in the KHL.

It'd be like my Eastside Hockey Manager career before I went in and edited the cap value.

I agree. I do think though that Holmer is going to be done sooner rather then later. He's just never healthy. I do think though that players will be more likely to retire rather then put Kenny Holland and the organization on their heels because of how well they are treated. I think a guy like Maltby would retire when his deal runs out rather then try and get another deal or go play elsewhere.

As weird as it sounds, I am hoping the Pens are forced to bring in other guys to fill roles. I think this team played better because they were hungry.

I don't think a team with Crosby will ever coast, but a team of everyone back will not be as hungry as a team of guys looking to win for the first time.

I don't want to say that caught up to Detroit, but outside of Hossa, and the young guys brought up, these guys had all won before, including the prior year. Helm was the hungriest guy on the ice for them the majority of the time. Giving him and Abdelkader full time roles over Draper and Maltby might not only be cheaper, but beneficial throughout the team.

Samuelsson is a guy I am intrigued with for Pittsburgh. They've got 2 spots open in the top 6, but can't spend over about $3M for one of those spots.

My beef with Sammy is probably more how he was used, but he is so terrible on the point on the PP. I'd love to see that gone. He is a good player though and would be perfect with Crosby or Malkin centering him. He isn't afraid to shoot, he just shoots too much. He will probably get 4 mil somewhere. It sounds extreme but I could see it honestly and someone will not be happy with it.

Just for something to kill time-- predict the destination for these FAs:

Max Afinogenov -
Nik Antropov -
Adrian Aucoin -
Francois Beauchemin -
Martin Biron -
Rob Blake -
Jay Bouwmeester -
Mike Cammalleri -
Erik Cole -
Ruslan Fedotenko -
Marian Gaborik -
Brian Gionta -
Bill Guerin -
Marty Havlat -
Marian Hossa -
Nik Khabibulin -
Mike Knuble -
Saku Koivu -
Mike Komisarek -
Ales Kotalik -
Alexei Kovalev -
Chad Larose -
Jere Lehtinen -
Jordan Leopold -
John Madden -
Chris Neil -
Scott Niedermayer -
Rob Niedermayer -
Mark Recchi -
Mikael Samuelsson -
Rob Scuderi -
Daniel Sedin -
Henrik Sedin -
Alex Tanguay -

Feel free to throw in any other predictions you feel pretty good about, I tried to limit the list a little.

And "retire" is a perfectly acceptable answer.

We have drastically improve in not passing up shots, but we still need more shooters in Pittsburgh. Too many guys playing with Crosby and Malkin like to think they are capable of blind, behind the back, thru the legs passes on give and goes with those 2...and turn it over at the blue line.

The one thing I am sure of...nobody to Phoenix!

It would've been nice to have Pronger for the playoffs, yes, but I have to believe that there is a good reason why the Bruins didn't make the deal at the time.

I can assure you the Rangers will not go after Gionta.

As I explained to a friend of mine, the sheer number of games played has finally caught up to the Wings. This team has played more hockey than any other team in the NHL over the past 15 years or so. The Wings veterans have been averaging over 100 games per season including playoffs. They looked exhausted in the SCF this year. I still believe that they should have kept Abdelkader and Leino in the games and left Draper/Maltby on the bench.

No way is Samuelsson worth $3m per year, but I could see giving him $2m, maybe $2.5m tops. As DeToxRox said, he was terrible on the point, but that is a Babcock problem.

I still don't see Hossa coming back to Detroit, not for the type of pay cut he would have to take. Someone else will overpay for him, perhaps Chicago?

Dola

If there were any doubts...

NHL.com - News: Holland: Chelios not returning to Wings in 2009-10 - 06/22/2009

I predict the SABRES do:

shit.just overpay some of their own or sign some overpriced no-names and tell everyone how well they did while their good/great prospects languish down in the nether reaches of the minors..

Of course if they sign Bouwmeester I will rejoice but I have a better chance of shitting gold bars than the Sabres actually splashing some cash for greatness.

Where does everyone think Bouwmeester will end up?

Most likely in his hometown of Edmonton. If not there, then probably NY Rangers or even Colorado. Just purely guesses on my part though.

Max Afinogenov - Toronto
Nik Antropov - Toronto
Adrian Aucoin -Toronto
Francois Beauchemin -Toronto
Martin Biron -Toronto
Rob Blake -Toronto
Jay Bouwmeester - Toronto
Mike Cammalleri - Toronto
Erik Cole -Toronto
Ruslan Fedotenko -Toronto
Marian Gaborik -Toronto
Brian Gionta -Toronto
Bill Guerin -Toronto
Marty Havlat -Toronto
Marian Hossa -Toronto
Nik Khabibulin -Toronto
Mike Knuble -Toronto
Saku Koivu -Toronto
Mike Komisarek -Toronto
Ales Kotalik -Toronto
Alexei Kovalev -Toronto
Chad Larose -Toronto
Jere Lehtinen -Toronto
Jordan Leopold -Toronto
John Madden -Toronto
Chris Neil -Toronto
Scott Niedermayer -Toronto
Rob Niedermayer -Toronto
Mark Recchi -Toronto
Mikael Samuelsson -Toronto
Rob Scuderi -Toronto
Daniel Sedin -Toronto
Henrik Sedin -Toronto
Alex Tanguay -Toronto

This is according to a Toronto newspapers.

These have all been E5'ed by Ek.

So, not too surprisingly, Mike Babcock was named as the coach for Canada's Olympic hockey team.

I have always had mixed feelings when it comes to international hockey. While I pretty much always route for the US in international competitions, hockey has always been a bit more complicated because there have been so few great US-born Red Wings, so my loyalties tend to be divided.

I loved the fact that Yzerman and Shanahan won gold medals in 2004. I was happy for all the Wings' Swedish contingent in 2008. While I don't expect any Wings players to be on the 2010 Canadian National team, I think I'd really like to see them win because Yzerman is the GM and Babcock's the coach.

In any event, it should be a great tournament. Russia, Sweden and Canada should all be amazingly good teams. It will be really interesting to see what kind of team the US puts together since most of the old guard are officially gone. You thrown in the fact that the games will be in Vancouver and it's a recipe for a amazing series of games.

I think the USA can surprise some people. They're going to be fast and gritty. I suspect they will play no holds barred hockey and mix it up quite a bit with some other countries. It all depends on the goalies at this point. Miller and Thomas can do some damage, but they have to be spectacular for the USA to medal.