August 3, 2005

Gonchar goes to the Pens : Oilers acquire Pronger. Amonte to the Flames. Foote in Columbus. After a slow start, the free agent market heats up for, seemingly, everyone but the Leafs. As usual, there are many (improbable) rumours but little truth - Naslund is staying put.

read story | posted by mkn to Hockey at 10:35 AM CDT (53 comments total)

Iginla is staying put too -- is it just me, or is Calgary seriously becoming a threat in the West?

posted by mkn at 10:36 AM CDT on August 3

Goddamn it - what the fuck is Ferguson waiting for!?! Neidermayer is going to be Devil, Peguin, Canuck or something else today, Pronger was moved, Philly signed three HUGE defencemen, Calgary is getting better, Atlanta is getting better, Florida is becoming the Leafs, AND WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE DOING? I just want to scream.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:51 AM CDT on August 3

Ottawa's also been mostly staying put. Then again, if they can sign most of their RFAs, they can probably afford to take a "we like what we have" attitude.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:10 AM CDT on August 3

LeafFilter AGAIN? :-)

All the Eastern Canadian teams have been quiet lately....I see the Habs just re-signed Kovalev, and there are strong rumours (not just from Eklund) that Ottawa is signing Martin Lapointe (hopefully for a drastic pay reduction). Alberta is definitely the place to be right now.

And furthermore...where are the Wings, Sharks, Devils, and Avs? And how come no goaltenders are moving?

posted by Succa at 11:12 AM CDT on August 3

Err, we need to pick a thread here.

posted by wfrazerjr at 11:13 AM CDT on August 3

Is Neidermayer going to be anything other than home alone if he doesn't back away from his max salary demand?

posted by yerfatma at 11:34 AM CDT on August 3

I don't think Ottawa needs much. A decent two-way C or LW and I think they're good, though I wouldn't mind that Proverbial Power Forward they've needed for years. Though for whatever reason they chose not to qualify Prusek which I think is a mistake. If Hasek's groin injury flares up, do you really want Crazy Ray Emery as your starting tender?

posted by Succa at 12:10 PM CDT on August 3

don't worry weedy, we're getting allison and lindros. nothing to worry about.

posted by garfield at 12:22 PM CDT on August 3

do you really want Crazy Ray Emery as your starting tender?

Maybe this is the beginning of the hybrid goaltender-enforcer era.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:46 PM CDT on August 3

don't worry weedy, we're getting allison and lindros. nothing to worry about.

Okay, add Neidermayer, Kariya and another defenceman to that list and I may start to sleep again.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:51 PM CDT on August 3

Another rumor is that the Leafs get Ziggy Palffy (the Demitra signing seems to correlate). Not bad, but still not a lot of guys going into the corners and digging the puck out like Roberts would.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 1:00 PM CDT on August 3

we're getting allison and lindros. nothing to worry about.

This is a joke, right? I must confess I have a hard time reading you Leafs fans. Are you being sarcastic when you're talking about signing everyone under the sun? Don't you know that the Yankees' recipe does not work in hockey?

posted by qbert72 at 1:09 PM CDT on August 3

Leaf fans are *always* serious.

That said, looks like Khabibulin is out of TB -- possibly going to Chicago, so there's the first big (possible) goalie move.

Chicago needs a hell lot more than a new goaltender, though.

posted by mkn at 1:20 PM CDT on August 3

My thoughts on the Pronger deal are here (shameless link). I think I was the last one out of the other thread.

How about that pay cut for Bobby Holik? That reduction ALMOST makes the lock out worth it. And Chicago's courting of Khabibulin makes the baby Jebus cry. If only Joceyln was healthy more.

posted by wfrazerjr at 1:37 PM CDT on August 3

Yes!!! The Blues are finally rid of Pronger. We can now have a Stanley Cup season while watching the Oliers not win a game. This news brightened up my entire day.

posted by ccdistancerunner at 1:40 PM CDT on August 3

qbert, trust your instinct. Two fragile, past-their-prime players (one whose play relies on physicality, no less) is not exactly on the 'must' list for the Leafs. If it happens, its high risk/high reward gamble...to make the playoffs. Neither of those players will make the difference in a series.

If Niedermayer signs in t.dot, I'll come to visit.

fraze, you kid, right? Tea-bow has been a workhorse, less last-last season

posted by garfield at 1:47 PM CDT on August 3

I thought Nascar silly season was confusing. I will need a program to find out where everyone is now.

posted by dbt302 at 2:05 PM CDT on August 3

Garf, I think last season and the hip surgery is exactly why the Hawks are so worried. I like Thibault a lot, and I hope he comes back strong. Just a damned shame I hate Chicago so much.

posted by wfrazerjr at 3:02 PM CDT on August 3

right on. hip injuries are nasty for a tender.

Leetch is a Bruin.

so, its looking like either Philly or Boston coming out of the east...not to jump the gun or anything.

posted by garfield at 3:10 PM CDT on August 3

Don't you know that the Yankees' recipe does not work in hockey?

See the New York Rangers for evidence.

posted by NoMich at 3:12 PM CDT on August 3

Chicago needs a hell lot more than a new goaltender, though {Khabibulin }. Yes We do need more than him that's for sure. But what the hell? Who cares! Hockey is BACK!!!!!!
Beats watching Reality TV all week.
What's the DirecTV season pass hockey package going to be?

posted by melcarek69 at 3:25 PM CDT on August 3

Berard is a Blue Jacket.

Our friend Eklund is reporting some further madness. If you care to visit his site, I'll let you see for yourselves...

Well, can't say they're not at least trying to make it interesting. I believe the term "free agent frenzy" was right on the money, no pun intended.

posted by Succa at 3:35 PM CDT on August 3

It's crazy to see all these folks moving around and players we have long associated with a particular team leaving, or rumored to be leaving, their original teams (e.g., rumos that Modano is going to Boston or Minnesota). In the salary cap era, I'm afraid we will no longer see the franchise-type players who spend an entire career with one team. Speaking of which, probably the second-best player ever to spend an entire career with one team (No. 66 is obviously no. 1 on that count), just re-signed with that team in what will likely be his last go around. Get out and see him if you have a chance because this is the end of the line not just for a Hall of Fame player but for one of the all-time class acts.

posted by holden at 4:17 PM CDT on August 3

Red Wings aren't playing the Leafs this year... which is an absolute joke (they play Ottawa 8 times!) so Yzerman is not going to be stopping by in Toronto unless both teams make it to the cup (yeah right).

Satan is an Islander.

posted by mkn at 4:44 PM CDT on August 3

Peca traded to the Oilers for Mike York. Hmmm. Are the Leafs going to do anything?

posted by gspm at 4:52 PM CDT on August 3

We all knew Satan was from New York anyway. Now we just know which team's jersey he wears.

I suspect the Leafs will sign Jason Allison for a ridiculously low cap number and pay him bonuses, and then sign Eric Lindros. Aside from those sorts of moves, however, Toronto just has little to no cap room to goof with. Wait til next year!

posted by wfrazerjr at 4:59 PM CDT on August 3

I've basically been a hockey amnesiac since lastg the Bruins got bounced from the playoffs. Is Brian Leetch still good? And how far is it from Avon Old Farms to the TD Bank Northen Fake Gardens?

posted by yerfatma at 5:39 PM CDT on August 3

Forsberg a Flyer

posted by garfield at 6:01 PM CDT on August 3

unfuckingbelievable.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:51 PM CDT on August 3

This is all making my head spin, but you have to admit, what better way to generate some publicity for the NHL in the offseason?

Good to see the Leafs capitalizing on this wide-open free agency market... *cough*

posted by insomnyuk at 11:59 PM CDT on August 3

I suspect the Leafs will sign Jason Allison for a ridiculously low cap number and pay him bonuses, and then sign Eric Lindros. Aside from those sorts of moves, however, Toronto just has little to no cap room to goof with. Wait til next year!

Please don't make me cry. I don't want to cry.

posted by grum@work at 12:14 AM CDT on August 4

I almost wish they could do this every year - I thought I'd be done with the NHL after their bullshit but the motion commotion is pretty exciting.

posted by kokaku at 8:55 AM CDT on August 4

If they did it every year, they might as well get rid of GMs and let the top 30 finishers in big roto hockey leagues run the show. Now that'd be interesting.

posted by yerfatma at 9:25 AM CDT on August 4

If they did it every year, they might as well get rid of GMs and let the top 30 finishers in big roto hockey leagues run the show

For some teams, that might actually be an improvement...

posted by MeatSaber at 10:30 AM CDT on August 4

Niedermayer 's a Duck.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:56 AM CDT on August 4

As a Leaf fan, this whole situation is quite... unsettling. Great for the Oilers and the Flames, but, really, what is Ferguson waiting for? Who's still available out there? Khabibulin? Leafs will fare probably as well as the Pens this year. Maybe worse. Ugh.

posted by mkn at 11:07 AM CDT on August 4

All I know is, Ken Holland must be going stir crazy about now. If not for the salary cap, he would've thrown money at atleast half of the guys that have signed. But since he have to work under constraints, he has nothing to offer except a Wings sweater. So, basically, he has to actually be a GM for a change...

posted by MeatSaber at 11:23 AM CDT on August 4

Bobby Clarke is looking like a genius, if he can off-load Roenick's salary on some fool.

I can't believe I just said that.

posted by garfield at 11:49 AM CDT on August 4

According to the transaction wire at tsn.ca, Roenick has already been shipped out to the Kings for the dreaded future considerations. What the hell? JR is only worth future considerations? Maybe Philly had to keep his mouth.

As for John Ferguson and the Leafs, welcome to the brave new world. Expect Allison and Lindros, not much more and the hope of free agents to come in 2006-07.

posted by wfrazerjr at 12:10 PM CDT on August 4

I am DYING here, John. Watching the ol' 'once in a lifetime opportunity' cruise right on down the street, hang a left and go straight through to PHILLY.

Actually - I think he's waiting for a lot of teams to finish completeing for players and overpaying (even by the new CBA standards - $2.5 a year for Bryan fucking Berard?) and then swooping in for your Andrew Burnettes, Anson Carters and (sigh) Eric Lindros', Jason Allisons, etc.

Just GET PAUL KARIYA. And try to find a defenceman - sheesh.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 2:36 PM CDT on August 4

If the Leafs sign Lindros, Allison and Kariya, they might as well get a sponsorship deal with an MRI clinic...

What a brittle trio that would be...

posted by grum@work at 3:11 PM CDT on August 4

I've got to agree with Weedy. I seems quite clear that the owners have learned nothing, and players are already being over paid. See this link. Berard & Lapointe for 2.5mil a year? Dave Scatchard at 2.1 mil a year for 4 years!. Holik for 4.5 mil? Getting Pronger will be a great fit in Edmonton, but the fact they got suckered into a 5 year, 6+ mil per year contract makes me laugh. I know they have a lot of oil sitting in the mud N.E. of Edmonton, but at least to my knowledge money still isn't going on the trees up there. Heck I even think 7 mil a year for Iginla is a little too much.

If I'm Toronto I might sign Karia and Lindros to 1 year contacts, and then go on a spending / trading spree next off season.

posted by camcanuck at 3:28 PM CDT on August 4

The Sharks front office must still be down in Monterey playing a few extra rounds at Pebble Beach. Didn't someone hit their crackberry with the news that player deals are this week?

posted by billsaysthis at 3:36 PM CDT on August 4

brittle, indeed. though when kariya came back after that scott stevens hit and ripped that goal in the playoffs, he didn't seem too brittle to me.

snagging Orzagh wouldn't be a bad idea.

Yeah, Fergie is waiting for the 'oh, you're still looking for a job?' discount....and planning for next year. yay

posted by garfield at 3:43 PM CDT on August 4

With the spending that's going on, it should be obvious to everyone that the owner's crying poor over the CBA was nothing more than propaganda. Brian Rafalski signs for 4.2 mill a year? There's a reason your team can't make any money, Lou, and it ain't the CBA...

I think there's nothing wrong with sitting tight while the free-agent frenzy explodes all around you. There will be plenty available at the trade deadline I bet, and the teams with lots of cap space will be able to load up just as easily. Nobody knows what the new rules will bring, and nobody knows how valuable a 30-year-old is anymore. Watching Forsberg go to Philly is painful to watch, but they've also lost Recchi, Leclair, Amonte, and Roenick.....

posted by Succa at 3:51 PM CDT on August 4

I've got to agree with Weedy. I seems quite clear that the owners have learned nothing, and players are already being over paid.

I think this is a bit early to make this prediction. What is happening is that these GMs are trying to figure out what the going rate is for a player of X talent level. As soon as one guy signs, it triggers a chain reaction of other signings.

The superstars SHOULD be paid $5million. It's the 3rd-line players, the 4th defencemen, the backup goalies...these guys are going to get squeezed out this year. After all this high spending this early, they won't be able to get deals anywhere near their previous levels.

If a team has the option of signing one mid-level talent player for $3million, or three slightly worse players for $1million each, they'll go the latter route (since it will help them fill their rosters and give them more flexibility). As well, one of those three might "breakout" and become a real bargain under the salary cap.

Players that might get screwed over: Tie Domi, Daniel Briere, Hal Gill, Donald Audette, Jeff Friesen, Cory Stillman, Chris Gratton, Adam Deadmarsh...

After preview: And then I see that Domi signs with the Leafs for 2years and $2.5million in total.

/throws hands up in disgust

posted by grum@work at 10:03 PM CDT on August 4

WHAT?!?

That's it - I'm getting religious. It's the only chance the Leafs have at a Cup. This or any year.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:26 PM CDT on August 4

...Cory Stillman...

He signed with the 'Canes a couple of days ago. 2 years at $1.75 million per. Or something like that anyway.
The 'Canes also signed Oleg Tvedorskyspellcheck at $2.5 million per year for three years.

posted by NoMich at 11:53 PM CDT on August 4

Grum, Hal Gill isn't a UFA.

posted by Samsonov14 at 12:13 AM CDT on August 5

I think I need to change my profile from LeafsFilter to FlamesFilter...

posted by mkn at 1:52 AM CDT on August 5

Oleg Teverdovsky for 3 years at $2.5 per?!?! Have they never seen him play? These guys need a new CBA already.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 9:25 AM CDT on August 5

Yeah, a lot of head scratching over that signing. I think that Laviolette and Rutherford wanted an offensive d-man to runthe power player and they saw him as the only option. The Hurricanes tried a player like this once before by trading for Sandis Ozolinch, but that didn't work out at all. But you have to thinkt that a player like that would never, ever work out in a system ran by Paul Maurice.
But yeah, $2.5 million per year. Man, he better be making that PP the best in the league at that price.
Prediction: he gets traded to Philly or Toronto in March for a 3rd rounder. HA!

posted by NoMich at 9:37 AM CDT on August 5

"I can't get the image of a whore pretending to enjoy the sex out of my mind."

in other news, the Tampa Bay 'Bulin wall has been dismantled, and plans have been laid to reconstruct the fortification in Illinois.

posted by garfield at 12:26 PM CDT on August 5

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