NHL Season 08-09

[chiyio]

Montreal has a lot of money and cap space.

Losing Komo isnt a big deal, as his efficiency completely plummeted when he got injured, but he's really an idiot for going to Toronto, there is going to be some epic booing going on.

Regarding the french player comment, its moreso to appeal the stupid city. Koivu's entire tenure as captain was plagued with bullshit from separatists who feel he didn't represent the team properly cause he didn't speak french. Very same reason the Habs picked up an inferior coach, because he speaks french. Its so fucking stupid. They'd rather have a french speaking team rather than a team that can win games.

Granted its old, check this quote:
Habs defend Saku Koivu's French

Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois suggested Tuesday that Canadiens players who don't speak French should perhaps take lessons to learn.

Brilliance!

[Brill Weave]

First off Orr is one of the best fighters in the game, behind of course, Brashear, who even though I hate with a passion is a major deterrent for the opposition. Secondly, the Gaborik signing, just idk.

Granted I don't watch too many Rangers games. But everytime the Rangers played the Penguins Eric Godard destroyed Colton Orr. After the last few fights he DUCKED fights with Godard. He wouldn't drop the gloves. No offense Karma but I'm going to have to disagree on your assessment(I posted before I saw they signed Brashear.) I will agree that Brashear is going to do absolutely nothing for you guys except take bad penalties. As to Gaborik, I think you hit the nail right on the head. Why throw all this money at a guy who is as fragile as he is. Especially considering Kovalchuk is going to be gone after this season, and you know the blue shirts could pony up the loot and entice him to head out there. Seems a little silly to me when you have a durable superstar waiting to go in just one year.

But this is the Rangers we're talking about(no offense karma) so they will probably still make a respectable run at him when he becomes available.

[Oxyminus]

I still don't like the Brashear sig I g, AT ALL. When word was coming out that the Rangers weren't going to sign Orr, I thought it was because they were going to go without an enforcer, and put more skill on the 4th line. I was basically okay with that philosophy.

But then they bring in Brashear? Let's ignore the fact that I hate him for a second. He is a goon, a thug on skates. NOTHING MORE. What REALLY irks me is Orr would have resigned here to the same terms he signed to Toronto (4yr/1mil per) I just don't see how he wouldn't. Now we'll never confuse Orr for a real player, but every summer he busted his ass to get better at his skating and improve his game. He wanted to be the best Ranger he could be in his role to help the team. Why not keep that guy?

I don't expect Brashear to be the sort of player who "you hate him on another team, but you'll love him on your team". I just don't see it happening. REALLY unhappy about this one.

For Gaborik; I'm a little befuddled that Sather moves Gomez's contract (5yr left/7.35mil) to clear cap space and help resign our own guys, and a day later gives Gaborik a nearly identical contract of 5yr/7.5mil. Now we're in the exact same bind about resigning the likes of Callahan, Dubinsky, Zherdev, and rounding out the rest of the roster.

As far as Gaborik himself is concerned; it's been on record that Minnesotta has a lousy/negligent training staff. You don't think they EVER pushed Gaborik back into the lineup because they NEEDED his goal scoring? On the flipside, the Rangers have a top-notch training staff and doctors; I have to believe they did due deligence in checkng up on Gaborik before offering the deal.

When he is healthy, this guy is easily one of the top 5 goal scorers in the league. He just exudes offense. He'll also have a much better supporting cast here than he did in Minny (I like Dubinsky as his center, possibly Higgins @ LW, or Avery?) and will finally be in an offensive oriented system. If things go right, Rangers finally have a gamebreaker. An elite goal scorer who can change games.

I also like this as opposed to trading away guys for Heatley; who btw, killed the Edm deal for a 2nd time! That situation is going to get UGLY!

But what I would have liked to have seen happen was go after a guy like Sykora or Knuble, or another 2nd tier scorer, on a 1yr deal (of course these guys, especially when older always want 2yr deal) then go after Kovalchuk next summer. Of course the risk there is there is no guarantee Kovalchuk becomes available, then what?

But healthy, Gaborik should easily be a 40-50G/80-90P guy, gives us a presence we really lacked. Gotta be excited.

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

[Thoronas]

Thrashers Sign Free Agent Forward Antropov - 4mil/year

So whats left for forwards? Koivu and Kovalev?

Edit: Also if youre on twitter this has been a great feed for player signings http://twitter.com/darrendreger

[Oxyminus]

Thrashers Sign Free Agent Forward Antropov - 4mil/year

So whats left for forwards? Koivu and Kovalev?

Edit: Also if youre on twitter this has been a great feed for player signings Darren Dreger (DarrenDreger) on Twitter

Tanguay? Sykora?

And just like that, Kovalchuk is more likely to stay in ATL

[Brill Weave]

I disagree. Kovalchuk is not happy there. The team has made strides to becoming a potential playoff team. But Nik Antropov is not going to push them over the top. Oxy I really don't think you would want Sykora on the second line. I like Sykora a lot. But the tail end of the season, he completely vanished. Given the fact that he's done that the last two years, and all but became a ghost in the playoffs last year I don't think he's going to have good production again. While most people will undoubtedly say that every player has slumps. But this is a guy who played the vast majority of his season on the same line as Evgeni Malkin.

I'm not sure what happened with Sykora this year. But I'm sure someone, maybe even the Pens, will bring him around. It's really going to depend on how money he wants.

[Oxyminus]

Antropov doesn't mak them an instant contender. But that, and bringing in Kaberle may be enough to convince Kovalchuk they're on the right path and resign. Let's be real though, he's gonna go after the money next season.

What happened with Sykora? Minus his disapearing act in the playoffs and his shifty attitude upon leaving, he was great in his brief stint here. His name came to mind because there are few guys who will sign 1yr deals.

In the ideal world; Sykora, or whoever would have been here for 1 year and then we bring in Kovalchuk. Interesting thing will be who's gonna have the money to sign him next year? So many of the big market teams/prime UFA destinations are locked up cap-wise.

On that note, feels like CHI might be in a jam when they need to resign Toews and Kane.

[Brill Weave]

Honestly Oxy the only way I could explain what happened with Sykora is a complete and total gradual disappearance. He started out the season playing great. Middle of the season he would start vanishing for six or seven games at a time. By the end he was getting scratched for Miroslav Satan due to his inability to score. He looked tired and it almost seemed like his head wasn't in it. It's hard to explain, I just think he may have hit that peak and just began the tumble downhill.

[Oxyminus]

Once you said he was getting scratched for Miroslav Satan I heard all I needed to hear.

From a Rangers standpoint it's all irrelevant. We got Gaborik, not a 1yr stopgap

[Ishido]

Rethinking, Chicago is not in a good place after this year. Campbell's contract is going to be hell to get rid of unless he has a career year this season, same with Huet. If the cap goes down or stays the same they will have ~19m or less to resign Kane, Toews, Keith and 7-8 other guys.

And paying Gaborik 300k per game is crrrazy. If he actually does play more than 25 games and I'm wrong maybe it is worthwhile though.

edit: Scuderi to the Kings. 4 years 13.6 mil.

[Oxyminus]

I'm curious to see what other moves (if any) the Rangers make. During the confrence call lastnight to announce the Gaborik signing; Sather said he thinks Dibinsky can be a #1 center, but he's not necessarily ruling out bringing someone in.

After resigning our RFAs, I don't see the cap space. So I take this to mean if can offload either Redden or Roszival in a deal to bring in a center, he will.

The Rangers are actually in a nice position because they have so much depth up and coming on the blueline. This time next season; at least one of Redden(6.5m) or Roszival(5mil) will be gone. Roszival more likely; through a trade. This will free up money to give Staal a a raise when needed.

We'll always be close to the cap; but it's nice to see because of dealing Gomez, we could bring in a bonafide 1st line, elite winger. And set in motion a way to keep our core locked up.

By the way, my favorite moment yesterday; calling my dad after Brashear was signed:

Me: Dad, guess who we signed.
Dad: Who?
Me: Donald Fucking Brashear
Dad: *laughs hysterically* really?
Me: Yuuuuup
Dad: Oh geez

[Abraxas]

i dont care how good of a training staff you have, he is going to get rocked playing in this division

[Selamis]

According to Dale Tallon in the paper today, the way they structured Hossa's contract was done in mind with Toews and Kane and Keith for next year, and he says they won't be strained to resign them. I'll wait to pass verdict on this signing and how it will effect us but at first glance, I'm not too big a fan of it.

[Oxyminus]

i dont care how good of a training staff you have, he is going to get rocked playing in this division

Why we brought in the likes of of Brashear and Boyle. Fuck with our guys, we do te same to yours. Gaborik is no different than any other player in that regard. Besides, his injuries came from hip/groin issues, not from hits dealt frm other players.

[Ivaden]

edit: Scuderi to the Kings. 4 years 13.6 mil.

Yep. Sad to see him going but there's no way you can pass that up if you're him. He was amazing in the playoffs but otherwise, he's just another dime-a-dozen defensive defenseman that's riding the Cup fame. Good luck to him.

[Brill Weave]

Likewise, I'm sad to see Scuderi leave town. He's probably one of my favorite defenseman just because he does his job. He was never looking for name recognition, or even points. He just wants to win. We'll miss him here, but it looks like Ben Lovejoy is poised to step up this year and take his slot. The Pens will probably sign one or two veteran defenseman to push him in camp. I wish Scuds the best of luck. He's being overpaid, but the kind of money they were offering he would be foolish to pass on. We were only offering two million per year. Peace out Scuds, good luck.

[Ivaden]

In other news, Fedotanko signed to a one year deal for a significant pay cut because he wants another chance to win the cup. While that's what I like to see from a player, I'm not sure if I agree with all the one year deal resignings. The cap is speculated to go down next year, and off the top of my head we have going into UFA: Gonchar, Letang, Fedotanko, Guerin, Cooke, Eaton, Dupuis I think? and Kennedy will be a RFA.

I dunno, I mean I'm glad we were able to resign Feds and Guerin, and I'm almost certain Guerin won't be in the NHL next year and he'll just quietly retire, but next year is going to be a pain in the ass.

[Arnwulf]

Rick Nash re-signed 8 years/ 63mil. Now Toronto fans can shut the hell up. I'm happy about both the term and the money.

[Richybear]

And LA just made a huge deal picking up Smytty from the Avs.
In return, Colorado gets Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing and a 5th rounder.
Awesome move for the Kings.

[Ishido]

In other news the Sharks have 17 players signed and $350,000 left under the cap. They need 3 more forwards and a backup goalie.