*

[Mista Collins]

I am happy that the NHL and the player's Union agreed to a CBA. Unfortantely, I don't like the terms that much. My poor home team (Detroit) is going to see some major changes.

Darren McCarty gone, Ray Whiteny gone, Darien Hatcher gone. Three high-profile veterans gone.

Good news though, The Captain Stevie Y is back and they got rid of Dave Lewis and made Mike Babcock the coach. Brendan Shanahan excersized his 2005-06 contract option. And Chris Chelios and Mathieu Schneider are coming back.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Lefferts]

Well, it's not uncommon for most Russian players to chase mojney first and foremost. I can only think it will be even more pronounced in the new regime.

This was my first thought when I heard about this signing, but I think he may regret his decision.

Kariya signed with Nashville?

Dammit. I'm beginning to think Naslund might be our only big UFA signing.

Who's left on the market? I know Leclair is still out there, but he hasn't been the same since he hurt his back. Bondra? Any interest in him? I also think Ziggy Palffy is available. It might not take much to get some of these guys - they may be getting desparate.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Who's left on the market? I know Leclair is still out there, but he hasn't been the same since he hurt his back. Bondra? Any interest in him? I also think Ziggy Palffy is available. It might not take much to get some of these guys - they may be getting desparate.

I'd love to see Peter Bondra hre for 2 million.

 

[Mista Collins]

Move in the Free Agent world
(x-denotes player was bought out and can’t re-sign with previous club; y-free agent since July 1, 2004)

Forwards
y-Jason Allison, Los Angeles (signed with Toronto)
x-Tony Amonte, Philadelphia (signed with Calgary)
Dave Andreychuck, Tampa Bay
y-Peter Bondra, Ottawa
Andrew Brunette, Minnesota
y-Valeri Bure, Dallas
y-Anson Carter, Los Angeles
Vincent Dampousse, Colorado
y-Pavol Demitra, St. Louis (signed with Los Angeles)
Tie Domi, Toronto (re-signed with Toronto)
y-Peter Forsberg, Colorado (signed with Philadelphia)
y-Ron Francis, Toronto
Martin Gelinas, Calgary (signed with Florida)
Chris Gratton, Colorado
x-Bobby Holik, N.Y. Rangers (signed with Atlanta)
x-Matt Johnson, Minnesota
y-Paul Kariya, Colorado (signed with Nashville)
y-Alexei Kovalev, Montreal (re-signed with Montreal)
Martin Lapointe, Boston (signed with Chicago)
x-John LeClair, Philadelphia
y-Eric Lindros, N.Y. Rangers
Brad May, Vancouver (signed with Colorado)
x-Darren McCarty, Detroit (signed with Calgary)
Shawn McEachern, Atlanta (signed with Boston)
y-Mark Messier, N.Y. Rangers
Mike Modano, Dallas (re-signed with Dallas)
Alexander Mogilny, Toronto
Glen Murray, Boston (re-signed with Boston)
Markus Naslund, Vancouver (re-signed with Vancouver)
Joe Nieuwendyk, Toronto (signed with Florida)
y-Andrei Nikolishin, Colorado
y-Ziggy Palffy, Los Angeles
y-Yanic Perreault, Montreal
Gary Roberts, Toronto (signed with Florida)
Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles (re-signed with Los Angeles)
y-Martin Rucinsky, Vancouver (signed with New York Rangers)
Miroslav Satan, Buffalo (signed with New York Islanders)
x-Brian Savage, Phoenix
y-Teemu Selanne, Colorado
y-Cory Stillman, Tampa Bay (signed with Carolina)
Martin Straka, Los Angeles (signed with New York Rangers)
y-Jozef Stumpel, Los Angeles
y-Steve Thomas, Detroit
x-Pierre Turgeon, Dallas (signed with Colorado)
y-Shaun Van Allen, Ottawa
x-Ray Whitney, Detroit
y-Scott Young, Dallas
S teve Yzerman, Detroit (re-signed with Detroit)
y-Alexei Zhamnov, Philadelphia (signed with Boston)

Defensemen
Adrian Aucoin, N.Y. Islanders (signed with Chicago)
y-Murray Baron, St. Louis
Bryan Berard, Chicago (signed with Columbus)
Patrice Brisebois, Montreal
Mathieu Dandenault, Detroit (signed with Montreal)
Adam Foote, Colorado (signed with Columbus)
Sergei Gonchar, Boston (signed with Pittsburgh)
y-Roman Hamrlik, N.Y. Islanders
x-Derian Hatcher, Detroit (signed with Philadelphia)
x-Scott Lachance, Columbus
Brian Leetch, Toronto (signed with Boston)
y-Vladimir Malakhov, Philadelphia (signed with New Jersey)
y-Bryan Marchment, Toronto
y-Dan McGillis, Philadelphia (signed with New Jersey)
Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey (signed with Anaheim)
y-Teppo Numminen, Dallas (signed with Buffalo)
y-James Patrick, Buffalo
Stephane Quintal, Los Angeles
Brian Rafalski, New Jersey (re-signed with New Jersey)
Marcus Ragnarsson, Philadelphia
Mike Rathje, San Jose (signed with Philadelphia)
y-Mathieu Schneider, Detroit
Martin Skoula, Anaheim (signed with Dallas)
y-Jiri Slegr, Boston
y-Jaroslav Spacek, Columbus (signed with Chicago)
Scott Stevens, New Jersey
Igor Ulanov, Edmonton (re-signed with Edmonton)
Glen Wesley, Carolina
y-Alexei Zhitnik, Buffalo (signed with New York Islanders)
Sergei Zubov, Dallas (re-signed with Dallas)

Goalies
Sean Burke, Philadelphia
Roman Cechmanek, Los Angeles
y-Byron Dafoe, Atlanta
Mike Dunham, N.Y. Rangers
Arturs Irbe, Columbus
Curtis Joseph, Detroit
Nikolai Khabibulin, Tampa Bay (signed with Chicago)
y-Chris Osgood, St. Louis
y-Steve Shields, Florida
y-Ron Tugnutt, Dallas

 

[Mista Collins]

Some good goalies waiting to be snatched up.

 

[devilbat]

Well, it's not uncommon for most Russian players to chase money first and foremost.

Agreed. I know money was the factor with Khabby. But why would the hawks sign him to four years, for that much money? The contract is too long and too high. Don't get me wrong. I love watching Khabby play. I have very fond memories of him here in Winnipeg, but there is no way he deserves to be paid on par with Martin Brodeur.

 

[devilbat]

My poor home team (Detroit) is going to see some major changes.

Darren McCarty gone, Ray Whiteny gone, Darien Hatcher gone. Three high-profile veterans gone.

The Redwings have been "haves" ina league of "Have nots" for many years. It's about time we see a collective bargaining agreement that will work for both groups, and create a little parity through the league.

Of the three guys you listed, I think the only significant loss you suffered was Darren McCarty. His leadership and on ice toughness will be sorely missed. The Flames are a muche better team with him on it. Hatcher was a complte failure in Detroit, and Whitney, while usefull, is not worth what the Redwings were paying him.

 

[devilbat]

Some good goalies waiting to be snatched up.

Overall, I disagree with that statement. Chris Osgood, Steve Shields, Ron Tugnutt, Byron Dafoe, Mike Dunham and Arturs Irbe are pretty much done. Cechmanek has always been highly overrated (IMO), Burke makes an amazing backup or a one year starter. Joseph is the only guy I'd be interested in, if I was a GM and looking for a starter.

 

[Mista Collins]

Overall, I disagree with that statement. Chris Osgood, Steve Shields, Ron Tugnutt, Byron Dafoe, Mike Dunham and Arturs Irbe are pretty much done. Cechmanek has always been highly overrated (IMO), Burke makes an amazing backup or a one year starter. Joseph is the only guy I'd be interested in, if I was a GM and looking for a starter.

I was kind of glad to see that Detroit didn't go with Cujo again. I am impressed Manny Legaces ability in between the pipes. I think Burke is a fairly solid goalie. Chris Ozgood played more games in the 2003-2004 season and put up better numbers than both Curtis Joseph and Khabibulan. Cechmanek is a very on/off player, but when he is on, he is really on. You are right about most those goalies being pretty much done though. But I still think it would be helpful for some of the teams out there lacking in a solid goalie to pick one of these guys up.

Of all the teamss that could have gotten McCarty, I am glad Calgary did. The problem with Hatcher on the Wings was that he was injured most the year and only played like a fifth of the season. With his ACL surgery, his shoulder, and a few suspended games he put up decent numbers. Nothing great, nothing horrible. It will be interesting to see how things work out as the league goes through this big change.

 

[devilbat]

I am impressed Manny Legaces ability in between the pipes.

I think Legace is great, but I'm not convinced he's an everday guy.

Chris Osgood played more games in the 2003-2004 season and put up better numbers than both Curtis Joseph and Khabibulan.

Joseph had to deal with the Hasek situation and injury, and Khabby diidn't find his form until mid season, that's true. But he did win the Cup for Tampa Bay. Osgood is a proven play-off choke artist, as a Redwing fan, you've seen this first hand.

Cechmanek is a very on/off player, but when he is on, he is really on.

more off then on since his early days in Philly. Remember the year he made the all star team, and he was absolutely slaughtered in the skills competition? He had one Steve Penney
like season, and then shipped to la la land.

But I still think it would be helpful for some of the teams out there lacking in a solid goalie to pick one of these guys up.

You're right, all would be strong back ups, with the exception of Irbe, I really think he's done.