*

[Mista Collins]

Mista Collins, dude, I'm so sorry. Ozzie signed with your Redwings today.

I saw this also. It does not make me happy, but thinking about it I did come to soem conclusions. Legace fought to be the wings starting and I am sure doesn't want to give it up. Ozgood probably wants to prove he deserves the starting spot he once had in Detroit. This is gonna create a lot of competition, and hopeful Detroit will benefit as both players try and compete at their highest level possible. I guess I can go back to cheering for Ozzie, or "The Wizard". Should be interesting either way.

 

[Mista Collins]

Thinking about it, I think we should have a fantasy hockey league between a bunch of us ENWorlders. Infact, I am gonna see if there is enough interest.

 

[devilbat]

Legace fought to be the wings starting and I am sure doesn't want to give it up.

Wow, did Detroit surprise me with that signing. In the recent past, the Redwings have gone after big name goaltenders. As far as i'm concerned, Osgood is a huge step backwards. I hope Legace gets the starter job. He deserves it.

 

[Knightfall]

Edmonton - Look for a fast and re-tooled team.

I'm very excited about the Oilers this year. The Oiler blueline was already solid with Marc-Andre Bergeron, Cory Cross, Alexei Semenov, Jason Smith, and Steve Staios before re-signing Igor Ulanov and trading for Chris Pronger. (The Oilers also have Jason Platt, Mathieu Roy, and Ken Smith signed up for the coming season.)

In goal, they have both Jussi Markkanen and Ty Conklin signed, as well as Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers.

Besides Peca, they have the following key forwards signed already: Ethan Moreau, Fernando Pisani, Todd Harvey, Georges Laraque, and Radek Dvorak, as well as many young prospects who will be trying to crack the lineup.

Edmonton's restricted free agents are Ales Hemsky*, Michael Morrison, Shawn Horcoff*, Marty Reasoner*, Jani Rita*, Tony Salmelainen, Ryan Smyth*, Jarret Stoll, Raffi Torres*, and Brad Winchester. Edmonton's unrestricted free agents are Sean McAslan, Tyler Moss, Dan Smith, Rocky Thompson, Mike Bishai, Joe Cullen, and Jamie Wright.

Players marked with an asterisk are those I really want the Oilers to re-sign, especially Hemsky, Horcoff, and Smyth. I could see Reasoner and Torres being used as trade bait in order to get a bigger name from a team trying to lower its overall salary, and I would be fine with that. Jani Rita is a excellent young prospect that has been improving over the last few years and this could be his best chance to find a spot on the roster.

The Edmonton Oilers have currently allocated $23,884,000 US of their $39 million US Salary Cap, as per the estimated numbers on www.tsn.ca. This gives them lots of breathing room if they can get their key free agents signed at a good price. Smyth will be the player who gets the largest contract.

Cheers!

KF72

p.s. I'll post the latest 2005-2006 salary numbers on the thread I started, so that everyone can compare their favorite teams.

 

[ssampier]

The National league stinks, but last year's events forced me to realize good hockey is as close as my minor league team. Oh yeah...*

*not to mention I don't have a professional team in my state*

 

[devilbat]

The National league stinks, but last year's events forced me to realize good hockey is as close as my minor league team.

I guess I'll agree with your point about minor league hockey being entertaining, if that was indeed your point, other then just slamming the NHL.

This past year I really gtot to enjoy our hometown Manitoba Moose, who is the AHL affiliate to the Vancouver Cunucks. I came to love the AHL because the guys on those clubs work their butts off every single night. You don't see any Jaromir Jagr taking a night off when visiting Carolina type play in the AHL.

 

[devilbat]

Oh and by the way, for Knightfall 1972.

Georges Laraque is the toughest and classiest tough guy in the league. He stands up for his teammates, he doesn't turtle, and he'll fight anybody on any team. He doesn't pick and choose.

 

[Teflon Billy]

Thinking about it, I think we should have a fantasy hockey league between a bunch of us ENWorlders. Infact, I am gonna see if there is enough interest.

I'm in. Please let me now when you have the details ironed out.

 

[Teflon Billy]

...Players marked with an asterisk are those I really want the Oilers to re-sign, especially Hemsky, Horcoff, and Smyth...

Smyth is the heart and soul of that Team. i hope they don't take the "C" away and put it on Pronger.

 

[Teflon Billy]

In a surprising move, Vancouver sign's Minnesota's Richard Park.

Good acquisition if you ask me. Park was a decent player in the Vancouver/Minnesota series, and absolutely shone in international play.

I think with the game opened up, Park could become a really big contributor.