NHL: Free Agency, Trade, Injury, and Rookie News!

Wow. That's huge. I know Theo had some trouble in NY, but I still think of him as a great sniper.

devilbat,

I agree in terms of its a great way for Heatly to get away from the tradegy, but I also feel Atlanta got a good deal too by acquiring Hossa. Hossa's size and skill is something I felt the Thrashers lacked in terms of going from second tier to first tier NHL team. Not to disrespect Heatly but Hossa's impact will be just as significant, if not more so, for the Thrashers as Heatly's is for the Sens. Primarily because I feel he can be a game breaker AND I feel his time in Ottawa helped him to grow and also deal with a team going through a transition on the way up. So add to that his, in my mind, leadership and the Thrashers have a proven NHL vet, a young guy too, that can probably help get the team motivated and focused when they do a playoff run.

Regarding Loungo, I think if it was me, I'd probably tell the Panther's "Adios!" and try my luck elsewhere. This maybe ill-advised by some, but considering I think of all the young goalies out there, Loungo has the best chance of a) making the most of his chances and b) proving to a team needing big time goaltending he can do it. Going elsewhere seems to have more of an upside in my mind than accepting arbitration.
 

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devilbat,

I agree in terms of its a great way for Heatly to get away from the tradegy, but I also feel Atlanta got a good deal too by acquiring Hossa. Hossa's size and skill is something I felt the Thrashers lacked in terms of going from second tier to first tier NHL team. Not to disrespect Heatly but Hossa's impact will be just as significant, if not more so, for the Thrashers as Heatly's is for the Sens. Primarily because I feel he can be a game breaker AND I feel his time in Ottawa helped him to grow and also deal with a team going through a transition on the way up. So add to that his, in my mind, leadership and the Thrashers have a proven NHL vet, a young guy too, that can probably help get the team motivated and focused when they do a playoff run.
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Nightfall,

Agreed completely. Hossa is a huge pick up for Atlanta, and DeVries is a nice addition as well. My problem with Hossa is he dissapears come playoff time. His goal scoring during the regular season was a huge boon for the Sen's these last few years, but once it's time for the crunch, he is invisible.

Heatly has had a tough time of it since the accident. A bad eye injury, and a lackluster season in Europe didn't help things either. He may very well be unable to resume the career he had. This guy was the NHL all star MVP his rookie season. If he can regain his form, and Hasek stays healthy, Ottawa has to be seen as a top contender for the Cup.

Regarding Loungo, I think if it was me, I'd probably tell the Panther's "Adios!" and try my luck elsewhere.
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Luongo is a restricted free agent. He won't be signing elsewhere, unless the Panthers trade him. I have heard rumors of them doing just that, but Keenan is very fond of the young goalie, so I doubt he'll be going anywhere.
 

Knightfall1972 said:
Highest

New Jersey Devils
$43,748,929 US ($4,748,929 US over)
21 Players

Lowest

Florida Panthers
$15,489,718 US
19 Players
3 Salaries Undisclosed (S. Weiss, R. Olesz, J.-M. Pelletier)
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Methinks the Devils are in Trouble! Maybe they can salary dump one of their defensemen onto LA.
 

Devilbat,

Funny didn't Keneen like another player during his tenure with the Blues and ended up trading him? *isn't sure about this so he could be wrong*

Still I mean would it kill Iron Mike to let him go for some better products on his roster in the defensive end?
 

Funny didn't Keenen like another player during his tenure with the Blues and ended up trading him?
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I can't keep track of all of Keenan's love, hate, hate more, then detest bench and trade relationships over the years.

Still I mean would it kill Iron Mike to let him go for some better products on his roster in the defensive end?
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Replacing an elite goalie is nearly impossible to do, especially one who is on the cusp of possible greatness.
 


Tuzenbach said:
Methinks the Devils are in Trouble! Maybe they can salary dump one of their defensemen onto LA.
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It was the Elias contract that has put the Devils over the cap. However, Elias is still recovering from Hep-A and his contract can be deducted from the Devils salary total as long as he is still recovering. Once he comes back, however, his salary is added back into the mix.

The Devils haven't even resigned Stevens, Albelin, or Corey Schwab, yet. Brodeur is the Devils' highest paid player at just over $5.2 million US. Then comes Rafalski ($4.2 m), Elias ($4.18 m), Madden ($3.861 m), Malakhov ($3.6 m), Mogilny ($3.5 m), Friesen ($2.28 m), Gomez ($2.2 m), McGillis ($2.2 m), Kozlov ($1.746 m), C. White ($1.71 m), Langenbrunner ($1.65 m), Brylin ($1.52 m), and Matvichuk ($1.386 m). The remaining contracts are all under $1 million US.

Of all those million dollar players the ones that were signed previous (I think) to Free Agency are Brodeur, Madden, Brylin, and Matvichuk. Now, if New Jersey wants to free up cap space when Elias is ready to return then someone is going to have to go, maybe even more than one player. Of course, Brodeur isn't going anywhere, so the Devils might have to send someone like Madden out the door along with one or two other players for a young rising star with a much lower salary.

In fact, I think several teams will eventally have to do such a move just to stay under the $39 million US cap.

Welcome to the New NHL. ;)

KF72
 

Here's the big news for today!

Lightning sign St. Louis to six-year deal

Canadian Press

8/24/2005 7:41:53 PM

TAMPA (CP) - First Vincent Lecavalier. Now Martin St. Louis.

The Tampa Bay Lightning locked up their second marquee player, signing St. Louis to $31.5-million US, six year-deal.

''I'm just happy that the Lightning have found a way to keep me long-term,'' St. Louis said Wednesday. ''Tampa was always my first choice, I've had so many good things happen to me in Tampa.''

St. Louis, 30, won the Hart Trophy in 2003-04 after recording 38 goals and 56 assists in 82 games. He had nine goals and 15 assists in 23 playoff games last year, helping Tampa Bay win its first Stanley Cup.

''I've said it many times in the past and I continue to maintain that Martin St. Louis is the heart and soul of our hockey team,'' Lightning GM Jay Feaster said in a statement. ''Dating all the way back to the summer of 2004, there was never a moment when we were not firmly committed as an organization to getting Marty signed long-term.''

On Aug. 16, Lecavalier signed for $27.5 million over four years. The size of that deal cut into the Lightning's salary-cap room, but the team still found a way to sign the pocket-sized sniper St. Louis.

''It's a tough new business with a cap and everything and I think we're a team that's been hurt the most by it,'' St. Louis said. While Tampa does have its two offensive stars locked up long-term, the Lightning did lose goalie Nikolai Khabibulin to Chicago.

''The fact that (St. Louis) was willing to take less and give up the chance to explore unrestricted free agency demonstrates his commitment to our team, his teammates, our franchise and our incredible fans,'' said Feaster.

Another big challenge for Feaster will come after this season. Brad Richards will become a restricted free agent after earning $3.4 million this season. He can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2007.

St. Louis, a five-foot-nine, 185-pound native of Laval, Que., has 109 goals and 150 assists in 364 career regular-season games.

''I don't mind if I'm in Tampa for the rest of my career and I retire here - I really have no problem with that,'' St. Louis said. ''It came down to trying to get a fair deal and I think both sides are really happy.''
 

Transactions for Wednesday, August 24th

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim - Re-signed centre Samuel Pahlsson and defenceman Ladislav Smid.

Carolina Hurricanes - Agreed to terms with forward Niklas Nordgren on a one-year contract.

Dallas Stars - Signed forward Jussi Jokinen to a two-year contract, forward Loui Eriksson, goaltender Tobias Stephan and defenceman Nicklas Grossman to three-year contracts and defenceman Dan Jancevski to a one-year contract.

Detroit Red Wings - Signed defenceman Andreas Lilja, who had been with the Nashville Predators, and forward Don MacLean, who had been with the Columbus Blue Jackets, to one-year contracts; re-signed forward Matt Ellis to a two-year contract.

Los Angeles Kings - Agreed to terms with defenceman Joey Mormina on a multi-year contract.

Minnesota Wild - Signed forward Peter Olvecky.

New York Islanders - Re-signed forward Justin Papineau to a one-year contract.

Pittsburgh Penguins - Signed defenceman Daniel Fernholm.

San Jose Sharks - Signed forward Tom Cavanagh.

Tampa Bay Lightning - Re-signed forward Martin St. Louis to a six-year contract.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Acquired forward John Pohl from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations.

Vancouver Canucks - Re-signed restricted free agent defenceman Mattias Ohlund to a multi-year contract.

Washington Capitals - Signed forward Chris Clark.
 
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Canucks sign Ohlund to four-year deal

Canadian Press

8/24/2005 2:03:46 PM

BURNABY, B.C. (CP) - The Vancouver Canucks and Mattias Ohlund have avoided salary arbitration after the defenceman was signed to a $14-million US, four-year deal Wednesday.

Ohlund's case was scheduled to be heard by an arbitrator Friday. He had reportedly wanted around $3.25 million US per season. His new deal works out $3.5 million per year.

''We are extremely pleased to have come to terms with Mattias,'' Canucks GM Dave Nonis said in a release. ''He has proven himself to be one of the premier defencemen in this league and we are thrilled that he will be wearing a Canucks jersey to start the 2005-06 season.''

The Ohlund deal pushes the Canucks payroll over $37 million, leaving them with less than $2 million under the salary cap.

In 2003-04, the Swede recorded 14 goals and 20 assists in 82 games and was plus-14. He added a goal and four assists in seven playoff games.

Ohlund, 28, has 54 goals and 158 assists in 480 career regular-season games.

The six-foot-two, 220-pound blue-liner was selected 13th overall by the Canucks in the 1994 draft.
 

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