tOfficial NHL Free Agency Thread

[WallyST19]

TSN: Colorado Avalanche have signed David Koci, 1 year and $575k.

[WallyST19]

TSN: Leafs trade Kubina to Thrashers for Garnet Exelby and other components

[newlander]

DELETE MY THREAD ON THIS: SHOULD'VE KNOWN PR WOULD HAVE IT BY NOW: I'LL TAKE MY BEATING NOW...................BRING IT.................

[wolenbe1]

TSN: D Mike Komisarek signed 5 year, $22.5 million contract with Toronto Maple Leafs.

F Steve Sullivan re-signed with Nashville on a 2 year deal for $7.5 million.

Columbus signed C Samuel Pahlsson for $7.95 million over 3 years and G Mathieu Garon for 2 years and $2.4 million.

F Mike Cammalleri signed with Montreal for $30 million over 5 years.

[Nals]

TSN: Marian Gaborik to Rangers 5 yrs 37.5 million.

[PRStoetzer]

Originally Posted by Nals

TSN: Marian Gaborik to Rangers 5 yrs 37.5 million.

Corrected. $7.5 million per year.

[PRStoetzer]

Canadiens sign Brian Gionta. 5 years, $25 million.

[wolenbe1]

Chris Neil is staying with Ottawa for $8 million over 4 years.

[PRStoetzer]

John Madden signs with the Blackhawks. 1 year, $2.75 million.

[wvaspartan]

And I think the Hawks are done after that...Wow! They needed to replace Walker and Havlat and got Hossa and Madden with Kopecky thrown in...that's pretty darn impressive. I think the only thing left is goal (possibly) since I never thought Huet was a #1.

[PRStoetzer]

Martin Havlat signs with Minnesota. 6 years, $30 million.

[WLCViking37]

As much as they made the "big" signings of the day; I think Chicago is definetly the "losers" of day one of free agency. The cap hit is ridiculous for Kopecky; i could of seen maybe 750k, but 1.2 mil. That is really high for someone who has no scoring touch, isn't much of a grinder, can't fight, and is injury prone.

The Hossa signing was worse, they have no room next year for: Kane, Toews, Skille, Ladd, and Keith. So, instead of growing their incredible core of young superstars together, they will probably lose around half of that to free agency and offer sheets.

The Madden signing was good, as he replaces Pahlsson as a player perfectly; as well as adding some much needed leadership.

I wanted the Wings to go after Chris Neil but not at 4 million per year. However, I completely trust Ken Holland.

[WallyST19]

Originally Posted by WLCViking37

I think Chicago is definetly the "losers" of day one of free agency. The cap hit is ridiculous for Kopecky; i could of seen maybe 750k, but 1.2 mil. That is really high for someone who has no scoring touch, isn't much of a grinder, can't fight, and is injury prone.

Chicago's day looks good on paper, but PR had a good point in some other threads that their 2010-11 cap hit is going to be ridiculous for 8-10 players. Should be interesting how many AHLers get called up that year.

Originally Posted by WLCViking37

I wanted the Wings to go after Chris Neil but not at 4 million per year. However, I completely trust Ken Holland.

This should be put on currency. He might not always make splash with free agents, but I believe the last wrong move he made was in 1995 when he took a left on Woodward off of Grand when he should have gone right.

[tjmania]

1st day of free agency usually breeds big money being thrown around, by desperate teams.

I see Montreal being the only winner, they did well w/ Gomez, Ginota, Cammaleri and Hal Gill

Lots of losers...see Minnesota signing Havlat which pretty much ensures tWild of not making the playoffs, again.

[Johnny B]

I don't agree with a lot of the sentiments regarding Dale Tallon's moves yesterday.

With or without Hossa signing, the Blackhawks were looking at seven RFAs at the end of next season with a projected salary cap decrease up to $4-5 million. It was going to be tough resigning the core of Kane, Toews and Keith (Ladd, in my opinion, is replaceable) and getting under the cap no matter what happened yesterday. Also don't forget Seabrook is an RFA in 2011-12.

Tallon did what he could with next year in mind. Havlat wanted a long-term contract and the Hawks were thinking one or two years. He signed Hossa long-term in exchange for Hossa taking a $2.2 million hit annually.

[tritongreen]

I cant skate around the rink without holding on to the dasher, but I believe I could get 1.5M per for 6-8 years from Montreal.

[wolenbe1]

TSN: Pittsburgh UFA D Rob Scuderi has signed a 4 year, $13.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Kings.

Second top-4 defensemen they've lost this off season...

[bertie wooster]

Originally Posted by Johnny B

I don't agree with a lot of the sentiments regarding Dale Tallon's moves yesterday.

With or without Hossa signing, the Blackhawks were looking at seven RFAs at the end of next season with a projected salary cap decrease up to $4-5 million. It was going to be tough resigning the core of Kane, Toews and Keith (Ladd, in my opinion, is replaceable) and getting under the cap no matter what happened yesterday. Also don't forget Seabrook is an RFA in 2011-12.

Tallon did what he could with next year in mind. Havlat wanted a long-term contract and the Hawks were thinking one or two years. He signed Hossa long-term in exchange for Hossa taking a $2.2 million hit annually.

Hossa is taking around a 5.2 million hit, not 2.2, annually (I think you just mistyped). So Chicago is basically taking a chance on winning the cup this year in return for losing several players next year. But I'm with you, this is good risk to take.

My take on free agency is that we are seeing the cap do what it did in the NFL, namely increase parity. Detroit and Pittsburgh, the two top teams over the last couple of years, both lost key players thanks to the cap. Chicago will face the same next year. Meanwhile, mediocre teams such as the Flames, Canadiens, and Rangers were able to spend big money to lure in good players in order to try and get to the Wings/Pens levels. Expect more of this over the next few years.

[Tek Jansen]

Originally Posted by bertie wooster

Hossa is taking around a 5.2 million hit, not 2.2

That or he was making $7.4 million and he's knocked down (or hit) $2.2 million.

Of course, that's over the whole contract. In the first 7 years, Hossa makes something like $59.2 million of the $62 million.

[ComeClarity]

Originally Posted by tritongreen

I cant skate around the rink without holding on to the dasher, but I believe I could get 1.5M per for 6-8 years from Montreal.

[Kurt Sexington]

Originally Posted by ComeClarity

The Habs had a bunch of cap room and needed to spend it somewhere. The Gomez contract is bad and they overpaid Gionta but 6 Mill for Cammalleri is, in my humble opinion, not a bad deal.

Also, something no one is pointing out is that all three of these guys rarely get injured. The Habs could have tossed 7 million at Gaborik or Havlat and had to deal with their injuries. Gainey is sick and tired of injured players and having to deal with a depleted lineup. Gomez is never injured and Gionta and Cammalleri are both sturdy as hell.

I like the moves, but maybe not the price.

[Tek Jansen]

Originally Posted by Kurt Sexington

The Habs had a bunch of cap room and needed to spend it somewhere. The Gomez contract is bad and they overpaid Gionta but 6 Mill for Cammalleri is, in my humble opinion, not a bad deal.

Also, something no one is pointing out is that all three of these guys rarely get injured. The Habs could have tossed 7 million at Gaborik or Havlat and had to deal with their injuries. Gainey is sick and tired of injured players and having to deal with a depleted lineup. Gomez is never injured and Gionta and Cammalleri are both sturdy as hell.

I like the moves, but maybe not the price.

All a little small, though. And Komisarek being off the blue line takes away some grittiness. Thankfully, Hal "Clutch/Grab/Interference" Gill is no Komisarek.

[Kurt Sexington]

Originally Posted by Tek Jansen

All a little small, though. And Komisarek being off the blue line takes away some grittiness. Thankfully, Hal "Clutch/Grab/Interference" Gill is no Komisarek.

Komisarek was without a doubt the most overrated of the Habs player. No offense, zero puck moving capabilities, and some of the highest turnover numbers in the game and we're supposed to pay this guy 4.5 million? Screw that. As far as I'm concerned, Hal Gill can do just about the same thing as Komisarek did (block shots) and maybe win a fight once in awhile too.

I'm hoping the Habs dump some salary and pick up Beauchemin.

[PRStoetzer]

The Vancouver Canucks have signed Mikael Samuelsson to a 3-year contract.

[WallyST19]

Originally Posted by PRStoetzer

The Vancouver Canucks have signed Mikael Samuelsson to a 3-year contract.

Too bad for us.