Archives › James O’Brien
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Ducks sign Toni Lydman to three-year, $9M contract
Jul 1, 2010, 3:05 PM EDT
Comments OffJust as TSN had an interview with recently retired Hall of Famer-to-be Scott Niedermayer, the Anaheim Ducks will decide to move on with … Toni Lydman. OK, that’s not completely fair, but they surely paid a pretty big price for a largely nondescript defenseman. Bob McKenzie reports that the Ducks signed Lydman to a three-year,…
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Just moments ago, I expressed shock that the Philadelphia Flyers signed Jody Shelley for more than $1 million per year. Perhaps the New York Rangers and Glen Sather felt left out of the mockery, as the team signed Derek “The Boogeyman” Boogaard to a dopey four-year deal worth $1.65 million per season according to Larry…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Flyers surprisingly give Jody Shelley 3-year, $3.3M contract
Jul 1, 2010, 2:31 PM EDT
The Philadelphia Flyers signed rugged forward Jody Shelley to a stunning three-year, $3.3 million deal according to Bob McKenzie. Uh, what? Look, I know the Flyers enjoy living in the stone age at times, re-living their Broad Street Bullies days over and over again. Shelley won’t bring many (if any) points to the table, so…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Derek Morris signs four-year, $11M contract with Coyotes
Jul 1, 2010, 2:17 PM EDT
Comments OffHow, exactly, does Derek Morris keep making so much money? The Boston Bruins gave him a one year, $3.3 million deal last year and now the Phoenix Coyotes signed him to a ridiculous four-year, $11 million deal according to HNIC’s Jeff Marek. That’s about $2.75 million per year for the 31-year-old defenseman who can bring…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Flyers sign Sean O'Donnell to one-year, $1M deal
Jul 1, 2010, 2:04 PM EDT
Comments OffThe Philadelphia Flyers’ defense now looks complete thanks to the signing of veteran D Sean O’Donnell. The team signed him to a one-year, $1 million contract according to Broad Street Hockey. O’Donnell is your typical grizzled veteran. He was a member of the Cup-winning Anaheim Ducks (so chances are he might be pals – or…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Sharks sign Antero Niittymaki to two-year, $4M deal
Jul 1, 2010, 1:49 PM EDT
Comments OffThe San Jose Sharks signed Antero Niittymaki to a two-year, $4 million contract according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun. In case you really hate simple division, his salary cap hit will be $2 million per year. I have to admit, this deal is a little surprising. It’s obviously not an enormous amount of money, but it…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Habs sign backup Alex Auld to one-year, $1M deal
Jul 1, 2010, 1:36 PM EDT
Comments OffThe Montreal Canadiens reportedly signed career backup Alex Auld to a one-year, $1 million contract. (Source: TSN’s James Duthie) Auld’s presence adds credibility to the rumors that Dan Ellis will probably put on a different team’s sweater next season (although, considering the fact that Carey Price is also waiting for an extension as a restricted…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Tampa Bay signs Martin St. Louis to 4-year, $22.5M extension
Jul 1, 2010, 1:15 PM EDT
Martin St. Louis looks like he’ll be a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning for five more years. New GM Steve Yzerman is making some nice moves today, ridding the team of an excessive contract in Andrej Meszaros and now inking the pint-sized St. Louis to a four-year contract extension. The four-year deal is worth…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Hurricanes bring back Anton Babchuk … again
Jul 1, 2010, 12:59 PM EDT
Comments OffThe Carolina Hurricanes continue their on-again off-again love affair with Anton Babchuk, signing the big defenseman to a one-year, $1.4 million contract according to Kevin Allen of USA Today. Babchuk has had an odd career, ping-ponging back and forth from the Hurricanes to Omsk Avangard in Russia every other year. Last season, he played in…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Flyers re-sign Braydon Coburn to two-year, $6.4M extension
Jul 1, 2010, 12:31 PM EDT
Comments OffEven without signing Dan Hamhuis, the Philadelphia Flyers look to have one of the most expensive defensive units in hockey. They traded for Andrej Meszaros moments ago and now re-signed RFA defenseman Braydon Coburn to a two-year, $6.4 million contract according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Here’s the breakdown of what their defensemen will be making…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Rangers sign Martin Biron to back up Henrik Lundqvist
Jul 1, 2010, 12:10 PM EDT
Comments OffThe New York Rangers are giving all-world starter Henrik Lundqvist a little support in the form of one-time starter Martin Biron, whom they signed to a two-year deal with the team for about 900K per season (according to Darren Dreger and other sources). Biron did not play very well for the New York Islanders last…
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For some reason, I just assumed that the New Jersey Devils would re-sign Paul Martin. The team and the blueliner seemed tethered together because New Jersey is a little shallow in its own end while Martin never really lit up the world from a scoring standpoint. Then again, GM Lou Lamoriello is also known for…
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Earlier today, I discussed the five NHL teams I think have the best chance of landing Ilya Kovalchuk … plus the very real possibility he might take the big bucks in the KHL. Ultimately, I listed the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs. Still, these are just gut reactions…
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Flyers stick with goaltending formula, sign Michael Leighton to two-year, $3.1 M deal
Jun 30, 2010, 4:40 PM EDT
Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher will be the Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltending duo for the 2010-11 season. Nick Kypreos just reported that Leighton signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract with the team. With that approximate $1.55 million cap hit, the team will spend about $2.5 million in net next season. Year after year, the Flyers go…
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Top 5 most likely NHL destinations for Ilya Kovalchuk (plus the KHL)
Jun 30, 2010, 4:00 PM EDT
Almost a month ago, I wrote a series of posts about Ilya Kovalchuk’s impending free agent status. In the first one, I advised NHL general managers to be careful about throwing big money at Kovalchuk. I followed that up with early speculation on where the talented but pricey left wing might land. With NHL free…
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Oilers acquire Vandermeer from Coyotes, Phoenix then buys out O'Sullivan
Jun 30, 2010, 2:40 PM EDT
Comments OffThe original thought was that the Edmonton Oilers would just buy out talented but troubled forward Patrick O’Sullivan. Instead, TSN reports that the team traded him to the Phoenix Coyotes for defenseman Jim Vandermeer. While the Oilers look to keep Vandermeer, the Coyotes were the ones who bought O’Sullivan out instead. O’Sullivan will be bought…
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NHL fires Coyotes president Doug Moss, promotes Mike Nealy to spot
Jun 30, 2010, 1:30 PM EDT
Comments OffIt’s not easy when the NHL is your boss. The league, aka the acting owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, fired team president Doug Moss and promoted Mike Nealy to the vacated position. TSN has the report, along with this quick summary of the two executives’ backgrounds. Moss had been the Coyotes’ President since December, 2002.…
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Columbus claims Moreau; NHL teams put Dawes, Preissing, others on waivers
Jun 30, 2010, 1:10 PM EDT
Comments OffWhile the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed Ethan Moreau off of waivers, there are plenty of other players on the waiver wire today. Here is a list from Kevin Allen of USA Today. On waivers today: Tom Preissing, Jay Pandolfo, Andrew Peters, Nigel Dawes and Nokelainen. Preissing is a very flawed defenseman (although he could provide…
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After a long, highly-productive (if rarely pretty) NHL career, it looks like Rod will retire “The Bod.” Nick Kypreos and WRAL Sports reports that Rod Brind’Amour will announce the end of his playing days today. It will be interesting to see what kind of salary cap impact his retirement will have. From everything I’ve read,…
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Could fallen stars Cheechoo, Kariya and Tanguay be worth a look?
Jun 30, 2010, 11:30 AM EDT
While tomorrow’s “free agent frenzy” should provide plenty of splashy moves and interesting deals, there is a slight sense that most NHL teams made it to the buffet table after Overeaters Anonymous already ran wild on the good stuff. Aside from the soon-to-be-rich(er) Ilya Kovalchuk, most of the restricted and unrestricted free agents are far…
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It might not be surprising news, but it’s sad anyway; hobbled Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Van Ryn will not play in the 2010-11 season, according to TSN. Naturally, this brings up questions of retirement. Van Ryn didn’t play a single game in the 2009-10 season and only appeared in 27 in 08-09 and 20…
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Devils avoid arbitration with David Clarkson, sign him to three-year deal
Jun 30, 2010, 10:40 AM EDT
Comments OffWhenever you see a team sign a free agent today, think of it as a slacker college student writing a 10-page research paper in a single Red Bull-laced day of desperation (not that I *cough* ever experienced such a thing). This is the final opportunity for teams to avoid ugly and uncomfortable processes like arbitration…
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Chicago Blackhawks extend $1.65M qualifying offer to Andrew Ladd
Jun 27, 2010, 5:45 PM EDT
Even after moving Dustin Byfuglien and Brent Sopel, the Chicago Blackhawks are still going to struggle with the salary cap. That will force some tough decisions with players like Antti Niemi and Niklas Hjalmarsson, but the team hopes to bring back at least one restricted free agent in Andrew Ladd. The Blackhawks extended a qualifying…
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Boston Bruins would be crazy to trade Marc Savard for Mikhail Grabovski
Jun 27, 2010, 5:20 PM EDT
The Boston Bruins would be nuts to trade Marc Savard for next to nothing (er, I mean, Mikhail Grabovski). They’re considering the idea, though, at least according to the current rumor circulating via Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. I can see the logic of moving him for a valuable defenseman, but for Grabovski? That…
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The days of the Southeast division being the NHL's worst may be numbered
Jun 27, 2010, 4:30 PM EDT
Let’s face the facts … the Southeast division has been a bad joke for years. Each season, the Washington Capitals seem to end any doubt about its division title winner by, what, November? Even though they’ve won two Stanley Cups fairly recently, those Carolina and Tampa Bay teams fell apart in the blink of an…
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Video: Highlights: Penguins crush Senators to move on
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Video: Neil hits Murray below the belt
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Video: Morrow's goal up for review in Game 5
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Video: Phantom penalty called on Crosby
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Video: I was there: Bruins stun Maple Leafs in Game 7
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Video: Top-seeded Blackhawks on brink of elimination
