Top Posts
-
What if… The Sabres didn't match Edmonton's offer sheet for Thomas Vanek
Jul 15, 2010, 1:00 PM EDT
2 CommentsSuspend your disbelief and throw your Back To The Future ways of dealing with “What if?” stories right now for a bit. James’ post yesterday about some of the most infamous offer sheets the NHL has ever seen got me thinking about one of the more recent, and infamous, ones dealt out. Edmonton’s offer sheet…
-
Believe it or not, the life of a top ten NHL draft pick is sometimes a rough one. Take, for instance, the career to this point of 2008′s sixth overall selection Nikita Filatov. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets and viewed to be the next guy to slide into the lineup with superstar…
-
Aside from the Ilya Kovalchuk circus that continues to plod along, the Simon Gagne trade rumor side show is this off-season’s other entertaining show. While Gagne has acknowledged that he’s indeed a target for trades, where he could be headed is a bit wide open for speculation. While Los Angeles, should they fail to land…
-
For a lot of players in the NHL, it can be tough to endear yourself to the hometown fans. Usually exceptional play and winning plenty of games will do all the hard work for you. But what if you’re already much beloved in the home city. Is there another level you can take your popularity…
-
If you recall back in April, there was one name that got a lot of mention during college hockey’s NCAA Tournament was RIT goaltender Jared DeMichiel. After all, he helped the low-ranked Tigers beat top-seeded Denver University as well as the University of New Hampshire to give the school their first berth in the Frozen…
-
One restricted free agent that’s not getting much notice of late is Montreal’s Carey Price. After all, when you lost your job halfway through the season and played backup to a guy that was a veritable Superman in the playoffs in Jaroslav Halak, it’s expected that what was once a very bright future might seem…
-
Checking out the Blackhawks top candidates to be traded for cap space
Jul 14, 2010, 10:35 PM EDT
Yesterday, James got into the salary cap woes facing the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. Yes, their issues are many and their answers to solving those problems all point towards further disbanding the team that just won the franchise’s first Cup since 1961. If something is going to be done and players are going…
-
Another day, another Olympic hero for their country signs on with a Canadian NHL team. Yesterday it was Switzerland’s Roman Wick signing with the Ottawa Senators and today it’s Germany’s Marcel Mueller signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Olympic forward Marcel Mueller to a two-year entry-level contract, after a…
-
Prepare your “must be a slow news day, eh?” quips for this bit of news. The Oilers have re-signed one of their primary depth forwards for another year. General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with left-winger J.F. Jacques on a one-year deal. Jacques, 25, played in 49 games…
-
Looking back at the most scandalous offer sheet dramas in NHL history
Jul 14, 2010, 6:10 PM EDT
I’ve stated this quite a bit the last few days, but it’s surprising NHL teams are so reluctant to send promising players offer sheets. I imagine there’s a lot of “Golden Rule” justification for staying away (“What if I’m in their shoes?,” general managers would shout), but … wouldn’t Bobby Ryan be worth a few…
-
Nikolai Zherdev claims that he is now a 'two-way player'; Is water no longer wet?
Jul 14, 2010, 5:40 PM EDT
Comments OffDuring a conference call today, Nikolai Zherdev referred to himself as a “two-way player.” In other news from Bizarro Land, I condemn puns, hate bacon and find Madonna interesting. All joking aside, the talented Russian winger claims that he’s improved in one of the areas that once made Ken Hitchcock and John Tortorella pitch fits.…
-
2010 NHL Free Agency: Minnesota brings back backup goalie Josh Harding for one year
Jul 14, 2010, 5:00 PM EDT
Comments OffApparently, the Minnesota Wild saw my post* about the players who might be worth an offer sheet this summer. The team announced that they signed Josh Harding to a one-year contract, although financial terms have not been disclosed by the team. Update: Michael Russo reports that the Wild signed Harding to a one-year, $1.2 million…
-
Scary, unsubstantiated rumor of the day: Could the salary cap ceiling drop to $48M in 2012?
Jul 14, 2010, 4:30 PM EDT
Comments OffNow, the most important thing to note is that this is a rumor. I thought I’d get that out of the way immediately. The thing is, this rumor comes from one of the most respected, stable and trusted writers in hockey (Lyle “Spector” Richardson, to be exact). With all the Donald Fehr talk, it’s natural…
-
Simon Gagne's agent confirms rumors of a possible (though not 'imminent') trade
Jul 14, 2010, 3:50 PM EDT
There have been plenty of rumors about Simon Gagne being traded by the Philadelphia Flyers, but it’s one thing to hear an anonymous source say it and other to hear it straight from the horse’s/agent’s mouth. So, yes, it’s not startling to hear that the Flyers are allowing Gagne to discuss a future contract with…
-
Report: Donald Fehr will stay with NHLPA but won't be executive director (yet)
Jul 14, 2010, 3:20 PM EDT
Comments OffWhile lockout-wounded hockey fans probably still tremble at the name Bob Goodenow, Donald Fehr is the name bandied about as the player’s union figurehead during Major League Baseball’s hugely damaging strike. So seeing that (in)famous name connected to the NHL Players Association is like a professional wrestler hearing The Undertaker’s music. I’m not sure if…
-
Teemu Selanne isn't ready to make his retirement decision just yet
Jul 14, 2010, 3:00 PM EDT
Comments OffIt’s become a summer tradition like sundresses and sweat-stained T-shirts. Teemu Selanne is once again needing some time to do some soul-searching regarding his retirement decision. You can’t call him Brett Favre because – even when he sat out some games – he still came back and never actually retired. Still, the creeping possibility of…
-
At this point in free agency, the focus shifts from the gems to flawed guys who can still bring some skill to the table. So, going forward, we’ll spotlight individual players who are flying under the radar. Yesterday’s entry: Vyacheslav “Slava” Kozlov. Today, I’ll take a look at Alexander Frolov. Name: Alexander FrolovHeight: 6-2 Weight:…
-
2010 NHL Free Agency: Antti Niemi's agent hopes to make deal before salary arbitration
Jul 14, 2010, 12:40 PM EDT
Comments OffAntti Niemi’s potential July 29 salary arbitration case would be one of the most intriguing in recent NHL history. It could set a precedent for players who have skinny resumes with big bullet points like “won starting job over $5.6 million goalie” and “back-stopped team to Stanley Cup in first playoff run.” That being said,…
-
In this free agent frenzy filled July, we often look at team building through a sober lens of numbers or – as fans – like we’re filling our plates at some hockey buffet table. The “human element” is often lost in this process, especially for the far-from-superstar players. While it’s quite reasonable to imagine that…
-
Is Kansas City a Plan B if NY Islanders' Lighthouse Project falls through?
Jul 14, 2010, 11:20 AM EDT
When Kate Murray, the supervisor of Hempstead Town, unveiled a plan that would greatly reduce the scale of the Lighthouse Project, it was seen as a big blow to New York Islanders owner Charles Wang’s plan to make the team more profitable. As we discussed on Monday, the team is looking at some backup plans,…
