NHL Review

UFAs We Can't Help But Love

2009-06-28T17:52:00.000-07:00

In a couple of days, the infamous "dog days of Summer" officially begin, bringing along with it hot dogs, pickup ball games and of course the frenzy that is the NHL free agency. The talks are already brewing and many GMs are looking to make a splash as soon as July 1st appears. Though there are many familiar names, such as Hossa, Gaborik and Sundin (one of whom should just CALL IT QUITS), there are quite a few role players and above-average players who do not get the recognition they deserve... or the salary for that matter.

Here are some of the upcoming free agents that we can't help but love, whether it is their grind it out attitude or veteran experience that we look up to and respect.

Name: Mark Recchi
Team: Boston Bruins
Age: 41
Salary: $1.5m
Team should play for: Boston Bruins

It is certainly no secret that this guy is old, but as much as we want him to retire there is just too much gas left in the tank to let him retire. Recchi is a force throughout the regular season, especially after the trade deadline, as this veteran has been a favorite numerous years during trade time. Though we mentioned his aging body, this man has been no slouch in the points department, registering 61 of them (23 goals 38 assists) between the horrifyingly bad Tampa Bay Lightning and the playoff-choking Boston Bruins. Though he finished in the negatives (+/- -16), this sniper knows how to put the puck in the net, and has no intentions of giving up anytime soon. He has stated that he loves the Bruins' organization and would like to stay, given the opportunity of course. Boston would be wise to resign Recchi, if not only to a one year deal. This would allow Recchi to compete with a cup contender, also being low risk to the Bruins. If he does not perform well, no big deal, there are plenty of minor league guys waiting to fill a roster spot.

Name: Nikolai Antropov
Team: New York Rangers
Age: 29
Salary: $2.05m
Team should play for: Edmonton Oilers, KHL(?)

Nik Antropov was acquired at the trade deadline for a conditional pick and a second rounder at this year's draft. Now, the New York Rangers are asking, "was it worth it?" Personally I don't think so. The whole point of getting this guy was to bolster their lineup with Toronto's power forward center going into the playoffs. The Rangers didn't even make it through the first round! The blueshirts are reconsidering this rental player as he was not the player he though he was, only registering 3 points in the 7 game series against Washington; good, but nothing to sneeze at. With all the Heatley rumors swirling about, it is difficult to get a read into this situation, but if the Rangers DO decide to trade for the all-star Senator, Antropov's rights may be going the other way (granted the Rags trade for his rights before July 1st). A more likely scenario is that he may play in Russia, as he has been reported to want $5m for his next contract (which his numbers CLEARLY do not reflect). He could also sign with the Oilers, if they choose to pay that outrageous price. Either way, Antropov is highly overrated. End of story.

Name: Rob Scuderi
Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 30
Salary: $0.725m
Team should play for: Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators

Though not an offensive player, Rob Scuderi is arguably one of the best shutdown defenseman in the league. At age 30, this former Boston College Eagle will want a big pay raise come July 1st, as he was a force in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Able to shutdown big names like Alex Ovechkin and Eric Staal is not a small task, especially for a smaller guy like Scuds. The key to keeping Ovie honest was to not let him get to his forehand, enabling the Russian prodigy nearly useless. Though many are saying Scuderi is worth $3m, I think he is a pretty humble guy and will want to resign with the Penguins at around $2m. However, many GMs would love to have him, as he has really proven himself all season long with spectacular defense (especially considering his partner was HAL GILL). Though we probably will see this guy back in the Burgh, I have a feeling he will go to Nashville if he decides to walk.

Flames add Jay Bouwmeester, Ducks Unload Pronger, Free Cap Space.

2009-06-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

Well the NHL Draft was nothing less than exciting Friday in regards to trading, as two major trades were made by Calgary, Anaheim, Philadelphia and Florida.

It was no surprise to most that star defenceman Jay Bouwmeester's rights were traded. The Panthers have been looking to unload this guy ever since they were eliminated from the postseason, keeping him at the deadline with the belief that they would be a playoff competitor. Shipping JayBo off to Calgary paid dividends in the name of Jordan Leopold (UFA) and a 2009 third-round draft pick. Though both Leopold and Bouwmeester are free agents in a few days, they both must want to sign with these teams. Well, not necessarily, but they are good homes for both of them.

Also on the trade front, was another prime defenceman by the name of Chris Pronger. He was given to the Flyers in exchange for (former and now current) Duck Joffery Lupul, rookie defenceman Luca Sbisa, and two first round picks (2009 and 2010). This is HUGE for the Anaheim Ducks, they (in my humble opinion) stole many assets from the Flyers in order to unload a salary cap hindrance as well as an aging veteran who isn't as good as he once was. Adding Lupul ignites their offense, who may click again with former cup winning teammates. I'm not sure if the Flyers took him because they knew Bouwmeester was already taken (Pronger deal came before Bouwmeester deal), or because Scott Niedermayer decided to strap up the laces next season... or maybe both? Either way, the Ducks really stole this trade. Good thing too, because they really got hosed after trading Chris Kunitz and top prospect Eric Tangradi to Pittsburgh for Ryan Whitney. Whatever makes 'em happy right?

Kaberle Summary, Heatley Rumors

2009-06-25T19:12:00.001-07:00

Okay so we all know about Heatley wanting to be traded, but here's what you need to know:

There are ten listed teams that he allegedly gave to GM Bryan Murray:

Los Angeles Kings
New York Rangers
San Jose Sharks
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Vancouver Canucks
Boston Bruins

I also heard that the Pittsburgh Penguins were on that list, but major reports do not give that information.

In addition, Heatley may go to one of three teams, according to many sources. They are the Minnesota Wild (not on the list), St. Louis Blues (also not on the list), and the New York Rangers. The Rangers have been rumored to offer many players including Nikolai Zherdev, draft picks and prospects. Los Angeles broadcaster Daryl Evans tweeted: "just spoke with Hexy about what OTT is asking for in exchange for Heatley. He said '1 or 2 players and our fifth pick.'"

To put it simply: We have absolutely NO idea where Heatley is going, but we're pretty sure it isn't Pittsburgh or Detroit (maybe not even then, I've seen speculation on the Pens' boards about Talbot, Kunitz and a 1st rounder but GM Shero learned his lesson with Hossa).

Tomas Kaberle Officially on the Market

The Toronto star defenceman is said to be up on the trade block only days before the NHL Draft. This is huge, as many offers have already been made to the blueliner. Some kind of deal is likely to go down just minutes before the draft begins tomorrow. TSN.ca has announced that an "unidentified team" has offered a high talent player as well as a draft pick for Kaberle. Though not much has been said (not surprising for Burke), there is definitely going to be some buzz around the hockey water cooler (couldn't think of an analogy...) tomorrow before draft time!

Draft Day Tomorrow! Let's Focus on Goaltending!

2009-06-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of talk about the 2009 NHL Draft lately (considering it is TOMORROW!), all about the Tavareses, Hedmans and Duchenes of the draft, but one essential position is being overlooked. We're talking about goaltenders, damnit! There are PLENTY of goaltenders listed on NHL.com's draft page, but not much is spoken about them. So I'm going to highlight who I think are the top 2 tenders and give a little background on them for you! Using first overall pick from 2003, Marc-Andre Fleury, I will use him as a model to take a look at the top goaltenders coming into this draft.

Now, we all know that first round goaltenders are a rarity. The last first overall goaltender was none other than Stanley Cup Champ Marc-Andre Fleury. Though he is a tremendous goaltender, he still is learning the tricks of the trade in the 'burgh and has his definite ups and downs. That's why first round goaltenders are so tricky; they have great skill but can struggle on getting back to basics. Rebound control is one of the things Marc-Andre HAS to improve on to become a top tier goaltender. Making the little saves, the safe plays and the smart decision of WHEN to get the puck when it is behind your net is something he needs to, and probably will learn in the future.

Top Goalie Prospect #1: Matthew Hackett

Junior League Team: Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

Native Country: Canada

Nephew of former NHL goaltender Jeff Hackett, Matthew is currently playing for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Despite a poor performance by Plymouth throughout the season, Hackett was able to bail his team out time and time again, somehow leading them to the playoffs through his tremendous play. The Whalers were able to bounce back in the playoffs, beating Sarnia to advance to the second round. Over the course of a season, Hackett competed in 55 games, earning a 3.04 GAA and a .913 save-percentage. In the postseason, Hackett was 6-5-0 and received a 3.01 GAA with a .913 save-percentage. Voted Plymouth's MVP for the 2009 Playoffs, Matthew has been no slouch in his short career as a Whaler and has proven himself on a sub-par team.

Top Goalie Prospect #2: Robin Lehner

Junior League Team: Frolunda Jr. (SWE-JR.)

Native Country: Sweden

At 6' 3" and 220 lbs, Robin Lehner is one of the top goaltenders to come out of Sweden this year. With Frolunda Jr., this netminder recorded a 3.02 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. Robin also competed in the IIHF U-18 tournament, tallying a 2.8 GAA and a 9.13 save percentage. This goalie is a big dude who has an unbelievable wave of motion and is quite flexible for his size. Critics have called this guy one of the strongest draft picks (physicality-wise) which enables him to keep those big power fowards out of his crease.

Sergei Fedorov Has Signed with the KHL, End of 18 Year NHL Career.

2009-06-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

Though not confirmed, it seems that all-star veteran Sergei Fedorov has decided to play out the remainder of his career with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL. Though there was speculation that this would be the case for Feds, it was not for sure, as he did express interest in staying in the NHL with the Washington Captials. Fedorov, 39, stated in late May that he considered playing with his two brothers, Fedor and Evegny, to finish out his career as a star hockey player. This move seems like a wise one for the former 3 cup Stanley Cup champion, as he can still play the competitive game in a lesser market. Though it is rumored that he will be paid $3.8 million over in Russia (not sure how many Rubles that is), nothing has been officially confirmed by TSN or NHL.

Throughout his career, Fedorov played with greats such as Steve Yzerman and the young phenom Alex Ovechkin. Drafted in the 4th round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, Fedorov eventually began his career in Detroit, achieving great success with 3 Stanley Cup wins and multiple individual awards. He had a brief 2 year stint with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim before moving on to the Columbus Blue Jackets and eventually settling in with fellow countrymen Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals. His last season consisted of 52 games played, 11 goals, 22 assists, tallying 33 points.

Video of the Day: Rob Schremp in WB/S AHL Skills Competition

2009-06-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Rob Schremp in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton shootout from Pat Canella on Vimeo.

Chelios Not to Return to Wings Next Season; Still Wants to Play.

2009-06-25T13:59:00.000-07:00

According to TSN.ca and NHL.com, expert defenseman Chris Chelios will not play for the Wings come October. The future hall of famer and Red Wings' GM Ken Holland came to a mutual agreement last summer that the one year deal will be final and Chris will have to move on. Though he is not sure where his next (and possibly final) destination would be, he is confident that he can still play full-time and isn't looking to quit anytime soon. The 47 year old vet has played 28 games with the Red Wings and has not tallied a point in any of those games.

Sad to see him leave the Wings for sure, he said he still wants to play though, so I wonder who he'll end up with. Good idea to only sign him to a one year deal, frees up a bit of cap space as well for the Wings. Overall a good investment I'd say, decent backup and mentor for younger players.

Karri Ramo to Play in KHL with Avangard Omsk

2009-06-25T13:58:00.001-07:00

Finnish goaltender Karri Ramo has decided that he no longer wants to play second fiddle to Tampa Bay goalie Mike Smith. Ramo, 23, has decided to accept a 2 year contract with the Kontinental Hockey League's Avangard Omsk. Avangard is adding yet another NHL talent to its roster, which already includes players like Jarmior Jagr and Demitry Pestunov.

Hopefully this will be a smooth transition for the young goaltender, as he is used to both North American and European styles of play. Though Ramo is still young, he is an exceptional talent for Avangard to pick up and a good opportunity for Ramo to prove himself if he one day wants to play again in the NHL.

Mats Sundin will not participate in 2010 Olympics; Sweden Has Enough Firepower

2009-06-25T13:56:00.001-07:00

Veteran forward Mats Sundin told media that he has decided that he will not be playing in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Swedish captain and Canuck explained that his role on the team was over and it was about time somebody else stepped up and took the reigns as Captain.

"There will be no Olympics in Vancouver for me next year," Sundin was quoted as saying Sunday on the Swedish newspaper Expressen's website. "I will not change my mind," Sundin told the newspaper. "I think it's time that the next generation takes over. We have many good players."

Can't really argue with that quote considering the likes of Zetterberg, the Sedin twins, and Daniel Alfredsson are on Team Sweden as well. It is no secret that Sweden has been churning out quality players since the mid-90s. Scandinavia in general has produced a number of decent players in recent years and doesn't look like it is halting.

With the 2009 NHL Draft coming up, we see this trend continuing with puck-moving defenseman Victor Hedman. Competing for the top spot with John Tavares, Hedman may very well beat out the Canadian prodigy for #1. Though the Islanders have been mum about their first choice, the entire hockey fanbase is banking on the team to nab Tavares. I'm really not sure why they wouldn't, but GM Garth Snow has been quite secretive about the whole ordeal. Whether he picks Hedman or Tavares, it is bound to be an exciting draft day!

Calgary to host 2010 Winter Classic... but I thought.. the FENWAY!!

2009-06-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

Apparently there are talks in Calgary about having a Winter Classic there (as well as the Grey Cup). According to NHL.com and TSN.ca,

"The National Hockey League and NHLPA are in discussions that would see the Flames host the second of two outdoor games on New Year's Day.

The game would be played at McMahon Stadium, the home of the Stampeders, with ESPN The Magazine reporting the possible opponent being another Canadian team. The first game is expected to be played at Fenway Park in Boston with speculation the Bruins would host 2008-09 Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals."

So, basically there are going to be TWO Winter Classics? For some reason that seems wrong to me. The Winter Classic the past two years has been something that I look forward to (sadly on NBC), it is a once a year thing, having two may dissolve some of that "specialness." It seems that the NHL is just trying to make some revenue using Dual Winter Classics.

On the other hand, this enables an East pair and a West pair of teams to compete in the great outdoors at once, possibly one around 12:00 P.M. and the other at 7:00 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time). Thinking about this makes me hope that there are two different ones, though I hope it is light enough for the players (though how cool would it be having all the lights on the rink).

Personally I am happy for the Calgary Flames and their fans. I think Calgary is a neglected market in Canada, it is a great hockey club with a great fanbase as well as very talented players. I do hope it is against either the Canucks or some other Canadian team. Who wants to see Calgary and Phoenix? Also, I'm hoping they bust out the old Flames jerseys! If they DID play PHX, maybe they'd bring back THE JETS LOGO! One could only hope.

Sedin Bros. Want Dual 12 Year Contracts!?

2009-06-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

According to Swedish website expressen.se, the twins both want 12 year contracts (much like Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings) worth $63 Million! Though the Vancouver Canucks have stated that signing these two is a high priority, it may be too much for GM Mike Gillis to spend, especially in the longterm.

According to NHL.com, the Sedin brothers lead the Canucks in points, Henrik tallying 82 points (22 Goals, 60 Assists, +22) and Daniel also recording 82 points (31 Goals, 51 Assists, +24). Though these two are certainly worth a lot, I do not believe that any team will be crazy enough to meet these demands. Their talent is certainly something to admire, but why they CONSTANTLY have to be together is beyond me. The brothers have stated SEVERAL times that they will not be traded or dealt to another team unless both of them go, which of course is a good thing for the team on the receiving end.

Both of these guys earned $3.75 Million this season and are going to test the free agency July 1st, unless the Canucks sign a major deal first.

My Take

Personally, I think the Sedin Brothers need to get over themselves, not many GMs will want to sign these guys for that long of a contract. It is rather surprising that the Red Wings signed Zetterberg and Datsyuk for that long!

I will admit that these guys are very skilled, but I cannot get over how these two have to stick together in order to be on a team! How many brothers are in the NHL or were in the past? TONS. Jussi and Olli Jokinen, Mikko and Saku Koivu, Eric, Jordan and Marc Staal, and the list goes on and on. All of them are succeeding on separate teams, so why must the Sedins stick together? It is so annoying, yet so lucky for Vancouver fans because of their great chemistry. Maybe I'm just jealous but I am sick of them being so exclusive. Eventually they will break up and we will see how it goes.

Champs sign Go-Go to 3 year deal; Who's Leaving the Burgh?

2009-06-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

Well it looks as though the Pittsburgh Penguins wasted no time after completing their cup run to sign Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensemen Alex Goligoski to a long term (3 year) deal.

Though he spent a good amount of time up in the NHL with the Penguins due to the injury of Sergei Gonchar, Goligoski has been with the Baby Pens the majority of the season. With the Penguins' 7 defensemen, it was difficult for GoGo to get much playing time, which is essential for a developing player. In an interview, Alex was excited to become a Penguin long term, saying:

“I wanted to stay a Penguin for a long time. The way they treat you here and with this group of guys here, I think we can be a contender every year. I want to be a winner so it was an easy decision. I’m glad we were able to get (the contract) done early. It’s just really exciting right now.”

So, what does this mean for Pens fans? Well, it means a couple things.

With deals not yet on the table for Rob Scuderi, Hal Gill and Philippe Boucher, General Manager Ray Shero faces a tough off-season decision regarding the free agency. All three defensemen are UFAs come July 1st, so who do the Penguins tell to walk?

If Shero has his head on straight, he will sign Rob Scuderi at a relatively decent price and let the other two go. Scuds was an essential part of the winning dynamic in Pittsburgh, though not an offensive force by any means, this man was able to shut down top offensive leaders (Alex Ovechkin anyone?) time and time again, in both the playoffs and the regular season. Shero better lock this guy up to a deal soon, or other teams will be throwing offers left and right at Rob Scuderi.

So what about Hal Gill? Personally, I would tell this guy that his NHL career is just about over. This defensemen is big, slow and does not produce. You would think that a 6' 7" defensemen would have SOME kind of shot from the blueline (think Zdeno Chara), but you'd be wrong. Gill cannot even hit the net from there, let alone rip a slapshot. This guy is a pylon of a player, one who should try his luck in the KHL. Though I bet he still has some NHL-esque gas left in the tank, this 34 year old defensemen is only good on the penalty kill. In addition, U.S.S. Gill cannot deliver a check to save his life and it isn't like he is a small dude or anything. Pittsburgh would be wise to not even speak to this man about a contract extension, hopefully letting GoGo and Boucher (maybe) filling his spot.

Finally we come to Philippe Boucher's contract ending. What becomes of him? Well hopefully the Penguins either sign him to a cheap, one year deal (a scrap deal) or just get rid of him. Though he is a decent sized defensemen, he is past his prime and could be replaced by Gogo or even top AHL prospect Ben Lovejoy. I like Boucher a lot, but his career will probably end soon or dwindle down in Europe or something. Either way, Boucher is a decent space filler on D, who is an experienced veteran.

The Penguins should have an easy decision this offseason, but the cap always seems to be against them (though how could it not be?). With long-term deals with Orpik, Fleury, Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, it is tough to fit role players, much less D-men on the same bill! It'll be interesting to watch this summer!

NHL 2009 Draft Order

2009-06-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

1 New York Islanders
2 Tampa Bay Lightning
3 Colorado Avalanche
4 Atlanta Thrashers
5 Los Angeles Kings
6 Phoenix Coyotes
7 Toronto Maple Leafs
8 Dallas Stars
9 Ottawa Senators
10 Edmonton Oilers
11 Nashville Predators
12 Minnesota Wild
13 Buffalo Sabres
14 Florida Panthers
15 Anaheim Ducks
16 Columbus Blue Jackets
17 St. Louis Blues
18 Montreal Canadiens
19 New York Rangers
20 Calgary Flames
21 Philadelphia Flyers
22 Vancouver Canucks
23 New Jersey Devils
24 Washington Capitals
25 Boston Bruins
26 New York Islanders (from San Jose) ¹
27 Carolina Hurricanes
28 Chicago Blackhawks
29 Detroit Red Wings
30 Pittsburgh Penguins

Coyotes NOT Moving, What a Disappointment.

2009-06-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

It seems for now, at least according to the NHL and TSN, that the Arizona-based team isn't going anywhere. Seems that Jim isn't getting what he wants after all. Today, after a court hearing, it was decided by Judge Redfield T. Baum that the deadline requested by Balsillie was simply not enough time for the courts to settle the issue, thus denying CEO of Blackberry his dream of "making it seven."

So, why is this disappointment you ask? Well there are a few reasons that I wanted to point out, but this is simply my opinion:

No Market

Minimal Fans

I Love New Teams

No Market

It's in Arizona. Let me say that again just so we all are on the same page: IT IS IN ARIZONA. Though I can understand Commissioner Bettman's attempt to expand interest in hockey, I don't understand WHY IN THE WORLD they would move the beloved Winnipeg Jets to a place where hockey is as foreign as polar bears.

Minimal Fans

Now, I'm not very knowledgable about the fanbase in Phoenix, I do know that due to lack of revenue, the Coyotes' owner Moyes borrowed more and more money from other teams as well as the NHL itself, eventually borrowing right into bankruptcy (much like the US economy, interesting). So, the question is asked; where does revenue, aka CASH come from? THE FANS. Ticket sales, jersey sales, concessions, and anything else you can think of comes from the fans. Sure, sure advertising is big, but who are they going after? FANS. It all comes down to the fanbase, and without one, a team doesn't exist. If the 'Yotes had a bigger fanbase, maybe they wouldn't be such an awful team.... just sayin'.

I Love New Teams

I don't know about you guys, but I LOVE new teams. The new design, fans, atmosphere, jersey, logos, breath of fresh air, you name it! It is pretty exciting to see, and a new team would stir up a newer fanbase, especially in Canada. Disappointing to see this will not happen. Oh well, one can dream, right?

Test Post

2009-06-25T12:37:00.001-07:00

This is just a test wooooot