July 2 Open Thread: "Hey Buddy, Can Ya Spare A Top 6 Forward?"
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 4:47 AM PDT
in Free Agency
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4:35 PM ET - Another D man off the list as Rob Scuderi heads off to LA on a four year, 13.6 million dollar deal.
3:01 PM ET - Speaking of RFA's, Via Puck Daddy, Toronto resigns RFA Mikhail Grabovski to 3 year, $8.7 million deal.
2:15: PM ET - Three new Canuck signings folks...and by that I mean warm bodies for Manitoba. Or, conversely, Salo insurance. Via Canucks.com, please welcome back into the mix Nolan Baumgartner, Lawrence Nycholat and forward Matt Pope.
Nycholat was lost on waivers late in the season to Calgary who then lost him to Colorado who I believe never used him. Baumer has been here before and will return to patrolling the Moose blueline. Pope inked his entry level deal right before the draft.
Color me not impressed if I see more Nycholat than Rome this year (unless the former has figured out soft passes + middle of the ice = angry fans).
1:45 PM ET - Via TSN Tracker, Karlis Skrastins leaves Florida for Dallas on a two year deal. Strike another defenseman off the list.
11:52 AM ET - Via TSN Tracker, Adrian Aucoin lands in Phoenix on a one year deal. He and Jovo can laugh like school girls at their mutually piss poor defensive coverage. Labarbera, however, will not be pleased.
11:46 AM ET - Via TSN Tracker, Mark Recchi resigns in Boston for a year and Nik Antropov joins the Thrashers on a four year, $4 million dollar deal.
11:13 AM ET - Via Kukla, Ilkka Pikkarainen has signed a deal with the Devils (and is giving Ossi a challenge for most confusing name in the NHL). Via the TSN Tracker, Chris Thorburn resigns with Atlanta.
**********************************
After day one, the scorecard reads thusly:
In: Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Aaron Rome
Out: Mattias Ohlund, Jason Labarbera
Not exactly inspiring stuff, but the summer is a long time folks. Of the top five free agents available in the world yesterday, don't forget we did snag two of them. We'll find our top six forward and bottom four defenseman soon enough. Keep an eye out for Luongo's extension that should be coming down soon as well.
Last year Gillis added Pudge and Blackout on day #1. It took a day to confirm Johnson and Sanford and it wasn't until July 3rd he added Cullen and Bernier. Demitra signed on July 10th, Krog on July 11th, etc. It would appear he's following a similar, non-sexy approach.
Also, since Gillis ran this route last year, may as well keep an eye on the RFA's out there. Just skimming the list shows some quality guys or decent projects including Phil Kessel (already rumored in about five Boston to Toronto trades), Cam Barker, Kris Versteeg, Jack Johnson, Dan Fritsche (now a UFA), Tomas Plekanec, Guillaume Latendresse, Travis Zajac, Scottie Upshall, Keith Yandle and Shaone Morrisonn. Sure, some of these like Versteeg fall in the 'no chance in hell category' but if Gillis took a roll at Backes and was in position to do so with Bernier, he certainly isn't shy enough to try again.
Lastly, anyone else excited to potentially have the biggest bitch in the league on our doorstep? Keep an eye on the Wild too as they're bound to improve with Havlat locked in now.
I'll have real work today so if you see anything before we drop it in the comments.
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If the likes of Barker and Beauchemin end up the D, I’m buying you all a drink. Of Pepsi.
Chicago is leaving itself exposed with the Hossa contract and Toews-Kane-Keith
re-up’s next year, and outside of the Hawks going for it all this year
Tallon might be costing himself a vital puzzle piece soon.
Why not just bring up Jack Skille or Kyle Beach instead of the Marian contract,
regardless of its long-term savings?
Well you can look at it like Hossa is an upgrade over Havlat and Madden over Pahlsson. I assume Tallon knows he’s backed himself into a corner for next summer, but he also must think their team has a shot at it next year. I wouldn’t be terribly happy with Huet as the number one going forward, but maybe I’m wrong.
That said, they and Philly I think are ripe for FA poaching. It would have to be a nice offer for Barker to pry him away though.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 7:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Actually, just looking at PPP and they have the list of teams running out of money too. Looks like Boston, Philly and San Jose could all be targeted.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 7:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Blackhawk RFAs
Cam Barker
Antti Niemi (Received qualifying offer)
Petri Kontiola
Bryan Bickell
Troy Brouwer
Jacob Dowell (Received qualifying offer)
Corey Crawford
Ben Eager
Adam Berti
Pascal Pelletier
Tim Brent
James Sharrow
Colin Fraser
Tim Hambly
Adam Pineault
Kris Versteeg
Versteeg and Barker are clearly the ones they’ll fight tooth and nail to keep. Of the two, I’d aim for Barker.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Or take a run at Ben Eager and put him on a line with Ryp and Horidchuk. We’ll still be entertaining damn it all.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions
A Ripper-Blackout-Eager Line:
If this happened at some point mid-season Coach V would stop Gillis in a hallway and say
“These guys are retards, they brought their fuckin’ toys with them!”.
by Sneps-ish on Jul 2, 2009 8:56 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
We don’t need Eager. We’ve got that part of the lineup over-covered. But either Barker or Versteeg would be VERY nice. However, we’re not in the best shape to be making qualifying offers. I would imagine there are other teams with bigger cap space who would do it before us.
I wasn’t being serious with Eager, I just enjoy the thought of rolling that line out. Plus, Eager and Ryp can kiss and make up after the attempted murder Eager did in game three (or four?).
We’re not in the best position financially, but who cares. If you sense you can squeeze someone like Barker out, that’s a great replacement for Ohlund. Versteeg is a pipe dream though maybe, with all this new offense, they’d be open to moving his rights away for a pick (like Buffalo did with Bernier).
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, Versteeg would be sweet, and Barker, of course. Too many holes yet, guys. This is sad. Is Gillis turning into a thrift-shopping Nonis type?
Do any of you like the long-term deals like Hossa’s? I do, only in the sense that Chicago is going for it now and will stop at nothing. They look like the team to beat this year.
I get this feeling that we could end up a weaker team than last year because of that Sedin deal and the cap hit. Maybe Gillis thinks Hodgson and Grabner are ready to do some serious damage. I don’t know right now. All I know is that without freeing up some money, it’s salvation army time.
Shit, so Barbie went to Phoenix, huh. He deserved more playing time anyway.
by Sean Zandberg on Jul 2, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
It was good to watch this interview with Gilis, as he has a “master plan”.
by Sean Zandberg on Jul 2, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
I think this team is a contender. I don’t think we have much room to go up from here. We could make a cup run, but we will need a substantial number of bounces.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 2, 2009 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t think we’ll end up with a weaker team. To be a playoff team again, all we really need is one more legitimate top 3 d-man. Because our only real loss is Ohlund and defensive depth in general. Sundin was a not a huge factor in the regular season, and neither was Pyatt. And with the presumption of Welly’s return, and I expect more improvement from Raymond and Bernier, and with hopefully a 35+ point performance from Hodgson, I think our offense is right now on par with last year. If Kes and Burr somehow get even better, then we’re actually in good shape up front.
To be a real contender though, we need to add one more legit offensive piece, or one of the people I’ve mentioned has to more than just improve, they have to blossom big time.
by Beantown Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Good to see everyone is pissing themselves with joy over the return of Nycholat. I too share your raised eyebrow and facepalm.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Not Worse, But No Better
I’m mildly depressed that Recchi went back to Boston for $1 million.
If we can swing a trade involving Demitra, I’d be quite happy. But I can’t say that I’m unhappy about no signatures yet: Scuderi for $3.5 mil? Aucoin for $2.25 mil? Gaborik for $7.5 mil?!? The longer Gillis can dodge those numbers, the better!
Does Demo have a NTC? I feel like people hand them out like candy.
I’m feeling Gillis makes a move with a bit more sexiness over the next two days. Let the crazy people spend with reckless abandon and he’ll swoop in with, you know, a normal contract offer
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Doesn’t look like it: http://www.thefourthperiod.com/trade_deadline/notrades.html
It would be better than a buy-out, but I’d take that, too. Just not a fan of $4 million for his production, and could use the $2.6 million a buy-out would free up. Ah, well: maybe I’m just bitter.
Stupid Devils… If my team drops to lower league, I’ll blame them
Как же так может быть? - Finland fails at life. Seriously, someone please adopt me?
Hey they’ll have a fine collection of tongue twisting names. And away with those handy english names like Madden!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions
mr Pikkarainen was the best player in his team in Finland… they sucked before but I expect that they will suck even more this year. And I’m so not happy
I find finnish names relatively easy… unlike those twisted english ones ;)
Как же так может быть? - Finland fails at life. Seriously, someone please adopt me?
Hahaha, I bet. Glad to know you’re an Ossi fan through and through.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jul 2, 2009 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions
As much as I look with envy at the other teams and their free agent signings over the last day, there does not appear to me to be a single contract I would have wanted MG to sign. $3+ mil for Rob Scuderi? $5 for Havlat? $7.5 for Gaborik?$3.75 for Sullivan (in it’s own little way, possibly the most inflationary deal of the day yesterday, though I guess Nashville is going to need help to reach the cap floor). Hossa until he is 42? Even if Gills had not resigned the Sedins, those contracts make it hard to think there was ever a viable Plan B that would keep the team competitive without the Sedins.
Since the Canucks have no second round pick next year (to Buffalo in the Bernier deal) they are not really in a position to go after mid range RFA (it must be your own draft pick you surrender if you have to offer compensation for successfully signing a player to an offer sheet). So here is hoping they can find a diamond among he not qualified or the players teams walk away from after losing arbitration decisions or can work a trade (although even that ability is limited since they are just restocking their prospects closet and won’t have much to give up). MG has a very, very tough road ahead this summer.
by DeafNotDumb on Jul 2, 2009 6:53 PM PDT reply actions
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