First of all Happy Canada Day! The holiday greets me with a bit of a hangover but who cares? It's July 1st! It's NHL Christmas! It's the day your rosterbation fantasies become a reality..or not....or YES! Finally we are going to see what Mike Gillis has planned as he has made it known that he will be aggressive in the FA market. What's up?: A top 2 defenceman and a bigger checking forward for starters. At least, that is what GMMG claims. Hold on to your butts.
We will cover all NHL signings and trades today. Any Canucks moves will get their own post. Are you ready? No I said ARE...YOU...READY?
- (4:26): OK, back from posting Canucks updates. More trades from earlier: *Thrashers sign Chris Mason to a 2-year $3.7 million deal. *The Flames tempt rioting fate in Calgary by signing Olli Jokinen to a 2-year $6 million deal. Did Sutter get hit in the head too many times as a player? Who knows. Maybe Jokinen will find revival in the land of the lost. *Saku Koivu signs a 2-year $5 million deal with the Ducks. *Adam Bastard Burish signs a 2-year $2.3 million deal with the Stars. *The Stars also sign Andrew Raycroft to a 2-year deal. Adiose Rayzor and thanks for everything! *Matt Cullen (dammit) signs a 3-year $10.5 million deal with the Wild. Great pickup there, Minnesota. *The Bruins sign Jeremy Reich to a 1-year deal
- (1:22): The Canucks have also signed Jeff Tambellini, son of Oilers' GM Steve.
- (1:16): CANUCKS LAND DAN HAMHUIS! Looks like a 6 year deal worth $4.5 per season. WOOO!
(12:58): Devils sign Henrik Tallinder to a 4 year deal at $3.375 million per. The Oilers sign Kurtis Foster to a 2 year deal at $1.8 million per season.
(12:57): Olli Jokinen to Calgary has to be a prank. Reports break that Hamhuis camp looking for 6 year $30 million deal.
(12:17): Ray Whitney to the Coyotes. 2 years, $3 million per)
(12:00): Toni Lydman signed by the Ducks. 3 years, $3 million per season. Are they out of the Hamhuis race?
(11:44): Paul Martin to Penguins. 5 years $5 million per
(11:36) Rangers sign Boogaard. Derek Boogaard. The idiot. 4 years, $1.65 per
(11:25): Lightning sign Dan Ellis to a 2 year deal. $1.5 million per season says Kypreos
(11:24): Coyotes sign Derek Morris to a 4 year $11 million contract. Flyers sign Jody Shelley to a 3-year $3.3 million deal.That may mean Carcillo or Asham are gone.
(11:22): OK, have to catch up now after posting the 2 Canucks signings (Malhotra and Perrault)
(10:42): Canucks sign Joel Perrault, Flyers sign Sean O'Donnell.
(10:35): Damn! Colby Armstrong to Leafs. 3 years $3 million per. Scratch him off my wish list
(10:35): Sharks sign Antero Niittymaki. 2 years $4 million. Nice upgrade in goal...not
(10:30): Alex Auld to Canadiens. 1 year, $1 million. No Dan Ellis going there.
(10:12): Penguins sign Zbynek Michalek.5 years $20 million
(10:05): Lightning extend Martin St. Louis for 4 years, a $5.5 million cap hit (per Elliot Friedman)
(9:54): Paul Martin close to signing with Pittsburgh (speculation): DONE. 4 years, $22 million
(9:52): Senators re-sign Jesse Winchester
(9:48): Hurricanes sign Anton Babchuk to a 1-year $1.4 million deal.
(9:46): The Blues have signed Alexander Steen to a 4-year extension
(9:28): Marc Savard has waived his no trade clause (nope not yet). Apparently Alex Tanguay has signed with Calgary..a 1-year deal worth $1.7 million with a no movement clause. Whoa has his value gone down or WHAT?
(9:24): Braydon Coburn to re-sign with Flyers sez Bob McKenzie. Done: a 2-year extension worth $2.2 million per
(9:19): Rangers re-sign Erik Christensen (2 year deal, $925,000 per)
(9:19) McKenzie reports that the Senators have signed Sergei Gonchar to a 3 year deal worth $5.5 mill per. forgot to mention this: if we clear 1000 comments today I will donate $100 to Canucks' Children's Hospital. It's a day of getting, but can be a day of giving as well
(9:08): No deal for Z Michalek. He's hitting the market.
(9:07): Boston signs Dan Paille to a 2-year $2.15 million contract
(9:04) :Rangers sign 2008 2nd round pick Derek Stepan.
(9:00 PST): On your mark...get set...I will do my damned best to keep you up to date.
Update (8:57): No deal between Dan Ellis and the Canadiens yet.
The Rangers will reportedly sign goalie Martin Biron. $900,000 or just a bit under sez Bob McKenzie
Update: (8:50): No last minute deal for Matt Cullen. He will hit the market (Craig Custance on twitter)
So much will happen today. The Lightning need a goalie, Ilya Kovalchuk may find a brand new home, the Flames look for scoring, the Leafs look for scoring. Does Kaberle get dealt? Where does the beloved Hamhuis end up? The tension in the air is so thick you can cut it with a knife.The Coyotes are trying their damndest to re-sign Michalek.Henrik Tallinder is going to test the market. Dan Hinote has joined the Blue Jackets' coaching staff.Los Angeles may seek a defenceman before trying Kovalchuk, according to James Duthie.
Dan Hamhuis will definitely test the free agent market. Not surprised one bit. Watch for a west coast team to land him.
Andrei Meszaros looks to be heading from Tampa to Philadelphia for a 2nd round pick in 2012 according to TSN guys on twitter.*confirmed*
