Are you happy the Canucks resigned the Sedin twins? They have a decent core but I think they need something else to get them over that hump and beat Detroit and make a run for the Cup. The Blackhawks will be tough to beat now that they signed Hossa but the lost of Khabibulin hurts their goaltending. I don't think anyone has any faith in Huet.
I am a huge Rangers fan and was less than pleased with the Rangers signing Brashear and losing Orr. I don't know how I like that Gaborik will be on the team now, especially since their only playmaker (Gomez) has been shipped off to Montreal. If this fits with Torterella's style of play it may work but it's not like the Devils where they can play a system and just switch out whomever and still be competitive.
I think everyone knew the Sedins would re-sign, because there’s very few other teams that had the kind of cap room to take them on as a unit, and Vancouver is their home now. That being said, they’re the core of the team and I’m very happy they’re still around. Losing Ohlund to the Lightning obviously hurt, and I was kind of hoping that Neidermeyer might go with the Canucks instead of the Ducks as a replacement, but obviously that didn’t pan out. Really, if they can find a good defenceman to replace Ohlund, they can always move Hodgson up to replace Sundin and they should be in good shape for next year. Taylor Pyatt is probably gone, but that’s no big loss.
Thanks for answering my question. I think that all the Canadian teams did well after the first day of free agency except the Senators. They just can’t get Heatley to waive the no-trade clause. How is it the Sens went from being one of the best Canadian teams to be in complete disarray?
I get what you’re saying about the Canucks and their D. Do they have anyone in their system that could make the jump this year or do you think they’d want to trade for a D-men or sign someone left over (I think Blake is still available, as is Zubov, but they’re kind of old and Zubov’s been injured a bunch the last two seasons). I like the Canucks shot this year in the West, especially if Luongo plays a full season this year.
My co-worker is a big Rangers fan as well and he said he heard that the Rangers had signed Brashear before he heard they lost Orr and couldn’t figure it out. Once he heard they lost Orr, getting Brashear made a lot more sense. He was happy to see Gomez go though. The guy just never produced outside of the Devils system. Maybe he’ll do better up in Montreal, but that city puts so much pressure on their players, it’s like he’s gone up in the pressure cooker, from New Jersey (where he could walk down the street and only a few people would recognize him) to New York City (the media capital of the US, where more people would know who he was) to Montreal (hockey-mad city where everyone will know who he is).
Yes, I’m a Devils fan, and of course we didn’t do much outside of re-signing Andy Greene and Johnny Oduya. Lou might be a Hall of Famer right now, but he just does not make the Devils an attractive destination for free agents outside of the “we have a winning tradition here” angle. Hell, Marty Brodeur is by-and-large considered the best goalie in the game by anyone paying attention and he had to take a pay cut to stay a Devil! On a Free Agent Day special on MSG last night, though, Kenny Daneyko mentioned that they might be going after Saku Koivu.
Chicago made some good moves, good to see them building on a successful season. And what the hell is up with the Islanders stockpiling goalies?!
Sorry about the double post, but I forgot to clarify that the Islanders had drafted three goalies on Friday and then signed Dwayne Roloson yesterday. Maybe they’re still pissed over Wade Dubielewicz?
I’m happy to see Gomez go, too and I agree with the pressure he’s under in Montreal. He’s gone from okay to bad to worse in terms of media being all over him. I hate the signing of Brashear, however. This guy is a punk who will get himself suspended and is just really dirty. Can you imagine him and Avery playing together? Pest city. Maybe the NYR are trying to become Broadway Bullies?
The Devils I think are hurting a bit right now, having let John Madden and Brian Gionta go. I know Lou doesn’t like to spend but those were two really good guys. And who does he replace them with? Ben Walter? If they go Koivu that would help ease the letting go of those two.
The Isles are the Isles. This seems to me like they’ve lost faith in DiPietro, either that or because their GM is a goalie that’s what he’s picking up. It will be interesting to see how Tavares does next season.