Iginla stays with Calgary Naslund stays in Vancouver Habs resign Kovalev Oliers sign Pronger Penguins sign Gonchar
The Laffs have over 22 million committed to less than 10 players. They will sign someone, you just wont like them.
I like the move for Straka. He plays a game that could flourish if the new NHL rules are enforced. On top of that, he seems to be a good character guy, and the Rangers will likely have plenty of rookies around. Plus, there has been some grumbling that Jagr wouldn't be coming back (he got a big offer from the team he played with during the lockout). Signing Straka may be an incentive for Jagr to come back. Weekes was a guy they had to sign. Dunham sucked, and the Rangers had no legitimate starting goaltender. They have 4 of the best goalie prospects in the league, but none of them have shown the ability to be a starter yet. Weekes is there to groom Lunqvist, LaBarbara, Montoya and Blackburn (a guy whose story everyone should read about. Really gutsy for him to come back). As for Malik, I confess to not knowing much about the guy, but 2.5 mil for 3 years seems a bit much. I know they would have had to pay twice that to get someone like Gonchar, but I think it would have been worth it. I still want to see Brian Leetch back in Ranger blue to finish out his career. There is no better defensive free agent left on the market that could be used to teach the Rangers crop of rookie d-men. I don't want those rookie defensemen learning the pro game from the likes of Tom Poti and Darius Kasparitus. Bring back #2.
The Leafs will not be making any 'big-time' signings this year, unless you count eric Lindros and Jason Allison as 'big time' (they're reportedly close to signing both players to low end, incentive laden deals). They seem to be taking a run at next year's free angent market, when they will only have Sundin, Kaberle and McCabe under contract and a whole lot of free cap space to utilize. I'm not sure if I like the strategy, just from a purely sports-fan perspective (I always want my team to be competitive), but it appears to be a shrewd strategy.
That hurts. Leetch was my very first sports hero. When I read that he turned down an offer from the Islanders, I had hoped he'd come back to the Rangers to finish his career. 17 years with one club putting on that much of a show, he deserved better than to be traded against his will and then sign with some other team to end his career. Appreciate him, Boston. He's a class act.
Rangers signed Martin Rucinsky and re-signed Thomas Pock. More and more I'm not impressed, I think we'll miss the playoffs yet again. Sigh. Ah well, at least I can watch the B-Sens in the playoffs, they have yet to miss it.
Peca to EDM for Mike York and a pick. Mathieu Schneider stays in DET. Berard to Columbus. Satan signs with NYI.
I was pumped about the Forsberg signing until I saw the JR rumor. I don't want to see JR leave...I'd rather have him than Forsberg to be honest. WTF are we a Western Conference team???
Philly radio saying the JR deal is off. Gagne or Handzus might be traded instead. I like all 3 guys but of those I'd rather trade Handzus. Gagne I'd be pissed about but could live with. If we trade JR I will murder Clarke myself
Primeau - Roenick - Knuble Gagne - Forsberg - Kapanen Sim - Sharp - Radivoijevic Brashear - Carter - Stevenson
Sharp and Carter are NHL ready? I skipped most NHL news over the last year but last time I thought I saw that they were still Phantom guys. Have they been bumped up? Maybe Sharp was a Flyer but I'm pretty sure Carter was a Phantom.