Comments on: July 3, Free Agency Column; Updated 4,30pm

By: simplyhabby

simplyhabby — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:02:57 +0000

I have a co-worker who's son is playing stateside next year purely based on education. He was offered open invites to a variety of CHL camps but the schedule and the possiblity of being traded would of made it hard for him to pursue his post secondary education.

By: simplyhabby

simplyhabby — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:02:56 +0000

By: RealisticNick

RealisticNick — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:35:35 +0000

I'm not really sure, but it seems to also be why some Canadian players O'Byrne, Towes have gone the US route. More practice, less games. The only thing with that is when they move to the AHL or NHL they don't have as much endurance for the longer season.

By: paulieplatypus

paulieplatypus — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:23:10 +0000

July 4th nhlpa.com lists Kalinin as making $2,100,000 for next season. Thanks though for sharing what rumors you heard at the time.

By: paulieplatypus

paulieplatypus — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:18:37 +0000

You remind me of Forest Gump! Except he knows what love is, while you know your hockey.

By: HABSSTAR

HABSSTAR — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:10:36 +0000

Is that because you're afraid it just might happen?

By: simplyhabby

simplyhabby — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:46:20 +0000

LOL. If you replace the Penguins with Omsk then you may hacutally have got the correct headline.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242465&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_main

By: BruMagnus

BruMagnus — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:28:53 +0000

BREAKING NEWS!!!

JAGR SIGNS A 2 YEAR, $13.6 MILLION CONTRACT WITH THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS, WHICH AVERAGES OUT TO.... $6.8 MILLION A YEAR!!

6.8 MIL FOR JAGR

8.7 MIL FOR SID

HAHA

NEXT UP, MARIO COMING BACK FOR $6.6 MILLION A YEAR!

By: nordiques100

nordiques100 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:33:10 +0000

Other than bringing back Sundin, the Leafs are done.

The only real business is cleaning up a contract for Stajan and possibly signing Jonas Frogren.

There is also of course the hope the leafs can move mccabe.....or kubina but it really doesnt matter and it seems highly unlikely.

centre: grabovski, steen, stajan, moore, mitchell, newbury, stapleton

LW: antropov, blake, bell, devereaux, boyce, earl, foster

RW: ponikarovsky, hagman, mayers, tlusty, khumelin, williams

D: kaberle, kubina, mccabe, finger, coliacovo, white, stralman, kronvall, schenn, harrington, vorobiev

G: toskala, joseph, pogge

I think the leafs could use a tough guy. the leafs arent going to be good so at least they should make it tough on opponents.

Since draft picks are apparently useless to the leafs, they mind as well trade one to pick up someone like ben eager from the hawks. they have a tough guy in adam berti thus making eager expendable. he remember is the guy who injured sundin a couple years ago while with the flyers. the guy isnt just a fighter. he can be pretty useful throwing his 6'2 220 pound frame around.

probably kubina is the easier defenceman to move considering his contract is a bit easier to swallow than mccabes, he has been the better player and he right now doesnt have a NTC.

as for suitors, thats hard to pinpoint. some teams really need blueline help. some teams have solved their issues already and there are others available.

the sharks grabbed blake, so their need for defence help lessened.

while the jackets have cap space, they picked up commodore, tyutin and backman so they've solved some of their depth issues.

the yotes signed sauer and hale so they've improved their depth, but they are not as good as ballard and boynton so they still may want an upgrade.

the devils need defence help. they have a ton of forwards and while rolston can QB the PP, they still could use someone to help martin and white.

with the loss of blake and vishnovsky, the kings could use a big boost on D. they wont need one in a couple of years when johnson, teubert, doherty and hickey are with the team, but a veteran leader would help their backend.

the thrashers did sign hainsey, but that team needs lots of help in many areas.

the problem is that there are still other blueliners available. schneider, boyle, bouwmeester maybe, whitney maybe. plus some free agents still out there: mara, smith, carney, malik, berard, etc.

its far from a guarantee that the leafs have the only available defencemen.

but if the leafs stand pat, its not the end of the world. their goal should remain a top 10 pick.

By: nordiques100

nordiques100 — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:33:07 +0000