So, Hossa to the Hawks for 12 years? Seems a bit much, even for Hossa, don't it?

That's a dumb move for the Hawks.

Also dumb: Tampa Bay taking Ohlund for 33 mil and 7 years. Good luck with that.

what are people's thoughts on the Flyers trade?

Seems like a lot to give up for an old guy, especially for a team that drafts well, but in the mean time I'm happy to have two upper tier defensive players on the same team.

At least the Hawks can now look forward to making it to, then losing, the Stanley Cup Finals.

Given what "we've" had in TB this past season, I'll take Ohlund any day. He's no world beater, but it's a decent cap hit for a mostly competent D-man. I am interested to see how Walker works out in TB as well.

p.s. I am pretty excited to see how Knuble does with the Caps this year. He was a pain in our ass two years ago playoffs.

was bummed to hear this.

It's NHL free agency, almost all the moves are dumb because you're overpaying & over commiting years. But that's the trade off for not having to part with picks or players in return, That's just the nature of the beast.

Case in point....

Gaborik to Ranger 5 years at over 7 million a year. So at the end of 5 years he could either have scored 220 goals or missed 220 games, which is it going to be?

Two thing that makes sense for Philly getting Pronger is Lupul was overpaid for what he meant to Philly with all that forward depth (esp with Giroux and vanRym) & they don't do as well drafting blueliners as forwards. Two things that don't make sense are, Philly still has cap issues and why shop big for now when your forward depth is young and tied up and Ray Emery is your goalie? Seems like Lupul straight up for a solid defenceman could have worked pretty well.

Is Montreal trying to completely turn their roster over?

He's the Kenny Lofton of the NHL--where he go, the champagne don't flow.

Also, I strongly dislike both men.

I NOW like the Pronger deal..Friday night, you would have thought someone died the way I looked and felt. I love getting rid of Lupul, but Holmgren signed him to all that money, so making up for his mistake is a great move. Sbisa looked like he had a future, but who knows..He's only 19, so we'll see. The (2) 1st rounders. The Flyers always mess up the draft, so it's a wash. But Pronger will bring what they didn't have last year on the ice and in the locker room, and hopefully make Richards a better captain. And today adding Laperriere adds alot more than his stats. Both guys will make players accountable by their hard work and big mouths in the locker room.

Dave Tallon is nuts in Chicago. Campbell and Huet last year, Hossa this year. I can't wait to see what Kane and Toews cost after their rookie contracts are up...

Montreal is getting worse in my opinion. Kovalev, Koivou, Kommie, all leaving. The add Gomez and Gionta..What are they the Devils light ?

Tampa got Ohlund strictly to help Hedman, and it's a good move. But I love how they just won the cup a few years ago and they get bad so quick they are drafting Stamkos and Hedman..How does that happen ?

Gaborik, overpaid and sent to NYR. Yikes. Good luck with him, Rags. I hope you get your 7.5million worth for 5 years.

Maybe time will prove me wrong, but Montreal looks like they'll be lucky to get a sniff of the playoffs. Trainwreck.

Yup! If you were Gainey; wouldn't you?



I can see why one might think that, but looking at the forwards only, by deleting Higgins, Koivu, Kovalev, Tanguay, and adding Gomez, Gionta, and Camalleri (sp) they get younger, faster and more talented, unfortunately they don't get bigger. Will they have chemistry? We'll see, but the former core of the team wasn't exactly setting the world ablaze.

As for the defence - I don't think Komisarek warrants #2 Defenceman money - like he got in Toronto and would have received in Montreal. As it stands they nmay be better off with last year's defence, but if they can add a Beauchemin or a Scuderi my opinion would change.

So far I like the new direction.

Scuderi just signed with the Kings. I think it's 4 years $13.4.

That's huge, they really needed a shut down blueliner and who better than a guy that just lead the Stanley Cup Champs in blocked shots & PK ice time. Greene and O'Donnell have big bodies and big hearts, great character guys. But neither are shutdown strong good. And Jack Johnson oh ahahahaha don't get me started on that. So this is a solid pick up for them. I am happy.

As far as Montreal, they still have work to do. After the 3 additions I see 1 other legit top 6 forward in the better of the Kotitsyn brothers. So I wouldn't write of Kovie yet, or Saku.

As for the Bruins..... like I said before, anyone want Kobasew? If Begin, Thornton and Bitz are the 4th line. Savard, Krejci and Bergeron are the top 3 centers. Then that leaves Lucic, Sturm, Wheeler, Ryder, Kobasew, Recchi and Kessel. 7 wings competing for 6 spots on the top 3 lines. I hope they don't move Kessel

Canucks smartly tie up the Sedins for 5 years. Without them the Nucks would have serious trouble producing offensively. And Gillis didnt overpay either and i thought he might have to with what the Leafs were going to offer. They are not superstars but they are easily in the next tier, and maybe the most important players on the team, and they are always healthy.

And it also insures the Nucks will once again lead the league in too many men on the ice penalties.

It was a very good signing for all parties involved. Wanting to sign someplace together really painted them into a corner. Other than Montreal, who had $12+ million to spend on 2 forwards this Summer?

I think the Madden signing in Chicago could be interesting. I don't expect him to bounce back and score 20, but he could show the 7 he put up this last season was a mulligan. More importantly, he's a shut down defensive forward a team needs to go deep in the post season. They had to land someone after losing Pahlsson.

As far as Chicago tying up big money in UFA's before the homegrown get out of entry level deals, I guess the plan is win the Cup and then worry about it. Campbell has 5 years left on a deal with a cap hit of over $7 million and he's in the middle of the depth chart except during the power play. Jovo of the Midway

As for Boston, I think Lucic, Wheeler, Kessel, Recchi, and Ryder are the "easy" choices. I'd say it's really one spot being fought over by 2 dudes (Sturm and Kobasew). Personally, I'd take Kobasew over Sturm.

I had heard rumors about a trade with Washington for Savard before draft day. God that would've been awesome to have Savard on the Ovechkin line.