NHL free agents

[Phlegm]

The free agency period in the NHL begins today. Here are some of the big name free agents according to ESPN:

FORWARDS:
Pavol Demitra
Peter Forsberg
Bobby Holik
Paul Kariya
Alexei Kovalev
Mike Modano
Markus Naslund
Ziggy Palffy
Alexei Zhamnov
Miroslav Satan
Teemu Selanne


DEFENSEMEN:
Adrian Aucoin
Adam Foote
Sergei Gonchar
Roman Hamrlik
Derian Hatcher
Brian Leetch
Scott Niedermayer
Brian Rafalski
Mike Rathje
Mathieu Schneider

[Arlos]

Sharks need to re-sign Rathje. He's been a BIG component to their recent success. Thought they'd have had it done by now.

That said, they could also use another piece on offense. Kariya maybe? Forsberg would be amazing, if he could stay healthy, but I don't see the Sharks doing it. Palffy? Dunno. I hope not Demitra, he vanishes in the playoffs.

-Arlos

[Arlos]

Hrm, I may be wrong about the Sharks and being interested in Forsberg.

Peter Forsberg
• Unrestricted free-agent center
When last we saw NHL Hockey, Forsberg was arguably the game's best player. He has a near-perfect blend of hockey skills and competitive grit, and is positively fearless in the attacking zone. He's not bad defensively, either. Age (32) and a penchant for collecting serious injuries (the direct result of his fearlessness in the attacking zone), along with a bloated payroll in Colorado, made Forsberg expendable there. Still, that likely won't close the door to his resuming premier status in the league should he choose to do so. That's the one extenuating circumstance regarding Forsberg: He played his entire NHL career in Colorado and may opt to stay in his native Sweden rather than start over in a new NHL city at a markedly reduced price. The thinking is that Avalanche will attempt to re-sign him at a much lower price, but expect several teams to at least make a bid, including Western Conference rivals Dallas and San Jose. The difficulty for any other interested teams will be convincing Forsberg they are serious about winning right now."

That would own for true. Especially if they go for Naslund as well, since rumors are that Forsberg and Naslund may market themselves as a pair. Whether or not the Sharks can afford that under the cap is another question entirely.

-Arlos

[Snero]

lost Rathje, go flyers, biggest and slowest defense ever. Bunch of pylons

[Arlos]

Well, maybe this leaves the sharks enough cap room to sign Forsberg and Naslund. heh. Best defense is a good offense!

And methinks Marleau'd love to play with Forsberg, eh?

-Arlos

[Arlos]

Well, the flyers just made a HUGE signing. Forsberg. So much for the Sharks trying for him. Wonder if the Sharks are going to make a play for any of the top-flight FAs, or if they're gonna go with the guys they have already. Not that that'd be bad, necessarily, given that that team got them > 100 pts and a trip to the conference finals, but we could REALLY use a proven top-end scorer.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2123803

Plus, Roenick on the way to the Kings?

-Arlos

[Snero]

if i was the other teams in the NHL, I would refuse to trade with the flyers and screw them over with their cap

[Arlos]

In other news, Leetch signed with the Bruins, the Oilers traded for Peca (gave the Isles Mike York), Oilers also traded for Pronger, Oilers signed Satan (damn, but the Oilers were fucking busy little canadians), Flames re-signed Iginla, Canucks re-signed Naslund, Columbus signed Foote, the Penguins signed Gonchar and Modano rejected Dallas last offer.

-Arlos

[Snero]

it's kinda nice to see the smaller market teams taking on players rather then having to lose their top end skaters because they can't afford them

[Phlegm]

Well, the flyers just made a HUGE signing. Forsberg. So much for the Sharks trying for him. Wonder if the Sharks are going to make a play for any of the top-flight FAs, or if they're gonna go with the guys they have already. Not that that'd be bad, necessarily, given that that team got them > 100 pts and a trip to the conference finals, but we could REALLY use a proven top-end scorer.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2123803

Plus, Roenick on the way to the Kings?

-Arlos

According to the SJ Mercury News, Wilson said that the sharks are not looking to sign any high price free agent.

[Tuggan]

In other news, Leetch signed with the Bruins, the Oilers traded for Peca (gave the Isles Mike York), Oilers also traded for Pronger, Oilers signed Satan (damn, but the Oilers were fucking busy little canadians), Flames re-signed Iginla, Canucks re-signed Naslund, Columbus signed Foote, the Penguins signed Gonchar and Modano rejected Dallas last offer.

-Arlos

..cough...and Yzerman agreed to another season

[Arlos]

That may have changed:

Niedermayer Considering San Jose

San Jose Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson confirmed a TSN report on Wed night that the Sharks are indeed one of three teams that coveted unrestricted free agent defenseman Scott Niedermayer is considering.

“We have made an offer,” said Wilson, of one of the League’s premier defensemen. “This is a guy we had identified from the beginning and we are excited about this type of player considering joining our team.”

According to the TSN report: “San Jose would offer Niedermayer a chance to be closer to his home in the B.C. interior, and also an excellent chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. The Sharks are a young team widely regarded as having one of the best groups of young players in the NHL.”

The other teams listed in the report are Anaheim and his present club, the New Jersey Devils. While Niedermayer has captured three Stanley Cups and the 2004 Norris trophy as the NHL's top defenseman with the Devils, the Mighty Ducks gives him a chance to play alongside his brother Rob.

The Sharks stressed that they will search all avenues to improve the team.

“We have both offensive and defensive defensemen in the pipeline,” said Wilson. “But none are yet of the quality of this guy. For a player of that caliber who wants to come here is a great testament to our entire organization. He is a special player who is a specific fit with the rules the way the NHL is headed—speed and puck possession.”

Now, that WOULD be an interesting signing. Hmmmm... Would be a GREAT pickup, I think. Now, will he come here...

-Arlos

[Ogru]

Forsberg to the Flyers.

[Phlegm]

The Ducks signed Niedermayer

[Phlegm]

Roenick traded to the LA Kings.

[Tuggan]

haha, khabibulin signed with chicago. im starting to kinda like this, can totally tell which players are the greedy ones.

[xaoshaen]

haha, khabibulin signed with chicago. im starting to kinda like this, can totally tell which players are the greedy ones.

They'd be the ones willing to throw away a season rather than take salary cuts?

[Susvain]

Bruins sign someone named Leetch? Now they have a great mix of young and veteran players

(No idea really, i heard it on radio this morning)

[Tuggan]

or the ones willing to leave the stanely cup champs and join arguably the worst team in the league for a few extra bucks.

[Susvain]

Bruins are the worst team? I think they were 2nd seed in playoffs last year...

[Phlegm]

I am pretty sure he meant khabibulin

[Tuggan]

I was talking about Khabibulin, goaltender for the Tampa Bay lightning. They won the Cup. He left the Lightning and joined the Chicago Blackhawks, which has been on the bottom of every stat list for the last several years. Dont even remember the last time the Hawks made the playoffs. Theyre a pretty shitty team nowadays. Even with their recent aquistions of Acouin and Lapointe they'll still blow.

Bruins were one of the top teams in the east. Brian Leech is a pretty good signing, teach some of the tricks to the younger players. One of the best back in the day, hes a bit too old to be very productive though.

[Susvain]

Ahh sorry for that, my mistake

[Snero]

it was a retarded move by the hawks, they already had a good goalie (although injury prone) and they have so many other needs, they should be looking at taking care of

[Phlegm]

Predators signed Kariya