On the Topic Of Alfredsson's Departure

At the end of the day, you cannot blame Daniel Alfredsson.

The emotion of everything that has happened today with the news that Alfredsson is leaving the Ottawa Senators for the Detroit Red Wings; the thing lost in all of this has to be the idea that with the departure of Alfredsson, they actually need to have someone pick up the pieces for contribution. It's a time for Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek, and the other players to step up their game and hopefully find a way to stay healthy in order to contribute more.

Not only that, the void left in the locker room for the Senators is something that won't be as easily replaced as the scoring contribution. For a core of young players, it's a huge hit in trying to turn to someone, but for guys like Erik Karlsson, it will make them grow up a little more and actually learn to become a leader and get the experience by being fed to the fire. Not only that, it'll be a big thing for Paul MacLean to be the motivator that he has shown off to the world with his Jack Adams Trophy campaign this past season.

Yet, the biggest sign this signing to Detroit brings is that Alfredsson doesn't believe himself to be the primary contributor to the Ottawa Senators, as he was being called upon to do. Getting up there with age, it just shows that Alfredsson is at the point of his career where he wants to be able to ride shotgun and let the others actually be the superstars of the team and he can lay back and be the secondary scoring and the leader on the ice by example.

With this, the Red Wings will get some experience they have lost in the past few years with the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper, and the like. Alfredsson's voice is something that's respect around the league and is someone who could teach Henrik Zetterberg how to be a leader off the ice, as well as on. Sure, the teaching of that is often futile, but if Zetterberg is willing to learn a thing or two from Alfredsson; it couldn't hurt to get some pointers here and there.

Plus, they get a little bit of consistency out of Alfredsson, who won't bring big goals or assists; but all of his points are very timely and will add more punch to the second power play unit, especially on a big one-timer chance. While it may not completely fill the void and drop-off from Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk's points contribution; Alfredsson could give a shot in the arm to the top-six guys.

Most importantly is what the fans of the Senators will do when they meet their new division rival Red Wings this season. They will be mad, regardless of what Alfredsson says his reasons are for leaving Ottawa. The wounds of this signing is going to be hard to make heal with time or at all. I'm sure long after Alfredsson has retired, he will be welcomed back by the Ottawa faithful as Mr. Senator-- but for now, there's bitterness, tears, and a lost feeling trying to find out what went wrong between the Sens and Alfie.

Ending of a Loyalty Legacy

With the booming news that both Shane Doan and Martin Brodeur are going to test the free agency market is something that many have had people gasp in astonishment. More with the latter, but overall-- it just proves that almost nothing is sacred or protected when it comes to trying to get paid or putting yourself in a position to win again.

For Doan, the equation is simple: the unknown that is the Phoenix Coyotes' ownership issue is the main thing that is going to push Doan to look at his options. It's not that the league wouldn't provide the money for Doan to be re-signed, it's a matter of Doan trying to get into a stable place where he knows he won't be picking up and moving after next season. More over, Doan could have seen last year as possibly the closest he would get to the Stanley Cup with the team he's with and may want to go to a place where he knows he could be in contention for the duration of what could be his last contract.

The news of Brodeur hiring an agent like Pat Brisson is considered a serious ideal that the long-time Devils' legend could be on his way out. Of course, Brodeur had his father representing him for his career-- so the addition of Brisson, one of the biggest power brokers in the game, will turn heads and maybe make the Devils dealing with Brodeur much harder to deal with. Considering that Brodeur is 40-years-old, who knows what kind of contract he's looking for and what kind of role he would want to play with that team. If a Western Conference team were to get into the mix, the risk of travelling could be something that could hinder their look at Brodeur, as he has been graced with close quarters of the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

Yet, you have to wonder what this means when it comes to the last of a dying breed when it comes to the loyal players being with their teams for the duration of their careers. Of course with Doan, it's an extenuating circumstance that has him on the lookout for a new team, but it is a bit of a downer to think he won't be on the Coyotes roster if things can't get sorted out between the two.

But with Brodeur, you would have thought that this is a guy who would have been a Devil from start to finish-- which could still be the case with Brisson only being brought in as leverage to get a better deal or to actually gauge his true worth. However, this could be the closest ever to Brodeur leaving-- which should be scary to fans and team management alike with not much going on with goaltender development in their future.

The idea of the long-term deals with the young players is almost a forceful push to get them to be the franchise player with that deal. It's almost, however, that without that long-term deal; the loyalty aspect of it all is going by the wayside-- if it hasn't already. Though, the shocking effect that these two long-time franchise faces possibly going out on their own could make a lot of hockey fans forever give up on the idea that a player will be with the franchise from start to finish, especially in a salary cap era.

But it goes back to that old adage-- if Wayne Gretzky can get traded, anyone can.

A King's Ransom or Risk of Regicide??

We've seen it happen with Rick DiPietro, we're seeing it happen with Roberto Luongo, will we see it with Jonathan Quick?? The "it" in question is the pressure of a long-term deal getting to the performance of a goaltender as the contract carries on and the goalie possibly not living up to the potential and money.

Of course, if you hadn't heard and laughed along with Twitter; Quick is going to sign a contract extension with the Kings for 10 years worth $58M. While Quick is coming off of a Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup winning season, as well as being a very solid performer during the regular season; a raise of that magnitude is one that could make the most harden of Kings supporters scratching their heads.

As the lovely and talented Jen the NHL History Girl tweeted out:

And it's a great point, because, if anything, the goaltending position could be the most volatile as any position on the ice. Hell, I've made a weekly point to show off all the goalies who had a promising upside to them, but were unable to actually get it done when push comes to shove. Not only that-- but the injury rate for goalies could be a little higher than other position players, as they are out there all the time and have to be a little bit more flexible than their teammates. 

Even so, the examples I cited prior are prime examples of how long-term deals not only hurt the team, but could hurt the player's psyche and make the team a little bit of a laughingstock in the end, as they are hamstrung to get rid of the deal.

With the DiPietro deal, we all knew Islanders' owner Charles Wang was a little on the nutty side, but to give a goalie who is oft-injured (putting it lightly) a 15-year deal (albeit at only a $4.5M cap hit) was a bit ridiculous. You can't blame DiPietro for taking the money and running, if it's offered out there-- why not?? But the pressure on him to do something about it is way to high and it wouldn't be as lambasted as it is had DiPietro actually put up a performance.....of any kind. Though, we can probably blame genetics for him only playing 47 games in the past four seasons.

Yet, even the goalies who succeed aren't prone to controversy as we see Roberto Luongo getting the bum's rush out of Vancouver after signing a 12-year extension which started in the 2010-11 season. With his playoff short-comings (sans the 2011 Playoffs, even still with a little help from Cory Schneider) and the play of Schneider-- the Canucks fans seem ready to let Luongo go. Plus, with Schneider signing a three-year extension worth $4M a year-- it seems the Canucks are just waiting for a viable suitor to come along for Luongo and his $5.33M cap hit.

Quick will be on the hot seat next year, as his $1.8M cap hit will go away and people will wonder if the 10 years beyond that will be worth it or not. If he performs as well as he did this year, it could ease some minds. However, watch out if he starts to falter quickly and doesn't seem to regain form. It's a shock that Dean Lombardi, who has looked like a genius when it comes to getting the right personnel on his team to win, would do something with such a lofty expectation for that position which has the most pressure put upon it. For his sake, he better know what he's doing lest he get fired as a result.

Considering that many thought what the Winnipeg Jets gave Ondrej Pavelec was a bit on the crazy side, you have to think that the Kings looked at that as market value and since Quick was better than Pavelec statistically, he was worth the terms given. If anything, Carey Price is licking his lips and wringing his hands when it comes to what he could possibly get for his new contract-- especially if he gets an offer sheet.

While the man between the pipes could be the most valuable on the team, the risk of giving him a long-term extension is very high, even if the reward is there as well. You cannot blame these guys for taking the terms and money-- they are playing a sport where they excel and the general manager is the one who sets the value for their services. However, the pressure to perform is going to be there and if they don't live up to it-- they will be looked down upon-- rightfully or not. It's a double-edged sword they're dealing with, as a lot rests on their shoulders. For Quick, all he has to do is look at those before him and hope he doesn't fall into that same chasm.

The Summer of GMGM

Say what you will about the on-ice results, but the moves the Washington Capitals have made this off-season have been nothing short of spectacular. Most of that can be credited to the slyness of one General Manager George McPhee; or GMGM, as the kids call him.

First off, it started with the firing of Arturs Irbe and bringing back Dave Prior as the goaltending coach and Olaf Kolzig as the assistant goaltender coach, probably laying the ground work for Kolzig to take the reins later on down the line. That was also something that set-up Semyon Varlamov to get dealt, since he had fallen behind Michal Neuvirth and even Braden Holtby; but there was no deal for Varlamov in June.

Fast-forward to the Draft, where there wasn't anyone the Caps wanted, so GMGM made the move to give up their 26th pick in the first round to the Chicago Blackhawks for Troy Brouwer. That's a move that kind of solidified the end of Matt Bradley's tenure in DC, but Brouwer is a guy who has playoff experience at a young age, that it could help the team-- if they can get him signed.

Move a couple days ahead, and some people say this was a little bit of a slip-up, giving Brooks Laich a long-term deal for big dollars to keep the fan-favorite in Capitals red. In the end, with the cap going up and salaries probably doing the same-- it could end up being a steal when all is said and done. However, at the moment-- it doesn't play out to some fans liking.

Then July happened....and GMGM got cold-blooded.

It started off for GMGM by signing old Capital Jeff Halpern to a one year deal, bringing in some leadership that some thought was lacking in the dressing room. Then, he signed Joel Ward, a gritty forward, from Nashville for four-years, then got a veteran defenseman in Roman Hamrlik for two years, probably to help mold the younger defensemen on the squad.

But that was not the biggest move of July 1st for GMGM.

I don't know if it was knowing there was desperation or if it was his cutthroat ways-- but McPhee got rid of Varlamov and sent him to the Colorado Avalanche...for a 1st Round Pick in 2012 and 2nd Round Pick in either 2012 or 2013; the Caps choice. The 2012 Draft is supposed to be much, much, MUCH deeper than this year and with the Avalanche possibly being as bad as they were last year-- could be a HUGE pick-up for the Caps.

But wait-- there's more.

While many thought that GMGM could be mad to go with two rookies in the NHL.....July 2nd, McPhee addressed that-- by signing the highly touted free agent goaltender Tomas Vokoun to a one year deal....worth $1.5M dollar, which is a paycut of over $4M from last season. I don't know what voodoo McPhee did to make this deal happen; but he could have pulled off the biggest shock of the free agency period. Not only does Vokoun provide a veteran presence and can stop a lot of shots; but he'll be able to mentor his fellow Czech Republic native, Neuvirth-- which could prove very invaluable down the line.

However, with only $500k left of their cap, you can bet that McPhee will probably deal someone to free up some space and sign the likes of Brouwer and bring up some of the guys from Hershey to try their hand-- but at the same time; he's done a lot of amazing things in order to make his team better and get all the parts he thought was missing and got them ousted early for the past two playoffs.

The pressure is on the team and coaches now, though. GMGM has done his part and you really can't fault him too much for the results that happen on the ice. Yet, with the group he's compiled, it's almost to the point where not much could go wrong unless the chemistry just goes awry.

But, if he does get the brunt of any failure, he can definitely fall back on his new stand-up comedy career, as you see here; working out material during a press conference.

Good Idea/Bad Idea: Free Agency

Every now and again, I'll decide that it's a chance to test out the whole "Good Idea, Bad Idea" thing. Can't tell you when's the last time.......probably if I were more apt to searching my tags I would find it...but alas, here we are.

In any case, at Noon Eastern today, the Free Agency bonanza begins and there's going to be a lot of people aching to hear who goes where and for how long. Sometimes it's good to deal with the reaction of people-- but more often than not-- it's a drag. Luckily for you, I've decided some good ideas and bad ideas when it comes to dealing with free agency happenings-- hence, the name.

GOOD IDEA: Keeping track of what you're team needs: It's one thing to go after a guy who just desirable to the rest of the league; but in the end-- reality has to set in. So long as you understand the role the player you pick up will play in the grand scheme of things-- the better you'll feel about the terms of the deal.

BAD IDEA: Flipping out over what other teams get: Sure, it's nice to "Keep up with the Browns," but in the end-- I think there is more stress when you worry too much about what everyone else is doing to the point where you judge what the hell your rival is doing. Sure, you can really bash on thing or another-- but at the same time; remember the first "Good Idea" and think if that'll help their team; then you can be angry if it does help them.

GOOD IDEA: Enjoying the banter that is in chat rooms and Twitter: This is a long, drawn-out process and you'll need to coziness of friends and colleagues to get through the boredom if you're staring at the screen. Plus, you could meet new people along the way through such things-- which is always a good idea.

BAD IDEA: Taking chat rooms and Twitter as gospel: We've been through it in trade deadlines, drafts, and last year's free agency-- but we've all been duped many a time through fake rumors or fake Twitter feeds and people not doing the 10 second check-up on the reality of the situation. I know we all want to be the first to know-- yet, it's best to be accurate than quick (that's what she said).

GOOD IDEA: Watching guys like Jaromir Jagr and Brad Richards in what they're doing: These guys are the big names and are going to headline whatever happens on July 1st or whenever they sign. They have the ability to change a team if they're in the right situations, as well as sway other free agents one way or the other.

BAD IDEA: Watching guys like Jaromir Jagr and Brad Richards in what they're doing: This will drive you mad. The fact of the matter is that if they don't sign by 12:01 PM of July 1st; people will have that great knee-jerk reaction of why haven't they sign, because it could take days. They may be the premier names of this FA class; but they aren't the end-all, be-all.

GOOD IDEA: Tracking the salaries: This is great in the cap system because you could see guys take less money to put themselves in a better situation to win the Stanley Cup. The fact remains that since all the guys are going for the same goal; it's harder to demand a big salary if you want to be on a contender.

BAD IDEA: Trying to be a capologist: Math was never my strong suit, though my mother wanted me to be an accountant because I was good in high school (debit-credit, debit-credit); but don't get all caught up in when a team signs someone; then trying to figure out who else they can get and how they can fit them under the cap-- as if your opinion really matters......

That's just a few and probably craptastic reasons to even remotely look at when it comes to the first day of Free Agency, known as Free Agent Frenzy. It should be fun and it should be good times to see who goes where-- especially in a shallow pool like we have.

College Signing Craziness is Just That

As we are down to the Frozen Four, most of the college players who aren't a part of those four teams and aren't drafted are being courted by NHL teams. We've seen these kind of sweepstakes and hype happen before, but are people making too much out of some of these players getting a look-see. Is this just a footnote and stop-gap exciting thing between the trade deadline and playoffs??

While people are raving over Stephane Da Costa of Merrimack College, at what point do you look at the past signees and realize that sometimes the hype doesn't pay dividends in the first few years....or ever. In the past, we've seen the sweepstakes for Tyler Bozak and Bobby Butler, and while they're slowly shaping into form-- do they warrant the hype, much like the hype some European free agents get-- but they never really pan out like many would think.

Granted, this is something that you could go with junior players and stuff-- but they often get drafted and then never pan out or signed and they kind of fade into oblivion. Yet, it seems that when it comes to this-- if the playoff excitement isn't there-- this is the only thing for the people to get up about. Which, if this is your thing, god love ya-- but I don't see where all the hype is coming from. I just don't get hype unless they prove it without hype...or something. But this whole idea is foreign and weird to me.

To be honest, I can't think of the last time an undrafted college player has made a big impact in the NHL. Maybe you could say that Matt Gilroy for the Rangers was the last big name to come in and contribute to his team immediately, while Tyler Bozak came in with the Leafs for a few games last year and did well, but was bussed between the Marlies and Leafs, while this year he hasn't been the best, as his -29 shows-- but it happens. Mark Letestu is another guy who got signed after his freshman year, but plied his trade in the minors before really getting his shot this year. It just seems the hype that comes from all of this isn't worth getting upset if you lose out on a guy-- because recent history hasn't shined kindly on some of these guys coming off a solid couple of college seasons.

While this is something that is a nice little distraction from the playoff race in the NHL, it seems that the attention it's given is a little much. Granted, I'm not one who has ever really bought into this being a route to be a cure-all or even stop-gap for a team's problems. It seems like if the player who signs even makes it into the NHL, regardless of how good they are in the college ranks-- it'll take a lot of time for them to make a full-time impact in the show. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but not many to warrant some of the craziness being thrown around.

Waiting With Bated Breath or Anguished Annoyance

While it seems that Ilya Kovalchuk is biding his time to make his decision, it's an annoyance to many who just want it over by now. For two days, the hockey world has been waiting to see where this year's biggest unrestricted free agent will go. While many have him going to New Jersey, will it be that exciting if he does or will it be a huge letdown??

Especially with everyone expecting Kovalchuk to go to LA, for him not to go there would probably be the most shocking thing. They seem to have the need for him, the money for him, and the spot for him, with the players that could compliment him and a system that could work with him. So why not go there in order to make things work out. It seems he's reluctant to play on the West Coast, which I could understand. Not just dealing with the LA traffic, but the travel out West is insane, so for a guy so used to staying in the same time zone-- his effectiveness on the West Coast could be the biggest reason why he's going to balk at the idea of playing out West.

So, while the LA thing may not work out, would New Jersey be such a bad thing?? For the short-term, not so much; though they would be back into an issue of the salary cap and it'd be harder to make some of the contracts disappear. Plus, they'd have to make decisions on some key players pending on how much Kovalchuk receives in his contract. Especially with franchise player Zach Parise becoming a restricted free agent next season and looking for a raise more than likely, some things will have to be moved-- like Patrik Elias or Travis Zajac or another higher priced player. Is the skill and ability of Kovalchuk worth blowing up your team for?? If you say it is, like it seems Lou Lamoriello is thinking-- then you can afford to do that without second-guessing. However, I think most GMs wouldn't think that way.

On a fan level, how much of a letdown will this be if the end result is that he's staying where he was traded?? The big thing when he was traded to Jersey was that he wouldn't be staying there after the season. If he stays there, it seems like a big to-do about nothing; which really puts a sour feel on the whole UFA market, since there really hasn't been too much of a shock in terms of who signed where. If the biggest UFA doesn't do anything, then we sit and watch what will happen with the remaining players, if anything-- which probably won't be as dramatic-- nor would it be dramatic if Kovalchuk stays in the swamp.

Whatever may come of it-- the grasp that Kovalchuk has on the fans of the NHL is amazing. Especially when Kovalchuk's agent, Jay Grossman, said it'd be over on Monday-- guess he just added to the drama of the whole thing-- and that could have worn down the spirits of fans, as well. Also, if Kovalchuk signs in New Jersey; Grossman could run for mayor of Newark, New Jersey with three of his clients, Kovalchuk, Anton Volchenkov, and Johan Hedberg, signing with the Devils this off-season.

Thoughts on UFA Day One

There was a lot of intrigue, lot of confusion, and a lot of heartbreak for the opening of the NHL Free Agent Market. While the determination about who won and who lost will be shown during the season, plenty reserved judgment already....like I'll do right now.

-First off, Darryl Sutter has gone insane, and the picture above may be the telling sign. Maybe he's trying to test the limit of what the Flames ownership will do, but bringing back Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay could be the breaking point, especially if they don't contribute. The worst part was the lovefest in the media between Sutter and Jokinen, with Sutter saying he made a mistake by trading away Jokinen and Jokinen saying he didn't want to leave in the first place. The high point for the Flames is that the Heritage Classic is only eight months away.

-While the Senators lost Anton Volchenkov to New Jersey, they did get Sergei Gonchar. While it may be a bit of money for him, the main thing he'll be used for is as a mentor for the young Erik Karlsson; who will be in the more offensive side of things for the Senators in time. While many thing there is really no definitive direction for the Sens defense-- has there ever been, especially since losing Zdeno Chara in favor of Wade Redden....then losing Redden.

-The Penguins dealt with the lose of Gonchar easily, picking up Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek for five years a piece. Both younger options to Gonchar and both that could be able to do what Gonchar did. The problem for the Pens is that they're close to the cap ceiling and still need to get a winger or two. While Bill Guerin could be an option, they'll run into the same issue next season, should Guerin be a one-year gimmick.

-Two Russian that didn't go (as of post time) on the first day was Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeni Nabokov. Kovalchuk, who many have going to the Kings, said he's going to bide his time and pick what's the best for him; which works for him since he's the top-dog in the FA market this summer. He can afford to do that. On the other hand, Nabokov's options are dwindling, as Dan Ellis went to Tampa, Chris Mason went to Atlanta, and Antero Niittymaki took his old spot in San Jose. I mentioned that I thought Nabokov could be a good fit for Atlanta, but doubtful of that happening. While it seems that Washington could be an option; I hope the Caps won't fall for the ploy they need a goaltender for that much money and that length of time with the guys they have in their system.

-Speaking of the Caps, it's odd they have yet to make a peek in the market. I would have thought they could have gone after a reliable back-up like Alex Auld (Montreal) or Martin Biron (NY Rangers) or even Andrew Raycroft (Dallas), but they haven't done anything like that. Sure, the load could be carried by the likes of Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth, but as a fan-- I would like some kind of sturdy back-up who could play starters minutes if need be. Hopefully, the won't go for the Marty Turco or Nabokov because that'd be discouraging to the young keepers.

Okay, that's just what I have for what jumped out to me. There's plenty more, of course-- but you can get that anywhere. I'm sure once Nabokov or Kovalchuk do something, I'll add more and if the Caps continue to not doing anything-- that'll be talked about in time.

Good Idea, Bad Idea: 2010 UFAs

If you're a fan of the "Animaniacs" as I was, you'll remember Mr. Skullhead's "Good Idea, Bad Idea" segment, where they...well, have a good idea and bad idea based on a similar scenario. I feel that the unrestricted free agency market in the NHL is that kind of gimmick, where you look at options of a similar ilk and decide if it's a good idea or bad idea. Huzzah. In any case, I'll take the position and have two options that teams would be safe with and those that are not so safe. Got it?? Good.

GOALTENDER

GOOD IDEA: Dan Ellis-- While the goaltender market is really vast with some big names. The safest bet is Ellis. If given the chance, Ellis can as good as some of the bigger names out there, but cost a little less. Even in a even-keeled platoon program, Ellis will be able to adjust better and play to what got him some buzz after his 2006-07 campaign. While he has slumped, you can chalk that up to the team he was on rather than his own skill. He'll probably be very affordable and less of a risk than others out there.

BAD IDEA: Ray Emery-- Granted, his name has all been dropped in terms of who could be available, but some may think he could be as affordable as he was to Philadelphia. At the same time, the injury issue is always popping up with Emery; as is the inconsistency and possible turmoil in the room that it could provide. With his stats on the decline, he would probably price himself out of the market with a little more than he's worth in general and to some teams out there.

DEFENSEMEN

GOOD IDEA: Brian Pothier-- With a full season back under his belt after a long-term injury, Pothier could be a guy that may be overlooked, but provide a lot for the team that picks him up. While he may not be the offensive-minded player he was when he was in Ottawa, he is still a solid option in his own zone and could be an affordable pick-up and a bargain for some team in need of depth on the blue line.

BAD IDEA: Andy Sutton-- While some may view him as a cheaper option to pick up for a sturdy defenseman, the fact he got worse when he was dealt to a new team on the trade deadline isn't very promising. Though he is a big, hulking defensemen who can throw the body around; when he's going after those hits-- he could be a liability in his own end, as seen by his minus-10 output last season. Sure, a better team with more backing could help him out for a bit, but the odds are regardless of where he goes-- he'll be too much for too little.

FORWARDS

GOOD IDEA: Matt Cullen-- His stats may not be as explosive as some others, but he does provide some kind of depth scoring and is a solid face-off guy. He'll also go all-out for a team and do what he needs to in order to make a play for his team and try to transition out of his teams zone. He has a Cup ring, which provides experience, and has a veteran presence, which should help the younger kids coming up.

BAD IDEA: Alexander Frolov-- While he has the ability to be great, the points decline for the past three seasons, couples with the issues off the ice with him should make Frolov a deterent for teams looking at giving this Russian a new home. Especially when you look at the other Russians who have burst onto the scene, Frolov was the one time forgot and his stats decline has shown as such. Maybe a change of pace and new gameplan could help him; but it doesn't seem like a likely ideal.

GOOD IDEA: Brandon Bochenski-- You can debate that Bochenski never got a great shake in any organization he was with; starting with Ottawa where he was thrust into a position he wasn't particularly set with yet. That said, it almost seems that if there's a need for a secondary or checking line guy, Bochenski could be the energy guy who could pot a couple here and there. He could move in and out of the top-six, but would probably be more suited in a checking role guy on the fringe of the second line.

BAD IDEA: Pavol Demitra-- Sure, when he's healthy, Demitra could be a great player; albeit inconsistent at times. But, the injuries could be the big factor as it seems that as he's getting into a groove, Demitra gets hurt and totally ruins his flow in terms of getting back to his form in St. Louis. Unless he'll come down from his past $4M price tag, which you'd hope he would, then he could be worth the risk; but even then it's a sketchy situation.

GOOD IDEA: Mike Comrie-- Comrie is a poor man's Mike Fisher, and not just because of the Hilary Duff/Carrie Underwood thing. He's a solid guy in his own zone and has the ability to be an impact player....if he wanted to. While motivation could be a big concern, when he wants to be one and if he's in the right setting; Comrie could be a steal at the menial price for a fringe top-six guy. Buyer beware because Comrie could be a guy could turn unhappy at a drop of the hat.

BAD IDEA: Alexei Ponikarovsky-- When he's called upon to be on the top line of a weak team, he could be fantastic, but that's probably not a spot he would want to be in. While he does have the skills, the fact is he wouldn't use them when he's on a better team. While I'm sure he'll get offers, I don't think he'll be the secondary scorer most teams would be looking for. It should be something to see if/when he gets signed, not only how much he gets, what team, and how he'd be used.

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As always, it's a buyer beware and just an idea for what I think could be solid picks. They're very out there, I know-- but when have I ever been one for rationality?? It'll all depend on the team that picks them up and how they are utilized. And yes, there's guys like Frolov and Ponikarovsky who could venture to the KHL, but they'd probably want to stay in the NHL because they know they'll have paychecks where the KHL has been having issues with that in the past year.

The frenzy begins July 1st.

Who's Not Going To Edmonton 2010

With the past occurrences of Michael Nylander signing with the Edmonton Oilers, then going to Washington afterwords, moving to the Chris Pronger issue, then the Dany Heatley situation, and now the Sheldon Souray dilemma; it's safe to say that Edmonton has their issues in drawing and keeping people With the team looking forward to the next season and seemingly going for a youth movement (not by choice, maybe), there would be some guys out there for their needs to fill the gap while the youngsters grow.

Yet, with all the problems that seem to come out of the Edmonton area, this is a look at which players, by position, I think won't be heading to Edmonton this summer, even if they're offered the max contract out there.

CENTER: Patrick Marleau: While he had a career year in goals (44), Marleau doesn't look to be going back to Canada anytime soon. Marleau is from the small town of Aneroid, Saskatchewan, but has played his serious hockey in the US, starting with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL and then to San Jose. Plus, his contract demands would also be too much down the middle, with Shawn Horcoff still there. He'd be a solid addition, but not much will sway him away from the warmth of the Pacific Coast.

LEFT WING: Ilya Kovalchuk: While the money issue is there, you can bet that he left the cold of Russia for the warmth of other places in North America. I don't think Edmonton would be the pick for him or his family. Kovalchuk would make a nice cornerstone for this team, but the lack of support will let Kovalchuk flee from any offer easily. He's going to go where he will be a star and have a solid set-up guy, not one or the other. Especially if Jaromir Jagr gets signed by Edmonton, he'd not be in that shadow.

RIGHT WING: Jaromir Jagr: Don't believe the hype when it comes to the Jagr signing in Edmonton. As Tim Matheson pointed out, Jagr wants any team that signs him to sign Roman Cervenka, as well. In addition, the age is catching up to Jagr. The risk of signing Cervenka and a complaining Jagr is not worth the reward of both of them being good and contributing to the team's rebuild. It'd be nice if Jagr could mentor Ales Hemsky more, but I doubt it'll happen.

DEFENSE: Paul Martin: While it's a good gag that Albertans will hate the name being there (that's also the name of a former Canadian prime minister), the fact is that he would never be lured there like Sheldon Souray and have all the pressure onto him. Considering this is the team that gave up the most goals this year (284), and if Martin were to come in-- he'd be expected to be the shutdown guy and then be run out on a rail, I'm sure.

GOALIE: Antero Niittymaki: The logjam in net for Edmonton is already at an all-time high with decisions to be made, but Niittymaki could be lured because of Nikolai Khabibulin's injury issues. And while his play does conjure up the thoughts of other Oilers' Finnish goalie greats like Jussi Markkanen and Kari Takko; Niittymaki would want a place where he could thrive and have a chance at a meaningful game in late-March rather than picking out tee-times.

While this is all in good fun (Thanks to "Johnny Wrath" on Twitter for his brain-storming), these things could definitely come true in the long-run. We'll have to check back in the fall to see which are true, false, whatever. (This is also filler. YAY!!) But, it also shows how the onus of the past in Edmonton could really hurt them in the long-term of things. If bad commentary (like Souray) and reneging on a contract (Nylander) happen within three years-- the reputation of this once proud organization needs to be rebuild from the ground up. Which could mean....front office overhaul. That remains to be seen how Daryl Katz deals with that.

Face Off Hockey Show 2009 Draft Show-- Portion Two

This is the second part of the update of the FOHS Draft show with Lyle Richardson, Greg Wyshynski, and Princess Curl. Of course, Montreal will bring out the best in everyone, which is why you can tell we’re getting a little wild, which is when the fans came in because they knew the game was on.

Like I said in the first part, caution due to some language-- if you’re opposed to that.

In this first part, we continue to talk about blogging, but this time when it comes to the perception given off from the mainstream media types. The second video in this cluster has to do with what’s going to happen in the off-season when it comes to topical ideas and how to keep the creative juices flowing.





This third part is a little dated, but it’s a hardy debate. When the topic of the Sedin twins came up and the length of the contract, it sparked the question about how long is too long (wocka) and whether spending that amount of money on two players is rational at all in a salary cap world.

Ups and Downs to Reuniting

Habs fans' hearts are a-flutter with the moves made by Bob Gainey in the past week. First, it started with Scott Gomez being traded to Montreal and has followed with the signings of Brian Gionta and Mike Camalleri, which could be a sign of a new offensive outlook for the Habs. Of course, their loss of Mike Komisarek is a hit on the defensive side, but the lack of sturdy offensive production needed to be addressed....apparently.

However, the thought of a reunion of the magic that Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez had in New Jersey could give the Habs faithful belief that it is still there even though they had spent two seasons apart. Considering they were solid the year after the lockout, but crashed the next season-- why is there such a buzz about the magic they had-- it was one good year. Albeit, the one good year is all it takes in some cases, but we're getting away from the point.

Was this move to sign Gionta after the trade for Gomez used in order to get the tandem back together?? Because if it was, it may have not been the best move. Sure, the chemistry they may share is a nice tool to have, but to believe that lightning can strike more than once is a little silly and short-sighted. Lest we not forget the fiasco that happened in Colorado with Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya in '03-'04 which was going to be used to spark the offense, but turned out to be a horrible, failed experiment.

While there are other tandems who were successful at the end of the day, odds are that if they have been apart for a time; the magic doesn't come back as it once did and will hinder a team's fortunes rather than help them. With the pressure to successed coupled with the pressure put forth by the media and fans alike; you can almost think that this is a recipe for failure for Gionta, Gomez, and ultimately the Habs. Of course, that failure could be Gainey's last stand-- but only time will tell if it'll be a risk that pays off for Gainey or not.

The Risk of the Status Quo

Two goals, five assists, and minus-5 in 17 games played since the March 4th trade deadline.

Those are the stats of Jay Bouwmeester of the Florida Panthers. With several rumors surrounding him leading up to the deadline, the Panthers held steady in hopes of a return to the playoffs. With those hopes dashed, you have to wonder if it was the right decision to make in the grand scheme of things. Especially now, with the Panthers out of it, the question remains if keeping their stud defenseman was worth it, considering it will take a lot to keep him in Florida come July 1st. Instead of getting something in return, they'll probably end up getting nothing from it all, unless they are able to make some sort of off-season blockbuster trade before the Free Agent Frenzy.

Considering his stats, it may have been the wrong decision to keep him around, but at the same time-- you never know what one could do. With a change of scenary, Bouwmeester could have had a breakout second-half performance and make the Panther fans scream out in horror and question why they dealt him away. Damned if you do, damned if you don't-- I suppose. Considering it all, the Panthers should have continued their rebuild by trading away Bouwmeester at the deadline to get some solid prospects and maybe a couple draft picks. With Keaton Ellerby and Colby Robak progressing well in the Panthers' eyes, maybe it should have been the best decision to cut loose of Jay-Bo, but hindsight being what it is-- they may be too late to get anything for him now.

Though it's not a sure thing that he can't be traded, odds are that the Panthers won't be able to unload him to anyone for anything substantal and the teams may just go into a bidding war rather than give up prospects or draft picks for Bouwmeester. That could be the death blow for the Panthers if they not only miss the playoffs, but get nothing for Bouwmeester in the end of this whole thing. But it's a gamble when you're a fringe team like they were; to give up a big piece of the puzzle in order to look towards next year and beyond or keep him and hope the momentum isn't lost so we can get him back for next year and beyond.

It's going to be wait and see now if the Panthers can somehow lure Bouwmeester back into the fold, but the odds are strongly against them. They could look back and think of this as yet another fumble in their attempt to rebuild, but it's a risk trying to desperately make the playoffs like the Panthers were, especially when the support isn't there right now and may force them to move from the friendly Florida confines to somewhere else.

Frenzy Day Two and Three

So hectic that we needed to combine the two....well, not really, but you get the point. After the first day, how can you really justify posting about anything less than superstardom or recognizable names, right??

-Marian Hossa heading to Detroit proves there are some people out there willing to take less money to try and win a Cup. Granted, being on Detroit never guarantees a Cup Finals visit, but they do have the parts to get there. Also, there's a chance he didn't want to go to Edmonton at all-- which seems to be the case in many free agent instances-- but it happens. Edmonton has the young core, but is still a few years away from being a Finals contender again.

-After signing Wade Redden to a somewhat inflated deal, the Rangers went ahead and played sensible with the signing of Markus Naslund and Dmitri Kalinin. Naslund will provide another veteran voice to the room, especially if Jaromir Jagr doesn't come back. With Kalinin, a solid defender, though he has had some injury problem in the past.

-So the Lightning want Dan Boyle to waive his no-trade clause and ship him off. This really goes to show that the Bolts are focusing on scoring more than the other team rather than focus on defense and goaltending. Well, if offensive is the new thing...why the hell not, right?? Right??

-To fill the void Brian Campbell left behind, the Sharks picked up Rob Blake.....yeah. It's quite the contrast of styles, for sure with Campbell being a solid offensive defenseman, while Blake has become a veteran pile-on with his past two seasons in LA totaling a minus-45. Here's hoping for Sharks fans that Blake can reclaim his defensive glory with a better team in front of him.

-The Canadiens are heading back to gaining more francophones than one can imagine with the signings of Georges Laraque and Marc Denis. Now, Laraque will add toughness and in the last few years, he has gained some hands-- adding a new dimension to his game. The good thing about Denis' contract is that it's a two-way deal, that way they can ship him to Hamilton when they do want to deal with his sieveness and let Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak play.

-Mats Sundin and Jaromir Jagr still haven't decided on their playing futures yet. Translation: the right deal in the right place hasn't come along. Odds are both are going to favor staying in the Eastern Conference-- which was shown by Sundin not biting on the two-year, $20M contract offered by Vancouver. Plus, since both are ex-captains-- they will want to go to a place where their leadership will be appreciated and not pushed by the way side. Now, as much as they would want to stay in the East, I think Columbus may want to pick up the phone and throw some cash at them. You want fans to come out and your team to score some goals-- these are the guys. The Jackets have the cash and the spots-- why the hell not??

-Is it me, or is the Pacific Division going to be a war of attrition?? The Coyotes have picked up Brian McGrattan and Todd Fedoruk, the Stars added Sean Avery to their pest line-up of Steve Ott and Brendan Morrow, the Ducks still have George Parros, Chris Pronger, and Brad May, the Sharks re-upped with Jody Shelley, and the Kings have Raitis Ivanans and Denis Gauthier. Keep an eye out for this division for fight-nights all over.

So, we keep an eye out for other big names signing and other craziness to happen in the New York area...for sure.

Frenzy Day One

And what a frenzy it was. Here's some highlights to the whole event from Day One.

-Kevin Lowe was busy, but it wasn't with offer sheets. He acquired Lubomir Visnovsky, Gilbert Brule, and Erik Cole through trades while dumping salary in Jarret Stoll, Matt, Greene, Raffi Torres, and Joni Pitkanen. Brule could be a throw-away in Springfield, but the added depth in Visnovsky and Cole will help the Oilers get back to the playoffs.

-The Bolts' craziness continues. Not only did they get Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts before the frenzy, the also re-sign Vinny Prospal, signed Radim Vrbata to a 3-year/$9M deal, and got Olaf Kolzig. It seems they aren't done with rumors saying they are shopping Mike Smith, which could make room for a starter in the fold. I don't know about you, but the Bolts seem to be overpaying guys. I mean, Vrbata had a career-year at 56 points last year....not $3M a year material if you ask me. Plus, the deal they game to Malone could be a little high. It could pay off if they can sure up their defense and goaltending in the end.

-One team that could be in trouble is the Blackhawks. Right now, with the signing of Cristobal Huet and Brian Campbell, the Hawks are at about $59M bucks, which is $3M over the cap ceiling. Add to that, they have two goalies, along with Nikolai Khabibulin, who total to make about $11M. Needless to say, even though GM Dale Tallon said they're keeping Khabby-- they need to shop him.

-The Caps signed Jose Theodore to a two-year deal before Huet signed, which means that Huet was looking for too long a deal. Theodore was decent last season, but to be honest-- he seems more like the transitional guy the Caps are going after while Michal Neuvirth and Semen Varlamov get in NHL shape. That said, GM George McPhee and owner Ted Leonsis made a great move signing Mike Green to a four-year deal. Good thing about that is that Green will still be a RFA once this contract is up, which means the Caps will have his rights for a long term deal at the end of it.

-Ottawa have a decent back-up for Martin Gerber by signing Alex Auld. It may not seem like much, but Auld will allow the likes of Jeff Glass and Brian Elliott time to grow in Binghamton. Plus, Auld could push Gerber and take over the #1 spot if he can play well enough.

-In with the old was the New Jersey as they brought back Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik. Holik could be a throwaway deal only to get a grinder and veteran in the line-up, but Rolston can bulk up the power play for the Devils. Plus, Rolston is very versatile, which helps him mold into wherever he is needed to be.

-Across the river, the Rangers have gone insane, paying $6.5M a year for six years to Wade Redden. No disrespect to Redden's skills, but he has gone downhill for the past two seasons. For a team that has plenty of puck-moving defensemen, you have to wonder why they needed another one. The money may be right, but the length is what makes it insane.

-Is anyone surprised that the big names like Sundin, Hossa, and Jagr haven't been picked up yet?? Sundin got a supposed offer from Vancouver, Hossa is being courted by Edmonton, and Jagr....who knows. It's a good thing though, it's not like the GM shot their load all on the first day (well, depending the GM-- right Dale Tallon??) and it creates more buzz later in the week ahead.

Other moves saw Curtis Joseph go to Toronto, Andrew Raycroft and Darcy Tucker heading to Colorado, Mike Commodore shipping to Columbus, and Michael Ryder moving to Boston.

Still some out there to tackle, like Ray Emery, in addition to the three mentioned above. We should have an interesting look at things tomorrow.