Christmas in July – The Signings and The Trades

Merry Christmas in July to everyone who enjoyed the Free Agent Frenzy day across North America, and World Wide.   Happy belated Canada Day to those of you Canadian’s who visit the site as well.

I will be discussing all of the signings and breaking down all of the trades from yesterday.

The Trades:

The Toronto Maple Leafs send Pavel Kubina and the rights to Tim Stapleton to the Atlanta Thrashers for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart.

This was the trade that moved cap space in order to give Komisarek the contract that the Leafs wanted to get him to land him.  It also brings a third line potential forward into the mix.  Smart move for the Leafs in gaining age and cap space from this deal.

The Signings:

The Sedins staying in Vancouver put a lot of pressure on other teams to go for a top line duo, something the Habs took care of via trade and UFA and something the Leafs have not even touched yet.

Marion Garborik – 5 years @ 7.5 per with New York Rangers

Well, 5 years could be a very risky thing, but if healthy, the Rangers got one of the prime players off the UFA list!

Henrik Sedin – 5 years @$30.1 million with Vancouver
Daniel Sedin – 5 years @ $30.1 million with Vancouver

Perfect for the Canucks. They keep their boys, and they get them at a decent deal, and not 12 years.

Martin Havlat – 6 years @ 30 million with Minnesota

Minny got the replacement and top line winger needed for this club.  Is lil’ but older Koivu next?

Mattias Ohlund – 7 years @ $24.5 million with Tampa Bay

I have no idea why Ohlund got 7 years, but Tampa is still concerned about their d-men.  Didn’t they learn last year?

Radek Dvorak – 2 years @ $3.4 million with Florida

Keeps Dvorak in the South. Can’t complain

Colton Orr – 4 years @ $4 million with Toronto

$1 million for a guy who can only throw his hands around?  For real?

David Booth – 6 years @ $25.5 million with Florida

Get the kid locked up.  Smart move by Florida.

Craig Anderson – 2 years @ $3.6 million with Colorado

Fighting it out with Budaj to be the #1, although the money here seems to give him the advantage.

Marian Hossa – 12 years @ $62 million with Chicago

He get’s the deal he wants, except from a team that we didn’t even know wanted him.  I like the deal, if he can find himself 100% and not have to be the go to guy in Chicago.

Matt Walker – 4 years @ $6.8 million with Tampa

Really?

Ty Conklin – 2 years @ $2.6 million with St.Louis

If Mason can’t cut it to start the season, we know Conklin has the ability to carry a work load. Smart move by St. Louis.

Dwayne Roloson – 2 years @ $5 million with Islanders

Makes one question what’s wrong with DiPi?  Is Roloson going to start or sit on the bench for $2.5 a year?

Steve Montador – 2 years @ $3.1 million with Buffalo

Great signing by Buffalo in my opinion.  Very versatile player.

Tomas Kopecky – 2 years @ $2.4 million with Chicago

Are they going to lose someone on the roster that they brought Kopecky in as well?

Mike Knuble – 2 years @ $5.6 million with Washington

Mike Green’s point tally just went up by at least 10 more points, if not more.  Knuble – Backstrom – Ovechkin?  Yikes.  That’s going to be quite the power play!

Mike Cammalleri – 5 years @ $30 million with Montreal
Brian Gionta – 5 years @ 25 million with Montreal

We should just call Montreal smurf land this season.  They aren’t bad signings, but they aren’t worth the money they have received, and Gainey did NOT address a major need.  A “BIG” player.  This could cause major problems this year.

Mike Komisarek – 5 years @ $4.5 million with Toronto

Seeing the price makes Habs fans want to vomit.  Should be a fun six meetings this season between the two clubs!

Jason Labarbara – 2 years @ ? with Phoenix

I guess this means Montoya is a long shot to make the team this year. Simple signing, not much too it.

Donald Brashear – 2 years @ 2.8 million with Rangers

Lose Orr, get Brashear!

Scott Neidermayer – 1 year – @ $6 million with Anaheim

With incentives.  I guess they are hoping to re-sign Beaucheman as well now?

Brian Boucher – 2 years – @ $1.8 million with Flyers

Steve Sullivan – 2 years @ $7.5 million with Nashville

I love that Nashville get’s their guy back, at a bit cheaper then expected.

Jaroslav Spacek – 3 years – @ $11.5 million with Canadiens
Hal Gill – 2 years @ $4.5 million with Canadiens

You wouldn’t up the offer to Komi for 500k more? So, lets go out and sign these two?  I think this is a massive downgrade, and the d is a lot worse now in Montreal. I mean, $6 million a year for these two over the next two years makes me want to throw up, just a lil’.

Scott Clemmensen – 3 years @ $3.6 million with Florida

If Vokoun goes down, with Anderson walking, they got a kid that can step in and play as a #1 if needed.

Nikolai Khabibulin – 4 years @ $15 million with Edmonton

This might be the steal of the day! Great job by the Oilers, especially since trying to lure Heater to the club.

Ian Laperriere – 3 years @ $3.5 million with Flyers

Ian hates to lose, and Flyers fans don’t want to see too many losses this season.  It’s a smart, solid pick up by Philadelphia.  Here’s to hoping Blair Betts is next!

Erik Cole – 2 years @ $5.8 million with Hurricanes

Cole staying with the Canes at a discounted rate is good for both.

Mike Rupp – 2 years @ 1.6 million with Pittsburgh

It is what it is.

Kent Huskins – 2 years @ $1.7 million with San Jose

San Jose keeps their depth.

Sami Pahlsson – 3 years @ $7.95 million with Columbus

Guessing Malholtra wanted too much. A veteran to the game to help Columbus hit the playoffs again this season.

Chris Neil – 4 years @ $8 million

Ottawa throws an offer to Chris last minute and get’s to keep their guy!

John Madden – 1 year @ $2.75 million

Chicago gets the faceoff, defensive minded specialist. Smart signing

Jason Strudwick – 1 year @ $700k

Oilers keep their depth.

Fredrik Sjostrom – 2 years @ $1.5 million

Calgary grabs a give it all you got every shift type of player in Sjostrom.  He will be missed in New York.

Steve Begin – 1 year @ $800k

The Bruins get a very solid energy guy that can play every role on the ice.  I really like this signing for Boston.

Vernon Fiddler – 2 years @ $2.2 million

Phoenix get’s one hell of a defensive minded player who will be absolutely missed in Nashville.  Business is business.

Greg Zanon – 3 years @ $5.8 million

Minny get’s a guy that Nashville might really miss come start of the season.

Byron Bitz – n/a

Boston re-ups the kid with a multi-year deal.  Nice solid ground work for the future.

David Koci –

Eh, don’t really have much to say on this.

Adam Pardy – n/a

Keep the player you already know about.

Joel Ward – 2 years @ $3 million

Ward showed his durability and capability last season, and if that continues, he’ll be a dynamite player for Nashville.

Lukas Krajicek – 1 year @ ?

Tampa, Tampa, Tampa, I don’t understand you.