Hossa signs 12 year, $62.5 million contract with Blackhawks
So many things to talk about here, but I'll stick to the most pressing. I think it's a good move for both sides, but Chicago's books are going to look worse than California's in a couple of years. The NHL is moving closer to the NBA in that contracts are going to be worth as much as players, and that makes me sad. I'd trade Campbell for anything, just to get his salary of the books. Also, I feel like these contracts are going to need to be addressed by the NHL because we're not far away from someone actually siging a 20+ year contract just to keep the cap hit down. The contract averages more than $5 million a year, but he only makes $3.5 million TOTAL over the last four years.
Grade: B+, good effort but at what expense?
Montreal signs Mike Cammallieri, Brian Gionta, Jaroslav Spacek, and Hal Gill.
Wow. And I was on record for liking the Gomez deal. I think they overpaid Gionta, Cammallieri and Spacek, but I could see it working out. Spacek's signing looks a lot better if they can find a sucker to take Hamrlik. I like bringing Gionta and Gomez back together, and it could pay off huge divdends for them. But I don't think Cammallieri is the right fit for them, and for $6 million a year they can't make a mistake with him. People are crying about Gill's price but he adds size, and he's worth $2 million a year for two years, so $2.25 million ain't much of a reach. The truth is no one know how this will play out. They got tougher up front, and I think they targeted players specifically for their system, not just names.
Grades: Cammallieri C+, too expensive. Gionta B+, especially if he can return to form with Gomez. Spacek B-, getting up there in years too. Gill B, rarely hurts to add size to your line-up.
Overall Grade: B, was going to be a B-, but I'm including Gomez in this, and despite his salary I think he's going to look good in a Canadiens jersey.
New York Rangers Sign Marian Gaborik to 5-years $37.5 million
I don't get it. The Rangers are being trashed by fans and bloggers for this signing. You're telling me you wouldn't trade Scott Gomez for Marian Gaborik, straight up? Well the Rangers also got Christopher Higgens in the deal, a guy who averages more than 20 goals a season. That's more than Gomez had this year. Martin Havlat signed for 6 years $30 million. He's just as frail as Gabo, but you never hear about it because HE'S NOT AS GOOD AS GABORIK IS. Obviously everyone's biggest fear is that Gaborik is just going to fall apart, and I'm hesitant to love this deal because Glen Sather signed the check, but selfishly I get to watch Gaborik eight times this year. Ok four times assuming he plays half his teams games.
Grade: A-, as an individual signing it's kind of crazy, but I think this and the Gomez move makes them better.
Tampa Bay signs Mattias Ohlund to a 7-year $25.5 million contract
The first FA off the board. Tampa Bay found an UFA that has never played for Pittsburgh. Shock City. I'll admit my first instincts were to laugh at the $25 million. But upon further investigation I'm starting to like the deal. Tampa Bay struggled with defense last year, heck they struggled with everything last year. But with Ohlund, 2nd overall pick Victor Hedman, and the re-signing of RFA Lukas Krajicek, their defense will be much improved this year. Do you know how many players they paid last year? 50, and 19 of them were defensmen. There moves this offseason, including signing UFA Matt Walker, should go a long way towards stablizing one of their biggest weaknesses.
Washington Capitals sign Mike Knuble to 2-year $5.6 million deal
Damn. Damn. Double Dog Damn. It's not so much that I thought the Pens would sign him, or even should, though I'll admit if we could have gotten him for less than $2.5 mil/year I'd of taken him. It's that it's such a damn good move for Washington. He adds grit to a team that didn't have much. He brings 25 goals a year to a team that needed another scorer when Semin and Green disappeared. He's a veteran going to a team that lost Federov this off-season to Europe. Damn. Damn. Damn is he going to fit in well there. He's going to score 30 goals this year. If the Caps can get a solid defensive d-man there's going to be hell to pay in the playoffs next year.
Grade: A, Damn.
Oh wait, that's right...Pens are still the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
Keep the faith.
-the legend
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