love the puck

Thursday, August 25, 2005

I really thought the Florida Panthers were making strides. They hired a great coach, an experienced (though not liked) GM, and they started signing players that will make an impact on their team. They have young players with a lot of skill and now some veterans that will provide leadership and grit. Oh, and they have one of the elite goalies in the game to boot.

However, it appears Florida is not on the up and up in the eyes of Roberto Luongo. He turned down a 5 year deal that would have paid him good but not great money, and at first glance it would make sense that he would take the deal and build with the Panthers. Now, I can understand as much as the next guy that Luongo wants to test the waters next year, and especially since Khabibulin took down near 7 mil this off-season. But who's going to be able to pay Luongo that kind of money and stay competitive? Probably no-one, so Luongo figures, if I'm going to end up taking 5 mil or even a little less a year, I'm not doing it in south Florida. This way, Roberto picks his team, and gives himself a greater likelihood of victory. And so because of the new CBA we see players thinking not just about money, but also more about situations. Here's hoping Roberto likes the colour Blue, and the shade White.

The NHL is going to try a new schedule this year, and I think that I'm having mixed emotions about it. On the one hand, it will be good to see rivals such as Calgary and Edmonton, Toronto and Ottawa, Colorado and Vancouver, play 8 times a year. That will either add intensity or destroy it. I think it will add intensity, but also playing too much too often could bore fans, especially if it's against a weaker team in the division.

One thing I don't like about the new schedule is that certain teams don't play each other. I am an advocate for playing every team at least twice. Once at home, once on the road. For the simple reason that Toronto doesn't play Columbus this year, and there are fans that want to see Rick Nash play hockey. I want to see Rick Nash play against Toronto. And what makes Columbus (for example) the one team we don't play this year? Why do we play everyone else except two teams? It just doesn't make sense. I don't think it's something the NHL is doing to cut costs, because it still costs money to travel, Eastern Conference teams still play teams out West and vice-versa. It would cost Toronto less to go play Edmonton than it would to go play Tampa. So if it were a financial thing, it would be much more drastic.

As far as all these comparisons of Hossa and Naslund and who's better in the playoffs, they've both won nothing, so it's not a concern. They are both elite players, and I don't doubt either of their abilities to score goals regular season, or in the playoffs. I actually recall Marian Hossa scoring a great goal against the Leafs, in the ACC in game 6 two years ago that gave Ottawa a huge lift and they eventually won the game. There's a lot of people reading into this trade way too much. In the media especially. I actually heard Mike Hogan on the Fan 590 yesterday say that he would rather have Dany Heatley. That wasn't disconcerting, but his reasoning was; he went on to say that Heatley has way more "finish" than Hossa. Now I love Heatley, and would prefer to have him on my team, but Hossa definitley has an abundance of "finish". But everyone is fishing for reasoning as to why these teams did this deal, and the truth is it's simple. Hossa wasn't going to fit financially, and lots of teams were calling John Muckler. Heatley is the best deal out there when you consider his cost, and his age and endless potential. So Ottawa did well. Atlanta gets a proven scorer and power play man in return. They did well too.

It's not about who you like better all the time. In every trade there won't be a clear cut "winner". Sometimes a team has it's hands tied and looks to make a deal in that regard. And to get Dany Heatley in that situation is more than a good reason to be excited.

I was thinking about the Washington Capitals and how they did absolutely nothing this off-season. I don't really care about the Capitals running their team into the AHL, but I do feel bad for Olaf Kolzig. He was solid in his career, and never a complainer. He deserves better than to ride off into the sunset with a bunch of minor leaguers in front of him. Also, I think the Leafs should try to get Brendan Witt. I didn't even check the numbers to see if it could work, but he just seems like the exact type of player the Leaf's blue line is missing. I heard the Leafs are trying to make a deal to get another blue liner, but the rumour came without a name attached. Next time I write will be from BC, where the discussion will be rampid.

Posted by Jon at 5:33 PM | | e-mail me

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

well the news came down today that i might as well pluck my eyes out and never watch hockey again, because the Leafs play the Senators 8 times this year, and the Senators have a new up and coming superstar. Dany Heatley will wear the number 15 for the nation's capital this season.

But I wonder if this deal puts the Senators any further ahead than they were. Marian Hossa is an elite player in the NHL. He's a point a game player on a star studded team. Dany Heatley has a WORLD of potential, but right now, he's not a guarantee. And that's why I love what Ottawa is doing. Did they give up a lot in this deal? Absolutely. Marian Hossa is a guarantee, Heatley represents what could be. If Dany Heatley recognizes his potential, the sky is the limit. If he doesn't, he'll still be a solid, if not great NHL'er. So really, all Ottawa has done is gotten younger, given away less money, and made the future look even brighter than it already was. Next year they'll probably trade for Roberto Luongo and win the next 4 Stanley Cup's. Okay, maybe I'm being unrealisitic, but it feels like Ottawa couldn't have done better.

How many teams in this situation would have lost Hossa, or someone else for almost nothing. Instead, they've turned around and picked up a kid waiting to explode, and I personally think Heatley will make a living on Ottawa's powerplay this year, because he's got a premium shot and Alfredson will feed him pucks all night long.

So on paper, or at least in the short term, I think Atlanta is going to come out ahead. But I think that given the situation, Ottawa could not have done any better in solving their financial conundrum. The question is now only this: did Heatley sign for little enough to let Ottawa keep captain Wade Redden? I think that they got Heatley at the best possible time. He's good enough to make big bucks, but he didn't have a full NHL season after the accident to prove it, so technically, other than the World Championships two years ago, Heatley has been quiet. They signed a kid who is hungry, and who people are starting to question. I'm a Leaf fan, and I still can't believe how good this is for Ottawa. I hate to admit it, but this makes them very dangerous for some time to come. Hats off to the Sens.

As per a signing by the Mighty Ducks, I don't know what to think about Teemu Selanne. I've never been much of a fan of his, but I maintain that Brian Burke is a great GM. So we'll have to wait and see if the Finnish flash has anything left in his dash.

Previews are coming soon.......

Posted by Jon at 3:26 PM | | e-mail me

Thursday, August 18, 2005

LIGHTING STRIKES

The burning question that has arisen from the Olympic Orientation camps is not "who invited Brendan Morrow?", but rather, "has the new salary cap system actually diminished the oppurtunity for good teams to keep their players.

Tampa Bay locked up Vinny LeCavalier and now will find trouble keeping Marty St. Louis happy with his paycheques. Ottawa has put captain and defense stalwart Wade Redden on the trade block. But I am not one who thinks the new CBA is going to hinder teams from building and keeping players. I, however, think that we all need to be realistic and upfront about the financial issues players are facing now.

First off, in the St. Louis situation, I think everyone needs to sit down and realize that if there is no cap, there's no CBA, and if there's no CBA, then there's no NHL. Kind of tough to complain about 5 million after that one. Secondly, the new landscape means everyone takes less, and if you want to play for a contender, take less. If you like your situation, and you're a 30 year MVP and Stanley Cup champion, and you'd like to be that again, take less. If Tampa offers Marty 5 mil per, and he doesn't think that's enough, he can leave town. But the fact remains, if he wants to win, it might cost him a few dollars. Realistically I don't think Marty could demand the max anyway. He is a dynamic player, one that I love to watch, and he is the Hart trophy winner, but at his age, and his playing history, you can't lock him up longterm for bigtime dollars.

I'm sure Martin St. Louis could go somewhere and get 6 million dollars next year. I'm also sure he could make 4.5 or 5 to stay in Tampa and compete for a cup again. Really, it's about priorities. The truth is that because every team is dealing with the same numbers (roughly) there are going to be guys that take cuts to play on good teams. There just aren't enough max dollars to go around for everyone. If I was St. Louis, I'd sit down with Brad Richards and see how committed they are to staying in Tampa to try and win. And if they decide it's worth it, sign on the dotted line, or else they'll be headed to Minnesota, or Nashville, or (gulp!) Washington, to waste away the rest of their promising careers.

Another reality is that this is a floating cap. If Revenues go up, then the cap goes up, which isn't any guarantee, and is somewhat risky, but in reality it is the only way to make both the PA and the Board of Governers sign this thing. So if the league does well, guys will get paid more. Simple in idea form, but hard for the players to deal with, because guys are going to have to swallow their pride.

I think the whole thing is a bit........off. Just a few months ago there was no guarantee these guys could make big bucks in the NHL again. And now already there are people unwilling to work with the new system? It's hard times in the NHL right now, and to fix it, the players need to help, the owners need to help, the fans need to help, and everyone needs to try and move forward. Bashing the new system doesn't take the ink off the paper, and if we could go back, nothing would change. The only other option is no options. If Marty really needs that extra 1 or 2 million, I'm sure he could get it in Europe.

I don't want to see players defect to Europe. I don't want to see yearly firehouse sales with players moving around all the time like they do in the NFL. But if it's going to avoid that avenue, then everyone needs to accept and work within the new system. We are not in the clear skies and green pastures of five years ago. The NHL is a barren landscape financially right now, and it is great that there is a tonne of excitement about the new season, but we still have to deal with the reality that there are no guarantees this season.

Posted by Jon at 6:20 AM | | e-mail me

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

As if we couldn't be more excited about the upcoming NHL season, we also get an Olympic year, right of the bat. I'm salivating just thinking about it. 2002's version of men's ice hockey was a thriller, and now everyone is looking at 2006 because it should be the best international ice hockey event since 1987's Canada Cup.

But the landscape is changing for Canada hockey. It's an exciting change, facilitated initially at the World Cup, where minor roster changes made huge impacts- Joe Thornton, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis and MVP Vincent LeCavilier.

Here's how I see it: 13 forwards, 7 defence, 3 goalies.

In Net- Marty starts on past accomplishments and current skill alone. Roberto Luongo has proved he is ready to play at this level, and though he struggled a little in the World Cup semi-final against the Czech Republic, he was DYNAMITE in overtime of that game, and when the pressures on, he's a rock. He's won two World's, and Marty only caught the silver this year. It doesn't take anything away from Martin, and he's the starter, but it is proof that Roberto is next in line. The third goalie I think has to be Theodore, but if Turco has a better first half of the season, then put him in. A third goalie spot is a interchangeable one.

On Defense- Pronger, Niedermayer, Foote and Blake will be guarantees. For the remaining three spots I think it has to be Redden, who has shown such hockey intelligence and skill that the ice size difference won't matter, Regher, who doesn't play as well on the big ice, but he's a horse, and his play at the World Cup and consistency in the NHL will get him a spot. And the 7th defender can be any one of three players. My first pick would be Scott Hannan, but you could make a case easily for Jay Bouwmeester, who can skate, pass and basically do everything well, and also for Dan Boyle, who was stellar at the World's for Canada, and whom is also a Stanley Cup Champion.

I left Jovocop off the list, because he has struggled of late. He missed the World Cup with injuries and looked absolutely atrocious at the World Championships, I'm not sure if he was hurt, or what was going on there, but he was always a step or 5 behind the play. He is experienced though, and if he plays well in the first half, he could easily make it.
Eric Brewer watches from home this time too. He played fine at the World Cup, but I think he just hasn't developed as quickly as Hannan and Bouwmeester, and he lacks a killer instinct that I think Adam Foote compensated for in September of last year.

Up Front there's a log jam. You can't break up the line of Sakic, Lemieux and Iginla. The next ten forwards are, in no particular order- Vincent, Joe Thornton, Yzerman, Richards, St. Louis, Heatley, Nash, Shane Doan, Bertuzzi, and the 13th forward should be Ryan Smyth, Alex Tanguay, Patrick Marleau, Simon Gagne, Brendan Morrisonn or Sidney Crosby. It's a toss up between those first four, and then Morrisonn and Crosby are long shots.

As per the Juniors James mentioned, I think Dubnyk looks a little slow. He seems to move around a lot too, which I think would give him trouble at the next level. Luc Bourdon is no joke. He is tough as hell, and will clear out the front of the net. Not sure if he'd be able to run the powerplay right now, but Cam Barker will be able to teach him that. Canada will have a young team, but I know Brent Sutter will have them focused and hungry. The future is still bright for Canadian hockey.

NHL previews are still coming soon, I'm just waiting till the rosters get a little more rounded out.

Posted by Jon at 2:06 PM | | e-mail me

Friday, August 12, 2005

Initially, and by that I mean a few weeks ago, I wasn't that excited about the Leafs pursuing Lindros. I mean, in my mind all the problems are just too much to deal with, and the next concussion is only a matter of time, especially when Eric sits at the press conference yesterday and says "I've really been working on stickhandling with my head up." I hope so Eric, because you're in the NHL, and that's a requirement.

But when they signed him yesterday I was excited. This is a marquee talent, a bruiser who can score, and will punch you in the face if he feels like it. I saw a highlight of him in New York and it made me excited. Lindros came flying down the right side and sniped a slap shot top cheese, then an opposing defender bumped one of his celebrating teammates and Eric, who was still in the same momentum from scoring, lunged past his own teammate and punched that defenseman in the head. I love it.

So we acquired two players with a history of injuries and the potential for more. Howard Berger pointed out on the Fan last night that we had the exact same thing with Nieuwendyk, Roberts and Mogilny, so all the Leafs have done is got a little younger, a little more talented (Nieuwendyk is still the man though) and a little more potential for dominance. I can't wait to see Pat Quinn let the Big E loose on the Flyers. Primeau is going to get a little taste of life after being covered by Nik Antropov, and it won't be fun for him.

As to the Leafs need for youth, I don't think they're in as bad shape as people think, but I do realize that as long as Pat Quinn is behind the bench, they'll be a veteran team. Quinn hates babysitting, hates teaching, and just wants players that will do exactly what he says, and he only wants to say it once. The next few years the Leafs will get by on the free agent market, and hopefully they'll make some smart draft choices. I don't think they'll rebuild, I think they'll slowly morph into a half young, half veteran team, and then slowly those young players won't be as young, and then they'll just be a regular team. It'll take time, but there's no reason to do a firehouse sale just for picks, because if you do that, you're Washington, and NOBODY wants to be in Washington right now. Especially not Olaf Kolzig.

Hockey in Toronto will never die. There's a waitlist for season tickets that is 6,000 people long, and if hockey survived the Ballard era, there's nothing that can stop it now. People will complain and moan, but they'll keep coming, they'll always keep coming. But I do believe that Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment is committed to contending, and I do believe they've done really, really well considering their circumstances to start this little sprint of an off-season. It wasn't but three weeks ago everyone was wondering what Toronto was going to do, and then they've added 3 solid players, to salvage what they lost in Nieuwendyk and Roberts.

Obviously the kicker for Toronto is keeping everyone healthy, but it is every year, so really nothing is new under the sun.

I think that once the rosters are finished, I'll do a division by division preview. Than we can discuss all that. That's when I'll speak on Anaheim, Scotty, so don't wet yourself just yet.

Posted by Jon at 8:29 AM | | e-mail me

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

First off, I want to say thanks to you guys for reading and even more so, participating in this little endeavour. Today will be a response to many of Scotty's comments, as I feel a response to this forum of sorts is long over due.

Pittsburgh has made long strides since drafting Crosby, and it is amazing what a wonderkid will do for a franchise every 20 years or so, but trust me, this team is still a long way off. Make no mistake, the Pens are gearing up to score goals. They're counting on people taking penalties on Crosby and Mario, and then they're counting on Gonchar and the boys to put up powerplay points. They'll reek havoc on the Powerplay and then give the goals right back in even strength. Davy, you're right, in the sense that they can put two solid lines out that can score goals, but they don't have guys that fancy the dirty work required to keep goals off the board. Goaltending isn't even as huge of a concern, rather I'd be worried about how my third and fourth lines are comprised purely of AHL players. And don't try to tell me that they'll double shift Mario and Recchi, because those guys won't be able to keep up with that. If the Pens make the Playoffs, it'll be a backdoor squeaker.

A playoff prediction at this point is useless, as the full rosters haven't even been announced, and no one knows how teams are going to look with the new rules and new era.

Tampa Bay will be a more advanced Pittsburgh. Like the Pens they'll be scoring left, right and centre, and their power play will be more than potent. Though they don't have an 'A' list goaltender, Burke is solid and has only posted a higher than 3.00 GAA once in the past 11 years. T-Bay has a good defense core, and Boyle is mobile, and solid, which will bode well for the Lightning.

I don't think the Red Wings will be what people think they will this year. I love Stevie Y, and he'll be fine, but Shanny is over the hill, they lost their best skating defenseman in Dandenault and really only have Jiri Fischer, Lidstrom (who is amazing, I agree but is slowing, and won't be aloud to obstruct in front anymore) and Chelios, who is over the hill, but provides some grit. Manny Legace is a question mark, if only because he has never been a starter. He's proven he's talented enough, but can he maintain it for 55 games? We'll see.

I really think the key this year is going to be depth. What teams can roll four lines night in and night out and get something out of those lines. Philly has depth, and I think Richards and Carter are the real deal (Carter especially), but if they don't get Robert Esche back, and their Pilons get danced around, they could be in trouble.

If the L.A. Kings got their hands on a goalie, and a defenceman, they'd have something going. They're adding Mike Cammalerri from the AHL, and he was second in the league in scoring last season. Frolov will look nice with Demitra and Camma Jamma on their powerplay. But with no one other than Matthias Norstrom and Aaron Miller on defence, the Kings will lack the ever important depth. Roenick will be good for 20 goals and 82 soundbytes.

Reports are that Alyn McCauley wanted back into T.O. and was willing to take a three million dollar paycut to do so, to which John Ferguson said "no thanks". I fail to see how that was a good GM move. We need a third line centre, and McCauley is solid, not spectacular, but a character player, and would be nice instead of Nik Antropov in the middle.
Also, Lindros has asked for the same amount of incentives that Jason Allison is set to recieve, which is absolutely ridiculous. The longer the Big E waits, the more money he's screwing himself out of. I just hope Davy gets his wish.....

So Scottsdale, no predictions, just analysis today. Predictions at this point are for the un-educated, and also for the dreamers (which you fall under). I think though, that the Sens will be a force again this year. This is the year they finally usurp the Leafs. It's just a shame for the Sens that it took the Leafs depleting their whole team.

Posted by Jon at 7:13 AM | | e-mail me

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Earn your money

A really nice perk of the current off-season is that GM's are actually forced to be smart and earn their money. No longer can a sub-par GM use dollars to smack around a smaller market. Now they have to craft a solid team, make an honest, lucrative offer, and convince a player that the team he is coming too is going to be a good one. Kevin Lowe is a good GM. Whoever earns a check in Washington, (sorry George McPhee) is not deserving of a job. I'm not claiming that it is an easy job, and maybe (actually it's very likely) that guys like Ferguson and McPhee are holding out for next years free agent crop, but it does feel like this is not the time to sit idle. I think it would be an impossiblity to be in a position like this and not have a plan for the future.

So who's looking good since the free agent frenzy?

Pittsburgh is making a lot of noise and for the first time in years they'll have a team that can compete. No longer will they be the brunt of AHL related jokes. Palffy is not a favourite player of mine, but he is proven to be a solid scorer. Gonchar is not a favourite of mine either, but he can move the puck and no one will deny his ability to quaterback a powerplay. And Ric Jackman will go in the corners enough for both of them. Maybe they'll move Tarnstrom and get another rugged blue liner.

Edmonton is looking pretty good, but I think people are making a little bit too much of getting Peca and Pronger. I think they're both excellent players, but their goalie is Ty Conklin, and other than Smyth there aren't really too many consistent contributers. I like Moreau, Torres and I think that Edmonton has all the pieces going in the right direction. They'll make some noise this year, but not parade type noise. At least the battle of Alberta will be taken up a notch or six this year.

Philadelphia made a great move in getting Forsberg dollar for dollar for Roenick. But still they put a lot of money into Therien and Hatcher, who I think are just really big posts. Rathje is a good player, but he's not a big time minute muncher like a Pronger, Niedermayer, Hannan or even Brian Leetch. I think Philly will finish second or third in the East, but I don't know if they can hang with Tampa Bay, even though Tampa Bay has a MASSIVE question mark in goal now.

Calgary added some depth up front which they needed, and even though I hate Tony Amonte, he'll probably score twenty for the Flames. McCarty is a Darryl Sutter type player, which bodes well for the team and for McCarty because he loves the bang and crash style hockey. They locked up Iggy and they still have Donovan, Langkow and a player I think could break out this year, Steven Reinprecht. Plus their blue line is perfect and their goalie is Mikka.

As a side note, I think the Boston Bruins overpaid everyone they signed.

The Chicago Blackhawks made some impressive moves adding Aucoin, Khabibulin and Lapointe, but I just don't think that's enough pieces of the puzzle. They're on the right track though.

Columbus needed defense badly and picked up Adam Foote and Brian Berard. And yet no one mentioned anything about it. They have a underrated goalie in Denis, a great scoring line, and now a solid defense. I slate them 6th or 7th in the West, and depending on some young guys playing well, maybe even higher.

There is a buzz all about as the league has reached the end of it's first full week of constant activity. Angry words have been forgotten, and people are getting really excited about hockey again. When there are more qualifying offers signed, I'll see whose teams are looking the sharpest. Feel free to leave a comment with questions, ideas and criticisms.

Posted by Jon at 7:28 PM | | e-mail me

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

It just doesn't get any better than this. After a whole three hundred days of atomic wasteland the NHL has awoken to discover that there is excitement in the air. All is definitely not lost. One after another big names are being sewn onto new jerseys (but not in New Jersey) and great NHL players are employing moving companies all over North America.

Chris Pronger is an absolute gem. The Oilers are brilliant for pulling this off. Only because of the salary cap system is this possible, then Chris takes almost two million in paycuts to stay with the team long term. It hurts to give up Woywitka and especially Lynch, who were both great players and very close to being NHL ready and NHL steady. Brewer isn't a disappointment, because Pronger is just that much better than him. I love the way the Oil is looking these days. Even by adding Mike Peca they are just stock piling leadership and professionalism. I bet Ryan Smyth is smiling.

Forsberg has joined the only team I hate more than the Senators. Bobby Clarke rubs me the wrong way, but he is making some great moves. Getting Forsberg, and moving Roenick in almost a dollar for dollar deal is an unbelievable upgrade. I don't think that the Hatcher/Rathje/Therien move is as good as people are hyping it, but no doubt Forsberg will fly in the East.

The Penguins made their first big splash, getting Sergei Gonchar for a long time coming. I think this is a great fit for Pittsburgh, and I don't believe his style of play would have suited the Leafs.
The Habs make a great move to get Mathieu Dandenault from the Wings. He is solid and skilled, and will help to bolster the blue line in Montreal.

Who's left?

Obviously Scott Niedermayer, but he is out of the Maple Leaf price range, so I'd like Ferguson to take a look at Brian Rafalski and Paul Kariya. It's not too late Fergie......

With another great day done in the NHL, there is teams with new looks and some with familiar faces, which is exciting and so far boding well for parity in the league. Teams who in other years wouldn't be able to land players, like Columbus, Edmonton and Pittsburgh are making all the great moves. 63 days till the puck drops.

Posted by Jon at 5:01 PM | | e-mail me

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Breaking news is the best thing around. Here we go.

Adam Foote to Columbus for a little under 5 million a season. Aucoin to Chicago for 4 per annum. Nieuwendyk and Roberts to the Panthers for 2.125 a season. The Flyers are set to announce Hatcher and Rathje. And a lot of people want a piece of Mikey Modano.

It hurts bad to lose Joe Nieuwendyk. He is still a dynamic player at 38 and was the best player the Leafs had in the post season two years ago. The price Florida paid was too much though. In my mind, the Leafs would obviously tried to get him for a little over a million, which would have been nice if Mike Keenan didn't decide to shoot the moon. I think it's too much money to tie up in both Nieuwendyk and Roberts.

Adam Foote. What a warrior. I was not suprised he got a deal of this ilk, but I am suprised it is in Columbus. What a great situation for those young defenceman. Look at how much Eric Brewer improved at the World Cup by playing with Footer and obviously Foote taught Skrastins and John Michael Liles a tonne in Colorado. A great pick up for any team.

Aucoin to the Blackhawks proves that Chicago is serious. They already have a good young defense, and this pick up is a significant upgrade from Brian Berard. 4 million seems like a lot, but Aucoin is an all-star an absolute horse.

The Flyers have upgraded their blueline size significantly as well. In my mind Hatcher has become a bit of a post, but Rathje is a great pick up. He's big and strong and mobile enough to play in the new look NHL. The Flyers are making some noise, but they've still got some payroll work to do. They'll make a strong bid to be first in the East this year.

The Mike Modano sweepstakes are heating up. I dont' really get it myself, but he is a veteran, and a good skater. I dont' really know or care to speculate where he ends up, not that it's a disrespect to him, I just don't see him making a huge impact this season.

Forsberg and Naslund will not play for the Rangers. Even though they've both said they'll take a cut, they still want to play for the Cup, and the Rangers are a long way from there. That being said, there haven't been any serious rumours as to where these guys will end up.

I think Paul Kariya could be the steal of the free agent market. He may not be the best player out there, but he will have a bounce back year. Has any one ever fallen so quickly out of the spotlight as him? He had a tough year with injuries and whatnot, but right now he'll come at a low price, and he's healed up. I think he'll explode back onto the scene and play for Canada in Turin.

Alright, I'm going to stay locked on the rumour mill, and hope to see much more action today on the market, now that a few guys have signed.

Posted by Jon at 9:02 AM | | e-mail me