NHL Free Agency Thread

[killgod]

Beauchemin signs in Toronto 3yr - 3.8M



As for Toronto's farm......it's got nothing of value right now. They've always been a veteran free agent buying team.

[killgod]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283900

If I was a Bhawks fan, I'd go punch a baby.

Those two guys are probably gone if this turns in the NHLPA's favour. All it will take is a couple clubs to throw 4M at each of them (which Barker will certainly get....Versteeg is closer to 3M I'd guess...but who knows)

Hawks only got 8M to spend and a few spots to fill...so they can't dish it on those two.

[Kuzzy Powers]

Read something similar when the Kaberle deals were being thrown out there pre-draft. Schneider was apart of any and all deals with the Canucks. I thought it was odd considering Toronto has Pogge still waiting in the wings and he is coming off a solid year in the AHL. Also read Hodgson was of high interest.

Oh dear.. you ever watch Justin Pogge play bro? That guy is a joke. Hes living off that World Junior hype like a mother fucker.

[Kuzzy Powers]

Beauchemin signs in Toronto 3yr - 3.8M

Love this signing. Dont know why we arent going for a little scoring to help balance out the grit, but our defense is finally going to be legit next year.

[Ravin]

Toronto at least can stop teams from scoring goals this year. I guess they are just praying they can keep the other team to 2 or less goals a game and they can score more then that to win.

[The Buddha]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283900

If I was a Bhawks fan, I'd go punch a baby.

Those two guys are probably gone if this turns in the NHLPA's favour. All it will take is a couple clubs to throw 4M at each of them (which Barker will certainly get....Versteeg is closer to 3M I'd guess...but who knows)

Hawks only got 8M to spend and a few spots to fill...so they can't dish it on those two.

*goes to find baby*


How the hell can you screw up that bad?

[Krebs]

big rumor with heatley to cbj! i would love to have heater here in the 614

[The Buddha]

btw...the hawks extended barker, plus resigned 5 others

The Chicago Blackhawks worked toward keeping their young nucleus intact Monday, announcing the re-signings of five free agents as well as a contract extension for defenseman Cam Barker.

Barker received a three-year contract extension worth $9.25 million, according to TSN.

The 23-year-old put up six goals and 40 points in 68 regular-season games and added three goals and nine points in 17 playoff games this past season as the Blackhawks reached the Western Conference Finals. Barker has totals of 13 goals and 66 points in 149 games over parts of four seasons with Chicago.

Right wing Troy Brouwer and goaltender Corey Crawford received two-year contracts, while left wing Ben Eager, center Colin Fraser and defenseman Aaron Johnson all signed one-year deals.

"I am happy to have these five players back with us," Chicago GM Dale Tallon said in a statement prior to the announcement of Barker's contract extension. "They are quality individuals who played an important role with us last season and their talents are a big part of our goals for next season."

Brouwer, the youngest of the five players at 23, is coming off a solid rookie season in which he registered 10 goals and 26 points in 69 games while finishing third on the club with 125 hits. He added two assists in 17 postseason games and continued to provide solid physical play with 50 hits.


Crawford, a second-round choice in the 2003 Entry Draft, is expected to see an increased role after Nikolai Khabibulin left for Edmonton via free agency. The 24-year-old has a 1-2-1 record in seven regular-season NHL starts, and stopped six of seven shots in a 12-minute relief appearance after coming on for Cristobal Huet during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against Detroit.

Eager, a sparkplug acquired from Philadelphia during the 2007-08 season, contributed career highs this past season with 11 goals, 15 points and 74 games played, while leading the team with 161 penalty minutes. He also registered a goal and an assist in 17 playoff games. Eager, 25, has scored 20 goals and collected 36 points with 501 penalty minutes in 195 career games.

Fraser, 24, emerged as a reliable blueliner during his rookie season. He played in 81 games and chipped in six goals, 17 points and 55 penalty minutes. He also got a taste of the postseason by playing in a pair of games, registering four shots against Detroit in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

Johnson, the veteran of the group at 26, had filed for salary arbitration Sunday before agreeing to terms with the Blackhawks a day later. A former third-round draft choice by Columbus, he has played in 184 career games with the Blue Jackets, Islanders and Blackhawks, with 10 goals, 36 points, 156 penalty minutes and a plus-19 rating. This past season, Johnson had three goals and eight points in 38 games for Chicago.

[killgod]

so I'm guessing Kris Versteeg will be playing elsewhere next season?

[killgod]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283954

Leafs got the Monster


Toskala will be dealt at the trade deadline I'm guessing.

[Kuzzy Powers]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283954

Leafs got the Monster


Toskala will be dealt at the trade deadline I'm guessing.

Only one year? Strange..

[killgod]

Only one year? Strange..

well it allows him (if he plays exceptional at the NHL level) to make big money next year.

he is already 24....and I doubt a team would want to lock him up long term at more money than that, and due to his age I don't see him wanting to be locked up for multiple years at less than 1M

makes sense.

[killgod]

Love this signing. Dont know why we arent going for a little scoring to help balance out the grit, but our defense is finally going to be legit next year.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283995

Pronger a Flyer for the next 7 years

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283975

Talbot out 4-5 Months, probably only misses 15 games I figure.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283994

Marchant resigns for 2 more years in Anaheim

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283991

Sakic to retire. Can't say enough great things about this guy as a player, the NHL will miss him.

[Blade]

Flyers couldn't get "The Monster" for $810 K!!!! WTF.......we grab Emery instead. Great just great. The Flyers really need to get on the Swede market, this is getting ridiculous.

[killgod]

So looks like I've been on the right track

The Chicago Blackhawks are reportedly on the verge of putting their restricted free-agent woes behind them. According to a report in the Arlington Heights Daily Herald, the Hawks are finalizing a three-year contract worth more than $9 million with forward Kris Versteeg.

The contract is similar to the one signed by defenceman Cam Barker on Monday. The contract could be announced as early as Wednesday morning. A Calder trophy finalist this past season,

Versteeg remains the lone unsigned restricted free-agent of a group of five that the Blackhawks whose qualifying offers reportedly got lost in the mail. The 23-year old Lethbridge, Alberta native scored 22 goals and 31 assists in 78 games for the Hawks last season while adding four goals and eight assists during Chicago's run to the Western Conference finals.

The $3 million cap hit would put the Blackhawks payroll at $55.578 million for the upcoming season, the NHL's salary cap is set at $56.8 million for the 2009-10 season and the Blackhawks still need to sign a goaltender to backup Cristobal Huet. A trade to free up some money is likely to happen with Versteeg, Barker and Patrick Sharp being named as potential bait.

So while Versteeg is set to be signed (only so Chicago doesn't lose a player for nothing due to this shit) but they'll have to make a move at some point to make a little more space.