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• Episode 3?Forward (w)ho(a)!

  The recent spate of free agent signings certainly give value seekers time for pause. Has it really come to the point that, under this new salary cap era, an aging 2nd line forward can command a more then 100% pay increase, and a 4 year term? It seems what is taking place is [...]

• Addin? character + skill

  Firstly, let me apologize for not having my regular new posting on Friday morning, I’ve been having some serious modem problems and had nary a connection for the better part of a week. That said, onto the news of the week. A busy one to be sure. The Vancouver Canucks added some character, defensive [...]

• Replacing Redden

  It was no secret that Wade Redden would leave on July 1st. The Sens had no intention of re-signing him if he did not drop his asking price to Chris Phillips‘ $3.5m/year contract. However, with Andrej Meszaros still not signed, the Sens have only three regular defensemen signed, with Phillips, Anton Volchenkov, and Christoph Schubert. [...]

• Is Owen Nolan next?? OOPS NEVER MIND.

  What a great time for Sharks fans. We asked for change, and we got it. This team is going to have a different look next year, with a former Norris trophy winner and perhaps a future one on the blueline. Let’s not underestimate the addition of Brad Lukowich. There’s something to be said about familiarity, [...]

• Thunderstorm Brewing

  After shipping Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich to San Jose, the Lightning are trying to figure out how to shore up their defense. Reports suggests that the Lightning may go after Jason Smith, the former captain of the Flyers who has remained quiet and yet to sign or the trade route again, but this time [...]

• Sabres free agency - Bernier we hardly knew ye.

  I knew that Darcy Reiger and the Sabres were not going to move quickly nor frequently after the start of free agency. Five days in and a total of three moves - one signing and two trades took place. 1) On July 1st, signed Patrick Lalime (G) to a 2 year deal at $1 million per [...]

• Mikhail Grabovsky & Jonas Frögren Joining The Leafs

  The Leafs are improving the team’s depth at all positions in a relatively solid manner. If you consider that prior to the work of Cliff Fletcher, here is who the Leafs had on their roster (ages in brackets): Forwards Antropov (28), Sundin (37), Steen (24) Blake (34), Stajan (24), Tucker (33) Ponikarovsky (28), Moore (27), Wellwood (25) Kilger (31), Bell (27), [...]

• Early Look at the John Tavares Contenders

  It is still very early but lets take a look at which teams might contend for the title of the worst in the NHL for 2008-09 and win the right to draft John Tavares first overall. I am basing this solely on their current rosters of signed players, not projections of who they might [...]

• Flash in the Pan

  For almost two weeks this summer I thought the Lightning were going to be good again this year. Now, I’m really not so sure if you can win championships when your highest-paid and arguably best defenseman is Filip Kuba or possibly Paul Ranger. It wasn’t that long ago when the Lightning had to part ways [...]

• Best. 4th. Ever.

  I know I sound like a giddy schoolgirl, but one of my wishes has come true. TSN is reporting that Dan Boyle has waived his no-trade clause, and agreed to a trade to the Sharks. The Sharks get Boyle and Brad Lukowich, a #6 defenseman, in exchange for Matt Carle, a unnamed prospect [...]

• Episode 2 - Gary Needs to Plan an Intervention.

  Does Gary need to ambush some of his GM’s with an economic intervention? I can just picture it, a few GM’s meet in the parking lot of the Scottsdale Fairmont, ready for a special golf engagement with Gary, thinking this life as an NHL GM is the greatest gig on earth. They [...]

• Sean freaking Avery? really?

  Well I’ve tried to hold my tongue (keyboard) for 36 hours to let this all sink in. My gut reaction to the deal, coming an hour after the Wings claimed their repeat cup with Hossa, was “Wow, that’s stupid.” I saw some Ranger message boards that swayed me in a different direction, as they apparently all [...]

• So, was Murray right?

  Hello everyone, I’m Gerald Norton, and I’m going to do my best to present some interesting and topical takes on the Senators. I am a huge fan of hockey, some would even say obsessed, and I love exploring beyond the headlines, and looking at the numbers behind the arguments, to see if conventional wisdom [...]

• Rob Blake Swimming With Sharks

  In a surprise move, the Sharks have signed Rob Blake to a one year, 5M deal. Wow….I’m surprised. According to the SJ Merc, this has no effect on the Sharks confirmed pursuit of Dan Boyle. With Blake, the Sharks are at 50M and still need to sign Clowe and deal with Ehrhoff and Goc. Does [...]

• Free Agent Thoughts

  Here are some of my thoughts on the free agent signings so far. 1. I want to give the finger tor all those who are outraged at the Jeff Finger signing and who have seen him play fewer than two games. Yes, that is pretty much everyone. As a Leaf fan I am [...]

• Here Come The Hawks!

  I know it has been quite some time since I posted about the Hawks and I do apologize. It certainly isn’t because there was nothing going on. That being said, I’d like to comment on a few things that have been happening with my beloved hawks. First let’s start with the recent free agent [...]

• Garth Gives Isles Good Chance To Be Medicore

   I’m not going to go crazy about the Islanders’ draft or their free agent signings to this point because I’m somewhat encouraged by what’s gone down over the last few weeks. Garth Snow is nothing but honest. He said he’d do things to facilitate the rebuilding process and help the club wins some more games. [...]

• Theory of Relativity, Part 2

  I’m a Brian Burke guy. I think he has one of the brightest minds in hockey and has a very good understanding of market value (the guy has a law degree from Harvard), although his evaluation of talent leaves something else to be desired. He is very much a man of his word, and what [...]

• 2 Days In And Feeling A Bit Frustrated

  Well these past two days have been rather uneventful for Pens nation. Unless you count the mass exodus that is going on as eventful, but I don’t exactly find myself looking for my party hat as much as I am looking for the missing hair on my head and wondering why a bottle of tequila [...]

• Is Vorobiev On His Way?

  Cliff Fletcher had this to say recently in an interview with Howard Berger: “We’ll be signing a defenseman from Europe that hasn’t yet played in the NHL, and I’m still looking to hit a home run,” While I’m sure most Leafs fans are curious as to whether the “home run” is Mats Sundin, or another player as [...]

• Someone Get Me a Boyle

  More action today and the San Jose Sharks were out of it. Last night during our latest podcast (feed link here), I brought up Sean Avery and how I wouldn’t have minded seeing him in San Jose, but not for 4M. Well, that was the price and I’m glad Doug Wilson didn’t go there. As [...]

• Theory of Relativity, Part 1

  With the salary cap, it was meant to keep teams fiscally responsible, and to prevent inflated contracts from bankrupting teams or putting them in a poor financial position. However, since the cap was introduced in 2005 was $39m, it has grown a whopping $17m in four years. That’s a little less than two Sidney Crosbys. [...]

• 2008/2009 Season cancelled

  I wonder if the Red Wings + Hossa can just order two rings, and two banners at the same time? Might be able to save some money that way. They’re obviously good at saving money seeing as how they have enough cap space to sign Hossa plus room to spare.

• Our Take on the Start of Free Agency

  We broke a lot of it down in the latest podcast (feed link here), especially the stuff with Campbell.  Not a real great day for the Sharks, but the free agency season ain’t over yet.  Oh yeah, we got the podcast listed on iTunes as well, so if you search for Dudes on Hockey or [...]

• Panthers grab Stillman

  After indicating that they probably wouldn’t be too active in the free agent market, the Florida Panthers signed veteran free agent Cory Stillman to a 3 year deal on the first day of free agency. Stillman comes to the Panthers as a 34 year old (35 in December) left wing, who is thought of to be [...]

• Idiots

  I’m so pissed off at what’s happened today that I don’t even know where to begin. Let me just first get this out of my system: Darren Pang is an idiot. The biggest surprise, and I don’t mean that in a good way, is Cliff Fletcher throwing $3.5m/year for four years to Jeff Finger, who [...]

• Leafs Sign A Trio

  In signing Curtis Joseph to a 1 year, $700,000 deal, the Leafs get an upgrade in the backup netminding department, they improve the locker room with the affable and polite goalie, and they get some cache with the fans for bringing back a favourite. The price is actually relatively reasonable, especially when you consider [...]

• Sundin could Captain Canucks

  Sportsnet Pacific is reporting that Leafs’ Captain Mats Sundin has been offered a 2 year, $20M deal by GM Mike Gillis and company.

• Gaustad signs 4-year $9.2 million

  Yup, you heard that right…at least according to TSN. The Sabres 3rd line center and occasional power play guy just signed a deal for an average of $2.3 million per season. All I can say is….EEK! There’s a lot of money out there right now, and the salaries are going crazy. I was thinking [...]

• More CBA

  Bob McKenzie at TSN has written an interesting article about the CBA. You can read it here. It’s a long article, so I’ll just sum it up in short. The current CBA is in its fourth and final year. When the NHLPA and NHL agreed to this, it was only a 4-year agreement, and after [...]