Free Agent Window Shopping
When The Fourth Quarter recently came out with its “Top 30 Unrestricted Free Agents” for this summer, I…as I always do this time of year… found myself scrolling down the page muttering to myself, “Oooh, I’d like to see that player in Atlanta”, and, “Oh my, he would work great on Kovy’s Line”, or, “Dang, he sure would be an asset on our blueline”!
Yes…free agent window shopping season is upon us as the stores will be open a couple of weeks from now on the first on July. So, as we stroll down the cyber-mall of NHL players for sale, what’s catching your eye?
Is it Jay Bouwmeester… who, not surprisingly, tops the list? The 25-year old blueliner was the third overall pick in 2002…just behind Kari Lehtonen. He is coming off a contract with the Florida Panthers that paid him $4.875 and he’ll no doubt be able to rake in far more than that from whomever he chooses to play for over the course of the next several years. What are the chances Don Waddell could land Bouwmeester?
Seriously…I think there’s a better chance of seeing it snow in Atlanta during the month of July than seeing J-Bo sign here.
Second on the list…former Thrasher Marian “Desperately Seeking The Cup” Hossa, who last summer signed a 1-year $7.45 million deal with the eventual runners up in the Stanley Cup Finals. So, what about the return of Hossa to Atlanta?
Hahahaha…Yeah, yeah, I know…very funny. Rumors I’ve seen and heard having him re-signing again in Detroit. But look at it this way…if Hossa were to come back and play for Atlanta, it would dramatically improve our chances of being good enough to lose in the Stanley Cup Finals!
Just sayin’…
Third on the list is another Marian…Marian Gaborik, who’s $7.5 million contract is set to expire at the end of this month. Would you like to see Gaborik sporting Thrasher-blue nest fall?
Me? With his health history…not for more than a one-year deal.
Rounding out the top five are the Sedin twins…Daniel and Henrik…who have been earning $3.575 million each in Vancouver where they’ve played since being drafted right behind Patrik Stefan in 1999. They no doubt will want to stick together…same team and same line. The Thrashers already have a first-line left-winger so if they played here it would probably be on the second line with Army…moving Peverley up with Kovy and Little and probably moving Todd White out of Atlanta. I wouldn’t have a problem with this…if the Spirit Boys allowed Waddell to shell out the money to bring them here.
Again, the snow in Atlanta analogy is in play here.
Further down the list there are such names as Mike Cammalleri, Martin Havlat, Saku Koivu that stick out as those that could fill a spot on the top line with Kovalchuk… and how about Nik Antropov?
On defense…there’s Mike Komisarek, Johnny Oduya and Rob Scuderi to name a few. But I think Pittsburgh is really gonna want to keep Scuds in their lineup if at all possible.
One player that is on the list in which the Thrashers are speculated to have interest in is Mikael Samuelsson of the Red Wings. Last season the 32-year old Swede notched 19 goals and 21 assist. In 466 total career games he has 86 goals. 122 assists and in a +38.
Yup, I enjoy free agent window shopping…it’s fun and it doesn’t cost anything. Come July first…well, that’s a different story.
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127 comments Add your comment
ranallo10 (in AT)
June 18th, 2009
8:46 am
“When I hear Gaborik’s name come up I think of Mike Hampton.” — Kerry Wood is who comes to mind for me.
GaVaHokie
June 18th, 2009
8:56 am
Ogie… that Habs fan doesn’t have a clue… the Rangers don’t have the money to sign Zubov, Antropov and Havlat… Toronto won’t have the money for Oduya, Cammalleri and Biron.
Not only does he NOT have anyone going to Atlanta, but he has no one going to Washington, which is even more absurd… one of those defenseman, Ohlund, Morris, Oduya will end up in Washington… IMO.
LAC
June 18th, 2009
9:00 am
FYI for everyone… Atlanta was the 7th highest scoring team in the NHL last season, which is OUTSTANDING ! We were tied with San Jose who won The Presents Award for the best points total in the NHL. Just think,
ATLANTA tied San Jose… They, were, the number #1 seed in the entire playoffs, but Calgary ended that.
We need one real top scorer and another roll player on offense.
But defense, has GOT to be better. Enstrom, gets beat way too much by bigger players,and is non existant around the net, sure he has an offensiveside, but his defensive weaknesses are too greatto be ignored,needs to be traded,
Exelby, too slow all around,caught out of position way too often, sure he’s tough,but that does not prevent goals, needs to be traded.
Hainsey, gets caught out of position too much, not good passer and not tough around the net… Won’t be traded because ofcontract.
Boris, tough,very average skater and no offensive side… a work in progress… keep another two years and check development… Besides he owes cindy crotchby a bloody nose !
Zach B. Keeper.
Other Dman fillin’s and callups at best. This is where we HAVE to improve, if we can score as many goals as San Jose then if we ONLY had a defense we could be REAL GOOD, but then there is the dark figure of donwaddell who will ruin anything he touches, but the defense
MUST BE ADDRESSED !!!!!!!!!
Bob
June 18th, 2009
9:41 am
“Regarding Dany Heatley… it’s interesting to see that Ottawa got only one extra year than what we got out of Hossa… all in all, I guess it was a fair trade, in retrospect.”
There you go again, Hokie. Uh, when Ottawa trades Heatley, if they trade him, they’re going to get a nice return for him.
We got nothing for Hossa when he walked as a UFA.
Bob
June 18th, 2009
9:43 am
Regarding the window shopping, apathy has set in for me. I hold no hopes out for Waddell to attract any talent here, and we have little to nothing to trade, so I’ll have no expectations. At least I can be pleasantly suprised then when he signs this year’s Ken Klee and Jason Williams.
ranallo10 (in AT)
June 18th, 2009
9:47 am
LAC Just a few things regarding your post:
1 — San Jose was upset in the playoffs by Anaheim, not Calgary. Calgary was upset by Chicago.
2 — Enstrom lead the entire team in +/- this past season (+14) … I think you’re completely over exaggerating his”defensive weaknesses”.
Let’s assume Waddell (or another GM) took your advice and got rid of every defender except for Bogosian, Valabik and Hainsey…who would you prefer they brought in to replace those defenders to make this team an instant competitor?
By the way, getting rid of Enstrom removes 32 points from the team’s overall points scored in 08/09 (5g). Removing Hainsey drops them another 39 total points (6g). That adjustment in total goals would place them 14th in the league, down from 9th. Remove Oystrick’s 4 goals (a depth player by your admission) and they’d be ranked 16th.
Hainsey, Enstrom, and players like Oystrick were puck moving defenders who set up a lot of goals for their teammates. Subtracting that role isn’t easy and the offense will subsequently suffer.
GaVaHokie
June 18th, 2009
10:09 am
There you go again, Hokie. Uh, when Ottawa trades Heatley, if they trade him, they’re going to get a nice return for him.
We got nothing for Hossa when he walked as a UFA.
Twas a joke.
Toby
June 18th, 2009
10:15 am
“2 — Enstrom lead the entire team in +/- this past season (+14) … I think you’re completely over exaggerating his”defensive weaknesses”.”
I agree we shouldn’t get rid of all but Bogo and Valabik, but he is right in saying that our D is still one of the worst. If a team is 7th in the league in scoring and fails to miss the playoffs, your D needs some re-tooling. For yet another season, we were out-shot almost every game (I remember seeing some periods where we’d be out-shot by 10-15 shots).
I’m not sure if this makes Kovy happy, but I think most the available $$ needs to be spent on a second line D…paired with Hainsey.
GaVaHokie
June 18th, 2009
10:17 am
Okay… the Sedin Twins have lost their minds… 12 years $63 million each?! Trying to match Zetterberg’s contract?!
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=282198
Bobby Holik
June 18th, 2009
10:22 am
Third period. Two minutes left. Tie game. WHOOPS! PUCK GO OVER GLASS! Now I go sit in box, feel shame.
Smoothie
June 18th, 2009
10:28 am
PITTSBURGHLIVE.COM: Rob Rossi reports the Penguins will open talks with Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang after July 1st with the intent of re-signing them to long-term extensions. Rossi also noted yesterday’s re-signing of Alex Goligoski, noting he’ll join Gonchar, Letang, Brooks Orpik and Mark Eaton, and suggesting the Pens might be unable due to cap constraints to re-up Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m sure the Penguins would love to retain the latter two, especially Scuderi, but unless they’re willing to sign for less than they could get on the open market both could be gone by July 1st.
Me likey the sound of this!! Rob Scuderi, come on down cuz the price may be right!! Atlanta should go after him with a 3 or 4 yr deal worth $2.5-3.0 M per season and see what happens. I think Scuderi would be a good fit with Hainsey and give Ronsey the peace of mind he needs to be the player he’s capable of being. Let Boris continue to develop in a rotation with XLB and Salmela unless we can somehow unload XLB in a trade that brings back a forward.
Toby
June 18th, 2009
10:38 am
I agree… I would love Scuderi at that price, but I’m not sure how he’ll like going from the Cup winning Pens who have most of the same stars coming back next year, to the “haven’t won one playoff game EVER” Thrash. May have to overpay for him which I hope we don’t do.
Darren Elliot
June 18th, 2009
10:39 am
I miss Erin Andrew’s five hole.
Alan
June 18th, 2009
10:46 am
I love the sound of Scuderi coming here. Honestly, I think if the price is right (and I think a 4yr/$12m deal sounds quite right for a player like him), he’ll leave Pittsburgh. However, will he make it to free agency?
Interesting to see Hal “Slower Than A Speeding Snail” Gill may not get re-upped in Pittsburgh, too. However, I’m not sure I want him here.
Glovesave29
June 18th, 2009
10:46 am
Someone needs to knock some sense into both Heatley and the Sedin twins.
I’d love to get Scuderi…but I still say we send other Dman Valabik down to Chicago for a season to become a 4th line winger. His skating is just atrocious and he’s defensive liability.
GaVaHokie
June 18th, 2009
10:53 am
Hell, I’d trade Exelby and take Gill AND Scuderi… both would be upgrades… Valabik and Gill on a PK unit, blocking shots in the lane, clearing the crease? Scuderi backing up Hainsey on the 2nd line?
Swap out Gill and Salmela during the course of the game to give added offense, when needed.
Spud Webb
June 18th, 2009
11:03 am
Stroz & Ogie, with all due respect, if Max gets 4 million for one season, I’ll crap myself.
Please don’t sign that guy, please, please!!!!! As a die-hard Sabres fan, DO NOT SIGN HIM.
Spud Webb
June 18th, 2009
11:08 am
GaHokie, you’re correct, the Sedins have lost their freaking minds. How do they think ANY team can do that??? hahahhahaha, man o man, that is some good stuff. The Heater wants out, classic. He should be in the NBA or the NFL where the sissies play & request trades and pout. Dany, you’re a hockey player, act the ROLE…
Smoothie
June 18th, 2009
11:29 am
Only way we should sign “Finny” is for one year and a MAX (pun intended) of $3.0 M or 2 years worth a total of $5 M with a declining cap hit of $3 M and $2 M. Since the UFA pool is either too shallow, so to speak, or too expensive for the top 10 or so, I say take a risk on “Finny”, sign another UFA forward like a Samuelsson or a Knuble so you don’t break the bank. That way, you still have $3 – 4 M to wave under Scuderi’s nose as enticement to leave Pitt. He already has a ring, perhaps he’d like the challenge of building another winnter in ATL? If not Scuderi, go for value with either Zanon (shot-blocking machine) or Ossi Vaananen as neither one should cost more than $2 M.
Brendan
June 18th, 2009
11:36 am
Hokie, doesn’t look like the Sedins will be coming here, then. Not that I ever had them on the list. What’s the going rate for a “point a game” players? Both Henrik and Daniel had 82-points in 82-games. One potted over 30 goals. Is $5.5 million apiece a ‘fair price?’ I’ll let you guys decide. What did you guys think of their playoff performances vs. St. Louis and Chicago?
Bob: If there’s any consolation, it’s that this year … the organization has an ultimatum hanging over their heads from Kovalchuk. The bad news might just be … that they’ve already chalked him up as a casualty of Free Agency, and will set the budget at $45.5 million, irrespective of what Kovalchuk’s wishes might be. Truthfully, I hope the organization can take care of its own business. Armstrong, Lehtonen, Pavelec, Valabik, and Little are all eligible for contracts, some proactive, some not. It dawns on me, all of a sudden, that if ownership has quit on the prospect of Kovalchuk retention, that they still have to plan for the coming years. In short, they must start to plan their “post Kovalchuk” future. I know, that’s borderline blasphemy. But, there it is.
Ranallo, I follow my hunches. If Gaborik doesn’t attend choir practice, I’ll let it slide. Chuckling. But if he becomes a contractual headache that his next GM has to clean up, will you admit I was right to have suspicions? Speculatively, of course.
Back to Kovalchuk’s ineligibility in 2005, had Kovalchuk been subjected to a waiver claim, I gotta think he would have been lost. Somehow, my brain processed “waiver claim possibility” as ineligiblity for Thrashers use. I was wrong.
Is Allan Walsh Pavelec’s agent? What if Walsh thinks Pavelec’s contract value is $6.33 million? And Pavelec agrees. Do they sit there, waiting. Until they get it. Or, do they come down on the price, realizing it’s just not available? And working within the framework that the Thrashers budget allows.
I’d like a Minnesota Wild fan to chime in, as that is someone would know better than I, what the deal was with GM Risebrough and Head Coach Jacques Lemaire vis-a-vis Marian Gaborik, and his RFA contract. If it turns out that Gaborik is a pretty decent guy, after all, I’ll sing a new song. I know. Why can’t I just give him the ‘benefit of the doubt?’ Well, I saw a Wild team reach the CF, energize its fan base with all sorts of momentum and positive energy, in 2003. Then their most visible player’s agent says he won’t return for less than $6.5 million-a-year, in 2003-04, with the uncertainty of the lockout looming in 2005. The next reports I saw, said Gaborik would lower his salary to $4.4 million. Eventually, he took $10 million, plus incentives, over 3-years. In this regard, I must say that Gaborik (and his agent), eventually, tried to work with the team. But why couldn’t he (they) have just agreed to compromise a bit earlier? Okay. Maybe Minnesota was ‘low-balling’ him a little bit. And for that, they must endure some criticism. Gaborik was their star player. He shouldn’t be ‘nickeled and dimed.’ How ’bout this. I’ll agree to keep a more open-mind about Gaborik. But I want to keep my eye on that situation. I agree … that players … sometimes … get unfairly mislabeled. Is Kovalchuk a selfish, defensively uncoachable player? Not really. Is Gaborik a “me first, gimme, gimme, gimme” guy? Maybe he isn’t. But fairly or unfairly, “face of the franchise” type players are the standard bearers. Do they have an obligation to work within the framework of the situation they find themselves in? Or do they selfishly expect more? Some will say, “yes.” Others will say, “no.”
Smoothie
June 18th, 2009
11:36 am
Kovy — Pevs — Finny
Kozzy — White — Little
Army — Reasy — Knuble
Boultsy — Slater — Stuart
Tobbe & Bogey
Hainsey & Scuderi / Zanon / Vaananen
Salmela & Boris
XLB for depth
Lehts & Moose
Oh what fun it is to day dream!! Ridiculous speed on 3 of 4 lines. A very savvy & gritty shut-down 3rd line still capable of scoring 55-60 goals. Biggest problem would be PK depth, but you could sit Boulton, bring in Crabb to rotate Stewy & Reasy, Pevs & Slates, Crabb & White.
Rolling 4 lines capable of scoring at any moment could be just what John Anderson is looking for. And you would still have gifted 2 way C on all four lines. You would also have the flexibility of moving Knuble up and down depending on match-ups and have 3 net crashers to choose from for the PP (Army, Knubes & Little). Hmmmmm…
ranallo10 (in AT)
June 18th, 2009
12:04 pm
Brendan — Have all the suspicions you want, I’ll gladly say you’re right if Gaborik becomes a problem to his team. Personally I don’t consider it a problem if the player is a difficult negotiation (i.e., a problem for management), so long as the difficulties don’t spill into the locker room. If he keeps showing up to games, playing as much as possible, and putting up a point/game without upsetting the lockerroom, I would expect he could lose the “problem child” label. Of course, now we’re talking about who we truly care about the player being a problem to.
Which leads me to Heatley…do you think Alfreddson and Spezza (and the others) are supportive of Heatley, angry at him, or understand it’s a business but wishes he would’ve done it differently?
Toby — I’m not refuting the fact (it’s a fact) that the defense could use some upgrades…but I don’t agree that ridding the team of Enstrom is in any way an improvement (as LAC was saying). I’d love to see such depth in Atlanta that Enstrom was their 4th or 5th best defender, but unfortunately I can’t at this point in time.
Alan
June 18th, 2009
12:18 pm
what the deal was with GM Risebrough and Head Coach Jacques Lemaire vis-a-vis Marian Gaborik, and his RFA contract.
From everything I read from Wild fans, Gaborik wants an open system. He wants a green light to go to the net and pot a few. Lemaire’s system didn’t allow for that.
Riceowls8891
June 18th, 2009
1:19 pm
There are at least 27 forwards (16 centers 9 LW and 2 RW)in the NHL that have cap hits of more than $5.3 million, according to NHLnumbers.com. The price isn’t that out of whack. The 12 years is just crazy as they would be 40 at the end.
Brendan
June 18th, 2009
2:49 pm
Alan, I think what you’re advancing is correct. Gaborik was in a system that he didn’t like. Or, not the “ideal” system he’d like to play in. But doesn’t he have some obligation to work within the framework operating in Minnesota? Again, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a player and a club deciding, to their mutual benefit, to “split the sheets” and make a trade. If Gaborik was so unhappy, and the Wild likewise frustrated with him, I would have thought they’d find a way to remedy the situation. Gaborik wasn’t “untradeable.” He didn’t have an albatross of a “Holik contract.”
Ranallo, I certainly agree that if the player’s contract really, truly isn’t a distraction for the lockerroom, that the players can relate to “contract negotiation issues.” I’m going to assume that players, pretty much, all want to make the most they can*. The asterisk refers to the framework of the organization to which they belong. But even, say Kovalchuk, knows that a $10 million-a-year salary is going to hinder any organization’s ability to put 4 quality lines together, and could seriously jeopardize the quality of his linemates.
Segue to Heatley … I think Alfredsson and Spezza probably wish Heatley had done things differently. Speculation alert!! I have zero proof of that. And if they were directly asked, they’re going have a political answer. I’d wager Spezza and Alfie WANT Dany on their line. It’s a great line. It’s very productive. Some argued, that for the past few seasons, it was the best line in the league. But, now there’s media involved. And if Heatley leaves, Spezza and Alfredsson have to wonder what’s coming in Heatley’s place, to their line. I don’t think Heatley’s actions have created a positive media outlook on the situation. I don’t know if Heatley will get traded out, or what. If he doesn’t, and this all blows over, things may turn out just fine. If Heater doesn’t get traded, and becomes a sourpuss in the lockerroom, and/or his production and attitude greatly decline, it’s going to be an issue. Heatley doesn’t want that, either, as I’m sure he wants his next team to welcome him with open arms, not cast a suspicious eye at him. I think Alfredsson and Spezza probably wonder WHY Heatley wants out. Or, maybe they know. These are the things we’re almost never privy to.
JAmes_kovyboy from MTL
June 18th, 2009
9:57 pm
Omg that fake Don Waddell that looks so much like the real Don Waddell makes me laugh so much
BTW im from Montreal, DONT TAKE KOMISAREK, PLEASE DONT, HE SUCKS I SWEAR HE DOES, HE IS WORSE THAN EXELBY WITH ONE LEG OUT
But Zanon is a great choice, Scuderi is nice and Afinogenov is so underrated. I love Koivu, he has skill and you can see he works his a$$ off every game, and is not a superstar overrated looser like Kovalev
Kovy-White-Little (why change a great formula?)
Kozzie-Koivu-Peverley (amazing 2nd line)
Stuart-Reasoner-Perrin or Crab(i love the Chemistry between Stuart and Crabb, its amazing)
Boulton-Thorbs-Any other grinder, preferlably other than Slater
Enstrom-Oduya
Bogs-XLB
Ansi-Hainsey
(Boris-Oyst)
I hope we can get youngsters in there like our 4th pick, ESPO, Lasu, Kulda and Kulda… or even Postma cause he had an awesome year
World Be Free
June 21st, 2009
8:28 pm
Kovy-MTL–don’t think Kommy wants to come this way, but we would take him if we could. Koivu always works hard, Scuderi would be a great fit anywhere.
Congrats on the new owners-I am tipping a Molson Brador as a write!