Man, were we ever in for a treat of day one for free agency? Some big names were on the move, some even bigger ones that matter most for the city of Pittsburgh, were not. It was one of those days where you wore the hell out of your refresh button and had 16 sports site windows up all at once on your desktop. For me, it was all about the Canadian web sites and fellow live blogs. Needless to say, my 11 month old daughter didn't get much attention today. Overall, as Penguin fans, we had some disappointment, but nothing over dramatic that would lead to turmoil. Ray Shero knows what he's doing, but some things can't be explained. The Penguins were on the board early Tuesday morning when they announced they had resigned Pascal Dupuis to a 3 year deal worth around $4.2 million. Good. That guy was a pretty nice commodity during the Pen's Stanley Cup run. The points may not have been there (which you would think with being on the same line as Crosby), but he's sort of like that Mark Eaton type of role player. Doesn't really light up the neon's nor the stat charts, but he sure does play his part for the team. Speaking of Mark Eaton, he was next on the TSN Free Agent tracker. At 2:02pm Mark Eaton had resigned with the Penguins for a 2 year deal worth $2 million a year and a key role to the Pens defense had been filled. We really haven't been able to see what Mark Eaton is really capable of since taking a cheap shot into the boards and Cam Neely'd this season, requiring season ending ACL surgery. It's a good move by Ray Shero and the front office. IF the Pens are unable to resign Brooks Oprik to some sort of deal in the free agent market, circle the signing of Eaton on your depth chart. He simply hasn't gotten the chance to show his talent as a DEFENSIVE defencemen and what it's like to watch a brick wall on ice.Nothing really was sparking that morning, except Washington jumped on resigning one year wonder Mike Green, who had 18 goals. It's hard to imagine Alex Ovechkin even allowed him to shoot the puck enough times to even notch 18. Detroit kept a loaded roster by keeping Brad Stuart around for at least 4 more years and then Washington was in the news again when they apparently gave up on Christobal Huet. Jose Theodore cashed in on his bounce back year with Washington for $9 million over 2 years! That's $4.5 million a year, more than double of what Martin Brodeur makes.
Then a kick in the sack came during the 3 o'clock hour when two Pens made moves outside of the 'Burgh. Ty Conklin felt he was to old to play for most NHL teams, so he went to Detroit to retire for a 1 year deal at $750K. Don't fret over this one though. At first, I was kinda upset to see a big key to the Penguins having such a successful run during the high ankle sprain crisis. Stop, and think...so what? He had a good run, but be honest to yourself. Conks was kinda slipping up right before Marc-Andre Fluery returned to the line up where he was giving up around 4 goals a game and if he was such a break out player, I'm sure he would of gotte
n a little more than $750K a year. Then again, Detroit sucks all of their players into a dark room, interrogate them into believing they're worth chicken feed and sign for dirt later that afternoon. Example: Pavel Datsyuk & Henrik Zetterberg, neither make over $3 million a year. It's not a huge loss overall to Pittsburgh, Shero found a diamond in the rough when he signed Conklin to a minor league deal last year. What makes you think he can't do it again? Jocelyn Thibault is back on the market again. Just saying.
n a little more than $750K a year. Then again, Detroit sucks all of their players into a dark room, interrogate them into believing they're worth chicken feed and sign for dirt later that afternoon. Example: Pavel Datsyuk & Henrik Zetterberg, neither make over $3 million a year. It's not a huge loss overall to Pittsburgh, Shero found a diamond in the rough when he signed Conklin to a minor league deal last year. What makes you think he can't do it again? Jocelyn Thibault is back on the market again. Just saying. Later that afternoon, Adam Hall decided that the Penguins bending over backwards for him didn't matter anything to him and he jumped ship to what seems to be the NHL new money corral, Tampa Bay. The Lightning gave Hall a 3 year deal worth around $600K a year and we were all left wondering how Shero couldn't match this offer. The only reasoning we have really is, the new owners of the Lightning have taken Detroit's free agent tactics and ran with it. Except, there's is vice versa-PAY OUT THE ASS! Adam Hall wasn't exactly the game breaker for the Penguins, however he did have that one shining moment when he got a lucky carom off of Matrin Biron body during the Eastern Conference Finals. Other than that, the only thing we referenced to Adam Hall all year was "the guy who made it on a try out." He did though, have a nice impact on the Pens fourth line when Coach Therrien would call for the cycle. The move of Hall kind of had that; "Well, your welcome for rejuvenating your minascule career. This is how you thank us?" Say hi to over payed Ryan Malone while you're there. I'm sure he's gonna miss Malkin burring those goals for his stats.
Back to the other markets for free agents. Christobal Huet, after being obviously replaced by Theodore, was on the move himself. Chicago made a nice investment of 4 years just under $17 million and the Blackhawks now had a definite threat in the pipes. But, worth the money? Again, Martin Brodeur may give the Devils a discount, but none of us really know and it is a whole different market with the cap rising. We'll see how this one turns out, Chicago seems to be in the seat Pittsburgh saw themselves about 3 years ago. Other than Huet, Corey Stillman went to a talentless Florida team where he wont have to worry about his jugular being sawed off since Jokinen is in Pheonix with Wayne. Hand it to the Panthers for at least trying this whole free agent stuff. I'm sure we'll hear from them come trade deadline time when all the talk is on who's available.Pittsburgh drops a weird one. Eric Godard, goon dude. This one came straight out of right field. Were the Pens trying to tell us something? Like no more Georges Laraque or Jarkko Ruutu? But wait, this guy hasn't put up more than 8 points in a single season and he had 177 PIM alone last season in 74 games. That's more than 30 minutes than Laraque did while leading the Pens in penalty minutes. At one point during his minor league career, Godard recorded 295 PIM in 75 games! This wasn't all that long ago, 2004-2005. That's just a shade under 4 penalty minutes a game and that many minutes shorthanded, unless it's during one of his 60 fights a season. Not exactly sure what to think of this, nor do I think anyone does. Let's hope Ray Ray has an explanation for this one.
With the Tampa Bay Rays catching every ones eyes in Major League Baseball, the Lightning are getting jealous. So they went ahead and added Olaf Kolzig when they over heard he had made reservations at the local retirement facility the Villages. This is what we call, killing two birds with one stone.
Mike Commadore signed an overpaid contract in Columbus, but then again, it is Columbus and this explains why they're in the cellar every year and why they named a silent Rick Nash team captain. However, this all happened right after the bomb of the day was dropped during the 5 o'clock hour when Brian Campbell made up his mind. He had 57 million reasons to help his decision when he went to Chicago. This automatically makes Chicago a team to keep an eye in the Western Conference. Hey, I guess Tampa Bay can't sign everyone. (Thanks to Steve Levy for t
hat sentence.) And New Jersey reverted back to mid-90's mode when they signed a top free agent in Brian Rolston for around $5 million a year and then snagged square head Bobby Holik for a year. Rolston will be a nice compliment to Patrick Elias and maybe the Devils will score more than a goal a game and win with more than shut down defense. Not that it doesn't work, but it hasn't made it to the Stanley Cup Finals yet. Next, it would be fellow Atlantic Division rivals in the Rangers turning some heads. New York would resign Michael Rosival to $5 million a year and Wade Redden to even more than that a year. Typical New York signage, thanks for exiting the Marian Hossa Sweepstakes, same to you Chicago. The final move of the day would come from Boston who officially crossed themselves off of Marian Hossa's list when they signed former Canadien Michael Ryder to a 3 year deal worth $12 million. According to the Boston GM, that was exactly what they were looking for in the free agent market. Before July 1st, for the most part, they were the head hunters for Marian Hossa but when the money got thin, they officially threw themselves out of it and made note that they were looking for a solid free agent in the $2-$4 million dollar range. They did exactly that and the northeast still looks as even as it always has.
Overall, Campbell and Rolston are finally landed which means all eyes now turn to Marian Hossa, the Penguins, and whoever else has $$$. The rumor is that Shero hasn't changed the money side of the deal, but has added some years which Hossa was interested in.
Also, nothing new on Brooks Orpik and the same for all the other Pen's FA. The only other news out of Pittsburgh is Malkin's agent JP says they're close to getting a deal done that would be about the same amount and structure has the contract Sidney Crosby signed. Steeltown discount, but who's complaining? Other than rumors, the Pens made some good moves and one thinker for the rest of the Free Agency period.
hat sentence.) And New Jersey reverted back to mid-90's mode when they signed a top free agent in Brian Rolston for around $5 million a year and then snagged square head Bobby Holik for a year. Rolston will be a nice compliment to Patrick Elias and maybe the Devils will score more than a goal a game and win with more than shut down defense. Not that it doesn't work, but it hasn't made it to the Stanley Cup Finals yet. Next, it would be fellow Atlantic Division rivals in the Rangers turning some heads. New York would resign Michael Rosival to $5 million a year and Wade Redden to even more than that a year. Typical New York signage, thanks for exiting the Marian Hossa Sweepstakes, same to you Chicago. The final move of the day would come from Boston who officially crossed themselves off of Marian Hossa's list when they signed former Canadien Michael Ryder to a 3 year deal worth $12 million. According to the Boston GM, that was exactly what they were looking for in the free agent market. Before July 1st, for the most part, they were the head hunters for Marian Hossa but when the money got thin, they officially threw themselves out of it and made note that they were looking for a solid free agent in the $2-$4 million dollar range. They did exactly that and the northeast still looks as even as it always has.Overall, Campbell and Rolston are finally landed which means all eyes now turn to Marian Hossa, the Penguins, and whoever else has $$$. The rumor is that Shero hasn't changed the money side of the deal, but has added some years which Hossa was interested in.
Also, nothing new on Brooks Orpik and the same for all the other Pen's FA. The only other news out of Pittsburgh is Malkin's agent JP says they're close to getting a deal done that would be about the same amount and structure has the contract Sidney Crosby signed. Steeltown discount, but who's complaining? Other than rumors, the Pens made some good moves and one thinker for the rest of the Free Agency period. Rumor Central - Naslund and Jagr are the big names with black and gold laced to them.
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