July 1st was the opening of free agent season in the NHL. As a hockey fan, it is one of the most exciting times of the year. This is the time when you hope that your favorite team can snag that player you think will put them over the top. This can also be the time when your favorite team shells out ridiculous money that they are going to regret in the long run. Being a Canucks fan has been rewarding in the recent past at this time of year. The biggest deal wasn't a free agent signing, but a summertime trade that brought Roberto Luongo to the Canucks in exchange for Todd Bertuzzi and others. It was a Canucks fan's dream come true. This year I am excited again. In discussing who I would want most amongst friends, Dan Hamhuis is a name that was at or near the top of everyone's list. It didn't look like it would happen with both Philly and then Pittsburgh trading for his rights, which made it all the more exciting when word came that Canucks had got their guy. In this post I will write about the moves of all the Canadian teams (From west to east), as well as the other more interesting moves made in the NHL in the past couple of days.
Vancouver Canucks
As stated already, they got Hamhuis, and I'm very happy about that. Along with the trade at the draft to acquire Keith Ballard, this gives Vancouver a very solid defense. Although, at the start of the season last year I also thought the Canucks would have a very solid defense. Having said that, I think this year's addition is one top four player better, and that could be the player that puts them over the top. The other most notable signing they made was to give Manny Malholtra a three year deal worth $2.5 million per year. Most of the response to this signing has been positive, but I find it to be a curious deal. I am wondering where they are going to fit him in. He is a centre and the first to lines are set with Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler. This leaves the third and fourth lines open. At that price, you would think that they signed Malhotra to play on the third line, but then what about Cody Hodgsen? It is general consensus that he should be ready to make the jump to the NHL this year, and he is also a centreman. A player like him you don't want to put on the fourth line, it would probably be more beneficial for him to play in the minors and get the ice time than for him to play on the fourth line. Maybe you shift him to the wing on the second or third line? If not, you have Malhotra playing on the fourth line, and I think $2.5 mil is too much to be paying for a fourth line centre, especially when it was Gillis' stated goal to get a guy who has won the cup before, and Malholtra has not.
Calgary Flames
What can I say here that hasn't already been said? I actually like the Alex Tanguay signing. He and Iginla did play well together. But Olli Jokinen? Really? This guy is going to have to have a point per game season to stop the vitriol that is being directed at Darryl Sutter. As a Canucks fan, I'm loving this, but you gotta feel for Flames fans right now, they must feel like they just got punched in the gut.
Edmonton Oilers
They managed to pick up Kurtis Foster, which I think was a very good signing. This guy has displayed some very good potential at both ends of the rink, he just needs to stay healthy. The curious move involves a very similar kind of player. Edmonton has waived Sheldon Souray. I'm a pretty big hockey fan and other than Foster, Souray, Ladislav Smid, and Jason Strudwick, I can name another Oilers defenseman. This leads me to believe that Edmonton does not have the depth to just give away a defenseman of the caliber of Souray, no matter how injury prone he is. I could understand if the Oilers were up against the cap, but before July 1st, they had $20 million in cap space even with Souray's $5.25 million on the books. I just feel like some team is going to pick up Souray, and he's going to make the Oilers look really bad for giving him away for nothing. Maybe the strategy is to finish last again so they can get two really high draft picks like Pittsburg, Chicago, Washington, and Tampa Bay did.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Colby Armstrong? Hahahaha. Moving on. (Trading for Kris Versteeg was actually a good move though, I just can't resist mocking the Leafs)
Ottawa Senators
I'm torn about Ottawa's moves. They lost Anton Volchenkov, but gained Sergei Gonchar. Most of the comments have been deriding Bryan Murray for giving Gonchar $5 million for three years, but I think Gonchar still has enough left in the tank for the style of game he plays. The problem is they lost Volchenkov to get Gonchar. In looking foward to free agency, I had Volchenkov even with Hamhuis as the top two guys I wanted the Canucks to sign. This guy is a super strong defensive defenseman that gets the job done. I don't think Ottawa has anyone else near that caliber that can step into that same role. I think if I was in Ottawa, i would have preferred to retain Volchenkov rather than signing Gonchar.
Montreal Canadiens
They signed two veteran backup goalies in Alex Auld and Curtis Sanford to support Carey Price after they didn't get their guy in Dan Ellis. I think Ellis would have been a better fit, but neither of these guys is bad. Either of them could play 20-25 games to spell Price, my preference is Auld, but if Price really falters, the Canadiens will be in trouble, neither of these guys will be able to step up and take the reigns.
Most ridiculous signing:
Yes there was a signing that made even less sense than Olli Jokinen going back to the Flames, and the was the New York Rangers signing Derek Boogaard for $1.65 million per year is absolutely incredible. The only thing this guy can do is fight, and he doesn't even do that very much. With all the poor signings Glen Sather has made, it's curious that there aren't even rumors that his job is in jeopardy.
Most interesting signing:
Antero Niittymaki going to the San Jose Sharks. The finger was squarely pointed at Evgeni Nabokov for letting in goals at the wrong time during the playoffs and taking all the momentum out of San Jose's sails. This summer they opted to let Nabokov walk and went for a cheaper option in Niittymaki at $2 million per year for two years. According to their plan, all he has to do is be solid like Niemi, Fleury, and Osgood have been in recent playoffs and they should do better. Niittymaki does have the ability to get really hot and was solid this past season in Tampa Bay. It will be interesting to see if this move puts them over the top.
Final Note:
This isn't hockey related, but it was absolutely heartbreaking to see how Ghana lost their World Cup Quarter-Final game against Uruguay today. Their were full value for making it as far as they did, and hopefully we will see an African team make it to at least to the semi-finals sometime in the near future.
Rob McDonald
Canucks.com... the name pretty much says it all.
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