NHL’s Free Agency Period Spurs Flurry Of Signings And Trades

Yesterday was one of the most exciting days in the NHL, even though the excitement came in the off-season and off the ice.  Free agency began at 12:01 am and teams wasted little time in scooping up the talent.  By the time the day was over only a handful of top tier players remained.  Names like Saku Koivu, Mat Sundin and Rob Scuderi are still available but won’t be for long.  Word is that Koivu may end up in Minnesota playing along side his brother Mikko, they have a very strong bond with each other especially since Saku’s battle with cancer a few years ago.  A reason that may torpedo the whole deal is that Saku is very respectful of his brother and what Mikko is hoping to accomplish as a professional hockey player.  If Saku joined the Wild, he could possibly overshadow his brother.  The desire to respect his brother’s place as an emerging leader in Minnesota may be a factor in Saku’s deciding to sign elsewhere.  I would think though that the brothers would ultimately just want to play with each other for a few years.  Besides, Mikko is 8 years younger then Saku, he has more than enough time to accomplish individual goals.

The city of Vancouver is happy today, the twins are staying put.  Henrik and Daniel Sedin have agreed to separate five-year deals worth $30.5 million apiece to stay with the Canucks.  The deals also include no-movement clauses.  The two elite players scaled back their demands for a mega-multiyear deal and agreed to the twin contracts, ( no pun intended ).  They were originally demanding 12 year $63 million each.

I knew the Montreal Canadiens were going to have a distinctly different look next season ( because of all of their free agents ), and that look began to take focus through a day of dramatic moves by GM Bob Gainey.   After acquiring skilled, playmaking center Scott Gomez in a trade with the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, Gainey added Calgary free agent Mike Cammalleri, the sniper on the wing Gainey has long coveted. Cammalleri had 39 goals last season for the Flames.  The Habs GM then added behemoth blueliner Hal Gill, fresh off his stint with the Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins, and underappreciated Jaroslav Spacek from the Buffalo Sabres.  With Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik being fully healthy and defensive-minded coach Jacques Martin behind the bench, the Habs’ defense has the potential to be much-improved after finishing 21st in the league in goals allowed per game in 2008-09.   The meltdown that occured in Montreal last year has left Gainey no choice but to go for broke.  His job is now on the line, if this team he’s putting together doesn’t produce then he will be out of a job.  Brian Gionta has also agreed to a five-year deal with the Canadiens.  The Habs are hoping he regains his 2005-2006 form when he scored 48 goals and had 89 points with the New Jersey Devils.

A few names that still have yet to be moved are the Ottawa Senators Dany Heatley and Tampa Bay’s franchise player Vincent Lecavalier.  For Lecavalier today meant total peace of mind.  As of this morning the superstar center is in full control of his future.  His no-movement clause kicked in Wednesday along with his 11-year, $85 million deal.  Only he, and he alone, has the final say on whether he ever gets dealt and where.  As for Heatley, things are still a bit cloudy.  A trade to the Edmonton Oilers was completed Tuesday night but could not go through until Heatley decided whether to waive his no-movement clause.  Heatley met with Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe and GM Steve Tambellini in his offseason home of Kelowna, British Columbia, earlier Wednesday night, but the sales pitch didn’t produce an immediate result.  Heatley has said before that his preference would be to play in New York for the Rangers but earlier in the day they picked up free agent star winger Marian Gaborik signing him to a 5 year $37.5 million contract, so that option is no longer available.  One thing that should be mentioned is that Senators GM Bryan Murray has said all along that he’s not interested in moving Heatley after having to pay him the $4 million roster bonus that kicked in at midnight ET.  If the deal does eventually go through then the Senators would get forwards Dustin Penner and Andrew Cogliano and defenseman Ladislav Smid in return.

The Chicago Blackhawks made a couple of interesting moves today.  First they signed free agent forward Marian Hossa to a 12 year $68.2 million deal which will cost the Hawks an average of $5.2 million annually.  Hossa was a key figure in the Wings’ five-game series victory over Chicago in the Western Conference finals this past spring.  Now, he’ll be asked to help get the Blackhawks over the hump as they chase the Stanley Cup Trophy, which has eluded them since 1961.  They then let goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin sign a four-year $15 million deal with the Oilers.  I just don’t understand why you would let go the guy who carried you in the playoffs go.  They also let Free agent Martin Havlat leave to sign with the Minnesota Wild.  Havlat’s deal is 6 years for $30 million.  I guess that’s why Dale Tallon is the GM and not me.

I thought that it was interesting  to see Erik Cole stay in Carolina after failing to re-sign before the start of free agency.  I think what you saw was a player getting a reality check on the open market and realized it was best to stay where he’s played his best hockey.  He signed for $2.8 million next season and $3 million in 2010-11 — a pay cut from the $4 million he made this past season.

Some other NHL signings taking place yesterday was Colorado inking veteran goalie Craig Anderson to a two-year deal worth $3.625 million.  Alex Ovechkin will get some help from winger Mike Knuble who has signed a two-year deal with the Washington Capitals for $5.6 million.  Scrappy veteran Ian Laperriere has found a new home.  He has signed a three-year deal worth $3.5 million with the Philadelphia Flyers.  The Columbus Blue Jackets signed veteran center Samuel Pahlsson to a three-year deal worth $7.95 million.  Steve Sullivan signed a two-year deal with the Nashville Predators for $7.5 million.  The Ottawa Senators re-signed gritty winger Chris Neil to a four-year, $8 million contract.