2010 NHL Free Agency: What to Expect for Today and Beyond
by FrankD on Jul 1, 2010 7:00 AM EDT
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Well for starters, don't expect anything before 12:00 pm ET. Unlike the NBA free agency frenzy, which kicked off at 12:01 a.m., the NHL free agency period doesn't start until 12:00 pm ET.
So what can we expect out of the first day of NHL free agency?
Sadly, a good majority of the day will be marred with rumors and speculation, just like every day leading up to it. I don't think we can expect a big player to land somewhere, especially with the whole holiday weekend upon us. However, on a similar note, if a guy is looking to just take care of business and get what is already a done deal in his own mind out of the way, we could see some players taking care of business before Friday afternoon.
Basically what I'm saying is to just keep your eyes and ears open. In the event you hear a rumor and want to share it here, please just supply a reference of sorts. If you link to anything on HockeyBuzz you will be dragged out back and used as Eric Godard's punching bag.
As far as the Penguins are concerned, we at least know that the team is willing to spend upwards of $11 million on free agents. While that may be perceived as a significant amount of money, keep in mind that if the Pens are looking to sign Dan Hamhuis and retain Sergei Gonchar for a significant amount of money, then that leaves anywhere between four or five million dollars to still fill some gaps up front. The obvious emphasis, as I'm sure anyone here will agree, is on the defensive end of the ice. But at the same time, do we really want to see Shero throwing away a third pick just to watch Hamhuis sign somewhere else?
Without considering the likelihood of that pick amounting to an NHL player, the fact is the ball is in the Pens' court. That's what they traded for and it's up to them to make it work. If Hamhuis is so dead set on not playing for the Flyers, then hopefully Shero can sell him on the playing against them angle a bit. I know, I'm stretching a bit. But I'll take whatever i can get.
Buckle down friends. This is one of the best days of the year, outside of the trade deadline. The only edge the trade deadline has is a definitive end time, whereas the free agency period opens up for the offseason today.
Things are going to get interesting around the league. Feel free to post fanshots or fanposts for any of the big moves you feel like talking about.
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I hope we are not doomed.
Things that should have gone are way by now haven’t. Makes me nervous and anxious and I hate that.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
Ha! At least you don’t have the most coveted free agent forward (Kovalchuk) and one of the most coveted defenseman (Paul Martin) on your team. I’m a nervous wreck. I swear hockey rules too much of my life. I shouldn’t care as much as I do.
A Nervous Wreck
Me, too….I dreamt of this crap last night! I woke up going: Is it noon yet?!?
It’s like I am waiting to exhale.
And you are a fan of two teams—big ones with big names—I feel, I do.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 1, 2010 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I dreamt that Hamhuis signed with the Pens and it seemed so real that I checked Pensburgh and found out I was indeed dreaming.
God I hope he signs…if the Hockey Gods help us out…maybe a little luck….
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 1, 2010 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
The Pens
I mean, we are a Championship team.
Why would someone NOT want to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins?!?
I guess it comes down to wanting more money or actually being part of a team that HAS and WILL win another Cup.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
i dunno about you guys but I hate the offseason… All the rumors and the second guessing… I just want the teams to be set and them to start playing again…
It’s worse this year as my Bulls team front running for that famous 2010 bonanza…
I’m so over the speculation and market play…
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
At least you’re not in danger of losing someone like LeBron James (I’m from Akron’s sister city, Canton, OH).
-Bryan
it could be worse, i admit… but i hate this period nevertheless…
But i can sympathize, i scream and throw tantrums whenever someone here says trade MAF or Geno…
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I think it's kind of fun, but still sad...
I was having a discussion with a friend of mine about the fate of the Hawks and the recent departures they’ve had and it got me thinking: what are the odds of someone like Jonathan Toews or even Bing lasting out their careers not only wearing the “C”, but doing so for the same teams? I mean if you look at guys like Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic, it’s possible. That said, in the Cap era, I don’t know if it’s even possible to keep one guy as the focal point of your team without making some (possibly) detrimental payroll decisions to keep him in town and at least partially surrounded with a winning squad.
Thoughts?
-Bryan
i think it’s perfectly possible. We’re not gonna see whole squads stick together, but for one or two guys, I can definitely see them as lifers even in this salary cap age.
All you need is a player who can be charismatic and emotionally vested in the organization and the city to be the face of the franchise. A good backroom oughta be able to recognize that he needs to give his input as this is as much his team as it’s theirs. If he’s also smart enough to understand that he needs to be in a diminished role in the later years and not get all Allen Iverson about his role and minutes, I can see about a dozen players capable of being lifers.
However, outside of Toews, Stamkos, Sid & Geno, I doubt anyone can fill this criteria anymore. We hardly ever see guys like Modano or Yzerman anymore.
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
Good point. I guess part of me still wants to see a core (would’ve thought it’d be Toews, Kane, Keith, and Versteeg along with Sharp for the Hawks, but Versteeg got the boot). That part, at least, has died pretty much.
-Bryan
kinda why i hope there are changes in the next CBA… The NBA’s soft cap is ridiculous but at least it allows teams to build around a small core of players. It makes for better team marketing as well…
It’s tough for the everyman to jump on the hockey bandwagon when the team you supported through the playoff run last year looks almost nothing like the one on the opening day the next season.
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
Of course the Hawks created this reality.
When you sign Marian Hossa and Brian Campbell to expensive, long term deals, you effectively destroy your ability to keep your homegrown “core” together. And July 1st is the day that it happens. So who will make the move today to be in the same boat as the Hawks a couple of years down the road? If Kolvachuk to LA pans out, then put your money on the Kings as the next Hawks. At least Chicago got a cup out of the deal. Most won’t. The Pens really were lucky that Hossa chose Detroit.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
I definitely see Crosby playing out his career with the Penguins. He seems big on loyalty – loyalty to your team, loyalty to the organization that drafted you. I just can’t see him anywhere but Pittsburgh, if that makes any sense.
He won’t ever leave Pitt. He seems to love it here. The guy is all about consistency…I could never seem him going through something as big as changing teams. I actually think he’ll take a discount to keep the core together.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
boy oh boy i hope you’re right
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I’d bet the farm on it, if I had one.
I’d bet the Staals farm on it.
Sid is a Pen for life.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jul 2, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
i want to get to a stage of my life where I’m arguing with some kids on who’s the greater Pen, Mario or Sid…
And I want to be so incapable of making a stand that I just punch the kid out and go sit next to their statues in front of the Consol and reminisce.
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I love Sid to death, but his only shot of having that debate ever take place would require at least 3 Cup wins. Just my opinion.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jul 3, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
If you link to anything on HockeyBuzz you will be dragged out back and used as Eric Godard’s punching bag.
Not to worry Frank, that creep’s site will crash for the duration.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
i’m curious… what happened that we dislike hockey buzz so much?
Be nice to the noob… :)
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
He slings BS all day every day. Plus, “Eklund” is a complete tool. He steals peoples stuff, he doesn’t credit his “sources,” everything is an anonymous as him and in the end someone concluding last season that he’s only right 2% of the time. And even then, most of his accurate predictions were minutes before the fact when everyone already knew anyway.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
so he’s kinda like Rob Rossi mixed with the TNT basketball crowd, only not as funny and about 110% more douchey…
Ok got it…
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
What? Do you know the details?
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 1, 2010 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Per Bob McKenzie:
Darren Dreger reports Sergei Gonchar has signed in OTT for three years at $5.5M plus a NTC.
I will definately root AGAINST Owatta from now on.
Wonder how many games Gonch will be healthy enough to play? Hope the door didn’t hit in in the ass too hard.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 1, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
yup, just upped a fanshot with the details of Gonchar’s Ottawa deal.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
I am trying not throw up myself.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 1, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
A big bag or rocks. or a lump of goal
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 1, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Didn't they resign Leighton?
Between signing him, re-upping Coburn, and trading for Meszaros, I think it’s starting to look like they’re not placing their focus at the goalie position after all, but on further strengthening the defense.
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
Coal!!!!
Dammit: I meant to say A lump of COAL
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 1, 2010 12:35 PM EDT reply actions
And our 2010 tickets will pay for the ability to mine that coal. It’s cyclical.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Tanguay to Calgary a done deal.
1 year at $1.7M.
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
It’s looking more and more likely but Paul Martin appears eager to sign with the Penguins, per Bob McKenzie.
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