Doom (Posted 2008-07-11 16:28:34)
Overrated or not doesn't mean anything when the extra salary is the only cost to a team. No player traded. That's the beauty of the UFA market. The "rich teams" will all be close to the salary cap, no matter what. As a fan, I don't care how much my team is spending on a player. I want my team to win! I prefer seeing the money being spent then knowing the team is trying to save money while asking the same price tickets.

Maurice A. Tate (Posted 2008-07-07 23:31:27)
lmfao @ Gord..........I love it..

greg thompson (Posted 2008-07-05 22:36:24)
when does three time lucky happen. twice now the league has shutdown. owners get the deal they wanted. each time within three years THEY THEMSELVES DESTROYED It. when does gary stop all is well talk switch to the we are in trouble talk. just like he did last time before lockout happen. in gary's world it is either perfect or hell. is he a bi-polar person?

Redge Cole (Posted 2008-07-04 20:38:16)
Remember this Boston will end up 4th in the east 3pts out of division lead. Too many good young players not to. They have to be in the top 5 for best centermen, Bergeron, Savard, Krejci and Sobotka not bad either. Ryder makes them much better in scoring, should hit 35 or more, better centermen here. Sturm, Kobasew, Kessel should get around 30 if not a few more. Their D isn't anything too sneeze at, Chara, Ward(one of the best trades in years) and Wideman. They have real good defense scouts. Blake Wheeler was a real nice snag, lots of potential there. Also Rask, should be good one. Talk to you at the end of the season when were i n 4th, or better.

Gord Puquegnutts (Posted 2008-07-03 18:45:12)
Why you little ruskie! I'd like to see you try! Hockey is OUR GAME BECAUSE WE SAY IT IS! (And because we truly have nothing else besides beer and snow tires and of course Tim Hortons doughgnutts - but to be honest, I went to Boston once to watch my begloved Leafs play, and Dunkin Donuts is way better but thanks to NAFTA we can't get them here...). Besides, nobody is going to the Russian super league because anybody who does is going to be banned from the Olympics, because like the game itself, the IHLL belongs to CANADA! And then Wayne Gretzky is going to open a can of whoop-ass on them, or somebody else, the Great One never fights, just all his teamates...where's my beer?

Sebastian Blomstervall (Posted 2008-07-03 17:31:31)
What is the point with hockey in Nashville? At least Hamilton, Quebec and Winnipeg should get one team each. Canada, Russia and Sweden are the only countries in the world with Real hockeytradition so why do not you just give hockey back to the ones who cares (in this case Canadiens).

Scott Bowen (Posted 2008-07-03 16:13:32)
Hockey is not about American or Canadian it is a sport, a damn fine sport. Well it was anyways now I worry players will only preform on there money making years (RFA UFA) since this is when they cash in. Sundin may be over rated but when was the last time you have seen a person stick to his team and not run to the highest bidder. These new players have no morals its a payday or a job not a fun sport which by chance you get paid for. I don't think its GM's wrecking hockey I believe its the players. They are the ones who can say no I want to play in your city and I will never be able to spend 4.5mil in my whole life (Darren McCarty excluded) no less every year for 2-3 years so please don't offer so much (I know it will never happen). I just don't want another lock out since this time it will be the death of the NHL. At least I have the Blazers to always watch. ..End rant..

mike brothy is an idiot (Posted 2008-07-03 16:11:40)
how can u say the wings over paid for stuart when he was one of their keys to their success in the playoffs...3.75 a year for a solid top 4 defenceman that will put u on ur ass is a good sign forsure u fool....the leafs are payin jeff fingers himself in the ass for almost just as much...ur an idiot straight up...i hope u die a slow and painful death

Ryan (Posted 2008-07-03 15:58:36)
mmm mapleloaf you should really learn to be quiet when talking about Hockey. Hockey is never ever ever going to be come an amarican sport. And who cares if california has more peoples have you ever looked at the rinks there there half empty has Canucks rink sold out for more than 200 strait games

Mike (Posted 2008-07-03 15:10:24)
Just want to remind certain individuals that this is about recent NHL free agent signings. Not about which cities can hold teams, nor which cities shouldn't have teams. Also, last I checked, the intelligence of Canadians or Americans had not been bought in the frenzy (although I'm sure there are several GMs who would try). So until then, please stay on topic. As for Sundin, I'm going to agree that $10M a year is too much for him, but he's far from the most overrated player in the league

Bruce (Posted 2008-07-03 14:16:46)
ummm, good one Leafsfanforever, you just mocked the Rangers for exiting the playoffs in an early round...when did the Leafs last sniff the playoffs? Win a cup? Oh yeah, like before you were born..."Forever" indeed. Parents, STOP giving your kids computers for Xmas, they AREN'T using them for education...

Bob Ewing (Posted 2008-07-03 13:25:58)
Chris--Good take on Stuart. He's much much better than most fans think, and I'm glad he's finally found a home with the Wings. As a Sharks fan, I watched him go through rough times, but I still never wanted to let him go. The first game I ever saw him play, he crunched a streaking forward into the boards, knocked him down, dropped his own stick from the contact, kicked the puck ahead of him with his foot, bent down, picked up his twig, and fired a crisp pass out of the zone to one of his wingers, all without ever breaking stride. Skill and poise. And now he's found his nasty side, as he shows so well when paired with Kronwall. If he hadn't been the key to the Thornton trade, he'd still be in San Jose. I know I'd love to see him back in teal before he's done. 3.75M per for 4 yrs will turn out to be another Ken Holland stroke of genius. He's a keeper.

scotty87 (Posted 2008-07-03 13:01:25)
TO MMM MAPLELOAF: Buddy you are complete imbecile. Only an American would have the gall to say something as ignorant as that. Im a Canucks fan, and if I remember correctly, WE HAVE SOLD OUT EVERY GAME FOR THE PAST FOUR SEASONS, and I believe something very similar goes for the rest of the Canadian teams. The bigger it gets the more American it becomes? Buddy, you need to bite your tongue and keep your ignorant american comments to yourself, because no one here has time for them.

Kyle (Posted 2008-07-03 11:12:30)
All contrats signed this year were going to be insane anyways , i`m just glad the leafs or should i say my maple laughs, didn`t sign anybody else. The only good thing about finger is that hes only played one season and he can only get better , 9 goals aint that bad for ur first season in the NHL for a defenseman. But we shall see, 3.5 isn`t that bad, i say this laughing of course . AT least we signed somebody with some potential. We shall see in time . Can`t wait till next year when we sign some more duds Go LEAFS Go lol . Top 5 pick here we come!

JayR (Posted 2008-07-03 10:02:13)
BLAME KEVIN LOWE!!!!!!!!!!

Adam Hedgespeth (Posted 2008-07-03 09:26:50)
Leave Nashville out of this, I'm sure you've never been to a game there and just because they are in Tennessee you ASSume their attendance is down. Saw my team face them twice in their house in the playoffs and I couldn't hear myself think.

LEAFSFANFOREVER (Posted 2008-07-03 08:26:18)
Just for clarity, I never said that the Leafs have iced a competitive team in the last couple seasons. They never changed their mindset to adhere to the "new" NHL. JFJ was an idiot and bound the leafs to many contracts that were not required/warranted. Not to mention the numerous trade picks that were discarded for "experienced" players. I, like many LEAF FANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, have stood by their team and will continue to do so. The team is finally making strides in the right direction and will only improve. So, let's wait until next season and leave it on the ice. But for those of you that don't see a lockout as inevitable, you should take off the rosy colored glasses and open your eyes to reality. But then again, if CNN was the only source of my news I may have a different perspective on the world as well.

Chris (Posted 2008-07-03 07:29:06)
As a Wings fan I have no problem with the deal they offered Stuart, he'll play on the second line with Kronwall and they made a great pairing in the playoffs. People will see how good Stuart is this coming year when he has a full season in Detroit. And as far as Sundin is concerned, the guy has averaged a little over a point a game since joining the Leafs, he's a 550+ goal scorer and a 1300+ point guy. He doesn't deserve 10 million a season, but he is no where near the most overrated player in the NHL

Blowtrees (Posted 2008-07-03 04:40:45)
I'd like to qualify my comments about status of the NHL in the states by pointing out that since the lockout, ratings and revenues are up and have been steadily increasing. If that wasn't the case, we wouldn't see these 6M a year jumps in the salary cap because the money just wouldn't be there.

Chet P (Posted 2008-07-03 03:39:58)
@ sharks09 - When Jim Balsillie (foolishly) announced that the Preds would move to Hamilton, season tickets sold out (and I do mean SOLD out, because full deposit was required, and eventually refunded) by the end of the first day. Sold out.... for a team that hadn't yet moved, and wouldn't have been relocating for at least 3 years. Sharks season tickets can easily be purchased, and the Sharks organization even offer heavy incentives for those who buy them. You're clearly very ignorant, and your argument is moot. Please do a little research before flapping your gums, as the Hamilton area can clearly support an NHL franchise, perhaps even two. The same can be said for several other Canadian cities. @ FlamesFan: I don't know if you noticed from his use of punctuation (or lack thereof), but sharks09 and mapleloaf are obviously the same person. It's pretty sad that he has to post on the same message board under several different names just to give the impression that someone actually agrees with his xenophobic rantings.

FlamesFan in Leaf Nation (Posted 2008-07-03 02:36:00)
sharks 09 ... "canada has only a few friutful markets and those are being managed horribly" "so get real your markets suck" Puzzling remarks, more puzzling considering my rhetorical questions addressed Mapleloaf's comments. Here are some of the answers: • “In a league that in the absence of significant national television money in the United States relies heavily on live gate, 31 per cent of ticket revenue is generated by Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Edmonton. Even those at the small-market end of the Canadian spectrum are bringing in more than twice the gate receipts of at least eight U.S.-based franchises.” • Of the “11 of the 24 U.S.-based franchises recorded no gain in ticket revenue or lost ticket income. The Phoenix Coyotes (once the Winnipeg Jets) were last in ticket revenue with just $450,000. They are reported to be losing more than $30-million a season … the Canadian clubs, all of whom are generating more than twice the gate receipts of such U.S. rivals as the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and others.” • Paul Kelly, the executive director of the National Hockey League Players' Association stated that "To the extent that a current NHL market in the United States is not able to properly support an NHL franchise, relocating a team to a Canadian city certainly needs to be strongly considered." But, hey, according to you and Mapleloaf, players don’t want to play in Canada. (http://www3.thestar.com/static/PDF/080530_nhl_tickets_revenue.pdf) Sure, the U.S. market is bigger than Canada’s. But it’s also about demand.

FlamesFan in Leaf Nation (Posted 2008-07-03 01:26:59)
Hey, mapleloaf!!! ... where is most profitable and highest revenue generating team located? In which country are NHL teams floundering financially? In which country are post-1990 franchise teams flourishing—and where are they floundering? And, oh, do you think a strong U.S. hockey market led to the creation of your favorite team? As long as kids continue to play hockey on my street all day or shuffle out to the five arenas, all within a ten-minute drive from my house, hockey will never become an American sport—at least not in the way true fans would understand the statement. I lived in Sunnyvale for seven years, so I know there are true hockey fans in San Jose. Unfortunately, your statement unwittingly and boorishly demonstrates that you're not one of them.

BruinsFan71 (Posted 2008-07-02 23:52:17)
The moves that Tampa have been making is great for them, they will be in the playoffs next year for sure, while unfortunately Washington won't since they screwed up their goalie situation. Toronto should not be mentioned as a team any more since they will be in last place till 2013 when all of the NTC passes. Finger is actually a decent sign a little much money but he will be a top 4 Dman. Phoenix will make the playoffs this year, sorry Nashville. Pitt will be in 6th place and Detroit will win it all again hopefully against Montreal, that would be a Stanley Cup series to watch even though I absolutely hate Montreal!!!

Nick D (Posted 2008-07-02 23:46:03)
Oleh H I just have to jump on the comment of NE being the toughest division in hockey. When truely you can say the Atlantic is clearly more competive, The Flyers, Pens, Rangers, Devils and Islanders, four of those teams can likely make the playoffs with the Islanders being the exception. While the NE Ottawa(what a mess that place is) T.O (the dumbest franchise in the leage with some of the dumbest fans) Montreal (passtionate, probably the best in you divison) Boston(doesn't have the talent surprised they maded the playoffs) Sabres(will sell all there players because there owner is cheap and Darcy Regier is retarded) Btw Sundin isn't worth 10 million he is worth 7 million, because he's 37, and not getting any younger. Theres no reason for him to be making more money then Lidstrom. anyways GO FLYERS GO!!!

Matt D (Posted 2008-07-02 23:33:05)
Lockout didn't work ... yada, yada, yada. The problem isn't that teams make these deals for whomever we all think is over valued. The problem was and will be that the league, however better it is doing relative to the early '00s, is still in trouble. Want ot fix it? Let teams fail, let teams that make these so called stupid decisions go under, get rid of the CBA. Everyone complains about these deals ... he named, what 4 players, and the 3 of them have a completely valid arguement? Three players get contracts they more than likely didn't deserve ... big deal. The "level" playing field everyone was hoping for is a myth. Better run orginizations, better managed line ups, better coached teams prevail. But suddenly, if it doesn't happen next year, and you are a GM or coach ... wave bye bye.

Jimmy (Posted 2008-07-02 23:06:33)
@ mapleloaf - Are you not loved?

john (Posted 2008-07-02 22:29:36)
one ufa im disapointed the bruins didnt resign is glenn metropolit. He is a hard working player and was a big asset to the bruins last year. GOOD LUCK IN PHilly Glenn

mmm mapleloaf!!! (Posted 2008-07-02 20:45:15)
leafsfan seriously look at your team, hope jeff finger helps, oh and theres more people in california then in canada... so why dont you get that your small market candian frozen citys just cant support a team,, not only can they not compete cause they dont have the cash, but even candian players would rather play in america.... face it the bigger hockey gets the more it will become an american sport,,, but why do i even bother telling you im sure youll just drown the truth in another molsen and pass out on the couch with that silly leafs flag in your hand again.... goSHARKS!!!!

pens fan (Posted 2008-07-02 20:22:55)
hey leafs fan forever your an idiot the pens sold out the last 50 plus games and I play hockey and am a large fan of hockey clue in your team sucks

colin (Posted 2008-07-02 20:03:56)
LEAFSFANFOREVER: Brilliant idea, to go along with all the brilliant ideas your favorite team has come up with in the past couple of days. Let's pull, for instance, the Phoenix Coyotes out of the desert - after grabbing Kurt Sauer (the Avs D-guy Cliff Fletcher SHOULD have blown that Jeff Finger money on), Olli Jokinen, Boedker, Tikhonov, etc. and looking like one of the smartest franchises in the league - and move them to Winnipeg so they can be closer to the stone idiocy that marks the Canadian franchises. Heck, maybe you can encourage them to set up a PCSE to match the MLSE and put Peddie in charge of both. That way your misery will have company. Yeah. That'sa da good stuff.

drishy (Posted 2008-07-02 18:33:19)
to daniel s: maybe the preds and canes and other southern teams dont have jack for a fan base but here in San Jose we really do care about hockey. if you were checking we actually sold out most of the games during the regular season something that even the 'snow rule' teams fail to do. there are alot of people (canadians like me) that live down here and would be very dissapointed to see our team taken away... i am in some agreement about some teams that really have no fans and i am from ontario and i truely hoped that hamilton would get a team this season but you can thank idiot bettman for that one

Scotty87 (Posted 2008-07-02 18:17:31)
TO OLEH W: The NE is the hardest in the league? Are you on crack? Not one division in the East stacks up to any in the West

Daniel S (Posted 2008-07-02 18:08:12)
I totally agree with the snow rule! There are basically 13 American teams that truly belong in the NHL those being the Sabres, Wild, Red Wings, Bruins, Rangers, Islanders, Devils, Flyers, Penguins, Capitals, Blackhawks, Avalanche, Blues and out of those the Sabres, Red Wings, Wild and the Flyers can truly say they have a devoted fan base. I mean being an American, I truly feel what’s best for this league is to get rid of the Southern U.S market teams move the ones out West even further North maybe to Seattle and Portland and the rest to Canadian markets. The only other team I can picture making it in the U.S maybe and that’s a huge maybe is the Blue Jackets as I think there is a market for hockey in Ohio.

Eric B (Posted 2008-07-02 16:36:03)
The owners got exactly what the wanted during the lock out. They have no excuses for their insanity. If they are dumb enough to have another look out then they better only come back with 12-15 teams because the rest of the world will not care about the NHL.

Oleh W. (Posted 2008-07-02 16:14:25)
Thank you Mike Brophy, you may be the only hockey analyst in the world that thinks Sundin is overrated. 10 million dollars a year for a guy who has led his team to zero cups, not to mention has done nothing as a captain to unite the very talented core of young players coming up right now in Toronto. He is a great player, however I am not convinced that he is a good captain. Hey and for you die-hard Sundin fans don't worry he will definitely make the Hall! I'm just happy for Toronto (as a Sabres fan even) that they realized that after this many years of failure that maybe it's time to rely on the next generation to propel them back to the cup. The NE division is the toughest in the league and with the retarded schedule now in the past maybe the whole division will make the playoffs.

paso collotti (Posted 2008-07-02 15:11:41)
sundin is more hossa than yzerman-more forsberg than sakic. a great second option but a guy who lacks any kind of leadership skills to take a team over the top. thats why his best bet would be detroit. I've never understood the media and fans lauding this guy like he's the greatest leaf to ever wear the sweater. in my opinion, hes not even in the top 10. hes never won a thing, individual or team award in the nhl. in terms of the leafs it's obvious. they want to be competitive by buiding from the goal out. with toskala (again highly overated) and a "defensive" back line they probably believe they win can some games and stay competitive. they have no one who can score though but probably believe they can piece the offense together through free agency. they want to win or lose games 2-1 under wilson and the plan actually makes sense. if you have no talent, just try to keep the puck out of your own net. finger may help them in this respect he may not-either way this team isnt going anywhere leaf fans.

Andy (Posted 2008-07-02 14:31:39)
Hey...it snowed in San Jose once or twice. I think we're missing the point, you need people who played hockey and know hockey, running the NHL. Stop blaming stuff on teams that have been in the league for 10+ years and one of them won the stanley cup. Granted I agree that if there are going to be more expansion teams, Canada should get 2 at least. But yall need to stop whinning about our socal teams cuz I see at least us and Anehiem still being conteders, and not your Leafs Habs or Sens! HA!

Johnny S (Posted 2008-07-02 14:04:52)
I just wanted to thank M Gainey for not signing the Sundin, Hossa, Avery of this world and paying them too much money for their real worth. Keep the money for your young players so that in the future you won't have to give them up because a half-hearted player is taking up most of the cap space.

MATT (Posted 2008-07-02 13:15:30)
Let's all thank Kevin Lowe for starting to throw around the offer sheet. He's not to blame for all of this obviously, but his offer to Penner (unproven) and Vanek (not worth what he was offered) were kind of the beginning of this trend.

Josh H (Posted 2008-07-02 12:53:59)
You hit the nail on the head. Makes me a little happier my sabres didn't get involved. I guess this is what the NHL will end up being, a cycle of FREE AGency winners losing and learning ,

John (Posted 2008-07-02 12:49:13)
I have been critical of a number of "The Hockey News" articles lately, but Mike you are bang on in this article. Good Job!

Rocco Russo (Posted 2008-07-02 12:43:41)
People were big on the Sabres signing Jeff Finger for some reason. Don't know much about his game. I miss the Whale. Orpik is gonna get paid.

LEAF NATION IS A JOKE (Posted 2008-07-02 12:34:35)
1967 haha - 1967 haha - 1967 haha - WOW TORONTO REALLY LOVES TO SUCK!!!

martin (Posted 2008-07-02 12:28:23)
Sure, Sundin is no 100-point player, but he´s a consistent point per game-player who´ve reached the 70-point plateau every season in the last decade. Still, 10 million per season is absurd. I´m really hoping he won´t sign with Vancouver - where he would be surrounded by the same kind of mediocrity as in Toronto. Just Taylor Pyatt instead of Alexei Ponikarovsky.

LEAFSFANFOREVER (Posted 2008-07-02 12:07:31)
Get ready for another lockout!! The NHL is in for a world of hurt. Bettman should forget this idea of expanding the league. Simple Rule: If your city does not get snow, you don't get a team. How many American's actually watch hockey? have ever played hockey? Do we remember the brilliant idea of marking the puck with a blue or red highlight? Wasn't that to help American fans follow the game. If they can't even follow a puck, there are some serious problems. Give teams to Canadian cities that will come out to the games (Winnipeg, Quebec City) and stop dilluting the talent pool with these small market cities that could careless about the NHL or hockey for that matter. GO LEAFS GO!!!