The Hockey News: Edward Fraser's blog: THN.com Blog: Bits and bites from free agency

THN.com Blog: Bits and bites from free agency

Mats Sundin has a reported $20 million, two-year offer on the table from the Canucks. (Photo by Graig Abel/ NHLI via Getty Images)

Edward Fraser
2008-07-03 11:08:08

Some random and not-so-random thoughts and postulations on the first couple of days of the NHL’s free agent frenzy…

• What does desperation smell like? To Don Waddell, it smells like $22.5 million for Ron Hainsey.

• I respect Marian Hossa more today than I did two days ago. I doubt Penguins fans – or the Players’ Association - are of a like mind.

• My associate Rory Boylen – a smart man, I thought – still contends the Penguins were of sound mind in trading two serviceable players, a promising prospect and a first round pick for a player who suited up for a total of 32 games then bolted for Redder pastures. It’s OK, though; Boylen’s in training to be an NHL GM and is simply subscribing to lunacy over logic.

• As the great Sam Pollock once said, the team that gets the best player wins the trade. A motivated Nikolai Zherdev is better than Fedor Tyutin or Christian Backman. A-plus for Slats.

• Did I mention Ron Hainsey was on put on waivers in 2005? Seriously. $22.5 million. Seriously. I mean, that’s Jeff Finger money!

• I said it last week and it’s worth saying again: The Preds’ David Poile deserves a standing ovation for getting a starting goalie and two top-end defensemen to sign contracts before the madness of July 1 began.

• Scott Howson got the short end of the stick in the Zherdev trade, but he did have the best-bang-for-your-buck signing Wednesday in Kristian Huselius. At an average of less than $5 million per season, the 29-year-old will provide economical scoring depth for a team in dire need of it.

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• If Ted Nolan can coach this ragtag bunch of Islanders to within a sniff of a playoff spot it’ll be an injustice if he doesn’t get coach of the year consideration. That said, after causing public ripples with management (again) it wouldn’t shock me to see Nolan get canned if New York falls flat out of the gate.

• Without a word of a lie, when I heard Michael Ryder’s contract, I thought $4 million was for all three years.

• I wonder if Hossa’s agent Ritch Winter has stopped crying yet?

• Yes, Mats Sundin has made nearly $74 million during his career, but who couldn’t use an extra $20 mil?

• The Lightning will be the NHL’s most exciting team to watch next season, not only because it has a plethora of offensive weapons, but because it’ll give up at least 40 shots a night. Good luck, Olaf.

Edward Fraser is the editor of thehockeynews.com. His blog normally appears Thursdays.

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COMMENTS (16)

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K.D. Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:20)

Anybody who thinks Zherdev is a talent hasn't seen much hockey. Zherdez is a self centered Russian who thinks the NHL owes him. I say let him go back to Russia where they can whistle to his ego. If he played more like Ovechkin he would have a case. Otherwise he'll fit well in NY where all lost soul money grabbers go. Good Riddance.

thedeke Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:13)

I'm with you Giv'er. I'd play hockey for $20 too. Heck, I pay to play whenever I get the chance. And Gillis was a moron for offering that money to Sundin - it's almost Jeff Finger money. It's embarrassing to be a Canuck or a Leaf fan this offseason, our management teams have been terrible.

Giv'er Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:12)

Wow. Thats alot of animosity towards a single hockey team... I'm a leafs fan so i'm going to be optimitic - extremely optimistic - in hoping that these signings work out. Who knows? Maybe the Finger will be a steal? Hagman's still young, maybe he'll keep it up? If they bomb, maybe we get Tavares or the Swedish "Chris Pronger" who are making so much noise before even being drafted? Nothings final. I think Sundin has too much class to sign with Vancouver - just to prove that he has class. 20$ is tempting but where he is he really isnt in it for the money. He probably wants a cup (not to be harsh but Vancouver isnt quite a contender by losing Naslund and Morrison), and if not, he's content to have gotten gold at the Olympics for his country. Maybe that was his Stanley cup.

Giv'er Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:12)

Wow. Those are alot of spelling errors. I apolosize. I meant 20$million by the way. But hell, i'd play a game of hockey for 20$.

Jason Pastrick Posted
(2009-04-30 06:32:08)

As crazy as the GMs and owners are to throw that kind of money around, Marian Hossa was just as crazy to turn down the Oilers' offer. Perhaps he figures a good year with Detroit will get him even bigger numbers down the road, but a knee injury will make all those zeros disappear.

RobG Posted
(2009-04-30 06:31:58)

At 20 million for 2 years, I might even consider playing for Toronto ! On second thought..............

scotty87 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:31:56)

@Stephen and David: Hah yeah everyone hates Vancouver? You guys are so stupid you sound like Americans....but since you hate Vancouver you must be from Toronto. I guess Van should have tried to sign Jeff Finger hey? Wow we really lost out. Go ahead and be bitter that your captain is leaving.

Brian p Posted
(2009-04-30 06:31:51)

I thought the same thing about Ryder. $4 mil over 3 years would've made a whole lot more sense. Particularly when the Bruins already have a washed up sniper who was awful last season at right wing who also makes $4 million a year named Glen Murray. I think NHL GM's must be the most positive, optimistic people in the world. How else do you explain some of these contracts that are rewarding players for things they could do, maybe, in the future? Ryder's not a $4 mil/year player based on last season, but oh, if he gets back to the 25-30 goal range he will be. Does the phrase "rose-coloured glasses" mean anything to Peter Chiarelli, you think?

JayR Posted
(2009-04-30 06:31:51)

The Ryder deal is kinda nuts...Just when I thought the Bruins were starting to be more sensible....

Craig Posted
(2009-04-30 06:31:51)

Knock the Canucks all you want Leaf Fans, at least they are still trying to win. Your joke of a franchise has a washed up GM who has all but carved into the side of the ACC that your team wants to lose; a lot. Only a leaf fan would be dumb enough to pay to watch a team that is trying to lose; and when your big free agent signings are Jeff Finger and Nicklas Hagman you'll be losing ugly.

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