Mats Sundin signed a 1-year deal to stay with Toronto, and Chris Chelios signed a 1-year deal to stay with Detroit. Sundin signed for $5.5 million. Chelios signed for...$850,000. Nothing against Sundin, but Detroit got the better bargain.

Wow, Chelios is creeping into Gordie Howe territory!

In a surprise announcement today...Veteran coach "Iron Mike" Keenan will be taking over as head coach of the Calgary Flames. While there were some doubts about Jim Playfair, I figured he would be back for a second season. It's unclear at this point what role if any he will have in the organization. Flames' forward Kristian Huselius apparently had some major issues with Keenan when he played for him in Florida a couple years ago. But that's not unusual, given Keenan's reputation. Hopefully he has mellowed out a little.

Playfair is staying on as an assistant coach.

My thought is that this Calgary team might be the most talented one Keenan's had since the Cup-winning Rangers. How the team reacts to him, whether he has or has not mellowed, will be interesting.

I think you're right, Joe. Looking at Keenan's record, all of his successes have been in the first half of his coaching career (84-94), taking his teams to the playoffs every year; twice taking Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup finals and once with Chicago, and then of course winning it with New York. Since then, he hasn't fared nearly as well with St. Louis, Vancouver, Boston, Florida...out of the playoffs and below .500 most of those years.

As for the mellowing factor, in Friday's Calgary Herald, when asked about this, Keenan replied "Coaching is like parenting. Sometimes you have to be firm. You try to be fair and...you're always loving." Loving?? I guess this is the new kinder, gentler Mike![:] He certainly sounded mellow when I also heard him being interviewed on CBC radio yesterday. Friendly and soft-spoken but articulate, unlike the abrupt, taciturn manner which was often typical of Darryl Sutter (and to a lesser extent Jim Playfair). There was no comment from any current Flames player, but former Flyer Brian Propp (who apparently still lives in Philadelphia and is into politics now) was interviewed and had high praise for Keenan as a coach.

In other "off season moves", the Flames have moved their AHL affiliate from Omaha (the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights...notice what that spells backwards) to some place called the Quad Cities, which I had to look up...it's a conglomeration of four towns on the Illinois-Iowa border.

The Habs traded LW Sergei Samsonov to the Blackhawks for D Jassen Cullimore and LW Tony Salmelainen. I don't how this helps Montreal, other than clearing up some cap room. Any Habs or Blackhawks fans willing to comment?

P.S. This may not be an offseason move, but it did occur during the offseason....did anyone notice that the Penguins cleaned up at the NHL Awards dinner? Sid the Kid becomes the youngest MVP since Wayne Gretzky and the Russian Wonder claims the Calder Trophy. Yay Penguins!!

Samsonov has a 3.5 million contract. He was a major disappointment (9 goals in 63 games) and was left out of lineup, so he wasn't part of the future. The team wanted to get rid of him. By traded him it will cost less than buying his contract. Montreal is going to buy the contract of Cullimore; for the other player the decision hasn't been made yet. The team should save a little money. So the primary motive of the trade is financial.

I wish the Red Wings would drop Bertuzzi but it doesn't sound like they will.

Is this the first sign of a Nashville fire sale or isolated case? In what MAY be the first sign of a Nashville fire sale - until Balsillie gets control - this from CP.

The Philadelphia Flyers have picked up a couple of players who were expected to be hot commodities on this summer's free agent market. The Flyers acquired the rights to defenceman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell from the Nashville Predators and re-signed both players. In return, the Predators received a first-round pick in this week's draft – the same pick they traded to the Flyers in exchange for Peter Forsberg last winter. Hartnell and Timonen were set to become unrestricted free agents July 1.

Timonen signed a six-year deal worth $37.8 million (U.S.) while Hartnell's deal is also for six years and worth $25.2 million (U.S.). Predators general manager David Poile said he knew he wouldn't be able to re-sign Hartnell and Timonen and wanted to get something for them.

Seems pretty clear that the Nashville uncertainty had a part in the trade. It seems odd to trade for two players who could've become free agents, but since the Predators allowed the Flyers to negotiate contracts with them first, it makes more sense. The Flyers are certainly being aggressive.



He's been the analyst on Flyers radio broadcasts. He's running for some office now in New Jersey, though apparently he won't give up his broadcasting job. I can't help but wonder if his opponent wouldn't demand equal time?



There was an awards show? Who knew? No, seriously...

Leafs have picked up a first rate goalie to challenge Raycroft for the # 1 goalie spot. The Leafs have picked up Vesa Toskala from San Jose - along with forward Mark Bell for the Leafs pick in the first round which is in the 13th spot tonight - or the Leafs 1st round pick next year. San Jose will decide which option they will go with at the time of the pick tonight.
Toskala is "pumped about coming to a hockey-crazed market". 'I think every player in the world wants to play in Canada at one point in their careers,' said Toskala. 'The fans, the media, people live for hockey in that country, especially in Toronto. I'm actually very, very excited to take on that challenge.'

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/228420

Other pre-draft moves - more Hamilton....oops I mean Nashville news. The Florida Panthers acquired star netminder Tomas Vokoun from the Nashville Predators for three draft picks (one first-round selection, two second-round selections). Vokoun signed a four-year, US$22.8-million contract with the Predators prior to the start of last season but appeared in just 44 games due to a hand injury.

The entry draft is underway. The first two players taken were Americans, the first time the top 2 picks were both U.S.-born. The Blackhawks picked RW Patrick Kane and the Flyers took LW James vanRiemsdyk.

One player thought to go highly, Russian Alexei Cherepanov, has yet to be selected. (At the time I write this they're through the first 11 picks.)

A scouting report on the Flyers' 3rd-round draft pick, a left wing:



And he almost has the perfect name: Garrett Klotz.

The Ducks have been in a flurry of activity the past few days. We were able to lock up JS Giguere to a 4 yrs $24M contract, Sean O'd and Kent Huskins signed today. We await word on Teemu and Scott to see if are retirement bound.

If we can get those two back for another year, our team will remain mostly intact from this year. We only need Brad May to sign up and the rest can go without a care in the world.

Ducks in 08!

Not really a transaction, but Peter Forsberg has reportedly had more foot surgery. He's a free agent as of July 1st. I think he's now at the point where he won't get big money in a contract, if he decides to continue playing.

Tomorrow is July 1st -- the start of the free-agent signing period. And the NHL's new salary cap is $50.3 million per team, up $6.3 million from last year. The minimum payroll is now $34.3 million (there is always a $16 million range from top to bottom).

The Wild have traded goalie Manny Fernandez to the Bruins. I'm only a peripheral viewer/fan of hockey but I do know that Fernandez has been one of the better goalies in the league the last couple of years. He and the other Wild goalie won the award for giving up the fewest goals last season.

Part of that is the Wild's defense-oriented system, but Fernandez actually had the job won when the Wild sent Dwayne Roloson to Edmonton, but he got hurt and Nicklas Backstrom played so well that the Wild signed him to a big contract.

The free agents have started landing, with a really big landing to start: Daniel Briere gets $52 million over 8 years (!!!) from the Flyers. It's top-loaded -- Briere will be paid $10 million for 2007-08.

Anaheim signs Matthieu Schneider to a 2-year, $11.25 million deal -- and Detroit replaces Schneider with Brian Rafalski for $30 million over 5 years.

Joe Thornton signs a 3-year extension with San Jose for $21.6 million.

Some teams are already back at the habit of giving big contracts. That's not good for smaller market or sane teams.

Some rumour had Gomez going to Rangers. Drury maybe Kings? It might be just gossip.

Not sure how I feel about this one.Hope it's not a bust.I can't believe they want to re-sign Bertuzzi!

Teams never got out of that habit. There's a salary cap, though, so a team has to manage it.

The Rangers, according to ESPN's website, have agreed to deals with both Scott Gomez and Chris Drury.

This is on Philly.com:



Don't know if it makes sense if Gomez has signed with the Rangers.

Leafs added free agent Jason Blake from the Islanders - who is coming off a 40 goal 69 point season. A very good acquisition and it did not break the bank. A 5 year - $20 million dollar deal. He should be a good winger for Sundin. Add him to the acquisition of goalie Toscala and the Leafs have definitely made moves in the right direction.

I have to go back to this...



It makes you wonder why the league shut down for an entire year. It seems like they did it for nothing.

More signings (besides sooners2727's mention of the two players the Predators signed, Radek Bonk and Greg de Vries)...note, this is not a complete list.

Jason Blake signed with Toronto.
The Islanders' trade for Ryan Smyth went for naught as he goes to Colorado, as does Scott Hannan.
justeddie gets his wish: Todd Bertuzzi signs with Anaheim.
Montreal signed Roman Hamrlik and Bryan Smolinski.
Calgary signed Owen Nolan.
Chicago signed Yanic Perreault and Robert Lang.
Atlanta signed Ken Klee.
Washington signed Michael Nylander, Viktor Kozlov, Tom Poti and Brian Pothier.
The LA Kings signed Ladislav Nagy, Michal Handzus, Kyle Calder and Tom Preissing.
Pittsburgh picked up Darryl Sydor, Petr Sykora and Dany Sabourin
Paul Kariya signs with St. Louis.
New Jersey signs Dainus Zubrus.

Some players still available: Slava Kozlov, Teemu Selanne (if he doesn't retire), Sheldon Souray, Brad Stuart, Michael Peca, Eric Lindros, Peter Forsberg (again, if he doesn't retire), Darren McCarty, Mike Comrie.

An amusing paragraph from an article at NHL.com:

...or have they?

Edmonton signed restricted free agent Thomas Vanek to an offer sheet worth $50 million over 7 years. Buffalo matched the offer. Had the Sabres let him go to Edmonton, the Oilers would have had to compensate Buffalo with four first-round draft picks.

I can't help but wonder if Edmonton made the right decision to make that offer, and if Buffalo made the right call to keep Vanek.

Well - barring a Gretzky to LA type trade down the road - the Penguins have certainly confirmed that they will be one of THE marquee teams in the NHL for years to come - by signing Sidney Crosby to a $45 million contract extension that will keep him with the Pens through the 2012-2013 season.

This just in today. reports out of Buffalo state that the 2007-08 NHL schedule will be released tommorow and in it there will be an outdoor hockey game on New Year's Day.

A report states that the Pens are slated to be the visiting team, and that the host will be either Buffalo @ Ralph Wilson Stadium or Detroit.

This .... would.... be.... so....cool!

I'm sure some people might consider it fun. Not me for a variety of reasons. Weather being the most significant. With Ralph Wilson Stadium we could end up with one of those infamous Buffalo lake effect blizzards that would result in them needing snow ploughs on the ice. Or it could be 50F with rain if the weather we had last January was any indication. Where would they play the game in Detroit? Ford Field? Doesn't that have a roof?

I have first hand experience with outdoor hockey and it was NOT fun. They did an outdoor exhibition game at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton a couple of years ago and conditions were brutal. Rain coming down in sheets through much of the game with the temperature hovering just above freezing. Sheer torture for the 20,000+ in attendance. I left mid way through the second period and had a chill running through me for days!

And of course the one NHL game played outdoors a few years ago in Edmonton - the game was almost called because it was TOO COLD. Those poor fans had to suffer through wind chills of -28C (about -20F). That does not sound like fun to me. And sorry - my fast aging eyes have a hard enough time following the puck when I get seats high in the Upper Deck at the ACC. If my seats were twice as far away - if not further - as would be the case in a football stadium - what's the point?

I think the idea of one game outside now and then is a novel one and plays to the image of kids playing pond hockey. It got a lot of publicity the last time they did it, and presumably would do so again.

Planning for optimal weather is extremely difficult, though -- whether it's too warm or too cold or if precipication is falling.

Perhaps they would use Comerica Park (the Tigers home) if they play in Detroit.

Re: Crosby -- he signed for less money than he could get normally, to help the Penguins retain some of their other young talent. And when this contract runs out, he'll only be 26.

The schedule came out today, with Anaheim and LA starting the season in London (England, not Ontario). Did they officially announce the outdoor game?

The Flyers start out in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

No, not yet apparently logistics still have to be worked out. But the schedule does say: 1/1 Pittsburgh v. Buffalo 1 PM.

More I think about this outdoor game, the more that I think an All-Star Game would be perfect for this type of setting. The idea of attracting an enormous crowd to a game featuring your best players in an exhibition I think would get people to take notice of the sport. A gimmick, sure. But that's what All - Star games are by and large.

Sabres @LA and Anaheim 12/5-6...time to head west.

And for those who know of my travels. Buffalo @ NJ 1/8/08...the official visit to the Prudential Center.

Hmm, that's odd....here on my local CTV station a few hours ago, they announced "officially" that the outdoor game would indeed be in Buffalo. We were also reminded that this is the season with NO games between the eastern and western Canadian teams this format has to be changed!

Down here no one is talking on the record from the Sabres and Bills front offices. It is widely believed that there are some logistics to be worked out before making it official.

Darn straight the format needs to be changed. What is the CBC going to do about Hockey Day in Canada if the six Canadian clubs cannot face off on the same day?

I have an idea, instead of a tripleheader involving the six Canadian clubs, make it a quadrupleheader involving the six Canadian clubs plus Buffalo and Detroit. If nothing else, it would be a symbolic gesture to those two American cities, each of which has a boisterous hockey following and has been receiving the CBC and HNIC for so many decades. For these two markets, HNIC is also a big deal. I've been tuning in ever since I moved up here over a decade ago.

You were off by one team, but...



The Montreal-Ottawa and Calgary-Edmonton games are both at 7 pm ET, so no quadruple-header.

Colorado, of course, used to be the Quebec Nordiques.

Sheldon Souray has signed with the Edmonton Oilers. 27 millions for 5 years. He had not accepted Montreal's offer of 22 millions for 4 years.

He's good to score goals but on defense at 5 against 5 was not the greatest with a +/- of minus 28 last season.

Veteran Martin Gélinas has signed with Nashville. 1.25 million for 1 year contract.

Goalie Aebischer signed with Phoenix. It was a 1 year contract also with a significant reduction from his previous contract. I think he is still trying to be a number one goalie.

David Poile - once again proving why he's one of the best GMs in the business.