Winners and Losers after free agent frenzy?

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by acd1

Look for teams to push the Rags around in MSG from the first face off.

No way. Brash may be aging, but he is still a top NHL fighter. And he is just as good an enforcer as he is a fighter.

[NJDevils17]

You can't accurately grade free agency until the season actually starts. Sure, some teams may look good on paper but who knows how they'll play when the season actually begins.

And hockeydoc, explain how the Devils would get an F? I like Brian Gionta, but 20 goals and 60 points doesn't warrant a $5 million a year contract. Rupp is easily replaced by Leblond, Clemmensen was a back-up and John Madden isn't worth nearly $3 million.

[acd1]

Originally Posted by blackngold

No way. Brash may be aging, but he is still a top NHL fighter. And he is just as good an enforcer as he is a fighter.

Gotta love Brash, but Torts is a douche so he'll probably have the leash on extra tight. Donald needs to fight more than 11 times this year. But you're right, he is all-time.

[FightingIsGood]

Originally Posted by acd1

I give the Pens a B-. Hal Gill will be tough to replace - what's his wingspan, like 30 feet? Between Gill and Orpik you had two of the best stay at home Dmen in the league. Losing Gill was obviously a cap thing.

Rupp was a great pickup to be your #2. Lose Godard and the Pens grade go's down to a D IMO. Godard is awesome and one of my faves.

Losing Scuderi leaves you guys a little thin on the blueline, but if Gino and Sid each hang 100+ I guess it doesn't matter. If Guerin and Staal each hang 50+ you guys should have another great year.

FYI -- I hate the Penguins.

Losing Scuderi is actually tougher than losing Gill - he was our best defensive D-man all year. He will especially be missed on the PK - he's one of the best when down by 2 men. But he just wasn't worth over $3 million per year and Gill over $2 million.

I loved the Rupp signing as well and if things stay as they are, our 4th line would be Adams/Rupp/Godard. The team has told Godard and his agent that they have no intention of trading him, but we'll see. I'm still a little leery.

The Pens will never get good grades in FA, because as long as they have Sid, Geno, Staal, Fleury, Orpik and Letang, they won't be going after the big-name players. They'll just add complimentary guys to round out the team.

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by NJDevils17

You can't accurately grade free agency until the season actually starts. Sure, some teams may look good on paper but who knows how they'll play when the season actually begins.

And hockeydoc, explain how the Devils would get an F? I like Brian Gionta, but 20 goals and 60 points doesn't warrant a $5 million a year contract. Rupp is easily replaced by Leblond, Clemmensen was a back-up and John Madden isn't worth nearly $3 million.

Exactly. People are treating this thread like it's the GM game. These signings always look great on paper. Remember how Drury and Gomez were going to get the Rangers the Cup? How they had the goalie and now they had the offense?

You know when you'll know who won or lost in free agency? When the Cup is lifted.

[hockey doc]

Originally Posted by NJDevils17

You can't accurately grade free agency until the season actually starts. Sure, some teams may look good on paper but who knows how they'll play when the season actually begins.

And hockeydoc, explain how the Devils would get an F? I like Brian Gionta, but 20 goals and 60 points doesn't warrant a $5 million a year contract. Rupp is easily replaced by Leblond, Clemmensen was a back-up and John Madden isn't worth nearly $3 million.

They improved their club how? They get an F up to this point.

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by hockey doc

They improved their club how? They get an F up to this point.

The only real loss was Brian Gionta, and that only becomes a loss if Bergfors or Halischuk don't pan out the way they've been projected to since they drafted them. Even if they didn't, how can you justify matching a contract of 5 million a year, and a pay raise, for slowly declining production?

John Madden is not the same John Madden he was earlier in his career. He and Pandolfo just were not the shut down pair they used to be. The reliance on Madden to do that job, and his subsequent failure to do it while costing ice time to Zach Parise was a huge factor in letting him walk, especially since Madden couldn't put the puck in the net to save his life. It was a joke. Madden would have a decent defensive shift only to go the other way and finish a 2 on 1 or a breakaway by shooting right into the goalie's chest. You can't have that from a guy like that. They have a defensive center in Zubrus who can perform that role just as well.

Clemmensen did a great job filling in as a starter, but he's a horrible backup. When he sits on the bench he gets rusty entirely too quickly. Kevin Weekes is a much better backup if they decide to keep him.

I'll give you this much, as far as purely signing free agents they get a D+ because they held onto Johnny Oduya and Andy Greene and Travis Zajac will be re-signed shortly, but as far as just signing guys to replace the ones they lost why? It almost never works and it's time for a little addition by subtraction.

[djaye]

Originally Posted by Skorka85

Exactly. People are treating this thread like it's the GM game. These signings always look great on paper. Remember how Drury and Gomez were going to get the Rangers the Cup? How they had the goalie and now they had the offense?

You know when you'll know who won or lost in free agency? When the Cup is lifted.

The former Buffalo ' Co-Captains '. They did quite well for themselves and others here. How did Briere do in Philly? Most of the fans there want him gone ( or at least the ones on here by a majority ). Drury faired much better in Buffalo ( statistically ) then he has so far on the Rags.

I don't believe its just a ' player ' instance, but putting a player in with a cast of others that they can work with.

Gomez playing again with Gionta.. might work out a lot better then Gomez playing on the Rags. Nobody knows until as you stated ' the cup is raised '.

[R.Middleton]

Originally Posted by bigjohnson

Just because a team wasn't active doesn't mean they lose.

I still guarantee that the Red Wings will at least be back in the Western Conference Finals next year, even if they don't make another move.

The real loser are the guys signed a million guys, they overreact.

You cannot really say a team was successful/unsuccessful until they start playing games. Additionally, it may take years to pan out.

The Blackhawks got probably the best player that was available. Does that make the winners in free agency? Maybe, maybe not. If they cant resign Toews, Kane, Versteeg, etc. do they really win? They sign a 30 year old to a twelve year contract...

I agree with everything you said bigj. I take it you took my post the wrong way? Because I don't claim the Bruins are losers because of their lack of activity. I was just making an example to clyde.

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by djaye

The former Buffalo ' Co-Captains '. They did quite well for themselves and others here. How did Briere do in Philly? Most of the fans there want him gone ( or at least the ones on here by a majority ). Drury faired much better in Buffalo ( statistically ) then he has so far on the Rags.

I don't believe its just a ' player ' instance, but putting a player in with a cast of others that they can work with.

Gomez playing again with Gionta.. might work out a lot better then Gomez playing on the Rags. Nobody knows until as you stated ' the cup is raised '.

Exactly. Right now a lot of teams made moves that look great on paper, then you'll get to the end of the season and scratch your head and go "how did we do no better than last year? Look at these guys we got!"

I'm not picking on any one team here but even if some of these teams here that made moves and spent money finish first in the regular season and are bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs, are they really winners in free agency? It's not just about landing certain guys but how much did you spend, what will you have next year if the cap goes down?

Too many people think this is NHL '09 Dynasty mode.

[McCunn8585]

As a Habs fan I really like the new players they added. Had we signed Hossa would we be the clear winners? The fact is Knuble was the only talented power forward available. Gomez-Gionta-Camalleri might equal alot of goals... Tough to lose Komi but at 4.5 per season I think he is overpriced. I hope he has a bounce back season. On a side-note: Why do you guys keep up the arguments with Clyde and Tucker? if noone answers them they will eventually go away...

[NJDevils17]

Originally Posted by hockey doc

They improved their club how? They get an F up to this point.

The Devils have never been a team that is built around big UFA's. A lot of their players have been drafted and developed through the minors, undrafted free agents (David Clarkson, Johnny Oduya. Brian Rafalski was never drafted either), or by trades. I really can't think of huge free agents the Devils signed that helped them win any of their 3 Cups.

[jkidd]

As far as what the Wild did.. and didn't do.

Signing Marty Havlat was bit. At a damn nice cap hit, its even better. As I mentioned, as long as he stays healthy, he'll have a decent supporting cast around him with Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu to get him the puck and let that shot go. That IF is just a hell of an "if."

Bringing in Shane Hnidy was huge. One of the major things this team has lacked for seemingly ever, is that tough as nails defenseman, and Shane will fill that role very nicely.

Bringing in Kyle Brodziak, is an ok move. It provides centerman depth, which we lacked, but, its a 3rd/4th line center, again... which we have too many of with Eric Belanger, James Sheppard, and Benoit Pouliot. I guess, when Benny shows up with his attitude problem and doesn't want to work, it'll be nice having Brodziak already there. and we can just shuffle Benny out, Weller in, and move things as usual... as we did last year with Fritsche coming in.

The only thing we're missing - a 2nd line center. And Saku Koivu is the guy. A response from him is expected soon, but, the Wild didn't want to go up from their length, while teams like NY, LA, Anaheim and NJ were willing to go up in term length... so... it'll be interesting to see how that goes. If they do get Saku signed, this team is going to be damn good. Again, it all rests on the "IF" part.

[antonio106]

So, I haven't heard a word about where Mike Comrie is headed to next year. He's a UFA as best I know, but the Sens don't want to pay for him. Are teams just waiting for him to lower his asking price, or how does this work?

[Skorka85]

Originally Posted by NJDevils17

The Devils have never been a team that is built around big UFA's. A lot of their players have been drafted and developed through the minors, undrafted free agents (David Clarkson, Johnny Oduya. Brian Rafalski was never drafted either), or by trades. I really can't think of huge free agents the Devils signed that helped them win any of their 3 Cups.

It's worse. When they do sign a free agent they turn out like McGillis, Malakhov or Mogilny. I'd like to never go through that again.