Summer Lullin’

Ah, the summer, when I get to take a break around here… kinda.  If you’re wondering what goes on during the summer, besides news coverage, it’s mostly prep for the next season.  The foundation for anything that’s new has to be added now, as it’s just too crazy in-season to do anything other than cover hockey (not a bad thing).

Some things we’re working on now: log expansion and archives, adding clips, new articles pages, new news pages and forums upgrades to name a few.  Within a couple of weeks I’ll start pointing out the changes and new things around here.  We’ll also have another giveaway, always fun.

NHL schedule released

The NHL released the 2008-09 schedule last week.  I plan on having it in the system by next week, so you’ll be able to start previewing match-ups.

Yes, it’s the new more boring balanced schedule, that media and some fans pressured the NHL into adapting.  The top three reasons given:
1. Everyone should see Sidney.
2. Everyone should see Ovechkin.
3. Detroit plays outside of their own timezone too much.  (They won the Cup, pity their fans.)

Craig Custance of the Sporting News put together his list of 10 can’t-miss games.

We’ve lost division games for this so-called balance.  I wonder how the NHL is going to market these must-have games.  Some possible tag lines:

Canucks vs Panthers - “Bure Partied Here”
Coyotes vs Islanders - “The Wrath of Brad Isbister”
Oilers vs Hurricanes - “And You Thought Cup Ratings Were Low”
Wild vs Devils - “No Ambien, No Problem”

Maybe when the Coyotes play the Panthers the league could setup an early bird home and home special?

Videos added

With or without new blog posts, we have been adding clips, just check out the list on the videos page for updates.

Some reads

Griffins hire former NHL tough guy as head coach
Roy’s ready to rumble | Feisty Roy punches ticket to play with Flames
Owner issues shouldn’t get in way of NHL’s progress
Babcock keeping Sask.-Detroit ties together
O’Byrne is final piece of CH puzzle
From Wall Street to desert heat
Adding sandpaper
Amerks and fans are eager for arrival of tough guy MacIntyre
So are the Stars tough enough?
Still Stylin’

Some Wait

While many free agents have signed, a number still wait to find an NHL team (or possibly an AHL affiliate) to join.

We had a lot of fun covering the first few hectic days of free agent season, and it’s been slowing down since.

After a few more key (hockeyfights.com “key”) free agents sign, we’ll chart out who went where to make it a little easier to follow your favorite players.

As a bit of a jump start, a good number of the reads below are free agent signing-related.

Videos added

Dennis Bonvie vs Triston Grant Oct 14, 2007
Darren Reid vs Ryan Stone Oct 13, 2007
Denis Gauthier vs Deryk Engelland Oct 13, 2007
Martin Grenier vs Mike Hoffman Nov 2, 2007
Josh Beaulieu vs Jay Rosehill Oct 26, 2007
Frederik Cabana vs Patrick Davis Nov 4, 2007
Kyle Greentree vs Ian Moran Nov 4, 2007

Some reads

Iggy’s backing of Bertuzzi a cue for Flames fans
Laraque signing gets mixed reviews | Canadiens sign Laraque
Hordichuk set to fill out fight card
Coyotes Shifting Focus
News from across the pond on Fedorov, Sundin
Sean Avery dishes on Dallas and couture
Real ‘Vogue’ Interns: Our Jobs Were Nothing Like Sean Avery’s
Stars sign Sean Avery (mp3)
Wild PONDcast (mp3): Owen Nolan | Craig Weller

Free Agent Day 2008

Welcome to the most important hockey day in July.  It doesn’t sound so important when you write it out like that, but make no mistake, today brings us into the 2008-09 season.  Rosters will start to fill up, and within a few days we’ll start seeing standings predictions.

Happy Canada Day, too.

At noon Eastern, the first free agent signings will become official.  Jamie Fitzgerald and I will be working on keeping up with rumors and official signings.

Tracker - follow along and comment

July 3

10:13am - The Caps have signed Keith Aucoin.
12:13pm - The Habs have traded Mikhail Grabovski for Greg Pateryn and the Leafs’ second round pick in 2010.
12:33pm - The Canadiens have signed Alex Henry for one year, and Cédrick Desjardins for two years.
12:59pm - The Stars have signed Francis Wathier, Maxime Fortunus and Garrett Stafford each to two-year, two-way contracts through the 2009-10 season. They also signed Landon Wilson to a one-year, two-way contract for 2008-09.
1:48pm - The Hurricanes signed Dwight Helminen to a one-year, two-way contract for $475k in the NHL level and $100k in the minors.
1:59pm - The Pens have signed Ruslan Fedotenko and Miroslav Satan, each for one year.
2:08pm - The Coyotes have signed David Hale for two years.
2:11pm - The Oilers have signed Taylor Chorney to a three-year entry level contract.
2:24pm - Wyatt Smith has signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Bolts.
2:50pm - Georges Laraque has gone home to Montreal, signing a three-year deal with the Habs.
3:53pm - Avalanche sign Daniel Tjarnqvist and Chris Durno.
4:16pm - The Islanders have gone on a signing spree, giving contracts to Kurtis McLean, Chris Lee, Mitch Fritz, Peter Mannino, Mike Iggulden and Brett Skinner.
4:18pm - The Wild have signed Antti Miettinen.
4:39pm - The Rangers signed Markus Naslund to a two-year, $8 million contract and Dmitri Kalinin to a one-year contract.
4:49pm - The Florida Panthers signed Rory Fitzpatrick, Steve MacIntyre, Chris Beckford-Tseu and James DeLory. Panthers, or Amerks fans, will definitely be happy with MacIntyre.
5:11pm - The Leafs signed Dominic Moore, John Mitchell and Greg Scott.
5:32pm - In a shocker, the Canadiens have signed another Montreal native. Marc Denis signed a one-year, two-way deal.
5:39pm - The Sharks have signed Rob Blake.
5:52pm - The Blues re-sign Yan Stastny to a two-year deal.
6:43pm - The Coyotes re-sign Matt Jones.
7:20pm - The Coyotes have also signed another heavyweight, this time Francis Lessard.  Both Phoenix and San Antonio will be fun to watch.
10:41pm - Brian McGrattan, recently traded to the Coyotes for a draft pick, signed a one-year deal with the team.

July 1 and 2 after the jump

hockeyfights.com links

News
General Off-Season Rumors
2008 Qualifying Offer Deadline Thread
Player Movement & Rumors Forum

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