The Rangers will win this cup this year in my opinion. Redden might have had an off year here in Ottawa, but he is still a very good defencemen. Is he getting too much money? Yes he is, but so is Campbell, so is Huet, and so will Hossa and Sundin. Most players get overpayed in free agency, and I've always been someone to say if the team is willing to spend the dough why not get the talent.
Chicago will be a playoff team this season, but I don't like the Huet signing that much. I've never been a big fan of his.
Chicago will be a playoff team this season, but I don't like the Huet signing that much. I've never been a big fan of his.
I have no idea what the rangers are doing.
Just signed rosival and now you dump 6.5 mil on redden? Who will put the puck in the net when you lose your two best scorers in jagr and shanny?
lets not forget they will lose straka and avery. i mean this is just dumb in my mind. why not throw 7 mil at hossa and land a scorer.
Just signed rosival and now you dump 6.5 mil on redden? Who will put the puck in the net when you lose your two best scorers in jagr and shanny?
lets not forget they will lose straka and avery. i mean this is just dumb in my mind. why not throw 7 mil at hossa and land a scorer.
Jagr is big, and I'm a big Avery guy, but Shanahan will only be missed in the locker room because the game has passed him by in my opinion. He looked out of place in the series against the Pens.
I thought the Rangers were the best in the East last season and still think they should have beaten the Pens if they could have closed out game 1 (huge game). It won't be easy because Montreal and Pittsburgh are still very good teams, the Flyers should be pretty good again, the Devils are always tough, and hopefully the Sens play like they can because they have talent. Then you have teams that could surprise like the Sabres, or Bruins.
It obviously won't be easy for anyone, but unless the Canadians get Sundin or Hossa and Hossa doesn't resign with the Pens I'm sure the Rangers will open up as favorites to win the East.
I thought the Rangers were the best in the East last season and still think they should have beaten the Pens if they could have closed out game 1 (huge game). It won't be easy because Montreal and Pittsburgh are still very good teams, the Flyers should be pretty good again, the Devils are always tough, and hopefully the Sens play like they can because they have talent. Then you have teams that could surprise like the Sabres, or Bruins.
It obviously won't be easy for anyone, but unless the Canadians get Sundin or Hossa and Hossa doesn't resign with the Pens I'm sure the Rangers will open up as favorites to win the East.
Agreed. They are building a very good team with smart pickups and very good drafting. I thought they should have tried to trade up to get one of the top 4 defense that were in the draft (either Shenn or Pietrangelo), but you can't really complain with who they took (Beach if I remember correctly).
The Hawks vs Wings match is really going to be a beauty this year.
Tallon Happy With New Goaltending Tandem
Adam Kempenaar | chicagoblackhawks.com
Jul 1, 2008, 7:42 PM EDT
Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon understands that outsiders might be skeptical about his decision to tie up almost $12 million in goaltending next season after signing free agent Cristobal Huet Tuesday. He understands, and he doesn’t care.
“It makes us a better team,” Tallon said. “This goaltending tandem (Nikolai Khabibulin and Huet) is as good as there is. You can’t win without it. To be solid in goal and solid defensively was a top priority for us.”
Tallon has yet to talk with Khabibulin about today’s signing due to the whirlwind nature of the first day of free agency, but said he didn’t have to do much selling to Huet.
“We didn’t have to talk him into anything at all. I think he liked the situation here in Chicago and the direction the team is heading. He’s very high on Khabibulin and looks forward to working with him.
“We looked at where we are and what we needed to be successful and it starts at the back end. To have two quality goalies like this gives our young players the opportunity to make a few more mistakes and be more creative up top."
Khabibulin’s contract expires at the end of the coming season and Tallon wanted to solidify the goalie position with Corey Crawford, Finnish free agent signee Antti Niemi, 2005 draft pick Joe Fallon and other young goalies waiting in the wings.
“We have a lot of young goalies on our depth chart, but they aren’t quite ready yet,” Tallon said. “It’s nice to add someone who had a .934 save percentage at the end of last year and got a team to the playoffs. We needed to start sending a message to our young players and our fans that we want to win now.”
Tallon is feeling no pressure to trade Crawford, who is still in the club's plans and “has a bright future with the Chicago Blackhawks.”
Tallon hasn’t been shopping Khabibulin either.
“We haven’t talked to anybody about Nik. I like Nik. And I think the two of them together make a great tandem.”
Jagr only had 25 goals last year. If Cherepanov comes over and makes the team he will easily put up 25 goals. Talent wise, this guy is better than Filatov. People seem to have forgotten about him. He is a major talent.
That being said, the Rangers look to be pretty much the same team as last year, except they are stronger on the back end. I think they are shaping up to do well this year, but like most teams who spent big, these salaries will cripple them down the road.
Hawks totally screwed themselves paying $13 mil/yr for a #2 dman and average starting goalie (albeit one who was hot down the stretch). Just a waste of money.
Only really a few good signings today. Ty Conklin for $750k is serious value for the Red Wings, who show why they are always in the mix. No need to spend $7.1 on a guy like Campbell, when they got a much better guy last year for $6 mil.
That being said, the Rangers look to be pretty much the same team as last year, except they are stronger on the back end. I think they are shaping up to do well this year, but like most teams who spent big, these salaries will cripple them down the road.
Hawks totally screwed themselves paying $13 mil/yr for a #2 dman and average starting goalie (albeit one who was hot down the stretch). Just a waste of money.
Only really a few good signings today. Ty Conklin for $750k is serious value for the Red Wings, who show why they are always in the mix. No need to spend $7.1 on a guy like Campbell, when they got a much better guy last year for $6 mil.
Bushay, if Sundin takes the big money in Vancouver he would not be playing out 2 years of misery, this team would be very competitive with the addition of one more forward to play with him. He would have some Swedish buddies on the team in Ohlund, the Sedins, and possibly Naslund if he re-signs. Throw in one of the best goalies in the world in Luongo, and a very solid D core that was decimated by injuries all last season, and this team will be returning to the playoffs for a run. GM Gillis now has 19 million in cap space to play with after the signings of Wellwood, Hordichuk and Ryan Johnson (big upgrades for our 4th line over the guys we had last season) that were made today. He still has to sign a backup goalie for near the minimum, a 6th defencemen , and a couple more forwards. As far as a scoring forward to play with Sundin on the number one line, there is rumours of Naslund re-signing to play with Sundin, or Demitra signing as he was one of Gillis's clients when he was an agent, or a trade involving D man Bieksa and someone else or a draft pick for a forward. This would also allow the Sedins to go back to being the second line which they are much more suited for rather then being the number one line which they were last season.
At first I couldn't believe when I heard the Canucks offer for Sundin, but the more I think about it , it makes a lot of sense for the Nucks to do this and they do have a lot of cap space so they can get away with it, especially with it only being a 2 year deal. If they don't land Sundin, I'm not sure what they'll do for a first line next season as it looks like Hossa will land in Edmonton
At first I couldn't believe when I heard the Canucks offer for Sundin, but the more I think about it , it makes a lot of sense for the Nucks to do this and they do have a lot of cap space so they can get away with it, especially with it only being a 2 year deal. If they don't land Sundin, I'm not sure what they'll do for a first line next season as it looks like Hossa will land in Edmonton
