With the Salary Cap hovering over the Pittsburgh Penguins like a dark cloud over a Sunday picnic (cue dark and evil background muzak), many pundits and fans have wondered if the Penguins will be able to keep the dynamic duo of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby together for the long-term. Given the Penguins are having to spend big bucks to keep the likes of Ryan Whitney and Marc-Andre Fleury in the fold, can and will the Penguins be able to have enough cap room to keep Malkin while icing a successful club?
It has been widely speculated that Malkin would demand "Ovechkin!!" money, and might price himself out of the Penguins ability to keep him. Would the Pens have to trade Malkin rather than risk losing him on the Restricted Free Agent market to some poacher?
Well, it appears that Pens fans need not worry any longer. Reports from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and TSN.ca indicate that the Pens and Malkin are close on a new deal which will see Malkin and Crosby stay together for a very long time.
"I'm thinking maybe five or six years," said Malkin, set to enter the final season of his three-year entry-level deal. "I'm an easy guy to deal with. I'd love to stay in Pittsburgh."
Malkin told the newspaper he does not need to exceed the $8.7 million salary of captain Sidney Crosby but sources tell TSN the likely target for Malkin is a five-year deal worth more than $9 million per season.
Obviously, this bodes well for both the Penguins and the league. Having THE dynamic duo together and maintaining a popular 'dynasty' (for lack of a better term) will provide the fans with a must-see team for many years, and give the league a team that it can promote. As great as the Wings are, their style of play, and their quiet superstars, just aren't as marketable as the Golden Boys.
Part of me worries that the Pens could end up like the Tampa Bay Lightning: Stacked with a few highly-paid superstars and a whole bunch of chaff. On the other hand, the Pens have a much better farm system, plenty more quality depth, and a salary cap that continues to rise. The future is bright.
As I grow older and more mature (stop snickering), I'm beginning to see the folly of a team, on Deadline Day, spending major assets for a playoff rental. Yes, D-Day is always hyped to the max, and gets fans drooling at the prospect of seeing their team get the likes of Marian Hossa, Peter Forsberg, or Mats Sundin to put their team over the top.
Think of building a house. A good house takes time to plan, and the foundation is laid early in the design choices one makes. You can't simply stick some Sears Aluminum siding on the outside of a stucco monstrosity and expect it to turn into a million-dollar mansion, can you?
Many fans and experts expect the Pittsburgh Penguins to do some real damage this season. With a roster packed with more explosiveness than a Chinese fireworks factory, the Penguins ought to run roughshod over much of the NHL. You can only hope and pray that the likes of Crosby, Recchi, Malkin, Sykora, Whitney, Staal, and Gonchar have an off night and score only 3 goals between the lot of them.
Well, after five games, the Penguins sit at 2-3-0, and haven't looked like a very good team. Sidney Crosby is struggling, by his standards, with six points in five games, and last year's rookie sensation Jordan Staal has nary a goal to his credit.
As of now, M-A Fleury sports an awful 4.11GAA and 87.1SV%, numbers that put him near the bottom of the league, statistically. This isn't just a short-term trend dealio, either.
The Atlanta Thrashers went to great lengths to find some talent to add to their roster, and came up with ex-Leaf defenseman, Karel Pilar.
The fact that the Thrashers are bringing in a player that hasn't played in the NHL since 2004 is not unusual. What makes this signing strange is Pilar's past history of viral myopathy, a serious condition that looked to have possibly ended his hockey playing days when it was diagnosed.
The Thrashers certainly hope that this is going to be a Hollywood ending, because it involves serious injury risk to Pilar. I seriously hope we don't see another Jiri Fischer-type incident.
Although Pilar has overcome his condition (twice), he has played only 16 games in the past two seasons (split between the AHL and Czech Republic). Perhaps the Thrashers have information that would deem Pilar to be 'safe', and hope that the Czech defenseman can help them improve on their putrid Goals Against statistics.
For fantasy leaguers, Pilar is just not worth the huge amount of risk involved, even with his offensive potential. While Pilar will have a chance for some primo Power Play time with the Thrashers, he has played so little pro hockey the past two years, that it's unlikely he'll be able to jump right into the fray and start racking up points.
Still, keep an eye on Pilar during the pre-season. If it appears that Pilar's health is holding up and he's getting good ice time, he may very well be a reserve spot.
Trent Hunter and the Islanders recently went to arbitration, with the arbiter ruling half-way and giving Hunter a $1.55mil/1 season contract. This is a workable and fair number for both sides. Hunter is an industrious worker bee who hits almost everything that moves.
What has always puzzled me is just how Hunter has failed to build on a successful rookie season, whereby he merited some serious Calder Trophy consideration.
SEASON GP G A PTS 2003-04 77 25 26 51 2005-06 82 16 19 35 2006-07 77 20 15 35
During his rookie season, Hunter was a 1-man force of nature. He would put onto any line that was struggling, and give them a boost with his hard work, strength in the corners, and ability to do the dirty work. It looked like Hunter had a bright future ahead of him as a bonafide 2nd line powerhouse.
Although it's one year too late -- and what former NHL player is going to give up a fishing trip for this? -- the Florida Panthers will celebrate their Cinderella run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals this weekend. Panthers alumni like John Vanbiesbrouck, Ray Sheppard and Bill Lindsay will join the majority of the players (sans schedule-conflicted Rob Niedermayer and Robert Svehla) who led Florida to the Finals in only the third year of the franchise, before being swept away by the Colorado Avalanche. There's a golf tournament, player appearances and an exhibition game at BankAtlantic Center on Saturday that will give hockey fans something they've long dreamed about: another chance to witness the majestic skating of Terry Carkner on NHL ice.
In 1995-96, they finished third in their division (41-31-10, 92 points) and fourth in the Eastern Conference in the regular season, then beat in the Bruins 4 games to 1 in a seven-game series, the Flyers 4-2 and the Penguins 4-3 before losing to the Avalanche in four games in the finals.
Right winger Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the dressing room with his stick minutes before the home opener that season, then scored two goals that night, prompting Vanbiesbrouck to declare Mellanby's feat a "Rat Trick." Throwing plastic rats on the ice after goals soon became a phenomenon.
"We accomplished some pretty lofty things with a group of guys who were considered mediocre players at the time," Lindsay said.
"Mediocre players at the time?" Has history been that kind to Johan Garpenlov and Jody Hull? Florida Panthers fans have every right to celebrate this unexpected season of meteoric success, lest they fall deeper into the depressing reality that their franchise is now known more for losing Roberto Luongo and failing to make the playoffs in the Southeast Division than plastic rodents. But for the rest of us, this weekend begs the question:
Are the Florida Panthers the most mediocre Stanley Cup finalist of the last 25 years?
Lowe has found it near impossible to attract high-end free agents to Edmonton, despite a willingness to overspend in some cases, and he's already burned up valuable assets such as Jason Smith and Joffery Lupul going the trade route to improve the team.
So this becomes a classic case of desperate times calling for desperate measures.
The Sabres matched the offer, meaning the Oilers still have a need to fill, and there are other players available. There's Zach Parise in New Jersey, Mike Cammalleri in Los Angeles, Dustin Penner in Anaheim and Lee Stempniak in St. Louis.
Given how poorly the Oilers treated heart-and-soul Ryan Smyth, and the kind of bush league tactics they employ, is it any wonder why the Oilers can't attract free agents? Even the ones they managed to make a nice offer to, such as Michael Nylander, bolt elsewhere at the first chance.
Now, making RFA offers is a very expensive proposition, for both clubs. In order to make a player sign an offer sheet, the dollar figure has to be quite high. This, in turn, increases the level of compensation one would have to pay if they got the player.
OFFER $660,000 or below Over $660,000 to $1 million Over $1 million to $2.0 million Over $2.0 million to $3.0 million Over $3.0 million to $4.0 million Over $4.0 million to $5.0 million
Over $5 million
COMPENSATION None Third-round choice Second-round choice First-round and third-round choice First-round, second-round and third-round choice Two first-round choices, one second- and one third-round choice Four first-round choices
As you can see, anything over $2mil, which is takes to get most any decent player, costs at least a first round draft pick.
Before the lockout, Richard Zednik was one of the more dynamic players in the NHL. Delivering highlight reel goals, big hits, and playing like a ball of fire, Zednik was a fairly productive offensive-minded winger.
Inexplicably, Zednik's game faded after the lockout, in which the new standards of enforcement were supposed to benefit guys like him.
"With the injuries, the personal stuff in my life, it was a bad year," said Zednik from his summer home in Slovakia. "But I'm looking forward to putting it all behind me. Last year there was just some stuff I had to go through. It wasn't the right one for me. But I'm focused on next season. I want to go forward and be ready for the new season. Everyone is hungry to make it to the playoffs."
After just 21 points in 42 games last year, Zednik will be off the radar of most fantasy players. Is he worth getting your hands on?
"On Sunday, July 1, 2007, Kevin Lowe, Oilers general manager, and Mr. Mike Gillis, certified agent for Michael Nylander, negotiated and agreed to a multi-year NHL Standard Players Contract, starting in 2007-08. Mr. Gillis confirmed same to the Oilers in writing," the Oilers' statement read Tuesday.
"The Oilers then proceeded with preparations to announce Mr. Nylander's contract agreement on July 2, and concurrently continued with the process of negotiating with other free agents based upon Mr. Nylander being an important roster ingredient for the future.
"However, while the Oilers were expecting the returned signed agreements from Mr. Nylander and Mr. Gillis, the Oilers discovered through public announcements made mid-afternoon on July 2, that Mr. Nylander had subsequently entered into a long-term contract with the Capitals.
Wow! I can't remember the last time something like THIS happened in the NHL. Agents don't usually bait-and-switch quite that blatently.
Without knowing the contents of the document the Oilers received, we can't quite tell if Nylander's agent agreed to an actual contract, or agreed that the money was satisfactory. I'm sure we'll find out more in the near future as this soap opera gets juicier.
I'm also sure that the NHL will 'fix' the ordeal by forcing Nylander's contract with the Capitals to stand, by hook and by crook. There is no way that Bettman will allow Nylander to go to the Oilers, nor would the Oilers want an unhappy camper on their hands.
How much is the NHL gonna pay to get out of this one?
So upset at whatever transpired when the Washington Capitals announced they'd signed the free agent to a four year deal yesterday afternoon, Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe was said to be so livid he refused to talk about it, even to a Sun Media reporter parked outside the team officies for two hours.
Lowe, who was left at the altar on the floor headed to the trade registration desk after believing he had a deal done at the NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, remains unsuccessful after two days of the free agent frenzy.
Did the Oilers have a deal in the works for Nylander, only to have the Caps sweep the centerman from right under their noses with a last-minute deal? Was this simply the media blowing their wad too early? Whatever the case may be, the Oilers have caught absolutely no fish from the free agent pond.
With the Salary Cap hovering over the Pittsburgh Penguins like a dark cloud over a Sunday picnic (cue dark and evil background muzak), many pundits and fans have wondered if the Penguins will be able to keep the dynamic duo of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby together for the long-term. Given the Penguins are having to spend big bucks to keep the likes of Ryan Whitney and Marc-Andre Fleury in the fold, can and will the Penguins be able to have enough cap room to keep Malkin while icing a successful club?
As I grow older and more mature (stop snickering), I'm beginning to see the folly of a team, on Deadline Day, spending major assets for a playoff rental. Yes, D-Day is always hyped to the max, and gets fans drooling at the prospect of seeing their team get the likes of Marian Hossa, Peter Forsberg, or Mats Sundin to put their team over the top.
Many fans and experts expect the Pittsburgh Penguins to do some real damage this season. With a roster packed with more explosiveness than a Chinese fireworks factory, the Penguins ought to run roughshod over much of the NHL. You can only hope and pray that the likes of Crosby, Recchi, Malkin, Sykora, Whitney, Staal, and Gonchar have an off night and score only 3 goals between the lot of them.
The Atlanta Thrashers went to great lengths to find some talent to add to their roster, and came up with 
Trent Hunter and the Islanders recently went to arbitration, with the arbiter ruling half-way and 
After Oilers GM Kevin Lowe was 
Before the lockout, Richard Zednik was one of the more dynamic players in the NHL. Delivering highlight reel goals, big hits, and playing like a ball of fire, Zednik was a fairly productive offensive-minded winger.
This Michael Nylander 
When the Oilers 
