Free Agent Signings

[Indio]

Well, the first signing has happened...

Joe Thorton re-signed with the Sharks for 7.2 million.

That would seem to mean that Drury signing with San José as was expected is somewhat less likely now unless they unload someone now.

[bbad]

Bye Bye Brière... http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=212425&hubname=nhl


This is CRAZY!!!!!!

[LBH]

Briere: Yikes... with a salary like that no wonder he didn't sign with Montreal...

[Hacker]

Looks like Philly liked missing the play-offs.......Briere making more money than Thornton or Iggy?? Gimmie a freaking break!!!

But it begs the question.....................what the hell is Heatley going to be worth next year as a UFA?

[jonf]

He's not making more than them. I really think what the Flyers did here was smart. It average outto 6.5 over the course of the contract. By giving him 10 mil this year, they take advantage of a cap that was higher than expected. After this year, they will be getting him for market price (or below). I'm sure the added incentive of a ten million dollar payday helped to secure a great talent who will no doubt help their team for years to come.

[Hacker]

I don't care about averages - for 2007-08 Briere is making 10 Million......that is just plain NUTS!!!!

[jonf]

it's smart, is what it is.

[Hacker]

Jon - the deal is for 52M over 8 years for an average of 7 mil a year. That is what Iggy makes and only 200K less than Thornton on average. That is stupid money for an undersized guy who has only had more the 60 points in a season TWICE in his entire career.

You'd think that crazy Bobby Clarke was still running things in Philly

[jonf]

it's actually 6.5 per year, which is what it was expected he would go for. But the way they have divided it up, they are going to be spending less in years to come. With a roster that is currently very young and unproven, they have money to spare this year, and are taking advantage.

[Hacker]

We obviously disagree on what this guy is worth. I thought the arbitrator over-paid him this past year and now Philly just piles more on...........Nuts

[jonf]

Well, I'm not sure he's worth that much either. But, that was what he was going to get paid, regardless of who paid him. And I also think that Philly is in desperate need of help up front (though I would have taken Drury over Briere in a second). I also think that, if they wre going to sign him, this is about as smart a contract as they could write up.

[Txxxxxxx]

Briere is a great player, but Philly is notorious for overpaying players. Gratton comes to mind. I'm not saying he isn't worth good money, but the Flyers seem to be using quite a bit of their cap on a select few guys.

[Hacker]

I just don't get this "great Player" tag that he has........he had one good year, but look at his stats. Throw out last year and his BEST year ever was 65 points........

[LBH]

Time will tell if this was a good buy or a goodbye...

Philly really improved lately: Biron, Timonen, Hartnell, Briere.

[Txxxxxxx]

I just don't get this "great Player" tag that he has........he had one good year, but look at his stats. Throw out last year and his BEST year ever was 65 points........

I think it's his work ethic that makes him a "great player". He's like a Theoren Fleury as far as size goes, and he's worked hard to be a prominent player in the NHL. I guess 65 points isn't "great", but 65 points is pretty decent. I would have loved to see him come to Edmonton but not for that kind of money.

[Hacker]

Maybe I'm jaded because he has waaaaay more "Whine" in his game than "Jam"

[LBH]

According to RDS, Montreal offered $42 million over 6 years, a $7 million / year average.

Once again, good players are afraid to sign in Montreal for more money...

[Txxxxxxx]

Maybe I'm jaded because he has waaaaay more "Whine" in his game than "Jam"

Yeah....That's to be expected when you play for the King of Whine though. Lindy Ruff is the biggest whiner in the NHL.

[Hacker]

Lindy Ruff is the biggest whiner in the NHL.

I'm with ya on the one EG!! ...............and it's Lindsay

[spackler]

According to RDS, Montreal offered $42 million over 6 years, a $7 million / year average.

Once again, good players are afraid to sign in Montreal for more money...

I am very happy he didn't go to Montreal. A French player on an outsized contract would get eaten alive there. I think Briere is very good, but there's no way he could've lived up to those expectations unless he won the MVP every year as he lead the Habs to 3 or 4 cups. The only French free agent who could be brought in as a top of the market free agent would be the Patrick Roy/Mario Lemieux types. My opinion of course.

And it looks like Redden isn't going to the Oil.

[rezadue]

I believe the cap hit is his total salary over term divided by the length of the term. The fact that the cap is higher this coming year and his salary is $10 mil does not matter.

NHL made the cap ca\lculation this way so that people don't back load contracts and then deal players half way through the term.

He's not making more than them. I really think what the Flyers did here was smart. It average outto 6.5 over the course of the contract. By giving him 10 mil this year, they take advantage of a cap that was higher than expected. After this year, they will be getting him for market price (or below). I'm sure the added incentive of a ten million dollar payday helped to secure a great talent who will no doubt help their team for years to come.

[rezadue]

Man oh man. The NHL owners are doing it to themselves again:
Briere 8 years $52 Million
Rafalski 5 years $30 Million
Schneider 2 years $11.25 Million ( I guess that means Neidermeyer is retiring after all )

Sheesh.

[spackler]

I believe the cap hit is his total salary over term divided by the length of the term. The fact that the cap is higher this coming year and his salary is $10 mil does not matter.

NHL made the cap ca\lculation this way so that people don't back load contracts and then deal players half way through the term.

I thought it was just signing bonus that was averaged over the term of the contract?

[rezadue]

defencemen Jason Smith and forward Joffrey Lupul to the Philadelpia Flyers for defenceman Joni Pitkanen, forward Geoff Sanderson and a third-round draft pick in 2009!

So much for Redden to Edmonton.

[Hacker]

defencemen Jason Smith and forward Joffrey Lupul to the Philadelpia Flyers for defenceman Joni Pitkanen, forward Geoff Sanderson and a third-round draft pick in 2009!

So much for Redden to Edmonton.

Ottawa is soooo screwed. We can't go out and sign anyone despite having some cap room because we are going to have to ante up for Spez and Heater this time next year

[Txxxxxxx]

And it looks like Redden isn't going to the Oil.

This is one of those instances where I must say I told you so.

I think they were probably trying to land Schneider, but not for that kind of salary. My guess is they aren't going to spend more than 3.5 mil/year on a decent defenseman. Even with the cap raised, you have to remember the Oilers only sell 16,500 tickets per home game for that end of the revenue, so their budget isn't off the charts.

My guess is perhaps a Gomez or Drury signing, then maybe Brad Stuart, Jiri Fischer, or Sheldon Surray. I'd take Fischer over Surray and Stuart though. Surray has a good shot for the PP, but Edmonton needs someone to get the breakout moving on the back end. They put Sykora and Smith on the PP which works fine.

We shall see I guess. I really thought they would go after Rafalski, but I guess when it comes down to it, money is a huge factor.

[Txxxxxxx]

defencemen Jason Smith and forward Joffrey Lupul to the Philadelpia Flyers for defenceman Joni Pitkanen, forward Geoff Sanderson and a third-round draft pick in 2009!

So much for Redden to Edmonton.

WOW! Horrible deal in my honest opinion. Edmonton is a very personal city when it comes to their hockey team. Jason Smith has been a good leader for the team. I wonder who the next captain is going to be...

[Txxxxxxx]

LETS GO RANGERS!!

Signed Gomez AND Drury. At least one of my teams GM's a head on his shoulders.

BTW, I'm an Oilers fan, therefore a Rangers fan by default.

[LBH]

LETS GO RANGERS!!

Signed Gomez AND Drury. At least one of my teams GM's a head on his shoulders.

BTW, I'm an Oilers fan, therefore a Rangers fan by default.

And there go the other two players Montreal was trying to sign... I guess I had my hopes set way too high...

[LBH]

LETS GO RANGERS!!

Signed Gomez AND Drury. At least one of my teams GM's a head on his shoulders.

BTW, I'm an Oilers fan, therefore a Rangers fan by default.

Holy cow!!! $7 million/year each! Thank you salary cap!

From TSN.ca:
<< Gomez signed a seven year, $51.5 million contract, while Drury inked a five-year, $35.25 million contract. >>

51.5/7=7.36
35.25/5=7.05