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Get The Hecht Outta Here! |
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Take a bow, Jochen Hecht.
The veteran forward announced his retirement today at the age of 39 according to his hometown Adler Mannheim Eagles of the German Elite League. The team announced Hecht's retirement on it's website (http://www.adler-mannheim.de/topstories.php?d[nr]=5026)
The long time Buffalo Sabre played the last three seasons playing in his native Deutschland.
All told, Hecht played in 833 career NHL games, second most all-time among German born NHLers. Hecht started his career with the St. Louis Blues. He created a name for himself with the Edmonton Oilers. In Buffalo, he branded himself as one of the best 200 foot players of his era.
Hecht was a penalty killing machine during the two consecutive runs to the Eastern Conference Finals in w005-06 and 2006-07. On those Sabres teams, Hecht, , Jay McKee, and Mike Grier were glue guys and role models for the young core players such ss Ryan Miller, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, Paul Gaustad, and added stability and leadership to captsins Chris Drury and Danny Briere.
Hecht racked up 186 goals and 277 assists.
His 463 points also ranks second all-time for German born players, just behind Marco Sturm.
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Tyson Barrie and the Colorado Avalanche are now embroiled in a game of who-blinks-first. The two sides are involved in the contract arbitration process.
The Avs opted to not cave to meet Barrie's one year $6M ask. There was no pre-hearing settlement.
Narrie and the Avs can still negotiate a side deal before arbitrator Elizabeth Neumeier delivers her final verdict within the next 48 hours.
Avs GM Joe Sakic may capitulate and give Barrie his one year $6 million ask. However, I do not see that happening. Sakic and Patrick Roy would prefer it if Barry accepted their 2-year offer. That isn't going to happen. If Barry were enamored with Colorado's offer he would have signed it weeks ago.
No, the game of chicken is in full effect.
Barrie must be prepared for the scenario that if the Avalanche do not like the arbitrator's ruling that they could trade him away for a package of assets.
Need I remind you that Ryan O'Reilly went round and round and round and round and round with Sakic and Roy?
Ironically, Barry and O'Reilly are represented by the same agency.
This is going to get interesting.
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Happy Friday.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman is hoping that the arbitrator will see things his way.
Barrie is scheduled to meet with the arbitrator today.
Barrie isn't just representing himself. He's also representing his fellow RFA defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (Buffalo), Hampus Lindholm (Anaheim), and Jacob Trouba (Winnipeg).
Barrie, Ristolainen, Lindholm, and Trouba are in the elite class of NHL defenders.
They are young, highly skilled, highly productive, and are arguably their team's best defensemen.
The Avs have to face facts. Their young, dynamic defenseman is going to get paid.
Elliotte Friedman states that the Avs have offered Barrie a two-year deal for a total of $8.25 million.
Barrie is expecting a one-year $6 million contract from Avs GM Joe Sakic.
In 78 games with the Avs in 2015-16, Barrie piled up 13 goals (5 GWG) and 36 assists.
He scored 3 PPGs and 1 shorty. He landed 172 shots on enemy goalies, and devoured 23:11 TOI per game.
At 5'10" and 190 lbs., Barrie is as graceful a skater that you will find in the NHL. He is an artful puck distributor. He plays with ice water in his veins. Very rarely do you see him make mistakes and errors with they puck. His passes are tape to tape and he skated like the prairie wind. He just turned 25.
Barrie's career has been impressive. In 264 games, he has scored 40 goals and has added 113 assists. He has scored 10 PPGs and has amassed 52 power play points. He has also scored 11 game winning goals and 4 OT game winning goals.
Barrie is about to enter his prime years. He won't be a cheap re-sign for Joe Sakic.
As for his RFA D peers, Ristolainen scored 9 goals (4 PPG, 1 GWG) and added 32 assists last season while chewing up 25:16 TOI. In 194 career NHL games, Ristolainen (6'4" and 210 lbs.) has scored 19 goals and has added 46 assists for 65 points. He has 8 PPGs and 30 power play points.
Lindholm (6'3" and 210 lbs.) scored 10 goals and added 18 assists (4 PPG, 1 GWG), and skated 22:00 TOI last season. In 236 career NHL games, Lindholm has scored 23 goals and has added 69 assists for 92 points. He has 5 PPGs and 25 PP points.
Trouba (6'3" and 205 lbs.) scored 6 goals and added 15 assists (No PPGs) and skated 22:03 TOI. In 211 career games he has scored 23 goals and has chipped in 49 assists for 72 points. Trouba gets very little PP time in WPG. Why? Don't know. He has just 1 PPG and only 13 PP points.
Barrie, Ristolainen, Lindholm and Trouba are all in this thing together.
If the Avs don't like the arbitrator's ruling, they might opt to trade Barrie. Look at the recent Ryan O'Reilly conundrum in Colorado.
Barrie and O'Reilly are represented by the same agent.
More to come!
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Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray woke up this morning with only $9.2 million in available salary cap space.
Murray still has to re-sign two ginormous restricted free agents in number one D-man Hampus Lindholm and forward Rickard Rakell.
Lindholm has earned himself the reputation as being the best D-man in Anaheim. He's only 22 and won't reach his prime years until he's 24 or 25. He's only going to get better. That's why Murray is going to have to pay the man now.
Assuming Colorado's Tyson Barrie wins his arbitration hearing and skates home with a one year, $6 million award, there will be a trickle down for Bob Murray and the Ducks. Lindholm and his agent are likely going to demand the same $6A AAV.
To further complicate Murray's world, Rakell's agent is seeking a multi-year contract extension with a $4M AAAV. Rakell earned $900,000 last season when he 20 goals and a total of 43 points for the Ducks.
In 165 career NHL games, Rakell has accumulated 78 points.
Better days are ahead for the 23 Swedish forward.
Let's do some math:
Lindholm will get $6M AAV.
Rackell will get $4M AAV.
That's $10 million in salary.
Problem:
Murray has only $9.2M in available cap space.
Solution:
Trade Cam Fowler once and for all to the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo can send left winger Evander Kane Anaheim in exchange for Fowler.
What about Kane's $5.25M salary for the next two seasons?
Tim Murray will have to eat a healthy chunk of Kane's contract. Buffalo would have to retain 50% of Kane's contract in order to facilitate a trade for Fowler. Tim Murray has that ability with his owner Terry Pegula at the helm.
Fowler will earn $4 million this season.
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