Dupuis re-signs with Pitt, four years, $15 million
- airjan23

Never was a big Dupuis fan. Something about him, just looking at him annoys me

Dupuis re-signs with Pitt, four years, $15 million
- airjan23

All the same players, same coach, same goalie (as of now) tells me that they will get embarrassed in the playoffs again. They will get there 120 pt regular season and then in rd 1 or 2 look like a beer leauge team. Can't wait

I agree that keeping Richards will be a questionable move for many reasons until we see him play, and possibly even beyond then. But I am not upset about not getting Vinny. if Richards can re-gain even some of his ability under the new system he is not that far behind Vinny at this point. However, I am more concerned about the lack of flexibility that keeping Richards has created. But Sather is pretty savy these last few seasons and I get the feeling something is brewing or he wouldn't have kept him. Someone we either don't or only mildly expect him to move is going to be moved. I am thinking Del Zotto makes the most sense, given the lack of development and the number of kids that play D coming through the ranks these next few years.
above all, i get the feeling that Sather sat down and looked at the free-agent market being weak and the number of guys we have ready or close in the system and decided he didnt need to make a splash. I wouldnt be surprised if two or three kids make the team out of camp. Not sure who, but between Miller, McIlrath, the kid they just got from Montreal and a few others, I really think they expect to bring a few along asap and he just didn't feel the need to bring in a lot of new bodies.

I think Boyle has a nice bounce back season. Vigneault got a lot out of Manny Malhotra, why can't Boyle have a similar renaissance?
- MidnightMarauder

Boyle has had only one 'up' season
All others have been down...more of an
Anomaly than something he will bounce back
To IMO

Boyle has had only one 'up' season
All others have been down...more of an
Anomaly than something he will bounce back
To IMO
- BobbySchmautz

couldn't agree more. Boyle is not long for the rangers. great dude, but they need an upgrade at that spot big-time

The Flyers are a joke franchise. Rangers have had their fair share of embarrassing signings--it's been discussed ad nauseam here--but the Flyers continue to go out and hand out miserable contracts.

Buy out two bad deals and assume two equally terrible deals with Streit and Lecavalier. Truly hilarious for my money.
- MidnightMarauder

The Lecavalier deal is a good one. 4.5 for a top line center is a solid deal, especially if he plays how he started the year last year.

The Lecavalier deal is a good one. 4.5 for a top line center is a solid deal, especially if he plays how he started the year last year.
- Rysko81

It's good for two seasons before his knees give out. Giving an injury prone player, at the age of 33 a five year deal, putting yourself against the cap when you have serious issues to address elsewhere in the lineup, is a bad move.

The Lecavalier deal is a good one. 4.5 for a top line center is a solid deal, especially if he plays how he started the year last year.
- Rysko81

It's a good deal for young vinny. You got yourself old vinny

Man I remember when the Kings drafted him. I put so much hype into him. Thought it was gonna be great to a giant on the team. He never got a real shot then we tried him at defense. Which wasnt terrible. Then that first big year in NYR I was all. You gotta be kidding me. Then he fell back to earth. Still a decent 4th liner.
- poisondhearts37

I am not certain what the Boyle-bashers are trying to get at. Sure the guy has size and sometimes doesn't use it, but he does lead the team in hits. He's the Rangers best faceoff guy and can produce (remember the last two playoff seasons) a goal here-and-there. I am not sure where his 20+ goal year came from, but it showed he can put the puck in the net; though you just can't expect that every year.

The guy hits and wins faceoffs in the defensive zone. Plays a great PK and blocks shots all the time. What more can you ask for from a 3rd/4th line center?

It's a good deal for young vinny. You got yourself old vinny
- Slimtj100

Agreed. I was not thrilled when I saw that Philly is going to sign him. But I relaxed when I saw the details on the deal. What a terrible signing.

I am not certain what the Boyle-bashers are trying to get at. Sure the guy has size and sometimes doesn't use it, but he does lead the team in hits. He's the Rangers best faceoff guy and can produce (remember the last two playoff seasons) a goal here-and-there. I am not sure where his 20+ goal year came from, but it showed he can put the puck in the net; though you just can't expect that every year.

The guy hits and wins faceoffs in the defensive zone. Plays a great PK and blocks shots all the time. What more can you ask for from a 3rd/4th line center?
- mames11

definitely more than 2 goals and 3 assists in 38 games.

definitely more than 2 goals and 3 assists in 38 games.
- jimbro83

doesn't help he was playing with 0 goal 0 assist powe for 90% of the season

doesn't help he was playing with 0 goal 0 assist powe for 90% of the season
- rangerdanger94

what didn't help is that he was completely out of shape when the season started, that was Boyle's biggest problem this past season

I would hope he is working out like a demon right now

not liking this deal at all...

Thoughts on Thomas?

He looks like another micro midget, something the Habs doesn't need at all. The new management must really hated Kristo, who has been known to have a poopty attitude, but still...

After he was done with College, he finished the season in Hamilton, where he played 9 games. That's a small sample to evaluate how a player fares in his first steps as a pro hockey player. I would have liked to see him play a full season in the system.

Jan I disagree with the VL4 assessment. To buyout Richards and sign him would be awful because we wouldn't be able to buyout Vinny with a compliance buyout as we used the other on Redden. To buyout Richards and match that Philly deal would have hamstrung us for no reason.

There is enough room to bring all the RFAs in and retain Richards. Next summer Richards and several other contracts will be off the books, which will ensure the team in retaining Hank, Callahan and Girardi.
- MidnightMarauder

I think we are going to see offer sheets used this year. If your the Islanders why not (frank) us over and make your team better? Send a $6M offer sheet to Step. If we match then send a $6M offer sheet to Mac. It's worth it for them, why not. Then we lose Mac because we had to retain that poop head? Cmon man. Nothing wrong with some unused cap space to give you flexibility.

what didn't help is that he was completely out of shape when the season started, that was Boyle's biggest problem this past season

I would hope he is working out like a demon right now
- jimbro83

Because during the lockout he played in a men's league in Mass..........

not liking this deal at all...

Thoughts on Thomas?

He looks like another micro midget, something the Habs doesn't need at all. The new management must really hated Kristo, who has been known to have a poopty attitude, but still...

After he was done with College, he finished the season in Hamilton, where he played 9 games. That's a small sample to evaluate how a player fares in his first steps as a pro hockey player. I would have liked to see him play a full season in the system.
- stinger67

Yet another rape job by NYR on the Habs...we should sign Briere and change the name of the team to the Mighty Midgets...

Yet another rape job by NYR on the Habs...we should sign Briere and change the name of the team to the Mighty Midgets...
- Jaciems

You would think the Montreal office phone has sathers number blocked by now.

what didn't help is that he was completely out of shape when the season started, that was Boyle's biggest problem this past season

I would hope he is working out like a demon right now
- jimbro83

I think I already know the answer to this, but is there anyway we can bring in Matt Hendricks? I know he WAS high on the wish list, but that was BB.

I think I already know the answer to this, but is there anyway we can bring in Matt Hendricks? I know he WAS high on the wish list, but that was BB.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

I don't think we can know anything until what we see McDonagh and Stepan ultimately get

Yet another rape job by NYR on the Habs...we should sign Briere and change the name of the team to the Mighty Midgets...
- Jaciems

Is this the general consensus amongst Habs fans?

I personally think the Rangers did good with this deal as well but it's interesting to hear the other side's perspective.

I don't think we can know anything until what we see McDonagh and Stepan ultimately get
- jimbro83

Good point, by all tense and purposes the Rangers can potentially save some coin on these deals and have money to sign a solid third line winger.

I think we are going to see offer sheets used this year. If your the Islanders why not (frank) us over and make your team better? Send a $6M offer sheet to Step. If we match then send a $6M offer sheet to Mac. It's worth it for them, why not. Then we lose Mac because we had to retain that poop head? Cmon man. Nothing wrong with some unused cap space to give you flexibility.
- mrhattrick27

Offer sheets can be handed out on what date? I also think Sather is likely working on extensions as we speak. This organization is known for not publicizing contractual dealings. I expect all four to be re-signed early on this summer. Hagelin and Zuccarello will be the easier of the bunch, Stepan and McDonagh will obviously command higher salaries.

Is this the general consensus amongst Habs fans?

I personally think the Rangers did good with this deal as well but it's interesting to hear the other side's perspective.
- MidnightMarauder

General consensus in MTL is NO MORE MIDGETS!!! Everyone is fed up of having a small team filled with little girls that keep getting brutalized by the Flyers and Bruins and now by the Sens and Toronto...

If the Habs sign Briere, Im either going to start cheering for NYR or OTT.

Oh and despite all his issues, Kristo seems like a really solid prospect and correct me if Im wrong but Thomas seems pretty mediocre...