Just 12 hours until all heck breaks loose.
Coming out of the lockout we saw a salary cap of $39 million and a floor of $21.5 million. Since that time the cap has gone up 29% and the floor has gone up an astounding 59.5%.
In the year prior to the lockout, the average team payroll was around $44 million. The Nashville Predators paid their players a total of $23.2 mil and in total there were 12 teams under $35.2 mil.
Now the midpoint has been set at $42.3 and the floor is at $34.3. Yes there is revenue sharing, linkage and cost certainly but something still doesn't add up here for the smaller market teams.
But we'll get back to that over the summer.
For now let's talk about my wife's favorite subject - SHOPPING.
Boxing Day is one of the holidays that she looks forward to each year and July 1st is kind of like Boxing Day for hockey teams, except don't expect to find many or any bargains here. This is the day where demand greatly exceeds supply, and everyone is whipped into a free agent frenzy.
To prepare you guys for what may come when the clock strikes noon, I've gone back and looked at ten years of players who switched teams in free agency and have broken down the major signings by team. The 263 players signed that I examined totaled just under $2 billion - $1,987,979,500 to be exact. From here you can definitely spot some trends that may or may continue this summer. I've also included the significant 07 and 08 UFAs for each team. After the team-by-team breakdown I've included some interesting lists and then I went through "If I Was..." scenarios for all the top free agents. Enjoy!
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ANAHEIM DUCKS
Signed: Sandstrom, Oates, Olausson, Fedorov, Prospal, Niedermayer, Selanne = $91.9 mil
Lost: Kurri, Young, Kariya, Oates, Friesen, Salei = $25.137 mil
Best Signing: Selanne
Worst Signing: Fedorov
07 UFAs: Selanne
08 UFAs: Bryzgalov, Kunitz
***
ATLANTA THRASHERS
Signed: Smehlik, Modry, Holik, Bondra, Rucchin, Hedberg, Sim = $34.615 mil
Lost: Brunette, Kaberle, McEachern, Savard = $34 mil
Best Signing: Modry
Worst Signing: Holik
07 UFAs: Kozlov, Sutton, de Vries
08 UFAs: Hossa
***
BOSTON BRUINS
Signed: Andreychuk, Coffey, Lapointe, O'Donnell, Zaumner, Berard, Zhamnov, Leetch, Scatchard, McEachern, Chara, Savard = $123.85 mil
Lost: Weinrich, Guerin, Hackett, Berard, Rolston, Nylander, Knuble, O'Donnell, Gonchar, Lapointe, McGillis, Gill = $147.285 mil
Best Signing: Savard
Worst Signing: Lapointe, Zhamnov
07 UFAs:
08 UFAs: Ward
***
BUFFALO SABRES
Signed: Andreychuk, Numminen, Spacek = $13.1 mil
Lost: Galley, Audette, Heinze, Andreychuk, Smehlik, Satan, Zhitnik, McKee, Dumont, Grier = $83.887 mil
Best Signing: Numminen
Worst Signing: Spacek
07 UFAs: Briere, Drury, Zubrus
08 UFAs: Campbell, Hecht
***
CALGARY FLAMES
Signed: Boughner, Gelinas, Hamrlik, Amonte, McCarty, Friesen, Zyuzin = $27.85 mil
Lost: Gagner, Albelin, Conroy, Gelinas, McAmmond, Simon = $48.725 mil
Best Signing: Gelinas
Worst Signing: Amonte
07 UFAs: Hamrlik, Stuart
08 UFAs: Iginla, Kiprusoff, Regehr, Huselius, Langkov
***
CAROLINA HURRICANES
Signed: Francis, Hatcher, Wesley, Kaberle, Stillman, Whitney, Tverdovsky, Grahame = $51.6 mil
Lost: D. King, Roberts, Hill, Coffey, Karpa, Gelinas, Weekes, Weight, Recchi, Cullen, Ward, Gerber = $80.48 mil
Best Signing: Francis, Whitney
Worst Signing: Tverdovsky
07 UFAs: Vasicek
08 UFAs: Stillman
***
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
Signed: Gilmour, Clark, Klemm, Fleury, Berard, Khabibulin, Aucoin, Spacek, Lapointe, Lalime = $90.56 mil
Lost: Suter, Amonte, Simon, Berard = $40 mil
Best Signing: Gilmour
Worst Signing: Fleury, Aucoin
07 UFAs: Handzus
08 UFAs:
***
COLORADO AVALANCHE
Signed: Kurri, Reid, Selanne, Kariya, Brisebois, Turgeon, Brunette, May, Arnason, Klee = $20.762 mil
Lost: Keane, Krupp, Fleury, Kamensky, Lefebvre, Andreychuk, Klemm, Kasparaitis, De Vries, Marchment, Forbserg, Foote, Kariya, Selanne, Gratton, Blake, Hinote = $174.2 mil
Best Signing: Brunette
Worst Signing: Selanne
07 UFAs:
08 UFAs: Sakic, Liles, Clark
***
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Signed: Tugnutt, Sillinger, Richardson, Cassels, Lachance, Marchant, Foote, Berard, Carter = $72.4 mil
Lost: Whitney, Cassels, Spacek = $13.5 mil
Best Signing: Cassels
Worst Signing: Carter
07 UFAs: Berard, Eriksson
08 UFAs: Foote, Vyborny, Fedorov
***
DALLAS STARS
Signed: Belfour, Chambers, Hull, Turgeon, Audette, Kamensky, Verbeek, Guerin, Young, Boucher, Dahlen, Lindros, Halpern = $152.9 mil
Lost: = Moog, Hogue, Reid, Hull, Keane, Belfour, McKay, Hatcher, Matvichuk, Numminen, Turgeon, Bure, Arnott, Guerin, Mitchell, Hedberg = $120.525 mil
Best Signing: Belfour, Hull, Boucher
Worst Signing: Turgeon, Audette
07 UFAs: Nagy, Sydor, Lindros
08 UFAs: Zubov, Norstrom
***
DETROIT RED WINGS
Signed: Krupp, Duchesne, Hull, Robitaille, Joseph, Hatcher, Whitney, Osgood, Samuelsson, Hasek, Mironov = $103.9375 mil
Lost: = Sandstrom, Mironov, Clark, Ranford, Larionov, Lapointe, Verbeek, Olausson, Fedorov, Robitaille, Larionov, Hull, Hasek, Hatcher, Joseph, Whitney, McCarty, Dandenault, Shanahan, Legace = $120.675 mil
Best Signing: Hull, Hasek
Worst Signing: Krupp, Hatcher
07 UFAs: Hasek, Schneider, Bertuzzi, Lang, Markov, Calder
08 UFAs: Lidstrom, Draper
***
EDMONTON OILERS
Signed: Ranford, Staios, Oates, Sykora, Tjarnqvist= $8.68 mil
Lost: Richardson, Joseph, Fraser, Essensa, Ulanov, Marchant, Nedved, Samsonov, Spacek, Peca, Laraque, Dvorak = $91.55 mil
Best Signing: Staios
Worst Signing: Oates
07 UFAs: Sykora
08 UFAs: Smith
***
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Signed: Gagner, Tikkanen, Pitlick, Larionov, Roberts, Nieuwendyk, Stumpel, Gelinas, Gratton, Belfour, Salei = $42.83 mil
Lost: Skrudland, Eriksson, Staois, Samuelsson, Sim = $12.147 mil
Best Signing: Stumpel
Worst Signing: Gagner
07 UFAs: Belfour, Gelinas
08 UFAs:
***
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Signed: Galley, Duchesne, Schneider, Heinze, Robitaille, Conroy, Demitra, Bure, Blake, McCauley, Thornton = $74.162 mil
Lost: Robitaille, Boucher, Modry, Palffy, Allison, Straka, Stumpel, Carter, Parrish, Corvo, Roenick = $72 mil
Best Signing: Schneider
Worst Signing: Duchesne
07 UFAs: Miller, Garon
08 UFAs: Visnovsky, Blake
***
MINNESOTA WILD
Signed: Brunette, Rolston, Johnsson, Parish, Carney = $52.65 mil
Lost: Brunette, Kuba, Tjarnqvist, Zyuzin = $15.025 mil
Best Signing: Rolston
Worst Signing: Parrish
07 UFAs: White, Walz
08 UFAs: Rolston, Demitra
***
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Signed: Moog, Perreault, McKay, Dandenault, Samsonov = $29.1 mil
Lost: Vanbiesbrouck, Quintal, Corson, Brisebois, Perreault, Bulis = $32.975 mil
Best Signing: Perreault
Worst Signing: Samsonov
07 UFAs: Souray
08 UFAs: Huet
***
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Signed: Kariya, Perreault, Arnott, Dumont = $36.525 mil
Lost: Witt, Markov, Sillinger, Perreault = $18.1 mil
Best Signing: Kariya, Perreault
Worst Signing: n/a
07 UFAs: Forsberg, Kariya, Vishnevsky
08 UFAs: Legwand, Dumont, Mason
***
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Signed: Albelin, Larionov, Matvichuk, Mogilny, Malakhov, McGillis = $29.6 mil
Lost: Chambers, Gilmour, Thomas, Andreychuk, Mogilny, O'Donnell, Holik, Nieuwendyk, Niedermayer, Tverdovsky, Kozlov, Klee = $145.165 mil
Best Signing: Albelin
Worst Signing: Mogilny, Malakhov
07 UFAs: Gomez, Rafalski
08 UFAs: Pandolfo
***
NY ISLANDERS
Signed: Satan, Zhitnik, Witt, Poti, Sillinger, Simon, Kozlov, Park = $47.34 mil
Lost: Aucoin, Hamrlik, Scatchard, Czerkawski = $31.9 mil
Best Signing: Poti, Kozlov
Worst Signing: n/a
07 UFAs: Smyth, Yashin, Blake, Poti, Zednik, Kozlov
08 UFAs:
***
NY RANGERS
Signed: Keane, Skrudland, McLean, Fraser, Fleury, Kamensky, Lefebvre, Quintal, Messier, Ulanov, Karpa, Holik, Kasparaitis, de Vries, Rucinsky, Simon, Nylander, Weekes, Straka, Rucinsky, Malik, Rozsival, Nieminen, Shanahan, Cullen, Ward = $246.353 mil
Lost: Messier, Tikkanen, Healey, Schneider, Hatcher, Kamensky, Fleury, Berard, Holik, Lindros, Sykora, Poti, Rucinsky, Rucchin = $68.4 mil
Best Signing: Nylander, Straka
Worst Signing: Holik, Kamensky
07 UFAs: Shanahan, Nylander
08 UFAs: Rozsival, Straka, Malik
***
OTTAWA SENATORS
Signed: Hasek, Gerber, Corvo, McAmmond = $23.845 mil
Lost: Pitlick, Sillinger, Arvedson, Bondra, Chara, Pothier, Hasek, Arnason = $62.905 mil
Best Signing: Hasek
Worst Signing: Gerber
07 UFAs: Comrie, Preissing
08 UFAs: Heatley, Redden, Fisher
***
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Signed: Richardson, Vanbiesbrouck, Roenick, Weinrich, Hackett, Knuble, Forsberg, Hatcher, Rathje, Sanderson = $124.16 mil
Lost: Duchesne, Oates, Richardson, Recchi, Zhamnov, Malakhov, Leclair, Amonte, Burke, Johnsson, Brashear = $73.040 mil
Best Signing: Knuble
Worst Signing: Hatcher
07 UFAs: York, Esche
08 UFAs:
***
PHOENIX COYOTES
Signed: Tocchet, Lumme, Essensa, Amonte, Nedved, Hull, O'Donnell, Ricci, Joseph, Jovanovski, Roenick, Nolan, Laraque, Perreault = $107.615 mil
Lost: Baron, Drake, Essensa, Roenick, Sanderson = $56.6 mil
Best Signing: Tocchet, Lumme
Worst Signing: Amonte, Nedved
07 UFAs: Joseph, Nolan
08 UFAs:
***
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Signed: Recchi, Gonchar, Palffy, Leclair, Roy, Recchi, Ruutu = $56.82 mil
Lost: Francis, Tugnutt, Boughner, Lang, Rozsival = $62.003 mil
Best Signing: Recchi
Worst Signing: Leclair
07 UFAs: Ekman
08 UFAs:
***
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Signed: Suter, Grier = $15.325 mil
Lost: Belfour, MacLean, Selanne, Ricci, Rathje, McCauley, Thornton = $52.54 mil
Best Signing: Suter
Worst Signing: n/a
07 UFAs: Guerin, Hannan
08 UFAs: Thornton, Marleau
***
ST. LOUIS BLUES
Signed: Young, Hill, Drake, Keane, McAmmond, McKee, Weight, Guerin, Legace, Rucinsky, Hinote, Dvorak = $66.575 mil
Lost: Hull, Duchesne, Turgeon, Young, Rucinsky, Demitra, Osgood, Khavanov, Lalime, McAmmond = $86.475 mil
Best Signing: Young
Worst Signing: Rucinsky
07 UFAs:
08 UFAs: Weight
***
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Signed: Clark, Hogue, Andreychuk, Burke, Kuba = $15.65 mil
Lost: Zamuner, Prospal, Khabibulin, Stillman, Roy, Kubina, Grahame = $80.55 mil
Best Signing: Kuba
Worst Signing: Burke
07 UFAs: Sarich, Fedotenko
08 UFAs: Boyle, Prospal
***
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Signed: King, Healy, Joseph, Thomas, Roberts, Corson, Mogilny, Eriksson, Belfour, Nieuwendyk, Klee, Marchment, Lindros, Allison, Khavanov, Czerkawski, Kubina, Peca, Gill = $133.375 mil
Lost: Clark, Perreault, Joseph, Wesley, Roberts, Mogilny, Nieuwendyk, Leetch, Belfour, Lindros, Nolan = $62.755 mil
Best Signing: Joseph, Belfour, Thomas, Roberts
Worst Signing: Czerkawski
07 UFAs: Peca, O'Neill
08 UFAs: Sundin
***
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Signed: Messier, Baron, Essensa, Arvedson, Carter, Mitchell, Bulis = $44.9 mil
Lost: Lumme, Messier, Cassels, Lachance, Rucinsky, Malik, May, Jovanovski, Carter, Carney, Ruutu, Park = $92.275 mil
Best Signing: Carter
Worst Signing: Messier
07 UFAs: Sopel, Smolinski
08 UFAs: Naslund, Morrison
***
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Signed: Mironov, Lang, Cassels, Pothier, Brashear = $49 mil
Lost: Tocchet, Dahlen, Klee, Halpern = $17.45 mil
Best Signing: Lang
Worst Signing: Mironov
07 UFAs:
08 UFAs: Kolzig
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BEST/WORST SIGNINGS BY YEAR
1997-98
Best: Belfour, Tocchet, Galley
Worst: Messier, Tikkanen, Gagner
1998-99
Best: Hull, Joseph, Francis
Worst: Krupp, Mironov, Duchesne
1999-00
Best: Duchesne, Andreychuk, Fleury
Worst: Kamensky, Quintal, Pitlick
2000-01
Best: Roberts, Schneider, Drake
Worst: Coffey, Hatcher, Messier
2001-02
Best: Hull, Brunette, Sillinger
Worst: Turgeon, Lapointe, Audette
2002-03
Best: Boucher, Belfour, Gelinas
Worst: Holik, Amonte, Fleury
2003-04
Best: Nieuwendyk, Rucinsky, Robitaille
Worst: Fedorov, Hatcher, Hackett
2004-05
Best: Rolston, Nylander, Knuble
Worst: Nedved, Weekes, Hull
2005-06
Best: Niedermayer, Selanne/Kariya, Brunette/Straka/Whitney
Worst: Aucoin, Zhamnov, Tverdovsky
2006-07
Best: Hasek, Savard, Poti/Kozlov
Worst: Samsonov, Carter, Kubina/Johnsson/Blake
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NET UFA $ (10 year summary)
Here's the list of traditionally who spends money in the UFA market and who loses talent to other teams.
(The number shown is the difference between the UFA contracts signed with each team over the past 10 off-seasons and the contract value of players who departed as UFAs)
NY Rangers: 177,953,000
Toronto: 70,620,000
Anaheim: 66,763,000
Columbus: 58,900,000
Philadelphia: 51,120,000
Phoenix: 51,015,000
Chicago: 50,560,000
Minnesota: 37,625,000
Dallas: 32,375,000
Washington: 31,550,000
Florida: 30,682,500
Nashville: 18,425,000
NY Islanders: 15,440,000
Calgary: 3,125,000
Los Angeles: 2,162,000
Atlanta: 615,000
Montreal: -3,875,000
Pittsburgh: -5,183,000
Boston: -13,145,000
Detroit: -16,737,500
St. Louis: -19,900,000
Carolina: -28,880,000
San Jose: -37,215,000
Ottawa: -39,060,000
Vancouver: -47,375,000
Tampa Bay: -64,900,000
Buffalo: -70,787,000
Edmonton: -82,870,000
New Jersey: -115,565,000
Colorado: -153,438,000
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SOME INTERESTING LISTS
07 UFAs: by 06 points: All Players
Daniel Briere: 95 pts
Teemu Selanne : 94 pts
Michael Nylander: 83 pts
Slava Kozlov: 80 pts
Paul Kariya: 76 pts
Jason Blake: 69 pts
Chris Drury: 69 pts
Ryan Smyth: 68 pts
Sheldon Souray: 64 pts
Brendan Shanahan: 62 pts
Dainius Zubrus: 60 pts
Scott Gomez: 60 pts
Bill Guerin: 56 pts
Peter Forsberg: 55 pts
Ladislav Nagy: 55 pts
Brian Rafalski: 55 pts
07 UFAs: by 06 goals: All Players
Teemu Selanne: 48 goals
Jason Blake: 40 goals
Chris Drury: 37 goals
Bill Guerin: 36 goals
Ryan Smyth: 36 goals
Daniel Briere: 32 goals
Brendan Shanahan: 29 goals
Slava Kozlov: 28 goals
07 UFAs: Increase in Points over Prior Season
Daniel Briere: 58 to 95 = +37
Jeff Hamilton: 8 to 39 = +31
Viktor Kozlov: 25 to 51 = +26
Sheldon Souray: 39 to 64 = +25
Tom Poti: to 44 = +21
Bill Guerin: 40 to 56 = +16
Michel Ouellet: 32 to 48 = +16
Josef Vasicek: 9 to 22 = +13
Jason Blake: 57 to 69 = +12
Roman Hamrlik: 26 to 38 = +12
06 UFAs: Highest Average salary
BOS: Zdeno Chara - $7,500,000 (change v prior year: 0 pts, team pt total: +2)
PHO: Ed Jovanovski - $6,500,000 (change v prior year: -4 pts, team pt total: -14)
LA: Rob Blake - $6,000,000 (change v prior year: -17 pts, team pt total: -21)
BOS: Marc Savard - $5,000,000 (change v prior year: -1 pts, team pt total: +2)
TOR: Pavel Kubina - $5,000,000 (change v prior year: -17 pts, team pt total: +1)
MIN: Kim Johnsson - $4,850,000 (change v prior year: -3 pts, team pt total: +20)
NAS: Jason Arnott - $4,500,000 (change v prior year: -22 pts, team pt total: +4)
STL: Jay McKee - $4,000,000 (change v prior year: -16 pts, team pt total: +24)
NYR: Brendan Shanahan - $4,000,000 (change v prior year: -19 pts, team pt total: -6)
OTT: Martin Gerber - $3,700,000 (change v prior year: - 23 wins, team pt total: -8)
MON: Sergei Samsonov - $3,525,000 (change v prior year: -27 pts, team pt total: -3)
STL: Doug Weight - $3,500,000 (change v prior year: +2 pt, team pt total: +24)
VAN: Willie Mitchell - $3,500,000 (change v prior year: +1 pts, team pt total: +13)
BUF: Jaroslav Spacek - $3,333,333 (change v prior year: -22 pts, team pt total: +3)
FLO: Ruslan Salei - $3,025,000 (change v prior year: +13 pts, team pt total: +1)
TB: Filip Kuba - $3,000,000 (change v prior year: +12 pts, team pt total: +1)
EDM: Petr Sykora - $2,900,000 (change v prior year: +2 pts, team pt total: -24)
NYR: Matt Cullen - $2,875,000 (change v prior year: -8 pts, team pt total: -6)
NAS: Brendan Witt - $2,766,667 (change v prior year: 0 pts, team pt total: +4)
NYR: Aaron Ward - $2,750,000 (change v prior year: -9 pts, team pt total: -6)
NYI: Tom Poti - $2,750,000 (change v prior year: +21 pts, team pt total: +14)
7 of 14 highest paid skaters signed experienced a decline of 16 pts or greater
Summary: 1997-2006 (10 years)
Top 10 Highest Average Salary
Bill Guerin (DAL, 2002) - $9,000,000
Bobby Holik (NYR, 2002) - $9,000,000
Sergei Fedorov (ANA, 2003) - $8,000,000
Curtis Joseph (DET, 2002) - $8,000,000
Zdeno Chara (BOS, 2006) - $7,500,000
Jeremy Roenick (PHI, 2001) - $7,500,000
Theoren Fleury (NYR, 1999) - $7,000,000
Ed Belfour (TOR, 2002) - $6,750,000
Scott Niedermayer (ANA, 2005) - $6,750,000
Nikolai Khabibulin (CHI, 2005) - $6,750,000
Top 10 Highest Total Contract
Bill Guerin (DAL, 2002) - $45,000,000
Bobby Holik (NYR, 2002) - $45,000,000
Sergei Fedorov (ANA, 2003) - $40,000,000
Zdeno Chara (BOS, 2006) - $37,500,000
Jeremy Roenick (PHI, 2001) - $37,500,000
Pierre Turgeon (DAL, 2001) - $32,500,000
Ed Jovanovski (PHO, 2006) - $32,500,000
Derian Hatcher (DET, 2003) - $30,000,000
Darius Kasparaitis (NYR, 2002) - $27,000,000
Scott Niedermayer (ANA, 2005) - $27,000,000
Nikolai Khabibulin (CHI, 2005) - $27,000,000
*******************************************
IF I WAS...
This is all extremely hypothetical, not based on any inside knowledge and just for fun. Here's where I think player should or could end up..
Forwards:
If I was Chris Drury...I'm thrilled to see so many teams fighting over my services. I'm not limiting myself to the West but am very interested in both LA and San Jose. The Sharks are certainly closer to winning but they already have a #1 center. I envision a team building around my leadership and talent and would love to play with an up and coming group of talented players, plus my friend Rob Blake. LA it is.
If I was Daniel Briere...I see my buddy Chris going West and it is definitely tempting to move on, given the amount that teams are throwing at me. But Buffalo is where my career took off. They have great fans, a strong organization and so much potential on the ice. Montreal and Philadelphia are both attractive locations but I think the expectations would be unrealistically high, which is understandable given the money we're talking about here. In the end, my heart is in Buffalo and that's where I'm staying.
If I was Scott Gomez... I like the New York area where I've played my whole career. LA was a tempting destination but with Drury there, I've turned my attention to Philadelphia, New York and Edmonton who is desperate to make a splash. Tough decision but I'm going with New York
If I was Ryan Smyth... I know I'll get more money and more years out of the Islanders and that is VERY tough to turn down. On the other hand I see Toronto, Detroit, Buffalo, Calgary.. all great hockey cities. Of those four, the one that makes the most sense is Detroit. The Red Wings have a great tradition and demand success. I see myself working well with Datsyuk and Zetterberg and crashing the net with Holmstrom on the PP.
If I was Peter Forsberg... my time in Philly was fun (but frustrating) but I never really wanted to leave Colorado. Assuming I'm healthy enough to play one final year, I'm finishing my career as an Avalanche.
If I was Michael Nylander... I can't get the Flyers to leave me alone. Since they lost out on the big three centers they've been extremely persistent and in the end I can't say no to a franchise that has already made huge moves this summer.
If I was Teemu Selanne...I'm either retiring or going back to Anaheim. I want to hang em up while I still have my health but it's tempting to come back for one more, especially if my buddy signs...
If I was Brendan Shanahan...I'm staying in New York.
If I was Jason Blake... I see a lot of unhappy fans in Toronto as the chips have started to fall. And I see a spot on Mats Sundin's wing waiting for me. And I'm signing with the Leafs.
If I was Bill Guerin... I debated going back to St. Louis or maybe San Jose when Ottawa came through with an offer that I jumped on quickly. I feel that I would fit in there really well.
If I was Dainius Zubrus... I'm going to the Island. For more $ than I'm worth.
If I was Michael Handzus...I'm staying with Havlat in Chicago
If I was Petr Sykora... I can't stand to see Kevin Lowe sad, especially after he lost out on Gomez.
If I was Paul Kariya... the last time Teemu and I joined forces it wasn't successful but I'm willing to try it one more time if he's willing to come back. Either way, my best years were in Anaheim and I'm going back there.
If I was Robert Lang... I'm going to Washington to center Ovechkin.
If I was Todd Bertuzzi... I really want to pick the right spot to revive my career. It's a tough market but my size should fit in well in Montreal
If I was Slava Kozlov... I'm not leaving Hossa and Kovalchuk.
If I was Michel Ouellet... I get a nice offer from Dallas and I take it. They've never been shy to spend money on UFAs and I'm good value because of my age.
If I was Ladislav Nagy... I'm going to San Jose to play with Thornton and Cheechoo.
If I was Alexei Yashin... I'm a little peeved that Lang went to Washington and Handzus stayed in Chicago. Those would be the two best spots for my services but with those center spots filled I'm going back to Russia where I'll make the most money.
If I was Mike Comrie... I'm going to New Jersey to fill the hole that Gomez left. Elias and Gionta will be great linemates.
If I was Mike Peca... I'm going back to Buffalo.
If I was Eric Lindros... I'm surprising everyone and going to Pittsburgh. For very cheap.
If I was Todd White... I'm going with the Preds. The future is uncertain but I'll fit in well with the group they have and the team needs to spend to get up to the floor.
If I was Bryan Smolinski... I'm picking the Canes. Good spot for a veteran center.
If I was Wes Walz... I'm signing with the new and improved Bruins to help the PK.
If I was Yanic Perreault... I'm happy to get that call from Kevin Lowe as he works his way down the list.
If I was Viktor Kozlov... I stay with New York. Last season was a good one for me..
If I was Martin Gelinas... I'm going to St. Louis to teach the kids and play for Andy Murray.
Defencemen:
If I was Sheldon Souray... I see the Sharks as a great team lacking a true presence at the point.
If I was Brian Rafalski... I'm loyal to Lou.
If I was Mathieu Schneider... I'm go back to Montreal where they need that big shot from the point to replace Souray.
If I was Roman Hamrlik...I'd go back to Calgary
If I was Tom Poti... I'd take a nice offer from the Cap
If I was Danny Markov... I'm going to Florida. There's a team that could surprise this year in the East..
If I was Brad Stuart... I'd sign with the Oilers. Afterall, Lowe is trying so hard..
If I was Aaron Miller... I'm finally going home to Buffalo.
If I was Scott Hannan... I'm taking Dean's calls first, especially now that he has Drury on board.
If I was Andy Sutton... Colorado looks like a good place for me.
If I was Tom Preissing... I'm signing with the Hawks. Hopefully I will far better than Aucoin.
If I was Brent Sopel... heading back to the Island.
If I was Darryl Sydor... going to Phoenix to play for Wayne. I remember starting my career with 99 in LA..
If I was Greg de Vries... I'm trying to get back to Ottawa as the #6 d-man..
Goalies:
If I was Dominik Hasek... I'd re-sign with Detroit. No question there.
If I was Ed Belfour... I'd look for a contending team that needs a backup goalie. At this point in my career, winning is much more important than playing a lot - but when they need me, I'll be ready. There are quite a few options but I'm going with Pittsburgh.
If I was Curtis Joseph... I'd forget about Toronto and try to return to another of my old stomping grounds. I always remembered my time in Edmonton fondly and would love to finish my career there.
If I was Mathieu Garon.. I'd realize that I probably have the most potential of all the backups available on the market. That said I'd sign a one-year deal to showcase my skills and I think Buffalo would be the best destination for me.
If I was David Aebischer, Curtis Sanford, Alex Auld, Jocelyn Thibault, Sean Burke, Jussi Markkanen, Robert Esche, Mike Dunham, Kevin Weekes, Joey MacDonald, Ty Conklin, Jamie McLennan, J.S. Aubin, Brian Boucher, Dany Sabourin or Scott Clemmensen... I'd look around at the goaltending market and notice that there aren't a lot of spots available. The backups in Calgary, New Jersey and Vancouver may not play much but those would be three great place[s to play. I'd pretty much take the first offer that is presented to me, because when the music stops I don't want to be left without a seat.
Enjoy the frenzy!
Danny -
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