stevkrause

^ sites should really update their Free Agent listings when a guy signs in another country without an out clause, like Feds and Zednik.

even if they do that, I don't see how they sign all of their RFA's who are gonna be in line for BIG raises with the cap most likely going down next year... then couple that with the fact that theres no way anyone's taking Campbell's contract like you said... bad moves

Of the guys left, I'd just as much rather see us re-sign Matt Ellis for league minimum and an enforcer type for league minimum and have a rotating 4th line depending on whats needed by matchups...

also, everyone saying Tanguay - he made over 5 last year, he's not going to take MORE than a 50% paycut... he will not be a Wing...

Zednik already signed overseas...

kinda a shame he went out the way he did...

unfortunately, it will only let you vote once...

disagree. I think he has a ton of talent, just a bad attitude and like the OP said, he was too cocky to work on his positioning because of his athleticism...

may I add losing on home ice in the SCF - watching someone else hoist the cup on your ice is heart wrenching and you NEVER want to see that again... I think that's what pushed Pit so hard this year... Couple this with the Hossa fiasco and a couple guys with chips on their shoulders and I think we're poised for a good run in 09-10

Unless we make a trade to bring in that 12th forward, there's really only a small handful of free agents that I'd be ok with and none that seem like slam dunks... with that said, we got Ryno (who almost made it out of camp 2 years ago), Ritola, Oulahen and Tardif all in GR that I'd almost rather let fight it out in camp for the final roster spot... keep in mind, this is with the idea that we can lock up Hulder... otherwise, we'll need a top 6 forward and then there are a few FA's I'd take a shot at... but as far as the 12th forward spot... let the GR boys fight it out!

to the person that said the thing about worried about rookies - I could repeat EXACTLY what Opie said, but just quoting this seems easier

and sometimes that diamond in the rough is already in your system and just needs his chance full time with the big boys to prove it. See Helm.

wow, great signing indeed, actually got him at 75k less than previous...

I don't think Bert fits here either... but we do not need a one dimensional goon, that seems to be all you ever mention... we need a player that will go through a wall for teammates AND doesn't take stupid penalties or hurt his team when he's out there and play more than 2 minutes a night... once again, a goon I would KILL to have a Milan Lucic here, but that's not an option... so we need to find someone who can keep people honest, while still serving a role, not a Hanson brother...

exactly... it's not a "slap in the face" if the player flat out asks for less, which I could see Nick doing, just because he's so classy and would do anything to help his team.

Koci isn't available... he signed with Col, plus he's one dimensional... edit - Brashear isn't available either, he signed w/NY

exactly. do you people that keep bringing up this point, follow the wings at all? They had the same "clause" when Stevie was here and it ONLY applied to his initial contract... after the player starts to decline, they tale less to keep playing, but the cap "ceiling" shifts to next in command - IE Dats or Z... especially in the cap world, Lidstrom WILL play at least 1 more year and he WILL take less.

that's gonna hurt the Pens...

my 2 favorite from that list are Travis Moen and Blair Betts

haha, perfect for Gainey.

Rules: - Can't blow the team up - Can't trade NTC guys - Can't make unreasonable contracts (a 5 mil player last year isn't going to come here for 1.5) - Have to round out a roster (at least 21 roster players) My scenario: I would re-up Leino, let Hossa, Conklin, Sammy and Kopy walk (the last 3 are pretty much already decided anyway) trade Lebda and a pick/prospect to Montreal for Georges Laraque (before anyone says anything, he has a window in his NTC from July 1st, allowing him to be traded if approved by him and yes... I am an unapologetic Georges Laraque slappy on MANY levels, remember, he can chip in for 30 pts a season too), bring up Abs and Helm full time, say bye to Hudler (reluctantly - I don't want to, but I think someone is gonna through some insane offer sheet at him that we just flat out wont be able to match) and at least we'll get compensatory picks for him - roster: Pavel Datsyuk $6,700,000 Henrik Zetterberg $6,083,333 Johan Franzen $3,954,545 Valtteri Filppula $3,000,000 Daniel Cleary $2,800,000 Tomas Holmstrom $2,250,000 Kris Draper $1,583,333 Georges Laraque $1,500,000 Kirk Maltby $883,333 Ville Leino $875,000 Justin Abdelkader $850,000 Darren Helm $599,444 DEFENSEMEN Nicklas Lidstrom $7,450,000 Brian Rafalaski $6,000,000 Brad Stuart $3,750,000 Niklas Kronwall $3,000,000 Andreas Lilja $1,250,000 Jonathan Ericsson $900,000 Derek Meech $483,333 GOALTENDERS Chris Osgood $1,416,666 Jimmy Howard $716,666 ROSTER SIZE 21 SALARY CAP $56,800,000 PAYROLL $56,045,653 BONUS MONEY (ESTIMATED) (0.2% of cap) $110,000 CAP ROOM $754,347 Lines: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filpulla-Leino Cleary-Helm-Laraque Abdelkader-Draper-Maltby *Meech Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lilja *Meech Osgood Howard Rationale: We have a some cap wiggle room left for injuries/call-ups, Fil is given his top 6 minutes(which he deserves) we get something back for losing Happy, we add toughness and an overall amazing character guy who can still chip in for 20-30 pts in Laraque, he only has a year left in his deal, so if it doesn't work, we can cut ties, or sign him again for less... once again, I think Laraque would be an amazing fit here and really like this roster...

Trade Lebda and a pick/prospect to Montreal for Georges Laraque (before anyone says anything, he has a window in his NTC from July 1st, allowing him to be traded if approved by him and yes... I am an unapologetic Georges Laraque slappy on MANY levels, remember, he can chip in for 30 pts a season too), bring up Abs and Helm full time, say bye to Hudler (reluctantly - I don't want to, but I think someone is gonna through some insane offer sheet at him that we just flat out wont be able to match) and at least we'll get compensatory picks for him - roster: Pavel Datsyuk $6,700,000 Henrik Zetterberg $6,083,333 Johan Franzen $3,954,545 Valtteri Filppula $3,000,000 Daniel Cleary $2,800,000 Tomas Holmstrom $2,250,000 Kris Draper $1,583,333 Georges Laraque $1,500,000 Kirk Maltby $883,333 Ville Leino $875,000 Justin Abdelkader $850,000 Darren Helm $599,444 DEFENSEMEN Nicklas Lidstrom $7,450,000 Brian Rafalaski $6,000,000 Brad Stuart $3,750,000 Niklas Kronwall $3,000,000 Andreas Lilja $1,250,000 Jonathan Ericsson $900,000 Derek Meech $483,333 GOALTENDERS Chris Osgood $1,416,666 Jimmy Howard $716,666 ROSTER SIZE 21 SALARY CAP $56,800,000 PAYROLL $56,045,653 BONUS MONEY (ESTIMATED) (0.2% of cap) $110,000 CAP ROOM $754,347 Lines: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filpulla-Leino Cleary-Helm-Laraque Abdelkader-Draper-Maltby *Meech Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lilja *Meech Osgood Howard Rationale: We have a some cap wiggle room left for injuries/call-ups, Fil is given his top 6 minutes(which he deserves) we get something back for losing Happy, we add toughness and an overall amazing character guy who can still chip in for 20-30 pts in Laraque, he only has a year left in his deal, so if it doesn't work, we can cut ties, or sign him again for less... once again, I think Laraque would be an amazing fit here and really like this roster...

I'd be all for Artyukhin in TB... they only have 4 d-men signed too... maybe Ledba and a prospect would get him here? The reason I say Laraque in the first place, is his personality and how the city would just be drawn to him...

that's because he's gotten a raise almost every time...

agree to disagree. I think he would do WHATEVER Babcock asked of him and that's all you can ask from a player... we don't need a goon, we need a player that fits our mold.