MacK_Attack

Of course, but with the way salaries are going up, getting a guy like him locked up on a deal like that for seven years will likely end up being a smart move. He's a guy that can score 100 points. They don't grow on trees.

So what they should've done was let him walk because guys like Eric Staal come around all the time?

1. Who are some players that will hit 50 goals this season? Ovechkin, Iginla, Nash, Hossa, Kovalchuk 2. Who are some players that will hit 100 points this season? Crosby, Thornton, Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Malkin 3. The rookie of the year will be...? Nikolai Kulemin - Being 22 will give him an edge over other rookies 4. What will be the cup finals matchup? Dallas vs. Montreal 5. Will Martin Havlat finally stay healthy for good portion of the season? 50 games 6. Who (other than Lidstrom) has the best chance of winning Norris? Dion Phaneuf 7. Crosby or Ovechkin... Who will outnumber the other in total points? Sidney Crosby 8. Datsyuk or Zetterberg... Who will outnumber the other in total points? Datsyuk 9. Zetterberg or Hossa... Who will outnumber the other in goals scored? Hossa 10. Can the Columbus Blue Jackets make their playoff debut? No

The Montreal Canadiens are in preliminary talks with the management of the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, attempting to organize an outdoor game on Dec. 4, 2009, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Canadiens. NHL approval of the game would be a mere formality. The Canadiens would be expected to play against the Maple Leafs or Ottawa Senators.

I'm sure if the Wings have an outdoor game, it would be at Comerica Park.

- Bobby Ryan - David Booth - Carlo Colaiacovo

The Canadiens are now saying that if they have an outdoor game next season, it will not be on December 4th, as their 100th anniversary game will definitely take place at the Bell Centre. At this point, it appears that scheduling is up to the group that runs the Olympic Stadium, as they have planned to replace the roof at Olympic Stadium (most people in Montreal would prefer they use dynamite to get the roof off) sometime in late 2009 or 2010. The game would take place during that time while the roof is removed from the stadium. Of course, this is all contingent on the Olympic Stadium not falling down between now and then, which is always a possibility.

Cobalt Silver Kings Haileybury Comets Montreal Wanderers Montreal Shamrocks Renfrew Creamery Kings

Isn't that like 20 years away? The Leafs as a franchise have the next centennial, which is 2017, but I doubt they'll do anything until 2027, when the Maple Leafs name/the purchase of the team by Conn Smythe is 100 years old. For whatever reason, they tend to act like the Toronto Arenas/St. Patrick's weren't the same team as the Maple Leafs.

Gary Bettman was once asked this question on the radio and he said that if a team refused to get under the cap ceiling or get above the cap floor, then the NHL would take over operations of the team and would make the necessary moves to get said team in compliance. He never said anything about forfeiting games because he said it would never get that far.

I'd be pretty surprised if Khabibulin wasn't an Ottawa Senator or L.A. King by the start of the regular season.

Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reports that Bryan McCabe has waived his no-trade clause to go to the Florida Panthers. Trade details not available yet, though rumours recently had the Leafs & Panthers working on a blockbuster package including McCabe & Jay Bouwmeester.

It's a refund for the Chad Kilger deal.

Trade is official. To FLORIDA: Bryan McCabe, 2010 4th round pick To TORONTO: Mike Van Ryn

Bryan McCabe will officially become a Florida Panther by 11am tomorrow. The Leafs paid McCabe $2 million today as part of a signing bonus, which is what held up the trade until now. The Leafs will get defenceman Mike Van Ryn, while the Panthers get McCabe and a late draft pick. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=248234&lid...os=topStory_nhl

Adam Proteau of The Hockey News reports that Senators defenceman Andrej Meszaros has signed a 5-year, $25+ million offer sheet with a yet-to-be identified team. Rumours are that it will be with either Atlanta or Phoenix. http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/1768...other-team.html

Word on the street is that they'll be dealing Jokinen & Ouellet for more defensive help.

You're right, that's why Tampa gave him $4 million.

Michel "Suitcase" Petit comes to mind, too.

$4 million per year is pretty reasonable for a defenceman of his calibre these days. As for the trade, I think I would've rather had the draft pick compensation from the offer sheet.

They would have to re-acquire their own 3rd rounder from Pittsburgh, which they gave up for Ryan Malone's rights. It seems the most likely route at this point is that Meszaros will be traded to Tampa Bay, instead.

Wendel Clark

There is a distinct advantage to front-loading contracts in terms of trade value down the road. There's only a handful of teams who aren't concerned about the actual salary paid out. All of the other teams are on fixed budgets, so they're more likely to be interested in those kinds of players later on when the actual salary paid out is much lower.

1. He can make a world of difference for a powerplay. Special teams are paramount to any success in the NHL. As for only having one year of significant point production, care to point out which year? The year he had 53 points? 57 points? 68 points? 2. $5.75 million regardless of where he plays. Florida will only be paying him $4.15 million this season, as he will be paid $2 million by the Leafs on Sept. 1st as part of a signing bonus, which is why this trade has not yet gone through.

Most of what I've heard is that it involves at least two roster players from Toronto (McCabe + one more player) for Van Ryn, a young player/prospect (potentially Booth) and a mid-level pick.