Matt

Wow, that's great to hear on the salary!

You may not want to hear it, but: Alexei Yashin. As of right now I'd consider him the odds-on "favorite" based on his skill level, likelihood of a one-year deal and probable salary.

Care to cite any examples recently where the NHL's official site has posted a roster move in error? Did you realize this same method was how it was uncovered that Brad Isbister had signed with the Canucks this week? Or how fans found out that the Wings had signed Josh Langfeld and Krys Kolanos last season? If you're going to huff and puff about things, please provide examples or you just come off as a blowhard. And as for "who really gives a damn?" -- how about people that follow the game a little more in-depth than what just will sit on the NHL roster. If you don't "give a damn" then don't read it and don't post in it. I'm not saying this guy is the second coming -- he's clearly earmarked to back up Howard in Grand Rapids -- but the guy played for ATLANTA. Nine games in Atlanta does not a career make. I also seem to remember some goaltenders in the past, too, that looked really good in the NHL at some point -- one won a Vezina and was out of the league three or so years later and the other, if I remember right, was unbeaten for 18-straight games as a rookie tender for the Penguins before Detroit ended the streak. Jim Carey and Patrick Lalime, anyone? And where are they now? Lalime's just clawing onto an NHL roster still and Carey retired. This guy won't be called upon in Detroit at all, but don't sit there and earmark the guy's career from such a small sampling. I don't seem to recall at any time deeming you as someone that could declare what should be "stickied" or not -- I suggest you don't start now.

Looks like Holland pulled the plug on this sometime yesterday. Or vice versa. They didn't.

one thing that has me concerned is that the pool of big wingers and scoring forwards continues to dwindle... The loss of Bertuzzi may be compounded by the fact that Holland could be getting caught in an unfortunate bidding war and overpaying for a top-6 forward simply because there weren't many other options on the market. Yashin, Kozlov and Guerin come to mind.

It's not that at all. The Wings had certain figures that had slotted away for each player (Schneider/Bertuzzi) and when the bidding exceed that Holland pulled out.

Well, um... We kept our 2nd-rounder in 2008?

This is severely disappointing... Granted, Bertuzzi's back was a risk but I felt that a summer of rest on it and he would be ready to go in the fall and be a 65-80pt. player. But $4m/year? Another case of a base salary probably being $1M more than what the Wings wanted to do. Ugh.

Cross/Norton weren't named... just those "types". Personally, I'd prefer to hold off on any more defenseman signings.

Grigorenko has a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $858,900 next season if he's with the Wings, $70,000 if he's in Grand Rapids. If he spends more than three weeks with the Griffins he can opt to return to Russia. In a web interview on the Lada Togliatta web site (6/28), Grigorenko was very excited to be finally getting a chance to play in the NHL and fully intends on making the Red Wings' roster out of camp. When asked about the possibility (probability?) of making more than the $859K the Wings are shelling out for him next season if Grigorenko had opted to sign with a Russian team (he had several offers after his Lada contract expired), he said that "money wasn't the predominating factor, I want to play in the NHL."

$41.236-million roughly committed so far. That includes Rafalski, bonuses from last year (Hasek/Chelios) and assumes Grigorenko makes the team. That leaves $9.064m in available cap space, of which Holland has said he will use $8m.

The $8M that Holland has to spend (leaving an allowance for the trade deadline) is enough to net Bertuzzi, Hasek and Hudler with a little bit left over.

Considering that Schneider wants to win another Cup, has a house on the ocean there and was getting an offer "signifigantly" higher than what Holland was offering him... ... How can you blame him for taking the Anaheim deal? Someone should've slapped some sense into him if he DIDN'T take it. Hell... *I'd* slap him!

With the Rafalski signing everyone can effectively scratch Markov and Smyth off their wish lists.

According to my spreadsheet the Red Wings have roughly $9,064,000 left under the $50,300,000 salary cap. (Current payroll, including bonuses from last year, Rafalski's new cap number, and assuming Grigorenko makes the team in September is: $41,236,000.)

With Rafalski deal I doubt you'll see Markov re-signed. Markov wouldn't have been re-signed if Schneider pulled in a $5m/year contract from the Red Wings, so how could they snag him if they just spent $1M more/year on Rafalski? It appears it's Hasek, Bertuzzi, and done.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a move for Rafalski here.

Refrain from the cursing. The reason there isn't a curse filter is because the memberbase as a whole doesn't repeatedly abuse it. I don't have to want to institute one now.

Would've preferred to have Schneider back, but not at that price tag. Thanks for the four years and good luck in Anaheim. (But not too much luck.)

Eklund = Rumor Mill forum ONLY.

[attachmentid=455] Brendan Smith Defense (St. Michael's - OPJHL) Height: 6'1.25" / Weight: 170 lbs. / Shoots: Left Born: February 8, 1989 in Toronto, Ontario Final CSB Ranking: 68 Mid-Term Ranking: 157 (North American Skater) Central Scouting Report: A skilled defenseman with good puck skills... has good mobility and a good skating stride... able to join the rush well and is creative with the puck... needs to make better decisions with the puck and move it quicker... needs to improve the consistency of his physical play. Hockey Profile: Finished his second season with St. Michael's leading all defensemen in points with 36 (12-24-36) and tied for the team lead with three short-handed goals in 2006-07... ranked third on his team, first among defensemen, with 20 points (6-14-20) in 16 playoff games in 2007... selected to participate in the CJAHL All-Star Game in 2006... played for Canada East at the 2006 World Junior A Championship, helping his team win silver... will attend the University of Wisconsin in the fall of 2007. Personal Profile: Nickname is Smitty... wears #14 after Brendan Shanahan... patterns his game after his favorite player, Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer ...because he is so defensively sound and has great offensive skills... most memorable hockey game played: a play-off game against the Red Wings - "I scored four goals and had two assists" ...most memorable hockey game watched: the final game of the OPJHL against the Stouffville Spirit - "I was out with an injury"... his pre-game ritual always includes stickhandling... if he could invite any three people to dinner he would choose: Brendan Shanahan - "my hometown hero", Will Farrell -"the funniest person in my eyes and at dinner you need humor" and Al Gore - "he is a very intelligent person, I would love to talk to him and hear some of his wisdom"... credits his parents for having the most influence on his career for all that they have sacrificed for his hockey... admires his grandfather for his hard work... favorites include: Buffalo Sabres (NHL team), "fake backhand then go upstairs on the forehand" (shootout move), Seinfeld (TV show), NHL 2007 (video game), Anchorman (movie), Will Ferrell (actor), Cameron Diaz (actress) and Nickelback (group). Statistics: 2006-07 St. Michael’s (OPJHL) - 39GP, 12G 24A 36PTS 90PIM

It's usually released in early July so that season ticket holders can have their packages mailed out at the end of the month.

NHL.com is scheduled to have a live video stream off of their site.

Just a link to a video -- nothing more, nothing less. If I come across more, I'll post them.

http://www.stmichaelsbuzzers.com/buzzers_new/default.aspx Select Clip #3.... It's Smith with a hat trick.