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Just finished reading the Harry Potter series. All seven books in 10 days... I get totally engulfed and spend hours and hours at a time reading, my fiancee hates it. Going through and re-reading Angels & Demons, DaVinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Deception Point, and Digital Fortress. I JUST found out he released a followup to the Langdon series, Inferno, last year. So I'll read D.P. and D.F. (they aren't in the series, they are totally different characters) and then roll through the other four. I tell ya, DaVinci Code is his most famous, but Angels & Demons blows it and all others out of the water. That was an incredible adventure with excitement, fear, puzzles, heartache, etc. etc. Definitely the #2 book I've ever read (H.P. is #1 for me).

I'm going to go with Stephen Weiss................... Five years was four too long for a guy with a number of minor injuries throughout his career, one major injury leading into FA, and brought on to replace a guy who was at worst his equal.

Thanks. I felt that, since they're a huge rival and really sets a new floor for contracts going forward (hellllllloooooo next lockout!), it deserved its own thread. I didn't see it in the off-season signings thread, because I didn't look in there- figured that was reserved for new signings, not extensions/re-signings LOL.

The Chicago Blackhawks have reached eight-year deals with star forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the team announced Wednesday. Each contract is worth a total of $84 million, sources said. Both deals are front-loaded and each includes $44 million in signing bonuses, a source told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun. Kane and Toews previously agreed to matching five-year, $31.5 million extensions in 2009 that were set to expire after this coming season. They now will be with the Blackhawks through the 2022-23 season. "I could not be more grateful for the amazing moments and opportunities I've been given by the Chicago Blackhawks," Toews said in a statement. "There's no organization in sports that cares more about the overall experience of their fans and the success of their players. To have the chance to continue with this amazing group of teammates and people throughout the organization is an incredible honor. There's nothing we want more as players than to continue to win Stanley Cups for the best hockey fans on the planet." Kane shared similar feelings. "It's great to be able to continue my career in Chicago. Playing with the best organization in sports and the best fans in the game is a blessing," he said in a statement. "Since I was drafted by the Blackhawks, the people of Chicago have really embraced me and treated me with nothing but respect. I look forward to many more years of success with the Blackhawks." Kane and Toews, both top-5 draft picks, began their NHL careers together for the Blackhawks in 2007, and they have been behind the franchise's resurgence the last seven seasons. Chicago has won two Stanley Cup titles, has reached four Western Conference finals and has made six consecutive playoff appearances since their arrival. "Jonathan and Patrick have become cornerstones of this franchise during their time in Chicago," Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said in a statement. "We are excited to ensure they will continue to lead our organization for years to come." Kane, 25, has 178 goals and 315 assists in 515 career regular-season games, as well as 37 goals and 54 assists in 93 playoff games. He was awarded the 2008 Calder Memorial Trophy and the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy. Toews, 26, has 195 goals and 245 assists in 484 career regular-season games, including 29 goals and 52 assists in 94 playoff games. He was awarded the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy and 2013 Frank J. Selke Trophy. Toews also has been the Blackhawks captain since the 2008-09 season. A news conference to announce their signings will be held at the United Center next week.

Jiri seems so excited about this kid and brings up really his only question mark: health. He has/had the skills to be drafted, but not healthy. If they can keep him on the ice, I think he'll be one of those guys whom surprises everyone.

If you're trading two of Tatar, Nyquist, or Franzen, it better be for true #1 -- defenseman, RW, etc... In my opinion, you don't trade them for anything but Phil Kessel...

Interest? Investments? Real Estate? This guy graduated from Harvard. If you don't think he stood to make a LOT of money, you're out of your mind. Don't be hateful; the money isn't coming out of your pocket, it's coming from the NHL- a group of individuals who did everything in their power to essentially cover this up and make it his fault. Also, there are such things a PUNITIVE damage. Better known as, "Since you screwed up, we're not only giving him COMPENSANTORY damages for what he lost out on personally, but we're penalizing you for your role." Not to mention prevailing plantiff $$$. Basically, in a civil court, the court can put a percentage on negligent responsibility of both parties- meaning that the plaintiff may only be awarded a "partial win" in that they too were worthy of a portion of blame for the incident and therefore not entitled to all of the money they are seeking. But if they are labeled a prevailing plantiff, it means that they are reasonably entited to having attorneys' fees paid for by the other party due to their "prevailing" win.

You can't say that for certain. If a guy like Bryan Bickell can get a 4-year, $16M contract, is it out-of-realm that Moore would have made $35-45M contract on-ice in a 10- or 12-year career? Add in any endorsements and after-hockey work that he now cannot make due to the serious injuries he sustained (this is where the battle will revolve mostly), and it is very easy to come up with $60-70 million. I don't know if the injuries have cause significant-enough issues to leave him in such bad shape as what he's claiming, but that's not for me to decide nor to doubt-- it is for the judge to decide.

Risk Management. You can sign a guy like that, use up 1/9th of your cap space, move him into a different system, and pray that he still performs at the same level-- all while giving up chances in the next FOUR drafts to make up for it if he busts, or you can pass, fill from within, or take a shot in the next FOUR DRAFTS to find FOUR players who have similar potential to be as good.

Any offer sheet over 3.5M will cost a 1st round pick... do you all really want to give up a 1st in the "best draft evar"?

Without a doubt, Nyquist regresses a bit. If simply for nothing else other than less playing time, his shooting percentage will be VERY hard to replicate. That's a career-year for a LOT of guys. I think he'll settle into a 25-28-53 season this year, which will still be impressive given his age and experience. I don't see him hitting 30 goals this season, but he shouldn't have to with an increase in production from the guys that were injured last year. I eventually see him as a top-line guy, but this year he should succeed in the top-six and people need to temper their expectations given the circumstances.

Are you kidding??? Who was injured when AndersSon was playing??? Datsyuk... Zetterberg...Helm... Weiss... all those guys we just listed. DEPTH = 6-8 guys who can play center, NOT who can play center ON THE FIRST LINE. I get the feeling you just like to argue with people. Half your arguments make no sense, other than to rile people up.

By the way, 'D' hunting sounds like the PMS-version of a golf outing....

I disagree. I see Tomas Tatar as a 20/20, PK guy the rest of his career settling into a 2nd or 3rd line role... I see Nyquist as a 30/20 guy, eventually becoming a top-line player. I know the advanced metrics say he is going to regress this upcoming year, but I do not think it will be so significant that people are going to be screaming for him to be sent back to GR or the third line... He's got top line potential, whereas I see Tatar maxing out as a two-way, 2nd line player. Those guys can be had... see Abdelkader/Helm. A top line scorer who makes smart passes and understands the angles and positioning with seemingly ease? Not so much.

I agree with you on DeKeyser; he's closer to UFA than anyone else and, given he'll be in the top-4 pairing, I imagine he'll either get $2.5M/yr for 2 years (90%) or a $4.50M/yr deal for 4 years (10%). I believe he will be a $6M/yr candidate on the open market in two years, so it's probably best to lock him up now with the extra space available. I can't see his agent encouraging him to sign for more than two years, but being able to lock up more than $12M (after taxes and such) at 24-years-old would be hard to pass up. Certainly agree. I love his two-way game, but I don't see him being a major factor down the road. I see him being in line with Abdelkader and Helm already, so if you're going to keep guys, I'd recommend keeping Mantha, Jurco, Nyquist, and Sheahan, first. Tatar reminds me of a guy like Jordan Staal; a great defensive forward but never a guy to excel on the 2nd line or score more than 50 points in a season. I believe the other four could all find their place in the top-six (I see a future of Nyquist- (UNKNOWN) - Mantha and Jurco - Sheahan - Pulkkinen) if all continue their development. Pulkkinen reminds me of a very young Selanne. I could see him being an offensive-zone specialist, for sure.

LOL As someone who was expecting big things this off-season and is HIGHLY disappointed... it's a SHAME to think some of you are so blinded by your hatred for KH that you don't think this team can compete. NOBODY thought the Rangers would come out of the East- not with the Bruins, Penguins, Canadiens, or Red Wings in the playoffs. But they did. Because they made a good move at the deadline, were healthy, and believed in themselves. Do you all think that Nyquist, Sheahan, Jurco, Smith, Tatar, and DeKeyser are ALL going to play WORSE than they did last year?? Let's say Nyquist regresses to a norm of 25-goals... with Zetterberg and Datsyuk back, that should be enough! If Weiss puts up even just 40 assists, this team is going to be better. The strides made between years one and two are usually very noticeable (ie. Brendan Smith, anyone?). And if you think all of the rookies are going to regress, why not have some faith that Kindl improves to his average after an awful season last year? This isn't a bad team. This team should finish anywhere from 4th-10th in the conference. You don't initiate a firesale before the season's began if you know you have a fighting shot.

Remember, we went into last season with the same issues. And there were obvious ways around it. I wholeheartedly believe that all three of those teams will find a way to keep their core together without cap issues. Heck, look at what Brad Richards did to sign there-- that was a "I want a championship" move! Other guys get bought out and still sign ridiculously high deals (Lecavalier, anyone?). He considered the buyout as part of his current salary... Could you imagine our cap flexibility if Lecavalier signed here last year for $2-3M per year instead of Weiss at $4.9M? The team could have paid Vanek or Stastny big dollars and been more than well off. At some point, these guys need to stop being greedy and think about their chances of a Cup, like Richards did.

If you would have told me the Red Wings signed absolutely nobody, I would have been okay with that, over the alternative. Bringing back Quincey to play in a system that doesn't work for him doesn't make a lick of sense to me. Kronwall-Smith Ericsson-DeKeyeser Ouellet-Kindl Marchenko Great? No. Better than Quincey at $4.25M for TWO years (with Ouellet and Sproul coming on strong)? NO THANKS! The forwards don't look horrible... Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Alfredsson Franzen-Weiss-Nyquist Tatar-Sheahan-Jurco Miller-Helm-Abdelkader Is it what I wanted? No. Is it OMG FIRE EVERYBODY horrible? No. I don't like Franzen, I wish we were able to get Iginla, and I have NEVER liked Weiss -- even the day he was signed. But do I think it gets us to the playoffs? Yes. Do I think there are pieces that can be moved around for a run at a dominant blueliner or winger? Sure. Drew Stafford, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, and Chris Stewart are all candidates to move on after this upcoming year. Paul Martin and Mike Green might be moved, too, as their teams won't be able to pay them for extensions. The team has trade pieces and I wouldn't mind seeing a guy like Tatar being moved straight up at the deadline for a player whom won't remain with his current team anyway. This team isn't broken by any means. And further strides by Smith and DeKeyser could make a world of difference in the top-4.

Same. I think the Nyquist deal set the standard. I see the same for Tatar.

The best part of this isn't that they re-signed him, it's that they gave him a RAISE after the last 180 games...

LMAO! After the past two years, they gave him a RAISE?! WTF.........

Disagree with the assessment right now. In a 60-minute game, you're playing an average of 7-8 minutes tops on the power play (each team takes roughly 3-4 penalties per game). Unless Sproul takes leaps and bounds this off-season defensively, he is a liability still at the NHL level and does not bring enough in the offensive end to make up for that.

The city leaders bankrupting the place? The national press only commenting on foreclosures, gangs, and crime? The crappy school systems? The age of the Joe? "History" doesn't mean as much to this new generation, they want to be welcomed into a state-of-the-art facility. There's a lot more to moving your family and getting settled in a new state and city than just the players on the team or the money being offered. Relativity Principle... is the 48th Million as important as the 1st? probably not...

Dumb. No way I'm signing Boyle for a third year. Let's play a game... which of the signings do you feel WEREN'T overpayments, and you truly wish KH beat? 1) Iginla 2) Richards 3) Ehroff That's it. The rest of these were significant overpayments and no guarantee to be better than what we have for the price they're at. If you could have guaranteed me the team was able to move Weiss, then I'd say sure sign Stastny for $7.25M AAV... other than that, this wasn't a particularly strong FA class. I like Ouellet to win a spot and produce moreso than Niskanen or any guy not named Ehroff or Boyle -- but not at three years....

The team has a number of players whom are seemingly loaded with potential: Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Mantha, Jurco, Sproul, Ouellet.... That's four wingers and a center with top-six potential (say, Nyquist-?-Mantha as a top line & Tatar-Sheahan-Jurco as the second) going forward. Ouellet and Sproul project to top-4 defensemen. Same with DeKeyser and Smith. Who knows if they're all going to pan out, but we're not the Panthers or Islanders by any means. We still have a core of other quality players, including Kronwall, Ericsson, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk. Helm and Abdelkader should be quality third-line guys.... this team is still a playoff-contending team. That being said.. I'm not happy with today. But that doesn't mean it's time to abandon ship by any means.