LeftWinger

...ok, well, they were right. There was a flurry of action on day 1 of the UFA season. My problem is, really only one team did anything to actually better their chances of winning a Stanley Cup and that is the Rangers. Now don't jump all over me, sure there were some good signings throughtout the league, but for the most part, they were lateral moves or moves that really didn't make sense at all. Who do I blame? I blame the players for just signing where they can get the most money. Not many players made deceisions based on chances to win the Cup... 1. Drury & Gomez & the Rangers were the big winners on day 1. The Rangers are a good team, and they got tons better with these signings. The only thing that remains to be seen is if they can gel all that talent together to make a team. 2. Detroit pretty much made a latteral move with Rafalski. They lost Schneider and felt they needed to fill his void. Rafalski is younger and maybe a little better defensively, but for the most part, he and Mat are very much alike. 3. Anaheim actually took a step back, if indeed Neidermayer is retiring. But they needed to replace Scott and Mat obviously wanted to go somewhere near his home with a chance to win the Cup. This was a no brainer and was actually discussed a few weeks ago on this forum. ...these are the only three transactions that made any sense to me. Those players actually made decisions based on chances to win the Stanley Cup along with getting some cheddar to go with it... ...now, the rest of what went on made no sense what so ever, and I blame the players. Obviosly teams are looking for that missing link, but nothing else that went on yesterday did anything to improve their chances (teams or the players who signed) of winning the Cup... 1. Kariya signs in St. Louis. ROFLMFAO! Nice to see Kariya will never hoist the Cup at least until he goes somehwere for a little less money to actually try and win! St. Louis has to be one of the teams furthest away from winning and signing Paul doesn't get them any closer. 2. Ryan Smith signs with Colorodo. Another laugher! All about the Benjamins I guess! Colorado will not contend this season, much like last year. Smith will add some scoring to their team, but I think he will quickly realize that he made a mistake signing in Colorado. But he did it for the money so I guess if he is happy with the cash, he'll be happy in Colorado. No Cup though. 3. Daniel Briere in Philly. So much talent wasted. This guy should have been looking at the Rangers/Ducks/Red Wings or Senators. Maybe the Sharks. If Briere ever wants to win a Cup, he needs to get a different agent. Sure he got him a lot of money, but Philly? Come on Danny! They was a reason they were the worst team in the league, unfortunately the addition of you and Biron isn't going to help that much. He could've gotten $6.5MM anywhere else... 4. Jason Blake to Toronto. Well, for all the talk this kid gets on this forum, he hasn't made a good decision yet. Excpet where to get paid. Dude, if you wanna win, take a paycut. ...we will see where day two leads us, so far nothing huge or nothing to get excited about. After day one, the best got better or remained consistant and a lot of good teams got worse plus a lot of greedy players lost great chances to win a cup before they retire. Good for them, bad for the league and the fans...

...anyone interested in Mike York? He is a center...

...that should mean they shouldn't have a problem gelling as a team. That is pretty cool, it's kinda like they all moved on together. ...anybody interested in Brad Stuart over Dany Markov? ...I am surprised Souray hasn't gone anywhere yet. Maybe he is asking too much?

...the problem is, they cannot sellout the arena. They aren't making any money, they needed to cut ties with the (potential) high dollar guys. They will have an inferior product on the ice that will coincide with their inferior fan base. (not knocking the large amount of good fans out there, but for the most part... yeah, inferior.) ...I'd give them a couple of later draft picks if they want to rid themselves of Legwand...

..the trade came AFTER the signing. Sure they did get better from last season, but Lupul never panned out in Edmonton, Smith is mediocre. Timonen is good and Hartnell, well can be good, can be a detriment. I hope they do get better, I have always liked Philly as a secondary team, and hope they do better this year, but we'll see... ...ok, how bout the team to fair the worst so far this off season? Buffalo & Nashville. Looks like it'll be a one team army in the Central this year. Nothing like being able to pad your point total... They should rename it to the Wings Division!

...understood, but as long as these players are happy making decisions on the cash or friends and NOT winning a Cup anytime soon, then shame on them. Unless they REALLY do not care to win a Cup. I guess getting paid to have fun isn't that bad of a concept either, but eventually doesn't every hockey player want to hoist the Cup? Maybe I am wrong here... ...on a sidenote, I think I wouldn't have minded seeing Darryl Sydor in Detroit for the $2.5 he got from Pitt...

...it is my understanding that Grigs has to be on the big club or he can opt back to Russia. So I would assume that means he is guaranteed a roster spot for this upcoming season. Either way, he will be a Red Wing. If this guy is not yet 100% he still is better than most other Russian prospects out there, he may not have the effect that Fedorov had on the league, he may not be as effective as Datsyuk, but, he will be effective, unless, like someone mentioned, Babcock uses him in ways that hinder his talent. This is why we need to give Larioov ANY amount of money he wants to come here and be our coach. I seriously think Babcock is the reason we failed last season, and the season before last. He's a good coach, but doesn't utilize his talent in the correct way...

...I like the No-Movement clause, is that the new CBA's version of a no trade clause?!?!?!? OoOOoOOoO Mr. Big Shot Bettman, wowing us with your big words!!!! OOooOooOoOOOo!

...adam hall? Local Kid....sorta...

...we can always see if Selanne and Karyia will sign for pennies again... ...Mike Comrie? ...Peca? ...arrrghhhH!!!!

...hmmmm, 6.25 per year average. Detroit could've done it, I guess he didn't really wanna come to a contender. Oh well, we lost out on ALL the top level UFA forwards! Bring on the 2nd tier UFA's! Nolan, O'Neil, Kozzie, Ricci....anyone?

...WHy would Bert want to go to Boston? If Dom wants to win, he should sign for $1MM plus incentives. Give Bert $3.5MM. Still not enough to sign Smyth, but isn't Karyia, Forsberg or Guerin still available? We could pick up some quick help for a couple of years someone maybe like Nolan, Ricci or Peca, Jeff O'Neil. Any of these guys should sign at or below $3MM, leaveing us some cash for the trade deadline...

...speaking of Smyth, anyone surprised that he hasn't gone yet? Sure he may be watching and waiting, but wow all these big names signing and no Smyth. He'll almost for sure get $7MM or higher now! So much for our dream! Bring on Kozzie...

...just like the old days. Would you have ever thought that in a salary cap NHL that the Rangers, or anyone for that matter, can have a team UNDER the salary cap with the likes of Jagr, Drury, Gomez, Shanahan, etc... ...I guess league parity is nothing but a sad parting goodbye, it's back to the Rags signing all the top UFA's, let's hope it's the same result as the 90's early 00's (minus 94 of course.)

...anyone ready for an original 6 SCF? Detroit vs. Rags! NOW THAT IS RATINGS!!!!

....gee, I wonder if Holland paid Rafalski more just to show Schneider what he could have had? Illitch is a rub it in your face kind of owner...

...yep, nice to replace Schneider, but I still think Meech and Quincey deserved the shot and we should have went big on the wing. BUt, hey, I am not a Gm, maybe Smyth's agent told them no... ...looks like we will sign Bertuzzi and one other forward to fill our roster... ...welcome back Fedorov at the trade deadline! LOL! J/K! Funny nobody has mentioned him in a while! ...maybe Holland isn't done, maybe he has more tricks and cash up his sleeve!

...Bertuzzi, Hasek.... Tomorrow, Smyth...

...I'd pay Bert 3.5, that just means that we for sure will have to part ways with Schneider and Markov in order to sign on of the big three, Smyth, Drury or Briere. My vote is Smyth and bring up Quincey & Meech(Kindl.) ...I still drool over the potential top three lines with Bertuzzi, Holmstrom & Smyth on their respected wing...

...well, lets see, Kronwall has had a career of injuries, lets not resign him when he is a UFA. Hmmmm, there's been a couple of seasons that Datsyuk missed some games because of injury, lets trade him. Hell, Zetterberg was out last year for the last 20 or so games, lets trade him too. We have to, because if he hits the boards at a weird angle, then his career could be over... ...if ANYBODY hits the boards at a bad angle, ANYONE could have thier career ended. Lets not sign anyone if that is the case... ...give Bert the $3MM and get Smyth in a Wings uniform...

...maybe 8 years ago, but not now, his head isn't in the game anymore...

....allright, just like we said before, Get Hasek, Bertuzzi signed. Drop Schneider & Markov, bring up Quincey & Meech throw the rest of your money at Ryan Smith for 2 years... ...although, with Briere rejecting the Sabres offer... Hmmmmm..... choices, choices...

...you guys make me laugh! You loved him when he was here, bitched when he got traded and now you hate him cause he doesn't play for us! Just like Shanahan, Fedorov & Avery, you'd cheer them if they came back. How many of you hated Hasek when he was talking about possibly returning last season? Most of you said the same s***, "HELL NO!" Now you love him again... ...if the WIngs picked up Drake, they'd be picking up a leader, someone who isn't afraid to hit and someone who has a heart bigger than the St. Louis Arch. Not that there is room forhim on this team, but theoretically speaking...

...well, if this is true about Chicago trying to dump the salary, then why not just buy him out and then we can sign him for pennies on the dollar? ...I'd really rather use that extra 1.2 to add to what we need to offer Smyth to come here...

...well, even if you don't sign Smyth, in two years you are going to have 3 players making that salary, what's the difference? If Lidstrom wants to stay around then maybe he'll take less to ice a winning team. He already is NOT making league maximum, he may take $4-5MM to help out for more cups. Stevie did it, Nick could foloow, especially with Steve being involved with the Negotiations... ...all I am saying is that it's possible and that is something Holland should look at...