Hemmers

5 million plus a 5 million signing bonus, and then the pay drops off towards the end. The total contract is 50 million over 7 years.

7-years 50 million, champ. That's just a hair over 7 million a season for one of the best offensive young talents in the NHL. I'd happily pay that much if I were an NHL GM.

The solution, I imagine, is to sign your RFAs before July 1st. What this has done is possibly shown teams around the NHL that locking up their RFAs before the 1st should be something of a priority. Unsuccessful, sure. Who says that Vanek was their primary target? What this shows is that the Oilers are serious about icing a contender this year, and after having struck out in the UFA market, not to mention being seemingly unable to find a trade partner, they'll take whatever means necessary to do it. I would imagine that Edmonton just became a somewhat more favourable destination for players; they're willing to pay for talent and they're willing to do whatever's necessary to win. I've never understood the whole RFA thing anyways. Why is it considered bad form to play by the rules? I hope that this changes the mentality of GMs around the NHL. RFA offer sheets should be a part of doing business, not some kind of terrible thing to do.

Well, at least you acknowledge your ignorance I bear no ill will towards the Capitals for this, but if anything close to what has been reported as happening has, in fact, happened then that's just bush league and Nylander should be given some sort of punishment. He's far from stable anyways. -John

Well, if it's actually what the Oilers are saying it is (and I can't imagine them being stupid enough to make that kind of press release unless they had good, solid legal counsel that it was the case), then I imagine something will happen, although specifically what I couldn't say. Kind of underhanded crap that won't fly nowadays, maybe back in the 50s. -John

I'm going to edit that video and make it my new avatar. Hasek's amazing extendo-stick. I can see it now. I think it's far more likely that he got the Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty for something he said to Iginla while he was gesturing with his stick, probably along the lines of 'Touch me and I cram this stick where you wouldn't like it.'

Hasek; goalie, gentleman, Olympic Gymnast.

See, the best part about winning in Calgary is all the bandwagon fans there can still return their jerseys to Sport Chek, who I believe has a 14 day return policy. So everyone wins!

Yeah, it looked more like Hasek was feinting at Iginla, and I imagine there was something said by him along the lines of 'Do it again and I will shove this stick where the sun does not shine'. And seconded, who's Noodles?

Well, Detroit's my choice in the West (although I do like San Jose too), so I'll keep cheering for the Wings unless they run into the Senators.. then I'm afraid I'll have to switch sides. And now that the gap-toothed wonder is in Anaheim, any ill will you have towards him is only magnified in Edmonton. -John

I live in Edmonton, so it's like a 3 hour drive. We'll make a day trip of it, I'll pack sandwiches. -John

I don't care what you think about goalies not being properly protected, if you're defending McLennan's woodchopping swing, you've obviously got no idea about what a reasonable response should be. Unfortunately, it seems like the Flames never took anger management classes, unbelievable goonery in the last part of the game today. Excellent veiled attack on Canada, I bet your mother is proud. -John

Hey, his post-game interview tonight wasn't actually that bad, for the man with four brain cells. He mentioned that there were a lot of penalties, that Detroit took better advantage of their chances, and that Edmonton had to play better on the PP. Less than I had hoped for, I was predicting he'd grab the microphone and start swinging it at random media people, yelling 'NO COMMENT!' at the top of his lungs. -John