Sounds like the New York "Islanders" are no more...

[_SP_ 129]

Yeah, it seems nobody knows how Staten Island became a "borough" of NYC. LOL

[kipwinger 8,521]

Isles sign Boychuk to 7 years, 6 million per. Pretty steep.

[amato 3,210]

Just came here to post that. Crazy. I, don't know how their cap situation is but I'd imagine they're going to have to move some contracts in the next couple years..

[kipwinger 8,521]

Just came here to post that. Crazy. I, don't know how their cap situation is but I'd imagine they're going to have to move some contracts in the next couple years..

He now makes exactly as much as John Tavares makes. Nuts.

It's the term that kills me though. 6 million is too high, but he actually IS a good player. But 7 years for a 31 year old stay at home defenseman is awfully high.

Edited March 12, 2015 by kipwinger

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I wouldn't pay Boychuk $4 million. Good defensive defenseman, but hardly a top tiered D-man.

[kipwinger 8,521]

And he got a NTC for a few years. Who is his agent?

[amato 3,210]

He now makes exactly as much as John Tavares makes. Nuts.

It's the term that kills me though. 6 million is too high, but he actually IS a good player. But 7 years for a 31 year old stay at home defenseman is awfully high.

I agree. I'd expect that cap hit on a shorter term.. he'll probably be worth it for at least the first few years and definitely would've got a similar contract from someone in free agency so I don't really agree with it but it's not completely surprising I guess.... Edited March 12, 2015 by amato

[kipwinger 8,521]

This will be a brilliant move if they turn around and flip Boychuk and Matt Martin to the Flyers for Voracek and a 2nd lol.

Because Broad Street Bullies yo!

[rick zombo 3,739]

frank's gonna be pissssed

Also, 1.25M more per year than Kronwall? Unreal.

[e_prime 1,936]

He now makes exactly as much as John Tavares makes. Nuts.

It's the term that kills me though. 6 million is too high, but he actually IS a good player. But 7 years for a 31 year old stay at home defenseman is awfully high.

Extended Leddy and Boychuk. Sounds like Snow is really tired of losing his defensemen to Philly.

Maybe a bit expensive but when you've got the rest of your D locked up for another few years, or they are RFA (with the exception of Strait)

It isn't probably that much higher than what they (Leddy/Boychuk) might get on the open market.

Also, you have to figure that Visnovsky is about done. Maybe another year, but not at $6million.

[kipwinger 8,521]

I honestly haven't seen a lot of Boychuk over the years. Am I missing something? I mean, he's putting up better offense than he did in Boston, and I know he's a good defensive defender, but is he anywhere near 6 million dollars good? Even if it were on a shorter term?

[e_prime 1,936]

I honestly haven't seen a lot of Boychuk over the years. Am I missing something? I mean, he's putting up better offense than he did in Boston, and I know he's a good defensive defender, but is he anywhere near 6 million dollars good? Even if it were on a shorter term?

I watch A LOT of Isles games. He's pretty damn good. Leading the Isles defensemen in points. Has great chemistry with Leddy. Locking those two up for the next few (maybe 7 is too long) was totally worth it for the Isles. Shows that they're serious about contending.

As far as their cap woes and such.... Guessing that Snow figures he will lose at least one of his forwards to free agency (Grabner, Okposo, Neilson, Martin) but they're also currently sitting at a reasonable cap hit and some may only need a slight raise to keep around on whats turning out to be a really solid team.

Also, Yashin's cap hit finally comes off the books. So, there's another 2.2 million finally freed up.

Edited March 12, 2015 by e_prime

[e_prime 1,936]

EDIT: Double post

Edited March 12, 2015 by e_prime

[number9 3,297]

Yeah, he's good. But not 6 million for 7 years good by any stretch

[frankgrimes 1,836]

All I need to do is looking at Boston's defense without Johnny B. Sure some statsheet > all watchers will believe he is overpaid but the guy is the complete package: reliable in his own end (doesn't play like a forward), hits like a truck, will drop the gloves and has a laser from the blue line. Congrats Johnny b.well earned. Can't believe wings couldn't beat that damn offer when the isles got him for two seconds

It's a fair deal and he could have gotten more on the open market .

Edited March 12, 2015 by frankgrimes

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

He's having a career year with 32 points in 59 games. previous high was 23 in 75 games. I guess it's been a good change for him.

The fact that he's a rare breed as right handed Dman probably got him a bit more. Wisneiski's deal of 5.5 signed a few years ago plus inflation shows this deal make some sense.

Edited March 12, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[kliq 3,755]

Boston NEVER was going to trade Boychuk to Detroit. Giving a division rival exactly the piece they need would have been plain stupid.

[Shaman 713]

Anything within 250 miles of NYC is NYC. Look at the Giants in the NFL, they are in Jersey and that's still New York.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

As a side note with him re-signing this ufa class is shaping up to be average at best. Franson has to love this that guy will hit the jackpot.

[kliq 3,755]

Wow! 7 year deal at 6 million per year for a 31 year old! In 3 years from now this is going to be a horrible contract. I feel like we dodged bullet here.

Edited March 13, 2015 by kliq

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Wow! 7 year deal at 6 million per year for a 31 year old! In 3 years from now this is going to be a horrible contract. I feel like we dodged bullet here.

Boychuck made the big show at 26 so he's hardly the usual 31 old with a lot of miles on his body, guy has at least 4 good years left in him. Franson isn't at the same level but I'm sure someone will offer him 6 x 6 (which he obviously isn't worth) but the guy is the best available defenseman come July 1 which is saying tons about UFAs this season..

[krsmith17 7,191]

Franson >>> Boychuk

[kliq 3,755]

Boychuck made the big show at 26 so he's hardly the usual 31 old with a lot of miles on his body, guy has at least 4 good years left in him. Franson isn't at the same level but I'm sure someone will offer him 6 x 6 (which he obviously isn't worth) but the guy is the best available defenseman come July 1 which is saying tons about UFAs this season..

I didn't even mention Franson. Even if Boychuk started playing in the NHL at 26, he's still been playing pro hockey for a long time. The and wear and tear on a physical D-man is still substantial even if its from the minors. Statistics show (Lidstrom is an outlier) that come your mid thirties, you typically start to decline. When he is 34 years old and still has 4 years left at 6 million per year, his contract will be considered a horrible contract unless the cap jumps up.

I agree that the UFA class is weak, in today's NHL is usually is. This is why I believe the best way to move forward is to develop your own talent and make a trade/sign a UFA IF the right deal comes up. Franson is going to hold out for top dollar if history has shown anything, If I remember correctly he has had numerous contract holdouts/breakdowns with the Leafs over the years. (though I admit I could be wrong, and maybe the Leafs have been lowballing him).

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

I didn't even mention Franson. Even if Boychuk started playing in the NHL at 26, he's still been playing pro hockey for a long time. The and wear and tear on a physical D-man is still substantial even if its from the minors. Statistics show (Lidstrom is an outlier) that come your mid thirties, you typically start to decline. When he is 34 years old and still has 4 years left at 6 million per year, his contract will be considered a horrible contract unless the cap jumps up.

He's had his best year at 31. It's pretty reasonable that they'll get 3 really good years out of him. I think they'll probably get 4 good years and 2 substandard ones. I think they'd be happy with that. With Tavares, their window to win is now.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Didn't know where else to put this, so this thread fits it.

A Twitter user posted an image of Nick Leddys Minnesota drivers license and a MasterCard debit card with Nicholas Leddy on it. The user also posted images of an unidentified woman posing with Leddy, with derogatory words written over her face and body in Photoshop. The same woman appeared as the avatar on users account.

While the Tweets were later deleted, there were also reports of death threats towards Leddy originating from the account.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nick-leddy-threatened-by-twitter-user--nhl-security-intervenes-235941956.html

The good news is the FBI is investigating it...

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=759775