Hartley Miller's Slap Shots July 10
Friday, July 10, 2009 03:45 AM
The NHL has completed a week and a half of free agency and I must admit the player movements can create confusion as to which teams have upgraded, which teams have made sideway moves, and which ones have taken a tumble.
Here is a recap of how the six Canadian NHL clubs did:
Vancouver:
Additions: Mikael Samuelsson, Andrew Raycroft, Aaron Rome
Subtractions: Mattias Ohlund, Jason Labarbera, Mats Sundin
Re-Signed: Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Shane O'Brien
Comment: Rome was not built in a day. Sorry, I couldn't resist. After agreeing to a 3-year, $7.5 million deal I admire Samuelsson’s (208 points in 466 NHL games) honesty when the 32-year-old stated, “Obviously that (the money) was the key, I shouldn’t lie”.
Meanwhile, I can't figure out why the Canucks wanted Raycroft, other than a cheap $500,000 salary. He doesn't even provide the confidence level that Labarbera did as a back up.
Meanwhile, I can't figure out why the Canucks wanted Raycroft, other than a cheap $500,000 salary. He doesn't even provide the confidence level that Labarbera did as a back up.
Canucks General Manager, Mike Gillis, earns a B, especially for re-signing the Sedins.
Calgary:
Additions: Jay Bouwmeester, Fredrik Sjostrom, Jason Jaffray
Subtractions: Mike Cammalleri, Jordan Leopold, Adrian Aucoin
Re-signed: Adam Pardy, Jamie Lundmark
Comment: Good thing Bouwmeester can play a lot better than he can talk. Actually, his personality is an upgrade over GM Darryl Sutter.
A Bouwmeester for Cammalleri change results in a B+ for Sutter.
Edmonton:
Addition: Nikolai Khabibulin
Subtractions: Dwayne Roloson, Ales Kotalik
Re-Signed: Jason Strudwick
Comment: The Oilers improved in goal; and continue talks in hopes of acquiring disgruntled sniper Dany Heatley from Ottawa, offering Ladislav Smid, Andrew Cogliano, and Dustin Penner for the “head case”.
B for Oilers GM Steve Tambellini.
Ottawa:
Addition: Alex Kovalev
Subtractions: Alex Auld
Re-signed: Chris Neil
Comment: I am sorry to announce there is no truth to the rumor that Dany Heatley will work with the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. Heatley asked for a trade and then used his no movement clause to turn down a deal to Edmonton. He certainly has gall. Yes, that is gall with a G and not a B. Kovalev will help fill the void once Heatley is gone.
C + for Sens GM Bryan Murray.
C + for Sens GM Bryan Murray.
Toronto:
Additions: Francois Beauchemin, Mike Komisarek, Colton Orr, Garnet Exelby, Colin Stuart, Jonas Gustavsson
Subtractions: Pavel Kubina, Tim Stapleton
Re-signed: Mikhail Grabovski
Comment: I, like thousands of hockey fans, wonder how that trip Brian Burke took to Sweden just prior to July 1st on a Sedin mission worked out? Whoops! Even the NHL is investigating the circumstances. Yes, I agree, toughness on the back end in your line-up is important, but without skill up front what difference does it make?
C + for Burke the Leafs GM.
Montreal:
Additions: Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Hal Gill, Jaroslav Spacek, Tom Pyatt.
Subtractions: Mike Komisarek, Chris Higgins, Ryan McDonagh, Alex Kovalev, Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay.
Comment: Let the arguments begin; will all these changes benefit Montreal? We can all agree the new recruits are small.
C+ plus for Canadiens GM Bob Gainey. Yes, I give passing grades to the Canadian teams, but no A's on the report card.
Now, briefly, here's a look at the American teams.
Improved:
Chicago: added Marian Hossa, John Madden, Tomas Kopecky; lost Martin Havlat, Nikolai Khabibulin, Sami Pahlsson, Matt Walker; re-signed Cam Barker, Kris Versteeg, Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Aaron Johnson.
Philadelphia: added Chris Pronger, Ian Lapierierre, Ray Emery, Brian Boucher; lost Mike Knuble, Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, Martin Biron, Antero Niittymaki
NY Rangers: added Marian Gaborik, Ales Kotalik, Donald Brashear, Tyler Arnason, Chris Higgins, Ryan McDonagh, Brian Boyle; lost Scott Gomez, Colton Orr.
Tampa Bay: added Mattias Ohlund, Lukas Krajicek, Matt Walker, Stephane Veilleux, Kurtis Foster; lost ex PG Cougar David Koci
Columbus: added Sami Pahlsson, Mathieu Garon; lost Arron Rome; re-signed Rick Nash.
Atlanta: added Nik Antropov, Pavel Kubina, Tim Stapleton; lost Garnet Exelby, Colin Stuart; re-signed Chris Thorburn, Jim Slater.
LA: added Ryan Smyth, Rod Scuderi; lost Tom Preissing, Kyle Quincy.
Washington: added Mike Knuble; lost Donald Brashear.
Phoenix: added Jason Labarbera, Adrian Aucoin, Vern Fiddler; lost Jim Balsillie (or did they?) and re-signed Petr Prucha.
NY Islanders: added Dwayne Roloson.
Stayed put:
Dallas: added Karlis Skrastins, Jeff Woywitka; Alex Auld, lost Steve Begin; re-signed Jere Lehtinen, Sergei Zubov.
St Louis: added Ty Conklin; lost Jeff Woywitka, Jay McKee; re-signed Mike Weaver, Brad Winchester, B.J. Crombeen
San Jose: lost Brian Boucher, Claude Lemieux; re-signed Rob Blake, Ryan Clowe, Kent Huskins.
Carolina: re-signed Erik Cole, Chad Larose, and Jussi Jokinen.
Nashville: lost Greg Zanon, Vern Fiddler; re-signed Steve Sullivan, Joel Ward.
Regressed:
Detroit: lost Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler, Tomas Kopecky, Ty Conklin; re-signed Ville Leino.
Florida: added Scott Clemmensen, Jordan Leopold; lost Jay Bouwmeester, Craig Anderson; Karlis Skrastins, Nick Boynton; re-signed David Booth, Richard Zednik, Radek Dvorak.
New Jersey: lost Brian Gionta, John Madden, Mike Rupp, Scott Clemmensen; re-signed Johnny Oduya, Andy Greene.
Anaheim: added Saku Koivu, Luca Sbisa, Joffrey Lupol, Nick Boynton; lost Chris Pronger, Francois Beauchemin; re-signed Scott Niedermayer, Erik Christiansen, Todd Marchant.
Colorado: added Craig Anderson, Kyle Quincy, David Koci, Tom Priessing; lost Ryan Smyth, Ian Lapierriere, Tyler Arnason, Andrew Raycroft, Joe Sakic; re-signed Peter Budaj
Minnesota: added Martin Havlat, Greg Zanon, Shane Hnidy; lost Marian Gaborik, Stephane Veilleux,
Kurtis Foster.
Kurtis Foster.
Pittsburgh: added Mike Rupp; lost Hal Gill, Rob Scuderi, Mathieu Garon; re-signed Bill Guerin, Ruslan Fedotenko, Craig Adams.
Buffalo: added Steve Montador; lost Jaroslav Spacek.
Boston: added Steve Begin; lost Shane Hnidy, Steve Montador; re-signed Mark Recchi, Byron Bitz.
In my estimation, just as many Western teams made a gain as the East. Teams like Calgary, Chicago, Philadelphia, and the Rangers improved, but I cannot say one club hit a home run. Other teams like Detroit and New Jersey tumbled, but not enough to have a substantial fall.
Final Thought: I wasn't surprised PG’s 29-year-old goaltender Jason Labarbera left Vancouver, but was surprised he ended up in Phoenix (2 years, $2 million). Ilya Bryzgalov is clearly the Coyotes number one stopper and 24-year-old American Al Montoya, a former first round pick, is the team’s goalie of the future. However, Labarbera will at least be able to compete for ice time, something that was not going to happen with the Canucks.
From the quote rack:
Oscar Mayer has passed away at 95. Volunteering to be pall bearers---Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi.
Shaq's motto in Cleveland will be 'Win a ring for the King'. Let's hope it doesn't turn into 'Put up a brick for the...'Oh, never mind..
Anna Kournikova's recent bar brawl in Las Vegas was a shocker--it's the first time she's been in action on a weekend.
Contrary to earlier reports of a physical altercation, the Anna Kournikova 'brawl'--according to one onlooker--was nothing more than a 'screaming match'. So, once again, with Anna, lots of looks and promise turns out to be nothing.
Former Dolphin WR Mark Duper is selling his time to appear at such events as birthdays, weddings, and bar mitzvahs. You can reach him at 1-800-JON-DALY.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison. On the bright side for Bernie, by the time he gets out, Brett Favre may have finally decided about retirement.
Arizona has passed a law allowing people to bring guns into bars. In related news, Plaxico Burress immediately instructed his agent to start negotiating with the Cardinals.
Shaquille O’Neal says that his motto in Cleveland will be “a ring for the King” (referring to Lebron James.) Either he is promising a championship or he is bringing a good referral from Kobe’s jeweler.
Okay, for anyone who thinks only men are tough enough to play pro sports, I give you Candace Parker. She returned to practice for the Los Angeles Sparks, six weeks after having a baby. If men were required to take six weeks off from sports after the birth of their baby, it would shut down the NBA.
Staples Center was the site of Michael Jackson’s public memorial ceremony. The arena was chosen partly for all its experience hosting thousands of crying people, although usually they are Clippers fans.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
A nurse who was caring for singer Michael Jackson says he begged her to administer powerful IV drugs to help him sleep. She said she had something that was even better; the LA Clippers 2008 highlight reel.
A budget Chinese airline has applied for permission to sell tickets to passengers who will stand in the aisles of its flights. And you thought it was annoying when the passenger passing gas was sitting next to you.
A South Dakota man was arrested after trying to rob a hotel with a butter knife. When you are using a weapon like a butter knife to commit a crime, there is just no margarine for error.
A baseball game in San Diego between the Padres and the Astros was delayed 52 minutes because a swarm of bees took over part of left field. Bee experts say they were attracted to their queen bee. In baseball, there is only one queen: Manny Ramirez.
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
Reporters scrambled to answer the question, would (Dany) Heatley waive his no-trade clause to join the Oilers? How does someone who asks to be traded then refuse to waive a no-trade clause? Is this not like subscribing to eHarmony then refusing to date?
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