Doughty Ransom Paid

Doughty Hold Out Ends With A Pay Day

It was a little touch and go there for a while, but the Kings have finally locked up their star.  They’ve made Doughty the highest paid player on their roster, which is exactly what GM Dean Lombardi wanted to avoid.  The two sides were really bickering over a very symbolic 200K per year.  That extra money means Doughty is the franchise player, and top center Anze Kopitar is just a notch below.  The team wanted to give Doughty an annual salary of 6.8 million dollars, and he eventually settled on an 8-year deal that will pay him 56 million dollars, and an annual salary of 7 million.

Prediction Time: Atlantic Division, pt 1

Everything in the Atlantic Division is going to depend on the health of Sidney Crosby.   While the Pens proved last year that they could see enormous success even with two of the best players in the world watching from the sidelines, adding Crosby and Malkin makes them a whole different kind of beast.  If these two are both healthy, that could mean a world of hurt for other teams in this division.  Teams like the Islanders, Rangers and Devils, who made moderate to substantial improvements, could see their efforts squashed if the Penguins are ready to be the dominant team in the East once more.  Perhaps worst off though, would be the Philadelphia Flyers, who will almost undoubtedly have some growing pains to experience after having gutted their roster this summer in order to fit in the high-priced Ilya Bryzgalov.  Facing off against a full flight flock of Penguins, the Flyers will not be afforded much – if any – time for putting it all together.

Leafs Robbery and Heatley on the Move

There isn’t much to complain about if you’re a Toronto Maple Leaf fan looking at the team’s most recent trade.  Brett Lebda is a nice guy, but he was about 37th on the depth chart and had become a lightning rod for fan animosity over the last season.  His 1.45 million dollar salary was shipped out in exchange for speedy center Matthew Lombardi, and the towering offensive defender, Cody Franson.  Lombardi is reunited with former friends and teammates in Dion Phaneuf and Colby Armstrong, while Franson and his family fulfill a life long dream in having Cody don the blue and white. 

NHL News for 06/28/11

If you read only one article in today’s news blog, read Kariya’s ‘no punches pulled’ interview regarding hits to the head in today’s game.  There are arguments for both sides, but when a star like Kariya steps up and goes to bat for a cause, he deserves the attention of the room.   In other news, Wisniewski will not be returning to the Habs after having his rights traded to Columbus.  Chris Drury has accepted a buy out in New York.  The Panthers continue to try and sign Tomas Vokoun but speculation says that it he will end up in Denver.  The Predators have made some sort of error in qualifying their free agents which could cost them.  All this and more in the stories of the day:

Free Agency Approaches; Market Dwindling

As July 1st gets closer the number of names available appears to be shrinking.  The Canucks locked up Bieksa yesterday and a flurry of signings followed today.  The Canadiens signed Hamrlik to an extension.  The Hurricanes were able to gather enough money to resign Joni Pitkanen for three more years.  Brooks Laich received a monstrous contract that will see him paid 27 million dollars over the next 6 years.  Some important players are out of play now, but things should still get interesting leading up to Friday’s main event.

As always, links to the biggest stories of the day are below:

Around The NHL Today

As general managers around the league start putting in the paper work to get their restricted free agents locked up to new contracts and send qualifying offers to retain their rights, speculation about free agency continues to amp up.  Questions abound about how certain teams will make it to the cap floor, and whether the big time restricted free agents will receive massive offer sheets come Friday.

In other news, Jeff Carter spoke to the media for the first time since the trade.  He is angry, but not at the notion of playing in Columbus (though really, it’s not as though he would say so if he were), but at how he was handled by the Flyers organization.  Sidney Crosby is getting back into game shape.  Brad Richards continues to be the main event for July 1st, seemingly with no one organization in the lead to acquire his services.  Finally, the new Jets jersey is coming, and those who have seen it say it will be worth the wait.  For all this and more, check out the days happenings in more detail at the links below:

Draft Day Has Arrived

There’s a lot going on in the NHL today leading up to the draft.  Rumors continue to pick up about the Leafs possibly swinging a major deal today, while other teams have started to resign some of their players.  Brad Richards confirms he is definitely going to the market on July 1st, and there is some chatter about the aftermath of yesterday’s double blockbuster trade.  All this leading up to the expected announcment of the name of the new Winnipeg franchise later tonight.  If you’re bored, waiting for things to happen leading up to the draft, check out the links below to kill the time.

Around The NHL Today

Here is an update on some of the news and rumors floating around the NHL leading up the draft.  Richards will go to the market on July 1st, as was largely expected.  Stamkos appears to be inching closer to a deal with the Lightning, while the Doughty contract could be a ways off yet.  The Flyers prepare to deal with the collateral damage of signing Ilya Bryzgalov to a deal worth an estimated 50 million dollars.  All this for right now, with another update expected later on this evening.  Check back then for your next hockey fix. 

Winnipeg Makes It Official, Jagr Down to Two?

Could He Bring This Hair Back With Him?

The big news for the day is that the NHL Board of Governors unanimously decided that the sale of the Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment is a go.  Winnipeg will officially rejoin the league, but they have yet to announce the name of the team, or unveil any kind of jersey.  All of this could come before the draft on Friday night.  Meanwhile, teams are gearing up for a big weekend.  It appears there is a lot of trade chatter going on right now.  It also sounds like the Jagr bidding war is down to the Penguins and the Red Wings.  All this and more, below:

Leafs Shuffle the Deck, Smyth To Edmonton

As expected, the NHL really started to heat up today after a slow weekend.  Several teams made major announcements today.  The Leafs fired Tim Hunter and Keith Acton and replaced them with Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin.  The Red Wings announced Lidstrom will not call it a career after all.   Ryan Smyth has made it clear he would prefer to finish his career in Edmonton, as an Oiler.  The salary cap boundaries were officially set, and all signs point towards an exciting week of trade talk leading up to the NHL Entry Draft.  Read about all this and more at the links below: