NHL Free Agent Season - Day 2

[Oreo]

Moves are starting to pick up...

Nazarov to the Wild
Foote to Columbus
Aaron Downey to the Blues

Now Philly appears to be ready to make what they call a "multiplayer" announcement....
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=132177&hubName=nhl

The Philadelphia Flyers are set to make a big splash in the free agent market on Tuesday. Amid reports the team had come to terms with defencemen Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje, the Flyers say a "multiplayer announcement" would be made on Tuesday.

After losing out in the Adam Foote sweepstakes, it appears general manager Bob Clarke has turned his sights to Hatcher, who was bought out last week by the Detroit Red Wings.

"Well, we've got a lot of lines in the water and we'll just have to see how it goes," Clarke tells the Philadelphia Daily News while refusing to specify which players the team is after.
Related Info

Aside from Hatcher and Rathje, the Flyers are said to have also targeted Adrian Aucoin and Brian Rafalski.


ALSO...

Looks like Modano may be going to Boston
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132175

[PunkPop]

1. NO!!!! Say it ain't so Mikey.

My Dallas Stars without Mike Modano? What is this world coming to?

[naturalselection]

30. Hey PunkPop!

I am a Stars fan too, and am extremely nervous about Mo going to Boston. The guys on the Ticket this morning were saying that the Stars have made two offers to Mo, one which was the same as what Zubie signed.
Which would mean 3 years at 4mill.
I heard somewhere that Boston is offering 4 at 6mill.

I may be wrong though.

God, what a kick in the pants this would be.

[PunkPop]

32. What's up? Hicks better not f*ck this up

I bet he'd go for 5 mil if they gave him 4 years. Just get it done Hicks you Bush-backing son of a bitch!!

[getmeouttahere]

2. Hatcher is washed up....

Rathje is a decent pickup, but neither is a big deal, IMO.

If free agency were the cure-all in hockey, the Rangers would be the reigning 4-time Cup Champs!

[PunkPop]

5. That's a little harsh isn't it?

Washed up? The guy's only 33. He only played 15 games for a brand new team before he got injured. I think the jury is still out on his washed-upedness.

[getmeouttahere]

6. Can you be objective about it?

after all, he played for your team. Maybe his penchant for bad penalties signals that he is losing his edge. Lots of guys are finished by the time they are in their early 30's...the average length of a career is about 4 years, after all.

[PunkPop]

8. Good question.

I try to be objective in all things of course ;-)

If the new grabbing/clutching rules are enforced, Hatcher certainly could be "washed up". I may not be objective but I'm certainly not naive - that was a big part of his game.

I guess the question is, can he adapt, and does he still possess the drive to be a dominating defensive presence?

[getmeouttahere]

13. There's the key, the DRIVE...

he's not really super slow or anything, so if he can adapt he's got at least a few good years, but you're absolutely right, this year is going to be a LOT more wide open, simply because there will be more room in the offensive zone and longer passes will be made. It's going to be the most exciting since the early 90's, IMO.

[Oreo]

3. Blackhawks got Aucoin

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?ID=132178&hubName=nhl

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed free agent defenseman Adrian Aucoin to a four year deal worth $16-million, TSN has learned.

Originally drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1992, Aucoin had been with the New York Islanders since a 2001 trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In three seasons with the Islanders, Aucoin notched 33 goals and 80 assists. During the lockout he played for MoDo of the Swedish Elite League, scoring two goals and four assists in 14 games.

Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon said he had a number of conversations with agents on Monday, the first day of free agency, and was confident something would happen on Tuesday.

[getmeouttahere]

7. Now Aucoin is a good one...

or at least he was in Vancouver, and seemed to be doing well on the Island too. Anybody see him play regularly with the Islanders?

[THUNDER HANDS]

33. he's a workhorse

Plays almost the whole game, never comes off the ice. A great No. 2, No. 3 defenseman.

[Ravenseye]

9. That's alot of money

Aucoin at 4 million a year for 4 years? Perhaps defensemen are getting more valuable but I'm betting this is a mistake. With the changes in play, and the removal of the redline, will he be fast enough? I know he's not sluggish, but is he fast enough to be worth top dollar?

I'd say 2-3 million a year for an Aucoin. Maybe that's nitpicking, but maybe that's why he took the deal on day two, when it's obvious that defensmen are what everyone's looking at.

[Oreo]

11. We're talking about the Blackhawks here

When have they ever done anything intelligent? Bill Wirtz is hands down the worst owner in the league.

Check this out:
http://www.careermisconduct.com/

[Ravenseye]

12. Touche'

It's one of the true terrible things in hockey, how the Blackhawks are handled. They should be one of the premier hockey teams in North America, and selling out every night...There is one reason that they aren't.

[getmeouttahere]

14. I agree, that's a lot of money for one defenseman...

who isn't even a top 10 defenseman, in this new economic system. Good luck, Chicago. Do they have the offense already in place?

[Ravenseye]

18. Arnason

I don't know who they have kept or who are free agents, but last time their best scorers were Tyler Arnason, Bryan Berard, Mark Bell, Tuomu Ruutu, Steve Sullivan and Kyle Calder.

Arnason was the best at 22G 33A 55P

I'd say they need a couple good forwards.

[getmeouttahere]

20. And Berard's a defenseman!

No wonder Chicago has been languishing near the bottom for years!

[gman16]

4. Modano

As a Bruins fan I always liked Modano, I think he will fit well within the organization, especially playing with the likes of Samsinov.
But it is only a rumor for now.

[Ravenseye]

10. Yeah I think he'd be good for Boston

Though the Bruins are so freaking cash weird. They'll dollop out 5 million to a player who doesn't deserve it, but not offer Thornton a good long term deal. Why would they bring in Modano if they'r enot willing to pay?

Anyway, they could certainly use him to hold down second line center.

The other team I heard that was bidding for him was Pittsburgh, my Pens, and I just don't get that. If there's one thing they dont' need it's centers. They need a left winger (come on Kariya) a right winger (hola Kovy), and a good veteran D-man (no idea).

[getmeouttahere]

15. yeah, remember, the Bruins paid Martin Lapointe....

something like 4 million a year...talk about the poster child for needing a different economic system in hockey!!!

[Ravenseye]

17. Yeah

that's sort of what I was talking about. The wouldn't pay Jason Allison 4 million, but they turn around and give it to Martin Lapointe...just bizarre.

I'll root against the Bruins till the day I died (early life as a Sabres fan before we moved to Pittsburgh) but their management blows.

[PunkPop]

16. Didn't the Bruins have that fan "revolt" a couple years ago?

A group of fans pissed off about the way the team was being managed so they tried to get people to stop going to the games.

[getmeouttahere]

21. wouldn't surprise me at all...

Boston and Chicago, two original six teams, should be ashamed of themselves for the way the mismanage those teams.

[Ravenseye]

19. Hatcher, Rathje, Therien, Sim to Flyers

D - Derian Hatcher
D - Mike Rathje
D - Chris Therien
LW - Jon Sim

All to Philadelphia

[getmeouttahere]

22. Sorry, doesn't scare me...

were the Flyers really in need of that much BULK on the blueline?

[PunkPop]

23. Hatcher and Roenick on the same team?

Those two have some history.

[MrSlayer]

35. Not anymore.

Roenick traded to L.A. for picks.

[Ravenseye]

24. Bobby Holik to Atlanta

C - Bobby Holik to Atlanta. 3 year contract 4.25 million the first year.

Can you say overpaid? Why do people like this guy?

[Ravenseye]

25. Hamel and Yzerman re-sign

W - Denis Hamel signs a two year deal to stay with Ottawa

C - Steve Yzerman signs a one year deal to stay with Detroit

[Ravenseye]

26. Shawn McEachern, Glen Murray to Boston Bruins

RW - Shawn McEachern - 2 year deal
RW - Glen Murray - 4 year deal

[getmeouttahere]

27. Wasn't Glen Murray already with Boston?

Just wanted to confirm...I like Murray...little unsure about McEachern's value nowadays.

[Ravenseye]

28. Yup

Though I guess 'officially' once he became an unrestricted free agent he wasn't with anyone now was he? :)

McEachern's value was higher, what...ten years ago? He's a good player, but was better back in the day. The last three years he played he didn't break 20 goals. In his prime he was a high 20's goal scorer (only breaking 30 a couple times just barely).

I think he's supposed to be a good clubhouse guy though.

[Ravenseye]

29. Pavol Demitra Signs With Los Angeles Kings

C-Pavol Demitra leaves St.Louis for Los Angeles and a three year 13.5 million contract.

[Ravenseye]

31. Tony Amonte to Calgary Flames

Terms not disclosed

[MrSlayer]

34. Flyers sign Peter the Great!

Peter Forsberg signed for two years with the Flyers. Roenick traded to the Kings for draft picks.

http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/2085.asp