Some offseason news and ponderings
FREE AGENT CLASS
Not much of a free agent class this year. Headliners are Alexander Steen (imo the only 'marquee' talent worth going for), Sergei Gonchar, Michael Ryder, Ville Leino, and Patrick Dwyer
Don't see over spending on mediocre veteran players as a productive endeavour. We may target some depth guys if the price is right. Brandon Yip, Jori Lehtera, Riku Helenius, and Sami Lepisto possibly.
SIGNIFICANT COACH MOVEMENTS:
Boston
OUT Claude Julien
IN Ed Olczyk
NY Islanders
OUT Jack Capuano
IN Alain Vigneault - finds himself a new job, good luck to him
Edmonton
OUT Tom Renney
IN Gerard Gallant
Nashville
OUT Barry Trotz
IN Don Granato
Anaheim
GM OUT Bob Murray
GM IN Brett Hull
SYSTEM SIGNINGS
G Eddie Lack - high hopes for him to develop in the AHL and then take over the back up role the year after... at which point we can make a decision between Marky and Schneids and move one of them for more assets
G Joe Cannata - AHL/ECHL depth guy in case of injuries or trade
D Henrik Tommernes - has a shot to become an NHL regular, although probably on a bottom pair, for now he can develop in the minors or be a mediocre trade asset
C Alex Friesen - probably a career minor leaguer... but I liked him coming IRL and saw him as a potential future Alex Burrows kind of underdog, hard working character guy, so maybe this is an emotional signing, but he's fine either way as a depth piece in the A
RW Anton Rodin - maybe one day he'll make the lineup, or maybe he'll be a career minor leaguer and go back to Europe like IRL, but we'll give him his shot... I remember him being a guy they were high on for a bit
NOTABLE RETIREMENTS
OTT Daniel Alfredsson
NJ Martin Brodeur
OTT Sergei Gonchar
COL Milan Hejduk
ANA Saku Koivu
DET Nicklas Lidstrom
CGY Brendan Morrison
FLA Sami Salo
ANA Teemu Selanne
PHO Ray Whitney
STL Jamie Langenbrunner
TAM Pavel Kubina
WSH Jason Arnott
MIN Andrew Brunette
WSH Tomas Vokoun
*maybe try to get a draft preview up today
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