# General NHL Offseason Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 15, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241 "2010-06-15T02:07:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/41 "2010-06-29T22:58:11Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > They did give a qualifying offer to Sergei, for some reason. Probably to keep him around to trade, unless he’s completely repented and changed his entire lifestyle and work ethic in the past few weeks! HA! [Toldya so](http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2010/06/29/sp-canadiens-predators-trade.html)! Looks like the lawyers were wrong though - Dan Ellis, not Martin Biron. And Dustin Boyd (don’t know him - is he good?) Good luck Nashville. Sergei can be…a handful! Now to trade Andrei, or desperately hope he doesn’t go pining after his brother! ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/42 "2010-06-29T23:11:39Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Is it just me, or do Anaheim and San Jose have a habit of picking up older players for just one more season? Yeah, that’s why I said it. Of course, my Blues have that same habit. ::shudder:: ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/43 "2010-06-30T02:53:59Z")
I was thinking Modano would end up in Phoenix. Would knowing Tippett and his system help? ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/44 "2010-06-30T11:48:18Z")
Dustin Boyd and Dan Ellis are currently the top searched players on [Hockeydb.com](http://Hockeydb.com). Boyd scored 11 goals in 78 games last year split between Calgary and Nashville. Ellis had a really good year in 07-08, with a .924 SVPCT and a record of 23-10-3 as Nashville sneaked into the playoffs after having a good chunk of their team gutted the previous off-season (mostly due to ownership issues). Last year he went 15-13-1 with a .909 SVPCT, but clearly Nashville’s goalie of the present is Pekka Rinne. Neither of these two players has a contract for this year, though. Boyd is an RFA, Ellis is a UFA. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/45 "2010-06-30T12:18:33Z")
Boyd was not given a qualifying offer, so he is a UFA. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/46 "2010-06-30T19:11:28Z")
One of the best two-way forwards of his time, Rod Brind’Amour, [officially announces his retirement.](http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533288) ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/47 "2010-06-30T22:35:25Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > One of the best two-way forwards of his time, Rod Brind’Amour, [officially announces his retirement.](http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533288) And he promised to not pull a Farve.😃 ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/48 "2010-07-01T00:33:28Z")
So where will Kovalchuk end up? I’ve heard all the rumors. I guess if he stays in the NHL he will end up with the Kings. I’m thinking he might be leaning more towards the KHL though. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/49 "2010-07-01T14:05:56Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > So where will Kovalchuk end up? I’ve heard all the rumors. I guess if he stays in the NHL he will end up with the Kings. I’m thinking he might be leaning more towards the KHL though. I guess it depends on how important money is to him. But I agree it’s either L.A. or Russia. In other news, the Leafs have [acquired](http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533345&navid=DL%7CTOR%7Chome) Kris Versteeg and a prospect from Chicago in exchange for Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Phillippe Paradis. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/50 "2010-07-01T18:42:30Z")
Wow! Ottawa hasgiven Sergei Gonchar a three year deal with a cap hit of $5.5 million. This is a high-risk, high-reward deal for Ottawa. Gonchar is a superb player who made great strides in his defensive game in Pittsburgh while providing his customary offensive power. But he’s 36 and every year of that contract will count against the cap even if he retires. Ottawa has needed a boost to their power play and transition game and Gonchar provides it. But this contract may look terrible when he’s 38. In other news, Toronto has overpaid for truculence once again, signing Colby Armstrong to a 3 year, $9 million contract. As a Sens fan I am not looking forward to six games per season of head shots, elbows and hits from behind, but at least he doesn’t do anything for the Leafs’ punchless offense. ETA: I see I’ve been spending too much time in the World Cup thread. “Ottawa _have_ given”? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/51 "2010-07-01T20:14:16Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Wow! Ottawa hasgiven Sergei Gonchar a three year deal with a cap hit of $5.5 million. This is a high-risk, high-reward deal for Ottawa. Gonchar is a superb player who made great strides in his defensive game in Pittsburgh while providing his customary offensive power. But he’s 36 and every year of that contract will count against the cap even if he retires. Ottawa has needed a boost to their power play and transition game and Gonchar provides it. But this contract may look terrible when he’s 38. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/52 "2010-07-01T20:15:57Z")
Don’t feel too bad, **Guin**. The Penguins just signed Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek to long term deals. Both are very good players and really help to bolster a Pittsburgh blueline that badly needed it. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/53 "2010-07-02T00:17:27Z")
And Ray Whitney signed with the Coyotes. ☹ JR did resign Anton Babchuk.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/54 "2010-07-02T00:48:39Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > до свидания > > [Sharks GM Doug Wilson told Evgeni Nabokov they will let him become a free agent without offering a contract.](http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2010/06/22/sharks-tell-nabokov-he-wont-be-coming-back-next-season-talks-under-way-with-marleau-and-others/) He’s been the man in goal here for a long time, it’ll be weird without him. Still, if this means the Sharks can spend the money to retain Patrick Marleau, that’s good. And we should be able to spend to retain some RFAs, too. > > Still more drama could be coming, though. I’ve heard all sorts of rumors. I think it’s a bad move. Nabokov was great in San Jose, just over played. See also Ryan Miller, Marty Brodeur, Miikka “more double letters than necessary” Kiprusoff. Letting him go would be as bad an idea as Dallas letting Turco and Modano go. Oh wait. It’d be like Dallas then going out and signing Andrew Raycroft. Oh wait. It’d be like Calgary resigning Olli Jokinen after they were so desperate to get rid of him after his lousy play. Damn it! [Well at least they don’t have a manager who believes that paying for a top shelf goalie is a bad idea and who would rush out to sign any old value priced Finn.](http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/San-Jose-Sharks-sign-goalie-Antero-Niittymaki-070110) > [@](#): > > Wilson believes high-priced starting goalies are unnecessary luxuries in the NHL’s salary-cap era. :smack:Okay. I’m not going to say that there seems to be large amounts of moron flakes being eaten at the breakfast tables of some Western conference GMs, but there might be some drooling idiot-o’s being consumed in the morning. The western conference is a dogfight all the way to the end of the regular season. Why add more question marks? Yes the Hawks won the cup without a marquee goaltender, but they also had a large amount over the cap which is forcing them to dismantle the team that won the cup. Yes Detroit won the cup with Chris Osgood in net, but he’d already won the cup and actually does have some solid stats to back him up. Detroit also had GM’s smart enough to essentially break the salary cap through thoroughly obscene contract weaselling. Long story short, while having a high priced but talented goalie _can_ be a drag in the cap era, it usually isn’t as long as the goalie isn’t your only way to win games (Hi Vancouver, New Jersey, Calgary, and Buffalo). > [@Morbo](#): > > And there goes the final player link to the North Stars. I see him going to Anaheim or San Jose for a season. That’s the story at least. Modano wants to play for a Cali team so he doesn’t have to spend time away from his wife, actress Willa Ford. This is going to sound a bit mean, but calling her an actress is a bit of a stretch since her largest scale role to date was being a pair of tits before being killed by Jason in the new Friday the 13th. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind being closer to her either if I had a say in the matter (stupid restraining order). Speaking of hockey in heathen hot zones, I’ve also heard that the Kings are about the only team with the cap and the need to be able to sign Kovalchuk. Could L.A. bolster their young and talented team with Modano/Kovalchuk? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/55 "2010-07-05T19:52:00Z")
Supposedly today we will find out where Kovalchuk signs. I’m betting it will be with the Islanders if the Kings really are out of the mix. Once this decision has been made, hopefullly ESPN can cover Lebron James.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/56 "2010-07-05T21:23:17Z")
I thought her biggest role WAS her pair of tits? I wouldn’t mind trading Fedotenko (he was awful this season), but it looks like he’s sticking around. We did, however, resign Matt Cooke, and that’s definitely a plus. (I’m wondering though who they’ll promote to alternate now that Gonch is gone. I’m guessing it’ll be Brooks Orpik, since he’s the “alternate-alternate”, along with Jordan Staal.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/57 "2010-07-05T21:59:56Z")
Wow Proby died. > **[Former Red Wings enforcer Probert dies at 45](https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=5356462)** > > Former NHL enforcer Bob Probert died after collapsing on a boat in Ontario on Monday. He was 45. He may not have been part of the most glorious part of hockey, and his personal life had problems. But This Red Wing fan remembers screaming my head off cheering for him, particularly in the Tie Domi fights. Man I feel old when athletes who just retired die. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/58 "2010-07-06T02:33:49Z")
[Pierre Boivin will step down](http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=533803&navid=DL%7CMTL%7Chome) as Canadiens’ president, effective June 30/11. Geoff Molson will take over. Boivin will join the board of directors. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/59 "2010-07-06T22:31:22Z")
Halak: 4 years, $15 million. Don’t think the Habs could have afforded that. Gauthier has [confirmed](http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326757)that they won’t be offering contracts to Moore or Metropolit, which makes me sad. I love both those players. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241/60 "2010-07-06T22:54:42Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Halak: 4 years, $15 million. Don’t think the Habs could have afforded that. > > Gauthier has [confirmed](http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326757)that they won’t be offering contracts to Moore or Metropolit, which makes me sad. I love both those players. In that case, look for Mathieu Darche and Tom Pyatt to take full time roles this coming year, along with Dustin Boyd and young Max Pacioretty. I wonder if both Metro and Moore want something like 1.5-2 million, which is too much to pay those guys in a cap world, much as I like those guys too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-nhl-offseason-thread/543241.md?page=4)