That’s a bit shocking. I assumed he was a Sen for life. And if he did leave it would be to a Cup-ready-now team. But i have no problem with it. Old Swedes have done pretty good things for the Wings lately ;).
Wow 5.5 million, that’s even more of a shock. I’m not sure what the long term plan is, but they are clearly paying a premium for a short term deal here.
Did the Sens offer him a deal, even?
Not that I know of, and nothing has been reported. Bryan Murray said he was waiting for Alfredsson’s agent to present him with a number, and then last night Alfredsson called Murray and said he was leaving for Detroit.
I can see Alfredsson wanting to go to a contender; I’m just not sure Detroit is the answer.
Wow, With some of these numbers for merely above average players, It’s looking like Lecavalier got a bad deal.
And Wings get Weiss too. So much for rebuilding.
Countdown to the next lockout in 3… 2… 1…
David Clarkson at 7 years, $5.25M AAV takes the cake though. He’s now the highest paid Maple Leaf forward and probably isn’t good enough for first line duties.
Lupul’s getting 5.25 and Kessel’s getting 5.4.
Clarkson could thrive under Carlye’s style. Heck he got 15 goals in 48 games last year, and 30 goals on 80 games the previous year.
He’s not good enough for top 6 duties.
The 30 was a fluke and 12 of his 15 last year were in the first 15 games or so. He’s a glorified 3rd liner who has about as much trouble passing as he does staying on his skates.
Don’t get me wrong, I wanted him to stay with NJ, but not for anything near that contract. Toronto will regret it almost immediately.
Crap. To be honest I don’t know much about him. I think I’m regretting it right now!
A JVR - Kadri - Clarkson line is actually a pretty good 2nd line, especially with Carlyle at the helm, and even if you still don’t have a #1 center (and won’t, with Bozak also signing a 7 year deal today), it’s still a pretty deadly set of wingers in your top 6. It’s more that his rep is being really inconsistent, he’s never broken the 50 point barrier, and he’s 29 - right at his peak as a winger - so you’re getting his worst years. I think there’s a pretty rigid NMC too. A glorified grinding 2nd line tweener could actually really help Toronto, especially in the playoffs - it’s just the contract that’s bonkers.
And this off season is insane - totally living up to the hype, even if the draft was rather boring. Alfie to Wings, Bobby Ryan to Sens, Seguin++ to Dallas, Eriksson+++ to Boston, Riberio to Coyotes (yes, the Coyotes made a splash in FA!), Scuds coming back to Pittsburgh, Lecavalier to Philly (probably the strangest, most ill-fitting signing so far), etc - and we’re only at the first day of FA!
Plus, in homer news, Dan Bylsma ruined Iginla - he’s sitting as a free agent and apparently nobody is interested and media aren’t even covering him. Plus plus with Cooke and Adams potentially leaving as FA’s Pittsburgh now has, on paper, probably the softest and weakest bottom 6 in the league - with no young guys in the pipeline and with no cap space to sign anyone.
Also, I’m blaming Toronto for ruining the market. When Tyler f’n Kennedy gets $2.3 million AAV and Boyd Gordon gets $750k less than Pascal Dupuis, it’s time for another lockout.
One more thing: Dallas and Edmonton are on fire this off-season. Incredible drafts, maybe even better free agency signings in terms of need/value. They’re both going to be contenders in a few years if their prospects turn out all right.
Dallas potential line-up:
Benn/Seguin/Nichushkin
Whitney/Horcoff/Chiasson
Eakin/Peverly/Cole
Roussel/Fiddler/Garbutt
Gonchar/Goligoski
Robidas/Dillon
Rome/Daley
Lehtonen
Ellis
The new GM doesn’t play, I don’t think Pittsburgh’s going to use them as a glorified farm team anymore, that’s for sure. Add in that they just inked Lindy Ruff as the new coach and who knows?
Plus, in homer news, Dan Bylsma ruined Iginla - he’s sitting as a free agent and apparently nobody is interested
I say He’s going to Carolina - remember you heard it here first.
Adams gets locked up for 2 years, so right now the Penguins have a 4th line that is Glass - Vitale - Adams.
Seriously.
When Lapierre was available, and Silke, and f’n ANYBODY but Adams. That’s easily one of the worst 4th lines in the league, miles worse than any contender. They’re going to get dominated in possession.
Also, by my count, there’s 3 players in the lineup under 25, and one of them is 24 - a forward, a center, and a #6 defensemen (who should be top 4). My god, next playoffs will suck.
Sens fans are very, very sad to see Alfie go. End of an era.
But it’s logical. I’m not sure Detroit is the right place for him to go to win a Cup, but I can see why he’s trying. Meanwhile, Ottawa quite rightly chose to move on to better players; Alfie is not what he once was. Silfverberg et al. for Ryan is a risky but high upside move, bringing the Sens the scoring talent they badly lacked.
I also like the acquisition of Clarke MacArthur.
A solid 20 goal guy with a good work ethic. Great for the Sens. Well, great on any team really.
Nope, looks like he’s going to Boston. Matt Cooke’s signed with Minnesota.
Woohoo, the Wings manage to miss the dirtiest bitch in the league once again, for most of the year.
Alex Ovechkin gets voted to first team all-star right wing AND second team left wing?
That is a serious steaming pile of bullshit right there.
Nikolai Khabibulin as the Chicago Blackhawks backup goalie? I wouldn’t mind going drinking with him and Patrick Kane, but there is no way on earth the Hawks should be picking up a washed up 40 year old as the backup goalie for a Stanley Cup franchise.