[Spinoff90]

Been a lot of signings like usual and this forum is dead for hockey talk so time to start this to try and boost it.

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Obviously I am going to talk about the Flames though. Signed Jeff Friesen to a one year contract and Tanguay has signed for three years which is good news since after the trade there was still a chance he could turn around and sign with somebody else. Then to replace Leopold we picked up Zyuzin on D which is a move I like. Zyuzin adds a slight bit more of a scoring threat to our D than Leopold. Had some issues with Sutter in the past but says when he looks back at it has made him a better player so hopefully that means there will be no more problems between the two.

Almost picked up Roenick but he ended up with Phoenix. I personally can't stand Roenick so there is part of me that is happy but he still has a little left in him that could have helped us.

Anyway, with what the Tanguay deal Flames still have a little more than 3 million to work with and a couple of players like Lombardi and Simon that will probably end up re-signed. Would like to see Simon gone but Sutter seems to like him. Sutter said he is after a backup goalie that will be able to keep Kiprusoff from playing 70+ games again so there are still a couple of decent UFA's for a backup goalie role still on the market that he could go after. And then not worry about re-signing Boucher. Or Krahn can't stay in the AHL forever.

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And now to Edmonton. Such a crappy city that players don't want to stay their with Pronger gone and now Spacek on the way out as well. Talk about a blueline falling apart and then not even trading Pronger to get somebody on D in return.

But as much as I don't like Edmonton and them losing players like this is putting a smile on my face I do not have respect for players that try to get out of contracts just because their wives can't shop in some fancy designer stores

[Bouchie]

The Blackhawks have acquired forwards Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski from Ottawa in a three-way deal that sent LW Mark Bell to San Jose and D Michal Barinka to Ottawa. The Hawks then signed Havlat to a 3-year deal ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------- I absolutely hate to see Mark Bell go BUT this is an awesome deal for the Blackhawks! Plus we got Patrick Lalime. lol.

[Spinoff90]

Still won't get you to the playoffs

[Bouchie]

it just might. Ottawa is nuts for giving up those guys.

[Spinoff90]

Ottawa had no choice with their cap room and Havlat's demands.

Only way Chicago would have stood a chance at making the playoffs is if they were a lot more active early on in free agent signings. Especially when it comes to going after a goaltender.

[Bouchie]

Hey Khabibulin can still get'er done I think.

Not to go off topic but check out my wall of autographed Hawk players:


labatt stanley mini cups..


Same pic but with my IC belt..


You're a hockey buff so I thought I'd share. lol

[Spinoff90]

After last season I wouldn't have too much confidence in Khabibulin :cross-eyed:

[Freak]

6 million a year is outrageous for a guy like Havlat, but it was probably a move Chicago had to make. They just couldn't bring in any type of offensive talent without overpaying.

And I agree the Senators had to dump Havlat somewhere, but the value they got seemed awfully low. I know they got a few decent prospects and a 2nd-rounder, but none of those guys seem to have a ceiling as high as Havlat's.