Jeff Ponder's NHL Hockey fan blog archive for 07/2009

July 2009

July 01, 2009

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Jeff Ponder

Canucks Sign Henrik and Daniel Sedin to 5-Year Extensions

Canuck fans no longer have a reason to panic. 

Vancouver General Manager Mike Gillis announced just before noon on Wednesday that the Canucks and the Sedins finally reached a contract extension.  It is believed to be a five-year extension  that will earn each brother $6.1 million each season. 

The Sedins originally were asking for 12-year contracts from whatever team wanted them, but found the five-year extension to be a fair compromise.  Daniel and Henrik both scored 82 points last season for Vancouver and were a big part of their sweep of St. Louis and 6-game series with Chicago in the playoffs.  The twins amassed 20 points between the two of them in the 10 playoff games.

The twins have been an important part of the Canucks

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Lightning Sign Mattias Ohlund to 7-Year, $24.5 Million Contract

The Lightning have empowered their blue line even more this off-season.

After drafting young defenseman Victor Hedman last Friday in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Lightning have brought in a veteran to further along his progress.  Mattias Ohlund, who has spent his entire 12-year career with the Vancouver Canucks, has moved to the Eastern Conference to play with the young Tampa Bay defense.

Ohlund was expected to receive a lot of offers today, but signed early with a contract he liked.  Being known as the top-guy in Vancouver, Ohlund possesses great foot speed and the ability to move the puck out of his zone.  He has reached the 30-point plateau six times in his career, and has scored 36 career power-play goals.  Adding Ohlund to a power-play that ranked 19th in the league last season will surely improve their chances.

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Avalanche sign Craig Anderson to 2-Year, $3.6 Million Contract

The Avalanche have taken yet another step to try and answer their troubles in net.  Craig Anderson, one of the best back-up goaltenders in 2008-09, has accepted a 2-year, $3.6 million deal. 

The Avalanche teetered between Andrew Raycroft and Peter Budaj last year, and it did not seem to work the way that the team had hoped.  The Avalanche finished 32-45-5, placing them last in the Western Conference. 

Anderson was back-up to Tomas Vokoun in Florida last season, posting an impressive 15-7-5 record with a .920 save percentage.  Anderson is quick side to side and has a great glove hand.

With Raycroft going seperate ways from Colorado, Anderson is a strong pick-up.  He is yet to be a true NHL starter, but this seems like the right decision for Colorado for the time being.

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Blackhawks sign Marian Hossa to 12-Year, $62.4 Million Contract

Goodbye Martin Havlat, hello Marian Hossa.

The Blackhawks have made it two years running with big off-season acquisitions now.  Last year the Hawks grabbed defenseman Brian Campbell and goaltender Cristobal Huet, and now the team has brought in possibly the biggest name in the free-agent market with Marian Hossa. 

Marian has lost in the Stanley Cup finals for the past two years, maybe making this signing tainted.  But Hossa adds speed and craftiness to an already skilled Blackhawk lineup.  Hossa had 40 goals for the rival Red Wings last season, along with 71 points.  His 10 power-play goals are something to behold, along with the 8 game-winning goals he added.

This is a good deal for the Hawks, but the better deal may have been to

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Blues Sign Ty Conklin to 2-Year, $2.6 Million Contract

Blues fans have been asking about a back-up goalie for starter Chris Mason.  Ask and ye shall receive.

The Blues got a fantastic run out of starter Chris Mason last season, as he was the driving force for the Blues' run to the playoffs.  The Blues sent former starter Manny Legace to Peoria of the AHL in February, which left the back-up role a question mark.  Until now.

Ty Conklin, a 33-year old out of Alaska, was back-up to the Detroit Red Wings last season.  He witnessed his starter Chris Osgood have an up and down season, seeing many spot starts and extended starts.  His final record on the season was 25-11-2 with a .910 save percentage.  Conklin has seen time with Edmonton, Columbus, Buffalo Pittsburgh and Detroit.

While the Blues did answer their question of who will back-up Mason, this was not the best back-up available in the free-agency market.  Scott Clemmensen, a very capable NHL goaltender who stood in for Martin Brodeur last season, was available.  He is coming off of a 25-13-1 season, accompanied with a .917 save percentage. 

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Islanders sign Dwayne Roloson to 2-Year, $5 Million Contract

The New York Islanders announced the signing of former Oiler Dwayne Roloson.

Roloson is coming off of a decent year with the Oilers.  Going 28-24-9, the veteran goaltender stole a lot of games for the Oilers.  He is big in important situations, especially late in games or in the playoffs.

New York is still looking for the all-important answer to the question of what needs to happen when Rick DiPietro goes down with yet another injury.  The Islanders starting goalie has suffered injury after injury since signing a 15-year, $67.5 million contract in 2006.  DiPietro has played in just 130 games out of a possible 246 games since signing the long deal.  Roloson may be able to step in and help with the goaltending woes for the Islanders, who shuffle

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Ducks Re-Sign Scott Niedermayer to 1-Year, $6 Million Contract

As expected, the Ducks have brought back their captain.

Scott Niedermayer, the man who made up his mind to return to the Ducks just before the NHL Draft on Friday, has signed a 1-year deal reportedly worth $6 million.  The Ducks traded star defenseman Chris Pronger on draft day, knowing that Niedermayer wanted to return to his team. 

Scott registered 59 points from the blue line in 2008-09, which is a steady drop from his career-high 69 points in the 2006-07 campaign.  His abilities have steadily decreased in that time, but is still considered a strong 2-way defenseman.  Scott's best attribute though may be his leadership abilities on the ice though, which is very important to have in an ever-changing Ducks roster.  With the addition of Ryan Whitney in the 2009 Trade Deadline, the Ducks still have a formidable power-play even after the loss of Chris Pronger.

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Oilers Sign Nikolai Khabibulin to 4-Year, $15 Million Contract

After parting ways with goaltender Dwayne Roloson, the Oilers pulled the trick out of their sleeve and signed unrestricted free-agent Nikolai Khabibulin. 

The former Stanley Cup winner enjoyed a great comeback year last season, posting a 25-8-7 record.  This came after being placed on waivers to start the season, since GM Dale Tallon brought in unrestricted free-agent goaltender Cristobal Huet for a long-term contract.  Khabibulin took his job back in classy form, being one of the better goaltenders in the league by the start of 2009. 

The Oilers were desperately in need of goaltending help, with Roloson departing for Long Island a few hours ago.  As it stood, the only goalie under contract that could possibly start in the NHL is Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers.  Nikolai adds Stanley Cup experience as well as the right attitude to make it through the long NHL playoffs.

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Hurricanes Re-Sign Erik Cole to 2-Year, $5.8 Million Contract

Erik Cole has been brought back to the only team he has ever really wanted to know.

Cole was traded one year ago today from Carolina for Edmonton's Jani Pitkanen.  The trade saw Pitkanen play solid defense for the Hurricanes, but things did not go so well for the Oilers' end of the bargain.  Cole registered just 16 goals in 63 games with Edmonton, before being traded back to Carolina for Patrick O'Sullivan as part of a three-way deal with Los Angeles.  Cole added two more goals with Carolina in 17 games, but the real story was the resurgence of Canes' captain Eric Staal with Cole on his line.

Staal caught a lot of attention with his lackluster play during the season, but Cole helped rejuvenate Staal's numbers.  In the playoffs, Staal became one of the NHL elite once again, lighting the lamp 10 times and recording 15 points in eighteen playoff games.  The reuniting of these two players sparked the team, and was a major contributor to the team's run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

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Canadiens Sign Mike Cammalleri to 5-Year $30 Million Contract

Bob Gainey jumped right back into making big deals for his squad on Wednesday.  Gainey acquired Scott Gomez yesterday from the New York Rangers and now has added star Mike Cammalleri to his Canadiens lineup.

This 5'9” 185 lb. center had a breakout year in 2008-09, when he tallied 82 points in 81 games for the Calgary Flames.  He found himself atop the lineup, playing center with superstar Jarome Iginla on his wing.  In a three-team deal with the Canadiens and Kings, the Flames acquired Cammalleri from the Kings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.  Before that deal, Cammalleri was known as a sneaky second line center, ensuring about 50 points every season.  But the now-27 year old exploded in Calgary, making the trade a win-win for Flames GM Darryl Sutter.

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Maple Leafs Sign Mike Komisarek to 5-Year, $22.5 Million Contract

Leafs GM Brian Burke was not done adding some grit to his lineup after signing New York's Colton Orr to a 4-year, $4 million contract.  He continued on a few hours later, picking defenseman Mike Komisarek up from free-agency.

The former Montreal Canadien is not known for his offensive ability, but rather his toughness and defensive abilities.  Komisarek, an All-Star in 2009, paved the way for the Montreal defense to start the 2008-09 campaign.  He was known league-wide as a feisty defenseman who will not back down from any challenge.  Komisarek finished last season with 121 penalty minutes, which led the Canadiens roster.

With an average of $4.5 million a year, Komisarek is expected to be a leader in the Leafs' lineup.  Signing a player of Mik

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Rangers sign Marian Gaborik to 5-Year, $37.5 Million Contract

As expected, the New York Rangers have made a splash in the free-agent sweepstakes.  Rangers GM Glen Sather announced late Wednesday that the club has agreed to terms with star free-agent, Marian Gaborik.  

The Slovakian right-wing had a troubling season in Minnesota last year, playing in only 17 games caused by a nagging hip injury.  Even though his time was limited, he was still able to scrape together 23 points.  Gaborik has had surgery since then and the Rangers are hoping that he can return to his old form.

Gaborik's best year came in 2007-08 when he amassed 42 goals and 83 points in 77 games played.  He was always a bright spot for the Minnesota Wild, until the State of Hockey saw the likes of Mikko Koivu and Pierre-Marc Bouchard.  He will join a Rangers lineup that has been depleted since losing to Washington in the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.  Markus Naslund has announced his retirement from the NHL, while Scott Gomez has been traded to the Montreal Canadiens and Nik Antropov is on the free-agent market.

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Canadiens Sign Brian Gionta to 5-Year, $25 Million Contract

The Canadiens keep making the headlines.  They have brought in yet another key forward.

Brian Gionta, one of the most valued New Jersey Devils in recent time, has decided to sign with the revamped Montreal Canadiens.  Gionta has spent all of his 7 NHL seasons with the Devils, playing right-wing on the top line for most of that time.  Gionta is coming off of a 60-point season with the Devils, which ranked him tied for third on the team.  Scoring is not his only strength though.  The 5'7” 175 lb. Rochester native has also been known to kill penalties and play in any defensive situation. 

While Gionta is not quite the gifted scorer that Jarome Iginla of Calgary is, he is a threat to score.  Mike Cammalleri was signed earlier in the day, and these two may find chemistry together.  Cammalleri just had a 39-goal season with the Flames playing on the top line with Iginla.  He operates best with a fellow goal scorer.  Gionta may be the answer in Montreal.

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Wild sign Martin Havlat to 6-Year, $30 Million Contract

Martin Havlat saw the writing on the wall in Chicago when they signed winger Marian Hossa to a 12-year contract earlier in the day.  The Wild jumped on the chance at grabbing the free-agent winger.

''We are excited to add the speed and scoring of Martin Havlat to our lineup,'' Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said late Wednesday night. ''He is a terrific two-way player.''

Havlat had some serious injury problems in his 3-season tenure with the Blackhawks, but managed to stay healthy throughout all of 2008-09.  He tallied 29 goals and 48 assists with the Blackhawks in 81 regular season games, and added 15 points in 16 games in the playoffs.  Havlat adds even more speed to a very quick Minnesota lineup.

The Wild lost star Marian Gaborik to the New York Rangers in free-agency earlier on Wednesday.  Gaborik played in just 17 games last season for his club, due to a nagging hip injury.  The team rallied around the loss of their dynamic player though, finishing ninth and just being two points out of a playoff berth.  With the addition of Havlat, this team is one to be reckoned with.  Stud center Mikko Koivu scored 67 points to lead the team, and crafty winger Andrew Brunette added 50 points.  Placing Havlat on a power-play line with these two strong players could improve the Wild's chances of earning a playoff spot.

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July 09, 2009

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Ducks' Defense Still Staggering

It was no shock to the city of Anaheim when all-star defenseman Chris Pronger was traded on NHL draft day.  The real shock may come during the 2009-10 season when the Ducks still put out a strong defensive lineup on opening day.

Pronger saw his tenure with the Ducks end at three seasons after a Norris Trophy nomination and a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007.  But Anaheim did not see their defense depletion stop there; puck-moving defenseman Francois Beauchemin agreed to a three-year, $11.4 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 5th.  He even had a few harsh words about not being re-signed for his former GM Bob Murray and Anaheim Ducks management.

“Yeah, I am a little bit disappointed by them,” Beauchemin said on a media conference call, “Obviously, I had four great years there. When you play in a place for four years and win a Stanley Cup, it’s always tough to leave, but at the same time, when they don’t want you, it’s time to move on.”

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July 21, 2009

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Avalanche Should Make Pitch for Tanguay

July 9th was a dark day for the Colorado Avalanche hockey club.  After 20 seasons, all being with the Nordiques-Avalanche franchise, long-time captain Joe Sakic announced his retirement from the NHL. Not only did Avalanche personnel say goodbye to their on-ice leader, but their most valuable player.

With Sakic out of the lineup for the better part of the season, the Avalanche finished a dismal 32-45-5 in 2008-09, which placed them last in the Western Conference.  The bright side of this was that the Colorado club was able to land the third overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  They selected Matt Duchene from the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League, a promising young star who has a knack for finding the back of the net.  Matt ranked third on his team in points last season with 48 assists and 79 points.  The 18-year old is most likely ready for the NHL, but the Tampa Bay Lightning taught other NHL teams last season to not put too much stock in a rookie.  Stephen Stamkos, the first overall pick in 2008, scored just 23 goals and 46 points in his first season.  The Avalanche will need to look elsewhere to improve their lineup.

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July 23, 2009

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Islanders Could Have a Logjam in Goal

The New York Islanders have made a plunge into the free-agent goalie market this summer, locking up Dwayne Roloson on July 1st and Martin Biron on July 22nd.  This seems like a good tandem for a team that faced its fair share of struggles last season.  There is just one little problem that the Islanders seem to be forgetting; they own a 15-year, $67.5 million goaltender that was once considered the “franchise goaltender.”

Rick DiPietro, an American-born goaltender who was selected to the 2008 NHL All-Star Game, played in just 5 games last season.  Since receiving his long contract extension, DiPietro has played in just 53% of his team's games.  The injury list piles on and on for DiPietro:  groin injury, neck strain, extended headache problems, knee injuries, and hip and knee surgeries.  When asked about all of his unsuccessful recovery, DiPietro was very outspoken.

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July 28, 2009

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Oh Those Summer Blues

Late July is always the time of year that weighs down on hockey fans.  The Stanley Cup has been handed out, the Entry Draft is over and free-agency is pretty much at a standstill.  It always brings in all of those questions regarding if the team has improved or regressed.  Blues fans always have the same question on their mind almost more than any other teams' fans:  When will it be our turn?

Blues media kept fans on the edge of their seats early this summer when there were constant talks of Chris Pronger returning to the blue and gold.  Those discussions came to a crashing halt on the first day of the NHL Entry Draft when he was shipped from Anaheim to Philadelphia in the first blockbuster deal of the summer.  Draft day was still exciting for the Blues though, when they selected defenseman David Rundblad at 17th overall in the first round.  Rundblad is known for his smooth skating ability and offensive instincts, but worries some scouts with his defensive lapses at times.  The Swedish defenseman reminds many scouts, including the Blues' Director of Amateur Scouting Jarmo Kekalainen, of Mike Green from Washington.  It will take a few seasons to see that progression though.

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