Happy Canada Day

by Matthew on Jul 1, 2009 1:43 PM PDT

Which, of course, means hockey talk!

Canada Day is also the start of the free agent signing period and unlike in those shitty other sports, hockey makes hay right away.

ESPN NHL Free Agent Tracker

The big news so far:

-Dany Heatley is still a Sen (thank god, that Edmonton deal stunk)
-Nikolai Khabibulin is now an Oiler (4Y, $15M)
-Marian Hossa is now a Blackhawk
-The Canucks resigned the Sedin twins
-The Canucks lost Ohlund to Tampa Bay on a 7-year, $26.25M deal

In the craziness of the day, Marian Hossa's deal pays him more than the Sedin twins, combined!.

Hossa: 12 years, $62.8M
Sedin Twins: each got a 5-year, $30.5M deal

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Twelve years?!

How much is Khabibulin leaving going to hurt Chicago?

by Sec 108 on Jul 1, 2009 1:46 PM PDT reply actions

Ohlund signing for seven is crazy, too

but I agree, after a couple down years from Hossa, the idea that he’ll be worth that money when he’s 42 is utterly beyond belief. Heck, the idea that he’ll be worth it next season seems pretty dubious to me. Over/under on number of seasons before the Blackhawks are trying to get Hossa to go back to Europe?

by The Ancient Mariner on Jul 1, 2009 1:53 PM PDT reply actions

Just how likely is it for an RFA to go?

Ronny, TAKE

by Kirsten Schlewitz on Jul 1, 2009 1:55 PM PDT reply actions

Not that likely.

by Matthew on Jul 1, 2009 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Whew.

Ronny, TAKE

by Kirsten Schlewitz on Jul 1, 2009 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

The only crazy thing that can really happen is that another team tenders an offer and pushes up the price the controlling team has to pay.

by ningwers on Jul 1, 2009 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Good for Vancouver in keeping the Sedins.

by abender20 on Jul 1, 2009 1:56 PM PDT reply actions

That surprised me-- I didn't think they'd spend the money with Luongo due up soon

by msb on Jul 1, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Since I know very little about the lifespan of an NHL career

are these 10-12 year deals smart, or are they dumb? It seems like the abuse a player takes in the NHL would mean a pretty severe degradation of skills in years 11-12 if not beforehand. They seem kinda dumb, but I fully concede I may be missing something.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Jul 1, 2009 2:32 PM PDT reply actions

I am no expert, but there are plenty of players that maintain solid skills to the early 40s

by Matthew on Jul 1, 2009 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I can see that

but it seems like these contracts would be huge albatrosses unless they’re front-loaded; Hossa’s a star now, but in 12 years when he’s just an average/slightly above player, due to age and wear-and-tear, the deal won’t look so savvy. But again, I’m no contract/hockey expert so I’m probably just talking nonsense.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Jul 1, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Hossa's deal is very frontloaded

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 1, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, but how do the cap rules work?

That’s really the kicker, I think.

by The Ancient Mariner on Jul 2, 2009 7:15 AM PDT up reply actions

AAV

by Matthew on Jul 2, 2009 8:30 AM PDT up reply actions

From all us Shatner-stealing Mexico-touchers

Happy Canada Day. Although we’re not very impressed by the way you gained your independance. Not shooty enough.

Now which one of your hockey teams can we have come play in Key Arena (pending its refurbishment, of course)?

by short on Jul 1, 2009 3:07 PM PDT reply actions

None of them.

by Matthew on Jul 1, 2009 3:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Nah, steal one of the US teams

preferably whichever one’s closest to Oklahoma City.

by The Ancient Mariner on Jul 2, 2009 7:15 AM PDT up reply actions

I wish that HBO would release that fine documentary

The Canadian conspiracy out on dvd.

by msb on Jul 1, 2009 3:11 PM PDT reply actions

I wanted Hossa in LA

Paris Hilton, Burberry plaid, reality TV, mullets, Zima, Dubya, and the Sonics being sold to Oklahoma City. - Yahoo Answer results for "7 Signs of the Apocalypse"

by bluemax on Jul 1, 2009 6:35 PM PDT reply actions

What happened?

Also, what’s the proper rec etiquette when the moderator pulls off a double-digit Corco-ing rant?

by Decatur on Jul 1, 2009 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions

This is more of a Robert rant

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 1, 2009 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions

This is the worst case of mistaken identity in the history of the world

by Robert on Jul 2, 2009 2:42 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs

Neil scored a goal in the Stanley Cup once

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 1, 2009 7:32 PM PDT reply actions

So did Chris Phillips >:(

by ningwers on Jul 1, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Volchenkov scored two in one game!

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 1, 2009 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions

And has scored three since :(

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 1, 2009 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions

He does so many other things right.

It’s hard for me to get down on him.

by ningwers on Jul 1, 2009 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, but they were in the correct net.

So that’s like three goals better.

by ningwers on Jul 1, 2009 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions

FUCK YOU NEIL

by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 1, 2009 8:17 PM PDT reply actions

I hate Chris Neil

by Graham MacAree on Jul 1, 2009 8:20 PM PDT reply actions

Oh THAT Chris Neal

by Robert on Jul 2, 2009 2:42 AM PDT up reply actions

So Chris Neil is ungood?

by Mariner John on Jul 1, 2009 9:05 PM PDT reply actions

He's not $8 million over 4 years good.

Not even close.

by ningwers on Jul 1, 2009 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Now I stopped following the Senators in Febuary but I seem to remember talks of the Sedin twins joining Ottawa to create a "All Swedish First Line"

How do those plans go currently? Do they go well? Are they fitting like a simply spendid glove? I do hope so indeed.

by Robert on Jul 2, 2009 2:40 AM PDT reply actions

What?

Nobody ever said that would, or even could, happen.

by Matthew on Jul 2, 2009 7:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Didn't Vancouver have an all-Swedish first line for like 3 seasons?

Or am I forgetting Jarko Ruutu?

I was at a Nightwish concert (Finnish symphonic metal band), and the singer (who is Swedish) remarked that she liked the Canucks because of all the Swedish players.

Nice to see the Oilers make a splash. I grew up watching the Oilers win everything year after year. That was pretty cool.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jul 2, 2009 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions