Upcoming UFAs

[Eddie_Shack]

The Hockey News: Edward Fraser's blog: THN.com Blog: 2011 UFA all-star teams, Pt. 1

Quick overview of some of the best upcoming UFAs. Not a bad list, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of these guys actually made it to the market.

I think Dallas will find a way to keep Brad Richards, but for some reason I can really see him in a Blues jersey. They need a marque veteran leader who can spark the offense, and he looks like a good fit.

Jokinen would be interesting on some good Cup bound teams in need of a winger. Obviously Pittsburgh comes to mind, but Boston and Colorado seem like good fits, too.

Markov is an interesting case. He's had loads of injury problems, but he's still a skilled power play QB and a well rounded player. A team pressed up against the cap and in need of some offense from the blue line could take a chance on him with a one year incentive laden deal. The Sharks, Canucks, and Hawks could all benefit from a situation like that. edit: DC seems perfect for him

 

[dash]

I sure wish Sarich was coming off the books this year, I would like to add Ehrhoff on the Flames back end. Sigh.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I sure wish Sarich was coming off the books this year, I would like to add Ehrhoff on the Flames back end. Sigh.

Through the magic of waivers, he could be an Abbotsford Flame...

 

[dash]

Through the magic of waivers, he could be an Abbotsford Flame...

I don't think the Flames can afford Ehrhoff anyways, he'll likely be looking for 4.5 - 5 million per season.

 

[Ho_Brah]

Kings hopefully will keep Williams on for another year or two, as well as Smyth, that second line has been very productive for them. BUT, if the Kings aren't going to make the playoffs, things could change a bit.

Jokinen would probably make a good fit with the Kopitar line. They so need a scoring LW, Loktionov is a true centerman and is better known for his play making abilites than scoring.

 

[Destroydacre]

The Sharks potentially have up to $10M coming off the books this year and with all the Big names still under contract for next season, I wonder if they'll attempt to bring Ehrhoff back.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Ville Leino is making 800 grand this year & will be an UFA. My team will have to spend around 20 million just to reach the cap floor. The problem is nobody wants to sign with the Islanders.

 

[pixburgher66]

I can't even get excited over the new found cap space the Pens have. I guess now I'll have reason to watch Deadline Day stuff.

 

[pixburgher66]

The Hockey News: Edward Fraser's blog: THN.com Blog: 2011 UFA all-star teams, Pt. 1

Quick overview of some of the best upcoming UFAs. Not a bad list, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of these guys actually made it to the market.

I think Dallas will find a way to keep Brad Richards, but for some reason I can really see him in a Blues jersey. They need a marque veteran leader who can spark the offense, and he looks like a good fit.

Jokinen would be interesting on some good Cup bound teams in need of a winger. Obviously Pittsburgh comes to mind, but Boston and Colorado seem like good fits, too.

Markov is an interesting case. He's had loads of injury problems, but he's still a skilled power play QB and a well rounded player. A team pressed up against the cap and in need of some offense from the blue line could take a chance on him with a one year incentive laden deal. The Sharks, Canucks, and Hawks could all benefit from a situation like that. edit: DC seems perfect for him

NEVER considered Olli as a fit in Pittsburgh, mostly because of his personality and fitting in with the current team, then you post this and some of the Pittsburgh media is claiming that the Pens will take a good look at him. Eff.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

NEVER considered Olli as a fit in Pittsburgh, mostly because of his personality and fitting in with the current team, then you post this and some of the Pittsburgh media is claiming that the Pens will take a good look at him. Eff.

Jussi, not Olli.

 

[pixburgher66]

Jussi, not Olli.

Ahhhh, well, Olli is the one in the Pittsburgh news. Pretty sure anyway. Off to reread that post!

EDIT: Yeah, the Pittsburgh sports guy is talking about Olli, sorry for the confusion there.

 

[Automattic]

Jussi, not Olli.

Are you Jokinen?

 

[Automattic]

I think he's Jokinen.

 

[dash]

Are you Jokinen?

You should write for the Calgary Sun, Auto, your contributions are 10x better than Eric Francis.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

You should write for the Calgary Sun, Auto, your contributions are 10,000x better than Eric Francis.

Fixed for accuracy.

 

[Automattic]

You should write for the Calgary Sun, Auto, your contributions are 10x better than Eric Francis.

I practice in front of the bathroom mirror a lot.








...Wait, was that a compliment or a trap?

 

[Automattic]

Oh I see. Making more sense now. You guys are using me to show how bad this guy is. I smell what your shovelin'. I'm gonna go play in another thread now....wtg....

 

[puckhead]

I think Dallas will find a way to keep Brad Richards, but for some reason I can really see him in a Blues jersey. They need a marque veteran leader who can spark the offense, and he looks like a good fit.

Until Dallas finds a buyer, they can't even afford to make Richards an offer. They would need to line up about a hundred creditors and get everyone on the same page. In summary, FUCK DALLAS.

The Sharks potentially have up to $10M coming off the books this year and with all the Big names still under contract for next season, I wonder if they'll attempt to bring Ehrhoff back.

Word is, he wouldn't want to go back, as he had heard about some Sharks fans calling him Errorhoff, and that really stuck with him :p
With Salo coming off the books (presumably?), and Tanev looks like he's ready to step in with a rookie contract, there should be rook to keep Ehrhoff here.
The only RFA of any note is Jannik Hansen, which won't be a large dollar deal. a million bucks or so?

Bieksa is also a UFA, so unless he wants top dough, he should be OK too.
having a bunch of productive guys in the $2 million range is very helpful with the salary structure.

 

[pixburgher66]

The scary part about the Pens losing Geno, is that Richards becomes attainable. That's purely from a salary standpoint. Shero's not going to sell the whole farm for him, that's for certain, but if he wishes to pull a trigger here, he can.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

The scary part about the Pens losing Geno, is that Richards becomes attainable. That's purely from a salary standpoint. Shero's not going to sell the whole farm for him, that's for certain, but if he wishes to pull a trigger here, he can.

Why would Dallas trade him when they lead their division? A winning team headed to the playoffs will be more attractive to any perspective buyer.

Chuck is going to have to overpay in order to get UFA's to consider the Islanders. Erhoff & Bieksa could be targets.