This is what I've seen so far...

Bowmeester to Calgary for Leopold and third round.... Calgary signed Bowmeester... I think this is a pretty big grab for them.

Hossa is in Chicago - lots of playoff experience and good replacement for Havlat who they are probably losing if they signed Hossa.

Mathias Ohlund is going to Tampa Bay Lightning - this should help them. Give them a more solid defence.

Dvorak is staying in Florida - not a big deal, but he got a 2 year deal worth 3.4 million. Not a bad payoff for a third liner.

Sedins are staying in Vancouver for 6.1 million each. Vancouver HAD to do this or waste away next season accomplishing nothing at all. And they had to sign both otherwise these guys are not worth 6 million each. Maybe 4.5 to 5 but not 6. Either way Vancouver needs them to do well.

Gomez is going to Montreal. Not sure if this is a smart move or not. Gomez is solid but I just don't know if it's going to be any easier in Montreal than in New York. It was a 7 player deal that moved him up there.... not really mentioning any of the other players because the only one worth mentioning is Higgins and even then it's not really worth talking about.



so, that's all for now. I'll keep updating this thread as stuff happens. Feel free to comment on the moves so far.... I think they're good for the most part. Free agency is basically teams filling in holes in their rosters from the previous year so most of the moves are as good as they can do basically.

Okay, some new news

Mike Knuble signed with Washington. He'll add some toughness that the Caps didn't really have last year.

Khabibulin is in Edmonton this year. And boy do they need him. Solid goaltending just hasn't been there for Edmonton the last few years. They've had some pretty good goaltenders but no one outstanding and this might be their chance to have one. He also signed for a reasonable amount. 15 million over 4 years.... so 3.75 per year. Not bad for a starting goalie.

Not much else so far, but I'm still enjoying the first free agent day! I've become a hockey nerd over the last few years... I'm excited about free agency starting up.... kinda silly but still really exciting to see what changes are made in the league. I'm also curious to see how many, if any of the draft picks play this season. I could see 2 or 3 (like Tavares) playing because their teams need a boost but I also expect it to be like Stamkos was last year. He's good in a the AHL, or where ever he was playing but to come up to the NHL and put up 50+ points is a lot harder

You don't know how annoyed I was when I heard about Knuble. But at least the Flyers got Boucher back as a backup (or starter, depending on Emery).

probably backup... realistically. I don't think Boucher is good enough to be a starter.... or at least they'll trade off games. Cause Emery with his head on straight is a good goalie....

Well, his GAA was like 2.19 or something along those lines. That's pretty good. Also, his save percentage was .917

Also, the key phrase there is "with his head straight." That's where the problems are. If he stays in line, we're set. IF

that's a fantastic GAA.... and yeah, I think there were problems between him and the coaches. Hopefully he fits better in with the new system.

Okay, new news....

Gaborik went to the Rangers, Havlat to the Wild... those are the 2 newest ones that I hadn't seen earlier.

I know there are a bunch of other signings and stuff but they're not as important.

Define new... (he was the Flyers goalie a few years ago).

Anyway, which move do you think will have the biggest impact?

OH, you meant Boucher? And I have to point out.... those stats were with San Jose.... so it's no surprise that they're that good.

He won't do that well with the Flyers. And yeah, he was with the flyers in like 2000-2001...

I thought you were talking about Emery...

I'll need to check his stats...uh...recently they're not so good, except from the 06-07 season. 918 save percentage and a 2.47 GAA with 5 shutouts

well, Emery did go downhill the last 2 seasons or so that he was with Ottawa. He didn't like the staff though. Look at his minutes played, wins/losses.... that was just a terrible season overall. He played in Russia last year (or for the last 2 years or something like that).... I'm guessing the Flyers are hoping to see the 06-07 Emery and not the following year one. He played 60 games and had a solid season. With Boucher as a backup picking up the other 20 or so games you guys might actually have solid goltending this year.

I certainly hope so. I liked Niittymaki though. I never thought he was given a fair chance with the Flyers. The only year he really got a chance to play was when we were the worst team in the NHL and our entire team stunk.

I just hope that completely changing our goaltending helps

it probably will help.... maybe not in the first month since you've made a fair number of moves but at some point the team will probably come together and be a formidable force.


Aucoin signed with Phoenix to a 1 year deal. That should free up cap room in Calgary since he was a 3.5 million dollar player when we had him.... I liked Aucoin but he's getting old and I think Calgary is trying to get younger.

Antropov signed with Atlanta, and Recchi signed with Boston.

That's basically all that's new for today.

Yeah, day 1 was exciting and full of moves. I don't figure today will even be remotely the same

it never is...

although I did notice that Heatley still hasn't moved. Sounds like there aren't any teams willing to take him or Ottawa wants too much for him. Either way as long as he doesn't play on Calgary I don't care.

I'll bet it's the first one. And as long as he doesn't become a Flyer, I don't care

yeah... I don't blame other teams... I think he's earning 7.5 million a year... and he's not performing nearly well enough to make that much money.

He's making that much?! Wow, no wonder nobody wants him

I know!

I'd give him 5 million... cause he will put up solid points... maybe 5.5 but not 7.5 million.

nevermind... I just looked at his stats and I would pay him 6.5 or 7... as long as his production went back up. He was getting 100 points in a season... sure, he's down to 72 which isn't worth 7.5 million... but that seems to be the way it goes with huge contracts.

Well, that kind of decreased production is usually a sign. I wouldn't risk it

so, partially as a way to get this thread going again and partially because I want to complain about this....


Hossa got a 12-year deal?!? 12 years? the guy is already in his 30's.... and they gave him 12 years.... that's just a bad idea. Sure, it's only 5 million a year which 5+ years from now won't be a huge hit on the cap (assuming it starts going up again).... and sure he'll be a solid player for them for a while.... probably.... but I still can't believe the 12 year contract.... what if he keeps getting injured? He's having a shoulder surgery soon and who knows what condition he'll be in after that.... I think it was a bad move on Chicago's part.... plus signing 12 years for Hossa might limit their chances on keeping Toews, Kane, Seabrook, etc.... I don't think that team has too many chances to win the cup before they have to break up at least part of the team.