NHL Free Agency: Day 1

Unlike the NBA’s version of free agency, things actually happen in the NHL. Today was packed with surprising signings, some good, some atrociously bad. The Atlantic division seems to be the busiest with the Penguins, Devils, Rangers, and to a lesser extent the Flyers making some waves. Of course, the New York Islanders have done absolutely nothing, so I can only imagine how bored their fans were today during all the excitement.

New York Rangers: Not counting the players they added earlier today, which you can read about here, they managed to add the heavyweight champion of the NHL Derek Boogard from the Minnesota Wild. The contract is a bit over the top at 1.65 million a year for four years, but he’s the perfect tag team partner for the Rangers 10th overall pick from the draft Dylan Mcilrath. With nicknames like The Boogieman and The Undertaker respectively, you can imagine the Rangers won’t be seeing their goalie run nearly as much. Boogard is a former teammate of the Rangers second most important player, Marian Gaborik, who I imagine had a hand in this signing. Another Gaborik favorite, Vinny Prospal has also resigned with the Rangers. It’s a one year deal worth a possible 2+ million. The Rangers have managed to sign 2/3 of their top line for less than half of what Gaborik makes, and yet the anti-Sather agenda is still getting pushed.

We’ll see who questions Boogard’s contract while he’s on the ice…

New Jersey Devils: Like the Rangers, the Devils signed a backup goaltender today, there version is named Johan Hedberg. I figured Hedberg actually liked to play hockey, and would sign somewhere he’d be considered a possible number one, but now that he’s behind Marty, chances are he won’t play more than 10 games next season. The Devils added a couple d-men as well, high profile and injury-prone Anton Volchenkov, and Henrik Tallinder. Apparently New Jersey likes to focus on the defensive side of the puck, who knew?

Pittsburgh Penguins: The icebirds decided they were no longer interested in the aging Sergei Gonchar, and they pulled a Glen Sather by signing two players of the exact same position to high salary deals. Paul Martin (5 years, 5 million per) and Zbynek Michalek (5 years, 4 million per). This is a cheaper version of Redden/Rozival from two years ago, and with a logjam at defense, I can imagine some players in Pittsburgh getting overpaid for the time they end up spending on the ice. These two will probably be the Penguins second pair, at best.

Philadelphia Flyers: They sign aging tough guy Jody Shelley from the Rangers (1.1 per 3 years), acquire Andrej Meszaros from Tampa Bay for a 2nd rounder, and resigned Braydon Coburn. I’ve heard some people claim the Flyers are ready to win the cup now that these moves have been made, but those people must not realize how rapidly Shelley has been deteriorating as a player/enforcer.

Calgary Flames: In the ultimate “came crawling back” move of the day, Flames GM Sutter brings back Ollie Jokinen for 2 years at 3 million per. He was also reported to have apologized to the silliest mustache in the business for trading him to the Rangers for two horrible players (Kotalik/Higgins). They also went out and signed Alex Tanguay away from Tampa Bay, who is already declining at 30 years old. The one GM that is considered even more foolish than Glen Sather, Darryl Sutter.

You again?

Vancouver Canucks: In one of the more reasonable contract signings of the day, Dan Hamhuis signed a deal worth 4.5 million a year for the next six years. A player that wanted nothing more than to be a Canuck, and got his wish. The Canucks also gave out the worst contract of the day to Manny Malholtra, a chronic underachiever. 3 years at 2.5 million and a no-move clause. While people are screaming their heads off over the Rangers 1.6 going to Boogard, who literally puts fear into the hearts of other teams, people are acting like this was a smart acquisition. I guess the haters will hate.

Other notables: Sergei Gonchar is taking the money and running with a 5.5 million for 3 year deal with the Ottawa Senators, something the Penguins wouldn’t be could dead giving the man. The Anaheim Ducks brought in Toni Lydman and re-signed Saku Koivu. Toronto Maple Leafs are throwing 3 million a year at Colby Armstrong for the next three years. Antero Niittymaki is the San Jose Sharks’ newest goalie. Former Ranger, and best goalie mask owner, Alex Auld is now a Canadien. Anton Babchuk is returning to the NHL and the Carolina Huricanes for a year. Chicago and Atlanta make another trade together that sends Andrew Ladd to the Thrashers, who will be suffering from quite the Stanley Cup hangover despite not actually winning the Cup. Hotlanta’s Thrashers also signed goalie Chris Mason for the next two seasons. Ray Whitney signs with the Coyotes, as well as Derek Morris re-signing with them.

Transaction of the Day: Byfuglien to Thrashers

The Details: Chicago Blackhawks trade Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, and Akim Aliu to the Atlanta Thrashers for Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb, Jeremy Morin, and New Jersey Devil’s 1st and 2nd round picks (acquired by ATL for Ilya Kovalchuk).

Reaction: Dustin Byfuglien had a decent season, and an amazing postseason in 2010. He only played a fourth as many games in the Playoffs as he did in the regular season (22/82), and came up with 2 more game winning goals, one less power play goal, a better plus/minus, and only 5 less goals overall. Dude was on fire, and didn’t even score in his first playoff series (6 games) against Nashville. Either Buff turned the imaginary corner that leads to being a consistent scorer at the NHL level, or he played above his head like so many playoff performers before him, and is just going to to go back the the average power forward he was before the playoffs. Chicago isn’t in a position to be offering big contracts, and Byfuglien is due for one if he maintains his playoff pace at the end of next season. Eager and Sopel are hardly throw ins, as both are every day NHL’ers, and will be bringing with them great penalty killing.

The Thrashers are giving up on Marty Reasoner, who is half the player Byfuglien is statistically, so no huge loss there. What the Blackhawks are in this for are the cheap young players that come with the 1st and 2nd round draft picks they’ve acquired. They built a Stanley Cup Championship team on these exact types of players, and if they’re going to keep all their important expensive players (Kane, Toews, Hossa, Keith, etc), they’ll need to build around them on the cheap. Byfuglien is still a 50/50 shot at being an overpaid player in a year, and Championship teams have little room for such players (despite Huet on the Blackhawks), but draft picks are probably less than a 50/50 shot when it comes to actually being worth icing in the NHL.

Winners: Atlanta Thrashers, if for no other reason than the prestige that comes with having a few Stanley Cup Champions on the roster.