Havlat Wants To Stay In Chicago
KK Hockey —
... Don’t assume Martin Havlat is going to hit the open market just yet. Havlat’s agent, Allan Walsh, and Chicago GM Dale Tallon were hard at it first thing this morning, trying to see if there was some common ground between the skilled forward and the Blackhawks.... If the two sides can’t reach a deal, Havlat will be coveted by a number of teams looking to add an impact forward, teams like Montreal, which brought in skilled playmaking center Scott Gomez from New York on Tuesday. more Filed in: ...
The Best Dman Available
Kuklas Korner —
... the best blueliner available, although more of a defensive banger than an offensive force like Bouwmeester.
“It certainly gives a little more clarity to the market place having him there [Bouwmeester sign in Calgary],” Komisarek’s agent, Matt Keator, told ESPN.com Wednesday morning. “But there’s still other good defensemen out there like [Mattias] Ohlund and others. So Mike isn’t the only one out there.”
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Sportsnet: Marian Hossa turned down one more Red Wings deal; Winter snips at LeBrun
Snapshots —
... : Marian Hossa has turned down yet another long-term deal to try his luck as a mercenary on the free agent market. The Red Wings were prepared to keep Hossa in Hockeytown for 10 years. As such, Hossa's agent, Ritch Winter, gave ESPN's Pierre LeBrun quite the line: July 1, ESPN : Still not sure what's happening with Marian Hossa. Wings GM Ken Holland was busy on the phone when I checked in this morning and I got this note from Hossa's agent Rich Winter: "Marian is a very private person. He will not discuss his business with other than those he is dealing with, as I have ...
Ken Holland: Hossa's testing the market; Sedins sign with Canucks, so Hossa will move fast
Snapshots —
From ESPN's Pierre LeBrun: July 1, ESPN : Marian Hossa, get ready for the open market a second year in a row. Just got a note from Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland, who said he spoke to Hossa's agent, Rich Winter, again this morning but, "I expect him to hit the market," Holland said via e-mail. You never know, perhaps a change of heart by Hossa could happen at 11:59 a.m. ET, but it's a long shot. I would think Los Angeles, Montreal, Minnesota and the Rangers will lead the bidding on Hossa. Update 11:27 : The Sedins have ...
A Ty Conklin rumor and some useful links
Snapshots —
... : As for goalies, Ty Conklin deserves a look. Up front, there were whispers last year the Lightning was after Marian Hossa, and he is available again. A more financially reasonable option is Chad LaRose, who had 19 goals last season for the Hurricanes and was a thorn in the Lightning's side. The Bolts just strike me as a good fit for Conklin as he could out-compete Mike Smith for the starter's spot. Also: I'm following ESPN and ...
Marian Hossa signs with Blackhawks: $5.2 million per year for 12 years
Snapshots —
... , Marian Hossa has signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. More to come, obviously. Update 2:01 PM : TSN's Darren Dreger says that it's a long-term contract, and that the Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning were in the running. Somewhere over $5 million per year in cap hit, says Bob McKenzie. Update 2:05 PM : ESPN's Pierre LeBrun says it's a $5.2 million cap hit for 12 years. So he took another $12 million over what the Wings were offering. When you're already being guaranteed $40 million, I have no sympathy for you going for more bucks. Update 2:19 PM : TSN provides a ...
Hossa to the Blackhawks
Kuklas Korner —
Noted by Pierre Lebrun at ESPN:
LeBrun (2 p.m. ET): The Chicago Blackhawks have signed star winger Marian Hossa to a 12-year whopper deal. Sources tell ESPN.com the deal is worth an average of $5.2 million a year.
more here later
More from Hawks GM Dale Tallon about signing Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky away from Red Wings
Snapshots —
ESPN's Scott Burnside added a few more comments from Chicago Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon, who discussed the Blackhawks' signings of former Red Wings forward Marian Hossa at length: July 1, ESPN : Chicago GM Dale Tallon recalls the feelings that used to accompany free agency in Chicago: dejection. Even if he overpaid, he couldn't get players to come and play in Chicago since the reputation of the Original Six franchise was so badly tattered. Needless to say dejection has been replaced with something akin to elation for Tallon and the resurgent Blackhawks. When Tallon couldn't find ...
Scuderi May Be Too Expensive For Pens
Kuklas Korner —
via Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
Here’s what I’m hearing on Rob Scuderi. I’m told “4-5 teams” are in the hunt for the solid free-agent blueliner. I’m told the Pittsburgh Penguins will hear again from their camp as a courtesy, but it’s unlikely the team will have enough cap space to match.
Tough Night For Devils
The New York Rangers Blog —
... Pierre LeBrun at ESPN.com reports that in less than an hour the Devils lost both Brian Gionta (Montreal, 5 years, $25 million) and John Madden (Chicago, 1 year, $2.75 million). ...
Thursday Links
St. Louis Game Time —
... outdoor game record to the Blues. [STLtoday.com]
JR will be having a chat. Over/under on Roman Polak questions is set at three. [STLtoday]
Jeff Gordon likes what the Blues are doing. I do as well but I don't have a column in a newspaper. [STLtoday.com]
Hockey news
So many deals yesterday ... here's a free agent tracker to break 'em all down. [ESPN]
ESPN blogged a ton during the FA period. [ESPN]
Think of this page as the link dump. [TSN] ...
