Money for nothing is the norm
northjersey.com 7/6/2009 — Every July 1 is pretty much the same in the NHL. Something about the opening of the free agent market causes general managers to lose their minds. The clock strikes noon (it used to be midnight) and they start giving players big contracts in the hope ...

Compare as we dare
dailyhab-it.blogspot.com 7/7/2009 — Today's signings of Francois Beauchemin in Toronto and Alex Kovalev in Ottawa was more than a simple case of two Montreal rivals getting stronger. Both Beauchemin and Kovalev signed contracts that are eerily similar to the ones Bob Gainey gave to Jaroslav Spacek and Brain Gionta. In the case of ...

Mixed bag for Canadiens
montrealgazette.com 7/2/2009 — It was, as expected, a free-agent frenzy. The signings of a number of notable unrestricted free agents led by the capture of Marian Hossa by Chicago Blackhawks for an astonishing 12 seasons, of Minnesota's Marian Gaborik by the New York Rangers and ...

Scott Gomez (and Salary) Traded to the Habs
viewfrommyseats.com 7/1/2009 — Salary Dump: Trading a good player with an inflated salary for the sole purpose of saving money. Here’s how they usually work. Team A will trade the horrible contract to Team B. They will also throw in a blue-chip prospect for the effort. Team B usually sends back a couple of fringe players ...

Le nouveau premier trio?
rds.ca 7/2/2009 — Un gros coup n'attend pas l'autre chez le Canadien. Après avoir transigé avec les Rangers de New York pour mettre la main sur Scott Gomez et être parvenu

Good night: Unless you’re a Habs fan
thetwolinepass.com 7/2/2009 — The Lead Remember back after the Habs got demolished in the playoffs and some reporter told Bob Gainey all about how even his wife was questioning Gainey’s use of Carey Price in the playoffs? Well now I gotta wonder if the Habs can get her signed up to be GM, because Jesus ...

Gaborik: A Necessary Risk
blueseatblogs.com 7/2/2009 — We all know the argument against Gaborik: He’s never healthy. I get it, we all get it, he’s injury prone. Enough already. How many goals did the Rangers score last season? How many goals left the team when Antropov, Gomez and Naslund left? They NEEDED to sign someone of his ...

2009 NHL free agency begins
pensburgh.com 7/1/2009 — More photos » by David Duprey - AP Scott Gomez joins the Montreal Canadiens. Browse more photos » It strikes me as funny that only three days after the draft I'm seeing posts ...

The rumour that refuses to die
dailyhab-it.blogspot.com 7/15/2009 — The Habs cap situation appeared to put to rest all talk of Vincent Lecavalier coming home to wear the CH, but the most recent twist in the Tampa Bay Lightning's ownership soap opera could very well put the wheels of this rumour back in motion. First, a look at the Canadiens tight cap situation. ...

A man with a plan
dailyhab-it.blogspot.com 7/2/2009 — Say what you will about that plan, no one can argue that Bob Gainey was not focused on the opening day of free agency. Gainey obviously had a vision of the type of team he wanted, and he went out and got it. Yes, the Canadiens needed to add size, and Gainey failed in that regard. Yes, the ...

Canadiens sign Cammaleri, two others — FOXSports.com News for NHL 7/1/2009
The Montreal Canadiens were busy again Wednesday with the signings of center Mike Cammaleri and defensemen Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill on the first day of free-agent shopping in the NHL. One day after acquiring star center Scott Gomez from the New ...

Habs sign C Cammalleri, Ds Spacek, Gill (AP) — Yahoo! Sports - NHL News 7/1/2009
The Montreal Canadiens were busy again Wednesday with the signings of center Mike Cammalleri and defensemen Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill on the first day of free-agent shopping in the NHL. One day after acquiring star center Scott Gomez from the New ...

NEWS: Marian Gaborik Signs with New York Rangers — Bleacher Report - NHL 7/2/2009
According to various media outlets, the New York Rangers quickly replaced Scott Gomez by signing former Minnesota Wild Marian Gaborik to a five-year contract late Wednesday. The deal is said to be worth $7.5 million annually. Gaborik, 27, played ...

New York Rangers: Marian Gaborik a Blueshirt — Bleacher Report - NHL 7/2/2009
The New York Rangers finally have their sniper.  Marian Gaborik, one of the most highly sought-after free agents this ummer, has agreed to a five-year contract with the Blueshirts that will pay him $7.5 million annually. Gaborik, who was ...

Ok Slats, So Now What? — Bleacher Report - NHL 7/1/2009
No question Slats was the big winner for the period after the draft and before "Canada Day", but while dealing Scott Gomez for a winger that can score 25-to-30 and a couple of nice defensive prospects solve two problems, it still leaves ...