NHL Free Agent Frenzy!

[Asher]

Kipper re-signs with Flames for at least 3 years ($10M contract): http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp...48&hubName=nhl

Rhett Warrener also signed, $9.4M over 4 years:

Kiprusoff, a six-foot-two, 190-pound native of Turku, Finland, played in 38 regular season games with Flames in 2003-04 after he was acquired from the San Jose Sharks on Nov. 16, 2003 for a second-round pick in the 2005 draft.
Related Info

* Flames' Reinprecht accepts qualifying offer

He posted a 24-10-4 record with a 1.69 goals-against average and four shutouts and then continued his stellar play in the playoffs, where he went 15-11 record with a 1.85 GAA in 26 games.



In 84 career NHL games with Calgary and the Sharks the 28-year-old has a 38-31-7 record, a 2.28 GAA and seven shutouts.

Warrener, a six-foot-two, 215-pounder from Shaunavon, Sask., played in 77 games in 2003-04 season, posting three goals, 14 assists and 97 penalty minutes.

During the playoffs, Warrener averaged 24 minutes six seconds of ice-time in 24 games.

Nik Antropov and Clarke Wilm signed 1-year qualifying offers with Toronto.

Ottawa signed Jason Spezza to a 1-year deal and Anton Volchenkov to 2-years.

[cinch]

Originally posted by Flubber


The Calgary D could be a force this year. . .

No kidding, especially since they just signed Roman Hamrlik!

I did not see that coming!

[Tingkai]

Well, the Leafs started off slow and didn't pay any big bucks for a franchise performer, but they've put together a potential contender. Still need to pick up a another winger.

Lindros, Allison, and O'Neil all have the potential for a banner year (or a bandage year). With Sundin, the Leafs can put together two powerful lines that will outscore any other team, particularly if the Leafs can pick up a guy like Anson Carter or maybe Deadmarsh.

Yeah, a lot of these guys have had bad injuries, but they've also have had lots of time to recuperate. They'll be healthy and ready to go.

More importantly, the Leafs have players with links to Toronto, who understand the history and meaning of being a Leaf. These types of players always outperform for the Leafs.

Lindros is the only potential problem. He was a whiny bastard, now hopefully he'll just be a bastard on ice.

On the D-side, McCabe isn't a pronger, but he's still got the stuff to be among the top 10 Ds in the league. Kaberle and Khavanov will be incredible now that the NHL rules are more they are used to. Their speed will more than make up for any potential softness (although Kaberle was playing hard in the last World Cup. If he brings that game to Toronto, no one will be complaining about him). Klee is old, but he'll be good in front of the net.

Eddie in goal, no problem. He knows how to stay in shape.

[Asher]

Eddie is old...maybe a bit too old.

[Tingkai]

They said that years ago and he still winning games. Besides, he's one of the more exciting goalies to watch. He gets the job done year in, year out.

Meanwhile, will Kipper become another Guigere, a flash in the pan?

[Asher]

Meanwhile, will Kipper become another Guigere, a flash in the pan?

You also said he'd crumble in the playoffs because he was young and inexperienced, and he did better than Belfour then as well.

Belfour is 40. He just can't move as fast as his younger counterparts.

Kipper is a rising star (Guigere mostly relied on oversized padding, rather than reflexes and a good eye), and Belfour is a "classic" player who's approaching retirement. I'll tell you this: Goalies are never at their peak past the age of 40...

They said that years ago and he still winning games. Besides, he's one of the more exciting goalies to watch. He gets the job done year in, year out.

He's had several seasons below 90% svp in recent years...

[Brundlefly]

John LeClair signs with Pittsburgh. I hoped he would get reunited with Lindros in Toronto and re-form part of the Legion of Doom line..

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Tingkai
More importantly, the Leafs have players with links to Toronto, who understand the history and meaning of being a Leaf.

Isn't that exactly what they want to move away from?

I heard they're trying to get Sittler, Salming and Palmateer out of retirement.

[Ninot]

Happened yesterday but noone mentioned it.

Captain Koivu signs with the Habs, 1 year 3.2 million.

I'm kinda saddened that its only a 1 year deal, but I can understand why.

I just hope we dont end up trading/losing yet another captain.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Richelieu


Isn't that exactly what they want to move away from?

I heard they're trying to get Sittler, Salming and Palmateer out of retirement.

They're just going to start with Steve Thomas:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20050815_142736_4940

[Asher]

Flames retain Matthew Lombardi and Chuck Kobasew:

The Calgary Flames retained forwards Chuck Kobasew and Matthew Lombardi on Monday when both accepted their qualifying offers. In accordance with team policy, terms of the deals were not released.

The 23-year-old Lombardi was a cog in Calgary's run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, which the club lost in a tough seven games to Tampa Bay. During the regular season, he tallied 16 goals and 13 assists in 79 games and also added six playoff points. Lombardi was selected 30th overall by the Flames in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Kobasew, also 23, is a former first-round pick (14th overall, 2001) who totaled 17 points in the 2003-04 season. This past year, while the NHL was in the midst of its labor dispute, Kobasew skated for the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League and produced a big season. Kobasew scored 38 goals and added 37 assists in 79 games. The club also signed goaltender Brent Krahn and forward Lynn Lyons.

[Brundlefly]

Devils sign Mogilny.

If Mogilny can last a season, what a great addition to your team. You are still in for a world of hurt Dev fans. Sorry buts it's a highly unlikely you are going to be competitive like in the past. Glory days for you are over. Guess we will have to see. The thought of it just makes me so giddy..

[Asher]

Lecavalier signs with Tampa for a 4-year, $6.8M/year deal (overpriced IMO).

Canucks sign Anson Carter for 1-year, $1M contract.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Glad to get Mogs back. Though still worried about Elias, who got Hepatitis A while playing in Russia... Mogs gives us some offensive insurance.

Though I do find it amusing that Flyers fans are saying the Devils are in a world of hurt. If Forsberg can actually stay healthy, then we'll talk. The Devils have always been a team without many stars that play well together because of a 'team' concept. Loosing Niedermeyer will hurt, but it won't kill the team at all.

[Asher]

Cujo going to Phoenix...