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**Kontiki** · June 30, 2006, 14:04

Wow, the Leafs actually put Domi on waivers and declined the option on Belfour's contract. I thought they might sign both to five year deals for $7.5 million per.

**Asher** · June 30, 2006, 14:07

They're freeing cap space to sign Aki Berg to a 10-year contract.

**Asher** · June 30, 2006, 16:57

Does Nonis understand there is a cap?

They have the following players under contract:
- 5 forwards: Naslund, Morrison, Cooke, Sedin x2
- 2 defensemen: Ohlund, Salo
- 2 goalies: Luongo, Cloutier

If they signed 8 more forwards and five more d-men at the league minimum, that puts the payroll at $38 million...

That gives him about $5M to upgrade 13 roster slots from the minimum payscale...and even then, starting the season at $43M is asking for trouble.

**joncha** · June 30, 2006, 18:34

I think that makes it pretty clear that he has some more trades in the works and/or is ready to take a pass on the free agents currently with the Canucks.

**Kontiki** · June 30, 2006, 20:37

Well Cloutier is obviously gone, so there's another $2.55 million, but it's still going to be pretty tight. I was just thinking that maybe they should try to package Cloutier and Morrison and get a true #1 centre. You can't break up the Sedin sisters since they'd probably just sit and cry on the bench, and I think Morrison has kinda been on management's **** list, so I think it makes sense.

They should go for Spezza.

(like Ottawa would ever part with him).

**cinch** · July 2, 2006, 03:40

No UFA posts? Is there another thread somewhere I'm missing?

Well, anyway:

JFJ makes some more boneheaded moves. Kubina for 5 per season and Gill for 2 per. That's almost 20mil per year spent on a questionable quartet of defensemen. Kubina's good, but not THAT good, while Gill's career is just totally over.

Also:

--Blake's headed back to LA.

--Chara and Savard to Boston. HUGE surprise there, I thought they were rebuilding. This also gives Beantown three star centres (Savard, Bergeron, Boyes).... Trade, maybe?

--Elias stays in the swamp.

--Jovo heads to Phoenix.

And's that's just to name a few. What a frenzy!

A more comprehensive list can be found at www.spectorshockey.net

Also: The Oilers re-signed Rolie, and then proceeded to lay an egg... Ah well, what can you do?

**Tingkai** · July 2, 2006, 03:51

Originally posted by Asher

Does the name Bobby Orr mean anything to you.

The days when defencemen did not contribute to offence are long gone.

So many strawmen...

I'm not saying they should not contribute offensively at all, but it should be a secondary contribution to their defensive play.

You know the saying about the best defence.

And you can't win if you don't put the puck in the net, something the Flames forgot with their strategy of trying not to lose instead of playing to win.

Besides, you're looking at things too simplistically. Teams need a mix of different types of players. McCabe and Kaberle can log the minutes and will excel on the powerplay. They'll be joined by Gill and Kubina, who are solid defencemen who can log the minute as well as McCabe and Kaberle. Gill and Kubina are not offensive offensive defencemen, but the Leafs don't need more of these types of D because they already have Kaberle and McCabe.

The Leafs blue line is now very strong.

**joncha** · July 2, 2006, 04:05

Originally posted by cinch
No UFA posts? Is there another thread somewhere I'm missing?

It might have something to do with the site being down for the last 24 hours or so.

**notyoueither** · July 2, 2006, 05:02

Originally posted by cinch
Also: The Oilers re-signed Rolie, and then proceeded to lay an egg... Ah well, what can you do?

You wanted the Oilers should win some of the bidding in that insanity?

Roli and Pisani are questionable enough at the amounts required to get them to sign.

**Kontiki** · July 2, 2006, 11:53

Canucks sign Willie Mitchell. Good signing, and somewhat expected.

**Kontiki** · July 2, 2006, 11:57

Ottawa signs Gerber and Corvo.

Minnesota pick up Mark Parrish. Minny definitely seems to be racheting up their offence.

**Lord Avalon** · July 2, 2006, 12:54

Originally posted by Asher
Wings lock up Lidstrom for 2 years.

In addition he signed for the same annual salary as last year, $7.6M, which means the Wings have more room under the cap.

Also Osgood just re-signed for 2yrs, $900K per (same as last year). Wings are still looking for another goalie, possibly only for a year, as prospect Jimmy Howard will stay in the minors another year before coming up.

Shanahan is testing the free-agent market.

**cinch** · July 2, 2006, 13:05

Originally posted by notyoueither

You wanted the Oilers should win some of the bidding in that insanity?

Roli and Pisani are questionable enough at the amounts required to get them to sign.

Well, I'm not saying they should have tossed boatloads of cash at guys like Gill or Kubina, but I think there were more affordable deals to be had. I think the contracts for Mitchell and Kuba were pretty fair, for example.

We have a lot of holes on defence, and the more gaping those are, the more pressure is on GM Lowe to make THE greatest trade of all time.

**notyoueither** · July 2, 2006, 15:12

I think most of the d went for too high prices. Better to let that pass and re-sign Spacek and Tarnstrom, assuming they don't get 15mil, 5 year contracts somewhere.

**notyoueither** · July 2, 2006, 15:13

Originally posted by Kontiki
Canucks sign Willie Mitchell. Good signing, and somewhat expected.

For 3.5mil a year?

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