Marian Hossa is locked into a long term contract with a cap hit of $5.2 million. 5.2 for one of the best two way forwards in the league is an absolute steal, and I don't think they'd have much problem unloading him. Sounds to me like they're going to bury Huet in the minors, saving his money against the cap, though they still have to pay him his full salary. When you lead the league in attendance though, you can afford to do that.

For some reason people think they won't be able to trade Brian Campbell because he makes too much, but I guess nobody else saw the team play like garbage when he got hurt. He just creates so much with his breakouts. He is overpaid, but not by as much as most people think.

The thing that really hurt the Hawks is that Toews and Kane hit all their rookie contract bonuses. Through a series of cap rules that I don't even want to try to understand, those bonuses will count against their cap next year. They will lose some of their depth, but the core is locked up. Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith, and Seabrook aren't going anywhere. Plus, they have players ready to step in next year from the minors, such as Kyle Beach, Akim Aliu, Jack Skille, Shawn Lalonde, and Jordan Hendry. These players would all be on small cap hits.

Campbell may be overpaid, unlike Wade Redden, another overpaid defensemen, at least he brings positives to the rink.

The thing about Hossa though is his age and the length of his deal, most teams in the league are struggling themselves to free up cap space to make roster improvements.

True Hossa is a great talent and at a relatively cheap price, there's just too many years on that deal he signed.

I'll have a more invested interest in the NHL next season, seeing as how we have Edmonton's AHL franchise here now.



Been an Edmonton fan for years, funny how that worked out.

The Montreal Canadiens let go of the goaltender who led them through their incredible postseason run and anointed Carey Price as their undisputed No. 1, as the club has traded Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues.

In return, the Habs receive forwards Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.

Halak, 25, spent the last four seasons with the Canadiens and shared the goaltending duties with Price after being called up from the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs in February of 2008. He made his NHL debut in place of injured goaltender Cristobal Huet during the 2006-07 season with a 10-6 record, 2.89 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.

This past season, Halak's incredible play between the pipes led the Canadiens on deep run into the playoffs before they were eliminated by the Flyers in the Eastern Conference final.

Halak was 26-13-5 in 2009-10 for Montreal and ranked fourth in the NHL in save percentage (.924), ninth in goals against average (2.40) and was tied for fifth with five shutouts. In his 26 wins this season he had a GAA of 1.68 and a save percentage of .948.

The 2009-10 Molson Cup winner as team MVP was 44-27-6 over the last two seasons in Montreal with a save percentage of .924 and a GAA of 2.59.

The native of Slovakia, drafted 271st overall by Montreal in 2003, will become a restricted free agent in July and is eligible for salary arbitration.

Eller, 21, suited for seven games with the Blues in 2009-10, scoring twice. He played with the Blues' AHL affiliate in Peoria last season where he tallied 57 points in 70 games. The Danish forward, who also played in the American Hockey League All-Star Game, finished 9th in the AHL with 22 powerplay assists.

A native of Herlev, in Denmark, Eller was a first round selection, 13th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2007 draft.

Schultz, 20, played in 2009-10 with the Calgary Hitman, tallying 55 points in 70 games with 150 penalty minutes.


WTF was Montreal thinking?

2 months too late

Schedule released today
Caps face the Pens...at home...at 12:30...on Super Sunday...again

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The San Jose Sharks are cutting ties with goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.

General manager Doug Wilson said Tuesday the team has told Nabokov he will not be offered a contract when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next month.

Nabokov has been one of the top goalies in the league the past few years, winning an NHL-best 131 games over the past three seasons. He has a 293-215-29 record in 10 seasons with the Sharks, with a 2.39 goals against average. He helped the Sharks reach the Western Conference final this year, where they were swept by Chicago.

Wilson says he would like to sign the team's other unrestricted free agents, including leading goal-scorer Patrick Marleau.

wow. i'd be interested to see if Stevie Y can work his magic with Nabokov and bring him to TB for a good price. probably won't happen, but then again i didn't think Steve Yzerman would be named GM...

Scott Niedermeyer has hung up the skates after a brilliant career.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=5320715



So, to recap- in exchange for one of their most vital playoff performers (Big Buff) and 2 role players, they get a prospect, 2 draft picks, and Marty Reasoner.

Marty Reasoner? Seriously? That's the best they can do for getting rid of 3 key cogs to the Cup team?