If you’re JUST joining in on the fun of reading a summer recap for the Habs, I strongly suggest you go ahead and read part 1 right here: http://nhlhotstove.com/canadiens-summer-recap-part-1/

Now if you’re ready for the part of the summer recap where I get all pissy and angry against one of the players I dislike the most around the league, then you’re certainly going to want to read on.

The Sergei Kostitsyn trade

June 29^th 2010 marked the beginning of a huge party in many Montreal homes: Sergei Kostitsyn, the player I deem the most cancerous in the locker room in the AHL and second in the NHL (trailing Olli Jokinen, of course), was traded to the Nashville Predators for forward Dustin Boyd and goaltender Dan Ellis. Not two days later, the Habs signed Boyd to a one year contract.

Dan Ellis, on the other hand, was not signed by les Canadiens’ management and became a free agent on July 1^st, leading him to sign a two year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightening. Ellis claimed many reasons leading to not sign in Montreal, one being money, and the second being that he wasn’t comfortable playing behind Carey Price and having to mentor him.

The Habs obtained in Dustin Boyd a gritty, hard hitting and intense forward who can effectively replace the unsigned free agent Glen Metropolit, who is getting old now. Boyd brings a fresh blast of youth to the 3^rd and 4^th lines, all the while playing at a level equal to, if not superior, Glen Metropolit’s.

Yet for me, the biggest gain in this trade for the Habs was being able to get rid of the most difficult of the Kostitsyn brothers. Ever since they acquire him, Sergei has been nothing but trouble in the locker room, and his off-ice antics have been a shame to the team and fans alike, as he has always seemed to take his position on the team as granted. Certainly, the young man has a lot of time ahead of him to develop into a much better player, yet the way he has acted during his young career, i.e. missing team buses, not showing up to practices or storming out of them, etc, have deeply hampered his development as a player and as a teammate.

Sergei is one of those players who I believe will be much better off somewhere else than in Montreal. What he needs is a change of scenery and to play in a new city where the expectations on him are not as high, but where management will still keep a close eye on him to make sure that he is able to focus on hockey and keep himself out of trouble off the ice (see: Sergei’s “friendly” relationship with Montreal mobster Pasquale Mangiola). He was a lost case in Montreal, and the change of scenery will probably help, but at worse well… the Preds will be stuck with a fat hunk of problems on their lap. But hey, at least we Montrealers won’t have to read about it in the newspaper anymore, right? The Journal de Montréal is just going to have to find some other retarded stories to put on their front page!

Oh, and in case you missed it and you’re worried, the Habs replaced potential-second-goalie-who-skipped-town Dan Ellis with another massive goalie (6’5) Alex Auld. Hopefully, the journeyman of seven nhl teams will provide some leadership and mentoring for young Carey Price the way Pierre Gauthier (Habs GM) had hoped Dan Ellis would.

Christopher Nardi
NHLHS Montreal Canadiens Correspondent
cnardi@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @dragonlancehuma

Just over 48 hours later, the results of Tim Kennedy’s arbitration hearing are in.

Arbitrators announced a 1-year, $1 million deal for Kennedy with the Sabres on Thursday.

In a normal case, the team would have 48 hours after the arbitrator’s decision is announced to either pick up the contract, or walk away, allowing Kennedy to become an unrestricted free agent.

However, Kennedy’s case is different because his award is too low. The new CBA has a minimum walk-away figure for this year of $1,611,180. The figure was originally $1,042,173 when the CBA went into effective, and has increased based on the league’s average salary increase.

Since Kennedy’s contract is for less than that, the team does not have the option of walking away, confirming that the Buffalo native will remain with his hometown team for at least another year.

Kennedy had 10 goals and 16 assists in 78 games last season, including three game-winning goals. The 24-year-old spent most of the 2008-2009 season with the Portland Pirates of the AHL, where he tallied 18 goals and 49 assists, as well as 67 penalty minutes.

Melissa Kania
NHLHS Buffalo Sabres Correspondent
mkania@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @melissakania

The additions of Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Jordan Eberle and the highly touted #1 overall pick Taylor Hall one would expect Sam Gagner to have a break out year in his upcoming 4th NHL season.

In his previous 3 years he has managed 49, 41, and 41 points respectively for a total of 131 points in 224 games. He is yet to show his offensive capabilities like he did with the London Knights of the OHL but of course this is the NHL not juniors.

In Sam’s defense he has played up to par with the rest of his draft class perhaps minus Patrick Kane but he is very comparable  stats wise to players like James Van Riemsdyk, Kyle Turris and David Perron. Gagner was drafted 6th overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft class.

The Edmonton Oilers are in a rebuild mode with a superabundance of young players coming in and are fairly deep in the minor system in regards to forwards. Defense is another story but it’s a start for the Oilers who finished dead last overall in the NHL last season.

The mixture of veterans like Dustin Penner, Shawn Horcoff, Nikolai Khabibulin and Ales Hemsky plus a defensive core with Ladislav Smid,Taylor Chorney, Kurtis Foster and Ryan Whitney along with a tough guy like Jim Vandermeer anchoring the back end should prove to be quite an exciting team this up coming season.

Sam could be playing on a number of different lines this season and the match-ups are endless. Could you see Gagner centering players like Hemsky and Penner? Or perhaps on a line with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle? This upcoming season for the Edmonton Oilers will be an exciting one especially watching these young kids gel into full time NHL players. The question is can the Oilers keep the puck out of their own net? The offense will be there but the defense is the main question at stake.

If  Sam stays healthy and gets ample power-play time which I would assume he would, I would project Sam getting 25 goals and 40 assists this upcoming season in what looks to be an offensive and dynamic forward line up.

Trent Kondo
NHLHS Edmonton Oilers Correspondent
tkondo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @TK0N

With arbitration hearings underway, the Buffalo Sabres met with arbitrators on Tuesday to settle Tim Kennedy‘s case.

A ruling is expected within 48 hours, and the team can either accept the ruling and sign Kennedy, or walk away, letting him become an unrestricted free agent.

According to reports, the team offered Kennedy around $700,000 for a one-year deal, which includes a $635,000 base salary and a mandatory ten percent raise. A multi-year contract would offer a higher base salary.

It’s believed that Kennedy is looking for more than $1 million per season, and maybe as much as $1.4 million depending on the length of the deal.

After the ruling is announced on Thursday, the question lies: is he worth it? The 24-year-old Buffalo native had 10 goals, including 3 game winners, in 78 games last season. He tied for 9th on the team with 26 points.

He played one game with the Buffalo club in 2008-2009, and spent most of the season playing with the Portland Pirates (AHL). In 73 games there, he had 18 goals and 49 assists and 67 penalty minutes.

Last week, Patrick Kaleta avoided arbitration and signed a two-year deal with the team. The aggressive forward will earn $860,000 in the 2010-11 season, and $955,000 in the 2011-2012 season. Kaleta made $522,000 last season and was scheduled to meet with arbitrators on July 29.

Kaleta had 10 goals and 5 assists in 55 games last season. He also had 89 penalty minutes in a season where he faced several injuries. He missed games with flu-like symptoms (1), a neck injury (3), and an upper body injury (6). Kaleta was suspended two games for delivering a hit from behind. The Angola, NY native also posted his first career multi-point and multi-goal games on October 13 and December 12.

Kaleta also led the team in short-handed goals last season.

Melissa Kania
NHLHS Buffalo Sabres Correspondent
mkania@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @melissakania

Is it just me or did the southeast division get a little tougher? I do believe they did. I get to see the southeast division a lot here in Washington and as I noted earlier in the year, the Capitals were pretty dominant last season but I’d say change is blowing  in the wind.

While the Tampa Bay Lightning have had Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, you have to admit that the arrival of Steven Stamkos and the evolution of Steve Downie added some extra flare to their goalscoring. But this upcoming season they get a seasoned veteran who knows how to deposit 30 goals a year into the back of the net. Hello, Simon Gagne.  If that doesn’t prove to you that TBL is emerging as stronger, I get it. Gagne has one year left on his contract and you are thinking disposable. Don’t dismiss them so fast.

Two words: Steve Yzerman. Those two words when strung together with the term GM means long-term emerging threat to me and I think it should to you too. Look for TBL to build and look for them to be a hard working team on a mission.

Still not convinced that the Southeast division got tougher? The Atlanta Thrashers. I don’t know that they’re going to be the second coming of Chicago (and I don’t believe that they will) but I believe they did an outstanding job bringing in some well needed goalscoring and presence.  Take a look at who they’ve acquired and tell me they didn’t improve. I dare you to.

What am I doing bringing all this up? After all these points don’t you think the Capitals now have a bit of a different focus going into the new season? I think they do. Something tells me they may have to work a little harder this year earning the division title. Now before anyone jumps down my throat I didn’t say they won’t. I’m merely saying it will be a little harder trying to get there this upcoming season.

Jodie Smola
NHLHS Washington Capitals Correspondent
jsmola@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @phillysunshine

According to Andy Strickland and Jeremy Rutherford the St. Louis Blues have sent enforcer DJ King to the Washington Capitals. King agreed to a two-year contract extension totaling $1.25 million prior to the trade.

King was the Blues 6th Round pick (190th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Since making his NHL debut on October 5th, 2006 King has appeared in 101 games with the St. Louis Blues. In that time frame he has accumulated 4 goals, 9 points and 185 penalty minutes.

While one of the strongest and fiercest fighters in the NHL – he has slowly fallen out of favor in St. Louis. Back to back injury plagued seasons and the growth of local boy come home Cam Janssen have limited DJ’s opportunities to play. Only appearing in 13 NHL games the last two years.

In his last full season King appeared to possess the skill required to take a regular shift every night. After the long term shoulder injury in 2007 King came to camp on 2009 looking to make his way back to the roster. By that time Janssen had taken his fair share of punches and endeared himself to many a Blues fan. Much of the fanbase had grown to believe in Cam as the better option for an enforcer and Cam backed it up at camp. His skating, stickhandling and hockey sense all noticeably improved. Janssen still has far to go, but has quickly hit the same playing level as DJ King.

It appears that the local appeal and lack of injury history turned the table in Janssen’s favor.

In return the Blues acquire Stefan Della Rovere. He was the Caps 7th Round pick (204th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The 5’11, 200-pound forward has a large amount of winning experience. He was a member of the 2009 Canadian WJC Gold Medal team and the 2010 Silver Medal team. HE captained the Barrie Colts in to a deep OHL playoff run. To close out his 2010 season he played for the 2010 Calder Cup winning Hershey Bears of the AHL. In 230 OHL games, Stefan registered 138 points (65 goals, 73 assists) and 479 penalty minutes.

Yes, 479 penalty minutes. For those of you who took in the last two U-20 World Junior Championships you know what I am talking about. Della Rovere was a Grade-A pest for Team Canada. He is an aggressive and tough forward who will get under opponents skin. There is the potential for a the thin line between right and wrong to be crossed. However, the same can be said of any player of his ilk. His game lives on the edge and teams benefit because of it.

He is not Patrice Cormier.

This is another solid deal made by Doug Armstrong. Turning an unnecessary surplus in to quality depth. Della Rovere has shown he can play at the highest levels and will get a shot in St. Louis. At age 20, he will not be heading back to the OHL. The expectation for now is that he will compete against Vlad Sobotka, Brad Winchester and BJ Crombeen for time on the energy lines. Most likely he will start the season with the Blues AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen.

You can find the full release from the Blues on their Official Website.

Jeff Quirin
NHLHS St. Louis Blues Correspondent
jquirin@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @MuSigma45

Well, the New York Islanders have added $2.45 million dollars towards hitting the cap floor within the NHL and their salary cap structure.

As Isles nation patiently waited for the arbitration hearing for Matt Moulson, the team surprised everyone yesterday by announcing that they will avoid just that.

During the course of his first full National Hockey League season, Moulson found himself skating as a top line forward, playing wingman to rookie sensation Jonathan Tavares.

It was instant chemistry. Of course there is some history between the two, but to skate on a top line together in the National Hockey League paid unexpected dividends.

Moulson scored a career high 30 goals as well as adding 18 assists for a total for 48 points.

What Islanders fans will need to realize is that if Clarke MacArthur, one time skater for the Atlanta Thrashers, received $2.4 million from an arbitrator, the Islanders grabbed themselves a deal by avoiding arbitration with Moulson. Although it is only a one year deal, it gives both the organization and player an opportunity to analyze how the future will be.

I do agree with much of the fanbase who wonder why it was not a longer extension but have no fear because not every team has a Tavares to play with.  The young guns up front for the Islanders, as well as the depth chart for the organization should provide enough security to a player in order to keep him on board.

What I mean is, Moulson, whether he scores 30 goals again or not, will likely be extended by the Islanders at a fair market value when the time comes.  If he scores between 20 and 24 goals he will likely stay within the same salary range (between $2 – $2.5 million).  If he hits 30 goals or more again this season he will get a raise from the $2.45 the Islanders awarded him for this upcoming season.

The chemistry will likely continue between Moulson and Tavares, and I do not see Moulson bolting at the end of his contract. I think it is more likely to see an extension handed out in season.

Of course, only time will tell.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC

The 2008-2009 season was not a good one for the Atlanta Thrashers, finishing third to last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 35-41-6.  There were a few bright spots that year, like the end of the year flurry to finish on a high note, or the 20+ goal seasons of six players: Ilya Kovalchuk, Colby Armstrong, Slava Kozlov, Rich Peverley, Todd White, and Bryan Little.

Granted, it wasn’t enough to help pull the Thrashers into the playoffs, but many fans assumed that it would be something to build on for the next season.

The 2009-2010 season was built on high expectations.  After the offensive push at the end of the previous season, many felt that John Anderson’s system was working and working well.  And then something happened.  Offensive output from Kovalchuk was the same, and Nik Antropov and Maxim Afinogenov were both adding offensive output, but the other 20+ goal scorers from the previous seasons were mired in a slump.  Todd White only managed 7 goals (though it was revealed after the season that he was playing with a separated shoulder).  Kozlov was a scratch for about a third of the season.  Peverley’s goal production dipped slightly, while Armstrong’s returned to a normal 15 goals.

Bryan Little, though, was considered to make the 2009-2010 season a sequel to the prior one.  In 2008-2009, Little scored 31 goals in a rapid fire season that no one expected from the then-sophomore hockey player.  As often happens, however, after that kind of a season, people assumed that Little wouldn’t significantly drop off in production the next year.  He did.  Production dipped down to only 13 goals on the season.  He wasn’t getting the powerplay time that added to his goal total any more, nor was he playing on a line with White and Kozlov.  None of the members of the “Little-White-Russian” line were effective last season, and none of them benefitted from playing with the others.

This season, obviously, Little will again have new line-mates, possibly being centered by Antropov and playing with Niclas Bergfors on the other wing.  New linemates, one of which is big and can cover Little, and the other of which is a scoring playmaker as well, should encourage Little to light the lamp a bit more often.  Antropov was an assist machine last season, tallying up 43 helpers on the top line.  That number might drop a bit thanks to the loss of Kovalchuk, but after the February trade, Antropov picked up scoring duties and still continued getting the puck to his teammates.

New, consistent linemates are not the only thing that should help Little recover a bit of his scoring pace.  Former coach John Anderson was let go partially due to a lack of growth from the younger players, especially Little.  New head coach Craig Ramsay and associate head coach John Torchetti are both noted for working with younger players; Torchetti’s work in Chicago is especially praiseworthy.  A new look coaching staff, a new set-up on ice, and a dose of confidence, and Bryan Little should be good to go.

Laura Astorian
NHLHS Atlanta Thrashers Correspondent
lastorian@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @hildymac

The Edmonton Oilers have signed Gilbert Brule to a two year deal. This is a significant signing as Brule is a versatile player whom brings a physical presence, solid fore-checking and the ability to score on occasion. Offense was a big part of Brule’s game while playing junior for the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League with his most notable year being in 2004/05 amassing 39 goals and 87 points plus 167 PIMS in 70 games.

The Columbus Blue Jackets liked what they saw in Brule and drafted him #6 Overall in the 2005 entry draft. He also played seven games with Columbus scoring two goals and adding two assists in that very year. Gilbert played his first full season the following year with Columbus playing more of a 3rd and 4th line specialty role with the club but eventually fell out of favor of the Jackets in 2007/08 in being sent down to Syracuse after he had played 61 games with Columbus.

Brule became expendable in the eyes of the Jackets which prompted the Edmonton Oilers to make a deal in 2008 swapping Raffi Torres for Brule in which at the time most felt it was a salary dump on Edmonton’s part.  Gilbert spent most of his time in Springfield in the AHL and was called up for 11 games in 2008/09 where he had 3 points in 11 games.

The 2009/10 season was his most productive season by a landslide, he played 65 games and had 17 goals and 37 points and was quickly becoming a fan favorite amongst Oiler nation as they started to fall in love with the intensity that Gilbert brought to every single game he played. Not only were the Oiler’s and fans noticing what Brule was doing on the ice last year but so were other teams as his name was a hot topic near the trade deadline but G.M. Steve Tambellini decided to keep the rugged forward.

One would expect Brule to get more ice time this upcoming season and I fully expect him to surpass his yearly totals in points from last season. Many may feel this is a minor deal for Edmonton but all in all the signing of a solid role player with his capabilities may just open up a few more eyes this coming  season.

Trent Kondo
NHLHS Edmonton Oilers Correspondent
tkondo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @TK0N

If anyone is hoping to forget a season it is New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo. Alright, maybe we are being a tad harsh with that statement. However, for Kyle it could be true.

After registering 18 goals in only 65 games during the 2008-09 NHL season, many felt Okposo had the hands of a 30 goal scorer and would be able to surpass at least 20 goals in his second campaign.

Things did not work that way last year for Okposo. The attempts were there as Kyle fired 249 shots on goal last season, good for 27th overall for shots on goal in the entire league.

Snake bitten would be an understatement.

Of course it seems the entire roster is attempting to find the purest form of chemistry among it’s top six skaters.  Rookie standout John Tavares, Robbie Schremp, Josh Bailey all showed signs of life throughout the season and were able to develop chemistry together.  It was one skater, Matt Moulson, who surprised the most.

As an entire group there is plenty of talent, as well as individually.

Okposo put 19 biscuts in the basket last year which is not a horrible number for a 21 year old (during last season, now 22). However, his projected cieling is much higher and his skill set makes one wonder why he had back to back seasons without being able to hit the 20 goal plateau?

This upcoming season, Okposo hopes to take his game to the next level. He knows that through the course of time, his Olympic recognition all rests on the game he displays on the ice for his Islanders team. He also knows that in order to make the playoffs, he will need to be one of quite a few contributors from the club.

Whether he skates on a line with Tavares or Schremp, the opportunity to score goals will be there, it will simply be up to Okposo to finish his chances.

Projection: 26 goals, 33 assists, 59 points.

Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS New York Islanders Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC