What’s Left; The Waiting Game Continues…
NHLHS Senior Writer dives into the remaining free agents from around the National Hockey League and is surprised by how many names are left playing the waiting game.
As we have arrive upon Day 14 of the NHL Free Agent period, we step aside from one name that remains to be the culprit to the lack of activity from around the league.
Instead, we will break down the list of the remaining free agents that we feel can provide a team with an adequate player to help fill out their roster heading into next season.
Categories: NHLHS Features Tags: 2010 NHL Free Agent Frenzy, Aaron Ward, Alexander Frolov, Andy Sutton, Bill Guerin, Darcy Tucker, Dennis Grebeshkov, Jordan Staal, Jose Theodore, Lee Stempniak, Lukas Krajicek, Marian Gaborik, Marty Turco, Maxim Afinogenov, National Hockey League Free Agents, Paul Kariya, Paul Mara, Teemu Selanne, Vinny Prospal, Willie Mitchell
The Saga of a Superstar
NHLHS writer Anthony Curatolo dives into the drama that has surrounded NHL Free Agent Ilya Kovalchuk and the entire league. From fans, to players, agents and general managers, this has affected everyone.
It is not everyday that a player with as much offensive talent as Ilya Kovalchuk hits the open market, free to be pursued by 30 NHL teams for a shot to have him play in their city.
Unfortunately, it is slowly becoming Mats Sundin v2.0.
Let’s take a walk through time:
Categories: Around the League, NHLHS Features Tags: Akim Aliu, Andrew Laad, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, Dean Lombardi, Ilya Kovalchuk, Johnny Oduya, Los Angeles Kings, Martin Brodeur, Mats Sundin, Maxim Afinogenov, New Jersey Devils, NHL Free Agent Frenzy, Niclas Bergfors, Patrice Cormier, Pavel Kubina
Thrashers and Blackhawks Wheel and Deal
NHLHS Atlanta Thrashers Correspondent Laura Astorian gives her take on the deal that took place moments ago between the Blackhawks and Thrashers.
Welcome to Chicago South, ladies and gentlemen. The Chicago Blackhawks absolutely needed to dump salary, and wanted picks, prospects, and cheap but useful players. The Thrashers, well, we had a couple of extra picks left over from the Kovalchuk trade, we have a bunch of prospects, and God knows we have cheap and useful players. Match made in heaven, huh?
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, Atlanta Thrashers, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Southeast Tags: Akim Aliu, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, Dustin Byfuglien, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jeremy Morin, Marty Reasoner, Maxim Afinogenov
Ushering in a New Generation: Atlanta Thrashers
In our newest feature, Ushering in a New Generation, our talented writer Katlyn Gambill takes a deeper look into team success based on a player’s age. Today, she looks at the Atlanta Thrashers, who are the twelfth oldest team in the league.
In the nine years of Atlanta’s existence, only once did the team qualify for a playoff spot. This year, they look to make it for the second time.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, Atlanta Thrashers, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Southeast, Ushering in a New Generation Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Chris Chelios, Evander Kane, Ilya Kovalchuk, Johan Hedberg, Johnny Oduya, Maxim Afinogenov, Nik Antropov, Ondrej Pavelec, Pavel Kubina, Rich Peverley, Tobias Enstrom, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Zach Bogosian
NHL Players in the Olympics
The title says it all. This article will be no more than a comprehensive list of NHL (and some other players owned by NHL teams) players set to participate in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Categories: Olympic Coverage Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Sulzer, Andrei Kostitsyn, Andrei Markov, Andrej Meszaros, Andrej Sekera, Andres Ambuhl, Antero Niittymaki, Anton Volchenkov, Antti Miettinen, Bobby Ryan, Brenden Morrow, Brent Seabrook, Brian Rafalski, Brooks Orpik, Chris Drury, Chris Pronger, Christian Ehrhoff, Corey Perry, Dan Boyle, Daniel Alfredsson, Daniel Sedin, Dany Heatley, David Backes, David Krejci, Denis Grebeshkov, Dennis Seidenberg, Douglas Murray, Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith, Dustin Brown, Eric Johnson, Eric Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Evgeni Nabokov, Fedor Tyutin, Filip Kuba, Fredrik Modin, Henrik Lundqvist, Henrik Sedin, Henrik Tallinder, Henrik Zetterberg, Ilya Bryzgalov, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jack Johnson, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jan Hejda, Jarkko Ruutu, Jarome Iginla, Jaroslav Halak, Jere Lehtinen, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Johnny Oduya, Jon Quick, Jonas Gustavsson, Jonas Hiller, Jonathan Toews, Joni Pitkanen, Karlis Skrastins, Kaspars Daugavins, Kimmo Timonen, Loui Eriksson, Lubomir Visnovsky, Luca Sbisa, Marc Andre Fleury, Marcel Goc, Marco Sturm, Marek Zidlicky, Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, Mark Streit, Martin Brodeur, Martin Erat, Martin Havlat, Martins Karsums, Mattias Ohlund, Maxim Afinogenov, Michal Handzus, Miikka Kiprusoff, Mike Komisarek, Mike Richards, Mikhail Grabovski, Mikko Koivu, Milan Jurcina, Milan Michalek, Miroslav Satan, Nicklas Backstrom, Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Backstrom, Niklas Hagman, Niklas Kronwall, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Olli Jokinen, Ondrej Pavelec, Oskars Bartulis, Patric Hornqvist, Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Kane, Patrick Marleau, Patrik Elias, Paul Martin, Paul Stastny, Pavel Datsyuk, Pavel Kubina, Pavol Demitra, Peter Budaj, Phil Kessel, Rick Nash, Roberto Luongo, Roman Polak, Ruslan Salei, Ryan Callahan, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Malone, Ryan Miller, Ryan Suter, Saku Koivu, Sami Lepisto, Sami Salo, Samuel Pahlsson, Scott Niedermayer, Semyon Varlamov, Sergei Gonchar, Sergei Kostitsyn, Shea Weber, Sidney Crosby, Teemu Selanne, Thomas Greiss, Tim Thomas, Tobias Enstrom, Tomas Fleischmann, Tomas Holmstrom, Tomas Kaberle, Tomas Kopecky, Tomas Plekanec, Tomas Vokoun, Toni Lydman, Tuomo Ruutu, Valtteri Filppula, Yannick Weber, Zach Parise, Zbynek Michalek, Zdeno Chara
Ilya Kovalchuk Going NOWHERE
Unfortunately this is not an actual news story but simply one man’s bold prediction. Before you blast me for the headline, lets look at the facts so you can see my thought process.
The latest from Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution states that the talks between the two are currently at a stand still. However, Kovalchuk went on record to state, “he would like to stay with the same team his whole career. However, he understands that hockey is a business.”
Yes Ilya, hockey is a business. You need to see that the business of the Atlanta Thrasher is Ilya Kovalchuk. This team lives and dies by the blade of his stick. The signings of Nik Antropov, Maxim Afinogenov as well as the acquisition of Pavel Kubina directly correlate to this team wanting to succeed with Kovalchuk.
So lets go over some facts. The consensus rumors cite Kovalchuk wanting the league maximum over a ten year span, a total he certainly deserves. By the CBA agreement, the maximum allows for 20 percent of the teams cap. As the cap currently stands at 56.8 million and looks to stay within that range with our booming economy, our Russian star stands to make at least 11.36 million a year.
By my calculations even if Kovalchuk does sign at this maximum contract at the maximum cap hit, the Thrashers boast over 20 million worth of cap dollars left on their budget. How many other teams can say they have this much room? Better yet, how many teams already have surrounded Kovy with teammates he thrives with due to both nationality and chemistry?
Categories: Atlanta Thrashers, By Teams, Eastern Conference, Southeast Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Bryan Little, Chris Vivlamore, Evander Kane, Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Gaborik, Maxim Afinogenov, Nik Antropov, Ondrej Pavelec, Pavel Kubina, Scott Gomez, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Zach Bogosian
Restoring the Rosters: Buffalo Sabres
I previously skipped over the Sabres, so here they are.
Based on Matthew Pouliot’s series on Circling the Bases, I have decided restore the rosters for every NHL team. Like Pouliot, I have established some ground rules for my selections.
- Each team contains players they originally drafted or signed before any other NHL team. This includes players drafted and not signed, as well as European free agents coming over at an older age.
- I have chosen to leave retired players off the list, and lean toward players in the AHL rather than those deported (KHL, SEL, DEL, etc.).
Essentially I am choosing the best available players for a team to succeed in the current NHL season. All 30 teams will be covered, with grades assigned to forwards, defense and goaltending. After all 30 articles are written, they will be ranked in order. This series’ intent is to reward or shame NHL scouts.
The Sabres rely heavily on their drafting and development of young players in order to keep their payroll down. Due to their restrictions monetarily, the team has succeeded in producing a vast amount of NHL regulars as well as some well regarded players. Overall, there really is no weaknesses to their lineup from the net on out. A mostly young core, this team greatly resembles the team currently constructed but with more depth and much improved blueline.
The lineup for the Buffalo Sabres is as follows.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Restoring the Rosters Tags: Ales Kotalik, Andrej Sekera, Andrew Peters, Brad May, Brian Campbell, Buffalo Sabres, Chris Butler, Clarke MacArthur, Cory Sarich, Daniel Paille, Dennis Wideman, Derek Roy, Drew Stafford, Henrik Tallinder, Jan Hejda, Jason Pominville, Jay McKee, Joe Thornton, Jonas Enroth, Keith Ballard, Mark Mancari, Martin Biron, Maxim Afinogenov, Mike Zigomanis, Nathan Gerbe, Nathan Paetsch, Patrick Kaleta, Paul Gaustad, Ryan Miller, Steve Bernier, Steve Reinprecht, Thomas Vanek, Tim Kennedy, Tyler Ennis, Tyler Myers, Wayne Primeau
Trade Rumors: Savard Signs 7 Year Deal
Bob McKenzie broke the signing earlier today and announced the contract to be front loaded with a 4.2 cap hit over seven years. With the playmaking center locked in, where does this leave the Bruins?
Surprisingly better than you would expect.
After this year, Boston has both goalies, seven forwards and three defenseman signed with over 12 million in cap space. Assuming at least four million goes to keeping Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart that leaves them with 8 million to sign four forwards and two defensemen. This would give the needed signings an average of 1.3 million per player. If the team decides to use this space on young players on entry-level deals like Vladamir Sobotka (750K cap hit) or Brad Marchand (821,666 cap hit) then the team can spend up to 1.6 million on each player and so forth. In the last free agency period, solid players like Vaclav Prospal and Maxim Afinogenov signed for around a million.
Trading Phil Kessel proved to be an invaluable move for the Bruins and is looking better every time the Leafs lose. With Kessel they would have one more scorer while without him they are able to field an actual team.
Categories: Boston Bruins, By Teams, Eastern Conference, Northeast Tags: Blake Wheeler, Bob MacKenzie, Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand, Marc Savard, Mark Stuart, Maxim Afinogenov, Phil Kessel, TSN, Vaclav Prospal, Vladamir Sobotka
