The Pacific division saw the most action as each team made multiple signings, none as fat as San Jose's Lidstrom and L.A.'s Boucher, but Phoenix comes close with plenty of cap room to outbid many to wrestle Sillinger, steal Belfour, sign Lindros, Payer, Hedican and give up a 1st rounder to get RFA Avery. Dallas also added six players in checkers Peca, Barnes, Scatchard, blueliners Wesley and Brisebois and the Stars' fifth rated goalie in Lalime. Anaheim's deep pockets were filled the least, with just Rucchin, Mellanby and Tarnstrom on board.
It was quality versus quantity in the Northwest as Vancouver took Jagr, Sakic and Hasek for a combined $ 26 million toward the cap while Minnesota signed eight veterans for the farm club. Edmonton picked up its third and fourth line centres in Armstrong and McAmmond for one million something each, then took an 11+ million cap hit to add second line winger Holmstrom and second pairing d-man Havelid. Calgary targeted and took Walker and Holzer and Colorado ended up empty handed.
The Central was quiet with only eight signings in all, half by Detroit: backup Osgood and three for the farm club. Columbus only used some of its cap space by getting Ward and Skrastins to fill its gap on defense. St. Louis completed its first line with Recchi and Nashville invested a lot in backup Gerber. Chicago refused to get into a bidding war and quickly were outbid.
The Northeast division of the Eastern conference saw the least number of signings despite numerous bids. Buffalo's only winning bid was significant in veteran star Blake at a good price, Montreal paid a bit more for underperforming starter Khabibulin, Toronto overpaid for penalty-killing Madden. Boston filled two holes successfully: Weight as second line pivot and Spacek as a #3/#4 d-man. Ottawa added fourth liner Linden and call-up hitter Ruutu.
The busiest division in the East is so because of the combined 15 signings to the two New York teams. The Rangers threw expensive 5-year contracts at Prospal, Arnott, Hamrlik, Yelle and a year less to goalie Thomas. The Islanders addressed its gap at left wing with Sanderson, Smolinski, Perreault and Simon along with a half dozen for the farm club. New Jersey picked up a trio of right wingers in Carter, Laraque, Perrott and Philadelphia signed a starter in Roloson as its second highest rated netminder. Pittsburgh had the cap room and team needs to be a player on the UFA market but wasn't at all.
The Southeast was expected to be a duel between those seeking to avoid the basement of the division but instead the top contender shone as Tampa Bay signed Sundin, Rucinsky, Klee and a couple of veterans for the minor league. Florida bid on many free agents and only came away with Stillman for the 2nd or 3rd line left wing, Carney for the third pairing and Bondra for the back line. Washington also had cap room galore yet limited its bidding and took Kasparaitis as a #6/#7 d-man. Carolina clearly boosted its competitiveness by adding first line quality Straka and checking line Drake. The league's most active trader in the offseason, Atlanta, sat out of free agency, only one of four teams to do so, and with the prices being what they were, time may tell if that was the wisest way to go.
Go ahead with what Islanders? Thats the second time Ive asked if you were going to continue something and you tell me to do it. Its not my cup of tea. I asked if you were going to do it, not if it was ok if I did it... Nonetheless it wasnt really all that in depth of a division article. It only really focused on 3 teams and even then only on their UFA bids which are very visible.
Sabres wrote:it wasnt really all that in depth of a division article. It only really focused on 3 teams and even then only on their UFA bids which are very visible.
It is a work of analysis. Taking into consideration all their 18 bids outstanding, their respective team strengths and needs, their financial situation, and putting it all together to give some insight into the situation they face individually and with respect to each other.
I suppose from that respect it wasnt bad, but when you announced it to be coming soon I thought it was going to be a full on pre-season analysis of the entire division. I was a little disappointed from that regard, but some interesting information nonetheless. Just not sure if its front page worthy.
I suppose from that respect it wasnt bad, but when you announced it to be coming soon I thought it was going to be a full on pre-season analysis of the entire division. I was a little disappointed from that regard, but some interesting information nonetheless. Just not sure if its front page worthy.
What the heck... the guy goes out of his way for a league article and this is the thanks he gets? Come on man, show the guy some respect.
Yeah, I wasn't trying to discourage him from writing an article, I basically said that this one wasn't his best effort. Is there anything wrong with that? I'd like to hear honest opinions about my articles, I would think most of you would be the same.