Tracking the action in the NHL draft day to July 1st

Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey 6m
More
LeBrun: Word on the street is Niskanen's camp is looking for six to seven years and north of $6 million per year. 15-17 teams made contact.

rooneypoo wrote:

spader wrote:Anyone want to guess at Niskanen's contract? I'm betting he gets well over $5 per and probably a longish term (5-6)
5 year, $27.5 mil?

Sounds about right.

I'm interested to see what Bolland gets. Guy is 'tweener / grinder and yet I'm hearing talk of 7 and 8 year deals north of $5 mil. WTF.

Watching all these buyouts and stupid offers happening is a good reminder... Spending big on FA day is almost always, always a mistake.

Apparently that's why they bought out Gleason. They want to sign Bolland and bring in Orpik. Can't remember where I saw that unfortunately.

SpezDispenser wrote:Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey  6m  
More
LeBrun: Word on the street is Niskanen's camp is looking for six to seven years and north of $6 million per year. 15-17 teams made contact.

Well that let's Ottawa out if they were interested. What team will give him that much $$$?

SpezDispenser wrote:Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey  6m  
More
LeBrun: Word on the street is Niskanen's camp is looking for six to seven years and north of $6 million per year. 15-17 teams made contact.

That is insane. Niskanen is like Matt Carle 2.0 -- so average. People are going to look at that deal, two years from now, and wonder how anyone signed it.

Crosby and Malkin can make a lot of middling players look elite.

My favourite targets for the sens, excluding Michalek, who I think could be had

Moulson (only if reasonable deal)
Havlat
Brian Boyle
Cammy
Bolland (if reasonable deal)
Kulemin
Grabovski
Ott
Komarov
Penner
Stralman
Fayne
Pierre Cedric Labrie
Andre Benoit
Clayton Stoner (Benoit and him are left d but putting them here anyway)
Steve Downie
Vrbata
Roy (not a fan but cheap)

Ev wrote:My favourite targets for the sens, excluding Michalek, who I think could be had

Moulson (only if reasonable deal)
Havlat
Brian Boyle
Cammy
Bolland (if reasonable deal)
Kulemin
Grabovski
Ott
Komarov
Penner
Stralman
Fayne
Pierre Cedric Labrie
Andre Benoit
Clayton Stoner (Benoit and him are left d but putting them here anyway)
Steve Downie
Vrbata
Roy (not a fan but cheap)

I could be down with the bolded names. I like Vrbata a lot and he flies under the radar a lot. But, yeah, the money and esp term have to be right.

I think people will see Steve Ott as a Senator tomorrow... along with Moulson.

SpezDispenser wrote:Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey  6m  
More
LeBrun: Word on the street is Niskanen's camp is looking for six to seven years and north of $6 million per year. 15-17 teams made contact.

That's insane. I thought I was pushing it with $5.5/5. Either he's turned a corner and is going to be elite, or someone's going to be very disappointed with that contract when it gets signed. I'm expecting the latter.

NEELY wrote:I think people will see Steve Ott as a Senator tomorrow... along with Moulson.

Holy Shiznit!!!

Source?

NEELY wrote:I think people will see Steve Ott as a Senator tomorrow... along with Moulson.

As long as they see Spezza as a former Sen tomorrow, I'm happy.

NEELY wrote:I think people will see Steve Ott as a Senator tomorrow... along with Moulson.

I like Ott a lot, too, I just think he's going to command too much $$$. We'll see. Moulson will be heavily courted so it will take a pretty sweet deal to entice him to come here.

There are teams like Tampa giving away players to get under the cap. The guys in their 30's are not going to be getting a combination of term and cash... it will be one or the other IMO.

NEELY wrote:I think people will see Steve Ott as a Senator tomorrow... along with Moulson.

Apparently Buff is after him again. Ott that is.

rooneypoo wrote:

spader wrote:Anyone want to guess at Niskanen's contract? I'm betting he gets well over $5 per and probably a longish term (5-6)
5 year, $27.5 mil?

Sounds about right.

I'm interested to see what Bolland gets. Guy is 'tweener / grinder and yet I'm hearing talk of 7 and 8 year deals north of $5 mil. WTF.

Watching all these buyouts and stupid offers happening is a good reminder... Spending big on FA day is almost always, always a mistake.

As long as the NHL continues to allow compliance buyouts this issue will never go away. Teams should be on the hook for the entire salary and cap hit no matter what. I find it fascinating how sports in general has become all about the money. How often do you see player loyalty to a team unless you're a star player? We gonna see a Rick Nash buyout after next season when he fails to produce in the playoffs again?

Saw lots of rumors re: Tampa clearing cap space. I think Mendes was alluding to the fact that they're going after Stastny? Just don't see how Richards doesn't fit right back into the mix in Tampa.

Either way, I can't decide if I'm excited or terrified for tomorrow. I'll be deciding whether or not to renew my season tickets likely after this weekend. As of now, it looks like there will be two less fans in the stands next season.

NEELY wrote:There are teams like Tampa giving away players to get under the cap.  The guys in their 30's are not going to be getting a combination of term and cash... it will be one or the other IMO.  

Could be. Ottawa pretty much has to spend to be cap compliant next year, so I can't imagine it will be a day without at least 1-2 UFA signings.

Garrioch lists moulson, havlat, pouliot and jokinen as guys he thinks they might look at

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:

rooneypoo wrote:

spader wrote:Anyone want to guess at Niskanen's contract? I'm betting he gets well over $5 per and probably a longish term (5-6)
5 year, $27.5 mil?

Sounds about right.

I'm interested to see what Bolland gets. Guy is 'tweener / grinder and yet I'm hearing talk of 7 and 8 year deals north of $5 mil. WTF.

Watching all these buyouts and stupid offers happening is a good reminder... Spending big on FA day is almost always, always a mistake.

As long as the NHL continues to allow compliance buyouts this issue will never go away. Teams should be on the hook for the entire salary and cap hit no matter what. I find it fascinating how sports in general has become all about the money. How often do you see player loyalty to a team unless you're a star player? We gonna see a Rick Nash buyout after next season when he fails to produce in the playoffs again?

Saw lots of rumors re: Tampa clearing cap space. I think Mendes was alluding to the fact that they're going after Stastny? Just don't see how Richards doesn't fit right back into the mix in Tampa.

Either way, I can't decide if I'm excited or terrified for tomorrow. I'll be deciding whether or not to renew my season tickets likely after this weekend. As of now, it looks like there will be two less fans in the stands next season.

What would make you give up your tickets?

Havlat as a PP specialist? Maybe. Pouliot is a buyer beware kind of player for sure.