NHL Free Agent Frenzy 2013 - Melnyk's Budget Edition

NEELY wrote:When will the Blum signing be announced?

Tougher to sign with a cheaper player like this. Probably about 29 teams after him with his patented "Blum Blast" being a huge asset.

Per Lebrun: Morrow camp patiently taking calls... wants to play on a contender. Played with a split knee cap in playoffs which hurt his productivity
--

A split kneecap? That doesn't sound fun.

SeawaySensFan wrote:

NEELY wrote:When will the Blum signing be announced?

Tougher to sign with a cheaper player like this. Probably about 29 teams after him with his patented "Blum Blast" being a huge asset.

Maybe but it's just a matter of time.

Knowing that maybe we could've had Clarkson and Alfie and not given up those three assets for Ryan...I dunno how I feel. Ryan is definitely the best of the bunch, but we gave up a ton to get him. The Alfie thing is just hard to comprehend right now.

Ottawa doesn't need their 1st rounder next year and with Lazar Noesen wasn't gonna find himself a spot in Ottawa. Silfverberg for Ryan is basically what changed, easy call.

tim1_2 wrote:Knowing that maybe we could've had Clarkson and Alfie and not given up those three assets for Ryan...I dunno how I feel.  Ryan is definitely the best of the bunch, but we gave up a ton to get him.  The Alfie thing is just hard to comprehend right now.

I think Clarkson was *never* going to come to Ottawa, he just wanted to jack up his value. David Clarkson, Evander Kane, Bobby Ryan. All making roughly the same coin. Who is the best player? Hmmm, that's not really a tough one.

Meanwhile, the Habs better shake a leg or they are going to miss the playoffs so bad it's not going to be funny. Briere is a great addition to a playoff bound club but is he going to help them reach the playoffs?

Toronto got a little better (I say "little" because the lost Grabo and McArthur -- actually, they may not have gotten better at all, except possibly in goal); Ottawa was going to be better due to improved health alone, but they got two upgrades in the top-six to boot. Boston, not sure. They've lost Horton, Peverley and Bergeron is not healthy, and Chara is exhausted. Is Eriksson enough to offset that? Not sure. And Detroit, obviously, got stronger.

And the Habs went out and got Parros  

NEELY wrote:Ottawa doesn't need their 1st rounder next year and with Lazar Noesen wasn't gonna find himself a spot in Ottawa.   Silfverberg for Ryan is basically what changed, easy call.  

I'd say Ryan for Alfie and McArthur for Silfverberg. Both are upgrades in the immediate term. Silfverberg may develop into a top-line player but right now McArthur is grittier and scores more. If Ryan is gone in 2 years then that's tough, but Alfie would have been gone next year.

If Silfverberg turns into a better player than Zibanejad I'll eat my own Dung. There are a few guys that can come in and do what Silfverberg can do and even then his playoff was pretty underwhelming.

NEELY wrote:If Silfverberg turns into a better player than Zibanejad I'll eat my own Dung.  There are a few guys that can come in and do what Silfverberg can do and even then his playoff was pretty underwhelming.

I love his shot and, surprisingly, he had a lot of shots. But it looks like he's not as good getting that shot off when in traffic withe little room and no time, as he was in the shootout. He still has to adjust to the smaller ice surface.

wprager wrote:Meanwhile, the Habs better shake a leg or they are going to miss the playoffs so bad it's not going to be funny.  Briere is a great addition to a playoff bound club but is he going to help them reach the playoffs?  

Toronto got a little better (I say "little" because the lost Grabo and McArthur -- actually, they may not have gotten better at all, except possibly in goal); Ottawa was going to be better due to improved health alone, but they got two upgrades in the top-six to boot.  Boston, not sure.  They've lost Horton, Peverley and Bergeron is not healthy, and Chara is exhausted.  Is Eriksson enough to offset that?  Not sure.  And Detroit, obviously, got stronger.  

And the Habs went out and got Parros  

Not sure what you're facepalming for, this should be the smiley used  

Iginla headed to Beantown.

...and The Cooker to Minnesota.

Blum minutes from signing.

source?

I just know.

The Gooch to Friendly Manitoba.

details to follow

silfver's going to another swede-loving team so that's good