Anaheim Ducks Free Agency Preview 2008– Extension Offered to Niedermayer, ‘Understanding’ with Selanne Camp
ANAHEIM – The Ducks’ free agent picture rises and falls on the decisions (or lack thereof) of Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne.
Earlier in the offseason, GM Brian Burke put the word out that he wanted a decision regarding Niedermayer’s intentions for the fall by June 20 (draft day). With Niedermayer’s wife about to give birth to the couple’s fourth child, Burke has moved Niedermayer’s date to July 1st, the start of the free agency season.
Niedermayer is set to earn $6.75 million in 2008-09 should he so choose. It will be the final year of a four-year deal.
Teemu Selanne, who signed a deal for $5.16 million at the end of the 2007-08 season, is an unrestricted free agent.
“I can’t give Teemu a deadline,” Burke told Dan Wood of the Orange County Register. “He can sign whatever he wants whenever he wants.”
According to Burke, while he can’t give Selanne a deadline, the Finnish Flash’s camp understands that any delay in his decision could force the Ducks to move forward with other plans for its top-six forwards.
Photo courtesy of the NHL
That being the case, if Niedermayer plays, there would be an additional 6+ million dollars at Burke’s disposal when July 1st free agency period hits. Also, if he plays, don’t be surprised if Mathieu Schneider is dealt to clear more room. Figure that Selanne will want roughly five million per year, and there is a potential 11 or 12 million dollars for the spending, all the more if Schneider is dealt.
One of the top priorities for the Ducks will be finalizing a deal for restricted free agent Corey Perry. Some have wondered whether Perry’s deal is already done, just awaiting signatures pending Niedermayer’s decision. Whatever the case, expect Perry to be re-signed by the club for roughly the same numbers as close friend and linemate, center Ryan Getzlaf, who signed a five-year deal through 2012-13 at $5.325 million per season.
Despite yielding to the Dallas Stars in round one, the club is still considered a Cup contender by most.
Pay close attention to the “understanding” with Selanne’s camp. Burke isn’t blowing smoke. He’s stood by Selanne at every turn over the past three years. He accepted the Masterton Trophy on his behalf. He made headlines by giving Selanne (and Niedermayer) far more rope than necessary last season, in deciding to come back.
If Selanne can’t decide by July 1st, his position could be filled by a luminary such as Marian Hossa or Mats Sundin. Wild card signees could include Brendan Morrison or Markus Naslund, Canucks players from Burke’s days in Vancouver .
Free Agent Notes:
Almost all of the Ducks’ key pieces are wrapped up at least through next year, so other than a big-fish signing, the most interesting moves are likely to be the ones involving up-and-coming talent.
Joe Dipenta: UFA, Andrew Miller, Jason King, Geoff Platt and Brian Sutherby: RFA: Doug Weight, not likely to return after a brutal performance down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Atlanta Thrashers b y Matt Chin
If you look at the Atlanta Thrashers list of free agents you should look at the age of the veterans on that list. If you take that list and look at who has shown the leadership that should have gotten the team to the next level and make it into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
What about the goaltender list? The first to come off Atlanta’s list is Johan Hedberg who just signed a two-year deal to stay on. He is a favorite amongst those in the locker room as his teammates named him twice to receive the Thrashers Player’s Award. Does that mean anything as the team’s only restricted free agent is number one goaltender Kari Lehtonen? With Hedberg signed will Lehtonen be signed and kept or traded? In the Thrashers system there is Ondrej Pavelec who played the brunt of the regular season along with taking the Chicago Wolves to the end of the season as the AHL Calder Cup Champions. Injuries have kept Lehtonen out of the lineup, where most is to blame on his conditioning, so that may be a factor in what goes on with the team.
Two of the three unrestricted free agents for the Thrasherss are over 35 years old. One of them is Captain Bobby Holik (37) who thinks the team is not doing enough to sign him. In an Atlanta Journal-Constitution story by Mike Knobler, Holik is quoted to saying that the team has made no effort on their part to sign him and that he is resigned to the fact that he will not return to the team. Team General Manager Don Waddell disputed Holik’s comments and left it at that. Right-wing Mark Recchi (40) who was picked up off waivers last season may get the nod if he signs at a price that is at or reduced from his $1.75 million from last season. Left-wing Eric Boulton number’s haven’t really shown much production even though he did play in 71 games last season on the fourth line.
Defensive pairs Mark Popovic and Steve McCarthy, who are the remaining unrestricted free agents, may not be back with the team. In the recently completed defensemen-rich draft, Waddell selected a player that he thinks is ready to play in the NHL in Zach Bogosian.
Look for new Head Coach John Anderson, along with Waddell, to try and fit the puzzle together with the needs of the team in the case of available free agent veterans but also look at the guys he just left with the Chicago Wolves. He is half way there from a standpoint on who can fit with the Thrashers. It just depends on what the team can do in the free agency market.
High contracts, not management stinginess, cause of Bruins cap issues by Tom Schettino
For years, and rightfully so at times, the Bruins ownership group has been accused of only being interested in profit rather than icing a competitive team. But due to injuries and several questionable contracts the Bruins current problems aren’t based on ownership outlay, but how those funds were handled.
Unfortunately for Boston, with the exception of buy-outs or cost-cutting trades the team has several contracts which will be difficult to move and/or justify. The team has over $45 million invested in their basic team which includes Glen Murray’s $4.1 million, Peter Schaefer’s $2.3 million, Manny Fernandez’s $4.5 million deals and a likely $3 million pact heading Dennis Wideman. It would be fair to say due to different reasons those pacts are not market-friendly and could be questioned. In fact when anyone talks about the 2008-09 Bruins they usually do so with the expectation Murray will either be bought out of his contract or waived after training camp.
Wideman is perhaps the team’s highest profile free agent and he is probably going to arbitration. While there is no doubt Wideman can move the puck, he sometimes struggles in his own zone and through no fault of his own it is often noted he was acquired for a high-scoring winger (Brad Boyes) which the club could use. Fellow defender Mark Stuart is also eligible for arbitration. Up front the team needs to deal with Petteri Nokelainen (RFA), Glen Metropolit (UFA) and minor-league ace Pascal Pelettier (RFA). Of the trio the club will be most interested in regaining Nokelainen.
Due to the cap issues the team is going to be strapped unless they shed salary. There is a well-known need for a high-scoring winger who can take passes from Marc Savard. One could hope Murray could regain his stride, but he just does not seem to match up with Claude Julien’s style. Therefore there are constant rumors the team will go after Marian Hossa early in the free agency period. The Bruins could use a guy like Steve Avery to give them some life, but it is hard to imagine him playing in this town. In reality the team will more than likely go for Ryan Malone, Jason Williams or Ladislav Nagy rather than Hossa due to financial issues. By all accounts Blake Wheeler will be signed to a contract on July 1, but he might be ticketed for Providence until he adjusts to the pro game.
The team also needs at least one top four defender, which means Brooks Orpik, who has local ties, should surely be considered as should a grittier defender who can play with Zdeno Chara.
Barring trades the club’s 08-09 roster is mainly set. There are 12 legitimate NHL forwards on the roster, four defenseman (and the two RFAs) and two goaltenders. Any additions are likely to come at the expense of a player currently on the roster.
The Bruins looked to the future with the 2008 draft and picked Joe Colborne a big center expected to play at least a year, if not more with Denver University (NCAA), In addition to Colborne the team took speedy Maxime Savue, netminder Michael Hutchinson and forward Jamie Arniel, who some pegged as a first round pick, in the first 97 selections in the draft. Zach Hamill and Brad Marchand are players from the 2007 draft who will get long looks, but will likely play in the AHL while Carl Soderberg, acquired from St. Louis in the Hannu Toivenen trade, will also attend training camp. Submitted by Josh Brewster hockeytalk.biz
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