Reaction to the ANA-PIT trade

ANA: D Ryan Whitney
PIT: LW Chris Kunitz, C Eric Tangradi

Arguably this season's blockbuster, this trade sent defenceman Ryan Whitney, an intricate part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2008 Stanley Cup run, to the Anaheim Ducks, in exchange of forwards Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi. The 25 year-old Whitney had ammassed 13 points in 30 games for the defending Eastern Conference champions, while their powerplay quarterback Sergei Gonchar was sidelined by a shoulder injury. Kunitz, for his part, had been one of Anaheim's top forwards for the last 4 seasons and was deemed expendable, if the return he obtained contained a defenceman with a long-term contract, thus this trade. For the moment, Anaheim seems to have gotten the better end of this trade (slightly) as they acquired a proven veteran defenceman with offensive upside, who can help them immediatly. Pittsburgh received a solid but ''talent-limited'' forward in Kunitz, who should not be able to impact the club tremendously, even though he will provide some offensive upside. Tangradi is a little ways off, but should his transition to the NHL be smooth and swift, as it is expected to be, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have definitely won this deal.

7/5/07 UFA SIGNINGS

11:50 PM- Red Wings sign G Dominik Hasek:
1 year at US$2 million (Without Bonuses)

9:00 PM- Nickle1371 sends in the following:

Do you think Patrick Kaleta will be in the sabres line-up next season? also do you think the sabres will go after comrie or souray. (sorry if we do take souray from u, cuz we want it bad too lol.)"

Dear Nickle,

I do think that Patrick Kaleta has a chance of making the Sabres out of training camp, especially with the losses of Daniel Briere, Chris Drury and Dainius Zubrus. He played 7 games for the Sabres, managing 2 assists and 21 penalty minutes. But nothing is certain.

I do also believe the Sabres went after New York Islander Mike Comrie, who could of filled their need of a speedy and gritty 2nd line center. Comrie signed with the Islanders a few moments ago.

As to going after Sheldon Souray, I am not so sure Darcy Regier was too kean on signing a defenceman for over US$5 million, with a lack of defensive ability. I also believe the Sabres lost a big part of their forwards this offseason, and did not need to sign defencemen, but needed to concentrate their money on forwards who could replace the ones who left via the UFA market.

I hope this helps,

I Want It!

8:34 PM- Islanders sign C Mike Comrie:
1 year

8:33 PM- Sabres sign G Jocelyn Thibault:
1 year

5:50 PM- Ducks sign D Shane Hnidy:
2 years

5:34 PM- Islanders sign F Bill Guerin:
2 year at US$9 million

4:20 PM- Canadiens sign D Jamie Rivers:
2 years

1:18 PM- Devils sign G Kevin Weekes:
2 years at US$1.375 million

11:33 AM- Columbus Blue Jackets sign D Jan Hejda:
1 year

Niedermayer set to retire

ANAHEIM-- According to TSN.ca, Ducks' captain Scott Nidermayer is set to announce that he is retiring from professional hockey.

Niedermayer won his 4th Stanley Cup this post-season, his 1st with the Ducks, since joining them on August 4th, 2005.

He won the Conn Smyth trophy for his excellent play and leadership during these playoffs.

The 14-year NHL veteran has accumulated 132 points over his last past 2 seasons, more precisely in a period of 161 games.

He spent the previous 12 seasons of his career with the New Jerseys Devils.

Update 1: According to TSN.ca, the Canadian defenseman will not announce his retirement tonight, even though he told people close to him he would.

7/1/07 UFA SIGNINGS

Colorado Avalanche sign F Ryan Smyth:
5 years at US$31.25 million (Front-loaded)


St. Louis Blues sign LW Paul Kariya:
3 years at US$18 million (US$6 million per season)


New York Islanders sign RW Jon Sim:
3 years


Colorado Avalanche signs D Scott Hannan:
4 years at US$18 million (US$4.5 million per season)


Pittsburgh Penguins sign G Dany Sabourin:
2 years at US$1.025 million (US$0.5125 thousand per year)


Washington Capitals sign C Viktor Kozlov:
2 years at US$5 million (US$2.5 million annually)


Note: Kozlov will be Ovechkin's centerman next season

New York Rangers sign C Chris Drury:
5 years at US$35.25 million (US$7.05 per season)


New York Rangers sign C Scott Gomez:
7 years at US$51.5 million (US$7.35 million per season)


Toronto Maple Leafs sign LW Jason Blake:
4 years at US$20 million (US$5 million per season)


Tampa Bay Lightning sign RW Michel Ouellet:
2 years at US$2.5 million (US$1.2/US$1.3)


Note: Ouellet will likely replace Ruslan Fedotenko in the Bolts' lineup.

Florida Panthers sign RW Radek Dvorak:
2 years


Boston Bruins sign RW Shawn Thornton:
Multi-year contract


Chicago Blackhawks sign C Yanic Perreault:
1 year at US$1.5 million


Note: Michal Handzus' return to the 'Hawks now seems questionable.

Detroit Red Wings sign D Brian Rafalski:
5 years at US$ 30 million (US$6 million per season)


Calgary Flames sign D Cory Sarich:
5 years at US$18 million (US$ 3.6 per season)


Note: Roman Hamrlik will not re-sign with the Flames.

Anaheim Ducks sign D Mathieu Schneider:
2 years at US$ 11.25 million (US$5.5/US$5.75)


Note: Scott Niedermayer seems to be on the verge of retirement.

Philadelphia Flyers sign C Daniel Briere:
8 years at US$52 million (1st year: US$10 million)


Florida Panthers sign LW Richard Zednik:
2 years at US$3.25 million (US$1.5/US$1.75)


Washington Capitals sign D Tom Poti:
4 years at US$14 million (US$3.5 million per season)


Atlanta Thrashers sign C Todd White:
4 years at US$9.5 million (US$2.375 million per season)

Rumor Central

ANA- Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail reports that Ducks' GM Brian Burke has received many offers for goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, but none of them seemed to have "knocked his socks off", or even convinced him to trade the Russian netminder.

BUF- Tim Graham of the Buffalo News suggests that neither Chris Drury or Daniel Briere are interested in re-signing with the Sabres until after they have "offered" their services to the other 29 clubs of the NHL.

PIT- According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and Dave Molinary, Penguins GM Ray Shero will not offer contracts to forwards Nils Ekman and Ronald Petrovicky and defensemen Eric Cairns and Joel Kwiatkowski, all of whom are UFAs and set to go on the market July 1st. Shero will not retain the following players because of the re-signing of veterans Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi to one-year contracts, which has limited the Penguins' budget this offseason. The Penguins are also negotiating with defenseman Ryan Whitney, a RFA, on a long-term contract.

SJ- Many sources indicate that with the riddance of Vesa Toskala and Mark Bell, the San Jose Sharks will try agressively to sign veteran center Chris Drury. They also say that if they deem necessary to those negotations to deal captain Patrick Marleau, they will do it without a flinch.

Ducks holding onto their Ducklings

COLUMBUS-- Ducks GM Brian Burke has re-signed veteran defenseman Sean O'Donnell to a 2-year contract worth an estimated US$1.25 million dollars per season.

O'Donnell had a good year last season, according to his standards, registering 17 points in 79 games played.

He provided a good defensive presence, as indicates his plus/minus of plus 9, and was a big leader in the Ducks' run to the Stanley Cup.

Burke also has re-signed defenseman Kent Huskins, 28, for two more years, at US$1.25 million per season.

Huskins had two stints with the Ducks last season, one as a call-up due to an injury to O'Donnell and the second when the Ducks dealt defenseman Shane O'Brien to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After being called up to replace O'Brien, Huskins never left the Ducks, and subsequently won the Stanley Cup with the Californian "Franchise".