Those are the players you want!

MONTREAL-- Signing defenceman Roman Hamrlik and center Bryan Smolinski were moves Canadiens GM Bob Gainey is not likely regret, as both players are quite happy to be playing in Montreal:

Hamrlik: "I got a few offers from teams in the U.S., but I told my agent I'd love to play in Canada," the 33-year-old Hamrlik said from Zlin, Czech Republic on a conference call, comparing hockey in Canada to playing soccer in England. "It's great hockey."

Smolinski: "Being in Ottawa a a few years and seeing that rivalry with Montreal, it'll be interesting to see it from the other side. "It's a beautiful city and it's an Original Six team. It'll be an honour to wear that jersey."

As you may have seen with the previous quotes, both skaters are tremendously motivated to be playing for the NHL team with the most Stanley Cup wins, an emotion that wasn't necessarily present last season when the Canadiens signed winger Sergei Samsonov, who was just happy somebody signed him. He was never welcomed in Montreal after his slow start and his bad mouthing of the French media.

Bob Gainey has played it "safe" this offseason, adding players who's "no.1 choices" were Montreal, and who have put up consistent numbers throughout the years.

On the other hand, Samsonov had been plagued by injuries and had put up incosistent numbers over the seasons, when he was signed by the Canadiens last offseason.

Gainey has changed his strategy this offseason, going after hard working players who bring team spirit and leadership to the dressing room, instead of over-paying for selfish players.

7/2/07 UFA SIGNINGS

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8:30 PM Flames re-sign D Robyn Regehr:
5 years at US$20 million (US$4 million annually)


8:30 PM Coyotes buy-out C Dave Scatchard:
Making him an unrestricted free agent.


8:30 PM Flames sign LW Owen Nolan:
1 year at US$2 million (including bonuses)


8:30 PM Kings sign LW Kyle Calder: 2 years at US$5.4 million
4:00 PM Kings sign D Tom Preissing: 4 years at US$11 million


7:35 PM Ducks sign LW Todd Bertuzzi:
2 years at US$8 million (US$4 Annually)


7:30 PM Canadiens sign C Bryan Smolinski:
1 year at US$2 million with a no-trade clause


7:05 PM- Souray's options
After rejecting a contract offer from the Canadiens, here are Sheldon Souray's options (a.k.a. teams who have offered him a contract, per RDS):
Dallas Stars
San Jose Sharks
New York Rangers

6:45 PM Kings sign C Michal Handzus: 4 years at US$16 million
6:43 PM Kings sign LW Ladislav Nagy: 1 year


6:40 PM Predators sign F Radek Bonk and D Greg de Vries:
2 years


6:35 PM Thrashers sign D Ken Klee:
Multiple years


6:00 PM Blackhawks sign C Robert Lang:
2 years
Note: Michal Handzus' re-signing now seems unprobable.

5:25 PM Canadiens sign D Roman Hamrlik:
4 years at US$22 million (View Article Below)


5:20 PM Capitals sign F Michael Nylander:
4 years at US$19.5 million (View Article Below)


5:05 PM Rangers sign D Jason Strudwick:
Terms undisclosed


5:00 PM-Handzus has a deadline
According to blackhawks.nhl.com, the Chicago Blackhawks have told UFA forward Michal Handzus that he has until tonight to accept a Blackhawks' contract offer, unless he wants to hit the open market and explore other options.

4:30 PM-Hamrlik a Target
According to RDS.ca, the Montreal Canadiens have been negotiating a contract with UFA defenceman Roman Hamrlik. Check out my article below this post.

2:25 PM-Preissing to L.A. ?
According to the Ottawa Sun, UFA defenceman Tom Preissing has signed a 4-year contract worth an approximated US$11 million dollars (US$2.75 million per season). No official announcement has been made, of yet.

12:47 PM-Top 5 remaining free agents
5) C Peter Forsberg: Outstanding playmaker
4) D Tom Preissing: Very smart with the puck
3) G Dominik Hasek: Immune to age
2) C Michael Nylander: Great vision
1) D Sheldon Souray: Fantastic slapshot

12:36 PM Canucks re-sign D Lukas Krajicek:
2 years at US$2.2 million (US$1.1 million annually)


11:57 AM Maple Leafs re-sign LW Bates Battaglia:
2 years at US$1.3 million (US$650 thousand annually)


11:26 AM Predators sign F Jed Ortmeyer:
2 years at US$1.5 million (US$750 thousand per season)


11:07 AM-Rumor Central (Teams Interested):
F Brendan Shanahan (NYR)
F Alexei Yashin (WAS)
F Wes Walz (MIN)

Note: The Rangers could sign Shanahan if they offered him a contract of US$2 million with, let's say, US$2 million in performance bonuses. At 37, the bonuses, of a respectable amount, would
not count against the salary cap and would easily satisfy Shanahan. He would basically sign for US$2 million but would end up with US$4.

10:07 AM-Rumor Central (Teams Interested):
F Mike Comrie (LAK, NJ, TOR, WAS)
F Slava Kozlov (ATL, DAL, OTT)
F Michael Nylander (EDM, WAS)
D Tom Preissing (COL, LAK, SJ)
D Karel Rachunek (BOS)

1:18 AM-Penguins sign RW Petr Sykora:
2 years


1:02 AM-Penguins sign D Darryl Sydor:
2 years at US$5 million (US$2.5 million per season)

Canadiens sign Hamrlik

MONTREAL- Today, the Montreal Canadiens signed defenceman Roman Hamrlik to a 4-year contract, financial terms undisclosed.

"Roman Hamrlik established himself as a solid NHL veteran,'' Habs GM Bob Gainey said in a statement. ''The acquisition of Roman fills a very important need in our organization. He is a strong defenceman with a powerful shot and excellent hockey skills. He brings to our club a solid experience and an excellent reputation.''

The 33-year old Czech "power-play quaterback" will replace Sheldon Souray on the Canadiens' powerplay and as the Habs' no.2 defenceman.

Hamrlik has played in 999 career NHL regular season games with 4 teams: the Tampa Bay Lightning (1992-1998), Edmonton Oilers (1998-2000), New York Islanders (2000-2004) and most recently the Calgary Flames (2005-2007).

As soon as the 14-year NHL veteran hits the ice as a Montreal Canadien, he will have already hit a milestone, playing in his 1000th NHL game.

This signing puts an end to Sheldon Souray's possible return to Montreal.