2011 NHL Free Agency Thread

[Rams Fan]

Free Agency starts in about 12 hours.

I think Vokoun goes to the Avs or stays in Florida and Richards signs with the Rangers.

[Just Passin' By]

Bruins are rumored to be signing Benoit Pouliot for 1 year, $1.1 million.

[chiefs1111]

Leino to Buffalo 6 years 27 million.

[Rams Fan]

Blues are about 4 mil. under the cap.

If the only signing the Blues make is a backup goalie, I'm going to shit a brick.

[chiefs1111]

JS Giguere to Avalanche

[Rams Fan]

Budaj to the Habs.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by chiefs1111

JS Giguere to Avalanche

Is Elliott going to the AHL?

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by chiefs1111

according to Hockeybuzz.com,the Avs looking at signing Erik Cole.

Reports: Canadiens sign Cole, Budaj
Friday, 07.01.2011 / 3:57 PM / NHL Free Agency 2011
NHL.com
The Montreal Canadiens have reportedly signed free agent wing Erik Cole and goalie Peter Budaj to multi-year contracts.

According to TSN, Cole has inked a four-year, $18 million contract and Budaj was given a two-year, $2.3 million deal.

The 28-year-old Budaj, who now becomes the backup to Carey Price in Montreal, has played all six of his NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. He has a career record of 101-91-27 with a 2.83 goals-against average. He made 45 appearances in 2010-11 for Colorado, producing a 15-21-4 mark with a 3.20 GAA and .895 save percentage.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

http://www.nhl.com/ice/newsindex.htm...reeagents/2011

Capitals trade Varlamov's rights to Avalanche
Friday, 07.01.2011 / 2:00 PM / NHL Free Agency 2011
NHL.com
The Washington Capitals have traded the rights to restricted free agent goaltender Semyon Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche for a first-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft and second-round selection in either 2012 or 2013.

Varlamov was a first-round pick in 2006 and has competed with Michal Neuvirth, a second-round choice in the same draft, for the "goaltender of the future" tag in Washington ever since. The 23-year-old Russian goaltender has appeared in 59 regular-season games and 19 postseason contests for the Capitals.

He replaced Jose Theodore in net for Washington during the 2009 and 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but missed a large portion of the 2010-11 campaign because of injury. With Theodore gone, Varlamov and Neuvirth were competing for the starting job, and it was Neuvirth who played every minute during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Capitals.

Damn. The AVS gave up a ton to get that kid. The 2012 draft is supposed to be one of the deepest drafts in awhile and the Avs are expected to be better, but still not great.

The Blues gave up Eller last season to get Halak. Halak has a better playoff track record and most will say that Halak is probably a slightly more valuable player (if a little older). Don't forget - Halak beat Varlamov in the game 7 showdown. Eller doesn't have the value of a 2012 first rounder, I'm virtually certain of that. Let alone the 2nd rounder thrown in.

I think the Avs overpaid a little here.

[chiefs1111]

Souray signs with Dallas

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Rams Fan

Blues are about 4 mil. under the cap.

If the only signing the Blues make is a backup goalie, I'm going to shit a brick.

Eh, they'll get a 3rd line winger and a depth defenseman as well.

Afterall, they've gotta spend the money somewhere to even reach the salary floor. They'll throw it at a couple of aging vets that will gladly take a 1-yr deal.

If you have any expectations at all for this FA signing period, prepare to be disappointed.

[Just Passin' By]

From Bob McKenzie:

Ponikarovsky gets $1.5M on a one year deal in Carolina.

Ehrhoff to Buffalo is for 10 years and $40 million.

O'Byrne re-signs with Col for 2 more years

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Eh, they'll get a 3rd line winger and a depth defenseman as well.

Afterall, they've gotta spend the money somewhere to even reach the salary floor. They'll throw it at a couple of aging vets that will gladly take a 1-yr deal.

If you have any expectations at all for this FA signing period, prepare to be disappointed.

I don't have any expectations aside from what you mentioned.

I'm only optimistic because Army said ownership gave him a budget above the cap floor. Not expecting a Richards like signing.

[Rams Fan]

I'm 99.999999% sure that the Coyotes are intentionally going to tank this season.

[chiefs1111]

Flyers back in on the Brad Richards sweepstakes. Calgary also to make a play for him

[chiefs1111]

Tomas Fleischmann Signs with Florida