Thursday, June 21, 2007
Giguere Signs.
I've been in Alaska running with caribou and so forth for the last two weeks, but I just wanted to point out that the Giguere rumors were BS. He resigned and this hasn't presented a cap problem for the Ducks. Another hit to the credibility of the hockey press.
They did score some points with me with the Niedermayer retirement rumors. We'll see. My gut tells me he'll be back for a chance to defend the Cup, and that bringing Giguere back only bolsters that possibility.
If Niedermayer returns and the Ducks get a decent return for Bryzgalov, they have to be the favorite to win in 08 as well. Draft day should be interesting.
I'm curious to see what, if anything, the movements out east set in motion.
UPDATE:
1. The LA Times reports this morning that no budget has been set by the Samuelis. I don't know where the idea that it had been got started, nor do I know where the idea that the Ducks were in Cap trouble with Giguere (in the end the cap hit is $2M more, with the cap increasing by much more than that). Of course Burke is going to say the payroll is low. If not, it's like walking into a car dealership and saying "I gotta have this car." How can you set a payroll before the playoffs, where much extra revenue comes in that is unpredictable? None of that reporting makes sense. Keeping the same payroll will allow Burke to find a suitable winger for the top six if Selanne retires. All bets are off if Scott Niedermayer retires, freeing an additional $6.75M, which, I believe would be directed at Sheldon Souray, who wants to move to California to be near his daughter.
2. The rumors are flying about Bryzgalov and the draft pick. I identified some potential places for Bryz to land, and I hinted Tampa was the most interesting. It is even more interesting if Selanne really is retiring. The eastern teams with needs in net are Florida, Tampa, Boston, Toronto, and maybe Washington. I'm not sure I can see Bryz going west unless the price is high. I'm also not sure what kind of Burke-style players Boston and Washington have.
3. The Devils are in a miserable position right now. They haven't appeared to make a move on Brian Rafalaski, and they don't have a first rounder. Compound that with the fact that the Flyers are trying to get the rights to Gomez!
They did score some points with me with the Niedermayer retirement rumors. We'll see. My gut tells me he'll be back for a chance to defend the Cup, and that bringing Giguere back only bolsters that possibility.
If Niedermayer returns and the Ducks get a decent return for Bryzgalov, they have to be the favorite to win in 08 as well. Draft day should be interesting.
I'm curious to see what, if anything, the movements out east set in motion.
UPDATE:
1. The LA Times reports this morning that no budget has been set by the Samuelis. I don't know where the idea that it had been got started, nor do I know where the idea that the Ducks were in Cap trouble with Giguere (in the end the cap hit is $2M more, with the cap increasing by much more than that). Of course Burke is going to say the payroll is low. If not, it's like walking into a car dealership and saying "I gotta have this car." How can you set a payroll before the playoffs, where much extra revenue comes in that is unpredictable? None of that reporting makes sense. Keeping the same payroll will allow Burke to find a suitable winger for the top six if Selanne retires. All bets are off if Scott Niedermayer retires, freeing an additional $6.75M, which, I believe would be directed at Sheldon Souray, who wants to move to California to be near his daughter.
2. The rumors are flying about Bryzgalov and the draft pick. I identified some potential places for Bryz to land, and I hinted Tampa was the most interesting. It is even more interesting if Selanne really is retiring. The eastern teams with needs in net are Florida, Tampa, Boston, Toronto, and maybe Washington. I'm not sure I can see Bryz going west unless the price is high. I'm also not sure what kind of Burke-style players Boston and Washington have.
3. The Devils are in a miserable position right now. They haven't appeared to make a move on Brian Rafalaski, and they don't have a first rounder. Compound that with the fact that the Flyers are trying to get the rights to Gomez!
// posted by Rick @ 9:53 PM 
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