That's what it may seem like once the free agency market opens up in a couple months. Just so you can make list and check it twice, here's a really good website with all the 2008 unrestricted free agents. It's sorted by current salary, so you can peruse the pricier models as well as the bargain basement guys....
http://www.sportscity.com/NHL/NHL-Free-Agents-by-Position-2008/
Comments (19)
Anyone who signed Hunter has no ability to evaluate talent. Ergo, its hopeless.
Sign tough player at the very least.
WOW!! I don't envy GM's ....
I just got back from a league meeting to discuss the 08-09 season. Each team has 3 delegates to represent the team at league meetings and adjustments to by-laws and rules.
We took over a pizza tavern and for the most part the most we got done was pounding back 10 pies and some buckets of beer ....
I found it ironic that the tavern we were in was in the vacinity of the Monmouth Battle Ground made famous by George Washington's commanding rout of the Brits during a stiffling June day ... and a battle it was for us as well. I was getting the feeling of how Snow, Wang and Nolan must be together.... even among my two other teammates we just couldn't see eye to eye on certain issues.
It was like our fore-fathers arguing over declaring independence. Half the guys want to scrap the roster lock so they can add players anytime. That makes having a draft and tryout useless.
I hope that Wang, Nolan and Snow have a much more clear vision for the Isles than myself and my co-delegates for our own team.
Oh well. Just venting. Most of these guys don't have hockey minds.... so I shouldn't expect much.
First things first....
Sign Freddy the IV
Before Ottawa signs him so they can bring him up north and hang him for what he did to Spezza in the St. Christopher's game in January, which marked the beginning of the end for what was "possibility the greatest team ever assembled" according to Lucifer and Beezlebub.
Botta quit yesterday. Not surprising. The Isles have a problem keeping good people.
WOW!!! Chris Botta resigns.
Now there is a guy who had the unenviable task of doing PR for the Isles during the most challenging years of their existence. One must wonder how much Chris Dey had to do with it. He seems to be taking on more and more assimilating his own "marketing administration".
Hey. Nepotism aside... if Mr. Dey brings in some fresh ideas, has an open creative mind and is willing to listen to the fans who sometimes have the best ideas ... I'm behind him. God knows he's gotta a tougher job then the President's press secretary.
Just want to wish Chris Botta Good Luck in any future endeavors ... you've had to full sprint uphill for most of your tenure and I appreciate what you were able to do with so little.
That said ... Mr. Dey. If you have any openings ... drop me a line. I've been selling hockey and creating fans of the game for over 29 years.
First of all the above was not me as many already know...Getting old Troll. Getting old!
Just read this:
.......Botta described his parting with the organization as amicable and "respectful." His surprising decision came at a time when Chris Dey, the son-in-law of owner Charles Wang and senior vice president of sales, marketing and operations, has taken a stronger role managing the business side for the Islanders.
Botta joined the organization in December 1987 as editor of a team publication. He was named head of public relations in 1995 and became a vice president in 1999. ...........
WANG....SELL THE TEAM TODAY......FIRE YOUR FREAKING SON IN LAW TODAY.....I realize this is something very minor. I realize this is not a person on the ice....With that said in any business there is the WRITING ON THE WALL . The Bobblehead Wang is a complete moron. Anyone and everyone that knows hockey wants NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM...LaFontaine, Neil Smith, etc. etc. Now his son in law is pushing people away on the business side of it....A kid that did not know what a hockey puck was until a year ago is making others leave and running the show.....WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY !!!!
Guys this is scary. This is the reason we get GM's that are goalies. This is the reason we hire coaches (who I like) out of exile. This is why we get the back end of the heap players!
Only Spring and the BOBBLEHEADS are already making NEGATIVE noise.
What the Islanders DON'T need ...
A player looking to reinvent himself at the Islanders' expense...
What the Islanders DO need ...
A tough 2-way forward who can scrap and help the D enforce the "red zone" ... and make oponents pay the price for loitering near DP.
Yes ... I realize they need help scoring ... that isn't going to come in this FA period.
.... 505 ... Freddy IV was extended two more season before the end of this past season.... Freddy IV could be one of those diamond in the rough players.
Steady ... I'm not thrilled with seeing Botta go either ... but ... he's been getting squeezed since the son-inlaw arrived ... it was brutally apparent this year ... we've buzzed about it before .. including yourself.
I also think the Isles need fresh blood .... because the same ole PR recipie just wasn't doing it ... legacy ideas in a new order NHL ... I don't think Botta was even the problem ... I think he was innovative and creative with limited resources ... but in fairness to Botta ... it was probably in his best interest to leave.
Now as far as Wang goes ... that is another knock against him .... for the Isles as a business entity to retain a PR guy through all they've been through was the only positive to take though all the BS. He's had the toughest job in the NHL the last 13 + years.
Wang keeps proving over and over to me that his rejection of REAL hockey people shows his ignorance to the importance of having hockey people surround him while trying to build a hockey team.
Next Wang move .... training camp in China.
Oh ... and don't laugh ... if the Islanders ever open the season in Japan ... you can count on the Islanders having some exhibition and training camp in China. That would be a feather in Wang's cap.
"Freddy IV was extended two more season before the end of this past season."
Upon further review......
Yeah, that's right.....I remember that.
Saw his name on the UFA list from the link in Katie's blog. I
guess that list needs an update, or I should never look at stuff like that on Monday nights. (Even though I took yesterday off from my usual activities---the weekend was a killer)
Okay, good, Freddy is in the stable.
On to other stuff.
Chris Botta resigned???
Who's gonna deal with people like Baumbach?
I say that cuz when Baumbach wrote the Arbour article....Botta posted a comment to Baumbach right underneath mine in the main pages.
(Timing is everything in life, and/or...great minds think alike)
Botta's comment was "professional".
Mine was a little more "hard-hitting", and far more entertaining, if I do say so myself.
I'll take the job for a song.
First order of business.....free beer in the press box.
My own version of future watch .... I was just informed by Julien the scouting guy in Habville that "our" boy Blake Kessel setup the game winning OT goal in Game 1 of the Championship game of the USHL.
... here are some quotes from the USHL website that I just looked up....
*** The goal was set up by Nick Larson’s winning draw, and a great effort by Billy Maday to get the puck back to defenseman Blake Kessel, who set Olson up with a perfect pass. ***
** Quote from the guy who scored the game winning goal ~ "“It was just sitting there behind Nick’s skates at the top of the circle, and Billy made a nice play to beat his guy off the wall and tapped it back to Blake,” Olson described. “The guy went really hard at Blake, and I just saw a lane over the corner of my eye and was fortunate to drive that lane and find an opening.” **
This tells me that Blake can stay poised under extreme pressure and has the vision and skill to get the puck to a player in prime scoring position ...
Another promising young kid in the stable ... still ... I think he's only 19. Julien said he's a kid that made significant progress .. younger brother of Bruins' Phil Kessel ... Julien said that sometimes helps push younger siblings to out due older brother.
Just looked up hockey prospects and they haven't bumped up his rating yet. Julien said HP's is a raw rating system that only updates 3 times a year... and for the most part only 2 times for the majority of prospects.
Off Topic...(well kinda....it's about Baumbach)
In the never ending 505 search for Truth, Justice and the American Way..and to expose Jim Baumbach for the spineless self-serving ice worm of a "journalist" that he is....
Yesterday Mr. Baumbach wrote an article on the main pages in the wake of the Eight Belles Tragedy condemning Horse Racing as a sport. All the usual PETA pablum about mankind's abuse of the animal world.
Initially, I thought it was the typical silly article that Baumbach writes in order to stir up controversy and bring attention upon himself. So I withheld comment, cuz...well, he's just not worth it.
Then....LAST NIGHT...Baumbach posts a youtube video on his blog - The Final Whor...er Score- of Ray Knight and Nancy Lopez engaged in the ancient sport of FISHING (accompanied by a GREAT song performed by Ray Charles and Hank Williams Jr).
The video basically GLORIFIES fishing. Nothing wrong with that but....wasn't this the same guy who wrote an article 8 hours earlier condemning the wanton wasteful abuse of horses?
Never mind that millions more fish are "murdered" by human "sporting enthusiasts" every year horses in order to satisfy the need for a "trophy".
One horse dies and Baumbach is trying to shut down the sport.
In Baumbach's BOOK, fishing is okay, but horse racing is evil.
Checkout my comments on his blog before he deletes everything.
Hypocrisy knows no limitations.
I haven't heard any thoughts on signing Malkin. I think this postseason he has separated himself from Crosby as a crunch time #1 Center. I think we should go full force on him when he is a free agent in 1 year.
I am also throwing this out there. Everyone says we need scoring a guy who can put the put the puck in the net but who would also want to play on the isle. I was watching the playoffs and each game which offensive player on the Rangers was the biggest force. Jaromir Jagr.... If the price is right I think they should explore this avenue. Strake doesn't score a quarter of his goals without Jagr who commands two people watching him at all times. Just a thought. He can take pressure off K.O. and get goals. He istantaneously gives us credibility.
Islanders sign some guy named Josh Rechlicz?
The "Wrecker"?
"Tough and Gritty" is how he is referred to.
In 50 games split between IHL and AHL last year he had 1 goal and 1 assist to complement 206 PIMS.
(But did he have as many youtube appearances as Rob Davison?)
See below:
http://islanders.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=362623
Malkin??!! are you kidding, Pittsburgh will lock this guy up for 10 years or more in the very near future. There is no chance. Forget Jagr as well, no way is he playing for the Islanders. The most realistic signing you can hope for in the UFA market is Huselius or maybe even Ryder up front, I would gladly take either one to replace Satan.
Hi, Im a total tool. Lets sign Jagr, who plays liek a fairy all season and then becomes great wehn he tries. 8mm for a guy with no character.
Genius. Steady should sleep with me.
Ryan Malone is the guy to go for. A good power forward, and still fairly young. Pittsburgh is not going to have enough money left for him.
WISHLIST
I just wish that competetive offers are made to the following players:
Langkow($2M/3yrs)... he shoudl fit nicely into the center poor future of the NYI.
Vasicek($1M/3yrs)... For $1M you get the #3 C to replace Sillinger that centered two versions of the teams most productive line in two different periods of the season. There were stretches where him, miro and bergy were the best line ont he team, and also towards the end when he was sent out with tank and hunter. Being the biggest school in a pond of guppies may not say much, but if they land Langkow you then have langkow-Comrie-Vasicek-(nielsen/park) up the middle... and that is an improvement.
Hossa...($9M/3yrs) just a pipe dream, but He woudl instantly legitimize them as a playoff contender next year. I don't expect this to happen as it would take a Yashin type deal... and they are still paying for Yashin to chase down Kasperov at anti putin rallies.
Commodore($1.8M/3yrs)... This may be signing to a strength, but Witter isn't going to be around for ever... or at least he's not going to be as effective forever. This would give them the perfect balance among defensive pairings.
Campbell ($2.5m/3yrs) Campbell would complete a team that could contend for the cup next year.
Let's just dream for a second...
Comeau-Langkow-Hossa
Guerin-Comrie-Okposo
Hunter-Vasicek-Bergenheim
Park-Nielsen-Brennan
Witt-Campbell
Sutton-Campoli
Commodore-Hillen
DP-(MacDonald/Dubie)
sorry "JPinVA", that will never happen, EVER!!!!!!!The isles do not have that much money to spend and hossa is going to want more than 3 mill a year after what hes doing in the playoff's, so you can dream all you want, but the reality is that it will never happen.