Can Our Baby Rangers Win a Cup?

Good, thoughtful reading from Nick M. over at the 'up and coming' The Rangers Tribune --- I have been enjoying his site and insightful commentary, so check him out.  He conjectures on how the Rangers organization is on the right track (and even suggests trusting management along the way --- what do you think of that readers of DARK?).  Go here for the post, but below is a snapshot:

The Blueshirts have one of the better systems in the NHL when it comes to their prospects. They have more depth than most organizations and the plan is to eventually bring that depth to the professional level where they will have the chance to develop into a solid contending squad. This is the process that the Chicago Blackhawks had to go through. This is the process the Pittsburgh Penguins had to go through. This is the process the Washington Capitals had to go through. Well, look how those teams turned out. Just look at them now and for once, imagine the Rangers finally being that good. 

As Herb Brooks once said "Great moments are born from great opportunity." That is what the Rangers have here. They have great opportunity to slowly but surely become a contending team again. One that will actually have fans at the edge of their seats instead of slouched down ashamed to show their faces. Whether management and staff realize that, I cannot confirm for you, but I will say that is the correct direction to move this team in. It is the right way of doing things and it will eventually lead to success on the ice of Madison Square Garden; something we are not used to at all.

I couldn't agree more -- and from your lips to the hockey Gods' ears, may we find the re-building we've all been asking for.  Though, it would still be nice to dump Redden in the minors, free up 5 to 6 million in the cap and bring in a Bobby Ryan or untouchable Ilya Kovalchuk, wouldn't it?  Remember we still need to score goals...and free agency can allow that to happen.

tdr

Call the movers....First day of Free Agency Post

The first day of free agency... We'll be checking the Free Agent trackers and rumor mills for signs of life and whats going on around the league.

Lets start this off with some news from yesterday:

Michael Leighton - Resigned in Philly for 2 years averaging out to 1.55 per [TSN's Free Agent Tracker] - Looks like the flygirls want to invest two more year in Leighton to see if he can hone his skills while he splits time with a Vet. Rumors had the Contacting the Nabakov's People and looking into Khabibulin. Affording Nabakov would likely require them to move someone big.

Kris Versteeg - to Leafs with rights to winger Bill Sweatt in exchange for forwards Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis going to the Hawks [ESPN's Pierre LeBrun via Twitter] -

Martin Biron - From the barn on Long Island to The New York Rangers for 2 years averaging out to 875K per [TSN's Free Agent Tracker] - Looks Like Larry Brooks was right (wow does that phrase leave a bad taste in your mouth or what...) Biron a pick up supports Torts cause in cutting back Henriks work rate. Biron came at a very affordable price for the number of games he can play as a back up... An upgrade over Valiquette and buys time for Chad Johnson to polish his game.

Dan Paille - Re-signed in Boston averaging 1.075 per on a 2 year contract.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker]

Sergei Gonchar- Goes from the Pitts to Ottawa for 3 years averaging 5.5 per.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker] - We knew this was gonna happen. Pittsburgh didn't seem interested in keeping Gonchar. Apparently anyone over 25 creeps out the kiddies. Ottawa gets a vet on their blueline, though there isnt much hope for a return to their defense's heydays. Just for the hell of it. I say they give it a shot. We hear at the the Dark Ranger would like to contend that Redden was the catalyst for that Ottawa defense and they'll need him back if they ever want to get back to those times. Make us an offer... REALLY!

Alex Tanguay - Signed in Calagary for a 1 year deal @ 1.7 mil.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker] - Calgary continues the shuffle and fold waiting for the click that makes the team greater that the sum of their parts.

Zbynek Michalek - Signed with Pittsburgh for 5 years at 4 million per. [TSN's Free Agent Tracker] - Apparently the Yotes were strapped for cash despite prioritizing this kids contract. Clearing Gonchar's money by not re-signing him freed up some cash for the pens.

Marty St. Louis - supposedly resigned with the Bolts for 4 years [ESPN's Pierre LeBrun via Twitter] - Just a rumor at this point as the news was tweeted by the bolts organization. - Not at all surprising seeing as the have seemed quite content to remain stagnant the past few seasons. The latest brass seems to be linked to this mentality.

Alex Auld - Signs with Montreal for 1 year at 1 Million,[TSN's Free Agent Tracker] - I actually liked Auld for the short time he was here. He's not the top guy to have in net, but he won't be the cause of any riots in Hab Land. Don't quote me on that.

Colby Armstrong - Signs with Toronto for 3yrs at 3M per.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker] - Good player that can score or sit back in a team dynamic. It may have finally sunk in that All knuckle draggers all the time won't work for the Leaves in the "new" NHL.

Antero Nittymaki - Signs with San Jose for 2 years at 2M per. [TSN's Free Agent Tracker]. This may be good move for Nittymaki as the bolts were just hanging on at best towards the end of the past season.

Joel Perrault- Goes from the scorching deserts of Arizona to Vancouver for 1 year at 510K. [TSN's Free Agent Tracker]Just enough to buy a sweater and a cup of Tim Hortons in one those resort towns up there.

Sean O'Donnell - To Philly for 1 year at 1 million.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker] - From LA to Philly.. let us know how that sub tastes with wheat grass and a soy latte. On second thought, don't...Blech.

Manny Malhotra - Signs with Vancouver for 3 years averaging 2.5 per.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker]

Derek Morris - back with the Yotes for another 4 averaging 2.75M. Something about the desert and warm weather makes this guy play better. Well that and Jovanowski.

Jody Shelley - After telling Sather to cram his 100k raise, signs with those cheapshot artists in Philly for 3 years at 1.1M per.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker] I knew there was a reason I didn't like this guy. This Rivalry just got uglier, for us anyway. We need a heavyweight who isn't on the slide, can actually skate and patrol the ice and send a message. Instead we'll get someone like that douche, Andrew Peters... Thanks again Slats..$%^#$@%!@

Derek Boogaard - The Boogeyman is a Ranger! 4 yrs @ 1.625 each. Ok, I may have been a little hasty in calling Sather a tightwad that would get us Peters instead of a Name enforcer. No I wasn't, even a blind chicken finds a worm sometime. Anyway, Stogie Face went out and got us the BOOGEYMAN, BOOYAH! At least this evens the odds in the division rivalries a little and reunites Master (Gaborik) and Blaster (Boogaard). Can we hold those preseason bonding exercises at his fight school?

Dan Ellis - Heads to Tampa Bay for 2 years @1.5 each. [TSN's Free Agent Tracker]

Paul Martin - has left the barren industrial wastelands of Newark for the Barren industrial wastelands of Pittsburgh for 5 years at 5M per. [TSN's Free Agent Tracker]If nothing spectacular, Martin has always been a solid defenseman. His transition from trap to run and gun will either highlight him or expose him.

Toni Lydman - To the ducks for 3 yrs at 3M per.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker]

Ray Whitney - Signs with Phoenix for 2 years at 3M per.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker]- Whitney was a sought after guy by a few teams.

Curtis Sanford -Resigns in Montreal for one more year at 550K. [TSN's Free Agent Tracker]. Rumor has it, Hab fans threatened to torch a Cop car if he didn't.

Henrik Tallinder signs with New Jersey for 4 years at 3.375!?!?! [TSN's Free Agent Tracker]umm ok..

Kurtis Foster - is off to Edmonton to be coached by Mr. Rogers err. Tom Renney for 2 years at 1.8M.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker] Kurtis, every time he says "battle level" just nod and smile. If he pisses you off, refuse to shake his hand, he hates that...

Dan Hamhuis - the wait is over and he's headed to the Nucks for 6 years at an average of 4.5M.[Pierre Lebrun, then TSN's Free Agent Tracker]. What, no hometown discount? For that type of money, he better perform for the nuck fans... No pressure though, just ask Naslund.

Chris Mason - is headed out of saint Louis and over to equally obscure Atlanta to tend goal for 2 yrs at 1.85M.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker]

Olli Jokinen - is going home to Calgary, where they apparently have a short memory, for 2 yrs at 3 mil a piece. [TSN's Free Agent Tracker]Yowsa. Glad our name isn't on that deal. Perhaps for him and Iggy the distance has made the heart and hopefully the hands grow stronger. I won't besmirch him. When he first got here, he seemed to quickly grasp the situation that our team didn't have any balls or worked hard enough at playing a well rounded game... and quite frankly, for that its better that he's not here if he wasn't given a role where he could do something about it...those would be big skates for him to fill anyway... Noone shrugs like Drury.

Anton Volchenkov - Signs in New Jersey for 6 years averaging 4.25M per.[TSN's Free Agent Tracker]. Don't really know what to make of this. Its a good sign but considering the mass exodus out of Newark, is this the foundation for a rebuild or case of having the money and desperation at the same time... Considering they brought Arnott back, I'd guess the latter.

Alexander Frolov - Apparently we are singing this guy a song, but he can't hear us over the cash registers sounds in his head.[ESPN'S Pierre Lebrun via Twitter] We're either too hoarse or too broke to sing any louder.

Vinny Prospal - He's back for another season as a Ranger. 1M up front and the other 1.1M in bonuses. - As predicted, he got the Shanny treatment and we'll see how much he has left. With Frolov being a Gold diggin' !@#$@!#$, this is a secure move to make, I suppose... because of how he responds to Torts and as secondary scoring he still elite enough on this team to do some primary scoring.

Johan Hedberg - Licking the spoon in New Jersey with a patchwork contract, that includes bonuses and a no movement clause... amounts to about 1.5M for a year.[ESPN'S Pierre Lebrun via Twitter] Adds another piece to the Newark Puzzle. Could all this be a ploy to keep money free to sign Kovalchuk and bait him with being able to play with Volchenkov?

Does Craigslist have a 4th liner or Defensive Prospect section? [UPDATED]

OK Its a Fire Sale. Everything must go! NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED!!! Ok, so maybe I'm still burning a little about the end of the last season.

As it stands now.. heres whats been making the rounds is the gossip circle as far as I have heard.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Olli Jokinen, C; 32, $5.5 million - No news, Returned to the Rent-A-Center.

Vaclav Prospal, LW, 35, $1.1 million - No News, Maybe getting the Shanny wait and see treatment.Larry Brooks reports that Sather is trying to resign Vinny. Prospal remains a key part of Tort's plan to get the message to the troops. Yet another guy who could squeeze another few dollars out of us due to his role on this team being bigger than it would be on another team that would be progressing soundly every year.

Alex Auld, G, 29, $1 million - I haven't heard anything. A solid backup, I'd love to get this guy back... I Like Chad johnson, but after the chance we gave him last year, i cant see Auld being an issue with his development opportunities in the yes of the organization. UPDATE: Auld Signed with Montreal after the Rangers picked up Biron.

Jody Shelley, RW, 34, $725,000 -In talks with the team now, 100K raise on the table... His agent is expected to counter offer. I didn't know if we'd be giving this guy an offer at all if someone better or more intimidating was available. His willingness to get his hands dirty coupled with the fact that the organization doesn't want to pay and often can't find the excuse to play an enforcer for more than 5 minutes at a time, made his effort as part of the lunch pail crew valuable in the last games of the season. Shelley rejected the offer of 825k...Shelley found out what Shanahan and others have. Hard work doesn't go unrewarded in NY. It gets you a free ticket out of town. As much as i still had a bone to pick with the guy from the richard scott incident so many years ago, I hope someone noticed his efforts at the end of the season and he can land a spot with a team that can use his skills.

P.A. Parenteau, RW, 27, $500,000 - Last I heard, P.A. was tired of commuting and was looking to be somewhere with more consistent playing time available. His shootout proficiency could be a bonus for a team looking to nab those extra points.

Anders Eriksson, D, 35, $600,000

Corey Potter, D, 26, $550,000 - Haven't hear anything about him, though I can imagine the status of Redden, Rozi palms, and the other d-men positions would have a lot to do with his situation. With Sanguinetti dealt to the Canes, things may not be looking Good considering Sauer is still around and McDonagh rise expected. The door swings both ways I suppose and the question is was Bobby Sangs dealt instead of guys like Sauer and Potter because he wasn't as good or because the other two would bring nothing in return?



RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Marc Staal, D, 23, $765,000 - In talks, his Agent(B. Orr) is breaking balls for more money and the 2 are said to be far apart. See what Dubinsky started with his holdout crap last season. Every kid with an ounce of talent will be bending this team over a barrel when it comes to contracts. They know the predicament our expensive seniors put us in and they know we suck just enough to grasp at anything we have left to hold on to.

Dan Girardi, D, 26, $1.6 million - Hes probably not going anywhere despite the fact I have had enough of this kid already. He can't consistently play a physical game. Aside from his wristers toward the net, his biggest attribute has been his skills in pointing at a defensive hole he'd identified while on the back check... just in time for his defensive partner to go "huh?" right before we get scored on.

Erik Christensen, C, 26, $750,000 - No QO Tendered, then Rejected 2 yrs @ 750k. The story goes that if he was tendered an offer, he would have been qualified to go through arbitration and make our biggest fears come true. Now its hard to pick a side in this. The kid think he deserves more after centering the first line for a good part of the year, despite not being able to stick with any team before he got here. The team really didn't see his value translate into a team overhaul which is a lot to expect. We picked him up. WE put this kid in his position on the first line, We tried to skirt the issue of wether this kid deserves more money. I think a modest raise would have been enough to get this kid to come to the table,but we knew he'd be awarded more. Is he good enough to deserve a bundle of cash, no? Is he good enough to deserve some kind of recognition for the way he played over many of his high priced counterparts on this team.. I think so. UPDATE: Christensen has been resigned for 2 years at 925K per.

Brandon Prust, LW, 26, $525,000 - Recieved a QO, In talks now. Keep Him! Another part of the lunchpail crew that hustle work and seek to not be defined by their 4th line minutes. WE need a solid middleweight anyway. UPDATE: Prust resigned for 2yrs. averaging 800K per.

Enver Lisin, RW, 24, $790,000 - Gone. No offer tendered.Lets hope AA doesn't moap because his buddy is here to pal around with him.

Dane Byers, LW, 24, $500,000 - Rumored to have resigned. I hope this true. I've always liked Byers. While he isn't wiping the floors with guys, the intent is there.He sticks up for his teammates, he chips at the loose pucks and scores a dirty goal now and then and finds ways to be productive. In short, the guy knows the drill.

Ilkka Heikkinen, D, 25, $875,000 - Took a Heik to the KHL, I think. Another young dman who feels he is ready to go, no matter what the team says. Maybe he's right or maybe he's one of 6 guys sitting in a rowboat with a hole in it. Its sink or swim time for a lot of these D-men. If Redden starts the season in Hartford, as expected, there will be a dogpile on a spot on the 3rd pair. Heikkinen will probably read about it in one of the Russian papers.


If you have any word on any of these guys (a source too if you have one) feel free to shoot us a comment.

Ryan Is "In" & Lauri Is "Out"

Readers of Dark....this just in.

Ryan Callahan is in....

Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers are bringing back forward Ryan Callahan, coming to terms with the restricted free agent on a multiyear deal.The deal was announced Monday by the Rangers, who were scheduled to have an arbitration hearing with Callahan on July 23.The 24-year-old right winger set career highs with 22 goals, 40 points and 81 games played last season.Callahan ranked second on the team with a career-high 237 shots, first with a plus-7 rating and fourth in goals. He was tops on the Rangers and fourth in the NHL with 256 hits.He reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his three seasons and tied for the team lead with two goals in New York's first-round playoff loss to the Washington Capitals. In 147 NHL regular-season games, Callahan has 34 goals and 25 assists.The Rochester, N.Y., native was one of 34 players invited to next month's U.S. Olympic hockey orientation camp.The Rangers also announced Monday that they agreed to terms with 23-year-old goalie Chad Johnson, acquired from Pittsburgh at last month's NHL draft.

And Lauri Korpikoski is out.



Associated Press
The New York Rangers have traded Finnish left winger Lauri Korpikoski to the Phoenix Coyotes for Russian right winger Enver Lisin.The deal was announced Monday in Glendale, where the Coyotes are being funded by the NHL while a U.S. Bankruptcy Court determines who will own the team.Korpikoski, 22, played in 68 games as a rookie for the Rangers last season and had six goals and eight assists. He added two assists in New York's seven-game loss to Washington in the first round of the playoffs.Korpikoski was New York's first-round draft pick in 2004, the 19th choice overall.

Lisin, 23, was a third-round pick of the Coyotes in 2004, recorded 13-8-21 and 24 PIM in 48 games with the Coyotes last season. In 78 career NHL games, all with the Coyotes, Lisin has registered 18-10-28 and 46 PIM.

ALSO:
The Rangers also announced Monday that they agreed to terms with 23-year-old goalie Chad Johnson, acquired from Pittsburgh at last month's NHL draft.

THE DARK RANGER SAYS:

Ryan Callahan is Coach John Tortorella's favorite player on the team, with the exception of Henrik Lundqvist, and it was inevitable that a deal would be made prior to the scheduled salary arbitration hearing. He is a strong hard working fast-skating hitting machine, not to mention he can put the puck in the net....a lot for a newbie. No terms were announced at the writing of this post (11:20pm), so I would guess his 2-year term is in the $2.5 - 3M range total. Throw me your guestimate....

This is a short-term sad day for those of us familiar with Korpokoski's potential as a Ranger -- one of the hardest working guys with this new Torts system -- I appreciate the relationship NYR management has with a losing, bankrupt, unsellable franchise and I am not familiar with Lisin's level of play, but I cannot imagine that Korps would have cost the Rangers a lot to keep him on the squad this season. I hope this Coyote bozo has the chops --- I like his PIM stats from last year. Obviously a little muscle has been added to the team.

And who said there wasn't much happening in Ranger-land? Good-night.

tdr

How Eklund Makes A Living

The infamous Eklund of Hockeybuzz, once known for being hockey's 'Deep Throat' has made a living pretending to know more 'inside' information that the average 'Joe Beat Writer'. He was at one point so influential that analysts in hockey actually listened to the guy, sometimes effecting the asking fees and negotiations of players during free agency. People actually paid to hear his rants. The mainstream papers reported on his garbage.

Now Eklund is just an 'Average Joe'. A schmuck. A fraud. Feh. Then there is the Globe & Mail....

As a Rangers fan and knowing how deep in the hole we are with salary cap restrictions, flexibility and bad contracts & management (that makes bad choices), the legit Toronto Globe & Mail piece below is a great example of the kind of 'monkey journalism' that employed our dear-old-make-it-up-as-you-go-along Eklund:

From today's Toronto Globe & Mail:

"There is belief the Maple Leafs have been zeroing in on New York Rangers defenceman Wade Redden and forward Peter Schaefer of the Boston Bruins.

Schaefer, 31, was buried in the minors by the Bruins last season because of salary cap concerns. He has one more year on his contract at $2.3-million (U.S.). Redden, 32, was signed to a six-year, $39-million unrestricted free-agent deal last summer, and the Rangers would not be averse to moving him. The Leafs have plenty of salary cap room – $10-million to $13-million depending on the contract given to restricted free-agent forward Mikhail Grabovski – to accommodate both players.

But if the Leafs have interest in Redden, it means Burke must be serious about trading away either Tomas Kaberle or Pavel Kubina. The two veteran defenceman have no-trade contracts, but a window in which they can be traded opens when the draft commences on Friday. “I’m going [to Montreal] to listen to offers,” said Leafs GM Brian Burke."

Now this is the biggest piece of poo reporting I've ever heard, because I'll tell you something.

"I know Wade Redden. And he 'aint no trade bait, I'll tell ya!"

Now if this were to happen in real life, defy logic and actually make Glen Sather, the Dolans and MSG look like superheroes this off-season, even in exchange for a first-round pick, I'd be the happiest mother f***er on the planet!

...but you know it's not going to happen. (sigh)

tdr

It's Going To Be A Fun Filled Free-Agent Frenzy

Here's my list of the notable free-agents that will become available less than two-weeks away --- we all know what the Rangers are currently lacking and free agency is the perfect destination to find those missing pieces (albeit our missing salary cap space). The full list of free agents is much greater than my list, so I excluded a number of players that are virtually guaranteed a spot on their current roster (i.e. Callahan, Dubinsky). One thing is for sure --- I think we are all done talking about where and who Forsberg is going to play for! Ouch...my heel!

Whoever said the off-season was boring in hockey? I think these are exciting times with the draft happening this week, free agency a blink away, and, next thing you know it, our boys are in a military camp swimming laps across the Hudson. I suppose Torts will send our boys somewhere else than West Point!!? Either way, enjoy the list below -- hope is upon us. (I also hope they leave Wade Redden and his contract in Hartford at the beginning of the season).

Here goes nothing...I have bolded players that will probably be on Slats radar:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTA THRASHERS
F Eric Perrin
F Marty Reasoner

BOSTON BRUINS
F PJ Axelsson
F Mark Recchi
F Stephane Yelle
D Shane Hnidy
D Steve Montador
G Manny Fernandez

BUFFALO SABRES
F Maxim Afinogenov
F Dominic Moore
F Andrew Peters
D Teppo Numminen
D Jaroslav Spacek
G Mikael Tellqvist

CAROLINA HURRICANES
F Ryan Bayda
F Erik Cole
F Chad LaRose
D Dennis Seidenberg
D David Tanabe

FLORIDA PANTHERS
F Radek Dvorak
F Ville Peltonen
F Richard Zednik
D Karlis Skrastins
D Jay Bouwmeester
D Nick Boynton
D Jason Cullimore
G Craig Anderson

MONTREAL CANADIENS
F Saku Koivu
F Tom Kostopoulos
F Alex Kovalev
F Robert Lang
F Alex Tanguay
F/D Mathieu Dandenault
D Francis Bouillon
D Patrice Brisebois
D Mike Komisarek
D Mathieu Schneider

NEW JERSEY DEVILS
F Brian Gionta
F Bobby Holik
F John Madden
F Michael Rupp
F Brendan Shanahan
D Johnny Oduya
D Niclas Havelid
G Scott Clemmensen
G Kevin Weekes

NEW YORK ISLANDERS
F Dean McAmmond
F Mike Sillinger
F Andy Hilbert
G Yann Danis
G Joey MacDonald

NEW YORK RANGERS
F Nik Antropov
F Blair Betts
F Colton Orr
D Paul Mara
D Derek Morris

OTTAWA SENATORS
F Mike Comrie
F Chris Neil

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
F Mike Knuble
D Andrew Alberts
G Martin Biron
G Antero Niittymaki

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
F Craig Adams
F Ruslan Fedotenko
F Bill Guerin
F Miroslav Satan
F Petr Sykora
D Philippe Boucher
D Hal Gill
D Rob Scuderi
G Mathieu Garon

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
D Marek Malik

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
F Boyd Devereaux
F Brad May
G Martin Gerber
G Curtis Joseph
G Olaf Kolzig

WASHINGTON CAPITALS
F Donald Brashear
F Sergei Fedorov
F Viktor Kozlov
G Brent Johnson

WESTERN CONFERENCE

ANAHEIM DUCKS
F Todd Marchant
F Rob Niedermayer
D Francois Beauchemin
D Bret Hedican
D Scott Niedermayer

CALGARY FLAMES
F Todd Bertuzzi
F Mike Cammalleri
F Jamie Lundmark
F Andre Roy
D Adrian Aucoin
D Jordan Leopold
D Andrew Pardy
D Rhett Warrener

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
F Martin Havlat
F Samuel Pahlsson
D Matt Walker
G Nikolai Khabibulin

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
F Chris Gratton
F Manny Malholtra
F Michael Peca
F Jason Williams
D Christian Backman
G Wade Dubielewicz
G Fredrik Norrena

COLORADO AVALANCHE
F Tyler Arnason
F Ben Guite
F Ian Laperriere
F Joe Sakic
D Daniel Tjarnqvist
G Andrew Raycroft

DALLAS STARS
F Steve Begin
F Jere Lehtinen
F Brendan Morrison
F Mark Parrish
D Darryl Sydor
D Sergei Zubov

DETROIT RED WINGS
F Marian Hossa
F Darren McCarty
F Mikael Samuelsson
D Chris Chelios
G Ty Conklin

EDMONTON OILERS
F Ales Kotalik
G Dwayne Roloson

LOS ANGELES KINGS
F Derek Armstrong
F Kyle Calder
D Denis Gauthier

MINNESOTA WILD
F Marian Gaborik
F Stephane Veilleux
D Marc-Andre Bergeron
D Kurtis Foster
D Martin Skoula

NASHVILLE PREDATORS
F Radek Bonk
F Vernon Fiddler
F Scott Nichol
F Steve Sullivan
F Joel Ward
D Greg de Vries
D Ville Koistinen
D Greg Zanon

PHOENIX COYOTES
F Brian McGrattan
F Steve Reinprecht
D Dmitri Kalinin
D Ken Klee

SAN JOSE SHARKS
F Mike Grier
F Travis Moen
F Jeremy Roenick
D Rob Blake
D Kent Huskins
G Brian Boucher

ST. LOUIS BLUES
F Dan Hinote
F Keith Tkachuk
F Brad Winchester
G Manny Legace

VANCOUVER CANUCKS
F Taylor Pyatt
F Daniel Sedin
F Henrik Sedin
F Mats Sundin
D Mattias Ohlund
D Ossi Vaananen
G Jason Labarbera
G Curtis Sanford

Who do you like?

tdr

Cheechoo Can Stay Home!

Well - it is that time of year when playoff hockey is awe-inspiring and fun to watch, though on most levels as Blueshirt fans we actually don't care a whole lot. Most are afraid to actually say things like that and commission'ehr Herr Bettman never wants to hear such blasphemy from anyone that adores hockey, but here at The Dark Ranger we like our hockey home-style: at The Garden.

Because we don't care about hockey other than our own, the beat writers are on the wire speculating who Slats and Co. are thinking about during the off-season, who is available and who we're going to have to trade in order to get another "a change of scenary to NYC will bring them back to the highly productive days" player. Here enters Jonathan Cheechoo of the San Jose Sharks, now reported by Steve Zipay at Blue Notes as a viable option for New York (Zipay actually used the words "from a spy out West"....which makes him sound more and more like the bloggers he criticizes).

Here's my take: Leave Cheechoo in San Jose!

Let a post from a San Jose' Sharks blogger last season do the talking (which could easily be describing either Scott Gomez or Chris Drury):

Cheech is under way too much pressure. He"s griping the stick too hard and he wants to score. He's waiting to score, which is making it so that he isnt reacting on impulse or reflex, he's reacting on the pressure he feels whenever the puck comes to him. trust me with this one, I see him play every game and I can tell he's not the Cheechoo we used to know. The other night, he played on Joes line and he didnt even get one point (unless he got a secondary assist) when all the goals scored were scored by his line. But him playing on Joe's line is a good sign. Coach Wilson obviously thinks he can play better and well enough to be rewarded by playing on a scoring line. However, it's not showing up during the games and that's when it matters. There is so much expectation from Cheech that he cannot possibly live up to it. All you can expect is to be disappointed.... Besides, we all know Cheech isn't anything without Joe....even if you don't want to admit it.

Now that is just one Sharks blogger's opinion, but hit the boards and you'll see the dramatic deterioration of goals and assists (see here) over the last three seasons. This sounds all too familiar (see Wade Redden) and as our Blueshirts are in desperate need of a scoring sniper or someone who boosts the confidence and the abilities of our highly-paid veterans, the last thing to consider is another 'once shining star' looking to light it up once again under the banner of the exciting Big Apple lights (and my economy-plagued season-ticket dollars).

We need to focus on the youth on the current roster, the youth of our prospects and draft and seek out the rookies from other teams that are currently being overlooked. There are a limited number of free-agent options by July 1 that will be worth the limited monies the Rangers have left in salary cap -- so this may be the year to build a roster that has the energy to actually play a high-end attack-hockey Torts level of game (including the third period too!).

So let's move on to realistic and smart signings, ok Glenny Boy? Oh, and by the way....one of my spys out West wanted me to say........"Rumor is the Red Wings are going to win the Cup!" I heard the same rumor here. Ooh, it must be true!!?

tdr

UPDATE:
The New York Rangers officially sign Zaba. Go here, here, here, here for details and opinions.
Good to see our boys in the office are actually considering building some depth in goaltending -- Vally has been shaky and it will be nice to consider new options if/when Hank decides to get injured.

Searching For A Captain To Right The Ship

4:44pm, 2nd day of free agency
Not to get DEFENSIVE or anything, but.....who is our CAPTAIN and who is taking care of our team at the moment? Disappointed Rangers fans across the globe unite!

Never to question the brilliance and arrogance of Blueshirt GM Glen Sather, we have signed Wade Redden from the Ottawa Senators and re-signed Michal Rozsival to reinforce our blue line. Despite Redden's play last season, I do believe this to be a solid addition to our lineup --- the Senators suffered in spotty goaltending and at a certain point in the season, everyone gives up -- Wade's track record is one of a solid top five defenseman to play quarterback to Staal, Girardi, Tyutin and Rozzy. Maybe Bobby Sanguinetti may be ready for the big leagues. Fine.

Where is the goal scoring?

Either we re-sign Jaromir Jagr now or we wait for Mats Sundin to decide what is happening with his career. Here is the problem in waiting for Sundin.....HE IS THE ONLY GUY LEFT. Everyone else in our''wish list' are signed with other teams at this point. Let's take a snapshot, simplified look at what's happened in the last 17 hours:

No Sean Avery (accepted the 16 million - 4yr offer from the Dallas Stars. we are idiots)

No Martin Straka (back to Czech-land)

No Brian Campbell (now a Chicago Blackhawk)

No Marian Hossa (one year in Detroit -- wants to win a Stanley Cup)

No Brian Rolston (now a NJ Devil)

No Mark Streit (now a NY Islander)

No Brooks Orpik (still a friggin Penguin)

Though, we did sign Aaron Voros (a Sean Avery wannabe) & Patrick Rissmiller. Who? This is the operative question as we are more-or-less a skeleton of the 2/3 full team we were last season. Rangers fans are screaming and we can only hope that Sather and the DOLAN Empire has made a secret deal with both Sundin and Jagr (brillliance if so) -- and are playing hard to get with the media to draw attention to it.

If all of this is an act and Sather & Co. have secret deals in place, then good press never hurt anyone. But if this is all we have.....

...does someone want 2 season tickets in the 117 section?

tdr

Straka-Less

Martin Straka is no longer a New York Ranger.

Claiming he has not accepted his new deal (TSN) and will make the decision July 1, last night he apparently signed a deal with his former Czech Republic club, HC Lasselsberger Plzen to leave the NHL entirely - as the free agency deadline approached this coming Tuesday without any offers or consideration from Blueshirt management. Slats and gang were not interested in re-signing the three-year New York Ranger.

How might this effect the re-signing of Jaromir Jagr?

The answer to that will reveal itself no earlier than next Tuesday (July 1), but it sure doesn't bode well for maintaining Jagr's player 'support system.' As Glen Sather and Co. are looking to strengthen and rebuild the NY Rangers this off-season, they have made it clear to Captain Jagr their desire to bring him in under their terms, financially and expectation of play, for one more year. As it stands, Jagr is looking for two years extension.

Marty Straka leaving the Rangers may be revealing a little of how this team is looking to open the season this fall. How do you think Marty will feel watching his former Rangers from the stands opening in his home town of Prague this October?

The heat has been turned on slightly higher....

tdr

A Beginner's Guide to the Upcoming Season (UPDATED)

Jaromir Jagr craves a display of the Rangers’ affection for him. General manager Glen Sather says he is a fan but has yet to reach out to personally convey that sentiment to the sensitive captain.

So, with only 20 days remaining until Jagr can become an unrestricted free agent, it is anybody’s guess whether he’ll be in a Broadway Blueshirt when the club opens next season in his native Czech Republic. And because Jagr’s return or departure is the first domino that needs to fall before the Rangers can continue the process of assembling their roster for next season, such uncertainty at such a late date can’t be viewed as a good thing.

Of course, Sather has always enjoyed playing the cat-and-mouse game when his top players’ contracts come up for renewal. So his unhurried approach with Jagr is hardly out of character.

As long as Jagr’s situation remains not just unresolved but completely unpredictable, it seems difficult for the Rangers to make decisions regarding other potential unrestricted free agents, such as Sean Avery, Martin Straka and Michal Rozsival.

Season Highlight: Two springs after being battered by the rival Devils, the Rangers avenged that 2006 first-round sweep by eliminating New Jersey in five games in the 2008 first round. Lundqvist outplayed living legend Martin Brodeur—who was tormented by Avery shift after shift—and Jagr was a monster en route to leading the playoffs in scoring through two rounds.

Turning Point: A quirk in the schedule—back-to-back home games against an Atlanta team they own—produced 4-0 and 2-1 Garden victories (the second on the night Brian Leetch’s No. 2 was retired) to catalyze a playoffs-making 20-6-7 stretch run. Lundqvist was brilliant throughout the 11-week surge. Jagr routinely dominated games. And the Rangers capped a season in which they went an Atlantic-best 20-7-5 within the division by going 5-1-4 in their last 11 games, which all were intradivisional.

Notes, Quotes

• While Sean Avery remains in the news because his publicists have passed along word of every move he’s made as an intern at Vogue magazine this summer, his contract negotiations with the Rangers have yet to produce anything of interest. Avery remains convinced that he is a top-six forward who should be paid in the neighborhood of $4 million a year. The Rangers have yet to budge off their early season offer of $2.75 million per.

Quote To Note: “It’s clear Jaromir’s a good player. It’s clear that we like him. And it’s clear that we’d like to have him back also. There are so many other free agents that are going to be available. But if you have the option of getting Jaromir the way he played at the end of the year and in the playoffs, he was a pretty dangerous hockey player. And we could wind up with no one.”—Rangers GM Glen Sather

Roster Report

Most Valuable Player: G Henrik Lundqvist battled through the most difficult of his three NHL seasons to lead the NHL in shutouts (10), finish fourth in wins (37) and sixth in goals-against average (2.23) and earn a third straight designation as a Vezina Trophy Finalist. Lundqvist was distracted midway through the season by worry about his father, who underwent emergency surgery in Sweden for a brain aneurysm, and had to fight to rediscover his form for the stretch run and playoffs.

Most Disappointing Player: Unable to develop on-ice chemistry with either C Scott Gomez or C Chris Drury, Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr went from averaging 110 points his first two seasons in New York to scoring a career-low 71. However, despite failing to approach the great expectations that are standard for him, Jagr mentored rookie C Brandon Dubinsky to a fine first NHL season.

Biggest Needs: The Rangers’ first order of business is to figure out whether RW Jaromir Jagr is coming back. Then they can deal with their free agents and work on improving their defense.

Free Agent Focus: The Rangers remain committed to upgrading their underwhelming defense corps—by adding offensive ability and/or physicality. And while finding a scoring winger who can skate with C Scott Gomez will have them at least expressing an interest in Marian Hossa, it remains unlikely that the Rangers will shell out the at least $7 million per he is expected to command on the open market.

Player Notes:

• D Michal Rozsival, whose play dropped off over the season’s second half and in the playoffs, was to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum muscle in his hip June 11. Though Rozsival scored a career-high 13 goals this past season, none came after Feb. 3. And the Rangers are considering whether to re-sign him—he’s likely to command at least $4 million per on the open market—or look elsewhere to upgrade the top end of their defense corps.

• LW Martin Straka is nearing the time when he must decide whether to sign on with a team in his native Czech Republic and effectively end his NHL career. Straka said last week that he is struggling with the decision, and it is unclear whether the Rangers want the classy, 35-year-old veteran back.

• RW Brendan Shanahan’s return for a 21st NHL season remains uncertain. The venerable winger, who turned 39 in January, sagged badly over the second half of the season. He blamed the effects of failing to give himself enough time to recover from a Jan. 5 collision with Dustin Penner that left him with a sprained knee and led to hip and back problems.

An Open Letter to Glen Sather

Dear Slats,

Bet you never thought some kid from High River, Alberta would become the general manager of the most prestigious hockey organization in North America?........You did.

As a lifelong and loyal New York Rangers fan, I want to congratulate you on everything you've done through now. I am most impressed in how you've morphed our beloved team into a 'once again' true contender in the NHL post-lockout. You've surprised your critics with your ability to adapt to the new-NHL and ridding us with the moniker of "veterans come to the New York Rangers organization to die." The veterans you have added of recent have contributed and added much-needed depth to the team over the last couple of years.

Though, your biggest challenge is now.

Knowing who the free agents are this summer and as you sit in your little bungalow with NYR brass this week, you must find yourself in a bit of a pickle? Turns out the entire roster of Blueshirt free agents are declaring their love of New York, MSG, the fans and leaving it to you to decide their fate. You 'aint called the Big Cheese for nothing, because my future Stanley Cup team rests in your chubby and overfed hands, Herr Sather! Scotty Hockey has some great ideas to start.

Maybe we should start with the most obvious?

As a former hockey player with the Memphis Wings, the Oklahoma City Blazers (giggle) and soon after the Boston Bruins, you gained your own young reputation with a gritty style of play- others referring to you as 'Slats.' Even as a successful coach in Edmonton, you followed through with your antics and no one got in your way. Maybe this is the time for a change? For once in your career, 'we the people' are beginning to see that you are threatened by a similar thug -- one who has become the 'Bigger Man' than you dear Glen "Slats" Sather.

There are times in a career that you need to hire the guy that is more talented or visible than you - THAT is good management; hiring the people that make you look good. You may not like Sean Avery. He probably doesn't like you either. Despite how well you've done thus far, his record when playing for the Rangers speaks louder than yours playing "THE MAN" upstairs; with the big free-agent changes ahead, we need to at least hold onto our team attitude & troublemaker. Until you have found a 'real goon' on the squad that respects you, he's the best and most affordable even at $3.5-4 million per year, and no one can argue that with Sean Avery on the ice, we win games. Plain & simple. I know, I know, Glen - "it's the placebo effect when he plays and if you don't listen to him he has no effect"....yada, yada, yada. Stop your head from spinning, Glen, and do the right thing for the team. For the team. The team is first.

If you were to listen to some of your critics (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here) you'd just sign the f**king guy! Sorry to get harsh, but you are beginning to annoy all of us and becoming a detriment to OUR TEAM. Soon we will be calling you 'The Malik of GM's.'

Back to good news, Brandon Dubinsky with a hat-trick in the worlds competition? Slatty baby, gotta hand it to you in the prospects department as we have more than a handful of young'ens that stepped up to the ice this season and provided much-needed support in some of our lazy veterans. We are all thrilled to watch the improvements of Dubie, Callahan, Girardi, Dawes, Staal and the risings of Bobby Sanguinetti and Cherapanov (we'll wait another year for the Russian).

Take care of our superstars Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan this summer. Respectfully decline their invitations and find some Gomez-supporting forward, another front-line mega-star and add two defensemen (one goon and one offensive-minded). Rozzy should walk, Malik is sawdust, and Valiquette deserves a potential starting position if needed on another team (otherwise, we should keep him).

I will not and cannot tell you who is appropriate for the team -- that is your job. Just be respectful in handling our franchise and, especially, the franchise players. They keep you in the holy-high office, so look no further than your own hockey family as a starting place in re-building the New York Rangers this off-season.

I feel privileged to be a Rangers fan and blogger. Others agree with me. We know you will make the 'right' decisions this week and pursue the 'right' path for our Blueshirts.

Good luck and "don't eat that third cheese danish"...

Warmest regards,

The Dark Ranger (a.k.a. 'tdr')

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS/NEWSDAY/TSN/CP: all reported NY Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr claims his priority is to return with the Rangers next season. The reports note the Rangers aren't the only option for Jagr, as he could also sign with Avangard Omsk of Russia, and eventually he intends to return to his hometown club Kladno in the Czech Republic. He noted any deal he signs probably won't be longer than two years because his father would like him to return by that time. John Dellapina of the Daily News suggested the Rangers could offer Jagr a bonus-laden contract much like the one they signed with Brendan Shanahan last season, as bonuses for players over 35 can be deferred toward the following season's salary cap.

(the above courtesy of Spector's Hockey)

The Off-Season Is Upon Us (UPDATED)

It is 'The End' my dear Blueshirts. The Dark Ranger salutes the team, the fans and the hockey Gods.

We are officially on hockey hiatus and it hurts.

Aside from the tongue twister, in looking back at last summer, the entire season and our playoff run - all in all - I think it ended how we all expected it would end. Our demise in the second round was due to our lack of defense, simply. We knew it during the season and we wanted to ignore it in the playoffs. King Lundqvist kept us in the game with his amazing ability to 'step up' when needed, but even his worldly skills weren't enough to support an empty blueline. Our forwards were stifled having to play defense, much due to our Tom Renney defensive system - and our specialty units were some of the worst in the NHL.

The Rangers were overrated this season. Plain & simple, but we discovered a youth movement along the way that gives us hope for years to come. The future is looking bright, and one needs to look no further than today to see who might be available come free agency.

Let us assume for a moment that Jaromir Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Michal Rozsival, Martin Straka, Marek Malik, Paul Mara and Jason Strudwick are all leaving the Rangers for free agency. With the additional cap, that leaves us around $19 million to play with and target until July 1. Enjoy some links regarding 'what's next?' for our dear Blueshirts here (NY Times, pursuing the guy who ended our playoff run), here (NY Daily News, outlining the hard work ahead in the off-season) , and here-(Newsday article and the salary cap discussion).

Below is a list of all available free agents this year post season. Assuming most of our free agents were to leave this summer I'd say we need a 'real goon'(and I 'aint talkin' Colton Orr), a solid offensive defenseman (thinking Brian Campbell), and a first class forward to support Scottie Gomez (think Marian Hossa).

The list is below. Tell me how to fill that $19 million of opportunity.

Discuss:

Centers - Potential 2008 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
Player	Age	Team	07-08 Salary	Contract Notes
Joe Sakic	37	COL	$6,750,000
Sergei Fedorov	37	CLB	$6,080,000
Mats Sundin	36	TOR	$5,500,000
Bobby Holik	36	ATL	$4,250,000
Alexei Zhamnov	36	BOS	$4,100,000
Doug Weight	36	STL	$3,500,000
Martin Straka	34	NYR	$3,300,000
Brendan Morrison	31	VAN	$3,200,000
Craig Conroy	35	CGY	$2,850,000
Daymond Langkow	30	CGY	$2,442,000
Steve Rucchin	35	ATL	$2,400,000
Bryan Smolinski	35	MTL	$2,000,000
Sean Avery	27	NYR	$1,900,000
Vaclav Prospal	32	PHI	$1,900,000
Jason Williams	26	CHI	$1,600,000
Yanic Perreault	36	CHI	$1,500,000
Chris Gratton	31	TBL	$1,500,000
Mike Peca	33	CLB	$1,300,000
Chris Kelly	26	OTT	$1,262,000
Stephane Yelle	33	CGY	$1,250,000
Mike York	29	PHX	$1,000,000
Marty Reasoner	30	EDM	$950,000
Stu Barnes	36	DAL	$900,000
Niko Kapanen	29	PHX	$900,000
Ryan Johnson	31	STL	$800,000
Josef Vasicek	26	NYI	$750,000
Dominic Moore	26	TOR	$700,000
Curtis Brown	31	SJS	$700,000
Byron Ritchie	30	VAN	$675,000
Kevyn Adams	32	CHI	$650,000
Randy Robitaille	31	OTT	$625,000
Jaroslav Hlinka	30	COL	$600,000
Trevor Linden	37	VAN	$600,000
Patrick Rissmiller	28	SJS	$595,000
Kris Beech	26	PIT	$585,000
Mark Hartigan	29	DET	$550,000
Jason Krog	31	ATL	$500,000
Glen Metropolit	33	BOS	$500,000
Zenon Konopka	26	CLB	$500,000
Wyatt Smith	30	COL	$500,000
Jim Dowd	38	PHI	$500,000
Jeremy Roenick	37	SJS	$500,000
Andreas Karlsson	31	TBL	$500,000
Craig MacDonald	30	TBL	$500,000
Tim Taylor	38	TBL	$500,000	Retiring
Mike Glumac	27	STL	$495,000
Mark Smith	29	CGY	$488,000
Michael Ryan	27	BUF	$475,000
Krys Barch	27	DAL	$475,000
Brad Winchester	26	DAL	$475,000
John Pohl	28	TOR	$475,000

Defenseman - Potential 2008 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
Player	Age	Team	07-08 Salary	Contract Notes
Wade Redden	30	OTT	$6,500,000
Rob Blake	37	LAK	$6,000,000
Adam Foote	35	COL	$4,600,000
Mattias Norstrom	35	DAL	$4,250,000
Brad Stuart	27	DET	$3,500,000
Darius Kasparaitis	34	NYR	$3,116,000
Paul Mara	27	NYR	$3,000,000
Aaron Ward	34	BOS	$2,750,000
Teppo Numminen	38	BUF	$2,600,000
Oleg Tverdovsky	31	LAK	$2,500,000
Marek Malik	32	NYR	$2,500,000
Bret Hedican	36	CAR	$2,432,000
Michal Rozsival	28	NYR	$2,300,000
Dmitri Kalinin	26	BUF	$2,250,000
Keith Carney	37	MIN	$2,100,000
Dick Tarnstrom	32	CLB	$2,000,000
Jason Smith	33	PHI	$1,976,000
Brian Campbell	28	SJS	$1,750,000
Mark Eaton	30	PIT	$1,600,000
Bryce Salvador	31	NJD	$1,500,000
Aaron Miller	35	VAN	$1,500,000
Andrei Zyuzin	29	CHI	$1,475,000
Glen Wesley	38	CAR	$1,400,000
John-Michael Liles	26	COL	$1,400,000
Karel Rachunek	27	NJD	$1,400,000
Richard Matvichuk	34	NJD	$1,368,000
Mike Commodore	27	OTT	$1,300,000
Jim Vandermeer	27	CAL	$1,225,000
Nolan Baumgartner	31	DAL	$1,200,000
Jaroslav Modry	36	PHI	$1,200,000
Petteri Nummelin	34	MIN	$1,200,000
Jan Hejda	29	CLB	$1,000,000
Andreas Lilja	31	DET	$1,000,000
Ron Hainsey	26	CLB	$900,000
Chris Chelios	45	DET	$850,000
Branislav Mezei	26	FLA	$850,000
Steve Montador	27	FLA	$800,000
Steve McCarthy	26	ATL	$725,000
Bryan Berard	30	NYI	$725,000
Kurt Sauer	26	COL	$719,000
Joe DiPenta	28	ANA	$700,000
Magnus Johansson	33	FLA	$700,000
Patrice Brisebois	36	MTL	$700,000
Alexei Semenov	26	SJS	$650,000
Sandis Ozolinsh	34	SJS	$625,000
Joel Kwiatkowski	30	ATL	$600,000
Mark Streit	29	MTL	$600,000
Matt Walker	27	STL	$600,000
Mike Weaver	29	VAN	$600,000
David Hale	26	CGY	$590,000
Nolan Pratt	31	BUF	$550,000
Rory Fitzpatrick	32	PHI	$550,000
Jassen Cullimore	34	FLA	$535,000
Alain Nasreddine	31	PIT	$535,000
Freddy Meyer	26	NYI	$525,000
Rob Davison	27	SJS	$525,000
Bobby Allen	28	BOS	$500,000
Dan Jancevski	26	DAL	$500,000
Jeff Jillson	26	COL	$500,000
Wade Brookbank	29	CAR	$500,000
Sheldon Brookbank	26	NJD	$500,000
Andrew Hutchinson	27	NYR	$500,000
Jason Strudwick	31	NYR	$500,000
Luke Richardson	38	OTT	$500,000
Micki DuPont	27	STL	$500,000
Garrett Stafford	27	DET	$500,000
Andy Wozniewski	27	TOR	$500,000
Kevin Dallman	26	LAK	$490,000
Jeff Finger	27	COL	$475,000
Allan Rourke	27	EDM	$475,000
Sean Hill	37	MIN	$475,000
Mike Mottau	29	NJD	$475,000
Matt Carkner	26	OTT	$475,000
Ryan Caldwell	26	PHX	$475,000
Brad Norton	32	SJS	$475,000
Doug Janik	27	TBL	$475,000
Bruno St. Jacques	26	ANA	$475,000

Goaltenders - Potential 2008 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
Player	Age	Team	07-08 Salary	Contract Notes
Jose Theodore	30	COL	$6,000,000
Olaf Kolzig	37	WAS	$5,450,000
Cristobal Huet	31	WAS	$2,750,000
Dominik Hasek	42	DET	$2,050,000
John Grahame	31	CAR	$1,400,000
Johan Hedberg	34	ATL	$1,150,000
Johan Holmqvist	29	DAL	$1,000,000
Patrick Lalime	32	CHI	$950,000
Jocelyn Thibault	32	BUF	$760,000
Stephen Valiquette	29	NYR	$635,000
David Aebischer	29	PHX	$600,000
Alex Auld	26	BOS	$600,000
Curtis Sanford	27	VAN	$600,000
Michael Leighton	26	CAR	$550,000
Jean-Sebastien Aubin	29	ANA	$525,000
Mike Morrison	27	NJD	$525,000
Fred Brathwaite	34	ATL	$500,000
Frederic Cassivi	32	WAS	$500,000
Scott Clemmensen	29	TOR	$500,000
Ty Conklin	31	PIT	$500,000
Dan Ellis	27	NAS	$500,000
Jordan Sigalet	26	BOS	$500,000
Wade Dubielewicz	28	NYI	$500,000

Left Wingers - Potential 2008 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
Player	Age	Team	07-08 Salary	Contract Notes
Markus Naslund	33	VAN	$6,000,000
Ladislav Nagy	28	LAK	$3,750,000
Sergei Samsonov	28	CAR	$3,525,000
Martin Rucinsky	36	STL	$3,000,000
Ruslan Fedotenko	28	NYI	$2,900,000
Brendan Shanahan	38	NYR	$2,500,000
Gary Roberts	41	PIT	$2,500,000
Petr Cajanek	31	STL	$2,000,000
Cory Stillman	33	OTT	$1,750,000
Andrew Brunette	33	COL	$1,600,000
Matt Cooke	28	WAS	$1,525,000
Geoff Sanderson	35	EDM	$1,500,000
Scott Thornton	36	LAK	$1,500,000
Ryan Malone	27	PIT	$1,450,000
Kristian Huselius	28	CGY	$1,400,000
Martin Gelinas	37	NAS	$1,250,000
Jarkko Ruutu	31	PIT	$1,150,000
Donald Brashear	35	WAS	$1,100,000
Jason Chimera	28	CLB	$1,000,000
Antti Miettinen	26	DAL	$885,000
Pascal Dupuis	28	PIT	$880,000
Todd Fedoruk	28	MIN	$875,000
Jay Pandolfo	32	NJD	$836,000
Jan Hlavac	30	NAS	$700,000
Niklas Hagman	27	DAL	$675,000
Jody Shelley	31	SJS	$650,000
Eric Boulton	30	ATL	$525,000
David Koci	26	CHI	$525,000
Brad Isbister	30	VAN	$525,000
Darcy Hordichuk	26	NAS	$517,000
Kip Brennan	26	NYI	$500,000
Steve Kelly	30	MIN	$500,000
Matt Murley	27	PHO	$500,000
Jeff Taffe	26	PIT	$500,000
Ryan Bayda	26	CAR	$475,000
Raitis Ivanans	28	LAK	$475,000
Chris Simon	35	MIN	$475,000
Mathias Tjarnqvist	28	PHX	$475,000
Mathieu Darche	30	TBL	$475,000
Noah Clarke	28	NJD	$475,000
Jeff Giuliano	28	LAK	$475,000

Right Wingers - Potential 2008 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
Player	Age	Team	07-08 Salary	Contract Notes
Marian Hossa	28	PIT	$7,000,000
Pavol Demitra	32	MIN	$4,500,000
Miroslav Satan	32	NYI	$4,500,000
Michael Ryder	27	MTL	$2,950,000
Brian Rolston	34	MIN	$2,432,000
Martin Lapointe	33	OTT	$2,400,000
David Vyborny	32	CLB	$2,200,000
Owen Nolan	35	CGY	$1,750,000
Mark Recchi	39	ATL	$1,750,000
Teemu Selanne	37	ANA	$1,500,000
Georges Laraque	30	PIT	$1,300,000
Radim Vrbata	26	PHX	$1,225,000
Andre Roy	32	TBL	$1,000,000
Shean Donovan	32	OTT	$925,000
Brian Willsie	29	LAK	$900,000
Trevor Letowski	30	CAR	$800,000
Mike Johnson	32	STL	$750,000
Arron Asham	29	NJD	$700,000
Matt Bradley	29	WAS	$700,000
Branko Radivojevic	26	MIN	$680,000
Wade Belak	30	FLA	$625,000
Niko Dimitrakos	28	OTT	$575,000
Dallas Drake	38	DET	$550,000
Darren McCarty	35	DET	$535,000
Aaron Downey	32	DET	$525,000
Adam Hall	26	PIT	$525,000
Josh Langfeld	29	NAS	$500,000
Junior Lessard	27	TBL	$500,000
Jeff Hoggan	29	BOS	$495,000
Mark Mowers	33	ANA	$475,000
Darren Haydar	27	ATL	$475,000
Keith Aucoin	28	CAR	$475,000
Eric Godard	27	CGY	$475,000
Scott Parker	29	COL	$475,000
Jesse Boulerice	28	PHI	$475,000
Kyle Wanvig	26	TB	$475,000
Craig Weller	26	PHX	$475,000