We’re one day away from the start of the signing period for unrestricted free agents, a day during which NHL general managers will lavish millions of dollars on players. On the eve of the free-agency period, it’s interesting to note that two of the players who signed the biggest long-term contracts in 2007 — Chris Drury and Sheldon Souray — have now had those deals bought out by their respective teams. Remember the exciting days of 2007, when teams were falling over themselves to lavish money on Drury, Danny Briere and Scott Gomez? I thought it might be interesting to look back to 2007 and 2008, to see how some of those major contracts have turned out thus far, for the teams that inked the deals. In hindsight, how many of these deals would you do now?
2007
Danny Briere, Flyers, 8 years, $52 million — 218 points in 260 games, one Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Chris Drury, Rangers, 5 years, $25.25 million — 151 points in 264 games, one playoff series win, bought out in 2011.
Scott Gomez, Rangers, 7 years, $51.5 million — 128 points in 158 games, one playoff series win, traded to Canadiens in 2009.
Michal Handzus, Kings, 4 years, $16 million — 135 points in 327 games, zero playoff series wins.
Brian Rafalski, Red Wings, 5 years, $30 million — 204 points in 292 games, one Stanley Cup championship, retired in 2011.
Ryan Smyth, Avalanche, 5 years, $31.25 million — 96 points in 132 games, one playoff series win, traded to Kings in 2009.
Sheldon Souray, Oilers, 5 years, $27 million — 76 points in 144 games, zero playoff appearances, bought out in 2011.
2008
Sean Avery, Stars, 4 years, $15.5 million — 10 points in 23 games, zero playoff appearances, claimed off waivers by Rangers in 2009.
Brian Campbell, 8 years, $56 million — 117 points in 215 games, one Stanley Cup championship, traded to Panthers in 2011.
Pavol Demitra, Canucks, 2 years, $8 million — 69 points in 97 games, one playoff series win.
Marian Hossa, Red Wings, 1 year, $7.45 million — 71 points in 74 games, one Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Wade Redden, 6 years, $39 million — 40 points in 156 games, zero playoff series wins, in AHL in 2010-11.
It is sad that Danny Briere is the contract that is least offensive… at the time, I thought that would be the worst.
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Gary Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
@Gary, Rafaski isn’t too bad though.
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I am going to hire Reddens’s agent and get myself some free money.
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PK Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
@DesertKing, Cereal. Wikipedia says he is the highest paid player ever in the AHL. huh huh (butthead laugh)
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Robert Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 6:46 am
@DesertKing,
WHO IS Wade Redden??????????????? WOW!
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Souray or Campbell now these guys are studs with very moveable contracts.
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Please never mention 2 0 0 7 again. that was a dark year in the eyes of Kings fans. Still hurts to this day, and probably one of the worst days of my entire life.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
@Sebastian, lol amen to that
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Haha..I remember those days….when Kings’ fans assumed Drury or Gomez or both were going to come to a re-building LA Kings team.
‘But Drury owns a home in Manhattan Beach!’….ah yes, those were the glory days.
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Pesus Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@Cup B4 I Die,
Man I was hoping we would bring in Drury, thank god Im not the GM.
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I remember September 23rd, 2009:
http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=499502
No Championship yet, but we all go insane if this guy misses just one shift
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KC23 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
@Cynic, Best pick up yet for the Kings.
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iansez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
@Cynic, haha! Great work…) Contract details?
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Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
@iansez, I can’t seem to find them anywhere. I think it might involve Diet Coke and free internet access. Other than that, I’m not sure.
Maybe Rich can help with this?
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Rich Hammond Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Also negotiated a seat adjacent to Bob Miller on the bus.
Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
@Cynic, Now THAT had to be a bonus clause in your contract! They just don’t offer that right out of the shoot, that is unless your agent is Don Meehan (Or Jack Johnson). Nice!
SLIM Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@Cynic,
Not to mention the world famous “Hammond” organ…..
jet Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
@slim, talking about Hammond’s organ will get you banned from this site.
KingMe20 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
@iansez,
You know better than that. Terms were not disclosed as per club policy.
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Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
@KingMe20, True, but there’s Club Policy and then there’s TMZ.
This has to be in the rags somewhere!!!!
HBFan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
@Cynic, Arguably the best FA signing of all time
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Sebastian Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
@HBFan, Arguably? Nobody can argue with that!
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iansez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
@Sebastian, just hoping he doesn’t decide to head anywhere for “family reasons”…;)
Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@iansez, Good Point! I remember at the suite one time Rich mentioning ‘Torrance’ and ‘Family’ in the same sentence….
Torrance is 1/2 way to ANAHEIM!!!
Would Rich ‘Ask’ for a trade if traffic gets too bad? Now I’m worried….
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
@Cynic, I went to school and live in Torrance. They’ve got some of the best schools in Cali. Just don’t judge by my spelling. Also, there aren’t many Ducks fans in Torrance, it’s Kings all the way.
Kingsfanone Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@Cynic,
I concur that he has a heavy shot and never takes a shift key off. With just a word can gather a large following very quickly, like a sort of royal reign.
Has achieved elite status swiftly, but deservedly so. His followers revere him. It is unknown what his deal with the team is, but his followers are passionate about him and chant his name lovingly.
Although his rise may seem meteoric, it is more than justified.
He is the HAMMER.
Nuff said.
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Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Kingsfanone, That has the aire of a medieval soliliquy, almost shakespeare-esque.
We’re you holding a skull in one hand when you typed it? Well done!
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Kingsfanone Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
@Cynic,
I WAS holding a skull in one hand, but don’t give me too much credit, as I couldn’t spell solli…..sulliq…….see, I told you!
An artistic attitude, a lot of English classes back in school, a journalism class or two, and voila. (funny I can spell voila but solli…..sulliq…….that other word escapes me!)
puddle Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@Cynic, If he was blogging under someone other than Terry Murray, he’d average 203 posts per day!
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Stuart Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
@puddle, classic
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Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@puddle, So are you saying TM’s ‘Defense First’ mentality has enhanced the content of Rich’s posts?
Or are you saying that TM is hindering Hammer’s ‘Potential’ by limiting his ability to practice the journalistic art of ‘Macro-Blogging’, used to enhance ones writing skills with sheer volumes of posts?
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puddle Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
@Cynic, Definitely the second one. That scalawag TM is stunting Hammonds’ growth. He’s going to go to another team, put up huge numbers and then it’ll be DL’s fault too!
Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@puddle, What stuart said. LOL!
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kozak Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 4:05 am
@Cynic, Rich Hammond = Juraj Mikus? You never see them at a party together. Just sayin’
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Complete spinjob Rich. You picked and chose. Neidermayer, Chara – I mean you put Avery in to the “big deals” category and not these guys. Kovalchuk. Most the big deals for good players, smart ones, end up being good deals. Campbell, Avery, Drury, these were considered overpayments the moment they happened.
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Rich Hammond Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Niedermayer signed in 2005. Chara signed in 2006. Is there something about the wording of the post that was confusing to you?
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CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
@Rich Hammond, Evidentily.
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Puck2dahead Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
@Rich Hammond, Haha! Some people forgot to read before they post.
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Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
@Rich Hammond, I picture someone making the typing hand gesture like the players often do (See Undisputed) after hitting ‘Enter’.
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DesertKing Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@Rich Hammond,
Most people forgot about the huge contract you signed in 2009. Obviously your only mentioning the contracts from 07 and 08 are your attmept to distract us from knowing how big a deal you really got in 09. By the way, if you still have that Yugo you bought with the 09 money, I think I know someone who can fix it
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Dillix Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@Rich Hammond,
Rich, every year a team that either doesn’t want to or can’t sign the big fish in free agency puts out one of these blogs that says how big money free agents aren’t that good anyway. And that’s precisely what this is.
Did I realize you just picked 2007 and 2008? Of course. The question is why. And I know why. It’s because four buy-outs happened to contracts in those two years, and then there’s Souray in the minors on top of that, and Gomez still playing in Montreal on an awful contract.
You chose the facts to fit your angle, not determined your angle on the facts. You cherry picked the two offseasons that best suited your argument, instead of looking at the whole picture. That was my point, and it’s a legitimate one.
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Stuart Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@Dillix, you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry…
Rich Hammond Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
Well, as much as I greatly appreciate you making incorrect assumptions about my motivations and stating them as facts, you couldn’t be more wrong. If you’d like to post a year-by-year history of every single free-agent class, be my guest. The question of why I picked 2007 (as a starting point) is answered in the blog post, so I’ll ask again if it was confusing to you in any way. The starting point of 2007 was picked because that “class” of free agents included two players who had their contracts bought out within the last 48 hours. Anything else is conspiracy theory. Thanks for your contribution…I’m done discussing this.
FKA PakiFro Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
@Dillix,
I believe he picked those two years because that is when it sort of got ridiculous with the long-term, front loaded deals. Prior to 2007, you’d be hard pressed to find contracts of a similar nature. After those years would be too soon to judge.
Jon Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
@Dillix, Went back for seconds? Dude, probably should have left it alone…
Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
@Dillix,
…and ‘Bloggate’ begins….
…then abruptly ends. LOL!
iansez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@Dillix, someone got owned…;)
DLB Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
@Dillix, I thought you were a troll before; I definitely think you’re one now.
Orphios Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:16 am
@Dillix, also wasnt this first year DL really took the FA reigns. He siigned Handzus, Preissingm, Calder, and that other guy from the Hawks (name escapes me). They were meant to be box fillers (well not Handzus or Preissing) and it was kind of understood DL wasnt ready to go for the boook over paid FA’s because we were starting rebuild, not trying to load up with monster contracts
KH Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@Dillix, Get off the site if you dont like what rich posts. Rich has more integrity than 99.9% of journalists and media out there.
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Dominick Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Watch out Rich. This might start a Hammond-Gate. Someone can see some guys through the windows, in the building next to them, with flashlights, rummaging through file cabinets.
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Briere.. No question.
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The contracts Drury, Briere, Campbell, Gomez, Redden, and Souray got were outrageous when they were signed. None of those guys can be the best player on a stanley cup team. That was known when they were signed, yet they still all got mega bucks. Most of them can thank Glen Sather for their huge contracts, even though he didn’t sign all of them, the ones he did sign raised the value on all the other players immensily.
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@PK, Link it. I follow Bob, no such tweet that I can find.
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PK Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@Dave, my idiot co-worker (he’s from Ottawa) posted this on my computer. sorry. I think it was erased pretty quickly. And for the record I stay away from tsn.
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Of those players, I think only Rafalski and Briere have been full value for their teams, and they’re still overpaid.
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Rich – How abot some kind of update on the DD contract? I’ve been sitting around (working) all day wondering what’s up?! Come on, you’re the INSIDER… you have to have some INSIDE info. Give us all just something.
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Rich Hammond Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Hi John, this is the update from Sunday. Daily coverage of contract negotiations just isn’t feasible in any way.
http://lakingsinsider.com/2011/06/26/lombardi-smyth-trade-probably-harder-than-making-the-gretzky-deal/
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deadcatbounce Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@Rich Hammond, Shame on you, Rich! You should know what’s going to happen a week before it does! Haha! Hope things aren’t too manic and that you’ll be able, along with my fellow posters, to have a great holiday weekend!!!
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Rich Hammond Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Same to you, my friend!
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@Rich Hammond, This has to be the most i have ever seen you respond on one particular subject or thread. I like it! feel free to keep it up
and thanks for everything! your blog really helps me get through my days at work
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Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
@Rich Hammond, these people are so antsy they’re even coming after you Rich!! Quoting the great Ross Porter, “You people are sure riled up.”
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JackKent Cooke Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Shotongoal,
Mu guess is Rich’s post is the DD update. Translation: Drew and the Kings are far apart and both sides are rolling the dice on what his other offers are going to be. Each side is hoping the offers from other teams will soften up the other side.
DesertKing Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
@Rich Hammond,
There you go again, failing to get the facts and earning the nickname of “Thw Spinmeister.”
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DLB Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@DesertKing, it’s not enough to post news when it actually happens.
Well, you can wipe Jokinen from the list. He was just re-signed by Car.
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Man, I forgot just how much fun (and loopy) the off-season can be.
The work I don’t get done as a result reminds me though. Good thing I get to yell at myself for lacking focus.
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damn… http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6723296
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Hey Rich, you forgot this one:
2007: Michal Handzus, Kings, 4 years, $16 million — 135 points in 327 games, Zero playoff series win.
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iansez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
@Mark C., I’d argue that the Kings got some pretty decent value out of that contract. Not all of it seen on the score sheet.
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Mark C. Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@iansez, Exactly, He was a terrific two-way player the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years. 1st year he was still getting back into playing condition post knee injury. I thought he added a great deal to the team. Sad to see him go as he was a great leader for the young guys (assuming he does not re-sign at some point).
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Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@iansez, no not really, you can’t look at this signing any differently than the others. Less than 34 points per season on average, and NO, NADA, ZERO playoff series wins!! Don’t look at it through purple colored glasses…..
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Mark C. Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
@Shotongoal, One player can’t carry a ‘Team’ to playoff glory. All I’m saying is that as a ‘Kings Fan’ (glasses or no glasses), I was impressed by his character and leadership. Points and flashy plays are nice and all but it takes more than that to help lead (and build) a team.
Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
@Shotongoal, when did I say he should have carried the team? Whether any of us were impressed with his “character and leadership” DOES NOT change the fact that as a free agent he did not make the team a true Cup contender. So therefore, he is NO different than most of the others that were on the list. Briere was the only player from the list who helped change the direction or enhanced his teams chances of winning the Cup. I know that when the Kings signed Handzus I was hoping that he would make enough of a difference, he didn’t. His numbers and the teams overall standings prove that…That’s all I’m saying. It goes along the same lines as most others on this list. That’s the point. And, that’s the only point that should matter, whether he was a Kings player or any of the others listed….
iansez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@Shotongoal, I agree with Mark, no glasses on here and a player likes Zeus ENABLES others to put up points as he’s defensively responsible and I think his offensive side gets sacrificed a bit due to this. Points are obviously important but no team would win much with 5 Stamkos’s on the ice!
Rich Hammond Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
True! Adding it now…
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KC23 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@Mark C., What about the Rangers Reden I think he’s name was? Rangers really ate it on that deal and still are.
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I would say out side of the first year where Handzus was still getting over the surgery, that particular signing was never considered a negative among Kings staff or the fan base. Zeus, played hard and I will miss him if he does not come back
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Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@Serenity Now, that’s one of the problems with some Kings fans, they want to fall in love with players and ignore the real numbers and facts and expect/demand excellence and winning, AND NOTHING ELSE!! Winning is the only thing that matters, not flowing hair, or cool cutesy nicknames, or etc…..
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Stuart Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@Shotongoal, I think you need a hug today shotty…
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Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
@Stuart, No just need to see this team compete for a Cup….
KC23 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
@Shotongoal, Simmonds was a good example of that. His numbers were not much to speak of.
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KingMe20 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
@KC23,
I think it was potential that made us love Simmonds. He hasn’t reached that yet, and there’s no way to really quantify that yet in his numbers. Harder to judge a two-way forward by his numbers than it is a guy who was signed to be a scorer.
Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
@KC23, Totally agree, and some here are just in love with this guy….STILL!!!
Serenity Now Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@Shotongoal,
I do not need a lecture about being a King fan. My first game was in 1969 which I am guessing was a bit before yours. Kings went most of the last decade without a playoff appearance. Handzus played his guts out, helped his team make the playoffs the last 2 years and his contract was not one that would in any way hamper the teams ability to sign other players who might help them over the edge. In most cases, the Kings could not sign any top free agents as they did not want to come here.
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Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
@Serenity Now, well nice assumption, but you’re wrong, December 1970, which I’ve stated on this blog many times was my 1st game in person, and started following them on TV in ’69….Fact is he did not enhance the Kings’ chances of winning or competing for a Cup. The numbers speak for themselves. Therefore, and I believe what I read from this post by Rich, his signing did not get his team any closer to the Cup, so therefore, would the Kings have done the same deal with him, and was the deal a success or not….THAT’S THE POINT OF THIS POST!!!
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
@Shotongoal, Wrong again. How about helping the team grow. How about teaching your players how to play a smart 2 way game. How about growing a winning culture. Zues’ tenure with the Kings has been hugely successful. Sometimes the proccess is as important as the end result.
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Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@Osaka, Okay, so your really going to say that after his 4 years here at that amount of money, you would hope the Kings would sign him again, knowing what the outcome over those 4 years were? Really??? BTW the end result is the only thing that matters in winning organ-I-zations.
Serenity Now Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
@Osaka, Exactly my point. Zeus’s signing was not a disaster. He had great value after that first year.
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@Osaka, If I could turn back the clock would I sign him again? Of course. He has been one of they most important players on the Kings growth the last several year.
You are wrong, winning isn’t always the most important thing, especially with young teams. The team learning how to win and grow as a team is more important. If winning was the most important the Kings would have signed beig UFA every year. You can build a winning team through free agents, maybe not a championship team but a playoff team. They allowed their team to struggle, why? Winning wasn’t the most important at that time friendo. Zues was like a coach on the ice.
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@shotongoal, Zues did alot for this team! Stats or #’s dont tell the whole story. I would re-sign him in a second for a 3rd or 4th line spot regardless of his stats.
Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
@Osaka, wait I’m sorry did you really just say that winning isn’t always the most important thing? If winning isn’t the most important thing than there is NO use in us discussing any of this any further. Winning is the only thing! Ask the Red Wings, Yamkees, Red Sox, Celtics, Lakers fans…..unbelievable!
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
@Shotongoal, Why are you sorry? Learning to win and building a team was more important at the time. Now the Kings are in position to win. If winning was more important then why did we play with such a young team? Why did EDM play so many rookies last year? Have you heard the term “rebuild”? Rebuild doesn’t mean win now. Rebuild means winning is not the most important to the team at the moment.
Orphios Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:23 am
@Serenity Now,
fact is this and my opinion hasnt changed. When they signed Handzus I thought the contract was one year to long and I thought he was over paid. i always felt that he was paid to be a top 6 forward but thr reality is he isnt/wasnt. He always was a qualiry 3rd line center who could put up 20 g and play D. He did his job and played to his skill set. Any mistake might of beeen DL paying him a mill more than he might have been worth. He was never meant to make us a contender. He is a 3rd line center ideally and he filled that box well. He was a good signing (though I maintain 1 mill a year over paid). In the end, you can over pay a player to make a 3rd line center play a second line role and expect that production but players in their early 30′s arent all of a sudden become Doug Weight or somethingg. Dont expect him howerver to play beyoind his skill set…that is just ignorant
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the more i think about it the more i think DL should do whatever he has to to sign Doughty and the other RFAs first. then plan on Parse being the 2nd LW and if he falters DL has plenty of assets to move in a trade. the go after a guy for the 3rd line RW slot. Upshall is still my favorite but there are a ton of guys that could fit there including the following…
Upshall
Kennedy
Vrbata
D’Agostini
Ward
Miettinen
Langenbrunner
Eaves
Kobasew
Dvorak
A.Stewart
S.Bernier
PIsani
any of those guys could easily fill the 3rd line RW slot next to Clifford-Stoll and contribute 10-15 goals, kill penalties and play a defensive/checking line role.
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puck73 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@Dave, Fleischmann and Leino would work as well.
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Dave Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
@puck73, they would but they are both LW and i think at least Leino will be too expensive.
i really like the idea of Anthony Stewart. he’s big, he started to find a scoring touch last year and that would be a tough line to play against with Clifford and Stewart on the wings.
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KingMe20 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
@puck73,
Do we know yet about Fleishmann’s health? He had a serious medical issue that ended his season, and I wonder about how that’s being managed.
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Dave Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
@KingMe20, McKenzie says that doctors have told him his medical issues should be behind him if he stays on his medication.
KC23 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Dave, I think Holloway is work a good look at 3rd line RW. He had a pretty good season last in Manchester last year.
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KC23 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@KC23, “worth”
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Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@Dave, having Parse start training camp and/or the season as the #2 LW will be a failure of any plan since the trade for Richards IMO….the whole point of getting rid of Smyth (no matter his desire) was to free up cap space to sign a legit top 6 forward. NOT doing that does not make the Kings stronger going into training camp…
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Dave Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@Shotongoal, i totally disagree…
if DL can re-sign the RFAs (especially Doughty) this team is much better going into camp this year vs. last year.
first off, we will have a proven 30-goal guy on Kopitar’s LW. i know everyone is down on Penner but he is an improvement over anything Kopitar had on his LW last year and i expect he returns to form with a full summer and camp working with Kopi.
second, we have MIke Richards at 2nd line center vs. Stoll. that is a major improvement.
then Stoll takes over for Handzus on the third line with is another improvement in both speed and faceoffs.
clifford will be better this year than last and same can be said of Lewis.
and a healthy Parse should be able to put up similar numbers to what Smyth put up last year.
as long as DL signs someone that is as good as Simmonds has been (and there are a ton of guys out there like that) the forwards will be very improved.
and let’s not forget, Parse was pencilled into last year’s starting lineup before his injury.
and there have been no changes in net or on the blue line so it can be assumed they will be at least as good as last year.
plus, DL will have some cap space to make a move during the season if one is needed. it makes no sense to spend to the cap now and not have any flexibility later.
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Shotongoal Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@Dave, you can list all the things you listed. I don’t disagree with some or even most of them….But, penciling Scott Parse in as the #2 LW on this team does not make this team stronger going into next year….That’s all I’m saying, and that’s all I said. And, if that’s what happens this offseason, than my friend I am sorry, but the offseason did not bring tis team closer to a Cup…Hope I’m wrong, but the numbers unfortunately will bear me out.
Dave Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
@Shotongoal, none of us know what Parse is capable of. from what we’ve seen when healthy he has a nice shot, has some offensive skill and did not look out of place playing with top-6 forwards. we’ve also seen that he isn’t the best in a more defensive role and TM gets on him for that.
if Parse is going to be on the Kings this year it will be in a top-6 role. there is no other role for him. now, i would be ok if DL moved him but i don’t think that will happen until he proves he is healthy. but any player with the offensive skill set of Parse on a line with Richards and Brown can easily score 20 goals if healthy. last i checked 20 goals from a 2nd line LW is pretty good production.
i think you are putting far too much emphasis on one position on the ice. the Kings went 12-3 with a rookie center playing first line LW for the first time in his life. so i don’t see any way that “the numbers will bear you out”. because the numbers are that Parse has scored 12 goals and 28 points in 64 games with a good portion of those games not playing in a top-6 role. and he’s been a +18. those are legit numbers for the first 64 games of a career.
Michael J. Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
@Dave,
I happen to like the idea of Parse playing on a line with Richards and Brown. I think TM can pencil Parse in for 20 goals if he stays healthy. He scored most of his points in 3rd or 4th line roles getting 6 to 8 minutes a game.
Of course what really matters is what TM thinks…
Helvetica Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@Shotongoal, We don’t NECESSARILY need to sign an UFA now to use that cap space. We could trade for a guy that requires the cap space as well. And that trade could happen later in the season. But i hear what you’re saying. I think the stars are going to have to align for Parse to make a legit run at that 2nd LW spot and I’d prefer to have our lines more solidly laid out before camp starts.
Unless we get one of these UFA’s at a good price, i think we start looking to trade some assets again.
[Reply]
King Alex Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
@Shotongoal, I agree with you. Besides, Parse may be in both TM & DL’s doghouses by coming back during the playoffs & not being completely honest about his recovery from his injury.
[Reply]
I cant wait into we find out who we getting i hope it be someone Decent or good
Go Kings Go!
[Reply]
The California Raisings are up and singing “I heard it through the grapevine…you no longer wanna be mine…”
Drew Doughty camp is going to give priority to the two offer sheets in the works from Detroit (18.0 million cap space) and Toronto (14.0 million cap space). Neither team figures to be high in the list of preferred destinations for Brad Richards and both teams see DD as an attainable asset for the following reasons:
1. Both teams can afford long tern contracts.
2. Detroit wants Nick Lidstrom heir apparent to spend some time playing with him.
3. Detroit does not want to play against DD after the mess he made last season.
4. Toronto Brian Burke has a personal vendetta against the Kings for what he considers ‘poaching’ of D. Penner and M. Richards (two of the players he really wanted) so he will try to disrupts the Kings plans to resign DD at a reasonable amount.
5. Both know Dean Lombardi does not pay ‘stupid money’ to anyone.
6. Both know DD has no loyalty to anyone, as the good canadian mercenary that he is.
GOOD RIDDANCE…!!!!!
I propose a regional #8 jersey burning in front of Staples Center on opening day..:)
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Gustavo, Wow, I guess I dont need to tune into anything tomorrow because its a done deal…thank god you told me.
[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@Gustavo, well yea but never know
[Reply]
iansez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
@Gustavo, haha!
[Reply]
KingMe20 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@Gustavo,
And your source is… what, exactly?
[Reply]
deadcatbounce Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@KingMe20, Maybe he didn’t have to work today and his source was Mr. Daniels, as in Jack.
[Reply]
dMan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
@Gustavo, phew, for a second I thought this came from the California Raisins, not these pretenders…
[Reply]
dMan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
@dMan, the difference between wine and vinegar…
[Reply]
KingsFanInPortland Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@Gustavo, anyone waiting for doughty to sign tomorrow is going to be in for a disappointment. Theere is no reason for him to sign tomorrow. If he wanted to sign, it’d be done already.
Not saying he will or won’t, but tomorrow won’t be the day it happens.
Gagne, 100 bucks we pick him.
[Reply]
BluLiner Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@Gustavo, I dont think Brian Burke will do it, for the reason it happened to him with Pennar and he will not do it to anyone else other than another poacher. I would be if Detroit did it also. They wont spend that kind of stupid money.
[Reply]
BluLiner Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@BluLiner, I would be *surprised* if Detroit did it (sorry)
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@Gustavo, I wasted 10 seconds of my life reading this, shame on me.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
@Gustavo,
We haven’t had a true bridge dwelling type here for a while.
Welcome!
Allen was pretty good, but the best one was Clippersofthenhl, who became my personal favorite (he got booted out of here, but I still found Chris and followed him around 5 other websights frustrating him till he disappeared all together). You remind me of him, except that you type better.
[Reply]
I believe all these guys mentioned by Rich were UFA’s signing on with a new team. I wonder which RFA’s signed similar contracts to stay with their current teams, during this time period?
[Reply]
Is there any update on locking up Doughty Long-term?? This is quite annoying. We should lock him up right now so we know how much we have to go after the other free agents. Especially Brad Richards!!!
[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@Todd, i think we lock him up in the middle of the season or something
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
@Todd, Chances are, Doughty and his agent will wait til tomorrow to see if anyone will offer Doughty the moon. If I was Doughty, I would be curious to see what other teams think of me even if my #1 priority was to stay here.
[Reply]
rumpa#19 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@puck73, Thats what I think also.I hope DL is Offering big cash ,or it will test his loyalty for sure.Can you say B.Burke hates the kings?Ever since the Schenn drafting,and now Richards Penner deals.
[Reply]
John Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
@puck73,
Pure dick move if he does that, because we’ll have to match or lose him!
[Reply]
Todd Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
@puck73,
We should just be giving him what Duncan Keith signed. Hopefully no one will give him an offer sheet. That would suck. We would match it for sure. Just don’t want to see the Kings overpaying.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
@Todd,
It’s surprising that everyone’s afraid of other teams making offers that are huge, but argue the market is only 4 million for DD. If that’s true, then they have nothing to fear.
I definitely agree with you on the money. Best case scenario: No offers come in, and wherever DL, and Newport are in the negotiations (hopefully close), they settle it. Hard to believe Meehan, and Morris would wait 1 day though. I’d give it another week (at least).
Defenceman Christian Ehrhoff has agreed to terms with the Buffalo Sabres, signing a 10-year deal worth $40 million. Ehrhoff is a seven-year NHL veteran who was expected to receive a raise over the US$3.4 million he made in the final year of his contract last year.
Surprised by the length of this contract, but that’ll be Buffalo’s problem in 2020 or so.
[Reply]
I feel like something really good is about to happen
[Reply]
Dang no word from doughty yet, fun summer this year!
[Reply]
DD8 is a Kings fan, I believe he’ll sign with us.
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Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@zdfun, He was when he was a kid. Kids grow up.
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
@Osaka, I was a kings fan when i was a kid and i havnt jumped ship! just sayin…..
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:55 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, I can say the same, and its great to still have the conection to my childhood. I can still be a kid and cheer for the Kings. DD on the other hand doesn’t have that luxury, this is his career. Players tend to view the league in a little more business light. Sometimes at the end of their careers, after they make lots of money, they feel a little more nostalgic like Ryan Smyth and play where their heart once was.
KC23 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
@zdfun, Yeah, but his agent isn’t a King’s fan.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
@KC23, Hahaha exactly.
[Reply]
Can you say “Doughtigate”.DL get er done.
[Reply]
Based on Rich’s numbers, here are what the teams payed per point scored in the regular season (doesn’t include games lost to injuries):
yr signed player $/point years $ millions
2008 Pavol Demitra Canucks $68,575.47 2 8
2007 Danny Briere Flyers $94,540.17 8 52
2008 Marian Hossa Red Wings $94,692.55 1 7.45
2007 Brian Rafalski Red Wings $104,734.58 5 30
2007 Ryan Smyth Avalanche $104,801.83 5 31.25
2007 Chris Drury Rangers $107,672.43 5 25.25
2008 Sean Avery Stars $108,689.02 4 15.5
2007 Scott Gomez Rangers $110,749.67 7 51.5
2007 Michal Handzus Kings $118,157.18 4 16
2007 Sheldon Souray Oilers $124,775.35 5 27
2008 Brian Campbell $156,868.88 8 56
2008 Wade Redden $309,146.34 6 39
[Reply]
LA_1968 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Oh, it’s sorted in order of cheapest cost per point. ie Demitra was cheapest at $68,575 dollars per point. Redden, worst deal, costed $309K per point.
[Reply]
Bummer, just seen a short list of invitees to summer camp (not a full list yet, I know Rich will post when it’s complete) and they say Maxim Kitsyn is not going to be there, he has a year left on his contract to the KHL and he is going to honor it. How do those things usually play out? is he lost forever to the KHL? http://www.mayorsmanor.com/2011/06/los-angeles-kings-2011-development-camp.html?spref=tw
[Reply]
Doughty will sign here. All the pieces are in place and he and his agent know it. This team is on the verge of greatness and he wants to be part of it.
I don’t think he is that greedy and he has to know that any team that would bankrupt themselves by making a stupid $$ offer, will handcuff themselves for the life of the ridiculous contract.
Gawd, I hope I am right!
[Reply]
king lopez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
@Serenity Now, I don’t know. He is pissed WS, His best bud and roommate was traded.
[Reply]
Arron Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
@king lopez, How do you know this? Have you talked to him personally?
[Reply]
best deal would be DOUGHTY 17 year 110 Million $ deal, cap hit of 6.4 mil and locked up for LIFE!!!!
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
@Jordan, Man….. I hope he lives to be older than 38. but like they say… only the good die young
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
@Jordan, Besides Lidstrom name a defenseman in the league(not retired) who has been on the top for 17 years? How about 7 years? You are commiting franchise suicide.
[Reply]
petemagoop Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@Osaka, –Pronger
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Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
@petemagoop, True! Now where are: Tverdovsky, Dan Mcgillis, Philippe Boucher, Sheldon Souray, Jaroslav Spacek, Paul Mara, Tom Poti. Pavel Kubina, Robert Svehla, Dick Tarnsrtom, Adrian Aucoin, Joe Corvo, Andy Delmore, Derek Morris, Mike Van Ryn, Sean Hill, Brent Sopel, Wade Redden, Sergei Gonchar, Ed Jovanovski, Michael Rozsival, Marek Zidlicky….. Since Lidstrom won his first Norris all of these guys have had seasons where their offensive numbers where amoung the best in the league for at least one year. I didn’t even mention guys like Phaneuf who could be argued are still the anchor of the defense without the offense. Have any of these guys dominated their position for 17 years? 7 years? I think it is easier for a forward to put up numbers over a longer period than defenseman.
I have such a bad feeling about DD.. Haven’t really been able to enjoy the offseason at all.
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
@Jefreyryan, David Drewiske will be fine, he’s used to riding pine. Its Drew doughty im worried about
we’ll be fine, no need to worry DD isnt going anywhere
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, why does the D have to be next to the S on the keyboard? makes me look like i think his name is David.
[Reply]
Sign Mikus to 15 year deal 5 mill a year and trade him for Ovechkin. LW problem solved and the hockey world will think Wash made the move to get over the hump and then The Kings Win da Cup!
[Reply]
Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
@KD28, That all sounds good, except you’re making the assumption that 5mil/ year is enough for Mikus.
…WAY off.
You’d have to pay him the cap ceiling per year just to get him to look at you and MAYBE say ‘Hello’!!!
He’s on another level all his own. It would take 50 SHAVEN with PERFECT TEETH Ovechkins, just to come close to being able to trade for him.
Not…gonna…happen. I applaud the fine effort though!
[Reply]
You know, DD is starting to look like he is gonna pull a IK from last year. And that just really disappoints me because i thought he liked being here. Well if he did he would have put his name on the dotted line already. To be frank, he hasn’t and did not prove himself to be worth that much. So big deal he had a great season the year before, he was way off that this year. This is only his third year and he thinks he is a god. You have, and should play a few more years and really prove yourself to get the money he is probably looking for just so you know that 2nd year wasn’t a fake. The way i see it this kid and i said kid is way in over his head, look at the commitment he had last season coming out of shape and over wight. And that was with little money, imagine what he would be like with a lot of money, he has what he wants and and wont feel the need to play to his best. He has to earn the big deals not just get it handed to him. Players sweat and bleed for years to get money like that and what has DD done? eat doughnuts and drink diet coke? what a joke. JJ has way more class. I like DD but this big money thing in sports is just stupid. You have to pay your dues. At least IK is really well known as a goal scorer. DD is just a young kid looking for a quick buck without working hard for it. BS!
[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@king lopez,
Johnson didn’t sign his second contract till well into July. Just saying this isn’t life and death if he doesnt sign by tomorrow.
[Reply]
DLB Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
@FKA PakiFro, And Ryan didn’t sign with the Ducks until September.
[Reply]
king lopez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
@king lopez, Ya but but what I’m saying is that this kid doesn’t dissever what he is looking for and is holding up our money. We need to know what we have to work with and this “TEAM” player is messing with it, just like IK last year when we spent all our time with him.
[Reply]
How about Lombardi acquire a swede to make up for the loss of Oscar Möller? And signing Drewey(huge deal) of course.
[Reply]
To answer your question Rich, no big contracts are not good IMO (I am defining big in terms not cap hit). Very very few players stay on the top of their game for an extended period of time. Lidstrom is the exception not the example. It used to be 6 years was a crazy long contract, but since the salary cap and collective bargaining agreement the landscape has changed for the worse IMO. I have no problem with a player being paid his fair value, but the long term contracts and throwing money at guys because of potential not accomplishments is a slippery slope.
[Reply]
king lopez Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
@Osaka, VERY VERY WELL PUT! That is what i was trying to say in my post up above about DD.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
@Osaka, Rick DiPietro disagrees with you, while walking all the way to the bank. LOL
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Jagr!!!! For 2years at 4 million?
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I believe the cost of the UFA’s will be way too pricey for DL. Frankly, this is a rather thin group, and the price in both dollars and term I suspect will be very high for players who do not warrant the money they will have offered. For example, I can see Upshall as a 3-year/9 or 10 mil player, but I just bet that he attracts a 5-year/25 mil offer.
I have seen Joel Ward mentioned quite a bit on this site. Yes, he had an impressive playoff, but this is a guy who (if I recall correctly) had 29 points during the regular season. Would we overpay for him? Who would want him if the price is 4-years/16-18 mil?
I believe any of the attractive FA’s will go for way more than they should, if recent history is any gauge.
I look for a trade to obtain the top 6 winger before I see DL overpaying for one of these free agents, but a one years signing of Simon Gagne would not surprise me one bit.
[Reply]
Steven Stamkos !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Offer him something Forget DD
[Reply]
Don’t You see the pattern here?
Stamkos and Doughty…same agent..Both big deals…
Both haven’t signed yet…How do you think Tampa is feeling?
Like us maybe….Watch..they will switch teams..
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@SLIM, If we hadn’t gotten Mike Richards, I would say that’s a possibility, but I don’t see that happening now.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@SLIM, Tampa situation is 1,000 times worse. Every team in the league has been rumored to be going after Stamkos. Everyone is preoccupied with Stamkos. Not many rumors about DD. Oh maybe that is worse, the uncomfortable silence.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
@Osaka, At least Tampa has a guy who has got better each of the last 3 years, and is a bonified #1 Center. DD regressed last year, so it will be tougher for DL to commit to DD long term for big bucks if someone like Brian Burke offers Drew a 10 year 80 million dollar deal. I don’t think DL would match that type of offer for DD, while I think Stevie Y would match that type of offer for Stamkos. For all we know DD could be another Dion Phaneuf. Then again he could be another Lidstrom.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
@CB14, Not an easy situation. I agree with what you are saying 100% about Drew. He is a bit of a wildcard, deffinately not a sure thing. I would love DD to sign a 2 year deal. Actually I am not affraid of Burke, he wouldn’t offer a RFA a contract, BUT Columbus, Min, NYI, and Florida do cause some concern. Columbus and Minn what to make some noise and need to do something for their fans. NYI and FLA need to spend money, need to get to the cap floor, and a young budding star fits a team that is building. A lack or UFA star power can make things interesting. I know it is an unwritten rule teams don’t offer other teams RFA contracts, but this year has been strange already. I can see some owners telling their GM’s to go for it. Oh, with that last sentence include Buffalo.
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@Osaka, Yeah there are a lot of teams that have to spend mega bucks just to get to the cap floor. It’s surprising there are that many teams in that type of situation, and a free agent class without the type of top tier talent that deserves a large salary. It seems that in previous years all the players would sign extremly quick so that they would get the money before teams ran out, but it could be the opposite this year. If I were the agent for someone like Eric Cole, I would wait until the other top forwards signed and then go to a team with a need to get to the cap floor. I still see the top guys like Richards and Gagne getting paid early, but if were a middle class free agent looking to get paid, I’d wait.
bfarm Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@SLIM,
I know stamkos is a center but they will both be kings… doughty will sign and stamkos will end up an UFA. Put M. Richards on the wing. Tampa will pick up B. Richards and stamkos will be given some kind of offer by the kings. He might not sign but this is my idea of what COULD be.
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@SLIM, the chances of them switching teams are SLIM to none
sorry had to do it. Anyway… Im pretty sure the agent has everything to do with it and the same thoery (i can only speculate as to what that is) comes to play in both situations. I agree that Tampa fans probably feel the same way we do. Its a crappy feeling but im almost 100% positive Dought and Stamkos stay with their respected clubs for an extended period of time. Its just all about #s that work for both parties at this point(maybe thats obvious… IDK).
[Reply]
It may just be that Doughty has not signed because he is waiting for Stamkos to sign. If I am his agent, that is what I tell him. Either way, he will get his $$
[Reply]
bfarm Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@Serenity Now,
EXACTLY!!!
[Reply]
This is like the calm before the storm, only 3 hours to go.
[Reply]
Quick question, will the signing begin at 12:00am?
[Reply]
John Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
@zdfun,
9:00 am Pacific
[Reply]
zdfun Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@John, Thank you John! I was too lazy to google it but instead, keep hitting F5 to refresh this site, luckily, I NEED to go to work tomorrow. =)
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@zdfun, Midnight eastern time is when you can talk to free agents on other teams and sign contracts with them. Although it usually takes a few hours for the signings to be completed. I’m guessing DL, RH, and the rest of the Kings management are taking naps right now because they know they’re in for a long day tomorrow.
[Reply]
zdfun Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
@CB14, I think RH is taking nap outside DL’s office.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
@zdfun, I was thinking of Ron Hextall, but you’re probably correct about Rich being there as well.
KC23 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
@CB14, Not this year. 12 noon tomorrow Eastern time (9am our time).
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 1:23 am
@KC23, My Bad. Thanks for the correction.
What contract are we looking to give doughty. Break it down
Years and all.
[Reply]
bfarm Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@Subby,
4 years 6.25 mil a year maybe?
[Reply]
Brownkingsfan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
@Subby, I don’t know the breakdown, but I’ve heard something like $29M over 5 years
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
@Subby, I would go 6 years at 36 million. 5 mil the first 2 years, 6 mil the next 2 years, and 7 mil the last 2 years. Cap hit of 6 mil seems reasonable to me. Or go with a short term deal of 2 years for 10 million. 5 million dollars each year, and thus a 5 million dollar cap hit. If Drew regains his form from 2 years ago in the next 2 years, then he gets Kopi money. 7 years 49 million total. That’s my opinion of it.
[Reply]
Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
@CB14, And a good one.
[Reply]
Dave Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
@Subby, it’s all about term as far as i’m concerned. if Doughty will sign for 10 years then give him $65M-$70M. he’s worth that cap hit if you can lock him up for that long.
if he only wants shorter term then go 4 years/$24M for a $6M cap hit.
DL has the money and i would rather see him spend an extra $1M/year on Doughty then overpay one of the UFAs.
[Reply]
I will start hating DD if he asks to much for contract.it means he don’t think about team.
[Reply]
bfarm Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@GG,
he’s been asking for 6.75 mil a year
[Reply]
Dave Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@bfarm, if this is true and it’s a long-term deal then DL should give it to him.
[Reply]
bfarm Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
@Dave,
but thats what kopi is making… is he really worth that much being so young? I guess so…
John Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
@bfarm,
Yes!
Dave Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
@bfarm – you can’t look at it that way. the salary cap has almost doubled since Kopi signed his deal. it has to be looked at in relative terms. brian campbell got $7.1M and Doughty is twice as good as him. does that mean he should get $14.2M?
some contracts are bad so we throw those out. then you look at comparable players (Keith) and use his deal as a gauge. Doughty is younger so if he signs long-term he should get a little more plus the cap has increased since Keith signed.
DL has the space so give him the little bit extra to get him signed long-term. if he won’t sign long-term then he shouldn’t get as much.
i wouldn’t worry about some team throwing a huge offer sheet at him. DL has plenty of cap space and can match if it is somewhat reasonable. if Toronto throws a huge offer sheet at him ($7M+) then let Toronto have him and collect all the draft picks – they will all be top 10 picks. then take the money you would have spent on Doughty and get 2-3 players to fill other holes.
i don’t want to lose Doughty but if he’s going to cost a lot more than you are willing to pay him, that is the one position that DL can afford to lose someone at.
CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
@Dave, The Dodgers used the same salary cap motto when they signed Kevin Brown. Regardless of his production, it was a bad deal because salaries didn’t continue to rise at the same rate as they thought they would. Same thing with the NHL. Do you really see the NHL revenues growing by 50% the next 7 years? I don’t. Where are the additional revenues going to come from? They signed a good deal money wise with Versus, but most of the NHL’s money comes from local television and at the gate. The ticket prices are already very high, and if they get much higher they will price out all the blue collar fans, if they haven’t already started to. The same blue collar fans that make up a large part of their fanbase. The T.V. revenues are also never going to get extremly high because of the other teams in so cal being much more popular.
Dave Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
@CB14 – they don’t have to rise for Doughty to be worth $6.5M-$7M. if they stay the same he is worth it. he is still multiple years away from his prime and DL has the space this year with even more coming next year.
the only concern would be if revenues drop, but if they do a lot of teams will be in trouble.
bfarm Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
@Dave,
Any idea how much space we’d have left to spend on someone else with a cap hit around 6.5 mil for doughty? I dont have a good idea of how much space we can work with
puddle Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
@GG, If you thought you were worth $70,000, would you take $50,000 because you wanted your workplace to hire more talent in the HR department or in the Accounting department? The player’s job is NOT to worry about how much his teammates can make. That’s management’s job. His job is simply to do his best on and off the ice, and I don’t blame him or any other player for seeking what they feel they deserve. If his request is out of line, the market will tell him so when he fails to get offer sheets that match what he’s looking for. No player should feel guilty for seeking their worth. Neither should management feel bad for seeking the best deal for their team moving forward.
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CB14 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
@puddle, Great Post!
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Osaka Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
@puddle, I agree, although I never like the free agent situation when it is our players involved I can hardly blame the player. This is his career, our passtime.
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dMan Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
@puddle, there’s a difference between thinking what you’re worth and your actual true worth.
Most people think they’re worth more than their true worth and that includes agents and athletes. So you have to calculate your true worth by comparing your skill sets and experience against people with similar skill sets and experience. This is not always so easy.
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puddle Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@dMan, I think that’s what Doughty has done. He has determined what he believes to be his true worth. Lombardi clearly doesn’t agree. But they’re probably not too far apart on numbers. Eventually you either accept a compromise or you let the market decide for you OR, in this case, Doughty could let a third party decide for them (arbitration). My guess is they come to an agreement before it comes to that, but you never know.
John Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
@puddle,
Most people that work for a living DO have to take the 50 grand! Or there’s going to be layoffs and everybody’s job is on the line…especially these days! But I guess that’s just the real world eh.
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puddle Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@John, We have to take the $50k because that’s what the market says we’re worth. But if we had the opportunity to make $70k, we wouldn’t turn it down because we wanted to be a good team player would we? I would assume not. Doughty doesn’t HAVE to take anything less than what he thinks he’s worth – yet – although it may eventually come to that if he finds that his perception does not match reality.
King Alex Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
@puddle, Great point & I totally agree. DD could like any other player get a career ending injury anytime he steps on the ice. Players get what the market pays in any sport & all players will put there needs & security above everything else. All people in any profession likely do the same.
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Cynic Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
@puddle, It is a solid take, but I can’t compare a Warehouse Manager working in a team atmosphere, just to get a paycheck to a professional athlete who needs an entire team to win a championship. The pro’s position is a little more complicated.
If DD wants the cup, he MUST understand the GM’s point of view so he can have the right TEAM to win it all with the cap in place. There’s just no way around it. Ask too much, risk putting your GM in a position to NOT help you get the guys to be champions.
I DO agree however that any pro athlete should go out and test what they are worth. If they can get it, great. No player should feel guilty for that. The player just has to decide what is more important to them:
Money or a Cup.
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Then why are we looking mister Stainly in LA?
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Im starting to get really anxious!! Any chance we will see anything change tonight? or will we have to wait all night until we get the news in the morning? Doughty better be reading his contract about to push his pen to sign it because time is runnin out.
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From a health point of view I can see DL signing LW Thomas Fleischmann. He took a chance on Willie Mitchell that turned out well and the doctors say Fleischmann won’t have any problems now with the medication he has for his blood issues. Has good offensive upside but may play a little soft for Dean’s liking.
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puck73 Reply:
June 30th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
@Osaka, Thats who I would sign as well. TF can put the puck in the net and he is a left handed shot..sold!
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Nope. You do not sign any free agents unless you drafted the player or signed the player as an undrafted free agent.
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I’d still do Briere, Rafalski, Handzus (Zus was overpaid, but we had tons of cap space and he was a big part of our team the last few years), Demitra, and Hossa. All of the other ones are brutal. Smyth is way overpaid too. Not worth it at that price.
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Good question Rich. I’m going to say that most of the time big deals are not the best. Often the big deals are fueled by desperation and that is not a mindset for success. DL is building the right way. Build foundation through draft and trades, where he can control costs and get talent that is at a palatable cost. Free agency works best when rounding out a roster, finding the piece or pieces that put you over the top.
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Just crazy seeing Phoenix which doesn’t even have an owner, going on a signing spree…It’s so great that the other 29 teams are ostensibly bankrolling Phoenix’s improvements.
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