The Official Hockey Off-Season Thread

[astrocamel]

Yeah so we have a thread for the NBA and I figured the NHL needs one too. So um yeah!

Modano takes over Hatcher's role
Associated Press

DALLAS -- With Derian Hatcher taking his hard-hitting style to Detroit, the Dallas Stars on Thursday named Mike Modano their new captain.

Modano is the franchise leader in every meaningful statistical category and an obvious replacement. A two-way force, he's already viewed by many as the face of the team. Now he'll have the C on his sweater, too. He's been an alternate captain for years.

"It's certainly going to be a great honor and privilege -- a lot of pressure, I guess, and expectations," said Modano, who has the most goals, assists, points, game-winning goals, short-handed goals and games played in team history. "But as a person and player, I don't think anything's going to change as far as my approach to the game and what I do."

Hatcher was the captain for nine of his 12 seasons with the Stars, having received the honor in February 1995 after Neal Broten was traded.

When Dallas won the Stanley Cup in 1999, Hatcher became the first American-born captain to hoist the trophy. His tenure as captain was by far the longest in franchise history.

"It's going to be tough, it's going to be difficult and different without him here," Modano said. "We'll miss him, but he did what's best for Derian Hatcher at this point in his career."

The Stars were interested in re-signing Hatcher, but not for five years. General manager Doug Armstrong said he offered $18 million over three years, telling Hatcher, "all I want to do is get you to the next fencepost, and then we'll do it again in a couple of years."

But Hatcher declined and last week the Stars said they would let him go into free agency. He hit the market Tuesday and had the deal he wanted within two days, signing with the team he watched while growing up in a Detroit suburb.

"I don't blame anyone for looking at $30 million and saying yes," Armstrong said. "I can understand his decision and I wish him the best."

With Hatcher gone, Modano and Richard Matvichuk are the only remaining players who moved with the franchise from Minnesota to Dallas in 1993.

The bigger loss, though, is the intimidation and nastiness the 6-foot-5, 235-pound defenseman brought to the ice. Matvichuk, Philippe Boucher, Darryl Sydor and Sergei Zubov are all quality players on the blue line, but their styles are different from Hatcher's.

"We're certainly not going to fill Derian's void with one player," Armstrong said. "It's going to have to be a group effort."

Hatcher's departure also continues the reshaping -- and budget-cutting -- of a team that last season didn't live up to its payroll, which was among the league's highest.

The Stars had the most points in the Western Conference, then were eliminated by Anaheim in the second round of the playoffs. Armstrong has since sought to move high-priced players Pierre Turgeon and even Bill Guerin, last summer's top free agent signee.

Speaking with the optimism expected from a captain, Modano vowed the team will absorb Hatcher's departure.

"It'll be a different look to our team, but I think something that in the long run is not really going to have a major effect on us," Modano said. "Everybody's responsibility will pick up, especially our defensemen. ... But I think, in general, as a team we can continue how we've been playing, go after another division title and hopefully go a little deeper in the playoffs."

[Lenghthen]

Awww...I will show love to this thread...<33333


I think Detroit is really going to kick-ass next season. I am so happy that we got Hatcher, he is a great leader and awesome defensemen. Now we just gotta get rid of CuJo who did absolutely NOTHING for us. Idiot.

[Basta]

kariya and selanne to colorado is absolutely disgusting...and for 1.2 million? *pukes*

their top 2 lines look like this:

tanguay/forsberg/hejduk
selanne/sakic/kariya

not fair... they're sporting an ALL-STAR second line!!!

i dont know how the canucks are going to keep pace this year..

*crosses fingsers* come on cloutier.

[astrocamel]

Originally posted by ~*Ashleigh*~
Awww...I will show love to this thread...<33333


I think Detroit is really going to kick-ass next season. I am so happy that we got Hatcher, he is a great leader and awesome defensemen. Now we just gotta get rid of CuJo who did absolutely NOTHING for us. Idiot.

Aww yay <33333

Why do y'all get of our good folk? First Hull and now Hatcher. It makes me sad...I looooved Hull and now Hatcher is gone too? *cries*

[Lenghthen]

I guess you will just have to cheer for the Wings' now.

Selanne and Kariya: That is ULTRA disgusting. *pukes with Pasta*

Fedorov: Where do you think he will go? And, lastly do you think the Wings' will get Lindros for Cujo??

[Basta]

i love kariya though... good bc kid... i guess im an avs fan now? as long as they're not playing the canucks, that is...

they've got kariya, sakic, and forsberg... my 3 favourite non-canuck players...

[astrocamel]

*revives this thread*

Hasek to play for Red Wings next season
ESPN.com news services

DETROIT -- The return of two-time league MVP Dominik Hasek gives the Red Wings a unique problem: too many top-notch goaltenders.

This is a very unique and possibly one of the trickiest situations for any general manager to deal with. Remember, Ken Holland didn't make the phone call to get Dominik Hasek back on the Red Wings. And now, Holland is in a position where he needs to deal Curtis Joseph, a goalie he likes and signed just last year.

Naturally we're all assuming that it's Cujo who'll be dealt. Despite taking a season off, Hasek is still the guy who won the Red Wings a Stanley Cup in 2002. He's a world-class athlete, and one year off won't affect him very much. So, at this point the Red Wings have to look around and find out what they'll get in return for Cujo. There are a lot of other players being shopped around in the same high-rank pay district, so they may end up swapping some players. Obviously, with Sergei Fedorov not returning, a centerman is an option for Holland to pursue.

The 38-year-old Hasek, who led Detroit to a Stanley Cup title a year ago, announced Tuesday he plans to come out of retirement to rejoin the Red Wings.

"My batteries are recharged, and I have the fire for competing for the Cup again," he said during a conference call.

The Red Wings late last month exercised an $8 million option on Hasek, who lives in the Czech Republic. It wasn't clear until Tuesday whether he would play this season.

Hasek's re-emergence in Detroit means the Wings have a glut of quality goaltenders, including two set to earn $8 million each this season.

Likely to be traded is Curtis Joseph, signed last summer to a three-year, $24 million deal as a free agent to replace Hasek. He first would need to waive a no-trade clause in his contract.

"Ideally, as quickly as possible, I'd like to get a goaltender moved," general manager Ken Holland said Tuesday. "We're going to have to be creative with some other teams to try to put something together."

Holland said he planned to talk later to the 36-year-old Joseph. Don Meehan, Joseph's agent, said he intends to work with Holland, but also will protect Joseph's rights.

"Ken hopes to try and trade Curtis within the foreseeable future and he's going to involve himself in due diligence in talking to other teams, and when he's done that work, he'll come back to me," Meehan said.

Joseph has not expressed a preference for a new team.

"We haven't approached that yet," Meehan said. "I think at the end of the day, he will have a very strong say in where he ends up."

In addition to Hasek and Joseph, the Wings also have Manny Legace, considered by some the league's best backup.

"I know about the situation with Cujo, about his no-trade clause," Hasek said. "My decision also unfortunately affects other people. However, my desire is to play with the Detroit Red Wings."

Red Wings coach Dave Lewis said Tuesday he would reserve comment until the goaltending situation was resolved.

Hasek hasn't played as much as a pickup game as a goaltender since Game 5 of the Cup finals against Carolina in 2002. But he said Tuesday he felt he had more to contribute to the game.

"I will work hard to get into the same shape like I was before," said Hasek, who is eight pounds lighter than his playing weight. "I want to be `The Dominator' like I used to."

During his year away from the NHL, Hasek played squash, roller hockey as a defenseman and soccer. He said he does not regret the decision to retire.

"After I won the Cup, I had the feeling that I had achieved everything in hockey," he said. "Without motivation, you shouldn't play -- at least in my case. After one year not playing in goal ... I feel I am ready to play professional hockey again."

Hasek is a six-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's best goalie, two-time Hart Trophy winner as the league's most valuable player and a gold medalist from the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

It's unclear how Hasek's situation could affect Detroit's bid to retain key veteran players that have yet to sign for the upcoming season.

If the Red Wings trade Joseph, they likely will have to pick up a portion of his salary next season, diminishing the cash available to pay other players.

Sergei Fedorov, Steve Yzerman and Igor Larionov are unrestricted free agents. Last week, Detroit signed free agent defenseman Derian Hatcher to a $30 million, five-year contract.

[Basta]

i have a solution, but i hate cujo, so dont tell him *shhh*

have cujo suspend the 2 years until next year... ie: he can become an unrestricted free agent for this year, and then at the end of this year, he can rejoin the redwings and finish his 2 years under contract...

[astrocamel]

Just because...

Smyth agrees to two years, $7 million

In the end, the Edmonton Oilers decided to be the masters of their own destiny. At least as far as one of their best players is concerned.

The Oilers and forward Ryan Smyth reached an agreement on a two-year deal minutes before their salary arbitration hearing Thursday in Toronto. Smyth will make a base salary of $3.45 million this season and $3.55 million next year. The deal is a slight raise from the 10 percent increase the Oilers were required to grant in order to keep his rights. Smyth earned $3.025 million last season.

"Smytty has been with the Oilers for his entire career, and we clearly wanted that relationship to continue," general manager Kevin Lowe said. "The trouble with the arbitration process is that it takes a team's budget control out of its hands, and now with this compromise, Smytty can continue to be a vital component on our team."

Last season, for the first time in his career, Smyth led the team in goals (27) and points (61). He also captained Team Canada to the gold medal in the World Championships, the first medal of any kind for Team Canada since winning gold in 1997.

"I'm very happy with this deal, especially since we didn't have to go through the arbitration process," Smyth said. "I've been an Oilers fan since I was a kid, and there isn't any other team I'd rather be with."

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Defenseman one of two North Stars in Dallas

Dallas Stars: Free agent Richard Matvichuk was awarded a one-year, $2.2 million contract by a Toronto arbitrator Thursday.

The 30-year-old defenseman had one goal and five assists in 68 games last season.

"We're happy to have this process behind us and to have Richard under contract for the upcoming season," Dallas general manager Doug Armstrong said. "We accept the arbitrator's decision as a neutral party."

Matvichuk is one of only two current Stars to have played with the club before it left Minnesota. The other is Mike Modano.

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Blues' third-leading scorer avoids arbitration
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Cory Stillman, acquired from the St. Louis Blues in a draft-day trade, agreed to terms on a one-year contract Wednesday.

The deal avoids an arbitration hearing with Stillman, 29, who had been a restricted free agent.

The 6-foot Stillman was the Blues' third-leading scorer last season, recording 24 goals and 23 assists in 79 games. It was his fifth straight season with at least 20 goals.

"We are extremely pleased to have Cory under contract and we look forward to having him join our hockey team this season," Tampa Bay general manager Jay Feaster said. "Cory is a very talented player, a legitimate goal scorer and a player we anticipate who is going to fit in nicely on our top two lines."

Stillman has registered 159 goals and 195 assists in 354 career games with the Calgary Flames and Blues. His 159 goals rank higher than anyone on the Lightning except Dave Andreychuk.

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Left wing fully recovered from broken leg

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have signed left wing Erik Cole, who missed much of last season with an injury.

Cole had 14 goals, 13 assists and 72 penalty minutes in 53 games last season. He finished sixth on the team in scoring despite missing the final 29 games after breaking his left leg in January.

"Erik is working hard and is 100 percent healthy," Jim Rutherford, Hurricanes' president and general manager, said Wednesday. "He is one of our key forwards who plays an important leadership role. He will make a difference in the success of this team."

Cole, 24, signed a one-year contract; terms were not disclosed.

Since joining the Hurricanes' lineup just before the 2001-02 season, Cole has notched 30 goals and earned 37 assists in 134 regular-season NHL games.

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Joseph could be a 'big piece' for Bruins

DETROIT -- The Boston Bruins are interested in obtaining Red Wings goaltender Curtis Joseph, according to Boston's general manager.

Mike O'Connell confirmed the team has approached Detroit about Joseph, who became expendable when Dominik Hasek last month decided to come out of retirement to rejoin the Red Wings.

"I talked to Detroit on Friday. They said we'll make sure we stay in touch," O'Connell said during a conference call.

Calling Joseph a potential "big piece" to the Bruins' goaltending situation, O'Connell said he didn't expect to hear back from Detroit "for another couple of weeks."

Detroit signed Joseph, 36, last summer to a three-year, $24 million deal as Hasek's replacement. That contract includes a no-trade clause.

Detroit General Manager Ken Holland has said he hopes to have a deal to trade Joseph done before training camp starts in September.

Phone messages left with the Red Wings and Don Meehan, Joseph's agent, were not immediately returned.

[NDD]

Originally posted by astrocamel

Blues' third-leading scorer avoids arbitration

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Cory Stillman, acquired from the St. Louis Blues in a draft-day trade, agreed to terms on a one-year contract Wednesday.

The deal avoids an arbitration hearing with Stillman, 29, who had been a restricted free agent.

The 6-foot Stillman was the Blues' third-leading scorer last season, recording 24 goals and 23 assists in 79 games. It was his fifth straight season with at least 20 goals.

"We are extremely pleased to have Cory under contract and we look forward to having him join our hockey team this season," Tampa Bay general manager Jay Feaster said. "Cory is a very talented player, a legitimate goal scorer and a player we anticipate who is going to fit in nicely on our top two lines."

Stillman has registered 159 goals and 195 assists in 354 career games with the Calgary Flames and Blues. His 159 goals rank higher than anyone on the Lightning except Dave Andreychuk.

HORSE SHIT! I hope the Blues do something to fill Stillman's spot, because he was a stud.