Summers are really long when one is a hockey fan, and this one is just as bad as any other as we have passed free agency and signings and trades are few and far between now. Teams have basically done most of what they will though there are a number of players out there that may or may not get contracts still, and now everyone waits for the start of training camp. Sure, many teams may have a "rookie orientation" which may or may not have on-ice sessions but not all teams do and despite the very welcome glimpse at the future of the team, or potential future in all that youth anyway, it isn't until Rookie Camp and then Training Camp that things really get started.
For someone that does most of their blogging on the sport this is a time of year when the time between blogs can really grow, even when filled with things such as movie reviews and recaps for myself. I've got some things in mind to help fill these gaps, and this is one of them. This blog will look back at the time around the free agency period and give some of my own winners and losers to come from that time. Without further delay, here we go.
Team to take the biggest chance : To me this goes to the Philadelphia Flyers. They shipped out two of their core pieces in order to sign a proven goaltender. These were huge pieces to give up and if Bryzgalov doesn't pay off for them it could prove to have been a horrible move. However on the other side if they can now make the Finals, and they do still have a strong team and got good pieces in return on their trades, this could look to be a great trade in the future.
Two other teams get honorable mentions here. The Florida Panthers for going out and making a great number of moves which potentially could bring in success or could prove costly as so many new pieces may be a nightmare when it comes to getting the team to mesh. The other is the Avalanche. They are considered by a great many a team that should be in the talks of a lottery pick next year again. However they gave up their first and second round picks for a goalie who has had some injury problems and isn't proven. Now if he is the answer and becomes their #1, and if they make the playoffs, this turns out to be a pretty good move. However if that turns out to be a top 5 pick in both the first and second round this easily becomes one of the worst trades in team history.
Most improved team : Columbus brought in Wisnewski and Carter, great additions to be sure so they certainly improved. The Wild brought in Heatley and Setoguchi, sure, but gave up two good players as well evening things out there. The Caps got a great goaltender but didn't do a lot otherwise. The Panthers brought in a lot of talent so it will be interesting to see how they mesh, but they also lost a great goalie so that will factor in as well. The Sabres did a great job bringing in some talent especially on the blueline so they have to be considered. To me the top spot could be LAs, bringing in Gagne and Richards. They could be a very dangerous team next year ... but still need Doughty under contract. In the end it is hard to say who is "most" improved as there are a number of candidates and it won't be until next season that we'll see how the new city talent fits in with what was already there.
Team taking the biggest step back : To me while a number of teams lost some pretty good talent, and Dallas is certainly near the top their with Richards moving on and no real talent there to replace him, Phoenix still takes the cake here. In what could be the defining year on if hockey remains in Phoenix they lose their All-Star goaltender and get little talent during the off season back. They could be looking at a long year in the desert, and one that could be the team's last.
City/Fans Bigest Losers : This without question goes to Atlanta. I feel for the city having just lost their team to Canada. No other fanbase can come even close here.
City/Fans Biggest Winners : On the flip side, the big winners this off season are the fans in Winnipeg. Welcome back to the Jets.
Players who "Won" : Many players got paid big dollars, perhaps more than they deserved. It is hard to single out a single player above others that "won" when many were getting contracts bigger than they may have if it weren't for the free agency frenzy. Brad Richards could be singled out though for his 9 year, $60M deal which will keep him very comfortable for a number of years.
Players who "Lost" : There are a number out there that fit this category. Pretty much any player that had a job last year and hasn't signed yet could fit here. That would leave a lot of fringe type guys on the list, but there are a number of other players who would be in the NHL if they were signed and should be signed now one would think that still don't have jobs. Guys like Ray Emery, Scott Hannan, and John Madden could certainly make a roster somewhere and they are only a few of a number of guys like this. Another player on this list for me would be Chris Drury
Biggest "Steal" : I have to give this one to Washington for getting Vokoun for what they did. Sure, there may not have been a ton of options out there for him but after getting $6.7M last year to sign for less than $2M with the Caps is a huge discount. Given the talent on that team and having a great goalie in net now, they have to be considered one of the favorites in the East going into the year.
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