ch_nl

That's Buffalo Sabres new logo?!?! It stinks. This is a time when I wouldn't mind Bettman using his authority.... Sabres could dump the Buffalo in their logo and go with this one: And maybe but the old Buffalo on the shoulder.

The San Jose Sharks dealt Nils Ekman and goaltender prospect Patrick Ehelechner for a second round pick in 2007. Nils Ekman played with Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo last season and I guess you could call that line the best in the NHL. Ekman only makes 1.1 million and Cheechoo just 0.76... Nisse Ekman has played 230 games and scored a 136 points. He was a late bloomer and has taken his game to the next level in San Jose and now they trade him? I don't get. And why are the Penguins trading for more goaltenders? Caron and Fleury are allready there. ** Added link** http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=171878&hubname=nhl

Anything new here? I heard today (again) that Sweden is an option. Lubos Bartecko just signed with Luleå Hockey for another season and that Bulis could join him.

I don't even understand why people are asking for more? The team is set. Only Ryder left and we have a complete competitive team that will be one of the teams that could battle for the cup. I have never seen such a good version of the Montreal Canadiens in any offseason and I have been a fan since 1990 and close watching since 1994.

Nope, the only thing I've heard is that he was a Maple Leafs fan when growing up.

Will Habs make the playoffs? The will not only make the playoffs, they are a seroius contender!

Whom was the last Habs player goint to arbitration? And what happened?

I think he will get up to 3 million. 2.7 will be my guess.

? What? Why?

You're probably right. (I may have played too many NHL 06 games where Higgins has #88)

I don't think that there's any spot open on this team. Everything looks great.

What number will Samsonov and Johnson have? Both had 12 in their earlier clubs and 12 is retired in Montreal to Dickie Moore. There's just one 21 and my guess is that Johnson will take that and Samsoniv wil go with 23.Or?

1. Ottawa Senators 2. New York Rangers 3. Carolina Hurricanes 4. Montreal Canadiens 5. Philadelphia Flyers 6. Pittsburgh Penguins 7. Atlanta Trashers 8. New Jersey Devils --------------------------- 9. Tampa Bay Lightnings 10. Buffalo Sabres 11. Florida Panthers 12. Toronto Maple Leafs 13. New York Islanders 14. Washington Capitals 15. Boston Bruins

I didn't even mention the word "cap" in my post. Just listed what what all the new signings means in cash and since more than 23 players will have a contract with the Habs I listed everyone. I may be wrong on Huet, but the article I read said 3. So that's why it became 3 in my post. There's some things that I find interesting. * No one makes less than Plekanec. And yet we count on him to be a regular this season. * There's only two player that's overpaid in my opinion. Bonk and Rivet, but Rivet has lifted himself and are getting closer and closer. * Boullion whom almost everybody counted as the 7th defenceman now is fourth among defencemen when it comes to salary. * Kostitsyn lifts more mone than Higgins. Kostitsyn will likley start the year in Hamilton and Higgins on the first line.

You're right. I'll edit.

Anything new about Ryder? He could be asking for anything between 2,5 and 4 millions. A quick look at the stats from last season shows that Ryders numbers was similar to the ones that Fredrik Modin, Rick Nash, Jere Lehtinen, Anson Carter, Mike Knuble, Mike Sillinger, Martin St Louis, Mike Comrie, Eric Cole, Marco Sturm and Jason Blake had. Im not saying that Ryder should get the same kind of money that Nash get's but their stats compares. I think Mike Comrie could be the key here but he's still unsigned. Fredrik Modin is also a player that could be looked on. I expect Ryder to get about 2,2 to 2,7.

All players signed but one. Michael Ryder and this is what it looks like. I searched the net for a breakdown but couldn't find one so I made one myself. Here it is. Saku Koivu 4.750.000 Alex Kovalev 4.500.000 Sergei Samsonov 3.525.000 Cristobal Huet 3.000.000 Craig Rivet 2.470.000 Sheldon Souray 2.432.000 Radek Bonk 2.394.000 Andrei Markov 2.000.000 David Aebischer 1.900.000 Mike Johnson 1.900.000 Mike Ribeiro 1.900.000 Francis Bouillon 1.875.000 Mathieu Dandenault 1.700.000 Steve Begin 1.000.000 Michael Komisarek 946.827 Andrei Kastsitsyn 801.800 Christopher Higgins 672.980 Alexander Perezhogin 627.000 Mark Streit 600.000 Garth Murray 575.000 Maxim Lapierre 562.500 Yann Danis 543.400 Jean-Philippe Cote 495.000 Aaron Downey 475.000 Jonathan Ferland 450.000 Tomas Plekanec 450.000 Michael Ryder Total: 42.545.507 Goalies: 9.044.000 Defence: 10.275.800 Offense: 22.750.707 Average salary about: 1.625.000 22% spent on 3 goaltender. 25 % spent on 8 defencemen. 53% spent on 16 forwards.

In a place where the TV-stations don't even mention what's happening in the NHL offseason... Ok. I missed.

St Louis Blues is a great franshise. In how many consecutive season where they a playoff team? I hope this doesn't mean that the seats will be empty.

Why does everybody expects Zednik to play on the firsr line with Alex Ovechkin? Friesen, Zubrus and Semin are all better wingers in my opinion.

I think it would be fair to give Ryder just a little more than Ribeiro. 2.1 perhaps?

Just one player under a million and still they miss rightwinger for both of their first and second lines. Anson Carter had great chemistry with the Sedins. Vancouver has to find to cheap sollutions.

The Canadiens looks like one of the better teams in the east. Ottawa, Carolina and the Flyers are the only ones that have a better team on the paper. And yet, there's room to discuss that as the Flyers has lost Kim Johnson has departed and Esche/Nittymäki is a weaker duo than Huet/Aebischer. And there's also injuries. I don't know about this one, but doesn't Samsonov have a long list of missed games due to injuries? But then there's always surprises. Maybe a rookie will lift the Bruins to a division title. But pre-season things couldn't look better for the Habs. Now things just have to click as the talent and know-how is there. Bring back to cup.

Why on earth would Markov want to leave Montreal? What is it that he doesn't like? The climante? Anyway, Samsonov and Markov are the same age. Have they played with eachother at some point? Russias junior team? I hope the find eachother and takes a day flying with Kovalev.

I forgott about San Jose and as someone said; Arizona is close. But Vancouver?! Isn't Dallas closer?