July 29, 2014
Michael Amato
2014-07-29
Dobber here – I apologize for the site lag over the past 24 hours. I’m doing everything I can to get things back online. Please note that the main page has new articles on it – you just have to scroll down to find them, as I am unable to rearrange the order right now. This lag is effecting all sites, and could be back to 100% as early as 10 minutes from now (but I’m not holding my breath).
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Come out the DobberHockey event tonight in Toronto for some great hockey talk with some great people. You won't be disappointed. Details here. At 5pm at the Sports Centre Cafe – join myself, Dobber, Goldman, Lancione, Walker, and a surprise guest
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The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Tomas Tatar to a three-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. Gustav Nyquist got most of the headlines last year, but Tatar actually had a solid season himself, scoring 19 goals and leading the team in shots on goal with 158. In the previous two campaigns with Grand Rapids he totalled more than 200 shots, so you know he likes to shoot the puck.
With that signing, it now gives the Red Wings 14 forwards under contract for next year with Daniel Alfredsson still pondering a return. Ice-time will be at a premium and with all the young talent Detroit has coming through in the forward group, it's really going to push veterans like Stephen Weiss to play up to par.
Speaking of veteran forwards, I thought the Danny Cleary signing was a peculiar one on the Wings' part. He's a 35-year-old that has struggled over the last couple of seasons and it might have made a lot more sense to give his ice-time to one of the youngsters.
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The Red Wings now turn their attention to their final RFA, defender Danny DeKeyser, who says a deal will be taken care of before camp. DeKeyser partnered with Kyle Quincey and although not a major point producer, he did grab 116 blocks in just 65 games and led all Detroit defensemen with a plus-10 rating.
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Staying with the Leafs, they signed forward Daniel Winnik to a one-year deal on Monday. Unlike the low-risk, high-reward move with David Booth, this one doesn't figure to provide many rewards. Winnik is a solid fourth-line player, but won't provide much fantasy value or actual value they need. He topped out at 11 goals in his best season and hasn't scored more than eight in a campaign since 2010-11. Don't get me wrong, it's not the worst signing in the world, but they need another top-six player more than a depth guy right now.
He does have plenty of experience, though, meaning it's going to be difficult for guys like Carter Ashton, Troy Bodie, and Trevor Smith to earn a regular place in the lineup.
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Here's a crazy story about the famous Patrick Roy trade that saw the netminder moved to the Colorado Avalanche. Mike Vernon, who was playing for Detroit at the time, met with the then Montreal goalie for breakfast before the game that saw Roy left in for nine goals against. Apparently Vernon implied he should ask for a trade before that game ever happened.
I recall even having a conversation with Patrick Roy, in Montreal, at the little breakfast place there, the spot we always used to go to. And uh, I just walked in by myself and I was early to the rink or something like that, and he was there like “Mike, come here, I want to talk to you.” He goes, “The pressure, the media, the fans…” he was just… I knew he was thoroughly upset about all of this, and it was really bothering him. And I said, Patrick, you just have to get traded. I said I got traded, I’m enjoying it in Detroit and everything else, and lo and behold that game was the game where he went up to the president.
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The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Jake Dowell to a one-year deal. He'll play in Hamilton next season. If you don't know his story, check it out here.
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It was somewhat of a disappointing season for Teddy Purcell in Tampa. He registered just 12 goals after displaying a 20-plus goal pace the two seasons prior. Purcell thinks he can rebound in Edmonton by shooting the puck more, something the Lightning were on him to do more of. Purcell has averaged more than two shots a game in his career, so if he can improve on that and take advantage of playing in that Oiler top six, he will be a worthy fantasy option for next season.
Michael Amato is an Associate Editor for DobberHockey and a News Editor for theScore. You can follow him on Twitter at @amato_mike
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