June 17, 2010
Jeff Angus
2010-06-17
The Blues are busy today – they just acquired TJ Hensick from Colorado. Analysis coming…
Angus here – just got home – extensive Halak coverage on the way!
Dobber here – Angus will have a full trade breakdown coming up. Jaroslav Halak has been dealt to the Blues for Lars Eller and Ian Schultz. My initial thoughts – excellent for Halak, wary about Price (see my recent article on him) and not great for Eller (again, see a recent article – same article I believe ironically).
The Predators extended Francis Boullion for two years. His cap hit with the new deal will be $1.35 million per season.
Haven’t done a fantasy mailbag in a while…. that changes now! Ask me any fantasy hockey-related questions (I am unfortunately not a “life” expert as well) all day today!
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The Red Wings re-signed Todd Bertuzzi to a two-year contract extension. This caught me a bit off guard – I know both sides were interested in re-upping, but I figured it would have been for one year. Bertuzzi had some great stretches with Henrik Zetterberg, but he is a defensive liability at even strength and is invisible quite often. Ken Holland isn't someone I usually question, so I'll hold off on judging this one. This hurts all of Detroit's offensive prospects, as Bertuzzi's style of play is ill-suited for either the third or fourth line.
To be fair, $1.9 million (Bertuzzi's cap hit) won't get you much these days.
Sticking with Holland, he and assistant GM Jim Nill were given five-year contract extensions to continue running the Red Wings. Holland's big test will come when Nick Lidstrom eventually decides to retire.
The Canucks are holding their training camp in Penticton, BC, this summer. Penticton is about a stone's throw south of Kelowna, and is the home of Duncan Keith. They also announced a five-team prospects tournament with Calgary, Edmonton, Anaheim, and San Jose. Of those five teams, the Canucks and Oilers probably have the best prospect groups. Tickets are pretty cheap too, so for those of you in BC/Alberta or willing to commute a bit, I'd advise checking it out.
Nathan Horton's agent: “It would not surprise me at all if he’s dealt by the draft,” Horton’s agent Paul Krepelka said, adding that Horton’s aware of the possibility. "If it happens, it happens.” Horton has been a monumental bust in Florida, and I personally think Florida could sell high on him if they are able to add a quality top three defenseman or comparable forward. Because of his size/skill combination, a lot of people are still very high on him. To this point, he hasn't shown the willingness to compete hard on a consistent basis.
Steve Yzerman wants to re-sign Martin St. Louis. The Lightning would be idiotic to move St. Louis this summer, and it is nice to see Yzerman making a priority of extending Marty. Yzerman: “He’s a first-class guy and he deserves to be treated with the utmost respect, and I’ll do that,” Yzerman said. “Where it ends up, we’ll see. They want to make a deal that makes sense for them, and I have to make a deal that makes sense for us. We have some time to get it done, but it definitely is a priority for me.”
The Wild signed James Sheppard to his qualifying offer for 2010-11 (he'll make a shade over $800,000). He is a great example of a young player being rushed to the NHL and not developed properly.