Puck Daddy

"Bouwmeester ...

... Jay Bouwmeester" (cue music)

Handing out grades for the annual Free Agent Frenzy is difficult for two reasons: first, that we won't really have a true picture of success or failure of these moves for years; second, that there are still enough impact UFAs (and RFAs, if the good ‘ole boys decide to violate their own unwritten rules) on the market that can affect the grades.

So grain of salt, all things considered, yadda yadda ... enough has transpired in the last few days for us to award hasty evaluations about the acquisition or discarding of talent around the NHL.

Last year's report card dealt strictly with the first day; we've expanded it to late Friday afternoon and included some of the trade made during the Frenzy and signings made before it.

As you'll see, our initial evaluations of the moves made produced some high marks from unexpected places, and low marks from expected ones. Patience was rewarded; inactivity was sometimes the best activity.

So here are the grades; agree to disagree. Thanks again for reading this week. It was a blast.

The salary cap-induced exodus from the Detroit Red Wings continues, as winger Mikael Samuelsson leaves for a three-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks, the team reported today. Elliotte Friedman of CBC Sports had it at $7.5 million total, or a $2.5 million cap hit; Samuelsson was at a $1.2 million hit last season.

For the Red Wings, this is the fourth player they've lost in the Frenzy, along with forward Tomas Kopecky(notes) (Chicago Blackhawks), goalie Ty Conklin(notes) (St. Louis Blues) and perennial championship voodoo idol Marian Hossa(notes) (Blackhawks).

Fans and observers are naturally of the mindset that "hey, it's the Red Wings, they can fill the voids" and lord knows they're stocked with forwards (Justin Abdelkader(notes), Ville Leino(notes) if he's re-signed) who will have expanded roles next season. But Samuelsson was a very good fit for their style and contributed some essential offense down the lineup.

This one will hurt a bit, even if his departure was expected due to financial constraints.

As for the Canucks, it's a nice move. He's a 40-point guy with size (6-2, 210) and oodles of the kind of postseason success that locker room needs. Forwards like him have gotten looks on the top two lines for the Canucks before, so his spot in the lineup's a bit of a mystery. But Samuelsson, who'll be 33 in December, has the versatility to pull off different roles. At the very least, a good depth move.

Now it's onto the blue line for Canucks GM Mike Gillis.

The aftermath of Marian Hossa's signing with the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday is more astonishing than the actual deal. Like, for example, how some believe Chicago Blackhawks management went from the smartest guys in the room to a collection of blithering, Milbury-esque dopes on free agent day; or, in Martin Havlat's case, disloyal insult artists.

First off, to state the obvious: Chicago GM Dale Tallon isn't infallible. Last summer's Brian Campbell contract ($7.14 million cap hit until 2016) has made one of the fastest defensemen in hockey immobile from a trade perspective. So there's no rubber stamping the Hossa deal just because the Blackhawks' braintrust, a.k.a. "The Men Who Saved Chicago Hockey," orchestrated it.

That said, this notion that Tallon rushed into the Marian Hossa deal with little consideration for next summer's trio of free agent headaches -- Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith are all up for restricted free agency -- is just preposterous. It's comical. It's armchair GM'ing at its worst. Yes, he'll have to work a little magic. But to claim he couldn't see the expiring contracts through the trees is just fantasy land analysis.

Coming up, the Hossa fallout, and some really startling news about Martin Havlat and from Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi.

As this point, your heart just goes out to Steven Stamkos. The No. 1 overall pick in 2008 for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the kid battled through absurd expectations placed on him through offseason marketing -- and his own struggles -- in a season that saw him earn just three third-place sympathy votes for the Calder.

But he played better as the year wore on, and played very well for Team Canada in the 2009 world championships. Olympic hockey analyst Pierre McGuire thought his international experience might be enough to earn Stamkos a roster spot for Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Games; but then again:

"The age factor may be as it was for Crosby and Phaneuf when they weren't chosen to go to the 2006 Olympics. Age will be part of the equation but not all of it."

Stamkos is 19. Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty will be 20 when the Team Canada orientation camp opens in August. Doughty, drafted right behind Stamkos, was invited; Stamkos was not.

Some other interesting omissions at the Team Canada 'who will lose to the gold to the Russians?' orientation camp roster was revealed this morning:

Chris Osgood, Detroit Red Wings: A long-shot to make the cut, considering the caliber of the five goalies invited to the camp. But with Steve Yzerman as the executive director, one figured he might have an 'in.' His Canadian Red Wings teammates rallied behind him as a candidate when asked about it during the Stanley Cup finals.

Marc Savard, Boston Bruins: The competition at center is obviously steep, and neither he nor Brad Richards of the Dallas Stars received an invite. (Yet Andy McDonald did.) McGuire had him as a bubble player to make the team, so not getting a call for camp is a little surprising. 

Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators: Good lord, how the mighty have fallen. Three world juniors appearances, two world championship appearances and a reserve on the Canadian team in the 2006 Games in Turin. Now, he doesn't even get a skate in the door.

Coming up, the full camp roster. Any other omissions catch your eyes? Brian Campbell? Ed Jovanovski? Marty Turco? Zack "Huggy Bear" Stortini (jokes)?

On Sept. 12, 2006, the New York Islanders signed goalie Rick DiPietro(notes) to a 15-year contract worth $67.5 million. Anyone else want to climb into the time machine to tell them they'd be desperately signing a soon-to-be-40-year-old starter to a two-year contract worth $5 million in 2009?

Dwayne Roloson(notes) joins the Islanders, and if that doesn't speak volumes about their concerns about DiPietro's heath then nothing does. Roloson, on TSN, explained his motivation for leaving the Edmonton Oilers:

"I wanted to try and get a two-year deal, and it was one of the teams that offered a two-year deal," he said. "That's it. That's why."

Quite an endorsement.

Roloson leaving is somehow being portrayed as a "black mark" on the city of Edmonton, like he's Pronger's wife or something. Whatever. The real issue is that the Oilers' goaltender right now is Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers(notes) and the UFA pickings are slim.

Michael Russo of the Star Tribune has mentioned Josh Harding(notes) of the Minnesota Wild, an RFA, as an option. It might be time to speak of him as the only option for the Oil. Unless they're interested in Cristobal Huet(notes) or (gulp) Jose Theodore(notes).

Also, Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Kopecky(notes) goes to Scotty Bowman  the Chicago Blackhawks for two years and $2.4 million. The Buffalo Sabres also made a signing, getting defenseman Steve Montador(notes) for a two-year deal at $1.55 million per season.

Marian Hossa's career judgment is probably on the level of Dana Carvey leaving SNL for the movies right now, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt on this blockbuster deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hossa signed today for $62.8 million over 12 years. That's a $5.233 million cap hit per season. (New figures via LeBrun.)

Hossa gets north of $5 million, which was something he wasn't going to get from the Detroit Red Wings. He gets the job security he surrendered for a second-place finish last season for the Stanley Cup. Sure, he left millions (and championship bling) on the table for his decisions last summer; but he came within a win of the Cup, and now he's going to play with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane for the next decade in an organization that's quickly been re-established as elite.

Yes, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith are all up for restricted free agency next summer. The Blackhawks have some magic to work. Maybe they can keep giving Brian Campbell dirty looks until he leaves for the KHL. (Not to say Campbell's signing was a mistake; but the amount, right now, is certainly regrettable.) 

The "chuckling" in the headline is coming from teams looking at the Blackhawks' salary structure. Rob Rossi's reaction from a random Penguins player could be the norm. Fans are calling Hossa greedy, too.

Chicago's decision here can be debated; ask Tampa about a top-heavy salary structure under the cap. Even if, as Darren Dreger reported, the Hossa deal is "heavily front loaded" with $53 million for the first seven years. Sure would be shame if he lost his will to play after seven years, huh?

Hossa's decision can't be debated, unless you're a bitter Detroit fan or a still-bitter Pittsburgh Penguins fan. It's a good spot for him.

Although does this guy have a fetish for uncomfortable situations or what?

A few other signing thoughts ...

When news was floating around that the Sedins were close to inking back with the Canucks, we delayed this ranking. Taking Daniel Sedin out of the equation does affect the rest of the wingers, albeit minimally because he's obviously a package deal. If the Sedins are re-signed before noon, then add Steve Sullivan of the Nashville Predators to the list.

It's an intriguing list because there are some real risk/reward situations here. Marian Gaborik, in particular, could be the signing of the year if he can stay healthy; yet there's a better chance that the new "G.I. Joe" flick wins Best Picture than that happening, based on Gabby's track record.

Here's a glance at the top wingers, as the Frenzy nears ...

Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Your USA Hockey orientation camp invitees. No Keith Tkachuk or Bill Guerin or Rick DiPietro, but a player can make the team without going to camp:

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick, Tim Thomas

Defensemen: Tom Gilbert, Tim Gleason, Ron Hainsey, Erik Johnson, Jack Johnson, Mike Komisarek, Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik, Brian Rafalski, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Suter, Ryan Whitney

Forwards: David Backes, David Booth, Dustin Brown, Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Malone, Mike Modano, Kyle Okposo, T.J. Oshie, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Bobby Ryan, Paul Stastny.

• Interesting piece post-NHL Draft that looks at the prospects from "non-traditional" U.S. markets and the decline of Russian prospects; wondering if Gary Bettman's "Southern Strategy" is actually paying off in fresh talent playing hockey. [On Goal Analysis]

• And this is why we all wanted John Tortorella to coach the New York Rangers: "I just think we're soft. I'm not trying to insult anyone physically but I think we're soft thinkers. I think we need to grow in what we need to do in preparation and practice habits." [NorthJersey.com]

• Marian Hossa and the take-it-or-leave-it offer from Detroit. [Snapshots]

• The wooing of Jay Bouwmeester continues, as the soon-to-be-former Florida Panthers defenseman gets calls from Jarome Iginla and Robyn Regehr, as well as some negotiating from Darryl Sutter of the Calgary Flames. [Sun Media]

• Is anyone else sort of fascinated by what, if anything, the Phoenix Coyotes are going to do in the next week or so? What's the budget? Who makes the deals? Do the potential new owners have any say? [Five For Howling]

• Free agent goalie Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson is delaying his decision until after the July 1 free-agent frenzy starts. So a Swedish hockey player has delaying making a decision. Water still wet. Pope, Catholic. All of it. [Sportsnet]

• Please go read Down Goes Brown's outtakes of "Brian Burke" mic'd up by TSN if you haven't already. And if you have, read it again; seriously, how many times have you seen "Airplane!" and still laughed, right? [DGB]

There are three very good reasons why the Pittsburgh Penguins inked Bill Guerin to a one-year, $2 million deal Monday night.

The first is that he was a winger that worked well with Sidney Crosby, and ask Pascal Dupuis if that's necessarily easy to find. The second is that he earned the new deal by helping to transform that Penguins locker room upon his arrival at the deadline from the New York Islanders.

The third is that the fans chanted "one more year" at the Stanley Cup parade; which is, of course, the ultimate factor in any decision for a general manager.

But as Rob Rossi of the Tribune-Review points out, the signings of Guerin and fourth-line forward Craig Adams leave the Penguins with $51,218,000 committed for 17 players next season, with the cap at $56.8 million. They made a trio of qualifying offers on Monday, too.

Winger Ruslan Fedotenko and defensemen Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill can test the UFA market beginning on Wednesday. It was going to be difficult to sign Scuderi in the first place; now, his return to the Penguins would appear to be contingent on the money he receives from other suitors and his desire to cut the team that drafted him a break.