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.

In his revelatory chat yesterday with Rich Hammond of the LA Daily News, Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi was asked if the Kings were in search of a veteran defenseman during free agency. His response:

"I wouldn't mind looking at that. I wouldn't mind it because I would like to give our kids a cushion, but I don't want to go too far out (in terms of salary) and cut off my numbers to where I can't get the Hossa-type guys. At this time, I don't see a major thing out there. I wouldn't mind a good player to buy us some time, but I'm planning on the defense maturing as a group, and then spending my money up front. I don't see any blockbusters out there but you never know what you might stumble on later."

So does signing Pittsburgh Penguins UFA defenseman Rob Scuderi to four years at $3.4 million on the cap per season (via TSN) conform to that philosophy? Besides once again showing that when it comes to free agency, Lombardi has the patience of the knight who guarded the Holy Grail in "Indiana Jones"?

Some thoughts and notes on Day 2 of the Free Agent Frenzy. Remember to check out our Puck Daddy Chatter Box for breaking news and rumors.

• The New York Rangers shot down Nik Antropov's demands for a long-term deal, but in the end he may have found a better fit. He goes to the Atlanta Thrashers for four years and $16 million, with GM Don Waddell saying (video) that Antropov will play on Ilya Kovalchuk's line next season: "He played with Ilya during the work stoppage. Ilya knows him well." (Then he has a good sense of his speed. Or lack thereof.)

Antropov had a base salary of $2.15 million last season between the Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Overall, pretty good couple of days for the Thrashers in re-signing Chris Thorburn (no terms) and acquiring defenseman Pavel Kubina from the Leafs. Waddell told the team's Web site that he felt the team didn't need to add a large number of new players but instead a few "special" ones. How one feels about a couple of former Leafs will probably dictate how one feels about that mission being accomplished.

• The big story on Day 2, however, is the lack of stories when it comes to two big-name defensive defensemen: Francois Beauchemin and Rob Scuderi.

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)?

(NOTE: Don't forget about Puck Daddy's 2009 Free Agent Frenzy Chatter Box)

After losing Dwayne Roloson to the New York Islanders, the Edmonton Oilers needed a goalie and found the biggest name on the market: Nikolai Khabibulin, signed for $15 million over four years for a $3.75 million annual cap hit (Via TSN).

That's quite a market correction for the Bulin Wall, as his cap hit last season with the Chicago Blackhawks was the gargantuan $6.75 million number that made him immovable.

Lowetide's immediate take:

I think we should prepare ourselves for a trade that sends dollars away later tonight. No immediate word about whether or not this kills the Heatley deal.

He's a veteran NHL goaltender, and this would be considered an overpay.

Khabibulin's birthday: Jan 13, 1973. Roloson's birthday: Oct 12, 1969. Hey, they're paying for youth!

Was this a desperation move or was Khabibulin Plan B after losing Roloson? Sure, you're locked into a guy who is going to turn 37 next season for the next four years. But Roloson's cap hit was $3.667; is this really overpayment?

Bottom line is that Edmonton has gone from the city where the TSN boys said no one wanted to play to the city that might end the night with Nikolai Khabibulin and Dany Heatley. Money (and talent going back to Ottawa) talks.

Other signings of note since the last update ...

MVP of the offseason for the Washington Capitals? That would be Chris Pronger(notes).

Not giving up the package the Anaheim Ducks were seeking for Pronger -- which included one of the elite young goalies, an elite prospect, a roster player and a top pick -- might be looked back upon as a key "non-move" on their path to a championship.

Then, as Pronger's contract was added to the Philadelphia Flyers' roster, Mike Knuble(notes) was shaken loose as a UFA and ends up with the Washington Capitals for a two-year, $5.8-million contract.

Let us join the chorus of saying this was a great signing. He's a bigger Chris Clark(notes) with better results, about four years older and with a $140,000 higher cap hit. Or he's their Bill Guerin(notes), to put it in Pittsburgh Penguins terms: The no-nonsense, veteran (37 next season) North American player who will get dirty in the crease and stir it up on the ice. The Flyers loved him as a teammate. Not the second line center fans have been screaming they need, but a very important addition in building a winner.

• Meanwhile, Capitals enforcer Donald Brashear(notes) goes to the New York Rangers (two years, $2.8 million) in one of the most bat-crap crazy, unforeseen moves of the day. Like with Fedorov, Washington was a better sports town with him in it. Rangers fans will learn to like him, too, once they get finished cleaning up pieces of Blair Betts from the Garden ice.

• Scott Niedermayer(notes) ends a bit of drama with a one-year contract worth $6 million (per TSN) with the Anaheim Ducks. He had a $6.75 million cap hit last season. The Canucks and Devils were mentioned as "kicking the tires" on Niedermayer, but it would have been public relations suicide for the Ducks to have made the Pronger deal and then lose Niedermayer, too.

• Finally, the Columbus Blue Jackets have made their offer to Rick Nash(notes), who hits free agency next summer. Have to love the timing, as Nash watches the Marian Hossa(notes) deal and the Sedins' deals go down. 

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 ...

Many National Hockey League general managers are of the belief that you should build a team from the goal out and, to use a football motto, defense wins championships.

As we've seen many times before, it doesn't take six superstar blue-liners to hoist the Stanley Cup. A mix of some offensive flair with defensive-minded bodies along with a touch of brave souls willing to give up the body to block shots is a blueprint that wins championships.

This year's free agent defenseman class features players that fall into each of those categories, with most looking for a significant raise in salary.

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]