Three days until NHL free agency, market already thinning
Sullivan won the '09 Masterton
The biggest NHL free-agent news today involved Joni Pitkanen spurning the open market to stay with Carolina for — what I believe to be a cap-friendly — $4.5 million for three seasons.
To me, a puck-mover like Pitkanen in the prime of his career (he’s only 27) could’ve commanded a lot more. Obviously, he’s happy to be with the Hurricanes and wants them to have some flexibility to improve a team that has missed the playoffs the last two springs.
Pitkanen’s signing comes on the heels of Kevin Bieksa’s decision to remain with Vancouver for $4.6 million over five years. With Christian Ehrhoff and Ed Jovanovski now the biggest names among defensemen seemingly set to reach UFA status, Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle’s price has definitely been elevated unless he’s willing to trade a stable home for cash. Boston’s options for a Kaberle replacement have also slimmed.
But with Steven Kampfer and Matt Bartkowski in line to compete for playing time next season, the Bruins might not need a big-name replacement. A guy I would look at is Sami Lepisto, the former Phoenix blueliner who was not tendered a qualifying offer by Columbus. Lepisto is 26 and a solid third-pair puck-mover who made just $800,000 last season. If the Bruins could bring him in — at say a cool million — to compete with Kampfer and Bartkowski, they might be set on their back end.
Brooks Laich’s decision to re-sign with Washington at $4.5 million per season shows he’s comfortable in D.C. It also sets a bar for free-agent forwards not named Brad Richards. If a versatile, tough-nosed 28-year-old like Laich is worth $4.5 million, then a one-dimensional, 31-year-old like Michael Ryder might be worth half or less than that. At any price, the Bruins might have already decided to move on from Ryder.
A guy the Bruins should definitely take a look at is Steve Sullivan, who will not be re-signed by Nashville. He’s a bit long in the tooth at 36 and he was limited to just 44 games last season due to a sports hernia and a MCL injury. But his back and head problems from the past are reportedly no longer an issue. He’s the type of dressing-room guy that could help make up for Mark Recchi’s loss and he could be a huge boost to Boston’s stagnant power play. Obviously he’s going to take a pay cut from his $3.75 million, and maybe he’d be willing to take a Recchi-like bonus-laded deal to join the defending Stanley Cup champs.
It’ll be interesting to see how many worthwhile players are still available on Friday. Regardless of the star power on the open market, it’ll also be intriguing to watch how Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli goes about fine-tuning his Cup champs.
[...] I expressed my desire to see the Bruins go after former Nashville forward Steve Sullivan. Later last night, however, Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer reported that [...]
How about a guy like Langenbrunner to take Recchi spot in the dressing room and there is no doubt he can still put up decent numbers. Also heard Rolston is available and he could be a great third-line player for the time, but his cap-hit is redonk!!!
If they go for Sullivan, or any other forward in FA, it should be a 1 year deal for a veteran or as much as 3 years for someone under 30. Sullivan is injury-prone, but we have cap room and rookies who could help fill the void if things don’t work out.
Sullivan is pretty old and seems to be breaking down, no?
I am kind of surprised Erhoff rejected what was reportedly Bieksa’s same contract. To my eyes he looked the weaker of the two in the SC final by far. Or maybe he just wanted out.
As per Darren Dreger, Chia sent out an e-mail today offering up the negotiating rights to Kabby today. Looks like he won’t be back- which means there’s hope for him to sign Wiz, or place an offer for Yandle (probably won’t happen), or to grab a guy like Lepisto. My feeling is that Chia wants to get younger on the back end, and that he’ll look for an answer internally. I hope Kampfer surprises in camp with a little more shiftiness and confidence along the boards. An extra 10 lbs wouldn’t hurt him, either- the kid has got skill, but he needs to complement it with a little bulk.
I agree with MattK that a character guy like Steve Sullivan should be brought in- especially with a solid group of young forwards (Seguin, Caron, Knight, Spooner) all looking to come into their own. I’m excited for next year- it’s a great time to be a B’s fan for sure.
The Isles gave up a 2012, 4th round pick to the ‘Nucks for Erhoff’s negotiating rights. The Isles have/are, quietly, put together a very competitive team.
I still think the B’s should, at least, attempt an offer to Selanne…we all know what players/agents sometime say isn’t what they do, especially when $’s enter into the conversation.
That’s how I think too Hungus. No Pressure – We’ve won the cup. The last thing this team should do now is sign a long term deal b/c they feel any NEED, like the Kaberle/PMD thing. I’d like to see them sign a FA defenseman, but I have no interest in them signing anyone out there as some sort of long-term piece.
By the way… the more I think about it. If I’m Yandel – no way do I sign with the Coyotes for one day more that what gets me to UFA status (is that one year?). Who wants to play in Phoenix – Certainly not a Mass kid that can pretty much take his pick of clubs in big hockey markets with a chance to win. No doubt the Bs would be interested, but can you imagine him on the back end in Detroit?! They’d pay huge for him. So – my theory is he’ll be out there again and soon unless he gets an offer from the right place now that is impossible for the Yotes to match.
Again – I just don’t see a big upside for the Bs in extending themselves for anything on the market right now. But I could see any of what’s out there backfiring into a bad contract.
Risk-Rewards says take it slow, Bro.
i could see chia waiting for the trade deadline to get a pmd and letting kampfer sink or swim in the mean time.
z-boychuk
sides-kampfer
af-quaider