I know, I know, attn users with <1000 posts. It's a big offseason and I didn't feel like using the playoff thread.

The big item on the agenda before next season is the expiration of the current CBA. Negotiations between the players and league for a new one start on Friday. It won't be as contentious as last time, but the players are going to want more concessions from the owners after feeling shafted last go-round.

Several teams have agreed with players on contract extensions today:

-Penguins and Sidney Crosby agree to 12 year, $104.4 million dollar contract. Cap hit of $8.7 million is the same as his current contract.
-Jonathan Quick comes off a Conn Smythe playoff performance and Stanley Cup championship by agreeing to a reported $50 million over 10 years
-Predators come to terms with Hal Gill, agreeing to pay $4 million over 2 years
-Tuukka Rask gets a one year, $3.5 million deal from the Bruins with Tim Thomas taking the season off

These deals can't officially be signed until Sunday when free agency starts.

Speaking of free agency, some of the UFAs that are going to draw a decent amount of attention this summer are:

-Zach Parise: (current cap hit of 6 mil) 31 goals, 38 assists last season with NJ. Pretty much the top offensive guy on everyone's radar
-Ryan Suter: (3.5 mil) 7 goals, 39 assists with the Preds last season. Sounds like he might be heading to Detroit.
-Alex Semin: (6.7 mil) Inconsistent and overpaid. 21 goals, 33 assists with the Capitals
-Jiri Hudler: (2.875 mil) 25 goals, 25 assists in Detroit last season
-Shane Doan: (4.55 mil) 22 goals, 28 assists last year and is 35 years old. I'd imagine he's looking to go where he has a shot at a Cup.
-Ray Whitney: (3 mil) 24 goals, 53 assists with Phoenix. Gonna go ahead and say that he'll probably be a Hurricane by next week

There is an extremely shallow pool of defensemen hitting free agency this summer. Suter is going to get a hell of a deal somewhere.

In addition, no way Bobby Ryan stays a Duck. It will be interesting to see what Anaheim can get for him.

Fun/scary summer incoming. Plz 2 not let there be a work stoppage

[Edited on June 28, 2012 at 5:29 PM. Reason : .]

6/28/2012 5:13:48 PM

small correction: Crosby's deal is 12 years

Sunday should be fun

6/28/2012 5:27:08 PM

Whoops, good catch. Don't know why I put 10.

6/28/2012 5:30:53 PM

Quote :

"@DarrenDreger Martin Brodeur very likely to test free agent market. Brodeur has hired Pat Brisson (CAA) to represent him. Bidders get ready!"

LOL

6/29/2012 10:51:44 AM

o hai

6/29/2012 12:10:39 PM

Somewhat old news at this point, but the cap is at $70.2 million with a floor of $54.2 million until the new CBA.

6/29/2012 12:30:47 PM

If Marty can't get a deal done with Lou, he should retire.

Otherwise, he'll take a pay cut to go to a place where they'll let him play 70 games, but be miserable by the end of December when he's getting torched for 4-5 a night by a team that won't play smothering D.

6/29/2012 12:57:02 PM

He should retire and let Lou entice Zach with the freed up cash. Ideally, I would have liked for Marty to have groomed a young, new, talented goalie to fill his shoes, but going forward, the priority is to have Zach.

6/29/2012 2:27:57 PM

hard to groom a goalie in 7 starts a year

6/29/2012 2:35:17 PM

can't wait to see some of these contracts

Gaustad got freaking 4 years, 3.25 per. That deal, plus trading a first rounder for him in the first place...wow.

It makes me wonder what stupid deal larose could get on the open market next year.

7/1/2012 4:33:58 AM

Parise supposedly deciding by 10 if he will test free agency or stay a Devil.

7/1/2012 9:40:04 AM

Going to FA.

Not because of Parise, but it just feels like Christmas morning. Can't wait to see what happens.

7/1/2012 11:08:17 AM

Marty signs a 2 year, $9 million contract with the Devils. Don't know if it means anything in regard to Parise.

[Edited on July 2, 2012 at 8:14 AM. Reason : ]]

7/2/2012 8:14:05 AM

It means that Zach won't be winning a Cup in the next two years if he stays in Jersey.

7/2/2012 11:01:02 AM

The twitters are saying its down to the Wild and Penguins for Parise anyway.

7/2/2012 11:10:52 AM

^ If that's the case I hope he chooses the Wild, if for no other reason than for Pierre Maguire to be so disappointed because he has been going on and on about how the rest of the Eastern conference will be screwed if the Pens get Parise.

7/2/2012 11:45:32 AM

I'd be okay with the Wild.

7/2/2012 1:32:24 PM

Zach Parise: NHL Troller of the Year 2012

7/2/2012 5:11:55 PM

He needs more time so he can continue to try and talk TSN into a version of "The Decision".

7/2/2012 5:23:09 PM

The pessimist in me can't help but wonder if securing Salvador and Marty/Moose is merely a sign that they've given up on Zach. (I don't buy into twitter machine rumors).

7/3/2012 2:29:59 PM

I doubt it, but paying Salvador $3.5mm/yr is asinine

7/3/2012 2:50:47 PM

They named him team MVP last season (although it should have been David Clarkson) so they obviously value his talent.

7/3/2012 3:23:29 PM

Jagr signed a 1 year, $4.5M deal w/Dallas.

7/3/2012 5:49:46 PM

nooooooo I want jagr to stay on the Flyers!!

7/4/2012 11:35:15 AM

umm.. it's a bit late for that.

7/4/2012 11:46:20 AM

Parise and Suter agree to 13 year deals with the WILD

7/4/2012 12:21:54 PM

the fucking wild.

fuck that

7/4/2012 12:31:47 PM

each of them are getting $98 mil over those 13 years. DAMN!

7/4/2012 12:34:29 PM

At least it wasn't the Penguins.... Oh well. What sucks is now they'll give the C to Kovy and I'll want to vomit.

7/4/2012 12:36:48 PM

Fuck the Wild, who do they think they are, the Rangers of the west?

EPIC FAIL

7/4/2012 12:43:52 PM

This is the best possible realistic outcome

7/4/2012 12:44:26 PM

I didn't realize they were some sort of package deal. O.o

7/4/2012 1:22:31 PM

The NHL needs to do away with these ridiculous long term contracts. I believe 6 years should be the maximum contract length

7/4/2012 1:56:35 PM

Are they going to have a dance party like the Heat did?

Just glad it wasn't to the Penguins.

7/4/2012 2:02:14 PM

Quote :

"This is the best possible realistic outcome"

Keep them out of the east

7/4/2012 2:18:00 PM

This thread may last a while.

Quote :

" NHL proposal to players: 1 - reduce players hockey related revenues to 46% from 57 %. 2 - 10 seasons in NHL before being UFA. 3 - contracts limites to 5 years 4 - no more salary arbitration. 5 - entry-level contract 5 years instead of 3. "

Quote :

"The moment the proposal was presented, every player in the room knew Gary had just written off 1st 3 months of the season. "

7/14/2012 8:13:34 AM

7/14/2012 9:08:00 AM

again, it's a FIRST OFFER. They know they won't get that, and probably don't even care if they get that. The players response offer will probably be as absurd to the other extreme, and they'll eventually meet somewhere in the middle. It's like a yard sale: you ask $50 for an item knowing you'll get $30, but if you start at $30, you'll only get $15.

7/14/2012 10:56:40 AM

^I don't disagree that's the point of negotiating but that's a completely dick move by the NHL. To me, that's more like setting an asking price of $1000 for your toaster at the yard sale.

10 seasons in NHL before being a UFA puts way too much emphasis on drafting in my opinion, and I don't see the point of limiting contracts to five years (seven or eight maybe, ten and over does seem kinda silly).

7/14/2012 12:23:09 PM

I think JR has mentioned that insurance currently (don't know if that's w/i league, or outside insurance) only will cover the first 7 years of a contract. IMO, 7 years is plenty for contract length. 10 years is fucking stupid. It doesn't benefit either side as 1)like you said, it puts way too much emphasis on drafting, and 2)players are going to spend the vast majority of their career with one team.

The other big point of contention is what each side says counts as hockey-related revenue. That split will end up being anywhere btw 50-52% for the players instead of the 57% it is now. Smaller piece of a bigger pie, but if the players can make up that difference with more beneficial contracts, hopefully the fucking season can start on time. Then again, Donald Fehr is involved.

7/14/2012 12:56:56 PM

Gary Bettman's probably written off the first three months of the season so Semin has enough time to decide to move to the Carolina Hurricanes.

7/15/2012 1:08:56 AM

Wow, I heard the first offer from the NHL was bad, and I agree with the 'yard sale' analogy, but those terms are just insulting

7/15/2012 8:34:48 AM

Shea Weber Signs 14-Year, $100-Plus Million Offer Sheet From Philadelphia Flyers

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/7/19/3168984/shea-weber-offer-sheet-philadelphia-flyers-nashville-predators

Couple things. First, huge balls by Holmgren to offer an RFA. I'd like the Preds to match because I sure as shit don't want Shea Weber in the Atlantic.

Second, where the fuck do the Flyers keep finding the cap space to make deals like this? I guess the Flyers also think he's worth 4 first rounders because that's what it's going to end up costing them.

7/19/2012 1:44:58 AM

Wah Wah Wee Wah

7/19/2012 8:13:04 AM

Nash to rangers.

7/23/2012 2:25:52 PM

Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a first-round pick going the other way

7/23/2012 2:50:51 PM

Howson did a great job getting 78 cents for that dollar

7/23/2012 5:34:10 PM

Quote :

"Dustin Byfuglien is taking his no movement clause a little too literal.."

EDIT: Nvm..looks like a bad angle on that pic



[Edited on July 24, 2012 at 12:12 PM. Reason : o]

7/24/2012 12:08:34 PM

Preds matched the offer sheet for Weber

7/24/2012 3:19:00 PM

Fuck yeah Preds

7/24/2012 4:10:38 PM