The list of potential unrestricted free agents grew a little smaller over the past 24 hours with the announcement of three potential UFAs re-signing with their current teams.
The Minnesota Wild re-signed goaltender Niklas Backstrom to a two-year, $6.2 million contract, with a limited “no-trade” clause that prevents the Wild from trading him in the first season of the deal.
The Dallas Stars announced Thursday the re-signing of popular veteran forward Stu Barnes to a one-year, $900,000 contract, while the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday announced the re-signing of winger Nik Antropov to a two-year deal worth just over $4 million.
Minnesota’s retention of Backstrom came as no surprise, given his outstanding performance in the second half of the season and the playoffs filling in for the injured Manny Fernandez. Backstrom finished the season with the top save percentage (.922) and goals-against average (1.97) in the league, so there was no question of the Wild retaining him.
His re-signing does however raise the question of Fernandez’s future with the team. While management has suggested retaining the two, the fact is the Wild simply won’t be able to accomplish this if they’re to retain a tight budget as anticipated and still have available cap space to re-sign their key RFA players.
Fernandez has already made his unhappiness over the situation clear, and with Josh Harding having proven a capable backup for Backstrom, the question isn’t “if” Fernandez is dealt, but “when” and “where”?
My guess? Florida Panthers (they have the cap space and the promising young talent to offer), and during the June Entry Draft weekend, in two weeks time.
Barnes’ re-signing with Dallas was also anticipated, as his solid defensive play and affordability made his return a no-brainer.
Antropov’s re-signing however has received mixed reaction in “Leafs Nation”, with some believing him worth $2.05 million per season and others panning the deal as yet another example of Leafs management overpaying for mediocre talent.
Antropov has been a frustration for Leafs followers, as he’s teased with potential of being a possible 30-goal scoring “power forward” yet he’s been frequently injured and his inconsistency when healthy has led to previous calls for the team to shop him.
Last season was Antropov’s career best in terms of goals (18 in 54 games) and second best in points (33), most of those coming by playing on Mats Sundin’s line, where as his critics point out, his grandmother could’ve done as well.
His supporters are hoping that Antropov will finally have the big breakthrough season, but if he doesn’t, expect his contract to further stoke calls for Leafs GM John Ferguson Jr’s dismissal.
The Wild made the right move in signing Backstrom, but weakened their trading position in the process.
With the salary cap now being discussed at between $51 to $52 million (versus the $47 we've been projecting all year long), the Minnesota Wild may have difficulty moving Fernandez for a reasonable return prior to July 1.
If the cap is $4 to $5 million more than we've all been expecting, those few teams that are looking for goaltending just might hold on until the free agent period to see if they have a shot as J.S. Giguere. Assuming Giggy signs in the $7 million range, he'll cost your club roughly another $2 million more a season than Fernandez's current contract, but is a couple of years younger than Manny and certainly a much better goalie.
Of course, if Anaheim re-signs Giguere in the next couple of weeks, then the market for Fernandez improves considerably.
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on June 7th at 5:05 PM.
There's several teams seeking goaltenders, and while Giguere would be the best of the bunch, it's not certain he'll hit the market, and if he does, he'll command almost $7 million (using Khabibulin's $6.75 million as a comparable, and Khabby doesn't have a Conn Smythe in one year to go with his Cup ring in another).
In other words, one team will get him if he hits the market, leaving the rest looking for other options, and Fernandez would have to be considered the next best. His contract is pricey but still affordable and he's posted very good stats in the past couple of years.
The other option is Toskala, considerably more affordable,but again, if he goes, there's still teams looking for quality goalies.
And if Giggy doesn't hit the market, you're looking at probably half-a-dozen teams interested in Toskala and Fernandez, thus the latter will find a new home before next season.
Giggy could stay in Anaheim, but I diubt strongly that Burke is going to cough up 7 mil per season. They won't go over 5.5 mil to retain him, unless Scott Niedermeyer retires. With Niedermeyer's salary and Pronger's salary, coughing up another 7 mil would mean that about 40% of the cap would be taken up by 3 players. Giggy might take less to stay in Anaheim, who knows.
As for other goalies, if Giggy stays, Bryzgalov could be on his way out. I think this is the year Toskala moves from the Sharks. Fernandez is gone from Minnesota for sure. Montreal now finds itself with a goalie surplus since Carey Price, who won the AHL playoff MVP yesterday, will be hard to keep on the farm. Gainey will probably make a qualifying offer to Yan Danis to retain him in Hamilton and entertain offers for Jaroslav Halak. There is no shortage of teams seeking to upgrade in nets this summer, Florida, Boston, Tampa, L.A, and maybe Detroit.
Toronto signing Antropov for over 2M per season is a joke! I hope he kicks back part of his salary to Sundin and whomever is on the other wing. He's a body for sure, but there is better talent available to spend 2M on.
The only way the Leafs are ever going to win the Cup is to blow up the team and start over, using their current young talent to get them through a few lean seasons. Toronto will still sell out the ACC, so MLSE will still get their profits. I am one of millions who believe blowing up the team is the right way to go.
Spector - please keep up your blogs as often as possible over the summer. I need my hockey fix and God only knows I'm not getting it living in the USA.
IAMCANADIAN: I agree 2 mill for Antropov. After this contract he'll be a UFA and if he doesn't get good enough he'll get dropped by the team for sure. Toronto management has a history of playing faviourites. Signing players they don't need for money they can't afford to give up. I would've told him to hit the road and have signed someone like Comrie for 2-3 million for a season.
Spector: I'm with IAMCANADIAN. I'd apreicate it if you could keep us updated on everything in hockey. IAMCANADIAN thinks looking for hockey news in America is difficult. Try China on for size.
And for Goalies... man I wonder how much teams will be willing to give up in trade for Bryzgalov or Fernandez, or Toskala.
What what's this about the cp going upto 52 million? You can't tell me that Edmonton and Calgary can stay compeditive with a cap that high. It's getting insane... again.
Thadd: Rest assured I'll be busy on this blog this summer keeping track of the latest significant UFA signings, trades, and hockey news.
As for the Oilers and Flames staying competitive under a rising cap, don't worry, the rising Canadian dollar will ensure they will.
There remains a perception that those two teams struggled under the old CBA because there was no salary cap, and that this CBA has saved those franchises. That, however, is wrong.
The Oilers and Flames struggled under the old CBA because the Canadian dollar was much weaker during that period. Five years ago, the "loonie" was worth around .65 cents US. Tough to build and maintain a roster when your revenues are in Cdn dollars but your players get paid in US dollars.
Now, however, the "loonie" is worth around .95 cents US and economists predict it'll be on par with the Yankee greenback by the end of the year.
That's why Oilers GM Kevin Lowe is suggesting his payroll will keep pace with the rising cap, even if it hits $52 million. That's why he's suggesting he'll be spending lots of money in the off-season.
The rising dollar, not the salary cap, saved the Oilers and Flames.
But just how much can teams like Edmonton and Calgary spend on salaries? Their combined population is gotta be around 2.5 million people? If they end up raising the cap by 3-8 million dollars every year it's going to catch upto the Canadian teams because they'll be forced to raise ticket prices to a point where 2.5 million people can't sell out two standiums on a regular basis.
I guess Edmonton is lucky that the got Hemsky locked up for the price that they did for as many years as they did. They've got around 30 million into 15 players. They need what... 22 players on a roster?
Matt Greene will probably get more than a mill next season. Torres shouldn't be worth much more than 1.2 million, since he's proven himself to be a grinder and instead of a top six forward. I hope to god that they just get rid of Brad Winchester.
Robb Schremp better be playing in the NHL next season, he's getting a mill next season. So Edmonton is looking at 33-35 million for their current guys with a lot of money to spend on unrestricted free agents. I guess the big question is who is going to step up and sign with Edmonton? If Lowe is as commited to signing quality players as he says he is then he better take a good stab at getting both Rafalski and Hamerlik to unscrew the problems on the blueline. That'll probably be 10 million a year.
And Lowe has admited that he wants to spend a crapload of money? That's still a lot of money to fool around with. That's still enough to offer Smyth his old job back.
That's not a typo that Stu Barnes signed for $900,000. That's got to be the best deal in the NHL. He's was the only consistent Star this Spring. Wow.
Hey Spector, how about Carey Price and the Bulldogs win!!! You must be excited. I hear the Flames AHL team has moved to Illinois?
Thadd: The Oilers and Flames can spend that kind of money because they play to full houses every night. The Oilers ranks 17th overall in NHL attendance, however, that's a reflection of the size of their arena capacity, since their attendance was at 98.5% capacity for this season, which probably saw a dropoff toward the end of the season when it became apparent the team wasn't making the playoffs.
The Flames were sixth overall in league attendance this season, playing at 112% capacity (that's not a typo!).
According to Team Marketing Report website the Oilers charged the sixth highest ticket prices in the league, whilst the Flames charged the 9th highest. Why? Because they charged what the market would bear. Salaries had nothing to do with it, but rather attendance and how much fans were willing to pay. The cap can keep rising but as long as the fans keep coming out, those two teams will continue to charge what the market will bear.
When you're doing that well at the gate and with the Cdn dollar at .95 cents US it's no wonder they'll be spending big bucks. It's doubtful those two clubs will raise ticket prices for next season because of the strengthening dollar and the fact they'll easily meet the season ticket target of 14,000.
With the 14,000 seats, my father was telling me that this year or next year that they're going to be doing renovations to Rextall place(or whatever they're going to be calling it nextyear) so that there'll be more seats.
Either way it'll be interesting. What's the most Edmonton has ever spent on salaries in a year?
Why do you suppose barnes went for so low? It's not like Dallas is that close to what was the the cap. Next year they should be playing with a defensman who goes by the name Fistric. I watched him for a few years while i was living in vancouver when he was playing for the Giants in the WHL. Even at the age of 16 this guy was one scary guy to be around. Plays great defensivly. He's really resonsible in his own end, makes a pretty good first pass, skates well for a big guy, and knows when to and when not to let his mean streak let loose.
Thadd: The Oilers spent over $40 million on payroll this past season, which was the most they've ever spent,and judging by Lowe's comments, they'll far eclipse that next season. And to think ownership claimed the Oilers couldn't afford those kind of payroll a few short years ago. Again, amazing the effect of the rising Cdn dollar on that attitude.
As for Barnes, it's not surprising he signed for so low, as his skills are deteriorating with age. He's no longer the scoring threat he once was, but is a decent checking line forward.
With the season now over, the rumors (or rumours)are starting to appear. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported today that Chris Drury is likely to go to the San Jose Sharks. This makes some sense to me, considering that Marleau's leadership ability has been openly questioned. With Drury gone, the Sabres would re-sign Danny Briere, the logic being that the Sabres can't afford to lose both of them. And that would leave the Flyers joining several other teams in the Scott Gomez sweepstakes. Things are heating up already!
Drury to San Jose is by no means a certainty. Sharks management has already stated the intent to start negotiating contract extensions with Thornton and Marleau, suggesting no interest in landing a third, pricey center.
That being said, if the Sharks do sign Drury, expect Marleau to hit the trade block, if he isn't deal prior to.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
