Official NHL Free Agent Frenzy Thread (B. Richards Update!)

[RiceBondsMntna2Rice]

Has Vokoun to Caps for 1 year $1.5M been mentioned?

[RGM81]

Surprised that Vokoun went for that cheap. He was making $5.5M last year, maybe the Caps have told him that he's going to have a chance to be the #1 but Neuvirth's the incumbent?

[RGM81]

Surprised that Vokoun went for that cheap. He was making $5.5M last year, maybe the Caps have told him that he's going to have a chance to be the #1 but Neuvirth's the incumbent?

[mr ozzie]

9 years is too much but look what Richards has done compared to Connolly. He didn't make it in NY and in Buffalo he hasn't played a full season in 5 years.
9.5 is a lot of money to be spending on him.

You need to look at the historical facts about free agents coming to toronto. Blake and finger being the most recent that come to memory prior to the Burke era. Typical leaf fan stupidity looking at the player's PAST accomplishments to justify signing him (Roberts, nieuwendyk, Nolan, etc). Even if you could get Richards for 4-5 years at 6.5-7mil per, what are you going to do when he flops? Send him to the minors? Ha! Conolly at two at a modest 4.8 mil per is a win for the leafs. 1) it addresses the centre need 2) contract is short enough that IF he flops he can be traded at the deadline. Rangers just ruined their long term future with this signing. And thankfully the leafs didn't fall for it.

[TMacfreak91]

and the booing is going to be so much worse for him than it has even been on Drury, Briere, Soupy, and other former Sabres that left town.

Agreed and that will happen for 2 reasons:

1.) He's on what I consider our biggest rival in the Leafs
2.) The fans stopped liking him even before he left the Sabres


Steve

[flemingc04]

Nashville signs Niclas Bergfors to a one-year deal at $575,000.

[scottkoz20]

Nashville signs Niclas Bergfors to a one-year deal at $575,000.

Watch him score 25 goals this season

[scottkoz20]

Josh Green to the Oilers on a one-year, two-way contract.

[MatsSundin13Rocks]

I actually like the Leafs signing Tim Connolly as I have always liked him as a player. Not sure what is up with Buffalo fans hating him so much? Someone explain that to me. I think with this move the Leafs have 2 solid scoring lines assuming they get a deal done with MacArthur. Kessel, Connolly, and Lupul as 1 line and Kulemin, Grabovski, and MacArthur line 2. Then you have Kadri, Bozak, Armstrong, Lombardi, and others (not sure who will be left of Brown, Boyce, Orr, Crabb, Hanson, etc).

Leafs D is looking good with Phanuef, Schenn, Liles, Franson, Gunnarson, Aulie, Komi (well that isn't so good).

[TheIronHorse4]

I actually like the Leafs signing Tim Connolly as I have always liked him as a player. Not sure what is up with Buffalo fans hating him so much? Someone explain that to me. I think with this move the Leafs have 2 solid scoring lines assuming they get a deal done with MacArthur. Kessel, Connolly, and Lupul as 1 line and Kulemin, Grabovski, and MacArthur line 2. Then you have Kadri, Bozak, Armstrong, Lombardi, and others (not sure who will be left of Brown, Boyce, Orr, Crabb, Hanson, etc).

Leafs D is looking good with Phanuef, Schenn, Liles, Franson, Gunnarson, Aulie, Komi (well that isn't so good).

Oh where to begin with Tim Connolly. He is a 1st line talent with 3rd line production and value. Ever since he was knocked out of the Ottawa series in the 05-06 playoffs, he became a shell of what he could be. He is soft, won't play in the corners, won't go that extra mile to make a play. I always get the impression he floats around and never seems to be exerting himself. Obviously he is quite injury prone, having not played a whole seaon since 01-02 and has missed more games than he's played since 06-07 ( I think). He always leaves you wanting more, because there are times when he DAZZLES you with his talent, but so often than not you're disappointed with the result. It's like seeing a trailer to a movie that looks really really good, and then turns out to be like Gigli with J-Lo....Not good.