wow, give the sabres junk for not keeping briere and drury but give them junk for keeping vanek for less $ than the other two signed on their teams, wtf? id reather have roy and vanek over drury and briere and the stats agree but no one ever mentions that do they?

No talk of Sykora signing with the Pens? He only costs $2.5 million a year. That's a hell of a deal.

Poor Ducks. For most of the year it looked like the pick they were going to get from the Penner deal was going to be around 5. Thanks to a late run by Big Oil, that pick fell all the way to number 12. That's still a nice trade for a guy like Penner, but it still has to hurt just a little.

This is a pretty poor article on your part spector in my opinion. First of all why is everyone hating on Briere? He was the centerpiece of a team that finished deadlast a year ago. His 72 points should be considered outstanding since his main job was to play WITH Gagne and set him up. Guess what Gagne didn't play all year Richards went down with injury and somehow the Flyers made playoffs. <br /><br />I also think that Kariya deserves a LOT more love than you are giving him. He signed for 6 mill and everyone knew that St. Louis overpaid, but that was to land a quality player and bring him into a non hockey market and try to make it respectable. Not only did he do that but did you see how many goals Boyes scored this year? Did you take notice of who set Boyes up? Thats right Kariya. Without Kariya I bet Boyes is around the 25-30 goal mark.<br /><br />What did Vanek put up 39 goals? Thats not too shabby especially after a terrible start to the season where the Sabres were still wallowing in self pity.<br /><br />Don't forget to mention that not only is Penner making 4.25, he also cost a first round pick and 2 second rounders. Steep price.

Early Prediction: Marty Tur-Choke does Stars in again in Playoffs

Hey Spec. Didn't you pick the Canadiens to finish last. Wrong again.

Hey Hyde. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg make less money than Chris Drury. They are better defensively, and they put up 80+ points per year. That is why Drury is not worth his $7 million+.

Spect, you are missing one of the best trades, The yotes giving up adams for Vrbata....Vrbata had a career year!

Spect, one of the best trades, you didnt mention, the yotes trading adams for Vrbata, career year!!!!!

Spector,<br /><br />I know this is a column about notable UFA signings, which is why I asked about Hamrlik not Campbell. If you're going to mention Hamrlik as a good signing for the Habs, then how can you ignore Rivet who brought stability and experience to a young SJ blueline, and even had more points. In fact, the Habs wouldn't have needed to sign Hamrlik if they hadn't traded Rivet to the Sharks in the first place. Maybe they thought Rivet would resign with them when his rental stay was over. Unfortunatley for the Habs, Rivet loved playing in SJ so much more then hockey mad Montreal, that SJ was the only team he tried to sign with. Plus, considering what he brought to the team, they got him at a bargain. I have a feeling that Campbell is noticing the same thing Rivet did last year, even though I know you're hoping for Campbell to leave.

I am hoping the most important point of this article is not lost on the GM's. Throwing money at big name players ends in more disappointments than success. GM's must spend smarter. The NHL salary is reaching the same level as pre-lockout. I don't want another work stoppage. Stop the insanity.

worst free agent non signing was not resigning Chris Drury... the sabres needed him... not Briere, not Vanek, not Campbell.... Drury, a hockey GOD as buccigrass would say.

Hi Spector,<br /><br />How can you have the Huet deal lost in the middle of these signings???<br /><br />Without a doubt, this was the best trade deadline move -- mad Alex scoring and lights out Huet tending carried the Caps into the playoffs (and a division crown) with an amazing winning streak.<br /><br />What's wrong -- you don't want to bring it up due the good scare you Habs fans must of had seeing the possibility of a Mont-Wash first round matchup with only a couple of games to go??<br /><br />Just kidding around -- but seriously, would you consider the Huet move the most significant of all you listed?

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Hey Spector,<br /><br />For bargins what about the blackhawks signings of robert lang and brent sopel?<br /><br />Lang may have had only 54 points but most of his points came in close games or were game change plus as mentor to the young players he was key. <br /><br />Sopel brought his game back from the dead and was also key to there playoff run.<br /><br />I know they didnt make it to the playoffs but you have to give them some credit for low budget moves. Along with young players they were keys to this year's turn around for the Blackhawks.

Damn Handzus!!!

After tonight's tilt against the Desert Dogs, Mathieu Schneider finishes the season with a +22. Twelve G's, 27 A's and a not-too-damaging 50 PIMs, in 65 games.<br /><br />Looks like Penner took the money and ran. Twenty-three goals for $4.25M/year. Anaheim paid him less than a mil to score tweny-nine.<br /><br />Burke calculated his risks and came out ahead (for the time being). Giguere's sports hernia surgery just before the season opened allow for JS to be healthier and more reliable, and to let Bryz's cap hit move on to PHO.

Odd those BLEEPs are B*A*N*G. Like B@NG for The Buck. Sorry for my offensive language.??

Ahh, if only Kariya had picked a winner...like the Preds! Ah well, it'll give him more time to work on his putting.

Spector you noted the deal of the Summer (bang for the buck) in the UFA catagory as Ellis for the Preds. Agreed, GM Poile is one of the best at that. You missed the trade deadline most bang for the buck and it is again GM Poile and the Nashville Preds. Most years we have one of the top ones in this catagory. (Last year's Forsberg fiasco aside) Of course i am refering to the well known Jan Hlavac traded from Tampa Bay for a 7th round draft pick. (originally drafted NY Islanders' 2nd round choice, 28th overall, in 1995). He is currently 14 points in 18 games (8 in the last 9 games) with a plus 9. He worked his way to the First line and continues to excel. I do not know of a more bang for the buck anywhere in the league.<br /><br />CJ