Ohh, free agency.  The most frustrating time to be a hockey fan.  Weeks on end of biting your nails, waiting to see if your favorite players will be back, or if your team will suffer the fate of last year’s Buffalo Sabres. ( I, for one, am currently banging my head against the wall waiting for Lou Lamoriello to get his act together and sign Jay Pandolfo before the deadline. But that’s neither here nor there.)

In the week since the draft, the activity around the NHL has been typical of late June — contract buy-outs, big signings, qualifying offers, and everything in between.  With only 5 days left until the “big day”, here’s a round-up of the biggest headlines of the week.

*After a week of rumors that the Penguins were close to signing Marian Hossa, his agent announced this weekend that Hossa would be testing free agency.  Hossa is certainly going to be one of the most sought-after unrestricted free agents on the market, and will probably command over $7 million a year.

*Ottawa bought out Ray Emery’s contract, making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.  Given the problems he had in the locker room this year, it will be interesting to see who is willing to take a chance on him, and if the change of scenery improves his attitude.

*Los Angeles attempted to buy out Dan Cloutier’s contract as well, but because of his injury problems this season, Cloutier needs to get medical clearance before they can complete the process.

*According to Sean Avery’s agent, it seems highly unlikely Avery will be resigning with the Rangers, making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.  Rumored interested teams include the Kings and the Stars.

*Shea Weber signed a three year, $13.5 million contract to stay in Nashville, keeping him from being a restricted free agent.  The Predators continued to lock up the core of their team, having already signed Martin Erat, Ryan Suter, and Dan Ellis earlier in the offseason.

*Gary Roberts announced that he would not be retiring, but that he would also not be returning to Pittsburgh.  Roberts intends to test the free agent waters on July 1st, stating that he was aware of Penguins GM Ray Shero’s signing priorities.

*Barry Melrose was officially announced as Tampa Bay’s head coach. Though rumored since the end of the season, the Lightning held a press conference Tuesday afternoon announcing Melrose and the rest of his staff. The move has been heavily criticized (Melrose hasn’t been behind the bench in 13 years, instead taking his perfect mullet to ESPN as their resident NHL expert), but that’s a topic for another day.

*Mats Sundin will also be headed for free agency.  Montreal was granted the rights to speak with him before July 1st, and Bob Gainey actually flew to Sweden to meet with Sundin.  As of right now, however, it appears Sundin is going to wait and see what he can demand on the open market.

*Because losing Mats Sundin wasn’t enough of a change for the Maple Leafs, the team also bought out the contracts for Darcy Tucker, Andrew Raycroft, and Kyle Wellwood. (two links) Wellwood was picked up by the Canucks on waivers.  No one can accuse Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher of not attempting to make changes for this team.

*Vincent Lecavalier is reportedly signing a 9 year, $77 million contract (worth approximately $8.55 a year assuming he reaches the ninth season) to stay in Tampa for the rest of his career.  He would be 37 at the end of the contract.

*Joe Pavelski, Brian Boucher, and Jeremy Roenick were all resigned by the Sharks this week.  Roenick and Boucher were signed to one-year deals, Pavelski received a two-year contract.

*Contract talks between Jose Theodore and the Avalanche broke down, making Theodore one of the only true starting goalies available on the unrestricted free agency list, as Washington is reportedly close to a deal with Cristobal Huet.

*After meeting with Anaheim GM Brian Burke Thursday morning, Scott Niedermayer announced he will return for the final year of his contract. Will Teemu Selanne follow suit?

*The salary cap is being increased to $56.7 million, a $6.4 million increase from last season.

For a more detailed look at the goings on, check out the headlines over at TSN.  Check back Tuesday for all the free agency craziness!

Draft weekend has come and gone, and Steve Stamkos is officially the newest member of the Tampa Bay Lightning (even though he was pretty much assured a Florida address the day the ‘Bolts won the draft lottery).  Overshadowing Stamkos’ (and the rest of the draft class’) big night was the major trade activity all evening long.  By the end of the first round, 14 trades had been made — more than in the last 3 drafts combined.  Now that the dust has settled on the draft, let’s take a look at the players that have changed teams this weekend.

Mike Cammalleri –> Calgary
12th overall pick (originally Anaheim’s) –> LA
17th overall pick (originally Calgary’s), 28th overall pick (originally LA’s) –> Anaheim

Within the first half hour of the draft, the Kings and the Flames made a big splash, announcing the movement of Mike Cammalleri, who had been the topic of many potential deals (no matter how ridiculous) in the previous weeks.  I think this is a great addition for the Flames.  Cammalleri put up great numbers early in the year last year, and although there was a drop off in his production, he was still very consistent on a terrible Kings team.  Using him as replacement for Alex Tanguay in order to save cap space for Daymond Langkow is a great move by the Calgary management.  As for the Kings, it’s become painfully obvious over the past few years that they need to rebuild.  While I would have probably looked to acquire something more than a draft pick for a player of Cammalleri’s caliber, clearing that cap room could put the Kings in the running for some of the better UFAs, while stocking their farm system for the coming seasons.  A solid move by all clubs involved.

Alex Tanguay, 5th round pick –> Montreal
25th overall pick, 2009 2nd round pick –> Calgary

I touched on this a little bit in talking about Cammalleri.  Tanguay will be a great addition for the Habs — a solid veteran forward amongst the explosive young talent.  Tanguay didn’t have the strongest numbers this year  Calgary dumps his salary after adding Cammalleri in his spot, and gains some additional young talent.  Another strong move by both parties.

Olli Jokinen –> Phoenix
Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton, 49th overall pick –> Florida

This was probably the most criticized trade of the day, but I think Florida addressed a lot of their needs in acquiring two young defenseman.  That being said, I still tend to agree with the majority of those who think Phoenix got the better end of this deal.  Jokinen is a talented forward who has been putting up strong numbers in Florida, despite the lack of a supporting cast and his issues with the Panthers’ management.  A change in scenery can only improve his performance, and the young stars in Phoenix will absolutely benefit from having another veteran forward in their lineup.  Meanwhile, the Panthers certainly filled some holes on their blue line — but lost a LOT of scoring power, and don’t look to be filling that hole anytime soon.  While it was made very clear from the end of the season that Jokinen was on his way out, I think Jacques Martin could have found himself better compensation for the former captain.

RJ Umberger, 118th overall pick –> Columbus
19th overall pick, 67th overall pick –> Philadelphia

This move caught me by surprise.  After netting 10 goals and 15 points in 17 games in the Flyers impressive playoff run this year, I expected Umberger to be atop the Flyers’ list of priority signings.  Apparently, the 26-year-old didn’t quite fit into the club’s plans, and he was shipped to Columbus for a couple of draft picks.  For Columbus, this is a fantastic move.  Umberger is still fairly young, has shown he has the ability to be an explosive scorer, and that he can play well in the clutch moments.  He is an excellent addition to a club still seeking its first playoff berth.  For the Flyers’, this clears out the cap space they need to sign Jeff Carter to a long-term deal and prevent another team from snatching him away with an offer sheet after July 1st.  I can’t say I agree with letting a player of Umberger’s talent-level get away for mere draft picks, but in the salary cap era, more and more of these sort of moves are going to happen.

Steve Eminger, 84th overall pick –> Philadelphia
27th overall pick –> Washington

This move sort of snuck by unnoticed at the end of the night.  Eminger had a rough year with the Caps this season, playing only 20 games. He’s a solid defenseman and should fit in well in Philly.  Washington needs cap space to sign Mike Green and Cristobal Huet in order to keep the core of their team together, and as a young team still building for the future, the extra draft picks can go a long way.

Looking ahead, just over a week ahead from the July 1st free agency deadline.  Marian Hossa announced yesterday that he would not, in fact, be signing with the Penguins without testing the waters, likely making him the most sought after free agent on the market.  This week, I’ll be taking a look at the available UFAs, RFAs, and potential signings leading up to the big day.  Stay tuned!

Last night was the NHL’s annual awards ceremony. The evening’s big winner was, as predicted, Alexander Ovechkin. Here’s a breakdown of the award winners (and my pre-show predictions!)

Hart Trophy (MVP)

Predicted Winner: Alexander Ovechkin
Actual Winner: Alexander Ovechkin

What can you even say about this kid? 65 goals, 112 points — he’s just unbelievable. He never stops moving, seems to be a part of every play, and is one of the most passionate players I’ve ever seen. His leadership and determination was one of the major reasons for the Capitals late-season playoff push. While they ultimately didn’t make it past the first round, the team’s turnaround would not have been possibly without the presence of “Alexander the Great”. While Evgeni Malkin and Jerome Iginla’s contributions to their teams cannot be ignored, Alex was just too good this year.

Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie)

Predicted Winner: Evgeni Nabokov
Actual Winner: Martin Brodeur

That’s right, I’m a Devils fan and I picked against Marty. I thought for sure the voting would go in Nabakov’s favor this year. Both goalies have nearly identical numbers, played in front of struggling teams at the start of the season, and were unbelievable down the stretch. Apparently, the voters agreed — Brodeur barely edged out Nabokov, finished with 113 points to Nabokov’s 106. Making at least one Devils’ fan extremely happy, Lundqvist finished with a measley 13 points. You can’t argue that Marty kept the Devils in the game this year, so he is more than deserving of his fourth Vezina in the last 5 years, placing him second all time in career wins behind the recently retired Dominic Hasek, who won the award 6 times.

Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman)

Predicted Winner: Nicklas Lidstrom
Actual Winner: Nicklas Lidstrom

This award was a no-brainer. Lidstrom has won the award 6 times in the last 7 seasons. He is the best defenseman in the game right now, hands-down. You can’t beat his presence on the ice and his skill on both ends of the ice. The Wings are lucky to have had him on their bench for the last 15 years.

Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year)

Predicted Winner: Patrick Kane
Actual Winner: Patrick Kane

The three kids up for this award this year had absolutely unbelievable seasons. Kane and Jonathan Toews were part of the turnaround in Chicago that saw them on the brink of a playoff spot for the first time in years. Unfortunately for Toews, he spent a chunk of time this year injured, which most likely killed his chances at winning the award. In spite of the injuries, he still led all rookies in scoring — leading me to wonder what he would have been capable of if he had been healthy all year. Backstrom, playing on a line with Ovechkin, benefited from playing with one of the most talented players in hockey — but that makes his accomplishments seem less impressive. Kane — at 5′9″, 160 — was the best of the three. Finding a way to be productive at that size, and adjusting as quickly as he did, made him more than deserving of the award.

Lady Byng Trophy (Sportsmanship Award)

Predicted Winner: Pavel Datsyuk
Actual Winner: Pavel Datsyuk

Datsyuk has won this award in the past, and given his style of play, for him to take as few penalties as he does is truly an accomplishment. He plays the game the way it should be played — clean defense, not chippy. This award really could have gone to any of the three — St. Louis and Pominville play in a similar manner, but their numbers are not nearly as staggering, and I think that makes Datsyuk much more impressive.

Selke Trophy (Defensive Forward)

Predicted Winner: Pavel Datsyuk
Actual Winner: Pavel Datsyuk

I wanted John Madden to win this more than anything, but I knew it wouldn’t happen. Datsyuk was the runaway winner in this category, with Madden finishing second. 31 goals, 97 points, and +41. You just can’t beat those kind of numbers. He and Zetterberg were dominant this year on both ends of the ice, and were continually the type of pairing that opponents hated to play against.

Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year)

Predicted Winner: Bruce Boudreau
Actual Winner: Bruce Boudreau

Back in November, the Capitals were tanking. They’d only won a handful of games, and were in last place in the Eastern Conference. On November 22, management hired Bruce Boudreau to his first-ever NHL coaching job. Boudreau lead the Capitals to a 37-17-7 record, a Southeast Division title, and became the fastest coach to 20 and 30 wins in franchise history. I can’t think of a more deserving man for this award. Not to take anything away from Guy Carbonneau or Mike Babcock, but Boudreau’s record and the turnaround in Washington was amazing to watch. Congrats to him.

Masterston Trophy (Dedication to Hockey)

Predicted Winner: Fernando Pisani
Actual Winner: Jason Blake

I think both of these men deserve this award.  I think Blake won because people hear “cancer” and immediately assume the worst.  I have the utmost respect for Blake for playing every single game this year after his diagnosis with chronic myelogenous leukemia.  That is everything this award is about - perseverance and dedication to hockey.  However, I think similar can be said about Fernando Pisani.  He suffers from ulcerative colitis, and had a terrible flair up this summer.  He was in and out of the hospital, lost something like 30 pounds, and thought he may never be able to play again.  By December, he was back in game shape, and never missed another game.  To me, that’s just as impressive.  I think the dedication of both men is something worth being honored.

Lester B. Pearson Award (Player’s MVP)

Predicted Winner: Alexander Ovechkin
Actual Winner: Alexander Ovechkin

The players always say that this is the award they take the most pride in winning because it is voted on by their peers.  That they voted on Ovechkin as well came as no surprise to me.  As I wrote above, he had an unbelievable year and led his team farther than anyone expected from them.  It is only fitting that his peers recognize him for these accomplishments.

Additionally, Alex Ovechkin became the first player in NHL history to win the Hart, Pearson, Art Ross (most points) and Rocket Richard (scoring title) all in the same year. At 22 years old, that is quite an accomplishment.

Congratulations to all the winners!

I have returned from the wild world of Europe, and it sounds like I missed one hell of a series. Congrats to the Detroit Red Wings on being the 2008 Stanley Cup Champions.

I will be watching the games in the coming weeks, and will post a more detailed review of the series after I’ve watched them. As of right now, all I can say is that Detroit was simply the better team. Kudos to Pittsburgh for putting up one hell of a fight, and pushing the series as long as they did, but it seemed from game 2 that it was only a matter of time.

In other news, Dominic Hasek, Trevor Linden, and Mattias Norstrom all announced their retirements this week. After his collapse in the playoffs, it was only a matter of time before the announcement from Hasek. His level of play has been slowly declining over the past few season, but its hard to argue his contributions earlier in his career. He will certainly be a Hall of Famer.

Most of the Vancouver community knew Linden would not be returning, so his announcement was also not surprising. The team’s last home game ended in an uplifting tribute to the man who spent 16 of his 19 seasons with the club. He has always been one of the classier players in the game and I hope he continues to stay involved in the NHL.

The NHL awards ceremony is tonight at 7PM EST on VS. I’ll take a closer look at the winners tomorrow!