NHL summer movement thread

Best memory of the Leafs is seeing the Devils' 3-0 Game 6 victory over the Leafs in the second round of the 2000 playoffs in person. Devils scored in the first minute of the first and second period and an empty net goal finished the game and clinched the series.

As for players, I am a believer that Orr is among the best hockey players ever -- revolutionized the position of the defenseman. Among current players, I'd have to say Naslund in Vancouver or Iginla in Calgary.

 

garner,

im not so sure that tallon got fleeced. michal handzus is a really, really, good player. im curious to see hitchcocks reaction to the trade, because he absolutely loved the guy.

real team player, really cares about winning. solid two-way guy who had to play out of position on the wing in philly.

 

It's true that Handzus is a very good player. He can put up points, he's a strong faceoff man, and he helps the Hawks fill some holes, but the upside on Calder is huge, huge, huge. Chicago should have had a draft pick thrown in or something.

 

My initial reaction to the trade was that the fire sale has begun already in Chicago.

Like you said, Calder has HUGE upside and hasn't been injured much (altho I'm not exactly sure about that). If it was Daze for Handzus, straight up would make sense. But yea, the Blackhawks should have got at least a draft pick thrown in.

 

And in NHL summer not-moving-anywhere news:

Evgeni Malkin will remain the "best player not in the NHL" for another full year.

Damn.

 

Be interesting to see the Pittsburgh papers' stories tomorrow. ESPN has now changed its story from "He's definitely staying" to

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2542025

 

I've been wondering why Malkin, if he wants to play in Pittsburgh so badly, doesn't just say fuck it and leave Russia.

The above-linked story suggests pretty much the same thing. Malkin has just signed a new contract with his club team, Metallurg, but Russian law apparently allows him to resign with two weeks' notice and just leave.

It would be fitting to see him just walk away and leave Metallurg, which wants $2 million or more for his rights, with nothing. It and too many other Russian teams are just too goddamned greedy.

As far as I'm concerned, if Russia isn't a signatory to the transfer agreement, its players should simply be free to go wherever they want and their former teams should not be entitled to compensation.

 

Looks like Legace has found a home.

Legace headed to Blues

 

I've read so many threads on Pens boards and so many stories in the Pittsburgh papers (not to mention translated stories from Russian sites) that my head is spinning. The wildest story, though, was that Malkin was concerned about being killed. Apparently, or allegedly, can't remember which, a Metallurg player with designs on playing overseas was killed a few years back. I'll try to find a link or something.

Regardless, the entire situation is mega-crazy.

Edit: FWIW, here's the linky ... http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2001/1/18/181454.html

Edit II: Malkin agent basically says he's not necessarily not coming ... http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06220/711897-61.stm

 

All it takes is some balls. Players have been snuck out of Russia before. I rember reading a story somewhere about the Stastnys being snuck out of the Czech Republic under a cloak of darkness while the Cold War was still in full swing. If they could sneak them out then, they can sneak them out now.

 

The thing I question is Alexander Ovechkin is a better and more entertaining player than Malkin. Yet he didn't seem to have any trouble getting over here.

If Malkin was really motivated to come over here, he'd be here.

 

Goaltender Manny Lecage winds up in St. Louis