|
With NHL training camps now only weeks away, it’s
getting down to the nitty gritty in terms of teams rosters. We take a look
at the most recent UFA signings and run through the rumor mill as well.
Trevor Kidd – goalie
After clearing outright waivers from the Panthers,
Trevor Kidd has landed as the back-up in Toronto, but with his eye on
becoming the #1 guy in Hogtown. It’s hard to fathom that Kidd was actually
drafted before
Martin Brodeur by Calgary back in 1990. Their careers couldn’t be any
more different. Brodeur has enjoyed marked success, won two Stanley Cups and
an Olympic Gold medal – Kidd has played on a multitude of teams, and can
never seem to make it to the next step of reliable, starting goalie. The
Leafs are not taking a huge gamble here however, as Kidd is still only 30
and gives them a legitimate back-up to Eddie the Psycho in case Belfour does
falter.
Fantasy Impact: Kidd’s arrival likely means he’ll see 10-15 starts,
particularly if the Leafs are at the top of their game as Quinn will want to
rest Belfour. But bare in mind, Belfour loves the work, and loves to log
major minutes. We can see this being a little tête-à-tête right off the
mark. That said, Kidd will be OK – likely with 8 wins, a .900 save % and
3.10 GAA.
Rumor Mill
Florida…the latest buzz from Miami is that
Panthers GM
Rick Dudley is seeking to unload
Valeri Bure, and is willing to pay up to half of his 2002 salary of $2.9
million. Bure is signed through 2003-2004 for an estimated $3.1 million. The
list of interested teams is lengthy with the Islanders, Leafs and Predators
wanting the younger of the Bure brothers quite badly…in Philadelphia,
reports have the young and so-far disappointing
Pavel Brendl actually reporting to the Flyers medical center in the best
shape of his young career, having shed a reported 1% body fat. That
shouldn’t have been that hard however, for a guy that lived on hot dogs and
fast food burgers since being drafted by the Rangers four years ago. Rumor
has him penciled in alongside
John LeClair and
Michal Handzus (YUCK!)…on Broadway, the curtain is about to lift on the
new and more expensive Blue Shirts, but it may start without their captain,
Mark Messier. Messier remains an unrestricted free agent and is rumored
to be seeking a one year deal plus an option (at the player’s discretion).
Ranger’s GM
Glen Sather, although a friend of Messier, doesn’t want to commit to the
Moose beyond this year. There is a danger that Messier will hold out, but we
think that it is unlikely. Watch for him to resign there soon, as he wants
to retire a Ranger…which brings us to the glut at center that the Rangers
have. By our calculation, they have Lindros, Holik, Messier (soon),
Rem Murray,
Roman Lyashenko and young prospect
Jamie Lundmark. Which leaves last year’s second line center
Petr Nedved off in limbo in terms of what line he’ll start on. Barring a
big change in position for guys like Messier, Murray and Lyashenko, the
Rangers need to move Nedved. The problem is he makes a lot of money and is
not exactly a solid two-way contributor. That said, teams have been calling
Sather seeking an asking price (likely a young blue chip prospect and a
current NHL caliber defenseman). Teams interested include: Calgary,
Vancouver, Ottawa, Phoenix, Florida and Atlanta. If Nedved is moved, look
for him to wind up in the desert with the ‘Yotes as Gretzky & Co. have
always liked Nedved’s style of play, and it appears as though
Daniel Briere has wrestled the #1 center duty away from Daymond Langkow….in
Toronto the temperature is beginning to rise on the Leafs and their failure
to improve their team with some much needed scoring punch. Rumor has the
Leafs relying on playoff phenom Alyn McAuley to pick up the load, and if the
Leafs could get a taker on
Robert Reichel, they may dip into the UFA market yet and sign Martin
Rucinksy. Lots of ifs there, but the Leafs are in for a tough ride without
Gary Roberts and no Cujo….finally in Vancouver talks are reportedly
re-commencing about signing current restricted free agent Peter Schaeffer.
But, the rumor is that the left winger wouldn’t be with the Canucks long as
reports have the Canucks wanting to dangle Schaeffer and
Harold Druken for a bona fide NHL second line center…perhaps Langkow
from Phoenix?
|
