Welcome to Team Truculence: A Look at the Maple Leafs and the Rest of the NHL

• UFA Scott Neidermayer re-signs with Anaheim, 1 year, $6 million.  It was either Anaheim or Vancouver (which Neidermayer confirmed with his enjoyable hesitation during his interview on TSN2 after the signing).  Anaheim keeps him for less money, and quite frankly, I would expect him to be a little better this year, seeing as he’s fully committed from the summer on to the mental and physical preparation necessary to play at the level at which he plays.  59 points last year, and 3rd in ATOI with over 26 minutes per, Norris nominations or not, he’s still a top-5 defensemen in the NHL.
• UFA’s the Sedin Twins re-sign with Vancouver, 5 years, $30.5 M.  Again, a deal that makes complete sense in every way. Vancouver got great value and term for the Twins, who are PPG players who dominate on the cycle and are improving their playoff play and output every year.  And really, can you imagine them playing anywhere else? If you’re a team trying to dethrone the Pittsburghs & Detroits of the NHL, signing the Sedins to be your counter to those team’s elites simply wouldn’t do. Vancouver can take a run at those times simply because they have Roberto Luongo in net, he of the still yet untapped potential to carry a team to the Stanley Cup.  What pressure that concept must put on a guy.
• RFA David Booth re-signs with Florida, 6 years, $25.5 M. $4.25 million per year is exactly why I said this was a guy who a) opposing teams couldn’t offer an offer sheet to, and 2) why Florida would have the money to re-sign him. Just because he’s in Florida doesn’t mean he’s not a gamer. Keep your eye on this kid folks, he’s a sleeper.
• UFA Craig Anderson, Colorado, 2 years, $3.6 M. Avs, you dysfunctional, unprofessional bunch of goofs…you got lucky. Now ride the kid like a stallion and just get the hell out of the way, he may just be your saving grace.  (For reference, read Monday’s article.)
• UFA Marian Hossa, Chicago, 74 years, $2390239242398423 M, or something like that. My, within the span of 14 minutes, we go from arguably the single-best signing of Canada Day, to arguably the worst. The only way this signing pans out is if Chicago wins the Stanley Cup.  Period. Otherwise, on the eve of the Declining Cap Era, Chicago has locked themselves into a contract that regardless of Hossa’s superlative two-way talent, will greatly hinder their ability to keep Patty Kane, Johnny Towes, and Dunccy Keith (hey, I had to try) beyond the contracts they sign next year. But hey, I’d rather have a guy who has proven that he can only produce when he’s the 3rd option in the Stanley Cup Finals but not when he’s the 2nd option, rather than homegrown top draft picks who are the on-ice reason my team is “this close” to making it.  Yup, that’s it.  I hope for Chicago's sake they win this year, because every year that they don't, the Hossa Curse will strangle the life out of this team.
  
• UFA Dwayne Roloson, NYI, 2 years, $5 M. It’s called DiPietro Insurance, although quite honestly, I like the chocolate & caramel Rolo Bar more than DiPietro right now.  Hey Rick, Paul DiPietro called.  He says stop making your last name look like crap.
• UFA Mike Knuble, Washington, 2 years, $5.8 M. Great signing.  Hopefully his body holds up long enough to provide Washington with the physical presence they’ll looking for. James, from the Live Draft Blog, said that he’ll make a great winger for Ovechkin. Quite honestly though, I think he’ll make a far better winger for Semen.  Ovie doesn’t need anyone to create space for him. But Semin, aka The Tin Man, needs someone who can teach him what playing with heart is all about.  If Knuble can do that, no amount of money will be worth the value of that.
• UFA Donald Brashear, NYR, 2 years, $2.8 M. Rangers’ GM Glen Sather has always been hit-or-miss with his UFA signings over the years.  Signing an aging fighter to a contract that is a reflection of what he used to bring to the ice as opposed to what he brings now? Miss.
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