NHL Free Agency Day 1: Winners and Losers

There was an unbelieveable amount of movement this July 1st in the NHL.  Here's just my opinion on a few teams:

The Good:

Edmonton Oilers:  I have thought that Kevin Lowe was losing a step the last few years, but now after his moves today, that might have reversed.  First, he got rid of an underacheiving powerforward to get a powerforward that had better numbers.  He got rid of an underachieving number 1 defenseman, for another number 1 defenseman, who definitely has more offensive upside.  He also recieved a former first round draft choice... who had his best success while playing junior hockey in the city of Edmonton (Gilbert Brule).  Add that to the potential stars on his team (Cogliano, Nilsson, Gagne, Gilbert, Garon) and you have a very intriguing core of young players in Alberta.

Chicago Blackhawks:  They now might have the best young defense corps in the league (Campbell with Seabrook, Duncan Keith and Cam Barker), and have a very solid goaltender almost certainly replacing Nik Khabibulin.  If Knabby's traded or bought out, then the moves are solid.  If not, then the Hawks are going to have quite a problem in the net.  Either way, Huet, the defense mentioned, and the well known top notch group of forwards they have in Chicago could be reigning in the NHL for the next few years.

The Bad:

New York Rangers:  It's hard to be upset at my team.  However, they way we're set up at this point is that the Rangers have 6 defenseman who barely hit (aside from Redden and Fedor Tyutin), and have lost their top 4 wingers.  I do like the depth moves of Voros and Rissmiller... but if they're replacing Avery's grit, then shame on Sather.  I do love the depth in this organization... but players are needed to play with Gomez and Drury.  Bringing back Jagr I truly don't think makes them elite... a young player who can score AND has an idea about defense like Gaborik or Hossa might make more sense.  Unsure so far.

New Jersey Devils:  They needed a top center.  They needed more talent on the backline.  Neither were addressed.  I like Rolston's game... but he's 35 and given a 4 year deal!  Having now Holik, Zajac, Rupp and Madden at center, means Jersey has 3 third line centers.  Are any of them ready to truly help players like Parise, Elias and Gionta blossom?  Nice nalstalgic moves here, but nowhere near enough to put them over the top.

The Ugly:

Vancouver Canucks:  $10 million for Mats Sundin??  Per year!??  Nonis has no idea what he's doing.  Sundin probably wasn't worth that during his best years.  If Crosby's not worth even $9 million, how can Sundin be worth more?  I'm sorry Canuck fans, but you're in for a long, hard few years.

Colorado Avalanche:  Hard to have a problem with such a successful group the last decade or so, but how can anyone be happy with these moves?  They basically traded Theodore for Raycroft.  If Budaj and Theodore wasn't enough to get it done, how can Budaj and Raycroft?  Their defense corps is nothing but a group of "once highly regarded" players.  Hannan... a dissapointment.  Leopold... a dissapointment.  Liles... bad year last year.  Foote... was dominant... 10 years ago.  Sakic and Forsberg are potentially gone, and Sauer and Finger are definitely gone.  If Av fans think Tucker's the answer, they're in for a surprise.  Has he ever even been a second line player?  Agitators and griders don't get better with age.  Unsure up front, and definitely worse off behind the blue line.  Boo Francois, boo.

So far, that's what I got.  Plenty of other things to talk about, like the ridiculousness that's going on in Tampa, or the potential return of Jagr to Pittsburgh.  Any opinions?