The Official NHL Offseason Thread

[the max 0]

I'm in for some fantasy hockey as well. Maybe we can start a yahoo league or something.

 

Chris, the Sens have Hasek as their #1, so signing Esche wouldn't be smart since he'll want to be the #1. Ottawa has Emery still, right? He's a pretty good backup.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I could see picking up Esche and then moving Hasek. At this point, Esche is more likely to lead a team to a Cup than an older, injury prone Hasek.

[CanadianChris 0]

I'd agree, but it would be just about impossible to move Hasek at this point. Anyone who would be willing to pick him up probably doesn't have room under the cap. I'm just crossing my fingers at this point and hoping that the year off did his body some good.

 

I'm in for fantasy hockey this season. I might actually set up my own league if there's enough interest.

[nl5xsk1 0]

How much is Hasek due to make this year? It might work that the Sens could trade him for a reasonably priced position player to a team that has depth at F or D but needs a better goalie (none come to mind, but I'm sure there's one out there).

 

And it looks like we're up to about 5 people that have already said they'd be in ... maybe 3-5 more and we'd have a good enough amount to do a league.

[Der Kommissar 0]

I'd be in a fantasy hockey league as well, if one happened.

 

In Lightning news, it looks like Dmitry Afanasenkov accepted his QO to return to the team. It is also rumored that Dan Boyle is about to sign a multiyear deal with the team. Hopefully, this means that the team is (finally) starting to come together.

[CanadianChris 0]

How much is Hasek due to make this year?  It might work that the Sens could trade him for a reasonably priced position player to a team that has depth at F or D but needs a better goalie (none come to mind, but I'm sure there's one out there).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's not making nearly as much as I had thought...only $1.5 million.

 

Of course, there's also that Hasek might retire instead of reporting if he's traded.

[CanadianChris 0]

More signings:

 

- Kim Johnsson by the Flyers

 

- Andrew Cassels by the Capitals

 

- Dean McAmmond and Bryce Salvador by the Blues

[smh810 0]

Lightning news, it looks like Dmitry Afanasenkov accepted his QO to return to the team. It is also rumored that Dan Boyle is about to sign a multiyear deal with the team. Hopefully, this means that the team is (finally) starting to come together.

 

Good news on both fronts but I have faith in Feaster to get it together overall. Wouldnt be surprised to herar news on Vinny and MSL soon.

[nl5xsk1 0]

How much is Hasek due to make this year?  It might work that the Sens could trade him for a reasonably priced position player to a team that has depth at F or D but needs a better goalie (none come to mind, but I'm sure there's one out there).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's not making nearly as much as I had thought...only $1.5 million.

 

Of course, there's also that Hasek might retire instead of reporting if he's traded.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't know if it's happened in the NHL, so how would that work? Let's say the Sens traded Hasek to, I don't know, NY, and he refused to report and retired instead? Would the trade be voided and the guy that OTT picked up go back to NY, or would the Senators have to send someone else in Hasek's place, or is NY just SOL?

 

As long as it meant the Senators replaced Hasek with Esche it'd be a good deal.

[cue_meanie 0]

If a Fantasy hockey league is set up, count me in too.

[Gert T 0]

I'd participate in a league too.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

I'm in for a league.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Am I the only one that finds fantasy hockey really boring? I couldn't stand micromanaging my roster so I'd have someone starting every night.

[smh810 0]

Well we re-signed Boyle and Afanasenkov and also signed a nice checking winger (and original Lightning player) in Rob Dimaio, all in all not a bad day. However, the speculation is that we may bring in Sean Burke to compete with Grahame... God I hope not!

[CanadianChris 0]

However, the speculation is that we may bring in Sean Burke to compete with Grahame... God I hope not!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No longer speculation.

[smh810 0]

Damn, this is the one guy I didnt wanna see the Lightning sign. I mean he's an okay goalie but the last time the guy did anything in the playoffs I was approximately 5 years old. I'm really hoping Grahamer can step up at this point.

[MrRant 0]

Didn't see this posted but -

 

Comcast, NHL on verge of 2-year, $100 million deal

 

By Tim Panaccio and Don Steinberg

 

Inquirer Staff Writers

 

 

Comcast and National Hockey League negotiators have worked out a two-year deal for more than $100 million to televise games beginning this fall, according to sources directly involved in the discussions.

 

The agreement must be approved by the league's Board of Governors.

 

The deal calls for Comcast to televise two games a week nationally. The cable giant plans to put the games on its Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

 

The agreement with Comcast brought to an end 10 days of intense negotiations, some of which were conducted at Comcast's offices in Philadelphia.

 

Participating in the discussions were NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, deputy commissioner Bill Daly, Comcast president of programming Jeff Shell, Comcast Cable president Steve Burke, and Alan Singer, an attorney for the company.

 

A spokesman for Comcast, Tim Fitzpatrick, declined to comment on the company's interest in the NHL yesterday.

 

NHL officials also declined to comment, but the league could announce its new TV deal by this weekend. The deal would contain the following:

 

Comcast would televise games nationally twice a week. On one of those nights, Comcast would retain exclusivity in U.S. markets as the only game available on TV at that time.

 

The NHL would retain the right to exit the agreement at the end of the two years. The right is contingent upon Comcast's fulfilling certain responsibilities related to advertising-revenue growth and reaching a specific number of homes.

 

If the league opts to stay, then Comcast has a one-year option, followed by a three-year option.

 

An undetermined number of games would be broadcast in high-definition TV.

 

If the NHL approves the deal - and that is considered a formality at this point - the contract will be forwarded to ESPN. In April, ESPN opted to not renew its $70 million option to televise NHL games for 2005-06 and 2006-07, but the network retains the right to match the new offer, according to a source. ESPN has carried NHL games in the United States since 1985.

 

The league's previous five-year TV deal with ABC and ESPN was worth $600 million.

 

There are two directions Comcast could go from here: an overhaul of OLN or an initial change to accommodate hockey, with a future, stand-alone network that would carry NHL games. The former is the preferred method among Comcast executives.

 

It is unclear whether Comcast's SportsNet channels around the country would play a role. Flyers games on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia will have their own separate schedule.

 

OLN is available in about 61 million households, compared with more than 70 million for ESPN2 and 80 million for ESPN, but the new programming should help OLN expand its reach.

 

A repositioning of its focus shouldn't be difficult. Just as Kentucky Fried Chicken officially became KFC, OLN has been identifying itself by its initials so that customers won't limit their thinking about its programming.

 

NHL games are not played outdoors, but "initials can stand for anything," said Lee Berke, president of LHB Sports, who consults with professional teams on TV deals.

 

Berke pointed out that OLN has picked up several sporting events that used to be on ESPN, including the America's Cup yacht race and the Boston Marathon. OLN maintains a long-term agreement to carry the Tour de France bicycle race. Comcast gave ESPN's X Games a boost by hosting them at the First Union complex in Philadelphia in 2001 and 2002, but in 2004 OLN bought the Gravity Games, a rival action-sports competition, and has been expanding that franchise.

 

"They've settled on sports as a major source of content," Berke said of Comcast. "There's still speculation that they could go for the late-season NFL package [Thursday and Saturday nights beginning in 2006]."

 

The NHL, meanwhile, needs to resurrect its own image after a lockout wiped out last season.

 

"You have the world's largest cable company - that's a big plus," Berke said. Comcast, he said, will be able to pair NHL telecasts with its HDTV capabilities and Video on Demand.

 

The NHL will have some other TV exposure. In a two-year deal with NBC that starts this season, the network will televise seven regular-season games, six playoff games, and Games 3 through 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. In that deal, the NHL is guaranteed no rights money; NBC and the league will share some advertising profits.

 

When the NBC deal was announced in 2004, before the missed season, Bettman said: "If anybody thinks that we're going to get zero [from NBC], I don't anticipate that, and I would be very, very surprised."

 

In Canada, the NHL has TV deals with CBC and the Sports Network.

 

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/12337268.htm

[Fartsauce 0]

OLN NETWORK!??????? Are you kidding me? That's horrible on so many levels. I can just picture Cal Johnson and the chick from Body Break being studio analysts.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Am I the only one that finds fantasy hockey really boring? I couldn't stand micromanaging my roster so I'd have someone starting every night.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It's not as bad as fantasy baseball, which necessitates having to check/adjust your roster daily in some leagues. Most of the fantasy hockey leagues I've done in the past have only necessitated changing my roster about twice a week.

 

And, Corpse, I don't think OLN is that bad, they're looking to reinvent themselves as more of a 'real' sports channel. They're also trying to get into the NFL mix, too, and broadcast the Thursday/Saturday games that come up after the college season is over, from what I've heard. I just think that the NHL is the first step in that process.

[CanadianChris 0]

Banner headline on today's Ottawa Sun:

 

"Hossa, Sens miles apart"

 

Apparently, Hossa wants Iginla money despite not having any of Iginla's accomplishments (2 Richard trophies, Art Ross trophy, 2-time Hart trophy finalist, Pearson Award, led his team to the Cup finals, Conn Smythe runner-up). This could get ugly.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

OLN NETWORK!??????? Are you kidding me?  That's horrible on so many levels. I can just picture Cal Johnson and the chick from Body Break being studio analysts.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hal Johnson and Joanne Mcleod.

 

Hey, more hockey on TV is more hockey on TV.

[CanadianChris 0]

Penguins just traded for Jocelyn Thibault.

[The Czech Republic 0]

WHAT?!? Do the Blackhawks have ANYBODY now?!?

[nl5xsk1 0]

Signing Khabibulin made Thibault awfully expendable.

[the max 0]

Apparently Czech doesn't read the papers. Chicago has made their fair share of signing players to improve the team.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

The Bruins have resigned P.J. and Sammy. Should make the Bruins fans here happy.

 

The Nucks have resigned the Twins, and supposedly also got Cloutier/Allen/Cooke to sign their QOs. They might have room to sign someone now.

[the max 0]

Sammy, yes. PJ, no.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Unless, Max, the next announcement from the B's is: "We've traded PJ and the equally worthless Hal Gill. It doesn't matter to who, or for what. We're just please to announce that they're both gone."

[CanadianChris 0]

Lots of recent signings:

 

- Sens re-signed Martin Havlat to a one-year contract and Mike Fisher to a three-year deal.

 

- Flames re-signed Andrew Ference.

 

- Canucks re-signed both Sedin twins.

 

- Dan Cloutier will be accepting his qualifying offer by Vancouver.

 

- Robert Esche agreed to terms with Philadelphia.

 

- Sergei Samsonov and P.J. Axelsson re-signed with Boston.

 

- Wade Belak and Aki Berg are returning to the Leafs.

 

- Jan Hrdina signed a one-year deal with Columbus.

 

Also, Roman Turek retired, and Eric Lindros appears close to heading to Toronto.

[Boon 0]

Unless, Max, the next announcement from the B's is: "We've traded PJ and the equally worthless Hal Gill.  It doesn't matter to who, or for what.  We're just please to announce that they're both gone."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Package them w/ Bronson Arroyo and Marc Blount for a pepperoni pizza and a Coke, and I will consider it a fair deal.