Blues don't have the prospects and picks to get him. They'll have to package a roster player like Berglund and a prospect like Rattie. I don't see any package without Rattie happening. My money is on the Ducks as they have way more ammo.

Yeah, the Sens can get their first-round pick back. St. Louis won't happen; if they lose Rattie, they have no serious prospects left other than maybe Jaskin. Honestly, though, I don't think Spezza goes anywhere with what Ottawa is asking.

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So Ryan Kesler said that he wants to be traded to either the Blackhawks or the Penguins. The Hawks have needed a 2nd line Center for 5 years now & he would certainly fit the bill...if he can stay healthy.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

He's really only had one injury plauged year. The "fragile" label is kinda misplaced on him.

Raging douchebag however is a good label for him.

Wow that picture of Desjardins is matter-of-factly hilarious. 7/10 on the latent derpface scale.

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Habs re-sign Andrei Markov to a 3 year, $17.25M extension. Hometown discount.

I'd consider this an overpayment of a 800K-$1M but if a similar player in Mike Richards signed for $5.75M this sounds about right.

The Rangers got taken to the woodshed on this trade. They've traded a '14 and '15 1st plus Callahan for St. Louis and a Lightning 2nd.

Callahan's on my shit list of guys who are only loved for their nationality (Dustin Brown, Shane Doan, Eric Staal). Mike Richards isn't similar. Mike Richards was good once.

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Yeesh. That's a bad contract. Sure the first 2-3 could be great but after that? G'luck.

Kesler to Ducks.

Free agency opens today. Away we go! Salary cap gets a 10% maneuvering cushion for rest of the summer, if I remember correctly, so maybe the Hawks won't have to sit this one out altogether, but the vibe I get is that we're going to stand still while we watch the rest of the conference get better.

Late move yesterday, Avs flipped P.A. Parenteau to the Habs for Danny Briere. I'm calling this one a lateral move, leaning juuuuuuuust a little bit in favor of the Avs because I've always thought highly of Briere while seeing Parenteau as a bit overrated.

Paul Stastny is the big prize today. Not much of a prize, if you ask me. My guess is St. Louis because he grew up there (his dad played for the Blues for a spell). Not sure why, but hockey players have always liked to play for St. Louis. They might get Spezza, too.

Players on expiring contracts are also eligible for extensions as of today. For us, that's Brandon Saad coming off an ELC and those other two guys who are kind of important.

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Stars got Spezza, and with that another Central Division team makes a huge improvement. Sucks for us.

EDIT: Dallas only gave up Alex Chiasson, a second, and two minor-leaguers on the verge of washing out. Robbery.

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The salary cap has nudged the NHL into NBA territory with trades.

Pengies got Ehrhoff for a year at $4MM, Habs got Malhotra for a year at $800K, to which I say whatever and what the fuck ever, respectively, but now it's on.

EDIT: Oilers dropping big bucks. Benoit Pouliot from the Rangers at 20/5, Mark Fayne from the Devils at 14.5/4.

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Habs send Josh Gorges to Buffalo, unsure why. Sens extend Michalek, unsure why. Canadian teams are all being stupid today.

Long Island signed Chad Johnson No Not That One to be their new goaltender. Or a new goaltender.

Avs signed Jesse Winchester, 1.8/2. Winchester was a top scorer with the Panthers last year, which says more about the Panthers last year than it does about him. High-motor fourth-liner, could be a pain in the ass for us.

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And there it is, the Blues got Paul Sastny, 28 over 4. One divisional rival gets worse, another gets considerably better. Hawks still standing still in the early going.

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Camalleri just got $25M from NJ.
What is going on with some of these teams?

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Jersey is in a mess and has to overpay for talent. Same with the Oilers, same with the Islanders, if they even get around to spending money at all.

Blues, Stars, Avs, and Wild (pending the inevitable Vanek signing) all looking loaded right now, plus the Kings and Ducks out west. Gotta get better.

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Avs are trading for Brad Stuart

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WTF. Gorges declines going to Toronto but accepts Buffao?!

Well at least Hitchcock is still their coach.

Cammalleri is a good player but 5 years for a 32 year-old is messed up.

How big a deal is this? Stastny would've been a good fit here for the dreaded number 2 center spot , no?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

The Hawks could never afford that.

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Tallon just can't help himself.......

Bolland to FLA

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Surprised the term is so short for Stastny. He'll get one more nice payday. Don't blame the Avs for passing either. Can't pay your 4th best forward 7 million.

27.5 over 5 for Dave Bolland WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUCK, FLORIDA

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5 years/$27.5M

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How did Toronto resisted topping that offer. Seems like right in their wheelhouse to pair with Clarkson and his contract.

The Ducks signed Clayton Stoner from Minnesota. Was he the defenseman of theirs who was being a real pain in the ass, or was that Nate Prosser? No matter; Minnesota has prospects to spare.

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Wow that is something.

And he got like 5 million a year?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."