Winnipeg Jets Unveil Logos

For anybody hoping the Winnipeg Jets would simply adopt the logo used during the team's past tenure in the NHL, you were left sorely upset on Friday. The new owners of the Jets, True North, unveiled the franchise's new set of primary and secondary logos. According to a statement released by the team, the logos were developed in partnership with the NHL and Reebok, and they are inspired by the Royal Canadian Air Force.

“True North Sports & Entertainment felt it was important for the new Winnipeg Jets to develop a strong new identity,” said Mark Chipman, Chairman & Governor of True North Sports & Entertainment. “We felt it was important to authenticate the name Jets and we believe the new logo does that through its connection to our country’s remarkable Air Force heritage, including the rich history and relationship that our city and province have enjoyed with the Canadian Forces.”

Merchandise is available for Jets fans hoping to adorn their club's new logos at the Jets Gear Authentic Team Store located at the MTS Center.

Richards Picks Rangers

There was a big separation between Brad Richards and everybody else available on the unrestricted free agent market this summer. Any team in need of a veteran top-line center who can log a healthy number of minutes, play in all key situations and produce significantly on the scoresheet was taking a keen interest in Richards' availability on Friday.

Richards spent the better part of the day listening to presentations from at least six reported clubs and took the night to sleep on his decision. It apparently became clear to him Saturday morning that the popular frontrunner ended up being his chosen destination.

Richards has decided to take his talents to Broadway, where he is set to compete for the New York Rangers on a nine-year, $60 million contract. The deal will serve as a $6.67 million annual cap hit to the Rangers' payroll but looks far more unique on a year-by-year salary basis according to TSN's Gord Miller:

2011-12: $12 million - $10 million signing bonus and $2 million in salary
2012-13: $12 million - $8 million signing bonus and $4 million in salary
2013-14: $9 million
2014-15: $8.5 million
2015-16: $8.5 million
2016-17: $7 million
2017-18: $1 million
2018-19: $1 million
2019-20: $1 million

Rangers general manager Glen Sather is not typically known for tossing around contracts of this nature - ones including cap circumventing-oriented years toward the end. But when playing ball against other teams offering similar deals for even more money, Sather couldn't simply stand on principle and take the risk of losing the player. He had to play ball, too. And he did.

"With the growth and youth that we've been able to accumlate and put together here now, we needed somebody like this that's going to take us to the next step," Sather said in a conference call. "We think it was a great opportunity for us."

Avalanche Fill Goaltending Vacancies By Way Of Trade & Free Agency

The biggest gaping hole for the Colorado Avalanche heading into next season was undoubtedly in between the pipes. Amidst a bit of a rebuild, having dependable goaltending is crucial for the Avs and therefore required careful consideration to any available options by way of free agency or trade. As it turns out, Colorado went both routes.

The Avalanche first made a play for Semyon Varlamov from the Washington Capitals, who was likely headed to the KHL had he been unable to find an NHL suitor willing to pay him reasonable dough and offer him acceptable playing time. Colorado somewhat ignorantly surrendered a potential lottery pick in the first round next year, as well as a second rounder in either 2012 or 2013, in exchange for a goalie that's claim to fame is one splendid playoff series against the New York Rangers two years ago. It became even more questionable when Varlamov was signed on a two-year deal worth $2.75 million per season - or a figure that only would have cost Colorado just a second round pick had it been tendered via an offer sheet. Avs general manager Greg Sherman, however, contends Washington would have matched it - a point I find debatable considering there was relatively little future left for him with the Capitals. Now, the Caps lose a goaltender they weren't really going to invest into all that much further and have a potential lottery pick in their pocket considering Colorado is still a ways away from being playoff contenders.

While a move of that nature made it logical to assume the 23-year old Russian would be Colorado's No. 1 netminder, a later move made for either an interesting training camp or legitimate splitting of starts for next year.



The Avalanche followed up Varlamov's acquisition with the signing of Jean-Sebastien Giguere to a two-year, $2.5 million contract. At $1.25 million per season, the 34-year old former Stanley Cup Champion and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient is a nice veteran addition to the team. Maybe his best days are behind him and he can't quite come up as huge as he did on a nightly basis as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. But Giguere is not yet a mere backup and will surely compete for the starting job against Varlamov, who is still largely unproven over the long haul. And though Varlamov may be the guy Colorado is hoping will develop into their franchise goalie of the future, I'm leaning toward Giguere turning into the more rewarding of the two additions.

The Avalanche ended last year with Peter Budaj and Brian Elliott sporting their crease, so Varlamov and Giguere are obvious upgrades now that Budaj signed in Montreal to backup Carey Price and Elliott will assume a similar role behind Jaroslav Halak in St. Louis. But Colorado really paid more than it needed to for a questionable young goalie, especially right before signing a still reliable veteran that may end up becoming the Avs' top option for the next year or two anyway.

Panthers Remember They Still Have More Money To Spend, Ink Bergenheim

Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon was going to call it a night. But then he remembers, "Hey! I still have to spend some more money!" He looked at who was available, figured a deal with left wing and Tampa Bay Lightning postseason standout Sean Bergenheim wouldn't take too long to hammer out (15 minutes to be exact) and pulled the trigger on his sixth free agent signing - seventh overall transaction - of the day. That salary floor is getting nearer and nearer.

Thanks largely to a playoff performance for the Lightning that included nine goals and 11 points in 16 games en route to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, Bergenheim received a payday from the other Florida team at a rate of $2.75 million per season over the course of four years.

Now, Bergenheim is basically a 20-30 point regular season contributor and has no real playoff success to his record prior to last year. But when teams have money to just throw around, and Joel Ward just inked a $3 million per year deal with the Washington Capitals for essentially pulling off a similar postseason uptick in performance, financial gain tends to follow.

For all this insane spending on Day 1 of free agency, I do wonder if Tallon is really just spending money to reach the cap floor or if he genuinely has any kind of clue about how all of the new pieces are actually going to come together as a team. There is still no actual superstar in their organization - just a bunch of compliment pieces.

Panthers Keep Hurling Money, Some Lands In Fleischmann's Lap

It has to be fun spending somebody else's money. That's what Florida Panthers general manager Dave Tallon has been doing today with almost reckless reguard. He needs to hit the minimum salary of $48.3 million and dishing out some wealthy contracts to get that accomplished in almost record timing. He had already added Brian Campbell's monstrous contract before Friday. Then he added Jose Theodore, Scottie Upshall, Ed Jovanovski, Marcel Goc and Kris Versteeg between four signings and a trade to add some talent and a higher payroll to make the Panthers cap compliant. But Tallon had another move up his sleeve.

Perhaps an underrated center because of injury but no schlub in performance Tomas Fleischmann was able to snag some of the money being thrown around today by the Panthers as its latest addition. He joins the party for the next four years at the sum of $18 million.

Fleischmann split time last season between Washington and Colorado, putting up a total of 12 goals and 31 points in 45 games combined before missing the final 36 games of the season due to a chest injury. He did also miss 13 games in 2009-10, but was able to post 23 goals and 51 points.

Suiting up for at least 70 games and putting up the plus-20 goal campaign like two years ago would make this a reasonable investment for Florida - and a much cheaper option at center than what the big dog Brad Richards is going to command. Plus, Tallon continues to work the Panthers toward that salary floor.

It's an overpayment, but not the worst we've seen today. That may just be one of Tallon's other investments from today.

Sabres Continue Spending Spree With $27 Million Offer To Leino

The spending spree in Buffalo continues under new owner Terry Pegula. In the department of spending money because they now have it, the Sabres inked one of the prized middle-level talent free agents available this offseason in the form of Ville Leino for the next six years at $27 million. He will see and count as a cap hit annually at $4.5 million - ranking third most among Sabres forwards in salary.

Leino was essentially finished in Philadelphia when the team needed to start losing salary in an effort to sign goaltender Ilya Byrzgalov ... and then Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot.

Leino put up decent numbers last year with the Flyers by netting 19 goals and accumulating 53 points through 81 games. His playoff performance wasn't memorable, but the seven goals and 21 points he put up two years ago in the postseason was rather impressive.

But this is still an overpayment of sorts for a player that only has a few years of experience and lacks a consistent level of play. If this deal doesn't work out, the Sabres are going to be regretting it all the way through the 2016-17 campaign.

Panthers Also Add Kris Versteeg Via Trade With Philly

The Florida Panthers sure are active today and general manager Dave Tallon is not ready to call it a day until he reaches that salary floor and/or adds every single player he had in Chicago on his team in Florida. The Panthers swung a trade with Philadelphia that brings winger Kris Versteeg to Florida in exchange for a second round pick in either 2012 or 2013 (Florida chooses which one) and a third rounder in 2012.

Versteeg, 25, is entering the final year of a deal that will see him earn $3,083,333. He is eligible for restricted free agency next summer.

Aside from being yet another guy that Tallon had in the Stanley Cup mix over in Chicago, Versteeg is a nice 20-goal, 40-50 point producer who should help provide some scoring depth for Florida. Though he was still an offensive asset splitting time between Toronto and Philadelphia last year, he didn't seem to be as comfortable and accountable as he was as a member of the Blackhawks. Perhaps reuniting with Tallon and playing for a team that seems to be going the same way Chicago did will provide Versteeg a nice change of scenery.

Panthers Continue To Open Wallet For Theodore, Jovanovski, Upshall & Goc

Florida Panthers general manager Dave Tallon apparently isn't kidding around with his desire to change the organization around from consistent cellar-dweller to contender and he's throwing money around as if it's going out of style. Through just about two hours of free agency on Friday, Tallon brought in four new faces to the Panthers franchise at a total of $38.6 million.

In a move that basically calls an end to Tomas Vokoun's run between the pipes in Florida, the Panthers inked Jose Theodore to a two-year deal worth $3 million. Scottie Upshall was signed for four years at $14 million to bring his 20-goal ability to Florida. Ed Jovanovski joins Brian Campbell (acquired during the draft from Chicago) as another high-priced blueliner by returning to Florida for $16.5 million over four years. And Marcel Goc will get $5.1 million over three years.

I'm sure most, if not all, of these moves were made in part by Tallon as a way to meet the $48.3 million minimum allowable payroll per terms of the CBA - something several teams throughout the NHL need to work toward. These moves also provide a mixed bag of highly questionable additions and ones that can certainly pay off for the Panthers.

When the Panthers traded for Campbell and the remaining five years of his contract at a cap hit of $7,142,875, it was certainly in part because they needed to add the salary. But Tallon was the guy who handed him the contract while GM of the Blackhawks and believed their history together would benefit the Panthers organization. Giving Jovanovski a huge deal at a $4.125 million cap hit per year is a little less explainable. He's still decent, but hasn't lit the world on fire recently with the Phoenix Coyotes and is nearing the tailend of his career at 35 years old. A four-year contract at high-end money is a debatable gamble for somebody with just 14 points and 32 missed games last year. Having Campbell at his salary and remaining years was risk enough.

Contrarily, Upshall is a nice compliment forward who finally broke the 20-goal plateau last year in time split between the Coyotes and Columbus Blue Jackets. The 27-year old is nice for depth, but could potentially see top-six minutes on a Florida team with more open spots on the top two lines. At $3.5 million per year, he's perhaps a bit overpaid at a $1.25 million raise over last year. But he has a style of play that fits Florida and should have a greater impression on their team as they attempt to move in a winning direction.

Theodore at $1.5 million is a cheaper route than what Vokoun likely would have cost and provides Florida with a goaltender that can play excellent when not forced to carry a heavy load of the NHL schedule. But by adding a guy who can at least split time with Scott Clemmenson, Tallon has provided Florida a nice 1-2 punch in goal that is extraordinarily cost efficient.

Goc, 27, is a decent third-fourth line pickup that is coming off an upper body injury that cost him the final 24 games of the regular season and all playoff contests with the Nashville Predators last year. He's not a superstar, but did put up 12 points and 30 points two years ago with the Preds, making a $1.7 million annual salary a low committment to a player that clearly has potential based on his first round (20th overall) selection from 2001 with the Sharks.

Shockingly, the Panthers still are not at the lower boundary of cap compliance. They sit at just under $37 million, according to capgeek.com, and will need to add almost $11 million before the start of the regular season. But Tallon is clearly making moves - some good, others questionable - to add that salary and change the culture of losing hockey in Florida.

Jaromir Jagr Gets Over Pens, Signs With Rival Flyers

Well, it didn't take long for Jaromir Jagr to find another team to call home in his NHL return after the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings took themselves out of the mix. Instead of going home to Pittsburgh, he will apparently being heading to their closest rival - the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers' official Twitter account announced the news about an hour and a half into free agency that general manager Paul Holmgren inked Jagr to a contract. TSN's Darren Dreger is reporting the deal is worth $3.3 million for one year.

So, clearly for somebody that was willing to take less money than he could get by staying in the KHL, he wasn't necessarily willing to take less than the highest offer. That has to be a swift kick in a no-nos to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who reached out to their former franchise winger in an effort to close out his career where it started and get No. 68 lifted to the rafters to hang forever next to No. 66. Instead, Jagr may have burned a bridge or two with the club he won two Stanley Cups with alongside mentor Mario Lemieux by going to the team hated by them the most.

Is the opening of NHL free agency ever not interesting?

Penguins Pull $2 Million Offer To Jagr Off Table

When Jaromir Jagr had yet to make up his mind about the one year, $2 million offer Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero tabled him by the opening of free agency on Friday, he completely lost the ability to do so. Despite Shero's goal to ink the former Penguins for one more campaign in hopes of finishing out his career where it started, Jagr apparently took too long to make up his mind about a desired return to the NHL and the Steel City. Shero had other issues on his plate and those needed to be addressed without the burden of signing Jagr hanging over his head.

"We made what we thought was a very fair contract offer to Jaromir on Tuesday, based on his stated interest of returning to the Penguins," Shero said in a statement released by the Penguins. "We made our best offer from the start, given our salary cap structure, in an attempt to facilitate a deal. But now, after several days, with an extended time frame for making a decision, and additional teams getting involved, we have decided to move in a different direction. It was never our intention to get involved in a free agent bidding war, and we have to focus on our team. Jaromir is one of the greatest players in Penguins history, and we wish him all the best."

Shero immediately turned around and gave that money to Tyler Kennedy, who will not see $2 million in each of the next two years on a total $4 million contract.

Limited in the cap space department, Shero didn't really have any other option but to pull out on Jagr. In order to keep components that were important to the long-term success of the franchise, he had to make this call after giving Jagr ample time to come back to Pittsburgh had that truly been his desired destination. Now the Penguins can be a player, albeit somewhat limited due to only have about $3-4 million remaining under the cap, on the open market.

It's also being reported that the Detroit Red Wings have taken themselves out of the mix for Jagr's services. They, too, have made a few moves and general manager Ken Holland has elected to go in a different directions, as well.

The Montreal Canadiens may still have an interest in the 39-year old Czech winger. There has also been a mystery team in the fray, though that could just be smoke being blown by agent Peter Svboda.

While there was a promising outlook on a Jagr return to the NHL when his intentions were first advertised, his options are not dwindling and going back to the KHL might be his lone card left to play.

Lightning Stick With Roloson Another Year

When Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman swung a deal last season to acquire Dwayne Roloson, he could have hardly expected the 41-year old netminder to put up the stellar performances that enabled his squad to make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Based on his strong play in 17 playoff games and 34 regular season contests after being acquired from the New York Islanders, Yzerman elected to keep Roloson for another year at $3 million. Roloson can earn an extra $500,000 in performance bonuses based on how many playoff rounds the Lightning are able to win next year.

Yzerman will surely keep an eye out for a more long-term option going forward. Despite his strong play, Roloson clearly doesn't have too many years left in the tank. But for the time being, he is as good an immediate option as Yzerman is likely to find considering the relatively weak free agent class. Plus, $3 million is a low-end investment - an especially important component considering Steven Stamkos' current negotiations for a new deal that will reach the $7-8 million range.

Hurricanes Keep Jokinen, Pitkanen on Three-Year Deals

The Carolina Hurricanes were in danger of losing one of its top defenseman and a clutch forward to unrestricted free agency. But thanks to a couple of enticing three-year deals, Joni Pitkanen and Jussi Jokinen will remain in Carolina for $13.5 million and $9 million, respectively.

Pitkanen, 27, will enter his fourth season with the Hurricanes in 2011-12 and is known for being strong, albeit non-consistent at times, offensively with an ability to log big minutes. He scored five goals with 30 assists for a 36-point campaign last year and matched a career-high with 46 points two seasons ago between six goals and 40 helpers.

The former first round (fourth overall) draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2002 will earn $4.5 million in each year of the contract and will count equally as a cap hit to the Hurricanes' payroll.

Jokinen, 28, will make and count as a cap hit annually at the rate of $3 million. Jokinen, who was acquired by the Hurricanes in 2009 from the Tampa Bay Lightning a year after the Lightning acquired him in the Brad Richards trade to Dallas, scored 19 goals and posted 52 points in 70 games last year. He set career highs in goals (30) and points (65) during the 2009-10 season and also came with some important offensive showings during an 18-game playoff appearance with the Hurricanes back in 2009 with seven goals and 11 points.

For a player that can go in multiple situations and has a knack for coming up in the clutch, this is a great value re-signing for the Hurricanes.

Paul Kariya Retires After 15 NHL Seasons

One of the most gifted goal scorers in NHL officially called it a career Wednesday afternoon after a lack of progress in recovering from post-concussion syndrome. After sitting out the entire 2010-11 season in an effort to get over the ailment and resume his NHL career, Paul Kariya elected to go the safe route and end his tenure in the NHL after 15 seasons between the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues.

"Today, I announce my retirement from professional hockey," Kariya said in a statement released by his agent, Don Baizley. "I would like to thank all of those who have been part of so many great memories - my teammates, coaches, team management and staff."

Kariya entered the league by way of being drafted in the first round (fourth overall) by the expansion Ducks as the franchise's first selection as a member of the league. He was coming off winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. collegiate player as a member of the University of Maine and would go on produce three 40+-goal seasons, including a 50-goal and 108-point campaign in 1995-96, in nine years with the Ducks. Before leaving for free agency to join Teemu Selanne with the Avalanche, Kariya helped guide the Ducks to their first-ever Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2003, where he scored a remarkable goal in Game 6 after recovering from a late, blindside hit to the head from New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Stevens that saw him get knocked out and wake up on national television.




Kariya and Selanne failed to achieve their dream of winning the Stanley Cup in Colorado despite taking lower salaries in an attempt to form a super-team of sorts alongside Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic. After the 2004-05 lockout, Kariya chose to join up with the Predators, where he made more money and rekindled some of his scoring touch with 31 markers - the first time since the 2001-02 season that he had reached the 30-goal plateau. After two years in Nashville, in which he helped the organization make the playoffs each season, Kariya signed with the Blues and closed out his career with them while suffering a few different injuries along the way.

Kariya is exactly a point-per-game producer with 989 points in 989 games played. He is also a mutli-time All Star with an Olympic Gold Medal as a member of Team Canada in 2002 and two Lady Byng Memorial Awards to his credit. But the debate begins as to whether he is a Hall of Fame, since the Stanley Cup eluded him and he doesn't really possess any other scoring titles. I'd give him the vote and I'm sure he will eventually find his place among the other hockey greats. He just might have to wait a few years to get the nod.

Either way, it's nice to see Kariya step aside when he knew the time was right and avoid suffering any further damage to his health. He had a bright career, will go down as one of the league's best offensive threats during his prime and should have no regrets about stepping aside after 15 truly entertaining seasons.