Ultimate Hockey Warrior

Mats Sundin has stated in an interview that he will not be making a decision on his career until the end of July or the beginning of August.  You would think this would quiet down the hockey world and the websites who focus on hockey rumors, but I have a feeling this latest statement from Mats Sundin will only intensify the rumors that surround Sundin.

If Mats Sundin retires, then he will have had a great NHL career with no Stanley Cup to show for his efforts.  If Mats Sundin decides to play for one of the teams currently courting him, I still don’t think he will win the Stanley Cup.  Sundin will provide leadership and skill to any team that picks him up, but the bottom line is that he is getting older and his impact with a new team could be very limited.  In my opinion, it will be a gigantic waste for any team to throw a ridiculous amount of money at Sundin.  The teams interested in Sundin are considered to be the Senators, Canucks, Canadians Maple Leafs and Rangers.  The only team out of this group that I think it would be worth to make an offer is the Vancouver Canucks.  This is the only team of the group with nothing to lose and less pressure than any of the other markets.

The Mats Sundin drama has gotten out of hand just as the Peter Forsberg situation last year.  People are focusing on the wrong players, players who have passed their prime.  Yes they are worth big money, and they have proven themselves in the past, but where did Forsberg get the Avs last year (and this year he wont even return until New Years if at all).  Where did Selanne get the Ducks when he returned.  People should be focusing on the youth of the league, not the guys who are on their way out of the door.  Just my 2 cents, but I think the whole Mats Sundin drama is being over-hyped.

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Today is the day that teams can begin signing unrestricted free agents and signing offer sheets for other team’s restricted free agents. There are a number of big names that could be signed today, including Mats Sundin, Brian Campbell and Marian Hossa. The LA Kings have the most cap room to work with, but are they going to make a splash and add to their young roster. Keep up to date on the 2008 NHL Free Agent Frenzy on this page as I will be updating it throughout the day. Sign up for my feed here and be instantly updated.

Free Agent Moves:

• Washington Capitals resign RFA defenseman Matt Green to a 4 year deal worth $21 million.
• New Jersey Devils resign RFA defenseman Bryce Salvador to a 4 year deal worth $11.6 million, also sign Pandolfo, Clarkson and Tallackson.
• Detroit Red Wings resign Brad Stuart to 4 year deal at $3.75 million/season
• Pittsburgh Penguins resign Pascal Dupuis to 3 year deal at $1.4 million/season
• Anaheim Ducks have resigned Corey Perry to 5 year $26 million deal
• Tampa Bay Lightning sign Unrestricted free agent (ufa) Radim Vrbata to 3 year $9 million deal
• Boston Bruins sign ufa Blake Wheeler to an entry level contract
• Minnesota sign ufa Andrew Burnette
• Pittsburgh Penguins sign Mark Eaton to a 2 year, $2 million deal
• Predators trade Marek Zidlicky to Wild for Ryan Jones and 2nd round pick
• Vancouver Canucks sign Kyle Wellwood to a 1 year deal worth $1 million
• Washington Capital sign ufa goalie Jose Theodore
• Phoenix Coyotes sign ufa defenseman Kurt Sauer to a 4 year deal
• Toronto Maple Leafs sign ufa Jeff Finger to a 4 year deal
• Toronto Maple Leafs sign ufa goalie Curtis Joseph to 1 year deal
• Colorado Avalanche sign ufa goalie Andrew Raycroft
• Montreal Canadians sign rfa Andrei Kostitsyn to a 3 year deal
• Detroit Red Wings sign ufa goalie Ty Conklin to 1 year deal
• Chicago Blackhawks sign ufa goalie Cristobal Huet
• Tampa Bay Lightning sign forward Adam Hall
• Florida Panthers sign Cory Stillman to a 3 yea, $10.6 million deal
• Colorado Avalanche sign ufa Darcy Tucker to a 2 year deal
• Vancouver Canucks sign David Backes to an offer sheet, Blues have 7 days to match
• Tampa Bay Lightning sign ufa Olaf Kolzig to 1 year deal
• Ottawa Senators sign ufa Alex Auld to a 2 year deal
• Buffalo Sabers sign ufa Patrick Lalime to a 2 year deal
• Chicago Blackhawks sign ufa Brian Campbell to a 8 year, $56.8 million deal
• Columbus Blue Jackets sign ufa Mike Commodore to a 5 year deal
• Philadelphia Flyers sign ufa Ossi Vaananen to a 1 year deal
• New York Rangers sign ufa Patrick Rissmiller
• New Jersey Devils sign Brian Rolston to a 4 year, $20.25 million and Bobby Holik to a 1 year deal
• New York Rangers resign Michael Rozsival to a 4 year, $20 million
• Toronto Maple Leafs sign Niklas Hagman to a 4 year, $12 million deal
• New York Rangers sign ufa Wade Redden to a 6 year, $39 million deal

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Huge update on NHL trade deadline day.  The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for Angelo Esposito, Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and 1^st round pick.

This is biggest trade so far this year.  Hossa will give the Penguins a very strong team going into the playoffs. Hopefully the Penguins are able to sign Hossa, or else that is a lot to give up for a rental player.

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There has been a lot of activity today in the trade mill in the last few hours before the NHL 2008 Trade Deadline. There have been a number of big trades happening on 2008 Trade Deadline Day. Here is a list as of 1:50 pm of the trades occurring before the trade deadline:

Devils Traded for Bryce Salvador, Blues received Cam Jansson

Panthers Traded for Wade Belak, Maple Leafs received 2008 5^th round pick

Sharks Traded for Brian Campbell and 2008 7^th round pick, Sabers received Steve Bernier and 2008 1^st round pick

Capitals traded for Cristobal Huet, Canadians received 2009 2^nd round pick

Stars traded for Brad Richards & Johan Holmqvist, the Lightning received Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern

Avalanche traded for Adam Foote, the Blue Jackets received 1^st round pick and conditional pick

Avalanche traded for Ruslan Salei, the Panthers received Karlis Scrastins and 2008 3^rd round pick

Senators traded for Martin Lapointe, Blackhawks received 2008 6^th round pick

Hurricanes traded for Tuomo Ruutu, the Blackhawks received Andrew Ladd

Capitals traded for Sergei Fedorov, and the Blue Jackets received Theo Ruth

The Islanders traded for Rob Davison, and the Sharks received a 7^th round pick

The Canucks traded for Matt Petinger, the Capitals received Matt Cooke

Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis, the Thrashers received Angelo Esposito, Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong and a 1st round draft pick

Ducks trade for Marc-Andre Bergeron, Islanders receive 3^rd round pick

Coyotes trade for Al Montoya and Marcel Hossa and the Rangers receive Frderik Sjostrom, Josh Gratton and David Lenevue

The Wild trade for Chris Simon, the Islanders receive 6^th round pick

Red Wings trade for Brad Stuart and the Kings receive a 2^nd and 4^th round draft pick

The Panthers trade for Chad Kilger and the Maple Leafs receive a 3^rd round draft pick

The Ducks traded for J.S. Aubin, the Kings receive a 7^th round draft pick

The Predators trade for Jan Hlavac and the Lightning receive a 7^th round draft pick

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The first major trade of the day on NHL trade deadline day. Brian Campbell has been traded to the San Jose Sharks from the Buffalo Sabers, tsn.ca reports. Steve Bernier and a 2008 1st round pick went to Buffalo.

Brian Campbell will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.

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Vinny Prospal was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers from the Tampa Bay Lightning today in exchange for defenseman Alexandre Picard and 2nd or 3rd round pick in 2008-2009.

If Philadelphia qualifies for the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals Tampa Bay will receive Philadelphia’s second-round pick in 2009, and if they do not the Lightning will receive Calgary’s third-round pick in 2009.

“With the loss of forwards due to recent injuries, we felt that we needed to add some help to that position,” Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said in a statement. “We believe that Vinny (Prospal) will bring experience with the ability to produce offence.”

Vinny Prospal is not surpised that he was traded to the Flyers, as it was well known that he did not get along with Lightning head coach John Tortarella.  Prospal is expected to suit up in the next Flyer’s game.

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Marian Hossa is likely to be traded tomorrow morning before the trade deadline according to many trade rumors.  Hossa trade rumors show a couple of teams that are interested, but leading the way are the Wings, Senators, and Canadians.

Peter Forsberg is rumored to make his decision today as to whether or not he will return.  I have a feeling he will be returning, and if he does he will almost certainly go to the Philadelphia Flyers.

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Brad Richards has apparently waived his no trade-clause in Tampa Bay. The star center is now looking to be traded somewhere with playoff hopes.

Brad Richards certainly has the resume with a Stanley Cup ring to add some big scoring and leadership to a team in need moving towards the playoffs.

Edmonton, Minnesota, Vancouver, Columbus, Dallas and Montreal are the main teams interested in trading for Brad Richards. Brad Richards NHL hockey trade rumors and more from Ultimate Hockey Warrior.

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