Off-Season " Teams' Transactions " Review Part 2

Eastern Conference,

Northeast Division

Ottawa Senators 1st Place:

Key Acquisitions: Martin Gerber from Carolina, 3-year 11 million; Tom Preissing from Chicago, 1-year 600,000.

Key Departures: Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski to Chicago; Zdeno Chara to Boston; Tyler Arnason to Colorado.

Analysis: C+

The losses were inevitable. The club had to choose between Zdeno " Goliath " Chara or Wade Redden. Redden was the choice and a logical one at that, he's a better leader and more consistent on the back end then his ex-"D" partner. The Chicago trade was a bit of a head scratcher but it was the only real option because Havlat was gone anyway. I thought giving up Smolinski was a bit much but Tom Preissing is an underrated blueliner and with the loss of Chara this at least helpst he back end. With the signing of Gerber the Sens have etched there way to another 1st Place etching- but slowly the mighty will fall, and we all know the Senators do that in the playoffs anyway.

Buffalo Sabres 2nd Place:

Key Acquisitions: Jaroslav Spacek from Edmonton, 2-year 6.5 million

Key Departures: Taylor Pyatt to Vancouver; Jay Mckee to St. Louis; Mike Grier to San Jose.

Analysis: B+

The loss of their defensive leader Jay Mckee will hurt a bit, but not as much as the loss of some of their core group of forwards that led them within inches from a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Sabres were fortunate to scrape up Spacek from Edmonton that will almost balance out the loss of Mr. Mckee. Look to see the Sabres build on their team depth 2006-07 with a lot of their prospects maturing and developing into great players.

Toronto Maple Leafs 3rd Place:

Key Acquisitions: Hal Gill and Andrew Raycroft from Boston, 3-year 6.3 million and 3-year 6 million respectively; Pavel Kubina from Tampa Bay, 4-year 20 milllion; Mike Peca from Edmonton, 1-year 2.5 million

Key Departures: Eric Lindros to Dallas; Jason Allison; Ed Belfour to Florida;

Analysis: B-

John Ferguson or Pat Quinn, Pat Quinn or John Ferguson. Even though dear old Pat has left the scene, with Ferguson manning the tower it really doesn't feel a lot different. I think the young lad has taken a chapter or two out of the old fella's book. Two words: hasty and desperate. And yes Quinn was both of those. But so too is Ferguson. A 7-million dollar per year contract should only go to a top 10 maybe top 25 player in this league. So when Bryan McCabe starts asking for that kind of money any sane man has to laugh. But no- of course if that's what the man wants, that's what the man gets in Leafs (Laughs) Land. Smartly, Kubina and Gill pursued overpriced contracts of their own, and eventually got them. At least this time around Ferguson has focused on the teams' weakness (it hasn't changed in the last 10 years....Defense) instead of overpriced veteran forewards a la Quinn...but wait Michael Peca now? Yes, the Leafs will do better this year and make the playoffs. So no worries Leaf faithful you will add a little more cheer with your beer....this year.

Montreal Canadiens 4th Place:

Key Acquisitions: Mike Johnson from Phoenix, one-year 1.9 million; Sergei Samsanov from Edmonton, 2-year 7 million

Key Departures: Jan Bulis to Vancouver; Richard Zednik to Washington

Analysis: C+

Not much going on in the Front office of " Les Habs ", but based on last year's success and the changing of the guard in goal, Montreal can hang tough and coast into 8th spot in the post season... I mean work there ass off to fall a few points out of that spot. On a positive note, Alexei Kovalev now has a buddy he can talk to in the dressing room with the addition of fellow Russian Sergei Samsanov. Wah hoo!

Boston Bruins 5th Place:

Key Additions: Zdeno Chara from Ottawa, 5-year 37.5 million; Marc Savard from Atlanta 5-year 20 million; Paul Mara from Phoenix, one-year 3 million; Shean Donovan from Calgary, 2-year 1.85 million.

Key Departures: Andrew Raycroft to Toronto; Nick Boynton to Phoenix; Marty Reasoner to Edmonton; Hal Gill to Toronto

Analysis: A

At the end of the season following the firing of coach Mike Sullivan I was certain the Bruins were going to be the worst team in the NHL next season. Yes, even worse than St. Louis, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. The Roster had three decent NHLers in Glen Murray, Brad Boyes, and Patrice Bergeron and then a truck load of AHL talent and 4th line hacks including Travis Green (barf!), Alexei Zhamnov (Alexei who again?), and Jiri Slegr (the NHL whore...7 teams, plus Vancouver and Boston- twice, in an 11 year career). But with the flurry of offseason moves the Bruins look to be the up and coming club in the next few years, especially after stealing arguably the best goalie prospect in Tuuka Raask from Toronto for a struggling Andrew Raycroft.