Free agency report card (yahoo)

[Falling Man]

Yahoo's free agency report card:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Daddy-s-2011-NHL-Free-Agent-Frenzy-Report-C;_ylt=Ak_EiV9_Mo82KvtRvMFYyHp7vLYF?urn=nhl-wp8623

Some notables for the fans here:

Boston Bruins
The champs said goodbye to Michael Ryder(notes), whose streakiness wasn't worth the price tag. The Bruins signed LW Benoit Pouliot(notes) from the Habs for 1 year and $1.1 million, and one assumes it's so he can score game-winning goals against his former team and really rub some extra salt in old wounds. Pouliot's a project. GRADE: C-

Colorado Avalanche
The Avs fared better in free agency than they did on the trade market, where they overpaid (first and second round picks) mightily for Capitals backup goalie Semyon Varlamov(notes). In the Frenzy, Colorado landed one of the more sought-after defensemen in Jan Hejda(notes), 33, of the Blue Jackets (4 years, $13 million). He's a veteran leader who brings size and stability to a young blue line. The Avalanche also added Chuck Kobasew(notes) from the Wild (2 years, $2.5 million) who can bring some instant offense to the lower lines, as well as Jean-Sebastien Giguere(notes) to back up Varlamov at 2 years and $2.5 million — not a terrible veteran option at that price. The Avs lost forward Tomas Fleischmann(notes) to the Panthers' shopping spree. GRADE: B for now, but one gets the feeling the Avs aren't done.

Carolina Hurricanes
GM Jim Rutherford's pimp hand snatched up Hurricanes UFAs Joni Pitkanen(notes) (3 years, $13.5 million), Chad LaRose(notes) (2 years, $3.4 million) and Jussi Jokinen(notes) (3 years, $9 million) before they hit the market. He couldn't sign winger Erik Cole(notes), who went on to break the bank with Montreal on a 4-year, $18-million deal. Rutherford also brought in blue-collar hero Tim Brent(notes) from the Leafs (2 years, $1.5 million); left wing Alex Ponikarovsky (1 year, $1.5 million), whose market value dropped dramatically after whiffs with the Penguins and Kings; Anthony Stewart(notes) (2 years, $1.8 million), a power forward from the Jets; and backup Brian Boucher(notes) from the Flyers (2 years, $1.9 million) so Cam Ward(notes) doesn't have to play 82 games next season. Busy, budget-conscious spree for the Canes. GRADE: B+

Philadelphia Flyers
The weirdness got weirder in Philadelphia. After signing goalie Ilya Bryzgalov(notes) to a creative 9-year deal and trading both Jeff Carter(notes) and Mike Richards at the Draft, the Flyers made arguably the biggest news on July 1 by winning the hand of Jaromir Jagr for 1 year and $3.3 million. Then they signed Max Talbot(notes) to a 5-year, $9-million deal that baffled more than a few. Then they signed Andreas Lilja(notes) (2 year, $1.475 million) for an overstuffed blue line. Jagr could turn out to be a coup. Now, if we can just figure out what the hell the Flyers' plan is for this season and beyond. GRADE: B-

Vancouver Canucks
Following the re-signing of Kevin Bieksa(notes), the Canucks brought back defenseman Sami Salo(notes) the morning of July 1 on a 1-year, $2-million extension; which helped soften the blow of losing Christian Ehrhoff to the Sabres for a contract worth slightly more than the gross national product of Uruguay. The Canucks also re-signed Chris Higgins(notes) for 2 years and $3.8 million. They had one free-agent splash: Signing LW Marco Sturm(notes) to a 1-year, $2.25 million deal; can he still be a top-six forward? RW Mark Mancari(notes) (1 year, $525K) and Andrew Ebbett (1 year, $525K) were added for depth. The Canucks lost Rick Rypien(notes), Tanner Glass(notes), Alex Bolduc and Raffi Torres as UFAs. GRADE: B

Washington Capitals
The team of the Frenzy. Roman Hamrlik(notes) is a puck-moving, physical defenseman that upgrades the Caps blueline. RW Joel Ward had a few solid years in Nashville and then earned his 4-year, $12-million deal with a spectacular postseason. Jeff Halpern(notes), for Capitals captain, adds veteran savvy down the lineup for just $825,000. Then came the stunner: Tomas Vokoun(notes), the top goaltender still available, signs for just $1.5 million. Even without factoring in a first and a second for Semyon Varlamov, this is a GRADE: A

[lotus]

Sucks losing Erhoff, but the money was crazy. He was huge in the playoffs.

Looks like slightly better than business-as-usual for the Blue Jackets. Here's hoping, as always. I don't think two playoff runs in 11 years is too much to ask.

[miketheknife]

I would be angry that you didn't post the Coyotes info except I don't really care

[rabb]

I am pretty optimistic, I like the kid we got from Washington despite what we gave up for him

it's tough to get worse than we have been, and I am hoping we can at least get back to some relevance

[Falling Man]

I would be angry that you didn't post the Coyotes info except I don't really care

I have not yet recieved my 1/8 achievement point for my Horde participation.

[miketheknife]

Once I deducted the cost of actually sending you the points, it canceled out. So the good news is you won't be getting a bill for your services.

[Lambshot23]

No Rangers? Your dead to me, making me click links and such.

[YEM]

Carolina just signed Kaberle....

[Falling Man]

Carolina just signed Kaberle....

Yup, saw that yesterday and was quite surprised.

No Rangers? Your dead to me, making me click links and such.

"You're".

Lamb, notice how I didn't post the Sabres either?

[Lambshot23]

Damn I'm sabres status...that hurts even worse!

[RayRay]

I'm just excited to get a Hamrlik jersey.

[Falling Man]

Mike Commodore wants to wear #64 since his recent signing with Detroit.

Commodore 64. I approve.

[sabresrule30]

Damn I'm sabres status...that hurts even worse!

srsly, what a dick.

I hear the Rags are in the race to get Theo Fleury when he checks out of rehab finally