Free Agency Day One Review: Boogey-ing with a big Jokinen

Let's see here, anything big happen yesterday?

On the Bruins front, we didn't overpay for anybody, and that's just awesome. It was a really really weak Free Agent market and some people definitely got overpaid as a result. First up on that list, and most hilarious signing of the day: Derek Boogaard.

Here's a statline, courtesy of TSN and the something awful forums:

January 7th, 2006: Boogard's last goal.

So yeah, he's getting 1.65 million per year for the next 4 years per TSN. Thank goodness for Glen Sather or we'd have nothing to write about on free agency days.

Yeah, 1.65 million for a guy who nobody even bothers fighting anymore. He's had a negative GVT for the last couple of years, which means that he is literally worse than your average AHL scrub callup. Yeah, enjoy that 5 minutes a night of stony glares and some huge punches. Plus that fight camp for kids ought to be a hit with inner-city youth. Maybe he'll get a cameo on Rescue Me, though. Meh.

He was a fan favorite with the Wild but I'm thinking most of those jerseys were bought a couple years ago rather than recently. It's kinda telling that on the Minnesota Wild PONDcast special interview with him on his way out of town, they ask about the lack of goals for years. John Scott also got picked up by Chicago, and I'm sure they'll move him to forward and make Luongo cry like a little girl. Again.

In more news about former northwestern division players signing hilarious deals with terrible GMs, it's time to talk the Olli Jokinen signing. Yeah, he signed with Calgary again. If you don't remember, Olli was a Flame after a couple of trades. Post-lockout he was sent to the Coyotes. That's where the fun begins. He was traded from Phoenix to Calgary for Calgary's first round pick, then run out of town by Calgary for being a cancer in the dressing room. (See also: Dion Phaneuf to Toronto). What did Calgary give up in the Phoenix trade? A first-round pick. Then they got back Ales Kotalik (who sucked so much he was bought out) and Chris Higgins (still a UFA) from New York for him. He was the last New York player to touch the puck in the 09-10 season, famously not scoring in a shootout which allowed the Flyers to make the playoffs.

If that doesn't get you chuckling, maybe this picture or my severe lack of an editor will:

(How to draw Olli Jokinen)

Ridiculous gong show in Calgary, that. I suggest looking at Ryan Lambert's twitter for reactions. Yup, that about covers it.

In actual Bruins news, the Bruins re-signed Paille to a fair 1.075 Million/year for the next 2 years and Jeremy Reich got re-signed as well. Considering Reich couldn't sniff the Islanders roster last year, I would be surprised to see him up in Boston. Eh, no biggie.

Anyhow, time to watch some soccer. Hit up Four Habs Fans for a pretty ladies preview of that, if you're into pretty ladies.

HUP HOLLAND!

HUP ORANJ!

GO BRUINS!

Free Agency Recap: Week 1

Hasn't been a whole lot going on around these parts, but for the few, the proud, the people that get all of their bruins news from here...(Hi, mom!) Here's what's been up with all of that:

Bruins have picked up:
Bitz for 1 year/675k (wooooo! WE WANT BITZ WE WANT BITZ)
Recchi for 1 year/1 million (Solid signing for a solid veteran. Can't wait to see that bald spot grow)
Danny Sabourin (last year's backup in Pittsburgh then Edmonton)
Drew Fata (defenseman who played mostly in the AHL last year)
as reported previously:
Steve Begin, replacing Stephane Yelle

Bruins lost:
Shane Hnidy to Minnesota
Steve Montador to Buffalo.

Development camp is underway, and everyone's wondering who will be this year's Camp star a la David Krejci or Blake Wheeler.

Me? I'm on vacation all this week with very little internet around, so unless TravBot feels like writing something (congratulate him, by the way) this week it will be pretty light around here.

The Bruins are having a golden ticket giveaway at the Garden on Thursday the 16th, free chocolate and a chance to win season tickets. Starts at noon. Check it out, I might be stuck at work.

If you want to go to Ristuccia and watch on-ice parts of development camp, they're open to the public and free. Go check out our boys in black and gold (and assorted prospects that could very well become them)!

GO BRUINS!

Free Agency, Day 1 recap

The Bruins re-signed Byron Bitz (687.5k x 2 years), added Steve Begin for 850k for one year (Hi Marc, nice to be playing with you....listen, sorry about the back...), and Steve Montador signed with Buffalo. Depending on the Bitz contract, this gives the Bruins 5-6 million to fill out the rest of the rost. Oh, and we re-signed P-Bruins superstar Johnny Boychuk, to boot. Not sure if he's playing in Boston or staying in Providence this year.

The Wild signed Greg Zanon (1.93x3) and Martin Havlat (5.00x5 lackadaisical years and one great one). Oh, and some guy named Gaborik is now a Ranger. Saku Koivu might be coming to Minnesota to play with his brother, he's making the decision overnight. Havlat wasn't getting offered more than 1-year deals from Chicago.

Looking around the division:
Buffalo...yeah, buffalo is in the division. They only signed Steve Montador. Big moves for them.

Ottawa is still trying to deal Heatley. Suckers. They also re-signed fan favorite Chris Neil.

Montreal picked up Mike "Squids" Cammalleri, Hal "Tall as a tree and skates like one too" Gill, Jaroslav "The OTHER Jaro" Spacek, Brian "Bilbo" Gionta. Commence loathing....now!

Toronto got Colton "Not Bobby" Orr (0-0-1 against current Bruins) and Mike "Lucic's Bitch" Komisarek. Ahhhh, memories...Thank you, Jack Edwards, for all your homer fight calls. I look forward to this upcoming year.

Overall not a terrible day for signings for the Bruins, though we should re-sign Hunwick and then re-sign Kessel or find another good sniper or a top-pairing defenseman on top.

I don't think they should overpay for kessel because of his shoulder surgery, personally.

GO BRUINS!