*The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

[SabresKings3623]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

incredible dude, incredible. care to look at my dynasty? you know, the one you're pwning with this, lol

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

sure I'll check it out, but this isn't pwning anything

[highheatkingsb]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

Man dude, you make my day with this thread. I actually can't wait to log on after getting home in the evenings to read this. Great job, and good luck with the upcoming season.

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

thanks man, it's always nice to hear that I'm doing something good in life LOL

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

Bobby Hull will be honored as the NHL Alumni Association's Man of the Year Thursday night.

Former NHL great Bobby Hull will be honored as the NHL Alumni Association's Man of the Year Thursday night at the organization's seventh annual Gala Dinner, presented by Scotiabank.

The event gets under way at 6 p.m. in the Westin Harbour Castle in downtown Toronto. As always, the NHL Alumni Association will be raising money for charity. It's a dual-charity event this year. Benefitting from the dinner will be "Hockey's Greatest Family Fund," which helps former players who are in need.

The event will also support the 1st Lt. Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance Fund that offers help to Massachusett's soldiers that have incurred serious, career-ending and/or life-altering injuries while on active duty.

Hines was one of us, a four-year college-hockey player at Army, the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. A native of Newburyport, Mass., Hines was a member of the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment who died Sept. 1, 2005, while on duty in Baylough, Afghanistan.

Hull was one of us, too, a dominant player for 15 NHL seasons, 1957-72, who then went on to a seven-year career in the World Hockey Association before returning in 1979 to the NHL when his team, the Winnipeg Jets, was one of four WHA teams admitted to the NHL. Hull was a muscular left winger who led the Chicago Blackhawks to the 1961 Stanley Cup. He combined strength and speed with a slapshot measured at nearly 120 mph.

The NHL Alumni Association is also launching another fundraising effort to benefit more than a dozen other charities. The NHLAA has joined with Ironstone Vineyards and Artemis Sports Group to present the NHL Alumni Signature Wine Series, all bearing a gold-relief likeness of some of hockey's greatest legends.

Eleven different players will be honored in the original group of releases: Hull, Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Mike Richter, Tony Esposito, Dave Schultz, Bobby Clarke, Clark Gillies, Rod Gilbert, Pat LaFontaine and Rob Ray. Later releases will feature Darryl Sittler, Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour.

"As well as supporting our Alumni Association charity, a portion of the proceeds will go to 11 different charities chosen by the players, so it's all for a great cause,” said Mark Napier, NHLAA executive director and an 11-year NHL veteran who won Stanley Cups with the 1979 Montreal Canadiens and 1985 Edmonton Oilers.


"As well as supporting our Alumni Association charity, a portion of the proceeds will go to 11 different charities chosen by the players, so it's all for a great cause.” - Mark Napier
Napier might have added that Ironstone Vineyards, of Murphys, Calif., is California's largest winery entertainment complex, a beautiful facility in the Sierra foothills with wine-aging caves hand-dug out of Calaveras Schist Rock by the Kautz family, one of the top ten wine-grape growing operations in the state.

The temptation to describe these wines in the style of wine connoisseurs, mixing in hockey attributes is too great to avoid. Think of the descriptions in Oenophiles' terms:

Dave Schultz's Chardonnay -- Packs a punch, a rugged drink that makes no apologies for its rough edges.

Clark Gillies Chardonnay -- A big, full-bodied, approachable drink that every time you return to it, you realize it's a winner.

Bobby Clarke's Cabernet Sauvignon -- A feisty drink determined to stand out in a crowd and overcome an early impression of a brash flash-in-the-pan. A leader in its category.

Rod Gilbert's Chardonnay -- The smoothest of the smooth, goes well with everything and a drink that will retain its popularity through the generations.

Bobby Hull's Chardonnay -- A big, booming, full-bodied taste that will leave you wondering what hit you.

Pat LaFontaine's Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay -- Both wines recognized for the consistency of their qualities. A gift that keeps on giving. A drink you'll love for years to come.

Ted Lindsay's Cabernet Sauvignon -- Aged significantly longer than all but one on this list, this wine must be approached carefully or it will sneak up on you and leave you hammered. Don't sell this one short. Has the potential to be the biggest money-maker in the group.

Mike Richter's and Tony Esposito's Cabernet Sauvignons -- Two well-loved wines that have stood the test of time and that we can't get enough of.

Rob Ray's Cabernet Sauvignon -- Notable for its battered nose, earthy tones redolent of smelling salts and a full-bodied bouquet that hints of cauliflower ears and stitches. A regional favorite.

Godie Howe's Chardonnay -- Simply the best. Soon to be a beloved and welcome addition to your wine cellar. A long-lasting, superior drink.

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

+ Click for larger photo

Photo Gallery Video

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today unveiled the team’s new alternate uniforms. The Hurricanes will wear the mostly-black uniforms for 15 home games this season, and the new Hurricanes third jerseys go on sale to the general public on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the team’s annual season kick-off event, the Caniac Carnival.
“We’re very proud of our traditional uniforms,” said Rutherford. “But after ten seasons in North Carolina and a lot of different ideas from our fans, we felt it was time to introduce an additional look for our team.”
The “premier” version of the jersey will be available for $115 and the “authentic” version costs $299. The “youth” version is priced at $80. Prices do not include tax. The first 200 fans to purchase the new sweater at the Caniac Carnival will get access to a special “express lane” during the Carnival’s autograph session.

Hurricanes center Eric Staal, defenseman Tim Gleason and goaltender Cam Ward modeled the uniform at today’s news conference, skating out onto their home ice in their new uniforms for the first time. Each piece of the uniform is primarily black, including the players’ helmets, gloves, socks and jersey. The featured logo on the center of the jersey is the team’s familiar secondary logo, which includes a storm warning flag attached to a hockey stick and laid over a triangle, a tribute to the team’s home in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. The jersey also includes gray squares along the bottom of the jersey, where the red-and-black squares are on the team’s primary sweaters and a gray and black version of the team’s primary logo on each shoulder. The player’s number is in red outlined in white on the sleeves and back, and the players name is in white on the back of the sweater. The socks and sleeves of the jersey feature red and gray v-shaped stripes and the black pants include the team’s primary logo.

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

Sidney Crosby led a group of 10 Pittsburgh Penguins who hand-delivered season tickets today to 35 Penguins season ticket holders throughout the Pittsburgh region.

Also delivering tickets were Marc-Andre Fleury, Jordan Staal, Sergei Gonchar, Brooks Orpik, Maxime Talbot, Tyler Kennedy, Pascal Dupuis, Jeff Taffe and head coach Michel Therrien.

It marked the second year in a row that Penguins players had delivered season tickets. The ticket-holders were selected randomly from the Penguins’ season ticket base.

“We think it’s a great thing that our players and coaches reach out to our season ticket holders in this way,” said David Morehouse, the team president. “The success that we’ve had in recent years has been built on the foundation of our season ticket holders, and this is a tremendous opportunity to say thank you.”

The Penguins won Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference championships in 2007-08 and reached the Stanley Cup Finals. They extended their club-record sellout streak to 67 games, and sold out every game in a season for the first time in team history.

The Penguins open training camp next week at Mellon Arena.

[SabresKings3623]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

nice, I would have to piss my pants if an NHL player showed up at my door to give me season tickets, LOL

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0


Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed center Eric Staal to a seven-year contract extension. The $57.75 million deal begins with the 2009-10 NHL season and extends through the 2015-16 season, paying Staal an average of $8.25 million per season.

“This is a great day for hockey in the Carolinas, to know that our franchise player will be with us for at least another eight seasons,” said Rutherford. “Eric has been a special player for us right from the start. We know that he is just coming into his prime right now, and will continue to grow as a player.”

Staal, 23, completed his fourth NHL season in 2007-08, leading the Hurricanes in goals (38), assists (44), points (82), games played (82), game-winning goals (7), power-play goals (14), power-play points (35), shots (310), takeaways (56) and total time on ice (1,774). He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player by the Carolina chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, and ranked tied for 11th in the NHL in goals (38), tied for 15th in game-winning goals (7), tied for 11th in power-play goals (14) and eighth in shots (310). The Thunder Bay, Ont., native served as an alternate captain for the Hurricanes and also led the team in multi-goal games (4), multi-assist games (10) and multi-point games (23). Staal appeared in his second NHL All-Star Game, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after scoring a pair of goals and assisting on Marc Savard’s game-winner as the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 8-7 in Atlanta.

Drafted second overall by the Hurricanes in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Staal has appeared in 327 career games with Carolina, totaling 124 goals and 159 assists (283 points). He has missed just one game due to injury, and enters the 2008-09 season with a 254-game consecutive games-played streak. Staal established career highs in goals (45), assists (55) and points (100) during the 2005-06 season, when he set a franchise record for goals in a season by a center with 45. During the Hurricanes’ run to the Stanley Cup championship in 2006, he led all NHL skaters in points (28), assists (19), power-play goals (7), power-play assists (10), power-play points (17) and shots (87), setting franchise records for most assists, most points and longest point-streak in a playoff season.

Staal has also been involved with Canada in international competition three times: as a reserve for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, as a member of the gold-medal-winning Canadian team at the 2007 IIHF World Championships and as a member of the 2008 silver-meal-winning team at the 2008 IIHF World Championships.

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

CHASING SUNDIN, INCLUDING

The pool of teams hoping to sign free agent Mats Sundin appears to have gotten a little more crowded.
According to the Globe and Mail, the Tampa Bay Lightning have expressed interest in the Swedish forward. Sundin was recently in Toronto to play in the Right to Play charity game and skated alongside former teammate, and current Lightning, Gary Roberts and new Tampa Bay owner Oren Koules.
Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry, did confirm to the newspaper that two new teams have joined the pursuit of the veteran. Tampa is already close to the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap and would have to create room for Sundin's salary. However, the Lightning might receive some cap reprieve if forward Jeff Halpern is unable to play this season due to a knee injury.
On Friday, Sundin met with Maple Leafs' GM Cliff Fletcher and assistant to the GM Joe Nieuwendyk.
Sources say Fletcher outlined his plan for the team this season and assured Sundin that Toronto will keep the door open for the 37-year-old captain in the event he decides to resume his career.
"It was a very relaxed meeting," said Barry on AM640 Radio in Toronto. "It was a chance to reconnect since Mats was in town and talk about the changes on the Maple Leafs and make sure Mats was aware of everything that was going on with the team."
On Saturday, Sundin met with Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey.
"I had a nice two hours with Mats Sundin in Toronto [on Saturday]," Gainey told the Globe.
"He's interested. I told him to make a decision. I said: 'If you feel like you want to retire, then retire. But if you're not sure, you should play and the emotion will come.'"
While Gainey has said he would be willing to wait on Sundin's decision in the past, Barry suggested that Montreal is hoping to hear from Sundin, either way, soon.
"Gainey simply laid out in detail an excellent case for why Mats should play in Montreal," Barry added. "He also explained that they likely don't have the same latitude to wait too long and would like an answer quite soon, as they have other plans and options in the works."


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[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

As hockey players and as brothers, Daniel and Henrik Sedin do everything together.
But this year they travelled to Vancouver separately to get ready for training camp. Daniel arrived in town last week because his daughter had to start school early, while Henrik arrived on Monday. They still plan to play their entire career together, but the question is, where?
There will be a lot of questions revolving around the Canucks' twin bill on and off the ice this season. Both players have taken their knocks for not stepping up their game the way the team and its fans expect them to, and both are set to become unrestricted free agents next summer.
With that in mind, has their strength improved for this season?
Are they ready to be front line players?
Can they get it done in the playoffs, if they even get there?
Will this be their last season in Vancouver?
For both Sedins, the main objective is simple and all-encompassing. "Our goal here is to make the playoffs and if we can do that, we're happy," explained Daniel. "Our focus is to make the playoffs and if we do that, everything else will take care of itself."
Both veterans return to a Canucks club that has made drastic changes over the summer. New general manager Mike Gillis brought in free agent Pavol Demitra and winger Steve Bernier to cover the loss of Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison to free agency. The team also added some character players in forwards Darcy Hordichuk and Ryan Johnson and defenceman Rob Davison.
The Sedin brothers were impressed with summer's turnaround and hope it sparks the club towards a playoff run next spring. "It's looking pretty good," Daniel told TSN. "These guys are hard working and it's really going to be a lot of fun."
The moves also puts more pressure on the twins to generate more offence, but Daniel and Henrik aren't worried about that as long as other elements work in the team's favour as well. "We still have to focus more on defence," explained Daniel. "But I think we have the best in the league if you look at our top six to seven guys. Of course, we have the best goalie in the world too, so that's going to be our focus. But if we score a few more goals, it will be an interesting season."
When Gillis took over as general manager, he said he didn't know if the Sedins would be players the team will be built around moving forward. With his current lack of options up, that position may have changed as the pair will find out when they meet Gillis for the first time on Wednesday.
"I don't really buy into that comment a whole lot," Henrik told reporters regarding Gillis' statement. "He wanted to have something to say, he didn't have any names he wanted to build the team around, so we're going to see him tomorrow and see where we are."
Up until this point, the Sedins' agent J.P. Barry has been unwilling to open contract negotiations. But Barry will also be at the meeting, so it is expected that some discussion on an extension will take place.
"We'll see what happens," said Daniel. "It's two weeks until training camp and if nothing happens, that's fine too. We'll look at it the same way."
It will likely take six to $6.5 million to sign each player, and will be hard for Gillis to low-ball the pair, given the $10 million he he has on the table for Mats Sundin - a player who has fewer points than both Sedins over the past two seasons.

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

For five seasons, Jason Spezza has heard it all about how he is just a one dimensional player.
And he's is eager to get this season going. The Senators' No. 1 centre is ready to show his new coach Craig Hartsburg that he's prepared for the next step in his career.
"It's a stigma," Spezza told TSN at the team's informal skate on Tuesday. "You talk to a lot of good offensive players who go through it when they're young and it's a stigma you go through until you break it. And once you do break it you become the all around great player."
Ottawa fans got a glimpse of that type of player in May, as Spezza - who has averaged more than a point per game throughout his National Hockey League career - showed at the World Championships that he is capable of playing a different style of game.
"I think I'm getting better and better as a defensive player," he explained. "I think I can play in more situations as the years go on and I think I'm getting better at understanding I need to play a more all around game."
That's an encouraging statement for Senators' head coach Craig Hartsburg, who is ready to assign his more responsibilities to his top playmaker. "With him we are going to try and push him to another level and use his skills and even give us more in other areas," he said. "And I think at this point of his career and the talks I've had with Jason, he's excited about that challenge."
One of the elements in improving Spezza's game could involve breaking up his line with Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson. It's a move that was discussed in training camp last season, and Spezza is open to the idea if it improves the team.
"I look forward to the year and to the challenges," he said. "And I think I'm maturing more as a player and with all that comes the understanding of what you have to do differently."

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

What we have here, folks, is a horse race.
Unlike last year, when Steven Stamkos went wire to wire as the undisputed No. 1, the race for top spot in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft is expected to be a hotly-contested battle between Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman and Oshawa General sniper John Tavares.
And if either of them should slip or stumble, Spokane defenceman Jared Cowen and/or Brampton centre Matt Duchene are seen as legitimate threats to step up and perhaps challenge for the top spot.
But in TSN's poll of 10 NHL scouts to obtain TSN's Pre-Season Top 10 for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, it is Hedman who starts with top billing, with six first-place votes and 96 of a possible 100 points (10 points for a first-place vote descending to a one point for a 10th-place vote). Tavares is right behind the 6-foot-7 Swede, with four first-place votes and 93 voting points.
''It really could go either way,'' one scout told TSN. ''So much of it will be based on performance. If Tavares plays like he did his first season (in the OHL), it's going to be very interesting. He could easily be the (No. 1) guy. If (Tavares) plays like he did in the (OHL) playoffs last spring, kids like Cowen and Duchene could go right by him. It's a big year (for Tavares).''
''It could come down to position,'' another scout said. ''If you need a forward, you take Tavares. If you need a defenceman, you take Hedman. But neither of those guys is so much better than the rest of their class that they can afford to go on their reputations. Cowen and Duchene are big-time prospects, too.''
Cowen is a 6-foot-5 defensive defenceman. Duchene is a well-built pivot just shy of six feet tall, who has elite level speed and skill. While he is perhaps not quite as prolific offensively as Stamkos, there are a lot of similarities in their game in terms of playing both sides of the puck and using speed on both offense and defence.
Cowen received 73 voting points to land in the No. 3 slot; Duchene got 68 points to hold down No. 4.
At least to start the season, the scouts' voting trends indicate a six-man group that looks to be a slight cut above the rest of the field.
Brayden Schenn of the Brandon Wheat Kings, a physical centre and the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leaf 2008 first rounder Luke Schenn, is No. 5 with 60 points, followed closely by dynamic Swedish winger Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi, who was the youngest Swede to ever play in the World Junior Championship (2008).
Those six prospects – Hedman, Tavares, Cowen, Duchene, Schenn and Svensson-Paajarvi – were the only six players to be named on each and every one of the 10 scouts' ballots for the top 10.
Which is not to suggest other prospects couldn't jump up and unseat one of those six. London Knight forward Nazem Kadri, for example, and diminutive speedster Jordan Schroeder (pronounced Shray-der) of the U.S. Under-18 program received high-end consideration from some scouts, picking up 30 and 22 points, respectively, to nail down the No. 7 and No. 8 slots.
Kadri was a member of the Kitchener Rangers but was dealt to London as part of the trade for netminder Steve Mason. Schroeder played for Team USA at the 2008 World Junior Championship.
Vancouver Giant forward Evander Kane, who played for Canada at this summer's Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic, checks in at No. 9 with 14 points and Lac St. Louis (Que.) midget grad Louis Leblanc is 10th with 10 points.
Leblanc wowed scouts at the Hlinka tourney, playing on a top line with Duchene and 2010 draft-eligible Taylor Hall. LeBlanc will play this season for Omaha of the United States Hockey League and is scheduled to attend Harvard University in the fall of 2009.
But the fact that another 11 players, outside of TSN's consensus top 10, received at least one vote in the top 10 tells you there's bound to be a lot of movement on the draft list as the season unfolds.
U.S. Under-18 forward Jeremy Morin, Peterborough Pete forward Zack Kassian and Finnish blueliner Tommi Kivisto, who will play for Red Deer of the WHL this season were just outside the top 10, picking up seven voting points each. Other prospects who received at least one top-10 vote include Windsor Spitfire defenceman Ryan Ellis (five points), Mississauga St. Mike's Major forward Casey Cizikas and Erie Otter forward Ryan O'Reilly (four points apiece), Swedish defenceman David Rundblad (three points), Swedish forward Jacob Josefson and Brandon forward Scott Glennie (two points each) and Kingston Frontenac defenceman Taylor Doherty and Slovak forward Richard Panik (one point each).
Another five prospects received some honorable mentions from the scouts but did not receive a top-10 vote. Those players included: Swedish forward Anton Lander, U.S. Under-18 forward Kyle Palmieri, St. John's defenceman Simon Despre, Saskatoon defenceman Stefan Elliott and Regina right winger Garrett Mitchell.

Players receiving Top 10 voting points:

1. Victor Hedman, Defence (96 points)
2. John Tavares, Forward (93 points)
3. Jared Cowen, Defence (73 points)
4. Matt Duchene, Forward (68 points)
5. Brayden Schenn, Forward (60 points)
6. Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi, Forward (57 points)
7. Nazem Kadri, Forward (30 points)
8. Jordan Schroeder, Forward (22 points)
9. Evander Kane, Forward (14 points)
10. Louis Leblanc, Forward (10 points)

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[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

2008 All Free Agent Team

The following is TSN.ca's 23-man roster made up of the most intriguing players eligible this summer for unrestricted free agency. The market opens Tuesday, July 1 at Noon et/9am pt.
Forwards (12)

MARIAN HOSSA 2007-08 Team: Thrashers/Penguins 2007-08 Salary: $7 million The Stats: 72 GP, 29 G, 66 PTS Signs With: Red Wings New Contract: 1-year, $7.45M Lowdown: After shaking his reputation as a bad playoff performer and helping lead the Penguins to the Cup final, Hossa joined the defending champs.	MATS SUNDIN 2007-08 Team: Maple Leafs 2007-08 Salary: $5.5 million The Stats: 74 GP, 32 G, 78 PTS Signs With: New Contract: Lowdown: Sundin's negotiating rights belonged to the Montreal Canadiens until July 1, and he's now fielding offers from as many as four suitors.	JAROMIR JAGR 2007-08 Team: Rangers 2007-08 Salary: $8.36M The Stats: 82 GP, 25 G, 71 PTS Signs With: Omsk (Russia) Lowdown: Jagr hinted at everything from retirement to playing in Russia, and a move to the KHL was finally in the cards for the former Hart Trophy winner.

KRISTIAN HUSELIUS 2007-08 Team: Flames 2007-08 Salary: $1.4 million The Stats: 81 GP, 41 A, 66 PTS Signs With: Blue Jackets New Contract: 4-years, $19M Lowdown: Columbus needed help up front and Huselius will help fill that void. He was a solid contributor for Calgary..	VACLAV PROSPAL 2007-08 Team: Lightning/Flyers 2007-08 Salary: $1.9 million The Stats: 80 GP, 33 G, 71 PTS Signs With: Lightning New Contract: Undisclosed Lowdown: Prospal was one of the few bright spots with the Lightning this past season, and his consistency played a big part in Philly's playoff success.	SEAN AVERY 2007-08 Team: Rangers 2007-08 Salary: $1.9 million The Stats: 57 GP, 33 PTS, 154 PIM Signs With: Stars New Contract: 4-years, $15.5M Lowdown: Not only is the league's premier agitator, but he's also a great skater and a solid clutch scorer. He's Brett Hull's kind of guy.

RYAN MALONE 2007-08 Team: Penguins 2007-08 Salary: $1.45 million The Stats: 77 GP, 27 G, 6 GWG Signs With: Tampa Bay New Contract: 7 years, $31.5M Lowdown: A subject of trade rumours for a few seasons now, the ever-improving power forward elevated his stock significantly with Pittsburgh's Cup run and cashed in his chips with the Bolts.	MARTIN STRAKA 2007-08 Team: Rangers 2007-08 Salary: $3.3 million The Stats: 65 GP, 41 PTS Signs With: HC Lasselsberger Plzen (Czech Republic) New Contract: 1 year, terms undisclosed Lowdown: Straka signed a one-year deal his old Czech club, where he will also become general manager.	MARKUS NASLUND 2007-08 Team: Canucks 2007-08 Salary: $6 million The Stats: 82 GP, 30 A, 55 PTS Signs With: Rangers New Contract: 2 years, $8M Lowdown: Naslund is clearly in the back-end of his career, but can still provide some offensive boost for less than the $6 million he earned this past season.

BRIAN ROLSTON 2007-08 Team: Wild 2007-08 Salary: $2.432 million The Stats: 81 GP, 59 PTS, 8 GWG Signs With: Devils New Contract: 4 years, $20.5M Lowdown: Rolston had been the heart-and-soul of the Wild for three seasons, but he went back to the Devils.	PAVOL DEMITRA 2007-08 Team: Wild 2007-08 Salary: $4.5 million The Stats: 68 GP, 39 A, 54 PTS Signs With: Canucks New Contract: 2 years, $8M Lowdown: The struggling Demitra was initially brought in to St. Paul as support for Marian Gaborik. If he goes, will Gaborik follow a year from now via free agency?	RADIM VRBATA 2007-08 Team: Coyotes 2007-08 Salary: $1.225 million The Stats: 76 GP, 27 G, 56 PTS Signs With: Lightning New Contract: 3 years, $9M Lowdown: After a career year in Phoenix, Vrbata will have a chance to improve those totals playing with some skilled players in Tampa.

Defence (6)

BRIAN CAMPBELL 2007-08 Team: Sabres/Sharks 2007-08 Salary: $1.75 million The Stats: 83 GP, 62 PTS, 33 PPP Signs With: Blackhawks New Contract: 8 years, $56.8M Lowdown: Campbell's fluid skating, smart defensive game and power play expertise made him the top commodity on the blueline this summer.	WADE REDDEN 2007-08 Team: Senators 2007-08 Salary: $6.5 million The Stats: 80 GP, 38 PTS, +11 Signs With: Rangers New Contract: 6 years, $39M Lowdown: Ottawa just did not have room for him, and the Rangers were happy to give him somewhere to go.

MARK STREIT 2007-08 Team: Canadiens 2007-08 Salary: $600,000 The Stats: 81 GP, 62 PTS, 34 PPP Signs With: Islanders New Contract: 5 years, $20.5M Lowdown: The Habs will miss him on the powerplay, but the pay raise was too much for Bob Gainey's game plan.	MICHAL ROSZIVAL 2007-08 Team: Rangers 2007-08 Salary: $2.3 million The Stats: 80 GP, 38 PTS Signs With: Rangers New Contract: 5 years, $20M Lowdown: The 29-year-old defenceman from the Czech Republic was New York's point leader on the blueline with 13 goals and 38 points in 80 games last season.

BROOKS ORPIK 2007-08 Team: Penguins 2007-08 Salary: $1.75 million The Stats: 78 GP, 11 PTS, 57 PIM Signs With: Penguins New Contract: 6 years, $22.5M Lowdown: A key component on Pittsburgh's blueline this season, Orpik may have re-set the bar in the market for physical, stay-at-home defencemen.	RON HAINSEY 2007-08 Team: Blue Jackets 2007-08 Salary: $900,000 The Stats: 78 GP, 32 PTS, 23 PPP Signs With: Thrashers New Contract: 5 years, $22.5M Lowdown: Columbus tried to keep him, but could not go where Atlanta went in terms of a contract. A huge raise.

Goaltenders (2)

CRISTOBAL HUET 2007-08 Team: Canadiens/Capitals 2007-08 Salary: $2.75 million The Stats: 52 GP, 32 W, .920 SV% Signs With: Blackhawks New Contract: 4 years, $22.5M Lowdown: After arriving from the Habs, the French netminder shone brightly for the Caps going 11-2 with a 1.63 GAA and .936 save percentage.	JOSE THEODORE 2007-08 Team: Avalanche 2007-08 Salary: $6 million The Stats: 53 GP, 28 W, 2.44 GAA Signs With: Capitals New Contract: 2 years, $9M Lowdown: Theodore showed shades of his glory days with Montreal, and the Caps will need him to be at his best.

Spares (3)

MICHAEL RYDER 2007-08 Team: Canadiens 2007-08 Salary: $2.95 million The Stats: 70 GP, 14 G, 31 PTS Signs With: Bruins New Contract: 3 years, $12M Lowdown: The Bruins are betting he'll return to his 30-goal form from two seasons ago before he got in Guy Carbonneau's doghouse.	BRAD STUART 2007-08 Team: Red Wings 2007-08 Salary: $3.5 million The Stats: 72 GP, 23 PTS, -10 Signs With: Red Wings New Contract: 4 years, $15M Lowdown: The Wings got him for a decent price - the champs can do that sort of thing.	TY CONKLIN 2007-08 Team: Penguins 2007-08 Salary: $500,000 The Stats: 18 W, .923 SV% Signs With: Red Wings New Contract: 1 year, $750,000 Lowdown: Conklin was the saving grace during the regular season when Marc-Andre Fleury was on the shelf. He will be a backup again.

[GoldenJet]

Re: *The Crosby Effect* A Penguins Dynasty 2.0

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar were the few chosen Penguins to go to the World Tournament, which was announced to be set before the NHL season starts. Gonchar and Malkin will be heading over to Russia yet Crosby is heading off to Team Canada, as he'll play on the third line, behind Captain Joe Sakic and super asisst man Joe Thornton.

Sidney Crosby shaking hands with Russian Captain Alexander Ovechkin during the World Juniors.


Evgeni Malkin celebrating with Team Russia teamate Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.


Sergei Gonchar celebrates with Pittsburgh Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby after Crosby scored during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.