Winning Wings

Stanley Cup champs score in free agency

The NHL free agent floodgates have opened. CNNSI.com spoke to Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber about the latest signings and their impact on the players remaining on the market:

CNNSI.com: Is it any surprise that the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings locked up the marquee goalie of this free-agent class, Curtis Joseph? Is this a case of the rich just getting richer?

Michael Farber: Generally, Detroit gets what it wants. The Red Wings are on the cusp of that rarified status where players will take a little bit less for a chance to play for a team that could win the Stanley Cup. In fact, over the base contract of three years, Joseph was actually offered $2 million more to stay with the Maple Leafs. Of course, that $1 million bonus he can earn for winning a Stanley Cup obviously factored into his thinking. Essentially Joseph takes over Dominik Hasek's contract and his slot in the salary pecking order. Joseph does not have Hasek's credentials but there is no question that Joseph has been a difference-maker, especially in Toronto. The Leafs played in 60 playoff games in his four seasons there. He also allowed them to change their style of play to become the generally wide-open and entertaining team they are on most nights.

Now that they've got their goalie, the Red Wings have targeted Bill Guerin as their next priority. Detroit will go hard after Guerin as will the Rangers who sent assistant coach Terry O'Reilly to his doorstep shortly after the midnight July 1 free agent period began. Talk about your midnight madness. Guerin is the sexy power winger with growing leadership abilities but for a player of such inherent talent he's moved far too much in his career. His new team will be his fourth in the past six seasons. Certainly he'd be a nice adornment on anyone's right side and he can also play left wing. There are still a few teams on his trail; he'll get his money one way or another.

CNNSI.com: Now that Joseph is off the board, will we see a domino-falling effect in the free-agent goalie ranks?

Farber: The Maple Leafs have been forced to consider Plan B, aka Ed Belfour. In fact, Belfour was Detroit's Plan B if Joseph had intended to break the bank or had re-signed in Toronto. Belfour was on the Canadian Olympic team and handled himself very well in a tertiary role, impressing Team Canada coach and Leafs coach/GM Pat Quinn. There was not a touch of the bad-boy Belfour in Salt Lake City. Belfour is unquestionably an odd duck, but of all the goalies available, the Stanley Cup on his resume that he won in Dallas stands out. He should benefit from a change in scenery in Toronto after a poor season with the Stars.

The Rangers need to sign a goalie as well. It seems clear that Mike Richter is not in their plans at this point, but they need a top-flight netminder. Now that Belfour isn't available, they'll have to move down a further notch to Byron Dafoe, late of the Bruins. Boston was very disappointed in Dafoe not only because he had a shaky playoff series against Montreal but also because of incessant contract battles and because they didn't think he played to the level he was capable. Or New York may have to reassess Richter, who has let it be known he isn't interested in giving the Rangers a hometown discount. The wild card in the goaltending picture is Philadelphia. Right now, it appears the Flyers could stick with Roman Cechmanek, but he's going to have to mend a lot of fences. Don't count out Philly sniffing around the free agent goalies.

CNNSI.com: The Rangers never seem to back away from spending their payroll but what are we to make of New York signing Bobby Holik to a $45 million deal?

Michael Farber: Apparently we have a price tag on intangibles. It's absolutely stunning that a secondary player like Holik is now worth $9 million a season. Holik is, in fact, unique because no other player in the league does quite what he does. By shutting down top centers, contributing offensively and winning faceoffs, he's the most difficult center to play against in the NHL and that group includes Selke Trophy winner Michael Peca of the Islanders. But Holik is not much of an offensive player. When he played on the No. 1 line in New Jersey temporarily, his wingers -- Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias -- were none too pleased. With Eric Lindros and Holik, the Rangers will have a strong 1-2 combination up the middle and can now use Petr Nedved on the wing or use him a trade bait to get a complimentary winger.

CNNSI.com: Does it strike you odd that the first three signings of the free agency period were all centermen?

Farber: The free agent period started at center because of the importance of the position. We might drool over a power winger like Guerin but the game is more readily influenced by centermen. Adam Oates was a slick pickup for the Ducks, a righthanded center who should combine well with Paul Kariya, a brilliant left winger who has been center-deprived his entire career. Kariya is a remarkably smart player and a different kind of winger than Jaromir Jagr in Washington. There both Oates and Jagr needed the puck. Kariya plays without the puck more intelligently and is more a traditional give-and-go left wing. Oates should also help Anaheim's power play, setting up along the left halfboards and working it from there. The contract is a clever one because if Oates has 60 points and the Ducks make the playoffs, the second year is Oates' option. If not, the option belongs to the team.

Oates and Jagr were never a great fit despite the way they seemed to gel in Oates' final days with the Capitals. At the Olympics, Washington GM George McPhee was already talking about a summer deal that would bring in a center better suited to Jagr. Robert Lang should be a good mesh although he could also play with Peter Bondra on the second line. The length of Lang's deal is long and the figures are high but not in comparison to what Martin Lapointe signed last year in Boston. This is a case of need without the Capitals breaking the bank. Lang was always a secondary player in Pittsburgh and will be under far more pressure to produce in Washington.

CNNSI.com: The Stars have been surprisingly quiet so far, especially given their approach during last year's free-agent period...

Farber: Last year when Dallas couldn't sign Jeremy Roenick and, to a lesser extent, John LeClair, the team just started handing out contracts. It was a disaster. The only free agent still there is Pierre Turgeon. The Stars are taking a different approach this year, visiting New Englanders Guerin, Tony Amonte and Scott Young but not making contract offers the first day. Instead Tom Hicks and GM Doug Armstrong shared their vision of the club and said "When you're ready to discuss numbers, make sure you call Dallas." This is a unique approach but we'll see later on how successful it is. Certainly they have the money available and could use the help up front and are going hard after both Guerin and Amonte.

Hicks is besotted by big names, which is why he was so hot for Roenick last year. But if you look at the success Detroit had last season by trading for Hasek and then signing the free agent that Dallas didn't want, Brett Hull, you can retool quickly. When you have a still-new building and a fan base that has grown to expect success, free agency can be a quick fix if the money is judiciously spent.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber covers the NHL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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