NEVER FORGET!!!

1) Let's Never forget that 11 years ago today 3000 of us were murdered for no other reason than for what these colors represent; Freedom!



These Colors NEVER Run!

Happy Birthday to Us!!

1 ) WE NEVER thought we would still be here to go into year 9! Yes, this blog is now EIGHT years old! Its amazing that we have reached this milestone. When we made our first post (inspired by the late summer drivel/rumours of the time)
 http://newfaux.blogspot.com/2006/08/making-up-shit.html   we never in our wildest dreams believed this would become what it has. We especially didn't think we'd still be at this when the dark days when our now vanquished blog enemy hacked and stole the original FAUXRUMORS blog. Though its still is out there for his sick amusement, its of little consequence to us now. We have long since moved on when we restarted things again in March 2007. In retrospect he did us a favour, as we feel this forced us to improve/upgrade the blog in many ways since then.


2) With almost 1300 original FAUX posts and growing to our credit since that first fateful blog entry, and hundreds of  thousand hits (and growing fast) we are proud of what we have grown here the past 8 years. As we were then, (and always will be) we are a totally FREE site/blog. We decline all advertising offers. For one, honestly we don't need the income, but more importantly, we feel that accepting money would be the wrong perception. We don't want to become Eklund. Selling nonsense/made up crap to sad/loser people. We look forward to the beginning of our NINETH year! Thanks to all of you! 

As always, keep it here for the latest!

Ribiero Moves Brothel East

1) In an interesting move(s) today, the Nashville Predators signed both Derek Roy as well as Mike Ribiero. The Roy signing we actually like. While Derek didn't tear it up last season in St Louis, the 31 year old is a solid citizen and a good team mate. We feel a change of scenery and low expectations will provide opportunity for Roy to again regain his scoring touch and add veteran leadership to the new look Preds.

2) On the other hand we do NOT like the signing of Ribiero. While he is an overall better player than Roy in an exclusively talent perspective, he has NOT EVER been considered a 'good team  mate! There is a reason he was bought out earlier last month by Phoenix who were willing to rid themselves of the cancer that is 'Ribs'. Sources tell us that not only is Mike a self centered player, but has worsened in recent years as his marriage also fell apart. Becoming a "a real dick' is how one well placed source tell us.  It'll be interesting to see how long Peter Laviolette, also known as quite the dick himself, puts up with Ribiero's antics. Our guess is he will be on the trade block before the calender year's end!

Let The Insane Spending Begin!

1) With the July 1st date upon us, players who are UFA are now free to sign where ever they please without compensation for their former teams. Its also freedom (in name only) for RFA, for whom considerable compensation would be due to former teams, making 'offer sheets' VERY few and far between. To say nothing of the personal nature of the hockey business among GM's its seldomly used and NEVER forgiven/forgotten!

2) AS many have already discussed, there are far fewer quality players than there are potential suitors, meaning there will be a bidding war of sorts to acquire these few players.  Nothing against them, for we think every player should get as much $$ as they can, but its very likely some decent, but unspectacular players will become very overly compensated by days end. Do teams not learn?  Do the names Vinny Lecavlier, and David Clarkson ring a bell? It was only a year ago that the Flyers and Leafs made deals with these 2 and we bet both teams wish they still had their compliance buy outs to rid themselves of them.

3) So who will get 'silly money' as we at Fauxrumors  like to call it?  Firstly we should also say that along with money there is also the issue with 'term' or the length of the contracts. With the new CBA, a new team can not sign a player for a term greater than 7 seasons, or 8 to retain one's one FA. For a UFA who may be pushing or over 30 even a 7 year deal can come back to haunt a team even if the cap continues to escalate over the length of the deal. So with those parameters in mind, here are some of the top 15 available players and anticipated money and term we expect to see given, as well as the possible destinations based upon some of the chatter we've been hearing.

• Ryan Miller- You may recall how we felt his playoff performance hurt his chances of getting a good deal. However, while he may get less term than previously, we full expect Ryan to get the 6 million his agent will ask for. So a 3 year, 18 million dollar deal is likely. If there are more than 3 serious bidders we cold see a 4th season added to that or a 4 year 25 mil deal. Possible destinations: Vancouver, Pittsburgh
• Dan Boyle- The aging offensive defensemen still has something to offer a contending team. At over 35 teams better be careful as to term as he can not be bought out.  Two years is the likely term at 5 million per. Possible destinations: NY Rangers, Detroit, Toronto and Pittsburgh.
• Paul Stastny- Probably the best UFA center available and he won't come cheap either. The 28 year old who might fit well as a contenders 2nd line centre will be paid like a top center.  With double digit teams inquiring, max term at 7+ mil is possible or a 7 year 50 million deal. Possible destinations: Rangers, Islanders, Minnesota, Arizona, and NJ
• Matt Niskanen- The 27 yr old Minny native will probably end up the highest paid UFA defensemen. Like Ststny, will have many suitors, driving up the price. Also like Stastny, he will end up getting WAY more money than his on ice potential deserves.  Max term is a guarantee, and a  tripling of his 13-14 salary of 2.3 mil is likely. Possible destinations: Washington,  Minnesota, Detroit
• Thomas Vanek- May have hurt somewhat his chances of getting a max deal with his playoff disappearance, but he will still get a nice contract at or about his current 7 mil salary. Its the term that may push where the Austrian signs.  WE are hearing 5 years 35 or so mil. Possible destinations: Minnesota, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton
• Jarome Iginla- The long time power forward had a very solid season in Boston who would lov eto retain him, but the reduced increase in the salary cap might make that difficult. Jerome is seeking a 2 year 10 mil. or 1 year 6 mil deal. Possible destinations: Boston, Pittsburgh, Montreal 
• Brad Richards- Bought out of his 2nd long/bloated contract, he still could be a good 2nd line center fit at the right price. He'd be willing to take a 2-3 year 3-4 mil deal with a contending team. Possible destinations: Islanders, Phoenix, Tampa Bay 
• Brooks Orpik- The 33 year old former Pens defensemen might be well sought after like his former teammate Niskanen. However don't expect him to get near the lucrative deal Matt gets. Likely a 3 year 12 mil range deal. Possible destinations: Washington, Islanders, Calgary, New Jersey
• Mikhail Grabovski- Still getting paid by Toronto as one of their compliance buy-outs. had solid year as Caps 2nd line center, but will be looking for raise from the 3 mil he made then. Will probably get close to the 5 year 5 mil deal he is seeking. Possible destinations: Washington, Arizona, Vancouver 
• Matt Moulson- The former Isle, Sabre, Wild forward always seems to put up decent offensive numbers, yet seems to not get recognition you'd expect. We'll see if that translates into a poor UFA deal.  Certainly he will get calls, and probably a decent raise above the 3 mil he currently receives. A 3 year 12+ mil deal is likely.  Possible destinations: His 3 former teams, Penguins, Florida 
• Milan Mickalek- The 28 year old former Senator will be a well sought after forward in this underwhelming UFA class. He can't expect any big time offers, but a continuation of his 4 mil salary is likely.  Don't expect teams to offer more than 3-4 years.  Possible destinations: Toronto, Arizona, Florida, Buffalo
• Dominic Moore- The Masterdon Trophy winner can expect a nice/deserved raise from the 1 mil he received from he rangers this past season. He will have several teams interested so a 3 year 9-10 mil deal is possible. Possible destinations: Tampa Bay, Montreal, New Jersey
•  Dany Heatley- The old looking 33 year old has seen his last big pay day contract, but despite dwindling production will get an offer from several teams. Likely a 2 year 6-7 mil deal. Possible destinations: Florida, Dallas, Detroit, Toronto
• Mike Cammalleri- Was a bit over paid but as a #2 pivot at 4-5 mil might help a contending team's need for secondary scoring.  A 3 year 15 mil deal possible. Likely Destinations: New Jersey, Calgary, Montreal
• Christian Ehrhoff- After being bought out of his long term deal by the Sabres the 31 year old German defensemen may be one of the top 5 UFA back liners available. We're told he'd take a bit of a discount to sign with a contendor. A 3-4 year deal at 15 mil.  Possible destinations: Detroit, Vancouver, New Jersey

Draft 'Winners and Losers"???

1) Its an annual annoyance to us at Fauxrumors reading about draft day winners and losers.  I suppose bloggers/hockey columnists have little to write about in the off season, but to proclaim ANY team a winner or loser based upon their selections in the entry draft is well beyond dumb.  Even though we're also not fans of labeling teams involved in a trade a 'winner or loser' at least in that instance we have some basis for making that assessment. Those players have an actual NHL resume to base the findings upon. In the case of the entry draft, outside of the top 5 players, anyone other the Pierre McGuire/Bob McKenzie types have never even heard of the other 200+ 17-18 year olds picked!

2) It usually takes a minimum of 5 years to really assess a teams success/failure in a particular draft. However, we rarely read about "2009 draft winners and losers" other than a day or so after the 2009 draft!  This weekend would have been that time, no?  Five years after a draft we at least should have so insight of who picked wisely and who picked crappily.  So with that in mind here are Fauxrumors draft day winners and losers (2009).  First the 'winners/losers' of Round 1
 Winners

• Islanders- Tavares
• Colorado-Duchesne
• Atlanta(Winnipeg) Kane
• TB- Hedman
• Toronto- Kadri
• Minnesota- Leddy
• Rangers- Kreider
• Washington- Johansson

Losers:

• LA- Schenn
• Ottawa- Cowan
• Dallas- Glennie
• Montreal- LeBlanc
• Vancouver- Schroeder
• Carolina- Paradis
• Pittsburgh- Depress

3) Next the 'winners/losers from the other 6 rounds based upon players who are in the NHL/contributing:

Winners:

• Colorado- O'Reilly
• Ottawa- Silferberg
• Washington- Orlov, Eakin
• Detroit- Tatar
• Islanders- Cizikas, Lee
• Anaheim- Vatanen

No losers would be fair here, as picking after the first round is pretty much a dart throw. Any team that gets 1 decent NHL-er from the later rounds has done its job well scouting the amateur ranks.   Overall it appears the biggest winners from that draft would be the Islanders, Colorado, Washington. Not surprising since the first 2 of those teams were picking in the top 3.  There is NO way that any blogger/hockey writer could have been able to make this assessment June 28, 2009 after the draft was completed. Sure, it looked like the Isles and Avs got better but who knew that there later selections would be keepers as well? The bottom line , it takes literally years to determine the success/failure of any particular draft and to assign a winner/loser the day after its completion is simply stupid!

Pittsburgh Implosion Continues

1) We have written extensively the past couple of months of the apparent downward spiral we believe the Pittsburgh organization has been on since their early departure from the Stanley Cup playoffs.  It began with the inexplicable firing of Ray Shero. The man who helped assemble the team that won a Cup in 2009 and brought them to the Final 4 last season. Who like all GM's didn't have a blemishless record, but was certainly looked upon  throughout the NHL as a top 5 GM. Then after having it leaked that Dan Bylsma was to be fired simultaneously as Shero, they retained him for 4 additional weeks. Twisting in the wind, seemingly to prevent him from being re-hired by a conference rival (DC?), then firing him anyway after several jobs were gone.

2) This certainly tainted the team image.  All the while the face of the franchise, Mario Lemieux was not to be see/heard from.  Then things got worse (in my opinion) when the team hired recently fired( retired-?) Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Ruthrford.  While he's no Don Waddell, he certainly was NOT an upgrade from Shero, and many including Fauxrmors feel he was a few steps down.  To make matters worse it was clear that Rutherford was brought in to bridge the time between Shero and asst GM Jason Botterill taking full control in 2-3 years.  From there the coaching search, which should have started much earlier but had to wait because of the aforementioned Bylsma fiasco, made the organization look even more Mickey Mouse. The team coveted Calder Cup-winning coach Willie Desjardins of the American Hockey League's Texas Stars.  Rutherford and the Pens looked immensely foolish when he first  announced that he had found his coach, before he had signed him to a contract.Evidently, Desjardins believes the Vancouver Canucks job was a  better one. Who could blame him, as he would be working for/hired by a lame duck GM

3) The Pens finally had few options left so they ended up hiring little regarded. Mike Johnston of the Portland Winterhawks to take over. Johnston was not on the Penguins' initial candidate list, or at least wasn't reported to be. After admitting the Penguins had lost out on their first attempt to hire a coach  the Penguins re-opened the search and Rutherford said some new candidates would emerge. Johnston appears to be one of those and clearly it was close to love at first sight? While Johnston has a decent resume, he does NOT have any name recegnition and will the vets respond to him?

4) Then this weekend the latest salvos against the team. Rutherford trades one of the teams only wingers who can score, James Neal.  Aside from the fact that Neal is one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL, it doesn't really solve any of the Penguins' problems. Pittsburgh has been crushed by a lack of depth because it pays 2-3 players near max money.  In return the Pens got Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling.  No salary cap relief as the two players picked up will exceed Neal's salary and likely neither will combine to match his scoring, so in essence its a net negative. 

5) Then the final nail in the Penguin coffin was the hiring of previously disgraced former Penguin player, Rick Tocchet. To review for some:  Tocchet was suspended by the NHL for gambling allegations. Tocchet partnered with a New Jersey state trooper and another man, became public in February 2006. He was sentenced to two years' probation in August 2007 after pleading guilty in the investigation into the sports betting ring. Tocchet said he never bet on NHL games. (Didn't Pete Rose say something similar?) Tocchet rejoined Phoenix's coaching staff in February 2008 after a two-year absence that included a suspension by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. We believe you know someone based upon the company they keep. In that case Tocchet was mixed up with some very bad people who had ties to the Tony Soprano types in Jersey. We are told that Tocchet wasn't clean with respect to gambling LONG before this incident. One source told us then: "How do you think Rick met those 2 troopers?" WE hope for the sake of the game that Rick's proclivity to put a few bucks (and take the bets of others) are done. 

6) Tocchets past aside the real issue we have with this move is that Rick and team owner Mario Lemieux are ass-tight buddies. Seen playing golf together, and frequently they and their families are seen socially together.  How will this make the new coach feel?  Add to this that the new coach Mike Johnston wasn't part of the process of picking his assts makes for a less than ideal situation for a new to the NHL coach.  Is his replacement already here?  How much can he trust Tocchet?  Will he go behind his back to tell the owner stuff that should stay in 'the room'?   Which leads us to ask why is Mario getting a pass on this from the hockey media?

7) All in all the spring/early summer have to be really troubling to Pens fans. To see what seemed to be the model franchise along with Chicago, Boston and LA to become a laughing stock in the league almost over night.  There certainly still is enough talent to keep the team competing/in the playoff hunt, but we will go out on a limb here and say the team's days of competing for/being mentioned as a Cup favourited team are history.  An implosion indeed!

Kane/Towes To Blow Up Hawks?

1) That is exactly the result IF the rumours are correct that BOTH Patrick Kane and Jon Towes are planning on  asking for max contracts now (after July 1) that they are free to sign extensions.  According to the CBA no player can make in excess of 20% of the team's cap and sign for 8 years with their existing team or 7 with any other.  Few max deals have been signed by players since the new CBA has been signed but with the cap expected to escalate in excess of 75 mil by the 15-16 season when the new contracts would kick in, that would equate to 7 figures. Some published reports have their agent Pat Brisson asking for 12 million for the full 8 years or a whopping 96 million EACH!!

2) Now, putting aside for a moment if either deserve the money, one has only look at what that would do to the teams ability to retain/sign talent with regard the hand cuffing of the roster to 2 players.  Assuming the Hawks sign both for (only) 10 million each, if no other roster moves are made between now and next summer, and assuming the cap goes up to 75 mil. The team would have (including Kane and Toews) 12 players under contract with a payroll of 70 million. meaning GM Stan Bowman would have 5 million remaining to fill out his roster. For a 19 man roster that's 700 K/player. Meaning the Hawks would be forced to trade a current roster player(s) and sign cheaper, likely less talented players to replace them.  If this sounds familiar, see how the combo of Malkin and Crosby hand cuffed former Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero not allowing him to surround those stars with  enough talent to compete for/win another Cup.  No doubt the Hawks GM, Bowman can see the same scenario setting up if the reports are accurate.

3) For the record, while we could see Patrick Kane being a selfish, me first kinda jerk, we don't see Jon Towes in this way.  They are not the Sedin twins so linked contracts despite their common agent shouldn't be a necessity. Also for the record we never thought the way teams bent over backwards with the Sedins made sense either. Once the reality of the situation hits, we believe that Towes will accept a more realistic, albeit lucrative, contract.  A 8 year 64 mil deal is still dam nice, but allows a bit more wiggle room for the team to remain on an elite level. We doubt Kane would accept such a deal. Even if he did it would still mean that Chicago would 9 mil to sign those 6 players or slightly better 1.3 mil/player.  It may force the Hawks to have to reassess their future and attempt to deal one of the players, more likely Kane

4) Now are either/both worth the money? Interesting, this is more a difficult question than it would appear. Usually we'd say its a clear no, but here both players are in  their career prime years. 25 and 26 years old respectively. Since both entered the NHL as 18 year old they will achieve UFA status unusually early.  No doubt if either were to hit the open UFA market next summer there would be double digit teams lined up to give them a max deal.  Could Bowman afford (literally) to watch one of his teams super stars not just leave but waltz over to a rival Western Conference team?  Anyone else see the Sharks running at the chance to sign Towes?  Or the the Blues openign their vault to get Kane from their hated rivals up north?  Both players have won 2 Cups and play their best when the big money is on the line.  Some players put up big regular season numbers, but fade away in April/May. They may not put up gaudy regular season numbers but both of these guys are money in the spring and don't shrink away from the pressure.  If the Hawks are smart they'll appeal to the players desire to win and try to get them both signed ASAP to more reasonable cap friendly deals else the Hawks may be done as an elite team.