NHL Free Agency - Chicago Blackhawks big winners
Posted on 7/7/2008 8:54:17 PM
By Don Melrose
NHL betting odds: Chicago makes big splash in free agency with Campbell and Huet
- Recapping the NHL free agency period
- Which teams were the big winners and losers
- How it affects your NHL Futures Betting
It was a busy, sometimes wild time in NHL free agency last week. Chicago certainly emerged as a big winner after improving its goaltending situation and signing the best available defenseman; the Blackhawks are a great bet to make the playoffs next season because of it. Today, the Bettor's Edge will examine all the biggest move in free agency:
-There was a lot of action in Chicago during free agency, and the Blackhawks were big winners. First, they addressed their goaltending issues by signing Cristobal Huet. Huet seems to perform best in underdog situations, which will be the case in the Windy City. He was excellent down the stretch for the Capitals, going 11-2-0 with a 1.63 goals against average.
The Blackhawks then went out and nabbed the best defenseman available in Brian Campbell. Campbell is a nifty skater who scores a lot of points; he should greatly improve the offense.
Dynamic young stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane nearly led Chicago to a playoff berth. With Campbell and Huet in the fold, a 2009 playoff appearance seems like a good bet.
-Marian Hossa signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Frankly, this is just scary. That offense had enough juice already, the Wings didn't need an All-Star scorer added to the mix. Detroit is easily the early favorite to win the Stanley Cup in 2009.
-Super pest Sean Avery departed the Big Apple for sunny Texas, where he'll suit up for the Stars. Avery is well-known for his agitator antics but can put up some points too—he scored 15 goals in 57 games for New York last season. He'll be a welcome addition to the Dallas lineup—you'd rather play with him than against him.
-The Rangers will have a very different look next season. Avery is gone, and so is former captain Jaromir Jagr, who fled to Russia. Defenseman Wade Redden and winger Markus Naslund join the mix, and New York did acquired enigmatic scorer Nikolai Zherdev from Columbus. It's a big “if”, but if those guys can play to their potential, the Rangers might improve considerably.
-A young and talented Oilers squad will have a slightly different look next season. Although Edmonton missed out on Hossa, it managed to secure a few players via trade. Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky was acquired for Jarret Stoll and Matt Greene. He's scored at least 40 points in his last four seasons. Gilbert Brule and Joni Pitkanen were also picked up in trades.
-Columbus had a busy free agency week and will look much different in 2008-2009. After dealing Zherdev and Brule, new faces include Raffi Torres, Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman—and that's just from trades. Odds are free agent signees Kristian Huselius and R.J. Umberger will offer some secondary scoring and, more importantly, take pressure off of superstar Rick Nash.
-In a somewhat surprising move, Philadelphia re-signed promising forward Jeff Carter. Most predicted a sign-and-trade for Carter, who scored 29 goals last season, since the Flyers didn't seem to be in position to keep him. Instead, they offered him five million dollars a year. He's a great bet to become a building block for the future, along with fellow forward Mike Richards.
-The San Jose Sharks bolstered the blue line by trading for Tampa Bay's Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich. After being injured in a freak accident last season, Boyle was awful in Tampa, but he's a skilled player and has scored at least 50 points three times times in his career (including 29 in just 37 games in 2007-2008).
-New Jersey brought back old Devil Brian Rolston. Rolston has become a regular 30-goal scorer, but he's 35 years old. The Devils desperately need his scoring help, especially on the power play, but if he breaks down, his $5-million a year salary would be a complete disaster.
There are a few names left in the pool, but those are the big ones. Some teams got better and some got worst, but remember them well, because all those moves will affect next season's NHL betting lines.
Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey
tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps,
breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
