What I know (not much)

Rich

Are you in shock about the length of the contract, overall cap hit, or structure. I think 6.5/year was about what was expected. Eight years is quite a commitment though. But last year was like that. Elias and others going for long terms.

I personally think it is overpayment for Briere, who in my mind is too one dimensional and just happened to have a career year.

Rich...you are so right! Salaries appear to be back up to what they were pre-lockout. You have to wonder about the NHL owners and Bettman (and I'm being VERY kind stating it that way).

It's my understanding the Souray rumors are because his wife is an actress or an aspiring actress...

Thanks Rich, we know you're on top of it. All this waiting is enough to drive a man to drink.

Derek and Gann...I agree, and the eight-year part is what really gets me, for a guy like Briere. But I guess that's where the NHL is now. I'm sure Gary would have a sunny, everything-is-great answer, as always.

And yes, today is enough to drive one to drink, particularly every time I peek out the window and see the beautiful afternoon I'm missing.

Philly definitely overpaid for Briere, but not in the dollar sense. The annual dollar average isn't that bad...it's the length of the contract and the no-movement clause. He's pretty much going to hold the Flyers hostage for 8 years. Way too much to pay for a guy who really only plays on one end of the ice.

I've still got some hope that the Kings will sign one of the big name guys without overpaying quite that much.

Gabby

Rich, I guess so much for TESTING the market eh, 6.5 was what is was gonna get , i just don't get 8 years that's a long time. Still waiting fot kings to grab Drury or Gomez ,,,,not souray and wow nice job by the ducks on schnieder he can still play ,,,,, C'mon Kings step up !!!!

The other thing other than the length of the Briere deal is the fact it is a "no movement" deal meaning the Flyers can't trade him, release him, send him to the minors or even buy him out. That's a hell of a commitment to a player.

Certainly wouldn't give that kind of deal to Drury if I was DL.

Drury and Hannan would be great. Maybe Kariya? Great on power play. Looks like we better move quickly, or lose out on the players we want. Hopefully, DL sees it that way, too.

The next call Rich will be making is to Dean. His first question? "What happened"?

Dean's answer: "We weren't going to give out that kind of money for that kind of length".

The 40 year plan doesn't seem to be working.

Rich - what's up with Michael Peca?

Also, could Kariya wind up at Staples Center, too?

TSN has Edmonton trading captain Jason Smith to Flyers with details to follow.

I wonder if Kevin Lowe was able to get Pitkanen out of Philly.

can someone clarify this one for me; Briere's eight year deal pays him 10 year 1 9 year 2 and so on down the line. If briere retires after 6 years, he keeps all the money he got up to that point. Couldn't there be a wink wink where you ad a couple years at the end of the contract that would pay the player nothing (assume the player is going to retire) but reduces his cap hit for the years he's actually around? Does that make sense to someone?

goodbye scotty gomez. glad we missed that one too. NY Rangers

gomez to the rangers

Looks like 7 years....

At least Gomez is only 27.

Curious to see the $.

8 years for Briere? 6 years for Gomez? You can bet Drury is going to demand a term in that neighborhood. If so, no way the Kings sign Drury...and they shouldn't unless the term is a lot shorter.

Gomez to the Rangers?
I think everyone saw that coming, just like I see Chris Drury coming to the Kings.

By the way... what did Gomez get?

WHAT WE ARE FORGETTING HERE ...

What we are not taking into consideration here is, the team that signs a free agent like Briere or Drury or whomever is not JUST paying for what they will be doing in years 5-6-7 of the contract. They are paying for what they did the past 2-3 seasons, and what they will do the NEXT 2-3 seasons. The money they are getting later on is money they SHOULD have earned the past couple of years when they probably were way UNDER-paid. Unfortunately, it works that way in pretty much every sport. Players are way OVER-paid in every sport when they sign free-agent deals. That's just the nature of contracts and our economy.

Besides, the way the free market works, you don't think players are going to be topping out at $7-$8 million in 5 years, do you? That will seem like a bargain when the 2012-13 season rolls around.

In reality, Lombardi should not be worrying that he will have to pay Kopitar money in the Drury-like neighborhood in 3-4 years. History tells us, Kopitar likely will be looking for more like $10-$11 milllion a season.

And we will all be paying 2-3 times as much for our tickets to watch the games, too.

Like death and taxes, it's a certainty.

Chazz - I agree, Gomez to anybody other than NYR would have been a surprise, no?

ESPN did not have terms yet of the Gomez deal.