Spezza ices huge contract with Senators!

Breaking news in the nation's capital, as the Ottawa Senators finally got a deal done with their superstar-in-the-making Jason Spezza yesterday night, agreeing to a new 7-year/$49 million contract extension according to Bob McKenzie over at TSN.

Spezza and Murray have yet to announce anything to the media, but McKenzie did a good job and got the details as to how Spezza would be paid over the course of the next 7 years:

08-09: 4 M signing bonus, 4 M base salary = $8 million
09-10: 4 M signing bonus, 4 M base salary = $8 million
10-11: 4 M signing bonus, 4 M base salary = $8 million
11-12: 2 M signing bonus, 6 M base salary = $8 million
12-13: 2 M signing bonus, 6 M base salary = $8 million
13-14: no signing bonus, 5 M base salary = $5 million
14-15: no signing bonus, 5 M base salary = $5 million

For a total of a whopping $49 million.

Spezza's deal is similar to his linemate's Dany Heatley, who also signed a massive extension early in the new campaign.

The 24-year old has 1 goal and 12 assists in 10 games with the Senators so far, and he likely sat out last night's game vs the Thrashers to finalize this deal with his agent.

This signing may mean the end of the Wade Redden era in Ottawa, as the veteran blueliner is eligible to hit the unrestricted free-agent market and it's unlikly Sens GM Bryan Murray will be able to live up to yet more pressure from the fans and keep the pricey Redden in the fold.

The Missisauga native was due to become a restricted free-agent this summer, and given the recent situations that have unfolded during that period with offer sheets being thrown around (see Dustin Penner, Tomas Vanek, Ryan Kesler), Spezza would've been an attractive option to teams salivating for that God-like player.

-BBeR

-BBeR

Penner's new deal with Oilers an ominous sign for NHL...

Various media sources are reporting the Edmonton Oilers have officially signed former Ducks forward Dustin Penner to a 5-year/$21.5 million contract.

The young sniper played in all 82 games for the Stanley Cup champions Ducks last season, scoring 29 goals and adding 16 assists for a total of 45 points and 202 shots on goal.

The signing occurs a few weeks after Lowe made a bold move in signing the Sabres' Tomas Vanek to a $7 million per season offer sheet, only to see Buffalo GM Darcy Regier match within 19 minutes.

The 6'4'', 245-pound Winkler, Manitoba native just scored big time in the bank, and the NHL should be worried.

A few years down the road, maybe, just maybe he'd be worth the money he just got from a desperate Kevin Lowe...but at this point in his career? A 24-year old sophomore with a season and a quarter under his belt making a little over $4 million per season seems too much like the old NHL, where GM's paid wildly for any hint of talent available to them.

Scott Hartnell, who recently signed a similar pact with the Philadelphia Flyers, belongs in that pool of "paying for potential, not production" players. Both Penner and Hartnell will earn $4.2 million annually for the next 5 and 6 seasons respectively.

So what does this mean for the future RFA market?

For starters, teams may be tempted to sign future restricted free-agent Jason Spezza to an offer sheet next summer, and with the Senators trying to hold on to potential unrestricted 50-goal man Dany Heatley as well, someone may very well succeed in prying him from Sens GM Bryan Murray's hands.

But not so fast, this signing of Penner is also an ominous sign.
A sign that the NHL is heading back to its old days of overpriced free-agents and overrated players...I'm starting to wonder why we lost a complete season of hockey and why Gary Bettman and the NHL are so STUBBORN not to realize what's going on.

It was a mistake to make the cap rise again to $50.3 million, if the NHL knows what's good for their league finances and fans, they'll lower that number to $45 million next year and leaves GM's little room to spend the $7 million Chris Drury got, and the $10 million Dany Heatley will likely get if this continues next year.
They won't lower the cap, so scratch that.

If they actually used their brains, they'd finally figure out that the more the cap raises, the more salaries for elite players will go up, and the more we'll be drifting back to the pre-lockout era and a potential lockout/labour dispute again.

This signing not only makes the RFA market a whole new attractive destination for GM's, and a headache for the NHL, but it also marks the end of the Brian Burke-Kevin Lowe friendship, at least according to Burke's recent harsh words to the media.

-BBeR

Isn't it wonderful how Brandon Bochenski suddenly became a star?

Aren't these fairy tale stories wonderful?

Last season, Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet was the clear winner, this season, Brandon Bochensk is raising some eyebrows in Boston.
Let's learn a little 'bout Brandon Bochenski. For starters, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline last season after a remarkable stint with the Senators, in exchange for forward Tyler Arnason and a 1st round pick.
Bochenski had 14 points in 20 games with Ottawa but managed just 2 goals in 10 games with Chicago this season.
The deal proved to be a bust for both teams, especially Ottawa, since Arnason did not make an impact as expected, putting up a zero in the goals column and adding just 4 assists in 19 games.

Things didn't go well for Bochenski either, he was floundering miserably in Chicago, posting just 4 points in 20 games along with a horrendous -9 rating.
This all after a sensational stint alongside Jason Spezza for Bochenski...
The Blackhawks lost patience with the young forward and he was bounced between the minors and Chicago quite often.

It looked as if Bochenski's magical tenure with the Senators was a flash in the pan, and that it was doubtful he'd ever come close to that kind of production again.
Well, that was half-right, as Bochenski proved to be a bust again for the Blackhawks, who gave him a chance to prove himself once again.

On his second chance with Chicago, Bochenski had just 2 goals in 20 games and was heavily criticized by new head coach Denis Savard.

Finally, he was traded to Boston in early February for minor-league forward Kris Verteeg and a conditional draft choice. After failing to extract any production out of Stanislav Chistov, Peter Chiarelli figured he can try to resurrect a lost cause in Bochenski.

"Wow" is all you can say about Bochenski in Beantown.

He has put up consistent numbers, bringing back memories from his...shall we say, "glory"days in Ottawa? With 14 points in 14 games with Boston and a nice +7 rating, he's been tearing it up and maybe, just maybe, give Bruins fans a flick of playoff hope.

He is now playing alongside Marc Savard...and no wonder he's putting up huge numbers, just like in Ottawa when he played with Spezza.
Let's just hope (even though it's obvious) he's not one of those players that depends on superstars next to him...yeah, Jason Spezza and Marc Savard sound like those kinda players.
I wonder why he didn't play well in Chicago, hmm, I forgot, no Savard or Spezza there.

OK, that was a a little harsh, congrats Brandon! I hope for your sake and the Bruins' playoff hopes you keep it up!

And to close off, here are a few comments from Denis Savard on Bochenski's current situation in Boston:

"Good for him," Hawks coach Denis Savard said. "He’s had a few goals the last few games, but he didn’t show that when he was up here. He didn’t have the enthusiasm or the jam to be up here, let’s face it. Maybe he has the skill and the talent, but at a young age if you don’t have the will, you can’t have him around.

"Maybe he’s starting to figure it out because it’s his third team in six months. Good for him if he does well."

Cheers,

Bleu, Blanc et Rouge

Impressed with McDonald's NHL Star Sticks

Hat tip to Sherry over at Scarlett Ice, for the pic...

As I drove into my local McDonald's Monday morning to grab a coffee, I noticed the banner on the outside of the building promoting McDonald's new NHL Star Sticks.

I figured "Aww, what the hell, I'll get one to see what it's all about"

And it proved to be the best investment of my day and I drove happily out of their drive-thru window with my coffee on my seat and my new toy in my hands.

It was delivered in a a plastic bag with the named marked down on top in big bold black letters.
"SPEZZA," mine read.

I opened up the bag, and took out what seems to be a vertical silver case with the NHL logo and "Star Sticks" written below it. I opened it up and I was actually impressed with my new collectible. On the left side of the opened case was a mini-version of Jason Spezza's actual Sherwood stick with the possibility of taking it out. I dared do no such thing and I turned my head to the right where Jason Spezza and his stick (obviously) are in view.

For 2.69 + tax, I thought I was just gonna get something I'd admire for a few minutes and have already forgotten about it the next week. Not this...I can't wait to get my next stick.

Best hockey collectible McDonald's has developped in a long time. Definitely worth checking out.

Bleu, Blanc et Rouge.