Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff
July 1 is not only my mother's birthday, but for a die hard hockey fan, it's also Christmas in July. So, Happy Birthday Mom and Happy Canada/UFA Day to all the hockey fans out there.
I was already glued to my computer by 11 a.m. even though the market didn't open until noon - NHL.com had the live TSN feed so I got in three hours of live "Free Agent Frenzy" before they cut to NASCAR and killed the feed.
Not too worry though, TSN.ca has been running a Real Time UFA Singing Tracker. There were no, "STOP THE PRESSES" signings until 3:48 EST.
The Philadelphia Flyers signed Daniel Briere to a eight-year $52 mil contract - with the first year paying him $10 mil, the other seven years will be $6.5. Oh and there's a "no movement" clause in the contract. That's right, so even if he tanks after three seasons they still have to pay him $29 mil to buy him out. And to add to it, the Flyers were at $42.163 of the $50.3 salary cap before the deal - so they are done... no more signings for them. Unless of course, they dump some big time salaries via trades for prospects and picks. The 29-year-old center led Buffalo last season with 95 points and a team-leading 15 points in the playoffs.
Other notable signings during the first five hours were Brian Rafalski signing a five-year, $30 mil contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Rafalski scored a career-high 55 points last year in New Jersey. Rafalski had spent his entire career with the Devils, until now.
Former Bruin center Joe Thornton signed a three-year $21.6 mil extension with the San Jose Sharks locking up the 2006 MVP through the 2011 season. Thornton, set to become a UFA at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, said "Life is good out there. California Rocks." during a phone interview during the TSN live feed.
Mathieu Schnieder lands in Anaheim for two seasons after playing the last four years in Detroit. It's rumored that blueliner Scott Niedermayer is leaning towards retirement.
Still no news on highly sought after UFAs Chris Drury, Ryan Smyth and Scott Gomez - although rumors have Drury going to Colorado or to a team in the west; Smyth going to Colorado and Gomez ending up with the Rangers. Will New Jersey be in trouble next year without Gomez and Rafalski? What about Buffalo? They lost Briere already and they didn't even tender an offer to Drury.