Not much to write home about, with the past week’s signings. With most of these guys, you don’t need any egghead stats guy telling you that these players are not going to bring much to their new teams.
Todd Bertuzzi (-0.28 ESTR) to the Red Wings…Really? You’d figure they could make better use of $1.5 M. If you think that Big Bert will make up for the loss of Jiri Hudler (+0.70 ESTR) or Mikael Samuelsson (+0.06 ESTR) -we’re not even going to broach Marian Hossa- you’re nuts.
The Hurricanes are looking to add more non-descript forwards, to ensure that they don’t improve on last season’s playoff overachievement. Enter Stephane Yelle (+0.01 ESTR). I would imagine that the Bruins were happy a) that his contract was up b) there roster was chock full of better forwards to begin with, to ensure that they didn’t do anything they’d regret.
And Vaclav Prospal (-0.25 ESTR) to the Rangers? Another old forward on the decline. Haven’t we seen this feature before?
To repeat: Alex Tanguay, anyone?
Big disagreement here on Prospal.
Since the 01-02 season, his production has alternated:
01-02 – 55 pts
02-03 – 79 pts
03-04 – 54 pts
04-05 – lockout
05-06 – 80 pts
06-07 – 55 pts
07-08 – 71 pts
08-09 – 45 pts
I think he’s going to finish with 65 pts this year – more than any Ranger had last year.
But I agree in that I don’t understand how Tanguay hasn’t been signed yet.
Aren’t free agent moves by the Rangers poor decisions by default? Sorry, ad hominem argument there.
According to the counting stats that you cite, Prospal’s had his worst season in recent memory (Wow, that is the epitome up and down production). Isn’t that what you call a downturn?
Yeah, stick him on a line with a healthy (knock on wood) Marian Gaborik, and his counting stats will rebound. Will that make him an adequate two way player, though? We have his ESOR/ESDR/ESTR at -0.07/-.018/-0.25.
What I will say is that it’s not much of a risk at $1.1M and one year. What the heck, roll the dice.
Definitely a downturn, which is why I think this season – which should be a rebounding season for him according to the stats – he’ll score in the mid 60’s.
As for free agent moves – yeah, well, I liked the Sean Avery pick-up! (OK, so it was as a waivers pick-up, and not a free-agent)