I'm always interested in what the Bruins are up to because they almost get things right, but then they sort of fail miserably.
Like last season, they made sure they had no one signed, with the thought that it would let them woo free agents. But then, there weren't really any free agents to woo. And then, quite famously, they compounded the error by giving away their franchise player.
So this year the Bruins, still waiting for their GM to start working, went after all of their marks very hard.
And that's how you end up with over a quarter of your cap tied up in two players.
It's all about planning.
And how about the Coyotes signing Georges Laraque? He's going to look great with Jeremy Roenick. Have the Coyotes just completely abandoned the idea of the new NHL? The team is just pure bruisers. It's like a casting-call for SLAPSHOTS 5. They could loan the team out to the Arizona Cardinals.

Eric at OffWing made a great point about the dearly departed color guy John Davidson, now president of the St. Louis Blues:

While Steve has nothing but praise for Davidson, I found most of his postseason work on NBC/OLN to be rather labored. More often than not, it seemed like he was just trying to fill the air, repeating anecodtes he'd used earlier in the playoffs (How many times did we have to hear about nobody but Carolina wanting to sign Cory Stillman?). Simply put, he was off his game this postseason. Maybe his mind was someplace else?

He's totally correct on this. Davidson's OLN/NBC work was noticably weaker than his work on Ranger games for the MSG network (the Rangers' local outlet). And I really think this is by design. I think OLN is trying to pander to viewers, giving them as bland an experience as they can, figuring that if there's any kind of personality or shape to the telecasts, they could potenitally alienate the already small viewership. If something has a strong flavor, there's always the chance someone will dislike the flavor. But if there's no flavor, you don't upset anyone.
So my theory is that OLN and NBC asked for very non-descript telecasts, light on hockey, strategy, and insight, and long on "Wow! What a check!" and "Wow! Erik Cole's neck sure was broken."
As a fan, it's pretty awful. I don't enjoy feeling like I know a hell of a lot more than the guys working the game. But I'm not sure it's an entirely wrong direction for the games. I watched a few games with my brother-in-law and father-in-law, neither of whom are hockey fans. But they were both able to get into the Finals pretty quickly. And part of that was because they didn't feel like the announcers were talking over their head. The OLN/NBC games are dull as hell when you take the players out of the equation, but they are accessible, and that does count for something.
So yeah. Davidson (and his partner Mike Emrick) were disappointing in their national work, but I'm not sure it's the wrong choice if OLN and NBC really want to get more viewers. It probably won't help, but it certainly won't hurt. And hockey sure doesn't need to be hurt any more.
And speaking of Davidson and the Blues, how about that reunion of Bill Guerin, Keith Tkachuk, and Doug Weight? I know Davidson saw Team USA play in Torino. I heard him call those games. So I'm not quite sure why he's letting Larry Pleau get the old, ineffective gang back together. Are they going to try and pull Brett Hull out of retirement, too?

Wow.
Joffrey Lupul, Ladislav Smid, and a first-round pick for Chris Pronger? Wasn't Edmonton asking for Jay Bouwmeester, Nate Horton, and a first round pick like a week or so ago?
I wasn't even that shocked by that part of the trade. I was more shocked that Edmonton would give away Pronger to someone in their conference. If I'm the Oilers, and the deals aren't what I was expecting, I'm thinking, 'If there's no way he'll play for us, then I'm just giving him to the worst team in the east, where he'll never bother us or come back to haunt us.'
If I'm the Oilers, I'm like 'Happy birthday, Pittsburgh Penguins. Enjoy Chris Pronger.'
Or ship him out to an awful Western team.
The Blackhawks wanted Pronger (login info.). Why not give him to Chicago? It's like shipping him out of the NHL, without actually having to ship him out of the NHL.
I don't know why the Oilers would move Pronger to a team with Scott Niedermayer. Anaheim's defense is now sick. Do they even need a fifth or sixth defenseman?
In other defenseman news, the Dallas Stars have eight. And they would have had nine if they had been able to re-sign Willie Mitchell.
And is it me or are the Rangers, ever so slowly, signing away all of the Carolina Hurricanes? I'm actually a little shocked Pronger didn't end up in New York, since there's that big Edmonton-New York pipeline. I guess the pipeline was closed. I think the Oilers are still a bit PO'd about Radek "Disappointing" Dvorak.
Good-bye, Steve Yzerman. I'm proud to share my name with you.
Happy Fourth of July!

My sources tell me Edmonton might be getting ready to move Chris Pronger to a team in the NHL. Details to follow...

Free agent season. I'm not into hunting, but if I were, I imagine I would be just as excited about the start of hunting season.
Or maybe, if I were into fashion, I'd be this excited about fashion week. Although, having just seen THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, I'm kind of thinking of taking PuckUpdate in a more fashion-oriented direction.
But for today, I'm just hypnotized by all of the player movement.
Larry Brooks notices that a lot of teams don't understand the cap concept (login info.). You have a fixed amount of money to spend on your entire roster, not just a handful of players. Does Boston have any money left to spend? Do the Coyotes?
Brooks also reports that Patrik Elias gave up a few million dollars (at least) to take a no-trade contract in New Jersey. That's a lucky break for the Devils, and I'm sure Elias will be made team captain in October for his generous gesture. But they're another team that has a lot of money tied up in a few players. And some of those players, like Alexander Mogilny and Vladimir Malakhov, aren't even playing for the Devils any more. I'm not sure how they're going to sign Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez. Elias turned down a better offer from the Rangers and the Blackhawks, by the way. That's pretty punk rock.
I'm pretty shocked Rob Blake left Colorado for LA. Every time the idea came up, all I heard was 'Rob Blake would never leave Colorado.' I guess $6 million/year for two years is tough to turn down. Especially now that Jeremy Roenick is gone.
Doug Weight is back in St. Louis, making him a very expensive rental for Carolina, since they gave up a first-round pick for him. And speaking of the Blues, although it breaks my heart to see him go, congratulations to former Ranger color-guy John Davidson, the new president of the St. Louis Blues. I don't think there's a better color guy in hockey. His grasp of the game, his ability to break down plays, and his humor and personality will serve him well in St. Louis. But it's going to be tough watching hockey without him. I wonder if he would consider calling Blues games. He's going to be watching them anyway. He might as well make a little extra money.
Jason Arnott signing in Nashville is pretty interesting. I like the idea of him, Paul Kariya, and Steve Sullivan on a line.
I also like when the Florida papers try and write about hockey. Here's a Miami Herald headline: "Bertuzzi's Play will Determine if Deal was Wise" (login info.). You know. As opposed to any other deal. Anywhere.
Also, the Flyers supposedly have an offer out to Vancouver's Anson Carter (login info.). Have the Sedin twins ever had the same linemate for more than a season? And does anyone else think the Canucks re-signed both because it's just easier than learning to tell them apart?
Thatisall.