Top 10 Free Agents by Position- Goaltenders

1. Ilya Bryzgalov- Philidelphia Flyers-UFA- A 2010 vezina canaditate, there is no chance of him going to Winnipeg. Any team looking to swipe one of the best goalies in the NHL would have to do so quick: He has lots of interest in the KHL. The Flyers recently traded for his rights. The fact the Coyotes got him on waivers for nothing, he was a great pickup.

2010-2011 Stats: 68GP-36 Wins-20 Losses-7 Shutouts

                                             

2. Dwayne Roloson- Tampa Bay Lightning- Roli the Goalie had an outstanding playoffs for the TB Lightning. At 41 years old, Roloson showed no signs of aging. Any team with weak goaltending but a strong offense/defence with a young goalie will most likely pick him up.

2010-2011 Stats- 34GP, 18W-12L-4SO

                           

3. Tomas Vokoun-Florida Panthers-UFA- Vokoun has always been on an offensivly challenged team (Montreal, Nashville, Florida), so don't look for him to sign with a team that has no idea how to put a puck in the net. Jacob Markstrom will probably be the starter next season in Florida.

2010-2011 Stats: 57GP-22W-28L-6SO

                             

4. Ray Emery- Anaheim Ducks-UFA- Easily the best bargain in the NHL ($500,000), Emery was a great story for the Ducks. With Jonas Hiller injured, Emery took over from Dan Ellis as starter and impressed many, considering he was injured for most of this season.

2010-2011 Stats-10GP-7W-2L-0SO

                                              



5. Mathieu Garon-Columbus Blue Jackets-UFA- For the second straight year, Garon outplayed 2009 Calder Trophy winner Steve Mason, but recieved less starts. After 2 months, Garon did not lose in regulation, going 8-0-4. He proved he can still be a NHL starter at a cheap price.

2010-2011 Stats: 36GP-10W-14L-3SO

6. Brian Boucher-Philidelphia Flyers-UFA- Many believe he was the reason the Flyers went to the cup finals in 2010, despite getting injured in round 2 to Boston. But he was part of the 3 headed goalie problem this post-season. With Bryzgalov traded to the Flyers, there is no chance Boucher will be back.

2010-2011 Stats: 34GP-18W-10L-0SO

7. Semyon Varlamov- Washington Capitals- RFA- Varlamov will not be back with The Capitals next season. Varly, the highest rated Capital in this years The Hockey News top goalies of 2010-2011 (12), has had many injury problems in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. His injuries forced Michael Neuvirth and Braedon Holtby in to action, and they outplayed Varlamov.

2010-2011 Stats-27GP-11W-9L-2SO



7.Ty Conklin-St. Louis Blues- UFA: Conklin is still one of the best backup goalies of all time, but its time for him to move on. St. Louis has Jake Allen and Ben Bishop battiling for the backup position. Conklin has alot of big game experience (2 Cup Finals and 3 Straight Winter Classic Starts), so he can be valuable to a team that needs a talented backup. He will likely sign with a team that has a young, unproven goalie.

2010-2011 Stats- 25GP-8W-8L-2SO

8. Js Giguere-Toronto Maple Leafs-UFA: With a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe with the Anaheim Ducks, Giguere says he wants to stay in Toronto. Only problem is there is no place for him, with James Reimer and Jonas Gusstavson. There is a good chance he will go to a contender, as he is still a reliable goalie. The Capitals have alot of interest in him.

2010-2011 Stats: 33W-11W-11L-0SO

9. Marty Turco-Chicago Blackhawks-UFA- There is not many teams who wouldn't want to sign one of the best goalies in the past decade. Arguably the best playmaking goalie in the NHL, Turco was outplayed by Rookie Corey Crawford. He may return as a backup to Crawford, but is still a cheap descision for most teams.

2010-2011 Stats: 29GP-11W-11L-1SO

10. Peter Budaj- Colorado Avalanche-UFA- Budaj is a career backup goalie. He never got a chance as starter, behind Jose Theodore, Craig Anderson and Brian Elliot. His Chance is now. He has shown he can be a relaible goalie, but he needs his team to perform.

2010-2011 Stats: 45GP-15W-21L-1SO

My list's for forwards and defence will be released in the next week.

Boston Bruins: 2010-2011 Stanley Cup Champions!

Tim Thomas And The Boston Bruins Win The Stanley Cup! 


I dislike The Bruins.



After defeating both The Canadiens and Lightning in 7 games and sweeping the Flyers in 4, the Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 in game 7, after starting the series 2-0. It was the first time the home team lost in the series. However, the first team to take the lead in every game won.

The Bruins were clearly the best team in the Playoffs. Winning 8-1, 4-0, 4-0 and 5-2, Vancouver had no chance. With the terrible play of Luongo, mixed with the disappearence of the Vancouver offense, (IM LOOKING AT YOU SEDIN TWINS), the Canucks were not a threat. I question what Boston was doing in the games Vancouver won.

I would like to congratulate Tim Thomas on his outstanding year. A Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe and soon the Vezina. He was the best player in the NHL this year, no question. He was the most dominating player in the playoffs. Its hard to believe that just a few years ago no one wanted him.

I would also like to congratulate Mark Recchi on a great finish to a great career. He played this season like he was 22, not 42. He was a force for Boston. I think he could play a few more years in the NHL. Congrats Mark, have a good rest.

And On The Riot

This is a message to the stupid Canucks fans involved in the riot last night. You disgraced the City of Vancouver, Canada, the Canucks and the NHL. You lost a hockey game, not a war. There was no reason to destroy the city you live in. I hope you all get in trouble for what you did.

That is all.

Follow me on Twitter, @Sykoshockeybuzz

Goodbye Atlanta-Hello Failure?

      

The Atlanta Thrashers no longer exist.

Welcome Manitoba Moose to the NHL. The long awaited returrn of NHL hockey to the city of Winnipeg is finally here.  Every painful day since the end of the 1996 playoffs, natives of Winnipeg waited for a team to come back to the city that lost the Jets. For a few years now, a team in the North looked like a reality. With both the Coyotes and Thrashers in financial holes, it was only a matter of time before us Canadians got a 7th team.

As of the time I write this post, it hasn't been officialy announced. It will be in the upcoming hour.

I Am Canadian and I am very happy to have a team back here where it belongs. But will it work?

Look at Winnipeg's arena, the MTS Center. It only holds 15,000 people. That's the lowest of any team. But the sad thing is thats better then the majority of Thrashers games.

Then you need to look at their roster. Dustin Byfuglin. Evander Kane. Andrew Ladd. Brian Little. Not exactly household names. But those are their top players. Its going to be hard to convince fans this team is as good as the Jets, back when they had Keith Tkachuk or Bobby Hull. Other then Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa and Dany Heatley, the talent hasn't been exactly oozing out in high numbers.

Oh ya by the way, the weather isn't so great there. If you are Brad Richards, are you more likely to sign with your former team in Tampa, where the weather is nice, their are many attractions and the you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup, or would you go to Winnipeg where the weather sucks, there is nothing to do and your hoping to not finish last?

With a team now in Winnipeg, the former AHL Manitoba Moose will move to Newfoundland.

Don't get me wrong, I Am very excited about the the new team. But will it work? Unless fans can commit to supporting the team long term, I don't think the team will work out.

-WRITTEN BY SYKO-

Derek Boogaard Has Passed Away At Age 28

In some shocking news, NHL player Derek Boogaard has passed away at the age of 28.

Boogaard was one of the toughest men in the NHL and was currently playing with the New York Rangers. He was found by some members of his family inside his apartment in Minneapolis. Cause of death unkown as of this writing.

Just shocking.

RIP Derek. Condolences and prayers to his family.

Nashville Predators: A Great Story

Pekka Rinne. Jordin Tootoo. Shea Weber. Joel Ward. Colin Wilson. Ryan Suter. David Legwand. Carrie Underwood's husband.

Who? What do you wanna bet that 5 years ago you didn't know a team existed in Tennessee? Well thanks to Carrie... I mean Mike Fisher, and the rest of the Preds, Nashville has become a hockey market.

The diehard Predator fans knew the team all along had the ability to compete for a Stanley Cup. Until they were eliminated by Vancouver last night, winning Hockeys most valuable prize looked like a reasonable possibility. A great first round by Tootoo, Nick Spaling and Ward gave them hope. With a Vezina nominee in Rinne, a Norris Hopeful in Weber and a Jack Adams possibility in Barry Trotz, the only Nashville coach in the organization ever the team has great potential.

You have to hand it to their scouts. Rinne, Weber, Suter, Klein, Tootoo, Legwand..... I can go on and on.

They easily have the best Defence in the entire league, along with Dan Ellis, Chris Mason, Tomas Vokoun, Mike Duhnam, Andreas Lindback and Rinne in net in recent years.

If they are ever going to become a serious contender in the Spring, they need offense. Alex Semin in Washington is a perfect fit. He doesn't play well with the Caps. He needs a change in scenery. Nashville has alot of cap space left. Could he become a Predator in the offseason?

If you are a Nashville Predator fan, be loud and be proud.


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