Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Top Shelf Tuesday:

This week around the NHL (with my thoughts and comments under the headlines as usual) features some drunk driving, players considering making a comeback, signings and more.

All the latest after the jump!
  • Winnipeg Jets G Ondrej Pavelec was reportedly arrested in the Czech Republic for driving drunk. Pavelec got his licence revoked for 20 months in the Czech Republic while also receiving a suspended 6 month prison sentence.
    • This marks the second summer that a Winnipeg player has gotten in trouble with the law regarding alcohol. Last year was Dustin Byfuglien when he was arrested and booked for boating while intoxicated.

  • The Washington Capitals resigned D Mike Green to a 3 year, $18.25 million contract. Green will be paid an average of $6.083 million per season
    • If Green can stay healthy and return to his days where he was over a point per game player and elite goal scorer from the blue line then this deal becomes a steal. If he continues on the trend of playing fewer games with minimal offensive production then this deal could hurt Washington if they hope to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup in the next three years.

  • Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Stevens will be an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils next season.After almost seven seasons working as a special assignment coach, Stevens finally makes the transition to a full time gig. He will be helping out head coach Pete DeBoer with defense.
    • Adding Stevens to their experienced coaching staff will be a huge addition to the Devils. Especially after losing Larry Robinson to San Jose, adding Stevens makes sense for the organization.

  • The L.A Kings resigned F Dwight King to a 2 year deal. After being relatively unknown, King came into the playoffs this past spring and scoring five goals... all of them were game winners.
    • Dwight King really made a name for himself this past spring showing a tremendous level of compete level in the playoffs. His ability to score timely goals is not something you can teach. With L.A making minimal roster moves, hanging onto King is smart. Not only can he keep his checking role he had last season, he can hope to contribute more if coach Darryl Sutter thinks he can.

  • The NHL sent the NHLPA their initial offer in regards to the new CBA that is being formed.
    • I'll be covering this in more detail with it's own entire post.

  • Former NHL G Dominik Hasek is attempting to make another comeback at the youthful age of 47.
    • The only thing funnier than Hasek and his robotic groin trying to play in the NHL again is the fact that some teams will actually probably consider bringing in his services. He is 47 years old. FORTY SEVEN. The oldest player in the NHL at this moment is Selanne at 42.

  • Speaking of guys past their prime, Mike Modano would reportedly be intrigued by an offer to join the Minnesota Wild for one more season.
    • After only suiting up for 40 games in his last season with the Detroit Red Wings, I think it is safe to rule out a Modano comeback. Should he return he would be the oldest player in the NHL beating out Teemu Selanne by a month.
And in closing, NHL.com posted their top 30 Free Agents still available. For your convenience here is their list.

Forwards:
1) Alexander Semin
2) Shane Doan
3) Jason Arnott
4) Tom Kostopolous
5) Mike Knuble
6) Tomas Holmstrom
7) Daniel Winnik
8) Jason Blake
9) Mathieu Darche
10) Andrei Kostitsyn
11) Brian Rolston
12) Daymond Langkow
13) Dominc Moore
14) Radek Dvorak
15) Petr Sykora

Defensemen:
16) Brett Clark
17) Carlo Colaiacovo
18) Matt Gilroy
19) Jaroslav Spacek
20) Pavel Kubina
21) Michal Rosival
22) Scott Hannan
23) Steve Eminger
24) Kurtis Foster
25) Milan Jurcina

Goalies:
26) Dan Ellis
27) Alex Auld
28) Ty Conklin
29) Dwayne Roloson
30) Brent Johnson

The only appealing names to me on this list are Semin, Doan, Kostistyn and Jurcina. Those to me seem like the only players that could still contribute at a high level. The rest of the names are either past their prime, or depth players that don't stand out.

Thanks for reading!

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