to re-iterate, I called this, if the blues haven’t a plan (and backes may not be the only one, possibliy the only one the blues might match though)

FIRE SOMEONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

to misquote lewis black: how could the blues not know? I knew and i was sitting on my couch. But even i thought they would have a plan. how could they not have a plan? and how could the ddemocrats not demanded one?

Maybe they were hoping he’d sign for more money and they’d get a first and a third.

I like him, but I don’t think they’re lost without him. I’d still match that offer sheet if I were JD and Co.

Strickland says on the Rumor Monger’s site that if the Blues match the offer, they will have to shed payroll somewhere else. But Checketts in the Post story about the Blues being quiet in free agency said the payroll could go up and probably would. So it leads me to believe they kind of expected a deal like this and maybe even had a plan.

Maybe.

If Vancouver wants to pay that much for what is essentially a grinder, let them. Even Dave Lowry used to show “flashes” of scoring ability. With a big body and his fearlessness, Backes will probably a decent career as an NHL journeyman, but he’s not my idea of a building block. Just because he’s young doesn’t make him inherently valuable.

I would hope that he takes all 7 days to match just so gillis can’t use the 2nd rounder in other trades/offer sheets just to screw them over

I don’t want to see Backes go. I really don’t. I think losing him would be a big loss.

(If he does go, please let there be a plan and let it all become clear soon, please!)

Chicago gets Campbell. They just locked themselves up for 8 years, 57 mil.

Craziness.

Blues match offer:

http://blues.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=367429

Crisis averted.

I’m comfortable with either outcome.
If I were deciding, I’d match.

we matched

Post has been updated with Blues matching the offer sheet.

And fuck the Blackhawks for signing Campbell.

The Blackhawks MAJORLY overpaid for Campbell.

Show of hands, and be honest… who had ever heard of Brian friggin’ Campbell before this season?

That’s what I thought.

That contract will be a millstone around their necks before three years have passed.

B.

I was thinking that at some point today, an NHL team signed the next Bobby Holik and Martin Lapoint — the two contracts blamed as the dominoes to cause the last lockout.

::raises hand:: Brian Campbell has been fantasy hockey gold the last few years, especially when he was in Buffalo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8gbZyylCck

As long as we can manage the cap, pay’em. I’m glad we’re keeping Backes, even at that $$$.

Ironically, TSN shows that Holik has just signed with the Devils … again.

… and NJ has also signed Bryce Salvador to a 4-year deal.

and, I’ll shut up now.

THe trick will be ID’ing the kids worth extending and doing it before their rookie deals expire.

Dear Brian Campbell,

That deal made even me jealous.

Sincerely,

Alexei Yashin

Dear Chicago,

Have fun managing your cap over the next few years and tryign to keep Kane, Toews and Beach after handcuffing yourselves with the Campbell contract.

Sincerely,
The guys that locked up Fragile Jay McKee and Mr. Roboto

dear chicago,

your over the cap, maybe, by almost 2 million, maybe. I respectfully suggest a Brent Seabrook for Matt Walker trade is in both our interests.

additionally, before ytou conter offer, please note, we have no interest in any of your 12.25 million dollar goalie cap guys. good luck with them.

P.S. what happened to you chicago you used to be so cheap, who died and left you in charge?

oh, nevermind…

Wirtz is spinnin’ like a chicken on a rotisserie.

/and probably cooking like one, too!

Dear Blues Management:

Is there still a team in St. Louis?

Signed,
All UFAs and RFAs

Dear UFA’s and RFA’s,

Yes, there’s still a team in St. Louis… but “team” is the key word, as in “an organization that’s built from within,” with players acquired and developed the old-fashioned way.

There’s little room for guys who had one good season, maybe two, and are looking to parlay that into the “set-me-up-for-life” contract (see Campbell, Brian).

If you’re a young guy looking to get in on the ground floor of an up-and-coming organization, and don’t have an agent who’s telling you that you’re the second coming of Mike Bossy or Bobby Orr and should be paid as if you’ve already accomplished what those gentlemen did, give us a call and we’ll see what kind of reasonable deal we can work out that makes sense for both of us.

Signed,

The St. Louis Blues

Brian Weidler Says: July 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 am

Dear UFA’s and RFA’s, …

If you’re a young guy looking to get in on the ground floor of an up-and-coming organization, and don’t have an agent who’s telling you that you’re the second coming of Mike Bossy or Bobby Orr and should be paid as if you’ve already accomplished what those gentlemen did, give us a call and we’ll see what kind of reasonable deal we can work out that makes sense for both of us.

Amen, brother.

My post was of the variety that is hopeful that we are at least talking to some of the guys you describe. I am with the long-term rebuilding program and do not want to see the likes of Brian Noonan and the rest of the ’94 Ranger “gritty” guys reunited in STL again.

Are we seeking those reasonable guys you describe? Is there any such thing???

Dear Game Time Posters,

Stop copying my clones

Sincerely,

Jim Rome

P.S. Rack ’em

Dear Jim Rome:

We Game Time Posters know this isn’t you because you talk nothing but basketball throughout the winter and free agency. The NHL rates with you less than soccer. When you do have an NHL interview, it is forced and you kiss ass.

Sincerely,

Milo in STL

WAR: You suck!!!

As opposed to the ones where he doesn’t kiss ass?

Jim Rome is John Hadley on a diet. Both are about equal in terms of their being utter wastes of good oxygen.

Milo: I don’t know if the Blues are actively seeking any of the reasonably-priced players, or if there is any such animal. I guess we can all be grateful that hockey hasn’t sunk to the depths being plumbed by MLB, where career .250 hitters get long-term contracts for $20 million a year…

B.

Gift Says: July 3rd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
As opposed to the ones where he doesn’t kiss ass?

Good Point. I’m surprised he doesn’t ask to sniff their jock strap/cup.

Brian Weidler Says: July 3rd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Jim Rome is John Hadley on a diet. Both are about equal in terms of their being utter wastes of good oxygen.

Hadley says, “Moo,” followed by a bunch of other unintelligible crapola.

Rome says, “Concur”, although “I agree” or “Me, too” would make him sound like less of an ass.