A CRAZY WEEK IN WORK........AND HOCKEY
This weekend I have off and it couldn't have come soon enough. After working last weekend and a short four day work week between two of us at the Lacombe Globe, I'm taking the opportunity to enjoy myself this weekend. I'm going to Red Deer and possibly camping Saturday night. My friend Brent is looking to get a campsite as I'm typing this. Originally I was thinking Billy Bob's for Saturday night, but I've only been camping once this summer so I'd have to take that over the bar.
Apparently, the next reporter joining the Globe staff was hired today. His name is James and he comes from Ontario, that's about all I know of him. It'll be a relief to be back to three reporters. Now I can focus more on sports reporting and photography, and I won't have to carry the police scanner every second week. Now I'll be on every third weekend instead.
When I haven't been working or waisting time on the computer this week, I've been checking out the NHL free agent signings, which have come rapidly. I knew the new CBA in the NHL would create more parity among the 30 teams, but I'm surprised at how little time players have accepted offers to change teams. And with a salary cap of 39-million I had a feeling the teams with the smaller payrolls would do most of the big signings, but man not quite like this this.
Between trades and free agency, a lot of players have landed on new clubs, some remained with the same clubs with new deals. Take a look at some of these players and where they're headed:
Nikolai Khabibulin and Adrian Aucoin - Chicago
Paul Kariya - Nashville
Tony Amonte - Calgary
Bobby Holik - Atlanta
Scott Neidermayer - Anaheim
Sergei Gonchar - Pittsburg
Pavol Demitra and Jeremy Roenick - Los Angeles
Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and Martin Gelinas - Florida
Adam Foote - Columbus
Chris Pronger and Mike Peca - Edmonton
Peter Forsberg - Philadelphia
Jason Allison and Jeff O'Neill- Toronto
Cory Stillman - Carolina
- and many more
Staying home - there were also some big names that elected to sign new contracts to stay where they left off at the end of the 2003/04 season. They include:
Jarome Iginla - Calgary
Marcus Naslund and Brendan Morrison - Vancouver
Alexei Kovalev - Montreal
Two of the top players in the game, Iginla and Naslund elected to stay with their respective clubs, which should make for another exciting year of Flames/Canucks matchups. I'm excited about the fact Iginla is back with the Flames, and plan to catch a few games myself. And giving up Mike York and Eric Brewer to get Peca and Pronger, it's clear the Oilers won those deals and I expect they'll be an improved team this season. It should be exciting in the West. As for the Leafs, I have mixed feelings about Roberts and Nieuwendyk leaving, but they needed more youth. They look to be on the right track with O'Neill and Allison, who should have some good years left in them. But I'll admit their history with injuries and inconsistency has me a little concerned. But at least they'll have Tie Domi to watch their backs.
This weekend I have off and it couldn't have come soon enough. After working last weekend and a short four day work week between two of us at the Lacombe Globe, I'm taking the opportunity to enjoy myself this weekend. I'm going to Red Deer and possibly camping Saturday night. My friend Brent is looking to get a campsite as I'm typing this. Originally I was thinking Billy Bob's for Saturday night, but I've only been camping once this summer so I'd have to take that over the bar.
Apparently, the next reporter joining the Globe staff was hired today. His name is James and he comes from Ontario, that's about all I know of him. It'll be a relief to be back to three reporters. Now I can focus more on sports reporting and photography, and I won't have to carry the police scanner every second week. Now I'll be on every third weekend instead.
When I haven't been working or waisting time on the computer this week, I've been checking out the NHL free agent signings, which have come rapidly. I knew the new CBA in the NHL would create more parity among the 30 teams, but I'm surprised at how little time players have accepted offers to change teams. And with a salary cap of 39-million I had a feeling the teams with the smaller payrolls would do most of the big signings, but man not quite like this this.
Between trades and free agency, a lot of players have landed on new clubs, some remained with the same clubs with new deals. Take a look at some of these players and where they're headed:
Nikolai Khabibulin and Adrian Aucoin - Chicago
Paul Kariya - Nashville
Tony Amonte - Calgary
Bobby Holik - Atlanta
Scott Neidermayer - Anaheim
Sergei Gonchar - Pittsburg
Pavol Demitra and Jeremy Roenick - Los Angeles
Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and Martin Gelinas - Florida
Adam Foote - Columbus
Chris Pronger and Mike Peca - Edmonton
Peter Forsberg - Philadelphia
Jason Allison and Jeff O'Neill- Toronto
Cory Stillman - Carolina
- and many more
Staying home - there were also some big names that elected to sign new contracts to stay where they left off at the end of the 2003/04 season. They include:
Jarome Iginla - Calgary
Marcus Naslund and Brendan Morrison - Vancouver
Alexei Kovalev - Montreal
Two of the top players in the game, Iginla and Naslund elected to stay with their respective clubs, which should make for another exciting year of Flames/Canucks matchups. I'm excited about the fact Iginla is back with the Flames, and plan to catch a few games myself. And giving up Mike York and Eric Brewer to get Peca and Pronger, it's clear the Oilers won those deals and I expect they'll be an improved team this season. It should be exciting in the West. As for the Leafs, I have mixed feelings about Roberts and Nieuwendyk leaving, but they needed more youth. They look to be on the right track with O'Neill and Allison, who should have some good years left in them. But I'll admit their history with injuries and inconsistency has me a little concerned. But at least they'll have Tie Domi to watch their backs.
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