Ok, if anyone on this forum is at all a hockey fan, then you would have known that today was the first day of free agency in the NHL (also in the NBA but no one cares that former raptor vince carter signed a 4 year deal with nj, or that ray allen got traded to boston, this is hockey people! waaay more important).
so traditionally, the first day of free agency starts slow but has a snowball effect, once one big move is made a ton of big moves are made, today was no different.
some of the bigger free agents at 12:00pm today:
Chris Drury - 37 goals and 67pts last season
Daniel Briere - 95pts last season
Scott Gomez - 60pts last season
Ryan Smyth - 36 goals and 68pts last season
Brian Rafalski - 55pts last season
Sheldon Souray - 64pts last season
Scott Hannan - 24pts last season
Jason Blake - 40 goals and 69pts last season
Paul Kariya - 76pts last season
Zach Parise - 62pts last season
players who have already signed:
Daniel Briere - **Philadelphia Flyers - 8 ****years and $52 million
**
Brian Rafalski -**Detroit Red Wings - 5 year and $30 million
Jason Blake - Toronto Maple Leafs - 5 years and $20 million**
Scott Gomez - **New York Rangers - ****7 years and $51.5 million
**Chris Drury - **New York Rangers - 5 years and ****$35.25 million
**Scott Hannan - **Colorado Avalanche - ****4 years and $18 million
**The NHL cap was increased by just over 6 million to 50.3 million per team, meaning each team can spend up to this amount each year…there are loop holes and so forth but this is the general rule.
My question is:
What will the New York Rangers do if they don’t win the stanley cup this coming season? My vote is fire everyone and trade all their big names for draft picks 
They have Jarmir Jagr one of the best players in the league already, they now have Scott Gomez, who was considered the top free agent and is considered one of the top players in the league, they have Chris Drury, who is one of the best offensive players in the league, and who I think is better than Gomez, they have enough money under the cap still to sign their young star goalie who played really well last year, and enough to sign Brendan Shanahan, a future hall of famer. They also have Michael Nylander who had over 30 goals last year who they might sign.
I’m a leaf fan, I’m happy with the signing of Jason Blake, but being half japanese I really really hope the leafs can sign Paul Kariya as well!
All that’s left is to sign Ryan Smyth…I hope the oilers get him back…he doesn’t look right in an Islander uniform.
That’s it for today, just thought those of you who watch hockey and frequent this site would like an update…i’ve spent the better part of today in front of my tv watching sportscenter. I love hockey!
