Market Time

With the turn of the calendar to July, this is when the hockey talk slows to a total crawl.  It is also the day in which the free agency period begins, and before this year's free agency market even began, a few potential names were taken off.  You know the names that will be up for grabs, so today's piece will be about those who were supposed to be on the market, but were signed prior to today.  To that end, the list of players signed prior to today and how it impacts the team they signed with will be listed below.

Kevin Bieksa: What a strange season it's been for Bieksa.  From being rumored to be involved in a trade to Columbus to his Gordie Howe hat trick against San Jose in the playoffs, he is now signed to the Canucks for five more years at what can be best described as a "hometown discount."  He was the best Canucks defenseman last year, and with Dan Hamhuis as his blue line partner, Bieksa will offer some offense and will even drop the gloves.

Maxim Lapierre: When it comes to the bottom two lines on the Canucks, none fit the description better than mid-season acquisition Lapierre.  The definition of "villain," he was a great fit for the team, particularly in the playoffs.  Two more years of Lapierre is great for Vancouver and bad for everyone else.

Ilya Bryzgalov: Traded to Philadelphia before he hit free agency, he was signed to a nine year deal by the Flyers.  To do this, the Flyers traded away Jeff Carter and Mike Richards in separate deals.  Seemingly, the Flyers are not done dealing, but nine years is way too much for any goaltender, let alone one who doesn't have the playoff pedigree a playoff contender like the Flyers covet.

Christian Ehrhoff: Traded twice, to the New York Islanders and then to Buffalo, he was eventually signed to a 10 year, $40 million dollar deal by Buffalo.  Buffalo still needs forward help in terms of offense, but Ehrhoff will be a good addition to a blue line that has a shutdown defenseman (Robyn Regehr) and a promising tower of power (Tyler Myers).

Brooks Laich:  Signed to a 6 year deal by Washington, he is the heart and soul type of player every team would love to have, and Washington was wise to keep him before he hit free agency.

Dwayne Roloson: Tampa Bay will still need someone to spell him for at least a game a week, but Roloson is exactly the player Tampa Bay needs while they develop their young players in goal.  And he can still steal a game or two if needed.

Tomas Kopecky: Overshadowed by the likes of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Marian Hossa, Kopecky was traded to Florida before free agency, and was signed to a deal by the Panthers.

Jussi Jokinen: Carolina needs offense, and Jokinen has scored 30 goals in a season recently for the Hurricanes.  Not on the level of Eric Staal, but a definite solid second line player, and a wise re-signing.