* ALL UPDATES ARE ADDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG.
The Ryder signing is a shocking one to me but it sends a clear message that I did ponder. It was not until this morning that I received confirmation on that message. LeCavalier and the Habs are on a collision course that could start as early as this year's trade deadline.
Vinny still has two years left on his deal in Tampa, but is one of the few superstars out there that is absolutely willing to (and would love to be) be a Hab despite all the tax and pressure aspects of Montreal. The Habs will eventually back up the truck for Vinny and the Lightning are already more than aware of it.
The Issue with Vinny's current deal is that it ends one year before Marty's or Brad's. That isn't great planning. I put Vinny up there with Crosby as the game's best player. Vinny also speaks and carries himself extremely well and were he in a hockey Meca he could score huge on endorsement deals. When it comes to Montreal, that number could rival even a $10M salary. With the new CBA, when you put a max number on player salaries, those outside incomes become a factor in a player's decision.
The Lightning don't want to lose the guy for nothing. They can't. I fully expect that they will make every attempt to extend him next January. But if they get the sense they can't, they are going to have to look at moving him either at this deadline or the draft. Going into next season on his final year will diminish his value...
Enter Ryder, who should have been a 3 or 4 year deal at around 3.5. The Habs yesterday avoided arbitration, but did make Ryder a one year player and gave themselves a chance to make Vinny a "lifer" at some point in the next 2 years...
I am working on two other stories today, so check back....
Here is some classic Vinny from the Sun Network and RDS.
Sabres/ Sharks deal Not Accurate.
According to sources at this hour the rumoured deal that would land Marleau in Buffalo is "not true, not even being discussed."
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Updated 6:08pm:
Looking into reports that Kovalchuk may be the player that Lowe was referring to last week when he said there was a difference maker that he was surprised was available...Looking for confimation now...As of now I have not heard this rumour from any of my trusted sources.
Updated 6:25 PM: Miettinen $885,000, one �"year deal
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