What a week

My range of emotions about the past week or so went something like this:

Traded for Robyn Regehr - Awesome, a shutdown defenseman that we really needed without giving up much. Darcy is finally free to do what he needs to do, I am excited for free agency!

Traded for Ehrhoff's rights - Whoa, really? I didn't think we really needed another puck moving D-man, but I guess I trust in Lindy to know what he needs. I am kind of scared that Ehrhoff could get 6 million per year...

Ehrhoff signed for 10/40 - Wow 10 years is a long time, but I can get on board with that cap hit and the way the contract is structured. I love that Darcy can put together these salary cap circumventing contracts now that he has a billionaire's money to play with. At this point I am drunk with the idea that we signed these defenseman early to convince Brad Richards that we are a cup contender...

July 1
Hearing rumors that Pegula has flown his private jet to Missisaugua - Holy Crap Its Happening, Plan The Parade!!!!!

Signed Ville Leino for 6 years @4.5 million per - Wait we need a center, isn't he a left wing? Hasn't he only been scoring goals since (quick look up on phone) last year's playoffs? He is making more than Drew Stafford?? 3 million per year more than Gerbe? I don't really get it, sounds like a panic move by Pegula. Not feeling great about this.

Hearing they plan to use Leino at center - I guess now the move makes a little more sense, but we have been sold on wingers at center before (Hecht, Boyes) and it hasn't worked out. I am a little skeptical. 4.5 seems like an awful lot for a guy with one good season. He played on Briere's wing in Philly. We don't have any Brieres in Buffalo.

There is some talk now that they will still go out and get a #1 center from a team at the cap floor in exchange for a bunch of players with big cap hits, but I don't see that happening. I think they are done. Now that most or all of the big name free agents are signed, there are still several teams that are way below the $48 million cap floor, but looking through these teams I don't think they will really have much trouble getting there. Most of these teams have 3-4 RFAs that are still unsigned, and although Nashville is 12 million under right now they have Shea Weber to sign still. I don't think there is a team out there that needs to acquire Roy, Hecht and Boyes just to get to the floor.

Regier says they will continue to look at the trade market to see if they can get better, but I think that is what you have to say right now. Of course they aren't going to say "Ta-Da!" and be finished with it. If an amazing opportunity comes up of course they will take it, but I think they are happy with what they did and will go into the season with essentially this roster. The Stastny and Spezza talk is, frankly, ridiculous.

Overall I think we got better, but only on defense. I don't think we are any better on offense really, unless one of the rookies can provide an unexpected spark. We essentially traded Tim Connolly for Leino. While I am happy Connolly is gone and excited to see Leino play, I don't believe it is a big upgrade. I am glad to see we are locking guys up for a few years. I just hope Pegula isn't blowing his load in the first offseason. There will be good players available every year, we have to make sure we are making good smart signings not just going and getting whoever will say yes.