NHL Free Agency 2010
While everyone has been glued to the media circus surrounding Lebron James and the NBA’s free agency period, the NHL has been having a busy off season of its own, with plenty of wheeling and dealing. The following are few NHL betting tips that will guide the new bettors to bet precisely on NHL.
This year’s class of unrestricted free agents is especially strong in defenders, so it makes sense that star defenseman Sergei Gonchar, formerly of the Penguins, made the first big splash of the free agency period when he left Pittsburgh to sign a 3 year, $16.5 million deal with the Senators. The Penguins wasted no time filling the vacancy, however, as they quickly signed former Devil Paul Martin (5 years, $25 million) and former Coyote Zbynek Michalek (5 years, $20 million). Both players are regarded as top blue-liners, and are expected to shore up the Pittsburgh defense for several years to come. Another notable defenseman signing was former Nashville Predator Dan Hamhuis going to the Vancouver Canucks for 6 years and $27 million.
In the market for forwards, two of the biggest stars–Patrick Marleau and Marc Savard–signed long term deals with their current teams, Sharks and Bruins, respectively.
However, the crown jewel of the 2010 free agents is the incredibly talented forward Ilya Kovalchuk, a perennial 40-goal scorer. Traded mid-season from the Thrashers to the Devils in 2010, much speculation was made of where he would end up. Although he has not signed anywhere yet, the New York Post reported on 7/5 that he was expected to re-sign with the Devils for 7 years and $60 million.
The action is still not over, however. Many big name veterans, such as John Madden, Mike Modano, and Doug Weight, are still waiting to be signed in the remainder of the off-season .