Playing Catchup

Is the summer a time for beaches, parties and bikini clad women? Absolutely not. The summer is a time to hide in your apartment with the lights off, glued to your computer screen (for lack of having cable yet) hoping, nay, praying for the smallest shred of significant hockey news while you wait out your depression at a crappy job counting down the days until October 4th. Scientists say that in the winter the lack of sunlight and cold temperatures leads to something called S.A.D., an acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder. I could not think of a better way to describe what most puck heads go through from June until October. The lack of hockey Season leads to a flattened Affect that is so severe that it could be considered a Disorder. Anyways, here is what I've been able to scrape together in my absence. I cant promise anything too spectacular so don't get your hopes up:

• The Capitals took Shaone Morrison to arbitration because he name was not Mike Green and he couldn't put up huge points as a stay-at-home defenseman. The arbitrators awarded him a fair, one year $1.97 million contract. This might be a little high in terms of his total value but the guy played all seven games of the Caps' playoff games with a broken jaw, give him some credit. Unfortunately for the Caps this puts them about $2 million over the cap and they will have to ship someone out in the near future.
• The Bruins bought out aging winger Glen Murray shortly after signing young defenseman Dennis Wideman to a 4 year, $15.5 million deal. This was a smart move for the Bruins, shedding a large contract for someone who has seen his production steadily drop in recent years.
• The Minnesota Wild signed winger Pierre-Marc Bouchard to a 5 year, $20.4 million contract. This is a pretty fair deal for a future 20 goal scorer and an important piece of the Wild power play. Bouchard is only 24 and has a lot of potential. Next step for the Wild is locking up Gaborik which will not come cheap.
• Tomas Holmstrom let his cousin use the Stanley Cup in the baptism of their child. I would say "Only in Canada" but Holmstrom is from Sweden.
• The Panthers signed Jay Bouwmeester to a one year deal worth about $5 million. Bouwmeester led all NHL defensemen in ice time last season, averaging almost 30 minutes a game and also potted a career-high 15 goals. The fact that he signed a one year deal a year becomes an unrestricted free agent obviously shows his intention to move elsewhere next season and he will be a hot item come July 1, 2009.
• Maybe the Atlanta Thrashers were reading my site last week because they signed coach Randy Cunneyworth to an assistant coaching position with their squad. Good for both them and Randy. Give the guy two or three years and he will have a head coaching gig in the NHL.
• Mirtle has an interesting post about football legend Brett Favre being offered a contract to play for a minor league team in Iowa.
• Puck Daddy has a very humorous piece about Jagr and Ovechkin's relationship with a very sarcstic translated interview from Jarg. Who knew the dude had so much personality. The Rangers are still better off without him.
• The Lightning have signed Stamkos, the first overall pick this year to a three year incentive laden contract that would enable him to earn up to $8.55 million over the duration of the deal if he turns out to be the stud we all think he'll be.

Thats all for now. Until next time, keep two hands on that stick.