So it’s true, the St. Louis Blues signed Dan Hinote to a multi-year contract. The only report (unconfirmed) I’ve heard, is for 3 years, at $1 mil a year.
From the St. Louis Blues website:
“Dan is a character player who brings speed and grit to our team,” said
Davidson. “He’s a Stanley Cup champion who should instantly become a fan
favorite.”
For once, I agree with John Davidson. Danny is going to be loved in St. Louis. He brought a lot to this team, and will be sorely missed.
Which brings me to the theme of the weekend, which is what the hell are the Avs doing? What are they waiting for? So far, one forward is all we’ve picked up, and we’ve lost our number one D-man, and our grit and character. Hinote will never be known for his clutch scoring, but that’s just what he did at the end of last season, and in the playoffs (no, not like a real power forward, but still, there he was). There needs to be some serious replacements coming in here. There is no time like the present, because there will be no time very soon.
The salary cap and the bonus money being honored from 2001 contracts will be the excuse we hear for the season. And as I say, the salary cap giveth and the salary cap taketh away. And with the money the Avs have spent over the last ten years, there was no way they would be on the taketh away end of life for a while. The Avs of old are dead, but I have yet to think “Long live the Avs.”
But look at the rest of the division. Vancouver got exactly what they needed, good goaltending and less distractions. Edmonton loses Pronger (to the Ducks), but signed Roloson, and have some fresh salary room to sign some free agents. Calgary gets Tanguay, which addresses who to put with Iginla, and the Wild are addrestheirthier scoring needs, and the only way things don’t get better for them is if Jacques Lamaire out coaches the scoring.
The Avs had better get moving, there is no time to wait. We are losing our players left and right, and not much coming in. Maybe Francois Giguere is spending too much time on the phone with Pierre Lacroix asking for permission. But Giguere seems to think the team is in good shape.
Giguere reiterated his belief the Avs, though suffering a potentially big
loss in Blake, are in good shape for next season. One reason, he said, is the
presence of goalie Jose Theodore.
“This year, we’re going into the season
with a top-flight goal- tender from Day One,” Giguere said.
Really? We’re going to rely on Jose Hilton to get this thing done for us? One 52 save game, and all of a sudden, he’s our guy? He is the guy who makes up for losing BLAKE????? I don’t think so. Having a “top-flight goal-tender” would be nice, but that’s not what we have. He better step it up from last year, or (dare I say it) we ain’t making the playoffs at this point.
Yep, I said it. And I’m not taking it back.