Big Winners in NHL Free-Agency

The first wave of NHL free-agency has closed out, and now that the dust has settled, we can look back and see who the big winners and losers are. Did your favorite NHL bet make the grade? Let’s find out!

Vancouver Canucks Re-Sign Sedin Twins

Stanley Cup Odds: +1600

The big scare in Vancouver was that the Sedin twins, who scored 82 points apiece last season, were going to bolt for greener pastures in Toronto. Instead the Sedin twins re-signed in Vancouver for $5.5 million each for the next five years. It’s a great signing for both the Sedin’s and the Canucks, who can now move on in confidence that they have the corps of their team in hand for a half-decade.

Calgary Gets A Real Defensemen

Stanley Cup Odds: +2000

Dion Phaneuf has been parading around as a defenseman for far too long. Now Calgary gets a guy coveted as one of the best defenders in the game in Jay Bouwmeester. The former panther signed a five year, $33.4 million deal and will anchor a Flames defense that has been unable to protect Mikka Kiprusoff for the last two seasons.

Of course, the Flames lost 40-goal scorer Mike Cammellari but who’s counting?

Tampa Bay Signs Mattias Ohlund To Mentor Youngsters

Stanley Cup Odds: +6600

Don’t worry, the Lightning won’t be making any noise in the playoffs for a few years, but they now have a player with years of experience to mentor Victor Hedman, the defender Tampa drafted in the 2009 NHL Draft. Ohlund will also get a 7-year deal that will net him $24.5 million and give him the opportunity to influence one of the more dangerous young teams in the league. Huge signing that will go under the radar…until Tampa starts winning games.

Edmonton Loves Old Goaltenders

Stanley Cup Odds: +3000

I have to be happy when anything goes well in Edmonton. Though they lost out on Dany Heatley, the competitive Oilers got their goaltender in Nikolai Khabibulin who signed a 4-year $15 million contract. At age 37, “The Bulin Wall” is no spring chicken, but his experience and grit were invaluable to a young Hawks team went all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Khabi can still steal games with his incredible athleticism and vision, but its also his big game experience which will be invaluable to the Oilers.

Toronto Maple Leafs Get Tougher

Stanley Cup Odds: *shaking my head*

I know, I know. The Leafs are still garbage. But a team that is short on finesse (and everything else) just got a whole lot tougher on the blue-line. All this comes with the sigh of relief that Leafs fans exhaled after Tomas Kaberle remained in the blue and white. But the Leafs also went out and stole Mike Komisarek, the tough and tenacious shot blocker from Montreal. They also dealt for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart meaning that they finally have guys who aren’t afraid to throw down and get penalty minutes.

The Leafs were beat up last year by virtually everyone, and now their blue line will be one of the tougher ones in the league. With Luke Schenn and Kaberle flanked by some serious head cases, the Leaf’s defense will be far more reliable than it has been in the past.

Brian Burke has always been a sneaky genius when re-building clubs and he’s doing what he’s always done by building from the crease out. There’s still some talent to steal at the forward position, but Toronto has taken a big step in the right direction.