Thin Air Sports

-by Alaina Scarano-Isbouts

Well, it’s July 1st.  And along with sweating through every shirt you own becasue of the ridiculous heat, it’s now time to start sweating over who your team did (or didn’t) sign during free agency.  The market opens up today, and there has been a ton on action already, coming up on 2:30pm.

The most important signing, of course, is that of Craig Anderson, who signed with the Avs today for a 2-year deal worth $3.6 million.  Not a bad move, I don’t think.  Andrew Raycroft is a free agent as of this morning, not to mention a disappointment.  Anderson started in the NHL back in 2002 with Chicago, and stayed for four seasons before heading down to Florida for three seasons.  By no means has he been a starting goaltender, but last season he made his highest showing yet, playing 31 games and posting a 15-7-5 record.  Of course the genius and future-telling Adrian Dater put his “money” on Ty Conklin (already signed with St. Louis Blues for two years and $6.2 mil) or Martin Biron…

Short of Anderson being Patrick Roy in disguise, I’m not quite sure he’s the answer.  But the Avs don’t have anyplace else to go right now.  Without the money to spend on a big-ticket goalie (need to save some space in case Joe Sakic is returning) and being unable to rely on Peter Budaj, Anderson is the way to go — for now.  This leap-of-faith is in the same vein as making Greg Sherman GM and Joe Sacco head coach — it’s going to be an interesting season.  Of course, for college girls all over the state of Colorado, this is good news. 

In other free agent news…

- Everyone’s favorite sellout, Marian Hossa, signed an incredible 12 year deal worth $62.8 mil with the Chicago Blackhawks.  Good deal for Hossa; wonder if the fans in Chicago feel the same way?

- The creepy twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin (anyone here ever watch Always Sunny with the creepy twins who molest Charlie?) have re-signed with Vancouver for identical five year contracts work $6.1 mil each.

- Scott Gomez was traded to Montreal, which was a huge mistake on NY’s part.

- Ottawa is still trying hard as ever to get Dany Heatley out of their hair, to no avail.  Nobody wants him?  Or he’s too expensive?

- Nikolai Khabibulin has gotten the khell out of Chicago and is now in Edmonton, replacing now-free-agent Dwayne Roloson.

- Apparently Alexei Kovalev still hasn’t been boo-ed out of Montreal after his poor performance last season; the Canadiens re-signed Kovalev for a two year deal worth $9 mil.

- Mattias Ohlund  has signed a surprising deal in Tampa, committing to seven years and at an undisclosed amount.

- Jay Bouwmeester is a Flame now, and will be for a few years.  The young defensemen was traded to Calgary in exchange for Jordan Leopold.

- And in the most interesting free agent news, still no word from Sakic.  But the word on the street is that he’s already made his decision, and has already told Avs management, who haven’t made any announcements yet.