Free Agency Predictions - Revisited

Let's take a look at how my free agency predictions turned out...

Let's start with the easy ones....

I said: "Dupius, Rutuu, Laraque, Hall signed"
What Actually Happened: Dupius Signed. Rutuu (Sens); Laraque (Habs); and Hall (TB) all gone.

The skinny: Shero signed Dupius because he needed a speedy winger that showed some flash on his limited time with the Pens. Ruutu and Hall were victims of contract length more than $ (each got 3 years - Shero offered only 2). Laraque was a victim of both length and $. Shero wasn't going to pay him the $1.5 M he wanted, never mind for 3 years!

The repercussions: It'll be nice to see what Dupius can do on Crosby's/Malkin's wing for a full year. I think Hall brings excellent utlilty for the measly $600K he commands....but with him gone others can get more ice time. Ruutu will be missed but should be adequately replaced by Cooke. Which leaves Laraque...this one is tough. Good to see the Pens save some $ for other key players, but they gave up the premier enforcer in the entire NHL! I know they signed Godard for toughness and Cooke for peskiness, but I can't help to feel that this decision might come back to bite them in the ....


I said: "Eaton, Orpik, and Hossa - Gone"
What Actually Happened: Eaton and Orpik signed. Hossa gone.

The skinny: Okay so I was 33% right on this one. I was surpirsed to see the Pens sign the injury prone Eaton - especially at $2M per - but it'll be a good deal if he stays healthy. But that's a BIG "IF"!

The Orpik signing was a bit surprising, too. Good value for punishing D-man. Thought he would be more actively persued by other teams, but when Buffalo walked away it became clear that he would resign with the Pens. Hopefully will see more than just "The Shift" out of him this season.

Hossa was the talk - and the SHOCK - of free agency. If it went down according to some reports then we are good to be rid of him - he didn't want to be in Pittsburgh anyhow. Pffllt!

The repercussions: Over time the Orpik deal should look like a steal. Eaton's might, too, IF HE STAYS HEALTHY. Hossa is simply hard to replace. Period.