In the latest edition of "From the Perch," the voice of the Monsters, John Michael, breaks down the Colorado Avalanche's offseason acquisitions, departures, and re-signings so you can see who is coming, leaving, and staying put.  Michael also discusses the moves of players you love to hate around the league.

Colorado Avalanche Offseason Comings, Goings and Re-Signings
ACQUISITIONS
June 10, 2008 – acquires F Marty Sertich (former team – Iowa, AHL) from Dallas in exchange for a conditional draft pick
June 24 – acquires F Matt Hendricks (Providence, AHL) from Boston in exchange for D Johnny Boychuk
July 1 – signs free agent F Darcy Tucker (Toronto, NHL), two year deal
July 1 – signs free agent G Andrew Raycroft (Toronto, NHL), one year deal
July 1 – signs free agent F Per Ledin (HV 71 Jonkoping, Swedish Elite League), one year deal
July 3 – signs free agent D Daniel Tjarnqvist (Yaroslavl, Russian League), one year deal
July 3 – signs free agent F Chris Durno (San Antonio, AHL), one year deal

DEPARTURES
July 1 – free agent G Jose Theodore signs with Washington
July 1 – free agent D Jeff Finger signs with Toronto
July 1 – free agent D Kurt Sauer signs with Phoenix
July 1 – free agent F Andrew Brunette signs with Minnesota
July 3 – free agent C Wyatt Smith signs with Tampa Bay

RE-SIGNINGS
June 24 – re-signs F Scott Parker, one year deal
June 30 – re-signs D Adam Foote, two year deal
June 30 – re-signs D John-Michael Liles, four year deal
July 2 – re-signs F Wojtek Wolski, two year deal

Hope You Know What You’re Doing, Marian
June 6, 2008 – Only days after his Pittsburgh Penguins were defeated in the Stanley Cup Finals, Marian Hossa, when asked about his plans next season and about his expiring contract, informs the media, “If I wanted to make a couple more dollars, I would probably just re-sign with Atlanta. But I’m glad Pittsburgh got me here. This was a fun journey for myself, and a great experience. I hope I can stick with a great team like this. . . . There’s always a limit, but I’d rather take a little less and play on a good team, definitely.”

June 14 – The Penguins offer Hossa a reported seven-year, $49M contract.

June 22 – Hossa informs the Penguins that he’ll test the free agent market.

July 2 – Hossa accepts a one-year, $7.45M contract from the Detroit Red Wings.

Notwithstanding Hossa’s comments made about allegedly wanting to “stick with a great team like this,” one can seemingly piece together his thought process: Play this season at $7.45M with Detroit, with the hopes of signing an even more lucrative long-term deal the following year.

But isn’t this a touch risky? It assumes a ton, and some might suggest that maybe hastily, it takes a lot for granted. In order of increasing concern, (1) it assumes he’ll have a strong season with Detroit, (2) it assumes Detroit will indeed re-sign him, and (3) it assumes that he gets through next season injury-free. Not to mention, at the end of next season, the Wings are going to have to deal with re-upping the expiring contracts of Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen, both of whom will command substantial pay raises, which the Wings will need considerable cap space to do.

Is that all worth a $450,000 pay bump this season over the Pittsburgh deal, without the security of 6 more seasons at a cool 7 mil per year? Apparently, it is to Marian. For his sake, I just hope he knows what he’s doing.

Agitators on the Move
Love ‘em when they’re on your team…..hate ‘em when they’re not.

While the free agent signing period always involves some interesting signings, I was struck this season at the number of agitators who will change addresses next season. Led by Sean Avery’s departure from Broadway for a warmer southern climate, here is a list of notable antagonists who will irritate for different teams in 08-09.

Darcy Tucker – from Toronto to Colorado (last year, 18 goals-16 assists-34 points-100 penalty minutes)

Jarkko Ruutu – from Pittsburgh to Ottawa (last year, 6-10-16-138)

Sean Avery – from New York Rangers to Dallas (last year, 15-18-33-154)

Matt Cooke – from Washington to Pittsburgh (last year combined with VANC and WASH, 10-13-23-91)

Make sure you tune into LakeErieMonsters.com later this week for our radio show “Between the Pipes with John Michael," and check back here next week for the next edition of "From the Perch!"

Read past editions of "From the Perch:"
06/05/08
06/17/08
06/24/08