NHL Free Agency

A grown-up version of musical chairs

Shock and disbelief was what I was feeling when Buffalo signed Mr. Schultz, the main belligerent from the team we lost to in the Stanley Cup finals and to see him don a Sabres sweater was too much to bear.

In no particular order, some players curiously have signed with other teams or back to their original team and wondering why and how will this play out over the regular season.

Hands of Stone goon Lucic will fight once more for Boston after spending more seasons playing for the Kings, Oilers, and Flames which was longer than his Boston career goon Lucic will once again be a Bruins enforcer and slay more goaltenders while wearing the black and gold.

After five years in Arizona AHL/NHL Mr. Bunting signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs and became a solid 20-goal scorer while being a pest, has earned the right to ask for more money and is now playing the next three seasons in Carolina.

After leaving Colorado and losing his love for Hockey while being paid millions of dollars to play Hockey in Buffalo leaves, Mr. O’Reilly wins a Cup in St. Louis leaves, helps Toronto out in the playoffs leaves, now the carousel has stopped in Nashville for the next four seasons.

Coming so close to winning a Cup with the Panthers and joining his two brothers as Stanley Cup Champions the eldest Staal leaves Florida to sign with Philadelphia and the 37-year-old at this point in his career might not get back to the Finals.

Pittsburgh gives away Cup-winning goaltenders Mr. Fleury, Mr. Murray but the Penguins have just signed their system-developed goaltender (played 1 NHL gm when Pittsburgh won a Cup) Mr. Jarry to a five-year contract in hopes he will win a Cup.

Although Toronto might have not signed some of their UFAs they did manage to sign other teams UFAs Mr. Domi and Mr. Bertuzzi should become a positive impact on the Leafs immediately.

The Winnipeg Jets jumped on the Knights goaltender Mr. Brossoit who was the man in Vegas before Mr. Hill earned the limelight and that should solidify the netminder position in the Peg.

Lastly although not a player HC Babcock will be behind the bench for the Columbus Bluejackets who have not signed an RFA or UFA to date and the first game between the Leafs and Bluejackets is going to be entertaining.