No more, no more

Alright, we’re back with more free agent signings.

Shortly after I decided to enjoy Sunday’s Canada Day festivities, the Colorado Avalanche decided to offer Captain Canada a fat contract. Ryan Smyth joins the Avalanche for five years at $31.25 million. Smyth is a nice addition to Colorado’s lineup, and becomes a natural successor to Joe Sakic’s captaincy whenever Sakic retires. It’s tough to say exactly where Smyth fits into the lineup every night, but probably on a second line with Andrew Brunette.

The Smyth signing came on the heels of landing rugged defenseman Scott Hannan for four years and $18 million. Hannan is a nose-to-the-grindstone type. He plays hard every shift, and he makes it very hard for opposing forwards every shift. He’s been a key cog for the San Jose Sharks, and the Avalanche are absolutely going to love him. They haven’t had a mean defenseman like Hannan since Adam Foote bolted for Columbus. Hannan will probably play on a top unit with John-Michael Liles.

Two things I find interesting about the St. Louis Blues signing Paul Kariya. Actually, I could probably do a whole week’s worth of writing just on this signing, but I digress. You’d really think a guy the Blues just signed for $18 million over three years would be on their website’s roster page, no? Furthermore, I love the fact the press release offers no info about Kariya since before the lockout. It mentions the three years in Colorado and Nashville, but no mention of the numbers (35, 85, 76 points), which clearly illustrate the Kariya the Blues just signed isn‘t the Kariya Nashville got in 2006. We’ll see though. Where does Kariya fit in? Your guess is as good as mine. David Backes and Lee Stempniak are practically the only guys young enough to be able to skate with Kariya, which may leave Keith Tkachunk and Doug Weight on the second line.

Next, Pittsburgh decided to bring in some more veteran help. I think I like the additions of Darryl Sydor (two years, $5 million) and Petr Sykora (two years, financials not disclosed). Sydor still gets the job done, and he’s been through the wars (Western Conference circa 1996-2002). He was great in 1999 when the Stars won the Stanley Cup, and he was at his absolute best in 2004 when he won the Cup with Tampa Bay. In Pittsburgh, he’ll slide into the second pairing alongside Mark Eaton very nicely. Sykora’s where things get interesting. He’s produced at a fairly consistent level over the last few years, around 50 points a season. But no matter the money, the Pens brought him in to ply with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, and 50 points will not be acceptable. The Pens also signed super-backup Dany Sabourin for two years, just over $1 million total. In case you weren’t awake, Sabourin came into one of Vancouver’s playoff games this year at the start of overtime because Roberto Luongo was having an equipment malfunction. Sabourin was excellent, holding the fort and leaving fans breathless, until Luongo returned. It reminded me of the time a flu-ridden Marc-Andre Fleury replaced a useless David LeNeveu, and backstopped Canada to a big win at the World Juniors.

Paul Kariya who? The Nashville Predators aren’t taking the loss of Kariya laying down. Around lunch time on Monday they inked Jed Ortmeyer to a two year deal worth $1.5 million. Ortmeyer cracked the Rangers lineup 41 times last year, scoring twice, and adding nine helpers for 11 points. Pro-rate that over a full season, and the name Kariya is already a distant memory in the Music City.

OK, one more thing about Paul Kariya signing in St. Louis. Don’t you think Blues fans are going to love mocking Kansas City fans in two years, having signed away KC’s best and most recognizable player?