Top Line: Seguin-Eriksson trade buzz; NHL free agency opens; more links
Tyler Seguin may be a gamble, but the Dallas Stars know what they're getting into. (Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
By Allan Muir
An annotated guide to this morning's must-read hockey stories:
• He may turn into a legend with the Dallas Stars, but Tyler Seguin was nothing but an infuriating tease for the Boston Bruins.
• People around the Bruins organization never really warmed up to Seguin as a player or person, writes Stephen Harris, but Loui Eriksson fits Boston's mold perfectly.
• Both Boston and Dallas engaged in some risky business with this deal, but Kevin Dupont says the Bruins long ago lost faith that Seguin could develop into a No. 1 center.
• Just a note here: Boston fans need to tap the brakes on canonizing Eriksson. He's a heck of a player, but he's not Patrice Bergeron-on-the-wing, as Dupont states. He doesn't have the same compete level (who does?), he never hits and, like most scorers, he's streaky. This was a fair deal, not a case of Peter Chiarelli fleecing new GM Jim Nill of his most prized assets.
• The Stars understand the risks involved with Seguin. But thanks to executive advisor Mark Reechi, they also know exactly what he could become. This is a nice, well-rounded piece from the Dallas perspective by the great Mike Heika.
• Tim Cowlishaw writes that the Dallas Stars were on the right end of Thursday's blockbuster trade. And so were the Boston Bruins.
• The Stars may have won this trade in a rout, according to Ken Campbell.
• Here's Mike Zeisberger with an out-of-towners' perspective on the Seguin-Eriksson deal.
• Zeisberger also takes the time to point out that every one of the top free agents comes as-is. In other words, buyer beware.
• Wait a minute ... is there a chance that general managers might actually exercise caution as free agency officially opens today?
• Dealing Shawn Horcoff to the Stars was all about clearing the salary of a good player who is being paid like a great one.
• Jonathan Willis shares his take on the first day of Edmonton's rookie development camp.
• The Canadian dollar traded at its lowest level in nearly two years on Thursday and is trending downward. That's very bad news for the NHL. Here's why.
• Terry Koshan lists five under-the-radar free agents worth watching and five to avoid.
• Sounds like winning the Jack Adams Trophy paid off for Ottawa coach Paul MacLean.
• That was the good news in Ottawa. The bad news? Free agent winger Daniel Alfredssonmay not re-sign with the Sens.
• The changing fortunes of Ottawa's owner Eugene Melnyk are affecting the team's finances, writes James Bagnall. Well, maybe if he hadn't spent so much money on that CSI team Melnyk hired to investigate Matt Cooke...
• Mikhail Grabovski didn't take the news of being bought out by the Maple Leafs too [expletive] well.
• James Mirtle explains why Grabo had to go.
• You think Grabo was ticked? Wait'll you read what former Nordiques coach Michel Bergeron had to say about the way the Coyotes remained in Phoenix. I'm guessing he won't be applying for an NHL head office job any time soon.
• And Grabovski wasn't the only one having a pity party. Turns out Todd Nelson feels he was wronged, too.
• The Canadiens added high-end skill and experience by signing Daniel Briere to a two-year deal yesterday.
• It didn't take Keith Ballard long to find a new employer after being cut by the Vancouver Canucks.
• The Canucks might already have Ballard's replacement in sight.
• Wait...the Penguins and Flyers are working together? Jay Baruchel was right...these are the end times!
• In the early steps of a rebuild, Calgary GM Jay Feaster needs to avoid overspending in free agency.
• The Winnipeg Jetshope to fill a gaping hole in free agency. Get ready to write a big check, Chevy!
• Former first overall pick Bryan Berard is among several hockey players bilked of millions of dollars by an unlicensed financial investor. Now he's fighting back.