“Andrej the Giant” stands 6’8” and weighs in at 218 pounds. The right-handed defenseman had four goals and 17 points in 33 games for UNO last season. He also had 26 penalty minutes and was minus-2. He will be a junior this fall.
Yzerman said the system-wide stalemate "is not going to change anything we're going to do right now."
And he will not get sucked into a bidding war.
"We're realistic what the market is and we're prepared to deal with the market," he said, "but we're not going to blow our brains out here."
Yzerman added he would have no problem giving a chance to Mark Barberio, who the general manager called "the best defenseman in the American League last year."
"I'm not going to do something I think is inappropriate out of desperation," Yzerman said. "If it's a player that doesn't really fit us or a contract that doesn't fit what we're trying to do, we're better off saving our money and going with some young guys here. They might be better for the spot than some players we'd have to overpay to get."
Salot leigazolni elég nagy kockázat. Kuba nem olyan jó pp védőnek, de kevésbé sérülékeny. Egyedül a magas sapkával tudom indokolni minek írattátok alá.
Salo has had more than 30 injuries, the Vancouver Sun reported.
"None of these injuries are really joint related or degenerative things that may limit a player's career," Yzerman said. "He's just banged up and missed games because of things. To the best of my knowledge, he's in good shape."
"I'm feeling great," said Salo, who in 69 games last season with Vancouver (he missed six for a concussion and four for a groin) had nine goals, seven power-play goals, 25 points and was plus-7 with an average 20:26 of ice time.
"Last year was probably my healthiest in a long time. I hate when everybody talks about the injuries. A lot of things have gone with bad luck."
Salo said he has "two or three or four years left in me. I feel really good."
General manager Steve Yzerman envisions Salo as a top-four contributor who plays 20 minutes a game and whose right-hand shot will be a formidable weapon on the power play.
"He is a good, solid player, a real pro, a high-character person," Yzerman said. "He'll be a good leader for our team."
But for a team determined to replenish its NHL blue line, acquiring Salo, a three-time Olympian, was not only an important step, it might be just the first.
About $13 million under the $70.2 million salary cap (and with only restricted free agent goaltender Anders Lindback to re-sign), Tampa Bay is in position to acquire another high-profile defenseman.
Yzerman acknowledged he inquired about Ryan Suter, the top free agent defenseman available, but the price was too high.
Still available are Matt Carle, Carlo Colaiacovo, Bryce Salvadore and Michal Rozsival. The Lightning also would be interested in trading for Niklas Hjalmarsson if the Blackhawks make him available.
Of those affected by the Lightning's signing of defenseman Sami Salo, perhaps none will be as excited than Salo's son, Oliver. The 9-year-old is a huge fan of Tampa Bay star Steven Stamkos and patterns his game after him. "He loves to score goals," Salo said. But Oliver was sleeping Sunday night when his father, on the first day of free agency, signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal. "He's going to be thrilled," Salo said by phone from his native Finland. "It will be like Christmas morning when he hears where we're going."
jelenleg van 2 és fél Top4 játékosunk, aztán olyan 6 ember meg az 5-6-7. védő posztjára. tavaly is az volt a gond, hogy mindenki legalább egy sorral feljebb játszott, mint tud, így a végén senki se végzett jó munkát, mindenki túl volt terhelve. ha nem érkezik egy igazi Top4 bekk, akkor ez idén is gond lesz, ami megint magával ránthatja a kapusainkat is
I watch almost every Vancouver game with my brother, and for the better part Salo is one of the best D they had. Unfortunately any time he got hit or went to block a shot, your heart sinks and you worry if that is the one the puts him out. The 60 games we have him he will be good as our PP specialist, 5/6 D man with either Mik/Aulie/Lee. I am just keeping faith in the Yzerplan
Hedman - ???
Brewer - Salo/Lee
Aulie/Salo/Lee - Mik
MAB
“Sami will combine with Eric Brewer to give our defense some nice veteran leadership for our younger players,” Yzerman said. “We were able to add him at a contract that fits in nicely for us. We are pleased he chose to join the Lightning.”
Salo, 37, brings a set of intangibles that when combined with his experience, could prove to be a valuable asset to the Lightning blue line next season.
With the future of defenseman Mattias Ohlund still unknown, Salo provides the same veteran presence on the ice, and capability to anchor the blue line, that was simply lacking all of last season’s in Ohlund’s absence as a result of an injury that caused him to miss all 82 of the team’s regular-season games in 2011-12.
And, in addition to boasting a right-handed shot that could prove useful on the power play, it would not be a stretch to think Salo could serve as a model to mentor the Bolts’ young defensive core that comprises Keith Aulie, Victor Hedman, Brian Lee and Brendan Mikkelson, each of whom are no older than 25.
There is also this: Salo has shown that despite his age, he still possesses the durability required to log decent minutes, as he ranked fourth on the Vancouver Canucks last season averaging 20:26 in ice time per game. Add in his 77 blocked shots, also good for fourth on the Canucks last season, and it appears Salo will emerge as a solid presence in front of the Bolts’ netminders for each of the next two seasons should he stay healthy.
“He is a high character guy that can play in all situations for us,” Yzerman added.
Salo leaves the Canucks very similar how Ohlund did and ironically to the same team. Both have been great Canucks, Salo in the top 5 all time and Ohlund arguably at the top. In the end the Canucks just didn't see the same value that Tampa did in both cases and at the same time intend get a bit younger and quicker.
Nowadays Salo is more of a solid depth guy. He doesn't stand out but makes solid plays and passes more often than not. He doesn't take risks, makes safe plays and can keep up with his skating (quicker than Ohlund for example). Problem is that in general he doesn't make much of an impact on the ice anymore so him playing consistent top 4 minutes is not the ideal situation. He can handle the minutes, sometimes better than other times, but the longer the season goes and the more minutes he plays the more he seems to struggle even with the low risk play while never really providing those "big plays" that top 4 D should do.
He still has a great shot but like it's been the case for ever, he's not very trigger happy with it. Not much of a playmaker either, he's shy guy off the ice and it really does show in his play too. Great person though, glad he could cash in with his last contract and I hope he does well. Don't expect anything more than 60 games though.
- lassú, mint Kubina volt
- sérülékeny, mint Ohlund
Viccet félretéve, ez a legidiótább deal a mai napon (eddig)
Whitneyre a dallasi körülményekre való tekintettel legyintek, de ez...számomra ez a csóka egy emberelőnyben használható figura és slussz passz.
- lassú, mint Kubina volt
- sérülékeny, mint Ohlund
- és legalább drága is, mint az említett kettő
- Top4-be rakni öngyilkosság, 3. bekkpárba pedig már van vagy 7-8 játékosunk
na jó,
- jobb kezes
- jól helyezkedik
- még mindig jól lő
- nem fizetünk senkinek se vagyonokat életfogytig, mégis lett egy veteránunk
hülyének fogtok nézni, de amikor elindult 6 körül az adás és a Nucksról beszéltek, Salot mutatták, és eszembe jutott Ohlund, majd az, hogy nálunk fog ő is kikötni
majd az is, hogy ugyanúgy járunk vele, de ezt már elhesegettem
amíg minőséget hozunk, addig nem. SFY nem fogja őket túlfizetni sem, abban biztos lehetsz
remélem, mi ki is szállunk az UFA-piacról, olyan összegek repkednek, hogy inkább csak tradeljünk szépen valakiért, de ne kötelezzük el magunkat dupla áron senki mellett
ő még játszana, meg mindenki örülne is neki, de egyelőre totál bizonytalan, hogy képes lesz-e valaha normálisan korizni még, nemhogy nhl-szinten játszani.
A fórumban a kiadvány regiszrált látogatói kapnak lehetőséget magánvéleményük kifejezésére.
Ezen vélemények nem tükrözik a kiadó szerkesztőségének álláspontját.
