An historic media partnership between the NHL and MLB is announced, Canucks re-sign Brandon Sutter and more.
The NHL & MLB announce a new media rights partnership.
NHL.COM: The National Hockey League has signed a six-year agreement with Major League Baseball Advanced Media. As per the press release, “The partnership will transform the fan experience by creating a fully integrated global hub of digital content that encompasses video, live game streaming, social media, fantasy, apps, along with statistical and analytical content.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This agreement should improve the distribution of the NHL’s digital media, especially in U.S. and international markets, thus providing a substantial boost to league revenue.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: The Canucks re-signed recently acquired center Brandon Sutter to a five-year, $21.875 million contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The deal is worth an average annual salary of $4.375 million. It’s a reasonable bump from the $3.3 million he’s making on his current contract, which has one season remaining. While some might quibble over the term of the deal, the dollars are sensible and won’t hurt the Canucks over the long term. Should Sutter play up to expectations as a second-line center, this contract will be a worthwhile one for the Canucks.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is having a good offseason, first by acquiring sniper Phil Kessel to Toronto and by shipping center Brandon Sutter to Vancouver for center Nick Bonino, young defenseman Adam Clendening and a second-round pick.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford faced criticism for in-season moves like trading a first-round pick to Edmonton for inconsistent winger David Perron or dealing promising blueliner Simon Despres to Anaheim for Ben Lovejoy, His moves this summer have silenced his critics.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS.COM: The Devils yesterday announced the hiring of Andre Savard and Claude Noel as pro scouts.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Good move by the Devils. Savard and Noel are experienced hockey men and their hockey knowledge should be beneficial to the Devils’ scouting department.
CBS SPORTS: Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche alumni from their “rivalry years era”, including Joe Sakic, Nicklas Lidstrom, Patrick Roy, Brendan Shanahan, Peter Forsberg, Chris Chelios and Rob Blake, will take part in the alumni game leading up to the Wings-Avs Stadium Series at Coors Field in Denver.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The alumni games are always an enjoyable experience for the players and fans, but anyone expecting to see a rekindling of their old animosities will be disappointed. They play for fun now.
ESPN.COM: Does Curtis Joseph belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m torn on this one. In his prime, “CuJo” was among the NHL’s top netminders and carried an underdog Edmonton Oilers team to successive opening-round playoff series victories against Dallas and Colorado. However, even when playing on very good teams in St. Louis, Toronto and Detroit, he couldn’t carry them to championships. Joseph’s stats certainly merit HOF consideration, but I’d rather see Rogie Vachon in the Hall before “CuJo”.
Lyle, I am not a fan of the championship argument when it comes to Hall of Fame consideration. I get what you are saying but hockey is a team sport and you need EVERY player going all out to win a Cup and that still might not be enough. Case in point: In a combined 16 seasons Price and Lundqvist have combined for one Stanley Cup Finals win. That is not one Cup. That is one game.
So Sutter gets 4.375 a year to play 2nd line centre, guess Tyler Bozaks 4.2 a year to play 1st line centre isn’t so bad eh. I know this year he will play 2nd line, and Kadri will play 1st line but still… I am looking at the numbers here.
I was thinking the same thing. Sutter is much better defensively but his ceiling is a second line center and has been playing on the 3rd line for most of his recent career. $4.3 is considered a good signing but comparatively Bozak is bashed on for having a 4.2M contract on a shorter remaining term. He’s played first line for the most part, will be a 2nd line center on many teams and a great third liner at worst.
He is magic during the shoot outs and plays on the PP and PK. I simply don’t understand the hate for that contract.
So let see what bozak does this year compared to Sutter.. Or you would need to give Sutter first line minutes and then compare the 2
People seem to forget that Sutter is not getting any good offensive minutes behind Crosby and Malkin.. Where as Bozak was definetly #1 on Toronto