Former Rebels Sign New Deals

It didn't take too long for the Chicago Blackhawks qualifying offer fiasco to subside. After six players were set to potentially become unrestricted free agents, they have since agreed to new deals.

Colin Fraser was the first to re-up, accepting his qualifying offer in the $700,000 range. he'll be an RFA again next season.

Kris Versteeg was the last to sign, and after a 53 point rookie season, he gets a hefty raise. Versteeg's new deal is a three-year fact at just over three million per season. Not bad for a 23 year-old.


Meanwhile, former first-round pick Jeff Woywitka signs a two year deal with the Dallas Stars.

The four-year Rebel has taken many years to become a full-time NHL'er, and last year finally played most of an entire season, scoring 18 points in 65 games with St.Louis.

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Meanwhile, current Rebs Landon Ferraro (Detroit), Darcy Kuemper (Minnesota), and Justin Weller (Pheonix) are all at NHL development camps this week...

Here's an article on Landon in today's Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20090708/SPORTS0103/907080364/1128/Wings--top-pick-Landon-Ferraro-might-have-an-edge

Monday Update

Former Rebels in the Middle of Free-Agency Controversey

It was a coming out party of sorts for former Rebels Colin Fraser and Kris Versteeg this season. The two Chicago Blackhawks youngsters both made the jump from the AHL to the NHL, as full timers.

Versteeg especially made strides, bursting onto the stage as one of the leagues top rookies, scoring 22 goals and 53 points enroute to being named a Calder Trophy finalist. He also added 4 goals and 12 points in 17 playoff games, as the Hawks went all the way to the Western Conference Final

Fraser also made a name for himself, killing penalties, creating energy, and adding 6 goals and 17 points in a 4th-line role while playing 81 games in the regular season.

Both were set to become restricted free agents this season, and both were due raises after solid seasons. But at only 23 and 24 years of age respectively, these two could potentially find themselves as UFA's this week due to a contract snafu.

Qualifying offers to RFA's need to be filed before July 1st, and due to what is being called a "clerical error" (a combination of the July 1st holiday and mail problems) Fraser, Versteeg, and four other players (Cam Barker, Aaron Johnson, Troy Brouwer, Ben Eager) didn't receive them in time.

As Puck Daddy's Sean Leahy writes:

This isn't the first time a clerical error during free agency cost a team. Back in 2000, the new Jersey devils forgot to send paperwork for Brian Rafalski and John Madden. Both became free agents that could be signed without compensation. Rafalski had been making $450,000 at the time and Madden $550,000.
Due to the error, New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello had to act quick and locked both players up to four year deals with Rafalski earning $11 million and Madden $7 million. \
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Those in the tinfoil hat club might say that this "clerical error" is Tallon's way of freeing up cap space for next summer when Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Jonathan Toews all become RFA's. The cap hit of the "Chicago Six" was $5.5 million combined this past season.

Both Versteeg and Barker weren't eligible for arbitration rights and likely received (or not) offers less than $1 million, keeping them on the roster for the upcoming season. Maybe if they all become UFA's, they'll be too rich for Tallon's blood, especially Barker and Calder Trophy finalist Versteeg?
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-The matter is now in the hands of the NHLPA, and if they wish to file a grievance, we could see these players go to the highest bidder. If not, the qualifying offers will be legit.

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Meanwhile, Former Rebel Colby Armstrong (Atlanta Thrashers) is one of 20 NHL RFA's to file for salary arbitration, thus preventing him from signing any offer sheets from another team.

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Thursday Notes

Did not have an update post - import draft, as I ended up being out and about before the final details came down.

As I'm sure you're well aware of now, the trade ended up being a swap of picks between Brandon and Red Deer, with the Rebels bringing on 20 year-old F Nathan Green.

Green will slide right into the Rebels top six, and is coming off a very good 19 year old season (24 goals, 59 points in 71 games) and an even better playoffs (14 points in 12 games).

Considering the strange process that is the Import Draft, it's an even better deal for Red Deer in the sense that they probably selected the player (John Persson) that they would have selected anyways, while adding an overager from a very good Wheat Kings squad.

Heading into training camp, it leaves the Rebs with Cullen Morin and Nathan Green as likely 20 year-olds, with Cody Esposito, Jordie Deagle, and Cody Gross as the other candidates for number three. At this point, I would peg Deagle as the front-runner for various reasons, but we'll see how it shakes down in August/September.

As for the imports: Throw a dart at a board, and you have as good of an idea as I do as to what they'll bring.

Both are draft eligible (NHL) next season, so both are relatively young.

John Persson is a 6'2'' Swedish forward who played with Mora IK last season (1st round - 41st overall)

Jindra Barak (Good luck to P.A. announcer Troy Gillard with that one!) is a 6 foot defenseman out of the Czech Republic. (2nd round, 69th overall)

The second pick was probably one that Red Deer hadn't planned on using, seeing as though they had Tommi Kivisto pencilled in for the next two years...but we all know how that ended.

Rebs Make Trade

I just don't know what it is yet..........

The Brandon Wheat Kings took Red Deer's 14th overall import selection today, and used it to select Edmonton Oilers prospect Toni Rajala out of Finland. Rajala, a diminuative 5'10'', is loaded with offensive skill, and led the World Under 18's with 19 points in 8 games this spring. Wow, would he have looked good in a Rebels uniform or what?

So no word yet on what return Red Deer recieved, although it looks like they now have Medicine Hat's pick in their back pocket at number 41 overall.

more to come as I get it!.....

Import Draft Today

Over the years, the Red Deer Rebels have had some very good import players.

Think: Mikhail Yakubov (32 goals, 89 points in 2001-02), Mikko Kuukka (43 points and hard-nosed defensive play over two seasons, 2003--05), Roman Wick (87 points in 89 games over parts of two seasons, 2004-06), Kirill Starkov (32 goals in 06-07), Martin Hanzal (85 points in 60 games in 2006-07), and there are a few more on that list....

They've also had some very bad import players. Think:

Tomas Polak (11 goals in two seasons, 2007-2009, years in which he was relegated to the press box most nights), Vladimir Mihalik (now actually a legit pro prospect who saw some time in Tampa Bay last year, but at 6'7'', was still learning the game in a less than stellar season in Red Deer), Alexei Zhurba (29 games, one goal in 1999-00. He.......wasn't good),

We'll see who they get today.

The Red Deer Rebels head into the CHL Import Draft with both a first round (#14 overall) and a second round (#74 overall) pick.

Currently, the Rebs have no imports on the roster, so depending on what's on the board, they very well may use both picks in the draft, even though recently drafted Tommi Kivisto (6th overall import selection last year) left a bad taste in their mouths, breaking back to Finland to play this season.

But looking ahead to next season, with Landon Ferraro, Cass Mappin, Willie Coetzee, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins solidified in the top six, another scoring winger is a definite need for this team.

Brent Sutter, who along with Jesse Wallin, has been burning up the phone lines trying to find the right fit, says he isn't sure yet whether he'll use the pick, or simply trade it.

You can follow along here: http://chl.ca/importDraft.php

The Rebels are expected to make their pick just after 9:40 a.m.

AW

Landon Ferraro article

Landon's father Ray had some nice things to say in an article that was the lead story on TSN.ca today:

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283147

That's what it's all about.

MORON SPORTS - Mappin News

Just spoke with Rebels F Cass Mappin, who unfortunately, didn't go in the entry draft today, something that came as a pretty big surprise to some. Cass was instantly invited to the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect camp next month, so he's feeling good that he'll get a quick chance to prove himself.


- On the show Sunday morning (8-9 a.m ) www.1067thedrive.fm

-Rebels broadcaster Cam Moon - we'll discuss the Rebs that were taken in the draft, and some of the other WHL'ers.

Prospect writer Jeff Nielsen breaks down the first round.

-Drafted Rebels Landon Ferraro, Justin Weller, and Darcy Kuemper.