This thread is to introduce a new NHL award. The annual Marc Chouinard Award for the player recognized as the worst free agent signing of the year. Note that players like Dan Cloutier, though fully deserving of consideration in terms of their play, would not count because they were, in fact, traded from one team to another.
To qualify the player would have to be a free agent pickup coming from another NHL team.
Some of the criteria used to judge the award would include
1. Salary level. So being overpriced would be a factor
2. Standard of play. Under this criteria there would be objective factors such goals and points, and plus/minus and subjective factors such as rating their general play.
3. On and off ice deportment. In other words was their behavior both on and off the conducive to team harmony or cohesion. Where they a good teammate? Did they run afoul of the law? That kind of stuff.
I believe a strong case me made for naming the award after Marc Chouinard. In the 42 games Chouinard played in (and I use this term loosely) he got 2 goals and 4 points. Moreover, any observer of Chouinard’s totally cowardly approach to the game could not come away with any other conclusion but that Chouinard was an absolute panty waist.
And as further evidence I offer the fact that Chouniard, upon being finally waived to the AHL, was subsequently benched by his new coach throughout the Manitoba Moose’s critical late season run to the playoffs and then again in the playoffs. So bleak and so frankly effeminate was Chouinard’s play that other Moose players, publicly in the newspaper, called out Chouinard for his lack of efforts. This is a rarity among professional athletes and especially amongst hockey players. But Chouinard’s play was of such ineptitude that the players’ reaction was fully understandable and fully justified.
And then there is the fact that Chouinard was paid not somewhere around the League minimum for his atrocious play but instead 1.2 million FOR BOTH YEARS OF HIS CONTRACT. Indeed he is still taking away .6 mill for the next two years. No wonder he was grinning all the time.
At any rate, I know others have their Samsonov’s, Zyuzins and Friesen and such, but I think Chouniard is fully qualified to have the award named after him
I think this award will uncomplicate discussions about free agents. Once the Chouinard Award is instituted, say here and in other forums discussing hockey, we can simplify how we talk about lousy free agents. Rather than getting into some rambling and convoluted description of some under-preforming free agent we can merely state “He’s is deserving of the Chouniard” or “He is a Chouinard candidate”. Also verbs like being ‘chouinarded’ can be used and perhaps, in time, added to the dictionary, to describe GMs being screwed over by a free agent.
So hopefully this award is accepted and used by others. Recognition of this will allow us to keep an alert eye out for possible candidates. I know already that people like Isbister on the Canucks is staking his claim. However, I am sure that other teams will also have their own candidates.
no? 6.75 million for a goaltender to put up the amazing record of 43-53-11 since being signed... or his fabulous stats of 3.06gaa and 0.895sv%... Khabibulin has been a horrible signing thus far for Chicago... his signing has hurt more than Chouinard did Vancouver... the OP stated salary is something to be considered... and at nearly 7 million Khabibulin has a serious case for being the worst free agent signing since the lockout
no? 6.75 million for a goaltender to put up the amazing record of 43-53-11 since being signed... or his fabulous stats of 3.06gaa and 0.895sv%... Khabibulin has been a horrible signing thus far for Chicago... his signing has hurt more than Chouinard did Vancouver... the OP stated salary is something to be considered... and at nearly 7 million Khabibulin has a serious case for being the worst free agent signing since the lockout
Khabibulin had a *horrible* first half of the 05-06 season, but he's been OK since then. Overpaid, and far from what they expected, but his play last season was fairly solid and he was basically a mid-range starting netminder. Not helped by a horrible defense there, either.
Depends on perspectives I guess. In the big picture overpaying a good player by $2 million/year is probably worse, but spending $1 million+ on a guy who is a healthy scratch in the AHL is more of a joke.
no? 6.75 million for a goaltender to put up the amazing record of 43-53-11 since being signed... or his fabulous stats of 3.06gaa and 0.895sv%... Khabibulin has been a horrible signing thus far for Chicago... his signing has hurt more than Chouinard did Vancouver... the OP stated salary is something to be considered... and at nearly 7 million Khabibulin has a serious case for being the worst free agent signing since the lockout
My comment was moreso directed at your mentioning of Penner. I should have deleted the other three names, sorry about that. =p
Samsonov was the worst signing last year. So bad that this summer he was traded for two guys that were instantly bought out. Let me reiterate. He was so bad that the two players (Cullimore and Salmelainen) salaries will count for this year AND next year. They were willing to take on salary for the next two years in order to get rid of the guy.
No production/cost award can be named of someone other than Lapointe or Holik. They were the Originals. Those two guys, when they retire and people talk about them, the contracts will be the first thing remembered.
Samsonov was the worst signing last year. So bad that this summer he was traded for two guys that were instantly bought out. Let me reiterate. He was so bad that the two players (Cullimore and Salmelainen) salaries will count for this year AND next year. They were willing to take on salary for the next two years in order to get rid of the guy.
Yoiu get it right. Easily the worst free agent signing last year.
He deserves of being the first player ever to merit and hoist this distinguished trophy award.
I nominate him.
We should also be instistuting a Marc Chouinard Trophy Hall of Fame.
To considerably congratulate these well-deserved players.
Nikolai Khabibulin played for a crappy team. No defense / no offense. Any goalie would have gotten shelled in Chicago. Although expensive, he isn't the worst signing. Anybody care to guess who it will be this year? Souray? Penner?
no? 6.75 million for a goaltender to put up the amazing record of 43-53-11 since being signed... or his fabulous stats of 3.06gaa and 0.895sv%... Khabibulin has been a horrible signing thus far for Chicago... his signing has hurt more than Chouinard did Vancouver... the OP stated salary is something to be considered... and at nearly 7 million Khabibulin has a serious case for being the worst free agent signing since the lockout
While I agree it's not a good signing - put Kipper behind the teams that CHI has iced since the lock-out and I don't think his stat's would be much better. Blaming Bulin for his stats is like blaming Poland for losing in WW2.
Chouinard not only bombed, but was actively a negative influence, something that none of your other selections (Satan, Jovo, etc) were.
Nikolai Khabibulin played for a crappy team. No defense / no offense. Any goalie would have gotten shelled in Chicago. Although expensive, he isn't the worst signing. Anybody care to guess who it will be this year? Souray? Penner?
That might explain the GAA and Win%, but the .895 save% is unacceptable for a goalie making almost 7mil. Yes Chicago has been bad, but Khabibulan also has to share a part of that responsibility. The forwards have sucked, the defense has sucked and the goaltending has been very mediocre.
Two names to possibly take over the award title in a few years. Fedorov if he continues to struggle and be injured. Gomez, could have this title all wrapped up if he doesn't start putting up 80+ points a year. He has only scored more than 80 once and on average scores 57 points a year. 10 million/yr for an average of 57 points is rediculous if you put it up agains the rest of the league. He was only in the top 20 in scoring once. I know you can say that is all because of the style new jersey plays.
I nominate that we rename the Chouinard to the Sammy (in honor of Sergei Samsonov). "The 1st Annual Sammy Awards" sounds like a thread people might pay close attention to. Instead of only handing out one Sammy, we could hand them out based on categories like "Most Overrated", "Most Overpaid", "Worst UFA Signing Franchise"...
Oliwa was an oldie but goodie too, if we are talking guys after the lockout.
Mogilny and McGillis really dont count as they were more victims than anythng else. there play wasnt really as bad as everyone thought it was, just bad contracts.
That might explain the GAA and Win%, but the .895 save% is unacceptable for a goalie making almost 7mil. Yes Chicago has been bad, but Khabibulan also has to share a part of that responsibility. The forwards have sucked, the defense has sucked and the goaltending has been very mediocre.
Chicago signing Kabibulin is like a 16 year old putting a $9000 stereo in his 1982 Dodge Aries even though it needs new breaks, tires, engine and suspension.
Khabibulin is not a goaltender who will single handedly win games. With absolutely nobody in front of him, he was set up to fail.
Some of the criteria used to judge the award would include
1. Salary level. So being overpriced would be a factor
1 billion dollars..... 3.5m is effin crazy though
2. Standard of play. Under this criteria there would be objective factors such goals and points, and plus/minus and subjective factors such as rating their general play.
he and fellow russian Viktor Kozlov put on a fab figure skating clinic that season! malacrap really did look slow, his defence was HORRIBLE, and as usual he had that smart ass look on his face that screamed I'D RATHER BE SKING!
3. On and off ice deportment. In other words was their behavior both on and off the conducive to team harmony or cohesion. Where they a good teammate? Did they run afoul of the law? That kind of stuff.
Sorry this is the clincher for my case....left/mysteriously dissapered after a game, was suspended by the team....then had his agent say he was force to sign papers but never really signed them.....refused to come back but still wanted to be payed. I believed they filled a lawsuit as well.
Now i know Lou should take a fall( a hard one for the signing but this dude just makes me sick....he has a job that a majority of us on this board would sell our souls for and is just a arrogant punk about it. he has no pride in himself or his craft that we as fans put of heart sould blood sweat tears and Half or money that could be used on human basic needs ( I KNOW FOR ONE IVE JERORDIZED PORTIONS OF RENT/FOOD TO SEE THE GUYS PLAY/ORDER CENTRE ICE/BUY AN OBSLETE JERSEY NOW
I dotn now but he certainly takes the cake for me....
Chicago signing Kabibulin is like a 16 year old putting a $9000 stereo in his 1982 Dodge Aries even though it needs new breaks, tires, engine and suspension.
Khabibulin is not a goaltender who will single handedly win games. With absolutely nobody in front of him, he was set up to fail.
That's just the point. It was a bad signing because if he isn't a difference maker, he shouldn't get that type of deal. He is far and away the most overpaid netminder in the NHL. Other goalies have had far better Save%'s on team's just as bad as the Hawks.
Ed Jovanovski? Nikolai Khabibulin? Miroslav Satan? Mike Keenan?
Fixed it for you. Only a Flames fan would try to suggest that Penner was a bad UFA signing. For one he was a RFA, and two it's 3 games into the season and he has more goals than Iginla(yes I know it's only 3 games in. I'm just trying to point out how stupid your statement is)
Khabibulin played pretty well in the 04 SCF
..... 3.5m is effin crazy though
