When the clock strikes noon, money will be thrown like crazy ... as usual. Even with the salary cap being set lower than many general managers expected and hoped for at $69 million and whats considered a shallow pool of top-end players available, this unrestricted-free-agent period figures to follow the familiar script of teams bidding up prices to keep up with each other. "You have to be prepared rightly or wrongly to overspend and to give more term than you probably would want to," Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said on a conference call last week. "That doesnt mean you dont make a good deal, its just the deal is probably pricier than you would like." Bad contracts of years past are being revisited now as theyre bought out, like the Buffalo Sabres getting out from the rest of Ville Leinos deal or the New York Rangers having little choice but to cut ties with Brad Richards. Last years madness included Mike Ribeiro getting $22 million over four seasons, and last week he was bought out. "It is a time where I think the day after some of these contracts are signed, people go, Hmmm, and sit back and think," Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said last week in Philadelphia. "Thats the age were living in. Thats the nature of it." The teams that sign winger Thomas Vanek, centre Paul Stastny, defenceman Matt Niskanen hope their investments prove more sound. Those three players lead the crop, followed by wingers Matt Moulson and Jarome Iginla, centre Dave Bolland, defencemen Christian Ehrhoff and Dan Boyle and goaltenders Ryan Miller and Jonas Hiller. Already, before teams are free to sign players at noon Tuesday, over $1.1 billion has been spent to retain potential unrestricted free agents at an average cost of $3.57 million, according to CapGeek. Many of the top free agents will get more money than that on an annual basis, just based on the market value. Still, Chiarelli believes its possible to spend smart money in free agency. "As long as the expectations are in place and you know the player that youre getting, I wouldnt necessarily call it a bad deal," he said. "It may be in five years if it is a bad deal, but it is something that can help your team and you just have to be cautious of the hysteria that happens." The hysteria started early this year thanks to the new five-day window teams and pending unrestricted free agents have to talk before deals can get signed. Theyve been free to discuss fits and salary parameters, just not agree verbally or in principle. It seems to have given players more leverage than before because they can consider options rather than make a quick decision on July 1. For teams, the negotiating period is still a work in progress. "Its useful in that you can lay some plans and some groundwork," Toronto Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis said last week in Philadelphia. "Whether it helps in getting players in or not, I think that remains to be seen.” Compliance buyouts have also changed the landscape, pouring more players like Richards, Ehrhoff, ex-Vancouver Canucks winger David Booth and ex-New Jersey Devils defenceman Anton Volchenkov into the market. Those players can double-dip on pay cheques, while their former teams can allocate the saved salary-cap space elsewhere. The Buffalo Sabres have the most cap space, according to CapGeek, with almost $39 million. They need to spend more than $20 million just to get to the $51-million floor. First-time GM Tim Murray isnt worried about needing to get to the floor, nor is he scared of the perils of free agency. "I dont think its dangerous. I go back to my old cliche: evaluate properly and its never dangerous," Murray said Saturday in Philadelphia. "If you fall in love with the flavour of the week, it could be very dangerous. "But do your homework. Evaluate players properly. Go after the right players, which doesnt mean its the top guy on somebody elses list. Its who you feel is the right guy." The negotiating window has shed some light on the idea that some guys are wanted by a lot of teams. Niskanens agent, Neil Sheehy, said in an email that more than 10 teams had shown interest in the 27-year-old defenceman and that they were planning to pare down that list before Tuesday. Thats a task many of the top free agents and their representatives have been going through because its still very much a players market. "Its kind of the double-edged sword," Cheveldayoff said. "Youre trying to find pieces that can maybe push you and the different depths of the free agent market in different years entices you or maybe doesnt excite you. "But its a way to add and if you can do it reasonably and maybe someone fits in your organization and maybe it becomes a long-term thing. You have to take a look at that regardless of the dollars." 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Dwight Gooden Jersey . -- Howie Kendrick had a two-run single in his first game batting leadoff this season, Chris Iannetta hit a pair of RBI singles and the Los Angeles Angels beat Cleveland 6-4 Tuesday night, sending the Indians to their fifth straight defeat.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Milwaukee Bucks can exceed last seasons win total with a road victory tonight against the Charlotte Hornets. The Bucks went 15-67 in 2013-14 and have a 15-16 record right now. They were going for back-to-back wins Saturday versus the Atlanta Hawks in the back end of a home-and-home set, but dropped a 90-85 decision. Khris Middleton scored 21 points off the bench, Zaza Pachulia added 11 and a season-best 15 rebounds, and O.J. Mayo scored 12 points in a reserve role. The Bucks, who pulverized the Hawks, 107-77, on Friday, made only 38.8 percent for the game. Atlanta, which had a 21-10 lead after 12 minutes, scored 32 points off 19 Milwaukee turnovers and recorded a 51-47 advantage on the glass. The Hawks had 17 offensive boards. I think the game was all about offensive rebounds, we gave up too many second chance points, and turnovers, said Pachulia. Milwaukee is 8-10 on the road this season and has averaged 102.9 ppg since Nov. 18 versus New York. It is shooting 49.1 percent from the floorr this month.dddddddddddd The Bucks, losers in three of four games, will visit LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday. Charlotte has lost two in a row since a season-high four-game win streak and looks to rebound from Saturdays 102-94 loss to the Orlando Magic. Kemba Walkers career-high 42 points on 15-of-31 shooting were not enough, while Al Jefferson finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Walker scored 35 points in the second half and has posted 20 or more points seven times in the previous 10 games (23.3 ppg in that span). I had a great game, but it wasnt enough, Walker said. Its disappointing we lost. The Hornets have scored 100-plus points in five of the past seven contests and are 7-10 at Time Warner Cable Arena this season. They will visit the Houston Rockets next on Wednesday. Charlotte has beaten Milwaukee twice this season and will go for a season sweep Monday night. The Hornets have won the last seven games in this series and five straight as the host. 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