Flames Claim Dawes Off Waivers; Sign Him to Two-Year Deal

The Calgary Flames added some offensive depth to their team by claiming left wing Nigel Dawes off waivers from the Phoenix Coyotes. Then just days later, the Flames signed him to a two-year contract worth $1.7 million. The deal averages out to $850,000 per season. By signing him, the Flames avoid arbitration with the young forward, which he elected to while still with the Coyotes. Dawes appeared in 64 games last season with the New York Rangers and Phoenix Coyotes after being traded to the Coyotes at the 2009 trade deadline with Petr Prucha and Dmitri Kalinin in exchange for Derek Morris. Dawes scored 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points. In 133 career games with the Rangers and Coyotes, he has 25 goals and 26 assists for 51 points. These are great moves by the Flames in claiming Dawes off waivers and then signing him. He has good goal scoring potential and could become a top-six forward if he can increase his production. This is also a very affordable singing for the Flames, who are currently very close to the salary cap ceiling.

Thrashers Re-Sign Forward Armstrong to Two-Year Contract

The Atlanta Thrashers have avoided arbitration with right wing Colby Armstrong by signing him to a two-year contract worth $2.4 million. The deal averages out to $1.2 million per season. In all 82 games last season with the Thrashers, Armstrong scored 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points and 75 penalty minutes. In 281 career games with the Thrashers and Pittsburgh Penguins, he has 63 goals and 86 assists for 149 points and 256 penalty minutes. This is a decent signing for the Thrashers, as Armstrong brings plenty of offensive and goal-scoring depth and some toughness to the team. If he can repeat his success of 2008-09 in 2009-10, he will be a very affordable signing for the Thrashers. Plus, if Armstrong’s production continues to improve over the next two seasons, the team could retain him for longer than two years.

Capitals Re-Sign Defenseman Schultz to One-Year Deal

The Washington Capitals have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Jeff Schultz to a one-year contract worth $715,000. In 64 games last season with the Capitals, he scored one goal and 11 assists for 12 points. In 174 career games, all with the Capitals, he has six goals and 27 assists for 33 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Capitals, as Schultz has good size and decent defensive skills. He will likely continue to play his role as a top-six defenseman for the team next season.

Wild Re-Sign Four Players to New Contracts

The Minnesota Wild have retained several depth players by re-signing defenseman Clayton Stoner, right wing Danny Irmen, and left wings Benoit Pouliot and Robbie Earl to new contracts. Exact length and financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. Stoner did not play in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in 63 games with the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Houston, scoring two goals and 22 assists for 24 points and 81 penalty minutes. Irmen did not play in any NHL games last season as well, instead playing in 69 games with Houston, scoring seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. Pouliot played in 37 games last season with the Wild, scoring five goals and six assists for 11 points. He also appeared in 30 games with Houston, scoring nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points. Earl did not play in any NHL games last season, instead splitting 2008-09 with Houston and the Toronto Marlies, scoring six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 69 games. The Wild acquired the 24-year-old forward from the Toronto Maple Leafs in January for forward Ryan Hamilton.

These are really just depth signings for the Wild. Stoner plays with lots of toughness and has some offensive potential. He will likely spend most of next season in the minors, but could see some NHL action if there is an injury to the Wild’s blueline. Irmen has okay offensive potential and could become a top-nine forward in the league if given the chance. He likely won’t see much NHL action next season and will probably spend most of it in the minors. Pouliot has lots of offensive skill and could become a top-six forward for the Wild. He could start next season on the fourth line, and if he is impressive enough early in the season, could climb into a permanent top-nine role. Earl is likely to spend most of next season in the minors, where he will provide plenty of offensive depth for Houston.

Sharks Sign Forward Scott Nichol to One-Year Contract

The San Jose Sharks have added some toughness to their roster by signing center Scott Nichol to a one-year contract worth $750,000. In 43 games last season with the Nashville Predators, Nichol scored four goals and six assists for 10 points and 41 penalty minutes. He missed 38 games last season with a concussion. In 417 career games with the Predators, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, and Chicago Blackhawks, he has 44 goals and 48 assists for 92 points and 686 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Sharks, as Nichol brings lots of toughness and grit to the team, as well as skill to the penalty kill. He will likely center the checking line for the team next season.

Capitals Re-Sign Four Players to New Contracts

The Washington Capitals have retained several depth players by signing defenseman Shaone Morrisonn, right wing Eric Fehr, left wing Chris Bourque, and center Kyle Wilson to one-year contracts. Morrisonn’s contract is worth $1.975 million, Fehr’s is worth $771,750, while the financial terms of Bourque’s and Wilson’s contracts were not disclosed. In 72 games last season with the Capitals, Morrisonn scored three goals and 10 assists for 13 points and 77 penalty minutes. In 350 career games with the Capitals and Boston Bruins, he has nine goals and 49 assists for 58 points and 355 penalty minutes. Fehr appeared in 61 games last season with the Capitals, scoring 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points. Bourque played in only eight games for the team last season, scoring one goal. He also appeared in 69 games with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate in Hershey, scoring 21 goals and 52 assists for 73 points. Wilson did not play in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in 80 games with Hershey, scoring 28 goals and 30 assists for 58 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

These aren’t bad signings for the Capitals. Morrisonn is a very mobile defensive defenseman who plays with some toughness. His defensive skills will make him an important top-four blueliner for the Capitals next season. Fehr brings plenty of offensive and scoring depth to the team’s forward lines. His improved offensive play last season should get him a top-nine role next season. Bourque possesses a wealth of goal-scoring and offensive talent and could likely become a top-six forward in the NHL. At 5’9” and 173 lbs., he will probably always be criticized for not being big enough, but that likely won’t stop Bourque from becoming a scoring forward in the NHL. Wilson has the skills to become a top-six forward in the NHL, but given the Capitals’ depth on offense for next season, he will likely spend most of it in the minors unless the team becomes ravaged with injuries.

Coyotes Sign Forward Korpikoski to Two-Year Deal

Just days after acquiring left wing Lauri Korpikoski from the New York Rangers for right wing Enver Lisin, the Phoenix Coyotes have signed the 23-year-old Finn to a two-year contract worth $1.4 million. The deal averages out to $700,000 per season. In 68 games last season with the Rangers, his first full season in the NHL, Korpikoski scored six goals and eight assists for 14 points. This is a good signing for the Coyotes, as Korpikoski possesses plenty of speed and has good skill at handling the puck. He has the potential to become a top-six scoring forward in the NHL, so the Coyotes have landed another talented young forward to help rebuild the team.

Thrashers Re-Sign Goaltender Kari Lehtonen

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have re-signed goaltender Kari Lehtonen to a one-year contract worth $3 million. In 46 games last season with the Thrashers, he posted a 19-22-3 record, three shutouts, a 3.06 GAA, and a .911 save percentage. In 204 career games, all with the Thrashers, he has a record of 94-83-17, 14 shutouts, a 2.87 GAA, and a .912 save percentage. Not a bad signing for the Thrashers, as they appear keen to stick with Lehtonen for another season despite the rumors that they have been looking to trade the Finnish netminder. He hasn’t been able to play up to his lofty expectations in Atlanta and has suffered several injuries over the past few years, but he is still a solid starter when healthy and still has yet to hit his potential.

Sabres Re-Sign Forward Kaleta to One-Year Contract

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have re-signed right wing Patrick Kaleta to a one-year contract worth $552,500. Last season with the Sabres, Kaleta appeared in 51 games, scoring four goals and five assists for nine points and 89 penalty minutes. In 98 career games, all with the Sabres, he has seven goals and nine assists for 16 points and 151 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the team, as Kaleta is a very physical player who plays with lots of grit. It looks as if he and Adam Mair could take over the enforcer duties for next season, as Andrew Peters is still an unsigned free agent and may not be retained by the team.

Hurricanes Add Defensemen Alberts & Fitzgerald, Re-Sign Angelidis

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed defensemen Andrew Alberts to a two-year contract worth $2.1 million and Zach Fitzgerald to a one-year, two-way contract. The team also announced the re-signing left wing Mike Angelidis to a one-year, two-way contract. Alberts’ deal averages out to $1.05 million per season, while financial terms of Fitzgerald’s and Angelidis’ contracts were not disclosed. Alberts was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers last October by the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ned Lukacevic and a conditional 2009 draft pick. In 79 games last season with the Flyers, Alberts scored one goal and 12 assists for 13 points and 61 penalty minutes. In 263 career games, he has two goals and 30 assists for 32 points and 292 penalty minutes. Fitzgerald appeared in 56 games last season for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, scoring eight assists ad 208 penalty minutes. He played in one NHL game for the Vancouver Canucks in 2007-08, scoring no points. Angelidis played in 67 games last season for the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate in Albany, scoring 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points and 142 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

The Alberts signing is not a bad one for the Hurricanes, as he brings plenty of toughness and grit to their defense. He will likely be a sixth of seventh defenseman for the team next season. Fitzgerald and Angelidis are nothing more than depth signings for the team. They will likely spend all of next season in the minors, where they will provide plenty of toughness at their respected positions for Albany of the AHL.

Canadiens Re-Sign Forward Latendresse & Defenseman Belle

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have re-signed left wing Guillaume Latendresse to a one-year contract worth $803,000 and defenseman Shawn Belle to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of Belle’s deal were not disclosed. In 56 games last season for the Canadiens, Latendresse scored 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points. In 209 career games, all with the Canadiens, he has 46 goals and 36 assists for 82 points. Belle did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 60 games with the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton, scoring three goals and 10 assists for 13 points and 93 penalty minutes. The Latendresse signing is a decent one for the team, as he possesses plenty of offensive skill, especially on the power play, and is a decent passer. As a top-nine forward for the Canadiens next season, Latendresse will be an effective player. The Belle signing is really nothing more than a depth move, though he does provide plenty of toughness on defense. The Canadiens already have sufficient depth on their defense for next season, so Belle will likely spend another season in the minors.

Penguins Re-Sign Forward Wallace & Defenseman Lovejoy

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have re-signed right wing Tim Wallace to a two-year contract and defenseman Ben Lovejoy to a one-year contract. Terms of both deals were not disclosed. Wallace appeared in 16 games last season with the Penguins, scoring two assists. He also played in 58 games for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, scoring 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points. Lovejoy appeared in two games with the Penguins last season, his first in the NHL, scoring no points. He also played in 76 games for Wilkes/Barre-Scranton, scoring seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points and 84 penalty minutes. These are not bad depth signings for the Penguins, as both players have a chance to make the team next season. Wallace gives the team plenty of offensive depth and could likely play on the fourth line next season. Lovejoy has good size and toughness and has plenty of offensive potential. Given the depth on the Penguins’ defense next season, he could be end up being the seventh defenseman unless there is an injury at some point.

Rangers Re-Sign Defenseman Corey Potter

The New York Rangers have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Corey Potter to a new contract. Exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In five games last season with the Rangers, his first in the NHL, Potter scored one goal and one assist for two points. He also played in 67 games with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford last season, scoring 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points and 82 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Rangers, as Potter is a big defenseman who plays with toughness and has offensive potential from the back end. If the Rangers give him a chance, he could develop into a top-six defenseman with the team.

Hurricanes Sign Forward Kostopolous to Three-Year Deal

The Carolina Hurricanes have added some grit to their forward lines by signing right wing Tom Kostopolous to a three-year contract worth $2.75 million. The deal averages out to $916,000 per season. Last season with the Montreal Canadiens, Kostopolous appeared in 78 games, scoring eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points and 106 penalty minutes. In 376 career games with the Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Los Angeles Kings, he has 40 goals and 65 assists for 105 points and 468 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Hurricanes, as Kostopolous brings lots of grit and toughness to the checking line. He’s decent on the penalty kill and can chip in offensively from time to time, making him an effective forward. Plus, at $916,000 per season, he is a very affordable pickup for the Hurricanes for the next three years.

Flames Sign Defenseman Staffan Kronwall

The Calgary Flames have announced that they have signed defenseman Staffan Kronwall. Exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He appeared in three games last season with the Washington Capitals, scoring no points. He was claimed off waivers by the Capitals from the Toronto Maple Leafs in February. Kronwall also played in 59 games with the Hershey Bears and Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring nine goals and 25 assists for 34 points. This is an okay depth signing for the Flames, as Kronwall has good size and is a very mobile defenseman. He does has some offensive upside, but not enough to make a huge impact at the NHL level. He will likely be a sixth or seventh defenseman for the Flames next season.

Blue Jackets Sign Defenseman Mathieu Roy to One-Year Deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed defenseman Mathieu Roy to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Roy did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 59 games with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Springfield, scoring two goals and 15 assists for 17 points and 120 penalty minutes. He last played in the NHL during the 2007-08 season. Not a bad depth move for the Blue Jackets, as Roy is a big, tough defenseman who plays with lots of grit. However, he is not very mobile and does not have a lot of offensive potential, so he will likely be a sixth of seventh depth defenseman for the team next season when he’s not in the minors.

Predators Re-Sign Maki, Add Forward Guite

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have re-signed right wing Ryan Maki to a one-year, two-way contract and signed center Ben Guite to a one-year, two-way contract as well. Financial terms of both their deals were not disclosed. Maki did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 65 games with the Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, scoring 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points. He has yet to play in the NHL. Guite appeared in 50 games last season for the Colorado Avalanche, scoring five goals and seven assists for 12 points. In 169 career games with the Avalanche and Boston Bruins, he has 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points. Both Guite and Maki are really nothing more than depth signings for the Predators. Maki has the potential to become a checking line forward and could likely do so down the road for the Predators. Guite will give the team plenty of gritty, offensive depth on either the third or fourth lines next season.

Coyotes Acquire Korpikoski from Rangers for Lisin

The Phoenix Coyotes have added some young scoring depth to their roster by acquiring left wing Lauri Korpikoski from the New York Rangers in exchange for right wing Enver Lisin. In 68 games last season with the Rangers, also his first full season in the NHL, Korpikoski scored six goals and eight assists for 14 points. Lisin appeared in 48 games last season with the Coyotes, scoring 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points. He also played in 10 games with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in San Antonio in 2008-09, scoring two goals and four assists for six points. Not a bad swap for the Coyotes, as Korpikoski has the offensive potential to become a top-six forward in the NHL. He also possesses plenty of speed and puck handling skills. Lisin has the potential to become a top-six forward in the NHL as well, but the Rangers need to give him more of a chance to prove himself than the Coyotes did. Still, Lisin has decent speed and can score goals when he’s on the ice. He should be a decent pickup for the Rangers.

Rangers’ Re-Sign Forward Callahan to Two-Year Contract

The New York Rangers have announced that they have re-signed right wing Ryan Callahan to a two-year contract worth $4.6 million, avoiding arbitration with the young winger. The deal averages out to $2.3 million per season. In 81 games last season with the Rangers, Callahan scored 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points. In 147 career games, all with the Rangers, he has 34 goals and 25 assists for 59 points. This is a good signing for the Rangers, as Callahan is quickly emerging as one the team’s top young forwards. He’s also a good two-way player who plays very hard on the ice. If Callahan can continue to better his offensive skills, he could become a top-six forward with the team over the next two years.

Oilers Sign Forward Minard & Defenseman Nickerson

The Edmonton Oilers added a couple of depth players last Monday night by signing left wing Chris Minard and defenseman Matt Nickerson to contracts. Minard signed a one-year deal worth $500,000, while the exact length and financial terms of Nickerson’s deal was not disclosed. In 20 games last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minard scored one goal and two assists for three points while winning the Stanley Cup with the team. He also appeared in 54 games with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, scoring 34 goals and 23 assists for 57 points. Nickerson appeared in 40 games last season with Ilves of the Finnish League, scoring one goal and one assist for two points and 156 penalty minutes. He has never played in an NHL game. Minard is not a bad depth signing for the Oilers, as he plays real hard every shift he’s on the ice. He’s also been a proven scorer at the AHL level, so if he gets sent to the minors, Minard will give the Oilers’ AHL affiliate plenty of scoring depth. The Nickerson signing is really just to add gritty, defensive depth to the Oilers’ AHL team in Springfield. He likely won’t see any NHL action next season.

Kings Sign Forward Segal to Two-Year Contract

The Los Angeles Kings have announced that they have signed right wing Brandon Segal to a two-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Segal appeared in two games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, his first in the NHL, scoring no points. He also played in 69 games with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate in Norfolk, scoring 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points and 95 penalty minutes. This is not a bad depth signing for the Kings, as Segal has the potential to become a top-nine forward in the NHL. He has gradually been improving at the AHL level, and could be poised to jump to the NHL within the next two seasons. If he does, he will likely be on the Kings’ fourth line providing plenty of toughness and offensive depth.

Capitals Re-Sign Forward Gordon to One-Year Contract

The Washington Capitals have announced that they have re-signed center Boyd Gordon to a one-year contract worth $761,000. Gordon appeared in 63 games last season for the Capitals, scoring five goals and nine assists for 14 points. In 267 career games, all with the Capitals, he has 20 goals and 46 assists for 66 points. Not a bad signing for the Capitals, as Gordon brings plenty of offensive skill and depth to the forward lines. Given the team’s depth at center for next season, Gordon will likely be the fourth line center. Brooks Laich and Brendan Morrison will compete for the second line center at training camp, likely Laich, while the other will center the third line, likely Morrison. Michael Nylander could also end up as the second or third line center depending on what the Capitals decide to do with him this summer. If they decide he does not fit into their future plans, they will probably attempt to trade him first. If they can find no takers, and they have not thus far, they could demote him to the minors or assign him to a European team to trim down some salary. However, the Capitals could also wait until training camp in September and see how Nylander performs there before making a decision on what to do with the veteran center.

Bruins Sign Forwards Larman & Whitfield to One-Year Deals

The Boston Bruins added a couple of depth forwards to their roster last Monday by signing centers Drew Larman and Trent Whitfield to one-year contracts. Terms of their deals were not disclosed. Larman did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 61 games for the Florida Panthers’ AHL affiliate in Rochester, scoring 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points. In 22 career NHL games, all with the Panthers over two seasons, he has two goals and one assist for three points. Whitfield appeared in three games last season for the St. Louis Blues, scoring one assist. He also played in 69 games with the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Peoria, scoring 20 goals and 30 assists for 50 points. In 177 career NHL games with the Blues, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers, Whitfield had 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points.

These are really just depth signings for the Bruins. Larman has potential to become a checking line forward, but given the depth on the Bruins for next season and beyond, could have a hard time cracking the lineup beyond the fourth line. Whitfield has enjoyed plenty of success at the AHL level the past several seasons, but isn’t much more than a third or fourth line forward in the NHL. He will provide lots of offensive depth and skill to the AHL’s Providence Bruins next season. If Whitfield does play for the Bruins at any time next season, he will give them sufficient offensive and veteran depth from the checking lines.

Thrashers Sign Forward Stewart & Defenseman Welch

The Atlanta Thrashers have announced that they have signed right wing Anthony Stewart and defenseman Noah Welch to contracts. The exact length and financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. Stewart played in 59 games for the Florida Panthers last season, scoring two goals and five assists for seven points. In 105 career games, he has four goals and eight assists for 12 points. He was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Panthers just prior to July 1, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. Welch split last season between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning after being dealt to the Lightning with a third round pick in the 2009 draft for Steve Eminger. In 40 games with the Panthers and Lightning, Welch scored one goal and one assist for two points. He also appeared in seven games with the Panthers’ AHL affiliate in Rochester, scoring three assists.

Stewart is not a bad signing for the Thrashers, though he needs to prove himself at the NHL level. Once one of the top prospects in the Panthers’ system, he has not been able to play up to his potential at the pro level, leaving him nothing more than a third line forward, although the Panthers probably could have given him more of a shot to prove himself. Stewart has plenty of untapped offensive potential and this could be a great signing for the Thrashers if he can get on his game. Perhaps the change of scenery could be enough to jumpstart Stewart’s career and turn him into the power forward he was once projected to become. Welch is really just a depth signing for the Thrashers. He will likely be the sixth or seventh defenseman on the team next season given their depth on defense.

Blackhawks Sign Forward Mark Cullen to One-Year Contract

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have signed center Mark Cullen to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. This will be his second stint with the Blackhawks organization. Cullen did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 56 games with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, scoring 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points. He has appeared in 32 career NHL games with the Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers, scoring seven goals and nine assists for 16 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Blackhawks, although it is not a bad one. Given the team’s depth on offense for next season, Cullen likely will spend a good chunk of the season in the minors, but if he is recalled by the team, he will likely play on the fourth line, giving the Blackhawks plenty of offensive depth.

2009 NHL Arbitration

The following 20 NHL players have elected to file for salary arbitration this summer. The arbitration hearing begin on July 20 in Toronto and run until July 31. Arbitrators are only allowed to hand out one to two year deals and their decisions must be made within 48 hours of the hearing. Teams then have 48 hours to accept or decline the arbitrator's decision. If a team has more than one player filing for arbitration, that team has 48 hours from their last player's hearing to decide if they want to accept or decline the arbitrator's decision. If a team declines an arbitrator's decision, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent. The following players are still scheduled for arbitration:

Detroit Red Wings
Jiri Hudler - July 30

New York Rangers
Nikolai Zherdev - July 31

Phoenix Coyotes
Daniel Winnik - Awarded one-year contract in arbitration (no terms disclosed)

Vancouver Canucks
Kyle Wellwood - Awarded one-year contract worth $1.2 million in arbitration

Washington Capitals
Milan Jurcina - Awarded one-year contract worth $1.375 million in arbitration


The following players have re-signed with their teams prior to their arbitration hearings:

Anaheim Ducks
James Wisniewski - 1 year, $2.75 million (7/13)

Atlanta Thrashers
Colby Armstrong - 2 years, $2.4 million (7/16)

Boston Bruins
Matt Hunwick - 2 years, $2.9 million (7/20)

Buffalo Sabres
Clarke McArthur - 1 year, $552,500 (7/20)

Calgary Flames
Nigel Dawes - 2 years, $1.7 million (7/20)

Carolina Hurricanes
Tuomo Ruutu - 3 years, $11.4 million (7/23)

Chicago Blackhawks
Aaron Johnson - 1 year, undisclosed (7/6)

Columbus Blue Jackets
Marc Methot - 2 years, undisclosed (7/22)

Edmonton Oilers
Denis Grebeshkov - 1 year, $3.15 million (7/21)

Minnesota Wild
Kyle Brodziak - 3 years, undisclosed (7/23)
Josh Harding - 1 year, $1.1 million (7/29)

Montreal Canadiens
Tomas Plekanec - 1 year, $2.75 million (7/21)

New Jersey Devils
Travis Zajac - 4 years, $15.55 million (7/22)

New York Islanders
Nate Thompson - 1 year, two-way contract, undisclosed (7/25)

New York Rangers
Ryan Callahan - 2 years, $4.6 million (7/13)

Tampa Bay Lightning
Matt Smaby - 2 years, $1.05 million (7/26)

Ducks Re-Sign Defenseman Wisniewski to One-Year Contract

The Anaheim Ducks announced last Monday that they have re-signed defenseman James Wisniewski to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million, thus avoiding salary arbitration with the young defenseman. Wisniewski was one of 20 players who had filed for arbitration earlier in July. He started last season with the Chicago Blackhawks before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks at the 2009 trade deadline with forward Petri Kontiola in exchange for center Sami Pahlsson, defenseman Logan Stephanson, and a conditional fourth round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. In 48 games with the Ducks and Blackhawks, he scored three goals and 21 assists for 24 points. Wisniewski missed the first 28 games of the 2008-09 season recovering from right knee surgery. In 185 career games with the Ducks and Blackhawks, he has 14 goals and 53 assists for 67 points and 208 penalty minutes. This is a good signing for the Ducks, as Wisniewski has lots of potential to become a top-four defenseman in the league. He has great offensive skill on the blueline, especially on the power play, and plays with lots of grit and toughness. Hopefully the Ducks can get him locked up long term next summer, as he could end up being a decent replacement for the recently traded Chris Pronger.

Predators Re-Sign Defenseman Yonkman to One-Year Deal

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Nolan Yonkman to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Yonkman did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 61 games for the Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. He scored three goals and seven assists for 10 points and 80 penalty minutes. Yonkman last appeared in the NHL with the Washington Capitals during the 2005-06 season. This is nothing more than a depth signing for the Predators’ and their AHL team. Yonkman is a very physical defenseman, but the fact that he hasn’t played in the NHL in four years will likely keep him in the minors all of next season.

Sabres Sign Defenseman Joe DiPenta to One-Year Contract

The Buffalo Sabres added some veteran depth to their blueline last weekend by signing defenseman Joe DiPenta to a one-year contract worth $550,000. DiPenta played in 47 games with Vastra Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League, scoring one goal and five assists for six points and 71 penalty minutes. He last played in the NHL during the 2007-08 season with the Anaheim Ducks. In 174 career NHL games with the Ducks and Atlanta Thrashers, he has six goals and 17 assists for 23 points and 110 penalty minutes. He won the Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007. Not a bad signing for the Sabres, as they were in need of a little bit more veteran experience on the blueline. DiPenta will bring the team lots of toughness and defensive skill as a sixth or seventh defenseman next season.

Flames Sign Tough-Guy Forward McGrattan to One-Year Deal

The Calgary Flames added some toughness to their line-up last weekend by signing right wing Brian McGrattan to a one-year contract worth $550,000. McGrattan played in only five games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, scoring no points and 22 penalty minutes. He missed considerable time last season after entering the NHL’s substance abuse program. In 148 career games with the Coyotes and Ottawa Senators, he has two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 309 penalty minutes. McGrattan is one of the toughest forwards in the league today and brings lots of toughness and physicality to the Flames, but I don’t think this is such a wise signing for the team. McGrattan has no offensive upside whatsoever and he takes lots of bad penalties. The Flames have plenty of other physical forwards who are more skillful than McGrattan who can also stick up for their teammates. As a result, he could end up spending most of next season in the minors.

Canadiens Re-Sign Forward Chipchura for One Year

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have re-signed center Kyle Chipchura to a one-year contract worth $500,000. In 13 games last season with the Canadiens, Chipchura scored three assists. He also appeared in 51 games for the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Hamilton, scoring 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points and 65 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Canadiens, as Chipchura has good two-way abilities, decent offensive skill, and plays with a physical edge. He will likely make the Canadiens full time next season, centering either the third or fourth line.

Ducks Sign Defenseman McCarthy to One-Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks added some depth to their blueline last weekend by signing defenseman Steve McCarthy to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. McCarthy appeared in 18 games last season with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), scoring no points. He last played in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2007-08 season. In 302 career NHL games with the Thrashers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks, he has 17 goals and 38 assists for 55 points and 168 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Ducks, as McCarthy has plenty of offensive skill on the blueline and is a decent passer. He could play on the third defensive pairing next season, but could also be a seventh defenseman depending on how he and other defensive prospects perform for the Ducks at training camp in September.

Panthers Sign Forward Graham Mink to Two-Year Deal

The Florida Panthers have announced that they have signed right wing Graham Mink to a two-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mink only appeared in two games last season for the Washington Capitals, scoring no points. He also played in 68 games last season with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate in Hershey, scoring 32 goals and 27 assists for 59 points and 101 penalty minutes. Mink has enjoyed some success at the AHL level for the past several seasons, so he was likely brought in by the Panthers to add some scoring depth to their AHL affiliate in Rochester. If he plays any games with the Panthers next season, it will likely be on the fourth line and only if the team is suffering from a slew of injuries.

Canadiens Sign Forward Travis Moen to Three-Year Contract

The Montreal Canadiens continued to retool their team last weekend by signing left wing Travis Moen to a three-year contract worth $4.5 million. The deal averages out to $1.5 million per season. Moen spent most of last season with the Anaheim Ducks until he was traded to the San Jose Sharks at the 2009 trade deadline with defenseman Kent Huskins in exchange for prospects Nick Bonino and Timo Pielmeier and a conditional draft pick in the 2009 draft. In all 82 games last season with the Ducks and Sharks, he scored seven goals and nine assists for 16 points and 91 penalty minutes. In 362 games with the Ducks, Sharks, and Chicago Blackhawks, he has 29 goals and 27 assists for 56 points and 487 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Canadiens, as Moen is a very gritty forward who is very good at shutting down the opposition from the wing. He is also very effective on the penalty kill, which will be a huge boost to the team when down a man.

Senators Sign Defenseman Kinrade to One-Year Contract

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed defenseman Geoff Kinrade to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Kinrade was signed to an amateur tryout late last season by the Tampa Bay Lightning, appearing in one game with the team and scoring no points. He also played in 10 games with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL, scoring one goal and three assists for four points. Prior to signing with the Lightning, Kinrade played in 38 games for Michigan Tech of the WCHA, scoring three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Senators, as Kinrade’s lack of experience will keep him from playing in the NHL this season. If he performs well for the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton next season, he could be re-signed next summer.

Blue Jackets Re-Sign Defenseman Sigalet to Two-Year Deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced that they have re-signed defenseman Jonathan Sigalet to a two-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sigalet did not play in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in 19 games with the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate in Syracuse, scoring five goals and six assists for 11 points. He appeared in one NHL game for the Boston Bruins during the 2006-07 season, scoring no points. This is really just a depth signing for the Blue Jackets, as Sigalet is not likely to see much NHL action next season unless the Columbus defense gets ravaged with injuries.

Avalanche Re-Sign Defenseman Kyle Cumisky

The Colorado Avalanche announced that they have re-signed defenseman Kyle Cumisky to a new contract. The exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Cumisky appeared in six games for the Avalanche last season, scoring no points. He missed 33 games last season with a shoulder injury after being recalled by the team in January. He also played in 28 games for the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL in 2008-09, scoring five goals and 12 assists for 17 points. Not a bad signing for the Avalanche, as Cumisky is a very mobile defenseman and has decent offensive skills on the blueline. Given the team’s depth on defense for next season, it’s likely he will spend most of it in the minors unless injuries begin to mount.

Capitals Sign Forward Morrison to One-Year Deal

The Washington Capitals added some offensive depth to their roster last Friday by signing center Brendan Morrison to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. Morrison appeared in 81 games last season with the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars after being claimed off waivers by the Stars, scoring 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points. In 755 career games with the Stars, Ducks, New Jersey Devils, and Vancouver Canucks, he has 175 goals and 330 assists for 505 points. This is an okay signing for the Capitals, as Morrison brings some much needed center ice depth to the team. Morrison brings plenty of skill to the team’s power play and is a great face-off man as well as playmaker. With Sergei Fedorov leaving to play in Russia next season and the Capitals looking to rid themselves of Michael Nylander, Morrison will likely be the second line center next season, but could drop to the third line if Nylander remains with the team. Morrison’s offensive production has been in decline for the past few seasons, but perhaps playing alongside the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Knuble, and Brooks Laich could give him a bit of a jumpstart offensively next season.

Penguins Sign Defenseman Jay McKee to One-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins added some veteran depth to their blueline last Friday by signing defenseman Jay McKee to a one-year contract worth $800,000. McKee had his contract bought out by the St. Louis Blues on June 29 due in large part to his injury history. He still had one more year on his old contract. In 69 games last season with the Blues, he scored one goal and seven assists for eight points. In 740 career games with the Blues and Buffalo Sabres, he has 20 goals and 95 assists for 115 points. This is a decent and affordable signing for the Penguins, as McKee brings lots of defensive depth to the blueline. He will also bring plenty of grit, veteran depth, and great shot-blocking skills to the defending Stanley Cup champions next season.

Devils Sign Goaltender Danis to One-Year Contract

The New Jersey Devils announced that they have signed goaltender Yann Danis to a one-year contract worth $550,000. Danis appeared in 31 games last season with the New York Islanders, posting a 10-17-3 record with a 2.86 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He also played in 10 games last season with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, posting a 7-3-0 record with a 2.26 GAA and a .924 save percentage. This is an okay signing for the Devils, as they were looking to sign a solid, affordable backup goaltender to play only a handful of games behind Martin Brodeur. Danis will give the Devils adequate goaltending depth, but don’t expect to see him playing a lot of games, as Brodeur is once again likely to play in almost every game of the season.

Canadiens Sign Defenseman Mara to One-Year Contract

The Montreal Canadiens continued to add veteran depth to their roster last Friday by signing defenseman Paul Mara to a one-year contract worth $1.675 million. In 76 games last season for the New York Rangers, Mara scored five goals and 16 assists for 21 points and 94 penalty minutes. In 639 career games with the Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Phoenix Coyotes, and Boston Bruins, he has 63 goals and 176 assists for 239 points and 640 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Canadiens as they continue to retool their roster with veteran players. Mara brings plenty of toughness to the team’s blueline as well as some offense, especially on the power play.

Rangers Re-Sign Forward Dane Byers

The New York Rangers announced that they have re-signed left wing Dane Byers to a new contract. Exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Byers did not play in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in nine games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, scoring four goals and three assists for seven points. He has only played in one career NHL game, scoring no points. I’m not sure why Byers only played in nine AHL games last season, but I’m guessing he sustained an injury that sidelined him for quite a bit of time. Not a bad depth signing for the Rangers, as Byers has the potential to become a top-nine forward in the NHL. He could see playing time on the fourth line next season given the Rangers’ current shortage of offensive depth, bringing plenty of gritty play to the team’s offense.

Lightning Sign Goaltender Niittymaki to One-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning added some much needed goaltending depth to their team last Friday by signing Antero Niittymaki to a one-year contract worth $600,000. There had been rumors the Philadelphia Flyers were interested in retaining the Finnish netminder, but opted to go with a brand new tandem of Ray Emery and Brian Boucher. In 32 games last season with the Flyers, Niittymaki posted a 15-8-6 with a 2.76 GAA and a .912 save percentage. This is a decent move by the Lightning, as they were in desperate need of a proven backup goalie. Niittymaki played fairly well last season as the backup for the Flyers and even jumped into the starter’s role when Martin Biron struggled at times. Niittymaki will likely be the backup to Mike Smith next season as the Lightning see Smith as their number one goalie, but the team could also opt to have both goalies share both the starting and backup duties.

Hurricanes Sign Defenseman Harrison to One-Year Deal

The Carolina Hurricanes announced that they have signed defenseman Jay Harrison to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Harrison appeared in seven games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs after signing as a free agent with the team on March 27, scoring one assist. Prior to signing with the Maple Leafs last season, he appeared in 41 games with EV Zug of the Swiss National League, scoring six goals and nine assists for 15 points and 96 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth move for the Hurricanes’ defense, as Harrison will likely play most of next season in the minors. If he does play with the team next season, he will bring plenty of grit and rugged play as a sixth or seventh defenseman.

Blackhawks Sign Defenseman Petiot to One-Year Contract

The Chicago Blackhawks announced that they have signed defenseman Richard Petiot to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Petiot was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2009 trade deadline by the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltender Olaf Kolzig, defensemen Jamie Heward and Andy Rogers, and a fourth round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. The move was done so the Lightning could dump some salary. In 11 games last season with the Lightning, Petiot scored three assists. He also appeared in 46 games with the Norfolk Admirals and Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring three goals and 11 assists for 14 points. This is merely a depth move for the Blackhawks, as they already have their defense set for next season. Petiot will likely spend most of the season in the minors unless injuries begin to mount for the Blackhawks.

Maple Leafs Sign Forward Wallin to One-Year Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs have lured another player away from the Swedish Elite League by signing center Rickard Wallin to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Wallin makes the second Swede the Maple Leafs have signed from the Swedish League, with goalie sensation Jonas Gustavsson having signed a one-year deal on July 9. Last season in 55 games with Farjestad, Wallin scored 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points. Wallin’s stock has risen over the past few seasons after his offensive game really began to take off in Sweden. He last played in the NHL during the 2003-04 season with the Minnesota Wild. In 19 career NHL games, all with the Wild, he has six goals and four assists for 10 points. If Wallin can produce the same numbers in the NHL that he did in the Swedish League, then this will be a great signing for the Wild. His offensive game has really improved since his last game in the NHL five years ago, so he could be an effective top-six forward for the Maple Leafs. If he has a good season in 2009-10, expect him to remain in Toronto beyond next season.

Sabres Re-Sign Forward Matt Ellis to One-Year Deal

The Buffalo Sabres announced that they have re-signed left wing Matt Ellis to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ellis appeared in 45 games last season with the Sabres, scoring seven goals and five assists for 12 points. He also played in 12 games last season with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Portland, scoring two goals and two assists for four points. In 115 career NHL games with the Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings, he has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Sabres, as Ellis works very hard on every shift he plays. He doesn’t score a lot of goals or put up a lot of points, but his hard work makes him a very effective two-way forward on the checking lines.

Devils Acquire Forward Sestito from Oilers

The New Jersey Devils added some grit to their team last Thursday by acquiring left wing Tim Sestito from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a conditional draft pick in a future draft. Sestito appeared in only one game last season for the Oilers, scoring no points. He also appeared in 51 games for the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Springfield last season, scoring five goals and three assists for eight points and 77 penalty minutes. This is likely a depth trade for the Devils, as they already have enforcers in David Clarkson and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. Sestito could find himself on the team next season if either of the aforementioned players should be sidelined with a lengthy injury.

Rangers Sign Forward Ales Kotalik to Three-Year Deal

The New York Rangers added some much needed offense to their team last Thursday by signing left wing Ales Kotalik to a three-year contract worth $9 million. The deal averages out to $3 million per season. Kotalik appeared in 75 games last season with the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers after being dealt to the Oilers at the 2009 trade deadline in exchange for a second round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft. In those 75 games, he scored 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points. In 445 career games with the Sabres and Oilers, he has 121 goals and 130 assists for 251 points. Not a bad signing for the Rangers, as they were in need of some offensive and goal-scoring depth for next season. Kotalik brings lots of offensive skill to the team, especially on the power play, and will likely be a top-six forward for the Rangers next season.

Ducks Sign Defenseman Boynton to One-Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks added some defensive depth to their blueline last week by signing defenseman Nick Boynton to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. In 68 games last season with the Florida Panthers, Boynton scored five goals and 16 assists for 21 points and 91 penalty minutes. In 505 career games with the Panthers, Boston Bruins, and Phoenix Coyotes, he has 32 goals and 96 assists for 128 points and 751 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Ducks, who were in need of some toughness on defense after the departures of Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin. While Boynton brings the Ducks plenty of defensive depth and physical play, his skill alone is not enough to replace the skills of Pronger and Beauchemin. Look for the Ducks to possibly pursue another affordable veteran defenseman to help further solidify their blueline.

Flames Re-Sign Forward Carsen Germyn

The Calgary Flames have announced that they have re-signed right wing Carsen Germyn to a new contract. Exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Germyn did not play in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in 75 games with the Quad City Flames of the AHL, scoring 13 goals and 47 assists for 60 points and 57 penalty minutes. He has appeared in a total of four NHL games with the Flames, scoring no points. This is really just a depth signing for the Flames, as Germyn is not likely to see much playing time with the team next season. He has put up great numbers and played very physical hockey at the AHL level, making him one the Flames’ top prospects for the past few seasons, but at 27-years-old, Germyn will never play regularly in the NHL at this point. He will just be a fourth line depth forward.

Kings Re-Sign Forward Parse to One-Year Contract

The Los Angeles Kings announced last week that they have re-signed right wing Scott Parse to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Parse did not play in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in 74 games with their AHL affiliate in Manchester. He scored 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Kings, as Parse will probably play another season in the minors before he gets any consideration for a roster spot on the team.

Blues Re-Sign Goaltender Hannu Toivonen

The St. Louis Blues announced that they have re-signed goaltender Hannu Toivonen to a new contract. The exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 52 games last season with Ilves Tampere of the Finnish League, Toivonen posted a 19-23-0 record with a 2.68 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He last played in the NHL with the Blues during the 2007-08 season, appearing in 23 games and posting a 6-10-5 record with a 3.44 GAA and .878 save percentage. The Blues have likely signed Toivonen as minor league depth for their AHL affiliate in Peoria, as they already appearing set with Chris Mason and Ty Conklin as their two netminders next season. Toivonen has struggled mightily in the NHL since his relatively successful rookie season in 2005-06 and spent last season in Finland to get back on his game, but only played okay. He could be called upon to be the backup if Mason or Conklin miss a lot of time with an injury, but I have my doubts that he will ever play regularly in the NHL again.

Veteran Center Joe Sakic Retires

One of the greatest centers to ever play in the NHL called it a career last Thursday as long-time Colorado Avalanche forward Joe Sakic retired after playing 20 seasons in the NHL. Sakic had been plagued by back problems in recent years and felt that he could not continue playing. He was limited to 15 games last season with the Avalanche after suffering a herniated disc in his back, as well as broken fingers he suffered in a snow blower accident. He scored only two goals and 10 assists for 12 points. In 1378 career games with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise, he scored 625 goals and 1016 assists for 1641 points. Sakic was a 12-time all-star who won two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche in 1996 and 2001. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1996 as the MVP of the playoffs, the Hart Trophy in 2001 as league MVP, the Lady Byng Trophy in 2001 for gentlemanly conduct, and the Lester B. Pearson Award in 2001 as league MVP by the NHLPA. He is also the 14th highest goal scoring player and 8th highest point scoring player in NHL history. This is a huge loss for the Avalanche and NHL as a whole, as Sakic was a tremendous and classy player throughout his career. He was a proven goal scorer who excelled on the power play, had great passing skills, and was one of the greatest team leaders the NHL has ever known. Sakic always kept a cool head on the ice, even during the fierce and bitter rivalry that developed between the Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings during the mid 90s. Sakic should be very proud of everything he accomplished throughout his career, and should be a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame the first year he is eligible.

Lightning Sign Defenseman Foster to One-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Lightning added some veteran depth to their blueline last week by signing defenseman Kurtis Foster to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Foster appeared in only 10 games last season for the Minnesota Wild after suffering a badly broken leg during the 2007-08 season that almost forced him into retirement. After undergoing lots of conditioning, he made an improbable comeback last season. In those 10 games, he scored one goal and five assists for six points. In 186 career games with the Wild and Atlanta Thrashers, he has 21 goals and 56 assists for 77 points. This is a decent signing for the Lightning, as Foster gives the team some offensive skill on the blueline, especially on the power play, and some toughness as well. While Foster was impressive in the few games he played last season, he will have to prove himself again this season to show that his leg injury will not effect his performance on the ice.

Avalanche Sign Defenseman Skinner, Re-Sign Forward Dupuis

The Colorado Avalanche announced that they have signed defenseman Brett Skinner and re-sign center Philippe Dupuis to contracts. The exact length and financial terms of their deals were not disclosed. Skinner appeared in 11 games last season with the New York Islanders, scoring no points, before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in January for Junior Lessard. Skinner did not play any games with the Thrashers, instead playing in 37 games with their AHL affiliate in Chicago, scoring three goals and 20 assists for 23 points. Dupuis played in eight games with the Avalanche last season, scoring no points. He also appeared in 67 games last season with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL, scoring 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points. These are really just depth signings for the Avalanche, who previously announced they will be keeping their payroll down for next season and only target affordable, depth players via free agency. Skinner has decent offensive capabilities on the blueline, but has not been able to bring that success to the NHL. In the end, he’s really nothing more than a reserve defenseman. Dupuis has the potential to become a top-nine forward, but for now, will likely be a fourth line forward for the Avalanche if he makes the team next season.

Hurricanes Re-Sign Defenseman Borer & Goaltender Peters

The Carolina Hurricanes announced that they have re-signed defenseman Casey Borer and goaltender Justin Peters to one-year, two-way contracts. Their deals will be worth $500,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level. Borer appeared in three games last season with the Hurricanes, scoring no points. He also played in 51 games with Albany in the AHL, scoring four goals and six assists for 10 points. Peters did not appear in any NHL games last season, but did play in 56 games for Albany of the AHL. He posted a 19-30-4 record, four shutouts, a 2.89 GAA, and a .908 save percentage. These aren’t bad signings for the Hurricanes, as both players likely still have futures with the team, but for now, they are just depth signings. Borer has good size and good puck-handling abilities that could see him develop into a top-four defenseman down the road. Peters has not put up great numbers in the AHL, which could result in him seeing very little NHL action. However, he could still develop into a capable backup with the Hurricanes.

Stars Re-Sign Defenseman Fistric to Three-Year Contract

The Dallas Stars locked-up a key piece of their future on Wednesday by re-signing defenseman Mark Fistric to a three-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 36 games last season with the Stars, Fistric scored four assists and 42 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 35 games with Manitoba of the AHL, scoring eight assists and 26 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Stars, as Fistric plays with plenty of grit and toughness and has good stay-at-home defenseman qualities. He will likely develop into a top-six defenseman and should be in a Stars uniform for years to come.

Wild Sign Defensemen Fraser and Sifers to One-Year Deals

The Minnesota Wild added some depth to their blueline on Wednesday by signing defensemen Jamie Fraser and Jaime Sifers to one-year contracts. Terms of both deals were not disclosed. Fraser appeared in only one game last season with the New York Islanders, scoring no points. He also played in 66 games with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, scoring seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points. Sifers appeared in 23 games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, his first in the NHL, scoring two assists. He also played in 43 games with the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, scoring four goals and 16 assists for 20 points. These are merely depth signings for the Wild, as neither player will likely see much NHL action next season. Sifers will probably be a career sixth or seventh defenseman, so his role with the team will be limited. Fraser has been impressive at the minor league level and if given the chance, could develop into as a high as a top-four defenseman. If he plays well in the AHL next season, the Wild should consider re-signing him next summer.

Stars Acquire Goaltender Auld from Senators

The Dallas Stars got the experienced backup goaltender they had been seeking last Wednesday by acquiring Alex Auld from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. Auld became expendable to the Senators after Brian Elliot’s success last season and the acquisition of Pascal Leclaire from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2009 trade deadline. In 43 games last season for the Senators, Auld posted a 16-18-7 record, with a 2.47 GAA and a .911 save percentage. This is a decent move for the Stars, as the inexperienced Tobias Stephan did not work out for the team last season. Auld has played enough in the league over the past few seasons to give the Stars a solid backup to Marty Turco. If Turco should struggle at any time next season, Auld will easily be able to jump into the starter’s role.

Hurricanes Sign Forward Goertzen to One-Year Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes announced they have signed right wing Steven Goertzen to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level. In 16 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, Goertzen scored two goals and two assists for four points and 24 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 57 games last season with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in San Antonio, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points and 90 penalty minutes. This is merely just a depth signing for the Hurricanes, as Goertzen will likely spend most of next season in the minors. However, if he does play with the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line, bringing them plenty of grit and toughness.

Red Wings Sign Defenseman Janik to One-Year Deal

The Detroit Red Wings added some defensive depth to their roster last Wednesday by signing defenseman Doug Janik to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Janik appeared in 15 games for the Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens last season, scoring one assist. He was traded to the New York Rangers by the Canadiens on June 30 along with forward Chris Higgins and prospect defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko in exchange for forward Scott Gomez and prospects Tom Pyatt and Michael Busto. This is an unnecessary signing for the Red Wings, as they already have plenty of defensive depth on their team. Janik will likely play most of next season in the minors and only see any NHL action if injuries begin to mount on the Red Wings’ blueline. However, Janik does play with some grit, which the Red Wings need a lot more of on their team.

Thrashers Re-Sign Forward Slater to One-Year Contract

The Atlanta Thrashers announced last Wednesday that they have re-signed center Jim Slater to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 60 games last season with the Thrashers, Slater scored eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points. In 274 career games, all with the Thrashers, he has 31 goals and 39 assists for 70 points. This isn’t a bad signing for the Thrashers, as Slater plays with plenty of grit and is a decent two-way player. He has the potential to become a top-six forward, but hasn’t been able to play to that potential. Slater will probably always be a third line, two-way forward throughout his career.

Ducks Sign Saku Koivu to One-Year Contract

The Anaheim Ducks added some offensive depth to their roster last Wednesday by signing center Saku Koivu to a one-year contract worth $3.25 million, ending his 13-year tenure with the Montreal Canadiens. It became more apparent as free agency approached that Koivu would not re-sign with the Canadiens and instead sign in Minnesota to play alongside his brother, Mikko. In 65 games last season with the Canadiens, Koivu scored 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points. In 792 career games, all with the Canadeins, he has 191 games and 450 assists for 641 points. He won the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2002 for perseverance after missing much of that season recovering from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This is a great signing for the Ducks, as Koivu has excellent offensive skills and plays with some grit. He will make a great addition to the team’s power play and penalty kill, as he excels on both. Look for Koivu to play alongside fellow Finn Teemu Selanne on the second line next season.

Rangers Re-Sign Forward Brian Boyle

The New York Rangers announced last Wednesday that they have re-signed center Brian Boyle. Exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Rangers acquired Boyle on June 27 from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a third round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 28 games last season with the Kings, Boyle scored four goals and one assist for five points and 42 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 42 games with the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester in 2008-09, scoring 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points and 73 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Rangers, as they are in need of some offensive depth for next season and Boyle will get a chance to further his NHL career instead of sitting in the minors with the Kings. He is a big, physical forward who, in my opinion, still has the potential to become a top-six forward and will likely center the Rangers’ third line next season.

Blackhawks Re-Sign Forwards Versteeg and Bickell

The Chicago Blackhawks locked-up their last two restricted free agents last Wednesday by signing left wing Kris Versteeg to a three-year contract worth $9.2 million and left wing Bryan Bickell to a one-year deal. Versteeg’s deal averages out to $3.067 million, while the terms of Bickell’s contract were not disclosed. The signing comes in the wake of the NHLPA filing a grievance over the Blackhawks’ supposed improper qualifications of their restricted free agents. In 78 games last season with the Blackhawks, Versteeg scored 22 goals and 31 assists for 53 points and 55 penalty minutes. He was a Calder Trophy finalist this past season as rookie-of-the-year, but lost out to goalie sensation Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bickell did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead appearing in 42 games with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points and 60 penalty minutes.

The Bickell signing is mostly for offensive depth. If he makes the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line given their offensive depth. The Versteeg signing is a good one for the Blackhawks, as he has lots of offensive potential and plays with plenty of toughness. However, his contract puts the team very close to the salary cap for the next two seasons and the team has to re-sign star prospects Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Duncan Keith next summer. The Blackhawks will likely have to make a salary dumping trade between now and next summer in order to afford to retain their young talent. Versteeg, Patrick Sharp, and Brent Seabrook have all been rumored to be on the trade block to dump salary. The Blackhawks would not be in this position if they had not signed Marian Hossa to such an expensive and long-term contract. Sure, signing Hossa could help the team have a long playoff run this season, but it could hurt the team in the long run because now they don’t have a lot of salary to re-sign key players. It will be interesting to see how the team remedies this situation between now and next summer.

Veteran Forward Claude Lemieux Retires for Second Time

After training for months to make an NHL comeback six years after playing his last NHL game, veteran right wing Claude Lemieux has retired a second time. Lemieux began an NHL comeback this past season with the San Jose Sharks in an attempt to win another Stanley Cup. He began his comeback in the AHL with the Worcester Sharks, appearing in 23 games and scoring three goals and eight assists for 11 points. The Sharks were impressed enough with his production in the AHL that they recalled him in January. Lemieux struggled at the NHL level, scoring one assist in 18 games. He was benched by the team for the last month of the regular season. In 1215 career games with the Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, and Dallas Stars, scoring 379 goals and 407 assists for 786 points and 1777 penalty minutes. He won four Stanley Cups during his career, two with the Devils (1995 & 2000), one with the Avalanche (1996), and one with the Canadiens (1986). He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1995 as the MVP of the playoffs. Lemieux is probably one of the most hated players in NHL history for his on-ice antics, but was also a very talented winger. He could score goals and play with lots of grit all while agitating the opposition. The playoffs is where he really shined, always playing his best hockey of the season during the post-season, no matter how good or bad he played during the regular season. When I heard Lemieux was planning a comeback, I was skeptical that he would be an effective player for the Sharks, and my skepticism proved to be correct, as he did not play that well for the Sharks. Sure he provided a little grit for the team when they needed it, but his age kept him from performing well against a lot of players half his age. Still, you have to give Lemieux a lot of credit for making it back to the NHL.

Thrashers Re-Sign Forward Crabb & Defenseman Oystrick

The Atlanta Thrashers announced that they have re-signed right wing Joey Crabb and defenseman Nathan Oystrick to new contracts. Exact length and financial terms of their deals were not disclosed. In 29 games last season with the Thrashers, his first in the NHL, Crabb scored four goals and five assists for nine points. He also appeared in 42 games with the Thrashers’ AHL affiliate in Chicago, scoring 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points. Oystrick appeared in 53 games last season for the Thrashers, his first in the NHL, scoring four goals and eight assists for 12 points and 50 penalty minutes. These aren’t bad signings for the Thrashers, as Crabb and Oystrick were decent depth players for the team last season. Crabb doesn’t possess exceptional offensive skill, but could be an effective checking line winger for the Thrashers next season. Oystrick plays with plenty of toughness and grit and will likely be on the third defensive pairing next season for the team.

Bruins Sign Goaltender Sabourin & Defenseman Fata to One-Year Deals

The Boston Bruins announced on Tuesday evening that they have signed goaltender Dany Sabourin and defenseman Drew Fata to one-year contracts. Terms of both of their deals were not disclosed. Sabourin split last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers after being traded to the Oilers by the Penguins with Ryan Stone and a fourth round pick in 2011 in exchange for goaltender Mathieu Garon. In 19 games last season, Sabourin posted a 6-8-2 record with a 2.85 GAA and a .898 save percentage. Fata split time last season with the Phoenix Coyotes and Ottawa Senators organizations after being traded to the Senators from the Coyotes in exchange for forward Alexander Nikulin. Fata did not appear in any NHL games last season, but played in 75 AHL games with San Antonio and Binghamton, scoring seven goals and nine assists for 16 points and 141 penalty minutes. Sabourin gives the Bruins a more than capable backup to Tim Thomas, who will see the bulk of the starts next season. However, prospect Tuukka Rask will definitely challenge Sabourin for the backup role next season, as he is seen as the goalie of the future for the Bruins. Fata is a very tough and physical defenseman, but is nothing more than a depth defenseman. He will likely play most of next season in the minors, but if he does get recalled by the Senators, he will likely be the sixth or seventh defenseman.

Stars Sign Defenseman Woywitka to Two-Year Deal

The Dallas Stars added some much needed defensive depth to their team on Tuesday by signing defenseman Jeff Woywitka to a two-year contract worth $1.3 million. The deal averages out to $650,000 per season. In 65 games last season with the St. Louis Blues, Woywitka scored three goals and 15 assists for 18 points. In 152 career games, all with the Blues, he has six goals and 29 assists for 35 points. This is an okay signing for the Stars, as Woywitka will bring the Stars plenty of much needed offensive depth on the blueline as a fifth or sixth defenseman. He wasn’t bad on the power play last season, so he could see some time on the man advantage with the Stars next season.

Lightning Sign Forward Veilleux to One-Year Contract

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced on Tuesday that they have signed left wing Stephane Veilleux to a one-year contract worth $750,000. In 81 games last season with the Minnesota Wild, Veilleux scored 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points. In 361 career games, all with the Wild, he has 43 goals and 47 assists for 90 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Lightning, as Veilleux gives the team plenty of offensive depth, decent two-way skills, and some grit. Look for him to be a fixture on their checking line and penalty kill throughout all of next season, just don't expect him to do a lot of scoring.

Flyers Sign Defenseman Pronger to Seven-Year Extension

Just a couple weeks after acquiring all-star defenseman Chris Pronger from the Anaheim Ducks, the Philadelphia Flyers have signed him to a seven-year contract extension worth $35 million. The deal averages out to $5 million per season and includes a no-movement clause. The Flyers acquired Pronger from the Ducks on June 26 from the Ducks along with forward Ryan Dingle in exchange for forward Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, first round draft picks in 2009 and 2010, and a conditional third round draft pick in 2010 or 2011. In all 82 games last season with the Ducks, Pronger scored 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points and 88 penalty minutes. In 1022 career games with the Ducks, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers, he has 142 goals and 464 assists for 606 points and 1457 penalty minutes. Locking up Pronger long-term definitely makes the trade worthwhile for the Flyers, as they will have a top-two defenseman under contract with them for the next several years, but I still think they gave up too much to land him. However, Pronger will bring the Flyers lots of grit, toughness, leadership, and offense on the blueline. Their only problem now is that his contract has pushed the team over the salary cap by about $1.5 million. However, the Flyers have until the start of the 2009-10 season to get below the cap, so they will have a few months to hopefully work out a salary dumping trade. If not, they may have to bury some players in the minors at the start of the season to get below the cap.

Maple Leafs Sign Goaltender Gustavsson to One-Year Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs landed one of the most coveted players in the Swedish Elite League on Tuesday by signing goaltender Jonas Gustavsson to a one-year contract worth $900,000. Nearly every team in the NHL had lined up to bid for Gustavsson’s services over the past couple of months. Just recently, he had narrowed his choices down to the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars as the teams he would prefer to play for. In the end, the Maple Leafs won the bidding war and got the high-end prospect goalie they were seeking. Gustavsson, also known as “The Monster,” appeared in 42 games last season with Farjestad on the Swedish League, posting a 1.96 GAA and a .932 save percentage. This is a tremendous signing for the Maple Leafs, as Gustavsson has the potential to become an elite goaltender in the NHL. He will likely back-up Vesa Toskala next season, and if he performs well, could become the Maple Leafs’ starting goalie within the next couple of seasons.

Ducks Re-Sign Todd Marchant for Two Years

The Anaheim Ducks retained some offensive depth on Tuesday by re-signing center Todd Marchant to a two-year contract worth $2.25 million. The deal averages out to $1.125 million per season. Marchant appeared in 72 games last season for the Ducks, scoring five goals and 13 assists for 18 points. In 1038 career games with the Ducks, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Columbus Blue Jackets, he has 176 goals and 292 assists for 468 points. This is a decent signing for the Ducks, as Marchant is a decent two-way player with lots of experience and good skills on the penalty kill. Marchant’s production has definitely dropped over the past several years, but his two-way play still makes him an effective shutdown player on the ice for the Ducks.

Red Wings Sign Forwards Kris Newbury & Jeremy Williams

The Detroit Red Wings added a couple of depth forwards on Tuesday by signing center Kris Newbury and right wing Jeremy Williams to one-year, two-way contracts. Terms of both deals were not disclosed. Newbury played in only one game last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring no points. He also appeared in 33 games with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring six goals and 23 assists for 29 points and 72 penalty minutes. In 11 games last season for the Maple Leafs, Williams scored five goals and two assists for seven points. He also played in 46 games for the Marlies in 2008-09, scoring 27 goals and 13 assists for 40 points.

These are likely just depth signings for the Red Wings, as they have more than enough offensive talent on their team for next season. Newbury plays with lots of grit and toughness, something the Red Wings need on their roster, so if he plays on the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line. Williams has the potential to become a third line forward, so this may not be a bad signing for the Red Wings. He has decent offensive potential and could end up playing on the team’s fourth line next season.

Flames Sign Forward Jaffray, Re-Sign Forward Lundmark

The Calgary Flames announced on Tuesday that they have signed right wing Jason Jaffray and re-signed center Jamie Lundmark. Exact length and financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. In 14 games last season with the Vancouver Canucks, Jaffray scored two goals and two assists for four points. He also appeared in 56 games for the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, Manitoba Moose, scoring 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points. Lundmark appeared in 27 games last season for the Flames, scoring eight goals and eight assists for 16 points. In 259 career games with the Flames, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, and Los Angeles Kings, he has 35 goals and 52 assists for 87 points.

These are likely just depth signings for the Flames. Jaffray has had a lot of success at the minor league level, but at 28-years-old, he doesn’t have a lot of time to prove himself in the NHL. However, he still brings plenty of offensive depth to the team. Lundmark brings the Flames plenty of offensive depth and gritty play. Both players will likely end up on the Flames’ fourth line next season.

Panthers Sign Forward Jeff Taffe to Two-Year Deal

The Florida Panthers added some depth to their offense on Monday night by signing center Jeff Taffe to a two-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Taffe played in eight games last season for the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring two assists. He also appeared in 74 games for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, scoring 25 goals and 50 assists for 75 points. In 153 career NHL games with the Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes, and New York Rangers, he has 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points. This is mainly a depth signing for the Panthers, as Taffe is nothing more than a fourth line forward. He was once tabbed to become a top-six forward, but could never play up to his potential. Still, he will bring the Panthers plenty of offensive depth.

Ducks Re-Sign Defenseman Salcido to One-Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks announced late Monday night that they have re-signed defenseman Brian Salcido to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Salcido played on only two games for the Ducks last season, scoring one assist. He also appeared in 76 games for the Ducks’ AHL affiliate, Iowa Chops, scoring 10 goals and 33 assists for 43 points and 108 penalty minutes. This is a good signing for the Ducks, as Salcido has good offensive skills on the blueline and plays with a physical edge. He has the potential to become a top-four offensive defenseman in the league and will likely be an important part of the Ducks’ future for the next several seasons.

Islanders Sign Four Players to Contracts

The New York Islanders added several depth players to their team on Monday evening by signing right wings Greg Moore and Greg Mauldin, left wing Matt Moulson, and defenseman Mark Flood to one-year, two-way contracts. Terms of all four deals were not disclosed. Moore did not appear in any NHL games last season, but played in 71 games with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford, scoring 23 goals and 16 assists for 39 points. Mauldin did not play in any NHL games last season as well, instead appearing in 80 games for the Ottawa Senators’ AHL affiliate in Binghamton, scoring 24 goals and 277 assists for 51 points. Moulson appeared in seven goals last season for the Los Angeles Kings, scoring one goal. He also played in 54 games last season with the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester, scoring 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points. Flood played in 76 games last season for the Carolina Hurricanes AHL affiliate in Albany, scoring six goals and 25 assists for 31 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

The Moore and Moulson signings aren’t bad for the Islanders, but the Mauldin and Flood signings are mainly for depth. Moore has enjoyed some offensive success at the AHL level, scoring an average of 25 goals per season for the past few seasons. He has the potential to become a top-nine forward in the NHL and could be a good fit for the Islanders’ as they continue to rebuild. Mauldin will be nothing more than a depth forward for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, as he has not played in the NHL in the 2003-04 season when he appeared in six games for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Moulson has been a steady winger in the parts of two NHL seasons he’s played and could be an effective third line forward for the Islanders as he has decent offensive potential. Flood will likely spend another season in the AHL, where he will provide effective defensive depth for Bridgeport. If he is recalled at any time next season by the Islanders, he will likely be a sixth or seventh depth defenseman.

Thrashers Sign Four Players to Contracts

The Atlanta Thrashers announced on Monday that they have signed center Jason Krog, defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski, and goaltenders Drew MacIntyre and Peter Mannino to contracts. The exact lengths and financial terms of the four deals were not disclosed. In four games last season with the Vancouver Canucks, Krog scored one goal. He also appeared in 74 games with the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, Manitoba Moose, scoring 30 goals and 56 assists for 86 points. In 202 career games with the Canucks, New York Islanders, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, and New York Rangers, Krog has 22 goals and 37 assists for 59 points. This will be his second stint with the Thrashers. Kwiatkowski played in 52 games last season for Cherepovets of the KHL, scoring 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points. In 282 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Atlanta Thrashers, he has 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points. This will be Kwiatkowski’s second stint with the Thrashers. MacIntyre did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 55 games for the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. He posted a 34-15-4 record, four shutouts, a 2.30 GAA, and a .921 save percentage. Mannino played in three games for the New York Islanders last season, posting a 1-1-0 record with a 4.51 GAA and a .885 save percentage. He also appeared in 34 games last season for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, posting a 17-12-2 record with a 2.94 GAA and .900 save percentage.

These are merely just depth moves for the Thrashers and all four players will likely spend most of next season in the minors. Krog has enjoyed lots of success at the minor league level with his offensive skill and goal-scoring abilities, but has not been able to bring that success to the NHL. He showed some promise with the Ducks during the 2002-03 season, but has been used at the NHL level sparingly ever since. He will likely play on the fourth line for the Thrashers if recalled by the team at any point during the 2009-10 season. Kwiatkowski has been a number six depth defenseman for his whole NHL career and will likely play the same role with the Thrashers next season. MacIntyre had a very successful season in the AHL in 2008-09 and should be a solid goalie for the Thrashers’ AHL affiliate in Chicago next season. Mannino played well in college, but struggled in his first seasons in the NHL and AHL. He will likely hone his skills in the AHL, or quite possibly ECHL, next season in order to get back to the NHL.

Stars Sign Forward Warren Peters to One-Year Deal

The Dallas Stars added some toughness to their lineup on Monday by signing center Warren Peters to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 16 games last season with the Calgary Flames, his first in the NHL, Peters scored one goal. He also appeared in 62 games with the Flames’ AHL affiliate Quad City Flames, scoring 11 goals and six assists for 17 points. This is an okay signing for the Stars, as Peters will give them plenty of gritty, offensive depth at center. Look for him to play on the fourth line next season.

Blue Jackets Sign Forward Pelletier to One-Year Contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced on Monday that they have signed left wing Pascal Pelletier to a one-year, two-way contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Pelletier appeared in seven games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring no points. He also played in 71 games with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford last season, scoring 29 goals and 26 assists for 55 points. As I have said many times over the past week about so many players, Pelletier is nothing more than depth signing for the Blue Jackets. He has good offensive skill and goal-scoring ability at the minor league level, but hasn’t brought that success to the NHL. If he plays with the Blue Jackets at any time next season, it will likely be as a fourth line forward and only if they have an injury.

Blackhawks Re-Sign Six Players, Including Cam Barker

The Chicago Blackhawks responded quickly to a grievance filed by the NHLPA on Monday over their improper qualifications of their restricted free agents by signing right wing Troy Brouwer and goaltender Corey Crawford to two-year contracts, left wing Ben Eager, center Colin Fraser, and defenseman Aaron Johnson to one-year contracts worth $965,000, $700,000, and $550,000, respectively, and defenseman Cam Barker to a three year contract worth $9.25 million. Barker’s deal averages out to $3.083 million per season, while Brouwer’s contract was worth $2 million, averaging out to $1 million per season. The financial terms of Crawford’s deal were not announced. The NHL launched an investigation into the Blackhawks late last week over whether their restricted free agents received proper notification of their qualifying offers. The offers, which were mailed on June 29, weren’t received by some of the players until after July 1. The NHLPA has filed a grievance with the league stating that the qualifying offers should be invalid because they didn’t reach the players in time, thus making them unrestricted free agents. The Blackhawks have remedied this by quickly signing their restricted free agents to new contracts. In 68 games last season with the Blackhawks, Barker scored six goals and 34 assists for 40 points. Brouwer appeared in 69 games last season with the team, scoring 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points. Eager played in 75 games last season with the team, scoring 11 goals and four assists for 15 points and 161 penalty minutes. Fraser appeared in 81 games with the Blackhawks last season, scoring six goals and 11 assists for 17 points and 55 penalty minutes. In 38 games in 2008-09 with the Blackhawks, Johnson scored three goals and five assists for eight points and 33 penalty minutes. Crawford did not play in any regular season games last season for the team.

Wise signings for Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon, as it’s obvious he did not want to take a chance at losing his young players to unrestricted free agency if the league sides with the players’ association. Barker is quickly developing into a very skilled offensive defenseman and will likely anchor the team’s blueline for years to come. Brouwer is quickly developing into a decent third line forward with his toughness and offensive abilities. Eager is a very physical forward who plays with lots of grit, making him a valuable asset to the Blackhawks’ checking lines. Fraser is another tough, physical forward for the team who will likely play next season on either the third or fourth line. Johnson is a very tough defenseman who plays very physical. He will likely be the Blackhawks’ sixth or seventh defenseman next season. Crawford is a very skilled goaltender who has the potential to become a starter one day for the Blackhawks. He will likely be the back-up for Cristobal Huet next season.

Maple Leafs Sign Defenseman Beauchemin to Three-Year Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs remained busy on Monday afternoon by signing defenseman Francois Beauchemin to a three-year contract worth $11.4 million. The deal averages out to $3.8 million per season. In 20 games last season with the Anaheim Ducks, Beauchemin scored four goals and one assist for five points. He missed most of last season with a knee injury he suffered in November. In 246 career games with the Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, and Columbus Blue Jackets, he has 21 goals and 69 assists for 90 points. This is an excellent signing for the Maple Leafs, as Beauchemin is a very physical defenseman with a hard shot. With Beauchemin now under contract and along with Mike Komisarek, Luke Schenn, and Garnet Exelby, the Maple Leafs have one of the most physical bluelines in the league. He previously played under Brian Burke in Anaheim, so it comes as no surprise that Burke pursued a player he is very familiar with. The signing of Beauchemin has led some hockey pundits to speculate that Burke might continue to peddle defenseman Tomas Kaberle to free up salary cap space and bring in a scoring forward. If Kaberle gets traded, the Maple Leafs would lose a lot of offense on their blueline, but still have plenty of talent to keep them competitive defensively.

Senators Sign Alex Kovalev to Two-Year Contract

The Ottawa Senators acquired some much needed forward scoring depth on Monday by signing right wing Alex Kovalev to a two-year contract worth $10 million. The deal averages out to $5 million per season. The Montreal Canadiens were reportedly very interested in retaining the star winger and naming him their new captain for next season, but could not get a deal done. In 78 games last season with the Canadiens, Kovalev scored 26 goals and 39 assists for 65 points and 74 penalty minutes. In 1151 career games with the Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins, he has 394 goals and 547 assists for 941 points and 1200 penalty minutes. This is a decent signing for the Senators, as Kovalev brings the team lots of offensive skill, especially on the power play, leadership, and toughness. The only problem with the veteran forward is that he is a very streaky player. Some nights he will score several points and then go several games without registering a point. Many Canadiens’ fans will recall last season when GM Bob Gainey sent Kovalev home early on a road trip to condition himself and get back into game shape after going a lengthy stretch without scoring a point. This resulted in many hockey fans and pundits believing the Canadiens were very close to trading Kovalev, but no deal was ever made. This signing also ensures that Mike Comrie won’t be returning with the Senators next season, as they are very close to the salary cap ceiling. Comrie was rumored willing to accept a pay cut from last season to remain with the Senators. He was reportedly willing to sign for $2.5 million per season, but no deal was ever made. Comrie’s stock and production has dropped in recent seasons, so signing Kovalev is probably a wiser move for the Senators.

Maple Leafs Sign Four Free Agents to Contracts

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Monday that they have signed center Tim Brent to a one-year contract, defenseman Jay Rosehill to a two-year contract, and re-signed right wing Ben Ondrus and left wing Ryan Hamilton to one-year contracts. Terms of all four deals were not disclosed. Brent appeared in two games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring no points. He also played in 64 games last season with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford, scoring 20 goals and 42 assists for 62 points. Rosehill appeared in 70 games last season with the Toronto Marlies and Norfolk Admirals of the AHL, scoring seven goals and eight assists for 15 points and 275 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Ondrus appeared in 11 games last season for the Maple Leafs, scoring no points. He also played in 57 games last season for the Marlies, scoring 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points and 83 penalty minutes. Hamilton was acquired in January from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Robbie Earl. In 65 games last season with the Marlies and AHL’s Houston Aeros, Hamilton scored 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

These are mostly just depth signings for the Maple Leafs. Brent has had a fairly successful career at the AHL level as a top-six forward, but the jury’s still out on whether he can transfer that success to the NHL. Rosehill is a very gritty and physical defenseman, so it comes as no surprise that Maple Leafs’ GM Brian Burke signed him, as Burke has a love for physical players. Rosehill could become a physical, stay-at-home defenseman in the NHL as long as the Maple Leafs give him a chance to prove himself. Ondrus is a very physical forward who will provide the team with plenty of offensive depth on the fourth line. If Hamilton makes the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line. Otherwise, he will give the Marlies plenty of offensive depth down the wing.

Red Wings Re-Sign Ville Leino to Two-Year Contract

The Detroit Red Wings locked up one of their top prospects on Monday by re-signing left wing Ville Leino to a two-year contract worth $1.6 million. The deal averages out to $800,000 per season. In 13 games last season with the Red Wings, his first in the NHL, Leino scored five goals and four assists for nine points. He also appeared in 57 games last season with the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, scoring 15 goals and 31 assists for 46 points. This is an excellent signing for the Red Wings, as Leino showed lots of offensive promise last season. He has good puck and stick handling skills and a very effective playmaker. Leino will likely become a top-six forward with the Red Wings, giving them another very gifted forward to add to their already very talented team.

Canucks Sign Goaltender Raycroft, Re-Sign Defenseman O’Brien

The Vancouver Canucks announced on Monday that they have signed goaltender Andrew Raycroft to a one-year contract worth $500,000 and re-signed defenseman Shane O’Brien to a one-year contract worth $1.6 million. Last season with the Colorado Avalanche, Raycroft posted a 12-16-0 record in 31 games with a 3.14 GAA and a .892 save percentage. In 230 career games with the Avalanche, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, he has an all-time record of 94-96-16, six shutouts, a 2.90 GAA, and a .899 save percentage. He won the Calder Trophy in 2004 as rookie-of-the-year. The Canucks acquired O’Brien early last season from the Tampa Bay Lightning along with forward Michel Ouellet in exchange for defenseman Lukas Krajicek and prospect forward Juraj Simek. In 77 games last season with the Lightning and Canucks, O’Brien scored 10 assists and 196 penalty minutes. In 234 career games with the Lightning, Canucks, and Anaheim Ducks, he has six goals and 41 assists for 47 points and 526 penalty minutes.

The O’Brien signing is a decent one for the Canucks, while the Raycroft signing isn’t the greatest. O’Brien plays with lots of grit, toughness, and energy and gives the team plenty of defensive depth. However, he takes a lot of bad penalties and the Canucks were rumored shopping him at the 2009 trade deadline as a result, but found no takers. If he hopes to sign a long-term extension with the team next season, he will have to start controlling himself on the ice. Raycroft struggled mightily in net last season for the Avalanche and was relegated to the back-up role at mid-season. He will likely challenge prospect Cory Schneider for the back-up role next season and will really have to prove that he is still a quality goaltender despite his bloated stats. To me, this isn’t a good signing for the Canucks, as they could have signed plenty of other higher quality back-ups than Raycroft. However, his $500,000 is a very salary cap-friendly contract which could save the team some money to bring in players via trades later in the season.

Avalanche Sign Forward Haydar, Re-Sign Five Others

The Colorado Avalanche added a slew of depth players to their roster on Monday by signing right wing Darren Haydar to a contract and re-signing right wings David Jones and Brian Willsie, left wings Chris Durno and Matt Hendricks, and goaltender Tyler Weiman to new contracts as well. The exact length and financial terms of all five deals were not disclosed. Haydar did not appear in any NHL games last season and spent the entire season with the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. In 79 games with Grand Rapids, he scored 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points. In 22 career NHL games, all with the Atlanta Thrashers, Haydar has one goal and seven assists for eight points. Jones appeared in 40 games last season for the Avalanche, scoring eight goals and five assists for 13 points. He missed the last 34 games of the 2008-09 season with a shoulder injury. Willsie appeared in 42 games for the Avalanche last season, scoring one goal and three assists for four points. In 376 career games with the Avalanche, Washington Capitals, and Los Angeles Kings, he has 52 goals and 56 assists for 108 points. Durno appeared in two games last season with the Avalanche, scoring no points. He also played in 76 games with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, scoring 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points and 131 penalty minutes. Hendricks appeared in four games with the Avalanche last season, scoring no points. In 43 games with Lake Erie last season, he scored 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points and 71 penalty minutes. Weiman did not appear in any NHL games last season, instead playing in 44 games with Lake Erie. He posted a 21-20-2 record, eight shutouts, a 2.46 GAA, and a .915 save percentage.

Aside from Jones and Weiman, these are all really just depth signings for the Avalanche. Jones has lots of offensive potential and could become a top-six forward for the team one day. For now, he will likely provide offensive depth to the third or fourth line. Haydar has been a tremendous player at the minor league level, showing off some impressive offensive and goal-scoring skills, but has been unsuccessful at applying those skills at the NHL level. In the long run, he will likely be just a fourth line depth forward at the NHL level. Willsie will provide plenty of veteran experience and depth to the Avalanche’s fourth line, but don’t expect to see much offensive contribution from him, as his production has been in decline for the past few seasons. Durno and Hendricks have been very physical forwards who can jump into the play offensively at the minor league level, but are nothing more than physical fourth line forwards at the NHL level. They likely won’t play many games for the Avalanche next season, but if they do, it will be because of an injury. Weiman wasn’t too bad last season with Lake Erie, playing solidly when called upon. He has the potential to be a back-up at the NHL level, and could start challenging Peter Budaj for that role as early as next season.

Rangers Sign Forward Chris Higgins to One-Year Contract

The New York Rangers announced on Monday that they have signed newly acquired left wing Chris Higgins to a one-year contract worth $2.25 million. The Rangers acquired Higgins along with defensemen Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko, and Doug Janik on June 30 from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forwards Scott Gomez and Tom Pyatt and defenseman Michael Busto. In 57 games last season with the Canadiens, Higgins scored 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points. In 282 career games, all with the Canadiens, he has 84 goals and 67 assists for 151 points. Not a bad signing for the Rangers despite the fact that Higgins struggled offensively last season. He still brings plenty of offensive depth to the team and the potential to score 30 goals in a season. He should be a good fit for their second line.

Blues Sign Forward Crombeen to Two-Year Contract

The St. Louis Blues announced on Monday that they have signed right wing B.J. Crombeen to two-year contract worth $1.745 million. The deal averages out to $872,500 per season. Crombeen split the 2008-09 season with the Blues and Dallas Stars after being claimed off waivers from the Stars in November. In 81 games last season, he scored 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points and 148 penalty minutes. This is a great signing for the Blues, as Crombeen plays a real physical game and has lots of energy. He proved last season that he has a bit of offensive skill in him too, so look for him to make offensive contributions from time to time on the checking lines.

Penguins Sign Free Agents Chris Conner & Chris Lee

The Pittsburgh penguins made a couple of depth moves on Sunday by signing defenseman Chris Lee to a contract and left wing Chris Conner to a one-year contract. The exact length and terms of Lee’s s contract were not disclosed, while the financial terms of Conner’s deal were not disclosed. In 38 games last season with the Dallas Stars, Conner scored three goals and 10 assists for 13 points. In 71 career games with the Stars, he has seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points. Lee appeared in 66 games last season with the New York Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, scoring six goals and 24 assists for 30 points. He has never appeared in an NHL game. These are nothing more than depth signings for the Penguins. Conner could likely see some playing time on the Penguins’ fourth line next season as a depth forward, while Lee is likely to spend all of next season in the minors. Being a 28-year-old defenseman who has never played in the NHL, Lee doesn’t have much more potential than a seventh defenseman.

Kings Acquire Veteran Forward Ryan Smyth from Avalanche

The Los Angeles Kings added some scoring depth to their roster late Friday evening into Saturday morning by acquiring left wing Ryan Smyth from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing and a fifth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. The Kings were in the market to acquire a big-name forward and were rumored close to acquiring Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier last month, but the deal reportedly fell through. The Kings also had reported interest in signing free agent forwards Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa, but were unable to do so, and were even linked to Dany Heatley at one point. Smyth appeared in 77 games last season with the Avalanche, scoring 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points. In 920 career games with the Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders, he has 310 goals and 350 assists for 660 points. Quincey was claimed off waivers by the Kings from the Detroit Red Wings early last season. In 72 games last season, he scored four goals and 34 assists for 38 points, all career highs for the young defenseman. Preissing, who was frequently scratched from games last season, appeared in 22 games with the Kings, scoring three goals and four assists for seven points. He also played in 14 games with the Kings’ AHL affiliate in Manchester, scoring two goals and four assists for six points. In 322 career games with the Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Ottawa Senators, Preissing has 31 goals and 100 assists for 131 points.

This is an okay trade for the Kings, and probably not the one most Kings fans were hoping for. Sure, Smyth brings plenty of offensive and goal-scoring skill, leadership, and experience, but he’s not the offensive force he used to be. A lot of fans will probably wish the Kings had pursued a superstar like Lecavalier or Hossa, but Smyth should work out just fine for the next few seasons. The Avalanche got a pretty good young defenseman in Quincey, as he plays with lots of grit and has great offensive skills. He should be a fixture on their blueline for years to come. Preissing on the other hand, is merely just a depth defenseman anymore. He showed lots of promise early in his career as a top-four defenseman, but has been in constant decline the past few seasons. He still brings some offensive depth to the Avalanche blueline, but may end up being a sixth defenseman given his drop in production.