Flames Ship Jokinen, Prust to Rangers for Kotalik, Higgins

***UPDATE***
tsn.ca is now confirming that this trade has officially gone through. It was announced following Calgary's 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.

***UPDATE***
According to Bob McKenzie on tsn.ca, this trade is on hold for now, as the Flames want Olli Jokinen in the line-up tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. Brandon Prust may also play tonight as well. McKenzie also reports that Ales Kotalik may not want to waive his no-trade clause to go to Calgary, and that the Flames may have backed out of the deal. Stay tuned to this one folks, as it's bound to get interesting.

According to tsn.ca, the Calgary Flames and New York Rangers are expected to announce a trade which will send Flames' center Olli Jokinen and left wing Brandon Prust to the Rangers for left wing Ales Kotalik and left wing Chris Higgins. The announcement comes nearly 12 hours after the Flames shipped defenseman Dion Phaneuf to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a seven player trade. The move comes in the wake of the Flames' recent slide through the standings that has them in danger of sliding out of playoff contention. The Rangers have also struggled offensively recently and are too in danger of missing the playoffs. Jokinen was originally acquired by the Flames during last season's trade deadline in the hopes that he would mesh with Jarome Iginla, but neither player could develop any chemistry together offensively. In 55 games this season with the Flames, Jokinen has 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points, while Prust has one goal and four assists for five points and 98 penalty minutes in 42 games. Kotalik has played in 45 games so far this season, scoring eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points, while Higgins has six goals and eight assists for 14 points.

As long as this trade goes through, it's really nothing more than a swap of struggling forwards and hoping they regain their offensive touch with their new teams. Jokinen has been in offensive decline for the past few seasons, but when he's on top of his game, he can be a very steady offensive contributor. Prust gives the Rangers a very gritty, physical checking line forward who will bring the toughness that the team has lacked throughout the season. Kotalik started off the season strong, but faded quickly and has been a healthy scratch in recent games. Higgins has struggled mightily this season as well, unable to regain his 20-goals-per-season form. However, when on their respected games, Kotalik and Higgins can be reliable offensive contributors. The gamble the Flames face in this trade is acquiring Kotalik. He still has two more years left on his contract at $3 million per season. If he fails to improve his offensive production over the course of this season and the next, he will be an expensive acquisition. Only time will tell whether this trade could help out either team.

Maple Leafs Acquire Giguere from Ducks

Within an hour of acquiring all-star defenseman Dion Phaneuf from the Calgary Flames, the Toronto Maple Leafs made another big trade splash by acquiring goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for goaltender Vesa Toskala and left wing Jason Blake. The deal reunites Giguere with general manager Brian Burke, whom he played under when Burke was in Anaheim, and former goaltending coach Francois Allaire. Giguere has struggled this season, appearing in just 20 games, posting a 4-8-5 record with a 3.14 GAA and a .900 save percentage. Toskala has also struggled this season with the Maple Leafs, posting a 7-12-3 record in 26 games with a 3.66 GAA and a .874 save percentage. Blake has struggled this season as well, scoring 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 56 games.

Again, here is another trade that caught me by surprise. With the Ducks' recent re-signing of goaltender Jonas Hiller to a four-year contract, it appeared that Giguere's time in Anaheim was coming to an end. It was believed that Giguere's salary and struggles would make him nearly impossible to move this season, given that he has one more year on his current contract worth $7 million. However, Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke was able to move the dollars to make the deal work. Giguere brings a wealth of experience in goal for the Maple Leafs and is a solid contributor who can win games when he's at the top of his game. He will also likely serve as a mentor to prospect Jonas Gustavsson. Toskala, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, should serve as a suitable back-up for Hiller for the rest of the season. Blake should provide the Ducks with plenty of offensive depth and goal-scoring skill, provided he can break out of his current slump and return to the 60-point level he was at the past few seasons. However, at 36-years-old, age might be finally catching up with him. Blake is under contract for two more seasons after this one, so if Teemu Selanne decides to opt for retirement this summer, Blake could end up being his replacement.

Maple Leafs Acquire Phaneuf in Blockbuster Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a huge splash on the trade market Sunday by acquiring defenseman Dion Phaneuf, left wing Fredrik Sjostrom, and prospect defenseman Keith Aulie in exchange for center Matt Stajan, left wing Niklas Hagman, right wing Jamal Mayers, and defenseman Ian White. The move comes as both teams try to shake-up their slumping rosters. In 55 games this season with the Flames, Phaneuf has 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points and 49 penalty minutes, while Sjostrom has one goal and five assists for six points in 46 games. Aulie has yet to appear in an NHL game.

In 55 games with the Maple Leafs this season, Stajan has 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points, while Hagman has 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points in 55 games. In 44 games with the Maple Leafs, Mayers has two goals and six assists for eight points and 78 penalty minutes, while White has nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points and 39 penalty minutes in 56 games.

I have to say, this trade caught me completely off guard. Phaneuf had popped up in the rumor mill in recent weeks, but it seemed unlikely that he would be moved given the length and cost of his contract. He will, however, bring lots of toughness, offensive skill, and a great shot to the Maple Leafs' blueline. Sjostrom gives the team a decent checking line forward, while Aulie gives Toronto another young, physical defenseman to build around. While Maple Leafs' general manager Brian Burke did deplete his offense a little to acquire Phaneuf, and by doing so has shown that he is now fully rebuilding the team, Toronto now boasts a pretty strong blueline with Phaneuf, Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek, and Francois Beauchemin.

The Flames had been mired in a nine-game winless streak prior to defeating the Oilers on Saturday night and had been reportedly looking to shake things up offensively. Stajan and Hagman both bring lots of offensive depth and scoring ability to the team's forward lines. Perhaps one of them will be able to help Jarome Iginla increase his goal-scoring over the course of the next few months. Mayers brings lots of grit and toughness to the Flames' roster, while White brings plenty of toughness and some offensive skill to the blueline. It will be interesting to see how many of these players the Flames will keep beyond this season. Hagman is under contract for two more seasons, while Mayers and Stajan are both unrestricted free agents this summer. White will be a restricted free agent this summer and could be retained if he plays well in Calgary. Hopefully these players will give the Flames a much needed offensive boost and be retained beyond this season, as it would be a shame to see them deal away a talented defenseman like Phaneuf for nothing but rental players.

Flyers Add Defenseman Krajicek

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed defenseman Lukas Krajicek for the remainder of the season. The deal is believed to be worth $700,000. Krajicek had his contract terminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning this past weekend for refusing to report to the team's AHL affiliate in Norfolk. The Lightning had been looking to move him since December and could find no takers. In 23 games this season with the Lightning, he had one assist. In 301 career NHL games with the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, and Tampa Bay Lightning, he has 10 goals and 60 assists for 70 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Flyers, as they will be without the services of Ryan Parent and Danny Syvret for the foreseeable future. Krajicek should give the Flyers adequate defensive depth on their third pairing.

Ducks Sign Goaltender Hiller to Four-Year Extension

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they have signed goaltender Jonas Hiller to a four-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team, but according to the Sporting News via Twitter, the contract is worth $18 million, which averages out to $4.5 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 39 games so far this season, Hiller has a 21-15-2 record, one shutout, a 2.75 GAA, and a .916 save percentage. In 108 career NHL games, he has a 54-37-4 record, five shutouts, a 2.46 GAA, and a .919 save percentage. This is a good move by the Ducks, as Hiller has been a very steady and reliable goaltender for the team for the past few seasons. With the length of the deal, it shows that the Ducks have a lot of confidence in Hiller as their new starter and that J.S. Giguere's time with the team is likely numbered. However, that does not mean that the Ducks will trade Giguere on or before the March 3 trade deadline. He still has one more year left on his current contract worth $7 million, so a lot of teams would be hard-pressed to want to take on his salary, especially with his current struggles. If the Ducks do trade Giguere, I would expect it to happen at the trade deadline next season when his salary will be much more affordable. Whether Giguere ever gets traded by the Ducks, I don't expect them to re-sign him when his contract expires after the 2010-11 season.

Predators Sign Forward Goc to One-Year Extension

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed center Marcel Goc to a one-year contract extension worth $775,000. In 49 games so far this season with the Predators, he has 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points. Goc will be playing for the German Olympic Team in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics. In 314 career games with the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators, he has 30 goals and 43 assists for 73 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Predators, as Goc has been a steady offensive contributor for the team this season. Look for him to provide more of the same offense for the Predators next season.

Montreal Canadiens to Buy Out Georges Laraque

The Montreal Canadiens announced on Thursday that they will buy out the contract of tough-guy right wing Georges Laraque at the end of the season. Even though he will not play another game with the Canadiens, the team will still pay his salary for the rest of the 2009-10 season. Laraque signed a three-year contract with the team back in July 2008 worth $4.5 million. He still has one more year remaining on that deal. According to tsn.ca, Laraque was told Thursday morning by Canadiens' General Manager Bob Gainey of the decision and that head coach Jacques Martin no longer had confidence in the forward. Laraque is reported to be very disappointed in the team's decision and has been dealing with recent emotional issues regarding the earthquake in Haiti and the impact of the disaster on his family. Back injuries have plagued Laraque throughout his time in Montreal, limiting him to just 61 games over two seasons. In those two seasons, he has one goal and four assists for five points and 89 penalty minutes. In 695 career games with the Edmonton Oilers, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Montreal Canadiens, Laraque has 53 goals and 100 assists for 153 points and 1126 penalty minutes. Considering what Laraque is going through right now, this is extremely poor timing by the Canadiens to announce that they are buying him out. However, I don't disagree with Gainey's decision to buy out Laraque. While injuries have limited his playing time over the past two seasons, when he has played, his contributions have been minimal. He only plays a few minutes per game, does not contribute as much offensively as he used to, and his level of physicality has dropped the past two seasons. While the Canadiens could still trade Laraque sometime before the March 3 trade deadline, they will likely have a difficult time finding any takers. The best course of action for Laraque is to get himself back into game shape and hope he can sign with a new team once free agency begins on July 1.

Lightning Claim Center Thompson Off Waivers from Islanders

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have claimed center Nate Thompson off waivers from the New York Islanders. He was originally acquired by the Islanders off waivers from the Boston Bruins in October 2008. In 39 games with the Islanders this season, he has one goal and five assists for six points and 39 penalty minutes. In 86 career NHL games with the Islanders and Bruins, he has three goals and seven assists for 10 points and 88 penalty minutes. With left wing Todd Fedoruk currently sidelined with a knee injury, claiming Thompson was likely done by the Lightning to add some grit to their forward lines. Thompson can play both left wing and center, so he could be a versatile depth forward for the team on their checking lines for the rest of the season.

Predators Sign Defenseman Klein to Three-Year Extension

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed defenseman Kevin Klein to a three-year contract extension worth $4.05 million. The deal averages out to $1.35 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent in July. In 48 games so far this season with the Predators, Klein has one goal and eight assists for nine points. In 129 career NHL games, all with the Predators, he has six goals and 18 assists for 24 points. Not a bad signing for the Predators, as Klein is starting to emerge as a reliable defenseman for the team. He possesses some offensive skill and is already averaging just over 20 minutes of playing time per game. Look for him to jump into a top-four defensive role for the Predators in the near future.

Forward Michael Peca Announces Retirement

After 13 NHL seasons, veteran center Michael Peca officially announced his retirement on Tuesday. He last played in the NHL during the 2008-09 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, playing in 71 games and scoring four goals and 18 assists for 22 points. In 864 career games with the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Columbus Blue Jackets, Peca scored 176 goals and 289 assists for 465 points and 798 penalty minutes. He won the Selke Trophy twice as the league's top defensive forward, in 1997 with the Sabres and 2002 with the Islanders. He also helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. He never won a Stanley Cup, but did appear in the Finals twice, in 1999 with the Sabres and 2006 with the Oilers. It's a shame that no teams signed Peca during this past off-season, as he still had the skills to help make a team more competitive. He was one of the premier defensive forwards for the past two decades, was great on the faceoff, and played with plenty of toughness. He had decent offensive skills early in his career, and when his offense began to decline, he could still play some great two-way hockey. Peca should be proud of everything he accomplished throughout his career and he will be missed on the ice.

Current Injured NHL Players on Olympics Rosters

Here is a list of the current injured NHL players who are on Olympic rosters. I will continue to add and remove players as they sustain or return from injuries.

Canada
None

Sweden
Tomas Holmstrom - (DET) left knee injury (2/14) - day-to-day (will not play) (replaced by Johan Franzen)

Finland
None

Russia
None

United States
Paul Martin - (NJ) broken left arm (10/26) - indefinitely (will not play) (replaced by Tim Gleason)
Mike Komisarek - (TOR) upper body injury (1/6) - will miss the remainder of the regular season (will not play) (replaced by Ryan Whitney)

Slovakia
Marian Gaborik - (NYR) lacerated right leg (2/10) - day-to-day (questionable)

Czech Republic
Milan Hejduk - (COL) knee surgery (1/18) - 2-4 weeks (will not play)

Norway
None

Belarus
Andrei Kostitsyn - (MTL) knee surgery (1/8) - 6 weeks (likely won't play)
Mikhail Grabovski - (TOR) broken wrist (1/3) - 6 weeks (will not play)

Latvia
None

Switzerland
None

Germany
None

Goaltender Curtis Joseph Announces Retirement

Veteran goaltender Curtis Joseph announced his retirement on Tuesday at a press conference in Toronto, ending a 19-year career in which he won 454 games but never won a Stanley Cup. Joseph sits fourth all-time in goalie wins, trailing only Martin Brodeur (585), Patrick Roy (551), and Ed Belfour (484). Joseph last played in the NHL during the 2008-09 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, in which he appeared in 21 games, posting a 5-9-1 record with a 3.57 GAA and a .869 save percentage. In 943 career NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes, and Calgary Flames, he posted a 454-352-90-6 record, with 51 shutouts, a 2.79 GAA, and a .906 save percentage. He was a three-time all-star and helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Joseph was always a very steady and reliable goaltender throughout his career. He kept his team's competitive and it's a shame he never got to win the Stanley Cup. A lot of people will argue that he is not Hall of Fame material because he never won a Stanley Cup, but I feel he should be in the Hall of Fame one day. He was a class act all the way and his 454 wins is certainly an impressive feat.

Report: Prospect Filatov Calling for Change in Columbus

According to several media outlets in Columbus, Ohio and tsn.ca, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect left wing Nikita Filatov has expressed dissatisfaction with his NHL club and believes that changes should be made. He feels that if changes are not made, then he will not return to the Blue Jackets. The comments were made while Filatov was playing for Team Russia at the World Junior Hockey Championships. It is believed that he is unhappy with Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock. Filatov played in only 13 games this season, scoring two goals, before he was loaned to CSKA Moscow of the KHL for the rest of 2009-10 season back in November. In 21 career NHL games over parts of two seasons with the Blue Jackets, he has six goals. These are pretty strong words coming from a player who has very little NHL experience. While it is true that Filatov did not get a lot of playing time when he was with the Blue Jackets earlier in the season, he did not play particularly well when he was given the chance. Yes, the Blue Jackets are struggling right now and a few changes might have to be made to try to pull out of their slump, but I find the comments a little inappropriate coming from a struggling player playing on a struggling team. Instead of bashing his team for their lackluster play, Filatov should be working on improving his game so he can help make the Blue Jackets more competitive next season. If he continues to criticize the team, it may not sit well with team management, which could lead to his eventual departure via trade if his comments become too much of a distraction.

Capitals Sign Steckel & Sloan to Contract Extensions

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have signed center David Steckel to a three-year contract extension and defenseman Tyler Sloan to a two-year extension. Steckel's contract is worth $3.3 million, while Sloan's is worth $1.4 million. Both players would have been unrestricted free agents this summer. In 42 games so far this season, Steckel has two goals and three assists for five points, while Sloan has two goals and two assists for four points in 22 games. These are good depth signings for the Capitals, as both Steckel and Sloan work very hard on the ice. Steckel gives the team lots of depth at center from the fourth line and excels on the faceoff. Sloan, who toiled in the minors for years, has developed into a very reliable seventh defenseman for the Capitals with his strong work ethic.

Bruins Sign Miroslav Satan to One-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins have added some offensive depth by signing free agent right wing Miroslav Satan to a one-year contract worth $700,000. The deal includes a no-movement clause. In 65 games last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Satan scored 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points. He also appeared in 10 games with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring three goals and six assists for nine points. In 1012 career NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, and Pittsburgh Penguins, he has 354 goals and 367 assists for 721 points. This is not a bad signing for the Bruins, as Satan will provide plenty of scoring and veteran depth to the forward lines. The Bruins had been in the market in recent weeks for some scoring depth and they have gotten that in Satan. Plus, at $700,000, he is a very affordable addition to the team.

United States 2010 Olympic Roster

Here is the roster for the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Goaltenders (3)
Ryan Miller, (Buffalo Sabres, NHL)
Tim Thomas, (Boston Bruins, NHL)
Jonathan Quick, (Los Angeles Kings, NHL)

Defensemen (7)
Tim Gleason, (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL)
Ryan Whitney, (Anaheim Ducks, NHL)
Erik Johnson, (St. Louis Blues, NHL)
Jack Johnson, (Los Angeles Kings, NHL)
Brooks Orpik, (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL)
Brian Rafalski, (Detroit Red Wings, NHL)
Ryan Suter, (Nashville Predators, NHL)

Forwards (13)
David Backes, (St. Louis Blues, NHL)
Dustin Brown, (Los Angeles Kings, NHL)
Ryan Callahan, (New York Rangers, NHL)
Chris Drury, (New York Rangers, NHL)
Patrick Kane, (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL)
Ryan Kesler, (Vancouver Canucks, NHL)
Phil Kessel, (Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL)
Jamie Langenbrunner, (New Jersey Devils, NHL)
Ryan Malone, (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL)
Zach Parise, (New Jersey Devils, NHL)
Joe Pavelski, (San Jose Sharks, NHL)
Bobby Ryan, (Anaheim Ducks, NHL)
Paul Stasny, (Colorado Avalanche, NHL)

WILL NOT PLAY
D Mike Komisarek, (Toronto Maple Leafs, NHL) (replaced by Ryan Whitney)
D Paul Martin, (New Jersey Devils, NHL) (replaced by Tim Gleason)