NY Rangers Claim Goalie Auld Off Waivers from Stars

The New York Rangers announced today that they have claimed goaltender Alex Auld off re-entry waivers from the Dallas Stars. The Rangers will be responsible for half of his remaining salary for the season, while the Stars will be on the hook for the other half. In 21 games this season with the Stars, Auld has a 9-6-3 record, a 3.00 GAA, and a .894 save percentage. The Rangers will be the seventh team of his career, having previously played for the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, and the Stars. Not a bad move for the Rangers, as they had been seeking an experienced backup goaltender since December after waiving and sending Stephen Valiquette to the minors. Auld will be a steady backup for the team and will help take some of the pressure off of starter Henrik Lundqvist. This move will also put an end to any Marty Turco trade rumors, as it is now apparent the Stars intend to go with Turco and recently acquired Kari Lehtonen for the rest of the season.

Seantors Sign Ryan Shannon to One-Year Contract

The Ottawa Senators have announced that they have signed right wing Ryan Shannon to a one-year contract extension worth $625,000. In 55 games so far this season with the Senators, he has five goals and 11 assists for 16 points. In 170 career NHL games with the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, and Ottawa Senators, he has 20 goals and 40 assists for 60 points. Not a bad signing for the Senators, as Shannon has been a reliable third-line forward for the team. Plus, at $625,000, he is a very affordable signing for the team for next season.

Wild Sign Forward Clutterbuck to Three-Year Extension

The Minnesota Wild announced today that they have signed popular right winger Cal Clutterbuck to a three-year contract extension worth $4.2 million. The deal averages out to $1.4 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent this summer. In 54 games so far this season, Clutterbuck has 12 goals and six assists for 18 points and 34 penalty minutes. He currently leads the league in hits for the second straight season. In 134 career NHL games, all with the Wild, he has 23 goals and 13 assists for 36 points and 110 penalty minutes. This is a good signing for the Wild, as Clutterbuck is an extremely physical player on the ice who is not afraid to mix it up with the opposition. He is also showing an ability to score goals, and being a fan favorite in Minnesota, it wouldn't surprise me if Clutterbuck remains a part of the Wild for a long time.

Flames Sign Forward Bourque to Six-Year Contract Extension

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have signed left wing Rene Bourque to a six-year contract extension worth $19.8 million. The deal averages out to $3.3 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 53 games so far this season with the Flames, Bourque has 18 goals and 23 assists for a career high 41 points and 74 penalty minutes. In 294 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames, he has 72 goals and 84 assists for 156 points and 280 penalty minutes. He is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury. This is a good move for the Flames to get Bourque signed to a contract extension, as he is a very physical winger, can score goals, and is great on the power play. However, signing him to a six-year deal is a bit excessive in my opinion, as he is starting to become a bit injury prone. A three-year contract would have been a bit more reasonable. $3.3 million per season for a player of his caliber is okay, and if he improves offensively over the next few seasons, he could be a bargain.

Stars Waive Goaltender Alex Auld

The Dallas Stars have taken a step toward solving their logjam in goal by announcing today that they have waived goaltender Alex Auld. Teams have until noon ET on Thursday to claim the 29-year-old netminder. The Stars acquired goaltender Kari Lehtonen on February 9 with Marty Turco and Auld already backstopping the team. When the trade was made, there was a lot of speculation that the team would likely trade Turco by the March 3 trade deadline and keep Auld as the backup. Both Auld and Turco will be unrestricted free agents on July 1, while Lehtonen will be a restricted free agent. In 21 games this season with the Stars, Auld has a 9-6-3 record with a 3.00 GAA and a .894 save percentage. In 204 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Dallas Stars, he has an 83-81-26 record, six shutouts, a 2.78 GAA, and a .904 save percentage. This comes as a bit of a surprise to me, as it has been widely speculated that the Stars might try to move Turco by the trade deadline. However, the team is currently sitting one point out of the playoffs in the Western Conference and may wish to go with Turco's experience to make the playoffs rather than rely on the oft-injured Lehtonen. With Turco and Lehtonen in net, the Stars have lots of goaltending depth and give them a good combination heading into the post-season. Auld could still pass through waivers and the team could either send him to the minors or keep him on the team. However, it wouldn't surprise me if a team looking for goaltending depth claims Auld before noon on Thursday. The Calgary Flames are one team that comes to mind, as the could use a more suitable backup than Curtis McElhinney. Auld could help take a lot of the pressure off of starter Miikka Kiprusoff going into the playoffs, but it remains to be seen if the Flames have any interest in the netminder.

Predators Sign Goaltender Rinne to Two-Year Extension

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed goaltender Pekka Rinne to a two-year contract extension worth $6.8 million. The deal will pay him $2.8 million next season and $4 million for the 2011-12 season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 40 games this season with the Predators, Rinne has a 20-12-4 record, three shutouts, a 2.80 GAA, and a .902 save percentage. Not a bad signing for the Predators, as Rinne has been a solid goalie for the team for much of the season while sharing the goaltending duties with Dan Ellis. Rinne could jump into the starter's role next season depending if the team decides to re-sign Ellis this summer, who will be an unrestricted free agent. If Ellis is re-signed, he will likely continue to share playing time with Rinne.

Blackhawks Sign Free Agent Defenseman Cullimore

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have signed free agent defenseman Jassen Cullimore. The exact length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but he has likely been signed through the rest of the season. The Blackhawks then assigned him to their AHL affiliate in Rockford. This will be his second stint with the team. In 68 games with the Florida Panthers last season, Cullimore scored two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 37 penalty minutes. In 776 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers, he has 26 goals and 77 assists for 103 points and 696 penalty minutes. He won a Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Lightning. This is really just a depth signing for the Blackhawks. Cullimore gives the team a big, physical, defensive blueliner with plenty of experience for the playoff run. He will likely spend most of the rest of the season in the minors unless the team suffers an injury on defense.

Maple Leafs Claim Lundmark Off Waivers

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have claimed center Jamie Lundmark off waivers from the Calgary Flames. In 21 games this season with the Flames, he has four goals and five assists for nine points. He has also appeared 32 games with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL this season, scoring 21 points. In 280 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, and Calgary Flames, Lundmark has 39 goals and 57 assists for 96 points. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Not a bad pick-up for the Maple Leafs, as Lundmark has been a fairly reliable forward the past few seasons. He will bring some much needed offensive depth to the Maple Leafs' line-up after trading away Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, and Jamal Mayers for Dion Phaneuf and Jason Blake for Jean-Sebastien Giguere two weeks ago.

Red Wings Waive Brad May

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that they have placed left wing Brad May on waivers. In 40 games this season with the Red Wings, he has one assist and 66 penalty minutes. He was signed as a free agent by the team on October 7. The Red Wings have waived May in order to free up some salary cap space to make room for Andreas Lilja, who is very close to returning to the team after recovering from a concussion that has kept him out of the line-up all season. If May clears waivers, he will likely be sent to the team's AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. The Red Wings are also rumored to be placing a player on long-term injury status to help clear salary cap space for Lilja, but who that player will be has yet to be determined. It was also rumored that the team was trying to trade Brett Lebda to open up a roster spot on defense for Lilja, but Lebda was not dealt before the 3 PM trade deadline for the Olympic roster freeze.

Wild Acquire Defenseman Barker from Blackhawks for Johnsson & Leddy

The Minnesota Wild announced today that they have acquired defenseman Cam Barker from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defensemen Kim Johnsson and Nick Leddy. In 51 games with the Blackhawks this season, Barker has four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. He recently missed five games with an upper body injury. Johnsson has appeared in 52 games with the Wild, scoring six goals and eight assists for 14 points. He missed seven games earlier in the season with an upper body injury. Leddy, who was the Wild's first round pick in the 2009 Entry Draft, has yet to play in an NHL game. Not a bad swap for both teams. The Wild get a very promising defenseman in Barker, as he has plenty of offensive skill, especially on the power play, and has lots of potential. Barker has struggled offensively for the Blackhawks this season, but given the signing of Brian Campbell in 2008 and the emergence of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, he was moved down to the third defensive pairing and not getting as much playing time as he should have. A change of scenery will likely do wonders for Barker, where he should be able to land a role as one of the top two defensemen in Minnesota over the next couple of seasons. Johnsson will bring plenty of experience and offensive depth to the Blackhawks' defense. He will likely just be a rental player for the playoffs, as the team won't have the salary cap space next season to be able to afford to re-sign him. Plus, by trading Barker, the Blackhawks have dumped some salary to help get under the salary cap for next season. In Leddy, the Blackhawks get a very promising, offensive blueliner for the future.

Rangers Acquire Shelley from Sharks; Waiver Brashear

The New York Rangers announced today that they have acquired left wing Jody Shelley from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. If the Rangers re-sign Shelley this summer, the pick will become a fifth rounder in 2011. In 36 games with the Sharks this season, Shelley has three assists and 78 penalty minutes. He missed 23 games this season due to injury. Not a bad move by the Rangers to add some much needed toughness to their line-up. Shelley won't contribute much offensively, but his tough, gritty play will make the Rangers a more physical team to play against.

In a separate move today, the Rangers also announced that they have waived enforcer Donald Brashear. In 36 games with the Rangers this season, the left wing has one assist and 73 penalty minutes. He was signed as a free agent this past season to a two-year contract. The acquisition of Jody Shelley indicates that Brashear's time as the team enforcer has come to an end. Brashear's playing time this season has been limited and he has not played at the level of ruggedness that was expected of him. He will likely clear waivers and be demoted to the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, which will clear up $1.4 million worth of salary cap space for the team.

Senators Acquire Cullen from Hurricanes

The Ottawa Senators added some offensive depth to their line-up today by acquiring center Matt Cullen from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Alexandre Picard and their second round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 60 games with the Hurricanes this season, Cullen has 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points. Picard has appeared in 45 games with the Senators this season, scoring four goals and 11 assists for 15 points. Not a bad swap for both teams. Cullen brings the Senators some much needed offensive depth and will center either their second or third line. He also brings to the Senators plenty of two-way depth and lots of skill on the power play. Despite playing for his fourth team in three seasons, Picard brings plenty of promising offensive skill to the Hurricanes' blueline. He should also bring some skill to the Hurricanes' power play given his five power play points this season.

Flyers Sign Betts to Two-Year Contract Extension

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed center Blair Betts to a two-year contract extension worth $1.4 million. The deal averages out to $700,000 per season. In 39 games so far this season with the Flyers, Betts has six goals and four assists for 10 points and signed as a free agent with the team on October 1. He missed 19 games earlier in the season with a right shoulder injury. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. This is a decent signing for the Flyers, as Betts has provided plenty of steady offensive, two-way depth for the team. Look for him to continue to bring the same level of play to the Flyers over the next two years, and at $700,000 per season, is a very affordable signing.

Canadiens Acquire Moore from Panthers

The Montreal Canadiens announced yesterday that they have acquired center Dominic Moore from the Florida Panthers in exchange for their second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. This trade marks the first move by the Canadiens' newly-appointed general manager Pierre Gauthier, who took over the role this past week when Bob Gainey stepped down. In 48 games this season with the Panthers, Moore has eight goals and nine assists for 17 points. He was signed as a free agent by the Panthers on October 4. In 353 career NHL games with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, and Florida Panthers, he has 43 goals and 74 assists for 117 points. This is not a terrible depth move by the Canadiens, as Moore should be a decent fill-in while Andrei Kostitsyn, Mike Cammalleri, and Benoit Pouliot recover from injuries. Moore will bring plenty of offensive depth to the team's third line. What I am surprised with in this move, however, is what the Canadiens gave up to land him. A second round draft pick seems kind of steep for a player has struggled to live up to the offensive numbers he put up when he was with the Maple Leafs. To me, a third round pick is probably the most the Canadiens should have given up for Moore and they probably gave up a little too much to land him. The Panthers walk away winners in this deal, as they likely would not have re-signed Moore this summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Penguins and Blues Swap Defensemen

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced yesterday that they have acquired defenseman Steve Wagner from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Nate Guenin. Wagner has not appeared in any NHL games so far this season. In 22 games last season with the Blues, he scored two goals and two assists for four points. Guenin has appeared in two games with the Penguins this season, scoring no points. This trade is really nothing more than a swap of minor league defensemen. Wagner brings some offensive skill to the Penguins' minor league affiliate, while Guenin brings defensive depth and toughness to the Blues' minor league team.

Stars Claim Forward Segal Off Waivers from Kings

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have claimed right wing Brandon Segal off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. This is the second move for the Stars in as many days, with the team having acquired goaltender Kari Lehtonen from the Atlanta Thrashers two days prior. In 25 games so far this season with the Kings, Segal has one goal and one assist for two points and 20 penalty minutes. He missed nine games in December with a knee injury. He still has one more year left on his current contract. This is really just a depth move for the Stars to add some toughness to their forward lines. The team is currently without physical forwards Steve Ott and Brian Sutherby, who are sidelined with injuries. Segal should provide a good amount of toughness for the Stars until their players return from injury.

Stars Acquire Goaltender Lehtonen from Thrashers

The Dallas Stars announced tonight that they have acquired goaltender Kari Lehtonen from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for prospect defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy and Dallas' fourth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. Lehtonen was recently recalled from the Thrashers' AHL affiliate in Chicago after completing a conditioning stint. He has not played in any games this season after undergoing back surgery this past September. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. In 46 games last season with the Thrashers, Lehtonen posted a 19-22-3 record, three shutouts, a 3.06 GAA, and a .911 save percentage. In 204 career NHL games over five seasons, all with the Thrashers, he has a 94-83-17 record, 14 shutouts, a 2.87 GAA, and a .912 save percentage. Vishnevskiy has appeared in only two games this season with the Stars, scoring no points. The Thrashers are expected to assign him to Chicago of the AHL. This trade really comes as no surprise since rumors had begun to swirl recently that the Stars were interested in Lehtonen. This could be a bit of a risky trade for the Stars, as Lehtonen has a history of missing extended periods of time due to injury. However, if he can stay healthy, he brings the Stars a talented starting goaltender who's best years are still ahead of him. Also, by acquiring the Finnish netminder, this is a strong indication the Stars will likely trade starting goaltender Marty Turco by the March 3 trade deadline. In Vishnevskiy, the Thrashers get another talented defenseman to build around. He has great offensive skill and could develop into a top defenseman for the Thrashers. The Thrashers appear to be in selling mode now after trading superstar Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils last week and now Lehtonen to the Stars. It wouldn't surprise me if the Thrashers unload a few more players prior to the trade deadline.

Lightning Sign Free Agent Forward Mark Parrish

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have signed free agent right wing Mark Parrish to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Parrish has been assigned to the Lightning's AHL affiliate in Norfolk. In 44 games last season with the Dallas Stars, he scored eight goals and five assists for 13 points. He also appeared in three games last season with Bridgeport of the AHL, scoring one goal and one assist for two points. In 704 career NHL games with the Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars, he has 216 goals and 169 assists for 385 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Lightning, as Parrish has been in offensive decline for the past few seasons, but he does bring the team plenty of veteran experience down the wing. If the Lightning recall him from the AHL at any point this season, it will likely be in the event of an injury.

Sharks Acquire Defenseman Wallin from Hurricanes

The San Jose Sharks announced today that they have acquired defenseman Niclas Wallin and a fifth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second round pick in 2010 that originally belonged to the Buffalo Sabres. The Sharks originally acquired Buffalo's second round pick during the summer of 2008 when they traded defenseman Craig Rivet to the Sabres. In 47 games with the Hurricanes this season, Wallin has five assists. In 517 career NHL games, all with the Hurricanes, he has 18 goals and 51 assists for 69 points. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Not a bad depth move for the Sharks on defense, as Marc-Edouard Vlasic is currently sidelined with a lower body injury. Wallin brings defensive depth and a physical presence to the team's third defensive pairing, as well as a wealth of playoff experience. He helped the Hurricanes reach the Stanley Cup finals in 2002 and 2006, while winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. Only time will tell, though, if Wallin's experience can help the Sharks advance deep in the playoffs, as they haven't had much success in getting past the semifinals.

Red Wings Trade Leino to Flyers for Tollefsen

The Detroit Red Wings announced today that they have traded left wing Ville Leino to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and a fifth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Tollefsen was then immediately placed on waivers where he can be claimed by any team before noon on Sunday. He will likely be sent to the Red Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids in he clears waivers. The move was orchestrated to clear salary cap space for the Red Wings, who have a number of players close to returning from injuries, including Johan Franzen. In 42 games with the Red Wings this season, Leino has four goals and three assists for seven points and was a frequent healthy scratch in recent games. Tollefsen has two assists and 23 penalty minutes in 18 games with the Flyers this season. He missed 16 games earlier in the season with a concussion and 14 games more recently with a sprained left MCL. This is really just a cost-cutting trade by the Red Wings. If they had tried to send Leino to the minors, he would have had to pass through waivers and likely would have been claimed by another team, therefore, they would have lost him for nothing. Leino has the potential to become a top-six forward in the league, but could not find his scoring touch with the Red Wings this season. If the Flyers give him a chance, he could be a decent impact player down the road. Tollefsen gives the Red Wings a tough, physical seventh defenseman, but likely won't play very many games with the team given their lack of salary cap space. If Tollefsen does play any games with the team, it will be to fill in for an injured defenseman. As for the fifth round draft pick the Red Wings received, they have had a lot of success in the past with drafting high-caliber players in the later rounds, so this pick could hold some promise for the team, but that remains to be seen.

Predators Sign Jordin Tootoo to 2-Year Contract Extension

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed right wing Jordin Tootoo to a two-year contract extension worth $2.5 million. The deal will pay him $1.15 million during the 2010-11 season and $1.35 million for 2011-12. Tootoo would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 26 games so far this season with the Predators, he has two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 18 penalty minutes. He missed 13 games earlier in the season with a groin injury and 17 games more recently with a broken foot. In 330 career NHL games, all with the Predators, he has 28 goals and 43 assists for 71 points and 550 penalty minutes. This move comes as no surprise, as Tootoo is one of the most beloved players to the fans in Nashville. He plays with lots of grit and toughness, making him a vital part of the Predators' checking lines and a good signing by the Predators.

Thrashers Trade Kovalchuk to Devils

The Atlanta Thrashers have finally parted ways with superstar Ilya Kovalchuk. The team has traded the left winger along with defenseman Anssi Salmela to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Johnny Oduya, right wing Niclas Bergfors, prospect center Patrice Cormier, and the Devils' first round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. The teams also swapped second round draft picks in 2010 as well. Kovalchuk became the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks when it was reported he had turned down a multi-year contract extension from the Thrashers. He is in the final year of his current contract and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.

In 49 games this season with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk has 31 goals and 27 assists for 58 points. Salmela, who will begin his second stint with the Devils, has played in 29 games this season with the Thrashers, scoring one goal and four assists for five points. The Devils traded the Finnish defenseman to the Thrashers last March for defenseman Niclas Havelid. Oduya has played in 40 games this season with the Devils, scoring two goals and two assists for four points. He missed 15 games earlier in the season with a groin injury. In 54 games this season with the Devils, Bergfors has 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points. Cormier, who has no NHL experience, had been playing with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL until he was recently suspended for the remainder of the season after delivering a vicious elbow to the head of Quebec Remparts' Mikael Tam.

It's a shame to see the Thrashers cut ties with a player as talented as Kovalchuk, but they sure didn't get a good return for their franchise forward. Sure, the Thrashers were not going to get a player in return comparable to Kovalchuk, but they probably could have gotten a player or two with a little bit more offensive production than they got. Oduya on the other hand, should be a good addition to the Thrashers' blueline. He does have some offensive skill and should mesh well with Atlanta's other defensemen, but his production will hardly replace that of Kovalchuk. Bergfors does possess some offensive skill and has shown a knack for scoring goals in his rookie season, but like Oduya, his offensive skill will not replace Kovalchuk's. Bergfors will likely be a second-line forward at best. Cormier was considered to be one of the Devil's top prospects and could develop into a physical, scoring forward one day, but that remains to be seen.

This move is a good one for the Devils, who have added one of the most dynamic scorers in the league and should help spark their recently sluggish offense. Plus, this trade will likely make the Devils one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season. If this move does not pan out for the Devils and Kovalchuk leaves via unrestricted free agency, the return will not be a significant loss to the team given their depth in prospects. As for the Thrashers, this trade likely won't sit well with the fan base. This is another lousy move from a team that is starting to develop a history of making bad trades, and many fans may abandon the franchise because of this. Only time will tell if the return for Kovalchuk will help the franchise out in any way, but I have to say, the Thrashers got screwed big time on this trade.

Report: Kovalchuk's Days as a Thrasher Numbered

***UPDATE***
USA Today is reporting that Ilya Kovalchuk has been traded to the New Jersey Devils. It is not known yet what the Thrashers will be getting in return. Stay tuned folks, as this is sure to be an interesting night regarding Kovalchuk.

***UPDATE***
Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell announced today that the reason the team is exploring the trade market for Ilya Kovalchuk largely has to do with the superstar's rejection of a 12-year contract worth $101 million. Waddell further explained that if the team were to offer Kovalchuk any higher of a contract, it would leave them with little cap space to retain their other players when it came time to re-sign them or pursue other players to help make the team competitive.

According to tsn.ca, Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has told star left wing Ilya Kovalchuk to expect a trade to another NHL team within the next few hours or days. There is no indication that a deal is imminent, but among the teams that have expressed interest in Kovalchuk include the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers, and possibly the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals. Kovalchuk's name has popped up in trade rumors in recent weeks after reports began to surface that he could not come to terms on a multi-year deal with the Thrashers. He is in the final year of his current contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 49 games so far this season, Kovalchuk has 31 goals and 27 assists for 58 points. In 594 career NHL games, all with the Thrashers, he has 328 goals and 287 assists for 615 points. He won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2004 along with Calgary's Jarome Iginla and Columbus' Rick Nash as the league's leading goal-scorer with 41 goals.

It should really come as no surprise that the Thrashers are going to deal Kovalchuk. He stated in the past that he would be willing to remain with the team if they could become a playoff team, but over the course of the past few seasons, the Thrashers have not been able to secure a playoff spot. You can't blame Kovalchuk for wanting to leave the team, as he wants a chance to win a Stanley Cup and it just isn't going to happen in the near future with the Thrashers. It will be interesting, however, to see which team ends up acquiring him and what they give up to land him. I just can't see the Blackhawks or Flyers acquiring him, as they would have to send considerable salary the other way to land him. Plus, the Blackhawks are playing so well right now that landing a big star like Kovalchuk could disrupt team chemistry. The Capitals have so much fire power on offense that acquiring Kovalchuk would be unnecessary. Their main focus right now should be adding depth to their defense. The Bruins, Flames, and Rangers could be possibilities given their recent slides through the standings and struggles offensively. However, the Bruins, like the Flyers, would have to swing considerable salary the other way to comfortably afford Kovalchuk. The Flames need to be careful how much they shake-up their roster, as it could take some time for all the new players to comfortably mesh with each other. Of all the teams rumored to have interest in Kovalchuk, the Kings make the most sense. They have the salary cap space to afford him and they have plenty of young prospects that they could part with and not hurt the team. Plus, it has been rumored that the Thrashers would prefer to move Kovalchuk to a Western Conference. However, only time will tell which team he will eventually end up with.

Islanders Sign Free Agent Forward Gillies

In a minor move, the New York Islanders have announced that they have signed left wing Trevor Gillies to a one-year, two-way contract worth $500,000. He has appeared in only one game with the team so far this season, scoring no points. He has appeared in only one other NHL game with the Anaheim Ducks during the 2005-06 season. He scored no points and accumulated 21 penalty minutes. If you're an Islanders fan, this move is nothing to get excited about. Gillies was likely brought in to inject some toughness into the Islanders' line-up, as he has no offensive upside whatsoever. More than likely, he will end up being assigned to the team's AHL affiliate in Bridgeport in the near future.