Lightning Add Mathieu Garon and J.T. Wyman

The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced that they have signed goaltender Mathieu Garon to a two-year contract worth $2.6 million and right wing J.T. Wyman to a one-year, two-way contract. Garon's deal will pay him $1.3 million per season, while the financial terms of Wyman's deal were not disclosed. In 36 games last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Garon posted a 10-14-6 record, three shutouts, a 2.72 GAA, and a .901 save percentage. Wyman appeared in 80 games last season with Hamilton of the AHL, scoring 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points. Garon is a decent depth signing for the Lightning, as he is a hard worker on the ice and is an excellent backup goalie. He should be a good compliment to Dwayne Roloson next season. As for Wyman, he is just a depth signing and will likely spend all of next season in the minors.

Blue Jackets Add Pahlsson, Garon Via Free Agency

The Columbus Blue Jackets added some forward and goaltending depth to their roster on Wednesday by signing center Sami Pahlsson and goaltender Mathieu Garon to contracts. Pahlsson signed a three-year deal worth $7.95 million, which averages out to $2.65 million per season, while Garon signed a two-year contract worth $2.4 million, which averages out to $1.2 million per season. Pahlsson played last season with the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks, who acquired him at the 2009 trade deadline. In 65 games, he scored seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. In 557 career games with the Ducks Blackhawks, and Boston Bruins, Pahlsson has 54 goals and 92 assists for 146 points. Garon split last season with the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins, posting an 8-9-0 record in 19 games with a 3.12 GAA and a .894 save percentage. He won his first Stanley Cup with the Penguins this past season.

These are decent signings for the Blue Jackets, as both players bring plenty of depth to their respected positions. Pahlsson gives the team a very skilled two-way forward who plays with plenty of grit, as well as veteran depth at center. Garon gives the Blue Jackets a more than capable back-up to Steve Mason next season should the young netminder struggle or miss time with an injury.

Oilers and Penguins Trade Goaltenders

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers swapped goaltenders on Saturday with the Oilers sending Mathieu Garon to the Penguins in exchange for Dany Sabourin, center Ryan Stone, and Pittsburgh's 4th round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The trade ends the speculation of which Oilers goalie would be traded, while it helps shore up the Penguins struggling goaltending. However, acquiring Sabourin puts the Oilers in a three-goalie dilemma again, but according to GM Steve Tambellini, he will either send Sabourin to their AHL affiliate in Springfield or trade him to another team. In 15 games so far this season, Garon has posted a 6-8-0 record with a 3.17 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. Sabourin, who has played in 19 games so far this season, has a 6-8-2 record, with a 2.85 average and .898 save percentage. Stone has only played in two games this season, scoring no points and two penalty minutes. Garon should give the Penguins a boost in net, as Marc-Andre Fleury has struggled the past couple of weeks. Garon's veteran experience could help the Penguins jump back into the playoff picture. As for Sabourin, he likely won't see any action with the Oilers given Tambellini's comments. I've read on some message boards that some fans believe the Oilers may attempt to acquire goaltender Pascal Leclaire from the Columbus Blue Jackets given their recent waiver claim of Wade Dubielewicz from the New York Islanders and the Oilers' trading of Garon. I have to say, and sorry Oilers fans, but I do not believe Leclaire will end up in Edmonton, nor do I think the Oilers are interested in him. Leclaire is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and the rumor is he may be having season-ending surgery on his ankle. The Blue Jackets claimed Dubielewicz to account for their injured goaltender and would not risk trading Leclaire even if he returned from his injury given their closeness to making the playoffs. The Oilers will likely use Sabourin as trade bait and could use him to bring in some scoring depth for their struggling offense. If they're successful in trading him, the return may not be spectacular, but it could be enough to give the Oilers a bit of a boost to their forward lines. Also worth mentioning, it appears the Oilers will stick with Dwayne Roloson as their starter for the rest of the season given his strong play of late, unless they get an offer they can't refuse.