Stars Acquire Goligoski from Penguins for Neal, Niskanen

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have acquired defenseman Alex Goligoski from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for left wing James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen. All three players still have one year left on their current contracts and will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2012. In 60 games this season, Goligoski has nine goals and 22 assists for 31 points. Neal has 21 goals and 18 assists for 39 points in 59 games, while Niskanen has six assists in 45 games. This is a good trade for the Penguins, as Neal brings them lots of offensive and goal-scoring skill on the wing. The Penguins have been looking for a scoring winger to play alongside Sidney Crosby for the past couple seasons and they have found that in Neal. Plus, he brings some much-needed depth on offense with the injuries to Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, and Mark Letestu. In Niskanen, the Penguins get a smooth-skating defenseman who has some offensive skill. In Goligoski, the Stars get some much-needed offensive help on the blueline, as well as a decent puck-mover with some mobility. However, the price to acquire him was a little steep in giving up Neal and Niskanen. Plus, with Brad Richards currently sidelined with concussion-like symptoms, giving up Neal was not really a great idea, as it will deplete their offense a bit. It is possible Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk made this move to shed some salary to attempt to retain Richards, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Still, giving up Neal costs the team some offense, but they still could pursue another forward before the February 28 trade deadline.

Avalanche Acquire Johnson, McClement from Blues for Stewart, Shattenkirk

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Saturday that they have acquired defenseman Erik Johnson, center Jay McClement, and a conditional first round draft pick in 2011 or 2012 in exchange for right wing Chris Stewart, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, and a conditional second round draft pick in 2011 or 2012. If St. Louis finishes among the bottom 10 teams in the league this season, they will send Colorado their first round pick in 2012 and Colorado will send them their second round pick in 2012. If St. Louis does not finish in the bottom 10 teams this season, Colorado will get the Blues' first round pick in 2011 and St. Louis will get Colorado's second round pick in 2011. Johnson, McClement, and Stewart all have one year left on their remaining contracts, while Shattenkirk still has two years left on his entry-level deal. In 56 games this season with the Blues, Johnson has five goals and 14 assists for 19 points, while McClement has six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 57 games. Stewart, who missed 21 games this season with a broken hand, has 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points, while Shattenkirk has seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points in 47 games. Quite an interesting trade for Colorado and St. Louis, as I figured both teams would continue to rebuild around the players they traded. For the Avalanche, they get a very talented defenseman in Johnson who has the potential to anchor their blueline for years to come. He has a good shot, lots of size, and plenty of all-around defensive upside. In McClement, the Avalanche get a decent defensive forward who is good on the faceoff, and with his addition, are now very solid up the middle (Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene, Ryan O'Reilly, and McClement). The Blues land an offensively skilled forward in Stewart who can play a physical game and has the poential to become a power forward in the league. Shattenkirk brings lots of offensive skill to the blueline, especially on the power play, and gives the team a decent prospect defenseman to replace Johnson. In the end, the Blues look to be winners in this trade, given the all-around skill they've added to their team in Stewart and Shattenkirk.

Red Wings Sign Jan Mursak to Two-Year Deal

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that they have signed right wing Jan Mursak to a two-year contract extension. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 17 games this season with the Red Wings, he has one goal. He has also appeared in 39 games with Grand Rapids of the AHL, scoring 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points. Not a bad depth signing for Detroit, as Mursak has some offensive potential. He also has some speed and hockey sense, so he will likely land a roster spot with the team over the next two years.

Lightning Acquire Eric Brewer from Blues

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have acquired defenseman Eric Brewer from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect defenseman Brock Beukeboom and a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. In 54 games this season with the Blues, Brewer has eight goals and six assists for 14 points and 57 penalty minutes. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Beukeboom has one goal and seven assists for eight points and 54 penalty minutes in 44 games with Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL this season. Not a bad trade for the Lightning as Brewer will add some size, stability, toughness, and leadership to the blueline. As for the Blues, they get a physical defensive prospect in Beukeboom who has some size.

Sharks Acquire Ian White from Hurricanes

In a second and separate trade by both teams today, the San Jose Sharks have acquired defenseman Ian White from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Just prior to this trade, the Hurricanes acquired defenseman Derek Joslin from the Sharks in exchange for future considerations. White, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, was acquired by the Hurricanes earlier this season from the Calgary Flames with Brett Sutter in exchange for Anton Babchuk and Tom Kostopoulos. In 55 games this season with the Flames and Hurricanes, White has two goals and 14 assists for 16 points. Not a bad move for the Sharks, as White will bring plenty of offensive and puck-moving skill to the blueline, as well as some mobility. For the Hurricanes, White didn't play very well on the team, but they will lose a little depth on defense with his departure. Perhaps they could go shopping for another blueliner by the February 28 trade deadline if they feel they need more defensive depth.

Hurricanes Acquire Derek Joslin from Sharks

The Carolina Hurricanes announced today that they have acquired defenseman Derek Joslin from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for future considerations. He will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 17 games with the Sharks this season, he has one goal and three assists for four points. Not a bad depth move for the Hurricanes, as Joslin is a mobile defenseman with some offensive upside and skill on the power play. He was seldom used by San Jose this season and likely wasn't going to advance up their depth chart very much. Landing with the Hurricanes should give him a chance to see more ice time.

Bruins Acquire Tomas Kaberle from Maple Leafs

Tomas Kaberle's time in Toronto has come to an end. The Boston Bruins announced today that they have acquired the 32-year-old defenseman from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for prospect center Joe Colborne, Boston's first round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft, and a conditional second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft if he is re-signed in the off-season by the Bruins. Kaberle, who has been a part of Toronto's defense for the past 11 seasons and is the second highest scoring defenseman in Leafs' history behind Borje Salming with 83 goals and 437 assists, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. Colborne is currently in the first year of a three-year entry level deal. In 58 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Kaberle has three goals and 35 assists for 38 points. Colborne has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points this season with Providence of the AHL and will now report to Toronto of the AHL. This is a good trade for the Bruins, as Kaberle will add lots of offensive skill to the blueline, particularly on the power play. With all the moves the Bruins have made over the past week, it has become clear they are looking to go deep in the playoffs this year. As for the Maple Leafs, they get a fairly decent prospect in Colborne. He has great size and has the potential to become a goal-scoring forward at the NHL level and will eventually fill a hole at center for Toronto. The first round pick the Maple Leafs received in the trade is Boston's first rounder and not their own that they sent to the Bruins in the Phil Kessel deal. Still, Toronto now has two first round picks in this year's draft from which to start restocking their team with young talent.

Thrashers Acquire Wheeler, Stuart from Bruins for Peverley, Valabik

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have acquired winger Blake Wheeler and defenseman Mark Stuart from the Boston Bruins in exchange for center Rich Peverley and defenseman Boris Valabik. Wheeler and Valabik will both be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Stuart will be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Peverley still has one more year left on his current deal. In 58 games with the Bruins this season, Wheeler has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points, while Stuart has one goal and four assists for five points in 31 games. In 59 games with the Thrashers, Peverley has 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points, while Valabik has nine assists and 165 penalty minutes with Chicago of the AHL. He has not appeared in an NHL game so far this season. This is a good trade for the Thrashers, as Wheeler and Stuart will bring plenty of depth to the team at their respected positions. Wheeler will add some two-way depth, size, and offensive skill despite being a little inconsistent in his scoring, while Stuart will add plenty of defensive depth as a stay-at-home defenseman and bring some physical play to the blueline. Trading Peverley will leave the Thrashers a little thin at center and they could perhaps swing another trade for a center before the February 28 trade deadline. Also, the Thrashers likely won't miss Valabik, as he never panned out for the team. It's not a bad trade for the Bruins either, but I give the edge to the Thrashers in this one. Peverley brings the Bruins some offensive skill and two-way ability, perhaps a bit more than Wheeler was providing in Boston. He will also bring some versatility to the team, as he can also play on the wing. At six feet, seven inches, Valabik brings tremendous size to Boston's blueline, as well as lots of toughness and physical play. However, he is a bit slow, tends to take bad penalties, and isn't very offensive minded, which will likely land him a sixth or seventh role with the team for the time being. Although, with Zdeno Chara as a mentor, Valabik's game should improve over time.

Senators Acquire Craig Anderson from Avalanche for Brian Elliott

The Ottawa Senators announced today that they have acquired goaltender Craig Anderson from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Brian Elliott. This is the fourth trade the Senators have made in the past week as GM Bryan Murray continues to revamp the roster. Elliott is the latest Senator to move, following forwards Jarkko Ruutu, Chris Kelly, and Mike Fisher. Anderson will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, while Elliott will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 33 games this season with the Avalanche, Anderson has a 13-15-3 record, with a 3.28 GAA and a .897 save percentage, while Elliott has a 13-19-8 record, three shutouts, a 3.19 GAA, and a .894 save percentage in 43 games with Ottawa. This is a good trade for the Senators, as Anderson has decent goaltending skills and adds a lot of depth in goal despite struggling in Colorado this season. Despite being eligible for UFA status this summer, the Senators will likely try to get Anderson under contract prior to July 1, as long as he has a good run with the team for the rest of the season. If he does and Ottawa re-signs him, look for their goaltending tandem to be Anderson and Robin Lehner next season. Pascal Leclaire will also be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Ottawa is unlikely to re-sign him due to his inconsistency and injury history while with the team. As for Colorado, they get a young goaltender in Elliott who covers a lot of area in net and is fairly quick on his skates, but is very inconsistent and can lose his positioning sometimes. He had a decent start to the 2010-11 season, but has struggled mightily in net for the past few months. If Elliott is able to improve his goaltending skills, this could be an okay trade for Colorado, but they were likely better off trying to re-sign Anderson for another year and see if he could improve.

Ducks Acquire Jarkko Ruutu from Senators

The Anaheim Ducks announced tonight that they have acquired left wing Jarkko Ruutu from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Ruutu will be eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season. In 50 games so far this season, he has two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 59 penalty minutes. In 629 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Ottawa Senators, he has 57 goals and 83 assists for 140 points and 1040 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth move for the Ducks, as Ruutu plays with lots of toughness and is a very gritty, energetic, and agitating forward. He also brings a little two-way skill to the lineup and should be an effective checking line forward for the Ducks as they approach the playoffs.

NY Islanders Sign Pierre (PA) Parenteau to One-Year Contract

The New York Islanders announced today that they have signed right wing Pierre (PA) Parenteau to a one-year contract extension worth $1.25 million. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 56 games so far this season, he has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points. In 83 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and New York Islanders, he has 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Islanders, as Parenteau has been one of the better offensive producers for the team all season. Not only does he have some offensive instincts, he can also play at center, making him a versatile forward for the team. More than likely, Parenteau should have another respectable season with the Islanders in 2011-12.

Canadiens Acquire Paul Mara from Ducks

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have acquired defenseman Paul Mara from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Mara, who has been a healthy scratch in 23 of the Ducks' last 25 games, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He is also beginning his second stint with the Canadiens. In 33 games so far this season, he has one goal and one assist, as well as 40 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth move for Montreal, as Mara played with the team last season and will already be familiar with their system, and will also bring some toughness and plenty of size to the team. More importantly, he will bring some much needed defensive depth to a club that is currently without Andrei Markov, Josh Gorges, Hall Gill, and Jaroslav Spacek because of injuries.

Bruins Acquire Chris Kelly from Senators

The Boston Bruins announced late Tuesday evening that they have acquired center Chris Kelly from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a second round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. He still has one more year left on his current contract. In 57 games so far this season, he has 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points. In 463 career NHL games, all with the Senators, he has 75 goals and 101 assists for 176 points. Not a bad move for the Bruins, as Kelly has some two-way skill, works very hard on the ice, is good on the penalty kill, and is also versatile enough to play on the wing. He will bring some much needed depth at center with Marc Savard currently sidelined with a concussion. Kelly will likely become the Bruins' third-line center, which will also likely push rookie center Tyler Seguin further down the depth chart and lead to a reduction in his ice time for the rest of the season.

Thrashers Sign Dustin Byfuglien to Five-Year Extension

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have signed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year contract extension worth $26 million. The deal averages out to $5.2 million per season. He would have been a restricted free agent this summer and a likely target for an offer sheet. He was acquired by the Thrashers this past summer from the Chicago Blackhawks along with Brent Sopel, Ben Eager, and Akim Aliu in exchange for Marty Reasoner, Jeremy Morin, Joey Crabb, and first and second round picks in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 58 games so far this season, Byfuglien has 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points. In 318 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Atlanta Thrashers, he has 72 goals and 80 assists for 152 points. This is a good signing for the Thrashers, as Byfuglien has emerged as an elite player on the blueline and still has his best years ahead of him. He has excellent offensive skills, especially on the power play, good size, and can log lots of minutes. He can also play on the wing, which makes him a very versatile player for the Thrashers.

Maple Leafs Acquire Aaron Voros from Ducks

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that they have acquired left wing Aaron Voros from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. Voros, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, will report to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. In 12 games this season with the Ducks, he has no points and 43 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth move for the Maple Leafs, as Voros was brought in to fill a roster spot on the Marlies for Christian Hanson, who was called up by the Maple Leafs yesterday. Voros, who does play with lots of toughness, could see time with Toronto if they need to insert more grit into their lineup, but other than that, he will spend most of the rest of the season in the minors.

Flyers Acquire Kris Versteeg from Maple Leafs

The Philadelphia Flyers announced Monday evening that they have acquired right wing Kris Versteeg from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Philadelphia's first and third round picks in the 2011 Entry Draft. He still has one more year left on his current contract. The Maple Leafs originally acquired Versteeg last summer from the Chicago Blackhawks along with Bill Sweatt in exchange for prospect forwards Viktor Stahlberg, Chris DiDomenico, and Philippe Paradis. In 53 games this season, he has 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points. Not a bad move for the Flyers, as Versteeg is sure to add some offensive punch to the team. He will add some skill to the power play and penalty kill, as well as a little toughness to the forward lines. The Beauchemin and Versteeg trades now indicate that the Maple Leafs will be sellers going into the February 28 trade deadline, so it's likely that more players could be shopped over the next two weeks.

Peter Forsberg Announces His Retirement

After only two games with the Colorado Avalanche, left wing Peter Forsberg has decided to retire from hockey. The 37-year-old forward had signed a contract with the Avalanche just last week in an attempt to make an NHL comeback. He cited foot problems as his reason for retirement, which have plagued him in recent years and prevented NHL comebacks over the past few seasons. In 708 career NHL games with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators, he has 249 goals and 636 assists for 885 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001 as a member of the Avalanche, the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the leading scorer in 2003, the Calder Trophy as rookie-of-the-year in 1995, and Olympic Gold Medals in 1994 and 2006 as a member of Team Sweden. This should really come as no surprise, as the constant foot problems have hindered Forsberg's career over the past several years. However, it is a bit surprising that he is retiring after only two games, although his injured foot was clearly still bothering him. Forsberg was always an outstanding playmaker and stickhandler and had great offensive skills and it's unfortunate to see his brilliant career ended by an injury. He will surely be a lock for the Hall of Fame one day.

Stars Sign Jason Williams to One-Year Contract

The Dallas Stars have announced that they have signed right wing Jason Williams to a one-year, two-way contract for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. The deal will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. In 17 games this season with Connecticut of the AHL, he has four goals and nine assists for 13 points. In 44 games last season with the Detroit Red Wings, he had six goals and nine assists for 15 points. He also missed 38 games last season with a broken fibula. Not a bad depth signing for the Stars, as Williams will bring versatility, offensive and veteran depth, and some skill to the power play.

Predators Acquire Mike Fisher from Senators

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have acquired center Mike Fisher from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a first round draft pick in 2011 and a conditional draft pick in 2012. The conditional pick will turn into a third rounder if the Predators win one playoff round. That pick will then turn into a second rounder if Nashville wins two or more playoff rounds. Fisher still has two more seasons left on his current contract and will clear $4.2 million per season from Ottawa's salary. In 55 games so far this season, he has 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points. In 675 career NHL games, all with the Senators, he has 167 goals and 181 assists for 348 points. This is a great trade for the Predators, as Fisher is an excellent two-way center with good speed and a great shot. He is also excellent on the penalty kill and has plenty of playoff experience, both of which should be a large help to the Predators. Also, being married to country music superstar Carrie Underwood, Fisher should fit in well in Nashville.

Sharks Acquire Davis, Swift from Devils for Leach, Zalewski

The San Jose Sharks announced on Wednesday night that they have acquired right wing Patrick Davis and center Michael Swift from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Jay Leach and center Steven Zalewski. Davis, Swift, and Zalewski will all be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Leach will be an unrestricted free agent. In 40 games this season with Albany of the AHL, Davis has 13 points, while Swift has 28 points in 48 games with Albany as well. In 50 games this season with Worcester of the AHL, Zalewski has 21 points, while Leach has five points with Worcester. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as all four players will likely spend the rest of the season in the minors. However, Leach could possibly see time with the Devils if injuries begin to mount on their blueline like they did earlier in the season.

Blackhawks Acquire Frolik, Salak from Panthers for Skille, Jessiman, Pacan

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Wednesday night that they have acquired right wing Michael Frolik and goaltender Alexander Salak from the Florida Panthers in exchange for right wings Jack Skille and Hugh Jessiman and prospect center David Pacan. Frolik, Salak, and Skille will all be eligible for restricted free agency in July, while Jessiman will be an unrestricted free agent. In 52 games this season, Frolik has eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points, while Skille has seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 49 games. In 41 games with Farjestad BK of the Swedish Elite League, Salak has a 2.04 GAA, a .925 save percentage, and six shutouts. Jessiman has three goals and two assists for five points in 25 games with Rockford of the AHL, while Pacan has 43 points in 47 games with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL. Not a bad move for the Blackhawks, as Frolik has lots of offensive skill and scoring potential. He does have some consistency issues, but perhaps getting a new start with Chicago will help him improve his offensive game. Skille has some size, can play a physical game, and goal-scoring upside, but also suffers from consistency issues. Perhaps more ice time in Florida will help him improve his game. Pacan gives the Panthers a promising center who has lots of size and some offensive upside who could likely make the team a few seasons down the road. Salak gives the Blackhawks a talented goaltender with plenty of size who works hard in the net, and could potentially see some NHL action with the team in the future. Jessiman gives the Panthers a physical winger who can score at the AHL level, but has never been able to crack an NHL lineup. He will likely spend the rest of the season in the minors.

NY Islanders Acquire Al Montoya from Coyotes for Draft Pick

The New York Islanders announced on Wednesday night that they have acquired goaltender Al Montoya from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The Islanders were in need of a goalie after rookie Kevin Poulin suffered a season-ending knee injury in the warm-up for Tuesday's game against Toronto. The Islanders are also currently without Rick DiPietro, who suffered face and knee injuries after fighting Pittsburgh's Brent Johnson last week, Nathan Lawson, who also has a knee injury, and Evgeni Nabokov, who has refused to report to the team since being claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings on January 22. In 21 games this season with San Antonio of the AHL, Montoya has posted an 11-8-0 record, with a 3.19 GAA and a .891 save percentage. He will report to the Islanders' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. This should be a good opportunity for Montoya, as he has spent much of his career in the AHL and should bring plenty of experience in net for the Islanders. He could emerge as a reliable backup for the team as the rest of the season plays out.

Ducks Acquire Beauchemin from Maple Leafs for Lupul, Gardiner

The Anaheim Ducks announced on Wednesday that they have acquired defenseman Francois Beauchemin from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right wing Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Jake Gardiner, and a conditional fourth round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. Beauchemin has one more season left on his current contract, while Lupul still has two more years on his current deal. In 54 games so far this season, Beachemin has two goals and 10 assists for 12 points, while Lupul has five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 26 games. He missed 28 games earlier this season after having back surgery last April. In 30 games with the University of Wisconsin this season, Gardiner has seven goals and 23 assists for 30 points. This move works for both teams, as it addresses needs for both Anaheim and Toronto. Beachemin has good size, can log lots of minutes, and can play a physical game. He will bring lots of defensive experience to the team, where he previously played from 2005 to 2009. Lupul brings some much needed offensive and goal scoring experience to the Maple Leafs' roster. However, he has battled inconsistency and injury issues over the past couple of seasons, so Lupul could be a risky acquisition if he cannot stay healthy or improve his offensive game. Gardiner, though, is the prize for Toronto in this trade. He has lots of offensive talent, skates well, and has lots of upside on the blueline. Look for him to battle for a roster spot at training camp this September.

Ducks Sign Goaltender Ray Emery to One-Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks announced on Monday that they have signed goaltender Ray Emery to a one-year, two-way contract for the rest of the season. The deal will pay him $500,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. He cleared waivers on Tuesday and has been assigned to Syracuse of the AHL. The 28-year-old netminder, who underwent hip surgery last April, has been conditioning his hip over the past month in order to make an NHL comeback. In 29 games last season with the Philadelphia Flyers, he posted a 16-11-1 record, three shutouts, a 2.64 GAA, and a .905 save percentage. Not a bad signing for the Ducks, as Emery has good size and is a solid goaltender. However, his behavioral issues have always effected his play and caused him to lose focus in net. As long as he can control his attitude, he should help the Ducks be more competitive in net as the playoffs approach. For now, Emery will continue to condition in the minors until he is ready to play in the NHL. With Jonas Hiller currently sidelined with fatigue, Emery could be back in the NHL in the near future as long as he doesn't have any more hip problems.

Avalanche Sign Peter Forsberg to One-Year Contract

Peter Forsberg is on his way back to the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche announced on Sunday that they have signed the 37-year-old left wing to a one-year contract worth $1 million. The deal includes a no-trade and no-movement clause and will expire at the end of the 2010-11 season, making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He hasn't played in the NHL since the 2007-08 season because of foot problems and has been conditioning his injured foot for the last two seasons in Sweden. Due to visa issues, Forsberg isn't expected to play his first game until at least February 11 when the Avalanche play the Blue Jackets in Columbus. In 706 career NHL games with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators, he has 249 goals and 636 assists for 885 points. He won the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001 as a member of the Avalanche, the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the leading scorer in 2003, the Calder Trophy as rookie-of-the-year in 1995, and Olympic Gold Medals in 1994 and 2006 as a member of Team Sweden. Not a bad signing for Colorado as long as Forsberg can stay healthy. He is an outstanding playmaker and stickhandler, as well as a bit of a physical player. He has worked very hard to make a comeback to the NHL after years of foot problems, and as long as his foot doesn't get re-injured, he should be a decent offensive contributor for the Avalanche. If he suffers another foot injury, it will more than likely spell the end of Forsberg's hockey career.