Upon Further Review

As the free agent day goes by I’ll be filling in the blanks here to keep you updated on what your favourite teams are up to on this critical day of the NHL schedule. We’ll re-cap all the moves on Hockey Night in Canada Radio on Sirius channel 122 starting at 4 p.m. ET. Scott Morrison and Elliotte Friedman will join me for analysis of all the deals.

Check back in regularly.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

New Jersey Devils: resigned defenceman bryce Salvador top a four-year pact. Salvador came over in a trade deadline for seldom used tough guy Cam Janssen. The deal averages out to $2.9 million US per season. Good pickup, the team really liked how he played down the stretch but long gone are the days of Stevens/ Daneyko/ Niedermayer and even Rafalski in front of Martin Brodeur. The team also re-signed checker Jay Pandolfo, Barry Tallackson and David Clarkson (who has been a very nice surprise for the organization). They did, however, decline an option on Sergei Brylin, so another player from the glory period is now gone.

New York Islanders:

New York Rangers:


Philadelphia Flyers:

Pittsburgh Penguins: Lost both Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts to Tampa, which was expected but also re-signed Evgeni Malkin to a 5 year deal at compensation identical to that of Sidney Crosby’s at $8.7 per season.

Pascal Dupuis is back as a Penguin agreeing on a 3 year deal that averages $1.4 million. He was a very solid pickup at the deadline who helped kill penalties and spend time oppn the first line with Sidney Crosby.

Northeast

Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres' reputation of squeezing the beaver on the nickel until it squeals. The Sabres love his leadership and in the wake of losing Daniel Briere and Chris Drury need to send a message to the marketplace that this team will spend money. We’ll see if that holds true when they have to pay both goaltender Ryan Miller and forward Jason Pominville.

Montreal Canadiens:

Ottawa Senators:

Toronto Maple Leafs: Brought back goaltender Curtis Joseph at $7000,000 per year. It’s a one-year deal. He’ll serve as Vesa Toskala’s backup.

Southeast

Atlanta Thrashers: Bought out Alexi Zhitnik who came over two seasons ago in one of the most lopsided traded ever in the franchises history (GM Don Wadell surrender hard hitting Braydon Coburn for the under performing vet). This horrible deal was the main reason why Atlanta drafted a player similar to Coburn at the draft, Zack Bogosian.

Carolina Hurricanes: The ‘Canes traded Erik Cole to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for blue-liner Joni Pitkanen. Carolina’s back end has been decimated so this was a deal they had to make. Cole has been on the block ion Carolina for years, two seasons ago they almost traded him to the Kings for Alexander Frolov.

GM Jim Rutherford signed blueliner Anton Babchuck (who has some potential as a power play specialist).

Florida Panthers: On the eve of free agency the team re-signed Rostislav Olesz to a six-year deal $18.35 million deal.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Easily the big winners. The new ownership said they were going to make a splash come free agency and they did. Before the free agent window even opened they inked Ryan Malone to a seven year $31.5 million dollar contract and Roberts to an incentive laden deal that has $1.25 million as its base with bonuses that could put him up and around the $2 million mark by seasons end. The team also inked Vincent Prospal to a new contract.

The only bit of business the team couldn’t get done was to ink winger Brian Rolston who decided to test the market.

Washington Capitals: Re-signed defenseman Mike Green to a four year deal that averages $5.25 million per season. I know that sounds like a lot for a blueliner who really only has one full season under his belt but Green is the real deal and there were legitimate concerns that the team would lose Green to an offer sheet or end up paying even more money if they were forced to match what could have been $6 million or more. This was a deal GM George McPhee had to make.

Western Conference

Central

Chicago Blackhawks:

Columbus Blue Jackets: Traded 21-year-old center Gilbert Brule to the Edmonton Oilers for Raffi Torres. Brule has frustrated the Jackets ever since they drafted him through injuries and inconsistent play. Torres is some help on the wing but this team needs help down the middle.

As you can see Columbus is not the most attractive market for most players, which is why GM Scott Howsen has to mainly trade as opposed to sign on free agent day.

Detroit Red Wings: Brad Stuart re-ups with the team on a four-year deal worth $3.75 million. That beautiful top four defence remains intact.

The team also re-signed defenceman Andreas Lilja to a two-year deal that will pay him just over a million per season.

Um, where does Chris Chelios fit into this group?

We knew this wasn’t going to be a big, splashy off season for GM Ken Holland as he still has most of his Stanley Cup pieces in place.

Nashville Predators:

St. Louis Blues:

Northwest

Calgary Flames: Traded a second round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Rene Bourque.

Colorado Avalanche: Tough times for GM Francois Giguere who still doesn’t have a decision from Joe Sakic and therefore is unsure about the amount of money he has to spend. They did resigned Adam Foote to a two-year $6 million deal and J.M. Liles to a four-year $16.8 million pact.

The team has lost netminder Jose Theodore, along with Andrew Brunette, Kurt Sauer and Jeff Finger.

Edmonton Oilers: Last year he was Mr. Offer Sheet, this year he’s trader Kevin as GM Kevin Lowe shipped Jarret Stoll and Matt Green to the Los Angeles Kings for Lubomir Vishnovski (who next season begins a five-year $28 million contract making him the Oilers highest paid player). To say this helps the Oilers power play is a huge understatement. Lowe also shipped Raffi Torres to Columbus for Gilbert Brule. Torres had fallen out of favour with the team a while back and Brule has frustrated Columbus since he was drafted in 2005. A change of scenery should be good for both players.

Minnesota Wild:

Vancouver Canucks:

Pacific

Anaheim Ducks: Last week GM Brian Burke bought out Todd Bertuzzi and freed up cap space to make room for Corey Perry whom the team re-signed for $5.325 million, a figure similar to that of teammate Ryan Getzlaf. The actual deal is five years at $26.625 million. This one was never in doubt as Perry had indicated to the media and the press he was not interested in signing anywhere but with the Ducks.

Dallas Stars:

Los Angeles Kings: Traded high priced Lubomir Vishnovski to the Oilers for Jarret Stoll and defenseman Mike Green. GM Dean Lombardi saves some money and brings in a couple of support players who should be able to help this growing team.

Phoenix Coyotes:

San Jose Sharks: Re-signed tough guy Jody Shelly to a two-year deal worth just over $700,000 per season. With the Western Conference loaded with nuclear missiles the Sharks need a deterrent. He doesn’t win all his scraps but is always game and is a great dressing room buy.

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