Early Morning Update for July 7th, 2008

-Calgary Flames sign Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year deal. (tsn).  This effectively replaces Owen Nolan.  Is it an upgrade or a downgrade?  Well, that depends.  Nolan is no longer capable of being a scoring power forward, but will show some grit and park himself in front of the net, he's also getting rather frail in his later years and in his 16 seasons has yet to go a single season without missing 2-3 games.  Bertuzzi is also past his prime as a top goal-scorer, and though relatively healthy, hasn't shown a lot of desire to show some grit or park himself in front of the net.  Nolan is no longer a top-flight player, but still provides a use to an NHL club.  Bertuzzi seems like he should be a top-flight player but something is missing.  Should he rediscover whatever it was that allowed him to score 46 goals and 97 points, it would be a major steal for the Flames.  But, my feelings are, if Bertuzzi wasn't able to rediscover that magic playing for a team that personifies his games in Anaheim, he probably won't in Calgary either.  All of that said, Bertuzzi did come slightly cheaper, signing for $1.9 million next season, as opposed to Nolan who will be making $2.75 million over two seasons.  Mike Keenan Vs Todd Bertuzzi could be epic, though.

-Philadelphia signs Arron Asham.  (Delco Times) Not many details available right now.  Asham had just 6 goals and 4 assists for the New Jersey Devils last season, his lowest since 01-02, but provides a good physical presence on the fourth line.  In other words, your prototypical Philadelphia Flyer.

-Columbus re-signs R.J. Umberger to a 4-year deal (tsn): Umberger, newly acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers after a breakout season and playoffs (50 points in 74 games and 10 goals in 17 games respectively), will make an average of $3.75 million per season over the next four years.  Umberger who was playing out of position for the Flyers with their logjam of centers, may seem time as Rick Nash's center man this season.

-Toronto re-signs Matt Stajan to a 2-year deal (tsn): Stajan's deal is worth $3.5 million.  Stajan had a career-high 16 goals for the Leafs last season.

-Carolina re-signs Denis Seidenberg (tsn): One-year deal worth $1.2 million

-New Jersey signs Jay Leach (Listed as a Devil on NHL.com)

If anything else interesting happens, I will update this again later.  If something major happens, I'll break in with it right away.