News for July 8th, 2008

-Ottawa signs Jason Smith (TSN): Smith, who is one of the toughest heart-and-soul-type players around, signed a two-year deal worth $5.2 million.  My favourite recent Smith story that illustrates his toughness is that last season with Philadelphia, Smith played all 17 playoff games with the Flyers, despite having both shoulders separated.

-Tampa Bay signs forward Brandon Bochenski and defenceman Andrew Hutchinson (Tampa Bay Official Website and Lightning Strikes blog): I wonder if a single day will go by this summer that I don't report on the Lightning doing something.  Bochenski hits his fifth NHL team since his debut in 05-06.  He is expected to play for Tampa's farm team in Norfolk.  Hutchinson was a member of the Carolina Hurricanes Stanley Cup-winning squad a couple years back though he never played a game in those playoffs.  Since being dealt to the NY Rangers, however, Hutchinson never played a game in the NHL.  The link says he signed a one-way deal meaning Tampa expects him to crack their roster, and not toil in Norfolk.  Tampa also recieved a signed contract from massive Russian Evgeny Atyukhin (same link as the Hutchinson article), meaning the man nicknamed R2 will be returning to the NHL next season.

-Atlanta re-signs Eric Boulton (TSN Free Agent Tracker): There were whispers that some NHL teams were interested in the enforcer, including the Edmonton Oilers.

-St. Louis signs Mike Weaver, Steve Regier and Matt Foy; Pittsburgh signs Joey Mormina; Atlanta signs Junior Lessard and Grant Stevenson; Colorado signs Nathan Smith (NHL.com): Though many of these players never recieved formal annoucements, all of these players have been assigned teams on NHL.com which is basically a statement that the deal is done.  Of all these players, I'd say Weaver, Foy and Lessard have the best chance of landing gigs with the pro teams next season.  The rest are likely destined  for their new team's respective AHL clubs.

-St. Louis signs Steve Bernier to an offer sheet which is subsequently matched by the Vancouver Canucks (NHL.com): A little tit for tat after Vancouver signed David Backes to an offer sheet, St. Louis turns around does the same to Vancouver.  Funny stuff.

-Montreal Canadiens re-sign RFA Jaroslav Halak (RDS): 2 Years, $1.55 million.

Other News/Rumors

-Several sites report that Pavol Demitra is close to signing, will sign soon, or already has been signed by the Vancouver Canucks.  Demitra will attempt to offset the offseason departures of Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison.  

-Speaking of the Canucks, today, a trade rumor surfaced that had the 'Nucks dealing both Sedin twins to the Atlanta Thrashers in return for super-sniper Ilya Kovalchuk.

-Now that Jason Smith has chosen his team, expect that clubs will come calling to the Pittsburgh Penguins about Rob Scuderi, and Darryl Sydor.

-Patrick Thoresen of the Philadelphia Flyers has signed in Europe for next season.  The RFA was seeking a one-way deal from the Flyers who balked at the idea.  Thoresen says he will play overseas next season, then become a free agent and return to the NHL.  Thoresen is, perhaps, most famous in NHL circles for being hit in the groin with a slapshot last playoffs and early reports stated Flyers' doctors were concerned he would have to lose a testicle.  Thankfully, he did not, and was able to play in the next game.

-Edmonton has reportedly re-signed RFAs Marc Pouliot and Jean-Francois Jacques.  Annoucements expected tomorrow.