NHL Trade Rumors

"Whether it's contingent on Mats Sundin not signing in Vancouver is unclear, but the Canucks are reportedly interested in Ottawa Senators centre Antoine Vermette. According to a report in the Ottawa Sun, the Canucks have kicked the tires on a deal for the 26-year-old restricted free agent who scored 53 points (24-29) in 81 games last season for Ottawa. Vermette will go to salary arbitration at the end of July and the Senators are apparently concerned he may be awarded $2.5 to $3 million. The other reason the Sens might be willing to part with the second-line scoring of Vermette is they are desperate to add some offence to their back end. GM Brian Murray tried to get free-agent offensive ..."

"Former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley is scheduled to meet with Islanders general manager Garth Snow about the head coaching vacancy on Wednesday, according to an NHL source. Hartley will be the second candidate to interview, but he and Snow won’t have to waste time with any get-to-know-you formalities. Hartley once coached Snow at Cornwall in the AHL, and the two have maintained a good friendship ever since to the point of exchanging fairly regular e-mail messages. There’s little doubt Hartley meets Snow’s criteria for a coach in terms of discipline and providing structure and technical expertise. But the major question for Hartley is whether he has the patience for a long-term development ..."

"Though Toronto's offer "isn't even close" to the $20 million that the Vancouver Canucks have on the table, Mats Sundin has not ruled out returning to the Maple Leafs. Of course, the 37-year-old also hasn't ruled out retiring. Or signing on with Montreal for that matter. Sundin remains at least a week away from announcing his future hockey plans. "The Maple Leafs are not out of the picture if I decide to play," the Leafs' captain emeritus told Swedish paper Aftonbladet in yesterday's editions. "They made me a very good offer, even if it isn't even close to what the Canucks have offered. But I have been in Toronto for 13 seasons and it is like home to me. Nothing is out of the ..."

"Mats Sundin is expected to announce within two weeks whether he will play this coming season. And the Maple Leafs remain an option -- should he return to the NHL. "I will make a decision in the end of July or beginning of August," Sundin told Stockholm's Aftonbladet newspaper yesterday. "If I am going to play it's for the full season and I want to be there from the beginning of August." Sundin went on to suggest that he'll either play for the Leafs or Vancouver Canucks in 2008-09. "The Maple Leafs are not out of the picture if I decide to play," he said. "They made me a very good offer, even if it isn't even close to what the Canucks have offered. "But I have been in ..."

"It appears the Mats Sundin soap opera could be over within the next week. According to an interview with the unrestricted free agent centre published Monday in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Sundin may make a decision about his future -- and a two-year, $20 million offer from the Vancouver Canucks -- by the end of July. "I hope to make a decision about continuing with hockey in August or perhaps at the end of this month," Sundin told the newspaper."

"Unrestricted free-agent forward Mats Sundin said he hasn't decided if he'll even return to the National Hockey League for another season, denying reports he was prepared to sign with the Vancouver Canucks. "It's not true at all that I'm definitely going to Vancouver. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to continue to play hockey," Sundin told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet in yesterday's editions. I'm still trying to gather my thoughts and decide what I'll do in the future. I'm going to try to reach a decision within the next few weeks."...The Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs are also potential destinations, should the 37-year-old centre return for the 2008-09 season."

"Mats Sundin expects to announce within the next two weeks where he will play next year. And the Maple Leafs remain an option - should he return to the NHL. "I will make a decision in the end of July or beginning of August," Sundin told Stockholm's Aftonbladet newspaper yesterday. "If I am going to play it's for the full season and I want to be there from the beginning of August." Sundin went on to suggest that he'll either play for the Leafs or Vancouver Canucks in 2008-09. "The Maple Leafs are not out of the picture if I decide to play," he said. "They made me a very good offer, even if it isn't even close to what the Canucks have offered. "But I have been in Toronto for 13 ..."

"Unrestricted free-agent forward Mats Sundin says he hasn't decided if he'll even return to the National Hockey League for another season, denying reports he was prepared to sign with the Vancouver Canucks. "It's not true at all that I'm definitely going to Vancouver. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to continue to play hockey," Sundin told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet in Monday's editions. "I'm still trying gather my thoughts and decide what I'll do in the future. I'm going to try to reach a decision within the next few weeks." Earlier this month, the Canucks offered Sundin a two-year, $20-million US offer."

"Sundin has still given no firm indication when he'll decide whether to accept a two-year, $20 million US contract offer from the Canucks -- there is also a one-year option from general manager Mike Gillis -- or whether he'll play for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs or retire. However, the unrestricted free agent centre has been working out, which seems to indicate that he'll playing in the 2008-09 NHL season. Gillis has dangled the opportunity to captain Sweden in the 2010 Olympics at Vancouver. Gillis remains encouraged by his ongoing dialogue with Sundin and his North American agent J.P. Barry and the fact that the Canucks have outbid other suitors for the hulking ..."

"Mats Sundin's fishing trip in northern Sweden is over, so perhaps this is the week when the Vancouver Canucks will find out if they have landed what would be a huge free-agent catch. A report Sunday in a Swedish newspaper suggested that Sundin had agreed to join the Canucks, but that was quickly dismissed by Sundin's Calgary-based agent J.P. Barry. "It was a false rumour," Barry said Sunday. "I've been getting bombarded with calls because of it." The story was reported by the Daily News in Sweden under the byline of Dusan Umicevic, a reporter Barry called "a trainee journalist." "This guy has now written two articles that simply aren't true," Barry said."

"Despite Swedish reports to the contrary, it appears Mats Sundin has not agreed to join the Vancouver Canucks. The unrestricted free agent's Swedish-based representative, Claes Elefalk, claims the story that appeared in the Daily News is completely false, claiming that reporter Dusan Umicevic contacted him seeking a quote. Despite Elefalk telling the reporter that his information was false, the story was published anyway. As it stands, the Canucks remain one of the team's that Sundin is currently considering, but he has still to make up his mind as to whether or not he will play next season."

"A Swedish newspaper nearly started an international incident on Sunday as they reported that Mats Sundin has agreed to play for the Vancouver Canucks, a claim that Sundin's Swedish representative denies. Sundin's Swedish based representative Claes Elefalk claims the story in the Daily News is completely false, claiming that reporter Dusan Umicevic contacted him seeking a quote. Despite Elefalk telling the reporter that his information was incorrect, Umicevic published the story anyway. While the Canucks remain one of the team's that Sundin is considering, he has yet to make a decision as to whether or not he will play next season."

"Right winger Joffrey Lupul is close to signing a four-year contract extension with the Flyers. Lupul, who had the second 20-goal season of his career last season, denied an Edmonton radio report that he had agreed to a four-year extension, but he acknowledged that the sides were near a deal. "We're still talking, but it's not finished yet," he said yesterday. "Hopefully, it'll get done early next week." Lupul, 24, whose contract for 2008-09 is for $2.3 million, scored 20 goals and added 26 assists in 56 games with the Flyers last season."

"Former Toronto coach Paul Maurice has the pole position in the interview process to determine the successor to Ted Nolan as coach of the Islanders. According to an NHL source, Maurice is expected to meet with general manager Garth Snow Monday. The list of confirmed Islanders coaching candidates now numbers seven. Besides Maurice, the list includes former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella and his assistant, Mike Sullivan, both of whom have received permission from the Lightning to interview. Snow still is waiting for approval to interview former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley and current Providence Bruins coach Scott Gordon in Boston's organization. Former Colorado coach Joel Quenneville is a free ..."

"The Detroit Red Wings are close to signing defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to a three-year contract, according to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. The deal reportedly will pay $550,000 next season, $900,000 in 2009-10 and $1.25 million in 2010-11. The two-way contract would mean Ericsson would receive a lower salary and wouldn't count against the salary cap if he were assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. Ericsson, who is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, is regarded as the top prospect in the Red Wings' system."

"After being traded twice in two summers, it appears Joffrey Lupul won't be moving this offseason. According to the Team 1260 Radio in Edmonton, Lupul has agreed to terms on a four-year extension with the Philadelphia Flyers. An announcement is expected to be made on Monday. Last season, Lupul scored 20 goals and added 26 assists for 46 points in 56 games with the Flyers. He added four goals and six assists in 17 playoff games."

"Joel Quenneville is the man Snow should hire. He is fresh off a three-year stint with the Avalanche, having gone 131-92-23 but let go because his team was swept out of the second round by the Cup-bound Red Wings. Losing in the second round is no indictment around here. Quenneville did coach a banged-up, patched-together roster to a first-round win, something no Islanders coach has done since Arbour did it in 1993. He is known to be a teacher, defensive specialist and friend of Barry Trotz, the Predators coach whose longtime partnership with his general manager is the model Snow wants to replicate. Quenneville was the NHL coach of the year with the Blues in 2000, three years after Nolan ..."

"A hot rumour in NHL circles has him discussing a three-way blockbuster with the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings, Sun Media has learned. While draft picks and other players might also be involved, the principals appear to be a group of five or six that include a couple of veteran goalies and some of the game's most promising stars. According to insiders, Ottawa would trade netminder Martin Gerber and defenceman Andrej Meszaros to Los Angeles, the Kings would move 20-year-old centre Anze Kopitar to Chicago and the Blackhawks would propel goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and either of young blueliners Brent Seabrook or Cam Barker to the Senators."

"So, another Murray is on the way to Southern California and the NHL. Not Andy Murray, who was the Kings' coach for seven seasons, including the 2004-05 lockout year. Or Bryan Murray, who was the longtime general manager of the Ducks and coached them for a season. It is Terry Murray, Bryan's brother, who is expected to become the Kings' next coach, barring any last-minute veto from team ownership. Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi and Murray met Tuesday night with Tim Leiweke, chief executive of AEG, the team's parent company, and the Kings' representative on the NHL Board of Governors."

"The NHL's central registry office approved the entry-level contract that center Nikita Filatov signed with the Blue Jackets. "It's another step in the right direction," Howson said. "The next step is his visa, and then we try to get him to North America as fast as we can. "I don't know if the visa is going to take three weeks or seven weeks, but it will get done." Filatov's original contract, signed Thursday, was rejected by the NHL because of language in the "schedule A bonuses" section that the league wanted clarified."

"It appears Sergei Brylin's 13-year Devils' career is all over but the signing in Russia, though sources say ink hasn't met paper yet. After passing up his option for another $1.53 million season with the Devils, Brylin is expected to sign a three-year deal with St. Petersburg of the Russian Continental league. The last of the Devils' three-Cup skaters, leaving just Martin Brodeur, Brylin remained with New Jersey last season when the Devils picked up their option on him last summer, triggering a dual option, player and team, for this coming season. Neither Brylin nor the Devils exercised their option by June 30, and Brylin became unrestricted."

"In his first media address as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, Mike Gillis was blunt in assessing the franchise's spotty record of drafting and developing players. Simply put, it wasn't good enough. While it was widely speculated that chief amateur scout Ron Delorme's future was in jeopardy, it has been reported that his 26-year run with the organization as player, scout and department head will be extended in some form under Gillis and that scouts Barry Dean and Mario Marois have not been retained. The Canucks haven't confirmed the developments and Delorme couldn't be reached for comment, but Gillis has surrounded himself with a staff that could work with the 52-year-old ..."

"A U.S. report that unrestricted free agent Brendan Shanahan was offered and rejected a one-year, $2-million US offer from the Vancouver Canucks is inaccurate, according to his agent. "I can tell you that I've never been approached or had any discussions with Vancouver regarding Brendan," said Rick Curran, who added that San Jose and Montreal are not in the mix either. "We've only been having discussions with one team and that's the New York Rangers."

"The NHL yesterday rejected the contract Nikita Filatov signed late last week with the Blue Jackets because of wording in the "schedule A bonuses" portion of Filatov's entry-level deal, but the wording was amended, the contract was re-signed by Filatov and sent back to the NHL. The Blue Jackets expect the contract to be approved today, general manager Scott Howson said. The rejection, Howson said, had nothing to do with Russian claims that Filatov's rights are still owned by his former club, CSKA Moscow, or the claims of the new Russian Continental Hockey League that the Blue Jackets owe CSKA a $1.5 million transfer fee for Filatov's rights."

"Tom Lynn is known as a brash, stubborn negotiator. But Stephane Veilleux doesn't find him that way. In fact, the Wild's tightly-wound energy bug has yet to even contemplate body-checking the Wild assistant general manager into an office soda machine. Imagine this scene: Lynn, who went to Yale, has a law degree from Cornell and has negotiated millions of dollars worth of hockey contracts, staring across the desk at ... Veilleux, a 26-year-old winger. Earlier this summer, Veilleux decided it made no sense to continue paying his agent, Paul Corbeil, 4 percent of his salary. So Veilleux, a restricted free agent, fired Corbeil and decided to represent himself in negotiations for a new ..."

"If you're an Avalanche fan still holding out hope Peter Forsberg will play again this coming season, don't even think about it until at least Christmas. After consulting with more doctors about his troubled right foot in his native Sweden, Forsberg was told he would need several months of rehabilitation if he wanted to have hope of playing again, a source close to the Avalanche star said. Forsberg, plagued the last few years by a bad right ankle, which also causes him other injuries such as pulled groins, has not decided to retire. He still hopes to play again this season, and his situation could unfold much as it did with the Avs last season."

"The future of Predators forward Alexander Radulov remains a cloudy one, subject to the outcome of a brewing battle involving the NHL, International Ice Hockey Federation and Continental Hockey League of Russia that could last months. But as hard as Nashville, the league and the IIHF work to bring Radulov back, one question that's been raised is what kind of player the Predators would have on their hands if Radulov does wind up returning. Would he be the hungry, enthusiastic wing who notched 44 goals in his first two seasons, or a brooding malcontent simply playing out the final year of his contract in Nashville?"

"No successor is in place, but Snow said he plans to begin a search for a replacement "as soon as possible." Three logical candidates who figure to be on the list include Paul Maurice, John Tortorella and Bob Hartley. Those three were fired last season by Toronto, Tampa Bay and Atlanta, respectively. There is a strong connection between Snow and Hartley, who once coached the Isles' GM. Former Islanders stars Bryan Trottier, who is now executive director of player development, and Butch Goring, who is a part-time television commentator, are not expected to join the list of candidates, and neither is Jack Capuano, who coaches the team's AHL affiliate in Bridgeport."

"Sources say the Panthers haven't given up hope of signing Bouwmeester and GM Jacques Martin is hopeful the addition of former Kitchener Rangers coach Peter DeBoer will convince the young star the club is going in the right direction. "As far as I know Bouwmeester is not the guy that Jacques Martin is offering up," said a league executive yesterday. "Bouwmeester is the guy they've got to build that team around. I haven't heard his name being offered around in a trade, not even once." Instead, the group of blueliners Martin is trying to deal is a lot less attractive to NHL GMs. The indications are anybody can have Florida defenceman Mike Van Ryn, who is scheduled to make $3.35 million ..."

"Vinny Lecavalier's hockey career will end where it began - in a Lightning uniform. Lecavalier signed an 11-year contract extension worth $85 million, the details of which surfaced on Saturday. The deal, which averages $7.72 million per season as the salary cap hit, was signed on Friday and submitted to the league office. The extension will kick in at the start of the 2009-10 season and carry through the end of the 2019-20 season, just before Lecavalier's 40th birthday. The deal will officially be announced on Tuesday during a scheduled news conference that will be followed by a town hall meeting with ownership, Coach Barry Melrose and Lecavalier. "This is a truly exciting day for ..."

"While the Bruins' prospects twirled around the Ristuccia Arena ice last week, rumors once again swirled around the Hub that Jeremy Jacobs, chairman of the Black and Gold, had his hockey club up for sale. "He's shopping it to his billionaire buddies," said one non-team source who deals on a regular basis with members of the Bruins' front office. Not true. At least according to Charlie Jacobs, the family's point man on Causeway Street, and according to his father. "I can say with great confidence that it's not on the market," said the junior Jacobs. "My dad enjoys operating the team and having a say in what happens here, as do I.""

"Two months away from the start of training camp, the job status of Islanders coach Ted Nolan remains in serious doubt. The question of whether general manager Garth Snow and Nolan can continue to work together has been brewing since the middle of last season, but their tug-of-war over the direction of the franchise might be coming to a head. When Nolan shows up for rookie minicamp Monday, he and Snow will be face to face for the first time since the NHL draft in June. Contacted recently at the hockey camp he runs in Ontario, Nolan was asked if he's confident he will be coaching the Islanders when training camp begins in mid-September. "I'm confident in my ability to coach," Nolan ..."

"General manager Jay Feaster, a major component of the Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup team, is in the midst of negotiations that could lead to his departure from the organization. It was unclear whether it will be through buyout or resignation. But it seems reasonable Feaster, with three years left on a contract that pays between $800,000 and $900,000 a year, will be compensated. An announcement could come as soon as today."

"Forward Nikita Filatov, the Blue Jackets' No. 1 draft pick last month, has signed a three-year, entry level contract, The Dispatch has learned. An announcement is expected later today. The deal, which includes a base salary of $875,000 per the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, is expected to be announced later this morning. Filatov, 18, also is eligible to earn up to $750,000 per season in bonuses."

"When Geoff Courtnall played tour guide for former St. Louis Blues linemate Pavol Demitra in the spring, he sold the unrestricted free agent forward on Vancouver's culture, cuisine and beauty. Courtnall also sold Demitra on playing for the Canucks..."I told him if the Canucks are one of the teams that comes around July 1 [free agency], you should definitely think of playing there." Demitra has done just that. Not only has the former Minnesota Wild forward stated that the Canucks top his wish list -- a Slovakian newspaper has reported he's close to signing a three-year, $12-million-US deal -- general manager Mike Gillis has acknowledged contract dialogue with his former client."

"Panthers general manager Jacques Martin said Wednesday that negotiations between the team and the agent for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester have continued despite Bouwmeester deciding to take the team to arbitration. No date has been set for Florida's meeting in front of an arbiter, with hearings scheduled between July 20 and Aug. 4 in Toronto. Bouwmeester took the Panthers to arbitration once before, getting a two-year contract out of it in 2006. Since Bouwmeester elected to go to arbitration, he cannot sign with another team; Martin said the Panthers aren't going to trade him."

"Rebuffed in attempts to sign Brian Campbell, the Senators are talking to another former 67's star who might be able to help their defence. Either now, or somewhere down the road. Unrestricted free agent Brendan Bell confirmed yesterday that the Senators are one of four teams with whom his agent, lawyer Larry Kelly, has had serious discussions on a two-way contract. The 25-year-old Ottawa native hopes to be off the market by the weekend, but is also taking the "if something's worth waiting for, you wait" approach."

"Doug Gilmour's desire to re-invent himself as a coach could lead the Maple Leafs icon to another National Hockey League team. While the Leafs are trying to accommodate their former captain and franchise playoff scoring leader, there might not be any immediate opportunities for him here. Gilmour, 44, declared his new ambition in the past few months before officially ending two years as player development adviser on Tuesday when Joe Nieuwendyk was hired as Cliff Fletcher's special assistant. But Gilmour's lengthy meeting with new head coach Ron Wilson last month did not see him added to the staff with Rob Zettler and Tim Hunter (Wilson's San Jose assistants who are headed here), ..."

"Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison may be gone, Mats Sundin may never come, but the Vancouver Canucks are getting a nibble, at least, from one unrestricted free agent. That would be Minnesota Wild forward Pavol Demitra, who told a city radio station Tuesday that there's "a good chance" he will join the good ship Canuck. "I think there is a good chance," Demitra told CKNW. "[Current Canucks GM Mike Gillis] used to be my agent for a long time. We are very good friends. I am very interested in playing for [the Canucks].""

"The Blue Jackets have signed coach Ken Hitchcock to a three-year extension that will keep him under contract with the club through the 2011-12 season, The Dispatch has learned. The signing will be announced at a news conference at 12:30 p.m. today in Nationwide Arena."

"Michael Peca was hoping to sign a two-year contract with the Blue Jackets. Instead, the 34-year-old center settled for a one-year deal and a chance to prove he's back to his old ways. Peca and the club have agreed to a one-year, $1.315 million contract, The Dispatch has learned. All that remains before the deal is official, Peca said, "is to finalize a couple of minor details.""

"Murray is confident Meszaros will be signed, will play next season and will be able to learn from Smith much the same way that Zdeno Chara helped him in his rookie season. With the salary cap at $56.7 million for 2008-09, Smith's signing has the Senators committed to close to $46.9 million in salaries for next season... While Murray said Meszaros will get a chance to play more of an offensive role, the search for the elusive puck-moving defenceman continues. Ottawa is believed to have an offer on the table for Ducks blueliner Mathieu Schneider, but the $5.75 million he's scheduled to earn next season would be difficult for the Senators to fit in under the salary cap."

"It appears the Edmonton Oilers are not ready to give up on their version of the French connection. The team is expected to announce today the re-signing of forwards Marc Pouliot and J.F. Jacques. Both were restricted free agents. Pouliot, 23, was the Oilers first pick (22nd overall) in the 2003 NHL entry draft."

"With Matt Stajan safely under contract for the next two years, the Maple Leafs figure they have just enough left over for Mats Sundin. That is, if he decides he wants to play hockey next season. And if he decides to take the Leafs' offer of about $7 million (all figures U.S.) annually, instead of the two-year, $20 million offer from Vancouver that would make him the NHL's highest paid player. Stajan, signing for two years, $3.5 million, doesn't eliminate the Leafs from the Sundin sweepstakes, but it does mark the end, as far as GM Cliff Fletcher is concerned, for signings and re-signings. "That's it for the summer," said Fletcher."

"Brendan Morrison has decided to cast his lot with old friend Brian Burke and the Anaheim Ducks. The nifty little centre should be introduced today as a new Duck, thus ending his seven-plus seasons in Vancouver. The contract is for one year and is believed to be worth about $2.75 million. Morrison was offered a one-year deal for $1.9 million by Canuck general manager Mike Gillis. He made $3.2 million in each of the last three seasons."

"Brendan Morrison will end his 586-game association with the Vancouver Canucks today by confirming a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks, The Province has learned. Nine teams were in the running for the Pitt Meadows native, who said no thanks to offers from Columbus and Minnesota on July 2 and also had interest from Los Angeles. Anaheim was always a strong possibility because of the club's offensive shortcomings and Morrison's relationship with its management team."

"Morrison's departure, coupled with Naslund's last Thursday, puts further pressure on Gillis to land reluctant superstar Mats Sundin. The 37-year-old Swede is sitting on a massive $10-million-a-season offer from Gillis. Sundin can choose either a one- or two-year proposal. Meanwhile, Canuck defenceman Mattias Ohlund said he is ready to pump up Vancouver should Sundin require any additional information on the team or city. Ohlund is now the longest serving Canuck with Trevor Linden and Naslund both gone. "If Mats calls, trust me I will put in a good word for the team," Ohlund chuckled Monday from his summer home in northern Sweden. "I haven't spoken to him or the Canucks or anybody ..."

"In what is fast becoming the worst-kept secret in hockey, an official announcement appears imminent that the Blackhawks will play host to the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on Jan. 1 in the second Winter Classic. A Hawks source told the Tribune in June the team was confident it would be awarded the outdoor game, and late Sunday the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported the matchup and venue were approved last week when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met with the Hawks, Cubs and Mayor Richard Daley."

"Though playing a game at the House That Ruth Built is fading, the Yankees' new ballpark could be an option for the Rangers. The Yankees were on board. The city was on board. And the NHL wanted to do it. But myriad logistical problems made it too costly and too difficult for the NHL to stage the next Winter Classic as the closing act at Yankee Stadium. Still, if the NHL won't be making history by closing the old ballpark, it could well wind up staging the first non-baseball sporting event in the new one. The Daily News has learned that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Yankees COO Lonn Trost and mayor Mike Bloomberg concluded their discussions on the topic recently with each ..."

"The Umberger contract might be just the first bit of action this week. Free-agent center Michael Peca has agreed to terms on a two-year contract, The Dispatch has learned. A deal could be announced as early as today. Also, Howson had an afternoon phone chat with agent Don Meehan, who represents Peca as well as two other players currently on the Blue Jackets' front burner -- restricted free agent goaltender Pascal Leclaire and 18-year-old center/left winger Nikita Filatov, the Jackets' No. 6 overall pick in June."

"When Dennis Seidenberg signed a one-year contract Monday, the Carolina Hurricanes added another defenseman to their rapidly growing group on the blue line. Now they're looking to go the other direction. Seidenberg's $1.2 million contract -- a hefty raise from the $850,000 he made last season -- puts additional pressure on the Hurricanes to shed salary before training camp opens in September. While they remain well below the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap, they're above the $45 million payroll budget set by owner Peter Karmanos."

"As far as his NHL career is concerned, the 39-year-old Richardson is not at all ready for a rocking chair. With 1,415 games played, the big, Ottawa-born defenceman is 23rd on the NHL's all-time leaders' list. Chris Chelios and Brendan Shanahan are the only two active players who have suited up more, and they both have Stanley Cup rings. Richardson does not. Hence, when asked yesterday if he had any plans to retire, the unrestricted free agent, who last season played in a surprising 76 games for the Senators, did not hesitate. "I don't," Richardson said, chuckling. "But that doesn't mean someone else doesn't have them for me."... Depending on what happens with Meszaros and whoever ..."

"Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said he hasn't been told officially that his team will play an outdoor game in Chicago next season. But he likes the idea. "We're interested, if we're a candidate," Holland said Monday. "An outdoor game, for whoever is involved, is a unique experience for players and the organization. There's a tremendous amount of focus on the game, and certainly we have interest." It is all but official that the Red Wings will play the Chicago Blackhawks on New Years Day at historic Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, in the second Winter Classic and just the third outdoor game in NHL history. NHL Players Association executive director Paul Kelly ..."

"As 15 National Hockey Leaguers filed for salary arbitration yesterday, restricted free agent Maple Leafs centre Matt Stajan is on the verge of a multi-year deal with the team. "We're getting pretty close," assistant general manager Jeff Jackson said last night. "Matt is on holiday in Europe and we hope to have it settled when he gets back at the end of the week." Stajan made $950,000 US last season and is looking for something between $1.6 million and $2 million a year."

"The Senators appear close to acquiring a defenceman. Two league executives told Sun Media yesterday that Senators GM Bryan Murray could have a trade for a blueliner worked out in the next couple of days. The whisper among NHL executives is Murray was busy working the phones yesterday with offers on the table for Sharks defenceman Kyle McLaren and Ducks blueliner Mathieu Schneider."

"Mike Penny, director of pro scouting with the Toronto Maple Leafs, isn't convinced Mats Sundin has written Vancouver off as a destination to wind down his career. "He told us he's not prepared to make a decision on playing next year for at least a month," Penny says. "But that was before any mention of $20 million over two years was in the works. Do I think he'd be interested in the Canucks' offer? Yes, I do." Canucks' GM Mike Gillis reportedly spoke with Sundin one-on-one as recently as Thursday."

"Jonas Frogren was Born To Run ... all the way to the Air Canada Centre. Overwhelmed at the prospect of potentially soon wearing blue-and-white, the Swedish defenceman celebrated his seemingly imminent arrival to the Maple Leafs by attending a Bruce Springsteen concert in Gothenberg yesterday. While Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher said last night there were still "issues to be ironed out," Frogren indicated he was closing in on a deal with the Leafs. Frogren confirmed a financial agreement had been reached with Farjestad, his Swedish elite league team, releasing him from his existing contract. Sweden sources said the agreement was worth at least $200,000 US."