More UFA singings and a trade

The LA Kings have done a nice job of upgrading their team with the addition of some tier II UFAs: Ladislav Nagy, Michal Handzus, Tom Preissing and Kyle Calder. Nagy has seen his stock slide alot, and much depends on how healthy he is. If he is close to 100%, he might be the signing of the off-season. He can contribute at both ends of the ice and likely will be an 80 point guy, again if he is healthy. Handzus brings more veteran two-way playing ability. After rehabbing a nasty leg injury last year, Handzus comes in to a team that is perfectly situated for him to assist. Not a #1 center, but the Kings will definitely want him to be the #2 guy and with that put up some solid number. Calder adds some much needed grit and abrasiveness to the roster. He's also got 30 goal potential, he just comes by his points very honestly - not naturally. Preissing gives the Kings an under-rated puck moving defenceman to compliment the Kings other top 3. He should play a bigger role than what he did in Ottawa...in Edmonton, the remaking of this team continues but at what cost. Last year Joffrey Lupul was a big disappointment. And with no Pronger on the back-end, expectations for the Edmonton native were high - and he missed. A change of scenery along with uber-grit rear-guard Jason Smith is just what the doctor ordered for the Flyers. They are giving up Joni Pitkanen, who by all measures regressed last year, and spare part Geoff Sanderson. The Flyers did very well in this deal. Smith is more mobile than most analysts think and he'll draw lots of shut-down minutes versus Crosby, Ovechkin and Jagr. Lupul's lack of confidence should be addressed as the Flyers place him on the 2nd line and tell him to "let 'er go". Pitkanen is a very good offensive defenceman, but the Oilers now have no one that can score; which won't help Pitkanen in the long run. Expect more changes in Edmonton.