More UFA signings

Anaheim appears to be ready to take a flyer with the signing of Todd Bertuzzi. There is going to be someone that is going to hope that Bertuzzi can resume his 30+ goal clip, but my advice is to leave him for surer things in your draft. He's clearly not the same player he once was, and it shows. Glimpses of greatness is all you will see with big Bert, but frustration will quickly follow...in LA, the Kings continue to make moves and add Brad Stuart for the next year. Stuart has peaked and/or plateaued in terms of development, and will never become the bonafide #1 defenceman that pundits thought he might when he was drafted. He's not terrible, but someone is going to overpay for his services, even though he'll probably play at least 2nd unit PP. He'll be solid, just not amazing for the Kings...the Leafs signed recent acquisition Vesa Toskala to a two year deal worth $4M per season, and are now seeking to move Andrew Raycroft. The problem is to who? Toskala is marginally better than Raycroft in my eyes, but now GM Ferguson is going to get about 50 cents on the dollar by moving Raycroft in a goalie-glut market. Raycroft owners can't be happy. Jason Blake's signing is better news for the Leafs as the speedster is under-rated in the NHL, and takes tons of shots. He'll be a top-6 forward for the Leafs, but under the pressure of performing in Hogtown, likely won't score 40+. More on the Habs signings to come...

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.