Rick Nash signs a massive extension - 8 years, 7.8 Million a year.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283635

Due to an oversight on the part of the Blackhawks Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Aaron Johnson and Troy Brouwer may all become UFA's, because their qualifying offers (to keep them RFA's) may not have been filed before the July 1st deadline. The NHL and NHLPA are investigating, at this point in time.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283634

I'd like for the Canucks to go after Cam Barker.......a nice replacement for Ohlie. I'd go after him anyways, if he's still an RFA. Offer him a maximum of 3.9 for a number of years, and you only give up a 1st and 3rd.

A pretty big trade goes down - Smyth to LA, while Quincey, Preissing and a 5th go to Colorado.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283667

Colorado is in bad shape financially, so getting rid of Smyth who is making in excess of 6 million had to go. They get Quincey, who is a young promising defenceman, Preissing who wasn't really being used by LA, and of course a 5th rounder, which has a chance to turn into a serviceable player - a very slim chance.

Smyth should be an excellent veteran presence, which ought to help the young Kings. Their PP is sure to improve with Smyth screening and banging home the trash. I can't wait to see how LA does next year.

Hopefully they still suck... =)

Especially when they play the Canucks ;)

I just have this weird feeling that they're going to surprise a lotta teams. They may or may not make the playoffs, but they'll certainly be in contention till the bitter end. If they manage to get a solid veteran defenseman, I would think that they'd be a lock for the playoffs.

Kovalev to division rivals, Ottawa, 2 years @ 5 million per year.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283891

The Leafs beef up their blue line some more with Beauchemin, 3 years @ 3.8 million per year. They now have defenceman who played in the NHL last year on their roster. There must be a deal for Kaberle which is close to being finished. That or Burkie really wants to build from the back end out.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283892

I like the Beauchemin signing, but the Leafs are flooded with D-Men:

Komisarek 4,500,000 - 4 years

Finger 3,500,000 - 3 years

Beauchemin 3,800,000 - 3 years

Schenn 875,000 - 2 years

Kaberle 4,250,000 - 2 years

Exelby 1,391,667 - 1 year

Van Ryn 2,900,000 - 1 year

Frogren 1,065,000 - 1 year

White 850,000 - 1 year

Stralman  731,66 - 1 year

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=TOR

That's 10 NHL ready defencemen on the current roster. This year is going to tight, even if Kaberle is traded. In hindsight, the Finger signing really was a mistake.

I personally thought the Finger signing by Fletcher was one of the worst contracts doled out at that time. Finger was a bargain at the 600k the Avs had him at, but I thought 1.5 to 1.8 was a fair price for him. I just about fell out of my chair when I saw that the Leafs gave him that.

Not only was the contract bad, but at that time the Leafs (if memory serves) got rid of/bought out McCabe, Tucker, Domi and whoever else, and then they go right back and do the same thing when free agency opens up. I don't know if they felt like they had to do something to get the fanbase excited after losing Sundin, but it was a very poor contract then and now.

The Monster decides on the Leafs. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283954

The Leafs are also being investigated for tampering (Ron Wilson commenting that they may go after the Sedins on July 1st, on the radio June 30th). http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283946

Blackhawks resign Barker to a 3 year, 9.25 million dollar contract, before the NHL responds to the grievance charges by the NHLPA. So they manage to keep all of their original players who were a part of this RFA or UFA debate, except for Versteeg. They are screwed next year though, cap wise. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283914

^ Is that even tampering? I mean, all Wilson said that is that the Leafs might be interested if the Sedins are available on July 1st. The Canucks supposedly haven't even filed tampering charges.

Seems like an over exaggeration to me.

I personally think that it was an exaggeration and that nothing should come of it. However, when he was GM of the Ducks, Brian Burke said this when Kevin Lowe mentioned Corey Perry-

"It is our understanding that clubs are not entitled to express interest in the services of a player belonging to another NHL organization," Burke said. "Our understanding is that such an expression of interest constitutes tampering. We have asked the league to investigate whether a tampering episode has taken place."

Going by this, the Sedins, who were still under contract to the Canucks were mentioned specifically by the coach of another club. According to Brian Burke's definition of tampering, Ron Wilson did tamper in this situation. I don't consider it tampering myself, but I wouldn't reject an extra pick or two that might come our way.