Latest NHL Signings! Part XII

Colorado Avalanche forward Joe Sakic has officially retired from hockey. Brochu's take: He was always one of my favourite players. See you in the Hall of Fame!

The Philadephia Flyers have re-signed defenseman Chris Pronger to a 7-year, $34.9 million contract extension. Brochu's take: The contract is not even heavily front loaded, so in the last 3 years of this contract, he will still have a cap hit of around $5 million. I'm not sure how Philly will be able to afford this down the line, but it's clear that GM Paul Holmgren wants to win NOW.

The New York Rangers have signed forward Ales Kotalik to a 3-year, $9 million contract.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed defenseman Kurtis Foster to a 1-year, $500 000 contract. They also signed forward Stephane Veilleux to a 1-year, $750k contract.

The Bolts have also signed 2009 NHL first round pick Victor Hedman to a 3-year, entry-level contract.

The Anaheim Ducks have signed defenseman Nick Boynton to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract.

The Avs have signed defenseman Brett Skinner and forward Phillipe Dupuis to contracts.

San Jose Sharks forward Claude Lemieux has retired. Again.

Florida Panthers forward Chad Kilger has officially announced his retirement from hockey.

Red Wings talked to Morozov?

Aleksey Morozov has no interest in returning to the NHL. Morozov scored 30 goals and 63 points this season for Ak-Bars Kazan in the Russian Super League and is leading his team into the RSL playoffs. In an interview with Sport Express, he expressed that he is happy in Russia and has no desire to return to the NHL. "I am not interested of returning there. Last summer, I negotiated with Detroit and with a pair other teams, but of some reason so seems we not to speak same language. The best for myself is to stay here in Kazan and I do not know what that would may with wanting to return to NHL," said Morozov. Source

The NHL is looking to host a game outdoors at Chicago's Wrigley Field. The Chicago Blackhawks are among a list of teams bidding to host an outdoor game next season, and commissioner Gary Bettman's "guess" is that there will probably be one. New York, Boston, Detroit, Colorado, Montreal, Toronto, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have also expressed interest in hosting an outdoor game. Source

The Florida Panthers suspended winger Chad Kilger on Wednesday, only a few days after obtaining him in a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kilger asked Florida for a leave of absence, which was granted. The Panthers apparently expected him back by now, and the suspension is without pay. Source

NHL trade deadline round-up: Part 2

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Wade Belak to the Florida Panthers for a 5th round pick in 2008.

The Leafs also traded defenseman Hal Gill to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2nd round pick in 2008 and a 5th round pick in 2009.

The Leafs also traded forward Chad Kilger to the Florida Panthers for a 3rd round pick in 2008.

The Florida Panthers traded defenseman Ruslan Salei to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Karlis Skrastins and 3rd round pick in 2008.

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded defenseman Adam Foote to the Colorado Avalanche for for a conditional first-round draft pick in 2008 or 2009, depending if Colorado makes it in the playoffs. The Jackets would get another conditional 4th round pick in 2009 if Foote re-signs with the Avs.

The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Sergei Fedorov to the Washington Capitals for defenseman Ted Ruth.

The Montreal Canadiens traded goaltender Cristobal Huet to the Washington Capitals for a 2nd round pick in 2009.

The Washington Capitals traded forward Matt Pettinger to the Vancouver Canucks for forward Matt Cooke.