Summary of Tuesday's Activity

10:45 PM- The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed F Alex Burrows to a 4-year, 8 M contract.

12:52 PM- The following players have been placed on waivers:

• RW Miroslav Satan (PIT): 17 G, 19 A, 36 Pts/3.5 M
  
• C Brendan Morrison (ANA): 10 G, 12 A, 22 Pts/2.75 M
• LW Gary Roberts (TB): 4 G, 3 A, 7 Pts in 30 GP/2.07 M
• G Martin Gerber (OTT): 4-9-1, .899 sv%, 2.86 gaa/1.85 M
• C Eric Perrin (ATL): 5 G, 10 A, 15 Pts/0.75 M
• LW Jon Sim (NYI): 9 G, 6 A, 15 Pts in 49 GP/1 M
  

12:05 PM- The New York Rangers have claimed F Sean Avery off waivers from the Dallas Stars. They will be responsible for half of his remaining salary over the next 3 seasons, or of US$3.875 M, and Dallas will pick up the tab on the other one.

12:04 PM- The Minnesota Wild and G Niklas Backstrom have agreed on a 4-year, US$24 M contract extension. The finnish goaltender is in the midst of another terrific season, with a 28-18-4 record, a .925 save percentage and a 2.24 goals-against-average. He also has a career-high 6 shutouts.

Wild re-signs Schultz

Another signing, 3 in less than 24 hours that is!

This time, it includes the Minnesota Wild and defenseman Nick Schultz.

According to TSN, the Wild has re-signed Schultz to a 6-year contract extension worth US$21 M.

The 25-year old will earn salaries of US$3.2 M in 2008-09, of US$3.4 M in 2009-10 and of US$3.6 from 2010-11 to 2013-2014.

Schultz, known for his durability and his consistancy, has 11 points (1+10) and a 0 plus-minus rating in 61 games played. He currently ranks 26th in league with 102 blocked shots.

7/6/07 UFA SIGNINGS

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Please e-mail me at: afi.ville.49@gmail.com

6:45 PM- Stars sign LW Brad Winchester:
1 year at US$475,000


4:40 PM- Leafs sign G Scott Clemmensen:
1 year, two-way contract


3:40 PM- Wild sign D Sean Hill:
1 year


12:50 PM- Vanek Update:

In a 12:30 PM Press conference, Sabres' GM Darcy Regier announced that the Sabres will match the Oilers' contract offer of US$50 million over 7 years.

12:30 PM- Oilers send Vanek an offer sheet:

According to various sources, the Edmonton Oilers have sent forward Tomas Vanek an offer sheet. The offer is worth US$50 million over a period of 7 years. If the Sabres can not match the Oilers' offer, Edmonton will obtain Vanek in exchange for a compensation, more precisely of 4 1st round drat picks.

12:25 PM- Senators promote John Paddock to head coach.



8:00 AM- Top 5 Free Agents:

5) D Brent Sopel
4) C Alexei Yashin
3) LW Brendan Shanahan
2) C Peter Forsberg
1) D Sheldon Souray

7:50 AM- Rumor Central (Teams Interested):

LW Martin Gelinas (DAL)
D Sean Hill (MIN)
D Sheldon Souray (NJ, NYR, SJ)
C Alexei Yashin (DAL)

Flurry of re-signings

ATL- Today, the Atlanta Thrashers re-signed forward Pascal Dupuis to a 1-year, US$800,000
contract. Dupuis was acquired last trade deadline by the Thrashers from the Rangers.

BUF- Saturday, the Buffalo Sabres re-signed forward/"goon" Adam Mair to a 3-year contract. His salary is expected to be over the US$650,000 he earned last season.

LAK- On friday, the Los Angeles Kings re-signed defenseman Jaroslav Modry and left winger Jeff Giuliano to 1-year contracts. No "money-related" information was disclosed.

MIN- Saturday afternoon, the Minnesota Wild re-signed restricted free-agents Mikko Koivu and Martin Skoula to new multi-year contracts. Both player's salaries will be around the US$1 million mark.

STL- On saturday, the Saint-Louis Blues re-signed forward Keith Tkachuk to a 2-year contract worth US$8 million. Tkachuk was acquired earlier this week from the Atlanta Thrashers.

Bruins acquire Fernandez from Wild

BOSTON-- According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Minnesota Wild have dealt goaltender Manny Fernandez to the Boston Bruins, in exchange for forward Peter Kalus and a future 4th round draft pick.

After a terrible start last season, Fernandez was replaced by Swedish import Nicklas Backstrom as the Wild's no.1 keeper. Backstrom proved he was worthy for the job, as he managed a 1.97 GAA in 41 games played. He had a 23-8-6 record, with a .929 SV%.

After such a consistent performance by Backstrom, Fernandez, and his US$4 million salary were a liability from a Minnesota Wild's point of vue, as they also needed to re-sign the 29-year old to a multi-year contract, which they did, on June 7th, to a 2 year pact, at a cost of US$6.2 million (US$3.1 per season).

With the increase of the salary cap, yesterday, going up to US$50.3 million, the Bruins had the money available to acquire the veteran netminder, and the Wild had their no.1 goalie re-signed. It was the perfect time to deal Fernandez. His time with his uncle (Jacques Lemaire) and the Wild had ended, an era which was once deemed to be "un-endable".

Rumor Central

CAR/PHI- According to the Raleigh News and Observer, the Carolina Hurricanes are waiting on one of their player's decision on whether or not he will waive his no-trade clause. The no.1 consensus is that this player is defenseman Niclas Wallin. The aforementioned trade would send him to Philadelphia for Flyers' defenseman Joni Pitkanen. The Pensylvanian club is keen on getting rid of the young d-man's salary, in an effort to free up more cap space to sign a prominent no.1 center.

MIN- Per the Star Tribune, the Minnesota Wild have chosen to-resign forward Wes Walz over Todd White and defenseman Martin Skoula. All three are set to hit the market on July 1st.

VAN- According to The Vancouver Sun, the Vancouver Canucks will place center Marc Chouinard on waivers, in an effort to buy him out. He is/was set to earn US$1.1 million this season. Vancouver, per the Vancouver Province, will not play the "free-agency game" this offseason, as they currently have 14 players under contract for an estimated sum of US$41 million. They currently possess 13 unrestricted free-agents.