NHL to have 2nd Outdoor game in WRIGLEY FIELD

An announcement is expected later this month for the 2009 Winter Classic, the second one pitting the Chicago Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings at fabled Wrigley Field, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on its Web site.

According to the Star Tribune's report, the game was approved last week when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman met with the Blackhawks, Cubs and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Last New Year's Day, more people tuned in to see the NHL play outdoors than any other regular-season game in more than a decade.

OUTDOOR ICE HOCKEY is AWESOME!!!!! Nice job NHL!

Calgary Flames sign Todd Bertuzzi to a 1 year, 1.95 Million Dollar Contract

"Todd is a proven scorer with the ability to play both wings," Flames general manager Darryl Sutter said. "He expressed to us that he wanted to play in Canada and that desire along with signing him to a one-year deal was important to our philosophy. He wanted to play on a good team and it fit our money. Additionally, our captain, Jarome Iginla, was a strong supporter of Todd and wanted him on our team."

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Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Center R.J. Umberger to a 4 year deal

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed center R.J. Umberger to a four-year contract Monday.

The Blue Jackets acquired Umberger and a draft pick from the Philadelphia Flyers on June 20, in exchange for two draft choices.

In three years and 228 games in the NHL, he has 49 goals and 67 assists, all with Philadelphia.

Owen Nolan signs 2 year deal with the Minnesota Wild

Owen Nolan, the 36-year-old power forward who spent last season with the Calgary Flames, signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.

Nolan

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Nolan had 16 goals and 16 assists in 77 games for the Flames last season, his 16th in the NHL. He has 381 goals and 426 assists in 1,068 career regular-season games with Quebec, Colorado, San Jose, Toronto, Phoenix and Calgary.

JAROMIR JAGR is heading back to RUSSIA!!

The Russian League team Avangard Omsk announced the signing of the 36-year-old Czech winger on its Web site Friday. Jagr's agent, Pat Brisson, confirmed the signing in an e-mail, but wouldn't comment on contract terms.

"It was a very difficult but personal decision to make in light of the many NHL teams interested in his services," Brisson said. "He is grateful to the NHL and especially the Rangers in recent years."

Well this proves that JAGR is all about the MONEY because he is getting up there in age and figures he has his Penguins Championship plus his HOCKEY HALL OF FAME STATUS, so why not go close to home and make a ton of money with hardly any pressure!!!!

The NY Rangers have already started making moves knowing this was coming. Sometimes it is all about the MONEY!!

Dan Boyle does get TRADED, waives his no trade clause and going to SAN JOSE!!

Details are still being worked out, but it is believed the Lightning will receive defenseman Matt Carle, a first-round draft pick and a fourth-round pick.

I guess Tampa Bay feels these 3 players are worth chucking Doyle -- Doyle will help bring the San Jose Sharks more help against the Dallas Stars & Detorit Red Wings!

The Tampa Bay Lightning are going nowhere fast...

Tampa Bay Lightning shopping D-man, Dan Boyle

Dan Boyle

Defense
Tampa Bay Lightning

2008 Season Stats

GM	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
37	4	21	25	-29	5

Dan Boyle has a no trade clause he doesn't seem to want to waive so why are the new owners of the Lightning so desperate to trade him?!?
They feel like Boyle can find a team that would want his services and they can get a lot of really good, younger players to help rapidly rebuild this falling off the map franchise...good luck with that one!

Montreal Canadiens signed Georges Laraque to a 3 year deal worth $4.5 Million

Forward Georges Laraque signed a three-year, $4.5 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Laraque

The 31-year-old Laraque spent last season with the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 6-foot-3, 243-pound Laraque had four goals and nine assists and 141 penalty minutes in 71 games last season. He added one goal, two assists and four penalty minutes in 15 playoff games for the Penguins, who lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals last month.

Rangers sign Wade Redden and then go get Markus Naslund

Wade Redden was supposed to be a big time player but had a somewhat off year last year.
I'm not sure if Redden will be revitalized playing in the BIG APPLE?!?
The same goes for Naslund who might be too old and the NY Rangers like many NY franchises pick up older players who are beyond their prime.
They gave this 35 year old - 2 years for 8 million....we'll see what gas he has left in his tank!

Pittsburgh Penguins very busy so far with resigning of Marc-Andre Fleury plus steal Fedotenko and Satan from the NEW YORK ISLANDERS!

Goaltender
Pittsburgh Penguins

2008 Season Stats

GM	W	L	T	SV%	GAA
35	19	10	0	.921	2.33

Signing Fleury was a no brainer and two other productive guys in Fedentenko and Satan was very smart. The Penguins came so close this year and are trying to fill in the pieces missing in a champsionship team.
Fleury got a 7 year, 35 Million Dollar Deal which means he'll be locked up with Pittsburgh until he's 30!
Fleury, 23, was eligible for arbitration and a hearing was scheduled for later in the month, but the Penguins made no secret they considered that a formality as general manager Ray Shero continued to negotiate a long-term deal with the goaltender. Fleury said he gave clear instructions to his agent to seal a long-term deal with the Penguins.
"That's where I want to be," he told reporters on a conference call. "I love this city, the organization, the guys on the team."

Satan, 33, had 41 points in 80 games and was tied for third on the club in scoring. The native of Slovakia was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 1993 and has played in 12 seasons in the NHL. Satan's deal was worth $3.5 million.

Fedotenko, 29, scored 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 67 games last season. In his career, he has 123 goals and 116 assists in 523 NHL games. Financial terms of his contract weren't announced, but a source told ESPN.com that it was worth $2.25 million.