Shanny in the Lou....

A lot of Blues fans have heard the team has contacted Brendan Shanahan's representation about his status as a free agent and willingness to be lured away from his desire to play with the New York Rangers for one more season. The overall response seems to be a good one. In fact, everyone I have talked to feels he would a valuable asset to this team. But can a 40 year old winger really bring much to a team developing from within?

Here's my take of the teams he's still considering:

Montreal, Pittsburgh, Washington, Minnesota, and Boston (Also Chicago, Edmonton, and Phoenix)

All these teams had youth play a huge role in their drastic turnarounds. If he chooses the St Louis Blues, Shanny will take a young players spot and the Blues will be set back one more year in development. Stick with the plan and develop from within it is the only way for the Blues to get back to a WINNING tradition.

That's my take.

Flyers Sign Lupul to 4-Year Extension

The Flyers announced today that they agreed on a four-year extension with skilled RW Joffrey Lupul. Lupul is coming off of a good season that was partially marred by injury, recording 20 goals and 26 assists while missing 26 games due to a sprained ankle. He added 10 points in 17 playoff games, including the overtime winner in Game 7 of the Flyers' first round series against Washington. Philadelphia originally acquired Lupul from Edmonton last summer along with Jason Smith in a trade that sent Geoff Sanderson and Joni Pitkanen to the Oilers. Terms of the extension were not disclosed.

Blue Jackets Notes

This is a message I received earlier today from my source in Columbus:

1) The Blue Jackets are not going to trade for Pavel Kubina, nor do they have any interest in him at this time. His salary is too much for them to take on, and after they re-sign Pascal Leclaire, the payroll will be slightly above $50 million. Adding Kubina will put them dangerously close to the cap, and leave no flexibility for future moves.

2) I noticed on your live chat that someone on your site is reporting a Leclaire deal to be close. That is false. The two sides spoke late last week, with Leclaire's agent sending the Blue Jackets a counter-offer to the one they made on Monday. They have agreed on the length of the deal (three years), but money is still a major sticking point. And, as I noticed in the chat, this person says the deal is 3 years, $4.5 million. That averages to $1.5 million per season, only a $300,000 raise from his salary from this past year. Doesn't quite add up.

'Mad' Mike Milbury Joins H.N.I.C

The CBC has been under public scrutiny for the past couple of months after the Canadian hockey broadcaster lost its rights to the 'Hockey Theme" song, a staple of its Hockey Night In Canada Saturday broadcasts, as well as the supposed second national anthem.

With the announcement of the addition of Mike Milbury to its broadcasting staff as an analyst and 'Hotstove' regular, the CBC will see their public image kept under the hotstove. Many internet commenters have already bleaked at the addition of Milbury, the former Bruin who will join his former coach Don Cherry on the staff. But who can absolutley hit the ignore button his hockey expertise as someone who has been on the ice and in the boardrooms, and can spark controversy in a second, and viewing interest?

All in all, with all of the latest events transpiring with the CBC and their institution, as a Canadian, it will be very different, and interesting, to see how the new-look Hockey Night does next season.

Who's left after 3 weeks

Forwards - last team
Sundin, Mats TOR
Shanahan, Brendan NYR
Sakic, Joe COL
Hlavac, Jan NAS
Robitaille, Randy OTT
Nagy, Ladislav LA
Smolinski, Bryan MON
Hamilton, Jeff CAR
Selanne, Teemu ANA
Barnes, Stu DAL
Darche, Mathieu TB
Gelinas, Martin NAS
Letowski, Trevor CAR
Rucinsky, Martin STL
Forsberg, Peter COL
Perreault, Yanic CHI
Lapointe, Martin OTT
Sanderson, Geoff EDM
Yelle, Stephane CGY

Defensemen - last team
Berard, Bryan NYI
Hedican, Bret CAR
Ozolinsh, Sandis SJ
Carney, Keith MIN
Brisebois, Patrice MON
Malik, Marek NYR
Miller, Aaron VAN
Modry, Jaroslav PHI
Richardson, Luke OTT
Hill, Sean MIN
Zhitnik, Alexei ATL
Pratt, Nolan BUF
Dallman, Kevin LA

Goalies - last team
Aubin, Jean-Sebastien ANA
Thibault, Jocelyn BUF

Red Wings Resign Howard, Ericsson

The Detroit Red Wings have agreed to terms with both goaltender Jimmy Howard and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson.

Howard will make $600,000 next season and Ericsson will make $550,000.

No other details were released.

Atlanta Thrashers Offseason Update

Three weeks into free agency and most of us were weary. Only Ron Hainsey brought in, and only Johan "Moose" Hedberg and Eric Boulton re-signed.

Since then DW signed Jason Williams, Marty Reasoner, and locked up Kari Lehtonen for at least another season.

Williams is a solid addition. Young and talented, he should be a nice feeder-of-the-puck to Mr. Kovalchuk. Our top line will most likely feature Kovalchuk-Christensen-Williams. I think it's a pretty good start...2 young playmakers for Kovy.

Marty Reasoner was a little surprising considering our current list of 3rd-4th line players, it looks like DW might not be done dealing. Most likely Jim Slater or Todd White are on the move. From everything said by Oilers fans about Reasoner, I think he will be a welcome addition. A solid lockeroom presence, with guts to spare. He's all effort.

Kari Lehtonen was re-signed to a 1 year deal. A little strange that it's only 1 year, but this should work out great for our team. Lehtonen's focus should be seen every night considering he is in another contract year. Johan Hedberg will continue to back up and bring his best effort every time he puts on the pads. Don't forget Ondrej Pavelec who will most likely play one more year in Chicago, barring any unforeseen goalie issues with the Thrash.

A slow start had some worried...but I think this team is starting to look like it has some direction. At the very least Don Waddell is opting for young players as opposed to washed up big name vets. That's a huge plus for this Thrasher fan.

CM

Eric Boguniecki back in the NHL

Former NHLer Eric Boguniecki has reportedly signed with the Anaheim Ducks. The 33 year-old played in Europe last season after playing 11 games with the Islanders in 2006-07. Boguniecki was drafted #193 overall in 1993 by the St. Louis Blues. The terms of the deal are still unknown.

Andre Roy

The Calgary Flames have signed free agent tough guy Andre Roy for the upcoming season.

So they needed a tough guy big wiff.

With the Ilanders search for a coach its come down to John Tortorrella.