Free Agent Frenzy Signings

*-> David Koci has signed with the Colorado Avalanche in an attempt to replace Ian Laperriere. The deal is reportedly worth $525K for only one season.

*-> Defenseman Kent Huskins has resigned in San Jose for 2 years at 1.7$Mil a season.

*-> Chris Neil is listening to offers from the Rangers and Leafs at the moment. The Rangers have a deal thats 4 years at $2.2 Mil on the table at the current time.

Ice Scoopz: Thursday Morning -> Draft Day Closing In

With less than a day before the draft the rumors continue to swirl around the league. It looks more and more likely that Danny Heatley and quite possibly Vincent Lecavalier will be moved at the draft . Leafs also have stated they would love to jump up in the draft as well.

*-> Brenden Shanahan is reportedly still interested in playing next season but his agent has reported Shanahan has yet to receive an offer from the New Jersey Devils. Shanahan has no targetted teams and would welcome a deal anywhere in the East.

*-> Sergei Fedorov has officially signed in the KHL with Metallurg Magnitogorsk as previosuly reported on Ice Scoopz. All that is know at this time is that Sergei wanted to furfil his fathers dream of the two Fedorov brothers (Fedor and Sergei) playing together on the same team. It is also reported to be a 2 year deal worth 2MIL$ a season.

*-> Aging defenseman Chris Chelios has stated this week that he definatly wants to keep playing for atleast another year now that Detroit has officially stated that he would no longer be part of their plans for the future. Chelios has no hard feelings about his parting with Detroit and will wait to receive offers from other teams. Is it rumored that Chicago one of his former teams is interested in bringing him on as a 6th to help their young mature. Chelios has also said if he does not receive an offer 2 months into the season he would officially retire.

*-> Rumors out of New York claim the Rangers are close to a deal with Ottawa for Danny Heatley. The deal reportedly on the table is for Chris Drury and Bobby Sanguinetti. The Rangers would love to swap Scott Gomez directly but Ottawa is seeking a impact roster player and ether a high draft pick or a blue chip prospect and it is highly unlikely they'd take such a high salary in return. Prospect Derek Stephan and winger Nikolai Zherdev are another two players that keep getting mentioned in the New York media.

Heatley is also hot talk in Colorado where the Avalanche look to rebuild for next season. Heatley would be a great addition as he is signed long term and could be the building point of a franchise. The return subject is where this rumor sorta falls off. The Avalanche are not interested in parting with any picks, prospects or young players other than Marek Svatos. John Michael Liles is another name been thrown about but he alone is not going to get a deal done with Ottawa. Ryan Smyth would be a name Ottawa is interested in and a player who could possibly turn the dressing room around an reunite the troops. Although Smyth told the media last deadline he is happy in Colorado and would not waive his no trade for any team. Would the prospect of coming back home to Canada sway his mind? Especially the nations capital?

Another Heatley rumor out there is the Chicago Blackhawks is highly interested in replacing Martin Havlat with Danny Heatley. Chicago would have to give up one of their 3 stud defensemen in Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook or Cam Barker with only the later in play. Barker who has been slow to develop would be much welcome in the Ottawa organization. Chicago's late 1st round draft pick plus Barker might be able to get a deal done, with hopes Ottawa can land a top line winger via free agency.

*-> Speaking of Marty Havlat, he recently posted on his blog he is enjoying his vacation and hopes to return to Chicago next season. It is his primary choice to resign in Chicago and his agent will continue talks this weekend in Montreal to try and get a deal worked out by July 1st.

*-> Rumors have been out of control this week in Vancouver due to a recent article stating Marian Gaborik has bought a house in the Vancouver area late last week. to add more fuel to the fire the Gaborik and Demetra are best of friends and have been dying to reunite together and Vancouver could be the destination now it looks like the Sedins will walk.

Part two of this rumor is that it is entirely false that Gaborik has purchased a home in Vancouver. Pavol Demetra appeared on a radio interview this week and crushed many Vancouver fans hopes by saying Gaborik has not bought a house and has not dicussed reuniting in vancouver with him although it would be much welcomed.

*-> Tsn reports the San Jose Sharks are shopping Ryan Clowe hard in Montreal today. the leafs have shown interest but San Jose is asking for their 1st round pick a price the Leafs wont pay. The Philly Flyers are also in the hunt but do not want to part with winger Claude Giroux.

*-> Last of all Tsn is also reporting that Jay Bouwmeester's rights are close to being dealt and they are expected to go soon.

Ice Scoopz: Early Friday

Well the site is having some problems with the font sizing and color for some reason so bare with it till I get it resolved. Here this mornings news...

*-> Victor Hedmen slated to go 2nd overall in this years entry won the Elitserien Rookie of the year. Hedman has been playing for Modo this season and has recorded 7 goals and 14 assists for 21pts and 54PIM. Last year he finished with 4pts in 39 games.

*-> The San Jose Sharks ECHL affliate The Phoenix Road Runners will officially fold at the end of this season they have announced today. This is their 4th season in the East Coast Hockey League and their reason behind the folding is the lack of interest and lack of support from the fans.

Trade Catch-Up!

*->The Toronto Maple Leafs acquire injured goalie Olaf Kolzig, defenseman Jaime Heward, defenseman Andy Rogers, and a 4th round pick in exchange for prospect Richard Petiot from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

*->Carolina trades Justin Williams for a 2nd round pick and Patrick O'Sullivan from the Kings.

*-Edmonton trades Erik Cole back to the Carolina Hurricanes for forward Patrick O'Sullivan and a 2nd round draft pick.

*->Edmonton trades the 2nd round pick to Buffalo for Ales Kotalik.

*-> San Jose trades prospect Nick Bonino, goalie Timo Pielmeier, and a conditional draft pick to Anaheim for Travis Moen and defenseman Kent Huskins.

*-> Chicago trades defenseman James Wisniewski for Samuel Pahlsson from the Anaheim Ducks.

*-> Philly trades their 6th round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for Kyle McLaren.

*-> Calgary trades goaltender Kevin Lalonde to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 4th round draft pick.

*->Tampa Bay trades Steve Eminger to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Noah Welch and a 3rd round.

Ice Scoopz: Wednesday Evening -> Jagr Returns?

I'm currently watching the Oilers - Montreal game on Oilers PPV and I have to say that it is embarassingly bad. I cant believe they'd air some of this god awful banter, I mean I understand they want banter but some of this stuff is mindless and is making hockey look awful. One of their personalities literally spent 2 minutes just yelling out what you could wear to a game if you were a montreal fan. "A hat! A jersey! A jersey with a great player! A toque even! My goodness so many things you could use to support the Canandians!". It just confuses me to who would actually pay to watch this dribble. Thank god for Center Ice! Anyways the Habs are being beat 4-1 and they really need a change. Their playing really desperite hockey and it doesn't seam to be working. I think Bob should get on the phone and make a deal already before his club free falls off the map. Anyways on to the rumors!

*-> There has been a recent report out of Edmonton that the Oilers are close to signing Jaromir Jagr. The report claims that now that Visnovsky is out for season that leaves enough room to bring in the veteran winger. The report also claims that Jagr is close friends of Ales Hemsky and Hemsky has been a major influence in trying to bring him to Edmonton. I really don't believe this is true as I recently read an interview with Jagr and he claims he is happy in the KHL and would only consider moving in the summer to a NHL team possibly. Even if he were to leave or get bought opt of his KHL contract he'd have to be cleared on waivers once the Oilers signed him. He would almost certainly be claimed by most teams so I really don't think this report is true at all.

*-> Brian Burke has recently called out Toronto Maple Leaf forward Nik Antropov and suggested that Antropov could use a change of scenery. Unfortunatly for the Leafs Antropov and Brian Burke theres not much interest in the struggling forward although the Chicago Blackhawks have shown a bit of interest. The Blackhawks who have beenn looking for a center since trading Robert Lang to Montreal think that Nik Antropov might be a last option solution come playoffs.

*-> The New Jersey Devils are rumored to be shopping both Kevin Weekes and Scott Clemmenson to make way for Martin Brodeur. After Brodeur's recent injury the Devils need to make some room in the net for the veteran superstar. Although many people would disagree about shopping Clemmenson after his incredible stretch, I doubt the Devils would just sit Martin Brodeur and let the franchise goalie watch from the bench. They could go the route of shopping Kevin Weekes who has barely had a chance to play this season but his value is incredibly low. Clemmenson would bring in a decent reap if he was to be traded and it solves the issue of having him sit after such a good performance. Clemmenson also has an extremely cheap price tag and is affordable for any teams looking for goaltending insurance for the playoffs.

*-> Ottawa's Dean McAmmond is reportedly unhappy with his role on the Ottawa Senators. He recently told the Ottawa media that he would like to be traded if they don't want to play him in an meaniingful role. He also went on to say that if he wasn't in the teams plans then they should go ahead and see what they can get for him. These comments were after being a healthy scratch for a few games last week. These just sound like words from a frustrated player whose team was tanking at the time but Ottawa will most likely move him by the deadline. San Jose scouts were in Ottawa this week so this might be a sign that San Jose is interested in ether McAmmond or Chris Neil.

*->Ray Emery has returned to his KHL Atlant Mystichi after his pay dispute with the clubs. Atlant Mystichi management has agreed to look into the situation and pay Emery any missing amount he has been owed. They have also stated it just was a big misunderstanding.

The I.R: Tuesday Evening

*-The New York Islanders have announced Rick DiPietro will miss the remainder of the season due to an ongoing problem with the knee surgery he had at the beginning of the season. The swelling refuses to go down so he will remain out and have another surgery on his knee. The Islanders are expected to go out and find some help till next season.

*Claude Lemieux completed an unbelievable comeback story tonight by returning to the NHL. Lemieux who is turning 46 who retired 4 years ago had no played hockey since this summer. He eventually earned a two way contract with the San Jose Sharks and tonight will mark his first game back. Incredible.

*Columbus goaltender Pascal Leclaire will be out 3 months with an undisclosed ankle injured. The Columbus goalie had surgery this afternoon to repair his ankle and is expected to make a quick recovery.

*Yet Another Columbus goalie is on the mend as of Tuesday. Goaltender Steve Mason has been suffering from severe back spasms and will miss the next 3 weeks. The Blue Jackets will not put him on the IR but rather just let him rest. He unfortunately will miss the youngstars game due to his condition.