The Calgary Flames went into throwback mode on Canada Day, grabbing Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen in moves that surprised many in the hockey world.

The Jokinen signing is probably the one that has most people scratching their heads. Darryl Sutter gave up on the Jokinen experiment not four months ago. He brought the 31-year-old underachiever back into the fold with a two year deal worth $6 million.

As for Tanguay, his return makes a bit more sense. He signed to a one year deal worth $1.7 million.

Jokinen’s numbers on the Flames were less than enthralling for the 75 games he played during his last sting in Cowtown. With 50 points in those games, including 19 goals, it’s hard to justify the price tag. Adding his less-than-stellar locker room presence to the mix, it’s even more perplexing to consider this move as a serious one.

Tanguay managed 139 points, including 40 goals, in his 159 games with the club.

Perhaps part of the method here is to give the Flames more gumption down the middle. Jokinen can be tough to play against if he commits, so that could provide some spine for Calgary at centre. Looking at the roster now, they’ve got Jokinen to go with Mikael Backlund, Matt Stajan and Daymond Langkow. If you’re not impressed, neither am I.

I think Tanguay is the better acquisition here, obviously, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to make much of an impact on what is, by almost all definitions, a mediocre hockey club. Perhaps Sutter has a vision here that the rest of us aren’t privy to. Or perhaps he’s lost his marbles. In any event, Calgary fans have to be asking themselves some pretty interesting questions right now.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

We all know that Alexander Medvedev is on a mission. As president of Russia’s KHL, he’s trying to put together the best possible league he can. Medvedev’s mission is the same as Gary Bettman’s is in regards to the NHL: build a brand that is successful and popular.

In order to achieve his goals, Medvedev is courting a number of big ticket NHLers. The KHL offers money, lots of it, that NHL salaries don’t even compare to. And what’s more, KHL players don’t pay any taxes on their salaries so their take-homes are often pretty gargantuan. KHLers also don’t pay escrow like NHLers do.

A player like Ilya Kovalchuk, whose days with Atlanta seem to be numbered, could make a whole lot more money in the KHL than he could in the NHL. After all, Medvedev’s league sprang for the rusted-up Sergei Fedorov and paid him an obscene $14 million this season. Yes, $14 million this season alone.

If that’s what the KHL is willing to spend on Fedorov, how much cash will they sling for Kovalchuk? Even better, how much would Medvedev be willing to pay for Ovechkin?

Before you consider the possibility of Ovie suiting up for a KHL team to be a pipe dream, consider his stance on the Olympics. He’s said, on more than one occasion, that any attempts to block NHL players from participating in future Olympics will result in his bolting the league. Put simply, Mother Russia has more lure to Ovechkin than does Father Bettman.

Add to Ovie’s natural loyalty to his country the fact that he could be among the most highly paid sports figures of all time should be bolt to the KHL and you’ve got a recipe for disaster that Bettman’s NHL had better start taking seriously. Then there’s the rumour floating around the Ovie is pissed at having to pay 18% of his salary to escrow and that he may leave the Caps after this season.

There’s nothing stopping Medvedev from piecing together one heck of an exciting league. He’s got the money and, as a result of having the money, he can certainly have the players.

The Kontinental Hockey League is even beginning to be a bit of a draw to Canadian players. Chris Simon is the current captain of Vityaz Chekhov, for instance, while Kevin Dallman leads the Chernyshev Division Barys hockey club. Some of the other players currently skating in the KHL include Alexei Zhitnik, Andrei Nikolishin, Sergei and Fedor Fedorov, Richard Zednik, Duvie Westcott, Byron Ritchie, Sergei Zubov, Alexei Yashin, and Danny Markov.

The KHL also has good relationships with NHLers that suited up there during the lockout. The Ak Bars Kazan club featured a roster that included Dany Heatley, Vincent Lecavalier and Brad Richards during the 2005-2006 season.

So is the lure of the KHL too strong? It darn well could wind up being that way. Bettman’s NHL, if it continues to struggle through bad TV contracts and if it continues to arrogantly stumble through putting hockey clubs in poor markets, may wind up facing more competition from the KHL than they ever thought possible.

And, as far as I’m concerned, that may be the kick in the rear The Commish needs to get things moving in the right direction.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are looking forward to the upcoming season, especially with the news that free agent Alex Tanguay has agreed to a contract and is said to be set to join the team pending medical clearance.

A report on RDS Television said that former Hab Tanguay has agreed to the offer set by Tampa Bay contingent on passing a medical exam. The news has Vincent Lecavalier primed and ready for the upcoming season with new hope for his franchise. It looks like a little piece of Montreal is joining him after all, even if it wasn’t in the way that many had hoped for.

“All the guys I talked to who played with him said he’s unbelievable,” Lecavalier said. “He’s going to bring a lot of offence to our team. He’s a hard-working guy, a good guy and you never have enough of those guys. I played with him in the world juniors (in 1998). I’m happy he’s part of it.”

Together with winger Martin St. Louis, Lecavalier lobbied hard for Tanguay to join the Lightning. Now that he should be on his way, things in Tampa are certainly looking up. The addition of Mattias Ohlund from the Vancouver Canucks gives veteran depth to the defensive corps, while second overall draft pick Victor Hedman gives the team reason for excitement too.

“It’s a big season,” Lecavalier said. “We didn’t have a good season last year but the team has changed and has been given a new dimension.”

This signing should give the team the boost they’ve been looking for. They’ll take to the ice with a heck of a line-up in the upcoming season, with Lecavalier, St. Louis, Tanguay, and a confident Steven Stamkos ready to rock, Tampa might be a team that will sneak up on a lot of other clubs.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

Forward Brendan Morrison was once an Iron Man in the National Hockey League. Having watched him in Vancouver for years, he was always a reliable centreman and formed the nucleus of one of the most successful lines in his time period when he worked between Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi.

But the years haven’t been all that kind to Brendan and he’s found himself on the move a lot. In fact, he’s been left behind by three different teams in less than 15 months thanks in large part to nagging injuries. That’s why Morrison fans should be happy with the latest news that the Washington Capitals have decided to take a chance on the once-reliable, once-sturdy forward.

The Caps signed Morrison to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. He’ll be expected to slip into the second line centre role immediately, likely filling the gap left behind when Fedorov took off for Russia.

“If I can get my game back in order and play the way I’m capable of playing, then that’s the role I want,” Morrison said, “and the role I expect myself to fill.”

Morrison played in 542 consecutive games in the NHL from 2000 to 2007, but has since had a total of four surgeries (wrist, hip, sports hernia and torn right ACL) that have held him back. In the 2007-2008 season with Vancouver, he was limited to just 39 games and it was clear that he was going to be on the move. The Canucks sent him to the Ducks for the 2008-2009 NHL season, but he was waived in March and eventually claimed by the Dallas Stars.

Even with the recent difficulties, Capitals management believes in Brendan and that might be enough for a bit of resurgence for the 34-year-old. “He has a clean bill of health,” general manager George McPhee said, “and is committed to coming to camp in great shape. We think he could really flourish here.”

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

The Ottawa Senators have signed Russian superstar winger Alex Kovalev to a two-year deal worth $10 million.

The idea is for Kovalev to bring his scoring touch to the Sens, of course. While there have been some concerns over his inconsistent effort, the Senators seem to be okay with that.

“I think you always want your player to play 100%, and that’s difficult over 82 games and if you are judgmental you can find a hole,” Senators GM Bryan Murray said. “I think Alex, they claim, has been a little more inconsistent than he should be. I think the opposite. I think when he plays great he can win a game for you. In this organization we’ve got many hard workers and guys that will compete for us every night, but we needed something special to go with that and this guy’s a special player.”

Murray is now in full re-tooling mode, needing to take the Senators from a team that missed the playoffs to a team that once again threatens for the Stanley Cup and is among the league’s elite. While the Dany Heatley situation still looms over Murray and Co., the signing of Kovalev certainly sends a message that the team is ready to get going on next season.

Some might say that the signing was a way to force something out of Heatley and his crew, but Murray denies that this is the case. Heatley rejected a possible move to the Edmonton Oilers last week and forced the Sens to pay his $4 million bonus, a move that probably won’t endear him to fans or team management.

“I don’t care where (Heatley) plays. He can play anywhere he wants as long as I can get the right deal. All I care about is what comes back to our club,” Murray said.

With Kovalev, the Senators get a 16-year veteran with top-level skill. He’s a top-six forward and will fit nicely into the system in Ottawa. If he decides to turn on the jets, Kovalev’s among the fastest and most exciting players in the entire National Hockey League.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

After tasting some playoff success in the post-season, the Chicago Blackhawks are ready to charge full-steam-ahead into next year with a pile of signings that will boost the profile of the young team.

While Martin Havlat and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin may have departed, the Hawks boosted things by signing superstar winger Marian Hossa, shutdown centre John Madden, and former Red Wing Tomas Kopecky.

Hossa is a step up from Havlat. He’s a more complete player when he’s on his game, boasting more strength, skill, and speed as well as toughness on the puck. Hossa signed a 12-year deal with the Blackhawks worth $5.2 million per season, so he’ll be expected to perform well and provide the team with more offensive jump. Putting Hossa alongside guys like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane would formulate one of the league’s most dangerous offensive lines.

Kopecky is a great addition, too, as he can play both directions with ease. At 27-years-old, he’s got plenty of time to turn into an impact player and should service a checking line on the team well, especially given who his new teammate is in John Madden.

Madden, a Selke Trophy winner from the New Jersey Devils, heads to Chicago on a one year deal worth $2.75 million. He’ll be expected to close up shop and help the Hawks hold some leads.

All in all, it looks like Chicago will be one of the most dangerous teams to play against in the upcoming NHL season. They’ve got a great mix of players and are solid at just about every position. If they can find more consistency in goal, they’ll be tough to beat.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

The Montreal Canadiens might have been one of the busiest teams thus far in the free agency signing period, jumping feet-first into the market to secure players to fit new head coach Jacques Martin’s system.

The Habs seem to have gotten smaller up front, with the ever-elusive Vincent Lecavalier still not in the fold but a gaggle of new players well worth their salt.

GM Bob Gainey signed wingers Mike Cammalleri from Calgary and Brian Gionta from New Jersey to start things off and polished it off by signing defencemen Jaroslav Spacek from Buffalo and Hal Gill from the Pittsburgh Penguins. He also landed Scott Gomez in a trade with the New York Rangers, adding another big salary to the team and adding one of the league’s better pivots.

The Habs released 10 free agents to the market without expecting to see any of them back, thus effectively mixing things up in Montreal in dramatic fashion. Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Alex Tanguay, Mathieu Dandenault and other veterans from last year’s Habs are all on the block at this point without contracts in Montreal.

“We’re going to have to play big and smart, but this was a day where you had to grab talent where you can,” Gainey said. “There are other teams that don’t have anyone to announce.”

The Habs will hope for some chemistry between Gomez and Gionta, who were teammates together in New Jersey, and will also bank on Cammalleri’s skill and speed to put the puck in the net. Spacek and Gill will help fill space on the blueline, as the sizable defenceman Mike Komisarek made his way to the rival Maple Leafs.

Gainey was ready and willing to make big moves, armed with about $34.5 million in cap space as the week began and game for some smart signings. While time is the only real way to tell if these were smart moves, it certainly looks like the rebuilding process, for better or worse, in Montreal has gotten well underway.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

The Vancouver Canucks managed to lock up the Sedin twins thanks in large part to a last-ditch offer from Canucks GM Mike Gillis and assistant GM Laurence Gilman. The management pair flew to Sweden to table the offer and it was enough to keep the twins in the fold for a pair of five-year $30.5 million contracts.

“I think any day that you’re heading into free agency and you sign the top two free agents that are out there, it’s got to be a pretty good day,” Gillis said. “I think they knew all along how much we wanted them, and we knew how much they wanted to stay. We’re just really pleased it worked out.”

“We really like it in Vancouver and that’s where we wanted to stay,” Henrik said on a conference call. “Coming down to the last few days we’ve been in Stockholm with our agents and our families and we walked through our possible options. To see Mike and Laurence come over here, it meant a lot to us. It made our decision easier for sure.”

The extensions to the Sedins meant that Vancouver had to part with another large contract, so that meant that fellow Swede Mattias Ohlund hit the free agent market. It wasn’t long before the veteran defenceman was snapped up by the Tampa Bay Lightning in large part to play alongside their new Swedish draft pick Victor Hedman.

Losing Ohlund hurts the team’s defensive core, for certain, but it also frees up some breathing room when negotiations for a contract extension begin with goalie Roberto Luongo. Gillis sees the Sedins and Luongo as the core of his franchise, so it’s clear that those signings take top priority.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

Replacing departing superstar Marion Gaborik didn’t take long in Minnesota, as another superstar forward stepped in to fill the gap. Martin Havlat is now a member of the Wild, having signed a six year contract.

Havlat replaces Gaborik, who was signed by the New York Rangers on Wednesday.

“We are excited to add the speed and scoring of Martin Havlat to our lineup,” Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said in a statement. “He is a terrific two-way player.”

Gaborik was locked down by the New York Rangers after the team was able to get out from under Scott Gomez’s significant contract. While the Rangers still lack a solid top-line centreman, the addition of Gaborik helps fill the Jagr void and will provide some offensive support after the retirement of Markus Naslund.

“He is an exciting guy to watch play,” Rangers general manager Glen Sather said Wednesday night. “He can skate and does a lot of great things. He’s a great player and he’s young. I certainly think he’s in the top 10 in this league.”

Gaborik, 27, signed with the Rangers on a five year contract worth $37.5 million. He was the last original member of the Minnesota Wild.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

With uncertainty in the marketplace, it’s hard to know what’s going to happen when the unrestricted free agency period starts in the National Hockey League on Wednesday.

We have perhaps some interesting signs of the times that may give us some indication as to how things will play out. For one thing, there were few trades during the NHL Entry Draft. This may indicate a sense of conservativism among GMs. There is also the slight salary cap increase, just $100,000 to $56.8 million, to consider. Previous years have seen jumps of $5 million or more.

That said, there are a lot of big name players getting set to hit the market and it may be hard to resist some of that talent. Most analysts worth their salt predict at least some big money moves starting Wednesday, which could make for a most interesting summer as teams start to build and rebuild with the smaller cap increase and economic troubles in mind.

“The conditions that affect us all now impacted on the bottom line in baseball in terms of player salaries almost immediately, almost instantaneously,” Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke said. “I predict that that’s likely to happen here - mainly on term. I don’t think you’ll see a big decrease in dollars.”

Even with Burke’s predicted big decrease in dollars, there are still plenty of players to be had. Marian Hossa, Martin Havlat, the Sedin twins, and Marian Gaborik all look slated to hit the market if nothing significant happens in the next bit.

Vancouver GM Mike Gillis sure hasn’t given up on signing the Sedins, but their contract demands could prove a little much if he also wants to hold together the core of his team and keep Roberto Luongo in the fold. One has to think his goaltender is a top priority, so the Sedin twins’ reported asking price of $63-million 12-year deals (each!) could be a little bit steep. The Canucks also have to contend with Matthias Ohlund.

Montreal also faces a little bit of trouble with an exodus of some of their best talent. Defencemen Mike Komisarek and Mathieu Schneider, wingers Alex Kovalev and Alex Tanguay and captain Saku Koivu are headed for the open market, leaving the Habs in an interesting position yet again.

The Flames got a jump on things by acquiring the rights to Jay Bouwmeester, a smart move that will probably pay off big for the club.

Other big names on the UFA list on Wednesday include defenceman Sergei Zubov, defenceman Paul Mara, goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, goaltender Dwayne Roloson, winger Mike Cammalleri, forward Brian Gionta, and tough guy Chris Neil.

There are also a few question marks in Colorado’s Joe Sakic and Vancouver’s Mats Sundin. Both players could be headed for retirement or they could sign short-term contracts somewhere. With Sakic, it’s a question of returning to Colorado after one of the club’s worst seasons in recent memory or moving on and testing the waters. With Sundin, it’s a question of reconsidering his impact in today’s league.

We’ll have all the important UFA news starting Wednesday and throughout the summer, so stay tuned!

Posted by Jordan Richardson.