While the hockey world has CBA talk in the driver seat, the free agency period has been thrown out of the van. No fear, we found it on the side of the road 4 weeks later and are giving it a ride. Here is what has gone down for the Eastern Conference teams.
Note: This only includes Free Agent signings. No trade or resignings here. All signings according to the NHL website.
Boston Bruins
Who They Signed: Christian Hanson, Garnet Exelby, Aaron Johnson
What That Means: Tough team, son of Slapshot, seems like a good fit. Also, the blueline is shored up.
Buffalo Sabres
Who They Signed: John Scott, Mark Mancari, Kevin Porter
What That Means: Lucic might have to actually face someone next time he touches Miller.
Carolina Hurricanes
Who They Signed: Joe Corvo, Marc-Andre Gragnani, Tim Wallace, Alexander Semin
What That Means: Corvo back with the 'Canes? Colour me unsurprised. The Semin signing should be interesting for this team as they try to get back to the playoffs.
Florida Panthers
Who They Signed: Filip Kuba, George Parros, Jean-Francois Jacques, Peter Mueller
What That Means: Signing depth players worked last year for the Panthers. This year, maybe not as much.
Montreal Canadiens
Who They Signed: Colby Armstrong, Brandon Prust, Cedric Desjardins, Francis Boullion
What That Means: The Habs just got tougher. Is the Northeast becoming the modern-version (Chuck) Norris Division?
New Jersey Devils
Who They Signed: Krys Barch, Phil DeSimone
What That Means: Just like the Kings - why try to fix what is working.
New York Islanders
Who They Signed: Brad Boyes, Matt Carkner, Eric Boulton, Nathan McIver
What That Means: The Islanders improved a bit, making it possible for them to again finished 5th in the Atlantic Division
New York Rangers
Who They Signed: Arron Asham, Micheal Haley, Taylor Pyatt, Jeff Halpern, Brandon Segal
What That Means: Just what Dr. Torts ordered. More toughness.
Ottawa Senators
Who They Signed: Mike Lundin, Guillaume Latendresse, Tyler Eckford, Nathan Lawson
What That Means: They are becoming Minnesota east (east-er? more east?) minus the superstar signings.
Philadelphia Flyers
Who They Signed: Danny Syvret, Ruslan Fedotenko, Bruno Gervais
What That Means: No expected franchise goalie signing? (Leighton resigning doesn't count) I don't know what to make of it.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Who They Signed: Jeff Zatkoff, Riley Holzapfel, Tanner Glass, Dylan Reese, Warren Peters, Trevor Smith, Phillippe Dupuis, Ben Ferriero
What That Means: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins should be Calder Cup contenders.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Who They Signed: Benoit Pouliot, Sami Salo, Matt Carle, Matt Taormina
What That Means: They solidified the defense. How that helps fix their goaltending problem I don't know (Lindback is still unproven in my eyes).
Toronto Maple Leafs
Who They Signed: Mike Kostka, Jay McClement, Keith Aucoin
What That Means: Truculence. That is all.
Washington Capitals
Who They Signed: Joey Crabb, Garrett Stafford, Jack Hillen, Ryan Stoa, Wojtek Wolski
What That Means: The Cap are a bit more defensive. But just a bit.
Winnipeg Jets
Who They Signed: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Olli Jokinen, Al Montoya, Mark Dekanich
What That Means: Signing goalies from the Islanders and Blue Jackets, along with re-signing Pavalec, that's a true playoff contender right there...jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!
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