Rice

Khan: There's tidbits concerning Schneider and Bertuzzi in the article too. It looks like Schneider wants no less than $5 million. Let the guy go and take a run at Smyth. Khan expects Bertuzzi to sign for around $2 million. The Wings have a glut of defensemen ready to come in, and they have to go for it while Lidstrom is still around. I'd let Schneider walk and sign Bertuzzi and Smyth. After that, use young guys on defense and bring in a second-tier UFA. Lidstrom will carry who ever he is paired with.

Go for Smyth. The Wings need to go for it while Lidstrom is still playing and that may mean taking risks down the road.

Malkin isn't going anywhere. Even if he were, it would take a Phaneuf or Bouwmeester to get him. Not Kronwall.

Not when you take his international career into account. It's the Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL Hall of Fame.

No they won't. They'll be on the hook for his buy-out price which is two thirds of the contract.

Find me a better goalie for less than $2.5 million and then you can complain.

Pitkanen and Bergeron aren't in the same league. Pitkanen could be a franchise defenseman.

Kane weighs 160. Is he not NHL material?

Jim Matheson: I'd love to see the Wings sign Smyth but I don't think it's possible anymore. Datsyuk is locked up long-term and Zetterberg is going to be looking for a similar contract when he's a UFA in two years. I guess it hinges on what Lidstrom is planning to do down the road.

Did you ever think hat Philly may have set the rumor train in motion? I highly doubt all these teams are going to trade assets just so they can negotiate a few days early.

It's probably just for picks. People seem to be forgetting that it's very rare for teams to trade for the rights to a UFA. Just because Philadelphia did it doesn't mean it's going to be the norm this off-season.

I think the Predators are still for sale, just not to Balsillie.

Love Bettman getting booed.

Burke acquired that pick at the deadline to flip it for an available player.

No they didn't.

Holland should get in on this.

It's probably just picks and maybe a league minimum contract. The Preds are dumping as much salary as they can.

They still have Mason who is pretty good. The Wings should hang up the 07-08 Central Division champions banner right now though.

Per the Bruins' official site. Here's the old: Here's the new: I like it -- and please, no one jump on Bettman. The previous Bruins logo had only been around since '95. It wouldn't have been Bettman's fault anyway.

Horton will be a bargain by the time this contract is up, similar to Zetterberg.

Vanek is exactly what the Wings need, but there's no chance Holland's going to sign a RFA.

Supposedly, these are leaked images of the new Capitals jerseys. They are from a glitch on the official website: I like them. I'm pretty sure these aren't real; they are from a Miami Herald blog. Canucks jersey:

Cobo needs to expand and I've heard it would be nearly impossible to renovate the Joe. This is because all of the buildings plumbing is located in those cinder block walls behind the standing room sections. That's where boxes would need to be placed and it would be an absolute mess to reconfigure all of that. The Wings need a new arena, bad. I really don't care if it's a corporate name. Big deal.

Are you sure your friend isn't Eklund? Because he's reported these very same things recently.

Ultimately, the Flyers acquired Timonen, Hartnell, Upshall, Parent, and a third for Forsberg. Wow.