N.H.L. Saturday Special

All the free agent signings since Tuesday followed by an article by SOS Hockey analyst Adam Davis.
Free Agent Frenzy Update
7/3 - The Kings got a solid D in Brad Stuart, who signed a 1 year deal worth 3.5 million. - Vancouver made some moves, resigning D Lukas Krajicek (2/2.2) and inking forwards Byron Ritchie and Brad Isbister and backup G Curtis Sanford. - The Devils signed F Danius Zubrus and D Karel Rachunek as they try to recover by being pillaged so far in the FA season. - Minnesota resigned Wes Walz for a year and came to terms with Eric Belanger. - Edmonton signed goalie Matthieu Garon to a 2 year deal. - Anaheim resigned Brad May (2/1.2)
7/4 Buffalo resigned Teppo Numminen (1/2.6), Edmonton resigned Matt Greene for 2 years, and Atlanta resigned Slava Kozlov to a 3 year 11 million dollar deal. The Islanders signed free agent F Ruslan Fedotenko for a year at 2.9 mill, and Montreal signed F Tom Kostopolous (2/1.8)
7/5 - Buffalo signed G Jocelyn Thibault, and resigned Andrew Peters and Michael Ryan. - Nashville signed minor leaguers Dan Ellis and Shane Willis to contracts. - The Islanders signed F Bill Guerin (2/9) and F Mike Comrie to a 1 year deal. - Anaheim signed D Shane Hnidy to a 2 year deal worth 1.5 million. - Washington signed Kyle Pollock and Jame Wilson to contracts. - Montreal signed D Jaime Rivers to a 1 year deal. - New Jersey signed G Kevin Weekes. - Pittsburgh resigned Maxime Talbot and Erik Christensen. - Columbus signed Jan Hejda to a 1 year contract. - Calgary signed D Anders Eriksson to a 2 year deal. - The Rangers resigned Petr Prucha. (2/3.2) - Detroit resigned Jiri Hudler to a 2 year contract. More Updates On Tuesday

Adam Davis
So who’s your favourite team? You sure? Absolutely positive? You might want to rethink that choice, especially after yesterday’s wild first day of free agency. Why, you ask? Because the team you just chose might now have completely different players. Since free-agency opened just over 50 hours ago, 43 of the 50 signed players have already found themselves newly interested in their agents. Real Estate agents that is. The real magic of the opening days of free-agency season is seeing teams attempt to the impossible by reversing a dismal finish the previous season into a playoff-savvy team looking forward to the coming one. What’s even wilder is how the rich get richer, and big name teams have signed some big name players and just added to the amount of firepower in their rosters. Unfortunately for some clubs, such as the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings, the free-agency pool changed their playoff calibre rosters into buyers at this time next year. Teams that were off the radar merely 3 seasons ago are finally starting to pull together a formidable bunch of players to put on the ice. With the signings of Sydor and Sykora, the Pens are finally giving their young players some time to breathe with new depth on the bench. Washington has just added some help for their superstar Ovechkin by picking up two young and skilled players in Poti and Kozlov. Oh, and is this not fair or is it just me? How in the world did the Ducks pick up Bertuzzi? Seriously, how does that happen? Why didn’t the GMs just pool together some money so the Ducks couldn’t get any better?? People, they just don’t need any more help. Over in the East, the Flyers are trying to do something with their Triple-A level team and picked up some key players by signing Briere and trading for Lupul and Jason Smith from Edmonton. I think this will pan out very well for the Flyers who are moving from their pan and power style of play to fit in with the new NHL by acquiring youth and speed. An interesting fact of the opening days of free-agency is that no goaltenders were signed. A couple goalies have been dealt in the last weeks in trades, but no immediate signings. This could mean teams are looking for the offensive firepower while trying to keep their last line of defense intact. Thanks for stopping in on Hockey Talk, I’ll make sure to keep you posted as the free-agent market really starts to open up as teams try to get those key players all within their salary caps. After two days the team on top has got to be Anaheim – All-star acquisition without losing their All-stars. Good job.

Around The Majors- Friday

200th post! I never thought that I'd make it this far but I have. Thanks to the loyal readers of SprungOnSportsNation for helping me to this point. I hope I can provide the top notch posts that you've come to expect from me. Today on ATM, a thursday recap, some news and notes, a weekend preview, and the latest trade rumors.
Thursday Recap
In what was supposed to be a pitcher's duel, CC Sabathia was lit up by the Tigers, and Justin Verlander and Detroit cruised to a 12-3 win. Hideki Matsui's 2 run shot off of Pat Neshek in the 8th gave the Yankees a 7-6 win over Minnesota. Josh Beckett won his 12th and Tampa Bay has dropped 11 straight as the Red Sox bombed the Rays 15-4. Tad Iguchi and Jermaine Dye drove in 3 runs each as the White Sox stay hot with an 11-6 win over Baltimore. Kelvim Escobar and the Angels defeated Texas 5-2, and Chad Gaudin and Oakland turned aside Seattle 3-2. Adam LaRoche homered twice as Pittsburgh doubled up Milwaukee 6-3, Florida edged San Diego 3-2, the Cubs nipped the Nats 4-2, and Bronson Arroyo went deep in the Reds' 6-3 win over the Giants. The Cards slithered past the Snakes 3-2, John Maine and the Mets beat Houston 6-2, and Atlanta got 2 Chipper Jones dingers to beat the Dodgers 8-6.
News and Notes
- The leaker of the BALCO steroids scandal agreed to spend an extra 9 months in jail. Is there really another place that I'd least want to spend my time in? Maybe the DMV. - John Smoltz had his shoulder checked out, the results will be known on Monday. Smoltz will miss his next start and the all star game, Roy Oswalt was named his replacement. - A-Rod had a successful MRI result yesterday and may play today. - Hideki Okajima and Chris Young won the final ASG votes. - Atlanta recalled Joey Devine and sent down Pete Orr. Boston optioned Jacoby Ellsbury, the Cubs recalled Sean Gallagher, and the White Sox recalled Gavin Floyd. Mike Stanton was activated from the DL, Josh Johnson was placed on the DL, and Eric Reed was called up by Florida to fill up the spot. Minnesota sent down Kevin Slowey in favor of Carmen Cali, Carlos Gomez will be shelved 6-8 weeks and was DL"d. David Newhan was recalled. The Cards gave Ryan Franklin a 2 year contract extension.
Weekend Preview
Friday
The Twins and White Sox are playing a day night twinbill today, with Garland going during the day and a Garza-Floyd matchup at night. Andrew Miller and Detroit face Boston, Colon-Pettitte in the Bronx, and Halladay against Cleveland. Shields battles the Royals, Guthtrie pitches in Texas, and Weaver-Haren in Oakland. Marquis faces the Pirates, Lowry battles Maroth in St Louis, Francis faces the Phillies, and Willis-Billingsley in LA.
Saturday
Carmona-Marcum in Toronto, King Felix in Oakland, Bonderman against Boston, Meche against the Rays, and Bedard in Texas. Bonser-Buehrle, Lackey-Clemens, and Braves-Pads are all 4pm FOX games. Glavine faces Houston, Suppan in Washington, Lilly in Pittsburgh, Webb-Bailey, Lincecum-Looper, Moyer in Colorado, and Mitre-Lowe.
Sunday
Dice-K in Detroit, Santana-Wang, Byrd in Toronto, and Vazquez against the Twins. Kazmir battles KC, and Blanton battles Seattle. Petit faces Harang in Cincy, Capuano in DC, Zambrano in Pittsburgh, and Oswalt against the Mets. Zito faces the Cards, and Maddux faces the Braves on sunday night baseball (8pm ESPN).
Rumors
- The White Sox will start selling rather soon, but many players believe that Buehrle will sign a contract extension soon. (4/56) (Chicago Sun-Times) - The Tigers are likely to make an aggressive move for a Ranger reliever. Many players in their system are in play, but not Maybin, Miller, or Granderson. (Dallas Morning News) - The Red Sox and Rangers didn't talk yet about Gagne or Otsuka, but Boston has inquired about Brad Lidge.(Boston Herald) - Scouts say the Reds are alerting other clubs that everybody on their roster is available except Aaron Harang, Homer Bailey, Josh Hamilton, Alex Gonzalez and Brandon Phillips. (Philadelphia Daily News) - Boston wouldn't mind dealing Wily Mo Pena. (Boston Globe) - The Dodgers may not end up chasing offense, including Troy Glaus. (LA Times) - Shawn Chacon wants a contract extension. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Enjoy the weekend!