The Penguins have signed Brooks Orpik to a six-year deal worth $22.5 million, or $3.75 per year.

Kurtis Foster, he of the terrible fractured femur, has signed a one-year deal with the Wild.

Wojtek Wolski has signed a two-year deal with the Avs.

The Pens have officially signed Malkin to a five-year extension worth $8.7 million per season.

The Sens have re-signed Shean Donovan and they have also signed Jarkko Ruutu for three years.

The Thrashers have signed Ron Hainsey to a five-year deal worth $22.5 million. No analysis for this one – Enstrom may not be the man for the first few games, but eventually he will be as the Thrashers get frustrated with Hainsey's terrible inconsistencies.
 

Dallas has signed Sean Avery for four years at $15.5 million. 

I thought this guy was going to Europe, but the Canucks signed Curtis Sanford to be their backup again.

Joni Pitkanen has signed a three-year deal worth $12 million. I guess giving team doctors lots of practice to hone their craft is worth a lot dough these days.

Carolina also further beefed up their defense corps by signing Josef Melichar out of the SEL.

The Flames have signed Jim and Peter Vandermeer, as well as Curtis Glencross 

The Red Wings have signed Marian Hossa to a one-year deal. Analysis is up… 

Tampa Bay also signed newly acquired rearguard Janne Niskala, who should finally get a chance to play in the NHL.

The Lightning have re-signed Ryan Craig to a two-year contract. The Band-Aid Boy should not be in your fantasy league.

The Flames signed free agent rearguard Ryan Wilson. Wilson had 71 and 75 points in the OHL the past two seasons as an overager. The 21-year-old often set up Steven Stamkos. He was invited last season to the Philly training camp last year and the St. Louis camp the year before but did not win a contract. He could be a late bloomer – see how he does in the AHL this season.

The Flames also re-signed Brandon Prust and David Van Der Gulik. Also – expect an announcement shortly about the team signing Vandermeer to a ridiculous contract. 

The Rangers re-signed Michal Rozsival to a four-year contract. 

A good sign that the team not only wants you, but thinks you can play right away – the Coyotes have signed both Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov to entry-level contracts. Keep an eye on these two as one or both could play this very season and notch 50-plus points.

The Canucks have signed Ryan Johnson to play on their fourth line.

Kari Lehtonen, Brett Sterling, Nathan Oystrick and Joey Crabb received qualifiying offers from Atlanta. 

Starting the July 2 Rambling early. The July 1 Rambling was getting long and messy! The Lightning signed tough guy David Koci to a two-way contract. He'll get the occasional call-up, but I don't see more than 20 games in the NHL for him.

Mark Streit's one good season has earned him $20.5 million. I had a good season with DobberHockey – can I have one percent of that? The Islanders signed him and it's a five-year deal. Analysis is up…

The Minnesota Wild has signed Craig Weller to a two-year deal worth $1.2 million

The Flyers have signed Glen Metropolit to a two-year contract. He'll see minimal ice time, given the team's situation up the middle.

The Flyers also signed Ossi Vaananen to a one-year contract, adding to their depth in that position.

The Rangers re-signed Steve Valiquette to be their backup.

The Bruins have signed Michael Ryder to a three-year, $12 million deal. Analysis is up…

Nashville has signed former Canuck farmhand Drew McIntyre to be Milwaukee's starter. 

The NHL has released the official free agent list. CLICK HERE to have a look, or I just posted it on the front page.

For other signings from late July 1, click "next" below…