Lots to update – Higgins in Florida will have an impact on the likes of Michael Grabner and Cory Stillman.

Simon Gagne has waived his NTC. Making room for Marty Turco, perhaps?

Mentioned this yesterday but it got lost in the weeds – the Blues have extended Alex Steen for four years. The new contract carries an annual cap hit of over $3 million. Steen will want to prove that his breakout 2009-10 season was no fluke – he was one of the best waiver wire additions I made in any of my pools.

Steen had nine goals and 19 points in the final 20 games of the season.

Sheldon Souray has been placed on the waiver wire.

My analysis on the seven goalies moved on Thursday is found here. Amazing chat, everyone! Dany Sabourin signed with Washington, which replaces Jason Bacashihua, who quietly returned to Colorado. Interesting for ‘Cash, as he’s now the 3rd goalie (behind Budaj) and will do well in Lake Erie.

Tampa Bay has brough back Pavel Kubina – two years at $7.7 million total. Fantasy analysis coming.

Fzusher lists off the UFA’s still available. Members like him make this site what it is.

Note re: Burish signing in Dallas. Now frees up Steve Ott for a top six spot.

Make sure to check out Russ Miller’s article – he has been on a brief hiatus and it’s great to have him back! Top notch as always.

The Fourth Period are reporting that Columbus is shopping Nikita Filatov. This is a surprise, no?

And this just in from Aaron Portzline – Bieksa for Filatov?

It sounds like Phoenix is converting Wolski to center. Whitney-Wolski-Doan, perhaps? Should help the production for all three players. Wolski is in an ideal situation and I could see a 75-point season from him in 2010-11.

Per Andy Strickland, Philly remains the frontrunner for Marty Turco. I assume this means Brian Boucher would be traded somewhere.

Carolina signed defenseman Anton Babchuk, who spent the past season in the KHL. He scored 16 goals for Carolina during 2008-09 (including four game winners). He will factor in to the top four in Carolina along with Jamie McBain, Joni Pitkanen, and Tim Gleason.

Babchuk has a rocket of a shot and will see enough PP time to hit the 16 goal mark once again.

Vancouver signing Manny Malhotra shouldn't sour you on Cody Hodgson's short term upside at all. Mike Gillis made specific mention of the fact that Malhotra can play LW should Hodgson prove to be ready for the third line center position out of camp this year.

The Sharks offered Malhotra $2.2 million per season, but they didn't include a NTC like Vancouver did. Malhotra is married to Steve Nash's sister and spends a lot of his off-season in the Vancouver/Victoria area.

Another note – Malhotra's three year contract expires at the same time as Hodgson's entry level contract (and Jordan Schroeder's, for that matter).

Biggest surprise for me yesterday? The reasonable cap hits with all of the contracts given to the top end defensemen. Hamhuis ($4.5), Martin ($5), Michalek ($4), Volchenkov ($4.25), and Gonchar ($5.5) all got less or exactly what I expected they would.

Several forwards received overpayments (Malhotra, Matt Cullen, and Armstrong, for example), but the top end defensemen all received very fair contracts.

Buffalo had a miserable day, losing both Lydman and Tallinder, and then signing an inferior defenseman (Jordan Leopold) to similar money. Not sure what Darcy Regier is thinking (I seem to say that every July 1^st).

Follow the DobberHockey crew on Twitter! Myself (@angus_j) and Dobber (@DobberHockey) are on it, as are @AlexSerenRosso , @HockeyScribe (Van Horne), @DobberBaseball, @notch4077, @TheGoalieGuild (Goldman).

With Andrej Meszaros out of Tampa Bay, look for Ty Wishart to crack the top six for 2010-11. He is big, mobile, and sound in all three zones. He probably won't see much PP time as a rookie, but he has 35-point upside down the road.

It will be interesting to see how Chicago's smaller, skilled players handle the loss of most of their grit (Eager, Ladd, Byfuglien, Burish). Kyle Beach will probably step in, but those four players opened up a lot of space for the likes of Kane, Toews, Sharp, and Hossa. Something to keep in mind when drafting…

Congrats to my man Justin Bourne for breaking the Jeff Tambellini signing. Do we have another Bob McKenzie on our hands?

Biggest fantasy value change yesterday? Antero Niittymaki, hands down. His health issues appear to be sorted out, and talent has never been a concern.

Look for Kevin Bieksa to be traded from the Canucks soon. He is redundant with the defensemen that Vancouver now has on the roster, and there will be a market for him. He has one year left on his current contract, and will have plenty of motivation to return to the 40-point level. Keep an eye on where he goes.

Pittsburgh didn't get a winger for Crosby, but they now have arguably the strongest defense in the league. Martin, Michalek, Orpik, Goligoski, and Letang. It is only July 2^nd, but things are shaping up very nicely for the likes of Eric Tangradi and Dustin Jeffrey for 2010-11.

Is Atlanta trying to become the biggest team in the NHL? A forward core featuring Antropov, Byfuglien, Ladd, Eager, Thorburn, and the likes of Valabik on defense. The Thrashers overpaid in their trades with Chicago but they are a much improved team compared to last season.

I really like Niclas Bergfors as well – he could have a Hornqvist-like emergence (30+ goals) this season.

Vancouver will try and get Christian Ehrhoff extended over the coming weeks. A top four of Ehrhoff, Edler, Ballard, and Hamhuis is absolutely phenomenal to build around for the next five years. All four can play PK, PP, and even strength, and unlike Vancouver's older/outgoing defensemen, are extremely durable.

Gonchar's fantasy impact on Erik Karlsson – what is your take?  I think Ottawa finds a way to get them to work together.

Prospal going back to New York is probably the best case scenario for him. Tortorella seems to like him and he is a versatile option as he can play both wing and center.