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The Canucks are throwing a couple of Hail Mary’s – besides Bobby Sanguinetti, they have also signed Cal O’Reilly (Ryan’s brother) and Dustin Jeffrey. All three were very high-value prospects at one time. O’Reilly was actually leading Nashville in scoring 20 games in before breaking his leg – thus closing his window.

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Claude Giroux – arrested. He was “repeatedly” grabbing a police officer’s bum-bum. The shocking news – alcohol may have been involved. Ya think?

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I’m finding that a lot of weaker teams are giving money to character guys – stupid money – as if they are some sort of competitor that is on the cusp. Mainly Florida, but also Buffalo. I mean – what is Willie Mitchell and Dave Bolland going to do for Florida? How many Cups will they bring home? Yes, they have to get to the cap floor, but they should trade their way there. Andrej Meszaros to Buffalo? Josh Gorges? Come on.

Great move by the Sabres to bring back players they traded though. That’s hilarious. And it’s what I would do if I were rebuilding. I’d trade my soon-to-be UFA’s and get something for them, and then sign them back for nothing. Right now they’re laughing at Minnesota. Thanks for the two second rounders! (Buffalo got that for Moulson and McCormick)

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The winner for most of us was the Dallas Stars. Getting Jason Spezza for a bucket of pucks, and then signing Ales Hemsky gives them huge depth. Line combinations:

Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Valeri Nichushkin

One of Rich Peverley/Antoine Roussel/Erik Cole – Jason Spezza – Ales Hemsky

That’s okay.

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Colorado and Tampa Bay addressed weaknesses really well:

TB: Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison, Brian Boyle, Evgeni Nabokov

COL: Jarome Iginla, Daniel Briere, Brad Stuart

Tampa needed defensive defensemen who can also move the puck okay. Check

Colorado needed experience and lots of it. Check

And Boyle is a great third-line center for TB, an upgrade to Nate Thompson. And of course, size. While the Avs did well to add depth on defense if needed (good for No.7/8 defensemen) in Zach Redmond and Bruno Gervais.

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Washington addressed their weaknesses…but not so well. Just shovelling money at guys. I can see one, but not both. Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen will help the team, but man…$68 million?

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While the names ‘Stastny’ and ‘Niskanen’ and ‘Iginla’ and ‘Spezza’ were bandied about yesterday, nobody was saying names like ‘Lehtera’ or ‘Sekac’.

Sekac was “highly sought after” (Bob McKenzie) by NHL teams after his mediocre offensive KHL season. His points were similar to what Andrei Kostitsyn did in the league over there last season, so you can get an idea of what to expect. That’s if Sekac makes the team, but the Habs are apparently seriously considering him for one of their checking lines.

Lehtera is another matter entirely, and his situation is almost identical to that of Carl Soderberg‘s from 18 months ago. He’s 27 and his NHL team has been trying to woo him across the pond for five years. He was ninth in KHL scoring last season, fourth in scoring the year prior, and fifth in scoring at the World Championship in May. The Blues already have him locked as their third-line center and he could move up the depth chart quickly. His arrival hurts Vladimir Sobotka, who was finally making progress on that deep depth chart. I think Lehtera is worth drafting in deep keeper leagues. In fact, treat him just like you treated Soderberg last year.

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I don’t believe in the term “one-year rental”. To me, getting a player like Jason Spezza for one year is better than getting him for three or more. Because then you, as a GM, can dictate if you want him back. You can sign him/extend him if you choose. So the excuse that Ottawa took a discount because he was a one-year rental is bunk. One year is a long time. A rental is one month – i.e. Deadline Day. Not a full season. So much can happen in one season.

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I had said in the past that the Leafs needed Brian Boyle to be their third-line center. Bob McKenzie said that Toronto was indeed a finalist and had actually offered more. However, Boyle’s wife is from Tampa Bay.

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Thomas Vanek walked away from an offer from the Isles for seven years, $50 million ($7.15/year). Yesterday he signed for three years, $19.5 million ($6.5/year).

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Smaller deals that I didn't note yesterday:

– The Islanders signed David Leggio. He’ll backup Kevin Poulin in the AHL. And speaking of that situation, I’m considering acquiring Chad Johnson as a handcuff to my injury-prone Halak. Depending on the rules of your league, it may be a wise move.

– The Isles also signed Jack Skille. It’s a two-way deal, but a great guy to call up when needed. And if they don’t like his skill set at the time, then they can turn to Harry Zolnierczyk – whom they also signed.

– The Flyers signed Blair Jones to a two-way deal. Forward depth

– The Capitals signed their third Penguin (former) of the day in Chris Conner.

– Anaheim signed Jason LaBarbera. I get the sense that he will back up Igor Bobkov in the AHL, but if either Andersen or Gibson get hurt, then LaBarbera will be the one to go up.

– Drew MacIntyre signed with Carolina.

– The Penguins signed Taylor Chorney. A depth guy on defence. Allows them to leave Scott Harrington in the AHL if they need to call someone up and he’s not ready.

– The Wild signed Stu Bickel

– The Lightning signed Evgeni Nabokov to a one-year deal. I hate this deal because a) Nabokov does not have NHL skills anymore and b) I like Kristers Gudlevskis. So now Gudlevskis and Vasilevskiy will battle for ice time in the AHL, as opposed to letting Vasilevskiy log a ton of games there.

– Patrick Eaves signed with Dallas. It’s a one-way deal worth $650,000, so looks like he’ll be on the fourth line there.

– Andy Miele has signed with the Red Wings. Can’t think of a worst place for him to sign. Sure, it’s his home town…but he’ll never get to play there.

– Besides Bolland, Jokinen and Mitchell, the Panthers also signed Shawn Thornton, Derek MacKenzie and Al Montoya. The team already has Dan Ellis, so I’m guessing Ellis gets pushed to the AHL or Montoya wouldn't have signed there.

– The Habs signed Joey McDonald. Quite the logjam there right now with Budaj and Tokarski already fighting for the backup job.

– The Rangers got their No.3. Cedrick Desjardins signed on. The team also signed Matt Hunwick, Steve Kampfer, Tanner Glass and Chris Mueller.

– The Kings added Adam Cracknell and David Van Der Gulik.

– Unexpected, this. But Bobby Sanguinetti is giving the NHL another crack. A two-way deal with Vancouver that will pay him $600,000 if he makes the team.

– The Sharks signed Taylor Fedun

– The Penguins signed Blake Comeau. And I consider this situation similar to Matt D’Agostini and/or Chuck Kobasew from a year ago. Potential, but doubtful.

– Chicago has apparently signed Kyle Cumiskey.

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I love how the Devils just keep their crappy team together. Makes a lot of sense. Sure, they sign a middling player or two each year, but for the most part they keep the team together. Here is a team that didn’t make the playoffs and has little hope of doing so. Rather than fix that, tweak things, or blow things up, they do everything they can to keep the guys. Bernier, Gionta, Ryan Carter, Zidlicky…just re-sign everybody! Who needs change?

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Here is Anthony DeAngelo mic’d up feature:

DeAngelo was drafted by Tampa Bay last Friday. Read more on him here.