The New York Daily News is reporting that the Islanders will be signing Chris Simon within a matter of days. Stay tuned… 

Brendan Shanahan has agreed to a one-year deal with the Rangers, which will be made official soon.

The Devils just buried themselves by overpaying Vitaly Vishnevski with a three-year deal with nearly two million per season. That's $2 million less cap space to work under if and when the Oilers present Zach Parise with an offer sheet.

Speaking of cap space and offer sheets, forget all this seven or eight year crap. You know what would get an RFA into the fold? Sign him to a one year deal worth $10.1 million. That would eat up a ton of cap room and there is no way New Jersey or Buffalo could match. Then, during the season get him to agree to something reasonable for the next few years. Sure, there are other things to consider such as qualifying him next year, etc…but hey! It's the NHL! GM's don't think ahead anyway! 

Sid the Kid has reportedly signed a five year deal worth $43.5 million bones. 

Jason Bacashihua does not have the St. Louis backup job sewn up after all. St. Louis signed who they hope will be this year's Nicklas Backstrom. He's a goalie from Finland by the name of Juuso Riksman and he bears watching. The 30-year-old dominated the Finnish League last season and John Davidson has high hopes for him. He signed a two-way deal, but the possibility exists. It did for Backstrom. If you remember last year, I thought Harding would get the backup job for sure.

The Coyotes have re-signed Josh Gratton, avoiding arbitration. 

Whoops. St. Louis prospect Lars Eller, drafted this past summer and ranked 58th on my prospects list (list will be updated later today though), has fractured his wrist and will miss St. Louis' prospect camp as well as the first month or two of the SEL season.

Islanders' GM Garth Snow is reporting that Rick DiPietro is recovering nicely from hip surgery. GMs always say that, so don't go by that statement – just keep in mind that his hip problem was serious enough to require surgery and that there is a small chance it could nag at him again at a later date.

The Islanders signed Darryl Bootland to a contract. With their lack of depth, he could stick which makes him an excellent PIM dark horse. 

Dallas has signed Todd Fedoruk to a one-year deal. All that's left of that guy is a body and a bunch of steel plates for a head. If I owned Krys Barch and/or Steve Ott for PIMs I wouldn't worry about this signing one bit. Fedoruk will be on a stretcher by Game 20.

The Boston Bruins have signed Matt Hendricks, a former Nashville draft pick, as a free agent. Hendricks, 26, is a depth center at best.

The Leafs have signed 32-year-old forward David Ling, who had been playing in Russia. He'll be a top scorer next year – for the Marlies.

The Caps have signed 27-year-old Joe Motzko, a winger who will be lucky to play six game for them this year.

Florian Hell has signed with a new team in the Italian League. I have no idea who he is…but damn, I love the handle.