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TSN is reporting that Dany Heatley signed a contract extension for six years worth $7.5 million per.

The Rangers are going with Straka and Roszival to man the point on their top PP. Tyutin will be on the second unit with either Mara or Giardi. Their refusal to use Mara on the power play is puzzling to say the least, but I would shy away from him and let someone else take a chance.

Mike Johnson is expected to sign for one year with the Blues today.

The Islanders have announced their final roster and Jeff Tambellini and Bryan Berard are not on it. Tambellini has not been sent down (yet) though and the team could still trade Meyer to free up a spot for Berard, but that is the situation as it stands now.

Michael Peca is being bothered by his back now and will miss the season opener in all likelihood. Foote and Modin were also placed on IR, but they will likely suit up in time.

Pascal Leclaire will get the start for the Jackets on Friday and Norrena will start on Saturday. Steve Mason will remain with the Jackets for a few games at least – he was by far the best goalie in camp, but at just 19 years of age they don't want to throw him to the wolves. They will just make sure that the other two goalies don't stumble or get hurt before sending Mason down. In my estimation, the Band-Aid boy Leclaire will get hurt within a week or two and Mason will seize the job.

Wild rearguard Kurtis foster is having soreness in his groin still and will not suit up for their first game. Petteri Nummelin (hamstring) returned to practice and will play. Both rearguards are capable of 30 points, but it seems as if the team is going with Brett Burns to be their QB.

Jacques Lemaire is using Wes Walz as his No.1 center. Walz is a 30-35 point player, but between Demitra and Gaborik could surprise with a point per game for the week or so that the line remains intact. He is worth activating in your roto league and then benching when he is taken off the line.

DobberHockey's Justin Goldman, of School of Block fame, is launching a website today called The Hockey Guild . It is a great source for insider Colorado Avalanche information.

The Oilers surprised everyone by keeping Tom Gilbert and cutting Ladislav Smid. I didn't think they would cut their prize return of the Chris Pronger trade…but they did. Gilbert had too strong a camp. Gilbert is a very talented offensive rearguard, but he will be stuck behind Souray, Pitkanen and probably Tarnstrom and Grebeshkov as well in terms of PP time.

Andrew Brunette has been bumped from the top line, because his style is similar to Ryan Smyth's in terms of both players liking that spot in front of the net to sit. As such, he will swap with Milan Hejduk. So Hejduk will play with Sakic and Smyth, while Brunette will play with Stastny and Hlinka. He will still be a 75-point guy this year.

Havlat (groin), Ruutu (knee) and Toews (finger) should all be in the lineup for the opener tomorrow, but will be game time decisions.

Dan Cleary (ribs) will be fine for the season opener.

The Thrashers named Bobby Holik as their captain.

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Dustin Boyd has been sent to Quad City of the AHL. The move would indicate that Matt Lombardi will be back in the lineup for Thursday's opener.

Owen Nolan did not practice yesterday and is very doubtful for the opener. I believe it's his groin, but having trouble confirming.

Curtis McElhinney wins the backup job in Calgary by default. Krahn is still injured, as I warned in the pool guide would often be the case.

Kris Beech has been placed on waivers for the purpose of being sent to Syracuse. Yes, the Jackets cut him and will try Sergei Fedorov as the No.1 center. Again.

Karel Pilar was picked back up again off waivers by the Thrashers. They will either try and sneak him down again, or keep him in the press box. It will be awhile before he will see significant time in the NHL though.

Ryan Potulny, Alexandre Picard and Stefan Ruzicka were all cut by the Flyers. In other news, Steve Downie has now been suspended by the AHL for a month. So he will miss a month of hockey this year in the AHL and next year in the NHL.

Patrick Thoresen was cut by the Oilers.

Bought the Pool Guide? Here is a one-page supplemental sheet to give you the update.