The Senators have signed rearguard Brendan Bell.

I found confirmation that Krog has indeed signed with Vancouver. His contract in the KHL has been cancelled. He is a dark horse for 55 points on the second line, but he needs to play on the second line.
Branislav Mezei has signed to play in Europe next season.

The Boston Globe is reporting that the Bruins would have an opportunity to buy out Glen Murray, even if they sign Dennis Wideman to a contract prior to his arbitration hearing. Why that is, I don't know… but it seems a little dumb. If an arbitrator assigns a contract to a player, I can see you having a small window to buy out players. But if you sign that player before an arbitrator hears the case… then I'm not sure why you would still get that window. Either the Globe is mistaken, or that NHL rule is dumb. Anyway, word is that the Bs will sign Wideman to a three or four-year deal soon.

I'm growing tired of fans and media alike handing the 2009 Cup to the Red Wings. The Red Wings will not win the Cup next year – repeating champions have gone the way of the dinosaur. The Avalanche didn't win when Selanne and Kariya signed for "a discount" and the Red Wings won't win with Hossa signing "for a discount". There could be a team with Ovechkin, Malkin, Crosby, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Pronger and Luongo and they still wouldn't win the Cup. Why? Because it's about chemistry – a balance of all four lines finding the right coaching style under the right coach with a goaltender heating up at the right time. The best way to get that is through patiences and growth within the system. As the Wings just proved. Adding Hossa changes that. The Wings will win the Presidents Trophy again, but not the Cup.