My monthly keeper league player rankings will be postponed until the dust settles. Likely Friday.

They did it. The Flames signed Bouwmeester to a five-year deal worth $33 million. Analysis to come.

Phoenix did not qualify Joakim Lindstrom. He will become a UFA. Looks as though the arrival of Dawes, Prucha and Upshall spelt doom for the journeyman.

The 'Yotes also did not qualify Garth Murray or Alex Bourret. They DID qualify Dawes, Lisin, Meyer, Nikulin, Spina, Upshall, Yandle, Lepisto and Tordjman and Winnik.

Chicago has signed Antti Niemi to a one-year deal. No word on if it is a one-way agreement.

The team also signed Jacob Dowell to two years. Again, not sure if it is one-way or two-way.

The Blues have qualified BJ Crombeen, Jonathan Filewich, Chris Holt, Roman Polak, Danny Richmond and Steve Wagner. I can't confirm this…but I believe this means that Jeff Woywitka and Marek Schwarz will become UFA's. I'm trying to confirm this.

The Ducks have re-signed Troy Bodie to a two-year extension. Not fantasy significant.

Dallas has re-signed Jere Lehtinen to an amazing $1.5 million deal for one year. There are also bonuses that could reach another million. Still, that's pretty sweet for Dallas fans. Expect the usual from Lehtinen this year – both in points and in injuries.

In a minor league deal, the New Jersey Devils acquired center Ben Walter, and future considerations, from the New York Islanders in exchange for the rights to center Tony Romano. The latter is from Long Island, so perhaps he'll get a look. He did well in the OHL last year, but as an overager.

The Habs have traded Higgins to the Rangers for Gomez. Full analysis will be up shortly.

Talks are going well between Carolina and Babchuk and Ruutu. Jim Rutherford is also hinting that Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk and Jamie McBain could all be NHLers next season. I agree, although I don't see any of them making a fantasy impact in their first year. Maybe in their second.

Rob Blake has re-signed with the Sharks for one year at $3.5 million. Don't count on more than 40 points, although it is certainly possible.

The Rangers qualified Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Lauri Korpikoski, Corey Potter and Brian Boyle.

Atlanta qualified Armstrong, Lavallee, Lehman, Lehtonen, Lewis, Slater and Valabik. Which means Thorburn and Turple will be UFA's. The team is reportedly still interested in Thorburn though.

The Pens and Bill Guerin made a great move, signing a $2 million contract. Unlike with Satan or Sykora, Guerin brings intangibles to the table. He extends his career and could even drive his value up a bit with a 55-point season.

The Pens also signed defensive specialist Craig Adams to a two-year deal.

The Blackhawks have signed Dave Bolland to a five-year deal, thereby avoiding any offer sheets. The average salary is $3.375 million per. Bolland should take the next step and post in that 55-58 range next campaign. His upside is the low 70s.

The Sharks have made qualifying offers to Ryane Clowe, Torrey Mitchell, Thomas Greiss and Brad Staubitz. The team did not qualify Marcel Goc, Tomas Plihal and Lukas Kaspar, thus adding them to the UFA market tomorrow.

Buffalo qualified Andrej Sekera, Patrick Kaleta, Clarke MacArthur, Marek Zagrapan, Mark Mancari and Drew Stafford.

Dallas qualified Aaron Gagnon and Mark Fistric, and left John Lammers out in the cold.

Florida qualified Booth and Brine, but did not qualify the following players, who become UFA's: David Shantz, Franklin MacDonald, Tanner Glass, Drew Larman, Steve Eminger and Anthony Stewart. The latter three come as a bit of a shock. I think on another team Stewart could find himself a role on the third line as a hard-hitting 40-point player. Eminger has proven he can produce in the right situation, but he's running out of "right situations".

The Wild qualified Pouliot, Stoner, Irmen, Harding, Robbie Earl and newly acquired Kyle Brodziak. The following players will become UFA's: Paul Albers, Riley Emmerson, Peter Olvecky and Dan Fritsche. I thought Fritsche finally got his legs under him in March and earned a third-line spot, but the new Wild regime wants sweeping changes.

Montreal qualified all their RFA's: Stewart, D'Agostini, Chipchura, Latendresse, Plekanec and Higgins.

The Blues have re-signed depth rearguard Mike Weaver and defensive specialist Brad Winchester to deals.

TB qualified all their RFA's, including Smolenak who took off to Europe. Karsums, Jones, Krajicek, Lundin, Ramo (now in KHL), Smaby and Tukonen.

The Avs have re-signed Peter Budaj to a one-year deal, now that they understand that Jonas Gustavsson has likely ruled them out. He will not be the starter this year, as the Avs will look to sign Khabibulin (first), Biron (second), or one of Conklin, Clemmensen or Anderson.

St. Louis has placed Jay McKee on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. He had one year left on his contract at $4 million. The cap hit to the Blues will be $1.33 million this year and the same next year. McKee has no fantasy value.

Florida has placed Brett McLean on waivers, also looking to buy him out. He has one year left worth $1.7 million. This is one scenario I would watch, as McLean performed extremely well offensively with Olli Jokinen before the latter was dealt to Phoenix. If Calgary were to sign McLean and give him a real shot, perhaps he could rekindle some of that magic and have a "Chris Clark" type of season. Any other scenario would see him maintain zero fantasy value.

Boston has placed Peter Schaefer on waivers. It is proof positive that teams do not like to play for nothing – all of these buyouts have one year left on the contract, minimizing the damage done to the team's cap situation.

The Caps qualified Wilson, Schultz, Pinizzotto, Morrisonn, Jurcina, Gordon, Fehr and Bourque. The following are UFA's tomorrow: Sasha Pokulok, Travis Morin, Daren Machesney and Andrew Joudrey.

There will be more announcements today as we get primed for tomorrow's free agency.