July 1: Free agency and the frenzy, part 2

Hockey: The day isn't done for Vancouver. There's rumors out that Vancouver is close to signing the big and tough shut-down defenceman Dan Hamhuis. The deal is pegged at $4.5 million a season and is reported to be 6 years in length. This will put Vancouver close to the cap while still missing several players for the 3rd and 4th lines. I'd guess that Vancouver is working on a deal that will see one defensemen shipped out. Vancouver has 9 defensemen with only 3 being 5 or 6: Salo, Edler, Bieksa, Ballard, Ehrhoff, Alberts, O'Brien, and Rome. Alberts and Rome would be on the outside. Salo being injury prone makes having defensive depth important. Still, with all 8 of those defensemen signed, Vancouver would be staring at a staggering $25.7 million in their back end. Vancouver would have the deepest defensive corps in the league and would fix their issues from last season. This deal is done as of 1700 EST today.

The Calgary Flames have signed two former players: Alex Tanguay has signed a 1-year, $1.7 million contract. He's coming off a career-low season in Tampa Bay (10-27-37), which was preceded by a career year in 2006-2007 (22-59-81) in Calgary. If he's able to reproduce what he did in Calgary in the '06-'07 campaign (or even '07-'08 where he had 58 points), he would be considered a steal; and Olli Jokinen. That's right Flames fans, you've reacquired Olli Jokinen. That guy who fizzled and cost $5.5 million and a few prospects. He's back. This time he's under a 2-year, $6 million contact. If he can accept a 2nd line center role where he'll be playing with playmaker Tanguay it could work. However, Jokinen must do more and be a better team player. These signings might cost Sutter his job, but that can only be told once the starts.

Atlanta has decided to call in outside help in goal by signing former-Blue Chris Mason. With Halak arriving in St Louis and having Conklin already locked up, the 2008-2009 hero Mason was not needed. Atlanta was quick by offering a $3.7 million, 2-year to Mason, who will be playing with Rene, likely splitting games 60-40.

More to come.