Other major signings:

4.33 p.m. - Scott Clemmensen signs with Florida on a 3 year, $.1.2-million per year contract.
4.39 p.m. - Ian Laperriere signs with Philadelphia on a 3 year, $1.17-million per year contract.
4.46 p.m. - Michael Rupp signs with Pittsburgh on a 2 year, 825K per year contract
4.46 p.m. - Hal Gill signs with Montreal on a 2 year, $2.25-million per year contract.
5.32 p.m. - Mike Cammalleri signs with Montreal on a 5 year, $6-million per year contract.
5.57 p.m. - Mike Komisarek signs with Toronto on a 5 year, $4.5-million per year contract.

Toronto Maple Leafs send Pavel Kubina and forward Tim Stapleton to Atlanta Thrashers for defenceman Garnet Exelby and winger Colin Stuart.

Reviewing that: Glad to se Laperriere in Philly, he plays a tough rugged checking game and will be ideal for the third line. Cammalleri is a nice pick-up for Montreal so long as he can continue scoring like he has in the last few years. The five year deal is a big one though.

As for the Leafs trade, I felt Kubina was a good player so losing him while picking up Exelby and Stuart is a win for Atlanta but what it does for the Leafs is free up some salary cap. Today the Leafs signed enforcer Colton Orr and stay-at-home physical defenseman Mike Komisarek, and while Komisarek signed quite a big deal, I’m still wondering what Brian Burke has planned with the free cap space?

Further major signings:

6.13 p.m. - Steve Sullivan re-signs with Nashville on a 2 year, $3.75-million per year contract.
6.22 p.m. - Samuel Pahlsson signs with Columbus on a 3 year, $2.65-million per year contract.
8.19 p.m. - Marian Gaborik signs with NY Rangers on a 5 year, $7.5-million per year contract.
8.42 p.m. - Brian Gionta signs with Montreal on a 5 year, $5-million per year contract.
8.43 p.m. - Chris Neil re-signs with Ottawa on a 4 year, $2-million per year contract.
9.03 p.m. - John Madden signs with Chicago on a 1 year, $2.75-million per year contract.
9.26 p.m. - Fredrik Sjostrom signs with Calgary on a 2 year, $1.5-million per year contract.

It is now 10.02 p.m. meaning there is just under two hours left before Ottawa are on the hook for a $4-million signing bonus for Dany Heatley. Will they get him traded before then?

The 10 p.m. fireworks are just beginning. Happy Canada Day, but I’m sure there will be more to come …

On the subject: Live NHL Blog, NHL, NHL Free-Agency | ALL SUBJECTS |

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