Puck Podcast

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Coyotes added more veteran presence to their blue-line.They signed defenceman Adrian Aucoin to a US$2.25-million, one-year contract on Thursday

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Thrashers signed free agent forward Nik Antropov to a four-year, US$16-million contract on Thursday, setting up a reunion with Ilya Kovalchuk

CALGARY – The Calgary Flames have signed centre Garth Murray and minor-league forward Riley Armstrong.Murray, from Regina, has eight goals and two assists in 116 career NHL games with Phoenix, Florida, Montreal and the New York Rangers

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins have signed defenceman Johnny Boychuk to a one-year contract.Terms of the deal announced late Wednesday were not disclosed

Steve Yzerman believes that Olympic gold will be won on the backs of role players.As much as the executive director of Team Canada wants to bring top-end talent to Vancouver, he’s also intent on assembling a supporting cast capable of doing more than just scoring goals

Ottawa Senators winger Dany Heatley refused to waive his no-trade clause and killed a deal that would have sent the former 50-goal scorer to Edmonton, according to several media reports published Thursday

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Wild quickly replaced departing superstar Marian Gaborik, signing free-agent winger Martin Havlat to a six-year contract Wednesday

NEW YORK – Once the New York Rangers got out from under Scott Gomez’s expensive contract, they turned to Marian Gaborik and gave him the money they suddenly saved

A trip to Sweden kept the Sedin twins off the free agent market.Daniel and Henrik Sedin agreed to matching US$30.5-million, five-year contract extensions with the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, just prior to becoming unrestricted free agents

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes signed free-agent centre Vern Fiddler to a two-year contract Wednesday. Financial terms were not disclosed

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to terms with rugged forward Ian Laperriere and goaltender Brian Boucher.The team announced the agreements with the unrestricted free agents in a conference call Wednesday, the first time of the NHL free-agent season

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche have signed free agent forward David Koci to a one-year contract.The financial terms weren’t disclosed in Wednesday’s announcement

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Seeking depth at centre, the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed free agent Samuel Pahlsson to a three-year contract.Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson announced the move on Wednesday, the first day NHL teams could sign free agents from other clubs

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins signed checking-line forward Mike Rupp to a US$1.6 million, two-year contract Wednesday, adding a physical presence to a team that didn’t have an enforcer on the ice during the playoffs

BOSTON – Byron Bitz has signed a multi-year contract to stay with the Boston Bruins.The deal announced Wednesday keeps the 24-year-old forward with the team after a rookie season in which he had four goals and three assists in 35 games and showed a physical style

PHOENIX – Phoenix Coyotes general manager Don Maloney wishes he had a larger budget for next season.What general manager doesn’t?The NHL and owner Jerry Moyes have been battling in bankruptcy court, but Maloney said representatives of the league and Moyes have agreed on a payroll that will allow the financially strapped team to be competitive

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Unable to meet defenceman Jaroslav Spacek’s contract demands, the Buffalo Sabres wasted little time to find an experienced – but less expensive – replacement: Steve Montador

TORONTO – Mike Komisarek is about to see the other side of hockey’s oldest rivalry.The free-agent defenceman signed a $US22.5-million, five-year deal to join the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday

CALGARY – Jay Bouwmeester was ready to be a piece of the Calgary Flames puzzle instead of carrying the load for an NHL team.The 25-year-old from Edmonton was the biggest fish in the free agent pond of defencemen and he didn’t even wait for the market to open Wednesday

OTTAWA – Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean has announced 60 new appointments to or within the Order of Canada.Hockey great Wayne Gretzky is promoted to a Companion of the Order, as is Calgary Flames part owner Harley Hotchkiss