Signings and Trades - Two Days Prior

Todd Bertuzzi

Okay.  Really really quick listing of Western Conference trades and signings because I have really-big-possibly-terribly-shocking-news related to my Wings I have to elaborate on last... and I have a tendency to get extremely long winded (see last entry for reference).

• Minnesota Wild trade rights of Brian Rolston (RW) to Tampa Bay Lightning
• Edmonton Oilers trade Jarret Stoll (C), Matt Greene (D) to Los Angeles Kings for Lubomir Visnovski (D)
• Colorado Avalanche resign John-Michael Liles (D) and Adam Foote (D) for $16 million/4 years and $6 million/2 years respectively
• Anaheim Ducks bought out Todd Bertuzzi (RW), making him an UFA - Big Bert will get $2.6 of the $4 million he was to receive of the final year of his contract
• Rumor has it Anaheim is trying to move Mathieu Schneider (D) to clear cap space - both Schneider and Bertuzzi were free-agent signings prior to 2007-08 and, wouldn't you know, they came from the Wings... hey boys?  You missed the Cup two years now
• Calgary Flames bought out Markus Nilson (LW), Anders Eriksson (D), Rhett Warrener (D)
  

And now for the "really-big-possibly-terribly-shocking-news" related to my Detroit Red Wings...

Brad Stuart takes out Peter Forsberg... victory in the eyes of a Wings fan!

Rumor has it, from the Detroit News' forums (take it as you will), that Brad Stuart and the Wings are close to signing either a 4- or 5-year contract with final digits still to be finished and the placement of a NTC to be considered.  Sounds as though Stuart wants 5-years, average of $3.6 Million a year (3.0, 3.5, 3.75, 4.25), and a no-trade clause.  The Wings have offered 4-years, no NTC.  There was MANY rumors swirling around the web about Stuart's wife needing to live in California for custody of her daughter from a previous marriage, but the anonymous tipster says that is not the case.  Also, the decision should be made and announced tomorrow before 11:00 am (EDT is my guess, but I will wait until 11:00 am PDT before breaking down in terrible sobs because that more than likely means Lilja for another 2-3 years... which in turn might make me turn my back on the Wings brass because I HATE that man...).

So yeah!  Another little ditty of speculation was also in that post, dealing with the Wings and a certain money-hungry EC Czech star with attitude... but we won't delve into that as I don't want it to happen.