Eric Belanger

Now that the confusion surrounding Eric Belanger's contract situation has been cleared up, the Capitals enter training camp with jobs up for grabs at the center position. Belanger was best suited as a third line center, and a penalty kill specialist, so two of the top three lines seem to be without a solidified centerman.  

The Washington Capitals have spurned unrestricted free agent Eric Belanger. Belanger recently signed a one-year, $750,000 deal with the Phoenix Coyotes.

As training camp grows closer and the heat of the free agency period in the NHL winds down, the list of available players still on the market has begun to dwindle.

With Ilya Kovalchuk finally settled on a contract with New Jersey, there are just 11 forwards and four defenseman on the list of remaining UFAs who scored double-digit points last season, in addition to only two goalies who started more than ten games.

The NHL free agent watch this offseason has been an eventful time to say the least. Most of the intrigue has stemmed from the failed Ilya Kovalchuk contract that was rejected by the NHL.

For the most part though, the Leafs offseason talk has not been centered around the free agents available, but rather the focus of many Leaf fans, and general hockey fans alike has been centered around the future status of superstar defenceman Tomas Kaberle.

Chris Vivlamore of the AJC reports that the Atlanta Thrashers are close to an extension with RFA forward Bryan Little. It is also worth noting that the Thrashers are also in talks with Niclas Bergfors regarding a contract extension.

Both the hockey world and Eric Belanger continue to sit here and wait for the Washington Capitals to move a player (Tomas Fleischmann).

According to Andy Strickland, the St. Louis Blues are interested in UFA forward Bill Sweatt. The two sides will meet sometime next week.

Will DePaoli of Inside Pittsburgh Sports is reporting that the Penguins have not contacted Bill Sweatt as of yet.

Alexander Shapiro of SportsExpress (Russian website) is reporting that the Devils are close to a contract extension with Ilya Kovalchuk. I am not sure if this report is true or not due to the fact that this site has been wrong about things like this on several occasions.

Everyone and their mother have stated that the proposed trade of Dustin Brown for Tomas Kaberle is complete fiction. While it is still possible, it has not happened yet (and I don't really expect it to happen), but you never know (that's why you read these rumours isn't it?).

I have said it for a while now, Tomas Kaberle is almost certainly going to get dealt by Sunday. This is going right down to the wire as Burke wants the best price possible for Kaberle.

With the reported signing of centerman Eric Belanger, the Washington Capitals seem to have completed their free agency signings for the 2010 offseason.

The deal, said to be for one year at just under $1.9 million, seems to be a fair deal for a player of his caliber, but is somewhat surprising due to the fact that the Capitals still lack a bona fide second line center.

Belanger has been a serviceable third line center, who can be counted on for good penalty killing, great faceoff numbers and 30-40 points.

James Mirtle is saying that Belanger signed with the Capitals. If this is true, it is a great signing by the Washington Capitals. If this is the case, I don't see why they would have to make another trade before announcing this signing. They are well below the 50 contract limit, and surely Belanger does not eat up the $5.3 million in cap space they have?

While the NHL playoffs are raging through a thrilling set of eight first round matchups, the Carolina Hurricanes are still stuck on the seventh tee.

Why?

Well, to put it simply, the 'Canes just didn't do well enough to deserve the postseason, at least this year. Only eight teams in each conference make the playoffs; eleventh place just isn't going to cut it.