The number of notable free agents still available in this summer's NHL UFA free agent market has shrunk considerably, and over the past two days the list grew even smaller with the announced signings of veteran forwards Pavol Demitra and Sergei Fedorov.

Demitra signed with the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, while on Wednesday the Washington Capitals announced a one-year, $4 million contract enticed Fedorov to return.

Neither signing was unexpected. Demitra's former agent is Canucks GM Mike Gillis and it's been rumored for some time that Demitra would land in Vancouver, while the Capitals made no secret of their willingness to bring Fedorov back into the fold.

Demitra will be expected to replace the offensive gap left by former captain Markus Naslund, who signed last week with the NY Rangers as a UFA, but it seems at this point he's scarcely an upgrade. Demitra and Naslund had virtually the same number of points last season and unlike Naslund has been frequently hampered by injury over the past four NHL seasons.

If the injury bug continues to bite Demitra next season it could have an adverse effect on his performance which won't bode well for a Canucks team hoping to bolster their offensive production.

Fedorov isn't the superstar he once was during his days with the Detroit Red Wings and appeared last season headed toward retirement or playing out his days in Russia until he was dealt by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Washington Capitals, where he enjoyed an offensive resurgence, with 13 point in 18 regular season games and five points in seven playoff games.

$4 million seems a bit steep for a declining star like Fedorov but the term is right and he brings other intangibles, such as experience and leadership, to a young Capitals team.  If he can contribute even 50 points this season and help the Caps advance beyond the first round of the playoffs that will be consider $4 million will spent.