The Los Angeles Kings were expected to make a big splash in this summer’s NHL UFA pool but their first significant signing is more of a ripple.

Pittsburgh-Post Gazette reports former Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi signed with the Kings to a deal reportedly four years in length worth $3.4 million per season.

Scuderi for most of his career was a solid if unspectacular defensive blueliner with the Penguins until this year’s playoffs, when his strong play in that club’s march to the Stanley Cup elevated his stock significantly  and priced him out of Pittsburgh’s market.

Kings general manager Dean Lombardi was reportedly in the market for another veteran defenseman so he got what he wanted in the 30-year-old Scuderi, whose defensive abilities should make him a good addition.

As the free agent talent pool shrinks however the possibility of Lombardi signing a major free agent star is growing remote.  

After losing backup goaltender Craig Anderson to free agency today the Florida Panthers wasted little time in finding a suitable replacement.

Former New Jersey Devils goalie Scott Clemmensen inked a three-year, $3.6 million contract with the Panthers, counting as $1.2 million against their cap per season.

Clemmensen had bounced between the NHL (mainly with the Devils) and the minors for much of his brief career but garnered recognition for his strong performance replacing an injured Martin Brodeur and saving the Devils season.

In forty games last season Clemmensen had a record of 25-13-1, with a .917 save percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average.

It’s been suggested Clemmensen merely benefitted from a solid Devils defense in front of him but that’s selling him short. He may not be ready to become an NHL starter full time but it’s clear he’s ready for prime time now as a backup and should be a good fit behind Tomas Vokoun in Florida. 

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke stated in recent weeks he was searching for more grit and toughness for his forward lines and found it today in the unrestricted free agent market.

TSN reports the Maple Leafs GM has signed former New York Rangers enforcer Colton Orr to a four year contract believed worth $1 million per season.

At 6-3, 220 lbs the 27-year-old Orr racked up a career-high 193 penalty minutes with the Rangers in 82 games. 

Not much NHL free agent news of note over the past several days but with the NHL Entry draft at the end of this week and unrestricted free agency to begin on July 1st things are likely to get pretty busy in terms of free agents and player movement over the next week.

The only significant free agent new of the past several days was the Colorado Avalanche re-signing checking forward Cody McLeod to a three-year contract while the agent for Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Karri Ramo reports his client will be playing next season in Russia's KHL.

First, the McLeod re-signing, it's worth $3.1 million and breaks down as $900k for next season, $1 million for 2010-11 and $1.2 million for 2011-12, which seems about the going rate for energetic checkers.

As for Ramo, the 23-year-old was projected to back up Lightning starting goalie Mike Smith next season, but the two-year offer from the KHL's Avangard Omsk came with a guarantee he'll be their starter next season, which was enough to convince Ramo to make the jump.

The Lightning will retain his NHL rights over that period and his agent claims the contract comes with an "out clause" after the first season. We'll see if he exercises it next year.  

At this time of year, with the NHL Entry Draft weekend and the start of the league's unrestricted free agency period fast approaching, some hockey fans daydream about the possibility of their favorite team landing a star player. This season is no different.

- Montreal Canadiens fans have been dreaming of their club acquiring for local boy and Tampa Bay Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier for months.

- Many Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers fans hope their respective teams will land Florida Panthers defenseman - and impending free agent - Jay Bouwmeester.

- Minnesota Wild winger Marian Gaborik - like Bouwmeester, eligible for UFA status on July 1st - has been the subject of trade speculation linking him to the LA Kings, NY Rangers and the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

- Ottawa Senators winger Dany Heatley, who's requested a trade, has been linked by trade rumors with nearly half the teams in the league.

Sure, these players are either carrying expensive long-term contracts or will be seeking them this summer, and the return to acquire a player like Lecavalier and Heatley via trade could also prove costly.

No matter to some fans. The Canadiens/Kings need an established star and Lecavalier or Heatley would be a "perfect fit". The Penguins need a scoring winger for Sidney Crosby's line so Gaborik is the "best available" choice. The Flyers need a stud blueliner so pony up the big bucks to land Bouwmeester.

Whenever I read these suggestions by fans or rumormongers I'm reminded of an old saying: "Be careful what you wish for, you might get it".

Yes, Canadiens fans, Lecavalier would indeed be the big name French Canadien superstar the club has lacked since Patrick Roy left town nearly 15 years ago.

Yes, Flyers fans, Bouwmeester is just the kind of number one defenseman your team has lacked for some time.

Yes, Kings fans, Lecavalier/Gaborik/Heatley could be just the established veteran star to help your promising young club return to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Yes, Penguins/Rangers fans, Gaborik/Heatley could be the perfect linemates for your star playmaking centers.

The risk however that comes with these players could turn your dreams into potential nightmares.

I'm not disparaging these players but the risks of acquiring them could exceed the benefits.

Lecavalier's new 11-year, $85 million contract, with a no-trade clause, kicks in on July 1st, and while he's only 28 and still well within his playing prime he has been dogged by injury the past two seasons (shoulder, wrist) which have hampered his performance.

The Lightning's asking price is rumored to include a number one defenseman, something the Canadiens cannot afford to part with (especially if they lose Mike Komisarek to free agency) nor might the Kings be willing to pay.

If Lecavalier's recent injuries woes are a sign of things to come a team could end up parting with assets which might be of better use to them over the long haul than an obviously talented but potentially expensive, injury-hampered star.

Gaborik is another who falls into that category. Wild fans must be breathing a sigh of relief he reportedly rejected a rumored long-term, $8.5 million per season offer from their club last fall after he missed most of this season to hip and groin injuries.

When healthy Gaborik is an elite talent but the problem is he hasn't been able to string together many injury-free seasons over his career.

Hip injuries have the potential to be career-ending (Alexander Mogilny) or threatening (Rick DiPietro), and having already gone under the knife for hip surgery one has to wonder if he's worth pursuing if there's no guarantee he can play a full season.

Bouwmeester is obviously a star defenseman but the knock on him is he's too quiet, lacks leadership qualities and despite his size isn't a physical blueliner.

It's been suggested his career has suffered playing for a mediocre Panthers team and that's true to a degree but it remains to be seen if the quiet Bouwmeester can handle the heightened expectations of a more demanding hockey market.

If the Flyers do sign him they'll have to dump salary to make room for his salary, which could mean moving one or two good young players, perhaps Joffrey Lupul and/or Scott Hartnell. Suppose he finds it too difficult? Suppose he cracks under pressure in Philadelphia, one of the most demanding markets in the NHL?

Heatley does have a lengthy expensive contract but apart from injuries suffered several years ago in a tragic automobile accident he doesn't have a significant injury history. He's been consistently among the Senators and the league's best offensive players.

But he does have a history of trade requests, currently with the Senators and several years ago with the Atlanta Thrashers. The circumstances behind both are quite different but it does appear to be giving him a bad name with some general managers.

If a team gives up assets to acquire Heatley how can they be certain he'll stick around until his contract expires in five year's time? How do they know he'll be willing to stay beyond then?

Of course it's possible none of the aforementioned scenarios could unfold with those players if they move on to other clubs this summer. They could indeed be the tonic to suit their new teams respective needs.

But one or more could turn out to be disappointments. Merely acquiring them is not a guarantee that they'll ultimately make a team even better.

What looked like a good idea could turn into potential disappointment. 

Be careful what you wish for....