The New York Islanders were looking for affordable depth at center in this summer’s UFA market and believe to have found it in veteran Doug Weight, signing him to a one-year, $1.75 million contract.

Weight has had a long and productive career as a first and second line center but it was apparent last season that age was finally catching up to the 38-year-old, who managed only 24 points in 67 game in 2007-08 split between the Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues.

It’s doubtful Weight will post up more than 40 points next season but the Isles are counting on his experience and leadership more than anything else.

The first round elimination of the Anaheim Ducks not only means there will be a new Stanley Cup champion in 2008 but also the possibility that the NHL careers of Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne might finally be over.

This unexpectedly early exit by the defending champs will raise questions about their off-season plans. The most significant:

- Rumors of GM Brian Burke possibly leaving to take over as team president or GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs have been swirling for months.

- Burke or his successor if he leaves will have to determine if they’ve got enough money to retain their key free agent players.

- Corey Perry is a restricted free agent whom they must re-sign before July 1st to prevent him getting an offer sheet from a rival club.

- Veteran forward Doug Weight faces an uncertain future as he probably won’t be re-signed.

- Trade rumors will likely dog the team over their lack of offensive production this season, among the lowest in the NHL.

But the most immediate question will be the respective futures of Niedermayer and Selanne, who kept fans guessing throughout last summer and the first half of this season if they’d return to the Ducks or retire.

Eventually they returned, which bolstered the Ducks in the regular season but ultimately their presence wasn’t enough to prevent the Dallas Stars from ending Anaheim’s dreams of consecutive championships.

Their contract situations are identical to last summer. Selanne is again an unrestricted free agent while Niedermayer is signed through next season at $6.75 million, although he now only has that one season remaining.

Considering that Ryan Getzlaf and Chris Kunitz re-signed new contracts that begin next season which will take up $5.325 and $3.725 million per season respectively, that could rule out a possible return of Selanne if he so desired.

Burke is on record as saying he won’t be as patient with Niedermayer as he was last year when awaiting his future plans, which means the Ducks GM will probably want a decision from the smooth-skating blueliner before July 1st, perhaps sooner.

It’s unlikely Niedermayer and Selanne will take as long to make decisions on their respective hockey-playing futures as they did this season. It’s possible a decision from both could come as early as this week.

If this season was, indeed, the real last dance for Niedermayer and Selanne, it will bring to a close two future Hall of Fame careers.

Niedermayer has been one of the best defensemen of his era and certainly ranked among the very best in NHL history. He was a key member of four Stanley Cup championship teams (three with New Jersey and one with Anaheim), won the Norris trophy in 2004 as the league’s best defenseman and the Conn Smythe trophy as the 2007 playoff MVP.

Selanne has been of the most exciting goals-corers of his era, with 552 goals and 1158 points in 1067 games. He set the existing NHL rookie record for single season goals (76) and points (132) as the 1992-93 rookie of the year, won the Richard trophy as the 1999 NHL goal-scoring leader, the Masterton in 2006 for perseverance, and a Stanley Cup with Anaheim.

The Anaheim Ducks have finally made their much-anticipated salary dump to free up payroll space for the return of Scott Niedermayer, and the move didn't involved a defenseman.

Instead Ducks general manager Brian Burke shipped center Andy McDonald to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for center Doug Weight. The Ducks also received Czech prospect Michal Birner and a seventh round pick in 2008.

McDonald's salary for this season is $3.33 million for this season and $3.33 million for next. Weight's salary for this season is slightly more expensive ($3.5 million) but he's an unrestricted agent next season thus freeing up the "tagging space" required for next season by the Ducks with Niedermayer's return.

It's obvious that Burke wouldn't have made this trade if not for payroll reasons. McDonald has been struggling this season, acutely feeling the absence of former linemate Teemu Selanne. After two seasons of 85 and 78 points respectively with "the Finnish Flash" on his wing, McDonald this season is on course for a paltry 10 goals and 40 points.

As bad as things have been for McDonald this season, Weight has not had it much better with the Blues. After posting up 59 points last season in 82 games for the rebuilding Blues, Weight has only 11 points and is on pace for only 31 points this season, his lowest total since his rookie debut with the New York Rangers back in 1991-92.

McDonald is only 30 and with new linemates in St. Louis might be able to regain his scoring touch. It remains to be seen however if the 36-year-old Weight can rediscover his on a struggling Ducks team.

This swap might not do much to bolster the Ducks offensive depth at center but it ensures Burke didn't have to break up his blueline corps, which was already deep with Chris Pronger, Mathieu Schneider, Francois Beauchemin and Sean O'Donnell. A returning Niedermayer makes this perhaps the best group of defensemen on one team in the NHL.