The San Jose Sharks were believed in the market for an experienced backup for starting goaltender Evgeny Nabokov, and might have found one via an unconventional means.

Instead of making a trade, Sharks GM Doug Wilson signed Philadelphia Phantoms goaltender Brian Boucher to an NHL contract.

If that name sounds familiar, it should, as Boucher has played with the Flyers, Coyotes, Flames and Blackhawks. He’s spent this season toiling in the minors this season and it remains to be seen if he’ll be backing up Nabokov or if he’ll be staying in minors.

The Anaheim Ducks meanwhile added some veteran depth to their goaltending ranks, acquiring J.S. Aubin from the Los Angeles Kings for a seventh round draft pick.

- Looks like there’ll be a competition to determine this season’s goaltending tandem for the Los Angeles Kings.  

Earlier this week the Kings signed former Toronto Maple Leafs backup J.S. Aubin to a one-year contract, creating a potential logjam in goal as he joins Dan Cloutier, Jason LaBarbera and Erik Ersberg in battling for the two available spots.

Cloutier is considered the de facto starter provided he finally overcomes the injuries that dogged him for much of the last two seasons. LaBarbera has shown a lot of promise on the Kings farm club, while Ersberg was signed as a free agent after spending the last two seasons in the Swedish Elite League.

Aubin’s biggest problem is consistency. Once thought to be starting goalie material when he broke into the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins eight seasons ago, he since bounced between the NHL and the AHL and is now considered a backup.

Two seasons ago he nearly saved the Toronto Maple Leafs season, taking over down the stretch from an injured Ed Belfour and a struggling Mikael Tellqvist and posting a 9-0-2 record in 11 games, with a 2.22 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

Last season, his last with the Leafs, wasn’t as spectacular, going 3-5-2 in twenty games with a 3.43 GAA and a .876 SP.

- It appears former Vancouver Canucks winger Jan Bulis won’t be playing in the NHL this coming season.

Reports out of Russia have Bulis signing with Khimik Mytischy in Russia. No word for certain on how much he’ll earn but there’s some speculation he signed for $1.3 million.

Bulis’ stock fell dramatically last season with the Vancouver Canucks after building a reputation with the Montreal Canadiens as a reliable two-way forward.  Despite this Bulis seemed to struggle last season under Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault. He lost playing time and at one point last February his agent claimed Bulis wanted a trade, something he quickly denied.

He changed agents this summer and a report in the Vancouver Province had his new agent suggesting Bulis could be signed soon by an NHL team.

Either his signing with Khimik was an insurance move for Bulis, there simply isn’t any genuine interest by NHL GMs in his services, or (most likely) none willing to pay the kind of money he can get in Russia for his services.

- The Atlanta Thrashers bolstered their blueline depth this week by signing UFA defenseman Joel Kwiatkowski to a one-year, two-way contract that’ll pay him $600K at the NHL level.

Kwiatkowski might be able to earn a spot as a sixth or seventh d-man in training camp on the Thrashers, but if not he could provide vital veteran depth later in the season should injuries take their toll.  He’s spent most of his pro career split between the NHL and the AHL.

- Finally, it appears reports of former Edmonton Oilers d-man Daniel Tjarnqvist signing with a Russian Super League team were premature.

The Edmonton Journal last week reported Tjarnqvist denied reports he’d signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the RSL. He’s presently recuperating from off-season surgery and while he doesn’t rule out possibly signing with the Russian team might also sign with Djurgardens, his former Swedish Elite league team.