Of course idle hands are the devil’s work and some folks (none of them accredited hockey reporters, by the way) have been busy filling hockey cyberspace with lots of unsubstantiated trade and free agent rumors.

So since there isn’t really very much real hockey news to comment on, here’s a look at some of the latest internet rumors going on:

- Washington Capitals forward Michael Nylander put his house up for sale and could be traded to Vancouver.

Nylander has put his house up for sale, which can be a legitimate tip-off of an imminent move, but according to the Washington Post that’s because he and his family are moving into a smaller one. Nylander has a movement clause and isn’t planning on waiving it, nor have the Capitals asked him to.

-The Montreal Canadiens are pursuing Chicago Blackhawks center Robert Lang.

Canadiens GM Bob Gainey admits he has a “plan B” in place should Mats Sundin opt to sign elsewhere, but it remains to be seen if that’s pursuing another center or sticking with his current roster. The Lang rumor was erroneously attributed to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, who’s been on vacation for much of this summer.

-The Canadiens are interested in Toronto’s Bryan McCabe to replace the offense lost when Mark Streit signed with the Islanders.

No, they’re not. Folks conveniently forget that the Canadiens still have Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik on the point, and they’re certainly not going to take on McCabe’s bloated $5.75 million per season salary.

-The Florida Panthers will trade Jay Bouwmeester before the start of the upcoming season.

No, they won’t. Bouwmeester is on a one-year contract and in all likelihood won’t be returning with the Panthers after this season but as long as GM Jacques Martin believes he has a chance to convince Bouwmeester to remain he won’t move the blueliner. If “Jay-Bo” is traded it’ll be in January at the earliest, most likely by the February trade deadline.

-The Minnesota Wild are shopping or will shop Marian Gaborik before the start of the season.

Same situation as Bouwmeester, although judging by recent reports out of Minnesota it appears there’s a willingness on both the Wild and the Gaborik camp to get a deal done.

-The NY Rangers will trade Scott Gomez to make room for Mats Sundin.

Sorry, folks, but I just don’t see that happening. It makes no sense to trade a 28-year-old playmaker entering the prime of his career and in the midst of a long-term contract for a 37-year-old center who, as great as he is, might only commit to one or two years of hockey.  If Rangers GM Glen Sather does this, he has no right being an NHL general manager.

-The Rangers will trade Gomez to Minnesota for Gaborik.

And on that day, the devil skates to work.

I don’t usually engage in this much but since there’s been a dire dearth of any real hockey news to comment on I suppose it’s as good a time as any to shoot down some of the wacky trade and free agent rumors flying around.

First off, the Florida Panthers are not shopping defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. Sure, the fact that he signed a one-year contract taking him up to UFA status next summer likely means this is his final season with the Panthers, but as long as GM Jacques Martin believes there’s a chance to re-sign Bouwmeester he won’t be dealt, at least not at this time of the year.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan McCabe may apparently be willing to consider waiving his movement clause to accept a trade but that doesn’t mean he’ll be dealt soon.

According to recent reports out of Toronto the Leafs are believed waiting for a list from McCabe of teams he’d waive his clause to be dealt to, and the odds are that list will likely be a short one containing Cup contenders or perennial playoff teams.

And no, I don’t see him accepting a trade to the NY Islanders, because quite frankly I don’t think the Islanders, who now appear committed to rebuilding with youth, would be interested in his fat contract.

The Minnesota Wild are not shopping Marian Gaborik. That rumor is pure BS. They’re hoping to re-sign him and have no “contingency plans” to trade him now. As of this writing GM Doug Risebrough will be meeting with Gaborik in Slovakia this week to open contract talks.

Maybe later on in the season if Gaborik decides that he wants to test next summer’s UFA market Risebrough will shop him. Not now.

 Oh, and while I think of it, Bouwmeester isn’t being shopped for McCabe or Gaborik.

How do I know this? Because most NHL general managers are either on vacation, just back from vacation or soon to be heading out on vacation. Most teams have committed their cap space and have their rosters pretty much set. Heck, even a good number of player agents are taking this time to get in a little R&R.

That’s why there’s been almost nothing to report in terms of real hockey news. It’s the same thing every year.

Since the 2005-06 season ended, few significant trades have occured between the months of August and December, none of those involving players of the caliber of Gaborik, Bouwmeester and McCabe.

The reason for that is, quite simply, limited cap space, significantly limiting the market for players of that caliber during that time period.

Teams that will be busy in the coming weeks are those currently over the salary cap, like Philadelphia, Anaheim, Calgary and Chicago, who’ll have to dump some salary via trade or demotions to get under the cap by the start of the season.

The Nashville Predators could be forced to make a move or two via trade or free agency if Alexander Radulov remains in Russia for next season, while the Tampa Bay Lightning are heavy on forwards but light on defensive depth which suggests they might have a move or two remaining before next season begins.

That’s where your focus should be, rumormongers, not on dreaming up fantasy trades. 

The Minnesota Wild made a significant contract signing on Friday, one that not only keeps a talented young forward on their roster long-term but could also have an impact upon their efforts to retain their best forward.

Winger Pierre-Marc Bouchard signed a five-year, $20.4 million contract with the Wild and avoided going to arbitration. He was eligible for unrestricted free agent status next summer but took considerably less than what he might’ve made next summer as a UFA to remain with the Wild.

Reports also indicate that, while he didn’t get a “no-trade” clause in his contract, he received a promise from Wild GM Doug Risebrough that he won’t be traded in his first two years.

That’s important for Bouchard, who was reportedly offered up to the Florida Panthers in June for center Olli Jokinen. It was speculated that would have a negative impact upon the Wild’s attempt to re-sign him long-term but Bouchard evidently wanted to stay in Minnesota.

This move could also have a potentially positive impact upon the Wild’s efforts to retain star forward Marian Gaborik, who is also eligible for UFA status next summer and would be among the most prized free agents available.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune reporter Michael Russo suggests it could take around $8.5 million to lock up Gaborik long-term, which is probably less than what he could make on the open market but given the club’s commitment in recent years to retaining their best young players might be enough to keep Gaborik in the fold.

Keeping the slick playmaker Bouchard could help the Wild sway Gaborik’s decision in their favor.

Boston Bruins
Dennis Wideman

Colorado Avalanche
Marek Svatos

Detroit Red Wings
Valtteri Filppula

Florida Panthers
Jay Bouwmeester

Minnesota Wild
Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Stephane Veilleux

Nashville Predators
Ville Koistinen

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.

-The Ottawa Senators resolved their need for experienced blueline depth by signing former Philadelphia Flyer Jason Smith to a two-year contract. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

It was rumored Senators GM Bryan Murray was in the market for a trade with Anaheim for Mathieu Schneider or San Jose for Kyle McLaren. Smith’s signing negates the need for the latter and appear to indicate they’ll re-sign Andrej Meszaros which would remove the need for Schneider

Smith was believed in talks with the Buffalo Sabres but evidently he liked what the Sens had to offer. His gritty performance in this spring’s playoffs, particularly against Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, raise his stock on the UFA market, and heading into this week was the best available blueliner left on the market.

-Reports claim Pavol Demitra is either close to signing or has signed a multi-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks.

That could raise complaints of tampering from some Minnesota Wild fans given Demitra’s spring sojourn to Vancouver as the guest of former Canucks captain Markus Naslund as well as the fact Mike Gillis, the Canucks new general manager, is Demitra’s former agent.

The league already looked into that matter and found no evidence of tampering. Gillis’ previous relationship with Demitra obviously has some influence but the bottom line is the Canucks desperately need offensive depth and are willing to consider taking on an aging, injury-prone forward.

-Speaking of the Canucks, they now have seven days to decide if they’ll keep forward Steve Bernier.

The St. Louis Blues signed Bernier, who was acquired from the Sabres last week by the Canucks, to a one-year contract offer sheet worth $2.5 million.

Consider that a bit of revenge on the part of Blues president John Davidson for Gillis’ attempt last week to sign forward David Backes to a three-year, $7.5 million contract offer sheet, which the Blues matched almost immediately.

Gillis will likely match this offer but like the Blues with Backes will end up paying him more than desired.

**UPDATE** As expected the Canucks management announced they would match the Blues offer sheet for Bernier.

-Defenseman Paul Mara is returning to the NY Rangers, signing a one-year, $1.95 million contract, a significant cut in pay from the $3 million he made last season with the Blueshirts.

Given that fact it’s a good bet he wasn’t attracting much interest or offers of note from rival clubs on the UFA market.

Two fading NHL power forwards have found new homes for next season.

On Sunday the Minnesota Wild signed 36-year-old right wing Owen Nolan to a two-year, $5.5 million contract (worth $2.75 million per season) and on Monday the Calgary Flames inked 33-year winger Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year, $1.95 million contract.

Not very long ago these two would’ve commanded top dollar on the open market. Bertuzzi earned $6.8 million in 2003-04 with the Vancouver Canucks after coming off a 46-goal, 97-point performance with the Canucks the previous year.

Last summer Bertuzzi signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks but cap constraints, a need to re-sign Corey Perry and Bertuzzi’s 40-point performance in 68 games forced the Ducks to buy out the remaining year of his contract last month.

Nolan made $6.5 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2003-04 season but injuries and a contract dispute saw him miss the 2005-06 season, and the last two seasons he played for Phoenix and Calgary earning $1.225 million and $1.75 million respectively.

His point production over the past two seasons (40 and 32) suggests the Wild, to put it kindly, overpaid for the aging Nolan and was likely based on his playoff performance (5 points in 7 games) with the Flames this spring.

In signing Bertuzzi to replace Nolan the Flames get him at a reasonable price, although that combined with what he got in his buyout (approximately $2.6 million) means he’ll actually earn more next season than he would made had the Ducks not bought him out.

For both players, this could be their last opportunities to prove themselves still worthwhile NHL forwards.

At 36 Nolan’s NHL career appears to be rapidly winding down as he’s now more of a checking forward than the high-scoring power forward he was at the turn of this century, while Bertuzzi still toils under the shadow of his infamous attack on Steve Moore over four years ago and a recent injury history that limited him to 83 games over the last two seasons.

Boston Bruins
Dennis Wideman

Carolina Hurricanes
Chad LaRose

Colorado Avalanche
Marek Svatos
Detroit Red Wings
Valtteri Filppula

Florida Panthers
Jay Bouwmeester

Minnesota Wild
Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Stephane Veilleux

Nashville Predators
Ville Koistinen

New York Islanders
Sean Bergenheim

New York Rangers
Dan Fritsche

Ottawa Senators
Antoine Vermette

St. Louis Blues
Jay McClement

San Jose Sharks
Marcel Goc

Washington Capitals
Brooks Laich
Shaone Morrisonn

More significant is the fact that these players are now ineligible to receive offer sheets from rival teams.

For two teams traditionally known for making big waves in the UFA pool, the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers have been very quiet thus far.

The Flyers of course have limited cap space this summer and are only seeking affordable signings, preferably on their blueline.

GM Paul Holmgren appears to find such an affordable d-man in Ossi Vaananen, who spent last season playing in Sweden after failing to land a contract in last summer’s UFA market.

Holmgren wanted a puck-moving defenseman but that’ s not Vaananen’s game, as he plays a more physical “stay-at-home” style, which should make him a welcome addition for the Flyers but still leaves Holmgren seeking an affordable offensive blueliner.

The Rangers are believed in the market for some of this summer’s big UFA fish like Mats Sundin and Marian Hossa but have kicked off July 1st with two minor signings, adding checking line forwards Patrick Rissmiller and Aaron Voros.

Former New Jersey Devil Brian Rolston’s career appears about to come full circle.

TSN reports Rolston is close to signing a four-year, $20 million contract with the Devils, the club that drafted him 11th overall in the 1991 entry draft and for whom he played his first six seasons, winning a Stanley Cup in 1995.

Rolston has been one of the more attractive UFAs available in this summer’s market, even spurning offers from the Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning.

It was expected he’d be signed for $5 million per season so the Devils are right on track in terms of where Rolston’s value was on the open market.

A terrific two-way forward with one of the hardest slapshots in the league, Rolston will provide a much-needed boost to the Devils offensive game and will of course fit in well with their defensive system.

- The Colorado Avalanche wasted little time finding a replacement for the departed Jose Theodore, signing former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Andrew Raycroft to a one-year contract worth $800K.

Raycroft has experience as a starter but spent most of last season with the Leafs backing up Vesa Toskala. He’ll likely back up Peter Budaj, who inherits the Avs starting goalie job with Theodore’s departure, but this could be a good opportunity for Raycroft to regain his form and his confidence, which were badly shaken in his final season in Toronto.

-The Phoenix Coyotes were in the market for an experienced physical defenseman after trading away Nick Boynton to Florida as part of the deal for center Olli Jokinen.

They’ve found a good one in Kurt Sauer, inking him to a four-year contract (financial terms yet to be disclosed).

Sauer has plenty of experience in that role with the Ducks and Avalanche and he should be a welcome addition to the Coyotes blueline.

They’ve also added some grit up front in rugged forward Todd Fedoruk by signing him to a three-year contract (financial terms not yet disclosed), who’ll ensure rival teams don’t take liberties with skill players like Jokinen and Shane Doan.

Minnesota Wild general manager Doug Risebrough wasted little time in finding a potential replacement for departed veteran forward Brian Rolston, bringing back a blast from the Wild’s past by signing UFA forward Andrew Brunette to a multi-year contract (terms not yet disclosed) three year, $7 million contract.

Risebrough also brought in some offensive depth to his blueline by acquiring defenseman Marek Zidlicky from the Nashville Predators in exchange for prospect Ryan Jones and a second round pick in the 2009 entry draft.

Brunette, who played three seasons with the Wild from 2001 to 2004, expressed his interest in returning to the Wild late last week when questioned by a reporter. The 34-year-old winger spent the last three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche posting up 63,83 and 59 point performances, and had 8 pints  points in 10 playoff games for the Avs this spring.

The Predators were expected to shop Zidlicky, who’d fallen down their depth chart with the rise of young d-men like Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, for a scoring forward so it’s surprising they dealt him for only a prospect and a draft pick.

Zidlicky has two more years at $3.5 million per season left on his contract so perhaps Predators GM David Poile made this move in anticipation of signing or acquiring a scoring forward.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are at it again.

Scarcely two days after signing Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts the Lightning have added another forward to their lineup, signing right winger Radim Vrbata to a three-year, $9 million contract.

Vrbata had a breakout performance in 2007-08 with career bests in goals (27), assists (29) and points (56) with the Phoenix Coyotes, who had hoped to re-sign him and may now have to look elsewhere for a scoring right winger.

This move likely means the Bolts have given up on their attempts to sign Brian Rolston, whose rights they acquired over the weekend from the Minnesota Wild.

Are the Lightning done?  Probably not, as they have to address their depth in goal and on the blueline, and persistent speculation has them shopping defenseman Dan Boyle to free up some cap space, although that’ll require Boyle’s approval as his has a no-trade clause in his contract.  

The Los Angeles Kings last night dealt defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for center Jarret Stoll and defenseman Matt Greene.

As per the LA Times this move clears over $10 million in cap space for the Kings although it’s uncertain if they’ll be making any significant moves in the UFA market. It’s been rumored they might re-sign Brad Stuart, whom they deal to the Detroit Red Wings at the February trade deadline.

For the Oilers it’s a more intriguing move, setting up the possibility that Joni Pitkanen may have played his final season in Edmonton and could either be dealt or signed away via offer sheet. Visnovsky is a puck-moving defenseman but the Oilers were also believed in the market for a scoring forward, which Pitkanen might land them in a deal.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have gotten a jump on the UFA market in a big way over the weekend, acquiring the rights of forwards Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts from the Pittsburgh Penguins and forward Brian Rolston from the Minnesota Wild.

Malone re-signed a seven year, $31.5 million contract with the Lightning on Sunday, which breaks down as $4.5 million per season against their cap but is front-loaded to pay him between $7-$8 million per season in the first two seasons, while Roberts is believed close to signing  has signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the Bolts paying him a base of $1.25 million that could rise to $2.07 million if he achieves his bonuses.

It remains to be seen if they’ll get Rolston signed as it could cost them around $5 million per season but evidently the Lightning’s new ownership aren’t concerned about it otherwise they wouldn’t have wasted their time.

If the Bolts should get all three under contract it’ll have only cost them a third round pick in 2009 to the Penguins and a conditional pick in 2009 or 2010 to the Wild.

While these moves should excite the Lightning fanbase it is troubling to see them loading up at forward whilst doing nothing so far to address their weaknesses in goal and on the blueline.

This summer’s UFA market is now short two defensemen as the Colorado Avalanche announced Sunday the re-signing of Adam Foote and John-Michael Liles.

Foote’s contract is for two-years, $6 million, which will count as $3 million per season against the Avalanche’s cap, while Liles’ new deal is reportedly four years at over $4 million per season.

It wasn’t unexpected to hear of Foote’s re-signing but Liles was long rumored to be on his way out of Colorado, and he might’ve received over $5 million on the UFA market. His agent however last week expressed a hope that his client would be retained. Retaining both should provide stability to the Avs defense corps.

The Minnesota Wild took steps to add more depth to their defense corps by acquiring veteran blueliner Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a third round pick in the 2008 entry draft.

Bergeron has terrific offensive skills, a smooth skater with a tremendous slapshot that ranks amongst the hardest in the league. However, his defensive skills are average at best and tend to leave something to be desired.

The Wild are Bergeron’s fourth team in two seasons. He was dealt to the New York Islanders mid-way through the 2006-07 season. After clashing at times with the Isles coaching staff Bergeron was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks at the 2008 trade deadline but saw limited regular season action with the Ducks and no playoff time.

Bergeron’s offensive skills will make him a welcome addition to the Wild’s powerplay but it’ll be interesting to see how he responds to the demands of head coach Jacques Lemaire, who preaches a defense-first style.

He’ll either blossom with the Wild or wilt.