The small but steady parade of veteran unrestricted free agent NHL players heading to Europe to continue their playing careers continues.

After recently rejecting offers from Swiss league teams in hopes of landing either an NHL or Russian Super League contract, winger Anson Carter signed with HC Lugano of the Swiss NLA for the 2007-08 season and is expected to join them this week.

The Boston Globe had reported this past weekend that Carter’s agent claimed his client had fully recovered from the concussion he suffered in pre-season that effectively ended his tryout with the Edmonton Oilers. It was thought Carter might still attract interest around the league based on his 33-goal performance in 2005-06 with the Vancouver Canucks but as this signing indicates no GM in the NHL is willing to gamble their valuable cap space on him.

It’s possible Carter might find his way back to the NHL before season’s end but he’d first have to have an “out” clause and would then have to pass through waivers, which would make him further unpalatable to potential NHL suitors.

If Carter can play well for HC Lugano this season it might pique interest in him in next summer’s UFA market. If not, he’d better get used to the Swiss lifestyle because that could be the only league he’ll be able to play in.

Another former NHL forward heading to Switzerland is faceoff specialist and poker enthusiast Travis Green, who signed with EV Zug on Monday.

Green’s best season statistically was 1995-96 with 70 points in 69 games but he was probably at his most valuable during the 2001-02 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a faceoff and penalty killing specialist.

Sadly, his career has been on a steady decline since then. He was bought out of his contract with the Boston Bruins in 2006 and saw only 31 games split between the Leafs and Anaheim Ducks last season. His NHL playing career is probably over at this point.

Reports from Switzerland also claim Lugano made a contract offer to Phoenix Coyotes netminder David Aebischer, who’s presently toiling in the minors having failed to secure a spot on the club’s regular tandem.

The Swiss-born Aebischer has apparently told Lugano he wants some time to think about the offer, hoping he’ll get a chance to get back into the NHL either with the Coyotes or another team.

Another goalie who received an offer from a European team is Montreal Canadiens netminder Jaroslav Halak, who like Aebischer is toiling in the minors after failing to secure a roster spot with the Habs.

Halak received a contract offer from an unnamed Russian Super League team and it was rumored Halak was using this contract offer as leverage with the Habs to force the club into trading him to another NHL team but this was denied by Halak’s agent.

Former Edmonton Oilers defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist signed with RSL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl after spending weeks entertaining offers from various European teams, as did former Maple Leafs forward Tony Salmelainen.

For those of you interested in Peter Forsberg’s future, I’ll be touching on that in an upcoming article.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson Jr found some much-needed depth for his injury-ravaged roster today, claiming center Travis Green off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks. 

This is Green's second go-around with the Leafs, having spent two seasons with the club as a popular checking line center from 2001 to 2003.  He's considered one of the league's top faceoff men but saw limited action on a deep Ducks team this season, playing only seven games and collecting two points.

His salary for this season was only $500K so with half of that already paid by the Ducks it won't make much of a dent on the Leafs limited salary cap space, leaving room for Ferguson to perhaps make a  trade or another waiver claim in the coming weeks.