The 34-year-old Stumpel scored 23 goals and 57 points with the Panthers last season, so it's not surprising general manager Jacques Martin hoped to re-sign him. He's consistently posted 50+ point seasons in six of the last seven years, and at $2.25 million per season is an affordable re-signing by Martin, who continues to put his stamp on the Panthers.

His scoring touch and experience should continue to make him a valuable presence for the Panthers offence, particularly as the club gears up to take a run at making the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

Cowan, 30, was acquired by the Canucks in a mid-season trade with the LA Kings and his gritty, energetic style made him a welcome and popular addition to the Canucks checking lines. He even inspired several female Canucks fans to toss bras on the ice whenever he scores a goal.

With popularity like that, who can blame the Canucks for keeping him? Seriously though, he proved his worth to the Canucks during last year's playoffs, which included an overtime goal against the Anaheim Ducks.

**UPDATE**

The Calgary Flames today re-signed forward Wayne Primeau to a three-year contract. Financial terms have yet to be disclosed.  

Primeau was acquired by the Flames from the Boston Bruins last February in a deal that also brought defenseman Brad Stuart to Calgary, and while it's unlikely Stuart will return with the Flames it's obvious Primeau's checking skills have been appreciated by GM Darryl Sutter.

Although never a scorer like his older brother Keith, Wayne Primeau is a very good checking forward, who can play both center and left wing, doesn't shy away from the heavy hitting and his penalty kiling skills.

It's believed the Flames could return to a more defensive oriented game next season, so Primeau's style will make him a good fit.  

The Brad Stuart trade watch is finally over.

The Bruins Saturday night shipped Stuart, along with forward Wayne Primeau and a conditional draft pick to the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenseman Andrew Ference and forward Chuck Kobesaw.

The Bruins were expected to deal Stuart to a Western Conference team but many believed that team to be the Flames rivals, the Edmonton Oilers.

By acquiring these two, the Flames have bolstered their defensive depth in what can be seen as a serious move for another run at the Stanley Cup.

Stuart joins an already impressive Flames blueline corps, and his two-way play should help take some of the load off Dion Phaneuf and Roman Hamrlik. Primeau is an experienced checking line forward whose grit should be invaluable down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Both Stuart and Primeau are unrestricted free agents this summer and weren’t in the Bruins future plans. One or both could end up as merely playoff rentals for the Flames this season, depending on their performance in the upcoming post-season.

Like Stuart, Hamrlik is an unrestricted free agent this summer, so it’s possible GM Darryl Sutter was thinking beyond this spring’s playoffs with this move. If Hamrlik opts to move on, Sutter could replace him with Stuart.

In return, the Bruins are receiving two good, young and affordable players, who could still blossom into stars in their own right. Kobesaw has good speed and shows a promising scoring touch whilst Ference plays a very good physical style.

Their combined salaries are worth less than Stuart’s was for this season and both are signed for next season, giving Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli the cap space to either make more additions at the trade deadline, or to go shopping for more depth in this summer’s free agent market.

As for the Oilers, their search for a puckmoving defenseman, or any player who can bolster their sagging playoff hopes, goes on.