As the start of the NHL's 2009-10 season fast approaches several teams have made some late pre-season additions. 

-The most significant is the Atlanta Thrashers signing former Buffalo Sabres winger Maxim Afinogenov to a one-year, $800K contract. 

Afinogenov, 30, made the Thrashers after receiving a tryout offer from the club earlier in September. 

Not a bad move by the Thrashers to take a chance on Afinogenov, who was former 73 point performer in 2005-06 with the Buffalo Sabres and had 61 points in 56 games in 2006-07. 

Afinogenov however was hampered by injuries and was never really the same following a season-shortening wrist injury in 2007. His point production fell dramatically over the past two seasons with the Sabres as did his ice time. 

If Afinogenov can regain his scoring touch with the Thrashers it'll not only be beneficial to his NHL career but would provide an additional boost to their offensive game. If not it's only an affordable one-year contract which can be removed from their cap by demotion if he's unable to play up to expectations. 

This is Afinogenov's best chance to salvage his once-promising NHL career for he appeared destined to play in Russia this season until the Thrashers came calling.

-Veteran center Robert Lang could have a new NHL home this season with the beleaguered Phoenix Coyotes.

The Arizona Republic reported the Coyotes have a tentative one-year deal in place with Lang pending his successful completion of a team physical.

Lang, 38, played over half of last season with the Montreal Canadiens, potting 18 goals and 39 points in 50 games until a sliced Achille's tendon finished his season and appeared to end his career.

If Lang has fully recovered he could be a welcome addition to a rebuilding Coyotes team which could benefit from the veteran skills and leadership of the 6-2, 217 lb center, who has scored 20 or more goals seven times in his career and cracked the 50 point mark 8 times.

The Coyotes also added some muscle to their lineup, signing former Maple Leafs and Rangers enforcer Ryan Hollweg to a one-year contract. 

-Defenseman Martin Skoula has a new NHL team, signing a one-year contract with the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Financial terms weren't disclosed. 

The former Minnesota Wild blueliner had been released from a training camp tryout by the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday after they acquired defenseman Anton Stralman from the Calgary Flames. 

In 81 games last season with the Wild Skoula had 4 goals and 12 assists and is likely to become the Penguins seventh defenseman heading into this season. 

He also has previous Stanley Cup championship experience having played for the Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in 2001.

Skoula isn't the only player the Penguins signed this week. On Monday they inked former Carolina Hurricanes forward Ryan Bayda to a one-year contract. Financial terms weren't disclosed. 

Bayda, 28, played 70 games with the Hurricanes last season going 5-7-12 with a plus-minus of +12 and had a solid playoff performance with four points in 15 games as a checking line left wing, a role he's likely to fill with the Penguins this season.

-Long time Edmonton Oilers prospect Rob Schremp could finally be getting his shot at starting his NHL career, only it won't be with the Oilers.

The New York Islanders claimed the 23-year-old Schremp, who has played in only 7 NHL games since he was selected 25th overall by the Oilers in the 2004 entry draft, off waivers today as the Oilers attempted to demote him to their farm team. 

Schremp is a gifted forward but is considered to be a one-dimensional player who pays little attention to the defensive side of the game. 

The Islanders are once again rebuilding and in need of depth at all positions except in goal, so taking a chance on Schremp certainly is worth the effort. If he succeeds and becomes an NHL regular, perhaps a scoring star, it'll only benefit the Isles. If not, they'll simply ship him to their minor league affiliate and have done with it. 

This could be Schremp's last best attempt to crack the NHL and prove himself so he'd better make it a good one.