It's been an untypically busy late-August day for player transactions in the NHL.

On the heels of today's earlier moves by the Vancouver Canucks comes word the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed the best remaining unrestricted free agent forward in this summer market.

RDS.ca tonight reported the Lightning have reached agreed to terms with former Montreal Canadiens winger Alex Tanguay on a one-year contract pending a physical exam on Monday. Financial terms weren't disclosed but it's believed to be worth $2 million. 

Tanguay, 29, had been courted by several teams this summer, including the Lightning, but concerns over recent shoulder injuries and what was believed to be high salary demands kept him unsigned long past the opening week of the NHL's UFA market, when players of his caliber are usually snapped up.

He would replace his agent with Ritch Winter, who about a week ago suggested the Minnesota Wild and the Lightning were among the front-runners for Tanguay's services.

Tanguay is only two years removed from a career-best 81 point performance with the Calgary Flames in 2006-07 but over the past two seasons spent with the Flames and Canadiens his numbers fell to 58 points in 2007-08 and only 41 points in 50 games with the Canadiens last season.

Still, he's unquestionably a talented playmaking winger, with four 70-plus point performances under his belt, as well as winning a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2001.

Heading to Tampa Bay he'll get an opportunity to play with Vincent Lecavalier and perhaps Martin St. Louis, which could provide the Lightning with a lethal first line combination.

It'll also give Tanguay an opportunity to improve his market value as he'll be eligible for UFA status next summer, unless he and the Lightning work out an arrangement on a new contract before then. 

It's been a busy day for Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. 

Shortly after completing a trade with the San Jose Sharks which brought defensemen Brad Lukowich and Christian Ehrhoff to Vancouver, the Canucks also announced the signing today of veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider. 

Terms of the deal weren't disclosed but it's a good bet it'll be a one year contract. I'll post financial details once they become available. 

Schneider, 40, had 32 points in 67 games split between the Atlanta Thrashers and Montreal Canadiens. He's long been among the better offensive defensemen in the NHL, amassing 221 goals and 734 points in over 1,200 career NHL regular season games.

Over the past two years however it's clear age is catching up to him as he's no longer capable of logging big minutes as he used to. Still, his offensive skills should make him a good addition to the Canucks power-play unit. 

Just over three weeks remaining until NHL training camps begin and as the off-season has dragged on the number of free agent signings have dwindled. Still, the Buffalo Sabres and Nashville Predators identified affordable needs and moved to address them last week. 

The Predators signed former San Jose Sharks center Marcel Goc to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550K at the NHL level. 

Goc, 25, made his NHL debut with the Sharks in the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs and spent the last four seasons with the club. In fifty-five games last season he had 11 points but his true talent is in the faceoff circle, ranking fifth overall last season in faceoff percentage, a skill which proves invaluable on the penalty kill. 

The Sabres meanwhile signed former Vancouver Canuck checking winger Jeff Cowan to a one-year contract. 

Cowan is an eight-year NHL veteran who previously played for the Canucks, LA Kings, Atlanta Thrashers and Calgary Flames. He spent all of last season however - except for the playoffs - with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League. 

His gritty style should make him a decent fit on the Sabres fourth line. 

The Carolina Hurricanes continue to add experienced, affordable depth to their roster via unrestricted free agency, signing veteran forward Stephane Yelle to a one-year, $550K contract. 

Yelle, 35, played last season with the Boston Bruins as a checking line center, netting 7 goals and 18 points in 77 games with a plus-minus of +6. He'd previously spent five season with the Calgary Flames and seven with the Colorado Avalanche. 

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Yelle would add depth and experience to his club's center position as well as on the penalty kill. 

Yell will also add invaluable playoff experience. He won two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche and was part of the Flames run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2004. 

A little over two weeks after bolstering their forward depth in signing unrestricted free agent wingers Jason Williams and Patrick Eaves the Detroit Red Wings have signed yet another, inking Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year, $1.5 million contract contingent upon his passing the standard league physical.

Like Williams, Bertuzzi is making his return to the Red Wings, having briefly played for them during the 2006-07 season when he was acquired from the Florida Panthers at the 2007 NHL trade deadline. 

His previous go-round with the Wings wasn't particularly memorable resulting in the club's decision not to re-sign him following that season. He was signed by the Anaheim Ducks as a UFA in 2007 and after an average performance there was signed by the Calgary Flames last summer as a UFA. 

It's not surprising Bertuzzi has bounced around the league so much in recent years. He was never really the same following a vicious attack on then-Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore late in the 2003-04 season, which earned him a lengthy suspension.  Surgery to repair a herniated disk resulted in his missing 66 games during the 2006-07 campaign and probably accelerated the decline in his offensive production.

Once among the league's top power forwards, over the past two seasons Bertuzzi averaged just over forty points in 67 games.  This signing with the Wings could be the last best chance the 34-year-old has to continue his NHL career beyond this season. 

The $1.5 million salary will also push the Wings slightly over the $56.8 million salary cap for the upcoming season but it's believed defenseman Andreas Lilja, who is still suffering from post-concussion symptoms and set to earn $1.25 million, will be placed on long-term injury status which will allow the Wings to absorb Bertuzzi's contract.