NHL fans and in particular those in Chicago and Toronto should keep an eye on the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs as there could be some changes coming to their respective rosters albeit for vastly different reasons. 

The Blackhawks are believed poised to announce the re-signings of forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews along with defenseman Duncan Keith but owing to a rule in the NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA) they might have to dump some salary first. 

Kane, Toews and Keith are eligible for restricted free agent status (RFA) in July so in order to prevent rival teams from trying to sign them away via offer sheets the Blackhawks have reportedly negotiated new long-term contracts for the three, which would take effect in 2010-11. 

The problem however is that the

The stumbling start of the Toronto Maple Leafs has Toronto fans and media whipped up into a near-panic over the club's performance and lamenting the few options available for management to improve the situation. 

Most pundits appear to have absolved Leafs general manager Brian Burke for his club's struggles but their apparent willingness to give Burke a pass has drawn criticism from one of their own. 

Author and former Toronto Globe and Mail columnist William Houston has in his retirement started up a new blog called "Truth & Rumours". In his inaugural post Houston not only blames Burke for what he considers poor decisions on the part of the Leafs general manager but also scolds the Toronto sports media for their unwillingness to criticize Burke after spending months praising

One of the NHL's greatest players of the past twenty years and one of Sweden's all time greatest hockey players has called it a career. 

Center Mats Sundin, former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, officially announced his retirement after 18 seasons with the Leafs, Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks. 

As per TSN.ca:

The 38-year-old leaves the NHL having amassed 1,349 points (564 goals, 785 assists over 1,346), ranking him 25th on the all-time list.

Sundin ranks fourth in points among European-born players and holds the records for goals (420), game winning goals (79), powerplay goals (124) and points (987) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He was also an eight time all-star and from 1997 to 2008 was the Leafs captain, becoming the longest serving European

The summer long contract standoff between the Boston Bruins and forward Phil Kessel ended tonight when the Bruins shipped the 21-year-old forward to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the Leafs first and second round picks in 2010 and their first round pick in 2011. 

Kessel also agreed to a five-year, $27 million contract with his new club, which will count as $5.4 million per season againt the Leafs salary cap. 

This news doesn't come as a surprise for most NHL fans, particularly those in Toronto and Boston. Leafs general manager Brian Burke tried unsuccessfully back at the June entry draft in Montreal to land Kessel via trade, offering up defenseman Tomas Kaberle at the time but the deal fell through over a disagreement of the draft picks to be included. 

Burke's

Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel must’ve gone into this year’s Labor Day weekend believing his days with the Bruins are numbered.

Trade rumors have dogged Kessel for the past two years, most generated by the local press which -while acknowledging his offensive talent - have issues with his defensive skills, overlooking the fact Kessel is only 21 and most young offensive talents like him tend to improve their all-round play over time.

This summer however the rumors have more than a kernel of truth, as the Bruins nearly had a deal in place which would’ve shipped Kessel to Toronto for defenseman Tomas Kaberle at this year’s draft until it fell apart over which draft picks would be included in the swap.

Intensifying the situation is Kessel’s contract status.

Young goaltender Justin Pogge will have to try to achieve his NHL dream somewhere other than with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

TSN.ca recently reported Pogge, once considered one of the Leafs most promising prospects, will be dealt today to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional draft pick. 

The writing was on the wall for Pogge once the Leafs successfully signed promising Swedish netminder Jonas Gustavsson earlier this summer. Gustavsson is expected to start this season as the backup for starter Vesa Toskala. 

Pogge was a third round pick of the Leafs in 2004 and after backstopping Team Canada to a gold medal in the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships (named both tournament MVP and top goalie) and named the CHL's top goaltender of 2005-06 expectations were high

The Calgary Flames shed a bit of salary today and added some affordable depth while the Toronto Maple Leafs moved out a spare defenseman in exchange for a veteran checking forward.

Heading to Toronto is 33-year-old veteran forward Wayne Primeau, who can play center or left wing on the checking lines. Primeau's plays a physical defensive style but it has played havoc on his body in recent years as he was limited to 43 and 24 games respectively with the Flames over the past two seasons.

The Leafs also get the Flames second round pick in 2011.

Going to Calgary is forward Colin Stuart, defenseman Anton Stralman and a seventh round pick in 2012.

Stralman and Stuart saw limited action with the Leafs last season but Stralman was one of ten defensemen the Leafs have under contract for the upcoming

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke continued to add beef to the blueline corps today, signing former Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin to a three-year, $11.4 million contract, or $3.8 million per season against the Leafs salary cap. 

It's the second time in his career Beauchemin will be playing for a team with Burke as the general manager. It was Burke who brought him to the Ducks in the fall of 2005 as part of a trade which also shipped Sergei Fedorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Beauchemin isn't particularly big for a defenseman (6, 215) but quickly earned a reputation as a physical defenseman, as well as one of the league's most respected scrappers. 

Burke last week added big physical defenseman Mike Komisarek via free agency last week as well

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke continues to work on making his team bigger and tougher this summer.

Earlier today Burke traded defenseman Pavel Kubina and the rights to Tim Stapleton to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for rugged defenseman Garnet Exelby and winger Colin Stuart.

Burke followed that up by signing former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Komisarek  to a multi-year deal worth $22.5 million over five years, or $4.5 million against the Leafs cap.

The Leafs GM likes his teams to be skilled but also physical and with these moves, along with today’s earlier signing of enforcer Colton Orr, he’s well on the way to achieving that goal.

Komisarek is the best of the bunch heading to Toronto. The former first round pick of the Canadiens is considered among