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Tuesday, 05 July 2011 07:20

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Penguins

-Don't expect a return for Eric Godard (above).

-Happy 41st birthday to former Penguins forward John LeClair. An all-star with the rival Flyers, LeClair joined the Penguins as a free agent following the 2004-05 lockout. He appeared in 73 games in 2005-06 and recorded a respectable 51 points. After 21 games and seven points in 2006-07, LeClair was released in December. In 94 games with the Penguins, he scored 58 points.

Atlantic Division

-The Flyers have declined to comment about the status of former Penguins forward Maxime Talbot's contract.

Northeast Division

-The Sabres re-signed defenseman Mike Weber (right), a native of Cranberry, to a two-year contract worth $1.9 million. He will have salary cap hit of $950,000. In 58 games last season, he scored 17 points (four goals, 13 assists).

-EN Says: Weber is a solid No. 5 or 6 defeseman who plays a safe but feisty stay-at-home defensive game and doesn't offer much on defense.

-The Canadiens signed former forward Brock Trotter to a one-year two-way contract.

-The Stanley Cup made its way to Yosemite National Park.

Southeast Division

-"Deep down, my wife hoped at the end point Carolina would come through with the same thing and we'd stay. That didn't happen." - Canadiens forward Erik Cole on leaving the Hurricanes.

-The Capitals signed former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Danny Richmond to a one-year two-way contract.

-Washington captain Alex Ovechkin (right) isn't big on geography.

Central Division

-The Red Wings are looking for a new back-up goaltender to replace Chris Osgood.

Northwest Division

-"Last year wasn't a great year for me personally. I want to get to that [top] level again in Minny. ... As a goal scorer and a player, you want to be that guy." - Forward Dany Heatley on being traded from the Sharks to the Wild.

-The Flames re-signed defenseman Anton Babchuk to a two-year contract worth a total of $5 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $2.5 million. In 82 games last season, Babchuk scored 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists).

-EN Says: Babchuk is pretty much all offense. He has a booming shot and has a little bit of size. But despite his 6-foot-5 frame he's not much of a force in his zone. A salary cap hit for double-digit figures in goals from the point isn't bad.

-Calgary re-signed forwards Carter Bancks, Quintin Laing and defenseman Joe Piskula to two-year one-way contracts.

-The Flames also signed former Canucks forward Guillaume Desbiens to a one-year, two-way contract worth $525,000.

-The Oilers re-signed defenseman Theo Peckham to a one-year contract worth $1.075 million. In 71 games last season, Pecham scored 13 points (three goals, 10 assists).

-EN Says: Peckham is a pretty physical defender who likes to mix it up as evidenced by his 198 penalty minutes last season. He doesn't offer much on offense.

-Edmonton signed free agent forward Ryan Keller to a one-year two-way contract.

Pacific Division

-The Coyotes signed former Senators goaltender Curtis McElhinney (right) and former Devils defenseman Tyler Eckford to one-year two-way contracts.

(Photos: Godard-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; Weber-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Ovechkin-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Pekham-Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

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