NHL Morning Papers (Wednesday Edition): Jason Smith to call it a career, the Oilers lacked intensity last season and much reaction to NHLPA’s decision

• Tim Thomas is not approaching this season any different than the rest of them, even though he finally has a firm hold on the number one goaltending spot.
• Sabres forward Adam Mair will miss the next six weeks of action after undergoing hip surgery.
• Excited for training camp?  Here is the Blackhawks’ training camp roster.
• Former Avalanche netminder Jocelyn Thibault has been hired on as Colorado’s new part-time goaltending consultant.
• In Detroit, Tomas Holstrom says he feels good after a summer of rest and is hoping for an injury-free 2009/10.
• Reading Ken Holland’s comments on how he intends to build the Red Wings demonstrates exactly why he is the best in the business.
• Chris Chelios is skating and still wants to sign with an NHL team, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The Oilers just didn’t have the necessary intensity last season, says veteran Steve Staios.
• A number of Oilers players are fully in favor of a new downtown Edmonton arena.
• Ales Hemsky was excited when he heard all the Dany Heatley rumors, but now that Heatley isn’t going to come to Edmonton, Hemsky has moved on.
• Long-time Oilers and current Senators defenseman Jason Smith has decided to call it a career.
• If Dany Heatley does come back to Ottawa, he will no longer be wearing an “A”, says Senators GM Bryan Murray.
• Pascal Leclaire unveiled his new Senators goalie helmet on Tuesday, reports Allen Panzeri.
• Mark Parrish, like Chelios, is looking for an NHL team to invite him to training camp, and has had some talks with the Lightning and Islanders, explains Michael Russo.
• Who is going to play on the Predators’ second line alongside David Legwand and Martin Erat?
• In other Predators news, the team has signed forward Cal O’Reilly to a two-year contract.
• New Flyers netminder Ray Emery loves working with kids, writes Sam Carchidi.
• The Coyotes’ rookie camp is scheduled to open on September 10th, which is also the day in which the team’s future ownership will be decided.
• Speaking of the Coyotes’ future ownership issues, Carrie Watters of the Arizona Republic provides readers with the prospective of hardcore Phoenix hockey fans.
• At one point in time, the Canucks owners actually looked at buying the Coyotes.
• While the Lightning made it official yesterday by signing Alex Tanguay to a one-year deal, there was also some attention on the report that Len Barrie misappropriated funds in British Columbia–a charge he calls “B.S.”
• Barrie is also denying that he has given up his attempts to try and buyout co-owner Oren Koules, reports Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune.
• Meanwhile, David Shoalts says Oren Koules is close to buying out Barrie’s share.
• Well, at least the Lightning is set to have at least 69 of the team’s games televised locally in 2009/10.
• Today is the day of Bettman versus Balsillie, writes Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star.
• Here are the quick details you need to know about today’s hearing.
• Legendary NHL forward Phil Esposito does not like the idea of an NHL team in Hamilton.
• Esposito’s opinion aside, Hamilton hockey fans will be watching today’s results very closely.
• The NHLPA is vowing to stick together while it moves forward towards the next CBA and already has voiced its concerns about the escrow issue.
• Even some of the NHL players don’t really understand the circumstances behind Paul Kelly’s firing.
• Bruce Arthur of the National Post thinks that firing Paul Kelly hurts the game of hockey.
• “Quite frankly, I’m still stunned and saddened at what has happened,” said Paul Kelly on Tuesday.
• Vincent Damphousse says the next NHLPA leader cannot work in fear.
• His Canucks teammates are very excited by the reports that Roberto Luongo is close to signing a long-term contract with the club.
• Jeffrey Simpson of the Globe & Mail cannot get over how odd the NHL off-season has been.