NHL Morning Papers (Friday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for Friday the 1st of August:

• After all his deliberating, it appears that Mats Sundin may very well retire, writes Paul Hunter of the Toronto Star.
• The Oilers’ new management structure looks quite similar to Detroit’s and that is no coincidence, opines Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal.  To be honest, more was made of yesterday’s announcement than needed to be, writes Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun.
• With Antoine Vermette signed for two years, the Senators’ next order of business is to re-sign Andrej Meszaros.
• It has been a long road back, but Patrice Bergeron thinks he will be good to go come training camp, writes Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald.
• If not for his sons, Scotty Bowman would not have taken a job with the Blackhawks, writes George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press.  Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News thinks Bowman has made a good decision.
• Dale Tallon is ecstatic to have Scotty Bowman’s extra set of eyes with the organization, writes Chris Kuc.
• As Michael Russo tells us, Former agent Brian Lawton is holding his own as a part of Lightning management.
• The Predators have re-signed checking forward Jerred Smithson for the next two seasons.
• Even though there doesn’t seem like there is much room, Petr Nedved is going to tryout for a spot on one of the Rangers’ top four lines.
• Before the Spectrum is taken down, the Flyers are going to play an exhibition game there.
• The Coyotes have signed Francis Lessard.

For Illegal Curve, I’m Richard Pollock.