NHL Morning Papers (Friday Edition): Rick Nash closer to signing extension with Columbus, many teams after Saku Koivu and Marian Gaborik never tendered offer by new Wild GM

NHL Free Agency

• Money talks in NHL free agency, writes Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette.
• “Antropov really fits our needs,” said Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell about his signing of Nikolai Antropov to a four-year deal.
• “We need some veteran leadership back,” said Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli about re-signing Mark Recchi to a one-year pact.
• Nikolai Khabibulin is shooting to play about 60 games this upcoming season for Edmonton.
• The Hurricanes were excited to surprisingly get Chad LaRose’s name on a two-year contract yesterday evening.
• Newest Blackhawk John Madden thinks the Blackhawks have a great chance at winning the Stanley Cup next season.
• Rick Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets are allegedly getting closer to a long-term contract agreement.
• The Stars are very happy with their quiet Karlis Skrastins signing from Thursday.  (Writer’s note: Underrated signing by Joe Nieuwendyk.  Skrastins is a reliable defenseman who blocks shots and should help to stabilize Dallas’s back-end.)
• Detroit is apparently close to signing restricted free agent Ville Leino to a two-year deal.
• On Thursday, the Panthers signed Jordan Leopold and Clay Wilson.
• In Los Angeles, the Kings have secured the services of defensive defenseman Rob Scuderi for the next four seasons.  Scuderi thinks the Kings have loads of potential moving forward.
• The Wild is intersted in Saku Koivu but so are a number of other teams, reports Michael Russo.
• The Predators are happy they can keep their chemistry intact with the re-signing of Steve Sullivan.
• In New Jersey, the Devils have still yet to make any significant signings.
• On Thursday, New York Islanders GM Garth Snow increased his organization’s depth with a couple minor signings.
• Patrick Reusse says the divorce between the Wild and Marian Gaborik was a necessary one for both sides.
• Michael Russo tells us that new GM Chuck Fletcher never tendered Marian Gaborik with a contract offer.
• Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta have been reunited in Montreal and, considering they have been playing together since they were 15, they are really excited.
• For as much as he was ignored by Minnesota, Marian Gaborik was coveted by the Rangers from the second free agency began. 
• Larry Brooks thinks the Rangers need a point-man for the power play before they need a center to play with Marian Gaborik.
• Yesterday, the Coyotes signed veteran defenseman Adrian Aucoin to a one-year deal.
• The Penguins may look to Jay McKee to replace the departed Rob Scuderi.  However, Penguins GM Ray Shero is not yet close to any deals.
• The newest Leafs signings are ecstatic about the opportunity to play in Toronto.  Apparently Mike Komisarek won’t mind if the Habs fans boo him next season.  Meantime, the Leafs made sure to re-sign some skill in Mikhail Grabovski.
• They may have a lot of players signed up, but Toronto, and a number of other teams, are still awaiting word from Jonas Gustavsson.
• What will Mats Sundin do next?

NHL Trades

• Jason Spezza has urged teammate Dany Heatley to make a decision soon, explains Bruce Garrioch.
• Acquiring Heatley will now costs teams more than it would have a couple days ago.  (Writer’s note: When you read JP Barry’s comments from this article please tell me you think he’s out of his mind on this issue.)
• Meanwhile, Bill Daly says the Senators may have a grievance against Heatley.
• Does the Heatley situation remind many of Alexei Yashin?
• As for non-Heatley related trade news, the chance to acquire Chris Pronger was too good to pass up, says Flyers owner Ed Snider.

Team Canada’s Roster

• Team Canada has put together quite an impressive mix of players, explains Kevin McGran.
• Eric Duhatschek chimes in on the Canadian Olympic team selections.
• Steve Yzerman has his reasons for not inviting Marc Savard to Team Canada’s orientation camp.
• Of the three Flames defensemen invited to Team Canada’s orientation camp, Jay Bouwmeester has the best chance to make the team, writes Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun.  Dion Phaneuf was invited to the camp, even after a very disappointing 2008/09 season.
• Adrian Dater of the Denver Post wonders what an invitiation to the orientation camp means for Joe Sakic’s future.
• “When I heard the message from Stevie — it’s hard to explain the feeling. I was just overwhelmed with joy. I’ve only had that feeling once before, when my wife told me she was pregnant, and I thought, ‘I’m having a baby.’ Now it’s, ‘I’m going to Team Canada,’ ” said an obviously ecstatic Daniel Cleary.
• Steven Stamkos was not invited to the orientation camp and says there are no hard feelings that he was left off.

Everything Else

• They may have lost some important parts to free agency, but Wings GM Ken Holland still really likes his team.
• Don’t crown the Calgary Flames just yet, opines Bruce Dowbiggen.
• There is a fight in Phoenix over the release of certain documents pertaining to the expected Coyotes sale.
• Speaking of Phoenix, Wayne Gretzky is once again in the spotlight that I’m sure he’d love to avoid.