NHL Morning Papers (Friday Edition): Team Canada’s secret meetings, the cost of an expansion franchise and Chris Nilan’s quote to the cops

Free Agency

• If Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne were going to play together next season, it was not going to be in Montreal.
• Both Nigel Dawes and Calgary Flames are happy to have each other, writes Randy Sportak.
• The Thrashers have signed Colby Armstrong to a one-year contract.
• New Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa likes the team’s chances at making a Stanley Cup run.
• The Avalanche has signed its first round pick Matt Duchene to a three-year entry level contract.
• Even though he may be heading to the KHL, Ken Holland is working hard to sign Jiri Hudler to a contract.  Apparently the Wings offered Hudler a long-term deal worth $3 million per season before he signed with the KHL.
• The OIlers signed Devan Dubnyk, Tony Rajala and Dean Arsene to contracts yesterday.
• The Sharks signed Jed Ortmeyer to a one-year deal.
• The Devils have signed offensive defenseman Cory Murphy to a one-year, two-way contract.
• The Coyotes have signed defenseman Keith Yandle to a two-year contract.
• The Lightning signed deals with Blair Jones and Lauri Tukonen on Thursday.
• The Capitals signed Jeff Schultz to a one-year deal.

Development Camps

• The Canes have Cam Ward manning the net for the foreseeable future, but goaltending prospect Mike Murphy is pretty good himself.  Speaking of Hurricanes prospects, the team has an impressive group of young players moving forward.
• Devils youngster Jeff Frazee is hoping to use his experience in the AHL last season to become the new backup goaltender for the Devils.
• Is Rod Pelley the Devils’ new John Madden?
• Playing in the Tampa Bay development camp is no easy task, writes Erik Erlendsson.
• At least Mathieu Perreault lasted the entire development camp session this time around.

Other News

• The Canadian Olympic brass had secret meetings this week in Vancouver, to try and plan ahead.
• John Tortorella knows one of his main jobs is to turn around the Rangers’ poor power play.
• Wayne Gretzky has agreed to give a deposition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
• So an NHL expansion team cost $265 million?
• Speaking of Phoenix, the NHL has 23 specific questions for Jim Balsillie, writes Kevin McGran.
• Nothing like more law news for the NHL, as the Canadian Supreme Court rejected a bid for a new trial over the sale of the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
• Speaking of Vancouver, the Canucks are used to always having an unfavorable schedule, writes Elliot Pap.
• Former Hab Chris Nilan apparently stole a bathing suit, but this article is certainly worth reading to check out Nilan’s quote to police.