NHL Morning Papers (Monday Edition): The Leafs want Jonas Gustavsson and his teammate, Marty Turco wants to play less and Habs fans rally to keep Alexei Kovalev

Free Agency

• The Leafs are not only after netminder Jonas Gustavsson, but they are also after his teammate Rickard Wallin.
• In Montreal, there was a fan rally to keep Alexei Kovalev a Hab.
• Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are waiting for a ruling by the NHL/NHLPA to determine if a filing issue will make a number of significant players free agents.
• Chad LaRose is officially no longer a free agent, after he signed a two-year, $3.4 million contract with the Hurricanes.
• The free agent contract Steve Sullivan signed won’t be covered by insurance, writes John Glennon.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Chris Connor to a one-year deal.  The Penguins have also signed defenseman Chris Lee.
• Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province thinks something is fishy about Mattias Ohlund’s contract being signed so soon after free agency began.  

Salary Arbitration News

• Bruins defeneseman Matt Hunwick has filed for salary artbitration.
• In Buffalo, Clarke MacArthur has also accepted salary arbitration.
• Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu has opted for the arbitration process.
• Marc Methot of the Blue Jackets has decided to accept arbitration.
• Amazingly, Red Wings GM Ken Holland has never had a player’s salary determined by arbitration under his watch, writes George Sipple.  Will Jiri Hudler end that streak?
• New Wild center Kyle Brodziak has opted for the arbitration process, but that doesn’t mean both sides can’t work something out beforehand.
• Travis Zajac is one of the more significant names that filed for arbitration.
• Little-known Matt Smaby of the Lightning has filed for arbitration, as well.
• After a rocky start to the season, Kyle Wellwood feels confident enough that his play will earn him a raise in pay via salary arbitration.
• Habs center Tomas Plekanec has filed for arbitration after a poor 2008/09 campaign.

Everything Else

• Dan Barnes of the Edmonton Journal is late to the party but he still takes time to call Dany Heatley a selfish hockey player.  You think that’s harsh?  The people of Ottawa think that is tame.
• Wayne Gretzky was caught off-guard by a question posed to him by Toronto sports radio show host Bob McCown.
• Talk about a dream coming true for Blackhawks seventh round selection Paul Phillips.
• Looking to next season, Stars netminder Marty Turco admits he needs to play less games next season.
• Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette answers a reader’s question regarding the expected drop in the salary cap next season.
• The Oilers are looking to add an Oklahoma-based farm team.