On the Beat: I’m tired after the Del Zotto

What team beat writers are saying this afternoon:

• Newly acquired Nashville Predators defenseman Francis Bouillon “has been signed to a professional tryout agreement contract only,” writes John Glennon on tennessean.com. The Preds will eventually sign Bouillon formally, this is just a formality. Catch the word play?
• A sneak peek at the Detroit Red Wings line-up for tonight’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers. That’s not a typo folks. That says Derek Meech is playing defense tonight.
• Guest blogger “The Mouth” has several entertaining observations about several New York Rangers players on the Rangers Report,  including Vinny Prospal, Ales Kotalik, Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto. Good stuff, there should be more tongue-in-cheek writers like this in the blogosphere.
• Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray is working the phone lines yet again in an attempt to move several veteran players, but are there any takers?
• The Carolina Hurricanes have released five players from training camp, but youngsters Brandon Sutter and Zach Boychuk are still battling tooth and nail for one of the final forward spots.