Craig Leipold

NHL Free Agency & Trade: With the NHL entry draft now in the rear-view mirror, the workload for 30 general managers and their front-office staff is set to increase in the next few days. This weekend's slow-go development in the NHL is tied inextricably to the upcoming free-agency period. Today, Darryl Sutter will likely be in Edmonton to talk to Jay Bouwmeester and his Edmonton-based agent Bryon Baltimore. With the long and often tedious NHL draft process behind him, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli headed to his hometown of Ottawa on Saturday for a very brief respite before free agency begins. The Red Wings were hoping to secure the signing of Marian Hossa to a long-term contract over the weekend but it appears the sides are still far apart. Henrik and Daniel Sedin are facing the reality they may have to leave the only NHL city they have ever called home. During a pre-lockout game between the visiting Maple Leafs and host Vancouver Canucks earlier this decade, a veteran left coast hockey scribe could only shake his head after watching Vancouver’s promising Swedish twins grind through a couple of lunchpail shifts. Barring any sudden movements, the Senators have 48 hours before they must stroke a $4-million cheque for a winger who really doesn’t want to be here and wave goodbye to a winger who really does. With just two days remaining before the start of the NHL's unrestricted free agent market, the Predators haven't managed to re-sign any of their four primary targets. After accumulating so many draft picks, the St. Louis Blues could be in a position to trade some for immediate help. Is the Marian Gaborik watch still on in Vancouver? Because I’ve been watching for a week and would like to know if I should stop. NHL Teams: Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times has an interesting Q & A with Tampa Bay Lightning top draft pick Victor Hedman. Craig Leipold loves the passion and hype and hoopla that comes with the draft, and he told me he's looking to soon bring one to Minnesota. Insatiable demand for Pittsburgh Penguins championship apparel has helped several NHL licensees and retailers set postseason and regular-season sales records in 2009. Pardon the Colorado Avalanche if they change their moniker to Boston University West. Or, perhaps the Colorado Terriers. Without Kris Letang, Sid the Kid might not have become the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup. At 34, Chris Pronger's much wiser than the guy who has collected nine suspensions during a sometimes stormy but brilliant 15-year career. If all goes as planned, the New York Islanders will ride first-overall draft pick John Tavares to the top just as the Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins did with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin after their lean years. Isles clearly on right track, but this will take a while. Predators General Manager David Poile doesn't usually take these kinds of risks in the NHL Draft, but he is excited about the current class of prospects. The Red Wings weren't sure if Jimmy Howard was ready to play 25 regular season games in the NHL last season. They hope he's ready now. Oren Koules, left, and Len Barrie have an NHL-set timetable for problem-solving. First-round coverage of the annual showpiece seems to drag and drag these days. Sure, NHL teams selected more than 200 players in the entry draft this weekend -- but who'd they miss? Minor Hockey & Prospects: With no European players on the Red Deer Rebels roster, owner/president Brent Sutter will attempt to alleviate that shortage during the Canadian Hockey League import draft on Tuesday. The bench door opens at Buccaneer Arena, home of the Des Moines Buccaneers, and out skates a 15-year-old carrying a bucket of pucks. Of the 26 New York Rangers prospects who will take the ice Monday as development camp opens, only a few will have an opportunity to come to training camp in September and battle for a job.

NHL Morning Papers (Monday Edition): Q & A with Victor Hedman, Are the Sedins done in Vancouver, Blues have assets to trade, Lots of work for GM’s in next few days.

Evening Delight: Cause this is thriller, thriller night!

Breaking News: Risebrough fired as Wild GM

NHL Morning Papers (Tuesday Edition)

NHL Morning Papers (Thursday Edition)