Florida Panthers: The only move the Panthers have been able to make has been dealing Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes. While the deal has solidified their defense by adding Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, they haven’t been able to resign Jay Bouwmeester.
The Panthers also haven't added anyone to pick up the slack from Jokinen's loss (Cory Stillman isn't going to cut it). It wasn't all that long ago where this team looked to be just a piece or two away from making the playoffs, but they seem to prefer regression.
At this point, their best bet may be to trade Bouwmeester for offense, as no Panther forwards really have game changing ability.
Tampa Bay Lightning: It appears the reason that hockey has a hard time working in Florida isn't fan base, but management. The Lightning have learned nothing about putting too much money into a few players. This time they are drastically overpaying Ryan Malone.
Malone is nothing more than Mark Parrish. The only reason he has good numbers is because he played with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. If he's not playing with Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis (which is unlikely after the signing of Vaclav Prospal), he will never live up to the deal.
They would have been better off keeping Brad Richards. Then they trade Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich to the San Jose Sharks for Matt Carle, who is young and offensive, but regressed so badly that he was part of a deal for Wade Redden before Redden used his no-trade clause.
Tampa has also decided to focus only on offense by signing every forward they can fit on their roster and having only offensive minded defensemen. Newly signed goalie Olaf Kolzig must be pleased he picked Tampa Bay.
Anahiem Ducks: Brian Burke is the Paris Hilton of the NHL. After tons of speculation about jumping ship to Toronto and more fighting with Kevin Lowe, the league’s most over-rated GM has managed to put his team over the cap for the second straight year.
Burke already knew Scott Niedermayer was coming back. After signing another former Canuck in Brendan Morrison while buying out old line mate Todd Bertuzzi, the Ducks are worse than last season and don't have the room to resign Teemu Selanne.
The best player the Ducks can deal is Mathieu Schneider, but the 39-year-old has a hefty price tag ($5.625 million) and does not have the value to bring back roster players who can really help this team.
The Ducks will be good this season, just not better.
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