Where free agent defenseman Ryan Suter goes is anyone’s guess, but the Predators will do all they can to keep him. (John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Stu Hackel

The gun goes off at noon on Sunday for the start of NHL Free Agency and we’ll be here that morning to begin our live blog of the day’s action. Considering the high volume of rumors and conjecture this year, it could be one of the wilder July 1′s for hockey in a while.

So here’s a quick look at what spots each team is seeking to fill going into the offseason, some of which they’ll try to address on the open market. Below are the Western Conference teams.  The Eastern Conference teams can be found here. To see the players who are available in free agency, go to TSN.ca.

DUCKS – They have lots of cap space, but lots of needs: improve their defense corps, their secondary scoring and their depth forwards. With Teemu Selanne still undeclared for next season, the Ducks have only Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and Saku Koivu under contract for next season when it comes to productive forwards, and not much beyond them. And they’re contemplating dealing Ryan. There’s talk they’d like a second line center, a move that would bump the aging Koivu down to the third line, although Teemu (if he returns) likes playing with Saku. But it’s on D that Anaheim really needs help, and a first-rate shutdown defenseman should be high on their list.

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If corrnerstones Zach Parise (left) and Martin Brodeur leave, the Devils will be forced to remake their roster. (Travis Golby/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Stu Hackel

The gun goes off at noon on Sunday for the start of NHL Free Agency and we’ll be here that morning to begin our live blog of the day’s action. Considering the high volume of rumors and conjecture this year, it could be one of the wilder July 1′s for hockey in a while.

So here’s a quick look at what spots each team is seeking to fill going into the offseason, some of which they’ll try to address on the open market. We’ll do the Eastern Conference teams here. The Western Conference is here. To see the players available in free agency, go to TSN.ca.

BRUINS —  With Tim Thomas sitting out next season and probably done as a Bruin, Boston may seek a more experienced backup goalie for Tuukka Rask than Anton Khudobin. With Benoit Pouliot traded, Nathan Horton’s health uncertain, and Marc Savard definItely out of the picture, Boston will likely look for depth at forward.

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In new Hall of Famer Adam Oates (right), the Caps hired a superb teacher. (Shelly Castellano/Icon SMI)

By Stu Hackel

You won’t see a guy have a better day than Adam Oates had on Tuesday, being officially announced as the head coach of the Washington Capitals and an honored member of the Hockey Hall of Fame (video) within the space of a few hours. “Obviously an absolutely fantastic day,” Oates said. “I don’t know if that’s ever happened before. I have to go out and play Lotto, I think.  Two huge honors.”

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By Stu Hackel

The NHL Players Association has gathered in Chicago this week to prepare for what many think will be a contentious negotiation with the league’s team owners on a new collective bargaining agreement. Those talks seem set to begin at week’s end. On Montreal’s TSN Radio 990 Monday, Bob McKenzie called the PA get-together, “The last big rally before they officially get underway,” and it certainly seemed like that on Monday with about 50 players, including Jonathan Toews, Alex Ovechkin, John Tavares, Shea Weber, Shane Doan, Alex Burrows, David Backes and Jamal Mayers attending.

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Jordean Staal’s desire to play with brother Eric (right) set the stage for an intriguing free agent season. (Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Stu Hackel

The NHL barged into its offseason with an Entry Draft weekend marked as much by what didn’t happened as what didn’t. What follows, in short order, will be NHLPA meetings early this week, then perhaps the first session of collective bargaining between the players and owners, followed by the opening of free agency on July 1.

While the draft didn’t evolve into the wholesale swap-meet that some expected (and we chronicled many of the rumors here, here and here), a few significant deals did go down, whetting appetites for what may ensue when the free agents hit the market and the clubs that don’t sign their own look elsewhere to fill holes. Thus the rumors will continue.

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Nixing a deal with the Pens made Jordan Staal a hot topic. (Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Stu Hackel

Will Gary Bettman lean into the microphone at the podium during tonight’s first round of the NHL Entry Draft and utter the words so many expect to hear  — “We have a trade?”

If you believe the rumors, lots of big names could be in different sweaters next season, but whether it happens before or during the draft, at some point afterward or never, all that’s really certain is the confluence of a few trends: the relative weakness of this year’s draft class, the desires of teams to make immediate improvements to their rosters, salary cap issues, pending free agents whose rights could be dealt, and a number of disgruntled players. These things have created a perfect storm for hockey gossip mongers.

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Few people get fired up about the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play and sportsmanship, however Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell will be a rare bird if he wins it. (Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Stu Hackel

The NHL hands out its annual individual player awards tonight in Las Vegas during a glitzy, star-spangled gala that’s a far cry from the afternoon luncheons in Montreal that were hosted by Clarence Campbell.

Just as the regular season and playoffs were hard to predict as a result of the league’s parity, it’s difficult to try determining who the voters selected for some of the hardware, and there may be some controversial choices among fans who will believe that the wrong guy won. You have to keep in mind that the voting was done at the conclusion of the regular season and the award recognizes only that aspect of the players’ performances. The playoffs are not a factor.

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One to watch: hot blueline prospect Justin Schultz may dodge the Ducks by not signing with them and could be grabbed by another team without having to make a trade for him. (Brace Hemmelgarn/Icon SMI)

By Stu Hackel

We wrote late last week that the trade and free agent rumor mill was heating up. Today it is starting to boil.

There’s always talk about who might be on the move when the calendar hits June, but this gumbo of gossip has some unique ingredients. For starters, the Entry Draft starts on Friday and this year’s draft class is not considered to be particularly strong. With a number of teams holding high picks and wanting to change their fortunes sooner rather than later, dealing them for established talent might be the way to go. Throw in a few disgruntled big name players who desire new addresses and teams facing salary cap issues while trying to re-sign some of their unrestricted free agents before they hit the market on July 1, and you’ve got a buffet of  buzz.

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Derek Boogaard was able to get painkillers simply by texting team doctors. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

By Stu Hackel

The horror that was Derek Boogaard’s painkiller addiction came into shaper focus earlier this month when John Branch of The New York Times followed up his stunning three-part exposé from last fall  (Part One, Part Two, Part Three) with a story focusing on how easily the late Rangers enforcer was able to obtain prescription drugs. Branch’s latest piece was published the same day as Game 3 of the Kings-Devils Stanley Cup Final and, even though it was on The Times’ front page, it perhaps got less attention than it deserved in hockey circles.

Much of the reaction surrounding Branch’s original story about Boogaard was focused on fighting in the NHL and it raised the volume of those who oppose it. But the league has no plans to alter its position and the players continue to voice a nearly unanimous sentiment for keeping fighting in the game. However, painkiller addiction isn’t something that is defended by traditionalists, and its victims are likely a larger group than frequent fighters. Considering how contentious the fighting issue is, the painkiller problem may be more immediately fixable. Judging by Branch’s most recent piece, there’s a lot to fix. The most jarring aspect  is the manner in which Boogaard obtained the various pills that ultimately led to his death, and not just from illicit providers, but from team doctors as well.

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Former Team USA mates Zach Parise of the Devils and Ryan Suter of the Predators (seen here in 2009), are said to be hoping they both sign with the same club in July. (John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

By Stu Hackel

The NHL season is over, yes, but the news doesn’t stop, especially when it comes to potential player movement. The message boards and hockey gossip websites will be buzzing, many filled with unfounded rumors, wishful thinking and just plain distortions. Sometimes, a factual report sneaks through.

So here’s an early offseason roundup of what is known — maybe — about who could be changing addresses next season.

The first post-Cup deal went down on Friday, with the Predators shipping to Tampa Bay the goalie the Lightning hope will provide an upgrade in Anders Lindback.

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