While the Campbell signing was ballsy, the Huet deal is a sensible one. He's proven himself in LA, Montreal and Washington, and now hopes that this suitor will turn into a long marriage. The Blackhawks give it four years, which is a very nice length of term in this crazy day and age. Nik Khabibulin has one more year left at $6.75M. With $11M in the nets this year, the Blackhawks hope that they're set.

To MNW:

ANDREW BRUNETTE (UFA: 3yrs./$7M) Grade: A+

Super value, best free agent move so far. A fantastic price. Brunette is a great pickup by GM Doug Risebrough. Loves the front of the net, Tommy Holmstrom-style. And you know how much champagne Homer has ingested. Proved to be one of the most valuable Avs, will now give the Wild some great opportunities down low. Will also clear some space for Marian Gaborik.

To TBL:

ADAM HALL (UFA: 3yrs./$1.8M) Grade: B+

The playoffs are where legends are made, they say. Three super goals plus an assist during the Cup run with Pitt makes Hall a nifty pickup. Kind of guy who scores five goals all year, then a bunch in the playoffs. Adds toughness. With Malone, Tampa looks better than they have since lockout.

RYAN MALONE (UFA: 7yrs./$31.5M) Grade: B-

Somehow, I see a slow start for this guy with the 'Bolts. Tons of pressure, make no mistake about it, coming along with his new 7yr./$31M deal. His father is working for the club, too. Is that more pressure or less? Wait and see on this one; Hall could be a true gem. Whispers of his needing to "party less" acknowledged in the press by friends and family. This one could go in many different directions.

To TOR:

CURTIS JOSEPH (UFA: 1yr./$700,000) Grade: B+

I like this pickup. Charitable guy, well-liked, former Leaf (also former Coyote, briefly, when GM Cliff Fletcher was assisting Mike Barnett). Will settle in to backup duty nicely, and provide a number one threat. Sure, it's a recycling job, but Joseph won a Spengler Cup in Europe earlier this year, and it revitalized his career.

NIKLAS HAGMAN Grade: A-

Least-recognized 27 goal scorer in NHL last season. Here's a guy who got shortchanged a bit during Dallas' phenomenal postseason. He saw little action early, then more as the postseason went along. Got to play with Brad Richards, looked really good. Expendable by Dallas, he gets a shot with the 'Buds. Can he follow up? Toronto's a tough town, there will be little patience...

To DET:

MARIAN HOSSA (UFA: 1 yr./$7.4M) Grade: A

I like this move, and I'm very impressed with Hossa. Why sign a long deal anywhere when he can pick and choose as he pleases by signing one-year contracts? Hossa may be foregoing a promise of many years of big paydays, but as long as he's healthy, it's a good move, a la Teemu Selanne's recent deals, which have had little impact on Selanne's ability to command good dough. Hossa will get more later, and we applaud his patience and making the Cup a top priority. Hossa had reportedly received offers from Montreal, Vancouver, Pittsburgh for big dough, plus one from Edmonton which was tops, to the tune of $9 million annually. So much for the idea that Hossa ever put himself above the team, or would subordinate a Cup shot in the interest of big bucks, long-term. here will he go next? He won't be tied down, that's for sure. I like the use of the CBA by Detroit and Hossa in meeting needs.

TY CONKLIN (UFA: 1yr./$700,000) Grade: B

Solid pickup here, especially at that price. The rich get richer? No, the smart get better. Wings will keep Jimmy Howard champing at the bit to see action. Howard will likely perform another tour in the AHL. Conklin very solid in Pitt; Pens watch another one get away.

To DAL:

SEAN AVERY (UFA: 4 yrs./$15.5M) Grade: D

Freak show Avery belongs in New York. Dallas takes a step down after signing Avery while letting 27 goals (Nik Hagman) walk. An absolute clown, we can only guess that Avery must have impressed Co-GM Brett Hull years ago in Detroit.

To BOS:

MICHAEL RYDER (UFA: 3yrs./$12M) Grade: C

How the hell does Boston always end up spending too much on players? In the pre-lockout age, there was such a thing as a $5M Martin Lapointe. Believe it, it's true...really. Ryder is coming off of a horrible season and has lots to prove before he climbs to $4M per. Huge upside with this guy, but his deal should have been more incentive-driven.

Re-Signed with ANA:

COREY PERRY (5yrs./$26.325M) Grade: A

Same deal as linemate Ryan Getzlaf. Both are tough, both are extended for the next five years. Ducks had to make this deal; Burke otherwise cautious during free agency period. No quick fixes; club has Bobby Ryan waiting in the wings.

To NJD:

BRIAN ROLSTON (UFA: 4yrs./$20.25) Grade: A

Like Brunette, Rolston was one of the more attractive free agents on the market. Now, he returns home to Lou Lamoriello's Devils, who drafted Rolston 11th overall in 1991. He has scored 30 goals four times, including 34, 31, 31 in three years with the Wild. Very good pickup for the Devils. Durable, the 35 year-old American from Flint, MI, has been out of the lineup only five times in last six seasons.

BOBBY HOLIK (1 yr./$2.5M) Grade: C

Lamoriello smartly walked away from Holik's big payday a few years back and the Devils didn't suffer. Now, they'll benefit from a Todd Bertuzzi-style market correction that Holik has undergone, now only effective as a third or fourth liner.

To PHI:

GLEN METROPOLIT (UFA: $Undisclosed) Grade: B+

A long-time European player, Metropolit was always able to produce and finish with a good plus/minus, generally good at both ends of the ice. Bad move here by the Bruins, who could have used the sandpaper quality that Metropolit brings. Not overtly tough, but just tough enough to play against. Should be a solid 3rd or 4th liner in Philly.

To NYR:

PATRICK RISSMILLER (UFA: $Undisclosed) Grade: B+

Good deal by GM Glen Sather. Walks away from sideshow Sean Avery, adds a legitimate checking line forward who can score some goals and add some assists, too. Rangers tougher to play against with Rissmiller.

To COL:

DARCY TUCKER (UFA: 2yrs./$4.5M) Grade: D

Yeesh, what a waste. The useful Andrew Brunette isn't given a deal, but a washed-up Darcy Tucker is. Go figure, Avs fans!

To ATL:

RON HAINSEY (UFA: 5yr./$22.5M) Grade: C-

Live with this, Ron! It's in your court now. Formerly a charter member of the Hockeytalk "Super Value Menu" for earning $737,000 with the Blue Jackets last season and being a bright spot, with eight goals, all on the power play. Hainsey is good for two shots per game (total of 161 last season). At 27 years old, he's just coming into his own. It says here, though, that Atlanta GM Don Waddell is just too loose with the buck. Hainsey doesn't mind one bit, that's for sure, but this is more of a gamble than Waddell thinks.

Re-Signed with PIT:

BROOKS ORPIK (UFA: 6yr./$22.5M) Grade: A

No brainer here. Very good value. Pittsburgh developed him. Lemieux always liked him. He had a very good postseason, and he'll turn 28 during training camp. To get Orpik, a defensive defenseman, for under $4M, and to keep him locked up for the majority of his career is a good move, and the club won't be saddled with a huge salary if they need to move Orpik down the road. After losing Hossa and Hall, the Pens do well for themselves by sticking with the guys they drafted, namely Orpik and...

EVGENI MALKIN (5-year Extension/Reportedly at $8.7M, same as Sid Crosby) Grade: A

A no-brainer here. Had to be signed. I like the length of term here. Not short, not long, just right.

To CBJ:

KRISTIAN HUSELIUS (UFA: 4yrs./$19M) Grade: B-

Now that Nikolai Zherdev has been dealt to the Rangers, the Jackets, whose "win now" policy for 2008-09 flies in the face of what the up-and-down Zherdev had given them, will now throw in with 29 year-old Kris Huselius. Big question mark here as Huselius must prove that he's worth the dough. Five times Huselius has scored over 20 goals, and his years in Calgary were good ones, with 25 goals last season and 34 in 2006-07.

To NYI:

DOUG WEIGHT (UFA: 1yr./$1.75M) Grade: F

Good luck to GM Garth Snow as over-the-hill Bill Guerin joins forces with an over-the-hill Doug Weight.

To OTT:

JARKKO RUUTU (UFA: 3yrs./$3.9M) Grade: C

I suppose that this is a bargain of sorts, but the guy's a clown and an AHL upstart could get you the same value for 1/2 mil.