Antoine Vermette

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports Antoine Vermette has signed a  two-year contract with the Senators: $2.525 million this season and $3
million in 2009-10.

They cut it  pretty thin: Vermette's arbitration hearing was set to begin at 10 this morning.

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Brian Costello of The Hockey News offers 10 reasons why Mats Sundin isn't a Hall of Fame candidate.

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Reorganization in Edmonton: Kevin Lowe president of hockey operations, Steve Tambellini becomes GM.

Please make this merry-go-round stop before we all hurl.

In the latest episode of As the Stomach Turns, J.P. Barry, Mats Sundin's 10-per-center, has told a Vancouver radio station that up to six teams may be interested in his client's services.

''The number has gone up, not gone down since July 1st,'' Barry told the Team 1040 Sports Radio station in Vancouver. ''The other three (teams) would like not to be discussed as much publicly because it just provides more scrutiny.''

And tomorrow as some sort of deadline?

As they say in Stockholm, Fuhgedaboudit!

Barry: "You know, when he was speaking in Sweden about August, unfortunately a lot of people picked up 1st of August. He meant August. He meant sometime in August he would definitely decide because he'll definitely be in training camp.''

The Globe and Mail's David Shoalts weighs in on pursuit of the puck-teaser by writing: It seems Sundin would rather not anger Leaf fans by signing with the hated Canadiens.

Just like he didn't anger them by tuirning down a trade-deadline deal that would have helped the future of the club.

Vancouver may trade for Antoine Vermette if they don't land Mats Sundin.

From the Vancouver Province, based on an Ottawa Sun story:

According to a report in the Ottawa Sun, the Canucks have kicked the tires on a deal for the 26-year-old restricted free agent who scored 53 points (24-29) in 81 games last season for Ottawa.
Vermette will go to salary arbitration at the end of July and the Senators are apparently concerned he may be awarded $2.5 to $3 million.
The other reason the Sens might be willing to part with the second-line scoring of Vermette is they are desperate to add some offence to their back end. GM Brian Murray tried to get free-agent offensive defenceman Brian Campbell, but he signed with Chicago.
Canucks defencemen Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa have had their names thrown out as possibilities to be included in a potential deal.