Chicago
Blackhawks

News: The Blackhawks have signed Madden, a center who has spent his entire 10-year career with the New Jersey Devils.
Impact: The 36-year-old Madden signed a one-year contract Thursday. He joins the Blackhawks a day after they signed Marian Hossa to a 12-year, $62.8 million deal and added forward Tomas Kopecky. Madden helped the Devils make the playoffs the last nine seasons, including Stanley Cup titles in 2000 and 2003. He has 140 goals and 157 assists for his career during the regular season. A year ago, he had 16 assists and seven goals in 76 games.

News: Dowell signed a two-year contract with the Blackhawks on Wednesday, NHL.com reports.
Impact: Dowell, Chicago's 2004 fifth-round draft choice, has appeared in 20 career NHL games, though only one came last year. He'll likely be headed to another season spent primarily in the AHL.

News: Niemi re-signed with the Blackhawks on Wednesday, according to NHL.com.
Impact: Niemi spent most of last season with AHL Rockford and posted a 2.43 GAA and a .913 save percentage. He did make three starts for the Hawks, registering a 1-1-1 record. With Nikolai Khabibulin gone, there's a shot Niemi could win some NHL playing time behind Crisobal Huet, though there's also plenty of time for the Blackhawks to find a more experienced backup.

News: Madden signed a one-year, $2.75 million deal with Chicago on Wednesday, the Bergen Record reports.
Impact: He'll likely take over in Sami Pahlsson's checking-line center spot after Pahlsson inked a three-year deal with Columbus on Wednesday afternoon. Madden provides Chicago with another playoff-tested veteran in the young squad's effort to unseat Detroit atop the Western Conference.

News: The Blackhawks signed center Tomas Kopecky to a two-year contract on Wednesday.
Impact: Kopecky had six goals and 13 assists for the Red Wings last season.

News: The Blackhawks are dipping deep into the NHL free-agent market by signing star forward Marian Hossa away from the Detroit Red Wings with a 12-year contract.
Impact: Hossa, who surprisingly took a one-year deal with the defending champion Red Wings last summer, cashed in on Wednesday. The four-time All-Star and 11-year NHL veteran has played on the Stanley Cup runner-up the last two seasons. The Blackhawks are his fourth team since 2008.

News: Kopecky (face) signed a two-year deal with Chicago on Wednesday, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Impact: He's following close friend Marian Hossa to the Windy City, where he should get an opportunity for a larger role than he had with the Red Wings last season. Kopecky is expected to be ready for the start of training camp and may be in the running for a second-line spot depending on how he looks this fall.

News: Hossa has signed a 12-year deal with Chicago, the Associated Press reports.
Impact: It's believed to be worth something in the neighborhood of $62 million, so the salary-cap hit will fall into the $5.2-million range. The Hawks also plucked Tomas Kopecky from the Red Wings on Wednesday afternoon, while significantly bolstering their chances to unseat Detroit atop the Central Division and Western Conference. If Chicago believes that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane will take Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk long-term deals, the Hawks could be in position to set up a dynasty of their own.

News: Kopecky (face) became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.
Impact: It's unlikely that the Red Wings will be interested in keeping him barring a discount, but Kopecky may get a chance for an expanded role elsewhere while the Wings can replace him with a younger, cheaper option in Darren Helm or Justin Abdelkader.

News: Hossa became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.
Impact: TSN is reporting that Hossa is nearing a deal with Chicago, but nothing has been confirmed at this point. Minnesota, Los Angeles and possibly Toronto are all potential destinations for the star winger, who doesn't seem inclined to take a steep discount (approximately $4 million per year) to remain in Detroit. If he lands in Chicago, the young Hawks would become an even larger threat in the Western Conference after bowing out to the Wings in the finals this spring.

News: Chicago re-signed Bolland to a five-year deal worth $16.875, ESPN.com reports.
Impact: Bolland played in 81 games for the Blackhawks last season, finishing with 47 points. Bolland was a key contributor in helping the Blackhawks make it to the postseason.

News: Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is not optimistic about reaching a long-term deal with Hossa, MLive.com reports.
Impact: If Holland is unable to make progress in the next day or so, he may end up trading Hossa's rights to Los Angeles. The Kings have plenty of cap space, so inking Hossa to a long-term deal worth $8 million annually is well within their means.

News: Pirri was selected by the Blackhawks with the 59th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Impact: Finally, a rare player from the OJHL is taken. Pirri has a lot of work to do before he hits the ice at the United Center.

News: Olsen was snapped up by the Blackhawks with the 28th pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Impact: Olsen was the only Junior A player to have made Canada's World Under-18 Championship team and he acquitted himself well under that microscope. He's gritty and skilled, and has decent all-round skills in all zones of the ice. His character suggests he'll be a minute-munching, grating shutdown defender who can also chip in 30-35 points a season.

News: Havlat's agent, Alan Walsh, is expected to meet with Hawks' general manager Dale Talon this week in a last chance to sign the forward before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, the Daily Herald reports.
Impact: The Hawks would like to keep Havlat who had 29 goals and 77 points this season, but everything will come down to the price. The chances though that he stays with the team are not good since the talks have been lengthy and there are teams lining up to offer Havlat a contract like Montreal, Edmonton and the Islanders. Havlat has had a mixed career so far with the Hawks. While he has given the Hawks a scoring threat, he still has been peppered with injuries over the years.

News: Sopel (elbow) missed the remainder of the regular season, as well as the postseason for the Blackhawks.
Impact: He should be healthy enough to return come next season, but his return to the team is questionable even in full health, as the Blackhawks look to save cap room for their up-and-coming stars.

News: Madden likely will test the free agent market come July 1, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
Impact: Madden, 36, has not spoken with Devils GM Lou Lamoriello about a new contract. Madden's offensive numbers were down a bit last year with just seven goals and 23 points. He's not going to be an offensive threat and never has been, but he can offer a team a gritty, veteran defensive presence from the center position. At the same time, it wouldn't be a surprise if he signed with the Devils again.

News: Hossa said Monday that he still hopes to reach a long-term contract agreement with the Red Wings, MLive.com reports.
Impact: "Detroit is at the top of my list for sure," Hossa said. "We'll see what's going to happen with today's economy, with the salary cap and everything. You never know what can happen." The Red Wings would certainly love to keep him around, but it may take some flexibility on both sides to get a deal done. We'll have to wait and see how many big offers Hossa gets when free agency opens on July 1.

News: Hossa declined to discuss his future after Friday's Game 7 loss to Pittsburgh.
Impact: Understandably, Hossa was particularly snake bit by watching his former teammates hoist the cup at Joe Louis Arena on Friday night after he opted to join the Red Wings during free agency for the chance at winning a title after falling just short with Pittsburgh a year ago. Hossa potted 40 goals and added 31 assists in 74 regular season games, before contributing 15 points in the Wings' 23 playoff contests (6 G, 9 A). Unfortunately for Hossa, he had just three assists and was held without a goal in the Stanley Cup finals. There are indications that Detroit is looking to bring him back on a longer contract, but as an unrestricted free agent this summer, Hossa may wait until he hits the open market before making a final decision regarding his return.