Campbell cashes in with Hawks

Canadian Press

July 1, 2008 at 7:01 PM EST

CHICAGO — There was no shortage of money being spent on the first day of NHL free agency and Brian Campbell was the first to cash in big time.

The highly coveted defenceman signed a whopping $57.12-million (all currency U.S.), eight-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday and immediately became one of the league's highest-paid blueliners.

He'll average $7.14-million per year over the length of that deal after earning $1.75-million last season.

Prior to his signing, goalies and second-tier players had taken the spotlight.

Eight netminders found new homes on a busy afternoon as Cristobal Huet signed a $22.5-million, four-year deal in Chicago and Jose Theodore agreed to a $9-million, two-year contract with Washington.

The other goalies on the move will all likely serve as backups next season: veteran Curtis Joseph returned to Toronto on a $700,000, one-year contract; Alex Auld signed with Ottawa for $2-million over two years; Patrick Lalime agreed to the same terms with Buffalo; Ty Conklin landed in Detroit for one year at $700,000; Andrew Raycroft inked an $800,000, one-year deal with Colorado; and Olaf Kolzig agreed to terms with Tampa on a contract that will pay him $1.5-million plus bonuses next season.

Some of the bigger signings involved players staying where they are.

Restricted free agents Corey Perry (Anaheim), Mike Green (Washington) and Andrei Kostitsyn (Montreal) all got big raises with their new contracts while defenceman Michal Roszival passed on free agency and signed a $20-million, four-year extension with the New York Rangers. Brad Stuart did the same thing in Detroit and agreed to a $15-million, four-year contract.

The Ducks gave Perry $26.625-million over five years, the Caps signed Green for $21-million over four years and the Habs got Kostitsyn to sign off on a $9.75-million, three-year deal.

There were still plenty of high-profile free agents available: Marian Hossa, Mats Sundin, Jaromir Jagr and Wade Redden, to name a few.

The market was so hot for Sundin that he could find himself earning more money than any other NHL player next season. A source told The Canadian Press that the Vancouver Canucks had offered the Swedish centre a $20-million, two-year contract.

Toronto, Montreal and the New York Rangers also expressed strong interest.

Meanwhile, the Canucks rocked the boat by signing restricted free agent David Backes to an offer sheet valued at $7.5-million over three years. The St. Louis Blues quickly decided to match the contract rather than receive a second-round pick as compensation for losing the 24-year-old forward.

"David is a major part of our youth movement in St. Louis and we expect him to play a huge role as we move forward," said Blues president John Davidson.

Some of the earliest movement on Tuesday involved trades.

The Edmonton Oilers acquired winger Erik Cole and centre Gilbert Brule in separate deals, the Calgary Flames nabbed veteran winger Rene Bourque and Minnesota acquired defenceman Marek Zidlicky.

Oilers GM Kevin Lowe was clearly ready to shake up his team's lineup.

Cole arrives from Carolina in exchange for defenceman Joni Pitkanen. The 29-year-old had spent his entire career with the Hurricanes and is looking forward to a fresh start.

"I think that sometimes things maybe get a little stale in one city or you get a little too comfortable," said Cole. "I'm excited and I'm anxious about the opportunity."

Brule was drafted sixth overall by Columbus in 2005 and has yet to develop into a consistent NHL player. He comes to Edmonton in exchange for rugged winger Raffi Torres.

The Flames acquired Bourque from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick.

Minnesota got the 31-year-old Zidlicky from Nashville for prospect Ryan Jones and a second-round draft pick.

In other moves Tuesday:

— Defenceman Jeff Finger signed with the Maple Leafs for $14-million over four years while forward Niklas Hagman also agreed to a four-year deal.

— Forward Kyle Wellwood accepted his $997,500 qualifying offer from Vancouver.

— Florida inked veteran forward Cory Stillman to a $10.6-million, three-year contract.

— Winger Darcy Tucker agreed to a $4.5-million, two-year deal with Colorado.

— Columbus signed defenceman Mike Commodore to a five-year contract for $18.75-million.

— Veteran foward Brian Rolston returns to New Jersey after signing a $20-million, four-year deal.

— Andrew Brunette re-signed with the Minnesota Wild.

— Tampa Bay signed winger Radim Vrbata to a $9-million, three-year contract and winger Adam Hall to a $1.8-millon, three-year deal.

— The Devils re-signed defenceman Bryce Salvador to an $11.6-million, four-year contract and inked forward Jay Pandolfo to a $7.5-million, three-year deal. New Jersey also re-signed wingers David Clarkson and Barry Tallackson.

— Pittsburgh re-signed winger Pascal Dupuis to a $4.2-million, three-year deal; lured tough guy Eric Godard with a three-year deal; and got defenceman Mark Eaton to sign a two-year contract.

— Phoenix agreed to terms with defenceman Kurt Sauer on a $7-million, four-year deal while also signing winger Todd Fedoruk to a $3.13-million, three-year contract.

— Carolina re-signed forwards Ryan Bayda and Wade Brookbank to one-year contracts and agreed to a two-year extension with defenceman Tim Conboy.

— Winger Aaron Voros signed a contract with the Rangers.

— Former U.S. college player Blake Wheeler signed a free-agent, entry-level contract with Boston.

— Philadelphia signed the well-travelled Glen Metropolit to a two-year contract while also agreeing to terms with defenceman Ossi Vaananen. The Flyers also acquired minor-leaguers Patrik Hersley and Ned Lukacevic from Los Angeles for defenceman Denis Gauthier and a second-round pick in 2010.

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