For the common folk, finding a new job within their area of expertise following a year-long layoff would be difficult to accomplish. Luckily for many NHL players, they do not fall under the category of “common folk.”

Following a six-day window to buy out existing player contracts, the madness that is the unrestricted free agency period began on Aug. 1. With around 300 players seeking new employment and hundreds more awaiting new contracts, general managers of all 30 clubs have their hands full with the busiest off-season ever in the history of the NHL.

It should also be noted that GMs only have six weeks to put together a team before training camps begin in mid-September.

With week one of the free agent frenzy over, teams dipping into the pool of available players are not the usual big-spenders. Small market teams such as Edmonton, Florida, Pittsburgh and Chicago made headlines by signing marquee players.

The Edmonton Oilers? acquisition of defenceman Chris Pronger would not have been possible under the old collective bargaining agreement. For the time being, Commissioner Gary Bettman?s vow to allow all teams an equal opportunity to compete seems to be coming to a reality as a result of the salary cap model of the new CBA.

With the lure of an inflated paycheque from big market teams dissolved, the playing field as far as salaries are concerned, have been levelled. As a result, teams can offer players different salaries that are all within close proximity of one another. This ?new? NHL allows players a chance to choose where they would like to play and live with their families when money is not a deciding factor.

With player movement happening everyday, the NHL is successfully re-establishing fan excitement and interest, as well earning a lot of positive media coverage after the nasty lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.

Blockbuster Signings & Trades this Week:

Signings:
- Peter Forsberg- Philadelphia
- Adam Foote- Columbus
- Derian Hatcher, Mike Rathje & Chris Therien- Philadelphia
- Pavol Demitra- Los Angeles
- Miroslav Satan- NY Islanders
- Paul Kariya- Nashville
- Nikolai Khabibulin- Chicago
- Scott Niedermayer- Anaheim
- Ziggy Palffy- Pittsburgh
- Sergei Gonchar- Pittsburgh
- Brian Leetch- Boston
- Bobby Holik- Atlanta
- Gary Roberts & Joe Nieuwendyk ? Florida

Trades:
- Michael Peca- Edmonton from NY Islanders
- Chris Pronger- Edmonton from St. Louis
- Jeff O?Neil- Toronto from Carolina
- Jeremy Roenick- Los Angeles from Philadelphia
- Danny Markov- Nashville from Philadelphia
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Re-Signings:
- Jarome Iginla- Calgary
- Alexei Kovalev- Montreal
- Markus Naslund- Vancouver
- Steve Yzerman- Detroit
- Mike Modano- Dallas
- Tie Domi- Toronto
- Rick Nash- Columbus

Notable Mention:
- 2004 number one draft pick, Alexander Ovechkin signed 3-year entry-level deal with Washington.






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