Dave Andreychuk signed a two year contract to remain with Tampa Bay. The lightning could not afford to lose their 42 year old captain. He's the guy who molded their talented youngesters into Stanley Cup champions. Having him and his 20 goals around for another two years will help prepare Lacavelier, St. Louis, and Richards for their responsibilities as leaders of the team when he retires.

In Carolina, Rod Brind'Amour has finally officially been named captain. What's interesting is that the team will have three assistant captains. I didn't think that a team could have more than two, but I guess it can. Joining him will be Glen Wesley, Kevyn Adams, and newcomer Cory Stillman, who had 81 points while playing for the Stanley Cup champion Lightning in '03-'04.

I hope I'll be able to talk about Mark Messier returning to the Oilers in the coming days, but as much as I would love for that to happen, it might be just a pipe dream. I think the 44 year old center still has at least one more season in him. He can still put up 40 points in a season, and if his ice time is reduced, he'll have a lot more energy at the end of the season and into the playoffs.

<sub>Will Eisner's last work - The Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion
RDCW Profile

"Well, as it happens, I wrote the damned SOP," Illescue half snarled, "and as of now, you can bar those jackals from any part of this facility until Hell's a hockey rink! Is that perfectly clear?!" - Dr. Franz Illescue - Honor Harrington: At All Costs

"I don't know what I'm do, or how I do, I just do." - Alexander Ovechkin</sub>