Busy B's Sign Three on First Day of Free Agency

So much for the first day of free agency being a somewhat quiet one around the National Hockey League. The free agent market has been open for less than 24 hours, and 35 players have already found new places to play for the 2009-10 season. 16 other players enjoyed their previous stays enough to remain there for at least one more year. The highlight of the day came from Marian Hossa, who needed just two hours to secure a contract that will make him a member of the Chicago Blackhawks for the next 12 seasons. Mattias Ohlund was the biggest defensive signing, locking on with the Tampa Bay Lightning for seven years and $26.25 million. In goal, Nikolai Khabibulin will continue his tour around the NHL in Edmonton, after signing a $15 million contract for four years with the Oilers. The forwards served as the focal point of day one, as eight frontliners will make at least $25 million from now until their contracts expire.According to most experts around Boston, Wednesday was supposed to be ...