Top Shelf Tuesday: Around the NHL

A weekly recap of news around the NHL. Click Read More for all the latest signings, trades and more.
UPDATE:

•  The Nashville Predators match the offer sheet given to Shea Weber retaining his services for the next 14 years.
• For all the details on Weber's contract, go here

• Shea Weber accepts 14 year, $110 million offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers.
• Hands down the biggest move of the off season since Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signed. From a Philly standpoint, I love this move. It shows that GM Paul Holmgren is always ready to make that extra move to improve his team. Where 28 other general managers were content to wait and see what Nashville GM, David Poile did; Holmgren came in and took what he wanted.This could just be how it looks from the outside and the two organizations could work out a deal of sorts that would send roster players to Nashville in exchange for some of the compensation (draft picks) the Flyers had to give up for Weber. I personally think that when a player of Shea Weber's caliber becomes available, you do everything you can to get him. From Nashville's side I hate this move as it marks the decimation of the Predators. I don't think Nashville should match the offer and should gladly take the compensation and rebuild.

• The Edmonton Oilers resign F Sam Gagner to a 1 year, $3.2 million contract and avoid arbitration.
• Solid move for the Oilers. Hanging onto Gagner on a short term deal is exactly what they need until first overall pick Nail Yakupov is ready to make the jump to the top six. Edmonton's strength is their offensive prospects and will hang onto Gagner until the time is right. If the Oilers are out of a playoff position come the trade deadline, look for Gagner to be a piece they move.

• The Toronto Maple Leafs resign F Nikolai Kulemin to a 2 year, $5.6 million contract ($2.8 per) and avoid arbitration.
• Kulemin had a strong breakout season in 2010-2011 (30 goals 27 assists and 57 points) but his play and offensive production faltered in 2011-2012 (7 goals 21 assists and 28 points). As the free agency market has shown this summer, the current price tag for players scoring 40-50 points is $3-$4 million per season. If he can return to being the kind of player that puts up 40-50 points this becomes an absolute steal for Toronto. The deal is also short so should he plateau and not bring his game to another level, the Leafs could move him.

• The St. Louis Blues resigned F T.J. Oshie to a 5 year deal worth $20.875 million. ($4.175 per) and avoid arbitration.
• With this move the Blues lock up one of their core players for the foreseeable future. Oshie is coming off a season where he scored 19 goals and added 35 assists.

• Newly acquired D Lubomir Visnovsky has filed a grievance in regards to his trade to the New York Islanders
• At the NHL draft Visnovsky was traded to the Islanders in exchange for a 2013 second round pick. Visnovsky claims that his trade clause was still valid because he did not invoke it when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks (from the Edmonton Oilers). This is the second time the Islanders have experienced a dispute regarding their acquisition of a player after goaltender Evgeni Nabokov did not report to the team after he was claimed off waivers when the Detroit Red Wings tried to sign him. It's unfortunate because I think the Islanders will be a good team in a few years. However, at Visnovsky's age (35 years old), it is understandable that he would want to play for a contender before he retires. An arbitrator will review the grievance and make a decision.

• The New York Rangers acquire F Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for F Brandon Dubinsky, F Artem Anisimov, D Tim Erixon and a 1st round pick
• For more on this trade see "Nash to Rangers" article located on the right side of the website.

• The Nashville Predators resigned F Sergei Kostitsyn to a 2 year deal worth $6 million ($3 mil per)
• The Predators hung on to a player who provides them with solid secondary scoring (50 and 43 point seasons with the Preds). His brother Andrei is currently an unrestricted free agent. It looks more possible that Nashville retains Andrei now with Sergei under contract.

• The Dallas Stars resigned D Mark Fistric to a 1 year, $1.475 million contract.
• The moves Dallas made this off-season added experience and leadership. Hanging on to a young player like Fistric is good for the organization.The moves they made this summer added much more offense to their team (Jagr, Whitney) which makes moves like this one (hanging on to a defensive defenseman) that much more important.

• The Edmonton Oilers signed 1st overall pick F Nail Yakupov to a max entry level contract (3 years, $3.775 mil per)
• It should be interesting to see how Yakupov fairs in his first NHL training camp. If Oilers management feels that this kid is ready to make the jump to the NHL look for the team to try and move some bodies out to make room for the young Russian sniper.

• The Montreal Canadiens also resigned their 1st round pick (3rd overall) F Alex Galchenyuk to a 3 year contract. While terms were not announced it is believed to be near the max entry level deal.
• What scares me about Montreal is their fan base. Galchenyuk is an extremely promising player. I think he could be a great NHL player down the road...as long as they develop him properly. I would hate to see him have a decent training camp with one good game and the team keep him in the big leagues because the fans want him there. As long as they allow him to develop on his own time, the future looks bright for Montreal.

• The Washington Capitals hired Tim Hunter as an assistant coach.
• Washington adds experience to their now relatively young coaching staff. What better way for a rookie head coach to learn than to have his old coach as an assistant? Hunter was an assistant coach for the Capitals previously when Oates was still playing for them.

• The Florida Panthers avoided arbitration with F Kris Versteeg by signing him to a 4 year, $17.6 million deal. (yearly avg of $4.4 mil)
• Versteeg is coming off his best offensive season to date setting career highs in goals and points (23G, 31A, 54Pts). He fit in well with the new look Panthers last season after bouncing from team to team. Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia and Florida have all dressed Versteeg in their lineups since 2008-2009.

• The Boston Bruins signed coach Claude Julien to a multi year contract extension.
• The Bruins showed that they have confidence in Julien which will speak volumes to their players. If their players know that this is the guy that management wants on board for the foreseeable future it becomes easier for them to stay on board with Julien. In the past we've seen instances where a coach out grows his role on a team (e.g. Bruce Boudreau and Randy Carlyle are recent examples).

• The Nashville Predators resign forward Colin Wilson to a 3 year, $6 million contract.
• With Weber's contract now on the books, retaining a young promising forward like Wilson is key. Especially on this deal, the Predators will be able to maximize his value before determining his long term future with the club.

-----
There's your latest news around the NHL. Come back later today for an analysis post!