As expected this list of 28 from yesterday is now 25 and we will continue to see it shrink today...

Mark Popovic has signed in Russia and will play for St. Petersburg.

And TSN is reporting that Stu Barnes has retired...

Meanwhile...in the world of Mats, I am hearing from several sources that he may announce that he is NOT coming back this season...The rumour mill is buzzing since yesterday about this and Darren Dreger on ESPN alluded to the same in his blog today stating: "However, the advice being given to Sundin is to avoid using the term "retire," if necessary take a break, but leave the option of return wide open."

That may be where this is headed, but I wouldn't put too much stock in it yet because I still believe that only Mats really knows, and my sources closer to him still believe that a return is still the most likely scenario with one source saying, "He knows that once you stop at this age getting going again at the same level is close to impossible."

I am speaking with a MAJOR SOURCE regarding this at 2pm today so check back around 3 ET for the absolute latest.

I spent the last week formulating and tweaking these 28 (NOW 25) players I feel could all have an impact on a franchise and yet are still very much available. Then we took the signed UFA's off of the THE RUMOUR CHART and came up with the following rankings based on a computer simulation we ran...These are the impact players and the teams I am hearing rumoured with them. I attached the e-ratings of these rumours as well. If you would like to see the probabilities where I feel they will end up check out THE RUMOUR CHART

1. Forsberg: Avs (e4)
2. Sundin: Rangers (e3), Canadiens (e3)
3. Sakic: SIGNED A DEAL TODAY FOR ONE YEAR
4. Selanne: ANA( e4), Habs (e3), Kings (e1)
5. Barnes: Retired
6. Berard: Tryout with Philly
7. Sanderson: Buff (e2), FLA (e1), CBJ (e2), ATL (e2)
8. Cullimore: FLA (e3), PHO (e1), BOS (e1)
9. Lapointe: PHO (e2), DAL (e3), Buf (e1)
10. Shanahan: NYR (e4), Mon (e3)
11. Dowd: NSH (e3), PHL (e2), NYI (e1)
12. Perreault: EDM (e2), NSH (e1), DAL (e2)
13. Hedican: NYI (e4), OTT (e3), WAS (e1)
14. Hamilton: BUF(e3), NJ (e1), NYI (e1)
15. Glenn Murray: Van (e3), PHO (e2), OTT (e3), SAN (e1)
16. Parrish: Nash(e3) NYI (e3)
17. Brisebois: NYI (e2), WAS (e2), NAS (e1)
18. Robitaille: LA (e3), STL (e3), Pitt (e1),
19. Malik: OTT (e3), Was (e2), Pit (e1)
20. Smolinski: Pit(e3), Ott (e2), Avs (e1)
21. Popovic: Signs in Russia
22. Semenov: NAS (e3), Cal (e3), Bos (e2)
23. Carney: CBJ (e3), TB (e2), CAR (e3), EDM (e1)
24. Richardson: CBJ (e4), Bos (e2)
25. Isbister: ATL (e3), CAR (e2)
26. Yelle: Cal (e2), Ott (e2), Min (e3), Buf (e1)
27. Mark Smith: Atl (e3), CBJ (e1), NJ (e3), Avs (e2)
28. Gelinas: LA (e1), ATL (e2), NYI (e1)


From earlier today...

Sources this morning have informed me that Schneider may be a Canadien as early as "this evening or tomorrow morning." There is much speculation surrounding this move as it may be a trigger move that comes from the Canadiens being officially "out of the Sundin Sweepstakes."

Sources in NY are "extraordinarily quiet" I am finding and others are in agreement.

I apologize that this is such a short post, but I need to get back to some sources with whom I have been playing phone tag and try to tie a bigger story down.

Today is one of those "impossible to get off the phones days," which I love. Just a constantly opening puzzle.


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What is the E-System (e1, e2, e3, etc.)?

The E-System was devised with the intelligent hockey fan in mind as a way for Eklund to give subtle clues to rumors that are posted, as well as gauge the likelihood of a rumor turning into an actual trade or free agent signing.

E1 - This is a rumor that comes from a single reliable source not in any way directly connected to the players or teams involved.
E2 - This rumor is simply more than one reliable sources not in any way directly connected to the players or teams involved and not connected to each other. It does not have to equate to two E1s. It could be several E1s.
E3 - This rumor comes from a single source with ties somehow to the players or teams involved.
E4 - This rumor comes from more than one source with ties to the players or teams involved.
E5 - This rumor comes from source telling Eklund the deal is 100% done and just has not been announced yet.