Sabres Edge

Brooks Orpik, Marian Hossa and Mats Sundin are still mulling big offers and we still don't know what's going to happen with Jaromir Jagr. So there are plenty of unanswered questions even after more than $300 million was handed out on the first day of NHL free agency -- with $57 million of that somehow going to Brian Campbell from the Chicago Blackhawks. They either got the perfect guy for their blueline to make them a real contender or just woefully overpaid. We'll see. There's no gray area when you're talking those kinds of dollars.

The Sabres, of course, got their backup goalie when they signed Patrick Lalime but have dropped out of the Orpik sweepstakes and won't be netting any big fish from the free agent waters as John Vogl and Bucky Gleason report in today's News.

Here's a morning look at some of what's being said elsewhere:

Hawks sign Campbell -- Chicago Tribune

Campbell turned down Sens' six-year deal -- Ottawa Sun

Campbell speaks -- to the Hawks' Web site: "The organization started to make the city take note and provide a lot of entertainment and something the fans could hold onto. I think that’s pretty exciting. I’ve been involved with that, especially in Buffalo the last couple of years. When you get a city behind you, things just go up and up."

Rangers sign Redden, keep Roszival -- As this New York Daily News story points out, the Rangers will be paying nearly $33 million to just five players (Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival, Chris Drury, Scott Gomez and Henrik Lundqvist) for the next four years. That's a good way to land in salary cap jail. Better not keep losing in the second round.

Pens still waiting on Orpik and Hossa -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bruins sign Habs' Ryder -- Boston Globe

Isles nab Habs' Streit -- Newsday

Who's Jeff Finger? -- I had the same question Vogl did yesterday. In this Toronto Star article, new coach Ron Wilson insists Leafs fans will find out. But Star columnist Damien Cox says it's still Laffland with this kind of deal.

---Mike Harrington