Petiot Signs with Blackhawks and a Lightning UFA Assessment

Richard Petiot, who was acquired in a salary-dump trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2009 NHL trade deadline, inked a one year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.  Petiot played a total of 11 games with the Bolts before being felled by a season ending injury, he had 3 points and 21 penalty minutes.

While the 2009 Lined-Up Update has been brought up to speed with daily acquisitions and departures, I had thought it was noteworthy  only two UFA Bolts have been picked up by other teams in the first 10 days of free agency.  This does not include KHL signings of restricted free agents Karri Ramo and Radek Smolenak.  It does seem like a testament of how low the quality of the Bolts were at the end of last season.

Matt Pettinger was a waiver pickup, as was Cory Murphy.  Josef Melichar was acquired in the Jussi Jokinen trade with Carolina, Noah Welch was picked up in the Steve Eminger deal with Florida at the deadline...  Jason Ward, admittedly one of my personal favorites with the Bolts, was stuck in the AHL for most of last season.  Mike "Mac" McKenna was cut loose by the team after being thrust into the NHL with thanks to injuries tot eh goaltender ranks.  Then there's Marek Malik.  Janne Niskala. 

They're all on the market. 

None have been signed.

David Koci was the only UFA who played with the Lightning last season and was signed on July 1st.  Petiot is the 2nd, 10 days later.

Yeah, there are bigger fish out there in the free agent market, and of course some of the fan base is not thrilled to be losing Cory Murphy either (even after the Bolts upgraded their defensive core).  But really, does the fact these guys are still out there tell us of the quality of the players Rick Tocchet had to work with at the end?