Free agent frenzy live blog

Well, the day has arrived. It is July 1, and the Rangers are currently at $50.4 million in payroll with 16 (17 if you include Michael Del Zotto) players under contract. The Rangers need at least one scorer, depth on defense (right-handed shot), and fourth line depth among the forwards. There are plenty of UFA names out there, with the biggest being Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, but there are others like Shane Doan that might fit into the Rangers plans. Don’t forget to check out our free agency round table below to get all of our thoughts.

As the UFA names begin to drop, the trade market will also likely open up as well. The Rangers are rumored to be in on talks for Bobby Ryan and Rick Nash, but a deal will only be made if the asking price drops. Keith Yandle is also an attractive piece that is available.

Follow us after the jump for up-to-date signings and contracts for every move made today. Moves the Rangers make will be in bold.

Before noon:

• The Panthers re-signed goaltender Scott Clemmensen to a 2-year, $2.4 million ($1.2 million per year) deal.
• The Oilers have re-signed Ryan Smyth to a 2-year deal worth $2.25 million per year.
• The Hurricanes have signed Jordan Staal to a 10-year, $60 million contract. This is the same contract he turned down from Pittsburgh.
• Zach Parise will hit the open market, and the Rangers do not expect to sign him.
• Shane Doan and Ryan Suter likely won’t make decisions today.

12:00 – Tampa has re-signed Benoit Pouliot, 1 year, $1.8 million.

12:02 – Flyers have signed goalie Michael Leighton to a 1 year, $900,000 deal.

12:09 – Carolina re-ups Brett Sutter, 1 year, $550,000 ($105,000 in the AHL).

12:18 – Winnipeg re-signs Derek Meech, 1 year, $700,000 ($105,000 in the AHL). Yea, it’s been slow so far.

12:35 – Detroit has signed Jonas Gustavsson to a 2 year contract, worth $1.5 million a year.

12:38 – Phoenix signs David Moss to a 2 year contract.

12:50 – John Mitchell signs with Detroit Colorado (my bad) for 2 years, $1.1 million a year. Good for him.

12:54 – Greg Rallo (I have no idea who he is) re-signed with Florida. S/t to Tim B in the comments.

1:00 – Matt Carkner signs with Colorado.

1:09 – Rangers re-sign Stu Bickel for 2 years, $750,000 a year.

1:10 – Carolina signs goalie Justin Peters (2 years) and defenseman Joe Corvo (1 year – $2 million).

1:15 – Senators sign defenseman Mike Lundin.

1:21 – Pittsburgh signs Jeff Zatkoff.

1:26 – Minnesota signs Zenon Konopka to a 2 year dea ($925k per)l. So much for that.

1:29 – Ottawa will sign Guillaume Latendresse if he passes a physical (1 year, $1.2 million).

1:30 – Minnesota also signs Torrey Mitchell (3 years, $1.9 million per).

1:40 – Montreal signs Colby Armstrong (1 year, $1 million)

1:44 – So much for Ray Whitney. He goes to Dallas on a 2 (!!) year deal worth $4.5 million a year. Two years is one year too many for Whitney, who is 40.

1:47 – Brad Staubitz signs with Anaheim, 2 years.

1:56 – Adam Burish signs with San Jose, 4 years, $1.8 million per.

1:57 – Islanders sign Brad Boyes, 1 year, $1 million.

2:07 – Columbus signs goalie Curtis McElhinney.

2:08 – Pittsburgh signs Riley Holzapfel (1 year) and Steve MacIntyre (2 years).

2:10 – Matt Carkner signs with the Islanders for 3 years($1.5 million per). Super.

2:34 – The Rangers have signed Arron Asham, 2 years, $1 million. Brandon Prust is likely gone.

2:38 – Pittsburgh signs Tanner Glass, 2 years, $1.1 million.

2:49 – Florida signs Filip Kuba, 2 years, $4 million per.

3:02 – Columbus trades Mark Methot to Ottawa for Nick Foligno.

3:03 – Phoenix signs Chad Johnson. So long Dos-Nueve.

3:04 – Dustin Penner stays in LA for 1  year, $3 million. Surprised that he took a pay cut.

3:09 – Kris Newbury re-ups with the Rangers for 2 years (2 way deal).

3:13 – Francois Boullion signs with the Habs, 1 year, $1.5 million.

3:26 – Rangers sign Michael Haley (formerly of the Isles) to a 2 year deal (2 way contract).

3:28 – Canadiens sign Brandon Prust to a 4 (!!!) year deal worth $10 million ($2.5 million per year). So long Prust, good luck.

3:42 – Greg Zanon signs with Colorado, 2 years, $2.25 million per.

3:52 – Blackhawks sign Sheldon Brookbank, 2 years.

3:59 – Alexei Ponikarovsky to Winnipeg, 1 year, $1.8 million.

4:02 – George Parros to Florida, 2 years.

4:06 – Darcy Hordichuk re-ups with Edmonton; Islanders add Eric Boulton.

4:12 – P.A. Parenteau goes to Colorado for a whopping 4 years, $16 million.

4:16 – Chris Mason re-ups with Nashville, 1 year, $1.25 million.

4:19 – Taylor Chorney signs with the Blues, 1 year at league minimum.

4:34 – Adrian Aucoin goes to Columbus for 1 year, $2 million.

5:30 – Jay McClement heads to Toronto, 2 years, $3 million. Sami Salo heads to Tampa Bay for 2 years $7.5 million. Columbus signed Jonathan Audy-Marchessault to an ELC.

7:30 – Mikael Samuelsson (Detroit – 2 yrs/$6 million), Bryan Allen (Anaheim – 3 yrs/$10.5 million), Jordin Tootoo (Detroit – 3 yrs, $1.9 million) all signed.