Chris Nichols

­Chris Nichols is Sportsnet.ca's fantasy hockey writer.

EXTENDED QUOTABLE
"I'm really excited, I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a new chapter in my life," Fernando Pisani told The Edmonton Sun after signing a one-year, one-way deal with the Chicago Blackhawks for $500,000. "I'm ecstatic. We'd been talking for the last week or so and it just kind of came about today. I'm happy to be part of the Hawks organization."

On worrying that there might not be a job for him in the NHL this year: "You're obviously hoping to have something done a lot earlier in the summer," he said, adding the overall climate is putting all free agents on edge. "It was a weird summer in terms of signings. It's surprising for everybody that there hasn't been a lot of action going on.

"The uncertainty is what kills you. Not knowing what teams are thinking or what the thought process is. You want to get settled, have everything lined up. I'm happy to have this done and move forward."

On what he feels he'll bring to the defending Cup champs: "They like the fact I'm a versatile player and can play in different roles."

On his health issues (among which have been a broken ankle and ulcerative colitis): "Health-wise I feel great, everything is good. I'm raring to go," he said, adding his colitis history might have scared away some suitors. "I think that was an obstacle. There's obviously a little bit of leeriness when it comes to that, people think I'm still sick and all that, but I just have to keep reminding them that I'm healthy, everything is good and I feel great.

"I'm still on the same meds, still have to do the same things, but I'm going in confident with my ability to play the game."

WELLWOOD PLAYS THE WAITING GAME
The Vancouver Sun writes that Kyle Wellwood has never been known to sweat the small stuff, but even he is getting nervous as the days of summer continue to slide by and he remains unemployed.

"You never know how the off-season can shake out," Wellwood said. "Certainly I was hopeful in July that somebody would show interest in me. But that didn't really happen."

Wellwood, who was the third line centre for the Vancouver Canucks, officially lost his job this summer when the team signed Manny Malhotra upon the opening of free agency.

"I am just handling it like the season is going to come and I will be playing hockey," Wellwood said. "That's the only thing I know and the only thing I worry about. It doesn't matter too much to me if I am at (training) camp or I don't know where I am going. It's just where I am at in the NHL. If you are not the big dog, that is kind of the way it is. I have been prepared for that."

Is it time to bring up the "E" word?

"Certainly I am hopeful and confident that I will get to stay in the NHL next year," he said. "Obviously, Europe has been after me for a long time and I haven't wanted to go there yet."

Either way, Wellwood told The Sun he's truly appreciative of the opportunity the Canucks gave him.

"I was certainly happy that I got to play there. They gave me a chance coming out of Toronto where I hadn't played well and hadn't done the things I needed to do to play in the NHL and they gave me a chance to prove myself for two straight years. I am grateful for the patience they had with me."

The same article in the Sun indicates that Kurk Overhardt, the agent for Brendan Morrison, is confident he will soon have a job for his client. And it won't be in Europe.

"Not a chance," Overhardt said Wednesday. "Brendan Morrison just turned 35. He has a lot of hockey left in him. He does not need to go to Europe to play."

Overhardt thinks the current glut of free agents will begin to ease in the next couple of weeks.

"As time goes on I think more opportunities will be created based on young players not being as ready as some people think they are," he said. "We are just being patient."

MITCHELL UPDATE
Yesterday afternoon The Washington Post offered up that Willie Mitchell returned to Vancouver Tuesday night after "a very good meeting" with members of the Capitals, but a deal with any of the free agent defenceman's suitors (also believed to include San Jose, Los Angeles and Vancouver) isn't expected to come immediately.

"Nothing is imminent," his agent, Mike Liut, said via email, "but we will continue to work towards that end the rest of this week/weekend."

WOLSKI CENTRE OF ATTENTION
The Arizona Republic believes GM Don Maloney was thinking two moves ahead when he signed free agent Ray Whitney during the off-season. His signing presented the Coyotes the opportunity to move winger Wojtek Wolski to centre, where he played in juniors (also for the Avalanche at times). And it also opened the possibility of a potent line that could include Shane Doan.

"At the beginning of the free agency period, we identified two players, one being Ray Whitney, who we felt were top-level offensive players who could help boost our offensive production, our biggest challenge last season and fit into our salary structure," Maloney said.

"Knowing Wolski had played centre at the junior level and with our coaching staff fully on board in regards to converting him to play centre, we felt he was a great fit for us in Phoenix."

PROVING GROUND FOR HOWARD, OSGOOD
The Detroit Free Press speculates that it will be goaltending that'll come under scrutiny when the season begins in October for the Red Wings because of the question marks surrounding Jimmy Howard and Chris Osgood.

Howard was a Calder Trophy nominee who lost out to Tyler Myers, but still showed a lot in posting a 37-15-10 mark with 2.26/ .924 splits. Now he must prove he isn't a one-season wonder.

"It'll be a big challenge for Howie this summer, fitness-wise, mentally," coach Mike Babcock said. "You can say, 'Hey, I made it,' -- well, all you've done is play one year. You've got to keep going."

There's a fairly reasonable chance that we're going to see a solid sophomore campaign; if for no other reason than the fact that he'll be the starter on a Red Wings team that's shaping up to be a Western Conference contender yet again. He doesn't have to be Henrik Lundqvist as far as bailing out his teammates night after night and unlike Calder-winning goaltender Steve Mason, who tumbled badly last year; Howard will have a great support system in place in front of him on the ice each evening.

Freep points out that Osgood, on the other hand, needs to get going. He's had two subpar seasons now. He's also the flip side of the Howard argument because just playing for the Wings doesn't guarantee good stats. His peripherals have been downright horrible over the past two years, with a 3.09 & 3.02 GAA and .887 & .888 save percentages.

"Ozzie needs to have a bounce-back year," Babcock said. "That's going to be important for us."

The article points out that Osgood is both in the last year of his contract and he'll also be 38 in November, but there's little doubt he'd like to stick around past next summer.

The Wings have stellar prospect Thomas McCollum, who'll receive another season of AHL conditioning this year, on the horizon. Whether he'll be NHL-ready by the '11-12 campaign remains to be seen. There are and will be enough inexpensive goalies on the open market though for a one-year back-up/ tandem role if needed. That means Detroit won't have to be tied into Osgood, who has the mental fortitude that'll likely make him an excellent goalie coach whenever he retires, beyond this coming season if he tanks yet again and the organization wants to move in a different direction.

KINDLE'S A GOOD FIT
Also from The Detroit Free Press was a piece on how the Wings will be integrating 23-year old defenceman Jakub Kindl into the mix this year. He can no longer be sent to the minors without being exposed on waivers, which guarantees he has a job in Detroit when training camp opens next month because the Wings won't risk losing him. He's slotted to be the seventh defenceman; the one who'll be called upon in case of injuries.

Assistant GM Jim Nill, who has watched Kindl closely since picking him 19th overall in 2005, says Kindl brings the sort of skills the Wings love to have on the back end.

"He's a puck moving defenceman, he has good passing skills -- that's his strength," Nill said. "Like any young player coming into our system, he's had to learn how play in his own end, get the puck out quick and not get beat in his own end."

While he has good size at 6-3, 200 pounds, he isn't the punishing type; but his skills hint at the potential to be a future second-pairing guy.

"He's not going to wow you with a big shot and he's not physical," Nill said. "He'll battle for loose pucks, but (he won't) run people over - he's not a Nik Kronwall type of defenseman. His strength is his ability to move the puck and that should fit in well with us."

QUOTABLE
"A lot of kids get discouraged too early," former Camrose Kodiak Joe Colborne told The Calgary Herald. He has spent the past two seasons at the University of Denver since being a first round pick, 16th overall, of the Boston Bruins in 2008. "Definitely, if you want to get to the NHL -- and you put the time in -- there's no reason you can't do it. It might mean that you go to a place like Camrose. You go where you're going to get good coaching. Don't let anyone tell you that you're not going to make it."

GUITE ADDED
The Columbus Dispatch reports that the Jackets added depth at forward in signing Ben Guite to a one-year, two-way contract. Guite (32 and 6-1, 211 pounds) is expected to play in minor-league Springfield this season and serve as a veteran call-up in a capacity similar to Derek MacKenzie. Guite will earn $575,000 at the NHL level and $75,000 at the minor-league level. The Jackets signed fourth-line forward Mike Blunden a week ago.

The chance to play for a new coaching staff and an organization that lacks an established fourth-line center drew Guite to the Blue Jackets. He's good on face-offs and the PK.

"It's a good opportunity for me to maybe get back in the mix at the NHL level," Guite said. "They will probably evaluate everyone from scratch with the exception of guys like Rick Nash."

NEW CONDITIONING COACH
Also from The Dispatch was a story on new Blue Jackets strength and conditioning coach Kevin Collins.

"You are trying to push players to limits they have never reached before," Collins said of his job. "But you have to get them to trust you first. It's a must in building relationships."

The 28-year-old won't set forward lines or drastically influence personnel decisions, but he is tasked with winning over players loyal to Barry Brennan, the former strength coach, while ensuring the club's fitness level becomes a nonissue.

Initial reports from the dozen young players and prospects training under Collins are positive. Jared Boll said he appreciates the intensity and difficulty of the workouts.

"I've gotten to know him and I trust him," said Boll, who has added 10 pounds to his 6-foot-4 frame in the offseason.

The article notes that Collins' next task is gaining the respect of veterans such as R.J. Umberger, one of the club's most well-conditioned athletes.

"From what I hear, he's a good guy with a lot of great ideas," Umberger said. "For a lot of us it was tough to see Barry go. I'm going to be honest with you, he's one of the best strength coaches in the league. He's a friend and someone I will stay in touch with."

TEUBERT HAND INJURY
LA Kings Insider indicates that Kings GM Dean Lombardi was a guest on "Oilers Lunch" on Team 1260 in Edmonton yesterday, talking about a variety of issues. Lombardi said he met with Colten Teubert that morning and learned that Teubert has a bone injury in his hand and will be out for perhaps the next three months.

The same blog actually had an interview Teubert back at the end of June, where he talked about the injury. At the time he believed he'd be ready for training camp, although he wasn't 100 percent sure.

There were a few particularly interesting notes from that Q&A...

Question: When there are so many defensive prospects in the system, is that motivating to you, or challenging, or both?

TEUBERT: "I think it's both. I think it's motivating and challenging. You look at the quality players they have in the defence corps, with us just drafting a first-round D-man too, and we're definitely looking to build defence first. With the success that Manchester had last year, it just shows that drafting D-men and having good, solid D really helps both teams, especially with the Kings."

Question: When you see them draft a defenceman, does it concern you about where you stand with the team?

TEUBERT: "I mean, that's their decision to make. I'm going to do whatever it takes to stay up on top. I know we're all a team in this organization here, but individually, I want to be the best and I want to play in the NHL one day, so I'm going to do whatever it takes to do that. With that, with them drafting other players, it just sets a real challenging environment and it makes it really competitive to play on this team in the future."

Need help deciding on keeper choices for '10-11? Wondering about someone's poolie potential after summer moves by the team? The next fantasy Q&A will be coming up before too long, so drop a line to chris.nichols@sportsnet.rogers.com and it may be included. Please include relevant league details like scoring categories, number of teams, etc.