The initial winner in the free-agent chase appeared to be the Detroit Red Wings, who signed puck-moving defenseman Mike Green away from the Washington Capitals for $18 million over three years and lured veteran center Brad Richards from the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks for a one-year deal worth $3 million plus up to $1 million in bonuses pegged to the team's playoff success.

The Ducks were among the initial losers but recouped later by signing veteran center Shawn Horcoff for one year at $1.75 million, per Darren Dreger of TSN. Horcoff should be a respectable fill-in for Nate Thompson, who was expected to be idled five to six months after undergoing shoulder surgery in mid-June.

The Ducks lost bruising defenseman Francois Beauchemin, their time-on-ice leader last season, to Colorado's three-year, $12.5-million offer, terms the Ducks considered excessive for the 35-year-old. They also lost left wing Matt Beleskey, who parlayed a career-best 22-goal season into a five-year, $19-million deal with Boston.

The Bruins created salary cap space by trading the contract of concussion-stricken forward Marc Savard to Florida, which can absorb his $4-million cap hit. The Bruins also gave up forward Reilly Smith and got winger Jimmy Hayes.

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