Bergeron on the mend

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Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, who thought his playing days might be over last Oct. 27 when Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Randy Jones drove him head-first into the end boards and he suffered a Grade 3 concussion and a broken nose, is working out six days a week in Quebec City. His weight is up to 190 pounds, about five under his normal playing weight. There's no feeling sick to his stomach, no room spinning like he suffered through in the weeks after the incident.

"I was symptom-free in the playoffs, actually, but the doctors played the 'safe' card and I'm glad they did, putting the human being over the hockey player," Bergeron told the Boston Globe.

When he's back at camp in the fall, he'll have a better, snugger helmet.

"I want one that won't move," said Bergeron, the Bruins' best forward, who looked wasted and down to about 170 pounds after he was crushed by Jones.

Hossa to try free agency

Marian Hossa will be on the free-agent shelves July 1, with Pittsburgh Penguins' GM Ray Shero saying they're not going to talk anymore. The Pittsburgh offer reportedly was five years, $7 million a season.

Hossa's agent, Ritch Winter, would take $7.5 million from the Penguins because that's what a comparable Dany Heatley makes in Ottawa, but may feel he can get $8.5 million a year from another club when free agency opens.

The Red Wings might be the No. 1 suitor, after watching Hossa in the final.The Bruins would be No. 2 because they could have captain Zdeno Chara sweet-talk his Slovak buddy, but they aren't a Cup contender. The Sharks are in the mix, too, but they'd likely have to trade winger Jonathan Cheechoo to clear his $3.5-million salary off the books. The Rangers are an outside bet because Brendan Shanahan and Martin Straka likely aren't coming back and Jaromir Jagr is only 50-50 to re-sign.

Questionable questions

The Toronto Maple Leafs had goalie Thomas McCollum, who went to the Red Wings with the 30th overall pick, bewildered in their pre-draft interview when they asked him, "If there was a magic pill and you took it and could win the Calder, Vezina, Stanley Cup and have a long career, but there was a 50-50 chance you'd die by the time you were 35 years old, would you take it?" McCollum said yes.

When you're only 18, 35 seems years away. The Red Wings weren't that tricky with their questions. And judging by their draft record, he's probably a good one.

This 'n' that

- The Montreal Canadiens will likely be sending the Leafs a player, not a draft pick, if they manage to sign Mats Sundin by July 1. The Habs will likely offer Sundin a two-year deal for about $6.5 million a season. He should take it.

- New Atlanta coach John Anderson should send the Capitals' Bruce Boudreau a thank-you card. It took Boudreau's roaring success in Washington, after being labelled a career minor-league coach (13 seasons), to wake GMs up to the fact that, sometimes, minor-league successes just need a shot ...

- Former agent Brian Lawton is mulling over a couple of front-office job offers, maybe in Tampa Bay. Washington Capitals GM George McPhee is a tough negotiator (except on Alex Ovechkin), but he'll get goalie Cristobal Huet signed for probably three years in the $4.33 million a year range. He really doesn't have a lot of options. There's not much out there ... With the Ottawa Senators buying out Ray Emery, he's a bargain for any team wanting to give him another shot. The Los Angeles Kings still seem the fair landing point because Jonathan Bernier's not ready to start and Jason LaBarbera and Swede Erik Ersberg haven't proven to be No. 1 material. But the Tampa Bay Lightning might be in the mix and the Chicago Blackhawks might be a longshot because Nikolia Khabibulin's in his last year at $6.75 million ... McPhee has told everybody contemplating making a rogue Group 2 offer sheet on defenceman Mike Green that it'll take him "10 minutes or less" to match it, so hands off. Green, who's on Canada's Olympic team radar, is likely looking for between $4 million and $5 million a year, judging by what the Oilers gave Tom Gilbert in a six-year deal ... If the Senators choose to let tough guy Brian McGrattan go, he won't have any trouble getting a job. His skills are pretty limited but, in regular season, he's a pretty good beat cop ... Looks like John Tortorella will be unemployed to start the season, but he won't be at any soup kitchens. He's owed $1.3 million by Tampa this season. He's an itchy guy, though. Not good at sitting around, doing nothing. Watch for him to get a TV commentary jobEvgeni Maxxxon the salary cap.