If Marian Hossa doesn't take the Red Wings' long-term offer for between $4 and $5 million a year, Detroit will trade his negotiating rights, likely by Monday, two days before free agency opens.

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Marian Hossa of the Detroit Red Wings.

Photograph by : Getty Images

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Reliable sources say the Los Angeles Kings, who are looking for a marquee player and have lots of salary cap room, will come hardest after the unrestricted free agent. They could play Hossa with Anze Kopitar.

The Edmonton Oilers? They tried once, but have about $46 million committed to players for next season and have to sign Denis Grebeshkov, Ladislav Smid, Gilbert Brule, Liam Reddox and Jason Strudwick, plus bring back Dwayne Roloson at a good buck, or sign a free agent, or trade for Josh Harding.

Home's for off-season

Jay Bouwmeester is building a splendid house in Edmonton, but only to live in it during the summer. The idea of signing with his hometown Oilers has never really crossed his mind.

"I don't know if it would be the best fit for me. I've kind of seen what Joffrey (Lupul), (Jason) Chimera and (Mike) Comrie have been through (as local boys who had to deal with the pressure brought to bear by fans)," he said.

Could he see himself in a Calgary jersey after the Flames traded for his rights before he hits the free-agent market July 1?

"I don't think it's sunk in yet," he said about Saturday's trade.

Bouwmeester knows he's only there in name, now, and could only be Calgary's property for a few days if he doesn't want to sign there. The only thing he knows for sure: he's free of the turmoil in Florida, although he loved playing for coach Peter DeBoer last year and had some good teammate friends.

"So many ups and downs there. Lots of changes, coaches, general managers. So much turnover," he said.

Panthers interim general manager Randy Sexton tried to get a second-round draft for Bouwmeester but couldn't.

Pronger's days numbered

Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray was going to move Chris Pronger even if Scott Niedermayer hadn't come back because he couldn't let him walk for nothing next July 1 as a free agent.

"I was getting very worried we were running out of bullets in our gun. We didn't have a lot of young things. We had emptied the cupboard," Murray said in conversation with Ducks media.

The Washington Capitals, who have the guns, but need some defensive shoring up, were interested, too, but they didn't want to give up either of their two young goalies--Simeon Varlamov or Michal Neuvirth, who took their American Hockey League farm club to the title this spring--or their 2008 first-round pick, defenceman John Carlson, and another body.

ODDS 'N' ENDS - Brian Burke and Murray are best buddies, so, yes, goalie J. S. Giguere could easily wind up in Toronto later this summer with his old Ducks GM. Vesa Toskala would logically be on his way to Anaheim. He's $2 million a year cheaper than Jiggy. - Former Minnesota GM Doug Risebrough was in Montreal for the draft for a second interview with the Panthers. He's the front-runner. - If the Wild can't sign Marian Gaborik, watch them go after unrestricted free agent Mike Cammalleri. - Defenceman Tomas Kaberle didn't get traded at the draft, but Burke will revisit this. Columbus needs a defenceman, so does New Jersey and Carolina. Florida, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas and Vancouver are probably looking, too.

jmatheson@thejournal.canwest.com