Training camps open approximately 60 days from now (September 17th) in the National Hockey League. The free agent frenzy that we saw on July 5th has slowed to a crawl as rosters have filled and ownership has a chance to reflect on some not-so-well thought out contracts during the initial signing period.

There weren’t a ton of big names out there to begin with so the trickle of transactions that are currently taking place, the interest meter hasn’t moved too much. The sudden “retirement” of New Jersey Devils star wing Ilya Kovalchuk has been the biggest news this offseason and has gutted the Devils franchise.

Had Kovalchuk made his decision a week ago the Devils could have and would have been in the running for several players that had previously sat outside of their price range. With Kovalchuk and his $6.66 million cap hit off the books for the next 12 years, the Devils have some financial freedom, but also lost their best player with no quality replacements out there.

With most of the big names already rocking new jerseys, there aren’t many big moves left to make. I do believe that there will be a blockbuster trade, maybe two before training camps open, so stay tuned. So far here are my winners and losers through the second week of free agency.

Winners

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit got stronger up the middle picking up coveted center Stephen Weiss from Florida. Added scoring and leadership with a short-term investment in Daniel Alfredsson

Boston Bruins

Cut ties with Nathan Horton, Jaromir Jagr and finally made Jarome Iginla a Bruin. Traded away problem child Tyler Seguin for proven sniper Loui Eriksson

Edmonton Oilers

Signed veteran Brad Ference to add leadership and experience to young defense. Added Boyd Gordon and Jesse Joensuu to add some second tier talent to give them depth and grit.

Dallas Stars

Acquisition of Seguin is risky, but young sniper has huge upside. Sergei Gonchar adds experience and skill to young, ineffective power play.

New York Islanders

Free agent day trades gave New York the biggest boost. Acquisition of Cal Clutterbuck will be huge. Resigned Evgeni Nabokov and locked up Travis Hamonic for seven years.

Losers

New Jersey Devils

Kovalchuk decision screwed the Devils short term, but they’ll be better long term with that horrid contract off the books. Risky contract for concussion prone Ryane Clowe and Michael Ryder deal doesn’t move the needle for me.

Philadelphia Flyers

It was a head scratcher bringing Vincent Lecavalier to Philly. Ray Emery will be either a huge bargain with his one-year deal or implode like he did the last time he was a Flyer. Trading for, then extending Mark Streit makes no sense for me. Philly needed goaltending and defense and rolled the dice with Streit and Emery.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Great move killing the contract of Lecavalier, but why give so much money to Red Wings’ role player Valtteri Filppula? Tampa needs defense and goaltending, neither of which was addressed. They cut their own throats with the Filppula deal and are out of cap room yet again.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Jonathan Bernier deal was nice but Toronto overpaid for David Clarkson who got the most out of a weak market and desperate franchise. They signed a player who will be 30 at season’s end to a seven-year contract that will pay him $5.25 million per season. Clarkson has scored over 17 goals once in his nine-year career.

Columbus Blue Jackets

I’ll try to be nice, but for every good thing that the Blue Jackets did last season, they undid their intelligence by signing oft injured Nathan Horton to a seven-year, $35 million deal. Guarantees in life: Death, taxes and a guarantee that this deal will be a bust.