Nobody saw this one coming. Marian Hossa to Detroit? Maybe. But for one year?

After cutting the deal, Red Wings' GM Ken Holland was beside himself. Cue the violins:

"Success is about sacrifice — sacrificing ice time, sacrificing personal statistics, sacrificing some money," said Holland. "Success doesn't come easily. Marian, obviously, wants to come here because he thinks we give him the best chance to win the Stanley Cup. He's showing incredible sacrifice — and it goes to his determination and character and how important winning is to him, and playing with other good players.

Hossa's agent can't get over it either. He spent the day burbling about how "special" Marian is.

So the guy joins the best team in hockey, gets $7.4 million for his troubles, and we're supposed to get all weepy about his sacrifice?

Let's try the contrarian view: Hossa's looking for a short cut to the Stanley Cup, hitching a ride with the big boys because he can't be bothered going through the time and effort required to build a winner with the Penguins.

Nonsense, you say? Sure, but it's just as legit as all that smoke Ken Holland is blowing up Hossa's garter. And they'd believe it in Pittsburgh.

The addition of Hossa will have many predicting a Stanley Cup repeat for the Wings. How can they lose after welcoming such a selfless martyr to the fold?

Not so fast. Let's keep in mind the most reliable rule of free agent season: Spend in July, repent in April.

(Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Thoughts on a few of the fat deals signed July 1, opening day of the 2008 NHL free agent season.

D Brian Campbell to Chicago:
8 years/$7.1 million per year

A true star? Or just the best defenseman on the lot this summer? For a decent payoff, the 'Hawks need big minutes, big points, and great highlights right away, plus inspiring playoff leadership within two seasons. Campbell will be 37 when this deal expires, probably a one-dimensional power play specialist. I'm not sure Buffalo will regret trading him.

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With the market opening at midday (eastern time), the big news in the hours leading up to NHL free agency concerned the players who aren't changing teams.

Corey Perry, Mike Green, Brad Stuart and Bryce Salvador were among those who signed contract extensions in the early hours of July 1.

The most active team before the opening bell was Edmonton. Rather than bid for free agents, the Oilers are remaking the roster via trades.

In the last 24 hours, Edmonton has swapped Joni Pitkanen, Raffe Torres, Jarret Stoll and Matt Greene for Erik Cole, Gilbert Brule and Lubomir Visnovsky.

To follow the trades and signings throughout the day, TSN.ca and Sportsnet.ca are your best bets for breaking news.

If you like your free agent frenzy with a little more personality, there's plenty of live blogging underway. Try James Mirtle or the Slap Shot blog at the New York Times.

See also: NHL Free Agent Center - A guide to the madness, including an explanation of how the free agent system works and how the salary cap works.

Photo: Brian Rolston should be fitted with a new sweater by the end of July 1. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Thanks to the 2005 collective agreement, this year's NHL unrestricted free agents are younger than ever.

But as Eric Duhatschek notes at Globeandmail.com, it's a thin crop:

The idea that granting unrestricted free agency to players at the age of 25, a key concession in the last CBA, would result in a wholesale shuffle of players, all willing to sell themselves to the highest bidder, didn't materialize...

Of the more than 100 players who will test the market beginning Tuesday, the vast majority has some issue or other that might limit their appeal, if the free-agent crop were deeper.

That means stiff competition for the few marquee names, like Brian Campbell and Marian Hossa. But the big winners will be fair-to-middling guys like Brooks Orpik (pictured), who will surely command far more money than they're worth.

Many of this summer's potential prizes - Jarome Iginla, Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton, among others - took a pass on free agency by making long-term commitments to their current teams.

A few younger players, like Mike Richards and Alex Ovechkin, have virtual lifetime contracts, and could end their careers without ever hitting the open market.

But it's hard to see the trend continuing. The long-term contract and the salary cap make for an uneasy alliance.

The Philadelphia Flyers know it. That's why Jeff Carter's new contract is generous, but just three years long.

With Daniel Briere signed for another seven years, and Richards locked up until 2020, a long-term deal for Carter would leave the team with little flexibility at center ice or on the payroll.

A long-term plunge on a few core players will force a team to be more conservative with its next generation of stars. They can't all get six, eight or 12-year contracts.

2008 might be a bit thin on free agent gems. But 2011 or 2013 could be a free-for-all.

(Photo: Brian Winkler/Getty Images)