'09 Winter Classic; BIG Trade Rumour; Habs Sign 3

A few quick hits for you guys.

- The 2009 edition of the Winter Classic will take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago, as the Blackhawks will host their Original 6 rival and defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.

This puts an end to the rumours of the final event to occur at Yankee Stadium before it's teardown being a hockey game.

- The Ottawa Sun is reporting a POSSIBLE BLOCKBUSTER 3-way deal. Here is an extract taken from the ottawasun.com :

A hot rumour in NHL circles has him discussing a three-way blockbuster with the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings, Sun Media has learned. While draft picks and other players might also be involved, the principals appear to be a group of five or six that include a couple of veteran goalies and some of the game's most promising stars.

According to insiders, Ottawa would trade netminder Martin Gerber and defenceman Andrej Meszaros to Los Angeles, the Kings would move 20-year-old centre Anze Kopitar to Chicago and the Blackhawks would propel goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and either of young blueliners Brent Seabrook or Cam Barker to the Senators.

With the Kings recently unloading Mike Cammalleri, I doubt that they would move their best centerman and future franchise player in return for an aging goalie and a solid, two-way defenseman. L.A. has a young group of defensemen in the system that is potentially one of the best if they materialize into what's expected of them. Stay tuned, though, as of course, anything can happen in the NHL. Let's also remember that Vermette's days are numbered in Ottawa as GM Murray doesn't plan to offer him the multi-year extension he is asking for, and the Sens are also trying to move Chris Neil, who is also, like Vertmette, seeking an extension.

- The Canadiens have re-signed RFA defensemen Ryan O'Byrne and recently acquired Shawn Belle. O'Byrne inked a 3-year deal (financial terms undisclosed), whereas Belle signed a one-year, two-way deal (financial terms undisclosed.)

The Habs then went ahead and signed UFA F Mike Glumac from the St.Louis Blues organization. Glumac, 28, signed a one-year deal with Montreal. He played in 75 games last season in the AHL for the Peoria Rivermen, tallying 21 goals and 28 assists. He's played in 40 NHL games, tallying 7 goals and 6 assists for 13 points, registering a +/- minus 8.