Free-agent frenzy, Day 2

After an opening day in which NHL teams committed to more than $339.725 million (that is $339,725,000) in new contracts, things slowed a bit on Day 2. On Monday, the dollar total was more than $113.45 million (or $113,450,000) . . . The grand total is $453.175 million ($453,175,000) . . . These numbers include only those players who signed as unrestricted free agents. They don't include Radek Dvorak, Shawn Thornton, Dick Tarnstrom and Steve Kelly, unrestricted free agents who signed but for whom dollar figures haven't yet surfaced.

But, you're wondering, who is left? Check out mirtle.blogspot.com for a comprehensive look, but here are a few of the more prominent players still available: Peter Forsberg, Dainius Zubrus, Alexei Yashin, Mike Comrie, Mike Peca, Eric Lindros, Trevor Linden, Teemu Selanne, Slava Kozlov, Brendan Shanahan, Bill Guerin, Sheldon Souray, Brad Stuart, Teppo Numminen, Dom Hasek, Eddie Belfour . . .

In other words, there is more money waiting to be spent. And it looks as though the dollar figure, when all is said and done, will be somewhere over $600,000,000 . . .

And it looks as though LW Brad Isbister has signed with the Vancouver Canucks. Nothing has been announced but NHL.com, the Canucks' website and the NHLPA website all show him on Vancouver's roster. He split last season between Hartford (AHL) and the Rangers. He had four points in 19 games with the Rangers.

Changing speeds for a moment, nothing provides as much drama on a regular basis as does Wimbledon. And the match Monday between Serena Williams and Daniela Hantuchova was unbelievable. If you missed it, Serena was plagued with cramps in her left calf in the second set and it surely looked as though she wouldn't be able to continue. At one point, the NBC telecast showed her father pointing to the heavens. And, yes, it started to rain. Serena came back after a two-hour rain delay and won the match. It was terrific theatre and veteran Dick Enberg, who was calling the play, made it that much more enjoyable. Serena is up against Justine Henin today and you've got think the American's run is over.

Back with hockey . . . Sheldon Ferguson is back in the major junior game. The former Red Deer Rustlers (AJHL) and Seattle Thunderbirds head coach spent the last 12 seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes and was their director of scouting when he resigned to sign a four-year deal as GM of the OHL's Sarnia Sting. He replaces Bob Mancini. Ferguson also did a stint as Hockey Canada's head scout.