One Less Sieve?

There will be one less funnel to worry about this season as it appears that a former star goalie in the NHL is about to sign with a Swedish Elite League team. Ed Belfour, he of multiple mugshots and arrests, is planning on signing with Leksands after receiving no offers from NHL teams this off-season as a free agent. His former team, the Florida Panthers, landed Tomas Vokoun at the trade deadline to be their starting goalie, making both Belfour and Alex Auld expendable. Auld was recently signed by the Phoenix Coyotes, who have more goalies in their system than forwards at this point. But that's another article altogether.

The 42 year-old Carmen, Manitoba boy went 27-17-10 last season in Miami with a 2.77 goals-against average. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is third all-time in wins in the NHL and a five-time NHL All-Star. He won an Olympic gold medal in 2002 with Team Canada, and won the Stanley Cup in 1998-99 as a member of the Dallas Stars.

Back problems have recently kept Belfour off the ice, but he did respond strongly last season in Florida. As he gets older, he has lost some mobility and flexibility, part in due to his back surgeries, but is still capabale of being a 1A goalie.

Good luck to Ed Belfour in Sweden. A potential Hall-of-Famer now moves on to a new chapter in his life.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!