Matt Duchene

CALGARY -- When Matt Duchene got the call that he was now a Calgary Flame, it shocked the 18-year-old center as much as it did the rest of the league.

"I'm a little stunned," Duchene said. "I grew up a Joe Sakic fan and wanted to play for Colorado so badly and then they go and do this."

Although he has yet to play an NHL game, Duchene has a tremendous offensive upside and could add vital depth down the middle for Calgary. Currently, Duchene and Todd Marchant are the only centers signed through next season.

Stephane Yelle, Matthew Lombardi and Jason Arnott are all slated for free agency in July.

"This is a great deal for us," said Calgary general manager Jay Feaster. "With so much turnover expected this summer, we needed someone who was going to stick around for awhile."

That someone turned out to be Duchene, who is in the first year of his three-year rookie contract paying him $900,000 a season. He will wear his No. 9 for the Flames, who also acquired Colorado's 2nd round pick in sending Darius Kasparitis to the Avalanche.

In Kasparitis, Colorado gets a tough, punishing hitter who can chip in the occasional goal. He has five goals and 12 points this season in 62 games, but has a plus-21 defensive rating. The 37-year-old also has two more years on a contract paying him $2.88 million this season.

"We felt we needed to get tougher on the back end," said Colorado GM Greg Sherman. "This deal will help us tremendously in that department."

The 2nd rounder is expected to be a low-round pick considering the Avalanche, at 35-21-6, are just four points behind Cincinnati for the best team in the Western Conference with 76 points.

Joni Pitkanen

NEW YORK -- With the New York Rangers fighting for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, general manager Glen Sather thought it was time to make a change.

Sather traded defenseman Fedor Tyutin and a 2nd round pick to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Paul Mara and then dealt Thomas Pock to the Washington Capitals for defenseman Joni Pitkanen.

"We wanted a little bit of a different look on defense," Sather said. "We're fighting to make the playoffs and these guys give us a great chance to do that."

Pitkanen, 26, is in the last year of a three-year contract paying him $3.89 million this season. The Finland native has 15 goals and 37 points while racking up 120 hits and a plus-2 defensive rating.

"It's a bit of a unique situation going from one team fighting for a playoff spot to another," Pitkanen said. "But, New York's got a good team and I'm happy to go there."

As for Pock, the 29-year-old Austrian has got one more season at $3.89 million for the Capitals in 2010-11. Pock's numbers are comparable to Pitkanen, with 11 goals, 36 points and a plus-9 defensive rating.

"I look at this as a change-of-scenery deal," said ESPN.com analyst Scott Burnside. "Same salary, comparable stats, hopefully this wasn't a trade for the sake of making a trade."

Paul Mara

In acquiring Mara, New York gets a defender with size (6-3, 213) and solid two-way ability. Mara, 31, had an impressive 14 goals and 39 points in 61 games with the Oilers and his plus-19 defensive rating is tied for 12th in the league.

"Paul can do so many things," Sather said. "And he's signed long-term, which is a bonus."

Mara is in the first year of a four-year, $18.4 million contract that is paying him $4.63 million this season. He had a career-high 50 points (11G 39A) with Edmonton in 2007-08, but put up only 36 points (14G 22A) and was a minus-9 last season.

"I'm kinda surprised at the trade, but excited to be playing in Madison Square Garden," Mara said. "I hope to help this team make the playoffs."

In Tyutin, Edmonton gets younger on a blueline with three players age 34 and older among the Oilers' top six. Only 26, the Russian defenseman has three goals and 20 points with a plus-5 in 61 games. He is also signed for two more seasons at $4.63 million each.

"Change can be good," Tyutin said. "Hopefully things will work out."

New York is in a precarious position, holding on to the eighth and the final playoff spot thanks to the goals scored tiebreaker. The Rangers and ninth-place Washington have identical 34-23-4 records and 72 points, but New York has scored 37 more goals.

New York and Washington's situation is only part of a logjam at the bottom of the conference. Just two points separate fifth place New Jersey (74 points) with the ninth place Panthers.

"Every point is crucial," Sather said. "The Olympics will give coaching staffs chance to adjust a little bit."

Ivan Molotov impressed many with his performance on the debut episode of WWF Presents: NXT

GAINESVILLE, GA - The six Rookies began their pursuit of a WWF contract on Tuesday, but it was the team of Ivan Molotov and Vladimir Kozlov that opened the most eyes.

WWF officials had been discussing a way to capitalize on the Cold War tensions with Russia and the instant chemistry that pair had on NXT gives the company an option.

Both wrestlers have size and an imposing presence that the WWF could sell to the fans. Kozlov was imported from overseas for the NXT promotion and could himself win a bigger role within the company if Molotov wins the competition.

Molotov wasn't the only one to impress, however, as Mamadou Babineaux looked good in his match as well. The "Haitian Sensation" could help the company tap into the Carribean demographic - an area where the WWF has struggled to find an audience.

Babineaux succeeds with high flying moves and athleticism that fans like, while Molotov adds the brute strength that audiences appreciate.

It's an interesting dilemma for the WWF, which has an abundence of big men on the current 35-man roster. Aside from the Canadian Hart Foundation element and the Japanese-born Yokozuna, the company has few international wrestlers.

A better representation of the "World" part of the World Wrestling Federation could better suit the company down the line.

By turning his back on friend and tag partner Shawn Michaels, Triple H became Public Enemy No. 1.

  ATLANTA - What was Triple H thinking?

The Cerebral Assassin attacked partner Shawn Michaels during their WWF tag title bout with the Rock & Sock Connection at Backlash and then left his friend to fend for himself.

It was a bit of a shocking move and a serious blow to D-Generation X, which had lost to Rock & Sock at WrestleMania I as well. In fact, the pair had made themselves fan favorites in the WWF and things seemed to be going well.

But perhaps Triple H got gold fever after earning the No. 1 contender's slot for Randy Savage's World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H originally left WCW after the company turned down his request to be pushed as a singles competitor and maybe that was what motivated this action.

But the gamble didn't pay off. Triple H lost the Last Man Standing match to Savage and now finds himself alone with some decisions to make.

The tag title scene in the company is a crowded one with 11 stables as of Sunday. Michaels still has X-Pac to continue the D-X fight, but it won't be the same without Triple H. With him now a "free agent," there are a couple of directions the Cerebral Assassin might go.

Money Inc:

Triple H is known for associating himself with success and right now success lies with the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase , who just became the WWF champion for the second time by beating Bam Bam Bigelow and Hulk Hogan in Backlash's main event.

With DiBiase's wealth and power, it is a safe bet that Triple H would get another WHC title shot and maybe even a tag title match as well.

The problem with Triple H in Money Inc. is what role the Cerebral Assassin will have. DiBiase already has the Big Boss Man as his personal bodyguard, and conflict could arise between Triple H and Boss Man over who becomes DiBiase's right-hand man.

Ministry of Darkness:

Another option could be the Ministry of Darkness with The Undertaker and Kane. Nobody's heard much from MOD lately, with the duo only having sporadic battles over the last couple of weeks and mostly singles competition.

Triple H could be the missing piece that finally gives the MOD not only some big-name power, but also makes it a legitimate threat to Rock & Sock's tag titles.

Even so, it would be a tough fit for Triple H chemistry-wise and it's always hard to tell exactly what Underataker and Kane's motivations are.

A return to singles competition:

This seems like the best bet, at least for now. Pursuing gold without any extra baggage may be what the Cerebral Assassin is really going for here, but at some point in life everybody needs an ally.

All in all, we should learn more about Triple H's plan in the weeks to come. He's not booked to wrestle on RAW, and with Shawn Michaels mentoring the Rookies on NXT, we may not get answers right away.

NXT -- Rookies and Pros announced!

McGuire Entrance	Carnage Entrance	Ivan Molotov Entrance
Edmund "Livewire" McGuire makes his debut in Season 1 of NXT.	The 7-foot-1, 430-pound former bodyguard is an early favorite.	The Mad Russian won't make many friends in his pursuit of the contract.

EDMUND "LIVEWIRE" McGUIRE:

Height: 5-foot-9 Weight: 220 Age: 28 Resides: St. Louis, MO.

Edmund "Livewire" McGuire's passion for pro wrestling began at the early age of 5.

He was fascinated by the independent wrestling associations like the American Wrestling Association (AWA), National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and USWA Memphis among others.

Honing his skills on the family farm in Sikeston, Missouri, McGuire took his talents to the big city where he was noticed by WWF scouts.

Putting his career as a mortician on hold, McGuire has been selected as one of six participants on the debut season of WWF Presents: NXT. Through the next four weeks, he will compete for the coveted WWF contract and a chance to become the next wrestling superstar.

Livewire's assigned Pro will be Owen Hart.

Finishers: Livewire Leg Drop and Goodnight from Rio

CARNAGE

Height: 7-foot-1 Weight: 430 Age: 30 Resides: Detroit, MI.

Carnage is easily the largest Rookie to participate in the first season of NXT. At 430 pounds, only the monstrous Yokozuna outweighs him on the current WWF roster.

Not much is known about Carnage's backstory, other than he is a former bodyguard of Jade Money, a rapper in Detroit's underground music scene.

Power is Carnage's greatest asset, with an abundance of moves intended to crush his opponents into a pulp. Speed is his weakness, which could get him into trouble against the NXT's high flyers in Edmund "Livewire" McGuire and "The Haitian Sensation" Mamadou Babineaux.

Still, when it comes to sheer blunt force trauma, few can dish it out better than Carnage.

Carnage's assigned Pro will be Batista.

Finishers: Guillotine Bomb and Flatliner

"THE MAD RUSSIAN" IVAN MOLOTOV

Height: 6-foot-8 Weight: 330 Age: 25  Resides: Anchorage, AK.

A naturalized Russian citizen living abroad in the United States, Ivan Molotov represents a lot of the ideals of the former Soviet Union.

Once a diplomat within the Russian Embassy, Molotov left politics in disgust at his country's "Pro-American" tendencies.

Determined to see Communism re-emerge as a world power, Molotov left Russia for rough tundra of Alaska, training to become "an athlete the likes of which no one has ever seen or will ever see."

Discovered by WWF scouts following a bar fight that left Molotov with 26 stitches, "The Mad Russian" sees NXT as his biggest stage yet to send his message. While, he takes second fiddle to Carnage in terms of size and power, Molotov's fanatical devotion to his cause makes him extremely volatile.

Molotov's assigned Pro will be Vladimir Kozlov.

Finishers: Soviet Solution and Molotov Cocktail

Babineaux Entrance	Ritter Entrance	Stallion Entrance
The only international hopeful of Season 1 is hoping to make history	Ritter is hoping to become another in a long line of successful Texans.	Mr. Sexy is hoping to win over the hearts and minds of WWF fans.

"THE HAITIAN SENSATION" MAMADOU BABINEAUX

Height: 6-foot Weight: 235 Age: 22 Resides: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The only international Rookie on the first season of NXT, Babineaux brings some Haitian flavor to the competition.

Growing up playing soccer on the streets of Port-au-Prince, Babineaux is renowned for his quick feet and his barefoot attack is not one to be underestimated.

Although not quite as agile as Livewire McGuire, Babineaux's athleticism and natural charm make him a solid contender for the WWF contract.

Not blessed with a tremendous amount of size, Babineaux could still make an impact in the WWF as a light heavyweight, the same weight class as his Pro.

Many scouts within the company of pegged him as a natural rival of McGuire, whose wrestling style resembles Babineaux's.

Babineaux's assigned Pro will be Bones.

Finishers: Bakuhatsu and Snapshot

TEX RITTER

Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 270  Age: 30 Resides: Silsbee, TX.

Like his Pro, Tex Ritter hopes to become another of a long line of successful native Texans in the WWF.

Ritter grew up wrestling and playing football in high school, but dropped out of college to help support his family's cattle business.

Size-wise, he fits the ideal profile of a WWF wrestler and his cowboy roots make him an interesting prospect as a Rookie. In a Season 1 class that already features its share of big men, Ritter will have to make himself stand out from the crowd.

With the right size, and potentially the right gimmick, a chance at WWF stardom all comes down to Ritter's performance in the ring. With the WWF fans watching and voting, never has one man's destiny been in so many hands.

Ritter's assigned Pro will be Shawn Michaels.

Finishers: Cattle Prod and Black Tiger Bomb

"MR. SEXY" STEVE STALLION

Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 195  Age: 29  Resides: Las Vegas, NV.

Want a little flash and flair? Then you'll love Steve Stallion.

Stallion is Las Vegas through-and-through. From the bright lights to the desert sunset, Mr. Sexy is the self-described "Tour guide to fame and fortune."

But Stallion will need more than fame and fortune to win this competition. At 195 pounds, he's the smallest Rookie and the lone Cruiserweight in Season 1. That instantly puts him at a disadvantage in physical brawls against his bigger castmates.

That won't stop Stallion though, as the 29-year-old former show promoter is determined to give the competition the best entertainment it's ever seen.

Stallion's assigned Pro will be Crush.

Finishers: Cliffhanger and Money Maker

With victories over Bret Hart and Sgt. Slaughter, Bam Bam Bigelow is starting to separate himself from the rest of the WWF roster.

 Bam Bam Bigelow may be the biggest x-factor in the WWF.

 Known to be deceptively agile for a man pushing close to 400 pounds, the "Beast from the East" has developed a reputation for the extreme.

 It started two weeks ago on Monday Night RAW when Bigelow, under paid orders from Ted DiBiase, brutually attacked Sgt. Slaughter with a chair during the main event triple threat match between DiBiase, Slaughter and WWF champion Hulk Hogan.

 Things didn't stop there between Bigelow and Slaughter, with the feud stretching into WWF SuperStarts in a First Blood match that Bigelow won.

 And the pair faced each other for the second time on RAW live from Chicago, with Bigelow besting Slaughter once again.

 The WWF front office is starting to notice Bigelow's potential as a future champion, something that should concern DiBiase. Bigelow's status as a hired gun could backfire on the former WWF champion, especially with Backlash only a week away.

 Where Bigelow goes from here is anybody's guess. He's slated to face Bret Hart, whom he beat in a Backstage Brawl on SuperStars this week, in a singles match next week on RAW. There are rumors suggesting he might find a way into the WWF title match at the PPV with a victory, but speculation is a bit moot at this point in time.

As the first WWF champion, "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase has been bribing wrestlers to do his bidding.

Just how far is the reach of Ted DiBiase?

After losing the WWF title to Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania, the "Million Dollar Man" appears dead-set to get his title back - at any cost.

And cost appears to be the key factor, as this week saw Bam Bam Bigelow enter a crowded title feud that already includes DiBiase, Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter. DiBiase beat Slaughter to become the No. 1 contender for the title last week on RAW.

Under DiBiase's orders, Bigelow interfered during Monday's triple threat match between Hogan, DiBiase and Slaughter. Bigelow nailed Slaughter with a chair before exiting the ring, but it didn't have the desired effect as Slaughter won the match anyway.

Bigelow took out Slaughter again in a First Blood match on WWF SuperStars, heightening the reputation of the "Beast from the East".

It's a dangerous proposition to be getting others to do your bidding, as eventually the subordinate will get smart enough to wonder why they have to take orders.

While Bigelow is a great choice as hired muscle, eventually the focus will have to turn back to Hogan and the coveted WWF title. DiBiase has a huge test coming up next week against The Rock, which will be an early indicator of how prepared the Million Dollar Man thinks he is.