Don't look for the Boston Bruins to spend their free-agent money at the far end of the age bracket, which would rule out the likes of, say, Brendan Shanahan (39) and Jaromir Jagr (36), two Rangers who likely will be up for bid July 1.

Upon wrapping up in New York last week, Jagr said he would prefer to play no more than two more seasons -- to keep a promise to his father to return home to the Czech Republic in 2010 -- and he would prefer to be back with the Rangers.

Jagr made $8.3 million this season, a healthy chunk of that paid by the Washington Capitals, who essentially paid to get rid of him. What will he get in the open market?

"Maybe I would find out something that I don't want to know," said Jagr, who likely is looking at around a 50 percent cut in guaranteed money. Players over 35, unlike anyone else who isn't on an entry-level deal, can sign deals that are beefed up with incentives.

Part of what makes Detroit such a good puck-possession team is its ability to win the majority of faceoffs. But the Red Wings have taken it up a notch in the first two games against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference final.

The Red Wings have won 67 percent of the draws, and their top-three centers are each slightly above that mark. Valtteri Filppula, who won 50.6 percent of his draws in the regular season, has won 19 of 28 (67.8 percent) against the Stars, including 13 of 19 (68.4) against Brad Richards.

Kris Draper and Henrik Zetterberg have each won 67.7 percent of their draws against Dallas. Draper has won 8 of 9 against Mike Ribeiro, and Zetterberg has won all nine battles with Mike Modano.

Junior sensation John Tavares, expected to be the No. 1 pick in the June 2009 draft, already has dismissed his agent, Bryan Deasley. For now Tavares' mother, who has experience in banking, will handle her son's business affairs.

Last year, No. 1 pick Patrick Kane (Chicago) went into the draft without representation, and eventually hired veteran Pat Brisson, who also handles Penguins star Sidney Crosby.