In the head-scratching department, the New Jersey Devils signed RW Ilkka Pikkarainen to a free agent contract this week.

Yes, the same Ilkka Pikkarainen who mostly took up space during his previous three-year stint in the organization, all of it spent with the Albany River Rats, where he had 62 points (29g, 33a) and 305 PIM in 195 games from 2003-06.

Now 28, Pikkarainen spent the last three years with HIFK Helsinki. Last season, he led the team with 24 goals and 149 PIM in 54 games, adding 13 assists.

The 6-2, 220-pound Pikkarainen was originally drafted by the Devs 218th overall in 2002.