1.   Time and again as boss of Rangers and Liverpool, Souness has smashed the million-pound barrier to sign players.

2.   McHale, who is set to receive a significant increase in his budget for next season, has signed four players and expects to increase that to five today.

3.   All three players were signed shortly thereafter.

4.   Although only two NHL players have been signed so far by the IHL, more could find work, especially if the NHL cancels its season.

5.   And if adhering to a strict budget meant losing the ability to sign key players?

6.   And if you do sign a player, can you get him out of his country easily?

7.   And now, with crunch time right around the corner, the Mariners may be realizing that signing both players will be close to impossible.

8.   And the Dodgers have six more players signed from Latin America and Asia.

9.   And Williams signed three players in November who many rank as the best class he has recruited.