Around the NHL News - Philadelphia Flyers

Transcription

SPORT-SCAN
DAILY BRIEF
NHL 7/7/2011
Atlanta Thrashers
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Ramsay lands assistant's job with Florida
Boston Bruins
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Champs begin to look ahead
Milan Lucic remains on high
Kids camp gives B’s glimpse into future
Development camp info
Calgary Flames
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Howse knows the meaning of sacrifice
Flames’ Irving willing to bide his time in minors
Flames prospect goalie willing to wait
Flames wing prospect has no shortage of skill
Brodie handlin' the Heat
Carolina Hurricanes
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Kaberle still has drive
Chicago Blackhawks
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Ex-Hawk Brouwer signs 2-year, $4.7M deal with Capitals
Draft picks, lesser-known prospects ready to at Blackhawks
camp
Will Blackhawks contend for Stanley Cup?
Blackhawks invite McNeill, Danault and 44 others to
prospects camp
Colorado Avalanche
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AFA hosting Avalanche again
Avalanche's Porter, Wilson file for arbitration
Columbus Blue Jackets
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Islanders veteran added to Blue Jackets' blue line
This birthday is one Nash will remember
Dallas Stars
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Heika: Draft-day criticism aside, Stars glad they stuck with
goalie
So how would you juggle Stars' lines?
Armstrong and Blues getting Stars band back together _
Sign Arnott and Langenbrunner
Former Stars forward Matthew Barnaby must do 500 hours
of service
Stars-Coyotes exhibition game at Houston canceled
Detroit Red Wings
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Red Wings' prospect camp opens today
Helene St. James: Red Wings improved, but so did the
competition
Picks, prospects head to Red Wings camp
It's time for Wings to say farewell to Chris Osgood
Ken Holland on WDFN: Red Wings defenseman 'Jonathan
Ericsson is still a work in progress'
Edmonton Oilers
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Teubert happy to be with Oilers organization
Former Oilers Jacques, Stortini lands new NHL gigs
Teubert working to crack Oilers lineup
High-tech teaching at Oilers camp
Florida Panthers
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Florida Panthers’ Mike Santorelli gets new deal
Panthers' Tallon blazing a dangerous trail in free agency
Panthers re-sign Santorelli to one-way deal
Los Angeles Kings
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The fourth line: You make the call
Minnesota Wild
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New deal gives Gillies strong shot with Wild
Gillies' door to make Wild inches open
One of Wild's first employees, St. Paul native Bill Robertson,
leaving team
Minnesota Wild re-sign Colton Gillies to 2-year deal
Montreal Canadiens
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Josh Gorges' arbitration no reason to lose sleep
Subban visit highlights Haiti's issues
Nashville Predators
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Kostitsyn seeks bigger raise, files for arbitration in attempt to
get one
Preds draft 6-foot-5 Magnus Hellberg, offer trio of rangy
goalies they hope alter game
Predators add tough guy, offensive prospect at forward
New Jersey Devils
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Guy Carbonneau says he is not Devils' next head coach
ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations
Future of Trenton Devils minor league hockey team is
clouded by uncertainty
Devils cease Trenton Devils operations in 2011-12
Devils' Bryce Salvador optimistic about fall
New York Islanders
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Islanders veteran Martinek joins Blue Jackets
Two former Devils sign with Blues
New York Rangers
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New Ranger Eager to Get Settled In
Rangers' Richards ready for challenge of New York
Former Rangers forward Barnaby gets community service
Rangers’ Brad Richards says he has plenty of hockey left
Four Rangers filed for arbitration
Ottawa Senators
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Sens sign one-way deal with Condra
Sens, Condra reach new deal
Philadelphia Flyers
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New Flyers on display at camp
Flyers' draft pick Couturier sets goal to make team
Trenton Devils suspend play for 2011-12
Flyers' contract talks with Simmonds ongoing
Schenn's target: a full-time spot on Flyers roster
Phoenix Coyotes
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Phoenix Coyotes vs. Dallas Stars game at Reliant Stadium
in Houston canceled
Phoenix Coyotes sign three players to one-year contracts
San Jose Sharks
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New San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns is an animal
(lover)
Sharks re-sign G Thomas Greiss
St Louis Blues
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Blues land two veterans
Loan extension should help Checketts in Blues sale
Hockey Guy: Blues moves bolster the front lines
Blues sign Langenbrunner, Arnott
The new Blues
Blues chairman says he has three bidders
Blues ink two veteran forwards to one-year deals
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Lightning sign free-agent C Pyatt
Lightning prospect camp begins in Brandon
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman on Stamkos
contract negotiations: "We're going to get there"
Tampa Bay Lightning signs center Tom Pyatt
Tampa Bay Lightning signs C Tom Pyatt
The Brad Richards trade: After Mike Smith's departure, what
is left for the Tampa Bay Lightning?
Tampa Bay Lightning fans have bigger worries besides
Steven Stamkos' contract
Toronto Maple Leafs
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‘For now, we’re done,’ Burke says of off-season deals
Now we’ve Heard of you
Kadri on the wing, Reimer in the net: Maple Leafs all set,
Burke says
Leafs form partnership with German team to improve
development
Blues sign Langenbrunner, Arnott to deals
Vancouver Canucks
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Tambellini going to Zurich on three-year deal
Washington Capitals
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Jeff Halpern always ‘hoped to come back to Washington’
and Capitals
Washington Capitals sign Troy Brouwer
Caps sign Brouwer to 2-year, $4.7M deal
Home is not quite way Halpern remembers it
Websites
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NBCSports.com / Blues sign veterans Jason Arnott, Jamie
Langenbrunner to one-year deals
NBCSports.com /Salary Capitals: Washington goes over the
ceiling with Troy Brouwer’s deal
Sportsnet.ca /Cold shoulder
USA TODAY /Center Brad Richards heads list of interesting
free agents
USA TODAY / Jackets add Martinek; Arnott, Langenbrunner
join Blues
Winnipeg Jets
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We get the leader our team, city need
Glad to have Ladd
Jets poised to sign UND's Gregoire
Ex-coach Ramsay slams Jets owners
Jets finding wings
SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129
574789
Atlanta Thrashers
Ramsay lands assistant's job with Florida
By Chris Vivlamore
Craig Ramsay wasn’t out of the NHL for long.
The former Thrashers coach has accepted a position as an assistant coach
with Florida. The announcement from the team will likely come Thursday.
It will be a return to Florida for Ramsay, who was an assistant there from
1993-95.
Ramsay coached the Thrashers for one season before the franchise was
sold and relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ramsay interviewed for his
position but was not hired.
The veteran player and long-time assistant coach spent three seasons with
the Boston Bruins before joining the Thrashers. He has also been an
assistant with Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Buffalo.
Atlanta Journal Constitution LOADED: 07.07.2011
574790
Boston Bruins
Champs begin to look ahead
By Stephen Harris
A year ago, massive crowds of Bruins fans filled Ristuccia Arena in
Wilmington for the team’s rookie development camp. In large part, the
throngs were there for an initial look at top pick Tyler Seguin as he donned
a B’s sweater for the first time.
Don’t be surprised if the rink is standing-room-only again when the fifth
annual development camp gets under way today, with some 25 hopefuls
taking the ice at 1:15 p.m.
This time, of course, the fans will be there in large part as a way of touching
base with the Stanley Cup champions, not to mention escaping the heat
and getting a look at 2011 draftees Dougie Hamilton, Alexander
Khokhlachev and Robbie O’Gara, and incumbent prospects Tommy Cross,
David Warsofsky, Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight.
“Hopefully, being the Stanley Cup champions, we get a similar turnout to
last year,” said Bruins assistant general manager and camp director Don
Sweeney. “These are the next wave of kids. You’ll see a lot of these kids
coming in to impact Providence (AHL) this year or next year, or at the NHL
level in the next 2-3 years.”
The camp runs through Monday. Newly named Providence coach Bruce
Cassidy, one-time coach of the Washington Capitals, will run the on-ice
sessions. Strength and conditioning coach John Whitesides will conduct the
sometimes grueling off-ice workouts.
The overall purpose of the camp is to give the young players an idea of
what it takes to compete at the NHL level and the chance to get to know the
Bruins staff, allowing many of them to enter the regular training camp in
September more knowledgeable, and more relaxed, confident and ready to
make a strong showing.
“It’s a great chance for everyone to feel comfortable and get their feet on
the ground,” Sweeney said. “I use the word comfort, because after this, it’s
not comfortable. It’s not comfortable trying to make an NHL team.
“But you don’t have to make any team this week; you have to come in and
make a good first impression. We’ve had players who have come through
this process, graduated on and quickly become big contributors to our
hockey club. That’s a great message for all these kids.”
In each of the four previous camps, at least one player has made a very
strong impression and used that as a springboard toward training camp
and, before long, NHL success. Milan Lucic, Blake Wheeler, David Krejci,
Matt Hunwick, Brad Marchand and others all got themselves noticed at the
development camp.
This year, perhaps it will be Hamilton, a 6-foot-4 defenseman, or the
talented Khokhlachev, or ex-Boston University defenseman Warsofsky who
stands out and maybe forces the B’s brass to regard them as possibilities to
earn a spot on the team. Even the ones who are sent back to their amateur
teams will learn plenty about hockey skills and fitness in these few days.
“The college kids and junior kids can take it back to apply with their teams,”
Sweeney said. “It’s a three-pronged thing, and I’ll tell this to all the guys
when they come in (last night): This is about these players learning about
the Boston Bruins organization; it’s about us learning about them; and it’s
about them learning about themselves.
“They get a clear understanding of what the expectations of our
organization are going to be. We try not to throw too much at them, but we
try to get them a clear picture of where they are right now and where they
need to be if they’re coming back for training camp in September.”
These development camps for young players are now held by most, if not
all, NHL teams. And for the NHL team that went all the way this past
season, there’s no doubt that these camps helped bring the Stanley Cup
back to Boston.
Boston Herald LOADED: 07.07.2011
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Boston Bruins
Milan Lucic remains on high
By Rich Thompson
LOWELL — Milan Lucic is at the pinnacle of the hockey world.
That apparently is not high enough to satisfy Lucic.
Lucic plans to spend some quality time with the Stanley Cup in his
hometown of Vancouver, the scene of the Bruins’ dramatic Game 7 victory
over the Canucks in the finals.
In 2007, Lucic led the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League to
the Memorial Cup championship and was awarded MVP honors for his
effort.
The Giants celebrated their triumph by taking the Memorial Cup to the
summit of Grouse Mountain for a team celebration. Lucic made a pledge
that day to return to Grouse Mountain with a bigger prize, and the winger
will make the return trip a reality in late August.
“I’ll take (the Stanley Cup) to my high school with my high school buddies
there, then the rink where I started playing and then take it up to Grouse
Mountain,” Lucic said. “There is a picture of me with the Memorial Cup on
the screensaver on my laptop. It’s a picture of me looking over the city with
the Memorial Cup. I always said I want to replace that picture with a Stanley
Cup. This year I get an opportunity to do that.”
With athletic success and fame comes the obligation to give back. Lucic
was honoring that duty yesterday at LeLacheur Park, home of the Red Sox’
Single-A Lowell Spinners.
Lucic has combined with sponsor NMTW Community Credit to host the
second annual Rock & Jock Celebrity Softball Game
(www.rockandjocksoftball.org), a charity event to be played at LeLacheur
on Aug.?24 at 7 p.m. Teammates Tim Thomas and Shawn Thornton
competed in last year’s event, and both are expected to attend again next
month.
“It’s a fun time for us as athletes to play a softball game and help a great
cause,” Lucic said. “For fans, you get to watch us do something we
normally don’t do and that’s swing a baseball bat.”
Lucic underwent surgery last Wednesday at Mass. General Hospital to
eradicate a nasal infection he endured throughout the playoffs. Other than
that, Lucic has been out and about enjoying what the B’s winning the Cup
for the first time since 1972 means to the fans.
When Lucic comes down off his mountain in Vancouver, the fun stops. The
business of defending the Stanley Cup will make winning it the first time
seem easy.
“It will be tough to let it go, that’s for sure,” Lucic said. “We have to enjoy
every moment out of it, but it (next season) is coming quick and there is a
job to do to prepare for next year.”
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Boston Bruins
Kids camp gives B’s glimpse into future
By Rich Thompson
LOWELL — The Bruins will welcome 24 rookie free agents and their 2011
draft picks, including first-round selection Dougie Hamilton (ninth overall), to
this morning’s fifth annual developmental training camp at Ristuccia Arena
in Wilmington.
Veteran left winger Milan Lucic was at LeLacheur Park yesterday promoting
the Rock & Jock Softball Game that benefits the Celebrities for Charity
Foundation. Lucic was an accomplished 18-year-old from the Memorial Cup
champion Vancouver Giants when he arrived for the inaugural
developmental training camp under first-year coach Claude Julien.
Eight members of that first class would eventually play for the Bruins and
five were in Vancouver when the team beat the Canucks, 4-0, in Game 7 of
the Stanley Cup finals. The list of five Cup champions Lucic, Tuukka Rask,
David Krejci, Brad Marchand and Adam McQuaid. Matt Hunwick, Byron Bitz
and Vladimir Sobotka are the other players to reach the NHL with the B’s,
before being traded.
“What it has become to this organization now with their developmental
camp is truly fantastic,” Lucic said. “In the case of my year, we are all still
young and have already spent a good amount of time in the NHL. For us,
that’s where it all started with our development and it got us to where we
are now (as champions).
“I think that’s why it has become a big part of the Boston Bruins
organization and developing their own players. As you can see it has paid
dividends up to this point.”
This year’s group consists of 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three
goalies. Hamilton, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound defenseman, will be the main
focus of attention.
Lucic understands the anxiety and determination of each kid.
“What you want to do is get your name out there and show off your work
ethic and how you are as an individual inside and outside the rink,” Lucic
said. “They will work on skating and all that kind of stuff. But what you are
trying to prove, and I can only speak from my experience, is to establish
what your habits and work ethics are. I think that is what counts more than
anything.
“It is just the first step and you want to make a good impression. But that
puts pressure on yourself.”
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Boston Bruins
Development camp info
Staff
WHAT: Bruins Fifth Annual Development Camp
WHEN: Today through Monday
WHERE: Ristuccia Arena, 190 Main St, Wilmington
ROSTER
Forwards: Anthony Camara, Craig Cunningham, Alexander Fallstrom, Brian
Ferlin, Justin Florek, Josh Jooris, Jared Knight, Alexander Khokhlachev,
Brett Olson, Tyler Randell, Eric Robinson, Ben Sexton, Ryan Spooner
Defensemen: Ryan Button, Marc Cantin, Tommy Cross, Dougie Hamilton,
Robby O’Gara, Steven Spinell, Zach Trotman, David Warsofsky
Goaltenders: Zane Gothberg, Mike Hutchinson, Lars Volden
*Roster is subject to change.
SCHEDULE
Thursday: On-ice practice, 1:15 p.m.
Friday: On-ice workout, 10 a.m.; On-ice practice, 11:30 a.m.
Saturday: On-ice practice, 10:30 a.m.; On-ice workout, 11:45 a.m.
Sunday: On-ice practice, 10 a.m.; On-ice scrimmage, 11:15 a.m.
Monday: On-ice workout, 10 a.m.; On-ice scrimmage, 11 a.m.
On-ice practices are open to the public
574794
Calgary Flames
Roxanne Howse endured chemotherapy and radiation. At the end of his
school day, Ryan would come home to find his mom on the couch.
Howse knows the meaning of sacrifice
“Some days she would be crying,” he said. “Other days she would be just
lying there.”
By Vicki Hall,
Upon completion of her treatment, Roxanne opted to have both breasts
removed to reduce the chance of a recurrence.
“She told us that family was more important than anything,” Ryan said.
“Now that’s sacrifice.”
Ryan Howse need only look at the tattoo emblazoned on his right forearm
for the secret to making it in the National Hockey League.
The word “sacrifice” tells the Calgary Flames prospect everything he needs
to know.
“When someone looks at the tattoo, they just think it’s some word,” Howse
says in a quiet moment during prospects camp. “But it’s not. There’s a story
behind it. It really gets me through a lot of things.
“Some days, when you’re at the rink or at a workout, you don’t think you
can do it. But you can do it if you want to.”
Howse, 20, has a reached at a crossroads in his hockey career. A prolific
scorer in junior, the former member of the Western Hockey League’s
Chilliwack Bruin must now prove those eye-popping numbers will translate
to goals and points in the professional ranks.
Through it all, hockey gave the Howse family a welcome reprieve from
doctors and hospitals. Ryan learned to immerse himself in the moment at
the rink.
The Flames selected Howse in the third-round (74th overall) of the 2009
NHL entry draft. He responded with 51 goals and 83 points last season on a
line with fellow Calgary prospect Roman Horak.
The time has come for Howse to take that next step. His journey will likely
take him to Abbotsford, of the American Hockey League. First, he’ll try to
make a drastic jump right from juniors to the NHL.
Regardless, Howse knows what really matters. If he forgets, he need only
look down at his left forearm for a reminder.
“This tattoo is new,” he said. “I got the breast cancer symbol, with hockey
sticks behind it.
The National Hockey League is not always a kind, gentle place for young
men chasing their dreams. With Stanley Cups and million-contracts on the
line, coaches and managers generally tell things as they are.
“My mother’s initials are there — and my brother’s and my dad’s — along
with the word ‘hope.’ ”
Even if the message stings a little upon delivery.
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.07.2011
“If Ryan gets serious about his nutrition and trying to get a little bit lighter,
we think he’ll be fast-tracking to the NHL,” said general manager Jay
Feaster. “He’s a guy who can finish. He sees the ice really well. He has
great offensive instincts.
“The next big step for him is to recognize how elite level athletes train and
how they take their nutrition seriously. That way he can get himself in a
position where he can challenge for a spot.”
In other words, the six-foot Howse needs to drop a bit of weight from his
current 205 pounds to take the next step.
“It’s about recognizing the proper things to eat and when and how,” Feaster
said. “That’s part of what this week is about. We bring in a nutritionist to
work with the guys.
“We think he is a guy who has all kinds of ability. The sooner he puts it all
together and figures out the steps he needs to take, the sooner he’ll be in
the NHL.”
Howse takes the nutrition and fitness suggestions from the Flames
seriously. In fact, he moved to Calgary in May to train full-time with Rich
Hesketh, the strength and conditioning coach for the Flames.
“Pretty intense stuff,” Howse said. “Definitely a lot better than what I was
doing back home.”
Around the same time, the Howse family relocated to Calgary from Prince
George, B.C. Ryan’s father Jason found work as supervisor in the custodial
department at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Mom Roxanne
plans to look for job and enroll nine-year-old Dryden Howse in elementary
school.
Make no mistake: this family is close-knit with Roxanne showing her
children by example what sacrifice really means.
Five years ago, Ryan attended his first WHL training camp in Chilliwack,
only to return home to tragedy. One of his close friends, Ashten Calliou had
died in an ATV collision with a truck.
She was only 15.
“I had to go to the funeral,” Ryan said. “I was one of the guys who walked
the casket out. That was very tough for me.”
All the while, Roxanne waited for the right moment to break her own tragic
news to her son.
“My mom let that settle in, and a few weeks later, she let me know she had
breast cancer,” Ryan said. “She’s a very tough lady.”
574795
Calgary Flames
Flames’ Irving willing to bide his time in minors
By Vicki Hall,
CALGARY — Leland Irving admits to feeling a tad stressed last month
when the Calgary Flames signed fellow goaltender Henrik Karlsson to a
two-year contract extension.
OK, maybe a great deal of stress.
After all, Karlsson serves as the backup to starter Miikka Kiprusoff. With
that job filled, Irving is clearly destined for another season with the
American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Heat.
“Obviously, at first I was pretty frustrated,” Irving said Tuesday from
Abbotsford. “I didn’t know what to think.”
Together with his agent, Irving mulled over an offer from a pro team in
Europe, but stuck with the game plan constructed by the Flames. On
Tuesday, he signed off on a one-year, two-way deal worth $600,000 US if
he plays in the NHL.
“At the end of the day, Kipper is going to be playing a lot of games as it is,”
Irving said. “It’s probably best for my development to just be a No. 1 — play
lots of games, get lots of experience and continue to develop.”
Kiprusoff logged 71 games last season, his lowest total in six years, so the
backup job in Calgary calls for copious for patience while watching from the
(relative) comfort of the bench.
The sight lines are great. The experience, not so much.
“I’m still going to be ready for whatever case might happen,” Irving said. “I’ll
be ready.
“If I get an opportunity, I’ll have to take advantage of it.”
Irving took advantage of the opportunity last season in Abbotsford. A firstround pick of the Flames (26th overall) in 2006, Irving established himself
as the clear No. 1 on the farm. The native of Barrhead, Alta., led the AHL
with eight shutouts and posted 30 wins (good for second in the league.), a
goals-against average of 2.33 and save percentage of .913.
Quite the impressive body of work.
“Leland Irving made great strides in his development last season and
responded very well to the challenges we presented to him coming out of
camp,” general manager Jay Feaster said in a statement. “We are pleased
with the progress he continues to make, and we look forward to seeing him
in camp this fall.
“He continues to be one of our top prospects, and at a critical position.”
At 23, Irving realizes the apprenticeship for NHL goaltenders often lasts
longer than other positions. Detroit Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard,
for example, established himself in the big leagues at age 25 after four
seasons in the AHL.
“It’s a tough position in that it’s really mentally challenging,” he said. “It’s not
like you can go for a big hit or fight if something wrong happens. You’re
sitting and waiting for the play to come to you. It gives you a lot of time to
think, so you need the ability to control those thoughts.
“It takes longer to mature as a goaltender, for sure.”
A workout fiend, Irving reported to camp last September in spectacular
shape. He plans to do the same this coming season.
In the meantime, he’s taking part in another training program with the
newest addition to the family, Cruz.
“The biggest change is we have a new chocolate lab puppy,” he said.
“We’ve got him in puppy classes. I’ve been getting trained. He’s been
getting trained.
“I guess it’s kind of training for kids maybe later down the road.”
One step at a time.
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574796
Calgary Flames
Flames prospect goalie willing to wait
By RANDY SPORTAK, QMI Agency
CALGARY - To his credit, Leland Irving will admit the Calgary Flames’ resigning of Henrik Karlsson to a two-year contract with a one-way salary
essentially puts a ceiling on his chances in the near future.
To his credit, Irving is vowing to do what he can to break through any
possible barrier.
With Miikka Kiprusoff well established as the star of the show and Karlsson
holding the inside track as the backup in Calgary, Irving is most likely
ticketed for another season or two in the minors.
But the goaltender drafted in the first round in 2006 is not letting the
potential disappointment get to him, vowing to push for a NHL job as soon
as possible after re-signing with the team Wednesday, inking a one-year,
two-way contract that would pay him US$600,000 at the NHL level.
“The initial reaction, I guess, would be it sucks and I’ll be stuck in Abby for a
while longer, but — at the same time — whoever is up in Calgary doesn’t
seem to be playing many games. Kipper’s going to take the workload and I
need the experience,” Irving said from his home in Abbotsford. “I’m still
going to come to camp and battle for that spot, but at the end of the day, it’s
about what’s best for my development.
“I’m going to do everything I can — in the gym and on the ice — to give
myself the best opportunity to be the best goalie I can be.”
Eventually, Kiprusoff’s playing days will come to an end in Calgary, and the
Flames are looking at a trio of netminders as potential replacements in
Karlsson, Irving and first-year pro Joni Ortio.
Irving, the only player drafted by the Flames from 2003 through 2006 that
remains with the organization, took a big step forward in the eyes of
Calgary’s brass last season, posting an impressive 30-24-2 record with a
2.30 goals-against average and .913 save percentage for a Heat team
which failed to make the playoffs.
“It was a good stepping stone. I thought I really took some strides. It was
nice to rebound after not a very solid year in my first year in Abbotsford,”
said the 23-year-old netminder. “I felt I was given an opportunity, and I was
able to roll with it. It turned out to be a great season.”
A big source of pride is the consistency he had.
“I felt the guys had confidence in me each and every night, and they could
count on me,” Irving said. “It wasn’t like I’d have a great game and then a
terrible game. I didn’t have that rollercoaster, was solid pretty much all year.
“That was a real focus of mine because it’s something I think a No.-1 goalie
has to establish. At the same time,
I was able to bounce back when I had to.”
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574797
Calgary Flames
Flames wing prospect has no shortage of skill
By RANDY SPORTAK, QMI Agency
CALGARY - Before the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary Flames came up
with a list of prospects ranked without parameters.
It was about grabbing the best player available regardless of things like the
position he played, country he comes from or his size.
Calling winger John Gaudreau’s name in the fourth round, they proved that
list held true when it came to height.
Watching the Carney’s Point, N.Y., product scoot around the ice at the Don
Hartman Northeast Sportsplex this week during the Flames’ summer
development camp — his red jersey nearly at his knees on his (generouslylisted) 5-foot-8 frame — it’s clear the team’s philosophy has evolved.
“Size obviously wasn’t a factor,” said GM Jay Feaster, who knows one of
the best small-in-stature NHLers pretty well from his time in Tampa.
“Marty St. Louis is not a very big guy, but his heart’s bigger than most
buildings.
“We’re looking for guys that can play hockey, not guys that can dunk a
basketball.”
Gaudreau isn’t about to hang from the rim of any regulation hoop on the
court, but he looks like he can dangle a puck and comes with a wellresearched reputation of getting things done despite his lack of size.
“Anybody you’ve talked to about him, the bigger the game, the tougher the
game, the better he played,” said head coach Brent Sutter. “That’s a very
intriguing sign. They say he’s got great bite to his game. You don’t measure
the heart of a player by how big he is.”
But by being small, Gaudreau might be even more motivated than most.
“People have always told me I can never make it because I’m too small,”
said Gaudreau, dwarfed in the middle of a massive scrum in the hallway.
“But it’s just motivation to keep playing and try to prove them wrong.
“Hopefully, I keep playing the way I’m playing and keep proving them
wrong.”
The 18-year-old isn’t alone. There are nine prospects listed under 6 feet
and another eight listed right on the 6-foot mark. They include 13th overall
pick Sven Baertschi (5-foot-11) and Paul Byron (5-foot-10), who came over
from the Buffalo Sabres system in the Robyn Regehr trade.
Typically the smallest guy in camp, Byron had to grin at the sight of
Gaudreau.
“I heard they drafted a smaller guy,” said the 22-year-old, who was selected
in the sixth round in 2007. “I remember when I got drafted by Buffalo, I
wasn’t much bigger than (Gaudreau). He’ll definitely grow by the time he’s
my age.”
Turning a strong finish in the junior ranks into an impressive couple of pro
seasons with the Portland Pirates, Byron is hoping to add his name to the
list of diminutive dynamos in the NHL.
“Smaller guys do have a place in the NHL right now,” said Byron. “Seeing
them and what they’ve accomplished is great for me and I think I can do the
same thing.”
574798
Calgary Flames
Brodie handlin' the Heat
By STEVE MACFARLANE, QMI Agency
CALGARY - From the high of scoring a pair of goals in his first pre-season
game and earning a spot with the Calgary Flames out of training camp, the
slight stumble that followed seemed that much steeper for defenceman T.J.
Brodie.
It wasn’t as if the smooth-skating 21-year-old had a terrible first season as a
pro
— Brodie scored five goals and posted 34 points, was named an AHL allstar, and improved his all-around game with the Abbotsford Heat — but
there were definitely growing pains along the way.
Sent to the Heat after three regular-season games with the Flames,
rumours quickly surfaced Brodie was too big for his britches.
There was talk Heat head coach Jim Playfair was at odds with the raw but
talented blueliner. Notoriously emotional as a teacher, Playfair has a
reputation as a bit of a yeller.
“That was another adjustment I had to make,” Brodie admitted Tuesday at
the Flames summer development camp. “Coming in, he’s the type of coach
who likes to raise his voice and get his point across that way. It takes a
while to understand how to take that from sort of a negative to a positive.
“Some guys, it’s hard to deal with that. Instead of improving your game, it
can get your confidence down, that type of thing, thinking you’re always
doing something wrong.”
There were plenty of things Brodie was doing right. Most of them, however,
were in the offensive zone.
Both Playfair and Troy Ward — who took over as Heat head coach when
Playfair joined the Phoenix Coyotes this summer — had plenty of advice for
Brodie on the back end.
“The biggest thing they were on me about was the defensive zone.
Sometimes, I’d get too excited and just lunge for pucks. A guy comes in and
beats me and he’s got a clear path to the net,” said Brodie.
“The biggest thing was just relaxing and just putting my stick out there,
making him make the first move and reacting to that.
“Little things like watching guys’ feet and where to put your stick to force
guys to where you want them to go.”
Lessons came off the ice, too. Rooming with Bryan Cameron, John Negrin
and Greg Nemisz, Brodie had to fend
for himself away from home for the first time.
“The lifestyle’s different,” Brodie said. “You go from a hotel to living in a
house with three other guys. Coming straight from junior, that’s a big
adjustment — cooking, cleaning, doing your own laundry, stuff like that.”
Maybe not as big an adjustment as adapting to the harsh words of a head
coach in the pros. But things did eventually come together for Brodie, who
figures just a couple of months before an ankle injury ended his season, he
was playing his best hockey.
“I tried to take what he’s saying and put it to use, because there is a
message in everything that he says, and he does know what he’s talking
about,” Brodie said of Playfair’s teaching. “Once I figured that out,
I found the game was a lot easier, and I was more relaxed out there and
could play my game.”
574799
Carolina Hurricanes
should be healthy when he arrives in North Carolina in early September for
training camp.
Kaberle still has drive
While he may be the newest member of the Hurricanes, it may be a few
more weeks before he's in full Hurricanes mode - and understandably so.
By CHIP ALEXANDER –
On July 20, Kaberle will have his day with the Cup. Much of it will be spent
in Kaberle's hometown, Kladno, where the Cup will be on display at an
event in Sletišti Stadium.
Tomas Kaberle won't be the most forceful personality in the Carolina
Hurricanes' dressing room next season.
Nor will he be the one expecting to be smothered by media attention. And
he won't be the one ordering younger players to follow his lead.
So says Canes coach Paul Maurice, who explained, "He does not seek the
spotlight. That's not something he's comfortable with. That's not him.
"He's a really nice man and a really good hockey player. In a lot of ways,
he's a lot like his brother. They have very similar personalities."
Kaberle, who signed a three-year, $12.75 million free-agent contract
Tuesday with Carolina, and his older brother, Frantisek Kaberle, also have
something else in common: Both defensemen have won Stanley Cups.
Frantisek Kaberle was on Carolina's 2006 championship team, and Tomas
Kaberle lifted the Cup this year with the Boston Bruins.
Tomas Kaberle became an unrestricted free agent Friday, which he called a
"long day." Traded to Boston by the Toronto Maple Leafs in February, the
former All-Star said he enjoyed his time playing for Bruins.
"Everybody was great to me right from the first day when I got in," he said
during a Wednesday conference call.
Boston made him a contract offer, Kaberle said, adding that it was "a little
bit different" than the Carolina offer. He offered no other details, however.
"Sometimes," Kaberle said, "it's about the business."
More than mere dollar signs were involved, Kaberle said. His brother had
praised the Hurricanes' organization and the passion of Canes fans.
"When he was there ... I thought he was the happiest of the three teams he
played for in the NHL," Tomas Kaberle said of his brother.
There also was the matter of playing again for Maurice. For two seasons in
Toronto, Maurice was the Leafs' coach, and Kaberle was his star blueliner.
"I had a good relationship in Toronto for the time he was there," Kaberle
said.
At 33, Kaberle isn't old, by any means. He's still productive, still one of the
best in the NHL at quarterbacking a power play.
But there were questions in Boston at times about his competitiveness, his
fight in the one-on-one battles, his reluctance to shoot the puck. He played
well in the Stanley Cup finals against the Vancouver Canucks, though.
But what about his motivation? He has the new contract, and he has won a
Cup.
"That's the motivation," Kaberle said. "After going through what I've never
experienced before, it was amazing. Obviously, you want to do it again."
Kaberle mentioned that one of his Boston teammates, Mark Recchi, has
won three Cups, each with a different team. One was with Carolina in 2006.
"That's why you play hockey, you want to be No. 1," Kaberle said.
Kaberle has played against the Hurricanes enough over the past 12
seasons to have a sense of his new team. He has competed against Eric
Staal, watched Cam Ward in net and witnessed last season's emergence of
Jeff Skinner.
"It's a good team, a good young team," Kaberle said. "There's a good
chance to do something special.
"Carolina won (the Cup) when no one expected them to do it. When you
play as a team you can do a lot of things."
Kaberle plans to spend the summer in his native Czech Republic, where
one of his workout partners is Canes forward Jiri Tlusty. He said the grind of
Boston's march to the Cup did not cause any significant injuries and that he
"It's kind of crazy," Kaberle, chuckling, said of his eventful year. "Obviously
things happen for a reason. Obviously, I will do my best for Carolina. I know
they want to do well there, and I want to do the same thing."
News Observer LOADED: 07.07.2011
574800
Chicago Blackhawks
Ex-Hawk Brouwer signs 2-year, $4.7M deal with Capitals
Tribune News Services
ARLINGTON, Va. — Troy Brouwer has signed a two-year, $4.7 million
contract with the Washington Capitals.
The deal announced Wednesday comes less than two weeks after the right
wing was acquired in a trade just before the NHL draft.
Washington sent the No. 26 overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for
Brouwer, who was a restricted free agent.
The 25-year-old forward had 17 goals and 19 assists last season.
Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.07.2011
574801
Chicago Blackhawks
Draft picks, lesser-known prospects ready to at Blackhawks camp
By ADAM L. JAHNS
Forwards Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri and defenseman Shawn Lalonde
won’t be at the Blackhawks’ prospect camp today at Johnny’s IceHouse
West. Neither will volatile winger Kyle Beach.
Few, if any, of the Hawks’ prospects who are considered next in line to
make the jump to the NHL will take part.
But that doesn’t mean a player won’t wow the brass at camp, which is open
to the public and runs through Monday. Last year, defenseman Nick Leddy
earned an entry-level contract and eventually made the Hawks out of
training camp after a strong prospect-camp performance.
Although the Hawks’ official roster for next season is already overflowing,
there are players to keep an eye on. Brothers Jimmy and Kevin Hayes and
defenseman Dylan Olsen head the list attending this year’s camp.
General manager Stan Bowman recently listed Kevin Hayes just behind
Marcus Kruger and Pirri as the Hawks’ top young centers in the system.
Centers Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault, both 2011 first-round picks, will
try to join that short list.
‘‘I’m going to go into camp this year .?.?. and try and make the team,’’ the
6-1, 211-pound McNeill said after he was taken with the 18th overall pick.
‘‘At the same time, I know if that doesn’t happen, I want to learn and take in
as much as possible. I know I have a really good place back in Prince
Albert [of the Western Hockey League] to go and develop my game more.’’
The Hawks were happy with their 2011 draft, and Bowman specifically said
he liked the mix of players he was able to add. Winger Brandon Saad (43rd
overall) and defensemen Adam Clandening (36th) and Michael Paliotta
(70th) also will be at the camp.
‘‘Clandening is a guy who I’ve been on to really all year long,’’ Bowman
said. ‘‘He’s a really likable player, and I was hoping that we’d be able to get
him. He was definitely a guy we wanted.
‘‘Brandon Saad, a lot of lot people had as a mid-first round pick. We thought
so as well. We were hoping he might slide. [Paliotta] is a big kid. He’s going
to be going to college. He has some time to refine his game. We like his
potential with his frame. He’s got some edge to his game. He can play
feisty.”
Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.07.2011
574802
Chicago Blackhawks
Will Blackhawks contend for Stanley Cup?
By Tim Sassone
Now that most of the dust has settled from free agency, who is the team to
beat in the Western Conference in 2011-12?
Take your pick from these five: The Blackhawks, San Jose, Detroit,
Vancouver and Los Angeles.
As it stands today, the Hawks are as good as anyone in the West and might
be the cream of the crop.
1. Blackhawks
There's no question the Hawks are going to miss Brian Campbell's speed
and ability to move the puck from the back end, but Nick Leddy gets the
chance to fill the void while there's pressure on Niklas Hjalmarsson to take
his game to the next level.
Ÿ Minnesota. The team that couldn't score went out and acquired Heatley
and Setoguchi from the Sharks. Which Heatley shows up in the Twin Cities
likely will determine if the Wild is better. Losing Burns hurts, though.
Ÿ Nashville. How are the Predators better after letting Joel Ward, Steve
Sullivan, Marcel Goc and J.P. Dumont walk as free agents while adding
only Niclas Bergfors and Zach Stortini? They aren't.
Ÿ Phoenix. The Coyotes always could depend on goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to
win games, but not anymore. He's in Philadelphia now, and also gone are
heart-and-soul guys Ed Jovanovski and Vern Fiddler. Mike Smith is the new
No. 1 goalie.
Ÿ Calgary. The Flames traded defenseman Robin Regehr and added
nobody. Good luck with that.
Ÿ Anaheim. Like the Flames, the Ducks have stood pat, but they still should
be right in the thick of the playoff chase with a solid roster.
Ÿ Dallas. The Stars lost Brad Richards, who can't be replaced. Adding
Michael Ryder, Fiddler, Jake Dowell and Sheldon Souray won't come close.
They're probably not a playoff team again.
Ÿ Colorado. What are the Avs doing anyway? They added goalies Semyon
Varlamov and J.S. Giguere along with defenseman Jan Hejda. That's not
enough to make them a playoff team.
The Hawks addressed the need for size and toughness in free agency with
the additions of Steve Montador, Sean O'Donnell, Jamal Mayers and Dan
Carcillo, while Andrew Brunette should fit nicely on the second line.
Ÿ Edmonton. Adding center Eric Belanger, Eager, defenseman Cam Barker
and Darcy Hordichuk brings grit, but it will be another year of waiting on the
kids for Oilers fans.
The Hawks still have a ton of skill up front and the 1-2 punch of Duncan
Keith and Brent Seabrook anchoring the defense.
Ÿ St. Louis. The Blues finally got active Wednesday, signing center Jason
Arnott and winger Jamie Langenbrunner — solid pickups after the additions
of journeymen Kent Huskins, Scott Nichol and backup goalie Darren Elliott.
2. San Jose
Sharks general manager Doug Wilson made two nice trades with
Minnesota, getting Martin Havlat for the underachieving Dany Heatley and
underrated defenseman Brent Burns for Devon Setoguchi.
A motivated Havlat could make Sharks fans forget all about Heatley, who
was a playoff bust.
The Sharks lost some grit in Mayers and Ben Eager and let Ian White go as
a free agent, but Wilson has brought in center Michal Handzus and
defenseman Jim Vandermeer.
3. Los Angeles
If the Kings were lacking leadership they have all kinds of it now after
trading for Mike Richards and signing Simon Gagne as a free agent.
They had to trade Wayne Simmonds and top prospect Brayden Schenn to
Philadelphia to get Richards and lost Handzus, but the Kings are a team
that now has a lot of the pieces in place for a deep playoff run.
4. Detroit
Never count the Red Wings out of anything.
The Wings saw defenseman Brian Rafalski retire, but they signed
defensemen Mike Commodore and White as free agents.
Detroit still is loaded offensively, led by the great Pavel Datsyuk, and
Nicklas Lidstrom is coming back for another year at age 41. GM Ken
Holland still has plenty of money to spend and may be looking to make a
trade.
5. Vancouver
It's hard to see where the Canucks have improved since losing Game 7 of
the Stanley Cup Finals to Boston.
Gone as free agents are defenseman Christian Ehrhoff and rugged
forwards Raffi Torres, Tanner Glass and Mark Rypien.
GM Mike Gillis did sign center Marco Sturm, but that's it. The Canucks still
need to find a top-six forward somewhere and more jam.
The rest
Ÿ Columbus: The Blue Jackets made some bold moves and should be
much better with the additions of Jeff Carter's 40 goals and defenseman
James Wisniewski's 40 assists.
Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.07.2011
574803
Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks invite McNeill, Danault and 44 others to prospects camp
By Staff
The Blackhawks’ annual prospects camp begins today at Johnny’s Ice
House West and runs through Monday.
A total of 46 prospects have been invited, including 2011 first-round draft
picks Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault, 2010 first-rounder Kevin Hayes and
2009 first-round selection Dylan Olsen.
Other notable invitees are 2011 second-rounds picks Adam Clendening and
Brandon Saad, Rob Flick, Byron Froese, Jimmy Hayes, Philippe Paradis
and Ludvig Rensfeldt.
There will be two scrimmage sessions Saturday and Monday.
Last July, 18-year-old Nick Leddy had such a strong prospects camp that it
led to him making the team out of training camp.
Arbitration cases:
No dates have been set for the arbitration hearings for defenseman Chris
Campoli and left wing Viktor Stalberg, both of whom filed for salary
arbitration Tuesday.
Campoli and Stalberg can continue to negotiate with the Hawks right up
until their arbitration hearing, which will be scheduled from July 20 through
Aug. 4.
The 27-year-old Campoli is looking for a bump of the $1.4 million he earned
last season.
Stalberg had a cap hit of $850,000 last season when he scored just 12
goals in 77 games.
Numbers game:
The Hawks’ six new additions have been assigned uniform numbers: Steve
Montador (5), Sean O’Donnell (6), Dan Carcillo (13), Andrew Brunette (15),
Jamal Mayers (22) and Rostislav Olesz (85).
Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.07.2011
574804
Colorado Avalanche
AFA hosting Avalanche again
Denver Post staff and wire services
The Avalanche's annual Burgundy-White intrasquad game, played last year
in Broomfield, is returning to the Air Force Academy. The Sept. 20 game
will start at 6:30 p.m. at Cadet Ice Arena, where the preseason event was
played from 2007-09.
Ticket sales will benefit military families and youth hockey programs in
Colorado. Tickets range from $10 (military personnel) to $20 (general
public).
CU picks up pledge from Texas wideout.
Colorado's football program added a wide receiver to its 2012 recruiting
class when Gerald Thomas of The Colony (Texas) High School extended
an oral commitment to the Buffaloes this week, according to Rivals.com.
Thomas (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) caught 71 passes for 1,185 yards and 12
touchdowns last year as a junior. He has 4.37-second speed in the 40-yard
dash.
Thomas said he picked CU over Arizona. He also considered Iowa and
Arizona State. "I analyzed what each school had to give and I liked
Colorado better," he told Rivals.com. Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
Rapids ticketed for Hawaii.
The Rapids will play next year in a new four-team international soccer
tournament in Honolulu with professional clubs from Japan, South Korea
and Australia.
The Rapids' games in the Hawaiian Islands Invitational are scheduled for
Feb. 23 and Feb. 25 at Aloha Stadium. Yokohama FC (Japan), Incheon
United FC (South Korea) and Melbourne Heart FC (Australia) also will play
in the tournament, which ESPN will televise on its international networks.
Colorado Cup debut on horizon.
The area Division I women's soccer season kicks off in August with the
inaugural Colorado Cup, a traveling trophy that the University of Colorado,
University of Denver, Colorado College and Northern Colorado will compete
to win.
DU hosts the first round Aug. 19, with CU and CC meeting at 4:30 p.m. and
UNC and DU meeting at 7 p.m. The second round Aug. 21 moves to
Prentup Field in Boulder, where DU will play CC and CU will play UNC.
Next year, Colorado Cup matches will be played in Colorado Springs and
Greeley.
Colorado Open qualifier.
Nathan Tyler of Tucson,Matt Rutledge of Fort Collins, and Nate Stevenson
of Steamboat Springs carded 8-under-par 64s in the first qualifier for the
HealthONE Colorado Open.
Fifteen players finished regulation play with scores of 3-under par or better
to secure their position in the championship. Three more qualifiers will be
held before the Open gets underway July 21 at Green Valley Ranch Golf
Club.
Denver Post: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574805
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche's Porter, Wilson file for arbitration
By Adrian Dater
Avalanche winger Kevin Porter and defenseman Ryan Wilson were two of
23 NHL players, from 17 teams, to file for salary arbitration Tuesday.
Whether Porter or Wilson actually go to binding arbitration hearings remains
uncertain, as cases are typically assigned in late July or early August. Until
then, they can continue to negotiate with the Avalanche on new contracts.
But if they don't agree to new deals, their cases will be assigned to an
arbitrator for hearings.
Porter, 25, scored 14 goals and 25 points in 74 games for Colorado last
season, with a minus-11. His cap hit was $660,000.
Wilson, 24, scored three goals and 16 points and a minus-8 in 67 games.
His cap hit was $551,666.
Rookie camp.
The Avalanche will hold a rookie orientation camp from Monday to Friday
next week, with about 15 players expected to participate at the team's
practice facilities at Family Sports Center in Centennial.
There will be no on-ice activities, however, and it is not open to the public. It
is more of a get-acquainted week, with fitness drills mixed in.
Denver Post: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574806
Islanders veteran added to Blue Jackets' blue line
By Aaron Portzline
The final piece of the Blue Jackets defense was put in place yesterday
when veteran Radek Martinek signed a one-year, $2.2 million contract.
"Columbus was the first team to call me," Martinek said. "There were other
teams, but they were first. And it seems like a good fit for me. I'm going to
be in a pretty good role on a pretty good team. They've made lots of
changes that are good. They're very serious about winning."
The tentative plan is to play Martinek on the right side of the second pair
with Marc Methot. But the word tentative is never far away with Martinek.
The 34-year-old from the Czech Republic is regarded as a hard skater and
a highly competitive player, one who is willing to put his body on the line for
checks and to block shots. But his fearlessness has come at a cost:
Martinek has averaged only 50 games per season over his nine-season
NHL career, all spent with the New York Islanders.
The most recent injury was a concussion suffered at the world
championships in April. Martinek said it took four weeks for him to recover.
The Blue Jackets had him in Columbus on Monday and Tuesday for a
battery of tests.
"Our doctors were convinced that he's recovered," general manager Scott
Howson said. "We know what his history is. It's because of the way he
plays. He plays hard; he's competitive."
Martinek has twice suffered torn knee ligaments, along with ankle, foot and
leg fractures and a separated shoulder. The concussion in April was the
second of his career, but the first since the 2003-04 season.
"Radek puts himself on the line every game," said Matthew Deutsche,
Martinek's agent. "He blocks shots, plays physical and takes care of
business in front of the net. But he has also had his share of bad luck. He's
fine now (and) excited by the opportunity in Columbus."
Martinek had three goals, 13 assists and a minus-5 rating in 64 games last
season. He was an eighth-round draft pick (No.228 overall) by the Islanders
in 1999.
"He's a very good skater," Howson said. "He's more of a defensive player
than an offensive player, but he makes a good first pass and he's good with
the puck. He can play against top people."
Howson set out to reshape the defense this offseason. Yesterday, he
declared the project a success. Fedor Tyutin likely will pair with James
Wisniewski, who signed a six-year, $33 million contract on Friday. Methot
and Martinek are the second pair, and Grant Clitsome fits on the third.
The competition for the sixth and seventh spots will involve veterans Kris
Russell and Aaron Johnson and rookies John Moore, David Savard and
Nick Holden.
"As a group, it's better with the puck, for sure," Howson said. "When you
bring in Wisniewski and Martinek, it's better with the puck, and that was our
primary goal. Now, we finally have two right-shot guys (Wisniewski and
Martinek) on the right side.
"We think it's a better group, but the proof will come in training camp and
once the season starts."
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.07.2011
574807
This birthday is one Nash will remember
Michael Arace
I tried to capture for them what it was like in Game 4 against Detroit, when
everyone in the building stood on their feet for the entire third period of a
playoff game."
There are no guarantees of success, but at least hope has been rekindled.
The team captain, sometimes criticized for his quiet style of leadership, has
been critical to the process.
It is nice to have him around.
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.07.2011
On June 16, Rick Nash turned 27. The occasion sparked a conversation
within the Blue Jackets' hockey operations department.
"His birthday inspired us all to help him," general manager Scott Howson
said yesterday.
He was dead serious.
"We talked about it internally," Howson said. "He deserves it, and it's the
right thing to do for our franchise. If we don't act, we're going to waste Rick
and waste the prime of his career. We had to try something different,
maybe more radical."
Previous experiments with homegrown talent and stopgap free agents did
not work. The Jackets' draft history - seven of 12 first-round picks have
been traded away - lacked resuscitation. Remember the hope of the early
years? It resurfaced during the lone playoff season of 2008-09, but quickly
faded to lockout level.
When hope dwindles, the building empties, free agents eschew the address
and the city gets a bad name. If it dwindles enough, elite players such as
Nash, who want to win while they still have groins, begin thinking about a
change of address.
"It seemed like it was going to be another long summer of watching other
teams make big moves," Nash said. "Then, things changed."
On June23, one week after Nash's birthday, Howson traded Jake Voracek,
a first-round draft pick and a third-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for
All-Star center Jeff Carter.
Six days later, Howson acquired the rights to defenseman James
Wisniewski from the Montreal Canadiens. The morning of July 1, hours
before Wisniewski would have hit the free-agent market, he signed a
contract with the Jackets.
Carter is more of a shooter than a playmaker. It remains to be seen whether
he is a good fit to play on the same line with Nash. Wisniewski, although he
had 51 points last season, is no All-Star (not yet, anyway). These
acquisitions do not immediately stamp the Jackets as a playoff team.
But what a coup. The Jackets have never had a No.1 center - Nash has
been naked. Now they have that center in Carter. The Jackets have not had
a power-play quarterback since Jaroslav Spacek, and they have not had a
bomber from the back end since Jamie Heward. In Wisniewski, they have a
QB, a bomber and a dude who once put a whuppin' on Nashville's Jordin
Tootoo.
"To me, this is thrilling," Nash said. "It validates the trust I put in (the front
office) when I signed an eight-year extension (in 2009). Scott sat me down
and said the whole goal was to build this team into a Stanley Cup
contender. Look at him now. Look at ownership. I commend them for trying
to do exactly that."
Last season, the Jackets scored 210 goals.
Last season, Nash, Carter and Wisniewski combined for 78 goals and 105
assists.
This is a major offensive upgrade for a traditionally anemic team, and it all
makes sense. Carter, 26, and Wisniewski, 27, are in Nash's age range. Like
Nash, they are locked up long-term. Joining the trio in Columbus took guts
on the part of Howson, big bucks on the part of ownership - and it took
Nash.
Nash was part of the Jackets' traveling party that flew to the Jersey shore to
welcome Carter to the fold. Carter was impressed enough to join Nash (and
Jared Boll) in the recruitment of Wisniewski. Together, they have changed
the perception of Columbus, and they did it in a matter of days.
"I just said the obvious about the city: Columbus is a beautiful city with a lot
going for it, and once you get guys playing there, it's tough to get them out,"
Nash said. "I also expressed to them that we haven't even come close to
seeing the best of this place as a hockey market. The potential is still huge.
574808
Dallas Stars
Heika: Draft-day criticism aside, Stars glad they stuck with goalie
By MIKE HEIKA
McKINNEY — Jack Campbell knows all about the Cam Fowler debate, and
frankly, it doesn’t bother him.
“I think you’ll see a big difference in my game this upcoming season.”
Campbell said. “The biggest thing for myself is slowing my game down …
and feeling a little bit more calm in the net.”
He already has found a great deal of that calm dealing with the talk that
surrounded him and Fowler. Of course, he found with his own trademark
confidence.
“I’m just trying to be the best player I can be,” he said with a matter-of-fact
look, “and hopefully help Dallas win a couple of Stanley Cups down the
road.”
Jack Campbell
“Truthfully, it’s more of a compliment,” said Campbell, the goalie who was
taken one pick ahead of Fowler in the 2010 draft. “Dallas selected me — I
got picked where I wanted to get picked. People can say what they want,
and I’m just going to try to be the best player I can be.”
Born: Jan. 9, 1992 in Port Huron, Mich.
The Stars, in need of young defensemen, could have taken Fowler when he
slipped to No. 11 in the draft. However, they were focused on Campbell
from the start and took the young goalie from the U.S. Development
Program. The talented Fowler was snapped up by rival Anaheim at No. 12.
Drafted: 11th overall in 2010
Many Stars fans were upset with the decision at the time, and they became
even more upset when Fowler had a solid rookie season as an 18-year-old
on the Ducks. But the Stars still like their decision.
“Time will tell on all draft picks, so it really is difficult to say anything
definitively until you get to see their body of work,” Stars GM Joe
Nieuwendyk. “But we really believe we got a special player in Jack
Campbell.”
And, as strange as this sounds, the fact that Campbell, 19, didn’t have a
perfect post-draft season is one of the reasons the Stars like him so much.
Campbell, who is among 38 prospects working out in McKinney at Stars
development camp this week, helped Team USA beat Canada for the gold
medal at the 2010 World Juniors, and that led to the Stars drafting him.
But to take the next step in development, he needed to go from the U.S.
Development Program (which plays in the USHL) to Major Junior in the
Ontario Hockey League. The transition was a tough one, as he got off to a
2-5-0 start and posted fairly disappointing numbers at 3.80 GAA and .884
save percentage.
However, he finished with a 24-14-2 record and led the Windsor Spitfires 18
games into the playoffs. In addition, he helped an undermanned USA team
to the bronze medal at the World Juniors and was voted best goalie in the
tournament with a 1.70 GAA and .941 save percentage.
“Campbell is an amazing prospect,” said Les Jackson, the Stars director of
scouting and player development. “Traditionally, what happens with a lot of
the American kids that go in is that he went through that adversity and he
showed at the World Junior his caliber.”
Campbell said he learned a lot about himself in battling adversity.
“It was a pretty rough start, coming from pro camp and having real high
expectations,” Campbell said. “It kind of taught me that you’ve got to
basically live in the moment. I’ve learned a lot. The first eight games was a
rough stretch, but after that I thought I settled down and had a real good
playoff run. Now, I feel like I am ready to take that next step.”
Part of the problem — and part of the greatness — with Campbell is he’s
always pushing. Campbell would love to make the Stars this season or at
least get into the pros.
However, the Stars’goalie cupboard is stocked with Kari Lehtonen and
Andrew Raycroft in the NHL, as well as Tyler Beskorowany and Richard
Bachman in the AHL. That means Campbell will likely go back to Windsor.
“I think in the ideal world, we’ll bring him to camp and he’ll probably end up
back in Windsor,” said Jackson. “He’ll get a lot of games there and a lot of
experience, and we’ll see a year down the road from there.”
Campbell says he wants to stay hungry.
“You’re never really given anything when you get to this level, you’ve got to
earn it,” he said. “And it doesn’t matter if there is one spot or two spots or
zero spots going into camp, I’m just going to go in there proving I should be
there.”
Campbell has put on 18 pounds and is working on his conditioning,
flexibility and strength.
Position: Goalie
Height: 6-3 Weight: 193
Notable: Won gold medal with Team USA at 2009 World Juniors … Won
bronze medal with Team USA and named outstanding goaltender at 2010
World Juniors … Played three seasons for United States National
Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. … Favorite player growing up
was Marty Turco.
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.07.2011
574809
Dallas Stars
So how would you juggle Stars' lines?
By Mike Heika / Reporter
In talking to Stars people, there is a very good chance they go into training
camp with the roster they have right now.
Yes, a prospect could knock their socks off and take the place of a veteran.
Yes, a deal could be so good that they can't pass it up. Yes, the new owner
could come in and ``suggest'' an upgrade. But, barring that, the front office
feels pretty good about this group.
I threw out some lines on Friday when they made all of the signings, and
they looked like this:
LW-C-RW
Brenden Morrow-Mike Ribeiro-Michael Ryder
Steve Ott-Jamie Benn-Loui Eriksson
Jake Dowell-Vernon Fiddler-Adam Burish
Toby Petersen-Tom Wandell-Radek Dvorak
LD-RD
Alex Goligoski-Stephane Robidas
Nicklas Grossman-Trevor Daley
Adam Pardy-Sheldon Souray
Goalie
Kari Lehtonen
Depth players: D Mark Fistric, RW Krys Barch, RW Tomas Vincour, G
Andrew Raycroft
My thinking was that Ryder will have instant chemistry with Mike Ribeiro
(with whom he has played before). Ribeiro likes a right-handed shot, and
that line should be good offensively.
Then, the second line could be a solid two-way line that goes against the
other team's best line and still can score on the counter-attack. Benn,
Eriksson and Ott are all good defensively and can force turnovers. Benn
and Eriksson are then good in transition with scoring opportunities. Steve
Ott can also help Benn with faceoffs while the youngster continues learning
to play center.
I think Vernon Fiddler is one of the more underrated acquisitions, and
should anchor the checking line for the next three seasons. Fiddler is a lefthanded faceoff guy and Burish a right-handed faceoff guy, so that duo
should be solid against any line. I put Dowell up there, because he has a
history with Burish, and I think the chemistry might be good, but you have a
lot of options on that left wing.
The fourth line I assembled has some speed and skill. Wandell is not a true
checking line player, so I thought I would see what he can do with a speedy
winger like Radek Dvorak. They might have some interesting chemistry. I
put Toby Petersen on there, because I like his consistency and his ability to
create offensively when given a chance.
But again, there are plenty of options.
On defense, I think Alex Goligoski needs a solid guy like Stephane
Robidas. Both can play big minutes, and both can play with skill. Some
people think you shouldn't break up Robidas and Nicklas Grossman, but I
think a new coaching staff might look at some things differently.
The second pair of Grossman and Daley should help Daley step up. He's
supposed to be a leader on this team, and this will allow him a consistent
role and possibly establish a more defensive identity. Plus, he's a lefty who
can play the right side. He could also play with Goligoski, but I like this role
better.
The guess is since Adam Pardy will be getting $2 million a year, he will be
getting a significant role. Maybe this causes a big push from Mark Fistric,
and Pardy gets a scratch or two. At the very least, if improves your
defensive depth.
I'm not sure what to expect from Sheldon Souray, but he has played 20
minutes a game for his entire NHL career and he appears very motivated,
so he's kind of a wildcard back there. He also can be a very physical player,
so it would be interesting to see him paired with Pardy or Fistric.
I could be completely wrong, but if this is what you have to work with, how
would you set the lines?
574810
Dallas Stars
Armstrong and Blues getting Stars band back together _ Sign Arnott and
Langenbrunner
By Mike Heika / Reporter
Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting the St. Louis
Blues have signed free agents Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner.
Their GM is, of course, former Stars GM Doug Armstrong, who once upon a
time traded Langenbrunner (and Joe Nieuwendyk) for Arnott in what is
considered one of the worst trades in Stars history.
It defines irony.
So will this make Blues games more fun?
574811
Dallas Stars
Former Stars forward Matthew Barnaby must do 500 hours of service
By Associated Press
BUFFALO, N.Y. — ESPN analyst and former NHL player Matthew Barnaby
will have to complete 500 hours of community service to have charges
dropped stemming from an argument he had with his estranged wife in
May.
A court clerk says State Supreme court Justice Deborah Haendiges issued
the order during a hearing in Buffalo on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old Barnaby pleaded not guilty to five charges after being
arrested on May 13 at his suburban Buffalo home where his wife and two
children live. As part of Barnaby's plea agreement, misdemeanor charges of
criminal mischief and aggravated harassment will be dropped if he fulfills
the order within a year.
Barnaby spent 13-plus seasons in the NHL before retiring in 2007. He
joined ESPN as an analyst a year later.
574812
Dallas Stars
Stars-Coyotes exhibition game at Houston canceled
Staff
HOUSTON -- An NHL exhibition game between the Phoenix Coyotes and
Dallas Stars scheduled to be played in Houston's Reliant Stadium on Sept.
23 has been canceled.
Stars spokesman Rob Scichili said the game was called off because of the
cost of putting ice in the stadium. Scichili said the game will not be
rescheduled.
Briefly
Blues: A pair of former Stars forwards, Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason
Arnott, signed one-year deals worth $2.5 million with St. Louis.
Sharks: Goaltender Thomas Greiss re-signed for a two-year deal.
Senators: Right wing Erik Condra signed a two-year deal to stay in Ottawa.
Blue Jackets: Defenseman Radek Martinek signed a one-year contract.
Wild: Left wing Colton Gillies signed a two-year contract.
Capitals: Left wing Troy Brouwer signed for two years, $4.7 million.
Star-Telegram LOADED: 07.07.2011
574813
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings' prospect camp opens today
By GEORGE SIPPLE
The Red Wings like their prospects to be "overripe" before they compete for
a regular shift in the NHL.
That philosophy now also extends to their prospect development camp,
which starts this afternoon at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City. Admission
is free today and the first session begins at 2:30 p.m.
Players on entry-level contracts -- Brendan Smith, Thomas McCollum, Brian
Lashoff, Travis Ehrhardt, Brent Raedeke -- are coming to the camp even
though they already have played at least one season in the American
Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Smith, a defenseman from
Wisconsin and the 27th overall pick in the 2007 draft, will be given every
opportunity this year to make the Wings out of training camp.
So why bring him and others who have played in the AHL to a development
camp?
"It's a chance to really get their training jump-started," assistant general
manager Jim Nill said. "And it's a chance for these young kids that we've
drafted to see how far they've got to go."
After today, tickets for the development camp are $5 a day. Practice
sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday through July 13. A scrimmage and skills
competition will be 8:30-10 a.m. July 14. For more information, visit
www.centreice.org.
Notebook: Western Michigan coach Jeff Blashill confirmed to the Free
Press on Wednesday evening that he interviewed for one of the Wings'
vacant assistant coaching positions. Blashill led the Broncos to their first
NCAA tournament appearance in 15 seasons in his first season and was
named national coach of the year by College Hockey News, Inside College
Hockey and U.S. College Hockey Online.
Blashill said he was surprised to learn that Wings coach Mike Babcock was
interested in talking to him about a position. Blashill said he "didn't have a
relationship" with Babcock or Wings general manager Ken Holland before
meeting to discuss the job. "I represented who I am," Blashill said. "Whether
that's right for them is yet to be decided."
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.07.2011
574814
Detroit Red Wings
Helene St. James: Red Wings improved, but so did the competition
By HELENE ST. JAMES
The Red Wings are younger and stronger than they were a week ago,
having used the first few days of free agency to add skill and size. They're a
better team -- but they're also faced with better competitors.
The Wings weren't big spenders when free agency began, instead
spending several millions right before July 1. First and foremost, Nicklas
Lidstrom was locked up for another season at $6.2 million. Defenseman
Jonathan Ericsson didn't sign on until a day before he could have hit the
market, when he accepted three years and $9.75 million -- a hefty contract
until held against the madness displayed last Friday.
Columbus gave six years and $33 million to James Wisniewski, a 27-yearold who has appeared in all of 18 NHL playoff games, 27 fewer than
Ericsson, who's also 27. Ed Jovanovski -- who interested the Wings at two
years and $6 million -- got $4 million a season from Florida, and four years.
Both of those contracts could undo their general managers.
The Wings went a wiser route, spending $5.75 million on Ian White over
two years. He's another 27-year-old, he has appeared in 17 playoff games
and he gives them a right-handed shot on the back end. He'll help fill the
void created when Brian Rafalski retired in May, as much as possible,
anyway. There wasn't a defenseman on the market who could match
Rafalski's passing skills.
What White will do is challenge Ericsson, whose new contract pays him topfour defenseman money. Whoever doesn't squeeze into the group
anchored by Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart will make
the third pairing that much more offensive. The other third-pairing guy is
likely to be Mike Commodore, the 6-foot-4, 233-pounder whom the Wings
spent all of $1 million on for one year. Brendan Smith, the Wings' first-round
pick from '07, is going to be pushing for minutes, too, so long as he has a
good training camp. Plus there's Jakub Kindl, although he could well end up
being traded.
While they improved their defense, the Wings haven't made any changes
up front -- yet. They were willing to gamble that Jaromir Jagr could help
them even at 39 and even three years removed from his last NHL game,
but only up to $2.5 million. But they've got $7 million in salary cap space,
and they've got 14 forwards and seven defensemen signed to one-way
deals, so it wouldn't be surprising if the Wings make a trade for a top-six
forward. They do need a bit of that money for a backup goaltender, and
they want a few million in reserve to have at the 2012 trade deadline, but
the bottom line adds up to flexibility.
The Wings might need it. Their Western Conference nemesis, the Sharks,
made a great addition by trading for 6-5 defenseman Brent Burns; it cost
them Devin Setoguchi, but they don't lack for gifted forwards. The Sharks
also swapped playoff underachiever Dany Heatley for Martin Havlat, who
has produced 28 points in his last 26 playoff games.
Inside the Central Division, Chicago unloaded Brian Campbell's contract
and instead signed veteran offensive forward Andrew Brunette and welltested defenseman Sean O'Donnell, among others. The Blue Jackets
traded for Jeff Carter, then added Wisniewski to further prove they're
serious about making the playoffs.
Spending money doesn't guarantee success. The Wings measurably
improved their team over the past week, without a great deal of risk.
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.07.2011
574815
Detroit Red Wings
… The Blues signed veteran forwards Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason
Arnott to one-year deals. Each is worth $2.5 million, plus $300,000 in
bonuses.
Picks, prospects head to Red Wings camp
… The Blue Jackets signed defenseman Radek Martinek to a one-year
contract, adding the veteran blue-liner that they needed.
Ted Kulfan/ The Detroit News
Martinek, 34, a 10-year NHL veteran, had 21 goals and 82 assists with 272
penalty minutes in 453 games with the Islanders.
Detroit— The Red Wings already are headed to Traverse City.
OK, it's not the varsity, so to speak. But the young guys hoping to one day
wear the sweater.
… The Sharks re-signed goaltender Thomas Greiss , who played in
Sweden last year, to a two-year contract.
Development camp
When: Today-July 14.
Recent draft picks, prospects from the Grand Rapids Griffins, undrafted free
agents, all hoping to reach the NHL, will bus this morning to Traverse City
for the start of the annual skill development camp.
Where: Centre ICE in Traverse City
Approximately 40 players are expected to take part, beginning with off-ice
workouts this afternoon.
Schedule
"To go from being drafted to playing in the NHL, it's a long process,"
general manager Ken Holland said. "This is the first part of that education."
Skill development, off-ice strength conditioning, nutrition, and building
relationships with future teammates are stressed in this eight-day camp,
which was moved to Centre ICE in Traverse City, site of the Wings' training
camp.
"We want them to be excited about being Red Wings," Holland said. "
The Wings moved to Traverse City because of the setup at Centre ICE,
with expanded locker rooms and weight-room facilities, which are perfectly
suited for a camp like this.
The ability of the prospects to bond with so many off-ice activities available
(golf, fishing, swimming) in northwest Michigan was also a huge factor.
"We want them to build relationships," Holland said. "Some of them could
be future Red Wings. We want them to have some fun but they'll be working
hard, too."
Skill development is important at any level, but conditioning will be stressed.
The importance of strength training and the amount of work required in the
weight room, is something Holland wants stressed.
"We want to work with them, educate them, and just make sure they know
what needs to be done," Holland said. "It's a good opportunity for us to get
to know them, and for them to get to know us."
Among the players attending the camp are some of the Red Wings' top
prospects: defenseman Brendan Smith (2007, first round), this year's top
draft pick, forward Tomas Jurco (second round), and forwards Landon
Ferraro (2009, second round) and Calle Jarnkrok (2010, second round),
along with goalie Thomas McCollum (2008, first round).
Assistants update
Holland said he expects coach Mike Babcock to name his two new
assistant coaches by the end of the week.
Babcock has interviewed numerous candidates.
One of the confirmed finalists is Western Michigan coach Jeff Blashill , who
told his team earlier this week.
Osgood update
Holland said he's waiting to set his backup goaltender until he's talked to
Chris Osgood, 38, who is in Scotland on a golfing trip.
"Ozzie comes backs Saturday or Sunday and I won't do anything until I talk
to him first," Holland said.
Holland is debating whether to re-sign Osgood, or sign a free agent such as
Ty Conklin (who has played for the Wings) to back up Jimmy Howard .
Ice chips
Troy Brouwer has signed a two-year, $4.7 million contract with the Capitals,
less than two weeks after the right wing was acquired in a trade with the
Blackhawks just before the draft.
Tickets: Today is free; rest of camp is $5 per day
Today: 2:30-4:45 p.m.
Friday-Wednesday: 8:30 a.m.-10:30, and 2:30-4:30 p.m.
July 14: 8:30 a.m.-10 (scrimmage/skills competition)
Detroit News LOADED: 07.07.2011
574816
Detroit Red Wings
It's time for Wings to say farewell to Chris Osgood
Terry Foster
This is painful to write because the guy has been great for the Red Wings
and for Detroit. But the Wings need to cut ties with Chris Osgood. Father
time has caught up with the 38-year-old goalie, and it's time to stop chasing
the past.
Osgood can't stay healthy. His groin injury limited him to 11 regular-season
games last season, and he never made it back for the playoffs.
His goals-against average in that limited time last year was 2.77, but it was
above 3.00 in the two seasons previous to that — too high for an NHL
goalie. His save percentage was .887 in 2008-09 and .888 in 2009-10.
Those are not Red Wing-like numbers. That's what the backup goalie for
the New York Islanders might do.
It's time to move on. And it appears that is what Wings general manager
Ken Holland is prepared to do. If he can swing a deal or sign somebody
better than Osgood, he will. But he kept the door open for Osgood by
saying the market for backup goalies is slim. Osgood, of course, would
return if the Wings want him. If they don't he is prepared to retire.
Professional athletes — just like regular folks — get old. They break down.
It happens in all sports. Willie Mays, Brett Favre and Wayne Gretzky all got
old. It happens to everybody except Nicklas Lidstrom, who looks like he
could play until he's 80.
Osgood is a good family man who loves Detroit. But if he returns to the
Wings next season and stinks up the joint, folks will turn on him and call him
a bum. But right now he is one of this city's favorites, and he needs to go
out that way.
I spent time with Osgood on two of the most important nights of his career.
It was my job to chronicle his thoughts in 1994, during his rookie season,
when his attempted clearing pass in Game 7 of the first-round playoff series
against San Jose landed on Jamie Baker's stick. Baker flipped the puck in
for the series-winning goal.
Osgood made a huge mistake and believed he cost his team the series.
The man cried at his dressing stall while we talked to him. I really felt bad.
I'd never seen an athlete give so much of himself in a series and feel so
badly about failing.
I was also there in 1998 when he won his first Stanley Cup as the Red
Wings' No. 1 goalie. He still had the baby face, but Osgood was more
mature and introspective as he explained his role in winning the Cup. He
even took a brief moment to talk about that errant pass in 1994.
We've talked at Nemo's and the Post downtown. We've talked about family
and life at his dressing stall at the Joe. He is a good dude and he really
loves this town because people here always gave him a chance and
showed him love.
Osgood is a guy that often bounces back from mistakes. He bounced back
after giving up goals from center-ice in the playoffs. He bounced back when
fans said he wasn't good enough to be a No. 1 goalie.
This time there won't be a bounce-back. The past was great, but it's still the
past.
It's time to look to the future.
Detroit News LOADED: 07.07.2011
574817
Detroit Red Wings
Ken Holland on WDFN: Red Wings defenseman 'Jonathan Ericsson is still a
work in progress'
By Philip Zaroo
Ken Holland raised some eyebrows when he signed Jonathan Ericsson to a
three-year, $9.75 million deal last week. Plenty of observers thought the
Detroit Red Wings general manager overpaid to keep a defenseman who
has struggled to contribute on a consistent basis over the last couple of
seasons.
Holland understands, but sees things a bit differently.
"Well, I think if you'd looked at the market, and Jonathan Ericsson had
(signed elsewhere), I think he would've gotten a much bigger raise than we
gave him," he told Matt Shepard on WDFN-AM 1130 Detroit. "He's 27 years
of age. He's 6-foot-5. If you look at defensemen, and there's guys around
the league that, really – 29, 30, 31 ... defense is such a hard position –
there's those guys that hit the league at 23, 24. They're probably going to
be the superstars.
"Jonathan Ericsson is still a work in progress, like most 27-year-old
defensemen, and he's 6-foot-5."
The Red Wings are confident Ericsson will deliver on his potential, and
become a bigger part of Detroit's defensive rotation.
Also, Holland noted, there are some factors which are simply out of his
hands.
"It's all market-driven," he said of the free agent salaries. "As you saw, what
happened from July 1 on, we had to make a decision in advance of July 1,
and I think, based on what happened, we're pretty happy with that
decision."
In the days after signing Ericsson, the Red Wings inked defensemen Mike
Commodore and Ian White.
Michigan Live LOADED: 07.07.2011
574818
Edmonton Oilers
Teubert happy to be with Oilers organization
"(Oilers head coach) Tom Renney gave a really good speech on why we're
having this camp. They're all good prospects and this camp is for their own
good. Who knows when the window of opportunity will come to make the
big club. These kids have to be ready for it," said Sillinger.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.07.2011
By Jim Matheson
Edmonton - First-round draft picks who are traded before they even play
one NHL game with the team that selected them must be frustrated.
Not Colten Teubert.
The 21-year-old defenceman was selected 13th overall by the Los Angeles
Kings in the 2008 entry draft - Drew Doughty was the Kings' first choice,
second overall that June.
After one season with the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats following
the draft, Teubert spent a few seasons in the minors. He played a combined
77 games in the East Coast Hockey League (Ontario Reign) and the
American Hockey League (Manchester Monarchs, Oklahoma City Barons)
before he was moved to the Edmonton Oilers for winger Dustin Penner, the
Kings' first pick in the 2011 draft and a second-round pick in 2012 last
February.
Teubert never got a chance to play with Doughty, but that's fine. He's now
in the same organization as his former Pats teammate Jordan Eberle, and
he couldn't be happier.
"I'm getting some inside on the team," laughed Teubert. "He's made a step
to the NHL and I'm looking to join him as soon as I can."
Teubert, who injured his shoulder in Oklahoma City during the 2011
playoffs, is still a prospect, an NHLer in waiting. But he's hard to play
against, and you can never have too much mean muscle on your blue-line.
He has a better shot at playing NHL hockey in Edmonton than in L.A., with
Doughty and Jack Johnson as the Kings' top two blue-liners. Former Oiler
turned King Matt Greene is probably in an in-your-face role that Teubert can
some day play with the Oilers.
"I don't know if they gave me a choice, but I wanted to be here this week,"
said Teubert, the only regular AHL player at the Oilers development camp
this week.
"I haven't had a chance to play in Edmonton yet and to work with Steve
Serdachny on skating and Mike Sillinger (head of player development) on
skills, that's going to help me."
"I'm close (to being an NHLer). I'm gaining weight (194 pounds on a sixfoot-four frame)," he said. "I'm tough to play against, but I have to get
stronger. Just taking the step from junior to the AHL, guys are bigger,
faster, stronger. I have to stay mobile and try to keep punishing guys."
Teubert had a wrist injury and was behind the 8-ball trying to make the
Kings lineup last fall.
"I broke the wrist, the scaphoid bone, and they misdiagnosed it. I kept
playing and it kind of screwed it up. It was hard to catch (severity of the
break)," said Teubert, who wound up playing 59 games for Manchester, the
Kings' AHL affiliate, then was moved for Penner.
"I can't begin to tell you what was going through my head when I did get
traded. All I know is the Oilers are rebuilding, looking to the future. If I could
join this young group of guys, I'd be really happy," said Teubert, who's
trying to break in with an Oilers defence with six NHL regulars - Ryan
Whitney, Tom Gilbert, Ladislav Smid, Cam Barker, Theo Peckham and
Andy Sutton - and Jeff Petry and Taylor Chorney knocking on the door.
Sillinger, who lives in Regina and follows the Pats, said Teubert has a large
upside.
"With Colten, it's all about having the right frame of mind. He was a firstround draft (pick). I think he had 20 goals (actually 10 and 12-goal seasons)
as a junior defenceman. I think he felt the pressure to score and get points,
but that's not his game," said Sillinger.
"His game is keeping it simple. They loved him down the stretch in OK City.
He was tough in front of his net. He's working on his agility. I really like what
I've seen in the development camp.
"He's taking the lead, he's in charge. It's maturity, for sure."
574819
Edmonton Oilers
Former Oilers Jacques, Stortini lands new NHL gigs
By Jim Matheson
EDMONTON - J.F. Jacques hurt his back fighting big Ducks enforcer
George Parros in Anaheim one night last season.
Zack Stortini had his only two-goal NHL game against the Predators in
Nashville.
Obviously, Jacques and Stortini proved their points with the Ducks and the
Predators respectively because the former Edmonton Oilers have been
signed as free agents.
Jacques, 26, signed a one-year, two-way deal in Anaheim for $660,000 US
at the NHL level and $105,000 if he's playing in the minors, likely replacing
Brad Winchester as a big-body fourth-line winger.
Stortini, 25, got $500,000 if he plays in Nashville this upcoming season and
$75,000 if he's in Milwaukee with the team's AHL affiliate. He could doe a
nice chatterbox tag-team with the talkative Jordin Tootoo.
Both players were smart enough to take two-wazy major/minor deals rather
than hold out for one-way deals.
Cogliano heads to arbitration
Oilers forward Andrew Cogliano is in a large group of NHL free agents
going to salary arbitration. the list includes Ryan Callahan, Brandon
Dubinsky, Teddy Purcell, Blake Wheller, Josh Gorges and Sergei Kostitsyn.
If you're looking for a reasonable comparable player, try Patrick Eaves who
just signed with the Detroit Red Wings for three years at $1.2 million per
season.
Both guys are role players, but Cogliano has more points (146 to 132) in
two fewer seasons (four versus six), so maybe he should get a little more.
Both players played college hockey, where they were scorers and both are
about the same size.
Cogliano, who has never missed an NHL game, was paid $1 million last
season.
Musil's health kick
Second-round draft pick defenceman David Musil is working out with
conditioning expert Gary Roberts, in and around his Oilers development
camp gig this week at Millennium Place in Sherwood Park.
"I've been there for a month and a half, so I know what I can and can't eat,"
said Musil, who wants to gain weight by eating healthier, avoiding the
burgers and fries. "I'd like to get up to 205 or 210 pounds (he was drafted at
191 pounds)."
Roberts has worked with Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning), Jeff
Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes) and James Neal (Dallas Stars, then
Pittsburgh Penguins).
Musil's dad Frank, the Oilers scout, has told him a lot about his old Calgary
Flames teammate.
"I know he was a hard-working guy and had a neck injury (with the
Flames)," said David.
ON THE BENCH: Finnish draft pick goalie Samu Perhonen is still sick and
not on the ice for development camp ... Former Oilers third-round draft
picks Troy Hesketh and Robbie Dee aren't here for the weeklong sessions.
Neither is Finnish forward Toni Rajala, who is on a three-year contract ...
There are three former Vernon Vipers (junior A British Columbia Hockey
League) players at camp: six-foot-five 230-pound defenceman Kyle Bigos
(Merrimack College) and twin forwards Kellen and Conner Jones, who are
both about five-foot-nine and 165 pounds. Their former coach Mark Ferner,
who did a great job with the Canadian junior A champions, just got the head
coaching job with the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips after
Craig Hartsburg went back to the NHL as an assistant coach with the
Flames.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574820
Edmonton Oilers
Teubert working to crack Oilers lineup
By ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI, QMI Agency
EDMONTON - Whether it's for giving them Ryan Smyth, or taking Dustin
Penner, Oilers fans have plenty reasons to thank the Los Angeles Kings.
Colten Teubert is hoping to become another.
Like most minor-league defencemen in NHL trades, his inclusion in the
deadline deal that sent Penner to the Kings last March barely registered at
the time - he went from AHL Manchester to AHL Oklahoma without so
much as an Oilers fly-by - but if everything goes according to plan, he's
going to change all that.
"I'm treating this like a very important part of my life and I'm going to do
whatever it takes to make the club," said Teubert, who has all kinds of NHL
upside given that he's only three years removed from going 13th overall in
the draft.
With a year of pro hockey already on his resume, the most experienced
player at Oilers development camp is already further up the organizational
depth chart in Edmonton than he was in L.A.
"In L.A. they had a strong D-corps and were a strong team in the
standings," said Teubert, who had 17 points and 83 penalty minutes in his
rookie AHL season. "In Edmonton they're really focused on their
development and bringing all these young prospects up, really getting them
NHL-ready.
"I think that camps like these and working with the people they have here
will give me the best chance to make the NHL someday."
The top six spots are taken by Ryan Whitney, Tom Gilbert, Ladisalv Smid,
Cam Barker, Theo Peckham and Andy Sutton, but the seven hole could be
there for the taking.
"I think there can be jobs open if you're NHL-ready," he said. "That's all I'm
trying to do, just get NHL-ready with my speed, my size, my strength and
my maturity.
"I think it's all going to come down to how well I play in camp. I need to play
my ass off to earn a spot on this roster."
For most prospects, improving size and strength are usually the top two
items on their to-do lists, but at 6-4, 201, Teubert is ahead of the curve
physically.
"I want to improve on my on-ice decisions," he said. "You look at all the
defencemen out there that I want to signature my play after, Chris Pronger,
you never see him out there making mistakes. He always has a hard first
pass and he's difficult to play against. If I can emulate that kind of game in
any way I'd be really happy."
So would Edmonton. They obviously like what they see in the B.C. product
or they wouldn't have asked for him in the Penner deal, a development that
caught Teubert entirely flat-footed.
"It was crazy, really hectic," he said. "My phone was off, but I was playing
some video games with my buddies and one of them tells me, 'Teubes, you
just got traded!'
"It was definitely a shock. Lot's of things go through your mind, especially
with it being my first year pro, having an apartment, all my furniture.
"The relocation was difficult, but then again the hotel makes your bed every
morning so that was good for three months."
He's in no hurry to move again, though. Edmonton suits him just fine.
"Definitely," he said. "But trying to get all that stuff organized was a good
experience in learning the ropes of being a pro."
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574821
Edmonton Oilers
High-tech teaching at Oilers camp
By ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI, QMI Agency
EDMONTON - When the video cameras and stopwatches came out during
skating drills at Millennium Place, Oilers development camp suddenly
started looking a lot like Oilers evaluation camp.
But camp director Steve Serdachny says the measurements and recordings
are really part of a state-of-the-art teaching program.
"The players aren't competing against each other," he said. "It's not even a
formal assessment. All we're trying to do is have an ability to focus in on
what individual players need to focus on and hone in on.
"It's 100% for education purposes for the player, to give them a baseline of
where they're at."
And where they need to improve. Serdachny says the days of just telling a
kid he needs to "become a better skater" are gone. Instead of vague
blanket statements, they're breaking down all the specific elements of
skating - first steps, acceleration, backwards, edges - to see which of those
needs the most work.
"We're really honing in on each individual player and give them every
possible advantage to succeed. Each of these players will have individual
drills and development plans based on their individual strengths and
weaknesses."
The players will be able to access their videos, times and recommended
drills from anywhere in the world, then monitor their own improvement.
"It is one of the most amazing individualized plans for players that you've
ever seen," said Serdachny. "The amount of resources, time and energy
that have been put into this is enormous. And it doesn't matter if you're a
first-round pick or someone who's just been invited to camp, it's an action
plan for success."
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574822
Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers’ Mike Santorelli gets new deal
By George Richards
Panthers restricted free agent Mike Santorelli was rewarded for his
breakthrough season with a two-year contract to stay in Florida
The 25-year-old center made the Panthers out of training camp last year
and never left after getting 20 goals and 21 assists.
Santorelli said he never thought about taking the team to arbitration
because he was “just grateful for the opportunity the Panthers gave me.”
“I think the mind-set last year was to impress, concentrate on what I did
best … I just want to get better every day, keep going,” Santorelli said from
his offseason home in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Also, Craig Ramsay reportedly has been hired to return to the team as an
assistant coach. Ramsay, who was the coach of the Atlanta Thrashers last
season, was an assistant during the Panthers’ expansion season of 199394. When original coach Roger Neilson was fired after the 1994-95 season,
Ramsay left as well.
Miami Herald LOADED: 07.07.2011
574823
Florida Panthers
Panthers' Tallon blazing a dangerous trail in free agency
By George Popalis, Sports Network
Every year the NHL free-agent sweepstakes takes on a different feel based
on team needs and salary cap implications, and this year it seems like
careful spending has given way to a landslide of out of control expenditures.
While some teams are desperately opening the vault to reach the new
salary cap floor of $48 million, with the Florida Panthers the best example of
that, others are trying to get better in what is rapidly becoming a more
competitive Eastern Conference.
So far, over 90 players have been signed since the free-agent frenzy
started on Canada day and many of the boldest, or craziest, moves have
been made in the East. But, out of all the teams that have dipped into the
free agent market, the Florida Panthers have made the most noise and
some of the moves have been puzzling.
Is the Florida heat getting to Panthers GM Dale Tallon, or does he know
something we don't know about the players he signed to massive contracts
recently. Spending $60 million bucks on Sean Bergenheim, Tomas
Fleischmann, Ed Jovanovski and Scottie Upshall will make the Panthers a
better team, but these guys are the definition of unproven or injury prone.
After making a relatively paltry $700,000 last year with the Tampa Bay
Lightning, Bergenheim was inked to a four-year, $11 million contract and
considering he's averaged just 25 points in his short four-year NHL career,
the $2.75 million per year cap hit is insane. He may have put up a career
best 29 points last year and upped his value by scoring nine goals in the
playoffs, but it's these types of moves that set a terrible precedent for other
GM's trying to sign similar players to more appropriate contracts.
The Fleischmann deal has done just as much to skew the marketplace. The
27- year-old Czech was signed to a four-year, $18 million dollar contract
after playing just 45 games last year due to him being diagnosed with
pulmonary embolism. He did put up 21 points in 22 games with the
Colorado Avalanche after being moved by the Washington Capitals, but at
$4.5 million a season he's being paid like a perennial 50-60 point guy. His
career-high 51 points came in 2009-10 with the Capitals and if he can
produce at that pace in Florida he'll be worth the cost, but it is a big gamble.
If Fleischmann is a gamble then the Jovanovski deal is akin to putting the
deed to your house on one hand of casino war. The 35-year-old should
thank his lucky stars that he'll be able to earn like a top flight NHL
defenseman for the next four years after signing for $16.5 million. But
paying that much for a past-his-prime defender with an eroding skill set (14
pts in 2010-11) who is coming off a severe injury makes no sense.
The Panthers will be lucky to get 20 minutes a night and more than 60
games out of Jovocop. What Tallon was thinking right here is anyone's
guess. It's clear he needed to get the Panthers to the salary floor, but why
offer a four- year term to a guy whose best days are way behind him?
The question that jumps out now is what is Jason Arnott worth? At 36 years
old, the UFA is still a productive, hulking center and based on Jovanovski's
pay day one would think Arnott is in line for an even larger windfall. Teams
considering Arnott, or even those in simple contract negotiations with any of
their players, must be livid with the Panthers for creating such an unrealistic
landscape, but it's doubtful Tallon cares.
Tallon deserved more credit for the Chicago Blackhawks' 2010
Championship after being replaced before the Cup run and he is definitely
making the most of his new opportunity with the Panthers to show what he's
made of. Whether people agree with his philosophy or not, he'll hand a
vastly improved group over to new head coach Kevin Dineen that also
includes Kris Versteeg and puck- moving defenseman Brian Campbell. All
in all, character guys have been added to a group that includes a talented
young core that will help form some potent line combinations next season.
It's clear Tallon wants to make a winner out of the Panthers and he wants to
do it right now. The moves might seem reckless, but this is a GM that
transformed the Blackhawks from bottom feeders into Cup winners in three
short years. The Panthers franchise will be relevant again next year and
hopefully that will bring people back into the seats at BankAtlantic Center.
Miami Herald LOADED: 07.07.2011
574824
Florida Panthers
Panthers re-sign Santorelli to one-way deal
By Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel
Mike Santorelli, a long shot to make the Panthers last summer with two
goals in 32 career NHL games, seemed destined for their former AHL
affiliate in Rochester.
Never happened.
Santorelli, who deservedly beat out high-profile acquisition Michael Grabner
— who went on to notch 34 goals for the Islanders — scored 20 goals in his
first full NHL season, good enough to earn a two-year contract Wednesday
afternoon.
"My mindset going into last year's camp was to impress and focus on what I
do best, but the goal is to make the team,'' Santorelli said from his home in
Vancouver.
There won't be as many job openings when the Panthers open training
camp Sept. 17; 11 new players were added in the past two weeks.
"I was watching here in Canada on TSN's July 1 frenzy,'' said Santorelli,
who was second-best scorer on the Panthers with 41 points in 82 games
while leading in shootout goals with four.
"The team looks great. All those players are high-class players in the
league and I look forward to being part of it.''
Santorelli, 25, a speedy center who wants to improve on his minus-17,
played with new addition Marcel Goc when the two were in Nashville in
2009-10.
"He taught me a lot on faceoffs,'' said Santorelli, third on Florida with 518
faceoffs won (50.2 percent).
Although Santorelli won't be looking over his shoulder for a demotion to San
Antonio, he's not resting on his laurels.
"Yeah, [it's] definitely [a relief],'' said Santorelli, who was a restricted free
agent but never considered arbitration. "But the attitude for me is I always
want to get better and hopefully improve on my assets and my faults.''
Ramsay back?
According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Panthers have
hired former Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay as an assistant coach to Kevin
Dineen.
Ramsay, 60, who was on the Panthers' original coaching staff under Roger
Neilson from 1993-95, was an interim head coach in Buffalo and
Philadelphia for parts of 1986 and 2000. After one season at the helm, he
was not retained when the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg.
The Panthers wouldn't confirm the hiring.
Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.07.2011
574825
Los Angeles Kings
The fourth line: You make the call
Posted by Rich Hammond
The line-combination polls have been very interesting. So far, you, the
voting public, have picked the Kings’ line combinations exactly the way I did
after the Gagne signings. That means we’re all brilliant or we’re all crazy,
but at least we’re in it together! So far, it’s…
Penner-Kopitar-Williams
Gagne-Richards-Brown
Clifford-Stoll-Richardson
Now comes the fourth line. There are three candidates with moderate NHL
experience — Lewis, Parse and Westgarth — and then a long list of
prospects. Which way will you go with it?
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574826
Minnesota Wild
New deal gives Gillies strong shot with Wild
MICHAEL RUSSO and NEWS SERVICES
Colton Gillies probably doesn't need to renew his lease in Houston.
The 2007 first-round draft pick, who already had the inside track to a job on
the Wild next season, signed a contract Wednesday that makes a spot in
Minnesota even more of a possibility.
Gillies' two-year, $1.25 million pact is a one-way contract, meaning he
would have to be paid his $600,000 NHL salary in the minors if he were to
play there next season.
A contract like that typically means the player is penciled into an NHL job.
The 6-4, 208-pounder from just outside Vancouver is a hard-hitting, fast,
character forward who developed dramatically last season in Houston of the
AHL under Mike Yeo, who is now the Wild's coach.
Gillies scored seven goals in the AHL playoffs, which tied for first on the
Aeros. Gillies also impressed as a late-season callup for the Wild last
season.
He scored seven points in 45 games as a Wild rookie in 2008-09 before
spending the past two seasons in Houston.
"It's exciting. All I really want is an opportunity, and this is a chance, and I've
just got to make the best of it and show them I can be that player they need
me to be," Gillies said. "Nothing's set in stone. I've got to earn my spot."
Star Tribune LOADED: 07.07.2011
574827
Minnesota Wild
Gillies' door to make Wild inches open
Note: Two or three spots are open depending on if the Wild keeps 13 or 14
forwards.
Vying for spots: Marco Scandella, Nate Prosser, Justin Falk, Drew Bagnall.
Restricted free agents: Falk, Jeff Penner.
Posted by: Michael Russo
GOALIES
Starter: Niklas Backstrom ($6 million salary, $6M salary cap hit)
I would have been shocked anyway if Colton Gillies' chance of making the
Wild wasn't exceptionally high after his strong postseason for Houston and
mutual respect level with coach Mike Yeo, but the 2007 first-round pick now
has a contract that gives him an even better chance.
Hey, this is a business, and if you can put a player in the minors, the
$67,000 guy almost always loses to the $600,000 guy.
Well, Gillies was re-signed this morning to a one-way, two-year, $1.25
million contract ($625,000 cap hit), meaning he'd have to be paid his NHL
salary in the minors next year. So as long as he doesn't come to camp
looking like me, he's got a foot closer than many of the two-way guys.
On his qualifying offer, he would have had to been given a 10-percent raise
of his $787,500 NHL salary. In an exchange for Gillies making his NHL
salaries more manageable, he gets a one-way deal or more of a guarantee
that he'll be an NHLer.
From a Wild standpoint, this made all the sense in the world. Gillies for the
first time requires waivers to get to the minors, so the Wild probably weren't
feeling too comfortable he'd clear waivers to get to Houston anyway. So
basically, Gillies had a great shot at making this team anyway -- assuming
he doesn't look like me in September.
The rest of the restricted guys should be accepting their qualifying offers
soon, although there's negotiations going on with Casey Wellman on a
different type of deal now.
Wild Depth Chart
Here's a look at the Wild's depth chart for next season as it stands today.
There are basically four spots open if one assumes 17 one-way contracts
and two two-way contracts (Clayton Stoner and Jared Spurgeon) are
certain to make the team. The other four spots (TBD) would come from
youngsters vying for spots or external acquisitions (free agency or trades).
Below each player are his 2011-12 salary and 2011-12 salary-cap hit. The
salary-cap ceiling for next season is $64.3 million.
FORWARDS
Line 1: Pierre-Marc Bouchard ($4.25 million salary, $4.08M salary cap hit);
Mikko Koivu ($7.29M, $6.75M); Dany Heatley ($8M, $7.5M)
Line 2: Guillaume Latendresse ($2.6M, $2.5M); Matt Cullen ($3.5M, $3.5M);
Devin Setoguchi ($2.75M; $3M)
Line 3: Darroll Powe ($950K, $1.066M); Kyle Brodziak ($1.3M, $1.15M);
Cal Clutterbuck ($1.5M, $1.4M)
Line 4: Colton Gillies ($600K, $625K); Eric Nystrom ($1.4M, $1.4M); Brad
Staubitz ($600K, $575K)
Extras: TBD; TBD
Note: One or two spots are open depending on if the Wild keeps 13 or 14
forwards (assumes Gillies makes the team), or seven or eight defensemen.
Vying for spots: Casey Wellman, Cody Almond, James Sheppard, David
McIntyre, Carson McMillan, Matt Kassian, Jed Ortmeyer, Jeff Taffe.
Restricted free agents: Wellman, Sheppard, Jarod Palmer
Unrestricted free agents: John Madden, Antti Miettinen, Patrick O’Sullivan
Minor league unrestricted free agents: Robbie Earl
DEFENSEMEN
Pair 1: Nick Schultz ($3.6 million salary, $3.5M salary cap hit); Marek
Zidlicky ($4M, $4M)
Pair 2: Greg Zanon ($2.1M, $1.933M); Jared Spurgeon ($535K, $527K)
Pair 3: Clayton Stoner ($575K, $550K); TBD
TBD; TBD
Backup: Josh Harding ($750K, $750K)
SALARY BREAKDOWN
• Actual 2011-12 payroll (as of today): $53,769,445
• Salary cap hit: $52,109,777
Notes: Includes bought-out Mark Parrish’s $927,778 payoff and cap hit and
soon-to-be-bought-out Cam Barker $541,667 payoff and $375,000 cap hit.
This total includes 19 of a possible 23 players (including Gillies). This
doesn’t the other youngsters vying for the team or possible free-agent or
trade acquisitions. That means the payroll and salary-cap hits are in
actuality higher because up to five spots may still be filled.
Star Tribune LOADED: 07.07.2011
574828
Minnesota Wild
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.07.2011
One of Wild's first employees, St. Paul native Bill Robertson, leaving team
By Bruce Brothers
The Wild lost a fixture Wednesday when Bill Robertson, vice president for
communications and broadcasting, announced he is leaving the
organization to seek "a new opportunity in the sports and entertainment
world."
He said what that will be is still undetermined.
Robertson, 50, a St. Paul native, was hired away from the Anaheim Mighty
Ducks and the Anaheim Angels in January 1998 as one of the first
employees of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, the Wild's parent
company.
Robertson, who played soccer and baseball at Cretin High School, is
remembered at the Nook restaurant across the street from Cretin-Derham
Hall's baseball field for hitting a home run that landed there.
"That's my claim to fame," he said.
Robertson worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves before leaving for
Anaheim. He has won awards for media relations and was one of the key
figures for the Wild when the team played host to the NHL entry draft in
June.
"I knew, running the draft - which the NHL has told us was one of the most
successful drafts ever presented - that this would be a good time," he said.
"If there was a time for me to leave this great organization, it would be
coming off a very successful event that we've been working on for several
years."
Wild owner Craig Leipold said in a statement that Robertson "has
contributed substantially to our success over the years. He was a key part
of many of our marquee events."
Wild sign Gillies: Forward Colton
Gillies, a first-round draft choice of the Wild in 2007, signed a two-year
contract worth $1.25 million.
It's a one-way contract, meaning Gillies will receive the same salary even if
he clears waivers and is sent to the minors.
Gillies, 22, spent most of the past season with the American Hockey
League's Houston Aeros, where he scored 11 goals in 64 regular-season
games and then tied for the team lead in playoff scoring with seven goals in
24 games.
He had one goal in seven games with the Wild last season.
The 6-foot-4 native of White Rock, British Columbia, played 45 games with
Minnesota in 2008-09, picking up two goals and five assists for seven
points.
Briefly: An NHL exhibition game between the Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas
Stars scheduled to be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Sept. 23
has been canceled. Stars spokesman Rob Scichili said the game was
called off because of the cost of putting ice in the stadium, the home of the
NFL's Houston Texans.
- ESPN analyst and former NHL forward Matthew Barnaby was ordered to
complete 500 hours of community service to have charges dropped
stemming from an argument he had with his estranged wife in May.
- The St. Louis Blues signed veteran forwards Jamie Langenbrunner and
Jason Arnott to one-year deals. Each deal is worth $2.5 million, plus
$300,000 in bonuses.
- Troy Brouwer signed a two-year, $4.7 million contract with the Washington
Capitals. The deal comes less than two weeks after the right wing was
acquired in a trade just before the NHL draft.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets signed defenseman Radek Martinek to a oneyear contract, adding the veteran blue-liner that they needed.
- The Ottawa Senators re-signed right wing Erik Condra to a two-year deal.
574829
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild re-sign Colton Gillies to 2-year deal
Pioneer Press
The Minnesota Wild have re-signed left wing Colton Gillies to a two-year
contract, general manager Chuck Fletcher announced today.
Gillies, 22, was the Wild's 2007 first-round draft pick.
Gillies scored one goal in seven games with the Wild last season, 11 in 64
regular-season games with the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros.
Gillies came on in the playoffs for Houston, scoring seven goals in 24
games and tying for the team lead.
Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.07.2011
574830
Montreal Canadiens
Josh Gorges' arbitration no reason to lose sleep
By Pat Hickey
Canadiens fans shouldn't lose any sleep over defenceman Josh Gorges's
decision to take the team to arbitration over his salary for the coming
season.
Going to arbitration is part of the negotiating strategy and it might actually
hasten a deal because the two sides are now looking at a deadline.
Arbitration cases are scheduled to be heard between July 20 and Aug. 4,
but there's nothing standing in the way of the two sides reaching an
agreement before then. In fact, agent Kevin Epp said his goal is to get a
deal done before the case is heard.
That's what usually happens in these cases. Last summer, there were 19
cases scheduled and only four went to an arbitrator. The others were
settled before the scheduled hearings.
Gorges, who missed more than half of last season because of a knee injury
that required surgery, rejected the qualifying offer of $1.3 million. Money
won't be as much of an issue as the term of the contract. Gorges is eligible
to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2012 and the Canadiens
may want to get a contract that extends a few seasons beyond that date.
Twenty-three players filed for arbitration, but the ink was still drying on the
announcement when Columbus took defenceman Marc Methot off the list
with a four-year contract.
The list includes two players who went to arbitration last summer Winnipeg's Blake Wheeler and Vancouver's Jannik Hansen. Former
Canadien Sergei Kostitsyn is taking Nashville to arbitration, while the New
York Rangers have to deal with four players - Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan,
Brandon Dubinsky and Michael Sauer.
The arbitration decisions are binding, although teams have 48 hours to walk
away from any award over approximately $1.1 million. In that case, the
player becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Do Habs still need a goaltender? Is Nathan Lawson the answer to the
question: Who steps in if the Canadiens lose goaltender Carey Price or
Peter Budaj to injury?
That would appear to be the case after the Canadiens announced the
signing of Lawson and 21-year-old Peter Delmas to two-way contracts
Tuesday.
The signings mean that the Canadiens have Lawson, Delmas and Robert
Mayer available to fight for two jobs with the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Lawson, who signed a one-year deal, is the most experienced of the three,
but that's saying much. He has played a total of 83 games in the American
Hockey League and is coming off a bizarre season. He appeared in 10
games with the Islanders and posted a 1-4-2 record, a 4.06 goals-against
average and an .893 save percentage. He spent most of the season in
Bridgeport in the AHL but he only appeared in 16 games with a 6-5-4
record.
Mayer played 21 games with Hamilton last season while Delmas, who
signed a three-year, entry-level deal, played two games in Hamilton and
also saw action in the QMJHL, the ECHL and the Central Hockey League.
Impact to be determined: Will the Canadiens regret not signing Zenon
Konopka? We won't know until after we see how much havoc he wreaks in
an Ottawa uniform in his six games against Montreal.
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.07.2011
574831
Montreal Canadiens
Subban visit highlights Haiti's issues
By PAT HICKEY,
P.K. Subban and former Canadien Georges Laraque are in Haiti this week
to raise awareness of the ongoing problems created by the earthquake that
devastated the country in January 2010.
Other tragedies, including the tsunami in Japan and flooding in North
America and Australia, have pushed Haiti out of the headlines in the past
year, but Subban's tweets and text messages outline the need for
continuing assistance for one of the world's most impoverished countries.
Subban and Laraque visited Grace Hospital, a pediatric facility that is
operating in temporary facilities.
Subban noted that the hospital has impressive plans for a new permanent
facility, but is still involved in the cleanup and demolition of buildings
damaged by the quake.
Hockey for Haiti, a joint project of the National Hockey League and the NHL
Players' Association, has raised more than $1.3 million, but there is an
ongoing need for funds.
Hockey fans wishing to donate to Hockey for Haiti can find details at
www.nhlpa. com or www.worldvision.ca.
Lightning signs Pyatt: Tom Pyatt, who was determined not to be seen as
the "other guy" in the deal that brought Scott Gomez to Montreal, has taken
a step back in his career.
Pyatt, who became an unrestricted free agent when the Canadiens failed to
give him a qualifying offer last week, signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning
Wednesday, but it's a two-way deal which means he will probably start the
season in the American Hockey League.
Pyatt had a one-way deal worth $500,000 with the Canadiens last season
and played 61 games as well as all seven playoff games.
An accomplished penaltykiller, he had two goals and five assists and was a
minus-1.
His departure might be a signal that the Canadiens feel comfortable filling
his spot on the fourth line with defenceman Yannick Weber.
Good payday for Delmas: That three-year entry level contract he signed this
week means Peter Delmas stands to be the highest-paid minor-league
goaltender in the Canadiens' organization. Delmas's AHL salary is $60,000,
but he also received a $100,000 signing bonus. His salary if he makes it to
the NHL is $650,000 in the first year; $575,000 in Year 2 and $600,000 in
the final year.
Nathan Lawson, who signed a one-year contract, will make $105,000 in the
AHL and $550,000 in the NHL. Robert Mayer, who is in the second year of
an entry-level deal, will make $60,000 and $530,000, respectively.
Blues still on the market: The St. Louis Blues attracted good crowds last
season, but principal owner Dave Checketts hasn't been able to find
someone to take the team off his hands. Checketts put the team on the
market after TowerBrook Capital Partners, which owned 70 per cent of the
team, bailed this year.
On Wednesday, Checketts announced that he had received an extension
on a $120-million loan with Citibank. He said the extension would help
facilitate the sale of the team.
Checketts said he had three "very strong" bidders, but he refused to identify
them and it's starting to look like the situation in Phoenix and Atlanta.
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.07.2011
574832
Nashville Predators
Kostitsyn seeks bigger raise, files for arbitration in attempt to get one
By David Boclair
Sergei Kostitsyn, the Nashville Predators’ leading goal scorer last season,
was one of 23 eligible NHL players who filed for arbitration rights, the NHL
Players Association announced Tuesday.
Hearings will take place between July 20 and Aug. 4 in Toronto, and an
independent judge will set contract terms, which the team may then accept
or not. If the team walks away from the ruling, the player becomes an
unrestricted free agent.
Kostitsyn, 24, scored a career-high 23 goals and added 27 assists last
season, when he earned $550,000 on a one-year deal.
The Predators made him a qualifying offer, which guarantees him a raise of
10 percent for the coming season. However, the NHLPA has filed a
grievance on behalf of him and several others claiming that offers were
tendered after the deadline and the players ought to be free agents.
The grievance will be heard Friday in New York.
Teams have until 4 p.m. (CDT) to file for arbitration on other players, if they
so choose.
Nashville already has filed for a hearing with captain Shea Weber, although
General Manager David Poile said the preference is to negotiate a new
contract with Weber prior to that point.
Nashville City Paper LOADED: 07.07.2011
574833
Nashville Predators
happens after that depends on what the Predators need and what he
wants.
Preds draft 6-foot-5 Magnus Hellberg, offer trio of rangy goalies they hope
alter game
“One year in Sweden is not going to hurt,” Hellberg said. “It’s going to be
good for me, and I don’t think so much into the future. I try to be in the
present and focus on each training and each day one step at a time.”
By WilliamWilliams
There is every reason — or at least two — to believe that a return to Europe
is the appropriate next step.
Lindback actually spent two years in Sweden after he was drafted. Rinne
remained in Finland for one season before he came to North America.
The other kids in the neighborhood looked down on Magnus Hellberg —
both literally and figuratively. They were older. They were bigger. But they
included him in their game.
“Every time we played street hockey, I was the youngest, and they forced
me into the net,” he said. “After a while, I thought it was fun, and I was
pretty good at it. So I just kept going that direction.”
That direction, it turned out, was up.
Years later, he stands 6-foot-5, which makes him one of the tallest people
in any room he enters. At 20, he is two years older than the vast majority of
players selected in the 2011 NHL draft. More than ever, though, people —
the Nashville Predators in particular — want him in goal.
The Predators took Hellberg with their first selection (38th overall) and
made him the first goalie picked overall in the draft. In so doing, they added
him to an organizational depth chart topped by the tallest goalie tandem in
NHL history: 6-foot-5 Pekka Rinne and 6-foot-6 Anders Lindback.
In no way do they believe they got stuck with him the way others once did.
“We’re sort of evolving that position with Rinne and Lindback and Hellberg
now,” Predators coach Barry Trotz said. “They’re all big, big guys.
Goaltending is sort of the backbone of us. It’s really, really strong.”
Hellberg grew up in Uppsala, the fourth-largest city in Sweden. It is divided
between east and west by the Fyris River and is home to Scandinavia’s
largest church, the Domkyra. He has an older sister who was athletic in her
own right, and his early focus was on involvement more than specialization.
“I played a lot of sports when I was young,” he said. “I tested a lot of
different things like soccer, hockey, tennis, some Thai boxing. I like to try a
lot of stuff. Then I was good in soccer and hockey until I was 15, and they
both took so much time. So I had to choose.”
The watershed moment came when he was about to enter high school.
Having weighed all the relevant factors, he made his decision the way a lot
of other teenage boys might have: He saw a way to lighten his class load.
“When we began high school, you could choose to go into a hockey class
— to practice hockey during the day,” he said. “That was one year before
the soccer began. So I got into the hockey class, and I just grew away from
soccer, because all my friends were hockey buddies and we spent a lot of
time together.”
Yet the decision was not universally endorsed. In fact, it still has not been.
“Some people who know me from back then tell me, ‘Man, you should have
gone with soccer. You were pretty good at it,’ ” Hellberg said. “Hockey is a
tough sport, and you have to put a lot of time into it, and that’s something I
like to do.”
So much so, in fact, that he was willing to stick with it even when it seemed
to offer little future. At 18, the typical NHL draft age, he was relatively
anonymous in the hockey world. Even midway through the 2010-11 season,
he was not listed among the European goalie prospects by the NHL’s
Central Scouting Service.
Playing in Sweden’s second division, though, his performance over the
second half of last season began to attract attention. When the seasonending CSS rankings were released, shortly after his 20th birthday,
Hellberg was No. 2 on the list of European goalie prospects.
“Some people say I’m a late bloomer, but I worked with a goalie coach a lot
of he told me to be patient, that my time will come” he said. “I listened to
him a lot, and it worked out pretty good last season.”
Hellberg was in St. Paul, Minn., a little more than a week ago. That worked
out pretty well too, given that he heard his name called ahead of every
other netminder, European or North American. And he’ll go back to Sweden
this year, where he figures to play in that country’s top division. What
“I think the thing that’s really intriguing about [Hellberg] — the obvious thing
— is just how similar he is to the guys we have,” Nashville’s chief amateur
scout Jeff Kealty said. “It’s kind of a formula that’s worked. He played last
year on the same team that Lindback was playing on when we drafted him.
Same
stature. Same athleticism.
“He came on late as a 20-year-old, a late bloomer. We look at it as
everybody develops at different stages.”
Some, of course, never develop at all. Of all the kids who played those
street hockey games, when he was “forced” to play goalie, Magnus
Hellberg is the only one who is now a pro.
574834
Nashville Predators
Predators add tough guy, offensive prospect at forward
By David Boclair
Barry Trotz routinely has had a tough time finding room in his lineup for
tough guys.
The Nashville Predators coach gets another chance this season with the
addition of 25-year-old forward Zack Stortini, one of two low-priced free
agents the team signed Tuesday.
Stortini agreed to a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him an NHL salary
of $550,000. Nashville also signed 26-year-old Kyle Wilson, a high-scoring
forward in the minor leagues who has not yet transferred that production to
the NHL level. Wilson agreed to a two-year deal, the second of which
guarantees him an NHL salary of $550,000.
In his last full NHL season, 2009-10, Stortini, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound right
wing, fought 17 times, which put him among the league’s top 15. He had
eight fights in 32 NHL games last season.
As a team, the Predators had 23 fighting majors in 2009-10 season and 18
last season.
Stortini has fought 23 times or more — by himself — twice. He has
averaged just less than one fight every three games in 256 career games
with Edmonton, which drafted him in the third round (94th overall) in 2003.
In recent years, the job of enforcer belonged to Wade Belak, who appeared
in just 39 games in 2009-10 and 15 more last season before injuries forced
him to retire before the end of the season.
The last true heavyweight tough guy to play a significant role for Nashville
was Jim McKenzie, who appeared in 61 games in 2003-04, the season
prior to the lockout and the rules changes designed to open up play.
McKenzie had four points and 88 penalty minutes, which included 14
fighting majors, in 61 games during his only season with the team. Then,
the Predators led the league with a franchise-record 79 fights.
Jordin Tootoo (5-9, 197) is the franchise’s all-time fights leader with 46
followed by Darcy Hordichuk (6-1, 212) with 33.
Wilson has just 34 games of NHL experience, 32 of them for Columbus last
season, during which he produced four goals and nine assists. He
averaged a point per game in 54 AHL appearances in his first professional
season, 2006-07, and had more than 50 in each of the last three AHL
campaigns.
The Minnesota Wild drafted him in the ninth round (272nd overall) in 2004,
midway through a four-year college career at Colgate University, where he
had 101 points (46 goals, 55 assists) in 139 career games.
Briefly
• Defenseman Aaron Johnson, who spent all of last season at Milwaukee,
agreed to a contract with Columbus.
Johnson, 28, signed a one-year deal with Nashville shortly before the start
of last year’s training camp, rejoins the franchise that drafted him 85th
overall in 2001 and for which he made his NHL debut in 2003-04.
He also spent time with the New York Islanders, Chicago, Calgary and
Edmonton as well as Nashville — all within the past four seasons. He had
35 points (nine goals, 26 assists) in 72 games for the Admirals last season.
574835
New Jersey Devils
Guy Carbonneau says he is not Devils' next head coach
By Rich Chere
So many signs pointed to Guy Carbonneau as the Devils' next head coach.
He has been pushing for an NHL head coaching job and he comes from the
Montreal Canadiens' organization, which has been a coaching pipeline for
the Devils.
But Carbonneau, 51, who stepped down as head coach of the Chicoutimi
Sagueneens (QMJHL) junior team he partly owns, was in Montreal tonight
and said he has not heard from the Devils despite applying for the job.
"It's not the first time I've heard (the rumors)," Carbonneau said. "I sent my
resume to all the (NHL) teams looking for a coach after the season. Six
teams I received no answers."
Carbonneau said he spoke to Devils assistant coach Larry Robinson
"because he's back with the team, but nobody called me."
With former Atlanta Thrashers head coach Craig Ramsay having agreed to
become an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers under rookie head
coach Kevin Dineen and Ken Hitchcock seemingly out of the picture early,
the leading candidate for the Devils' job may be former Penguins coach
Michel Therrien.
Therrien, 47, is a scout for the Minnesota Wild. He last coached the
Penguins in 2008-09 but was fired 57 games into the season on Feb. 15,
2009, with the team struggling with a 27-25-5 record. Therrien, a
disciplinarian who is extremely tough on his players, was replaced in
Pittsburgh by Dan Bylsma.
Carbonneau is friends with Therrien and said: "I didn't hear from him for a
while."
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello, who said Tuesday he was close to
naming a coach, was traveling today. I asked him if he was picking up his
new coach.
"Not really," he said with a laugh. "That's not the reason I'm at the airport."
So, will he announce his coach this week?
"I can't answer that right now," he said. "It will certainly be soon."
Carbonneau, who remains part-owner and general manager of Chicoutimi,
is hoping to get an NHL head coaching job. He took over the Sagueneens
on Feb. 7 last season after Richard Martel was fired and coached the club
for 15 games.
Unless Carbonneau is keeping a secret and lying about it, he is not
currently in line for any NHL job.
"Right now it looks like teams are looking for young coaches who grew up in
their organization," Carbonneau said. "It's too bad for Michel (Therrien), Ken
Hitchcock and Mac T (Craig MacTavish).
"I don't know where Lou is going. He's not a traditional guy."
Star Ledger LOADED: 07.07.2011
574836
New Jersey Devils
ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations
Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger
The Devils made official what was already known on Tuesday. Their ECHL
farm team will suspend play beginning with the 2011-12 season.
A statement released by the New Jersey Devils said they are restructuring
the organization’s player development system to be more in line with other
NHL franchises. The Trenton Devils were the only ECHL team that was
completely owned by an NHL club.
As for the NHL Devils, they are close to naming a new head coach. That is
expected to happen as early as this week. They will also have prospects
camp beginning on Monday at the AmeriHealth Pavilion in Newark.
• Trenton Devils minor league hockey team is shut down by New Jersey
Devils
The St. Louis Blues have signed former Devils Jamie Langenbrunner and
Jason Arnott. Both get one-year contracts at $2.5 million.
Langenbrunner, the Devils' former captain, was traded to the Dallas Stars
last season.
Arnott was dealt to the Washington Capitals.
574837
New Jersey Devils
League club. The next year, the name change to the Trenton Devils
followed.
Future of Trenton Devils minor league hockey team is clouded by
uncertainty
Taneisha Nash Laird, executive director of the Trenton Downtown
Association, hadn’t heard anything about the team dissolving or moving to a
new market.
Erin Duffy/
But any change would surely come as a blow to Trenton and the arena, she
said.
“It would be very disappointing,” she said.
TRENTON — Founded more than a decade ago to draw fans to what was
then Mercer County’s new sports and concert arena, the now-struggling
Trenton Devils minor league hockey team faces an uncertain future.
At the team’s peak, more than 7,000 fans packed what’s now the Sun
National Bank Center to watch pucks — and frequently fists — fly.
But despite its position as one of the arena’s main attractions, the team has
suffered from slumping sales in recent years and finished last in its
conference this year, with a season record of 27 wins to 37 losses.
Team officials huddled close today as rumors swirled about the fate of the
capital city’s hockey team.
“We’re still in discussions determining what will transpire. I’m not free to talk
about it,” said Lou Lamoriello, the CEO and general manager of the NJ
Devils, who own the minor league affiliate.
Hockey and local officials refused to comment further today.
Lamoriello said more information on the status of the Devils, often called
the T-Devils, will be released later this week.
Reached by phone and at the Devils’ office on South Clinton Avenue today,
Trenton Devils officials said only “no comment.”
Representatives at the ECHL, the league the Devils play in, did not return
calls seeking comment. Neither did Jeff Schumacher, the general manager
at the Sun Center, the team’s home stadium.
A spokesman for Mercer County, the owner of the Sun Center, also
declined comment.
Since teams in Atlantic City and Jersey City folded, the T-Devils are the
state’s only remaining minor league hockey team.
But attendance at Devils games has declined in recent years. This season,
which ended in April, the team averaged 2,390 people per game, not
enough to fill even one-third of the 8,100-seat Sun Center.
As the Titans, the previous incarnation of the T-Devils, the team ranked
fourth in attendance in the ECHL during the 1999-2000 season.
Now, the team ranks last among the ECHL’s 20 teams.
Parking revenue for the Sun Center is down too, from $84,000 in 2009 to
$66,000 in 2010. Concession sales have followed the same path. Sales of
items such as beer, hot dogs and peanuts amounted to $383,000 in gross
revenue in 2009, a figure that dropped to $336,000 last year.
Not all signs are negative. The T-Devils are still signed to a lengthy lease at
the Sun Center through the 2018-2019 season. A schedule for the
upcoming season was posted in June, and season tickets went on sale in
April.
But it’s unclear what a new season might bring.
The team, then the Trenton Titans, was founded with much fanfare in the
mid-90s by Trenton developer Ronald Berman, who remains a minority
owner.
With a logo that included the famed “Trenton Makes” bridge, the team was
heralded as the main tenant and headlining act of the newly opened
Sovereign Bank Arena — the venue’s former name.
With the team’s arrival, city and county boosters predicted, Trenton’s
slumping downtown would once again be revived.
But after opening in October 1999, attendance for subsequent seasons
began tapering off.
A one-time affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, the team was acquired in
2006 by the NJ Devils, the three-time Stanley Cup-winning National Hockey
“Obviously we consider sports tourism an important part of what we do
through our Destination Trenton initiative.”
Star-Ledger reporter Rich Chere and Times writer Mike Radano contributed
to this report.
574838
New Jersey Devils
Devils cease Trenton Devils operations in 2011-12
By TOM GULITTI
The Devils are getting out of the minor league hockey business in New
Jersey – at least for now.
The team announced Wednesday that the Trenton Devils will suspend
operations beginning with the 2011-12 season.
A source said the Devils, who purchased the Trenton team in 2006, sought
a buyer for the ECHL franchise, but were unable to find one and are moving
forward with restructuring the organization’s minor league system. The
ECHL also failed in finding a new owner for the Trenton franchise, which
plays its home games at Sun National Bank Center.
The ECHL apparently has not given up in its search. The league put out a
statement acknowledging it is working on a revised schedule for 2011-12
without Trenton, but also said it is, “in the process of reviewing potential
options for the Trenton membership for the 2011-12 season.”
Regardless, the Devils will not be affiliated with the team.
Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said the team’s
ECHL-level players “will go into the pool with the rest of the league,”
meaning they will be spread out on different teams.
The Devils did not have a full-time ECHL team before purchasing a majority
interest in the Trenton Titans in 2006. The team continued to be affiliated
with the Philadelphia Flyers for the 2006-07 season before the Devils took
over and changed the name to Trenton Devils.
There has been speculation that the Devils eventually will move their AHL
franchise to New Jersey and the dissolution of the Trenton ECHL franchise
could clear the way for that. The Devils’ AHL team is committed to playing
at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y., for four more seasons.
Bergen Record LOADED: 07.07.2011
574839
New Jersey Devils
Devils' Bryce Salvador optimistic about fall
By TOM GULITTI
Bryce Salvador's long road back to the NHL gets shorter with each day he
does not experience any symptoms.
The Devils' defenseman told The Record he has been working out and
skating with a group of players, including teammate Zach Parise, in
Minnesota and that he is "optimistic" he will be ready for the start of training
camp in September after missing all of last season with a concussion.
"Everything is right on course, so I'm really optimistic," Salvador said. "I've
got a couple of months [to go], so I'm encouraged."
Salvador said he is symptom-free and has been skating "off and on" since
May. He continues to have his recovery supervised by a group of doctors.
"I'm really just getting back in the full swing of everything now, skating and
all of that stuff, so I'm going to see how July goes and see how August
goes," he said. "Everyone is optimistic and I'm just going to keep
progressing like this."
Salvador gradually has been increasing his physical activity without any
setbacks, but said he won't be able to say he's 100 percent until he's doing
everything "full on" as he normally would before the start of training camp
while remaining symptom free for an extended period.
"By the end of August, we'll definitely know for sure," he said. "It's more
getting back into it and making sure the body can tolerate everything that
we're doing."
Devils' Fraser files
Defenseman Mark Fraser was the only one of the Devils' eligible restricted
free agents to file for salary arbitration before Tuesday's 5 p.m. NHL
deadline.
The Devils also filed for team-elected arbitration with Parise on June 17.
This year's arbitration hearings will be held from July 20 to Aug. 4 in
Toronto.
The Devils have begun contract talks with Adam Larsson, the Swedish
defenseman they selected fourth overall in this year's draft. Larsson will
attend the team's prospects' camp beginning Monday at Prudential Center.
574840
New York Islanders
Islanders veteran Martinek joins Blue Jackets
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed defenseman
Radek Martinek to a one-year contract, adding the veteran blue-liner that
they needed.
General manager Scott Howson announced the move on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old Martinek, a 10-year NHL veteran, had 21 goals and 82
assists with 272 penalty minutes in 453 games with the Islanders. Last
season, he had three goals and 13 assists with 35 penalty minutes and a
20:50 average ice time in 64 games. He missed most of the 2009-10
campaign due to a knee injury.
The Islanders' 12th pick, No. 228 overall, in the 1999 draft, Martinek, a
native of the Czech Republic, made his NHL debut in the 2001-02 season.
He also represented his homeland in the 2000 and 2001 World
Championships, helping to capture back-to-back gold medals.
New York Post LOADED: 07.07.2011
574841
New York Islanders
Two former Devils sign with Blues
POST STAFF REPORT
Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason Arnott, who started last season with the
Devils before being traded in separate deals, each have signed with the
Blues.
The forwards were traded to Dallas and Washington, respectively, in part
because they were to become free agents.
According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, each contract is for one year at
$2.5 million, with a potential with bonuses for $2.8 million.
574842
New York Rangers
New Ranger Eager to Get Settled In
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Brad Richards era has begun in a way that is
familiar to anyone who has moved to New York to start a new job: looking
for an apartment.
“I’ll live in the city somewhere,” he said Wednesday at the Rangers’ practice
rink. “I’d like to get in here in the next few days. All I need is a bed and a
TV.”
Richards, a low-key native of Prince Edward Island, can afford much more
than that, having signed a nine-year, $60 million front-loaded contract with
the Rangers as the most prized N.H.L. free agent of the summer. He is
everything the Rangers sought: a Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay in
2004, one of the best playmaking centers in the game and a power-play
expert who has scored 42 percent of his career points with the man
advantage.
Rangers Coach John Tortorella, who coached the Lightning when they won
the Cup and Richards won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable
player in the playoffs, spoke often last season of how much he admired
Richards. It was no secret that the Rangers wanted him once he played out
his contract with the Dallas Stars.
“I can’t wait,” said Richards, who turned down bigger offers from Calgary
and Toronto.
Richards made his first public appearance as a Ranger at a skating party
for underprivileged children held by the Garden of Dreams Foundation,
Madison Square Garden’s charitable arm. He posed in a Rangers sweater
and spoke about what it would be like to play again for the demanding
Tortorella.
“I know how hard he is, but it doesn’t matter,” Richards said. “At the end of
the day it’s about the players and about winning.”
Richards said he did not intend to barge into the Rangers’ dressing room
and be a team leader, even with Chris Drury, the team’s respected former
captain, gone. That role, he said, belonged to the players already there, like
Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky, although he did not mention them
by name.
“It’s their team,” he said, and that will remain true, assuming they stay with
the team despite opting on Tuesday to go to salary arbitration.
“I’m a little quieter,” Richards said, and framed his role as someone who, to
borrow a Canadian expression, knows how to stickhandle Tortorella and his
moods.
“I can bring a little more experience maybe on the winning side, and maybe
mediate a little bit with Torts, explaining how things work with him
sometimes if it gets a little antsy,” Richards said. “But I’ll just kind of come in
and monitor that as I go.”
But that is something for the fall. For now, Richards is trying to get settled in
New York and get back into his off-season routine. On Sunday he will return
to Tampa, Fla., and his trainer at the Athletes Compound, Jason Riley, who
also trains Derek Jeter, and try to get him to return to New York in August.
“New York, I think everyone wants to come in here,” Richards said of his 10
years as a visitor with Tampa Bay and Dallas. “People come in here, they’re
excited. They want to get a win so they can get a day off the next day.”
He said he was getting a lot of advice from two Rangers — Ruslan
Fedotenko, who was a teammate of Richards’s when the Lightning won the
Cup in 2004, and Sean Avery, a former Dallas teammate who is the
Rangers’ resident man about town. Richards has vacationed with Avery and
attended the opening of Avery’s Warren Street bar in 2009.
“He’s a good friend, he’s going to help a lot with the adjustment of living
here,” Richards said of Avery. “I’ve been visiting in the summers a few
times, and you kind of get an idea talking to him about the city and how it
works.”
SLAP SHOTS
Brad Richards will wear No. 19, Ruslan Fedotenko’s number. Fedotenko
said he would take No. 26, Erik Christensen’s number. According to
Fedotenko, Christensen “said he didn’t really care.” Did Fedotenko charge
Richards anything for giving up No. 19, as baseball and football players
sometimes do? “What do you mean?” Fedotenko said. “We won the Cup
together, and he was 19. He really wanted it. We have good guys in the
locker room — if you start bargaining and selling, what’s next? Every time I
give you a pass, you’re going to give me $500 for it? Come on, it’s hockey
— it’s a team sport.”
New York Times LOADED: 07.07.2011
574843
New York Rangers
Rangers' Richards ready for challenge of New York
By HOWARD KUSSOY
Brad Richards’ arrival to the Rangers was fitting. In line with his low-key
personality, there was no huge press conference, nothing to demonstrate
the enormity of the team signing the 31-year-old center to a front-loaded,
nine-year, $58.5 million contract.
He emerged from the locker room at the MSG Training Center and quietly
skated onto the ice for a children’s charity event for the Garden of Dreams
Foundation’s -- “Dream Week” -- with a paper-thin smile.
Richards knows New York won’t be this easy. He knows the responsibility,
the weight his shoulders will burden, with the heaviest of contracts, and
expectations. Making his first appearance with his new team Wednesday,
Richards said he knows he’s come to a city like no other.
“This will be a different animal,” said Richards, who was presented with a
Rangers jersey and will wear No. 19. “I know that, I realize that. That will be
in my preparation. I’ll talk to some people and get an idea what to expect.”
His experience after signing a five-year, $39 million contract with the Tampa
Bay Lightning in 2006 should help. He was traded to Dallas during the
2007-08 season.
“My last contract was a big contract, too,” Richards said. “I think I learned a
lot from that. I think I struggled a little bit the first part of that, but I’m five, six
years older. I’ve got a lot more experience now.”
Richards, an All-Star last season while totaling 28 goals and 49 assists for
the Stars, said he’ll live in the city and hopes to move by August. The 2004
Conn Smythe Award winner and Stanley Cup champion will bring
immediate help to the Rangers first line, centering for Marian Gaborik and a
to-be-determined left winger. Richards’ talent can’t be questioned, but the
length of his contract can be.
“I’m not even thinking about nine years from now,” Richards said. “My two
best seasons have been my last two years. I’m gonna try and keep building
on that. Learning how to train and learning how to take care of myself over
my career, I’ve learned a lot that way.
“I don’t know where it’s all gonna go. I can’t sit here and tell you that. If
some day I can’t play, I can’t play. I gotta walk away, [but] I don’t consider
turning 31 to be too old. I’ve got a lot of years left.”
In addition to playing with former teammates, Ruslan Fedotenko, Sean
Avery and Vinny Prospal, Richards will be reunited with coach John
Tortorella, who coached the Prince Edward Island native for the first seven
years of his career in Tampa Bay.
“He went over the team, what the needs are, what certain players are like
and what he’s expecting of me,” Richards said of his discussions with the
coach. “He said many great things about the city. His big thing was winning
here will be bigger than anything. He spoke highly of all that. He did say it’s
different.”
Fedotenko, who gave up his number for Richards and will wear No. 26, said
the transition to the new environment will be negligible, his impact on the
team extraordinary.
“I think he will fit perfectly in the locker room,” Fedotenko said. “I don’t think
that will be a problem at all. He’s a great professional. On the ice and off the
ice, he’ll be a great example for the younger guys.
“I was extremely happy [he signed]. I was very excited about that. We won
the Cup together and I know what he can bring to the team. He’s a key
player in any situation, especially on the power play he’ll help. He’s great at
setting up. He’s a great player.”
574844
New York Rangers
Former Rangers forward Barnaby gets community service
Staff
Former Rangers forward Matthew Barnaby will have to complete 500 hours
of community service to have charges dropped stemming from an argument
he had with his estranged wife in May.
A court clerk says State Supreme court Justice Deborah Haendiges issued
the order during a hearing in Buffalo on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old Barnaby, who is no an analyst at ESPN, pleaded not guilty
to five charges after being arrested on May 13 at his suburban Buffalo
home where his wife and two children live. As part of a plea agreement,
misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and aggravated harassment will
be dropped if Barnaby fulfills the order within a year.
Barnaby spent 13-plus seasons in the NHL before retiring in 2007. He
played with the Rangers from 2001-04.
He joined ESPN as an analyst a year later.
574845
New York Rangers
Rangers’ Brad Richards says he has plenty of hockey left
By ANDREW GROSS
Print | GREENBURGH, N.Y. – To Brad Richards, 2020 is a lifetime away,
so there’s been no pondering whether he’ll play all nine seasons of his new,
front-loaded $60 million contract with the Rangers.
“My two best seasons have been my last two years,” Brad Richards said.
“I’m going to try to keep building on that.”
“My two best seasons have been my last two years,” Brad Richards said.
“I’m going to try to keep building on that.”
“I just turned 31 [on May 2], I’m not even thinking about nine years,”
Richards said Wednesday at the Madison Square Garden Training Center
for a Garden of Dreams event, his first appearance since joining the team
Saturday.
“My two best seasons have been my last two years,” Richards said. “I’m
going to try to keep building on that. Someday I can’t play, I can’t play. I’ve
got to walk away. I don’t consider turning 31 to be too old. I’ve got a lot of
years left.”
Richards will make $20 million in the first 12 months of the deal and $57
million over the first six seasons, so there will be little financial incentive to
keep playing.
But that’s not what drives Richards anyway.
Asked what John Tortorella, also his coach in Tampa Bay, told him about
the transition to New York, Richards said, “The big thing, he said, is that
winning here will be bigger than anything.”
Besides, there have been plenty of notable players who were effective into
their 40s, for instance, Chris Chelios, Mark Recchi and Dominik Hasek.
Jaromir Jagr, back in the NHL after three seasons in the Russian KHL, will
turn 40 during the season.
“I don’t think it’s about age anymore,” said Ruslan Fedotenko, Richards’
teammate with the Lightning and again now with the Rangers. “It’s about a
player’s preparation and how he takes care of his body.
“He is a great professional,” Fedotenko added.
Richards had 28 goals and 49 assists in 72 games last season, missing 10
due to a concussion. It marked just the second time in his 10 NHL seasons
he’s played fewer than 74 games.
BRIEF: In a uniform shuffle, Richards will wear No. 19 and Fedotenko, who
wore that number last season, will switch to No. 26, the numbers they wore
with the Lightning when they won the Stanley Cup in 2004. Erik Christensen
ceded his number to Fedotenko and instead will be No. 40 while the newly
signed Mike Rupp will don No. 71.
574846
New York Rangers
Four Rangers filed for arbitration
By ANDREW GROSS
All four of the Rangers’ restricted free agents eligible for arbitration filed
Tuesday.
But just as general manager Glen Sather said Saturday he believed deals
with all five could be worked out in the next "couple of weeks," Brian Boyle
and the agents for Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky echoed that
optimism.
The Rangers have extended qualifying offers to Callahan ($2.4 million),
Dubinsky ($2 million), Boyle ($605,000) and defenseman Mike Sauer
($550,000). By filing for arbitration – the NHL will schedule hearings from
July 20-Aug. 4 – they can no longer receive offer sheets from other teams,
though that had been unlikely anyway.
Because the players filed for arbitration, the Rangers can now take
advantage of a second buyout period in August. They already have bought
out captain Chris Drury.
Center Artem Anisimov ($832,500) is the other Ranger RFA, though he is
not arbitration eligible until next summer.
Callahan also filed two summers ago before signing. Dubinsky’s last
contract negotiation, also two summers ago, resulted in his holding out from
training camp. Both may be looking for contracts in the neighborhood of $4
million annually.
Dubinsky’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, called filing "part of the process" while
Callahan’s agent, Steve Bartlett said talks so far had been "amicable" but
said Callahan would be attractive as an unrestricted free agent, which he
could be next summer.
"The Rangers have been complimentary about Cally and the role he plays, I
don’t think anybody doubts that," Bartlett said. "I know he’s a coveted player
around the league. Fast forward a year and see what Ryan Callahan could
demand on the market."
In related news, Jeff Gorton, who joined the Rangers organization in 2007,
has been promoted to assistant general manager after serving the past
three seasons as the assistant director of player personnel.
Gorton also served as the Bruins interim general manager in 2006.
Cameron Hope, the assistant general manager for hockey administration
since 2007, left the organization on July 1.
He had been responsible for representing the Rangers at arbitration
hearings.
574847
Ottawa Senators
Sens sign one-way deal with Condra
By Wayne Scanlan,
Erik Condra's days of shuttling between Ottawa and Binghamton are over.
The 24-year-old forward has signed a two-year, one-way contract with the
Senators worth a total of $1.25 million, all but guaranteeing he will be in the
NHL with the Senators for the entire 2011-12 season. Condra earns
$600,000 in the first year and $650,000 in the second year.
"I'm excited, it's nice to have it out of the way and focus on training and
getting ready for the main camp," Condra said in a conference call from
Rhode Island on Wednesday. "I think it's a good fit. I think last year, at the
end of the year when I came up, I proved I could play there and make an
impact."
Assistant general manager Tim Murray said Condra's intelligent two-way
play meshes nicely with Ottawa's youth movement.
"With our new coaching staff, and playing a hardworking, puck-control kind
of game, we hope that he fits in perfectly here," Murray said.
In 26 games with Ottawa last season, Condra contributed 11 points (six
goals, five assists), while establishing himself as a smart, reliable winger.
Condra produced 46 points in 55 regular-season games with the AHL
Senators, rejoining the B-Sens following his Ottawa stint for the run to the
Calder Cup championship. He had 17 points, including five goals, in 23 AHL
playoff games.
The native of Trenton, Michigan, says he gained confidence while playing at
both levels last season, establishing himself in Ottawa before the
experience of a playoff grind with the B-Sens.
"Me, (Bobby) Butler, (Colin) Greening and a few other guys were kind of in
the same boat," Condra said. "We found out we can step up and play at the
next level, and have an impact, then coming down and learning how to win.
"The grind of playoffs and the grind of a championship - it was awesome. It
was fun to go down and win that championship. I think we learned a lot
about winning."
Condra believes a player can channel something from a championship in
the minors and bring to the NHL.
"We can take that and have confidence that we've done it before, that we
can do it again - hopefully at the next level," Condra said.
The road to the NHL has been a long one. Condra spent one season in the
USHL with Lincoln and four full years at the University of Notre Dame
(2005-09). Condra was a seventh-round draft pick of the Senators, 211th
overall, in 2006. He made his NHL debut in February.
Condra plans to be married in Rhode Island next summer, and was there
with his fiancée "checking out the venue." He returns to Michigan next week
to train for the Senators' training camp in September.
BUTLER DEAL NOT DONE
While the Senators continue to try to negotiate a new deal with forward
Butler, there is a chance he may have to play under the team's current
qualifying offer, which is only a two-way contract.
"I'm sure we'll have more talks going forward here and hopefully we can
hammer something out just a little different than that," Murray said.
Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 07.07.2011
574848
Ottawa Senators
Sens, Condra reach new deal
By BRUCE GARRIOCH, QMI Agency
OTTAWA - Money might not buy you love, but it can help pay for a bigger
wedding.
Senators forward Erik Condra took time out from his vacation in Rhode
Island - where he is looking for a site to get married next summer - to sign a
two-year, $1.25-million deal on Wednesday.
After finishing the season with Ottawa, where he had six goals and five
assists in 26 games, Condra returned to Binghamton to help the club win an
AHL championship.
Condra, 24, will make $600,000 next season and $650,000 in 2012-13.
"It's nice to get this out of the way so that I can just focus on training and
getting ready for camp," said Condra on a conference call. "I'm really
excited about the deal. I think it's a good fit.
"I felt that I could play (for the Senators). We're going to be a young team.
Hopefully, we'll learn together. There may be some bumps, but we can
make an impact on the league."
Senators assistant GM Tim Murray said the experience Condra and the rest
of the prospects got in Binghamton will be valuable down the road.
"It teaches them a couple of things: It teaches them how to win and that's
ultimately what we're about here," said Murray. "It teaches them night after
night to prepare for a grind and that's what the 82-game schedule is.
"So I have to think the guys that were down there should be better prepared
night after night to be 100% and just be ready for anything that comes at
them."
Condra said the experience helped him.
"There's a lot of guys - me, (Bobby) Butler, (Colin) Greening and a few
other guys - who are in the same boat," said Condra. "We showed we could
jump up and play at the next level and make an impact, then coming back
down, we learned how to win. The grind of the playoffs, the grind of a
championship ... it was fun to go down there and win a championship, and I
think we learned a lot about winning and the grind of the playoffs.
"We can take that and have the confidence to know that we've done it
before, we can do it again and, hopefully, we can do it at the next level."
Murray said contract discussions with Butler, a restricted free agent, are
ongoing.
If the two sides can't reach an agreement, Butler will sign his qualifying offer
(a two-way deal) by the July 30 deadline and play on that contract next
season.
"We've just been talking back and forth," said Murray. "I'm sure that we'll
have more talks going forward. Hopefully, we can hammer something out
that's a little different than (the qualifying offer)."
Shannon stays patient
RW Ryan Shannon, an unrestricted free agent, hasn't signed with anybody
but he's gotten lots of interest. He just has to be patient and he'll get a job ...
Free-agent D David Hale will likely play in Europe next season.
Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.07.2011
Philadelphia Flyers
Brayden Schenn, only 19 but talking like a big-market player
By Sam Donnellon
IT'S JUST SHORT of a declarative statement, but the Flyers expect
Brayden Schenn to play for the big club all of next season - and maybe play
big for it, too. Yes, Wayne Simmonds also will be a valuable piece, and yes,
they still expect to come to terms with him on a new contract, but if the kid
is toiling with the Phantoms in Glens Falls in October and Mike Richards is
pumping them in on the Left Coast, there will be quite the queasy feeling
around here.
It has made answering questions more challenging than usual this summer
for Paul Holmgren. The Flyers' general manager said again yesterday that
none of the fresh faces on the ice at SkateZone this week have a job sewn
up, but any time the conversation extended from there it appeared that he
has made at least one exemption. Holmgren is already fond of dubbing
Schenn, the highly touted prospect who was the linchpin to the Richards
trade, "the best player outside of the NHL last year," and if you take this
literally, it means Schenn is right now better than Jaromir Jagr. So why
wouldn't he be part of this team?
He will be, of course. I'm told the club is even quietly seeking housing
outside of Philadelphia for the 19-year-old, if you get the drift. Because he's
so refreshingly honest, Holmgren also slipped in Schenn's name yesterday
when discussing what the team might look like when it opens up in Boston
on Oct. 6. Asked again whether the Flyers had taken a step back trading
away its two homegrown stars in a span of hours, Holmgren quickly
responded, "Not in our mind. Our goal is to win the Stanley Cup. That's our
goal every year."
By definition then, Schenn and the others acquired should be expected to
contribute this season, not the next. Right?
"Absolutely," Holmgren said. "But there's some insulation there when it
comes to the other guys around him. Claude Giroux and Danny Briere and
Max Talbot. Guys like that who are experienced and have played a lot of
playoff games over the last few years . . .
"It's not like we're asking them to make a huge impact."
By "them" he means not just Schenn, but the unsigned Simmonds, Jakub
Voracek and first-round draft pick Sean Couturier, who was also on the ice
yesterday. But it's Schenn wearing the bull's-eye. If he develops slowly, if
he proves to be just OK, and Richards flourishes in a less-scrutinized
environment, this is the deal that taunts and haunts the Flyers for years to
come.
Schenn gets this, embraces it even. "There's a lot of expectations on us,"
he said of himself and Simmonds. "But for us, we can't change anything we
do just because we got traded for a big-name player like Mike Richards."
That's Brayden channeling older brother Luke, who plays in pressurepacked Toronto and who was in the car when his little brother got the news
of his trade 2 weeks ago. Luke Schenn is about to enter his fourth season
as a stay-at-home defenseman with the Maple Leafs, and his career so far
has vacillated from being named to the All-Rookie team one season to
being a healthy scratch at times the next. By the end of last year however,
Leafs coach Ron Wilson had described him as "great" during one span of
games, and he even wore an "A" on his shirt for a short period during a
spate of injuries.
"Playing in Toronto there's tons of media there," his little brother said.
"Every game, every practice. Everyone watches your every move. You've
got to act professional. There's obviously a lot more pressure playing in a
bigger market."
There was excitement in his voice as he said this. The younger brother has
had his own hockey trials already, struggling two winters ago as a member
of Team Canada during the World Junior Championships, then bouncing
back last winter to tie Canada's points record in the same tournament and
being named MVP, despite suffering a separated shoulder during a
quarterfinal game.
Brayden Schenn said it taught him a little about expectations. And pressure.
"First year there I was a little timid," he said. "Second year you feel like you
want to be that guy, that top player or top forward."
When he, Simmonds and Voracek were introduced to the local media here
a few days after the trade, Voracek dismissively answered a question about
moving from small market to big market, saying that hockey is the same
game regardless of where it is played. Schenn's not thinking that way.
"Obviously it makes a difference," he said. "Some guys in a small market do
better. Some guys thrive in big markets.
"That's the player I want to be.
"Just talking to my brother, I think I know how to handle it. If you have a bad
game or you stink one night, you've got to face everyone. That's the reality
of the game. Playing in a big market like this or Toronto, there's huge
expectations. More than other markets. But that's a good thing."
You know what else is a good thing? That he thinks that way. At age 19.
Makes you think that queasy feeling may never come.
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.07.2011
574849
Philadelphia Flyers
New Flyers on display at camp
By Rick O'Brien
Like the other up-and-comers on hand Wednesday for the start of the
Flyers' developmental camp, forward Matt Read would like to capitalize on
the team's recent roster overhaul and fill a vacancy left by a traded or nonsigned player.
"There could be an opportunity for myself," said Read, who signed a threeyear, one-way deal with the club in March and then notched 13 points in 11
games for the Adirondack Phantoms. "If there's a spot open for me, I'd love
to take it."
At a morning practice session at the Skate Zone in Voorhees, Read and
others, including promising forwards Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier,
showcased their skills in a variety of drills. The camp, open to the public,
runs through Monday.
Schenn was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the Mike Richards
trade. The fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft, the 19-year-old starred for four
years in the Western Hockey League. He appeared in nine games for the
Kings over the last two seasons.
"Philadelphia has a great history," the center said. "I'm glad I got traded
here. The fans are intense. That's what you want. You want fans who sets
goals for you and the team."
Couturier, 18, was selected with the draft pick (eighth overall) the Flyers
received as part of the Jeff Carter trade with Columbus. The 6-foot-3, 200pounder was the MVP of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last
season, posting 36 goals and 60 assists for Drummondville.
"It's great to be here," he said. "For sure, my goal is to make the team. It's
going to be up to the coaching staff to decide."
Player development coach Derian Hatcher put the prospects through their
paces, with help from Phantoms assistant Riley Cote and Flyers forward Ian
Laperriere.
Carter and Richards combined for 59 goals last season. Fellow forward
Ville Leino, who signed a six-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres, chipped
in 19 goals and 34 assists.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren was asked if all the wheeling and
dealing had changed the club's goal for the 2011-12 campaign.
"Not in our mind," he said. "Our goal is to win the Stanley Cup. That's our
goal every year."
Of possibly shuffling the roster further, Holmgren said: "We're happy with
where we're at right now, but it's important to keep your eyes open."
In his senior year at Bemidji State in Minnesota, Read, 25, collected 35
points in 37 games.
"Matt is a real smart player," Holmgren said. "He just looks like a hockey
player. How quickly that translates into him being in the NHL, that's hard to
say."
Holmgren sounded optimistic about Schenn's being with the Flyers when
they open the regular season against the Stanley Cup-champion Boston
Bruins Oct. 6 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Hulking defenseman Oliver Lauridsen was impressive on the first day of
camp, using his considerable muscle to win a one-on-one drill against
Schenn. In March, just two games into his start with the Phantoms, the 6-6,
236-pounder suffered a serious shoulder injury.
"It's hard to find a 6-6 guy who can get around the ice like that," Holmgren
said. "It's really remarkable, the turnaround he's made since the injury."
The Flyers tabbed Lauridsen, a 22-year-old from Denmark, in the seventh
round of the 2009 draft. He played in 108 games over three seasons at St.
Cloud St. (Minn.) University.
"I'm going to try to show the coaches that I'm a bigger guy who has an edge
to his game and is a pretty good skater for his size," he said.
574850
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers' draft pick Couturier sets goal to make team
Gauthier believes Couturier's stock falling in the draft, where he was once
ranked No. 1 but ultimately slid to the Flyers at No. 8, was not because of
an early-season bout with mononucleosis that caused him to miss training
camp. Instead, he blamed overexposure. Couturier has been heavily
scouted since he was 14.
By FRANK SERAVALLI
"It's an overscouting effect when you see his faults because you've seen
him so long," Gauthier said. "It's not fair, really. His development line was
just not quite as pronounced as some of the other guys because scouts had
been watching him so long."
While most of the eyes, cameras and recorders were fixated on newly
acquired forward Brayden Schenn and his first official workout in a Flyers
uniform, another newcomer across the locker room has a pretty good
chance of cracking the big club's Opening Night roster.
One of Couturier's biggest assets, according to Gauthier, is his puck
protection skills, which could help him ward off opposing players. He has a
natural scoring touch that can't be beat.
For Sean Couturier, who came to the Flyers as the No. 8 overall pick in last
month's NHL draft, even sniffing a roster spot ahead of Jeff Carter and Mike
Richards would have been impossible.
Then again, so would coming to the Flyers in the first round without those
two shocking trades. The Flyers didn't even have a pick in the first round
before Carter's trade.
Now, scanning the suddenly different depth chart, it's not so hard for
Couturier to imagine himself in a Flyers uniform this season.
"My main goal is going to be to make the team," Couturier said yesterday
as the Flyers opened their annual development camp in Voorhees. "When it
comes to [training] camp, I'll just work hard and show what I got. It's going
to be up to the staff to decide what they do with me."
One of his junior coaches, former Flyers defenseman Denis Gauthier,
would love to have him back in Drummondville, Quebec, for a fourth season
of major junior hockey.
But even Gauthier doesn't see that as a reality.
"I think he's got all of the tools to stay in Philadelphia," Gauthier said
yesterday, in town to check up on his house in Haddonfield, N.J., which he
rented to Brian Boucher last season. "I think he is ready. He is strong
enough. I think it's just a matter of him coming into the right spot and having
the role that works for him and his development."
Even if Couturier - who was born in Phoenix while his father, Sylvain,
pursued a pro hockey career - can't crack the logjam at center that now
includes camp roommate Schenn, Claude Giroux and Danny Briere,
Gauthier isn't sure another year in juniors will help him.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren admitted as much last month in
Minnesota.
Couturier, 18, has already captured a Quebec league title, won the league
scoring race and notched the best points-per-game ratio in the league. He
has represented Canada in the prestigious World Junior tournament. He
has posted 96 points in back-to-back years, despite playing in 58 games
last year and 68 in the year prior.
"Honestly, I don't think we're planning to have Sean in the lineup [in
Drummondville]," said Gauthier, who retired in 2009 after 10 NHL seasons
and now doubles as an NHL analyst for French-language RDS in Canada.
"I am sure that there are things that we could do to challenge him, but I
personally think it's one of those situations where a player can get bored.
He's a pro playing juniors."
So, does Couturier end up starting the season in AHL Adirondack, where
he can adjust to the demands of pro hockey and hone his skills?
Couturier's biggest knock was his skating ability. Scouting reports called his
straight-line skating ability "average" and said he is subpar in transitional
movement.
As a guest on Comcast SportsNet's "Daily News Live" yesterday, Couturier
said his No. 1 goal for the summer is to add "explosiveness" to his game.
"He has a few things to work on," Gauthier said. "He can still work on his
skating ability. He needs to get a little faster, he was very awkward his first
year of junior. But his hands, his leadership, his game is great. He's a twoway guy, too. He's not afraid to go into the dirty areas; he'll pay the price to
score.
"We'd even have to overplay him at times, because he can kill penalties,
play on the power play and play against a top line."
Now, Couturier has a golden opportunity that he couldn't have dreamed of
just a few weeks ago.
"Nothing would surprise me about him," Gauthier said. "For the Flyers to get
him at No. 8, that's a steal in my eyes. He's a special player."
Slap shots
The development camp is being run by Ian Laperriere, Derian Hatcher,
Riley Cote, Joel Bouchard and Jeff Reese. Sessions are open to the public
today from 9-11:45 a.m. . . . Recently signed 6-7 goaltender Niko Hovinen,
of Finland, missed Day 1 of camp with visa issues. He will arrive today but
not in time for practice.
574851
Philadelphia Flyers
Trenton Devils suspend play for 2011-12
Frank Seravalli
The Trenton Devils, ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, will suspend
operations for the 2011-12 season, the team said in a statement yesterday.
However, the vacated 8,500-seat Sun National Bank Center - which is
managed by Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Flyers parent company
Comcast-Spectacor - will not be a potential landing spot for the AHL's
Phantoms.
"At this time, we have committed to playing in Allentown when the new
arena is built," Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko said.
While a new 8,500-seat arena in Allentown has met public resistance, it is
expected to be ready for the 2013-14 season. The Phantoms will remain in
Glens Falls, N.Y., until then.
The Trenton Titans were the Flyers' ECHL, or Double A affiliate, from 1999
through 2007 when the franchise was purchased by the Devils. Trenton
was the only ECHL team wholly owned by an NHL club. They were last in
average attendance in the 20-team league with 2,390 fans per game last
season.
Trenton won the 2005 Kelly Cup championship as the Titans and went on to
send players like Ruslan Fedotenko, Todd Fedoruk and Jerred Smithson to
the NHL.
574852
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers' contract talks with Simmonds ongoing
By Tim Panaccio
It’s been more than two weeks since Wayne Simmonds joined the Flyers
after being traded from the Los Angeles Kings as part of the Mike Richards
deal.
A restricted free agent, he has not signed a new contract with the Flyers,
and his qualifying offer came from the Kings before he was traded.
Jakub Voracek, who came to the Flyers in the Jeff Carter deal from
Columbus, signed a new contract last week.
So what’s the hold-up with Simmonds? Neither side will say.
“Moving along,” said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. Slowly, it
seems, although Holmgren added there were no particular issues holding
the deal up.
“I would say we’ve had positive discussions and they are on-going,” said
LA-based agent Eustace King, who represents Simmonds.
“I can’t comment on what happens in the future. We’re going to continue to
have discussions with Flyers. They have a first class organization. They do
a great job. They’ve been very competitive and strong over the last couple
of years, one of the best teams in the National Hockey League.”
King would not say whether the snag concerns money, length of years, or
how the Flyers perceive Simmonds' role and what they’re willing to pay him
to perform that role.
“We’ll continue to see where this takes us,” King said. “Continue to better
understand what their thoughts and visions of Wayne are and they will have
a better understanding of what our thoughts are and what the landscape is
for him in the future.”
That sounds like the agent and team can’t agree on what role Simmonds
plays within the framework of a team that has undergone a massive facelift
this summer and what the Flyers are willing to pay for that role.
“I’m not at liberty to have that discussion,” King replied when asked if that
was indeed the sticking point.
He did reiterate that the talks are “positive” and he’s not frustrated with
getting a contract done. Two Flyers sources said they fully expect a signed
deal “soon.”
“We’re looking for common ground for Wayne and the Flyers,” King said.
“Talking principles and where he fits. That’s my focus.”
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.07.2011
574853
Philadelphia Flyers
Schenn's target: a full-time spot on Flyers roster
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Schenn said. “Hopefully there’ll be some
opportunity there for me, and I’m just going to try to take full advantage of it.
Nothing comes for free, it’s just one step at a time. I’m here for now at
development camp, just trying to get better and working on little things.”
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.07.2011
By Sarah Baicker
Brayden Schenn hasn’t yet secured a spot on the Flyers’ roster, but he’s
circled a few of the team’s important fall dates on his calendar nonetheless.
The 19-year-old center whom the Flyers acquired when they traded Mike
Richards to the L.A. Kings isn’t the only member of his family who’s found
success in hockey. His older brother Luke is a defenseman for the Toronto
Maple Leafs – and the Flyers’ preseason games against the Maple Leafs
could present the brothers with their first chance for an on-ice family
reunion of sorts.
If, that is, Schenn is able to make the Flyers' roster as he's expected to.
“I haven’t played him in three years,” A smiling Schenn said of his brother.
“So I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity, hopefully, and playing
him.”
Schenn, who is taking part in the Flyers’ development camp that runs
through next week at Skate Zone in Voorhees, N.J., is considered the
prospect most likely to earn a full-time spot on the team's roster. He’s one
of only a handful of participants with NHL experience, and he’s already
received high praise from the team’s brass.
Of course, Schenn making the opening day roster isn’t a far-fetched idea,
either. Though he played just eight games with the Kings last year, before
the season kicked off, he was largely expected to make it into the NHL, and
stay there. But in September 2010, he suffered a knee injury while training
with his junior team – and though there was no severe structural damage,
he had trouble rebounding from the setback.
He did, however, make the most of the time he spent traveling with his
Kings teammates.
“I was there for three months or something like that,” Schenn said. “I played
eight games, I was practicing and bag skating on game days, stuff like that.
… It was good though, to be out there and get the experience.”
On Wednesday, Schenn was just one of about 40 players taking part in
basic stickhandling and shooting exercises before a sizable crowd of fans.
While he didn’t necessarily stand out on ice (and was out-muscled in front
of the net in some of the more physical drills), he was the main attraction in
the locker room after the skate’s conclusion.
“It’s obviously a little different, the fan base and media in L.A., the media
wasn’t as big,” Schenn said. “Coming here, it’s a good hockey market, a
good fan base. Just looking around, you want to be a part of that, and you
want fans to care a lot and have expectations on you. I’m just looking
forward to it.”
Schenn came to Philadelphia along with Kings teammate Wayne
Simmonds in the blockbuster deal that shocked the city and sent the Flyers’
captain to the Western Conference. But when asked about whether being
known as “the guy who Richards was traded for” added any additional
pressure to an already high-intensity situation, Schenn was quick to say it
didn’t.
And, he added, his goal with the Flyers is simple.
“I just want to get my foot in and be a full 82-game player this season,” he
said.
If it happens, he’ll be ready for it. Schenn roomed with former Flyer Justin
Williams in L.A., and is grateful for the advice about Philadelphia Williams
was able to give him once he learned he'd been traded. That, combined
with the advice about playing in a big, hockey-hungry market from his
brother, has set him up with a confidence that he’ll succeed in the big
league when the time comes.
And based on what general manager Paul Holmgren says – that Schenn’s
chances of starting out with the team are high – it's likely the young center
will get a shot at anchoring the team’s third line, a spot left open by
Richards’ departure. But he's not taking the opportunity for granted.
574854
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes vs. Dallas Stars game at Reliant Stadium in Houston
canceled
Associated Press
HOUSTON - An NHL exhibition game between the Phoenix Coyotes and
Dallas Stars scheduled to be played in Reliant Stadium on Sept. 23 has
been canceled.
Stars spokesman Rob Scichili says the game was called off because of the
cost of putting ice in the stadium, the home of the NFL's Houston Texans.
Scichili says the game will not be rescheduled.
Ramon Alvarez, a spokesman for Fox Sports Southwest, said the network
is trying to "extend the Stars' fan base into Houston," since more of their
games will be televised in the market in the near future. A new regional
sports network will begin airing Houston Rockets games in 2012 and Astros
games in 2013, freeing air time for more Stars game on the current Fox
Sports station in the city.
The Coyotes' complete preseason schedule:
Tuesday, Sept. 20: @ Anaheim Ducks, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 21: Los Angeles Kings, Glendale 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 21: @ Los Angeles Kings, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24: @ San Jose Sharks, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 27: @ Edmonton Oilers, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 29: @ Calgary Flames, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 1: San Jose Sharks, 6 p.m.
Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.07.2011
574855
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes sign three players to one-year contracts
Republic news sources
The Phoenix Coyotes signed defensemen Nathan Oystrick and Dean
Arsene along with forward Matt Watkins to one-year (two-way) contracts.
Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Last season, the 6-foot, 210-pound Oystrick played nine games with the St.
Louis Blues, recording one goal, two assists and nine penalty minutes.
Oystrick also played 61 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL), registering
15 goals, 30 assists and 125 penalty minutes
Arsene (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) played 77 games with the Peoria Rivermen
(AHL) last season, collecting 1 goal, 10 assists and 137 penalty minutes.
Watkins (5-foot-10, 187 pounds) played 64 games with the San Antonio
Rampage (AHL) last season, posting 15 goals, 20 assists and 45 penalty
minutes. Watkins was originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round
(160th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.07.2011
574856
San Jose Sharks
New San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns is an animal (lover)
By Mark Emmons
Brent Burns, the Sharks' prized new defenseman, is in town this week
getting the lay of the land and looking for a place to rent.
But while the Burns family is coming to San Jose, the Burns Zoo will be
staying behind in Minnesota.
"I don't know how people would react with me moving into a rental house
with 150 snakes," he said.
The Sharks got more than just a top young defenseman in a draft-night deal
with the Minnesota Wild. They got one of hockey's more unconventional
personalities.
A self-described "big kid," the 26-year-old, shaggy-haired Burns has tattoos
all over his 6-foot-5, 220-pound body. He is also an animal lover who has a
menagerie of dogs (two), exotic birds (three) and snakes and other reptiles
(number uncertain) at his rural home outside St. Paul, Minn.
"It's probably a little higher than 150 right now because it's mating season,"
Burns said.
He could only laugh when asked why his personal jungle was lacking in
lions, tigers and bears.
"I've always wanted a giraffe," he said, "but my wife said no."
Oh, my.
The Sharks gave up a king's ransom to get Burns -- Devin Setoguchi, top
prospect Charlie Coyle and their first-round pick -- because they believe
Burns will be a difference-maker on the blue line.
Burns is coming off a breakthrough season. The offensive-minded
defenseman scored 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists), had 133 hits and was
a first-time All-Star. For his career, he has
183 points in 453 games.
"And he's only getting better," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said.
"He's also a character, and I think that's great."
Wilson added: "I honestly don't mind snakes."
Burns used to be deathly afraid of them.
Growing up about an hour outside of Toronto, Burns always loved going to
zoos and had a soft spot for most creatures -- just not the slithering sort.
Then, about five years ago, he decided on a whim to buy some snakes to
overcome that fear.
"It's grown from there," Burns said. "I just like handling them. They're pretty
amazing animals. I love feeding them and watching what they can do with
their bodies."
He has pythons that grow to about four feet in length and said he hasn't
been bitten by any of his fanged friends in about three years.
"Most of my snakes are pretty docile," he added. "They're a great pet for
kids because there's not all that much responsibility in taking care of them."
Burns and his wife, Susan, have a 15-month-old daughter named Peyton
and newborn son Jagger. (Yes, as in Mick.) He wants his kids to be around
the snakes enough so that as they get older, they don't have the same
terror of them as he once did.
This might be a good time to mention that the snakes and lizards are kept
behind two locked doors in what was designed as a bomb shelter.
"Even if a lizard got out and somehow opened up 100 other cages, they
can't get out of the room," Burns said.
Obviously, it takes an extraordinary wife to deal with so much wildlife.
"And she has to put up with me, too," Burns said.
Burns always has marched to a different beat. Former Minnesota teammate
Brian Rolston once compared the Burns brand of goofiness to Sharks
captain Joe Thornton.
"They're happy-go-lucky guys," Rolston told the Minneapolis Star Tribune in
2007. "You can call them ditsy almost. It's a good way to be in this sport,
because a lot of times, you put too much pressure
on yourself and it's a detriment."
It helps explain the tattoos. Burns has nine -- and counting. He got his first
at age 11 -- a Canadian flag and hockey stick on his right shoulder. There's
a dragon on his left thigh, and on his back is the word "Wild" surrounded by
Images of his animals.
"I was joking around that now I'm going to get shark gills on my neck, and
my wife put the kibosh on that pretty quick," he added.
The tattoo on his left shoulder has special meaning. Featuring a cross with
a Canadian military helmet on top, it honors his late grandfather, who
served in World War II. From him, Burns gained a love of history and a
respect for people in the service. That's why he bought an arena suite so
armed forces members and their families could attend Minnesota Wild
home games.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan knows all about Burns' game because he
helped develop him in the Wild's minor league system. McLellan describes
him as a "hybrid defenseman" who is both skillful with the puck and has
some grit.
One person particularly unhappy about Burns joining the Sharks is Detroit
Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.
"They just hit a home run," Babcock told the Hockey News. "That's a goldmedal pick. I'm pissed off."
Burns is in the final year of his contract, and that's part of the reason he's
looking only to rent in San Jose next season. The Sharks hope to sign him
to a long-term extension, and trading Dany Heatley has created some cap
space.
For now, though, the focus is on the coming season.
"I'm excited to be going to a great team in an awesome city," Burns said.
"We'll see what happens this year. I haven't thought much about it. I'm
completely open to listening to what they say."
As far as Burns can see, there's only one downside to the trade.
"It's going to be weird not being able to go downstairs and do all the snake
stuff," he said.
San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574857
San Jose Sharks
Sharks re-sign G Thomas Greiss
(AP)
The San Jose Sharks have re-signed goaltender Thomas Greiss to a twoyear contract.
General manager Doug Wilson announced the deal Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Greiss spent last season playing in Sweden, where he
posted a 2.92 goals-against average. In 19 career games with the Sharks,
Greiss has a 7-5-2 record with a 2.77 goals-against average.
The Sharks also re-signed minor league defenseman Sean Sullivan to a
one-year deal and signed minor league defenseman Matt Pelech to a oneyear contract.
San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 07.07.2011
574858
St Louis Blues
Blues land two veterans
By JEREMY RUTHERFORD
Before Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner signed Wednesday with the
Blues, the NHL veterans asked the club "a lot of great questions about the
depth of our team," general manager Doug Armstrong said.
The Stanley Cup champions and former team captains learned as much as
they could before agreeing to terms on identical one-year, $2.5 million deals
that could be worth as much as $2.8 million individually if they reach certain
bonuses.
What they didn't know is that the other was also signing in St. Louis.
"I had no idea that (Armstrong) was pursuing Jamie," Arnott said. "I agreed
to do the deal (Wednesday) morning, and he mentioned that he had signed
Jamie as well. It was kind of cool in the way that we played in New Jersey
together and we became pretty good friends, and now we get to do it in St.
Louis as well."
In the time frame of a few hours, the Blues evolved from a team with a
talented young core that had holes at forward and still needed veteran
experience and leadership into a club with a logjam at the position that has
filled its quota of veteran-savvy players.
Although their roles have decreased in recent years, Arnott, 36, and
Langenbrunner, 35, will bring to the Blues a combined 2,207 games, 637
goals and 905 assists in the regular season. In 252 total playoff games, the
pair has 64 goals and 94 assists. Arnott has one Stanley Cup — with New
Jersey in 2000. Langenbrunner won one with Dallas in 1999 and New
Jersey in 2003.
"Veteran presence is important on our team," Armstrong said. "We don't
have a lot of players who have that, 'Been there, done that' experience. I
think that we saw that last year, when we got on some positive trends,
maybe our emotions got a little too high. And when we got on some
negative trends, we couldn't shake it quick enough to get focused again.
"We're bringing these players in, knowing what they are. They're mature
older players who have great experience, but they're not 26 or 27 anymore.
(But) what these players are really going to bring us is that experience of
understanding what it's going to take. I do think it's a very good mix. It's
going to accent the core of our team."
Armstrong said that Arnott would center the Blues' third line, moving
Vladimir Sobotka to left wing on the fourth line. Langenbrunner, meanwhile,
will play right wing, possibly on the third or fourth line. That gives the Blues
a group of centers that features David Backes, Patrik Berglund, Arnott and
Scott Nichol, who was signed Monday.
"When you're bringing out guys that are 6-foot-3, 6-4, 6-5 and all going 220
plus, we're going to be hard to contain down the middle," Armstrong said. "I
think that's going to be our strength."
Blues coach Davis Payne said: "I think we addressed a lot of our needs and
added the depth to our club. It really gives us an opportunity to roll three,
four lines and continue to come at you all night long."
That's what enticed Arnott.
"When you look down our lineup, we've got four lines that can go out and
play against anybody," he said. "That was the big thing for me. On any
given night, you can play with any one of those guys in that lineup and do
well. There's nothing like playing with younger guys now. I love bringing
them along just talking about old times and showing them what it takes to
win. Anything that I can do to help, that's what I'm there for."
With Arnott and Langenbrunner, and including Nichol and defenseman Kent
Huskins, whom the Blues also signed this week, the team's average age
has jumped to 27.3 years from 25.3 in less than a week.
With their recent free-agent activity, Blues' ownership stepped up its
financial commitment to the organization over a year ago. The team's 201112 payroll now stands at approximately $52 million, including bonuses, an
increase of nearly $7 million from last season.
Armstrong said Wednesday that he did not have to revisit the budget with
ownership once Arnott and Langenbrunner were deemed available via free
agency.
"No, we had a set budget that I was given well over a month ago,'
Armstrong said. "This fits under that parameter. This is the group of players
that you look to see heading into training camp, barring any unforeseen
trades coming up. I think we're very comfortable with the group that we
have. I think there's a very good competition for ice time."
St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.07.2011
574859
St Louis Blues
Loan extension should help Checketts in Blues sale
By JEREMY RUTHERFORD •
Blues Chairman Dave Checketts confirmed Wednesday that he has been
given an extension on repayment of a $120 million loan originally used to
buy the franchise in 2006.
Checketts' agreement with Citigroup Inc., which was first reported on
Bloomberg.com, gives Checketts more time to sell the franchise and
meanwhile keep the team on solid financial footing until a buyer is found.
"In recent days, questions have been raised about loans associated with
our ownership of the St Louis Blues," Checketts said in a statement
Wednesday. "As part of the sale process, which we announced in March,
we have been in active discussions with interested parties. As of today, we
have an agreement with all of our banks to continue to support an orderly
sale process. We appreciate the support of our banks and the NHL as we
complete the transaction."
Checketts, whose company SCP Worldwide has operated the Blues since
2006, announced in March that the NHL franchise, its American Hockey
League affiliate and the lease to Scottrade Center were for sale.
A group led by Blues minority owner and local businessman Tom Stillman
has made the only known offer, as reported by the Post-Dispatch in April,
but it was rejected by the NHL.
Checketts has remained silent regarding the sale process, but in the
Bloomberg article Wednesday, he indicated that he has three "very strong"
bidders for the Blues.
The Post-Dispatch confirmed through sources Wednesday that Stillman's
group, which includes Stillman's father-in-law, former U.S. Sen. John "Jack"
Danforth, remains interested in purchasing the club.
In March, Checketts said that TowerBrook Capital Partners owned 70
percent of the team, SCP Worldwide owned 20 percent and Stillman owned
10 percent. In the ownership contract, if two of the three parties agree to
sell, 100 percent of the team must be sold.
When TowerBrook announced in May 2010 that it was seeking to divest its
$100 million stake in the Blues, Checketts began a search for new investors
to buy out TowerBrook and maintain control of the club. But when
TowerBrook didn't agree to the purchase price of its shares, Checketts
revealed March 16 that he planned to sell the team outright.
In April, SCP Worldwide hired Game Plan LLC to conduct the sale. Robert
Caporale, founder of Game Plan, said in April that the company's goal was
to have the Blues sold by the start of the 2011-12 NHL regular season,
which is in early October.
"At this point in time," Caporale said in March, "I personally think we will be
able to accomplish that."
Checketts told Bloomberg that he wants to complete the sale by the end of
2011. He said the extension of the loan repayment should make that
possible.
"The bank is now satisfied," Checketts said, according to Bloomberg.
"We're going to move forward ... Bottom line is we've got plenty of time to
conduct an orderly process, which is all we wanted."
DRAFT PICKS ARRIVE
Five of the eight players the Blues selected in last month's NHL draft are in
St. Louis working out this week. They are forwards Ty Rattie, Yannik
Veilleux and Ryan Tesink, defenseman Joel Edmundson and goalie Jordan
Binnington.
574860
St Louis Blues
Hockey Guy: Blues moves bolster the front lines
By JEFF GORDON
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong waited out the free-agent frenzy
and added character, grit, Stanley Cup experience and some size to his
forward lines.
Blues fans should feel good about these latest moves. Let’s break them
down:
Jason Arnott: The big (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) center/winger can still score,
as he demonstrated last season while tallying 17 goals for the Devils and
Capitals. He waived his no-trade protection last season to move from New
Jersey to Washington to take a run at another Stanley Cup.
“I'm at the end of my career,” Arnott said at the time. “I want a chance at
another Stanley Cup. I think Washington has a good potential to be a Cup
team.”
Arnott won a Cup with New Jersey in 2000, scoring the clinching goal in
double overtime of Game 6. He a big shot plus the ability to finish around
the net.
He scored 19 goals in 2009-10 for Nashville and topped 30 goals three
times in his career, most recently in 2008-09.
He turns 37 in October but he should still add heft to the forward lines.
Remember how well Scott Mellanby played late in his career for the Blues?
Arnott has the same sort of character. At reported price of just under $3
mlllion for 2011-12, he should be an excellent addition.
Patrik Berglund (and others) will learn a lot from having Arnott as a
teammate. His addition should allow the Blues to assemble three strong
scoring lines and two balanced power-play units.
Jamie Langenbrunner: He turns 36 this month. He scored just nine goals
last season for the Devils and Stars. But scored 130 points from 2008-10 in
New Jersey and also brings a Stanley Cup pedigree (Stars 1999, Devils
2003).
He entered this summer's free agent marketplace looking for one more
chance to win. “I’ve been pretty fortunate most of my career to be on good
hockey teams that are competing at the end or battling for a Cup. That’s
something as a player you definitely want to have,” Langenbrunner told The
Sporting News.
He is widely respected as one of the NHL’s elite leaders. David Backes
(and others) will learn a lot from having him as a teammate.
Scott Nichol: This career pest has never scored more than 10 goals in the
season, but he hasn’t stuck for 552 games because of his scoring touch.
The man gets after people, as his 808 career penalty minutes attest.
Nichol has spent the bulk of his career in the NHL. The Blues will be glad
him on their side after battling him during his Flames, Blackhawks,
Predators and Sharks days.
He will add an edge to whatever line he plays on. The addition of
Langenbrunner and Nichol should allow the Blues to roll four lines this
season.
574861
St Louis Blues
Blues sign Langenbrunner, Arnott
By JEREMY RUTHERFORD
Seeking to add more veteran experience to a young team, the Blues have
signed free-agent forwards Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner to oneyear contracts.
Both signings have been confirmed by the Blues. General manager Doug
Armstrong will comment on the players in a teleconference at 4:45 p.m. (St.
Louis time).
Arnott, 36, and Langenbrunner, 35, will each make $2.5 million in 2011-12,
with potential bonuses that could increase the value of their contracts to
$2.8 million individually.
Arnott and Langenbrunner each bring experience and leadership
capabilities to the Blues. Both have Stanley Cups on their resume and both
have previously been NHL captains.
Langenbrunner won two Cups, with Dallas in 1999 and New Jersey in 2003.
He was the Devils' captain from 2007-11 and he also captained Team USA
at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Arnott won a Cup with New Jersey in
2000 and he later wore the "C" for the Nashville Predators from 2007-10.
Aside from their similarities, there are connections. The two were
teammates in New Jersey last season before Arnott was dealt to
Washington and Langenbrunner to Dallas.
Also, on March 19, 2003, during Langenbrunner's first stint with Dallas, he
was traded to New Jersey for Arnott in a deal that involved other players.
The general manager who made that trade was Armstrong, who was the
GM in Dallas before taking over the same role in St. Louis last season.
The signings sent excitement through the Blues' organization today.
"Arnott, a big body that can play in the middle," said Blues coach Davis
Payne, who was only permitted to talk about Arnott at the time. "His ability
to shoot the puck and contribute offensively, he'll be a big, physical body to
lean on people. That's something that we value very high."
Blues captain candidate David Backes believed both Arnott and
Langenbrunner would be good fits.
"Those two, along with Scott Nichol, besides bringing the average age up,
Jamie and Jason are guys that have won Stanley Cups and guys who have
been in the playoffs year after year," Backes said. "With the young group of
guys that we have, it'll be great that they're going to be able to guide us
toward that promised land that we're trying to get to."
Backes played with Langenbrunner with Team USA at the 2010 Winter
Olympics in Vancouver.
"He's got a calm presence, but with that calm presence comes that work
ethic that's unmatched," Backes said. "He's a guy that has achieved a lot of
his success from outworking his opponents. That's kind of the blue-collar
mentality that the Blues have had and have to continue to have to be
successful. He'll bring a lot to the table. He had a lot of words of wisdom at
the Olympics and those words of wisdom are still holding true every time we
step on the ice."
Backes admitted some surprise with the additions.
"You sat there after July 1 going, ‘Well the Blues are kind of sitting on their
hands ... maybe it's the ownership thing, maybe we're just going to go with
the team we had last year, and if we stay healthy, we're still going to be a
force to be reckon with,'" he said. "But now there are three more pieces to
the puzzle.
"And you have to add the veteran defenseman, Kent Huskins, too, he's won
a Stanley Cup, and a guy that's going to bring a lot of familiarity with the
playoffs. And again, keep us calm, keep us consistent over the year and
make sure we're playing in April, May and June."
Langenbrunner split his time last season between the New Jersey Devils
and Dallas Stars, where he played in 70 games, tallying nine goals, 23
assists and 32 points.
The No. 35 overall pick in the 1993 NHL entry draft, the 6-1, 205-pound
Langenbrunner has put up career totals of 1,035 games played, with 237
goals, 401 assists and 638 points.
Arnott also begin last season with the Devils before joining the Washington
Capitals. Between the two stops he played in 73 games, chipping in 17
goals, 14 assists and 31 points.
The No. 7 overall pick from the 1993 entry draft, the 6-3, 220-pound Arnott
has career totals of 1,172 games played, with 400 goals, 504 assists and
904 points.
574862
St Louis Blues
2006-07 Devils 82 23 37 60
2007-08 Devils 64 13 28 41
The new Blues
2008-09 Devils 81 29 40 69
2009-10 Devils 81 19 42 61
Staff
2010-11 Devils 31 4 10 14
2010-11 Stars 39 5 13 18
Jason Arnott
Totals 1,035 237 401 638
Pos: C • Age: 36
NHL regular-season stats
Season Team GP G A P
1993-94 Oilers 78 33 35 68
1994-95 Oilers 42 15 22 37
1995-96 Oilers 64 28 31 59
1996-97 Oilers 67 19 38 57
1997-98 Oilers 35 5 13 18
1997-98 Devils 35 5 10 15
1998-99 Devils 74 27 27 54
1999-00 Devils 76 22 34 56
2000-01 Devils 54 21 34 55
2001-02 Devils 63 22 19 41
2001-02 Stars 10 3 1 4
2002-03 Stars 72 23 24 47
2003-04 Stars 73 21 36 57
2005-06 Stars 81 32 44 76
2006-07 Predators 68 27 27 54
2007-08 Predators 79 28 44 72
2008-09 Predators 65 33 24 57
2009-10 Predators 63 19 27 46
2010-11 Devils 62 13 11 24
2010-11 Capitals 11 4 3 7
Totals 1,172 400 504 904
Jamie Langenbrunner
Pos: RW • Age: 35
NHL regular-season stats
Season Team GP G A P
1994-95 Stars 2 0 0 0
1995-96 Stars 12 2 2 4
1996-97 Stars 76 13 26 39
1997-98 Stars 81 23 29 52
1998-99 Stars 75 12 33 45
1999-00 Stars 65 18 21 39
2000-01 Stars 53 12 18 30
2001-02 Stars 68 10 16 26
2001-02 Devils 14 3 3 6
2002-03 Devils 78 22 33 55
2003-04 Devils 53 10 16 26
2005-06 Devils 80 19 34 53
574863
St Louis Blues
Blues chairman says he has three bidders
Norm Sanders
St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts recently told Bloomberg.com that
he has three "very strong" bidders for the franchise.
Bloomberg also said Checketts was granted an extension to repay a $120
million loan from a syndicate headed by Citigroup while trying to make a
deal.
Forbes magazine's annual list of NHL team values pegged the Blues' worth
at $165 million, 23rd among the 30 NHL teams.
The Blues' former majority investor, TowerBrook Capital Partners,
announced in March it would not longer be part of the team's ownership
group.
Checketts and his Sports Capital Partners Worldwide group own 20 percent
of the club and are seeking a majority investor.
Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 07.07.2011
574864
St Louis Blues
Blues ink two veteran forwards to one-year deals
By NORM SANDERS
While forwards Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner bring impressive
statistics to the St. Louis Blues, the important ones for Blues coach Davis
Payne are their combined three Stanley Cup championships.
The 35-year-old Langenbrunner has two and the 36-year-old Arnott has
one. Both players signed one-year deals with the Blues on Wednesday for
$2.5 million, plus $300,000 in incentives, reports revealed.
"We've added winning pedigrees into our locker room," Payne said. "Make
no mistake about it, that's going to pay off. These are guys who are driven
to prove something about their play.
"They're coming to St. Louis because they feel we are right there -- and
they feel they can add to it and help us get to the next level. It's a huge,
huge upgrade."
The Blues have also gotten much bigger and deeper at center and forward.
Asked who would be his four centers if the season started today, Armstrong
mentioned David Backes (6-foot-3, 225 pounds), Patrik Berglund (6-4, 218),
Arnott (6-5, 220) and newcomer Scott Nichol.
Nichol is only 5-9, 178, but plays with a rough-hewn physical style. The
Blues also added power forward Chris Stewart (6-2, 228) to the lineup last
season in a trade with Colorado.
"When you're bringing out guys that are 6-4, 6-4 and 6-5 and all going 22plus, we're going to be hard to contain down the middle," Armstrong said. "I
think that's going to be our strength."
Along with size, the Blues also have speedy wingers like Andy McDonald,
T.J. Oshie and Matt D'Agostini. Payne also has the option to use McDonald,
Backes or Vladimir Sobotka at center or wing.
The latest moves should put Sobotka at left wing, according to Armstrong.
"It changed the depth of our team," Payne said. "It changes our ability to
have guys throughout our lineup that have skill, that have experience,
ability, high competitive levels, and to contribute on a nightly basis.
"We feel that with Jamie and Jason, two guys that have been there and
understand what it takes. They're very highly motivated to contribute
coming to a new organization."
Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong once traded both players for each
other while working in Dallas. Arnott was traded by New Jersey to Dallas in
2002 with Langenbrunner going to the Devils.
Armstrong emphasized that Arnott and Langenbrunner weren't signed
because of offensive success they've had in the past.
Both are also former captains with plenty of playoff experience. Armstrong
said he didn't necessarily set out to bring the players in as a pair, as
potential captains, or because of the potential injury risk for David Perron.
"The success of this team is based on the core group (we have) and that
core group hasn't changed," he said. "They have experience, they have
Stanley Cups on their resume, Olympic experience on their resume,
Presidents' Trophies on their resume.
Perron has yet to return to workouts while dealing with post-concussion
symptoms.
"They're not in the prime of their career, they're not where they were seven
or eight years ago."
"I just think they wanted to make sure they were going to a situation they
felt was best for them," Armstrong said of Arnott and Langenbrunner.
"When I started the process we were talking to each individual player and
things started to take shape for us over the last 48 hours.
The Blues have added experience in the offseason, but still have 12 players
below the age of 25 and eight ranging from 26 to 33.
"We give them a very good opportunity to come in here and if we have
success as a team and a group, I don't see why these relationships can't
continue."
Blues sale update
"I thought we were still a little bit young and some experience could be used
there," Armstrong said.
And as for the moves in regard to Perron's situation?
St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts recently told Bloomberg.com that
he has three "very strong" bidders for the franchise.
"He's making progress, there's still progress to be made," said Payne, who
spoke with Perron on Wednesday. "We feel that he's going to be there and
he's going to be ready. He's a guy that we're counting on.
Bloomberg also said Checketts was granted an extension to repay a $120
million loan from a syndicate headed by Citigroup while trying to make a
deal.
"If that changes, it changes, but right now that's how we're preparing."
Forbes magazine's annual list of NHL team values pegged the Blues' worth
at $165 million, 23rd among the 30 NHL teams.
In 73 games with New Jersey and Washington last year, Arnott had 17
goals and 31 points. Arnott, who turns 37 in November, is a veteran of 17
NHL seasons and won a Stanley Cup title with New Jersey in 2000.
Arnott has 400 goals and 904 points in 1,172 games with Edmonton,
Nashville, Dallas, New Jersey and Washington.
The pair combined for 63 points last season and each experienced a dropoff from the year before.
Langenbrunner is coming off a disappointing season, totaling nine goals
and 23 assists in 70 games with Dallas and New Jersey. He has 237 goals
and 638 points in 1,035 career games. He will be 36 later this month and
won Stanley Cup titles with New Jersey (2003) and Dallas (1999) as well as
captaining Team USA's silver medal squad at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
"He understands what winning hockey is and he understand about putting
yourself in a position to have success," Payne said. "He's ultra-competitive
in his battles, in the tough areas of the ice."
Armstrong said he believes the two veterans can help the Blues in a variety
of ways.
"Veteran presence is important on our team," Armstrong said. "We don't
have a lot of players that have that been-there, done-that experience. We
saw that last year when we got on some positive trends, maybe our
emotional trends got a little too high.
"When we got on some negative trends, we couldn't shake it quick enough
to get focused again."
The Blues' former majority investor, TowerBrook Capital Partners,
announced in March it would not longer be part of the team's ownership
group.
Checketts and his Sports Capital Partners Worldwide group own 20 percent
of the club and are seeking a majority investor.
Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 07.07.2011
574865
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning sign free-agent C Pyatt
By ERIK ERLENDSSON
While the Lightning have yet to sign their top center to a deal, Tampa Bay
did add some depth to the position on Wednesday by signing free agent
Tom Pyatt to a one-year, two-way deal.
Pyatt, 24, spent last season with the Montreal Canadiens, scoring two goals
and seven points in 61 games. He also appeared in all seven playoff
games.
The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, was on a one-way deal with the
Canadiens that paid $500,000, but became an unrestricted free agent when
Montreal decided not to tender him a qualifying offer.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound, center was drafted by the New York Rangers in
the fourth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to Montreal in
2009 as part of the deal that sent Scott Gomez to Montreal. In 101 career
games, all with the Canadiens, Pyatt has four goals and 12 points. In 156
career games in the American Hockey League he has 32 goals and 83
points.
Known primarily as a bottom-six forward capable of killing penalties, Pyatt
played 41 games for Tampa Bay head coach Guy Boucher while at
Hamilton in 2009-10, registering 35 points and a plus-17 rating.
Negotiations on a contract for All-Star center Steven Stamkos, meanwhile,
were scheduled to continue on Wednesday. While there have been reports
the two sides are closing in on a new deal, both maintain they continue to
work through the process but are revealing little about the negotiations.
Tampa Tribune LOADED: 07.07.2011
574866
Tampa Bay Lightning
(*) Denotes camp invitee
(ˆ) Denotes under AHL contract
Lightning prospect camp begins in Brandon
By TBO.com
The Tampa Bay Lightning will hold a prospect development camp today
through Tuesday at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon.
Participants include forwards selected in the first round of the draft the past
three years: Carter Ashton, Brett Connolly and Vladislav Namestnikov.
On-ice practices begin Thursday morning and will be highlighted by a threeon-three tournament Monday and Tuesday. Player groups have yet to be
determined.
All on-ice sessions are open to the public.
SCHEDULE
Thursday
10:15-11 a.m. – Group A practice
11:15 a.m.- noon – Group B practice
1-1:45 p.m. – Group A power skating
2-2:45 p.m. – Group A shooting practice
3-3:45 p.m. – Group B power skating
4-4:45 – Group B shooting practice
Friday
9-9:45 a.m. – Goaltenders
10-10:45 a.m. – Group A shooting practice
11-11:45 a.m. – Group B shooting practice
Saturday
9-9:45 a.m. – Power skating
9-9:45 – Goaltenders
10-10:45 a.m. – Group A practice
11-11:45 a.m. – Group B practice
Sunday
Day off
Monday
9:9:45 a.m. – Goaltenders
11 a.m-12:30 p.m. – 3-on-3 tournament
Tuesday
10:30 a.m.-Noon – 3-on-3 tournament final
ROSTER
Forwards (17) – Carter Ashton, Cory Conacherˆ, Brett Connolly, Gabriel
Desjardins*, Philip-Michael Devosˆ, Seth Griffithˆ, Alex Hutchings, Tyler
Johnson, Alex Killorn, Matt Marshall, James Mullin, Vladislav Namestnikov,
Brendan O'Donnell, Ondrej Palat, Matt Peca, James Wright
Defensemen (9) – Mark Barberio, Jeff Dimmen ˆ, Kiril Gotovets, Radko
Gudas, Adam Janosik, Charles Landry, Geoffrey Schemitsch, Luke
Witkowski, Teigan Zahn
Goaltenders (4) – Jaroslav Janus, Pat Nagle, Dustin Tokarski, Adam Wilcox
Tampa Tribune LOADED: 07.07.2011
574867
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman on Stamkos contract
negotiations: "We're going to get there"
Staff
This is how desperate we are for news concerning contract negotiations
between the Tampa Bay Lightning and All-Star center Steven Stamkos that
we are down to dissecting every word uttered on the subject.
Such was the case Wednesday night, when Tampa Bay general manager
Steve Yzerman went beyond his usual theme that he is "optimistic" a deal
will get done. Yzerman did use that word again, but he added some
substance that should give Lightning fans a reason to come in off the ledge.
"Yes," Yzerman said when asked if he and Stamkos' agent Don Meehan, to
whom he spoke on Wednesday, were actually making progress. "We're
working towards getting a deal done. We're going to get there. I'll be patient
and, again, optimistic that we'll reach an agreement. I don't want to give you
a timeframe on anything, but I believe we'll get there."
Meehan did not immediately respond to an email. And to be fair, both sides
have agreed not to speak much to the media so as not to say the wrong
thing. Still, compared to what we've been getting, Yzerman's comment was
like opening what had been a dripping faucet.
Yzerman has been in Toronto since free agency opened on Friday. The
agency that represents Stamkos is located outside Toronto in Mississauga,
Ontario. Yzerman said he expects to remain in Canada through Friday and
then return to Tampa for the team's development camp at the Ice Sports
Forum in Brandon.
It is believed Yzerman has offered Stamkos a five-year deal with an
average salary of $7.5 million.
St. Petersburg Times LOADED: 07.07.2011
574868
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning signs center Tom Pyatt
By Damian Cristodero,
In another addition to its organizational depth, the Tampa Bay Lightning on
Wednesday signed center Tom Pyatt to a one-year, two-way contract, the
team announced. Pyatt had two goals, seven points and nine penalty
minutes in 61 games last season with the Canadiens.
Here is the official announcement:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed center Tom Pyatt to a one-year,
two-way contract today, vice president and general manager Steve
Yzerman announced.
Pyatt, 5-foot-11, 186 pounds, played in 61 games with the Montreal
Canadiens last season, recording two goals and seven points with 65 shots
on goal. He averaged 10:38 in ice time per game. Pyatt ranked fourth
among Canadiens forwards for blocked shots with 34 and won 50
percentage of draws taken (55-110). He also played in all seven Montreal
playoff games in 2011. Pyatt has played in 101 career NHL games with the
Canadiens during the past two seasons. He has recorded four goals and 12
points in his career with 19 penalty minutes. He played his first NHL game
on November 5, 2009 at Boston. Pyatt also played in 25 Stanley Cup
Playoff games with two goals and four points, averaging 12:10 in ice time.
A native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Pyatt has played in 156 career AHL
games with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Hamilton Bulldogs. He has
registered 32 goals and 83 points. Pyatt set career highs in 2008-09 with 5
goals and 37 points in 73 games with Hartford.
Pyatt played junior hockey with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey
League from 2003-07. During his career in Saginaw Pyatt accumulated 94
goals and 200 points with 82 penalty minutes. He also played in 10
postseason games, notching four goals and 11 points. Pyatt was given the
William Hanley Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player in the OHL in both
2006-07 and 2003-04. He was named to the Western Conference All-Star
team on two occasions, including being named MVP of the game in 2006.
Pyatt was named the best defensive forward in OHL's Western Conference
during the 2005-06 season.
Also during his junior career, Pyatt established himself in international
competition, representing Canada in both the 2006 and 2007 World Junior
Championships, winning the Gold Medal in each. He was named Canada's
alternate captain during the 2007 competition. Pyatt also participated in the
World Under-18 Championships in 2005, earning a silver medal.
Pyatt was drafted by the New York Rangers in the fourth round, 107th
overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by Montreal, along
with Scott Gomez and Michael Busto, on June 30, 2009 in exchange for
Chris Higgins, Doug Janik, Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko.
574869
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning signs C Tom Pyatt
Staff
In another addition to its organizational depth, the Tampa Bay Lightning on
Wednesday signed center Tom Pyatt to a one-year, two-way contract, the
team announced. Pyatt had two goals, seven points and nine penalty
minutes in 61 games last season with the Canadiens.
Here is the official announcement:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed center Tom Pyatt to a one-year,
two-way contract today, vice president and general manager Steve
Yzerman announced.
Pyatt, 5-foot-11, 186 pounds, played in 61 games with the Montreal
Canadiens last season, recording two goals and seven points with 65 shots
on goal. He averaged 10:38 in ice time per game. Pyatt ranked fourth
among Canadiens forwards for blocked shots with 34 and won 50
percentage of draws taken (55-110). He also played in all seven Montreal
playoff games in 2011. Pyatt has played in 101 career NHL games with the
Canadiens during the past two seasons. He has recorded four goals and
12 points in his career with 19 penalty minutes. He played his first NHL
game on November 5, 2009 at Boston. Pyatt also played in 25 Stanley Cup
Playoff games with two goals and four points, averaging 12:10 in ice time.
A native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Pyatt has played in 156 career AHL
games with the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Hamilton Bulldogs. He has
registered 32 goals and 83 points. Pyatt set career highs in 2008-09 with 5
goals and 37 points in 73 games with Hartford.
Pyatt played junior hockey with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey
League from 2003-07. During his career in Saginaw Pyatt accumulated 94
goals and 200 points with 82 penalty minutes. He also played in 10
postseason games, notching four goals and 11 points. Pyatt was given the
William Hanley Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player in the OHL in both
2006-07 and 2003-04. He was named to the Western Conference All-Star
team on two occasions, including being named MVP of the game in 2006.
Pyatt was named the best defensive forward in OHL’s Western Conference
during the 2005-06 season.
Also during his junior career, Pyatt established himself in international
competition, representing Canada in both the 2006 and 2007 World Junior
Championships, winning the Gold Medal in each. He was named Canada’s
alternate captain during the 2007 competition. Pyatt also participated in the
World Under-18 Championships in 2005, earning a silver medal.
Pyatt was drafted by the New York Rangers in the fourth round, 107th
overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by Montreal, along
with Scott Gomez and Michael Busto, on June 30, 2009 in exchange for
Chris Higgins, Doug Janik, Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko.
574870
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Brad Richards trade: After Mike Smith's departure, what is left for the
Tampa Bay Lightning?
Staff
We have gone through this before, but with Mike Smith bolting for the
Coyotes and a two-year, $4 million deal to be that team's No. 1, thought it
would be interesting to look back at the Brad Richards trade to the Stars
and see, through all the permutations, what is left of that deal for the Tampa
Bay Lightning.
Here was the original deal from February 2008, a trade GM Jay Feaster
was forced to make under pressure from incoming owners Oren Koules and
Len Barrie: Richards, the MVP of the team's 2004 Stanley Cup run, and
goaltender Johan Holmqvist to Dallas for Smith, forwards Jussi Jokinen and
Jeff Halpern and a 2009 fourth-round draft pick.
(The amazing thing about the Koules-Barrie involvement was they would
not actually take over the team until June. But owner Palace Sports &
Entertainment gave them access to the inner workings, and they certainly
flexed their muscles, but that's another story.)
Anyway, Smith left as an unrestricted free agent for no return, and the the
draft pick was sent to the Wild for the negotiating rights to Brian Rolston,
whom the Lightning could not sign before the 2008 free-agent period. So,
no return there, either.
Jokinen was traded in February 2009 by GM Brian Lawton to the
Hurricanes for Wade Brookbank, Josef Melichar and a 2009 fourth-round
draft pick that became part of a March 2009 deal that sent goalie Olaf
Kolzig and defensemen Jamie Heward and Andy Rogers to the Maple leafs
for defenseman Richard Petiot.
Brookbank and Melichar are no longer with the organization. Petiot was resigned this month as a free agent, but since he had a stint with the Oilers
organization in between, he does not count in this discussion.
Halpern was traded by Lawton to the Kings in March 2010 for Teddy Purcell
and a 2010 third-round draft pick that turned into defensive prospect Brock
Beukeboom, who last season was traded to the Blues by GM Steve
Yzerman in the deal for defenseman Eric Brewer.
So, after all the permutations, what did the Lightning reap from trading
Richards? Purcell, a budding star at right wing, and Brewer, the cornerstone
of the defense.
Was it worth it?
574871
Tampa Bay Lightning
Of course, you have to remember that in those days, the Lightning had
more in common with a pawn shop than an NHL franchise.
Tampa Bay Lightning fans have bigger worries besides Steven Stamkos'
contract
The point is, history says Stamkos is probably not going anywhere. The
combined cost in money, salary cap space, draft picks and dirty glances
from other GMs in the league make most offer sheets highly unattractive to
front offices.
By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
If that's the case, why hasn't Stamkos signed?
Essentially because the music is still playing in this dance.
As a devoted fan of a hockey team that only recently awoke from a fiveyear nap, you have every right to be concerned about free agent comings
and — mostly — goings at the St. Pete Times Forum this summer.
The threshold for the four first-round draft picks as compensation is a deal
that exceeds $7.8 million annually. And that is probably one reason
Yzerman's offer was supposedly in the $7.5 million range; he logically
assumed no one would be thrilled about going higher than $7.8 million on
an offer sheet.
So gather your frustration, round up your angst, and get your nervous
twitches in working order. Just try not to point any of them in the direction of
Steven Stamkos.
Nevertheless, Stamkos and his agent figured their best chance for leverage
was to hit the free agent market and find some desperate team willing to go
a little higher.
Sure, on some level, the idea that Stamkos remains unsigned is a minor
curiosity. But it is not worthy of your panic, and probably never will be.
Stamkos almost certainly will be skating around in training camp before you
know it.
If he could find that stalking horse, Stamkos wouldn't even have to sign the
offer sheet. Just waving a $9 million offer around would force Tampa Bay's
hand.
It is your right to worry. It is your nature to obsess.
But that apparently has not happened yet. And so we wait.
However, the same cannot be said for Simon Gagne. Or Sean Bergenheim.
Or Mike Smith, for that matter. The Stamkos soap opera may be a
distraction this summer, but the departures of Gagne and Bergenheim are
real hits to the Lightning offense.
This doesn't make Stamkos is greedy, and it doesn't make Lightning owner
Jeff Vinik cheap. It makes them human.
In terms of sheer contracts walking out the door, only four teams have lost a
more valuable collection of players than Tampa Bay this offseason.
Because then Yzerman will have time to address the real holes.
Now this doesn't mean Steve Yzerman has had his head buried in the ice
the past month. He got Eric Brewer and Dwayne Roloson re-signed, and
those deals trailed only Stamkos' contract on the GM's list of summer
chores. He also brought in Mathieu Garon to replace Smith as the backup
goaltender and has signed a handful of other lesser names.
But if you've been waiting for the big splash, it has yet to come. And if last
year is any indication, it might be several weeks before it arrives.
The Lightning has neither the resources nor the cap space, when you
consider Stamkos' and Victor Hedman's next deals, to spend wildly in the
free agent market.
So, like he did last summer to get Gagne, look for Yzerman to make a
strategic trade in the coming weeks. He could deal a defenseman. He could
deal Garon or Cedrick Desjardins, if his shoulder is healthy. He could get
creative with others on the roster.
But it is clear the Lightning needs at least one, and probably two, new
forwards. Because as of today, this team is not quite as good as the one
that walked off the ice in Boston after Game 7 of the East final at the end of
May.
That's not a suggestion that the Lightning is going backward, and it doesn't
mean the roster can't be upgraded in the coming months. But if you were
paying attention, you knew the Lightning had some difficult contract
situations to navigate this offseason.
And, yes, that includes Stamkos. Signing a 50-goal scorer to a new deal is
rarely an easy process, even if both sides agree they're better off with each
other.
They can disagree on value, and they can disagree on terms, but every
indication is they will eventually work this deal out.
First of all, it is rare to see a restricted free agent get an offer sheet. And it's
rarer still for an elite player.
Since 1998 only a handful of offer sheets have been signed, and only two
— Carolina's offer to Serge Fedorov in '98 and Edmonton's offer to Thomas
Vanek in '07 — reached the level of requiring four or more first-round draft
picks as compensation for a signed deal.
In those cases, Vanek and Fedorov stayed put when their teams matched
the offers.
To find a deal that required that level of compensation and involved a player
switching teams, you have to go back to 1997 when the Lightning briefly
lost Chris Gratton after he signed Philadelphia's offer sheet.
In the end, they will come to terms, and everyone will be happy.
574872
Toronto Maple Leafs
“We’re in a position now to move a defenceman if you need to or want to.”
‘For now, we’re done,’ Burke says of off-season deals
There are still quite a number of high-profile free agents, such as the
restricted Steven Stamkos. Burke said he’s not going to try to pry Stamkos
away from the Lightning with an offer sheet that would see four first-round
picks go to the Lightning if the deal was completed.
Kevin McGran
“I don’t contemplate doing one right now,” said Burke. “Offer sheets are part
of the collective bargaining agreement. If teams want to do them, fine.”
He was gruff and grumbly and wearing sandals.
He said the Leafs lost out on Brad Richards for two reasons: “We didn’t
offer as much money as other teams and, more importantly, we didn’t
structure the contract like other teams did.
Leafs GM Brian Burke essentially closed the Maple Leafs down for the
summer, saying he was satisfied with the team’s recent draft picks, trade
acquisitions and free-agent signings.
He wasn’t in any kind of mood to talk about Mayor Rob Ford’s nonappearance at Pride events, nor was he willing to talk about his
controversial decision to go to Afghanistan to be with the troops July 1 —
the same day free agency opened.
“I don’t think that’s any of my business,” was Burke’s response to the Ford
question.
“These deals that are front-loaded and have small amounts in the back end,
in my opinion, are designed to circumvent the salary cap. I won’t do them. I
never have. I’m not going to.
“That’s why we were unable to sign Brad Richards. I wish him well, he’s a
good guy. But that’s not a contract structure we’re interested in.”
Here’s how Burke broke down his recent high-profile acquisitions:
• D John-Michael Liles: “He adds an offensive dimension on our blue line
that we need.”
“Let me worry about the balance,” was Burke’s response to a question
about how he finds time to manage the team and put in so many public
appearances on behalf of the organization.
• C Tyler Biggs: “Prototypical, Brian Burke-type forward. Big, hard-nosed
kid who can play.”
In fact, those questions seemed to put him off.
• D Stuart Percy: “Real smart, all-situation defenceman who’s just going to
get better, in my opinion.”
It was a classic Burke show — with a Just Say No message about offer
sheets for restricted free agents and long-term contracts with big money
upfront that tail off at the end.
His body language dared anyone to say he and his front office didn’t do a
good job in acquiring John-Michael Liles, Cody Franson, Matthew Lombardi
and Tim Connolly.
“Write what you want,” he finally told one reporter.
It was a state-of-the-union affair, delivered in the midst of the team’s
prospect camp at the MasterCard Centre. Outside of continuing talks with
Luke Schenn and other Leaf free agents such as Darryl Boyce, Joey Crabb
and Matt Lashoff, the front office’s heavy lifting for the summer was
complete.
“For now, we’re done,” said Burke. “We’ll see what happens. If we get a
chance to upgrade, we’ll do it.”
There will be no goaltender signings. Colton Orr is healthy and will return.
Nazem Kadri will come to camp as a winger.
“What we ask our centres to do at both ends of the rink, are not his strong
suit,” Burke said of Kadri. “He can make a play. Paul Kariya played his
whole career on the wing, but once they crossed the centre line, he was a
centre.”
Burke also had a message for James Reimer, the team’s No. 1 goalie
heading into camp.
“There are a lot of goalies who have come in and had a brief, spectacular
burst in the NHL that don’t sustain it,” said Burke. “Jim Carey is one. Steve
Penney is one. What I said to James Reimer is ‘Google both of those guys
and make sure you’re not one of them.’
“I think he’s got the temperament to build on what he did. He’s got the
physical stamina and strength. I’m not worried about him.”
Reimer is No. 1, Jonas Gustavsson the backup.
“If that doesn’t work, we’re going to Plan B,” said Burke. “I don’t know what
Plan B is.”
One thing Burke really likes about his team is his defence. He said he
believes Mike Komisarek would rebound after a so-so season and promised
Jeff Finger would get every opportunity to win back a job on the Leafs’ blue
line.
That the Leafs would appear to have a surplus of defenceman is fine with
Burke.
“We used 10 defencemen when we won the Stanley Cup in Anaheim,” said
Burke. “You need depth at that position. Players get injured. It gives you
access to make a trade.
• C Tim Connolly: “We needed a centre. We like his offensive dimension.
He has played point on the power play; whether he’ll do that here, we’ll see.
We think it’s an upgrade for us offensively.”
• C Matthew Lombardi: “He had 53 points two years ago. If he comes back
from his concussion issue, I think he can add. We think he’s a good solid
player with good foot speed.”
• D Cody Franson: “From our perspective, he was the key to that deal. A 6foot-5 defenceman who is young. He has an offensive upside. He can really
handle the puck. He’s big. He really rounds out our blue line nicely.”
Toronto Star LOADED: 07.07.2011
574873
Toronto Maple Leafs
Now we’ve Heard of you
Kevin McGran
And the leading scorer through two games at Leafs rookie camp is . . .
Mitchell Heard.
The 19-year-old from Bowmanville — who went undrafted by the OHL and
NHL — has three goals after accepting an invitation from the Maple Leafs
to join a roster filled mostly with draft picks.
“Coming in undrafted, I didn’t know what to expect,” said Heard, who had
19 goals last year with Plymouth. “I didn’t really know anybody. A lot of
nerves to begin with, but once you get going out there, it’s quite fun. Play
your game and everything will go fine.”
When GM Brian Burke was mentioning a few guys who had stood out in his
state of the union, he mentioned Heard along with the likes of Jake
Gardiner and Tyler Biggs.
“There’s been no question some guys have popped off the page in the two
days (so far),” said Jim Hughes, the Leafs director of player personnel who
is running this camp. “We do have to place some value in (Heard’s goals).
“He had a strong day (Tuesday) and another strong day (Wednesday). He’s
a guy who continues to make himself a conversation piece. He’s done
some good things. Just keep learning more and keep watching.”
That’s really all Heard can do. He was quick to praise his linemates —
Conor Morrison of Harvard University (son of Leaf scouting director Dave
Morrison) and David Broll of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, who was the
sixth-round pick in 2011 by the Leafs.
Heard’s dream is, of course, to play in the NHL. He’s not going to let a little
thing like not being drafted get to him.
“I wasn’t drafted in the O (OHL) and I’m there now,” said Heard. “If you get
drafted, it’s great. You’ve got to look past it. You keep working hard, you
keep plugging away and good things happen.”
That’s the message Hughes hopes all the players will leave here with this
week.
“We’re very hopeful for these kids,” said Hughes. “We want good things to
happen for all these guys. Some will play in the NHL, some will play in the
American league, some will play in the ECHL.
“They will all find their way to their level.”
574874
Toronto Maple Leafs
Kadri on the wing, Reimer in the net: Maple Leafs all set, Burke says
Kevin McGran
Brian Burke's message for James Reimer: “There are a lot of goalies who
have come in and had a brief, spectacular burst in the NHL that don't
sustain it,” said Burke. “Jim Carey is one. Steve Penney is one. What I said
to James Reimer is 'Google both of those guys and make sure you're not
one of them'."
The Maple Leafs are shutting down for business for the summer, heading to
camp with the players they've acquired to date – John Michel Liles and
Cody Franson on defence, and Tim Connolly and Matthew Lombardi at
centre.
“For now, we're done,” said GM Brian Burke. “We'll see what happens. If we
get a chance to upgrade, we'll do it.”
It was a gruff and grumbly Burke who addressed the media between
periods today at the Leafs prospects camp game at the MasterCard Centre.
He said Nazem Kadri will come to camp as a winger.
“What we ask our centres to do at both ends of the rink, are not his strong
suit,” Burke said of Kadri, likening him to Paul Kariya. “He can make a play.
Paul Kariya played his whole career on the wing, but once they crossed the
centre line, he was a centre.”
Burke had a message for James Reimer, the team's No. 1 goalie heading
into camp.
“There are a lot of goalies who have come in and had a brief, spectacular
burst in the NHL that don't sustain it,” said Burke. “Jim Carey is one. Steve
Penney is one. What I said to James Reimer is ‘Google both of those guys
and make sure you're not one of them.’ I think he's got the temperament to
build on what he did. He's got the physical stamina and strength. I'm not
worried about him.”
Serious contract talks haven't begun with Schenn. But the team is talking
with Boyce, Crabb and defenceman Matt Lashoff.
There are still quite a number of high profile free agents, like the restricted
Stamkos. Burke said he's not going to try to pry Stamkos away from the
Lightning with an offer sheet that would see four first round picks go to the
Lightning if the deal was completed.
“I don't contemplate doing one right now,” said Burke. “Offer sheets are part
of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. If teams want to do them, fine.”
He said the Leafs lost out on Brad Richards for two reasons: “We didn't
offer as much money as other teams and more importantly we didn't
structure the contract like other teams did,” said Burke. “These deals that
are front loaded and have small amounts in the back end, in my opinion,
are designed to circumvent the salary cap. I won't do them. I never have.
I'm not going to.
“That's why we were unable to sign Brad Richards. I wish him well, he's a
good guy. But that's not a contract structure we're interested in.”
574875
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs form partnership with German team to improve development
"We're sitting around talking hockey and training techniques and how they
handle their players and the different systems on the bigger ice versus the
smaller ice," said Eakins. "When you're able to sit around and talk like that,
you always give something but you always get something back.
"So far it's been a real solid relationship."
Chris Johnston
The Toronto Maple Leafs are using their prospect camp as more than just a
chance to educate and evaluate future members of the organization.
The camp is also doubling as a foreign exchange program with Germans
Matthias Plachta and Florian Kettemer among the 42 players participating
this week. They're the beneficiaries of an innovative agreement the Maple
Leafs have established with the Mannheim Eagles that sees the teams
send players and coaches back and forth during the off-season.
It's certainly a hit among the participants.
"My team manager gave me a call and said 'Would you like to go to the
Leafs for prospect camp?' I couldn't believe it," Plachta said Wednesday. "I
was excited about it and now I'm here I'm even more excited. It's a
pleasure."
Mannheim will return the favour in August by hosting two members of the
Toronto Marlies, plus assistant coach Derek King and pro scout Rob Cowie,
during its training camp.
This is the third summer the teams have done the exchange. Marlies
players Christian Hanson and Darryl Boyce travelled to Germany in 2009
while Luca Caputi and Simon Gysbers went a year ago.
Mannheim coach Harold Kreis and assistant Mike Schmidt each made the
trip to Toronto this year and have made a point of exchanging information
and ideas with the Marlies staff.
"Really I'm just trying to be a sponge," said Schmidt, a Toronto native who
has spent three decades playing and coaching in Germany. "You're sitting
with the coaches and listening to what they're saying, you have
conversations. I think sometimes it's just good to hear other coaches and
see how they feel or view things.
"Sometimes it just kind of solidifies what your thoughts are."
The program has yielded some tangible benefits as well. When Mannheim
was looking to add an import defenceman this summer, Eakins suggested
former Marlies player Jamie Sifers and the Eagles ended up signing him to
a deal.
"I think it's going to come the other way at some point too," said Eakins.
The Marlies coach is a big advocate of the exchange program. During his
playing days, Eakins would often train with teams abroad prior to the start of
training camp and also spent time with Tampere in Finland when he was an
assistant coach with the Leafs.
The organization is still in the process of deciding which two players will
travel to Mannheim next month.
"To me, it's all about taking in as much as you can," said Eakins. "What a
great opportunity for these players. We've got guys who have never even
been to Europe. They go over, it's a good trip and it's really beneficial for
them hockey-wise."
Getting a small taste of life in the NHL is just as valuable for the Germans.
Kettemer is a 25-year-old defenceman — the oldest player participating in
Leafs prospects camp — who has spent the last two seasons playing in the
top German league. He can't get over how much faster and more physical
the game is on the smaller North American ice surface, but still dreams of
one day playing in the NHL.
"Yeah, why not?" said Kettemer. "That's why I'm here. Everybody's got the
same chance so you should use it."
While the agreement between the Leafs and their German counterparts
remains fairly informal, the exchange program seems to have a bright
future.
Everyone involved speaks enthusiastically about its benefits.
574876
Toronto Maple Leafs
Blues sign Langenbrunner, Arnott to deals
(AP)
The St. Louis Blues signed veteran forwards Jamie Langenbrunner and
Jason Arnott to one-year deals on Wednesday.
Each deal is worth $2.5 million, plus $300,000 in bonuses, and Blues
general manager Doug Armstrong said the franchise isn't necessarily
renting the players. Arnott's deal included a no-trade clause.
"I just think they wanted to make sure they were going into a situation that
they thought was best for them, not only this year but both players want to
play multiple years," Armstrong said. "If we have success as a team and as
a group, I don't see why these relationships can't continue."
The Blues have been busy on a minor scale in free agency, also signing
veteran forward Scott Nichol and defenseman Kent Huskins. They resigned forwards T.J. Oshie and Matt D'Agostini before free agency.
"We feel we've really improved our team since July 1st," Armstrong said. "I
think we're very comfortable with the group that we have."
The 35-year-old Langenbrunner is coming off a disappointing season,
totaling nine goals and 23 assists in 70 games with Dallas and New Jersey.
In 2009-10, Langenbrunner had 61 points with the Devils.
The 36-year-old Arnott is a 17-year veteran and had 17 goals and 14
assists in 73 games last season for New Jersey and Washington. His best
season was with Dallas in 2005-06 when he had 76 points.
Arnott was captain of the Nashville Predators for three seasons from 200710. He ranks sixth among active players in career games and seventh in
points, and has 12 seasons with 20 or more goals.
National Post LOADED: 07.07.2011
574877
Vancouver Canucks
Tambellini going to Zurich on three-year deal
By Jim Jamieson, The Province
Jeff Tambellini has signed a three-year deal to play for Zurich of the Swiss
League, where the ex-Canucks winger will be playing for the same ZSC
Lions team that his father, Steve, and grandfather, Addie, played for.
He was headhunted immediately following the end of the Canucks’ season
by former NHL head coach Bob Hartley, who was recently hired by the
Swiss club to rebuild it back to the championship level.
Tambellini, 27, whose strong points are speed and work ethic, will be on the
team’s top line and be expected to be one of their top offensive producers -a big change from his mostly fourth-line role with Vancouver and his
previous stops in the NHL.
“It’s great stability and it’s a chance to play a different role over there,” said
Tambellini on Wednesday. “It’s on the big ice and playing a lot of minutes.
It’s going to be a lot of fun and a great opportunity.”
His contract and his place on the Swiss team will be guaranteed – unlike in
Vancouver, where he signed a two-way deal and spent time in the minors
and as a healthy scratch.
Tambellini, a free agent signing by the Canucks a year ago, didn't fit into
the team's plans when it became clear Vancouver needs to upgrade its grit
and size on the fourth line. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound forward had 9-8-17 in
62 games and was a plus-10 for Vancouver. He had a good start, but didn't
score a goal after Dec. 28. He played six games in the playoffs – including
four in the Stanley Cup final -- with no points and was a minus-3. His most
memorable was his first career NHL playoff game in Game 6 in Nashville
when he caught fleet Martin Erat from behind on a breakaway in the second
period with Vancouver clinging to a 2-1 lead. The score held up and the
Canucks eliminated the Predators.
Tambellini said he had other NHL options after it became clear that we
wouldn't be back in Vancouver, but the Zurich club's new coach came after
him aggressively.
“He's excited to have me,” said Tambellini of Hartley, who won a Stanley
Cup in 2001 when he coached Colorado. “He's a coach with a great track
record. I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him.”
Tambellini, who grew up in Port Moody and will continue to live in
Vancouver in the off-season, is excited to go back to Zurich, where he first
learned to skate as a five-year-old when his dad, Steve, was playing there.
He also played his first organized hockey in Zurich.
“It's got a good spot in my heart and I'm looking forward to playing there,”
he said.
The Swiss National League A doesn't make players' salaries public, as the
NHL does, but it's believed that Tambellini's compensation will be greater
than the $500,000 he made last season with the Canucks.
Tambellini said being able to play in his hometown – he grew up here when
Steve was an executive for the Canucks before moving onto the Oilers as
GM – and getting to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final will always be a
highlight for him.'
“It was a fantastic year,” he said. “I'm so grateful to be part of that group and
to be able to be part of that Game 7 in Vancouver was so special to me.”
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.07.2011
574878
Washington Capitals
Jeff Halpern always ‘hoped to come back to Washington’ and Capitals
By Katie Carrera,
When Jeff Halpern last donned a Washington Capitals sweater, in 2005-06,
Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich were rookies and defensemen Mike Green
was trying to dent the NHL roster each time he was called up from Hershey.
Now Halpern, 35, returns to a Capitals team that has grown out of the
rebuilding process and is led by those players.
“I’ve always kind of hoped to come back to Washington and the fact that
they called, I was ecstatic,” Halpern said on Wednesday at Kettler Capitals
Iceplex. “I have great memories playing here, I jumped on the opportunity to
come back.”
The Potomac, Md., native has played for four teams — Dallas, Tampa Bay,
Los Angeles and Montreal — in the five seasons since he last played for
Washington, but none with the same success that he had in his home town.
Halpern’s 11 goals and 26 points in 2010-11 were his most since 2005-06,
when he had 11 goals and 44 points.
Halpern has battled groin and knee injuries throughout his career and
missed time toward the end of last season with a lower-body injury.
But the veteran center said he is healthy. Halpern is expected to center the
fourth line and also see time on the penalty kill.
Part of the reason General Manager George McPhee signed Halpern to a
one-year deal worth $825,000 in the latter portion of his career is his ability
to add more offense than the Capitals have received from the fourth line in
years past.
“He got 26 points last year, which is more than we got out of that position
last year,” McPhee said on July 1, when Halpern signed with Washington.
“We want players to be able to fulfill certain roles but also generate
offense.”
Halpern also provides ample leadership experience. He served as captain
in Washington in 2005-06 and also captained the U.S. world championship
team in 2008. Regardless of whether he wears a letter on his jersey,
Halpern said he won’t alter his playing style and demeanor.
“I don’t think my role would change whether I had a letter on my jersey on
another team or now,” Halpern said. “But I’ve always said it doesn’t really
matter who carries a letter. You want to have your personality and be able
to add to the team.
“I’m coming into a new situation,” Halpern continued. “I’ve played with a few
guys here but you don’t want to come in and start ranting and raving right
off the bat. You want to blend in and mix in, this is a tremendous group
that’s playing here, you want to add to it, you don’t want to dig into it too
much.”
Capitals notes: The Capitals signed winger Troy Brouwer to a two-year
contract worth $2.35 million per season on Wednesday.
Washington acquired Brouwer, who was a restricted free agent, from the
Chicago Blackhawks on the first day of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in
exchange for its first-round (26th overall) selection.
Brouwer’s new contract pushes the Capitals over the NHL salary cap of
$64.3 million for the 2011-12 season by a little more than $1.8 million,
based on calculations of players with one-way contracts – those that yield
the same salary regardless if a player is in the NHL or minors — available
at CapGeek.com.
Washington still has flexibility and time to tweak the roster, , though,
because teams are allowed to exceed the cap by 10 percent in the summer.
Restricted free agent defenseman Karl Alzner is the lone player remaining
from last year’s roster who has yet to be signed for next season. .?.?.
Unrestricted free agent center Jason Arnott signed a one-year contract with
the St. Louis Blues. The deal is worth $2.5 million, with potential bonuses
that could increase his salary up to $2.8 million according to the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch. Arnott played in 11 regular season games, recording seven
points, and nine playoff contests (six points) after Washington acquired him
at the trade deadline from New Jersey.
Washington Post LOADED: 07.07.2011
574879
Washington Capitals
By Katie Carrera
When Jeff Halpern last donned a Capitals’ sweater back in 2005-06, both
Alex Ovechkin and Brooks Laich were rookies and defensemen Mike Green
was trying to dent the NHL roster each time he was called up from Hershey.
Now Halpern, 35, returns to a Capitals team that has grown out of the
rebuilding process and is led by those players.
“I’ve always kind of hoped to come back to Washington and the fact that
they called, I was ecstatic,” Halpern said on Wednesday at Kettler Capitals
Iceplex. “I have great memories playing here I jumped on the opportunity to
come back.”
The Potomac, Md., native has played for four different teams – Dallas,
Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Montreal – in the five seasons since he last
played for Washington but none with the same success that he had in his
hometown. Halpern’s 11 goals and 26 points in 2010-11 were the most he’s
had since the 2005-06 campaign with the Capitals, when he recorded 11
goals and 44 points.
Part of the reason General Manager George McPhee signed Halpern to a
one-year deal worth $825,000 in the latter portion of his career is his ability
to add more offense than the Capitals have received from the fourth line in
years past.
“He got 26 points last year, which is more than we got out of that position
last year,” McPhee said on July 1 when Halpern signed with Washington.
We want players to be able to fulfill certain roles but also generate offense.”
But Halpern also provides ample leadership experience. He served as
captain in Washington in 2005-06 and also captained the U.S. World
Championship team in 2008. Regardless of whether he wears a letter on
his jersey, Halpern won’t alter his playing style and demeanor.
“I don’t think my role would change whether I had a letter on my jersey on
another team or now,” Halpern said. “But I’ve always said it doesn’t really
matter who carries a letter. You want to have your personality and be able
to add to the team.
“I’m coming into a new situation,” Halpern continued. “I’ve played with a few
guys here but you don’t want to come in and start ranting and raving right
off the bat. You want to blend in and mix in, this is a tremendous group
that’s playing here, you want to add to it, you don’t want to dig into it too
much.”
--In other news, Jason Arnott signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis
Blues. The deal is worth $2.5 million, with potential bonuses that could
increase his salary up to $2.8 million according to Jeremy Rutherford of the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
574880
Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals sign Troy Brouwer
By Katie Carrera
The Capitals have signed winger Troy Brouwer to a two-year contract worth
$2.35 million per season. The details of Brouwer’s salary were first reported
by TSN’s Gord Miller.
Washington acquired Brouwer, who was a restricted free agent, from the
Chicago Blackhawks on the first day of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in
exchange for its first-round (26th overall) selection.
Brouwer’s new contract pushes the Capitals a little more than $1.8 million
over the NHL salary cap of $64.3 million for next season based on
calculations with the numbers available at Capgeek. While the Capitals still
have flexibility and time — teams are allowed to exceed the cap by 10
percent in the summer — to tweak the roster, they also have one restricted
free agent remaining to be signed in defenseman Karl Alzner.
574881
Washington Capitals
Caps sign Brouwer to 2-year, $4.7M deal
By Stephen Whyno
Even in a weak draft, George McPhee knew he was parting with a
significant sum in the amount of a first-round pick for Troy Brouwer late last
month. The 25-year-old forward was a restricted free agent, so all the
Capitals were technically getting were his rights.
On Wednesday, they made sure Brouwer would be in Washington next
season by signing him to a two-year deal worth $2.35 million a season.
"Obviously the raise is very enticing and good for me and my family,"
Brouwer told The Washington Times in a phone interview. "Two years gives
me some nice security. I didn't wanna have to just sign a one-year contract
and just be looked at as a recycled player."
Brouwer had 17 goals and 19 assists this past season with the Blackhawks.
In 2009-10 — the year Chicago won the Stanley Cup — he had 22 goals
and 18 assists.
"At the end of the day I think it's a fair result," his agent Craig Oster told The
Washington Times. "It secures Troy's rights for two years in Washington
and gives them a player we think is capable of producing even more than
he had in the past."
In a more wide-open system, Oster said, Brouwer should be able to beat
those numbers.
"Also, we feel Troy adds a bit of a unique element in Washington with his
big body and physical presence," Oster said.
McPhee was not made available for comment but glowed about Brouwer at
the draft.
"He sounds like the kind of leader that we're looking for," the Caps' GM
said. "He's got some real valuable experience in the last couple of years
and to win the Cup does a lot for a player. It'll be nice to have him in our
room and on the ice at that age."
There was never really a concern about getting a deal done, as Oster said
he and Caps assistant GM Don Fishman had a similar idea of what
Brouwer was worth. The two sides talked at the draft and then after the
busy weekend of free agency concluded, agreeing to a deal just before
Tuesday's 5 p.m. deadline for Brouwer to file for salary arbitration.
"We felt that it was a reasonable contract given all the comparables. When
you begin preparing for salary arbitration, it becomes a statistical analysis,"
Oster said. "We didn't have a lot of disagreement about who the
comparable are. It led to a range of settlement pretty quick."
And ultimately a done deal. Now the question becomes what the Caps do to
sign final restricted free agent Karl Alzner. Assuming Tom Poti is placed on
long-term injured reserve, Washington has $1.7 million left to spend.
Alzner's agent, J.P. Barry, told The Times last week there was still "a gap to
close" in negotiations.
NHL teams are allowed to go over the $64.3 million salary cap by 10
percent in the off-season, but all must be compliant by the start of the
season.
Washington Times LOADED: 07.07.2011
574882
Washington Capitals
Home is not quite way Halpern remembers it
By: Brian McNally
Jeff Halpern returns to the Capitals, the team he started his career with
before leaving as a free agent in 2006.
Franchise has changed since former captain last played here
When Jeff Halpern last played for the Capitals, they were in the midst of a
painful rebuild. The team was losing. Verizon Center was half-empty on
most nights. Kettler Iceplex, the organization's state-of-the art headquarters
in Arlington, had not even opened.
But as Halpern, 35 and a native of Potomac, returns to the organization
where he began his career, he finds a startling new environment - sell-out
crowds and a team expected to compete for the Stanley Cup every year.
Halpern, then the team's captain, left as an unrestricted free agent after the
2005-06 season to sign with the Dallas Stars.
"It was definitely tough leaving. It was tough leaving the comforts of playing
in D.C. and playing in front of everyone here," Halpern said at Kettler
Iceplex on Wednesday. "At the time with everything being taken into
consideration, it was a good decision for me. But it's been interesting to
watch this team go from what we were at the lockout to one of the best
teams in the league pretty much year-in and year-out."
Halpern likely will serve as Washington's fourth-line center. He signed a
one-year, $825,000 contract July 1. Last season Halpern had 11 goals and
15 points with Montreal. That's the most points he has produced since his
final season with the Caps.
Halpern said he never closed the door on returning to his hometown. He
grew up in Potomac, attended Churchill High for a year, went to prep school
in New Hampshire and eventually Princeton University. He has maintained
his same offseason residence in suburban Maryland since 2003. Halpern
started the free agent period ready to jump at the first legitimate opportunity
that came his way. The fact it was from Washington made for a perfect fit.
In other news, the Caps agreed to a two-year contract with restricted free
agent Troy Brouwer. They acquired the 25-year-old forward from Chicago
at last month's NHL draft. The deal is worth $2.35 million a season. That
leaves defenseman Karl Alzner as Washington's lone remaining restricted
free agent.
The Caps are over the NHL's $64.3 million salary cap but can still add
contracts up to 10 percent over that number provided they trim back to the
ceiling by the time rosters need to be set before opening night. Brouwer
ranked fifth in the NHL in hits last season and has totaled 39 goals the last
two years.
Washington Examiner LOADED: 07.07.2011
574883
Winnipeg Jets
We get the leader our team, city need
By: Gary Lawless
Maybe things like community and honour don't matter to the A-Rods and
LeBrons in this era of greed gone wrong, but for a man like Andrew Ladd
they weigh just as much as the gold most pro athletes chase at the cost of
principle.
The movie Wall Street's Gordon Gekko and his greed be damned. Less is
more fits Ladd better.
Ladd is the example of the hockey player managers spend their careers
looking for. He's a nice mix of talent, skill and, as evidenced by his decision
to commit long-term to the Winnipeg Jets and this oft-maligned community,
loyalty.
No grumbling about poor shopping options or the cold or lack of night life
from Captain Ladd. Rather, he has determined this is the place he wants to
call home for the bulk of his career and where he wants to claim his stake.
The Jets, in their infancy as an NHL franchise, could not have asked for any
more from Ladd. His reaction to the Atlanta Thrashers relocating to
Winnipeg and subsequent pursuit of a long-term contract has cemented the
attitude current players will take towards the team and its new location.
Winnipeg is not a bad word. It's home and a good thing. Ladd has made
sure of that.
He left money on the table, of that there can be no doubt, but what he
passed up in bucks he gained in good will with the people of Winnipeg.
You've heard the expression "how much do you really need?" Well, for
Andrew Ladd, $22 million over five years was enough. Just as important for
him was the opportunity to anchor down in one city and build a home and a
connection with a community.
The connection is already strong. Ladd is the perfect captain for this little
hockey market with its new NHL franchise and sold-out building. He has
invested in the Jets as much as they've invested in him.
Winnipeggers had already taken to Ladd, and his decision Tuesday to avoid
salary arbitration as well as push unrestricted free agency down the road for
at least five years is an affirmation of that faith.
He didn't wait for the Jets to sign him to a deal or for this city's fans to come
to his altar. He took the first step with an act of off-ice leadership that has
already paid big dividends for the franchise.
His decision to fly to Winnipeg on his own dime just days after the franchise
was granted was the act of a leader. Any backlash from players moving
from Atlanta to Winnipeg was cut down in an instant. He set the tone.
Winnipeg was the franchise's new home and rather than harp about the
negatives, he pushed the positives. In one 24-hour tour of our city, he set
aside fears about players not wanting to play here. If the team's captain and
best player was onside, others had no choice but to follow.
True North landed the franchise, but Ladd sowed the seeds of a reputation
for the organization among players. Keeping or landing superstars will be
hard for the Jets. As much as we love the 'Peg, others find reasons to
knock it. But, and this was true in the '90s, there is the potential for hockey
players to love our town as much as we do.
Developing such a culture will be key for the Jets if they are to have
meaningful success down the line.
Ladd has taken the first step with his faith in our city and Jets management.
Had he balked and chosen to move towards unrestricted free agency, the
franchise could have been put in a terrible position from the get-go. The
opposite, of course, is true. Right now, Winnipeg is a desirable place to play
for players interested in earning their living in a hockey environment.
Thanks to our Ladd.
Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.07.2011
574884
Winnipeg Jets
Glad to have Ladd
By: Ed Tait
The Andrew Ladd file
Position: LW
Born: Dec. 12, 1985, Maple Ridge, B.C.
Height: 6-2 Weight: 205
In 2010-11: Named Thrashers captain Nov. 18, 2010. Posted career highs
in goals (29) and points (59).
FYI: Traded to the Thrashers from Chicago on July 1, 2010 in exchange for
defenceman Ivan Vishnevskiy and a second-round pick in 2011 (Chicago
selected D Adam Clendening).
NHL career: In 402 games played, he has 92 goals and 208 points.
Originally drafted by Carolina in the first round (4th overall) of the 2004 NHL
entry draft.
Notable: Ladd won a gold medal at the 2005 World Junior Championship as
a member of the Team Canada squad that set up home base in Winnipeg
before winning the tournament in Grand Forks, N.D.
Quotable: "Andrew is committed to being a Winnipeg Jet. He's committed to
Winnipeg. That was never a question right from the moment he walked into
the arena here. You could tell he wanted to be a part of it." -- Jets GM Kevin
Cheveldayoff
They knew he wore the captain's C with the Atlanta Thrashers last season.
And a quick glance at the stats told them he led the team in goals and
points.
So that was as good a starting point as any when the new Winnipeg Jets
management began discussing where Andrew Ladd fit into their long-term
plans.
But it was when the 25-year-old Maple Ridge, B.C., product flew into
Winnipeg last month -- on his own dime, no less -- to meet with owner Mark
Chipman, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and assistant GM Craig
Heisinger to tour the arena and shake some hands that the team's big
thinkers became convinced of this:
They absolutely, positively had to get the 25-year-old locked up as soon as
possible.
"The thing that was most impressive to me," Cheveldayoff said, "was (after
the meeting last month) he went back to his hotel and sent emails and text
messages to all the other players on the team, talking about the facility,
talking about the friendliness, talking about the ownership, talking about the
vision.
"I didn't get a chance to speak to the players until the next day and they all,
to a man, said, 'Oh yeah, Laddy already talked to us.'
"Those are the key characteristics you want in your leader."
So when Ladd's new deal was announced Tuesday morning -- five years,
$22.5 million -- it was hardly a shocker to those who have been monitoring
the early days of the Jets' rebirth. He is not only a key cornerstone going
forward, his style of play and personality are a good fit for this town and he's
the perfect prototype for the kind of character the organization wants to
build around.
At the same time, Ladd -- who has hoisted the Stanley Cup twice while
bouncing from Carolina to Chicago to Atlanta to Winnipeg since 2007-08 -was simply seeking a place he could call his hockey home.
"That was a big part of wanting to do a long-term deal," said Ladd, who is
getting married in just over a week in Las Vegas. "The fact that they wanted
me around for that long... it's nice to be in the same spot for a long time.
"It seemed like every time I got comfortable with the city I was in and the
people that were there, got to meet the locals, I was getting shipped out to a
different place.
"To be able to get settled down and meet people in the community, get
ingrained in the community with my fiancée, is going to be an exciting
thing."
Although Ladd was the team's leading scorer last year, quite clearly what
the Jets are getting is more than the numbers in the scoring summary. This
is a guy who suited up for the Blackhawks' final Stanley Cup game in 2010
with a fractured shoulder and torn ligaments, as was revealed later.
Last November, just weeks after pulling on a Thrashers jersey for the first
time, he was named the youngest captain in franchise history.
He'll receive the honour again with the Jets.
"Ladd's our captain, he's the leader of this team," said Cheveldayoff. "(Head
coach) Claude (Noel) and I have talked, and he's demonstrated it both on
and off the ice.
"It's something he doesn't even have to try to demonstrate. It is what he is."
574885
Winnipeg Jets
Jets poised to sign UND's Gregoire
By: Tim Campbell
THE Winnipeg Jets are about to add more local content as they are
expected to reach an agreement with hometown left-winger Jason
Gregoire, if they haven't already.
Known as a smart, two-way forward, Gregoire will pass up his final year of
college hockey eligibility with the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.
Gregoire, 22, spent the last three seasons in Grand Forks.
He decided to leave college this spring to take advantage of a window
afforded him by the NHL's labour agreement, allowing him to become an
unrestricted free agent.
He was drafted by the New York Islanders in 2007 in the third round, but
had not been signed.
Gregoire, when was was drafted by the Islanders, was playing for the
USHL's Lincoln Stars. He went to North Dakota the following season.
In the NHL's CBA, any college player who does not remain a bona fide
college student through the graduation of his college class becomes a free
agent four June 1s after he was drafted.
The Islanders kept Gregoire's exclusive rights up to June 1 of this year, but
not beyond, because he left college.
That put Gregoire on the open market early last month.
The only other player known to have taken advantage of the labouragreement loophole is Blake Wheeler, also of the Jets, the Grand Forks
Herald reported this spring.
Wheeler signed with the Boston Bruins in 2008 after being drafted by the
Phoenix Coyotes in the first round of the 2004 entry draft.
Gregoire put up seasons of 29, 37 and 43 points for the Fighting Sioux.
His production in 2010-11 was even more impressive given that he played
eight fewer games than the previous season due to injury.
He scored 25 goals in 35 games in the season just completed and given his
new free agent status this spring, was pursued by several NHL teams.
574886
Winnipeg Jets
Ex-coach Ramsay slams Jets owners
By QMI Agency
Ramsay told Sportsnet’s Mike Brophy Wednesday True North didn’t
communicate its intentions to him and said it wasn’t fair that they left him
hanging while the organization searched for a coach.
“I never got a phone call from the Winnipeg people when they apparently
bought the team,” Ramsay, who lost out on the Winnipeg job when Claude
Noel was hired, told Brophy. “None of us did. There are always three
choices: ‘We want you; we don’t want you or we really don’t know at this
point because we don’t have a general manager in place.’ At least then the
communication is open and you’ve spoken to the (new owners) and that
didn’t happen. It’s disappointing.
“The fact that they dragged it out meant there were jobs that were going by
the wayside while we were under the assumption that perhaps Winnipeg
was interested in bringing our group along. It was a month or more just
sitting by the phone waiting for things to happen while you are under
obligation not to talk to other teams because of tampering charges. When
Kevin Cheveldayoff got the (GM) job he at least called right away. Other
than that we were just sitting there and waiting and that’s not fair.”
Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.07.2011
574887
Winnipeg Jets
NHL Southeast Division free agent moves
Caroline Hurricanes
Jets finding wings
IN — G Brian Boucher (Flyers); LW Alexei Ponikarovsky (Kings); C Tim
Brent (Maple Leafs); LW Jiri Tlusty (re-signed); RW Anthony Stewart (Jets);
D Tomas Kaberle (Bruins)
By TED WYMAN, QMI Agency
OUT — RW Erik Cole (Canadiens)
Florida Panthers
WINNIPEG - It’s about these Winnipeg Jets fans who are showing all the
patience of a five-year old with ADHD as the city’s fledgling NHL franchise
tries to get off the ground.
IN — RW Tomas Fleischmann (Avalanche); RW Scottie Upshall (Blue
Jackets); RW Sean Bergenheim (Lightning); D Ed Jovanovski (Coyotes); G
Jose Theodore (Wild); C Marcel Goc (Predators); C Matt Bradley (Capitals)
Did people really expect the Jets to jump head first into the free agent pool
and try to come away with a top-6 forward on a ridiculously long and
expensive contract?
OUT — LW Darcy Hordichuk (Oilers); C Marty Reasoner (Islanders); G
Tomas Vokoun (Capitals); RW Niclas Bergfors (Predators)
It seems that way judging from some of the reactions I’ve heard since free
agency opened and the Jets only dipped their toes in the water.
Anyone who actually expected a spending binge on July 1 clearly hasn’t
been paying attention.
Since the day it was announced the Atlanta Thrashers were moving to
Winnipeg — reiterated when Kevin Cheveldayoff was hired as GM — the
Jets management has laid out a plan to build through the draft, keep the
assets they have, develop their young talent and add parts as necessary.
This is an endurance run, not a sprint.
The No. 1 priority was always to re-sign captain and leading scorer Andrew
Ladd to a long-term deal. That mission, in which the Jets showed the
hockey world they mean business by locking up a young leader with two
Stanley Cup championships to his name, has been accomplished. Now it’s
on to priority No. 2 — inking defenceman Zach Bogosian and forward Blake
Wheeler to similar deals.
At the same time, the team may continue to add players who can compete
for spots on the roster in September. As Cheveldayoff said Tuesday, there’s
lots of time until the puck drops.
It’s conceivable that the Jets will try to sign a veteran forward or two who
can put the puck in the net. Ladd himself suggested it’s what the team
needs and they’d be wise to take that advice. Someone like Teemu
Selanne, if he changes his mind about either playing in Anaheim or retiring,
would be perfect, but only if it’s on a one-year deal that won’t mess too
much with the overall philosophy.
Now I can understand why some fans are concerned about the Jets’ talent
up front. They are not flush with top-line players, though Bryan Little, Ladd,
Evander Kane and Alex Burmistrov all have top-line potential.
The fear is that this was the seventh worst team in the NHL last year and it
hasn’t improved immensely.
Meanwhile, division rivals Florida, Carolina and Washington all made big
additions and the Tampa Bay Lightning were already pretty good and rising.
Other Eastern Conference teams like the Rangers — who made the biggest
splash by signing Brad Richards to a 10-year deal — the Philadelphia
Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres all made themselves
better.
The conference also has the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston
Bruins, the Montreal Canadiens, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh
Penguins and plenty of other playoff contenders.
It will be a major challenge for the Jets to make the playoffs in Year One,
but it’s definitely doable. An Eastern Conference scout we talked to pegged
them in the top half of the league in terms of talent.
Both outgoing GM Rick Dudley and outgoing coach Craig Ramsay said the
team is young and on the rise and they lamented not getting the chance to
see it through.
Sure, it would be nice if the Jets deep-pocketed owners were to throw some
money around and go for the instant fix.
But it wouldn’t necessarily be the right thing to do.
This puppy needs to find its legs before it can start running with the big
dogs.
Tampa Bay Lightning
IN — G Mathieu Garon (Blue Jackets); D Matt Gilroy (Rangers); C Tom
Pyatt (Canadiens)
OUT — G Mike Smith (Coyotes); LW Sean Bergenheim (Panthers); LW
Simon Gagne (Kings); D Randy Jones (Jets)
Washington Capitals
IN — C Jeff Halpern (Canadiens); D Roman Hamrlik (Canadiens); RW Joel
Ward (Predators); C Ryan Potulny (Senators); G Tomas Vokoun
(Panthers); RW Troy Brouwer (trade from Blackhawks, re-signed)
OUT — G Semyon Varlamov (traded to Avalanche); LW Marco Sturm
(Canucks); C Boyd Gordon (Coyotes); C Matt Bradley (Panthers)
Winnipeg Jets
IN — D Derek Meech (Red Wings); LW Tanner Glass (Canucks); D Randy
Jones, (Lightning); C Rick Rypien, (Canucks); LW Andrew Ladd (re-signed);
C Aaron Gagnon (Stars); D Mark Flood (Canucks)
OUT — RW Radek Dvorak (Stars); RW Anthony Stewart (Hurricanes)
Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.07.2011
574888
Websites
NBCSports.com / Blues sign veterans Jason Arnott, Jamie Langenbrunner
to one-year deals
James O'Brien
It’s been a while since the St. Louis Blues have truly been a relevant team
in the NHL. While they had a recent playoff run in 2008-09, they were
absolutely stomped by the Vancouver Canucks. Before the lockout, the
Blues were a perennial playoff team who ached for postseason success;
now they might accept such a fate.
Young players such as T.J. Oshie, David Backes, Chris Steward and Alex
Pietrangelo lead the Blues, but the squad seems a bit lacking in the area of
veteran stability. The Blues took steps to rectify that situation today by
signing experienced forwards Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason Arnott to
one-year contracts. Jeremy Rutherford reports that each player will make
$2.5 million, although performance bonuses could drive their salaries up to
$2.8 million.
As many have joked on Twitter and elsewhere, it’s a bit odd that both
Langenbrunner and Arnott played for the not-so-successful New Jersey
Devils last season. That being said, they both enjoyed high moments in the
Garden State; Langenbrunner served as the team’s captain while Arnott
scored a Stanley Cup-winning overtime goal for NJ.
Of course, each guy is also obviously past his best days. The Devils traded
Langenbrunner once it became clear that they would bring in head coach
Jacques Lemaire again. (Langenbrunner clashed with Lemaire quite a bit
during the 2009-10 season.) Arnott opted for a trade deadline deal when
given the choice, helping the Washington Capitals transition a bit but
ultimately falling well short of their goal of winning a Cup.
These seem like solid deals, especially since the Blues limited their overall
risk by only giving them one-year contracts. How do you feel about these
signings … could they be enough to propel St. Louis to a playoff spot in
2011-12?
NBCSports.com / LOADED: 07.07.2011
574889
Websites
NBCSports.com /Salary Capitals: Washington goes over the ceiling with
Troy Brouwer’s deal
James O'Brien
The Washington Capitals seem like one of the big “winners” of the 2011 offseason. Tomas Vokoun‘s budgetary loss was their gain. They turned an
uncomfortable situation with Semyon Varlamov into two high-end draft
picks. Maybe GM George McPhee paid a little too much for certain players,
but there’s the feeling he added a lot of useful pieces to the puzzle.
That last part might be the sticking point, though. It seems like the Capitals
keep over-paying for one player in particular: Troy Brouwer. McPhee raised
some eyebrows when he traded Washington’s first round pick (26 overall) in
2011 for Brouwer, although it must be noted that it was clear the franchise
didn’t see much in this year’s draft. That would have been fine, but the team
also gave Brouwer a massive raise today, signing him to a two-year deal
worth a whopping $4.7 million.
On paper, Brouwer seems like a very nice fit for Washington. The rugged
forward often skated on the Chicago Blackhawks’ top line, opening up
space for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane while scoring 36 points in
2010-11 and 40 in 2009-10. Of course, he did that at the bargain price of
$1.025 million per year; now he’ll get a ransom of $2.35 million per season.
Maybe that’s actually a reasonable deal in this crazy spending climate, but
he might not be the right move for Washington. The Capitals’ current cap
commitments are now at about $66 million, putting them about $2 million
above the $64 million ceiling (according to NHL Numbers). Washington
doesn’t need to panic about getting back under yet, but they should at least
be concerned, especially since prized restricted free agent Karl Alzner
could be headed toward salary arbitration.
It looks like McPhee and the Capitals might walk a salary cap tight rope this
summer. If there’s two new contracts that look the most of out order, they
might be Brouwer’s deal and Brooks Laich‘s $4.5 million per year contract
extension. There have been some murmurs about Tom Poti‘s $2.875 million
cap hit being removed in some way (retirement, trade or submerged in the
minors?), but it’s likely that the Caps would need to move another contract if
they want to retain Alzner as well. Moving some combination of Eric Fehr
($2.2 million), Jason Chimera ($1.875 million) and John Erskine ($1.5
million) might end up being the antidote for Washington as well.
Either way, the Caps are going for broke in 2011-12. Who knows if it will
actually work, but it’s already making an interesting NHL off-season that
much more intriguing.
NBCSports.com / LOADED: 07.07.2011
574890
Websites
Sportsnet.ca /Cold shoulder
Mike Brophy
As the long list of unrestricted free agents gets smaller by the day, the best
available guy out there just might be a coach and not a player.
Craig Ramsay, who was an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning
when they won the Stanley Cup in 2004 and was head coach of the now
defunct Atlanta Thrashers last season, has a long track record of making a
positive impact as a teacher with the teams that employ him.
The 60-year-old Toronto native, who won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the
NHL’s best defensive forward in 1985, could find himself with a new team,
possibly the Florida Panthers, as early as Wednesday.
"There have been some conversations and I’ve narrowed it down," Ramsay
said during a phone conversation as he made his way from Atlanta to
Buffalo Wednesday morning. "There is one in particular that I am leaning
towards because I have family nearby. Whatever job I take I want to be
treated with respect for my years of service."
Ramsay had hoped to hang on to his job with the Thrashers, who are now
the Jets having transferred the franchise north to Winnipeg.
Was he disappointed at not being retained, but replaced by Claude Noel?
"Not at the end of it, I certainly wasn’t," Ramsay said. "I never got a phone
call from the Winnipeg people when they apparently bought the team. None
of us did. There are always three choices: ‘We want you; we don’t want you
or we really don’t know at this point because we don’t have a general
manager in place.’ At least then the communication is open and you’ve
spoken to the (new owners) and that didn’t happen. It’s disappointing. I
think with 40 years in the business you deserve a call from them to let you
know where things stand and where they think they are headed.
"The fact that they dragged it out meant there were jobs that were going by
the wayside while we were under the assumption that perhaps Winnipeg
was interested in bringing our group along. It was a month or more just
sitting by the phone waiting for things to happen while you are under
obligation not to talk to other teams because of tampering charges.
(General manager) Rick Dudley was at least let go right away so he could
go about his business, but you have good people like (assistant coaches)
Mike Stothers and John Torchetti and the training staff sitting there waiting
for some indication as to what was going on. When Kevin Cheveldayoff got
the (GM) job he at least called right away. Other than that we were just
sitting there and waiting and that’s not fair."
Ramsay said he had one conversation with a team about its head coaching
position, but nothing came of it.
He has had tremendous success as an assistant or associate coach in
Florida, Tampa Bay, Boston, Philadelphia and Ottawa
"The reality about what I’ve been through the past year is I’m disheartened
as a head coach, so if I go somewhere as an assistant that’s alright with
me," Ramsay said.
Because he was mostly a checker as a player and has been closely
associated with the late Roger Neilson, a defensive guru, Ramsay is often
thought of as a defence-first coach.
He insists that is the furthest thing from the truth.
"My philosophy is really pretty simple: I want to be aggressive and to
attack," he said. "I want to play a fun style of hockey; something that is fun
for the players to play and fun for the fans to watch. If you go back to my
playing days when I was on the checking line in Buffalo with Don Luce and
Rick Dudley for a bit and then with Don Luce and Danny Gare, we also
contributed on offence.
While I understand the philosophy of being good defensively, I truly believe
in a red line-in game rather than a red line-back game. I want to get the
puck and force teams to play in their own zone and keep pressure on
them."
Wherever Ramsay lands, the team that gets him may be able to say they
landed one of the best unrestricted free agents of the off-season.
Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.07.2011
574891
Websites
USA TODAY /Center Brad Richards heads list of interesting free agents
By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
Brad Richards is the top offensive player in this year's free-agent crop.
Here are 20 of the more interesting players available:
1. Brad Richards: As the only offensive star in the unrestricted free-agent
marketplace, Richards will have several good options, particularly in the
Eastern Conference. It is expected that the New York Rangers,
Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs will be among
those calling Richards' agent on July 1. Signed: Nine years, $60 million with
Rangers on July 2.
2. James Wisniewski: Although there is some concern that he takes bad
penalties, there is considerable intrigue with the Michigan native because
he's a defenseman with offensive ability and a feisty demeanor. He's also
only 27. The Detroit Red Wings, looking to fill a defensive hole created by
Brian Rafalski's retirement, probably have some interest in Wisniewski.
Signed: Six years, $33 million with Blue Jackets on July 1.
3. Erik Cole: There are so few scorers available that Cole will have a line at
his door. He can skate, and he netted 26 goals last season. He can play a
power forward game. The only concern is whether can stay healthy. He has
had bad luck with injuries in his career. Signed: Four years, $18 million with
Canadiens on July 1.
4. Ville Leino: He's only 27, and Richards is the only other unrestricted
agent who had more points than Leino last season. He's a clever, gifted
offensive player. Signed: Six years, $27 million with Sabres on July 1.
5. Jason Arnott: He's a big center, and centers are in short supply. Signed:
One year, $2.5 million, plus bonuses, with Blues on July 6.
6. Chris Drury: Just because the New York Rangers bought him out doesn't
mean he isn't desirable. If a team needs a scorer, Drury is not the man. But
if a team wants a center who can help it win in many different ways, he is.
He can kill penalties. He can play a defensive role. He's poised. He's played
in many, many big games.
7. Radim Vrbata: He played very well for Phoenix, and it's surprising the
Coyotes couldn't get him signed. Teams in the West will be interested
because they saw too much of Vrbata. As of Thursday, the Coyotes were
still trying to sign him. Re-signed: Three years, $9 million with Coyotes on
July 1.
8. Scottie Upshall: He was a 22-goal scorer last season in a league where
stars are scoring 25 or more. He will have a bushel of teams interested
because many teams are looking for goals. Signed: Four years, $14 million
with Panthers on July 1.
9. Simon Gagne: Believe it or not, Gagne is 31. It seems like he has been
around a long time. After a horrid start in Tampa Bay, he had 40 points in
63 games. He's only three years removed from a 34-goal season. Signed:
Two years, $7 million with Kings on July 1.
10. Sean Bergenheim: He looked highly valuable during the playoffs when
he seemed like he was the league's best third-liner. Clearly he's looking to
cash in on his impressive playoff run. He's a quality role player, but teams
have to remember that he really is a third-liner who can score 15 goals a
season. Signed: Four years, $11 million with Panthers on July 1.
11. Roman Hamrlik: Veteran defensemen are always in demand. He could
be a good fit for a good team looking for someone who knows how to play
with talented players. Signed: Two years, $7 million with Capitals on July 1.
12. Ed Jovanovski: He's the perfect veteran for a team looking to add a
savvy, gritty player to its defensive corps. He can play on the power play.
He might be one of those players you could sign for a year. He's 35.
Signed: Four years, $16.5 million with Panthers on July 1.
13. Tomas Kaberle: Everyone in the NHL understands Kaberle's attraction
is his passing ability. He's not going to hit anyone and teams will put the
puck in his corner. But if a team needs an offensive catalyst, Kaberle can
do the job. Signed: Three years, $12.75 million with Hurricanes on July 5.
14. Michal Handzus: He's a big 6-4 center who can play 20-plus minutes.
He could be a good fit who needs someone to play against the big centers
in the West. Signed: Two years, $5 million with Sharks on July 1.
15. Tomas Vokoun: He's a proven goaltender, but there really isn't a market
for goaltenders this summer. Signed: One year, $1.5 million with Capitals
on July 2.
16. Ian White: He isn't a complete player, but he will be attractive to puckpossession teams or those who need a good transition defenseman who
can get the puck out of his team's zone. Signed: Two years, $5.75 million
with Red Wings on July 2.
17. Tim Connolly: Some will worry about his injury history, but the center
shortage means he will have plenty of suitors. He has ample skill to impress
anyone who wants to watch the tapes. Signed: Two years, $9.5 million with
Maple Leafs on July 2.
18. Maxime Talbot: Everyone remembers how crucial he was to the
Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup championship. He can stir the drink and
chip in 15 goals. Signed: Five years, $9 million with Flyers on July 1.
19. Andy Greene: He played more than 22 minutes a game last season on
the New Jersey Devils' defense, and he's only 28. He could be a
consolation prize for teams that miss out on big-name defensemen. Resigned: Four years, $12 million on July 1.
20. Chris Higgins: He had 13 goals in 62 games last season, and he was a
gritty contributor in the playoffs. He's 28 and he has been a 20-goal scorer
in the past. It wouldn't be hard to convince yourself that he could be an
exceptional third-line performer who could slide up to the second line from
time to time. Re-signed: Two years, $3.8 million on July 1.
USA TODAY LOADED: 07.07.2011
574892
Websites
USA TODAY / Jackets add Martinek; Arnott, Langenbrunner join Blues
By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
The Columbus Blue Jackets, acting like a team with a greater urgency to
make the playoffs, continued to aggressively alter their lineup by signing
defenseman Radek Martinek, a player known for his smart, two-way game.
"Martinek has been solid defenseman in the National Hockey League for
several years and we think he will be a nice addition," said Columbus
general manager Scott Howson.
The Martinek signing was one of the three key signings on Wednesday:
The St. Louis Blues signed Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner.
Arnott and Langenbrunner were traded for each other in 2002 and were
briefly teammates last season for the New Jersey Devils before both were
dealt.
Langenbrunner (two) and Arnott (one) have three Stanley Cup titles
between them.
Martinek joins a defense that includes James Wisniewski, who would have
been the hottest free-agent defenseman had the Blue Jackets not acquired
his rights from the Montreal Canadiens and negotiated a six-year, $33
million contract.
In addition, Howson negotiated a bold trade with the Philadelphia Flyers
that brought in Jeff Carter to be the first premium center star Rick Nash has
ever had.
The Blue Jackets have only made the playoffs once in their 10-year history,
and their attendance has fallen in recent years. The moves clearly seemed
to be directed toward fixing all of the team's problems for next season.
Martinek was given $2.2 million.
"He is a smart, steady player who will provide character and experience on
our blueline." Howson said.
The Columbus defense will also include Marc Methot and Fedor Tyutin,
plus Chris Russell and Grant Clitsome. Methot was given a four-year deal
worth $3 million per season.
USA TODAY LOADED: 07.07.2011

Around the NHL News - Philadelphia Flyers

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