sport-scan daily brief

Transcription

SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF
NHL 7/3/2012
Anaheim Ducks
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Whicker: Ducks new defenseman's been around
Boston Bruins
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Cross is a seasoned rookie
Bruins conclude development camp
Ryan Spooner finishes camp with flourish
Tommy Cross’ time has come
Zach Parise makes ’em wait
Buffalo Sabres
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Sabres send Roy to Dallas, acquire Ott
Steve Ott excited about opportunity with Buffalo Sabres
Sabres trade Derek Roy to Dallas Stars for Steve Ott, Adam
Pardy
Regier playing out of character with recent moves
Buffalo Sabres trade Derek Roy to Dallas for Steve Ott
Calgary Flames
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Czech mates: Flames sign free agent Hudler
Johnson: Flames GM Feaster big on skilled players
Flames working to keep Iginla in Calgary colours
Brass landing key pieces
Jiri the man in Cowtown
Feaster gets his guy
Flames' two-way Street
Hudler signs with Flames
Carolina Hurricanes
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Canes miss on Parise and Suter but still look to improve
Another Staal, another big deal
Hurricanes swing for fences, with uncertain results
Canes make offers for Parise, Suter
Chicago Blackhawks
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Bettman gives Torres a break
NHL reduces Torres' suspension and its own credibility
Bettman sets suspension for Coyotes' Torres at 21 games
Blackhawks still zeroed in on free agent Zach Parise
Raffi Torres’ suspension reduced by four games
Hawks in pursuit of top free agent Parise
Is Parise what the Blackhawks need?
Torres receives new 21-game suspension
Colorado Avalanche
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Yakupov has fun, entertains fans during Oilers development
camp
Jones: Yakupov's excellent adventure
RNH's pal gets taste of Oilers camp
Gernat drawing Oilers attention
Age is only a number. Just ask Whitney
Smyth signs at 11th hour
Florida Panthers
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Columbus Blue Jackets
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Blue Jackets: Nash trade remains on hold
Stars continue roster transition by trading for Derek Roy
Derek Roy believes he is over injury issues that could have
slowed production last season
Steve Ott is sad to leave Stars, but should be a perfect fit in
Buffalo
Stars' moves say something about team, but 'cheap' isn't it
Ex-Stars Sheldon Souray, Adam Burish now division foes
Dallas Stars trade Ott, Pardy for Sabres center Roy
Red Wings' Jiri Hudler, Chris Conner leave for other teams
National writer: Advice for Ryan Suter
Two-minute drill: Midday update on Tigers, Lions, Wings,
Pistons, U-M and MSU
Red Wings still waiting on Ryan Suter; Zach Parise to make
choice today
Mikael Samuelsson 'so glad' to be back with Red Wings
NHL free agency tracker: Martin Brodeur, backup stay with
Devils; Joey Crabb to Capitals
Wings not likely to hear from Zach Parise, Ryan Suter until
Tuesday
Jiri Hudler leaves Wings for four-year deal with Flames;
Chris Conner out, too
Mikael Samuelsson thrilled to be back with Wings; he never
wanted to leave
Red Wings, others, continue waiting on decisions from free
agents Ryan Suter, Zach Parise
Red Wings will try to accommodate goaltender Joey
MacDonald by looking for trade partner
Eight years with Red Wings prepared Jiri Hudler for pressure
he'll face after signing in Calgary
Former Red Wings forward Chris Conner signs with Phoenix
Coyotes
Red Wings' free-agent target Zach Parise won't decide
today; no decision yet from Ryan Suter
Former Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler signs with Calgary for
four years, $16 million
Mikael Samuelsson looking forward to stepping into a
familiar role with Red Wings
Replacing Nicklas Lidstrom will take group effort from Red
Wings, says ex-assistant Jeff Blashill
Detroit Red Wings fans: Mikael Samuelsson signing a
typical, unimpressive move
Red Wings, others waiting on Zach Parise
Edmonton Oilers
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Avalanche, like rest of NHL, waiting on Zach Parise and
Ryan Suter
Dallas Stars
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Detroit Red Wings
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Florida Panthers’ Dale Tallon: Jonathan Huberdeau ready
for NHL
THE KID IS ALRIGHT: Jonathan Huberdeau to Make Moves
with Panthers ... News and Notes from Prospect Camp
Florida Panthers GM Tallon believes his need for offense is
already in organization
Believe it or not, a Roberto Luongo reunion could make
sense for the Florida Panthers
Los Angeles Kings
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Kings have taken care of business while waiting for
free-agent news
Lombardi on signings, plus other notes
Minnesota Wild
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Parise, Suter keep suitors in suspense
Wild and Wolves trying to woo their way to relevance
Parise, Suter updates
Minnesota Wild still waiting on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter
Montreal Canadiens
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Canadiens sign goaltender Carey Price to six-year, $39M
deal
NHL Free agent Zach Parise inches closer to a new deal
Habs show faith in Prust
Canadiens re-sign Carey Price for six years
'Life goes on,' Larry Robinson says after Canadiens fill last
coaching vacancy
Price is right for Canadiens
Habs get tougher with Prust
Nashville Predators
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Treasure hunt
Predators have plenty of money, will the wait be worth it?
Radulov's return to NHL short-lived, signs new deal with
Russian league
New Jersey Devils
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Back in Devils’ Fold, Brodeur Hopes Parise Will Stay, Too
Devils Goalie Brodeur Signs Two-Year Deal to Stay in New
Jersey
Brodeur Signs Two-Year Deal With Devils
Brodeur, Hedberg Re-Sign With New Jersey Devils
Zach Parise remains undecided; Brodeur and Hedberg each
re-sign with Devils for two years
Johan Hedberg wanted two years from Devils to bring family
to New Jersey
Zach Parise says he needs more time to decide; Devils still
in running
Martin Brodeur, Johan Hedberg re-sign with Devils
Martin Brodeur re-signs with Devils: Read the tea leaves on
Zach Parise and other free agents
Martin Brodeur re-signs with Devils for two years, $9 million
NHL free agency stuck in neutral-zone trap
Brodeur re-signs with Devils for two years
Martin Brodeur signs, but Devils still waiting for Zach
Parise's decision
Marty's decision to return to Devils a heartfelt one
Martin Brodeur signs two-year, $9M contract with New
Jersey Devils
Still hope Parise will remain a Jersey guy
Brodeur re-signs with Devils
New York Islanders
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Rangers replace Prust with tough guys Asham, Haley
Rangers might keep Stralman
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NHL entering the dog days of summer
Flames sign forward Jiri Hudler to four-year, $16-million deal
Martin Brodeur takes a cut to stay in New Jersey
Radulov Returns to Russian League
Ottawa Senators
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Scanlan: With present needs met, Senators turn attention
back to the future
Questions about revamped Sens
What will it be, Alfie?
New look for Sens
Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan's decision may
exceed deadline
Phoenix Coyotes prospect Mark Visentin makes most of
chances
Glendale council candidates call for delay in signing Phoenix
Coyotes deal
Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres has suspension reduced to 21
games
Pittsburgh Penguins
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Free agent Parise delays decision on choosing next NHL
team
Penguins continue on Parise watch
No decision from Parise
San Jose Sharks
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Sharks sign ex-Panther Kearns
St Louis Blues
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Woywitka returns to the Blues
If free agency fails, Blues may have to swap offense for
defense
Hockey Guy update: Parise, Suter undecided
Blues sign defenseman Jeff Woywitka
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Lightning development camp set to begin
Lightning bolster defense with Salo
Tampa Bay Lightning plays free agent waiting game along
with most of NHL
Lightning development camp schedule
Toronto Maple Leafs
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Top players avoiding Maple Leafs?
Biggs and Percy look to make impact
Vancouver Canucks
NHL
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Sam Donnellon: Flyers' free-agency gambit
Frank Seravalli: While Parise ponders, rest of hockey world
anxiously waits
Flyers wait for decisions by free agents Zach Parise and
Ryan Suter
Parise, Suter holding Flyers hostage
Decision by Parise still on hold
Flyers give Leighton a shot at redemption
Everything depending on Parise and Suter
Flyers waiting to see if they catch a big fish
Phoenix Coyotes
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Islanders add ex-Devil Boulton
New York Rangers
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Philadelphia Flyers
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Canucks re-sign pair of forwards
Canucks ink Garrison to six-year deal
Canucks went all in on Jason Garrison
Canucks convinced Garrison has more to give
Sami Salo to Vancouver Canucks and their fans: 'Thank you'
Jensen chooses Stockholm AIK as his Swedish club
Former Canucks coach Crawford finds a fit with Zurich Lions
of Swiss league
Garrison keeps number to keep humble after signing
Canucks contract
Former Canucks bench boss Marc Crawford skips to Zurich
Canucks' Ebbett re-ups for $600,000 and one year
Canucks will see Garrison sticking with No. 52 jersey he got
as a prospect
Washington Capitals
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Joey Crabb a ‘stronger person’ after long road to NHL
McPhee on free agency: ‘It’s sometimes best to sit back and
stay out of it’
NHL free agency roundup
Make a big splash? Not Caps’ McPhee
Introducing new Caps winger Joey Crabb
Alaskan Crabb adds depth to Capitals
Websites
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ESPN / Who will win Derek Roy for Steve Ott swap?
ESPN / Can Hudler help Flames jump into playoffs?
ESPN / Sheldon Souray excited for new chapter
ESPN / Sheldon Souray signs with Anaheim Ducks
NBCSports.com / Glendale council candidates want Coyotes
lease deal delayed
Sportsnet.ca / Spector on NHL: Torres decision makes
sense
YAHOO SPORTS / Raffi Torres suspension: Telltale timing
as NHL takes rare step of altering ban
YAHOO SPORTS / Free advice for UFA Ryan Suter
Winnipeg Jets
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Jets have Olli on board
The Jokinen file
Jets sign Jokinen to two-year deal
Is need for sniper worth Jets taking chance on Semin?
Jets made pitch for Parise
SPORT-SCAN, INC. (941) 484-5941 phone (619) 839-3811 fax
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Anaheim Ducks
He moved to L.A. in 2001 and now lives in Malibu. "Being there for them,
it's going to be one big thing not to worry about during the season," he said.
"Coordinating everything while playing in Canada, dealing with the
borders....It's been a hassle."
Souray showed up Monday with Kelly Kelly, who has also appeared in the
pages of Maxim and, as if you didn't know, was the WWE Divas champion
for a while last year.
Kelly and Souray exchanged a smooch after her victory over Beth Phoenix
last year, which, until June 11, was probably the top highlight involving a
hockey player in Staples Center history.
"When I got to Montreal I just did everything that was asked of me," Souray
said. "Having fun, not knowing any better. You learn you're getting those
opportunities because you're a hockey player. You'd better take care of
business.
"But I'm thankful I grew up in the New Jersey organization. You had Scott
Niedermayer, Scott Stevens, Slava Fetisov...It was like going to Harvard for
a defenseman, before you go to high school. You learn what's required to
be a good teammate. It wasn't a country club."
Pretty heady stuff for a guy who grew up in Fishing Lake, Alberta,
population 453, settled by the Metis, an aboriginal group.
Whicker: Ducks new defenseman's been around
Souray expected to solidify his career when Edmonton called in 2007.
Instead he had only one healthy season in three, and cited Oilers
management for rushing him back into play before his shoulder healed.
By MARK WHICKER
The Oilers responded by loaning him to Washington's Hershey club, after
he cleared waivers twice. Thus he served out the end of a five-year, $27
million deal in the minor leagues.
ANAHEIM – He has been on magazine covers that have nothing to do with
sports, and he has been on waivers, unclaimed.
He has been in close proximity with the WWE's John Cena and The Big
Show, and he has been on the same team with Scott Niedermayer.
That's a lot of "has been."
It was the one category Sheldon Souray resisted. He spent the entire 201011 season in Hershey, Pa., which is a big deal if you're in the American
Hockey League, but not a box of chocolates if you've been a 26-goal scorer
for Montreal.
He was 34 at the time.
"If that was punishment, so be it. It didn't kill me," he said. "I was able to
prove myself right, not prove anyone wrong."
He came to Dallas and, despite frequent wrist injuries, showed the massive
slap shot that busted up the Kings' Colin Fraser when he tried to block it in
January.
Ducks GM Bob Murray got the thumbs-up on Souray from Saku Koivu, who
was Montreal's captain. And when Souray's roads take uncomfortable
curves, he remembers the days of rehabbing his wrist in Montreal, with
Koivu right beside him. Koivu was coming back from non-Hodgkins
lymphoma.
"He was an inspiration," Souray said. "His fight was so much more real-life
than mine. I said, if this guy's coming back, I know I'm going to be playing."
"There's a difference in the lifestyles," Souray recalled Monday at Honda
Center. "You're still playing hockey, still getting paid. It was fun to see the
young guys, so enthusiastic to make the next jump. One guy was driving
around in a $1,500 car with the muffler about to fall off. There was
something raw about it.
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"But when you get back up here, the excuses are taken out of it. You don't
have 'bus legs.' You got to the city you're playing in, the night before, not
that day. It eliminates excuses."
Cross is a seasoned rookie
The Ducks signed Souray on Sunday, for three years, to disperse their own
excuses.
Souray earned that commitment with a solid comeback season in Dallas. In
doing so he reminded the NHL that there are comparatively few 6-foot-4,
237-pound defensemen with an armor-busting shot from the power-play
point.
The Ducks signed Souray and Bryan Allen, the 6-foot-4 defenseman from
Carolina, to snatch some bodies from the front of Jonas Hiller's net and to
win the puck scrums they have lost for the past two years.
"Their mantra is to be hard to play against," Souray said, 'and I think they
want to get back to that."
But the Ducks also want some authoritative voices, some folks who will call
out the motivationally challenged. A 22-year-old, unless he is Sidney
Crosby, can't do that.
A survivor can.
Souray has been on the cover of Maxim and, when he was in Sweden
during an NHL lockout, wrote a column for Cosmpolitan. His marriage to
"Baywatch" star Angelica Bridges ended publicly, and not prettily, and he
spent lonely years in Montreal and Edmonton away from his two daughters.
He has been.
Orange County Register: LOADED: 07.03.2012
Boston Bruins
By Fluto Shinzawa
WILMINGTON — When the Bruins’ development camp kicked off last
Thursday, Tommy Cross had barely strapped on his gear when the jokes
began to fly.
The camp, which concluded at Ristuccia Arena on Monday, was the sixth
such gathering since 2007. Cross has been present for all of them. The
most popular dig is that the camp should be renamed in the 22-year-old
Cross’s honor.
“He wins the award for longevity here,” cracked assistant general manager
Don Sweeney.
The camp’s honorary graybeard – 23-year-old invitee Justin Courtnall was
officially the elder statesman — is finally entering the next phase of his
career.
During each previous camp, Cross had to practice caution to retain his
NCAA eligibility. That meant, compared to the CHL players, paying his own
way at the team hotel to even forking over his own cash for lunch. After
each camp, Cross was either preparing to return to the classroom at either
the Westminster School or Boston College.
Now, hockey is a job instead of an amateur pursuit. This September, for the
first time in his career, Cross will attend training camp in his chase for a
spot on the varsity roster.
Bruins conclude development camp
By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff
“Just doing the best I can to get ready for training camp in the fall,” said
Cross.
Cross ended his NCAA career as an oxymoron: a four-year collegian. Cross
wrung the most out of his college experience. As a sophomore, Cross
became a national champion. As a senior, Cross (five goals, 19 assists in
44 games) captained the team that won its second title in three years.
Cross majored in communications, minored in international studies, and is
proud to consider himself a college graduate. Cross’s Chestnut Hill buddies
(classmates include Barry Almeida, Paul Carey, Edwin Shea, and Chris
Venti) are friends he’ll have for life.
“One, I wanted to win a national championship,” said Cross when explaining
his decision to stay for four years. “We didn’t accomplish that my junior
year. That’s something I wanted to do. Two, I didn’t feel like I had maxed
out at that level. I felt I had some new levels to reach in the college ranks.
Three, I made a commitment to them for four years. I honored that
commitment.”
Cross’s four-year stay at BC, however, was partly out of necessity.
Even before the Bruins drafted Cross in June of 2007, the defenseman was
struck with knee injuries. On June 23, 2007, when the Bruins traded
second- and third-round picks to Chicago to draft Cross at No. 35, he
approached their draft table on crutches.
Cross was limited to 24 games as a BC freshman in 2008-09. During his
junior season, Cross dressed for 28 games.
In hindsight, Cross needed all four college seasons to overcome his injuries
and fulfill his amateur development.
“I thought about it, absolutely,” Cross said of turning pro early. “But in the
end, I thought it was best for me, as a hockey player, to be there to learn,
continue to play, get my degree, then take the next step.”
WILMINGTON — The Bruins have wrapped up their annual development
camp at Ristuccia Arena. The youngsters will go their separate ways, with
some returning to Wilmington this fall to pursue big-league jobs.
“You very rarely come away from these camps with a negative feeling,” GM
Peter Chiarelli said. “It’s all potential.”
Dougie Hamilton, Jared Knight, and Ryan Spooner should be among the
group contending for varsity status. Hamilton will be in the mix on the blue
line. Knight and Spooner will most likely start 2012-13 in Providence.
“He’s on a real good progression line and development line,” Chiarelli said
of Hamilton. “He’s a real good player, a real good prospect. I’m excited we
have him here with our group.”
Chiarelli didn't anticipate signing any free agents today.
Boston Globe LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Boston Bruins
Ryan Spooner finishes camp with flourish
By Steve Conroy / Bruins Notebook | Tuesday, July 3, 2012 |
http://www.bostonherald.com | Boston Bruins
WILMINGTON — The Bruins rookies are not scheduled to report back to
Boston for camp until Sept. 14, but Ryan Spooner gave the brass
something to think about during the next couple of months.
Those injuries have changed Cross from the player the Bruins traded up for
into the player he is now. Before Cross’s knee troubles, the Bruins believed
they were drafting a dynamic-skating, hard-hitting, high-character two-way
defenseman. Five years later, the Bruins acknowledge that as a pro, Cross
probably won’t have the explosive mobility he once expected to have.
In the second of two scrimmages among the prospects on the last day of
development camp, Spooner scored a pair of goals and was arguably the
best player on the ice at Ristuccia Arena.
“It’s really hard to track him in that context because of the injuries,”
Sweeney said when asked about Cross’s development at BC. “When we
drafted him, you sort of see the athleticism and the dynamic skating aspect
of his game. That’s changed a little bit. That’s just the facts he’s been faced
with to change his game along those lines. He makes better reads in terms
of his transitional passing. Whereas before, he might have been able to
skate himself out of those situations. He’s done a good job. I think I’ve
tracked that a little bit tighter the last two years, because that’s certainly
going to have to be upheld at the next level as the game picks up more and
more speed, and how he’s going to react to that.”
It was Spooner’s third development camp, and the highly skilled centerman
appears ready to embark on his pro career. That will most likely start in
Providence, though general manager Peter Chiarelli included him in a
group that will challenge for NHL spots, along with Dougie Hamilton, Jared
Knight and Torey Krug.
By his senior season, Cross matured into a safer, more reliable
defenseman. Cross should be the same as a pro. Cross, who should start
2012-13 in Providence, projects to be a bottom-pairing, stay-at-home NHL
defenseman. His coaches will expect Cross to play a conservative and
physical game.
In that nature, Cross could become a defensive defenseman in the mold of
ex-Bruin Mark Stuart. The 6-foot-2-inch, 210-pound Cross likes to lean on
forwards and plays with some bite. Cross will have to hone that edge as a
pro. He will be expected to fight when necessary.
“The physical component of his game, I think, will continue to get better and
better in the pro environment,” said Sweeney. “In the college environment,
as a forward, I think you’re involved a little more physically. As a
defenseman, it’s probably a little harder, except down low and in front of the
net. Tommy seems to understand when to step up in the neutral zone and
pick his spots. Physically, I think he’s looking forward to the challenge of
what bigger and stronger guys at the pro level represent.”
Boston Globe LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Boston Bruins
“That’s one thing you want to do before you leave — finish off strong. That’s
what I was trying to do,” Spooner said. “I got some great passes out there
and I guess I got a little bit lucky and they went in.”
“You can see he’s maturing as a young man, just physically. And his tests
have shown that also,” Chiarelli said. “You’ve seen him play, he’s very
skilled through the neutral zone, a high-speed and highly skilled kid. For
him it’s about learning the professional game, learning the game without the
puck. And with a lot of these kids who are about to turn pro, it’s about being
mentally prepared for every game, every practice.”
Assistant GM Don Sweeney said Spooner’s making strides in that
department.
“I think in his overall training, there’s a pro mentality that’s starting to seep
in there, which is what we need with all these guys. And it’s not something
you wake up with or you get by osmosis,” Sweeney said. “You have to
really go through it and understand it, and they’re building blocks. . . .
He’s a very creative player. And that’s the stuff we know is there, but we
want to make sure we continue to build the habits away from the puck. He
understands that much, much, much clearer now.”
Making the opening night roster appears to be a longshot that would
become even longer if Chiarelli does choose to add a veteran body up front
at any point this summer. But Spooner’s not concerning himself with any of
that.
“If you look at that, it can get you sidetracked on what you should focus on.
The worst thing you can do is always be worried about others,” Spooner
said. “The best thing you can do is focus on what you need to do and when
you come to camp, you just focus on your game. If there are no spots
available, there’s nothing I can do about that. I just have to come to camp,
work hard and do what they tell me.”
How to Dougie
In the scrimmages, Hamilton made some mistakes that not only go with
being a young, inexperienced pro, but are also evident in a lot of puckmoving defensemen’s games. But he didn’t do anything in this camp to
make the Bruins brass rethink its assessment that he’s going to be a
special player.
“I don’t want to hand anyone a job at this point in July, but based on what
I’ve seen this year and what I’ve seen this camp, I think he’s going to be a
top challenger for a spot,” Chiarelli said. “He’s just got a lot of things that
you like. I really like the range, and to have range you have to be able to
skate, you have to be able to turn, and for him with that size, he’s put on 11
pounds from last year and you wouldn’t even notice it. You notice it in his
stature, but the way he moves you don’t notice it.
“So he’s on a real good progression line and development line. He’s a real
good player, a real good prospect. I’m excited that we have him in our
group.”
Fer sure
Forward Brian Ferlin, who’ll head back to Cornell for his sophomore
season, continues to look like a decent prospect. The 6-2, 201-pound
Ferlin, the ECAC Rookie of the Year last season, made a nice rush up his
off wing yesterday, protecting the puck and then creating a good scoring
chance for himself. . . .
Justin Florek made his presence known again, sticking with a play and
scoring off his own rebound.
Boston Herald LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Boston Bruins
Tommy Cross’ time has come
Bruins’ 2007 pick ready to embark on pro career
certainly did it as a captain at BC, and now I think he’s really excited about
getting into the pro game and seeing where he stacks up.”
Cross was healthy his senior season, in which the Eagles won the national
championship. He played in all 44 games, notching 5-19-24 totals.
“My team had a good year and I felt I had a really good year for myself. But
ultimately what I cared about was winning, and we did that,” Cross said. “I
think I’m in a good spot to have a good summer heading into camp. I need
to keep working on a lot of things and keep learning.”
At the end of the season, he also got in a couple of AHL games for
Providence.
“I picked up a lot,” Cross said, adding that he needs to work on puck
retrieval, defensive-zone coverage and one-on-ones. “It was good to get a
taste of pro hockey, learn the system, Watch video on the system, and then
play in it, figure out what my role is and what my responsibilities are on the
ice.”
The games were on back-to-back nights at the end of the season, and
Providence coach Bruce Cassidy liked the way he took to coaching.
“His first game, he was a little tentative,” Cassidy said. “We talked about
what he needed to do to be more of an impact player. The second game,
he was crisp with the puck, snapping passes, physical when he needed to
be in terms of one-on-one confrontations . . . so (it was) night and day
between the two games.
“But (with) such a small sample size that it’s hard to say which one you’re
going to see more of, but we need more of the second game and I think
Tommy will bring that. He’s a very mature guy. He’s a winner and he’ll
figure it out. Now whether he’s good enough, who knows down the road
with any of them? But that’s the game Tommy should bring to us, or Boston
— however it shakes out for him.
“Because he’s a big-bodied guy. I don’t think he’s a fighter, but he can be
like a (Dennis) Seidenberg-type player where he can outmuscle guys and
move the puck, make a good first pass. That’s the kind of comparison I
would use for Tommy if he ends up in Providence.”
And if Cross can turn into another Seidenberg, then the Bruins will really
have something.
By Steve Conroy | Tuesday, July 3, 2012 | http://www.bostonherald.com
| Boston Bruins
636604
Boston Bruins
Zach Parise makes ’em wait
WILMINGTON — In one sense, Tommy Cross seems much older than his
22 years.
Big deals remain at large
The roster from his first Bruins development camp, in 2007, includes
several players whose names are engraved on the Stanley Cup: Milan
Lucic, Brad Marchand, Tuukka Rask, Adam McQuaid, David Krejci.
By Stephen Harris / NHL Beat | Tuesday, July 3, 2012 |
http://www.bostonherald.com | NHL Coverage
It feels like a long time ago.
“I was 17 years old and you look at the roster of that camp and a majority of
guys have played games in the NHL and a lot of them are regulars in the
NHL in the Bruins organization,” Cross said. “So to be around those guys
when I was young definitely made an impression, and I still remember a lot
of things from that camp.”
But now, after a four-year career at Boston College and three right knee
surgeries that threatened to derail him, Cross is ready to start his
professional career. And he’s beginning to once again resemble the
prospect he was in ’07, when the B’s traded up a few spots to select him
with the 35th overall pick.
During camp, he used his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame to his advantage and,
in yesterday’s scrimmage, he even sneaked a point shot past his old BC
teammate Parker Milner for a goal.
“It’s just great to see him healthy,” said assistant general manager Don
Sweeney, adding that Cross is learning to do the maintenance work to keep
the knee healthy. “That’s something that he’s going to fight forever, but he
understands it better now and it’s translated onto the ice in his game. You
saw the physical presence that he has and he has that patience on the blue
line, to wait that extra second so his shot gets through.
“Tommy is looking forward to moving up in the pro game now. He’s a guy
that likes to complete what he started. He did it in prep school and he
Zach Parise ventured forth from his agents’ Mississauga, Ontario, offices
late yesterday afternoon and — as the hockey world held its collective
breath — told waiting reporters he hasn’t made up his mind yet.
Parise, of course, is the big fish in the NHL’s free agent pond. The former
New Jersey Devils captain is reportedly being wooed by five or more teams,
dangling long-term contract offers worth around $12 million to $14 million
per year.
The 27-year-old is in the extremely enviable position of taking his time to
decide which team he’ll allow to write him a very, very large check.
“I’m getting closer, but I haven’t made a decision,” Parise said. “I haven’t set
any deadlines.”
The Minnesota Wild, who have in excess of $15 million in cap space, are
thought to be bidding hard for Parise, a Minneapolis native. Other teams
that likely are also making Parise’s decision hard include Pittsburgh and
Detroit — and maybe even the Devils, though it sure seems he’s out of their
price range.
It may be that the next biggest catch in free agency, Nashville defenseman
Ryan Suter, is waiting to see who lands Parise before making his decision.
It’s not inconceivable the pair could end up on the same team.
Even if Parise opts to sign elsewhere, there had to be a sigh of relief for the
Devils. It appeared Sunday that goaltender Martin Brodeur, the cornerstone
of the franchise for nearly 20 years, might just be serious about pursuing
free agent offers.
But in the end, the 40-year-old Brodeur decided he wanted to end his
career where it began — as a Devil. Brodeur signed a new two-year deal
worth $9 million.
“Everybody knows, or should have known, that this is where I wanted to
be,” Brodeur said in the Newark Star-Ledger. “I’m really excited that we
were able to get it done. It took a little longer than I thought to be answered
by the Devils, but they finally came through (Sunday) early evening.
“This (the Devils and New Jersey) is all I know. To be honest, I wasn’t sure
I’d be ready to start my life somewhere else. . . . But I need that security,
also, to have that extra year on the contract. That was really an important
thing for me where I am in my career, the age I am and with the lockout
looming. That was a security I thought I deserved and I wanted, and I was
able to get it.”
Forty is begining to look like the new 30 in the NHL. Ray Whitney, 40, was
the big winner on Day 1 of free agency, landing a two-year, $9 million deal
with Dallas. And Jaromir Jagr, 40, has reportedly has numerous offers. He
has expressed the desire to play in Montreal, and the Canadiens are
thought to be interested. Jagr put up 19-35-54 totals in 73 games last
season for Philadelphia.
The Canadiens completed one of yesterday’s more significant deals when
they re-signed goalie Carey Price to a six-year contract worth $39 million.
Still just 24, Price takes on the immense responsibility of returning the Habs
to prominence.
The Winnipeg Jets last night signed center Olli Jokinen, 33, to a two-year
deal reportedly worth $9 million. He scored 23 goals for Calgary last
season.
In another big signing — many would say far too big — former Detroit Red
Wings center Jiri Hudler landed a four-year, $16 million pact with the
Calgary Flames. The 5-foot-10 Czech is a fairly decent second-line player
(87-127-214 in 409 career games), but is he worth $4 million per year?
Well, the answer to that, of course, is that he — like so many other overpaid
free agents — is worth whatever a team is willing to pay him.
636605
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres send Roy to Dallas, acquire Ott
By John Vogl
Folks in Dallas love Steve Ott. The feeling is mutual.
The feisty forward grew as a hockey player and person while wearing a star
on his chest.
“I’ve kind of turned into a man there in my time,” Ott said Monday night. “To
say that it was a big part of my life would be an understatement.”
As much as Ott appreciates Dallas, the feeling is overshadowed by his
excitement of coming to Buffalo.
The Sabres acquired Ott on Monday as part of an early summer
blockbuster, picking up the 29-year-old spark plug plus defenseman Adam
Pardy from Dallas. In exchange, the Sabres sent former perennial scoring
leader Derek Roy to the Stars.
“I’m a guy that looks forward to an excellent opportunity and a new
opportunity,” Ott said by phone from his summer home near Windsor, Ont.
“I love challenges, and if this is going to be a new challenge or a new
adventure in my life, I’m really looking forward to this adventure more than
anything.
“I’m excited. Absolutely. It’s almost like draft day again. You get a new
sense of energy. It’s something that I love to prove to people where I
belong. Buffalo wanted me, and I don’t want to prove them wrong. Also at
the same time, I want to prove to Dallas of what they missed out on. First
most, I want to prove to Buffalo what type of player I am and what I can
bring to that team.”
Ott instantly adds competitiveness to a lineup that needed it. The 6-foot,
190-pounder had 11 goals, 39 points and 156 penalty minutes last season
while serving as alternate captain of the Stars. His drive to win and battle
earned him legions of fans in Dallas — and enemies around the NHL.
“I hope I can bring that attitude,” said Ott, who has two years left on a
contract that pays $2.95 million per season. “I want to bring my consistency
of being hard to play against every single night. I feel I’ve done that since
the start of my career, and I feel I have a ton of game left. I haven’t even
reached part of my peak yet.”
Roy, meanwhile, was on a downward curve in Buffalo. He led the Sabres in
points from 2007-08 to 2009-10 and was on his way to pacing the team a
fourth straight time when a torn quad muscle ended his 2010-11 campaign
after 35 games. The center struggled with injuries again last season and
slumped to 17 goals and just 44 points in 80 games.
He also criticized the methods of coach Lindy Ruff following the season,
moving the trade watch into full swing. Sabres General Manager Darcy
Regier and Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk completed the deal Monday after
months of negotiations.
“At first, it was a shocker,” Roy said on a conference call, “but Darcy called
me and Lindy called me and they thanked me for my time in Buffalo and
what I did for the organization. I thanked them back.
“It’s weird because I’ve never been traded before, so it was a weird
situation. Very emotional. I’ve been playing here my whole career.”
Said Regier: “After the season I had a couple of meetings with him. I think
he realized it could be a possibility.”
Roy, a second-round draft pick of the Sabres in 2001, had 161 goals and
427 points in 549 games with Buffalo. The team, however, hasn’t won a
playoff series since 2007 and has moved out core players Roy, Tim
Connolly and Paul Gaustad in the past year.
“More than anything else we needed to move the balance of skill versus the
physical nature of our game, being a tougher team to play against,” Regier
said in First Niagara Center. “Steve can play as a complement to our
higher-skill guys and contribute in a lot of different ways. I think he’ll be very
valuable for us.”
Ott and Pardy, a 6-4, 220-pound defenseman, join 6-8, 270-pound John
Scott as the newest members of the organization. The Sabres signed Scott
on Sunday night.
“They move the needle over to a grittier, more physical hockey club,” Regier
said. “That’s something that we targeted, and it’s important.”
The next important step for the Sabres is finding a center. Ott can take
faceoffs, but he said 90 percent of his career has been spent at left wing.
The Sabres failed in their attempt to convert Ville Leino from wing to center
last season, so finding a natural pivot is paramount. Tyler Ennis and Cody
Hodgson head the Sabres’ depth chart in the middle, but they are both only
22 years old and have not faced the pressure of being a No. 1 center.
“We certainly weren’t looking and aren’t going to move Tyler or Cody,”
Regier said, “and will have to address, see if we can get a little bigger in the
middle to complement those guys. . . . It’s more likely a trade than it is
anything else. There’s quite a holding pattern right now in the league. I think
it will remain that way until some of the big guys declare where they’re
going to go.”
Pardy, 28, joins a crowded blue line. He played 36 games for Dallas,
recording no goals, three assists and a minus-5 rating. He spent the
previous three seasons in Calgary.
The Sabres already had eight blue-liners under contract, though Regier
said Monday that promising rookie Brayden McNabb will likely continue to
hone his skills in the minor leagues.
Ott knows one Buffalo defenseman extremely well. Mike Weber lived with
Ott’s family while playing junior hockey. Weber brought Ott’s mother on the
Sabres’ parents trip last season. Weber has prepped Ott on what to expect
when he pulls on Blue and Gold.
Said Ott: “To hear about the new ownership in the last little while and to
hear the seriousness of how badly Buffalo wants to win, the opportunity of
playing in a Northern hockey town, that really excites me going forward as a
hockey player.”
Buffalo News LOADED: 07.03.2012
636606
Buffalo Sabres
Regier playing out of character with recent moves
Steve Ott excited about opportunity with Buffalo Sabres
By Bucky Gleason
Folks in Dallas love Steve Ott. The feeling is mutual. The feisty forward
grew as a hockey player and person while wearing a star on his chest.
My first thought after the trade was completed Monday evening wasn’t
about who was leaving but who was coming. Derek Roy’s Buffalo career
was finished after last season, the minute he had the audacity to mouth off
about Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. Speaking against the organization in any
way, shape or form is grounds for dismissal.
“I’ve kind of turned into a man there in my time,” Ott said tonight. “To say
that it was a big part of my life would be an understatement.”
As much as Ott appreciates Dallas, the feeling is overshadowed by his
excitement of coming to Buffalo.
The Sabres acquired Ott today as part of an early summer blockbuster,
picking up the 29-year-old spark plug plus defenseman Adam Pardy from
Dallas. In exchange, the Sabres sent former perennial scoring leader Derek
Roy to the Stars.
Darcy Regier for years was enamored with soft finesse players who dazzled
him with their talent while underachieving during the season and
disappearing in the playoffs. You know, guys like Maxim Afinogenov and
Tim Connolly, guys who came up small when it mattered most and grossly
overstayed their welcomes while honest players like Chris Drury and
Michael Peca were sent packing.
“I’m a guy that looks forward to an excellent opportunity and a new
opportunity,” Ott said by phone from his summer home near Windsor, Ont.
“I love challenges, and if this is going to be a new challenge or a new
adventure in my life, I’m really looking forward to this adventure more than
anything.
Steve Ott doesn’t fit the Regier mold. He’s a banger not known for his
scoring or speed or skill. He’s a competitive leader and willing brawler who
makes life miserable for other teams. He’s a gamer with the edge, the
honesty and oomph that for years had been missing in Buffalo. Adam Pardy
is a big defenseman, short on speed and skill.
“I’m excited. Absolutely. It’s almost like draft day again. You get a new
sense of energy. It’s something that I love to prove to people where I
belong. Buffalo wanted me, and I don’t want to prove them wrong. Also at
the same time, I want to prove to Dallas of what they missed out on. First
most, I want to prove to Buffalo what type of player I am and what I can
bring to that team.”
Add big tough guy John Scott, who was signed as a free agent Sunday, and
the Sabres suddenly have three players who were everything Regier stood
against. All three play a style generally suited to my taste, which probably
has contributed to the great divide separating Regier’s philosophy from my
own.
Ott instantly adds competitiveness to a lineup that needed it. The 6-foot,
190-pounder had 11 goals, 39 points and 156 penalty minutes last season
while serving as alternate captain of the Stars. His drive to win and battle
earned him legions of fans in Dallas – and enemies around the NHL.
Do I actually agree in principle with Darcy? Yes.
“I hope I can bring that attitude,” said Ott, who has two years left on a
contract that pays $2.95 million per season. “I want to bring my consistency
of being hard to play against every single night. I feel I’ve done that since
the start of my career, and I feel I have a ton of game left. I haven’t even
reached part of my peak yet.”
---John Vogl
636607
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres trade Derek Roy to Dallas Stars for Steve Ott, Adam Pardy
The remake of the Buffalo Sabres picked up major momentum this evening
when the team traded center Derek Roy to the Dallas Stars for forward
Steve Ott and defenseman Adam Pardy.
Roy was the Sabres' perennial points leader until suffering a season-ending
injury halfway through the 2010-11 season and sustaining a down year last
season. The Sabres' second-round pick in 2001 played 549 games for
Buffalo, recording 161 goals and 427 points.
The Sabres stated they wanted to add competitiveness to their lineup, and
Ott brings that. The gritty 6-foot-, 190-pounder had 11 goals, 39 points and
156 penalty minutes in 74 games with Dallas last season. Dallas' first-round
pick in the 2000 draft played 566 career games with the Stars, totaling 220
points and 1,170 penalty minutes.
Pardy is entering his fifth NHL season. The 6-4, 220-pounder spent three
seasons with the Calgary Flames before joining the Stars in 2011-12. He
has recorded 29 points (4+25) and 157 penalty minutes in 183 career
games. The Sabres already had eight defensemen under contract for next
season before acquiring Pardy.
---John Vogl
636608
Buffalo Sabres
So what are they doing here?
What they’re doing here is changing the face of a team that’s desperate for
a makeover if it plans on keeping its coach. It’s an attitude adjustment with
an addition of aggression that’s been long overdue, a marked shift for a
collection of players that spent too many nights looking stale and
uninterested and acting spoiled and entitled.
Regier has been so slow to make moves over the years that Sabres-loving
fans have a tendency to applaud him for doing anything at this time of year.
Let’s not go overboard here. His history is enough to make anyone leery,
and certainly there are hints of doubt about this one amid another sale of
hope.
Ott plays with Patrick Kaleta’s intensity and toughness, but he’s a better
overall player who is more suited for the third line than our homegrown
treasure. He scored 41 goals over a two-year stretch starting in 2008-09
and has been good for 35 points or so over the past several seasons with
the Stars. He certainly cannot be ignored.
It should be no surprise that Ott has a brotherly relationship with Mike
Weber, another player who is short on talent but long on desire. Weber had
a difficult year last season, but the Sabres needed more players with his nononsense approach and fewer with the self-serving attitude that Roy
brought to the Sabres.
More than anything, though, Ott will bring accountability that has been
lacking on this team under a soft core that Regier built and was slow to
dismantle. On the surface, the infusion of more size and toughness looks
like a good start. We’ll see whether it’s a new beginning for a team that in
recent years has talked a better game than it played.
I’m waiting for the catch.
Roy’s departure rightfully will be perceived as addition by subtraction. He
had become a problem child in the organization. He built a reputation for
being selfish and more concerned about individual production than team
success. There were rumors he was spending too much time on the town.
No matter, his exit was inevitable when he stood up and spouted off about
Ruff. Roy knew as much while cleaning out his locker after the season and
didn’t appear overly concerned. Looking back, it could have been an
orchestrated push toward the door for a player desperate for a fresh start
before a contract year.
It’s hardly a first.
Roy had his flaws, but give him credit for showing the backbone to publicly
voice — key word, publicly — how players felt about their coach. They liked
Lindy the way most people do. He’s a good guy. He means well. He’s a
good coach. Deserved or not, they had grown to resent him for scolding
them like children.
And while too many others whispered as much privately, it was Roy who
exposed growing sentiment in the dressing room. On other teams, his
comments would have been taken as a source of concern rather than
ignored as blather from a troublemaker.
By no means is that meant as an endorsement of Roy, either. He was
neither a great player nor a great leader, which made a problem on a team
needing both. In my book, he was nothing more than a third-line center who
was miscast on the Sabres as a No. 1 center after they made such a mess
of Drury and Daniel Briere, their co-captains, in 2007.
His promotion to the top line was little more than a disguise, a cover-up for
management failures that remain to this day. Roy was small and skilled. He
never looked tired when he was giving a full effort. He had an innate ability
to skate for hours when others would have been begging for mercy.
Roy had scored 21 goals or more in four straight years and had 283 points
over 315 games in that stretch ending in 2009-10. At one point, his $4
million cap hit was among the better bargains in the league. His problem
wasn’t his play but his refusal to play for Ruff, particularly in the defensive
zone.
It became most obvious during the 2010 playoffs against the Bruins, when
he vanished for six games amid a simmering dispute with his coach. He
should have been traded after that season, when it was clear to everyone
but the man in charge that he needed a change in scenery and they needed
to plow forward without him.
Instead, he stuck around for two ineffective seasons.
Thankfully, for him and for the Sabres, he was sent packing Monday.
Roy’s departure leaves the Sabres even thinner down the middle. Ott has
played center and is very good in the faceoff circle, but he’s a true winger.
Certainly, you remember the disaster that was natural-born winger Ville
Leino being forced to play center last season. Ott is far more comfortable
and capable down the middle.
Another move should be in order for another center, perhaps something
big. It could be a big winger. Bobby Ryan will be available once unrestricted
free agent Zach Parise decides on a destination. Rick Nash appears to be
headed somewhere, but Buffalo for now is not included among teams for
which he would waive his no-trade clause.
Regier isn’t finished. Forget about who’s leaving. Think about who could be
coming.
“More than anything else, we needed to move the balance of skill vs. the
physical nature of our team,” he said. “We need to be tougher to play
against.”
The 6-foot, 190-pound Ott ranked fourth in the NHL last season in hits with
278. He was seventh in hits the previous two seasons (252 in 2010-11 and
251 in 2009-10).
He also has averaged 159 penalty minutes over his six full NHL seasons. In
74 games for Dallas this past season, he scored 11 goals, 28 assists and
39 points and had 156 penalty minutes.
While Ott could fit many roles, he ideally fits as the third-line left winger or
center. He turns 30 in August.
“Steve can play in complement the higher-skill guys and contribute in a lot
of different ways,” Regier said. “I think he’ll be very valuable for us.”
As for why it took so long to pull the trigger on a deal that both teams
seemingly wanted to make for quite some time, Regier said, “Either the
timing wasn’t right or the people weren’t right.”
At least one more move is coming, if not more, with regard to the NHL
roster because the Sabres still need help at center. They also haven’t
signed anyone yet for their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
After Cody Hodgson and Tyler Ennis, the Sabres’ depth chart at center is
uncertain. First-round pick Mikhail Grigorenko, only 18, could show in
training camp that he’s ready for the NHL. Otherwise, they’d need to
choose from guys who also play the wing: Ott, Ville Leino, Cody McCormick
or Matt Ellis. That’s why they are looking for another center.
But who and when apparently depends on where free agents Zach Parise
and Ryan Suter decide to sign, and if Columbus can find a trading partner
for Rick Nash.
“It’s a little bit like bad weather over O’Hare or JFK; there’s quite a holding
pattern in the league,” Regier said.
The Sabres have an abundance of defensemen, so Regier said Brayden
McNabb is “penciled” in for the Amerks.
Democrat and Chronicle LOADED: 07.03.2012
636610
Calgary Flames
Czech mates: Flames sign free agent Hudler
Former Wings forward joins countryman Cervenka on Calgary roster
By Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald July 3, 2012 1:48 AM
Jay Feaster could not — would not — hide his amusement.
636609
Buffalo Sabres
Topic: the ever-shifting bones of contention aimed at his Calgary Flames.
This is a city of hard markers. And, at times, it cracks him up.
Buffalo Sabres trade Derek Roy to Dallas for Steve Ott
Buffalo adds toughness with forward Ott
“I have to laugh,” the Flames general manager said early in Monday
afternoon’s conference call. “The perception is that the front office is too full
of Americans, and behind the bench now is too full of French Canadians,
and now we’ll get accused that the top two lines have too many Czechs.”
Kevin Oklobzija
Those latter dots had been easily connected.
Aware that his team has been too easy to play against, Buffalo Sabres
general manager Darcy Regier finally completed a long-in-the-works trade
for gritty forward Steve Ott by sending Derek Roy to the Dallas Stars.
The deal was completed late Monday afternoon, but the Sabres have been
working to acquire Ott for several months. The also received defenseman
Adam Pardy, 28, from Dallas.
In trading Roy, 29, the Sabres gave up a centerman who can be, and has
been, a point-a-game scorer. But Regier realized his lineup lacked snarl.
He signed 6-foot-8, 270-pound tough-guy winger/defenseman John Scott
on Sunday as the policeman and found the leader of his hit parade on
Monday.
With centre Roman Cervenka already on board, the Flames handed a fouryear deal (worth $4 million per season) to countryman Jiri Hudler, the
Czech’s mate, on Monday.
Feaster, however, insisted that Hudler’s signing is unrelated to the
presence of Cervenka, who’d been inked this past spring after a dominating
display in the Kontinental Hockey League.
“I can tell you very, very honestly that . . . we don’t look at nationality, we
don’t look at country of origin — we look for the best hockey players that we
can find,” said Feaster. “It’s just happenstance that both players are
Czechs.”
Happenstance, sure.
But potentially beneficial, and comforting, to all parties.
While Hudler and Cervenka have not played much together, they’re hardly
strangers.
In May, a couple of weeks after Cervenka committed to the Flames, the two
had gathered at Hudler’s house in Prague to watch Champions League
soccer.
“He was asking me about the NHL,” recalled Hudler. “He was really excited
and he had some questions. Coincidence that we end up on the same
team. (The NHL) is going to be a little tougher for him than usual, but he’s
been around hockey for a long time.
“Obviously, he’s got a lot of skill. He’s a smart player. He can score goals.
But it’s going to be something new for him. I’m all there for him.”
After a peaceful Canada Day, Feaster made noise on Day 2.
The Flames took an aggressive approach to bagging Hudler, who suited up
more than 400 times for the Detroit Red Wings. It’s clear that the 28-yearold was one free agent they considered land-able.
“We went hard at this,” said Feaster. “It wasn’t one of those (situations)
where we’re saying, ‘Let’s see if we can low-ball this, offer-wise, and see
what happens.’ We came right out of the box with our offer.”
When the free-agent market opened Sunday at 10 a.m., local time, Feaster
got on the phone to agent Petr Svoboda. They talked throughout the day,
then again at 9:30 p.m.
“And I have to think I was one of Petr’s first phone calls (Monday) morning,”
said Feaster. “And I know Petr was tired of hearing from me. It took more
time than we would have liked, but we understood it. Because, obviously,
we weren’t the only team making offers.”
But, getting an assist from former Flames forward Todd Bertuzzi, Feaster
did get his man.
“I talked to Bert for a bit,” said Hudler. “He told me a lot of great things
about Calgary, about the organization, about all the people working for it.”
Last season — playing alongside centre Henrik Zetterberg and left-winger
Valtteri Filppula — had been interesting for Hudler. He scored 23 of his 25
goals at even strength, but was plus-25 at home, minus-15 on the road.
No matter.
The Flames plan to use Hudler lots — and everywhere.
On the power play. On the penalty kill. But it should be noted that he spent
53 seconds — total — on the ice last season in shorthanded situations.
Perhaps now that he doesn’t have to toil behind high-wattage gents such as
Pavel Datsyuk and Zetterberg, Hudler may show a burst of productivity.
Right?
“It’s one of the problems, particularly in a Canadian market, oftentimes if
you say something like that . . . everybody has these wild expectations and
I don’t think it’s fair to the player,” said Feaster. “I’ve thought about it in the
same context as when Rick Dudley was the general manager in Tampa. He
acquired Freddy Modin, in his prime, from Toronto. Freddy was playing
there in a third-line role. Ultimately, he came to Tampa and he was a topline guy and scored 30 goals multiple times.
“I’m not comparing (the wingers) — but (Hudler) is going to have even more
opportunity to flourish in our organization.”
In 2002, Hudler had been drafted 58th overall (one slot after Matt Stajan).
With the Wings, he suited up for 66 playoff dates, including 22 en route to
the 2008 Stanley Cup. He joins Alex Tanguay and Cory Sarich as ringwearers in the Flames’ dressing room.
“It’s one of the things that we always talk about (having) in the mix,” said
Feaster. “We always talk about, ‘Is this player coming from a winning
program? Or is it someone who has not had that playoff experience?’ In this
instance, it’s a bonus.
“It wasn’t a deciding factor, but it was something we certainly took note of.”
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.03.2012
636611
Calgary Flames
Johnson: Flames GM Feaster big on skilled players
Calgary hopes Hudler will intimidate with offensive prowess
By George Johnson, Calgary Herald July 3, 2012 2:01 AM
Leave it to Brian Sutter, never one to dilly-dally with the language, to add a
measure of unvarnished clarity to a situation.
Long, long ago, when he was head coach of the Calgary Flames, it was
once put to him that perhaps Val Bure, his best player at the time, was,
well, maybe a bit too wee to stand up to the ferocity of National Hockey
League pounding.
Sutter, scowl on stun, fixed his interrogator with those laser-beam eyes,
boring holes in what he considered the inanity of the remark.
“It’s the not size of the bull,’’ he snorted defiantly. “It’s how well he’s hung!’’
Michael Cammalleri. Lee Stempniak. Sven Baertschi. Alex Tanguay.
Roman Cervenka. Matt Stajan. Blake Comeau. And now Jiri Hudler.
So, how’s it hanging, guys?
Monday, the Calgary Flames added skill. And they got smaller.
Geez, you won’t find this many hobbits residing in the Shire and Bag End.
The signing of Hudler, late of the Detroit Red Wings, is being advertised as
a coup for the three-time playoff outsiders. How significant, naturally, is up
to Jiri Hudler.
Right now, the Flames look as soft as a baby’s bum, as Augusta greens
after a healthy rain, up front. As is, they might have to hire a cut man, a la
Angelo Dundee, to work poor Tim Jackman’s corner.
“In terms of the size, I mean . . . we really feel that we have to up our skill
level,’’ explained general manager Jay Feaster during Monday’s conference
call introducing the new four-year, $16-million Flame.
“To the extent that you can upgrade your skill and if you can do with a guy
seven feet tall, that’s great. But more than worrying about how big we are,
how tall we are, what our size measurement is, we want skilled players.
“We feel that skilled players, and particularly a player as dynamic as Jiri is,
creates space. That’s one of the thing we talked about with Cervenka. He’s
able to play in traffic and he does create space for himself.
“We recognize it’s not an overly intimidating group physically, but we’re not
concerned about the size.’’
Wall-chart size, as Feaster argues, isn’t everything.
Perhaps the toughest hombre ever to play in Flames’ silks was the
indomitable Joey Mullen, listed rather generously at five-foot-10 and 175
pounds. A veritable India rubber ball of a man, he’d bounce back up,
Boiiiiiing!, like one of those vinyl kiddies’ floor punching bags each and
every time he was knocked on his britches, and score a goal. Toughness
can be found in many forms.
But unless there’s a certain on-ice comfort level involved, skill can quickly
be compromised. And this is hardly, say, a Red Wings level skill. Hudler’s
old team could intimidate ruffians using terrifying speed and slickness. No
one’s going to be sweating over the Flames’ panache.
On the phone from Montreal, though, Calgary coach Bob Hartley doesn’t
sound overly concerned about the current lack of heft in attack.
“Hey,’’ he points out, “we won the Stanley Cup in 2001 (in Colorado). You
look at the size of our forwards. We were a very, very small team. You look
at Alex Tanguay, Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk on the top line. Then the
Chris Drurys, Stephane Yelle, Shjon Podein, Eric Messier.
“I believe in team toughness. I don’t believe in stupid hockey. If some teams
try to be stupid with us, Jiri Hudler makes our power play much better.’’
Hudler has always been a bit of an enigma. Surrounded, his supporters
might say limited, by the vast talent pool in HockeyTown, this represents his
chance for additional minutes, increased responsibility. He had the highest
goal total of his NHL career, 25, last season. Not exactly Mike Bossy-like,
but enough to tempt Calgary.
“With us, in an expanded role, we’re expecting him to get better and better,’’
enthuses Hartley, who certainly doesn’t lack for enthusiasm. “At 28 years
old, you reach your full potential. Maturity-wise, you’re much smarter than
you were at 21, 22, 23.
“I feel like we’re getting the prime of Jiri Hudler and it’s up to us to maximize
it.’’
To his credit, Jay Feaster has in short order been extremely proactive in
attempting to change the topography of his team. Especially since he is, to
be fair, in a bit of a pickle in that endeavour.
There are three customary reasons for players signing elsewhere as free
agents: A) The enticing prospect of being part of something young and
dynamic (ie: Edmonton, St. Louis); B) The chance for immediate success
with a solid team or an organization proven to be a habitual contender (ie:
NY Rangers, Detroit, Boston, Philadelphia); Or C) A temperate climate to
bask in and the accompanying annual water park or theme park family
passes (ie: Tampa, Anaheim, Florida).
The Flames fit none of the above.
So in acquiring the rights to, and then signing, puck-moving Dennis
Wideman for the blueline and adding Hudler up front, Feaster’s done more
than many of us expected and we’re only 48 hours into free agency.
As Brian Sutter defiantly noted all those years ago, it’s not only about the
size of the bull. But even the biggest-hearted small guy needs some barrelchested backup.
So about that little matter of finding suitable insulation for all those peaceloving forwards assembled down at the Scotiabank Saddledome . . .
Any hope (or threat) of Olli Jokinen returning to the Flames was gone. Long
gone. Like David Moss’s exit Sunday to Phoenix, Jokinen departed Calgary
as an unrestricted free agent.
The Finn’s greener pastures turned out to be Winnipeg. Monday, the Jets
forked over a two-year pact worth $4.5 million per season.
Tweeted Jokinen’s wife Katerina: “Good day for our family, very happy!!
Glad I didn’t throw away our winter stuff.”
Jokinen also got his message out via Twitter:
n “Very excited about joining the Winnipeg Jets and getting a chance to
play in front of the loudest fans in Canada!”n “Thank you #flames and
Calgary fans for the past 3 years. Going to miss my team mates, trainers
and the city of Calgary.”
Calgary’s other unrestricted free agents — Scott Hannan and Tom
Kostopoulos — remain without contracts.
Feaster playing the waiting game
The Flames’ 2012-13 payroll is nearly $66 million — a total that doesn’t
reflect the salaries of rookie Sven Baertschi and restricted free agent Mikael
Backlund.
Only the Boston Bruins have more bucks committed to next winter.
However, Feaster isn’t fretting.
“We don’t feel that we have to start paring salary,” he said.
“The addition of Jiri Hudler,’’ counters Hartley, “makes us a better today
than we were yesterday. And isn’t that what you want to do? Get better
every day.
“What we believe is that, as a result of the acquisitions that we’ve made, we
are a much deeper hockey team. We believe we have a lot of assets now.
More assets than we had last year, for example,’’ Feaster said.
“It’s early. Just past July 1st. Jay’s always got his eye out for ways to
improve our team. Today we had a chance to get some skill and we did.
Maybe next time we’ll have a chance to go get some size.’’
‘‘And, as I’ve said all along, as we move along through the summer, there
are going to be trade markets that open up, there are going to be
discussions. We’re always looking for ways to improve our hockey team.
But we don’t feel the need to start jettisoning salary.”
636612
Calgary Flames
Street happy to land in Calgary
The humour wasn’t lost on Ben Street.
Flames working to keep Iginla in Calgary colours
Captain entering final season of five-year contract
On the opening day of NHL free agency, the Twitterverse had been alive
with updates on glittering stars such as Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Martin
Brodeur.
“Kind of cool,” said Street, chuckling. “Seeing all those names going
through — then mine. Really neat.”
By Scott Cruickshank,
The Calgary Flames are allowed to extend Jarome Iginla any time they
want now.
They just haven’t gotten around to it — yet.
What was unofficial Sunday became official the following day — Street has
signed a two-year (two-way) contract with the Calgary Flames.
The 25-year-old led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American
Hockey League in scoring last winter with 27 goals and 57 points in 71
games.
“We’re very aware of where he is — in the last year of his deal,” Flames
general manager Jay Feaster said Monday.
The two-way pivot could have stayed in the Pens organization, but,
scanning the depth charts of Pittsburgh and Calgary, he decided that the
Flames would offer a more direct path to the NHL.
“From our perspective . . . it is a process — you have a plan and you try to
work that plan. Certainly, in terms of the priority of it, we were ready to go
as far as the draft, we were ready to go as far as free agency.”
“That was the main thing for me,” said Street. “Pittsburgh has a pretty good
stable, particularly at centre.”
Iginla is officially into the final season of a five-year contract that pays him a
salary of $7 million.
The Flames are on record as saying the captain will retire in Calgary.
So they plan to re-sign him. All in good time, apparently.
“As we sit now, we have four restricted free agents (Mikael Backlund,
Leland Irving, Akim Aliu, Paul Byron) that we intend to get signed yet,” said
Feaster.
“We’re sitting right now with 47 or 48 contracts (on a 50-man maximum
roster). So all things in due course — and clearly (an Iginla extension) is
one of those things in due course.”
Olli jetting off to Winnipeg
Jiri Hudler’s signing sealed it.
And, of course, there are connections to the Flames.
Troy Ward, as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin (2002-05),
had recruited the kid out of the BCHL where he played with the Salmon Arm
Silverbacks.
And while in Salmon Arm, Street had played with friend — and Burnaby,
B.C., neighbour — Kris Chucko, the Flames’ 2004 first-round pick.
Now signed by Calgary, Street, being a western boy, is tickled to be trying
out this fall for one of the teams he grew up cheering for.
“Extremely excited,” he said.
“I remember watching the (2004) playoff run, the fans. The Red Mile. I’m
hoping I get to play in front of those fans.”
636613
Calgary Flames
Brass landing key pieces
Randy Sportak, Calgary Sun
Randy Sportak, Calgary Sun
Jiri Hudler won a Stanley Cup in Hockeytown, U.S.A.
Going into next season, the Calgary Flames desperately needed top-six
forward skill.
Needed to add some offence from the defence, too.
With the additions of defenceman Dennis Wideman and winger Jiri Hudler,
they’ve done just that.
Does it mean mean run-and-gun hockey at the Saddledome next season?
Likely not.
But when incoming head coach Bob Hartley said he wanted to play a more
entertaining brand of hockey, critics immediately pointed to the club’s lack
of talent.
Still, the newest member of the Calgary Flames fully expects he’s in for a
whole different experience after signing a four-year, US$16 million contract
to take his skills to Calgary.
“Passion for hockey in Canada is unmatched. Calgary’s got a lot of history,
a lot of tradition, too. People are passionate, and it’s exciting,” Hudler said
Monday. “I want to be one of the pieces who can help the team, step-bystep, get better and better.”
Lord knows, the Flames need all kinds of good pieces to snap their string of
three straight seasons without making the playoffs, and they were looking
for somebody to provide some scoring and a winning attitude.
The gauntlet was thrown down for GM Jay Feaster to add skill to the roster.
Hudler, 28, will be counted on to provide both. The left winger, who until this
point had spent his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings and is coming
off a 25-goal, 50-point season, is the top-six forward Flames GM Jay
Feaster said he was looking to find in the free-agency frenzy.
No matter whether you agree with the contracts handed out to the club’s
newest players — everybody knew Wideman was going to get about US$5
million per season and was inked to a five-year pact worth $5.25 million per
campaign, while Hudler’s contract of $4 million per season was no surprise
— Feaster provided some punch.
Hudler may have been a somewhat forgotten player outside the Motor City
with the likes of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg headlining the
forward crew, but he wasn’t exactly in a third-line role for the Red Wings,
finishing sixth in ice time among forwards. He also didn’t receive any form
of no-trade clause, according to Feaster.
Now, in the world where everybody’s a critic, the Flames are being criticized
for their scorers being too small, with the likes of Hudler, Michael
Cammalleri, Alex Tanguay, Mikael Backlund and newcomers Roman
Cervenka and Sven Baertschi falling short of the league average.
Still, he is staring at a bigger role with the Flames.
“We feel, as a group, we need to be tougher to play against, but in terms of
size, we feel we have to upgrade our skill,” Feaster said Monday. “To the
extent you can upgrade your skill and do it with a guy that’s seven-feet tall,
that’s great, but more than worrying how tall we are, how big we are ... we
wanted skilled players.
“It’s going to be a little different,” Hudler said from Montreal. “I’m going to
have a bigger role and with that pressures come in, but I never like being
without pressure. Pressure is a good thing if you use it the right way.”
Head coach Bob Hartley volunteered to make the 90-minute drive from his
home in Wentworth, Que., to Montreal to help lure Hudler to join the fold.
“Jiri started to laugh and said he’d make his decision in 30 minutes and
said, ‘You don’t need to drive. I’m pretty sure we’re going to talk
“We feel skilled players, particularly a player as dynamic as Jiri is, they
create space. It’s one of the things we talk about with Cervenka. He plays in
traffic and does create space for himself.
again,’ ” Hartley said. “I said, ‘Pretty sure doesn’t cut it.
“We recognize it’s not an overly intimidating group physically, but we’re not
concerned about the size.”
Hartley’s always high excitement level is off the charts.
Hudler scored all but two of his 25 goals last season at even strength, but
the Flames are banking on him and Wideman sparking their powerplay.
The Flames now have 10 forwards signed to one-way contracts, plus
Cervenka, Baertschi, Lance Bouma and the yet-to-be-signed Backlund.
I want to be really sure.’ ”
“If someone told me we’d get Dennis Wideman and Jiri Hudler, I’d have told
them we can stop there. That’s a huge upgrade on the blueline and in the
top-six forwards,” Hartley said. “Coming out of Detroit and playing with
Datsyuk, Zetterberg, all those guys, and he’s entering his prime, he can use
all he’s done there and bring it to us.”
As well, they have a defence corps with nine blueliners inked to one-way
deals and another in T.J. Brodie, who is fully expected to be in Calgary all
season. Unless they’re going to bury three or four players on NHL salaries
in the minors, the Flames must deal away somebody.
As a side benefit, the Flames also have a fellow Czech to help mentor
Roman Cervenka, the 26-year-old KHL star who is making the move to the
NHL this season. By fluke, Cervenka was at Hudler’s home in Prague in
late May to watch the UEFA Champions League final with no idea they
were destined to be teammates.
“We don’t feel we have to start paring salary, but as a result of the signings
we made and the acquisitions, we are a much deeper team than when we
started,” Feaster said. “It’s clearly an avenue we’re going to pursue, but
we’re not in a position we have to start moving players for salary cap
purposes.”
“He was asking me questions about the NHL, was really excited,” Hudler
said. “It’s coincidence we end up on the team. Whatever he’s going to need.
It’s going to be tougher than usual, but he’s been around hockey a long
time and I’ll be there for him.”
Also, unless the Flames believe Henrik Karlsson or Leland Irving will finally
be the backup goalie, this team needs to prevent Miikka Kiprusoff from
working to exhaustion, so there may be another quest on the go.
With a couple of months to go before training camp — or even more
depending on how quickly the players and owners can come up with a new
collective bargaining agreement — the Flames have time to make more
necessary moves.
For now, though, they deserve some credit for identifying a need, targeting
players to fill it and reeling them in.
It sure seems like an obvious line combination.
“It’s tough to say,” Hudler said. “We’ve played together just a couple of
times. But I know him as a player and watched him live. He’s really smart.
He scores a lot of goals, always did, but nothing’s guaranteed.”
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.03.2012
636615
Calgary Flames
Feaster gets his guy
636614
Calgary Flames
WES GILBERTSON, Calgary Sun
First posted: Monday, July 02, 2012 10:35 PM MDT
Jiri the man in Cowtown
Jay Feaster
Flames' two-way Street
At almost the exact time free-agent prize Zach Parise emerged for a brief
no-news conference not far from the centre of the hockey universe, Calgary
Flames GM Jay Feaster was joining a conference call to talk — gush, as it
turned out — about the signing of skilled forward Jiri Hudler.
Ben Street
Interested in the latest developments in the Parise sweepstakes? Probably
not.
Ben Street had been gazing up at the stars.
He already had his guy.
Sounds nice, right? Unless you’re a skilled centre trying to climb the ranks
in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
“We were not out there saying, ‘OK, let’s throw five lines in the water and
maybe we’ll catch Jiri and maybe we won’t but we’ll catch someone else,’ ”
Feaster said.
“I told (Hudler’s agent Petr Svoboda), ‘I’ll be candid, we’re all in with you.
We have not been going after other guys in this top-six forward role,
because this is our guy.’
“We were not out there saying, let’s hedge our bets with this guy or that
guy. We put all the poker chips in the middle of the table on Jiri.”
“That was one of the things I definitely looked at. Before they moved Staal,
it was Crosby, Malkin and Staal, and you’re not going to get into one of
those spots,” Street said Monday afternoon after signing a two-way deal
with the Calgary Flames.
“I feel like I have proven myself in the AHL and was ready to try to play
games in the NHL and further my career that way, and the opportunity in
Pittsburgh wasn’t very good. I think I have a good chance in Calgary to
have a fresh start.”
On this hand, they came up aces.
No offence to any of his new teammates, but there’s no Sidney Crosby or
Evgeni Malkin in the Flames organization.
After five full seasons with the Detroit Red Wings (and one winter with
Moscow Dynamo of the KHL), the 28-year-old Hudler put his signature
Monday afternoon on a four-year, US$16-million pact with the Flames.
That doesn’t mean Street is a sure-thing NHLer, either.
Feaster & Co. won’t start summer vacation as soon as the ink dries, but
they’ve now crossed the two major items off their to-do list.
Hudler is the top-six forward they were shooting for. Dennis Wideman, who
was acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals last week and
immediately signed to a five-year, $26.25-million contract, is the puckmoving defenceman they desperately needed.
As a bonus, Feaster completed both tasks for the amount of dollars he
figured would be necessary.
“We went hard at this and we went aggressive from the beginning,” said
Feaster, who called Hudler’s agent shortly after the gun sounded on
Canada Day. “This wasn’t one of those where we’re saying, ‘Let’s see if we
can lowball this.’ We came right out of the box with our offer.”
It’ll likely be the biggest offer the Flames make during the so-called freeagent frenzy.
Face it fans, this team was never a contender for the services of Parise, the
former Mac’s Midget AAA Tournament star who led the New Jersey Devils
to the Stanley Cup finals last season.
Same goes for Ryan Suter, the nephew of former Flames defenceman Gary
Suter and the most talented guy on the market among blueliners.
They’re not trying to bait one of the big fish.
Been there, tried that.
They were the runner-ups in the bidding for Brad Richards last summer, but
the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner signed with the New York Rangers
and Feaster settled for a free-agent haul headlined by depth defenceman
Scott Hannan.
In fact, you could argue the Flames’ biggest acquisition last off-season was
the National Lacrosse League’s Roughnecks.
“I felt that, for a lot of reasons, we had a real good chance to get Brad last
year,” Feaster said. “And I know that it was difficult for Brad. What may
have been a coronation for the Rangers early in the day on July 1, it
became a wait and see because we were a serious contender. At the end
of the day, though, we lost that battle.
“And that was one of the things that we talked about afterward — that we
put everything we had into that and we weren’t successful. And as you’re
doing that, the rest of the world is passing you by.”
Not this time.
This time, they got their guy.
636616
Calgary Flames
The 25-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., has never skated at hockey’s highest
level. He toiled with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins last winter,
notching 27 goals and 30 assists in 71 regular-season outings.
Street actually agreed to the deal with the Flames on the first day of the
free-agency period but was attending a wedding in touristy Cape Cod,
Mass., and had to find a Staples location to send the signed paperwork
back to his new employers. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder will earn
US$575,000 on the big-league roster and $105,000 if he’s dispatched to the
AHL’s Abbotsford Heat.
“We are very pleased to add Ben to our forward group and organization,”
said Flames GM Jay Feaster in a statement. “He has been a prolific scorer
at the AHL level and he has a history with (Heat head coach) Troy Ward.
Both Troy and our scouts view Ben as a legitimate NHL prospect and we
look forward to helping him achieve that goal.”
Ward actually recruited Street to the University of Wisconsin but accepted a
different job before the former Jr. A Salmon Arm Silverbacks standout
joined the Badgers program.
Street is excited about the possibility of finally being on Ward’s bench,
although he’d rather be skating at the Saddledome next season. He won’t
even be picky about his role.
“I’m a two-way player, I contribute offensively, but I’m very responsible
defensively, as well,” Street said. “I’m a guy that kills penalties. I played
powerplay all year in Wilkes-Barre. Whenever the big faceoff was, it was
me going over the boards to take that. If we needed a goal with a minute
left, I would be on the ice, and if we were up a goal and they pulled the
goalie, I was on the ice in that situation, too. So I think I have a good allaround game.”Ben Street had been gazing up at the stars.
Sounds nice, right? Unless you’re a skilled centre trying to climb the ranks
in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
“That was one of the things I definitely looked at. Before they moved Staal,
it was Crosby, Malkin and Staal, and you’re not going to get into one of
those spots,” Street said Monday afternoon after signing a two-way deal
“I feel like I have proven myself in the AHL and was ready to try to play
games in the NHL and further my career that way, and the opportunity in
Pittsburgh wasn’t very good. I think I have a good chance in Calgary to
have a fresh start.”
No offence to any of his new teammates, but there’s no Sidney Crosby or
Evgeni Malkin in the Flames organization.
That doesn’t mean Street is a sure-thing NHLer, either.
The 25-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., has never skated at hockey’s highest
level. He toiled with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins last winter,
notching 27 goals and 30 assists in 71 regular-season outings.
Street actually agreed to the deal with the Flames on the first day of the
free-agency period but was attending a wedding in touristy Cape Cod,
Mass., and had to find a Staples location to send the signed paperwork
back to his new employers. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder will earn
US$575,000 on the big-league roster and $105,000 if he’s dispatched to the
AHL’s Abbotsford Heat.
“We are very pleased to add Ben to our forward group and organization,”
said Flames GM Jay Feaster in a statement. “He has been a prolific scorer
at the AHL level and he has a history with (Heat head coach) Troy Ward.
Both Troy and our scouts view Ben as a legitimate NHL prospect and we
look forward to helping him achieve that goal.”
Ward actually recruited Street to the University of Wisconsin but accepted a
different job before the former Jr. A Salmon Arm Silverbacks standout
joined the Badgers program.
Street is excited about the possibility of finally being on Ward’s bench,
although he’d rather be skating at the Saddledome next season. He won’t
even be picky about his role.
“I’m a two-way player, I contribute offensively, but I’m very responsible
defensively, as well,” Street said. “I’m a guy that kills penalties. I played
powerplay all year in Wilkes-Barre. Whenever the big faceoff was, it was
me going over the boards to take that. If we needed a goal with a minute
left, I would be on the ice, and if we were up a goal and they pulled the
goalie, I was on the ice in that situation, too. So I think I have a good allaround game.”
636617
Calgary Flames
Hudler signs with Flames
By RANDY SPORTAK
,Calgary Sun
The Calgary Flames have pulled the top-six forward they were gunning for
in the free-agency market.
Raleigh -- The Carolina Hurricanes aimed high and made a run at free
agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, only to miss on both.
What now for the Canes?
"We’ll keep trying, keep looking at our options," general manager Jim
Rutherford said Tuesday.
Rutherford said the Hurricanes still are seeking to add a scoring winger,
either through free agency or a trade.
"It’s something we need to be a contending team," he said.
The Hurricanes entered NHL free agency Sunday determined to be in the
mix for Parise, the New Jersey Devils captain and star forward, and Suter,
the versatile defenseman for the Nashville Predators. The Canes made
offers to both but were told late Sunday afternoon they were no longer in
the running for Parise. Rutherford said a representative for Suter called
Tuesday morning to say Carolina was no longer being considered.
"We entered the process this year understanding we were not the only team
in the game," Rutherford said. "Looking at those two players, a lot of teams
were in the game. And there were some big-revenue teams that were in a
stronger position to structure the kind of deal (Parise and Suter) are looking
for.
"We entered into the process hoping we would have enough good criteria to
get one of those players to come here. And if not, we’d keep pushing."
For the Hurricanes, that likely means pushing for forward Rick Nash of the
Columbus Blue Jackets. Rutherford won’t talk publicly about Nash, but the
Hurricanes are believed to have made a strong trade offer to the Blue
Jackets for the winger, who has twice scored 40 or more goals, has made
five NHL All-Star appearances and helped Canada win hockey gold in the
2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Nash, 28, has a no-movement clause in his contract and the Columbus
Dispatch has reported the Hurricanes have not been included on Nash’s
approved list of teams. But Nash told the Dispatch in January he would not
use the clause to scuttle a trade because he did not want to "hurt the
franchise."
the NHL club signed Jiri Hudler to a four-year, US$16-million contract
Monday.
Many expected Parise to announce his decision on Monday – the
twitterverse was ablaze all day – but the Devils captain said Monday
afternoon he needed more time. Suter also continued to mull over his
offers.
Hudler, 28, is coming off a 25-goal, 50-point season with the Detroit Red
Wings.
Meanwhile, the Canes move on.
“Jiri Hudler is a highly skilled and dynamic offensive player,” Flames GM
Jay Feaster said in a statement. “He is one of the very best goal scorers in
the NHL at even strength, and he puts a very high percentage of his shots
on net, generating scoring chances for himself and rebound opportunities
for his teammates. He fits our need to upgrade and improve our skill, and
we are very pleased to have him on board.”
A product of Czech Republic, the left winger has played 409 NHL games in
which he’s netted 87 goals and 127 assists.
He’s also skated in 66 playoff games and collected 12 goals and 33 points.
Hudler’s arrival will also give the Flames a fellow Czech to help Roman
Cervenka adapt to the NHL.
Cervenka, the KHL star, was signed in the spring.
With Hudler’s signing, the Flames have committed $69.95 million in salaries
to a dozen forwards, eight defencemen and two goalies, and that doesn’t
include a new contract for restricted free-agent Mikael Backlund and top
prospect Sven Baertschi.
636618
Carolina Hurricanes
"We’ll continue to look at what’s out there," Rutherford said. "It will be a
matter of, ‘What can they do for us, what will it cost us?’ We’re still working
through all that.
"We will continue to try and add a good forward. It may take one week, one
month or it may take one year. I have no idea what the time line will be."
The Hurricanes on Sunday signed free-agent defenseman Joe Corvo to a
one-year contract, and Rutherford said Monday the team likely would not
add another defenseman.
"We like the balance we have on defense," he said. "We’re comfortable with
our defensive structure."
While Carolina missed out on Parise and Suter, Canes coach Kirk Muller
said Monday it was important that the franchise made a strong bid at
signing one of the two biggest names in free agency this year. The NHL, he
said, took notice.
"I think the message has to be out there with the rest of the league," Muller
said. "There were three or four teams that were in the mix with these elite
players and we were one of them.
"It was like we’re not backing down. We’re going after them. We were in the
game trying to get these elite players and go after it.’"
News Observer LOADED: 07.03.2012
636619
Carolina Hurricanes
Canes miss on Parise and Suter but still look to improve
Another Staal, another big deal
By Chip Alexander
By Chip Alexander –
RALEIGH -- NHL free agency began Sunday at noon, with all the tweets,
speculation and eventual signings, but the Carolina Hurricanes had already
made some big news by then.
The Canes had announced center Jordan Staal, recently traded to Carolina
by the Pittsburgh Penguins, had agreed to a 10-year contract extension that
will pay him $6 million a year. Staal, the brother of Hurricanes captain Eric
Staal, is committed to being with the organization through the 2022-2023
season.
“In the hockey world ... the perception has totally changed about the
Hurricanes since we acquired Jordan Staal,” Hurricanes president and
general manager Jim Rutherford said. “This is really a game-changer for us
in the fact you get a young elite player who can do so many things in the
game.”
The Canes did make a few free-agent signings Sunday. They brought back
defenseman Joe Corvo, who received a one-year contract for $2 million.
They re-signed goaltender Justin Peters, who received a two-year deal and
now has the opportunity to be Cam Ward’s backup next season, and resigned depth forward Brett Sutter.
But the Hurricanes also let it be known they had a lot more money left to
spend – hopefully on forward Zach Parise or defenseman Ryan Suter, the
two biggest names and free agents available.
The Canes made offers to both, made their best pitch. Rutherford and
Canes coach Kirk Muller were prepared to fly to Toronto, at a moment’s
notice, to confer with Parise.
Late Sunday afternoon, Rutherford received word the Canes likely were out
of the running for Parise, the New Jersey Devils captain.
with the Hurricanes is the longest in franchise history – Eric Staal received
a seven-year contract worth $57.75 million in September 2008.
“He’s just starting to come into his prime and he now represents a
cornerstone of our franchise for the long term,” Rutherford said.
636620
Carolina Hurricanes
Hurricanes swing for fences, with uncertain results
By Luke DeCock –
RALEIGH -- There has never been a day like this, not in the history of the
Carolina Hurricanes, not ever. A week after they swung the blockbuster
trade of the NHL draft, bringing in Jordan Staal, they jumped up to the
NHL’s heavyweight division on the first day of free agency.
They were right there swinging for the three biggest names available,
making pitches for free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter and tabling a
trade offer for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash – all mere hours
after signing Staal to a franchise-record 10-year, $60 million contract
extension.
The Hurricanes struck out on Parise, who notified them they were not
among his finalists Sunday evening, but they left PNC Arena for the night
hopeful they might yet be able to convince Suter and Nash to join the
Brothers Staal.
“I don’t believe we’re going to be one of two or three teams he’s
considering,” Rutherford said. “That could change overnight, but based on
what I heard I don’t think it’s going to.”
Parise. Suter. Nash. Decade-long contracts. A long-time fan could be
forgiven for thinking the heat was provoking hallucinations. Are these really
the Hurricanes, being mentioned in the same breath as the Detroit Red
Wings and Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, the big-money
boys?
A decision by Suter, the Nashville Predators star, also could come Monday,
Rutherford said.
“It’s exciting for us,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said.
“We’re in the mix, with the big teams, when we haven’t been in the past.”
“There’s a little disappointment but we knew going in there were a lot of
teams involved,” Rutherford said of the Canes’ bid to sign Parise. “We did
everything we could under our guidelines. I’m not surprised.”
Any doubt about their identity was quickly erased when they, as always,
brought back a former player. It wasn’t Ray Whitney, as many expected –
the Wizard, at 40, cashed in with a two-year, $9 million deal with the Dallas
Stars, an offer the Hurricanes declined to match – but defenseman Joe
Corvo, who agreed to a one-year deal to play alongside Tim Gleason and
fill the right-shot void in Carolina’s top six.
There were media reports Sunday that Parise received offers sweetened
with a $12 million signing bonus. But not from the Canes.
“I don’t know if that was a factor that made a difference or not, but it was
something we were not going to do,” Rutherford said.
Rutherford said the Hurricanes still would continue pursue a top-tier
forward, possibly in free agency but more likely through a trade.
“We’re going to try to be active,” he said.
The Hurricanes may become even more active in trying to trade for All-Star
forward Rick Nash, the Columbus Blue Jackets captain. Once Parise’s
decision is made, the Nash situation could be quickly settled.
If it weren’t for that, it might be hard to believe any of this was happening.
Rutherford, after joining the long list of teams making massive offers to
Parise and Suter, sat ready to grab coach Kirk Muller and head to the
airport at a moment’s notice to meet with either of the sought-after free
agents if invited.
“It’s easy to sell what you’re trying to sell to these guys,” Muller said. “It’s an
attractive spot to be. That’s what’s fun about today. I feel confident as we sit
here, as we talk to these people, we’re in the game with everyone else.”
The Hurricanes did solve a need in bringing back Corvo, who spent parts of
four seasons with Carolina and was a member of the Canes team that
reached the NHL Eastern Conference finals in 2009. Corvo, 35, was twice
traded by Carolina – to the Washington Capitals late in the 2009-2010
season, then to the Boston Bruins last July – and now has twice returned.
So what changed from all the years when the Hurricanes sat and watched
as the top free agents in the game moved around the league? Money and
ambition, of course. It wasn’t a total blank check, and Rutherford said the
Hurricanes weren’t willing to offer the big signing bonuses other teams were
throwing around, but owner Peter Karmanos was willing to authorize certain
big contracts for certain big players.
“I’m obviously super happy to be back,” Corvo said Sunday. “I’ve always felt
comfortable here.”
That was enough to get the Hurricanes into the mix. Who knows how far
that will take them.
Muller said he wanted a veteran defenseman who was a right-handed shot
and could be paired with Tim Gleason. That’s Corvo.
It didn’t get them Parise, and it may or may not land Suter. As for Nash, the
Columbus Dispatch reported he doesn’t have Carolina on the list of teams
to which he will accept a trade, nor does he intend on changing that.
“I’m really excited about the chance to play with Tim again,” Corvo said. “It
should be seamless. We complement each other well. He’s so good
defensively and it gives me the chance to do what I can do.”
Peters, 25, received a two-year contract that will pays $525,000 in the NHL
and $105,000 in the AHL, with a guarantee of at least $250,000 in 2012-13.
He will be paid $550,000 in 2013-14 and will have a one-way contract.
Jordan Staal turned down a 10-year, $60 million extension offer by the
Pens the day before the June 22 trade to Carolina. His 10-year extension
So all this intrigue may yet end up fizzling out, no matter how hard the
Hurricanes push. They pushed, though. They pushed hard. They played the
game. Parise had a difficult decision to make, as Suter does now, but the
Hurricanes were and are part of the equation.
For at least one day, it was a different franchise. If Parise had come here, it
might have changed the franchise forever. If Suter or Nash end up coming
here, it still could.
636621
Carolina Hurricanes
and Hawks next season, scheduled for Oct. 30 at the United Center. That is
the Coyotes' seventh game of the season.
Canes make offers for Parise, Suter
Meanwhile, Hossa continues to recover at his home in Slovakia and is on
target for training camp.
By Chip Alexander –
"The reports I've gotten ... are encouraging and positive," Hawks general
manager Stan Bowman said over the weekend. "No setbacks or anything.
He continues to progress."
The Canes have made offers for both free-agent forward Zach Parise of the
New Jersey Devils and defenseman Ryan Suter of the Nashville Predators,
general manager Jim Rutherford confirmed Sunday.
Zach attack: According to sources, the Hawks made an offer to Zach
Parise, one of the most-coveted free agents, and they are among the
finalists to land the forward who had 31 goals and 38 assists with the Devils
last season. Parise, 27, has been courted by teams throughout the league
and the Hawks are believed to be in the running along with the Penguins
and possibly the Devils and Wild.
Rutherford did not reveal any details of the offers. Parise, the Devils captain
and the top forward available in free agency, was in Toronto on Sunday
huddling with his agents and considering offers.
"It's kind of exciting for us because this is an offeseason where we're really
into trying to get one of these big free agents," Rutherford said. "And we
hope we can get one."
There were multiple media reports Sunday that Parise has been made
offers that include a signing bonus of $12 million in the first year. It is not
believed the Canes' offer includes a large signing bonus.
One-timers: Former Hawks goaltender Cristobal Huet, who played in
Europe the last two seasons while still on the Hawks' payroll, is hoping to
sign with an NHL team as a backup. Huet's contract with the Hawks expired
Sunday. ... The Rockford IceHogs, the Hawks' AHL affiliate, signed forward
Martin St. Pierre to a one-year contract. The 28-year-old center has three
goals and five assists in 38 career NHL games, including 21 with the
Hawks.
Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.03.2012
Rutherford said Parise was at the top of the Canes' wish-list at forward. He
said he would be willing to go to Toronto to talk with Parise along with
coach Kirk Muller and possibly team captain Eric Staal.
636623
Canes assistant coach John MacLean was a longtime assistant and later
head coach of the Devils and knows Parise well. He was trying to reach
Parise on Sunday.
NHL reduces Torres' suspension and its own credibility
"We asked did we need to get to Toronto today, right away and the answer
was 'no," but we have offered that," Rutherford said.
Steve Rosenbloom
And if the Canes don't get Parise?
Remember how bad the officiating and supplemental discipline were during
the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs?
"If we don't get Parise, we're right back in the trade market, immediately,"
Rutherford said.
636622
Chicago Blackhawks
Bettman gives Torres a break
Chicago Blackhawks
Commissioner Gary Bettman apparently loved it so much that he decided to
continue the stupidity Monday.
Bettman reduced Raffi Torres’ suspension from 25 games to 21 because, I
guess, Marian Hossa didn’t die right there on the ice after Torres launched
himself at the Blackhawks winger, aimed at Hossa’s head, completely
disregarded the puck, and knocked him unconscious.
It was a perfect clip to demonstrate the exact behavior the NHL alleges that
it wants to wipe out, especially from a career criminal.
By Chris Kuc,
Raffi Torres' return to the NHL will be sooner than previously thought.
After re-hearing the case against the Coyotes forward for Torres' illegal hit
to the head of the Blackhawks' Marian Hossa during Game 3 of the
Western Conference quarterfinals, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
announced Monday that he is suspending Torres 21 games.
That is four fewer games than the 25-game suspension NHL disciplinarian
Brendan Shanahan handed Torres a few days after the April 17 incident
that left Hossa with a severe concussion. The length of that punishment
initially was set to ensure Torres would not play the rest of the 2011-12
season. He appealed and Bettman heard the case May 17 in New York and
released his ruling Monday.
The new suspension means Torres will miss the first eight games of the '1213 season after sitting out the final 13 games of the Coyotes' postseason.
"This type of on-ice conduct cannot and will not be tolerated in the National
Hockey League," Bettman said in a statement. "We have seen similar
behavior before from Mr. Torres and, particularly given the League's
heightened scrutiny on hits to the head, I believe that a very significant
penalty is warranted in this case. We hope and expect that the severity of
this incident, and the League's response to it, will help prevent any similar
incident from occurring in the future."
Classified as a repeat offender under the collective bargaining agreement,
Torres will forfeit $170,731.68 in salary and will not be able to play in any
exhibition games. Torres will miss the first meeting between the Coyotes
So, of course, the NHL goes easier on the guy.
But wait. There’s more stupidity. Get a load of Bettman’s statement issued
through the league’s spin doctors:
“This type of on-ice conduct cannot and will not be tolerated in the National
Hockey League. We have seen similar behavior before from Mr. Torres
and, particularly given the League’s heightened scrutiny on hits to the head,
I believe that a very significant penalty is warranted in this case. We hope
and expect that the severity of this incident, and the League’s response to
it, will help prevent any similar incident from occurring in the future.”
Does Bettman realize that he REDUCED the suspension? In the press
release I received, there was zero explanation for reducing a suspension
that wasn't enough to start with. Maybe Bettman is concussed himself.
Let’s go over that statement again: The conduct will not be tolerated, Torres
has done it before, the league is scrutinizing hits to the head, and a
significant penalty is warranted.
And Bettman REDUCED the suspension. REDUCED it, do you hear me?
Even for the NHL, this is dumb and embarrassing.
Apparently, when the league says “a very significant penalty is warranted,’’
it’s code for “we’re hoping enough idiots believe what we say instead of
watching what we actually do.’’
Bettman should’ve heard Torres’ appeal and added another 15 games for
his despicable, recidivist, head-targeting act.
But no. It’s OK for the kind of despicable, recidivist slugs the league wants
to eliminate to turn skilled players the league wants to feature into
bobblehead dolls.
I don’t know if the NHL will come to a new collective bargaining agreement
with its players to start the season on time, but I know the league just
locked out common sense, credibility and integrity. Hat trick.
636624
Chicago Blackhawks
Bettman sets suspension for Coyotes' Torres at 21 games
back and review [it] all with his fiancee and his family,” but the 27-year-old
from Minnesota “could be drawing closer to a decision.”
It’s widely thought that the Devils, Penguins, Red Wings and Wild are the
leaders for Parise. A league source said the Hawks have to come up with a
long-term offer worth around $100 million and with a $12 million signing
bonus.
The source also said that, if the Hawks were to sign Parise, a significant
move to make room under the salary cap “seems inevitable.”
The Devils’ uncertain financial situation might have led to future Hall of
Fame goalie Martin Brodeur hitting free agency, but Parise told reporters
that Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said that isn’t an issue.
“That’s not weighing into [my decision] right now,” Parise said.
By Chris Kuc
Commissioner Gary Bettman reached a decision on the appeal by the
Coyotes' Raffi Torres on his 25-game suspension, and Torres will serve
four fewer games as a result.
Bettman ruled Monday that Torres, who was suspended for his illegal hit on
the Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa during Game 3 of the Western
Conference quarterfinals April 17, would be suspended 21 games, four
fewer than the original 25 handed down from NHL disciiplinarian Brendan
Shanahan.
The Hawks’ chances of landing Brodeur, 40, disappeared Monday morning
when he re-signed with the Devils, which he wanted to do in the first place.
Brodeur got a two-year deal worth $9 million, and it’s clear the interest he
generated from the Hawks, Maple Leafs and others accelerated talks.
In a conference call with reporters, Brodeur declined to list the teams that
seriously approached him, but he said that he wanted a two-year deal and
that some teams were willing to make that commitment.
“We did entertain some offers, but at the end the Devils were able to come
through with the extra year, and that for me was the most important thing in
the deal,” Brodeur said.
Bettman didn't actually reduce Shanahan's suspension, but re-heard the
case and determined 21 games was the correct punishment. The 25-game
suspension handed down by Shanahan ensured Torres wouldn't play again
during the 2011-12 season.
Whether Brodeur’s decision to stay in New Jersey affects Parise’s remains
to be seen.
The new suspension means Torres will sit the first eight games of the '1213 season after sitting the final 13 contests of the Coyotes' postseason.
Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
Hockey League,” Bettman said in a statement. “We have seen similar
behavior before from Mr. Torres and, particularly given the League’s
this incident, and the League’s response to it, will help prevent any similar
incident from occurring in the future.”
Classified as a repeat offender under the current collective bargaining
agreement, Torres will forfeit $170,731.68 in salary and will not be able to
play in any preseason games.
Torres met with Bettman in New York on May 17 after Shanahan's decision
came off an April 21 hearing.
636625
Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks still zeroed in on free agent Zach Parise
By ADAM L. JAHNS
Along with other teams, all the Blackhawks can do is wait for winger Zach
Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter, the top free agents available, to
choose their destinations.
A day after reports indicated the Hawks weren’t on either star’s short list of
teams, the Hawks apparently made one last big pitch to Parise, the Devils’
captain.
Parise, though, told reporters outside his agents’ offices in Mississauga,
Ont., that he’s still deciding which team to play for. He declined to name
teams other than the Devils.
“The list is still there,” Parise said. “We’re getting closer. That’s all I can
say.”
A source close to Parise said he and his agents have “thoroughly
deliberated every option” and that he “wishes to take some time to step
“It’s such a long-term, important decision,” Parise told reporters. “You have
to make sure you look at everything.”
636626
Chicago Blackhawks
Raffi Torres’ suspension reduced by four games
By ADAM L. JAHNS
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman finally determined Monday what to do
with the Phoenix Coyotes’ Raffi Torres and his 25-game suspension for
illegally hitting the Blackhawks’ Marian Hossa.
He shortened the ban by four games.
The Hawks declined to comment.
Hossa was taken off on a stretcher in the first period of Game 3 of the firstround playoff series. He suffered a severe concussion and has been
recovering slowly in his native Slovakia. Torres, through the NHL Players’
Association, appealed the length of the suspension, not the suspension
itself. Bettman, the arbitrator in such cases, met Torres on May 17, in New
York.
Technically, Bettman announced a “new” 21-game suspension for Torres,
including time already served. Torres missed 13 games during the
postseason, and the remaining 12 would have carried into the regular
season.
Now, Torres will miss the first eight games next season. Because he is a
repeat offender under the collective-bargaining agreement, Torres still will
forfeit $170,731.68 in salary. He also can’t play in preseason games.
The idea behind league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan’s 25-game ban
was to prevent Torres from playing in the postseason, which it would have
done in every scenario for the Coyotes.
“This type of on-ice conduct cannot and will not be tolerated in the NHL,”
Bettman said in a statement. “We have seen similar behavior before from
Mr. Torres and, particularly given the league’s heightened scrutiny on hits to
the head, I believe that a very significant penalty is warranted in this case.
We hope and expect that the severity of this incident, and the league’s
response to it, will help prevent any similar incident from occurring in the
future.”
Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
636627
Chicago Blackhawks
Is Parise what the Blackhawks need?
Hawks in pursuit of top free agent Parise
TRACEY MYERS
By Tim Sassone
The Chicago Blackhawks began Monday ending their pursuit of one New
Jersey Devil. They ended Monday going after another one.
On a crazy day that saw the Blackhawks come from nowhere to find
themselves on Zach Parise’s shortlist of teams he would consider playing
for, the top free agent forward on the market said late Monday he needed
more time to make a decision.
Parise planned to head home to Minnesota to discuss the situation with his
family before announcing his decision.
“I’m getting closer, but I haven’t made any decisions,” Parise told reporters
who gathered at his agent’s Toronto office. “I’ve set no deadlines.”
It’s believed the Hawks, Pittsburgh, Detroit, New Jersey, the Minnesota
Wild and Philadelphia are the teams still on Parise’s list.
“We have throughly deliberated every aspect with Zach,” Parise’s agent,
Wade Arnott, told TSN. “He wishes to step back and review all with his
fiancee and family. We could be drawing closer to a decision.
“I know everybody’s impatient and there’s incredible suspense, but he’s
been a free agent since 11 (Sunday), is being thrown $100 million offers
and has to make a decision where he is basically going to spend the rest of
his career. That’s not an easy one.
“Does he want to come home, play in front of family and friends and put the
Wild on the map? Does he want to go to teams already on the map and
play with Sid and Geno, Toews and Hossa, Datsyuk and Zetterberg? Or
does he want to return to the place he feels so comfortable and captains in
Jersey?”
The Hawks obviously see the 27-year-old Devils captain as a special talent
who is worth upward of $100 million. He had 31 goals and 69 points last
season with the Devils.
Parise would immediately become the highest paid Hawk, surpassing the
$6.3 million cap hits for Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
Meanwhile, the Hawks lost out on another member of the Devils when
goaltender Martin Brodeur decided to re-sign Monday with the only club he
has ever played for.
Brodeur, 40, signed a two-year contract worth $9 million. He is the NHL’s
all-time leader in wins and shutouts.
“At the end of the day, this is what I wanted all along,” Brodeur said in a
conference call. “Circumstances happen sometimes in life that I can’t
control, and I can’t say it won’t happen again, but I am happy, and two
years seems appropriate for me maybe to leave the game at that time. But I
am not 100 percent sure. Again, we’ll see how I feel and how well I am able
to play.”
The Blackhawks are one of several teams in the hunt for Devils forward
Zach Parise, a superstar who would bring plenty to whichever team
eventually wins him. Based on reports, the Blackhawks, Penguins, Wild and
Devils are among those in the hunt. Parise told reporters on Monday that
he’ll talk to his family and weigh his options before making a decision, one
that will obviously impact a good deal of his life and career.
Yes, Parise is an unbelievable talent, a stellar young forward who can
enhance any team. And the Blackhawks making a free-agency splash
would show they’re determined to return to recent Cup glory. Parise may be
who the Blackhawks want.
But is Parise who the Blackhawks need? If the Blackhawks are good in one
area, it’s scoring. Their superstar forwards did just fine in that category last
year, thank you very much.
Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane made a great combination early. Jonathan
Toews was making a bid for the Hart Trophy before suffering his
concussion. And Patrick Sharp was, once again, the Blackhawks’ most
consistent scorer from season’s start to finish. Even with that God-awful
power play last season, the Blackhawks were ranked sixth in the league in
goals scored with 241 (2.94 per game).
Producing enough goals isn’t the Blackhawks’ problem. Allowing too many
is.
The Blackhawks were ranked 22nd in the league last year in goals allowed,
giving up 231 for the season (2.82 per game). Between a defense and a
goaltender that struggled, this was a real sore spot for the Blackhawks.
Corey Crawford was up and down, making great stops a few games in a
row and then allowing too many bad ones the next few contests. The
defense in front of Crawford had its problems, too. It was a combination that
had the Blackhawks in a lot of close games, and not recording one shutout
throughout the season.
Parise is a tremendous talent, there’s no denying that. And he would make
a nice, young jewel in the Blackhawks’ crown of gifted forwards. But his
acquisition wouldn’t address the Blackhawks’ biggest needs.
The Blackhawks have made their pitch. They will go after Parise. And if
they land him they’ll be fine in the goal-scoring department. But the goal
allowing one, that will still be a concern.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.03.2012
636629
Chicago Blackhawks
Torres receives new 21-game suspension
Torres ruling:
Months after Raffi Torres concussed Marian Hossa and 46 days after he
appealed the 25-game suspension that followed, the Phoenix Coyotes
forward was handed a 21-game sentence on Monday.
TRACEY MYERS
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman deemed Torres’ hit to be worth four less
games than disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan after an appeal.
Raffi Torres, who was suspended 25 games for his hit on Marian Hossa in
the playoffs last spring, will serve a few less contests now.
Bettman announced a 21-game ban for Torres, down from Shanahan’s
original ruling of 25 games on April 21.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced today that he has suspended
the Phoenix Coyotes forward 21 games for his hit on Hossa. Torres will be
suspended, without pay, for the first eight games of the 2012-13 regular
season. And because he’s a repeat offender, under the CBA, Torres will
forfeit $170,731.68 in salary.
Hockey League,” Bettman said in a statement.
Torres already has served 13 games of the suspension during the playoffs.
He still has to sit out the coming preseason as well as eight regular-season
games, which will cause him to forfeit $170,731.68 in salary.
Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
636628
Chicago Blackhawks
Torres is ineligible to participate in any preseason games until he’s fully
served this suspension.
Hockey League,” Bettman said in a statement. “We have seen similar
behavior before from Mr. Torres and, particularly given the League’s
this incident, and the League’s response to it, will help prevent any similar
incident from occurring in the future.”
Torres delivered a hit to Hossa’s head during Game 3 of the Blackhawks’
first-round playoff series against Phoenix. Hossa, who sustained a
concussion, was taken off on a stretcher and missed the rest of the
Blackhawks’ brief postseason.
The Blackhawks forward was frustrated and angry with Torres’ actions
when he spoke to media in early May. At the time he was struggling to
recover from his concussion but time has helped him with that. Both general
manager Stan Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville said recently that
Hossa is doing much better and has begun his offseason workout program.
Zach Parise stepped before reporters in Toronto yesterday and announced
he had no announcement to make regarding where he plans to sign as a
free agent. An impatient sigh could be heard from St. Paul. Minn., to New
Jersey and several NHL cities in between, including Columbus, where the
Blue Jackets await Parise’s decision before proceeding with the most
dramatic transaction in franchise history.
The trading of Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash is most likely to occur in the
hours (days?) after Parise decides where he’ll play after New Jersey, after
the market of available 30-goals scorers is trimmed by one-third. Anaheim’s
Bobby Ryan is on the trade block with Nash.
“Not a lot of action toward a trade today,” Blue Jackets general manager
Scott Howson said. “But I think there was an understanding when this free
agent process began that it could take some time.”
Parise’s announcement could come today. Or not.
636630
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche, like rest of NHL, waiting on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter
Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, the two clubs that have made the
biggest pushes for Nash — Carolina and Ottawa — are not on Nash’s
“approved” list, and he’s shown no signs of altering it, as is his right with a
no-trade clause in his contract.
Carolina GM Jim Rutherford is said to be pushing hard for a deal with the
faint hope that Nash might change his mind.
By Adrian Dater
Ottawa GM Bryan Murray, with more than a hint of frustration, told reporters
in Canada’s capital on Sunday that the Senators were giving up the “chase”
to acquire Nash.
Monday came and went without any new transactions for the Avalanche, as
the hockey world continues to wait on the free-agent decisions of top
players Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.
At no point have the Blue Jackets and either Carolina or Ottawa agreed on
a trade, and no offer has been presented to Nash and his agent Joe
Resnick, sources told The Dispatch.
Once those two make their decisions, other transactions could break fast.
Many teams, including the Avalanche, are waiting to see where those two
players go before moving on to other plans in the free-agent or trade
markets.
Meanwhile, interest from Nash’s approved clubs — Detroit, the New York
Rangers, Philadelphia and San Jose — has been tepid in recent days,
partly because the league is waiting to see where Parise lands.
It seemed as if Parise, the New Jersey Devils left wing, would make a
decision Monday when he held an informal news conference outside the
office of his player agency in Mississauga, Ontario.
But Parise said only that he needed more time to make a decision.
There was no indication to how close Suter, the Nashville
Predators defenseman, was to making a decision.
With the expected departures of Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter, the Avs
could use another left winger, preferably one with some size and skill. The
team had little to say Tuesday, one day after signing free agents P.A.
Parenteau, John Mitchell and Greg Zanon.
Parenteau said Monday that he is a natural right-winger, but he "could play
on the left side if I had to."
According to Capgeek.com, the Avs are still $21.6 million under the NHL's
salary cap of $70.2 million, with a current payroll of $48.5 million. According
to the website, the Avs' payroll for last season topped out at $49.4 million
Colorado has three restricted free agents unsigned in Ryan O'Reilly, Erik
Johnson, and Jamie McGinn. Avs general manager Greg Sherman said
those players' lingering contracts are nothing to be alarmed about.
"We've been having ongoing discussions with the agents for all of our
restricted guys. We've been able to sign several of our restricted guys over
the last month here, and our goals are the same ultimately for Erik, for Ryan
and Jamie as we move here into July," Sherman said.
The Flyers and Red Wings have made offers, but Parise is said to be
leaning toward staying with New Jersey, joining Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh
or heading home to play for the Minnesota Wild.
RDS, the French-language version of TSN in Canada, reported Buffalo had
made an offer for Nash. The Sabres, like Ottawa and Carolina, are not on
Nash’s “approved” list of destinations, The Dispatch confirmed last night.
On Sunday, the Blue Jackets acquired speedy forward Nick Foligno in a
trade with Ottawa, giving them a 20-goals scorer who can play on one of
their top two lines.
But the moment Nash is traded, the Jackets will be among the weakest
offensive clubs in the NHL.
If he’s traded today, it will be three years to the day since Nash signed an
eight-year, $62.4 million contract extension — a deal that was expected to
put Nash in position to spend his entire career in Columbus.
Slap shots
Blue Jackets development camp takes to the ice at 3:30 p.m. today in
OhioHealth Ice Haus attached to Nationwide Arena. Center Michael Chaput
(abdominal) and defenseman Thomas Larkin (hip) won’t skate this week. …
The Jackets have issued numbers for their newest players: Foligno will
wear No. 71 and defenseman Adrian Aucoin will wear No. 33.
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.03.2012
Denver Post: LOADED: 07.03.2012
636631
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets: Nash trade remains on hold
636632
Dallas Stars
Stars continue roster transition by trading for Derek Roy
Team hopes offers for captain will improve once free agent Parise is off
market
MIKE HEIKA
By Aaron Portzline
The future makes a little more sense for the Stars.
It also makes a little more sense for Steve Ott, Derek Roy and Adam Pardy.
In a rare trade that could work out for everyone, the Stars acquired Roy (a
talented 29-year-old center) on Monday from the Buffalo Sabres for Ott and
Pardy. Roy probably needed a fresh start after battling a quadriceps injury
and drawing some heat in Buffalo. Pardy probably needed a fresh start after
he became a whipping boy for Stars fans after signing a two-year, $4 million
contract last season.
And Ott probably needed to move on to a much bigger stage than he was
being afforded in Dallas.
“I think it’s a trade that can work out for both sides, I really do,” Stars
general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said. “I think a change of scenery will be
welcomed by [Roy], and I think Steve Ott should be a good fit in Buffalo.”
Bottom line, both teams are in transition, and they like the idea of giving a
player a fresh start. It works a lot in sports. It worked for Matt Niskanen in
his trade to Pittsburgh. It worked for Eric Nystrom in his trade to the Stars.
“It’s hard to deal with, but it can really be a good thing,” Ott said. “I hate to
leave, and there is a real feeling of grieving and disappointment. But, at the
same time, I’m really jazzed that the Buffalo Sabres have targeted me and
made me a player that they believe can help them win.”
Both teams need changes. Ott was a solid soldier, a great faceoff guy, a
good defender and a hugely entertaining character. In many ways, the
Stars would have loved to have kept him. But they also need some help at
center, and Roy became available after he posted a 44-point season with
the Sabres in 2011-12.
Roy’s injury slowed him down, and he became part of the focus for a very
disappointing start to a season that ended without playoffs. The Stars
believe with good health, Roy can return back to the form that produced 81
points in 2007-08, 70 in 2008-09 and 69 in 2009-10.
“There was a significant thigh injury that he had, and he’s fully recovered
from that,” Nieuwendyk said. “Our scouts really paid attention to him and
thought that he was really getting back to his normal production and pace of
play late in the season. It kind of went hand-in-hand with the run Buffalo
went on late in the season.”
Roy is small at 5-9, 184, but he will slot in behind Jamie Benn on the
second line and should be a good fit in the top six forwards, which also
should include Loui Eriksson, Brenden Morrow, Ray Whitney and Michael
Ryder. That could leave 21-year-old center Cody Eakin the chance to play
on a third line with some younger players, and possibly allow Vernon
Fiddler and Nystrom to slide to the fourth line.
While the Stars’ transition is still taking place, those moves give
Nieuwendyk hope that his team is pushing toward a new era after four
years without the playoffs.
“We talked a lot about our young kids that are turning pro, and we want to
give them every opportunity to succeed,” he said. “This trade puts people in
their proper spots.”
And that might include Ott. He lives in Ontario and loves the hockey
environment of the Northeast. He will have a huge stage on which to
employ the brand of hockey that Stars color man Daryl Reaugh calls
“irritainment.”
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but I love it up here,” Ott said when asked
about the opportunity to live in a hockey town. “I love the snow, and I love
the hockey talk and I love the passion. Hockey is king here … I love that.
“These things happen for a reason,” Ott added. “You get a change like this,
and you have to make it positive. That’s the way I’m going to look at it.”
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.03.2012
636633
Dallas Stars
Derek Roy believes he is over injury issues that could have slowed
production last season
MIKE HEIKA
Derek Roy is hoping a change of scenery can help him. And he definitely
believes he can help the Stars.
Roy last season had one of his worst statistical years, with 44 points in 80
games, but he also was recovering from a series of injuries tied to his leg
and back. Roy said the injuries that allowed him to only play 35 games in
2010-11, also hurt his training before the 2011-12 season.
“It was a huge factor,” Roy said. “What happened with the surgery…and
then I worked really hard to get back…and then I pulled the hamstring in the
summer time. I couldn’t get my training down. I’d wait a month and do
therapy on my hamstring, stuff like that. But it feels great now and I can’t
wait to get back on the ice and get going again.”
Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk said doctors have given Roy a clean bill of
health and said he feels a healthy 29-year-old Roy will return to the pace of
scoring that had him at a 70-point clip per season.
“There was a significant thigh injury that he had and he’s fully recovered
from that,” Nieuwendyk said. “Our scouts really paid attention to him and
thought that he was really getting back to his normal production and pace of
play late in the season. It kind of went hand in hand with the run Buffalo
went on late in the season.”
Sabres GM Darcy Regier agreed: “He did have some injuries and was
coming back from a pretty serious injury the year before. I thought he was
getting better. He had some good spots in the second half of the season. I
honestly think he’ll have a very good year this upcoming season.’’
Nieuwendyk said that by acquiring a veteran like Roy, the Stars help fill the
hole lost by trading Mike Ribeiro without forcing 21-year-old Cody Eakin into
too big of a role.
“Obviously, a lot has been mentioned about our center position, especially
with Mike Ribeiro going out and having Cody Eakin coming in with only 30
games of NHL experience,” Nieuwendyk said “I think it was a hole that we
needed to fill. It’s something that has been talked about for months leading
up to this. Having the opportunity to acquire a player like Derek Roy, who is
only 29 years old and is a proven point producer in this league at a position
that is very rare to find. It seemed like it was just a real good feel for us.”
Regier said he too had to make some decisions about his lineup after
making a late trade to acquire young center Cody Hodgson.
“He’s got one year left on his contract,’’ Regier said of Roy. “And I think with
Tyler Ennis moved into the middle, with Cody Hodgson in the middle, we
certainly weren’t looking and aren’t going to move Tyler and Cody.’’
636634
Dallas Stars
Steve Ott is sad to leave Stars, but should be a perfect fit in Buffalo
MIKE HEIKA
Steve Ott is a very emtional guy, so he was everything you would expect
him to be when he found out Monday that he had been traded from the
Stars to the Buffalo Sabres.
A guy who has Stars logos embroidered on the seats of his classic
Corvette, Ott said it will be extremely difficult to leave an organization that
he sees as family and a city he sees as home. Then, again, as a guy who
lives in Ontario, loves hockey and is the perfect fit in the Eastern
Conference said he’s excited about the future.
“It’s just so difficult, because I hate to leave and there is a real feeling of
grieving and disappointment,” he said from his summer house in the
Windsor area. “But, at the same time, I’m really jazzed that the Buffalo
Sabres have targeted me and made me a player that they believe can help
them win.”
Ott is very good freinds with Sabres defenseman Mike Weber, a teammate
on the Windsor Spitfires and a guy Ott call his “brother.” They’re already
making plans for what the Sabres can become.
“It’s just such a dream come true in that regard. I never thought something
like that would happen,” he sad. “You really never know.”
Ott really has given a lot to the Stars and loved every minute with the team,
but he strikes you as a Northeast Division type player. It visibly bothered
him to be playing in front of empty arenas in Dallas or Phoenix or Anaheim.
He clearly was a better player when he was sucked into the game by the
crowd _ at home or on the road. And now he will be playing in Buffalo and
Montreal and Toronto and Ottawa and Boston. He will be facing the Bruins
six times a year. He will be around the TSN microphones almost every day.
It is the perfect place for a guy who is engaging and entertaining.
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but love it up here,” he said. “I love the
snow and I love the hockey talk and I love the passion. Hockey is king
here…I love that.”
player, but the Stars would like younger players to get a chance to do what
he is doing. They could have signed him to a year or two, but not four. They
hope a lot of these prospects will be in the lineup in four years. Anyway, I
don’t think they’re done. They have added a solid young center in Cody
Eakin, 21, and they should give legitimate NHL chances to forwards like
Matt Fraser, Reilly Smith, Alex Chiasson, Scott Glennie, Radek Faksa and
Austin Smith either this year or next. In addition, they have Brenden Dillon
knocking on the door of the defense, and Patrik Nemeth and Jamie
Oleksiak very close to being NHL defensemen. So they are hoping to be
good now and be great later. We’ll see if they can make the transition
smoothly or not.
So, yes, Daryl Reaugh is probably pouring out a Kokanee somewhere in
British Columbia and pondering whether he will really have to “drink bleach”
if Steve Ott is not around, but now the rest of the world will get to see Ott.
And that’s probably a good thing.
636636
Dallas Stars
636635
Dallas Stars
Ex-Stars Sheldon Souray, Adam Burish now division foes
Stars' moves say something about team, but 'cheap' isn't it
MIKE HEIKA
MIKE HEIKA
One of the most difficult parts of being a sports fan is getting attached to a
player and then seeing him go away.
Because the Stars Newsletter is on hiatus in the off-season, we often deal
with your questions here on the blog. If you have a question, just send it to
mheika@dallasnews.com:
That’s happened a lot in the past five years, as the Stars have attempted to
transition to a new era. First, you had to see Mike Modano in a Red Wings
uniform and bid adieu to Marty Turco. Then, you watched as James Neal
and Matt Niskanen were traded and Brad Richards left in free agency. This
season, Mike Ribeiro was traded to Washington and Sheldon Souray and
Adam Burish signed free agent contracts with Anaheim and San Jose,
respectively, on Sunday.
Q: Hi Mike, can you shed some light on the choices the stars made
yesterday? It really looks like they not only went cheap,but foolishly. A 40year old and a Souray clone who wasn’t even wanted by his own team.
All year, Souray said how much he liked this team. Did the Stars not want
him,or did he really not want to come back. it looks just like last year—cheap talent with little upside.
The season is still so far away, but I am tired of wasting my money on this
team! Marc in Abilene
HEIKA: Hey Marc, it’s a tough time, for sure.
This is not about cheap this year so much as it is about not getting trapped
into long contracts. That’s what players want in free agency, and the Stars
would rather keep themselves prepared for either a big trade or a chance at
free agency next season when the players will probably be better and
possibly worth a longer term deal (The best players this season were Zach
Parise and Ryan Suter, and neither of those apparently considered Dallas a
destination team right now).
Whitney is a good player and a good person. Yes, he is 40, but he scored
77 points last season (13th in the league and more than anyone on the
Stars) and was a second team All-Star. The Stars believe he still has
something to give, and they also believe that he will help players like Jamie
Benn and Cody Eakin get better. He is a play-making winger, meaning he
could actually be setting up Benn or Eakin for goals. Plus, they only have to
sign him for two years, so they can make a trade for a superstar in the near
future or sign one in free agency, and they will be fine going forward with
contract commitments. Teams like Buffalo and Columbus overloaded on
long-term contracts last summer, and when it didn’t work out, they were left
scrambling.
The Stars don’t want to do that. The Stars would like to get some ice time
for younger players, but also allow them to do so with the safety net of
some veterans like Whitney. The Rome signing is simply a player who is
just like Mark Fistric. In fact, some believe he is better than Fistric. By
getting him, you can now go out on the trade market and dangle players like
Fistric, Steve Ott, Brenden Morrow or Stephane Robidas (as well as any of
a number of prospects) in hopes of getting one of those superstar players.
This is sort of like when the Texas Rangers have loaded up on players
because they know they are going to be involved in the trade market. They
don’t know who they might go after, but someone always comes up who
they could use, and they want to be prepared. Souray and Burish both are
good players, but the Stars did not want to give Souray three seasons or
Burish four seasons. Souray I think would have commanded more ice time
than Rome, and could have prevented players like Alex Goligoski or Philip
Larsen from taking a bigger bite out of the team. I think some of these
moves might even be dictated at forcing the coaching staff to focus more on
players who are moving into their prime and not out of it. Burish is a nice
And the wheel goes ’round.
On one hand, these moves make it tough. After all, you got to like Burish
over the past two years and really enjoyed Souray’s work in one short
season. They are charistmatic and exciting players, and they entertained
you while the Stars have tried to find the right path going forward. On the
other, the fact that the two free agents signed with Pacific Division rivals
could help make games with the Ducks and Sharks more entertaining going
forward. And this whole industry is about entertainment.
The guess is more changes are coming, and players like Steve Ott and
Brenden Morrow and Mark Fistric and Stephane Robidas could be
candidates to be playing for different teams next season, and that will be
tough to take as fans. But if the Stars want to get better, that’s part of the
process.
Both Souray and Burish were welcomed with open arms from their new
teams, and both signed very nice deals (Souray for three years $11 million
and Burish for four years at ans $7.2 million). Here are a couple of outtakes
from stories on their new teams:
Burish is reunited with good friend Joe Pavelski. The two are both from
Wisconsin and played for the Badgers’ 2006 NCAA championship team.
Here’s Burish on what he wants to bring to the Sharks:
“To me, I want to bring some excitement, I want to pull some guys along,”
he said, mentioning former teammate Marty Havlat among them. “I don’t
know what’s missing, but if I were on the Sharks and I had to listen to
everybody rag on Joe Thornton in the playoffs, that would piss me off
because he’s one of the best players in the league. He’s so hard to play
against.
“Hopefully I can get in there and give him a little excitement, too, and let him
know from an outsider coming in, you are one of the best players in the
league and forget all those writers and media people who are bothering
you. I’m going to help you win the Stanley Cup because you deserve it.
That’s kind of the attitude I want to bring in to those plaers who have been
there a long time and won everything but a Stanley cup.”
Read the whole entry from veteran scribe David Pollack at the San Jose
Mercury News here.
Souray landed in almost the perfect spot. He lives in the Los Angeles area
in the off-season and his kids live out there with their mother, and that’s
been tough for him as he bounced from Edmonton to Hershey, Pa. to
Dallas in the past three seasons.
He wasn’t the right fit on the Stars’ power play, but he will go a long way in
helping ease the loss of Lubomir Visnovsky for the Ducks, and games
against him now will take on a different meaning for Stars fans.
Red Wings' Jiri Hudler, Chris Conner leave for other teams
Here’s Souray:
“You just never know, I guess. When this kind of opportunity presented
itself, it was really just a dream come true, so to speak. It works on so many
different levels that I couldn’t be more happy with.”
Here’s the complete story from venerable California hockey guru Eric
Stephens in the Orange County Register.
636637
Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars trade Ott, Pardy for Sabres center Roy
By Helene St. James
As they expected, the Detroit Red Wings lost the services of forward Jiri
Hudler today, when he signed with the Calgary Flames.
Hudler got $16 million over four years, an average salary cap hit of $4
million. The Wings didn't want to pay that much for a small forward who was
risky defensively, even if he did have 25 goals and 25 assists last season.
They took one preemptive step toward replacing Hudler, who played in the
top six last season, by signing European forward Damien Brunner, and
another by bringing back Mikael Samuelsson.
To the Wings' advantage, both of those guys shoot right-handed, something
that's been missing from the power play.
Staff
The Dallas Stars acquired center Derek Roy from the Buffalo Sabres in
exchange for forward Steve Ott and defenseman Adam Pardy.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Roy, 29, has played the past eight seasons with
the Buffalo Sabres, including a 69-point year (26 goals) in 2009-10; a 70point campaign (28 goals) in 2008-09 and an 81-point season (32 goals) in
2007-08.
"Derek Roy is a legitimate top two line center and has been productive
throughout his career," Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk said in a
statement. "He is a proven commodity that helps fill a void at a position of
need for our club. We believe Derek helps make our hockey club better,
and we are happy to have him."
Ott, 29, just finished his eighth season with Dallas, where he earned 11
goals and 28 assists, totaling 39 points in 74 games. Ott has appeared in
566 NHL games, all as a member of the Stars, scoring 85 goals, 135
assists, totaling 220 points.
Also, the Stars signed center Toby Petersen and left wing Antoine Roussel
each to two-year, two-way contracts through the 2013-14 season, the club
announced Monday.
Petersen, 33, has spent five of his nine NHL seasons with the Stars. He
also played with Pittsburgh and Edmonton.
Roussel, 22, spent the 2011-12 season with the Chicago Wolves of the
American Hockey League.
Torres' ban reduced
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman cut four games off the 25-game
suspension given to Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres during the
playoffs.
The NHL announced the decision Monday, reducing the suspension after
Torres filed an appeal of league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan's original
ruling.
Torres was suspended April 21 and missed the Coyotes' final 13 playoff
games after he left Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa with a
concussion following a high, hard hit.
He will sit out the upcoming preseason and the first eight games of the
2012-13 regular season.
Devils re-sign Brodeur
Martin Brodeur signed a new two-year contract to remain with the New
Jersey Devils.
Pat Brisson, Brodeur's Los Angeles-based agent, confirmed the deal in an
e-mail to the AP. After testing free agency for the first time in his career,
Brodeur, 40, netted a pact worth $9 million. More than likely, the goaltender
will finish his career with the Devils.
Hudler has played 409 NHL games, all with Detroit, and has 87 goals and
214 points. Flames general manager Jay Feaster calls him “one of the very
best goal scorers in the NHL at even strength.”
The Red Wings this afternoon also announced that forward Chris Conner
(Michigan Tech) has left to sign with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.03.2012
636639
Detroit Red Wings
National writer: Advice for Ryan Suter
Posted by James Jahnke
National NHL writer Nicholas J. Cotsonika of yahoo.com wrote a column
today offering unsolicited advice to Ryan Suter, the top defenseman on the
free agent market.
The Detroit Red Wings are in pursuit of the veteran Nashville Predators
star, and Cotsonika made this pitch for Detroit (note that he made pitches
for other teams, too):
"Nicklas Lidstrom just retired. Those are huge skates to fill, even for a
defenseman as good as you. But nobody expects you to win seven Norris
Trophies and be a Perfect Human, and this is a unique opportunity.
"I'm sure Cheli has made this pitch. He played at Wisconsin, like you did.
He's buddies with your uncle. And there is a reason a guy like him – once
the captain of a division rival, his hometown 'Hawks – fell in love with the
Wings when he played for them and still works for the organization.
"Yeah, the Wings' core is older. But the Wings have been called too old for
more than a decade now, and they keep winning, and winning, and winning,
and they have more young pieces than you might think. With committed
ownership, a savvy front office and a sharp scouting staff, they have been
able to rebuild on the fly without high draft picks. You could be the next
piece that carries on that tradition.
"Great player after great player has come through Detroit. We're talking Hall
of Famers and superstars, too numerous to mention. The Wings have
Original Six tradition. They call it Hockeytown, but hockey isn't the No. 1
sport. The arena and downtown are gritty, but the suburbs are beautiful.
The Wings have won four Stanley Cups since 1997 and made 21 straight
playoff appearances.
"You can take Lidstrom's minutes. You can pass the puck to Datsyuk and
Zetterberg. You can stay low key. You can have a chance to win. Maybe
you can bring your buddy Zach, too. But even if you can't, you know the
Wings will go after the next star, and the next one, and the next one."
Star-Telegram LOADED: 07.03.2012
Red Wings draft pick Jake Paterson of the Saginaw Spirit will answer
questions in a live chat Tuesday afternoon (time TBD) at freep.com/sports.
Submit early questions here!
636638
Detroit Red Wings
636640
Detroit Red Wings
Two-minute drill: Midday update on Tigers, Lions, Wings, Pistons, U-M and
MSU
Jose Sharks. Suter, 27, is a supremely smart, mobile puck-mover who can
join the rush, and he'd be an asset to both the power play and penalty kill.
The Wings are among the front-runners for Suter. The next-best available
option is Matt Carle. Other possibilities include Carlo Colaiacovo and Matt
Gilroy.
Hudler heads out; clock ticks for Parise, Suter
Posted by James Jahnke
After being very active on Day 1 of NHL free agency, the Red Wings waited
during Day 2.
Welcome to our two-minute drill, which will give you a snapshot of what's
going on with the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons, Spartans and
Wolverines each day.
They'd fielded multiyear, mega-million-dollar contracts to defenseman Suter
and forward Parise, with Suter being especially key to the team's offseason's plans.
• Red Wings: Get yourself a program, there are a whole bunch of new
Wings to meet. The team signed four players -- Jordin Tootoo, Jonas
Gustavsson, Damien Brunner and Mikael Samuelsson -- on the first day of
NHL free agency Sunday, and here's a photo gallery featuring all of them.
Samuelsson, for one, says he's "so glad to be back" with the Wings. Swiss
star Brunner could find himself among the top six forwards. Of course, the
decisions everyone is waiting on will come from Zach Parise and Ryan
Suter. Here's where we'll be keeping track of movement around the league
all day.
The Wings began the changes up front Sunday when they added Mikael
Samuelsson, Damien Brunner and Jordin Tootoo, who, all but officially,
have eliminated any chance that Tomas Holmstrom might return.
Holmstrom, 39, said late last month he'd meet with general manager Ken
Holland soon after free agency began, but Holmstrom's retirement largely
has been expected since the playoffs ended.
• Pistons: The Pistons are even bigger now, having agreed to a contract
with 7-foot Ukrainian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov. Here he is in pictures.
That gives them 15 players and might signal the end of free agency, as far
as they're concerned. New Piston Corey Maggette is good at getting to the
free-throw line. If you missed it, be sure to check out Mitch Albom's column
on first-round draft pick Andre Drummond.
"We talked shortly after the season ended, I offered three years, and we
didn't really move much from what we offered," Holland said. "We thought it
was a number we were comfortable with. But in talking to Jiri's agent, after
the season he had, they felt there were going to be more offers."
• Tigers: The team's long-dormant bats are perking up, as Sunday's 5-3 win
at Tampa Bay gave the Tigers the series victory. (Photos) Quintin Berry and
Brayan Villarreal helped put the game in the "W" column. And Alex Avila is
getting around OK on his bad knee, thanks to treatments. The Tigers will
have three All-Stars, and Prince Fielder said he'd like to be in the Home
Run Derby. The Tigs are back home tonight, facing the Minnesota Twins at
7 p.m. on FSD.
• Lions: Linebacker Justin Durant will chat with fans at 2:30 this afternoon.
Kellen Moore gave an interview about his first two months with the Lions.
Oh, and Brian Urlacher said his Bears are now the best team in the NFC
North.
• Spartans: Tom Izzo likes the bulked-up version of Adreian Payne. MSU's
football freshmen are starting their college lives. And stop by at 4 p.m.
today to talk Spartans during Freep Sports Happy Hour.
• Wolverines: New baseball coach Erik Bakich is settling into his job. You'll
be able to see Erin Andrews doing college football this fall, but on Fox
instead of ESPN.
636641
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings still waiting on Ryan Suter; Zach Parise to make choice today
By Helene St. James
The Evening of Day 2 of NHL free agency came without the Red Wings
hearing from their No. 1 target, defenseman Ryan Suter.
That's hardly surprising given that he's been fielded multiple mega-milliondollar offers, with suitors including Minnesota, Philadelphia and of course,
his former team, Nashville.
The Wings are also among the teams who made an offer to Zach Parise,
far and away the most coveted forward available among the unrestricted
free agents. Speaking Monday afternoon at his hotel, Parise told reporters
he was closer to making a decision, but that it probably wouldn't come until
today. One of the few higher-profile free agents who did sign Monday was
Jiri Hudler, who left the Wings for Calgary.
Landing Suter is a priority for the Wings, who need to replenish their blue
line after losing Nicklas Lidstrom to retirement and Brad Stuart to the San
One of the biggest announcements that did come down Monday was that of
Jiri Hudler, who found better terms and money in Calgary than the Wings
were willing to offer. The Flames gave him four years and $16 million.
Holland talked to Hudler's agent Sunday, but "I wasn't prepared to move
because we were involved in other things."
Basically, when the Wings signed Samuelsson, 35, to two years for $6
million, that spelled the end for Hudler.
Hudler was impressed that Flames general manager Jay Feaster called
promptly at noon Sunday to make a pitch. The Flames' strong pursuit eased
his decision as he left the only NHL club he's ever known.
"I gotta say it's hard to leave a town like Detroit, the organization," Hudler
said. "I've got lot of memories, a lot of good friends. But I'm looking forward
to this new opportunity. Yesterday Jay called right away, showed us he was
really interested in me coming to play for Calgary Flames. I made my
decision. Of course it's tough, going to miss my friends. But this happens all
the time."
Hudler, who had 25 goals among 50 points last season, spoke to good
friend and former Flame Todd Bertuzzi about the decision. "I talked to Bert
for a bit. He told me a lot of great things about the organization and people.
"I made decision. I'm 28 years old. I felt this is the right thing to for me."
Feaster said the Flames "ID'ed Hudler" at the team's pro meetings in
advance of free agency. "We had him as a guy we wanted to go after as a
top-six guy. He will be a regular on the power play, and also the penalty
kill."
The Wings took one pre-emptive step toward replacing Hudler by signing
Brunner and another by bringing back Samuelsson. To the Wings'
advantage, both of those guys shoot right, something that's been missing
from their power play.
The team also plans to give Gustav Nyquist, who had an extremely
impressive rookie season, every shot at making the top six next season.
"We signed Brunner, we've got Nyquist, we signed Mikael Samuelsson,"
Holland said. "We're looking to give Brunner and Nyquist an opportunity.
We'll continue to explore the market place via free agency or trade."
The Wings have about $17 million in salary cap space, but $5 million of that
is earmarked to re-sign restricted free agents Justin Abdelkader and Kyle
Quincey. Teams can go 10% over the $70.2-million salary cap as long as
they're compliant by the start of the season. However, because a new
collective bargaining agreement has to be negotiated, the Wings are
bearing in mind that the cap could change.
Sunday's additions brought the Wings to 15 forwards under contract for
next season, not counting Abdelkader. Some of those will be trimmed
before camp, as the Wings continue to forge a fiercer identity after three
straight playoff disappointments.
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Detroit Red Wings
Mikael Samuelsson 'so glad' to be back with Red Wings
Sharks ink 2
The San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman Danny Groulx and forward
Bracken Kearns to one-year contracts.
The Sharks also announced today that they re-signed defenseman Matt
Irwin and goalie Alex Stalock to one-year deals.
By Helene St. James
Groulx spent the past two seasons playing in Russia. He was named the
top defender in the AHL in 2009-10 before leaving for the KHL.
Mikael Samuelsson said he had offers from multiple teams, but after the
Detroit Red Wings got involved, the decision was easy.
Kearns played five games with Florida last season. He also had 22 goals
and 30 assists for San Antonio in the AHL.
"I hoped to hear from them, and I did," he said today from his native
Sweden. "It was a pleasant surprise. I definitely was interested right away.
I'm so glad to be back."
Irwin had 11 goals and 31 assists for Worcester last season and was picked
for the AHL All-Star game. Stalock missed most of last season with an
injured left leg. He played six games with Stockton in the ECHL and five
games with Worcester and Peoria in the AHL. He went 8-2 overall.
The Wings signed Samuelsson, 35, to a two-year, $6-million contract
Sunday, bringing back a forward they didn't want to lose three years ago.
He'll get to contend for a spot among the top six, but the biggest appeal
was that he shoots right-handed and has a big shot, something the Wings
badly need for their power play.
Samuelsson was one of four players the Wings added Sunday, joining free
agents Jordin Tootoo, Damien Brunner and goaltender Jonas Gustavsson.
The Wings also made offers to defenseman Ryan Suter and forward Zach
Parise. They're among the front-runners to land Suter.
Samuelsson played for the Wings in 2005-09, when the team's decision to
focus on keeping Jiri Hudler left Samuelsson to sign with Vancouver. He
had a career-high 30 goals his first year with the Canucks. After a little more
than two years there, he was traded last season to Florida. He missed 28
games with various injuries, fitting 14 goals and 17 assists into 54 games.
Samuelsson talked to fellow Swedish Wing Henrik Zetterberg before
signing and heard from Niklas Kronwall today.
After hearing from "a bunch of other teams," Samuelsson said, "that put me
in a good situation towards where I wanted to be, and that was Detroit."
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Detroit Red Wings
NHL free agency tracker: Martin Brodeur, backup stay with Devils; Joey
Crabb to Capitals
Detroit Free Press News Services
Crabb to Caps
Right wing Joey Crabb has agreed to a one-year, $950,000 contact with the
Washington Capitals.
The unrestricted free agent was expected to sign the deal today in
Washington’s first move of this year’s free agency period. The 29-year-old
Crabb has spent the last two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He
had 11 goals and 15 assists in 67 games in 2011-12, his first full season in
the NHL.
Ducks re-sign Smaby, ink Rakell
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Defenseman Matt Smaby has signed a one-year deal
to return to the Anaheim Ducks.
The Ducks announced the deal Monday. Anaheim also signed right wing
Richard Rakell to a three-year deal.
Smaby played 30 games for the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in Syracuse last
season after a serious thumb injury sidelined him for three months,
preventing him from competing for an NHL job.
Smaby played 32 games during the 2010-11 season for Tampa Bay. He
has bounced between the AHL and the NHL for the past five seasons.
Rakell spent the past two seasons playing junior hockey in Ontario after
arriving from his native Sweden. He was the 30th overall pick in the 2011
draft by the Ducks.
Stars trade Ott to Sabres
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres have acquired forward Steve Ott
and defenseman Adam Pardy from the Dallas Stars in exchange for forward
Derek Roy.
Sabres general manager Darcy Regier announced the trade Monday.
NEWARK, N.J. — Martin Brodeur has signed a new two-year contract to
remain with the New Jersey Devils.
A few hours later, his backup, Johan Hedberg, did the same thing.
Pat Brisson, Brodeur’s Los Angeles-based agent, confirmed his deal this
morning in an email to the Associated Press.
The deal is worth $9 million and more than likely will allow the 40-year-old
goaltender to finish his career with the Devils. Hedberg, 39, will receive $1.4
million in each of his two seasons, and both deals feature no-trade clauses.
The NHL’s all-time winningest goaltender, Brodeur has led the Devils to
three Stanley Cups and two other finals, including a loss to the Los Angeles
Kings in six games this past season.
The deal was first reported by Canadian broadcaster RDS.
Brodeur posted a 31-21-4 record in the regular season with three shutouts
and a .908 save percentage. He played even better in the postseason,
recording a 14-9 mark with a 2.12 goals against average and a .913 save
percentage in leading New Jersey to its first Eastern Conference title since
2003.
Brodeur, who heard from Toronto and Chicago on Sunday, has posted a
656-371-105 record with the Devils, winning Cups in 1995, 2000 and 2003.
With Brodeur back, the Devils will try to keep left wing Zach Parise. He is
the top free agent on the market, and he told reporters Sunday that he may
make a decision today.
Ott had 11 goals and 28 assists in 74 games with the Stars last season.
The 25th overall pick in the 2000 entry draft, Ott has 85 goals and 135
assists in 566 career games.
Pardy spent his first three seasons with Calgary before joining the Stars in
2011-12, recording four goals, 25 assists and 157 penalty minutes in 183
NHL games.
Roy put up 17 goals and 27 assists last season for Buffalo, giving him 161
goals and 266 assists in his eight NHL seasons, all with the Sabres.
Carey Price, Canadiens sign for 6 years
BROSSARD, Que. — Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has signed a sixyear contract worth $39 million with Montreal.
The 24-year-old Price is a two-time All-Star who has been in the NHL for
five seasons.
Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin announced the signing Monday.
Price played 65 games last season for the Canadiens, who missed the
playoffs last season. He posted a 26-28-11 record with a 2.43 goals-against
average, a .916 save percentage and four shutouts.
Drafted by Montreal in the first round, fifth overall, of the 2005 NHL draft,
the native of Anahim Lake, British Columbia, has a 124-104-35 career
record with 16 shutouts, a 2.56 GAA and a .916 save percentage.
Jokinen jets from Calgary to Winnipeg
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Winnipeg Jets have signed center Olli
Jokinen to a two-year deal.
The 33-year-old $3 million last season in Calgary, where he had strong year
with 23 goals and 61 points.
Jokinen has played with the L.A. Kings, New York Islanders, Florida,
Phoenix, and the New York Rangers, where he was traded to by the
Flames during the 2009-2010 season.
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Detroit Red Wings
Jiri Hudler leaves Wings for four-year deal with Flames; Chris Conner out,
too
By Ted Kulfan
Calgary brought Jokinen back the next season and he finished with 17
goals and 54 points.
Winnipeg has also signed forward Alexei Ponikarovsky and former Red
Wings defenseman Derek Meech as free agents.
Jokinen has scored 20 or more goals in seven of his 14 NHL seasons.
The Flames filled the hole left by Jokinen’s departure by signing ex-Wing
Jiri Hudler to a $16-million, four-year deal.
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Detroit Red Wings
Detroit— Jiri Hudler, as expected, is gone.
The former Red Wings forward has signed a four-year, $16 million contract
Hudler, 28, scored a career-high 25 goals and had 25 assists last season
with the Wings.
Leaving the Wings isn't a surprise, and was expected by the organization
and many others around the NHL given the economic climate. Teams are
looking for goal scorers, and Hudler has proven to have the ability to score
goals.
Wings not likely to hear from Zach Parise, Ryan Suter until Tuesday
The Wings, anticipating Hudler leaving, signed Mikael Samuelsson on
Sunday.
By Ted Kulfan
Having had a salary-cap hit of $2.8 million last season, the Wings weren't
prepared to go much higher than $3 million to $3.3 million in re-signing
Hudler.
Detroit— And the hockey world waits.
Hoping to acquire more offense, the Wings are still in the hunt for prized
free agent acquisition Zach Parise.
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the two premier players on the free-agent
market, have yet to decide on their destinations.
But the highly-anticipated decisions of Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter
still have not been revealed.
Parise appeared on the verge of making a decision, having planned a news
conference outside the suburban Toronto office of his agent, only to say he
still hadn't made a decision.
Another Red Wing to leave Monday was Chris Conner.
"I'm getting closer," Parise said. "I haven't set any deadlines."
Detroit News LOADED: 07.03.2012
Parise said he would take the information gathered from teams home and
go over with it with his fiancee and his family.
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Wade Arnott, Parise's agent, said his client was being thorough in making a
decision.
"We have thoroughly deliberated every option with Zach," Arnott told TSN.
"We could be drawing closer to a decision."
Arnott said there was a chance Parise could decide today.
The Red Wings are one of a few teams reportedly in the mix to land Parise,
who scored 31 goals last season and is considered one of the premier twoway forwards in hockey.
Speculation had Parise, 27, linked with the Red Wings, the Devils (his
former team), Penguins, Wild (hometown team), Blackhawks and Flyers.
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was not available for comment.
Goaltender Martin Brodeur, who re-signed with the Devils, spoke with
Parise on Monday morning and told reporters he was optimistic Parise
would find his way back to New Jersey.
But Chicago, which jumped into the bidding, could also be a viable
candidate to get Parise, given its championship-caliber lineup and being
close to his Minnesota home.
As for Suter, his agent, Neil Sheehy, said no decision was imminent, either.
The indecision by Parise and Suter also is stalling the rest of what is
becoming a picked-over free-agent class.
Former Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler was the biggest name to sign — four
years and $16 million with the Flames.
Forwards Shane Doan (Phoenix), Jaromir Jagr (Philadelphia) and Alex
Semin (Washington) and defenseman Matt Carle (Philadelphia) are
generally regarded as the few worthwhile free agents who remain available
on the market.
The Westland native played in eight games with the Wings with one goal
and two assists. He spent most of the season in Grand Rapids.
Detroit Red Wings
Mikael Samuelsson thrilled to be back with Wings; he never wanted to
leave
By Ted Kulfan
Detroit— Not a surprise, but Mikael Samuelsson never really wanted to
leave the Red Wings three seasons ago.
"I'm not going to lie, I wanted to re-sign," said Samuelsson, who left for the
Vancouver Canucks when the economics of the salary cap made him a
casualty with the Red Wings.
Samuelsson found his way back to Detroit on Sunday, though, when he
signed a two-year contract worth $6 million.
"I hoped to hear from them and that was a pleasant surprise (when the
Wings called)," Samuelsson said in a teleconference Monday morning. "It's
always a surprise when teams are calling, and I was definitely was
interested right away."
Vancouver traded Samuelsson early last season to Florida, acquiring
Macomb native David Booth.
Samuelsson played 54 games between the two teams — he was set back
with leg injuries stemming from Vancouver's Stanley Cup run the season
before — and had 14 goals and 17 assists.
"We know Sammy and we know what he can provide us," Wings GM Ken
Holland said. "He has size, he has a great shot, he can play the point on the
power play. He adds size and skill and we know him."
That familiarity was what appealed to Samuelsson, along with the Wings'
penchant for winning.
"The main reason I choose teams at this point in my career is whether they
have a chance to win or not, that's the main reason," he said. "I liked Detroit
a lot last time and it was a tough decision (to leave). It's very comfortable."
Samuelsson, 35, said he's already heard from Henrik Zetterberg ("I talked
to him before I signed," Samuelsson said) and Niklas Kronwall.
He believes the Wings still are a Stanley Cup contender despite the recent
retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom and a roster that is changing.
"The Red Wings are a very skilled team," Samuelsson said. "They still have
those type of players (skilled) in my mind. I know they lost Nick and I don't
know what Homer's situation is (Tomas Holmstrom, who is likely to retire),
there are some holes to fill, but definitely they are a contender and that's
why I chose that team."
As for his role, or potential for playing time, Samuelsson is leaving that to
coach Mike Babcock.
"I know what Detroit is about," he said. "If you play good, you get that ice
time and that's the way it should be."
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Detroit Red Wings
to a two-year, $6 million pact on Sunday, that essentially closed the door on
Hudler.
Michigan Live LOADED: 07.03.2012
636648
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings will try to accommodate goaltender Joey MacDonald by looking
for trade partner
Ansar Khan
DETROIT – Joey MacDonald does not want to spend another season in the
AHL, so Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland will try to find him
a new NHL team.
The Red Wings upgraded their backup goaltending position by signing free
agent Jonas Gustavsson to a two-year, $3 million contract on Sunday.
Holland said he will try to trade MacDonald, who had hoped to be in line for
the job as Jimmy Howard's backup after a strong showing in Detroit late last
season.
Red Wings, others, continue waiting on decisions from free agents Ryan
Suter, Zach Parise
“His agent called, he wanted to know what the plan was with Joey,'' Holland
told MLive.com. “He doesn't want to be in the AHL. Certainly, if we can find
Joey an opportunity in the NHL we'll do it.''
Ansar Khan
The problem is, there aren't many teams in the market for a backup goalie.
MacDonald's best opportunity for a move might be through waivers just
before the start of the season.
DETROIT – The hockey world is anxiously waiting for Ryan Suter and Zach
Parise, far and away the premier free agents on the market, to decide
where, in all likelihood, they will spend the rest of their careers.
MacDonald's agent, Michael Wulkan, didn't respond to a phone message.
Clearly, it is not an easy choice, especially when you have several longterm mega-offers to sort through.
So no decisions were announced Monday, during the second day of free
agency. And teams like the Detroit Red Wings, who have submitted offers
to both players, must continue to wait.
The Red Wings appear to have a better chance at landing Suter, the strong
all-around defenseman from Nashville, than Parise, the high-scoring left
wing from New Jersey.
The Red Wings were given no indication Monday that they are out of
consideration for either player, nor were they given a time frame on a
decision from either.
Suter's agent, Neil Sheehy, said in an email: “There will be no decision on
Ryan Suter tonight and there is no timetable for his contract signing at this
time. Ryan is considering his opportunities and is taking the necessary time
to give each proper consideration.''
Various reports indicate Suter still is considering offers from Nashville,
Minnesota, Philadelphia and possibly Pittsburgh, in addition to Detroit.
Parise, meanwhile, told reporters on Monday that he is returning home to
Minnesota to talk with his family and that he has no time frame on a
decision.
“I'm getting closer but haven't made a decision,'' Parise told media gathered
outside his agent's office in Mississauga, Ontario, according to the
Canadian Press. “I haven't set any deadlines.''
MacDonald has one year remaining on his contract at $550,000. It's one
way, meaning he'll get paid the same whether he's in the NHL or the AHL.
MacDonald, 32, went 8-5-1, with a 2.16 goals-against average and .912
save percentage in Detroit last season after being recalled from the Grand
Rapids Griffins when Howard was injured. MacDonald won seven starts in a
row from Feb. 8-28, after grabbing the No. 1 job from veteran Ty Conklin.
But MacDonald's season ended on March 14 due to a bulging disc. He had
back surgery in 2006, and the club was concerned some issues might
resurface. Holland, however, said MacDonald was cleared and does not
need surgery.
MacDonald has a career NHL record of 31-48-13, with a 3.04 GAA and
.903 save percentage.
He has spent parts of seven seasons with the Griffins, from 2002-12.
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Detroit Red Wings
Eight years with Red Wings prepared Jiri Hudler for pressure he'll face after
signing in Calgary
Brendan Savage
Parise told media that the Devils are still in the mix. But he would not reveal
what other teams are still in it.
Jiri Hudler think eight seasons with the Detroit Red Wings have prepared
him for the expectations he's going to face as one of the newest members
of the Calgary Flames.
Several reports indicate Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Chicago, a late entry
into the fray, are being considered. It is not certain if the Red Wings are in
the mix.
After playing with the Red Wings for his entire NHL career, Hudler signed a
four-year, $16-million contract with the Flames Monday barely 24 hours
after hitting the market as an unrestricted free agent.
It appears many other free agents are waiting for Parise and Suter to make
their decisions before they sign.
After helping the Red Wings reach the postseason and register 100 or more
points throughout his NHL career, Hudler said the pressure of trying to get
the Flames back into the playoffs isn't going to faze him.
Former Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler signed a four-year, $16 million
contract with the Calgary Flames, in one of the few moves on Monday.
Pressure is something he learned to deal with in Detroit.
The Red Wings weren't prepared to give Hudler more than three years or
more than $3.2 million per season. When they signed Mikael Samuelsson
"If something goes wrong, no panicking," Hudler said. "You can always
figure out a way to turn things around when things go bad. Little things like
that. I was fortunate enough to play with (Red Wings veterans). The work
ethic was incredible. I learned a lot and I'm going to use it later on in my
career starting now.
Conner, who was born in Westland and played collegiate hockey for
Michigan Tech, has also played for Dallas and Pittsburgh during five NHL
seasons.
"I don't mind pressure. When you use it the right way, it motivates you and
makes you better. I'm just going to go into training camp ready and in
shape. Things can go wrong but like I said, I'm going to do my best to do
what I do."
In 147 career NHL games, he has 17 goals, 26 assists and 30 PIM.
Flames general manager Jay Feaster targeted Hudler before free agency
began Sunday and expects Hudler to be one of Calgary's top six forwards.
636651
Hudler had a career-high 25 goals among 50 points in 81 games for the
Red Wings last season. He was second in the NHL when it came to evenstrength goals and that appealed to the Flames, who ranked 24th among 30
teams in goals per game (2.43) and 25th in even-strength goals (134).
Red Wings' free-agent target Zach Parise won't decide today; no decision
yet from Ryan Suter
"Jiri Hudler is a highly skilled and dynamic offensive player," Feaster said.
"He is one of the very best goal scorers in the NHL at even strength and he
puts a very high percentage of his shots on net, generating scoring chances
for himself and rebound opportunities for his teammates. He fits our need to
upgrade and improve our skill.
"He's going to have an opportunity to flourish."
That sounded good to Hudler.
"Obviously it makes me feel really good the way Jay is talking about me,"
Hudler said. "I've got to get there and prove what the organization thinks I
can do. I'm really excited about it."
One other thing Hudler can do for the Flames is mentor forward Roman
Cervenka, a former KHL star and fellow Czech Republic native, as he
adapts to life in the NHL.
Conner is 28.
Detroit Red Wings
Ansar Khan
Quick update on the Detroit Red Wings' free-agent watch:
New Jersey forward Zach Parise told reporters today that he hasn't made a
decision. He is returning home to Minnesota to speak with his family and
has no timetable for a decision.
Parise told media gathered outside his agents' office in Mississauga,
Ontario, that the Devils are still in the mix. But he would not reveal what
other teams are still in it.
The Red Wings submitted their offer on Sunday and haven't heard back.
Reports indicate Pittsburgh and Chicago are in the mix.
Hudler, 28, was the Red Wings' second-round pick (58th overall) in the
2002 NHL entry draft.
Also, Neil Sheehy, the agent for defenseman Ryan Suter, said his client has
not decided yet either and did not provide a time frame for a decision.
In 409 regular-season games with Detroit, he had 127 goals, 214 assists
and 160 penalty minutes. In 66 playoff games, he had 12 goals, 21 assists
and 34 PIM.
He was a member of the Red Wings' 2008 Stanley Cup championship
team.
Hudler made $2.875 last season and the Red Wings were reluctant to pay
him more than $3.2 million.
"When the season was over, I told his agent we were prepared for three
years," said general manager Ken Holland. "Obviously, my numbers were
below $4 million. We talked a couple of times before July 1. It was apparent
they wanted something that started with a 4. I was very comfortable with the
offer we made.
"When we signed Mikael Samuelsson on Sunday, that probably sealed Jiri's
fate here. We had an opening. We weren't prepared to go to $4 million
because we had other commitments. It worked out good for Jiri and we're
happy to have Sammy back.
"Huds gave us some good hockey through the years. He helped us win a
Stanley Cup in 2008 and get to the Finals in 2009. We drafted him and
watched him develop into an NHL player."
636650
Detroit Red Wings
Former Red Wings forward Chris Conner signs with Phoenix Coyotes
636652
Detroit Red Wings
Former Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler signs with Calgary for four years, $16
million
Ansar Khan
Former Detroit Red Wings forward Jiri Hudler has signed a four-year, $16
million contract with the Calgary Flames.
Hudler, 28, is coming off a season in which he scored a career-high 25
goals and finished with 50 points. Despite his size (listed at 5-foot-10, 180)
and lack of speed, the Red Wings had some interest in re-signing him, but
they weren't willing to pay more than about $3.2 million a season.
This is the second time Hudler has left Detroit. After picking up 23 goals
and 57 points in 2008-09, he signed a two-year deal with Dynamo Moscow
of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League that was rumored to be worth $10
million tax-free.
He returned to Detroit after one year and experienced a miserable 2010-11
season, with just 10 goals and 37 points.
Hudler, after a slow start, found some chemistry playing on a line with
Henrik Zetterberg and Valtteri Filppula. Despite his size, Hudler went to the
net, that's how he scored Detroit's only two goals in its Game 4 and 5
losses to Nashville in the first round of the playoffs.
Brendan Savage
Conner, who split last season between the Detroit Red Wings and Grand
Rapids Griffins of the AHL, has signed a one-year, two-way contract with
the Phoenix Coyotes.
The 5-foot-8, 180-pound forward spent eight games with the Red Wings last
season. He had one goal, two assists and no penalty minutes. In 57 games
with Grand Rapids, he had 16 goals, 37 assists and 22 PIM.
Hudler spent his entire seven-year NHL career with the Red Wings, who
took him with their top pick (58th overall in the second round) in 2002. He
has 87 goals and 214 points in 409 games, as well as 12 goals and 33
points in 66 playoff games.
The Red Wings essentially replaced Hudler by signing Mikael Samuelsson
to a two-year, $6 million deal on Sunday.
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Detroit Red Wings
Mikael Samuelsson looking forward to stepping into a familiar role with Red
Wings
Jeff Blashill spent just one year as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red
Wings, but during that time, he got to see just how important Nicklas
Lidstrom was to the team, both on and off the ice.
Ansar Khan
Lidstrom, who retired earlier this year after 20 seasons in Hockeytown, left
a pair of gigantic skates for general manager Ken Holland to fill.
DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings didn't want to lose Mikael Samuelsson
in the summer of 2009, and the veteran forward didn't want to leave.
"When Nick retired, obviously you lose a guy who, even at his age, was a
top 10 defenseman in the NHL," Blashill said in an interview on ESPN 970
Marquette. "He was also a tremendous leader and a guy who everybody in
the room had a tremendous amount of respect for, and just an unbelievable
human being. That's a big loss, and there's no other way to put it."
But the salary cap forced him out the door.
Now he is back, three years older at 35, and surrounded by some different
players. But he's looking forward to stepping into the same role he had, on
a team he believes can still contend for the Stanley Cup.
“The main reason, when I choose a team at this point in my career, is if
they're going have a chance to win or not,'' Samuelsson said on Monday. “I
know many of the players there and I know what it's like from last time.
“It was a really tough decision to leave the last time. It's very comfortable for
me here. It shouldn't take me any time to get adjusted to the game or the
system. I know they play the same way they did when I left.''
The Red Wings signed Samuelsson to a two-year, $6 million contract on
Sunday, the first day of free agency. He spent two-plus seasons in
Vancouver and most of 2011-12 in Florida.
Samuelsson said he was surprised that a “bunch'' of other teams called. His
decision was easy.
“(The Red Wings) are always a high-skilled team, and they still have those
players in my mind,'' Samuelsson said. “They lost Nick (Lidstrom) and I
don't know what's going on with Homer (Tomas Holmstrom).
“I think I'm coming to a very good team. Maybe we have some holes to fill, a
little bit, but it's definitely a contender, and that's why I chose this team.''
Samuelsson likely will step into the top-six forward role created by the
apparent departure of free agent Jiri Hudler and will play the point on the
power play.
“They said they needed a right-handed shot on the power play,''
Samuelsson said. “They didn't mention much (about his role). At the same
time, I know what Detroit is about. If you play good you get your ice time
and that's how it should be. I have to be good and it doesn’t matter if I play
on the second (line), the third or the first.''
Samuelsson suffered torn tendons in his left leg in the 2011 playoffs with
the Canucks, who lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup
finals. He was dealt to Florida on Oct. 22 but said it took him until Christmas
time to start feeling comfortable.
Samuelsson returns to a dressing room full of familiar faces from his four
seasons in Detroit, including fellow Swedes Henrik Zetterberg, whom he
spoke to before signing, and Niklas Kronwall, who contacted him on
Monday.
Blashill — who will remain in the organization as the head coach of the
Grand Rapids Griffins – doesn't think any one individual will be able to
replace the future Hall of Fame defenseman. Instead, players already on
the roster will have to step up, even as the Red Wings acquire others to
bolster the blue line.
"You need your guys from within to take steps," Blashill explained. "I think
Nik Kronwall is one of the best people I've been around. I think he can take
further steps. You're going to have to go out and find some guys in free
agency and either get an elite player or get some guys that are great fits.
That's all you can do. And again, that is the reality of the salary cap era and
the parity that it represents."
The Red Wings are still waiting to hear from Ryan Suter, who is the top free
agent defenseman on the market.
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Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings fans: Mikael Samuelsson signing a typical, unimpressive
move
Philip Zaroo
Less than a day into NHL free agency, some Detroit Red Wings fans are
aghast the team is bringing back veteran Mikael Samuelsson after the
winger spent two years in Vancouver and a year in Florida.
Samuelsson, who spent four years in Detroit before departing, gives the
Red Wings a big, right-handed shot and a point man for the second power
play unit. But MLive reader wingsflyhigh would prefer youth to the 35-yearold (he turns 36 in December).
"WHY?! this is just a wasted roster spot, some younger kid who has energy
could do what samuelsson is going to do for us. this is painful to watch."
Others take the criticism to another level, calling out Ken Holland – who has
assembled (or helped assemble as assistant GM) four Stanley Cup-winning
rosters. "epps" isn't impressed, however.
“The time that I was there we were in two finals and won one (Cup), so it is
hard to leave,'' Samuelsson said. “But that’s what the salary cap does to
you. Some players have to leave.''
"Bwwwaaaaahhhhhhaaaaa. So, so predictable. I've said for weeks that all
Holland knows how to do is resign any player who has worn the wigned
wheel. MOST OVERRATED GM IN SPORTS"
He signed a three-year, $7.5 million deal with the Canucks in 2009.
While MLive Red Wings Insider Ansar Khan reports the team made its best
offer to New Jersey forward Zach Parise – at least 20 other teams showed
interest in him as well. Parise will make his decision soon, but greggyj
thinks the signing of Samuelsson indicates the 27-year-old won't be headed
to the Motor City. And the Red Wings should fire Holland.
“They were potential winners, too,'' Samuelsson said. “I saw a good team in
them and a nice city and good players. It was a good situation for me and I
couldn't turn it down at that point.''
Similarly, he couldn't turn down Detroit, given a second chance.
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Detroit Red Wings
Replacing Nicklas Lidstrom will take group effort from Red Wings, says exassistant Jeff Blashill
Philip Zaroo
"Ths tells me two things," greggyj writes. "1. We aren't getting Parise. 2.
Holland needs to go."
For "exdetroit," Samuelsson's return isn't so much a problem, but the price
the Red Wings paid – two years, $6 million – for a player of his age and
production was too high.
"$3 million for a 35 year old depth player with no grit and all of 14 goals is
way too much. I'm a big Holland fan, I'm even a bit of a Sammy fan, but this
seems weird."
Samuelsson had 103 points over two seasons with the Canucks. He only
appeared in 54 games with the Panthers last season, as he was recovering
from a groin injury at the beginning of the season, but he managed 31
points.
Still, "DetroitSports89" thinks the Red Wings would have been better served
to pay a little bit extra for someone like PA Parenteau.
Hudler scored a career-high 25 goals last season to go along with 25
assists and finished a plus-10 in the plus/minus category.
"you (pay) a mil more sign perenteau who is 27 years old and has had 55
and 67 points on the ISLANDERS. you dont sign another cleary or bert."
Hudler got the same money Colorado forward David Jones got this
offseason. Jones only scored 20 goals and had 17 assists.
Not everybody was opposed to the signing, however. "borq646" says some
fans are going overboard with negativity. There are plenty of things to like
about Samuelsson when you look at the big picture.
“When we signed Mikael Samuelsson on Sunday that really probably
sealed Jiri’s fate here,” Holland said. “We had an opening. We weren’t
prepared to go to $4 million because we had other commitments. It worked
out good for Jiri and we’re happy to have Sammy back.”
"So Mikael Samuelsson, Jordin Tootoo, Jonas Gustavsson, Damien
Brunner and most likely Suter tomorrow isn't good enough for you? I guess
maybe you'd be satisfied if they got Parise, Semin, Parenteau, Prust, Nash,
and maybe Whitney and Penner too?
He's bigger.
He's cheaper.
He can play the point on the PP.
He is a 15-30 goal scorer.
He has a hard shot.
It’s believed that the Wings weren’t prepared to go much over $3.2 million
to keep Hudler.
It’s the second time Hudler has left Detroit. After the 2008-09 season, he
signed a two-year deal with the Dynamo Moscow of the KHL that was
rumored to be worth $10 million tax-free.
MacDonald wants out?
There has been speculation since the Wings signed Jonas Gustavsson that
Joey MacDonald wants out of Detroit.
He's a known commodity.
The one thing Holland knows for sure is that MacDonald doesn’t want to be
in the American Hockey League.
I swear you people are amazing. It's not like they resigned Hudler and
Holmstrom. I can imagine the mass suicides that would take place if that
happened."
“His agent called and wanted to know what was the plan for him,” Holland
said. “He doesn’t want to be in the AHL. If we can find Joey an opportunity
in the NHL, we will.”
MacDonald’s season ended after a back injury, which won’t need surgery.
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The Wings would have a hard time trying to deal MacDonald because if
they tried sending him to the minors he would have to clear waivers and
any team could claim him. Plus, not many teams are looking for goalies.
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings, others waiting on Zach Parise
Macomb Daily LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Edmonton Oilers
By Chuck Pleiness
Yakupov has fun, entertains fans during Oilers development camp
DETROIT – The second day of NHL free agency went pretty much as the
first day for the Detroit Red Wings, minus the signing of players.
Rookie forward knows he’ll have to be serious and work hard in the NHL
training camp in the fall
Wings general manager Ken Holland, along with other GMs around the
league, sat and waited by the phone for a decision from the two most
sought after unrestricted free agents in this year’s pool – forward Zach
Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter.
By Joanne Ireland, edmontonjournal.com July 2, 2012
And they continue to wait.
Parise told reporters Monday outside the offices of his agent that he still
needs more time.
Suter’s agent, Neil Sheey, said his client wasn’t ready to make a decision
either and gave no timetable as to when he will have one.
“There’s no blueprint to this time of year,” Holland said in a phone interview
Monday. “We have to sit and wait just like anyone else.”
Parise was scheduled to return to his home in Minnesota to speak with his
family before making a decision.
The only team Parise would say was still in the running for his services was
New Jersey, where he has spent his entire career. He would not reveal the
other teams that are still in.
The Wings still believe they’re in the running for both teams.
“There is no timetable for his contract signing at this time,” Sheey said via
email. “Ryan is considering his opportunities and is taking the necessary
time to give each proper consideration.”
Hudler gets $4 million a year
Jiri Hudler got the money he was looking for, signing a four-year deal worth
$4 million a season with the Calgary Flames.
“Huds gave us some good hockey through the years,” Holland said. “He
helped us win a Stanley Cup in 2008. We drafted him and watched him
develop into an NHL player. We made him a contract offer, shortly after the
season. I didn’t really move a lot. I felt very comfortable with the offer we
made.”
EDMONTON - Before Tyler Bunz began boasting about his role as the setup man by deftly linking the tale of his assist to the wildly popular Twitter
feed @nail10_1993, the Edmonton Oilers goaltending prospect talked
about the shot.
It wasn’t just one particular shot, but the shot that belongs to Nail Yakupov,
the dynamic winger the Oilers selected first overall at the recent NHL entry
draft.
“He’s got a lot of speed and a really quick release. Real quick,” said Bunz,
who will battle it out with Oliver Roy for the backup job with the Oklahoma
City Barons next season.
The Oilers re-signed Yann Danis, the American Hockey League’s
goaltender of the year, on Sunday, but backup David LeNeveu won’t return.
Bunz, Roy and Yakupov were among 34 prospects on the ice Monday for
the final day of the Oilers development camp.
Fittingly, it ended on a shootout goal by Yakupov, who had clearly won over
the crowd gathered at Sherwood Park’s Millennium Place.
He snapped in three goals during the four-on-four scrimmage, then
celebrated each with unbridled enthusiasm. He pumped his fist, cocked his
ear to the crowd, slid down the wing, never repeating his gestures.
Bunz set up the winger for one of his goals.
“(Yakupov’s) speed and his technical skills are of such an elite nature. His
one-timer? No matter where, no matter how, he can also hit his target,” said
Oilers head coach Ralph Krueger, who was among the camp curious. “But
today, there was a situation where he dropped back for a defenceman and
had to cover for him. As a coach, I have to be honest, I know everybody
wants the show, but we do have to spoil it sometimes with good defence
and ... it looked like he had some good instincts away from the puck.”
stood four and five deep to get a look at the young Russian star on the
holiday Monday.
As for his showmanship, Krueger figures it won’t be as, well, showy, when
the rookie is around the NHL veterans.
And Yakupov, who after keeping his personality pretty much bottled up
leading up to the draft and popping the cork the minute he arrived in
Edmonton, couldn’t have been much more flamboyant than he was as the
Oilers ended camp with a four-on-four game.
“It’s just for the fans, for the fun. You have to smile sometimes,” Yakupov
said. “(But) you have to work hard in the practices and in the games ... you
have to be serious. You have to play hard, play the system. Play
disciplined. It’s not junior league.
“(But) why not (celebrate)? If you score goals, you can show something ...
just maybe not crazy like that.”
How often is a performance at prospects camp something to tell your
grandchildren about? It was.
Yakupov scored three consecutive goals for openers.
With camp over, Yakupov was going back to Russia, where he will spend
the next two months gearing up for the Canada-Russia Challenge that will
start in Yaroslavl on Aug. 9 and wrap up in Halifax, N.S., on Aug. 14.
He took a pass from goaltender Tyler Bunz at the far blueline, took a couple
strides and blasted a 25-footer top corner behind Samu Perhonen to get it
going. He then turned to the crowd and threw his arms open to welcome the
expected applause.
After that, the winger will be in Edmonton for the NHL training camp, barring
a work stoppage as the league and its players association needs a new
collective bargaining agreement as of Sept. 15.
His next two goals, which came on hard, perfect one-timers from set-ups on
the doorstep, were followed by an archer pose and by holding his ear to the
crowd to again to welcome the applause.
In the meantime, Yakupov said he was leaving Edmonton fuelled by a fun,
informative week that saw the players get everything from a hands-on
lesson on nutrition to on-ice drills to add to their training programs. They
went to a baseball game, took in the Edmonton Eskimos’ home-opener
against the Toronto Argonauts, and then headed their separate ways.
Daniil Zharkov, his Russian running mate, chosen 91st overall in the draft,
the guy who told reporters he planned to be “better than Yakupov”, opened
the session-ending shootout session with a sick, Linus Omark-worthy
between-the-legs left-right backhand bit of razzle-dazzle.
“It was a good experience, a good week,” Yakupov said. “This is just once
in your life, so you take it. I’ll get a couple of days rest, then I’ll start
working. We do have games against Canada in August, so I have to be
ready for those games.”
He also played to the crowd, but with a much more understated tip-of-thehat sort of salute.
Yakupov ended up winning it going last, electing to go with a quick snap
shot. And he upstaged even himself by dropping to his butt and pretending
to paddle a canoe.
“He got picked first for a reason. He really showed it today and all through
camp,” said defenceman Joey Laleggia, a University of Denver product
drafted by the Oilers a week and a half ago.
“I had a lot of fun with the fans. It’s exciting. I’ve never seen that before. It
was great,” he said of the scene the fans provided in Sherwood Park.
Laleggia also knows a thing or two about skilled forwards, having grown up
in Burnaby, B.C., with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The second call he received
after he was drafted in the fifth round at Pittsburgh was from the centre.
When asked if he’d carry his act over the the regular season, Yakupov’s
answer illustrated the joy of hockey he clearly has in him but indicated, I
think, that fans need not fear he’s planning on being the clown prince of
hockey.
“(Yakupov) is a special player, a guy you dream about playing alongside
one day,” said Laleggia. “He does have a good focus about him, but he
knows when to have fun, too.”
“If you score goals, you celebrate,” he said.
And fun he had, particularly on the final day. Krueger said Yakupov had told
him he was blown away by the people that showed up to watch a
development camp and figured they deserved to see his lighter side.
It was crazy how the crowd enjoyed the show immensely and then debated
it all the way to the parking lot.
“He loves the spotlight. He’s going to do very well in Edmonton,” said Bunz.
“I think a lot of the fans, a lot of the players, are looking forward to having
him around. From what I’ve seen, the city has got a lot to look forward to.
“He does a lot of showboating stuff out there, but it’s just for the fans. He’s
actually pretty quiet. He’s shown us a different personality away from the
rink.”
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Edmonton Oilers
Jones: Yakupov's excellent adventure
“But not crazy like that.”
Ralph Krueger isn’t expecting to have to take Yakupov aside in the fall.
“He’s entertaining. His spirit and love for the game comes through in that,”
said the Oilers’ new head coach.
“How he will function in the mature, older group at training camp will be a lot
different based on the conversations I had with him here.
“We’ve connected well the past few days and I know he was trying to make
sure everyone was having fun.
“His speed and his intensity is prevalent at all times. You don’t play with that
skill level if you’re not practising at a high level, and you can see that
whether he’s in the gym at Rexall or here on the ice — he was always
working at high intensity.
Forward puts on show on last day of prospects camp
“He’s also very generous in the way he tried to make plays for other
players. Not only did we see a goal-scorer this week, but we saw a
playmaker.”
By Terry Jones
So today, Nail Railovich Yakupov flies home to Russia and his hometown of
Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan to discover to what extent he’s returning a
celebrity.
,Edmonton Sun
Wow, that was awesome. But don’t do it again.
Nail Yakupov put on a spectacular exhibition to complete his excellent
Edmonton adventure, combining skill and showmanship to bring fans to
their feet in Millennium Place in Sherwood Park.
They cheered him wildly but then, as they left the final day of Edmonton
Oilers’ prospects camp, you could hear them saying “Gee, I sure hope he
doesn’t do that stuff in the regular season.”
Yakupov, the Oilers third consecutive No. 1 pick in the draft was the show,
the whole show and nothing but the show as people packed the place and
Asked if he’s headed home exhausted from everything involved from the
NHL combine, the Stanley Cup final top draft pick day, the pre-draft
interview tour, draft week itself and the 10 days here, Yakupov had the
perfect answer.
“You only get to do this once so I have to make the most of it,” he said.
You’d have to say he did. And then some.
The 18-year-old, whose first real Edmonton experience included getting
Twitter-pated, used the social media outlet where he’s gone from zero to
24,513 followers to say his final farewell before he returns for the serious
stuff whenever NHL hockey is played again:
“Great week with the boys !!! Thanks for everything guys !!! See u soon!!;“Take care in the summer!!))):“Nice caaaaamp :“Love u fans.”
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.03.2012
636659
Edmonton Oilers
Now, with a firm grasp of the language and Western Hockey League
championship on his resumé, the lanky defenceman is developing into one
of the Oilers best blue-line prospects.
“I feel a lot more comfortable now,” said Gernat following the final day of
rookie camp on Monday. “This is my second time here at rookie camp, I got
a chance to play all season with the Oil Kings, so I got a lot of experience
and it’s good being around the rest of the guys from the Oilers. I feel really
good here. It’s been a good experience for me.”
Gernat, 19, was taken by the Oilers in the fifth round – 122nd overall – of
the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
RNH's pal gets taste of Oilers camp
By Derek Van Diest ,Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON Joey Laleggia has a friend in high places.
In fact, his buddy Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was lobbying for the Edmonton
Oilers to select Laleggia in the recent NHL Entry Draft.
The Oilers reunited the pair by selecting the Burnaby, B.C., product in the
fifth round — 123rd overall — just over two weeks ago.
“We’re from the same home town and we played together at the Burnaby
Winter Club since we were six years old,” Laleggia said. “He’s one of my
best friends and he’s pretty happy that I’m here as well. He was the second
phone call I got after I got drafted by the Oilers. We were both pretty excited
about it.”
Laleggia, 20, currently plays for the University of Denver, where he recently
wrapped up his freshman season.
The five-foot-10, 184-pound defenceman scored 11 goals and added 27
assists in 43 games for the Pioneers.
When he wasn’t on the ice, Laleggia took the time to watch Nugent-Hopkins
have an exceptional rookie season with the Oilers.
“It was something special to see, he’s been a special talent ever since we
were five years old,” Laleggia said. “He deserves everything that’s come to
him. He’s worked so hard, he’s so humble and is such a great kid that it’s
great seeing him succeed.”
It may be a while before Laleggia joins Nugent-Hopkins on the ice. He’ll be
heading back to the University of Denver next season and as an NCAA
player, may not attend the Oilers main camp, and keep his college
eligibility.
Regardless, he was happy to get a taste of the pro game, attending his first
rookie camp.
“It was awesome,” Laleggia said. “I was a little nervous coming into a new
place, but I couldn’t be happier to be picked by the Oilers. It’s a great team,
a great staff and there were great guys on the team here, so it went really
well.”
Later that spring, he was selected by the Oil Kings in the CHL Import Draft,
giving the Oilers an opportunity to watch him develop in their own back
yard.
And develop he did.
Gernat became a vital part of the Oil Kings’ run to the WHL title and
subsequent participation in the Memorial Cup tournament.
“In my previous position, scouting, I got a chance to see Marty quite a bit,”
said Rick Carriere, the Oilers’ newly appointed senior director of player
development. “I thought he made incremental steps in his acclimation to the
culture and the North American style of play.
“I thought his level of intensity and his compete level improved throughout
the year. He always seem to have good offensive ability and towards the
end, I thought he was a real factor in the Oil Kings success last year.”
A product of Kosice, Slovakia, Gernat finished as the Oil Kings highestscoring defenceman last season with nine goals and 46 assists.
His 55 points in 60 games placed him seventh in league scoring among
defencemen. Gernat went on to add seven goals and six assists in 20
playoff games as the Oil Kings claimed the WHL title.
“He reads the ice really well, he can make some plays and has some really
good habits, he gets back to pucks well,” said Carriere. “He has good
vision. We have to work with him defensively on his stick positioning and
things like that, but I think he has a lot of really good assets.”
At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Gernat has the size to play at the NHL level. He’s
also a strong skater.
What he currently lacks is strength, which is something a couple of
summers in the gym can’t fix.
“I feel good on the ice when I’m skating around and things like that,” Gernat
said. “But I do need to be a little bit bigger and stronger.”
At the Oilers development camp, Gernat showed well.
He’s worked his way into the conversation with Oscar Klefbom and Martin
Marincin as one of the Oilers’ top defensive prospects.
He’ll be attending his second Oilers camp in the fall, looking to build on his
improving prospect status.
“I think this year it will be better,” Gernat said. “Last year I was so young
and was really nervous. I was there with guys who had played in the NHL
for a lot of years. I was playing with guys like Ryan Smyth and I was there,
this guy from a small town in Slovakia.
636660
“It was funny, but hopefully it’ll be better this time around.”
Edmonton Oilers
Gernat drawing Oilers attention
By Derek Van Diest ,Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON Martin Gernat has come a long way, baby.
A year ago, the Edmonton Oilers prospect didn’t speak a word of English,
was unfamiliar with the North American ice surface and had no clue what
an Oil King was.
Gernat is expected to go back to junior this upcoming season and take on
an even bigger role with the Oil Kings. But it would not be surprising to see
him in an Oilers jersey a couple of years after graduating from junior
hockey.
“Last season was an awesome season for us, I was real happy I could be a
part of that and we had a great team,” Gernat said. “Next year, I would like
to take more of a leadership role, because we’ll probably lose a couple of
important players from last year. But other than that, I think we’ll have the
same team back, so I hope it’s going to be another awesome season for us.
I’m looking forward to it.”
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Edmonton Oilers
Age is only a number. Just ask Whitney
By Jim Matheson
Does life begin at 40? It does for Ray Whitney.
Last week, the one-time Oilers stick-boy got the shock of his life when he
made the second NHL all-star team, the first time since he started in the
NHL 20 years ago that the voters have given him that kind of love.
Whitney thought he was being punked. “I looked at the text from the PR guy
when I was out for dinner, and I thought they were screwing with me,”
admitted Whitney.
Overnight success story? “Yeah, slow learner, I guess,” he laughed.
Then Sunday, he got a whopping $9 million over two years from the Dallas
Stars after making $3 million in Phoenix. Who else gets a free-agent raise
like that when you hit 40? This is the most money Whitney, who had a
remarkable 77 points last year and reached the 1000-point plateau, has
ever made in a single season. It’s $4 million in salary and a $500,000
signing bonus both years, with a no-move clause and modified no-trade (he
can list 10 teams he’d go to).
He’s going to a Pacific division rival, which might make it a little
uncomfortable in those games with the Coyotes but the uncertainty of the
Coyotes’ ownership situation, left him uneasy. He loved it there–he got his
points, he provided lots of leadership, there was great weather and
probably not a golf course he didn’t play in the desert–but when somebody
wants to give you $9 million and you are, again, 40, you don’t look a gift
horse in the mouth.
The Coyotes likely were only offering one year for Whitney with their
ownership problems, and Whitney, while he’s always been a very good
NHL player, has never struck it rich like other free-agents. So, two years at
40? Good deal. He said the schedule and travel in Phoenix was no bargain
because they didn’t have an owner to fight for them, but Dallas is stuck out
there too. He’ll have lots of miles on planes.
In a perfect world, he might have wanted to go back to Carolina, where he
won a Cup in 2006 and where he has a home, still, but the Hurricanes just
spent $60 million for Jordan Staal and they are sniffing around Zach Parise
and Ryan Suter, along with Pittsburgh, Detroit and Minnesota. So Whitney,
just two hours after the free-agent marketplace opened, is on his way to
Dallas. Lots of good golf courses there, too.
The Stars, are trying to break in some kids like Alex Chiasson and Matt
Fraser to go with Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson, but couldn’t pass up
Whitney, even if he is one of the NHL’s elder statesmen and this is his
seventh NHL team. There has been talk they might trade captain Brenden
Morrow, whose body is starting to break down, and maybe disturber Steve
Ott, another Dallas veteran. But, they couldn’t pass up Whitney.
“He’s extremely capable and dangerous still,” said GM Joe Nieuwendyk,
who wants to win now as much as down the road.
Nobody in Dallas has more points than Whitney’s 77 last year. Eventually
the wheels will fall off Whitney, but as he has long said, he’s all about
working out and staying in shape now, and age is just a number anyway.
“Look at Nick Lidstrom. Look at Recchi, how he played in Boston (at 42),”
said Whitney.
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Edmonton Oilers
Smyth signs at 11th hour
By Jim Matheson
Ryan Smyth had come and gone and he didn’t want to be gone, gone,
gone…so at the 11th hour he agreed to a two-year deal for $2.25 million a
season Sunday morning, for likely less than he felt he was worth but when
you want to finish your career in orange and blue, it’s not all about Show Me
The Money.
Smyth made $4.5 million last season and now he’s getting the same money
for two years work, but at 36 Smyth didn’t have any cards to play. He
wanted to come back to the Oilers late last June from the Los Angeles
Kings and the Oilers worked out a complicated deal to do so. He made it
clear then that he wanted to retire as an Oiler, so he didn’t want to hit the
free-agent marketplace on Canada Day and maybe have to decide to move
once again.
He went down a cruel road in February of 2007 when the two sides couldn’t
agree on a long-term deal with a few hundred thousand dollars separating
them and he was sent on his way to Long Island. From there it was
Colorado,then LA, and now he’s back here. His days as a top six forward
might be in jeopardy–with this contract offer it appears the Oilers see him
more as a third-line winger, with second powerplay duties. This money is
more in line with what Todd Bertuzzi makes in Detroit, and a little more than
Colorado captain Milan Hejduk makes for the one year he just signed for.
Smyth started last season with a bang. He was a point-a-game player for a
couple of months, but he seemed to run out of gas in the second half. He
still finished with 46 points, fifth most on the team and almost all of them
even-strength, but the Oilers slid him onto a line with captain Shawn
Horcoff, more of a third line. He still wound up playing 19 minutes a game
with ample PK time but if Nail Yakupov makes the team right off the hop
and is a top 6 forward, then Smyth will likely be down around 16-17 minutes
a night.
Smyth’s cap hit was $6.25 million last year which means the Oilers now
have $4 million a year to spend on somebody else or if they have a hole
anywhere else.
Only Kevin Lowe, the Oilers president of hockey ops (1037) has played
more games than Smyth’s 852. That’s one more than Mark Messier and six
more than Glenn Anderson on the all-time list.
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Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers’ Dale Tallon: Jonathan Huberdeau ready for NHL
By George Richards
Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said forward Jonathan Huberdeau
(above), the third overall pick in the 2011 draft, has nothing left to prove on
the junior level.
It was very fitting that forward Jonathan Huberdeau was one of the young
players to model the Panthers’ new practice jerseys on Monday.
After all, it looks like he’s going to be wearing it come October – and
beyond.
Huberdeau, the third overall pick of the 2011 NHL Draft, is well on his way
to being part of the Panthers this coming season. Huberdeau didn’t have
anything left to prove on the junior level, general manager Dale Tallon said
at a news conference held following the opening day of Florida’s weeklong
development camp in Coral Springs.
“Two or three of our kids will be in the lineup — Huberdeau can score,’’
Tallon said, adding that Huberdeau could help on Florida’s power play this
season.
“Now is the time to getting him to the next level. We have to improve his
overall strength, timing and get him playing with bigger, stronger men. If he
plays another year in junior, that’s really not going to help his progress.’’
Tallon and coach Kevin Dineen both said Huberdeau played well enough at
his previous training camp to make the Panthers last season. Huberdeau
was sent back to his junior team in Quebec, however, to mature a little
more. It appears the Panthers are happy with the results.
Defenseman Erik Gudbranson followed a similar path in the 2010-11
season and had a strong rookie season with Florida last year.
“Last year doesn’t matter, I have to get off to a good start here now,’’ said
Huberdeau, who scored 73 goals with 177 points in 104 games over the
past two seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs. “I want to make the team
this year, and I’m going to do everything I can to do so. I want to get bigger
and stronger before I come to camp. I want to play here.’’
Huberdeau led the Panthers in goals last preseason and was the only
player to appear in every game.
“Now is the time to get him to the next level. We have to improve his overall
strength, timing and get him playing with bigger, stronger men. If he plays
another year in junior, that's really not going to help his progress.''
“I learned a lot from the veterans last year,’’ he said. “Just making the team
is my goal right now.’’
Tallon and coach Kevin Dineen both said Huberdeau played well enough at
his previous training camp to make the Panthers last season. Huberdeau
was sent back to his junior team in Quebec, however, to mature a little
more. It appears the Panthers are happy with the results.
Nick Bjugstad, if he decides to leave the University of Minnesota, and
Quinton Howden also could fight for a roster spot come training camp.
Defenseman Erik Gudbranson followed a similar path in the 2010-11
season and had a strong rookie campaign with Florida last year.
“He has vision that is special, and you see that come along once in a blue
moon,’’ Brian Skrudland, the Panthers’ director of player development, said
of Huberdeau. “We don’t think there’s a limit. The capabilities he showed
last year in training camp, he’s so unassuming, you watch and say, ‘Wow.’
He plays against bigger players and is up for the challenge.’’
“Last year doesn't matter, I have to get off to a good start here now,'' said
Huberdeau, who scored 73 goals with 177 points in 104 games over the
past two seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Happy for Garrison
Although the Panthers were disappointed to lose defenseman Jason
Garrison in free agency to Vancouver, both Tallon and Dineen sounded
happy that Garrison landed a lucrative deal in his hometown. Garrison, who
had a career-high 16 goals last season, signed a six-year deal worth an
average of $4.6 million.
“What would you do to get a contract like that?’’ Tallon asked.
“Congratulations to him. He’s a class kid who deserves everything he gets. I
wish him all the best in Vancouver. This is a business. You don’t get many
kicks at the can in free agency.’’
• Tallon said he was “willing to listen to anything [Vancouver] has to offer”
when asked about the negotiations regarding a possible trade for goalie
Roberto Luongo. Tallon added he was happy with Florida’s current
goaltending situation.
• Gudbranson was expected to attend camp, but Tallon said he got some
sort of infection at home in Canada and cannot fly. The Panthers said
Gudbranson will miss the entire camp.
“I want to make the team this year and I'm going to do everything I can to
do so. I want to get bigger and stronger before I come to camp. I want to
play here.''
Huberdeau led the Panthers in goals last preseason as he was the only
player to appear in every game.
“I learned a lot from the veterans last year,'' he said. “Just making the team
is my goal right now, it's not about playing with anyone. I want to play here.
I don't want to go back to junior.''
Nick Bjugstad, if he decides to leave the University of Minnesota, and
Quinton Howden could also fight for a roster spot come training camp.
“He has vision that is special and you see that come along once in a blue
moon,'' Brian Skrudland, the Panthers' director of player development, said
of Huberdeau.
“We don't think there's a limit. The capabilities he showed last year in
training camp, he's so unassuming, you watch and say 'wow.' He plays
against bigger players and is up for the challenge.''
NEWS, NOTES
• Dineen said Florida’s entire coaching staff will return next season with
assistant coach Gord Murphy, goalie coach Robb Tallas and strength coach
Craig Slaunwhite — all hired by former coach Pete DeBoer — signing twoyear contracts. Assistant coach Craig Ramsay signed a three-year deal last
summer. So now Dineen and his entire staff are signed through the 201314 season.
Garrison5Although the Panthers were disappointed to lose defenseman
Jason Garrison in free agency to Vancouver, both Tallon and Dineen
sounded happy that Garrison was able to land such a lucrative deal in his
hometown.
• The development camp continues Tuesday starting at 9 a.m. and running
for about two hours at the Coral Springs Iceplex. Admission is free.
“What would you do to get a contract like that,'' Tallon asked.
“Congratulations to him. He's a class kid who deserves everything he gets. I
wish him all the best in Vancouver. This is a business. You don't get many
kicks at the can in free agency.''
• The Panthers will wear a Jet Blue patch on their practice jerseys starting
this coming season as the team renewed its sponsorship deal with the
airline. The team’s training facility will also be named after the carrier.
Miami Herald LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Florida Panthers
THE KID IS ALRIGHT: Jonathan Huberdeau to Make Moves with Panthers
... News and Notes from Prospect Camp
Garrison, who had a career-high 16 goals last year, signed a six-year deal
worth an average of $4.6 million.
() Tallon said he was “willing to listen to anything [Vancouver] has to offer”
when asked about the negotiations regarding a possible trade for goalie
Roberto Luongo.
Tallon said the Canucks were “in the driver's seat” and added he was happy
with Florida's current goaltending situation.
() Gudbranson was expected to attend camp but Tallon says he got some
sort of infection at home in Canada and cannot fly. The Panthers say
Gudbranson will miss the entire camp.
GEORGE RICHARDS
Howden, the 25th overall pick in 2010, also has an infection but traveled
and could participate sometime this week.
It was very fitting Jonathan Huberdeau was one of the young players to
model the Panthers new practice jerseys on Monday.
() Dineen said Florida's entire coaching staff will return next season with
assistant coach Gord Murphy, Dineenbenchgoalie coach Robb Tallas and
strength coach Craig Slaunwhite – all hired by former coach Pete DeBoer –
signing two-year contracts.
After all, it looks like he's going to be wearing it come October – and
beyond.
Assistant coach Craig Ramsay signed a three-year deal last summer.
Huberdeau, the third overall pick of the 2011 NHL Draft, is well on his way
to being part of the Panthers this coming season.
General manager Dale Tallon said Huberdeau didn't have anything left to
prove on the junior level at a press conference held following the opening
day of Florida's week-long development camp in Coral Springs.
Huberdeau“Two or three of our kids will be in the lineup – Huberdeau can
score,'' Tallon said, adding that Huberdeau could help on Florida's power
play this season.
So now Dineen and his entire staff are signed through the 2013-14 season.
() The development camp continues Tuesday starting at 9 a.m. and running
for approximately two hours at the Coral Springs Iceplex. Admission is free.
() The Panthers will wear a JetBlue patch on their Jetbluepatchpractice
jerseys starting this coming season as the team renewed their sponsorship
deal with the airline.
The team's training facility will also be named after the carrier.
Miami Herald LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers GM Tallon believes his need for offense is already in
organization
By Harvey Fialkov,
Tallon said he's satisifed with the Panthers goalies, Jose Theodore, Scott
Clemmensen and Jacob Markstrom, but isn't closing the door on possibly
obtaining disgruntled goalie Roberto Luongo from the Canucks.
"We signed Clemmensen yesterday; we have Theodore, Markstrom and
they're all battling for the No. 1 spot as of now,'' he said. "I'm open to any
suggestions that makes us better. It's obvious that Vancouver is in the
driver's seat and I'm willing to listen to anything they have to offer.''
Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.03.2012
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— If General Manager Dale Tallon seems unperturbed by the loss of twofifths of his team's seventh-ranked power play on the first day of free
agency, it's because he believes their younger, more skilled replacements
were in the newly dubbed Panthers JetBlue Training Facility on Monday.
With the expected signings of Florida's restricted free agent forward Kris
Versteeg and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov to long-term deals, plus Sunday's
additions of free agent forward George Parros and defenseman Filip Kuba,
Tallon has left 2-3 spots open on the front end for prospects to compete for
in September's training camp.
Tallon, Panthers coach Kevin Dineen and Brian Skrudland, director of
player development, all were beaming with pride during the first day of this
week's four-day development camp while watching nearly 40 players (ages
18 to 21) show them why Hockey's Future has ranked this organization's
prospects No. 1 for the past two years.
While 2010 first-round pick center Quinton Howden (30 goals, 65 points in
52 games for Moose Jaw of the WHL) was sidelined by a skin infection, the
Panthers braintrust got a chance to see last month's first-round pick
defenseman Mike Matheson display his skating skills.
They noticed the magical hands of last year's overall No. 3 pick Jonathan
Huberdeau and couldn't help but crane their necks while watching
University of Minnesota 6-foot-8 (in skates) center Nick Bjugstad tower over
his teammates.
"He's going to play at 6-6, 240, maybe more,'' Tallon said of Bjugstad.
"We're looking to get centermen, top offensive players and there aren't
many around. The ones that are, are expensive.
"I said to these kids last night at dinner that this is our future, this is our
franchise. … They're all not going to be Panthers but they're going to help
build the Panthers into a winning organization for years to come.''
Tallon all but said that Huberdeau has made the 2012-13 Panthers,
because at 19 he's too young to play in the AHL. And after scoring 177
points in 104 regular-season games for Saint John of the QMJHL over the
past two seasons he "has nothing more to prove" in juniors.
He also left the door open for Bjugstad, who will have to decide whether to
return to the Gophers where he scored 42 points in 40 games while falling
short in the NCAA semifinals, or compete for an NHL job in two months.
"The stable is full and I'm hoping to start emptying it here slowly but surely,''
Skrudland said. "[Huberdeau, Bjugstad and Howden] are ready as they're
going to be. In another couple of months they'll realize the state of the
Panthers that there's room to push some people for a job and that's awful
exciting for the entire group.''
Dineen was sentimental about the loss of defenseman Jason Garrison, who
rode his breakthrough season of 16 goals, including nine on the power play,
to a six-year, $27.6 million bonanza with his hometown Canucks, as well as
veteran Mikael Sameulsson, Florida's point man on the power play, to
Detroit
Florida Panthers
Believe it or not, a Roberto Luongo reunion could make sense for the
Florida Panthers
Mike Berardino
CORAL SPRINGS – Jason Taylor came back to the Dolphins.
Twice.
Still no Super Bowl.
Jeff Conine returned to the Marlins -- and helped them win a second World
Series with him in the lineup.
Alonzo Mourning reconciled with the Heat, and their first NBA championship
soon followed.
Which brings us to the Panthers and these persistent rumors about a
reunion with Roberto Luongo, their star goalie for five mostly forgettable
seasons (2000-06).
Goaltending wasn't the issue for the Panthers last season as they ended
that 12-year playoff drought that started during Luongo's tenure.
Scoring was.
The well-traveled Jose Theodore and newly re-signed Scott Clemmensen
were pretty solid in net.
Not solid enough to fill the BankAtlantic Center with jerseys worn in their
honor, but reliable nonetheless. Even outstanding, at times.
The Panthers also have young Swede Jacob Markstrom, their goalie of the
future, waiting his turn in the minors.
So you wouldn't think Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon would be in
the market for a 33-year-old goalie with 10 years and $47.3 million left on
his contract.
Especially not one who got yanked midway through a first-round playoff
flameout against a No. 8 seed and subsequently lost his starting job.
Yet the attraction seems to be mutual when it comes to Luongo and the
Panthers.
Oh, they're not about to deal away any of their prized prospects for a goalie
who has become a punching bag in Vancouver.
The abuse via social media has turned pretty nasty, remarkably so
considering Luongo carried the Canucks to a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup
Finals just over 12 months ago.
But he was invigorated by their potential successors.
Nor is there any hurry for the Panthers to work a deal with the Canucks, to
whom Mike Keenan shipped Luongo in a fit of ego six years ago.
"Those new players that are in, it's fun to watch them,'' Dineen said. "You
get emotionally engaged with [Garrison and Samuelsson] … so it's always
disappointing when you see individuals leave, especially quality guys like
them. … They'll be hard pieces to replace.''
Luongo has no-trade protection in the fat contract he signed two years ago,
one that will take up him up to age 43.
Dineen said he expects Kulikov, Kuba and defenseman Erik Gudbranson to
anchor the power play with defenseman Brian Campbell this season.
Gudbranson, 21, was expected to attend the camp this week, but was
excused because of an infection.
Luongo sweepstakes
He still makes his offseason home in Parkland, close to his wife's family,
and has reportedly told his bosses the Panthers are his only acceptable
escape route.
"Time is on our side," a Panthers source said.
That's why, as the Panthers' prospect camp opened Monday, you got the
strong sense – publicly and privately – a Luongo reunion really could
happen.
Asked specifically whether he still viewed Luongo as an elite goalie, Tallon
sidestepped the question.
"I'm open to any suggestions, anything that makes us better," he said.
"Obviously, Vancouver is in the driver's seat. I'm willing to listen to anything
they have to offer."
Unfortunately, this isn't baseball, so the Panthers can't ask Vancouver to
eat a huge chunk of Luongo's remaining obligation. It used to be that way in
hockey, too, but not under the current CBA.
"We want to make sure he's committed to the effort we saw the last two
months and not the player prior to," Lombardi said. "And he was very good
too. [For] Darryl, this was, look him in the eye, man to man. There were no
punches pulled.
"To his credit, he could have easily went to the market and maybe came
back. But he called that night and said, 'No. I want to stay and I'm going to
show you.' He was willing to take a one-year deal."
LA Times: LOADED: 07.03.2012
Then again, even though his cap number would remain $5.3 million for the
duration, the actual payout shrinks significantly over those final four years
($6 million total).
636668
There's also the matter of the payroll floor, which the Panthers still must
work to reach, even with deals coming for Kris Versteeg and others.
Lombardi on signings, plus other notes
If they can get Luongo for little more than future draft picks, it could be
worth the Panthers' while to roll the dice and assume his contract.
Rich Hammond
He does, after all, rank second among active NHL goalies in career regularseason victories (339). He's No. 4 in active save percentage and third in
appearances.
And despite his woes in the playoffs, where he's 32-29, Luongo did produce
enough nightly magic to help the Canucks earn the top seed in the West.
Theodore won't be thrilled about a Luongo aquisition, but he'll be 36 on
Opening Night and had recurring knee problems last year.
Clemmensen, 35 later this month, would become another trade chip for
Tallon. Or maybe Clem stays and Theo goes.
All that can be decided later if this particular South Florida sports reunion
happens.
For now, it looks like a good idea to retrieve those old No. 1 sweaters from
the storage bin.
Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
Dean Lombardi took a few minutes today to talk to me and Lisa Dillman of
the Los Angeles Times about a few of the latest Kings-related stories,
particularly the recent re-signings of Colin Fraser, Jarret Stoll, Jonathan
Quick and Dustin Penner, as well as the assistant-coach opening. The full
quotes are below…
On unrelated notes, a couple other items… The Kings are expected to
announce their development-camp schedule tomorrow. As usual, there will
be a handful of public on-ice sessions in El Segundo (sometime over the
next week or so), so I’ll pass those along as soon as they’re available. Also,
I touched base today with Drew Doughty’s attorney, Craig Renetzky, and
there’s nothing new to report in relation to the rape allegations. Renetzky
still has not heard anything from the District Attorney’s office about possible
charges. Finally — we’re really all over the place here — the Kings are still
technically “in’’ the Zach Parise sweepstakes, given that Parise hasn’t
announced his choice yet, but it seems clear that nobody in the
organization is waiting with bated breath. The Kings like Parise a lot, and
made a strong offer, but they’re anticipating turning their attention toward
other players, with Shane Doan likely remaining a possibility.
Here’s the stuff from Lombardi this afternoon…
Kings have taken care of business while waiting for free-agent news
By Lisa Dillman
There were no bad breakup scenes, no botched qualifying offers, and the
Kings smoothly moved through what can be an often rough, post-Stanley
Cup period.
They wrapped up the biggest piece of business when goalie Jonathan
Quick signed his 10-year, $58-million contract extension Sunday, and
previously worked out deals with forwards Jarret Stoll, Colin Fraser and
Dustin Penner, keeping the championship team intact.
"The key here was each one of those players definitely wanted to stay,"
Kings President and General Manager Dean Lombardi said Monday. "They
were willing to work with us in terms of making it fit within the salary
structure. It's a credit to those players."
The front-office focus since winning the Cup has been impressive. The
Kings went after the biggest free-agent prize, Zach Parise of the New
Jersey Devils, but consider it, at best, a longshot. Parise told reporters in
Toronto on Monday afternoon that he has moved closer to a decision but
had not set any deadlines.
The Kings have turned to Plan B, which could involve Coyotes captain
Shane Doan, whose future in Phoenix is unclear.
Lombardi would not discuss free-agency plans in his interview with two
reporters. He did speak about the other moves and said that Kings Coach
Darryl Sutter has four or five names in mind for an assistant coaching spot.
Sutter was blunt in his recent meeting with Penner, who agreed to a oneyear, $3.25-million deal Sunday. Penner, who had 11 points in the playoffs,
scored seven goals and had 18 points in the regular season. He did play
with an injured wrist, which will require attention in the off-season.
Question: You were able to get your deals (Fraser, Stoll, Quick) done
quickly. Was it as simple as it looked?
LOMBARDI: “I’ve always said this. When both sides are willing to do a deal,
you can get it done. What drags on a lot of times, like the one we had
earlier in the year [Drew Doughty], it’s a different set of circumstances.
Obviously the key here was, each one of those players definitely wanted to
stay. They were willing to work with us, in terms of making it fit within the
salary structure. It’s a credit to those players, because they are the ones
who make the ultimate decision. It was very clear that they were committed
to this team.’’
Question: The last one was Penner. What was your ultimate thought
process there, in getting that done?
LOMBARDI: “Obviously it was the last one that we did. We had the draft
and everything, but we really thought it was imperative for him to sit down
with Darryl and I, and let him know — how do you want to put this… You
can’t do anything contractually, but we felt it was important for Darryl to reaffirm what’s going to have to happen next year, that, in the end, no matter
what we do in terms of adding or subtracting players, every one of those
players has to get better. I just think, with Dustin, obviously we saw it’s been
a long ride, but we want to make sure that he’s committed to the effort we
saw in the last two months, and not the player we saw prior to. And he was
very good, too. Darryl, it was, look him in the eye, man to man, and there
were no punches pulled. To his credit, he could have easily went to the
market and maybe came back, but he called that night and said, `No, I want
to stay, and I’m going to show you.’ He was willing to take a one-year deal.
It says a lot about him, too, in terms of his commitment, that he had no
interest in testing the waters. Like I said, in that conversation, Darryl didn’t
pull any punches, which you probably don’t expect him to. He said, `No, I’m
in.’ Even that one, I give him a lot of credit.’’
Question: Any word on when you might fill that assistant-coach opening?
LOMBARDI: “Darryl is working through the process. I think it’s probably
safe to say he’s got it within four guys. But it’s more important that he get
the right guy. There’s no hurry here. It’s critical that he gets a guy he feels is
the right fit. I would say, right now, his list probably has four or five.’’
Question: Do you expect Bernie (Nicholls) to come back in that same role
next season?
LOMBARDI: “Same thing as last year, with Darryl bringing him in. Wherever
I’ve been, I’ve felt the coach knows, particularly a veteran coach, that he
knows what he needs to succeed. So, that’s a question for Darryl.’’
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Minnesota Wild
Parise, Suter keep suitors in suspense
MICHAEL RUSSO ,
Both players could receive frontloaded contracts with lockout protection,
meaning they could get $12 million signing bonuses that would be payable
even if the season doesn't start on time (the collective bargaining
agreement expires Sept. 15) and could make up to $26 million each in the
first calendar year of the deal.
"We're trying to make the most informed decision we can," Parise told
reporters in Toronto. "That's why we're looking at everything at every angle.
It's such a long-term, important decision that you have to make sure you
look at everything."
Asked if Suter might talk to teams Tuesday, Sheehy said, "If he wants to.
It's a new day. Right now he's comfortable with me doing the talking."
There is a chance Suter would choose his team after Parise's decision. The
Wild hopes to land both, which would be a franchise-changing event.
Parise ranks fourth in Devils history with 194 goals and ninth with 410
points. In Predators history, Suter ranks fourth with 542 games and eighth
with 238 points.
It's been a suspenseful few days for Wild fans, but PariseWatch and
SuterWatch, as it's been dubbed, could be coming to a climax soon.
The two prized free agents are making sure they consider all factors before
inking what surely will be long-term contracts.
Zach Parise is coming home to Minnesota on Tuesday ... but that doesn't
necessarily mean it's to sign with the Wild.
After a second consecutive day of being inundated with contract offers and
information, the Minneapolis-born Parise walked out of his agent's Toronto
offices late Monday afternoon without having made the biggest decision of
his career.
The Wild is still very much on Parise's short list along with a handful of other
teams, sources say. But Parise wanted to go back to his hotel, decompress
and discuss everything with his fiancée, Alisha, on Monday night before
returning home to Minnesota on Tuesday.
Parise said he is close to a decision and his agent says that could even
come before he leaves Toronto on Tuesday.
"All I can say is that we made a lot of progress and we are closer today than
yesterday," Parise wrote in a text message to the Star Tribune.
Similarly, Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter, whom the Wild is
also pursuing, did not make a decision Monday.
In fact, Suter has yet to talk to any teams personally. All information is being
gathered by his agent, Neil Sheehy, and relayed back to Suter at his farm
outside Middleton, Wisconsin.
"There is no timetable for his contract signing at this time," Sheehy said.
"Ryan is considering his opportunities and is taking the necessary time to
give each proper consideration."
The non-decisions by Parise and Suter, two of the highest-sought free
agents in NHL history, held the league in a standstill Monday. Not only were
reporters and fans waiting, but other than a trade between Dallas and
Buffalo, the only free agents of substance to switch addresses was Detroit's
Jiri Hudler signing with Calgary and Calgary's Olli Jokinen signing with
Winnipeg.
Star Tribune LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Minnesota Wild
Wild and Wolves trying to woo their way to relevance
CHIP SCOGGINS
With the courting of free agents underway, both franchises soon will know
if their efforts produced a needed boost.
The Twin Cities sporting public lived through two Favre offseason sagas so
Zach Parise's will-he-or-won't-he flirtation should qualify as mere child's
play.
Need more time? Sure, take as long as you want, Zach. We're used to this
stuff around here.
Favre put Vikings fans and team employees through an emotional wringer
and sent the sports world into a tizzy with each perfectly timed phone call or
text to his favorite national reporter. The Favre Meter moved to red alert
whenever he started throwing footballs to the high school kids down in
Mississippi.
Though much smaller in scope, the Parise Watch kept Wild fans -- and
media members -- glued to Twitter and other social media Monday as if
attached to a lifeline. Would he pick the Wild, the Penguins, the Devils,
some other team? Tick, tick, tick.
Finally, Parise emerged from his agent's Toronto offices and told reporters
he needed more time to think and discuss things with his fiancée. Parise's
pause allowed fans to exhale and resume speculating and agonizing over
how this high-stakes drama ultimately will play out.
Once Parise and Suter make their decisions, suddenly Plan B's such as
free agents Alex Semin and Matt Carle and potential trade baits Rick Nash
and Bobby Ryan become some teams' Plan A's.
Having fun yet? Yeah, me too.
It appears as if Parise is choosing between Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Detroit and even returning to New Jersey.
Both teams are coming off 12th-place finishes in their respective
conferences, but their aggressive offseason approaches have forced us to
pay attention at a time when it would be easier to tune them out.
Parise spent much of Monday talking to each team again, then "analyzing
and overanalyzing" each situation with his representatives.
He talked to the Wild early in the afternoon, then the team spent the rest of
the day anxiously waiting. Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher declined
to comment.
Parise called the decision "stressful" as he tries to decide where he's going
to spend the majority of the rest of his career.
Some teams, including the Wild, are believed to be offering Parise, 26,
contracts of 10 years or more approaching or exceeding $100 million.
Suter, 27, is also being offered deals more than 10 years.
And not just with the Wild. Across town, the Timberwolves are actively
trying to reshape their roster via free agency and trades.
The Timberwolves reportedly offered their highest draft pick in team history
(Derrick Williams) after only one season in a trade proposal for Los Angeles
Lakers forward Pau Gasol because team brass apparently believe the
playoff window is now.
Wild owner Craig Leipold, a diehard fan who watches every shift from the
edge of his seat, apparently is willing to write Powerball-sized checks to
Parise and Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter because his team
desperately needs life breathed back into it.
This summer is critically important for both organizations, and their actions
so far -- whether you agree with them or not -- suggest they are serious
about picking themselves up and moving forward.
The Wolves re-energized their fan base this past season thanks mainly to
Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love and Rick Adelman. They created a buzz not felt
since Kevin Garnett left town, but that's only a starting point. They need to
add more pieces in order to take the next step and become relevant again
as a playoff team.
It appears the Wild will have to wait a little longer for yes-or-no answers
from Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.
Though I disagree with the idea of trading Williams, the Wolves seem
determined to expedite their rebuild by overhauling the roster with a more
veteran influence. They jettisoned misfits Michael Beasley and Anthony
Randolph and are set to offer Portland swingman Nicolas Batum a contract
worth as much as $50 million, according to the Strib's Jerry Zgoda. A
nucleus of Love, Rubio, center Nikola Pekovic, Williams and/or Batum
wouldn't be too shabby.
Agents for both players issued statements saying each needed more time
to weigh his options, and Parise told reporters outside his agents' offices in
Mississauga, Ontario, that he is flying home to Minnesota to review his
options with his fiancee and family before bringing the high-profile chase for
his services to a close.
The Wild's roster already promised to look significantly different next
season with the arrival of talented youngsters Mikael Granlund, Charlie
Coyle, Jonas Brodin and Johan Larsson. That alone is not enough though.
The Wild no longer can count on blind allegiance from its fans. Xcel Energy
Center is still a nice building, but the product also matters and patience has
worn thin.
The Wild teased fans with a month of high-level hockey last season, but the
subsequent collapse left a sour taste. The team scored only 166 goals for
the season, which represented the fewest goals in the NHL since the 200405 lockout. That feeble production put even more pressure on team officials
to find some scoring.
Parise certainly would help in that area while also creating energy and
excitement around the team. That's why Leipold offered him a mega-deal.
We'll find out soon whether it's enough, or if the Wolves are successful in
landing Batum and/or Gasol.
A strong sales pitch and a lot of money doesn't guarantee a successful
outcome in these situations. As the Vikings learned with Favre, sometimes
you've got to send a plane to pick a guy up.
Chip Scoggins ascoggins@startribune.com
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Minnesota Wild
Parise, Suter updates
The second day of NHL free agency yielded little concrete progress for the
team as it tries to snare the two biggest players on this year's market.
A person with knowledge of the situation said on Sunday, July 1, that the
Wild were on a short list of three teams that Parise and Suter were
considering. The team was in contact with both players' agents on Monday,
but Parise and Suter were planning to take more time as of Monday night.
"We have thoroughly deliberated every option with Zach," Wade Arnott, one
of Parise's agents, said in an email. "He wishes to take some time to step
back and review all with his fiance(e) and his family. We could be drawing
closer to a decision."
Said Suter's agent, Neil Sheehy, in an email: "There will be no decision on
Ryan Suter tonight and there is no timetable for his contract signing at this
time. Ryan is considering his opportunities and is taking the necessary time
to give each proper consideration."
That news closed a hopeful but tense afternoon for the Wild, who offered
both
players contracts on Sunday afternoon. The Wild were still standing on
Monday after more than a dozen teams expressed interest in the former
New Jersey forward and Nashville defenseman, but as both Parise and
Suter's camps operated in relative quiet, Minnesota officials were left to wait
and hope.
Parise declined to tell reporters in Ontario whether he had eliminated any
teams from consideration Monday, adding that the Devils were still in
contention to re-sign him and that New Jersey general manager Lou
Lamoriello had told him the team's much-publicized financial concerns
wouldn't affect its ability to pay him.
Parise said he was not feeling pressure from interested teams and thanked
everyone for their patience, but he refused to put a timeline on his decision.
Posted by: Michael Russo
Suter has kept an even lower profile during his first two days of free agency,
staying at his farm near Madison, Wis., while Sheehy fielded offers and
collected information from International Falls.
I'll be on KFAN at 9:55 a.m., but here's brief updates this morning on the
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter Watch's.
Sheehy had said before free agency that Suter would take some time to
review his options rather than making a decision quickly. After two days of
free agency, Parise had decided to do the same.
Parise: Has narrowed his list to a "small select group" of teams, agent
Wade Arnott said last night. A half-dozen sources that would know confirm
the Wild is on it. Parise plans to talk to each team again today. He
apparently hasn't yet made a decision and this could take some time today.
Suter: If any decision comes today, I sense it'll be after Parise. From what I
can gather, agent Neil Sheehy gathered all the info yesterday from teams
and talked to him for awhile last night. He, too, narrowed his list to a
grouping that includes the Wild. However, again from what I can gather,
Suter didn't officially talk to teams yesterday and that should happen today
and it will "likely" include the Wild.
"We haven't decided yet [on a team]," Sheehy said. "Today is a new day
and we will see what it brings."
Again, this is a morning update. Things are fluid, change in a hurt, so this
surely will be outdated soon.
More later.
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Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild still waiting on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter
By Ben Goessling
Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Montreal Canadiens
Canadiens sign goaltender Carey Price to six-year, $39M deal
Eric Duhatschek
Carey Price will earn $39-million over six years on the contract extension he
signed with the Montreal Canadiens Monday, but maybe the biggest news
of all was that his health has improved to the point where he’s ready to get
back on the ice by next week.
Price missed the final three games of the 2011-12 season, after suffering a
concussion when teammate David Desharnais fell on him during practice.
The accident occurred at the same time as team president Geoff Molson
was firing general manager Pierre Gauthier, and it put a premature end to a
disappointing season for both Price and the Canadiens, who bottomed out
as the 15th place team in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
Since then, the Canadiens have a new general manager in Marc Bergevin,
a new/old coach in Michel Therrien and now a goalie who says he’s feeling
“really well” these days.
And that was even before he signed the rich new deal, which puts his
average earnings at $6.5-million a year, or a little more than what Jonathan
Quick will make on the 10-year, $58-million contract he signed with the Los
Angeles Kings.
Price or Quick? Quick or Price?
They are roughly comparable in terms of age and experience and even if
Price’s pedigree is better - he was picked fifth overall in 2005, Quick 72nd
that same year - the latter does have that Stanley Cup on his resume now.
Asked how close the Canadiens might be to winning a Stanley Cup of their
own, Price cited the Kings as an example - of an eighth seed with 95
regular-season points that caught fire at the right time in the playoffs.
“You never know how close you are,” said Price, who noted that by the time
this contract expires, he’ll be 30. “I’m hoping by then to have a couple of
Stanley Cups and a have a good renegotiation,” he said.
That’s part of Price’s charm - and why he doesn’t mind the pressure and
scrutiny of playing in Montreal. Not everyone deals with it as well as Price,
who embraces it. Remember, a few years back, when he was booed off the
ice in a preseason game and advised the fans just to chill? He responded
with his best year as a pro - 38-28-6, a 2.35 goals-against average, a .923
save percentage.
Price said he didn’t think the pressure of signing a contract extension could
be any worse than was he has been subject to already, a point that would
be difficult to dispute “There’s a tremendous amount of pressure on us, no
matter what you make,” said Price.
In signing Price, the Canadiens locked up the most important player on their
team and sent a clear signal that he will man the crease for the foreseeable
future on a team in the midst of a rebuild under Bergevin.
Bergevin is a busy man these days. Thus far, in the past 48 hours, in
addition to re-signing his franchise cornerstone, Bergevin added three
players via free agency (forwards Brandon Prust and Colby Armstrong and
defenceman Francois Bouillon). Prust and Armstrong add some needed grit
to the Habs’ line-up, and Bouillon has been a useful support player for
years with the Nashville Predators.
Price played with Bouillon in his first two seasons with Montreal and knows
Armstrong from his Canadian junior days. With the moves they’ve made,
and the return to health of a couple of key players, Price believes the
Canadiens are on the road back.
“I’m pretty confident,” he said. “We have a lot of the right pieces already. I’m
pretty excited to get the season started.”
Price’s win/loss record was not great last season - 26-28-11 - in part
because he played for the last place team in the Eastern Conference. But
his 2.43 goals-against average ranked him 18th out of the 45 goaltenders
who had enough appearances to qualify for the final NHL stats package
and his save percentage was a wholly respectable .916 If the Canadiens
are a little healthier on defence next year, those numbers will likely improve.
The 24-year-old Price is five seasons into his NHL career and has played in
three All-Star Games, probably a far better barometer of where he stands in
the pantheon on NHL goaltenders than pure statistics alone.
“The goal is to make the most informed decision I can. I’m not putting a
deadline on anything. It’s such a long-term, important decision you have to
make sure you look at everything.”
Thus the second day of the NHL’s annual free-agent auction ended still
without a decision from either of the top two targets – Parise at forward and
defenceman Ryan Suter. While there was a chance Parise would make his
decision late Monday night or early Tuesday, he indicated it could take a
little longer.
The biggest news of the day, as the social media exploded with impatience
over the desire of Parise and Suter to take their time over signing contracts
that will cover the bulk of their NHL careers, proved to be a signing and a
trade. The Montreal Canadiens signed goaltender Carey Price to a six-year
contract extension that works out to an average of $6.5-million (all currency
U.S.) per year.
On the trade front, the Buffalo Sabres grew nastier by getting centre Steve
Ott along with defenceman Adam Pardy for centre Derek Roy. Ott is one of
the NHL’s more disliked players thanks to his penchant for giving no quarter
on the ice. In Dallas, Roy will serve as the replacement at centre for Mike
Ribeiro, who was traded to the Washington Capitals a week ago.
The impatience over Parise stems from the dominoes poised to fall once he
makes his decision. At least some of the teams who fail to get him will turn
to the Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson, who is
waiting to cash in on a trade for disenchanted winger Rick Nash.
Parise, 27, said he plans to return to his Minnesota home Tuesday morning
and talk to his family and fiancée about the situation before making a
decision.
At this point, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild and the Chicago
Blackhawks appear to have the inside track, with the Philadelphia Flyers
and perhaps the Los Angeles Kings also in the hunt. The contract offers are
all in the 10- to 12-year range for a total of $100-million, give or take $10million.
This may seem extreme, given that Parise’s highest points total in seven
seasons with the New Jersey Devils is 94 points in 82 games in 2008-09.
But he was the Devils’ best forward over the course of the 2012 playoffs
and is easily the best forward in a decidedly thin free-agent market.
It was assumed the Devils’ precarious financial situation (co-owner Jeff
Vanderbeek is desperately trying to find investors to help him avoid
bankruptcy) precludes Parise signing with his old team. But he said it was
heartening to see goaltender Martin Brodeur sign with the team again after
trying the free-agent market and he said Devils general manager Lou
Lamoriello assured him finances will not stand in the way of any efforts to
keep him.
“Just in speaking with Lou, he said that won’t be a problem, so that’s not
weighing into it right now,” Parise said.
At this point, the choice seems to be staying with the only team he has ever
played for, going to the Penguins for the chance to play the wing beside
Sidney Crosby or sign with the Wild in his home state.
Once Parise decides, it is expected the Nash trade will fall into place
quickly. At this point, the New York Rangers are the most serious pursuers
but they could be joined by the Kings, who are playing down their interest in
both Parise and Nash, as well as the Flyers.
“It’s an honour to come back and to have them show that confidence in
me,” said Price, of signing back on with the Canadiens. “Now, I have to go
out there and prove them right.”
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
Habs show faith in Prust
NHL Free agent Zach Parise inches closer to a new deal
By Pat Hickey, The Gazette July 2, 2012
David Shoalts
MONTREAL - Marc Bergevin has a flair for the dramatic.
The hockey world may be losing patience with Zach Parise but he says he
will not be rushed into a decision about his next employer.
“I still don’t know,” Parise said late Monday afternoon after leaving the
offices of Wade Arnott of Newport Sports Management Inc., his
representative in the talks with several NHL teams, in Mississauga, Ont.
“The list is still there. We’re getting closer, that’s all I can say.
The Canadiens general manager planned to meet with the media Monday
to discuss the team’s free-agent signings and there was some grumbling
from the media as he delayed the gathering at least twice.
But when Bergevin finally made an appearance in Brossard shortly after 5
p.m., he arrived with fresh news as he announced that goaltender Carey
Price had agreed to a six-year contract worth $39 million.
MONTREAL - Carey Price is the latest evidence that the Canadiens have a
new way of doing business.
The announcement came 11 days after the Canadiens decided to take
Price to arbitration. That move was designed to ward off an offer sheet from
another team and is now moot.
“The negotiations were relatively easy,” Price said Monday after agreeing to
a six-year contract that will pay him $6.5 million a season.
Price wasn’t the only player to sign a lucrative contract during the weekend.
Free-agent Brandon Prust’s deal isn’t quite as rich, but the Canadiens more
than tripled his salary and provided the security of four years. Prust will
receive an average of $2.5 million a season, a jump from the $800,000 he
earned last season with the New York Rangers.
The surprise announcement by general manager Marc Bergevin came 11
days after the team announced that they had filed for salary arbitration. The
quick settlement was in sharp contrast to Price’s last negotiations with the
team. Those talks dragged on into late summer before Price signed a twoyear deal worth $5.5 million.
It’s a great deal for Prust, but it remains to be seen whether it’s a great deal
for the Canadiens.
In a conference call from his home in Williams Lake, B.C., Price described
the six-year term as “strategic.”
The Canadiens get a forward who plays bigger than his size – he’s 6-foot
and 192 pounds. He’s a fearless warrior who led the NHL last season with
20 fighting majors and he won most of those fights. He blocks shots and
excels as a penalty-killer, but the bottom line is that he’s a third or fourthline player who averages 12 minutes a game and nine goals a season.
“I’ll be 30 when this deal expires and that’s when I should be in my prime,”
Price said. “I hope I’ve had a few good seasons and a Stanley Cup or two
and I’ll be set for my next contract.”
As a skilled player, he’s a slight upgrade on Mathieu Darche and, as a
fighter, he may – the emphasis is on the word may – be an upgrade on
Brad Staubitz. But Darche and Staubitz both could have been retained for
half of what the Canadiens are paying Prust.
While the Canadiens added grit on the opening days of the free-agent
market, they failed to address their No. 1 need. If Tomas Plekanec is to
reach his full potential as the team’s best two-way centre, he needs
wingers. A healthy Brian Gionta will help, but there’s still a gaping hole to be
filled on the left side. Bergevin said Monday that he’s still exploring trades
and free-agent signings, and that might provide the answer.
The roster offers several possibilities, but there isn’t a single candidate who
stands out as a top-six forward. In no particular order, here are the
wannabes:
Colby Armstrong: #<?ACE 3?>The free-agent acquisition has a history with
head coach Michel Therrien, but his past two seasons in Toronto were
marred by injury. He became available when the Leafs bought him out and
the Canadiens are hoping he can regain the form he showed when he
scored 22 goals with Atlanta in 2008-09.
Rene Bourque:#<?ACE 3?> He has shown he can score 25-plus goals a
season, but he was a bust after he came over from Calgary in the Michael
Cammalleri deal. Therrien will need all his motivational skills to get Bourque
back on track.
Louis Leblanc:#<?ACE 3?> There doesn’t appear to be room for Leblanc at
centre and he has appeared to be more comfortable on the right side, but
this may be the time for the Canadiens to make a commitment to the firstrounder and let him learn on the job.
Travis Moen:#<?ACE 3?> He has some offensive skills, but his major
contribution to the line would size and toughness.
Scott Gomez:#<?ACE 3?> Nobody believes that he has a future in
Montreal, but stranger things have happened.
Canada Day also marked the repatriation of defenceman Francis Bouillon
after three seasons in Nashville. You would have thought the Canadiens
had all the defencemen they need, but this is a team that has used 11 or 12
defencemen in each of the past two seasons, and The Cube provides
experience and depth.
It should be noted that Price already has a sweet deal. Only two
goaltenders have a higher cap hit than Price. Nashville’s Pekka Rinne tops
the list at $7 million while Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers
checks in at $6.875 million.
Price described the past season as “pretty good,” but it wasn’t as good as
his previous season and it ended prematurely after he suffered a
concussion.
“I’m healthy now and I plan to go back to Kelowna and start training on the
ice,” Price said.
When asked whether the new contract brought any additional pressure, he
said: “There’s always pressure. The contract may make me a target, but I’m
confident and looking forward to the season.”
Price said he felt the Canadiens had a good nucleus of players and are in a
position to turn things around if they stay healthy. He said he was happy to
see the team add some grit in Colby Armstrong and Brandon Prust, and
also welcomed back defenceman Francis Bouillon.
Price also said he was happy that head coach Michel Therrien retained
goaltender coach Pierre Groulx.
“Michel talked to me about Pierre and I told him that we had a good
relationship, on and off the ice,” Price said. “He’s awesome. He’s grown to
know my game. He knows when I need to be pushed and when to back off.”
The signing gives the Canadiens 21 players under contract and Bergevin
has $8.852 million in free cap space. Both of those numbers are a bit
skewed because not all of the 21 players will be around when the seasonopening roster is declared.
The group doesn’t include unsigned restricted free-agents P.K. Subban,
Lars Eller, Aaron Palushaj or Raphael Diaz. And the list does include Scott
Gomez and his $7.3-million cap hit.
Bergevin said he will deal with Gomez when the time comes, but nobody
expects him to be on the roster.
Bergevin said he talked with the agents for UFAs P.A. Parenteau and
Jaromir Jagr, but signing them didn’t make sense financially and the
Canadiens want to keep spots open for their younger forwards.
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Montreal Canadiens
With Alexei Emelin agreeing to a two-year deal, the Canadiens have Andrei
Markov, Josh Gorges, Tomas Kaberle, Yannick Weber. Bouillon and Emelin
signed to one-way deals. With restricted free agents P.K. Subban, Raphael
Diaz and Frédéric St-Denis awaiting deals, there will be some extra bodies
heading to the farm or available as trade bait.
'Life goes on,' Larry Robinson says after Canadiens fill last coaching
vacancy
By Dave Stubbs, The Gazette July 2, 2012
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Montreal Canadiens
MONTREAL – It’s probable, even likely, that Larry Robinson’s coaching
career is not over.
Canadiens re-sign Carey Price for six years
It just won’t continue with the team on which he became a Hall of Famer,
winning six Stanley Cups as one of the greatest defencemen of all time.
By PAT HICKEY, THE GAZETTE July 3, 2012 5:54 AM
Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin rounded out his club’s
coaching staff last week, naming former Habs defenceman Jean-Jacques
Daigneault as the second bench assistant for head coach Michel Therrien.
Daigneault joins Gerard Gallant, with Clément Jodoin contributing
perspective from the press gallery and Pierre Groulx continuing his work as
goaltending coach.
There had been considerable talk in the Canadiens universe since
Bergevin’s May 2 hiring that Robinson, at that time an assistant coach for
the New Jersey Devils, would be an ideal choice to nurture a young
Montreal defence corps.
Ultimately, the composition of the coaching staff was left up to Therrien, and
on Friday he decided on Daigneault as the final member of his staff.
There is no bitterness in Robinson, who a few times in the past half-dozen
years has been in a contractual position to return to the Canadiens in a
coaching capacity.
The 61-year-old Robinson was packing up in New Jersey when Bergevin
called, arranging to ship his belongings and two vehicles to Florida on a trip
that became a nightmare because of a clumsy mover and the violent arrival
down south of the hurricane.
“The mover and I got into a yelling match over the phone. It started at the
side of the (polo) barn and by the time I got finished yelling at him, I was in
the middle of one of the paddocks,” Robinson recalled, laughing. “I told him
to stick his company up … He told me he had my $600 deposit and I said it
was almost worth the deposit just to tell him to stick his company.
“It felt so good,” Robinson said of the full-decibel venting. “I didn’t get my
$600 back, but at least I felt better.”
Robinson’s assistant-coaching contract with New Jersey was to expire as
the calendar turned to July 1.
“We don’t know what’s going on there right now,” he said of the team’s
fragile financial situation.
On several occasions, longtime Robinson friend and business
agent/adviser Donny Cape has attempted to broker a deal to bring
Robinson back to Montreal as a coach, team ambassador, or both. For a
variety of reasons, from awkward timing to telephone calls that were not
returned by the club to team brass saying it was satisfied with its incumbent
staff, a Robinson-Canadiens reunion has not taken place.
Robinson’s departure ends his long New Jersey relationship with
Lamoriello. The bond of the two men is so special that Robinson chose
Lamoriello, and not a former coach or teammate from his glory years with
the Canadiens, to introduce him on Bell Centre ice on Nov. 19, 2007, for the
retirement of his No. 19 sweater.
It is not happening again; Robinson’s NHL career now is unlikely to end in
the city where it began.
“Lou’s an incredible person,” Robinson said. “He’s a man of his word, and
there’s not many like him in this world any more. He’s one of a few special
kind. I can’t say enough about what he’s done for me.”
On Sunday, from his Florida home, Robinson spoke to The Gazette for
nearly an hour.
“I understand the Canadiens had to get going, they couldn’t wait,” he said,
settling into the off-season with his wife, Jeannette.
As Robinson mopped up in Florida, Cape kept in touch with Bergevin about
the versatile role Robinson might play. Other teams had expressed interest
in Robinson, so the Canadiens broadened their defence-coach search,
casting a wider net.
“They decided, and they chose Daigneault. They had to move on in their
task to improve their club.”
Therrien apparently liked Daigneault so much, the decision was made to
hire him before Robinson had a chance to interview for the job.
It’s no secret that a number of NHL clubs have expressed interest in
Robinson’s coaching talents. Complicating matters with the Canadiens was
the fact he was unable in recent days to come north for a face-to-face
interview, tied down in Florida to deal with the onslaught of Hurricane
Debby and the torrential rains that overflowed his swimming pool and
swamped the 12-acre polo farm he co-owns, stabling and training polo
horses.
“Nature didn’t help me get up to Montreal and have a formal discussion with
them,” Robinson said of the hurricane and his delay to meet, at the
Canadiens’ request, with Therrien. “We can speculate all we want about
whether that made a difference. This was a decision they made and I have
to live with it.”
I had suggested in a May 10 Gazette column that Bergevin, who was
searching for his head coach, could do worse than to consider a bench
tandem of Guy Carbonneau and Robinson. Carbonneau, I wrote, could
return to the head-coaching post from which he was fired in early 2009 and
Robinson, Carbo’s long-time friend and former teammate, could serve as
one of his assistants.
Robinson hears the suggestion that perhaps a hockey man of his stature,
winner of nine Stanley Cups as a player and coach, might have been
viewed by Therrien as a threat and would reduce the returning head
coach’s comfort level.
“I would have made (Therrien) feel comfortable,” Robinson said, cutting off
this theory in mid-sentence. “A lot of people think because I won a Cup as a
head coach and coached for so long, I’m there only to watch (Therrien) fail
so I can take the job myself.
Several media instantly spun this suggestion into stories that had Robinson
actively courting a job in Montreal, which wasn’t the case. Still under
contract to the Devils and in the heat of the playoffs – Robinson had been
an assistant coach, head coach and special assignment coach on New
Jersey’s Stanley Cup victories in 1995, 2000 and 2003 – he denied any
such interest.
“Believe me, that’s the furthest thing from my mind. All I want out of the
game now is the fun of working with whoever I’m working with, trying to give
whatever knowledge I’ve gained through my experiences to help do
whatever I can to make the team better to win another Cup. That’s all I’m
there for.
“Things are always going to be taken out of context. That’s what happens,”
he said. “It didn’t bother me. (A Montreal job was) nothing I was thinking
about.
“I’m not there to threaten anybody’s job. That’s not the way to go through
life. You have to be a pretty vindictive person if you’re there, working with a
guy, and you’ve got a big dagger in your hand ready to stab him in the
back. It’s not the way I was brought up and it’s not the way I work.”
“Our game is filled with rumours. That’s what gives you (media) guys your
jobs and it’s what makes the world go around. People love hearing that kind
of stuff. I’ve been around it all my life. You take it with a grain of salt and life
goes on. Twitter, Facebook … it’s amazing.”
Robinson says he has not personally had any discussion with Canadiens
principal owner Geoff Molson about a role as a team ambassador, though
Cape has had a few informal talks.
But a couple of days after the Devils’ loss to the Los Angeles Kings in the
Stanley Cup final, Bergevin contacted New Jersey president and general
manager Lou Lamoriello to ask permission to speak to Robinson to explore
coaching possibilities. Under contract until midnight June 30, the Canadiens
were obligated to follow this route.
Lamoriello gave his permission and Bergevin placed his call, which
preceded a brief phone chat between Robinson and Therrien.
“The fact the Canadiens even thought about me coming there, Marc asking
Lou permission, that’s an honour,” said Robinson, who forever has taken
the high road in discussions about his former team. “It honestly took me by
surprise.”
Even if Robinson wasn’t involved in coaching, a goodwill/public relations
role would make perfect sense, given the greatly limited roles now of
ambassadors Jean Béliveau and Henri Richard. Robinson was named by
the Canadiens themselves to their all-time dream team.
“You never close any doors,” Robinson said of returning one day to the
Habs. “I don’t want to coach forever. At some point I want to layback and
enjoy my kids. I’ve got a grandson, Dylan, playing Little League baseball,
I’ve got twins in California (grandchildren Blake and Brian, the latter named
for Robinson’s late brother) whom Jeannette and I want to be able to spend
more time with.
“And I want to be able to spend more time with my horses. I can’t continue
playing polo when I’m into my ‘70s, though some do.
“There’s going to come a point when I don’t want to be involved in hockey
on a day-to-day basis. That’s why we were thinking about some kind of job
in Canadiens public relations.”
Prust scored five times and totaled 17 points with 156 penalty minutes over
82 regular-season games for the New York Rangers last year, picking up a
goal and one assist in 19 playoff appearances.
Robinson’s most recent communication with the Canadiens came Friday,
when after a couple of days of phone tag, Bergevin finally reached him to
explain the team’s direction. The call came as the team announced by news
release the hiring of Daigneault.
Since breaking into the NHL with Calgary in 2006, Prust has compiled 24
goals, 63 points and 612 PIM in 279 career contests for the Flames,
Coyotes and Rangers.
“Marc told me they’d interviewed a couple of people, Michel liked his
interview with J.J. and decided to go with him,” Robinson said. “I told him,
‘It’s a business, you have a job to do and that’s what you’re doing.’
“Marc just kind of explained what went down. He had talked to Donny,
who’d mentioned that other teams had interest (in me) and we weren’t
going to make a decision while I was trying to clean up in Florida. I suppose
the Canadiens had to cover themselves in the event I didn’t sign with them.
So they chose someone else.
“I wished Marc luck and thanked him for the opportunity – at least for the
thought – and we left it there.”
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Nashville Predators
Treasure hunt
By David Boclair
And just like that, one more opportunity for Larry Robinson to rejoin the
Canadiens had evaporated.
“It would have been interesting maybe to get back to Montreal,” he said.
“But this is a business. There are decisions made by people. Things go on
in everyday life as far and business and life. If you’re a person who takes
everything to heart and has a chip on your shoulder, you’re going to be an
awful miserable person.”
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Montreal Canadiens
Price is right for Canadiens
Montreal locks up goalie long-term
It’s not as if the Professional Hockey Writers Association owes the Nashville
Predators anything.
But those who cover the sport for newspapers, magazines and websites
throughout North America certainly have not done the local NHL franchise
any favors the last couple years.
Twice in a row their voting for the Norris Trophy has turned out so that
Nashville’s Shea Weber has been the runner-up. In 2011 he lost to fading
legend Nicklas Lidstrom, and last month emerging offensive phenom Erik
Karlsson edged the Predators’ captain.
It is important to note that the Norris Trophy is created to honor the best allaround defenseman. Seemingly, that means it’s for someone who excels at
both offense and defense — the way Weber unquestionably does.
By Sports Network
Two seasons ago Lidstrom was little more than a power-play specialist. The
vast majority of his 62 points came with the man-advantage, but in 5-on-5
play he was something of a liability. He finished the season with a minus-2
rating.
The Montreal Canadiens locked up starting goaltender Carey Price on
Monday, signing the restricted free agent to a six- year contract.
More recently, Karlssson’s offensive numbers dwarfed everyone else’s at
the position. However, he averaged barely 30 seconds of penalty-kill duties
per game, which does not suggest much in the way of defensive prowess.
Per club policy, no financial terms were disclosed.
The 24-year-old backstop finished last season 26-28-11 with a 2.43 goalsagainst average, .916 save percentage and four shutouts in 65 games for
the Canadiens, who missed out on the postseason for the first time since
2007.
Since breaking into the NHL during the 2007-08 campaign, the British
Columbia native has compiled a 124-104-35 mark, 2.56 GAA and 16
shutouts over 271 appearances, all for the Habs.
Many believe Lidstrom won in a final nod to his career, which was
extraordinary. However, this was not Paul Newman winning an Oscar for
The Color of Money. Lidstrom had won six times previously. It’s not as if he
needed a seventh to validate anything.
The prevailing line of logic with Karlsson was that his offensive numbers
were too big to be overlooked. However, that thinking is completely out of
line with the stated intent of the award.
In addition, Price carries an 8-15 postseason record with three whitewashes
and a 2.84 GAA.
It’s possible that something else was at work here, something that
ultimately could cost the Predators a lot more than a place in their trophy
case.
Montreal Sun LOADED: 07.03.2012
Lidstrom played in Detroit, the self-proclaimed “Hockeytown” and arguably
the capital of hockey in the United States. Karlsson was with Ottawa, the
capital of hockey’s home, Canada.
636679
Montreal Canadiens
Habs get tougher with Prust
By Sports Network
MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens added more grit to their lineup
Sunday, signing forward Brandon Prust to a four-year contract.
No financial terms were disclosed, but multiple reports state it is worth $10
million.
Looking at how the voting has gone the last two years, one just can’t help
but wonder whether Weber will ever get the recognition he deserves playing
in Nashville.
Consider that in the past 25 years, the Norris has gone to a player from one
of the league’s Original Six franchises 21 times. The first three exceptions
were Los Angeles’ Rob Blake (1998) and St. Louis’ Al MacInnis (1999) and
Chris Pronger (2000). Karlsson won in a city with a hockey history that
reaches back to the start of the NHL, even though the current franchise is
relatively young.
It’s entirely possible, therefore, that playing for the Predators already has
cost Weber the Norris Trophy not once, but twice.
That, in turn, raises the question of whether or not it will be worth his while
to stay here for the long term.
Most of the talk leading into the current free agent signing period, which
commenced Sunday, centered on unrestricted free agent Ryan Suter and
whether or not he would be back for 2012-13 and beyond.
Nashville City Paper LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Nashville Predators
Weber’s status, though, is almost equally uncertain.
For the second straight summer he’s a restricted free agent. For more than
a year now he has rejected Nashville’s efforts to sign him to a long-term
deal. Chances are that at this time in 2013 he’s going to follow Suter into
unrestricted free agency and see exactly what others are willing to spend
on him.
The money is going to be there, whether it’s from Nashville or another
franchise. However, if he values personal accomplishment and recognition,
he’s likely going to have to go somewhere else to get it because the Norris
Trophy rarely seems to go very far from traditional hockey spots.
636681
Nashville Predators
Radulov's return to NHL short-lived, signs new deal with Russian league
By David Boclair
Alexander Radulov is headed back to Russia.
This time, though, the Nashville Predators are not wringing their hands over
his decision. Basically, they’re waving goodbye.
The agent for the enigmatic forward confirmed to multiple media outlets
Monday that Radulov signed a four-year contract with CSKA in the
Kontinental Hockey League.
By David Boclair
He spent the previous four seasons in the KHL with Ufa Salavat Yulayev,
but did so while still under contract with the Predators. Following the 200708 season, during which he had 58 points for Nashville, he walked away
from the final year of his entry level contract to sign a multi-million dollar
deal beginning with the KHL’s first season.
The Nashville Predators opted to wait it out Monday.
He finally satisfied his Predators contract this year when, following the
completion of his season in Russia, he rejoined Nashville for the final nine
games of the regular season and the entirety of the playoffs.
Predators have plenty of money, will the wait be worth it?
It could be well worth it if they’re given the opportunity to spend the money
they have available.
The agent for defenseman Ryan Suter said there would be no word before
Tuesday in regard to the free agent defenseman’s future. Zach Parise, the
top forward available, said the same thing about his plans in a brief press
conference outside his agent’s office in Mississauga, Ontario.
"There will be no decision on Ryan Suter tonight and there is no timetable
for his contract signing at this time," Suter's agent, Neil Sheehy, wrote in an
email to the Associated Press on Monday. "Ryan is considering his
opportunities and is taking the necessary time to give each proper
consideration."
A day earlier Nashville general manager David Poile made it clear that he
was uncomfortable with the amount of time Suter, the team’s first-round
draft pick in 2003, was taking to make his choice. To that end, he sent what
effectively was the team’s best offer to Suter’s representatives in an attempt
to speed up the process, at least as it pertained to the Predators.
“The way I’m going to present it, in totality of dollars, that will be our offer,”
Poile said Sunday afternoon.
He also confirmed that the team had reached out to Parise, who has spent
his entire career with the New Jersey Devils.
According to capgeek.com, Nashville has more room under the salary cap
than any of the league’s other 29 teams. Their current payroll is more than
$30 million under the projected cap as the free agent signing period enters
its second full day.
That’s nearly twice as much as Minnesota, which has confirmed its interest
in both players. Among other speculative destinations for one or both — a
group that includes Detroit, Chicago and Pittsburgh — the Red Wings have
the most to spend, but they are just shy of $17 million under the cap.
He had three goals and four assists in the regular season and tied for the
team playoff lead with six points (one goal, five assists) despite the fact that
he was suspended one game for missing curfew and benched another
during the second-round series with Phoenix.
Nashville general manager David Poile said that the team made an offer to
Radulov, a restricted free agent, following the season. He confirmed that
the team was unwilling to make a long-term offer due to his previous
departure and the off-ice events of the postseason.
Radulov, Nashville’s first round draft choice in 2004, is a two-time most
valuable player of the KHL and the league’s all-time leading scorer.
If he ever returns to NHL, it is unlikely it will be with the Predators, who
nonetheless retain his rights while he is in Russia.
636683
New Jersey Devils
Back in Devils’ Fold, Brodeur Hopes Parise Will Stay, Too
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
Martin Brodeur has been speaking with Zach Parise the last couple of days,
and although he’s not sure whether Parise will re-sign with the Devils as he
did, he said there was a chance.
Thus the Predators have the means to sign Suter and Parise — not to
mention captain Shea Weber — to deals that include significant money in
the early years.
“I talked to him a lot yesterday, I talked to him this morning again and will
probably talk to him this afternoon,” Brodeur told reporters just after noon
Monday in a conference call to discuss his own decision to re-sign with the
Devils for two years at $9 million. But the conversation inevitably turned to
Parise, 27, who is entertaining offers reported to be in excess of 10 years
and $100 million.
The question is whether or not they have the patience to wait much longer
— and whether they will have any options if the players elect to go
elsewhere.
“The Devils are right in there for him,” Brodeur said. “He’s really weighing
his options right now. Hopefully he’ll make the right decision for him, but by
no means he’s not thinking about not coming back, that’s for sure.”
For example, 10 defensemen have signed multi-year deals since free
agency began at 11 a.m. (CDT) Sunday. That has seriously diminished
what already was a smaller-than-usual talent pool.
It was perhaps an inefficient locution, but Brodeur was confirming
something Parise said Sunday evening – that the Devils were still very
much in the mix, presumably alongside the Detroit Red Wings, the
Pittsburgh Penguins, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Carolina Hurricanes and
the Minnesota Wild.
The fact that the Predators — and others — have waited this long is proof
that they feel that there are no comparable secondary options, and that they
still feel reasonably confident in their chances to sign one or both.
Then again, there’s also no guarantee that they’re not waiting vain.
Brodeur was asked what it is about the Devils that impels players to stay in
New Jersey — even now, when debt problems are plaguing the club.
“It’s the way things operate,” Brodeur said. “For us, it’s the discipline and
the commitment every single year, the travel arrangements that we have —
it’s everything being part of New Jersey, and everybody who plays here
loves to play here.”
Brodeur continued: “They do a great job of making you accountable to what
you do every day. That goes a long way. Especially for Zach, he’s in the
position I was in: from Day 1, from the draft, from growing up in the
organization, getting success. You know, Zach is our captain. Zach brought
us to the Stanley Cup final this year. You let that go, and you go
somewhere else – the responsibility of what you could bring to another
team might be different.”
Brodeur said that Parise took “a lot of pride” in what he had accomplished in
New Jersey.
“That’s why the decision is so hard,” he said. “I’m sure the offers are coming
left and right, and money up front, and a lot of different things. Weighing the
options – it’s the rest of your career you’re talking about, not just one or two
years, and that’s why it’s a tough decision on him.”
New York Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
636684
New Jersey Devils
Devils Goalie Brodeur Signs Two-Year Deal to Stay in New Jersey
By REUTERS
Goaltender Martin Brodeur, the NHL's all-time wins leader, has re-signed
with the New Jersey Devils ensuring he will return for a 19th season with
the club, team president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said on
Monday.
The 40-year-old Brodeur, a member of all three of New Jersey's Stanley
Cup championship teams, appeared in 59 games last season, recording a
31-21-4 mark, and started all 24 playoff games on the Devils' way to the
Stanley Cup Finals.
The team would not comment on terms of the deal, but local reports said
Brodeur signed a two-year deal worth $9 million.
A four-time winner of the Vezina Trophy as top goalie in the National
Hockey League, Brodeur has accumulated 656 victories and 119 shutouts,
both NHL career records. His 113 playoff victories are second all-time,
while his 24 shutouts are first.
"Deep down what I always wanted was to re-sign with New Jersey," twotime Canadian Olympic gold medallist Brodeur told ESPN. "I'm glad the
Devils stepped up when they did."
The Devils moved to keep their goaltending intact by also signing back-up
Johan Hedberg of Sweden.
Hedberg, who has a career mark of 155-133-33 over 10 NHL seasons with
Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Dallas, Atlanta and New Jersey, played in 27 games
last season and posted a 17-7-2 record with four shutouts and a 2.23 goalsagainst average.
(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
636685
New Jersey Devils
Brodeur Signs Two-Year Deal With Devils
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
The future looked a lot better for the Devils on Monday than it did Sunday,
when the N.H.L. free-agent market opened.
Martin Brodeur, their likely Hall of Fame goalie of 20 years’ standing and
the N.H.L.’s career leader in wins and shutouts, re-signed with the Devils
for two years after turning down offers from other teams. Brodeur’s backup,
Johan Hedberg, also agreed to a two-year deal to return.
“This is what I wanted all along,” said the 40-year-old Brodeur, whose
contract is worth $9 million.
Zach Parise, the Devils’ top free agent, went a second day without
announcing a decision. The delay suggests that the Devils have a greater
chance than previously believed to retain Parise’s services as their captain
and franchise player.
Parise told reporters outside his agents’ offices in suburban Toronto that he
was closer to a decision and would consult with his family and his fiancée.
He said the Devils were still in the mix and that General Manager Lou
Lamoriello had told him the team’s debt problems were “not a problem,” and
so they were “not weighing into” his decision.
Brodeur said the potential for a lockout next season was a key factor in his
seeking a two-year contract.
“If there was a C.B.A. in place, I think a one-year deal could have been a
real viable option for me, and I don’t think I would have gone through free
agency,” Brodeur said in a conference call. “It wasn’t really about money; it
was about security for me to be able to play. The second year gives me the
opportunity to play in case there’s a lockout or an extended one. At my age,
after not playing for a full year, I think it could be really damaging as far as
where I could be salary-wise and in my career.”
Brodeur said he intended to play the full two years and then decide whether
to play longer. The contract virtually assures that he will finish his career
with the Devils, the team that drafted him in 1990 and that he has led to five
Stanley Cup finals and three Cup championships.
During Brodeur’s brief time as a free agent, he received two-year offers
from at least two clubs, which he declined to name but were believed to
include Chicago, Toronto and Florida.
“The Devils weren’t ready for a little while to do that,” Brodeur said,
meaning a two-year offer. But after learning that other clubs would, they
came through with what Brodeur wanted.
Brodeur speculated that the Devils’ financial problems might have delayed
their offer.
“Maybe that was one of the reasons they tried to get me for a one-year deal
as long as they did,” Brodeur said, pointing out that he is an older player.
“But I won’t know that for sure — I’m not the one to ask. But again, we’re
really happy to be here. I have a lot of faith in the organization.”
Hedberg’s two-year contract is worth $2.8 million. Hedberg, 39, said
receiving a two-year deal meant his family could move to New Jersey from
Atlanta, where they spent last season while he played under a one-year
deal.
Brodeur said he had been in touch with Parise during the free-agency
period.
“I talked to him a lot yesterday; I talked to him this morning again and will
probably talk to him this afternoon,” Brodeur said. “The Devils are right in
there for him. He’s really weighing his options right now.”
Brodeur added: “Zach, he’s in the position I was in, from Day 1, from the
draft, from growing up in the organization, getting success. Zach is our
captain, Zach brought us to the Stanley Cup final this year. You let that go,
and you go somewhere else — the responsibility of what you could bring to
another team might be different.”
Besides the Devils’ offer, Parise is entertaining offers from Pittsburgh,
Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago. All are believed to be in excess of 10 years
and $100 million.
“I’m sure the offers are coming left and right, and money up front, and a lot
of different things,” Brodeur said. “Weighing the options — it’s the rest of
your career you’re talking about, not just one or two years, and that’s why
it’s a tough decision on him.”
The other key free agents seemed to be waiting to see what Parise decided
before making their decisions, including defensemen Ryan Suter, who was
mulling a return to Nashville, and Bryce Salvador, who was standing by to
see whether the Devils would make a strong offer to retain him.
The other big move Monday involved Nashville forward Alexander Radulov,
who signed a four-year deal with CSKA Moscow of Russian’s Kontinental
Hockey League worth a reported $9.2 million per year.
Radulov returned to the Predators last March after playing four seasons in
the K.H.L., where he was the league’s most valuable player twice.
against, and is quite comfortable as a reserve player at this point in his
career.
He was suspended for breaking team curfew during the Predators’ secondround elimination by Phoenix.
With the goaltending situation settled, the Devils now turn their focus left
wing Zach Parise. The Devils captain is the top free agent on the market,
and he told reporters Sunday that he may make a decision Monday. Parise
was named captain before last season by new coach Peter DeBoer, and
delivered 31 goals and 69 points in that role.
636686
New Jersey Devils
Brodeur, Hedberg Re-Sign With New Jersey Devils
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Martin Brodeur is going to remain the face of the
New Jersey Devils.
The 40-year-old goaltender who has led the team to three Stanley Cups,
signed a two-year, $9 million contract Monday to stay with the only NHL
club he's ever known.
"At the end of the day, this is what I wanted all along," Brodeur said in a
conference call. "Circumstances happen sometimes in life that I can't
control, and I can't say it won't happen again, but I am happy, and two
years seems appropriate for me maybe to leave the game at that time. But I
am not 100 percent sure. Again, we'll how I feel and how well I am able to
play."
The key to the new deal was the Devils' eventual willingness to give him the
extra year, Brodeur said. Adding the length of the contract was more
important than the money because of the potential of a lockout this
upcoming season. Two years provides stability and the assurance that he
will have somewhere to play.
Brodeur would not identify the teams that contacted him, though Chicago
and Toronto expressed interest. When asked if he gave the Devils a
discount, he noted there were offers from other teams that were much
different than the one he signed.
Hours after word of Brodeur's deal leaked, the Devils also announced that
backup goaltender Johan Hedberg, 39, also signed a two-year deal worth
$1.4 million per season. Both deals feature no-trade clauses.
"We'll definitely bring stability to the back end," said Brodeur, the NHL's alltime winningest goaltender. "We've done that for the last year and a half,
two years. It's nice to be able to count on somebody to be able to play well
and that helped me to be fresh on the back end of the season. It's a nice
setup."
Brodeur posted a 31-21-4 record in the regular season with three shutouts
and a .908 save percentage in helping the Devils make the playoffs after
missing out the previous year for the first time since 1996. He was better in
the postseason, recording a 14-9 mark with a 2.12 goals-against average
and a .913 save percentage in leading sixth-seeded New Jersey to its first
Eastern Conference title since 2003.
New Jersey defeated the Panthers, Flyers and Rangers to advance to the
finals before losing the Cup to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.
Brodeur has posted a 656-371-105 career record with the Devils, winning
Cups in 1995, 2000 and 2003, and has been a fixture for a franchise that
had never been to a Cup final before he arrived. Admittedly, free agency
was a new experience for him, as contract negotiations haven't often been
a sticking point in his career. In fact, before he hired Pat Brisson last week,
Brodeur used to represent himself at the bargaining table with Devils
general manager Lou Lamoriello.
"We talked to the Devils all along and the line of communication was always
open," Brodeur said, adding he did entertain some offers before the Devils
came through with the all-important extra year.
"The Devils weren't ready for a little while to do that," he said. "When they
were able to get it done, that made the decision pretty easy."
Hedberg, a 1994 draft choice of Philadelphia, has a career mark of 155133-33 with 21 shutouts and a 2.83 goals-against average in 354 games
over ten NHL seasons. He played for Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Dallas and
Atlanta before truly finding his way in New Jersey. He played in 27 games
last season, posting a 17-7-2 mark with four shutouts and a 2.23 goals-
Brodeur spoke with Parise several times on Sunday, and then again on
Monday morning. He even planned a couple more calls if necessary. He
also talked to Lamoriello about Parise while working on his own deal.
"Zach is a priority of the Devils," Brodeur said. "You have to put pieces
together to form a team, and he is a piece of it, like Hedberg is a piece of it.
Zach is a franchise player at this stage of his career. We are definitely
waiting impatiently for his decision and hopefully he is coming back with
us."
Parise deserves everything he can get in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,
Brodeur said.
"I wasn't that much biased yesterday afternoon, but now I am a lot more for
him to come back," Brodeur quipped, adding that Parise has indicated that
the Devils are right in the mix on his short list.
"By no means," Brodeur said, "is he not considering coming back."
636687
New Jersey Devils
Zach Parise remains undecided; Brodeur and Hedberg each re-sign with
Devils for two years
Rich Chere/
The prize free agent from the State of Hockey was in a state of indecision.
As of yesterday evening, Zach Parise hadn’t decided where he will play
hockey next season. After two full days of listening to offers from numerous
NHL teams and being guided by agents Wade Arnott and Don Meehan,
Parise told reporters outside the offices of Newport Sports Management in
Mississauga, Ontario, he needed to think it over.
“I’m getting closer but I haven’t made a decision. I haven’t set any
deadlines,” Parise said. “It’s such a long-term, important decision you have
to make sure you look at everything.”
The Devils, for whom Parise has played his entire seven-year career, were
still very much in the picture.
“Correct,” Arnott confirmed. “We have deliberated here with him for the last
two full days, and he’s asked for some time to step back (and) review things
with his fiancee and family.”
Parise’s home-state Minnesota Wild, the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago
Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers had been among
those teams willing to give him contracts as long as 12 or 13 years for more
than $100 million.
Parise spoke several times over the past two days with goalie Martin
Brodeur, who became a recruiter after signing a two-year, $9 million
contract yesterday with the Devils. Brodeur will get $4 million in 2012-13
and $5 million the next year. He also has a full no-trade clause.
“I want them to try to get Zach. I believe they made a great offer. If me
signing before Zach helps getting Zach, good,” Brodeur told The StarLedger. “I hope he’s going to come back.”
Brodeur’s goaltending partner Johan Hedberg also signed a two-year deal
($1.4 million per season) to return to the Devils. He was pulling for Parise to
stay.
“It would be great to have him stay with us. Everybody knows what he
brings to the team. He’s the captain, and he’s been extremely important to
the franchise for a few years now,” Hedberg said.
“It would be a great boost for everybody if he decides to stay. I really hope
he does. I have tremendous respect for him both as a person and as a
player. Whatever happens, I wish him the best, but I hope he’s going to stay
with us. If he doesn’t, we’ll have to move on with what we have. We’re still a
very good team.”
For the past two years, Hedberg's wife and children have remained in
Atlanta while he lived in New Jersey. They will now join in for the 2012-13
season.
Brodeur never wanted to leave the Devils, but he would have considered
the Chicago Blackhawks or Toronto Maple Leafs had general manager Lou
Lamoriello not been willing to give him two years.
"I'm very happy. The two years was important because I wanted to bring my
family to New Jersey," Hedberg said. "Obviously I had a one-year deal
before and we didn't know if it would be worth uprooting everybody from the
home we've had for some time. If they were going to make the move, I
wanted it to be for an extended time."
“Everybody knows, or should have known, that this is where I wanted to
be,” Brodeur said. “I’m really excited that we were able to get it done. It took
a little longer than I thought to be answered by the Devils, but they finally
came through.
“This (the Devils and New Jersey) is all I know. To be honest, I wasn’t sure
I’d be ready to start my life somewhere else. My family is here and my
family loves it. My setup in New Jersey is as good as it’s going to get. I
wanted to finish my career here, to a certain extent. But I need that security,
also, to have that extra year on the contract. That was really an important
thing for me where I am in my career, the age I am and with the lockout
looming. That was a security I thought I deserved and I wanted, and I was
able to get it.”
He would not say this is his last contract. He wanted two years as a
financial cushion in case this season is wiped out by a lockout.
“It affected the process of me signing anywhere,” Brodeur said. “We had
some calls from a lot of teams and we didn’t entertain anything less than
two years, and teams were ready to sign me for two years. Conversations
were pretty interesting with certain teams.
“At the end, we never stopped talking to Lou throughout the process. They
made a great effort to satisfy what I wanted. They stood their (ground) for a
long time offering me one year. They tweaked it to answer some of the
questions I had about a lockout and possibly not playing the whole year. I
don’t think it’s going to come to that, but you never know.
“I’ve been through a lockout before and money-wise it’s not an easy thing to
go through. I think at my age it would’ve been even worse because I
would’ve had to go through this process once again next year at age 41
without playing a full year. So I needed that security for myself, and we got
it done.”
Hedberg said he could have gotten a higher salary if he accepted a oneyear contract from another NHL team, but he wanted two years and to
remain with the Devils.
"There were some teams interested, but my first choice was to come back
to New Jersey," he said. "The last two years I've had a lot of fun. Obviously
this last year was a tremendous year for us, so that was my first choice. If I
could get something done with Jersey, that's what I really wanted."
Although he heard from several teams, he saw none that would give him a
chance to be a No. 1 goalie again.
"No, I wouldn't say I'd be brought in as the No. 1 guy," Hedberg said.
"Maybe in some situations it could be 1A and 1B. Maybe. But I feel I've
been getting some playing time these two years."
Hedberg said he isn't worried about team finances.
"Not at all. That's way above my head," he said. "I know with the record Lou
(Lamoriello) has had over the years, I'm not worried. I know it's not in his
hands, either, but I have a lot of faith in what he does and I truly believe we
will work this situation out."
He spoke of the Devils sticking with two older goalies rather than bringing in
someone younger.
"Everybody has to go to someone younger sooner or later," he said, "but
I'm not surprised because I know Lou doesn't really care too much about
your age. It's more about if you can do the job. If you're in shape, he doesn't
really care if you're 40, 60 or 20. I'm very happy he believes in that."
Star Ledger LOADED: 07.03.2012
Brodeur was pleased to hear that Hedberg was coming back, but said: “It’s
definitely a nice setup, but it doesn’t help the future goaltending of the
Devils, that’s for sure.”
636689
Hedberg said: “Everybody has to go to someone younger sooner or later,
but I’m not surprised because I know Lou doesn’t really care too much
about your age. It’s more about if you can do the job. If you’re in shape, he
doesn’t really care if you’re 40, 60 or 20. I’m very happy he believes in that.”
Zach Parise says he needs more time to decide; Devils still in running
New Jersey Devils
Rich Chere
For the past two years, Hedberg’s wife and children have remained in
Atlanta while he lived in New Jersey.
Zach Parise hasn't decided where he will play hockey next season.
“I’m very happy. The two years was important because I wanted to bring my
family to New Jersey,” Hedberg said. “Obviously I had a one-year deal
before and we didn’t know if it would be worth uprooting everybody from the
home we’ve had for some time. If they were going to make the move, I
wanted it to be for an extended time.
“There were some (other) teams interested, but my first choice was to come
back to New Jersey.”
They could only wait to find out if Parise felt the same way.
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New Jersey Devils
Johan Hedberg wanted two years from Devils to bring family to New Jersey
But the Devils are still in the running. Parise told reporters today he needs
more time to make his decision.
"I'm getting closer but haven't made a decision. I haven't set any deadlines,"
Parise told reporters in Toronto. “It’s such a long term important decision
you have to make sure you look at everything.”
Parise said he would consult his fiance family in an effort to help make up
his mind.
"We have deliberated here with him for the last two full days and he's asked
for some time to step back," agent Wade Arnott told The Star-Ledger. He's
gone back to the hotel to review things with his fiance and family. We
expect he'll now probably be able to come closer to making a decision
maybe some time later tonight. If not, then tomorrow morning."
Arnott says the Devils are still very much in the running.
"Correct," Arnott confirmed.
Rich Chere/
He would not say whether many teams have been eliminated.
Parise said the Devils' finances are not a worry.
Devils goalie Johan Hedberg got more than a two-year, $2.8 million
contract today.
He got his family back during the hockey season.
"In speaking with Lou (Lamoriello), he said that won't be a problem," Parise
said.
Goalie Johan Hedberg, who re-signed with the Devils today, said: "It would
be great to have him stay with us. Everybody knows what he brings to the
team. He's the captain and he's been extremely important to the franchise
for a few years now.
"It would be a great boost for everybody if he decides to stay. I really hope
he does. I have tremendous respect for him both as a person and as a
player. Whatever happens, I wish him the best, but I hope he's going to stay
with us. If he doesn't, we'll have to move on with what we have. We're still a
very good team."
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New Jersey Devils
Martin Brodeur, Johan Hedberg re-sign with Devils
Rich Chere/
Martin Brodeur never wanted to leave the Devils.
But it took a two-year contract to keep him with the team through his 42nd
birthday. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello offered one, but had to up
his offer to two years for $9 million when teams like the Blackhawks and
Maple Leafs did the same.
"We didn't entertain anything less than two years," Brodeur told The StarLedger.
The deal will pay him $4 million in 2012-13 and $5 million the following
season. It includes a full no-trade clause.
Brodeur said he never wanted to leave.
"Everybody knows, or should have known, that this is where I wanted to
be," Brodeur said. "I'm really excited that we were able to get it done. It took
a little longer than I thought to be answered by the Devils, but they finally
came through yesterday early evening.
"This (the Devils and New Jersey) is all I know. To be honest, I wasn't sure
I'd be ready to start my life somewhere else," he said. "My family is here
and my family loves it. My setup in New Jersey is as good as it's going to
get. I wanted to finish my career here, to a certain extent. But I need that
security, also, to have that extra year on the contract. That was really an
important thing for me where I am in my career, the age I am and with the
lockout looming. That was a security I thought I deserved and I wanted, and
I was able to get it."
He would not say this is his last contract. He said he wanted two years as a
financial cushion in case this season is wiped out by a lockout.
"It affected the process of me signing anywhere," Brodeur said of a
potential labor stoppage. "We had some calls from a lot of teams and we
didn't entertain anything less than two years and teams were ready to sign
me for two years. Conversations were pretty interesting with certain teams.
"At the end, we never stopped talking to Lou throughout the process. They
made a great effort to satisfy what I wanted. They stood their (ground) for a
long time offering me one year. They tweaked it to answer some of the
questions I had about a lockout and possibly not playing the whole year. I
don't think it's going to come to that, but you never know."
"I want them to try to get Zach. I believe they made a great offer. If me
signing before Zach helps getting Zach, good. Me and Zach have talked a
lot in the last day or so. The conversations I had with Zach were really
healthy and really positive. I hope he's going to come back."
Brodeur said he spoke to Parise Sunday, again this morning and expected
to speak with him later today.
He hired Brisson when the Devils would not commit.
"My conversations with Pat started way before I hired him. I'd been talking
to Lou a number if days before. We had no concrete offer before the last
few days," Brodeur said. "For me the one year was kind of a little hiccup so
(hiring an agent and becoming unrestricted) was only way for me to be able
to see what somebody else would offer. I'd never done it. It was my right to
do it and I enjoyed the process. I won't lie.
"It was kind of fun to go through. Within 40 minutes we had plenty of teams
calling and showing interest. I wanted Lou to come back to me and he
finally did. I was not going to wait longer than (Sunday night) to make my
decision and Lou came through. I was really happy. I'm sure at times their
hands were tied. That had a hard time making decision and me and Zach
also."
The Devils' financial problems made the team hesitant to commit.
"I feel maybe that was one of the reasons why they tried to get me to sign a
one-year deal as long as they could," he said. "I don't know that for sure,
that's always a question raised when you talk to Lou, the tough situation
this team is going through. We know how chaotic it got with the Coyotes but
I believe they'll do the right thing regardless of whether the NHL gets
involved or not.
"It's a concern for everybody. But they have to live with the commitment
they made to Kovy (Ilya Kovalchuk). And Zach. The ownership has to live
with it. In the NHL we have guaranteed contracts. You hope you'll be taken
care of. We never heard about the finances last season as far as the
organization having issues, so that's why for me it wasn't that big of a
decision to commit to a team that is in kind of limbo."
The Devils also re-signed backup goalie Johan Hedberg to a two-year
contract. Both Hedberg and Brodeur received no-trade clauses.
Hedberg's deal will pay him $1.4 million each season.
"It will definitely bring stability to the back end of our team," Brodeur noted.
"It's nice to be able to count on somebody who is able to play a bulk of the
games. That really helped me out this year to be able to be fresh and play
well on the back end of this season and into the playoffs.
"It's definitely a nice setup but it doesn't help the future goaltending of the
Devils, that's for sure."
Brodeur joked that teammate and good friend David Clarkson "texted me
more than Lou, I think."
I asked Brodeur about winning 700 games (he has 656 career wins).
"You're the first one that brought it up," he said. "That was the least of my
worries. Now I'll start setting goals."
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New Jersey Devils
He and agent Pat Brisson wanted some insurance.
"I've been through a lockout before and money-wise it's not an easy thing to
go through. I think at my age it would've been even worse because I
would've had to go through this process once again next year at age 41
without playing a full year," Brodeur said. "So I needed that security for
myself and we got it done."
As for whether this is his last contract, Brodeur said: "I can't say that. I think
right now the Devils were ready to commit to two years. I don't want to look
too far out and jeopardize the team. My money would be on the (Devils')
books. At my age, if I couldn't play more than two years and signed for
three, they would've been stuck with that on their cap.
"That's not a good situation for an organization. For me, throughout my
whole career as far as my contract was concerned, I've always tried to
address some of the issues the team has had to go through. This is not
different. I talked to Lou."
He is optimistic the Devils can keep Zach Parise.
Martin Brodeur re-signs with Devils: Read the tea leaves on Zach Parise
and other free agents
By NJ.com Staff
Martin Brodeur has re-signed with the Devils at two years, $9M. Zach
Parise is expected to have a decision today on whether he'll also re-sign
with the Devils or whether he'll decide to cash in on one of the the reported
nine-digit, 12-13-year offers Parise's been fielding since Sunday at noon.
It was widely reported, including here on Friday, that Brodeur's decision to
hire an agent and the Devils' not signing him until after he became an
unrestricted free agent had much to do with the Devils' financial uncertainty
- the $70 million of team debt and the owner's inability so far to find an
investor willing to help him work on it, coupled with the big money expected
to be required to sign Parise.
But until the two marquee free agents – Zach Parise and Ryan Suter –
decide their futures, it’s hard to fully assess the winners and losers.
What do you think the Brodeur signing - and for two years and $9M - says
about the Parise situation? Do you think it makes Parise more or less likely
to stay with the Devils? Many of you were doubtful of a Parise return on
Friday - feel the same? How do you think this moves impacts other free
agency deals the Devils will be making?
But not impossible.
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New Jersey Devils
Martin Brodeur re-signs with Devils for two years, $9 million
By Rich Chere/
Let’s start with the Rangers.
Without getting involved in the Parise sweepstakes — and the opinion here
is that the Rangers should have tried harder, or tried — the Rangers are
hoping to make their signature move via trade by acquiring Blue Jackets left
wing Rick Nash.
Because, let’s face it, nobody is excited about signing ex-Penguin Arron
Asham and ex-Islander Micheal Haley to replace the fighting prowess that
Brandon Prust provided, even if the Rangers were wise to not offer Prust
the $10 million over four years he received from the Canadiens.
Any Nash deal, though, is likely on hold until Parise signs and Columbus
general manager Scott Howson finally realizes he won’t pry Chris Kreider,
Ryan McDonagh and/or Derek Stepan from Rangers GM Glen Sather.
Around the league, there were some winners:
Martin Brodeur has agreed to a two-year, $9 million contract to remain with
the Devils.
The agreement was first reported by Renaud Lavoie of RDS in Montreal.
"I'm really happy,'' Brodeur told ESPN.com. "Deep down what I always
wanted was to re-sign with New Jersey. I'm glad the Devils stepped up
when they did. As the process went on I was certainly intrigued by what
was out there. But this is really what I wanted.''
Brodeur earned $5.2 million in 2011-12 on the final season of a six-year
contract ($5.25 million cap hit).
Brodeur, who hired agent Pat Brisson after doing his own negotiatiing the
last 15 years, said he could not picture himself playing for another team but
received offers from several clubs, including the Chicago Blackhawks and
Toronto Maple Leafs.
"It was certainly interesting to go through. It was really helpful to have Pat
helping, that's for sure. It was stressful. I had a headache by the end of it,''
Brodeur said.
"It was great the Devils stepped up. You have to understand what's
happening obviously with the ownership situation and with what's
happening with Zach (Parise). I understood that. I'm just happy this got
done.''
Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke said after talking to the
unrestricted free agent goalie that it appeared he would stay with the Devils.
Brodeur, 40, was 31-21-4 last season in 59 games with a 2.41 goalsagainst average and three shutouts. He led the Devils to the Stanley Cup
finals, losing in six games to the Los Angeles Kings. In the playoffs this
spring Brodeur was 14-9-3 with a 2.12 GAA and one shutout.
The Oilers: Besides Parise and Suter, the most coveted player was one
who has never played in the NHL — University of Wisconsin defenseman
Justin Schultz, who agreed to an entry-level deal with Edmonton.
Thanks to three straight No. 1 picks, Schultz, and other smart drafting, the
Oilers now boast the best young talent in the league.
The Canucks: Signing Panthers defenseman Jason Garrison for six years
with a salary cap hit of $4.6 million per season is going to be seen as a
bright move, sooner rather than later.
The Stars: Signing Ray Whitney, 40, away from the Coyotes was not a bad
move, neither was signing Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome. Then they
acquired center Derek Roy from the Sabres to replace Mike Ribeiro, who
was traded to the Capitals.
There were also some losers:
The Coyotes: Because of their still-unsettled ownership situation, captain
Shane Doan will wait till next Monday to decide whether to return. That puts
most of their plans on hold.
The Ducks: They lost Schultz, who they drafted in the second round in 2008
but never signed and gave Stars defenseman Sheldon Souray, 35, and in
the AHL prior to last season, $11 million over three years.
Bergen Record LOADED: 07.03.2012
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New Jersey Devils
Brodeur re-signs with Devils for two years
This contract, which will take Brodeur to his 42nd birthday, will give him a
chance to win 700 career games. His record now is 656-371-141 with a
2.23 GAA and 119 shutouts.
By TOM GULITTI
*Minor league defenseman Jay Leach remains with the organization after
signing a one-year, two-way contract for a $525,000 NHL salary.
It took a little work, but goaltender Martin Brodeur ended up back where he
wanted to be from the start.
Leach, who did not play a game for the Devils in 2011-12, will remain in
Albany (AHL).
The future Hall of Famer agreed Monday to return to the Devils for two
more seasons on a contract that pays $9 million in total (a cap hit of $4.5
million per season).
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New Jersey Devils
The Record
So much for the free agent frenzy.
Sure there were signings and player movement after the market opened
Sunday at noon.
“I’m really excited, really happy about being able to stay in New Jersey,
that’s for sure,” Brodeur told The Record this morning.
Backup goaltender Johan Hedberg also re-signed, getting a two-year
contract for $1.4 million per season.
Brodeur, who will be 42 when his contract expires, said the reason he hired
agent Pat Brisson and explored the unrestricted free agent market on
Sunday is that Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello initially would give
him only a one-year contract and he wanted the security of a two-year deal.
“Right now, my plan is to play the next two years,” Brodeur said. “There’s a
reason why it took a little longer than it should. That second year was
important to me to play two years and set myself up mentally and moving
forward, and not having to go through this again next year. It was
interesting to do, but it’s not something I would like to do again.”
Brodeur said the Devils actually offered more money per season on the
one-year deal, and that money was never the problem, though the team
does have some financial constraints because of the uncertainty of its
ownership situation. He said without fear of a work stoppage, he probably
would have taken a one-year deal from the Devils without going to free
agency.
He also understood that re-signing captain Zach Parise was and is the
team’s top priority.
“The money was there,” Brodeur said. “It was more for one year. It was the
two years that was important to me with the lockout (possibly coming). At
my age, I went through a lockout before and you lose a lot of money if it
happens for a whole year and at my age who knows if in this situation I
would have been without a contract without playing a whole year? I just
didn’t want to have to go through that.
“The problems that the team is having, Lou is trying to get the team as
competitive as we can and, for us, we had to go through what we had to go
through to get my deal done, but I understand the priority of Zach and I’m
not sure of the numbers either. I’ve talked to him and, hopefully, we’ll get
him back on board.”
Brodeur said he spoke with Parise during the process and has a little bit of
an understanding of what he’s going through. He remains optimistic that
Parise will re-sign.
“Zach is in a great situation for himself to have teams bidding like that,”
Brodeur said. “I did it to a different level for a few hours and it plays games
in your mind a lot. So, I’m sure he’ll make the right decision for him and his
family. He’s getting married and all that, so it’s a big summer for him, but I
think the Devils went to the forefront with him and I’m pretty positive that
he’ll come back to us, but we’ll see.”
Brodeur seems to be taking an active role in trying to convince Parise to
return. He’s spoken to him several times already and plans to again this
afternoon.
Brodeur said Brisson spoke with several teams, but spoke personally with
two general managers. One was Toronto’s Brian Burke. The other is
believed to be Chicago’s Stan Bowman.
“I had conversations with two teams,” Brodeur said. “We had interest from a
few teams, a lot more than two, but I only talked two of them and it was
interesting. It was a fun process to hear from different teams and what they
would like to see and all that. But at the end, Lou was able to come up with
that extra year. And that’s what the problem was in talking to Lou. They
didn’t want to give me a second year before July 1 and that’s why I went
into free agency. That’s why I hired Pat also to just explore the options.
“If I was going to commit, especially with a possible lockout looming around
the league, I wanted to get that extra year.”
Brodeur said Parise wasn’t the only Devil he spoke to over the last few
days.
“I had guys asking me, ‘If you go, can I get your seats?’” he said, laughing.
“I had a lot of good feedback from my teammates. Clarkie (David Clarkson)
was probably more nervous than I was about it. It was a process that I was
a little bit forced into it because of the year of the contract that was offered
to me, but again I can’t say enough about the Devils, what they did
tweaking that first year different ways to try to answer some of the
questions I had. They really worked hard at it and that extra year was
important and they finally gave it to me.”
Brodeur said people probably read too much into him hiring an agent.
“I know people got a little overwhelmed because I hired an agent, but I felt it
was the best for me to explore different options,” he said. “I don’t think I was
going to be able to do it on my own and we needed to make it aware that
there was a possibility (he would sign elsewhere). There was a possibility. I
don’t think it was a strong, strong one, but again the interest level was
overwhelming. That’s what made it pretty hard.”
Brodeur said he knew he had some Devils’ fans close to the ledge thinking
about the possibility of both him and Parise leaving.
“It’s a tough situation for him,” Brodeur said. “There’s a lot of people talking
to him. He’s got his group of people and his family to deal with. I talked to
him a lot yesterday and spoke to him this morning again and I’ll probably
talk to him this afternoon. The Devils are right in there for him. He’s really
weighing his options right now and, hopefully, he’ll make the right decision
for him.”
“I walked around New Jersey and trust me a lot of people came up to me,”
he said. “I didn’t want to go that far, but I felt I owed it to myself to explore it
... But at the end of the day I’m still a Devil and I’ll be for probably for the
rest of my career.”
Brodeur understands that Parise is in a special situation.
“Zach is the franchise player at this stage of his career, so definitely we’re
waiting patiently to see the decision on him hopefully coming back with us,”
Brodeur said. “He’s worked really hard and he’s played really well for us
and he deserves what he’s going through right now. It’s one in a lifetime. It’s
exactly what (Ilya Kovalchuk) had to go through a few years back. I wish
him well. I wasn’t as biased yesterday afternoon, but now I am a lot more
for him to come back.”
636695
Brodeur said his contract includes either a no-trade or a no-movement
clause. He wasn’t sure. He didn’t think it mattered anyway.
Brodeur said all the offers he received from other teams were for two years.
New Jersey Devils
Martin Brodeur signs, but Devils still waiting for Zach Parise's decision
By TOM GULITTI
“They can’t get rid of me at my age anyway. It’s not like I’m under 35.”
The Devils already know that their franchise goaltender will be back.
Although he conceded that two years would probably take him to the end of
his career, Brodeur wasn’t ready to say this is definitely his last contract.
They were still waiting Monday evening, however, on their captain.
“You never know, but I don’t want to talk about retirement,” he said. “I’ve got
two more years and I had enough talk about that all year this year. I just
want to put it to rest that I’m going to play my two years regardless of what
happens.”
After enticing Martin Brodeur to return by giving him the two-year contract
he was seeking, the Devils still are in the hunt to re-sign Zach Parise. The
27-year-old left wing was expected to make a decision on his future
Monday, but announced in a late afternoon media briefing that he wanted to
take more
Brodeur said he is committed to playing in 2013-14 regardless of whether
there is a long work stoppage in 2012-13.
time to talk it over with his fiancée, Alisha, and family.
“This sets myself up to commit for two years regardless of what happens
next year,” Brodeur said. “My contract is based on that and, like I did my
other contract, I signed it to honor it.”
Brodeur, who was drafted 20th overall by the Devils in 1990 and has played
his entire career with the team, had never had the chance to talk to other
teams before as an unrestricted free agent.
“It was interesting,” he said. “I don’t know if 'fun' is the word because you
have a lot of mixed emotions during the day, especially in my situation with
the Devils and how I’ve been in New Jersey and I got a lot of feedback from
friends and family and a lot of people kind of pulling me different ways. But,
at the end, we were able to make a decision that I really wanted.”
Parise’s agent, Wade Arnott, indicated that a decision still could come by
the end of Monday, but it had not as of press time.
“We have thoroughly deliberated every option with Zach,” Arnott said in an
email. “He wishes to take some time to step back and review all with his
fiancée and his family. We could be drawing closer to a decision.”
Parise said he would make a
decision “in the near future.” He plans to fly home to Minnesota today.
“The goal is to make the most informed decision that we can,” Parise told
reporters outside Arnott’s office in Mississauga, Ontario. “That’s why we’re
making sure we’re looking at everything from every angle. I’m not putting a
deadline on anything. It’s such a long-term, important decision; you have to
make sure you look at everything.”
“The Devils is what I am, what I believe in, what I want to be,” Brodeur said
in Los Angeles, the night the Devils lost the Stanley Cup.
Parise said it still is possible he will re-sign with the Devils. He wouldn’t
name other teams he is considering or say if he had eliminated any from
the “short, select group” he had narrowed the field to after becoming an
unrestricted free agent Sunday.
On Monday, Brodeur delivered on that belief, signing a new two-year
contract that all but ensures the 40-year-old goaltender will end his career
in New Jersey. But while his Devils saga wrapped up relatively easily, the
real drama of the off-season dragged on. Free agent Zach Parise continued
weighing offers from multiple teams, the Devils included, postponing an
expected Monday announcement after telling reporters in Toronto he
wanted time to discuss things with his family and fiancée.
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota were said to be in
that group along with the Devils. There were reports of contract offers for as
many as 13 years, some totaling more than $100 million.
A source said the Devils made “a very competitive offer.”
Parise said there has “never been a problem” with the uncertainties of
Devils managing partner Jeff Vanderbeek trying to refinance a $77 million
debt and bring in new partners. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello
could not be reached for comment.
Parise was being lobbied heavily by Brodeur, who spoke on the phone with
him before and after he re-signed with the Devils.
“It’s a tough situation for him,” Brodeur said. “There’s a lot of people talking
to him. He’s got his group of people and his family to deal with. … The
Devils are right in there for him. He’s really weighing his options right now
and, hopefully, he’ll make the right decision for him.”
Brodeur was on the free-agent market for fewer than 12 hours before
agreeing to a deal that was announced Monday morning. Brodeur signed a
two-year contract that will pay him $4 million in 2012-13 and $5 million in
2013-14 for a salary cap hit of $4.5 million per season.
The Devils then re-signed backup Johan Hedberg to a two-year contract for
$1.4 million per season. Both goaltenders received no-trade clauses.
Brodeur will be 42 when his contract expires and Hedberg will 41. Although
Brodeur conceded that two years probably would take him to the end of his
career, he wasn’t ready to say this is definitely his last contract.
“You never know, but I don’t want to talk about retirement,” he said. “I’ve got
two more years and I had enough talk about that all year this year.”
It had seemed a foregone conclusion that Brodeur would re-sign with the
team that drafted him 20th overall in 1992, but that appeared in doubt when
news broke Friday that the future Hall of Famer had hired agent Pat Brisson
to represent him.
Brodeur said that was because the Devils initially only offered him a oneyear contract and he wanted the security of a second year with the
possibility of work stoppage after the collective bargaining agreement
expires Sept. 15.
“The money was there,” Brodeur said. “It was more [money] for one year. It
was the two years that was important to me with the lockout [possibly
coming].”
“At my age, I went through a lockout before and you lose a lot of money if it
happens for a whole year; and at my age who knows if in this situation I
would have been without a contract without playing a whole year? I just
didn’t want to have to go through that.”
All the offers that he received were for two seasons. Brodeur said he would
not have left the Devils for a one-year offer.
636696
New Jersey Devils
Marty's decision to return to Devils a heartfelt one
By TARA SULLIVAN
Isolated in a losing locker room across the country, surrounded by the
devastated disappointment of the end of a Stanley Cup dream, Martin
Brodeur insisted he didn’t know what his personal future held in store. All he
knew was how he felt deep inside his hockey heart.
Turns out that was enough.
If Parise ultimately decides to leave behind his captain’s jersey and join a
new team, if he departs New Jersey in this, the prime of his career, the pain
and disappointment of the Devils’ franchise and fan base will be deep and
long-lasting. Parise is that popular, that skilled, that important to this team.
Yet as bad as that might be, losing Brodeur would have been worse. The
iconic goalie insisted in a conference call with reporters Monday that Parise
is the face of this franchise, the priority this off-season, the most important
signing GM Lou Lamoriello has to make. And taken in its current context, he
is right.
But if Parise is the current face, Brodeur is the franchise’s forever one. The
anchor of three Stanley Cups, the respected, introspective, intelligent
leader, Brodeur is to the Devils what Derek Jeter is to the Yankees. Seeing
him wear No. 30 for someone else’s team would have spoiled so much of
his Devils legacy. Think Brett Favre as a Jet, or Willie Mays as a Met.
Neither should be either Hall of Fame athlete’s defining image, but both left
indelible Images of ungraceful aging.
Brodeur avoided that fate, flipping the ominous signs that had popped up
since the end of the season. As Brodeur spoke to reporters after the team’s
final loss, the chorus of championship crowned Kings was echoing in the
distance of the Staples Center ice. New Jersey’s lopsided Game 6 loss had
forced acceptance of the end of his season upon him, but a magnificent
playoff performance already had convinced him he wasn’t ready to accept
retirement even as his Devils contract was set to expire. It was a
combination that forced Brodeur to contemplate changing uniforms for the
first time in his 19-year professional career.
“I don’t want to do that,” he said that night. “It definitely would have to be
something really, really weird for me to do that.”
When Brodeur actually hit the open market for the first time in his life, when
he signed with agent Pat Brisson just before free agency opened July 1,
seeking professional assistance to do a job he had long done for himself
with Lamoriello, it sure seemed as if we’d hit DEFCON ‘weird.’ But as
quickly as the panic meter rose to critical levels, it just as quickly returned to
normal, when Brodeur received the only real guarantee he needed in
getting a second year on the contract.
“I know people got a little overwhelmed because I hired an agent, but I felt it
was the best for me to explore different options,” Brodeur told Record beat
writer Tom Gulitti Monday morning. “I don’t think I was going to be able to
do it on my own and we needed to make it aware that there was a
possibility [I would sign elsewhere]. There was a possibility. I don’t think it
was a strong, strong one, but again the interest level was overwhelming.
That’s what made it pretty hard.”
Parise is going through that hard part now, and we all understand he has
the right to make whatever decision he feels is best for him. If his heart pulls
him back to New Jersey, perhaps for less money than the likes of
Pittsburgh or Detroit or Minnesota or Chicago has offered, he will be
celebrated, lauded and welcomed back with arms wide open. But if he
believes he can get more money and still have a chance to win a title
elsewhere, he should not be vilified. That’s the simple business of sports,
where careers can be threatened by injury at any moment and players have
to maximize their opportunities when they arise.
Brodeur had the same right to leave, but fair or not, the backlash would
have been so much worse. How close he actually came to becoming an exDevil doesn’t matter now, but this much is absolutely, unequivocally clear in
the aftermath of his decision: He did the right thing.
One Devils saga is mercifully over; another goes agonizingly on. Losing
Parise would hurt, but losing Brodeur would have been worse.
636697
New Jersey Devils
Martin Brodeur signs two-year, $9M contract with New Jersey Devils
By Kristie Ackert
Martin Brodeur is back with the Devils. Zach Parise is back home in
Minnesota, mulling over offers.
The Devils were able to re-sign the 40-year-old goaltender to a two-year
deal on Monday.
But after a day and a half of listening to offers, the Devils’ 27-year-old left
wing decided he just could not decide.
Parise said outside his agent’s office in Canada that he would return to his
home in Minnesota and continue to work through offers. The captain would
not put a deadline on his decision.
“I’m getting closer, but I haven’t made a decision,” Parise told TSN. “I
haven’t set any deadlines.”
The Devils are reportedly still in the mix and Parise said reports of the
Devils’ uncertain financial situation, as majority owner Jeff Vanderbeek tries
to restructure debt, are not a factor.
“In speaking with (GM) Lou (Lamoriello) he said that won’t be a problem,”
Parise said.
Brodeur, who tested free agency for the first time in his career Sunday,
sympathized with Parise. Brodeur said he had spoken to Parise several
times on Sunday and Monday.
He credited Parise with leading the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals and
talked about what a great captain he has been. He said that growing up in
the Devils’ organization makes it hard to walk away.
“You let that go and go somewhere else, the responsibility of what you
could bring to another team might be different,” Brodeur said. “To come
back to New Jersey for him is something he takes a lot of pride in and that’s
why the decision is so hard. I’m sure the offers are coming in left and right,
money up front, but it’s the rest of your career, not just one or two years.
That’s why it’s a tough decision on him.”
For Brodeur, all-time winningest goaltender in NHL history with 656 regularseason victories, it was easiest to come back to the Devils as soon as they
offered a second year. He said he turned down other offers that were
“interesting” for the security of a two-year, $9 million deal. A possible NHL
labor dispute looms over all negotiations.
“We had no interest in a one-year deal going somewhere else,” said
Brodeur, who hired an agent to lead negotiations for the first time.
In 59 regular-season games, Brodeur went 31-21-4 with a 2.41 goalsagainst average and a .908 save average.
In the playoffs, however, he was markedly better: 14-9-1 with a 2.12 GAA
and a .917 save percentage.
Lamoriello also re-signed backup goaltender Johan Hedberg to a two-year
deal.
New York Daily News LOADED: 07.03.2012
636698
New Jersey Devils
Still hope Parise will remain a Jersey guy
By MARK EVERSON
With the Devils still very much in the hunt, the trimmed-down list of suitors
may have even expanded. So free agent Zach Parise, the incumbent Devils
captain, decided not to decide yesterday where he’ll play his next dozen-orso seasons.
Instead, Parise said he was leaving Ontario to discuss his options with his
family in Minnesota. He is believed to be weighing offers in the $100 million
range for eight-to-13 years from the Devils, Penguins, Red Wings, Wild and
Flyers. The Blackhawks, who didn’t get Martin Brodeur, were said to have
joined the chase.
“It’s such a long-term, important decision, you have to make sure you look
at everything,” Parise told reporters outside Toronto.
Although Parise refused to say he’ll decide today, agent Wade Arnott said
the verdict may be near.
“We have thoroughly deliberated every option with Zach,” Arnott said in a
text message. “He wishes to take some time to step back and review all
with his fiancée and his family. We could be drawing closer to a decision.”
Parise and Predators defenseman Ryan Suter, the two top unrestricted free
agents, might go to the same team, but their delay is making their suitors
wait on signing other players.
Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador has some four teams pursuing him, but
that decision is waiting on the signing of Flyers defenseman Matt Carle,
which is hanging on Suter.
Parise made $6 million last season from a team-requested arbitration. He
was drafted by the Devils in the first round in 2003 and went 31-38-69 in all
82 games last season, coming back from knee surgery that ruined 2010-11.
Parise said general manager Lou Lamoriello told him the team’s financial
troubles should not hinder these negotiations.
“In speaking with Lou, he said that won’t be a problem,” Parise said.
Parise would not say whether he would make his decision today.
Brodeur, who re-signed with the Devils as an unrestricted free agent for two
years for a total of $9 million, said he has spoken repeatedly in the past
three days with Parise, and is optimistic Parise will return.
“I talked to him a lot yesterday and this morning again,” Brodeur said. “The
Devils are right in there for him. He’s really weighing his options. By no
means is he not thinking about coming back.”
New York Post LOADED: 07.03.2012
636699
New Jersey Devils
Brodeur re-signs with Devils
By MARK EVERSON
The Goalie played showdown with Lou Lamoriello and won. Martin Brodeur
says he might have left the Devils if he hadn’t forced them to offer a second
year on his new contract.
The Goalie shook off Lamoriello’s one-year contract offer and hired an
agent to test the free agent market Sunday. Brodeur said he received a pair
of two-year contract offers — probably from the Blackhawks and Panthers
— and went back to Lamoriello, who suddenly found a way to offer that
second year he wouldn’t before.
The result is The Goalie received a two-year contract worth some $9
million, with a no-trade clause, which will see him through to age 42. The
sides agreed Sunday evening, and the Devils announced it yesterday,
when they also signed backup Johan Hedberg, also for two years, keeping
last season’s goaltending partnership intact.
“We did entertain some offers, but at the end, the Devils were able to come
through with the extra year,” Brodeur said. “For me, the most important
thing was to get a two-year deal. The Devils weren’t ready for a little while
to do that. When they were able to get it done, that was a pretty easy
decision to make.
“[Leaving] was a possibility if the Devils wouldn’t give an extra year. Every
team we talked to, we talked about a two-year deal. We had no interest in a
one-year deal going somewhere else. If in the first hour, hour and a half, no
one would sign me for two years, we would have gone back to Lou with the
one-year offer.”
Brodeur holds the NHL regular season records of 1,191 games, 656
victories and 119 shutouts. The Devils’ first-round pick in 1990 (20th
overall), he made his NHL debut in 1992, spent 1992-93 in Utica and came
up to stay in 1993-94.
Both Brodeur and Hedberg are believed to have taken less than they were
offered elsewhere to remain with the Devils.
Hedberg gained a $150,000 raise to $1.4 million per season in his new
deal, which also includes a no-trade clause. Still, it is believed he will be the
best-paid backup in the NHL. He was 17-7-2 last season, 32-19-4 as a
Devil. Brodeur went 31-21-4 last season.
“It will definitely bring stability to the back end, like we’ve had for the last
year and a half,” Brodeur said. “[Hedberg’s workload] really helped me out
to be fresh and play well in the end of the season and into the playoffs.”
Brodeur said he wasn’t sure if the Devils’ financial troubles played any part
in initially refusing a second year, and also said he never wanted to go
elsewhere.
“All I know is New Jersey,” he said. “All my friends are in New Jersey. It was
hard that people thought I wanted to leave. I didn’t want to do that.”
Brodeur said the two-year deal means he’ll be back next season, whenever
it is, “lockout or no lockout,” as he put it.
“A one year deal, I didn’t think was good for me,” he said. “In the back of my
mind, New Jersey was the No. 1 choice, by far, but I talked to two teams,
and it was interesting.
“Lou made every effort to keep me in New Jersey, tweaking it at our request
in different areas on his one-year [offer]. But the big thing to me was the
uncertainty of the possible lockout.”
Brodeur said he wondered how it would turn out when he became an
unrestricted free agent Sunday.
“There’s always a risk when you pass that time of 12 noon,” he said. “ ‘Now
what’s going to happen?’ I wasn’t sure of Lou’s mindset and wanted to sign
a two-year deal. I looked at all my options with the potential lockout, and it
wasn’t there at the time with the Devils.”
It turned out Brodeur held the winning cards in his showdown with
Lamoriello.
“I’m excited. I’m really happy about getting this thing done,” Brodeur said.
“It’s where I wanted to be.”
The Record
So much for the free agent frenzy.
Sure there were signings and player movement after the market opened
Sunday at noon.
But until the two marquee free agents – Zach Parise and Ryan Suter –
decide their futures, it’s hard to fully assess the winners and losers.
But not impossible.
Let’s start with the Rangers.
Without getting involved in the Parise sweepstakes — and the opinion here
is that the Rangers should have tried harder, or tried — the Rangers are
hoping to make their signature move via trade by acquiring Blue Jackets left
wing Rick Nash.
Because, let’s face it, nobody is excited about signing ex-Penguin Arron
Asham and ex-Islander Micheal Haley to replace the fighting prowess that
Brandon Prust provided, even if the Rangers were wise to not offer Prust
the $10 million over four years he received from the Canadiens.
Any Nash deal, though, is likely on hold until Parise signs and Columbus
general manager Scott Howson finally realizes he won’t pry Chris Kreider,
Ryan McDonagh and/or Derek Stepan from Rangers GM Glen Sather.
Around the league, there were some winners:
The Oilers: Besides Parise and Suter, the most coveted player was one
who has never played in the NHL — University of Wisconsin defenseman
Justin Schultz, who agreed to an entry-level deal with Edmonton.
Thanks to three straight No. 1 picks, Schultz, and other smart drafting, the
Oilers now boast the best young talent in the league.
The Canucks: Signing Panthers defenseman Jason Garrison for six years
with a salary cap hit of $4.6 million per season is going to be seen as a
bright move, sooner rather than later.
It would have been a black eye for the Devils to lose The Goalie, and
Lamoriello wouldn’t make that final gamble.
The Stars: Signing Ray Whitney, 40, away from the Coyotes was not a bad
move, neither was signing Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome. Then they
acquired center Derek Roy from the Sabres to replace Mike Ribeiro, who
was traded to the Capitals.
There were also some losers:
636700
The Coyotes: Because of their still-unsettled ownership situation, captain
Shane Doan will wait till next Monday to decide whether to return. That puts
most of their plans on hold.
New York Islanders
Islanders add ex-Devil Boulton
By BRETT CYRGALIS
The Ducks: They lost Schultz, who they drafted in the second round in 2008
but never signed and gave Stars defenseman Sheldon Souray, 35, and in
the AHL prior to last season, $11 million over three years.
The Islanders yesterday made official their signing of Eric Boulton, with the
former Devils pugilist clearing waivers and inking a one-year deal worth
around the veteran minimum of $550,000.
636702
New York Rangers
Rangers replace Prust with tough guys Asham, Haley
Boulton, 35, recorded 115 penalty minutes in 51 games last season, with
the Devils buying out the remaining one season and $750,000 left on his
original two-year deal.
By ANDREW GROSS
Boulton’s last game with the Devils came on April 4, when he was a healthy
scratch while the team went on their run to the Stanley Cup Finals. In 600
career NHL games with three teams, Boulton has 73 points (27 goals, 46
assists) and 1,265 penalty minutes.
The Rangers still are looking for additional goal-scoring help after the first
day of NHL free agency.
The Isles also signed forwards Brandon DeFazio and Colin McDonald to
one-year, two-way contracts. DeFazio, 23, and McDonald, 27, both played
in the AHL last season for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
But they now have a glut of players able to drop the gloves, even with
rugged right wing Brandon Prust agreeing to a four-year, $10 million deal
with the Canadiens on Sunday.
"I know we both liked each other and both wanted me to come back," Prust
said of the Rangers. "In the end, we weren't really there. We weren't close.
Montreal showed just a lot more interest."
636701
New York Rangers
The Rangers still are pursuing Rick Nash, but any deal for the high-scoring
and high-priced Blue Jackets left wing likely will have to wait until the Devils'
Zach Parise decides where to sign.
A trade for Nash won't happen with the Rangers unless Columbus general
manager backs off his demands for Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan or
Chris Kreider in return.
To replace Prust, the Rangers signed ex-Penguin (and ex-Flyer, ex-Devil
and ex-Islander) right wing Arron Asham to a two-year deal worth $2
million. They also signed ex-Islander center Micheal Haley, who had two
goals, one assist and 151 penalty minutes in 43 games over the past three
seasons, to a two-year deal for an undisclosed amount.
The first year of the pact is a two-way deal, meaning he'll make
considerably less if he plays for Connecticut (AHL).
The Rangers also have been in contact with unrestricted free-agent winger
Ruslan Fedotenko, who, a source reports, remains in the mix.
Negotiations, however, have not begun regarding No. 26’s return for a third
season on Broadway.
The loss of Brandon Prust to Montreal has cut into the Rangers’ depth on
the wing and on the penalty-kill unit.
It would seem there should be room for Fedotenko, who had a
disappointing season but emerged as one of the Blueshirts’ more reliable
grinders in the postseason.
The Rangers also re-signed rugged defenseman Stu Bickel to a two-year
deal worth $1.5 million.
"Beyond excited to be coming back to New York!" said Bickel, who had nine
assists and 108 penalty minutes in 51 games as a rookie, via his Twitter
account. "Awesome group and best fans in the league!"
636704
The free-agent market started slowly Sunday with the top two targets,
Parise and Predators defenseman Ryan Suter electing to wait until today to
decide which mega-offer they'll accept.
NHL entering the dog days of summer
Despite their need for increased goal production, particularly with Marian
Gaborik likely sidelined until December after undergoing surgery to repair a
torn labrum in his right shoulder, the Rangers took Parise at his word that
he would not consider moving across the Hudson River and did not join in
the bidding.
ROY MacGREGOR
Asham, 34, had five goals, 11 assists and 76 penalty minutes in 64 games
last season for the Penguins, and he has 92 goals, 114 assists and 940
penalty minutes in 756 games over 13 NHL seasons. Prust had five goals,
12 assists and 156 penalty minutes in 82 games last season.
That would be hockey and politics, not hockey and lacrosse.
NHL
There is no other time of the year when Canada’s two national games –
both blood sports – seem so much the same.
Just over a week ago there was the NHL entry draft, a time when the scouts
and assistants who surround general managers sound eerily like the
advisers pumping up the Prime Minister at an international summit.
Also on Sunday, John Mitchell agreed to a two-year deal worth $2.2 million
with the Avalanche after compiling five goals and 11 assists in his only
season with the Rangers. Enforcer John Scott signed a one-year deal worth
$600,000 with the Sabres.
You know, the old “We got what exactly what we wanted” line, along with
some outrageous spin-doctoring:
Meanwhile, Connecticut goalie Chad Johnson signed with the Coyotes,
Whale center Jonathan Audy-Marchessault joined the Blue Jackets and the
Rangers re-signed AHL center Kris Newbury to a two-year deal.
“I can tell you we had him ranked much higher than that.”
The Rangers' remaining unrestricted free agents include right wing Ruslan
Fedotenko — a favorite of coach John Tortorella's — and defensemen
Steve Eminger and Jeff Woywitka. Defensemen Michael Del Zotto and
Anton Stralman remain restricted free agents.
And this weekend we entered hockey’s equivalent of cabinet shuffles and
new governments: the free-agency frenzy that, as of suppertime Monday,
had amounted to a few backbenchers being shuffled about and a few very
minor crossings of the floor.
It’s pretty hard to get excited, let alone care, where the likes of George
Parros, Joe Corvo, David Moss, Adam Burish, Aaron Rome, et al. end up,
but there were, nonetheless, a few changes worth noting – even if only by
an arched eyebrow.
636703
New York Rangers
Rangers might keep Stralman
By LARRY BROOKS
The Rangers’ pursuit of Rick Nash remained in a holding pattern yesterday,
but there are other less weighty matters on general manager Glen Sather’s
plate.
To wit: It appears as if restricted free-agent defenseman Anton Stralman,
whom the Rangers qualified at $945,000, is leaning toward remaining in the
NHL rather than returning home to pursue a career in Sweden, an individual
familiar with the situation told The Post.
Stralman, second on the blue-line depth chart on the right side, is eligible
for salary arbitration.
If, as is now believed likely, the 25-year-old (who turns 26 next month) files
by Thursday’s 5 p.m. deadline, he will be locked into a contract with the
Rangers unless the Blueshirts would somehow choose to walk away from
the award.
It’s far more plausible the Rangers will attempt to negotiate a multi-year
deal with Stralman, who recorded six points (3-3) while going plus-one in
the playoffs in 16:55 of ice per that included 2:53 of power-play point time.
Stralman played 53 regular-season games for the Blueshirts (2-16-18, plus9 in 17:05 per) after signing as a free agent on Nov. 11.
“We were stunned he was still available in the 44th round.”
“Once he matures…”
While it is hard to imagine the Montreal Canadiens getting any smaller than
they have been the last few years, the addition of Francis Bouillon from the
Nashville Predators will be interesting. He’s listed at 5 foot 8, which would
put the Eiffel Tower halfway to the moon, but he is, all the same, an
exceptional talent.
Far more puzzling is the Habs reported decision not to buy out the contract
of failed forward Scott Gomez. Several beer leagues in Montreal were
hoping to land his services.
And even more mystifying is the Habs hiring on of Colby Armstrong, a total
bust in Toronto as a free-agent signing. If Armstrong returns to his onceupon-a-time-feisty-form with the Pittsburgh Penguins – where new
Canadiens coach Michel Therrien loved him – his name will occupy far
more radio air time in Toronto than it will in Montreal.
The Ottawa Senators have long been accused of not being tough enough
for the postseason. They let never-lose-a-fight defenceman Matt Carkner
go to the Islanders for a (ridiculous) three-year, $4.5-million deal, they let
Zenon Konopka leave for the Minnesota Wild and they lost not-top-six-andnot-bottom-six forward Nick Foligno in a trade with Columbus Blue Jackets
for defenceman Marc Methot. They also signed Guillaume Latendresse to a
one-year deal. Latendresse is huge – 6 foot 2, 240 pounds – but has played
so little over the past two seasons due to injury no one knows what
difference, if any, he will make.
Those of us who naively cling to old notions of team and player loyalty are
heartened to see Martin Brodeur entering middle age as a New Jersey
Devil, surely on his final contract. Seeing him in some other jersey would be
akin to seeing Rocket Richard in a Boston Bruins sweater, or Gretzky as a
St. Louis Blue … wait?
The biggest free-agent signing of the holiday weekend was not Zach Parise
or Ryan Suter, but Alexander Radulov, who is leaving his Nashville
Predators for a reported four-year, $36.8-million deal with CSKA Moscow of
Russia’s Continental Hockey League. It is not known whether or not he
received the “no curfew” clause he was demanding.
Any Canadian general manager will tell you that it is almost impossible for a
Canadian team to attract the very top free agents. When one has total
control over where they will play, hockey takes a back seat to spouse,
weather, anonymity and taxes. How nice, then, to see Jason Garrison leave
the sun, sand and golf of Florida for a six-year, $27.6-million deal with the
Vancouver Canucks, within easy commute of his birthplace in White Rock.
And how surprising to see Justin Schultz, the 22-year-old college sensation
who could have gone anywhere he wished, sign with the Edmonton Oilers
and then say, “Playing in Canada has always been a huge thing for me.”
More political than that, hockey doesn’t get.
636705
NHL
Flames sign forward Jiri Hudler to four-year, $16-million deal
ERIC DUHATSCHEK
If money could buy championships, then the Toronto Maple Leafs would
likely not be 45 years between Stanley Cup victories, and the New York
Rangers probably would have won more than just a single title between
1940 and 2012.
Generally, money can help fill in the supplementary pieces, but rarely does
money supply you with the sort of players that complete a team’s
championship pedigree, unless you’re lucky enough to land the likes of
Ryan Suter or Zach Parise.
League. Cervenka, 27, was widely viewed as one of the most talented
players never to play in the NHL and he had his finest season in Russia
playing alongside Jaromir Jagr.
Cervenka was actually at Hudler’s house in Prague, about six or seven or
weeks ago, watching soccer’s Champions League final, and Hudler gave
him some insight into what to expect in his first NHL season.
“It’s a coincidence we end up on the same team,” said Hudler, who said
Cervenka was taking English lessons. “Whatever he’s going to need, I’m
going to be there for him.”
Last year, Feaster made a point of revealing how that the Flames made a
hard push to sign Brad Richards in free agency, but ultimately lost the
bidding war to the New York Rangers. This year, Feaster said he would not
discuss which players they were interested in that went elsewhere,
specifically Jagr, who is still mulling offers, but was thought to be a
possibility for Calgary.
According to Feaster, he has yet to start negotiations with team captain
Jarome Iginla on a possible contract extension, even though he is now
eligible to do so. Three NHL players in a similar situation to Iginla’s,
entering the final year of their contracts (the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney
Crosby, the Los Angeles Kings’ Jonathan Quick and the Montreal
Canadiens’ Carey Price) have all signed multi-year extensions already.
Feaster said he would address the Iginla negotiations once they got free
agency sorted out.
Hudler, for his part, sounded excited about the move from Hockeytown to
Cowtown.
“Passion for hockey in Canada is unmatched,” Hudler said. “There is a lot of
history, a lot of tradition and that’s exciting. I just want to be one of the
pieces to help this team, step by step, get better and better.
“Calgary has great players starting with [Miikka] Kiprusoff, [Jay]
Bouwmeester, Wideman, [Mark] Giordano. I can’t name everybody. Jarome
Iginla. Pure leader. Goal scorer. Amazing player. [Mike] Cammalleri. I can
go on and on. There’s a lot of winners in that dressing room. I just want to
be part of that.”
636706
NHL
The likes of Suter and Parise don’t seem to want to join the Calgary
Flames, however, so on Monday, they went shopping from column B on the
free-agent menu and landed Jiri Hudler at the cost of $16-million (all
currency U.S.) over four seasons.
Martin Brodeur takes a cut to stay in New Jersey
Say this about the Flames. They are not afraid to open their wallets in
pursuit of an NHL playoff spot, after three years on the outside looking in.
DAVID SHOALTS
Hudler’s signing pushes their payroll for the 2012-13 season up to $65.943million, which is second in the NHL behind only the Boston Bruins. The
salary cap for next year is currently set at $70.2-million, but that could
change, depending upon how collective bargaining negotiations between
the league and the players association unfold.
Martin Brodeur had a good look around the NHL free-agent market, thanks
to the uncertain financial situation of the New Jersey Devils, and decided to
stay with the only professional team he's known.
In addition to Hudler, the Flames previously shelled out $26.5-million on a
five-year deal to defenceman Dennis Wideman and re-signed two of their
own free agents, defenceman Cory Sarich and forward Lee Stempniak, to
new, two-year contracts.
And all that came about after allowing Olli Jokinen, their second-leading
scorer last season, to leave as a free agent. Jokinen signed a two-year deal
for $9-million Monday night with the Winnipeg Jets, who’d previously added
Alexei Ponikarovsky the day before. Jokinen fills a glaring need for help
down the middle in Winnipeg, but his acquisition always comes with a
caveat: In an NHL career that began in 1997, he has only played six playoff
games in 15 years.
Hudler, a clever 50-point scorer last season, went to free agency because
the Detroit Red Wings were not willing to commit to a four-year term for a
player that was always a subordinate piece on a team that relied heavily on
catalysts Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.
According to Calgary general manager Jay Feaster, Hudler will play an
expanded role on the Flames. Feaster likened Hudler’s signing to a deal he
made with the Toronto Maple Leafs for Fredrik Modin in 1999, back when
Modin was cast mostly in a third-line role. Playing up on a scoring line with
the Tampa Bay Lightning, Modin produced multiple 30-goal seasons.
Hudler joins a Flames team that includes another Czech, Roman Cervenka,
who was signed as a free agent out of Russia’s Continental Hockey
But the 40-year-old goaltender had to take a large pay cut to do so, not
even a month after leading the Devils to the Stanley Cup final. Brodeur
agreed to a two-year contract early Monday with the Devils for $4.5-million
(all currency U.S.) per year, a cut of $700,000 from the $5.2-million he
made last season.
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello followed the Brodeur signing by
getting his backup goaltender, Johan Hedberg, to agree to a two-year
contract for $1.4-million per year. That leaves the Devils with the oldest
tandem in the NHL, as Hedberg turned 39 two months ago.
Brodeur said in the end he simply could not envision himself playing for
another NHL team despite the changes in the roster that lie ahead for the
Devils because of their finances. However, he did force Lamoriello to come
up with a two-year offer because teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and
Chicago Blackhawks offered him one.
"This is all I know. To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd be ready to start my life
somewhere else," Brodeur told The Star-Ledger newspaper in New Jersey.
"I wanted to finish my career here, to a certain extent."
Brodeur also said he is hopeful forward Zach Parise, the big prize in the
free-agent derby, will remain with the Devils as well. Parise is entertaining
offers from other NHL teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins,
Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings at his agent's
office in Mississauga, Ont. He is expected to make his decision Monday.
Brodeur's new salary puts him in a tie for 10th place among NHL
goaltenders with Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders and Jonas Hiller
of the Anaheim Ducks. At present, the highest paid goaltender is Pekka
Rinne of the Nashville Predators, who will make $7-million next season.
While Rinne is highly regarded, he has yet to earn any of the credentials of
Brodeur (three Stanley Cups).
late this spring, after retiring as an active player from Metallurg
Magnitogorsk.
“Today I am proud to say that this long-awaited event finally happened,”
Fedorov said in a statement on the CSKA Web site. “Alexander Radulov
signed a four-year agreement with the army club. No doubt Alexander is
one of the brightest Russian hockey players in recent years. On the ice, he
shows passionate dedication, the highest speed, amazing vision and
scoring instincts. We know that these leadership qualities will help him to
become a leading player in our team, and we on our part will do everything
necessary to make it so. We hope that Alexander Radulov’s presence with
CSKA will bring more and more fans to the stands.”
Also ahead of Brodeur are Henrik Lundqvist ($6.9-million) of the New York
Rangers, who were eliminated from the playoffs by the Devils thanks to
Brodeur's play, and Roberto Luongo ($6.7-million), who lost his No. 1 job
with the Vancouver Canucks to Cory Schneider. There is also Ilya
Bryzgalov of the Philadelphia Flyers, who made $10-million last season in
the first year of a nine-year deal worth $51-million. His salary in the frontloaded contract drops to $6.5-million this fall. Bryzgalov's struggles last
season were well-documented.
636708
However, it's never been about the money for Brodeur. He consistently took
contracts below market value from Lamoriello because the team, at least in
the early and middle years of his career, was a Stanley Cup contender.
Scanlan: With present needs met, Senators turn attention back to the future
Brodeur decided to try the free-agent market for the first time because the
Devils' financial woes under co-owner Jeff Vanderbeek are so severe the
team is going to lose several players, topped by forward Zach Parise. After
negotiating his own contracts for years, Brodeur hired agent Pat Brisson
and told him to solicit offers.
But by the end of the first day of the free-agent market, after Lamoriello
came up with an offer Brodeur could accept, he decided he would rather
finish his career as a Devil amid the uncertain ownership situation than go
elsewhere.
Ottawa Senators
by Wayne Scanlan
Scanlan: With present needs met, Senators turn attention back to the future
Bryan Murray was in the arena corridor talking shop with reporters when
Pierre Dorion came bolting through the door of the upper perch at the
Sensplex.
Brodeur's signing also affected the Luongo sweepstakes. Canucks GM
Mike Gillis is still not ready to lower his trade demands on the Maple Leafs
and Florida Panthers, the two major suitors, and Brodeur's signing gives
him at least a little leverage for now. But in the end, it is not likely Gillis will
be able to reap a huge return for a 33-year-old goaltender with a huge
contract.
“You guys just missed the goal of the tournament,” said the Ottawa
Senators director of player personnel. “(Mika) Zibanejad broke in alone and
roofed it on (Robin) Lehner … while you guys are out here talking about
free agents.”
It is expected by the end of Monday that Parise and the Devils' other
notable free agent, defenceman Bryce Salvador, will sign with other teams.
On Sunday, forwards Alexei Ponikarovsky (Winnipeg Jets) and Eric Boulton
(New York Islanders) joined new employers.
By now Dorion was wearing a wide grin, enjoying the jab, his point made
about the enthusiasm he has for Ottawa’s young talent — not just Mika.
636707
NHL
Radulov Returns to Russian League
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
Alexander Radulov has ended his brief return to the N.H.L., agreeing to a
lucrative offer from CSKA Moscow, according to the K.H.L. club’s Web site.
Radulov, the leading career scorer in the K.H.L., signed a four-year deal for
$9.2 million a year, according to Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo sports – far
more than he would have made in the N.H.L.
Radulov, 26, was a restricted free agent after returning to Nashville late last
season. He had three goals and four assists in nine games. He was
suspended one game in the second-round playoff series by the Predators
for breaking curfew at a Phoenix-area hotel and sent to the press box for
the next game.
Radulov jumped his Nashville contract in 2008 and joined Salavat Yulaev
Ufa of the K.H.L., touching off a bitter dispute between the N.H.L. and the
Russian league. The dispute was eventually papered over, and after four
successful years with Salavat, Radulov returned to Nashville to help with
the Predators’ Stanley Cup push last spring.
That push ended in the second round, and now the Predators’ roster is
disintegrating, with defenseman Ryan Suter in free agency and speculation
that the club’s other elite defenseman, Shea Weber, may want out next
season.
Salavat traded Radulov’s K.H.L. rights to CSKA, the legendary club that
had fallen on hard times lately but has been underwritten since last year by
the oil company Rosneft. Sergei Fedorov became CSKA’s general manager
This was the scene upstairs at the Bell Sensplex, management back
dealing with the Senators future, a day after doing what they could to take
care of present needs with moves on July 1.
We can’t say for certain that Murray, the Senators general manager,
believes his club is stronger after saying goodbye to Filip Kuba, Nick
Foligno, Matt Carkner, Zenon Konopka and Matt Gilroy while welcoming
defencemen Marc Methot and Mike Lundin plus forward Guillaume
Latendresse. The Senators did, after all, strike out on the Justin Schultz
bidding, after coming close to winning the heart of the much-hyped, and
much sought-after, free agent college defenceman.
This we do know.
The Senators are ever-bullish on the young talent, of all shapes and sizes,
that was on display to a packed Scotiabank ice surface at the Sensplex on
a holiday Monday morning. After the players were finished their 3-on-3
tournament, many ventured outside into the sunshine, still in hockey gear,
to sign autographs.
Another successful development camp was officially in the books.
“The more you do here, the less you have to do on July 1. And on July 1
you’ve got to overpay to fill a hole,” Randy Lee, the Senators director of
hockey operations and player development said in an interview prior to the
so-called ‘free-agent frenzy’ of Canada Day. “That’s just the nature of the
business. And if we can get our own assets, develop them and make sure
they’re good people, sign the right guys, it can put you in a good position.”
Murray concurs, which was why, while reporters were asking him what else
he might do during this free agency period, he shrugged and motioned to
the rink and said: “The focus is on the kids right here.”
Adding any more veterans (now that Blue Jackets winger Rick Nash has
emphatically ruled out Ottawa as a future hockey home) could keep a
couple of worthy prospects out of the picture for another year, and Murray,
assistant GM Tim Murray, Dorion and Lee don’t want to do that.
“We’ve got to leave a spot or two open for them,” Murray said of the youth
corps.
So, who did shine at development camp?
Small but stylish forward Mike Hoffman, a 21-goal scorer for the AHL
Binghamton Senators last season, was talked about often this past week.
So, too, was Zibanejad (initially called out by head coach Paul MacLean
after an early scrimmage — wake up call?), forward Mark Stone, goaltender
Robin Lehner and defenceman Mark Borowiecki of Kanata.
Borowiecki so impressed the Senators staff he was again named the
hardest working prospect, even after the club had said there would be no
repeat winners. A stay-at-home defenceman and former Smiths Falls Bear
drafted by Ottawa in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, Borowiecki won the
award last summer.
Corey Cowick, Chris Wideman, Wacey Hamilton and Mike Sdao were also
in the running for hardest worker, behind Borowiecki.
“Consistency in every aspect,” Lee said of the guy fans call BoroCop, his
Twitter handle. “On ice, dry land, off ice, the way he treated staff and
players.
“He didn’t take his foot off the gas in one instance. It’s just professionalism.
And we said our ultimate goal is to teach you how to be a pro. Well, he’s
getting closer every time.”
Murray has said that one of Borowiecki or Patrick Wiercioch or Eric Gryba is
going to challenge for a spot on defence.
Up front, Ottawa’s sixth overall pick in 2011, Zibanejad, get an opportunity
after a difficult year in Sweden on a sluggish Djurgardens team. Does “Ziba”
think he can make the jump?
“It’s hard to say,” Zibanejad replied, after putting on a show of skills on
Monday. “Obviously, you’ve got to believe what you’re doing. I have to
believe that I can make it. You have to have that mindset … it’s tough
mentally and physically, but you have to fight hard every day.”
Having already been verbally jabbed by his coach (“I was hoping to see
more from him,” MacLean said of Zibanejad), the 21-year-old knows the
sweet reception he received here last summer is over.
“With all the pressure and everything, it’s different,” Zibanejad said. “But it’s
a learning experience. It’s fun. Especially this camp, it’s a good way to start
your off-season.”
Always enthusiastic about the prospects performances at this camp, Lee
felt the talent and work ethic of this group might have been the best he’s
seen, perhaps prodded by some strong exit interview words from Murray
after the season.
“It’s nice that they’ve taken that challenge and made themselves better
players,” Lee said.
It’s also nice that, for these 18 to 23-year-olds, summer can finally begin,
hopefully a summer no longer than usual.
Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 07.03.2012
636709
Ottawa Senators
Questions about revamped Sens
Don Brennan
Sorry to disappoint you yet again, folks.
I already feel bad enough having led you to believe the Senators had a shot
at Rick Nash, then Justin Schultz, and even a prayer of landing Zach
Parise. But believe me, they a) did with Nash until the Blue Jackets sniper
ridiculously refused to include Ottawa on the list of teams to which he’d
accept a trade, b) were runners-up on the Schultz bidding before losing out
to the former Wisconsin Badger’s desire to feed passes to a group of
talented young Edmonton Oilers and c) realized just how absurd Parise’s
contract demands were becoming.
Murray does deserve credit for his efforts. However, the bottom line is the
Senators may have actually gotten worse while other teams improved on
July 1.
Needing a replacement for Filip Kuba on the blueline, some say they
“settled” for a downgrade by acquiring Marc Methot for Nick Foligno. I
mean, I’ll like Methot better than Kuba. At least he hits people. But players
insisted Kuba was a keeper, that he significantly helped make them tick last
season. Methot may actually have big skates to fill.
And while there were complaints about Foligno’s inconsistencies, at least
we knew what we were getting with the 24-year-old winger — a good man
who would occasionally flash signs of brilliance and could be counted on for
15 goals and 40 points.
His replacement, Guillaume Latendresse, is a gamble. He has the potential
to score 30 goals, but if he runs into the injury problems that have limited
him to 27 games over the last two years — or if he shows up to camp out of
shape, as has been the knock on him in the past — Latendresse won’t have
a spot on the roster.
Now, the Senators will argue the assertion that they haven’t improved.
They’ll say Mike Lundin, a veteran of 241 NHL games, will help their
defence. There are legitimate concerns about Carkner’s knee — and no
way was Ottawa going to give him the three-year, $4.5-million deal the
reckless New York Islanders did — but even if he only plays 50 games, “Big
Country” is still one of the most feared men in the league. At least that’s
being best at something.
The Senators will also say they have a bevy of prized prospects who will
challenge for spots on the forward lines. Jakob Silfverberg will be given an
opportunity to play on the first line. Along with Latendresse, Mika Zibanejad,
Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman will be considered for a spot (two, if Daniel
Alfredsson retires) on the second line. But Zibanejad, Stone and Hoffman,
like Silfverberg, will also be rookies. Asking them to take on such a load
could be a little much. More gambles.
Perhaps to somewhat appease the ruthless media here, Murray and
director of player personnel Pierre Dorion raved about the play of Zibanejad
and Hoffman on the final day of development camp.
Zibanejad did score a couple of goals in the semi-final and the winner, a
beauty, in the championship game of a 3-on-3 scrimmage. But after
Thursday’s 5-on-5, coach Paul MacLean said he would’ve liked to have
seen more from the 2011 first-rounder.
“It’s a good way to end this week, and a smart way to end a tough week,”
Zibanejad said of his play Monday. “Obviously, you’ve got to believe what
you’re doing. I have to believe I can make it. You have to have that mindset
that you are going to make it. It’s tough, both mentally and physically. You
just have to fight every day and fight even harder every day.”
Hoffman, a speedster who led Binghamton in scoring last season, also aims
to unpack his bags here in October.
At least one of us who happened to see Tie Domi at Sensplex chatting with
Bryan Murray Monday admittedly jumped to conclusions.
After losing tough guys Matt Carkner and Zenon Konopka on Day 1 of free
agency — along with trading scrappy Nick Foligno — could the Senators
GM be trying to coax the third-highest man on the career PIM list out of
retirement?
Seems Murray has been talking to just about everybody else lately in an
attempt to upgrade his team, right? Why not old Hardhead?
Alas, the 42-year old Domi was simply checking out the Senators
development camp and catching up with acquaintances in between
tournament games for one of his sons.
So as of now, Chris Neil will basically be left to fight the good fight alone for
the Senators next season — not counting some assistance from the stillevolving Zack Smith.
“That’s my goal, coming into training camp, to work as hard as I can and
push for a spot this year,” said the former MVP of the QMJHL. “I think I’m
right there. Time will just tell.”
Indeed it will, as it will tell if the Senators have taken a step backward going
forward.
Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.03.2012
636710
Ottawa Senators
What will it be, Alfie?
By Bruce Garrioch
,Ottawa Sun
Daniel Alfredsson is keeping everybody in suspense and hasn’t made his
decision on what’s next.
While Senators GM Bryan Murray and the club’s faithful fans want to find
out whether the Ottawa captain is going to return or retire, the 39-year-old
Alfredsson is back in Sweden mulling over his next move.
The NHL’s biggest surprise last season, the Senators will have to prove
themselves all over again in 2012-13.
While Senators GM Bryan Murray and his staff opted to stay out of the hunt
for the big names — Zach Parise and Ryan Suter — on the first two days of
free agency, the club is guaranteed to have a new look in September.
“We don’t know when Daniel and his family are going to come to a final
decision. They are thinking it through and we’ll let everybody know,”
Alfredsson’s agent J.P. Barry of CAA Sports said Monday from Kelowna,
B.C.
By virtue of the departures of blueliners Filip Kuba (Florida) and Matt
Carkner (N.Y. Islanders) along with forwards Zenon Konopka (Minnesota),
Jesse Winchester (UFA) and Nick Foligno (traded to Columbus), the
Senators will have at least five new faces next season.
Though it’s believed Alfredsson is leaning towards coming back to play out
the final year of his contract, he wants to make sure he’s fully committed to
off-season training before letting the Senators know what’s next.
The biggest changes will be on defence:
If Alfredsson does return, don’t be surprised if the Senators either sign him
to a one- or two-year contract extension or open discussions on a new deal
immediately. He certainly showed last season there’s plenty of gas left in
the tank.
The Senators want Alfredsson to finish his career in Ottawa. He will be 40
in December, but if the Senators talk contract, New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur
and Dallas’ Ray Whitney are going to be used as comparables.
The 40-year-old Brodeur sniffed around the market, but agreed to sign a
two-year, $9-million deal with the Devils Monday morning. Whitney, a UFA
who spent last season in Phoenix, got a similar deal with the Stars.
Not only would an extension ensure Alfredsson doesn’t go anywhere as a
UFA, the Senators could include a signing bonus so that Alfredsson gets a
bump from the $1-million salary he’s supposed to collect 2012-13.
Murray has stated publicly in the past Alfredsson shouldn’t retire now and
should consider playing at least a couple of more seasons because he was
one of the club’s best players on many nights last season.
Alfredsson finished with 27 goals and 32 assists in 75 games last season. If
he were to walk, he’d have to be comfortable with the fact he’s retiring
without winning a Stanley Cup — and the Senators have as good a chance
of winning it as anyone.
The Senators don’t want Alfredsson to rush his decision and Murray isn’t
going to put any pressure on him, but he did place a phone call to Barry on
July 1 asking to find out what’s happening in the “not too distant future”.
Murray and owner Eugene Melnyk have a pretty good idea which way
Alfredsson is leaning. The two sides — including coach Paul MacLean and
Barry — sat down to discuss the situation during last month’s NHL Awards
in Las Vegas.
The Senators simply need to know because they’ve still got some decisions
to make. If they lost Alfredsson, they could be forced to either hit the UFA
market or make a trade to find a capable replacement.
Since the Senators are out of the running for Columbus winger Rick Nash,
they’d have to look elsewhere to find a Top 6 winger to make a trade.
There isn’t a lot left on the free-agent market that is attractive.
Murray and his staff went into free agency operating under the assumption
Alfredsson is going to be back. There’s no reason to believe that thinking
has changed, but the Senators need to hear it from the man himself.
If Alfredsson does decide to retire, he has an advisory role in the front office
waiting for him. At this juncture, though, it makes sense for him to keep
playing because he’s still contributing in a more than meaningful way.
We all just have to be patient.
636711
Ottawa Senators
New look for Sens
By Bruce Garrioch
,Ottawa Sun
n Kuba, a plus-26 last season, was a mainstay beside all-star Erik Karlsson.
The Senators wanted to keep him, but offered him a pay cut to the $3
million-range annually. The club wouldn’t match the two-year, $8-million
deal from Florida.
n Carkner was offered a one-year, $750,000 deal from the Senators. He
signed a three-year, $4.5-million contract with the Islanders, doubling his
salary from last season. The Senators give up a huge element of
toughness.
Since Ottawa-born Marc Methot was acquired from the Columbus Blue
Jackets for Foligno Sunday, you can almost be assured he’s going to play
alongside Karlsson on the club’s first defensive pairing.
Free agent Mike Lundin, who spent last season with the Minnesota Wild,
signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal. You can expect he’ll be on the club’s
third pairing with veteran Chris Phillips.
The Senators wrapped up development camp Monday at the Bell Sensplex.
You can expect that rookie Mark Borowiecki, an Ottawa native, will get a
shot to either be a sixth or seventh defenceman in training camp.
He was voted the hardest-working player for the second straight year at
development camp. That’s not something the Senators have done in the
past.
“He was unanimous because he’s already won and then there were other
guys who were super close,” said Randy Lee, director of player
development. “We’re breaking the rules to give it to the one guy who was
unanimous.
“He was just consistent in every aspect of the game: Whether it was a dryland session, an on-ice session, off-ice session, the way he treated the staff
and players. He didn’t take his foot off the gas in one instance. He just
showed professionalism.”
Up front, it will be interesting to watch as well. Konopka and Winchester
were mainly used in fourth-line roles, but both were effective. The club is
waiting anxiously for a decision on captain Daniel Alfredsson.
He returned to Sweden last week with his family. The belief is he will
honour the final year of his contract at $1 million and hold off on retirement.
As long as that’s the case, the Senators should have scoring depth up front.
But Foligno did have 47 points last season. Guillaume Latendresse, signed
Sunday, is a reclamation project with a lot to prove. He has to show that he
can stay healthy and that he can carry the load of being a Top 6 forward in
the league.
The Senators expect prospects Mika Zibanejad, Jakob Silfverberg and
Mark Stone to at least push for spots in camp. If they show they can play, it
will give Murray options to make a deal in camp.
The only concern the Senators have at the moment is toughness. Konopka
and Carkner both brought rugged elements to the game. They took
pressure off Neil to be counted on to drop the gloves all the time.
A TOUGH DECISION: Carkner, leaving on a pre-planned vacation to
Hawaii Monday, said it was tough to leave Ottawa, but he had to take the
security of a long-term deal.
“When I was talking to Bryan, I said I don’t want to sign a one-year deal,”
said Carkner. “He really didn’t want to commit past that. We sat down, we
had a good, respectful conversation. I kind of figured that was kind of going
to be it with Ottawa. I need to do what’s best for myself, for an opportunity
and for my family. It wasn’t an easy decision at all.
“Even though it was a one-year offer. I’m pretty happy where I ended up,
but still I’ve got all my friends, my family, my neighbours, that (are) going to
be pretty sad to see me go. The feeling is likewise.”
A NEW LOOK
Forwards
Jakob Silfverberg-Jason Spezza-Milan Michalek
Guillaume Latendresse-Kyle Turris-Daniel Alfredsson
Colin Greening-Zack Smith-Chris Neil
Peter Regin-Jim O’Brien-Erik Condra
Extra: Bobby Butler
Defence
Marc Methot-Erik Karlsson
Jared Cowen-Sergei Gonchar
Mike Lundin-Chris Phillips
Extra: Mark Borowiecki
Goalies
Craig Anderson
Ben Bishop
636712
Philadelphia Flyers
Sam Donnellon: Flyers' free-agency gambit
sure be a lot more fun if they continued as adversaries rather than
teammates.
As for Suter, well, he's the best defenseman on the market right now. But
he's also a lefthanded shot, with which the Flyers' blue line is already
overpopulated.
Parise had 31 goals and 69 points last season. Suter, an offensive-minded
defenseman who would fit well in Peter Laviolette's system, accumulated 46
points. Drafted the same year, Suter and Parise have played together on
several U.S. international teams beside that silver-medal Olympic squad.
They are great friends, and are said to want to end up on the same team.
Holmgren, an administrator on that U.S. Olympic team, knows both players.
Sign both and it would generate a considerable buzz here and around the
league.
But that's not Holmgren's intent here. He can't do anything about Suter's
professed desire to play anywhere but Philadelphia, or Parise's stated
desire to return as New Jersey's captain, or a wish list that has Minnesota
and Pittsburgh ahead of his team. What he can do is make it as hard as
possible on the team honoring those requests, make it harder for those
teams to acquire additional talent in-season should injuries occur, as they
always do.
But that penalty-box door swings both ways. If at least one of the other NHL
teams interested in both or either don't match or exceed Holmgren's offer
and one or both players become Flyers, Holmgren will be the one faced
with tough choices in both the immediate and not-so-distant future about
the surprising and exciting young talent already in place here. Remember,
the Flyers registered 103 points and were among the league's highestscoring teams. They just had trouble keeping the other guys off the
scoreboard.
Suter would help in that regard. So would Parise who, despite his offensive
output, is a premier defender, a great example for a young team. You could
even argue that Parise would be the better acquisition, given Suter's
offense-first reputation.
But that's assuming these offers reflect genuine interest, not free-agent
strategy.
Sam Donnellon,
IT'S CALLED gamesmanship, and it's an accepted if maddening modus
operandi of the NHL. Separate a guy's shoulder with a hit and he will
invariably be listed as having suffered a lower-body injury. Shatter his ankle
and the injury will be listed as upper-body.
What we learned over the last few days, if we didn't know it already, is that
gamesmanship is not limited to on-ice injuries. Over the weekend, Flyers
general manager Paul Holmgren made parallel 12-year, $80 million (or
more) offers to two superstars who expressed little to no prior interest in
coming to Philadelphia, setting a high early bid in an auction that, at least to
one of them, has become more complicated than anticipated.
Flyers acquire Luke Schenn
I think Holmgren is playing a gutsy game of poker here, making sure the
cash-strapped Devils pay well to keep their captain, or making sure the
Penguins fill as much of their recently opened cap space to sign him. Little
or no cap room at the start of the season means little or no wiggle room to
repair your roster when those upper-body and lower-body injuries occur
midseason. n
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.03.2012
636713
Philadelphia Flyers
Frank Seravalli: While Parise ponders, rest of hockey world anxiously waits
Frank Seravalli ,
Kings 6, Devils, 1
Flyers pack up lockers
Zach Parise headed home late Monday still without a team, the direct
result, it seems, of the Flyers' fat offer and the reverberations it created. For
the 27-year-old star, who captained the Devils' trip to the finals this season,
it accentuated the mixed emotions of staying with the team that drafted and
developed him for potentially less money, or taking full advantage of free
agency and signing for the most.
ZACH PARISE stood outside a nondescript office building in suburban
Toronto on Monday and made an important announcement, with the entire
hockey world — general managers, fans and fellow free agents alike —
hanging on every word.
Except, Parise's announcement wasn't much of an announcement at all. He
needs more time to decide his future.
Similarly, Suter, the Nashville defenseman who is said to prefer playing in
the Western Conference, might have to put a dollar value on that wish if
reports that the Flyers' bid is by far the highest out there right now.
Nearly everyone in said hockey world collectively grumbled. Parise's
decision is the domino holding up nearly every other marginal free agent
from signing.
Why do the Flyers need Zach Parise, a lefthanded shot? They don't really,
other than he is a good two-way hockey player, a team leader, and a huge
clutch performer. He had 15 points in this year's playoff run. Obscured by
Sidney Crosby's clutch overtime goal in Canada's gold-medal victory over
the United States in 2010 was the effort put forth by Parise for Team USA
that day and throughout that 2-week Olympic tournament.
Count me among those who don't understand the hostility. One of hockey's
most cerebral players should be allowed a discernment process with six
different franchises throwing nearly $100 million at him. Parise, hockey's
prized free agent at forward, played out his deal in New Jersey and has
afforded himself the right to decide.
Parise's dirty goal in front of the net with 24 seconds left in regulation was
the only reason Canada needed Sid The Kid's overtime winner. It would
"The goal is to make the most informed decision I can," Parise said in a
statement. "I'm not putting a deadline on anything. It's such a long-term,
important decision. You have to make sure you look at everything."
Not coincidentally, Parise's defensive counterpart, Ryan Suter, is doing the
same, deliberating some 500 miles to the west in Wisconsin, where
lucrative offers also rest on his table.
Sam Carchidi
Where do the Flyers stand in all this? They've made substantial, 12-year
offers to both players, as reported on Monday, ranging somewhere from
$80 million to $100 million.
After sending Twitter atwitter late Monday afternoon, free-agent left winger
Zach Parise delayed his decision on a team, saying he needed more time
to confer with his fiancée and family on where he would take his talents.
Chatter from these tight-lipped meetings peg the Flyers as an outlying
possibility.
The Flyers are among the teams that have made offers to Parise and
defenseman Ryan Suter, the jewels of this year's free-agent market. Their
decisions may be announced Tuesday.
For Parise and Suter, it's not out of the question that they return to their
original teams, in New Jersey and Nashville, respectively. Both players
have suited up more than 500 times in their respective uniforms, the only
ones they've ever worn since being drafted 10 picks apart in 2003.
Speaking to reporters outside his agent's office in Toronto, Parise said he
would return to his Minnesota home and discuss matters with his family.
Parise said he was going home to discuss his options with his fiancée and
family. Home for Parise is in Minnesota, not New Jersey, and his hometown
Wild are one of the front-runners. At the same time, thoughts of skating on
a wing with Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby — also known as an instant ticket to
the Hall of Fame — have made the decision quite a bit tougher.
In a text to reporter Mike Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Parise
wrote, "[All I] can say is we made a lot of progress and we are closer today
than yesterday."
It is believed that Suter would like to remain in the Western Conference,
though the Flyers and Penguins have made a hard push for him to come
East. Detroit, Nashville and Minnesota are all throwing their money around.
As it stands, it seems most likely the Flyers will land neither ace. Given the
sky-high prices, the labor uncertainty, and the potential free-agent class
next season, that might not be such a bad thing.
The Flyers, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Detroit, and Chicago are believed to still
be on Parise's list, and he hasn't ruled out returning to New Jersey.
"It's such a long-term, important decision, you have to make sure you look
at everything," Parise told reporters in Toronto.
After word leaked that Parise was about to make a decision, Twitter
exploded with comments and guesses.
About five minutes later, Parise cleared the air, saying he needed more
time.
Think about it: In one more year, the free agents are better — with Shea
Weber, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, to name a few — and the Flyers'
young guns will have 1 more year under their belts. The salary cap will be
going up again and Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell will be coming off
the books.
The Flyers reportedly have made 12-year offers for more than $80 million
each to Parise and Suter, who are both 27. They are expected to receive,
on average, $7 million to $8 million per season.
With either Suter or Parise, or both, the Flyers will be in salary-cap hell for
the foreseeable future. And they will need to extend Claude Giroux to a
massive contract at some point. There are maybe a handful of players in
the NHL worth $100 million — and these two aren't part of that elite group.
It seems their decisions will be based more on their comfort level with the
city in which they play - and not on who offers the biggest contract.
The only problem is that it is believed the Flyers made a significantly higher
monetary offer to both Parise and Suter than many of the other teams in the
bidding war. Part of that, one would think, is to drive up the price for their
Atlantic Division foes in Pittsburgh and New Jersey. In this high-stakes
poker game, the Flyers are pot-committed at this point to at least see the
flop.
If the flop is looking ugly, as it does right now, whenever Parise and Suter
decide to pare down their lists, the Flyers should get a jump on the
remaining market to fill their holes at right wing and defense.
Matt Carle and Jaromir Jagr are still on the market, and their stock is rising
every hour that Parise and Suter go unsigned. Any one of those teams in
the bidding war sees Carle as a second-best to Suter and Jagr as a
stopgap after Parise.
Parise only finished with 15 more points than Jagr last season in nine more
games.
Although the Canadiens were believed to be a front-runner for Jagr,
Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin said Monday he has no interest.
Teams out of the Suter sweepstakes, like St. Louis — which is looking for a
lefthanded defenseman to play on the point with Alex Pietrangelo — are
lurking for Carle.
By nature, the Flyers are not a very patient team. That could work to their
advantage here, with any inkling that Parise or Suter is not coming to
Philadelphia. Carle already watched lesser defensemen Dennis Wideman
($5.25 million) and Jason Garrison ($4.7 million) cash in over the last few
days. He is next in line.
Everyone is just waiting for the other skate to drop. For the Flyers, it just
may be in their best interest to kick it off. n
636714
Or more.
Parise said the Devils' financial situation was not a factor.
Until Parise and Suter make their decisions, they are holding some teams
hostage. Several teams are waiting to see whether they land one of the
stars before they pursue other free agents or trades.
"We're just focused on the two free agents," one Flyers executive said when
asked whether the team had made any headway in trade talks for
Anaheim's Bobby Ryan or Columbus' Rick Nash.
The Flyers also are in the running for right winger Jaromir Jagr, 40, and
defenseman Matt Carle, 27, two free agents they may re-sign.
If the Flyers do not land Parise, they could turn their attention to Phoenix's
Shane Doan, a 6-foot-1, 223-pound right winger who scored 22 goals last
season.
Doan, who will turn 36 just before the season, will not sign until July 9, by
which time it should be known whether the Coyotes will stay in Phoenix. His
first choice is to sign with Phoenix and spend his 17th season with the
team.
Doan has scored at least 20 goals in 11 of the last 12 seasons.
As for Jagr, he reportedly is seeking $4 million per year after making $3.3
million last season, when he had 19 goals and 54 points.
Should the Flyers be unable to sign a marquee unrestricted free agent,
would they turn their attention toward Shea Weber and give the star
Nashville defenseman an offer sheet?
Highly unlikely, said someone familiar with the situation.
Weber is a restricted free agent, and Nashville would have the right to
match the offer and retain him.
Trial on the Isle. Flyers prospects will participate in the annual "Trial on the
Isle" competition, followed by a charity softball tournament, on July 11 in
Stone Harbor, N.J. All proceeds will benefit Flyers Charities, with a donation
going to American Legion Post No. 31.
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers wait for decisions by free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter
The day will begin with a 9 a.m. swim in the ocean, followed by a run
starting at the 96th Street beach to 123d Street. The prospects then will
take part in team-building activities led by members of the military as they
make their way back to the 96th Street beach.
At noon, Flyers prospects will host a clinic in the parking lot of Stone Harbor
Elementary School at 275 93d St., and another clinic will be held at 3 p.m.
at the 80th Street blacktop.
The prospects will be available to sign autographs at the school from 1:30
to 3:15 p.m. The admission fee is a $10 donation to Flyers Charities. Fans
will receive a team photo of the prospects.
The prospects will play a charity softball game at 4 p.m. at the 80th Street
field. At 5:30, a barbecue will be held at the Stone Harbor Yacht Club. Fans
can make a reservation to have dinner with the prospects by calling 609368-1201.
636715
Philadelphia Flyers
*Here is how the Flyers may look next season and the gaps they are trying
to fill:
Line 1: Hartnell-Giroux-XXXXX.
Line 2: Read-Briere-Simmonds.
Line 3: Talbot-Couturier-Voracek.
Line 4: Rinaldo-B.Schenn-Wellwood
DEFENSE
Coburn-Grossman.
Timonen-Meszaros.
L. Schenn-XXXXXXXX.
GOALIES
Parise, Suter holding Flyers hostage
Bryzgalov-Leighton.
Sam Carchidi
Left winger Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter, the prized players in
this year’s free-agent market, are taking their sweet time before selecting
their teams.
As a result, numerous teams are being held hostage, including the Flyers.
“We’re just focused on the two free agents,” said one Flyers executive when
asked if the team had made any headway in trade talks for Anaheim’s
Bobby Ryan or Columbus’ Rick Nash.
Parise had said he expected to make a decision sometime Monday, but at
about 5 p.m. he announced he needed more time to discuss the situation
with his family. He may announce his choice on Tuesday.
Suter is also still mulling over his options.
The Flyers have reportedly made 12-year deals to both players for more
than $80 million each.
Like the other teams in the free-agent sweepstakes, the Flyers are playing
a waiting game and trying to be patient.
They "truly don't know" where they stand with the free agents, said one
source close to the situation.
Parise told reporters he needed to feel more comfortable before making his
choice.
"It's such a long-term, important decision, you have to make sure you look
at everything," he said.
636716
Philadelphia Flyers
Decision by Parise still on hold
By Wayne Fish
This is taking more time than a Jody Shelley breakaway.
After two days of deliberation, free-agent winger Zach Parise still hasn’t
made up his mind where he wants to sign and play.
There are various media reports of Parise receiving offers in excess of $100
million over a span of about 10 seasons. The Flyers have a confirmed
substantial offer on the table, as do a number of other teams, reportedly
including Pittsburgh, Chicago, Minnesota and New Jersey.
Parise, who has spent his entire career with the New Jersey Devils,
addressed the media in Mississauga, Ont., shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday
and said he needs more time.
“I’m getting closer but haven’t made a decision,” Parise told reporters. “I
haven’t set any deadlines.”
Problem is, Parise’s indecisiveness apparently is holding up a number of
teams from making plans with other free agents.
The Devils’ captain has registered 194 goals and 410 points in 502 games
in his NHL career.
Suter’s decision is also holding up Matt Carle’s selection. Carle’s agent
does not want his client to sign until Suter makes his pick. After Suter
makes his choice, Carle figures to move up the ranks on some teams’ wish
lists.
Last season, the 27-year-old Parise produced 31 goals and 69 points while
playing in all 82 games. He was a key player in getting the Devils to the
Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.
On Twitter, fans were getting impatient.
Earlier Monday, New Jersey free-agent goaltender Martin Brodeur returned
to the Devils by signing a two-year, $9 million deal.
Tweeted mindofbrian: open heart surgery is done faster than #Parise
picking a team. #thisguysisntGretzky.
Tweeted adameagle13: someone tell parise and suter to hurry up.
Checking twitter every 2 mins is making me an unproductive employee
#parisewatch
Parise's agent issued a statement saying the LW wants to step back and
review options with his fiance and his family.
Doan Watch. If the Flyers don’t land Parise, they may make a pitch for
Phoenix’s Shane Doan, a dependable 6-foot-1, 228-pound right winger who
scored 22 goals last season.
Doan, who will turn 36 just before the season, will not sign until July 9, by
which time it should be known if the Coyotes will stay in Phoenix. His first
choice is to sign with Phoenix and spend his 17th season with the team.
Doan has scored at least 20 goals in 11 of the last 12 seasons.
The Flyers are still in the hunt for Jaromir Jagr; the 40-year-old RW is
reportedly seeking $4 million per season after making $3.3 million last year.
It is believed that Brodeur then made a pitch to Parise to return to the
Devils, citing the team’s recent success and bright future despite some
uncertainty in the team’s ownership and financial outlook.
Meanwhile, the free-agent market’s other big player, former Nashville
defenseman Ryan Suter, also failed to make a decision on a possible
landing spot.
Trade rumors circulated throughout the day. Both Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan
and Columbus’ Rick Nash continue to be the most speculated players to be
changing addresses and the Flyers apparently have some interest in both.
However, general manager Paul Holmgren has stated that he’s reluctant to
part with such promising prospects as Sean Couturier or Brayden Schenn.
Burlington County Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
636717
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers give Leighton a shot at redemption
By ROB PARENT
As predicted, Paul Holmgren was very active Sunday on the first day of
NHL free agent shopping.
As wasn’t predicted, that only produced the not-so-long-awaited return of
Michael Leighton.
Yes, Leighton. The goalie who gave up a hideous goal two years ago that
gave the Stanley Cup to the Chicago Blackhawks instead of giving the
Flyers one last, Game 7 chance to win it.
Yes, that Michael Leighton. The guy who went from giving up that 90degree Patrick Kane goal in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals to
serving a two-year sentence for it with the minor-league Phantoms in New
York’s upstate hill country.
“Obviously, you think about it,” Leighton said. “You’re that close to winning
the Stanley Cup and you lose that way, it was tough. I’m sure it’s going to
be on my mind the rest of my life. But in a way I think it’s helped me. It’s
made me change a few things about my game and make sure that it
doesn’t happen again.
“I’ve been working on my game the last two years. But no, it’s not
something that’s going to go away. Maybe if I win the Stanley Cup next year
it’ll go away.”
Well ... not likely. But at least Leighton’s optimism is well placed in
Philadelphia. For just as the Flyers are a retro organization that never has a
problem celebrating its past with an almost religious fervor, they also are a
team that believes in second chances.
With Ilya Bryzgalov locked in as a starter for the next several decades or so
... presuming HBO doesn’t offer him a talk show ... the Flyers found it
comfortable to offer Bryzgalov therapeutic support with a backup goalie he
knows. And for financial convenience, one who is relatively cheap.
Leighton, 31, was re-signed Sunday by the Flyers to a one-year, one-way
contract worth $900,000. On and mostly off, he’s been a part of the
Philadelphia hockey landscape since 2006, with more than a couple of
other stops in-between. His most significant stabs at creating an NHL
career were with Carolina and Chicago, but for a short time in there
Leighton met the acquaintance of one Mr. Bryzgalov, hockey’s bearish
goalie with a view straight out of the woods.
That shouldn’t be much of a sell. For as far as Leighton goes, the Flyers
have been here, done this before. And since Leighton became an AHL allstar last season, perhaps his penance has been properly paid.
“I’ve gotten a lot of support from the Flyers organization,” Leighton said.
“We’ve had a good relationship the last two years, and even when I was in
the minors, I was speaking to them frequently, and they were letting me
know that they still liked me and were still interested in me. My year-end
meeting (in May) was no different. I talked to Homer and he showed interest
in me right away. That’s a good feeling, and it would have been a lot
different if I would have went down there and never heard from them, and
didn’t know that they were still liking me as a goalie and as a person.”
Holmgren, who busied himself on the first day of the free agency period
enough to be unavailable for comment, seems to have been won over by
this re-remade Leighton. But that Kane goal likely will be forever tied to
Leighton and his relationship with the Flyers.
“There’s a lot of fans that are still sour about it, and obviously I’m not happy
about the way things went either,” Leighton said. “But what happened
happened, and I have to move on in my life. This is a good step for me.”
Delaware County Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
636718
Philadelphia Flyers
Everything depending on Parise and Suter
RANDY MILLER
• Martin Brodeur signs a two-year $9 million contract to remain with the New
Jersey Devils.
Another NHL lockout may be coming in September when the league’s CBA
expires. Meantime, the Flyers and a bunch of other anxious clubs have
gone into lockdown waiting to see if left wing Zach Parise and defenseman
Ryan Suter will accept their pot of gold.
The two most-coveted free agents in this year’s crop were expected to
make decisions shortly after the signing period began at noon Sunday, then
when nothing materialized right away, they supposedly were going to sleep
on it and announce a decision on Monday.
By Monday night, both still were weighing offers.
“I don’t have to try to be friends with him, I am friends with him,” Leighton
said of The Bryz. “We’ve had not a close relationship because I haven’t
been there, but I knew him from the Anaheim organization, and obviously
the beginning of the year last year in training camp, I was there early. I
know what kind of guy he is. He’s a nice guy, he’s a good goalie, and I’m
actually really looking forward to playing with him, and watching him and
learning from him.”
Suter is going through the same process.
After so many career highs and lows, you might wonder what else Leighton
has to learn. But to that end, you might start with the way he ticked off the
Flyers after he gave up that goal to Kane.
The Flyers submitted 10-year offers to both, reportedly the most lucrative,
but getting both, one or neither will affect everything else they did this
offseason.
First, a brief history lesson: Leighton started out by bouncing between AHL
Norfolk and Chicago, was shipped to Buffalo where he couldn’t crack the
big-team lineup, went to Anaheim where he got to know Bryzgalov, and
actually started a game for the Ducks when The Bryz and J.S. Giguere
were hurt. He then went to Nashville and flopped there, which is when the
Flyers first signed him in 2006.
For instance, if the Flyers get Suter, veteran blueliner Matt Carle almost
certainly will end up somewhere else instead of re-signing. And if Parise
opts for Philly, then it’s a pretty safe bet that on-the-block, high-scoring
forwards Rick Nash and Bobby Ryan will be traded elsewhere.
Since then, it’s been a roller-coaster ride between Philly, Carolina and back
again. And finally, after being signed to a nice new contract after that 2010
run to the Finals, Leighton promptly blew his chance at being a starter by
going on injured reserve with back problems.
Oh, and he forgot to tell the Flyers about that before he signed the contract.
“The last two seasons, I think, I was put in a spot because of injuries,”
Leighton said about his two-year tour with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate in
Adirondack. “I understand what Homer did and why he had to do it. It was
obviously tough for me. But I’m happy about coming back to the NHL. I’m
excited, and for me to be a backup, I’ve done it before. I’ve just got to work
hard and show the team that I’m ready to go in if they need me.”
“I’m getting closer, but haven’t made a decision,” Parise told reporters late
Monday afternoon outside his agent’s office in suburban Toronto. “It’s such
a long-term, important decision, you have to make sure you look at
everything.”
All the while, 40-year-old right wing Jaromir Jagr is rumored to be looking
for a one-year, $4 million offer – up from the $3.3 million he earned last
season in his first season with the Flyers. Jagr reportedly turned down an
offer to sign with Calgary and was said to be deciding whether he wants to
stay with the Flyers or sign with a group of interested suitors that includes
Edmonton and Detroit.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has been unavailable for interviews
the last two days, but one of his comments after the NHL Draft two
weekends ago still applies: “Who knows what tomorrow is going to bring.”
Parise is only saying returning to the Devils is an option, but apparently
narrowed his list of possible teams to five other teams on Sunday night –
the Flyers, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh and New
Jersey are believed to be the favorites.
Parise, who turns 28 later this month, had 31 goals and 69 points in 82
regular-season games last season, plus eight goals and 15 points in 24
playoff games.
If the Flyers don’t get Parise, they may trade some of their young talent to
land Ryan or Nash.
A Cherry Hill native, Ryan is on the block after averaging 33 goals over his
first four NHL seasons with Anaheim. Buffalo and the New York Rangers
are thought to be the Flyers’ biggest competition for Ryan.
A five-time All-Star, Nash has averaged 31 goals over nine seasons with
Columbus, but has had a falling out with his only pro organization and is a
sure bet to be dealt this summer.
Suter, 27, would do that in a big way. One of the best puck-moving
blueliners in hockey, he was a first-time All-Star last season for Nashville,
scoring 7 goals and a career-high 46 points over 79 games.
If Suter signs with anyone other than the Flyers - Detroit is the favorite Philly might step up efforts to re-sign Matt Carle, whom they've been saying
they planned on keeping.
A Flyer since joining the team from Tampa Bay in a November 2008 trade,
Carle is weighing options after previously seeming a lock to return to Philly.
There have been rumors that the Flyers have been in trade talks for Nash,
but the Columbus Dispatch reported on Monday that the teams in the hunt
are the Rangers, Detroit, San Jose, Carolina and Ottawa.
The Flyers improved their defense last weekend by trading left wing James
van Reimsdyk to Toronto for Luke Schenn, but improving their blueline still
is thought to be a high priority.
The Flyers acquiring Parise, Nash or Ryan, however, wouldn’t address their
perceived No. 1 need - improving their defense.
Suter and Carle were still available as of Monday morning, but three of the
top free agent defensemen available already were gone:
Suter, 27, would in a big way.
- Jason Garrison, who used his big shot to score 16 goals last season,
decided to leave Florida for Vancouver on Sunday night for a 6-year, $27.6million deal - an annual $4.6 million cap hit.
One of the best puck-moving blueliners in hockey, he was a first-time AllStar last season for Nashville, scoring seven goals and a career-high 46
points over 79 games.
If Suter signs with anyone other than the Flyers - Detroit is the favorite Philly figures to step up efforts to re-sign Carle, whom seemed a good bet
to return until the last few days.
- Justin Schultz, one of the league's top prospects although never playing
beyond above the college level, was drafted by Anaheim in 20xx, became a
free agent via a CBA loophole and decided late Saturday to sign with
Edmonton, which used the last three first overall picks in the draft to stock
up on talent at forward - Adam Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail
Yakupov.
Three of the top free agent defensemen already are gone, as Jason
Garrison left Florida to sign a six-year, $27.6 million deal with Vancouver;
Dennis Wideman went from Washington to Calgary in a trade-and-sign for
five years and $26.25 million; and touted rookie Justin Schultz, a free agent
on a loophole, signed with Edmonton.
- Dennis Wideman, an All-Star last season, had his rights traded from
Washington to Calgary last week, then quickly landed a deal with the
Flames that was more lucrative that many expected him to get - 5 years,
$26.25 million, a $5.25 million cap hit annually.
Courier-Post LOADED: 07.03.2012
636719
636720
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
RANDY MILLER
RANDY MILLER
One way or the other, today figures to be a big day for the Flyers.
One way or the other, today figures to be a big day for the Flyers.
They're not the favorites, but general manager Paul Holmgren reportedly
has 10-year offers for big bucks on the table for the top two unrestricted
free agents, defenseman Ryan Suter and left wing Zach Parise.
They're not the favorites, but general manager Paul Holmgren reportedly
has 10-year offers for big bucks on the table for the top two unrestricted
free agents, defenseman Ryan Suter and left wing Zach Parise.
Parise is expected to make his decision on Monday, while Suter has
suggested he may wait a few days to weigh offers.
Parise is expected to make his decision on Monday, while Suter has
suggested he may wait a few days to weigh offers.
The Flyers will be instantly a whole lot better if one of them opts for Philly,
but potentially have a much tougher road getting through the Eastern
Conference next season if one or both opt for Pittsburgh, the favorite to get
Parise and a candidate to land Suter.
The Flyers will be instantly a whole lot better if one of them opts for Philly,
but potentially have a much tougher road getting through the Eastern
Conference next season if one or both opt for Pittsburgh, the favorite to get
Parise and a candidate to land Suter.
Parise narrowed his list of options Sunday night. Minnesota and Detroit also
are reportedly in the running, as well as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and his old
team, New Jersey.
Parise narrowed his list of options Sunday night. Minnesota and Detroit also
are reportedly in the running, as well as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and his old
team, New Jersey.
Parise, who will turn 28 on July 28, captained New Jersey to the Stanley
Cup Final last season. The 2009 All-Star had 31 goals and 69 points in 82
regular-season games, then 8 goals and 15 points in 24 playoff games.
Parise, who will turn 28 on July 28, captained New Jersey to the Stanley
Cup Final last season. The 2009 All-Star had 31 goals and 69 points in 82
regular-season games, then 8 goals and 15 points in 24 playoff games.
If the Flyers don't get Parise, they may make a run at trading for Columbus
All-Star left wing Rick Nash, who has been on the trading block for at least
five months and is expected to be moved this summer.
If the Flyers don't get Parise, they may make a run at trading for Columbus
All-Star left wing Rick Nash, who has been on the trading block for at least
five months and is expected to be moved this summer.
There have been reports that the Flyers have been in serious talks with
Columbus for Nash, but the Columbus Dispatch reported on Monday that
the teams in the hunt are the New York Rangers, Detroit, San Jose,
Carolina and Ottawa.
There have been reports that the Flyers have been in serious talks with
Columbus for Nash, but the Columbus Dispatch reported on Monday that
the teams in the hunt are the New York Rangers, Detroit, San Jose,
Carolina and Ottawa.
New York, Detroit and San Jose are on a list of teams Nash will waive the
no-movement clause in his contract to accept a trade. The Flyers also are
on that list, but weren't mentioned in the story.
New York, Detroit and San Jose are on a list of teams Nash will waive the
no-movement clause in his contract to accept a trade. The Flyers also are
on that list, but weren't mentioned in the story.
The Flyers getting Parise or Nash, however, won't address their No. 1 need
- improving their defense.
The Flyers getting Parise or Nash, however, won't address their No. 1 need
- improving their defense.
Suter, 27, would do that in a big way. One of the best puck-moving
blueliners in hockey, he was a first-time All-Star last season for Nashville,
scoring 7 goals and a career-high 46 points over 79 games.
If Suter signs with anyone other than the Flyers - Detroit is the favorite Philly might step up efforts to re-sign Matt Carle, whom they've been saying
they planned on keeping.
A Flyer since joining the team from Tampa Bay in a November 2008 trade,
Carle is weighing options after previously seeming a lock to return to Philly.
The Flyers improved their defense last weekend by trading left wing James
van Reimsdyk to Toronto for Luke Schenn, but improving their blueline still
is thought to be a high priority.
Suter and Carle were still available as of Monday morning, but three of the
top free agent defensemen available already were gone:
- Jason Garrison, who used his big shot to score 16 goals last season,
decided to leave Florida for Vancouver on Sunday night for a 6-year, $27.6million deal - an annual $4.6 million cap hit.
- Justin Schultz, one of the league's top prospects although never playing
beyond above the college level, was drafted by Anaheim in 20xx, became a
free agent via a CBA loophole and decided late Saturday to sign with
Edmonton, which used the last three first overall picks in the draft to stock
up on talent at forward - Adam Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail
Yakupov.
- Dennis Wideman, an All-Star last season, had his rights traded from
Washington to Calgary last week, then quickly landed a deal with the
Flames that was more lucrative that many expected him to get - 5 years,
$26.25 million, a $5.25 million cap hit annually.
636721
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan's decision may exceed deadline
After weeks of silence, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced on
Monday he has suspended Coyotes winger Raffi Torres 21 games for an
illegal hit to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa during
Game 3 of the first-round playoff series.
This new ruling was issued after Torres met with Bettman on May 17 to
appeal the 25-game suspension handed to him by league disciplinarian
Brendan Shanahan on April 21.
Torres served 13 games, missing out the Coyotes' run to the Western
Conference finals, and after sitting out the final eight games, he will be
eligible to return Nov. 2 in Ottawa. Torres is not able to play in preseason
games, and he will forfeit approximately $170,000 in salary.
Moss in the mix
While the team's run to the Western Conference finals didn't resolve its
ongoing ownership saga, it did seem to help the Coyotes court forward
David Moss.
"When they called and expressed interest and kind of told me where they
saw me fitting in, I was really excited and happy to be going to a team that's
a contender," said Moss, who signed a two-year deal with the club on
Sunday.
That "contender" label overshadowed any misgivings Moss might have had
about committing to a team without an owner.
"It didn't seem to be a factor," he said. "Talking with Phoenix they seemed
to be pretty confident that everything would be worked out, and that was
good enough for me."
The 30-year-old missed most of last season after requiring surgery to fix an
ankle injury caused by a blocked shot. During the course of his six-season
career, injuries have been a reoccurring theme as Moss has finished only
one full season.
But that didn't scare the Coyotes. They've monitored Moss for the past
couple years and with associate coach Jim Playfair's insight from when he
coached Moss in Calgary, the Coyotes figured Moss would be a smart
addition to the third line.
By Sarah McLellan
"He's a big versatile winger," General Manager Don Maloney said. "He can
play center; he can play right wing. He can go to the net on the power play.
We see him as a 20-plus goal scorer if Dave's healthy. We just like his
upside."
A final decision on Shane Doan's destination for the upcoming season
could exceed the July 9 deadline set by the current Coyotes captain.
Seeing stars
Doan is expected to start negotiations next Monday, but there is no timeline
for when he will pick and sign with a team, Doan's agent Terry Bross
explained.
"What people need to understand about this guy is it would have been very
easy for me (on Sunday) to taken some of the teams I've spoken to and
said, 'OK, let's get something done," said Bross, who began representing
Doan in October 2011. "(Doan) especially said to me, 'Listen, we're not
taking offers. You can tell teams I'm interested, but we're not even taking
offers until we know what's happening at home.'"
Doan's camp feels it will have a clearer understanding of the Coyotes
possible future in Glendale by July 9 because that's when the city says
signatures are due for a possible referendum on prospective owner Greg
Jamison's lease agreement.
Two Glendale residents have been working on a petition to add an item on
the November ballot in hopes of squashing the deal with Jamison.
Doan hasn't ruled out a one-year deal, but that option isn't as appealing as
a multi-year contract.
Although they allocated money to chase veteran Ray Whitney, Maloney
wasn't surprised to see the 40-year-old sign elsewhere.
Whitney settled on the Dallas Stars, a division rival, and a two-year contract
worth $9 million.
"It was the combination of his age, the uncertainty of the marketplace, the
uncertainty of the CBA," Maloney said. "Even looking at our future down the
road, when we're looking at talking with Mike Smith this summer. We're
looking at (Oliver) Ekman-Larsson's contract coming up in the next season.
Even Mike Boedker's contract. There are a lot of reasons to be hesitant
signing him to more than a one-year deal."
Maloney said the decision not to offer a second year was not influenced by
the league, which is maintaining the team's payroll in the absence of an
owner.
"There was no inference or impact," Maloney said. "The league has been
excellent. I let them know what they're doing. I let them know why I'm doing
it. They never have ever questioned what we've done here. This is really us
and our decision from where we're going as a team and where we want to
be a year from now, two years from now."
Said Bross: "He's like, 'I'm not going anywhere provided we can get
ownership in place. The only thing that might make me consider it is we
don't get ownership. I don't know if I can go through what we went through
the last three years not knowing where we're going to be next year.'"
Waiting game
If Doan considers other teams, many factors would play into his decision,
Bross said, including management, relationship with the players and the
team's chances of winning the Stanley Cup. Eight teams expressed interest
in Doan when the free agency period opened on Sunday.
"We're just cautious," Maloney said. "Right now everybody's looking for
more than we're willing to spend. I don't blame them, but we're looking for
maybe a little higher skill offensive players now."
"I don't think he'll ever completely rule out Phoenix," Bross said.
Torres ruling
The Coyotes have not ruled out bringing back free agent forwards Taylor
Pyatt and Daymond Langkow.
Before free agency started, Pyatt's agent Todd Christie said Pyatt hadn't
thought about testing the market because he wanted to remain in Phoenix.
"Given how the team did this year, there's some unfinished business in
terms of taking the team further than it went and he'd like to be a part of
that," Christie said.
Ice chips
- The Coyotes signed right winger Chris Conner to a one-year, two-way
contract.
- Maloney has pegged goalie Chad Johnson, signed by the club on Sunday,
as the team's third goalie entering training camp. The second spot with the
Coyotes' AHL affiliate is up for grabs among Mark Visentin, Mike Lee and
Louis Domingue.
- It didn't take long for veteran defenseman Adrian Aucoin to find a new
home. Aucoin signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, scoring a
one-year deal worth $2 million.
"It was a great group of guys, the players and the coaches," Aucoin told
Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch. "It just gelled. We didn't have
one superstar on that team. We had a lot of really good players, but no
stars. It just shows how far you can go if everybody buys into the system.
That's what I'll always take away from my three years there."
Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.03.2012
636722
Phoenix Coyotes
"It gave them a little exposure to what it's like out here practicing and
traveling with the team," Treliving said. "The goalies were helping a little bit,
but at that particular time (Mike) Smith was focusing on the task at hand.
But those guys helped them along and steered them in the right direction."
Visentin has been able to connect with goaltender Jason LaBarbera, who
joined the Coyotes a year before Visentin was drafted 27th overall in 2010.
"He's always been really nice to me, kind of took me under his wing and
teaches me things here and there," Visentin said. "It was cool to see how
Smitty and Barbs operate."
Turning pro can be a scary time for any junior hockey player, but Visentin is
simply taking it one day at a time and not getting too caught up in the
process.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to turn pro, and it's always
been my goal to play in the NHL and win a Stanley Cup one day," Visentin
said. "I understand the maturity process, and I'm willing to do whatever I
have to do to make it there eventually."
"Just take it step by step and not get too high or too low in the process and
have a great summer and make sure I can make a statement come training
camp."
636723
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes prospect Mark Visentin makes most of chances
Glendale council candidates call for delay in signing Phoenix Coyotes deal
By Tariq Lee –
By Lisa Halverstadt
The Coyotes' Mark Visentin was one of four goalies at last week's Coyotes
Developmental Camp and the youngest of the quartet.
It was the Waterdown, Ontario, native's third appearance at the camp in
Scottsdale -- but this one was a little different since he has turned pro.
Visentin, who will be 20 in August, signed an entry-level contract with the
Coyotes in 2011 but terms were not disclosed; according to Capgeek.com,
the deal was for three years, $2.7 million.
"He's real competitive for a young guy; he takes his craft very seriously,"
said Brad Treliving, Coyotes vice president of hockey operations/assistant
general manager. "He's always looking at ways to improve; he's a very
driven kid, and he's got ability."
Visentin has played in the Ontario Hockey League finals and has earned a
bronze and silver medal at the past two World Junior Championships for
Team Canada.
"When you have that combination of somebody who's got ability at the
position he plays and is really determined to be good, those are good
building blocks and foundation," Treliving said.
Visentin debuted in the OHL in 2008-09, appearing in 23 games for the
Niagara IceDogs and finishing with a 3.31 goals-against average.
Just two years later, he had the most impressive season in his young
career, being named OHL Goaltender of the Year with a 2.52 goals-against
average.
"One of the biggest goals I strive off of is getting better and better each and
every year," Visentin said. "I was fortunate enough to come into a scenario
in Niagara where the team was not very good and we progressively rebuilt
and got better as the years went on, to the point where this past year was
the year to go for. We had a great team in front of me, but we fell just short."
He had the lowest goals-against average in the OHL last season at 1.99
and recorded 10 shutouts but Niagara lost in the finals in five games.
"It's tough when you're on a team that you are used to winning on and you
face some adversity and start losing, it definitely changes the swing of
things," Visentin said. "I think just being around that and seeing how people
reacted and our team reacted, you can use that to your advantage in the
future."
But Visentin's season didn't end there. The Coyotes front office decided to
bring the goaltenders in their prospect pool along during their playoff run to
the Western Conference finals.
Seven candidates vying for seats on the Glendale City Council oppose the
current council's approval of a Phoenix Coyotes deal and made those views
clear on Monday.
The candidates, including mayoral contenders Walt Opaska and Jerry
Weiers, signed a letter that requested interim City Manager Horatio Skeete
delay signing the lease agreement with Coyotes suitor Greg Jamison.
The letter comes amid two potential ballot measures that could cripple the
city's 20-year, $324 million agreement, which the current council approved
last month.
One group is gathering signatures to refer the Coyotes deal to the
November ballot. Another hopes to reverse the 2.9 percent city sales tax
increase and require a citizen vote on any future tax hikes.
"We are concerned there may not be ample funds to pay everything the
lease promises," the group wrote. "We also believe Glendale should take
this position before Greg Jamison buys the team. The city should be able to
do this without having legal problems or penalties."
Opaska and Sahuaro District council candidates Diane Douglas and
Anthony Kern personally delivered the letter Monday.
"I've been knocking on doors and talking to (residents) in person and
they've really lost a lot of trust in city government," Kern told the interim city
manager. "They feel they're being taxed to support the arena."
Douglas and Opaska said the city should slow down the process to
determine whether it's making the right decision.
Skeete promised to share the letter with other city officials, including the
current council.
"I will also share this information with Mr. Jamison," he said. "He needs to
know there are some people who are running for council and mayor who do
not support this management agreement."
The former San Jose Sharks chief executive will need to decide if he wants
to buy the team knowing future council members might not support
appropriating money for the management agreement, Skeete said.
The interim city manager also acknowledged that if the sales-tax increase
were reversed, the city would have to consider whether it could afford the
annual $10 million to $20 million operations fee.
When asked when the deal with Jamison would go into effect, Skeete said
the lease agreement with Jamison won't go into effect until he buys the
franchise from the National Hockey League, which temporarily purchased
the Coyotes in 2009 after the former owner filed the team into bankruptcy.
The NHL last week agreed to extend its agreement to operate the cityowned Jobing.com Arena until at least Aug. 1.
Skeete told The Republic he could not provide a timeline for when Jamison
might purchase the team.
The sports executive had been waiting for a Maricopa County Superior
Court judge's ruling on whether Glendale's vote could be invalidated by a
Goldwater Institute challenge.
Because the judge last week ruled in the city's favor, Skeete said he
believes Jamison is moving forward with efforts to buy the team.
But the ballot measures could complicate things.
Jamison, the NHL and city officials will learn in coming days whether the
ballot measures are a go. Signatures for the initiative on the sales-tax hike
must be filed by Thursday. Signatures for a referendum on the Coyotes
deal must be filed by Monday, according to the city. Petition gatherers and
a Goldwater attorney disagree, saying they should have until July 16
because the city didn't immediately provide necessary paperwork.
Candidates' letter on Coyotes deal
At 11:42 of the first period during Game 3 on April 17, Torres connected his
left shoulder with Hossa's head after Hossa lost control of the puck in the
neutral zone.
Torres left his feet, and the hit was an example of interference, charging
and an illegal check to the head.
Hossa had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher, suffering a severe
concussion.
Before the incident, Torres had received supplemental discipline five times
in his 11-year career, including a fine and suspension during the 2011-12
regular season.
Hockey League," Bettman said in a statement. "We have seen similar
behavior before from Mr. Torres and, particularly given the League's
this incident, and the League's response to it, will help prevent any similar
incident from occurring in the future."
636725
Pittsburgh Penguins
Free agent Parise delays decision on choosing next NHL team
To: Elaine M. Scruggs, Mayor
Horatio Skeete, City Manager
By Josh Yohe
As Glendale citizens and candidates running for city offices, we respectfully
requested our city manager and present council to delay signing the
Jobing.com Arena lease with a Coyotes owner.
Zach Parise’s decision has become the indecision.
We are concerned there may not be ample funds to pay everything the
lease promises.
Parise, one of the most desired free agents available, announced late
Monday afternoon that he still hasn’t decided on which team he will choose.
We also believe Glendale should take this position before Greg Jamison
buys the team. The city should be able to do this now without having legal
problems or penalties.
The teams believed to be the favorites for Parise are the Penguins, Devils,
Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks.
Signed by:
Chicago became a late entry into the Parise sweepstakes with an offer
Monday.
Mayoral candidate Walt Opaska
Mayoral candidate Jerry Weiers
Cactus District candidate Ian Hugh
Cactus District candidate Vince Ornelas
Cactus District candidate Stew Radawec
Sahuaro District candidate Diane Douglas
Sahuaro District candidate Anthony Kern
636724
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres has suspension reduced to 21 games
By Sarah McLellan –
After weeks of silence, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced
Monday that he has reduced the suspension of Coyotes winger Raffi Torres
to 21 games for an illegal hit to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward
Marian Hossa during Game 3 of the first-round playoff series.
This new ruling was issued after Torres met with Bettman on May 17 to
appeal the 25-game suspension handed to him by league disciplinarian
Brendan Shanahan on April 21.
Torres served 13 games, missing out the Coyotes' run to the Western
Conference finals, and after sitting out the season's first eight games, he
will be eligible to return Nov. 2 in Ottawa. Torres is not able to play in
preseason games, and he will forfeit $170,731.68 in salary.
Other teams that made offers to Parise include the Philadelphia Flyers,
Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes, who eliminated themselves
from the competition Monday.
Parise intended on returning to his home state of Minnesota to speak with
his family before making an announcement.
“We have thoroughly deliberated every option with Zach,” said his agent,
Wade Arnott. “He wishes to take some time to step back and review all this
with his fiancée and family. We could be drawing closer to a decision.”
Reporters waited outside of Arnott’s office in Mississauga, Ontario, for most
of Monday before being greeted by Parise.
“It’s such a long-term, important decision,” Parise said. “You have to make
sure you look at everything.”
Penguins general manager Ray Shero declined comment for a second
consecutive day, instead preferring to address the media after the Parise
decision has been made.
New Jersey general manager Lou Lamoriello, who is desperately
attempting to re-sign his captain, met with Parise in Mississauga on
Monday. He is attempting to sway his captain to return to a Devils team that
reached the Stanley Cup Final last season.
The Penguins have also been in contact with free agent defenseman Ryan
Suter and discussed the parameters of a possible deal.
The Penguins remain intent on landing Parise, who is their top priority in the
free agent field.
The Penguins are being far more patient with Parise than they were with
right wing Jaromir Jagr last July. On July 1 last year, a frustrated Shero
withdrew a one-year, $2 million offer at 11 a.m. to Jagr, who refused to give
the Penguins an answer before signing with the Flyers.
Tribune Review LOADED: 07.03.2012
636726
Pittsburgh Penguins
Post Gazette LOADED: 07.03.2012
Penguins continue on Parise watch
636727
By Dave Molinari
No decision from Parise
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are outstanding hockey players, clearly the top
talents in the free agent class of 2012.
By Dave Molinari
Pittsburgh Penguins
And the team -- or teams -- that end up signing them surely will conclude
that it was worth the wait to get them. But the wait for Parise and Suter to
pick their employers is lasting longer than nearly anyone anticipated.
Free agent winger Zach Parise is not ready to decide whether to sign with
the Penguins, or any other team.
Parise's agent, Wade Arnott, said it was possible Parise would make up his
mind Monday night, after consulting with his fiance and family members,
then announce his decision today.
During a meeting with reporters late this afternoon in suburban Toronto,
Parise said, "I'm getting closer but haven't made a decision. I haven't set
any deadlines."
Perhaps, but the Parise camp also had predicted Sunday that he would
make his choice known Monday.
New Jersey, the team for which he has played his entire career, is the only
club he identified as being in the mix for his services.
"I'm getting closer, but haven't made a decision," Parise said in a late
afternoon meeting with reporters outside of Arnott's office in suburban
Toronto. "I haven't set any deadlines."
All indications are that the Penguins are, as well.
The Penguins are on a fairly long list of teams with a vested interest in what
Parise decides because they project him as a linemate for Sidney Crosby.
New Jersey, Minnesota, Detroit, Chicago and others also have big plans for
him.
There is no indication yet of whether the Penguins' other top free-agent
target, Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter, will pick a team today.
The same is true of Suter, who the Penguins would like to deploy with Kris
Letang on their No. 1 defense pairing. Suter has been holed up on a farm in
Wisconsin, sifting through offers that include one from the Penguins.
636728
Penguins general manager Ray Shero did not speak with reporters Monday
about Parise, Suter or any other subject.
Sharks sign ex-Panther Kearns
While Suter largely has been removed from public scrutiny the past few
days, Parise has been monitored closely, and a group of reporters gathered
outside the Newport Sports headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, while
Parise was meeting with his representatives Monday.
There was speculation that Parise would announce his choice in the
informal press briefing after his visit to Newport's offices, but he declined to
make a commitment then.
"We're getting closer, that's all I can say," he said.
Parise wold not identify the teams still in contention for his services, other
than to say that he has not ruled out returning to the Devils. Although he
has preserved that option all along, ownership's financial troubles seemed
to be conspiring against that.
The serious contenders for Parise actually appeared to grow today, when
Chicago turned up in the mix.
Post Gazette LOADED: 07.03.2012
San Jose Sharks
Kevin Kurz
The Sharks have signed 6-foot, 190 pound center Bracken Kearns to a one
year, two-way contract, according to RDS’ Renaud Lejoie.
A Vancouver native, Kearns will presumably begin next year playing for the
Sharks’ AHL affiliate in Worcester. In his seven-year pro career, Kearns has
played in just five NHL games, all coming last season with the Florida
Panthers. He was scoreless with 10 penalty minutes.
In 407 career AHL games, the 31-year-old Kearns has 89 goals and 131
assists.
Monday, though, New Jersey re-signed goalies Martin Brodeur and Johan
Hedberg to seven-figure salaries, and Parise said general manager Lou
Lamoriello assured him the Devils can afford to retain him.
636729
"He said that won't be a problem, so that's not weighing into it right now,"
Parise said.
Woywitka returns to the Blues
St Louis Blues
He also spoke with Brodeur, who urged him to return to New Jersey.
Although New Jersey's front-office issues might not be a complicating issue
in Parise's decision-making process, the Blackhawks' arrival in the bidding
for his services appears to be.
Chicago had not been viewed as a major player in the fight for Parise until
Monday afternoon, when word leaked that the Blackhawks were moving
aggressively to attract him.
It is unclear what Chicago is offering, and few details on any proposal to
Parise have been made public. Although the Penguins' financial package
might not be the equal of some others, they can offer a perk no one else
can -- a spot alongside Crosby -- and hope that will help to lure Parise here.
By JEREMY RUTHERFORD
The Blues are continuing to add more defensive depth on Day 2 of free
agency. And once again, it's another familiar face.
Former Blue Jeff Woywitka, who was acquired in the 2005 trade with
Edmonton for Chris Pronger, has signed a one-year, two-way contract with
the club.
How Parise is weighing various factors isn't known. It's pretty clear,
however, he plans to commit only after assessing all the information at
hand.
Woywitka, now 28, played 152 games with the Blues before becoming an
unrestricted free agent and signing with the Dallas Stars. He spent two
seasons in Dallas, suiting up for 99 games, and then was on Montreal's
roster briefly before being picked up on waivers by the New York Rangers.
He had one goal and five assists and was a plus-2 in 26 games with the
Rangers last season.
"The goal is to make the most-informed decision I can," he said. "I'm not
putting a deadline on anything. It's such a long-term, important decision that
you have to make sure you look at everything."
In August of 2005, the Blues dealt Pronger to Edmonton in exhange for Eric
Brewer, Doug Lynch and Woywitka. Brewer, the last remaining piece in that
trade, was dealt to Tampa Bay at the end of the 2010-11 season.
Woywitka's return follows Sunday's signings of Taylor Chorney, who also
had a brief stint with the Blues, and Scott Ford.
Meanwhile, the Blues continue to search for a top-four defenseman for their
NHL roster. The club has expressed interest in Philadelphia free agent Matt
Carle among others.
St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.03.2012
636730
St Louis Blues
Bouwmeester has two more years remaining on a five-year, $33.4 million
contract. He will be paid $6.6 million each of the next two years with a cap
hit of $6.68 million. Yandle last season began a five-year, $26.25 million
contract. He will make $5 million in 2012-13 and his salary escalates
$250,000 each of the following three seasons.
But here's where the price tag gets heftier.
Calgary and Phoenix are forced into a position where they have to trade
either player and both teams could be looking for top-six help at forward.
If free agency fails, Blues may have to swap offense for defense
The Flames ranked 24th in the NHL in goals per game last season (2.43).
Their top two goal scorers last season were the aging Jarome Iginla (32
goals) and Curtis Glencross (26).
By JEREMY RUTHERFORD
The Coyotes were 18th in goals per game last season (2.56). The Yotees
have Radim Vrbata (35 goals last year), but Ray Whitney (24 goals) has
signed with Dallas and captain Shane Doan (22) is also an unrestricted free
agent.
Today could be a day that determines whether the Blues will need to trade
a forward - quite possibly a top-six forward.
All of which means that teams such as Calgary and Phoenix may have
interest in the Blues' forwards.
The Blues have a hole on the left side of their defense and they are trying to
fill it via free agency. General manager Doug Armstrong said that the club
reached out to several free agents on Sunday, expressing interest.
They have 14 in the picture: David Backes, Andy McDonald, Alex Steen,
T.J. Oshie (restricted free agent), David Perron (restricted free agent),
Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrik Berglund, Chris Stewart, Matt D'Agostini,
Vladimir Sobotka, Ryan Reaves, B.J. Crombeen, Scott Nichol and Jaden
Schwartz.
Armstrong would not confirm whether the team made contact with Ryan
Suter's camp, but the Blues aren't believed to be in the mix anyway. But
they did send feelers out to Florida's Jason Garrison and Philadelphia's
Matt Carle.
Garrison signed a six-year, $27.6 million contract with Vancouver, and while
the Blues may have matched the $4.6 annual average on the contract, it
appears they didn't have much of a chance anyway because the British
Columbia-native was looking to play close to home. Some Blues fans may
be relieved because Garrison, 27, has had only one above-average year in
the NHL, posting 16 goals and 33 points last season.
Carle, 27, might be a higher priority for the Blues anyway. He had 38 points
with Philadelphia last season and has 113 points over the last three years
with the Flyers. In 2010-11, he had 39 assists and was a plus-30.
The team also has interest in re-signing unrestricted free agent Jamie
Langenbrunner and depth in the minors with Evgeny Grachev, Adam
Cracknell and Philip McRae.
So would the Blues, who struggled to score at times themselves last
season (without a completely healthy lineup), trade one of their offensive
weapons to add the caliber of defenseman they're coveting?
Armstrong has said that he has no plans to make deals involving the team's
core. With a payroll that is $28 million under the salary cap for the 2012-13
season, although that is much higher than the team's budget, it would be
more productive to find the defenseman in free agency. But Armstrong
might not have a choice if the Blues don't get a returned phone call.
Carle is coming off a four-year, $13.75 million contract, which paid him $3.8
million last year. Some are speculating that Carle could be commanding
close to $5 million in the open market, and with Garrison receiving a term of
six years from Vancouver, teams might need to match that length for Carle,
too.
Reports from Sunday night suggested that Carle probably won't sign until
Suter signs. That would make Carle "Plan A" for the teams who lost out on
Suter. Carle would be coveted because the options after him dwindle.
Phoenix's Michal Rozsival, Philadelphia's Pavel Kubina, Toronto's Jeff
Finger, New Jersey's Bryce Salvador and recent Blue Carlo Colaiacovo are
available free agents.
Hockey Guy update: Parise, Suter undecided
While Colaiacovo remains an option, it's doubtful the Blues would feel solid
signing from that group after having their sights set on something higher in
free agency. Which means, instead of finding a defensive partner for Alex
Pietrangelo in free agency, they may turn to the trade route.
Armstrong said Sunday evening that he did have trade discussions with
teams on the first day of free agency. He said his message was "If you get
into 'this situation' let me know and I might have interest.'"
Possible trade targets for the Blues are Calgary's Jay Bouwmeester and
Phoenix's Keith Yandle.
Bouwmeester, 28, is a minutes eater. Last season, while playing his
seventh consecutive 82-game season, he ranked third in the entire NHL in
minutes played with 2,128 minutes, 31 seconds. He ranked sixth in the
league in ice time per game (25:57).
636731
St Louis Blues
By JEFF GORDON
Free agent winger Zach Parise has decided to take his talents to . . . well,
he's not sure yet. Monday afternoon he told Toronto reporters he has no
deadline for deciding his destination.
Later in the day Ryan Suter's camp issued a similar proclamation. He, too,
is taking more time to mull his next move.
These veterans opted to keep the free agent and trade market for forwards
clogged up. Will some NHL teams respond by placing a deadline on them?
Or will league GMs keep playing along?
"We have thoroughly deliberated every option with Zach," Parise's agent
Wade Arnott told TSN. "He wishes to take some time to step back and
review all with his fiance and his family. We could be drawing closer to a
decision."
Bouwmeester had five goals and 29 points in 2011-12 with Calgary. His
career high is 15 goals, which he reached twice while with Florida in 200708 and 2008-09.
Neil Sheehy, Suter's representative, offered this statement: "There will be
no decision on Ryan Suter tonight and there is no timetable for his contract
signing at this time. Ryan is considering his opportunities and is taking the
necessary time to give each proper consideration."
Yandle, 25, may also be available via trade. He didn't play as many minutes
as Bouwmeester last season, averaging 22:20, but he's more offensive.
Yandle has had 11-plus goals and 41-plus points in each of his last three
seasons, including 59 in 2010-11.
Pittsburgh came hard at Parise, but so did Minnesota. Chicago chimed in
with big money. Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur told reporters that Parise
was still considering the Devils. They two have stayed in contact.
Neither Bouwmeester nor Yandle would come cheaply, in terms of salary or
trade compensation.
Parise has confirmed that New Jersey is still in the hunt.
As for Suter, Detroit made a big push but Nashville countered large.
Rumors of $100 million offers for Parise and Suter floating around the
Internet.
Never has the value of developing and retaining talent been greater.
The Blues added another defenseman Monday, but the addition did not
meet the "Top Four" criteria general manager Doug Armstrong set.
Old friend Jeff Woywitka returned to the fold, offering insurance on a
modest two-way contract. He could be OK in the No. 7 role if Ian Cole
moved up to full-time work, but does this make the team better?
Suffice it to say Armstrong is still working the phones. But commerce was
moving slowly in Day 2 of free agency.
A lot of overeager GM have signed players to stupid deals, like the
outrageous four-year, $16 million contract Jiri Hudler got in Calgary.
In that context, Armstrong's patience has been admirable.
The Chicago Blackhawks were just one team hoping that Brodeur would
bail on the financially troubled Devils and finish his career outside New
Jersey.
Alas, destined Hall of Famer just couldn’t be bring himself to do it. He
signed a two-year, $9 million contract to finish his career is sun-splashed
Newark.
The team also retained back-up goaltender Johan Hedberg with a two-year
deal that included no-trade protection.
“I'm really happy,” Brodeur told ESPN.com. “Deep down what I always
wanted was to re-sign with New Jersey. I'm glad the Devils stepped up
when they did. As the process went on I was certainly intrigued by what
was out there. But this is really what I wanted.”
This signing moves trade targets Robert Luongo (Vancouver) and Jonathan
Bernier (Los Angeles) back to the front burner.
Elsewhere in pro hockey:
Free agent center Olli Jokinen surprised observers by landing in Winnipeg
for two years and $9 million. That is a solid get for a Jets team needing
some more ooomph! up front.
The Stars acquired center Derek Roy from Buffalo in exchange for Steve
Ott and Adam Pardy. Dallas sacrificed grit to get a No. 2 center to replace
Mike Ribeiro.
The St. Louis Blues have signed defenseman Jeff Woywitka to a one-year,
two-way contract.
Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong
made the announcement Monday.
Woywitka, 28, appeared in 27 games for the New York Rangers in 2011-12
recording six points (one goal, five assists) and eight penalty minutes while
also dressing in six games for the Rangers' American Hockey League
(AHL) affiliate, Connecticut Whale, tallying three assists and six penalty
minutes.
A former Blue, Woywitka played in 152 games with the club from 2005 to
2009 posting 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) and 106 penalty minutes.
Overall, the 6'3, 227-pound defenseman has appeared in 278 career
National Hockey League (NHL) games including stints with St. Louis, Dallas
and New York amassing 55 points (nine goals, 46 assists) and 149 penalty
minutes.
The Vermilion, Alberta, native was originally drafted by the Philadelphia
Flyers in the first round, 27th overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 07.03.2012
636733
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning development camp set to begin
By ERIK ERLENDSSON
The Tampa Bay Lightning will open a five-day development camp starting
Tuesday for many of the organization's top prospects.
Included in the camp are seven of the eight selections from last month's
NHL draft, as well as each of the six first- or second-round picks from each
of the past two drafts – Vladislav Namestnikov, Nikita Kucherov, Slater
Koekkoek, Andrey Vasilevskiy, Dylan Blujus and Brian Hart.
Among the 30 players scheduled to participate, J.T. Brown – who signed as
free agent out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth in April – is the only
player with NHL experience.
The highlight of the camp will be a 3-on-3 tournament Friday and Saturday.
Winger Alexander Radulov surprised nobody by signing a four-year contract
to play for CSKA in Russia’s KHL. Some players, no matter how talented,
just aren’t cut out to play in the NHL. His brief return to the Predators
confirmed that.
Here is the camp schedule (all workouts at the Ice Sports Forum in
Brandon):
Montreal opted out of the Jaromir Jagr sweepstakes. That team could use
some additional size and skill up front. Jagr wanted to play there. Alas,
there was no love connection. Perhaps Jaromir's $4 million asking price
was the reason.
Wednesday – Goalie practice, 8:30-9:15 a.m.; Group A – shooting practice,
9:30-10:45 a.m.; power skating, 11-11:45 a.m.; Group B – power skating,
10:15-11 a.m.; shooting practice, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Lots of Bobby Ryan trade scuttlebutt today, with Buffalo getting big play.
Anaheim seems ready to finally play that chip.
The Rick Nash trade talks picked up as well, with Philly in the hunt. The
Flyers and Blue Jackets have done big business before.
Tuesday – Practice, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.; Power skating, 2-2:45 (Group
A), 3-3:45 p.m. (Group B)
Thursday – Goalie practice, 8:45-9:30 a.m.; Group A – shooting practice,
9:45-11 a.m.; Group B – shooting practice, 11:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Friday – Goalie practice, 8:45-9:30 a.m.; Group A – shooting practice, 11:15
a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Group B – shooting practice 9:45-11 a.m.; 3-on-3
tournament, 2-3:30 p.m.
One reports indicated that Panthers GM Dale Tallon has grown weary of
the Roberto Luongo chatter and moved on. But TSN's Darren Dreger
reported that talks are still a go.
Saturday – Final of 3-on-3 tournament, 10:30 a.m.-noon
The Canadiens committed $39 million over the next six years to Carey
Price. There is Jaroslav Halak's financial incentive to improve.
Group A – Forwards: J.T. Brown, Nikita Kucherov, Vladislav Namestnikov,
Tanner Richard, Cody Bradley*, Maxime Langelier-Parent*, Brandon
McNally*, Brendan O'Donnell; Defensemen – Jake Dotchin, Charles
Landry, Dan Milan, Nikita Nesterov, Artem Sergeev. Goaltenders – Andrey
Vasilevskiy, Clarke Saunders*
636732
St Louis Blues
ROSTERS
Blues sign defenseman Jeff Woywitka
Group B – Forwards - Austin Czarnik*, Philip-Michael Devos*, Danick
Gauthier, Brian Hart, James Mullin, Cedric Paquette, Matthew Peca.
Defensemen – Dylan Blujus, Garrett Clarke*, Kirill Gotovets, Slater
Koekkoek, Andrej Sustr*, Luke Witkowski. Goaltenders – Adam Wilcok, Pat
Nagle
Staff
(*) Denotes camp invitee
3-ON-3 TEAMS
Team Brewer – Devos, Milan, Mullin, Witkowski
Team Hedman – Koekkoek, Namestnikov, Nesterov, Paquette
Team Lecavalier – Bradley, Brown, Gotovets, Landry
Team Malone – Clarke, Gauthier, McNally, O'Donnell, Peca
Team St. Louis – Blujus, Czarnik, Dotchin, Richard
Team Stamkos – Hart, Kucherov, Langelier-Parent, Sergeev, Sustr
Goaltenders will rotate
Tampa Tribune LOADED: 07.03.2012
636734
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning bolster defense with Salo
in good shape and we hope he's healthy and can play a majority of games
for us.''
For Salo, who fielded several offers Sunday, he saw a good fit with the
Lightning and knew about the situation in Tampa Bay during previous
conversations with former Canucks' teammate and current Lightning
defenseman Mattias Ohlund.
"I feel that they have a strong group of guys, a great nucleus of guys who
are really good players,'' Salo said. "I feel there is a really good chance of
making something special happen. I'm really excited.''
Making the move from a place he called home for nine years was a difficult
decision, but Salo believes he landed in the right spot and figures to get
plenty of opportunities to feed Steven Stamkos on the top power-play unit.
"Steven is my son's favorite player in the NHL, so he'll be excited but for
sure when you have players like that on your side you will be feeding them
pucks," Salo said. "And when they score 50 goals a year, you better get the
puck to them.''
Tampa Tribune LOADED: 07.03.2012
By ERIK ERLENDSSON
636735
Tampa Bay Lightning
On a relatively tame opening day in the free-agent market, general
manager Steve Yzerman made his play to bolster the Tampa Bay
Lightning's blue line.
Tampa Bay Lightning plays free agent waiting game along with most of
NHL
Veteran defenseman Sami Salo agreed to terms on a two-year contract
worth a reported $3.75 million per season, according to several media
outlets. The 13-year veteran spent the past nine seasons with Vancouver
after spending his first four with Ottawa.
By Damian Cristodero,
Tampa Bay also signed forward Benoit Pouliot — whom they acquired via
trade June 23 — to a one-year deal for $1.8 million, and re-signed restricted
free agent Evan Oberg to a one-year, two-way contract. Free-agent
defenseman Artem Sergeev, who will be at the team's prospect camp this
week, signed a standard three-year entry-level contract.
The Lightning also were believed to be in the running for defenseman
Jason Garrison, who turned his 16-goal season into a six-year contract
worth a reported $27.6 million with Vancouver. Tampa Bay also reached
out to prized defenseman Ryan Suter, but when the price tag started to
reach talk of a front-loaded deal averaging more than $8 million per season,
the Lightning shied away. Suter is not expected to make a decision until
today at the earliest. Once that decision is made, it could open the market
for Matt Carle, who Tampa Bay also is believed to have interest in.
Either way, Yzerman said there is still room to add more players if the right
options come along as he hopes to add at least one more defenseman and
perhaps a forward, although he said he is keeping one or two forward spots
open for the team's prospects.
To say Monday was a slow day in the NHL when it came to signing
unrestricted free agents would be an understatement.
"It was," Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said, "a very slow day."
Whereas 59 players signed on Sunday, the first day of free agency, only 11
got deals on Day 2, according to TSN.ca.
The reason? The system is paralyzed to a certain extent while defenseman
Ryan Suter and center Zach Parise, the year's top two free agents, decide
where they want to play.
"Everybody's waiting," Yzerman said. "I think the whole league is waiting for
a couple of guys to re-sign and then business will resume."
How two players hold up the works is an interesting, though simple, tale.
Only after they sign will teams that lose in the bidding move on to Plan B.
And those Plan B players await the onrush of suitors who still have holes to
fill in their rosters and money to spend.
"We are talking with many of the agents for the free agents that are out
there,'' Yzerman said. "We feel we are in a good position.''
"It becomes a bidding frenzy for the next level of free agent," said former
Flames GM Craig Button, an NHL Network analyst.
But the addition of Salo brings in two things Yzerman coveted — veteran
presence and a big, right-handed shot to help the power play. In 761 career
games, the 37-year-old has scored 93 goals — 55 on the power play — and
305 points.
"Potentially, you could be leaving money on the table by signing now.
There's nothing like a lover scorned, especially if they get the feeling that,
'We have to go after the next guy.' ''
"We look at the young guys we have right now, and with Eric Brewer and
now Sami, two real solid high-end character guys who are veteran players
that can really help us,'' Yzerman said. "And I really like having the right
shot. He's a real solid player, a real pro and he'll fit in well and be a good
leader for our team.''
The big risk regarding Salo is staying healthy.
Not since before the lockout has Salo been able to play in more than 69
games in a season due to various injuries. He has suffered a torn Achilles'
tendon playing floor ball during summer training in his native Finland, an
MCL sprain to his right knee, a broken wrist, a broken nose from a
teammate's clearing pass, groin issues, shoulder injuries, back pain and a
concussion.
How this affects the Lightning, which entered free agency looking mainly to
bolster its blue line, is unclear.
Yzerman has said he is not part of the Suter sweepstakes because the
asking price is too high and on Sunday he landed defenseman Sami Salo
with a two-year, $7.5 million deal.
But it is believed Yzerman has had at least contact with representatives for
defenseman Matt Carle, and Michal Rozsival, Carlo Colaiacovo and Bryce
Salvadore also are available.
Even so, Yzerman said the system-wide stalemate "is not going to change
anything we're going to do right now."
And he will not get sucked into a bidding war.
But Yzerman said he is not concerned.
"We're realistic what the market is and we're prepared to deal with the
market," he said, "but we're not going to blow our brains out here."
"I have a good idea of the history of his injuries and none of these — knock
on wood — are the type that are joint related or degenerative thing that may
limit a player's career,'' Yzerman said. "I just think he's been banged up and
missed games because of various things. To the best of our knowledge he's
Yzerman added he would have no problem giving a chance to Mark
Barberio, who the general manager called "the best defenseman in the
American League last year."
"I'm not going to do something I think is inappropriate out of desperation,"
Yzerman said. "If it's a player that doesn't really fit us or a contract that
doesn't fit what we're trying to do, we're better off saving our money and
going with some young guys here. They might be better for the spot than
some players we'd have to overpay to get."
But before Suter and Parise sign, no one really knows what teams will have
to pay to sign the next tier of players.
"I think you are right in asserting there will be a domino effect," player agent
Rich Evans said.
Until that begins, though, there is little choice.
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM: North Rink
Group B
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM: Off-Ice
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM: Power Skating (South Rink)
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM: Shooting Practice (South Rink)
Group A
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM: Shooting Practice (North Rink)
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: Power Skating (North Rink)
"It's the way it is," Yzerman said. "We have no control over it right now. We
just have to sit and wait."
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM: Off-Ice
And hope to avoid another slow day.
3:10 PM: Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees
Brodeur staying put
THURSDAY, JULY 5TH
NEWARK, N.J. — Martin Brodeur is going to remain the face of the Devils.
Goalies
The 40-year-old goaltender who has led the team to three Stanley Cups,
signed a two-year, $9 million contract Monday to stay with the only NHL
club he's ever known.
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM: South Rink
"At the end of the day, this is what I wanted all along," Brodeur said in a
conference call.
Power Skating
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM: Group 1 (North Rink)
HABS KEEP PRICE: The Canadiens re-signed goalie Carey Price to a sixyear contract extension worth $39 million. Price, 24, was 26-28-4 with a
.916 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average last season.
TORRES SUSPENSION: Commissioner Gary Bettman cut four games off
the 25-game suspension given to Coyotes forward Raffi Torres during the
playoffs. Torres was suspended April 21 and missed Phoenix's final 13
playoff games after his high hit left Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa with
a concussion.
Group A
TRADE: The Sabres acquired forward Steve Ott and defenseman Adam
Pardy from the Stars for forward Derek Roy.
AVALANCHE: Defenseman Jan Hejda is out at least four months after wrist
surgery, the Denver Post reported.
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM: Shooting Practice (South Rink)
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM: Off-Ice
Group B
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM: Off-Ice
FRIDAY, JULY 6TH
FLAMES: Jiri Hudler signed a four-year deal, 16 million deal, leaving the
Red Wings.
Goalies
St. Petersburg Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM: South Rink
636736
Power Skating
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning development camp schedule
Posted by Damian Cristodero
Group B
The Tampa Bay Lightning announced the schedule for this week's
development camp at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon.
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM: Shooting Practice (South Rink)
The day-by-day schedule is as follows (with practice groups and 3-on-3
teams):
Group A
TUESDAY, JULY 3RD
8:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Medical Exams, Fitness Testing and Equipment
Fitting
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM: Off-Ice
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM: Off-Ice
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: 3-on-3 Tournament (North Rink)
(See detailed Medicals Schedule on back page)
SATURDAY, JULY 7TH
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM: Practice (North Rink)
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: 3-on-3 Tournament (North Rink)
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: Group A: Power Skating (North Rink)
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Exit Interviews
Group B: Off-Ice
Group A
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM: Group B: Power Skating (North Rink)
Bradley
Group A: Off-Ice
Brown
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4TH
Dotchin
Goalies
Kucherov
Landry
Burke, after all, has seen his share of acquisitions blow up in each of his
first three summers here. First there was Mike Komisarek who was
overpaid and immediately underachieved. Then there was Colby Armstrong
who might have been a useful third-liner if he could have stayed healthy.
And most recently, the failed first-line centre named Tim Connolly.
Langelier-Parent
McNally
Milan
In each case Burke was taking a shot and various deficiencies, including
injury, conspired against the success of the top three, especially Armstrong,
who had his contract bought out on the weekend.
Namestnikov
Nesterov
So not doing anything of significance on the first two days of free agency
may not have been the worst thing for Burke and Leafs management. Not
that they had a choice at landing the big game, mind you.
O'Donnell
Richard
Not overspending this time around is in part prudence by the team and in
part the predicament that the Leafs find themselves in.
Saunders
Sergeev
With a lean market to begin with, a roster with too many holes and too
many questions about which direction the team is headed, Toronto is far
from a preferred destination for the top end of any free agent crop.
Vasilevskiy
Group B
It may not have always been that way. When Burke first arrived here, it was
probably easier to get players and agents around the league to buy into the
buzz. One of the sport’s biggest personalities landing in maybe its biggest
market was tantalizing. Getting Phil Kessel as a bonafide superstar right out
of the hop, plus the declaration that he wasn’t interested in a five-year
rebuild made the Leafs at least intriguing.
Blujus
Clarke
Czarnik
Devos
That plan has changed, of course, in part because of the team’s inability to
make the post-season under Burke’s watch. The blame for that can be
spread over multiple layers but perhaps the biggest problem is that the
team is almost back at square one as new coach Randy Carlyle comes in to
do his own building.
Gauthier
Gotovets
Hart
If Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the two big names on the market this year
were going to consider Toronto, they were going to need to see a lot more
than that. Almost by definition, most of the high-end players that become
free agents now are looking for big money and a big shot at winning and not
necessarily in that precise order.
Koekkoek
Mullin
Nagle
Paquette
It’s why Parise can hold the hockey world hostage as he justifiably
considers his options. If New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Chicago are the
frontrunners, besides the big cash on the table, Parise would be a fool not
to take his time handicapping and decide which team gives him the best
chance at earning his first Stanley Cup ring.
Peca
Sustr
Wilcox
Witkowski
3-ON-3 TOURNAMENT TEAMS
Team Brewer: Devos, Milan, Mullin, Witkowski
Team Hedman: Koekkoek, Namestnikov, Nesterov, Paquette
Team Lecavalier: Bradley, Brown, Gotovets, Landry
Team Malone: Clarke, Gauthier, McNally, O'Donnell, Peca
Team St. Louis: Blujus, Czarnik, Dotchin, Richard
Team Stamkos: Hart, Kucherov, Langelier-Parent, Sergeev, Sustr
Goalies: Nagle, Saunders, Vasilevskiy, Wilcox
St. Petersburg Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
636737
Toronto Maple Leafs
When players like Parise — and probably Brad Richards last summer —
look at Toronto all they see is a team without a big-time centre, with big
questions in net and with no immediate prospects for significant
improvement.
The indifference towards the Leafs extends beyond free agents, as we can
see by the suggestion that Rick Nash has taken the team off his list of
possible destinations. Of course, that feeling is probably mutual given that
Burke likely isn’t interested in coming anywhere near paying the ridiculous
price it seems will be necessary to snag the Columbus star.
So the great frustrated masses that hang on the Leafs every move are left
to exit the holiday weekend lamenting the loss of fringe NHLer Joey Crabb
and figure out the merits of another bottom-six forward, Jay McClement.
Don’t rue the loss of Crabb for too long, either. Sure he was a good guy
with a feel-good story at times, but the league is full of fourth-liners of that
ilk. Furthermore, Crabb’s departure gives Burke and Carlyle the chance to
open up competition at training camp and hustle one of the young
prospects we hear so much about up to the big club.
Top players avoiding Maple Leafs?
To Burke’s original point, the price does get a little silly when utility players
such as Brandon Prust cash in inordinately on the opening day of free
agency. The GM’s decision not to get involved in big spending may not
have helped his team, but it certainly didn’t hurt.
By Rob Longley
As for the rest of the summer, Leafs management has vowed to address
the most glaring weaknesses by trade, if that’s possible.
,Toronto Sun
TORONTO -
In free agency, after all, it seems like the team’s richest in talent are the
ones getting richer.
At least Brian Burke used the pronoun “we.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.03.2012
When describing the perils of spending stupid money on July 1, the Maple
Leafs general manager included himself in the group that tends to overpay
on hockey’s annual shopping day, whether the shelves are stocked with
quality merchandise or not.
636738
Toronto Maple Leafs
Biggs and Percy look to make impact
By Sports Network
By Terry Koshan
,Toronto Sun
TORONTO Forever bonded by their similar 2011 draft status, Tyler Biggs and Stuart
Percy will be looking to put their initial seasons as Maple Leafs prospects
far behind them.
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks re-signed forwards Andrew Ebbett
and Steve Pinizzotto Monday.
Ebbett had five goals and one assist in 18 games for the Canucks last
season. The 29-year-old has 24 goals and 34 assists in 163 career NHL
games with the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild,
Phoenix Coyotes and Canucks.
Biggs, the 22nd pick by the Leafs, left the University of Miami at Ohio after
one mediocre year and Percy, selected 25th by Toronto, missed half of the
2011-12 season with injuries, but they’re at the Leafs’ annual summer
prospects camp with refreshed attitudes.
Pinizzotto, who missed the 2011-12 season due to injury, has yet to appear
in an NHL game.
“I thought there were parts I got to work on, and at the same time, I think
there were parts of my game I didn’t really get to work on,” Biggs said of his
one and only season in the NCAA, during which he had nine goals and
eight assists in 37 games.
636740
Winnipeg Sun LOADED: 07.03.2012
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks ink Garrison to six-year deal
“There’s nothing negative or anything like that as far as the program goes.
(Leaving college) is just something I wanted to do for my career.”
Biggs has been in Toronto for the past month, working with new Leafs
skating coach Barb Underhill on his quickness. But though Leafs director of
player development Jim Hughes reminded the 42 prospects at this camp on
Sunday night that Matt Frattin, Jake Gardiner and Ben Scrivens were in the
camp last year, implying that some in attendance can or will crack the Leafs
roster in training camp, the feeling is Biggs has to gain more experience.
And that could very well happen with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, who
have Biggs’ major-junior rights.
“We’ll see how it all falls into place,” Hughes said. “He’ll wind up with the big
club or the Marlies or the Generals, and that would be a fantastic spot for
him where he can get plenty of minutes of ice time.
“He’s a beast of a kid. We expect big things from him this summer.”
Percy managed to make it into the Marlies lineup during the playoffs and
has set a goal of appearing in an exhibition game for the Leafs this fall. He
knows the organization likes its depth on defence, but was not discouraged
when the Leafs used their first two picks on defencemen in Morgan Rielly
and Matt Finn at the entry draft in Pittsburgh in June.
By Sports Network
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks reeled in free agent defenseman
Jason Garrison with a six-year contract Sunday.
The deal comes with an annual cap hit of $4.6-million.
Garrison turned in a career year in 2011-12 with the Florida Panthers,
totaling personal bests of 16 goals (also a Panthers single-season record
for defensemen), 17 assists and 33 points in 77 games.
The 27-year-old British Columbia native and undrafted free agent out of
Minnesota-Duluth recorded 23 goals and 59 points in 190 games over four
NHL seasons -- all with Florida.
Winnipeg Sun LOADED: 07.03.2012
636741
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks went all in on Jason Garrison
“We have a good young core now on D,” Percy said. “Last year, there was
a (Jesse) Blacker-Gardiner kind of rivalry, but you see them off the ice and
they like to hang out. There is the rivalry, but you still have to have fun with
it.
By Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun columnist July 2, 2012
“I was really grateful to get in a couple of games with the Marlies, get a feel
for the speed. Players are better, stronger, faster. That was the biggest
difference in the AHL. Hopefully that will help me throughout this camp and
the main camp.”
VANCOUVER - After the beloved player who got away and the coveted one
who wouldn't come, Jason Garrison is an exciting, albeit expensive, catch
for the Vancouver Canucks.
RHAPSODY IN BLUE
It’s barely a week into his life as a Maple Leafs prospect, and defenceman
Morgan Rielly already has witnessed changes.
“There have been people who have approached me saying, ‘Can I have
your picture,’ which is all new to me,” Rielly said Monday at the team’s
prospects camp.
“I’m completely okay with (the extra attention). I couldn’t be happier.”
The 18-year-old was selected fifth overall by the Leafs at the entry draft in
Pittsburgh on June 22. His father, Andy, is just as excited as some fans.
“He has been pretty worked up and he has been wearing that draft jersey
around all week,” Rielly said. “I have to take it away from him.”
Barring a near-perfect performance in training camp, Rielly will be heading
back to the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League for the
2012-13 season.
Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.03.2012
636739
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks re-sign pair of forwards
Garrison is no Justin Schultz, the 22-year-old college free agent who
spurned the Canucks and 24 other suitors and chose Saturday to join the
Edmonton Oilers because he cares more about with whom he plays than
where he lives. Schultz may be headed for stardom, but he has the values
of a pure hockey player and we admire him for that.
In the short-term, for a team trying to win a Stanley Cup next season,
Garrison delivers more National Hockey League certainty than any rookie.
No one in his right mind, however, would choose Garrison over Schultz
long-term. But nearly everyone would take him over Sami Salo, the popular
and loyal Canuck servant who left Sunday as a free agent with the same
class he displayed on Vancouver ice the last 10 years.
In the end, the Canucks didn't have a choice. Schultz had the choice and
signed with the Oilers and Salo had the choice and signed with the Tampa
Bay Lightning. So the Canucks adjusted on the fly to the free-agent tilt-awhirl and signed Garrison to a six-year deal for $4.6 million US annually.
You are in or you're out in free agency. There's no safe medium on the
opening weekend, no way to hedge bets. The Canucks went all-in on
Garrison, a 27-year-old from White Rock who has played only two full NHL
seasons, and ended the Canada Day weekend no less a Stanley Cup
contender than they were.
There are a lot of comparable elements between Garrison and Salo, but
one player is 27 and the other 37, which is why the Canucks would have
matched the $3.75 million salary the Lightning gave Salo but not the twoyear term Tampa offered.
So the Canucks reconfigured their top four on defence to Dan Hamhuis,
Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler and Garrison. And by doing so, they continued the
subtle rebranding of the team that began last week when the royal
succession in goal was formalized with the re-signing of Cory Schneider.
By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun July 2, 2012
Only two NHL defencemen, a couple of guys named Shea Weber and Erik
Karlsson, managed to score more than the 16 goals new Vancouver
Canuck Jason Garrison tallied last season with the Florida Panthers.
The rebranding will be a little more obvious when the Canucks get around
to trading deposed starter Roberto Luongo, although they'll have to lower
the asking price for the 33-year-old account receivable (Luongo is due more
than $42-million over the next six years) or wait for the Florida Panthers or
Toronto Maple Leafs to blink.
And Garrison would be the first to acknowledge that playing alongside
fellow defenceman Brian Campbell didn't hurt.
Even if the core group at forward remains unchanged, the Canucks won't
be the same-old, same-old Presidents' Trophy-winning team that reports to
training camp.
So the question some may ask after the Canucks signed the 27-year-old
White Rock native to a six-year, $27.6-million contract is, can Garrison
match or better those numbers in Vancouver without Campbell teeing up
the puck for him?
With two moves – Schneider over Luongo, Garrison instead of Salo – the
Canucks got 17 years younger without sacrificing performance.
General manager Mike Gillis still needs another combative defenceman for
depth and more size and toughness on the bottom two forward lines. He
can get those players during the summer. He needed to get Garrison now,
and he did.
The weekend could have been much worse for the Canucks after it began
with Schultz, who is from Kelowna, stunning cynics and snobs by choosing
to play with contemporaries Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan NugentHopkins on what was the NHL's second-worst team last season. A lot of
people seemed to think Schultz-to-the-Canucks was a done deal.
“Are we disappointed?” Canuck assistant general Laurence Gilman said
Monday. “Sure, we were. But there were 25 other disappointed teams and
we made it to the final two or three. Justin Schultz didn't leave us at the
altar. We made the best pitch we could. He listened and conducted himself
with a lot of class, then chose another team. That happens in hockey.”
Gilman echoed Gillis' comments from the previous day, praising Salo's
character and his service to the Canucks and wished the veteran well in
Tampa.
Salo, who is at his summer cabin deep in the Finnish woods, reciprocated
through a statement released Monday by agent Bill Zito.
"It is an honor and a privilege to have been able to call myself a Vancouver
Canuck and I wish everyone associated with the organization the best of
the luck," Salo said in his statement. “I would like to thank the fans in
Vancouver for their support. I was not always a perfect player, but I always
gave my best and I appreciate the way the fans treated me.”
Campbell had a career year with the Panthers last season, when he dished
out 49 assists, and Garrison was on the receiving end of many of those
Campbell passes.
Garrison on Monday suggested that yes, he can.
"Obviously, Brian is an elite player, but at the same time I think there are a
lot of elite players on the Canucks," Garrison said during a media
conference call.
The Canucks are banking on it. They see Garrison as a key component of
their power play, where he scored nine of his 16 goals last season, and
think he is still developing as a player. He was signed late Sunday
afternoon, a day after highly coveted free agent defenceman Justin Schultz
spurned the Canucks and signed with the Edmonton Oilers.
"We wanted size, we wanted another guy who can shoot the puck on the
power play and we wanted character and he fit all of those criteria," said
general manager Mike Gillis. "He is from Vancouver so he had a real desire
to play here, which he articulated to us. . .we also wanted to get a little
younger and keep within our salary parameters and we're fortunate to have
a young man who wanted to come back to Vancouver, wanted to play for us
and was prepared to work with us on salary structure to get it done."
In other words, Garrison -- like others before him -- took less than he could
have received elsewhere. He acknowledged Monday that he had lots of
interest from other teams.
"There was definitely a pretty big handful of teams," Garrison said. "It's kind
of a process you go through. It was the first time for me, obviously. You just
have to take the time and take everything into consideration, but at the end
of the day this is where I wanted to be.
"Financially, that part of it was never going to be my No. 1 thing. Being a
good fit and being on a winning team was most important."
He may not, however, have appreciated the way the Canucks treated him a
year ago when Salo, after a comeback that followed a career-threatening
Achilles injury, had to wait until July 1 to re-sign and received only a
bargain-basement one-year contract of $2 million. Whether that hardened
his resolve to seek a more generous offer this year is unknown, but at some
point nearly every aging player leaves. Such was the case with Markus
Naslund in 2008 and Mattias Ohlund in 2009.
It is no coincidence that Garrison's yearly salary is $4.6 million a year. That
is exactly what the team's highest paid defenceman, Kevin Bieksa, earns
and the Canucks weren't going to top that.
Maybe Garrison, a former B.C. Hockey League star in Nanaimo who was
never drafted, will play 10 years in Vancouver. He is five months younger
than Salo was when the Canucks acquired him in 2002.
Garrison has just two full NHL seasons on his resume. He scored only five
goals in his first full season with the Panthers in 2010-11.
The Canucks like Garrison's size -- he's 6-foot-2, 220 pounds -- and believe
he can step into their top four alongside Bieska, Dan Hamhuis and Alex
Edler.
“It was a team that I originally wanted to play for,” Garrison said Monday in
a conference call. “I think the fit was important and the chance of winning.
Vancouver has had a winning team for many years and I hope to come and
play and just fit myself into the lineup and help the team win.
"I would describe (myself) as a very strong two-way player," he said. "I take
pride in my defensive zone and moving the puck to the forwards and
helping the goalies out as much as I can. And in the offensive zone just
getting pucks through to the net, supporting my partner and being physical
when I can."
“I definitely kind of developed my game later than most guys. I think hard
work is a big part of that. That is kind of how I was raised and the mentality
that I have. I think that will help coming into a situation like this. I have to
work even harder than before."
Garrison has always been something of a late bloomer as a hockey player.
He couldn't make Triple A rep teams in the Semiahmoo minor hockey
association until he reached midget age and all the better players had
moved on.
And be just as good as Salo.
He made the junior B Richmond Sockeyes at 18 and the BCHL's Nanaimo
Clippers at 19. At age 20 he was offered a scholarship to NCAA MinnesotaDuluth. Three years later, he was signed by the Panthers as an undrafted
free agent.
Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 07.03.2012
636742
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks convinced Garrison has more to give
"I definitely kind of developed my game later than most guys. I think hard
work is a big part of that. That is kind of how I was raised and the mentality
that I have. I think that will help coming into a situation like this. I have to
work even harder than before."
Gillis said the team is confident that Garrison has not yet reached his full
potential as a NHL player.
"We felt strongly that he is a player that is evolving and given our
circumstances would have an opportunity to continue to evolve," Gillis said.
"He played with another very good defenceman in Brian Campbell this year
and you saw the results.
"We think we have pairings that can work and we certainly have a place on
the power play for a shot like that. We're pretty confident that he still has
further upside and we are hoping that in our environment and with our style
of play that he'll continue to evolve. It's hard to find big, strong defencemen
in their prime that you can sign and we consider him one of them."
Garrison averaged 23:41 in ice time last season when he set a Panthers'
franchise record for goals by a defenceman. He has played 190 career NHL
games, all with Florida, registering 23 goals, 59 points and 81 penalty
minutes.
Canuck general manager Mike Gillis paid tribute to Salo on Sunday.
"Sami was an excellent hockey player, but was an even better person,"
Gillis said. "We are going to miss him a lot, but where we are today and
what we are trying to do, the most on term we could go was one year. I
think Sami has made a wonderful deal for himself and his family moving
forward and I wish him the best of luck. I hope he stays healthy and does
well."
Salo was not the only Canuck defenceman to move on this weekend. Aaron
Rome signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Stars worth $1.5 million a
season. Rome made $800,000 last season with the Canucks.
Besides re-signing free agent forwards Andrew Ebbett and Steve Pinizzotto
to two-way deals, the Canucks made no other moves on the weekend.
The Canucks apparently had contact Sunday with Anaheim free agent
enforcer George Parros, who eventually signed with Florida.
He acknowledged that coming home to play in front of family and friends
was important to him.
Vancouver also made an offer to former Canuck Tanner Glass, who opted
instead to sign a two-year $2.2-million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I've had a ton of support," he said. "I have been on my phone for the last
12 hours or whatever it is. It's been a lot of fun and it's definitely nice to
have all that support from friends and family."
Gillis, meanwhile, is continuing to try and move goalie Roberto Luongo, with
Florida or Toronto the most likely destinations.
He also understands that moving to a Canadian market will bring with it
added pressures that just weren't there in south Florida.
"I am learning right now," he said with a laugh. "It's definitely going to be
different, it's going to be a learning experience, but I look forward to it."
ICE CHIP: Garrison is a left-hand shot who normally plays the left side. "I
think my experience level is more on the left sidem but I am comfortable on
both sides," he said.
636743
Vancouver Canucks
Sami Salo to Vancouver Canucks and their fans: 'Thank you'
'I was not always a perfect player, but I always gave my best'
By BRAD ZIEMER, Vancouver Sun July 2, 2012
VANCOUVER -- It should have surprised no one that defenceman Sami
Salo left the Vancouver Canucks exhibiting the same class he displayed
during his nine seasons with the team.
Salo, who signed a two-year contract Sunday with the Tampa Bay
Lightning, released a statement Monday thanking the Canucks and their
fans.
"I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Canucks ownership,
management and coaches for the opportunity to have been a part of such a
wonderful organization," Salo said in a statement released by the Lightning.
"I would like to thank my teammates for the friendship, hard-fought battles,
and all of their support over the years. Most importantly, I would like to
thank the fans in Vancouver for their support. I was not always a perfect
player, but I always gave my best and I appreciate the way the fans treated
me."
Salo, who became an unrestricted free agent Sunday morning, will make
$3.75 million a season the next two years with the Lightning. He earned $2million on the discounted one-year deal he just completed with the
Canucks.
Salo became expendable after the Canucks signed free-agent defenceman
Jason Garrison to a six-year, $27.6-million contract late Sunday afternoon.
Salo scored nine goals and had 25 points last season, when he logged 69
games with the Canucks. He has played 566 of his 761 NHL games as a
Canuck and battled through several injuries, including a torn Achilles
tendon that almost ended his career in the summer of 2010.
"It is an honor and a privilege to have been able to call myself a Vancouver
Canuck and I wish everyone associated with the organization the best of
the luck," Salo said in his statement. "Thank you."
The Panthers re-signed backup goalie Scott Clemmensen on Sunday and
also have Jose Theodore under contract as well as highly regarded
prospect Jacob Markstrom. Some think Theodore could be one of the
players who comes to Vancouver should the Canucks strike a deal for
Luongo with the Panthers.
Gillis is also in the market for a third-line centre to replace Sammy
Pahlsson, who has signed with MoDo of the Swedish Elite League.
ICE CHIPS: Winger Mikael Samuelsson, who was traded to Florida last fall
by the Canucks, signed a two-year deal worth $2.5 million a season with
Detroit. Samuelsson played four seasons with the Red Wings before
signing with the Canucks in 2009. . .The four-day Canuck prospect camp
wrapped up on Monday. . .Former Canuck coach Marc Crawford is new
coach of the Zurich Lions, the defending Swiss League champions. Former
Canuck winger Jeff Tambellini was Zurich's leading scorer last season.
636744
Vancouver Canucks
By Jim Jamieson
Canucks top prospect Nicklas Jensen will likely play for Stockholm AIK next
season.
Canucks prospect Nicklas Jensen will head to the Swedish capital at the
beginning of August to begin training with Swedish Elite League team
Stockholm AIK.
Jensen will prepare to play in Stockholm if – as expected – he doesn’t stick
with the Canucks at training camp in September. He’ll be released from the
Swedish club to attend NHL camp.
The Canucks’ top pick (29th overall) in last year’s NHL draft has opted not
to return to Oshawa Generals of the OHL for a third season, his agent
saying he needs a higher competitive level.
“I talked to the coach and they are great people,” said Jensen, 19, following
the final ice sessions of the Canucks prospects camp at Rogers Arena.
“They’ve talked to my agent and they thought that was the place that suited
me the best.”
Jensen had an excellent showing with the Canucks’ Chicago Wolves AHL
affiliate following his junior season – scoring six goals in eight games – but
can’t play in the AHL next season due to an agreement with Canadian
major junior hockey banning 18- and 19-year-olds from playing in the
minors.
Jensen, who’s born and raised in Denmark, said AIK head coach Per-Erik
Johnsson hasn’t given him any promises about ice-time.
“You can’t say to any player that you are going on the first or second line,”
said Jensen. “You just have to go over there and play. The SEL is not just
some place you just show up and play. You have to earn your ice-time. I
want to go there and prove that I can play in that league, too, and we’ll see
what happens.”
Canucks assistant GM Lorne Henning said the NHL club supports the
unusual move for Jensen.
“He’s played with men since he was 16 in Denmark and he played well in
the AHL when he went there,” said Henning. “Unfortunately, he can’t go
back there (to the AHL), so I think this is the next best thing for him, where
he’s playing against men. Obviously, he’s got high-end talent, but he’s got a
few things to work on. As far as we’re concerned it’s a pretty good step for
him.”
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.03.2012
636745
Vancouver Canucks
Former Canucks coach Crawford finds a fit with Zurich Lions of Swiss
league
By Ben Kuzma
Marc Crawford was hoping to land head-coaching gigs in Montreal,
Washington or Edmonton. He considered being an assistant in the NHL and
AHL and even explored the junior ranks, but never considered stepping
away from the game. That’s why the former Vancouver Canucks bench
boss has stepped up to accept a two-year offer to coach defending
champion Zurich Lions of the Swiss national league.
“I started looking at it a couple of weeks ago and I was still in the running for
Washington,” Crawford said of replacing Bob Hartley who will coach the
Calgary Flames. “I went over and took a look at the situation and thought
this might be an option. This was the best opportunity and a new
experience that I wanted to try. New country. New culture.
“I like the idea of something new and forcing you to be better.”
With seven national-team members and former Canuck forwards Jeff
Tambellini and Ryan Shannon part of the four-import mix, Crawford is going
to have a good team. And the fact he coached Team Canada at the last
Spengler Cup tournament but bowed out in the quarterfinals gave him a feel
for the style of play on the international surface and a look at possible roster
considerations in Zurich. With the Swiss game evolving internationally, it’s
not like the 51-year-old Crawford is going into completely foreign territory.
Former national team coach Ralf Krueger now heads up the Edmonton
Oilers and Crawford also has an out-clause in his deal in case another NHL
opportunity arises in the future.
Crawford became the youngest coach to win the Jack Adams Trophy with
Quebec in 1995 and won the Stanley Cup the following year with the
transplanted franchise in Colorado. But he was also fired by Vancouver,
Los Angles and Dallas. Most recently, he worked as an analyst for TSN.
636746
Vancouver Canucks
Garrison keeps number to keep humble after signing Canucks contract
keep a reminder to remain humble on his back. After all, when you rocket
from $700,000 US annually with the Florida Panthers to a contract worth
$27.6 million, it could be easy to have your head in the clouds and your feet
off the ground. Especially growing up idolizing the Canucks and hoping to
play for his hometown team one day.
“For sure,” Garrison said Monday from Chicago, where he attended the
NHLPA meetings, a wedding and then sat with agent Matt Oates as free
agency unfolded. “The number was given to me my first pro development
camp. I’m not too picky with numbers and I get a lot of guys telling me I
need to switch, but I haven’t given it much thought. It’s grown on me a bit.”
Garrison is coming off a breakout season and his 16 goals were third
among NHL blueliners behind Shea Weber and Erik Karlsson who had 19
apiece and his nine power-play goals were just one behind Weber who led
that category. However, after just five goals in 2010-11, several suitors had
to be confident that Garrison was taking another career development step
because the undrafted late-bloomer didn’t even play junior hockey until age
19 with the BCHL Nanaimo Clippers after playing his minor hockey in
Burnaby, Aldergrove and Semiahmoo. And after playing with Mason
Raymond at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and then signing with the
Panthers, it’s been a slow yet steady rise to the point where he set a
franchise record for goals by a defence by being paired with Brian Campbell
on the power play. He’s likely to line up with Alex Edler and get ample
opportunity to unload a heavy power play slapper, something the Canucks
will need after losing Sami Salo to the Tamp Bay Lightning in free agency.
“I’m not going to be complacent at all with what happened and I just want to
keep developing as a player and get more experience,” added Garrison. “It
[complacency] is not my mindset. I’m looking forward to being a better
player each year. I spoke with Mike Gillis a little bit prior to signing and
talked about the role I play and how it would be a good fit for me. With the
way the team is coached, it’s a system I can step into and help. I’ll play
wherever they need me to play.”
The transition is going to be easier through some familiarity. Aside from
Raymond, Garrison played with David Booth, Keith Ballard and Chris
Higgins in Florida and chatted with his former college teammate just to
confirm everything he had already heard about the Vancouver organization.
“I spoke with Mason just a little bit and we’re really good friends,” said
Garrison. “From Day 1 when we turned pro, we’ve chatted about
everything. It’s one of those things where I feel a little comfortable knowing
some of them more. But you talk to anybody and there’s not one bad thing
said. In that regard, it’s a pretty easy conversation to have. It’s a first-class
organization with management, coaches and players. I’m just really looking
forward to it.”
Garrison has been on the Canucks’ radar for some time. However, the hope
was that he would do what Dan Hamhuis, Henrik and Daniel Sedin and
Kevin Bieksa all did. They took less than market value to remain here with a
team that still has a window to win it all. Garrison left money on the table
because Dennis Wideman, 29, turned 11 goals and 46 points with the
Washington Capitals into a five-year, $26.25 million deal with the Calgary
Flames.
“For me, it’s not just financially,” stressed Garrison. “You want to be on a
good team that has a chance to win and that’s a big factor for me at least.
The Canucks are so close to winning and I just want to try and fit in
wherever I can. And it’s just such a different experience to be a lot closer to
my friends and family and playing for a team you watched growing up.”
And watching free agency unfold was something that gave Garrison
anticipation and some angst.
“It’s a long day,” he said. “It was something I never experienced before
obviously. It’s pretty crazy and it’s the business side of it and how it breaks
down. To be with my agent in Chicago and see it first hand, it was all worth
it in the end.”
The Canucks seem confident they can say the same.
By Ben Kuzma
636747
Vancouver Canucks
It’s customary for a player to switch numbers when he switches teams.
However, don’t expect Jason Garrison to turn in his No. 52 when he suits
up with the Vancouver Canucks next NHL season. After the unrestricted
free agent defenceman agreed to a six-year contract Sunday and will have
an annual salary cap hit of $4.6 million US to keep in line with the
franchise’s salary structure, the 27-year-old White Rock native will also
Former Canucks bench boss Marc Crawford skips to Zurich
By Ben Kuzma, The Province July 2, 2012
Marc Crawford was hoping to land head-coaching gigs in Montreal,
Washington and Edmonton. He considered being an assistant in the NHL
and AHL and even explored the junior ranks, but never considered stepping
away from the game. That's why the former Vancouver Canucks bench
boss has stepped up to accept a two-year offer to coach defending
champion Zurich Lions of the Swiss national league.
"I started looking at it a couple of weeks ago and I was still in the running for
Washington," Crawford said of replacing Bob Hartley who will coach the
Calgary Flames. "I went over and took a look at the situation and thought
this might be an option. This was the best opportunity and a new
experience that I wanted to try. New country. New culture.
"I like the idea of something new and forcing you to be better."
With seven national-team members and former Canuck forwards Jeff
Tambellini and Ryan Shannon part of the four-import mix, Crawford is going
to have a good team. And the fact he coached Team Canada at the last
Spengler Cup tournament but bowed out in the quarterfinals gave him a feel
for the style of play on the international surface and a look at possible roster
considerations in Zurich. With the Swiss game evolving internationally, it's
not like the 51-year-old Crawford is going into completely foreign territory.
Former national team coach Ralf Krueger now heads up the Edmonton
Oilers and Crawford also has an out-clause in his deal in case another NHL
opportunity arises in the future.
Crawford became the youngest coach to win the Jack Adams Trophy with
Quebec in 1995 and won the Stanley Cup the following year with the
transplanted franchise in Colorado. But he was also fired by Vancouver,
Los Angles and Dallas. Most recently, he worked as an analyst for TSN.
636748
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks' Ebbett re-ups for $600,000 and one year
By Jim Jamieson, The Province July 2, 2012
The Canucks have re-signed forward Andrew Ebbett to a one-year deal that
pays him $600,000 at the NHL level and $300,000 in the minors.
Ebbett, 29, who missed much of last season with a fractured foot and then
a broken collarbone, was trying for another one-way contract (he had a
one-way deal for $525,000 with Vancouver last season) but had to settle for
the two-way with more money.
A versatile forward who can play all three forward positions, the 5-foot-9,
175-pound Ebbett said he's looking at the start of the season as a big
opportunity -- with No. 2 centre Ryan Kesler out until November with major
shoulder surgery.
"We haven't talked much yet, but I expect my role will be the same as last
season -- 13th forward who's versatile and can fill in," said Ebbett from his
off-season home in Ann Arbor, Mich. "But with Kes out there will be some
opportunity."
The Canucks also announced the signing of forward Steve Pinizzotto to a
one-year deal worth $600,000 in the NHL and $275, 000 in the minors.
Pinizzotto had missed last season after injuring his shoulder in a preseason
game.
636749
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks will see Garrison sticking with No. 52 jersey he got as a prospect
By Ben Kuzma, The Province July 2, 2012
However, don’t expect Jason Garrison to turn in his No. 52 when he suits
up with the Vancouver Canucks next NHL season.
The unrestricted free agent defenceman agreed to a six-year contract
Sunday and with an annual salary cap hit of $4.6 million US, and the 27year-old White Rock native will keep a reminder to remain humble on his
back. After all, when you rocket from $700,000 US annually with the Florida
Panthers to a contract worth $27.6 million, it could be easy to have your
head in the clouds and your feet off the ground. Especially if you grew up
idolizing the Canucks and hoping to play for the hometown team one day.
“The number was given to me my first pro development camp,” Garrison
said Monday from Chicago, where he attended the NHLPA meetings, a
wedding and then sat with agent Matt Oates as free agency unfolded. “I’m
not too picky with numbers and I get a lot of guys telling me I need to
switch, but I haven’t given it much thought. It’s grown on me a bit.”
Garrison is coming off a breakout season and his 16 goals were third
among NHL blueliners behind Shea Weber and Erik Karlsson, who had 19
apiece. His nine power-play goals were just one behind Weber, who led
that category. However, after just five goals in 2010-11, several suitors had
to be confident that Garrison was taking another career development step
because the undrafted late-bloomer didn’t even play junior hockey until age
19 with the BCHL Nanaimo Clippers. He played his minor hockey in
Burnaby, Aldergrove and Semiahmoo.
After playing with Mason Raymond at the University of Minnesota-Duluth
and then signing with the Panthers, it’s been a slow yet steady rise for
Garrison, to the point where he set a franchise record for goals by a
defenceman on a pairing with Brian Campbell on the power play. He’s likely
to line up with Alex Edler and get ample opportunity to unload a heavy
power play slap shot, something the Canucks will need after losing Sami
Salo to the Tampa Bay Lightning in free agency.
“I’m not going to be complacent at all with what happened and I just want to
keep developing as a player and get more experience,” said Garrison. “It
[complacency] is not my mindset. I’m looking forward to being a better
player each year. I spoke with Mike Gillis a little bit prior to signing and
talked about the role I play and how it would be a good fit for me. With the
way the team is coached, it’s a system I can step into and help. I’ll play
wherever they need me to play.”
The transition will be made easier by familiarity. Aside from Raymond,
Garrison has played with David Booth, Keith Ballard and Chris Higgins in
Florida. He chatted with his former college teammate just to confirm
everything he had already heard about the Vancouver organization.
“I spoke with Mason just a little bit and we’re really good friends,” said
Garrison. “From Day 1 when we turned pro, we’ve chatted about
everything. It’s one of those things where I feel a little comfortable knowing
some of them more. But you talk to anybody and there’s not one bad thing
said. In that regard, it’s a pretty easy conversation to have. It’s a first-class
organization with management, coaches and players. I’m just really looking
forward to it.”
Garrison has been on the Canucks’ radar for some time. However, the hope
was that he would do what Dan Hamhuis, Henrik and Daniel Sedin and
Kevin Bieksa all did. They took less than market value to remain here with a
team that still has a window to win it all. Garrison left money on the table -Dennis Wideman, 29, turned 11 goals and 46 points with the Washington
Capitals into a five-year, $26.25-million deal with the Calgary Flames.
“For me, it’s not just financially,” stressed Garrison. “You want to be on a
good team that has a chance to win and that’s a big factor for me at least.
The Canucks are so close to winning and I just want to try and fit in
wherever I can. And it’s just such a different experience to be a lot closer to
my friends and family and playing for a team you watched growing up.”
Watching free agency unfold was something that gave Garrison anticipation
and some angst.
“It’s a long day,” he said. “It was something I never experienced before
obviously. It’s pretty crazy and it’s the business side of it and how it breaks
down. To be with my agent in Chicago and see it first-hand, it was all worth
it in the end.”
The Canucks seem confident they can say the same.
It’s customary for a player to switch numbers when he switches teams.
636750
Washington Capitals
Joey Crabb a ‘stronger person’ after long road to NHL
By Katie Carrera
The 2011-12 season was a breakout year for Joey Crabb. Ten years after
he was a seventh-round selection by the New York Rangers, the Alaska
native earned a regular spot in an NHL lineup with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
And on Sunday, Crabb signed the first one-way contract of his career when
he agreed to a one-year deal worth $950,000 with the Capitals. While
Crabb, 29, didn’t have the most direct route to the NHL, he believes he’s a
better player for it.
“You always just got to keep a strong work ethic and keep working hard,”
Crabb said. “I was always confident in my game and confident I could play
in the NHL and obviously, I would have liked there to get there a little earlier
with a couple different turns and a couple different situations I might have
been. But I think it’s made me a bit of a stronger person. It’s helped
mentally.”
Crabb was part of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program
as a teenager and he went on to play four years for Colorado College.
When he turned pro in 2006-07, Crabb signed with Atlanta and spent the
next four seasons playing primarily with its AHL affiliate, the Chicago
Wolves.
After appearing in 29 games with the Thrashers in 2008-09, Crabb didn’t
get back to the NHL until two years later after he had been traded to
Toronto. He split the 2010-11 campaign with the Maple Leafs (48 games)
and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies (34 games) before finally emerging as daily
contributor at the NHL level last season.
Comfortable after his previous stints in the league, Crabb averaged 13:27
per night in 67 games with the Maple Leafs in 2011-12 and recorded 11
goals and 15 assists.
“I was really happy with the season, the way it went,” Crabb said. “I was
going into the year with confidence and expectations of good play.”
Crabb is a self-described “energy guy” who likes to get involved on the
forecheck and prides himself on contributing to the penalty kill.
Depending how the rest of the offseason shakes out, Crabb will likely spend
the bulk of his time on the fourth line for the Capitals but could potentially
move up if circumstances warrant it. That would slot Crabb along fellow
Western Collegiate Hockey Association alums Matt Hendricks (St. Cloud
State) and Jay Beagle (University of Alaska) most of the time.
For Crabb, one of the most important factors in selecting Washington was
the team’s lofty goals. After spending his entire career up to this point with
struggling organizations in Atlanta and Toronto, he wanted to be a part of a
potential contender.
“I’m just excited for a chance to win some games,” Crabb said. “I’m just
excited to get in there and get on a team with a real good chance to win and
high expectations for them. I haven’t really played on teams in the past that
have had this high of expectations for winning and it’s going to be fun to be
playing for a team like that.”
McPhee said Monday he doesn’t “expect to do anything” more in this
shallow free agent market.
“It’s a very inflated market this summer. There aren’t very many players and
there are a lot of teams pursuing the players,” McPhee said. “At some point
you start inventing players, making them out to be better than they are and
paying more than you should. It’s sometimes best to sit back and stay out of
it.”
Granted, McPhee’s assertion that the Capitals won’t do anything else
doesn’t preclude them from signing another player once the dust settles, as
they did with goaltender Tomas Vokoun last season, or making a trade later
down the road.
As things stand now, Washington has $19.8 million in room under the cap
but that number will shrink to around $12.8 million, perhaps less, once
restricted free agents Mike Green, John Carlson, Jay Beagle and Mathieu
Perreault are resigned.
It’s plenty of room to tweak the lineup, but McPhee was adamant he would
not add the burden of a regrettable contract to the fold.
McPhee declined to say whether the Capitals submitted formal offers to top
UFAs Zach Parise and Ryan Suter only that they “explored everything.” He
expanded only to say that the team set a limit for the type of contract it
would offer. Once the term or salary amount exceeded that threshold,
McPhee said Washington moved on.
“You can survive the loss of a player but it’s hard to survive bad contracts,”
McPhee said. “Sometimes you can do something at this time of year that
handcuffs you for years. We haven’t done that we’re not interested in doing
that.”
The departure of Alexander Semin leaves a hole for a true scorer on the
second line, but when asked if he felt the need to pursue a top-six winger
McPhee said he believes Washington can fill the void internally.
That means increased production from Alex Ovechkin down through the
forward ranks and from the offensively inclined defensemen as well.
Ovechkin, Semin and Jason Chimera were the only three players to reach
the 20-goal plateau in 2011-12.
“We like to try our own guys. We added a skill guy in [center Mike] Ribeiro
and expect that that move’s going to make us a whole lot better,” McPhee
said. “They did it last year. Troy Brouwer got [18] goals for us last year….So
we’ll try our own guys.”
A few other notes from McPhee’s meeting with reporters Monday:
— There’s no timetable on hiring assistant coaches and it’s possible none
will be named before the start of development camp on July 9.
“We’ll get on that later this week but I don’t expect any announcement on
that any time soon,” McPhee said. “We have names but we really haven’t
had a lot of dialogue or interviews.”
— Keith Aucoin likely won’t be back in the organization next season. “He’s
looking for a one-way deal in the league somewhere,” McPhee said. “It was
our understanding if he didn’t get it he’d go to Europe to play.”
— Speaking of development camp, the roster of Capitals prospects who are
attending will be released on Tuesday.
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NHL free agency roundup
McPhee on free agency: ‘It’s sometimes best to sit back and stay out of it’
By Katie Carrera
By Katie Carrera
While NHL free agency began Sunday, most of the high-profile dominoes
have yet to fall. Monday may be decision day for players like winger Zach
Parise, defenseman Ryan Suter and a number of others who are waiting to
see what the big dogs do before signing on the dotted line themselves. So
be sure to stay tuned throughout the day.
The first two days of NHL free agency have been largely uneventful ones
for the Washington Capitals and it appears that trend won’t change.
Despite the lack of additional scoring depth on the wing and arguably the
need for another stable top-four defenseman, General Manager George
In the meantime, for those who may not have been able to keep up with the
free agency news, here’s a quick roundup of where things stand, beginning
with the Capitals.
— Washington signed right-wing Joey Crabb to a one-year, one-way deal
worth $950,000 late in the day Sunday. More on him here.
— The Capitals have also signed AHL defensemen Kevin Marshall and
Garrett Stafford to one-year deals.
Marshall, who was a restricted free agent this summer, recorded six points
and 116 penalty minutes with Hershey and the Adirondack Phantoms in
2011-12. Washington acquired Marshall, 23, from the Flyers last February.
Stafford, 32, is a seasoned AHL veteran with 610 career games in that
league. In 2011-12, he recorded 28 points (9 goals, 19 assists) in 48 games
with the Portland Pirates and Hamilton Bulldogs. Stafford has appeared in
seven NHL games in his career; his most recent appearance came in 201011 with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Around the NHL:
— For a full list of free agent signings, check out TSN’s sortable list.
— Zach Parise is expected to make a decision at some point Monday
afternoon. It’s believed he’s narrowed his pool of teams to New Jersey,
Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Once Parise
signs, it’s believed the trade market for Columbus’s Rick Nash and
Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan will heat up.
— The other star of this year’s free agent show, Ryan Suter, may make a
decision Monday as well. Nashville is trying to retain him but Suter has
received a number offers from other teams, including the Detroit Red
Wings, who see him as the heir apparent to Nicklas Lidstrom’s top spot on
the depth chart.
— Martin Brodeur will stay in New Jersey. The goaltender agreed to a twoyear, $9 million deal with the Devils.
“Nothing really active right now. We’ve explored a lot of things as we said
we would do,” McPhee said. “We didn’t expect to do a lot before free
agency, and we haven’t.”
Many free agents appeared to be waiting for the top two players available,
left wing Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter, to choose destinations
before signing with teams that came up empty in those pursuits. Those
dominos will fall, but the Caps might not be in the mix because of what
McPhee called “not a great crop of free agents.”
“Everybody wants to do something, but you’ve got to be careful because we
all know what it’s like to feel like you’ve got to do something, you do
something and at the end of training camp or the end of October, you’re
looking at the guy and saying, ‘Why did we do that?’ ” McPhee said. “Better
to be nimble and flexible, and we are right now. We’re not going to commit
to anything that doesn’t make sense to us.”
Trades obviously could change the roster landscape between now and the
start of training camp, and several intriguing players are out there, including
Anaheim Ducks right wing Bobby Ryan and Columbus Blue Jackets right
wing Rick Nash.
McPhee didn’t have much to say about going after either of those players,
but he’ll talk to colleagues about what’s available.
“We’ve got a pretty good hockey team here. If there’s a way to improve it,
we will,” he said. “We’ll explore the trade market like everybody else does. I
don’t anticipate a lot happening.”
Even in replacing Semin’s production, McPhee talked up Troy Brouwer,
Brooks Laich, Marcus Johansson among players on his roster. Absent of
taking a chance on a free agent or making a trade, “We’ll try our own guys,”
he said.
— To the surprise of no one, Alex Radulov is returning to Russia and the
KHL. The winger signed a four-year contract with CSKA, whose general
manager is Sergei Fedorov, and will make roughly $9.2 million per season
according to Puck Daddy’s Dmitry Chesnokov.
Washington Times LOADED: 07.03.2012
Introducing new Caps winger Joey Crabb
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Washington Capitals
Brian McNally
Make a big splash? Not Caps’ McPhee
By Stephen Whyno
George McPhee flashes a deft poker face often, not willing to share his
plans for the Washington Capitals before he makes a big move. That could
be the case this offseason, or the general manager could be calmly blunt
about not wanting to spend a lot of money in free agency.
After the first two days of NHL unrestricted free agency, the Caps haven’t
made a splash, signing just right wing Joey Crabb, who played last season
with Toronto.
“It’s a very inflated market this summer. There aren’t very many players,
and there are a lot of teams pursuing the players,” McPhee said Monday.
“At some point, you start inventing players, making them out to be better
than they are and paying them more than you should. It’s sometimes best
just to sit back and stay out of it.”
The Capitals figure to have holes with forwards Alexander Semin, Mike
Knuble and Jeff Halpern and defenseman Dennis Wideman not coming
back. But as other teams are making moves, McPhee hasn’t done any
more than dip his toes into the shallow free agent pool.
“You can survive the loss of a player, but it’s hard to survive bad contracts.
Sometimes you can do something at this time of year that handcuffs you for
years,” he said. “We haven’t done that; we’re not interested in doing that.”
A year ago, the Caps signed right wing Joel Ward (three years, $12 million),
defenseman Roman Hamrlik (two years, $7 million), Halpern (one year,
$825,000) and goaltender Tomas Vokoun (one year, $1.5 million), all in the
first two days of free agency. Crabb at one year and $950,000 has been the
only addition this summer.
And there might be reason to believe not much more is coming in the near
future.
The Capitals added to their number of bottom-six forwards when they
signed free agent winger Joey Crabb to a one-year contract worth $950,000
late Sunday evening. Local reporters had the chance to chat with Crabb on
a Monday afternoon conference call.
Crabb said his agent, Kevin Epp, spoke with a handful of other
organizations. One of the important factors was that Washington is still
considered a Stanley Cup contender. He came from Toronto, which has
missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the last seven seasons. The
Maple Leafs didn’t seem all that interested in keeping Crabb. They touched
base on Sunday, the opening day of NHL free agency, but there wasn’t
much contact before that when they had his exclusive negotiating rights.
At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Crabb is a natural fit on the fourth line with Matt
Hendricks on the left wing and Jay Beagle at center. Depends in part on
who else new coach Adam Oates considers a bottom-six forward. Beagle
and center Mathieu Perreault – a more skilled player, obviously – are both
restricted free agents and still need to sign contracts.
Crabb doesn’t know new coach Adam Oates, either. But he did get the
scoop from friend and former AHL teammate Matt Anderson, whom he
played with for three years with the Chicago Wolves. Anderson spent the
past two years with the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate in Albany. Oates
was previously an assistant coach with New Jersey.
As for Crabb, he scored a career-high 11 goals for Toronto last season with
another 15 assists. That’s massive offensive production for a player granted
limited ice time. Crabb averaged 1:34 on the penalty kill last season –
among Maple Leafs forwards that ranked behind only old friend David
Steckel (2:17) and Tim Connolly (1:41). Overall, Crabb was 16th in time on
ice (13:26) out of the 19 Toronto players who reached at least 40 games.
But are those offensive numbers realistic here in 2012-13 given his likely
role with Washington.
“What we’re hoping for is we get a well-rounded player that can play well
with and without the puck in that kind of role,” Caps general manager
George McPhee said. “What you want is four lines that can play and I think
we have that right now.”
Crabb said he knows Beagle and Hendricks “a little bit”. Beagle played for
the University of Alaska-Anchorage and Crabb is a native of that city. One
of Crabb’s good friends is Trevor Frischmon, now an AHL player with the
New York Islanders’ organization, but for four years one of Crabb’s
teammates at Colorado College. Frischmon, a Minnesota native, is also
tight with Hendricks.
At age 29, Crabb’s career mirrors Hendricks’ somewhat. This is his first
one-way contract so he doesn’t have to worry about being returned to the
minor leagues at a lower salary. Crabb made his NHL debut at age 25 after
four years in college, where he was a first-team All-WCHA performer as a
senior, and then parts of five seasons in the AHL. He didn’t become a fulltime NHLer until age 27, halfway through the 2010-11 season. Hendricks
also played parts of five seasons in the AHL and made his debut at 27. His
first one-way contract started at age 30 this past season. Like Hendricks,
Crabb believes the talent was there all along. He just needed a break or two
to finally take advantage of it.
“You always just got to keep a strong work ethic and keep working hard. I
was always confident in my game and confident that I could play in the
NHL,” Crabb said. “Obviously I would have liked to get there a little earlier,
but I think with a couple different turns and a couple different situations I
might have been there. But I think it’s made me a bit of a stronger person
and it’s helped mentally.”
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Washington Capitals
Alaskan Crabb adds depth to Capitals
Brian McNally
Joey Crabb always believed he could play in the NHL. He just needed the
opportunity.
That first legitimate chance finally came halfway through the 2010-11
season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Crabb showed well there and even
better this past season with a career-best 11-goal campaign despite limited
ice time. That was enough for the Capitals, who signed the right wing to a
one-year, $900,500 contract Sunday.
Crabb provides depth as a bottom-six forward, which Washington will need
if it intends to replace skilled winger Alexander Semin with internal
candidates as general manager George McPhee claims. Crabb is expected
to play on the fourth line with center Jay Beagle, who remains a restricted
free agent, and left wing Matt Hendricks.
"I'm just excited to get in there and get on a team with a real good chance
to win and high expectations for that," Crabb said. "I haven't really played
on teams in the past that had this high of expectations for winning."
The Maple Leafs have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the last
seven seasons -- though they didn't exactly make a strong push to keep
Crabb around at his asking price. After four years of college hockey at
Colorado College and parts of five seasons spent in the minors, Crabb
signed a one-way contract with the Caps, which means he will make the
same money even if he returns to the minors next season. That's a
milestone for a player who at age 29 had never signed a one-way deal
before. In that way, his career arc mirrors that of Hendricks, who made his
own NHL debut at 27 with Colorado and at 31 has morphed into a solid role
player for Washington.
"I obviously like to get around the ice and take the body and create energy
and get in on the forecheck," Crabb said. "I have some offensive skills a
little bit, too, that I like to chip in with here and there. I really pride myself on
penalty killing, and I think there's a few guys like that on Washington
already. It seems like it should be a good fit."
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Winnipeg Jets
Jets have Olli on board
By: Ed Tait
Ask 10 different National Hockey League types about Olli Jokinen -- the
Winnipeg Jets' spiffy new free-agent addition -- and the answers will be
varied and sprinkled with both an assortment of platitudes and unflattering
adjectives.
He's played in 1,042 NHL games with six different teams -- including twice
with the Calgary Flames -- and once wore the captain's 'C' in Florida. He's a
big body at 6-3, 210 pounds, has shown a deft scoring touch with four
seasons of 30-plus goals and a career-high 91 points.
And yet he was also once labelled a "cancer" by Matthew Barnaby and, for
all his size and skill, has been traded five times in his career.
Still, knowing all the that, Jets' brass inked the 33-year-old Finn to a twoyear, $9 million contract -- even with all his warts, real or otherwise -- mainly
for this reason: he's a big body who helps fill an organizational need at
centre.
"We've very, very excited to get him," said Jets' GM Kevin Cheveldayoff in a
conference call Monday night. "He's got size and a tremendous amount of
experience. We believe that with adding the size of (Alexei) Ponikarovsky
(signed Sunday) and now Jokinen that we're a much bigger and harder
team to play against.
"We're excited to bring a front-line player, a Top 6 player, into the
organization. We worked extremely hard at this deal as we did on other
deals that didn't come in our direction. All you can do is put your best offers
forward and we're very happy to have Olli as part of the Winnipeg Jets
family."
Jokinen is coming off his best offensive campaign in six seasons, having
scored 23 goals and adding 38 assists in 82 games last season with the
Flames.
After the season it was revealed he had played the last month while battling
serious pain from an abdominal tear -- an injury that required surgery.
Praised by the Flames for his grittiness while dealing with that pain, it was
thought he would finish his career in Calgary.
But in May the Flames signed Czech centre Roman Cervenka to a $3.7
milion deal and in the last week have taken on a ton of salary with the
additions of Dennis Wideman and Jiri Hudler and the re-signing of Lee
Stempniak, Blake Comeau and Cory Sarich.
All of that, coupled with the thin crop of available free-agent centres, made
Jokinen a tasty option for a Jets franchise that has struggled to get big
production from its centres.
Bryan Little was the Jets' No. 1 centre in 2011-12, finishing sixth in team
scoring with 24 goals and 22 assists.
"What we're hoping for is we get a well-rounded player that can play well
with and without the puck in that kind of role," Caps general manager
George McPhee said. "What you want is four lines that can play, and I think
we have that right now."
"His size comes to the forefront," said Cheveldayoff. "He's difficult to handle
when he gets moving and he does move very well. He likes to shoot the
puck and he's not afraid to do that and there's lots of opportunities for him
to score and opportunities for other players to score off of rebounds and
create plays.
Crabb, an Anchorage, Alaska, native, was drafted in the seventh round in
2002 by the New York Rangers and made his NHL debut with the Atlanta
Thrashers in 2008-09. He has 18 goals in 144 NHL games and was one of
Toronto's better penalty-killing forwards. An excellent skater, Crabb played
the third-most minutes on the penalty kill there.
"He has been a very durable player over the years. And any time you can
add a player of this stature, a player who has the ability to make plays and
to score, it creates other opportunities for players like Evander (Kane). You
have to respect players like Olli when they're on the ice all the time and I
think that attention helps other players to play their game as well."
Jokinen will speak to media via a conference call from Finland today, but
did use his Twitter account to express his excitement in joining the Jets:
'Very excited about joining the Winnipeg Jets and getting a chance to play
in front of the loudest fans in Canada!'
varied and sprinkled with both an assortment of platitudes and unflattering
adjectives.
Cheveldayoff said contract discussions with Kane, a restricted free agent,
are continuing and that the pursuit of a backup goalie to replace Chris
Mason will continue into Day 3 of NHL free agency.
He’s played in 1,042 NHL games with six different teams — including twice
with the Calgary Flames — and once wore the captain’s ‘C’ in Florida. He’s
a big body at 6-3, 210 pounds, has shown a deft scoring touch with four
seasons of 30-plus goals and a career-high 91 points.
"We're not done by any stretch of the imagination yet."
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Winnipeg Jets
The Jokinen file
Tim Campbell
OLLI JOKINEN
Age: 33
Home: Kuopio, Finland
Position: C
H/W: 6-foot 3, 210 pounds
The history channel
drafted third overall by L.A., 1997
owns a gold medal from the 1998 World Junior
involved in the first big trade of his career, moving in June, 2009, to the
Islanders in a six-player, two-pick deal that saw Ziggy Palffy go to the
Kings.
one June later, more trading. Jokinen went to Florida along with Roberto
Luongo for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha.
Jokinen played seven seasons for the Panthers, was captain for four. He
had just six goals in his first season, but after the lockout year, had seasons
of 38, 39 and 34 before being involved in a third career trade, this time to
Phoenix at the 2008 draft.
Traded for a fourth time in his career at the 2009 trade deadline to Calgary
and appeared in his only career NHL playoff series that spring.
Sagged to just 11 goals the next season and was traded for a fifth time, to
the Rangers.
He returned to the Flames via free agency in the summer of 2010, taking a
pay cut from $5.25 million to $3 million. Matters improved to a 54-point
season, and again in 2011-12 to a 61-point season, though the Flames
missed the playoffs both years.
In an NHL career in which he has now changed teams seven times, has
1,042 games; 292 goals, 683 points, 967 PIMs.
More than once has been in the wrong place at the wrong time. In Feb.
2008, after being checked and falling, his skate came up and clipped
teammate Richard Zednick in the throat. Zednick was out the rest of the
season but continued his career. In April, 2010 in his brief stint with the
Rangers, was the team's final shootout shooter in the regular season's final
game against the Flyers. He missed, handing the Flyers the game and the
playoff spot.
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Winnipeg Jets
And yet he was also once labelled a ‘cancer’ by Matthew Barnaby and, for
all his size and skill, has been traded five times in his career.
Still, knowing all the that Jets’ brass inked the 33-year-old Finn to a twoyear, $9 million contract — even with all his warts, real or otherwise —
mainly for this reason: he’s a big body who helps fill an organizational need
at centre.
"We’ve very, very excited to get him," said Jets’ GM Kevin Cheveldayoff in
a conference call Monday night. "He’s got size and a tremendous amount of
experience. We believe that with adding the size of (Alexei) Ponikarovsky
(signed Sunday) and now Jokinen that we’re a much bigger and harder
team to play against.
"We’re excited to bring a front-line player, a Top 6 player, into the
organization. We worked extremely hard at this deal as we did on other
deals that didn’t come in our direction. All you can do is put your best offers
forward and we’re very happy to have Olli as part of the Winnipeg Jets
family."
Jokinen is coming off his best offensive campaign in six seasons, having
scored 23 goals and adding 38 assists in 82 games last season with the
Flames. After the season it was revealed he had played the last month
while battling serious pain from an abdominal tear — an injury that required
surgery.
Praised by the Flames for his grittiness while dealing with that pain, it was
thought he would finish his career in Calgary.
But in May the Flames signed Czech centre Roman Cervenka to a $3.7
milion and in the last week have taken on a ton of salary with the additions
of Dennis Wideman and Jiri Hudler and the re-signing of Lee Stempniak,
Blake Comeau and Cory Sarich.
All of that, coupled with the thin crop of available free-agent centres, made
Jokinen a tasty option for a Jet franchise that has struggled to get big
production from its centres.
Bryan Little was the Jets’ No. 1 centre in 2011-12, finishing sixth in team
scoring with 24 goals and 22 assists.
"His size comes to the forefront," said Cheveldayoff.
"He’s difficult to handle when he gets moving and he does move very well.
He likes to shoot the puck and he’s not afraid to do that and there’s lots of
opportunities for him to score and opportunities for other players to score off
of rebounds and create plays.
"He has been a very durable player over the years. And
any time you can add a player of this stature, a player who has the ability to
make plays and to score, it creates other opportunities for players like
Evander (Kane) You have to respect players like Olli when they’re on the
ice all the time and I think that attention helps other players to play their
game as well."
Jokinen will speak to media via a conference call from Finland on Tuesday,
but did use his Twitter account to express his excitement in joining the Jets:
‘Very excited about joining the Winnipeg Jets and getting a chance to play
in front of the loudest fans in Canada!’
Cheveldayoff said contract discussions with Kane, a restricted free agent,
are continuing and that the pursuit of a back-up goalie to replace Chris
Mason will continue into Day 3 of NHL free agency.
"We’re not done by any stretch of the imagination yet."
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Winnipeg Jets
By: Ed Tait
Ask 10 different National Hockey League types about Olli Jokinen — the
Winnipeg Jets’ spiffy new free-agent addition — and the answers will be
By Ken Wiebe
636760
With one stroke of the pen, the Winnipeg Jets addressed one of their
biggest areas of concern.
Is need for sniper worth Jets taking chance on Semin?
And with the addition of free agent Olli Jokinen on Monday, the Jets added
size, scoring and depth down the middle.
Jokinen isn’t going to make Jets fans forget the Finnish Flash anytime soon,
but he’s a guy that can still be a solid contributor during a two-year deal that
will pay him $9 million USD.
“When you do have the ability to upgrade in any facet of the centre position,
you have to take a good, long look at it,” Jets general manager Kevin
Cheveldayoff said during a conference call on Monday night. “We believe
strength down the middle will give you a lot of success in the long run.”
Jokinen, 33, brings more than 1,000 games of NHL experience with him
and perhaps more importantly, his presence allows the franchise the
opportunity to not rush Mark Scheifele before he’s ready.
After getting a taste last season, Scheifele is bound and determined to stick
with the Jets this fall — and he still might — but barring something
unforeseen, the bulk of the Top-6 minutes at centre will be played by
Jokinen and Bryan Little.
Some combination of Jim Slater, Nik Antropov, Alex Burmistrov and/or
Scheifele figure to anchor the third and fourth lines, though several of those
guys could be used on the wing as well.
Jokinen has played in a Canadian market and isn’t afraid of the scrutiny that
goes along with it.
In fact, he took to Twitter to embrace it shortly after the deal was agreed
upon.
“Very excited about joining the Winnipeg Jets and getting a chance to play
in front of the loudest fans in Canada!” tweeted Jokinen, aka
@ollijokinen13.
During the course of his career, Jokinen has been remarkably durable and
consistent, sporting seven 20-plus goal seasons (three of 30-plus) and nine
consecutive 50-plus point campaigns.
Jokinen had 23 goals and 61 points last season with the Calgary Flames.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to bring a front-line player, a Top-6
player into the organization,” said Cheveldayoff. “His size comes to the
forefront right now, he’s difficult to handle. When he gets moving, he does
move very well. He likes to shoot the puck and he’s not afraid to do that.
You have to respect players like Olli when they’re on the ice all the time and
that attention helps other players to play their games as well.”
Jokinen was mulling over several other serious offers, mostly from teams in
the Western Conference, but after losing a pair of character players in free
agency on Sunday, the Jets came back and convinced the 14-year veteran
they provided him a solid opportunity moving forward.
They also got Jokinen on a reasonable term.
Winnipeg Jets
By Ken Wiebe
Alexander Semin Free agent Alexander Semin has had his character
questioned, but he’s a top-flight winger who has proven he can produce on
the ice.
It might be time for the Winnipeg Jets to take a swing for the fences.
Day 2 of NHL free agency: 2012 edition essentially ground to a near halt on
Monday as teams continue to wait impatiently for the marquee men — Zach
Parise and Ryan Suter — to decide where they’re going to play.
Meanwhile, we’re pretty sure members of the Jets management team were
placing calls that in all likelihood will address their need for a backup goalie
and the continued pursuit of another Top-6 forward, although nothing was
imminent on either front at press time.
The problem for the Jets and many other teams is that several remaining
free agents want to wait and see the dollar value Parise and to some extent
Suter get from the winning bidder.
Why wait?
Because if you were on the short list to get those players and fail, chances
are better that you’re going to spend a little bit more when you turn to Plan
B to avoid another rejection.
The Jets addressed one of their needs by signing centre Olli Jokinen to a
two-year deal Monday. The former Calgary Flame has size, a big shot and
is still pretty productive.
However, a quick look at the depth chart shows the Jets have an equally
pressing vacancy for a top-flight right-winger behind emerging talent Blake
Wheeler.
Could Alexander Semin be that guy?
Semin took a beating on the TV panels on Sunday and was called a “coach
killer” at one point.
Your first reaction might be to immediately dismiss the possibility of Semin,
since the Jets are putting a premium on character as they build the
organization.
However, Semin is a pure goal scorer with one of the deadliest shots in the
game.
Outside of his rookie season, the lowest goal total the seven-year NHL
veteran has produced was 21, which came last season.
However, Semin also has seasons of 28, 40, 34, 26 and 38 goals, so when
he brings his A-game, he can be a game-changer.
The signing should also quiet some of the roars the Jets can’t entice quality
players here in free agency.
Yes, consistency has been an issue for Semin, but he’s only 28-years-old
and has 197 goals and 408 points in 469 regular-season games —
including a career-best 40 goals and 84 points in 2009-10.
“This move wasn’t made in regard to that at all, there’s no reactionary ‘Well,
we better go and get someone,’ or anything like that,” said Cheveldayoff.
“This was an opportunity to get a player that wanted to be here and
certainly has a good pedigree in the NHL.”
Semin might also be at that point in his career where he’s motivated to
repair his reputation and emerge from the shadow of Alex Ovechkin.
There’s little doubt the Jets are a better team with Jokinen on it.
To find out how much better, we’ll have to check back in a few months.
For now, it has to go down as another step in the right direction.
Plus, Cheveldayoff has a few other things on his wish list, including a new
deal for restricted free agent Evander Kane, a backup goalie and a few
other irons in the fire.
“Certainly, we’re going to continue to stay busy,” said Cheveldayoff.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. I don’t think we’re done by any
stretch of the imagination yet.”
Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.03.2012
Maybe Jets head coach Claude Noel can come up with the formula to coax
the best out of him.
The 13th pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft would bring size at 6-foot-2, 209
pounds (though he’s not overly physical) and finish, both of which would be
a welcome addition to the Jets.
During his past two seasons, Semin has produced 54 points each year.
Last season, that would have left him tied with Evander Kane for second in
Jets’ scoring and his 21 goals would have left him fourth on the squad.
Still convinced the risk outweighs the reward?
It wasn’t all that long ago when Jaromir Jagr was called a “coach-killer”
when he played for the Capitals and he found a way to get his game on
track and have multiple productive seasons.
Perhaps Semin could be on the verge of doing the same.
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Winnipeg Jets
Jets made pitch for Parise
AROUND THE GLASS: Left-winger Evander Kane became a restricted free
agent on Sunday. Cheveldayoff said negotiations are ongoing … Winger
Spencer Machacek also became a restricted free agent on Sunday …
Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, whose rights the Jets acquired last
weekend from Toronto, signed with Detroit on Sunday. That means the Jets
don’t have to surrender a seventh-round draft pick to the Maple Leafs.
— with files from Kirk Penton
By Ken Wiebe
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The Winnipeg Jets were in the Zach Parise sweepstakes, if only
momentarily.
ESPN / Who will win Derek Roy for Steve Ott swap?
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff didn’t make the trip to Toronto to
make his sales pitch, but did place a call to Newport Sports to declare their
interest.
That wasn’t enough to secure Parise’s services as the Jets aren’t among
the teams on the short list.
“Obviously, that’s kind of where it went,” said Cheveldayoff. “We expressed
our interest early, but the process started in earnest pretty early after that.”
Parise is expected to make his decision known on Monday and the
Pittsburgh Penguins remain a favourite to sign him.
Cheveldayoff confirmed the Jets didn’t make an offer to coveted
defenceman Ryan Suter, who is also expected to announce his decision on
Monday.
MEECH RETURNS: Defenceman Derek Meech signed a one-year, twoway deal with the Jets on Sunday.
Meech, a Winnipegger, endured an injury-plagued season and was limited
to just two games with the Jets, but battled back to enjoy a strong playoff
with the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League, producing four
goals and nine points in 15 games.
“I had options overseas and there were a couple other teams interested. I
just felt in my heart it was the right thing for me at this time,” said Meech. “I
have a lot of passion for Winnipeg, I’m obviously a hometown guy and it’s
always been my dream to play for the Jets. I’m going to keep trying here
and hopefully, things work out.”
Meech, 28, has four goals and 16 points in 128 NHL games with the Jets
and Detroit Red Wings.
PENNER STAYS: Winkler product Dustin Penner has decided to remain
with the Los Angeles Kings, inking a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.
Penner, who won the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career after
enduring a tumultuous season, actually agreed to the deal in principle on
Saturday, so he technically didn’t become a free agent.
“I wanted to see what it was like to be back with a team I had won a
championship with,” said Penner, who signed with the Edmonton Oilers
after winning his first Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks back in 2007.
“Last year wasn’t near other people’s expectations and especially my own. I
look forward to having the opportunity to redeem myself further.”
We asked Penner if he would have considered an offer from the Jets?
“If I would have got to free agency, I would have considered any offer out
there, whether it was the Jets or any other team,” he said. “Free agency is
something as a player that you work hard to get. I knew what I was giving
up by signing early, but what I get in return is something I’ve never had
before. That was the tradeoff that was worth it for me.”
MANITOBANS ON MOVE: Several other Manitobans opted for new
addresses on Sunday.
Jordin Tootoo, who was born in Churchill and starred with the Brandon
Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, left the Nashville Predators to
sign a three-year deal worth $5.7 million with the Red Wings, Portage
product Arron Asham left the Pittsburgh Penguins to sign a two-year, $2
million deal with the New York Rangers and Nesbitt product Aaron Rome
left the Vancouver Canucks to sign a three-year deal worth $4.5 million with
the Dallas Stars.
Websites
By Scott Burnside
Maybe the surprising swap of skilled center Derek Roy for agitating forward
Steve Ott and defenseman Adam Pardy is one of those "this should work
out for both teams" kind of deals.
But the deal involves such disparate styles of player and personality that
one has the feeling that this might turn out to be a win or lose proposition
for one of these squads.
From the Stars perspective, the deal makes sense on a very elementary
level: they traded away a top six center in Mike Ribeiro at the draft and
needed to fill that hole. Bingo. Roy is a top six center whom GM Joe
Nieuwendyk can claim as his own as he continues to put his stamp on the
Stars franchise.
The Buffalo Sabres? Well that’s a little trickier.
A team that went crazy a year ago during free agency still seems like a
team very much in search of itself.
Maybe Ott, who has two years left on his contract at $2.95 million annually,
will help establish some sort of identity with a Sabres squad that under new
owner Terry Pegula paid big bucks a year ago to bring in Ville Leino,
Christian Ehrhoff and Robyn Regehr to go with a solid core of players,
including former Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller, then missed the
playoffs entirely.
Ott was a gritty presence for the Stars, playing center and wing and ranking
among the league leaders in hits and epithets hurled by opposing players
and coaches.
The 29-year-old will be expected to provide some offense as well as a
strong two-way game for a team that has been searching for a sense of
purpose, an identity, since losing co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere
after the 2007 season.
After advancing to two straight Eastern Conference finals coming out of the
lockout, the Sabres have missed the playoffs three times and been
bounced in the first round two other times.
Last season was a harsh reminder that money buys players not wins and
Ott is clearly expected to help change the culture in the Sabre dressing
room while mixing it up on the ice.
In talking about the trade to reporters in Buffalo, GM Darcy Regier talked
about needing to alter the balance of skill and physicality among his forward
contingent. He believes he’s created a better balance with the addition of
Ott.
But the Sabres paid a steep price to bring in Ott, who had 22 goals in 200910 but has saw those totals dip to 12 and 11 the past two seasons.
In Roy they gave up a proven center that four times has hit the 20-goal
plateau and once topped 30. He slumped last year to 17 and a year earlier
was slowed by injury and had just 10 goals in 35 games. But Roy was so
highly regarded in the Canadian hockey community that he was invited to
the Canadian Olympic orientation camp in the fall of 2009 prior to the
Vancouver Olympic Games.
True Roy did manage to score in just two goals in his last 19 games last
season, but he seems like a good fit for a Dallas team that was looking to fill
the void created down the middle when Ribeiro was dealt to Washington at
the draft.
Roy, who has one year left on his contract that will pay him $4 million, will
be a nice fit especially after signing veteran winger Ray Whitney to a twoyear deal on Sunday.
“We've changed the look of our hockey club. We have two centermen we're
confident in in Jamie Benn and Derek Roy,” Nieuwendyk said Monday
afternoon.
It’s believed the two teams had discussed a deal last season and certainly
the Stars had contemplated moving both Ott and Ribeiro at the trade
deadline last season.
Now both have been moved in a matter of weeks.
ESPN LOADED: 07.03.2012
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ESPN / Can Hudler help Flames jump into playoffs?
By Scott Burnside
Feaster hopes so and figures the same dynamic will be at play as when he
brought Fredrik Modin to Tampa from Toronto. Modin blossomed into a 30goal scorer and an important member of the Lighting’s 2004 championship
team.
Bumping up against the $70.2 million salary cap, the Flames don’t look to
be making many more moves of significance; already their signings of
Hudler and defenseman Dennis Wideman, whom they inked to a five-year
deal worth $5.250 million annually before the start of free agency, have
prompted ongoing skepticism about the path being charted by Feaster.
Instead of taking the traditional "blow it all to smithereens" route to
rebuilding, Feaster has steadfastly refused to peel off valuable yet aging
assets such as captain Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff in exchange for
high draft picks and top prospects. Instead, he continues to plug in
established pieces such as Mike Cammalleri, whom he added late last
season from Montreal, and now Wideman and Hudler.
While it might not look like an attractive picture long term -- the Flames
remain a team bereft of easily identifiable building-block young players
coming through the system -- it’s easy to forget that the Flames were just
five points out of eighth place when the dust settled this past spring.
That’s five points that separated the Flames from the eventual Stanley Cup
champions from Los Angeles.
Ha, ha.
This isn’t to suggest the Flames had that kind of postseason potential, but
the gap between being in and out was as slim as a few more Hudler goals,
or a Wideman power-play marker or two (of course, given the way
Wideman played in his own zone during the playoffs, the gap separating in
and out could easily be more, but we digress).
It turned out not to be all that funny, as Hudler, who defected from the Red
Wings for a year in the Kontinental Hockey League after a dispute over an
arbitration case while a restricted free agent, never really regained his
favored-son status with the Wings.
Hartley, recently repatriated from Switzerland, will certainly have his work
cut out for him, but he’s also a guy who is used to getting more from less,
and maybe, just maybe, the Flames aren’t as far away as everybody thinks,
and maybe, just maybe, Hudler will help them get just that much closer.
He scored just 10 goals that first season back, less than half what he had
tallied in his previous season in the NHL, and while he hit a career-high 25
goals last season for the Wings, it is telling that a team with loads of cap
space that is looking for offensive help chose to let Hudler walk away to
sign a four-year deal worth $16 million with the Calgary Flames on Monday.
We recall being in the Detroit Red Wings' dressing room during training
camp in the fall of 2010 as coach Mike Babcock was joking about Jiri
Hudler and what Babcock referred to as Hudler’s “Russian vacation.”
The Wings, busy in their pursuit of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise and with
scads of cap room, decided that was too much for Hudler. Or rather, that
was too much Hudler at that price.
Pending the landing place for Parise, we’ll see whether the Wings end up
coming around to a guy such as Alexander Semin, who has far more upside
in terms of offensive production but has all kinds of baggage linked to his
compete level or lack thereof. If they go that route, perhaps they’ll be sorry
they didn’t do more to keep Hudler, whom they drafted with the 58th overall
pick in 2002.
Should that lack of interest have been a red flag to the Flames?
That’s a moot point now. The question moving forward is whether the
Flames can coax more out of Hudler, 28, over the next four years to nudge
themselves back into the playoff tournament, something that hasn’t
happened for three straight years. Since the lockout, they have yet to
advance beyond the first round, and, if you polled 100 NHL people right
now, you’d be hard-pressed to find many who believe they’re capable of
returning to said tournament next spring.
But GM Jay Feaster was ecstatic at the signing and pointed out Sunday
that Hudler is a terrific five-on-five producer, netting 23 of 25 goals while at
even strength. Feaster said Hudler was second only to league goal-scoring
champ Steven Stamkos in five-on-five goals this past season.
Calgary ranked 25th in five-on-five scoring this past season and 24th in
goals per game, so Feaster is looking for improvement on that side of the
puck if the Flames are going to improve on last season's ninth-place finish.
“This is a great day,” Feaster said during a Monday afternoon conference
call with Hudler.
Coach Bob Hartley -- who offered to drive to Montreal to meet with Hudler
before the contract was signed -- has already indicated he will use Hudler
on the power play and the penalty kill, and that Hudler will log top-six
minutes for the Flames.
Does the increased opportunity suggest Hudler’s top end might exceed
what he revealed in a more limited role in Detroit?
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ESPN / Sheldon Souray excited for new chapter
By Scott Burnside
A year ago, we spoke to veteran defenseman Sheldon Souray moments
after he signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars. It was, in many ways,
a career lifeline thrown to the embattled blueliner who’d run afoul of
management in Edmonton and been banished to the American Hockey
League before finally being bought out by the Oilers.
His pride dinged-up and his reputation in question, Souray was a model
citizen in Dallas, working with the Stars' young defensemen and providing
some much-needed snarl. He averaged 20:28 in ice time last season and
had 21 points in 64 games. While the Stars couldn’t quite get over the hump
and into the playoffs this past spring, Souray’s play reinforced that at age
36, the Elk Point, Alberta, native can still bring it.
Fast-forward to this year, and not only has Souray’s career been revived,
but the stars also have aligned in a way that suggests he is ready for even
better times as the twilight of his career approaches.
Souray, blessed with a big shot to go with his big 6-foot-4 frame, signed a
three-year deal Sunday with the Anaheim Ducks that will pay him $11
million over the life of the deal. Beyond the money, the deal brings rare
peace of mind.
After spending his whole career packing up and leaving his two children
behind at the start of the season, he will remain a short car ride (depending
on California traffic, of course) from his two daughters, who live with their
mother in Beverly Hills.
“As we’re all getting older, it’s just getting tougher to say goodbye,” Souray
told ESPN.com on Monday.
“It was getting harder and harder to be away from them.”
One daughter will turn 9 in late September, and Souray's other daughter is
5. Having them close by will bring a comfort level that he hasn’t enjoyed in a
long time, and he believes it will translate into better play on the ice for a
Ducks team that got bigger on the back end on the first day of free agency
with the signings of Souray and Bryan Allen.
“I’ve always been a better player when they’re around. You’re just more
complete,” Souray said. “There’s a peace of mind that comes with having
them around.”
Souray, based in Malibu, regularly skates with California-based NHL
players in the offseason, and he was already beginning to dread the annual
routine of packing up and heading off to a new NHL hometown.
Now he can concentrate on helping a team that started poorly last year -costing head coach Randy Carlyle his job -- before rebounding under coach
Bruce Boudreau. Ultimately, the Ducks fell short of the playoffs, but there is
optimism that it was an aberration for a team that won a Cup in 2007 and
made the playoffs in five of the first six seasons after the lockout. Although
Souray hasn’t played for Boudreau, he knows something of the former
Washington head coach, having played for the Caps’ American Hockey
League affiliate in Hershey two seasons ago when the Oilers banished him
from the organization.
All the staff and players in Hershey “raved about Bruce,” Souray said.
He’s also familiar with new Anaheim teammates Saku Koivu, having played
with the former Habs captain in Montreal, and Andrew Cogliano, who was
acquired from the Oilers last July.
“It’s awesome,” Souray said of this new chapter in his hockey tale. “I think I
can bring some of the X factors they have [been] searching for the last
couple of years.”
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Souray, based in Malibu while his daughters live with their mother in
Beverley Hills, regularly skates with California-based NHLers in the
offseason, and he was already beginning to dread the annual routine of
packing up and heading off to a new NHL hometown.
Now he can concentrate on helping a team that started poorly last year -costing head coach Randy Carlyle his job -- before rebounding under coach
Bruce Boudreau. Ultimately the Ducks fell short of the playoffs but there is
optimism that it was an aberration for a team that won a Cup in 2007 and
made the playoffs in five of the first six seasons after the lockout. Although
Souray hasn’t played for Boudreau, he knows something of the former
Washington head coach having played for the Caps’ American Hockey
League affiliate in Hershey two seasons ago when the Oilers banished him
from the organization.
All the staff and players in Hershey “raved about Bruce,” Souray said.
He’s also familiar with new Anaheim teammates Saku Koivu, having played
with the former Montreal captain in Montreal, and Andrew Cogliano, who
was acquired from the Oilers last July.
“It’s awesome,” Souray said of this new chapter in his hockey tale. “I think I
can bring some of the X factors they have [been] searching for the last
couple of years.”
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Websites
NBCSports.com / Glendale council candidates want Coyotes lease deal
delayed
Websites
Jason Brough
ESPN / Sheldon Souray signs with Anaheim Ducks
As if this story needed another wrinkle, now there’s this bit of news from the
Arizona Republic:
By Scott Burnside / ESPN.com
A year ago we spoke to veteran defenseman Sheldon Souray moments
after he signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars. It was in many ways a
career lifeline thrown to the embattled defenseman who’d run afoul of
management in Edmonton and been banished to the American Hockey
League before finally being bought out by the Oilers.
His pride dinged up and his reputation in question, Souray was a model
citizen in Dallas, working with the Stars' young defensemen and providing
some much needed snarl. While the Stars couldn’t quite get over the hump
and into the playoffs last spring, Souray’s play reinforced that at age 36 the
Elk Point, Alberta native can still bring it.
Fast-forward to this year and not only has Souray’s career been revived, in
many ways the stars have aligned in a way that suggests he is ready for
even better times as the twilight of his career approaches.
Souray, blessed with a big shot to go with his big 6-foot-4 frame, signed a
three-year deal Sunday with the Anaheim Ducks that will pay him $11
million over the life of the deal, but beyond the money, he signed a deal that
brings with it rare peace of mind.
After spending his whole career packing up and leaving his two children
behind at the start of the season, he will remain a short car ride (depending
on California traffic of course) away from his two daughters.
“As we’re all getting older, it’s just getting tougher to say goodbye,” Souray
told ESPN.com Monday.
Seven candidates vying for seats on the Glendale City Council oppose the
current council’s approval of a Phoenix Coyotes deal and made those views
clear on Monday.
The candidates, including mayoral contenders Walt Opaska and Jerry
Weiers, signed a letter that requested interim City Manager Horatio Skeete
delay signing the lease agreement with Coyotes suitor Greg Jamison.
The letter comes amid two potential ballot measures that could cripple the
city’s 20-year, $324 million agreement, which the current council approved
last month.
One group is gathering signatures to refer the Coyotes deal to the
November ballot. Another hopes to reverse the 2.9 percent city sales tax
increase and require a citizen vote on any future tax hikes.
Anyway, we’re not going to dedicate too much time to the Coyotes on a big
news day like today. We’re not even sure if it’s a big deal. Phoenix
Business Journal is also reporting on the story, if you’re bored waiting for
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to make up their minds.
NBCSports.com / LOADED: 07.03.2012
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Websites
Sportsnet.ca / Spector on NHL: Torres decision makes sense
Mark Spector
“It was getting harder and harder to be away from them.”
His one daughter will turn nine in late September and his other daughter is
five. Having them close by will bring a comfort level that he hasn’t enjoyed
in a long time and he believes it will translate into better play on the ice for a
Ducks team that got bigger on the back end on the first day of free agency
with the signing of Souray and Bryan Allen.
“I’ve always been a better player when they’re around. You’re just more
complete,” Souray said. “There’s a peace of mind that comes with having
them around.”
If you want to find out who the conspiracy theorists are, just wait until Gary
Bettman opens his mouth, and out they come.
Bettman shortened Raffi Torres' suspension from 25 to 21 games on
Monday, and on some fronts it was seen as a sign he was tailoring his
decision to aid in upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement talks. That
this was all part of some grand, secret agenda, like making sure the
Vancouver Canucks never win a Stanley Cup.
This was not the NHL commissioner saying, "Look, the process works.
Torres appealed to me, and his sentence was reduced. No need to change
the disciplinary process in the new CBA."
Shanahan wanted Torres gone for at least 20 games and the rest of the
playoffs, because he had delivered yet another illegal hit to the head and
caused a serious injury.
From this corner, we see it with a different eye:
The Phoenix Coyotes had a maximum of 25 games left to play – and the
player Torres concussed, the Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa, also had
a maximum of 25 games to miss.
Back on April 17, when Phoenix winger Torres clocked Chicago's Marian
Hossa in a Round 1 series that would stand at 2-1 for the Coyotes by
night's end, no one had a clue how far the Coyotes would go in the playoffs.
Many were still convinced that Phoenix would not get out of Round 1, let
alone go all the way to the conference final.
So league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan meted out a 25-game
suspension for the repeat offender Torres, a fitting ban for the most
dangerous predator left in the game and the third longest suspension in
NHL history. Then the Coyotes went on their run.
It is an accepted tenet of the suspension game that each playoff contest is
worth two regular season games -- at least -- even though players don't
miss out on pay checks in the post-season the way do the rest of the year.
So, in the eyes of everyone except the most staunch Coyotes fan, the 13
Phoenix playoff games that Torres ended up being suspended for were at
least five more than Shanahan might have expected -- probably more like
10.
So when Torres appealed to Bettman, the commissioner rightly thought,
"OK, this suspension turns out to be even more punitive than we thought.
Let's shave four games off, and we're still good with 13 playoff games, the
pre-season, and the first eight games of the regular season."
That's not exactly an example of Bettman letting his foot off the gas on
Torres, who will forfeit over $170,000 in salary.
As for the "broken" process we've been reading about, we like to look at the
big picture.
There are far less Torres-type predators out there today than there were
even two seasons ago. Sure, we've raised an eyebrow at a few of
Shanahan's suspensions, but on the whole his explanation of the process
and his rulings have served to clean up the game considerably.
Shanahan has only been the NHL's head cop for one season and he's
made more progress than in the previous five years. Experience will only
help him get more calls right. The guy's only in Year 2 of a brand new
process -- give him a chance.
Muddying the picture with a panel of one NHL person, an NHLPA person,
and some independent entity would unnecessarily complicate matters, and
elongate the process.
As for players like Torres, if they can't play the game without seriously
injuring someone, then get another gig. The game doesn't need more head
injuries.
Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.03.2012
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So 25 it was.
But Bettman had the benefit of hindsight on appeal. He knew the Coyotes
played 13 more games after Torres was suspended. So he gave him 13
games served, plus eight to be served at the start of next season.
[Related: NHL shortens Raffi Torres suspension following appeal by
NHLPA]
Torres missed the playoffs. He still will miss 21 games total. He still has to
clean up his act, or he will be judged even more harshly as a repeat
offender the next time he throws a hit like that – if the supplemental
discipline process remains the same under the next labor agreement, of
course.
The main process should remain the same or close to it. If you think there
should be an independent arbitrator or a panel to determine discipline,
consider three things:
One, for an independent arbitrator to do the job well, he would have to have
a similar background to Shanahan's. He would have to have played in the
league to understand what really happens on the ice, and if you have
played in the league, you are bound to have connections that could be
considered potential conflicts of interest. Does it matter if the disciplinarian
is paid by the league, the union or both?
NHL commish Gary Bettman issued a shorter suspension to Torres as the
league and union begin CBA talks. (Getty …Two, there already is a panel.
Shanahan has a group of experienced people who study these incidents
every day. He consults them before ultimately making his decisions.
Disciplinary decisions will always be subjective and controversial, no matter
who makes them and how. There can be no black-and-white standard in a
shades-of-gray sport.
Three, the buck has to stop somewhere. A panel would complicate the
process and obscure accountability, when it needs to be quick and clear.
Shanahan explains every suspension via video. He does it to educate, but it
also forces him to make his case out in the open. You might disagree, but
you know who decided what and why.
The NHLPA has a point about the appeals process, though. All appeals go
through Bettman, who hired Shanahan, which calls into question if there is
a meaningful appeals process at all. The union could argue a person has
more rights fighting a traffic ticket than a player does fighting an NHL
suspension.
Which is why the Torres suspension is such an interesting case. It
illustrates how the process can work – or at least how it worked this
particular time, under these particular circumstances.
[Also: 2012 NHL UFA Tracker]
YAHOO SPORTS / Raffi Torres suspension: Telltale timing as NHL takes
rare step of altering ban
Staff
In the NHL's mind, the system works.
When commissioner Gary Bettman suspended Raffi Torres for 21 games
on Monday, he took the rare step of altering a disciplinary ruling on appeal.
Raffi Torres has been suspended 21 games for his hit on Marian Hossa,
down from 25. (Reuters)The timing is obviously interesting. Bettman did it
as the league and the NHL Players' Association began labor negotiations
on Friday, and the supplemental discipline process – particularly the
appeals process – is expected to be an issue this summer.
Was this an olive branch?
Maybe. But if so, this olive branch was still a stick. Bettman whacked Torres
essentially the same way NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan intended
when he originally suspended Torres for 25 games.
Under the current collective bargaining agreement – Exhibit 8, Paragraph 3
(f) – a player can ask the commissioner to review a disciplinary ruling. The
commissioner "will endeavor to rule promptly on any such appeal." If there
is a formal, in-person hearing, he will apply a "de novo" standard of review.
That means he will treat it like a new case.
Technically, Bettman didn't reduce the original suspension. He issued his
own ruling independently.
At a hearing May 17, Bettman called Shanahan as a witness. He asked him
for his rationale for giving Torres 25 games, and the union questioned him
as well. Shanahan made two main points:
One, Shanahan and the NHL's department of player safety considered the
closest comparable to be the 20-game suspension the Philadelphia Flyers'
Steve Downie received in 2007 for hitting the Ottawa Senators' Dean
McAmmond, because there were actually multiple infractions on the play
and a serious injury.
Torres also had his own history. He was the only player in the league who
was disciplined three times in 2011-12 – with a fine, a suspension and now
this – and he had delivered the same type of check to the head on multiple
previous occasions.
Two, Shanahan and his department felt Torres had forfeited his right to play
the rest of the playoffs.
Shanahan considered suspending Torres for the rest of the playoffs, or the
rest of the playoffs plus a certain number of games. But what if the Coyotes
lasted only three more games? What if they played the maximum number?
The swing was too big. He also considered saying Torres was out of the
rest of the playoffs and, say, a minimum of 20 games, but then it started to
get complicated.
The cleanest, simplest solution was 25 – Downie's 20, plus five to assure
Torres would miss the rest of the playoffs. Had the Coyotes had a max of
26 games left, it would have been 26. Had they had a max of 24 left, it
would have been 24. Had they had a max of 21 left, it would have been 21.
[Also: Martin Brodeur agrees to two-year deal to remain in New Jersey]
Shanahan suspended Torres on April 21. With the NHLPA's help, Torres
appealed based on the length of the suspension May 3. Did Bettman rule
promptly enough? Did he need two months because he had a lot on his
plate – playoffs, labor, the other Phoenix situation – or did his timing have
anything to do with the start of CBA talks? Did his timing have to do with the
fact Monday was a Canadian holiday, when key free agents were expected
to sign, burying the news? Did the system work, in the NHLPA's mind?
Does the system work? Would an independent arbitrator or a panel be
better on appeals? And if so, would there be more appeals, and would they
bog down the system?
We'll see how negotiations go, and we'll see Torres back four games
sooner than we would have otherwise, whenever next season starts.
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YAHOO SPORTS / Free advice for UFA Ryan Suter
Staff
I've been there, Ryan. We've all been there.
Ryan Suter has a lot to think about as he weighs his UFA options and
hockey future. (Getty)OK, almost none of us have had eight- or nine-figure
contract offers on the table, like you do now as you mull over your freeagent options on your Wisconsin farm. But you're going to be a rich man no
matter what, you're supposed to be a simple, small-town guy at heart, and
that means this isn't about money.
This is a life decision. We've all faced life decisions.
So take a deep breath. Take your time, but don't dawdle. Analyze, but don't
overanalyze. Make the best decision you can based on the information you
have today, and don't look back.
Easier said than done, I know. Like I said, I've been there. And I know
David Poile's getting impatient, and people have got to be blitzing your
phone – or at least trying to – even if they say they're just checking in.
"I've talked to him a bunch, not really about hockey," Shea Weber told me
back at the NHL Awards in Vegas. "I think we just talk about what's going
on on his farm. … He's out there riding the tractor all day, pretending that
he's doing hard work, but he's just driving the tractor."
Good one, Webs.
[Related: Martin Brodeur signs on for two more seasons in New Jersey]
Anyway, no need to keep driving in circles. Let's look at your main options:
– Nashville: I know Poile's made this pitch to you. If all's equal financially –
or close to it – why wouldn't you stay?
"Everything I know about Ryan, his personality, his comfort level, everything
that we have to offer in Nashville both on and off the ice, that we still are the
right place for him," Poile told a group of reporters in Vegas.
Poile's got a point.
You've got particular criteria, from the amount of media attention, to the
commute to the rink, to the ability to win. You're never going to be in the
fishbowl in Nashville, like you would in some other markets. Traffic isn't an
issue. And the Predators, under new ownership, have done everything they
can to show they are willing and able to do what it takes.
They re-signed Pekka Rinne. They acquired Hal Gill, Paul Gaustad and
Andrei Kostitsyn. They rolled the dice on Alexander Radulov, and even
though those dice came up snake eyes, at least they tried.
Shea Weber and Suter could go down in NHL history if they keep playing
together. (Getty)Then there's Webs.
"As I've said to Ryan many times, forget about negotiations for a second,"
Poile told us in Vegas. "You use that [word] 'priceless.' These guys playing
together for the next seven to 10 years could go down as the best defense
pairing ever in the National Hockey League. I have to believe that weighs
into it a lot, too."
Now, Webs is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next
summer. He probably wants a long-term deal now, with the league and
union negotiating a new CBA. You have a better idea of what he's thinking
than we do.
But if you come back, the Preds probably have a better chance of locking
him up. Maybe you guys can keep playing in front of Peks, and knowing
you're all going to stay, maybe the Preds can keep trying to add up front.
[Related: Alexander Radulov returns to KHL with rich four-year deal]
"For sure I want to see that day, see Ryan signed and same thing with
Webs," Peks told me in Vegas.
And if you come back and Webs bolts, anyway … well, you've got to weigh
how different that would be than playing without him elsewhere. Gotta think
the Preds will try to build around you.
– Detroit: Nicklas Lidstrom just retired. Those are huge skates to fill, even
for a defenseman as good as you. But nobody expects you to win seven
Norris Trophies and be a Perfect Human, and this is a unique opportunity.
I'm sure Chris Chelios has made this pitch. He played at Wisconsin, like you
did. He's buddies with your uncle. And there is a reason a guy like him –
once the captain of a division rival, his hometown 'Hawks – fell in love with
the Wings when he played for them and still works for the organization.
The retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom has opened up a big opportunity in
Detroit. (AP)Yeah, the Wings' core is older. But the Wings have been called
too old for more than a decade now, and they keep winning, and winning,
and winning, and they have more young pieces than you might think. With
committed ownership, a savvy front office and a sharp scouting staff, they
have been able to rebuild on the fly without high draft picks. You could be
the next piece that carries on that tradition.
Great player after great player has come through Detroit. We're talking Hall
of Famers and superstars, too numerous to mention. The Wings have
Original Six tradition. They call it Hockeytown, but hockey isn't the No. 1
sport. The arena and downtown are gritty, but the suburbs are beautiful.
The Wings have won four Stanley Cups since 1997 and made 21 straight
playoff appearances.
You can take Lidstrom's minutes. You can pass the puck to Datsyuk and
Zetterberg. You can stay low key. You can have a chance to win. Maybe
you can bring your buddy Zach, too. But even if you can't, you know the
Wings will go after the next star, and the next one, and the next one.
– Minnesota: Speaking of Zach, what if he signs with the Wild?
Minnesota doesn't seem to be close to the Cup. But the Wild led the league
early in 2011-12 and has some good prospects. Ownership is being
aggressive. If you and Zach show up in St. Paul together, that changes
things, doesn't it?
[Related: Canucks give Jason Garrison long term, big bucks]
Zach would be going home to the Twin Cities. Milwaukee doesn't have an
NHL team, let alone Madison, so this might be the next closest thing to
home for you. They call Minnesota the State of Hockey, but it isn't the
Centre of the Hockey Universe like Toronto, where the media is all over you
all the time.
You and Zach could be the leaders of an up-and-coming team. You could
establish your own tradition. You could do it while living your upper
Midwestern lifestyle. But you'll have to ask yourself if you want to go alone
in case Zach goes somewhere else, like …
– Pittsburgh: Not sure the Penguins can sign both of you. But they’ve made
offers to both of you for a reason, and if you guys want to do it, I'm sure
everybody could find a way to make it work. You could take a little less for a
chance to win on a star-studded team. They could clear cap space.
If I were the Penguins, as much as I'd want Parise, I'd actually want you
more. I attended almost all of their first-round loss to the Philadelphia
Flyers. They obviously need defense more than more offense. For all the
talk about finding a long-term winger for Crosby, he's done OK to this point,
right?
[Also: Carolina locks up Jordan Staal with 10-year, $60-million extension]
You're a steady defensive presence and a left-handed shot. You could
complement the flashy, right-handed Kris Letang on the top pair, much the
same way you’ve complemented the booming, right-handed Webs for so
many years.
With Crosby drawing reporters like bugs to a blue light every single day,
you could slip out the back door a lot. Pittsburgh's another place where
hockey matters, but doesn't matter too much.
Now, the Penguins have gotta do what they gotta do. Crosby just took a
hometown discount, and if the captain, the face of the franchise, the face of
the game, wants Zach on his wing, that's the priority. Maybe they also think
they have a better shot at him because you have said you want to stay in
the West.
But in a salary-capped league of parity, where the talent is spread so
evenly, think about one team with Crosby, Malkin, Parise, Neal, Suter,
Letang …
All right. I know you have a lot to think about. I know you could go to
Chicago or Philly or Carolina or any number of other places, too. As you
drive around on your tractor going over the pros and cons, just remember
that we've all been there.
Or we wish we were.
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