Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Should be a very exciting year...Can Pens repeat?Will San Jose be back with a vengance? Rangers loaded up again, Habs,Leafs, Oilers,Flames...Cant wait

COYOTES AUCTION ENDS WITH NO RESOLUTION; BAUM TO RULE LATER

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PHOENIX -- The fate of the beleaguered Phoenix Coyotes is now in the hands of one man.

After presiding over four months of hearings, reading more than 950 documents filed with the court and overseeing an auction for the money-losing NHL franchise, Judge Redfield T. Baum must now determine what comes next for the Coyotes.

As the final two days of hearings wrapped up Friday, the self-described sports fan didn't tip his hand about when a decision might come. That seemed perfectly acceptable to both BlackBerry boss Jim Balsillie and the NHL -- two sides that strengthened their bids before Baum banged his gavel one final time and started mulling things over.

"The judge said he's going to take as long as he needs," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said on the courthouse steps. "I respect and commend that decision."

One of the reasons Baum offered for not making an immediate decision was the need to write a clear ruling that will be easily understood by another court. No matter what he ends up deciding, the judge expects this case to be appealed.

The road out of Phoenix probably has a few more twists and turns.

In the meantime, the hockey franchise remains in limbo as it prepares to open training camp at Jobing.com Arena on Saturday morning. One lawyer raised doubt in court whether Wayne Gretzky is still the coach of the team, but Bettman and Coyotes president Doug Moss both indicated afterwards that he'll be present at camp.

The Coyotes open exhibition play Tuesday with split squads hosting the Kings and playing in Los Angeles . Phoenix drops the puck on its regular season Oct. 3 in Los Angeles with the home opener set for Oct. 10 against Columbus.

Meanwhile, hockey fans back in Southern Ontario wait to see if Hamilton will ever host NHL hockey.

When the auction wrapped up early Friday evening, an overall sense of satisfaction and relief was evident among the key players in the case. A notable exception was former Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes, who sunk roughly US$300 million into the franchise and sounded off on the league after leaving the court.

"I feel pretty poorly over it to be right honest with you," said Moyes, who favoured Balsillie's bid. "I just don't think I've been treated right. I gave it the 100 per cent try. I feel betrayed by the NHL."

His disappointment is understandable given how little money he stands to receive no matter who ends up getting awarded the team.

"I think I did my part," said Moyes on Friday. "I put plenty of money in and plenty of time in it. I gave it the best try I could and hockey will not work in the south.

"Mr. Bettman's plan is not working out. You have Phoenix, Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta and Tampa Bay all in trouble, it's just not working in the south. These teams have to go north where everybody loves hockey."

"Considering the NHL has been supporting this team for the past year when Mr. Moyes was supposed to be, I find those comments quite disappointing," said Bettman when informed of Moyes's comments.

Both sides sweetened some aspects of their offers during the final hours of Friday's hearing.

The Balsillie camp amended its US$242.5-million bid to guarantee that the city of Glendale, the Phoenix suburb where the Coyotes play, would receive US$50 million free of any conditions. In his earlier bid, that amount could have been as low as $40 million. Balsillie also removed his Sept. 21 deadline for completion of the sale.

The NHL, meanwhile, kept its bid at US$140 million but agreed that Moyes and Gretzky, who is also the team's managing partner, should come away with some US$14 million between them. Moyes would get the lion's share of that.

On the final day of hearings, Balsillie took some personal shots from NHL lawyer Tony Clark -- who suggested the co-CEO of Research in Motion might one day be "rehabilitated" enough to be fit for team ownership -- but walked out of the courtroom with a big smile on his face.

"The goal is a very clear one, it's the same as I said the very first day and that is I want to bring a team to Southern Ontario," said Balsillie. "That is my lifelong dream. We need a fair shot and a level playing field -- and I got that today and that was really my only objective.

"I couldn't be more pleased."

Balsillie wants the judge to overrule the NHL board of governors' 26-0 rejection of him as an owner -- the league deemed him untrustworthy. He also wants Baum to allow the team to be relocated without the league's approval and to set a fee to be paid for that relocation.

NHL lawyers argued that Balsillie's refusal to go through the proper league channels for getting a franchise led to him being rejected. All sales of NHL clubs need to be approved by the board of governors and owners are expected to apply to the league in order to relocate a team.

If Balsillie "wants to understand why he has been rebuffed in his sincere and indisputably passionate desire to be a team owner, what he needs to do is he needs to look in the mirror," Clark said. "He brought this about on himself by his refusal to abide by the rules."

Rebuffed by a league that didn't want to admit him to its club, Balsillie took his fight to the people with a website and corporate sponsors. His entrepreneurial approach won over hockey fans in Ontario but soured the league even more.

While it's nearly impossible to project which way the poker-faced judge might be leaning, most of the interested parties sided with the NHL. The largest unsecured creditor (SOF investments), city of Glendale and the committee of unsecured creditors all spoke up in favour of the league's bid.

Moyes was the lone party to back Balsillie.

The judge again floated the idea that he might reject both bids, noting that a potential purchaser must satisfy several legal requirements.

"If you don't both get there, it's going to be hard to approve it," he said.

Clark, the NHL lawyer, informed Baum that the league would seek a ruling allowing it to take control of the team if both bids were tossed -- an indication that it wouldn't mind a "no sale" determination. Balsillie lawyer Jeff Kessler, on the other hand, likened such a ruling to "letting the patient die."

Bettman was put on the stand for 50 minutes worth of questioning Friday, but it didn't produce much drama. The former lawyer exuded confidence and calm while answering questions that mostly centred around the league's decision to join the bidding process.

The NHL waived its opportunity to cross-examine Balsillie, who failed in previous attempts to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators. So the Canadian billionaire was unable to make his case personally.

He still appears to be facing an uphill battle. Early in the second day of hearings, the judge noted that the ruling Balsillie wants would be unprecedented.

"Doesn't it strike you as unusual," he asked Balsillie lawyer Susan Freeman, "that in the bankruptcy code of 1978, 31 years later, nobody's ever crossed this bridge before and approved this kind of relocation?"

Now Baum is left to decide whether he'll be the first.

Everyone else seemed determined to get back to day-to-day business -- with the league hoping that focus shifts away from everything that played out in this Phoenix courtroom.

"On a lighter note, (training) camps open tomorrow so maybe we can start paying a little bit of attention to what goes on on the ice," said Bettman.

After a long summer spent dealing with innumerable issues surrounding the Coyotes, the commissioner feels like the season has snuck up on him.

"In some respects, it's hard for me to believe it's September because I'm not sure where the summer went," said Bettman. "But it's not about me and that's OK. We did everything we felt we had to do."

FLEURY INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN FLAMES' CAMP

CALGARY -- Calgary is where Theoren Fleury started his remarkable NHL career. It may also be where he resurrects it.

In an interview with radio station The Fan 960 on Friday, the 41-year-old former all-star said an NHL team had invited him to training camp and he would arrive on Saturday. While Fleury didn't identify the team, several media reports said it was the Calgary Flames.

"I've basically been doing everything I can to prepare myself for tomorrow," Fleury told the radio station. "I think the biggest asset I have to bring to an organization is the experience that I have. That's what they're getting when they get me tomorrow."

"I'm still in shock, it's been a very long road," Fleury told TSN on Thursday after hearing he would be reinstated.

The Flames would not confirm Friday night if Fleury, who lives in Calgary and played 11 seasons there, was offered a tryout.

Fleury's last season was with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2002-03 when he was suspended indefinitely then for violating the NHL's substance abuse policy.

Fleury says he's sober now. The Oxbow, Sask., native asked for reinstatement and it was granted by the NHL and NHL Players' Association late Thursday night.

"I know Theo pretty well," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in Phoenix. "We had spent some time together when things in his life were a little less settled. Seeing him last night, he looked terrific, he sounded terrific, he seems to be in a good place, he's been sober for a number of years.

"We wish him well. I hope he can fulfil his dream and come back."

COMRIE RETURNS TO OILERS, AGREES TO ONE-YEAR DEAL

Who says you can't go home again?
 
Edmonton native Mike Comrie has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Oilers worth $1.125 million.
 
Comrie, originally drafted by Edmonton in the third round (91st overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, rejoins the Oilers after having played there from 2000-2003.

"I had to make a decision on some of the options I had,"Comrie said. "This was the one that felt right. I got chills walking back into this rink. It's been a while since I had a feeling like that."

SENS DEAL HEATLEY TO SHARKS FOR MICHALEK, CHEECHOO

Disgruntled forward Dany Heatley has gotten his wish.

Heatley and a fifth round draft pick have been traded to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second round pick.

''I'm excited obviously, I'm excited to be a Shark,'' Heatley said. ''I want to thank everyone in Ottawa, the organization, the fans, and the city. I had a great four years here (and) I'm happy to move on.''

Trade discussions heated up on Friday and Saturday morning before a deal was finally agreed upon - a deal that sends Heatley to the team he secretly wanted to play for all along, a team he believed was an option when he refused to waive his no-move clause to accept a trade to the Edmonton Oilers.

"It's a deal that we talked about throughout the summer, although Michalek came in late," Senators GM Bryan Murray said after announcing the deal some six hours into the first day of training camp.

"I talked to Dany (on Friday) and he was adamant that he wanted to be moved. And we felt based on that, more than anything, that we should get the value that we could get for him and move on. What we care about are the guys that are in our room and we feel that this makes the core group know where they are going forward."

Murray spoke with Senators owner Eugene Melnyk who told his GM: "if this is a deal you feel will make our team better or make the room better - do it."

Saturday's trade ends a saga that began with a verbal trade request in mid-May, a request, sources say, that led to several discussions between Heatley, Murray, Senators coach Cory Clouston, as well as Heatley's agents, JP Barry and Stacey McAlpine.

KESSEL TRADED TO MAPLE LEAFS, SIGNS 5-YEAR, $27M CONTRACT

The drama surrounding Phil Kessel has finally come to an end as the Boston Bruins have traded their disgruntled sniper to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a first and a second round pick in 2010, and a first round pick in 2011.

Kessel and the Maple Leafs then quickly agreed to terms on a new five-year, $27 million deal.

While both the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers had shown interest, Leafs' general manager Brian Burke's persistence finally paid off.

Kessel is expected to arrive in Toronto on Saturday.

Burke believes that this is a clear sign to the team which direction he believes they are headed.

"Bringing Phil Kessel aboard, it's a statement to our players that we intend to be competitive right away, and I think he gives us a dimension that we need," Burke told reporters following the Maple Leafs pre-season victory over the Penguins Friday.

He added that Kessel is extremely excited to be coming to Toronto.

"This is a free agent that could have signed with other teams, he wanted to sign with us, and I think it's an important pick up for us."

While Burke admitted that the price-tag to acquire a player like Kessel was high, it was feasible for several reasons.
 
"It's a very high price but it's one we feel makes sense for us and I think what's made it possible to expend those picks is two focuses: one is that he's a young player, he's not even 22 yet," Burke said.
 
"And second, we think with some of the players we acquired without giving up picks like Tyler Bozak, (Robert) Slaney, (Christian) Hanson and (Jonas) Gustavsson, these are players that were they available on the draft would command a high price like that. We feel by stocking the cupboard we can take some of the cans off the shelf for the future."

The trade ends a saga that began during the lead-up to the NHL Draft when Kessel originally appeared to be headed to Toronto in exchange for defenceman Tomas Kaberle and a draft pick.  However, the deal was scuttled at the last moment due to a miscommunication over the pick.

The Bruins had been unable to re-sign the 21-year old Kessel and the two sides were miles apart on a new contract. A restricted free agent, Kessel was reportedly looking for a deal in the neighbourhood of $4-5 million a season, while the Bruins, who are right up against the league mandated $56.8 million salary cap, could not afford to sign the Madison, Wisconsin native to the terms he desired.

Kessel informed the team through his agent last week that he was through negotiating and intended to sign an offer sheet with one of the league's other 29 clubs.

The newest Leaf, who is sidelined until at least November following rotator cuff surgery, overcame a battle with testicular cancer in 2006 and captured the Masterton Trophy in 2007 for perseverance and dedication to hockey. He enjoyed a career season with the Bruins last year, leading the team with 36 goals in 70 games while adding 24 assists to finish with a career high 60 points. He was selected in the first round, fifth overall by the Bruins in the 2006 NHL Entry draft.

No Blackhawks in Toronto this year :crying:

GRETZKY RESIGNS AS COACH OF COYOTES; TIPPETT TAKES OVER

The Phoenix Coyotes saga took another dramatic turn on Thursday, as Wayne Gretzky has stepped down from his post as the team's head coach. The team announced later in the day that former Dallas Stars head coach Dave Tippett has been hired to replace Gretzky behind the bench.

"This was a difficult decision that I've thought long and hard about," Gretzky said in a statement. "We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected.  Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don't fit into their future plans, I approached General Manger Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach.  Don has worked hard and explored many options.  I think he has made an excellent choice, and so now it's time for me to step aside.

Gretzky, who joined the Coyotes as a managing partner in 2000, was named head coach of the club in August of 2005 and signed a five-year contract to continue to serve as part owner, managing partner, alternate governor and head coach the following year.

The Coyotes never made the playoffs during their four seasons with Gretzky behind the bench. From 2005-06 to 2008-09, he had a 143-161-24 record for a .473 winning percentage.

"The Coyotes scouting staff has put together a great group of young and talented players who are going to improve tremendously over the next few years," the statement read.  "I'm proud of the team we've assembled, the organization with which I've been associated and the thousands of dedicated fans who have never wavered in their support of this young team. I'm confident that the best is yet to come for hockey in Phoenix."

This development comes as Judge Redfield T. Baum continues to mull over a decision on the fate of the NHL franchise. On Wednesday, lawyers representing Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie strengthened their case for the team, saying Balsillie has pledged to keep it in Glendale this season if he wins an auction for the financially troubled club.

Gretzky had been absent since the start of Coyotes training camp last week and a team spokesman said Gretzky wouldn''t participate until his contractual situation was resolved. Interim coach Ulf Samuelsson has taken over and the club has also hired veteran coach Dave King as an assistant.

"I want to thank every staff member of the Phoenix Coyotes, past and present.  It was a real pleasure to work with each and every one of you," the statement said. "I've always said that Phoenix is a great sports city and deserves nothing but the best.  I still believe that. As a young boy, I learned to play hockey in Southern Ontario, and I know what great fans they have there.  It's my hope they too will have an NHL franchise in the not too distant future.

"I often said it was the greatest honour and privilege I could imagine to be able to play in the National Hockey League.  I feel the same way about being an NHL coach.  I've loved the four years I spent coaching the Coyotes.  Not a day went by when I took it for granted, and I will miss the competition of the NHL dearly.  It was an honour to hold the position, and I will always consider myself especially fortunate to have had this opportunity."

NHL on TSN analyst Darren Pang weighed in on the move shortly after the announcement came on Thursday.

"I know for a fact this has been toughest on Wayne Gretzky personally," Pang said.  "Obviously he's taken a lot of hits from a lot of people who don't know the situation, but it has been very frustrating for Wayne because he wanted all along to be with the hockey club.

"He wanted to be coaching the team.  He was obviously told to stay away with the uncertainty of the bankruptcy hearing," Pang said. "I know that Wayne Gretzky has been greatly disappointed. To step aside at this point is the right thing.  He's obviously been beaten around a little bit and doesn't have the energy or authority to be there. For all of us that know Wayne and what he's put into this, this has been a very disappointing time for Wayne and not a lot of people have gone to bat for him, and that's even more discouraging."

"I think it's unbelievable that it's come to this," said NHL on TSN analyst Pierre McGuire. "The pot-shots and the gratuitous "illegal hits" - I'd like to call them - on Wayne Gretzky right now have been ridiculous. No man has done more in terms of reaching out and trying to build the game in the NHL than Gretzky."

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman released a statement after Gretzky's announcement. It read:

"As always, Wayne placed the welfare of the team ahead of his own in making this extremely difficult decision. While the Coyotes have not had the degree of on-ice success that always has been Wayne's objective, there can be no question he has played a vital role in the youth movement that has positioned the Coyotes for success in the future.

?We have nothing but admiration for all that Wayne has done for the game, and are extremely hopeful there will be a prominent role for Wayne with the Coyotes if the League's bid for the Club is successful. We look forward to his continued involvement."

Tippett's hiring, meanwhile, marks a new direction for the team.

Tippett was fired by the Dallas Stars in June, after the team finished a disappointing 12th in the Western Conference despite being a favourite to challenge for a Stanley Cup when the season began.

"It's another step in clearing things up and hopefully moving things forward," said Coyotes captain Shane Doan at the press conference announcing Tippett's hiring.

"I think we have a very motivated group," said Tippett. "There are a lot of off-ice situations that we can't control. We're going to concentrate on what we've got to do on the ice - earn the right to be a playoff team, and earn the right to compete for the Stanley Cup."

Tippett, who joined the Stars in May 2002 and led the team to two Pacific Division titles, has a solid 271-156-28-37 record in six seasons behind the bench.

"I'm grateful for Dave coming here," said Coyotes general manager Don Maloney. "He knows what we have here, and he knows what we're building, and he knows that we have a lot of work to do. I think that Dave has the right chemistry and fit to make it happen."

The Moosomin, Saskatchewan native also played 11 seasons in the NHL and accumulated 93 goals and 169 assists in 721 career games.  Following his playing career, Tippett led the IHL's Houston Aeros to the 1999 Turner Cup while serving the dual role of general manager and head coach.

Good.

ISLANDERS CLAIM OILERS' SCHREMP ON WAIVERS

Rob Schremp is on the move to the New York Islanders, after the club put in a waiver claim on the forward. 

Schremp did not make the Oilers and was ticketed for Springfield of the American League, but this was the first year he was required to clear waivers to be sent down.

The Islanders, by virtue of their last-place finish last season, got first crack at any player on waivers.

Sources say the Isles want to give the prolific junior scoring star a chance to play.

Schremp, who was selected 25th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has tallied 3 assists in seven career NHL games.

LOMBARDI: LOS ANGELES KINGS HAVE INTEREST IN GRETZKY

If Wayne Gretzky wants to return to the National Hockey League in some capacity, count the Los Angeles Kings as one of the teams interested in The Great One.

Kings president and general manager Dean Lombardi expressed his interest in Gretzky in an interview with the Fan 590 radio station in Toronto.

Lombardi, who said he spoke briefly to Gretzky, didn't specify the role that he had in mind for the NHL's career-leading scorer.

"I'd like to bring (Gretzky) back in some capacity now that he's done there," Lombardi told the Fan 590. "I think when you talk about kids learning to win, I think it would be great if we could bring him back to where he almost brought this place to the promised land."

Gretzky resigned from his post as the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes last week, after being absent from the club during training camp, while the fate of the club sits in bankruptcy court.

Gretzky, who joined the Coyotes as a managing partner in 2000, was named head coach of the Coyotes in August of 2005 and signed a five-year contract to continue to serve as part owner, managing partner, alternate governor and head coach the following year.

The Coyotes never made the playoffs during their four seasons with Gretzky behind the bench. From 2005-06 to 2008-09, he had a 143-161-24 record for a .473 winning percentage.

Yeah, he did such brilliant things with the Coyotes, let's sign him again.

SERGEI KOSTITSYN SUSPENDED BY HABS; REQUESTS TRADE
VETERAN DEFENCEMAN BLAKE PICKED AS SHARKS' NEW CAPTAIN
REPORT: SENS' PROSPECT ZUBOV DEMANDS TRADE
HURRICANES SIGN WARD TO SIX-YEAR, $37.8 MILLION EXTENSION

MATS SUNDIN ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT AFTER 18 NHL SEASONS

Mats Sundin has ended the speculation and officially announced his retirement.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain made the announcement at a news conference in Sweden on Wednesday.

''It was just time, I think. Obviously, it's not an easy decision but I feel with body and soul right now, it's time to quit my professional career as a hockey player,'' said Sundin. ''I'm very glad that I played last season with the Vancouver Canucks and I think I needed that. But now with the season getting started again, it actually feels nice not having to practice every day and play games every other day so I think this is the right time for me.''

Sundin was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989 and made his NHL debut one year later. In his rookie campaign, he scored 23 goals and 59 points in 80 games. Prior to the 1994-95 season, Sundin was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a blockbuster that included former Leafs' captain Wendel Clark heading to the Quebec capital. He finished his career with the Vancouver Canucks last season.

"I'm obviously very grateful for having a chance to play in the National Hockey League and represent the Quebec Nordiques, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks," said Sundin. "It has been a dream come true for me.''

While Sundin had his share of success - a Swedish league title, World Championships in 1991, '92 and '98, and an Olympic Gold in 2006 - he was never able to capture a Stanley Cup.

The 38-year-old leaves the NHL having amassed 1,349 points (564 goals, 785 assists over 1,346), ranking him 25th on the all-time list. However, Sundin is one of only five NHL players to have scored at least 500 goals and never played in a Stanley Cup Final but the eight-time NHL All-Star said the playoff success did not bother him.

"No, not really," chuckled Sundin when asked if he had regrets over not winning a Stanley Cup. "I don't feel bad. On the other hand, I had so much fun playing in the NHL and I experienced so much, I feel I got what I wanted from that league."

Sundin ranks fourth in points among European-born players and holds the records for goals (420), game winning goals (79), powerplay goals (124) and points (987) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I spent 13 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs and I had the honour to be the captain for the most historic and greatest franchise in hockey history and it's also my second home," added Sundin.

"I learned so much from Mats, it was a pleasure playing with him," said current Maple Leaf Matt Stajan. "I don't think any of us who played with him could ask for a better guy to be our captain or leader."

"He was such a great Leaf, he had a great career, he could arguably go down as the greatest Leaf player ever," former Maple Leafs' general manager Cliff Fletcher told THE CANADIAN PRESS.

Sundin's success and dedication also impacted young players in Sweden.

"It didn't matter if the night before he got knocked out of the playoffs here, or if he had an injury or something, he was always there when the national team needed him," explained Stockholm native Viktor Stalberg. "He's been a great role model, not only for me, but for a lot of young Swedish players."

He was the first European to be selected with the top overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft when the Quebec Nordiques drafted him in 1989.

Edmonton Oilers head coach Pat Quinn, who coached Sundin in Toronto, spoke highly of the player who captained the team while he was there.

"For me, it was a great experience to have him as a player on the team that I was involved with," said the former Leafs head coach. "He's a gentleman, he's a wonderful athlete, he was a good captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs and certainly an honest, everyday performer who was very dependable."

"He probably was underrated," offered Quinn. "He wasn't a major top scorer and that maybe wasn't because he couldn't do it but because he tried to do things that were important to winning at the end of the day."

Current Leafs' president and general manager Brian Burke conveyed the thoughts of the Leafs' organization in a statement.

"The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club would like to congratulate Mats Sundin on a tremendous playing career in the National Hockey League," said Burke.

Note: Some answers translated from Swedish by Svenska Dogbladet reporter Janne Bengtsson

I want to go to Opening Night.

Hockey, I missed you.

Hey kids, I got NHL Center Ice for free!

If you have DIRECTV and want this, shoot me a PM.

hockey is back  ;D

though i'm not too optimistic about the oilers chances this year

Feel free to give us Khabi' back then ;D

CANADIENS' MARKOV TO MISS 3-4 MONTHS WITH TORN TENDON

Montreal Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov will be out four months with a torn tendon that he suffered on opening night. He isn't expected to return until after the Vancouver Olympics in February.

The veteran defenceman suffered the injury during a collision with goalie Carey Price in the third period of Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Markov had surgery on Thursday night following the game in Toronto to repair the laceration to his ankle.

"It's not a very nice feeling knowing that it was your skate that did it," Price said. "But then again, you know there's nothing you can really do about it."

Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin acknowledged the loss of Markov but said the team is moving forward with an optimistic outlook.

"No doubt Andrei was our top defenceman but we've added some experience back there, we've added some size and now we feel that our three pairs are going to be asked to do a job," said head coach Jacques Martin. "It's definitely an emotional shock to our players. At the same time, I think they realize that it's an opportunity for somebody else and it may be a situation now where we have to rely on three pairs to do the job."

after saturday nights shocker are you sure  :hihi:

much more hopefull for this season after the opening game, stupid mistake from khabi cost us a point at least. but wow hardly any new faces in via trade or free agency yet it looks like a totally new team  ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH9O6Ie_7nA even dustin penner turned up and played physical!

i'm going to the Flyers home opener tonight. can't wait. ovechkin might be the athlete i'd most like to see in person. i can't take my eyes off him when he's on the ice. hopefully he doesn't kill us tonight.

i'm fired up for this flyers team! alot of new faces which makes the games even more exciting/interesting to watch. and through 2 games, the results are positive. holmgren took some major risks, but they are looking good so far.

Good choice of game so far..

that was an awesome game, watching oilers vs stars now  ;D

Quebec City mayor speaks with Gary Bettman about return of Nordiques to NHL

QUEBEC CITY, Que. - The return of the Quebec Nordiques to the NHL may be one step closer to reality.

Quebec City mayor Regis Labeaume confirmed Saturday that he met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman along with former Nordiques owner Marcel Aubut.

The mayor said the talks between him, Aubut and Bettman in New York on Friday were "fruitful."

"It was very welcoming, very profitable, very worthwhile," Labeaume told the media.

"But we'll get back to you in a few days - we still have work to do."

Several Quebec City media outlets are also reporting that a new arena for the city will be announced next week.

Bettman said earlier this month he would consider Quebec City as a possible home to an NHL team if it went through with plans to build a cutting-edge arena and if a team were up for sale.

The Nordiques were sold in 1995 and moved to Denver as the Colorado Avalanche.

That would be good i think. I always thought the nords should've stayed there.

A great start to the season for your Leafs, Malcolm :hihi:

Even worse after getting blown out 7-2 by the Rangers...Whos your team? and im not too worried theyll pull it together

I'm an avid Blackhawks fan. Another nailbiter of a shootout win for them last night.

your hawks vs my oilers tonight.

should be a good game, hopefully i'll get home from work in time to watch it.

i'm thinking high scoring and OT.

I have class till 8:30, so I'm hoping I'll get home just as O' Canada is ending :beer:

The Leafs have 4 hard games coming up, their playoff chances are slipping away already.

Yeah they have another game with the rangers coming up and they're on fire.

i think the kings are looking suprisingly good this year, watched a few of their games on espn360, they've played really well.

the wings look dire, and the sharks don't seem to be starting off too well either

Yeah, it's a really interesting year to say the least.

if the hawks can manage their cap problems properly then i think you've got a very good shot at the cup, unless hossa fails in the final again

It's not just one shot at the cup they've built this team around either. If most are able to stay healthy and with the team, the 'Hawks look to be a serious Cup contender for the next several years.

The thing is their strategy isn't brain surgery either. They've simply signed almost exclusively young studs in their very young 20s instead of old washed up fossils like the Leafs.

How the Hossa experiment plays out will be interesting to see. The thing is the 'Hawks have so much offensive power already, to add Hossa almost seems overkill, but hey, if it gets us a couple Cups, I'm all for it.

Sharp is having perhaps his best season yet, and Kane is definately playing with a major chip on his shoulder from the Taxi debacle this off-season.

Good hockey is still to come, that much is for certain ;)

wow...Leafs need Gustavsson back badly

you hit HUGE cap trouble next season. so many to resign and with the cap dropping, not a good situation to be in.

Leafs finally pull off a win last night over Washington...thank god...and Hawks apparently are very close to signing kane and toews to 5 year deals and keiths contract alot longer

Why bother? So your Leafs can crush 'em in the playoffs? :rofl:

Hossa might debut this week, should be interesting :smoking:

FLYERS FIRE COACH STEVENS, NAME LAVIOLETTE AS REPLACEMENT

The Philadelphia Flyers, losers of three straight games and six of their last seven, fired head coach John Stevens on Friday.

Peter Laviolette was later introduced as the team's next head coach.

The 45-year-old will make his debut behind the Flyers' bench on Saturday when the Flyers host the Washington Capitals.

"Obviously this is a great opportunity. I am really excited," said Laviolette. ?The Flyers are an organization that has a lot of tradition and a lot of history. This is just an exciting time for me and my family and we are really looking forward to it."

"Peter Laviolette brings experience along with a different approach to the game," said Flyers GM Paul Holmgren. "We look forward to him putting his stamp on the team quickly and getting our team headed in the right direction."

This will be Laviolette's third stint as an NHL head coach, having previously been behind the bench of the New York Islanders and Carolina Hurricanes.

During Laviolette's tenure in New York from 2001-03, the Islanders lost in the first round of the playoffs in both years. In Carolina, he took over for current Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice, who was fired 30 games into the 2003-04 season.

Over four-plus seasons, the Hurricanes made the playoffs just once under his direction but it resulted in a Stanley Cup championship in 2005-06, the first year after the lock-out.

He has compiled winning regular season records for every NHL team he has coached, including a .683 winning percentage in 2005-06.

The Flyers were considered Stanley Cup contenders in October but have lost six of their last seven games to fall to 10th place in Eastern Conference with a record of 13-11-1.

After six years as head coach of the AHL's Philadephia Phantoms, Stevens was named head coach of the Flyers early in 2006-07, taking over for Ken Hitchcock early in the season.

The Flyers missed the playoffs that first year but the following season, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, losing out to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Last year, the Flyers were eliminated by the Penguins in the first round, putting more pressure on Stevens and his team to produce entering this season.

"This was a very difficult decision for me to make given my relationship with John. I want to thank him for his service to the Flyers organization over the years. However, in watching the team over the past few weeks I felt a new voice was needed in order to get us out of this and in the direction we expect," said Holmgren.

"I know this was a very difficult decision for Paul to make. And, I really feel bad for John because he's been a terrific long-time member of our organization," said Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider. "I was hoping that the team would play better and that this could have been avoided, but after last night's game, I think Paul felt he had to make this change. I make it a policy never to overrule my general manager, because once I do, it means I've lost confidence in him. I really want to wish John the best."

Laviolette is the 17th coach in Flyers history.

all or nothing this year for the hawks?

Hossa 5.275
Sharp 3.9
Kane 6.3
Bolland 3.375
Versteeg 3.066
Byfuglien 3
Toews 6.3
Kopecky 1.2
Brouwer 1.025
Bertram .85

Campbell 7.142
Seabrook 3.5
Barker 3.083
Sopell 2.333
Keith 5.5

Huet 5.625

61.484m for 10 forwards 5 D and a starting goalie. with the cap being 56.8m leaves them with at least 6 roster spots to fill.

---------------------

amazingly this years oilers have now broken 2 franchise records. fastest consecutive goals, and most straight road wins.

The unstoppable Blackhawks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIiClfXCXR4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIiClfXCXR4)

Leafs are getting destroyed by Ovechkin,Semin,Backstrom right now, good god pull it together boys

that game was amazing

anyone watching the winter classic?

Yup watching it right now...the offense needs to open up..btw Reechi was hilarious on the bench at the start of the 2nd asking about the heaters on the bench lol...Coachs Corner was great to

horrible no call on the build up to the flyers goal. but thomas really needs to control his temper

Great to see the Sabres winning after two 0:3 deficits in the last two games. So far it seems that they can reach the playoffs this season. Hopefully I can watch some of their games then.

Cheers Fellow Sabres Fan  :beer:


They played horrible for the first 30min and really turned it up after that, just like last game

The two defeats over the weekend for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins were just two more examples of the typical way that the Leafs have lost games this season. Toronto directed over 90 shots at goaltenders Ryan Miller and Marc-Andre Fleury on Friday and Saturday night, but only managed three goals. The number of the shots on goal does not correlate to the level of difficulty of the saves these Olympic-bound goaltenders had to make. Toronto's penalty killing, which statistically has the honor of being the worst special teams unit in the NHL in the last 25 years, surrendered all three goals in Buffalo and an additional tally at the ACC last night. The injuries to Mikhail Grabovski and Wayne Primeau and the slumps of Niklas Hagman and Phil Kessel have forced Ron Wilson to try some strange line combinations. On Friday, Hagman played the majority of the night with fourth liners Jamal Mayers and Colton Orr, and Kessel played with rookie Viktor Stalberg and Rickard ?Mr. Zero? Wallin. Goaltenders Vesa Toskala and Jonas Gustavsson played well in both contests, but since Toronto's anemic offense is averaging about two goals a game during this most recent skid, they have to be close to perfect for the team to have any chance at victory.

Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke was his usual combative self last night during a pregame interview with Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman, stating categorically that he did not regret uttering the word ?playoffs? in the same sentence with his team and that is still this team's goal. He stated that the compete level was there but that the desired end result was not and that if he could make a trade that could get his team into the playoffs, he would do that. When Friedman asked a question about the internal and external pressures on the team to make the playoffs, Burke put the onus squarely on the players, saying "if the players that we have here, if that is still not their goal, then they can come and see me after the game and we will do our best to get them out of here. Your goal in this league is to make the playoffs and if it's not, do something else, drive a truck, go somewhere else, be a teacher, but don't do this."

In a radio interview earlier in the day, Burke responded to my question regarding the use of available salary cap room to alleviate the problems of another organization, for the purpose of acquiring draft choices or prospects. He stated that is something that he would do, but that the NHL has stipulations against a strictly ?rent-a-cap? type deal and that any deal that would be made just to effectuate cap relief for another team would have to also be a ?hockey deal?. The deadline deal made last year with Tampa relieved the Lightning of the contracts of Olaf Kolzig and Jamie Heward, to go along with minor leaguer Andy Rogers and a 4th round pick, in exchange Toronto traded a minor prospect, defenseman Richard Petiot. The whole purpose for this deal was for Toronto to acquire the draft choice, the contracts of Kolzig and Heward were expiring and Rogers was an RFA at the end of the season. Less than a month later, Tampa's 4th round pick was taken away by the NHL as a penalty for Toronto signing Jonas Frogren to a non-entry-level deal in 2008. Isn't it ironic that the NHL penalized Toronto the same draft pick that they acquired in a deal that may have set a precedent for ?rent-a-cap? deals? The off-season deal with Calgary involving Wayne Primeau had a lot of cap relief aspects, with Toronto obtaining a second round pick in the deal, but it appeared as more of a "hockey deal" than the deal with Tampa.

One thing is perfectly clear from the comments of the Leafs general manager yesterday, if this team is not within range of a realistic run at the playoffs by the Olympic break, then the exodus of a number of Toronto players will commence.

At least one point in the last eleven games for the Sabres. The team is on fire. Also good that Vanek scores again.
I am anxious to see what the further road trip will bring.

Good to see them start off on the right foot on this west coast trip... Recent years they have been the ones on the losing side of the 7-2 decisions while out west

well the oilers have been sucking royally recently.

then again 48 games played and 270 man games lost due to injury.

hopefully there will be a full on firesale and the older players will be traded away.

MGL = man games lost
(http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00444/man-games_lost_444401a.JPG)

Can someone explain this stat to me?
I am looking forward to watch the Washington  - Pittsburgh game tonight.

I think its basically total number of games missed by all players due to injury...

Example 10 players each missed 20 games = 200 "MGL" (10x20)

Its a stat I've never looked at, but it can be useful, and i'm glad the sabres are near the bottom... They have been killed by injures the last few years

Now I get, thanks. You Americans are crazy about your statistics. ;D

I don't think Alan is American  :hihi:


Personally I like regular stats, but DESPISE stupid stats


When playing Feb 1, while is below 20 degrees outside, in a sellout game this team is undefeated  ::)

Yeah I'm English. i was just shocked when i heard about the man games lost stat in the oilers vs pens game. when the game notes from the pens said their season had been decemated by injuries.

Maple Leafs nab Phaneuf, Giguere

Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke has seen enough of his underachieving club.

Sunday morning, Burke remade the Maple Leafs with two bold moves, acquiring defenseman Dion Phaneuf and goalie J.S. Giguere in separate trades.

"We are in buying and selling mode," Burke said during his morning press conference to announce a deal for Phaneuf, who come aboard with two other players from the Calgary Flames in exchange for four players.

The complete deal was Phaneuf, right wing Fredrik Sjostrom and prospect Keith Aulie to Toronto for forwards Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Jamal Mayers and defenseman Ian White.

Calgary, which defeated Edmonton Saturday night for its first win in 10 games, had been working with the Leafs on the framework of this deal for more than a week.

Phaneuf is the big, physically dominating defenseman who defines Burke's philosophy. Burke thought he had obtained that player in the summer, signing Montreal's Mike Komisarek to a free-agent deal. But Komisarek's season has been derailed by a slow start and a shoulder injury.

"He is a warrior," Burke said of Phaneuf. "He's got a cannon for a shot. He plays the game hard and I want players who play the game hard because they're hard to play against."

Now, the hard-hitting Phaneuf, drafted by the Flames in the first round, No. 9, in 2003, gets his chance to do that for Burke.

Phaneuf has 10 goals and 12 assists with a plus- 3 rating in 55 games this season. Those numbers are respectable, but he has spent some time in the doghouse of first-year coach Brent Sutter. Plus, Calgary was looking to make a deal after struggling throughout the month of January.

"It was definitely a shock, but I'm very excited about going to Toronto and being a Maple Leaf.  It's part of the business. It's a cliche, if Wayne Gretzky can get traded anyone can get traded. I was very surprised, but on the other hand I'm very excited to be going to the biggest hockey market in the world."
-- Dion Phaneuf

The Maple Leafs have struggled all season and may have hit rock bottom less than 24 hours earlier when they blew a 3-0 lead at home in dropping a 5-3 decision to Vancouver.
Toronto sits in the basement of the Eastern Conference with just 17 wins and 45 points this season and it has allowed an NHL-worse 197 goals.

Burke was back at the podium later in the day to announce the acquisition of Giguere from the Anaheim Ducks, Burke's most recent post before assuming the reigns in Toronto last season. Sent to Anaheim were goalie Vesa Toskala and winger Jason Blake.

Giguere had to waive his no-trade clause in his contract for the move to happen, but, certainly, the chance to be reunited with Burke and goalie coach Francois Allaire made that more palatable.

Giguere, 32, is the winningest goalie in Ducks history and led the franchise to its only Stanley Cup title in 2007, but he and his hefty contract became excess to needs with the emergence of Swiss goalie Jonas Hiller, who not only stole the No. 1 job, but just signed a four-year contract extension this week.

Giguere was the only player left from Anaheim's trip to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final, where he was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy despite being on the losing end of a seven-game decision to New Jersey.

In the Phaneuf deal, the Maple Leafs also get Sjostrom, a veteran winger who has played 46 games with 1 goal and 5 assists for Calgary this season. But it may be Aulie who defines the long-term success of this deal. A fourth-round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft, Aulie is another big, shutdown defenseman. He was used effectively in that role during his World Junior Championship appearance for Team Canada. This season, Aulie (6-foot-6) is with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL.

Calgary, meanwhile, gets a ton of scoring depth and an underrated offensive defenseman in White, who is a little on the small side. White has 9 goals, 17 assists and a plus-1 rating in 56 games. His 26 points are four more than Phaneuf has put up this season. Hagman has 20 goals and 13 assists, while Stajan has 16 goals and 25 assists this season. Stajan is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Each has played 55 games. Mayers has 2 goals 6 assists and 78 penalty minutes during 44 games. He recently asked to be traded.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=515662

An amazing Det@Pit tonight! Not a lot of goals, but a great game. And Crosby's and Malkin's shootout moves... Nice.

Agreed that was an amazing game...Still in shock the Leafs got Phanuef...what a steal

SOURCE: FLAMES, RANGERS TO ANNOUNCE JOKINEN-KOTALIK DEAL

Sources tell TSN the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames are expected to announce a trade that will send Calgary centre Olli Jokinen and forward Brandon Prust to the Rangers in exchange for forwards Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins.

Sources indicate that New York is awaiting Calgary's final sign-off before the trade call is made and the deal becomes official. It's unlikely any of that will be completed prior to Monday morning.

Jokinen was originally acquired by Calgary from the Phoenix Coyotes at last year's trade deadline. The 31-year old veteran has 11 goals and 24 assists in 55 games with the Flames this season.

Prust, 25, will potentially land in New York after taking a circuitous route between Calgary and Phoenix so far in his career. He was drafted by the Flames in the third round of the 2004 draft, and was traded to Phoenix at last year's trade deadline in the deal that brought Jokinen to Calgary. Prust was then traded back to the Flames last summer for Jim Vandermeer. The native of London, Ontario has one goal and four assists in 42 games this season in Calgary.

Kotalik, 31, had been sent home from New York's road trip earlier on Sunday after being told by the team that he would be traded.  He has been scratched by head coach John Tortorella in eight of the club's last nine games. Kotalik was signed to a three-year, $9 million deal as a free agent by New York last summer.

In 45 games, Kotalik has eight goals and 14 assists, with a plus/minus of -18. His best offensive season was with the Buffalo Sabres in 2005-06, when he scored 25 goals and added 37 assists.

Higgins, 26, is in his first season with the Rangers after he signed with New York last summer. Originally, the Montreal Canadiens had traded his rights to the Rangers prior to the July 1 free agent signing period.

Starting in 2005-06, Higgins had three straight seasons in which he scored 20 or more goals with Montreal, but his production dropped to 12 last year in an injured-shortened season. This season he has six goals and eight assists in 54 games.

Seriously kot-a-lik my balls was given $9mil?!?!?!


He really took em to town on that one

Over 3 years ya...he had 25 goals and 30 assists in 2006...point is 3 mil is ok if the player has the potential to return to that status...but he didnt

Also the Jokinen deal is on hold for now I guess

Look @ all of the stats of the sabres that year.... Alot of guys had career years that year... Drury, Briere, Pominville, Roy, Hecht, Afinogenov, Vanek, Dumont....

Altough most of them are still quality players, none of them have replicated themselves since leaving the sabres(or since the current sabres lost them as teammates)

Kotalik was never THAT impressive... Good midgrade player yes, but 3/mil a year??? no thanks!

Congrates to Giguere and Phanuef who helped the Leafs to a 3-0 win in there debut...From all accounts i've heard Gigueres a great guy

Giguere is a stand up guy & a great goaltender... I've been a fan of the guy since the Cup finals VS the Devils...

He got a MAJOR shaft with the Ducks... Only problem is he's in the sabres division  :hihi:

  Ilya Kovalchuk is a New Jersey Devil.

The Atlanta Thrashers dealt their captain, an impending free agent, to the Devils on Thursday night for a package that includes defenseman Johnny Oduya, rookie forward Niclas Bergfors, junior prospect Patrice Cormier and New Jersey's first-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Defenseman Anssi Salmela, traded by the Devils to the Thrashers last March for Niclas Havelid, will return to New Jersey as part of the deal. The teams will also flip second-round picks.

"This wasn't an easy deal to make," General Manager Don Waddell said Thursday night. "Ilya Kovalchuk has been with us for eight years. He's been the face of our franchise and done so many good things for us, on and off the ice.

"We tried everything we can. I had great support from ownership. We offered him over $100 million in a long-term contract. He had said he wanted to be a Thrasher for life. We tried to make that happen, but unfortunately we couldn't reach a deal.

Kovalchuk owns almost all the offensive records in Thrashers history and is having another excellent season with 31 goals and 27 assists for 58 points in 49 games. But he will become a free agent on July 1 and had not reached agreement on a new contract with the team.

"It's disappointing, but we have to turn the page," Waddell said. "He's been a great captain for our team. We thank him for everything he's done for us. Now we look forward to the new guys coming in."

The Thrashers had offered multiple deals, including a $101 million, 12-year contract that Waddell said Thursday had been rejected. Kovalchuk reportedly had been looking for a contract worth the maximum of 20 percent of the salary cap on a deal that would last 10-12 years.

Since the Thrashers drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2001, Kovalchuk leads the NHL with 328 goals. But Atlanta, an expansion team that debuted in 1999-2000, has made just one playoff appearance and has never won a postseason game.

"[New Jersey] is a good team and it's a great chance to play in the playoffs and go far in the playoffs," Kovalchuk told the Atlanta Jornal-Constitution. "It's sad at the same time because now -- I can say it -- I've been a Thrasher for eight years. I'm appreciative of everything, the organization and the fans."

Kovalchuk, who has 328 goals and 615 points in 594 NHL games, is a two-time 50-goal scorer who has at least 41 goals in each of the last five seasons. He fiures to be a major offensive boost for the Devils, who've slumped badly in the last few weeks and are in danger of dropping out of first place in the Atlantic Division.

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello noted that while the Devils gave away a lot, they have the depth in the organization to overcome it. He also noted that the Devils' recent scoring slump played a part.

"We felt Kovalchuk was a player who could come and fill the need that we felt we had for an explosive scorer and someone who could add a different dimension to our power play with the type of shot," Lamoriello said. "Then it was just the case of trying to make it work somehow where we could not sacrifice tomorrow."

Lamoriello said the idea of trying to re-sign Kovalchuk wasn't a consideration in the deal.

"That has not even been a thought at this moment," Lamoriello said. "What we want to do is just get him here, get him into the environment, get him into the lineup, get our coaches to see what he brings. We see what he brings, he sees what we bring and not even think about that (re-signing him) whatsoever. That is not the thought process at this time. It is to get this team better and in the next couple of weeks, get sort of an acquaintance, so that once the break is over we get all of our players back. Paul Martin will be back. David Clarkson will be back. Certainly, Patrik (Elias) should be back before then, hopefully, and then we'll know what we are."

Oduya, a 28-year-old, has 2 goals and 4 points in 40 games this season. Bergfors, New Jersey's first-round pick in 2005, has 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points in 54 games, but hasn't scored a goal since Dec. 30 and has gone 13 games without a point.

"We're very excited to be adding Johnny Oduya to our hockey club," Waddell said. "He's a top-four defenseman and he's going to be playing in the Olympics for Sweden. Nicklas Bergfors is a first-year player with 13 goals who has a lot of potential."

Cormier was captain of Canada's world junior championship team. He has been suspended for the rest of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season for an elbow that left an opponent in convulsions. Waddell said he's hopeful Cormier can make the Thrashers next season.

VETERAN D SCHNEIDER HEADING TO COYOTES

The Vancouver Canucks made a deal with the Phoenix Coyotes, trading veteran defenceman Mathieu Schneider for blue liner Sean Zimmerman and a 2010 conditional sixth-round draft selection.

BLUE JACKETS SEND TORRES TO SABRES FOR PAETSCH, DRAFT PICK

KINGS ACQUIRE HALPERN FROM LIGHTNING FOR PURCELL, DRAFT PICK

DUCKS ACQUIRE WARD FROM HURRICANES FOR POGGE, DRAFT PICK

DUCKS SEND TOSKALA TO FLAMES FOR MCELHINNEY

KINGS ACQUIRE MODIN FROM JACKETS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS

LEAFS SEND F STEMPNIAK TO COYOTES FOR DRAFT PICKS

CAPITALS ACQUIRE CORVO FROM HURRICANES FOR POTHIER, OSALA

OILERS SEND STAIOS TO FLAMES FOR JOHNSON, DRAFT PICK

The dismantling of the Edmonton Oilers continues as they have sent veteran defenceman Steve Staios to the Calgary Flames for defenceman Aaron Johnson and a third round draft pick. It's the first time that the provincial rivals have ever completed a trade with one another.
"The fact that I'm the first one is something to talk about. For me personally, it's not a big deal," said Staios in a conference call. "I'm a Flame now and I'll have no problem doing what I do once I get the jersey on."

OILERS SEND VISNOVSKY TO DUCKS FOR WHITNEY

The Anaheim Ducks power play is about to get a big boost from the backend as they have acquired defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ryan Whitney and a sixth-round draft pick. The 33-year old Slovakian blueliner has three years and $14 million remaining on his contract. "Lubomir Visnovsky is a skilled defenseman with a proven track record," said Ducks' Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray in a statement. "We feel this is a major addition for us, not only for our stretch drive but going forward."

Going to the Kings game tonight!

Hopefully they will play with more energy than they have been playing with lately.

Congratulations Teemu for the 600th :beer:

Indeed..Class A player..Will be sad to see him go...Very intense games right now...loving the stretch, theres so much parody in this league now..

and wow just seen Drury tied up the Rangers game against the Devils with like 30 seconds left, they were down 3-2 and the Rangers needed at least a point this game to stay close in the race..How much more clutch of a player can this guy get

so who's going to win the cup

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph my Blackhawks better not fold against Nashville :'(

They will, you now have the Hossa curse....

if they had the hossa curse they'd lose in game 7 of the final  :hihi:

Really the Hossa curse means you won't get the cup, doesn't really matter when you go out, you just go.

Best hockey I have seen in a long ass time.

canucks kings series is aweomse.

i'm supporting ovi and the caps in the play off's this year, they're having a good series with the habs too.

Fuck you haters, Blackhawks are back in the saddle :smoking:


Anyone who knee-on-knees other players on a regular basis is a disgrace to the game.

Calen has laid down the law.

Since the Leafs didnt make it once again im pullin for the Yotes,San Jose or Vancouver

Ahhh too bad the Kings are out.  Those kids have a bright future ahead of them, they just need a scorer and they will go far.

I went to game 3, it was quite the amazing experience.  It's a shame that I get to say that I saw the last Kings victory of 2010.

knee on knee on frequent basis? i can think of 2 occassions gleason and gonchar. and since the gleason one he has changed the stance he uses to hit.

if you want to see a disgrace to the game then matt cooke

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCk4kDPz9pU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CWX8hq7jf4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhEZm2kaIVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RIZ_39FcFU

i have no idea how someone who does THIS much is allowed to still play.

---------------------------------

I've loved the kings play this year, it's a shame they're out, though i was midway through watching that game when i saw your post. oh well now backing the hawks for the west, most entertaining team to watch in the west.

I don't really care if it's once, twice, or 20 times. It's disgraceful, and has no place in the NHL. If he wants to pull that kind of shit, along with diving at least once a game, time to go back to Russia. This is hockey, not ballet. I've never seen someone dive so much in my life, you'd think the man had never skated before.

The glaring irony of course is how much shit Crosby has gotten in this thread, and yet he actually plays the game honorably, the way it's supposed to be played.

Blackhawks Win Blackhawks Win!!!!!!!





Joe

I hope the Sabres are able to enforce a seventh game tonight.

Canucks and Blackhawks.. here's hoping I can score some tickets ;D

Halak 53 saves last night, another game 7 now :D



Honorable and Crosby are 2 words that don't go together.

A perfect example from this season march 22nd, losing 3-1 in Detroit, so does he try and score in the last few seconds no, he loses the draw so starts cross checking Zetterberg up around the head, 4 crosschecks and a gloved punch before Zetterberg reacts as he was actually playing the game and trying to defend.

he was voted the biggest whiner by the players in the NHL with 52% of the vote, ahead of Pronger and Avery. I mean seriously his fellow players consider him a bigger bitch than Sean Avery.

His talent is undeniable but he makes it easy for people to hate him. Another obvious example third man in punching someone in the balls from behind while he had his gloves still on.

But it's all OK it's Sid the Kid.

Can someone's hockey career be ended by being punched in the balls like it can from some asshole intentionally colliding with you knee-on-knee? :confused:

Of course not but it's still an asshole move either way, it's called playing with class and that is something Crosby does not do.

So classless, he's suspended at least once a year like Ovechkin..  Oh wait..

I'm not arguing with you about Ovechkin as I couldn't give a flying fuck about him either but you can't even pretend to say Crosby plays with class. Just look at the finals last year when he slashed Lidstrom in the back of the leg after the freaking game was over.

Name me one player who hasn't inappropriately slashed another player in the NHL. Sure Crosby has done some not nice things, but he's never lowered himself to the Todd Bertuzzi level of douchebag like Ovechkin has. That was essentially my point from the very begining.

After the game is over? Pretty much the majority of players.

Go Blackhawks.

I HEAR THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




JOE

x3 :smoking:

Eh I'd love to see the Canuks take out the hawks....


Go LOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

(http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6889/76699152v.jpg)

"Revenge will be ours!!"

Let's go Blackhawks, let's go :smoking:

This is gonna be the most exciting one so far I think!!!




Joe

Here come the 'Hawks :smoking:

Getting close to the end!!!
I cant wait to see the next game!!!
GO BLACK HAWKS!!!!!!!!!




Joe

http://6abc.mycapture.com/mycapture/photos/Album.aspx?EventID=1004515&CategoryID=61274



check me out '

under section # 7 on the part best.go to best first the to the number 7 page.

Let's go 'Hawks!!!!!! :smoking: :beer: :smoking: :beer: :smoking:

i moved up to page # 4 now.closer to being on tv.it comes on at the 11 oclock news at the end.yay !

Thats crazy cool horsey!!!
 : ok:

Joe

Here come the 'Hawks!!! :smoking:

How about Byfuglien. 8 goals in 8 games, 3 game winners.

LIGHTNING INTRODUCE YZERMAN AS GENERAL MANAGER

TAMPA, Fla. -- Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman is the Tampa Bay Lightning's new general manager, taking on the task to rebuilding a franchise that's fallen on hard times since winning its only Stanley Cup championship six years ago.

The former Detroit Red Wings captain and executive was introduced Tuesday as Brian Lawton's replacement during a news conference at St. Pete Times Forum. Lawton and coach Rick Tocchet were fired April 12.

Yzerman has worked as a vice-president for the Red Wings, the only team he played for during a 22-year career in which he scored 692 goals, amassed 1,755 points and was part of three Stanley Cup winners.

The 45-year-old also assembled the Canadian team that won hockey gold at the Vancouver Olympics.

Phillys not looking good at all down 3-0 after the 1st..Chicago was ready to go

Here come the 'Hawks :smoking:

Screwy Ending


Congrats Hawks!

Fuck yeah! :smoking: :beer: :smoking:

All that buildup to wind up ending on a freaking fluky goal. Not a fan of either team but damn that was such a lousy way to end the playoffs.

Flukey goal? His puck handling before he even shot was beautiful, let alone the goal itself.

Yeah total fluky goal, that's the kind of goal that never should get through and no one even knew it went in. I don't expect you will agree with me and that's fine but that one never should have gone in.

No one even knew it went in because it was such a goal. Kane is called The Magician for a reason, afterall.

I don't think the goal itself was flukey but that had to be the absolutely most anti-climactic ending ever.  :-\

CONGRATS anyways AxlsMainMan  :beer:

Thanks Gypsy' :beer:

I doubt Kane thinks of the goal as anti-climatic, it was made from a seemingly impossible angle that any hockey player would have loved to have made.

Would be pretty cool to know you won your team their first Cup in 49 years after being the #1 draft pick just 3 years before; all at age 21 too :smoking:

Leafs signed Colby Armstrong to 3 yr deal..pretty good 3rd liner, and got Versteeg via trade..solid 2nd liner

should be an interesting season for the Oilers, pretty much blew up the team.

MAPLE LEAFS SIGN D LEBDA TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed unrestricted free agent defenceman Brett Lebda to a two-year contract, worth $1.45 million per season.

Lebda, 28, has appeared in 326 regular season games amassing 18 goals, 50 assists, and 201 penalty minutes.

Undrafted, Lebda originally signed as a free agent with Detroit on July 21, 2004.
 
The Buffalo Grove, Illinois native played for the University of Notre Dame from 2000 to 2004. In 152 games with the Fighting Irish, Lebda scored 26 goals and added 59 assists for 85 points.

NABOKOV AGREES TO FOUR-YEAR DEAL IN THE KHL

Evgeni Nabokov is leaving the San Jose Sharks for the Kontinental Hockey League.

Various reports on Wednesday valued his deal with SKA St. Petersburg at four years and $24 million.

Nabokov, 34, leaves the NHL after posting one of his best seasons to date. In 2009-10 he went 44-16-10 with a 2.43 GAA and .922 save percentage for San Jose.

The goalie spent all 10 of his seasons with the Sharks, the club that drafted him in the 9th round of the 1994 draft. He won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2000-01, and was named a first-team All-Star in 2007-08.

Nabokov also played three games for Russia at the Vancouver Olympics, where he posted a 2-1 record with a 4.16 GAA.

SKA St. Petersburg also boasts former NHL players Sergei Zubov, Darius Kasparaitis, Alexei Yashin, and Sergei Brylin.

Kovalchuk gets 17-year deal from Devils

ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 20, 2010, 8:44 AM ET

Ilya Kovalchuk is staying with the New Jersey Devils. Kovalchuk has signed a 17-year, $102 million deal, ending a three-week courtship that included offers from the Los Angeles Kings. He was also pursued by the New York Islanders and SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. The Devils will absorb an annual salary cap hit of $6 million -- the average amount per season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/news/story?id=5392170 (http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/news/story?id=5392170)

NHL REJECTS KOVALCHUK CONTRACT FOR SALARY CAP CIRCUMVENTION

The NHL has rejected Ilya Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on the grounds that it circumvents the NHL's salary cap.

Kovalchuk was slated to earn $95 million over the first 10 years of the deal and then just $7 million over the last seven seasons. That would translate to an annual cap hit of $6 million per year.

The 27-year-old rejected a $101 million, 12-year extension from the Atlanta Thrashers before being dealt to the Devils in February.

Marty Turco in net for the Blackhawks this year. Should be interesting.

That's like what 7 or 8 of the guys that helped get you the cup gone?

We got a first and second round draft pick from the Thrashers for 5 of them or so though. There were serious salary cap issues, and while I'm especially sad to see Big Buff go, we still have a nice core to rebuild around with Kane, Toews, Sharp, and Hossa.

Draft picks won't do much to get you guys back to the cup next season though. Quite a few of the guys  (including Neimi!) played a HUGE part in you guys getting the cup.

On another topic, looks like Modano has finally decided to come to the Wings and win another cup next year!!!!  :peace:

It's probably too early for Cup predictions without pre-season games even going on yet, but with Kane, Toews, Sharp, and Hossa, I still strongly believe the 'Hawks are still a legitimate playoff team. Sure, Niemi is a significant loss, but his save pecentage could have been better through the playoffs, and he wanted too much money.