Monthly Archives: August 2010
Niemi could make decision soon
I talked to a source today that indicated former Blackhawks goalie Antti Niemi is close to making a decision on where he will play this upcoming season. It should happen over the next 48 hours.
According to this source, Niemi has offers from multiple teams. My guess is he’s weighing a short-term deal with a contender — think San Jose — rather than a deal with more security for a team that may not be ready to win.
The Marc Savard trade rumors may have quieted down in the past month, but that doesn’t mean the Boston Bruins aren’t still exploring a possible deal.
According to a source close to the situation, the Bruins are still “actively shopping” Savard, but trade talks have been “hampered” by interested teams facing cap issues. Also complicating a potential deal, according to the source, is the NHL’s investigation into Savard’s seven-year contract that has an annual salary cap hit of $4 million for the next seven seasons. The Bruins, of course, have cap issues of their own. They’ll need to make a move to get under the cap before the season begins.
Leafs finally got their man. The new top line talent that will lead them back into the Stanley Cup race…… step over Phil Kessel
2010-11 ULTIMATE POOL PREVIEW
The hockey season is coming soon, and so are hockey pools. For this reason, the ULTIMATE POOL PREVIEW will be back for the 2010-11 season!
Ilya deal would start chain reaction for Devils
When one headache ends, another begins for Lou Lamoriello, who must decide who goes if Ilya Kovalchuk stays.
The Devils and Kovalchuk are waiting to see if the NHL will bless their contract this time.
The contract submitted for NHL registration Friday reportedly covers 15 years for a total of $100 million, an average cap hit of $6.67 million.
GUILTY VERDICT IN KHABIBULIN IMPAIRED DRIVING TRIAL
Edmonton Oilers’ goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was convicted Friday of three charges related to drunk driving and speeding in Arizona earlier this year.
The four-time all-star could face up to six months in jail when he is sentenced Tuesday.
How the Oilers almost traded Sheldon Souray for Scott Hartnell, according to TV
Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini pulled out of a trade that would have sent Sheldon Souray to the Philadelphia Flyers for Scott Hartnell, who had agreed to waive his no-movement clause to come to Edmonton, an Edmonton TV sportscaster, Kevin Karius of Global, says.
In what may be their last chance to keep Ilya Kovalchuk in North America this season, the Devils are waiting — again — for the NHL to approve their latest contract, submitted yesterday.
If, as expected, the league OKs this deal, it will end a saga that reached 59 days today, which variously had the Kings, Islanders, Stars, Blues and St. Petersburg among potential suitors.
“We are reviewing the new contract and will make a decision in the appropriate time frame as prescribed in the CBA,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. The Post first reported this latest contract yesterday on its website.
Leafs Should Pursue Paul Kariya
The free agent market has dwindled to a handful of good players left and should dwindle even further with the expected signings this week of:
Ilya Kovalchuk – New Jersey
Lee Stempniak – Phoenix
It’s left a few good players around still looking for work with about 3 weeks until the opening of training camp.
Jose Theodore and Antti Niemi are goalies still waiting to be signed.
Canucks made a nice upgrade to their 3rd line today by signing Raffi Torres to a 1 year, 1 million dollar deal. It also was a nnounced a few days ago Alex Burrows would miss the first month of the season, after he was put on IR.
Winger Guerin will not return to Penguins
The Penguins have decided not to bring back veteran right wing Bill Guerin this season. Guerin was informed of the decision by Penguins general manager Ray Shero late Wednesday. Shero said last Friday after signing free-agent winger Arron Asham that a decision regarding Guerin’s future would come this week. Guerin, 39, scored 21 goals for the Penguins last season, and his four playoff goals tied for the lead among wingers. Several times since the Penguins were eliminated in Round 2 of the playoffs Guerin stated his desire was to play a final NHL season with them. However, it was never clear if he was willing to accept a reduction on his $2 million salary.
With Edmonton Oilers training camp less than a month away, disgruntled defenceman Sheldon Souray still doesn’t have a change of address while free-agent centres Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano don’t have contracts.
Needless to say, there is a gulf between what the Oilers and best buddies Gagner and Cogliano feel they are worth after three seasons of playing in the NHL.
Word on Mitchell could come Tuesday
If you’re wondering how Willie Mitchell’s doing, some shattered pieces of polymethyl methacrylate behind one of the nets at UBC’s Thunderbird Sports Centre will give you an idea.
Mitchell, skating with a half-dozen other NHLers on Monday morning, stepped into a drop pass at the blueline, put all his weight into his 63-inch Easton and blistered a puck past the ear of goalie Martin Jones.
Mitchell’s smile can be infectious and he sported one of his biggest after the glass splintered into hundreds of shards.