Archive for August, 2011

Kings refine Doughty offer … GMs may not like van Riemsdyk deal … Lombardi free of concussion symptoms … Dent in Stanley Cup (video)

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors, NHL Videos on August 31st, 2011

  • Helene Elliott of the LA Times: The LA Kings have refined some of the concepts in their offer to RFA Drew Doughty, and added some choices for length of contract, likely 6 to 8 years.

    “Everything’s been amicable. We’re waiting to hear back from them. They said they’d get back to us in a day or two,” Lombardi said. “So in terms of distance, I’ll probably have a better handle on that when we hear back.”

    The Kings also filed their grievance over the Colin Fraser trade with the Oilers, with the Oilers having a few days to respond. Bettman will late decide if they need to hold a hearing or not.

  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: GM’s of other teams may not be too thrilled with the 6 year $25.5 million contract the Flyers gave James van Riemsdyk yesterday.  Teams will now have to deal with van Riemsdyk comparables when trying to sign some of their young guys. If Taylor Hall gets 55 points this year, do the Oilers have to give him $5 million in a 6 year deal? Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi could be in a similar situation.
  • John Buccigross via twitter: James van Riemsdyk salary breakdown: 2012-13 $2.5 million, 2013-14 $3.75 million, 2014-15 $4.5 million, 2015-16 $4.75 million, 2016-17 $5 million, and 2017-18 $5 million.
  • Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: Maple Leafs forward Matthew Lombardi has been declared free of concussion symptoms but he still could miss the start of training camp according to GM Brian Burke.

    “He is cleared for full activity on the bike,” Burke said in a phone interview. “The last report I got he was doing 20-plus minutes without symptoms. He has been declared symptom-free and now it’s about getting the workload back up.”

    Burke also added that “Right now, I’ve got nothing going,” and “This is the group we’re likely to head in with.” Luke Schenn’s agent said that he expects to meet with the Leafs later this week and Burke said “We remain optimistic that we’ll sign him before camp.”

  • Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post: 39 year old Mike Knuble signed a 1 year deal with the Capitals but wants to sign an extension.

    “I’m out there playing for another deal,” he said. “I’m not riding off into the sunset. I want to make that point clear to everybody. This is no farewell song.”

  • Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: After missing last season with a concussion, Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador is symptom free and has suffered no setbacks during/after “full tilt” workouts.

    “I’m back in full training, full everything, so I’m excited for the season,” he said today.

    “There’s really no concern about my long-term health, actually,” he said. “The doctors have already put me through a lot of those tests, so I’m pretty excited about that. If I get hurt, I get hurt. That’s just the game. I’m in a good situation where I don’t have to be concerned about a lot of things.”

  • Katie Strang via twitter: The Islanders have shown interest in winger Sergei Samsonov but it sounds like he’s looking for a deal and not a tryout.
  • Damian Cristodero via twitter: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman is planning on having Ryan Malone play the final 2 preseason games and havgin him ready to go for the start of the regular season.
  • Michael Ryder’s day with the Stanley Cup leaves it with a nice dent. (The guy with the white gloves should have been there to catch it)

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Flyers sign James van Riemsdyk to a 6 year extension

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on August 30th, 2011

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed winger James van Riemsdyk to a 6 year contract extension worth $25.5 million, a $4.25 million cap hit (Scott Burnside)

Do you think this is a smart move by the Flyers to lock him up at $4.25 million after only 2 years and 75 points?

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Flames depth allowed them to move Langkow … What if Couturier makes Flyers? Isles looking for D, Kuba? Whitney, Malone expect to be ready for camp

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 30th, 2011

  • Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun: Jay Feaster cited the Flames depth where it matters most as one of the reasons he sent center Daymond Langkow to the Coyotes for winger Lee Stempniak. The Flames are going to see if Mikael Backlund can center the top line with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. The Flames also have Brendan Morrison, Olli Jokinen and Matt Stajan down the middle. Langkow carries a $4.5 million cap hit this year, Stempniak carries a $1.9 million hit. Niklas Hagman’s time as a Flame could be running short and he may find himself making $3 million in the AHL.
  • Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly: Some think that 2011 1st round pick Sean Couturier could make the Flyers roster, which could create a logjam at center. Down the middle they have Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, Blair Betts, Brayden Schenn and Ben Holmstrom. Michael Nylander is also heading to camp on a tryout.
  • Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: Chris Botta of NYI Point Blank suggests that the Islanders could be looking for a veteran defenseman. Warren wonders if the Isles would be interested in Filip Kuba. The Isles are $2.3 million below the salary cap floor. Chris Campoli and Bryan McCabe are free agent defenseman still available.
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers defenseman Ryan Whitney injured his surgically repaired right ankle skating earlier this month, but hopes to be ready for the start of training camp. “I rolled over on the foot … caught a rut in the ice. Minor sprain, I think,” said Whitney, “I’ll be back in Edmonton on Saturday. I don’t think it’s serious.”
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Pat Morris, the agent for former Oilers defenseman Steve Staios:

    “He’s been training with all the young players at Matt Nichols’ camp in Toronto. I really think Steve could help a young team like the Islanders or Colorado (Avalanche). He played 23 of the last 27 games for Calgary last season, was an even-or plus-player in 18 of those games and had eight points.”

  • Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Lightning winger Ryan Malone had surgery in July to repair some damage from the shoulder separation he suffered in first round of the playoffs.

    “It was just kind of nagging, so I went to get it looked at it and it was still kind of separated so we had to go get it fixed,” Malone said. “After the season there was still all the swelling so after everything went down, that’s when we found some other stuff that had to be taken care of.”

    Initial reports were saying he would miss up to 6 months, but Malone said he expects to be ready for the season opener on Oct. 7th. Malone hasn’t been cleared for contact and likely won’t before the start of camp.

  • Lindsay Applebaum of the Washington Post: Capitals goalie Tomas Vokoun wants to go out and enjoy playing hockey. He was disappointed with the offers he got in early July, including the 3 year offer from the Panthers.

    “It was something I was looking at as, you know, I want to enjoy hockey. I want to play in playoffs,” Vokoun said Monday. “It’s been really tough for me. I lost four years. I’ve been sitting every summer here in South Florida, which I love, in the afternoons swimming in the pool, and by 7:30 at night I put on the TV and watch playoff hockey every single year. If you care and love playing hockey, it’s not an easy thing to do.”

  • Gordon McIntyre of the Vancouver Province: Canucks forward Mikael Samuelsson, who had surgery last May, is back on the ice and is feeling stronger in the groin and hip area. He had abductor-tendon and sports hernia surgery, and began training in July.
  • Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: “I don’t know about you, but if I had Drew Doughty on my team, I’d do everything to make sure he was signed, happy, and ready to lead my Los Angeles Kings team. The last thing I’d want is to drag my franchise player through the negotiating mud all summer with no contract agreed to with three weeks until training camp.”

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2011-12 Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers – Goalies

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on August 29th, 2011

List below are the Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers for centers heading into the 2011-12 NHL season. Due to front-loading contracts (back-loaded in some cases), and teams having to deal with the salary cap, a players cap number takes precedence over their actual salary.

Rk. Player Team 2011-12 Cap Number 2011-12 Salary
1 Henrik Lundqvist NYR $6,875,000 $6,875,000
2 Cam Ward CAR $6,300,000 $6,300,000
3 Ryan Miller BUF $6,250,000 $6,250,000
4 Niklas Backstrom MIN $6,000,000 $6,000,000
5 Miikka Kiprusoff CGY $5,833,000 $6,000,000
6 Ilya Bryzgalov PHI $5,667,000 $10,000,000
7 Roberto Luongo VAN $5,333,000 $6,716,000
8 Martin Brodeur NJD $5,200,000 $5,200,000
9 Tim Thomas BOS $5,000,000 $5,000,000
10 Marc-Andre Fleury PIT $5,000,000 $5,500,000
11 Jonas Hiller ANA $4,500,000 $4,500,000
12 Rick DiPietro NYI $4,500,000 $4,500,000
13 Antti Niemi SJS $3,800,000 $3,200,000
14 Nikolai Khabibulin EDM $3,750,000 $3,750,000
15 Jaroslav Halak STL $3,750,000 $3,500,000
16 Kari Lehtonen DAL $3,550,000 $3,700,000
17 Pekka Rinne NAS $3,400,000 $4,000,000
18 Craig Anderson OTT $3,188,000 $2,750,000
19 Dwayne Roloson TBL $3,000,000 $3,000,000
20 Steve Mason CLB $2,900,000 $2,600,000
21 Semyon Varlamov COL $2,833,000 $2,500,000
22 Carey Price MTL $2,750,000 $3,000,000
23 Corey Crawford CHI $2,667,000 $3,250,000
24 Jimmy Howard DET $2,250,000 $2,250,000
25 Antero Niittymaki SJS $2,000,000 $2,000,000
26 Mike Smith PHX $2,000,000 $2,000,000
27 Chris Mason WPG $1,850,000 $2,100,000
28 Jonathan Quick LAK $1,800,000 $1,800,000
29 James Reimer TOR $1,800,000 $2,200,000
30 Sergei Bobrovsky PHI $1,750,000 $900,000

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2011-12 Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers – Defensemen

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on August 28th, 2011

List below are the Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers for defensemen heading into the 2011-12 NHL season. Due to front-loading contracts (back-loaded in some cases), and teams having to deal with the salary cap, a players cap number takes precedence over their actual salary. Drew Doughty for sure, and possibly Luke Schenn could be added to this list once they sign.


Rk. Player Team 2011-12 Cap Number 2011-12 Salary
1 Shea Weber NAS $7,500,000 $7,500,000
2 Brian Campbell FLA $7,140,000 $7,140,000
3 Zdeno Chara BOS $6,917,000 $8,500,000
4 Jay Bouwmeester CGY $6,680,000 $6,600,000
5 Dan Boyle SJS $6,667,000 $6,667,000
6 Dion Phaneuf TOR $6,500,000 $6,500,000
  Wade Redden NYR $6,500,000 $6,500,000
8 Kimmo Timonen PHI $6,333,000 $5,000,000
9 Nicklas Lidstrom DET $6,200,000 $6,200,000
10 Brent Seabrook CHI $5,800,000 $7,000,000
11 Andrei Markov MTL $5,750,000 $5,750,000
12 Lubomir Visnovsky ANA $5,600,000 $5,000,000
13 Duncan Keith CHI $5,551,000 $8,000,000
14 Sergei Gonchar OTT $5,500,000 $5,500,000
  James Wisniewski CLB $5,500,000 $7,000,000
16 Mike Green WAS $5,250,000 $5,000,000
  Keith Yandle PHX $5,250,000 $5,250,000
18 Dustin Byfuglien WPG $5,200,000 $4,250,000
19 Paul Martin PIT $5,000,000 $5,500,000
  Michal Rozsival PHX $5,000,000 $3,000,000
21 Chris Pronger PHI $4,921,000 $7,600,000
22 Kevin Bieksa VAN $4,600,000 $7,000,000
23 Joni Pitkanen CAR $4,500,000 $4,500,000
  Mike Komisarek TOR $4,500,000 $5,500,000
  Ron Hainsey WPG $4,500,000 $5,000,000
  Dan Hamhuis VAN $4,500,000 $5,000,000
27 Jack Johnson LAK $4,357,000 $3,500,000
28 Anton Volchenkov NJD $4,250,000 $4,250,000
  Tomas Kaberle CAR $4,250,000 $4,000,000
30 John-Michael Liles TOR $4,200,000 $4,550,000
  Keith Ballard VAN $4,200,000 $4,200,000

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2011-12 Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers – Right Wing

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on August 27th, 2011

List below are the Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers for Right Wingers heading into the 2011-12 NHL season. Due to front-loading contracts (back-loaded in some cases), and teams having to deal with the salary cap, a players cap number takes precedence over their actual salary.


Rk. Player Team 2011-12 Cap Number 2011-12 Salary
1 Jarome Iginla CGY $7,000,000 $7,000,000
2 Patrick Kane CHI $6,300,000 $6,000,000
3 Martin St. Louis TBL $5,625,000 $5,500,000
4 Phil Kessel TOR $5,400,000 $6,000,000
5 Corey Perry ANA $5,325,000 $5,375,000
6 Jason Pominville BUF $5,300,000 $5,500,000
7 Marian Hossa CHI $5,233,000 $7,900,000
8 Brian Rolston NYI $5,062,000 $5,000,000
9 Brian Gionta MTL $5,000,000 $5,000,000
10 Daniel Alfredsson OTT $4,875,000 $4,500,000
11 Shane Doan PHX $4,550,000 $4,550,000
12 Ryan Callahan NYR $4,292,000 $4,000,000
13 Joffrey Lupul TOR $4,250,000 $4,250,000
14 Ales Hemsky EDM $4,100,000 $5,000,000
15 Drew Stafford BUF $4,000,000 $4,000,000
16 Justin Williams LAK $3,650,000 $3,900,000
17 Ryane Clowe SJS $3,625,000 $3,500,000
18 Michael Ryder DAL $3,500,000 $3,500,000
  Scottie Upshall FLA $3,500,000 $3,500,000
20 Dainius Zubrus NJD $3,400,000 $3,400,000
21 Jaromir Jagr PHI $3,300,000 $3,300,000
22 Dustin Brown LAK $3,175,000 $3,500,000
23 Patric Hornqvist NAS $3,083,000 $3,000,000
24 Kris Versteeg FLA $3,083,000 $3,083,000
25 Radim Vrbata PHX $3,000,000 $3,000,000
  Devin Setoguchi MIN $3,000,000 $2,750,000
  Joel Ward WAS $3,000,000 $3,000,000
  Colby Armstrong TOR $3,000,000 $3,000,000
  Michael Grabner NYI $3,000,000 $1,000,000
  Ales Kotalik BUF $3,000,000 $3,000,000

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2011-12 Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers – Left Wing

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on August 26th, 2011

List below are the Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers for Left Wingers heading into the 2011-12 NHL season. Due to front-loading contracts (back-loaded in some cases), and teams having to deal with the salary cap, a players cap number takes precedence over their actual salary.


Rk. Player Team 2011-12 Cap Number 2011-12 Salary
1 Alexander Ovechkin WAS $9,538,000 $9,000,000
2 Rick Nash CLB $7,800,000 $7,500,000
3 Marian Gaborik NYR $7,500,000 $7,500,000
  Dany Heatley MIN $7,500,000 $8,000,000
5 Thomas Vanek BUF $7,143,000 $6,400,000
6 Alexander Semin WAS $6,700,000 $6,700,000
7 Ilya Kovalchuk NJD $6,667,000 $6,000,000
8 Ryan Smyth EDM $6,250,000 $4,500,000
9 Daniel Sedin VAN $6,100,000 $6,100,000
10 Henrik Zetterberg DET $6,083,000 $7,750,000
11 Patrik Elias NJD $6,000,000 $5,000,000
  Zach Parise NJD $6,000,000 $6,000,000
  Mike Cammalleri MTL $6,000,000 $6,000,000
14 Bobby Ryan ANA $5,100,000 $5,562,000
15 Martin Havlat SJS $5,000,000 $5,000,000
16 Kristian Huselius CLB $4,750,000 $4,750,000
17 Ryan Malone TBL $4,500,000 $5,500,000
  Martin Erat NAS $4,500,000 $6,000,000
  Erik Cole MTL $4,500,000 $4,500,000
  Ville Leino BUF $4,500,000 $4,500,000
21 Andrew Ladd WPG $4,400,000 $4,000,000
22 Milan Michalek OTT $4,333,000 $4,500,000
23 Loui Eriksson DAL $4,250,000 $4,100,000
  David Booth FLA $4,250,000 $4,500,000
  Dustin Penner LAK $4,250,000 $4,250,000
26 Scott Hartnell PHI $4,200,000 $3,700,000
27 Brenden Morrow DAL $4,100,000 $4,100,000
28 Milan Lucic BOS $4,083,000 $4,000,000
29 Jason Blake ANA $4,000,000 $3,000,000
30 Wojtek Wolski NYR $3,800,000 $4,000,000

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Days off

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on August 25th, 2011

Driving to a wedding in North Carolina, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do any updates for the next couple days. If I don’t have any internet access, I’ll be back at on Tuesday. Each day though I have set up to have Top Salary Cap Hits by position display. Top 30 centers is today, left wingers will be tomorrow morning, right wingers on Saturday, defenseman on Sunday and Goalies on Monday.

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No return date for Crosby, has seen specialists … Bruins notes on Rask, Marchand and Horton … Bailey without a contract

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 25th, 2011

  • Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: In trying to find out what has causes his recurring headaches during workouts, Sidney Crosby has visited specialists in Michigan and Georgie this summer. Crosby released a statement and said that he had been able to go at 90% exertion before the headaches resumed and his workouts were changed. Agent Pat Brisson in a statement:”we’ve never even set a specific goal for a return date like the start of training camp or Oct. 1 or anything else. He will play when he is symptom free.”
  • Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Brisson also added:

    “We would appreciate patience and understanding at this time,” Brisson said. “There has been a lot of speculation swirling over the past several weeks. We wish we could provide more specific details about Sidney’s recovery, but a concussion is a different kind of injury. It’s not something you can check with an x-ray. And you can’t predict a precise recovery period. It’s all about the way he feels.

    “He has been feeling a lot better but we want to give him all the time he needs to make a full recovery. He’s only 24, and he’s got a lot of great years ahead of him.”

  • James Murphy of ESPN: Murphy believes that Tuukka Rask is still the Bruins goalie of the future. If he were to be traded, it would have to be a “knock-your-socks-off deal.” Those type of deals usually don’t happen during the season.
  • Kevin Paul Dupont via twitter: Brad Marchand and the Bruins don’t have a deal yet. Dupont thinks he could be using David Krecji/Milan Lucic as comparables, upwards of $4 million a year. EJ Hradek via twitter: Marchand and the Bruins are working on a deal and Hradek figures it will get done before the start of camp.
  • James Murphy via twitter: Bruins forward Nathan Horton said he’s good to go for the 2011-12 season. He is symptom free, been working out but not skating.
  • Chris Botta of NYI Point Blank: Islanders forward Josh Bailey still remains unsigned with 3 weeks to go before the start of training camp. Bailey is with Newport Sports Management, who also have unsigned RFAs Drew Doughty, Luke Schenn and Brad Marchand. The Isles haven’t given up on Bailey or the negotiations.
  • Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Avalanche forward Peter Mueller missed all of last season with a concussion.

    “I’m excited to be a hockey player again,” Mueller said Wednesday in his first public comments since last September. “Obviously, I’ve had concussions in the past and it’s something I have to deal with, but right now everything is in the right direction. Everything is pointing forward. I’m excited that it’s all behind me.”

  • Timo Seppa and Corey Pronman of ESPN: Some say Brayden Schenn is the best prospect in hockey. It’s likely he’ll start on the 3rd line, but he could force the Flyers’ coaches to move him up by mid-season.

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2011-12 Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers – Center

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on August 25th, 2011

List below are the Top 30 Salary Cap Numbers for centers heading into the 2011-12 NHL season. Due to front-loading contracts (back-loaded in some cases), and teams having to deal with the salary cap, a players cap number takes precedence over their actual salary.


Rk. Player Team 2011-12 Cap Number 2011-12 Salary
1 Sidney Crosby PIT $8,700,000 $9,000,000
  Evgeni Malkin PIT $8,700,000 $9,000,000
3 Eric Staal CAR $8,250,000 $7,750,000
4 Vincent Lecavalier TBL $7,727,000 $10,000,000
5 Steven Stamkos TBL $7,500,000 $8,000,000
6 Scott Gomez MTL $7,357,000 $7,500,000
7 Jason Spezza OTT $7,000,000 $8,000,000
  Joe Thornton SJS $7,000,000 $8,000,000
9 Patrick Marleau SJS $6,900,000 $6,900,000
10 Anze Kopitar LAK $6,800,000 $6,400,000
11 Mikko Koivu MIN $6,750,000 $7,290,000
12 Pavel Datsyuk DET $6,700,000 $6,700,000
13 Nicklas Backstrom WAS $6,700,000 $6,000,000
14 Brad Richards NYR $6,667,000 $12,000,000
15 Paul Stastny COL $6,600,000 $6,600,000
16 Daniel Briere PHI $6,500,000 $7,000,000
17 Jonathan Toews CHI $6,300,000 $6,000,000
18 Henrik Sedin VAN $6,100,000 $6,100,000
19 Mike Richards LAK $5,750,000 $6,600,000
20 Shawn Horcoff EDM $5,500,000 $6,500,000
21 Ryan Getzlaf ANA $5,325,000 $5,750,000
22 Jeff Carter CLB $5,273,000 $6,000,000
23 Ryan Kesler VAN $5,000,000 $5,000,000
  Tomas Plekanec MTL $5,000,000 $5,000,000
  Patrice Bergeron BOS $5,000,000 $5,900,000
  Mike Ribeiro DAL $5,000,000 $5,000,000
27 Tim Connolly TOR $4,750,000 $5,500,000
28 Andy McDonald STL $4,700,000 $4,200,000
29 Daymond Langkow CGY $4,500,000 $4,500,000
  David Legwand NAS $4,500,000 $4,500,000
  David Backes STL $4,500,000 $4,500,000
  Brooks Laich WAS $4,500,000 $6,500,000
  Tomas Fleischmann FLA $4,500,000 $4,500,000

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Pens optimistic with Crosby … Kane may miss start of camp … Whitney still bothered by foot … Isles going young … 5 teams interested in Campoli

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 24th, 2011

  • Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins owner Mario Lemieux and coach Dan Bylsma spoke recently with Sidney Crosby and “expressed cautious optimism” that their captain will be ready for training camp.

    “I can’t wave a wand and tell you exactly how it’s going to play out,” Bylsma said. “He’s worked hard. He’s worked harder in some areas than he has in the past. I know he’s active.”

  • Chris Kuc via twitter: Patrick Kane said the recovery process is going well. He could miss the beginning of training but will be 100% for the season opener. Dennis Bernstein via twitter: Kane still has a cast on from his offseason wrist surgery, and hasn’t skated in full gear yet. Targets Oct. 7th opener.
  • David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers defenseman Ryan Whitney is still feeling the effects from his surgically repaired foot and ankle.

    “My reports suggest that,” Renney said. “My converstations with Ryan himself maybe suggest otherwise, but only to a small degree. There is some trepidation there that it’s still a little tender. He’s got a little bit of pain there. But from what I can gather, and even in talking to Ryan, it’s more of a function of scar tissue breaking down, which is actually healthy, and makes the joint healthier, so that’s the kind of thing you get in July and August when you don’t see the whites of their eyes.”

  • The Fourth Period: So with the Sabres needing to shed some money, and the Coyotes needing a center, the 2 teams could come together. Brad Boyes at $4 million has the ability to play center. Jochen Hecht and his $3.5 million contract could also be available, but is not as attractive as others.
  • Brett Cyrgalis of the NY Post: Islanders GM Garth Snow yesterday:

    “Right now, I don’t have any plans to add another forward to our group,” Snow told The Post. “As much as we’d like to add quality veterans, we’re not going to box out our young guys.”

    This statement will likely have the most affect on Alexei Yashin, as the 2 sides have linked together this summer.

  • Slava Malamud via twitter: Former Devil Sergei Brylin was interested in returning to the club, but they weren’t interested in him. He signed with Novokuznetsk of the KHL.
  • Will DePaoli via twitter: Penguins forward Craig Adams had appendectomy surgery last week and is expected to ready for the start of training camp.
  • Slava Malamud via twitter: Slava Fetisov recently said that agents are able to buy spots on the Russian national team for their clients.

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Crosby update … Signs pointing to 1 more year for Teemu … Scatchard retires … Quiet on trade front for Sabres and Coyotes … Kesler hopes for opener

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 23rd, 2011

  • TSN: It’s not known if Sidney Crosby to will be ready for training camp. Reports from Halifax are that concussion symptoms have returned, and he’s cancelled some ice time.

    “Sidney hasn’t been shut down by anyone,” Brisson said. “He has simply adjusted his summer program accordingly to the different needs for the appropriate recovery. Training camp is in three weeks from now. It is too premature to speculate all kinds of deliberate information at his point.

    “Sidney will address the media at the appropriate time in order to give everyone an update. As far as I know training camp hasn’t started yet.”

    Josh Rimer of NHL Home Ice Radio tweeted: “Also hearing from 3 sources now that Sidney Crosby won’t b ready 2 start season. I hope its not true because the NHL needs its best players!”

  • Eric Stephen of the OC Register: Though he hasn’t made an official announcement, signs are pointing to Teemu Selanne returning for one more season. A Finnish report paraphrases him in translation that he’s knows his knee can’t withstand another year past this season. Selanne should be back in California next week to get his kids ready for school.
  • Randy Starkman of the Toronto Star: Dave Scatchard announced yesterday that he is retiring from hockey due to concussions.

    “I’m happy that the doctor basically told me straight out there was zero chance of me playing because it kind of put me in my place,” said Scatchard, sounding anything but happy. “I believe the doctor’s exact words were he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if he let me continue to play.”

    “Even today I have trouble pushing my kids on a swing set,” said Scatchard from his home in Phoenix. “Just the motion makes me really nauseous. Wrestling around with them on the ground, I can only do it for a minute or two and then I just feel sick. Any rolling motions or spinning motions just completely send me for a loop.”

  • Craig Custance of the Sporting News: When at the R&D camp, Sabres GM Darcy Reiger said “It’s still pretty quiet. I was just talking to fellow GMs downstairs” in regards to trade talk. The Sabres sit around $3.5 million over the salary cap and would like to get below “probably through a trade.” Coyotes GM Don Maloney is looking for a centerman and is having difficulities as well:

    “Every time you see people, you ask them – ‘What do you have going?’ It’s a quiet period, a lot of people have gone on vacation for a few weeks. We’re all kind of taking a deep breath,” Maloney told Sporting News.

  • Ian Walker of the Vancouver Sun: Canucks forward Ryan Kesler, 4 weeks removed from hip surgery, hopes to be ready by the season opener on Oct. 6th.

    “It’s going good; small victories here and there,” Kesler told Joey Kenward, who replaces Kristen Reid as the face of Canucks TV. “I just got off my crutches and I’ll start strengthening so everything is back to normal. I’ll start skating here in the next couple of weeks and hopefully be back by that first game.”

  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The Blues received “multiple bids” at yesterday’s deadline but “confidentiality agreements preclude us from elaborating any further” on the number of bids received. It is known that Blues minority owner Tom Stillman put in a bid. It’s not known if Matthew Hulsizer put in a bid. Many beleive that “Game Plan” would accept other offers if it reached their targeted selling price.
  • Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press: Jets goalie Chris Mason is now closer to home, a product of Red Deer, had this to say about playing in Atlanta:

    “It was tough in Atlanta because in my opinion it just wasn’t an optimal hockey market. The fans there were awesome but there just wasn’t a broad range of support, so it was tough some nights to have that feeling it didn’t matter so much and hockey wasn’t the most important thing. Going to Winnipeg, you’re not going to have that feeling at all. It’s going to be everywhere, it’s going to be the opposite spectrum.”

  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers UFA defenseman Jason Strudwick hasn’t received any offers or training camp invites yet. He’s staying in shape in hope that he gets a call.

    “I’d still like to play, but if I don’t, well, I can live with that. I don’t know if I’d want to go a camp for two or three weeks (on a tryout) and then, say, get cut,” said Strudwick.

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