Archive for category NHL Injuries

Injury Notes: Spezza, Seidenberg, Ference and Redden

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 18th, 2013

  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: There is a strong possibility that Jason Spezza will return to the Senators lineup for Game 3 on Sunday. A decision will be made tomorrow morning after their skate. Spezza hasn’t received clearance from doctors yet.

    “He continues to skate on a daily basis and makes progress,” said MacLean Friday. “We’ll go through practice (Saturday) and the pre-game skate and we’ll see where it is. If he’s available to us, it’s Jason Spezza, we’re going to have him in the lineup.”

  • Wayne Scanlan: MacLean on Spezza: “If he’s available he’ll be in the lineup. He’s Jason Spezza.”
  • Fluto Shinzawa: Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Wade Redden haven’t been ruled out of Game 2.

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Injury Notes: Ovechkin, Staal, Fraser, Bozak and Backstrom

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 17th, 2013

  • Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: Capitals Alex Ovechkin played the final two games of the first round with a hairline fracture in his left foot. He was able to continue playing, as skating would not make the injury worse.
  • Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Hurricanes Eric Staal suffered a knee injury in yesterday’s World Championship game between Canada and Sweden after taking a knee-on-knee hit by Alex Edler. Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said that Staal will return to Raleigh today and will have an MRI on Saturday. It’s believed that he may have only suffered a sprain and not a ligament tear.

    “It’s unfortunate and hopefully it’s not too serious,” Rutherford said. “If it is serious, hopefully there will be enough recovery time for him to be ready for next season. We’ll just hope for the best.”

  • James Mirtle: Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Fraser did not suffer a concussion when he was hit by the puck on the forehead. Dion Phaneuf wasn’t injured during the playoffs, “I was fine.”
  • Tony Ambrogio: Leafs Tyler Bozak suffered an oblique injury at the end of the regular season and a tricep injury at the end of Game 5. James Mirtle: Bozak will be out for four weeks. Darren Dreger: Tear was 70% to his right tricep. He admitted that him taking the warmup for Game 6 was a pure Randy Carlyle mind game.
  • Michael Russo: Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom had surgery to repair a sports hernia yesterday. He is expected to be fully recovered for next season.

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Injury Notes: Gryba, Spezza, Erat, Seidenberg, Ference and Redden

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 16th, 2013

  • Ian Mendes: Senators coach Paul MacLean gave no update on the status of defenseman Eric Gryba, but didn’t rule him out for Game 2 just yet.
  • Bruce Garrioch: Senators Jason Spezzastayed in Ottawa to skate with the other black aces and won’t be returning for Game 2. He’s skated everyday for the last two weeks.

    “Everybody on our team is hopeful and everybody in Ottawa is hopeful,” said centre Kyle Turris. “He’s a player you can’t replace. He’s somebody that adds so much to a team and he’s one of the best players in the league.

    “To have him possibly in the lineup, yeah it’s a huge help, but we understand if he’s not we can carry on and continue to play.”

  • Katie Carrera: Capitals Martin Erat dislocated his elbow when he collided with Alex Ovechkin and Derek Stepan in round one. He would have been ready for round two.
  • Joe Haggerty: Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg, Andre Ference and Wade Redden missed practice yesterday. James Murphy of ESPN: GM Peter Chiarelli indicated that they could be without all three tonight. Torey Krughas been recalled.

    “Maybe we have a different look than we’re used to, as far as puck transporting,” Chiarelli said. “Maybe that’s a good thing, but that’s what we’re going to be. We’re calling up Torey Krug today to come along for the ride, so you may see him at a point. Those three D, if they’re in the lineup, give us a little different complexion back there.”

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Injury Notes: Gryba, Howard, Bonino, Getzlaf, Beauchemin, Lydman, Fasth, Bozak and Huberdeau

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 15th, 2013

  • Seth Rorabaugh: Senators coach Paul MacLean said that Eric Gryba will be further evaluated for his “upper-body” injury.
  • Ansar Khan: Red Wings Jimmy Howard left practice early yesterday. He’s had a sore hamstring, but he’s still played well through it.
  • Eric Stephens: Ducks GM Bob Murray said that center Nick Bonino had a torn hamstring, which he suffered playing soccer before a practice in March. Murray added that Ryan Getzlaf’s ankle was never the same after he injured it on March 3rd against the Stars. Francois Beauchemin was playing with a torn ACL for a while and will have surgery soon to repair it. Defenseman Toni Lydman confirmed that he suffered a concussion from the Justin Abdelkader hit. Goalie Viktor Fasth was playing at 80% at the end of the year with a strained lower abdominal muscle.
  • SN 590 The Fan: Maple Leafs assistant GM Claude Loiselle on Tyler Bozak’s injury: “Bozak was dealing with a bicep injury”
  • Allan Walsh: Panthers’ forward Jonathan Huberdeau had successful hip surgery yesterday.

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Playoff hits: Game 1′s, Spezza, Bozak, Holzer, Gunnarson, Blackhawk lines and Vokoun

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 13th, 2013

  • Senators and Penguins – Tuesday May 14th 7:30 pm ET.

    Sharks and Kings – Tuesday May 14th 10:00 pm ET.

    Blackhawks and Red Wings – Wednesday May 15th 8:00 pm ET.

  • Bruce Garrioch: Senators GM Bryan Murray said that they will talk to Jason Spezza after a couple practices. Ian Mendes: Spezza skated with the extras today. Bruce Garrioch: Spezza didn’t make the trip to Pittsburgh, but hasn’t been ruled out for Game 2.
  • Jonas Siegel: Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle wouldn’t update Tyler Bozak’s status. Darren Dreger: Bozak didn’t make the trip with the Leafs to Boston.
  • David Alter: Leafs call up Korbinian Holzer. Could be for precautionary reasons as Carl Gunnarson has been battling hip issues.
  • Scott Powers: Blackhawks lines: Saad-Toews-Hossa, Kane-Bolland-Sharp, Bickell-Shaw-Smith, Frolik-Kruger-Carcillo.
  • Dejan Kovacevic: Penguins Tomas Vokoun hasn’t been told if he’ll be starting or not.

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Playoff hits: Sens-Pens series, Bruins flight canceled, Bolland, Ference and Spezza

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 13th, 2013

  • Bruce Garrioch: The league should decide soon when the Senators-Penguins series starts, lots of logistics for both teams.
  • Matt Pepin of the Boston Globe: The Bruins flight was canceled last night due to mechanical issues with their charter. The Bruins will leave this morning. The Maple Leafs flew out last night. GM Peter Chiarelli released a statement last night:

    “Late during tonight’s game we were made aware that there was a malfunction with our airplane. As a result we are staying in Toronto on Sunday night and the team will travel to Boston on Monday morning.”

  • Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune: Dave Bolland was back practicing in his center spot on the third line over the weekend, and coach Joel Quenneville confirmed that Bolland will be returning to the lineup to start round two.
  • TSN: Senators Jason Spezza practiced with teammates yesterday for the first time since having back surgery on February 1st.

    “It’s been a long process and a long season for me,” Spezza said. “It felt good to join the team again and get some reps in. It may not seem like it and I may not play this year, but for me it’s a small victory.”

    It’s not known if Spezza will travel with the team to Pittsburgh. Coach Paul MacLean doesn’t think he’s ready.

    “He’s a long ways away,” said MacLean after practice.

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Morning Hits: Sunday’s schedule, West scenarios, Hart nominees, Neilsen, Spezza, Avalanche and Canadiens

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 11th, 2013

  • Matt Pepin of the Boston Globe: Sunday’s schedule:

    4:30 p.m.: Washington Capitals at New York Rangers Game 6
    7 p.m.: New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins, Game 7-x
    7:30 p.m.: Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 6
    10 p.m.: Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks, Game 7-x

  • Eric Stephens: “If Ducks win Sunday, it’s ANA-LA and SJ-CHI. If DET wins, it plays CHI and SJ faces LA.”
  • John Shannon: Sounding like there is progress being made between the IIHF, NHL, NHLPA regarding the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The major issues remaining appear to be “logistics in Sochi and cost of travel and insurance and who pays.” If/when an agreement is reached, the NHL will be shut down from February 8th to February 25th, 2014.
  • Arthur Staple of Newsday: Islanders Frans Neilsen left Game 5 against the Penguins in the 3rd period and his status for Game 6 is unknown.
  • Allen Panzeri of the Ottawa Citizen: Sounds like there is a chance that Jason Spezzawill get back into the Senators lineup for round two. He’s been skating with the black aces/reserves.

    “I think that over the weekend, probably, he’ll continue to work hard and we’ll see then.

    “It’ll then be up to Jason and (coach) Paul (MacLean) to decide if he’s going to practise with the team or take a little longer.

    “But there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”

  • Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche did some management restructuring. Josh Kroenke will be the teams president, replacing Pierre Lacroix, who will stay on as an advisor. Joe Sakic will be their Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and Greg Shermanwill remain as the general manager.

    “Greg Sherman will work with Joe in managing the day-to-day business operations of the team as General Manager,” added Kroenke. “I know he is just as optimistic as Joe and I are about the future of our team.”

  • Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: Coyotes coach Dave Tippett’s contract expires on June 30th and would be a home run hire by the Avalanche if they get the opportunity to talk to him. The uncertainty of the ownership situation has left the Coyotes coaching staff and general manager in limbo as they would all like to know where the team may be located before signing deals.
  • Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: Michael Ryder will be one of the Canadiens top free agents heading into the offseason, but they may not be willing to match the money or term that others may offer. Colby Armstrong and Jeff Halpren will be UFAs. Halpren may be worth bringing back. RFAs include: Michael Blunden, Ryan White, Petteri Nokelainen and Gabriel Dumont.

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Morning Hits: Burish, Bolland, Emery, Rinne, Danis and the Canucks

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 10th, 2013

  • Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area: Sharks winger Adam Burish will miss the second round with an upper-body injury. Burish was slashed on the hand by Alex Edler in Game 4.
  • Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune: Blackhawks Dave Bolland is hopeful for round two.

    “I’m still day-by-day,” Bolland said. “It’s getting better. I just want to make sure it’s strong. I’m hopefully playing for that Round 2. I’ll keep on working at it and making sure it gets better.”

    Ray Emery is also close to returning.

  • Josh Cooper: Predators GM David Poile said it would be a “steep price” to trade for their fourth overall pick in the draft.
  • Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Predators Pekka Rinne underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left hip, recovery time is expected to be four months.
  • David Staples: Goalie Yann Danis has been solid for the Oilers AHL team, but is not the ideal NHL backup. Staples would rather see the Oilers trade or sign a goalie who could challenge Devan Dubnyk.
  • Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun: Canucks GM Mike Gillis talked to the media and how the Canucks may need to get bigger and grittier.

    “From my perspective … it’s been a terrible season for us,” Gillis said. “We’re going to have to reinvent ourselves and do things differently in order to be successful. The macro look at this team is that changes have to be made.”

    With the cap going down and some big contracts on the books, they’ll need to clear out some salary. Roberto Luongo will likely be traded and there is the amnesty buyout option for Keith Ballard ($4.2 million) and David Booth ($4.25 million).

    “We don’t have the luxury of having picked first overall in the last 10 years,” Gillis said. “We have to use the players we have, the core group that we have, and we have to build around them. There will come a point where that core group is going to be dismantled or will no longer play, but it’s not today.

    “When I took this job, we decided on a style of play that resulted in great success. And clearly, the landscape has changed and we have to address those changes. We don’t have a choice. It’s not something I necessarily agree with. But that’s what we face, and that’s what you have to do.

    “We have to make the changes and adjustments necessary to compete for a Stanley Cup. It’s my intention to do it and recognize what’s going on and make sure we have a team that’s better equipped.”

    “Changes have to be made, but I’m not going to commit today to what those changes will be,” Gillis said. “It’s difficult when things end so quickly and they end so negatively for all of us. It’s pretty emotional to go through.”

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Morning Hits: Vokoun, Fraser, Gionta, Canadiens injuries, Canucks offseason questions and Blue Jackets free agents

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 9th, 2013

  • Pittsburgh Penguins: Coach Dan Bylsma on starting Tomas Vokoun: “We brought Tomas Vokoun in to play big games for us…He’s done that for us & he’s been very good vs. the #Isles.”
  • James Mirtle: Maple Leafs Mark Fraser was taken to the hospital to check for any broken bones after taking a shot off his face.
  • Renaud Lavoie: Canadiens Brian Gionta will have surgery on Friday for a torn left bicep. He hopes to be ready for training camp.
  • Renaud Lavoie: Brandon Prust and Ryan White are out tonight. Carey Price is day-to-day.
  • Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun: Ziemer’s thoughts on the Canucks coaching staff.

    The jobs of head coach Alain Vigneault and his staff are most certainly on the line and general manager Mike Gillis is going to face some uncomfortable questions from ownership over the team’s second straight playoff collapse.

  • Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Canucks have the highest payroll going into next season, but trading Roberto Luongo or an amnesty buyout of Keith Ballard($4.2 million for two years) will help them get down below the new cap of $64.3 million. Five questions for the Canucks this offseason are:

    • Do the Canucks have a bona fide No. 1 goalie in Schneider moving forward?
    • Should this team still be built around the Sedins?
    • Will Ryan Kesler ever be injury-free?
    • Does this team have the right supporting cast to still contend?
    • Is it time to retool, rebuild or be patient for one more run with this core?

  • Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen on contract talks with their free agents, including goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

    “We’re working on them. It’s a work in progress on all fronts. Everything has been started, everything is in progress. We’re waiting to hear back from a few agents. Obviously, Bobrovsky is a high priority for us. I told him in the (exit) meetings that everybody talks about his great play, and sure it was remarkable. But I’m even more impressed with his work ethic, how he prepares for the game and every practice, how he takes care of recovery after every game, the routine he goes through every day. That’s what I’m most impressed about Bobrovsky. He sets the bar high for the rest of the guys. I don’t think anybody’s going to argue with me if we says he’s the MVP of our team this year. If he sets the bar that high with the way he works everyday, it’s going to be hard for anybody else in that room to say, well, I’m not going to do this or that today. That’s what I think it’s all about, your best players being your hardest working players. And that’s what we have in Bob.”

    On Bobrovsky’s contract talks …

    “It’s going to take its course, and it’s going to take its time. Some (deals) are quicker than others. We’ll have to stay more patient with some than others. I don’t anticipate any problems. It’s going to be a negotiation. His agent, his representatives are professionals. They have their thought process and we have ours. I’m sure we’re going to reach a result here in the near future.”

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Morning Hits: MacDonald, Price, Vokoun, Predators and Canucks

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 8th, 2013

  • Arthur Staple: Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald suffered a broken hand and is likely done for the playoffs.
  • Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette: Carey Price suffered a lower-body injury, possibly a hamstring or groin at the end of regulation and was replaced by Peter Budajfor overtime.

    “When your starting goalie goes down … it’s tough to lose him and it’s tough on the guy who has to come in,” Gorges said. “He’s been sitting there for two-and-a-half hours and we expect him to go in there and be stellar. It’s a tough position to be in, and it’s unfortunate it unfolded that way.

    “Plays get thrown to the front of the net,” he added of the scramble that produced the winning goal, “and a lot of times it’s a 50-50 puck. We have to be stronger.”

  • Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Kovacevic is one of many who is calling for Tomas Vokoun to be the Penguins starter for Game 5. Marc-Andre Fleuryhas allowed 14 goals on 102 shots, and 40 goals in his last 10 playoff games. Coach Dan Bylsma:

    “Certainly, Tomas Vokoun is a guy that can step in and play and has had success and won hockey games against this team, was successful this year. We’re going to come out for Game 5 with a refocus.”

    “One of the reasons we wanted Tomas Vokoun was to play hockey games and win hockey games for us. Marc-Andre Fleury is our starting goaltender and started this series and won us some hockey games, made a lot of saves for us … but we’re not going to talk about our starting goaltender for Game 5.”

  • Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: The Predators are currently $18 million under next year’s salary cap. Cooper lists four players who could be good options for the Predators: Stephen Weiss,  Nathan Horton, Sergei Gonchar and Derek Roy.
  • Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province: Gallagher mentions some possible moves that the Canucks could look at, with some being a little radical. Trade Alex Edler to a team like the Flyers. The Flyers have some young forwards that they might consider moving for someone like Edler. Could they look at moving Ryan Kesler or Dan Hamhuis? Though both have a no-trade clause. Alex Burrows’ no-trade clause doesn’t kick in until July 1st. They could trade Roberto Luongo for whatever you can get for him, which may not be a lot. Cory Schneider would bring more return. The Sedin’s are heading into the last year of their deals.

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NHL Video: Senators Eric Gryba’s hit on Canadiens Lars Eller

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Videos on May 3rd, 2013

The NHL will be having a hearing with Ottawa Senators defenseman Eric Gryba for his hit on Montreal Canadiens Lars Eller. Eller suffered a concussion, to go along with facial and dental fractures.

Former NHL referee breaks down the hit in the video.

Do you think he should be suspended? If so, how many games do you think he SHOULD get? How many games WILL he get? (state if you are a Canadiens fan or not)

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Injury Notes: Eller, Crosby, DeKeyser, Franzen, Schneider, Emery, Bolland, Kostka, Kessel and Franson

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 3rd, 2013

  • Ton Marinaro: The Canadiens confirmed that Lars Eller suffered a concussion, lost consciousness, and has facial and dental fractures. He will remain in the hospital for observation.
  • Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune: Penguins Sidney Crosby took regular shifts with Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis yesterday at practice. He also worked with the top power play unit.
  • Ansar Khan: Red Wings Danny DeKeyser broke his hand last night and will be out for the remainder of the playoffs.
  • Ansar Khan: Red Wings Johan Franzen said he had to pass a concussion test, which he did, before overtime started last night. He was ready to return when Gustav Nyquist scored.
  • Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun: Cancucks Cory Schneider didn’t take part in the teams full team practice yesterday, meaning that Roberto Luongo will get the start in Game 2. It appears that Schneider may have suffered a setback. His injury is still not known. Pap wonders if it’s a groin injury. Before yesterday he had skated in four consecutive days and practiced the previous three.

    “You can interpret what you want at this time,” Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault stated cryptically. “Cory is day-to-day.”

  • Brian Hunter of the Chicago Tribune: Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery briefly worked out yesterday, but he won’t be available for Game 2. Dave Bollanddidn’t skate yesterday won’t be available either.

    “We’re going to rule them out,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said after practice. “Bollie didn’t skate but he’s getting real close to getting on the ice. (Emery) felt good, too. It was good progress.”

  • Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Kostka will miss the remainder of the series with a broken finger. Jake Gardiner or Ryan O’Bryne will replace Kostka. Phil Kessel had a maintenance day for a suspected left wrist injury. Defenseman Cody Franson was limping around with a bruised foot.

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