Posts Tagged Alex Ovechkin

A mixed bag of free agent, draft and coaching news, trade rumors and other goodies

Apologies for the site being down today, server issues that were out of my control. Here is what I would have posted this morning if I was able too, all in one giant post.

  • Darren Dreger: The Flyers are working on a Mark Streit deal, as well as holding preliminary discussions with Claude Giroux on a contract extension.
  • Josh Rimer: Red Wings sign Drew Miller to a 3-year deal worth $1.35 million per season.
  • Szymon Szemberg: Former Flyers goalie prospect Joacim Eriksson has signed with the Canucks according to Swedish media and his agent.
  • Gare Joyce: A scout said that Aleksander Barkov can get into the top 3, and maybe the most NHL ready. “Different conversation if he doesn’t get hurt late in yr.”
  • Aaron Vickers: Flames GM Jay Feaster said that the NHL has asked the KHL about Valeri Nichushkin’s contract status. Nichushkin is free to sign an NHL entry-level deal and is not under contractual obligation with the KHL.
  • Bob McKenzie: Kings assistant John Stevens had interview with the Canucks this week. He’ll also be interviewing with the Rangers.
  • Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News: Mark Messier has had an interview with the Rangers.

    “We were out in La Quinta, (California), and I had a chance to talk with Glen on a couple of occasions,” Messier told the Daily News outside the United Center on Friday. “I expressed my interest and my confidence in my ability, and from there that’s all I can really say because I don’t know much more than that, because he’s conducting interviews with many more people that obviously want the job, as well. So he’s going through the process, which he should.”

  • Aaron Ward: Alain Vigneault has told the Stars that he no longer wants to be considered for their coaching position. Speculation will be that he’s heading to the Rangers. Renaud Lavoie: Alain Vigneault is on the verge of being the Rangers next head coach. Darren Dreger: The Stars are believed to have had a substantial offer on the table for Vigneault until he met with Rangers Dolan and company.
  • Mayor Sly James: (the Mayor of Kansas City talking about the NHL) “Folks, I have no issue with having a team in Sprint, provided it is the right deal and there is local ownership. We don’t have that package” … “Would have to sell out very game with Coyotes to be mid-pack in attendance in NHL. Tough act.” … “not many cobwebs in 1 of the top 5 booked arenas in the country. We make $$ now. Not w/ most teams” … Responding to what some of the limiations are: “Tkt cost, limited corp sponsors, practice time and lost bookings, need to subsidize, lease restrictions, work interruptions, ownership, under performing team, etc etc”
  • Damien Cox: Sidney Crosby’s agent is convinced that Zdeno Chara intentionally punched Crosby where his jaw was broken.
  • Dan Rosen: Senators Daniel Alfredsson said he hasn’t started thinking about if he’ll play next year or not. Will need a few more weeks.
  • Mark Spector: Flames GM Jay Feaster won’t consider buyouts. He’d have trouble getting veteran UFA’s to replace the ones he bought out.
  • John Shannon: “Can confirm that RSE has agreed in principle to lease terms with City of Glendale on an arena lease.” David Pagnotta: “The tentative lease agreement bw city of Glendale + RSE will b presented to city council on Tuesday, upon which its expected to get approved.” John Shannon: “Rennaissance S and E agreement in principle with Glendale is for 15 years…but requires Council approval. Its not a certainty.”
  • The Fourth Period: Source saying that the Flyers will buyout Daniel Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov. Briere would be owed $3.333 million over four years. Bryzgalov would be owned $23 million over 14 years, about $1.642 million per year. On Bryzgalov

    “They don’t want to play for him or with him,” the league source said.

    Buying Briere and Bryzgalov out would create $12.166 million in salary cap space. The Flyers are still interested in Coyotes Keith Yandle. The two teams discussed a deal at last year’s NHL Draft. GM Paul Holmgren could also be looking for top six forward, either signing or through trade.

  • Craig Custance of ESPN: Penguins GM Ray Shero’s commented that his priority is to sign Kris Letang, but didn’t rule out a trade. It may take a $6.5 million deal for eight years to remain in Pittsburgh. On the open market he may get a max term deal at between $7 and $8 million.

    “The feeling from those I spoke with on Thursday is that Letang will sign an extension with Pittsburgh. It’s a similar situation to Staal in that the best move would be to trade him if there’s not a deal to be struck, but it’s different in that the Penguins don’t have two other world-class defensemen already on the roster the way they did at center last year.”

    Letang didn’t have a great playoffs, but that wouldn’t scare teams away.

    “Not a chance,” he said. “If they put him on the market, 29 teams would bid on him.”

    The return for Letang in a trade would be huge. He could be used to get into the top part of this year’s draft. The blueline is the one area the Penguins have some organizational depth.

    The Lightning could use a Letang and could offer the 3rd overall pick in a package. The Oilers need help on the blueline and have been offering up the 7th overall pick. Letang may be too similar to Justin Schultz’s skill set for a deal to make sense for them. The Ducks could be an interesting option with Bobby Ryan and potentially two number one goalies in Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth and top goalie prospect John Gibson. Gibson is from Pittsburgh. The Sharks may not have the assets to land Letang. The Rangers could use a right handed defenseman, but they may not have the depth to make a deal.

  • Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: If the Blackhawks can’t re-sign Bryan Bickell, keep an eye on the Canadiens.Look for the Bruins to sign Patrice Bergeron to a long-term extension.The Kings have spoken with 10 teams about Jonathan Bernier’s availability. Could be traded before or at the draft.LeBrun thinks that Alain Vigneault will be the coach of the Rangers or Stars.

    The Canadiens won’t be making Carey Price available.

  • Dallas Morning News: Stars GM Jim Nill on the draft:

    “I know historically to move up at the draft it costs you assets and we’re trying to build up assets,” he said. “Unless it was just something that I thought was a no-brainer, we’d move up, but I’m very comfortable where we’re picking and I know we’re going to get a good player.”

    “It’s a good draft,” Nill said. “There’s a lot of good players and there’s going to be a lot of good players in the second round. It’s a strong draft. … There’s good forwards, there’s good defensemen. If you want smaller, skilled guys, they’re there. If you need some bigger power-forward guys … it’s a good variation of players.”

    On other changes:

    “I think we’re going to be active,” he said. “I know I need to make changes. We need to get … our team has to get better. That’s my game plan — I need to make some changes. It’s going to be different.”

  • TSN: The Flames currently have about $19 million is salary cap space and could get another $5.8 million if Miikka Kiprusoff retires. The Flames have three first round picks (#6, #22 and #28).

    “I don’t know that it’s feeling the pressure as much as it is recognizing the importance of it,” Feaster said Friday at Scotiabank Saddledome.

    “The importance of this draft is not lost on the organization and it certainly isn’t lost on the management of the organization.”

    “We have had extensive conversations with teams about moving up into the top five in the draft,” Feaster said. “We at least know which teams are willing to do something and if they are, what it would take to do that, and also which teams are not willing to do that.

    “The one thing I believe with the pick at six, we want to get a player who has the opportunity to come in here right now and compete for a job. We really like this draft. We think at 22 and 28, we’re going to be happy with the players who are still on the board.”

    The Flames need size and talent down the middle, size to the backend of their blueline and a scoring right winger to replace Jarome Iginla.

    On Kiprusoff:

    “I talked with him just this week,” Feaster said. “We’re going to continue to give him time. I think if we had to say ‘You have to make a decision today’ I’m not sure he’s ready to play right now.

    “We’ve made sure he knows we’ll wait for him to be sure of what he wants to do.”

  • TSN Insider Trading: Jonathan Huberdeaushould be in Chicago today, likely to win the Calder Trophy.Alex Ovechkin is believed to be the winner of the Hart Trophy.The Blue Jackets and Sergei Bobrovsky’s camp will talk next week.Video of Zdeno Chara punching Sidney Crosby in his injured jaw in Game 1 of the Bruins-Penguins series (click TSN Insider link above).

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

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

  • 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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Quick Hits: Jovanovski, Stamkos, Three Stars, rookie of the month and replacing Nill

  • Bob Duff: Panthers Ed Jovanovski on retirement: ”My mindset is work hard in the summer, get my hip strong, but it’s too early to say.”
  • Erik Erlendsson: An MRI on Steven Stamkos’s knee came back clean enough to allow him to go to the World Championship.
  • NHL.com: The NHL’s “Three Stars” for the month of April: Alex Ovechkin, Brian Elliott and Derek Stepan.
  • NHL.com: The NHL’s “Three Stars” of the week: Jimmy Howard, Henrik Zetterberg and Nail Yakupov.
  • NHL.com: The NHL’s Rookie of the month for April: Nail Yakupov. He beat out Alex Galchenyuk, Justin Schultz, Sven Baertschi, Brandon Saad and Alex Chiasson.
  • Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings GM Ken Holland said that he hopes to find Jim Nill’s replacement by the end of June. He might not replace him outright, but look within the organization.

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Teams looking at Redden and Gomez … Flames send two to Abbotford … Leonsis will let Ovechkin go to Sochi Olympic

  • Daren Millard via twitter: Oilers GM Steve Tambellini said they’ve talked about the waiver process when asked about interest in defenseman Wade Redden.
  • Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News: The Flyers could start the season without defenseman Andrej Meszaros, Erik Gustafsson and Marc-Andre Bourdon.

    “I am of the belief that you can never have too many defensemen,” Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said last week.

    Would the Flyers be interested? The Flyers would have been more interested in Redden if he was bought out went the CBA was ratified. They signed Kurtis Foster to a 1 year, $950,000 deal on Sunday. The Flyers are at 49 of 50 contracts. If Scott Laughton sticks and player more than 6 NHL games, he would contract #50. They could move a player to bring in Redden if they chose. If Redden looks for a contract under $1 million, the Flyers could be in the mix, along with the Islanders, Oilers, and Blue Jackets.

  • Wes Gilbertson via twitter: Flames have sent Ben Street and Chris Breen back to the Abbotsford of the AHL. Brad Winchester was released from his PTO. Feaster said the decision on the backup goalie would be decided [last night] and revealed today after the wavier process.
  • Brian McNally via twitter: Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was adamant that he will let Alex Ovechkin go to the Sochi Olympics even if the NHL doesn’t allow players to go.

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Datsyuk, Malkin, Kovalchuk and Ovechkin offered $30 million each … Kovalchuk says he wants to stay in Russia … FA and injury notes

  • Dustin Leed via twitter: Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alex Ovechkin were guaranteed $30 million each by Russian President Vladimir Putin to remain in the KHL. Update: Original source came from David Satriano of the NY Post:

    The Post’s Larry Brooks reported that four players — Kovalchuk, Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk and Evgeni Malkin — were preparing to issue a statement last Friday announcing that they planned to remain in the KHL, even if an NHL labor agreement was reached. They were guaranteed $30 million each by Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the NHL Players Association talked the players out of it.

  • Slava Malamud via twitter: Ilya Kovalchuk to Sport-Express: ”I want to stay in St. Petersburg but I have contractual obligations in the NHL, which will be hard to break.” He added that he is going to talk with SKA management and ”hopefully, everything will be decided then.”
  • Slava Malamud via twitter: “Clarification: Kovalchuk spoke of this year only. The phrasing leads to believe he’d like to finish season w/ SKA, return to NJD in the fall”
  • David Pagnotta via twitter: The Sabres are considering re-signing Jochen Hecht. The Senators are looking at Kent Huskins. Eric Fehr will get attention from teams.
  • Ted Kulfan via twitter: Red Wings Valtteri Filppula is optimistic that he will be ready for the season opener. It’s been 2 months since he sprained his knee.
  • Jason Deforest via twitter: Flames GM Jay Feaster on Roman Cervenka who is still on blood thinners as a precaution: ”We’ve been advised that the blood clot is no longer there.”
  • Dan Rosen via twitter: Olympics and realignment are issues the NHL and NHLPA still have to get to according to Gary Bettman. Added that they are important to both sides.

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Four big name Russians offered big money to stay in KHL … KHL president Medvedev may challenge CBA

  • Larry Brooks via twitter: Last Friday, Evgeny Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk were preparing a press release that would announce their intention to stay in the KHL regardless. Brooks was told that the four had been promised an immense amount of money (with a guarantee from Putin) to remain in the KHL and not to return to the NHL. The NHLPA was able to talk the four out of issuing the statement. Ovechkin has already returned. Datsyuk has pledged to honor the 2 years of his contract with the Red Wings.
  • Slava Malamud via twitter: KHL president Alexander Medvedev to SportsDaily.ru: The new NHL CBA could be the basis for terminating existing contracts, and some players will stay. Medvedev: ”NHL’s opinion of itself is so high… OK, let them get drunk on their greatness. We’ll see how many Euros look our way … Our league will act according to our own and international rules. If players decide to stay, we will help them … (Not going to Sochi) will be a big financial loss for NHL.. If they decide differently, that’s their problem … There is no reason to fear (IIHF’s sanctions against players who decide to stay) … Number of players have either decided to stay or are looking into it.. Can’t divulge their names, will cause speculation … Some players asked their NHL teams to stay for the (KHL) All-Star Game, but were denied. The selfishness is understandable.”
  • Tom Gulitti via twitter: Bill Daly on Medvedev’s comments about KHL possibly challenging NHL contracts: ”We have no response. We will see what happens.”
  • Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: No NHLers are on the KHL all-star rosters that were announced last night. Indication that Kovalchuk and others are on their way back to North America. UPDATE: Slava Malamud via twitter: KHL revised their All-Star rosters, Ilya Kovalchuk is the only NHLer on the roster.
  • Arthur Staple via twitter: “Neil Sheehy adds this: Visnovsky’s wish is to stay in Bratislava. But if the KHL says he can’t stay, he will come and play for #Isles.”

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Injury notes involving: Hall, Ovechkin, Khabibulin, Walker, Backstrom, Kopitar and Quick

  • Josh Wingrove via twitter: Taylor Hall is getting stitches to a cut above his eye after he tripped on the stairs and banged heads with Jordan Eberle.
  • Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Dynamo Moscow of the KHL say that Alex Ovechkin has left for the Capitals early as he’s nursing a minor injury according to SovSport.
  • Dan Tencer via twitter: Oilers Nikolai Khabibulin said that he’s hopeful to be ready for the start of the season. He still needs see an improvement, so there is no guarantees.
  • Anthony SanFilippo via twitter: Flyers Matt Walker is still suffering from a bad back and likely won’t pass his physical. He could be looking at time on the LTIR.
  • Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom’s status for the start of the season remains uncertain. On Dec. 26th he crashed awkwardly into the boards, injuring his neck. GM George McPhee said he can’t update the situation until the CBA is ratified.

    “There are some things we can talk about, some things we can’t, and we can’t talk about the fitness or health of any players until training camp,” McPhee said Tuesday. “I’d be happy then.”

    If Backstrom isn’t ready to start the season, the Capitals won’t have pay his contract since he was injured during the lockout.

  • Helene Elliott of the LA Times: It’s all but certain the Kings will be without Anze Kopitar to start the season due to a sprained right MCL. He’ll undergo more tests when he arrives in LA. GM Dean Lombardi estimated 2 or 3 weeks, though these types of injuries can take longer to heal. Goalie Jonathan Quick had back surgery in August and is expected to be ready for the start of the season.

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Kovalachuk isn’t ruling out staying in Russia … Alfie unsure on future … McKenzie’s Calder thoughts … Rask’s groin injury

  • Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Ilya Kovalchuk has joined Alex Ovechkin in saying “I do not rule out that if the salaries are cut I will stay in the #KHL.”
  • Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: Senators Daniel Alfredsson is unsure about his playing future.

    “I think the longer it’s been going here I don’t feel as eager to get back,” the 39-year-old said in a discussion about the lockout. “I’d say I’m more relaxed. If it happens, it happens.

    “I can’t say I’ve at all been frustrated or really looking forward to coming to the rink. I love it when I’m on the ice and I have fun, but at the same time, at this stage, I know I have to look forward as well. Depending what happens, we’ll see how quick that comes.”

    “I think that goes for everybody,” he said. “For the fans, too. I think in the beginning everybody follows exactly what goes on (with the labour dispute). You read every little thing, and you read into it, and as time goes on and nothing happens, you kind of tune out of it, you get tired of it. We’re no different.”

    On if he’d come back next year if an entire season is lost,

    “I could, physically,” he said. “I don’t think it would be an issue for me. It’s all in motivation, I think. Do I feel I could go a whole year and do it again? I think I could. But do I want to? That’s more what I think will determine it.”

  • Bob McKenzie via twitter: Talking Calder trophy if there is a season. McKenzie is leaning towards Cory Conacher as the rookie of the year (though he’s not even guaranteed a roster spot with the Lightning) or Jonathan Huberdeau. Other candidates would be Granlund MIN, Tarasenko STL, Bartschi CGY, Kreider NYR, Schultz and Yakupov, EDM, Foligno (BUF), Schwartz STL, Vatanen ANA, Brodin MIN, Saad CHI as well as all the U/As: Galchenyuk, Scheifele, Strome, Jenner etc.
  • Tim Panaccio via twitter: Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said that Andrej Meszaros’s rehab on his right Achilles tendon is on schedule and a December return might be possible.
  • Kevin Paul Dupont via twitter: The Bruins and Tuukka Rask’s agent are aware of Rask’s alleged groin injury, but don’t have much other info at the moment.
  • Joe Haggerty via twitter: David Krejci: “I regret my recent lockout comments which were made flippantly in locker room after last gm. Didn’t intent for them to be recorded. I have been treated very well by the Boston Bruins and wish to confirm that my comments shouldn’t reflect on the club in any way”

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Fehr explaining players side … Bettman said could talk about “make whole” … Ovi saying NHL’s offer was a deception

  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: An interview with Don Fehr explaining the players side,

    QMI: Were you very disappointed in what happened Thursday and the way the meeting transpired?

    FEHR: “I try to not get excited and not get disappointed. I’ve learned from long experience that all that does is burn my hormones. You sort of have to ride every day, take it where it is. If works out good, that’s a good day. If it doesn’t work out so good, that’s a day that isn’t so good and you try to figure out a way to do a better one tomorrow. That’s what I try to do. It’s clear the players are really disappointed. Here we are after massive concessions (in 2004-05) in the billions of dollars, followed by revenue growth that Gary and the owners have taken a lot of credit for, that the response is to say, ‘We should have another round of concessionary bargaining and you should give us back more billions of dollars.’ That oversimplifies the negotiations a little bit but not very much. The fact the players are willing to negotiate something in which they take a lower share going forward was a major move in the owners’ direction and the owners have only moved away from the players. It’s a disappointing set of circumstances. I don’t go in for the very dramatic ‘I am very disappointed’ press conferences that other people engage in.”

    Click here for entire interview.

  • Nick Cotsonika via twitter: Don Fehr said that Gary Bettman told him that he could call about “make whole.” It looks like the NHL could bend a bit. If Fehr doesn’t call Bettman, why?
  • TSN: Alex Ovechkin talking to reporters yesterday,

    “The NHL gave fans and media hope. But in reality it is a deception,” said Ovechkin. “The league is trying to show that it is working to try and save the season, but they are not offering anything new. It’s all the same.

    “Owners and players are at war,” Ovechkin continued. “Bettman is under heavy pressure and trying to protect himself from criticism. Yes he made an offer and said it was good. But good for who, for Bettman?”

    “I said it before, before I sign a contract, if the league decides to cut our salaries and cut our contracts for what they want, I don’t know how many guys will be coming back,” Ovechkin said on the conference call.

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Ovi said most KHL players won’t return … Hall still waiting for clearance … Eager arrested … Luongo to Leafs makes sense

  • Slava Malamud via twitter: Alex Ovechkin, “If contracts get slashed, most players won’t return.” Ovechkin added that there are legal ways to stay in the KHL.
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Taylor Hall won’t play any games with Oklahoma of the AHL until November. He has been skating with them, but still needs to get clearance from Edmonton doctors.

    “It’s a bit of a weird situation…I know I just signed for $42 million but everybody knows I love to play no matter what they pay me, and right now they’re paying me when I’m  not playing,” said the rehabbing Oilers’ forward, who is still getting his NHL salary in the minors, but not tugging on a Barons’ jersey, except for practices.

    “I did take some face-offs yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday). I did another drill where I had my arm extended, holding off somebody. I couldn’t do that last season (his shoulder was in bad shape even before Colorado’s Ryan Wilson stapled him into the boards in Denver 11 months ago),” said Hall. “The shoulder feels strong.”

  • Edmonton Journal: Oilers forward Ben Eager was charged with assault last night following a fight at The Quail Pub in Toronto. Eager and his brother were charged with assault, assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon. The Eager’s were caught on surveillance assaulting the doorman.
  • James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: The Maple Leafs are basically the only team that has a need, desire, available assets and financials to take on Roberto Luongo. It’s not a done deal when the lockout ends, but it’s close. Luongo would prefer Florida, but they have Jacob Markstrom and they don’t want to give up anything of value for Luongo. There are 3 questions that come to mind on a Luongo to Toronto deal, “(1) does he want to play in Toronto (2) will the new collective agreement facilitate a trade and (3) do the Canucks see something they want in return?” The answer to #1 seems to be yes. The new CBA could throw a wrinkle in the Canucks future plans. The NHL proposed that if a player retires during a contract, the cap hit goes back to the team that signed him. There appears to players that the Canucks are interested in. Tyler Bozak or Nikolai Kulemin might interest the Canucks.
  • Howard Berger of Berger Bytes: Berger has always felt that Luongo will end up in a Maple Leafs uniform. He would be their best goalie since Ed Belfour. The Leafs have missed the playoffs for 5 straight seasons.

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Hall skates with OKC … Markov clears up comments … Backstrom may join Ovechkin … Klefbom out 4-6 weeks

  • Dan Tencer via twitter: Oilers Taylor Hall skated with the Oklahoma City Barons yesterday as part of a conditioning assignment. He can’t play any games unless he’s signed to an AHL contract.
  • RDS: (through google translate) Andrei Markov said in an interview that he didn’t know if he’d return to the NHL once the lockout ends. Dave Stubbs via twitter: Andrei Markov told Stubb’s he’s absolutely returning to Montreal once the CBA is signed.

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