Posts Tagged Anaheim Ducks

Injury Notes: Seidenberg, Redden, Ference, Lundqvist, Spezza and Beauchemin

  • Joe McDonald of ESPN: Injured Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden practiced yesterday and travel with the team to New York.

    “Whether it’s next game or not, we’ll see how he feels [today],” Julien said of Seidenberg.

    “Not too bad,” Redden said. “It’s day-to-day still. I’ve got to talk with [the medical staff] and see where we’re at, but it’s progressing good.”

    Their other injured defenseman, Andrew Ference, doesn’t look as lucky. He was seen last week wearing a walking boot.

  • Mike Mazzeo of ESPN: Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist injured his shoulder in the 3rd period in Game 2 on Sunday.

    “Yeah, it’s under control,” Lundqvist said after practice Monday. “I landed on the ice awkwardly and hurt it a little bit. It’s under control.

    “Everybody’s sore. It’s the playoffs. You can’t just sit out because it’s hurting a little bit. It happens and you just have to make sure you do the right things to make it good.”

  • Erin Nicks of NHL.com: Senators Jason Spezza played his first game since Jan. 27th on Sunday and seems to be feeling no ill effects.

    “I feel good,” Spezza said Monday. “To play a double-overtime game and coming out no worse for wear is definitely positive for me and encouraging that I made the right decision [to play]. I took a pretty good pounding and played more than we had initially planned, but it’s all positive and I hope to get even better as we go on.”

  • Helene Elliott: The Ducks said that defenseman Francois Beauchemin had surgery to repair his ACL. Surgery went well and he hopes to be ready for next season.

 

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Morning Hits: Spezza, Quick, Sharks fined, trade options for Miller and a look at the Canucks

  • Bruce Garrioch: With Jason Spezza returning to the Senators lineup today, would have to assume that Guillaume Latendresse will be sitting.
  • Helene Elliott: Kings Jonathan Quick received a game misconduct that the end of last night’s game. He receives an automatic $200 fine and “the case shall be reported to the commissioner, who shall have full power to impose such further penalties by way of suspension or fine.” Because it was for abuse of an official, if a player receives two of them, they can be suspended. It was Quick’s first abuse of an official.
  • Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider: The NHL didn’t like Sharks GM Doug Wilson’s comments regarding the Raffi Torres suspension and have fined the organization $100,000.
  • Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: It sounds like the Sabres would like to keep Tomas Vanek, but he may be looking to get out. The Sabres may be more interested in trading goalie Ryan Miller. The 33-year old Miller is set to make $6 million next year and may not be easy to move with the salary cap going down. Harrington thinks a team that is close to the winning the Cup may be interested in Miller. Could the Ducks be interested? Jonas Hiller has a year left on his deal and was only OK in their first round loss. The Blues might be interested. Brian Elliott lost four straight in the first round, and Jaroslav Halak may not be getting along with coach Ken Hitchcock. Sabres GM Darcy Regier is unlikely to move Miller to an Eastern Conference team, so that would eliminate the Capitals and perhaps the Penguins. If a non-Cup contending team is interest, maybe the Avalanche. Miller would be an improvement over Semyon Varlamov and JS Giguere.
  • Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun: The Canucks are already over next year’s salary cap with 17 players under contract. Trading Roberto Luongo and buying out Keith Ballard would free up $9.5 million. They would have to be cautious free agent spenders. They probably can’t afford Ryane Clowe, Nathan Horton or David Clarkson. They may have to look at cheaper options like Guillaume Latendresse, Raffi Torres, Eric Nystrom and Bryan Bickell. There isn’t much help from within the organization coming up. Six current Canucks have no-trade clauses, and another three kick in on July 1st: Alex Burrows, Chris Higgins and Alex Edler. Edler may be used as a trade chip. Would the Flyers deal Sean Couturier for Edler? Could the Canucks get a package including Justin Abdelkader from the Red Wings or Jamie McGinn is a deal with the Avalanche.

    “In order to get players to play for less than market value, you have to give them something they can rely upon,” Gillis explained. “I think if a player was unhappy here, he’d waive his no-trade. If we were unhappy with him, it would be obvious and he would waive his no-trade. But that’s not a path we’re looking to right now. I think we need to supplement our core group of players that are here as best we can, and then look at possibilities down the road.”

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Morning Hits: Stars, Koivu, Selanne, Niederreiter and Blues

  • Eric Stephens: Ducks GM Murray said the team will be different next year. He indicated that he’d like Saku Koivu to return, and will talk to Teemu Selanne over the next little while.
  • Anaheim Ducks: Murray on Teemu Selanne: “I’ll wait a while, go hit a few (golf) balls, go play with him and let him beat me, and then we’ll decide.”
  • Brian Costello: The Dallas Stars were cheering for the Bruins. If the Bruins make the Eastern Conference final, the Stars will get their 1st round pick. If they don’t, they’ll get a 2nd round pick. From the Jaromir Jagr trade.
  • B.D. Gallof: “Just to make this VERY clear… Nino Niederreiter is NOT being actively shopped. See his name coming up like forgone conclusion. To expand on Nino thoughts: yes, he is a tradable asset. however, when has Garth ever just traded off asset? Has to be right scenario. Also do not believe #isles will spend ANY rebuild assets for a goalie when vets aplenty.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: A couple Blues GM Doug Armstrong quotes in case you missed them.

    “This is a public cry that for any GMs that have any 50-goal scorers that want to just send them to St. Louis, give me a call,” Armstrong said. “I spent the last two days going over the top 20 scorers the last few years, and most of them are drafted by their own teams. Reality is with free agency the way it is now, teams tie up those elusive top-end goal scorers.

    “If I can find a guy that can come in and help us score goals, certainly we’re going to look at doing it. But to think that that player is out there and teams say, ‘Geez, it’s St. Louis’ time to win, we’ll give you (Alex) Ovechkin,’ you’ve got to deal in reality. … It’s incumbent upon the players in this room to find out how to produce when the lights are the brightest to score those goals.”

    “We have players that have produced in the past that haven’t been able to get us over the hump in the playoffs, but they’re still in those prime years,” Armstrong said. “I believe that the home-grown talent can produce at those times. The easiest thing is to show somebody the door. It’s foolish if you’re not bringing in somebody that’s better.”

    Andy McDonald will be a UFA and is not expected to re-sign. Armstrong said they expect to re-sign all their RFAs including Chris Stewart and Patrik Berglund.

    “I don’t see this being a huge free agency offseason for us,” he said. “I see it more taking care of our own business and then seeing if we want to re-arrange some of the chairs via trade.”

    Stewart, Berglund and David Perron could be players the Blues consider trading.

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

  • 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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Morning hits: Stars, Ducks Canucks, Price, Kaberle, Blues, Coyotes bid rejected, Dion’s days numbered?

  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Matheson laughing at a fan site suggesting a Loui Eriksson trade to the Islanders for Ryan Strome and Michael Grabner, and with Islanders fans saying they wouldn’t trade either straight up for Eriksson. Matheson does note that Eriksson could be in play for a front-line center. The Stars also have some defenseman that could be on the move.

    The Stars have lots of young defencemen looking for regular work — Jamie Oleksiak, Joe Morrow and Kevin Connauton — which makes trading Trevor Daley or Alex Goligoski certainly plausible.

    Matheson wonders if the Ducks would take a run at Stephen Weiss.

    Matheson thinks with the Canucks at $63.5 million for 16 players for next season, will use their buyouts on David Booth and Keith Ballard. Both have two years left at $4.2 million cap hits. Mason Raymond is likely gone as a UFA.

  • Dave Stubbs: Addressing a Canadiens Carey Price rurmor: “Price asking for a trade would need to travel a million miles just to reach ludicrous.”
  • John Lu: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said a decision on a compliance buyout for Tomas Kaberle hasn’t been made yet.
  • Jeremy Rutherford: Blues playoff issue. Rutherford knew fans who didn’t buy tickets as they didn’t know when the games were starting soon enough. The Blues didn’t sell out three playoff home games.
  • Norm Sanders of the News-Democrat: (h/t Pro Hockey Talk) Blues GM Doug Armstrong on their need for more scoring.

    “This is a public cry that for any GMs that have 50-goal scorers that they want to send to St. Louis, give me a call,” he joked. “This doesn’t happen, you have to deal in reality. The reality is with free agency the way it is now, teams tie up those elusive top-end goal scorers.

    “They draft them. (Evgeni) Malkin, (Sidney) Crosby, (John) Tavares, (Steven) Stamkos were drafted by those teams.”

    The Blues will send qualifying offers to all of their free agents.

    “We’re going to negotiate to try to sign every player that’s a restricted free agent,” he said. “Ownership understands that the window is open now and we have to take care of our own. I don’t see this being a huge free-agency off-season for us. I see it more as taking care of our own business — and then seeing if we want to rearrange some of the chairs via trade.

  • Scott Burnside of ESPN: The NHL has rejected California investment banker Darin Pastor’s bid to buy the Phoenix Coyotes.

    “We have rejected the offer. It didn’t include the elements we had previously discussed were necessary to warrant serious consideration,” Daly said in an email Monday night.

    It was rumored that he was willing to pay upwards of $277 million with $42 million in cash at closing, though that seems unlikely as it would be hard for the NHL to walk away from that.

  • David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail: (h/t Lyle Richardson in the Hockey News) Shoalts piece was written last Thursday after Dion Phaneuf’s pinch that cost the Leafs the game. Shoalts thinks that Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis should move to Plan B and “The plan should include quietly putting Phaneuf on the trade market no later than the NHL draft at the end of June. Nonis will not hit a home run with a trade, nor should he expect to thanks to Phaneuf’s erratic play.” A deal would may only get a modest return, but Nonis should accept it. Phaneuf has a year left with a $6.5 salary cap hit and may not take a pay cut from the Leafs.
  • Tim Wharnsby of CBC: h/t Lyle Richardson in the Hockey News) Wharnsby’s piece was written last Thursday. Wharnsby wonders if Dion Phaneuf’s days in Toronto are numbered. He continues to make the same mistakes he made as a rookie in 2005. Nonis may have to make a decision by draft. The Leafs have organizational depth on the blue line. Nonis would have to feel that Jake Gardiner is ready for a bigger role. Cody Franson may be ready for a bigger role.
  • James Mirtle: On Phaneuf: Mirtle would be surprised if the Maple Leafs didn’t re-sign him.
  • John Lu: Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin on order of positions that mature the fastest: wingers, centers, defensemen and goalies.

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Morning hits: Keenan, Selanne, Yeo, Backstrom, Blues goaltending, Islanders and the Flyers draft

  • Mike Keenan: Will coach Magnitogorsk of the KHL next season.
  • Craig Custance: Teemu Selanne after last night’s game: “I don’t really have to play but this has been so much fun. I just have to decide when it’s time.”
  • Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Wild GM Chuck Fletcher on head coach Mike Yeo.

    “He’s our coach, he’s our coach,” Fletcher said by phone this morning.

    Yeo will return for his third year. The Wild will also have decisions on UFA Niklas Backstrom.

    “Like anybody pending unrestricted free agency, they’re going to have a vote in the matter too. We’ll sit down and talk with all of them and see whether they want to be here and what they’re looking to do and see what fits. That’s what the next two months will be about. We’ll obviously have to make some decision, but before, we have to break down our year and see where we need to put the money the most.”

    No decision has been made if they’d buyout Dany Heatley or anyone else.

  • Jeremy Rutherford: Blues GM Doug Armstrong said their goaltending situation is “cloudy” with Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott and Jake Allen.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Multiple sources have said that Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak and coach Ken Hitchcock “had a heated disagreement outside the club’s locker room” in the morning before Game 4. Halak was late for a meeting, then vented about lack of ice during the season. Halak was unhappy about not getting into the last game of the season after returning from a groin injury. Halak’s unhappiness was noted by the organization as early as Game 1, as he wasn’t giving full effort during their morning skate. He has only one year left on his deal with a $4.5 million salary and $3.75 million cap hit. Brian Elliott has one year left with a $1.9 million salary and $1.8 million salary cap hit. Jake Allen will be a RFA after this season.
  • Arthur Staple of Newsday: Both Travis Hamonic and Josh Bailey (RFAs) are almost certain to return, but UFAs Mark Streit and Evgeni Nabokov and are not as certain. Streit is looking for a three year deal worth around $16 million. UFA Brad Boyes could be back, but only if he’s looking for a reasonable number.
  • Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News: On what the Flyers could do come draft day. The Flyers could use a cornerstone defenseman. Many mocks have them targeting a tough Dman, either Rasmus Ristolainen or Darnell Nurse. With the 11th pick, GM Paul Holmgren is “confident” they’ll get a good player.

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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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NHL Video: Should Justin Abdelkader be suspended for his hit on Toni Lydman?

Bob McKenzie: Red Wings Justin Abdelkader will have a hearing this afternoon.

Should Abdelkader get suspended for his hit on Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman? How many games SHOULD he get? How many game WILL he get?

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Roster Notes: Blues, Wild, Leafs, Canucks, Rangers, Penguins, Bruins, Capitals, Canadiens, and Ducks

  • Jeremy Rutherford: Blues T.J. Oshie was skating with Patrik Berglund and David Perron this morning.
  • Michael Russo: Wild’s Jason Pominville has been ruled out of Game 1.
  • Chris Johnston: Maple Leafs Tyler Bozak said he’ll play in Game 1 against the Bruins. Mark Masters: Bozak isn’t sure if he’ll be able to take face-offs.
  • Farhan Lalji: Canucks Cory Schneider said he’s ready to go and will let the coaches know when they have their meeting today.
  • Dan Rosen: Rangers Ryane Clowe (undisclosed) and Brian Boyle (knee) didn’t practice today. Derek Dorsett (broken clavicle) is still wearing a non-contact jersey. Defenseman Marc Staal practiced again, but there is no timetable.
  • Mark Masters: Maple Leafs Tyler Bozak skated between James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel today. Other lines: Komarov-McClement-Orr … McLaren now skating with extras Hamilton & Colborne, Lupul with Grabovski-Kulemin for the 1st time … Frattin reunited with good buddy Kadri & MacArthur
  • Dan Rosen: Rangers lines: Nash-Richards-Zuccarello; Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan; Kreider-Brassard-Pyatt; Powe-Newbury-Asham.
  • Will DePaoli: Penguins lines: Kunitz – Malkin – Neal, Dupuis – Jokinen – Iginla, Morrow – Sutter – Cooke, Glass – Adams – Kennedy/Bennett.
  • Boston Bruins:  Bruins lines:  Lucic-Krejci-Horton/gold: Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin/grey: Daugavins-Kelly-Jagr/merlot: Paille-Campbell-Thornton.
  • Ken Wiebe: Capitals lines: Ovechkin, Backstrom+Johansson, Brouwer, Ribeiro+Erat, Fehr, Perreault+Chimera and Volpatti, Hendricks, Beagle. Defensive pairings: Green and Alzner, Carlson and Erskine and Oleksy and Hillen. Ward and Wolski the extra F’s, Poti and Schultz the extra D.
  • John Lu: Canadiens lines: Ryder – Plekanec – Gionta Pacioretty – Desharnais – Bourque Galchenyuk/Eller/Gallagher Moen/White/Prust Armstrong/Halpern/Weber.
  • Jim Jamieson: Canucks lines: Sedins-Burrows; Higgins-Kesler-Kassian; Raymond-Roy-Hansen; Ebbett-Lapierre-Weise. Defensive pairings: Hamhuis-Garrison; Edler-Bieksa; Alberts-Corrado; Ballard-Barker.
  • Craig Custance: Jonas Hiller will start Game 1 for the Ducks against the Red Wings.

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Morning Hits: Lucic, Oilers, Ducks, Predators, Avalanche, Flyers and Sharp

  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Oilers and Canucks are among the teams monitoring the Milan Lucic situation. Lucic didn’t show up in good shape after more than four months of “living the soft life” during the lockout. Lucic has scored one goal in the last 26 games, six on the season. His 3-year, $18 million deal kicks in next season.
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Matheson wonders if the Ducks would call the Oilers this summer to see if Sam Gagner is available to fill their hole in the second line center spot. The Ducks could look into the free agent market: Stephen Weiss, Derek Roy or Mike Ribeiro. The Oilers don’t really want to trade him, but they will be getting offers. He’ll be a restricted free agent after next season, and will be looking for a long-term deal. He’s set to make $3.2 million next season. He’d like to remain with the Oilers, but management knows he’ll be looking for something in the $4.5 million to $5 million range. Would sending Cam Fowler for Gagner be too much?
  • The Fourth Period: Predators coach Barry Trotz said that they have “too many similar players” and some moves need to be made.

    “To build a really nice house you need a foundation, you need a roof, you need a plumber, you need all different elements, so you need a balance,” he said. “Through injuries and what have you, we had too many similar … we have to get bigger, we have to do a lot of things. We’ve got lots of work.”

    The Preds are second last in scoring at 2.27 goals per game. GM Dave Poile will be looking for offensive help this summer.

  • The Fourth Period: Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix is debating big changes that could affect GM Greg Sherman and coach Joe Sacco. Reports are that  Lacroix has attended some games and is weighing options both on and off the ice.
  • Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said that the acquisition of Steve Mason at the deadline was to add depth and not as a replacement for Ilya Bryzgalov next season.

    “Steve is a guy that we’ve liked. When the opportunity came up to make the trade for him, it was the intention of having good goaltending,” Holmgren said. “I think right now with Ilya and Steve, we’ve got good goaltending moving forward. Any talk of anything other than that I think is out of bounds.”

    When asked about the rumors of a potential amnesty buyout for Bryzgalov, Holmgren responded with a “No.”

  • Chicago Blackhawks: Blackhawks Patrick Sharp missed last night’s game, but coach Joel Quenneville said that he could play on Wednesday.

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Roster and Goalie Notes: Horton, Karlsson, Pens, Kane, Oilers, Canucks, Sharks and Starting Goalies

  • Joe Haggerty: Bruins Nathan Horton won’t travel with the team due to an upper-body injury he sustained in the fight with Jarome Iginla.
  • Ian Mendes: Unlikely that Senators Erik Karlsson is in the lineup tonight.
  • Will DePaoli: Penguins Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury won’t be in the Penguins lineup tonight. Pittsburgh Penguins: Letang has foot poisoning. Beau Bennett has an upper-body injury. Fleury’s wife is expecting. Sidney Crosby, James Neal, Paul Martin and Evgeni Malkin all skated today.
  • Kirk Penton: Jets Evander Kane didn’t skate this morning.
  • Joanne Ireland: Oilers Magnus Paajarvi was hit in the foot with a shot against the Avalanche, and won’t be in the lineup. Eric Belanger will be in the lineup. Ryan Whitney will also play.
  • Jim Jamieson: Canucks lines: Sedins-Burrows; Higgins-Roy-Kesler; Weise-Ebbett-Kassian; Raymond-Lapierre-Hansen.
  • Kevin Kurz: Sharks defensive pairings: Vlasic/Stuart, Hannan/Boyle, Irwin/Braun.
  • Bruce Garrioch: Craig Anderson will start in net for the Senators tonight.
  • John Vogl: Jhonas Enroth will start in net for the Sabres.
  • Dave Molinari: Tomas Vokoun will start in net for the Penguins.
  • Jim Jamieson: Cory Schneider will start in net for the Canucks.
  • Eric Stephens: Viktor Fasth will start in net for the for the Ducks.
  • Michael Russo: Niklas Backstrom will start in net for the Wild.
  • Chris Kuc: Corey Crawford will start in net for the Blackhawks.

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Morning Hits: 6 outdoor games, Oilers rumors, Sakic, Sabres, Briere, Datsyuk, Olympics and Laganiere

  • TSN: The NHL is planning on having 6 outdoor games next season. Things could change and details still need to be worked out, but the proposed dates and teams are:

    Jan. 1st – Maple Leafs and Red Wings at Michigan Stadium

    Jan. 25th – Ducks and Kings at Dodger Stadium

    Jan. 26th – Devils and Rangers at Yankee Stadium

    Jan. 29th – Islanders and Rangers at Yankee Stadium

    March 1st – Penguins and Blackhawks at Soldier Field

    March 2nd – Senators and Canucks BC Place

  • Elliotte Friedman of CBC: The Oilers could have a different look next season.

    “I’m an impatient guy and I bring that impatience to this situation. We’re at the stage… that we have to do some bold things,” Craig MacTavish said at Monday’s news conference introducing him as the Oilers’ new GM. “We have to expose ourselves to some semblance of risk to try and move the team forward in a rapid fashion. We’ve got a lot of primary pieces here, but we’ve got to add some depth to help these young players.

    “We’ve got to add competitiveness. I think we lack a true understanding of just how difficult it is to have success at this level.”

    The Oilers will go after defenseman Mark Streit if he hits the open market, but so will many other teams. There will be Ales Hemsky rumors. They could look at moving either Sam Gagner or Nail Yakupov.  They would like to re-sign RFA Gagner. The Oilers could let teams talk to Gagner to see if a deal could be worked out, then talk to the team about a trade. Friedman thinks the Oilers would listen to a “massive offer” for Yakupov.

    Friedman thinks that the Avalanche have talked to Joe Sakic about an increased role with the team, but decided that he wasn’t ready. He wants to sure that he’s ready and he still wants to be around his family, he has three kids.

    Sabres GM Darcy Regier said he wasn’t close to trading either Ryan Miller or Thomas Vanek at the deadline as “the value wasn’t there.” Both will be UFAs after next season, and if an extension can’t be worked out, they’ll be dealt. They’ll meet after the season and see where things go.

    Friedman wonders if the Flyers buyout Daniel Briere, would the Sabres bring him back?

    Sabres Steve Ott on licking Jeff Halpern’s visor: “I was just [bleeping] with him.”

    Friedman spoke with Pavel Datsyuk’s agent who said that he’s talked with GM Ken Holland. Rumors are that Datsyuk will head back to Russia after next season. Sounded like the sides may have have talked about the possibility of a contract extension.

    For the 2014 Sochi Olympics, NHL and NHLPA estimate travel cost to be between $4-7 million and insurance cost between $7-10 million.

    NHL denied reports that the Maloofs are looking to bring a hockey team to Vegas. They haven’t talked about that in about five years.

  • Bob McKenzie: The Senators-Bruins has been rescheduled to Sunday, April 28th. The 27th was the previous last day of the schedule.
  • Bob McKenzie: College free agent Antoine Laganiere has signed with the Ducks.

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