Posts Tagged Drew Doughty
Crosby’s doctors differ … Doughty has Kings best offer … Schenn, Baily salary breakdown … Injury notes on Kane, Sharp, Markov, Fisher and Niemi
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 17th, 2011
- Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Sidney Crosby has been cleared to practice but his medical team can’t agree on when he should be ready for contact. A Florida-based chiropractor who has been examining Crosby told a Pittsburgh radio station that he’s ready for contact. Crosby’s doctors at a concussion clinic may not think so and stand behind their comments at the news conference earlier this month, ”We’re going to make sure we introduce contact in a very careful way,” Collins said at the time. “And we’re not even close to that right now.”
- Pierre LeBrun via twitter: Kings GM Dean Lombardi told LeBrun that he feels they made their best possible offer to Drew Doughty, 7 years at a $6.8 million average.
- Renaud Lavoie via twitter: Luke Schenn salary breakdown: $3.6 million with a $1 signing bonus this year, and $3.35 million in the remaining 4 years. Also has a modified no trade clause.
- Renaud Lavoie via twitter: The Islanders re-signed Josh Bailey to a 2 year deal. He’ll get $800,000 this year and $1.3 million next year.
- Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times: Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane is still wearing a splint on his left wrist and is taking a cautious approach with it.
“I’m going be cautionary about putting myself in contact right away,” Kane said Friday. “I’ll be doing practice with whatever team is out there, working real hard to get my range of motion back.”
“They said if it was the middle of the season right now, and if I wanted to play, I could play,” Kane said. “It’s just making sure we don’t make it any worse and I’m fully 100 percent ready to go.”
Marian Hossa is still in Slovakia as he attended a Pavol Demitra’s memorial on Thursday, and will join the team soon. The Blackhawks aren’t too worried that Patrick Sharp could miss the entire preseason.
“Sharp was in excellent shape,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Through that process of taking the necessary time to heal himself up to get ready, he’s a finely tuned athlete. He can play through a lot of different injuries. We saw that last year how quickly he got back, particularly at a critical time of the year.”
- Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov won’t be taking the ice with teammates today:
“I wish I could skate with the team tomorrow or today, but I want to be 100-per-cent sure I’m healthy,” Markov said Friday as he discussed his rehabilitation from major knee surgery. “I don’t want to come back for a few games. I’d like to stay here for the long term, and that’s what we’re looking for.”Markov, who signed a 3 year, $17.5 million deal in the off-season, has had 2 surgeries to repair is his ACL in his right knee.
“He said the healing is good,” Markov said of his meeting with Andrews. “Everything in the knee, like the bones and muscles, is good. I had a little swelling at that time, but he said it’s normal for a second surgery.”
If Markov is out for an extended period of time, GM Pierre Gauthier may have to go looking for a defenseman.
- James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson plans on cutting his training camp roster from 70 to 40 by Wednesday and down to 26 or 27 by next weekend.
“I’m cutting through all the B.S. here and getting right down to the NHL players,” Wilson said. “I’m not worried about where we’re going to be in two or three years. My primary responsibility is making the playoffs this year and getting off to a good start.”
Wilson would have 2 exhibition game with 40 players and 3 games with close to regular season lineup.
- Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Predators Mike Fisher’s recovery from shoulder surgery is going slower than he had hoped.“I’m just going to kind of work my way in here, just trying to get stronger. Still not ready for contact or anything. But I am skating and starting to shoot a bit, and it’s coming. I’m just really not sure as far as timetable. I just have to be patient.”
- Bob McKenzie via twitter: Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien weighed in well under the 269 pounds he weighed in last year in Atlanta. Josh Rimer via twitter: Rimer is hearing that the Jets are considering moving Dustin Byfuglien back to forward this year.
- David Pollak via twitter: Antti Niemi said he should be back playing in a few days.
Free agent and contract updates on Schenn, Bogosian, Doughty, Marchand, Bailey, Turris, Tavares and Myers
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 14th, 2011
- Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: A source is saying that Luke Schenn and the Maple Leafs are close, and it “should be done by Friday.” Both sides have been negotiating for weeks. Medicals are schedule for the Leafs on Friday. Nick Kypreos via twitter: Kypreos confirms Koshan’s Report. Josh Rimer via twitter: Rimer is hearing at that it could be a 3 year deal around $4 million per season.
- Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun: Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian doesn’t see the financial precedent when it comes to the signing of his, Drew Doughty and Luke Schenn’s contracts.
“I’m in a little bit of a different boat than them,” Bogosian said after an informal skate with Jets teammates, Tuesday. “Obviously Doughty has had a couple of good years. I haven’t exactly had the greatest start to my career… but I’m still young and up to learning new things and looking forward to good things here in Winnipeg.”
- Arthur Staple of Newsday: As Islanders center John Tavares heads into the last season of his entry level deal he has been saying he wants to remain an Islander, and that wish may be coming true. They could have a long-term deal in place by the start of training camp.
“It’s not something I want hanging over the season and affecting the team,” he said Tuesday after an informal skate at IceWorks in Syosset. “I know I’m going to be here for a long time and I’d like it to get done.”
It is believed that they could be working a deal in the 5 or 6 year range.
- Bob McKenzie via twitter: John Tavares and Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers could be close to signing contract extensions. Both deals could be in the 6 year range and around $5.5 million per season.
- Dennis Bernstein via twitter: If Drew Doughty signed the deal the LA Kings have on the table (7 years at $6.8 million per season), he’d be the 4th highest cap hit this season behind Shea Weber, Brian Campbell, and Zdeno Chara. Bob McKenzie via twitter: The Kings have been adamant that Doughty’s deal be at least 7 years and that it can’t be more than the $6.8 million cap hit of Anze Kopitar.
- Bob McKenzie via twither: McKenzie thinks Luke Schenn, Brad Marchand, Zach Bogosian and Josh Bailey will get signed by the weekend as dialogues are ongoing. Vibe from Doughty and Kyle Turris front are not as encouraging as not a lot is going on. Andy Strickland via twitter: Turris and the Coyotes are aways apart in negotiations, a guarantee that a deal gets done by the start of training camp.
- Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe: There are rumors floating around that the Bruins are offering Marchand deals in the $2 million per season range while Marchand is looking for something about $4 million.
- Elliotte Friedman of CBC.ca: Large 2nd contracts will be a target when the next CBA negotiations begin. Friedman thinks that Turris should consider a 1 year deal and prove to the Coyotes that he deserves the big contract he desires.
Sharp out 3-4 weeks … Bogosian without contract but with teammates … Byfuglien getting charged … Wings could make splash next summer
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 13th, 2011
- Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times: Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp underwent an emergency appendectomy last night and will be recovering for 3 to 4 weeks. If recovery takes the full 4 weeks, he could miss the season opener.
- Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun: Zach Bogosian may still be unsigned, but he is in Winnipeg skating with teammates.
“I wouldn’t come here if I didn’t want to be here,” he told Global. “I’m not obligated to be here until actual training camp. The fact is I want to come in here before camp and get into a routine, get to know some of the new people that I (didn’t) meet last year. It’s good to get into a little bit of a routine.”
Most of the trade rumors involving Bogosian have been preposterous, especially the Bogosian for Scott Gomez. The Jets are just over the salary cap floor, so there is no good reason for them not to get him signed long-term. Bogosian and his agent may be waiting for Luke Schenn and Drew Doughty to sign first.
- Winnipeg Sun: Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien will be getting charged with drunk boating. On August 31st he was “booked for “probable cause” on intoxicated boating, and for allegedly refusing a blood or urine test.”
- Katie Strang of ESPN: The Islanders and free agent Sergei Samsonov had talked earlier in the summer, but according to his agent, “It seems to be dead.” The Islanders were considering Samsonov on a tryout, but his agent said they are in discussions with another team.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Bryan McCabe has had discussions with several teams and is still considering his options. Mike Modano may be leaning towards retirement. Teemu Selanne and Ducks GM Bob Murray talk almost every day as Selanne is testing his knee this week to see if he thinks it can hold up for another season. The Red Wings are just about $5.8 million below the cap this year, and $21 million next year. They have Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart to re-sign at some point this year, but there are currently some big names that could be UFA’s next year: Zach Parise, Shane Doan, Ryan Suter, Ales Hemsky and Alexander Semin. The Rangers named Ryan Callahan their new captain.
- Mike Morreale of NHL.com: Hurricanes 2011 draft pick Victor Rask is debating if he’ll remain in North America for the season or head back to Sweden. His CHL rights are held by the Calgary Hitman of the WHL, or he could play in the AHL with Charlotte. “I haven’t decided yet,” Rask told NHL.com. “I like to play in North America, but have to wait and see what happens. Maybe I will, because it’s good hockey here.” Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford would like to see him stay in North America.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Devan Dubnyk may be splitting time, 50-50 with veteran Nikolai Khabibulin this year. Khabibulin will be 39 in January and carries a $3.75 million price tag this year and next. “Would I like to have a 50-50 split? Ideally, yes,” he said. “But I have to earn every start. I want to keep that mindset.” Dubnyk was 12-13-8 with a 2.71 GAA and .916 SV% last year.
Galimov passes away … Drew Doughty contract update … The Penguins lineup could look like … Huberdeau trying to make Panthers
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 12th, 2011
- Pavel Lysenkov via twitter: Alexander Galimov, the lone player survivor from Lokomotiv, passed away in hospital last night.
- Helene Elliott of the LA Times: Drew Doughty didn’t attend the teams Hockey Fest yesterday. GM Dean Lombardi will meet with Tim Leiwede who will then talk to owner Philip Anschutz on how far they will go to sign Doughty. Training camp opens on Saturday. “I still have hope he’ll be here Friday. I don’t know if I expect it but I have hope,” Lombardi said after fielding questions from a crowd of about 3,000. “It’s better than no hope.” Lombardi said that he spoke with Don Meehan 3 times last week.
“You can figure out the problem. It’s how much and length,” he said. “That’s the two issues. … There’s a couple of variables.”
The sides haven’t discussed a no-trade or no-movement clause. Lombardi may try to speak with Doughty directly to convey his winning commitment and that he wants Doughty to be paid fairly. The 9 year deal worth $61.2 million that was rejected was proposed early in negotiations.
Colin Fraser had is protective boot removed 10 days ago and might begin skating this week. He won’t be ready for camp. Fraser added, “I’m going to need a few skates to learn how to play hockey again. It’s been six months since I’ve even looked at my skates.” As for the grievance, it should be settled in the next few weeks.
- Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider: The rejection of the 9 year, $61.2 million deal by Doughty took place 2 months ago and not recently.
“I intend to talk to ownership today and update Tim (Leiweke),” Lombardi said. “Anything we do, I have to have their approval or have them be on board. It’s fair to say that in the next 24 hours I’ll be talking to Tim and he will be talking to Mr. Anschutz. There has to be some finality in our approach.”
- Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said there will only be 2 or 3 spots open this year. He has James Neal pencilled in along side Sidney Crosby (when healthy) and Chris Kunitz. Evgeni Malkin will center Steve Sullivan and Tyler Kennedy. Their top power play unit will feature 4 forwards and 1 defenseman. Sullivan could be used on the point on the first unit. Jordan Staal will likely center Matt Cooke and Pascal Dupuis on the 3rd line, Dupuis and Kennedy could be interchanged on the 2nd and 3rd lines. Aaron Asham and Craig Adams are likely wingers on the 4th line. That leaves Mark Letestu, Dustin Jeffrey, Richard Park, Joe Vitale and Jason Williams battling for the a center spot. Eric Tangradi, Steve MacIntyre and Nick Johnson will also be vying for a roster spot.
- George Richards of the Miami Herald: The Panthers say they are done with rushing prospects to the NHL, but Jonathan Huberdeau is still hoping to make the team. If Huberdeau signs an entry level contract, he could make the team and play for 9 games before they decide if he’s ready to for the NHL or to send him back to junior.
“He’s a special player, can play any forward position,’’ Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. “He is unselfish and makes other players better. He’s responsible defensively and competes each shift. He never takes one off. And he’s a wonderful kid. We’re in this for the long haul.’’
Lokomotiv suspends operations for year … 6 prominent RFAs remain … Selanne decision may not come this week … Pronger and Kesler may not be ready start of season
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 10th, 2011
- Slava Malamud via twitter: The team president, regional government and sponsors have decided that Lokomotiv won’t play this year. “Inability to assemble a competitive team (with not only players, but “chemistry” and a game plan) on a short notice cited as the reason.”
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: Luke Schenn’s agent, Don Meehan, said in an email that they have a meeting with the Maple Leafs early next week.
- Damien Cox of the Toronto Star: There are 6 prominent RFAs still unsigned: Drew Doughty, Luke Schenn, Zach Bogosian, Brad Marchand, Kyle Turris and Josh Bailey. Doughty has reportedly turned down a 9 year, $61.2 million deal and Turris may be looking for more than $4 million a season. One agent said, “Luke Schenn isn’t going to sign before Drew Doughty unless someone blinks.” Training camp starts next week, will there be any holdouts?
- Katie Strang of Newsday: Islanders forward Josh Bailey still remains unsigned, but both sides are working to get something done. “No question,” Bailey said. “I don’t even consider the other side of things. My focus is here. I’m an Islander and that’s the way I want it to stay.”
- Tim Campbell and Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press: The line of communication between RFA Zach Bogosian and the Jets are open but no deal is imminent. “Things are pretty much status quo,” the GM said. “There are conversations as we go. Time will play itself out.” Jets camp opens next Saturday.
- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Teemu Selanne may put off his decision to play or not until after training camp opens next week.
“I might even go (into) the first week of training camp and just go as a tryout for starters,” Selanne said. “I know I’ve got to sign something to get into camp. But I think there would be benefits for the team and myself. I don’t want to just try it and say, ‘Sorry, I can’t do it.’”
- Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: Lou Lamoriello said that Travis Zajac would miss 3 months after he had surgery to repair Achilles tendon. Zajac has talked to some people who have had the same injury, for some it took 3 months, but for some others it took 4 to 6 months. He suffered the injury on Aug. 17th.
“It depends on the athlete and the person, but from guys I’ve talked to with the injury that (three months) seems like a reasonable timeframe for some guys and some guys were a little longer,” Zajac said. “Hopefully, if things progress well (he’ll be back in three months). I was told it’s the rehab that is the key part that’s going to get you back the quickest.”
- Sam Carchidi via twitter: Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger had a positive step in his rehab, but it’s still a long shot that he’s ready for their Oct. 6th opener.
- Dan Rosen via twitter: Canucks forward Ryan Kesler doesn’t think he’ll be ready for the start of the season. Pierre LeBrun via twitter: Kesler said his hip is still on 100%.
- Chicago Tribune: The Blackhawks have acquired Jonathan Toews brother, David, from the New York Islanders for future considerations. David scored 20 goals and added 28 assists with Brandon of the WHL last year.
Doughty rejects $61.2 million … Nothing new on Marchand talks … Parise and Devils will work on long term deal … Tavares commited to Islanders
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 9th, 2011
- Nick Kypreos via twitter: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty rejected multiple offers including a 9 year, $61.2 million contract. The $6.8 million salary cap hit would have been the same as Anze Kopitar. Dennis Bernstein via twiter: Kings GM Dean Lombardi is facing the reality that he may have to do a 5 year deal with Doughty (a la Stamkos) to get him signed and risk losing him as an unrestricted free agent at 27 years old. Doughty wants a shorter term and to be a UFA at 27. The Kings may have to do a 5 year, $35 million deal. Helene Elliott via twitter: Lombardi and Doughty’s agent, Don Meehan, have agreed to not discuss negotiations publicly, no deal appears imminent.
- James Murphy of ESPN Boston: There is “nothing new” according to Brad Marchand on contract updates. “You know what, it’s how it goes sometimes and it’s been a long summer. I’m anxious to get something done.” He is still hoping to get a deal done by the start of training camp. Marchand’s agent, Wade Arnott, was the agent for Phil Kessel when he was with the Bruins. Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: Neither side is wanting a holdout. Marchand is projected as the left winger on the 2nd line with Bergeron at center. If there is a holdout, there are plenty of players vying for the open spot. Zach Hamill is a natural center but may have to move to the wing. Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight could be in the mix but are more likely heading back to junior. Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: See the video at bottom of the entry.
- Dave Lozo via twitter: Devils winger Zach Parise said that both sides will keep talking about a getting long term deal done before the end of the season.
- Scott Burnside of ESPN: Islanders center John Tavares told ESPN that he’s committed to the Islanders.
“In terms of my contract being up this year, I don’t have any plans on leaving or what could happen,” Tavares said. “I’m committed to Long Island and the Islanders. They’ve been great to me. We have a great bunch of guys and I’d love to be a part of turning this around from where it was and bringing us back to credibility, respectability and being a team that’s constantly in the playoffs and competing for the Stanley Cup.”
- George Richards of the Miami Herald: Panthers RFA forward Shawn Matthias still remains without a contract, but he’s been working out with teammates. He’s been tendered a contract, so he is still property of the Panthers. The Panthers are offering a 2-way contract due to the competition at the forward position. “Yeah, I hoped it would have been done quicker,” he said. “I trust my agents, they are working on it. That’s what you have to have, trust in them. I really don’t know what’s going on. I’m staying out of it.”
- Sam Carchidi via twitter: Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger won’t be ready for the start of training camp, but he’s making strides.
- Jeremy Rutherford via twitter: If the Blues don’t name a captain and instead go with only assistants, it’s because they see Alex Pietrangelo as their future captain.
- Genadi Boguslavski via twitter: Alexei Yashin has said that he’s ready to return to Yaroslavl.
- Winnipeg Free Press: The Jets have signed cener Kyle Wellwood to a 1 year deal worth $700,000.
Schenn, Doughty, Modano, Selanne and McCabe remain unsigned … Sutter could be on a short leash in Calgary … Boychuck could be trade bait
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 5th, 2011
- Kevin Mcgran of the Toronto Star: There is still “no sense of panic on either side” when it comes to the contract of Maple Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn. McGran does think “it’s a little unsettling” that they haven’t reached a deal yet. Schenn could be waiting to see what Drew Doughty gets, who could be looking for a long term deal around $6-7 million. Both are represented by Newport Sports. Mike Modano said he’d make a decision to retire or not by mid-September. He’s been looking at off-ice options. Teemu Selanne is still waiting to see how his knee holds up before making a decision to come back or not. Bryan McCabe is a still unsigned, with the Senators and Islanders possibly interested.
- Harrison Mooney of Yahoo! Sports: If the Flames struggle this season, coach Brent Sutter could find himself unemployed. “Jay Feaster has retained Brent Sutter for now, but both are under a lot of pressure to make things right in Calgary. And, since Feaster doesn’t have to look Brent Sutter in the eyes at Thanksgiving dinner, the Flames’ bench boss will likely have a much shorter leash this time around.”
- James Murphy of ESPN Boston: Murphy answering readers questions. The Bruins won’t have Marc Savard’s cap number on the books this year and will have $11.7 million in cap space this year. GM Peter Chiarelli could decide to fill some holes during the season or shake things up if he needs too. He’ll also have the room to sign a marquee UFA next summer. Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuck could find himself as trade bait if he doesn’t improve from last year. He has a good shot and is physical, but was just average on too many nights.
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: Sources are saying that the Islanders re-signing Alexei Yashin are “unlikely.”
- 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)
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.”
- George Malik via twitter: According to Sport-Express, Metallurg of the KHL is trying to sign Jarkko Ruutu.
Bradley has some words about Semin … Doughty – Kings haven’t talked in weeks … Nylander gets Flyers PTO … Yashin has KHL offer … Redden “unaffordable”
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 18th, 2011
- ESPN: Former Capital, and current Florida Panthers forward Matt Bradley had some words to say about Alexander Semin and lack of playoff success in Washington on an Ottawa radio station.
“I don’t mind saying Alexander Semin’s name, because he’s one guy who has so much talent, he could easily be the best player in the league, and just for whatever reason, just doesn’t care,” Bradley said on Ottawa’s TEAM 1200 radio show.
“When you’ve got a guy like that, you need him to be your best player, or one of your best players, and when he doesn’t show up, you almost get the sense that he wants to be back in Russia.”
“We had some guys who didn’t show up in the playoffs,” Bradley said on the show.
“I think our locker room was maybe a little bit too nonchalant, and guys weren’t disciplined the way they should have been. Those two things are big things. It wasn’t that guys were going out the night before a game, but not being ready to practice or missing practice with questionable injuries and not being focused.”
“I mean, there were a lot of guys who played well that didn’t probably play as much as they needed to, but I love Bruce [Boudreau] and Bruce is a great coach and he was in a very tough position there, because in Washington our top guys are definitely the stars and the guys that people want to see on the ice, so I totally understand,” Bradley said. “That just doesn’t happen on our team, it happens on a lot of teams.
“When you’re paying your top guys a lot of money and those guys carry you through the whole season, and if one of them isn’t going, it’s very hard not to play them, and I understand that that’s tough. But I think in the end, if you want to win, sometimes you have to sit some of those guys down and maybe send a message and try to get them going.”
Bradley had only good things to say about Alex Ovechkin: “I never worry about Ovi,” he said. “He’s an all-in guy. He’s young, he makes his mistakes, the same as anyone would. I often try to put myself in his position. And you’ve got to remember, he’s 25 years old, he’s got a guaranteed $120 million, he’s on top of the world, and he still for the most part makes the right decisions.”
- Greg Wyshynski via twitter: Wyshynski talked spoke to Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau about Bradley’s comments about how he overplays his stars: “Oh yeah? Oh well … it’s his opinion.” and he wouldn’t give further comment after that.
- EJ Hradek via twitter: According to one source, the LA Kings and Drew Doughty haven’t talked in weeks.
- Philadelphia Daily News: Michael Nylander will be at the Flyers training camp on a tryout. Nylander last played in 2008-09 with the Capitals.
- Slava Malamud via twitter: KHL’s Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg have made an offer to Alexei Yashin and are awaiting an answer.
- Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Penguins forward Dustin Jeffrey has been cleared for light skating following his knee surgery.
- Steve Zipay via twitter: Zipay says that Wade Redden is “unaffordable” for the Rangers this year. (I wonder how many teams would be interested in him if he didn’t carry a $6.5 million cap hit for 3 more years? I’m sure he’d get some interest.)
- Marc Antoine Godin of Cyberpresse.ca: Canadiens forward Lars Eller, who had surgery on his dislocated right shoulder, will be at training camp, but
“There is no set date for my return, but it is possible that I am ready for the first game of the season.
I could also miss the first week of the calendar. The doctors will evaluate it during training camp.”
“Certainly I will be there from the start of camp. I will participate in some exercises, but I must take things as they come.”
- Mike Brophy of Sportsnet.ca: Brophy lists some coaches who could be on the hotseat this year: Ron Wilson (TOR), Todd McLellan (SJ), Alain Vigneault (VAN), and Terry Murray (LA).
Drew Doughty update … Filatov gets a promise from Senators … Isles not interested in Komisark … The Gretzky trade that didn’t happen
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 11th, 2011
- Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider: There have been no new discussions between Drew Doughty and the LA Kings. The Kings have an offer on the table for Doughty, but this could drag on until late August/early September. Hammond points out that in 2002 Evgeni Nabokov held out, Don Meehan was his agent and Dean Lombardi was the GM of the Sharks. GM Lombardi said yesterday,
“I think it’s fair to say that in the last conversation, we set the parameters, as to where we feel his contract should be. We talked about a number of scenarios, and I guess now it’s their move. They never really responded.”
- E.J. Hradek of NHL.com: Answering readers questions. Hradek thinks the Wings (and many others) would be interested in adding Shea Weber even if Nicklas Lidstrom continues to play. Weber will be a RFA after next season if he doesn’t sign a long-term deal but the team won’t be able to choose the team-elected arbitration. Therefore teams could sign him to an offer sheet. Hradek says that there is a difference in both term and dollars for Drew Doughty and the LA Kings. He points out that when there is no urgency for a deal to get done, things have a tendency to move more slowly.
- Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Senators winger Nikita Filatov tells the SovSport that he was promised a 1st or 2nd line spot and power play time.
- BD Gallof via twitter: The Islanders won’t likely be making a defenseman deal unless it falls into their lap. There is no interest in Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Komisarek.
- James Mirtle via twitter: The other day Brian Burke was on TSN Radio and said that the Canucks were in talks to acquire Wayne Gretzky from the Oilers 23 years ago. The Oilers wanted 1st round picks, $18 million, Greg Adams and another player.
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: Kansas City is still hoping to land an NHL franchise. KC has already hosted 3 exhibition games and will be hosting the Penguins and Kings on Sept. 27th.
“The NHL was involved in the development of the Sprint Center and made it clear it’s a very viable place as the home for an NHL team,” said Michael Roth, spokesman for the Anschutz Entertainment Group, which operates the rink for the city. “Kansas City has embraced hockey and the Sprint Center puts on a good show. We continue to look for the right opportunity (to further pursue a team).”
Sabres should get Myers deal done early … Bogosian free agent notes … R&D Camp rule tweaks … Plan B for no Selanne
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 10th, 2011
- Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News: Tyler Myers isn’t going to get Shea Weber money ($7.5 million, 1 year deal), but he could get around $6 million a year. Gleason thinks it would be a good idea to get a deal done early this season (he’ll be a RFA at seasons end) before he gains more leverage. He thinks a 5 year deal at $30 million makes sense.
- Kirk Penton of the Winnipeg Sun: Zach Bogosian on contract talks with the Jets:
“Things are good. We’re talking. That’s about all I will say,” Bogosian said. “You’ve just got to sit back and let the agents and GM deal with all that kind of stuff.”
Bogosian has played in 199 games so far. He recorded 17 points in 71 games last year and was a -27. Bogosian and Luke Schenn should get a deal in the same neighborhood.
- Matt Reitz of Pro Hockey Talk: The Jets and Bogosian may be having trouble finding fair market value for him. There are question marks surrounding Bogosian’s game. The others from his draft class: Drew Doughty has already been a Norris Finalist, Alex Pietrangelo has shown signs that he could be a Norris candidate one day, and Luke Schenn “has already made a name for himself as a nasty defenseman.” From an NHL executive:
“They were comparable players in junior but haven’t been to date as pros. It’s difficult to know what Winnipeg has in Bogosian at this point. He may very well turn into a fine player but that has only been demonstrated in flashes so far.”
Reitz wonders if the systems of former coach Craig Ramsey didn’t give Bogosian a chance to succeed. He’s currently just an average defenseman, but do the Jets want to “gamble on a long-term contract hoping to lock him at a reasonable cap hit?” Should they sign him to a short-term deal to see how he develops?
- James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: Mirtle lists 8 of the more interesting rule tweaks the NHL is testing at its R&D camp. 1. Changes only permitted on-the-fly. 2. No line change for a team committing an offside. 3. After offside, face-off goes back to the offending team’s end. 4. No icing permitted while shorthanded. 5. Overtime variation (four minutes of 4-on-4 followed by three minutes of 3-on-3). 6. All penalties to be served in their entirety. 7. Verification line (additional line behind the goal line) – if puck touches line, it’s a goal. 8. In-net camera: a mounted camera with view focused on the goal line to help verify goal. Mirtle lists other rules on the agenda, click here.
- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Ducks GM Bob Murray on the chance that Teemu Selanne doesn’t play this year:
“You don’t replace him so you just have to …. we’d have to change the team. Yes, there’s a Plan B. We’d have to do some things that I don’t want to discuss right now.
“But we’d have to look at building the team a different way without Teemu. There’s no doubt about that. And you don’t replace him. You go about it a different way with your hockey team.
“That time is going to come. Of course, we talk about it.”
Could Doughty holdout? Turco having trouble finding a gig … Pittsburgh to host 2012 Draft? Isles may find new home in LI
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on August 8th, 2011
- Adam Gretz of CBS Sports: Drew Doughty and the LA Kings still don’t have contract done, and nothing seems close. From Jim Alexander of the P-E: (Jack Ferreira is the Kings special assistant to he GM)
And this is part of what veteran hockey men bring to the table: There is little that can happen that they haven’t already seen. Today’s Kings are still at a negotiating stalemate with defenseman Drew Doughty , a restricted free agent. That situation got no easier Wednesday when an arbitrator awarded Nashville’s Shea Weber, a more experienced defenseman, $7.5 million for one year. “This year we were up in Toronto for the scouting combine and Dean had some meetings with Newport Sports (Doughty’s agents),” Ferreira said. “He came back and they were discussing what went on, and I just looked at him and said, ‘Dean, they don’t want to make a deal. They’re not ready to make a deal.’ “That’s gonna be a tough one. I would not be surprised if he was a holdout. I went through it with Paul Kariya, and Dean’s been through it.”
There is still about 2 months till the start of the season, a month away from training camp, so there is plenty of time to get a deal done.
- Sean Leahy of Yahoo! Sports: Marty Turco still remains unsigned, and his agent did say last week that he will play next season, but will it be in the NHL? Most NHL teams are not in need of backup. Columbus could be a possibility if they are worried about Steve Mason and the inexperience of Mark Dekanich. He could get a tryout from someone like Ray Emery did. Turco could end up in Europe or he could retire.
- Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Nothing has been finalized, but it’s looking like Pittsburgh will host the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Tampa Bay also applied for the draft. The draft hasn’t been in Pittsburgh since 1997.
- AP in the Globe and Mail: Steve Levy, an Executive of Suffolk County, called Islanders owner Charles Wang to talk about the idea of a new arena.
- Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Province: 4th line Canucks hopeful, Byron Bitz, thinks he’s ready to go after going through 3 surgeries last year. He had sports hernia surgery last October, a surgery in January to repair a groin tear, and in March it was discovered that he had a labral tear.
“The hip was causing a lot of the groin problems I was having,” Bitz said. “They had to go in there and shave the bone down to get my hip joint moving again. It took a while to get to the bottom of it, but they finally got it right. I’m so glad they finally figured it out.
“Now, I’m good to go.”
Avery arrested … Notes on RFAs Schenn and Doughty … Nolan, Fedoruk get PTO from Canucks … Alfredsson to skate next week
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 5th, 2011
- TMZ: Sean Avery was arrested this early morning for pushing a cop who was attempting to break up a loud party at his Hollywood Hills home. A neighbor called the police at 1:00 am, and when they arrived, Avery answered, shoved the cop and slammed the door. He was cooperative with the police after they knocked again. He’s being held on $20,000.
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: The city of Toronto has grown on Luke Schenn and he’s keen on staying, “Something will get figured out for sure.” Schenn added:
“I started here and had a good opportunity. As far as the team goes, we haven’t made the playoffs yet and we’ve had a bit of a rough time as an organization in terms of the standings. (But) I’ve played three years here and got to know a lot of people in this city. I have a better idea of how things work. No question I want to be part of things going forward and help achieve some success.
“Being drafted here (the Leafs traded up to get him fifth overall) was a dream come true for a kid and I got to experience a lot at a young age. I want to be part of the organization, hopefully, into the future.”
Hornby thinks Schenn will get a deal in the $3-4 million range.
- Dan Rosen of NHL.com: A better comparison for Drew Doughty would be Dion Phaneuf (6 years, $39 million) or perhaps Mike Green (4 years, $5.25 million). Doughty and Shea Weber have similar stats but Weber is 26, Doughty is 21. If Doughty signs before Luke Schenn and Zach Bogosian, he could help set the market for the other 2 as he’s been more productive so far. LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi said they continue to have contract discussions and is confident a deal will be get done. The Kings may be looking to lock Doughty up long-term, but he may only be looking for a short-term deal.
- Ian Walker of the Vancouver Sun: Owen Nolan and Todd Fedoruk have signed professional tryout contracts with the Vancouver Canucks. Nolan had other PTO offers but he thought the Canucks were the best fit.
“I don’t want to say I’m happy that opportunity is there, you want those guys to be healthy, especially if I’m going to be part of that team,” said Nolan, reached at his off-season home in San Jose. “But there is an opportunity there and I’m going to give it everything I have to take a job.”
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Daniel Alfredsson, who’s recovering from a back procedure, will begin skating next week. Alfredsson is confident he’ll be ready for the start of training camp.
“I can’t say I’m 100% right now, but it’s definitely a lot better,” said Alfredsson, who has been stretching and doing yoga three times a week. “I haven’t really skated that much since February, so if I can get a little bit more ice, that’s good.”
- Teemu H (BroadStreetHockey.com) via twitter: According to Nikolai Zherdev’s agent, he did receive a contract offer from the Winnipeg Jets. Zherdev’s KHL deal with Atlant is worth more than the $2 million he got from the Flyers.
- Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Alexei Kovalev said he had 2 NHL offers but chose the KHL because of contract length.
Notes on Sharp, Weber, Doughty, Schenn, Parise, Perron and Zherdev
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 3rd, 2011
- Adam Jahns via twitter: Patrick Sharp’s new deal contains a modified no-trade clause.
- John Buccigross via twitter: If the Predators and Shea Weber can’t/won’t do a 5 year, $31 mill-ish or 7 year, $45 mill-ish deal, they should look to trade him.
- PredsOddManRush via twitter: The CBA says the Preds and Weber can negotiate a new contract, but it cannot be signed/announced until Jan. 1, 2012.
- Dennis Bernstein via twitter: Drew Doughty may not be out of line to ask for $7 million after Weber was awarded $7.5 million.
- Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post: Contract talks between the Maple Leafs and RFA Luke Schenn have begun.
“We had a discussion with Claude Loiselle today, and we’re going to have another one tomorrow,” Meehan said Wednesday. “So our discussions are ongoing.”
- Dennis Bernstein via twitter: One NHL insider doesn’t think Zach Parise will get a long-term contract done with the Devils. The Devils gave Parise a “path to UFA” with the one year contract.
- Andy Strickland via twitter: St. Louis Blues forward David Perron is still suffering from post-concussion symptoms, and won’t be ready for training camp. Perron, his agent, trainer and GM Doug Armstrong met on Monday and decided that he needs more time. The Blues think he’ll he’ll be able to play at some point this season.
- Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Nikolai Zherdev couldn’t get an NHL offer he was looking for, so he signed with Atlant of the KHL. Zherdev did get some interest but the offers were low, some were under a $1 million.
Kings file grievance of Fraser … Devils re-sign Parise … Doughty update … NHL gets offer for Stars … Zherdev likes Jets
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on July 30th, 2011
- Dan Tencer via twitter: The LA Kings have filed a grievance over the health issues of Colin Fraser, who was acquired from the Oilers for Ryan Smyth.
- Mark Everson of the NY Post: The NJ Devils and Zach Parise avoided arbitration and signed a 1 year deal worth $6 million.
“Knowing that nothing was going to get done long-term right now, this gives us a springboard for further negotiations,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said.
“There was no question that [Parise] was going to get a one-year contract, and settling it where both parties feel good about it is a platform to get something longer done,” Lamoriello said.
If Parise isn’t signed to a long-term deal, he’ll become a UFA after this season.
- E.J. Hradek of NHL.com: LA King GM Dean Lombardi on Drew Doughty contract talks,
“I’m fairly confident that we’ll be able to get this done.”
“We’ve been talking,” Lombardi said. “We’re trying to hammer it out, but I don’t think I really have a handle on it yet.”
One of the problems involved is the lack of comparables for Doughty. Dion Phaneuf’s 6 year, $39 million deal could be the best comparable. Shea Weber is still working on a new deal with the Predators. Phaneuf had 54 goals, 105 assists and was a +27 after 243 games. Doughty has 33 goals, 93 assists and a +16 after 239 games. Doughty has better puck skills and skating ability than Phaneuf. It was reported a couple weeks ago that the Kings offered up to 9 years at more than $6.5 million a season. Doughty could become a UFA in 4 years under the current CBA.
- Mike Hieka of the Dallas Morning News: 2 sources have said that Tom Gaglardi and Monarch Investments have sent an offer to the NHL to buy the Dallas Stars. There are over 40 lenders involved and everyone may not get paid as the sale price could be lower than the debt.
“In a traditional sale, you have a seller who is trying to negotiate with a buyer, and you have traditional sale practices. But this isn’t a traditional sale,” said one source. “You have a group of sellers who have different opinions, and that really means you don’t have a seller, per se. Into that vacuum has stepped a lot of lawyers, and that has made the process very complicated.”
Other offers can still be put forth, Gaglardi would have the option to increase his offer or walk away. The NHL allowed at least 4 groups to look at the Stars’ books.
- Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun: Nikolai Zherdev would like to play for the Winnipeg Jets. There hasn’t been any indication if the Jets are interested.
“The weather is not a priority to me,” Zherdev told broadstreethockey.com. “The most important thing is to get a good role on the team, a good coach and a good contract. Everything related to climate and geography doesn’t basically mean anything.
“I don’t know all the details of the situation. The agent does,” said Zherdev. “But I can say that I’m seriously considering all offers from both NHL and KHL.”
- Toronto Sun: Alexei Kovalev has signed a 2 year deal with Atlant Mytischi of the KHL. Brent Sopel signed a 2 year with Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL.
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