Posts Tagged Duncan Keith

Coyotes back to Winnipeg? 2009 Draft picks to join Senators … Duncan Keith has bad Skates

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on March 30th, 2010

  • Andrew Willis of the Globe and Mail: Winnipeg entrepreneur Mark Chipman (who co-owns the 15,000 seat arena) and Toronto billionaire David Thomson are working on bringing the NHL back to Winnipeg. Rumors out of Phoenix yesterday were that they were getting close to doing this, but that may not be the case. Rumors that the Coyotes will be changing to the Jets have been around for over a month, but are being shot down by the league. Bill Daly says the NHL has no plans on moving the Coyotes to Winnipeg or to any other city. The NHL still wants to find a buyer that wants to keep the team in Phoenix. More will be known about Jerry Reinsdorf`s intensions and Ice Edge Holdings by Thursday, as that is the date the city of Glendale set for a lease to be settled.
  • Allen Panzeri of the Ottawa Citizen: 2009 1st round pick Jared Cowen will join the Ottawa Senators if his Junior club is eliminated from the playoffs, but it`s doubtful he`ll play a game. They are also close to signing 2009 2nd round pick, U of Denver defenseman Patrick Wiercioch, who`ll also join the team but probably not play. If either plays a game, they`ll burn a year on their entry level contracts.
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: One UFA who might consider retiring after the season is Stars winger Jere Lehtinen. The 37-year-old will wait until the summer to decide if he wants to come back. The Stars would like to have him back. This season he made $1.5 million base with up to $1 million in bonuses, which he’ll make most of.
  • Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith was on fire for most of the season, but has struggled recently, going a minus 7 in the last 13 games. One of the reasons for his struggles has been that he hasn’t been comfortable in his skates. “I like my skates to fit right and to feel good,” Keith said. “When you feel good out there, you play good. It’s been a while since I had a good pair. “They’re just not sending me good pairs of skates, there’s not much more to say. Every hockey player likes his equipment to feel good and my skating is my biggest asset. When my skates are feeling good and fit right and are how I like them, then I skate how I want to skate.” Keith says he doesn’t want to make a big deal of the skate issue. If you don’t want to make a big deal out it Duncan, why did you bring it up to the media then?
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Blue Jackets will most likely be looking for a new coach in the off-season, and early candidates could be former Oilers coach Craig MacTavish, Anaheim AHL coach Kevin Dineen, and Predators assistant coach Brent Peterson.

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    Keith, Kane and Toews Signing on Thursday

    Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on December 2nd, 2009

    According to TSN and Chicago Now, the Chicago Blackhawks will announce the signings of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith. Kane and Toews receiving 5 year extensions, with Keith signing a 13 year deal. Press conference called for 2:00 pm CST.

    As everyone knows, the ‘tagging’ rule applies here, and the ‘Hawks will have to cut some salary cap room. Brent Sopel and Cam Barker are 2 names that have appeared over the weeks as to players who could be moved. Last week the Leafs and ‘Hawks were rumored on a Sopel and a 2nd round pick for Jiri Tlusty.

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    The ‘Tagging’ Rule facing the Chicago Blackhawks

    Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on November 19th, 2009

    So it’s been reported here and everywhere that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane (5 years) and Duncan Keith (up to 13 years) are about to re-sign with the Blackhawks. There has been so much talk about the inevitable signings and cap issues that the Blackhawks have, that I didn’t really want to bring them up again. Pretty much every sports site and blog dating back to last July have touched on their issues on numerous instances (from mynhltraderumors - Capoligist needed in Chicago July 8th, and Hossa’s Contract Investigation July 31st). We all know that they are going to have to make a trade or 2 to free up cap room for next season, and that Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet are 2 contracts that they’d probably like to remove, rather than a Patrick Sharp or Kris Versteeg.

    But why am I writing about them then? This blame lies with Tab Bamford of the BleacherReport commenting on an ESPN article. Before the Blackhawks are able to officially sign the big 3, they must makes some moves that effects next years salary cap, the ‘Tagging’ rule.

    “Tagging” is a rule in the CBA that prohibits a team from having more money committed to the following season than the current year’s salary cap. Essentially, if this year’s salary cap is roughly $56 million, the Hawks wouldn’t be allowed to have the projected $61 million committed to next year’s payroll after these three deals were completed.

    I had never heard of this rule before, and it raises a few questions. Were the ‘Hawks aware of this ‘tagging’ rule? Will the Hawks’ become more active in trying to dump salary so they can announce the 3 signings asap, or will they hold on to the signed contracts and file them later on in the season? At what cost will the ‘Hawks go to, to move out salary (packaging a contract and a good draft pick/prospect for a lower salary)?

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    Around the Boards: The 3 Hawks’, Savard returning, Filatov gone, Gionta out

    Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on November 18th, 2009

    • Bob McKenzie of TSN: Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are reportedly getting 5 year contract extensions, in excess of $6 million per year. Duncan Keith’s deal could be for up to 13 years.
    • Rich Thompson of the Boston Herald: It looks as though Marc Savard could return to the Bruins lineup tomorrow night against the Thrashers. He plans to take part in the full practice today, and if all goes well, he’ll be back.
    • Aaron Portzline and Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch: Nikita Filatov got his wish and is heading back to Russia for this season. Both sides are saying that he’ll be back in the NHL next season, but that is not guaranteed. GM Howson said he had no plans to trade him.
    • TSN and RDS: It was revealed the Canadiens winger Brian Gionta will be out indefinitely with a fractured bone in his left foot.
    • Michael Obernauer of the NY Daily News: Although Obernauer doesn’t state there is interest, the article provides the below quote. The Rangers might be looking to deal, especially if Drury’s injury keeps him out for a significant time. Dubinsky is out. Kotalik, Avery, Callahan and Lisin are struggling of late.

      “Obviously our biggest weakness is we’re not getting any secondary scoring,” John Tortorella said. “We can’t keep on going one or two goals and expect to win some hockey games.”

    • Dan O’Neill of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The Blues find themselves a unique situation, they have 8 healthy NHL calibre defenceman on their roster. One of the main decisions the Blues will need to make is what to do with Alex Pietrangelo; do they keep him up, send him back to the OHL (to young for the AHL) or allow him to play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in Dec.-Jan.

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    Around the Boards: Forsberg staying in Sweden, Toews-Kane-Keith signing today? Filatov back to KHL?

    Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on November 17th, 2009

    • Matthew Sekeres of the Globe and Mail: Canucks GM Mike Gillis informed reporters that Peter Forsberg won’t be coming Canucks, or any other NHL club, instead opting to with Modo for the remainder of the season.
    • Chric Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: Tuesday could be a big day for the Chicago Blackhawks as they might be announcing that they have signed all 3 of their big restricted free agents. Its been out there for a couple days that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane were close to resigning, but it appears that Duncan Keith is close as well. I’m definitely interested in these contracts, and to see how they’ll manage the cap next season. Next years cap is expected to be slightly lower than the $56.8 million this year, but without including these 3, their 2010-11 cap number is around $43 million for 13 players.
    • Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Penguins: The hockey gods are punishing the Penguins now for winning the Cup last season, as they’ve lost another defenceman to injury. Alex Goligoski will be out for 2 to 3 weeks with an undisclosed injury. Goligoski joins defenceman Gonchar, Letang and Orpik, and forwards Kennedy, Kunitz and Talbot. Some good news should be coming soon as several players are close to returning.
    • Tom Reed and Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Unhappy with playing and being a healthy scratch, Nikita Filatov of the Blue Jackets could be on his way to the CSKA Moscow of the KHL. The Blue Jackets and Filatov are expected to meet today to discuss him staying with the club. The former 6th overall pick in 2008 has been in the doghouse for his lack of competitive play, and is averaging about 8 minutes on the 4th line.
    • Corey Masisak of the Washington Times: Alex Ovechkin practiced yesterday and is expected to return tonight against the New York Rangers.

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    Around the Boards: Savard extension soon, Rangers-Habs talking? Keith odd man out?

    Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on November 16th, 2009

    • Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe: The Bruins and Marc Savard are getting closer on a long term extension, in the $6-6.5 million range for 4 or 5 seasons.
    • Stephan Harris of the Boston Herald: The Bruins are getting healthier, with Milan Lucic expected to return this week, and Marc Savard could be back next week.
    • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:
      • Jonas Gustavsson will be an RFA at the end of the season, and there might be teams that would sign him to a $5 million offer sheet. Burke can’t negotiate with ‘The Monster’ until January.
      • The Predators are trying to unload RWer Ryan Jones and his $975,000 contract.
      • The Rangers and Canadiens have had talks involving Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn.
      • The Oilers have inquired about Sergei Kostitsyn, a junior linemate of Sam Gagne.
      • The Islanders will most likely trade Martin Biron once Rick DiPietro returns. The Kings or Sabres are possible destinations. I’d also think the Wings might be monitoring his play.
    • Tim Sassone of the Daily Hearld: The Blackhawks could be looking to trade for a 2nd line center to replace the injured David Bolland (out 3-4 months with back injury). Patrick Sharp could be moved into that role if a trade can’t be worked out. Hurricanes’ Matt Cullen and his $2.875 cap hit might be a fit if Bolland was placed on LTIR.
    • Jay Zawaski of Chicago Now: With Toews and Kane possibly close to signing contract extensions; if they sign with a hometown discount, they might be able to keep Duncan Keith. If they re-sign for fair market value, Keith is probably gone.

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