Posts Tagged Greg Zanon

Hitchcock replaces Payne in St. Louis … Wild free agent and trade notes … Reimer-Scrivens could be 1A-1B next year … What is Nash worth?

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on November 7th, 2011

  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Ken Hitchcock has been named the St. Louis Blues head coach after the team fired Davis Payne yesterday. Hitchcock agreed to a contract through the end of next season. The Blues assistant coaches are expected to remain. The Blues are off to a 6-7 start. John Shannon via twitter: Confirmed that Blues asked the Blue Jackets permission to speak with Hitchcock yesterday afternoon, so everything moved quickly. Andy Strickland via twitter: Strickland notes that GM Armstrong wouldn’t make this decision on a whim and obviously had Hitchcock on his mind for awhile.
  • Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman was injured in Friday’s game. He suffered an upper-body injury and was unable to go last night. Forward Ryan Malone left yesterday’s game in the 2nd period with an upper-body injury and his status for Wednesday is uncertain.
  • Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune: Russo thinks that with $9 million in cap space this season, the Wild have the trade deadline flexibility and flexibility for free agent signings. He thinks the Wild will pursue Zach Parise if he becomes a free agent. If the Wild are to trade a defenseman this year, it could be Greg Zanon. The Wild would like to be moved to the Central division when realignment takes place. If Josh Harding is the heir apparent to Backstrom (UFA after next season), they’ll re-sign Harding (RFA after this season), continue to develop Matt Hackett and Darcy Kuemper and trade one of them.
  • Kevin Paul Dupont via twitter: Follower thinks that Krejci, Knight and a 2nd rounder would be enough for Rick Nash. Dupont doesn’t think so, a “player, prospect, and pick won’t do it.”
  • James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: Mirtle thinks the Maple Leafs may be moving towards a James Reimer and Ben Scrivens – 1A and 1B duo for next season. Jonas Gustavsson will be a UFA at the end of the season. Gustavsson is on a  1-way deal so he’ll likely be sticking around this season.
  • Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider: Lines at Kings practice yesterday: Gagne-Kopitar-Williams, Penner-Richards-Brown, Clifford-Stoll-Parse, Moreau-Lewis-Richardson

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Flames rumors … CBJ issues … GMs may look for mandatory visors … Doughty this week is possible … Connolly stays … Whitney injured again

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on October 26th, 2011

  • Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun: Francis laughs at the rumor that Daniel Alfredsson could interest the Flames at some point. The Flames do have an interest in Coyotes holdout Kyle Turris. A source close to the situation has said that the Flames are one of six teams to make a ‘significant’ offer. Coyotes GM Don Maloney is still saying he doesn’t have plans to trade him. Rene Bourque is also front and center in trade rumors lately. Flames GM Jay Feaster continues to tell other GMs that Mark Giordano is not available. Francis doesn’t see the Flames trading Jarome Iginla. Ollie Jokinen wants to re-sign with the Flames. Tim Jackman and Tom Kostopoulos are UFAs and could draw minor interest at some point. David Moss won’t be traded unless he wants out. They would love to move Matt Stajan and his $3.5 million salary in a package, but it’s unlikely that there is anyone else on their roster to draw that much interest.
  • Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: The Blue Jackets are having issues on and off the ice. There are reports that they are losing $25 million a season, and there is talk about the long-term survival of the franchise. Their last few home games have only drawn 9,000 fans.
  • James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail: Two high profile GMs have said they’d like to see more players starting next season.

    “Visors should be mandatory for all defencemen, at the least,” Burke said, adding that blueliners are at “a far greater risk” of being hit in the face by a puck because of all the deflections in front of the net.

    “I’d want to hear the GMs out on the larger topic [of everyone having to wear them], but I think I would support Homer.”

  • Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun: The Jets won’t be pulling off any blockbuster deals because the team is off to a slow start. They may pull off some smaller deals along the way, but finding a trade partner who isn’t trying to fleece is hard to find. Most teams aren’t looking to get rid of 30 goal scorers and many teams would like to upgrade their blueline.
  • Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was wearing a no-contact jersey again at practice yesterday. When asked yesterday when Doughty will see the doctor next, Murray said, “The opportunity will probably be tonight, to see the doctor at the rink. We plan on taking him with us on the road trip, kind of shooting for the end of the week here as a possibility.”
  • Erik Erlendsson via twitter: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman confirmed that they will be keeping Brett Connolly and won’t be sending him back to junior.
  • Shaun Starr via twitter: Canadiens Max Pacioretty has a partially torn ligament in his wrist. Starr has been told surgery is unlikely. Renaud Lavoie via twitter: It’s a partial tear, no breaks, deep bruise. He could be back in the lineup this week.
  • Dan Tencer via twitter: Oilers coach Tom Renny says that Ryan Whitney has a sprained knee but it’s not significant. A few days and he should be fine.
  • Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Wild forward Guilaume Latendresse is bothered by a wonky groin again, and look for the Wild to be cautious with him. Dany Heatley and Greg Zanon are also bothered by groin issues. Brett Bulmer will play in his 9th game on Thursday and likely won’t be returned to junior.
  • Luke DeCock via twitter: Scouts in Carolina last night were the Blue Jackets, Flyers and Penguins. The Canes play the Flyers and Pens in the next 3 weeks. They don’t play the Blue Jackets.

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No big offer for Kovalchuk from KHL? No over-paying on Kulemin … Bertuzzi gets 2 year offer

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on June 8th, 2010

  • Chris Botta of AOL Fanhouse: It was rumored yesterday that Ilya Kovalchuk received a $14 million per season contract offer from the KHL, but a ‘reliable source’ tells Fanhouse that, that is not the case. New Jersey’s 1st round playoff loss may have leassened the chances of him returning. The Devils could use his star power to fill some seats, but they also have another LWer in Zach Parise, who be looking for a new contract after next season.
  • Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun: Burke would like to re-sign Nikolai Kulemin, but not a salary based on ice-time on a bad team. Burke doesn’t want to lose a promising young player, but he won’t overpay for it. Kulemin has good size, skill and improved greatly as the season progressed, but he’s not a 1st player just yet. Two former Leafs, Ian White and Matt Stajan were in the same boat, more playing opporunity than might have received on a better team, which is one reason they were moved out as their contract demands would have been higher. Stajan signed for 4 year and $14 million. If you’ve watched Stajan over the years, you’d know that Stajan isn’t worth $3.5 million a season. A handful teams have confirmed to touched base with Burke regarding Tomas Kaberle.
  • Kevin Allen of the USA Today: By now everyone and mother knows that the Blackhawks have a rough summer ahead of them trying to get some players re-signed, and shedding others. Allen thinks the Antti Niemi could ask for a deal in the $4 million range. They also have to look ahead to next summer when Dustin Byfuglien and more importantly, Brent Seabrook, will be restricted free agents.
  • Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings GM (Ken Holland) and assistant GM (Jim Nill) will be signing extensions later this week. The Red Wings have also sent Todd Bertuzzi a 2 year contract offer, and extended qualifying offers to Justin Abdelkader, Patrick Eaves, Darren Helm, Derek Meech and Drew Miller. They $6.5 to sign the above players, and possibly Andreas Lilja and/or a gritty forward.
  • Minneapolis Star Tribune:The Wild may be looking to move a defenseman this off-season. Cam Barker, Marek Zidlicky (no-trade clause) and Greg Zanon are probably not going anywhere. Nick Schultz would be a prime candidate but his 4 years at $3.6 million a season could be difficult to move. That leaves Brent Burns as the most likely candidate. The wild hope/think they may be able to get a top center or top 6 winger.
  • TSN: Jerry Reinsdorf has said “it was time to move on” from his pursuit of purchasing the Phoenix Coyotes, leaving the Ice Edged Group as the only local buyer. I’m actually surprised he lasted this long in this sale farse. I’d love to hear the comments he tells his buddies from the other leagues.
  • Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. has said the ‘Canes will be younger and that they won’t be spending over $50 million next season, it could be in the $44 million range. They won’t be active in the free agent market. It is also unlikely that they will be re-signing Ray Whitney before the July 1st free agent date.

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