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Posts Tagged Montreal Canadiens
Morning Hits: Canucks playing catch-up, Devils want Zidlicky back, Avs wait on coach’s and Pens lines
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 17th, 2013
- Craig Custance of ESPN: Player size is gaining more importance to teams, and some teams have to catch-up with the trend.
“When I took this job, we decided on a style of play that resulted in great success. Clearly the landscape has changed, and we have to address those changes moving forward,” said Canucks GM Mike Gillis during his season-ending press conference. “It’s quite clear the league is going in a direction that we have to recognize and adapt to. It doesn’t just happen in one playoff series.”
“You can’t have all big guys; you can’t win with all small guys,” he said. “Character comes into play. I don’t care how big you are, if you have no character you’re not going to succeed.”
- Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is still completing his interviews and evaluatation process.
Lamoriello said “everything is open” as far as bringing back unsigned players “no decisions have been made on anything.”
Defenseman Marek Zidlicky will be a UFA and the Devils would like to have him back.
“We’d certainly like to have him back,” Lamoriello said.
- Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: It’s not looking like the Avalanche will have a new head coach any time soon. The Avs may wait and see what happens with Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, whose contract expires June 30th. Lindy Ruff could also be an option. Sakic may not want to hire someone straight from Junior, so Patrick Roy could be out.
- Shelly Anderson: Penguins lines at practice yesterday: Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis, Neal-Malkin-Iginla, Morrow-Sutter-Cooke, Adams-Vitale-Kennedy, Bennett-Jokinen-Glass (Jeffrey)
Morning hits: Stars, Ducks Canucks, Price, Kaberle, Blues, Coyotes bid rejected, Dion’s days numbered?
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 14th, 2013
- 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.
Morning Hits: Sunday’s schedule, West scenarios, Hart nominees, Neilsen, Spezza, Avalanche and Canadiens
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 11th, 2013
- 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.”
- Adam Kimelman of NHL.com: Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares were named as candidates for the Hart Trophy.
- 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.
Morning Hits: Vokoun, Fraser, Gionta, Canadiens injuries, Canucks offseason questions and Blue Jackets free agents
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 9th, 2013
- Pittsburgh Penguins: Coach Dan Bylsma on starting Tomas Vokoun: “We brought Tomas Vokoun in to play big games for us…He’s done that for us & he’s been very good vs. the #Isles.”
- James Mirtle: Maple Leafs Mark Fraser was taken to the hospital to check for any broken bones after taking a shot off his face.
- Renaud Lavoie: Canadiens Brian Gionta will have surgery on Friday for a torn left bicep. He hopes to be ready for training camp.
- Renaud Lavoie: Brandon Prust and Ryan White are out tonight. Carey Price is day-to-day.
- Ottawa Senators: Senators Jason Spezza is on to the next phase of his rehab, past the “public skate” phase. He won’t be able to get into the lineup until he’s fully skating with the team.
- Ottawa Senators: Senators Mike Hoffman should be available soon.
- Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun: Ziemer’s thoughts on the Canucks coaching staff.
The jobs of head coach Alain Vigneault and his staff are most certainly on the line and general manager Mike Gillis is going to face some uncomfortable questions from ownership over the team’s second straight playoff collapse.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Canucks have the highest payroll going into next season, but trading Roberto Luongo or an amnesty buyout of Keith Ballard($4.2 million for two years) will help them get down below the new cap of $64.3 million. Five questions for the Canucks this offseason are:
• Do the Canucks have a bona fide No. 1 goalie in Schneider moving forward?
• Should this team still be built around the Sedins?
• Will Ryan Kesler ever be injury-free?
• Does this team have the right supporting cast to still contend?
• Is it time to retool, rebuild or be patient for one more run with this core?
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen on contract talks with their free agents, including goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
“We’re working on them. It’s a work in progress on all fronts. Everything has been started, everything is in progress. We’re waiting to hear back from a few agents. Obviously, Bobrovsky is a high priority for us. I told him in the (exit) meetings that everybody talks about his great play, and sure it was remarkable. But I’m even more impressed with his work ethic, how he prepares for the game and every practice, how he takes care of recovery after every game, the routine he goes through every day. That’s what I’m most impressed about Bobrovsky. He sets the bar high for the rest of the guys. I don’t think anybody’s going to argue with me if we says he’s the MVP of our team this year. If he sets the bar that high with the way he works everyday, it’s going to be hard for anybody else in that room to say, well, I’m not going to do this or that today. That’s what I think it’s all about, your best players being your hardest working players. And that’s what we have in Bob.”
On Bobrovsky’s contract talks …
“It’s going to take its course, and it’s going to take its time. Some (deals) are quicker than others. We’ll have to stay more patient with some than others. I don’t anticipate any problems. It’s going to be a negotiation. His agent, his representatives are professionals. They have their thought process and we have ours. I’m sure we’re going to reach a result here in the near future.”
Morning Hits: MacDonald, Price, Vokoun, Predators and Canucks
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 8th, 2013
- Arthur Staple: Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald suffered a broken hand and is likely done for the playoffs.
- Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette: Carey Price suffered a lower-body injury, possibly a hamstring or groin at the end of regulation and was replaced by Peter Budajfor overtime.
“When your starting goalie goes down … it’s tough to lose him and it’s tough on the guy who has to come in,” Gorges said. “He’s been sitting there for two-and-a-half hours and we expect him to go in there and be stellar. It’s a tough position to be in, and it’s unfortunate it unfolded that way.
“Plays get thrown to the front of the net,” he added of the scramble that produced the winning goal, “and a lot of times it’s a 50-50 puck. We have to be stronger.”
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Kovacevic is one of many who is calling for Tomas Vokoun to be the Penguins starter for Game 5. Marc-Andre Fleuryhas allowed 14 goals on 102 shots, and 40 goals in his last 10 playoff games. Coach Dan Bylsma:
“Certainly, Tomas Vokoun is a guy that can step in and play and has had success and won hockey games against this team, was successful this year. We’re going to come out for Game 5 with a refocus.”
“One of the reasons we wanted Tomas Vokoun was to play hockey games and win hockey games for us. Marc-Andre Fleury is our starting goaltender and started this series and won us some hockey games, made a lot of saves for us … but we’re not going to talk about our starting goaltender for Game 5.”
- Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: The Predators are currently $18 million under next year’s salary cap. Cooper lists four players who could be good options for the Predators: Stephen Weiss, Nathan Horton, Sergei Gonchar and Derek Roy.
- Tony Gallagher of the Vancouver Province: Gallagher mentions some possible moves that the Canucks could look at, with some being a little radical. Trade Alex Edler to a team like the Flyers. The Flyers have some young forwards that they might consider moving for someone like Edler. Could they look at moving Ryan Kesler or Dan Hamhuis? Though both have a no-trade clause. Alex Burrows’ no-trade clause doesn’t kick in until July 1st. They could trade Roberto Luongo for whatever you can get for him, which may not be a lot. Cory Schneider would bring more return. The Sedin’s are heading into the last year of their deals.
Injury updates for the Canadiens, Wild and Penguins … Vanek may eye Wild … KHL chasing Voynov
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 5th, 2013
- Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: Canadiens Max Pacioretty and Brian Gionta skated yesterday and traveled with the team. Coach Michel Therrien said they were day-to-day and could play today.
- Rachael Blount of the Star Tribune: Wild coach Mike Yeo said he isn’t afraid to break up their top line of Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Charlie Coyle.
“If we think (splitting up the top line) is what we need, then that’s something we would be willing to do, for sure,’’ Yeo said. “Again, we’re coming home. It’s a little bit of a different situation now. … I think because we played one game that wasn’t good, I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel here.’’
Goalie Niklas Backstron (lower-body) practiced yesterday but it’s not known if he’ll be able to go in Game 3. No new updates for Jason Pominville (head injury) and Clayton Stoner (upper body).
- Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Penguins winger James Neal is unlikely to play due to his ankle injury. Jussi Jokinen will likely join Evgeni Malkin and Jarome Iginla.
- Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News: Gleason wouldn’t be surprised if Sabres winger Thomas Vanek ended up taking less money to play in Minnesota when his contract expires after next season. They will be contenders, he already has tons of money and he spends there offseasons there as his wife is from the state.
- Alex Seren Rosso: Russian press are saying that KHL Traktor will make LA Kings Slava Voynov a “can’t refuse offer” this summer.
NHL Video: Senators Eric Gryba’s hit on Canadiens Lars Eller
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Videos on May 3rd, 2013
The NHL will be having a hearing with Ottawa Senators defenseman Eric Gryba for his hit on Montreal Canadiens Lars Eller. Eller suffered a concussion, to go along with facial and dental fractures.
Former NHL referee breaks down the hit in the video.
Do you think he should be suspended? If so, how many games do you think he SHOULD get? How many games WILL he get? (state if you are a Canadiens fan or not)
Injury Notes: Eller, Crosby, DeKeyser, Franzen, Schneider, Emery, Bolland, Kostka, Kessel and Franson
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 3rd, 2013
- Ton Marinaro: The Canadiens confirmed that Lars Eller suffered a concussion, lost consciousness, and has facial and dental fractures. He will remain in the hospital for observation.
- Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune: Penguins Sidney Crosby took regular shifts with Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis yesterday at practice. He also worked with the top power play unit.
- Ansar Khan: Red Wings Danny DeKeyser broke his hand last night and will be out for the remainder of the playoffs.
- Ansar Khan: Red Wings Johan Franzen said he had to pass a concussion test, which he did, before overtime started last night. He was ready to return when Gustav Nyquist scored.
- Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun: Cancucks Cory Schneider didn’t take part in the teams full team practice yesterday, meaning that Roberto Luongo will get the start in Game 2. It appears that Schneider may have suffered a setback. His injury is still not known. Pap wonders if it’s a groin injury. Before yesterday he had skated in four consecutive days and practiced the previous three.
“You can interpret what you want at this time,” Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault stated cryptically. “Cory is day-to-day.”
- Brian Hunter of the Chicago Tribune: Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery briefly worked out yesterday, but he won’t be available for Game 2. Dave Bollanddidn’t skate yesterday won’t be available either.
“We’re going to rule them out,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said after practice. “Bollie didn’t skate but he’s getting real close to getting on the ice. (Emery) felt good, too. It was good progress.”
- Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun: Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Kostka will miss the remainder of the series with a broken finger. Jake Gardiner or Ryan O’Bryne will replace Kostka. Phil Kessel had a maintenance day for a suspected left wrist injury. Defenseman Cody Franson was limping around with a bruised foot.
Roster Notes and Lines: Crosby, Luongo, Horton, Penguins, Canadiens and Senators
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News on May 1st, 2013
- Josh Yohe: Sidney Crosby is officially out for tonight. Bob McKenzie: Crosby is close to returning. He’ll be a “game-time decision” until he returns.
- Randy Sportak: Roberto Luongo will start in net for the Canucks.
- James Mirtle: Bruins Nathan Horton is a game-time decision.
- Shelly Anderson: Penguins lines: Kunitz-Malkin-Neal Iginla-Jussi-Dupuis Morrow-Sutter-Cooke Glass-Adams-Bennett Jeffrey/Vitale-Crosby-Kennedy.
- Bruce Garrioch: Canadiens lines: Ryder-Plekanec-Gionta; Pacioretty-Desharnais-Bourque; Galchenyuk-Eller-Gallagher and Moen-White-Prust and Weber-Halpern-Armstrong. John Lu: Defensive pairings: Markov – Subban Gorges – Diaz Bouillon – Tinordi Kaberle – Drewiske
- Don Brennan: Senators lines: Michalek-Turris-Alfredsson, Latendresse-Michalek-Silfverberg, Conacher-Pageau-Condra, Greening-Smith-Neil. Defensive pairings: Methot-Karlsson, Cowen-Gonchar, Phillips-Gryba
Roster Notes: Blues, Wild, Leafs, Canucks, Rangers, Penguins, Bruins, Capitals, Canadiens, and Ducks
Posted by Mark Easson in Fantasy Hockey News, NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Starting Goalies on April 30th, 2013
- 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.
Morning Hits: Briere, Smith, Bryzgalov, Elias, Iginla, Laviolette, Byfuglien, Whitney and the Hurricanes
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on April 29th, 2013
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: If the Flyers buyout Daniel Briere, he could end up in Montreal.Coyotes Mike Smith is looking for $6 million a year and has refused to sign a deal with the Coyotes.
Smith could be an option in Philadelphia if they buyout Ilya Bryzgalov. Flyers management is split on buying him out now or waiting to see how he does next year, and if it’s not good, then buy him out next spring.
Garrioch has heard there is about a 50/50 chance that Patrick Elias returns to the Devils. The Flyers, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Red Wings and Sharks will all be looking for help upfront.
Jarome Iginla signing with the Stars could be a good bet.
- Dave Isaac of the Courier Post: Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said you can expect Peter Laviolette back as the Flyers coach next season. They will keep the same system in place, and there won’t be an overhaul of players.
- Dave Isaac of the Courier Post: Flyers GM Paul Holmgren has said that Ilya Bryzgalov’s eccentric personality isn’t a problem. Forward Daniel Briere understands the situation. If the Flyers buy him out, it would cost them $3.3 million over four years.
- Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press: Lawless thinks that Jets Dustin Byfuglien needs to “either commit to excellence or be traded.”
- Derek Van Diest of the Edmonton Sun: Oilers UFA defenseman Ryan Whitney thinks it’s probably in his best interests to get a fresh start somewhere else next season.
“I think I can still play, I’ve proven that I can,” Whitney said. “Obviously there were some games where I didn’t play well, but there were a stretch of games where I thought I did play well. It’s been a tough couple of years here, I’m just kind of looking forward to a fresh start.”
- Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Hurricanes Tuomo Ruutu will have hip surgery. GM Jim Rutherford likes his core group, but there will be some new faces next year. They have to decide on their UFAs: Chad LaRose, Tim Brent, Joe Corvo, Bobby Sanguinetti, Marc-Andre Bergeron and Dan Ellis. Their blue line will be a priority for Rutherford.
Morning Hits: Bishop, Laganiere, Soderberg, Franzen, Laviolette and the Maloofs
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on April 16th, 2013
- Renaud Lavoie: The Lightning have signed goalie Ben Bishop to a two-year contract extension. Capgeek.com: Bishop will make $2.2 million next year and $2.4 the following year, a $2.3 million salary cap hit.
- L.A. Lariviere: The Canadiens were to talk with college free agent Antoine Laganiere again yesterday. There are at least three other teams he’s talking too. He could decide today.
- Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe: Bruins Carl Soderberg is expected to arrive in Boston today and should be practicing with the team tomorrow morning.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings Johan Franzen has been getting the reputation of being soft over the past couple years. He missed seven games in February with a hip flexor. He’s been playing well of late, recording 16 points in his last 20 games. He signed an 11-year, $43.5 million extension in 2009. The Wings won’t be using their amnesty buyout on him.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Flyers coach Peter Laviolette received a vote of confidence from GM Paul Holmgren yesterday.
“I haven’t even thought along those lines,” he told The Inquirer in a phone conversation. “I think it’s been a difficult year because of the (injury) situation. We haven’t had our whole team all year.
“I don’t blame the coaches.”
After yesterday’s morning skate, Holmgren said that he expects Laviolette to be coaching the Flyers next season.
- Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee: (published last Friday) The Maloofs, owners of the NBA Sacramento Kings, who are in the process of selling the team, have looked into buying an NHL team and having them play Las Vegas. (Elliotte Friedman talked about this in Saturday’s Hotstove, saying the NHL hasn’t talked to them in years.)
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