Posts Tagged Niklas Backstrom

Schneider safe at deadline … Preds claim Yip … Carson, Repik to waivers … Hall hopes to play Saturday … Steen out … Starting goalies

  • Jason Botchford via twitter: From what Cory Schneider has been told regarding the trade deadline, he doesn’t have much to worry about.
  • Tom Gulitti via twitter: Devils goalie Johan Hedberg hasn’t made a definite decision, but is thinking he’ll likely play next year.
  • Tom Gulitti via twitter: Devils lines: Parise-Henrique-Kovalchuk; Sykora-Elias-Zubrus; Zalewski-Josefson-Clarkson; Carter-Mills-Janssen.

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Afternoon notes on Backstrom, Madden, Phillips, Orr, Carcillo, Blackhawks, Devils, Sabres and starting goalies

  • Brian McNally via twitter: Capitals coach Dale Hunter said that Niklas Backstrom is day-to-day and is still being evaluated.
  • Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: Senators defenseman Chris Phillips is out with a concussion. “We’re going to be hopeful that it’s short term and it’s being evaluated and it appears to be a mild one, but it depends on him,” said MacLean.
  • Tim Sassone via twitter: The Blackhawks have recalled Andrew Shaw and Dylan Olsen and have put Steve Montador and Marcus Kruger on the IR.

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Ducks should trade Getzlaf? Bourque up for suspension … Blues sale terminated … Theodore out 2 weeks … Weber practices

  • Jeff Miller of the OC Register: Miller thinks the Ducks should trade Ryan Getzlaf if there is a deal that significantly improves the Ducks. Miller: “For whatever reason, this just isn’t working. It isn’t working for the Ducks, and it certainly isn’t working for Getzlaf.” Getzlaf has only 6 goals and 25 points, and is on pace for 55 points. He entered the year averaging .965 points per game. Selanne may want to finish his career on a contender: “You never say ‘never,’ ” Selanne explained. “But I don’t want to waste any thoughts on it right now. It’s time to have fun here. You just keep fighting as long as you can breathe.”
  • Stephen Whyno via twitter: Flames forward Rene Bourque has a hearing with the NHL over an elbow to the head of Nicklas Backstrom. Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington: Capitals Niklas Backstrom left last night’s game after taking a Rene Bourque elbow to the head. He was removed from the game for precautionary reasons, and will be evaluated today. Video at bottom of entry.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: The NHL has terminated the purchase agreement between the Blues and Matthew Hulsizer. Blues minority owner Tom Stillman has the opportunity to step in and purchase the team. Hulsizer didn’t make the NHL’s imposed deadline to buy the club. Hulsizer was attempting to restructure the financing of the deal several times. Some sources are saying that Stillman has an exclusive 75 day window to complete the deal, while other are saying the Blues can negotiate with anyone, including Hulsizer.
  • Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins Pascal Dupuis, out with an upper-body injury, skated before practice and is day-to-day. Arron Asham is also day-to-day, didn’t skate yesterday but isn’t walking around with a limp after taking a shot off the knee.
  • Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Flyers James van Riemsdyk will fill in for the injured Jaromir Jagr on the top line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. Ilya Bryzgalov is expected to start on Thursday.
  • Mike Organ of the Tennessean: Predators defenseman Shea Weber practiced yesterday with limited contact for the 1st time since suffering a concussion 12 days ago. “There is still no time line on him,” Trotz said. “It’s when he feels comfortable; when he feels that he’s ready to go, then he’ll come and let us know. Between the doctors, the trainers and Shea, they’ll make that decision.”

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Afternoon notes on both Michalek’s, Leino, Visnovsky, Chara, Hall, Green, Miettinen, Zidlicky and starting goalies

  • Ian Mendes via twitter: Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara said he “most likely will not” be in the lineup against the Senators. He’ll be a game time decision though.
  • Chris Kuc via twitter: Niklas Backstrom will start in net for the Wild against the Blackhawks. Ray Emery will start for the Blackhawks.

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Sutter to Kings? Jets claim Miettinen … Giroux out with concussion … Downie fined … Campbell fractures foot … Starting goalies

  • Pierre LeBrun via twitter: Sources confirm that the Kings have officially sought permission from the Calgary Flames to speak with Darryl Sutter. Josh Rimer via twitter: Rimer is hearing that Sutter could be named the new Kings coach tomorrow.
  • Philadelphia Flyers on NHL.com: Flyers GM Paul Holmgrenon Claude Giroux:

    “Claude reported not feeling very good today. Over the past few days, his symptoms have gradually gotten worse.  He will be out indefinitely with a concussion”

  • Tom Gulitti via twitter: Lightning forward Steve Downie was fined $2,500 for leaving the bench on a legal line change to get into an altercation.
  • Chip Alexander via twitter: Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford said that Jeff Skinner will be evaluated by doctors in Raleigh before a timetable on his return is given.
  • Joe Haggerty via twitter: Bruins forward Greg Campbell has a fractured foot and will be out against the Kings and Senators.
  • Jonas Siegel via twitter: Maple Leafs forward Matthew Lombardi skated with teammates for the 1st time since his shoulder injury.
  • Andrew Gross via twitter: Rangers forward Michael Rupp has been cleared for contact. He’s not quite ready for game action, but will be on the trip.
  • Joe Haggerty via twitter: Tuukka Rask will start in net for the Bruins against the Kings. Tim Thomas will start in net for the Bruins tomorrow against the Senators.

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Tradability of some Capitals … Gillis responds to Luongo rumors … Injury notes on Markov, MacDonald, Kubina, Martinez, Richards, Higgins and Morrow

  • Craig Custance of ESPN: Custance looks at the tradability of some Capitals if they can’t turn it around. Alex Ovechkin: Anything is possible, but he is the face the franchise. He has a cap hit of $9.5 million until 2020-21. Hard to imagine they’d move him. Mike Green: He’ll be a RFA at seasons end. Battling injuries all year, but could be a centerpiece of a Capitals shakeup. Alexander Semin: Carries a cap hit of $6.7 million and has been in the rumor mill for awhile. He would be the most likely ‘top’ player to be dealt if the Capitals decided to do something big. May only get a draft pick for him and not a player in return that would help win a Cup. Nicklas Backstrom: Like Ovechkin, pretty much an untouchable. Has a modified no-trade clause.
  • Elliotte Friedman of CBC.ca: Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said it’s not his final season, “Not unless you know something I don’t.” On Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford giving up his GM post to Ron Francis, “That may happen at some point,” Rutherford said. “But it’s not just around the corner.” The Hurricanes could look to move Tuomo Ruuttu and Tomas Kaberle. A couple of GMs have said a players contract for this year can make it difficult to make a trade. Many teams are at the top of their budget or over due to injuries. Ducks GM Murray said many teams called about Ryan, some thought he was being “auctioned off. ” Toronto, Philadelphia, Rangers, Vancouver, Florida, Carolina, Minnesota and others had interest. Murray added that Selanne will retire a Duck. Some Cup contenders have some cap room this year: Sharks ($2.5 million), Bruins ($4.5 million), Blackhawks ($5.5 million) and Red Wings ($5.6 million). The Panthers were interested in Kyle Turris, but it may be difficult to mess with chemistry down in Florida now. Friedman wonders if the Flames would consider trading Miikka Kiprusoff. His no-movement clause ends at the end of the season.
  • Katie Strang via twitter: Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald has been put the IR and is expected to be out 2 to 4 weeks with a right leg injury.
  • Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Bay Times: Lightning defenseman Mattias Ohlund suffered a “big” setback in his recovery. Pavel Kubina has a lower body injury and missed last night’s game. He is not ruling himself out for tonight’s game. “Let’s not kid ourselves,” Boucher said. “We’re not in a position as a team to lose defensemen and keep playing and look the same way. The reality is it’s something we know we have to improve, so it’s tough.” Mathieu Garon will likely start in net tonight.
  • Rich Hammond via twitter: Kings Alec Martinez has been medically cleared to return but will likely miss at least one more game. Mike Richards is “feeling better” but hasn’t returned to the ice and will miss at least the next 2 games due to being on the IR. Richards is able to ride a stationary bike.
  • Monte Stewart of the Globe and Mail: Canucks will be without Chris Higgins tonight as he’s out with a staph infection in his foot. Viktor Oreskovich was recalled and will likely find himself on the 4th line.
  • Jim Diamond via twitter: Pekka Rinne will start in net for the Predators tonight against the Coyotes. Unless according to coach Barry Trotz “he has the flu or falls down the stairs or something like that.”

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Flames GM talks Iginla, Coaching and Sarich … Richards to IR, Penner off … Perron to return tonight … Backstrom leaves after 1st

  • Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald: Flames GM Jay Feaster on Jarome Iginla rumors (video at the bottom of the post):

    “Yours? OK, I’ll look straight into yours and I will tell you that it is not true. Jarome Iginla has not been asked to waive his no-trade (clause). Jarome Iginla has not demanded a trade or asked for a trade. There is no list. There is no smoking gun. This is nobody on the grassy knoll. What else do you need?”

    Feaster on the Flames coaching:

    “You know what? I’m happy with this coaching staff — that’s probably the dreaded vote of confidence or whatever they call it,” said Feaster. “This coaching staff has done a good job. They work hard. They have done a good job of teaching. We all know the results are not where they need to be. But, despite the results not being there, this is not a group (of players) that has tuned out the coaches. There’s no issue, from my perspective, with Brent or his coaches.”

    Feaster on Cory Sarich’s trade request:

    “Whether that’s in my office or on the bus or in the hotel suite or in the corridor on the road, those conversations are not something I feel comfortable about sharing with the media,” said Feaster. “Cory’s an important part of the group here. Cory’s an important part of the mix right now. It isn’t just the kids that have an opportunity (in the absence of Giordano) … that includes Cory.”

  • Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun: The Senators are interested in Blue Jackets Derick Brassard, but he’s a bit of gamble with 2 years left at a $3.2 million cap hit.
  • LA Daily News: The Kings put Mike Richards on the IR and activated Dustin Penner. Richards is expected to miss at least a few games. Willie Mitchell will miss several games with a lower body injury.
  • Adrian Dater of the Denver Post: Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson missed last nights game with a pulled groin that he suffered at a bag skate. Peter Muller also injured his groin at the same skate.
  • Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom left after the 1st period last night with a lower-body injury. Coach Mike Yeo doesn’t think the injury is “extremely serious.”

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Bogosian gets nothing … Turris could be staying for now … Pronger, Morrow, and Gomez out tonight … Whitney returns

  • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: It doesn’t look like the Coyotes will be trading Kyle Turris anytime soon. One league executive said:

    “I don’t think he’s going anywhere. Hard to give up on a No. 3 pick for any organization,”

    “Maybe before the trade deadline, but he’s going to have to play some games and contribute so teams are able to find out where he’s at.

    “This wasn’t a well-thought-out plan by Turris and his camp.”

    The Flames, Canucks, Maple Leafs, Islanders, Blues and Senators have shown interest at some point. If Maloney does decide to deal him, he’ll want young assets in return. Mika Zibanejad or Jared Cowen don’t make much sense for the Senators but they do have other high-end prospects.

  • Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Kyle Turris will skate with the Coyotes today for the 1st time since signing his contract.

    “I don’t have any regrets,” Turris said Thursday. “I’m just going to go out and work hard and try to help the team win and whatever happens happens.”

    The Coyotes will have to see if the relationship can mend or they will move him.

    “Sometimes, you kiss and make up and you’re family forever,” Maloney told the Arizona Republic. “In some cases, it doesn’t work and then you have to make a change. I’m hopeful it will work out.”

  • Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette: Canadiens forward Scott Gomez suffered a groin injury on Wednesday and will not play tonight against the Flyers or on Saturday against the Penguins.
  • John Vogl of the Buffalo News: The Sabres have called up their 2009 1st round pick, Zack Kassian. Tyler Ennis ruled himself out for tonight. Patrick Kaleta has a lower-body injury and there is no timetable for Brad Boyes return.
  • Katie Carrera via twitter: Capitals Cody Eakin was able to practice yesterday after being hit by Bogosian. “No headaches or anything, definitely not a concussion,” said Eakin. “I was buzzing a little bit after, but I don’t think the impact was too, too solid.”
  • Dan Murphy via twitter: Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome did not break his thumb on Wednesday, and is questionable for tonight.

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Afternoon notes on Comeau, Bergfors, Perron, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Ryan, Jagr, Pitkanen, Bogosian, Filatov, Ennis and Backstrom

  • Arthur Staple via twitter: The Islanders have placed forward Blake Comeau on waivers. He has no points in 16 games and is a -11. BD Galiof via twitter: Galiof wonders if a team like the Blue Jackets will take a chance on Comeau. Comeau on waivers means that no team was offering value back, or the Islanders think he can pass through. The Islanders were close to trading him in the summer before GM Garth Snow was able to get the price down on a new contract. Expect the Islanders to be willing to do the same with Reasoner and Rolston if their play doesn’t pick up. Galiof thinks that Comeau could be better on a low-end teams 2nd line. Didn’t play well on the Isles 3rd/4th lines.
  • Bob McKenzie via twitter: The Predators have put Niclas Bergfors on unconditional ($125) waivers. If he clears, they will mutually agree to terminate contract.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues winger David Perron is itching to get playing, and is getting closer.

    “There’s no date,” Perron said. “It’s just a matter of getting into practices and seeing how I react. It’s only been like four or five days (since he was cleared for contact) and I haven’t done a whole lot of it. We have a lot of games right now and a lot of optional skates and when it’s optional, it’s more about shooting and conditioning, so we haven’t gotten a lot of (physicality) yet.”

  • Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman:

    “I never believe you do something just to do something,” Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said. “You just try to make the team better, whether that’s through recalling somebody or a trade. I’m not going to react. You just have to assess your team.”

    “In general, teams really are not looking to take on contracts, take on money this time of the year and it’s hard to make a trade,” Yzerman said. “It’s hard to find a fit with teams because teams don’t want to give up their draft picks. Teams don’t want to give up their young guys.”

  • Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly: Flyers winger Jaromir Jagr aggravated his groin last night, and will likely miss at least 2 games. “We got two games and then five days off,” Jagr said. “I think I’m not going to play those two games and make sure when I come back I want to come back strong.”
  • Chip Alexander via twitter: Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen could return on Sunday according to coach Paul Maurice. No decision on who will come out.
  • Chip Alexander via twitter: Hurricanes lines at practice: Skinner, Staal, Ruutu; Poni, Jussi, LaRose; Tlusty, Sutter, Dwyer; Brett Sutter, Brent, Stewart.
  • David Alter via twitter: Leafs lines at practice: Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, MacA-Connolly-Kulie, Frattin-Colborne-Crabb, Steckel-Dupuis-Rosehill, extras, Orr,Grabovski. David Alter via twitter: Grabovski will be out at least another week.
  • Joy Lindsay via twitter: Nikita Filatov says he’ll have a meeting with Senators GM Bryan Murray in the future, to discuss his future. Expects it to be next week.
  • John Vogl via twitter: Sabres forward Tyler Ennis will not play on Friday. Patrick Kaleta is also out, so they will need to call up a forward.
  • Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune: Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom missed last night’s game due to personal reasons and is expected to return to the team in a few days.
  • Brent Sopel via twitter: Sopel says that he’s turned down 3 NHL teams as he won’t break his current contract.

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Afternoon notes on lines and starting goalies

Chip Alexander via twitter: Hurricanes lines: Stewart, LaRose working with Staal; Jussi with Ruutu, Skinner; Sutter with Dwyer, Poni; Brent with Dalpe, Tlusty.

Mark Stepneski via twitter: Stars lines: Eriksson with Morrow and Ribeiro. Ott with Benn and Ryder.

Aaron Portzline via twitter: Curtis Sanford will start in net for the Blue Jackets tonight against the Bruins.

Ian Mendes via twitter: Nikolai Khabibulin will start in net for the Oilers tonight against the Senators.

Harvey Fialkov via twitter: Jose Theodore will start in net for the Panthers.

Michael Russo via twitter: Niklas Backstrom will start in net for the Wild.

Dave Stubbs via twitter: Peter Budaj will start in net for the Canadiens against the Islanders. Carey Price will start on Saturday against the Rangers.

Arthur Staple via twitter: Evgeni Nabokov will start in net for the Islanders. Okposo and Eaton will be scratched.

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Kovalchuk a game-time decision … Huskins out 8 weeks … Connolly unlikely … Luongo not practicing … Starting goalies

  • Tom Gulitti via twitter: Devils coach Peter DeBoer originally said that Ilya Kovalchuk won’t play tonight. Rich Chere via twitter: Kovalchuk then said that he’ll take the warm-up and then make a decision. DeBoer then talked to Kovalchuk again and said that he’s a possibility for tonight.
  • Jonas Siegel via twitter: Tyler Bozak continues to skate with the Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, unlikely that Tim Connolly plays.
  • Dan Tencer via twitter: Oilers lines: Hall-RNH-Eberle, Smyth-Horcoff-Hemsky, Lander-Belanger-Jones, Eager-Gagner-Petrell.
  • Ben Kuzma via twitter: Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo isn’t practicing today. He stretched his groin on Sunday.

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Afternoon twitter notes on waiver claims, Smyth, Methot, Peverley, Spacek, Franson, Connolly, Malkin, Stralman, Backstrom, Rundblad and Filatov

  • Brian Wilde via twitter: The Canadiens won’t call anyone up to replace Jaro Spacek who’ll be out 2 to 3 weeks.
  • Tom Gulitti via twitter: Anton Stralman has been practicing with the Devils without a contract, is not practicing today. He is at immigration working on getting visa. Patrick Elias is not practicing, resting his lower body.
  • Marc Antoine Godin via twitter: Lines at Canadiens practice today: Moen-Plekanec-Cole, Pacioretty-Gomez-Gionta, Darche-Desharnais-Kostitsyn, Palushaj-Engqvist-Eller
  • David Alter via twitter: Lines at Leafs practice today: MacArthur-Grabo-Kulie, Lupul-Bozak-Kessel, Frattin-Lombardi-Armstrong, Steckel-Dupuis-Brown, Connolly-Kadri-Rosehill-Orr

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