Posts Tagged Sergei Samsonov

CBA talks continue … Bruins talking with several players … Malkin and Kovalchuk to KHL if lockout … Canucks made offer for Doan

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 28th, 2012

  • Aaron Ward via twitter: “they (players) may take less in the future,but not less than they already have.If NHL offer similar to first,we’re counting the days.” … “Key indication that CBA negotiations will move forward,if in fact NHL does table a proposal,is if the offer addresses NHLPA position that “
  • Dan Rosen via twitter: CBA talks today will include only Gary Bettman, Bill Daly, Donald Fehr and Steve Fehr and will focus on core economics.
  • The Fourth Period: Talks between the Bruins and Tyler Seguin are ongoing. The Bruins stepped up their efforts after Jeff Skinner and Taylor Hall signed. A Seguin deal could be in the 6 to 8 year range, and worth between $5 million and $7 million. The Bruins are also working on deals for Andrew Ference, Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic. All have 1 year left on their deals.
  • Slava Malamud via twitter: Sport-Express reports that if there is a lengthy lockout, Evgeni Malkin will play with CSKA, Ilya Kovalchuk for SKA, with Alex Ovechkin and Pavel Datsyuk to be determined. Magnitogorsk VP denies the Malkin to CSKA, saying they have the KHL contract arbitration ruling on their side.
  • Will DePaoli via twitter: Almost all of JP Barry’s Russian clients will play in the KHL if there is a lockout. Said that nothing was final regarding Malkin.
  • Dave Molinari via twitter: Penguins GM Ray Shero is not aggressively looking for a top-pairing defenseman, “Barring something unforeseen, we’ll go into training camp with group we have.” The main reason is they are rare and none are available at this time.
  • Josh Yohe via twitter: Shero on Shane Doan, “We have interest. But he has made it clear he wants to stay in Phoenix.”
  • Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area: Sergei Samsonov’s agent said yesterday that they are still speaking with several teams, and expects talks to extend into September. The Sharks are believed to be one of the teams interested.

    “Sergei is healthy, fit and determined to make a successful comeback into the NHL,” Abbott said. “The labor uncertainty, however, is affecting the process and the looming lockout complicates the matter.”

    Darren Dreger via twitter: The Canucks re-signed Eddie Lack to a 2 year deal worth $1.5 million.

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Neuvirth comments on Holtby and Semin … Yakupov looking at KHL? Samsonov looking for a tryout … Some CBJ could be sent to AHL

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 22nd, 2012

  • Stephen Whyno via twitter: Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth tells iSport.cz that Braden Holtby is his “weakest competition yet.” Brian Stubits of CBS Sports: (Russian Machine Never Breaks translation) Neuvirth did clarify a little better,

    He sure is a great goalie. But I can’t compare him to Voky or Varlamov, that’s what I meant. In comparison to those two, he played nothing in the NHL and that’s why I take him as the weakest of them three. I’m definitely not saying that he is bad, not at all. I actually like the way he plays. But he is the worst of them three, that’s all.

    Neuvirth’s thoughts on Alexander Semin,

    I see the leaving of Semin as a huge minus for the team, but then again I think it may do some good. He didn’t have the best work ethic. Maybe now when Ovi will be without him, he will put more into hockey. Maybe that’s what the management was going for. … I think it’s nothing that isn’t well known. If Semin wanted to, he could have been the best player in the world, but he doesn’t want to every day. And that’s wrong.

  • Szymon Szemberg via twitter: Nail Yakupov’s agent, Igor Larionov, said that if there is a lockout, Yakupov will head to the KHL instead of returning to Sarnia of the OHL.

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Looking at legal action against Cherry … Crosby could be cleared for contact … Stars may need to add to get to floor … Kadri healing quickly

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on October 11th, 2011

  • James Mirtle via twitter: Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson are “considering further recourse” against Don Cherry. “Cherry’s comments were … baseless and slanderous.” Josh Cooper via twitter: Stu Grimson: “Further recourse does include an investigation into what legal recourse might be available to this group.”
  • Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News: Rangers defenseman is still receiving treatment for a his headaches and likely won’t be with the team this week. Tortorella received word on Saturday that Staal was “feeling good.” Asked if he’s prepared for a long-term Staal absence, Tortorella said: “I don’t know if you prepare that way. We just – whoever’s out there practicing, we’re preparing. And if someday Marc comes in and he’s there, we’re gonna prepare him the best we can to play a game.”
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: So with Sean Avery’s salary cap number not counting against the Dallas Stars cap number while he’s on the AHL, it may require them to add someone to make sure they don’t fall below the cap floor. The new player they add may have to make $1.2 million or more. Winger Tomas Vincour is only at $800,000 so he may have to move to the AHL for a more expensive player. Some free agents GM Joe Nieuwendyk could look at: Mike Grier, John Madden, Sergei Samsonov, Steve Bernier, Chris Clark, and Michael Nylander.
  • Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune: Lightning defenseman Mattias Ohlund will be out for up to a month as he’ll be having arthroscopic surgery on both knees today. He’s already on the IR, and hasn’t skated since Sept. 29th. “I’m going to say four to six weeks, but it really depends on how he feels, so it could be before that,” Yzerman said. The Lightning already have 7 healthy defenseman on the roster so it’s unlikely they look to acquire someone.
  • Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News: The Red Wings power play is 0 for 9 to start the season, so they’ll try Jiri Hudler on the wing during Thursday’s game against the Canucks.
  • Eric Stephenson of the OC Register: Recently acquired Kyle Cumiskey is expected to head to the Ducks AHL team. Goalie Jeff Deslauriers and winger Brian McGrattan need to clear waivers before they can head to Syracuse.
  • Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun: Leafs forward Nazem Kadri is recovering quickly, “The little bastard is back faster than I was led to believe,” Wilson said. Kadri suffered a knee injury in late September and may find himself playing for the Marlies for a bit to shed some rust. He was expected to be out 3 to 4 weeks, but is back on the ice after only 2.

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Myers and Schenn close … Brodeur may not be with Devils next year … Turris may not get done by camp … A team in Quebec City in 2 years?

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on September 15th, 2011

John Vogl of the Buffalo News: The Sabres are close to locking up Tyler Myers to a long-term deal, with the final hurdle being length of the deal. TSN is reporting a 6 year, $33 million deal.

“We had two sides that wanted to stay together,” Myers’ agent, J.P. Barry, said by phone. “Tyler wanted to remain a Sabre, and having this done at an early stage was something that he wanted. He’s happy that the club approached him about wanting to do this early.”

“We’re not far away at all,” Barry said. “We’ve been working for the better part of the last week here, and we’re definitely proceeding here every day. We’re working hard on trying to get something finalized.”

Mark Everson of the NY Post: Martin Brodeur will be a UFA at the end of the season, and though he hopes this isn’t his last season with the Devils, he may leave if the team is rebuilding. If there is a lockout, he may retire.

“I don’t want to put any barriers on my decision,” he said. “I would love to stay forever in New Jersey. That’s my goal.

“Then again, if they’re going a different route, and I feel I want to play, I can’t close these doors. I don’t want to go anywhere, that’s the bottom line.

“And I don’t know if I want to play [at all]. I’m not saying I’m going to play this out and go somewhere. That’s not my intention at all. It might come to that because of circumstances, but I don’t think it will happen.”

Matthew Sekeres of the Globe and Mail: Sekeres wonders if Kyle Turris’ wanting between $3 – $4 million from the Coyotes is “a trade request in disguise.” It appears that the 2 sides are still far apart and that it may not get done by the start of camp. The Coyotes have gone with defensive minded veterans in the last couple years, limiting playing time for younger players.

Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun: Luke Schenn isn’t stressing over the fact that his contract hasn’t been finalized yet. Reports are saying that he could get a deal around $4 million per season, but that was before Zach Bogosian signed a 2 year deal averaging $2.5 million. Koshan thinks that Schenn’s deal may be closer to Bogosian’s number than the $4 million.

Wayne Scanlan of the Ottawa Citizen: Senators owner Eugene Melnyk admits that he lost money last year but isn’t considering selling the team. The Fan 590 was saying that he lost $14 million and might be looking to sell. Melnyk has filed a grievance awhile ago with the NHL regarding a $4 million bonus paid to Dany Heatley on July 1st 2009 after Heatley nixed a trade to Edmonton.

“That’s going to continue on. It’s taking so long, it’s ridiculous,” Melnyk said. “The hearing . . . hopefully one day you get it and the guy doesn’t blow all his money, that he’s got money to pay back. So, I just want to make sure he has got the money around when he has got to pay us back.”

Toronto Sun: The former owner of the Quebec Nordiques, Marcel Aubut, thinks that the NHL will return to Quebec City in the next 2 years. The new arena won’t be finished until 2015, and they may have had a team sooner had the arena been finished already according to Aubut. If a team were to relocate in 2 years, it would have to play 2 years in the 61 year old Pepsi Colisee.

“If we had (built) earlier, we would have had a team today, not Winnipeg,” he said of the Atlanta Thrashers’ move to Manitoba in May.

“I know that (NHL commissioner Gary) Bettman would have chosen Quebec City way before Winnipeg. I remember when the Nordiques left, he said ‘we just lost a big asset, with the cultural aspect that Quebec represents.’ This was an American talking!”

Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: The Hurricanes added some depth to their blueline by signing Mathieu Roy to a 2-way deal that will pay him $600,000 in the NHL and $125,000 in the AHL, with a guarantee of at least $150,000.
Brian Wilde via twitter: Wilde thinks that if Andrei Markov’s knee needed to be drained there is somethign structurally wrong. “Fluids forming is sympathetic reaction to inherent problem.”

Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News: UFA Sergei Samsonov has been skating with the Red Wings and would like a tryout, but the Wings may be comfortable with their depth at forward.

Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: The Flyers have signed Blake Kessel to a 2 year entry-level deal and invited Adam Mair to camp.

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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.

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Marchand still without deal … NHLPA should be polled on fighting … 2 spots open on Blues roster … Pandolfo gets PTO … No PTO for McCabe and Samsonov … Wild lines

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 4th, 2011

  • Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: There’s 12 days until the start of Bruins camp and Brad Marchand still hasn’t re-signed. GM Peter Chiarelli and agent Wade Arnott won’t comment. 3 comparables that will likely be used are: James van Riemsdyk’s 6 years and $25.5 million, Logan Couture 2 years at $5.75 million, and on the low end Nathan Gerbe 3 years at $4.3 million. Shinzawa thinks Marchand should come in just under Couture’s deal, possibly a 2 year deal at $5 million.
  • Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Simmons thinks the NHLPA should poll it’s members to see if they think fighting should stay in the NHL and the ones doing the fighting deserve to be heard.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: The Blues may have only 2 spots open on their 23 man roster heading into training camp which starts on the 16th. David Perron won’t be ready for camp. The Blues have 12 forwards and 5 defenseman (Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk are on 2-way deals but will be with the team) on 1-way contracts. Basically Chris Porter, Evgeny Grachev, Jonathan Cheechoo and Ryan Reaves will be battling for the final 2 spots.
  • Katie Strang via twitter: Bryan McCabe and Sergei Samsonov are likely reluctant to accept a tryout invite and are hoping for a deal. They might wait and see if there are training camp injuries.
  • Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune: The Wild’s lines could look like: Mikko Koivu-Devin Setoguchi-Dany Heatley, Matt Cullen-Guillaume Latendresse-P-M Bouchard. Darroll Powe-Kyle Brodziak-Cal Clutterbuck, Colton Gillies-Eric Nystrom-Brad Staubitz.
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Eric Belanger signed a 3 year deal with the Oilers earlier this off-season, his 7th team since the lockout. It will be his oldest daughter (8 years old) 4th school in 4 years. “It’s the reality of the new NHL. You see lots of guys moving around. It’s not a bad thing. It means lots of teams want you. You’re doing something right. I actually was in one organization for 10 years, in Los Angeles. But since the lockout, I have moved around. Every place I’ve been has been nice,” he said.

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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: 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)

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A quiet Leafs summer … Hulsizer candidate to by Blues … Possible retirees this year and next

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 22nd, 2011

  • George Popalis of the Toronto Sun: The Maple Leafs have been quiet this summer with regards to the free agent market, not doing anything since Tim Connolly, and it’s probably a good thing. Over paying for someone and talking away a roster spot for a someone in their young core may not be the best for the team. Nazem Kadri, Joe Colborne, Luca Caputi, Matt Frattin, Jerry D’Amigo, Jake Gardiner and Jesse Blacker are all in their early 20′s and deserve a good look at camp.
  • Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Matthew Hulsizer is one of the candidates attempting to buy the St. Louis Blues. It’s expected that Hulsizer will submit a bid to buy the Blues. The deadline to submit a bid is today. Current minority owner Tom Stillman is also expected to make a bid.
  • Lyle Richardson of Spector’s Hockey: Spector lists some players who could retire this year or next: Teemu Selanne, Mike Modano, Cory Stillman, Marty Turco, John Madden, Sergei Samsonov, Mike Grier. Possible candidates for retiring next summer: Martin Brodeur, Nicklas Lidstrom, Sheldon Souray, Jason Blake, Saku Koivu, Sean Avery, Jaroslav Spacek, Filip Kuba, Willie Mitchell, Jaromir Jagr, Ray Whitney and Steve Sullivan.

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Allen’s 10 early projections … Nassau vote today, Kansas City and NJ Nets owner could be paying attention … Weber’s hearing tomorrow

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 1st, 2011

  • Kevin Allen of the USA Today: Allen offers 10 early projections for the upcoming season. 1. Jeff Carter and Rick Nash will score more than 75 combined goals this season. 2. Predicts the Oilers will be an “elite Pittsburgh Penguins-style contender by 2013-14.” 3. If Shane Doan isn’t re-signed during the season, he’ll be hot name at the trade deadline. 4. Ales Hemsky will lead the league in trade rumors again. 5. The Rangers and Sabres have improved and should move up the standings. Some think the Capitals and Penguins will drop, Allen doesn’t. 6. Best bargain goaltending: Tomas Vokoun ($1.5 million), Jonathan Quick ($1.8 million) and Jimmy Howard ($2.25 million). 7. The Predators will acquire a top 6 scoring forward. Cory Stillman and Sergei Samsonov are free agents, or they could go the trade route with teams looking so shed some salary. 8. The Lightning will give up 20 to 25 less goals due to having Dwayne Roloson for the entire season. 9. Predators Blake Geoffrion will be in the rookie of the year race. 10. Sabres owner Terry Pegula will be the teams MVP this year.
  • Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Nassau County referendum vote for a new arena is today. If they don’t get a positive vote for a new arena, the team could be up for sale. Would NJ Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov want to buy the club and bring it to Brooklyn? The new arena being built in Brooklyn will be ready for the 2012-13 season, and could fill 44-60 dates.
  • Peter Grathoff of the Kansas City Star: If votes go in the way of not building the new arena in Nassau County, it could one day increase the chances of moving them to Kansas City. The Islanders lease expires at the Nassau Coliseum in 2015.
  • Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Shea Weber’s arbitration hearing is tomorrow morning at 8 a.m., and both sides have filed their written briefs. After briefs are filed, it sometimes speeds up negotiations to get a deal done before the hearing.
  • Kelly Friesen via twitter: Word is that the Blues would like Jaden Schwartz to play with the Tri-City Americans but he’d rather stay at Colorado College.

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Shea Weber update … Emery gets tryout from ‘Hawks … Khabibulin heading to ‘Tent City’ … Some remaining UFAs

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on July 28th, 2011

  • Josh Cooper of the Tennessean: Shea Weber and the Predators have their arbitration hearing on August 2nd if a deal can’t get done before.

    “It would be way better for the player and the team to negotiate a contract,” Predators General Manager David Poile said. “But the arbitration gives you that ability if you can’t do that. And right now that’s where we fall if we can’t get a contract done.”

    Yesterday morning Poile said he tried contacting Weber’s agents but hadn’t heard back from them.

    “We are preparing to go to Toronto (for arbitration),” Poile said. “Would I like to sign Shea to a longer-term contract vs. going to arbitration? Absolutely.”

  • Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: Goalie Ray Emery will be attending the Chicago Blackhawks training camp on a tryout. He’ll battle Alexander Salak for the backup position. The Blackhawks will have until Oct. 1st to decide whether to sign him or not. “He’s an NHL goalie,” Barry said. “He’s there to play in the NHL. That’s what the plan is. He would not want to start in the ‘A.’ He certainly intends to be worthy of a one-way deal.”
  • Conal Pierse of the Edmonton Journal: Nikolai Khabibulin will spend 15 days in Arizona’s Tent City Jail. “There will be no coffee, no salt, no cigarettes, no porno, no movies,” Arpaio said. “The only television we give them is the weather channel, so they can see how hot it is.”
  • Paul Hunter of the Toronto Star: There are some big names left on the free agent market, but their better years may be behind them. Some may be forced to leave the league, take big pay cuts or retire. Teemu Selanne still hasn’t informed the Ducks what he plans on doing. Some other players available are: Bryan McCabe, Chris Drury, Scott Hannan, Cory Stillman, Nikolai Zherdev, Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Samsonov, John Madden, Marty Turco, Mike Modano.
  • Winnipeg Sun: A Russian news organization is saying that Nikolai Zherdev wants to play for the Jets. No word if they want him or not.

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‘Collusion’ surrounding Stamkos and Doughty? Malone ready for training camp … Prospal signs with Blue Jackets

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on July 24th, 2011

  • Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe: 3 ex-Bruins are still on the market: Sergei Samsonov, Nick Boynton, and Paul Mara. Dupont brings up the word ‘collusion’, as he wonders about no one putting forth an offer sheet for Steven Stamkos as “they simply opt not to violate the wink-wink, nudge-nudge gentlemen’s agreement that mysteriously has GMs unwilling to raid their competitors’ rosters.” A realistic comparison for RFA Brad Marchand could be Lightning’s Teddy Purcell who signed a 2 year deal with a cap hit of $2.36 million. Could also do a 3 year, $9 million deal. The Winnipeg Jets told Manitoba native Shane Hnidy that there may not be room for him on their blueline after he asked them if they needed help.  The Lightning have a lot of money tied up in there top 3, and not a lot left to for $2-3 million 3rd liners. Ryan Malone and  his $4.5 million cap hit could be moved. Rumors have Craig MacTavish possibly coaching Vancouver’s AHL affiliate in Chicago.
  • Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Simmons also throws out the ‘collusion’ word with regards to Stamkos and Drew Doughty. “it’s not the job of hockey general managers to act as the conscience of the game. It’s their job to make their teams better.” There were no offers made to Stamkos and there haven’t been any exploratory calls to Doughty.

    Stamkos, we’re told, would have seriously considered signing a one-year, $12-million deal. But the problem with an offer like that is that Tampa would have matched it. The longer-term, larger-money deal, might have been too rich for the Lightning to match. That’s probably where the Leafs had to go if they wanted to play that game.

  • Tampa Bay Lightning via twitter: Lightning PR on Ryan Malone: “The 4-6 months is inaccurate. He did have shoulder surgery, but he should be fine for the start of training camp.”

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Rangers lock up Boyle, Dubinsky and Callahan remain … Jackets looking at FA wingers, maybe Hemsky? Alzner talks continue … Yzerman – Purcell talks continue

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on July 15th, 2011

  • Larry Brooks of the NY Post: The Rangers locked up another one of their RFAs yesterday, signing Brian Boyle to a 3 year deal worth $5.1 million, a $1.7 million cap hit. Ryan Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky have both filed for salary arbitration. Dubinsky’s hearing is next Thrusday and the Rangers are expected to select a 2 year arbitration award. Dubinsky is scheduled to be a UFA in 2 years. Callahan would be a UFA after next season. Dubinsky and Callahan are expected to get between a $3.7 and $4.4 million arbitration award. The Rangers are looking for a veteran 3rd pair defenseman.
  • Steve Zipay of Newsday: The Rangers have about $11.2 million remaining, so there is plenty of room to get Dubinsky and Callahan signed. Both players are expected to sign multi-year contracts worth around $4 million per season.
  • Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: Kristian Huselius had surgery yesterday to repair his torn pectoral muscle. GM Scott Howson will meet up with Huselius today, in between phone calls where he’ll be looking for a free agent winger.

    “We’re going to be active,” Howson said. “We’re going to do our best to find somebody who can help us get through this stretch of games without (Huselius) – however long that may be.”

    They will be seeking to sign someone to a 1 year deal worth $2 million or less. Some possibilities are: Cory Stillman, Vaclav Prospal, Brendan Morrison, Steve Bernier, Sergei Samsonov, J.P. Dumont, Marek Svatos and Jason Williams.

  • Aaron Portzline via twitter: Portzline wouldn’t be surprised if Kristian Huselius’ injury sparked talk on the long-whispered Ales Hemsky to Columbus deal.
  • Stephen Whyno via twitter: Karl Alzner’s agent in a text: “We are still talking and will continue the negotiations [yesterday].”
  • Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times:  Teddy Purcell’s arbitration hearing is set for July 20th, but GM Steve Yzerman hopes to get a deal done before that. The sides are not far apart after they had a “good, long” conversation last night.

    “I fully expect to see Teddy in the lineup in September and have a contract done,” Yzerman said. ”Whether it’s through the arbitration process or before that, we’ll have a contract in place next week.”

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