Posts Tagged Tim Connelly

Kopecky signs with Panthers … Leafs almost acquire Talbot’s rights … Pens could sign Jagr today … Rangers to buyout Drury … Pitkanen re-sign with Canes, their other UFAs may not … Canucks options

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on June 29th, 2011

  • Damien Cox via twitter: “PITT negotiated Talbot’s neg rights to Leafs for a 5th rounder; Talbot wasn’t interested in around $1.7 mil per.”
  • Mike Brophy via twitter: If Jaromir Jagr signs with the Penguins today, Brophy hearing it could be for $2.1 million.
  • Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Chris Drury’s buyout from the NY Rangers will become official today. Drury decided against applying for a medical exception for his back knee. Drury will get $3.333 million from the buyout. If Drury decided to apply for the medical exception, the Rangers wouldn’t have been able to buy him out, and his cap number would have applied over the summer.

    “It was a great honor and privilege to be a New York Ranger for the past four years, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to fulfill that childhood dream,” Drury said in a statement that was sent to The Post by e-mail. “The Rangers are a first-class organization with great people in the hockey, public relations, team services and community relations departments.

  • Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: Joni Pitkanen re-signed with the Hurricanes for 3 years at $4.5 million per season. They also signed Patrick Dwyer to a 2 year deal worth $1.25 million. Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is now becoming pessimistic about re-signing Erik Cole, Jussi Jokinen and Chad LaRose. “I’m very, very disappointed,” Rutherford said Tuesday. “It does not look good.” Two years ago both Cole and LaRose tested free agency then re-signed with the Hurricanes, but not this time. “I don’t think we will cross that bridge twice,” he said. “We’ve made substantial offers.”
  • Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun: Canucks GM Mike Gillis now has to decide if he wants to replace Christian Ehrhoff from within or through free agency. He indicated that he may not jump into the limited free agent pool. “We’ll take it as it comes,” commented Gillis. “I’m unsure if there is going to be a defenceman out there who can help us. We’ll see what’s there and what’s available.” They currently have under contract, Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler, Keith Ballard, Aaron Rome and Chris Tanev, and are close on bringing back Sami Salo. Jason Botchford via twitter: Gillis and Salo’s agent will talk today.
  • Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun: The Canucks are looking to rebuild their bottom 6 forwards again. Raffi Torres, Chris Higgins, Tanner Glass and Jeff Tambellini are all UFAs. 5 forwards that might intrigue the Canucks are: Joel Ward (Nash), Tyler Kennedy (Pit), Tomas Fleischmann (Col), Anthony Stewart (Win) and Sean Bergenheim (TB).
  • John Vogl of the Buffalo News: The Buffalo Sabers have about $15 million that they can spend on free agency starting Friday. The Sabres would like to add a forward and defenseman. They currently have 15 players under contract for $51.8 million. They have $3.9 committed to 6 RFAs, and are left with $8.6 million in cap room. The $15 million comes from the ability to go over the cap by 10% during the summer. The Sabres and Tim Connolly’s side haven’t exchanged offers, and plan to have a chat soon.

    “We haven’t gotten into the stage of making offers to each other,” Barry said by phone. “We’re just talking about whether or not there’s a chance and whether or not it makes sense for them and for us to do something.”

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Spezza for #2 “Outlandish” … Kovalchuk situation … Center options for Gaborik … Price for Penner?

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Entry Draft, NHL Free Agents, NHL Opinion, NHL Rumors on June 15th, 2010

  • Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: Fluto calling Spezza to Bruins for the 2nd overall pick, “outlandish”.  He gives 5 reasons as to why it won’t happen. Do you think? Not a chance the Bruins would do that. That’s a Maple Leaf style rumor suggested by some crazed fan who calls in to a Fan 590 radio show (and starts off the call with “long time listener, first time caller”) or posted by some anonymous blogger.
  • Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils are still talking, but appears he’ll test the market (which doesn’t mean he won’t return to the Devils). Kovalchuk’s agent wouldn`t comment on the reports out of Russia about the supposed KHL offers. LeBrun (and many others) think the LA Kings is the prime landing spot for Kovalchuk, as they have the cap room and are a team that is seriously close to contending. Brian Burke told ESPN that they are not going to be involved in Kovalchuk talks. 10 or more teams have contacted the Toronto Maple Leafs about trading for Tomas Kaberle, but nothing serious at this point, which will probably change by the draft.
  • Timo Seppa and E.J. Hradek of ESPN: The Rangers could use someone to play with Marian Gaborik, and it doesn’t look like anyone on their current rosters is able to fit the bill. One option could be trading for Tim Connelly, though Hradek doesn’t agree with that suggestion. If they could fit it into their cap situation, Patrick Marleau would be worth a look. Tomas Plekanec and Matthew Lombardi may be the best options for the Rangers.
  • Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Penguins GM Ray Shero said talks with his free agents will increase this week. He has 8 UFA’s, with Sergei Gonchar and Matt Cooke drawing the most interest. He’s had preliminary talks with both, and both have shown an interest to return.
  • Tom Awad and E.J. Hradek of ESPN: Everyone and their mother knows that the Montreal Canadiens are a small team and need to get bigger. One off-season option would be for them to trade Carey Price for Oilers winger Dustin Penner (I’m not sure if straight up would work). The Oilers still have the Bulin wall but might be able to include him in a larger deal (I don’t see that happening as he’s a $4 million cap hit for 3 more years). 2 other options could be free agents Alexei Ponikarovsky or Freddy Modin.
  • Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: After reviewing a contract offer from the Atlanta Thrashers, Maxim Aginogenov and his agent agree that they are not close on the terms of the deal. The Thrashers and Colby Armstrong are also not close on a deal. There were also reports that Atlanta had signed Swedish winger Fredrick Pettersson, but those are false for the moment at least.
  • Brad Ziemer of the Vancouver Sun: Vancouver Canucks winger Alex Burrows underwent shoulder surgery last week to repair a torn labrum, and may have to start next season without him. The shoulder started bugging him half way through the season, and affected his play down the stretch and in the playoffs.
  • Kevin Allen of the USA Today: Nothing is set in stone yet, but it appears that Doug Weight will be returning to the New York Islanders next season.

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