NHL: Free Agency, Trade, Injury, and Rookie News!
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Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Tuzenbach said:
Klatt just retired.
Here's the report...
Kings' forward Klatt announces retirement
Sports Ticker
9/12/2005 4:38:21 PM
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - Right wing Trent Klatt of the Los Angeles Kings has chosen stability over the prospect of another productive NHL season.
Klatt became the latest NHL player to hang up his skates, announcing his retirement on Monday after 13 seasons.
The 34-year-old Klatt, a veteran of 782 NHL games with four teams, decided to end his career on the same day that six-time Stanley Cup champion and second all-time leading scorer Mark Messier announced his retirement from the New York Rangers.
Other prominent players to retire in the past week are St. Louis' Al MacInnis, New Jersey's Scott Stevens, Buffalo's James Patrick and Colorado's Vincent Damphousse.
Klatt, who had played with two teams in as many seasons before the 2004-05 campaign was wiped out due to a lockout, made his decision due to family issues.
"My children have been in three schools the past three years and I did not feel it was fair to them to continue this trend," Klatt said. "My family needs stability."
Signing with Los Angeles as a free agent on July 7, 2003, Klatt had 17 goals and 26 assists in 82 games with the Kings in 2003-04. It was his highest goal and point total since posting 24 and 45, respectively, as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1996-97.
"We would like to thank Trent for his contributions to our club during the 2003-04 season," Kings general manager Dave Taylor said. "We respect his decision and the Kings organization wishes him and his family the best in the future."
A fifth-round pick of the Washington Capitals in 1989, Klatt made his debut with the Minnesota North Stars during the 1991-92 season. He finished with 143 goals, 200 assists and 343 career penalty minutes.
Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
May looks for acceptance with Avs
Canadian Press
9/12/2005 6:15:02 PM
DENVER (AP) - When it comes to hockey villains in Denver, there are the Red Wings, there is Todd Bertuzzi and running a distant third, there's Brad May.
The Red Wings play in Detroit. Bertuzzi plays in Vancouver. And starting this season, May will play in Denver for the Colorado Avalanche.
May was the Vancouver player who said - in jest, he claims - that there should be a bounty put on Avalanche forward Steve Moore, an act of retribution for a hit Moore had put on Markus Naslund in the 2004 season that knocked the Canucks' captain out for three games. Moore was not penalized on the play.
In a subsequent game, Bertuzzi took a cheap shot at Moore, slamming him to the ice and leaving him with a broken neck and other injuries.
Eighteen months later, Moore is still recovering. Bertuzzi was suspended but was recently reinstated by the NHL for the start of the upcoming season. May, meanwhile, was signed as a free agent by the Avalanche over the summer.
"I played for a lot of years in this league with integrity and honour," said May, who has spent most of his 13 years as an enforcer for the Sabres, Canucks and Coyotes. "I'm proud to be who I am. I don't feel bad. But I feel the whole situation is regrettable."
May and Bertuzzi are among the defendants in the civil lawsuit Moore has filed in Denver seeking damages for the injury. Soon, May will wear an Avalanche uniform on the ice at the Pepsi Center and it is there that he'll find out whether he will be embraced or reviled by fans.
Asked about all this Monday, the day the Avalanche reported for training camp, May stuck by his mantra - he's a man of honour and he wants to look toward the future.
"People have been booing me for 15 years," he said. "I don't know if it would be uncomfortable. It would be a different feeling, there's no question about it, to get that at home. But people have different opinions. I only have one thing to say if it happens: I have integrity. I have honor."
Many in Denver questioned whether the Avalanche had honour when they signed May. It was viewed as something of a slap in the face to Moore and to fans with whom the team and the NHL has been trying to reconnect after a long work stoppage.
It's an opinion general manager Pierre Lacroix disagrees with.
"The slap in the face would have been if we signed the other guy," Lacroix told the Denver Post last month. "His name is not Todd Bertuzzi. It's Brad May."
May, who averages 148 penalty minutes a season, claims he made the comment in jest to a single reporter in Vancouver, a few days before the game.
The Avalanche, at least publicly, say they've embraced May and look forward to being his teammate.
"I've said it before, I feel bad for what happened to Steve," captain Joe Sakic said. "But Brad's not the one who did it. I'm sure he feels bad for what happened."
"He's fitting in great," coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's been well-received by his teammates. I think the fans will like him."
May, of course, wants to be liked, especially by his teammates.
During his 10 minutes of interview time Monday, though, he seemed perfectly happy with himself, regardless of what people think about him or the role he played in one of the NHL's nastier episodes.
"I'm happy for who Brad May is," he said. "I'm proud of myself. I'm a great father, a great husband, a great teammate and I'm excited about helping this team out."
Canadian Press
9/12/2005 6:15:02 PM
DENVER (AP) - When it comes to hockey villains in Denver, there are the Red Wings, there is Todd Bertuzzi and running a distant third, there's Brad May.
The Red Wings play in Detroit. Bertuzzi plays in Vancouver. And starting this season, May will play in Denver for the Colorado Avalanche.
May was the Vancouver player who said - in jest, he claims - that there should be a bounty put on Avalanche forward Steve Moore, an act of retribution for a hit Moore had put on Markus Naslund in the 2004 season that knocked the Canucks' captain out for three games. Moore was not penalized on the play.
In a subsequent game, Bertuzzi took a cheap shot at Moore, slamming him to the ice and leaving him with a broken neck and other injuries.
Eighteen months later, Moore is still recovering. Bertuzzi was suspended but was recently reinstated by the NHL for the start of the upcoming season. May, meanwhile, was signed as a free agent by the Avalanche over the summer.
"I played for a lot of years in this league with integrity and honour," said May, who has spent most of his 13 years as an enforcer for the Sabres, Canucks and Coyotes. "I'm proud to be who I am. I don't feel bad. But I feel the whole situation is regrettable."
May and Bertuzzi are among the defendants in the civil lawsuit Moore has filed in Denver seeking damages for the injury. Soon, May will wear an Avalanche uniform on the ice at the Pepsi Center and it is there that he'll find out whether he will be embraced or reviled by fans.
Asked about all this Monday, the day the Avalanche reported for training camp, May stuck by his mantra - he's a man of honour and he wants to look toward the future.
"People have been booing me for 15 years," he said. "I don't know if it would be uncomfortable. It would be a different feeling, there's no question about it, to get that at home. But people have different opinions. I only have one thing to say if it happens: I have integrity. I have honor."
Many in Denver questioned whether the Avalanche had honour when they signed May. It was viewed as something of a slap in the face to Moore and to fans with whom the team and the NHL has been trying to reconnect after a long work stoppage.
It's an opinion general manager Pierre Lacroix disagrees with.
"The slap in the face would have been if we signed the other guy," Lacroix told the Denver Post last month. "His name is not Todd Bertuzzi. It's Brad May."
May, who averages 148 penalty minutes a season, claims he made the comment in jest to a single reporter in Vancouver, a few days before the game.
The Avalanche, at least publicly, say they've embraced May and look forward to being his teammate.
"I've said it before, I feel bad for what happened to Steve," captain Joe Sakic said. "But Brad's not the one who did it. I'm sure he feels bad for what happened."
"He's fitting in great," coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's been well-received by his teammates. I think the fans will like him."
May, of course, wants to be liked, especially by his teammates.
During his 10 minutes of interview time Monday, though, he seemed perfectly happy with himself, regardless of what people think about him or the role he played in one of the NHL's nastier episodes.
"I'm happy for who Brad May is," he said. "I'm proud of myself. I'm a great father, a great husband, a great teammate and I'm excited about helping this team out."
Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Report: Bondra close to joining Thrashers
TSN.ca Staff
9/12/2005 3:53:50 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that free agent right wing Peter Bondra is en route to Atlanta where he is expected to complete a contract with the Thrashers.
Bondra's agent Ritch Winter told the paper that the contract, a one-year deal that has been agreed to in principle, would be done by the end of Monday or sometime on Tuesday.
"We're working on details," Winter told the Journal-Constitution. "But I can confirm we're getting very, very close to finalizing it."
Bondra, 37, has 477 goals in 984 career games with Washington and Ottawa.
TSN.ca Staff
9/12/2005 3:53:50 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that free agent right wing Peter Bondra is en route to Atlanta where he is expected to complete a contract with the Thrashers.
Bondra's agent Ritch Winter told the paper that the contract, a one-year deal that has been agreed to in principle, would be done by the end of Monday or sometime on Tuesday.
"We're working on details," Winter told the Journal-Constitution. "But I can confirm we're getting very, very close to finalizing it."
Bondra, 37, has 477 goals in 984 career games with Washington and Ottawa.
Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Ducks ink Gavey to one-year deal
Sports Ticker
9/12/2005 7:31:34 PM
ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Monday added depth up front by signing center Aaron Gavey to a one-year contract.
The 31-year-old Gavey, who originally was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 1992 draft, has spend the past two-plus seasons in the American Hockey League with St. John's and Utah.
Prior to that, the 6-2, 189-pounder scored 41 goals and 50 assists in 355 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Calgary, Dallas, Minnesota and Toronto. As a member of Minnesota's inaugural team in 2000-01, he posted career highs in goals (10) and assists (14).
The Sudbury, Ontario native had five goals and 14 assists in 60 games with Utah last season.
Sports Ticker
9/12/2005 7:31:34 PM
ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Monday added depth up front by signing center Aaron Gavey to a one-year contract.
The 31-year-old Gavey, who originally was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round of the 1992 draft, has spend the past two-plus seasons in the American Hockey League with St. John's and Utah.
Prior to that, the 6-2, 189-pounder scored 41 goals and 50 assists in 355 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Calgary, Dallas, Minnesota and Toronto. As a member of Minnesota's inaugural team in 2000-01, he posted career highs in goals (10) and assists (14).
The Sudbury, Ontario native had five goals and 14 assists in 60 games with Utah last season.
Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Raycroft, Boynton not at Bruins camp
Canadian Press
9/12/2005 7:33:44 PM
BOSTON (AP) - Goalie Andrew Raycroft and defenceman Nick Boynton held out in contract disputes at the opening of the Boston Bruins training camp Monday, depriving the team of two keys to stopping opposing forwards under the NHL's more wide-open rules.
General manager Mike O'Connell wasn't sure if or when they'd return, although several Bruins players are confident that they'll be back before the regular season begins Oct. 5 at home against the Montreal Canadiens.
"Both these players are very important to us," O'Connell said. "They're terrific individuals and we'd like to get them in camp as soon as possible."
In 2003-'04, Raycroft was the NHL rookie of the year and Boynton played in the all-star game for the first time in his three full seasons. But the Bruins are close to the league's $39-million US salary cap and want to leave some space to acquire players during the season if others get injured.
They have 17 players under contract for $33,129,004, according to the NHL Players Association, leaving them with $5,870,996 to spend.
The team hasn't disclosed how much it offered Raycroft and Boynton, but O'Connell said both received more than the minimum qualifying offer for a one-year deal. That offer must be at least a certain percentage of the player's last salary as specified in the collective bargaining agreement that ended the NHL lockout that wiped out the 2004-'05 season.
"We're not very close at all right now with Andrew," O'Connell said. "I think Boynton is a little closer.
"If we can get him done, then maybe we can get Andrew done."
Team owner Jeremy Jacobs said the Bruins "enriched the team substantially in skill" by signing free agents but wondered if it had spent too much.
"I don't think we left ourselves enough room (under salary cap)," Jacobs said.
He added that the offers to Raycroft and Boynton are in line with salaries of similar players in the NHL.
O'Connell said that he hasn't had any discussions about trading those players and that the team has some cap room left.
"If we feel we need to do something to get both these players in, we have the ability to do that," he said.
Several Bruins are optimistic both players will be back soon.
"Pretty much every year that I've been involved in the NHL there's been some player that hasn't been in camp or some contract dispute," said defenceman Brian Leetch, who played 15 full seasons with the New York Rangers before being traded to Toronto on March 3, 2004, and then signing with Boston on Aug. 3.
"Most of the time it's been worked out before the start of the season. I expect it will here."
Added captain Joe Thornton, Boston's highest paid player at $6.66 million this season: "Those guys are going to get signed. It's just a matter of time."
Sergei Samsonov also expects them back soon and said that returning after the lockout "seems like it was just one long summer. Everybody's excited to be back."
Canadian Press
9/12/2005 7:33:44 PM
BOSTON (AP) - Goalie Andrew Raycroft and defenceman Nick Boynton held out in contract disputes at the opening of the Boston Bruins training camp Monday, depriving the team of two keys to stopping opposing forwards under the NHL's more wide-open rules.
General manager Mike O'Connell wasn't sure if or when they'd return, although several Bruins players are confident that they'll be back before the regular season begins Oct. 5 at home against the Montreal Canadiens.
"Both these players are very important to us," O'Connell said. "They're terrific individuals and we'd like to get them in camp as soon as possible."
In 2003-'04, Raycroft was the NHL rookie of the year and Boynton played in the all-star game for the first time in his three full seasons. But the Bruins are close to the league's $39-million US salary cap and want to leave some space to acquire players during the season if others get injured.
They have 17 players under contract for $33,129,004, according to the NHL Players Association, leaving them with $5,870,996 to spend.
The team hasn't disclosed how much it offered Raycroft and Boynton, but O'Connell said both received more than the minimum qualifying offer for a one-year deal. That offer must be at least a certain percentage of the player's last salary as specified in the collective bargaining agreement that ended the NHL lockout that wiped out the 2004-'05 season.
"We're not very close at all right now with Andrew," O'Connell said. "I think Boynton is a little closer.
"If we can get him done, then maybe we can get Andrew done."
Team owner Jeremy Jacobs said the Bruins "enriched the team substantially in skill" by signing free agents but wondered if it had spent too much.
"I don't think we left ourselves enough room (under salary cap)," Jacobs said.
He added that the offers to Raycroft and Boynton are in line with salaries of similar players in the NHL.
O'Connell said that he hasn't had any discussions about trading those players and that the team has some cap room left.
"If we feel we need to do something to get both these players in, we have the ability to do that," he said.
Several Bruins are optimistic both players will be back soon.
"Pretty much every year that I've been involved in the NHL there's been some player that hasn't been in camp or some contract dispute," said defenceman Brian Leetch, who played 15 full seasons with the New York Rangers before being traded to Toronto on March 3, 2004, and then signing with Boston on Aug. 3.
"Most of the time it's been worked out before the start of the season. I expect it will here."
Added captain Joe Thornton, Boston's highest paid player at $6.66 million this season: "Those guys are going to get signed. It's just a matter of time."
Sergei Samsonov also expects them back soon and said that returning after the lockout "seems like it was just one long summer. Everybody's excited to be back."
Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Other NHL news... more revenue coming in!
NHL signs $100 million satellite radio deal
Sports Ticker
9/12/2005 5:09:17 PM
NEW YORK (Ticker) - Less than a month after signing a TV deal with Comcast, the NHL has inked a long-term radio contract.
On Monday, the NHL announced an exclusive 10-year, $100 million agreement with XM Satellite Radio. The network will become the league's exclusive satellite radio broadcast partner in 2007.
XM Satellite Radio, which has over 4.4 million subscribers, will begin broadcasting NHL games on opening night, October 5.
Last month, the league announced a multi-year pact with cable giant Comcast, which will televise at least 58 regular-season games on its Outdoor Life Network. XM Satellite Radio will cover over 1,000 games per season, including the All-Star Game, the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final.
"We're delighted to have XM as our newest satellite radio partner," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "At this exciting time in the league's history, a new partnership with XM allows us to offer hockey fans unprecedented NHL coverage on the nation's largest satellite radio service."
XM will create a dedicated NHL radio channel, which will be available in Canada through its partner Canadian Satellite Radio. CSR, which is funding a portion of the agreement, recently was approved by the Federal Cabinet as a licensed distributor of satellite radio in Canada.
"We are thrilled about the National Hockey League's decision to partner with XM Satellite Radio," XM president and CEO Hugh Panero said. "The clear winners of this partnership are the millions of hockey fans in the U.S. and in Canada who are incredibly passionate about their favorite NHL team and who will now be able to follow them regardless of where they call home."
NHL signs $100 million satellite radio deal
Sports Ticker
9/12/2005 5:09:17 PM
NEW YORK (Ticker) - Less than a month after signing a TV deal with Comcast, the NHL has inked a long-term radio contract.
On Monday, the NHL announced an exclusive 10-year, $100 million agreement with XM Satellite Radio. The network will become the league's exclusive satellite radio broadcast partner in 2007.
XM Satellite Radio, which has over 4.4 million subscribers, will begin broadcasting NHL games on opening night, October 5.
Last month, the league announced a multi-year pact with cable giant Comcast, which will televise at least 58 regular-season games on its Outdoor Life Network. XM Satellite Radio will cover over 1,000 games per season, including the All-Star Game, the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final.
"We're delighted to have XM as our newest satellite radio partner," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "At this exciting time in the league's history, a new partnership with XM allows us to offer hockey fans unprecedented NHL coverage on the nation's largest satellite radio service."
XM will create a dedicated NHL radio channel, which will be available in Canada through its partner Canadian Satellite Radio. CSR, which is funding a portion of the agreement, recently was approved by the Federal Cabinet as a licensed distributor of satellite radio in Canada.
"We are thrilled about the National Hockey League's decision to partner with XM Satellite Radio," XM president and CEO Hugh Panero said. "The clear winners of this partnership are the millions of hockey fans in the U.S. and in Canada who are incredibly passionate about their favorite NHL team and who will now be able to follow them regardless of where they call home."