NHL WEEKLY for the 3rd week of September!
And now for something a little more serious...
The Score's Notebook
http://forecaster.ca/thescore/hockey/news.cgi?notebook
Here's the highlights... Canadian teams and free agency talk. If you want to read the rest then click the above link.
THE CANADIAN SIX PACK
CANADIENS The early buzz at Habs camp has been the spectacular play of
Alex Kovalev, which was expected, as well as the surprising performance of 18-year-old winger
Guillaume Latendresse--which is a huge surprise. Drafted in the second round (45th overall) in June, Latendresse has the size/scoring combination the Habs crave on the wing. It's early, but the QMJHL product has given himself a chance to see action in the preseason because of strong play in the scrimmages.
CANUCKS Veteran B.C. native
Cliff Ronning, who played with the Canucks from 1991-96, may be signed to a league-minimum contract before the end of training camp--according to reports out of Vancouver. If the 'Nucks add Ronning, who will turn 40 before opening night, he'll probably be used as a reserve forward, power-play specialist and possible shootout candidate.
FLAMES As expected, veteran free-agent acquisition
Tony Amonte--late of the Philadelphia Flyers--has been moved over to left wing to begin training camp. The 35-year-old Amonte will probably play on the first line alongside
Daymond Langkow and captain
Jarome Iginla in what could be one of the most potent offensive trios Calgary has iced in several years. In fact, Amonte and Langkow may help Iginla earn his first Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer in 2005-06.
MAPLE LEAFS Steve Thomas, affectionately known as 'Stumpy', is back with the Maple Leafs--albeit on a tryout basis. If he makes the club out of training camp, the 42-year-old Thomas would begin a third stint with Toronto. He'll most likely get a look on the fourth line. Meanwhile, veteran bruising defenseman
Bryan Marchment is also in camp without a guaranteed contract, but expect him to make the club as the No. 7 defenseman--since Toronto still lacks toughness from the back end.
OILERS While the Oil were not able to land former captain
Mark Messier, who retired from hockey after 25 NHL seasons earlier in the week, Edmonton did manage to re-sign the club's current heart and soul--left wing
Ryan Smyth. Smyth signed a two-year contract worth a reported $7 million. Messier's retirement could be good news for OHL star center
Robbie Schremp, who has already looked good in camp and may be the offensive center the Oilers crave.
SENATORS Former Thrasher
Dany Heatley, who was thought to be a natural candidate to switch over to left wing (a trouble spot in Ottawa over the years), has instead begun camp at his natural position on the right side next to first-line center
Jason Spezza. It is speedy
Martin Havlat who has moved over to left wing to begin training camp, as new coach Bryan Murray tries to place most of his offense on the top two lines. Havlat is skating with
Bryan Smolinski and
Daniel Alfredsson.
FREE AGENT WEALS/WOES
BRUINS Goaltender
Tim Thomas, who played sparingly with the Bruins in 2002-03, has signed a one-way contract with the club--according to reports out of Europe. The B's signed the 31-year-old Thomas away from Jokerit Helsinki of the SM-Liiga as an insurance policy, since No. 1 man
Andrew Raycroft remains un-signed and projected backup
Hannu Toivonen has yet to appear in an NHL game. If Raycroft doesn't sign soon, the Bruins may anoint Toivonen the starter.
CAPITALS Slovakian defender
Ivan Majesky, who signed a one-year deal worth $800,000 with the Caps earlier this summer, failed his physical because of a knee injury (incurred at the 2005 IIHF World hockey championships). As a result, he may get a very late start to training camp with his new Washington teammates. This is potentially bad news for the team, but good news for fellow right-shooting defensemen
Mathieu Biron,
Mike Green,
Jamie Heward and
Nolan Yonkman.
FLYERS With Finnish veteran
Sami Kapanen expected to miss up to 10 weeks due to a right shoulder injury, the Flyers signed left wing
Brian Savage to a one-year contract on Thursday. Kapanen was expected to play on the third line next to captain
Keith Primeau, so Savage will probably battle the likes of
Donald Brashear,
Jon Sim and rookie
Ben Eager for the job. The 34-year-old Savage has been in steady decline since 2000-01, and has bounced around somewhat.
HURRICANES The 'Canes signed 22-year-old winger
Vince Bellissimo to a contract earlier in the week, following a solid performance in rookie camp. Bellissimo was originally drafted by Florida with the 158th overall pick in 2002, but was eventually let go. He attended Carolina's rookie camp on a tryout and earned his way into the organization. He'll likely begin his pro career in the AHL.
PREDATORS Still in search of another capable center, the Predators have invited veteran
Yanic Perreault to training camp. The former Toronto, Los Angeles and Montreal pivot should compete for the third-line center job with the likes of
Randy Robitaille,
Simon Gamache and
Kris Beech--though wingers
Adam Hall and
Steve Sullivan may be moved to the middle if none of the candidates pan out during the preseason. Also, keep an eye on Russian winger
Alexander Radulov.
SHARKS After going the entire off-season sans a newcomer, the Sharks finally added a player this week with the free-agent signing of former Senators winger
Josh Langfeld. Langfeld, who can play either wing position, will probably battle rookies
Ryan Clowe and
Steve Bernier for a roster spot at training camp. Langfeld has the edge, largely based on his NHL experience (51 NHL games).
THRASHERS While the Thrashers continue to wait on un-signed restricted free agent
Ilya Kovalchuk, the team added more scoring depth earlier in the week with the signing of veteran Slovak
Peter Bondra. With Bondra in tow, Atlanta may now boast 2 Russians and 2 Slovaks among their top-six wingers this season (Kovalchuk and
Vyacheslav Kozlov, plus Bondra and fellow newcomer
Marian Hossa). It gives coach Bob Hartley plenty of options--as long as Kovalchuk re-signs.
FOOTNOTE: SID THE KID
PENGUINS The long-awaited debut of
Sidney Crosby in a Penguins uniform was a resounding success Friday, as he accumulated three assists in an intra-squad game. For now, it appears coach Ed Olczyk has decided to team the 18-year-old rookie in between veteran wingers
Mark Recchi and
John LeClair. However, captain
Mario Lemieux did not participate in the scrimmage but is expected to play left wing on the top line with Crosby and Recchi when the regular season starts.
