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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2596967" data-attributes="member: 2012">NHL Notes: Lecavalier considered HabsCanadian Press9/21/2005 1:14:37 PMMONTREAL (CP) - Lightning star centre Vincent Lecavalier admits he briefly thought about joining the Montreal Canadiens.Lecavalier told the St. Petersburg Times that he had it all worked out one day this summer but then changed his mind. He was going to sign a one-year deal with the Lightning in order to become an unrestricted free agent and then sign with the Habs next July."For a day, I really thought about it - what would it be like?," Lecavalier said. "That night I slept and I woke up and I thought: you know what? I want to be in Tampa."Added Lecavalier: "I like Montreal and it would be very special but my heart is in Tampa."Lecavalier signed a $27.5-million US, four-year contract with Tampa on Aug. 16.  LOS ANGELES (CP) - Kings veteran Luc Robitaille and his wife Stacia have opened their home to two families who were left homeless by hurricane Katrina.The families, one from New Orleans and the other from Mississippi, have moved into the Robitaille's second home near Park City, Utah. They will be relocated to an area of their choice with the help of Shelter for Serenity, a hurricane relief project started by the Robitailles."This is something I had to do after seeing all the devastation," Robitaille told the Los Angeles Times. "If I was out of hockey and nobody remembered my name, I'd be doing this. If my name can help people in some way now, then that's even better."WASHINGTON (CP) - Capitals forward Alexander Semin has not reported to Washington despite being under contract and GM George McPhee is not pleased.McPhee said three weeks ago he had been assured by Semin's representatives that the 21-year-old Russian would arrive in time for training camp, which began Sept. 12. He didn't show up, claiming trouble securing a visa.Semin has also played a game with Lada Togliatti of the Russian elite league."We are frustrated and disappointed by what has transpired," McPhee told the Washington Post. "Through no fault of the (Capitals), we've done all the right things. This is a really talented player who should be here. I'm not sure where it's going to go."Added McPhee: "At this point, he is in violation of his contract. We are going to be as aggressive as we can to remedy this."ATLANTA (CP) - Thrashers rookie goalie Kari Lehtonen will not play this week as he continues to recover from a groin injury.Lehtonen, 21, said he is not worried about being ready to start the season on Oct. 5, even though it's likely he will play one full pre-season game at most."I know I'll be ready," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We'll see how long it takes now. When I feel ready, I'll play some games."HAMILTON (CP) - Defenceman Hal Gill is not on the trade block according to Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell.Reports last week said the Bruins were going to trade Gill in order to make room under the salary cap to re-sign defenceman Nick Boynton."There's no truth to that whatsoever," O'Connell told the Boston Globe.Gill said he heard the rumours but didn't put much stock in them after speaking with O'Connell."I talked to him and he said not to worry about it, so I won't worry about it," said Gill. "This is a funny game where if something happens and they can't turn it down, then they're going to deal me. If you can't sign a guy, do you trade someone to make room for him? We don't know how that's all going to pan out."COLUMBUS, Ohio (CP) - Pascal Leclaire has looked good so far as he battles Martin Prusek for the backup job behind Columbus Blue Jackets starter Marc Denis."(Leclaire) is having a great camp," Blue Jackets goaltending coach Rick Wamsley told the Columbus Dispatch.Leclaire, picked eighth overall in 2001, battled injuries last year in the AHL and that's why the Jackets signed Prusek as insurance this summer."I think (Leclaire) wasn't real happy about that, but he's a good kid and didn't say anything," Wamsley said. "He's letting his play do the talking in camp. And I hope it keeps talking."Said Leclaire: "The bosses make the decisions and all I can do is go out and play well, improve every day and show I'm ready to play."ST. PAUL, Minn. (CP) - Mikko Koivu appears poised to join his older brother in the NHL.The 22-year-old Minnesota Wild prospect just doesn't want to be compared with his famous Montreal Canadiens brother Saku."I just don't want everybody to think I'm him," Mikko told the (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune. "We both have our own lives, our own careers. He helps me a lot. We're close to each other. We talk about many things other than hockey. But we're different, too."At 6-3, 205 pounds, Mikko stands five inches taller and weighs 25 pounds more than Saku. Style-wise, Saku is more of a playmaker and has a lot more speed, while Mikko has the ability to use his size to create chances and play a two-way game."We both want to win a lot. That's the biggest thing about our game that's similar," Mikko said.ST. PAUL, Minn. (CP) - Minnesota Wild prospect Patrick O'Sullivan is out at least two weeks with a separated right shoulder.O'Sullivan, the Wild's 2003 second-round pick, was a long shot to make the team. But he was hoping to make a lasting impression in his first professional season."I thought I was having a good camp, so it's disappointing for sure," O'Sullivan told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.O'Sullivan was injured at practice Monday when Riley Emmerson fell into him along the boards. O'Sullivan suffered a first-degree separation, the least serious diagnosis.O'Sullivan is in a sling and will not be ready for the Houston Aeros AHL training camp, which starts Sunday.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CP) - Alexander Mogilny has been reunited on a line with Scott Gomez, a combination that worked well for the New Jersey Devils in years past."There's still chemistry there," Mogilny, a free-agent signing, told the New York Post. "And in hockey that's the most important thing."GLENDALE, Ariz. (CP) - Kings centre Jeremy Roenick got to the rink early Tuesday morning to watch Wayne Gretzky lead the Coyotes through their pre-game skate Tuesday morning."It's definitely interesting," Roenick told the Arizona Republic. "He brings that aura and that sense of 'wow' to a rink regardless if there's nobody in it and it's just the team skating. Just his presence is awe-inspiring. And that's something that our league needs right now."Roenick said Gretzky's legacy would remain intact even if the Coyotes lose all 82 games this season."He could have the right system and the right mentality, but if the players don't do it for you there's nothing you can do," Roenick said. "He's going to be known as the ambassador of hockey and the best player to play the game no matter what his coaching record is."</blockquote>

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