NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)

From Sportsnet.ca

Hockey Hearsay
Oilers' Dvorak won't be back
June 30, 2006

According to the Edmonton Sun, the agent for Radek Dvorak, Ritch Winter, said his client has ‘no interest in returning’ to the Oilers and will become a free agent Saturday.

"I won't say why. He just has no interest in returning," Winter said. "He would like to pursue other opportunities."

Meanwhile, contract talks are progressing with forward Fernando Pisani and defenceman Jaroslav Spacek.

And there is still hope that the Oilers will be able to retain goaltender Dwayne Roloson. The main issue is the salary cap.

"There might be even more emphasis now on doing something early because you never know how much money is going to be taken up and what will be left," said agent Mark Witkin who is representing both Pisani and Roloson. "That's the single biggest difference now with the cap."
 

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Leafs-Roberts deal brewing
Sportsnet.ca
June 30, 2006

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers have discussed a trade that would return veteran Gary Roberts to Toronto, sources have confirmed to Sportsnet.

However, the deal is not done.

The Panthers intend to spend the day exhausting whether or not there is a chance they can convince Roberts, who for family reasons did request this move at the end of the season to stay on for the final year of his contract.

However, sources tell Sportsnet an afternoon deadline has been imposed to allow both teams to change directions in a timely fashion.

If Roberts won't back down, Florida is likely to send him to the Leafs for a draft pick before spending the $2.25 million US owing on his contract on an available free agent. Likewise for the Maple Leafs who will surely add to their roster with the money they've allocated to reacquire Roberts.

The Toronto Star reported Friday the teams had all but agreed to make the trade in exchange for a third- or fourth-rounder.
 

From TSN.ca

When it comes to finding out about your favourite team or strategy for your office fantasy pool, there are no details too small in covering National Hockey League news.

That being said, check TSN.ca's Ice Chips every day for all the latest roster information, injury reports and game notes to stay up-to-date.

Ice Chips for Friday, June 30
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=10460&hubname=

Most interesting tidbit...

> There is a feeling that New Jersey will not have enough room under the $44-million salary cap to re-sign Patrick Elias unless the Czech forward agrees to return to the Devils for less money. The Devils already have $34-million committed for next season which includes the contracts of Vladimir Malakhov ($3.6-million) and Alexander Mogilny ($3.5-million). Elias could command the maximum $8.8-million under the new cap if teams such as New York Ranges and Ottawa get involved. Elias earned $4.18-million last season. He has said he would like to stay with New Jersey but would not sign a deal he considers to be under market value. New Jersey is also interested in re-signing Jamie Langenbrunner. New Jersey is also interested in acquiring a defenseman and a center with size. - Star Ledger
 

Avalanche re-sign Clark, Skrastins
Associated Press
6/30/2006 4:59:51 PM

DENVER (AP) - The Colorado Avalanche re-signed defencemen Brett Clark and Karlis Skrastins to multiyear contracts on Friday.

Clark, 29, posted career highs with nine goals and 27 assists in 80 games.

Skrastins has played in 433 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NHL and the second-longest by a defenceman in hockey history - 53 behind Tim Horton's record.

The 31-year-old native of Latvia had three goals and 11 assists, his second best offensive season in the NHL. He blocked 207 shots, the second-best total in the league. He joined former Avalanche defenceman Sandis Ozolinsh on the Latvian Olympic team at this year's Turin Games.

"Brett and Karlis had very strong seasons for this club last year," general manager Francois Giguere said. "Their dependability and individual skills were coveted by many teams. The long-term commitment they've made will add stability and depth to our blue line for the coming years."
 

Other NHL News!

Blues sale done; Davidson named president
Associated Press
6/30/2006 6:50:44 PM

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The sale of the St. Louis Blues to a group led by Dave Checketts was completed Friday, and the new owners immediately named top NHL broadcaster John Davidson as team president.

Checketts, the former head of the New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden, reached a deal to buy the team on March 24 and had the sale approved by the NHL board of governors last week.

The sale transfers ownership of the Blues - the league's worst team this season - and the Savvis Center from Bill and Nancy Laurie to Checketts and his Sports Capital Partners and Towerbrook Capital Partners.

Davidson became the league's premier colour analyst after an 11-year NHL career as a goalie with the Blues and New York Rangers.

He joined MSG Network fulltime in 1986, three years after his retirement as a player, to work Rangers games following a brief departure to Canada. He has worked alongside partner Sam Rosen ever since.

Davidson expanded his work to network television in the United States, working five Olympics on CBS and NBC. He was also the lead hockey analyst as the NHL's network package shifted between ABC, FOX and NBC.

He was also a part of coverage on ESPN and on Hockey Night in Canada telecasts on CBC.

The Ottawa native was chosen by St. Louis in the first round of the 1973 draft and was traded to the Rangers after two seasons with the Blues.

Checketts represented the team last weekend at the NHL draft when the Blues chose American defenceman Erik Johnson with the first overall pick.

With Checketts in charge in New York, the Knicks reached the NBA final in 1994 and 1999. Now he will try to fix the Blues, who fell from the top 10 in the league in attendance to the bottom five during their dismal season - the first following the NHL lockout.

The Blues finished last in the NHL this past season, ending a run of 25 consecutive playoff appearances. The Lauries drastically slashed payroll in order to facilitate a sale.

They announced plans to sell the Blues 10 months before reaching the deal with Checketts, claiming they lost millions of dollars since buying the club in 1999.
 

Kings exercise option on Cowan
Sports Ticker
6/30/2006 9:12:27 PM

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Kings retained the services of Jeff Cowan, exercising their one-year contract option on the left wing Friday.

Acquired from the Atlanta Thrashers in March 2004, Cowan completed his first full season with the Kings in 2005-06, collecting eight goals, one assist and 73 penalty minutes in 46 games. The 29-year-old missed 28 contests with groin, hamstring and back injuries.

A native of Scarborough, Ontario, Cowan has recorded 40 goals, 68 points and 460 penalty minutes in 304 career games with the Calgary Flames, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
 

From Sportsnet.ca

Sources: Pisani re-signs with Oilers
TSN.ca Staff
6/30/2006 11:51:01 PM

It looks like Fernando Pisani won't be testing the free agent market.

The Edmonton native has signed a four-year contract with the Oilers, according to sources. The deal is believed to be worth more than $10 million.

Pisani came into his own during the Oilers run to the Stanley Cup finals, where he notched 14 goals and 4 assists in 24 games on his way to leading the Oilers in scoring.

The 29-year old scored 18 goals and 19 assists in 80 games during the regular season.
 
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Capitals re-sign Brent Johnson
Associated Press with TSN.ca files
7/1/2006 1:29:39 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Capitals re-signed goalie Brent Johnson on Saturday to a one-year contract that will pay him $575,000.

Johnson was picked up on waivers from Vancouver last October, and played 26 games as the backup to Olie Kolzig. Johnson went 9-12-1, while stopping 11 of 13 shootout attempts for an .846 shootout save percentage.

He went 4-1-1 in his last six starts, allowing one goal or less in all four of the victories. One of his top games came last April against the Ottawa Senators, when he stopped 46 shots in a 1-0 win.
 

Hurricanes re-sign Commodore for two years
TSN.ca Staff
7/1/2006 12:58:26 PM

The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed defenceman Mike Commodore to a two-year contract, worth a total of $2.5-million.

The contract will pay Commodore $1.2-million in 2006-2007 and $1.3-million in 2007-2008.

Commodore, 26, recorded 13 points and a plus-12 rating in 72 games with the Hurricanes in 2005-2006.

A physical blueliner, Commodore played a significant defensive role in Carolina's Stanley Cup victory, getting 19:27 of ice time per game in the playoffs.
 

Canadiens re-sign Bouillon to 3-year deal
TSN.ca Staff
7/1/2006 12:52:59 PM

The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed defenceman Francis Bouillon to a three-year contract, worth $1.875-million per season.

Bouillon, 30, recorded 22 points and a minus-5 rating in 67 games with the Canadiens in 2005-2006.

A short and stocky defender, listed at 5-foot-8 and 196 pounds, Bouillon has 71 points and a minus-16 rating in 295 career games.
 

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