NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)

Numminen re-signs with Sabres
Associated Press
7/3/2006 7:45:00 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Veteran defenceman Teppo Numminen agreed to a one-year contract on Monday that will keep him with the Buffalo Sabres.

A 17-year NHL veteran, Numminen received a raise over the $2 million US he made last season, when he joined the Sabres as a free agent.

The move is Buffalo's first since free agency started on Saturday. The Sabres are trying to bolster their depleted defensive ranks after losing stalwart Jay McKee, who signed with St. Louis. The Sabres lost another free agent Monday when forward Mike Grier agreed to sign with San Jose.

Although the Sabres allowed Numminen to become a free agent, the sides continued talks through the weekend.

Numminen had surgery last week to correct an irregular heartbeat and has been cleared to resume playing. He has since returned to his native Finland, where he spends his summers.

Numminen's agent, Don Baizley, said his client made it his intention to return to play in Buffalo.

Considered Buffalo's steadiest defenceman, Numminen played a big role in helping the Sabres win a franchise-record 52 games and make an extended run in the team's first playoff appearance since 2001. Buffalo reached the Eastern Conference finals before losing Game 7 to eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina.

Numminen finished second among Buffalo defenceman with 40 points (two goals, 38 assists) in 75 games. That marked his most productive year since a 48-point campaign with Phoenix in 2001-02.

He added a goal and assist and averaged nearly 19 minutes of ice time in 12 post-season games, the first time he's been on a team that advanced past the first round.

The surgery was anticipated after the non-life threatening heart condition forced Numminen to miss one game and part of another during Buffalo's first-round playoff series against Philadelphia. Numminen returned to the lineup and played in the next eight games before a hip injury sidelined him for five of the team's final six games.

Numminen, who has had a heart murmur since childhood, was diagnosed with a dilated aorta in March 2004 when he was with the Dallas Stars. He missed five games because of the condition before being cleared to play.

Numminen ranks second among European players with 1,235 career regular-season NHL games, 17 short of passing Jari Kurri, a fellow Finn and former Edmonton Oilers great.
 

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Damn It! I really wanted this guy on the Oilers blueline.

Islanders ink Witt to three-year deal
Canadian Press
7/3/2006 9:18:06 PM

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CP) - Defenceman Brendan Witt has found a new home for at least the next three years.

Witt agreed to a three-year contract with the New York Islanders, the club announced Monday.

''From the beginning, the Islanders were at the top of the list of teams I wanted to sign with,'' Witt said in a statement. ''This is a franchise with an incredible tradition and I'm excited to be part of the new era on Long Island. I appreciate the faith Neil Smith has put in me and I'm looking forward to being coached by Ted Nolan.

''We're going to be a team that Islander fans can be proud of.''

Witt, 31, had a goal and 13 assists in 72 games with Nashville and Washington last season. The six-foot-two, 220-pound rearguard had only played for Washington before a mid-season deal landed him with the Predators.

The Saskatchewan native was the Capitals' first-round pick (11th overall) in the 1994 NHL draft.

''We were looking for competitors and today we signed one of the fiercest in the league in Brendan Witt,'' Islanders GM and vice-president Neil Smith said in a release.

''After battling against Brendan for 10 seasons when he was with the Capitals, our players and our fans know how great it is to have him on our side now. He never takes a shift off. There's no question we're a much tougher matchup with Brendan on our blue-line.''
 

Agamon said:
Sounds like Guerin's going to the Blues. I don't think the signings they've done so far will make them any less of a sub-.500 team.
Click to expand...
It's offical...

Blues sign unrestricted free agent Guerin
Sports Ticker
7/3/2006 10:44:42 PM

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - The St. Louis Blues are expediting their rebuilding process.

The Blues continued their free-agent frenzy Monday night, signing veteran right wing Bill Guerin to a one-year contract.

After struggling to a 21-46-15 record last season en route to missing the playoffs for the first time since 1979, the Blues have been busy since the free-agent signing period began Saturday.

Guerin, who had his contract bought out by the Dallas Stars on Thursday, joins defenseman Jay McKee, center Doug Weight and right wing Dan Hinote as players that have signed with the Blues. Captain Dallas Drake also was re-signed and coach Mike Kitchen inked an extension.

A three-time All-Star and United States Olympian, the 35-year-old Guerin scored just 13 goals last season, his lowest total since registering 12 goals in 48 contests with the New Jersey Devils in 1994-95.

A veteran of 949 games with the Devils, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Stars, Guerin has notched 328 goals and 335 assists during his career.
 

Yeah, the Oil need help on the blueline now, I think. My Oiler fan buddy likes the trade for the future, but now doubts that they'll be playoff bound again this season.
 

Intresting to know my worries for Edmonton and the 2007 playoffs are shared.

Then again, there is still time between now and the start of the next season. Its entirely possible that there may yet be some trades or signings of some sort for Edmonton that will further mitigate the loss of Pronger.

The problem is that there arent really that many big name players left that I am aware of that can give Edmonton the kind of edge they will need.

END COMMUNICATION
 

Agamon said:
Yeah, the Oil need help on the blueline now, I think. My Oiler fan buddy likes the trade for the future, but now doubts that they'll be playoff bound again this season.
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Oh, I think they'll make the playoffs again in the 2006-07 season. They'll have to fight for it, like they always seem to have to do, but they'll make it. In Roloson, I trust! ;)

The remaining UFA d-man left aren't fantastic, but there are still some rough gems out there such as Bryan Marchment, Alexander Khavanov, Luke Richardson, Eric Weinrich, Jiri Slegr, Brian Leetch, Glen Wesley, Radoslav Suchy, Jason Woolley, Danny Markov, Tom Poti, and Eric Desjardins.

Plus, they REALLY need to re-sign either Jaroslav Spacek or Dick Tarnstrom. (Both would be best, but I doubt it.) Spacek has narrowed it down to either Edmonton or Buffalo, at least that is the rumor. Why Buffalo? Easy Dvorak is seriously considering signing with Buffalo and the two of them are good friends.

Hopefully, Spacek will go for team loyalty, as part of his choice.

KF72
 

Lord Zardoz said:
Then again, there is still time between now and the start of the next season. Its entirely possible that there may yet be some trades or signings of some sort for Edmonton that will further mitigate the loss of Pronger.
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Rember that Edmonton traded for Pronger while he was still a RFA with the Blues and then gave him the huge contract extension. I could see Lowe doing that again, especially if a particular team is having cap trouble. (I'm looking at you New Jersey!)

Here are some of the top RFAs that haven't signed, as of yet. (Not including those that have already changed teams due to trade.)

Vitaly Vishnevski (Anaheim)
Henrik Tallinder (Buffalo)
Toni Lydman (Buffalo)
Brian Campbell (Buffalo)
Duncan Keith (Chicago)
Jay Bouwmeester (Florida)
Mike Van Ryn (Florida)
Dan Hamhuis (Nashville)
Paul Martin (New Jersey)
David Hale (New Jersey)
Michal Rozsival (NY Rangers)
Joni Pitkanen (Philadelphia)
Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh)
Christian Ehrhoff (San Jose)
Eric Brewer (St. Louis)
Cory Sarich (Tampa Bay)
Shaone Morrisonn (Washington)
 

Lightning sign Denis to 3-year deal
TSN.ca Staff
7/4/2006 11:57:51 AM

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Marc Denis to a three-year, $8.6 million contract. Denis, 28, was acquired in a trade with Columbus on June 30.

The a 6-foot-1, 193-pound native of Montreal spent the past seven years in the NHL with Colorado and Columbus, posting a record of 94-156-28 with a goals-against average of 2.97 and a save percentage of .906.

"When we traded for Marc it was our plan to attempt to negotiate a long-term deal while recognizing that if we were unsuccessful he would be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the upcoming season," Feaster said.

"From our first conversation, Marc told us that he shared our interest in a long-term deal, and being able to have him signed and in the fold for at least the next three seasons is a very significant accomplishment for our organization. We look forward to a very long and mutually rewarding relationship with Marc."

Denis was selected in the first round, 25th overall, by Colorado at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.

At the 2006 World Championships in Latvia, Denis was 4-1-0 with a goals-against average of 2.51 and a save percentage of .911 for Canada.
 

Carter's days with Canucks over?
TSN.ca Staff
7/4/2006 12:56:24 AM

It appears that Anson Carter's days as a Vancouver Canuck might be coming to an end.

The two sides are reportedly about a million dollars apart on a new deal.

"I think they have spent all their money," Carter's agent Pat Brisson told TSN.

Brisson said that he hopes to continue talks with the Canucks in the next day or two but is not holding out hope that the gap will be bridged.

Carter signed a one year, one million dollar deal prior to last season after an injury-plagued 2003-2004 season. He came back healthy and scored 33 goals playing on a line with the Sedin twins.

The Sedins each received sizable raises to 3.575 million dollars each over three years. Carter, who made 2.8 million in 03-04 was hoping for a similar raise, ideally getting back to that number over 3 years.

The Leafs and Kings are among the three or four teams seriously interested in Carter. Brisson told TSN that he hopes to have a deal in place by the end of the week.
 

From Sportsnet.ca

Hockey Hearsay: Leafs look to Carter instead of Roberts
July 04, 2006

Gary Roberts' return to Toronto may not happen. But Anson Carter coming to play in his hometown just might.

According to the Toronto Sun, Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson isn't optimistic about a deal being worked out to bring the veteran forward back to T.O. Also with the recent signings, the Leafs are quickly running out of cap space.

With the Leafs having roughly $4 to 6 miilion left in cap space, there may not be enough money left to take on Roberts' $2.25 million salary, especially if the Leafs decide to sign Anson Carter. Carter's agent Pat Brisson told the Sun that there is 'mutual interest' between both parties.

Sources have told the Toronto Star that Gary Roberts' desire to return to Toronto was more than just a request. If he doesn't get traded to the Buds, then he will return to Toronto and retire.
 

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