NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)

[Knightfall]

Bouchard signs 1-year deal with Wild
TSN.ca Staff
6/24/2006 9:10:19 AM

The Minnesota Wild have signed forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard to a one-year contract worth $1.85 million US.

''We were impressed with Pierre-Marc's commitment to the team and effort this year, and with his desire to re-sign quickly and begin preparing for next season,'' said Wild president and general manager Doug Risebrough.

Bouchard, 22, was set to become a restricted free agent this summer.

The Wild's eighth overall selection is 2002 had a career season this year, scoring 17 goals and 59 points in 80 games this season.

In 191 career games, he has 28 goals and 101 points.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Pronger rumor apparantly confirmed

It appears that the personal reasons thing is legit, his wife hates living in Edmonton.

Now, obviously, this puts the Oilers in a position. About the only possible benefit is that if they do trade him, it frees up alot of cash which they might use to hold on to other free agents.

Running the other way with it though, what happens if the Oilers refuse to trade Pronger? I am not a huge sports fan (the only reason I even post in these threads is a side effect of the Oilers making such a good run this year). It would obviously be pretty corrosive for Prongers Morale, and there probably arent that many players comparable to Pronger who arent locked into contracts right now, except maybe Zdeno Chara.

As a side effect, if Prongers wife is motivating the trade, that cannot be seen as an asset for most teams that might want him, especially small market teams. If Mrs Pronger hates Edmonton, I dont see how she would be happier in Ottawa.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Agamon]

Flames acquire Tanguay from Avalanche
TSN.ca Staff
6/24/2006 6:31:16 PM

The Calgary Flames made a move to get more offence next season, acquiring forward Alex Tanguay from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenceman Jordan Leopold, a 2006 second round pick, and a conditional second rounder in 2007 or 2008.

Tanguay, 26, had 29 goals and 49 assists for 78 in 71 games last season.

In 450 NHL games, Tanguay has scored 137 goals, 263 assists and 400 points. He is a +121 in his six seasons with Colorado.

Leopold, 25, played in 74 games for the Flames last season, recording 20 points on two goals and 18 assists. He posted a +6 plus/minus rating and finished second on the team in average time on ice (22:19).

"Jordan is a solid defenseman and a very good skater," said Avalanche Executive Vice President and General Manager Francois Giguere. "He is a former Hobey Baker Award winner that has great playmaking abilities at both ends of the ice. He is only 25 years-old and has a bright future ahead of him."

"Moreover, we are hopeful that this year's second-round draft pick will become an Avalanche player in the near future," added Giguere.

Leopold made his NHL debut with the Flames in 2002-03 and has compiled 15 goals and 52 assists in 214 career games.

Had to add this one myself, KF, it's very exciting news for me

 

[Knightfall]

It appears that the personal reasons thing is legit, his wife hates living in Edmonton.

Yes, I heard Kevin Lowe confirm it, on TV, at the draft, today. I'm very annoyed, but what's Pronger to do? Divorce his wife?

During the draft, the TSN guys said that the two teams showing the most interest, with the best offers, for Pronger, were Toronto and the NY Rangers. Those choices are fine with me, as it would means Prongs would play in the east and I wouldn't have to suffer through watching him play for a Western Conference team.

 

[Knightfall]

Had to add this one myself, KF, it's very exciting news for me.

No worries.

After all, imitation is often the best form of flattery. I posted it to the Draft thread, however, before I saw your post here.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Well, its a problem for the Oilers to be sure, but, crap happens.

I do hope that the Oilers at least hold out for a worth while offer. I dont think that the Oilers signed that kind of contract on a whim, they tied up alot of money for alot of years hoping Pronger would stick around.

The fact that he wants out is all well and good, but the Oilers should not have to take a bad trade just to appease his wife.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Knightfall]

Well, its a problem for the Oilers to be sure, but, crap happens.

I do hope that the Oilers at least hold out for a worth while offer. I dont think that the Oilers signed that kind of contract on a whim, they tied up alot of money for alot of years hoping Pronger would stick around.

The fact that he wants out is all well and good, but the Oilers should not have to take a bad trade just to appease his wife.

END COMMUNICATION

Kevin Lowe won't make a bad trade, just to appease one player (and his family). He'll take his time and do it right. He'll want to make sure that the players coming back WANT to play/stay in Edmonton.

I expect it to be mid-July before Pronger is traded. Lowe will want to try and sign key free agents, in order to prove that there are players who WANT to play/stay in Edmonton.

KF72

 

[Knightfall]

From Sportsnet.ca

HC Connected: Panthers grab another goalie?
June 25, 2006

Sources tell Sportsnet the Florida Panthers have acquired goaltender Craig Anderson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 6th round draft pick.

Anderson played in 29 games last season for Chicago, and compiled a record of 6-12, with a GAA of 3.32 with one shutout.

 

[devilbat]

The fact that he wants out is all well and good, but the Oilers should not have to take a bad trade just to appease his wife.

I've got a little inside knowledge about the Pronger situation.

Chris Pronger is from a town about three and a half hours away from Winnipeg, called Dryden, Ontario. One of the parents of a kid on my kids soccer team is originally form that town, and is good friends with the Pronger family.

He was telling me earlier in the spring, that there would be a shake up in Edmonton after the season, because Pronger's wife hated it there. It turns out she's a bit of as debutante from a rich St. Louis family, and the idea of spending her winters in the wilds of northern Alberta for the next four years, was less then appealing.

What I don't understand, is why Pronger signed for five years? Maybe his wife started using the D word, and the situation became a bit more serious.

Anyway, the rumors I heard was Lowe asked for Alexander Steen and Tomas Kaberle in exchange for Pronger, and the Leafs turned them down.

 

[devilbat]

It was met here with equal parts "eyebrow raising" and "shoulder shrugging".

He'd better be something, Mark Crawford was pretty well though of here; and we were all kind of shiocked when he was let go.

Vigneault was pretty far down on my list of suspects.

Vignault did a great job down here with the Cunucks farm team, but I don't think his schtick will fly with the big boys. It didn't seem to work for him in Montreal.

As for the trade, I think it's great for the Cunucks. Especially so if they can re-sign Luongo. Allen was a tough loss, but Auld, IMHO, sucks. I was a fan of Bertuzzi, but many hometown Cunucks fans told me that he has far more "off" games, then "on" games in the last two seasons. Couple that with the incident, and a fresh start was needed for the big winger.