NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)

Sauer Signs One-Year Deal
ColoradoAvalanche.com
July 10, 2006

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Monday that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Kurt Sauer on a one-year contract.

Sauer, 25, played 37 games for the Avalanche last season, notching a goal and four assists along with a +5 rating. He appeared in each of the final 28 regular season contests and all nine playoff games for the Avs.

Sauer, who was acquired from Anaheim on Feb. 21, 2004, was originally an Avalanche draft pick in 2000 (fifth selection, 88th overall). The St. Cloud, Minnesota, native has appeared in 186 career NHL games, compiling 14 points (3g/11a).
 

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Knightfall1972 said:
He's forcing himself to trade real assests away, by signing huge, long-term contracts for players like Elias (7 years), Colin White (6 years), and Jamie Langenbrunner (5 years).

Now, everyone agrees that Elias is probably worth his contract, but White for 6 years, at $3 million US, and Langenbrunner for 5 years, at $2.6 million US! That's nuts! There isn't any way for anyone to judge how those two players are going to playing in 5 to 6 years.

Plus, what if those three players, however unlikely, tank?

The Devils will be stuck with their contracts, just like with Alexander Mogilny.

Yes, the Oilers took that risk with Pronger, and they were forced to trade him away because he wasn't happy. But that was Chris Pronger, not Colin White!

Now, I'm sure if Elias wanted out of New Jersey then the Devils would have an entire league calling them, regardless of Elias' contract. So that would be the same situation as with Pronger. However, if Elias tanks it then New Jersey could be in trouble, just like what happened with Yashin in Ottawa.

It's the risk factor.

Lou is taking HUGE risks that might cripple his team later. And he's going to have to trade away, at least, one or two of his big name players just to get the Devils' remaining RFAs under contract. And he's going to have to tade those players away for picks or prospects.

It's a bad situation to be in. Trust me, Oilers fans just went through it. Imagine the pain that New Jersey fans will go through when Lou is FORCED to trade away players that WANT to be in New Jersey, but have to be moved to make Cap room, so that the Devils don't forefit games.

I'd be pissed. :mad:

KF72
Click to expand...

Fine with me, I loathe New Jersey. In fact most years once the Canucks are out of the playoffs, I find myself rooting for a meta-team I call "Anyone but the Devils"
 

Blue Jackets re-sign Hainsey for two years
TSN.ca Staff
7/11/2006 10:19:31 AM

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed defenseman Ron Hainsey to a two-year deal.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Hainsey, 25, appeared in 55 games with the Blue Jackets last season and tallied 17 points with 43 penalty minutes and led the team in plus/minus rating with a club record plus-13. He was claimed off waivers from Montreal on Nov. 29.

"We are very pleased to have Ron back with us," said Blue Jackets general manager Doug MacLean. "Last season he came in after he was claimed off waivers and played well the last 50 games of the season. We are pleased with his progress and think that he can develop into a strong player in the National Hockey League."

Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, Hainsey had 17 points and 19 penalty minutes in 22 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League.

Hainsey has appeared in 87 career NHL games, recording 19 points and 47 penalty minutes with Montreal and Columbus.

Montreal's first pick, 13th overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft, Hainsey played two seasons at UMass-Lowell.
 

Islanders sign Chris Simon
Canadian Press
7/11/2006 10:23:54 AM

NEW YORK (CP) - The New York Islanders have signed veteran winger Chris Simon to a $1-million US, one-year deal.

Simon, 34, recorded eight goals and 14 assists with 94 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Calgary Flames last season while earning $1.216 million.

"Chris brings so much experience and so many intangibles to the Islanders," general manager Neil Smith said Tuesday in a statement. "He's been one of the game's most respected leaders and effective role players for more than a decade. As he proved in Calgary by averaging around 12 minutes a game, he still has plenty of hockey left in him."

Simon has 133 goals, 142 assists and 1,690 penalty minutes in 677 career games with Quebec/Colorado, Washington, Chicago, the New York Rangers and Calgary. He won a Stanley Cup with Avalanche in 1996.

As a member of the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1991-92, Simon was coached by Ted Nolan, who recently took over as head coach of the Islanders.

"I was extremely interested in coming to the Islanders and I'm very happy things worked out," said Simon. "I've known Ted for a long time and I'm so excited about having him as my coach again."
 

Lebda signs four-year pact with Wings
TSN.ca Staff
7/11/2006 11:18:20 AM

Detroit, MI - The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed defenceman Brett Lebda to a four-year contract.

Additional terms of the deal are not available.

"Brett was impressive in the time he spent with us last season," said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland. "He possesses the skills I think will help contribute to the success of this organization in the long-term."

Lebda, 24, split time between the Red Wings and its American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins in the 2005-06 season, scoring 12 points with a plus-9 rating in 46 games with the Red Wings. Lebda was steady on the blueline during the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He played in all six of Detroit's playoff games and averaged 13:08 per game along with a plus-three rating.

The Red Wings originally signed Lebda as a free agent on July 21, 2004, after he played four years for the University of Notre Dame.
 

Toskala hopes Sharks trade a goalie
Associated Press
7/11/2006 1:00:25 PM

Vesa Toskala has nothing but great things to say about the San Jose Sharks, his GM Doug Wilson, and his fellow goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.

But he's adamant he doesn't want to head into training camp next season still battling for playing time in goal with his buddy Nabokov.

''I really hope that doesn't happen,'' Toskala said Tuesday from his native Tampere, Finland. ''That's not good for me, or for Nabby. And I don't think it's good for the team either, sitting one of us on the bench. I really hope there's a trade.''

Wilson has patiently fielded calls for both goalies since the season ended but hasn't found anything that made sense. He understands neither player will be thrilled if a trade doesn't happen this summer.

''We've got a problem that many teams would love to have,'' Wilson said Tuesday from San Jose. ''We have two No. 1 goaltenders and we feel very confident in both of them.

''But we will make the decision that's right for this organization.''

The Sharks can afford to make a move since they're deep in goal throughout the organization. AHL starter Nolan Schaefer, of Yellow Grass, Sask., went 5-1-0 with a 1.88 goals-against average and .920 save percentage during a callup to San Jose last season while Nabokov and Toskala were both out with injuries.

There was talk coming out of the NHL entry draft in Vancouver last month that the Sharks and Ottawa Senators were exchanging phone calls with Toskala the man going north.

''Yes, I saw those rumours, there were a lot of rumours flying around but that's all they were I guess,'' said Toskala.

Once the Senators signed Martin Gerber on July 1 all bets were off with San Jose.

Meanwhile, Nabokov's new $21.5-million, four-year contract kicked in July 1, a deal that includes a no-trade clause. But that doesn't mean he can't be moved.

Nabokov, with three 30-win seasons under his belt, doesn't want to be a backup any more than Toskala so one has to assume he would waive his no-trade clause if Wilson found him a new address that's acceptable.

On the surface, there aren't many jobs left for a starting goalie in the NHL. But the reality is that many teams would be willing to upgrade what they currently have in goal in order to add a Nabokov or a Toskala. So there's no telling where either Sharks goalie will end up.

In the new salary-cap world, there's no question Toskala is a great bargain, signed for only $1.375 a year for next season and 2007-08. Nabokov, who turns 31 on July 25, is a bigger ticket at $5.375 million a season, but is a more established goalie than Toskala, who emerged last season when Nabokov battled groin problems.

A healthy Nabokov backstopped the Sharks to the Western Conference final in 2003-04, and played 55 or more games from 2000-01 to 2003-04 before being limited to 45 games last season. He's 137-113-29 in 303 career regular-season games with a 2.45 GAA and .911 save percentage.

Toskala, 29, started the year as the backup again in 2005-06 but took off after the Olympic break, ending the season with a 23-7-0 record, 2.56 GAA and .901 save percentage. He also started all 11 playoff games, going 6-5 with a 2.45 GAA and .910 save percentage.

Relaxing at home in Tampere, Toskala is just waiting for the call that tells him either he's gone or Nabokov is.

''I really don't know what's going to happen,'' said Toskala. ''I'm enjoying my summer right now, I don't really let it get to me. Obviously I want to know where I'm playing next season but I haven't been stressing out about it.''
 

From Sportsnet.ca

Hockey Hearsay
July 11, 2006

Eagle set to land in Hockeytown?
Ed Belfour’s agent has told the Detroit Free Press he is optimistic that a deal between his client and the Detroit Red Wings could be reached as soon as today.

"We are moving towards our mutual goal of making Ed Belfour a Red Wing," Ron Salcer, Belfour's agent, said Monday evening.

Belfour appears willing to accept a one-year deal. The Wings are reportedly looking to sign him for $500,000, with incentives.


Hamilton Penguins?
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting four bidders have surfaced for the Pittsburgh Penguins but there could soon be a fifth, probably in Canada and possibly wanting to place the team in Hamilton, Ontario.

Club owners, led by California billionaire Ron Burkle and retired Hall of Fame player Mario Lemieux, would like to finalize the sale by the start of the season in October.

One name that has been tied to potential NHL ownership in Hamilton is Toronto attorney Richard Rodier.
 

Sabres re-sign Campbell to multi-year deal
Associated Press
10:46 AM EDT, 07/11/2006

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Defenseman Brian Campbell agreed to terms Tuesday on a multiyear contract with the Buffalo Sabres, avoiding arbitration.

A news conference with general manager Darcy Regier and Campbell was scheduled for late Tuesday morning.

Campbell was the Sabres' leading scorer among defensemen last season with 44 points, including five game-winning goals. He finished with a team-low 16 penalty minutes and is best known for a heavy but clean hit that leveled R.J. Umberger in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against Philadelphia.

Campbell made $459,800 last season. Terms of the new contract were not immediately available.
 
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Ice Chips for Tuesday, July 11

> Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals' top draft pick last month, informed the club Monday he won't be coming to Washington next season but will instead continue playing in his native Sweden for another year. - The Washington Post

> Battaglia, a prominent part of the Hurricanes team that defeated the Leafs in the 2002 Eastern Conference final, played for the Toronto Marlies last season on an American Hockey League contract and could not be called up to the big team. But the Maple Leafs last week signed Battaglia to a two-way NHL deal. The 30-year-old Battaglia, who has played 458 career NHL games, will likely be used as an injury fill-in for the Leafs, but he will be given a chance to win a job in training camp. - The Toronto Star

> Brian Leetch's next Garden game could come as Blueshirt. Barring a medical miracle, Sandis Ozolinsh not only won't be ready for training camp, he'll miss a chunk of the 2006-07 season, potentially leaving room for the Rangers to make Leetch their power play quarterback. - NY Daily News

> The Hawks would like to sign Kyle Calder to a long-term contract, but it's believed he wants a one-year deal in order to test the free-agent market next summer. - Arlington Heights Daily Herald

> The agent for goaltender Ed Belfour sounded optimistic that a deal could be announced as soon as today. "We are moving towards our mutual goal of making Ed Belfour a Red Wing," Ron Salcer, Belfour's agent, said Monday evening. - Detroit Free Press

> Michael Rupp signed a one-year contract yesterday to return to the Devils, the team with which he started his NHL career. He's less than four months removed from surgery to correct an abnormality in his heart's electrical system. He suffers from Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. - Newark Star-Ledger

> While still unconfirmed, it's likely the Panthers will play the Rangers in an exhibition game Sept. 23 in Puerto Rico. - South Florida Sun-Sentinel
 
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NHLPA News!

Linden will not seek re-election for NHLPA
Canadian Press
7/11/2006 4:33:51 PM

WHISTLER, B.C. (CP) - There will soon be a new president of the NHL Players' Association.

Trevor Linden announced Tuesday at the NHLPA's summer meeting that he will not seek re-election for the position he has held since June 1998.

The NHLPA's new executive committee is expected to be announced Wednesday.

Linden, a 36-year-old native of Medicine Hat, Alta., is an unrestricted free agent. He played all 82 games for the Vancouver Canucks last season, recording seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in his 17th NHL season.

Since entering the league in 1988, Linden has 356 goals and 474 assists for 830 points in 1,243 career games with the Canucks, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals.

Linden helped broker the deal last summer that ended the year-long NHL lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season.
 
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