NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)

Oilers re-sign Horcoff to three-year deal
Canadian Press
7/14/2006 2:14:44 PM

Shawn Horcoff wants to be an Oiler for a long time so he had no problem forgoing his right to unrestricted free agency next year.

The first-line centre signed a $10.8-million US, three-year deal with the Oilers on Friday, avoiding salary arbitration in the process.

''I'm ecstatic, happy to be in Edmonton for three more years,'' Horcoff told The Canadian Press from B.C.

''After last year and us going as far as we did, I obviously wanted to stay with this team and try to get back there to win one extra game.''

''I enjoy the city, they treat me great there.''

The 27-year-old restricted free agent had a career-high 73 points (22-51) in 79 games last season, his fifth in the NHL - all with the Oilers.

He also had 19 points (7-12) in 24 games during Edmonton's surprise playoff run. Horcoff filed for arbitration July 5 but never really thought he would go through with it.

''No one wants to go through that,'' said Horcoff, a member of Canada's back-to-back IIHF world champion teams of 2003 and 2004. ''The contract came together pretty quickly.''

Horcoff will earn $3.6 million a year after making $1 million last season.

That makes him the second-highest paid Oiler after goalie Dwayne Roloson, who earlier this summer signed an $11-million, three-year deal ($3.66 million average).

Horcoff was the 13th NHL player to settle among the 69 who filed for arbitration July 5.

Centre Jarret Stoll and winger Ales Hemsky are the two remaining Oilers still slated for arbitration.
 

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Panthers sign goaltender Auld
Canadian Press
7/14/2006 3:02:34 PM

The Florida Panthers signed newly acquired goaltender Alex Auld to a $1.475-million, one-year contract Friday.

The 25-year-old went 33-26-6 with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage in his first full NHL season last year with the Vancouver Canucks, taking over for the injured Dan Cloutier.

Auld, who made $513,000 last season, was part of the package sent to Florida in the Roberto Luongo deal June 23.
 

From TSN.ca!!!

Ice Chips for Friday, July 14

> Bruins top draft pick Phil Kessel will likely be playing at least one more year of college hockey at Minnesota. - St. Paul Pioneer Press

> Negotiations are not going well with Avalanche RW Marek Svatos, one of Colorado's top goal scorers last season. "We're at a point where it's tough to say where it goes from here," Svatos' agent Rich Evans said. "(Talks) could have gone better; otherwise, we'd have a deal by now." - Denver Post

> Unrestricted free agent C Greg Johnson has piqued the interest of the Ottawa Senators. - Ottawa Sun

> Sovietsky Sport, the bible of all things hockey in Russia, says the six-foot-five Mikhnov is leaving his Russian club team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, presumably to make his way across the pond to sign with the Oilers. But Oilers assistant general manager Scott Howson says a Mikhnov sighting is a tad premature. "We have had discussions with his agent (Don Meehan) and Mikhnov would like to come over, but we haven't even offered a contract," Howson said on Thursday. - Edmonton Journal

> The Edmonton Oilers are denying reports that Eric Lindros may be meeting with general manager Kevin Lowe in a tour of NHL cities to talk about a possible contract. - Edmonton Journal

> Eric Lindros has made visits to Dallas to listen to a pitch from Stars management and to Edmonton to discuss a possible future with the Oilers. The New York Islanders also are believed to have interest in No. 88. - Globe & Mail

> Seven NHL teams are interested in Oiler free-agent right winger Radek Dvorak. - Edmonton Journal

> Jiri Tlusty, who was selected 13th overall by the Maple Leafs at the entry draft in June, signed a three-year deal with Toronto that could see him playing major junior hockey for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds next season. - Toronto Star
 

Sabres trade rights of Pyatt to Canucks
TSN.ca Staff
7/14/2006 5:06:49 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres have traded the rights of forward Taylor Pyatt to the Vancouver Canucks, in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Pyatt, the 6-4, 220-pound left wing played in 41 games for Buffalo during the 2005-06 season. He finished the year with six goals and six assists, including one game-winning goal against Ottawa on April 8. During the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Pyatt appeared in 14 games and collected five assists).

Pyatt played 230 games over the last four seasons with the Sabres (2001-2006), totaling 80 points. In his NHL career, Pyatt has appeared in 308 regular season games, collecting 98 points.
 

Canes agree to terms with Walser, Kowalski
Canadian Press
7/14/2006 6:52:14 PM

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to terms with defenceman Derrick Walser and goaltender Craig Kowalski on one-year contracts Friday.

Walser, who played with Carolina winger Erik Cole in Berlin in 2004-05, led Eisbaren Berlin with 19 goals and finished third on the team with 43 points in 52 regular-season games last year. He finished with six playoff goals to help the team win its second straight league title.

Kowalski started last season with the Florida Everblades, Carolina's ECHL affiliate, before being recalled to Lowell of the AHL. He later joined the Hurricanes as the team's practice and emergency goaltender.
 

Knightfall1972 said:
Sabres trade rights of Pyatt to Canucks
TSN.ca Staff
7/14/2006 5:06:49 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres have traded the rights of forward Taylor Pyatt to the Vancouver Canucks, in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
/QUOTE]


Uh...who?

Oh, another left winger :\

WTF?
Click to expand...
 

Teflon Billy said:
Uh...who?

Oh, another left winger :\

WTF?
Click to expand...

Taylor Pyatt (LW)
http://www.nhl.com/players/8467881.html

Age: 24
Place of Birth: Thunder Bay, Ont., Canada
HT: 6-4 WT: 227
Shoots: L
NHL Seasons: 5

2005-06: GP 41, G 6, A 6, P 12, +/- -1, PIM 33.

Scouting Report
Assets: Boasts a tremendous combination of size and skating ability. Has sound body-checking skills, and is both defensively aware and an emerging offensive talent.

Flaws: The jury is still out on his offensive upside. Tends to struggle in the hockey sense department.

Career Potential: Power forward.
 

Oilers pursue Mikhnov
By DEREK VAN DIEST -- Edmonton Sun

The Edmonton Oilers are waiting on the Russians for the services of Alexei Mikhnov.

The Oilers first pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (17th overall) has spent the last six years playing in the Russian Super League.

This fall the Oilers hope to have the six-foot-five, 228-pound left winger in camp.

"We'd like to sign him," said Oilers assistant general manager Scott Howson. "But that's not possible until the Russians sign the IIHF-NHL transfer agreement."

The Russian Hockey Federation had verbally agreed to sign the agreement in June allowing for players under contract to come to the NHL. However, the Russians have still yet to sign it.

Sovetsky Sport in Russia reported Mikhnov signed a two-way contract in North America and is leaving Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, the club he's played for the last two years.

"We can't do anything until that has been resolved," Howson said. "We're told the Russians are going to be part of the agreement again very soon."

Russia did not accept the terms of the international transfer agreement put in place following the signing of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and the players' association.

At dispute was the transfer fees Russian clubs would get for releasing their players.

One of the biggest opponents is Magnitogorsk Metallurg, who currently own the rights to Evgeni Malkin, the Pittsburgh Penguins first pick (second overall) in the 2004 draft.

Mikhnov scored 14 goals and added eight assists in 40 games with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv last season.

He was also a member of the Russian team that competed at this spring's World Championships.

"He's a big, strong player who's improved a lot in the last couple of years," Howson said. "He would have a chance to make our team if we can get him over here. A couple of years ago, that wasn't the case."

A couple of years ago, the Oilers had a chance to see Mikhnov up close and personal. He didn't have any equipment for his visit and needed to borrow a pair of Cory Cross's skates.

At the time the Oilers felt Mikhnov was not ready to play in the NHL.

Things have changed. Now it seems only a matter of time before Mikhnov officially signs.

"It's hard to say when that will happen," Howson said. "He still has a year left on his contract, so until they sign the agreement Alexei can't come."
 

CX105_THREE_TEAM_TRADE_HAVL.jpg

New Chicago Blackhawks forward Martin Havlat poses in his new jersey after being formally introduced at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, July 11, 2006. Havlat was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in a three-team trade that also involved the San Jose Sharks. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
 

Red Wings sign C Hussey, D Smith to one-year deals
Sports Ticker
July 13, 2006

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday signed center Matt Hussey and defenseman Dan Smith to one-year contracts.

Hussey, 27, had just one assist in 13 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. In 65 games with Wilkes Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, Hussey had 21 goals and 30 assists.

The Penguins selected Hussey in the ninth round of the 1998 draft.

Smith, 29, played in seven games with the Edmonton Oilers last season. He spent most of the campaign with Hamilton of the AHL, recording 16 assists in 69 games.

A seventh-round pick of Colorado in 1995, Smith played in 15 games with the Avalanche before leaving the organization in 2001.

"Matt and Dan are players that will provide quality depth in our organization," Red Wings general manager Jim Nill said. "Since the salary cap was put into place, the importance of adding value players has been magnified."
 

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