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Canucks ink D Krajicek to new deal
Sports Ticker
9/8/2006 6:45:00 PM

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) - The Vancouver Canucks on Friday secured the services of the "other" player they acquired for Todd Bertuzzi, signing defenseman Lukas Krajicek to a new contract.

Terms were not disclosed.

In exchange for the much-maligned Bertuzzi, goaltender Alex Auld and blue-liner Bryan Allen, the Canucks obtained Krajicek along with star netminder Roberto Luongo and a sixth-round pick from Florida on June 23. The 23-year-old Czech completed his first full NHL season with the Panthers in 2005-06, collecting two goals, 14 assists and 50 penalty minutes in 67 games.

Krajicek also represented his country at the World Championship earlier this year, registering eight penalty minutes in nine games in helping the Czech Republic capture the silver medal.

Drafted 24th overall in 2001, Krajicek has recorded three goals and 23 points in 90 career games over parts of three campaigns.
 

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Oilers, Lupul working on deal
Sportsnet.ca News
September 10, 2006

Sportsnet.ca -- The Edmonton Oilers continue to negotiate with restricted free agent winger Joffrey Lupul.

The player's agent, Peter Semonick, met with the club's assistant general manager Scott Howson on Friday.

The two sides have discussed one, two and three-year deals. Should a three-year contract be reached, Lupul would give up two years of arbitration rights. There are reports the two sides are about $400,000 apart on the three-year deal.

Talks are expected to resume on Monday.

The Oilers acquired Lupul, along with Ladislav Smid, a first-round selection in 2007 and a pair of picks in 2008, in a deal with the Anaheim Ducks for defenceman Chris Pronger.

Lupul registered 53 points (28 goals, 25 assists) in 81 games with the Ducks last season.
 

Zhamnov could retire
TheFourthPeriod.com
September 10, 2006

Bruins center Alexei Zhamnov is expecteded to report to training camp this week, supposedly to fail his medical examination, according to the Boston Globe.

Bruins Peter Chiarelli told the newspaper the 35-year-old pivot faces no option but to retire, because of the ankle he broke last season.

Zhamnov, who shattered his ankle last season, will be categorized a "long-term injury exception."

The Bruins must pay Zhamnov his remaining salary ($8.2 million over 2-years), but it will be count against the salary cap.

Meanwhile, the Globe claims the Bruins are considering extending training camp invitations to some of the veterans still looking for work.

"There's a lot more of them this year," Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli told the Globe. "I've been talking to three guys about invitations, but I want to see how rookie camp goes first, and we'll see from there."

Chiarelli could invite Tom Fitzgerald, who wasn't extended a new contract by the Bruins. Former B's Jason Allison, Brian Leetch, and Anson Carter aren't expected to get invitations to camp.
 

Hawks, Ruutu far from contract
TheFourthPeriod.com
September 10, 2006

The Blackhawks and restricted free agent Tuomo Ruutu do not appear to be close to an agreement, reports the Chicago Daily Herald.

According to the paper, Ruutu is in Finland and not working out at a camp this week organized by his agent, Bill Zito, in Hoffman Estates.

Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon told the Daily Herald he expects to sign Ruutu before the start of camp.

"I think we'll get something done," Tallon said. "We'll be fair."

The paper claims the Hawks appear to have leverage in the negotiations because of Ruutu's recent rash of injuries – he played in only 15 games last season.

Ruutu earned $858,000 last season in the final year of his three-year entry-level deal.
 

Zherdev negotiations heating up
TheFourthPeriod.com
September 10, 2006

The Blue Jackets and restricted free agent Nikolai Zherdev stepped up contract negotiations this week, reports the Columbus Dispatch.

Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean told the paper the team made three offers: $1.25 million for one-year, $3.9 million for two-years and $6.6 million for three-years.

According to the Dispatch, Zherdev's primary agent, Rolland Hedges, countered Thursday night: $2.75 million for one-year, $5.75 million for two-years and $9 million for three-years.

On Friday, the team made another offer ($6.9 million for three-years), but have yet to hear back from Hedges.

It's believed the two sides are much closer to a deal, but MacLean says negotiations have dragged on because they are waiting to see what Edmonton's Joffrey Lupul (a restricted free agent) receives.
 

Report: Vokoun gets new four-year deal
TSN.ca Staff
9/11/2006 10:13:41 AM

The Nashville Predators have called a news conference for Monday afternoon at which they are expected to announce the signing of goaltender Tomas Vokoun to a new four-year deal.

The Tennesean reprts that Vokoun, who will earn $2.28 million this season under the terms of his current contract, has inked a new four-year deal that will kick-in after this season ends. Financial terms were not reported.

"I'm happy to be staying," Vokoun told the Tennesean on Sunday night. "I really like the Nashville organization and Nashville has always been very good for me and my family. I'm excited about the future."

Vokoun set a franchise mark with 36 wins last season, helped by a 2.67 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. He was fourth in Vezina Trophy voting for the league's top goaltender.

Vokoun's season ended early when doctors discovered blood clots in his abdomen. He spent three months on blood thinners until doctors determined the largest clot was harmless.

"We'd said that we'd look into (a new contract) once we got the health issues resolved," Vokoun told the Tennesean. "We wanted to get it done before the start of the season. With all the changes on the team, I'm just happy to be staying."
 

Canucks ink Linden to one year
Sportsnet.ca News
September 11, 2006

Sportsnet.ca -- Trevor Linden will be back for another year with the Canucks. Sportsnet has learned the 17-year NHL veteran has agreed to a one-year deal in Vancouver.

The Medicine Hat, Alberta-native was originally selected second overall by the Canucks in the 1988 Entry Draft and now seems certain to end his career with the club. Linden has also suited up for the Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadins and New York Islanders, playing a total of 1,243 games for 830 career points (356 goals, 474 assists).

While Linden has never been an offensive force in the league, he did manage to record at least 30 goals six times in his career. His strength, however, was in his defensive play where Linden established himself as a solid two-way player.

Linden also served as president for the NHL Players' Association before deciding not to seek re-election this past July. He held that position since June 1998.
 

Westcott nets extension with Jackets
TSN.ca Staff
9/11/2006 3:19:08 PM

The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed defenseman Duvie Westcott to a three-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season, club President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today.

As is club policy, terms were not disclosedfor the new deal, but Westcott is slated to earn $500,000 this season on his old contract.

Westcott, 28, is coming off the best year of his National Hockey League career in 2005-06 as he established career highs with 6 goals, 22 assists, 28 points, 133 penalty minutes and a +1 rating in 78 games with the Blue Jackets. He third in ice time (22:34) for Columbus last season.

"Since joining our organization as an undrafted free agent in 2001, Duvie has worked incredibly hard to become a very good, two-way NHL defenseman," said MacLean. "On the ice, he plays with passion and consistency every night. Off the ice, he is a tremendous person who is liked and respected by his teammates and coaches. We're thrilled that he will remain a part of our organization for the next four years."

The 5'11", 197-pounder from Winnipeg, Manitoba was originally signed by the Blue Jackets as a free agent on May 10, 2001.

In 155 career games with the Blue Jackets, he has accumulated 6 goals, 36 assists and 42 points, plus 251 penalty minutes in 155 career games.
 

'Canes Kaberle out at least four months
Sports Ticker
9/11/2006 5:26:16 PM

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) - The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will be without one of their best offensive players when they begin defense of their title next month.

The Hurricanes announced Monday that defenseman Frantisek Kaberle underwent shoulder surgery and will be sidelined at least four months.

Kaberle, 32, emerged as an offensive force on the blue line in 2005-06, his first season with Carolina. The Czech collected six goals and a career-high 38 assists in 77 games, leading all Hurricanes defensemen in scoring.

The 6-0 Kaberle also made valuable contributions in Carolina's run to the Stanley Cup, scoring four goals and registering 13 points in 25 postseason contests.

A third-round draft selection of the Los Angeles Kings in 1999, Kaberle has 26 goals and 129 assists in 386 career games over five-plus seasons with Los Angeles, Atlanta and Carolina.
 

Flyers sign Gagne to five-year deal
TSN.ca Staff (with files from CP)
9/11/2006 10:36:49 PM

The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to a five-year deal with forward Simon Gagne worth $5.25 million a season.

The signing ends a long summer of negotiations between Gagne, a restricted free agent, and Flyers general manager Bob Clarke. Clarke met with Gagne's agent, Bob Sauve, on Monday.

"It's a pretty good day for myself and my family for sure," Gagne said. "(Philadelphia) is the city I love. I have my house there. I love the place and the fans."

"I think it was critical to our organization to get Simon signed and to get him signed for a number of years," Clarke said. "He's one of the better two-way players in the game."

Gagne had said he would not be at the start of Flyers training camp on September 15th unless he had a contract in place.

"I think if a player has to miss training camp it is disruptive for the player and it is disruptive for the team," explained Clarke. "I think it was critical to our organization to get Simon signed and to get him signed for a number of years."

"Simon is a very complete player," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock told the Canadian Press in a telephone interview. "He plays the most minutes on the team, he goes against the other team's best player, he can handle multiple positions. He does all of the other things needed to win."

Hitchcock could not help but consider the possibilities for having his top line in place all season, "I think the potential is there if he and Peter and (Mike) Knuble and the line stay healthy," he said. "If the line stays healthy, it has a chance to do some serious damage."

Gagne, who was reportedly asking for $5 million to $6 million a year, is coming off a career-high 47 goals and 79 points last season. The 26-year-old was taken 22nd overall by the Flyers in the 1998 Entry Draft and has 160 goals and 324 points in 426 career NHL games. Gagne was also part of Canada's 2002 gold medal wining hockey team at the Salt Lake City winter games.
 

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