NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)

Nightfall said:
Yep there's our Bobby Clarke, embassodor of good will for the Flyers. :p

And people wonder why Eric Lindros left... :p
Click to expand...
You have to admire Clarkie for not being afraid to speak his mind. Yet, it might be good for him and the Flyers organization, this time, that he keep his mouth shut.

"Offer sheets" are a touchy subject, at best. Yes, they're part of the CBA, but everyone knows that the old GMs club is against them. Maybe his actions will break that club apart, but I doubt it. More than likely the entire league of GMs will take their revenge when free agency comes back around in 2007.

The Flyers might end up getting gutted of their RFAs, if Nonis decides to strike back. Note that Clarke waited until Gagne was re-signed before putting out an offer sheet. That way, Nonis couldn't come back at him this year.

Later,

KF72
 

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Hockey Hearsay
September 13, 2006

Lundqvist suffered from migraines
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist revealed his play may have suffered last season from recurring migraines.

According to the New York Post, Lundqvist developed migraines after returning to the lineup from a hip flexor injury late into the season.

"Of course it was tough to play and have that at the same time," Lundqvist told the Post. "I'd wake up in the morning with [migraines]. They got better during the day but never completely went away. My whole face was tender."

Tests over the summer revealed the Rangers backstop was grinding his teeth while he slept, which led to the migraines.

Lundqvist, who had a 2.24 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage in 53 regular-season games, dipped to a 4.40 GAA and an .835 save percentage in the playoffs.

Orszagh out, Dvorak in for St. Louis?
For those who were thinking of adding Blues forward Vladimir Orszagh to their hockey pool, don't. Slated to play on the top line, Orszagh is now looking at knee surgery.

Orszagh, who had surgery on his left knee in March, will require additional surgery on the knee which could be season-ending for the Blues forward, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"It's really a tough decision (to have surgery), but right now, it seems like the only option," Orszagh said. "I'm having trouble with the knee, so I need to get it done to be ready next year and the years after."

The Blues also may have interest in free-agent Radek Dvorak, sources said. Dvorak, 29, has 161 goals in 10 NHL seasons. He had eight goals and 20 assists in 64 games with Edmonton last season. Davidson declined to comment on Dvorak.
 

Leafs and Stajan agree to two-year deal
TSN.ca Staff
9/13/2006 8:14:13 PM

The Toronto Maple Leafs and forward Matt Stajan have agreed on a two-year deal worth $1.75 million.

The deal will pay Stajan $800,000 this season and $950,000 in 2007-08.

Stajan, who was Toronto's last restricted free agent, tallied 15 goals and 12 assists in 80 games with the Maple Leafs last season. In 150 career NHL games he has totals of 30 goals and 25 assists.

The 22-year-old was drafted in the second round (57th overall) by the Maple Leafs in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
 

Blue Jackets re-sign Dan Fritsche
TSN.ca Staff
9/13/2006 9:21:58 PM

The Columbus Blue Jackets capped a busy day on Wednesday by signing restricted free agent Dan Fritsche to a two-year contract.

Fritsche agreed to a two-way deal in the first year that will pay him $475,000 if he sticks in the NHL, or $60,000 if he's assigned to the American Hockey League. In the second year of the deal Fritsche will make $750,000 on a one way contract that ensures he will stay in the NHL.

Fritsche tallied six goals and seven assists in 59 games with the Blue Jackets last season. In 78 career NHL games he has totals of seven goals and seven assists.

The 22-year-old forward was drafted in the second round (46th overall) by Columbus in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Meanwhile, sources tell TSN the signing of Anson Carter and now Fritsche will not impede the Blue Jackets ongoing negotiation with Nikolai Zherdev who is threatening to play this season in Russia if his terms aren't met.
 

Blackhawks re-sign Tuomo Ruutu
Canadian Press
9/13/2006 11:26:51 PM

CHICAGO (CP) - The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed forward Tuomo Ruutu to a two-year contract worth $US3.75 million Wednesday.

''We are really happy to get it done before camp,'' said Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon. ''We're pleased with the deal. He's a very important player to us.''

The 23-year-old centre was returning to Chicago from Finland and was expected to report on Thursday for the first day of training camp.

The six-foot-two, 200-pound Ruutu played in only 15 games last season due to ankle and back injuries. He had two goals and three assists.

He was the Blackhawks' No. 9 pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
 
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'Canes looking for D; may deal Johnson
TSN.ca Staff
9/14/2006 12:48:06 PM

Now that Frantisek Kaberle will miss most of this season because of shoulder surgery, the Carolina Hurricanes are in desperate need of a defenceman.

But it won't be Jack Johnson of the University of Michigan, who was Carolina's third overall pick in the 2005 entry draft.

For the second time in less than a year, the talented Wolverine sophomore, who shone for Team USA at the 2006 World Junior Championship, has rebuffed efforts by the Hurricanes to sign with the NHL team, preferring instead to remain in college.

And it now looks as though there's a chance Johnson may never don a Hurricane sweater.

NHL sources tell TSN that in the wake of Johnson's latest decision to stay at school, Carolina GM Jim Rutherford has begun making calls to other GMs in an effort to trade the 6-foot-1, 200-pound, hard-hitting, fast-skating blueliner.

"He's in play," a source said. "Carolina isn't going to give him away because he's a blue-chip asset, but if they get the right deal, he's gone."

The Hurricanes were miffed last April when Johnson turned down a contract offer that came with some assurances that the defenceman would get an opportunity to play immediately for Carolina, which went on to win the Stanley Cup. That led to a plethora of pre-draft rumours in June that the Hurricanes were going to trade Johnson even up to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second overall pick and the right to draft Peterborough Pete centre Jordan Staal, the younger brother of Hurricanes' star Eric Staal.

But the deal that would have reunited U.S. prep school teammates Johnson and Sidney Crosby, as well as the Staal brothers, never materialized, in large part, it seemed, because neither Pittsburgh nor Carolina were that interested in making the deal.

But in the wake of Kaberle going down with what could be season-ending shoulder injury and Johnson's decision to not leave the Wolverines on the eve of his sophomore season, the trading of Johnson could become a reality.

It will be interesting to see if Carolina and Pittsburgh engage in any Johnson-Staal talks. And it will also be intriguing to see if the Hurricanes put in a call in to the New York Rangers, who drafted defenceman Marc Staal, Eric's other brother, in the same draft Carolina took Johnson. The Hurricanes thought long and hard which defenceman – Johnson or Marc Staal – to take with the third overall pick in 2005. They opted for Johnson; the Rangers took Staal with the 12th pick overall.

In any case, Johnson's name is now bound to be front and centre in trade rumours.
 
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Official Announcement

Flyers centre Primeau retires
Associated Press
9/14/2006 11:17:38 AM

VOORHEES, N.J. (AP) - Philadelphia Flyers centre Keith Primeau retired Thursday, ending a 15-year NHL career after failing to receive clearance to play because of lingering effects from a concussion.

"I'm sorry I couldn't overcome this injury and dragged this out as long as I did," Primeau said Thursday at the team's practice facility. "I did it all with the best of intentions and with the thought of returning home and playing in front of 20,000 screaming fans."

The 34-year-old Primeau had been trying to return from an Oct. 25 concussion after a hit from Montreal's Alexander Perezhogin. It was the most severe in a series of head injuries Primeau endured during his career.

"In a sense, it feels somewhat like failure," Primeau said. "This decision will allow me to live a normal life and, in time, offer few reminders of my injuries."

He played in two more games after he was injured, the last one Oct. 28 against Carolina, and he was placed on injured reserve two days later.

Primeau, who has two years and more than US$6 million remaining on his contract, missed 21 games because of a concussion sustained against the Rangers in the 2003-04 season. He also had at least two head injuries during the 2004 playoffs, in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Toronto and in the conference finals against Tampa Bay.

Primeau experienced problems with balance and vision when he tearfully announced in late February he would not play again the rest of the year. But he surprised the Flyers when he practised with them shortly before the playoffs, giving hope he might return.

Instead, there was no dramatic comeback. No final game to skate off on his own terms.

"I think a career of concussions has a cumulative effect," Primeau said.

Primeau matched his career high with 73 points in 2000-01, and led the Flyers in playoff goals (nine) and points (16) in 2004 when he helped lead them within a win of the Stanley Cup final.

Chosen in the first round by Detroit in the 1990 draft, Primeau spent six seasons with the Red Wings and three more with Hartford/Carolina. After missing the first half of the 1999-00 season with the Hurricanes because of a contract dispute, Primeau was traded to the Flyers and brought immediate toughness and leadership to the locker-room.
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primeau_retire_hor.jpg
 
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From Sportsnet.ca!

Hockey Hearsay
September 14, 2006

Hamhuis, Preds remain far apart
The Nashville Predators top defenceman, Dan Hamhuis, isn't expected to be in camp at any point soon.

The two sides appear to have a stalemate in regards to a new deal.

"I don't think there are any misunderstandings of what they want or what we're offering," Predators General Manager David Poile told The Tennessean. "I'm very comfortable with what we're offering, but it doesn't seem acceptable to their side."

Hamhuis led the team in minutes played in 2005-06, averaging 22:33 minutes per game in for the Sunbelt squad.

Hamhuis agent, Ross Gurney, also appears firmly entrenched in his stance.

"We've certainly done our homework as well," Gurney told The Tennessean. "I guess when they think Dan is important enough, we'll hear some more from them."

Dvorak headed to St. Louis
On the eve of training camp free-agent forward Radek Dvorak appears to have finally found a home in St. Louis.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Dvorak will be with St. Louis when they open camp Thursday.

The paper says Dvorak has agreed to terms on a one-year deal and he will join the Blues for off-ice conditioning tests.

Dvorak spent last year with the Edmonton Oilers notching eight goals and setting up another 20 markers.
 

NHL.com's Season Preview!

Season Preview

Going camping, NHL style
By Phil Coffey | NHL.com
Sept. 14, 2006

The unprecedented change that greeted the return of NHL hockey last September has slowed a tad, but as training camps across North America open for the League's 30 teams today, there are still plenty of familiar faces in new places. Change is always part and parcel of sports and the NHL is no different in 2006-07...

Link to Article
http://www.nhl.com/features/preview/2006/camp091406.html
 

Changed the thread's title to better reflect the beginning of the season. Free agent signings will still be the thread's main priority, but I will be posting anything official about NHL players whether it be injuries, rookie news, training camp highlights, and the like.

The reality is that I've been posting more than just "free agent news" from the beginning of the thread, but it has been hit and miss. I now plan to focus this thread on NHL player news, from an "on-ice" point of view. News about GMs, coaches, and the like might still sneak in once in a while, but it will be haphazard. (Stupid "off-ice" news like who Jose Theodore is dating or who's being arrested for DUIs won't get reported.)

The season starts soon, and I can't wait.

Cheers!

Knightfall1972
 
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