NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)

Agamon said:
...aaaand, he's injured. I like the Pens, and looked forward to seeing this guy, but this smells like karma to me.
Click to expand...
Agreed.

Malkin injured in first pre-season game
Canadian Press
9/20/2006 8:04:32 PM

MONCTON, N.B. (CP) - Evgeni Malkin was injured during his NHL debut Wednesday night after colliding with Pittsburgh Penguins teammate John LeClair early in the second period.

The rookie Russian centre was brought to hospital for further evaluation, the team announced. Veteran winger Mark Recchi was also sent to hospital after leaving the same game in a separate incident.

Malkin had just finished making a dazzling pass to LeClair when the veteran winger, after missing a great scoring chance, crashed into the boards behind the net and took out Malkin in the process. The Russian rookie catapulted over LeClair and landed hard on the ice. A hush came over the crowd at Moncton Coliseum as Malkin, the second overall pick behind Alexander Ovechkin in the 2004 NHL entry draft, lay sprawled on the ice for 3-4 minutes.

He got up and skated off the ice but was favouring his left arm. He headed straight to the dressing room. There was no immediate word on his condition.

Malkin had been enjoying a strong game, garnering an assist on Sergei Gonchar's first-period goal and also displaying a pair of sensational inside-out moves later in the opening period.

The 20-year-old Malkin was making his much-anticipated debut after his controversial departure from Russia, a matter that remains in the hands of lawyers on both sides of the ocean because he signed a contract with Russian club Metallurg Magnitogorsk before also signing a three-year deal with the Penguins.

After leading Metallurg to the league title last season while posting 47 points (21-26) in 46 games, he's considered the favourite for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year this season. He was one of the better players on the ice Wednesday before getting hurt, playing on a line with Mark Recchi and Ryan Malone.

Recchi was high-sticked in the first period and left the game before returning for the remaining of the period. He didn't return for the second period.
 

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Tonight's scores can be found here...
http://www.nhl.com/scores/index.html

I won't be posting anymore nightly scoring summaries. However, I will still be posting cool "action shot" images of nightly action.

Case in point...

TOR_tellqvist_81010.jpg

Tellqvist vs. Vermette

battaglia_goal_hor.jpg

Bates Battaglia impressed Wednesday night, opening the scoring for
the Leafs. (AP)

BOS_chara_79483.jpg

Zdeno Chara
(in his new uni)

chara_injured_vert.jpg

Zdeno Chara tries to get up
after taking a shot to the
skate. (AP)
 


Leetch undecided about future
TheFourthPeriod.com
September 20, 2006

Unrestricted free agent defenseman Brian Leetch has yet to make up his mind on whether or not he still wants to play in the NHL, reports the New York Daily News.

Rangers GM Glen Sather told the paper he had genuine interest when the free agent market opened, but never heard back from Leetch or his agent.

"We talked probably a month ago, his agent (Jay Grossman) and I. And I never got any idea whether he wanted to play or not play," Sather told the Daily News. "We talked to him in the first week of free agency. Then he got back to us just probably three weeks to a month ago and never really gave us any indication what he wanted to do.

"We haven't heard from him since."

The Daily News claims the Rangers could have a use for Leetch and his ability to quarterback the powerplay, and the team still has approximately $5 million of available cap space. However, given the Rangers' surplus of defenders, one of them would have to be moved before another blueliner is brought into the mix.

"He's a great player and he's always going to be able to play," Sather said. "He's always going to possess the skills that he possesses, which are tremendous skills. Sure, I'd talk to him.

"But that's a situation I'd have to bring up to the coaching staff to see what they'd want to do. We've got 12 defensemen here now."
 


Brassard signs on with Blue Jackets
TSN.ca Staff
9/21/2006 12:29:10 PM

It's official on both counts.

Derrick Brassard has signed a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the sixth overall pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft will undergo shoulder surgery within the week.

The contract announcement will be made by the Blue Jackets this afternoon. Brassard has signed the same type of entry-level contract as the Blue Jackets first-round pick in 2005, Gilbert Brule.

As for the surgery, it will be performed by Dr. Tony Miniaci in Cleveland. Brassard is likely to be out for as long as six months, which means he may not play for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL this season. Brassard was injured when he was crosschecked from behind in a QMJHL pre-season game.
 

Predators, Hamhuis agree on deal
TSN.ca Staff
9/21/2006 12:33:30 PM

The Nashville Predators and Dan Hamhuis have agreed on a four-year, $8-million contract.

The 23-year-old and his agent failed to file for salary arbitration this past off-season which put him in a difficult negotiating postion.

Hamhuis scored 7 goals and added 31 assists, with a plus-11 rating over his 82 games for the Predators last season.

The defenseman was drafted by the Predators in the 1st round (12th overall) in 2001.
 

Morrow, Stars agree to six-year contract
Canadian Press
9/21/2006 12:52:09 PM

(CP) - Brenden Morrow, whose consistent scoring and tenacious checking has made him one of the NHL's best two-way forwards, has landed a US$24.6-million, six-year contract to remain one of the Dallas Stars' core players.

"I wanted to stay in Dallas all along and now I can concentrate completely on the ice for this upcoming season," said the 27-year-old native of Carlyle, Sask. "I couldn't be happier and am extremely excited about continuing my career with the Stars for many years."

In another significant signing Thursday, defenceman Dan Hamhuis and the Nashville Predators agreed on a $8-million, four-year contract.

Morrow's extension will pay the 27-year-old left-winger $4.1 million a year beginning in 2007-2008. He's due $2.2 million this season under the contract he signed previously.

"Signing Brenden to a long-term extension was a top priority for this hockey club," GM Doug Armstrong said in making the announcement Thursday. "We consider him a cornerstone player and an integral part of our team.

"Brenden is one of our main leaders and sets the tone for the club with his consistent play. He brings a lot of energy and tenacity to the lineup each night and the Dallas Stars are extremely proud to have him here over the next seven seasons."

Morrow was the only player in the NHL last season to score more than 20 goals and serve more than 125 penalty minutes. He scored 23 times and assisted on 42 for a career-best 65 points, and his plus-30 plus-minus rating was the best on the team.

In 451 career NHL games, all with Dallas, Morrow has 120 goals and 149 assists for 269 points and 748 penalty minutes. He is the only current Dallas player who has posted three straight 20-goal seasons.
 

Hurricanes 'not close' to trading Johnson
TSN.ca Staff
9/21/2006 1:31:16 PM

The Jack Johnson trade watch is suspended until further notice.

The Carolina Hurricanes had been inquiring of other teams what they might be prepared to offer for the University of Michigan sophomore defenceman but now that the results are in, there's absolutely nothing out there that would entice Carolina GM Jim Rutherford to move the third overall pick from the 2005 NHL entry draft.

''We're not close to doing anything with anyone right now,'' Rutherford told TSN. ''We explored some things because we wanted to look at filling some of our immediate needs, but I never said we had to trade anyone. And as of right now, we're not.''

That could change in time because the Hurricanes are unquestionably miffed that Johnson, a talented two-way blueliner with physical presence, has rebuffed Carolina's attempts to sign him on three occasions. But in the absence of a sterling offer for Johnson, the Canes will try once again to sign Johnson when he finishes this season at Michigan.
 

Wings to name new captain at opener
Associated Press
9/21/2006 2:12:36 PM

DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Red Wings plan to keep people guessing about who will replace Steve Yzerman as the club's new captain.

"We're going to name a captain opening night," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said Thursday.

The Red Wings open the season Oct. 5 at home against Vancouver.

Yzerman retired July 3 after playing 22 seasons with Detroit. He was named the club's captain for the 1986-87 season left the game as the longest-serving captain in NHL history.

Nicklas Lidstrom is expected to be the new captain this season, his 15th with the Red Wings.

Lidstrom signed a two-year contract to remain in Detroit during the off-season and won his fourth Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman.

He helped the Red Wings win three Stanley Cups and scored the winning goal for Sweden in the gold medal game at the Olympics last winter.
 

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