Knightfall
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Battle for the puck
Norton and Tarnasky fight
Seidenberg and Lessard
NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)
- Thread starter Knightfall
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Battle for the puck
Norton and Tarnasky fight
Seidenberg and Lessard
Knightfall
World of Kulan DM
Hawks' Ruutu sidelined up to four weeks
TSN.ca Staff
9/23/2006 5:20:40 PM
Chicago Blackhawks forward Tuomo Ruutu will be sidelined at least four weeks after suffering a grade II sprain of his left knee Friday night against Columbus.
Ruutu took a hit from Blue Jackets defenceman Rostislav Klesla midway through the third period of Chicago's 5-2 win. Klesla was handed a five minute major plus another five minute major for fighting when Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith jumped in to defend his teammate.
''It was a cheap shot. He went right for Ruuty's knee,'' Keith told chicagoblackhawks.com after the game. ''I think it was a real gutless play on his part.''
Head coach Trent Yawney echoed those sentiments.
''It was a real questionable hit that I'm sure the league will review, and I've got my fingers crossed everything will be OK,'' said Yawney.
''I think that just shows what kind of team we're going to have,'' Yawney said when asked about Keith. ''Every team needs to stick up for each other and, like I said, that was a borderline cheap shot and Dunc deserves a lot of credit for jumping in like that.''
League disciplinarian Colie Campbell will review the hit on Sunday, when he receives a DVD copy of the game and hit in question.
TSN.ca Staff
9/23/2006 5:20:40 PM
Chicago Blackhawks forward Tuomo Ruutu will be sidelined at least four weeks after suffering a grade II sprain of his left knee Friday night against Columbus.
Ruutu took a hit from Blue Jackets defenceman Rostislav Klesla midway through the third period of Chicago's 5-2 win. Klesla was handed a five minute major plus another five minute major for fighting when Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith jumped in to defend his teammate.
''It was a cheap shot. He went right for Ruuty's knee,'' Keith told chicagoblackhawks.com after the game. ''I think it was a real gutless play on his part.''
Head coach Trent Yawney echoed those sentiments.
''It was a real questionable hit that I'm sure the league will review, and I've got my fingers crossed everything will be OK,'' said Yawney.
''I think that just shows what kind of team we're going to have,'' Yawney said when asked about Keith. ''Every team needs to stick up for each other and, like I said, that was a borderline cheap shot and Dunc deserves a lot of credit for jumping in like that.''
League disciplinarian Colie Campbell will review the hit on Sunday, when he receives a DVD copy of the game and hit in question.
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Report: Blackhawks sign G Boucher
Sports Ticker
9/24/2006 1:04:17 AM
CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Chicago Blackhawks apparently like what they have seen from Brian Boucher.
According to a report on the team's web site, the Blackhawks on Saturday signed Boucher to a one-year contract.
In need of a backup to Nikolai Khabibulin after free-agent signee Patrick Lalime suffered a herniated disk in his back, Chicago invited Boucher to training camp on a tryout basis. The 29-year-old Rhode Island native started the Blackhawks' preseason contest against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, stopping all 26 shots he faced for a 2-0 shutout.
Last season, Boucher posted a 4-8-0 record and 4.15 goals-against average in 14 games with Phoenix and Calgary. The 22nd overall pick by Philadelphia in 1995, he has a career mark of 75-85-30 with 12 shutouts and a 2.74 GAA in 202 contests with the Flyers, Coyotes and Flames.
During the 2003-04 season with Phoenix, Boucher set the modern-era record for the longest shutout sequence, holding opponents scoreless for 332 minutes, 1 second.
Lalime, who signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Blackhawks on July 1, is expected to miss two to three months.
Sports Ticker
9/24/2006 1:04:17 AM
CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Chicago Blackhawks apparently like what they have seen from Brian Boucher.
According to a report on the team's web site, the Blackhawks on Saturday signed Boucher to a one-year contract.
In need of a backup to Nikolai Khabibulin after free-agent signee Patrick Lalime suffered a herniated disk in his back, Chicago invited Boucher to training camp on a tryout basis. The 29-year-old Rhode Island native started the Blackhawks' preseason contest against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, stopping all 26 shots he faced for a 2-0 shutout.
Last season, Boucher posted a 4-8-0 record and 4.15 goals-against average in 14 games with Phoenix and Calgary. The 22nd overall pick by Philadelphia in 1995, he has a career mark of 75-85-30 with 12 shutouts and a 2.74 GAA in 202 contests with the Flyers, Coyotes and Flames.
During the 2003-04 season with Phoenix, Boucher set the modern-era record for the longest shutout sequence, holding opponents scoreless for 332 minutes, 1 second.
Lalime, who signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Blackhawks on July 1, is expected to miss two to three months.
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Malkin's injury to be re-examined Monday
TSN.ca Staff
9/24/2006 3:18:42 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins injured forward Evgeni Malkin will have his dislocated shoulder re-evaluated on Monday and management hopes to have a better idea of how long he might be out by either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.
The rookie forward suffered a dislocated left shoulder during his pre-season debut Wednesday night after colliding with teammate John LeClair during the second period of a 5-4 victory over Philadelphia in Moncton, N.B.
General manager Ray Shero would not say whether the possibility of surgery had been ruled out.
''I really don't know,'' Shero told the Tribune Review. ''I can't really honestly say. I don't know enough, and I don't want to speculate on it. We're hoping for the best so we'll see.''
Malkin fled his Russian club, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, last month to join the Penguins and play in the NHL. The team is threatening legal action against the Penguins or the league.
TSN.ca Staff
9/24/2006 3:18:42 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins injured forward Evgeni Malkin will have his dislocated shoulder re-evaluated on Monday and management hopes to have a better idea of how long he might be out by either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.
The rookie forward suffered a dislocated left shoulder during his pre-season debut Wednesday night after colliding with teammate John LeClair during the second period of a 5-4 victory over Philadelphia in Moncton, N.B.
General manager Ray Shero would not say whether the possibility of surgery had been ruled out.
''I really don't know,'' Shero told the Tribune Review. ''I can't really honestly say. I don't know enough, and I don't want to speculate on it. We're hoping for the best so we'll see.''
Malkin fled his Russian club, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, last month to join the Penguins and play in the NHL. The team is threatening legal action against the Penguins or the league.
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Sens' Redden leaves game with tight groin
TSN.ca Staff
9/24/2006 8:22:55 PM
Groin problems are becoming a bad habit for the Ottawa Senators in the pre-season, with the latest victim being the team's No. 1 defenceman.
Wade Redden left the first period of the Senators' game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday after his groin tightened up and did not return.
He is the third Senator to have groin troubles this pre-season. Captain Daniel Alfredsson and forward Peter Schaefer have also been bothered by groin pains, as the Senators are in the midst of a busy nine-game exhibition schedule.
TSN.ca Staff
9/24/2006 8:22:55 PM
Groin problems are becoming a bad habit for the Ottawa Senators in the pre-season, with the latest victim being the team's No. 1 defenceman.
Wade Redden left the first period of the Senators' game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday after his groin tightened up and did not return.
He is the third Senator to have groin troubles this pre-season. Captain Daniel Alfredsson and forward Peter Schaefer have also been bothered by groin pains, as the Senators are in the midst of a busy nine-game exhibition schedule.
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Blues retiring Hull's No. 16 in December
Associated Press
9/24/2006 10:33:56 PM
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Brett Hull, the high-scoring former St. Louis star who set numerous franchise records in 11 seasons with the Blues, will have his No. 16 jersey retired by the team in December.
"It's going to be great," new Blues president John Davidson said. "He made a huge impact on this franchise."
Hull holds franchise records for goals (527), hat tricks (27), game-winning goals (70), power-play goals (195) and shots on goal (3,367) and ranks second in assists (409), points (936) and short-handed goals (18). He scored 86 goals in 1990-91, third-most in NHL history.
Hull retired last season and is now assistant to the president of the Dallas Stars. He'll be honoured before a Dec. 5 game against the Detroit Red Wings.
"This will be a tremendous honour for my name and number to be hanging up there with not only great players, but some of the greatest people to ever play the game," Hull said. "My time as a Blue were some of the best years of my life, and I look forward to watching my number go to the rafters in front of the best hockey fans anywhere."
Hull's outspoken nature led to friction with the front office and coaching staff and his departure in 1998, and he helped the Stars win a Stanley Cup that season. Lingering bad feelings also led to a delay in being honoured.
That changed this summer when new owner Dave Checketts, at his introductory news conference, announced plans to retire Hull's jersey.
"There is no one who deserves this honour more than Brett," Checketts said. "We will work hard to make sure it will be one of the great nights in St. Louis Blues history and most importantly, a memorable one for Brett and his family."
In 20 NHL seasons, Hull scored 741 goals for third on the career list. He won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1990 and the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1991.
Other Blues to have their jerseys retired are Al MacInnis (2), Bob Gassoff (3), Barclay Plager (8), Brian Sutter (11) and Bernie Federko (24). MacInnis' jersey was retired in April after he retired before last season.
"There's something about Brett - when he smiles and talks people listen," Davidson said. "Sometimes it's really intriguing information, other times it's completely off the wall, other times he says stuff that nobody else will say but there's actually some credence to it.
"I know fans will come out and want to be a part of that night."
Associated Press
9/24/2006 10:33:56 PM
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Brett Hull, the high-scoring former St. Louis star who set numerous franchise records in 11 seasons with the Blues, will have his No. 16 jersey retired by the team in December.
"It's going to be great," new Blues president John Davidson said. "He made a huge impact on this franchise."
Hull holds franchise records for goals (527), hat tricks (27), game-winning goals (70), power-play goals (195) and shots on goal (3,367) and ranks second in assists (409), points (936) and short-handed goals (18). He scored 86 goals in 1990-91, third-most in NHL history.
Hull retired last season and is now assistant to the president of the Dallas Stars. He'll be honoured before a Dec. 5 game against the Detroit Red Wings.
"This will be a tremendous honour for my name and number to be hanging up there with not only great players, but some of the greatest people to ever play the game," Hull said. "My time as a Blue were some of the best years of my life, and I look forward to watching my number go to the rafters in front of the best hockey fans anywhere."
Hull's outspoken nature led to friction with the front office and coaching staff and his departure in 1998, and he helped the Stars win a Stanley Cup that season. Lingering bad feelings also led to a delay in being honoured.
That changed this summer when new owner Dave Checketts, at his introductory news conference, announced plans to retire Hull's jersey.
"There is no one who deserves this honour more than Brett," Checketts said. "We will work hard to make sure it will be one of the great nights in St. Louis Blues history and most importantly, a memorable one for Brett and his family."
In 20 NHL seasons, Hull scored 741 goals for third on the career list. He won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1990 and the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1991.
Other Blues to have their jerseys retired are Al MacInnis (2), Bob Gassoff (3), Barclay Plager (8), Brian Sutter (11) and Bernie Federko (24). MacInnis' jersey was retired in April after he retired before last season.
"There's something about Brett - when he smiles and talks people listen," Davidson said. "Sometimes it's really intriguing information, other times it's completely off the wall, other times he says stuff that nobody else will say but there's actually some credence to it.
"I know fans will come out and want to be a part of that night."
Knightfall
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Hmm, interesting...
King fired by Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Canadian Press
9/25/2006 10:17:24 AM
MOSCOW (CP) - Former Canadian national team coach Dave King was fired by Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Monday.
Despite leading the club to a Russian league regular-season title last year, King was let go after back-to-back losses this weekend dropped the team to 3-4-1 on the early season. King was immediately replaced by his assistant coach Fedor Kanareikin.
King, who has also coached with the Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens in the NHL, coached Metallurg to a 29-point cushion in first place last season. But King entered this season without six of his top seven scorers from last year, including of star Russian centre Evgeni Malkin, who signed with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I was caught completely off guard this morning because, geez, it was only eight games," King told globeandmail.com. "I was playing the young kids the way they wanted me to. But this is Russia and everything over here is just so volatile. A lot of people would like to come over because financially, it's such a great pay day, but you really earn your money. It can be there and it can be gone so quickly."
Defending playoff champion Ak Bars Kazan has yet to lose after eight games this season with a 7-0-1 record.
King fired by Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Canadian Press
9/25/2006 10:17:24 AM
MOSCOW (CP) - Former Canadian national team coach Dave King was fired by Metallurg Magnitogorsk on Monday.
Despite leading the club to a Russian league regular-season title last year, King was let go after back-to-back losses this weekend dropped the team to 3-4-1 on the early season. King was immediately replaced by his assistant coach Fedor Kanareikin.
King, who has also coached with the Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens in the NHL, coached Metallurg to a 29-point cushion in first place last season. But King entered this season without six of his top seven scorers from last year, including of star Russian centre Evgeni Malkin, who signed with the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.
"I was caught completely off guard this morning because, geez, it was only eight games," King told globeandmail.com. "I was playing the young kids the way they wanted me to. But this is Russia and everything over here is just so volatile. A lot of people would like to come over because financially, it's such a great pay day, but you really earn your money. It can be there and it can be gone so quickly."
Defending playoff champion Ak Bars Kazan has yet to lose after eight games this season with a 7-0-1 record.
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Hurricanes release Hulse
Associated Press
9/25/2006 1:49:17 PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Hurricanes released defenceman Cale Hulse on Monday.
The 32-year-old Hulse is a veteran of 10 NHL seasons and participated in the Stanley Cup champions' camp as a free-agent tryout. He played in two of the Hurricanes' three exhibition games this past weekend and totalled three assists.
Last season, Hulse had four assists in 39 games with Columbus and Calgary.
Hulse has 16 goals, 79 assists and 1,000 penalty minutes during a career that includes stints with New Jersey, Phoenix and Nashville.
Associated Press
9/25/2006 1:49:17 PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Hurricanes released defenceman Cale Hulse on Monday.
The 32-year-old Hulse is a veteran of 10 NHL seasons and participated in the Stanley Cup champions' camp as a free-agent tryout. He played in two of the Hurricanes' three exhibition games this past weekend and totalled three assists.
Last season, Hulse had four assists in 39 games with Columbus and Calgary.
Hulse has 16 goals, 79 assists and 1,000 penalty minutes during a career that includes stints with New Jersey, Phoenix and Nashville.
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Lightning place Burke on waivers
TSN.ca (Darren Dreger)
9/25/2006 2:38:42 PM
Sources tell TSN that veteran goaltender Sean Burke has been placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Burke, 39, is contracted to earn $1.6-million this season, but is coming off a lacklustre 2005-2006 season when he posted a 2.80 goals against average and .895 save percentage in 35 games with the Lightning.
The Lightning have addressed their goaltending situation this summer by dealing to acquire Marc Denis from Columbus and signing Swedish netminder Johan Holmqvist.
As a player over 35 years of age, Burke's contract will count against the Lightning cap this year, even if he retires or plays in the minors.
Burke has played 797 career games in 16 seasons with New Jersey, Hartford, Carolina, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Florida, Phoenix and Tampa Bay, recording a 2.95 goals against average and .902 save percentage with a 318-331-105 record. He's also appeared in three NHL All-Star games.
TSN.ca (Darren Dreger)
9/25/2006 2:38:42 PM
Sources tell TSN that veteran goaltender Sean Burke has been placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Burke, 39, is contracted to earn $1.6-million this season, but is coming off a lacklustre 2005-2006 season when he posted a 2.80 goals against average and .895 save percentage in 35 games with the Lightning.
The Lightning have addressed their goaltending situation this summer by dealing to acquire Marc Denis from Columbus and signing Swedish netminder Johan Holmqvist.
As a player over 35 years of age, Burke's contract will count against the Lightning cap this year, even if he retires or plays in the minors.
Burke has played 797 career games in 16 seasons with New Jersey, Hartford, Carolina, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Florida, Phoenix and Tampa Bay, recording a 2.95 goals against average and .902 save percentage with a 318-331-105 record. He's also appeared in three NHL All-Star games.
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Penguins' Malkin out up to six weeks
Associated Press
9/25/2006 2:48:22 PM
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Evgeni Malkin, re-examined by doctors on Monday, will not need surgery on his dislocated left shoulder but still could be sidelined for as long as six weeks.
Malkin, expected to team with Sidney Crosby to give the Penguins one of the NHL's top centre combinations, was injured during his first exhibition game Wednesday. Malkin collided with teammate John LeClair behind the net during a game in Moncton, N.B.
The team did not set a timetable Monday for Malkin's return, saying only that he will continue to rehabilitate. A common recovery time for an injury of Malkin's nature is four to six weeks, though athletes have returned earlier from less severe separations.
If Malkin is out for a month, he likely will miss the Penguins' first seven games. A six-week layoff would cause him to miss approximately 10 games.
Surgery likely would have forced Malkin to miss up to two-thirds of his rookie season - a major setback not only to his career but the Penguins' hopes of improving this season following four consecutive last-place division finishes.
Despite being injured, the 20-year-old Malkin is expected to rejoin the team at West Point, N.Y., this week for four days of team-building exercises. The Penguins flew Monday from London, Ont., where they played an exhibition game Sunday, to West Point, and do not play another exhibition game until Friday.
It is uncertain how much physical work Malkin can do during the West Point camp, but teammates said the injury appears to be less serious than they initially feared it might be.
"The way he went down, I was just hoping he was going to get up," Crosby said. "It was pretty scary the way he went down over Johnny like that. The way he hit the ice, I wasn't sure if it was his neck or his face or what it was."
Malkin, previously considered the best player not playing in the NHL, left his Metallurg Magnitogorsk team of the Russian Super League during training camp in Helsinki, Finland, last month to make a clandestine journey to the United States and begin his NHL career.
He was under contract for another year there, but was allowed to sign an NHL contract because there is no transfer agreement between the Russia, the International Ice Hockey Federation and the NHL that compensates Russian teams for players who leave for the NHL.
Malkin also resigned from the team, citing a Russian labour law that permits an employee to leave a job by giving two weeks notice.
A Russian arbitration panel has ruled that Malkin is still under contract to Magnitogorsk, and the team is threatening to file suit in the United States to receive compensation for losing Malkin.
The Penguins open the season Oct. 5 at home against Philadelphia.
Malkin, the second overall pick behind Alexander Ovechkin in the 2004 NHL entry draft, led Metallurg to the Russian league title last season while posting 47 points (21-26) in 46 games and was widely considered the favourite for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year this season.
Associated Press
9/25/2006 2:48:22 PM
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Evgeni Malkin, re-examined by doctors on Monday, will not need surgery on his dislocated left shoulder but still could be sidelined for as long as six weeks.
Malkin, expected to team with Sidney Crosby to give the Penguins one of the NHL's top centre combinations, was injured during his first exhibition game Wednesday. Malkin collided with teammate John LeClair behind the net during a game in Moncton, N.B.
The team did not set a timetable Monday for Malkin's return, saying only that he will continue to rehabilitate. A common recovery time for an injury of Malkin's nature is four to six weeks, though athletes have returned earlier from less severe separations.
If Malkin is out for a month, he likely will miss the Penguins' first seven games. A six-week layoff would cause him to miss approximately 10 games.
Surgery likely would have forced Malkin to miss up to two-thirds of his rookie season - a major setback not only to his career but the Penguins' hopes of improving this season following four consecutive last-place division finishes.
Despite being injured, the 20-year-old Malkin is expected to rejoin the team at West Point, N.Y., this week for four days of team-building exercises. The Penguins flew Monday from London, Ont., where they played an exhibition game Sunday, to West Point, and do not play another exhibition game until Friday.
It is uncertain how much physical work Malkin can do during the West Point camp, but teammates said the injury appears to be less serious than they initially feared it might be.
"The way he went down, I was just hoping he was going to get up," Crosby said. "It was pretty scary the way he went down over Johnny like that. The way he hit the ice, I wasn't sure if it was his neck or his face or what it was."
Malkin, previously considered the best player not playing in the NHL, left his Metallurg Magnitogorsk team of the Russian Super League during training camp in Helsinki, Finland, last month to make a clandestine journey to the United States and begin his NHL career.
He was under contract for another year there, but was allowed to sign an NHL contract because there is no transfer agreement between the Russia, the International Ice Hockey Federation and the NHL that compensates Russian teams for players who leave for the NHL.
Malkin also resigned from the team, citing a Russian labour law that permits an employee to leave a job by giving two weeks notice.
A Russian arbitration panel has ruled that Malkin is still under contract to Magnitogorsk, and the team is threatening to file suit in the United States to receive compensation for losing Malkin.
The Penguins open the season Oct. 5 at home against Philadelphia.
Malkin, the second overall pick behind Alexander Ovechkin in the 2004 NHL entry draft, led Metallurg to the Russian league title last season while posting 47 points (21-26) in 46 games and was widely considered the favourite for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year this season.