NHL: Player News and Rumors (Thread finished)

Konowalchuk announces retirement
TSN.ca Staff
9/29/2006 12:31:19 PM

DENVER - Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Konowalchuk announced today that he's retiring from the game of hockey after a 13-season career in the NHL.

Konowalchuk made this decision official after undergoing an additional series of tests relating to his heart condition. This condition was detected during medical tests that all Avalanche players underwent prior to the start of training camp. Results from a standard EKG test revealed an abnormal reading.

''In Steve's case, the abnormal reading prompted further tests which revealed he has Long QT Syndrome, a genetic disease involving electrical conduction which can lead to irregular heart rhythms,'' said Dr. Steve Friedrich, Avalanche cardiologist. ''Steve and the physicians in Rochester conferred with multiple national centres in order to form a consensus regarding his condition.''

Konowalchuk agreed that it was best that he retire from the game he loves.

''After a complete evaluation from a number of different physicians and experts associated with this condition, we decided that this was the best and only alternative for me,'' said Konowalchuk. ''As much as I'll miss the game of hockey and all that it's provided for my family and I, my health was the number one priority.

''This has been a very painful process, but I'm very proud of a long NHL career and happy to have a lifetime of special memories and friends to take with me.''

Konowalchuk, 33, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round, 58th overall, in the 1991 Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Avalanche from the Capitals along with the Captals' third selection in the 2004 Entry Draft in exchange for Bates Battaglia and the rights to Jonas Johansson on October 22, 2003. Over his 13 NHL seasons, he appeared in 790 NHL contests, amassing 171 goals and 225 assists. He made 52 NHL playoff appearances tallying 21 points (9g/12a).

''Steve is a true professional and will be known for playing the game as it should be played – with passion and a strong commitment to his team and his teammates,'' said Avalanche Executive Vice President and General Manager Francois Giguere. ''We will treat him with great respect, the same way he treated the organization since his arrival here in Colorado.

''Our organization will support Steve and his family any way we can,'' added Giguere.
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Steve Konowalchuk
 
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Avalanche's May undergoes surgery
TSN.ca Staff
9/29/2006 1:49:31 PM

Colorado Avalanche winger Brad May has undergone reconstructive shoulder surgery and will be out 4-6 months.

''After further medical testing and evaluation it was determined that surgery was necessary,'' said Avalanche head athletic trainer Matthew Sokolowski. ''The procedure took place yesterday and we are anticipating a full recovery in 4-6 months.''

In 54 games with the Avalanche last season May totaled three goals and three assists. In 858 career NHL games he has 123 goals and 149 assists.

May injured the shoulder during a pre-season game against the Detroit Red Wings on September 25.
 

Wellwood to play key role with Leafs
Canadian Press
9/29/2006 4:16:00 PM

TORONTO (CP) - Kyle Wellwood will play a key role with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

He's one of those small and crafty forwards who are being unleashed as a result of the NHL's crackdown on obstruction, and new head coach Paul Maurice might even use him on the left side of the first line with Mats Sundin and Alexei Ponikarovsky.

''I like that Alexei is big and strong and can control the puck in the offensive zone, and Mats needs somebody so that he's not the only guy battling down low,'' coach Paul Maurice explained when asked about the combination after practice Friday. ''We're encouraging him to try and take the puck strong down the boards, hang onto it and drive it out to the front of the net with his size and strength.

''Kyle has the ability to think and to handle the puck a little bit like Mats and to move the puck around. There's no substitute for intelligence and he and Mats, in the time they've spent together, have started to work little plays off the boards.''

The possibility that Wellwood might be on the first line for the season opener Wednesday shows how far the 23-year-old forward has progressed in the organization's eyes.

Wellwood was merely another aspiring prospect one year ago and, on the day before the season began, he was sent to the AHL farm.

When Sundin suffered an eye injury in the first game, Wellwood was summoned from the Toronto Marlies, and he stuck like glue. He scored only 11 goals but displayed nifty playmaking abilities in amassing 34 assists. When camp opened this year, he had a lock on a job.

He'll be getting lots of ice time, too, because he'll be part of the top power-play unit.

''We've got a lot of young guys on the team and we're looking to make the next step to becoming regular-producing NHL players,'' says the modest, five-foot-10, 180-pounder.

He's from the Windsor region, where his mother works as a firefighter and his father is a building code inspector and bylaw enforcer.

Wellwood is single and lives on his own in Toronto.

''I've done that for the last four years so I'm pretty comfortable with it,'' he says of going it solo.

He wore 97 in the OHL in Belleville and Windsor, and he retained it during his two AHL seasons. He was handed 42 at Leafs camp last year and decided to keep it.

''I just grew to like it,'' he says.

His size worked against him in his 2001 NHL draft year. Big forwards who could cope with clutching and grabbing were all the rage in those days. Even though he'd won the OHL scoring title as a 17-year-old, he was still available in the fifth round when the Leafs took him 134th overall. It's looking like a steal now.

Two years in the minors was a necessity.

''My skating technique and style has always been excellent,'' he says. ''My fitness level needed to improve and just growing into being a man helped.

''It took a while for me to gain the strength I needed (to make it to the NHL) and over time I've been able to get faster and faster. You build a foundation and eventually you see results.''

Leafs fans will expect a lot out of him this season, but he's not worried about that.

''I definitely don't pay attention with what is going on with other people,'' he says. ''You just listen to what your teammates and management want from you and you try to do that.''

It'll be a battle to get back into the playoffs after missing last spring, but Wellwood says he perceives a trait in the revamped lineup that he likes.

''I think we're going to be young but very steady,'' he says. ''You're not going to see a lot of ups and downs.

''I think you're going to see good efforts every night. The season is 82 games and there's always going to be injuries and things that happen. You get the wins when you can, and it's going to be a battle for sure.''

While Wellwood is in, Bates Battaglia remains on the bubble. Battling to return to the NHL after two years in the minors, he might land a fourth-line role.

''He's got to continue what he's doing, but he's on track to do it,'' says Maurice. ''There still are hurdles: he's got to be comfortable on the right side, and he's got to be comfortable about coming off the bench.

''I liked his game last year (with the Marlies). There's a real skill in being able to sit six minutes and come off the bench and be effective. Some guys just can't play that role.''

Battaglia appears to be one who can play that role.
 

And we have a trade...

Hurricanes ship Johnson to Kings
TSN.ca Staff
9/29/2006 4:25:03 PM

The Carolina Hurricanes have traded the rights to defenceman Jack Johnson and defenceman Oleg Tverdovsky to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenceman Tim Gleason and centre Eric Belanger.

The Hurricanes were in need of some immediate defensive help after losing Aaron Ward to free agency and Frantisek Kaberle for up to six months because of shoulder surgery. Johnson did not want to sign with Carolina this season because he wanted to return to the University of Michigan.

''We just felt that we're getting a very good NHL defenceman in Tim Gleason,'' Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said. ''He's still a young guy, he still has an upside, and both of those players will come in and be with us now, instead of waiting for the development of Jack Johnson, who in my opinion is going to be a very, very good, if not great, NHL player.''

Johnson, who the Hurricanes picked third overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, is a highly regarded prospect. He tallied ten goals, 22 assists and 149 penalty minutes in 38 games for the University of Michigan last season.

''We felt the opportunity to acquire Jack Johnson was something we couldn't pass up as we continue to search for ways to upgrade this franchise,'' Kings president and general manager Dean Lombardi said. ''This move required that we give up two good players, but has the potential to help us in the near future as well as for many years to come.''

Johnson said the trade would not affect his timetable for turning pro and that he is concentrating on his upcoming season with the Wolverines.

''I'm here in Michigan, and that's where my focus is,'' Johnson said. ''I'm excited about my new team, but my life isn't going to change because of it.''

Tverdovsky scored three goals and chipped in 20 assists (12 on the power play) in 72 games with the Hurricanes last season. In 687 career NHL games he has 77 goals and 236 assists. He has two years and $5 million remaining on his contract.

In 78 games with the Kings last season, Gleason scored two goals and assisted on 19 others. The Kings re-signed Gleason, who will earn $1.2 million this season, as a restricted free agent to a two-year deal on September 17.

Belanger put up 17 goals and 20 assists in 65 games with the Kings last year. In 323 career NHL games he has 63 goals and 87 assists. He will make $1.3 million this season.
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Also, read this...

McKenzie: Will Rutherford regret Sept. 29?
http://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/columnists/bob_mckenzie/
 
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Canadiens sign prospect Latendresse
TSN.ca Staff
9/29/2006 6:09:04 PM

Montreal Canadiens forward Guillaume Latendresse will be sticking around when the regular season kicks off next week.

The Canadiens' prospect has signed an entry level contract with the club after an impressive training camp. According to RDS, the deal is worth $850,000 per year over three years, the rookie maximum.

''Maybe I'm going to believe it tomorrow,'' Latendresse said. ''Right now I'm in the sky, I'm just dreaming.

''Since I was young, my first dream was to play in the NHL and the second one was to play with Montreal. Both came (true) today. It's really special for me.''

By agreeing to sign the 19-year-old forward, the Canadiens have all but guaranteed him a spot on the team. The Habs could also dress Latendresse for 10 games and send him back to his Canadian Hockey League team, the Drummondville Voltigeurs, without having to honour the first year of his deal. He does not yet qualify for AHL eligibility, so the Canadiens cannot send him down to their farm team in Hamilton this season.

''The fans wanted him more than anyone else, but in the end he played well every game,'' the Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau told reporters following Friday's practice. ''Under pressure, he performed and he deserves the spot he's in right now. That's the only reason why he's still here.''

Latendresse was a second round pick (45th overall) in the second round of the 2005 entry draft. Last season, the 6"2' Ste-Catherine, Quebec, native collected 83 points (43 goals, 40 assists) and 105 penalty minutes with the Voltigeurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

In six pre-season games with the Canadiens in 2006-07, Latendresse has collected five points, including a team-high three goals.

To accomodate Latendresse, the Canadiens sent down forwards Andrei Kostitsyn and Mikhail Grabovski to Hamilton, as well as defencemen Dan Jancevski, Ryan O'Byrne, Jean-Philippe Cote and Andre Benoit.
 

Islanders sign goaltender Dunham
TSN.ca Staff
9/29/2006 8:34:43 PM

NEW YORK - The New York Islanders have signed goaltender Mike Dunham to a one-year contract. The nine-year veteran joined the Islanders as a training camp invitee earlier in the month and played in the teams' first three pre-season games.

"It became clear in the past few weeks that signing Mike was a priority," said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow, a teammate of Dunham's at the University of Maine. "He possesses all the characteristics that we look for in a player and has already shown that he'll be an asset to our club."

Over a nine-year NHL career with New Jersey, Nashville, the Rangers and Atlanta, the 34-year old Dunham has a goals-against average of 2.69 and a .908 save percentage. Last season with the Thrashers, Dunham was 8-5-0 with a 2.77 GAA and .893 save percentage.
 

Flames sign Ference to extension
TSN.ca Staff
9/29/2006 10:25:17 PM

The Calgary Flames have signed defenceman Andrew Ference to a three-year contract extension.

Ference, 27, has been a mainstay on the Flames defence after arriving in a February 2003 trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On the smallish side at 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, Ference had a career-high 31 points in 2005-2006, though he also posted a minus-12 rating.

Ference has 87 points and a minus-25 rating in 333 career games with the Flames and Penguins. He also has 17 points and a plus-8 rating in 51 career playoff games.
 

Hurricanes release Jason Woolley
Canadian Press
9/30/2006 11:31:42 AM

RALEIGH, N.C. (CP) - The Carolina Hurricanes released Jason Woolley from training camp on Saturday, ending the veteran defenceman's bid to make the team on a tryout.

The 37-year-old Woolley spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings before agreeing to a tryout with the defending Stanley Cup champions. He's now an unrestricted free agent.

A veteran of more than 700 NHL games, Woolley has played for Washington, Florida, Pittsburgh, Buffalo and the Red Wings.
 

Conklin clears waivers
TSN.ca Staff
9/30/2006 1:27:46 PM

COLUMBUS, OHIO (CP) - The Columbus Blue Jackets assigned goaltender Ty Conklin to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch on Saturday.

Conklin signed with the Blue Jackets over the summer after spending the past five seasons with the Edmonton Oilers.

He appeared in two pre-season games with Columbus and was 0-1-0 with a 4.00 goals-against average and .882 save percentage.

The Blue Jackets will start the season with Pascal Leclaire as their starter and Fredrik Norrena in the backup role.

In 60 career NHL games, Conklin is 27-19-5 with a 2.49 GAA and .905 save percentage.
 

Oilers send Schremp, Gilbert to AHL
Canadian Press
9/30/2006 6:09:08 PM

EDMONTON (CP) - The Edmonton Oilers have assigned promising forward Rob Schremp and defenceman Tom Gilbert to the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the team announced Saturday.

Schremp, 20, led the Ontario Hockey League with 145 points and tied for the league lead with 57 goals in just 57 games last season with the London Knights. The five-foot-11, 200-pound native of Syracuse, N.Y., recorded 154 goals and 230 assists in 247 games with the Knights and Mississauga Ice Dogs from 2002-06.

He was chosen by Edmonton in the first round (25th overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft.

Gilbert, 23, spent the past four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, where he recorded 89 points in 162 games with the Badgers.

He was traded to Edmonton with a sixth round pick for Tommy Salo on March 8, 2004.
 

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