Versteeg Next 'Hawk Off The Books, Dealt To Toronto

 

The Chicago Blackhawks are still looking to clear salary cap space, and took another $3,083,333 off the books for next season and the year after by dealing Kris Versteeg to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Along with Versteeg, the Maple Leafs will obtain the rights to forward Bill Sweatt in exchange for forwards Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis.

In comparison, the Maple Leafs gave up virtually nothing for a solid 24-year old scorer - something GM Brian Burke has been yearning for this offseason and didn't even have to give up defenseman Tomas Kaberle to get in this deal. Last season, Versteeg netted 20 goals and posted 44 points in 79 regular season games. In the playoffs, he added six goals and eight assists as part of the Blackhawk's Stanley Cup winning team.

Brind'Amour Done After 21 Seasons In NHL

 

The idea of looking for work with another team wasn't an appealing one for Rod Brind'Amour. Taking a front office position within the organization he has played for over the past 11 years sounded a lot more intriguing. So after almost 1,500 games over a 21-year NHL career, the 39-year old decided to call it a career and officially retire on Wednesday afternoon.

"The only question would be how much do I want to play" for another team, Brind'Amour said. "When I knew for sure the direction the team was going and I wasn't going to be a part of it as a player, and (General Manager Jim Rutherford) said, 'We want you to come on and do whatever -- we'll figure that out. Just be a part of our organization' ... I said, 'I'm done. It's over.' I don't want to go play anymore, and certainly don't want to play anywhere else."

That role within the organization has to be defined by Rutherford, but he believes Brind'Amour has a lot to offer the team in some capacity. It's hard to deny when considering he is the team's leading scorer since its relocation from Hartford in 1997. Over his career with the Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues, Brind'Amour developed a knack for being a complete player. He had solid two-way skills, was a pro in the face off circle, got physical when necessary, possessed a scoring touch and had undeniable leadership qualities. He was also considered a workhorse, even as he got up there in age. He finished his career with a Stanley Cup to his name, two Frank J. Selke Trophies and totals of 452 goals, 732 assists and 1,184 points in 1,484 games. Brind'Amour added 51 goals and 60 assists to his career marks in 159 postseason contests.

The future Hall of Famer's resume is quite impressive, but poor play last season and a team looking to get younger added up to the end of Brind'Amour's career in Carolina. He had just nine goals and 19 points in 2009-10, was reduced to a fourth line role and ceded his captaincy to Eric Staal.

Brind'Amour was to earn $3 million in the final year of his current contract next season. Instead of taking that hit via his retirement, the Hurricanes will instead buy him out at $2 million, with a $1 million cap hit in each of the next two years.

Flyers Bringing Back Leighton For Two More Years

They explored the possibility of bringing in Evgeni Nabokov and they made a failed play for Marty Turco. But at the end of the day, the Philadelphia Flyers chose to stick with the man they already had. General Manager Paul Holgren got Michael Leighton's signature on the dotted line of a new two-year, $3.1 million contract that will see the 29-year old netminder remain the club's No. 1 option between the pipes. He will earn $1.5 million next year and $1.6 million in 2011-12, with an annual cap hit of $1.55 million.

Generally a journeyman goalie before hitting Philly, Leighton emerged as a playoff hero for the Flyers as he backstopped them to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1998. Being pulled twice in against the Chicago Blackhawks during that series placed some doubt on the organization about whether it was wise to bring him back as its starter. But after looking into Nabokov, who is determined to test the free agent market, and having a three-year, $6 million offer turned away by Turco, the Flyers stuck with the immediate option.

Leighton is undoubtedly a cheaper option, which was key for the Flyers since they didn't want to shed too much payroll on a netminder. But there is still some speculation that the Flyers might not be done looking for options between the pipes, even with two other goalies already signed - Brian Boucher and Johan Backlund. TSN's Bob McKeznie believes Martin Biron could find his way back into Philadelphia, or that the Flyers could take a shot at dealing for Tim Thomas from Boston if they're willing to part with a high-priced talent on their own roster. That would mean Leighton would either become a backup option for the Flyers, or be part of a package going elsewhere in a trade.

Devils Re-Sign Clarkson, Waive Veteran Pandolfo

 

Sometimes New Jersey does keep its own players, as opposed to trading back for them several years later. On Wednesday, General Manager Lou Lamoriello inked winger David Clarkson to an extension worth $8 million over three years. That will count as a $2.667 million annual cap hit and pays Clarkson actual salaries of $2 million next season and $3 million in both 2011-12 and 2012-13, according to Rich Chere of The Newark Star-Ledger. Clarkson was set to become a restricted free agent tomorrow. He earned $875,000 last season.

The 26-year old Toronto-native is one of the Devils' key hometown assets going forward. He is not a big-time point producer, but can net the puck. He posted 11 goals last season following a career-high 17-goal campaign two years ago. His true contribution to the team, however, is his size and agitating style. Sometimes it leads him to taking bad penalties, but Clarkson definitely keeps opposing players on their toes and off their games.

Oilers Acquire Vandermeer For O'Sullivan, Lose Moreau To Columbus Via Waivers

 

The Edmonton Oilers went through some minor roster shakeups one day prior to free agency. In one move, swapped players who just recently cleared waivers with the Phoenix Coyotes. The Oilers sent forward Patrick O'Sullivan to the dessert in exchange for defenseman Jim Vandermeer. According to TSN, the Oilers are expected to keep Vandermeer, while the 'Yotes will buy out the remaining year of O'Sullivan's contract.

This is a solid move for Edmonton and a cheaper one for the Coyotes. In Vandermeer, the Oil get a steady blue line presence with physical attributes. And they no longer need to foot the bill in paying O'Sullivan's buyout. The Coyotes will pay that instead, which comes at a slightly lower price tag than what Vandermeer's buyout would have been. By way of gapgeek.com, O'Sullivan's total buyout will be approximately $1.333 million split at rates of $935,417 next season and $397,917. The 25-year would have otherwise been a cap hit of $2.925 million if retained. Meanwhile, had the Coyotes just simply bought out Vandermeer, it would have cost them $766,667 against the cap in each of the next two seasons, for a total of $1,533,333. The 30-year old will be paid $2.3 million in Edmonton next year.

In addition to this move, the Oilers also saw Ethan Moreau claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. It would have cost Edmonton $1,166,667 million spread over two seasons to buy out his contract had he gone on unclaimed. But the 34-year old will now earn his full $1.75 million (and $2 million cap hit) with the Blue Jackets next season. Moreau will provide Columbus with plenty of size and another option on the penalty kill. He posted nine goals last season, three of which came with a man down.

NHL Network To Broadcast 35 Years Of Stanley Cup Clinching Games

If you don't get the NHL Network (which I unfortunately do not), now might be the time to consider ordering it or switching to another cable/satellite provider if your current one does not carry the channel. Starting on Monday, July 5, it will carry 35 years worth of Stanley Cup clinching games in their entirety - with Cup presentation and postgame celebrations included. They will begin with the Philadelphia Flyers taking the championship against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 6 of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals and end with the Flyers losing the Cup to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals on August 20, showing one game per weeknight. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite games at NHL.com, and the encore presentations will be broadcast for the highest vote getters between August 23-27.

Here is the official press release from the NHL:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / JUNE 29, 2010

NHL NETWORK U.S. PRESENTS PREMIERE BROADCAST OF

RAISING THE CUP: 35 YEARS OF STANLEY CUP CLINCHERS (1975-2010)

Games Shown in Entirety Including Post-Game Celebrations Beginning July 5

NEW YORK (June 29, 2010) – One of the sporting world’s oldest and most distinguished trophies -- The Stanley Cup -- will be presented each weeknight beginning on Monday, July 5, on NHL Network™ U.S., the National Hockey League announced today. As a part of its summer programming line-up, the NHL Network will present 35 years of Stanley Cup celebrations so fans can relive all the heroics, heartbreaking moments and magical memories.

Raising the Cup: 35 Years of Stanley Cup Clinchers 1975-2010, will air at 8:00 p.m. ET each weeknight through August 27. Stanley Cup Final clinching games will be shown in their entirety, including the full Stanley Cup presentations and post-game celebrations.

The Philadelphia Flyers have secured both first and last acts – one of exhilaration and one of disappointment -- in this series that chronicles the pursuit of hockey’s holy grail. The Raising the Cup: 35 Years of Stanley Cup Clinchers series begins in 1975 as two modern-era expansion teams, the Flyers and Buffalo Sabres, meet for the first time in the Stanley Cup Final. The Flyers win the series in six games. Flash ahead 35-years to 2010 when the newly crowned Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks beat the Flyers in six games to capture their first Cup in nearly 50 years.

Throughout 35 years of clinchers, fans will have the opportunity to experience again the dynasties of the 1970s (Montreal Canadiens), 1980s (New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers) and 1990s (Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings). The Raising the Cup series will take viewers on an emotional roller coaster ride of Game 7 overtimes, surprising contenders and historic ends to franchise droughts. From the tears of veteran players winning their first Stanley Cup in their last season to stellar rookie performances to the drive to defend the hardest trophy to win, this collection of Stanley Cup clinching games has something for everyone.

Fans also will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite game from each decade by logging onto www.nhl.com throughout the month. Top vote-getting games will receive encore presentations from August 23-27.

Raising the Cup: 35 Years of Stanley Cup Clinchers 1975-2010 Schedule

Day Year Visitor Home Game #

Monday, July 5 1975 Philadelphia Buffalo 6
Tuesday, July 6 1976 Montreal Philadelphia 4
Wednesday, July 7 1977 Montreal Boston 4
Thursday, July 8 1978 Montreal Boston 6
Friday, July 9 1979 NY Rangers Montreal 5
Monday, July 12 1980 Philadelphia NY Islanders 6
Tuesday, July 13 1981 Minnesota NY Islanders 5
Wednesday, July 14 1982 NY Islanders Vancouver 4
Thursday, July 15 1983 Edmonton NY Islanders 4
Friday, July 16 1984 NY Islanders Edmonton 5
Monday, July 19 1985 Philadelphia Edmonton 5
Tuesday, July 20 1986 Montreal Calgary 5
Wednesday, July 21 1987 Philadelphia Edmonton 7
Thursday, July 22 1988 Boston Edmonton 4
Friday, July 23 1989 Calgary Montreal 6
Monday, July 26 1990 Edmonton Boston 5
Tuesday, July 27 1991 Pittsburgh Minnesota 6
Wednesday, July 28 1992 Pittsburgh Chicago 4
Thursday, July 29 1993 Los Angeles Montreal 5
Friday, July 30 1994 Vancouver NY Rangers 7
Monday, Aug. 2 1995 Detroit New Jersey 4
Tuesday, Aug. 3 1996 Colorado Florida 4
Wednesday, Aug. 4 1997 Philadelphia Detroit 4
Thursday, Aug. 5 1998 Detroit Washington 4
Friday, Aug. 6 1999 Dallas Buffalo 6
Monday, Aug. 9 2000 New Jersey Dallas 6
Tuesday, Aug. 10 2001 New Jersey Colorado 7
Wednesday, Aug. 11 2002 Carolina Detroit 5
Thursday, Aug. 12 2003 Anaheim New Jersey 7
Friday, Aug. 13 2004 Calgary Tampa Bay 7
Monday, Aug. 16 2006 Edmonton Carolina 7
Tuesday, Aug. 17 2007 Ottawa Anaheim 5
Wednesday, Aug. 18 2008 Detroit Pittsburgh 6
Thursday, Aug. 19 2009 Pittsburgh Detroit 7
Friday, Aug. 20 2010 Chicago Philadelphia 6
Monday, Aug. 23 Fans' Choice Encore #1
Tuesday, Aug. 24 Fans' Choice Encore #2
Wednesday, Aug. 25 Fans' Choice Encore #3
Thursday, Aug. 26 Fans' Choice Encore #4
Friday, Aug. 27 Fans' Choice Encore #5

NHL is a registered trademark and the NHL Shield, NHL Network name and logo are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

Get Out Of My Crease Now On Twitter!

As if this blog wasn't enough to get your hockey fix, Get Out Of My Crease has just opened up a Twitter account! You can access our Twitter page by clicking the button on the sidebar to the right, clicking this link right here - Get Out Of My Crease on Twitter! - or by typing http://twitter.com/getoutmycrease into your address bar (no "of" in the name due to 15-character handle limit.)

Check it out, follow along and let's just all hope that I don't break the Web site.

Modano's Uncertain Future Will Not Continue in Dallas

 

Mike Modano remains uncertain about his playing future in the National Hockey League. While he weighs the option to retire or return after over 20 seasons as the face of Dallas Stars hockey and one of the most prolific U.S. born skaters, it appears the only organization he as ever called home will not welcome another season with him on their roster. General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced on Tuesday, via the team’s official Web site, that the 40-year old franchise leader in 15 regular season categories and 11 postseason ones would not be offered a new contract as an unrestricted free agent starting July 1.

“It was something that I’ve been talking to Mike about for quite some time,” Nieuwendyk said on Tuesday. “It’s a difficult decision for our fans, and it’s a difficult decision for our organization. But from my standpoint, I feel it’s necessary for us to move forward under these trying times. It’s a tough decision, but we’re going to move on without him on the ice. My primary focus is making the Dallas Stars a contender again. You’re not going to replace Mike Modano, but like all great players, at some point you have to turn the page. The strength of our team is our youth, and we have some great young players that will push to the next level.”

This must a heart wrenching realization for Dallas fans, who adore the man that has adorned the No. 9 for their team and only their team since the franchise relocated to Texas back in 1991. And even Modano there was “an outside chance” he could make another run with the Stars, according to an interview he conducted Tuesday with ESPNDallas.com. But this move can hardly be unexpected, especially after everybody in the American Airlines Center showered Modano with tear-inducing cheers on what believed to possibly be his final home game with the Stars on April 9:

Canadiens, Predators Exchange The Rights To Kostitsyn, Ellis

 

With unrestricted free agency less than 48 hours way, teams are trying to get one final leg up on the competition for soon-to-be free agents. On Tuesday afternoon, the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators participated in an exchange of rights for players and future considerations. The Predators dealt goaltender Dan Ellis, forward Dustin Boyd and future considerations to the Canadiens in exchange for Sergei Kostitsyn and future considerations. Kostitsyn and Boyd are set to become restricted free agents, while Ellis will be of the unrestricted variety.

The Canadiens hope to sign Ellis prior to the opening of free agency at noon on July 1, when any organization can make a play for his services. There isn't much time to get that done, but a Twitter post by Ellis indicated he is excited about the idea of joining the Habs:

Very excited about the trade! Its an honor to be part of a team with such great tradition and passion! Hope we can figure something out!

The team plans to either utilize the 29-year old as a backup or an equal employee in net with Carey Price, who was extended a qualifying offer by the Habs and will soon become a restricted free agent.

Ellis is the latest victim of a constant rotating door of goaltenders in Nashville. He had a tremendous rookie campaign in 2007-08, going 23-10-3 with a 2.34 goals against average, .924 save percentage and six shutouts. But his play slipped over the past two years and Pekka Rinne emerged as the new No. 1 in Nashville, making him expendable.

Boyd, 23, will provide depth at the forward position as a dependable two-way center or forward. He is not a dynamic offensive contributor, but scored 11 goals in each of the last two seasons and 20- to 25-point capability.

Going the other way is Kostitsyn, who is the younger brother of Andrei Kostitsyn. The 23-year old Belarusian has endless offensive potential but an attitude that prevents him from fully reaching it. In three NHL seasons, he has yet to reach the 10-goal plateau and has been unable to avoid a stint in the AHL as a way of maturing his game and him as an individual. According to TSN, the troublesome winger has been suspended by the organization in the past and criticized by teammates for lack of effort and other behavior matters.

Kostitsyn will need to grow up and get his game on course if he is to help a Predators organization in need of an offensive boost. He has the skills and ability to be a top-notch scorer and playmaker. But if his attitude continues to get in the way, he will be just as much of a frustration for Nashville as he was to the Canadiens.

Trading For Savard, Carter Emerges As Top Option For Center Help In Light Of Weak UFA Class

When the San Jose Sharks re-signed Patrick Marleau to a four-year deal, they took the most highly-coveted unrestricted free agent center off the market before it even opened for business. Before that, the Montreal Canadiens took the second most sought after UFA center Tomas Plekanec out of play with a new six-year contract.

With those two players off the board, few high-end options exist for teams in need of help at center. Sure, there are second-tier options like Saku Koivu, Olli Jokinen, Peter Mueller and Matt Cullen. But none of them have the potential to have as much offensive, and even defensive in Plekanec's case, influence on an organization like the two guys just extended by their current organizations.

In order for team's to rectify situations down the middle, they might have to look toward the trade market for more high-end options. Two players that might very well be up for grabs are Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins and Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers.

"Chasm" In Talks Between Rangers, RFA Staal

 

The New York Rangers are historically one of the most active organizations when it comes to throwing out big money for big name players in unrestricted free agency. But this year, the team's main priority revolves around getting its own pending restricted free agents inked. No player in that group is more important for New York than its top defenseman, Marc Staal.

Since being drafted by the Rangers in the first round (12 overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, the middle Staal has developed into the most reliable blueliner in the organization. When it comes to defending his own zone and shutting down other teams' top forwards, Staal is the guy. And it is therefore imperative that General Manager Glen Sather get him re-signed for the long haul if there is to be continued growth and success from within the organization.

According to The New York Post's Larry Brooks, it does not appear the rightful amount of progress is being made to get the most imporant task on the Rangers' offseason list accomplished.

The reality is that when asked if there is a wide gulf separating the parties, Sather replied: "I wouldn't say it's a wide gulf, I would say it's more like a chasm."

Brooks notes that Staal is believed to be seeking a deal in the neighborhood of $3.5 to 4 million a year for four years.. But, as Michael Obernauer of The New York Daily News points out, Sather and his agent, legendary defenseman Bobby Orr, do not have much leverage. While he can sign an offer sheet as a restricted free agent if one comes his way starting Thursday, he cannot file for salary arbitration. Holding out is his only recourse.

Cheechoo, Kotalik Among Five Players Placed On Waivers

 

The waiver wire saw some activity this afternoon as a reported five players were placed on it, according to TSN. Among those players are Johnathan Cheechoo of the Ottawa Senators, who was part of the Dany Heatley trade with San Jose, and Ales Kotalik of the Calgary Flames, who was acquired by the team in an early February trade with the New York Rangers. Petteri Nokelainen and Jim Vadermeer of the Phoenix Coyotes and Florida Panthers defenseman Ville Koistinen were also placed on waivers.

TSN mentions that if these players were to go unclaimed through the waiver process, it is likely that their respective organizations will buy them out and will therefore enter them into unrestricted free agency.

Cheechoo is entering the final year of a five-year contract that will pay him $3.5 million next season (and count as a cap hit of $3 million.) After posting a career-high and Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy-earning 56 goals back in 2005-06 thanks to be paired with Joe Thornton, Cheechoo has steadily declined over the past four years. A year with just 12 goals and 17 assists in 2008-09 made it an easy decision for San Jose to include him and his salary as part of the trade that brought in Heatley. In 61 games with Ottawa last season, Cheechoo only posted five goals and nine assists for 14 points. He also spent 25 games in the AHL with Binghamton, scoring eight goals with six assists for 14 points.

Cheechoo's time as a hot commodity in the NHL faded almost as quickly as it began, and he is no longer considered a top-six forward. At $3.5 million, it would be hard to justify picking the 29-year old up off waivers. But as an unrestricted free agent, it could be worth taking a flier on him at a price tag of $1 to 1.25 million is he is willing to take a sharp pay cut like that. A buyout would cost the Senators about $1.167 million over each of the next two years.

Philly Seeking Nabokov's Rights, Chicago Gets Ladd's Qualifying Offer In On Time

 

~ The Philadelphia Flyers do not currently have a No. 1 goaltender and weren't able to draft one over the weekend (not that anybody they would have selected on Friday or Saturday would have filled the spot right away, anyway.) However, after the draft was completed, General Manager Paul Holmgren reportedly struck a tentative deal with San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson for the negotiation rights to goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. The deal hinges on the Flyers' ability to reach an agreement with Nabokov before free agency on July 1. If that is done, then Philly will fork over a seventh round draft pick to San Jose in 2011.

The likelihood of this trade actually going through are slim, however. TSN has reported that Nabokov informed the Flyers that he would like to test the market. And according to CSNPhilly, Wilson even mentioned that complications do exist for the Flyers to actually complete a deal with Nabokov, which the site speculated could include the 35-year old's entire career having been spent on the West Coast. But neither genral manager involved here elaborated on the issue all that much.

The Flyers are familiar with the process of trading for negotiation rights and sometimes it works out for them, i.e., Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell. But other times it does not, such as what just went down with Dan Hamhuis. And while the team does stand a strong chance at getting Nabokov, the fact that he only needs to wait four days to find out his value over the entire market (and maybe even the KHL) doesn't make it look good on the Flyers' end to get this thing done before noon on Thursday.

~ Former Chicago Blackhawks and current Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon is not so great with tendering qualifying offers in time to restricted free agents. Stan Bowman isn't so bad, though. On Sunday, he beat the Monday deadline for Andrew Ladd's qualifying offer at a price of $1.65 million.

Ladd will likely want more in a new contract that than and he should have no problem doing so if he chooses to seek salary arbitration. The 24-year old former Carolina Hurricanes first round pick scored a career-high 17 goals last season and added 21 assists for 38 points. He added three goals and three assists in 19 playoff games en route to a Stanley Cup Championship with Chicago.

Hamhuis' Rights Get Dealt Again

TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Friday night prior to the 2010 NHL Entry Draft that contract negotiations between the Philadelphia Flyers and recently acquired pending unrestricted free agent Dan Hamhuis were "not at all close." It appears they were far enough apart for the Flyers to give up just one week after gaining his rights from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Ryan Parent. Shortly after the completion of the first round of the draft on Friday, the Flyers moved Hamhuis' rights to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a third round selection in next year's draft.

Although the Flyers would have loved to get Hamhuis inked, they essentially gained a conditional seventh rounder (acquired with Hamhuis from Nashville) and a third rounder next year for Parent, who was largely underwhelming in his four seasons with Philly.

The Penguins may have just acquired their replacement for Sergei Gonchar, who is still in talks with General Manager Ray Shero but is probably pricing himself out of the Penguins' budget by seeking somewhere between $5 to 6 million per year on a three-year deal. Hamhuis is not quite as offensively gifted as Gonchar, but is a solid all-around defender with physical ability and the occasional scoring touch.

Defensemen Fowler, Gormley Slip To 12th, 13th Picks

 

Every year, there is a pretty much a guarantee that a player or two highly ranked among several scouting services will slip well beyond their anticipated draft position. That was the case on Friday for defensemen Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

From the Windsor Spitfires, Fowler was ranked as a top five pick by vitrually everybody. He was fifth on the NHL Central Scouting Service among North American Skaters. He was fifth according to International Scouting Service Rankings. He was third with The Hockey News. And TSN placed him fifth. So by all accounts, he was a top five selection, and should have gone somewhere in the top 10 at the very least depending on team needs. So it came as a pretty big shock that he fell all the way to 12th and the Anaheim Ducks as several teams that could have used his services passed him up.

The knock on Fowler was that his defensive skills were lacking. While his offense is terrific, as witnessed by a 55-point campaign in 55 games with Windsor last year, he is not known as a hard worker in his own zone. But the Ducks, who recently lost Scott Niedermayer to retirement, were more than happy to scoop him up to eventually fill that void along the blue line.

As for Gormley, he went 13th to the Phoenix Coyotes. Gormley was sixth among North American Skaters according to NHL Central Scouting, third by the ISS, seventh by The Hockey News and fourth on TSN's list.

He is considered a jack of all trades and master of none. While a decent threat in all areas of the game, he is outstanding in none of them and lacks a "wow" factor typically looked for in drafts. But the Coyotes are never a team to need a "wow" factor. They want good, hard-working players who play smart, and Gormley definitely fits the mold.

Top Ten Picks Of The 2010 NHL Entry Draft

 

1. Edmonton Oilers: Taylor Hall, LW - Windsor (OHL)
2. Boston Bruins: Tyler Seguin, C - Plymouth (OHL)
3. Florida Panthers: Erik Gudbranson, D - Kingston (OHL)
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ryan Johansen, C - Portland (WHL)
5. New York Islanders: Nino Niederreiter, LW - Portland (WHL)
6. Tampa Bay Lightning: Brett Connolly, C - Prince George (WHL)
7. Carolina Hurricanes: Jeff Skinner, C - Kitchener (OHL)
8. Atlanta Thrashers: Alexander Burmistrov, C - Barrie (OHL)
9. Minnesota Wild: Mikael Granlund, LW - HIFK Helsinki (Finland)
10. New York Rangers: Dylan McIlrath, D - Moose Jaw (WHL)

As Expected, Bruins Pick Seguin Second Overall

 

With Taylor Hall taken off the board by the Edmonton Oilers, the obvious choice at No. 2 for the Boston Bruins was Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers. General Manager Peter Chiarelli made the selection of the center official, and added Seguin to the Bruins family.

There seems to be a logjam at center with the pick of the Seguin, but it was a pick that had to be made. With Hall gone, he was the next clear-cut best on the board. Pierre McGuire suggested that the Bruins could move a center now with Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci already in the mix. Bob McKenzie chimed in to say Chiarelli was already testing the market, and could possibly move Savard with his $4 million annual cap hit.

We'll see what happens on that front. But for now, the Bruins have a talented young center who is maybe a year away from making the roster but should steadily grow into the top line pivot once he gets there.

With the First Pick In The 2010 NHL Entry Draft, The Edmonton Oilers Select ...

Taylor Hall, Left Wing - Windsor Spitfires

It has been a topic of hot debate for months - Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin? Well, the Edmonton Oilers, owners of the first overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, put the argument to rest. General Manager Steve Tambellini hit the podium and made it official - Taylor Hall is the newest member of the Edmonton Oilers organization.

The debate really surrounded whether it was better to take the best goal scorer, i.e. the best finisher, or the better all-around center. This is the second year in a row in which that has been the hot topic at hand, as the 2009 NHL Entry Draft surrounded the question of John Tavares or Matt Duchene. The New York Islanders took the route of the Oilers that year, selecting the better scorer in Tavares while the Colorado Avalanche landed Calder Memorial Trophy nominee Duchene with the third overall pick.

It is expected that the Boston Bruins, owners of what was the Toronto Maple Leafs second overall selection, will take Seguin next.

Another Season For Mark Recchi

 

At 42 years old and having already spent 21 seasons in the National Hockey League, Mark Recchi is ready for another go with the Boston Bruins. He has signed on for another year with the Bruins at a reported price tag of $1 million - the same salary he made last year. It is also expected that this deal will include bonuses.

Even at his advanced age, at least by sports standards, Recchi is still an incredibly productive player. On a Bruins team that finished dead-last in scoring last season, Recchi posted 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points, good for fourth place on the team. He added six goals and 10 points in 13 games during the playoffs, where he has proven to be a valuable commodity due to his leadership and experience.

The Bruins have somewhat limited cap space (just over $7 million, according to NHLNumbers.com) and are currently shopping a few players in order to gain more flexibility. But bringing back a player with the character and skill of Recchi is a great move on General Manager Peter Chiarelli's part.

News From Around The Crease

 

~ TSN's Darren Dreger is reporting that the Toronto Maple Leafs have received at least five offers for defenseman Tomas Kaberle. As they stand, none are good enough for General Manager Brian Burke to accept. But some finagling between the draft on Friday and the middle of July, when Kaberle's no trade clause is back in effect, could entice Burke to pull the trigger.

It is believed Burke is looking for a first round pick in a deal, but that is not necessarily a deal breaker. More importantly, Burke wants a scoring threat that can be plugged right into the lineup. While it's likely Kaberle will end up being traded, it is still possible that the Maple Leafs could retain his services and sign him to an extension.

~ The Phoenix Coyotes would like to build upon their shocking turnaround last season and have already made moves to bring back some key components, such as defenseman Keith Aucion, left wing Taylor Pyatt and left wing Scottie Upshall. General Manager Don Maloney focused his attention on mid-season acquisition Wojtek Wolski on Thusday, signing the 24-year old winger to a two-year, $7.6 million contract. The deal will pay Wolski $3.8 million per season - a raise from the $3.1 million he earned last year.

Wolski was acquired by the Coyotes from the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline this past March. The Avs received Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter in the deal. In 18 regular season games following the trade, Wolski netted six goals and a point-per-game pace, while adding five points in seven postseason games against the Detroit Red Wings. He totaled 23 goals and 65 points last year between the Avalanche and Coyotes.

Marleau, Pavelski Ink Four-Year Deals To Remain With Sharks

 

Teams looking to bring in help at center through free agency will have some very slim pickings when the market opens next Thursday. About one week after the Montreal Canadiens plucked Tomas Plekanec from the market on a six-year, $30 million deal, the San Jose Sharks have taken away perhaps the most coveted center of the 2010 unrestricted free agency class, Patrick Marleau.

Marleau will remain with the Sharks on a four-year deal that will pay him $6.9 million annually. That counts as a $600,000 raise from the $6.3 million earned in each of the past two seasons. He is still the third highest paid player on the Sharks, behind Dany Heatley ($7.5 million per season) and Joe Thornton ($7.2 million per season).

If this was two years ago, the Sharks likely would have let Marleau walk. The 2007-08 campaign was not too kind to him with just 19 goals and 48 points with a staggering minus-19 mark. Last summer was not one of Marleau’s brightest moments, either, as a better offensive showing from Marleau during the regular season was followed by another first round elimination in the playoffs. That led to management exploring the idea of a roster shakeup and eventually brought upon the removal of Marleau as team captain.

Marleau has since proven himself to still be an important offensive threat for the Sharks and had an incredible year in 2009-10 as the second leading scorer on the Sharks. He put up a career-high 44 goals last season (fourth in the league) and added 39 assists for 82 points – three points behind his previous high of 86 in 2005-06. Marleau added 13 points in 14 postseason contests as the Sharks dropped their choker label and advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

Marleau’s entire 12-year career has been with the Sharks, which made this extension just as much a loyalty issue as a talent one. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in just about every important offensive category, “including games played, goals, assists, points, power play goals, game-winning goals and shots,” according to TSN.

General Manager Doug Wilson also put pen to paper on a new contract for pending restricted free agent Joe Pavelski. In four NHL seasons, all with the Sharks, Pavelski has developed into a key all-around commodity. He doesn’t have the notoriety of a Thornton, Heatley or Marleau, but it’s hard to call him a depth or role player since his contributions to the organization are so critical. After posting 25 goals and 26 assists for 51 points during the regular season last year, he went on to lead the Sharks in scoring with 17 points during their run to the Western Conference Finals. Three of his team-leading nine playoff scores counted as game-winners.

Pavelski’s new deal will keep him around for another four year at a rate of $4 million per season. The 25-year old just completed a two-year, $3.275 million contract.

Both Marleau and Pavelski also represented their countries in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Marleau skated away with the Gold Medal as a member of Team Canada, while Pavelski took the Silver with Team USA.

These two signings raise the Sharks’ payroll to $46.648 million. Devin Setoguchi, Manny Malholtra, Scott Nichol and Jed Ortmeyer are all in need of new deals, while the Sharks need a top four defenseman to replace the retired Rob Blake. But the five percent raise in the salary to $59.4 million should give Wilson enough breathing room with around $13 million left to play around with.

Dustin Byfuglien Dealt To Thrashers

 

UPDATE (x2): The trade to send Dustin Byfuglien to Atlanta is now official, according to TSN. And as Bob McKenzie mentioned, the holdup was simply a matter up Atlanta going over the 50-contract limit.

The trade is now a nine-player deal sending packaging Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and Akim Aliu with Byfuglien to the Thrashers in exchange for Marty Reasoner, Jeremy Morin, Joey Crabb and the first (24th overall) and second (54th overall) round picks acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade.

In order to meet the NHL limit on maximum contracts, the Thrashers sent forward Brent Sterling, defenseman Michael Vernace and a 7th round pick in this weekend's draft to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations.

UPDATE: TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting that a holdup in this pending trade might not be the fact that the NHL Awards Ceremony was tonight, but that the Thrashers will have too many contracts.

It is my understanding Chi-Atl trade hold up is indeed because Atl would have 51 contracts with trade. Atl has to move a contract first. - Bob McKenzie

McKenzie also mentions that they could just remove Aliu from the deal for now. Either way, he doesn't expect the trade to become official until Thursday or Friday.

ORIGINAL: The cost-cutting has begun for the Chicago Blackhawks. Just hours before the NHL Awards Ceremony, TSN announced that Chicago was sending playoff standout Dustin Byfuglien to the Atlanta Thrashers in a six-player deal that would, in part, net the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions the 24th overall selection in Friday's draft - originally acquired by the Thrashers from New Jersey in the Ilya Kovalchuk trade. The Blackhawks will also receive the 54th overall pick in the draft (also obtained in a swap of second rounders with New Jersey in the Kovalchuk trade), 33-year old center Marty Reasoner and 19-year old prospect Jeremy Morin, who scored 47 goals and 83 points last year with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. In addition to Byfuglien, Atlanta gets defenseman Brent Sopel, depth forward Ben Eager and 21-year old right wing prospect Akim Aliu. According to TSN, the deal is not official just yet:

"The only hold-up on trade call appears to be tied to waiting for league personnel to land in Los Angeles. After that, the trade should be made official."

The big chip here is obviously Byfuglien, who established himself all of the last season and especially during the playoffs as a gritty big-sized forward proficient at getting to the front of the net for a screen or to put the puck in off his own stick. This move is, unfortunately, a salary dump for Chicago, who one would have to imagine would otherwise love to keep such a key piece to their championship drive if it wasn't for the fact that they were sitting right up against the salary cap. The 24th overall pick is decent compensation, but not nearly a replacement for the big guy.

For the Thrashers, this was a steal of trade. They acquire some salary here, but they can afford it much better than Chicago. And with the addition of Byfuglien, Atlanta keeps building up pieces to move past the Kovalchuk era of their franchise. He should pay immediate dividends as a much-needed big body to provide physical play. He's not a pure offensive threat, but will still be a leading scorer for the team as the roster stands now.

Thrashers Find New Head Coach in Craig Ramsay

 

Having already replaced relieved general manager Don Waddell with Rick Dudley, the Atlanta Thrashers have now found their new head coach to take over for John Anderson in the form of Boston Bruins assistant Craig Ramsay, according to a report by TSN.

Ramsay will depart from the Bruins after serving as Claude Julien's assistant coach since 2007. John Torchetti will be joining him on the bench in a move from associate coach for the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

This will be Ramsay's first full-time gig as a head coach. The 59-year old has twice played the role of interim head coach for a total of 49 games between the the Buffalo Sabres (1986-87) and Philadelphia Flyers (2000-01). He was also an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2004. As a player, he spent 14 years in the Sabres organization and posted career totals of 252 goals and 420 assists for 672 points in 1070 games. He also posted a career plus/minus mark of plus-328, and was award the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1985.

While Ramsay may lack experience as the head honcho behind the bench, he brings with him tons of experience, knowledge and respect within the game. With all of the changes occuring throughout the Thrashers organization, it was imporant for Dudley to find a bright mind to steer this new roster in the proper direction. Ramsay has the background and skills to get the job done, and will finally get his opportunity to prove he can be the guy in charge for a team that has nowhere to go but up.

Salary Cap Going Up Five Percent For 2010-11 Season

Teams in need of extra wiggle room under the salary cap are in luck. The National Hockey League will see an increase in the salary cap for the 2010-11 season to $59.4 million, with a salary floor of $43.4 million. That marks a five percent increase from the $56.8 million cap from last season.

Next season will mark the sixth year of the current collective bargaining agreement, which was the result of a yearlong lockout of the 2004-05 season and instituted hard salary and player caps to even the competitive market for player services and overall club profits.

On Tuesday, the NHLPA chose to extend the CBA through 2012. At the same time, they agreed to this cap increase.

And The Winner Of The Hart Memorial Trophy Is ...

Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Hart Memorial Trophy (Player Most Valuable To His Team)

Finalists:

Sidney Crosby – Center, Pittsburgh Penguins

Alexander Ovechkin – Left Wing, Washington Capitals

Henrik Sedin – Center, Vancouver Canucks

Prediction - Henrik Sedin

Winner - Henrik Sedin

And The Winner Of The James Norris Memorial Trophy Is ...

Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks

James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best All-Around Defenseman)

Finalists:

Drew Doughty – Los Angeles Kings

Mike Green – Washington Capitals

Duncan Keith – Chicago Blackhawks

Prediction – Duncan Keith

Winner – Duncan Keith

And The Winner Of The Bridgestone Messier Leadership Award Is ...

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Bridgestone Messier Leadership Award (Greatest Leadership Qualities)

Finalists:

Sidney Crosby – Center, Pittsburgh Penguins

Shane Doan – Right Wing, Phoenix Coyotes

Ryan Miller – Goaltender, Buffalo Sabres

Prediction - Ryan Miller

Winner - Sidney Crosby

And The Winner Of The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Is ...

Martin St. Louis - Right Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Best Sportsmanship)

Finalists:

Pavel Datsyuk – Center, Detroit Red Wings

Brad Richards – Center, Dallas Stars

Martin St. Louis – Right Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning

Prediction - Brad Richards

Winner - Martin St. Louis

And The Winner Of The King Clancy Memorial Trophy Is ...

Shane Doan - Right Wing, Phoenix Coyotes

King Clancy Memorial Trophy (Best Exemplified Leadership Qualities On And Off The Ice)

And The Winner Of The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Is ...

Jose Theodore - Goaltender, Washington Capitals

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Most Qualified Perseverance, Sportsmanship and Dedication to Hockey)

Finalists:

Kurtis Foster – Defenseman, Tampa Bay Lighting

Jed Ortmeyer – Right Wing, San Jose Sharks
Jose Theodore – Goaltender, Washington Capitals

Prediction – Jose Theodore

Winner – Jose Theodore

And The Winner Of The Vezina Trophy Is ...

Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres

Vezina Trophy (Top Goaltender)

Finalists:

Martin Brodeur – New Jersey Devils

Ilya Bryzgalov – Phoenix Coyotes

Ryan Miller – Buffalo Sabres

Prediction – Ilya Bryzgalov

Winner – Ryan Miller

And The Winner Of The Jack Adams Award Is ...

Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes

Jack Adams Award (Top Coach)

Finalists:

Joe Sacco – Colorado Avalanche

Dave Tippett – Phoenix Coyotes

Barry Trotz – Nashville Predators

Prediction – Dave Tippett

Winner – Dave Tippett

And The Winner Of The Ted Lindsay Award Is ...

Alexander Ovechkin - Left Wing, Washington Capitals

Ted Lindsay Award (Most Outstanding Player As Voted By NHLPA)

Finalists:

Sidney Crosby– Center, Pittsburgh Penguins

Alexander Ovechkin – Left Wing, Washington Capitals

Henrik Sedin – Center, Vancouver Canucks

Prediction – No Prediction

Winner – Alexander Ovechkin

And The Winner Of The Frank J. Selke Trophy Is ...

Pavel Datsyuk - Center, Detroit Red Wings

Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward)

Finalists:

Pavel Datsyuk – Center, Detroit Red Wings

Ryan Kesler – Center, Vancouver Canucks

Jordan Staal – Center, Pittsburgh Penguins

Prediction – Jordan Staal

Winner – Pavel Datsyuk

And The Winner Of The Calder Memorial Trophy Is ...

Tyler Myers - Defenseman, Buffalo Sabres

Calder Memorial Trophy (Best Rookie)

Finalists:

Matt Duchene – Center, Colorado Avalanche

Jimmy Howard – Goaltender, Detroit Red Wings

Tyler Myers – Defenseman, Buffalo Sabres

Prediction – Jimmy Howard

Winner – Tyler Myers

Dishing Out The Hardware Tonight In Las Vegas at NHL Awards Ceremony

Break out the tuxedo and prepare to see some of the best players in the National Hockey League vie for several historic trophies meant to encapsulate their incredible seasons. For the second year in row, the NHL Awards Ceremony will hail from Las Vegas, Nevada – this year at the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort.

The show is set to go live in under 30 minutes and it’s only appropriate to take a look at some of the most prolific categories and predict the winners among some very worthy finalists.

Calder Memorial Trophy (Best Rookie)

Finalists:

Matt Duchene – Center, Colorado Avalanche

Jimmy Howard – Goaltender, Detroit Red Wings

Tyler Myers – Defenseman, Buffalo Sabres

Matt Duchene – Center, Colorado Avalanche: Drafted third overall by the Avs in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the 19-year old Duchene stepped right into the lineup for 81 games and led all rookies with 24 goals and 55 points, 21 of which were notched on the power play. With him on the roster, Colorado was able to go from third worst team in the NHL to a playoff contender as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Jimmy Howard – Goaltender, Detroit Red Wings: Detroit is notorious for utilizing older goaltender (Mike Vernon, Chris Osgood, Manny Legace, Dominik Hasek and Curtis Joseph, to name a few.) But they turned to a 26-year old who has been waiting in the wings for years and immediately realized they had No. 1 caliber netminder from somebody not nearing retirement. Howard came in to replace Osgood as the Red Wings’ starter and notched a record of 37-15-10 in 63 games played. He finished fifth in the league with a 2.26 goals against average and was fourth in save percentage with a .924 clip. He also posted three shutouts. Detroit didn’t have its best season in team history last year. But with Howard between the pipes, the club managed to climb the ladder in the Western Conference throughout the season and earn yet another playoff berth as the fifth seed.

Tyler Myers – Defenseman, Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres used to have a reputation for being small in stature. But they sure gained a lot of size in the form of 6’8”, 220-pound defenseman Tyler Myers. Playing in all 82 games and averaging 23:44 of ice time, Myers instantly became a top all-around threat and crucial asset for the organization. He led all rookie with 37 assists and ranked third behind just Duchene and John Tavares for the points lead with 48. He also ranked second among rookies with a plus-13 rating. Ryan Miller was the top reason the Sabres finished third in the Eastern Conference. But Myers probably falls right behind him.

Prediction – Jimmy Howard

News From Around The Crease

~ He has flirted with the idea of retirement many times over the past few years. But the temptation to play always seemed to win out. Now, it seems the time is finally right for Scott Niedermayer to hang up the skates for good. After 18 years in the NHL and numerous appearances on the international level, the 36-year old future Hall of Famer announced his retirement on Tuesday.

Niedermayer’s career has been on a year-by-year basis ever since he led the Anaheim Ducks to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2007. He was not able to lead Anaheim to the promised land again, but still put up three more productive seasons that included a 59-point campaign (the third-highest total of his career) in 2008-09 and an another Gold Medal winning appearance for Team Canada during this past winter’s Olympics.

His legacy will be as one of the game’s best offensive defenseman. Even on a defensive-minded New Jersey Devils squad, Niedermayer was able to exhibit his incredible offensive instincts from the blue line. He was a great skater, ran power plays extremely well, led by example and was a character guy – as shown during his free agency period in 2005 when he chose to leave the team he was drafted by and played for over 13 years to help his brother win a Cup in Anaheim.

At the NHL level, Niedermayer has attained a plethora of accomplishments. On top of four Stanley Cups between his time with the New Jersey Devils and Ducks, he has also taken claim to the Conn Smythe Trophy, a Norris Memorial Award and five All-Star Game appearances. For Team Canada, Niedermayer sports two Olympic Gold Medals, an IIHF World Championships Gold Medal and a first place finish in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. Even in juniors, Niedermayer was a stud – winning the Memorial Cup as a member of the Kamloops Blazers and making two Western Hockey League First All-Star Teams.

At 36 years old and coming off season where he notched 48 points, it’s safe to say Niedermayer still had something left in the tank and could have easily stepped right back into the Ducks’, or any other team’s, lineup. But after missing the playoffs this past spring – only the second time in his career not playing in the postseason, Niedermayer felt it was finally time to move on.

Niedermayer will remain with the Ducks as a consultant to general manager Bob Murray.

Edmonton Oilers Shake Up Coaching Situation Ahead Of Schedule

When the Edmonton Oilers brought in Pat Quinn as head coach and Tom Renney as associate a year ago, there was believed to be an understanding at the time that Renney would move up into Quinn’s position upon his retirement, possibly at the conclusion of their three-year deals. According to general manager Steve Tambellini, the succession called more for Quinn to move into an advisory role and Renney to take over as head coach after the second year.

Either way, Quinn’s time as the big dog behind the bench is over. On Tuesday, Tambellini announced that he was accelerating his plan based on the poor season by the Oilers last season by moving Quinn into a the role of Senior Hockey Advisor, while Renney would immediately take over as head coach.

 

Renney is obviously excited about his promotion, which would have inevitably happened whether it be now or a year or two from now.

 

Tambellini and Renney are all smiles about the news, but Quinn was caught a bit offguard by it. He doesn’t view this move as a promotion, and claims to have been unaware of any plan on Tambellini’s end to have him move into an advisory role at any point during his Oilers’ tenure. Quinn was simply looking forward to returning as head coach.

“Is it a promotion? I’d say not,” said Quinn. “My career has been coaching and that’s why I wanted to come back into the game with Edmonton last year. We went through some tough times, but I was looking forward to continuing to help to change the climate there and continue to help this organization go back to respectability in the sense of winning. I’ll continue to do that, but it’s just going to be in a different capacity, obviously.”

It’s easy to understand why Quinn doesn’t like the move if he was truly unaware of Tambellini’s intentions to move him out eventually. If you come into a situation as a head coach for a certain amount of years, you want to see that through.

But this is a step in the right direction for the Oilers, who are coming off a horrendous season as the league’s worst team by 12 points. Granted, the Oilers had plenty of injuries to deal with, the least of which to starting goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. And it’s the general manager’s job to make sure there are enough pieces in place to assure injuries don’t completely derail a season. But Quinn didn’t make matters any better for the organization.

He was a figurehead, to say the least. Renney was the man in charge of getting the team ready to play and adopting strategies. But it doesn’t help when he’s the one calling the shots, yet the players have a different master entirely to please. Now that Renney will have complete control over his players, he can much more easily execute a game plan to get the organization on track and down a winning path – much like he was able to do when taking over as head coach of the New York Rangers after they missed the playoffs for seven years.

Quinn might still want to be a coach, but the position has just passed him by. The Oilers had a better option in-house that they planned on promoting soon enough anyway. There was no point in delaying the process. Renney was brought in to eventually be head coach. And now, he is.

Horton, Campbell Dealt To Bruins For Wideman, 15th Overall Pick

“Players [that] want to be here will be here,” Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon expressed when he was hired in May. “And players that want to play elsewhere will play elsewhere. That’s what is going to happen here.”

One of the players who fit into that latter group was 25-year old right wing Nathan Horton, who informed Tallon upon his hiring that he wanted to be moved.

“Obviously he was frustrated with what has gone on in the past and (wanted to know) if we could help him out to see what is out there for him,” Tallon said in a conference call following the trade. “That’s how this all began. He showed frustration and felt it would maybe be better if he was able to go somewhere else.”

On Tuesday, Tallon granted the wish of the former third overall pick, and continued making good on ownership's vows to re-shape the organization, by shipping Horton to the Boston Bruins along with center Gregory Campbell in exchange for defenseman Dennis Wideman, the Bruins’ 15th overall pick in Friday’s NHL Entry Draft and a third round selection in 2011.

With this move, Horton will try to deliver a much needed goal-scoring boost to the lowest scoring team from last season with 196 goals. Horton has produced at least 20 goals in each of his last five seasons and has the ability to put in over 30, as witnessed by his 2006-07 campaign of 31 scores. He will go a long way in replacing the offense lost when Phil Kessel was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Horton has three years and $14 million remaining on the six-year deal his signed prior to the 2007 NHL Draft, with an annual cap hit of $4 million per season.

Never Easy For General Manager Bryan Murray; Spezza Stirring Up Déjà Vu

Some general managers just can’t catch a break. Ottawa Senators’ head honcho Bryan Murray is the epitome of that. After going through hell just one year ago unloading Dany Heatley when the star winger demanded to get out of Ottawa – but only to San Jose, Murray may just be in another tough position this summer with top offensive weapon.

Murray is faced with a tough decision as it pertains to the future of disgruntled center Jason Spezza. Spezza was far from thrilled with another early postseason exit by the Senators. He met with Murray to discuss his displeasure over this second first round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in three years, as well as being unappreciative of being the whipping boy for fans and the media. There was speculation that Spezza requested a trade, but Murray claims he did not specifically ask to be dealt. He just isn’t against the notion.

“He said he wouldn’t object to it,” Murray said. “He didn’t come in and say, ‘I have to be traded.’ He didn’t object to the fact that maybe it’s time - the way (he’s) been received - now maybe it’s time.”

Murray doesn’t want to trade his team’s No. 1 center, and the fact that Spezza has not demanded a trade means he has less pressure to do so than last year with Heatley. However, it’s not a wise idea to have an unhappy player on the roster, especially one as important as Spezza. Trading a player with his level of talent could net some big rewards in the form of players that will actually embrace an opportunity with the Senators.

The $35 million over five years remaining on Spezza’s contract is not that easy to move, though. A contract with a $7 million cap hit and actual salary of $8 million in each of the next three years is very rich in this NHL. It could force even the most interested suitors to look elsewhere for help down the middle.

If Murray is going to act, he must do so quickly. The 27-year old has a no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1. And while Spezza indicated that he won’t necessarily block a trade, Murray does not want to end up in a position again where he must target only those teams of interest to the player. Right, Murray has a field of 29 teams to play with.

In an ideal world, where Murray’s sanity and the loyalty of about a dozen Spezza fans who chose to rally for him were taken into consideration, this would all just blow over and Spezza would get himself geared up for another year in a Senators sweater. But Ottawa has a bad history with this type of situation, and you can bet that Murray will do his darndest to learn what the market has to offer. And if a good enough deal comes his way, he likely won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on another star name.

Predators Deal Arnott, Right To Hamhuis

The Nashville Predators made two cost-cutting deals Saturday afternoon with a couple of Eastern Conference contenders. The first of those saw them ship the rights to pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Dan Hamhuis and a conditional draft choice in 2011 to Philadelphia in exchange for Ryan Parent.

This trade was an indication of just how badly the Flyers wanted Hamhuis on their blue line, and how little faith or little desire the Predators had in retaining him based on the contract he is likely to demand. Philadelphia has targeted Hamhuis for quite some time, even creating speculation last season that they were looking to acquire him in a trade deadline deal. And they managed to gain a 12-day window for sole negotiation opportunity with him. This is not the first time Philadelphia has utilized this strategy for bringing in pending free agents, especially not with Nashville in particular. In 2007, the Flyers acquired the rights to defenseman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell in exchange for a first round selection pick in that year’s draft just 13 days prior to the opening of free agency. Both players were signed almost instantly.

Hamhuis just finished off a contract that earned him $8 million over four years. He made $2.5 million of that last season and counted as a $2 million cap hit annually during its duration. Now, it’s believed Hamhuis could be seeking a deal worth about $4 million per season, which is a bit too rich for Nashville’s blood.

Montreal Sends Playoff Hero To Blues

 

There was going to come a time during this offseason where the Montreal Canadiens needed to establish who their No. 1 goaltender was, and then get rid of the other guy. That decision came on Thursday, when the first blockbuster deal of the summer was announced. Montreal decided to stick with Carey Price, and in doing so pulled the trigger on a trade that sent the rights to Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues for forwards Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.

Halak, who will be a restricted free agent on July 1, was most recently a playoff hero for the Canadiens. As the eighth seed, Montreal was expected to be bounced by the Washington Capitals in the first round. But the Habs shocked the world by sending Alexander Ovechkin and Co. home early after a seven-game series. Then they moved on to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games, as well. Montreal was hardly a match for the Philadelphia Flyers in the Conference Finals. But the fact that the team even got there after having to play two Eastern Conference favorites was an accomplishment in itself.

And the very reason for Montreal bunking the odds and getting as deep as it did in the playoffs was the quality goaltending received from Halak. He literally stole the show on several occasions as he was leading the Canadiens to victory.

Even during the regular season, Halak proved to be the more stable force in between the pipes for Montreal. He went 26-13-5 in 45 games played, sporting a 2.40 goals against average, a fourth-ranked save percentage at .924 and five shutouts.

None of that matters in the business world of hockey, though. In that world, great play equates to great trade value, and that’s all Montreal saw in him when it came time to pick their starter. It was a move that shocked the Montreal fans. It shocked Halak. And it even shocked now former-Blues goaltender Chris Mason.

John MacLean finally named head coach of New Jersey Devils

Just when it seemed as if he was never going to get the job, John MacLean was finally afforded the opportunity to prove himself as the lead man behind the New Jersey Devils’ bench. The Devils announced on Thursday that the team’s first ever draft pick would become its 19th head coach.

“John MacLean is an astute hockey individual who has spent the past eight years preparing to be an NHL head coach,” Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said. “He knows out personnel from the veterans through our prospects, having worked with them as a coach during that time.”

In the eight years MacLean has been with the Devils as a coach, he played the assistant role for seven of them. A rotating door of head coaches put MacLean in position to be a potential replacement on three previous occasions, but he lost out to Claude Julien (2006), Brent Sutter (2007) and Jacques Lemaire (2009). When Lemaire was brought back to New Jersey last summer, MacLean was granted an opportunity to branch off on his own and prove his head coaching capabilities with the Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Lowell Devils. He guided the team to its first postseason berth in five years. That was all Lamoriello needed in order to give the keys to the car to MacLean.

“It has nothing to do with knowledge or confidence. It just has to do with being the one who had to make that final decision. Not the recommendation,” Lamoriello said. “Assistants in any organization don’t know what it’s like. John went to Lowell and found out what it’s all about. In my opinion, that’s all he needed. John knew what I was thinking all the time.”

The 20th Anniversary Of Martin Brodeur Legitimizing The New Jersey Devils Franchise

The face of the New Jersey Devils changed forever 20 years ago to the day. During the 1990 NHL Entry Draft on June 16 of that very year, the Devils completed a swap of draft picks with the Calgary Flames that included first rounders. The Devils sent their 11th overall selection over to the Flames, who used the pick to selected the top ranked goaltender in the draft, Trevor Kidd. The Devils, in turn, received the 22nd overall selection. And they grabbed the No. 2 ranked goaltender - Martin Brodeur.

"It was an interesting day because I was ranked a lot [lower] than the first round,” Brodeur recalled. “I was somewhere around the 30th pick and back then there was only 21 picks [in each round], so I didn’t really expect to get drafted until the second round. When I got the call of being drafted by the Devils, I was in shock more than anything. I didn’t have a clue where New Jersey was, but it was just nice to be taken in the first round and nice to know where my future would be, which organization I was going to be a part of.”

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary since the Devils solidified themselves as a legitimate franchise in the NHL with the selection of Brodeur, the team's official Web site has an interesting write-up looking back at this very special moment for the future Hall of Famer.

New Jersey had minimal success before Brodeur came along. They were re-located to East Rutherford back in 1982 from Colorado and only made the playoffs twice between then and 1990. A conference finals appearance in 1988 was the team's highest achievement.

Brodeur brought the team to much greater heights. He wasn't given the starting nod right away. He remained with his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team, St-Hyacinthe for the next two seasons and suited up for in the AHL for Utica during the 1992-93 campaign. He emerged on the scene for the Devils during the 1993-94 season, and would proceed to backstop them all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals where they were ousted in seven games by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers.

Failure turned to immediate success the next season for the Devils, however. And the success of making it all the way to the conference finals as a rookie was of benefit to Brodeur. New Jersey went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1995, defeating the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in the finals via a sweep. That championship transformed the Devils from a "Mickey Mouse" franchise to one of the most frustrating defensive squads in the league. They would go on to capture two more Stanley Cups in 2000 and 2003 with the same shutdown philosophy and Brodeur getting the job done in between the pipes.

As far as individual accomplishments are concerned, the 38-year old Brodeur has plenty. On top the three Cups he has won as a member of the Devils, he also possess two Olympic gold medals, the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year in 1993-94 and four Vezina Trophies. Brodeur's owns several NHL all-time records, as well, having recently taken ownership in wins (602) and shutouts (110).

Meanwhile, the top ranked goaltender in the 1990 Draft, Kidd would play from 1992 through 2006 for the Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He played 387 career NHL games (almost 700 fewer than Brodeur) and never topped more than 22 wins in any particular season (while Brodeur has a record nine campaigns with 40 or more wins.)

For as fond a moment as this is to look back on, though, it should also serve as a kick in the butt to the Devils and general manager Lou Lamoriello. Brodeur has just a few more seasons left on his career and there is nobody in the organization capable of carrying the load in net once he retires. Perhaps it would be a good move for the 20th anniversary of Brodeur's selection to also be the moment that the Devils look hard for his replacement.

News From Around The Crease

~ Cam Neely will be taking over a position vacant for almost four years with the Boston Bruins, Team President. One of the most popular and physical members of the Bruins organization, Neely will now lead aggressively in this executive role. According to TSN, his main focus is to "oversee business and hockey operations with [general manager Peter] Chiarelli continuing to make personnel decisions." Neely has served as team vice president since September 2007 and brings with him 13 years of playing experience in the NHL, all with the Bruins.

~ The Bruins have an idea of which player they wish to select with their No. 2 overall pick at NHL Draft on June 25. But Chiarelli doesn't believe the gap between Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin is big enough to make a deal swapping picks with the Edmonton Oilers.

"If I decide that the gap between who we have No. 1 and who we have No. 2 is large enough then, potentially, I would consider a move to bridge that gap," Chiarelli said. "Right now, that gap is very small and I can't see it changing."

~ Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini is getting calls for that No. 1 overall selection, according to Darren Dregor of TSN. He's listening to offers, but won't put an exact price on what it will cost teams to acquire it.

~ Both GM Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill were given five-year extensions by the Detroit Red Wings.

"Kenny and Jim have been the core of our front office for well over a decade and cornerstone to this franchises success," said team owner Mike Ilitch.

This is an asbolute no-brainer for the Red Wings, who have become perhaps the most successful franchise in the NHL under Holland's watch. The team has never missed with the playoffs with him as general manager and went on to win the Stanley Cup three times in 1998, 2000 and 2008. They also won in 1997 when he was an assistant. When Holland moved up to general manager, Nill took over as assistant GM and has remained in the position for the past 13 years.

~ Outside of inking his own extension on Wednesday, Holland took the time to get Todd Bertuzzi's name on the dotted line and re-signed him to a two-year, $3.875 million contract. At 35 years old, Bertuzzi still brings something to the table on the ice as a decent offensive producer, physical presence and veteran leader. Last year with the Red Wings, Bertuzzi netted 18 goals and 44 points during the regular season, adding 11 points in 12 postseason games. If he can continue the approximately 40-point a season pace he's posted over the last three years, this will go down as another terrific signing for Holland at about $1.937 million per season.

EA Sports Leaks Jonathan Toews As NHL 11 Cover Athlete

Whether EA Sports actually wants you to know about it or not, the cover boy for the next installment of the company's NHL series will be Chicago Blackhawks captain and 2010 Conn Smythe recipient, Jonathan Toews. They inadvertently leaked the news on a no-longer-accessible page on the EA Sports Web site with an image of Toews associated with the NHL 11 video game. The fine folks at OperationSports.com have maintained the image for all to see.

While Toews is a worthy candidate for the honor of being sported on the most celebrated hockey video game on the market, it's an interesting call for EA Sports to select two players from the same team in consecutive years. Patrick Kane was on the cover of NHL 10. Unlike the Madden curse, appearing on a cover in the NHL series worked out pretty well for Kane. Maybe Toews can bring that level of luck next season for a second straight Stanley Cup.

Yahoo! Sports Puck Daddy has enlightened us on some of the new features for NHL 11:

What EA did officially release Monday was the trailer for "NHL 11" that promises not only refined game physics, but also user-controlled goal celebrations, disallowed goals (interesting), and a new faceoff engine.

A few weeks ago, EA Sports also announced that NHL 11 will be the first game in the franchise to include teams in the Canadian Hockey League. The teams and legitimate rosters of those in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League will all be represented in the game. A full list of features as a result of this four-year agreement between EA and the CHL include:

• Ability to play with all 60 teams that make up the CHL
• Names and Likenesses of players that are on the rosters of a CHL team
• Mastercard Memorial Cup
• CHL new RBK Edge Jersey design in NHL 11
• WHL, OHL and QMJHL logos and league structures

The CHL teams and players will also have usability within several of the game's modes, including Season Mode, Be A Pro, Be A GM, Tournament Mode and Playoff Mode.

A release date for NHL 11 has not been officially announced. However, Amazon.com has the game up for pre-order with an expected release date of September 7.

As Promised, Canadiens Buy Out Georges Laraque

Just as they promised they would do back in January, the Montreal Canadiens have bought out the final year of Georges Laraques three-year, $4.5 million contract. This will cost the Habs a cap hit of $1 million (two-thirds of his remaining salary) divided evenly at $500,000 in each of the next two seasons.

On January 21, the Habs discontinued any association with the enforcer. He was cited as a distraction to the team and was absent from all activities with the Canadiens despite remaining on their 23-man roster. Laraque didn't produce much offensively, scoring just five points total in the two years he played for Montreal. His main purpose was to fight and he didn't even do that very often, accumulating just 89 penalty minutes with the Habs. In Laraques defense here, many players were smart enough to avoid fighting him - thus the decrease in fighting majors.

At 33 years old, Laraque is certainly on the tail end of his productivity. But he remains one of the most dangerous and effective enforcers in the NHL, and should provide any team in need of a physical boost plenty of it. And if he's willing to sign for $1 million or less, he's definitely worth it.

Impossible Contracts Lie Ahead For NHL GMs

Teams have already begun the process of evaluating their rosters to determine what changes need to be made by the time the puck drops on the 2010-11 season. The time for upgrading talent will come at the end of June via the draft and at the start of free agency on July 1. But the most immediate part of the process for NHL general managers is to determine what dead weight should be shed from their respective organizations. Who needs to be let go, and how should they be discarded?

The most difficult situations for general managers to deal with when it comes to needing roster and cap relief is when the particular player they are looking to unload comes along with an inconvenient contract. Players who haven’t performed up to expectations and have large contracts will likely go unclaimed through the waiver process and are going to be tough sells to other general managers through the trade route. Though the latter is not impossible – just as Glen Sather about Scott Gomez.

The buyout process is another option for general managers, and the two-week window where that is allowable began today. According to TSN, the Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens are each expected to explore that avenue with one or more of their players. But for players with a lot of money still owed, and several years accompanying it, buyouts can become a bigger burden to an organization. Teams will still owe a player two-thirds of the remaining money left on his contract (or one-third for those 26 years of age and younger) over double the amount of time left on the deal. And that’s not ideal for teams who want to spend as much as possible on players that will actually suit up for the team.

Then there’s this new revelation that hasn’t really been put into practice about simply demoting a player to the minors so that they don’t play for the NHL club and their salary doesn’t count against the cap. In theory, that sounds tremendous. But I don’t really think that method has been adopted by many teams thus far. And that’s probably out of respect for the player.

A few players around the league carry with them impossible contracts. They cannot be easily waived or traded, nor does it make financial sense overall or for the cap to pursue a buyout. Instead, teams seem stuck with these deals unless the general manager can get really creative or find a sucker somewhere amongst the other 29 squads.