Ryan Smyth Traded To The Kings
The Colorado Avalanche have traded Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings for defencemen Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing and a fifth-round pick.
The 33-year old posted 26 goals and 33 assists in 77 games last season.
Smyth spent most of the first 12 seasons of his career with the Oilers, but after failing to reach a contract agreement, was dealt to the New York Islanders at the trade deadline in 2007.
In that off-season he signed a five-year, $31.25 million deal with the Avalanche.
Full Story Here
NHL and NHLPA investigating Blackhawks over offers
Sources tell TSN the NHL and the NHLPA are investigating what might have been an enormous mistake by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago tendered qualifying offers to several key players this week, including Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Aaron Johnson and Troy Brouwer, however the investigation underway is to determiner whether the qualifying offers were filed correctly.
If not, there is the remote possibility the qualifying offers could be ruled invalid and the players listed above, conceivably, could be deemed unrestricted free agents because of the blunder.
Full Story Here
Oilers still want disgruntled Heatley
EDMONTON -– Despite a growing sentiment among Edmonton fans -— who are asking out loud, “Why do we even want this guy?” -— the Edmonton Oilers are still hot in the hunt for Ottawa Senators malcontent Dany Heatley.
“We’re trying to better our hockey club,” Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini said Friday afternoon outside the team’s Edmonton offices. “It’s obvious we have shown an interest … but this is up to (Senators GM) Bryan Murray and Dany Heatley.”
Tambellini was asked what so many Oilers fans are wondering: Why are the Oilers still in pursuit, after Heatley has declined to waive his no-trade clause, basically saying “no” to Edmonton all week long?
Full Story Here
Jackets, Nash agree on 8-year deal
Blue Jackets all-star winger Rick Nash has agreed in principle to a deal to stay in Columbus for an additional eight years, sources tell Sportsnet.
It’s believed to be worth up to $62 million.
The new deal would kick in the fall of 2010 and have a cap hit of $7.8 million annually.
Full Story Here
Fedotenko staying in Pittsburgh
Ruslan Fedotenko is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the chance to win another Stanley Cup.
He agreed to a US$1.8-million, one-year deal Friday to remain with the Penguins.
The 30-year-old joined the team as a free agent last summer and won his second NHL championship. He also won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004.
Full story here
Canucks sign Samuelsson
The Vancouver Canucks made their first move in the free agent market, adding winger Mikael Samuelsson with a three-year deal.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Samuelsson, 32, recorded 40 points in 81 games last season and 10 points in 23 playoff games with Detroit through to the 2009 Stanley Cup Final.
Full story here
This season will be Selanne’s last
Anaheim forward Teemu Selanne says next season will be his last in the NHL.
Selanne, a 10-time all-star from Finland, turned 39 Friday and told daily Helsingin Sanomat that a man that age does not belong in a league like the NHL.
“It is a forum for young boys”, Selanne said. “But the right diet, rest and muscle care help to prolong a career. Personally I am injury-free, I feel young at mind and pursue a lot of activities.”
Full story here
Madden likes his chances for the Cup in Chicago
Madden, who is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Selke Trophy winner (awarded to the league’s best defensive forward), turned down multiple offers for more money and more years from other teams to sign a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Hawks. He did it for one reason.
“For how good the hockey team is and I really believe it has a chance to win the Stanley Cup,” Madden, 36, said Thursday. “With the addition of Hossa and the experience last year, it’s a group with a lot of skill and talent and hungry kids who want the Cup. They have all the elements of making a run at it for this year and years to come. I had no problem giving up security for a chance to win.”
Full story here
Rangers still have needs
It’s far better for the Rangers to be patient while surveying an unimposing market that includes comparatively cheap, short-term alternatives such as Brendan Morrison, Robert Lang or Mike Comrie, should it come to that, than rush into a bad contract carrying a long-term commitment to, say, a Saku Koivu.
If Sather isn’t necessarily charged with obtaining a ready-made first-line center before camp commences please, no Mats (Inside Straight) Sundin — the general manager does have an obligation to address the situation at the power play point, also known as the black hole.
For if the Blueshirts are counting on either Michal Rozsival or Wade Redden to be dramatically better than they were last season (and, in Rozsival’s case, the year before last, as well), they are setting themselves up for disappointment and failure.
Full story here
