SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF
NHL 4/4/2013
Anaheim Ducks
667688
667689
667690
667691
667692
Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne lead Ducks to win over Stars
Ducks make moves as deals materialize close to the trading
deadline
Final: Ducks 5, Stars 2
Getzlaf makes the best moves in Ducks victory
DUCKS 5, DALLAS 2: Ducks make deal with Phoenix for
center Lombardi
Boston Bruins
667693
667694
667695
667696
667697
667698
667699
667700
667701
667702
Patrice Bergeron of Bruins diagnosed with moderate
concussion
Devils thumbnails
Wade Redden acquired by Bruins
Wade Redden to travel to Boston Thursday, doubtful for
game
Bruins acquire Wade Redden from St. Louis
Bruins trade Max Sauve to Chicago for Rob Flick
Patrice Bergeron has concussion
Bruins add D Wade Redden to the mix
Wade Redden adds to depth on ‘D’
NHL deadline nears to pick up play
Buffalo Sabres
667703
667704
667705
667706
667707
667708
667709
667710
667711
667712
667713
667714
Sabres continue to clean house
Regier cleaning up his own mess is messed up
Flurry of deals occur at deadline following relatively quiet day
Sabres' Regier reiterates need to focus past this season on
deadline day
Larsson's 'weird day' starts with leaving Wild's morning
skate, ends with Sabres and Amerks
With trade to Sens, Canisius' Conacher gains in standings,
gets earlier trip back to Buffalo
Regier puts focus on rebuilding Sabres' foundation with trade
of Pominville (with audio)
Sabres' Larsson, known as 'The Bull,' has shown
improvement as scorer
Sabres trade Jason Pominville to Minnesota for prospects
Johan Larsson, Matt Hackett, two picks
Tampa trades former Canisius star Conacher to Ottawa for
goaltender; Sens visit Buffalo on Friday
List of Sabres' deadline deals under Darcy Regier
Buffalo Sabres trade captain Jason Pominville to Wild for
prospects, picks
Calgary Flames
667715
667716
667717
667718
667719
667720
667721
667722
667723
667724
667725
667726
667727
667728
Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff to stay in Calgary: sources
Flames flattened by Oilers in embarrassing defensive display
Johnson: Flames won’t be content with a lengthy rebuild
Veteran not overly surprised by the deal, given that his
contract was expiring
Feaster rebuffs nearly every team on the Curtis Glencross
front
Kiprusoff nixed trade to Leafs after experiencing ‘doubts’ he
should leave Calgary
Flames deal Blake Comeau to Blue Jackets
Game Story: Edmonton Oilers 8, Calgary Flames 2
Calgary Flames trade Blake Comeau to the Columbus Blue
Jackets for a draft pick
Miikka Kiprusoff to stay with the Calgary Flames, but he
won't be starting for tonight's tilt against the Oile
Flames ship Comeau to Columbus
Flames playoff goal delusional
Flames aim for quick rebuild
Flames honour Kipper's wish to stay in Calgary
Flames Continued
667729
667730
667731
667732
Flames lose ugly one to young Oilers
Flames prospect up for Hobey Baker
Not everyone was available on trade-deadline day for
Flames
Flames must avoid past mistakes
Carolina Hurricanes
667733
667734
667735
667736
Canes' GM Rutherford insists season is not over
DeCock: Canes are stuck in NHL's neutral
Canes trade Jokinen to Penguins
Broken heel bone sidelines Pitkanen
Chicago Blackhawks
667737
667738
667739
667740
667741
667742
667743
667744
667745
667746
667747
667748
667749
Hawks stand pat
Thursday's matchup: Blues at Blackhawks
Hossa expected back vs. Blues, but Sharp still out
No. 2 center still the Hawks' No. 1 need
Blackhawks' Bowman: Any trade 'would have to make sense'
Corey is the story for Blackhawks from here on out in net
Marian Hossa will return against Blues: ‘No reason to wait
longer’
Handzus about to find out how much things have changed
No more deals for Hawks at deadline
Bowman: 'We believe in the group we have here'
Hossa in, Sharp out vs. Blues
Sauve joins Blackhawks, Flick sent to Boston
Hawks set to face revamped Blues on CSN
Colorado Avalanche
667750
667751
Ryan O'Byrne traded by Avalanche to Toronto for 4th-round
pick in 2014
Avalanche makes minor trade; others seem likely as NHL
deadline nears
Columbus Blue Jackets
667752
667753
667754
667755
667756
667757
Bold move brings ‘explosive player’ to Blue Jackets
Michael Arace commentary: Surprising deal gives Jackets
new look
Blue Jackets notebook: Familiar names depart
Blue Jackets, Predators at a glance
New digits
NHL: Big trading day for Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
667758
667759
667760
667761
667762
667765
Sherrington: One head coach from the Stars’ past that I
wouldn’t be averse to bringing back…
Stars send Jordie Benn, Colton Sceviour back to AHL
Heika: Stars' youngsters get chance, but youthful mistakes
hurt in loss to Ducks
Stephane Robidas having tough time finding 'good stuff' in
Stars' third straight loss
Stars' Eric Nystrom still hoping to come to terms on a
contract extension
Ducks fear Stars’ unknown quality, but still roll 5-2
Detroit Red Wings
667766
667767
667768
667769
667770
667771
667772
667773
667774
667775
667776
667777
667778
667779
667780
667781
Red Wings' Todd Bertuzzi getting closer to return, will go on
trip
Red Wings stand pat at trade deadline: 'Didn't get it done'
Red Wings' Darren Helm cleared to push harder in rehab
Star defenseman Jacob Trouba leaves Michigan for Jets
Helene St. James: With no big-money deal, Red Wings GM
Ken Holland banks on future
It's a quiet deadline day for Wings, but they're happy with
their team
Red Wings talk, but don't pull trigger on trade deadline day
Red Wings coach Mike Babcock comfortable with roster as
team continues playoff push
Red Wings GM Ken Holland made offers for couple of
players but couldn't get deal done at deadline
Red Wings stand pat at trade deadline, as cost for top-six
forward and top-four defenseman too high
Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg expects to play Thursday;
Damien Brunner sits out practice, is day-to-day
Did Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk reveal future plans in
Tweet to Tigers' ace Justin Verlander?
Red Wings’ defenseman ready to shoulder the load
No trades for Red Wings
GOPHER HEADS SOUTH: Nick Bjugstad to Join Florida
Panthers, Make NHL Debut on Saturday
BIG ADDITION ON TRADE DAY: Panthers Ink Nick
Bjugstad; Former Gopher to Make NHL Debut Saturday ...
Smithson D
Minnesota Wild
667806
667807
667808
667809
667810
667811
667812
667813
667814
667815
667816
Montreal Canadiens
667817
667818
667819
667820
667821
667822
667823
667824
667783
667784
667785
667786
667787
667789
667790
667791
667792
667793
667794
667795
667796
Edmonton Oilers score eight unanswered goals to smother
flickering Flames
Edmonton Oilers Game Day — No time to inhale as intact
line-up kicks off key road trip in Calgary
Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini tweaks roster on NHL
trade deadline day, nothing more
UPDATE: Edmonton Oilers acquire centre Jerred Smithson
from Florida Panthers
Trade Deadline Day — Who among the Edmonton Oilers
might be on the block?
Edmonton Oilers’ D-man Ryan Whitney gets Gordie Howe
hat-trick
Edmonton Oilers make one trade deadline deal, acquiring
Jerred Smithson from Florida Panthers for a fourth rou
Edmonton Oilers battle back from two-goal deficit to down
Calgary Flames 8-2
Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini ‘happy’ that he
decided not to trade defenceman Ryan Whitney
Edmonton Oilers avoid moving any bodies out at NHL trade
deadline
Edmonton Oilers moves to fill in periphery roles long
overdue
Centre Jerred Smithson ‘excited’ to join Edmonton Oilers
667825
667826
667827
667828
667829
667830
667831
Florida Panthers
667841
667842
Florida Panthers bring Nick Bjugstad onboard
Panthers sign C Nick Bjugstad; trade C Jerred Smithson
667832
667833
667834
667835
Kings consider Robyn Regehr more than a rental
Dean Lombardi interview transcript, video
Lombardi addresses Mitchell injury
April 3 practice quotes: Robyn Regehr
April 3 practice quotes: Darryl Sutter
Quiet deadline day for Kings
Matt Greene practices
LAKings.com feature: Up, Up and Away
Waking up with the Kings: April 3
Nashville Predators trade Martin Erat to Washington Capitals
Nashville Predators trade Scott Hannan to San Jose Sharks
Nashville Predators trade Martin Erat for top prospect
Nick Spaling diary: Every game, every point is huge now
Western Conference update
Preview: Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Nashville Predators taking more shots, but not always
winning
Josh Cooper's hat trick
Predators unload a veteran in advance of NHL trade
deadline
In search of more offense, Predators trade away one of their
all-time leading scorers
Erat eager for his opportunity with a new team, says 'I just
want to win'
New Jersey Devils
667836
667837
667838
667839
Devils bring back Steve Sullivan 16 years after Doug
Gilmour trade
Devils acquire Steve Sullivan from Phoenix Coyotes
Devils: Marek Zidlicky missed practice for family issue, will
play in Boston
Devils, with trade deadline looming, prepare to face Boston
Bruins
Devils bring back Steve Sullivan in only deadline-day trade
NHL Power Rankings: Penguins, Ducks and Blackhawks
get better at trade deadline, which is bad news for the re
New York Islanders
Los Angeles Kings
667797
667798
667799
667800
667801
667802
667803
667804
667805
In the Habs' Room: 'Flyers played hard'
Flyers post comeback win over Habs
Bergevin talked trade, for naught
‘I like the chemistry on this team’: Therrien
Current and former stars will shine at first Habathon
About last night …
No trades for Habs, but team signs prospect Danny Kristo
Price burns 2,336 calories in a game; Drewiske will face
Flyers
Nashville Predators
Edmonton Oilers
667782
Wild GM Chuck Fletcher: "We’re no longer a seller"
Wild making calls, has shown interest in Buffalo's Jason
Pominville
Wild has acquired Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville
Heatley injured as Wild loses sloppily for third time in four
games
Sloppy Wild loses 4-2 to Sharks; Heatley injured
Gameday preview: Wild-Los Angeles
Wild deals prospects, draft picks for Sabres captain
Pominville
Trade sends vote of confidence to Wild players
Former Minnesota Wild star Marian Gaborik traded to
Columbus
Minnesota Wild pick up Jason Pominville in trade with
Buffalo
Minnesota Wild's rally goes for naught in loss to Sharks
667843
667844
Islanders don't want to disturb chemistry, stand pat
Rookie Anders Lee makes good first impression on Islanders
New York Rangers
667845
667846
667847
667848
667849
667850
667851
667852
667853
667854
667855
667856
667857
667858
667859
667861
667862
667863
667864
667865
667866
667867
Trade Deadline Day: Rangers Send Gaborik to Columbus
Rangers Deal Gaborik to Columbus
After Hasty Hellos, New Rangers Make Quick Work of
Penguins
NY Rangers send Marian Gaborik to Columbus Blue Jackets
as NHL trade deadline expires
Full NHL trade deadline transactions list, led by NY Rangers
sending Marian Gaborik to Columbus Blue Jackets
NY Rangers trade Marian Gaborik to Columbus Blue Jackets
in exchange for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John
Marc Staal has been working out at MSG Training Center;
NY Rangers assign Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, Jesper F
After trade of Marian Gaborik, Rangers' newcomers step up
in rout of Penguins
Rangers’ Gaborik shipped to Blue Jackets
Hurt wrist sidelines Rangers’ Miller
It’s on Tortorella to make revamped Blueshirts work
Newest Rangers key lopsided win
Rangers notes: Ryane Clowe makes Blueshirts debut
Rangers rout Penguins, 6-1, as newcomers lead the way
Rangers trade Marian Gaborik to Columbus
Trade deadline additions Clowe, Brassard and Moore stand
out in Rangers' 6-1 win
Penguins at Rangers.
RANGERS ACQUIRE DERICK BRASSARD, DEREK
DORSETT, JOHN MOORE, AND A SIXTH ROUND DRAFT
PICK IN 2014
Rangers deal Marian Gaborik to the Blue Jackets (updated)
Trade deadline today; Penguins at Rangers tonight (7:30
NBC start)
Rangers-Penguins & trade deadline in review
Rangers 6, Penguins 1: Post-game notes, quotes
NHL
667868
667869
667870
Ben Bishop traded for Cory Conacher: Senators goaltender
‘sad’ to leave playoff team
Five reasons the NHL trade deadline could be a dud
The Ones Not Traded: Goalies Luongo and Kiprusoff
Ottawa Senators
667871
667872
667873
667874
667875
667876
667877
Senators take a skate break on deadline day
Senators trade Ben Bishop to Lightning
Senators fielding offers for Bishop on deadline day
Scanlan: Bishop deal should help both clubs
Compelling Conacher brings grit, skill
Senators goaltender Craig Anderson ready to return to
action
Senators send Bishop to Tampa for Conacher, draft pick
Philadelphia Flyers
667878
667879
667880
667881
667882
667883
667884
667885
667886
667887
667888
667889
667890
667891
667892
667893
667894
667895
667896
Philadelphia Flyers' Zac Rinaldo leaves game with
lower-body injury
Flyers trade for goalie Steve Mason
Mason happy to be joining Flyers
Flyers defenseman Nick Grossmann gets work in
Flyers claim Hall
Is Keith Yandle a Flyers possibility?
Mild surprise as Flyers acquire goaltender Steve Mason
A game of firsts as Flyers rally to beat Canadiens
Flyers hould resist urge to amnesty Ilya Bryzgalov
Flyers storm back late and beat Canadiens
Flyers rally for third straight win
PARENT: Trades show Flyers are looking for cap space
Flyers swap Michael Leighton for Blue Jackets’ Steve Mason
Win, new goalie have Flyers looking toward the future
Flyers claim Hall off waivers
Instant Replay: Flyers 5, Canadiens 3
Flyers keep core of young players intact as deadline passes
Flyers acquire goalie Steve Mason from Columbus
Flyers claim forward Adam Hall off waivers
Flyers Continued
667897
667898
667899
667900
667901
Flyers staying alive, vying for season-best streak
Flyers-Canadiens: What you need to know
Couturier scores first in Flyers win
Notes: Flyers' Plan B is a goaltender
Flyers: 'Comeback kids' grab another late victory
Phoenix Coyotes
667902
667903
667904
667905
667906
Phoenix Coyotes decide time to sell is now, even with playoff
hopes still flickering
Phoenix Coyotes trade away Raffi Torres, Matthew
Lombardi and Steve Sullivan
Slow start builds to a fast finish at the trade deadline for
Coyotes
Uncertainty looms for Coyotes on trade deadline day
LaBarbera finds comfort zone for Coyotes
Pittsburgh Penguins
667907
667908
667909
667910
667911
667912
667913
667914
Listless Penguins drop 2nd consecutive game
Penguins notebook: Crosby endures another dental
procedure
Behind the scenes: Following the big Penguins trade
Penguins add Carolina forward Jokinen
Second loss in a row as Rangers defeat Penguins, 6-1
Penguins continue to deal, add forward Jokinen from
Carolina
Penguins Notebook: Jokinen deal adds depth at forward
Hungry newcomers lead desperate Rangers past Penguins,
6-1
San Jose Sharks
667915
667916
667917
667918
667919
667920
667921
667922
667923
667924
667925
667926
667927
667928
Hockeytown 2.0: San Jose a top spot for the icy winter sport
New Shark Raffi Torres hopes to make amends with San
Jose fans
Busy San Jose Sharks get Raffi Torres from Phoenix
Sharks re-acquire Scott Hannan for a draft pick
San Jose Sharks win sixth in a row, 4-2 over Minnesota Wild
Sharks make trades, beat Wild 4-2
Exclusive: Sharks sign Matt Irwin to extension
Wilson adds depth on deadline day
Wilson 'refreshes' roster, keeps core together
Sharks acquire LW Torres from Coyotes
Former Sharks D Hannan returning to San Jose
Boyle authors Goal of the Year nominee for Sharks
Kurz's Instant Replay: Sharks 4, Wild 2
Vlasic, Heatley get nasty after final horn
St Louis Blues
667929
667930
667931
667932
667933
667934
667935
Hockey Guy: West gets wilder at trade deadline
Blues move Redden at trade deadline
Blues updates: Trade deadline, Bouwmeester's status, Halak
injury
Blues-Blackhawks matchup box
Hitchcock: Blues feel sense of obligation to management
Blues perform defensive makeover; now it's up to players
Blues trade Redden, sign rookie forward prospect
Tampa Bay Lightning
667936
667937
667938
667939
667940
667941
Former Bolts coach Boucher speaks out about firing
Tampa Bay Lightning trade F Conacher, pick for G Bishop
Fennelly: Bolts trade an admission from GM
Ex-Lightning Boucher takes high road
Lightning acquires goalie Ben Bishop for Cory Conacher,
pick
Lightning G prospect Jarolsav Janus says he wants to play
in North America
Toronto Maple Leafs
667942
667943
667944
667945
667946
667947
667948
667949
667950
667951
667952
667953
667954
667955
667956
667957
667958
667959
667960
667961
667962
667963
667964
667965
667966
667967
667968
Leafs stay mostly quiet after chasing Kiprusoff and Luongo
Leafs acquire O’Byrne from Avs
Leafs’ cap situation key reason to avoid pricey goalie
Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo admits huge
contract prevented him being traded
NHL trade deadline: Toronto Maple Leafs trade for Ryan
O’Byrne
Kiprusoff staying put in Calgary: report
NHL trade deadline: Columbus acquires Gaborik
NHL trade deadline: Look at the last five seasons
Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs: Thursday NHL
game preview
NHL trade deadline: Connolly a healthy scratch with Marlies
Maple Leafs Clarke MacArthur remains anxious as trade
deadline nears
Maple Leafs should go with status quo in net: Feschuk
Leafs wise to stand pat in goal
Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo deserved better than this
Nonis lays off playoff experience
It's up to new Maple Leaf Ryan O’Byrne to make impression
With trade deadline past, Leafs can move forward now
Maple Leafs' James Reimer must feel like chopped liver
Maple Leafs land Ryan O'Byrne from Avalanche
Roberto Luongo’s contract hurts both him and Canucks
Leafs pin hopes on young goalies after relatively quiet trade
deadline
The best of the NHL trade deadline
Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo blames contract for
slow trade talks
Leafs make a last-minute move at the deadline with Ryan
O’Byrne
Leafs are ‘not close to anything’ before NHL trade deadline
NHL trade deadline brings different mood for Leafs
NHL trade deadline: Miikka Kiprusoff will reportedly stay with
Flames
Vancouver Canucks
667973
667974
667975
667976
667977
667978
667979
667980
667981
667982
667983
667984
667985
667986
667987
667988
Canucks’ Jannik Hansen says trade deadline moves will
take time to digest
Luongo, Canucks mired in lose-lose situation
Canucks GM Mike Gillis gets no deals done, but touts 'pretty
strong lineup,' on NHL trade deadline day
Chat it to Bulis: The 2013 PITB NHL trade deadline day
livechat extravaganza
More wackiness for WHL Giants and grads; Connauton
traded and then has place to stay dealt away, too
With Roy and Kesler in the middle, maybe Canucks can flip
that playoff switch
A dash of salt, pepper and reality as Kassian recalled after
“seasoning” stint
Roberto Luongo would scrap his contract if he could
Gallagher: On dull NHL trade deadline day, fisticuffs tales
from McSorley, May brighten things up
Toilet Flushing: Luongo on the ice, and Nonis says nothing
happening.
Cross Jokinen off Canucks list
Canucks Hat Trick: Raymond rumours, adios Kipper, get
Zack back
Willes: Gillis’ price too high; will the Canucks end up paying
for it?
Money can't buy Luongo's happiness
Kuzma: Canucks make switch from mundane to high octane
Gallagher: Scrap that sucky contract? Not likely for Luongo
Washington Capitals
667989
667990
667991
667992
667993
667994
667995
667996
667997
Washington Capitals trade for Martin Erat, part with prospect
Filip Forsberg
Capitals trade top prospect Filip Forsberg to Nashville for
Martin Erat (Updated)
Martin Erat on trade to Capitals: ‘I just want to win’
Mike Ribeiro: ‘I don’t really see myself move or sign today’
NHL trade deadline: Blue Jackets acquire Marian Gaborik;
Jason Pominville to Minnesota
Capitals’ deadline decisions make goal clear: Win now
Capitals notes: Matt Hendricks played through scratched
cornea
Martin Erat traded to Capitals for prospect Filip Forsberg
Capitals get winger Martin Erat in deadline deal
Websites
668011
668012
668013
668014
668015
668016
668017
ESPN / GM McPhee: We weren't going to be sellers
ESPN / The deadline: Who got better, who got worse?
USA TODAY / And the trade deadline season winner is ...
USA TODAY / Rangers deal slumping star Marian Gaborik
to Blue Jackets
USA TODAY / Things to know about Wednesday's NHL
games
USA TODAY / Trade deadline: Pominville, Gaborik
move
YAHOO SPORTS / 2013 NHL Trade Deadline: Winners &
Losers
Winnipeg Jets
667998
667999
668000
668001
668002
668003
668004
668005
668006
668007
668008
668009
668010
Cheveldayoff focuses on long-term assets for Jets
Santorelli 'super-excited' to join Jets
Trouba arriving Thursday
Sticking to his BLUE
Jets talk but make no deals at deadline
TaitJetsHabsGD
WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS
Trouba takes big leap from college to NHL
Winnipeg Jets open Jacob Trouba door just a crack
Cheveldayoff stands pat, gives Winnipeg Jets vote of
confidence
Newest Jet Trouba here to learn
Jets claim centre Santorelli off waivers, Antropov on shelf
Dustin Byfuglien is the answer on right wing for Winnipeg
Jets
SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129
667688
Anaheim Ducks
Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne lead Ducks to win over Stars
Getzlaf has a goal and two assists, Selanne also scores a goal in 5-2
victory as Viktor Fasth stops 23 shots. The team acquires center Matthew
Lombardi.
By Lance Pugmire
April 3, 2013, 11:36 p.m.
The Ducks on Wednesday added a player who could be the final piece in
their bid to win the Stanley Cup this season. They then moved within two
points of catching Western Conference leader Chicago.
"We're plugging along," Ducks defenseman Sheldon Souray said after the
Ducks beat the Dallas Stars for the second time in three days, 5-2, at
Honda Center.
"We'd like to be the best. We'll keep working until we get there."
The Ducks acquired center Matthew Lombardi from the Phoenix Coyotes
for left wing Brandon McMillan, a move intended to boost depth at a
position of need.
But adding depth appeared to be an act of greed on a night when 13 Ducks
scored points — including captain Ryan Getzlaf's fourth three-point game of
the season on a goal and two assists — and goaltender Viktor Fasth
stopped 23 shots and kept Dallas scoreless until the third period.
The Ducks are now 25-7-5.
"The guys do have a great team," Lombardi (eight points this season) said
in a telephone interview from Phoenix on Wednesday. "I want to help any
way I can."
He might be needed to spell Getzlaf some extra minutes.
The captain left the ice after his goal with 9 minutes 30 seconds remaining
in the game with what appeared to be right leg or knee pain.
Getzlaf was iced down afterward and unavailable for comment, but Ducks
Coach Bruce Boudreau said he didn't expect the injury
to produce an absence Friday when the Ducks and Stars (16-17-3) play
again.
"He scored the goal, and I said, 'That's enough,'" Boudreau said.
In his third game as a Duck, veteran right wing Radek Dvorak scored his
first goal with Anaheim 11:44 into the game for a 1-0 lead.
After Dallas failed even to get a shot off in the game's first six minutes,
Getzlaf launched a hard pass 12
feet in front of the goal to Dvorak, who swatted it past Stars goaltender Kari
Lehtonen.
"Beautiful," Dvorak said of Getzlaf's assist. "One of the best passers in the
league."
Getzlaf again assisted when Teemu Selanne gave the Ducks a 2-0 lead on
a power-play goal after a tripping call against Dallas defenseman Alex
Goligoski.
Five minutes later, with 3:22 remaining in the second period, 22-year-old
wing Kyle Palmieri rushed the Dallas goal and slid the puck past Lehtonen
in the crease.
Fasth was beaten twice in the third period.
First, Erik Cole took a pass behind the net and Fasth's left shoulder from
Vernon Fiddler and scored less than three minutes into the third.
Then, after Getzlaf made it 4-1 with a backhanded shot for his 13th goal of
the season, Dallas' Lane MacDermid fired a shot to Fasth's right with 1:24
left in the game.
An empty-net goal by the Ducks Andrew Cogliano, his 11th, followed in the
final seconds.
The Ducks also traded minor league goaltender Jeff Deslauriers to the
Minnesota Wild for future considerations.
Deslauriers was dealt from a position of strength, since the Ducks possess
Jonas Hiller and Fasth.
Lombardi, 31, has previously played with Ducks Daniel Winnik in Phoenix,
David Steckel in Toronto and Toni Lydman in Calgary.
His contract expires at season's end.
"My speed is my game, getting to both ends of the rink quickly and creating
opportunities offensively with it," Lombardi said.
LA Times: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667689
Anaheim Ducks
Ducks make moves as deals materialize close to the trading deadline
Ducks get center Matthew Lombardi from Phoenix for wing Brandon
McMillan and send goalie Jeff Deslauriers to Minnesota for future
considerations. Most of the league-wide deals come in the hour before the
cutoff time.
By Helene Elliott
April 4, 2013
Like the NHL season, the annual deadline-day trading frenzy was late in
starting. But a flurry of deals in the hour before Wednesday's noon Pacific
time cutoff changed the complexion of several teams and added depth to
others hoping for long playoff runs.
The Ducks, seeking strength up the middle, acquired veteran center
Matthew Lombardi from the Phoenix Coyotes for left wing Brandon
McMillan. They also traded goalie Jeff Deslauriers to the Minnesota Wild for
future considerations.
"The guys have a great team with depth," said Lombardi, who can become
an unrestricted free agent after the season. "It's nice to go where they want
you and I want to help any way I can."
The Kings didn't make any trades Wednesday. They made their big move
Monday by acquiring rugged defenseman Robyn Regehr from the Buffalo
Sabres for second-round draft picks in 2014 and 2015.
Deadline day had lost some of its impact because many prominent players
were traded in the last few weeks. But the ambitious Columbus Blue
Jackets spiced things up by acquiring three-time 40-goal scorer Marian
Gaborik from the New York Rangers, with defensemen Steven Delisle and
Blake Partlett, for center Derick Brassard, injured right wing Derek Dorsett,
defenseman John Moore and a sixth-round pick in the 2014 draft.
Gaborik, who had been in Coach John Tortorella's doghouse, waived his
no-trade clause to join a team that's on an upswing under General Manager
Jarmo Kekalainen and hockey operations President John Davidson. The
Rangers removed his $7.5-million salary-cap hit from their books, freeing
them to re-sign core young players this summer.
"He's a good man and I'll miss him," Tortorella told reporters in New York.
The retooling Sabres traded team captain Jason Pominville to the surging
Wild for two prospects and first- and second-round draft picks. Pominville, a
six-time 20-goal scorer, should bring some punch to Minnesota's right side.
Also of note, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Jussi Jokinen from Carolina
for a conditional draft pick and planned to slot him into Sidney Crosby's
spot. Crosby has a broken jaw and is out indefinitely.
The Philadelphia Flyers, eternally vexed by their goaltending, acquired
Steve Mason from Columbus for Michael Leighton to be the backup for Ilya
Bryzgalov, and the San Jose Sharks acquired abrasive forward Raffi Torres
from Phoenix for a draft pick. Torres has twice knocked Sharks players out
of the playoffs, with a blindside hit on Milan Michalek in 2006 and a hit that
separated Joe Thornton's shoulder in 2011 when Torres was with
Vancouver.
Two goalies reported to be on the move instead stayed put. Calgary's
Miikka Kiprusoff refused to waive his no-trade clause and will retire after
this season, and Vancouver kept Roberto Luongo, who has nine years left
on his contract at an annual cap hit of $5.333 million.
"I'd scrap it if I could right now," Luongo said of his contract during a news
conference in Vancouver.
helene.elliott at latimes.com
LA Times: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667690
Anaheim Ducks
Final: Ducks 5, Stars 2
April 3rd, 2013, 9:35 pm by ERIC STEPHENS
ANAHEIM -- Ryan Getzlaf scored his 150th career goal and assisted on two
others Wednesday night to lead the Ducks to a 5-2 victory over the Dallas
Stars at Honda Center.
Radek Dvorak got his first goal as a Duck to start the scoring in the first
period while Teemu Selanne and Kyle Palmieri broke the game open with
tallies in the second.
The Ducks (25-7-5) won their second in a row over Dallas in the span of
three nights and now have points in their last four games after losing four in
a row. They'll take on the Stars again Friday night.
Dallas appeared to wave the white flag when it dealt away forwards Jaromir
Jagr, Derek Roy and Tomas Vincour after a 4-0 home loss to the Ducks on
Monday night. The Ducks rolled again, facing a team with Jamie Benn, Loui
Eriksson, Kari Lehtonen and a cadre of prospects.
Selanne made it 2-0 with a power-play score for the 673rd of his career
while Palmieri got his first goal in his last 14 games when he jammed the
puck past Lehtonen after getting a free pass to the net.
Orange County Register: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667691
Anaheim Ducks
Getzlaf makes the best moves in Ducks victory
By ERIC STEPHENS / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
ANAHEIM – A quiet trade deadline day perked up near the final buzzer with
notable moves made by contending teams around the league. The Ducks
jumped in by picking up speedy center Matthew Lombardi.
But the Ducks' biggest move to address the middle came weeks earlier and
again paid a big dividend Wednesday night.
Ryan Getzlaf continued to earn that eight-year, $66-million contract
extension with another dominating night in powering his team to a 5-2
victory over the Dallas Stars at Honda ...
667692
Anaheim Ducks
DUCKS 5, DALLAS 2: Ducks make deal with Phoenix for center Lombardi
By Elliott Teaford, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/03/2013 10:27:45 PM PDT
Updated: 04/04/2013 12:01:53 AM PDT
The NHL's trade deadline came and went Wednesday and the Ducks made
only a minor tweak to their roster, keeping their talented core group
together for a stretch run that looked all the more promising after a 5-2
victory over the Dallas Stars at Honda Center.
Ducks general manager Bob Murray wanted to acquire a speedy center to
add depth to a lineup with plenty of speed and depth. Murray also hoped to
do it without having to part with anyone from a team that's all but sealed the
franchise's second Pacific Division title.
So, he dealt left wing Brandon McMillan to the Phoenix Coyotes for center
Matthew Lombardi, swapping a minor-league player who appeared in only
six games this season for the Ducks for a 31-year-old who has 262 points
(101 goals, 161 assists) in 529 games in the NHL.
Lombardi didn't make it to the Honda Center in time to join his new
teammates for their game against the trade-depleted Stars. He is expected
to participate in today's practice and to play in Friday's rematch against
Dallas at Honda Center, however.
"First and foremost, I'm going to a great team and Stanley Cup contender,"
Lombardi said. "That's super exciting. It's a great team. To be able to be a
part of that is pretty cool. I'm looking forward to it. That's all you can ask for,
to be honest with you, to play and go for a Stanley Cup."
The Ducks hardly needed Lombardi's speed or experience against a team
that hardly resembled the one they blanked
ads not by this site
4-0 on Monday in Dallas. The Stars on Tuesday traded Jaromir Jagr to the
Boston Bruins, Derek Roy to the Vancouver Canucks and Tomas Vincour to
the Colorado Avalanche.
Radek Dvorak scored his first goal with the Ducks in his third game after he
signed as a free agent March 26, a one-timer off a flawless cross-ice pass
from Ryan Getzlaf at 11:44 of the first period. Teemu Selanne (power play)
and Kyle Palmieri scored in the second for the Ducks.
Getzlaf also assisted on Selanne's 673rd career goal. The Ducks team
captain then gave their fans a scare when he went to the dressing room
after taking a tumble after a collision with the Stars' Jamie Benn in the
opening minutes of the third period.
Getzlaf, the Ducks' leading scorer with 43 points, returned to the ice soon
enough and scored their fourth goal off a backhander after a pretty pass
from Corey Perry. Getzlaf nearly scored on a partial breakaway moments
earlier, but Dallas' Kari Lehtonen made a sprawling stop.
Ducks goaltender Viktor Fast tried to secure his second consecutive
shutout of the Stars. He blanked them on 26 shots Monday in the final
game of a four-game trip that features a third straight win over the NHLleading Chicago Blackhawks.
The Stars finally got one past Fasth when Erik Cole scored to trim the
Ducks' lead to 3-1 only 2:48 into the third period. Despite their patchwork
lineup, the Stars had their moments against the Ducks, who weren't as
overpowering as they might have been.
Also
The Ducks traded goalie Jeff Deslauriers to the Minnesota Wild for future
considerations. Deslauriers played with the Fort Wayne Komets of the
ECHL.
LA Daily News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667693
Boston Bruins
Patrice Bergeron of Bruins diagnosed with moderate concussion
By Fluto Shinzawa
On Tuesday night, Patrice Bergeron was emotional, according to Bruins
general manager Peter Chiarelli. Rightfully so.
Chiarelli confirmed during a Wednesday news conference that Bergeron
had suffered a moderate concussion in the 3-2 win over Ottawa. It is the
fourth concussion of Bergeron’s NHL career. Bergeron’s neck is also sore.
Bergeron will not play on Thursday night at TD Garden against New Jersey.
It is unknown when he will be cleared for game action.
Following Bergeron’s departure on Tuesday, Rich Peverley assumed his
shifts between Marchand and Seguin. Peverley had been centering Jay
Pandolfo and Jordan Caron. Peverley will most likely stay with Marchand
and Seguin on Thursday against the Devils.
Kaspars Daugavins, acquired on waivers from Ottawa on March 27, will
make his Bruins debut on Thursday. Daugavins was on the left side for
Ottawa, but Chiarelli said he can play center. Daugavins was also a regular
penalty killer for the Senators before becoming a healthy scratch.
Daugavins could center Pandolfo and Jaromir Jagr. Jagr, a future Hall of
Famer acquired from Dallas on Tuesday, will also make his Black-and-Gold
debut on Thursday. Chiarelli said he will not promote a center from
Providence.
Other reinforcements could also be arriving shortly. Chris Kelly skated for
the third straight day on Wednesday. Chiarelli said he expects Kelly to be in
uniform soon. Kelly hasn’t played since March 11, when he suffered a
broken left tibia during a collision with former Ottawa teammate Chris Neil.
“He was in very good spirits,” said Chiarelli, who spoke with Bergeron on
Wednesday afternoon. “He was out walking today. He was annoyed at it.
He was emotional [Tuesday] night.”
“That actually had some bearing to it today,” Chiarelli said of Kelly’s
pending return on trade talks. “He’ll be back soon. I know you’d like more
detail, but I’m satisfied with his prospective return date. He’ll be playing for
us soon.”
Bergeron suffered the injury in the second period. He and Colin Greening
were racing for the puck near the Boston net. When Greening reached for
the puck, the Ottawa forward’s right elbow thudded off the left side of
Bergeron’s head, behind his ear.
The Bruins could also add Carl Soderberg. The Swedish forward has
expressed interest in playing for the Bruins once his playoff run with
Linkoping in the Swedish Elite League is over. Linkoping trails Skelleftea, 31, so Soderberg’s season could end on Friday.
Bergeron slid to the ice, dropped his stick, wavered slightly, then skated
slowly toward the bench. He briefly touched his helmet with his right hand.
Bergeron played only 9:06 on Tuesday.
“I’m not hanging my hat on this,” Chiarelli said. “I hope to get him, and if we
get him, he will help us.”
“He sounded really good,” Chiarelli said. “I told him we’ll work together to
get him back.”
Bergeron suffered a career-threatening concussion on Oct. 27, 2007. Flyers
defenseman Randy Jones checked Bergeron facefirst into the Garden end
boards. Bergeron hoped to return for the playoffs, but didn’t play again that
season.
Bergeron suffered his second concussion on Dec. 20, 2008. Bergeron
collided with Dennis Seidenberg when the defenseman was with Carolina.
Bergeron was sidelined for 15 games.
Bergeron’s third concussion took place on May 6, 2011. In Game 4 of the
Eastern Conference semifinals, Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux thumped
Bergeron with an open-ice hit. Bergeron missed the first two games of the
Eastern Conference finals against Tampa Bay.
Bergeron was wheeled off the ice after his first concussion. He needed help
from his teammates to skate off the ice following his collision with
Seidenberg. Bergeron left the ice on his own after the last two concussions.
Bergeron is the Bruins’ top all-around forward. He impacts the game in
every area.
Bergeron centers Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin on the team’s most
consistent line. Bergeron is the club’s leading scorer (10 goals, 21 assists)
and ice-time leader among forwards (19:14 per game).
Bergeron is the NHL’s best faceoff man, having won 61.5 percent of his
draws. Coach Claude Julien often tabs Bergeron for critical defensive-zone
faceoffs late in games. Bergeron logs regular even-strength shifts against
top opposing forwards.
On the power play, Bergeron has served as the net-front presence on the
No. 2 unit. He has two goals and two assists on the power play this season.
Bergeron is one of six regular penalty-killing forwards, usually skating
alongside Marchand. Bergeron is averaging 2:12 of shorthanded ice time
per game.
The magnitude of Bergeron’s injury prompted Chiarelli and the hockey
operations staff to consider upgrades at center prior to Wednesday’s 3 p.m.
trade deadline. But it would have been impossible for the Bruins to acquire
a center who could replicate Bergeron’s assets.
“You think about it,” Chiarelli said. “You see a player like Patrice go down,
and you’re like, ‘There’s no way I’m going to replace him.’ There wasn’t that
caliber of player. So, I’m not going to go around chasing it all day. I know
our guys. You’ve seen across the league, [players] have picked up the rest
of the teams when they’ve had injuries. I expect us to do the same.”
Boston Globe LOADED: 04.04.2013
667694
Boston Bruins
Devils thumbnails
■ When, where: Thursday, 7 p.m., at TD Garden.
■ TV, radio: NESN Plus, NHL, WBZ-FM (98.5).
■ Goals: David Clarkson 12, Patrik Elias 10, Ilya Kovalchuk 10, Adam
Henrique 10.
■ Assists: Elias 20, Kovalchuk 17, Marek Zidlicky 11.
■ Goaltending: Martin Brodeur (10-3-6, 2.27 GAA), Johan Hedberg (5-9-3,
2.73).
■ Head to head: This is the second of three meetings. The Bruins won, 2-1,
in a shootout Jan. 29 in Boston.
■ Miscellany: The Devils are on a four-game losing streak . . . Kovalchuk
will not play after suffering a shoulder injury March 23, but is expected back
before the end of the regular season . . . The Devils acquired veteran
forward Steve Sullivan from the Coyotes Wednesday for a seventh-round
pick.
Boston Globe LOADED: 04.04.2013
667695
Boston Bruins
Wade Redden acquired by Bruins
By Kevin Paul Dupont
Globe Staff / April 3, 2013
One day after adding the legendary Jaromir Jagr and his 1,679 career
points to their front line, the Bruins returned with another “let’s go retro’’
move on Wednesday, adding former premier defenseman Wade Redden to
their back line.
Jagr, 41, has plenty of game left, while Redden’s game faltered before it
was placed in mothballs a few years ago. The former No. 2 overall draft
pick, age 35, will join the Bruins after recently finishing a two-year hitch in
Hartford of the American Hockey League, the Rangers convinced his
assets were too spent and his paycheck too high to justify keeping him with
the Broadway varsity.
But now Redden, who joined the St. Louis Blues this season after being
bought out in New York, has an opportunity to aid a spotty Boston back line
that could use a healthy dash of Redden’s puck-moving skills of old when
transitioning from defense to offense.
A premier puckhandler and passer during his days with Ottawa, where he
sometimes partnered with Boston captain Zdeno Chara, Redden is a
candidate to help the Bruins improve a somewhat disjointed back end that
at times struggles to make quick, efficient passes. He also becomes yet one
more stick carrier to help improve the club’s ever-struggling power play,
although GM Peter Chiarelli made clear during a late-afternoon news
conference Wednesday that Redden arrives with no such lofty
expectations.
“I really don’t want to put any pressure on him in that regard,’’ said Chiarelli,
addressing the media on trade deadline moves for a third time in a week.
“He’s more of a heady player . . . that first pass. He’s a terrific passer, first
pass, vision. He can play on the power play, but that’s not why we acquired
him.’’
Instead, Redden will arrive here (possibly today) for insurance, a “depth’’
player, at a time when the Bruins are just beginning to see some
encouraging signs from defensive prospect Matt Bartkowski (nearly dished
last week for Jarome Iginla) and while rookie blue liner Dougie Hamilton
continues to cut his teeth as the club’s premier puck-moving defenseman of
the future. It could be that Boston’s puck-moving deficiencies are fully
resolved by that duo. If not, then Redden, with his 455 career points in
1,017 games, at least offers an AARP alternative.
“Wade’s strength has always been his head, and his vision, and his sense,’’
noted Chiarelli, who left Ottawa in the summer of 2006, two years prior to
Redden departing for his huge payday with the Rangers. “Maybe
sometimes you lose your legs in that, but usually you can keep the other
stuff.’’
Boston fans of a certain age will remember another aged defenseman, Brad
Park, making a lot of hay here in the late-’70s and early-’80s, long after his
wonky knees began to crumble. But Park, a Hall of Famer (896 points), was
still vital and only 27 when he arrived early in the 1975-76 season. And he
was 2-3 years younger than Redden is today when he was still spinning
Garden magic. with knees wrapped, paper-clipped, and braced.
Redden’s acquisition price was minimal, a a seventh-round pick that could
inflate to a sixth if he suits up for one playoff game this spring. The longforgotten Filene’s Basement built an institution on that kind of pricing. With
nothing left on the rack at Wednesday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, Chiarelli
tossed Redden in his cart and raced for the register.
“Wade obviously had played in Ottawa when I worked in Ottawa,’’ noted
Chiarelli, who didn’t look nearly as spent as a week before when explaining
what went awry in his attempt to land Iginla. “I had to get the band back
together with him and Chara. I talked to Wade and told him he’d be part of
our depth here — and he was excited to come.’’
In 23 games with St. Louis, the smooth-skating Redden , favorite son of
Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, scored only two goals and had five points.
For the two years Redden spent in the AHL, noted Chiarelli, it was as if he
had beenincarcerated jailed per the consequences of his limited game and
the big bucks the Rangers handed him in the summer of 2008. Now he’s
here. Boston in the springtime. With a chance to show if there’s at least a
little bit of spring left in his step.
. . .
The Bruins also acquired minor league forward Rob Flick from the
Blackhawks for Max Sauve. Flick, 22, will report to Providence. The center
had three goals, two assists, and 97 penalty minutes for Rockford,
Chicago’s AHL affiliate. Flick was selected in the fourth round of the 2010
draft. Sauve, the Bruins’ second-round pick in 2008, had 10 goals and 13
assists in 52 games for Providence.
Boston Globe LOADED: 04.04.2013
667696
Boston Bruins
Wade Redden to travel to Boston Thursday, doubtful for game
by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff April 3, 2013 05:35 PM
Wade Redden, acquired from the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, is
planning to travel to Boston on Thursday, but Bruins general manager Peter
Chiarelli didn’t think Redden would play against New Jersey.
The Bruins will not recall a center from Providence for Thursday’s game to
replace Patrice Bergeron (concussion). Kaspars Daugavins has played
center, and he and Jaromir Jagr will make their Bruins debuts against the
Devils.
Thursday’s possible lineup:
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Rich Peverley-Tyler Seguin
Jay Pandolfo-Kaspars Daugavins-Jaromir Jagr
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara-Dougie Hamilton
Matt Bartkowski-Dennis Seidenberg
Andrew Ference-Johnny Boychuk
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
* Chiarelli said Chris Kelly (broken left tibia) will be playing soon. Chiarelli
didn’t disclose a specific timetable for the center’s return. Kelly skated
Wednesday for the third straight day.
Boston Globe LOADED: 04.04.2013
667697
Boston Bruins
Bruins acquire Wade Redden from St. Louis
April 3, 2013 03:32 PM
By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff
The Bruins have added to their defense by acquiring Wade Redden from
the St. Louis Blues for a draft pick. Redden is the veteran left-shot
defenseman the Bruins needed heading into the stretch run. Comcast
SportsNet New England first reported the deal.
Redden has two goals and three assists in 23 games this season,
averaging 14:59 of ice time. He projects to be a depth defenseman who
could assume some power-play shifts. Redden is averaging 0:50 of powerplay ice time.
The 35-year-old Redden was teammates in Ottawa with Zdeno Chara and
Chris Kelly.
Boston Globe LOADED: 04.04.2013
667698
Boston Bruins
Bruins trade Max Sauve to Chicago for Rob Flick
By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff
The Bruins have traded 2008 second-round pick Max Sauve to Chicago for
forward Rob Flick.
Flick was selected by Chicago in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. The 22year-old has three goals and two assists in 51 games for Rockford,
Chicago’s AHL affiliate. Flick has 97 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 208pound Flick will be a size upgrade over the perpetually injured Sauve.
Sauve scored 10 goals and 13 assists for Providence this season. Sauve is
a fast and skilled wing, but has never been able to stay healthy.
Boston Globe LOADED: 04.04.2013
667699
Boston Bruins
Patrice Bergeron has concussion
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Steve Conroy
While Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli held a press conference to
discuss yesterday’s trade deadline, he also delivered the most pertinent
news with regard to his team’s immediate future.
And it wasn’t good.
Chiarelli announced that center Patrice Bergeron suffered a concussion —
the fourth of his career — in the second period of the B’s 3-2 victory against
the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday at the Garden.
Chiarelli described the concussion as “moderate” but warned that brain
injuries are hard to gauge. He gave no timetable for a Bergeron return.
“I talked to him about an hour ago and he was in very good spirits. He was
out walking,” Chiarelli said at his 5 p.m. press conference. “He was
annoyed at it, and he was emotional (Tuesday) night. I asked him if I could
update the media and he said, ‘Sure.’ . . . He sounded really good and I told
him that we’ll work together in getting him back.”
Bergeron was injured while defending against Ottawa’s Colin Greening,
who inadvertently caught him in the back of the head behind the left ear
with his elbow. Bergeron got up slowly and skated off the ice. He did not
return.
Chiarelli said the Bergeron injury had him thinking about obtaining more
help up front, but he decided against it.
“It crossed my mind,” the GM said. “But we’ve got a good group. We added
a terrific player (Tuesday in Jaromir Jagr). We added a useful player the
other day in (Kaspars) Daugavins, we’re a well-coached team, we defend
well, we’re going to improve our offense. You see a player like Patrice go
down and there’s no way I’m going to replace him because there wasn’t
that caliber of player, so I’m not going to go around chasing it all day.
“And you’ve seen it across the league where teams have picked it up when
they’ve had injuries, and I expect us to do the same.”
The Bruins can’t afford to lose Bergeron for any length of time. He is the
team’s best two-way forward and has been their most consistent player. He
leads the B’s with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) and a plus-23 rating, and
he is the NHL leader in faceoff win percentage at 61.5.
Chiarelli wouldn’t divulge how the team will replace him in the lineup, but he
does not plan to call up a center from Providence.
The least disruptive move would be for Tyler Seguin to move to center and
Jagr to play on the right wing with Brad Marchand on the left. Chiarelli also
said Daugavins could play center somewhere in the lineup.
As for Bergeron’s past concussions, the most recent was in Game 4 of the
Bruins’ sweep of the Flyers — on a blow delivered by Claude Giroux —
during their march to the 2010-11 Stanley Cup. After a long layoff between
series, Bergeron missed the first two games of the Eastern Conference
finals but played in every game the rest of the way.
The first concussion he suffered cost him nearly the entire 2007-08 season
when he was hit from behind by the Flyers’ Randy Jones on October 27,
2007.
He returned the following year but missed 15 games when he suffered a
concussion on a hit from current teammate Dennis Seidenberg, then with
the Carolina Hurricanes.
Boston Herald LOADED: 04.04.2013
667700
Boston Bruins
Bruins add D Wade Redden to the mix
By Steve Conroy / Boston Herald
In a move that added to the team's defensive depth, the Bruins obtained St.
Louis defenseman Wade Redden for a conditional seventh-round pick in
2014.
The 35-year-old Redden played with Zdeno Chara for the Ottawa Senators
and, ironically, it was the Sens' decision to keep Redden and sign him to a
two-year deal in the summer of 2006 that essentially forced Chara into free
agency and to the Bruins.
Redden later signed a big contract with the New York Rangers but, after
fitting in poorly with the Blueshirts, he and his $6.5 million cap hit were
buried in the minors until Redden was bought out after last fall's lockout
ended.
He signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Blues, with whom he has 23-5 totals and is minus-2 in 23 games.
He had some very productive numbers in his time with the Sens, his most
productive year being 2005-06 — B's GM Peter Chiarelli's last year as
assistant GM in Ottawa — when he had 10-40-50 totals and was plus-35.
The conditional seventh-rounder becomes a sixth-round pick in 2014 if
Redden plays in one or more games during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Bruins had the distinction of making the first trade of the day, but it was
just a minor league deal as they sent speedy but oft-injured center Maxime
Sauve, their second-round draft pick (47th overall) in 2008, to the Chicago
Blackhawks for center Rob Flick (4th rounder in 2010), who has 3-2-5 totals
and 97 PIMs for Rockford in the AHL.
Perhaps the biggest deal that could directly affect the Bruins is the one
made by the Ottawa Senators, a possible first-round opponent for the B's.
With Robin Lehner playing well and Craig Anderson coming back from
injury, the Sens traded goalie Ben Bishop to the Tampa Bay Lightning for
for Calder Trophy candidate Cory Conacher.
The biggest deal of the day had the struggling New York Rangers, in what
would seem like an acknowledgment that they lost their edge without the
likes of Brandon Prust and Brandon Dubinksy, shipping the highly talented
Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Derick Brassard,
scrappy Derek Dorsett (currently out for the season with a broken
collarbone), defenseman John Moore and a sixth-round draft pick.
Boston Herald LOADED: 04.04.2013
667701
Boston Bruins
size to the organization after the loss of Lane MacDermid and prospect
Cody Payne the previous day in the Jaromir Jagr deal.
Wade Redden adds to depth on ‘D’
“Sauve’s been injured quite a bit, but he’s a good kid and probably
deserved an opportunity with another organization,” Chiarelli said. . . .
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Chiarelli, though optimistic, wouldn’t give a timetable on a return by Kelly
from a broken tibia.
By: Steve Conroy
“He’ll be playing for us soon,” Chiarelli said.
Boston Herald LOADED: 04.04.2013
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli has been known to swim in familiar
waters and, at yesterday’s NHL trade deadline, he took another plunge.
With the clock winding down toward the 3 p.m. deadline, Chiarelli obtained
defenseman Wade Redden, who enjoyed some of his best NHL seasons
with the Senators while Chiarelli was an assistant GM in Ottawa, from the
St. Louis Blues for a conditional late-round draft pick in 2014.
“I had to get the band back together,” said Chiarelli, who already has
defenseman Zdeno Chara and center Chris Kelly with him from those old
Senators teams.
If Redden plays one or more playoff games for the B’s this year, the Blues
will receive a sixth-round pick, if not it’s a seventh-rounder.
Redden will be traveling to Boston today but most likely won’t play in
tonight’s game at the Garden against the New Jersey Devils. He was happy
to be joining friends in Chara, Kelly and Chiarelli.
“I’m excited for sure,” Redden said. “Obviously they’re great teammates,
and Peter was obviously thought highly of when he was in Ottawa with us.
He’s done a great job there in Boston, too, since he’s been GM. I really
know what they’re all about and what kind of people they are, so I’m
definitely excited to be going to a team like that.”
While he was once one of the NHL’s better offensive defensemen, the 35year-old Redden is considered a depth acquisition and could well be in and
out of the lineup, especially whenever Adam McQuaid returns from his
shoulder injury. Chiarelli also said he’d like to see a little more of Matt
Bartkowski, but with the condensed schedule, Redden will almost surely get
a shot to play at some point.
“Wade isn’t the player he used to be, but he’s a very smart player,” Chiarelli
said. “He can help us in certain ways.”
Redden played an indirect part in the rebuilding of the Bruins.
Back in the summer of 2006, the Senators were faced with two of their top
defensemen, Redden and Chara, becoming unrestricted free agents.
Ottawa could only sign one of the players and chose to make it Redden.
Chara subsequently signed with the Bruins, who had Chiarelli coming in as
their new GM (because of an agreement with the NHL, he was forbidden to
conduct any business at the time that Chara signed on July 1, 2006).
While Chara went on to win a Norris Trophy and Stanley Cup with the B’s,
Redden had a much different career arc. He re-upped with the Senators for
two years, then signed a massive deal with the Rangers, which New York
would soon regret. The Rangers would eventually bury him, and his $6.5
million cap hit, for two years in the AHL
When the new CBA was finally signed, the Rangers were allowed to buy
him out in January and he signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Blues,
where he had 2-3-5 totals in 23 games.
“It was kind of a funny year all around, I guess, with the lockout and my
situation after being away from it for two years (while in the AHL),” Redden
said. “But right off the bat it was exciting to come back, and it felt really
good to be back. I played my 1,000th game six games in, so it was kind of a
real high right off the bat. And then it settled in and I was just kind of getting
my feet under me after that.
“Lately I’ve been feeling pretty good. . . . I was happy with what I was able to
do here and how I felt. Obviously, I’m excited to be back and looking
forward to Boston now.”
Bruins notes
The Bruins had the distinction of making the first trade of the day, but it was
just a minor league deal that sent speedy but oft-injured center Maxime
Sauve, a second-round draft pick (47th overall) in 2008, to the Chicago
Blackhawks for center Rob Flick (a fourth-rounder in 2010), who has 3-2-5
totals and 97 penalty minutes in the AHL this season. Flick returns some
667702
Boston Bruins
from Carolina. That’s four useful talents that made an already-strong team
significantly more so.
NHL deadline nears to pick up play
“Well, they’re a lock, right?” Chiarelli said facetiously after the Bruins lost
Iginla to the Pens last week.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Well, assuming that Pittsburgh star center Sidney Crosby isn’t out long with
his broken jaw, it may turn out that the Penguins were a lock. But the B’s,
assuming they rediscover their missing identity, are somewhat better
positioned with Jagr to make a deep postseason run.
Stephen Harris
The Bruins could add Jaromir Jagr, Jarome Iginla and Wayne Gretzky to
the roster and not go far in the playoffs if they play less-than-sound hockey
like they did in Tuesday night’s 3-2 win against the Ottawa Senators, which,
indeed, is the way they have played much of this season.
The ills aren’t guaranteed to be cured by the arrival of the 41-year-old Jagr,
who will don a B’s jersey this morning and debut tonight at the Garden
against the New Jersey Devils.
It seems certain that Jagr will help on the ice. After all, he walks through the
door and becomes, with Brad Marchand, the team leader with 14 goals.
How could he not help, considering that on many nights this season the
Bruins have had maybe half of their 12 forwards playing and competing at
optimum levels.
If that compete level and quality of performance don’t improve, dramatically
and consistently, over the final 13 regular-season games, will the B’s really
look like a serious Stanley Cup contender?
“We have 13 games left,” general manager Peter Chiarelli yesterday at his
post-trade deadline press conference. “That’s not many, so it’s time to start
thinking about ramping up. It’s easy to think about it; to do it is hard. That’s
what our goal and objective is now.”
These days in NHL circles it’s trendy to talk about a team’s “culture” and
“identity.” In theory, the Bruins are rich in those regards. This is a team with
a legacy of sound team defense, toughness and hard work. It is a team
which prides itself on being hard to play against.
But the Bruins haven’t been at their best frequently this year, and they
haven’t been particularly hard to play against.
“There was even inconsistency while they were winning earlier,” one NHL
pro scout said. “That has lingered around the whole year. That record they
had early — what was it, 17-4 (17-3-3) or whatever? — it was deceptive.
They had guys who weren’t pulling their weight, or guys who weren’t
showing up. You could count on one hand the number of games when they
had everything going.”
Will the arrival of Jagr wake up the team?
“I probably would have taken Iginla over Jagr, but after that, he’s a great
acquisition,” the scout said. “I think the guys are just going to be excited that
he’s in that room, which means a lot. That’s a big thing. When he steps in
that room, as the player and the guy that he is, I think he’s going to have a
big impact. When he was with the Flyers, you saw how (Claude) Giroux and
(Scott) Hartnell and guys like that spoke so highly of him, with what he did
for the young guys there, how he led by example and his work ethic and
everything. He took that into Dallas also. So he’s definitely committed.
“I don’t think you’re getting a guy almost at the end of his career who isn’t
hungry to win.”
By adding Jagr without subtracting any roster players, the Bruins did pretty
well in a difficult trade market. Defenseman Wade Redden, picked up from
St. Louis just before yesterday’s 3 p.m deadline, likely has something to
offer on the ice as a likely No. 6 or No. 7, and certainly does add something
off the ice as a highly experienced leader.
On Deadline Day, there were really only four or five teams realistically out
of playoff contention and thus willing to discard players. It was an unusually
slow trade market.
“The most difficult trade period I’ve been part of in my time in hockey,”
Chiarelli said. “At the end there weren’t really a lot of players available.”
The sub-par quality of their play notwithstanding, the Bruins are still
regarded as one of the NHL’s top teams.
But it was the Pittsburgh Penguins who struck it rich in the trade market,
acquiring forward Brenden Morrow from Dallas, defenseman Doug Murray
from San Jose, Iginla from Calgary and, yesterday, forward Jussi Jokinen
Ottawa made one of the best moves of Deadline Day, sending unneeded
goalie Ben Bishop to Tampa Bay for outstanding rookie center Cory
Conacher. The Senators view rookie Robin Lehner, who stopped 47 shots
Tuesday night at the Garden, as their future franchise guy and have No. 1
Craig Anderson returning from injury. So the Senators moved Bishop to a
team for which he should play, and got the 5-foot-8, 180-pound Conacher,
who plays a lot like Marchand and will make Ottawa even more of a highcompete-level team.
The Bruins can learn something from how the overachieving Senators play.
They have 13 games to apply those lessons.
Boston Herald LOADED: 04.04.2013
667703
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres continue to clean house
Trade of Pominville is biggest step yet
BY: John Vogl
Published: April 3, 2013, 10:42 PM
Updated: April 4, 2013, 12:41 AM
It’s been a rough couple of years for the Buffalo Sabres and their fans. It’s
going to get worse.
The struggling Sabres have committed to rebuilding through youth and NHL
draft picks. The overhaul began in earnest Wednesday when Buffalo traded
captain Jason Pominville to Minnesota for two prospects and a pair of picks.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula had a three-year plan to win the Stanley Cup
when he purchased the team in February 2011, but the dismantling of the
roster has put thorns through that rosy outlook.
“It is going to involve rolling back a little bit organizationally,” General
Manager Darcy Regier said in First Niagara Center. “It’s really difficult to put
an exact timeline on it. Obviously, you want it to be as short as possible, but
you’re going to have to accumulate the players, develop the players.
“It’s difficult standing here right now to say it’s going to be a year or two
years. We’re going to work as hard as we can at this and get it done as
quickly as possible.”
The Sabres began selling veterans over the weekend when they shipped
out defensemen Jordan Leopold and Robyn Regehr. Buffalo accumulated
six draft picks in the three deals: a first-round selection this June; four
second-rounders (one this year, two in 2014 and one in 2015); and a
conditional fifth-round pick this year.
“It will provide us with an opportunity to stock the shelves pretty well,” said
Regier, who conceded not every player selected will be successful, possibly
extending the rebuilding time. “I’m not going to use the ‘R’ word, but it
allows us to continue to draft and develop players and build the
organization.
“There’s very few organizations that haven’t had to endure some pain in
order to win.”
The loss of Pominville will be felt immediately. Not only do the Sabres lose
a popular leader who was fourth on the team in scoring, but neither
prospect acquired in the deal – Swedish forward Johan Larsson, 20, and
Canadian goaltender Matthew Hackett, 23 – will play for Buffalo. They have
been sent to the minor-league club in Rochester.
“It’s not fun being where we are,” said Regier, whose team entered
Wednesday’s schedule 25th in the 30-team league. “It doesn’t matter if
you’re a fan or you’re in my position, there’s no enjoyment out of it. But
there is an opportunity. What we’re going to do is seize on the opportunity.”
More well-known, established players are expected to depart. Leading
scorer Thomas Vanek, who does not want to be part of a lengthy rebuild,
and goalie Ryan Miller have one year left on their contracts. That makes
them prime trade targets.
“It will continue after the season,” Regier said of the revamping. “To what
extent has yet to be determined.”
Regier said he had no plans to trade Pominville until Tuesday night.
Minnesota initially inquired about the right winger three weeks ago, but talks
evaporated quickly.
Pominville had a modified no-trade clause, and he could provide a list of
eight teams to which he could not be traded. Regier asked him for the list
earlier this week just in case a team called prior to Wednesday’s 3 p.m.
trade deadline.
“Jason Pominville may have been at the bottom of the list of players that I
wanted to move,” said Regier, who phoned Pominville with the news before
filing the trade with the league. “I felt bad because when I’d asked him for
the list there was nothing going on. Within a few days, he’s been traded. I
took him through that and just thanked him for everything.”
Pominville spent 11 years in the Sabres organization, including the last two
as captain. He played 578 games for Buffalo, recording 185 goals, 271
assists and 456 points.
“Everything he represents as a player you can multiply by a big number as
a person,” Regier said. “Extremely grateful for everything he’s done and
wish him only the best.”
Larsson and Hackett were preparing to take part in the Wild’s morning
skate prior to facing the San Jose Sharks when the trade was finalized.
“It’s been kind of a weird day,” Larsson said by phone. “We’re in San Jose
right now, and I just stepped on the ice and they took me off, then we go
from there.”
The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder can play center and wing. He was the captain
of the Sweden’s world junior team and won a gold medal.
“I’m kind of an all-around player, play hard, work hard, play physical and
make some plays,” said Larsson, who appeared in one NHL game. “I didn’t
know so much about Buffalo, but I’m really excited to come there and play. I
hear they have a good crowd.”
It’s a crowd accustomed to lean times and and should expect them to get
leaner.
“If you don’t have a foundation of players with which to add free agents to,
you’re not likely to be successful, and we weren’t,” Regier said. “It didn’t
work, so we did make a shift.”
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667704
Buffalo Sabres
Regier cleaning up his own mess is messed up
BY: Bucky Gleason
Published: April 3, 2013, 12:53 PM
Updated: April 4, 2013, 12:49 AM
Darcy Regier didn’t want to use the R-word while announcing that Jason
Pominville had been traded to Minnesota for two prospects and two draft
picks Wednesday. The coy general manager didn’t need to get specific.
Anyone listening understood he was talking about some derivative of
rebuilding.
Reloading, retooling, reworking, reconstructing, take your pick.
If the Sabres were smart, they would reach into their bowl of alphabet soup
for a few more R-words. Here are two in particular that carry a nice ring:
Replace Regier.
They’re infinitely cleaner and far more sensible than the choice words fans
are using – words that begin with other letters. The Sabres have had too
few W’s and way too many L’s, which is why so many fans are getting
increasingly PO’d. By the sounds of things, it’s going to get worse.
Regier deserves no criticism for the trade itself. He picked up a first-round
pick, a second-round pick plus prospects Johan Larsson and Matt Hackett
from the Wild. Overall, it’s a pretty good haul for a guy who had one full
season remaining on his contract with a team going nowhere.
Larsson is a 20-year-old forward whom the Wild hoped would be a
dependable third-line player in the NHL, perhaps a second-liner. They had
concerns about Hackett’s mental toughness, but the goaltender showed
flashes of brilliance last season.
Draft picks always come with a degree of uncertainty, but Regier figured he
would increase his odds for hitting on a few players if he had more
opportunities. He’s playing the percentages. By itself, it makes sense.
The real issue is the reason Regier was forced to trade his captain in the
first place. He needs a new foundation because the one he built has
crumbled under a mountain of his mistakes. The plan now calls for
beginning at the bottom. Check the standings, and you’ll see that the
Sabres aren’t far from their starting point.
“It’s no fun being where we are,” Regier said. “It doesn’t matter whether
you’re a fan or you’re in my position. There’s no enjoyment out of it. There’s
an opportunity. What we’re going to do is seize on the opportunity.”
Lindy Ruff was sent packing this season and rightfully so. He should have
been fired last year, when it became evident his players muted his
message. Regier should have been kicked to the curb with him but instead
received a contract extension. He sounded like a man Wednesday who
would be in charge of the rebuilding project.
Just so we’re straight, the same man who made the mess is now in charge
of cleaning up the mess and, if he sticks around, will have an opportunity to
make another mess. Seriously, that’s messed up.
Remember, when Terry Pegula purchased the team just more than two
years ago, he expected to win the Stanley Cup in three. Now, they’re worse
than when he arrived. Yes, they have regressed.
The R&R Railroad continues chugging along to destinations unknown with
Ruff being replaced by Ron Rolston and getting basically the same results.
Now that the Sabres can’t get much worse, it’s only a matter of time before
the slightest improvement is sold as monumental progress. It’s ridiculous.
Certainly, someone would suggest that it’s all good because at least the
franchise survived the worst R-word in the dictionary: relocation. Here’s a
dose of reality: Gary Bettman was never going to allow that to happen
based on its fan base and geographic advantages. In truth, there would
have been a rebellion.
In the end, Regier had no choice but to send Pominville on his way like so
many other good ones who left town for all of the wrong reasons.
They have been grossly mismanaged for years. Regier is in his 16th
season and is still learning lessons the hard way, but his mistakes come
without repercussion.
I’ll say it again: managing a hockey team isn’t about spending the most. It’s
about spending the wisest. And with the Sabres not getting a bang
commensurate with the buck, he has been exposed. It doesn’t take much
for a general manager to lose leverage, as Regier found out this season.
Veterans in particular look around, assess the future, and start looking for
the door if they don’t like the view. My guess is Pominville would have
rather stayed in Buffalo if the Sabres had a real chance of winning. But
when it became obvious, he handed over his list of teams for the Sabres to
avoid and landed in Minnesota.
He’s not the first good player to leave town, and he’s not going to be the
last. Vanek already stated he doesn’t want to be part of a long rebuilding
project. He and Miller are signed through next season and are set to
become unrestricted free agents. They’re reaching a stage in their careers
where they want to win the Cup.
I’ll forever be convinced that they made that run from near the bottom of the
Eastern Conference to the No. 7 playoff seed in 2010-11 because players
were inspired about Pegula’s pending arrival. They expected big changes.
Instead, he adhered to the status quo and ended up with an uninspired
team that put together a string of listless efforts.
The difference between him and the fans, of course, is that he’s getting paid
for not doing his job while fans are paying him to not do his job. Their
loyalty, which hasn’t wavered no matter how many times he botched
decisions, will be tested.
But what the heck? That’s just my opinion. It’s based on in this R-word:
results.
Regier called it “rolling back,” which was his way of convincing you that the
Sabres need to pull their truck in reverse in order to plow forward. They
want to draft and develop players with the idea they can supplement their
roster through trades and free agency when the right opportunity comes
along.
Fans deserve a refund.
The timeline? No timeline.
The so-called core? No core.
Regier for years sold fans on the notion that Pominville was part of a
collection of players who would lead them to greatness. It included Ryan
Miller, Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford. Let’s not forget Paul Gaustad and
Derek Roy, who have since been traded. Wait, I almost forgot Jochen
Hecht. He’s still here, for some unknown reason.
“We tried to add to that,” Regier said, “and it didn’t work.”
He’s right. It didn’t work. In fact, it failed miserably because Regier put his
money on the wrong players or failed to acquire the right players around
them or, more accurately, a combination of both. The Sabres have missed
the postseason three times in five years, soon to be four in six.
Obviously, it didn’t work.
Regier gets a reward.
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667705
Buffalo Sabres
Flurry of deals occur at deadline following relatively quiet day
NEWS Staff and wire Reports
Published: April 3, 2013, 12:32 PM
Updated: April 3, 2013, 12:33 PM
The NHL’s trade deadline day was quiet until the final hour, when a handful
of players, including Sabres captain Jason Pominville, were exchanged.
At about the time Pominville was being sent to Minnesota, the New York
Rangers traded 31-year-old forward Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue
Jackets for center Derick Brassard, defenseman John Moore, forward
Derek Dorsett and a sixth-round pick.
Gaborik has nine goals and 10 assists in 35 games this season and has
one year left of a contract that carries a cap hit of $7.5 million.
Brassard has seven goals and 11 assists this season and Moore, a firstround choice in 2009, has one point in 17 games.
In a deal announced late, New Jersey acquired 38-year-old forward Steve
Sullivan from Phoenix for a seventh-round draft pick. He played for the
Devils for parts of two seasons at the start of his NHL career from 1995-97.
Sullivan signed with Phoenix as a free agent during the offseason and had
some good stretches with the Coyotes, scoring five goals with seven assists
in 33 games, though he hadn’t registered a point in the last 10 games.
The Coyotes also traded center Matthew Lombardi to the Anaheim Ducks
for left wing Brandon McMillan. Lombardi (four goals, eight points in 21
games) returned to Phoenix this season after being traded from Toronto
during training camp. He missed 12 games early in the season with an
upper-body injury and didn’t provide the Coyotes with the scoring punch
they had hoped and was a healthy scratch March 25 after failing to register
a point in seven straight games.
In another late deal, the Toronto Maple Leafs bolstered their defense by
acquiring Ryan O’Byrne, 28, from the Colorado Avalanche for a fourthround draft pick in 2014. O’Byrne has a goal and three assists in 34 games
this season for Colorado, which currently owns the worst mark in the NHL.
He goes to a team in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Conacher, the former Canisius College star, had nine goals and 15 assists
in 35 goals for Tampa Bay. He was the American Hockey League’s MVP
last year and also named the league’s top rookie – a season capped by him
helping the Lightning’s then minor-league affiliate in Norfolk win the Calder
Cup championship.
Bishop has appeared in 13 games with the Senators this season, posting
an 8-5 record, a .922 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average.
“It’s always a little shocking,” Conacher told Bruce Garioch of the Ottawa
Sun. “A new start in Ottawa. I’m excited to go to Ottawa.
“I’m going to go there and try to help the team win. I’m excited.”
Conacher is from Burlington, Ont., and will make his Senators debut Friday
night against the Sabres in Buffalo.
The Carolina Hurricanes shipped Jussi Jokinen to Pittsburgh for a
conditional pick. Jokinen, 30, scored 30 goals in 2009-10 but slipped to six
this year and had been placed on waivers.
The morning produced no activity of note, with the biggest news being that
Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff didn’t want to be traded and that he
would retire at the end of the season.
There were several minor deals. St. Louis sent defenseman Wade Redden,
who has played in 1,017 NHL games, to Boston for a conditional seventhround draft pick next year that becomes a sixth-rounder if he plays in at
least one game during this year’s playoffs. He has two goals and three
assists in 23 games this season.
In another deal involving the Bruins, Chicago sent Rob Flick to Boston for
Maxime Sauve, and then Nashville shipped defenseman Scott Hannan to
San Jose for a conditional sixth/seventh-round pick. Sauve has Sabres
connections in that he’s the nephew of former Buffalo goaltender Bob
Sauve and son of ex-Sabres forward J.F. Sauve.
Also, winger Jerred Smithson was sent by Florida to Edmonton for a
midround pick.
Two players were picked up on waivers. Winnipeg grabbed Mike Santorelli
from Florida Panthers and Philadelphia took Adam Hall from Tampa Bay.
Hall had been acquired Tuesday with a seventh-round draft pick for MarcAndre Bergeron.
There were significant trades leading up to deadline day.
The biggest names to move were high-scoring wingers Jarome Iginla and
Jaromir Jagr.
Also, the Washington Capitals sent Filip Forsberg, the 11th overall pick in
the 2012 draft, to the Nashville Predators for forwards Martin Erat and
Michael Latta. Erat has four goals and 17 assists this and has two seasons
remaining on a contract with a cap hit of $4.5 million per season. The 31year-old has 163 goals and 318 assists in 723 NHL games. Latta was a
third-round pick in 2009 and has 35 points in 69 games this season for the
Milwaukee Admirals.
The Pittsburgh Penguins got Iginla from Calgary for two prospects and a
first-round pick, and he scored his first goal with his new team against the
Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. They also picked up Brenden Morrow and
a third-round pick from Dallas for defenseman Joe Morrow and a fifth-round
pick.
Forsberg totaled 33 points in 38 games with Leksand of the Swedish
League. He is only 18 years old.
Dallas also traded center Derek Roy, who was acquired from the Sabres in
the offseason for winger Steve Ott, to Vancouver for a second-round pick
and a prospect.
Also, San Jose acquired forward Raffi Torres from Phoenix for a third-round
draft pick and the Columbus received Blake Comeau from Calgary for a
fifth-rounder and sent goalie Steve Mason to Philadelphia for goalie Michael
Leighton and a third-round pick in 2015. Torres has played for the New
York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres,
Vancouver Canucks and Phoenix Coyotes. He has been traded three times
at the deadline.
One player of note who was not moved was Vancouver goalie Roberto
Luongo. He was long rumored to be a target of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He will continue to split games with Cory Schneider.
Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox tweeted that Luongo said, “My contract
… , that’s why I’m still here.”
Luongo’s contract runs through 2021-22 at a cap hit of $5.33 million per
season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made the first big deal on NHL trade deadline
day, acquiring goaltender Ben Bishop from the Ottawa Senators for rookie
winger Cory Conacher and a fourth-round pick in the early afternoon.
Bishop has filled in well with Ottawa while starter Craig Anderson was
recovering from an injury.
The Boston Bruins picked up Jagr from Dallas for two prospects and a
second-round pick.
The Rangers added size on the wing with a trade for Ryane Clowe, sending
a second- and a third-round pick plus a condition fifth-rounder to the San
Jose Sharks. Clowe is a power forward but has not scored a goal this year.
The Kings acquired veteran defenseman Robyn Regehr from the Sabres on
Monday, two days after Buffalo traded blue-liner Jordan Leopold to St.
Louis. The Blues also added defenseman Jay Bouwmeester from Calgary
shortly after picking up Leopold. The Flames received two prospects and a
first-round pick.
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667706
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres' Regier reiterates need to focus past this season on deadline day
By John Vogl
The Sabres' impressive win over Pittsburgh apparently has not changed
Darcy Regier's plan for his team.
The general manager told Sabres.com this morning that this trade deadline
day is different for him because he's looking toward the future instead of
this season.
"It’s different because we’re where we are in the standings and where we
are given the shortened season," Regier told the team website. "Our focus
has moved to next season and even beyond that. It changes how we view
our current lineup, our current roster, and it changes … we’re moving the
timeline down a little bit."
The Sabres beat the Penguins on Tuesday, 4-1, to snap the Pens' 15-game
winning streak. Still, Buffalo is just 14-17-6 and in 12th place in the Eastern
Conference with 11 games remaining.
The Sabres will be sellers today, but it remains to be seen how the trade
market reacts.
"I have no idea," Regier said of what will happen. "That’s not … I know
some of the players that are in play. I know what teams are generally
looking for, so you have a sense of the market, but whether those deals
actually are consummated, it’s too hard to know right now.
"Depending whether you’re buying or selling, there’ll be a reference to other
trades, but ultimately it comes down to how badly a team wants a player
and how open a team is to trading a player. That will drive the price."
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667707
Buffalo Sabres
Larsson's 'weird day' starts with leaving Wild's morning skate, ends with
Sabres and Amerks
April 3, 2013 - 7:12 PM
By John Vogl
Johan Larsson was in his Minnesota Wild gear today, ready to take part in
the morning skate. The session didn't last long.
The Wild and Sabres agreed to a trade that sent Larsson to Buffalo as part
of a deal for Jason Pominville, so Minnesota took the forward off the ice to
prevent injury.
"It’s been kind of a weird day," Larsson said by phone this evening. "We’re
in San Jose right now, and I just stepped on the ice and they took me off,
then we go from there."
Larsson's next stop is Houston to gather his belongings, and he anticipates
being in Rochester on Thursday evening. The Sabres said they will have
him play for the Amerks.
"I’m excited to come there," said the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder. "I’m kind of an
all-around player, play hard, work hard, play physical and make some
plays. You come over here you have to bear down every time. I’ve been
practicing a lot of that and keep practicing on it, but I’ve improved a little
bit."
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667708
Buffalo Sabres
With trade to Sens, Canisius' Conacher gains in standings, gets earlier trip
back to Buffalo
April 3, 2013 - 6:39 PM
By Mike Harrington
Cory Conacher is losing out on the Florida sun but he got a big jump in the
standings and a much shorter trip to games for his family.
The former Canisius College star was traded Wednesday by the Tampa
Bay Lightning to the Ottawa Senators for goalie Ben Bishop in one of the
more interesting trades on deadline day.
Oddly enough, Conacher's debut with the Senators will come here Friday
night against the Sabres. He had been scheduled to play the Buffalo
homecoming game with Tampa on April 14. Conacher left Tampa
Wednesday on a flight to Boston to join the Senators.
"I was counting down the days when I was with Tampa and the Tampa
team play Buffalo in about a week. And now I get to play them sooner,"
Conacher said on Team 1200 Radio in Ottawa before boarding the flight.
"So it's going to be a lot of fun to go to Buffalo to see some old friends from
school, my old coach as well. It's going to be a fun little trip there, a fun start
to my Ottawa career and hopefully we get a win there."
Click below to hear the entire Conacher interview
Cory Conacher
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667709
Buffalo Sabres
Regier puts focus on rebuilding Sabres' foundation with trade of Pominville
(with audio)
April 3, 2013 - 5:49 PM
By John Vogl
Darcy Regier says maybe the Buffalo Sabres could have enjoyed another
late surge and sneaked into a playoff spot. But the odds of winning the
Stanley Cup this season were extremely slim, so the general manager was
determined to look toward the future.
"The preference is to build for a Stanley Cup rather than a playoff spot,"
Regier said today after trading captain Jason Pominville to Minnesota for
two prospects and a pair of draft picks, including a first-round selection this
June. "It's no fun being where we are. There's no enjoyment, but there is an
opportunity."
Pominville, who went to the Wild along with a fourth-round pick in 2014, is
the third veteran to depart Buffalo during the past week. He joined
defensemen Robyn Regehr and Jordan Leopold, who combined to net the
Sabres three second-round picks and a conditional fourth.
"This will give us the opportunity to stock the shelves," Regier said.
It's an immediate step back, however. Pominville had 10 goals and 25
points for the Sabres. Aquisitions Johan Larsson, a forward, and Matt
Hackett, a goaltender, will report to the Rochester Americans.
The Wild made an initial inquiry about Pominville about three weeks ago,
Regier said, but the interest quickly disappeared. The captain has a
modified no-trade clause in which he can submit a list of eight teams to
which he cannot be traded, and Regier asked Pominville for it just in case
any talks resumed.
The Wild called Tuesday night, Regier said, and the deal (which includes
Buffalo getting Minnesota's second-round selection in 2014) came together
today.
While Regier said he did not want to bring up the "R" word -- rebuild -- it's
clear that is the Sabres' path since they lack, in the GM's words, a
"foundation."
"You want to make the painful period as short as possible," said Regier. "It's
really difficult to put an exact timeline on it. It's difficult standing here to say
it's going to be a year or two."
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667710
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres' Larsson, known as 'The Bull,' has shown improvement as scorer
April 3, 2013 - 4:46 PM
By John Vogl
New Sabres acquisition Johan Larsson is known as a defensive forward, a
powerful center/winger who goes by the nickname of "The Bull" in his native
Sweden. He's begun to add finesse, too.
Larsson, a 20-year-old who is coming to Buffalo as part of the deal that sent
Jason Pominville to Minnesota, had 12 goals in 49 games during his last
season in the Swedish league. In the American Hockey League this year,
Larsson recorded 15 goals and 37 points in 62 games.
"Johan is a player that has continued to get better since he was a young
player first being evaluated for the draft," his agent, Craig Oster, said about
the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder. "He’s not a tall player but extremely stocky,
very, very strong. I think his nickname in Sweden is 'the Bull.'
"He’s demonstrated at different times a little bit more of a scoring touch than
people had originally anticipated.
"He can play center, wing, penalty killer. If I had to categorize him,
responsibly defensive forward who can also chip in offensively and has
some offensive creativity."
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667711
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres trade Jason Pominville to Minnesota for prospects Johan Larsson,
Matt Hackett, two picks
April 3, 2013 - 3:32 PM
By John Vogl
It's official: The Sabres have made a significant alteration to their franchise,
shipping captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild.
The Sabres will receive Johan Larsson, a 20-year-old center/winger who
has played one NHL game. Larsson was captain of Sweden's world junior
team. He was a second-round pick in the 2010 draft. The 5-foot-10, 200pounder had 15 goals, 22 assists and 37 points in 62 minor-league games
this season.
He's been categorized as a responsibly defensive forward who can also
chip in offensively.
The Sabres also will receive goaltender Matt Hackett, a 23-year-old who
was picked in the third round in 2009. He has played 13 NHL games,
including one this season. In his career, he is 3-7 with a 2.64 goals-against
average and .914 save percentage.
Hackett was 19-20-3 with a 2.66 and .907 save percentage with the Wild's
minor-league club in Houston. He's 6-2, 173 pounds.
TSN reports the Sabres have also received Minnesota's first-round pick this
year and a second-round selection in 2014. The Wild gets Buffalo's fourthround selection in 2014.
Pominville had spent his entire 11-year pro career in the Sabres'
organization, including the past two seasons as team captain. The right
winger has 10 goals and 25 points in 35 games this season. The 30-yearold has 185 goals and 456 points in 578 games with the Sabres.
He has one year remaining on a contract that pays $5.3 million annually.
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667712
Buffalo Sabres
Tampa trades former Canisius star Conacher to Ottawa for goaltender;
Sens visit Buffalo on Friday
April 3, 2013 - 2:24 PM
By John Vogl
Cory Conacher, the former Canisius star who was named MVP of the AHL
last season, is on his way to Ottawa.
Tampa has dealt the forward to the Senators, along with a fourth-round
pick, in exchange for goaltender Ben Bishop. The Sabres host Ottawa on
Friday.
The 23-year-old Conacher has nine goals and 24 points in 35 games to
garner consideration for NHL Rookie of the Year. He has just two goals in
the last 17 games.
Tampa Bay has been in dire need of goaltending, though, and Bishop was
in a logjam with the Senators behind injured Craig Anderson and prospect
Robin Lehner. Bishop, 21, is 8-5 with a 2.45 goals-against average and
.922 save percentage.
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667713
Buffalo Sabres
3-3-10 Acquired RW Raffi Torres from Columbus for D Nathan Paetsch,
second-round pick; traded RW Clarke MacArthur to Atlanta for third- and
fourth-round picks.
List of Sabres' deadline deals under Darcy Regier
2-28-11 Acquired LW Brad Boyes from St. Louis for second-round pick.
April 3, 2013 - 10:58 AM
2-27-12 Acquired C Cody Hodgson and D Alexander Sulzer from
Vancouver for RW Zack Kassian and D Marc-Andre Gragnani; traded C
Paul Gaustad and fourth-round pick to Nashville for first-round pick.
Buffalo News LOADED: 04.04.2013
Darcy Regier is busy every year around the trade deadline. Here are the
moves made by the Sabres' general manager.
2-4-98 Acquired Geoff Sanderson from the Vancouver Canucks in
exchange for Brad May and a third-round draft pick in 1999.
3-24-98 Acquired Paul Kruse and Jason Holland from the N.Y. Islanders in
exchange for Jason Dawe.
3-11-99 Acquired Stu Barnes from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for
Matthew Barnaby.
3-23-99 Acquired Joe Juneau and a 1999 third-round draft choice (Tim
Preston) from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Alexei Tezikov.
Traded Mike Wilson to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Rhett Warrener
and a 1999 fifth-round draft choice (Ryan Miller). Traded Derek Plante to
the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 1999 second-round draft choice (Michael
Zigomanis).
3-10-00 Acquired Chris Gratton and a second-round draft choice in 2001
from Tampa Bay in exchange for Wayne Primeau, Brian Holzinger, Cory
Sarich, and a third-round selection in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Acquired
Doug Gilmour and Jean-Pierre Dumont from Chicago in exchange for
Michal Grosek.
3-13-01 Acquired RW Donald Audette from Atlanta for C Kamil Piros and a
fourth-round pick in 2001 NHL Entry Draft; acquired Steve Heinze from
Columbus for a third-round draft pick in 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
3-19-02 Acquired C Bob Corkum from Atlanta for a fifth-round pick in 2002
NHL Entry Draft.
2-25-03 Acquired C Jakub Klepis from Ottawa in exchange for RW Vaclav
Varada and a fifth-round draft pick in 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
3-10-03 Traded C Stu Barnes to Dallas for C Mike Ryan and Dallas’
second-round draft choice in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft; Traded RW Rob
Ray to Ottawa for future considerations.
3-11-03 Acquired C Daniel Briere and Phoenix’s third-round selection in the
2004 NHL Entry Draft for C Chris Gratton and Buffalo’s fourth-round choice
in the 2004 Entry Draft.
3-08-04 Acquired Brad Brown and a sixth-round selection in the 2005 NHL
Entry Draft from Minnesota in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the
2005 NHL Entry Draft.
3-09-04 Acquired Jeff Jillson and a ninth-round selection in the 2005 NHL
Entry Draft from San Jose in exchange for Curtis Brown and Andy Delmore;
Acquired Mike Grier from Washington in exchange for Jakub Klepis.
3-09-06 Traded G Mika Noronen to Vancouver in exchange for a secondround selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
2-27-07 Acquired C Dainius Zubrus and D Timo Helbling from Washington
for Jiri Novotny and Buffalo’s first-round selection in the 2007 Entry Draft;
acquired G Ty Conklin from Columbus in exchange for Buffalo’s fifth-round
selection in the 2007 Entry Draft; acquired D Mikko Lehtonen from Nashville
in exchange for Buffalo’s fourth-round selection in the 2007 Entry Draft;
trade Martin Biron to Philadelphia for their second-round selection in the
2007 Entry Draft.
2-26-08 Acquired Steve Bernier and a first-round selection in 2008 Entry
Draft in exchange for Brian Campbell and a seventh-round selection in
2008 Entry Draft.
3-4-09 Acquired G Mikael Tellqvist from Phoenix in exchange for a Buffalo’s
fourth round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft; Acquired C Dominic
Moore from Toronto in exchange for Buffalo’s second round selection in the
2009 NHL Entry Draft; Acquired Edmonton’s second round selection in the
2009 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for RW Ales Kotalik.
667714
Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres trade captain Jason Pominville to Wild for prospects, picks
Without Pardy, and because of a Brayden McNabb’s season-ending knee
injury suffered on March 23, the Amerks defense is a major question mark.
Teams have until April 10 to make loans within the AHL and the Sabres say
they will address the Amerks D-corps.
“We’re working on it now,” Regier said.
Apr 3, 2013 Written by Kevin Oklobzija
Even though Buffalo Sabres general manager Darcy Regier refused to use
the word “rebuilding,” Wednesday’s trade of captain Jason Pominville to the
Minnesota Wild said it for him.
The Sabres acquired third-year goalie Matt Hackett, rookie center/winger
Johan Larsson, a first-round draft pick in June and a second-round pick in
2014 for Pominville and Buffalo’s fourth-round pick in 2014.
Hackett and Larsson will be assigned to the Rochester Americans and
presumably be available for Friday’s home game against the Lake Erie
Monsters.
For procedural purposes, the Sabres also sent right winger Brian Flynn,
center/left winger Luke Adam and defenseman Mark Pysyk back to the
Amerks and then immediately recalled them. Players in the NHL needed to
be, at least on paper, assigned to an AHL team by 3 p.m. Wednesday in
order to be eligible for the Calder Cup playoffs.
The Sabres have stockpiled draft picks since the weekend. They traded
defenseman Jordan Leopold to the St. Louis Blues for a second-round and
conditional fourth- or fifth-round pick in June, and then obtained two
second-round picks from the Los Angeles Kings (in 2014 and 2015).
“It allows us to get a process — I’m not going to use the R word — but it
continues to allow us to draft and develop players,” Regier said.
In other words, to rebuild the roster through the draft.
“Probably last time we did this: Jason Pominville’s draft (2001),” Regier
said. “It really is the lifeblood of the organization and it is the surest way to
get back up and running.”
In Regier’s words, draft picks “represent the currency we use in the National
Hockey League. Younger players can have an impact at an earlier age than
they used to. You need those star-quality players as part of the process to
win the Stanley Cup.
“It’s no fun being where we are (in 12th place in the Eastern Conference).
But there is an opportunity (to improve through near-future drafts) and what
we’re going to do is seize the opportunity.”
Pominville is fourth on the Sabres in scoring with 10 goals, 15 assists and
25 points in 37 games. He has been with the organization his entire 10-year
professional career, including three-plus with the Amerks.
“Everything he represents as a player you can multiply by a big number as
a person,” Regier said.
While Larsson and Hackett come to the Amerks, defenseman Adam Pardy
and forwards Marcus Foligno, Cody Hodgson and Kevin Porter were not
returned.
Regier said because NHL teams are limited to four recalls after the
Wednesday trade deadline, three immediately were used to send back, and
then call up, Pysyk, Adam and Flynn.
They saved the fourth to allow themselves flexibility over the final 22 days
of their season.
Porter required waivers, so when he was not exposed to waivers on
Tuesday the Amerks knew they would not be getting him back.
To avoid the recall barrier, Regier said he asked the Wild to reassign
Hackett and Larsson to Minnesota’s AHL team in Houston before the
Pominville trade became official. That way, both can be transferred to the
Amerks without any recall implications.
Even though the Sabres have just six defensemen, Regier said they could
not term Pardy an emergency recall because their own actions — the
trading of Leopold and Regehr — and not injuries created the shortage.
“You can’t create your own emergency,” Regier said.
Democrat and Chronicle LOADED: 04.04.2013
667715
Calgary Flames
Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff to stay in Calgary: sources
Calgary Herald April 3, 2013
With the National Hockey League’s trade deadline only hours away, early
reports indicate Miikka Kiprusoff is not going to be moved by the Calgary
Flames.
According to several sources, the Flames’ No. 1 goalie has decided not to
leave Calgary. So the Toronto Maple Leafs will not get their hands on
Kiprusoff.
Kiprusoff, 36, has been the team’s starter since November 2003 when he’d
been acquired from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2005 secondround draft pick (which turned out to be Marc-Edouard Vlasic).
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667716
Calgary Flames
Flames flattened by Oilers in embarrassing defensive display
It’s hard to say if the Oilers even noticed.
Because before the first-period buzzer could sound, the game was tied
thanks to tallies from Sam Gagner and Ryan Whitney.
Calgary’s leaky defence struggles in 8-2 defeat
Then three straight man-advantage conversions — by three first-overall
draft picks (Nail Yakupov, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) — turned the
night into a laugher.
By Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald April 4, 2013 1:04 AM
The chuckles continued in the third period as Jordan Eberle counted twice
and Yakupov scored again.
Before the game, the men in charge had been in agreement.
“They got a couple of goals early and, credit to us, we really didn’t change
our game,” said Hall. “We didn’t panic. We just stuck with things. That’s
what you have to do. That’s us maturing as a team.”
General manager Jay Feaster noted that his employees, with the National
Hockey League’s trade deadline finally behind them, are likely to play
better.
“We should see that on the ice sheet tonight,” Feaster said Wednesday
afternoon, “that there are some guys who are feeling good about the fact
that they weren’t moved.”
Coach Bob Hartley, too, pointed out that the distractions are gone — clear
sailing to the finish line now.
“There’s no more hurdles,” said Hartley. “During the season, there’s the
Christman break when sometimes . . . you lose a couple of guys (who) go
into the Christmas break a little too early. Then you get the all-star game,
same thing. The trade deadline. They’re all hurdles in the regular season.
This year there has been only this trade deadline.”
Free of disturbances, free of pressure, it had been assumed that these
Calgary Flames would thrive. That, unburdened, these Flames were ready
to get back to the business of playing hockey.
How very wrong everyone was.
Beyond the brute force of the fourth line, beyond two early goals from Matt
Stajan, the Flames had precious little to offer.
And that, in the face of the high-flying Edmonton Oilers, turned out to be a
joke.
The Oilers, in bagging their fifth straight win, merrily mashed the Calgarians
8-2 in National Hockey League action Wednesday at the Scotiabank
Saddledome.
“That was embarrassing for us as players,” said Mark Giordano. “For us
guys who have been around here and want to call ourselves veteran guys,
that’s disappointing. Myself, I feel embarrassed of my own play and,
obviously, of that loss.”
Giordano didn’t want to hear about the effects of the trade spotlight
anymore.
“That’s a terrible excuse,” he countered. “The deadline is a business. It is
what it is. We’re still playing a game for a living. You have to prepare and
be better. That was just . . . there’s no way to explain that. I know it’s
obviously frustrating for everyone else. But for us as players, it’s got to
come from within. The pride thing. Just being a professional and making it
hard.
“In our own zone, it’s far from good enough.”
The Flames, outshot 39-21, allowed three power-play goals — all in the
second period, which wrenched what had been a close game into the
travellers’ favour.
“Teams aren’t going to let up on you,” Giordano continued. “They’re a rival
of ours and they just took four points from us in the last two games, which
helps them push for a playoff spot. It just seemed like we were giving away
too many chances, which we were. But when we got down, we tried to
press and you create worse things for yourself when you try to make plays
through the neutral zone and at their blue line.
“As players, you’re frustrated and all that stuff. But even though you’re
down, you have to play the same way. And we didn’t. We played a soft
game.”
And if ever there was a team designed to excel in a soft game, it is these
speed-merchant Oilers.
The outburst from Stajan — goals at 2:35, 5:18, of the first period —
seemed substantial at the time, seemed like a great sign for the Flames.
The damage toted up?
Five points for Hall. Four for Nugent-Hopkins.
“To be down 2-0 and win 8-2 is pretty cool,” said Hall. “Most important,
we’re continuing our streak and we’re in a playoff spot now. We’re right
where we want to be. When you win five in a row, you want to keep it going.
No better time than (Thursday in Vancouver).”
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667717
Calgary Flames
Johnson: Flames won’t be content with a lengthy rebuild
A recent vote of confidence from on high, perhaps? A sense of blessed
relief that the long-neglected overhaul had finally been given organizational
benediction? Whatever, the man seemed to have his money pitch, his
fastball, back.
Even though the trade deadline has passed, GM Jay Feaster will remain in
evaluation mode as he prepares club for next season
And considering he remains in charge of the show, however you may
personally grade his performance since taking the big job and/or over the
past week, that’s a good thing.
By GEORGE JOHNSON, Calgary Herald April 3, 2013
And he made it perfectly clear that in these troubled times, he simply will
not stand for half-hearted efforts, petulant pouting or any lazy, easy ways
out.
Another deadline has come and gone. The tremors, the aftershocks, to the
jarring seismic activity registered hereabouts over the last week, were, as it
turns out, mild.
Blake Comeau to Columbus? Nice fella. Hard worker. But not exactly offthe-Richter-Scale, earth-shaking stuff.
So with the 1 p.m. MDT trade moratorium passed, auditions to inhabit this
post-Iginla, post-Bouwmeester, post-apocalyptic world of the Calgary
Flames began last night against those whippersnapper Oilers. And, no, not
only for the grass-green, dewy-eyed kids they’ll be plucking out of
Abbotsford for a look-see, either.
The big-ticket guys. The remaining marquee names.
They’ll be specimens wriggling under a microscope, too.
The effort level from the young ’uns, looking to make a mark, leave an
impression, gain a foothold, is a given. Energy and enthusiasm being, after
all, their stock in trade. They’ll make mistakes, sure, but they’re going to be
busting their fannies regardless of the famous names that have departed,
the growing sense of playoff hopelessness.
They have no reputations to sit on, no sense of entitlement to surmount, no
time for dissatisfaction or personal pity parties.
“They know where I am,” Feaster countered when the possibility of veteran
malaise was brought up during Wednesday’s post-deadline availability.
“They know where I am and if that’s their attitude I wished they’d come and
seen me before 3 p.m. Eastern time.
Any player that’s of a mind to roll over and wait for a tummy tickle had best
prepare for a change of address come summer. No matter what their
standing within the dressing room.
“We lead a pretty charmed life, I think,” he said, with welcome candour. “We
have a lot of people that come here and pay good money to enable use to
live the life that we live. And we have owners that support us and allow us
to do what we want to do, spend to the cap and commit the resources.
“And as I said earlier, every one of us, from me right on through to the
assistant medical trainer — and that counts every player in that room — we
have an obligation to be the best we can be, to make sure we’re giving our
fans and our owners good value.
“That’ll get me on Sports Centre tonight, I guess. And I don’t mean to be
flippant about that. But honestly, the veterans . . . let’s start playing.
“Let’s go.”
There are 13 games remaining. The organizational gaze has shifted, of
course, off towards the horizon. But the challenge of the here and now for
any player is to make plain beyond a shadow of a doubt their desire to be a
part of that horizon.
“There are guys in that room . . . the consternation and concern that they’ve
shown over whether they were going to be moved or not,” said Feaster.
“We’ve had a number of guys tell the coaching staff ‘I’ll feel so much better
at one o’clock Mountain Time today.’
“Candidly, I expect that we’re going to see that translated on the ice sheet
tonight. We should see that translated on the ice sheet tonight.
“If you want out, I’m a pretty available guy.
“There are some guys who feel good that they weren’t moved.”
“Seriously, if that’s the case, if there are veteran players who are ‘Woe is
me!’ and ‘I lost my dog and my best friend!’ and ‘My wife ran away with the
lawn-mowing guy!’ then come see me.”
Easy to say, of course.
There’ll be no need for anyone to bother knocking on the GM’s door.
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.04.2013
The guilty parties will be easy to spot.
For as undeniably difficult as this current situation is, the compounding
frustration of playing out the string, watching cornerstone players dealt
away with nothing immediate in the way of aid coming back in return, the
worst thing any of them can do is now is the minimum.
Rebuilds are hellish enough beasts to try to sell to a paying public without
piling on the problem with an unmistakable lack of try.
“We recognize that we have a job to do,” emphasized Feaster. “The
preparation and the approach of the coaching staff is: We’re professionals
and we have an obligation. We have an obligation to our fans, first of all.
We have an obligation to our ownership. And, candidly, we have an
obligation to each other. Every one of us, we all have a job to do, and we
need to do it professionally and with pride.
“And that’s how we intend to see it out.”
He spoke again Wednesday of the 180-degree switch in philosophy, of the
importance and quality of this upcoming draft and the very real possibility
the Flames will have three first-round selections. Of how he considered few
of his assets “untouchable” as he worked the phone and the deadline
approached. Of how, despite erroneous — and he felt irresponsible —
reports to the contrary, he had, never, ever put Curtis Glencross on the
NHL’s version of the Home Shopping Channel.
Yes, Jay Feaster, who for the last month and half looked like a guy who
actually had just lost dog or his best friend seemed a revitalized spirit
Wednesday.
No time like the present to go out and actually prove it.
667718
Calgary Flames
Veteran not overly surprised by the deal, given that his contract was
expiring
By Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald April 3, 2013
It had been just another game-day lunch with chums.
Lee Stempniak was there. Chris Butler and Derek Smith, too.
Blake Comeau, multi-tasking, had also been having an innocent text
exchange with his agent, Denver-based Kurt Overhardt. Maybe, Overhardt
was suggesting, they could break bread next week when the Calgary
Flames visit the Colorado Avalanche.
Then. Suddenly.
“He texted me back five minutes later and said, ‘You might have been
traded. Stand by,’ ” Comeau said. “Didn’t hear anything for 15, 20 minutes,
then I got the phone call from him saying that it was probably a done deal.”
Did your lunchmates immediately become glued to their own phones?
Comeau laughed.
“I think everyone was uneasy,” he said. “Who knows who was going to get
traded? Or who wasn’t? I think guys are happy that the day’s over with.
Now you can just move on to playing hockey.”
Comeau, one of the good guys, eventually learned the specifics of the NHL
trade-deadline deal — that he’d been shuttled to the Columbus Blue
Jackets for a fifth-round pick. Which came as a mix of good news — joining
a team only a single point out of the Western Conference’s eighth rung —
and bad news.
“A little bit bittersweet, I think,” said the 27-year-old. “Being out west, having
my parents here, my wife’s family here, getting to know the guys over the
last year here, it’s always tough leaving.
“That being said, with my contract being up and us not being in the playoff
picture right now . . . in the back of my mind, I knew there was a chance
that I could be traded.”
Salvaged off the waiver wire last winter — goalless, he’d been struggling
mightily with the New York Islanders — Comeau was re-signed in the
summer.
The player responded with an earnest effort, collecting seven points in 33
appearances while operating anywhere from fourth-line wing to first-line
centre.
“I think I can bring some things to (Columbus) with my physical play and my
speed,” said Comeau. “Speaking with them on the phone, that’s what
they’re excited to have. I feel that, as my ice time grew with the Flames, my
numbers started to grow and I started to gain confidence. Hopefully, that
can continue. It’s going to be fun to join that playoff push.”
Comeau went on to describe the landscape over recent days with the
Flames, watching the likes of Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester shipped.
“It’s been a bit of a different atmosphere in the room,” said Comeau. “You
never know who’s going to be traded and who’s not. You hear rumours.
You hear names. Then you see guys like Iggy and Bouw being traded —
they’re such big parts of this team, big presences in our locker-room.
“I don’t think it was easy for anyone to see those guys gone. But when you
don’t win games and you’re not living up to the expectations, there’s going
to be changes. That’s what happened this year.”
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667719
Calgary Flames
Feaster rebuffs nearly every team on the Curtis Glencross front
understand where we are. We understand what’s ahead of us. But from the
standpoint of the organization, the expectation, this is not one where you
say to the players, ‘Well, we’re in some full-blown rebuild model. Don’t
worry about it. Don’t worry about winning. Don’t worry about improving.
Don’t worry about competing.’ Again, no excuses.
GM calls feisty winger one of his untouchables as Flames move forward
with rebuild plan
“We have players we need to sign. We have guys that we’ve acquired that
we want to sign. We’re in the process of signing some of our draft picks.
We’ll be working hard in the off-season to plug the holes.”
By Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald April 3, 2013
C-NOTES: Flames prospect Johnny Gaudreau, after a sensational
sophomore season at Boston College, is a Hobey Baker Memorial Award
finalist. Which begs the question — is it time for the wee winger to turn pro?
“I don’t believe that we should ever be in a situation where we’re dictating to
the player, ‘This is what you have to do,’ ” said Feaster. “I believe that that’s
an important family decision. The athlete has to feel comfortable. The
parent has to feel comfortable. And what I’ve always said is, ‘We’ll always
be there supporting.’ ”
He didn’t keep track, but the number was big. Like, really big. Nearly every
team, in fact.
Calgary Flames boss Jay Feaster figures he fielded calls from 25 — “and
maybe more” — general managers, all curious about the availability of
Curtis Glencross.
Those inquiries, however, were fruitless.
Because No. 20 is not going to budge, despite the keen interest.
Nor is Mark Giordano.
Ditto T.J. Brodie and Sven Baertschi.
Beyond the aforementioned four skaters, Feaster declined to offer the
identities of those considered untouchable by the Flames. But it’s hard to
imagine there are many more. If any.
“It’s a small list, it’s a small list,” Feaster acknowledged an hour after the
expiration of the National Hockey League’s trade deadline. “We’ve made a
decision that we need to go in a different direction. Every guy’s in a different
situation, in terms of what their contracts look like, how much money is on
the contract, how term is left . . . but clearly that list of guys that we wouldn’t
consider (trading), it was shorter than in years past.”
Nevertheless, as eager as the local manager had been, Wednesday turned
out to be relatively peaceful.
After a week in which the Flames hocked Jarome Iginla and Jay
Bouwmeester, the day produced a single swap in Calgary — Blake
Comeau to Columbus for a fifth-round pick.
Feaster was asked if he had expected to get more accomplished before the
1 p.m. horn.“You know what? You never know,” he replied. “Certainly, I
thought that there were some things that we put out there, some players
that we put out there, that I thought might be attractive, depending on how
things went down for some other teams. I’m at the point now where I don’t
know if I ever have an expectation one way or another. We just see where
it’s going to go.”
Not surprisingly, with the Flames very publicly in sell-mode, there had been
no shortage of (potential) action.
Vultures were circling.
“We made a lot of phone calls, we took a lot of phone calls,” said Feaster.
“Would it have been nice if we could have done other things and wheeled a
couple more second(-round picks)? Sure. When you’ve made the decision
that we’ve made, stockpiling assets is an important thing. Yet, as we know,
it takes two teams to get a deal done. Sometimes, you just don’t have a
trading partner.”
Discussing the difficulties of doing deals these days, Feaster pointed to
Wednesday’s quip from Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, who,
still untraded, had announced that his “contract sucks.”
“That’s just a great comment from a player as to what’s going on,” Feaster
said. “I don’t think it’s an indictment of talent that nothing more happened
(on deadline day). I think with every one of these, it’s no longer just about
the player and the talent of the player. But it’s about contract situations. It’s
about term. It’s about money. It’s about cap space.”
Lack of fireworks, yes, but this is only one day.
The teardown, freshly started, surely continues.
Even if pressure from the top remains the same.
“(Owner) Murray Edwards told me that he expects to be in the playoffs next
year — so there’s my marching order,” said Feaster, whose club is on the
brink of its fourth straight post-season absence. “It’s a process. We
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667720
Calgary Flames
Kiprusoff nixed trade to Leafs after experiencing ‘doubts’ he should leave
Calgary
Goalie remains with Flames, will sit down after season to decide whether to
keep playing or retire
By Vicki Hall, Calgary Herald April 3, 2013
He received the hook in both of his last two appearances, including a
stinker Monday night in Edmonton that saw him surrender three goals on
the first five shots.
“It’s been a pretty tough last few weeks,” Kiprusoff conceded. “But I’m not
going to use that as an excuse. I haven’t played well, and I know I have to
pick up my game.
“But I’m pretty happy this is over now, and I can play hockey again.”
When asked if he wants to win a Stanley Cup, Kiprusoff replied in the
affirmative.
“That’s been my dream since I was a little boy, and it still is.”
Does he plan to retire?
For nine years, Miikka Kiprusoff brought Calgary Flames fans out of their
seats with jaw-dropping saves that left people wondering how in the world
that just happened.
For nine years, the sensational play of Miikka Kiprusoff perhaps too often
camouflaged the sins of the 18 guys in front of him.
But in these the twilight days of his storied career, questions loom large in
these parts over the legacy of No. 34.
Is he a hero after (literally) saving the day for the better part of a decade on
a team with serious defensive deficiencies?
Or is he a villain for spurning a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs that would
have seen the Flames receive at least something in return for the former
Vezina Trophy winner?
Did the love affair between an all-star goalie and a city cease Wednesday
at 1 p.m. MT as the NHL trade deadline passed for another season.
“I sure hope not,” says general manager Jay Feaster. “If you take a step
and look back and say, ‘this guy has been pretty good for this organization.’
And I think the world of him. I love the competitor that he is.
“This has been a hard time.”
A hard time for Kiprusoff. A hard time for his employer. And a hard time for
Calgary Flames fans digesting the sorry state of their hockey team.
As it turns out, Feaster pulled Kiprusoff aside — along with Jay
Bouwmeester and Jarome Iginla — in separate, private discussions during
a mid-March road trip to California. Those talks led to the eventual Iginla
trade to Pittsburgh and Bouwmeester move to St. Louis.
In Kiprusoff’s case, the 36-year-old’s no-trade clause expired last summer.
So on paper, the Finnish netminder appeared the easiest chip to ship to a
contender in exchange for prospects or draft picks.
But word broke last week that, in the event of a trade, Kiprusoff would
simply refuse to report to a new team with one year remaining on a six-year
deal.
“We all know I did talk with the Leafs,” Kiprusoff said Wednesday night.
“You know another team wants you, and I was thinking a lot about it. And I
got that feeling, doubts, that it was the right thing to do to go there.
“If you start second-guessing . . . I don’t think it’s right for the Leafs, if my
heart is not 100 per cent in it.”
Under the terms of his contract, Kiprusoff’s cap hit is set to remain at $5.83
million next season, but he’ll make $1.5 million should he choose to report
in 2013/14.
“I’ve been doing lots of thinking the last few days,” Kiprusoff said. “I ended
up this morning talking to Jay Feaster and I told him for me, I would love to
stay here and finish off the season as a Flame.”
The rebuilding Flames could have dealt Kiprusoff to Toronto against his
wishes in a conditional deal for picks and/or prospects.
Instead, they let the matter drop.
“We talked as an organization and said that we felt that it was appropriate
to honour that request,” Feaster said. “We’re going to keep Miikka Kiprusoff
here. He’s a member of the Calgary Flames. He will continue with us
through the end of the season.”
By his standards, Kiprusoff’s numbers this season are downright deplorable
with a goals-against-average of 3.64 and a save percentage of .868.
“Well, I think I’m going to finish up the season and we’re going to sit down
with the Flames after that, and we’ll go from there.”
Kiprusoff has clearly not been himself in recent weeks with a new baby at
home and his name swirling in trade rumours. According to Feaster,
Kiprusoff’s wife Seidi experienced complications during her pregnancy. The
baby arrived two weeks early and stayed in hospital for a time after Seidi
was discharged.
According to Kiprusoff, all is now good at home with mom, baby Oskar and
big brother Aaro.
“The reality of it is that there are a lot of difficult circumstances,” Feaster
said. “Here’s a player who said, ‘I want to be here.’ I think there’s something
noble in that, too.
“I understand we all get emotional. Fans certainly have that right to get
emotional.
“I would just hope fans, the more that they look at it, they’ll say, ‘you know
what? That’s pretty first-class guy who wants to be here and is still
committed to the Flaming C.”
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667721
Calgary Flames
Flames deal Blake Comeau to Blue Jackets
By Vicki Hall, Calgary Herald April 3, 2013
The Calgary Flames appear to have pulled off their first deal of 2013 NHL
trade deadline day.
According to TSN’s Aaron Ward, general manager Jay Feaster has shipped
right wing Blake Comeau to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifth-round
pick..
“I think most guys will be relieved when this day is over,” Comeau was
saying after the morning skate. “And we can just get on with our game
tonight.”
After a 2011-12 season to forget, Comeau signed a one-year, $1.25 million
deal last summer with the Flames in hopes of getting his career back on
track.
In 33 games this season, Comeau, 27, has four goals and seven points.
More to come . . .
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667722
Calgary Flames
Calgary 4 7 10—21
Power plays (goals-chances) — Edmonton: 3-5, Calgary: 0-1.
Game Story: Edmonton Oilers 8, Calgary Flames 2
Goal (shots-saves) — Edmonton: D Dubnyk (21-19, W, 12-10-6). Calgary: J
MacDonald (39-31, L, 4-6-1).
By Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald April 4, 2013 1:07 AM
Referees — Dave Jackson, Francois St. Laurent. Linesmen — Ryan
Galloway, Derek Nansen.
THREE STARS
Att. at Calgary, AB — 19,289.
1. The Herald’s Three Stars
THE ROSTERS
1. Edmonton LW Taylor Hall — With one goal, four assists, lad extends his
point streak to six games (15 points).
Calgary scratches — D Derek Smith (lower body), C Paul Byron (hand).
Man-games lost: 83
2. Edmonton C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Front and centre in visitors’ threegoal second period. Four points on the night.
Edmonton scratches — D Theo Peckham, D Mark Fistric, C Jerred
Smithson, C Eric Belanger (groin). Man-games lost: 84
3. Edmonton RW Jordan Eberle — Adds a pair of third-period goals to
conclude the provincial drubbing
NEXT UP
WHY THE FLAMES LOST
Because, after a peppy opening act, they cough up three goals — all on the
power play — in the second period.
Because, defensively, they are bound for dead last in team goals-against
average.
THE BIG FIGHT
The other night in Edmonton, there had been a few “dinner invitations” (as
Flames coach Bob Hartley referred to them Wednesday morning). So it
doesn’t take much. A bump. A glove rattle. Calgary LW Steve Begin and
RW Mike Brown exchange rapid-fire punches — lefts from the former, rights
from the latter.
THE BIG SAVE
Early in the second period, Edmonton G Devan Dubnyk wanders behind his
net to make a play. Unfortunately for him, the puck goes directly to C Mikael
Backlund, who fires on net. But blocking the sure goal is Dubnyk himself (in
full panic) and a sliding D Ladislav Smid..
SUMMARY
Oilers 8 Flames 2
First Period
1. Calgary, M Stajan 4 (D Wideman) 2:35.
2. Calgary, M Stajan 5 (C Glencross, L Stempniak) 5:18.
3. Edmonton, S Gagner 14 (J Petry, L Petrell) 9:27.
4. Edmonton, R Whitney 4 (T Hall, R Nugent-Hopkins) 12:59.
Penalties — M Brown Edm (Fighting) 4:27; S Begin Cgy (Fighting) 4:27; M
Backlund Cgy (Delay of Game) 19:05.
Second Period
5. Edmonton, N Yakupov 8 (pp) (S Gagner, R Whitney) 3:34.
6. Edmonton, T Hall 13 (pp) (R Nugent-Hopkins, J Schultz) 7:39.
7. Edmonton, R Nugent-Hopkins 3 (pp) (T Hall, A Hemsky) 9:51.
Penalties — M Cammalleri Cgy (Tripping) 2:21; C Sarich Cgy (Crosschecking) 6:34; C Butler Cgy (High-sticking) 9:05; S Horcoff Edm (Hooking)
16:58.
Third Period
8. Edmonton, J Eberle 11 (T Hall, R Nugent-Hopkins) 9:56.
9. Edmonton, J Eberle 12 (T Hall) 17:08.
10. Edmonton, N Yakupov 9 (R Smyth) 18:57.
Penalties — R Jones Edm (Fighting) 5:43; N Yakupov Edm (Roughing)
5:43; C Glencross Cgy (Roughing) 5:43; C Butler Cgy (Fighting) 5:43; R
Whitney Edm (Fighting) 13:15; T Jackman Cgy (Instigator) 13:15; T
Jackman Cgy (Fighting) 13:15; T Jackman Cgy (Misconduct) 13:15.
Shots on goal By Edmonton 14 12 13—39
The Flames flutter to San Jose to prepare for Friday’s match against Brad
Stuart and the Sharks (8:30 p.m., Sportsnet West, FAN 960 radio) at HP
Pavilion. Saturday, they face the home-ice Vancouver Canucks. Monday,
it’s the Colorado Avalanche.
Calgary Herald: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667723
Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames trade Blake Comeau to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a
draft pick
By RANDY SPORTAK, Calgary Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 01:01 PM MDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 01:50 PM MDT
Blake Comeau has reportedly became the next Calgary Flames player dealt
away in the firesale.
Comeau was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday for a fifthround draft choice after netting four goals and three assists in 33 games.
Comeau is a pending unrestricted free-agent with a salary of US$1.25
million.
The 27-year-old right winger was playing on the line with Michael
Cammalleri and Alex Tanguay after Jarome Iginla was traded away.
The Flames also called up Roman Horak from the minors.
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667724
Calgary Flames
Miikka Kiprusoff to stay with the Calgary Flames, but he won't be starting for
tonight's tilt against the Oilers
By WES GILBERTSON, Calgary Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 09:46 AM MDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 01:21 PM MDT
Miikka Kiprusoff reportedly isn't going anywhere before Wednesday's 1 p.m.
trade deadline.
He's not starting for the Calgary Flames in Wednesday's Battle of Alberta,
either.
The struggling goaltender arrived at work Wednesday morning and
reportedly told Flames management he would refuse to report to a new
team if moved, then skipped an optional morning skate at the Saddledome.
Joey MacDonald will be between the pipes against the Edmonton Oilers (8
p.m., Sportsnet West, Sportsnet 960).
“I prepare myself every game to be ready,” MacDonald said. “As a backup,
you have to be ready at all times. The time that you don't think you're
playing is when you're gonna play. You just prepare the same way and try
to forget about all the focus on the trade deadline.”
That's easier said than done for the squad at the Saddledome.
The 36-year-old Kiprusoff has been at the centre of trade talks this week,
with the Toronto Maple Leafs being granted permission to chat with him and
his agent, Larry Kelly, about his future plans.
Although he does not have a no-trade clause, Kiprusoff has maintained he
doesn't want to leave Calgary and would refuse to take his gear to a new
city. With his front-loaded deal dipping to only US$1.5 million next season,
there is speculation he could retire.
Kiprusoff didn't speak Wednesday morning. After the morning skate, the 33year-old MacDonald sounded hopeful Kiprusoff was, as has been widely
reported, staying put.
“He's a great guy and the way his personality is, he handles it really well
and I'm kind of the same,” MacDonald said. “It's there. You know what
could happen. But, on the other hand, we laughed and we were joking
about it in the locker-room today. If something happens, it happens and it
works out good for him. If not, if he stays here, it's awesome.
“I've only been here for about a month and a half with him and he's a great
guy, one of the best goaltenders I've played with, and I hope to enjoy some
more time with him.”
Kiprusoff is Calgary's all-time wins leader with 303 triumphs but has
struggled this season, posting a 6-10-2 record with a 3.64 goals-against
average and .868 save percentage.
He was yanked after surrendering three goals on six shots in Monday's 4-1
road loss to the Oilers at Rexall Place, the second consecutive game he
has been pulled.
Flames head coach Bob Hartley told reporters his decision to give
MacDonald the nod was a combination of his relief performance and what's
been a stressful stretch for Kiprusoff, who's been facing the distraction of
trade rumours and also welcomed a second son to the world.
“It's a combination of both,” Hartley said. “I think Joey played very good. At
the same time, it's been a tough couple of weeks for Miikka. To just to give
him a break, and I think Joey deserves the start.”
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667725
Calgary Flames
Flames ship Comeau to Columbus
By RANDY SPORTAK, Calgary Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 05:16 PM MDT
Blake Comeau wasn’t broadsided by the news, considering his team’s
position.
Nor was he expecting it with so many other candidates around him.
Comeau was the last of the Calgary Flames jettisoned in the pre-tradedeadline date portion of the club’s rebuild, the only player traded
Wednesday, sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifth-round draft
choice.
“I wasn’t caught off-guard, but I was, at the same time,” Comeau said when
reached after the trade. “I knew my deal was done and I was unrestricted,
but at the same time, I hadn’t heard my name through the media, through
my agent, through the Flames or anything like that, so I was caught offguard a little.”
The mixed emotions didn’t end there, either, for the 27-year-old Comeau,
who is on a US$1.25-million contract this season.
Both him and his wife have family in Calgary, so this was pretty much
home, even if it was with a Flames team near the bottom of the standings.
At the same time, though, the Blue Jackets are just outside the playoff
picture — two points back of eighth place before Wednesday’s NHL action
— but making a push to reach the second season.
The Blue Jackets, normally a team at the bottom of the standings, were one
of the busiest teams on deadline day, acquiring Marian Gaborik from the
New York Rangers for Derick Brassard, John Moore, Derek Dorsett and a
sixth-round draft choice.
The Jackets also traded away goalie Steve Mason to the Philadelphia
Flyers for goalie Michael Leighton and a third-round pick.
Going from a Flames team which has thrown in the towel to an organization
giving its all is exciting.
“I think everyone in Calgary wished we were in a playoff position, but when
you’re not, changes are going to be made, and that was the case here,”
said Comeau, who collected four goals and three assists in 33 games this
season.
“I haven’t been fortunate enough to play in the playoffs yet in the NHL, so
I’m excited about going there, trying to fit in and contribute to help
Columbus get into the playoffs. I think that’s what every player wants.”
The way Comeau bounced back after a forgettable 2011-12 campaign —
five goals in 74 games — and being claimed off waivers from the New York
Islanders, he probably deserves that chance.
“I’m not 100% satisfied, I wish my numbers were a little bit better, but I think
it was a slow start, opportunity-wise, at the start of the year, but I think that
was a new coaching staff trying to learn about me as a player,” he said. “I’m
sure they didn’t know much about me as a player just like I didn’t know
much about them as a coaching staff. I think the more I played more for
Bob (Hartley), the more confidence he had in me and expanded my role.
“Then, I think my numbers started to improve.”
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667726
Calgary Flames
Flames playoff goal delusional
"Again, no excuses here. That's going to be the approach we take to it."
It's a solid message for the players, but management should be focused
entirely on two, three or four years down the road -- not self-preservation
over the next calendar year.
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
By Eric Francis, Calgary Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 05:46 PM MDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 10:12 PM MDT
It was as troubling a revelation as it was unexpected.
Punctuating a week that saw the Calgary Flames gut the team by trading its
franchise forward and best defenceman, GM Jay Feaster poured cold water
on a fan base finally on board with the massive overhaul required here.
Asked at Wednesday's post-deadline press conference how long it might be
until the organization sees the fruits of its recent purge, Feaster made a
troubling declaration: "Murray Edwards told me last evening that he expects
to be in the playoffs next year," said Feaster.
"So, there's my marching order."
The room went silent, which was in stark contrast to the citywide gasps
from horrified fans and the laughter from the rest of the hockey world.
Just when it appeared the Flames were finally ready to move
wholeheartedly in the right direction, Edwards issued the type of directive
that got this franchise into this mess in the first place.
Instead of building slowly towards something the city can eventually be
proud of again, comments like that suggest the organization is destined to,
once again, ignore the virtues of patience and better judgment by aiming for
something that is not only completely unattainable but counterproductive.
Not so, argued president Ken King, who heard the rapid backlash.
"Trying to win and rebuilding are not mutually exclusive," insisted King.
"We are not straddling the line of trying to balance -- we are completely
committed to the rebuilding process and should be judged on our recent
and future moves."
To think a team can jettison Jarome Iginla, Jay Bouwmeester and likely lose
Miikka Kiprusoff to retirement and somehow snap a four-year playoff
drought despite receiving no NHLers in return is beyond nonsensical.
It's delusional.
Intellectually dishonest.
So, why even float the idea out there?
While it's important players continue to strive for wins throughout the
process, standings should be irrelevant the next year or two. Improving with
a re-stocked lineup should be the goal, however long it takes.
Feaster admitted Monday he hadn't been as intellectually honest as he
could have been the last two seasons by mortgaging the future to help a
bad team. Edwards' stated goal promotes more of the same.
The stage finally appeared to be set the last week for a prolonged rebuild
fans have been screaming for. Calgarians are willing to sit through the
growing pains absolutely necessary for every organization in pro sport to
endure before going from the basement to Cup challengers.
The Flames' age-old mandate calling for a team to challenge for the Cup
every year isn't realistic. Every franchise in every sport has to eventually
take a step or two back to take one step forward.
By trying to emulate the Harlem Globetrotters, the Flames have looked
more like the Washington Generals by advancing past the first round of the
playoffs once in the last 24 years.
No one expects Feaster to admit the obvious goal is to lose games while
building skill and experience, but he sure as hell shouldn't be pushed into
doing exactly what this sordid bunch has done for the last handful of years.
"From the standpoint of the organization, the expectation, this is not one
where you say to the players 'we are in some full-blown rebuild model, don't
worry about winning, don't worry about improving, don't worry about
competing,'" said Feaster.
Flames aim for quick rebuild
available guy ... If that’s the case, if there are veteran players who are
thinking, ‘Woe is me and I lost my dog and my best friend and my wife ran
away with the lawn-mowing guy’, then come see and we’ll see what we can
do.
By WES GILBERTSON, Calgary Sun
“Each and every one of us, from me right on through to the assistant
medical trainer, and that counts every player in that room, we have an
obligation to be the best that we can be.”
667727
Calgary Flames
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 05:31 PM MDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 06:25 PM MDT
Good enough to be a playoff team next season?
That, apparently, is what they’re shooting for.
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
Here’s the thing Calgary Flames fans need to remember about a rebuild.
It doesn’t happen overnight.
It doesn’t even happen in a hurry.
Case in point, the Edmonton Oilers, who might have the best collection of
young forwards in the NHL but have been rebuilding since Justin Bieber
was a middle-school student and are no lock to end their playoff drought
this season, either.
“I’d be lying if I said that there wasn’t times last year, and even this year,
when you’re thinking ‘When is this going to end?’ ” admitted Oilers winger
Jordan Eberle after Wednesday’s morning skate at the Saddledome.
“It’s been tough.”
It’s been more than tough. It’s been 2,483 days since there was a postseason showdown at Rexall Place.
Maybe that’s why Flames GM Jay Feaster, whose squad has already gone
three years without a playoff berth and has essentially assured a fourth, is
hesitant to even whisper the word ‘rebuild.’
He doesn’t have time for that.
As he indicated about an hour after Wednesday’s trade deadline, the
Flames ownership group has a tight timeline on bringing spring hockey
back to the Saddledome. Feaster’s job security likely depends on it.
“Murray Edwards told me last evening that he expects to be in the playoffs
next year, so there’s my marching order,” Feaster said. “It’s a process. We
understand where we are. We understand what’s ahead of us. But from the
standpoint of the organization, the expectation, this is not one where you
say to the players, ‘Well, we’re in some full-blown rebuild model. Don’t
worry about it. Don’t worry about winning. Don’t worry about improving.
Don’t worry about competing.’
“No excuses here. That’s going to be the approach we take to it, and we’ll
see how it all plays out.”
Not many folks would consider trading away all-time leading marksman
Jarome Iginla and big-minute blueliner Jay Bouwmeester for futures — four
prospects and two first-round picks — as the initial steps to icing a playoff
team in the 2013-14 campaign, but Feaster’s proclamation proves the
Flames don’t have the patience for a complete tear-down.
The Oilers, with nine of their own first-round selections on their roster, are
proof you can sell hope.
The Flames, on the other hand, want to sell playoff tickets.
Soon.
Miikka Kiprusoff got his wish to stay, and you can be certain Feaster will
now try to convince the Flames’ struggling goalie to honour the final year of
his contract.
Michael Cammalleri, Curtis Glencross and Alex Tanguay — with 1,422 bigleague points between them heading into Wednesday’s Battle of Alberta —
are supposed to be in the prime of their careers.
Dennis Wideman and Jiri Hudler didn’t get long-term, big-money deals to be
a part of a lottery team for the next several seasons.
Even after trading away Iginla and Bouwmeester (and Blake Comeau, if
you’re a completist), Feaster bristled at the suggestion some of his veterans
might have wanted to be shipped elsewhere in the hours leading up to
Wednesday’s deadline.
“If that’s their attitude, I wish they’d come see me before 3 p.m. ET today,”
Feaster said. “If that’s the attitude, if you want out, then please, I’m a pretty
667728
Calgary Flames
Flames honour Kipper's wish to stay in Calgary
By Eric Francis, Calgary Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 10:17 PM MDT | Updated:
Thursday, April 04, 2013 12:18 AM MDT
You know that guy who wins the lottery and tells the newspaper he plans to
keep his job?
He might, but you can bet he won't play by the rules the rest of the office
staff does"¦ because he can.
He can walk away at any time -- the kind of freedom everyone dreams of.
Miikka Kiprusoff is that guy.
As expected, Kiprusoff informed the Calgary Flames Wednesday that,
despite the fact his no-trade clause expired in the summer, he wasn't willing
to play along"¦ or elsewhere, for that matter.
He has that ability because the Flames paid him more than US$33 million
over the last five years.
But it comes at a cost: His reputation.
Many Flames fans will look at the move as selfish and disrespectful -- a
modern Mats Sundin who repays the organization and its fans by choosing
not to repay either. Others defend it as a family decision.
"I was thinking the last days, if I go, I know I can help the Flames get
something for me," said Kiprusoff, who was asked by the Flames to discuss
with Toronto the possibility of joining the Leafs for the playoffs -- a notion he
rejected.
"But this morning when I did talk with Jay Feaster and said how I feel and
how I found out they want to keep me here, it didn't surprise me. It's how
they've been treating me since I came, and that tells a lot about this
organization. It's first class, and I appreciate it."
That's not to say he didn't seriously consider leaving his newborn son and
family.
"When you know another team wants you and I was thinking a lot about it,
but I did get the feeling -- doubts -- it was the right thing to do," said
Kiprusoff, who has struggled all season long.
"If you start second-guessing, I don't think it's the right thing to do for the
Leafs if my heart is not 100% there."
Agreed.
Problem is, the Flames don't want or need him anymore, which was made
obvious by the decision to start Joey MacDonald ahead of him Wednesday
night. The rebuild is underway and having a 37-year-old starter next year
makes no sense. The Flames need to start the search for the next Kipper
and they have plenty of young candidates.
They'll get that chance next year as Kiprusoff is all but certain to retire at
season's end.
After all, who can drag their carcass out of bed for a mere $1.5 million a
year as part of the NHL's very first "back-diving" deal?
Asked three different ways last night if he planned on honouring the final
year of his deal next year, Kiprusoff danced.
"Right now, I'd like to finish this season here, and after that we are going to
sit down with the Flames and talk with them," said Kiprusoff.
"I'm going to make a decision then."
He's done, and that's OK by all involved.
Despite being the man who almost single-handedly turned this franchise
into a Stanley Cup finalist in 2004, the stage is now set for an unceremonial
departure, which is why it wouldn't have been the worst thing had he
abruptly left Wednesday.
Fact is, with only one team showing interest, the return wouldn't have been
much higher than a mid-round draft pick. After all, he comes with a $5.8million cap hit and has the worst numbers of all NHL starters.
It's been a tough year for ol' Kipper and things won't get better anytime
soon. Especially now that some fans are angry he chose not to leave as
Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester did.
Jay Feaster gave a nod to Kiprusoff's exemplary service while explaining
why the trade wasn't forced on Kiprusoff.
Debate all you want about whether that was the correct approach.
But know that, like Iginla, Kiprusoff held all the cards and simply chose to
play them differently.
One last chance at a Stanley Cup be damned.
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667729
Calgary Flames
Flames lose ugly one to young Oilers
"There's always a little added juice to these games, with a rivalry game, and
it definitely adds to the bad and adds to the good," Flames forward Mike
Cammalleri said. "When it's bad, it makes it worse. When it's good, it makes
it better. We were on the bad-makes-it-worse end of that, tonight."
Added head coach Bob Hartley: "They gave us a hockey lesson, plain and
simple."
By RANDY SPORTAK, Calgary Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 11:00 PM MDT | Updated:
Thursday, April 04, 2013 12:09 AM MDT
Can't even be spoilers in the Battle of Alberta.
Welcome to the long march to the finish line for the Calgary Flames.
Now that the trade deadline has come and gone -- with Blake Comeau
joining Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester in being dealt away in the first
step of a rebuild -- the Flames began their second stage with Wednesday's
8-2 whipping at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.
"That was embarrassing for us as players," Flames defenceman Mark
Giordano said. "For us guys who've been around here and want to call
ourselves veteran guys, that's disappointing. Myself, I feel embarrassed of
my own play and that loss."
The coming phase is the continued plummet as far down the standings as
possible to garner what should end up the highest draft the Flames
franchise has received since moving to the Stampede City.
That would be the Death for Seth, Not Winnin' for MacKinnon, Losin' for
Drouin or whatever you call the quest to grab a potential young star to be a
big piece to start re-igniting the floundering franchise that's currently 28th
overall in the league.
Thirteen more performances like that, and the Flames will be at the bottom.
The only reason they weren't booed off the ice was the fact it wouldn't have
been heard over the celebrating Oilers fans who filled the Saddledome and
its announced crowd of 19,289.
That, and the fact any supporters were long gone.
"It definitely doesn't get any lower than that. It's embarrassing," said forward
Curtis Glencross. "It's all about compete-level and wanting it ... and it starts
right from myself. We've gotta find a way from inside this room."
The only route this team appears headed is not only a fourth consecutive
season without playoffs but the worst finish in the final standings in
franchise history.
"That's our effort. That's what we deserved," said Matt Stajan, who scored
twice on his team's first two shots to spot the hosts a 2-0 lead. "We didn't
deserve anything better than that."
Trade deadline on Wednesday came and went with only one last move by
the Flames, sending Comeau to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifthround draft choice.
The potential deal which would have seen long-time standout goalie Miikka
Kiprusoff to the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't materialize. The club honoured
his wish to not be traded, even though Kiprusoff no longer has a no-trade
clause and has one more season on his deal following this disappointing
campaign.
Kiprusoff may return next season, although it's a strong possibility the 36year-old netminder will retire.
All the trade deadline action made the latest instalment in the Alberta rivalry
a secondary story in Calgary -- and seemingly among the Flames -- who
are doing little to fight to the finish.
Sam Gagner and Ryan Whitney erased Calgary's lead by the end of the
opening period, and the momentum carried from that point.
Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov each scored twice, while Ryan NugentHopkins and Hall added singles for the Oilers (16-13-7). Hall finished with
five points for the team on the upswing of its own rebuild after finishing
30th, 30th, 29th in the last three seasons but now is in sole possession of
eighth spot in the Western Conference and riding a five-game winning
streak.
You can't help but think beating the Flames that bad wasn't a good feeling
for the young Oilers. The result stung the hosts.
The Flames (13-18-4) have dropped three straight and seven of nine
outings, and now embark on a three-game road trip which begins Friday in
San Jose.
They'll look to snap an 11-game road losing skid, in which only one defeat
didn't come in regulation.
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667730
Calgary Flames
Flames prospect up for Hobey Baker
By WES GILBERTSON, Calgary Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 11:14 PM MDT | Updated:
Thursday, April 04, 2013 12:09 AM MDT
The little guy is up for a big honour.
Calgary Flames forward prospect Johnny Gaudreau, the 5-foot-6 worldjunior gold medallist for Team USA and the leading scorer for the Boston
College Eagles, was named Friday as one of a hat-trick of finalists for the
Hobey Baker Award as the player-of-the-year in the NCAA hockey ranks.
Quinnipiac Bobcats netminder Eric Hartzell and St. Cloud State Huskies
forward Drew LeBlanc — a teammate of Flames acquisition Ben Hanowski
— are also candidates for the prestigious award. The winner will be
announced next Friday.
Gaudreau, 19, doesn’t have much more to prove at the collegiate level,
although the Flames won’t pressure the pint-sized sniper from Carney’s
Point, N.J., to turn professional right away.
“I don’t believe that we should ever be in a situation that we’re dictating to
the player that this is what you have to do,” said Flames GM Jay Feaster. “I
believe that’s an important family decision. The athlete has to be
comfortable. The parents have to be comfortable.
“And what I’ve always said is that we’ll always be there supporting. If the
athlete says ‘I’m ready to go. I want to turn pro right now,’ then we’ll be
there with a contract. If the athlete says, ‘I think one more year, get bigger,
get stronger. I want to win a national championship ... ‘
“Whatever the case may be, as I say, we’ll be there watching you, we’ll be
there supporting you and we’ll be there for you when you decide you want
to turn pro.”
As an added bonus, Gaudreau is apparently good friends with Yale
Bulldogs forward Kenny Agostino of Morristown, N.J., one of two collegiate
forwards — Hanowski is the other — that became Flames property as part
of the Jarome Iginla trade.
Around the boards
Now that the Flames have honoured G Miikka Kiprusoff’s request to stay
put in Calgary, we’ll find out if the non-stop trade speculation was a
contributing factor to his recent struggles. To be blunt, Kiprusoff has stunk
in his past two outings. “It’s been a pretty tough last few weeks, but I’m not
going to use that excuse,” Kiprusoff said. “I haven’t played well and I know I
have to pick up my game. I’m pretty happy this is over now” ... For the
second consecutive season, Flames D Derek Smith could finish the season
on the injured list. The 28-year-old is wearing a brace on his knee and
admitted he’ll need “a few weeks” of recovery time ... That fifth-round pick
the Flames acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for RW
Blake Comeau? Might not sound like much, but keep in mind Kiprusoff and
RW Lee Stempniak are both former fifth-round selections ... Strange
coincidence? After receiving some shooting advice from Mr. T last week in
Chicago, Flames RW Brian McGrattan scored in two straight games.
Off the glass
One week after the trade, it still feels strange to see stacks of sale-priced
Iginla merchandise at the FanAttic store ... With Iginla and D Jay
Bouwmeester traded away, the Flames roster has a very un-Edmonton feel
for the first time in recent memory. From Bouwmeester (Edmonton) and
Iginla (St. Albert) to C Daymond Langkow, D Dion Phaneuf and others, it’s
been a long time since there wasn’t a single guy from Oil Country wearing
the Flaming ‘C’. Next in the prospect pipeline is Spruce Grove’s Brett Kulak,
who is currently toiling with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat on a tryout basis but
will be back with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants next season ... On the flip
side, Oilers LW Taylor Hall, C Sam Gagner and G Devan Dubnyk all have
significant ties to the Stampede City, and they acquired former Hitmen C
Jerred Smithson from the Florida Panthers hours before the deadline.
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667731
Calgary Flames
Not everyone was available on trade-deadline day for Flames
“It’s going to be a big challenge for myself. Pride is a big thing — playing for
that logo and your city and your ownership group and the guys in this room.
It’s something where you have to find a way within the 20 guys in this room
to find a way to get it done.”
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
By WES GILBERTSON, Calgary Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 11:30 PM MDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 11:43 PM MDT
Calgary Flames winger Curtis Glencross was, apparently, on the wish-list of
almost every would-be buyer leading up to Wednesday’s NHL trade
deadline.
Didn’t matter, because he was on GM Jay Feaster’s oh-so-short list of
untouchables, too.
Meeting with the media after a relatively quiet deadline day, Feaster made a
point of rebuffing a rumour from a few days ago that he was dangling the
30-year-old speedster on the trade market.
“Someone said that we put Curtis Glencross out there — Jay Feaster put
Curtis Glencross out there — and I’m telling you unequivocally that is false,”
Feaster said. “I didn’t count them up, but I would estimate I had phone calls
from 25 teams, maybe more, on Curtis Glencross. And of course, the
minute that (rumour) hits, that you put him out there, then even the people
you said ‘no’ to, they call and say, ‘Did you change your mind?’
“I won’t provide you a lot of insight into all the calls and conversations with
teams, but I will tell you on that one, that while there were probably a good
25 teams that inquired, Curtis Glencross was never put out there.
Furthermore, the organization, we weren’t even saying, ‘Well, what did you
have in mind?’ or ‘What would you offer?’
“We were not and are not trading Curtis Glencross.”
When the Flames traded away longtime captain Jarome Iginla one week
ago, Glencross was mentioned as a potential candidate to eventually wear
the ‘C’ in Calgary.
At the same time, he was mentioned as a fit for the Boston Bruins, the
Ottawa Senators, the New York Rangers ...
Glencross, who is in the second season of a four-year, US$10.2-million
contract, has a no-move clause and would have had to green-light any deal.
Again, didn’t matter.
Feaster’s only swap on deadline day was to send winger Blake Comeau to
the Columbus Blue Jackets for a fifth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry
Draft.
It’s a mild surprise Feaster wasn’t more active before Wednesday’s
deadline, but the lack of movement in the final hours wasn’t a result of the
Flames GM hanging up on any of his counterparts.
In fact, Feaster rattled off only a handful of names when asked about the
current list of ‘untouchables’.
Grab a pen.
This won’t take long.
“It’s a small list. We’ve made a decision that we need to go a different
direction,” Feaster said. “But we certainly weren’t going to trade some of our
young guys. T.J Brodie wasn’t going anywhere. Sven (Baertschi) wasn’t
going anywhere. Again, a guy like Glennie, we weren’t going to be trading
him. A guy like Mark Giordano ...
“But clearly, that list this year of guys that we wouldn’t consider, it was
shorter than it would have been in years past.”
After Wednesday’s 8-2 embarrassment at the hands of the Oilers,
Glencross reiterated that he wants to be part of the long-term solution at the
Saddledome.
“Obviously, it’s a privilege, but it’s going to be a grind,” Glencross said.
“We’re starting over here and it’s going to be a big battle for myself, too,
mentally. All of us got frustrated here tonight, and when you get frustrated,
you start double-thinking things and not sticking to the gameplan.
667732
Calgary Flames
Look what Jason Pominville and a fourth-round pick garnered the Buffalo
Sabres in trade from the Minnesota Wild: A couple of top prospects, a firstround pick this year and a second-rounder in 2014.
Flames must avoid past mistakes
Couldn’t the Flames, whose cupboards are nowhere near as full of up-andcomers as they should be, use an injection like that?
By RANDY SPORTAK, Calgary Sun
By all means, NHL teams that plan to inject youth to the degree the Flames
are planning for next season needs solid veterans around to help guide the
ship.
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 11:36 PM MDT | Updated:
Thursday, April 04, 2013 12:06 AM MDT
“Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.”
However, those wishes must be weighed with whether those players are
willing to be around for the time it takes to rebuild (although the Flames
outwardly appear to have a belief they’ll be a playoff team next season).
— George Santayana
If those players are willing to be the positive guiding forces needed to help
turn a franchise around, good for them.
Are the Calgary Flames headed to the very same spot a few years from
now they find themselves today?
But there comes a time players with top skills and top character have to be
traded even before their expiry date simply to prevent diminishing returns.
Having finally embraced the idea of a rebuild or retool or new direction or
whatever the organization wants to call its recent teardown, the Flames
braintrust — which doesn’t just include GM Jay Feaster, but also the
ownership group headed by Murray Edwards and president Ken King —
has to ensure they don’t find themselves in the same spot again in a few
seasons.
The Flames owe it to their fans to not make the same mistakes again.
This year’s trade deadline, and the buildup before it, was all about the
Flames finally coming to the conclusion this was not a playoff team, let
alone a potential Stanley Cup contender.
In turn, the job was to see what could be done with its long-time stars
Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff and a big-ticket player in Jay
Bouwmeester, and seeing what they can be turned into in terms of draft
picks, prospects and players.
The answer is: Two players in the NCAA ranks, a minor-league
defenceman and a European goalie, plus a pair of first-round draft choices.
Can anybody imagine what would have happened had the Flames had their
moment of clarity — found that much-needed intellectual honestly — two or
three years ago?
What would the team have received in trade then if Iginla, Kiprusoff and
Bouwmeester could be convinced then to waive their no-trade and nomovement clauses?
We’re not sure exactly what the bounty received in such trades would have
been, but it would have been a heck of a lot more.
That’s the price the Flames paid for hoping they could add a couple of final
parts to a core based around those three, and it would be good enough to
bottle the kind of lightning that resulted in the 2004 playoff run.
It also must be a cautionary tale for the Flames going forward.
The salary cap has brought even more parity to the NHL, therefore fewer
and fewer sellers in the hours leading up to the trade deadline.
This year, being a truncated 48-game season, the disparity in the number of
buyers and sellers was even more pronounced, so the Flames had a
golden chance to parlay one or two of their players you would normally call
“untouchable” into a big return.
Yes, we’re talking about Curtis Glencross and Mark Giordano.
By no means do we know if one or both of those veterans would even have
accepted a trade by Wednesday.
They both have no-trade clauses and contracts that are very friendly for the
salary cap reality of the league, especially with the cap dropping next
season.
Glencross is signed through the 2014-15 season with a US$2.55-million
salary cap hit. Giordano’s contract runs through 2015-16 with an average of
$4.02 million.
For what those players offer, the Flames could possibly have cashed-in in a
seller’s market.
Feaster admitted more than two-thirds of the NHL teams called about
Glencross and he didn’t even ask what opposing teams were offering.
This team can’t afford to not listen to overtures — not to any of the players it
has.
Calgary Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667733
Carolina Hurricanes
Canes' GM Rutherford insists season is not over
The Hurricanes face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday at PNC Arena
and have 13 games remaining in the regular season. But Rutherford’s said
he is "about as frustrated as you can get" about the way the Canes’ season
has unraveled.
Published: April 3, 2013 Updated 2 hours ago
"We’re not sitting here saying it’s over," he said. "But the most frustrating
thing is that in the first part of the season we showed what kind of team we
had ... and we played very well. A whole lot of things happened that put this
team in the position that we’ve gone on a long losing streak and it came at
the worse time possible."
By Chip Alexander — calexander at newsobserver.com
Alexander:
RALEIGH — The NHL trade deadline came and went Wednesday, and the
day proved to be a mostly quiet one for the Carolina Hurricanes.
News Observer LOADED: 04.04.2013
And a glum one.
The Hurricanes announced Wednesday morning that defenseman Joni
Pitkanen would be sidelined 10 to 12 weeks after suffering a broken left
heel bone in Tuesday’s game against the Washington Capitals. That takes
another key player out of the lineup as the Canes attempt to end a 1-8-1
skid and remain in contention in the NHL’s Southeast Division.
The Canes made one trade Wednesday, sending forward Jussi Jokinen to
the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a conditional 2013 draft pick.
Carolina will receive a sixth- or seventh-round pick depending on how many
games Jokinen plays for the Pens.
Jokinen was dealt to the Canes by Tampa Bay in February 2009 and
helped Carolina reach the 2009 Eastern Conference finals against the
Penguins. A popular player, the Finn scored some of the most memorable
playoff goals in franchise history, including a last-second score that beat
New Jersey and goaltender Martin Brodeur.
The Hurricanes acquired defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron in a trade
Tuesday with the Lightning. That would be their only addition.
Pitkanen was injured in the second period when he raced down the ice to
touch the puck and force an icing call against the Caps. The Hurricanes
said he broke the calcaneus bone in his left foot as he fell and slammed into
the boards.
The Canes (16-17-2) are 11th in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, trailing
divisional leader Winnipeg by four points. Injuries to such key players as
goaltender Cam Ward, defenseman Justin Faulk and now Pitkanen leave
the Canes in jeopardy of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for a fourth
consecutive season.
"It couldn’t have come at a worse time," general manager Jim Rutherford
said of the team’s recent slide. "We spent more money on our team this
year. I believe we had a team in place that was a very good team.
"But when I talk about it coming at a worse time, this is a year we have
decided to raise ticket prices and do different things. That doesn’t sit right
with the paying customer, when they watch a team that was so good in the
first half (of the season) and a team that wasn’t good in the second half.”
Rutherford made a number of calls Wednesday, but said there were no
deals that made sense and not many impact players available. He said the
injury to Pitkanen did not change his plans or scuttle any potential deals.
The Jokinen trade was made to move salary – Jokinen has one year left on
a contract that has a $3 million salary cap hit next season. The Hurricanes
retained a portion of Jokinen’s salary but Rutherford did not disclose the
amount.
"It wasn’t about him or him as a player," Rutherford said of the trade. "It was
about what we’re doing in going forward, payroll-wise."
The Hurricanes placed Jokinen on NHL waivers last week but there were
no takers.
In another personnel move Wednesday, the Canes reassigned defenseman
Brett Bellemore to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. Bellemore played six
games for the Canes in his first NHL recall.
Carolina also signed forward Brock McGinn, a second-round pick in the
2012 NHL Entry Draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract. McGinn, 19,
was immediately assigned to the Checkers.
McGinn scored 28 goals and had 26 assists in 68 games this season with
Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.
667734
Carolina Hurricanes
DeCock: Canes are stuck in NHL's neutral
Published: April 3, 2013 Updated 2 hours ago
By Luke DeCock - staff columnist — ldecock at newsobserver.com
RALEIGH — It was the kind of thing a fan would say, or a sports columnist,
or a radio host. To hear it come from a general manager about his own
team was to produce the kind of head-turning double-take that makes
chiropractors think about getting a bigger boat.
“I believe we had a good product,” Hurricanes general manager Jim
Rutherford said. “As we speak today, we don’t.”
Coming from the general manager who put the team together, it was
nothing short of shocking, even if the candor was refreshing.
“It’s hard to sit here with a lot of confidence based on what I’ve watched the
last couple weeks,” Rutherford also acknowledged, sharing the sentiments
of an increasingly disaffected fan base.
As the NHL trade deadline passed Wednesday, only hours after Joni
Pitkanen was lost for the season with a broken heel suffered on a needless
collision on an icing play and the Hurricanes gave up three unanswered
goals to the Washington Capitals in a 5-3 loss, the Hurricanes were
paralyzed by mediocrity.
Tuesday morning, the Hurricanes were buyers, adding defenseman MarcAndre Bergeron, a free agent after the season. Twenty-four hours later,
they were sellers, dumping Jussi Jokinen, even agreeing to pay some of
Jokinen’s salary in the process.
Four points back in the division with three games in hand, the Hurricanes
are far from out of it, mathematically speaking. With only one win in their
past 10 games, they might as well be. A despondent Rutherford admitted
as much Wednesday.
“Based on the position we’ve put ourselves in here over the past two or
three weeks, I wasn’t going to trade younger players or high draft picks for
somebody who may or may not make a difference in the last month,”
Rutherford said. “There weren’t any deals that made sense for us.”
Once again the Hurricanes are trapped in the middle, the worst place to be.
If you’re not going to make the playoffs, it’s better miss by a lot and grab a
top player in the draft. Instead, the Hurricanes are trapped in a perpetual
cycle of mediocrity, never quite good enough to compete, never quite bad
enough to rebuild.
There’s almost nothing wrong with the Hurricanes now that couldn’t have
been foreseen before the season. The concerns about scoring depth and
defense were all there in January, and when first Cam Ward and then
Justin Faulk went down, the foundation the Hurricanes’ early season
success had been built upon crumbled, exposing all the flaws Ward and
Faulk had helped paper over.
Even with the undisclosed amount the Hurricanes are paying the Pittsburgh
Penguins, getting Jokinen’s $3 million off the books next season will help
make space for help on defense. That help is needed now, but after
watching this team limp through March, it’s hard to blame Rutherford for
thinking it wasn’t worth the giving up anything worthwhile to get it.
The Hurricanes are now in a position where not only are they likely to miss
the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years since winning the Stanley Cup,
they’re doing it in the final season before realignment will make it
exponentially more difficult to qualify, and they’re doing it before an
offseason in which they will raise ticket prices for the first time in years.
That’s typically not a time a general manager acknowledges his own team’s
failings. It just so happened to come the same day he decided it didn’t
deserve any help.
DeCock:
News Observer LOADED: 04.04.2013
667735
Carolina Hurricanes
Canes trade Jokinen to Penguins
Published: April 3, 2013 Updated 2 hours ago
By Chip Alexander — Staff writer
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford had hinted the NHL
trade deadline on Wednesday might make for a slow day for his team.
Turns out it was.
The Hurricanes made only one trade, sending forward Jussi Jokinen to the
Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional 2013 draft pick -- either a sixth- or
seventh-rounder depending on how much Pitkanen plays for the Pens this
season.
The Canes (16-17-2) are in 11th place in the NHL's Eastern Conference,
trailing Southeast Division leader Winnipeg by four points. Injuries to such
key players as goaltender Cam Ward, defenseman Justin Faulk and now
defenseman Joni Pitkanen -- out 10 to 12 weeks with a broken heel bone
suffered Tuesday against Washington -- could result in the Canes, 1-8-1 in
their past 10 games, missing the playoffs for a fourth straight season.
"It couldn't have come at a worse time," Rutherford said of the injuries and
the team's late slide. "We spent more money on our team this year. I
believe we had a team in place that was a very good team. We've talked
about playing well in the first part (of the season) and not as well in the
second part.
"But when I talk about it coming at a worse time, this is a year we have
decided to raise ticket prices and do different things. That doesn't sit right
with the paying customer when they watch a team that was do good in the
first half and a team that wasn't good in the second half. So the timing of
this could not be worse."
Rutherford made a number of calls and inquiries Wednesday, but said there
were no deals that made financial sense and not many impact players
available. He said the injury to Pitkanen did not change any of his plans or
potential deals.
"Based in the position we've put ourselves in over the last two or three
weeks, I wasn't going to trade younger players or high draft picks for
someone who may or may not make a difference here in the last month," he
said.
The Jokinen trade was made, in part, to move out salary -- Jokinen has one
year left on a contract that has a $3 million salary cap hit next season, when
the NHL salary cap will be reduced to $64.3 million. The Hurricanes
retained a portion of Jokinen's salary but Rutherford declined to give the
amount.
Rutherford also said that the Hurricanes on Wednesday signed forward
Brock McGinn, a second-round draft pick in 2012. McGinn, 19, played this
season for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.
McGinn signed a three-year, entry-level contract that on the NHL level
would pay him $700,000 in 2013-14, $750,000 in 2014-15 and $800,000 in
2015-16. At the AHL level, he would be paid $70,000 in each of the three
years.
McGinn received a signing bonus of $277,500. He will join the Charlotte
Checkers, the Canes' AHL affiliate.
The Hurricanes have 13 games remaining in the regular season, but
Rutherford's comments Wednesday about the team did not sound
encouraging. He said he is "about as frustrated as you can get" about the
way the season has deteriorated.
"We're not sitting here saying it's over," he said. "But the most frustrating
thing is that in the first part of the season we showed what kind of team we
had ... and we played very well. A whole lot of things happened that put this
team in the position that we've gone on a long losing streak and it came at
the worse time possible. ...
"The real deal here is to put the best product on the ice that we can. I
believe we had a good product. As we speak today we don't."
News Observer LOADED: 04.04.2013
667736
Carolina Hurricanes
Broken heel bone sidelines Pitkanen
Submitted by chipalexander on 04/03/2013 - 08:06
Joni Pitkanen's broken left heel bone, an injury suffered Tuesday night
against the Washington Capitals, has ended the Canes defenseman's
season.
General manager Jim Rutherford said Wednesday that Pitkanen has a
broken calcaneus bone and would sidelined 10 to 12 weeks.
Pitkanen was injured late in the second period at PNC Arena as he
attempted to touch up the puck and force an icing call against the Caps. He
went sliding into the boards, pinning his leg under him, and needed to be
carried off the ice on a stretcher.
Canes coach Kirk Muller said after the game Pitkanen injured his ankle or
heel.
Pitkanen's injury leaves the Canes with seven healthy defensemen: Tim
Gleason, Joe Corvo, Jay Harrison, Bobby Sanguinetti, Jamie McBain, Brett
Bellemore and Marc-Andre Bergeron, who was obtained Tuesday in a trade
with Tampa Bay.
Justin Faulk, sidelined with a sprained knee, has been skating and is
expected to soon return to the lineup.
McBain was a healthy scratch for the Caps game, adding to speculation he
might be moved today before the NHL's 3 p.m. trade deadline.
News Observer LOADED: 04.04.2013
667737
Chicago Blackhawks
Hawks stand pat
NFL trade deadline passes with club content to go with what it has
Chicago Blackhawks general manager on what happened with
Wednesday's NHL trade deadline.
By Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune reporter
7:58 p.m. CDT, April 3, 2013
Though he already had addressed his most pressing need, Stan Bowman
did his due diligence and answered phone calls Wednesday as the NHL
trade deadline approached.
Other than a minor deal that actually was the first trade of a relatively
sedate deadline day, fielding calls was all it amounted to for the Blackhawks
general manager. Bowman listened but was not involved in the other 16
trades that involved 28 players. The GM was content with his acquisition of
center Michal Handzus on Monday and stood pat with players already on
the roster.
"We did a lot of listening," Bowman said. "There was a lot of talk leading up
to (Wednesday) and even a lot of talk (Wednesday) … but nothing we were
close on. You have to listen, it's our job to look around at what's available
but we have to ask ourselves a question, 'Does it make us better?'
"To make a move just to make a move, we don't believe in that. We had a
need at center and to get a little size and (better at) faceoffs and Michal
accomplished that a couple of days ago."
Now all that remains to be seen is whether Bowman did enough to add to
the roster of the team that entered the day with the most points in the NHL
as the postseason nears or whether another move or two would have
helped to avoid a third consecutive first-round playoff exit.
"We believe in the group we have here," Bowman said. "I'm very happy with
where we're at right now."
Of more importance, the players and coaches believe they have what it
takes to make a deep run in the postseason and compete for the Hawks'
second Stanley Cup championship in four seasons.
"We're a confident group," said winger Marian Hossa, who is scheduled to
return to the ice after missing six games with a shoulder injury when the
Hawks face the Blues on Thursday night. "We're doing something special
this year and it's a tight group. We've had a great run so we'll see how we
are toward the end of the season."
Altering the team's chemistry with the hope of catching lightning with a
deadline acquisition proved too risky for Bowman. What the Hawks have
had for the most part is what they're going to get during the remaining 13
regular-season games and then playoffs.
"The chemistry has been good," coach Joel Quenneville said. "The
combinations up front have been pretty predictable (with) what you get out
of them every game, our back end has been better than it has been in the
past and our goaltending has been really strong. We've been very pleased
… particularly (with) the consistency."
Added Bowman: "We have a lot of depth at every position … which has
been the strength of our team. We have young players we have confidence
in (and) we have some other players who are rounding into form."
Bowman did pull the trigger on a deal Wednesday, sending forward Rob
Flick from Rockford of the AHL to the Bruins for forward Maxime Sauve,
who had 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 games with Providence of the AHL.
That was it, though, marking another trade deadline that has come and
gone. Now the focus can be placed entirely on what's happening on the ice
rather than what's on the cell phone.
"Sometimes it's tricky with teams going into these days with the speculation
and the anxiety of potentially some guys being moved in or out,"
Quenneville said. "As players you can only control what you can control and
that's to be ready for the next game."
Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667738
Chicago Blackhawks
Thursday's matchup: Blues at Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks center Michal Handzus talks about joining the team
and his role.
6:40 p.m. CDT, April 3, 2013
TV/radio: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; CSN, WGN-AM 720.
Series: Hawks 2-0.
Last meeting: Hawks won 3-0 on Feb. 28 at St. Louis.
Probable goaltenders: Blues, Brian Elliott, 4-6-1, 3.51 goals-against
average; Hawks, Corey Crawford, 15-4-3, 1.97.
Team comparison
Averages per game (NHL rank)
BLUES (18-14-2)
CATEGORY
HAWKS(27-5-3)
2.82 (10) Goals for 3.26 (2)
2.74 (19) Goals against
2.09 (2)
22.2 (6)
17.5 (21)
Power-play pct.
82.9 (10) Penalty-kill pct.
84.9 (6)
Statistics through Tuesday.
Storyline: The Hawks are seeking their fourth consecutive victory overall
and third this season against the Blues. Rookie Brandon Saad has three
goals over the last two games. The Blues, who have lost 3 of 4, will be
without forward T.J. Oshie (lower body). Chris Stewart leads the Blues in
scoring with 15 goals and 14 assists.
Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667739
Chicago Blackhawks
Hossa expected back vs. Blues, but Sharp still out
Chicago Blackhawks general manager on what happened with
Wednesday's NHL trade deadline.
By Chris Kuc Tribune reporter
6:56 p.m. CDT, April 3, 2013
The injury news was mixed for the Blackhawks as one veteran forward will
return to the lineup but not another.
Barring a setback, Marian Hossa will be on the ice against the Blues on
Thursday night at the United Center after missing six games with an upperbody injury that a source said is to his shoulder.
"I felt pretty good (Wednesday)," Hossa said after practice at Johnny's
IceHouse West. "I'll go before the game in practice, and most likely I'm
going to play. There's no reason to wait longer."
Coach Joel Quenneville went further, saying Hossa would return.
"He's going to play, and we're looking forward to that," Quenneville said.
The news was not as bright for Patrick Sharp, who remains sidelined with a
left shoulder injury and will sit out his 12th consecutive game.
"It needs to be 100 percent to come back," Sharp said. "It sucks sitting out
and missing games. I want to be out there, and when it's ready, I want to
play for sure.
"I've been skating for three weeks and can shoot the puck under control.
I've been doing it for a long time, so it's frustrating knowing I'm that close to
getting into a game but there are some limitations with it."
Depth charge: Veterans Steve Montador and Rostislav Olesz, who are
playing in Rockford as they recover from injuries, cleared waivers and will
remain in the AHL for now.
"That was really just to see if there was interest out there," general manager
Stan Bowman said of the waivers process. "There weren't a lot of trades
(Wednesday), but some years there are teams looking for depth moves.
That was more or less to see what the market was like. Actually, now that
we still have them, it worked out well for us. They're playing great hockey.
"I would venture there's no team that has two guys like that in their
American League affiliate right now. They've been NHL players for years
and they're getting back to top shape and have played really well for us, so
if you add them into the mix of our young players, it puts us probably 16 or
17 deep on forwards and eight or nine defensemen. You need that as the
stretch run comes."
New guy: Michal Handzus participated in his first practice with his new
teammates after being acquired from the Sharks on Monday.
"I'm just glad to be here — it's exciting," Handzus said. "It's a great team.
The first day is always busy. It was a good practice, and I'm just looking
forward to games."
Handzus skated at right wing on the fourth line with Brandon Bollig and
center Marcus Kruger during drills.
Probable: Patrick Kane missed practice with an illness but is expected to
play against the Blues. Daniel Carcillo left practice early but is also likely to
play.
Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667740
Chicago Blackhawks
No. 2 center still the Hawks' No. 1 need
Michal Rozsival celebrates with teammates after making his shot during the
shootout.
Steve Rosenbloom The RosenBlog
9:59 a.m. CDT, April 3, 2013
If I were a betting man, and I am, I’d wager the Blachawks will let today’s
trade deadline pass without acquiring the true No. 2 center they’ve needed
since they won the Stanley Cup.
I realize the Hawks made a move to acquire a center earlier in the week.
But that was a niche deal, putting a Band-Aid on an owwie. Michael
Handzus can win faceoffs, but with just two points this season, he
apparently can’t do much after that. Think Sammy Pahlsson, part deux.
For those of you who weren’t on the bandwagon before Joel Quenneville
joined Chicago’s Mt. Mustachemore of championship coaches, Pahlsson
was acquired late in the 2008-09 season for the same faceoff-challenged
reasons. The Hawks can’t play their beloved puck-possession game if
they’re chasing the puck after every faceoff.
Pahlsson wasn’t a scorer. Neither is Handzus. If Handzus can win more
than half of his faceoffs, he’ll be way ahead of every Hawks center except
Jonathan Toews, but here’s the thing:
Handzus is the same defensive-minded move that Pahlsson was. It fills a
need. But it doesn’t fill THE need, which is a No. 2 center, which might as
well be the Holy Grail for Stan Bowman.
Bowman tried to sell us on Patrick Kane’s being a No. 2 center, even after
Kane failed at that last season. Bowman is now saying he believes the
Hawks have “done pretty good so far with that,’’ except that they haven’t.
Bolland is not a No. 2 center, he’s playing one line too high and it’s hurting
the Hawks because he might be the best No. 3 center in the league.
I’ve heard the argument that Bolland was just fine when he was skating with
Patrick Sharp, who has been out with a shoulder injury since March 6. Bad
argument, and here’s why:
Your No. 2 center should be the reason a line works, not get pulled along
because of someone else. See Jonathan Toews making a scorer out of an
offensive stiff like Michael Frolik for details.
Here’s what gets me: Bowman has shown the smarts to acquire and retain
defensemen to make sure that nobody is forced to play a role up. Think
Nick Leddy as the No. 5 defenseman instead of a top-four guy.
But Bowman has not succeeded in filling the second-most-important
offensive spot. Sharp said he has not been approached about playing
center when he returns, which looks like Thursday against St. Louis. Sharp
said he would play center if asked, because that’s the way Sharp does
things.
But that doesn’t solve a lot. That isn’t the all-in move. Worse, I think the
returns from injury of Sharp and Marian Hossa is becoming a convenient
delusion.
“Some people would say those would be two nice trade deadline additions
to have Hossa and Sharp come back --- that’s one way to look at it,’’
Bowman said. “We’ve played well without (Sharp) but we certainly played
really well with him, too.’’
No, the Hawks have not played well without Sharp and Hossa. The Hawks
have struggled to play above .500 without them.
Besides, you don’t look at them as new acquisitions to fill holes that their
absences created in the first place. You look at them as part of the original
foundation that still needed work.
When the Hawks were finding all sorts of ways to win, they were doing it
with Sharp and Hossa, but they still had some shortcomings. Don’t shovel
this stuff that two injured guys are coming back to make it all better.
Instead, give me those two guys AND an addition. Specifically, a No. 2
center.
You, of course, want names. Derek Roy was a name, but Vancouver got
him from Dallas this week. Hope he doesn’t score a big goal in a HawksCanucks playoff series.
There’s Steve Ott, who has just six goals, which is one less than Bolland,
but he has more points and is a plus player on a big minus Buffalo team,
while Bolland is a minus player on the Hawks.
And as long as Doug Wilson is holding a yard sale in San Jose, see what
Joe Pavelski goes for. He has played right wing most of this season, but he
has played more center in the NHL and seemed a wonderful No. 2 behind
Joe Thornton.
There are many reasons not to make a big deal like this, and almost all of
them involve money. I don’t expect any major upgrade to occur by the 2
p.m. CDT deadline today. I would love to be happily surprised. In fact, I’d
pay for the bandwagon’s next tank of gas.
Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667741
Chicago Blackhawks
Blackhawks' Bowman: Any trade 'would have to make sense'
By Chris Kuc Tribune reporter
11:41 a.m. CDT, April 3, 2013
General manager Stan Bowman planned to work the phones until the 2
p.m. NHL trade deadline in an effort to improve the Chicago Blackhawks.
After acquiring Michal Handzus from the Sharks on Monday in exchange for
a fourth-round draft pick, Bowman said he was open to making more moves
if they did not disrupt the chemistry of the team that currently leads the
league with 57 points.
"We’ll have to see how that goes," Bowman said. "It’s our job to keep
making those phone calls and we’ve had a lot of meetings internally about
guys. It has to make sense for us. We’ve had a good run with the guys we
have so far, we don’t’ really want to change that mix, we’re looking to add to
it."
The Hawks made the first trade of the day when they swapped minorleague players with the Boston Bruins, according to TSN. Rob Flick was
dealt from AHL Rockford to the Bruins for left wing Maxime Sauve. Flick
had three goals, two assists and 97 penalty minutes in 51 games with the
IceHogs. Sauve had 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 games with the
Providence Bruins.
The has been speculation the Hawks would like to add a defenseman to the
mix, and the hunt for a No. 2 center continues into its third season. Bowman
was coy when asked what position he might be targeting.
"I think we're trying to get better," Bowman said. "If we can find a player that
we think will help us, whatever position it is, I'm not going to rule anything
out. But we're not really targeting one thing at this point. We've had a lot of
discussions about different positions, and we'll see where it goes."
At 27-6-5, the Hawks have run away in the Central Division and hold a fourpoint lead over the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference with one
game in hand. The impressive run will likely keep Bowman from doign
anything splashy as he does not want to trade a player off the current
roster.
"The group here has really kind of earned the right to see what we can do
as a group," Bowman said. "The strength of our team has been our
consistency and our depth. And you don't rule anything out but I think our
focus is to keep this group together and try to add to it."
Meanwhile, the Hawks on Wednesday recalled winger Brandon Bollig from
Rockford of the AHL.
Chicago Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667742
Chicago Blackhawks
website. “Whatever, it happened. I’ve just got to learn from it and be more
careful next time.”
Corey is the story for Blackhawks from here on out in net
It looks like there will be plenty of next times for Crawford, this month and
for up to two more months after that. It’s his team, his net and his chance to
entrench himself as the No. 1.
BY MARK LAZERUS mlazerus at suntimes.com April 3, 2013 10:17PM
Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
BLUES AT BLACKHAWKS
The facts: 7:30, CSN, 720-AM.
Updated: April 3, 2013 10:20PM
Ray Emery wasn’t on the ice, or even on the bench, when the Philadelphia
Flyers played the Blackhawks in the 2010 Stanley Cup finals. But as he
recovered from hip surgery, Emery — who backstopped the Ottawa
Senators to the finals in 2007 and who expected to be doing so for the
Flyers, too — still was rooting hard for his Flyers to knock off the Hawks.
“These guys played against Philly in the playoffs when I got hurt that year,
but I was on that team, that was still my team,” Emery said. “And I wanted
that team to win just as badly as I did in Ottawa. It’s a team. You root for
each other.”
Despite Emery’s experience in the playoffs, despite becoming the first
goalie ever to win his first 12 decisions in a season this year, despite having
done everything the Hawks have asked of him and more, Emery knows
what he almost certainly will be doing when the calendar flips to May.
Rooting for Corey Crawford.
“The role that I’m in this year is a supporting role to Corey,” Emery told the
Sun-Times on Wednesday. “And Corey’s the guy going into the playoffs.”
It was the first time since Emery emerged as a surprise star this season that
anyone on the Hawks freely admitted that Crawford has been, is and will
continue to be the Hawks’ No. 1 goaltender. His play warrants it. Crawford
is 15-4-3 in 21 starts. He’s second in the league with a 1.97 goals-against
average and third with a .925 save percentage.
Emery is 12-1 in 14 starts with a 2.09 GAA and .919 save percentage.
“We have so much confidence in both of those guys,” defenseman Nick
Leddy said. “No matter which of them’s back there, they’re going to keep us
in any game.”
But while goalie tandems are great in the regular season, they don’t fly in
the playoffs. Those 2010 Flyers were an exception. Injuries kept shuffling
Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton in and out of the net.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has said all season that he hoped one of his
goaltenders would “make the decision” for him, but with less than four
weeks left in the season and both goalies playing well, it appears
Quenneville has made the decision himself.
Crawford will make his third consecutive start Thursday against the St.
Louis Blues at the United Center.
“Going into the season and all year, he’s had a bit more of an opportunity
than Ray,” Quenneville said. “But both guys deserve every single night to
get consideration to be played.”
Crawford’s postseason statistics are almost identical to his career stats
through his first two years, but he has yet to win a playoff series in two tries.
Last year, in a six-game loss to the Phoenix Coyotes, he had a 2.58 GAA
and an .893 save percentage and allowed two soft overtime goals. He
entered this season determined to erase that memory with a big playoff run,
and he’ll get his chance.
In this third season, Crawford said he’s more confident and less prone to
mental breakdowns than he was in the past. On Monday, the Nashville
Predators erased a 2-0 deficit with two goals early in the third period. The
first came on a bad play by Crawford; the second was swept in after a nice
initial stop on a sudden two-on-one on the doorstep.
Instead of coming undone, Crawford held the Predators at bay, then made
four of five stops in the shootout to secure the victory.
“I think before, maybe earlier in my career, I would’ve just fallen apart and
maybe given up another two after that [first one],” he told the team’s
667743
Chicago Blackhawks
Marian Hossa will return against Blues: ‘No reason to wait longer’
BY MARK LAZERUS mlazerus at suntimes.com April 3, 2013 10:17PM
The Blackhawks only made a minor-league deal in the hours leading up to
Wednesday’s trade deadline, but they will add a 430-goal scorer to their
lineup for Thursday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.
Marian Hossa, who has missed the last seven games with an apparent
shoulder injury, will return.
“I felt good [at practice Wednesday], so there’s no reason to wait longer,”
said Hossa, who skated in his usual spot at right wing alongside Brandon
Saad and Jonathan Toews.
Patrick Sharp, however, will miss his 12th game in a row with a shoulder
injury. He said he’s still “very close” but has yet to be cleared to play.
“Trust me, it sucks sitting there watching games,” Sharp said. “I want to be
out there, and as soon as I’m allowed to, I’ll be playing.”
Dave Bolland, who hurt his foot blocking a shot by Shea Weber on Monday,
was back on the ice Wednesday and will be in the lineup, coach Joel
Quenneville said. Patrick Kane was sick and missed practice, but
Quenneville expects him to play.
Stan-ding pat
General manager Stan Bowman said he did a “lot of listening” up to the
trade deadline, but there was “nothing we were close on.”
“We were focused on getting a center,” he said. “We got Michal [Handzus
on Monday], and we’re excited about that. We’ve got a lot of depth at every
position.”
Bowman was believed to be looking at help on the blue line but didn’t pull
the trigger on any moves. With Michal Rozsival and Sheldon Brookbank
alternating in the sixth spot each night and Steve Montador rounding into
form in Rockford, Bowman said he had no regrets about not adding
anybody else.
“We have to ask ourselves the question, does it make us better?” he said.
“And to make a move just to make a move, we don’t believe in that.”
Waiver watch
Montador and Rostislav Olesz cleared waivers. Bowman said he wanted to
gauge interest in them around the league but said he is glad to have them
as potential injury replacements down the stretch and in the playoffs.
“I would venture there’s no team that has two guys like that in their [AHL]
affiliate,” he said.
Homecoming
Handzus, acquired from the San Jose Sharks for a fourth-round draft pick,
skated on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Brandon Bollig (called
back up from Rockford on -Wednesday). Quenneville said Handzus can
play wing or center. He likely will take the faceoffs, regardless. He has won
55.6 percent of his draws this year; Kruger has won 45.1.
Handzus played eight games for the Hawks in 2006 — during the team’s
dark ages — before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
“It’s totally different,” he said. “I remember 10,000 people in the stands.”
Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667744
Chicago Blackhawks
Handzus about to find out how much things have changed
By Tim Sassone
Things sure have changed around the Blackhawks since Michal Handzus
last played here in 2006-07.
Like hockey actually matters around town.
When Handzus played eight games with the Hawks in '06-07, the United
Center was half empty for games, Jonathan Toews was a year away from
joining the club, Patrick Kane hadn't even been drafted yet and players
could walk down the street without being recognized.
"It's totally different," Handzus said Wednesday after his first practice with
the team. "I remember 10,000 people in the stands and now, playing
against the Hawks for the last six years, the building is great, it's full and
there's a lot of excitement. Obviously, they won a Cup in 2010 so it's totally
different."
Patrick Sharp was with the Hawks back then and said Handzus won't
recognize the place.
"He's at the best place in the league, if you ask me," Sharp said, "so I'll be
curious to see how he reacts to everything over the next few weeks.
"He was one of our top forwards the last time he was here and I don't think
anyone knew who he was. Today I think he answered more questions in the
last five minutes than he did all of that season."
Handzus skated at right wing on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger at
practice Wednesday.
"I'll play wherever they want me and I'll do whatever I can to help the team,"
Handzus said. "I'll play wing, center, whatever is needed. I'm coming to a
great team and there's nothing better I can ask for."
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville plans to use Handzus in a variety of ways.
"He can play a number of roles for us," Quenneville said. "He can take
faceoffs. He can play both wings. He's a smart player who is versatile in a
lot of ways. We like his size, his thought process and can kill penalties. We
like the person we're bringing into the locker room as well."
Handzus played for Quenneville in St. Louis his first three seasons in the
NHL.
"I learned a lot from him and it's great to be back with him," Handzus said.
"I'm just glad to be here. It's a great team. Off ice, I know a lot of guys here:
players, coaches, trainers. On ice, I need to work on it pretty fast.
"You can see it's fun here. They've been winning a lot and when that
happens there's a lot fun in the locker room and everyone is energized."
Hossa in, Sharp out:
Marian Hossa will return to the Hawks on Thursday night against St. Louis
after missing six games with a shoulder injury.
However, Patrick Sharp will sit for the 12th straight game with his shoulder
problem.
"I felt pretty good today and most likely I'm going to play," Hossa said.
"There's no reason to wait longer."
"It means a lot," coach Joel Quenneville said. "He enhances your team
game and he's a player you like the way he plays all over the ice."
Dave Bolland practiced Wednesday after leaving Monday's game against
Nashville with a foot injury from blocking a Shea Weber shot.
Patrick Kane was sick and missed practice but is likely to play against the
Blues.
Daily Herald Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667745
Chicago Blackhawks
No more deals for Hawks at deadline
Posted by Tim Sassone on Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:51
The NHL trade deadline came and went Wednesday with the Blackhawks
taking a pass on making another significant deal.
Getting center Michal Handzus from San Jose on Monday for a fourthround draft pick turned out to be it for the best team in the Western
Conference.
“We believe in the group we have here,” general manager Stan Bowman
said. “I think we look at it like we’re a very strong team. You can never get
ahead of yourself and there’s still a lot of work to do, but our goal all along
was to win the division. We said that from Day 1 and when you do that you
get home ice in the first round and that’s our objective.
“We want to finish as high as we can in the standings and keep playing a
high level of hockey. Regardless of the positioning and how many points
you have, we just want to keep playing at high level of hockey.”
Marian Hossa said it’s up to the players to show management they are
deserving of the support.
“We are a confident group in this dressing room,” Hossa said. “The team
proved we are doing something special this year. It’s a tight group and full
of confidence. We’ve had a great run so we’ll see how we are towards the
end of the season. We’ve done lots of good things so far.”
Bowman said he never really came close to pulling the trigger on a trade
before the deadline.
“We did a lot of listening,” Bowman said. “There was a lot of talk and as you
saw there was a little flurry at the end there but nothing we were close on.
You have to listen. It’s our job to look around what’s available, but we have
to ask ourselves the question: Does it make us better? To make a move
just to make a move, we don’t believe in that.”
Bowman mentioned defenseman Steve Montador and winger Rostislav
Olesz as two players who still could figure into the team’s plans down the
stretch. Both are rehabbing injuries at Rockford.
“Montador and Olesz are back and playing really good hockey,” Bowman
said. “I would venture that there no team that has two guys like that in their
American League affiliate that have been NHL players for years. You add
them to our young players and we’re probably 16-17 deep at forward and
eight-nine on defense.”
Daily Herald Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667746
Chicago Blackhawks
Bowman: 'We believe in the group we have here'
April 3, 2013, 3:30 pm Nina Falcone
The trade deadline day that started quietly ended with several flurries by
Wednesday afternoon. But in the midst of all the swapping, and all the
talking, the Chicago Blackhawks did a lot of listening, but not much moving
and shaking.
The Blackhawks remained relatively quiet during the latest trade deadline,
getting center Michal Handzus from San Jose on Monday, but just doing a
minor-league deal on deadline day.
Considering what general manager Stan Bowman said on Monday, it wasn’t
totally surprising. The Blackhawks, sitting atop the Western Conference
with a 27-5-3 record (and 57 points), like what they’ve got, and Bowman
had said several times it would take something that fit to alter things.
Obviously, he meant it.
“We did a lot of listening, there was a lot of talking leading up to today and
even today. As you saw there was sort of a flurry at the end (with other
teams trading), but there was nothing we were close on,” Bowman said this
afternoon. We’ve got a lot of depth at every position… which has been the
strength of our team all year long. We have young players we have
confidence in, others who are rounding into form that hadn’t played at the
beginning but have shown well in Rockford recently.
“It’s our job to look around at what’s available but we have to ask: ‘Does it
make us better?’” Bowman said. “To make a move just to make a move, we
don’t believe in that.”
A few other teams in the Central Division made moves over the last few
days. St. Louis traded for defenseman Jordan Leopold on Saturday
defenseman Jay Bouwmeester on Monday night. The Columbus Blue
Jackets were very active today, and claimed the biggest surprise move
when they got right wing Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers (in
exchange for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett and prospect John Moore)
and left wing Blake Comeau from the Calgary Flames.
Bowman said it wasn’t a situation where asking prices were too high for
certain players.
“When we look at our roster we say, ‘Who are they going to replace?’
Especially on defense, we’ve been sitting a good player out every night,”
Bowman said, referring to Sheldon Brookbank and Michal Rozsival, who
have been playing very well. "That’s the strength of our team and it shows
that way. Unless they’re way better than the players you have, we believe in
the group we have here. You look at our group up front, we’ve had some
injuries and our young players have stepped up and done a good job.
That’s our depth. There was a lot of listening today, but we’re very happy
with where we’re at right now.”
So the Blackhawks will go on with what they have. And players say they are
fine with that.
“I saw Stan commented that we’ve earned the right to see what this group
can do, and that’s a pretty confident thing to say,” said Patrick Sharp, who
would return relatively soon from a shoulder injury. “That translates through
the team. As a group we have great chemistry, we feel good on the ice
together and we like to hear that. It’s nice to hear it from your GM, the one
that makes those decisions. I don’t know if we needed to hear it; I think as
an organization we feel that way. But it’s nice to hear it.”
A few other teams in the West made moves. The Blackhawks chose to go
with what they’ve got. If it works, it’ll be considered genius. If not, well, it will
be skewered. But the Blackhawks believe they have as good a chance as
any team to win the Stanley Cup with what they have on their current roster
and in their system.
They’ll find out soon enough.
“We look at it as a very strong team,” Bowman said. “You can never get
ahead of yourself. There’s still a lot of work to do. We’re staying focused,
and goal all along was to win the division. You do that, you get home ice;
that’s our objective. Regardless of positioning and the points you have, you
always want to play a high level of hockey. Coaches have done a good job
of preparing guys to give top performances. We want to keep going.”
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667747
Chicago Blackhawks
Hossa in, Sharp out vs. Blues
April 3, 2013, 12:45 pm Mark Lazerus
As the Chicago Blackhawks brass does whatever they do during the waning
moments of the trade deadline, one of their stars will be back in the lineup
tomorrow.
Marian Hossa will play, but Patrick Sharp is still not ready, as the
Blackhawks prepare to host the St. Louis Blues at the United Center on
Thursday night. For Hossa, the time is now to return from a shoulder injury
that’s sidelined him since mid-March.
“I felt good today,” he said. “So there’s no reason to wait longer.”
Sharp, however, isn’t feeling as good about his shoulder injury yet.
“It needs to be 100 percent to come back, especially with the situation we’re
in,” Sharp said of the first-place Blackhawks. “It sucks missing games.
When it’s ready, I’ll play for sure. It’s tough because I’ve been skating for
three weeks now, I can shoot the puck under control and I’ve been doing it
for a long time. It’s frustrating that I’m that close, but there are some
limitations with it.”
Patrick Kane was ill on Wednesday but is expected to play Thursday night.
Corey Crawford will get the start in net. Dave Bolland, who left Monday’s
game after blocking a shot, practiced today and is expected to play
tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, where will new acquisition Michal Handzus fit in? He practiced
with the fourth line today, going back and forth from wing to center. But
perhaps Handzus starts, at least, with the Blackhawks’ second line in
Sharp’s absence.
“He can play a number of roles for us. He can play both wings and center,”
coach Joel Quenneville said. “He’s a smart player, versatile in a lot of ways.
We like his experience, his size, his thought process. We like the person
we’re bringing into the locker room.”
Daniel Carcillo left today’s practice but coach Joel Quenneville said he
should be fine, that it was more precautionary that he departed.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667748
Chicago Blackhawks
Sauve joins Blackhawks, Flick sent to Boston
April 3, 2013, 11:30 am
The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired center Max Sauve from the Boston
Bruins in exchange for Rob Flick, according to TSN.
Sauve (6-foot-2, 184 pounds) is currently playing with the Providence
Bruins, where he has 10 goals and 13 assists in 52 games this season.
Flick has three goals, two assists and 97 penalty minutes with the Rockford
IceHogs this season
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667749
Chicago Blackhawks
Hawks set to face revamped Blues on CSN
April 4, 2013, 12:00 am
Nina Falcone
The Blackhawks will face another division rival tonight as they take on the
St. Louis Blues. Catch all the action on Comcast SportsNet beginning with
Blackhawks Pregame Live at 7:00.
The Blackhawks may have come out of Monday's matchup against the
Predators with two points under their belt, but the team felt the victory was a
disappointment. After holding a 2-0 lead and 27-11 edge in shots on goal at
the end of the second period, the Hawks allowed their opponent to tie the
game and take it to a shootout.
The lesson here: Chicago's third-period play needed improvement.
"It’s a reoccurring theme lately with teams coming at us hard in the third
period," captain Jonathan Toews said following the game. "We have to
make sure it’s our best period going forward. That’s gotta be at the forefront
of our mindset."
[More: Bowman: 'We believe in the group we have here']
Tonight the Blackhawks will work to apply that message to their game as
they face off against St. Louis.
The Blues (18-14-2) defeated the Wild on Monday, ending a three-game
skid. St. Louis is currently tied with Nashville as the Western Conference's
No. 8 seed, and the team still remains in a very tight race with Edmonton
and Columbus as they fight to see playing time past April 27.
Point leaders
Blackhawks: Patrick Kane (19 goals, 24 assists), Toews (17 goals, 19
assists), Marian Hossa (13 goals, 10 assists)
Blues: Chris Stewart (15 goals, 14 assists), Alexander Steen (six goals, 16
assists), David Perron (nine goals, 13 assists)
Trade deadline acquisitions
Blackhawks: Chicago acquired Michal Handzus from the San Jose Sharks
on Monday in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick. The 6-foot-5 forward
will provide size for the Hawks, as well as some help on faceoffs. He joined
his new team at practice on Wednesday and will lace up tonight at the
United Center.
Blues: St. Louis has been a bit busier, adding defensemen Jordan Leopold
and Jay Bouwmeester to add some depth to their blue line. Leopold
recorded two goals and six assists this year with the Sabres, while
Bouwmeester tallied six goals and nine assists with the Flames. Both will
join their new team tonight in Chicago.
Where's Bollig?
As Brandon Bollig tweeted Thursday, he'll "come out of hiding." After being
sent back down to Rockford, No. 52 was recalled by the Blackhawks and
rejoined his teammates at Wednesday's practice.
Notes
-- Hossa will rejoin the Blackhawks tonight after being sidelined with an
upper-body injury. Patrick Sharp said Wednesday he still needs more time
off the ice as he recuperates from a shoulder injury.
-- Corey Crawford will get the start in net tonight for the Blackhawks.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667750
Colorado Avalanche
Ryan O'Byrne traded by Avalanche to Toronto for 4th-round pick in 2014
By Adrian Dater
The Denver Post
Posted: 04/03/2013 01:53:33 PM MDT
Updated: 04/03/2013 02:39:40 PM MDT
The Avalanche traded defenseman Ryan O'Byrne on Wednesday on NHL
trade deadline day. But for the Avs, that was it.
The last-place-in-the-NHL Avs would have figured to be big sellers on such
a day, but a host of factors likely made deals tough to make for general
manager Greg Sherman.
As it stood, Sherman made just the one trade: O'Byrne to the Toronto
Maple Leafs for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft.
O'Byrne, a native of British Columbia, played parts of three seasons with
Colorado. While a popular member in the dressing room, his play — like a
lot of Avs players — suffered this season. In 34 games with the Avs, he had
one goal and three assists and a minus-8.
O'Byrne is making $1.8 million this season and can be an unrestricted free
agent in July. The Avs end up getting something for a player who they
probably would have lost for nothing.
In a brief interview with Canada's TSN following the trade, O'Byrne tried to
size up what went wrong with the Avalanche this season.
"It's tough to say. Obviously in a shortened season, we lost a few in a row
and things kind of snowballed there," O'Byrne said. "But there are good
young players coming up there and I think they'll be a good team for years
to come."
While there were a few big trades Wednesday around the NHL — with
Marian Gaborik going from the Rangers to Columbus probably the biggest
— deals were tougher to make this year than previous ones.
One big reason: The NHL's salary cap will be reduced from $70.2 million to
$64.3 million next season, so bigger contracts were tougher to move.
Also, the shortened, 48-game season has allowed more teams to consider
themselves contenders for the playoffs, leaving few teams that were true
sellers.
The Avs still have a young roster that management may be hesitant to blow
up, despite what looks to be a lottery finish for the third time in the past four
years.
Denver Post: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667751
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche makes minor trade; others seem likely as NHL deadline nears
By Adrian Dater
Posted: 04/03/2013 11:06:35 AM MDT
Updated: 04/03/2013 11:43:22 AM MDT
With the NHL's trade deadline ticking down to its 1 p.m. conclusion,
Avalanche fans want to know what, if anything, will the team do?
The last-place Avs are expected to make a deal or two, but how big they
are remains to be seen. Of the Avs' defensemen who could be on the move
Wednesday, Ryan O'Byrne is the most likely.
The Avs would like to move O'Byrne because he can be an unrestricted
free agent after this season. His play, especially of late, has not been good,
but his size and experience could interest a team looking for defensive
depth.
So far, Colorado has made only a small trade, dealing minor-league
defenseman Cameron Gaunce to Dallas for forward Tomas Vincour. That
was the Avs' first trade in nearly 14 months, dating to their Jamie McGinnDaniel Winnik, multiple-player deal with San Jose last season.
The Avs might want to move underachieving forward David Jones, but
getting much in return is unlikely. Jones has three years and $12 million left
on his contract, and he has had a horrible season, with only three goals.
Another player who could be intriguing for some teams is backup goalie
J.S. Giguere. He would bring Stanley Cup experience to a contender.
Check www.denverpost.com/avalanche later Wednesday for more details of
any possible trades.
Denver Post: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667752
Columbus Blue Jackets
Bold move brings ‘explosive player’ to Blue Jackets
All-Star winger Gaborik acquired from Rangers
Jackets in a trade last summer that sent team captain and forward Rick
Nash to New York.
The Blue Jackets also received a first-round pick from the Rangers in that
trade. In all of yesterday’s moves, the team was delighted to keep all three
of its first-round picks for the upcoming draft.
“We had to give up a lot to get a good player,” Kekalainen said. “But those
(picks) are very important to us; they’re valuable to us.”
By Aaron Portzline
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday April 4, 2013 6:37 AM
When yesterday dawned, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wanted to
trade for a winger who could give the Blue Jackets a boost on offense, help
provide relief for hard-working goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and shore up
the power play.
There are boosts, and there are rocket-launches.
Kekalainen opened eyes across the NHL just before the 3 p.m. trade
deadline, acquiring three-time All-Star right winger Marian Gaborik from the
New York Rangers in the second blockbuster trade between the teams in
nine months.
The price was steep. The Jackets sent center Derick Brassard, injured right
winger Derek Dorsett, defenseman John Moore and a sixth-round draft pick
in 2014 to the Rangers. It’s the Jackets’ first major move under Kekalainen,
who was hired in February, and it was the biggest headline of tradedeadline day.
“When a player of (Gaborik’s caliber) became available, we were quite
excited about it,” Kekalainen said. “This is an explosive player. We worked
on it for quite a while. We’re looking at this as a long-term solution, not a
rental. He’s under contract through next season, and we would like to see
the relationship continue beyond that.”
The Blue Jackets also traded goaltender Steve Mason — who won the
Calder Trophy in 2009 but has struggled since — to the Philadelphia Flyers
for goaltender Michael Leighton and a third-round pick in 2015. In a third
move, the Jackets shipped a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft to Calgary
for rugged right winger Blake Comeau.
Gaborik and Leighton were expected to arrive in Nashville last night and be
available for a game tonight against the Predators, while Comeau will take
a few days until he obtains a U.S. work visa. The Blue Jackets are in 10th
place in the Western Conference but only one point behind eighth-place St.
Louis in their push for a playoff spot. Eleven games remain.
“It was a big day for us,” Kekalainen said. “It came together fast at the end. I
don’t think I put my phone down in the final two hours.”
Gaborik, 31, has 333 goals and 333 assists in 757 games with Minnesota
and New York. He has had three 40-goal seasons, a cumulative plus-84
rating and 62 winning goals, while fending off numerous groin tweaks, pulls
and tears. He had offseason shoulder surgery and hasn’t quite been himself
with the Rangers this season, with nine goals, 10 assists and a minus-8
rating in 35 games.
“I feel good,” Gaborik said. “It’s hard. Everybody goes through some bumps
and bruises, but I feel fine. My shoulder is fine. I feel confident going to
Columbus and helping that team make the playoffs.”
Gaborik’s contract, which pays him $7.5 million per season through next
season, includes a no-trade clause. After Kekalainen and Rangers general
manager Glen Sather agreed to the deal at 2:15 p.m., a mad dash ensued
to get Gaborik’s approval signed and delivered to the league in 45 minutes.
In that span, Gaborik spoke with Blue Jackets president of hockey
operations John Davidson, Kekalainen and Blue Jackets veteran Vinny
Prospal, a former Rangers teammate. Gaborik needed only 25 minutes to
give his approval.
“It’s nice to be part of a team that really wanted me,” Gaborik said. “The
team has shown they’re going in the right direction. We haven’t been
performing the way we should (for the Rangers), myself included. It wasn’t
the way anybody expected. I haven’t been having fun this year; I don’t think
the whole team has at all. I’m looking forward to this challenge.”
Besides Prospal, Gaborik will be reunited with former Rangers teammates
Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov. The forwards came to the Blue
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667753
Columbus Blue Jackets
Michael Arace commentary: Surprising deal gives Jackets new look
By Michael Arace
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday April 4, 2013 5:30 AM
The Blue Jackets have been among the pleasant little surprises of this
strange, truncated NHL season. They came from last place, sneaked up on
everybody and scrapped their way into playoff contention. They slightly
altered the natural order of the league, the way one does by adding a fern
in the living room, or by switching out the doormat.
Yesterday, trade deadline day, the change became more pronounced. A
flurry of deals were made just before the cutoff, none so large and largely
surprising as the one pulled off by general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and
his boss, John Davidson, president of hockey operations.
They traded Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth-round
pick to the New York Rangers for Marian Gaborik — a former All-Star with
goal-scoring bona fides and a Rick Nash-sized contract. The first move
made by the new brain trust stands as one of the biggest deals in Blue
Jackets history, right up there with the one that brought Jeff Carter from
Philadelphia, the one that sent Carter off to Los Angeles and the one that
sent Nash packing to the Rangers.
In terms of shock value and audacity, it might be bigger than all of them. It
is like someone blew out a wall in the old place. It is disorienting.
Thirteen years ago, the Blue Jackets lost Gaborik on a coin flip and wound
up with Rostislav Klesla instead. Klesla is gone — and now, so are
Brassard, Moore and the rest of the Jackets’ first 10 first-round picks — and
Gaborik is pulling on a new blue shirt. How odd is that?
Two years ago, the Blue Jackets acquired Carter, a mercurial star who
begged out of town after 39 games. Now, they have swung another huge
deal for another expensive sports car. How fussy is the engine?
Last year, the Jackets traded a former 40-goal scorer to the Rangers for
depth. This year, the Jackets traded depth to the Rangers for a former 40goal scorer. Who made the right move — Scott Howson, Glen Sather,
Kekalainen or Sather?
The stated philosophy of the new administration is to build the Blue Jackets
brick by brick. Yesterday, the Jackets lost three young blocks. They
surrendered some skill, a lot of soul and a 22-year-old defenseman with
size and skating ability to get Gaborik — who is 31 years old, has been in
and out of Rangers coach John Tortorella’s doghouse, had shoulder
surgery last year and nine goals and 10 assists in 35 games this year. Is he
the right brick?
What is the deal?
“We’re trying to win now,” Davidson said, “and we’re trying to win in the
future.”
The Gaborik deal suits both aims.
The fuzzy, feel-good Blue Jackets are a different animal as they head into a
12-game stretch run. They have upgraded their areas of weakness, an
anemic offense and addled power play. Whatever happens next week or
next season — after which Gaborik’s contract is due to expire — Blue
Jackets management has made it clear that it prizes victory and will be bold
in its pursuit.
It is unfair to compare Gaborik with Jeff Carter, a narcissist who looked
down on Columbus. Gaborik’s production in last year’s playoffs, which drew
the ire of Tortorella, was due in large part to a torn labrum. There is some
suspicion that Gaborik has lost some zip on his shot, but he still has some
serious wheels and there is little doubt he will benefit from a change in
scenery, not to mention a return to right wing.
Kekalainen managed to get Gaborik without compromising the future.
Brassard needed a new address, and the addition of Gaborik is a hefty
boost in skill. The losses of Dorsett and Moore are mitigated by the Blue
Jackets’ depth of bottom-six forwards and young defensemen. It was done
without surrendering any of their three, prized first-round picks.
They have, in essence, traded Nash, Brassard, Dorsett, Moore and a sixthround pick for Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, Gaborik and
a first-round pick. That is more than rearranging furniture. It is a renovation,
well done.
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667754
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets notebook: Familiar names depart
By Shawn Mitchell
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday April 4, 2013 5:28 AM
Three of the sturdiest bonds to the old Blue Jackets — those of departed
general manager Scott Howson, departed coach Scott Arniel and scant
success — were broken yesterday when goaltender Steve Mason was
traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and forwards Derick Brassard and Derek
Dorsett were traded to the New York Rangers.
Also dealt was 22-year-old defenseman John Moore, a once-promising
prospect deemed exchangeable for more pressing needs that new general
manager Jarmo Kekalainen and president of hockey operations John
Davidson hope can be filled by former All-Star forward Marian Gaborik.
The trades were jarring, if for no other reason than the familiarity of the
departed.
Mason, Brassard and Dorsett were three of only seven players on the roster
whose tenures dated to the Blue Jackets’ lone playoff season of 2008-09. It
was during that season that Mason won the starting job and the Calder
Trophy as the NHL rookie of the year at age 20.
But the memory of a season that culminated in a first-round playoff sweep
was faded by three seasons of struggle. A fourth was marked by his
relegation to the backup spot after the emergence of Sergei Bobrovsky. So
Mason, a restricted free agent at the end of the season, was traded to the
Flyers for backup goalie Michael Leighton and a third-round pick in the
2015 draft.
“Obviously with the play of Bobrovsky, he has not played as much and his
contract is coming to an end,” Kekalainen said. “There is a business side to
every decision, as well. We were thinking about it, and there were a few
teams that were interested. I thought this was a deal that we had to take to
just protect our interest into the future rather than just letting a player walk
at the end of the contract.”
Kekalainen acknowledged the example set by Dorsett, an undersized
firebrand who led the NHL in penalty minutes last season and is a tough
and tireless worker. Dorsett, likely out for the rest of the regular season
because of a fractured clavicle, had emerged as a leader.
“We realized the importance of Dorsett in the room, but also he’s been
injured for a while, and our team’s been doing pretty well without him,”
Kekalainen said. “So we felt that this was a situation where team chemistry
is going to be fine going forward.”
Brassard, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2006 draft, was once viewed by the
Jackets as a potential No. 1 center. But he never lived up to the billing,
averaging 41 points in three full seasons. He had seven goals and 11
assists in 34 games this season.
Moore, too, was a first-round pick (No. 21 in 2009) who played 67 games
for the Jackets as a rookie last season. But he was a healthy scratch eight
times this season, including four of the previous six games.
Slap shots
The Blue Jackets activated Dubinsky (left knee) and left winger Nick
Foligno from injured reserve. Both are expected to be in the lineup tonight
at the Nashville Predatrors. … The Blue Jackets capped deadline day with
a minor trade, acquiring minor-league goaltender Patrick Killeen, 22, from
Pittsburgh for future considerations.
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667755
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets, Predators at a glance
TONIGHT’S GAME
vs. Nashville Predators
8 p.m., Bridgestone Arena
TV: Fox Sports Ohio
Radio: WBNS-FM (97.1)
Thursday April 4, 2013 5:25 AM
Blue Jackets at a glance
• Past 10 games: 5-2-3
• Power play: 13.3 percent (27th in NHL)
• Penalty kill: 85.7 percent (fourth, tied)
• Injury update: LW Nick Foligno (upper body) and C Brandon Dubinsky (left
knee) are probable; D Tim Erixon (upper body) and RW Jared Boll (lower
body) are out.
Nashville Predators at a glance
• Past 10 games: 4-4-2
• Power play: 18.1 percent (16th in NHL)
• Penalty kill: 77.6 percent (26th)
• Injury update: C Mike Fisher (hand) is questionable. LW Colin Wilson
(upper body) is out.
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667756
Columbus Blue Jackets
New digits
New Blue Jacket Marian Gaborik has worn No. 10 since his rookie season
of 2000-01. He traded with Mark Letestu to keep the number. Letestu will
switch to No. 55.
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667757
Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL: Big trading day for Blue Jackets
By Aaron Portzline
The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday April 3, 2013 9:33 PM
NHL trade deadline day started with a hush and ended with a hammer, and
the Blue Jackets were a big part of the thunderous final hour.
The Jackets acquired three-time All-Star right winger Marian Gaborik and
two minor-league defensemen from the New York Rangers in exchange for
center Derick Brassard, right winger Derek Dorsett, defenseman John
Moore and sixth-round draft pick in the 2014 NHL draft.
Gaborik, 31, gives the Blue Jackets an elite offensive scorer, something
they can use after a languishing toward the bottom of the league in scoring
all season. He has five 30-goal seasons on his resume. Blue Jackets
general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said his team now has "an explosive
player."
"Very exciting for us, I think," Kekalainen said. "One area we needed to
address was getting more offense, somebody who could play the power
play, run the power play, score some goals for us. When a player of
Marian’s caliber became available we were extremely excited about the
opoortunity and we worked on it for quite a while."
Gaborik had to waive a no-trade clause to get the deal completed, which he
did with little time to spare.
"We finally got it done," Kekalainen said. "I think we were kind of pushing
the limit there at the end with the no-trade clause and the papers that had
get sent down."
The Blue Jackets didn't stop with that trade, however.
Goaltender Steve Mason, whose career started with such promise and
ended with him being the back-up in Columbus, was traded to the
Philadelphia Flyers for a third-round pick in 2015 and goaltender Michael
Leighton.
"Obviously with the play of (Sergei) Boborvosky, (Mason) has not played as
much and his contract is coming to an end," Kekalainen said. "There is a
business side to every decision, as well. We were thinking about it and
there were a few teams that were interested as well. I thought this was a
deal that we had to take to just protect our interest into the future rather
than just letting a player walk at the end of the contract."
The Blue Jackets also acquired winger Blake Comeau from the Calgary
Flames for a fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft. He scored 41 goals in a twoyear span with New York Islanders, but never produced or made much of
an impact the past two seasons in Calgary.
"He is something that we needed to add after giving up those players (for
Gaborik)," Kekalainen said. "Dorsett obviously is a physical player that we
lost in this deal. Blake Comeau hits hard and plays a physical game but he
can also score some goals. He’s a guy that’s going to fill an important role
for us."
Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson was taking a
private aircraft to pick up Gaborik tonight and fly him to Nashville, where he
will be in the lineup against the Predators on Thursday. Leighton was
expected to arrive in Nashville tonight and back up Bobrovsky against the
Predators.
Comeau must first clear immigration and will join the team in the coming
days.
The Jackets also acquired AHL/ECHL defensemen Steven Delisle and
Blake Parlett from the Rangers. Delisle was drafted by the Jackets in 2008
and was traded to the Rangers in July as part of the deal that sent Rick
Nash to New York.
The Blue Jackets announced another move tonight. They acquired minorleague goaltender Patrick Killeen from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange
for future considerations. Killeen was assigned to AHL Springfield.
Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667758
Dallas Stars
Sherrington: One head coach from the Stars’ past that I wouldn’t be averse
to bringing back…
Kevin Sherrington Published: 03 April 2013 07:40 PM
SportsDay columnist Kevin Sherrington answered reader questions during
a live chat Wednesday. Here are some highlights:
I saw that Lindy Ruff (great NHL coach) is suddenly available now. And I
wonder if his (and others'?) availability might inspire Newey to seriously
think that maybe it's better to have an experienced coach for an
inexperienced team rather than the current "newbie" Gulutzan?
Kevin Sherrington: Ruff goes all the way back to the Stars' glory days,
which seems like a long time ago now. I have no idea if Ruff would be so
inclined, but, yeah, I think he'd be a terrific hire. For that matter, I wouldn't
be averse to bringing back Ken Hitchcock. No coach connected with the
locals like Hitch. Taught me everything I know about hockey.
Do you think the Stars owner is not willing to spend money on the team
because they couldn't reach an agreement with Roy and Jagr?
Kevin Sherrington: In any professional sport, here's the maxim: If you're not
a winning team, and it doesn't appear like you're going to win for a couple of
years or more, never keep high-priced, older talent. Trade it for what you
can get and rebuild. I applaud Tom Gaglardi's decision to bring in young
talent. This team isn't physical enough, which is why Lehtonen is getting
killed back there. Remember: Build first, then pay for the final pieces.
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667759
Dallas Stars
Stars send Jordie Benn, Colton Sceviour back to AHL
MIKE HEIKA
Published: 03 April 2013 03:00 PM
Confusing morning in Anaheim, but Stars want these players ready for AHL
playoffs.
Here is the press release:
DALLAS STARS ASSIGN JORDIE BENN AND COLTON SCEVIOUR TO
TEXAS STARS; ACTIVATE RYAN GARBUTT FROM INJURED RESERVE
FRISCO, Texas - The Dallas Stars announced today that defenseman
Jordie Benn and forward Colton Sceviour have been assigned to the Texas
Stars, Dallas' development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).
The team also activated forward Ryan Garbutt from injured reserve.
Benn, 25, has skated in 23 games for Dallas this season, registering six
points (1G-5A), including his first career NHL goal on March 23 against the
Colorado Avalanche. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman returns to
Texas with 21 points (7G-14A) in 40 games for the AHL affiliate this
season. A native of Victoria, B.C., Benn went undrafted and was signed by
Dallas on July 25, 2012 to a one-year contract extension.
Sceviour, 23, has skated in two career NHL contests, most recently on Jan.
26, 2013 against St. Louis. The 6-foot, 196-pound forward ranks second on
the Texas Stars in scoring this season with 44 points (18G-26A) and is
second with a plus-17 rating. The native of Red Deer, Alta., was Dallas'
fourth-round selection (112th overall) in the 2007 NHL Draft.
Garbutt, 27, has missed the last nine games with a wrist injury and was
placed on injured reserve retroactive to the March 14 game against
Anaheim. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward has earned five points (3G-2A) in
23 games for the Stars this season and has registered eight points (5G-3A)
in 43 career NHL contests.
The Dallas Stars faceoff against the Anaheim Ducks tonight at 9:00 p.m. at
Honda Center (TV: FOX Sports Southwest; Radio: 1310 The Ticket).
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667760
Dallas Stars
Heika: Stars' youngsters get chance, but youthful mistakes hurt in loss to
Ducks
MacDermid got his first NHL goal with 1:24 left, and that allowed for some
optimism for the future.
"I thought all of the guys had a lot of energy and tried to do all of the little
things right. We did that for the most part but they made some good plays,’’
he said. "There’s a lot of chatter and a lot of energy and everyone builds on
that.
Published: 04 April 2013 12:27 AM
Despite the loss, the Stars know it will be a process to get to where they
want, and they believe the best way to attack that process is attempting to
win.
ANAHEIM, Calif. _ The new look Stars had many of the same problems as
the old look Stars Wednesday night.
"We’re not giving up, we’re never giving up,’’ Nystrom said. "This is a great
opportunity for a lot of these guys, and even for a guy like me who might get
more of a chance than he usually does. We’re not out of this by any means,
so we have to play our hardest and see what happens.’’
MIKE HEIKA
With five new players in the lineup after a remodel at the trade deadline, the
Stars still couldn’t solve Anaheim goalie Viktor Fasth and took a 5-2 loss at
the Honda Center. The remade Stars had more physicality and jump after
sending away Jaromir Jagr, Derek Roy and Tomas Vincour in separate
trades and assigning Reilly Smith and Francis Wathier to the AHL, but they
still couldn’t keep up with the Pacific Division leader.
Anaheim moves to 25-7-5 (55 points) with the win, while the Stars drop to
16-17-3 (35 points). The dream of the playoffs seems more distant than
ever for Dallas, which will probably have to go something like 9-2-1 in the
final 12 games if they want to get to the 54 points that will probably be
needed to contend for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.
Dallas voiced optimism before the game, as some of the younger prospects
off the Texas Stars (AHL) joined some of the prospects who have already
been working in the NHL this season. Winger Alex Chiasson, 22, made his
NHL debut, while winger Matt Fraser, 22, played his fifth NHL game.
Recently acquired winger Lane MacDermid, 23, played in his ninth NHL
game.
While the Stars didn’t get the results they wanted, players and coaches
were still enthusiastic about the energy that will be brought by the younger
players.
"It’s tough to find the good stuff in a loss like that,’’ said veteran
defenseman Stephane Robidas. "There are a lot of new faces, young guys
that had their first experience with us and I thought they did really well.
That’s the positive sign. They worked hard and did their part. I think we can
defend a little harder and be a little more physical in our zone, especially
against a team with that much skill. We have to be hard on them and finish
our checks whenever we can. That’s something that we didn’t do as well
tonight."
Bottom line, the energy didn’t carry the play against the veteran Ducks.
Instead, a couple of key breakdowns led to open players just feet away
from Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen, and Anaheim was in control for most of the
game.
In a twist of sports poetry, former Stars winger Radek Dvorak scored
against his old team to start things off. Dvorak was not signed by the Stars
in the summer and played this season in the Swiss Elite League. However,
the Ducks signed him as a free agent March 24, and he was wide open in
front of the net in the first period. Ryan Getzlaf found him with a pass, and
Dvorak scored in his third game as a Duck.
Anaheim added to that in the second period, as Teemu Selanne scored the
673 goal of his career. He ranks 11 all-time, just behind the now-departed
Jagr. Selanne found open space about 15 feet out and flipped a shot over
Lehtonen.
Kyle Palmieri then made it 3-0 in the second period when he walked around
several Stars defenders and jammed a shot past Lehtonen.
The Stars finally scored on Fasth, who had shut them out for 102:48, when
Vernon Fiddler made a great pass from behind the net to Erik Cole driving
to the goal. It was Cole’s seventh goal of the season.
Dallas had a few chances to draw within one, but Fasth was solid in
keeping the cushion. Then, Ryan Getzlaf, who had appeared to suffer an
injury earlier in the game, sprung off the bench on an odd-man rush, and
lifted a backhand into the net for his 13 goal of the season and a 4-1 lead.
"We worked,’’ said Stars coach Glen Gultzan. "What I didn’t like was our
battle level on the walls. I thought our ‘D’ needed to win more battles on the
boards. We let them get to our net a couple times a little too easy in my
opinion. But we worked hard and we were direct. We just didn’t capitalize
on our opportunities.’’
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667761
Dallas Stars
Stephane Robidas having tough time finding 'good stuff' in Stars' third
straight loss
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 03 April 2013 09:11 PM
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Although the Dallas Stars traded two of their top
four scorers in the two days since their last meeting with Anaheim, the
Ducks didn't take them less seriously in the rematch.
The departures of Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy actually made the Stars look
more dangerous to the Ducks, and the Pacific Division leaders responded
accordingly.
Captain Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and two assists, and Teemu Selanne
scored his 673rd career goal in the Ducks' 5-2 victory over Dallas on
Wednesday night.
Viktor Fasth made 23 saves and Radek Dvorak scored his first goal for
Anaheim in the second of three straight meetings in five days between the
first-place Ducks and the last-place Stars, who lost 4-0 in Dallas on
Monday. While the Stars are young and improving, the Ducks are sitting on
a double-digit lead atop the division with 11 games to play, closing in on a
postseason berth and just their second Pacific title in two decades of
existence.
"Teams that make trades and do the sell-off are so tough to play down the
stretch," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Experience tells me when
you bring in a lot of new guys, young guys especially, they play with so
much energy. ... To beat any team three times in a row is difficult, but we're
going to try."
Kyle Palmieri snapped a 13-game goal drought and Andrew Cogliano
scored an empty-net goal as the Ducks improved the NHL's third-best
record to 25-7-5 and closed within two points of the league-leading Chicago
Blackhawks.
Getzlaf had the fourth three-point game in his outstanding season for
Anaheim, which is 3-0-1 since a four-game losing streak last month.
Getzlaf briefly left the ice after bending his right leg awkwardly while tied up
with Jamie Benn in the third period, but returned to score his 150th career
goal on a perfectly placed backhand set up by Corey Perry. Boudreau then
gave the rest of the night off to his leading scorer.
"He's one of the best passers in the league," Dvorak said of Getzlaf, who
assisted on his first-period goal with a pinpoint pass from the far boards.
"As soon as I see he has the puck, I just try to get open. ... We knew it was
going to be a tough game. They were coming hard tonight. They made a lot
of changes and had a lot of young guys, and they had a lot of energy."
Lane MacDermid scored his first NHL goal in his Dallas debut, and Kari
Lehtonen stopped 22 shots in the Stars' first game since trading Jagr to
Boston and Roy to Vancouver. Erik Cole also scored for the Stars, who
have lost three straight.
With the departures of Jagr and Roy, Alex Chiasson made his NHL debut
for Dallas and center Ryan Garbutt returned from a nine-game absence
with an injured wrist. High-scoring left wing Loui Eriksson also played center
for the Stars.
"It's tough to find the good stuff in a loss like that," Dallas defenseman
Stephane Robidas said. "There are a lot of new faces, young guys that had
their first experience with us, and I thought they did really well."
Fasth, who shut out Dallas earlier this week, blanked Dallas through the
first 42 minutes Wednesday before Cole scored. MacDermid, acquired from
the Bruins in the Jagr deal, got his first NHL goal with 1:24 to play.
"I thought all of the guys had a lot of energy and tried to do all the little
things right," MacDermid said. "We did that for the most part, but they made
some good plays."
After adding veterans Dvorak and David Steckel last month, the Ducks
made only two moves at the trade deadline, acquiring center Matthew
Lombardi from Phoenix and shipping out third-string goalie Jeff Deslauriers
in separate deals.
Anaheim showed little fatigue in its 22nd game in 39 days, controlling early
play and going ahead on the goal by Dvorak, a 17-year NHL veteran who
signed with Anaheim on March 24. The Czech forward had been playing in
Switzerland this winter after scoring 21 points in 73 games for Dallas last
season.
Selanne scored his 251st power-play goal in the second period when a
drop pass by Getzlaf deflected to him for a nasty wrist shot. Selanne
endured a nine-game goal drought in March, but the 42-year-old Finnish
Flash has scored at least 10 goals for the 20th consecutive season.
Palmieri added his added his eighth goal of the season five minutes later,
easily moving past stationary defenseman Aaron Rome. The Ducks'
promising scorer hadn't found the net in his last 13 games since getting a
hat trick Feb. 27 against Nashville.
NOTES: The 6-foot-4 Chiasson was a second-round pick in 2009 before
playing three seasons at Boston University. Chiasson hit Anaheim's Matt
Beleskey squarely in the face with his stick blade early in the third period,
but wasn't penalized while Beleskey went to the dressing room. ... The
Ducks traded C Brandon McMillan to Phoenix for Lombardi, who wasn't in
town to face Dallas. McMillan never solidified a spot in the Ducks' lineup
over the past three years despite numerous chances to stick in Anaheim.
He played in six games with Anaheim this season, spending most of the
last two years in the AHL.
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667762
Dallas Stars
Stars' Eric Nystrom still hoping to come to terms on a contract extension
MIKE HEIKA
Published: 04 April 2013 12:05 AM
Stars winger Eric Nystrom was a player who could have been traded
Wednesday. He can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
Nystrom and the Stars were unable to come to terms on a contract
extension before Wednesday. He said that’s just part of being a pro athlete.
“Yeah, sure you worry, but there was nothing I could do about it,” he said.
“I’m just glad I’m still here.”
Nystrom was rescued somewhat by the Stars when they acquired him from
the Minnesota Wild after he had been sent to the minors last season. He
said he hopes to still get a contract extension with the Stars.
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667763
Dallas Stars
Stephane Robidas having tough time finding 'good stuff' in Stars' third
straight loss
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 03 April 2013 09:11 PM
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Although the Dallas Stars traded two of their top
four scorers in the two days since their last meeting with Anaheim, the
Ducks didn't take them less seriously in the rematch.
The departures of Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy actually made the Stars look
more dangerous to the Ducks, and the Pacific Division leaders responded
accordingly.
Captain Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and two assists, and Teemu Selanne
scored his 673rd career goal in the Ducks' 5-2 victory over Dallas on
Wednesday night.
Viktor Fasth made 23 saves and Radek Dvorak scored his first goal for
Anaheim in the second of three straight meetings in five days between the
first-place Ducks and the last-place Stars, who lost 4-0 in Dallas on
Monday. While the Stars are young and improving, the Ducks are sitting on
a double-digit lead atop the division with 11 games to play, closing in on a
postseason berth and just their second Pacific title in two decades of
existence.
"Teams that make trades and do the sell-off are so tough to play down the
stretch," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Experience tells me when
you bring in a lot of new guys, young guys especially, they play with so
much energy. ... To beat any team three times in a row is difficult, but we're
going to try."
Kyle Palmieri snapped a 13-game goal drought and Andrew Cogliano
scored an empty-net goal as the Ducks improved the NHL's third-best
record to 25-7-5 and closed within two points of the league-leading Chicago
Blackhawks.
Getzlaf had the fourth three-point game in his outstanding season for
Anaheim, which is 3-0-1 since a four-game losing streak last month.
Getzlaf briefly left the ice after bending his right leg awkwardly while tied up
with Jamie Benn in the third period, but returned to score his 150th career
goal on a perfectly placed backhand set up by Corey Perry. Boudreau then
gave the rest of the night off to his leading scorer.
"He's one of the best passers in the league," Dvorak said of Getzlaf, who
assisted on his first-period goal with a pinpoint pass from the far boards.
"As soon as I see he has the puck, I just try to get open. ... We knew it was
going to be a tough game. They were coming hard tonight. They made a lot
of changes and had a lot of young guys, and they had a lot of energy."
Lane MacDermid scored his first NHL goal in his Dallas debut, and Kari
Lehtonen stopped 22 shots in the Stars' first game since trading Jagr to
Boston and Roy to Vancouver. Erik Cole also scored for the Stars, who
have lost three straight.
With the departures of Jagr and Roy, Alex Chiasson made his NHL debut
for Dallas and center Ryan Garbutt returned from a nine-game absence
with an injured wrist. High-scoring left wing Loui Eriksson also played center
for the Stars.
"It's tough to find the good stuff in a loss like that," Dallas defenseman
Stephane Robidas said. "There are a lot of new faces, young guys that had
their first experience with us, and I thought they did really well."
Fasth, who shut out Dallas earlier this week, blanked Dallas through the
first 42 minutes Wednesday before Cole scored. MacDermid, acquired from
the Bruins in the Jagr deal, got his first NHL goal with 1:24 to play.
"I thought all of the guys had a lot of energy and tried to do all the little
things right," MacDermid said. "We did that for the most part, but they made
some good plays."
After adding veterans Dvorak and David Steckel last month, the Ducks
made only two moves at the trade deadline, acquiring center Matthew
Lombardi from Phoenix and shipping out third-string goalie Jeff Deslauriers
in separate deals.
Anaheim showed little fatigue in its 22nd game in 39 days, controlling early
play and going ahead on the goal by Dvorak, a 17-year NHL veteran who
signed with Anaheim on March 24. The Czech forward had been playing in
Switzerland this winter after scoring 21 points in 73 games for Dallas last
season.
Selanne scored his 251st power-play goal in the second period when a
drop pass by Getzlaf deflected to him for a nasty wrist shot. Selanne
endured a nine-game goal drought in March, but the 42-year-old Finnish
Flash has scored at least 10 goals for the 20th consecutive season.
Palmieri added his added his eighth goal of the season five minutes later,
easily moving past stationary defenseman Aaron Rome. The Ducks'
promising scorer hadn't found the net in his last 13 games since getting a
hat trick Feb. 27 against Nashville.
NOTES: The 6-foot-4 Chiasson was a second-round pick in 2009 before
playing three seasons at Boston University. Chiasson hit Anaheim's Matt
Beleskey squarely in the face with his stick blade early in the third period,
but wasn't penalized while Beleskey went to the dressing room. ... The
Ducks traded C Brandon McMillan to Phoenix for Lombardi, who wasn't in
town to face Dallas. McMillan never solidified a spot in the Ducks' lineup
over the past three years despite numerous chances to stick in Anaheim.
He played in six games with Anaheim this season, spending most of the
last two years in the AHL.
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667764
Dallas Stars
Stephane Robidas having tough time finding 'good stuff' in Stars' third
straight loss
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 03 April 2013 09:11 PM
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Although the Dallas Stars traded two of their top
four scorers in the two days since their last meeting with Anaheim, the
Ducks didn't take them less seriously in the rematch.
The departures of Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy actually made the Stars look
more dangerous to the Ducks, and the Pacific Division leaders responded
accordingly.
Captain Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and two assists, and Teemu Selanne
scored his 673rd career goal in the Ducks' 5-2 victory over Dallas on
Wednesday night.
Viktor Fasth made 23 saves and Radek Dvorak scored his first goal for
Anaheim in the second of three straight meetings in five days between the
first-place Ducks and the last-place Stars, who lost 4-0 in Dallas on
Monday. While the Stars are young and improving, the Ducks are sitting on
a double-digit lead atop the division with 11 games to play, closing in on a
postseason berth and just their second Pacific title in two decades of
existence.
"Teams that make trades and do the sell-off are so tough to play down the
stretch," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Experience tells me when
you bring in a lot of new guys, young guys especially, they play with so
much energy. ... To beat any team three times in a row is difficult, but we're
going to try."
Kyle Palmieri snapped a 13-game goal drought and Andrew Cogliano
scored an empty-net goal as the Ducks improved the NHL's third-best
record to 25-7-5 and closed within two points of the league-leading Chicago
Blackhawks.
Getzlaf had the fourth three-point game in his outstanding season for
Anaheim, which is 3-0-1 since a four-game losing streak last month.
Getzlaf briefly left the ice after bending his right leg awkwardly while tied up
with Jamie Benn in the third period, but returned to score his 150th career
goal on a perfectly placed backhand set up by Corey Perry. Boudreau then
gave the rest of the night off to his leading scorer.
"He's one of the best passers in the league," Dvorak said of Getzlaf, who
assisted on his first-period goal with a pinpoint pass from the far boards.
"As soon as I see he has the puck, I just try to get open. ... We knew it was
going to be a tough game. They were coming hard tonight. They made a lot
of changes and had a lot of young guys, and they had a lot of energy."
Lane MacDermid scored his first NHL goal in his Dallas debut, and Kari
Lehtonen stopped 22 shots in the Stars' first game since trading Jagr to
Boston and Roy to Vancouver. Erik Cole also scored for the Stars, who
have lost three straight.
With the departures of Jagr and Roy, Alex Chiasson made his NHL debut
for Dallas and center Ryan Garbutt returned from a nine-game absence
with an injured wrist. High-scoring left wing Loui Eriksson also played center
for the Stars.
"It's tough to find the good stuff in a loss like that," Dallas defenseman
Stephane Robidas said. "There are a lot of new faces, young guys that had
their first experience with us, and I thought they did really well."
Fasth, who shut out Dallas earlier this week, blanked Dallas through the
first 42 minutes Wednesday before Cole scored. MacDermid, acquired from
the Bruins in the Jagr deal, got his first NHL goal with 1:24 to play.
"I thought all of the guys had a lot of energy and tried to do all the little
things right," MacDermid said. "We did that for the most part, but they made
some good plays."
After adding veterans Dvorak and David Steckel last month, the Ducks
made only two moves at the trade deadline, acquiring center Matthew
Lombardi from Phoenix and shipping out third-string goalie Jeff Deslauriers
in separate deals.
Anaheim showed little fatigue in its 22nd game in 39 days, controlling early
play and going ahead on the goal by Dvorak, a 17-year NHL veteran who
signed with Anaheim on March 24. The Czech forward had been playing in
Switzerland this winter after scoring 21 points in 73 games for Dallas last
season.
Selanne scored his 251st power-play goal in the second period when a
drop pass by Getzlaf deflected to him for a nasty wrist shot. Selanne
endured a nine-game goal drought in March, but the 42-year-old Finnish
Flash has scored at least 10 goals for the 20th consecutive season.
Palmieri added his added his eighth goal of the season five minutes later,
easily moving past stationary defenseman Aaron Rome. The Ducks'
promising scorer hadn't found the net in his last 13 games since getting a
hat trick Feb. 27 against Nashville.
NOTES: The 6-foot-4 Chiasson was a second-round pick in 2009 before
playing three seasons at Boston University. Chiasson hit Anaheim's Matt
Beleskey squarely in the face with his stick blade early in the third period,
but wasn't penalized while Beleskey went to the dressing room. ... The
Ducks traded C Brandon McMillan to Phoenix for Lombardi, who wasn't in
town to face Dallas. McMillan never solidified a spot in the Ducks' lineup
over the past three years despite numerous chances to stick in Anaheim.
He played in six games with Anaheim this season, spending most of the
last two years in the AHL.
Dallas Morning News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667765
Dallas Stars
Ducks fear Stars’ unknown quality, but still roll 5-2
By Greg Beacham
The Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Although the Dallas Stars traded two of their top four
scorers in the two days since their last meeting with Anaheim, the Ducks
didn’t take them less seriously in the rematch.
The departures of Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy actually made the Stars look
more dangerous to the Ducks, and the Pacific Division leaders responded
accordingly.
Captain Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and two assists, and Teemu Selanne
scored his 673rd career goal in the Ducks’ 5-2 victory over Dallas on
Wednesday night.
Viktor Fasth made 23 saves and Radek Dvorak scored his first goal for
Anaheim in the second of three straight meetings in five days between the
first-place Ducks and the last-place Stars, who lost 4-0 in Dallas on
Monday. While the Stars are young and improving, the Ducks are sitting on
a double-digit lead atop the division with 11 games to play, closing in on a
postseason berth and just their second Pacific title in two decades of
existence.
“Teams that make trades and do the sell-off are so tough to play down the
stretch,” Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Experience tells me when
you bring in a lot of new guys, young guys especially, they play with so
much energy. … To beat any team three times in a row is difficult, but we’re
going to try.”
Kyle Palmieri snapped a 13-game goal drought and Andrew Cogliano
scored an empty-net goal as the Ducks improved the NHL’s third-best
record to 25-7-5 and closed within two points of the league-leading Chicago
Blackhawks.
Getzlaf had the fourth three-point game in his outstanding season for
Anaheim, which is 3-0-1 since a four-game losing streak last month.
Getzlaf briefly left the ice after bending his right leg awkwardly while tied up
with Jamie Benn in the third period, but returned to score his 150th career
goal on a perfectly placed backhand set up by Corey Perry. Boudreau then
gave the rest of the night off to his leading scorer.
“He’s one of the best passers in the league,” Dvorak said of Getzlaf, who
assisted on his first-period goal with a pinpoint pass from the far boards.
“As soon as I see he has the puck, I just try to get open. … We knew it was
going to be a tough game. They were coming hard tonight. They made a lot
of changes and had a lot of young guys, and they had a lot of energy.”
Lane MacDermid scored his first NHL goal in his Dallas debut, and Kari
Lehtonen stopped 22 shots in the Stars’ first game since trading Jagr to
Boston and Roy to Vancouver. Erik Cole also scored for the Stars, who
have lost three straight.
With the departures of Jagr and Roy, Alex Chiasson made his NHL debut
for Dallas and center Ryan Garbutt returned from a nine-game absence
with an injured wrist. High-scoring left wing Loui Eriksson also played center
for the Stars.
“It’s tough to find the good stuff in a loss like that,” Dallas defenseman
Stephane Robidas said. “There are a lot of new faces, young guys that had
their first experience with us, and I thought they did really well.”
Fasth, who shut out Dallas earlier this week, blanked Dallas through the
first 42 minutes Wednesday before Cole scored. MacDermid, acquired from
the Bruins in the Jagr deal, got his first NHL goal with 1:24 to play.
“I thought all of the guys had a lot of energy and tried to do all the little
things right,” MacDermid said. “We did that for the most part, but they made
some good plays.”
After adding veterans Dvorak and David Steckel last month, the Ducks
made only two moves at the trade deadline, acquiring center Matthew
Lombardi from Phoenix and shipping out third-string goalie Jeff Deslauriers
in separate deals.
Anaheim showed little fatigue in its 22nd game in 39 days, controlling early
play and going ahead on the goal by Dvorak, a 17-year NHL veteran who
signed with Anaheim on March 24. The Czech forward had been playing in
Switzerland this winter after scoring 21 points in 73 games for Dallas last
season.
Selanne scored his 251st power-play goal in the second period when a
drop pass by Getzlaf deflected to him for a nasty wrist shot. Selanne
endured a nine-game goal drought in March, but the 42-year-old Finnish
Flash has scored at least 10 goals for the 20th consecutive season.
Palmieri added his added his eighth goal of the season five minutes later,
easily moving past stationary defenseman Aaron Rome. The Ducks’
promising scorer hadn’t found the net in his last 13 games since getting a
hat trick Feb. 27 against Nashville.
NOTE
• The 6-foot-4 Chiasson was a second-round pick in 2009 before playing
three seasons at Boston University. Chiasson hit Anaheim’s Matt Beleskey
squarely in the face with his stick blade early in the third period, but wasn’t
penalized while Beleskey went to the dressing room.
• The Ducks traded C Brandon McMillan to Phoenix for Lombardi, who
wasn’t in town to face Dallas. McMillan never solidified a spot in the Ducks’
lineup over the past three years despite numerous chances to stick in
Anaheim. He played in six games with Anaheim this season, spending most
of the last two years in the AHL.
Star-Telegram LOADED: 04.04.2013
667766
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings' Todd Bertuzzi getting closer to return, will go on trip
By Helene St. James
Todd Bertuzzi cracked jokes and laughed at practice -- can a comeback be
far away?
For the first time in two months, he appears to be on the horizon.
Bertuzzi hasn't played for the Detroit Red Wings since limping out of St.
Louis Feb. 7, hampered by nerve pain that extended from his back down
through his right leg. But he has joined practices this week, and he's in
contact drills. Most encouraging, maybe, is that he's scheduled to be on this
afternoon's flight to Phoenix -- and someone in pain wouldn't sit on a plane
for five hours if there were risk of aggravating anything.
Bertuzzi won't play Thursday at Phoenix nor Friday at Colorado, but every
day he's on the ice delights teammates, who've missed him.
"He tried to take my spot in front of the net," fellow forward Johan Franzen
said, laughing. "I told him to beat it."
Bertuzzi said he's hopeful that he'll feel even better within a week.
Bertuzzi and forward Mikael Samuelsson (upper body) both are practicing,
but coach Mike Babcock isn't counting on either until they're cleared. "Him
and Sammy are in a spot where we don't really know when they're going to
be available," Babcock said. "Some contact today. They seemed to get
through it."
Babcock said both Bertuzzi and Samuelsson will go on the PhoenixColorado trip.
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013
667767
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings stand pat at trade deadline: 'Didn't get it done'
By Helene St. James
Unwilling to pay the prices demanded, the Detroit Red Wings let the NHL's
final sale of the 2013 season come and go.
"There were a couple of players we had interest in," general manager Ken
Holland said. "Didn't get it done.
"We made offers. At the end of the day, maybe somebody likes somebody
else's players better."
Players in whom the Wings had interest, such as defenseman Jay
Bouwmeester, and by whom they were intrigued, such as Jaromir Jagr,
went for way above what the Wings deemed reasonable -- Bouwmeester,
especially. The St. Louis Blues gave a first-round pick to Calgary in return
for Bouwmeester, and the Wings weren't relinquishing that for anybody. Not
this year, not after using their 2012 first-rounder to acquire Kyle Quincey.
"We haven't had a top-10 pick since 1993," Holland said. "We traded eight
or nine first-round picks from 1995 to 2003. Those players are in the NHL.
They were picked by somebody, and those players are in the NHL. Since
'05, for the most part, we've tried to be conservative. I think it's part of the
reason why we've got some younger players on the roster, some younger
players coming through the system."
Holland was only looking to add an impact skater, such as Bouwmeester or
Jagr, who went from Dallas to Boston.
"We didn't need depth players," he said. "We've got lots of depth. We've got
lots of kids we think can come up and play. We were looking for a top-four
D-man; we were looking for a top-six forward. Ultimately, we didn't get it
done."
Part of what influenced the Wings was the belief that no trade could be
better than getting back even just some of their players currently injured:
forwards Darren Helm, Todd Bertuzzi and Mikael Samuelsson, and
Quincey.
"Hopefully, we get some of our injured players back," Holland said. "In the
meantime, there's been real good opportunity for our kids. I think they've
done a good job."
This is an unusual season for the Wings; post-Nicklas Lidstrom, they find
themselves far more focused on rebuilding than reloading. Rebuilding
comes from within -- with high draft picks and through the development of
prospects. The Wings believe they have a lot of good players either just
arriving in the pipeline or soon to do so, such as Danny DeKeyser, Joakim
Andersson, Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Brian Lashoff and Petr Mrazek.
There's also a realistic assessment that this 2013 team isn't a Stanley Cup
contender and wasn't going to become one via what's available now.
Management is much more comfortable making a move at the draft, if it
comes down to that.
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013
667768
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings' Darren Helm cleared to push harder in rehab
By George Sipple
Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm has been given the OK to push
harder in his rehab from a back injury that has sidelined him for all but one
game this season.
But he will not accompany the team on its two-game trip to play the Phoenix
Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche.
“Yeah, I talked to another doctor,” Helm said at Joe Louis Arena today.
“He’s kind of confirmed what a few other doctors have said. There’s nothing
really structurally wrong with it. I can kind of start pushing things and
progress and try to push through that pain that I’m having.
“I’m not going to have any big problems with it. Obviously, if I go too hard
too fast, things will get a little messy. If I keep a steady pace and be smart
about it, I shouldn’t have any problems.”
Helm said not being able to play has been hard.
“There’s a lot of good things that are happening right now,” Helm said. “Just
gotta be happy with that.”
Helm said he has been skating on his own for about a week. Today was the
first time he was able to take shots with the goalies before the team
practiced. Helm said he’ll continue to skate by himself this week.
Helm already had one setback early in the season.
“We don’t know if it was from pushing it too hard or travel or both,” Helm
said. "We’re still going forward. That’s the most important thing.”
Helm is optimistic he could be back before the end of the regular season.
“Hoping to just get back when I get back,” he said. “Hopefully, when I do,
there’s some games left where I can play.”
Notes: Forward Henrik Zetterberg (groin) said he expects to play Thursday
at Phoenix. … Forward Damien Brunner didn’t practice today and is day-today. …Wings coach Mike Babcock said he’ll decide whether defenseman
Danny DeKeyser will make his NHL debut against the Coyotes. Babcock
said DeKeyser practiced today as if he’d be playing. Babcock also told
defenseman Kyle Quincey (fractured cheekbone) to be ready to play
against the Avalanche on Friday. ... Forward Todd Bertuzzi (leg, back) said
he’s not yet ready to return and probably will need another week of practice.
… Jimmy Howard will start in net against the Coyotes, Babcock said. ...
Northern Michigan goalie Jared Coreau was signed to a three-year entry
level contract. Coreau, 21, started all 38 games for Northern Michigan
University (CCHA) this year and finished with a 2.70 goals against average,
a .919 save percentage and a 15-19-4 record. … The Wings technically
assigned DeKeyser, Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist and Brian Lashoff
to the Grand Rapids in order to make them eligible for the AHL playoffs,
should the Griffins go further than the Wings. All four players will be with the
Wings in Phoenix.
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013
667769
Detroit Red Wings
Star defenseman Jacob Trouba leaves Michigan for Jets
Associated Press
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Winnipeg Jets signed Michigan defenseman
Jacob Trouba to a contract Tuesday.
The 19-year-old from Rochester played 37 games as a freshman for U-M
this season. He had 12 goals, 17 assists and 88 penalty minutes.
He was selected to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s all-rookie
team, determined by a vote of the conference’s coaches, and also was
honored as the best offensive defenseman in the league.
Trouba has won three medals for Team USA during his career, most
recently a gold medal at the 2013 world junior championships in Ufa,
Russia. He also took home a gold medal in the 2011 world under-18
championships and a silver in the 2010 world under-17 hockey challenge.
He was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, ninth overall, last
June.
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013
667770
Detroit Red Wings
Helene St. James: With no big-money deal, Red Wings GM Ken Holland
banks on future
By Helene St. James
The Red Wings committed to their future rather than gamble on their
present this week, the result of a realistic assessment of this season's team.
The Wings had interest in some of the bigger names moved before
Wednesday's trade deadline, namely defenseman Jay Bouwmeester and
forward Jaromir Jagr. Other teams anted up more than what the Wings
were willing to throw on the table, so the Wings continue their march toward
the playoffs as is.
"Would I have liked to have done a deal? Yeah, I would have liked to have
done a deal," general manager Ken Holland said. "You're always looking for
a top-six forward and a top-four d-man. Ultimately, we didn't get it done.
"You've got to look at your moment in time, and find out if the trade fits, do
you have the assets, is it worth it? We're trying to compete. We're on the
bubble."
The Wings are not an elite team, not a prime Stanley Cup contender, and
weren't going to turn into one even with Bouwmeester or Jagr. Jarome
Iginla sent that message last week, when he left Detroit off a list of
acceptable destinations for being traded from Calgary.
The hope now for the Wings rests on getting back some of the injured guys:
Mikael Samuelsson and Kyle Quincey are close, Todd Bertuzzi is on the
horizon, Darren Helm may even resurface one of these weeks.
Criticizing the Wings for not pulling off a trade is to overlook their history:
They freely handed out first-round picks for nearly a decade between 19952003, but that's when they had defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom in his prime,
had a core of elite talent up front and no salary cap. Since the cap was
instituted in 2005, the Wings have had to consider the future as well as the
present -- especially this year after using their first-round pick last year to
acquire Quincey.
"I think you have to look at what teams have got and the age of their best
players, and the position they are in for the next five or six years," Holland
said. "We're trying to compete, we're trying to rebuild.
"I can't look at the moment in time. I have to look at what we've got and
where I think we can go over the next few years. The age of the roster.
Who's going to be here for a while."
Their best players, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall,
are in their early-to-mid-30s.
The next generation lies in the numerous talented 20-somethings the Wings
either already are using or will integrate into the lineup: Gustav Nyquist,
Tomas Tatar, Joakim Andersson, Danny DeKeyser, Brian Lashoff and Petr
Mrazek, as well as Riley Sheahan. Brendan Smith has shown growth this
season, as has Jakub Kindl.
"I like the direction we've got going," coach Mike Babcock said. "We've got
some kids that I think are really coming. We're trying to figure out which are
the best kids to help us be successful."
The fact is, the first year after Lidstrom retired always was going to be
brutal. Then came injuries so numerous that "we haven't even had a full
game with everyone playing," Jimmy Howard said. "I think just getting some
guys back healthy would be a great addition for us."
The Wings take satisfaction in continuing to hang onto a spot within the
eight-team playoff picture despite not having had someone like Helm, for
example, for more than one game. They take pride in having gone 3-1 on a
recent swing through California and Arizona. And before last Sunday's
disaster against Chicago, the Wings were eighth in the NHL in goalsagainst.
"I think our players are better than people give them credit for," Holland
said. "We've got a lot of kids on defense, and a lot of injuries up front.
Hopefully we'll get some of our injured players back, in the meantime,
there's been real good opportunity for some of our kids, and I think they've
done a good job.
"If we can get those guys in the lineup in two weeks, I couldn't do any better
moves than getting those guys back in the lineup. And if they don't come
back, it probably doesn't matter what moves you make. You need your
players."
Other teams in the West made moves, most notably the Blues in acquiring
Bouwmeester, and the Blue Jackets trading for Marian Gaborik, who didn't
interest the Wings. Minnesota traded four building blocks for forward Jason
Pominville.
Those teams did what the Wings used to do, back when those teams were
acquiring top-10 picks because they weren't making the playoffs.
The Wings looked around this week, made some offers, but the mind-set
didn't alter: Let this group, maybe with some fresh legs if some of the
injured guys can return, see what they can do.
This never looked like the Wings' year to win the Cup, so, better to bank for
a bright future.
Detroit Free Press LOADED: 04.04.2013
667771
Detroit Red Wings
It's a quiet deadline day for Wings, but they're happy with their team
By Ted Kulfan
Detroit — There was nothing brewing on the trade front for the Red Wings
as the 3 p.m. Wednesday deadline approached.
And that was just fine with the Red Wings and coach Mike Babcock.
The believe that with the group they have — and the fact that some injured
players are close to returning — the Wings are in good position heading
into the final quarter of the season.
"Absolutely, 100 percent," said Babcock, when asked if he'd be comfortable
with his roster going forward. "I've never felt like we were going to do
anything (trades), to be honest with you.
"I kind of like what we have going and the direction we're going. We think
we have kids that are really coming and we're trying to figure out which are
the best kids to help us be successful.
"We have a few more kids in the minors — in particular (center Riley)
Sheahan — I'd like to take a look at as well, and we're just going to keep
doing what we can as players and coaches."
Forward Henrik Zetterberg (groin) said he's expecting to play Thursday
night in Phoenix after missing two games.
Defenseman Kyle Quincey (fractured cheekbone) is tentatively scheduled
to play Friday in Colorado, Babcock said.
Forwards Todd Bertuzzi (back, could return in a week) and Mikael
Samuelsson (upper body, day to day) are expected to return soon. They've
played in 11 games combined this season.
"All year we've had so many injuries, and getting some guys back, that's
new bodies, new fresh blood and the same as getting players from other
teams," Zetterberg said. "We have a good squad in here and looking
forward to the playoffs."
As for his own physical condition, Zetterberg completed the entire practice
Wednesday.
"I'm feeling better; it was nice to be skating again," said Zetterberg, who
was optimistic he'll play Thursday. "We had a couple of good days of
treatment and hoping to feel good today and that was achieved."
Forward Damien Brunner has an undisclosed injury and didn't practice
Wednesday. General manager Ken Holland and Babcock both termed
Brunner day to day. Babcock wouldn't rule Brunner out for the game in
Phoenix.
Either Zetterberg or Brunner would have to play, or the Red Wings would
need to call up a forward from Grand Rapids to get to 12 healthy forwards.
Detroit News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667772
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings talk, but don't pull trigger on trade deadline day
Injury report
Red Wings forward Damien Brunner (undisclosed) didn't practice
Wednesday, and is listed as day-to-day.
Babcock, however, wouldn't rule Brunner out of tonight's game in Phoenix.
By Ted Kulfan
Zetterberg (groin) participated in the entire practice and appeared ready to
play.
Detroit — The NHL trade deadline came …
"Feeling better, it was nice to be skating again," said Zetterberg, who was
optimistic he'll play tonight. "We had a couple of good days of treatment and
hoping to feel good today and that was achieved. Hoping for no setbacks."
And went.
With nothing from the Red Wings.
Meaning they're content to face the rest of their season with their current
roster.
General manager Ken Holland said he made competitive offers for several
players the last few days, but nothing materialized.
"When you look at what transpired, you can figure out who we would have
had some interest in," Holland said. "At the end of the day we didn't get it
done and it was for a whole host of reasons."
The Red Wings were known to have interest in Flames defenseman Jay
Bouwmeester, who ended up with the Blues, and Stars forward Jaromir
Jagr, whom was traded to the Bruins.
Holland was reluctant to trade prospects with the Red Wings (Joakim
Andersson, Gustav Nyquist, Brian Lashoff or Dan DeKeyser) or in Grand
Rapids (Tomas Tatar, Petr Mrazek or Riley Sheahan), or any first-round
picks.
"We don't need depth players," Holland said. "From a depth standpoint, we
have players on our team. We're going to go with the kids."
And, with forwards Todd Bertuzzi, Mikael Samuelsson and Darren Helm,
and defenseman Kyle Quincey all hoping to return from injuries the next
couple weeks, Holland believes those additions are better than what was
available on the trade market.
Bertuzzi (back) could return in a week, Samuelsson (upper body) is day-today, Helm (back) hopes to come back before the season ends, and
Quincey (fractured cheekbone) could play Friday.
"I couldn't do any moves better than getting those guys back," Holland said.
"Now if they don't come back, than it doesn't matter what moves you make.
"You need your players."
Said captain Henrik Zetterberg: "All year we've had so many injuries, and
getting some guys back (from injuries), that's new bodies, new fresh blood
and the same as getting players from other teams. I know (the front office)
in the war room, they've been in there a few days and probably thinking
(about potential trades) but if (nothing develops), we have a good squad in
here and looking forward to the playoffs."
Coach Mike Babcock was fine with the decision made by the front office.
"Absolutely, 100 percent," Babcock said when asked if he'd be comfortable
with his roster. "I've never felt like we were going to do anything (trade
wise).
"I kind of like what we have going and the direction we're going. We think
we have kids that are really coming and we're trying to figure out which are
the best kids to help us be successful. We have a few more kids in the
minors, in particular (center Riley) Sheahan I'd like to take a look at as
well."
Loving Detroit
Unrestricted free agency is calling Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula
unless he and the Red Wings come to some sort of agreement.
"I'm focusing on just playing and not thinking about that," said Filppula, who
has 13 points (six goals) in 29 games. "When that time comes to think
about that stuff, I'll have time to do that, too."
The sides are expected to continue negotiations, and Filppula's preference
is to remain with the Red Wings.
"It's been a great place to be, a great team obviously," he said. "You want
to be on that kind of team."
… Helm has resumed skating and remains optimistic he'll rejoin the team
before the end of the season.
"The last couple of weeks have been pretty positive," said Helm, who has
played in one game and will not travel on this two-game trip. "I've been
skating quite a bit and working out and doing different things. I've been
progressing, and it's not getting worse."
Ice chips
Babcock had defenseman Danny DeKeyser practice as if he would play
tonight.
"When we put Danny in, it's because he can help us win not because we
think we owe him a game or anything like that," Babcock said.
… In a paper transaction, the Red Wings sent DeKeyser, Lashoff, Nyquist
and Andersson to Grand Rapids — then recalled them — so the four would
be eligible for the American League playoffs.
… Goaltender Jimmy Howard starts tonight. There's been no decision for
Friday.
Detroit News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667773
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings coach Mike Babcock comfortable with roster as team continues
playoff push
Ansar Khan
on April 03, 2013 at 8:01 PM
DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings weren't able to make a move by
Wednesday's trade deadline, but coach Mike Babcock said he's absolutely
“100 percent'' comfortable with what he has.
“I never ever felt like we were going to do anything, to be honest with you,''
Babcock said. “Kind of like what we’ve got going and the direction we’re
heading. We’ve got some kids that are really coming.
“We’re trying to figure out which kids will help us be successful. There are a
few more kids in the minors, particularly (Riley) Sheahan I’d like to have a
look at as well.''
The Red Wings (18-13-5) are in the thick of the playoff race. They could
finish as high as fourth in the Western Conference, or they could miss the
postseason for the first time since 1990.
They hope to have forwards Todd Bertuzzi, Mikael Samuelsson and Darren
Helm back before the end of the season. That's essentially a full third line
that has missed most of the season with injuries.
“Getting some guys back, some new, fresh blood in, that’s the same as
getting a player from another team,'' captain Henrik Zetterberg said. “I think
we have a good squad in here and looking forward to the postseason.
“All of those (playoff) teams can go all of the way, especially on the Western
side. You’ve got to make the playoffs, and when the playoffs start everyone
starts over.”
Said general manager Ken Holland: “The regular season, it’s meaningful in
the sense that you need to be in the top eight. But I think when the playoffs
start, you can throw all the statistics in the garbage.''
Goaltender Jimmy Howard said the team is “sitting good.''
“There's a lot of areas in our game where I think we can get better -- not
turning pucks over and maybe having that focus a little better, but we're
working at it and every day we've gotten a little better,'' Howard said. “We
haven't even had a full game with everyone playing, so I think just getting
some guys back healthy would be a great addition for us.''
Babcock said he has seen much improvement and expects better things.
“I’ve been really impressed with our leadership, Hank and Pav (Datsyuk)
and Kronner (Niklas Kronwall) have really been awesome,'' Babcock said. “I
think Mule (Johan Franzen) has really stepped up in that department, which
is important for us.''
Injuries have forced them to rely more on younger players like defenseman
Brian Lashoff and forward Joakim Andersson, who've played a majority of
the games, and as well as Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar, who've been
back and forth from Grand Rapids.
“This year has been invigorating for me because there are so many kids
and every day there are so many projects,'' Babcock said. “There’s way
more individual video, way more meetings to help kids get better quickly.
“Our strength coach (Pete Renzetti) has done a fantastic job this year and
it’s all been a part of us getting better.''
Michigan Live LOADED: 04.04.2013
667774
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings GM Ken Holland made offers for couple of players but couldn't
get deal done at deadline
Ansar Khan
on April 03, 2013 at 4:19 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 4:29 PM
DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was prepared
to part with some prospects and made what he felt were competitive offers
on a few players, but it wasn't good enough to get a deal done.
So, the Red Wings stood pat Wednesday as the NHL trade deadline
passed.
“Over the last few days we looked and tried to do a bigger deal and couldn’t
get it done,'' Holland said.
The Red Wings wanted to add a top-four defenseman and a top-six forward
but were not willing to part with their first-round pick, which could be fairly
high if they miss the playoffs. Holland said they offered some prospects, but
“at the end of the day, someone didn’t like them as much as we do or they
like someone else’s players better.''
The Red Wings made what they felt was a good offer for future Hall-ofFame forward Jaromir Jagr, but Dallas traded him to Boston on Tuesday.
They liked right wing Jason Pominville, but Minnesota offered Buffalo better
prospects.
Detroit made a pitch for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester before Calgary
traded him to St. Louis on Monday.
The Red Wings were not interested in adding struggling right wing Marian
Gaborik and his $7.5 million salary-cap hit for next season. The New York
Rangers dealt Gaborik to Columbus on Wednesday.
Now, the Red Wings will make do with that they have for the final 12 games
and, they hope, the playoffs. They hope to get deeper up front with the
return, at some point, of forwards Darren Helm, Todd Bertuzzi and Mikael
Samuelsson, which amounts to a third line that's been out virtually the
entire season.
“We played (Monday) and there wasn’t (Henrik) Zetterberg, Samuelsson,
Bertuzzi, Helm, (Kyle) Quincey,'' Holland said. “If we can get those five guys
in the lineup (within) two weeks, I couldn’t do any better moves than (that).
And if they don’t come back, it probably doesn’t matter what moves you
make.''
He said he's not concerned about what competing clubs did to improve
themselves.
“We’re trying to compete, we’re trying to rebuild, reload,'' Holland said. “You
look at the moment in time. I can’t look at the moment in time. I have to look
at what we’ve got and where I think we can go over the next few years, the
age of the roster, who’s going to be here for a while.''
They are pleased with the progress of their young roster players and some
of their prospects.
“You need your players,'' Holland said. “We’re happy with Jakub Kindl,
we’re happy with Brian Lashoff, we’re happy with Brendan Smith. We’re
happy with the way the kids have played. We don’t want to trade them
away.''
Young players have improved the organization's depth.
“If we need forwards, Riley Sheahan deserves a chance, Landon Ferraro,
we’ve got Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist, Joakim Andersson, Damien
Brunner, certainly on defense with the signing of Danny DeKeyser and the
play of Lashoff and Kindl we think the young kids could be real good depth
players for us.''
Chicago and Anaheim have separated from the pack in the Western
Conference. The Red Wings, currently seventh with 41 points, are just three
points behind No. 3 Minnesota. But, they're also just four points up on 11th
place Columbus.
“We’re trying to compete. We’re on the bubble,'' Holland said. “Would I have
liked to do a deal? Yeah, I would have liked to do a deal.''
Michigan Live LOADED: 04.04.2013
667775
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings stand pat at trade deadline, as cost for top-six forward and topfour defenseman too high
Ansar Khan
on April 03, 2013 at 2:26 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 3:10 PM
DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings did not make any moves today as the 3
p.m. trading deadline passed, general manager Ken Holland said.
Holland had been working the phones the past few days in a search of a
top-four defenseman or a top-six forward, but the asking prices were too
high. The Red Wings were not prepared to relinquish their first-round pick,
like they did last year in the deal that landed them Kyle Quincey, or a top
prospect.
The club made an offer to Calgary for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who
was traded Monday to St. Louis. The Red Wings also had discussions with
Dallas about right wing Jaromir Jagr, who was dealt to Boston on Tuesday.
More details shortly.
Michigan Live LOADED: 04.04.2013
667776
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg expects to play Thursday; Damien Brunner
sits out practice, is day-to-day
Ansar Khan
on April 03, 2013 at 1:37 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 2:19 PM
DETROIT -- Quick update following Detroit Red Wings practice Wednesday
at Joe Louis Arena.
Captain Henrik Zetterberg (groin) skated today and said he feels much
better and expects to play Thursday at Phoenix (10 p.m., Fox Sports
Detroit).
"We had a couple of days of good treatment and the goal was coming in
here today and feeling good,'' Zetterberg said. "That was achieved, and
hopefully no setbacks at the (morning) skate.”
Said coach Mike Babcock: "He looked good. We plan on playing him
tomorrow. But with travel and you wake up tomorrow, then you decide
what’s going on.''
Right wing Damien Brunner did not practice due to a minor injury and is
listed as day-to-day. General manager Ken Holland said he expects
Brunner to play this weekend. Babcock said Thursday still is a possibility.
Babcock said he hasn't decided whether Danny DeKeyser will make his
NHL debut on Thursday, saying he'll think about it on the flight. He said
Kyle Quincey (fractured cheek bone) was told to be ready to play Friday in
Colorado.
"(DeKeyser) practiced today like he was playing tomorrow,'' Babcock said.
"I’ll talk about it with the coaches on the flight. When we put Danny in, it’ll be
because we think he’s going to help us win. It’s not because we think we
owe him a game or anything like that.''
Todd Bertuzzi (back, leg) continues to practice but said he is at least a
week away from playing and he's still experiencing some pain and hasn't
had much contact or gone full speed on the ice.
Mikael Samuelsson (upper body, day-to-day) skated at the start of practice
but left the ice early.
"(Bertuzzi) and Sammy are in a spot when you don’t know when they’ll be
available,'' Babcock said. "There was some contact today and Bert seemed
to get through it.''
Darren Helm (back) continues to skate on his own and won't make the trip.
He said doctors told him he can start pushing it on the ice to see how the
back responds.
Jimmy Howard will start in goal Thursday.
Michigan Live LOADED: 04.04.2013
667777
Detroit Red Wings
Did Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk reveal future plans in Tweet to
Tigers' ace Justin Verlander?
Brendan Savage
on April 03, 2013 at 11:05 AM, updated April 03, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Did Detroit Red Wings' forward Pavel Datsyuk tip his hand as to future
plans during a Tweet this week to Justin Verlander congratulating the
Detroit Tigers' ace on his record-breaking contract?
It depends on how you want to interpret things.
Datsyuk might have just been kidding – which seems to be the likely
scenario – or he might have been hinting that the Red Wings won't have
enough money to re-sign him when his contract expires after next season.
Here's the Tweet Datsyuk posted Tuesday:
"@JustinVerlander congrats on the new contract! Mr. Ilitch spent all his
money. Nothing left for me :-)."
Verlander's response?
"@Datsyuk13 thanks man. Dinner is on me."
In case you missed it, Verlander became the highest-paid pitcher in Major
League Baseball history last week, when the Tigers signed him to a
contract extension that will pay him $180 million over the next seven
seasons.
Mike Ilitch owns both the Tigers and Red Wings and it won't be long until
signing Datsyuk becomes one of the Red Wings' top priorities.
Datsyuk, 34, spent the lockout playing in his native Russia.
During training camp, Datsyuk told MLive.com that it was his dream to
eventually return to Russia and play fulltime in his country.
"It's my kind of dream to come back and enjoy it with Russian fans because
they pull for me in the beginning,'' he said. "You never know how career go.
"Home (Russia) always good. It's long time don't play in Russia (since
2004-05). Lots of Russian friends. Always welcome home; it's nice, positive.
You never know next time to play in front of Russian fans.''
Michigan Live LOADED: 04.04.2013
667778
Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings’ defenseman ready to shoulder the load
By Chuck Pleiness
“We had a couple of days of good treatment and the goal was coming in
here today and feeling good,” Zetterberg said. “That was achieved and
hopefully no setbacks at the (morning) skate.”
The defensive pairings could be the same as they were Monday or there
could be changes with either Kyle Quincey (jaw) or rookie Danny DeKeyser
getting inserted into the lineup.
Posted: Wednesday, 04/03/13 06:20 pm
“(DeKeyser) practiced today like he was playing,” Babcock said. “I’ll talk
about it with the coaches in on the flight. When we put Danny in it’ll be
because we think he’s going to help us win. It’s not because we think we
owe him a game or anything like that.
DETROIT – After playing three games in four nights, Wings defenseman
Carlo Colaiacovo seems to have put the shoulder injury that sidelined him
pretty much the entire season behind him.
“I think I’m going to put (Quincey) in against Colorado,” Babcock added. “I
talked to him already. But I’ve got a long flight to figure that out for sure. I
was going to play him back to back, but we’ll see.”
“I think that’s been my mindset for the last couple of days, just getting back
to being a hockey player again,” Colaiacovo said after practice Wednesday
at Joe Louis Arena. “It’s been an unbelievable feeling. I took advantage of
my day off yesterday to get some much-needed rest. Coming off three
really good games, I want to keep building on that momentum as a player
and a person.”
Quincey said he’s getting more used to wearing a cage, which he’ll have to
wear the rest of the season.
Colaiacovo missed 33 games after suffering a sprained left shoulder in the
second game of the season. He returned to the lineup in Monday’s 3-2 win
over the Colorado Avalanche.
He played two games with the Grand Rapids Griffins over the weekend as
part of a conditioning stint.
“I think the biggest battle I was fighting was the third game in four nights,
but I didn’t let that become an issue for me,” Colaiacovo said. “I let the
adrenaline take me through it. At the end of the day, my hockey sense and
my experience got me through it. I’m confident in myself and I’m confident
in my abilities. It’s just felt so great to be out there. You’re out there in the
middle of a game, you’re into it, you’re making hits and plays and at the end
of the day, it was a huge important win for us and that was a very gratifying
feeling.”
Now Colaiacovo just has to focus on remaining in the lineup. When Brian
Lashoff joins the team in Phoenix, the Wings will have nine healthy
defensemen to choose from.
“Depth is never a bad thing to have on defense,” Colaiacovo said. “If you
look at the unfortunate turn of events we’ve had this year, we’re going to
need every guy going into this thing. It makes guys stay on top of their
game, because there are guys pushing to get into the lineup. There’s a
case to make for every guy on our back end that they deserve to play every
night. I’m not the coach, I don’t make those decisions. I just worry about
what I need to do, focus on what I need to bring on a daily basis.”
Not talking contract
Wings forward Valtteri Filppula said he’s not letting his pending unrestricted
free agency become a distraction this season.
“You automatically think about it, but I’ve been trying to put little thought into
it because it’s not going to do me any good,” Filppula said. “We’ll see what
happens, but it’s definitely interesting times. It’s been a great place to be,
great team. Obviously you always want to be on a team like that.”
Filppula is in the final year of a contact that’s paying him $3 million.
“There’s nothing going on right now,” Filppula said.
He’s reportedly looking for a deal that will give him a $2 million increase per
season.
“I don’t think it matters that much to me,” Filppula said when asked if he
wished he was close to a deal. “I think the focus should be on playing right
now. And then when the time comes to think about that stuff I will do that.”
Ins and outs
Forward Henrik Zetterberg (groin) skated Wednesday at Joe Louis Arena,
but Damien Brunner missed practice with an undisclosed injury.
“We think one of them is playing,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said after
practice.
Zetterberg is quite optimistic he’ll play after missing the last two games.
“As a hockey player you always want to play,” Quincey said. “When you’re
out of the lineup for two to three weeks you always want to get back in it.
I’m good to go for sure one of these next two games. I’d play through
anything, but the doctor’s know how bad the break was and how fragile I
am so they’ll talk with the coaching staff and make a decision.”
Forward Mikael Samuelsson (upper-body injury) skated part of practice
before leaving.
Jimmy Howard will start in goal against Phoenix.
Macomb Daily LOADED: 04.04.2013
667779
Detroit Red Wings
No trades for Red Wings
By Chuck Pleiness
DETROIT – Red Wings’ coach Mike Babcock said after practice
Wednesday that he’s 100 percent comfortable with his current roster.
And that’s what he’ll have to work with as the Wings look to extend their
consecutive years in the playoffs to 22 as the team was unable to pull off a
move on trade deadline day.
“I never ever felt like we were going to do anything to be honest with you,”
Babcock said. “I kind of like what we’ve got going and the direction we’re
heading in. We’ve got some kids that are really coming. We’re trying to
figure out which kids will help us be successful. There are a few more kids
in the minors, particularly (Riley) Sheahan I’d like to have a look at as well.
We’re going to keep doing what we can as will the players.”
The Wings’ lineup has been decimated with injuries all season, along the
blue line and at forward.
They’ve yet to play with the lineup they thought they would have once the
season began.
“I think for us all year we’ve had so many injuries,” team captain Henrik
Zetterberg said. “I think getting some guys back that’s some new bodies,
getting some new, fresh blood in. That’s the same as getting a player from
another team. I think we have a good squad in here and looking forward to
the postseason.”
The Wings are currently seventh in the Western Conference, three points
up on St. Louis, heading into play Wednesday.
“I’ve been satisfied lots of years,” Babcock said. “But they’re different each
and every year. This year has been invigorating for me because there are
so many kids and every day there are so many projects. There’s way more
individual video, way more meetings to help kids get better quickly. Our
strength coach has done a fantastic job this year and it’s all been a part of
us getting better and I think that’s been more important than ever this year.”
Macomb Daily LOADED: 04.04.2013
667780
Detroit Red Wings
GOPHER HEADS SOUTH: Nick Bjugstad to Join Florida Panthers, Make
NHL Debut on Saturday
TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards
It took Nick Bjugstad a little while to get back to the Panthers' director of
media relations on Wednesday afternoon. He was too busy packing.
"I'm very excited,'' Bjugstad said when finally reached. "It's been pretty
hectic today, but I'm very excited."
The Panthers signed Bjugstad to a three-year entry level contract on
Wednesday. Bjugstad is flying south on Thursday and will be at Friday's
practice at the Coral Springs Iceplex.
On Saturday, the 20-year-old center who was the 19th overall pick in 2010
will make his NHL debut.
"It was just kind of waiting it out to see what would happen, what the deal
was,'' Bjugstad said. "Then I got the call. I'm pretty excited and thankful for
what I've got going as well. It should be fun. It's a whirlwind. I'm packing up
all my stuff, getting ready to get to Florida.
"It's pretty surreal. I just got done playing my final college game which was
a tough one. But it makes it easier knowing I'm jumping into the NHL. It's
very exciting. I'm sure the nerves will be going a little bit.''
Bjugstad said he wasn't thinking about joining the Panthers, not until the
University of Minnesota's season surprisingly ended last week. The topranked Gophers were upset in the NCAA regionals in overtime by Yale.
Last summer, Bjugstad contemplated joining the Panthers but the lure of
school, getting his degree and winning another national title for the Gophers
was too much to turn back. Bjugstad said Wednesday he was 12 credits
away from a degree in Business Marketing Education and could finish those
up this summer.
"I didn't really think about what the next step was. I was focused on my
season,'' he said. "It didn't end the way I wanted it to. I came back to win a
national championship and things happen. We lost in overtime and that's a
tough deal. But I thought this was right for my future, my development, to
move onto the next level.
"I think I'm ready to go. I'm close to my degree and we'll see what happens
there. I just think I'm ready to go.
"I want to get a feel for what the NHL is like. Thankfully the NHL is the
opportunity I'm getting. It's pretty crazy it starts on Saturday.''
Macomb Daily LOADED: 04.04.2013
667781
Detroit Red Wings
"I'm grateful for the opportunity Winnipeg is giving me and I look forward to
helping them out,'' Santorelli said. "It's an exciting time there. It's a great
place to play. I hope I can help as much as I can.''
BIG ADDITION ON TRADE DAY: Panthers Ink Nick Bjugstad; Former
Gopher to Make NHL Debut Saturday ... Smithson Dealt, Santorelli Picked
Up
With all of Florida's injuries, there weren't many chips for Tallon to deal on
Wednesday. Tallon and coach Kevin Dineen said they don't feel like the
Panthers -- who won the division for the first time last season -- are in
rebuilding mode.
TWITTER: @GeorgeRichards
"This is a business. A big business,'' Dineen said. "You have to manage
your team appropriately not just immediate but for your long-term future. .-.. There is a sense we have some real quality guys who are stepping into
more prominent role. We don't want to go back to being a long-term
rebuilding project. There's still some excitement left this season.''
Wednesday was one of the slowest trade deadline days the Florida
Panthers have endured as general manager Dale Tallon made just one
minor deal.
The big news, however, came with what Tallon added away from the
parameters of the deadline.
Nick Bjugstad, the 19th overall pick of the 2010 NHL draft, signed a threeyear deal with the Panthers on Wednesday and will make his NHL debut
Saturday against the Capitals.
Bjugstad, who scored 54 goals over the past three seasons at the
University of Minnesota, is scheduled to fly to South Florida on Thursday.
"Nick is going to be here,'' Tallon said. "We have 11 games left. This will be
a good learning experience for him. If he does well, it will make it that much
easier for him at training camp next year. It's a good chance to evaluate
him.''
Bjugstad, a 20-year-old center, recently finished his junior season at
Minnesota and won't wait long to start his NHL career as he is expected to
be on the ice for Florida's practice Friday in Coral Springs.
With fourth-line center Jerred Smithson sent to Edmonton for a fourth round
pick on Wednesday, well, the Panthers have an open slot.
Tallon said he is excited to see his first-round Class of 2010 on the ice
Saturday.
Defenseman Erik Gudbranson, the third overall pick in 2010, made his NHL
debut last season; Quinton Howden (25th overall) joined the Panthers on
Jan. 26.
"Time flies when you're having fun,'' Tallon said. "This is an exciting time for
our franchise."
The Panthers have been reluctant to rush their top young players although
they are making an exception for Bjugstad.
Although they privately wished he would have started his professional
career in the minor leagues this year, they didn't want to risk Bjugstad
returning to Minnesota for his senior year and becoming a free agent in
2014 by not signing with Florida.
The Panthers will burn a year of his entry level contract by bringing him up
to the NHL level. It's a tradeoff they were willing to make.
"We understand what the consequences are,'' Tallon said. "He is an asset
we wanted to get signed. We wanted to get him in the fold, get him some
games. We want him indoctrinated with our team now.''
Smithson, whom Florida acquired for a sixth-round pick from Nashville last
season, was told of the news after Wednesday's practice. Smithson isn't
expected to join the Oilers until after the weekend as he and his wife are
expecting their first child this week.
"I feel bad about that, he is a solid pro and a classy guy,'' Tallon said. "I
have to think about the long-term future of the franchise. That's the
business part of it that happens. Sometimes it sucks. You're dealing with
family and friends. We told him we would do everything we can to help.''
Florida also lost forward Mike Santorelli as Winnipeg picked him up on
waivers. Santorelli played 13:05 in Florida's 3-2 shootout win in Tampa on
Tuesday after being waived earlier that day.
Santorelli was slated to be third in the shootout but never took the ice as
Jacob Markstrom stopped all three Tampa Bay shots.
Santorelli said he is excited about the opportunity to join a Winnipeg team
that currently leads the Southeast Division and is trying to win the
franchise's second division title and first since the Atlanta Thrashers took
the banner in 2007.
Tallon expects to have a healthy team come training camp when the
Panthers embark on a new challenge of playing in an eight-team division
with Tampa Bay, Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, Detroit and Buffalo.
"When you're at the bottom,'' Tallon said, "teams just expect you to panic
and give up players. That's not going to happen here.''
Macomb Daily LOADED: 04.04.2013
667782
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers score eight unanswered goals to smother flickering
Flames
OIL DROPS: Mike Brown had to have a stubborn cut repaired after a firstperiod fight with Steve Begin. He returned in the second period ...Winger
Magnus Paajarvi, who was pushed into the net in the second, is expected
to be good to go against the Canucks.
jireland@edmontonjournal.com
By Joanne Ireland, Edmonton Journal April 4, 2013 1:04 AM
CALGARY — The message was delivered a few hours before the
Edmonton Oilers filed out onto the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome
Wednesday looking to extend their win streak to five games against the
free-falling Calgary Flames.
If they were going to make a playoff push, they were going to do so with the
group of players that started the season. General manager Steve
Tambellini made only one move on trade deadline day, adding depth centre
Jerred Smithson.
The Oilers responded with an 8-2 victory, which pushed them into the
eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 16-13-7
record. They will play the Canucks in Vancouver on Thursday.
“We feel really good about our chances of making the playoffs and we really
like the group in here,” said winger Taylor Hall, who left the game with a
goal and four assists. He has now racked up 10 points in the last three
games. “This was a big game for us.”
After spotting the Flames a 2-0 lead five minutes into the opening period
Wednesday, the Oilers pushed back, scoring eight straight goals, including
three second-period power-play goals from the club’s three first overall draft
picks.
“It’s hard not to look at the core and what this team has and see that they’re
going to have success,” said winger Ryan Jones, who was one of the
players facing a possible move on trade deadline day.
“Guys are maturing right in front of your eyes. You watch them become
better players all over the ice and it’s going to be an exciting team in the
future and, obviously, I want to be a part of it as long as I can and whether
that’s just this year or not, so be it.
“We’re playing some exciting hockey and playing meaningful games at an
important time of the year.”
After Matt Stajan, who had just three goals in his first 34 games this
season, got the first two goals past Devan Dubnyk, Sam Gagner redirected
a shot from defenceman Jeff Petry three minutes later to kickstart the Oilers
comeback. Blue-liner Ryan Whitney ripped a one-timer past Joey
MacDonald to send the teams into the first intermission tied 2-2.
Whitney, too, is heading to unrestricted free agency this summer, but rather
than deal him for a draft pick, which is what he would have netted at the
deadline, he’s going to finish out the year with Edmonton. He left the game
with a goal, an assist and a fighting major after a late scuffle with Tim
Jackman.
Then there were the draft picks who scored in a span of 6:17. Nail Yakupov,
with his second goal in as many games, and his first of two on the night,
started the second period spree. Hall, who now has five goals in the last
three games, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also contributed before Jordan
Eberle netted two in the third.
“It was a little stressful (today), then I got word I was going to be here. It
feels good,” Whitney said. “We were all excited to play tonight. We had a bit
of a rough start, but after that we took over.”
“This is the group that we want. We’ve battled for this position, and we’ve
been through the crap together,” said Jones, who, like Whitney, pointed to
the players’ meeting as the turnaround. The Oilers have gone 8-2-2 since
the gathering in Chicago on March 9.
“We found a way again to win a game. Obviously, it wasn’t the ideal start,
but we battled back, then we took the game over,” said defenceman
Ladislav Smid. “We’ve had our ups and downs this year, but lately we’ve
been able to get it together and play decent hockey. Again today, we were
rolling all four lines and we stuck with our game plan.
“We have 12 games left to play and our fate is in our hands. We just have
to take it game by game.”
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667783
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers Game Day — No time to inhale as intact line-up kicks off
key road trip in Calgary
Bruce McCurdy
Three keys for Edmonton Oilers in Game 36 vs. Calgary Flames
Trade deadline has come and gone with such minor tinkering to the
Edmonton Oilers’ roster that they will ice the exact same line-up in Calgary
tonight as topped the Flames 4-1 in Edmonton on Monday night. While the
organization has made three trades in recent days, the only NHLer involved
was incoming depth forward Jerred Smithson, and he won’t be incoming in
the corporeal sense until the weekend in California. The Oilers did have to
return Anton Lander to Oklahoma City to make room for Smithson on the
roster, but Lander was merely a press box visitor during his most recent trip
to Edmonton anyway.
On the ice the forward lines and defence combos remain unchanged:
#4 Taylor Hall – #93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – #14 Jordan Eberle
#91 Magnus Paajarvi – #89 Sam Gagner – #83 Ales Hemsky
#28 Ryan Jones – #10 Shawn Horcoff – #64 Nail Yakupov
#37 Lennart Petrell – #94 Ryan Smyth – #13 Mike Brown
#5 Ladi Smid – #2 Jeff Petry
#15 Nick Schultz – #19 Justin Schultz
#6 Ryan Whitney – #44 Corey Potter
#40 Devan Dubnyk
[#35 Nikolai Khabibulin]
Three keys for the Oilers beating the Flames tonight:
1. Close ranks. The lack of action on trade deadline is a tacit expression of
management’s confidence in the current group to get the job done. A
worthy response would be a reflection of that confidence in a solid,
committed team effort.
2. Play a lot better than they did on Monday night. I had the pleasure of
attending Monday night’s game live and while I enjoyed the Oilers
converting their opportunities against the flow of play in the first period, I
was less than entirely satisfied with the process which saw the Oil hemmed
into their own end for minutes at a time. Ralph Krueger noted much the
same in his pre-game comments today, saying: “[The Flames] played really
hard in our building the other night and everything went our way. In a lot of
portions of the game, they were the better team and deserved more than
that score. We need to respect what they’re bringing at us today. It’ll be a
tough, tight game here today.”
3. Take it to a team that’s down a few quarts. The Flames are still reeling
from the departures of Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester. Today’s loss of
Blake Comeau is relatively minor, but there is no cavalry coming. Moreover,
Miikka Kiprusoff’s decision to invoke his no-movement clause — entirely
defensible as it is given his family situation — might further unsettle the
waters. Kiprusoff gets the night off tonight, at least the start of it. (Who
knows, given the way the Oilers have bolted from the gate the last two
games.) Joey MacDonald, who finished strong on Monday, will get the start.
Game time in the Pengrowth Saddledome is 20:00MDT, with the game
televised on Sportsnet West.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667784
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini tweaks roster on NHL trade deadline
day, nothing more
John MacKinnon
Saying he didn’t want to disrupt the positive chemistry that has emerged on
his young, gifted team, Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini added a
depth centre at the NHL trade deadline day, but otherwise left his 9th-place
roster intact.
In adding 34-year-old Jerred Smithson, obtained for a 4th-round pick from
the Florida Panthers, Tambellini shored up an area of weakness on the
Oilers all season without touching any other position.
How fans react to that will depend on their sensibility. Here’s what
Tambellini had to say at his media availability at the Oilers offices on
Wednesday.
Variously, Eric Belanger (foot, groin), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Shawn
Horcoff (broken knuckle) all have missed chunks of time this season.
As a result, in recent weeks, veteran left winger Ryan Smyth has been
pressed into service at centre, as has Lennert Petrell.
With Belanger still nursing a sore groin, Smithson will be useful
immediately. Well, not quite immediately, as his wife went to hospital
Wednesday to give birth to the couple’s first child. But Smithson is expected
to join the Oilers in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667785
Edmonton Oilers
UPDATE: Edmonton Oilers acquire centre Jerred Smithson from Florida
Panthers
By Joanne Ireland, Edmonton Journal April 3, 2013
Calgary — Over the course of the next few days, Jerred Smithson will
welcome his first child into the world, then he’ll slip into an Edmonton Oilers
jersey for the first time.
Punch-drunk? Just a little.
Smithson, a six-foot-three, 209-pound centre, was dealt from the 29th-place
Florida Panthers to the Oilers at the trade deadline Wednesday for a fourthround draft pick.
“As you probably know, I have a lot going on right now. We’re heading to
the hospital tonight (Wednesday) and hopefully she’ll deliver tomorrow,”
Smithson said. “So I was definitely shocked when I heard, but then I started
to look forward to it. “Without a doubt, this is a team that’s moving in the
right direction.”
Smithson will give the Oilers depth on the fourth line and the penalty kill,
and he’ll boost the team’s faceoff percentage. It was the lone deal Oilers
general manager Steve Tambellini made on trade deadline day, leaving the
team otherwise intact.
The Oilers are pushing to secure a playoff spot before they close out the
regular season against the Vancouver Canucks on April 27.
The 34-year-old Smithson will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s
end. He won’t cost the Oilers much, his contract is just $800,000 and it will
be pro-rated over the remaining 13 games.
“I was definitely shocked. I really enjoyed my time here in Florida, but I had
a feeling I might be traded,” he said during a phone interview. “And once I
had time to think about it and everything started to settle down, I really
started to look forward to it. I love the direction this team is heading.
“There’s nothing better than being in that playoff push and there’s so much
talent on that team.”
The Oilers had seen plenty of Smithson when he was with the Nashville
Predators from 2005-12. He was shipped to the Panthers during the 2012
trade deadline. Through 34 games this campaign, he has five points,
including two goals, and was 54.8 per cent in the faceoff circle. The native
of Vernon, B.C., has 38 goals and 57 assists in 578 career NHL games.
He spent his junior career with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary
Hitmen through the 1999-2000 season, and went undrafted, but turned pro
with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League in 2000.
Smithson signed his first NHL contract with the Los Angeles Kings in 2001,
spending much of his time with the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings’ AHL
affiliate. The Oilers have been without Eric Belanger, their top faceoff man,
since March 26. Prior to that, he missed five games with a groin injury.
“He’s great in the faceoff circle and an extremely simple hockey player,
which is effective in a lot of systems. He’ll complement the team, for sure,”
said Oilers winger Ryan Jones, who played with Smithson in Nashville.
“Any time you can get a guy who’s played a lot of games in the league and
has some playoff experience, it’s a benefit. He will give us some leadership
down the stretch. We don’t have too many guys here who have
experienced the push to the playoffs.”
Smithson isn’t expected to join the team before Saturday’s game against
the Kings in L.A.
“He’s a defensive centreman who brings size and depth into our group that
we can use,” said Oilers head coach Ralph Krueger. “It’s a good acquisition
for our organization.”
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667786
Edmonton Oilers
Trade Deadline Day — Who among the Edmonton Oilers might be on the
block?
Bruce McCurdy
The trade deadline has arrived — as the pundits are fond of saying, there’s
no tomorrow. That’s especially true this year, as the Two-Morrow trade
already happened last week.
Even as their flags currently flutter in a favorable direction, there’s no way to
be certain which way the trade wind blows for the Edmonton Oilers. Will
they be buyers or sellers? Will they be barterers of current player for current
player as they were in 2012 (the Tom Gilbert for Nick Schultz deal), or will
they be holders of the fort?
As is his wont, Steve Tambellini has been holding his cards close to his
chest, though Oilers fans can at least be secure in the knowledge there are
a few face cards and one or two aces in there among the deuces and the
treys. When asked by Sportsnet’s Gene Principe during Monday night’s
game whether he expected a busy trade deadline day, Tambellini revealed
little: “Hard to tell. We’re talking to a lot of teams about different options,
short-term, long-term … I really won’t know until I get there on Wednesday.”
Certainly the recent swing in Oilers’ fortunes must have them leaning away
from being pure sellers. Players who in other years might be moved along
as rentals at the deadline must now be considered in terms of their value as
“rentals” to the Oilers. This year — at long, long last — the Oil have
meaningful games to play between now and June 30 when current
contracts expire. So the decision around a Ryan Whitney or Ryan Jones
must first start with questions about how does he help the Oilers and how
could he be replaced in the immediate short term. Additional arrows in Stu
MacGregor’s quiver have to take a back seat to the current needs of the
team. Which is music to the ears of this Oilers fan. Welcome back, playoff
contention.
The laundry list of what Oilers might need is long to the verge of
comprehensive: I’ve heard talk of a #2 or even #1A goalie, a top-pairing
defenceman, a middle pairing d-man, a depth d-man, a big winger, a big
centre, etc. ad infinitum. Pipe dreams, most of them, especially at this point
in the season with so many teams clustered in the playoff chase and many
of the better names in the rumour mill already traded or re-signed by their
current teams.
Who might be targetted as incoming players is pretty speculative at this
point; there are 29 other teams out there that are potential trading partners.
We can, however, look at members of the 2013-13 Oilers who might be in
the discussion to possibly be headed elsewhere. We’ll stick to members on
the current team here, and leave the endless possibilities for Linus Omark
for others to fantasize about to their heart’s content. (“Why not Crosby and
Malkin?”)
In their comprehensive trade deadline coverage, TSN.ca lists no fewer than
three Oilers in Whitney, Jones and the omnipresent Ales Hemsky among
their top 25 guys most likely to be traded. Let’s start with that trio and then
briefly consider a half dozen lesser possibilities.
***
Ryan Whitney – His name has been mentioned most often throughout the
season, and has been raised again in light of last night’s season-ending
ankle injury to Carolina’s Joni Pitkanen (if you missed it, yet another
catastrophic outcome of a “routine” race to an icing). Whitney knows all
about debilitating ankle and foot issues himself, and with his mobility issues
has become something of a polarizing figure within the fan base. Some see
him as a player so deficient in the defensive aspects of his game that a
Whitney deal would be addition by subtraction, and whatever “asset” came
in return would be a bonus.
There’s no doubt that the pedigreed backliner has fallen a long way. The
long-time minute muncher has found himself in an unfamiliar role anchoring
(using the term advisedly) the third pairing, ranking fifth on the Oilers
blueline in games played, average ice time, and total ice time. He has found
himself a healthy scratch on no fewer than eight occasions, but has still
suited up more often than bottom-of-the-roster alternatives Corey Potter,
Mark Fistric, and Theo Peckham, all of whom would be poised to move up
the depth chart in the event of Whitney’s departure — barring, of course, an
NHL-ready defenceman coming the other way in this or a separate trade.
For all his defensive flaws, Whitney does rank second among Oiler
rearguards in scoring with 3-8-11 in 27 GP, and is prominent in any
conversation about who is the best pure passer on the back end. The best
time to move him was likely when Brett Clark was still an option, so if it
didn’t happen then …
Related post — Oilers should trade Whitney, even if they stay in the
playoff race (Willis, March 19)
Despite years of trade rumours, Ales Hemsky has never worn any other
NHL sweater than Edmonton Oilers.
Despite years of trade rumours, Ales Hemsky has never worn any other
NHL sweater than Edmonton Oilers.
Ales Hemsky – His name seems to come up at the deadline every year, so
why mess with tradition? With another year to run at $5 MM Hemsky would
hardly be a rental; he would immediately step into a top six role on
whatever team acquired him or else they wouldn’t be interested.
TSN’s thumbnail analysis that “Hemsky could be considered serious trade
bait if the Oilers don’t make a run for a playoff spot” appears to have been
written some days ago, as the Oilers have peeled off four straight regulation
wins to get right into the playoff mix just as the deadline arrives and there’s
no more context to be had. As if on cue, Hemsky tweaked a hamstring in
the third period of Monday night’s 4-1 win over Calgary, which might raise
red flags on the other end of any hypothetical discussion.
To trade a quality player like Hemsky for some package of futures would be
a big step backwards, but a swap for another proven NHLer with a different
skill set isn’t out of the question.
Related post — Should the Oilers trade Ales Hemsky? (Staples, March
26)
Ryan Jones – Another polarizing player who is popular among much of the
fanbase but detested in some quarters. Jones has his limitations to be sure
— nobody has ever confused his play with that of his cousin, John Tonelli
— but he also has some positives. Among them is the rather unsettling fact
that at a listed 205 pounds he is currently the heaviest winger on
Edmonton’s roster. The Oilers aren’t in a very good position to be trading
away size unless there’s an infusion of same on an inbound flight.
Just as even a good utility infielder has weaknesses (or else he’d be a
starter), Jones’ game has plenty of holes, but the jack-of-all-trades provides
welcome elements in areas the club is lacking. At 28, he’s a prime-of-career
player with 272 games of experience and over 50 NHL goals, factors which
might make him a desirable quantity elsewhere but which have some value
here in Edmonton as well. Coming off an eye injury, Jones has had
stretches of ineffective (and occasionally downright bad) play, but continues
to deliver a robust style. Once again he ranks among the team’s leaders in
hits while doing some of his best work in and around the blue paint, a rare
enough trait on this club. His ability to play both wings and to move up and
down the line-up has value to the Oilers as well as to any potential suitor.
Replacing that versatility with another kid, even a promising one like the
hulking but unproven Teemu Hartikainen, is by no means a guaranteed
improvement to the bottom six in the immediate short term.
Related post — Is Ryan Jones a keeper or should Oilers deal him at the
deadline? (Staples, April 2)
***
The long shots:
Eric Belanger – The 35-year-old might be attractive as a Dominic Moore
type pick-up for a contender seeking a little faceoff/PK depth down the
middle, except for two things: his contract has another year to run at an
increasingly-unattractive $1.75 MM, and he is currently on injured reserve
for the third time this season. While he is reportedly close enough to full
health that his name is in the great discussion, that has to be a huge red
flag for opposing GMs. Unless he goes the other way in return for a bigger
salary dump — the recently-waived Jussi Jokinen and his $3 MM ticket for
2013-14 springs to mind — it’s difficult to envision Belanger going
anywhere.
Ben Eager – Not currently an Oiler but spent most of the season on the
roster. Potentially a contract going the other way to make room for an
incoming one, especially if the incomer is (also) a salary dump à la Jokinen.
Mark Fistric — Tambellini spent a third-round pick to acquire the banger
when Theo Peckham wasn’t ready to go at training camp. He has delivered
more or less as advertised, a big surly body with a take-no-prisoners style
who has taken a couple of knocks himself that put him out of the line-up.
He’s also been burned at times by leaving his position to take a run at
somebody. Brings zero offence but surprisingly, leads Oilers in plus/minus,
surely a textbook case of variance within small sample size. Has value on
the market as a physical 6/7 defender, but has the same value here. If
Oilers are confident a healthy, rusty Peckham could fill the same role and if
Tambellini could get a higher draft pick for Fistric than he gave up for him,
then maybe.
Related post: Should Oilers try to keep Fistric? (Willis, March 20)
Nikolai Khabibulin – Rumours that Khabibulin and Whitney would actually
be re-signed to contract extensions made the rounds on April Fool’s Day,
giving the critics something to hammer Tambellini for on a day that the GM
actually did extend a core player in Ladi Smid. Khabibulin’s own four-year
deal wasn’t Tambellini’s finest hour to be sure, but is about to run its
course. There might be a market for a veteran back-up with few $$$
remaining who has posted outstanding numbers (.930 save percentage,
2.30 goals against average) in limited action; especially for a team like St.
Louis who just lost their #1 stopper and who got an eyeful of Khabibulin just
last week in a transcendent performance that flat-out stole Oilers the win.
Difficult to picture a trade with a direct playoff rival, however. There are a
few possible suitors in the other conference such as the unfortunate
Hurricanes, and if the Oilers could snag a useful draft pick anything’s
possible. Still, the impression I get is that Ralph Krueger would rather have
Khabibulin as his B option than potential call-up Yann Danis.
Related post: Oilers could get as much as a second rounder for
Khabibulin, former NHL GM says (Staples, March 25)
Magnus Paajarvi — I mention him only because his name has been
rumoured so frequently. Moving Paajarvi seemed more likely when he was
struggling to find his place in the line-up and in the league, but since his last
recall from OKC he’s become a fixture in the top six while making a strong
case he belongs in the core cluster. He brings a pleasing package of youth,
speed, size, skill, and defensive conscience, and recently earned Ralph
Krueger’s praise for being the Oiler most frequently found in the blue paint.
He’s also earned Krueger’s trust in the form of ice time, leading Oilers
forwards in EVTOI in two recent games and playing 21:35 in another; in fact
his top twelve games for ice time have all occurred in the last five weeks.
Any trade of Paajarvi would be as a major piece for what had darn well
better be a major piece coming the other way, and not Alex Stojanov either.
I don’t see it happening.
Related post: Paajarvi on block in trade with Bruins? (Staples, March 27)
Theo Peckham — Hard to imagine there’s a market for him as anything
more than what he is here, a bottom-of-the-roster player struggling for ice
time. We never did find out whether he would have cleared waivers, but his
perceived value can’t be much higher than waiver-wire calibre: a late-round
draft pick or B-list prospect perhaps. Good health among the blueline crew
has kept Theo locked in the #8 spot in the “rotation”, but that can change in
a couple of shifts. Trade him and his 160 games of NHL experience, and
the depth chart becomes dangerously thin. Again, that’s depending on who
might be incoming that is able to play right away.
***
I don’t know that there’s a single player listed above who’s “probably” going
to get traded, although collectively the odds probably hover somewhere
above 50% for a deal of some sort. That said, I wouldn’t be all that
surprised to see Tambellini choose to “rent” his own expiring contracts like
Whitney, Jones and Khabibulin for the playoff push. And that said, as a
naturally conservative prognosticator in such matters I expect little to
happen most years, and frequently I turn out to be dead wrong as the Oilers
do something significant right at the deadline. I guess that’s why we watch,
and will today.
Here at the Cult of Hockey, Staples, Willis and I will post throughout the day
as news breaks, then turn our attention to tonight’s game in Calgary after
the deadline gun sounds at 13:00 MDT and the smoke finally clears some
time thereafter.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667787
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers’ D-man Ryan Whitney gets Gordie Howe hat-trick
Jim Matheson
On the day Ryan Whitney didn’t get traded, he decided he’d get the Gordie
Howe hat-trick to say thank-you.
Goal, assist and a fight. All the bases covered by the Edmonton Oilers’
defenceman.
“I don’t know if I’d classify that as a fight…it was more a guy jumping on a
pigeon,” shrugged Whitney, who was way overmatched with Calgary
Flames’ tough guy Tim Jackman in the third period of the Oilers 8-2 win
after scoring and setting up one by Nail Yakupov. “Gordie Howe hat-trick? I
don’t know about that. Like I said, was it a fight?”
“I’d passed the puck up ice and I didn’t see him. I should have crosschecked him right in the face,” said Whitney, who thought he’d had six
majors in his career “if that counts as a fight.”
Whitney played on the second powerplay, slapped the 2-2 goal after
Calgary scored on two of their first three shots on Devan Dubnyk, and was
on for Matt Stajan’s second goal 5:18 in, but otherwise had a good night.
He made a statement, thanking the Oilers for not moving him for draft picks
like other UFA defencemen Douglas Murray, Robyn Regehr and Jordan
Leopold.
“I was very happy not to get traded, and then I get my goal and my assist
and that fight,” he laughed.
The fight will probably make the TV packages. “Yeah, exactly. Interesting
Gordie Howe.”
“Whit got lucky that he didn’t connect with any punches,but he did jump
him,” said defenceman Ladislav Smid. “He didn’t give him much of a
chance. After all kinds of rumours about him being traded, I’m glad he
wasn’t. He’s been solid for us.”
***
The line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle had 11
points. RNH and Hall had a goal and four helpers, RNH a goal and three
assists and Eberle two snipes. It was the most points Hall’s had in an NHL
game. He had four points in the 8-4 pasting of Chicago last season, the
night Sam Gagner had eight points. As a line Hall, RNH and Eberle have 32
points the past five games. Hall is now seventh in NHL scoring with 41
points (15 in his last six games). “They have some great young players and
we had no answer for it. The team as a whole gave us a hockey lesson. We
couldn’t skate with them,” said Flames’ coach Bob Hartley.
***
Interesting goal by Nail Yakupov, his second of the game, to make it 8-2.
Came off a face-off with Ryan Smyth feeding him. “Yeah, it was a set play. I
told him to be ready,” said Smyth, who won the draw, kicked the puck up to
his stick and hit Yakupov all alone on Joey MacDonald.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667788
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini tweaks roster on NHL trade deadline
day, nothing more
John MacKinnon
Saying he didn’t want to disrupt the positive chemistry that has emerged on
his young, gifted team, Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini added a
depth centre at the NHL trade deadline day, but otherwise left his 9th-place
roster intact.
In adding 34-year-old Jerred Smithson, obtained for a 4th-round pick from
the Florida Panthers, Tambellini shored up an area of weakness on the
Oilers all season without touching any other position.
How fans react to that will depend on their sensibility. Here’s what
Tambellini had to say at his media availability at the Oilers offices on
Wednesday.
Variously, Eric Belanger (foot, groin), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Shawn
Horcoff (broken knuckle) all have missed chunks of time this season.
As a result, in recent weeks, veteran left winger Ryan Smyth has been
pressed into service at centre, as has Lennert Petrell.
With Belanger still nursing a sore groin, Smithson will be useful
immediately. Well, not quite immediately, as his wife went to hospital
Wednesday to give birth to the couple’s first child. But Smithson is expected
to join the Oilers in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667789
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers make one trade deadline deal, acquiring Jerred Smithson
from Florida Panthers for a fourth round draft pick
Joanne Ireland
The Edmonton Oilers, looking to add some depth rather than delete on
trade deadline day, acquired forward Jerred Smithson from the Florida
Panthers for a fourth round pick.
Smithson, 34, will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
“I was definitely shocked. I really enjoyed my time here in Florida but I had
a feeling I might be traded,” he said. “Once I had time to think about it and
everything started to settle down, I really started to look forward to it. I love
the direction this team is heading.”
He won’t cost the Oilers much, his contract is just $800,000 and it will be
prorated over the remaining 12 games, but it does put the Oilers at the
contract maximum of 50.
The Oilers had seen plenty of Smithson when he was with the Nashville
Predators from 2005 through 2012. He was shipped to the Panthers at the
end of the 2011-2012 season. Through 34 games this campaign, he’s got
five points and was 54.8 per cent in the faceoff circle.
The Oilers have been without Eric Belanger (groin) since March 26. Prior to
that missed five games with same injury. Clearly he’s going to be out for a
while.
Smithson, meanwhile, was heading to the hospital Wednesday night with
his partner who is pregnant with their first child. He isn’t expected to join the
team before Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
“He’s a defensive centreman who brings size and depth into our group that
we can use,” said head coach Ralph Krueger. “It’s a good acquisition for
our organization.”
Ryan Jones played with Smithson in Nashville and said he plays a simple
game, which will be effective in Edmonton.
Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667790
“We’ve battled our way back. I don’t even know what our record is since
that game (8-2-2) but it’s pretty damn good.”
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers battle back from two-goal deficit to down Calgary Flames
8-2
By Robert Tychkowski
,Edmonton Sun
CALGARY - It was men against boys. Or, rather, boys against Flames.
Same thing.
Just hours after GM Steve Tambellini stood pat on trade deadline day,
giving his young team a chance to finish what it started, the Oilers
responded with a show of force that shook the Calgary Saddledome and
everybody in it.
Edmonton scored eight straight times to erase an early 2-0 deficit, win their
fifth in a row and move into sole possession of eighth place.
Yes, it came against Flames, but, still, it was stunning to watch.
With all of Edmonton’s child stars leading the slaughter, the scoring
summary must have felt like a knife twisting in the side of Calgary’s fans.
Taylor Hall had five points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had four, Jordan Eberle
and Nail Yakupov had two goals each. Sam Gagner had two points.
And the UFA everyone thought was gone? Ryan Whitney had a goal, an
assist and a fight.
And the Oilers are eighth. After six years and more growing pains than any
of them care to remember, finally, light at the end of the tunnel.
“I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been times last year, or even this year,
when you’re thinking, ‘When’s this going to end?’ ” said Eberle, who’s only
been here for three years of the misery. “It’s been tough, but in the last 10
or so games we’ve really found our team identity, we’re peaking at the right
time. The next step for us is to make the playoffs.”
There’s still a long way to go, against teams a lot better than the Flames,
but eighth place on April 3 is no small milestone.
“Nobody outside this room battled to put us in this position, we’ve done it,”
said Ryan Jones, one of the UFAs who thought he might be moved. “We’ve
been through the (crap) together the last few years, We went through it
together and battled to where we are right now.”
The fact they’re still together, that their house wasn’t cleaned of its free
agents at the deadline, is their own doing. The Oilers took the decision out
of management’s hands leading up to deadline day, playing themselves up
the Western Conference ladder and forcing Tambellini to keep the group
intact.
“We have a great group in here,” said Hall, who had a goal and four assists
just two games after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s fastest hat-trick record.
“Today was kind of a weird day with the trade deadline, but I think
everybody settled down and realized that this is the group we have for this
year and I think we’re all excited about that.
“To be down 2-0 and win 8-2 is pretty cool.”
Tambellini saw enough in the last two weeks to give this group a chance to
show what it can do. It’s an endorsement the players appreciate.
“It shows they have confidence in the players they have in this lockerroom,” said Jones. “We have something good going in this locker-room.
Guys are maturing right in front of your eyes. You watch them become
better players all over the ice. It’s going to be an exciting team in the future
and obviously I want to be a part of it as long as I can.”
Their situation was simple: win your way back into the race and the room
stays together, fall out of it and you can start saying goodbye to a few of
your friends.
And after back-to-back shutout losses in Detroit and Nashville, rock bottom
if you’re looking for it on a map, the suitcases were half full.
“When we lost that stretch in the middle of that road trip it was really gutcheck time, it really was then or never,” said Jones. “If we lost a couple
more games we were done.
Follow me on TWITTER.com/SUN_TYCHKOWSKI
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667791
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini ‘happy’ that he decided not to trade
defenceman Ryan Whitney
By Derek Van Diest ,Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON - Ryan Whitney can start unpacking. He’ll be staying in
Edmonton a while longer.
The Edmonton Oilers decided against moving Whitney prior to the trade
deadline, something that seemed imminent a few weeks ago, mainly
because the defenceman is due to become an unrestricted free agent this
summer.
“The fact that he’s playing well, and his ability to move the puck is
something that we desperately need,” said Oilers general manager Steve
Tambellini. “We have skilled forwards that demand the puck at the right
time to take advantage of transition that they deliver. I didn’t see anywhere
in the day where I thought I could replace that puck-moving D.”
Whitney had admitted to expecting a trade and essentially having all his
things packed up in anticipation of a move.
However, despite inquiries about the defenceman leading up to the
deadline, the Oilers believed their chances of making the playoffs were
better with the Boston product in their lineup.
“He’s part of this group, he’s worked hard, he’s part of our power play and
that would really be a takeaway that would affect our hockey club,”
Tambellini said. “I’m happy that I made the decision to keep Ryan here.”
It’s possible the two sides will part ways this summer as they’ve had a
tumultuous relationship since his arrival just over three years ago.
Whitney suffered through a frustrating ankle injury and this season had
been a healthy scratch numerous times before playing his way back into the
lineup regularly.
Regardless, there have not been discussions about a possible contract
extension.
“I think now’s not the time,” Tambellini said. “We’ll have discussions with
our free agents in the right amount of time. The focus right now is so much
on winning hockey games, the rest will take care of itself in the right time.”
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667792
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers avoid moving any bodies out at NHL trade deadline
By Derek Van Diest ,Edmonton Sun
EDMONTON - This time around, Steve Tambellini was not holding the ‘For
Sale’ sign.
With his team in a playoff race, the general manager of the Edmonton
Oilers wasn’t about to move assets at the trade deadline to acquire draft
picks or prospects.
The only move he did make added a roster player.
“That was an important message in itself, where yes, there were a lot of
different scenarios where I could have moved people for mid-round picks or
maybe a little higher in a couple of other circumstances,” Tambellini said.
“But that wasn’t my goal coming into this trade deadline. It was to find help
and not take away from the depth of our dressing room or the people that
we asked to compete so hard to get to this spot. It was to show them that
we trust this group and they have a wonderful opportunity to get to the
playoffs here.”
Heading into Wednesday’s game against the Calgary Flames, the Oilers
were one point out of the eighth-and-final playoff spot in the Western
Conference. It’s a position they have not found themselves in too often
recently leading up to the trade deadline.
So Tambellini did not want to move a roster player for fear it could hamper
the team’s chances to qualify for the post season. Even if that means losing
a player to unrestricted free agency this summer.
“No question, it’s a total different mindset than trying to leverage your asset
to try and get the greatest return,” Tambellini said. “I’m more excited for our
players, because you play hockey to win and the fact is that they believe
they have a good chance to win every night. That’s when it’s enjoyable
going into work and seeing that they’re excited to play. That’s the exciting
part for me.”
The only move the Oilers made was bringing in fourth-line centre Jerred
Smithson from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a fourth-round draft
pick.
Smithson will provide depth and size for the team up the middle.
“I think we’ve been quite open about what our goals are for this hockey
club,” Tambellini said. “I can tell you how much energy is being brought into
the dressing room from the fact that we are maturing in some areas and we
are getting strong play from some our veteran people.
“The fact that they’re close and they’re in there, you can sense the
excitement and the drive to stick to a gameplan and just be excited about
where they are. They want to get in and that’s our goal.”
The Oilers had a number of roster players who were rumoured to possibly
be on the move. There was believed to be interest in defenceman Ryan
Whitney, winger Ales Hemsky and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin among
others.
The Oilers were also said to be involved in talks for Ottawa Senators
goaltender Ben Bishop, who was eventually moved to the Tampa Bay
Lightning in exchange for forward Cory Conacher and a fourth-round draft
pick.
“We were in some significant discussions,” Tambellini said. “I’m not going to
go into them, but it was nothing that involved selling core people on our
hockey club. We were trying different ways to improve our club.
“We had various opportunities, but there was nothing that we were going to
do with our core.”
Having tampered at the deadline in the past with his team in contention,
Tambellini was aware of how subtracting from the roster can affect the
dressing room.
Four seasons ago, the Oilers were in contention for a playoff spot when
they traded Erik Cole and brought in Patrick O’Sullivan and Ales Kotalik.
The team fell out of the playoff hunt and soon thereafter bottomed out,
forcing a rebuild.
“I’m aware of what their mindset (in dressing room) was,” said Tambellini.
“Where they have respect for the group and they’re sacrificing for the group
to win. It’s hard to win every single night in this league, especially down the
stretch. We’re going to be tested very hard in the last few games. But we’re
very excited about that and the last thing I wanted to do is take away
something where they thought they maybe didn’t have as good a chance to
win as maybe they did before.”
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667793
Edmonton Oilers
The bottom line is that is happening before your eyes and there’s going to
be no stopping that talent into growing in to something special together.
Edmonton Oilers moves to fill in periphery roles long overdue
The question is whether it is going to be sooner or later. And when it could
be nudged a bit sooner by supplying a peripheral player like Jerred
Smithson, why it took until the trade deadline to make a move is mystifying.
By Terry Jones
At least they made the move.
,Edmonton Sun
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
EDMONTON - Mr. Dithers, Tentative Tambellini, whatever your moniker of
preference is for the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, took until the
trade deadline to do it.
The deal he made Wednesday was a deal that should have been made
long before only 13 games remained in the season.
The Oilers are dead last in the league in faceoffs at 45%, have no depth at
centre, had to use Ryan Smyth out of position for a multitude of games and
were left in the laughable position of having two donut lines (no centres)
when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins came down with the flu before a game
recently.
The failure this season has been the inability of management to give this
team the short-term periphery players so obviously missing.
In an interview with your correspondent earlier this season, new senior vice
president of hockey operations Craig MacTavish put it perfectly.
“When I left, we were missing the big pieces. We had the periphery players
taken care of. Now we have the franchise players who can play here for the
next 10 or 15 years. We certainly have four or five of those guys. Now we’re
more focused on finding the periphery players,” said the former Oilers’
coach.
Steve Tambellini did do that with the addition of physical winger Mike Brown
from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Give him that.
Wednesday he added Jerred Smithson, a 34-year-old, minimal-offence
fourth-line centre who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the
year, from the Florida Panthers for a fourth-round draft choice.
Tambellini didn’t change the chemistry or the mix in the dressing room by
trading away a player.
Hardly a blockbuster trade, although it was the biggie of the four deals
made prior to the final hour of the deadline dealing yesterday where TSN
and Sportsnet had about a dozen trade analysts each per traded player.
The attraction with Smithson, in addition to his 6-foot-3, 209-pound size and
his 578-games’ experience over 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings,
Nashville Predators and Panthers, is his ability to win a faceoff.
Smithson’s faceoff numbers have been consistent.
He’s 54.8% this year after putting up 56.1%, 57.4% and 54.9% in the
previous three years.
Existing Oilers centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a 19-year-old kid. His faceoff
numbers are going to improve with experience and strength. He was 37.5%
last year and is currently at 41.4%. It’ll come.
Sam Gagner is at 42.5%. He’s in his fifth year under 50%. There’s reason
to wonder if that will come for him, but so much else has been coming for
Gagner, the face-off wins were going to have to come from now back-frominjury Shawn Horcoff and somebody else short term.
The one deal, the home run deal Oilers fans are waiting for, the one which
brings a big, physical, top six power forward, was never going to be a
deadline deal.
That’s a free agency deal.
And with the way the Oilers are playing lately and the way their top draft
picks are maturing into the legitimate superstars they were projected to
become, Edmonton is going to be an attractive destination for such a
player.
But the bottom six forwards and the bottom three or four defencemen still
need dramatic upgrades while the Oilers watch the young talent in the
prime positions develop and gain experience.
667794
Edmonton Oilers
definitely could be worse. The timing may not be the best, but that’s part of
the job, it’s part of the hockey lifestyle. You just have to adapt to it.
Centre Jerred Smithson ‘excited’ to join Edmonton Oilers
“Luckily her mother is in town right now and her father is coming into town
(Thursday). So she does have some help, which definitely makes things a
little easier.”
By Derek Van Diest ,Edmonton Sun
derek.vandiest@sunmedia.ca
Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
EDMONTON - Jerred Smithson is a busy guy at the moment.
The newest member of the Edmonton Oilers found out he had been dealt
Wednesday afternoon as he was leaving the Florida Panthers practice
facility.
Later that night he and his fiancée, Jaymie, were scheduled to go to the
hospital to induce the birth of their first child.
“Yeah, there’s a lot going on in my world right now,” said Smithson shortly
after the trade was announced. “But hockey-wise, I’m excited, I can’t wait to
join the group and be part of the team.
“That’s a team that I played a lot of games against during my Nashville
days. It’s a team that the direction they are going, it’s pretty exciting.
They’re a good hockey club and to get a chance to be a part of it, is very
exciting.”
Smithson, 34, was acquired by the Oilers from the Panthers in exchange for
a fourth-round pick in this summer’s NHL Entry draft. The product of
Vernon, B.C., had two goals and five assists in 35 games with the Panthers
this season.
At six-foot-three, 209-pounds, Smithson is expected to provide a physical
presence down the middle of the Oilers fourth line. Earlier in the day, the
club announced centre Eric Belanger was likely out the rest of the season
with a groin injury.
“Jerred Smithson is well known for his defensive abilities,” said Oilers
general manager Steve Tambellini. “He’s a very strong face-off person. I
believe he was over 70% in the playoffs, the last time he was in the
playoffs. He just brings us some size and some strength in that face-off
circle. He can play centre, he can play wing, he’s a versatile guy.
“The fact that he’s a veteran player is something that we were looking for.
He’s played on a couple of different teams and he’s had very good
success.”
A former member of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen, Smithson was undrafted
coming out of junior. He signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles
Kings, before moving on to the Nashville Predators organization.
Smithson spent nine years with the Predators before being traded to the
Panthers for a sixth-round pick midway through last season.
“Personally, I feel good, I feel my game is coming along,” Smithson said. “I
know what they want me to bring to this hockey club, and that’s to play the
same way I’ve always played, try to be good in the penalty kill, good in the
face-off circle, try to be a good team player and help out as best I can.”
The Oilers are not certain when Smithson will be available to them, as he
has pressing family issues at the moment.
He was not available for the Oilers’ game against the Calgary Flames
Wednesday and probably won’t be in Vancouver for their game against the
Canucks.
The Oilers travel to face the Los Angeles Kings Saturday afternoon and are
in Anaheim to play the Ducks Monday.
“I’ve talked to some people there and talked about roughly when I would be
able to come in,” Smithson said. “To be honest, it’s dependant on how
things go with the birth. That’s the main thing I’m focused on right now and
once everything is clear, then we’ll go from there.
“I definitely want to get in there as soon as I can, I know the importance of
these games and I definitely want to help this hockey club. At this point, it’s
family first but I do want to get there as soon as I can.”
Getting traded just prior to the deadline, added to what was already going to
be a momentous day for Smithson.It sent his world spinning a little faster.
“I wish I could explain what’s going on in my head right now, but saying
that, it’s exciting,” he said. “I have a lot of good things going on in my life, it
667795
Florida Panthers
business part of it that happens. Sometimes it sucks. You’re dealing with
family and friends. We told him we would do everything we can to help.”
Florida Panthers bring Nick Bjugstad onboard
Florida also lost forward Mike Santorelli as Winnipeg picked him up off
waivers. Santorelli played 13:05 in Florida’s 3-2 shootout win in Tampa on
Tuesday after being waived earlier that day.
Staff
Santorelli was slated to be third in the shootout but never took the ice as
Jacob Markstrom stopped all three Tampa Bay shots.
The Panthers were pretty silent at the trade deadline but did make some
noise with the signing of rising star Nick Bjugstad.
Santorelli said he is excited about the opportunity to join a Winnipeg team
that currently leads the Southeast Division and is trying to win the
franchise’s second division title and first since it took the banner in 2007 as
the Atlanta Thrashers.
Nick Bjugstad, drafted 19th overall by the Florida Panthers, poses on stage
during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at Staples Center on June 25, 2010 in Los
Angeles, California.
Nick Bjugstad, drafted 19th overall by the Florida Panthers, poses on stage
during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at Staples Center on June 25, 2010 in Los
Angeles, California.
Wednesday was one of the slowest trade deadline days the Florida
Panthers have endured as general manager Dale Tallon made just one
minor deal.
The big news, however, came with what Tallon added outside the
parameters of the deadline.
Nick Bjugstad, the 19th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft, signed a threeyear deal with the Panthers on Wednesday and will make his NHL debut
Saturday against the Capitals.
Bjugstad, who scored 54 goals during the past three seasons at the
University of Minnesota, is scheduled to fly to South Florida on Thursday.
“Nick is going to be here,” Tallon said. “We have 11 games left. This will be
a good learning experience for him. If he does well, it will make it that much
easier for him at training camp next year. It’s a good chance to evaluate
him.”
Bjugstad, a 20-year-old center, recently finished his junior season at
Minnesota and won’t wait long to start his NHL career as he is expected to
be on the ice for Florida’s practice Friday in Coral Springs.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Bjugstad said from Minnesota. “I just got done playing
my final college game, which was a tough one. But it makes it easier
knowing I’m jumping into the NHL. It’s very exciting. I’m sure the nerves will
be going a little bit.”
With fourth-line center Jerred Smithson sent to Edmonton for a fourth-round
pick on Wednesday, well, the Panthers have an open slot.
Tallon said he is excited to see his entire first-round Class of 2010 on the
ice Saturday.
Defenseman Erik Gudbranson, the third overall pick in 2010, made his NHL
debut last season; Quinton Howden (25th overall) joined the Panthers on
Jan. 26.
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Tallon said. “This is an exciting time for
our franchise.”
The Panthers have been reluctant to rush their top young players, however
they are making an exception for Bjugstad.
Although they privately wished he would have started his professional
career in the minor leagues this season, the Panthers didn’t want to risk
Bjugstad returning to Minnesota for his senior season and becoming a free
agent in 2014 without signing with Florida. The Panthers will burn a year of
his entry-level contract by bringing him up to the NHL level. It’s a tradeoff
they were willing to make.
“We understand what the consequences are,” Tallon said. “He is an asset
we wanted to get signed. We wanted to get him in the fold, get him some
games. We want him indoctrinated with our team now.”
Smithson, whom Florida acquired for a sixth-round pick from Nashville last
season, was told of the news after Wednesday’s practice. Smithson isn’t
expected to join the Oilers until after the weekend because he and his wife
are expecting their first child this week.
“I feel bad about that, he is a solid pro and a classy guy,” Tallon said. “I
have to think about the long-term future of the franchise. That’s the
“I’m grateful for the opportunity Winnipeg is giving me and I look forward to
helping them out,” Santorelli said. “It’s an exciting time there. It’s a great
place to play. I hope I can help as much as I can.”
With all of Florida’s injuries, there weren’t many chips for Tallon to deal
Wednesday. Tallon and coach Kevin Dineen said they don’t feel like the
Panthers — who won the division for the first time last season — are in
rebuilding mode.
“This is a business. A big business,” Dineen said. “You have to manage
your team appropriately not just immediate but for your long-term future. …
There is a sense we have some real quality guys who are stepping into
more prominent role. We don’t want to go back to being a long-term
rebuilding project. There’s still some excitement left this season.”
Tallon expects to have a healthy team come training camp when the
Panthers embark on a new challenge of playing in an eight-team division
with Tampa Bay, Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Ottawa, Detroit and Buffalo.
“When you’re at the bottom,” Tallon said, “teams just expect you to panic
and give up players. That’s not going to happen here.”
Miami Herald LOADED: 04.04.2013
667796
Florida Panthers
Panthers sign C Nick Bjugstad; trade C Jerred Smithson
By Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel
4:52 p.m. EDT, April 3, 2013
point out of a playoff berth in the Western Conference, are last in the NHL
with a 45 percent success rate.
Smithson, in the final season of his prorated $800,000 deal, was told of the
trade after practice and just before heading to the hospital where his wife is
preparing to give birth on Thursday.
"The [deadline] always go through your head this time of year regardless of
who you are,'' Smithson said Tuesday the day before he was dealt. "You try
not to let it bother you, not to let it get in your head. You worry about what
you can control, that's your work ethic, your play and your attitude. If it
happens, it happens.'' …
General Manager Dale Tallon stuck to his core philosophy as Wednesday's
3 p.m. deadline expired, and despite overseeing the Eastern Conference
cellar-dwelling Panthers, refused to mortgage the franchise's future by
trading highly touted propsects for a quick fix.
The Panthers also signed 6-2 defenseman Jonathan Racine, their thirdround pick in 2011, to an entry-level deal.
Certainly not in a bizarre 48-game, post-lockout season in which most of
Tallon's bargaining chips are either mending torn ligaments or carrying
immovable contracts.
Tallon said that team wanted his veteran players such as Tomas Kopecky,
Marcel Goc and Dmitry Kulikov but they weren't offering equal value.
"We're not going to give up our good players to band-aid something to add
some late picks,'' Tallon said in the quiet pressbox at BB&T Center. "We
kept our calm, our patience, and had a lot of different possible deals on the
table. We felt we [should] take our time and do the right thing overall.
"We're eight points out of first place with a game in hand and we've had 910 guys out of the lineup any different night. … I think we have a great
future and we're not going to mess with it just because we had a hiccup in a
short season.''
Instead of dealing promising youngsters, many who have helped build the
Panthers modest three-game winning streak (all in post-regulation, a
franchise record), he focused on keeping one in the fold when he signed 6foot-6 University of Minnesota center Nick Bjugstad to an entry-level
contract.
“I came back to win a national championship and things happen. We lost in
overtime and that's a tough deal,’’ said Bjugstad, the 19th overall pick by
the Panthers in 2010. “I thought this was right for my future, my
development, to move onto the next level.’’
Tallon said Bjugstad will practice Friday and play Saturday against the
Capitals, so the Panthers will lose a year of control over his free-agent
rights. If they didn't sign him by the end of his senior year, the Panthers
would've lost his draft rights.
"We wanted to get him signed, under the fold and get him some
experience,'' Tallon said. "He's 6-6, 220 pounds, and only 20. Once he fills
out and becomes a man [Erik Gudbranson and Quinton Howden fills out] …
we're going to have some size, speed and skill.''
Bjugstad decided to forego his senior season with the Gophers where he
scored 21 goals this season and 54 in 109 career games to turn pro.
The Panthers did shed some minor payroll while opening roster spots for
young players when inconsistent forward Mike Santorelli was claimed by
the Winnipeg Jets, and they sent fourth-line veteran center Jerred Smithson
to the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth-round pick.
Santorelli, 27, who hasn't lived up to his 20-goal, 21-assist season of 201011 that netted him his first big NHL contract (two years for $3.2 million), was
pulled from Panthers practice at Saveology.com Iceplex at about noon after
coach Kevin Dineen told him he was leaving South Florida for chilly
Winnipeg.
It was the third time that Santorelli had been put on waivers since June, and
he was sent to the AHL earlier this season in the hope he would regain his
confidence and scoring touch.
"Yeah, it kind of sucks the first time it happened,'' said an emotional
Santorelli, who has just two goals and one assists in 24 games. "After that
my mindset was to roll with it, get back to my game and let everything fall
into place.''
It was less than a week ago that Santorelli notched one of his most
memorable highlights as a Panther when he scored the winning goal in the
5-4 shootout win over the Sabres. Ironically, if the Lightning had tied the
shootout up Tuesday, Santorelli was the Panthers' next shooter.
Smithson, 34, who was acquired from the Predators at last year's trade
deadline, had just five points in 35 games, but led the Panthers with a 54.8
faceoff percentage, including 9-of-14 Tuesday. The Oilers, who are one
Etc…
"Of course teams call when you're at the bottom,'' Tallon said. "They think
you're just going to panic and give up players. That's just not going to
happen here.''
Tallon said that he talked with the agent of sidelined center Stephen Weiss
on Friday and progress is being made on re-signing the unrestricted free
agent this summer.
Tallon also said he is confident that he will re-sign center Peter Mueller (16
points) after the season when his one-year deal expires. …
Forward Jack Skille practiced and is ready to play after missing the last five
games with an upper-body injury.
Sun Sentinel LOADED: 04.04.2013
667797
Los Angeles Kings
Kings consider Robyn Regehr more than a rental
By Lisa Dillman
April 3, 2013, 4:22 p.m.
With questions clouding the playing future of defenseman Willie Mitchell,
the Kings are looking at newly acquired defenseman Robyn Regehr as
more than a short-term solution.
The Kings traded for the 32-year-old Regehr from Buffalo for two secondround draft choices Monday night. He had his first practice with the Kings
on Wednesday and General Manager Dean Lombardi talked about his
impact, especially if Mitchell does not return next season.
"I think there's a good chance we can retain him," Lombardi said of Regehr,
who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. "This wasn't looked
at as just a player for a rental. We're looking at this as a guy that can fit with
us for a number of years."
But, for the first time, Lombardi addressed the possibility of Mitchell's future
beyond this season. The veteran had two surgeries on his knee, the most
recent coming this week. His agent suggested, via email to The Times, that
Mitchell could return next season.
"At least we've got some finality that he's not coming back this year,"
Lombardi said. "... I guess it's safe to say there's a legitimate concern now
whether he plays next year. It could be premature but it's possible where I
wouldn't thought it possible.
"We always thought, 'OK, if we don't get him this year, this isn't serious.' But
apparently some other things might have shown up."
The Kings made their deals before the NHL's trading deadline Wednesday,
and this move reunites Regehr with Coach Darryl Sutter. He played for
Sutter in Calgary when the Flames reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2004.
"I'm really really happy," Regehr said. "For a few different reasons: Being in
a position to win again and with a team that has proven it can do it in the
past and wants to do it again. I'm very excited about that. Also familiar with
Darryl as a coach and knowing his style and how demanding he is."
He is going from a tough situation in Buffalo to the midst of a playoff race
with the defending Stanley Cup champions. This is not quite the Kings team
he played against during his Flames days.
"They play a little bit different style," he said. "Back when I was playing for
Calgary it was a little bit more of a passive style. Now it's a little bit more of
an aggressive, forechecking style. And trying to get all five guys out there,
working together and being close to one another in all three zones."
Lombardi talked about the fit being good for the Kings on several levels. Not
only is Regehr in the mix but also Matt Greene has resumed skating and
could be ready for the playoffs.
"That element he brings is something we need to add to the mix," Lombardi
said. "I think you put Greene back in this lineup, and now you have that mix
of puck moving and hard-to-play against.
"...This guy's character is off the charts. He is no picnic to play against. This
is a guy you'd rather have on your side than to play against."
Regehr jokingly talked about having to reach out to one of the Kings, a
former foe, to make amends.
"I remember I separated Justin Williams' shoulder in the corner one game
so maybe he's not quite happy with me," Regehr said. "We'll try to work it
out. Water under the bridge."
KINGS VS. MINNESOTA
When: 7:30.
Where: Staples Center.
On the air: TV: Fox Sports West. Radio: 1150.
Record vs. Wild: 0-1.
Etc. Minnesota did not sit still on trade deadline day, most notably acquiring
captain/right wing Jason Pominville from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for
goalie Matt Hackett and forward Johan Larsson on Wednesday.
LA Times: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667798
Los Angeles Kings
Dean Lombardi interview transcript, video
Posted by JonRosen on 3 April 2013, 5:37 pm
On the process of how a trade such as the one for Robyn Regehr comes
together:
“Well, fortunately we’re at the stage, unlike in the past, that I think it was
safe to say that we were really zeroing in on a certain type of player. So,
certainly unlike five, six years ago when we went from basically acquiring
draft picks and prospects to maybe a couple of years ago, you start looking
for smaller additions, to now, your market really gets kind of finite because
you’re clearly looking for a certain element. And even though you have a lot
of discussions with people, as a practical matter you essentially zero down
into just a couple teams. The one thing about this whole process, too – we
were engaged fairly early, obviously, because it wasn’t looking good for
Willie Mitchell. Losing two guys like that right away, it’s safe to say that I’ve
been looking for this all year. So I mean, you’re looking at two big, physical
guys that were clearly part of our identity that have not been in our lineup all
year. And we knew it was going to be long term. So you could argue that
this process started two months ago. It’s just that again, people aren’t really
willing to deal until this time of year.”
On whether the price went up as discussions progressed due to other
trades made:
“I guess so. I think that’s what people generally tend to do, that they’ll see
what other guys go for, and you kind of work within that framework. But it
still comes down to – that might be a starting point – but it still comes down
to you’re competing against other teams, and generally there’s two things
the other general manager considers. One – the biggest price, and
secondly, in this case, where the player will go, and then do you want him
out of your conference? So those are usually the three things that enter into
the price that might affect it to a certain degree. But in the end, it’s just like
when a player signs as a free agent, the general manager’s probably going
to take the most he can, and you hope to outbid people.”
On a relatively quiet trading deadline for the Kings after moves were made
earlier this week:
“We like our team. It’s just filling those two holes. I mean, this group here –
and I think I’ve said this to you guys several times here – the hardest part
about this wasn’t the player trade. It’s making sure we keep this group
together, and I think I’ve made it clear numerous times that the way this cap
is coming down next year when we have six young players up for contract
causes this to be a physics project. So of the players I looked at in making
this deal, I spent way more time evaluating our cap and keeping this group
together than I actually did evaluating the player. And that’s not taking
anything away from the work on the player. But we knew we were going to
get to this point some day. I mean, you’ve said it time and time again – build
slowly with young players in the thought of keeping them together. But this
CBA really hurt in terms of us having to adjust, because we certainly didn’t
plan a dramatic decrease, and then, like I said, we have six million in space.
We brought this team back we can’t use. And so everything we did in the
last two weeks with Solly (Vice President/Hockey Operations and Legal
Affairs Jeff Solomon) is we had more physics projects going on the board
than MIT in terms of trying how to figure out how to make sure we keep our
own. And so that certainly also had an impact on your market, too, so
you’re balancing the players and then you say, ‘Wait a minute,’ you don’t
want to get in the situation where ‘OK, I’m paying this to get the player, but
then I’m going to pay another tax in the summer because I can’t keep
another player.’ So actually your price could increase dramatically if you
aren’t cognizant of that. And that’s why I think that’s the other reason this is
a really good fit for us. I think with Robyn, clearly that element he brings is
something that we needed to add to the mix, and I think you put Greener
back in this lineup, now you have that mix of puck moving and hard-to-playagainst. So he’s a great fit from that, and I think hopefully, I think there’s a
good chance that we can retain him. I think we’ve got a lot going for us, so
this wasn’t looked at as just a player for a rental. We’re looking at this as a
guy that can fit with us for a number of years here. But it still had to work for
us in terms of the whole. I just feel so strongly. I think you know this group.
Through the process, yeah, at times you get frustrated. But there’s no
question they care about each other, and time and time again I’ve seen
them they way they stick together through tough times, and you want to do
everything you can to let them grow together. I think you’ve heard me talk
about culture – and, quite frankly, and this has always been in the back of
my mind. First you need stability and continuity. Then you get an identity,
and then you have culture. But if you don’t have the first one, you’re not
going to get the culture. And culture takes time, and the only way you’re
going to do it is keep a bunch of good players together that care about each
other, learn through the ups and downs and learn to win. And that’s a
‘culture’. And that’s not going to happen in one year. It’s a process, just like
we’re just starting to get an identity now. There’s another step here, and if I
have to start pulling guys out of that room, and you take away the stability
and continuity, now you back the whole thing up. And that was very much in
the back of my mind, that there is an emotional bond and step that we need
to take as a franchise, and if I start ripping the guts out of it or whatever and
start getting away from continuity, we’re never going to get there and you’re
going to end up like everything else. You’ll get mediocrity, back to .500, like
everything. It’s harder and harder in this day and age – that’s what caps are
designed to do. Bring everything to the medium and constant changes. But
you’re never going to get a team with culture if that’s going on. So I think
I’ve been consistent with that. It’s the first year I’ve really faced the
challenge of trying to improve the team and keep them together, but it’s
always in the back of mind. So when I talk about this deal, it’s very much
not just the player, it’s this other thing that’s in the back of my mind that is
very important, I think.”
On whether Regehr’s evaluation was made easier due to his relationship
with Darryl Sutter:
“Oh, no question. What you get there is now just like with Carter and
Richards. You guys, at times, you do your digging to find out about a player,
but we don’t have to do that. This guy’s character is off the charts. He is no
picnic to play against. And the other thing, you know from your own locker
room that in the end the players know. I think this is a guy you’d rather have
on your side than have to play against him. And I think [he’s got a] left shot
and we’re blessed with obviously with some really good young defensemen
and the way Muzzin’s come on. But we still need that element that guys like
Robyn and Greener and Willie Mitchell bring.”
On the evolution of contract negotiations with Rob Scuderi:
“I think you’ll see us now – and actually, we just started this this afternoon –
it kind of went back to the drawing board here and see the dominoes. So I
think…we’ve got an idea now of what we can do to try and keep these guys
together. So you’ve got these young players up, and so now you say, ‘OK,
you’ve got to do the balancing act.’ The less term you give, you probably
can keep it down to keep the veterans. So you’ve got to do this balancing
act now between the advantages of term, but also keeping the other pieces.
And we were kind of unsure, obviously going through until now we’ve done
this, OK, now we know what we want to do. So let’s start working on this.
So I think Solly’s going to finally earn his money here this year.”
On his disinterest of buying out the contracts of Mike Richards and Jeff
Carter:
“Buy ‘em out? With Mike? No. Who ever asked me that? [Reporter: In
January at the press conference, it was just a general conversation about
teams using the buy-outs. It wasn’t specific that you were interested. You
said you didn’t plan on using that buyout clause.] No. With those guys? No.”
On whether the buyout clause would be considered with Willie Mitchell’s
“situation”:
“Well, I think what we know now, and that’s the next thing we’ve got to zero
in on – kind of just like you asked about the contracts, we’re kind of looking
at it in like Willie went to see another doctor, we know. I’ve got to get all the
information out. The one thing we do know is he’s done for the year, which
was kind of always hanging out there. In terms of his career, that’s what I
think we have to figure out now where he is health-wise in terms of his
career. So once we have that, and I think we’re going to have the
discussion this week with all the doctors and Willie and try and sort through
this thing. The first issue is to see where we are in terms of him playing
again. And then we can decide what to do. Obviously, if he’s going to come
back, great. I’m not sure how viable that is based upon my preliminary stuff.
But again, I’ll know more on that by the end of the week. [Reporter:
Because he’s had the two surgeries now.] Yeah, and I think without going
into detail, like I said, at least we got some finality that he’s not coming back
this year. Now I’m getting some information – and I don’t like speaking to it
because I don’t have it all, but I guess it’s safe to say there would be a
legitimate concern now whether he plays next year. But that could be
premature. Let’s just say now, though, it’s possible, where I wouldn’t have
thought it possible. Like we always thought, ‘OK, if we don’t get him this
year, this isn’t serious for us.’ But apparently some other things might have
shown up. But until I get the whole story, I probably should hold off.”
On whether he was close on making any other trades prior to the deadline:
“No. I like our team, and I think we addressed our biggest need. And you
see Matt Greene in there – we get him back, that’s like getting a player for
nothing now. I didn’t see anything that was really going to improve us. Our
depth up front with Toffoli and Brad Richardson, we forget about him, but
he’s shown he’s a good depth player. So it wasn’t really anything there that
made sense as terms of an upgrade, let alone then get to the part where if
you upgrade, what’s it going to do to your cap and everything else. The
other thing we were able to do on this that I really liked – and you know I’m
confident in how I feel about this – we’ve got 10 picks in this year’s draft.
You never want to lose sight of that part. Now, we don’t have a first
rounder, but we’re going into this, we were able to keep this nucleus, get
this piece here, and have 10 picks going in next year’s draft. Our eye going
forward, we haven’t sold the farm by any stretch. I think we’ve got the space
to keep our young players. Then hopefully…add the right veterans here
going forward also. Now it’s up to our scouts to hit in the middle rounds. I
mean, we’ve got a lot of swings in there, so we’ll keep the supply line going.
But that’s the other thing, too – like, you underestimate those picks coming
up overall. So, OK, you get Regehr, and you know the fifth rounder for
Drewiske because you’ve got the depth. And then you look at your list, and
we’ve got three fourths, two fifths, two sevenths. We’re in good shape there,
and that’s unusual for a team coming off the success we had last year.
Generally you’ve got to empty the store a little more. So I think we’re in
pretty decent shape.”
On whether getting a first round pick back is important this year:
“You look at it…We were fortunate last year, actually, like we were going to
pay it last year or this year, and [Columbus] didn’t take it because it fell to
30. But actually, the kid we got has really done well. So we actually
probably lucked out there, to get this kid Pearson in the 30th pick. He’s got
a good chance. [Reporter: A little concerned, though, when he came back
from the injury?] Yeah, but it’s not structural, so they say that’s the biggest
thing. But you can’t predict that. And he’s still a young lad. He’s got to get in
shape and everything. But that whole line down there, like we really sucked
the lifeblood out of them this year between losing players on waivers and
trades. Now we’ve got another wave coming in. But the one thing that was
good about it was because we lost a lot of guys – we don’t like losing them
– but the benefit of it was Toffoli, Vey and Pearson became the top line, and
teams all keyed on them. So they learned to play in a tough environment,
where if we had all the players there we probably would have had, they fall
to the three hole, where generally you break them in, but they’re not getting
the focus. But they’re arguably our best players, but they’re still very young.
They moved right to the top, and if you went down there, you’d see they’re
going right after them. And that’s a good sign, because teams know that
these are three good [players]. And they handled it. Linden Vey’s come a
long way. And so that was the good point of having three 20-year-olds on
the same line – that they’re drawing the toughest checkers and everything
else, and they’re going after them and they’re holding up.”
On whether Linden Vey’s progress was catalyzed by the move to center:
“No, clearly becoming a pro. It’s the same thing as Tyler. His first thing after
the draft, he couldn’t do one push-up or pull-up and he was proud of it. It’s
like, ‘Why do I have to do this for?’ So it’s a tribute to the development guys
– what you see is maturity as a man as much as a player. And what
happened is they’re pushing each other. It’s because Tyler has figured it
out, and then Linden – you’ve got two kids there, one is the leading scorer
in Ontario, and the other was the leading scorer in the west. So you’ve got a
little bit of this going, ‘You’re not going to beat me.’ Now Tyler decides to
start working. ‘I’ll stay with him.’ And it’s kind of what you like to have. And
Pearson kind of figured out the work because he went through a draft, so
he actually started figuring out, ‘I’ve got to get back to work.’ If you look at
their bodies, they’re a long way from being men. But the point is they get it.
And then Toffoli comes in here now and sees how hard Jarret Stoll and
these guys work. Now you’ve got it going. That goes back to what started
this whole thing. That’s culture. Again, that takes time, and you can lose
that in a hurry if you start shuffling guys in and out and stuff.”
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667799
Los Angeles Kings
Lombardi addresses Mitchell injury
Posted by JonRosen on 3 April 2013, 5:32 pm
Los Angeles Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi was asked earlier
today about the amnesty buyout clause, and whether it could be applied in
the case of Willie Mitchell. Mitchell, 35, is signed through 2013-14 with a 3.5
million dollar cap hit and is sidelined for the remainder of the season due to
a pair of surgeries on his knee, which was injured during the lockout.
Though the team is still awaiting more test results, Lombardi’s responses
indicated that Mitchell’s injury appears to be more of a long-term ailment.
On whether the buyout clause would be considered with Willie Mitchell’s
“situation”:
“Well, I think what we know now, and that’s the next thing we’ve got to zero
in on – kind of just like you asked about the contracts, we’re kind of looking
at it in like Willie went to see another doctor, we know. I’ve got to get all the
information out. The one thing we do know is he’s done for the year, which
was kind of always hanging out there. In terms of his career, that’s what I
think we have to figure out now where he is health-wise in terms of his
career. So once we have that, and I think we’re going to have the
discussion this week with all the doctors and Willie and try and sort through
this thing. The first issue is to see where we are in terms of him playing
again. And then we can decide what to do. Obviously, if he’s going to come
back, great. I’m not sure how viable that is based upon my preliminary stuff.
But again, I’ll know more on that by the end of the week. [Reporter:
Because he’s had the two surgeries now.] Yeah, and I think without going
into detail, like I said, at least we got some finality that he’s not coming back
this year. Now I’m getting some information – and I don’t like speaking to it
because I don’t have it all, but I guess it’s safe to say there would be a
legitimate concern now whether he plays next year. But that could be
premature. Let’s just say now, though, it’s possible, where I wouldn’t have
thought it possible. Like we always thought, ‘OK, if we don’t get him this
year, this isn’t serious for us.’ But apparently some other things might have
shown up. But until I get the whole story, I probably should hold off.”
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667800
Los Angeles Kings
April 3 practice quotes: Robyn Regehr
be able to brush the rust off a little bit. It’s been a few years. Get out there
and do it, and do it well.”
On whether he can make an impact with a short schedule:
Posted by JonRosen on 3 April 2013, 2:59 pm
“They’re going to ask me to play hard physically, defend well and help out
on the penalty kill. Those are going to be the areas that I’m really going to
focus on.”
On joining the Kings:
On whether a “mental adjustment” is needed leaving a disappointing Buffalo
team and joining a playoff-tested Los Angeles team in the thick of a playoff
race:
“I’m really, really happy for a few different reasons. First of all, being in a
position to win again and with a team that has proven it can do it in the past
and wants to do it again. So I’m very excited about that, and also familiar
with Darryl as a coach and knowing his style and how demanding he is, and
a couple of the players even from previous hockey experiences.”
On what he learned from playing against the Kings as a member of the
Flames:
“They played a little bit of a different style back when I was playing for
Calgary. It was a little bit more of a passive style. Now, it’s a little bit more of
an aggressive, forechecking style and trying to get all five guys out there
working together and being close to one another in all three zones. Things
have changed a little bit differently, but I am quite familiar with a lot of the
personnel. I don’t know, maybe you’ll have to ask some of those guys of
their experiences. I remember I separated Justin Williams’ shoulder in the
corner one game, so maybe he’s not quite happy with me. But we’ll try to
work it out. Water under the bridge.”
On whether he came to L.A. with a short-term or long-term mindset:
“Right now, all I’m thinking about is right now and how I can get up to speed
personally here with the team and what they want me to do as quickly as
possible. But as for all that other stuff about the future, I think it depends on
a lot of things. It depends how things go for me personally. It depends how
things go for the team, and also probably the most important, there’s also
other factors, such as next year we all know that the cap is going down from
what it is this year and things like that. So there’s so many things that are
out there and that are involved with that decision that I don’t think about that
too much at this point. I’m just – like I said – I’ve got enough stuff going on
right now to deal with.”
On the timeline of finding out he had been traded, flying to L.A. and
undergoing a physical:
“So, what would it have been? We flew – Buffalo flew to Pittsburgh and then
that night, that would have been April 1st, that night we went out for dinner,
and I was hearing from my agent that something might be happening, and
he had mentioned Los Angeles. There were a couple other teams we had
heard rumors about, but he then it was Los Angeles, and we talked a little
bit about it and the fit, and all that. I was asked to waive [the no-trade
clause] after dinner, so I was gladly accepting. I talked to my wife about it.
She was happy. She’s always wanted to be down in Southern California
and spend some time here. We were excited that way, and with the team,
as I mentioned before – the fit and the coaching and things like that, and
what they did last year here, and they’re going to put ourselves in a position
to hopefully do that again. All that stuff was very exciting for me to think
about. Now I’m here, and I did fly out yesterday for a bunch of medicals and
MRIs and things. It was a very full day yesterday, and I was out on the ice
today for the first time. But I’m looking forward to getting into a game and
into the lineup tomorrow.”
On his familiarity with players on the Kings roster:
“I had met a few of them. Personally, I had never played with any of them
on any team other than there would be a camp here or there or knowing a
guy like Jarret Stoll from being around Saskatchewan a little bit. Drew
Doughty – I roomed with him at one of the Team Canada camps for three or
four days. Stuff like that. So you know guys a little bit, but not really, really
well.”
On playing for Darryl Sutter again:
“Darryl is a very demanding coach. I think any player that plays under him,
that’s one of the first things that he would mention. But that being said,
when you do the kind of stuff that he asks of you, and you do it well, you put
yourself in a position to succeed and also become a very good professional.
I was excited to be back and have that opportunity. I know the type of style
[is] a very similar style to what he asked for us to play in Calgary. I should
“It does a little bit, just because of the very different situation that both of the
teams were in. I played out west enough to know that this is what it’s like
every year in the Western Conference playoff race, pretty much. So that’s
just the reality of the situation.”
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667801
Los Angeles Kings
April 3 practice quotes: Darryl Sutter
night. He had some good chances. If you can score in practice, then you
can score in the game. Might’ve been the difference in the game last night.
Had two or three great chances and didn’t score. Had nothing to do with
Colin Fraser.”
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.04.2013
Posted by JonRosen on 3 April 2013, 2:16 pm
On what Robyn Regehr brings to the Kings:
“Experience. Good guy in back. Fills our left side. Work him in.”
On Regehr’s off-ice intangibles:
“Well, I think he’s played a long time and he has a pretty strong identity, and
that’s pretty clear.”
On if he has a sense of what the defensive pairings will be:
“I’d like to get everybody healthy, but we won’t have time for that, so it’s not
like you think about pairings. We have guys that play power plays, there’s
kill penalties. Even though they play five on five together, they don’t always
play together [on] special teams.”
On whether it’s easier to get a guy into the lineup that he has coached
before:
“You know, I don’t really even know how to answer that because I’ve done it
before and guys have struggled, and you know what? There’s no real
answer for that. I think there’s guys that come in and get traded and play
well and guys that traded and don’t play well. That’s a fact. That’s one thing
about the deadline that everybody’s always talked about – is there enough
time for a player to adjust? It doesn’t matter who it is. It doesn’t matter if you
know the player or not. It’s not an easy time for players, quite honest,
because they’re people, and they have families, and it’s a big chance.”
On the modern challenges presented by Twitter and means used to
broadcast personal information:
“Well, all of that makes it particularly harder now. Right? You don’t like
seeing guys get traded. That’s a fact. That’s how I feel about it.”
On Davis Drewiske being traded to Montreal:
“Hey, Davis wants to play, and he’s at the point of his career – he’s going to
be 29 this summer. He’s unrestricted and needs to play. However they see
to use him, good, but it’s important for Davis from a career standpoint to be
playing. It’s good for him to go to the other conference, too, because then
everybody sees him…I was happy for him because of that. It’s no difference
than anybody else. Anybody that was on our championship team last year
is a member of our family forever, so I want them to do well.”
On whether Wednesday was Matt Greene’s first skate:
“No. He’s been skating since – when did we go to the White House?
[Reporter: Tuesday.] So he flew home Wednesday and skated the next
day.”
On whether Greene is still on track for a late April return:
“I couldn’t even tell you that. He’s on IR. He started skating, so I imagine
there’s still a post-surgery [period], so whatever date that they said at the
outset, that would still be the same day if everything went as scheduled.
And I’m not sure what that date is.”
On Greene’s potential return:
“I start looking at them when they’re [in] full practice. That’s when I start
looking at the real date. So whatever they said – we’ve heard those before,
right? And we still haven’t seen those players.”
On whether he’s “surprised” by Brad Richardson’s play:
“Nope. That’s what I said – he should’ve had a full tank of gas. If he
wouldn’t have, then I’d have been surprised.”
On whether Colin Fraser sitting out was due to Richardson playing well or
Fraser needing “time to think about whatever it is [he wants] him to think
about”:
“Who has to think about? [Reporter: Colin.] So Brad went in for Colin, right?
So that didn’t mean Brad had been playing well, because he hadn’t been
playing. That’s what you said. Hey, he scored. He should’ve scored last
667802
Los Angeles Kings
Quiet deadline day for Kings
Posted by JonRosen on 3 April 2013, 1:48 pm
The Los Angeles Kings made a pair of moves by acquiring Robyn Regehr
from the Bufffalo Sabres on Monday and trading Davis Drewiske to the
Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday before sitting tight as the 12:00 pm PT
trading deadline passed on Wednesday without an additional transaction.
Though the day started slowly, a collection of moves were made shortly
before the deadline, highlighted by Marian Gaborik’s trade from the New
York Rangers to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Derick
Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth-round draft pick. The
Minnesota Wild, who will visit Staples Center on Thursday, also made a
significant move by acquiring Jason Pominville from Buffalo in exchange for
Matt Hackett, Johan Larsson, a first-round pick in 2013 and a second-round
pick in 2014.
For a full recap of the trades made in advance of Wednesday’s deadline, I
urge you to visit the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker presented by
Graham on LAKings.com.
I’m in the process of transcribing quotes from Darryl Sutter, Dean Lombardi
and Robyn Regehr. I’ll have those quotes up this afternoon along with
KingsVision post-practice videos. Stay tuned.
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667803
Los Angeles Kings
Matt Greene practices
Posted by JonRosen on 3 April 2013, 12:08 pm
Matt Greene took the ice at Toyota Sports Center today, participating in
drills with teammates in a green non-contact jersey for 20 minutes.
General Manager Dean Lombardi indicated to LA Kings Insider on March
29 that Greene’s projected return was a month away, meaning there is a
possibility he could return to the lineup late in the regular season. Los
Angeles concludes its regular season slate on April 27 at home against San
Jose.
If you can bear with some camera phone blurriness, there are some photos
of Greene after the jump.
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667804
Los Angeles Kings
LAKings.com feature: Up, Up and Away
Posted by JonRosen on 3 April 2013, 11:19 am
As the Kings opened their season-long road trip with consecutive wins in
Chicago and St. Louis, I began gathering quotes on variables that must
come together to generate success away from home. It wasn’t always a
linear process; the team wasn’t able to hold a two-goal lead and lost a
shootout in Minnesota, dominated possession in a quality win at Dallas, and
concluded the trip with a regulation loss against a hard-working Phoenix
team.
It all came together in my LAKings.com feature this week, entitled Up, Up
and Away. In it I hope you’ll gain some sentiments from the locker room and
hockey staff on a mostly successful road trip in which the team collected
seven out of a possible 10 points while facing stiff competition.
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667805
Los Angeles Kings
Waking up with the Kings: April 3
Posted by JonRosen on 3 April 2013, 9:26 am
-A regulation loss punctuated what was otherwise a very good road trip for
the Los Angeles Kings, who strung together three wins and seven points
from five games over nine days. The players would never be quick to admit
it, but I did think last night’s game indicated the batteries could use some
recharging. It didn’t have to do with physical fatigue (most of the team had a
day off on Monday) as much as it had to do with mental fatigue, and a
grinding, workmanlike Phoenix team that presents a challenge on any night
was even more effective against an L.A. team at the end of a trip. It was still
a game that hung in the balance of several bounces as the Kings were
denied on the second and third opportunities in front of a very good Jason
LaBarbera and in the face of a committed Coyotes performance.
-Speaking of LaBarbera, he was the better goaltender in this game and
deserving of the first star. He was well squared to the shooter throughout
the night, resulting in several quality opportunities hitting him in the howling
Coyote on the front of his jersey. His best saves were made with his pads
late in the second period – one on Jeff Carter off a well-placed Brad
Richardson two-on-one feed, and the other on a low Drew Doughty blast
from the top of the right circle off a feed from Anze Kopitar. There was also
a strong first period glove save on Dustin Brown during a Kings power play
in a scoreless game. Re-living some of these highlights I’m being reminded
how strong of a defensive game Phoenix played despite Los Angeles
putting up 40 shots for the third time on the road trip.
-Quick, on the other hand, has been better, and Yandle’s insurance tally
from below the left hash marks is a tough goal to allow when trailing by one
late. But let me be perfectly clear: this game wasn’t lost because of
Jonathan Quick. The Kings lost because they scored only one goal and
were repeatedly denied second and third opportunities at the other end of
the rink by an excellent Coyotes effort. Was anyone else thinking about how
L.A. was missing Dustin Penner on the left side last night? I wouldn’t be
surprised if the Kings made a trade for a winger today, though it does
appear the going rate for a top-six forward may be a touch high for what the
team is willing to pay.
LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667806
Minnesota Wild
Wild GM Chuck Fletcher: "We’re no longer a seller"
Posted by: Michael Russo under Wild trade news Updated: April 3, 2013 6:36 PM
The Wild tried hard on Tuesday to trade for San Jose’s Ryane Clowe, but
he wanted to go East.
In fact, this morning, from people I talked to, it was clear the Wild felt it
offered a better package to the Sharks than they wound up receiving from
the Rangers. But Clowe had the hammer with a no-trade clause and chose
New York.
From seeing what the Wild was willing to give up to get Buffalo Sabres
captain Jason Pominville, you can bet what I was hearing is accurate.
As you know by now, the Wild traded Johan Larsson, Matt Hackett, a 2013
first-round pick and a 2014 second-round pick to the Sabres for Pominville,
who has scored 20-or-more goals the past six seasons and twice 30, and a
2014 fourth-round pick. Pominville, when he arrives hopefully tomorrow, will
be slotted on the right side of Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu for an allCaptain line.
Pominville is just an all-situation guy. PK, point on the power play, does all
the little things, versatile, booming shot, etc.
I just talked on the phone to his linemate, Thomas Vanek, who said, "We all
heard Darcy's (GM Regier) comments that he could be gone, but when it
happens, I was shocked. It's part of the business, but we're losing, myself
also, I'm losing a great teammate in the locker room, somebody I was with
for eight years, and a good friend. He's such a great player and linemate.
The Wild, they're lucky. Just a smart, good hockey player who can adapt to
any situation and make his linemates better. He's going to really help them.
We're going to miss him a lot. Jason is as good a guy as there is."
But big, big price from the Wild. Chuck Fletcher explains why below.
First of all, “We’re really excited. Our players have played hard and played
well this year. I believe we’re improving as an organization. We’re starting
to take some positive steps. It was important if we could find the right fit at
the right piece, I think it was important for us to try to continue to upgrade
our talent and improve our team.
“You never know what can happen, but today was an important today.
We’re no longer a seller. We want to keep pushing forward and want to
compete for talent. It’s just a good day for our franchise.”
On Pominville: “He’s scored 30 goals in the league, he’s had 70 points, he’s
a team captain. He’s a hard-working, 200-foot player, and I think like some
of our other top players, like Parise and Koivu and Backstrom and Suter
and you can go right down the list, not only is he talented, he’s got a hardworking mentality and a high level of character.
“He plays the point on the power play, he kills penalties. He’s just a guy that
brings a lot of dimensions and versatility and a player that could fit into a lot
of different roles.”
You paid a huge price: “There’s no question, we paid a price. Jason’s a
talented player, he’s not a rental, he has term left on his deal (one year),
he’s the captain of his team and he’s a guy that we wanted. Anytime you
want a good player who’s not a rental, you’re going to pay a price.
“(Assistant GM) Brent Flahr and his staff have done a great job for us.
They’ve drafted very well. We’ve been able to apply a lot of young assets
over the last few years, and the fact that we have really good depth in terms
of talented young players, it allowed us the opportunity to pursue a player
like Pominville. We have plenty of assets in the cupboard and plenty of
talented, young players at evev position. The last few years, our focus have
been to gather prospects and picks, but our team is growing and showing
some positive signs, at times you’ve got to dip into that pool of talent that
you’ve accumulated and pay some assets to get in this case an All-Star
NHL player.”
Basically, the price was obviously high, but the way the Wild sees it, the
foundation of the franchise for years is in place with top-liners Zach Parise
and Mikko Koivu and No. 1 defenseman Ryan Suter. Then, there future
cornerstone forwards Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund
and blue-chip defensemen Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba.
From there, the Wild is developing defenseman Marco Scandella, forwards
Brett Bulmer, Zack Phillips, Tyler Graovac, Raphael Bussieres, is loaded
with other college-level players from Mario Lucia and Erik Haula to Adam
Gilmour and John Draeger.
It still has two hotshot goalie prospects with Darcy Kuemper and Johan
Gustafsson, who plans to come to North America next year.
So since there’s only so many positions on a hockey team and so many
contracts permitted to be handed out, the Wild felt it could afford to give up
the hefty price and potentially lose a couple top draft picks.
“Hey, we recognize that we paid a price,” Fletcher said. “Johan Larsson and
Matt Hackett are good, young hockey players. And anytime you trade a
first-round pick, you’re obviously paying a significant price. But as a
franchise we’ve spent a lot of time accumulating assets and trading for draft
picks, and I think it’s a positive sign that as a franchise we’re now trading
prospects and picks to acquire players. Typically that means you’re moving
in the right direction. There’s always a balance. You can’t make these
moves all the time. But if you never make them, how do you get better?”
Does this mean win now or bust though? “Again, he’s not a rental. He has
term on his contract. And again, we still have a lot of really good young
players. Brent and his staff have shown the ability to draft well and I have
no doubt they will continue to. Our goal is to win as many games as we can.
We feel we’re a competitive team, we have work to do, but we’re trending in
the right direction. We want to keep pushing that. We’re not shy about our
desire to get better. We’re going to be a competitive team for a long time.”
I asked Fletcher what this means going forward for guys like Backstrom and
Matt Cullen and Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who are in the last year of their
deals, and Dany Heatley, who is an amnesty buyout candidate this
summer. The Wild is only $9 million from next year’s $64.3 million cap
without buying out Heatley or maybe re-upping Backstrom or Cullen and
before re-signing restricted free agents like Cal Clutterbuck and Jared
Spurgeon.
“At the end of the year we’ll sort it all out. There’s a lot of hockey left to play.
We have flexibility to do the things we need to do, but that’s a conversation
for another day.”
By the way, the Wild still has two thirds this summer (one extra for
Sheppard) and two sevenths and then all their picks from Rounds 2-7.
Right now, the hope is Pominville can meet the team in L.A. and debut
tomorrow, but that is not set in stone yet. I have left messages for
Pominville, known as one of the most accomodating athletes in the NHL by
the way, but haven't talked to him yet. I'm sure he's swamped with his life
being uprooted.
The Wild also acquired goalie Jeff Deslauriers from Anaheim for future
considerations (nothing). He’ll take Darcy Kuemper’s spot in Houston until
hopefully Josh Harding is ready to return.
Lastly, and I’ll leave you with this, Fletcher is always looking and thinking
ahead. Pominville was Thomas Vanek’s linemate. They are very close.
Vanek has been quoted in the past saying he wasn’t too keen being a part
of a rebuild in Buffalo. He’s a free agent in the summer of 2014.
Is acquiring Pominville the precursor to pursuing Vanek, the former Gopher,
in two summers? Just something to keep in your head from somebody who,
if you’ve read me for awhile, guessed for three years that the Wild had its
eyes set on the summer of 2012 to go after Parise.
It just makes sense. Regardless, the Wild keeps making bold moves, from
the Brent Burns-Devin Setoguchi one, to the Dany Heatley for Marty Havlat
one to signing Parise and Suter to this.
Its eventual goal, besides winning, of course, is to show all players in the
NHL that Minnesota wants to win and should be considered a destination
the way markets like Pittsburgh, the Rangers, Philly, Detroit always have
been.
A lot more in tomorrow’s paper and the coming days. Oh, and there’s a
game tonight, so more later. I’ll be on Fox Sports North during the second
intermission tonight.
Star Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667807
Minnesota Wild
Wild making calls, has shown interest in Buffalo's Jason Pominville
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: April 3, 2013 - 11:36 AM
With 2 hours, 30 minutes left before the 2 p.m. CT trade deadline, there has
been one minor trade today in the NHL. As I wrote in today's Insider, there
was a good chance today would be a bit of a dud around the league after
guys like Ryane Clowe, Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy were traded yesterday
and so many deals had been executed in the days leading up -- Jarome
Iginla, Doug Murray, Jay Bouwmeester, etc.
The Wild tried hard for Clowe and felt it made a quality offer, but in the end,
Clowe decided to go east. That was even with some gentle persuading I
hear from former Sharks teammates on the Wild.
The Wild is making calls and I do hear it is one of many teams that has
been talking to Buffalo the past few days about captain Jason Pominville. I
know the Wild has scouted Buffalo recently, too.
The 30-year-old right wing was asked to submit a list of eight teams the
other day that he would not accept a trade to. Minnesota was not on that
list, I am told.
Pominville has one more year left on a five-year, $26.5 million deal. That’s a
$5.3 million cap hit with $5.5 million in real salary next year.
The 2001 second-round pick has played full 82-game seasons in five of his
six full years. He has scored 185 goals and 456 points in 578 games. He’s
a two-time 30-goal scorer who has also topped 20 goals four other times.
He has scored 10 goals and 25 points in 37 games this year.
I am not sure what it would take to reel in a fish like that, but as I wrote in
today's Insider, just the fact that the Wild showed such interest in Clowe
makes you realize that GM Chuck Fletcher is willing to pay a price if he
feels the player would provide a significant upgrade.
The Sabres have also been shopping Drew Stafford as well.
We will see if anything happens with Buffalo and the Wild or anywhere else
soon enough. The Sharks skate in one hour, the Wild in two -- 30 minutes
before the deadline -- so stayed tuned to www.twitter.com/russostrib for any
news.
Regardless, NHL trades should start trickling in soon. They always do.
Star Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667808
Minnesota Wild
Wild has acquired Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: April 3, 2013 - 3:32 PM
The Wild has acquired Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville and a 2014
fourth-round pick for Matt Hackett, Johan Larsson, a 2013 first-round pick
and a 2014 second-round pick.
Clearly a huge price, but one from a team that has missed the playoffs for
four straight years, is looking to win now and is full of young prospects right
now and core pieces that are going to be mainstays on the team for a long
time.
The 30-year-old Pominville, a right winger, was asked to submit a list of
eight teams to the Sabres that he would not accept a trade to.
Minnesota was not on that list.
Pominville, Thomas Vanek's linemate and 2001 second-round pick has
played full 82-game seasons in five of his six full years. He has scored 185
goals and 456 points in 578 games. He’s a two-time 30-goal scorer who
has also topped 20 goals four other times.
He has scored 10 goals and 25 points in 37 games this year.
"Heck of a player," Zach Parise said as he left the ice. "Heck of a player."
Later, outside the locker room, Parise said he played on a line with
Pominville at the 2008 world championships in Halifax.
“He works hard. You just look at the way he’s been used, he plays power
play, penalty kill, reliable, but he puts pucks in the net, he makes plays, he
gets point. He plays a really all-around game. That’s what we’re going to
see.”
On the acquisition, Parise said, “It’s really exciting for us. It just gives you
the sense that they believe in the way we’ve been playing and they believe
in our team. Now it’s up to us to elevate our game even more. But just that
addition, it really gives us a good look and a lot of good, offensive players.”
Pominville has one more year left on a five-year, $26.5 million deal. That’s a
$5.3 million cap hit with $5.5 million in real salary next year.
Hackett, 23, was a third-round pick in 2009. In two years with the Wild, he
went 3-7 with a 2.64 goals against average.
Larsson, 20, a 2010 second-rounder who captained Sweden to gold at the
world juniors in January 2012, made his NHL debut earlier this season.
Coach Mike Yeo said he couldn’t speak until the trade was official.
“What I will say is I know that management has a lot of faith in this group
and right from Day One has always been very committed to doing whatever
we can to put a great product on the ice.”
On pulling Hackett and Larsson from the ice, Yeo said, “That is always a
tough part of it. It’s not an easy thing, for sure.
“Especially for young kids, you just don’t quite know what’s going on. I’m
able to say very little. Obviously we know it sure sounds like something is
going on.”
Darcy Kuemper has been recalled by the Wild and is on his way to San
Jose. Nate Prosser will likely have to play wing tonight.
The lines will be mix and match tonight. Charlie Coyle may begin to see
shifts at center because Pominville, whom I assume will debut tomorrow
night in Los Angeles, would skate with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu.
Tonight, Kyle Brodziak will center Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard will skate with Cal Clutterbuck. That was the line
Larsson was supposed to center tonight.
Star Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667809
Minnesota Wild
Heatley injured as Wild loses sloppily for third time in four games
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: April 4, 2013 - 1:18 AM
Coach Mike Yeo, after a very abbreviated 20-second press scrum,
indicated that Dany Heatley will out for awhile with what looked on replay to
be a left wrist injury after an altercation he had with San Jose Sharks
defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic after the game.
Vlasic, Heatley’s former teammate who had an ongoing battle with the
veteran much of the third period, got into it with Heatley in front of the
Sharks’ net in the final seconds after Vlasic cross-checked Heatley.
Vlasic slashed Heatley across the top of the back. Heatley got up and tried
to connect with his stick and missed. Vlasic then two-handed Heatley
across the forearm and jumped him. Vlasic got the shirt over top Heatley’s
head, lifted him and then violently one-last time drove him down to the ice.
That appears to be when Heatley got hurt. He skated to the exit in pain.
“He just swung at me and I swung at him,” Vlasic said. “He could have
easily hit me. I wasn’t intending to hurt him. I just wanted to slash him
because he took a swing at me and missed. He got me the shift before. If
he’s going to slash me, I’m going to defend myself and just swing back and
unfortunately I got him. I didn’t want to hurt him. If he’s going to slash me I
was just defending myself and swung back.
“… Unfortunately I got him in the wrist or shoulder. I’m not sure where I got
him. That was not my intent. My intent was just to defend myself.”
It was an ugly end to an ugly 4-2 loss for the Wild, which will need to call up
a forward from Houston with Heatley hurt for Thursday’s game at Los
Angeles. My assumption is it would be somebody like Jason Zucker, but we
will see.
I’d also assume Jason Pominville, who is expected to arrive in L.A. at 11
a.m., will debut. The Wild hasn’t officially said so yet.
I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but the Wild hasn’t had a full
practice in 7-10 days. I can’t even remember the last one. That’s what they
look like. Disjointed, out of sync, a mess.
“It’s been tough lately,” Niklas Backstrom said. “We have a system that
works. It’s just for us to get back to the details, shift after shift, do the right
things and for all the six guys to get out there, work together and do the
right things. We have to just rely on our system no matter what happens. It
works. We know it works. If we do it right, we won’t be in our zone and it’ll
help our game.”
The game was a mess before it even started.
Matt Cullen was injured. Johan Larsson was the callup to replace him. The
Wild then proceeded to trade Larsson and never brought up a forward as
insurance in the morning. Not sure why since rosters have expanded, but
the game started with defenseman Nate Prosser playing wing and four
brand new lines that certainly looked unaccustomed to playing together.
Yeo went back to Coyle on with Parise and Mikko Koivu in the second and
things started to look better.
Again, Pominville is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles on Thursday
morning at 11 a.m. PT. We should talk to him some time in the afternoon or
before the game. The Wild, right now, isn’t saying if he’ll debut because you
know they want to leave it up to him.
He’s a gamer. I can’t imagine he wouldn’t. Heck, Ryane Clowe, the man the
Wild missed on before turning its sights toward Pominville, took a red eye
from San Jose to New York and scored two goals and one assist in his
debut pounding of Pittsburgh tonight.
This morning, Yeo wasn’t able to talk about Pominville specifically because
the trade wasn’t official.
Before tonight’s game, Yeo said, “It’s a huge, huge vote of confidence by
[GM Chuck Fletcher] and the entire staff. It’s a message to this group that,
‘We believe in you.’ So now, let’s go.”
Yeo said much like the summer when owner Craig Leipold stepped up and
authorized Fletcher to sign Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to 13-year contract
totaling $196 million, Wednesday’s trade for Pominville proves “this is an
organization … [that is] extremely committed to winning. We’re not satisfied
with being good. We want to be great. That’s an important statement.”
But not a good game tonight for the Wild, which for the fourth consecutive
game gave up the game’s first goal and then fell behind 2-0 in an awful first
period that could have easily been 5-0. The Wild was making dubious
decisions in its own end, turned pucks over, took careless penalties. Ryan
Suter and Jonas Brodin had a tough go, and Clayton Stoner had one of the
most nightmarish games imaginable with turnovers, penalties, bad
decisions, turning pucks over and having the winning goal carom in off of
him.
Yeo said the Wild will explore the possibility of using Pominville on the point
on the No. 1 power-play unit, a slot he played in Buffalo. The other option is
Pominville replacing Kyle Brodziak in the slot as the net-front presence guy.
In the second, the Wild rallied on goals by Charlie Coyle and Heatley. But
then a nightmare shift started with Stoner doing a header into the end
boards. Later, Heatley fell, then Kyle Brodziak turned it over, then Heatley
didn’t get it out, then Jared Spurgeon turned it over. You can see bad
coming and it did when Joe Thornton centered a pass that deflected in off
Stoner’s leg.
By the way, the reality of pro sports. Larsson’s parents came from Sweden
to Houston this week to see their boy. He was then called up to San Jose.
He was then traded to Buffalo – with his parents in Houston.
The Wild’s momentum was doused and it came out with a poor third period.
“Just another bad start for us,” Zach Parise said. “It’s kind of been the
common theme the last while. Not good enough when you’re playing these
teams that … are doing everything they can and playing their best to try to
get in the playoffs, I think we expect easy games. Our starts are really
killing us.
“It’s mental for us, I think. Just mental lapses that we weren’t doing. A few
weeks ago, we weren’t making those. We were better prepared for games.
We make mental errors out there, and that’s what happens.”
Parise continued, saying, “We went on a good streak. When you do that,
we started to get too loose. Even when we did win our seventh and eighth
in a row, they weren’t great games. We were too loose. I think that’s carried
over. So we haven’t been ready to play. I don’t know how many games in a
row now we’ve given up the first goal and just not played very well in the
first period. It’s happed too much later.”
Yeo was brief, saying after he was just too fired up at the Heatley incident,
“It’s unfortunate. We played really hard. Things didn’t quite go our way,
especially early. But our guys kept playing hard. Definitely disappointing,
but we’ve got a game [Thursday] and we just have to bounce back.”
With Pominville going to the top line, Coyle may move to center, at least
until Matt Cullen returns from a lower-body injury. That’s why he started the
game there tonight – to get him used to it. Coyle, who has been playing
right wing, has played center throughout his life.
Larsson and Matt Hackett will report to Rochester, by the way.
Talk to you from Los Angeles.
Star Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667810
Minnesota Wild
Sloppy Wild loses 4-2 to Sharks; Heatley injured
Article by: MICHAEL RUSSO , Star Tribune
Updated: April 4, 2013 - 1:37 AM
SAN JOSE, CALIF. – The Wild, which hasn’t had a full practice in well more
than a week because of a heavy schedule, looked like it Wednesday night.
A short-lived rally from two goals down against the San Jose Sharks was
spoiled when the Wild began running around its own zone aimlessly and
turning pucks over en route to a 4-2 loss at the Shark Tank.
Not spurred at all by the Jason Pominville trade earlier in the day, the Wild,
which lost for the third time in four games, was a mess all night. The final
straw came less than four minutes after former Sharks draft pick Charlie
Coyle and Dany Heatley scored goals 25 seconds apart to get the Wild
back in a game it had no right to be in.
A remarkably bad shift started with Heatley falling and turning the puck
over. That was followed by a Kyle Brodziak turnover, then Heatley not
getting the puck out, then Jared Spurgeon coughing up the puck and finally
Joe Thornton’s centering feed being redirected behind Niklas Backstrom off
of defenseman Clayton Stoner.
It capped a nightmarish game by Stoner, one full of turnovers, penalties,
curious decisions and poor positioning.
The Wild got off to a horrible start, getting scored upon first for the fourth
consecutive game. The Sharks had a 2-0 lead by the intermission.
The Wild was lucky it wasn’t at least 5-0 because Patrick Marleau hit the
post, Ryan Suter, who had one of his worst games in weeks, stopped a
Brent Burns shot from trickling in and TJ Galiardi was denied on a
breakaway.
After the Sharks already took a 1-0 lead on former Wild Martin Havlat’s fifth
goal, Stoner, with nobody on him, airmailed a puck into the stands with
Brodziak already in the penalty box. That gave the Sharks a long 5-on-3,
and Dan Boyle, a defenseman, made a sick move around another
defenseman, Suter, after skating untouched coast to coast to slip a pretty
breakaway goal by Backstrom.
But the Wild started to slowly get the momentum back and tied the score on
goals by Coyle and Heatley.
However, after Thornton’s goal, it was all San Jose as the Wild again
looked disjointed in the third.
The game ended in ugly fashion when Heatley and former teammate MarcEdouard Vlasic, who were battling all night, got into a violent battle in front
of the San Jose net.
Vlasic two-handed Heatley across the arm and then jumped him to the ice.
Heatley skated in pain back to the Wild bench looking like he sustained an
upper-body injury.
Star Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667811
Minnesota Wild
Gameday preview: Wild-Los Angeles
Updated: April 3, 2013 - 11:39 PM
MICHAEL RUSSO
9:30 P.M. at Los ANgeles • staples center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild continues its three-game road trip against a team in beat
in a shootout, 4-3, last weekend. In that game, the Wild rallied from a 3-1
deficit. The Kings are coming off a 3-1 loss at Phoenix on Tuesday.
Players to watch: New Wild RW Jason Pominville wearing No. 29 on the
right wing of C Mikko Koivu and LW Zach Parise. He has scored 10 goals
and 25 points in 37 games for Buffalo this season. Koivu has scored 22
points in 23 games against the Kings. G Niklas Backstrom might get the
night off for Darcy Kuemper. Kings C Anze Kopitar has scored 23 points in
25 games against the Wild, while C Jarret Stoll has 20 points in 41 games.
C Jeff Carter leads the Western Conference with 20 goals.
Numbers: The Kings are the eighth-best offensive team in the NHL (2.86
goals per game) and 10th-best defensive team (2.47). … The Wild is 4-2 in
the second of back-to-backs this season. … The Wild is 20-15-10 all-time
vs. the Kings.
Injuries: Wild C Matt Cullen (lower body) and G Josh Harding (symptoms
related to multiple sclerosis) are out. Kings D Willie Mitchell (knee), D Matt
Greene (back) and LW Dustin Penner (lower body) are out.
Star Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667812
Minnesota Wild
Wild deals prospects, draft picks for Sabres captain Pominville
From there, the Wild is loaded with young talent, from developing
defenseman Marco Scandella, to forwards Brett Bulmer, Zack Phillips, Tyler
Graovac and Raphael Bussieres to college-level players Mario Lucia and
Erik Haula to Adam Gilmour and John Draeger.
It still has two hotshot young goalies with Darcy Kuemper and Johan
Gustafsson, who plans to come to North America next year.
Article by: MICHAEL RUSSO , Star Tribune
Updated: April 4, 2013 - 12:17 AM
SAN JOSE, CALIF. – Chuck Fletcher declared Wednesday afternoon,
“We’re no longer a seller,” and the Wild general manager certainly proved
that when he dug into his big bag of assets and spent a pretty penny to
acquire the Buffalo Sabres captain.
In a trade that was designed to propel an already confident team into the
playoffs, the Wild traded for Jason Pominville, a versatile 30-year-old right
winger who should parachute right onto the Wild’s top line.
In exchange for the six-time 20-goal scorer who has twice hit 30, the Wild
sent a large parcel to rebuilding Buffalo — prospects Johan Larsson and
Matt Hackett, a 2013 first-round draft pick and a 2014 second-round pick.
The Wild also received a 2014 fourth-rounder from Buffalo.
“Hey, we recognize that we paid a price,” Fletcher said, pointing out that
Pominville isn’t a rental (he has one year left on his deal at a $5.3 million
salary cap hit). “But as a franchise we’ve spent a lot of time accumulating
assets and trading for draft picks, and I think it’s a positive sign that as a
franchise we’re now trading prospects and picks to acquire players.
“Typically that means you’re moving in the right direction. There’s always a
balance. You can’t make these moves all the time. But if you never make
them, how do you get better?”
When Zach Parise found out the Wild traded for Pominville, he grew an earto-ear smile.
“Heck of a player. Heck of a player!” said Parise, who played on a line with
Pominville in the 2008 World Championships. “It’s really exciting for us. It
just gives you the sense that they believe in the way we’ve been playing
and they believe in our team. Now it’s up to us to elevate our game even
more.”
Solid all-around game
Pominville has scored 185 goals and 456 points in 578 NHL games. He’s
coming off a career-high 73 points last season, has scored 10 goals and 25
points in 37 games this year and has played all 82 games in five of his six
full seasons.
He’s a strong penalty killer, has a booming shot and gives the Wild a muchneeded right shot that can play the point on the top power-play unit.
“He’s a hard-working, 200-foot player, and like some of our other top
players, … not only is he talented, he’s got a hard-working mentality and a
high level of character,” Fletcher said.
Added former Gopher Thomas Vanek, Pominville’s star linemate in Buffalo,
“The Wild, they’re lucky. Just a smart, good hockey player who can adapt to
any situation and make his linemates better. He’s going to really help them.”
The Wild heavily pursued San Jose’s Ryane Clowe on Tuesday, but he
wanted to play in the East and chose the Rangers. The Wild then set its
sights on Pominville late Tuesday and into Wednesday.
The Sabres were looking to rebuild and asked Pominville for a list of eight
teams he didn’t want to go to. “Everything he represents as a player you
can multiply by a big number as a person,” Sabres GM Darcy Regier said.
Thursday debut?
Pominville couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday. The hope is that
he’ll make his Wild debut Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Larsson, one of three 2010 second-round picks and Sweden’s captain
when it won the gold medal at last year’s world juniors, was considered a
top prospect and a big loss. The first-round pick is obviously significant, too.
But the way the Wild justifies the price, the foundation of the franchise is in
place for years with top-liners Parise and Mikko Koivu, No. 1 defenseman
Ryan Suter, cornerstone forwards Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker and Mikael
Granlund and blue-chip defensemen Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba.
In other words, Fletcher felt the Wild could afford the hefty price for
Pominville.
“We have plenty of assets in the cupboard and plenty of talented, young
players at every position,” Fletcher said. “At times you’ve got to dip into that
pool of talent that you’ve accumulated and pay some assets to get, in this
case, an All-Star NHL player.”
Star Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667813
Minnesota Wild
Trade sends vote of confidence to Wild players
Article by: MICHAEL RUSSO , Star Tribune
Updated: April 3, 2013 - 9:47 PM
SAN JOSE, CALIF – Mike Yeo was late getting on the ice Wednesday
morning, and it came after assistant coach Rick Wilson tapped youngsters
Johan Larsson and Matt Hackett on the shoulder to go see the Wild head
coach.
When Yeo finally met with his players at center-ice, he wasn’t allowed to tell
them yet that the Wild had acquired Buffalo Sabres captain Jason
Pominville. The trade was not yet official.
“They were giddy, you could tell,” Yeo said. “It was guys shooting on an
empty net in practice. Normally they’d be probably not thrilled with that. But
they knew something good was up. It’s a huge, huge vote of confidence by
[Genera Manager Chuck Fletcher] and the entire staff.
“It’s a message to this group that, ‘We believe in you.’ So now, let’s go.”
Yeo said much like the summer when owner Craig Leipold stepped up and
authorized Fletcher to sign Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to 13-year
contracts totaling $196 million, Wednesday’s trade for Pominville proves
“this is an organization … [that is] extremely committed to winning. We’re
not satisfied with being good. We want to be great. That’s an important
statement.”
Yeo also is downright giddy to have so many weapons now. Pominville
likely will debut Thursday against the Kings on the top line with Parise and
captain Mikko Koivu. That puts three former or current captains on one line.
Yeo said Pominville brings “speed, skill, competitiveness, and as much as
anything else, this is a quality person, a character guy. Much of what we’ve
been trying to do around here is making sure that we not only have talented
players, players that fit the way we want to play the game, but people that
you want to be around and go to war with.”
Yeo said the Wild will explore the possibility of using Pominville on the point
on the No. 1 power-play unit, a slot he played in Buffalo. The other option is
Pominville replacing Kyle Brodziak in the slot as the net-front presence guy.
With Pominville going to the top line, rookie Charlie Coyle might move to
center, at least until Matt Cullen returns from a lower-body injury. Coyle,
who had been playing right wing, has played center throughout his life and
took most his shifts at center in Wednesday’s game against the Sharks.
Etc.
• While the Wild players on the ice were “giddy” Wednesday morning, it was
a contrast to what Yeo had to do moments before stepping on the ice.
He had to inform Larsson and Hackett that they had been traded to the
Sabres.
“That is always the tough part of it,” Yeo said. “It’s not an easy thing, for
sure. Especially for young kids, you just don’t quite know what’s going on.”
Larsson and Hackett were to fly back to Houston to get their belongings,
then report to AHL Rochester.
• With Larsson gone, defenseman Nate Prosser played wing Wednesday
night. With Hackett gone, goalie Darcy Kuemper was recalled.
• The Wild also acquired Anaheim Ducks goalie Jeff Deslauriers for future
considerations because it needed a goalie for Houston.
• Right winger Torrey Mitchell, a longtime Shark who signed a three-year
deal with Minnesota last summer, returned to San Jose for the first time and
played right wing with Koivu and Parise. Koivu, by the way, was sporting a
nasty shiner and cut under his left eye from Monday’s uncalled first-period
high stick from St. Louis’ Chris Stewart.
• Defenseman Brett Clark was scratched for Justin Falk.
Star Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667814
Minnesota Wild
Former Minnesota Wild star Marian Gaborik traded to Columbus
Associated Press
Posted: 04/03/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT
Updated: 04/03/2013 04:55:42 PM CDT
NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers traded slumping forward Marian
Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, April 3, just before
the NHL's afternoon trade deadline.
In return, the Rangers got center Derick Brassard, right wing Derek Dorsett
and defenseman John Moore.
Gaborik, 31, who spent his first eight seasons in the NHL playing for the
Minnesota Wild, waived a no-movement clause in order to allow the deal to
be completed.
It was the second big trade for the playoff-hopeful Rangers in two days. On
Tuesday night, the New York acquired forward Ryane Clowe from the San
Jose Sharks for a package of three draft picks.
Gaborik has been disappointing this season, his fourth with the Rangers, as
he has only nine goals and 19 points in 35 games while shuttling between
various lines. He didn't score in his final five games with New York and
notched only two goals and five assists in the past 22.
Gaborik had two 40-goal campaigns in three-plus seasons after signing with
the Rangers as a free agent in July 2009. He netted 42 goals in 2009-10
and 41 last season when he played in all 82 games. He was limited to 22
goals and 62 games in the 2010-11 season because of injury.
Gaborik had six goals and seven assists in 25 playoff games with New York
over two years, including last season when the Rangers reached the
Eastern Conference finals. Gaborik was hampered by a shoulder injury
during the playoffs that required surgery during the offseason.
Including
his eight seasons with the Wild, Gaborik has 333 goals and 333 assists in
757 career NHL games.
The deal will give the Rangers much-needed salary relief. Gaborik carries a
$7.5 million cap hit this season and next, the final year of his contract. The
added flexibility could help New York re-sign the newly acquired Clowe,
who can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The Rangers entered play Wednesday in ninth place in the Eastern
Conference, two points behind area rivals New Jersey and the New York
Islanders, who currently hold the final two playoff positions. The Rangers
have 13 games remaining.
Columbus also has its sights on the playoffs, sitting in 11th place in the
Western Conference but only one point below the postseason cutoff. The
Blue Jackets have qualified for the playoffs only once in their first 11 NHL
seasons -- losing in the first round in 2009.
Pioneer Press LOADED: 04.04.2013
667815
Minnesota Wild
He'll take Charlie Coyle's spot on the top line. Coyle, a winger who has
played center, took some faceoffs Wednesday night and may see more
action there until Matt Cullen returns from a lower-body injury.
Minnesota Wild pick up Jason Pominville in trade with Buffalo
Yeo said he told the players of a possible move at Wednesday's morning
skate.
By Chad Graff
"They seemed giddy," he said. "We love the message it sends as much as
anything. It's a message that says, 'We believe in you.' "
Posted: 04/03/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT
Updated: 04/03/2013 08:57:22 PM CDT
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Wild are all-in this season.
Forget about stockpiling prospects and certainly forget about windowshopping at the deadline.
The Wild on Wednesday, April 3, made one of the biggest deals on the day
of the NHL trade deadline, acquiring Buffalo Sabres captain Jason
Pominville in a deal that sent two of Minnesota's top prospects and two high
draft picks to Buffalo.
In return for the 30-year-old winger, who was an all-star last season, and a
fourth-round pick in 2014, Minnesota parted with goalie Matt Hackett, 23,
forward Johan Larsson, 20, and its first-round draft pick in 2013 and
second-round selection in 2014.
"We paid a significant price," general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "We
certainly paid full value, and that's to be expected when you're acquiring a
top player and dealing with a very smart general manager on the other
side."
Pominville will join the Wild's top line, playing alongside Mikko Koivu and
Zach Parise. He will also probably see time on the power play, where he
has run the point in the past, and the penalty kill.
"We'll definitely explore that possibility," coach Mike Yeo said. "He seemed
very excited. Obviously, there is a lot of emotion involved so there are other
factors involved, but he seems extremely excited to be joining this group
and to be part of what we think can be a great year. And he's heard great
things about the city and the fans."
Pominville posted a career-high 80 points in the 2007-08
season and has averaged 63 points in the four NHL seasons since then.
His 10 goals and 15 assists this season would have him on pace for 55
points in an 82-game season.
Fletcher praised him after the deal as a two-way forward with a mentality
similar to that of many Wild players.
"He's a player that plays 200 feet," Fletcher said. "He's as strong
defensively as he is offensively. His skill set and his mind-set is very similar
to a lot of guys on our team in that he takes a lot of pride in his overall game
and he's a two-way contributor and a great character guy. The more people
you add like that to your group, the stronger you become."
Pominville has another year left on his five-year, $26.5 million deal. That
contract will come with a $5.3 million cap hit next season. With the addition
of his contract, the Wild are projected to finish the season just $295,165
under the cap.
"We're obviously monitoring that situation every day, and we're pretty aware
of where we are and what we need to do," Fletcher said. "It's one of the
challenges to this job, but we're certainly glad we were able to accumulate
enough space to make this trade."
Hackett, a goalie, and Larsson, a winger, were widely regarded as two of
the Wild's top-10 prospects.
Hackett was a third-round selection in 2009 and appeared in his first game
of the season March 29, surrendering five goals in a loss to Dallas. Larsson
was taken in the second round of the 2010 draft and appeared in one game
for the Wild this season, registering two shots and no points in 14:02 of ice
time in a mid-February win over Detroit.
Goalie Darcy Kuemper was called up from the AHL Houston Aeros to fill
Hackett's roster spot. He joined the Wild in San Jose.
Pominville is set to join the Wild in Los Angeles on Thursday, but Yeo did
not say whether he would play.
Pioneer Press LOADED: 04.04.2013
667816
Minnesota Wild
"We played really hard and things just didn't go our way -- especially early,"
coach Mike Yeo said.
Minnesota Wild's rally goes for naught in loss to Sharks
Martin Havlat started San Joseâ's scoring just 1:34 in on a one-timer from
the left circle off the stick of Thornton.
By Chad Graff
Four minutes later, defenseman Dan Boyle skated 200 feet untouched to
score seconds into a San Jose 5-on-3. He put a nice move on Suter at the
blue line and finished the breakaway with a backhand.
Posted: 04/04/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT
Updated: 04/04/2013 01:19:42 AM CDT
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A 10-man skirmish broke out in front of the net, Dany
Heatley skated off the ice alone and in pain, and Clayton Stoner singled out
San Jose players with the end of his stick.
And that was all after the game ended.
The Minnesota Wild overcame an atrocious first period and an early two
goal deficit, but then surrendered two more unanswered goals and fell to
the San Jose Sharks in a fiery battle here at the HP Pavilion 4-2.
Heatley was cross checked, then slashed, then shoved to the ice by MarcEdouard Vlasic in front of the net as time expired. Heatley skated away
holding his left arm while pushing and shoving continued. Vlasic received a
game misconduct and a five minute penalty for slashing following the
completion of the game.
"I wasn't intending to hurt him," Vlasic said. "I just wanted to slash him
because he took a swing at me and missed. He got me the shift before. If
he's going to slash me, I'm going to defend myself and just swing back and
unfortunately I got him."
It was the first time the Wild have lost back-to-back regulation games since
Feb. 7.
"I think that was more frustration than trying to send a message or anything
like that," Zach Parise said of the post-game antics.
The Wild play here again in two weeks.
Heatley's game-tying goal midway through the second meant little after Joe
Thornton threw a puck off Stoner and into the back of the net for what
proved to be the game-winner.
Heatley, Kyle Brodziak
and Jared Spurgeon all had chances to clear the zone before Thornton
scored, but were unable to against San Jose's top line and the Sharks
made them pay. Thornton threw a shot toward the net that was headed
wide against a tired Wild unit, but knocked off Stoner's leg and past Niklas
Backstrom.
TJ Galiardi provided third period insurance when he got enough of the puck
to direct it into the net at the doorstop. Scott Gomez unleashed a shot from
the point that was deflected before making its way toward Backstrom and
eventually found Galiardiââ â-2/3¢s tape.
"It's mental for us I think," Parise said. "Just mental lapses that we weren't
doing a few weeks ago. We were better prepared for games."
The unanswered goals came after the Wild netted two of its own within 25
seconds of each other in the second period to knot the game at 2-2.
Charlie Coyle got the Minnesota scoring started tapping in a Parise bid after
the two entered the zone together with a pretty give-and-go. Parise threw a
wrister on net from the circle that squeezed under Sharks goalie Antti
Niemi's shoulder and sat in the crease where Coyle found it and shoved it
in.
On the next shift, Heatley fired a seeing-eye bomb from above the left circle
that made its way through traffic in front of the net and past Niemi.
But in the first period, the Wild played like a team hungover from the
excitement of acquiring Jason Pominville earlier in the day.
The Wild were out-worked and out-shot in the initial frame, but somehow
only trailed 2-0 heading into the second. It easily could have been 5-0.
San Jose hit a post behind Backstrom, Ryan Suter cleared a puck in the
crease headed for the net, and Backstrom poked away a breakaway bid to
keep the game within striking distance.
"I think we started to get too loose," Parise said. "You could tell even when
we did win our seventh and eighth in a row, they weren't great games. And I
think thatâ's carried over. We haven't been ready to play."
Pioneer Press LOADED: 04.04.2013
667817
Montreal Canadiens
In the Habs' Room: 'Flyers played hard'
By Pat Hickey, The Gazette April 4, 2013 3:04 AM
PHILADELPHIA — Carey Price said the Philadelphia Flyers scored four
"lucky goals" but he made it clear that he wasn't using that as an excuse for
the Canadiens' 5-3 loss to the Flyers Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo
Center.
"They got four pretty lucky goals in my opinion, but I don't think we played
well enough to win regardless of the bounces," Price said. "I think we
definitely could have played better collectively as a group, but you can't play
perfect every game."
Erik Gustafsson, who was credited with the winning goal, would agree that
the Flyers were on the right end of the bounces. He was trying to pass the
puck into the crease but the puck was deflected into the net by Montreal
defenceman Francis Bouillon to give the Flyers a 4-3 lead at 16:24 of the
third period.
"I was going to shoot the puck but somebody jumped into the shooting
lane," said Gustafsson, whose goal was only the second of his career. "I
saw (Matt) Read and Jakub (Voracek) in front and I just tried to get the puck
to them and we got a lucky bounce."
Coach Michel Therrien also thought the bounces weren't that large a factor.
"We didn't match their intensity," he said. "It's simple, they deserved to win.
If you only have six shots on net in the second and third periods, you're not
going to win many games.
"The (Flyers) played well, they played hard," Therrien added. "They threw
pucks at the net and they were rewarded."
One important factor in the loss was an injury to Tomas Plekanec, who left
the game early in the second period after playing only 7:14.
"As soon as we lost Plekanec, we lost our focus and we weren't capable of
getting it back," Therrien said.
The coach confirmed that Plekanec suffered a groin injury and, while
Therrien described the injury as day-to-day, it's unlikely he'll face the
Winnipeg Jets Thursday night. And he's questionable for Saturday's key
Northeast Division showdown against the Boston Bruins.
"He's a big part of our team in every situation," said David Desharnais, who
noted that he had a little bit of luck in his go-ahead goal in the second
period. "A couple of guys have to step and we didn't tonight."
"It's always tough to lose a player of his calibre," captain Brian Gionta said.
"But before we lost him, we were struggling and we never seemed to get
our rhythm."
While the Canadiens managed only six shots over the final two periods,
they scored twice in a 21-second span in the second period to take a 3-2
lead. But they failed to take momentum from that outburst.
There were some encouraging moments in the game. The Canadiens'
penalty-killing unit killed off three Philadelphia power plays and now has
gone three games without giving up a power-play goal.
Therrien said Price was a key component in the penalty kill and he said the
goaltender was "our best player."
Defenceman Davis Drewiske made his debut and played a solid game,
although he did give Read too much room on the winning goal. Drewiske
played 15:31 and registered a hit and two blocked shots.
The Canadiens missed a chance to bolster their lead over Boston in the
Northeast Division and move closer to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their
battle for first place in the Eastern Conference. But Desharnais didn't have
time to dwell on the missed opportunity.
"We have a game tomorrow and we have to start thinking about that," he
said.
Read more:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Habs+Room+Flyers+played+hard/8
192162/story.html#ixzz2PUNSPJBH
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667818
Montreal Canadiens
Flyers post comeback win over Habs
By Pat Hickey, The Gazette April 4, 2013
PHILADELPHIA — Eric Gustafsson's pass through the crease went off
Montreal defenceman Francis Bouillon at 16:24 of the third period to snap a
3-3 tie as the Philadelphia Flyers rallied to defeat the Canadiens 5-3
Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center. Wayne Simmonds scored at
14:54 of the third period to spark the comeback for the Flyers, who outshot
the Canadiens 26-6 over the final two periods.
Explosive comeback: The Canadiens stunned the Flyers with two goals in a
21-second span to take a 3-2 lead in the second period. After Simon Gagné
gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead at 15:43 of the second period, Brandon Prust
tied the score at 16:29 and David Desharnais put the Canadiens ahead at
16:49 with a blast that had Flyers' goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov ducking for
cover.
The game might have been a costly one; Tomas Plekanec left the game in
the second period with a lower-body injury.
Missed chance: The loss left the Canadiens with a one-point edge over
Boston in the Northeast Division race and the idle Bruins once again enjoy
a game in hand. The Canadiens are five points behind first-place Pittsburgh
in the Eastern Conference standings and Montreal has played two fewer
games. The Flyers moved to within four points of a playoff spot despite
being in the basement of the Atlantic division.
Emelin delivers: Alexei Emelin scored on a harmless-looking wrist shot from
inside the blue line to open the scoring at 13:13 of the first period. Rookie
Brendan Gallagher was the unsung hero on the goal as he screened
Bryzgalov on the play.
Unlucky bounces: Sean Couturier tied the game at 1-1 when he got two
fortunate bounces. His shot from a sharp angle struck Price on the wrist
and caromed into the net off P.K. Subban's skate blade.
Fight night in Philly: The start of the second period resembled a game in the
Ligue nord-americaine de hockey. Wayne Simmons and Travis Moen
dropped the gloves at 2:13 and Brandon Prust tangled with Zac Rinaldo two
seconds later. There was another scrap in the third period with Claude
Girioux taking on Lars Eller.
Good news, bad news: Defenceman Raphael Diaz, who has been out with
a concussion, has been cleared to skate and joined Rene Bourque on the
ice in Brossard Wednesday. But there's no good news for winger Colby
Armstrong, whose lower-body injury involves his right knee. Coach Michel
Therrien said he hopes Armstrong will be back for the playoffs.
Future watch: University of North Dakota forward Danny Kristo will join the
Hamilton Bulldogs after signing a two-year entry-level deal Wednesday.
Chicoutimi's Charles Hudon and Swede Sebastian Collberg also are
expected to join the Bulldogs in the next week,.
What's next: Peter Budaj's parents will be part of the sellout crowd at the
Bell Centre Thursday night (7:30 p.m., TSN-Habs, RDS, TSN-690 Radio)
when he gets the start for the Canadiens against the Winnipeg Jets. The
Boston Bruins and the Canadiens resume their battle for first place in the
Northeast Division Saturday night, also at the Bell Centre.
phickey@montrealgazette.com
Read more:
http://www.canada.com/sports/Flyers+post+comeback+over+Habs/819197
3/story.html#ixzz2PUNWRfbc
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667819
Montreal Canadiens
Bergevin talked trade, for naught
As for Kristo, Bergevin said he had a very good season at university.
“He’s a prospect, he’s a young player with talent and we’ll develop him and
we’ll see where it leads.”
Inevitably, Habs’ fans will wonder if the team has enough size and grit to go
deep into the playoffs.
By Brenda Branswell, The Gazette April 3, 2013
Asked if he viewed the Canadiens as a Stanley Cup contender, Bergevin
said he sees the team as one that has put itself in a good position to make
the playoffs.
MONTREAL — Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said there were
lots of phone calls and conversations on Wednesday.
“Anything is possible once you make the playoffs,” Bergevin said.
But by the much ballyhooed National Hockey League trade deadline at 3
p.m. there were no new faces added to the Canadiens’ roster.
“We won the President’s Trophy when I was in St. Louis, we lost in the first
round. So (in the) playoffs, anything is possible.”
The only press release from the Canadiens on Wednesday came 10
minutes after the trade deadline when the team announced it had signed
forward Danny Kristo to a two-year deal. Kristo, who scored 26 goals and
picked up 26 assists this season with the University of North Dakota, will
report to the Habs’ farm club, the Hamilton Bulldogs. The Canadiens
selected the 5-foot-11 Kristo in the second round of the 2008 NHL entry
draft.
“It’s not a period where you have two days to make trades,” Bergevin said
of Wednesday’s deadline.
The trading period started two months ago, and the Canadiens did add
pieces to the team during that time frame.
They looked around again on Wednesday.
“But at the end of the day we’re proud of where we are,” Bergevin told
reporters.
Their goal is to make the playoffs and they’re in good position to do so, he
added.
The team went into last night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers in
second place in the Eastern Conference with a 23-7-5 record.
Bergevin’s biggest trade was in late February when the Canadiens sent Erik
Cole to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Michael Ryder. The team recently
picked up forward Jeff Halpern off waivers from the New York Rangers and
acquired a depth defenceman, Davis Drewiske, on Tuesday from the Los
Angeles Kings.
“The last two months there have been a lot of conversations, kicking tires
and looking at how can you make your team better,” Bergevin said.
“We added a piece (Tuesday) that we felt the price was right and that Davis
(Drewiske) could come and help us. So the strategy has not changed. We
have a plan and it’s to make the Montreal Canadiens better for years to
come. I think we have a good core. We have some good young players with
a good mix of veterans. We’ve got guys coming through the system that
we’re developing and making better. So overall I’m pretty satisfied with the
direction the hockey club has been taking.”
Bergevin said he wouldn’t go into detail about who the Canadiens did or
didn’t try to go after. They always tried to put the ingredients in place to help
the team, he said, but “there are big prices to pay and often there are a lot
of teams that aren’t ready to do that.”
Bergevin said he definitely didn’t want to lose good young players. The
team also held onto its six draft picks, which Bergevin said he believes are
in the first 90 picks of the NHL entry draft.
While he values draft choices a lot and believes they’re how you build a
team for years to come, Bergevin also said nothing is set in stone.
“If at some point down the road I feel that I have to move ... a high pick to
get something that I feel is going to help the club at the time, I’ll do that.
“But in this case I felt that what was (asked) in return was too much and I
want to make sure we kept those picks.”
Bergevin contends you can never have enough defencemen, especially if
you’re going to make the playoffs. He said he had planned to make a move
if there was someone available where he felt the price was right, which was
the case with Drewiske.
“He’s a stay-at-home defenceman. He’s a decent size, he’s got a great
stick, kills penalties, blocks shots,” and can handle good ice time, Bergevin
said.
Read more:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Bergevin+talked+trade+naught/819
1825/story.html#ixzz2PUNbgRgi
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667820
Montreal Canadiens
‘I like the chemistry on this team’: Therrien
By Pat Hickey, The Gazette April 3, 2013
PHILADELPHIA — Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin and head
coach Michel Therrien like their team.
If there was any doubt about that, it was erased when the Canadiens were
content to limit themselves to a minor tweak as the National Hockey League
trade deadline came and went on Wednesday afternoon.
With only a handful of teams willing to acknowledge they were sellers, the
annual swap shop was quieter than usual and the silence in Montreal was
deafening.
The Canadiens did pick up journeyman defenceman Davis Drewiske from
Los Angeles on Tuesday in return for a fifth-round draft pick. But they
weren’t in the running for higher-profile talent such as Jaromir Jagr, Ryane
Clowe, Robin Regehr or Jay Bouwmeester because the price was too high
and/or the players weren’t interested in coming to Montreal.
“I like the chemistry on this team,” Therrien said Wednesday in the hours
leading up to the Canadiens’ game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
And why not? While there are still concerns about size and toughness, the
Canadiens have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and
Bergevin has deftly positioned the team for next season — and beyond.
That’s why Drewiske was the perfect fit at the deadline. He has size at 6foot-2 and 224 pounds, a reputation for hard work and a minimal cap hit of
$625,000.
Over the past three months, the Canadiens have auditioned youngsters
Greg Pateryn, Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu, and they all played well
enough that the Canadiens feel they have a bright future on the blue line.
Drewiske offers one thing the youngsters don’t — experience — but he’s
the ultimate short-term rental. He’s in the top six now, but will drop a notch
when Raphael Diaz returns from a concussion. The good news Wednesday
was that Diaz joined Rene Bourque on the ice in Brossard and — barring a
setback — should be back before the playoffs.
Getting Bourque back will be akin to adding a gritty forward and Bergevin
did make some deals earlier in this shortened season. The GM was a clear
winner when he sent Erik Cole to Dallas for Michael Ryder, and waiver
pickup Jeff Halpern has provided the Canadiens with a valuable addition on
the penalty-kill and in the faceoff circle.
There were some notable deals Wednesday, but Roberto Luongo remains
in Vancouver and Miikka Kiprusoff will retire as a Calgary Flame. The most
prominent moves involving goaltenders saw former rookie-of-the-year Steve
Mason go to the Philadelphia Flyers, while 6-foot-7 Ben Bishop leaves the
goalie logjam in Ottawa and goes to Tampa for 5-foot-8 forward Cory
Conacher. Goaltending has been a major concern in both Philly and Tampa
Bay, but neither player figures to be an upgrade on what the teams have
now.
The most aggressive team was the Pittsburgh Penguins, the only team
ahead of the Canadiens in the East. The Penguins added Jarome Iginla,
Brenden Morrow and Douglas Murray last week and topped the tank
Wednesday with the addition of Jussi Jokinen from Carolina. That should
help them weather the storm while Sidney Crosby recovers from a broken
jaw.
The Boston Bruins, who are at the Bell Centre Saturday, added veteran
Jaromir Jagr and defenceman Wade Redden, but the big news in Beantown
is that Patrice Bergeron is out indefinitely with another concussion.
The New York Rangers picked up Ryane Clowe, who was a disappointment
in San Jose, and traded Marian Gaborik, who was an overpriced
disappointment in New York.
Gaborik went to Columbus, which is only one point out of a playoff spot in
the Western Conference. The word “buyer” isn’t usually associated with the
Blue Jackets, but Columbus also added Blake Comeau.
phickey@montrealgazette.com
Read more:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/like+chemistry+this+team+Therrien/
8191291/story.html#ixzz2PUNgn3V2
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667821
Montreal Canadiens
Current and former stars will shine at first Habathon
By Dave Stubbs, The Gazette April 3, 2013
MONTREAL — Eight current members of the Canadiens, three Hall of
Famers, a player famous for driving a stake through the heart of the 197879 Boston Bruins and a talented two-way star of his era will assemble at
Place Vertu mall in St. Laurent on Sunday to sign autographs for fans at the
first Habathon.
Half of all funds raised will be donated to the Montreal Canadiens Children’s
Foundation.
Last April 7, the Canadiens were playing their 82nd and final game of the
2012-13 season, eliminated from the playoffs. One year later, Montreal is
flushed with Habs fever, the club headed toward the postseason in this
lockout-shortened campaign.
From roughly 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Canadiens Carey Price, Max
Pacioretty, Josh Gorges, P.K. Subban, Travis Moen, Ryan White, Jeff
Halpern and rookie Brendan Gallagher will meet fans and sign autographs.
Featured from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be Hall of Famers Henri Richard, Yvan
Cournoyer and Guy Lafleur. They’ll be joined by the gregarious Yvon
Lambert, who scored the Game 7 semifinal overtime winner against Boston
in the famous too-many-men game, and Bobby Rousseau, an important
part of the Habs of the 1960s.
Combined, the former Canadiens won 34 Stanley Cups — 11 for Richard,
10 for Cournoyer, five for Lafleur and four each for Lambert and Rousseau.
A silent auction of Habs memorabilia will also take place on site.
Details of the event and pricing:
Legends: A $24 general-session ticket will provide fans with an 8x10 photo
of the Montreal Forum that will be signed by the former Canadiens.
For an additional $20, fans can have a personal item autographed by a
combination of Lafleur and Lambert, or Cournoyer and Rousseau, or
Richard and a former player to be announced.
Current Canadiens: A $31 general-session ticket buys an 8x10 photo of the
Bell Centre, to be signed by all eight current players.
Personal-item combinations will be $31 for Price and Moen; and $30 for
Subban and Halpern, or Pacioretty and White, or Gorges and Gallagher.
A $49 ticket will provide access to both general sessions.
Fans are invited to bring their cameras, but there will not be an opportunity
to have photos taken with the players, given the number of people expected
to attend.
Also offered will be a VIP package for $499, which will provide front-of-theline access for two people for signings of Forum and Bell Centre photos and
two personal items by all current and former players on hand, as well as a
photo opportunity with all Canadiens in attendance.
Note that the appearance of players is subject to change in the event of
illness or injury.
Read more:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Current+former+stars+will+shine+fir
st+Habathon/8191263/story.html#ixzz2PUNkUc00
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667822
Montreal Canadiens
About last night …
While the Canadiens attempt to get back on the winning track against
Winnipeg – probably without Plekanec and Pacioretty – the Bruins will be
playing the Devils in Boston. Then the Bruins are at the Bell Centre
Saturday night.
It’s a tough week, and the schedule may be taking a toll. On L’Antichambre,
Michel Bergeron suggested fatigue was a factor in Philadelphia.
Posted by Mike Boone
It makes me nervous when the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens
is thinking the same way as I about his team.
At 4 p.m. on trade deadline day, Marc Bergevin was talking about why he
hadn’t made any major moves.
The GM’s goal, when the truncated NHL season began, was making the
playoffs.
And although they haven’t clinched a postseason spot, Bergevin’s team will
be playing hockey in May.
I view my team as a team that put themselves in a good position to make
the playoffs,” Bergevin said.
The GM didn’t say so, but anything else is gravy. He’s playing with house
money.
Bergevin talked about building “a good team for years to come” – a plan
that made him reluctant to part with young prospects and/or draft choices.
Six hours later, the Canadiens were licking their wounds – figuratively and
literally – after a 5-3 spanking in Philadelphia.
And back in Montreal, the Winnipeg Jets, who play the Canadiens at the
Bell Centre Thursday night, were watching the game and licking their
chops.
Andrew Ladd and Evander Kane probably paid particular attention to the
ease with which Scott Hartnell and Wayne Simmonds moved their big
bodies into Carey Price’s kitchen. The Flyers net-crashers were
unencumbered by any Canadiens defenceman – least of all by Andrei
Markov and Alexei Emelin. Nor did newcomer David Drewiske impress me
as someone who’s going to do much crease-clearing.
(Props to Josh Gorges: He wasn’t on for any Philadelphia goals. But his D
partner has had better nights … up to and including the mistake that led to
Voracek’s empoty-netter.)
The Jets also may have noted the performance of Lars Eller, who was on
for every Philadelphia goal except Jakub Voracek’s empty-netter. Eller was
minus-4 and went 1-6 in the faceoff circle.
Eller was attempting to fill in for Tomas Plekanec, who left the game early in
the second period. Plekanec sustained a groin injury and is listed as day-today.
He wasn’t the game’s only casualty. Max Pacioretty took a shot off his left
ankle. No word on whether he’ll be able to play against Winnipeg.
In his postgame remarks, Michel Therrien said the Canadiens “didn’t match
the intensity level” of the Flyers. The coach said six shots in 40 minutes –
the Canadiens had four in the second period, two in the third – weren’t
enough to win many hockey games.
Certainly not this one.
Trailing 3-2 after 55 minutes, their shot advantage notwithstanding, the
Flyers kept up the pressure until the Canadiens inevitably wilted. Carey
Price had kept them in the game up to that point, making several brilliant
stops and being victimized by a few bad bounces.
The Flyers played with more desperation. They are 11th in the Eastern
Conference. And if the Flyers were scoreboard watching, they would have
noted a big win by the Rangers, who are one of the teams Philadelphia will
have to catch in order to make the playoffs.
A win by the Canadiens would have put them three points behind faltering
Pittsburgh for the Eastern Conference lead. And they have two games in
hand on the Penguins.
The loss left the Canadiens one point ahead of Boston, with the Bruins
holding a game in hand.
“They’re a small team,” the diminutive former Nordiques/Rangers coach
added. “Small teams get tired.”
Tired and slow. On the same telecast, Gaston Therrien said in order to win
games, the Canadiens have to be faster than their opponents. They were
not faster than the Flyers, rarely getting to loose pucks ahead of a
Philadelphia defence depleted by the loss of Andrej Meszaros, Braydon
Coburn and, of course, Chris Pronger.
Playing on the day his team traded for Steve Mason, Ilya Bryzgalov looked
beatable. But the Canadiens couldn’t muster any sustained pressure to test
him.
One positive note: the Canadiens’ penalty-killers were a perfect 3-for-3
against a Flyers power play that is, statistically, the league’s best. But with
three chances, the Canadiens’ PP was impotent as well.
Did the two stupid staged fights affect the outcome?
The pugilists got the Philadelphia crowd going. But I didn’t see a definitive
momentum swing.
The Flyers won because they were hungrier. They wanted the game more,
and the Flyers’ in-your-face style – exemplified by Hartnell and Simmonds –
carried the day.
So do you suppose Marc Bergevin cried himself to sleep wishing he’d
traded the Canadiens’ first-round draft choice for Ryan Clowe?
I doubt it. The general manager takes the long view, and his vision of the
Canadiens’ future was not clouded by what transpired at the Wells fargo
Center.
There are, however, short term challenges.
Tomas Plekanec is one of the players – Carey Price and P.K. Subban are
the others – the Canadiens can’t win without. Pleks does so much – plays
against the other team’s best centre, kills penalties, wins crucial faceoffs,
plays on the PP.
If Plekanec is out for a while, the team is in trouble.
But maybe you can say the same about Boston without Patrice Bergeron.
And speaking of recalls from Hamilton – which we weren’t – the Bulldogs
are in Texas.
So Gabriel Dumont – and maybe Michäel Bournival – will have an
interesting day of travel to face the Jets in Montreal.
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667823
Montreal Canadiens
No trades for Habs, but team signs prospect Danny Kristo
Posted by Stu Cowan
The NHL trade deadline passed at 3 p.m. Wednesday without the
Canadiens making a deal.
General manager Marc Bergevin did announce the signing of forward
Danny Kristo to a two-year contract (2012-13 and 2013-14). He will report
to the American Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs.
Bergevin met with the media at 4 p.m. in Brossard, telling reporters: “The
trading period started three months ago for us.”
“For me, what happens in the room is as important as what happens on the
ice,” Bergevin added. “Now, we have a great chemistry in the dressing
room.”
The GM added that he held a lot of conversations with other teams over the
last two months, “kicking tires and looking at how can you make your team
better.”
He added: “We added a piece yesterday that we felt the price was right and
that Davis (Drewiske) could come and help us. So strategy has not
changed. We have a plan and it’s to make the Montreal Canadiens better
for years to come. I think we have a good core. We have some good young
players with a good mix of veterans. We’ve got guys coming through the
system that we’re developing and making better, so overall I’m pretty
satisfied with the direction the hockey club has been taking.”
Asked if he viewed the Canadiens as a Stanley Cup contender, Bergevin
said he sees the team as one that has put itself in a good position to make
the playoffs.
“Anything is possible once you make the playoffs,” he said. “We won the
President’s Trophy when I was in St. Louis, we lost in the first round. So in
the playoffs, anything is possible.”
Kristo, a native of Edina, Minn., was selected by the Canadiens in the
second round (56th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
In 40 games with North Dakota University this season, Kristo posted 26-2652 totals and was plus-17. He finished tied for second in the NCAA in goals
and points, and tied for third in the NCAA with six winning goals. He is one
of 10 finalists for the 2013 Hobey Baker Memorial Award honouring college
hockey’s top player.
You can watch Bergevin’s press conference by clicking here.
NHL Trade Deadline 2013 coverage, montrealgazette.com
Blue Jackets get Gaborik from Rangers, NHL.com
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667824
Montreal Canadiens
Price burns 2,336 calories in a game; Drewiske will face Flyers
Posted by Stu Cowan
For the last five games, Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has worn a
multi-function heart monitor, the wristwatch receiver clipped into the back of
his pants.
Price’s pulse tops out at 190 beats per minute during the game with an
average of 120 bpm, which includes pregame and intermissions.
“I wear it in practice and I’ve been curious,” Price told The Gazette’s Dave
Stubbs. “I never knew what (calories) I burned during a game. It will give
me a good idea what I should be eating and how many calories I should be
consuming.”
Heading into Wednesday’s game in Philadelphia (7:30 p.m., TSN, RDS,
TSN Radio 690), Price has a 18-6-4 record with three shutouts, a 2.24
goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
The Canadiens got some good news on the injury front Wednesday
morning as Raphael Diaz skated in Brossard for the first time since
suffering a concussion on Feb. 25. Rene Bourque and Raphael Diaz, also
recovering from concussions, skated in Brossard as well.
Meanwhile, defenceman Davis Drewiske, acquired from the Los Angeles
Kings on Tuesday, skated with his new teammates at the Habs morning
skate in Philadelphia. Drewiske will be in the lineup against the Flyers with
Price starting in goal. Mike Blunden will take the place of injured forward
Colby Armstrong, who suffered what the team is calling a “lower-body
injury” during Monday’s win over Carolina. Armstrong has been placed on
injured reserve with what appears to be a knee injury. Ryan White will be a
healthy scratch.
“There are some different things with the system here as opposed to what
they do in LA, so this morning (the coaches and I) went over that and what
they expect from me,” Drewiske told reporters in Philadelphia after the
morning skate. “They want me to be a good defender, a good penalty killer,
move pucks quickly and chip in offensively when I can.”
Coach Michel Therrien also announced that Peter Budaj will start in goal
Thursday when the Winnipeg Jets visit the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., RDS,
TSN-HABS, TSN Radio 690). Budaj’s parents will be in town for the game
and Therrien admitted that played a role in his decision, but the coach
added that Budaj has been playing well and deserves a start. Budaj has a
5-1-1 record with one shutout, a 2.47 goals-against average and a .906
save percentage.
Therrien wouldn’t give a timetable for Armstrong’s return to the lineup, but
said he hopes he’ll be back in time for the playoffs.
Here’s a look at the lines and defence pairings from the morning skate:
Forwards: Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gallagher; Ryder-Plekanec-Gionta;
Galchenyuk-Eller-Prust; White-Halpern-Moen/Blunden. Defence: BouillonDrewiske; Gorges-Subban; Markov-Emelin; Kaberle-Weber.
The NHL trade deadline is at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Stubbs joins Postmedia
News hockey writers Vicki Hall, Wayne Scanlan, Elliott Pap, Bob Duff,
Steve Ewen and John MacKinnon for a live trade blog beginning at noon.
You can follow it by clicking here.
Montreal Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667825
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators trade Martin Erat to Washington Capitals
Josh Cooper
Predators general manager David Poile laughed heartily. It had been
brought to his attention that Wednesday marked the second time he had
traded for a player named Forsberg.
The deal, sending veteran Martin Erat and prospect Michael Latta to the
Washington Capitals in exchange for 18-year-old forward Filip Forsberg at
the NHL trade deadline, brought back memories of 2007, when the
Predators landed legendary forward Peter Forsberg late in the season.
“This one is fresher?” Poile joked.
The tone and tenor of this day were drastically different, however.
The trade for the then 33-year-old Peter Forsberg — no relation to Filip,
who is also from Sweden — solidified positioning for a postseason run.
Wednesday’s trade was more about getting younger and retooling for a
team that might not even qualify for the playoffs.
In addition to dealing the 31-year-old Erat — a seventh-round pick in 1999
who is now the franchise’s second-ranked player in games played, goals,
assists and points — the Predators sent 34-year-old defenseman Scott
Hannan to the Sharks for a conditional seventh-round pick.
The Predators had signed Hannan to a one-year, $1 million contract over
the summer.
Poile expressed excitement about Forsberg, who was Washington’s firstround pick in the 2012 draft, the 11th selection overall.
“We need to be more dynamic with our forwards, and today we got a
dynamic forward,” Poile said. “That’s something we haven’t been able to
accomplish through trade acquisition and even in drafting, where we’ve
been more prone to take defensemen than forwards. We’ve given up a lot
of first-round picks the last several years, and this year we’re getting a firstround pick back in essence.”
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Forsberg notched 15 goals and 18 assists in 38
games this season for Leksand of Sweden’s second division. The No. 21
rated team-affiliated prospect according to The Hockey News, he is the
most highly-touted forward in Nashville’s system since the Predators
drafted Alexander Radulov 15th overall in 2004.
“He’s a strong, powerful player. He distributes the puck pretty well, we think
his scoring is good,” Poile said. “I really think he has a chance to be a top
powerful forward. I like his all-around game.”
Despite dealing Erat, the team’s alternate captain and leading scorer from a
year ago, Poile said the Predators hadn’t given up on the playoffs. Going
into Wednesday’s games, Nashville was tied with St. Louis for the eighth
playoff spot, but had played three more games than the Blues.
“This has been a tough year in terms of our overall play,” Poile said. “I
would have to say to this point we’ve probably performed under what our
expectations were, but we still have enough games left to make it.”
Erat was tied for the overall team lead in scoring this season with 21 points
in 36 games, but he requested the trade about two weeks ago. His contract
had two years remaining at $4.5 million per year, and included a no-trade
clause.
Attempts to change Erat’s mind failed. He said he submitted a list of 10
teams to Poile.
The Predators are “going to go with a younger team and see how it goes
from there,” Erat said. “But for me, I’m getting older, and it’s not going to be
like I have seven-to-eight years to wait for another chance.”
It’s unclear who will fill Erat’s void on the top line, but the Predators have
become familiar with such situations. They’ve found ways to adjust when
players depart.
“Once again somebody is going to get to play in a higher position,” Poile
said.
The trade does replenish Nashville’s young assets. In 2011 the Predators
dealt their first-round pick for center Mike Fisher, and last year they traded
their first-rounder for checking forward Paul Gaustad.
The Predators ranked 26th in The Hockey News’ most recent system
rankings. Nashville’s most recent first-round pick, forward Austin Watson in
2010, has yet to play in an NHL game.
The trade also frees up salary to use toward free agents. The Predators
now have $40.9 million committed to 2013-14, when the salary cap drops
from $70.2 million to $64.3 million.
Forsberg will likely come to Nashville when his season in Sweden ends in
order to practice with the Predators and get to know the organization.
“I’m not promising and predicting he will play with us,” Poile said of the
current season. “But certainly we want to see him and hopefully he’ll be in
our system next year.”
Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013
667826
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators trade Scott Hannan to San Jose Sharks
Josh Cooper
The Predators have traded defenseman Scott Hannan to the San Jose
Sharks for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2013 draft.
Nashville signed Hannan, 34, to a one-year, $1 million contract over the
summer. He had one assist in 29 games with the Predators and was a
minus-11.
The Sharks picked Hannan in the first round of the 1997 draft. He played
eight seasons in San Jose, where he developed into one of their top
shutdown defensemen.
He was one of three pending unrestricted free agents on Nashville’s roster
— the other two being forward Brandon Yip and goaltender Chris Mason.
Hannan had been out since March 17 with an upper-body injury.
He was likely made more expendable when veteran stay-at-home
defenseman Hal Gill returned from a lower-body injury on March 23, and
first-year blueliner Victor Bartley continued to emerge. Bartley is a plus-6
through 14 games with the Predators.
Hannan had seen his minutes drop and his production decrease before his
injury. He was a minus-4 his last three games, and played on the third
defensive pair with Ryan Ellis, who has since been sent to Nashville’s AHL
affiliate in Milwaukee.
Earlier in the season, Hannan played on Nashville’s top defensive line with
captain Shea Weber.
The conditional pick changes to San Jose’s sixth-round selection this year if
the Sharks make the playoffs.
The NHL trade deadline is 2 p.m. today.
Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013
667827
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators trade Martin Erat for top prospect
Josh Cooper
Predators general manager David Poile laughed heartily. It had been
brought to his attention that Wednesday marked the second time he had
traded for a player named Forsberg.
This deal, sending veteran Martin Erat and prospect Michael Latta to the
Washington Capitals in exchange for 18-year-old forward Filip Forsberg at
the NHL trade deadline, brought back memories of 2007, when the
Predators landed legendary forward Peter Forsberg late in the season.
“This one is fresher?” Poile joked.
The tone and tenor of this day were drastically different, however.
The trade for the then 33-year-old Peter Forsberg — no relation to Filip,
who is also from Sweden — solidified positioning for a postseason run.
Wednesday’s trade was more about getting younger and retooling for a
team that might not even make it to the playoffs.
In addition to dealing the 31-year-old Erat — a seventh-round pick in 1999
who is now the franchise’s second-ranked player in games played, goals,
assists and points — the Predators sent 34-year-old defenseman Scott
Hannan to the Sharks for a conditional seventh-round pick.
The Predators had signed Hannan to a one-year, $1 million contract over
the summer.
Poile expressed excitement about Forsberg, who was Washington’s firstround pick in the 2012 draft, the 11th selection overall.
“We need to be more dynamic with our forwards, and today we got a
dynamic forward,” Poile said. “That’s something we haven’t been able to
accomplish through trade acquisition and even in drafting, where we’ve
been more prone to take defensemen than forwards. We’ve given up a lot
of first-round picks the last several years, and this year we’re getting a firstround pick back in essence.”
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Forsberg notched 15 goals and 18 assists in 38
games this season for Leksand of Sweden’s second division. The No. 21
team-affiliated prospect according to The Hockey News, he is the most
highly touted forward in Nashville’s system since the Predators drafted
Alexander Radulov 15th overall in 2004.
“He’s a strong, powerful player. He distributes the puck pretty well; we think
his scoring is good,” Poile said. “I really think he has a chance to be a top
powerful forward. I like his all-around game.”
Despite dealing Erat, the team’s alternate captain and leading scorer from a
year ago, Poile said the Predators hadn’t given up on the playoffs.
Going into Wednesday’s games, Nashville was tied with St. Louis for the
eighth playoff spot, but had played three more games than the Blues.
“This has been a tough year in terms of our overall play,” Poile said. “I
would have to say to this point we’ve probably performed under what our
expectations were, but we still have enough games left to make it.”
Erat was tied for the overall team lead in scoring this season with 21 points
in 36 games, but requested the trade about two weeks ago. His contract
had two years remaining at $4.5 million per year and included a no-trade
clause.
Attempts to change Erat’s mind failed. He said he submitted a list of 10
teams to Poile.
The Predators are “going to go with a younger team and see how it goes
from there,” Erat said. “But for me, I’m getting older, and it’s not going to be
like I have seven to eight years to wait for another chance.”
It’s unclear who will fill Erat’s void on the top line, but the Predators have
become familiar with such situations. They’ve found ways to adjust when
players depart.
“Once again somebody is going to get to play in a higher position,” Poile
said.
The trade does replenish Nashville’s young assets. In 2011 the Predators
dealt their first-round pick for center Mike Fisher, and last year they traded
their first-rounder for checking forward Paul Gaustad.
The Predators ranked 26th in The Hockey News’ most recent system
rankings. Nashville’s most recent first-round pick, forward Austin Watson in
2010, has yet to play in an NHL game.
The trade also frees salary to use toward free agents. The Predators have
$40.9 million committed to 2013-14, when the salary cap drops from $70.2
million to $64.3 million.
Forsberg likely will come to Nashville when his season in Sweden ends in
order to practice with the Predators and get to know the organization.
“I’m not promising and predicting he will play with us,” Poile said of the
current season. “But certainly we want to see him, and hopefully he’ll be in
our system next year.”
Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013
667828
Nashville Predators
Nick Spaling diary: Every game, every point is huge now
Apr. 3, 2013 11:27 PM
Written by
As told to Josh Cooper
It’s a battle this time of year. We need the points. We play the Chicago
Blackhawks three times this week, and it’s a divisional team that we may
have to be ready to face at some point. These games are huge. The points
are huge. We have to take advantage of playing our next several games at
home. This whole time right now is playoff-type hockey. It’s make or break
for us, this next three weeks.
We have a lot of guys who have played playoff games and that type of
atmosphere. We just have to focus in. The games get more important as we
go. We have to keep being ready.
Fantasy baseball is also pretty hot now, and a lot of our spare time is spent
on it. There’s a group of eight teams in our league with the Predators. It’s
just a lot of fun and something to do on our down time. Rockies shortstop
Troy Tulowitzki is my top player on my team.
I don’t know that much about it to tell you the truth. It’s more for fun and
making trades and talking about it with my teammates.
I usually do really well with it the first month, and then slide off when we
stop talking about it at the rink. It really goes downhill for me.
—As told to Josh Cooper
Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013
667829
Nashville Predators
Western Conference update
Apr. 3, 2013 10:17 PM
Josh Cooper
We’re coming down the home stretch in the Western Conference. And with
the 2013 season set to end in less than a month, some teams fighting to
make the playoffs have started playing well at the right time and look like
they can do some damage in the postseason. Below are those squads.
San Jose Sharks (18-11-6)*
The Sharks have been able to pile up wins against some of the NHL’s top
teams. In the past week, San Jose defeated the Anaheim Ducks twice as
well as the Vancouver Canucks. Overall, San Jose has looked more like the
team that started 7-0-0 and not the group that went 6-11-6 in its next 23
games.
Columbus Blue Jackets (15-14-7)
The Blue Jackets have learned how to grind out points and have lost just
two regulation games in their last 10. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovksy is good
enough to steal a series. He has put together a Vezina Trophy-worthy
season with a 2.13 goals against average and .927 save percentage.
Edmonton Oilers (15-13-7)*
The Oilers have gotten hot recently, winning four straight coming into
Wednesday night’s game against the Calgary Flames. Forward Taylor Hall
broke one of Wayne Gretzky’s records for fastest hat trick in team history in
their 4-0 win over Vancouver on March 30.
Detroit Red Wings (18-13-5)
Detroit has gone 6-3-0 in its last nine games to stay above the logjam
around the eighth playoff spot. And it has shown an ability to defeat some
good teams — including Anaheim (twice) and Vancouver — in that stretch.
Forward Pavel Datsyuk (36 points in 35 games) has looked strong for the
Red Wings.
Phoenix Coyotes (15-15-6)
A three-game point streak has put the Coyotes slightly back into the playoff
mix. Phoenix has two games remaining on a homestand to try to gain some
ground. But after April 6, the Coyotes have just three home games left and
seven road games. This could be their undoing.
*Played Wednesday
Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013
667830
Nashville Predators
Preview: Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Apr. 3, 2013 10:17 PM
John Glennon
PREDATORS VS. BLUE JACKETS
• When: 7 p.m. today
• Where: Bridgestone Arena
• TV/radio: Fox TN/102.5-FM
• Hat trick: 1. The Predators are 4-1 in their past five home games,
averaging four goals per game. 2. Nashville has surrendered the game’s
opening goal in 10 of its past 11 games, posting a 3-5-2 record in those 10
games. 3. The Blue Jackets, seeking their first playoff berth since the 200809 season, on Wednesday acquired right wing Marian Gaborik, a former
first-round pick who’s recorded at least 30 goals in seven of his previous 11
seasons.
• Injuries: Blue Jackets RW Jared Boll (lower body), D Tim Erixon (upper
body) are out; LW Nick Foligno (upper body) and C Brandon Dubinsky
(knee) are probable. Predators LW Colin Wilson (upper body) is out; C Mike
Fisher (hand) and LW Gabriel Bourque (upper body) are questionable.
• Next for Predators: 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Chicago.
Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013
667831
Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators taking more shots, but not always winning
Apr. 3, 2013 10:16 PM
Josh Cooper
The Tennessean
When it comes to shots on goal, there are different ways the Predators rate
their overall value.
“You can get lots of shots, but are they quality shots? Are they just shots?
Do you have traffic? Do you get secondary chances off shots? All those
things,” Predators coach Barry Trotz said.
A lot of emphasis in hockey is put on shots on goal. It’s often seen as an
indicator of whether a team has played well or poorly.
For the Predators, the results have been somewhat uneven recently when
they’ve outshot their opponent.
In nine of their last 11 games, they’ve fired as many or more shots on goal
than the opposition and are 4-4-1 in those contests. So if Nashville is
peppering the opposition, why have the results not followed? Even to the
Predators, it’s not totally clear.
In those nine games, the offense executed at a high rate, averaging 3.22
goals per game. But the defense was more porous, allowing 3.33 goals per
contest.
“For everybody it’s an emphasis. You look at average shooting percentages
and everything kind of balances out,” forward Paul Gaustad said. “If you
continue to do the right things, and percentages-wise, it always gets back to
that average. You have to keep shooting and get as many shots as you
can.”
Early in the season, Nashville played a more defensive style, and the
results followed. The Predators went on a four-game winning streak from
Jan. 31 through Feb. 7, and in all those games they were content to allow
low-percentage shots and pounce on limited offensive chances. The
Predators didn’t win a game in which they outshot an opponent until Feb.
14 against Phoenix.
“I mean, the one thing we were doing well before was we were defending.
We weren’t generating a lot, and we were a lot more patient in our game,”
Trotz said. “We probably didn’t get the credit we deserved for that … people
were criticizing us on our style points versus the end result.”
That doesn’t mean the Predators’ secret to winning involves being grossly
outshot. But it does mean Nashville has to find a happy medium, where it
can fire a lot of shots on goal and still play a defensively stout game. In their
win over Colorado, the Predators outshot the Avalanche 38-26 but won 3-1.
“You have to stay consistent in the things you think are the proper ways to
win,” Gaustad said. “We have to stick to that.”
Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013
667832
Nashville Predators
Josh Cooper's hat trick
Apr. 3, 2013 10:15 PM
Josh Cooper
The Tennessean
1. Paul Gaustad is being rewarded for his strong play with more ice time.
Gaustad has always had the size and the ability to play bigger minutes. But
in his career, the most he has averaged was 17:10 in 2007-08. In his last
three games since he returned from an “upper body” injury, he has played
17:35, 24:19 and 20:49. He’s not an offensive player, but he won’t make
many plays to hurt your team from a defensive perspective. When Mike
Fisher returns from a hand injury, Gaustad’s minutes likely will go down, but
in this stretch he has earned more of the coaching staff’s trust going
forward
2. Will Pekka Rinne get some time off? The goaltender has played in an
NHL-high 35 games, and he could go the rest of the way for Nashville. If
this is the case — the Predators have 11 more games — Rinne will have
played in 68 contests this year, if you count his time in the Kontinental
Hockey League during the NHL lockout. That’s a lot of games. Also, keep in
mind the condensed nature of this schedule hasn’t exactly helped overall
player exhaustion. In his last three contests, Rinne has stopped 86 of 90
shots on goal. Fatigue hasn’t played too much of an issue, but it could.
3. The Predators still have a difficult road to the playoffs. The Predators
have picked up points in six of their last seven games, and they still find
themselves stuck in postseason neutral. What will it take to get firmly in the
top eight? A long winning streak. The San Jose Sharks were around the
eighth spot. They then won five games in a row, put themselves in the top
eight and strongly boosted their chances of making the playoffs. Nashville
needs a San Jose-like stretch to achieve the same effect.
Tennessean LOADED: 04.04.2013
667833
Nashville Predators
Predators unload a veteran in advance of NHL trade deadline
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 12:47pm
By David Boclair
With hours to go before the National Hockey League’s trade deadline, the
Nashville Predators sent defenseman Scott Hannan to the San Jose Sharks
on Tuesday for a late-round draft pick.
Hannan signed as a free agent with Nashville during the offseason and
appeared in 29 games. He has been on injured reserve since last weekend
and has not played since March 17 because of an upper body injury. He
has no goals, one assist and a team-worst minus-11 rating.
The Predators received a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft from the
Sharks. The pick becomes a sixth-rounder if Hannan appears in the
playoffs.
The 34-year-old spent his first eight NHL seasons with San Jose, which
drafted him 23rd overall in 1997. He also spent time with Colorado,
Washington and Calgary before he came to Nashville.
His contract with the Predators was for one year at $1 million.
The league’s trade deadline is 2 p.m. (CDT) Tuesday.
Nashville City Paper LOADED: 04.04.2013
667834
Nashville Predators
In search of more offense, Predators trade away one of their all-time
leading scorers
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 4:37pm
By David Boclair
The Nashville Predators are not necessarily ready to say bye-bye to their
playoff chances.
When the National Hockey League’s trade deadline arrived Wednesday
afternoon, however, they definitely were not buyers.
In one of the day’s final deals, Nashville shipped 31-year-old forward Martin
Erat and a prospect, Michael Latta, to the Washington Capitals for 18-yearold Filip Forsberg, the 11th overall choice in last year’s draft.
Earlier in the day the Predators traded veteran defenseman Scott Hannan
to San Jose for a conditional draft choice.
Following Tuesday’s games, Nashville was ninth in the Western
Conference standings, tied with St. Louis at 38 points but having played
three more games than the Blues. The 10th, 11th and 12th-place teams
were no more than two points back and all had at least one game in hand
on the Predators.
“We have used draft picks in recent years to add players at the trade
deadline,” general manager David Poile said. “Over the last several years,
we traded away four first round picks. It was imperative that we add a
potentially dynamic offensive forward such as Forsberg.
“Our goal remains the same — to win the Stanley Cup. We believe our
current team is a playoff-caliber team. At the same time, we have to be
mindful of the long-term and this deal allows us to acquire a top-end young
offensive forward that will help us.”
Erat, a seventh-round pick in 1999, is second to David Legwand in all of the
franchise’s primary career offensive statistics. He had 163 goals and 318
assists (481 points) in 723 career games. He led or shared the team lead in
points each of the last two seasons and was a model of consistency with
between 49 and 58 points each of the last eight seasons.
He had four goals and 17 assists in 36 games this season, which tied him
with Legwand and Shea Weber for the team lead.
He has two years remaining on a seven-year, $31.5 million deal.
Latta, a third-round choice in 2009, had eight goals and 26 assists in 67
games for Milwaukee this season. The Hockey News recently named him
the franchise’s fifth-best prospect.
“It is always difficult to trade a player who was drafted, developed and who
has produced for the franchise for many years such as Martin Erat,” Poile
said. “However, Marty came to us in recent days and indicated a trade
might be in his best interests. Thus, the process began and we were able to
explore options with our primary goal being to acquire a young top end
forward that would address our most critical need.
“We thank Martin for all his contributions to the Predators’ success over the
years and wish him and his family the best in Washington.”
Forsberg recently completed his season in Sweden’s second division. His
33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 38 games were second only to Pontus
Aberg, a second-round pick by Nashville last year.
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Forsberg was named that league’s top junior
player.
“With one of the best goaltenders in the world in Pekka Rinne, and the top
defenseman in the game today in Shea Weber, along with Roman Josi,
Kevin Klein and other young defensemen we continue to develop, we
believe we are well-positioned at these two positions, but have lacked a
dynamic offensive forward.” Poile said. “In Filip Forsberg, we are adding
one of the top rated young forwards in the world; we are excited to have
him join our other emerging young talent and solid veterans at the position.”
Nashville City Paper LOADED: 04.04.2013
667835
Nashville Predators
Erat eager for his opportunity with a new team, says 'I just want to win'
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 9:34pm
By Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals are hoping for a boost to
their playoff hopes with a trade bringing them right wing Martin Erat and
minor-leaguer Michael Latta from the Nashville Predators for 2012 firstround draft pick Filip Forsberg.
Erat leads the Predators with 17 assists and is tied for first on the club with
21 points this season. He's played all 723 of his NHL games with Nashville,
and ranks second in team history with 163 goals and 318 assists. He listed
the Capitals among the teams he would join.
"They have a great team, they just have to show it on the ice," Erat said on
a conference call Wednesday night. "It's just missing a couple pieces here
and (there), but they got the right chance every year."
After a poor start to the season, winning only two of their first 11 games, the
Capitals have slowly moved their way up from last place in the Eastern
Conference. Now they are within striking distance for a playoff berth at 10th,
two points away from eighth after a 5-3 victory at the Carolina Hurricanes
on Tuesday night. That was Washington's seventh win in its last 11 games.
Captain Alex Ovechkin, a two-time NHL MVP, has led the way during the
Capitals' surge, with at least one point in each of the past nine games. He
leads the team with 20 goals and 37 points. Erat is happy enough at being
traded that he is willing to do whatever the Capitals ask of him.
"I really don't care if I play right or left, or if I'm going to play on the first or
third line," Erat said. "I just want to win."
The Predators, who have made the playoffs seven of the last eight
seasons, also are on the edge of the Western Conference playoff picture. In
Forsberg, they get an 18-year-old forward considered a possible star-inwaiting in exchange for sending off a player in Erat who asked to be traded
despite a no-movement clause in his contract.
Erat said he asked Nashville general manager David Poile about the team's
long-term plans a couple weeks ago. The Predators build through the draft
with forwards such as Colin Wilson, Patric Hornqvist and Taylor Beck and
defensemen Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. But Erat turns 32 in August. He
had a career-high 58 points last season and leaves tied for the Nashville
lead with 21 points. But he has only four goals, including a 21-game goal
drought.
"They're going to go with a younger team and see how it goes from there,"
Erat said. "But for me, I'm getting older, and ... I don't have seven, eight
years to wait for another chance."
This is the second time Nashville has traded for a forward named Forsberg.
Trading for Peter Forsberg in 2007 didn't work out too well as he wound up
playing only 17 games that season and scoring 15 points. The Predators
won 51 games and earned the No. 4 seed only to lose to San Jose in five
games in the first round of the playoffs.
Now the Predators believe they finally have the dynamic young forward in
this Forsberg to go with a defense anchored by captain Shea Weber and
goalie Pekka Rinne. Forsberg scored 33 points in 38 games in Sweden.
Poile said he will be talking to Forsberg's agent about getting the forward to
North America but the general manager sees someone in the 6-foot-1, 188pound center who may be NHL-ready soon.
• Briefly: The Predators also signed Zach Budish to a two-year entry-level
contract. The 6-foot-3, 219-pound right wing will join the team's AHL affiliate
in Milwaukee. Budish, 21, scored 94 points in 129 games in four seasons at
the University of Minnesota.
Nashville City Paper LOADED: 04.04.2013
667836
New Jersey Devils
Devils bring back Steve Sullivan 16 years after Doug Gilmour trade
By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger
on April 03, 2013 at 8:56 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 9:44 PM
Sixteen years ago the Devils had to give up a promising young forward in
order to obtain future Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour in a serious effort to win
the Stanley Cup.
The Devils never did win a Cup during Gilmour’s two seasons on the team,
but the “kid” they gave up is back as a veteran role player hoping to help
the Devils secure a playoff spot with 12 games remaining in this shortended
season.
Lamoriello wasn't willing to give up top prospects or players like Adam
Henrique or Adam Larsson to make a bigger deal which might disrupt the
team.
"We're very happy with the team," Lamoriello said. "Fortunately we have
players coming back healthy-- (Alexei) Ponikarovsky, Dainius Zubrus and
hopefully (Ilya) Kovalchuk is not too far off. We don't know yet (about the
timing of Kovalchuk's return). We had the addition of (Andrei) Loktionov
earlier and Jacob Josefson is completely healthy now. He'll be ready to
come up (from Albany) shortly."
Sullivan is hoping he can do what Gilmour couldn’t—help win a Stanley
Cup.
“That’s the ultimate goal. I don’t have one," Sullivan said of the coveted
trophy. “Going back to being a young kid, that is your dream to win the
Stanley Cup. When you don’t have one, your drive for one is the highest it
can be.”
While the Devils acquired Sullivan, the Boston Bruins traded for Jaromir
Jagr on Tuesday.
Steve Sullivan 38, was acquired today in a trade with the Phoenix Coyotes
for a seventh round draft pick in 2014. It was Devils general manager Lou
Lamoriello’s only deal on trade deadline day.
“They got a good offensive player there. It will be interesting where they put
him,” Patrik Elias said. “It makes them more dangerously offensively with
him, obviously.”
“It was very shocking. I really didn't see it coming," Sullivan said via
telephone. "I honestly didn’t think I was going to be moved. But it's a great
opportunity. I'm glad to be going back to where it all began. I’ve come full
circle. It's a first class organization I had a hard time leaving years ago."
David Clarkson said of the Jagr deal: “I believe anytime you add a guy like
that it’s definitely a boost. Bringing him in definitely helps.”
In that Feb. 25, 1997, deal more than a decade and a half ago, the Devils
traded Sullivan, defenseman Jason Smith and the rights to prospect Alyn
McCauley to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Gilmour, defenseman Dave Ellett
and a draft pick.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. That was also another shocking day for
me,” Sullivan said. “I was a young player just trying to stay in the league. I’d
been a call-up and hadn’t really solidified a spot in the NHL by any means.
Being an Ontario boy, it was a bit overwhelming being traded to Toronto.”
Sullivan, who must pass a physical when he arrives in New Jersey, would
become the 24th player to be re-acquired by the Devils. He was the team’s
10th selection in the ninth round (233rd overall) of the 1994 entry draft and
appeared in 49 games over two seasons 1995-97.
"He's going to be a utility player that will give the coach options. We'll have
to see him in practice before we make any judgements," Lamoriello said.
"He's a player that can play in versatile situations. He's played in big-time
playoff games. He knows the pressures of the league and will be a
steadying influence in different areas."
Sullivan had five goals and seven assists (12 points) and 20 penalty
minutes in 33 games with Phoenix this season after signing as a free agent
on July 4. What can he give the Devils?
“I’m not 27 years old. Your game has to evolve a little bit as the years go
by,” Sullivan said. “I’m not sure what they’re expecting. I don’t think they’re
expecting me to come in and be a game-breaker. They have some
extremely talented hockey players on that team. I’ll try to be a solid
contributor and do the best I can.”
Devils coach Pete DeBoer was asked what he expected Lamoriello to do
today.
“I really came in with no expectations,” DeBoer said.
Sullivan recorded a career-high 34 goals and 75 points with the Chicago
Blackhawks in 2000-01. He appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game last
week with the Coyotes on Mar. 28 at Nashville.
He was the recipient of the 2008-09 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance,
sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
In 1,002 career NHL games, Sullivan has 742 points (288 goals, 454
assists) and 583 penalty minutes. He's played for the Devils, Leafs,
Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Coyotes in a 15year career.
"I think he's capable of giving some quality minutes when called upon. I
think he can go in any role on any line. He still knows how to score goals.
That's been his forte,” Lamoriello said. “There aren't a lot of people scoring
many goals anywhere this season."
DeBoer on where the Devils are in the standings: "We had a good start. We
struggled for stretches the second half here, longer stretches than I
would've liked, for different reasons, So we're probably where we should
be. The important thing is where we finish here.
“We have a lot of character in that room. We went on a deep playoff run
with a lot of guys sitting in that room right now. It’s on us to recapture some
of that magic down the stretch.”
Travis Zajac: "He helps them offensively, that's for sure. He's a big guy,
tough to move off the puck."
Star Ledger LOADED: 04.04.2013
667837
New Jersey Devils
Devils acquire Steve Sullivan from Phoenix Coyotes
Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger
on April 03, 2013 at 7:02 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 7:38 PM
The Devils acquired forward Steve Sullivan from the Phoenix Coyotes today
in exchange for the club’s seventh-round selection in the 2014 NHL entry
draft.
Sullivan, who must pass a physical tomorrow, would become the 24th
player to be re-acquired by the Devils. He was the Devils' 10th selection in
the 9th round (233rd overall) selection in 1994.
"He's going to be a utility player that will give the coach options. We'll have
to see him in practice before we make any judgements," general manager
Lou Lamoriello said. "He's a player that can play in versatile situations. He's
played in big-time playoff games. He knows the pressures of the league
and will be a steadying influence in different areas."
Sullivan, 38, had five goals and seven assists for 12 points and 20 penalty
minutes in 33 games with Phoenix this season after signing as a free agent
on July 4.
"I'm very excited. It was a shock. I really didn't see it coming," Sullivan said.
"But it's a great opportunity. I'm glad to be going back to where it all began.
It's a first class organization I had a hard time leaving years ago."
The Devils traded Sullivan, defenseman Jason Smith and the rights to Alyn
McCauley to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 25, 1997, for Doug Gilmour,
Dave Ellett and a draft pick.
He has career totals of 288 goals and 454 assists for 742 points and 583
penalty minutes in 1,002 career appearances over 15 seasons with the
Devils, Toronto, Chicago, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Phoenix.
"He played last night. To my knowledge he is healthy," Lamoriello said. "I'm
sure he has some (bumps and bruises) after 1,000 games.
"I think he's capable of giving some quality minutes when called upon. I
think he can go in any role on any line. He still knows how to score goals.
That's been his forte. There aren't a lot of people scoring many goals
anywhere this season."
Sullivan recorded a career-high 34 goals and 75 points with the Blackhawks
in 2000-01. He appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game last week on Mar.
28 at Nashville. He was the recipient of the 2008-09 Bill Masterton Trophy
for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
"I have no idea what (the Devils') plans are for me," Sullivan said. "I'll go in
with an open mind."
The Sullivan deal was the only trade made by the Devils today.
"We're very happy with the team," Lamoriello said. "Fortunately we have
players coming back healthy-- (Alexei) Ponikarovsky, Dainius Zubrus and
hopefully (Ilya) Kovalchuk is not too far off. We don't know yet," Lamoriello
said. "We had the addition of (Andrei) Loktionov earlier and Jacob Josefson
is completely healthy now. He'll be ready to come up (from Albany) shortly."
Sullivan was excited to join a playoff race.
"It's going to be great," he said. "As hockey players our goal is to play for
the Stanley Cup. To do that you have to get into the playoffs. Getting back
into the thick of things is going to be refreshing. I look forward hopefully for
the chance to play for the Stanley Cup."
Star Ledger LOADED: 04.04.2013
667838
New Jersey Devils
Devils: Marek Zidlicky missed practice for family issue, will play in Boston
Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger By Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger
on April 03, 2013 at 2:38 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 3:55 PM
The Devils have not traded Marek Zidlicky.
The defenseman missed practice today because of a family matter. Coach
Pete DeBoer said he would travel with the team to Boston and will play
tomorrow night against the Bruins.
"Just for a personal reason," DeBoer said.
The Devils acquired Steve Sullivan today from the Phoenix Coyotes in
exchange for a seventh round draft pick in 2014.
Right winger Tom Kostopoulos said he briefly lost consciousness during his
fight with Matt Martin of the Islanders but did not hit his head on the ice.
"No. Just the punch," Kostopoulos said.
Kostopoulos said he feels good and has not watched the fight on video.
Center Travis Zajac, who did not come to the rink yesterday after struggling
with the flu during Monday night's game, said he has improved.
"I feel better," Zajac said. "It wasn't too bad when the game started. It worse
worse."
During Monday's morning skate, DeBoer was knocked to the ice by Anton
Volchenkov.
In practice today, assistant coach Scott Stevens went down when he
collided with Mark Fayne. Stevens, not wearing a helmet or other protective
gear, was skating as Bryce Salvador's defense partner since Zidlicky was
absent.
"Two (coaches) have been taken out," DeBoer said with a laugh. "I can tell
you neither of us have been traded. If one of us was being traded it wouldn't
be Scott.
"I think (Fayne) was just an accident. I can see Volchy stepping up on me. I
don't know if anybody is (dumb) enough to purposely hit Scott Stevens."
DeBoer on Devils' place
"We had a good start. We struggled for stretches the second half here,
longer stretcjes than I would've liked, for different reasons," DeBoer said.
"So we're probably where we should be. The important thing is where we
finish here."
The Devils practiced shootouts today.
"We didn't practice it last year. We didn't need to," DeBoer said of the
Devils' 12-4 shootout record in 2011-12. "It's become evident as the
season's gone on that we have to do something different. Our preparation
on a nightly basis for who we're playing hasn't changed from last year. We
have to try something else. Maybe some different guys or practice a little
more."
DeBoer recalls being a part of a deadline trade when he was playing junior
hockey. Toronto dealt him to Vancouver.
"Major deal," he said with a laugh. "Was that a deadline deal? What a slow
deadline. I got traded from Toronto, who drafted me, to Vancouver. I was on
a bus somewhere in northern Ontario. No cell phones at that time so I
heard about it (from the coach).
"For me at that point it was exciting that someone thought enough of you to
trade for you."
Star Ledger LOADED: 04.04.2013
667839
New Jersey Devils
Devils, with trade deadline looming, prepare to face Boston Bruins
Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger
on April 03, 2013 at 12:05 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 2:37 PM
As the NHL trade deadline closed in today at 3 p.m., the Devils practiced at
AmeriHealth Pavilion in preparation for Thursday night's game against the
Boston Bruins at TD Gardens.
Travis Zajac, who did not come to the rink yesterday because of the flu,
was first onto the ice to shoot pucks.
Tom Kostopoulos, who was knocked out in a fight with Matt Martin of the
Islanders Monday night, also took part in the practice.
Defenseman Marek Zidlicky did not practice. Zidlicky can become an
unrestricted free agent, but has a no trade clause.
There was no cause for concern. Zidlicky had a family matter, planned to
travel with the team to Boston and will play tomorrow night.
Assistant coach Scott Stevens took Zidlicky's spot as Bryce Salvador's
defense partner. He was not wearing any protective gear and is not
considering a comeback.
Stevens was knocked down by Mark Fayne. That makes two coaches sent
flying in recent days. Pete DeBoer was knocked down by Anton Volchenkov
during Monday's morning skate.
Devils' lines:
Danius Zubrus-Travis Zajac-David Clarkson
Patrik Elias-Andrei Loktionov-Steve Bernier
Alexei Ponikarovsky-Adam Henrique-Matt D'Agostini
Ryan Carter-Stephen Gionta-Tom Kostopoulos
Krys Barch
Devils' defense:
Bryce Salvador
Andy Greene-Mark Fayne
Anton Volchenkov-Peter Harrold
Henrik Tallinder-Adam Larsson
Star Ledger LOADED: 04.04.2013
667840
New Jersey Devils
Devils bring back Steve Sullivan 16 years after Doug Gilmour trade
Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger
on April 03, 2013 at 8:56 PM, updated April 03, 2013 at 10:51 PM
Sixteen years ago the Devils had to give up a promising young forward in
order to obtain future Hall of Famer Doug Gilmour in a serious effort to win
the Stanley Cup.
The Devils never did win a Cup during Gilmour’s two seasons on the team,
but the “kid” they gave up is back as a veteran role player hoping to help
the Devils secure a playoff spot with 12 games remaining in this shortened
season.
Lamoriello wasn't willing to give up top prospects or players like Adam
Henrique or Adam Larsson to make a bigger deal which might disrupt the
team.
"We're very happy with the team," Lamoriello said. "Fortunately we have
players coming back healthy-- (Alexei) Ponikarovsky, Dainius Zubrus and
hopefully (Ilya) Kovalchuk is not too far off. We don't know yet (about the
timing of Kovalchuk's return). We had the addition of (Andrei) Loktionov
earlier and Jacob Josefson is completely healthy now. He'll be ready to
come up (from Albany) shortly."
Sullivan is hoping he can do what Gilmour couldn’t—help win a Stanley
Cup.
“That’s the ultimate goal. I don’t have one," Sullivan said of the coveted
trophy. “Going back to being a young kid, that is your dream to win the
Stanley Cup. When you don’t have one, your drive for one is the highest it
can be.”
While the Devils acquired Sullivan, the Boston Bruins traded for Jaromir
Jagr on Tuesday.
Steve Sullivan 38, was acquired today in a trade with the Phoenix Coyotes
for a seventh round draft pick in 2014. It was Devils general manager Lou
Lamoriello’s only deal on trade deadline day.
“They got a good offensive player there. It will be interesting where they put
him,” Patrik Elias said. “It makes them more dangerously offensively with
him, obviously.”
“It was very shocking. I really didn't see it coming," Sullivan said via
telephone. "I honestly didn’t think I was going to be moved. But it's a great
opportunity. I'm glad to be going back to where it all began. I’ve come full
circle. It's a first class organization I had a hard time leaving years ago."
David Clarkson said of the Jagr deal: “I believe anytime you add a guy like
that it’s definitely a boost. Bringing him in definitely helps.”
In that Feb. 25, 1997, deal more than a decade and a half ago, the Devils
traded Sullivan, defenseman Jason Smith and the rights to prospect Alyn
McCauley to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Gilmour, defenseman Dave Ellett
and a draft pick.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. That was also another shocking day for
me,” Sullivan said. “I was a young player just trying to stay in the league. I’d
been a call-up and hadn’t really solidified a spot in the NHL by any means.
Being an Ontario boy, it was a bit overwhelming being traded to Toronto.”
Sullivan, who must pass a physical when he arrives in New Jersey, would
become the 24th player to be re-acquired by the Devils. He was the team’s
10th selection in the ninth round (233rd overall) of the 1994 entry draft and
appeared in 49 games over two seasons 1995-97.
"He's going to be a utility player that will give the coach options. We'll have
to see him in practice before we make any judgements," Lamoriello said.
"He's a player that can play in versatile situations. He's played in big-time
playoff games. He knows the pressures of the league and will be a
steadying influence in different areas."
Sullivan had five goals and seven assists (12 points) and 20 penalty
minutes in 33 games with Phoenix this season after signing as a free agent
on July 4. He will be unrestricted after this season.
What can he give the Devils?
“I’m not 27 years old. Your game has to evolve a little bit as the years go
by,” Sullivan said. “I’m not sure what they’re expecting. I don’t think they’re
expecting me to come in and be a game-breaker. They have some
extremely talented hockey players on that team. I’ll try to be a solid
contributor and do the best I can.”
Devils coach Pete DeBoer was asked what he expected Lamoriello to do
today.
“I really came in with no expectations,” DeBoer said.
Sullivan recorded a career-high 34 goals and 75 points with the Chicago
Blackhawks in 2000-01. He appeared in his 1,000th career NHL game last
week with the Coyotes on Mar. 28 at Nashville.
He was the recipient of the 2008-09 Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance,
sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
In 1,002 career NHL games, Sullivan has 742 points (288 goals, 454
assists) and 583 penalty minutes. He's played for the Devils, Leafs,
Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Coyotes in a 15year career.
"I think he's capable of giving some quality minutes when called upon. I
think he can go in any role on any line. He still knows how to score goals.
That's been his forte,” Lamoriello said. “There aren't a lot of people scoring
many goals anywhere this season."
DeBoer on where the Devils are in the standings: "We had a good start. We
struggled for stretches the second half here, longer stretches than I
would've liked, for different reasons, So we're probably where we should
be. The important thing is where we finish here.
“We have a lot of character in that room. We went on a deep playoff run
with a lot of guys sitting in that room right now. It’s on us to recapture some
of that magic down the stretch.”
Travis Zajac: "He helps them offensively, that's for sure. He's a big guy,
tough to move off the puck."
Star Ledger LOADED: 04.04.2013
667841
New Jersey Devils
Devils bring back Steve Sullivan in only deadline-day trade
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
PM
Last updated: Wednesday April 3, 2013, 11:50
BY TOM GULITTI
NEWARK – There were other deals out there the Devils might have been
able to make before Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline, but not at a cost
general manager Lou Lamoriello was willing to pay.
So, Lamoriello essentially kept the team intact and made just a depth deal
in reacquiring forward Steve Sullivan from Phoenix for a 2014 seventhround draft pick. Sullivan, 38, played 49 total games with the Devils in 199596 and 1996-97 before being traded to Toronto in the deal for Doug Gilmour
on Feb. 25, 1997.
A Devils’ ninth-round draft pick in 1994, Sullivan had five goals and seven
assists in 33 games with the Coyotes this season. He won’t join the Devils
in time for tonight’s game in Boston, as he will report to New Jersey for a
physical first and, assuming he passes, be available for Saturday’s home
game against Toronto.
“He provides depth at forward,” Lamoriello said. “Like we’ve always said,
you try to get better, but at what expense? So, we really did stand pat.”
The Devils have some promising young players and prospects that other
teams were interested in who could have brought back a significant return –
a possibly the top-six forward the team has been missing since Zach Parise
departed via free agency. But Lamoriello wasn’t willing to give them up.
Lamoriello also suggested that there were inquiries about some of his
potential unrestricted free agents – a list that includes Patrik Elias, David
Clarkson and Dainius Zubrus – but he wasn’t interested in breaking up this
roster, which he feels “when at full strength” is good enough to win.
The Devils got Zubrus back from a left wrist injury this week, but are still
missing right wing Ilya Kovalchuk, who they expect to return from a right
shoulder injury for at least the final week of the regular season.
“You have to be very careful,” Lamoriello said. “Everything is done for today
with tomorrow in mind, never [sacrificing] tomorrow with today in mind. It’s
the commitment for the players to win … We believe in this team. I believe
in the coaching staff and I believe in the players. If not, you would make
drastic changes.”
After last season’s improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Devils are
clinging to a playoff spot with 12 regular-season games remaining. Still,
coach Pete DeBoer also said again that he’s “comfortable” with this group
of players.
“We’ve got a lot of character in that room,” he said. “We went on a deep
playoff run with a lot of guys that are sitting in that room right now. It’s on us
to try to recapture some of that magic here down the stretch.”
Sullivan said he was “pleasantly surprised” to be returning to the Devils.
“I really didn’t see it coming, but it’s a great opportunity,” he said. “I’m glad
to be going back to where it all began… It’s definitely a first-class
organization that I had a hard time leaving many years ago.
A potential unrestricted free agent this summer, Sullivan will become the
24th player to be reacquired and play for the Devils. The 5-foot-9, 165pound native of Timmins, Ontario, has 288 goals and 454 assists in 1,002
NHL games.
Sullivan clearly is nearing the end of his career. How much he has left is the
question.
Bergen Record LOADED: 04.04.2013
667842
New Jersey Devils
NHL Power Rankings: Penguins, Ducks and Blackhawks get better at trade
deadline, which is bad news for the rest of the league
By Pat Leonard / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 2:36 PM
Trade deadline activity is as unpredictable as ever this year with so many
teams still within reach of the playoffs during a 48-game, lockout-shortened
season. It's become less certain who is selling and who is buying, who is
willing to part with assets and who is reluctant to acquire big-name players
based on the plummeting NHL salary cap next fall.
Still, there has been movement and there will continue to be trades up to
Wednesday’s 3 p.m. deadline. With several big splashes made already,
here is how the 30-team league stacks up during one of the busiest days of
the season:
1. Penguins (28-9-0, 56 points, 1st in East) — Added Jarome Iginla
(Calgary), Brenden Morrow (Dallas) and Douglas Murray (San Jose) for a
Stanley Cup run. Sidney Crosby is out indefinitely with a broken jaw and
despite having their 15-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night in
Buffalo, the Pens are still the hottest team in the NHL.
2. Ducks (24-7-5, 53 points, 2nd in West) — Anaheim's locked up Ryan
Getzlaf and Corey Perry long-term and this week dealt for Harry Zolnierczyk
from the Flyers, a pesky, speedy depth forward who makes the Ducks even
quicker. The Ducks swept their three-game season series against the
Blackhawks, winning twice in regulation and once in the shootout.
3. Blackhawks (27-5-3, 57 points, 1st in West) — The early-season NHL
darling that picked up a point in its first 24 games has come back down to
earth slightly. But Chicago added forward Michael Handzus from San Jose
and knows it has a roster that can cut like a buzz-saw through most of the
West.
4. Canadiens (23-7-5, 51 points, 2nd in East) — Carey Price and the
skaters in front of him have sparked a resurgence for the Habs, who added
defenseman Davis Drewiskie from L.A. to deepen their blue line.
5. Bruins (23-8-4, 50 points, 4th in East) — Tuesday began on a high note,
when Boston acquired Jaromir Jagr from Dallas. But then at night assistant
captain Patrice Bergeron was injured and did not return. Boston, which has
faltered a bit but is still one of the East's best teams, holds its collective
breath for good news.
6. Wild (21-12-2, 44 points, 3rd in West) — Zach Parise's club has gone 82-0 in its last 10 to surge just ahead of Vancouver in the Northwest, but the
battle for the third-seed will be intense.
7. Kings (20-13-3, 43 points, 5th in West) — The defending Stanley Cup
champions have scored just seven fewer goals than Anaheim and recently
added Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr to beef up their blue line.
8. Canucks (19-11-6, 44 points, 4th in West) — Injured center Ryan Kesler
reportedly is close to returning, and the Canucks also traded for Dallas
center Derek Roy as Vancouver prepares for one final late-season push for
the Northwest Division and the third seed in the West. Goaltender Roberto
Luongo is a constant subject of trade speculation.
Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers are on the outside of the playoff picture
looking in, right now.
9. Maple Leafs (20-12-4, 44 points, 5th in East) — Toronto has won three in
a row and been quiet — a little toooo quiet — approaching the NHL trade
deadline, but the hockey world is expecting some move from the Leafs as
they position themselves for a postseason run.
10. Senators (19-11-6, 44 points, 6th in East) — Paul MacLean is running
away with the Jack Adams Award this season, and not just because he
looks like Teddy Roosevelt. The Senators coach has Ottawa confident and
consistent despite losing most of his top players due to injury.
11. Sharks (18-11-6, 42 points, 6th in West) — Five straight wins but San
Jose is still selling, unloading two forwards in Handzus to Chicago and
Ryane Clowe to the Rangers while remaining in the fold potentially to deal
even more.
12. Blues (18-14-2, 38 points, 8th in West) — This team will be the sixth
seed in the West by the time playoffs roll around, and the recent
acquisitions of defensemen Jay Bouwmeester (Calgary) and Jordan
Leopold (Buffalo) are two reasons why.
13. Red Wings (18-13-5, 41 points, 7th in West) — Detroit wanted
Bouwmeester so now must seek help elsewhere if it's available while
fighting division rivals St. Louis, Nashville and Columbus who all remain
within four points of each other in the standings.
14. Devils (15-12-9, 39 points, 7th in East) — New Jersey misses Ilya
Kovalchuk badly and has to get goal scoring elsewhere until he returns from
injury. Otherwise, the Devils could be the New York-area club left out in the
cold when playoffs begin on April 30.
15. Islanders (18-16-3, 39 points, 8th in East) — Notre Dame product
Anders Lee scored in his NHL debut Tuesday night as the Isles charged
back into the playoff picture. Captain Mark Streit, looking for an extension to
remain on the island, reportedly will not be traded by Wednesday’s
deadline.
16. Rangers (17-15-3, 37 points, 9th in East) — The Blueshirts added gritty
forward Ryan Clowe and could be looking for defensive help, though neither
of their most likely trade pieces — Marian Gaborik and Brian Boyle — want
to be moved. Marc Staal's status remains uncertain, but it doesn't look good
if the Rangers are shopping hard for help on the blue line.
17. Jets (18-18-2, 38 points, 3rd in East) — Winnipeg's third-place standing
is deceiving. The Jets have played two more games than the Capitals, three
more than the Hurricanes, and have lost to both of the teams chasing them
for South-Least division recently when they had opportunities to bury them
in the standings. Winnipeg has talent and strong shots from the point, but
they can hear the footsteps.
18. Predators (15-14-8, 38 points, 9th in West) — Smashville is a woeful 511-4 on the road, which doesn't bode well if the Preds even get in the
playoffs. They've been inconsistent on both ends of the ice and in net,
though Pekka Rinne always can turn it on and be good enough to steal a
series.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Kings - remember them - are flying
under the radar.
19. Oilers (15-13-7, 37 points, 10th in West) — What has gotten into
Edmonton? The Oilers won four straight, including shutouts of the Blues
and Canucks, and suddenly are knocking on the door of eighth and ninth
seeds St. Louis and Nashville. Still a very young club, but dangerous
nonetheless.
20. Blue Jackets (15-14-7, 37 points, 11th in West) — Ex-Ranger Artem
Anisimov is thriving in his new home, while Brandon Dubinsky has had an
injury-plagued season. Columbus is not struggling enough to be a hard
seller at the deadline but also not a strong enough contender to add major
pieces. Rock, meet hard place.
21. Capitals (17-17-2, 36 points, 10th in East) — This team is average at
best, and forward Mike Ribeiro is a heavy subject of trade speculation, but
Washington still is the most likely team to catch the Winnipeg Jets for the
South-Least Division title.
22. Hurricanes (16-17-2, 34 points, 11th in East) — The Canes traded for
defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron to add experience to a blue line with a
couple significant injuries, as my pick for this year's surprise team tries to
dig out of its recent slump to catch faltering Winnipeg and fend off middling
Washington.
23. Philadelphia Flyers (15-17-3, 33 points, 13th in East) — The difference
between this team and the Lightning is that Tampa Bay fired its coach, Guy
Boucher, but the Flyers' Peter Laviolette is hanging around at least to finish
the season.
24. Coyotes (15-15-6, 36 points, 12th in West) — A recent six-game losing
streak sent Phoenix spiraling into possible sell mode, with top defenseman
Keith Yandle reportedly available, as goals are coming few and far
between.
25. Stars (16-16-3, 35 points, 13th in West) — Dallas had sold off two of its
recently-added forwards, Jagr and Roy, as they hover around .500 in a
Western Conference that is deeper than the East.
26. Sabres (14-17-6, 34 points, 12th in East) — Buffalo is and has been a
definite seller during this trade season, but the Sabres still managed to
embarrass the previously-hot Penguins on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
27. Lightning (15-18-2, 32 points, 14th in East) — GM Steve Yzerman fired
Boucher and unloaded Bergeron on defense for more draft picks as the
Lightning search for answers under new head coach Jon Cooper. What
they need is better goaltending and defense.
28. Flames (13-17-4, 30 points, 14th in West) — GM Jay Feaster has
unloaded the face of his franchise in Iginla and a top defenseman in
Bouwmeester, as the Flames begin a new era after a disappointing start to
this lockout-shortened season.
29. Avalanche (12-20-4, 28 points, 15th in West) — Former Ranger John
Mitchell and ex-Isle and Ranger PA Parenteau have been solid additions,
and Matt Duchene is always a dangerous threat. But not much else to say
about the Avs.
30. Panthers (12-19-6, 30 points, 15th in East) — The Rangers' 3-1 home
loss to this team was inexcusable.
New York Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667843
New York Islanders
Islanders don't want to disturb chemistry, stand pat
Originally published: April 3, 2013 8:19 PM
Updated: April 3, 2013 9:04 PM
By ARTHUR STAPLE
WASHINGTON -- The Islanders were silent on deadline day.
General manager Garth Snow was unable to come to contract extension
terms with either captain Mark Streit or goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, but
neither was in danger of being dealt as the hours wound down to 3 p.m.
Wednesday.
Snow was never interested in the rental market, acquiring or selling off
players with expiring contracts. He did have a few discussions about trades,
he said, but nothing that fit his team.
"I'm confident with the guys we have in that locker room," Snow told
Newsday. "I didn't want to disrupt the chemistry that's been built over the
last few months."
The Islanders moved into the top eight in the Eastern Conference with
Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Jets and the only pieces they've added this
season are from their own prospect pool: Anders Lee, the Isles' sixth-round
pick in 2009, scored his first NHL goal on his first shot on Tuesday.
The Isles activated Jesse Joensuu off the suspended list Wednesday. He
has been skating with the team for several weeks after sports hernia
surgery and could be added as rosters expanded at midnight on Tuesday.
But other than that, there were no deals. Snow had calls on a few of his
veteran depth players, most notably defenseman Radek Martinek, but the
GM believes he needs those veterans for the playoff push over the final 11
games, beginning with Thursday night's matchup against the Capitals.
Snow and Streit's representatives are believed to be less than $1 million per
year apart on a proposed three-year extension. But even if Streit leaves
when free agency opens on July 5, Snow had no interest in moving Streit
for draft picks with the team on the cusp of their first playoff berth since
2006-07.
"For me, today is not a deadline in that regard," Snow said. "We're in a
playoff position right now and I feel the guys we have will be able to fortify it
and take the next step."
Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667844
New York Islanders
Rookie Anders Lee makes good first impression on Islanders
Published: April 3, 2013 5:34 PM
By STEVEN MARCUS
John Tavares was asked about center Anders Lee, the fresh, new face on
the Islanders, and how Tavares might help the college kid from Notre Dame
learn about the NHL.
"I think he's actually older than me," Tavares said with a grin, "so it's kind of
funny that I'd be going to him giving him a lot of advice."
Lee, 22, was born July 3, 1990, Tavares Sept. 20 of that year. Lee may
have just arrived from his junior year at Notre Dame, where he scored 61
goals and 55 assists in three seasons, but he's certainly ready to take some
NHL shifts. "He's obviously a professional now, he's had great years at
college," Tavares said. "He showed [Tuesday] that he fits right in."
The 6-3, 227-pound Lee scored on his first shot in his first game in the
Islanders' 5-2 victory over the Jets. "It was amazing, everything just kind of
fell into place," Lee said Wednesday at IceWorks. "It was a dream come
true to have that first game, especially how it went down, it was pretty
awesome." His parents were at Nassau Coliseum. "I couldn't be happier
they could be there to support me. We all enjoyed it."
Lee was drafted in the sixth round by the Islanders in 2009, but decided to
attend college. The Minnesota native was a star quarterback in high school
and watching Notre Dame football from the stands fulfilled his appetite for
the sport. "You've got to be a pretty special player to play at Notre Dame,
that was something that was out of my reach," he said. "The games were
some of the funnest part of the fall. I enjoyed supporting the team and being
there with my classmates."
After three years of college hockey, Lee decided to accept a two-year entrylevel contract with the Islanders. "I was presented with this opportunity, it
was something I wanted," he said, "and I felt I was ready to take that step."
Coach Jack Capuano was impressed with Lee's debut, saying, "I thought
overall he played well, got pucks to the net, went to the net hard. I was
pleased with his game."
Lee expects to be involved in the playoff push. "These guys are battling," he
said. "They're right there. We're all trying to keep that going, keep the wins
coming. Whatever part it is, I'm willing to do it."
Notes & quotes: Defenseman Andrey Pedan signed a three-year, entrylevel deal. He was sent to Bridgeport.
Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667845
New York Rangers
Trade Deadline Day: Rangers Send Gaborik to Columbus
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
As the N.H.L. trading deadline at 3 p.m. approached, the Rangers blew up
their lineup, trading forward Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In return, the Rangers will receive three relatively obscure players: forwards
Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett and defenseman John Moore. Dorsett is
out indefinitely with a broken collarbone.
Gaborik scored 41 goals for the Rangers last season and 42 three seasons
ago, his first with the team, who acquired him as a free agent at the express
request of Coach John Tortorella. But Gaborik scored only 9 goals in 35
games this season as the Rangers’ offense sputtered, dropping to last in
the league in goals per game.
At the start of the season, the Rangers were believed to have a fearsome
attack, with Gaborik, Brad Richards and Rick Nash, the 35-goal scorer they
acquired from Columbus over the summer.
“You always hear rumors – that’s just the way it is,” Gaborik said at practice
Tuesday, the last time he talked to reporters as a Ranger, when asked how
it felt to be the subject of trade rumors. “You can’t control it, so you just try
to focus on practice today and the game tomorrow. Whatever’s going to
happen is going to happen.
“You hear obviously the rumors, but you can’t control what’s going to
happen and you can’t let it distract you,” he said. “My job is to play for
Rangers.”
In exchange for Gaborik, who has scored 333 goals and 333 assists for 666
points in 757 games over 12 seasons with the Rangers and the Minnesota
Wild, General Manager Glen Sather acquired three players with low
offensive production, one of whom is known for fighting. Gaborik had 393
penalty minutes.
Dorsett was the Blue Jackets’ alternate captain. He has 27 goals, 38 assists
for 65 points and 727 penalty minutes in 280 N.H.L. games. He has fought
74 times in the N.H.L.
Brassard had 58 goals and 111 assists for 169 points in 308 N.H.L. games,
and 184 penalty minutes.
Moore has 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points and 10 penalty minutes in 86
career N.H.L. games.
The Gaborik trade was the highest-profile move of deadline day, which
started slowly. Here are the deals that unfolded throughout the day.
New York Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667846
New York Rangers
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
Ottawa traded goalie Ben Bishop to Tampa Bay for center Cory Conacher,
second among rookie scorers, and a fourth-round pick in the 2013 draft. ...
Buffalo dealt its captain, right wing Jason Pominville, and a fourth-round
pick in the 2014 draft to Minnesota for left wing Johan Larsson, goalie Matt
Hackett, and a first-round pick in 2013 and a second-round pick in 2014. ...
Phoenix traded left wing Steve Sullivan to the Devils for a seventh-round
pick in the 2014 draft. Sullivan, 38, started his career with the Devils in
1995.
Published: April 4, 2013
New York Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
Rangers Deal Gaborik to Columbus
Seventeen deals involving 30 players were made before Wednesday’s
N.H.L. trading deadline, and among the biggest was the Rangers’ trade of
Marian Gaborik, a three-time 40-goal scorer, and two prospects to the
Columbus Blue Jackets for three relatively obscure players and a late-round
draft choice.
In exchange for the 31-year-old Gaborik, the Rangers acquired forwards
Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett, defenseman John Moore and a sixthround pick in the 2014 draft.
The Rangers also sent the minor league defensemen Steven Delisle and
Blake Parlett to the Blue Jackets.
“I was surprised,” Gaborik said in an interview with the Canadian sports
network TSN. “It’s a new challenge for me. I enjoyed my time in New York,
but when somebody really wants you and somebody tries to trade for you,
it’s good.”
Gaborik, a soft-spoken Slovakian wing with blazing speed and a strong
wrist shot, scored 41 goals last season in leading the Rangers to the best
record in the Eastern Conference.
He had off-season shoulder surgery and started slowly this year, scoring
nine goals in 35 games. His slump was part of a teamwide offensive
collapse. Entering Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the
Rangers were averaging a league-worst 2.26 goals a game.
“We have a great team on paper, a lot of talented guys; we couldn’t execute
scoring goals, and the power play hasn’t been great,” Gaborik said.
Gaborik was often benched by Coach John Tortorella or relegated to the
third line. He and Tortorella had an up-and-down relationship, with
Tortorella expressing deep frustration with Gaborik or praising him lavishly.
Soon after joining the Rangers during the 2008-9 season, Tortorella lobbied
to sign Gaborik as a free agent. Glen Sather, the club’s president and
general manager, accomplished that before the 2009-10 season.
But last season, with the Rangers trailing by a goal during the third period of
Game 2 of the conference finals against the Devils, Tortorella benched
Gaborik for making a defensive error.
“On the second goal, I didn’t get the puck out, I guess,” Gaborik said. “I
don’t know. You’ll have to ask him.”
On Wednesday, Tortorella said there was no friction between him and
Gaborik.
“Gabby and I have a great relationship,” Tortorella said. “No matter what’s
going on with him, he’s a good man. I’ll tell you right now, I’ll miss him.”
Dorsett, 26, was the Blue Jackets’ alternate captain, but he is out for the
season with a broken collarbone. He has 27 goals, 38 assists and 727
penalty minutes in 280 games. He has also been involved in 74 fights.
Brassard, 25, has 58 goals, 111 assists and 184 penalty minutes in 308
games. He was a first-round draft choice in 2006 after two strong seasons
in the Quebec junior league. With Columbus, he played center alongside
Rick Nash, now a Ranger, on occasion.
Moore, 22, is also a former first-round choice, in the 2009 draft. He has 2
goals, 6 assists and 10 penalty minutes in 86 games.
The Rangers gained about $1.7 million under the salary cap, which will fall
by more than 9 percent next season. They gave up Gaborik’s cap hit of
$7.5 million for next season. The combined hit of Moore’s, Brassard’s and
Dorsett’s salaries next season comes to about $5.8 million.
That will give Sather room to maneuver as he seeks to re-sign Derek
Stepan and other young players in the next two years.
SLAP SHOTS
667847
New York Rangers
After Hasty Hellos, New Rangers Make Quick Work of Penguins
By JEFF Z. KLEIN
Published: April 3, 2013
No matter how much of a head-scratcher the Marian Gaborik trade may
have seemed on Wednesday, the Rangers did not seem to miss him at all
at Madison Square Garden. Instead, with three newly acquired players
combining to score four goals, the rebooted Rangers put together their best
performance of the season, routing the Eastern Conference-leading
Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-1.
Two of the new players rushed from Columbus and arrived at the Garden
15 minutes before warm-ups, and the third was exhausted after an
overnight flight from the West Coast. Yet they played superbly.
For one night at least, General Manager Glen Sather looked like a genius.
Ryane Clowe, a rugged 30-year-old wing acquired Tuesday from San Jose
for draft choices, scored his first two goals of the season and added an
assist.
Derick Brassard, a 25-year-old former junior star acquired from the Blue
Jackets in the Gaborik deal, had a goal and two beautiful assists, all on the
power play, and added a third assist at even strength.
John Moore, a 22-year-old defenseman also acquired Wednesday from
Columbus, who Coach John Tortorella said was “still learning the game,”
scored his first goal of the season.
“It’s been a crazy day for me and my teammates,” Brassard said.
After practicing with the Blue Jackets at noon, Brassard, Moore and Derek
Dorsett, an injured forward also acquired by the Rangers, went home to the
apartment building they shared to watch trade coverage on the NHL
Network. Steve Mason, a goalie who would be traded to Philadelphia that
afternoon, was also there.
All of them received calls from the Columbus general manager, one after
another, minutes apart.
“We hopped on a plane at 3 o’clock or so, got to New York about 45
minutes before warm-ups, and then got to the Garden maybe 15 minutes
before warm-ups,” Brassard said. “Sometimes you play your best game
when you don’t worry about anything. The assistant coach talked to us for
five minutes, said this is how we play, then we just jumped out there. It was
quite the experience. I’ll remember it the rest of my life, I’m sure.”
Ryan McDonagh and Brian Boyle also scored for the Rangers as they hit
the three-quarter mark of the season. The Rangers have 39 points, same
as the Devils and the Islanders. The Rangers and the Devils have played
36 games, and the Islanders have played 37.
Henrik Lundqvist stopped 26 shots and recorded his 268th victory as a
Ranger, passing Ed Giacomin for second on the team’s career list and
trailing only Mike Richter, who has 301.
The Rangers entered the game with the lowest-scoring offense in the
N.H.L. They scored more than five goals in a game for the first time this
season.
The old-look Rangers had not beaten the Penguins in seven straight
games, but the new-look Rangers jumped to a 3-0 first-period lead and
never let up.
“I just shook their hands and told them to go out and have fun,” Coach John
Tortorella said of his hasty pregame meeting with Brassard and Moore.
“That just throws coaching out the window. Funny how it works sometimes.”
Clowe practiced with the Rangers in the morning after sleeping only a halfhour on the overnight flight from San Jose.
“I took about an hour sleep after the morning skate because I was too
excited to sleep,” Clowe said. “I just came to the game. I kind of felt a little
fatigued toward the third. Pure adrenaline for the first couple periods there.”
The Penguins’ 15-game winning streak ended Tuesday night in a 4-1 loss
to Buffalo. They were without Sidney Crosby, out indefinitely with a broken
jaw, and defensemen Paul Martin and Kris Letang.
New York Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667848
New York Rangers
The Rangers need it, too.
New York Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
NY Rangers send Marian Gaborik to Columbus Blue Jackets as NHL trade
deadline expires
By Pat Leonard / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Updated: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 8:00 PM
The Rangers acquired a big-time scorer from the Columbus Blue Jackets
last summer, but on Wednesday afternoon, the NHL’s lowest-scoring team
surprisingly sent one back.
With less than a half hour remaining until the 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline,
the Rangers pulled off a stunner by dealing three-time 40-goal scorer
Marian Gaborik to Columbus along with AHLers Steve Delisle and Blake
Parlett in exchange for center Derick Brassard, 25, right wing Derek
Dorsett, 26, defenseman John Moore, 22, and a sixth-round pick in the
2014 NHL draft, a source confirmed to the Daily News.
In a telling sign that the relationship between player and organization had
run its course, Gaborik agreed to waive his no-move clause so he could
rejoin former Ranger teammates Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and
Vinny Prospal in Columbus.
“I enjoyed my time in New York,” Gaborik said in a conference call
Wednesday night, “but I think the way this played out, there was a team that
really wanted me, and another team that wanted to go in a different
direction and trade me.”
Brassard and Moore made their Rangers debuts immediately on
Wednesday night at the Garden against the Pittsburgh Penguins, while
Dorsett remains on injured reserve with a broken collarbone.
The timing of Gaborik’s trade was even more surprising than its occurrence.
The 31-year-old Slovakian carries a hefty $7.5 million annual cap hit into
next season, when the salary cap ceiling drops from $64.3 million to $70.2
million, so the Rangers were expected to field suitors. But New York is the
NHL’s lowest-scoring team, and trading away one of its few gamebreakers
– even if he had just one goal in his last 12 games – does not improve the
roster, particularly in the short term.
Gaborik scores nine goals and 10 assists in 35 games with the Rangers this
season.
Gaborik had 114 goals and 115 assists in 255 regular season games in
three-plus seasons with the Rangers, but he had a rocky relationship with
coach John Tortorella.
The coach publicly criticized his team’s leading scorer following last year’s
playoff run to the Eastern Conference finals, despite Gaborik scoring the
game-winning goal in a triple-OT victory over the Capitals in Game 3 of the
second round and leading the team in scoring in the regular season with 41
goals. Not long after Tortorella aired his criticism, it was revealed the 31year-old Slovakian forward had played most of the postseason – including
that game in Washington – with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Last week in Ottawa Tortorella and Gaborik had an animated 12-minute onice conversation after practice. It turned out Gaborik’s days as a Ranger
were numbered.
“I’ll miss him,” Tortorella said Wednesday. “He has grown as he’s been with
us. Quite honestly when he first came here I don’t think he really had
enough skin on him. He has skin on him, and I respect him, and I believe
he’ll get his game back. You can see his game coming … I think he’s going
to play really well, and in the situation we get a number of assets and some
depth onto our team and with trying to sign (pending restricted free-agent
center Derek Stepan) and players like that, it gives us a little flexibility there
also.”
Depth and flexibility are valuable, but on Wednesday night, only 12 of the
Rangers on the ice were players from last year’s club that had finished No.
1 in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets beamed over
their acquisition of one of the league’s top scorers.
“We are excited to have him on our team,” Dubinsky told the Daily News via
telephone on Wednesday. “He has proven in his career he can score, and
we need that here for sure.”
667849
New York Rangers
Full NHL trade deadline transactions list, led by NY Rangers sending
Marian Gaborik to Columbus Blue Jackets
BY Pat Leonard
Here is a complete list of the 17 trades involving 30 NHL players prior to the
3 p.m. deadline on Wednesday, courtesy of the league:
-Anaheim traded C Brandon McMillan to Phoenix for C Matthew Lombardi.
-Anaheim traded G Jeff Deslauriers to Minnesota for future considerations.
-Boston traded C Maxime Sauve to Chicago for C Rob Flick.
-Buffalo traded RW Jason Pominville and Buffalo's 4th-round pick in the
2014 NHL Draft to Minnesota for LW Johan Larsson, G Matt Hackett,
Minnesota's 1st-round pick in 2013 and 2nd-round pick in 2014.
-Calgary traded LW Blake Comeau to Columbus for Columbus' 5th-round
pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
-Carolina traded LW Jussi Jokinen to Pittsburgh for a conditional pick in the
2013 NHL Draft.
-Colorado traded D Ryan O'Byrne to Toronto for a 4th-round pick in the
2014 NHL Draft.
-Columbus traded G Steve Mason to Philadelphia for G Michael Leighton
and Philadelphia's 3rd-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
-Columbus traded RW Derek Dorsett, C Derick Brassard, D John Moore
and Columbus' 6th-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft to NY Rangers for RW
Marian Gaborik, D Blake Parlett and D Steven Delisle.
-Florida traded C Jerred Smithson to Edmonton for Edmonton's 4th-round
pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
-Nashville traded RW Martin Erat and C Michael Latta to Washington for C
Filip Forsberg.
-Nashville traded D Scott Hannan to San Jose for a conditional pick in the
2013 NHL Draft.
-Ottawa traded G Ben Bishop to Tampa Bay for C Cory Conacher and
Philadelphia's 4th-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft (previously acquired).
-Phoenix traded LW Raffi Torres to San Jose for Florida's 3rd-round pick in
the 2013 NHL Draft (previously acquired).
-Phoenix traded LW Steve Sullivan to New Jersey for New Jersey's 7thround pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.
-Pittsburgh traded G Patrick Killeen to Columbus for future considerations.
-St. Louis traded D Wade Redden to Boston for a conditional pick in the
2014 NHL Draft.
There also were two waiver claims today: Philadelphia claimed RW Adam
Hall from Tampa Bay, and Winnipeg claimed C Mike Santorelli from Florida.
New York Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667850
New York Rangers
NY Rangers trade Marian Gaborik to Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange
for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore
BY Pat Leonard
The Rangers acquired a big-time scorer from the Columbus Blue Jackets
last summer, but on Wednesday afternoon, they surprisingly sent one back.
With less than a half hour remaining until the 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline,
the Rangers pulled off a shocker by dealing three-time 40-goal scorer
Marian Gaborik to Columbus in exchange for center Derick Brassard, 25,
right wing Derek Dorsett, 26, defenseman John Moore, 22, and a sixthround draft pick in this year’s draft, a source confirmed to the Daily News.
Just as tellingly as New York seeking the deal, Gaborik agreed to waive his
no-move clause to allow the trade to happen.
“I was surprised,” Gaborik told TSN on a phone interview Wednesday
afternoon. “I had heard rumors here and there but I didn’t try to focus on
that. I can’t control what the teams are doing. So I was surprised, but this is
a new challenge and I’m looking forward to it … I enjoyed my time in New
York, of course. But when somebody wants you and somebody’s tring to
trade you, it’s good that somebody actually wants you on their team. So I
decided this way, and they seem like they’re going to have a good team
down the road.”
The entire reason the Rangers dealt for Rick Nash last summer was
because they couldn’t score enough goals, even with Gaborik popping in 41
last season, when the team finished No. 1 in the Eastern Conference and
advanced to the conference finals before falling in six games to the Devils.
New York sacrificed depth in Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Tim
Erixon in the Nash deal with Columbus. Essentially, the Rangers have sent
Gaborik back to the Jackets in order to try and undo the mistake they made
last offseason by losing forwards Brandon Prust, Ruslan Fedotenko and
John Mitchell in addition to the assets they gave up for Nash.
TSN originally reported the deal. Dorsett has a broken collarbone and is on
injured reserve.
Brassard and Moore are former first-round picks, and Gaborik carried one
more year of a $7.5 million salary on his contract, so his contract was not
appealing to the Rangers as they must fit under next season’s $64.3 million
league salary cap ceiling (reduced from $70.2 million this season).
But the Rangers are the NHL’s lowest-scoring team, and trading away one
of the few gamebreakers on their roster does not improve the roster,
particularly in the short term.
Gaborik has just nine goals and 10 assists in 35 games, including just one
goal in last 12 games. But almost every Ranger has struggled to score this
season, and Gaborik is one of the few who has the talent and experience
snap out of it in a big way.
Columbus sure is aware of what his acquisition means.
“We are excited to have him on our team,” Dubinsky told the Daily News via
telephone on Wednesday. “He has proven in his career he can score, and
we need that here for sure. Also, I think it will be great for him to have Vinny
(Prospal), myself, and Artie (Anisimov) whom he is very familiar with.”
John Tortorella started Gaborik at the left wing this season, even though
Gaborik prefers the right wing and has played there most of his NHL career.
Last postseason, Gaborik struggled and Tortorella criticized Gaborik public
for his poor play, particularly in the Eastern Conference finals, until days
later when it was revealed that the 31-year-old forward had played through
a torn labrum in his shoulder.
Early this season, even when Gaborik was scoring, Tortorella delivered
backhanded compliments at his star forward when discussing his strong
play, saying the Slovakian had improved from his early days with the
Rangers when he would sit out practices because he was “sore.”
In other words, there shouldn’t be any questions why Gaborik agreed to
waive his no-move clause.
Gaborik finished his Rangers career with 114 goals and 115 assists in 255
regular season games. He had just six goals and seven assists in 25 playoff
games with New York, but most of those games occurred when he was
playing with the injured shoulder.
Gaborik did not appear concerned that he would be traded when
approached after Tuesday’s practice in Greenburg.
“I try not to think about it,” Gaborik told the Daily News. “Every year there’s
some different names flying around, rumors. I’ve heard my name in there. I
can’t control it, so I’m not thinking about that. . . . But I want to win with
these guys.”
Of course, eventually the Rangers decided it was best to move Gaborik and
he responded by their lack of interest in his talents by waiving his no-move
clause.
“We weren’t playing consistently enough,” Gaborik told TSN on
Wednesday. “We had a great team on paper. We had a lot of talented guys.
We just couldn’t execute as far as scoring goals, and the power play hasn’t
been great. So there were a few factors there.”
New York Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667851
New York Rangers
Marc Staal has been working out at MSG Training Center; NY Rangers
assign Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, Jesper Fast to AHL's Whale
BY Pat Leonard
Rangers defenseman Marc Staal has been working out at the team’s
practice facility in Greenburgh, and though that does not necessarily place
him close to a return, Staal’s new helmet (photo below) was sitting at his
locker on Wednesday morning with a large new visor attached to protect
the right eye he injured on a deflected slap shot in late February.
The Rangers continued to shake up their roster just hours before the NHL
trade deadline, sending rookies J.T. Miller, Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast
all to the AHL’s Connecticut Whale.
RYANE CLOWE ARRIVES IN NEW YORK ON RED-EYE FLIGHT TO
PLAY VS. PENGUINS
Miller played in 26 of 27 games beginning on Feb. 5 following his call-up
this season, only sitting one game due to injury. But he had no goals in 24
games after scoring two in his second game, his Garden debut. He has
been nursing an injured left wrist, and he struggled in Montreal on Saturday
night and again at the Garden on Monday night against the Jets.
Kreider has been a human yo-yo this season, being bounced back and forth
between the NHL and AHL. He created offense and scored in Philadelphia
during his most recent call-up, but once Mats Zuccarello entered the lineup
and created offensively, John Tortorella dropped Kreider to the fourth line,
where he plays fewer minutes and is more exposed defensively. Being
demoted to a lower line did not put Kreider in a position to succeed.
Tortorella expressed concern about both Miller and Kreider after Monday’s
4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets, when neither rookie played in the third
period.
“I’m worried about them,” Tortorella said. “I’m worried about (Miller). We
play so many close games, there’s just too many mistakes … Not that I’m
upset with them (Miller and Kreider). I just think the stakes are high, we play
so many close games, and I’ve just got to watch how they go through the
game, do I trust them? I’m kind of up in the air there, quite honestly,
because I don’t want to screw up their development either. The stakes are
too high right now, so we’ll see where we go there.”
Fast never officially was added to the Rangers NHL roster, but he skated in
his first Rangers practice on Tuesday to show the coaches what he can do.
He played a full season in the Swedish Elite League with HV71.
BLUESHIRTS DEAL DRAFT PICKS FOR CLOWE DAY BEFORE NHL
TRADE DEADLINE
Ryane Clowe and Arron Asham will replace Kreider and Miller in the lineup
Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who will be cranky after
laying an egg in Tuesday’s 4-1 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres that
snapped the Pens’ 15-game winning streak.
Asham goes back into the lineup after inexplicably being scratched for two
games despite adding energy and one goal in three appearances after a
long absence due to a back injury.
Pittsburgh, by the way, traded a conditional draft pick to Carolina in
exchange for forward Jussi Jokinen, adding him to their recent haul via
trade of Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow and Douglas Murray.
PROJECTED RANGERS LINEUP (lines other than Stepan’s are educated
guesses)
Forwards: Rick Nash-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan, Mats Zuccarello -Brad
Richards-Marian Gaborik, Carl Hagelin-Brian Boyle-Ryan Clowe, Taylor
Pyatt -Darroll Powe-Arron Asham … Defenseman: Ryan McDonagh-Dan
Girardi, Michael Del Zotto-Anton Stralman, Roman Hamrlik-Steve Eminger
…Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist … Scratches: Matt Gilroy.
Notes:Zuccarello could remain on the Richards line or move back down … I
believe McDonagh and Girardi will be reunited against the Penguins to face
the Iginla-Malkin-Neal line.
New York Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667852
New York Rangers
After trade of Marian Gaborik, Rangers' newcomers step up in rout of
Penguins
By Pat Leonard / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 10:26 PM
The Rangers explained Wednesday afternoon’s stunning trade of threetime 40-goal scorer Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets the only
way they could: by throttling the first-place Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-1, hours
later at the Garden. Led by Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard and John Moore,
the newcomers all scored and combined for four goals and eight points in
their debuts.
“There were a lot of distractions,” said center Brian Boyle, a rumored trade
target who stayed put and busted out of a slump with a career-high four
points (goal, three assists) playing with crafty center Brassard (goal, three
assists). “It was a ‘When are these guys gonna get here, thank God I’m still
here’ type of thing. At a certain point you have to focus on Pittsburgh. It was
a pretty tough task, but I think we did that. The guys came in, shook our
hands and we went out and played.”
Brassard, 25, was also instrumental in all three Rangers power-play goals,
as the Blueshirts scored on their first three man advantages — the first time
they’ve scored three power-play goals in a game this season.
Clowe, 30, a winger acquired from San Jose on Tuesday for draft picks,
scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist despite arriving
in New York on a red-eye flight and sleeping a total of 90 minutes all day.
“My gut feeling was telling me I would fit in pretty well here,” said Clowe, a
6-2, 225-pound bruiser who waived his no-trade clause to join the Rangers.
One win over the stumbling Penguins (28-10-0, 56 points) — losers of two
straight without injured captain Sidney Crosby (broken jaw) — does not
validate GM Glen Sather trading away Gaborik, who had 114 goals and 115
assists in 255 games as a Ranger during three-plus seasons. But a blowout
win over a team that recently won 15 straight games — with Clowe scoring
as many goals as Gaborik had in his previous 22 contests — certainly was
a start.
“It’s always sad to see someone leave who you’ve played with for a lot of
years,” said Henrik Lundqvist (26 saves). “You felt some sort of
responsibility that someone had to leave because we haven’t gotten the job
done. It was almost you use that energy to try to play even better.”
Gaborik, whose relationship with coach John Tortorella soured, waived his
no-move clause to allow the trade because, as he said in a conference call:
“There was a team that really wanted me, and another team that wanted to
go in a different direction and trade me.”
But the Rangers (18-15-3, 39 points), in a three-way tie with the Devils and
Islanders in points, went from ninth in the Eastern Conference to the
seventh spot by virtue of having a game in hand over the Isles and more
regulation and overtime wins than New Jersey.
The deal for Brassard, Moore and Derek Dorsett (broken collarbone; injured
reserve) will help the Rangers regain some of the grit they lost in the Rick
Nash trade and to free agency. It also frees up money this summer to resign the likes of pending restricted free agent Derek Stepan.
Sather, who is recovering from March 21 prostate cancer surgery, worked
the phones on this deadline deal, and on Wednesday night, it brought many
returns despite the late arrivals of Brassard and Moore and Clowe’s fatigue.
“Throws coaching right out the window, huh?” Tortorella said.
New York Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667853
New York Rangers
Rangers’ Gaborik shipped to Blue Jackets
By BRETT CYRGALIS
Last Updated: 4:31 AM, April 4, 2013
Posted: 2:47 AM, April 4, 2013
It was arguably the biggest trade-deadline move in franchise history, and
now the Rangers have to hope it pays off.
Before Wednesday night’s 6-1 win over the first-place Penguins, the team
sent slumping star winger Marian Gaborik, along with minor league
defensemen Steven Delisle and Blake Parlett, to the Blue Jackets for center
Derick Brassard, defenseman John Moore and winger Derek Dorsett, plus a
sixth-round pick.
Brassard and Moore, who scored twice last night, were both in the lineup at
the Garden — Dorsett is injured with a broken collarbone, and expected
back by season’s end.
“I’m hoping it’s going to help us with some new juice,” coach John Tortorella
said before the game. “It’s part of the game, it happens a lot at deadlines,
and it’s just time to play.”
After leading the team with 41 regular-season goals last year, Gaborik had
nine goals through 33 games in this lockout-shortened season and that was
not enough. Things came to a head with Tortorella in Ottawa last Friday
when the two had a lengthy, animated conversation on the practice ice at
Carleton University, but the coach does not want their relationship to be
taken out of context.
“Gabby and I have a great relationship,” Tortorella said. “... He’s a good
man and I’ll miss him.”
What the team won’t miss is Gaborik’s $7.5 million cap hit, which would go
for next season, as well. With the cap ceiling coming down about $6 million
to $64.3 million for next year, the Rangers are most concerned with getting
deals done for important restricted free agents Ryan McDonagh, Derek
Stepan and Carl Hagelin.
The other recent trade acquisition, power forward Ryane Clowe, will be an
unrestricted free agent at season’s end, and is expected to at least have
conversations about an extension. Clowe, 30, made his Blueshirts debut
last night, as well, and also contributed a pair of goals.
Leading the new group is Brassard, 25, who was the sixth overall pick of
the Blue Jackets in 2006 and had centered star winger Rick Nash in
Columbus before last summer’s deal which brought Nash to Broadway.
Moore, 22, is still a work in progress on the blue line, but is noted as a
fantastic skater who can add some depth to a defensive corps made
shallow by Marc Staal’s absence.
As Gaborik said on a conference call, “it’s nice to be on a team that wants
me,” and that might not always have been evident during his tenure in New
York. At times Tortorella relegated him to the fourth line, and at times
benched him entirely.
New York Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667854
New York Rangers
Hurt wrist sidelines Rangers’ Miller
By BRETT CYRGALIS and LARRY BROOKS
Last Updated: 2:52 AM, April 4, 2013
Posted: 2:50 AM, April 4, 2013
At what first seemed like a move to make up for a roster depletion because
of a trade, it turns out Rangers rookie J.T. Miller was recalled Wednesday
hours after being sent down to the minors because his left wrist is still
bothering him, The Post has learned.
Miller took the morning skate Wednesday before the Rangers beat the
Penguins, 6-1 at the Garden, and in the early afternoon was sent to the
AHL’s Connecticut Whale along with fellow rookie forward Chris Kreider.
When the team traded star winger Marian Gaborik just before the 3 p.m.
trade deadline, Miller was recalled, and Kreider went to Hartford.
Originally, it seemed as a precaution just in case Derick Brassard, a center
who came from Columbus in the Gaborik deal, couldn’t make it to New York
in time. But it was really because the team wanted Miller to receive
treatment on the wrist here rather than in Hartford. It was believed he
couldn’t have played if they wanted him to.
Miller, 20, originally hurt the wrist in a game in Newark on March 19, but
played two nights later against the Panthers before having to sit one game
out, March 24 against the Capitals. He returned for the next game, and
played four straight before last night.
It was after the Rangers’ 4-2 over the Jets on Monday that coach John
Tortorella expressed his concern for Miller and Kreider, both of whom he
played sparingly that night.
“Quite honestly, I’m worried about the two kids,” Tortorella said after the
game. “Not that I’m upset with them, I just think the stakes are high, we play
so many close games, and I just have to watch how they go through the
game and, ‘Do I trust them?’ ”
Kreider has been sent down now twice this season, and though before the
last call-up Tortorella said he doesn’t want to be “knee jerking him around,”
it seems the philosophy is the development of Kreider would be best suited
in the minors.
“I never said he was here to stay,” Tortorella said about Kreider before the
game. “I would never say that about a kid that’s still learning to be a pro.”
Defenseman Marc Staal was at the Rangers’ practice facility in Westchester
yesterday and had an off-ice workout. He still is recovering from the horrific
right-eye injury he suffered on March 5 against the Flyers after taking a
puck in the face. His timetable for a return is still unknown, but the team
said he has not suffered any setbacks.
Staal declined to speak to reporters.
Also assigned to the Whale was Swedish winger Jesper Fast, who got his
first practice with the team on Tuesday. ... John Moore, a 22-year-old
defenseman coming over from the Blue Jackets in the Gaborik deal, took
Roman Hamrlik’s spot. Moore scored the Rangers final goal of the night.
New York Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667855
New York Rangers
training camp during which to instill his values, but the coach was not able
to get that group to respond.
It’s on Tortorella to make revamped Blueshirts work
Now, the Rangers have changed the group and the dynamic. It is on
Tortorella to make it work and to direct this orchestra so it makes music to
the Garden’s ears.
By LARRY BROOKS
New York Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
Last Updated: 4:18 AM, April 4, 2013
Posted: 2:49 AM, April 4, 2013
Listen, given the confluence of circumstances featuring the unhealthy
dynamic between Marian Gaborik and coach John Tortorella plus the
slumping sniper’s $7.5 million charge next season under a cap that will
decrease, general manager Glen Sather did quite well indeed Wednesday
in sending No. 10 to Columbus in exchange for Derick Brassard, Derek
Dorsett and John Moore.
That move, a day after the deal with San Jose for Ryane Clowe
dramatically resets the Rangers’ season, adding a rocky road mentality to
the club that had been absent for much of the rocky road the club had
traveled before the extreme makeover produced a bonanza in Wednesday
night’s 6-1 rout of the Penguins at the Garden.
“If we were where we should be this wouldn’t have happened,” said Brad
Richards. “It’s a message to everybody this is not good enough.”
Cap issue or not, it should never have gotten to this with Gaborik, who twice
hit the 40-goal pinnacle in his three full seasons on Broadway but never
could quite convince Tortorella of his value as a winning hockey player.
It seems as if there are a lot of players who don’t seem to have the
necessities required by this coach; who don’t take the body at every turn,
who won’t fling themselves in front of pucks.
You hear a name and your first reaction isn’t necessarily, “He could help the
Rangers,” but rather, “He could never play for Tortorella.”
At some point, that becomes the tail wagging the dog.
A coach who compromises his principles is a coach most often out of work.
But it is a maestro’s responsibility to recognize an orchestra doesn’t consist
of a percussion section alone. It takes strings, woodwinds and bass as well
to make beautiful music.
The Rangers have hit a dramatic reset button over the last two days in
dealing Gaborik and by sacrificing three draft picks to obtain Clowe. They
are a deeper team, having used the deadline to add depth and to address
deficiencies in grit and grind that arose over the summer with, most notably,
the free agent defection of Brandon Prust to Montreal.
Quite rationally, the Rangers didn’t want to pay Prust the $10 million over
four years he received from the Canadiens. The problem is, they have been
paying ever since. They have paid with uninspired play that has them on
the playoff bubble with 12 games to go, and eight of those on the road.
And they paid on Tuesday by sending a second-rounder and Florida’s
previously acquired third-rounder (plus a conditional pick yet to be
determined) to the Sharks for Clowe after already having dealt their 2013
No. 1 for Rick Nash.
Clowe — a bigger, more talented Prust — is an impending free agent, but it
is believed his agent discussed the parameters of an extension with the
Rangers before agreeing to waive his client’s no-trade to come to New
York. Sather should be careful about that, even if the winger adds as much
value down the stretch as he did in last night’s two-goal, one assist
Broadway debut.
For long-term investments in 31-year-old power forwards — and certainly in
the $4-5 million per neighborhood that Clowe, who will turn that age in
September, is likely to receive — are dicey propositions.
The Rangers most surely got more than a bucket full of pucks for Gaborik,
even if he’s one of the rare players around the NHL who can score by the
bucketful. They got three relatively young ones — with Brassard a talented
center, Moore an exceptional skater on the blue line, and Dorsett a tough
pugilist — who could be here for a while.
The Blueshirts entered this season dramatically remade, more top-heavy,
more talent-driven. Perhaps it is because Tortorella was deprived of a
667856
New York Rangers
Newest Rangers key lopsided win
By BRETT CYRGALIS
Last Updated: 4:09 AM, April 4, 2013
Posted: 2:46 AM, April 4, 2013
Rest assured, it will not be like this tomorrow night in Pittsburgh.
Because Wednesday night in the Garden there was as rosy a hue as could
be imagined engulfing a once-dormant Rangers team, as new trade
additions ran amok and led the way to a 6-1 win over the first-place
Penguins.
Showing up 15 minutes before warm-ups were two of the three pieces
returned from Columbus in exchange for Marian Gaborik at yesterday’s
trade deadline, center Derick Brassard and defenseman John Moore
combining for two goals and three assists. And Ryane Clowe, who slept 30
minutes on a red-eye flight Tuesday night after being obtained for draft
picks in a trade with the Sharks, adding his first two goals of the season as
well as an assist.
NICE START: New Ranger Ryane Clowe made an immediate impact last
night with a pair of goals in a 6-1 win over the Penguins.
“Throws coaching right out the window, huh?” John Tortorella sniped.
Turns out, it’s not just the sleepless that benefit from trades like this, either.
The struggling Brian Boyle managed to get his second goal of the season
and add three assists, while Brad Richards also seemed to gain some life
and add another two helpers.
All in all, the 18-15-3 Rangers are now tied with both the Islanders and
Devils in points, but leapfrogged both and into seventh place in the
conference by virtue of more wins than the Devils and one game in hand
over the Islanders.
“Just to have a couple new faces in the room, it changes the dynamic in
here,” said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, solid in making 26 saves. “On the ice is
one thing, but off the ice, it’s going to change too. So hopefully this can help
us.”
It will start tomorrow, when they head to Pittsburgh to finish this home-andhome with the Penguins (28-10-0), who played without Sidney Crosby, still
nursing a broken upper jaw. The Pens were the ones who had taken all of
the early trade-deadline headlines, but they were the ones that came out
flat in the second game of a back-to-back and were wiped out by a Rangers
team that now looks a lot more like the one that was two wins from the
Stanley Cup finals last season.
“We were definitely more in-your-face type of team today,” Lundqivst said.
“We didn’t give them a lot of room. A lot of great things.”
It started early, when Brassard showed immense patience on a power play
midway through the first, circling and getting the puck to Richards at the
point. He fired it, Boyle deflected it in, and up 1-0 things seemed good.
Little did the team know how good they would actually get.
Two minutes later, Ryan McDonagh scored the first even-strength goal for a
Rangers’ defenseman since Anton Stralman against the Jets on Feb. 26, a
stretch of 17 games. Then Clowe got off the season schneid by putting in a
backhand, letting the first-period buzzer sound with the Rangers up 3-0.
“It feels good to get the monkey off the back overall,” Clowe said from under
the Broadway Hat. “I don’t know if it was the no sleep, but there was no
pressure because you’re just going out there and playing free. Overall, the
guys looked pretty loose and it was good.”
Midway through the third, with the Rangers already up 5-1 and Clowe
having scored his second of the night — and season — the puck came
rolling out to Moore at the point. It seemed implausible that it could happen,
but he shot it and somehow it found its way through Marc-Andre Fleury and
the fairy tale beginning was complete.
“Funny how it works,” Tortorella said, smiling.
New York Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667857
New York Rangers
Rangers notes: Ryane Clowe makes Blueshirts debut
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Andrew Gross
Ranger debut
Newly acquired Ryane Clowe was in the lineup Wednesday after taking a
red-eye flight from San Jose and heading straight to the Rangers' morning
skate.
The left wing, 30, said leaving his lone team in eight NHL seasons was
emotional but he chose to waive his no-trade clause to come to the
Rangers because he believes their style of play is the best fit for his rugged
game. Clowe, in the final season of a four-year, $14.5 million deal, hopes to
stay long term.
"I haven't had the year I think I wanted to have," said Clowe, who had no
goals, 11 assists and 79 penalty minutes in 28 games for the Sharks.
Working out
D Marc Staal, sidelined indefinitely with facial injuries and impaired vision
since being struck by a puck March 5, was at the practice facility
Wednesday morning for an off-ice workout.
A helmet with a visor was hanging at his locker stall.
Sent to the AHL
Rookie Chris Kreider was reassigned to Connecticut (AHL) after being
benched in the second period Monday.
Bergen Record LOADED: 04.04.2013
667858
New York Rangers
Rangers rout Penguins, 6-1, as newcomers lead the way
Moore, 22, was the 21st pick in the 2009 draft and the offensive-minded
defenseman has two goals and six assists in 86 NHL games. He’s in the
first season of a three-year entry-level deal that carries a salary cap figure
of $965,000.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
PM
The Rangers need every cent of salary-cap space they can find heading
into the off-season with Derek Stepan, who has developed into their No. 1
center; speedy left wing Carl Hagelin; and Ryan McDonagh, at times their
No. 1 defenseman, all restricted free agents.
Last updated: Wednesday April 3, 2013, 11:43
BY ANDREW GROSS
NEW YORK – Marian Gaborik waived his no-trade clause to go where he
felt wanted and the three newcomers in the Rangers’ lineup – the two
coming in exchange from Columbus not arriving at Madison Square Garden
until 10 minutes before warm-ups – all scored at least one goal to make
sure he wasn’t missed.
“There were a lot of distractions – when are these guys going to get here?
Thank God I’m still here, type of thing,” Brian Boyle said.
Yet even with Derick Brassard and John Moore running into the building
and going on the ice for the game, the Rangers managed a season-high
three power-play goals and a season best for goals in a 6-1 win over the
Penguins on Wednesday night.
“It was crazy, it was wild,” said Clowe, operating on next-to-no sleep after
taking a red-eye from San Jose but scoring two goals with an assist after
going without a goal this season for the Sharks.
Brassard had a goal and three assists, immediately impressing his new
teammates with his passing skills, and defenseman John Moore added the
final goal.
Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves for his 268th win, moving past Eddie
Giacomin into second place on the team’s all-time list as the Rangers (1815-3) leapfrogged the Devils and Islanders into seventh place in the
Eastern Conference.
Gaborik and his five-year, $37.5 million deal, were sent to Columbus along
with minor league defensemen Steven Delisle and Blake Parlett for
Brassard, Moore, the injured Derek Dorsett and a sixth-round pick.
“They’re a team that really wants me,” Gaborik, a 40-goal scorer and the
Rangers’ leading scorer in two of his three seasons in New York, said on a
conference call. “I didn’t have fun this year. I don’t think the whole team has
at all, too.”
Gaborik and coach John Tortorella downplayed reports of a rift between
them.
Still, trading a player of Gaborik’s caliber makes everybody take notice.
“Yeah, it’s always tough but you just deal with it,” said Brad Richards, who
had two assists as he centered Clowe and the newly re-signed Mats
Zuccarello. “The biggest thing is if we would have been where we wanted to
be, none of this would have happened. It’s a message to everyone that it’s
not good enough right now.”
The Rangers, looking a lot more like last season’s high-energy grinders with
a persistent forecheck, snapped a seven-game losing streak to the
Penguins (28-10-0), who host New York on Friday night. The Penguins lost
on back-to-back nights after a 15-game winning streak.
“We haven’t done what’s expected of us; this a chance to prove them
wrong,” said Boyle, who had a goal and two assists after spending the day
worried that he would be traded. “It was a lot of fun to win, obviously, and to
get the offense going. The new guys gave us a spark. More than a spark.”
The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Brassard, 25, was the sixth overall selection in the
2006 draft and had seven goals and 11 assists in 34 games for the Blue
Jackets after setting career highs with 17 goals and 30 assists in 2010-11.
He has one more season left in a four-year, $12.8 million deal that will cost
the Rangers $3.2 million against next season’s salary cap.
Dorsett, 26, has been sidelined since March 7 with a fractured clavicle, but
is expected to be able to play before the season ends. The 6-foot, 190pound agitator has three goals, six assists and 53 penalty minutes in 24
games this season and 727 penalty minutes in 280 career NHL games.
He’s in the first season of a three-year deal with an annual salary cap hit of
$1.67 million.
Bergen Record LOADED: 04.04.2013
667859
New York Rangers
Rangers trade Marian Gaborik to Columbus
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
PM
Last updated: Wednesday April 3, 2013, 6:14
BY ANDREW GROSS
The Rangers traded underperforming but still elite right wing Marian
Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday for forwards Derick
Brassard, 25, and Derek Dorsett, 26, and defenseman John Moore, 22. The
Rangers also receive a sixth-round pick.
Also, minor-league defensemen Steven Delisle, 22, and Blake Parlett, 23,
are headed to the Blue Jackets’ organization.
Dorsett is out for the rest of the season with a fractured clavicle suffered on
March 7. It’s not yet clear whether Brassard or Moore will be available for
Wednesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Gaborik, 31, was considered one of the top free-agent signings for the
Rangers when he left the Minnesota Wild for a five-year, $37.5 million deal
for the 2009-10 season and he reached 40 goals in two of his first three
seasons with the team.
However, he has struggled through this lockout-shortened season with nine
goals and 10 assists in 35 games - and that includes five goals in his first
five games this season.
He and coach John Tortorella have often seemed to not be on the same
page and Gaborik even started Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Montreal with two
shifts on the fourth line after also practicing that way the day before in
Ottawa.
With the salary cap lowering to $64.3 million next season, the Rangers
needed to shed salary.
Brassard counts $3.2 million against the cap next season, Dorsett’s salary
cap figure is $1.67 million the next two seasons, and Moore is at $965,000
next season on his entry-level deal.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Dorsett had three goals, six assists and 53 penalty
minutes in 24 games this season. Overall in 280 NHL games, he has 727
penalty minutes. The 6-1, 202-pound Brassard has seven goals and 11
assists in 34 games and 58 goals and 111 assists in 309 NHL games.
Moore, the Blue Jackets first-round pick (21st overall) in 2009, has two
goals and six assists in 86 games and is a career minus-28.
This trade is a whopper and it will be the Rangers’ only one on trade
deadline day.
Bergen Record LOADED: 04.04.2013
667860
New York Rangers
Rangers trade Marian Gaborik to Columbus
Originally published: April 3, 2013 3:00 PM
Updated: April 3, 2013 9:51 PM
By STEVE ZIPAY
For a team that is searching for goals to trade their top scorer in two of the
past three years is unusual. But the Rangers, battling for a playoff spot, did
just that at the trade deadline Wednesday.
In a blockbuster swap with Columbus -- almost nine months after acquiring
the Blue Jackets leading scorer, Rick Nash, in a trade -- the Rangers sent
Marian Gaborik and two minor-league defensemen to Columbus for center
Derick Brassard, winger Derek Dorsett, defenseman John Moore and a 6thround draft pick in 2014.
Coach John Tortorella said he "will miss Gaborik" and predicted a solid
finish in Columbus. "He was getting chances and coming on in the last few
games," he said.
Gaborik, 33, by far the top player in the transaction, has scored 30 or more
goals seven times, but has been in a season-long funk since undergoing
labrum surgery in the summer. He had just nine goals, and was in and out
of Tortorella's doghouse, occasionally benched. He was demoted to the
fourth line last week. When the pair had a very long, public, heart-to-heart
on the ice at the end of practice in Ottawa last week, it appeared that a
turning point in their relationship had occurred.
After the trade, Gaborik told TSN that it was good to be going to a team
"that wanted him." Later, on a conference call, Gaborik, who was picked up
by a Columbus private jet, said he's talked with ex-Rangers Brandon
Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov. "I'm looking forward to playing with them
again," he said. "You can see this team is going in the right direction."
Moving Gaborik, who has a cap hit of $7.5 million next season, helps the
Rangers in providing some cap flexibility, which will be needed, in part, to
re-sign restricted free agents Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh and Carl
Hagelin, Tortorella said. And the trio should fill "some holes in the middle of
our lineup," he said.
The Rangers also got younger: Brassard, 25, started by centering the third
line Wednesday night; Moore, 22 was on the third defensive pair. Dorsett,
26, sidelined with a broken clavicle, is out up to three more weeks. In effect,
they are replacing some of the bodies lost in the off-season in the Nash
trade and free agency, including defenseman Tim Erixon (Columbus) and
Brandon Prust (Montreal). Brassard has a cap hit of $3.2 million next
season; Dorsett's is $1.63 and Moore, $965,000.
Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667861
New York Rangers
Trade deadline additions Clowe, Brassard and Moore stand out in Rangers'
6-1 win
Originally published: April 3, 2013 10:30 PM
Updated: April 4, 2013 12:37 AM
By STEVE ZIPAY
For one night, at least, call them the rejuvenated Rangers.
Trade-deadline additions Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard and John Moore
combined for four goals and eight points in their Rangers debuts, injecting
offense and tenacity into the lowest-scoring team in the NHL.
The result: A 6-1 rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have lost two straight
after a 15-game winning streak. Pittsburgh played without injured stars
Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang.
Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves and earned career win No. 268, moving
him past Eddie Giacomin and into second place on the all-time Rangers list.
Mike Richter is first with 301 wins.
Clowe, the winger who had not scored in 28 games before being acquired
from the Sharks on Tuesday, beat Marc-Andre Fleury twice and Brassard,
who arrived from Columbus minutes before warmups after the trade of
Marian Gaborik, had a goal and three assists.
The pair scored two of the three power-play goals, the first time that the
Rangers (18-15-3), who climbed into a tie for seventh place in the East,
reached that mark. And Moore, a 22-year-old defenseman, scored on a
slap shot at 9:47 of the third period for his first goal.
"It's crazy, it was wild," said Clowe, 30, who had arrived on a red-eye flight
from California. "And those guys [Brassard and Moore] got here just before
warm-ups. It's what I was talking about with Brassard. Sometimes you just
go play. I didn't expect to have that much offensive input the first game, but
I didn't want to ease into it."
Brassard, 25, a center who played 12:54 and won 11 of 15 faceoffs, thought
along the same lines. "Honestly, when you don's think during the day and
you just show up, sometimes you play your best game," he said. "You just
jump out there and make plays. I'm going to remember this the rest of my
life, for sure."
The Rangers scored three goals in the first, and Clowe, who played 15:22
with five shots and four hits, had one of them -- his first goal of the season
on his 68th shot. Derek Stepan dug out the puck and fed him at 14:19.
Brian Boyle, the subject of trade rumors, tipped in Brad Richards' shot on
the power play at 10:01 of the first to make it 1-0. "The new guys gave us a
spark -- more than a spark," said Boyle, who also had three assists.
"Brassard was making pretty sneaky plays, you have to be ready because
he'll put in on your stick."
Ryan McDonagh blasted another Richards pass past Fleury at 12:19 for a
2-0 lead before Clowe's first strike.
Leading 3-0 in the second, Brassard grabbed a rebound in the slot and
roofed a backhander for his eighth goal and second point at 1:54 for a 4-0
lead.
Clowe didn't miss on the doorstep with the Rangers on the power play
midway through the second when Brassard slid over a no-look pass for his
second assist and third point for a 5-1 lead.
"For all three to go out and play a game like that, it's just impressive,"
Lundqvist said.
Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667862
New York Rangers
Penguins at Rangers.
Staff
So the trade deadline came and went and the Rangers kinda blew up their
roster. So Marian Gaborik is gone and the Rangers are back to having one
legitimate first-line player, just as they were before the Brad Richards
signing.
Ya boys have won one in a row as they begin a home-and-home with the
Sid Crosby-less Penguins, who should be snarly after having their 15-game
winning streak stopped in Buffalo the night before.
Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard and John Moore make their Rangers
debuts. Henrik Lundqvist starts in goal. Chris Kreider was sent to
Connecticut (AHL), as was J.T. Miller, who was then recalled. No idea who
is playing where tonight. Roman Hamrlik is prucha’d.
From what I’m being told, the changeover to the new-look format happens
Thursday afternoon around 1 p.m. (fingers, toes crossed). Should be better
for the mobile devices (fingers, toes crossed).
Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667863
New York Rangers
RANGERS ACQUIRE DERICK BRASSARD, DEREK DORSETT, JOHN
MOORE, AND A SIXTH ROUND DRAFT PICK IN 2014
Send Marian Gaborik, Steven Delisle and Blake Parlett to Columbus
NEW YORK, April 3, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General
Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired forwards
Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett, defenseman John Moore, and a sixth
round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft from Columbus in exchange for
forward Marian Gaborik, and defensemen Steven Delisle and Blake Parlett.
Brassard, 25, has registered seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points,
along with 16 penalty minutes in 34 games this season. He currently ranks
third on Columbus in points, is tied for second in assists and fourth in goals.
He also leads the team with six power play assists, and is tied for the team
lead with seven power play points. Brassard tallied an assist while skating
in his 300th career NHL game on March 12 against Vancouver.
The 6-1, 205-pounder has skated in 309 career regular season contests
over six seasons with Columbus, registering 58 goals and 111 assists for
169 points, along with 184 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in
goals (17), assists (30), points (47), penalty minutes (55), power play goals
(six), power play points (16), and shots on goal (183) during the 2010-11
season. Brassard made his NHL debut on January 11, 2008, against St.
Louis, and recorded his first career point with an assist on January 20,
2008, at Columbus.
The Hull, Quebec native was originally selected by Columbus as a first
round choice, sixth overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Dorsett, 26, has registered three goals and six assists for nine points, along
with 53 penalty minutes in 24 games this season. He has missed the last 12
games with a broken clavicle suffered on March 7 against Vancouver.
Dorsett currently ranks second on Columbus in penalty minutes (53) and
fighting majors (five), and is tied for fourth in hits (55). He posted his first
career Gordie Howe Hat Trick with a goal, assist and fighting major on
February 21 at Detroit.
The 6-0, 195-pounder has skated in 280 career regular season contests
over five seasons with Columbus, registering 27 goals and 38 assists for 65
points, along with 727 penalty minutes. Last season, he established careerhighs in games played (77), goals (12), points (20), penalty minutes (235),
hits (199), power play goals (two), power play points (three), and shots on
goal (137). Dorsett made his NHL debut on October 11, 2008, at Phoenix,
and registered his first career point with a goal on October 21, 2008,
against Vancouver.
The Kindersley, Saskatchewan native was originally selected by Columbus
as a seventh round choice, 189th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Moore, 22, has registered two goals and six assists for eight points, along
with 10 penalty minutes in 86 career regular season games with Columbus.
He has tallied one assist in 17 games this season. The 6-3, 205-pounder
established career-highs in games played (67), goals (two), assists (five),
points (seven), hits (47), blocked shots (70), and shots on goal (64) as a
rookie last season. Moore made his NHL debut on February 5, 2011,
against Edmonton, and recorded his first career point with a goal on
October 25, 2011, against Detroit.
The Winnetka, Illinois native was originally selected by Columbus as a first
round choice, 21st overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Gaborik, 31, has registered nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points, along
with eight penalty minutes in 35 games this season. He signed with the
Rangers as a free agent on July 1, 2009.
Delisle, 22, has split the season between the Connecticut Whale on the
American Hockey League (AHL) and the Greenville Road Warriors of the
ECHL. He has tallied two assists in four games with Connecticut this
season. In Greenville, Delisle has recorded four goals and 16 assists for 20
points, along with 85 penalty minutes and a plus-23 rating in 61 games. He
was acquired by the Rangers from Columbus, along with Rick Nash, in
exchange for Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, and a first
round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft on July 23, 2012.
Parlett, 23, has registered six goals and 22 assists for 28 points, along with
85 penalty minutes in 67 games with the Connecticut Whale (AHL) this
season. He signed with the Rangers as an undrafted free agent on June 2,
2011.
Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667864
New York Rangers
Rangers deal Marian Gaborik to the Blue Jackets (updated)
Posted by: Carp - Posted in Hockey, Lockout, New York Rangers, NHL,
Rangers Report on Apr 03, 2013
The Rangers have traded Marian Gaborik to Columbus for Derek Dorsett
(who is out for the season with a broken collarbone), John Moore and
Derick Brassard and a sixth-round draft pick.
Brassard, 25, is a center with some skill; Dorsett is a little but very tough
winger, and Moore, 20, is a big, mobile defenseman.
Gaborik will enter the final season of his contract next year, at $7.5 million.
More as it comes.
Quick thought: This is a really bad deal for the Rangers who now are back
to one legitimate first-line forward (unless you believe Brad Richards will
bounce back at some point before being bought out).
Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667865
New York Rangers
Trade deadline today; Penguins at Rangers tonight (7:30 NBC start)
on-four situation (0:06) on Monday vs. Winnipeg, and are now minus-1 in
23 four-on-four situations (46:19) this season. Four-on-four goals for (1):
1/23 vs. BOS (Gaborik). Four-on-four goals allowed (2): 1/20 vs. PIT
(Letang); 1/23 vs. BOS (Horton).
TYING A LEGEND
Posted by: Carp –
Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves in a 4-2 win on Monday vs. Winnipeg to
record his 267th career win, and move into a tie with Ed Giacomin for
second on the Rangers’ all-time goalie wins list.
Pre-game notes courtesy of the NYR:
FINISHING THE JOB
NEW YORK RANGERS vs. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
The Blueshirts have registered a point in 85 consecutive games when
leading after the second period, dating back to the 2009-10 season, posting
a record of 79-0-6 over the span. The Rangers’ last regulation loss in a
game when entering the third with the lead was Feb. 4, 2010 (6-5 loss vs.
WSH). New York is 9-0-0 when leading after the second period this season.
Wednesday, Apr. 3, 7:30 p.m.
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Rangers: 17-15-3 (37 pts)
Penguins: 28-8-0 (56 pts)
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Rangers will face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison
Square Garden (7:30 p.m. — TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: 970 The
Apple), to begin a home-and-home set. The Blueshirts currently rank third
in the Atlantic Division standings, and rank eighth in the Eastern
Conference, with a record of 17-15-3 (37 pts). The Rangers enter the
contest having defeated the Winnipeg Jets, 4-2, on Monday at Madison
Square Garden, and have now registered a point in six of their last eight
home games (5-2-1). The Penguins currently own a 28-8-0 (56 pts) record
to rank first in the Eastern Conference, and have won 15 straight games
heading into their contest last night at Buffalo. Following tonight’s contest,
the Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the Penguins on
Friday, Apr. 5, at CONSOL Energy Center (7:00 p.m.), to complete their
home-and-home set.
RANGERS vs. PENGUINS: – All-Time: 117-103-23-8 overall (65-50-9-3 at
home; 52-54-14-5 on the road) – 2013: Tonight is the fourth of five
meetings this season, and the third and final meeting at Madison Square
Garden. The Rangers are 0-3-0 overall (0-2-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road),
following a 3-0 loss on Mar. 16 at CONSOL Energy Center. Rick Nash,
Taylor Pyatt and Ryan Callahan have each tallied a goal for the Rangers,
while Brad Richards and Derek Stepan have recorded a team-high, two
assists apiece in the series. Henrik Lundqvist is 0-3-0 with a 4.02 GAA and
.865 Sv%, and Martin Biron is 0-0-0 with a 1.95 GAA and .950 Sv%. – Last
Season: New York was 2-4-0 overall (1-2-0 mark at home; 1-2-0 mark on
the road). The Rangers penalty kill was 15-17 (88.2% in the season series.
Brad Richards led the team with four assists and six points, while Marian
Gaborik (two goals, three assists) and Carl Hagelin (two goals, two assists)
tied Richards with a team-high, two goals apiece. Henrik Lundqvist was 2-20 with a 2.28 GAA and .931 Sv%, while Martin Biron was 0-2-0 with a 4.54
GAA and .857 Sv%. – New York ranks 12th in the NHL with an 11-6-2 (24
pts) record at home; Pittsburgh ranks third in the NHL with a 13-4-0 (26 pts)
mark on the road – The Rangers are 6-5-1 vs. the Atlantic Division this
season; the Penguins are 11-4-0 vs. the Atlantic Division this season – New
York lists one former Penguin on their roster: Arron Asham (2010-11 –
2011-12) – Pittsburgh lists one former Ranger on their roster: Pascal
Dupuis (2006-07)
INDIVIDUAL CAREER LEADERS vs. PENGUINS: – Henrik Lundqvist — 45
GP, 22-18-5, 2.49 GAA, 2 SO – Martin Biron — 36 GP, 13-17-3-2, 3.05
GAA, 2 SO – Brad Richards — 36 GP, 8-28-36 – Marian Gaborik — 27 GP,
10-12-22 – Rick Nash — 13 GP, 6-5-11 – Dan Girardi — 39 GP, 1-11-12
SPECIAL TEAMS: – The Rangers’ power play is 11-61 (18.0%) in the last
23 games – The Blueshirts have posted a record of 10-4-1 when not
allowing a power play goal – Power Play: The Rangers did not tally a goal
in one power play attempt (1:54) on Monday vs. Winnipeg. New York ranks
25th overall (15-105, 14.3%) and is tied for 21st at home (10-60, 16.7%).
The Rangers are 3-9 (7:53) in five-on-three situations (last – 3/24 vs. WSH),
and 1-1 (0:21) when four-on-three (last – 3/7 at NYI). Shorthanded goals
allowed (4): 2/19 vs. MTL (Diaz, EN); 2/21 at OTT (Silfverberg); 3/3 vs. BUF
(Gerbe); 3/21 vs. FLA (Kopecky, EN). – Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts held
the Jets scoreless in five power play attempts (9:15) and notched a
shorthanded goal on Monday at MSG. New York is tied for 17th overall (94116, 81.0%) and ranks 14th at home (58-69, 84.1%). The Rangers are 7-7
(8:13) in three-on-five situations (last – 4/1 vs. WPG), and 4-4 (4:24) when
three-on-four (last – 3/18 vs. CAR). Shorthanded goals for (4): 1/20 vs. PIT
(Nash); 3/12 at BUF (Stepan); 3/19 at NJD (Del Zotto); 4/1 vs. WPG
(Callahan). – Four-on-Four: New York did not tally/yield a goal in one four-
MILESTONE MEN
Rick Nash and Brad Richards both reached significant career milestones in
the Rangers’ 5-2 win on Mar. 26 at Philadelphia. Rick Nash notched two
goals, including his 300th career NHL goal, and added an assist in the
contest, while Brad Richards registered two points (one goal, one assist) to
record his 800th career NHL point.
A BROADWAY HIT
The Rangers rank third in the NHL in hits (1055) this season. Brian Boyle
leads the Rangers and ranks seventh in the NHL with 125 hits, while Ryan
Callahan ranks second on the team and is tied for eighth in the league with
119 hits.
EXCLUSIVE CLUB
Rangers’ Head Coach John Tortorella recorded his 400th NHL coaching
victory with a 5-2 win on Mar. 26 at Philadelphia, becoming the 30th head
coach in league history to reach the mark. He is now two wins shy of fourth
place on the Rangers’ all-time coaching wins list, with 162 career wins as
the Blueshirts’ head coach.
MEASURING UP
The Rangers rank among the Eastern Conference leaders in several
statistical categories… – 5th (T-6th in NHL) in GAA — 2.37 – 5th (12th in
NHL) in FO% — 51.1% – 1st (1st in NHL) in Fewest PIM/G — 9.5 – 3rd
(3rd in NHL) in Hits — 1055 – 3rd (6th in NHL) in BkS — 571 – T-2nd (T-5th
in NHL) in OT wins — 2
QUICK HITS: – The Rangers did not surrender a power play opportunity
against on Mar. 7 at Long Island, marking the first time the Blueshirts did
not have a shorthanded situation in a game since Jan. 10, 2012, in a 2-1
shootout win vs. PHX. The last time the Rangers did not allow a power play
attempt against the Islanders was Jan. 7, 1989, in a 5-1 win at Long Island.
– The Blueshirts have had 13 players make their regular season debut with
the team this season – New York has registered a point in 11 of 13 games
when scoring the first goal this season (10-2-1), and are 7-13-2 when
allowing the game’s first goal – The Blueshirts have posted a 7-0-1 mark
when leading after the first period, and are 9-0-0 when leading after the
second period
THE HOT LIST: – Henrik Lundqvist — has held opponents to three goals or
fewer in each of his last 15 games (8-6-1, 1.98 GAA, .929 Sv%) – Rick
Nash — 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in his last 21 games – Derek
Stepan — has tallied a point in 12 of the last 17 games (nine goals, nine
assists over the span) – Brad Richards — four points (one goal, three
assists) in the last five games – Michael Del Zotto — five points (one goal,
four assists) in the last seven games
MILESTONES IN SIGHT: – Steve Eminger — 3 points from 100th NHL
career – Carl Hagelin — 1 game from 100th NHL career – Roman Hamrlik
— 5 games from 1400th NHL career – Henrik Lundqvist — 2 games from
500th NHL career – Marc Staal — 3 points from 100th NHL career – Derek
Stepan — 1 game from 200th NHL career – Anton Stralman — 2 points
from 100th NHL career
MILESTONES RECENTLY ACHIEVED: – Rick Nash — 300th career NHL
goal (3/26 at PHI) – Brad Richards — 800th career NHL point (3/26 at PHI)
– John Tortorella — 400th career NHL win (3/26 at PHI) – Brian Boyle —
300th career NHL game (3/28 at OTT) – Ryan Callahan — 100th career
NHL assist (4/1 vs. WPG) – Anton Stralman — 300th career NHL game
(4/1 vs. WPG)
INJURIES: – Michael Sauer (concussion, 12/5/11) — 35 – Marc Staal
(injured, 3/5) — 14
Total Man-Games Lost: 88
RECENT TRANSACTIONS: – Mar. 28 — Agreed to terms with free agent
forward Mats Zuccarello – Mar. 29 — Agreed to terms with free agent
defenseman Conor Allen – Mar. 31 — Assigned forward Kris Newbury to
Connecticut (AHL) – Apr. 1 — Agreed to terms with free agent defenseman
Tommy Hughes
Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667866
New York Rangers
Rangers-Penguins & trade deadline in review
14) Brassard wore No. 16, which reminds me, we haven’t heard much from
Mr. Avery after the last few games. I’ll have to go back and check Twitter.
Or maybe he meant Gaborik wouldn’t play for “this CLOWN.”
by Carp
15) Tuesday was one of those days (well every day is, but Tuesday was
especially so) when I really wished I got paid by the comment. I’d be picking
out a new car today. I don’t say it nearly enough, but as crazy as you guys
are, as Jekyll and Hyde as you can be, you really do rule!
Thoughts:
16) Oh, with a few exceptions. For those who earned a banning yesterday,
if you want to come back, email me at rcarpini@lohud.com and we can
discuss. Otherwise, adios.
1) Those first three goals. Surreal, wasn’t it? Just ridiculously surreal. That
most of us were thinking the only question in this home-and-home would be
“by how many goals would Pittsburgh sweep?” and that most of us were
absolutely killing the Marian Gaborik trade, and for that to happen … I am
without speech. Probably the most roller-coaster day in the history of this
blog.
17) We’re rolling out the new blog design (mobile friendly) this afternoon.
2) Ryane Clowe=Monster. Holy Best Player in the Game. Give him
Gaborik’s $7.5 M. Seriously? Gotta tell you, I don’t normally make snap
judgments on people, but this guy is impressive. He seems to be a really
cool guy, a leader, a gentleman (off the ice). Spoke forever, wearing his
entire uniform (after doing the live radio postgame interview) and the
Broadway Hat. Good guy. I also told him that the biggest upset of the night
was that he didn’t get the Gordie Howe Hat Trick after getting a goal and an
assist in the first period. He laughed and said he thought about it, “but it
was 6-1 …” and he’s smart enough to fight those fights when they’re
needed. And they will be and he will.
3. Brian Boyle.
3) Because of that, and the return of Arron Asham (and maybe Derek
Dorsett if they make the playoffs, or next season) for the first time this
season, the Rangers resembled last season’s Rangers.
As per Groucho…”it’s like living in Pittsburgh…if you call that living!”
4) Seriously, you don’t judge much, if anything, by one performance … but
it looks as if Brassard really passes the puck well, and isn’t afraid to make a
blind pass (though I imagine that won’t look very good when those passes
don’t connect). Good hands.
2. Stralman—for that great play on Malkin while wearing #5 (you had to be
watching NB(I don’t)C Sports to appreciate.
5) John Moore skated pretty well, shot it well, scored the goal (which
shouldn’t sway your opinion of him either way). What I liked most was that
he leveled that piece of cooke Matt Cooke, and later hit him again.
Loved the moves before the game-don’t even ask me now how I feel! I
know-one game … but Slats replaced all the pieces…anybody see
Hamrlik?
6) Of course all of this was happening as I was writing a column bashing
the trade. You can read it here.
Your poll vote for Three Rangers Stars:
My Three Rangers Stars:
1. Ryane Clowe.
2. Derick Brassard.
The real Kenny Albert’s Three Rangers Stars:
1. Ryane Clowe.
2. Derick Brassard.
3. Brian Boyle.
RangerJHW’s Three Rangers Stars:
1. Slats—always better on the rebound.
3. All the new guys—you get the love just for wearing “our” jersey…but all
those goals will spoil us!
1. Ryane Clowe (32.36 %).
7) As much as I thought, big picture, that it was a bad deal, and the 82
games next season will tell a lot more than the remainder of this hacked-up
season (and even John Tortorella admitted as much) in the short-term it
really could be a boost. Because, let’s face it, the grinding worked pretty
well last night, and this was the most grinding lineup they have iced since
Adam Henrique’s goal sent them home.
8) This really does look like a new team, with the three new faces, then you
throw in Mats Zuccarello and the return of Arron Asham. But the most
important, crucial player in the night’s events might have been Brad
Richards, because he skated better than he’s skated in almost every game
this season, and he looked like he did at his best last season. Now with
Marian Gaborik gone, the Rangers desperately need more out of their top
guys, and Richards needs to be one of those.
9) Wouldn’t hurt, too, if Brian Boyle starts kicking one in now and then. His
game’s improved lately, though he’s still not the player he was at times last
year. If he can give them strong minutes and a point here and there, that’s
another piece they need.
10) Three best lines in the pressbox: Gaborik was the player to be named
later in the Nash trade … Sather thought he was getting Brashear … Sather
should go directly to the cigar store and buy a fistful of lottery tickets.
11) Asham drops the gloves with Glass (remember their staged fight
opening night?) after Glass took a whack at Henrik Lundqvist. When was
the last time that happened? March 12. Then the two of them made
reservations to fight later on, and did so. Asham with an important win.
12) This win makes the Friday rematch a house-money game for the
Rangers, who moved into seventh and, after Friday’s game, don’t really
have a daunting schedule remaining.
13) Based on what I’ve seen of the Pens the last two nights, Skid Crosby
must be the best player who ever lived.
2. Derick Brassard (28.96 %).
3. Brian Boyle (13.43 %).
Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667867
New York Rangers
Rangers 6, Penguins 1: Post-game notes, quotes
by Carp
Courtesy of the NYR:
NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
April 3, 2013 (Game 36, Home Game 20)|
Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Rangers 6, Penguins 1
Team Notes:
The Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-1, tonight at
Madison Square Garden, for their second straight win. New York has now
recorded a point in seven of their last nine home games (6-2-1).
John Moore, and a sixth round pick in 2014, earlier today in exchange for
Marian Gaborik, Steven Delisle, and Blake Parlett. According to the Elias
Sports Bureau, the last time a player registered four points while making
their Rangers debut was Doug Bentley on January 20, 1954, against
Boston.
Brian Boyle recorded a career-high, four points, including one goal
and a career-best, three assists, and registered three shots and four hits in
16:12 of ice time. Three of his four points were tallied on the power play,
which represents a career-high.
Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves to improve to 16-13-2 overall,
including a 12-6-1 mark at home this season. He passed Ed Giacomin for
second on the Rangers’ all-time goalie wins list with his 268th career win,
and is now one appearance shy of his 500th career game. Lundqvist has
now allowed two or fewer goals in each of the last eight games, posting a
record 5-2-1 with a 1.72 goals against average and .938 save percentage
over the span.
Brad Richards recorded two assists, including one on the power play
and one on the game-winning goal, in 15:26 of ice time to earn third star
honors. He has now tallied six points (one goal, five assists) in the last six
games.
The Blueshirts improved to 18-15-3 (39 pts) overall, including a 12-6-2
mark at home this season.
Ryan McDonagh notched the eventual game-winning goal, and
registered four shots in 18:07 of ice time. He has now recorded two points
(one goal, one assist) and a plus-three rating in the last two games. The
Rangers improved to 8-1-1 in games when he registers a point.
Newly acquired forwards Ryane Clowe (two goals, one assist) and
Derick Brassard (one goal, three assists), along with defenseman John
Moore (one goal), combined for eight points while making their Rangers
debut in tonight’s contest. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, tonight’s
contest marks the first time in franchise history that three players tallied a
goal while making their Rangers debut in the same game.
John Moore tallied a goal and logged 14:09 of ice time while making
his Rangers debut. He was acquired from Columbus, along with Derick
Brassard, Derek Dorsett, and a sixth round pick in 2014, earlier today in
exchange for Marian Gaborik, Steven Delisle, and Blake Parlett.
The Blueshirts have now had 16 players make their regular season
debut with the team this season.
The Rangers are now 8-5-1 against Atlantic Division opponents this
season.
The last time the Blueshirts tallied six goals in a game was on
November 25, 2011, in a 6-3 win at Washington. The Rangers’ five-goal
margin of victory was their largest since December 11, 2011, vs. Florida (61 win).
The Rangers notched three goals in four power play attempts (4:25),
and are now 14-65 (21.5%) with the man advantage in the last 24 games.
The last time New York registered three power play goals in a game was
exactly one year ago, on April 3, 2012, at Philadelphia (5-3 win, 3-6 on the
power play).
The Blueshirts held the Penguins scoreless in two power play
opportunities (4:00), and are now 7-7 (100%) on the penalty kill in the last
two games. New York improved to 11-4-1 when not allowing a power play
goal.
New York has registered a point in 12 of 14 games when scoring the
first goal this season (11-2-1).
The Blueshirts extended their point streak in games when leading after
the second period to 86 games, dating back to the 2009-10 season,
improving to 80-0-6 over the span. The Rangers’ last regulation loss in a
game when entering the third with the lead was Feb. 4, 2010 (6-5 loss vs.
WSH). New York is now 10-0-0 when leading after the second period this
season.
Player Notes:
Ryane Clowe notched two goals, including one on the power play,
and added an assist in 15:22 of ice time while making his Rangers debut.
He also tied for the game-high with five shots on goal, was credited with
four hits and posted a plus-two rating. Clowe has tallied eight points (two
goals, six assists) in his last nine games. He was acquired from San Jose
yesterday in exchange for a second and third round draft pick in 2013, and
a conditional pick in 2014.
Derick Brassard registered a career-high, four points, including one
goal and three assists, and won 11-15 faceoffs (73%) in 12:54 of ice time
while making his Rangers debut. He has now tallied six points (three goals,
three assists) in his last three contests, including a goal in three straight
games. Three of Brassard’s points were tallied on the power play, which is
a career-high. He was acquired from Columbus, along with Derek Dorsett,
Derek Stepan recorded an assist, three shots on goal, was credited
with two blocked shots, and won a game-high, 12-21 faceoffs (57%) in
20:58 of ice time while skating in his 200th career NHL game. He has now
tallied a point in 13 of the last 18 games, registering 19 points (nine goals,
10 assists) over the span.
Dan Girardi tallied a power play assist and tied for the team-high with
four hits in 24:31 of ice time.
Carl Hagelin registered two shots on goal and was credited with two
takeaways in 11:59 of ice time while skating in his 100th career NHL
contest.
Post-Game Quotes:
John Tortorella on the team’s trade deadline acquisitions… “(Ryane)
Clowe’s first shift is what he is. He’s going to bang and he’s going to create
scoring changes. He had a big hit on (Deryk) Engelland and gets a scoring
chance. You can see (Derick) Brassard’s skill and he has pretty good
awareness. He passed the puck and scored a goal. He was good on faceoffs. (John) Moore is the one I am really interested in because I know the
least about him out of all of them. He’s a terrific skater and I thought he did
a really good job defending and made some really good reads.”
Ryane Clowe on making his Rangers debut… “Exactly what I was
talking about with Brassard, sometimes you just play. We went over some
system stuff before the game and I talked to Torts a little bit and he said
‘don’t worry about it too much tonight, just go out and play and that’s all you
have to do’. And I said to myself I just have to worry about skating and
moving my feet and driving my legs, get some chances, and work down
low. All that stuff that I think makes me a good player I tried to do tonight. I
thought for the first game, I gelled pretty well with that line.”
Derick Brassard on playing for the Rangers… “I’ve known Rick (Nash)
for a while. They obviously have a great team and great players. When we
were coming in on the plane today we were excited. It’s a great chance for
us to show what we have, and for us, we just want to help in the push
towards the playoffs.”
Team Schedule:
The Blueshirts’ practice schedule for tomorrow, Apr. 4, is 12:00 p.m.
at MSG Training Center.
The Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the
Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, Apr. 5, at CONSOL Energy Center (7:00
p.m. – TV: MSG Plus; Radio: Bloomberg Radio), to complete their homeand-home set.
Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667868
NHL
Ben Bishop traded for Cory Conacher: Senators goaltender ‘sad’ to leave
playoff team
Sean Fitz-Gerald | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 2:36 PM ET
Senators goaltender Ben Bishop was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on
Wednesday before the NHL trade deadline.
Ben Bishop heard about it three minutes before he went to air.
The 26-year-old had just been traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning from the
Ottawa Senators, where he had won in eight of his 13 appearances, posting
a save-percentage of .922 — seventh in the NHL.
Leafs are ‘not close to anything’ before NHL trade deadline
“It’s going to be a good opportunity,” he told TSN host James Duthie
moments after the trade on Wednesday. “Obviously, it’s bittersweet: Made
a lot of friendships and have a playoff team here in Ottawa, and I feel like I
helped the team get to where it is. So it’s sad on that part.”
According to TSN, the Senators received forward Cory Conacher and a
fourth-round pick in this year’s draft in return. Conacher has 24 points in 35
games (nine goals, 15 assists) with the Lightning, and that means he is now
the leading scorer in Ottawa, where Kyle Turris held the team lead, with 22
points.
Ottawa sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, heading toward a playoff berth
despite a rash of deadlines that has swept across the roster. The Tampa
Bay Lightning hold 14th spot, seven points adrift of the eighth and final
post-season berth.
Obviously, it’s bittersweet: Made a lot of friendships and have a playoff
team here in Ottawa
“Obviously, you always want to make the playoffs,” Bishop told TSN. “So
that’s going to be tough. But the season’s not over ’til it’s over. So you gotta
go down there and expect to make the playoffs, and try to win as many
games as possible.”
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667869
NHL
Five reasons the NHL trade deadline could be a dud
National Post Staff | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 8:27 AM ET
A lot of the excitement took place before the deadline, with Jarome Iginla
heading to the Penguins.
With each deal made before the actual day of the National Hockey League
trade deadline, the likelihood that Wednesday will pass without a move of
any real significance rises. In fact, it seems pretty likely that the non-stop,
wall-to-wall coverage provided by TSN and Sportsnet will, like last season,
be given over to incisive analysis of fourth-line centres and fourth-round
draft picks. The parade will have come and gone. Here are five reasons we
think Wednesday could land with a dull thud.
1. Not enough sellers
Heading into Tuesday’s games, eighth place in the East was at 37 points
and at 38 points in the West. That put six teams within six points of the Nos.
7 and 8 spots in the East and 11 teams on either side of the cut line in the
West. That effectively leaves five teams as sellers: Buffalo, Tampa Bay,
Florida, Calgary and Colorado. Buffalo and Calgary have already been
active, and Florida’s best asset is injured (Stephen Weiss). Tampa Bay and
Colorado are teams with lots of younger players and may not be looking to
remake their rosters. That leaves a parking lot full of rental contracts on
future free agents, for which the market may be limited.
2. Steep drop in the salary cap next season
Teams can spend up to a pro-rated US$70.2-million this season. But the
cap is scheduled to fall to US$64.3-million in 2013-14, the same level it was
in 2011-12. Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Vancouver appear to have
looming cap problems. Others who look to have plenty of cap space for
next season may not want to give it away now before getting a look at
trades available at the draft in June and at the July free-agent crop.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
3. The players left on the block are complicated
Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo is the biggest name out there with
the potential to help any team with goalie trouble. Vancouver also really
needs to move him. It makes perfect sense that he is in play this week. But
his legacy contract — a legacy of the ridiculous idea that GMs had about
long-term deals and a legacy to how quickly most players fade in and out of
relevance — has nine more years left and it makes Luongo the last player
who will move on Wednesday. Martin St. Louis’s name was tossed around
early and Tampa Bay will likely need some cap relief next season. But it’s
difficult to make the decision to trade the heart of your club. It took Calgary
three years to come to grips with moving Jarome Iginla. Calgary also has
Miikka Kiprusoff to deal with, who has said he would rather retire than be
traded.
4. Prices too high
With not enough sellers in the market, prices go up. Analyst Glenn Healy
made this point on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday and repeated it on
a Toronto radio station on Monday. He compares the 2009 trade of Bill
Guerin, for whom the Islanders were to get a third-round pick from
Pittsburgh, to the two second-round picks Pittsburgh needed to acquire
Douglas Murray from San Jose last week. On Monday night, Anaheim paid
the same price to Buffalo for Robyn Regehr. As the artificial pressure of the
deadline ramps up in a sellers’ market, prices will only get higher.
5. The best options are gone
Pittsburgh made all its moves last week, picking up Iginla, Brenden Morrow
and Murray. Calgary has jettisoned Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester. Heck,
Edmonton acted on getting gritty forward Mike Brown on March 4. Unless
some general managers are hiding a creative streak, there doesn’t look to
be very many interesing pieces in play. In 2010, there were 31 deals made
on deadline day, a record. The six seasons before that all had at least 20
deadline-day trades, with 25 each in 2006, 2007 and 2008. But in the last
two years there have been only 16 deals each year. None of the deals
made on the day last season amounted to much. The deal that sent Jeff
Carter to Los Angeles, where he won a Stanley Cup with the Kings, was
made four days before the deadline. The deadline is no longer a day, it’s a
season.
National Post LOADED 04.04.2013
667870
NHL
The Ones Not Traded: Goalies Luongo and Kiprusoff
By DHIREN MAHIBAN
A total of 30 players were involved in 17 trades before Wednesday’s N.H.L.
trade deadline, but it was a pair of goaltenders who didn’t find new a home
who dominated the post-deadline conversation.
Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo and Calgary Flames goalie
Miikka Kiprusoff were involved in many rumors over the last few days.
Toronto was a popular floated destination for both.
In the end, each will finish this season with the team he started with, and
now rumors and speculation will continue into the summer.
In Vancouver, Luongo lost his starting job to Cory Schneider during last
spring’s brief playoff appearance by the Canucks. Vancouver’s brass made
it clear in the off-season that Schneider, 27, was the future in net and that
the team planned to deal Luongo, 34.
But it has been nearly 11 months since Vancouver made the decision to
move Luongo and he still occupies a roster spot with the Canucks.
Luongo said of his contract, “That’s what the problem is, and unfortunately
it’s a big factor in trading me and probably why I’m still here.”
After the trade deadline, Luongo, who was made available to the news
media, said his contract, with an annual cap hit of $5.3 million, is a difficult
one to deal.
“I’d scrap it if I could right now,” said Luongo, who has nine years and $40.6
million remaining on his deal.
Luongo, a former Islanders first-round selection at the 1997 entry draft, said
the term agreed to by both sides had its pros and cons: “That’s a decision
me and management made a few years ago when we signed it, and we’re
going to find a way to get a solution.”
The Canucks’ president and general manager, Mike Gillis, defended the
deal, saying that at the time the contract was agreed to, under the previous
collective bargaining agreement, it was favorable for both sides.
Gillis also defended the parameters of Luongo’s contract, which in total is
12 years for $64 million and runs through the 2021-22 season.
“The top teams in the league that were competing for Stanley Cups did
contracts like” that for franchise players, Gillis said. “Since that’s occurred,
there’s been a number of changes; this is a fluid industry, and things do
change.”
Gillis went on to say that he had discussions with as many as five teams
over the past six months regarding Luongo, but he wasn’t able to come to
terms on a deal. It is believed Toronto and Florida were among the five
teams the Canucks talked to.
Luongo said that despite the interest, “nothing ever really materialized to
the point where I had to give a decision whether I was going to waive” a notrade clause.
In Calgary, General Manager Jay Feaster, who had already dealt Jarome
Iginla and defenseman Jay Boumeester, had given Kiprusoff permission to
speak with the Maple Leafs regarding a possible extension on his contract,
which expires after the 2013-14 season should the Flames and Leafs agree
on a deal.
“I met with Kipper this morning, and Kipper indicated that he really would
like to remain with the Calgary Flames,” Feaster said. “From his
perspective, given the family situation and the new baby, he just doesn’t
feel that he’s ready to move on, that he didn’t want to go to another
organization, that he would like to finish things here.”
Kiprusoff, 36, has one more year left on his six-year, $35 million deal, which
will pay him $1.5 million.
“I’d really like to finish the season, and after that I’m going to make my
decision,” Kiprusoff said before the Flames’ 8-2 loss to the Oilers. “I’d really
like to talk with the Flames before that and to go from there.”
When the wheeling and dealing begins in the off-season, you can probably
expect Luongo and Kiprusoff’s names at the top of the list of most likely to
be moved.
New York Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667871
Ottawa Senators
Senators take a skate break on deadline day
by Ken Warren
BOSTON, Mass. — One by one, Ottawa Senators players walked out of a
downtown Boston sports club in gym clothes late Wednesday morning,
fresh from a yoga class, ready to tackle whatever Beantown had to offer on
a rare day away from the ice.
Following back-to-back losses in which they’ve yielded dozens upon
dozens of scoring chances — including Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat to the Boston
Bruins in which they were outshot 50-47 — it was a welcome change of
pace.
“I find it’s really important to have a day like this, where you can do stuff
other than hockey, just to change things up,” said centre Kyle Turris,
acknowledging that he was checking trade chatter on twitter every few
minutes. “With how tough the regular season is, with how compact this one
is, it’s mentally fatiguing. Having a day to relax, kind of get your mind off
things — thinking about baseball and that sort of thing — it rejuvenates
you.”
Defenceman Marc Methot says it was a break “to get out of our element,
away from the arena for a change,” but had made no grand plans.
“I will walk around,” he said. “I like to people watch. It’s a big city here, there
are a lot of characters floating around.”
Then there was tough guy Matt Kassian, who was seriously considering a
different type of entertainment, only a two-minute walk from the club’s hotel.
“This is the first time I’ve been in Boston for more than a very brief moment
and I was hoping there was a ballet in the afternoon,” he said. “I probably
haven’t been to a ballet since I was 11 or 12 and my grandparents took me
to the Nutcracker.”
When the Senators do return to practice at Harvard University in
Cambridge, Mass., Thursday, followed by a flight to Buffalo for Friday’s
game against a trade-depleted Sabres lineup, they can expect coach Paul
MacLean to pay special attention to the club’s defensive zone play. The
sloppiness against the Bruins came on the heels of shaky play inside their
own blueline during last Saturday’s 4-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“We’ve had plenty of defensive breakdowns (this season) where we’ve
been saved by our goaltender or by another player,” said Methot. “Once in
a while, they’re going to capitalize on those, but can’t afford to be having
those lapses late in games at this time of year. We’re a young team and
mistakes will happen. It’s how we handle them coming back.”
INJURY UPDATE
Mike Hoffman will have a second X-ray in Buffalo on Friday, but Senators
general manager Bryan Murray believes he won’t be out too long after
leaving Tuesday’s game following a hit by Boston’s Dougie Hamilton.
Hoffman had missed eight weeks this season due to a broken collarbone
and Murray said the hit caused a “shock on the scar tissue that had healed
from the break.” Murray said “at this point, we think it will just take a little
time to recover.”
Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 04.04.2013
667872
Ottawa Senators
Senators trade Ben Bishop to Lightning
by James Gordon
The Ottawa Senators have traded goaltender Ben Bishop to Tampa Bay
Lightning in exchange for winger Cory Conacher and a fourth-round draft
pick.
Conacher, 23, has nine goals and 15 assists in 35 games with the Lightning
this season, which instantly makes him the Senators’ leading scorer. He
finished second in American Hockey League scoring last season, becoming
just the fourth rookie to be named that league’s MVP since the award was
established in 1948.
The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Burlington, Ont., native is currently second in NHL
rookie scoring.
Bishop, meanwhile, was 8-5-0 with a 2.45 goals-against average and .922
save percentage and had been getting the bulk of the work in the Senators’
net after No. 1 netminder Craig Anderson went down with a severe ankle
sprain.
With Bishop gone, Robin Lehner will take over until Anderson is ready to
return (likely in the next week or so).
The trade clears up a logjam in the Ottawa crease, clearing the way for
Lehner to finally ascend to the NHL level permanently. He’s been ready for
the big show for some time, but was the odd man out when Anderson was
healthy because of his two-way contract.
Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 04.04.2013
667873
Ottawa Senators
Senators fielding offers for Bishop on deadline day
by Ken Warren
BOSTON — The Ottawa Senators are fielding offers for goaltender Ben
Bishop from “four or five teams,” assistant general manager Tim Murray
said late Wedneday morning.
Bishop, who is tied for seventh in the NHL with a .922 save percentage, is
clearly the most valuable chip the Senators have at their disposal.
Murray also said the team is interested in adding a depth forward and or a
depth defencemen. Again, though, the price must be right and the Senators
will not part with their blue-chip prospects.
Murray suggested it was likely the team would do something, but he
admitted that it’s a situation where one NHL trade sets the stage for others
to follow.
One domino has fallen already. TSN is reporting that Calgary Flames
goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has decided to play out the year where he is
and retire at the end of the season.
Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 04.04.2013
667874
Ottawa Senators
Scanlan: Bishop deal should help both clubs
by Wayne Scanlan
Sure, the Ottawa Senators lost 11 inches in height on the deal.
Still, the trade of 6-foot-7 goaltender Ben Bishop for 5-foot-8 forward Cory
Conacher, plus a fourth-round draft pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning, is a
good return. Bishop, remember, was scooped by the Senators last year for
a second-round draft pick.
Instead of a future selection, Ottawa gets immediate scoring punch.
Conacher, 23, is a distant relative of the famed sporting Conachers,
including legendary Lionel ‘Great Train’ Conacher, voted Canada’s top
athlete of the first half of the 20th century.
Born in Burlington, Ont., Cory Conacher is remarkable in a number of ways,
and not just because he’s a smaller train. Undrafted and considered too
small in a big man’s game, he played four years at unheralded Canisius
College, and had several tryouts before catching on in the AHL with Norfolk
and Syracuse. He became an AHL MVP and was part of a Calder Cup
team.
Like Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers in the Broad Street Bullies
heyday, Conacher suffers from type 1 diabetes. He removes his insulin
pump, attached to a port in his abdomen, in order to play. For all his
challenges, Conacher is a rookie of the year candidate off his early play
with the Lightning, 12 points in his first seven games, before cooling off
lately.
While he only has two goals in his past 17 games — or two in his last six,
including one against Ottawa, depending on how you want to measure it —
he was among Tampa Bay’s top four scorers with nine goals and 24 points
in 35 games. That puts him second among NHL rookies and yes, Conacher
instantly becomes the Senators’ leading point producer as soon as he
name is added to the list.
In Tampa Bay, Conacher was viewed as a Marty St. Louis clone, a small,
quick player who hustles, battles above his weight class. Tiny dancer. He’s
bound to be a crowd favourite at Scotiabank Place. Because the Lightning
have another little big man, Tyler Johnson, waiting in the wings, they could
afford to let Conacher go. Teams only need so many sub-six-foot forwards.
This looks like one of those deals that can help both clubs.
With Steven Stamkos, St. Louis et al., Tampa Bay can score. Stopping
pucks is another matter. Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman had to
do something to shore up his goaltending situation, considering how Anders
Lindback and Mathieu Garon have struggled. Bishop gets a chance to
move in there and challenge for the No. 1 position right away.
He’s not a sure thing, but neither is it unusual for a 26-year-old goalie to be
seeking to establish himself. His size and decent athletic ability for a big
man make Bishop promising. Now he needs to make this successful
Ottawa run a springboard to a long term place in the NHL. Bishop’s .922
save percentage this season, 8-5-1 record and 2.45 goals-against average
are the best numbers he has had in parts of four NHL seasons.
Will he suffer by moving away from Ottawa’s strong team game? Playing
behind Tampa’s defence will be a challenge for him.
Meanwhile, Bishop’s departure — and Conacher’s arrival — changes things
dramatically on the Senators’ roster. With Conacher added to the centre
position, the club acquires some badly needed offensive spark with top
centre Jason Spezza still sidelined following back surgery and last year’s
top scorer, Milan Michalek, not ready to return from having his knee
scoped.
Look for Conacher to step right into a top-six role with the Senators at
centre or wing.
Back in the goal crease, Robin Lehner draws a giant sigh of relief. For
weeks, Lehner has been living on borrowed time in Ottawa, assured of a
place only because starter Craig Anderson was out with an ankle sprain.
Lehner’s two-way contract dictated that the 21-year-old Swede was the odd
man out, the goalie for AHL Binghamton as long as Anderson and Bishop
were healthy. Despite assurances from management that he had a bright
future in the organization, the stress showed on Lehner. Now, he can settle
in knowing he’s not going anywhere. No wonder he tweeted about his
happiness on Wednesday.
Anderson has nearly recovered and he could return to start as early as
Friday in Buffalo. Otherwise, he would likely back up Lehner, who stopped
47 of 50 Boston Bruins shots in a 3-2 Boston victory Tuesday night.
No longer do the Senators have a goaltending “situation,” gone is the
“crowded crease syndrome.” What remains is pressure on Anderson to stay
healthy and on Lehner to continue to progress into a legitimate NHL starter.
Anderson was the NHL’s top goaltender until he suffered that ankle injury
Feb. 21 versus the New York Rangers.
What kind of form will he have when he returns after six weeks away from
game action?
Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 04.04.2013
667875
Ottawa Senators
Compelling Conacher brings grit, skill
by Ken Warren
BOSTON — Big Ben Bishop and Cory Conacher, the little train that could,
were due to pass each other in the night skies late Wednesday.
Bishop was leaving his former Ottawa Senators teammates behind in
Boston for the opportunity to become a No. 1 goaltender with the Tampa
Bay Lightning, while Conacher was coming the other way, with a shot at
being a point producer for a Senators team likely headed for the playoffs.
The Senators also received a fourth-round draft choice from Tampa in the
trade deadline deal.
“He’s a gritty guy, he’s not afraid to go to the net and spear the goalie or
anything like that,” said Bishop, paying Conacher a compliment before
leaving Boston. “He’s a good player, he’s got a nose for the net and I’m
sure he’ll fit in well (with the Senators). He’s always going into the scrums
and stuff.”
Conacher — whose great grandfather’s cousin was Canadian sporting
legend Lionel “Big Train” Conacher — agreed with Bishop’s description of
his style.
“Sounds about right,” the 23-year-old rookie said in a conference call,
before jumping on a flight to Boston, where he’ll join the Senators for
practice Thursday. “Maybe I go a little too hard at the goalie sometimes. I
like to be first on the puck and dig for turnovers.”
Conacher, who has nine goals and 14 assists and is in the running for the
Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year — he trailed Florida’s
Jonathan Huberdeau by a point before Wednesday’s games — instantly
becomes the Senators’ top scorer.
His rise to the NHL is also a compelling story.
At 5-foot-8 and 176 pounds, he was a long-shot to make the big leagues.
He was cut from AA and AAA minor hockey teams in his native Toronto
because of his size, didn’t receive a sniff from major junior teams or bigtime United States colleges or universities and was completely overlooked
during his draft-eligible days as a teenager.
He used the rejections as motivation, clinging to the hope provided by
Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis — “he made it in the league when it was all
about size,” says Conacher — and attracted attention by re-writing the
record book at Canisius College, a small school in Buffalo. As luck would
have it, Conacher will make his Senators debut in Buffalo Friday, playing in
front of the Canisius coaches he credits for his development, as well as
family and friends making the drive from Toronto.
Conacher scored 80 points in 75 games in 2011-12 with the AHL’s Norfolk
Admirals, helping them win a league record 28 consecutive games and a
Calder Cup title. He began the NHL season on a tear and, while he has
cooled off in recent weeks, Senators general manager Bryan Murray
believes he could be a fit with fellow rookies Mika Zibanejad and Jakob
Silfverberg.
“His skill set is real high,” said Murray. “He’s not a big player, but he’s quick,
courageous, he handles the puck, he makes plays and gets points and if we
need anything, we need a point-getter.”
Trading away Bishop, which wasn’t a surprise, finally opens the door for 21year-old goaltender Robin Lehner to remain in the NHL full-time. With Craig
Anderson ready to return to the lineup from his sprained ankle — he could
start Friday in Buffalo — the Senators would have been forced to assign
Lehner back to Binghamton of the AHL.
“That was ridiculous, really,” said Murray. “Robin has done anything and
everything that a young guy has to do to prove he’s NHL ready and
(Tuesday) against Boston once more confirmed that. He was just superb
(stopping 47 of 50 shots) and we lost but not because of him.”
Murray credited Bishop for “saving us last year,” but says he was the oddman out due to the fact he had a contract that expires at the end of the
season.
Bishop wasn’t surprised by the trade, but he called it “bittersweet” because
he’s leaving many friends behind.
“I developed a very good friendship with Robin this year, playing with him in
Binghamton during the lockout and up here and (Anderson) is a good
goalie,” Bishop said. “You can’t get mad at guys for playing well and
everybody’s playing well. It’s just kind of unfortunate that one of us had to
go. Robin is the young guy with the bright future, so I’m the guy to go. But
I’m excited to go to Tampa.”
Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 04.04.2013
667876
Ottawa Senators
Senators goaltender Craig Anderson ready to return to action
By Don Brennan
,Ottawa Sun
Craig Anderson is good to go.
Out since Feb. 21 with a high ankle sprain, the NHL's leading goalie has
declared he's ready to return to action, Senators GM Bryan Murray said
after trading Ben Bishop Wednesday.
"That's what I've been told," said Murray. "I don't know if he'll play in Buffalo
(Friday). That's up to (coach) Paul (MacLean). But he has told us he's ready
to play."
Anderson's availability and the play of 21-year-old Robin Lehner convinced
Murray it was safe to deal Bishop for some much-needed scoring help.
In nine games since being recalled from Binghamton, Lehner has a .940
save percentage and a 2.15 goals against average to go along with a 3-2-4
record.
"Robin to me has done everything and anything a young guy has to do to
prove he's NHL ready," said Murray, who added it would have been "unfair"
to Lehner to send him back to the AHL. "I think the game against Boston
(Tuesday) once more confirmed that. He was just superb."
Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667877
Ottawa Senators
the ice. That's kind of what I'm working on right now. I think Ottawa is a
team that has a lot of players that do those things. It'll be a good fit for me.
I'm excited to play there.
Senators send Bishop to Tampa for Conacher, draft pick
He's also hopeful of having a long and fruitful career like that of his
childhood idol, Lightning star Martin St. Louis.
By Don Brennan
"I see his size, and he had to make the league when the league was all
about size," said the Little Train. "I know if he can do it, then it's possible for
myself to do as well."
,Ottawa Sun
BOSTON - The Senators lost almost a full foot, but gained a draft pick and
a 'Little Train' in their crease-clearing deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning at
Wednesday's trade deadline.
Gone is Ben Bishop, their 6-foot-7 goalie who, with the emergence of 21year old Robin Lehner as a rising star, always figured to be the odd man out
once NHL goalie stats leader Craig Anderson recovered from an ankle
injury.
Incoming is 23-year-old winger Cory Conacher, a 5-foot-8, 179-pound
sparkplug who is not only second in NHL rookie scoring this season, but
with nine goals and 15 assists automatically takes over the Senators points
lead.
Conacher is related to both legendary Toronto Maple Leaf Charlie
Conacher -- whose banner hangs from the rafters at the Air Canada Centre
-- and former NHL defenceman Lionel Conacher, who was known as "Big
Train" both for his stature and style of play in the 1920s and '30s.
The great grandson of Big Train's cousin has a reputation as a player with a
nasty edge who has no problem running into people.
He's also out to prove himself as another Little Engine That Could.
"I actually saw that in one of the articles, they actually called me Little
Train," Conacher said from Tampa, before flying to Boston and joining the
Senators Wednesday night. "That's a neat little name. I hope I can be that
Little Train, I try to be that gritty player.
"It's very important for me to play hard, play the same way and do whatever
it takes for the team to win and for me to be a part of that win."
Senators GM Bryan Murray looked at rentals as well as depth defencemen
and forwards before settling on Conacher, whom he currently sees as a
winger on the team's third line with Mika Zibanejad and Jacob Silfverberg
when everybody is healthy. In the meantime, Conacher is expected to fill in
for the injured Mike Hoffman, who was on the first line, when he makes his
debut in Buffalo Friday.
"His skill set is real high ... he's not a big player, but he's quick, courageous,
handles the puck, makes plays, gets points," Murray said. "If we need
anything, we need a point-getter, and I think he addresses one of those
needs at least.
"We've been talking to a variety of teams for quite some time, really. Finally,
we thought that Cory Conacher was the most productive player we could
get. We wish he was 6-foot-7, but he's not. He's a guy that addresses a
need of points."
Conacher, who was cut from teams as a kid because he was deemed too
small, didn't start thinking of a career in pro hockey until he had great
success at Buffalo's Canisius College, where he still holds numerous
Golden Griffins records. Undrafted, he worked his way to the AHL, and last
season led the Calder Cup-winning Norfolk Admirals in goals (39) and
points (80), while finishing third on the team in penalty minutes, with 114.
"All I heard our team in Binghamton complain about is this guy Cory
Conacher scoring goals and (being) competitive, and dirty," said Murray.
"He's mean around the net."
Even Bishop attested to that.
"He's a gritty guy," said Bishop, who played against Conacher in the AHL.
"He's not afraid to go to the net and spear the goalie or anything like that.
He's a good player and he's got a nose to the net. I'm sure he'll do well
here."
Told of Bishop's scouting report on him, Conacher offered confirmation.
"That sounds about right," said Conacher, whose cap hit on a contact that
expires in 2014 is $925,000. "I maybe hit goalies a little too hard
sometimes, just going to the net. I'm a guy who likes to be first on the puck,
and likes to be in the corners and dig for loose pucks, create turnovers and
finish checks when I can. Skate hard, backcheck hard, be responsible on
don.brennan@sunmedia.ca
Ottawa Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667878
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers' Zac Rinaldo leaves game with lower-body injury
Jerry Gaul, Philly.com
Posted: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 9:58 PM
The Flyers announced that winger Zac Rinaldo left Wednesday's game
against the Montreal Canadiens with a lower-body injury. He will not return.
Rinaldo amassed 5:06 of ice time in the game. He recorded two hits and
fought the Canadiens' Brandon Prust in the second period.
Including tonight's game, Rinaldo appeared in 32 games. He scored three
goals and recorded two assists, while accumulating 85 penalty minutes.
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667879
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers trade for goalie Steve Mason
Sam Carchidi, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 7:56 PM
TORONTO - The Flyers' future goaltending situation was apparently put
into disarray after they acquired Steve Mason from Columbus just before
the NHL trade deadline Wednesday.
The move could pave the way for the Flyers to use a compliance buyout on
starter Ilya Bryzgalov after the season.
The Flyers sent backup goalie Michael Leighton - did the ghost of Patrick
Kane's 2010 Stanley Cup-winning goal go with him? - and a 2015 thirdround draft pick to Columbus for Mason, who has regressed after winning
the Calder Cup as rookie of the year in 2008-09. That season, he recorded
a 2.29 goals-against average and 10 shutouts in 61 games.
This year, he was 3-6-1 with a 2.95 goals-against average and .899 save
percentage. In the last four seasons, his goals-against average has been
3.05, 3.03, 3.39, and 2.95, respectively.
Mason, 24, was available because Sergei Bobrovsky - whom the Flyers
traded to Columbus after last season for three draft picks - has blossomed
into the Blue Jackets' top goalie and one of the best in the NHL this year.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Mason is a restricted free agent after this season,
and the Flyers want to resign him at a lower rate than he currently receives
($2.9 million). General manager Paul Holmgren said he expected to sign
him before the season ends.
"We see him as one of our two goalies not only the rest of this year but
moving forward," Holmgren said. "We'll just leave it at that for now."
Will Bryzgalov be the other half of the tandem? That may depend on how
the rest of the season unfolds.
Earlier in the day, the Flyers were outbid for the goalie they really wanted,
Ben Bishop, whom Ottawa traded to Tampa Bay for gifted rookie winger
Cory Conacher (24 points) and a fourth-round pick.
Reportedly, the Flyers refused to part with slumping sophomore center
Sean Couturier, preventing them from making the deal.
An NHL source would not confirm whether Ottawa wanted Couturier, but he
did say the Flyers "never" had intentions of putting the 20-year-old in the
deal.
Holmgren is hoping a change of scenery invigorates Mason, who is young
enough to bounce back.
"We still think there's a tremendous upside there," Holmgren said, adding
that goalie coach Jeff Reese was high on Mason.
"Every goaltender wants a fresh start," Mason said.
Mason is viewed as an upgrade over Leighton, but he is also a lot more
expensive. If the Flyers keep Bryzgalov next year - that's a big if at the
moment - and Mason re-signs for around his current salary, the Flyers will
have about $8.6 million committed to their goalies next season.
They probably would not be getting enough bang for their buck.
Acquiring Mason could mean the Flyers will "amnesty" Bryzgalov next year
and try to sign an unrestricted free-agent goalie in the offseason. The most
attractive candidates are former Flyer Ray Emery, Jimmy Howard, Mike
Smith, and Niklas Backstrom.
After this year, Bryzgalov, 32, will be owed a total of $34.5 million over the
last seven years. If he is bought out through the amnesty procedure, the
Flyers would have to pay two-thirds of that salary. But it would not count
against the salary cap.
Before they acquired Mason, the Flyers claimed 6-3, 213-pound forward
Adam Hall off waivers from Tampa Bay. Hall has played in 10 NHL seasons
and figures to be used on the penalty kill and eat some minutes supplied by
Max Talbot, who is out for the season with a broken left leg.
Hall, 32, had four points in a combined 26 games with the Lightning and
Carolina this year, but he was effective in the faceoff circle, winning 54.9
percent of his 173 draws.
Adding Hall was an "easy decision," Holmgren said. "Adam has been
around. He's a bigger guy and can play left wing, right wing, or center. It's
depth and experience."
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667880
Philadelphia Flyers
Mason happy to be joining Flyers
POSTED: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 3:09 PM
Steve Mason said he was ecstatic to be traded today to the Flyers. The
Columbus Blue Jackets traded the 24-year-old goalie for goalie Michael
Leighton and a third round pick in 2015.
“I am more than thrilled to have this opportunity and have a fresh start,”
Mason said in comments distributed by the Flyers.
Mason hasn’t come close to matching his production when he won the
Calder Cup as Rookie of the Year in 2008-2009. That was his lone playoff
season when he recorded a 2.29 goals against average and recorded 10
shutouts in 61 games.
This season he was 3-6-1 while backing up former Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky
in Columbus.
When asked if Mason would back up Ilya Bryzgalov, general manager Paul
Holmgren said, "He is one of our two goalies, not only for this season but
moving forward."
Mason, who will be a restricted free agent, talked about being a teammate
with Bryzgalov.
"I am looking forward to working with him," Mason said.
Here's video of Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren adressing the media:
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667881
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers defenseman Nick Grossmann gets work in
POSTED: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 1:05 PM
Flyers defenseman Nick Grossmann says he is under strict orders not to
discuss his current upper body injury but he was among the last off the ice
during today’s morning skate.
While saying that general manager Paul Holmgren would have to update
his status, Grossmann did allow that he did extend his work today. “That
was the most (work) in a few days,” Grossmann said.
Grossmann last played on March 18. He was hurt in practice on March 22
and hasn’t played in the last five games.
Holmgren said Grossmann would not play tonight. "He's coming along but
not enough to change his status," Holmgren said.
-Marc Narducci
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667882
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers claim Hall
POSTED: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 12:35 PM
The Flyers have claimed well traveled center Adam Hall on waivers from
the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 32-year-old Hall began the season on
Tampa Bay, was claimed on waivers March 16 by the Carolina Hurricanes
and traded back to Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
This season he has no goals and four assists in 26 games, 20 with Tampa
Bay and the other six with Carolina. In his career he has 65 goals and 82
assists in 591 regular season games.
-Marc Narducci
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667883
Philadelphia Flyers
Is Keith Yandle a Flyers possibility?
POSTED: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 11:12 AM
Frank Seravalli
UPDATE (3:05pm): Keith Yandle remained with the Phoenix Coyotes
through the trade deadline. Expect the possibility of trade talks resuming at
the Draft in June, since that's when the Flyers and Coyotes first opened
dialogue last summer.
TORONTO -- Heading into Wednesday's trade deadline, the Flyers' plan
was to remain 'status quo' unless they could acquire a franchise-altering
player to build the future around.
Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle is that player - and he's suddenly on the
market, after the tea leaves indicated on Tuesday that he was untouchable.
Yandle, 26, is that puck-moving No. 1 defenseman the Flyers - and nearly
all 28 other teams - are craving. The Coyotes, though, will require nothing
short of an absolute haul to move Yandle out of the desert.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has indeed be in touch with
Coyotes general manager Don Maloney on Wednesday. This is not the first
time the Flyers have inquired about Yandle over the years.
Yandle is tied for the Coyotes' team lead in points with 21. He has 8 goals
and 13 assists this season, which would tie him for fifth on the Flyers in
goals this season.
Yandle has 3 years and $16.5 million remaining on his contract. His salary
cap hit is $5.25 million per season. The Flyers have enough salary cap
space to add Yandle by adding more players, such as Andrej Meszaros, to
the long-term injury list.
One name who would likely have to be heading out West is forward Sean
Couturier, who was actually born in Phoenix while his father, Sylvain, was
playing for the AHL's Roadrunners.
Couturier has seen an up-tick in his minutes - nearly 2 more minutes on
average per game over his rookie season - and that is expected to increase
with Max Talbot's injury leaving a hole on the penalty kill. The Flyers were
looking for more out of Couturier offensively in his sophomore season, yet
his numbers have gone down. He is averaging 0.08 less points per game
(down to .27) and he has only 9 points in 33 games.
Couturier already has 110 career NHL games under his belt. I am not
suggesting he has come anywhere close to reaching his ceiling, but the
question needs to be asked: at which point is the book on Couturier written,
causing his value to drop?
In some ways, Couturier's value may never be higher than it is as this very
moment.
Does that mean the Flyers would be willing to part ways with the stillblossoming 20-year-old? It would likely be a surprise if Holmgren is willing
to make that judgment call before 3 o'clock on Wednesday.
Even if Couturier is part of the asking price, Holmgren will have to listen and
even strongly consider. Yandle is still young, he has been durable and
hasn't missed a game since 2008-09, and he's a rare commodity in the
NHL. He would instantly make the Flyers a more formidable foe - both now
and over the next three seasons.
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667884
Philadelphia Flyers
Mild surprise as Flyers acquire goaltender Steve Mason
FRANK SERAVALLI, Daily News Staff Writer seravaf at phillynews.com
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2013, 1:16 AM
ILYA BRYZGALOV started his 20th straight game on Wednesday night
against Montreal, something Peter Laviolette said he didn't have much
choice about, given the Flyers' position in the standings.
Well, now Laviolette has a choice. And so do the Flyers this summer in
retaining Bryzgalov's rights.
The Flyers acquired goaltender Steve Mason from Columbus before
Wednesday's trade deadline, the same team they traded backup Sergei
Bobrovsky to last summer. The Flyers were also reportedly in the hunt for
Ottawa's Ben Bishop, who was dealt to Tampa Bay.
Backup Michael Leighton was sent to the Blue Jackets along with a 2015
third-round pick. Leighton is a pending unrestricted free agent. This is the
Flyers' first trade-deadline-day move since 2009.
When asked if the Flyers view Mason as a backup, general manager Paul
Holmgren was quick to not pigeonhole Mason into a specific role. Holmgren
passed up an opportunity to stress that Bryzgalov is the Flyers' long-term
starter.
"We see him as one of our two goalies, not only the rest of this year, but
moving forward," Holmgren said. "We'll just leave it at that for now."
That would seem like an ominous response for Bryzgalov's future here, with
the option of a contract amnesty coming in the summer.
Bobrovsky, 24, was a March "Star of the Month" and he's the big reason the
Blue Jackets are in the playoff hunt. He has a 2.13 GAA and .927 save
percentage.
Mason, also 24, was the 2009 Calder Trophy winner as the NHL's Rookie of
the Year. He was pulled in his first game the following season and has
never really recovered.
Mason was looking for a change of scenery after Bobrovsky took over
Columbus' starting role by force. Mason said he is "just looking for the
opportunity to go there and get my game back on track." He is in the final
year of a 2-year, $5.8 million deal.
"I'm super excited to get into Philadelphia," Mason told Rogers Sportsnet.
"It's a tough place to play, fans expect the most out of their goaltenders. I'm
looking forward to getting into a market like that. When you're playing well
as a goaltender in that situation, there is no better situation."
Mason said he retooled his game last summer with the Blue Jackets'
goaltending coach, calming down his style. His save percentage averages
under .900 over the last four seasons since winning the Calder, but he is
still young.
"We've changed a couple things, with the depth I've been taking off the
rush. When your calm, the game seems to hit your sometimes," Mason
said. "It's definitely a great feeling. With the players they have in that
organization, and the history they have there . . . I'm really just looking
forward to starting off on the good fit."
Holmgren said Flyers goaltending coach Jeff Reese saw something he liked
in Mason.
"I think he's bounced back a little better this year," Holmgren said. "Steve is
still a young goalie, still has a lot of upside. Jeff Reese, our goalie coach,
studies a lot of goalies around the league and likes Steve. He thinks there is
something there. We still think there is tremendous upside there."
Now, with Mason in the fold, it sure seems as if the Flyers have plans to
use the amnesty clause on Bryzgalov in the summer. The Flyers would still
be required to pay Bryzgalov his remaining salary, over a longer period of
years, but they would be relieved of his salary cap hit and he would become
a free agent.
The Flyers owe Bryzgalov $34.5 million over the remaining 7 years on his
deal after this season. Bryzgalov is 48-30-10 with a .905 save percentage
since joining the Flyers. The buyout formula is two-thirds money remaining
divided by double the term remaining, so $23 million divided by 14 years is
$1.64 million per season until 2027 . . . to not play for the team.
How much of this trade is a sign that the Flyers might be cutting Bryzgalov
loose in the summer? Mason is due more than a $3 million qualifying offer
as a restricted free agent to retain his rights. Of course, Mason could resign prior to the summer for less money, which is possible given his
decreased numbers recently.
If Mason does not sign for less, the Flyers would be spending an all-time
franchise-high $8.7 million in goaltenders with both Bryzgalov and Mason.
Holmgren said he has already held discussions with Mason's agent and
expects to re-sign him before this season ends.
"I don't think it will be $9 million [total spent on goaltenders]," Holmgren
said. "I think there is a way to work with Steve and his agent to get that
salary down."
Historically, Holmgren does not believe in spending a lot of money on
goaltenders. See: Leighton and Brian Boucher as a tandem in 2010.
Bryzgalov joining the Flyers was at the mandate of chairman Ed Snider.
With the salary cap decreasing to $64.3 million next season, you can bet on
the Flyers not spending nearly 15 percent of the cap on goaltending.
Instead, the Flyers could amnesty Bryzgalov and bring in another young,
affordable goaltender to work in tandem with Mason. At the very least, if the
Flyers don't have interest in moving away from Bryzgalov, the question is:
Why Mason? There were a myriad of other less expensive backups
available with fewer performance question marks.
Bringing in Mason opens a world of possibilities. Buckle your seat belt. It
will be fascinating to see how Bryzgalov responds to Wednesday's
somewhat surprising move.
"I didn't know [the Mason deal] was going to happen and, to be honest,
even if I knew, I wouldn't have talked to [Bryzgalov] anyway," Holmgren
said. "His job is to stop the puck when he's in the net. It's not to worry about
other things like that."
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667885
Philadelphia Flyers
A game of firsts as Flyers rally to beat Canadiens
"We don't control what other teams do," captain Claude Giroux said. "I saw
that the Rangers won. It's something we don't control, so we don't need to
stress about it. We just have to worry about our game and getting better. If
we keep winning, that's the only way we'll have a chance to get in."
Ice cubes
ED BARKOWITZ, Daily News Staff Writer barkowe at phillynews.com
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2013, 12:47 AM
PARAPHRASING Mark Twain a bit here, but any rumor of the Flyers' death
has been greatly exaggerated.
At least for now.
The Flyers followed up a pair of wins over the weekend with perhaps the
most dramatic victory of the season on Wednesday night, beating visiting
Montreal, 5-3.
"We won't give up. We still have a chance," said youngster Sean Couturier,
who ended a 27-game streak without a goal. "If we keep winning, we'll be
back in the mix."
The Flyers not only have won three in a row for the first time all year, they
finally won a game that they had trailed after the first period. They were 012 in that situation coming in. So in 12 of their 17 losses, they basically
were cooked even before the oven got warm.
Now, they're the ones cooking.
"We just have to keep playing, play a full 60 [minutes] and ride this wave
that we're on," said forward Matt Read.
The Flyers are banged up mightily on defense, most notably Braydon
Coburn (shoulder separation), Nicklas Grossmann (upper body) and Andrej
Meszaros (torn rotator cuff). Their active blue-liners are more green than
any other color.
But Wednesday, two of them contributed mightily to the deciding goals.
Bruno Gervais, who has been thrust into the top pairing thanks to Coburn's
injury, had an assist on a goal off Wayne Simmonds' skate that tied the
game with a little more than 5 minutes left.
Then Erik Gustafsson clanged one off Canadiens defenseman Francis
Bouillon that ended up being the game-winner. Gustafsson was patiently
trying to feed Read, who was creating confusion in front of Montreal
netminder Carey Price.
"I don't know if I got a piece of it," Read said afterward. "I'm happy to give it
to Gus."
So were the official scorers. It was Gustafsson's first goal of the season.
"We got a lot of [defensemen] that are getting called up, covering the guys
that are hurt right now," Read said. "You can't tell if they're minor league
players or NHL players right now. You have to give them a lot of credit,
playing with the confidence they're playing with right now."
Even Couturier, who was a popular subject of trade inquiries from many of
the other general managers around the league, got on the scoring sheet.
His second-period score bounced off Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban
and past Price. On the scoresheet, however, it might as well be Kurri from
Gretzky and Coffee.
The last time Coots scored a goal was Jan. 27.
"It's nice to get the monkey off the back," Couturier said. "Sometimes all
you need is a lucky bounce. I'll take it."
The Flyers have 12 games left and still lots of work to do. But they haven't
raised the white flag and started calling around for golf reservations.
The last 5 minutes of Wednesday's game allowed them to jump from 13th
to 11th place. The Rangers' resounding win over Pittsburgh created an
even larger logjam for the final playoff spot. Both New York teams and the
Devils occupy the seventh, eighth and ninth spots in the Eastern
Conference, with 39 points.
The Flyers are four points back of those three teams, with a very quick
turnaround Thursday night up in Toronto.
They packed their bags for a charter immediately after the Montreal win. In
addition to sticks and pucks, they also were bringing hope.
The Flyers obtained goaltender Steve Mason from Columbus for Michael
Leighton and a third-round pick. They also plucked Adam Hall off waivers
from Tampa Bay. Hall, 33, has played in 26 games this year and is
ostensibly a veteran replacement for Max Talbot, who is out for the season
with a broken leg. Hall is expected to make his Flyers debut on Thursday . .
. Cal Heeter served as Ilya Bryzgalov's backup on Wednesday. Mason will
join the team in Toronto . . . Nick Grossmann (upper-body injury) missed his
sixth game, but skated extensively in the morning and appears close to
returning . . . With the trade deadline passed, the 23-man roster restriction
is lifted and the Flyers are free to recall whomever they please . . . Zac
Rinaldo sustained a lower-body injury in the second period and did not
return.
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667886
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers hould resist urge to amnesty Ilya Bryzgalov
Marcus Hayes, Daily News Sports Columnist
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2013, 12:40 AM
ALL PAUL HOLMGREN had to say was, "Bryz is our No. 1 goalie, now and
for the foreseeable future."
Words to that effect would have squelched speculation that the Flyers'
deadline trade Wednesday for Steve Mason, a young, pedigreed goalie,
might mean an early divorce from Ilya Bryzgalov.
Instead, Holmgren said, "We see [Mason] as one of our two goalies, not
only the rest of this year, but moving forward. We'll just leave it at that for
now."
Of course, nothing concerning the Flyers gets left at that. Not for now; not
for later.
For better or worse, Holmgren's Flyers, like every other team in this town, is
poised to throw big money at a problem in hopes of currying local favor and
quickly fixing a perceived problem.
Holmgren also created an atmosphere in which his hypersensitive franchise
goalie can stew while the team makes a likely futile push for the last playoff
spot in this bastardized season.
A lockout-shortened season, in which Bryzgalov played pretty well.
A compressed season, in which Bryz suppressed his guileless and
entertaining personality at the behest of paranoid handlers and party-line
teammates.
A season in which a shaky defense was rent to tatters by free agency and
injury.
Wednesday night, with the word "AMNESTY" floating in a bubble above his
net, Bryzgalov let in a softie early, then, late in the second, he got burned
by lousy backchecking and a deflection from a teammate, the last a
forgettable Kodak moment, since Bryz looked like he ducked the deflection.
He also sweetly denied two evil shots in the first and in the third.
It was Bryzgalov's 20th consecutive start, and he made 14 saves in the
Flyers' 5-3 victory over Montreal. He declined to address the media
afterwards.
He should get Thursday night off, in Toronto.He probably would not get the
Toronto game off had Mason not arrived Wednesday night, in exchange for
shelved veteran backup Michael Leighton and a third-round pick in 2015.
It is very probable that while Bryzgalov watches Mason work, Bryz will
ponder his future. There is much to ponder.
If Mason shines down the stretch the Flyers, in anticipation of the shrinking
salary cap, will be tempted to use an amnesty buyout to rid themselves of
the $34.7 million burden of Bryzgalov's contract over the next seven
seasons. Amnesty rules would limit the buyout cost to $23 million, paid over
twice the remaining term, or 14 seasons.
Bryzgalov would become a free agent and his cap hit would disappear.
The Flyers already are negotiating Mason's deal to a number lower than the
$3 million qualifying offer required to retain his rights as a restricted free
agent next season. If they buy out Bryz, they could acquire an even
cheaper backup for Mason.
Bryzgalov certainly has considered all of those possibilities. He might be
flighty, but he ain't dumb.
As for Philadelphia brass impatiently throwing money around, consider:
* The Eagles paid cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha $4 million in guaranteed
money to leave and join the best team in the NFC. Asomugha would have
earned $15 million in his third season as an Eagle.
* The Sixers paid forward Elton Brand $18 million in an amnesty buyout to
play zero games for them, on someone else's bench. They used most of
that cap room to acquire Andrew Bynum, whom they paid more than $16
million . . . to also play zero games for them.
* The Phillies paid Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels $57 million for their 54 wins
the past two seasons. They owe Hamels $144 million; Lee, as much as
$102.5 million.
In the meantime, the Phillies in 2006 traded promising lefty Gio Gonzalez
(and baffling righty Gavin Floyd) to the White Sox for Freddie Garcia, who
arrived as damaged goods, won one game and made $10 million. Gonzalez
is 52-29 and twice was an All-Star since 2010.
Brand, while diminished from his All-Star days, is a productive bench player
in Dallas. Andre Iguodala, part of the trade to acquire Bynum, is a key cog
with a dangerous Denver team. Nic Vucevic, also traded to get Bynum, has
emerged as a passable post player, and rookie guard Mo Harkless, also
part of that deal, has shown promise.
The Eagles, still evaluating personnel and formulating a plan, have no idea
what their defensive backfield will look like without Asomugha, other than it
won't be as well-dressed.
So, no, throwing money at the problem does not always work.
And now, the Flyers could pay Bryz a humongous $23 million to occupy
another quadrant of the universe.
Flyers goalie coach Jeff Reese is smitten with the potential of Mason, a 24year-old who won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2009.
Of course, the Flyers might just ride out Bryzgalov's deal and hope he
continues to control his neuroses and earn his money . . . or, start earning
it, depending on how you see him.
He was 48-30-10 as a Flyer with a .905 save percentage entering
Wednesday night's game.
He has been brilliant at times, but he also has been ordinary, and
sometimes downright poor.
Last season he irritated his teammates, coaches and Holmgren with
comments perceived as selfish, and with comments perceived as eccentric.
He lost his starting job by the time the Flyers played in the Winter Classic,
the league's showcase game.
Then he clammed up in interviews and clamped down between the pipes
and was splendid last spring, but his tender feelings were so bruised by
then that he ignored accolades.
Yes, it has been a prickly union, with an all-too-brief honeymoon, but there
is no need to contemplate a costly split.
The teams in this town have wasted enough money already.
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667887
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers storm back late and beat Canadiens
Marc Narducci, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 10:32 PM
For the Flyers to get back into the playoff hunt, they must do some
extraordinary things, such as going on a lengthy winning streak.
The Flyers won their third straight game for the first time this season with a
5-3 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night at
the Wells Fargo Center.
The Flyers came through in the third period, outscoring Montreal, 3-0, and
outshooting the Canadiens, 14-2.
"We are winning battles, making better decisions with the puck, and we're
having more fun playing that third period," said captain Claude Giroux, who
assisted on Erik Gustafsson's winning goal. "When we are down, we want it
so badly and keep working."
Gustafsson scored the decisive goal with 3 minutes, 36 seconds remaining.
Jake Voracek added an empty-netter.
Taking a pass from Giroux, Gustafsson skated deep in Montreal's end and
sent a puck on goal that bounced off a Canadiens defenseman and went in.
It was Gustafsson's first goal of the season.
"I got it from [Giroux] and was looking to shoot it first, but the guy came out
in my shooting lane so I faked it and put it in front," Gustafsson said. ". . .
You never know what will happen, and it went in on a lucky bounce."
The Flyers had gotten the equalizer on Wayne Simmonds' 12th goal with
5:06 left. Bruno Gervais' shot bounced off Simmonds' skate.
With 12 games left, the Flyers are four points out of the eighth and final
Eastern Conference playoff spot. The New York Rangers, New Jersey
Devils, and New York Islanders are each tied for seventh with 39 points.
This was the end of a five-game homestand for the Flyers, who went 3-1-1
(3-0-1 after an opening loss) and play in Toronto on Thursday night in the
first stop on a three-game trip.
Injuries continue to plague the Flyers. Zac Rinaldo did not return after he
suffered a lower-body injury in the second period.
Montreal opened the scoring on defenseman Alexei Emelin's snap shot
from inside the blue line with 6:47 left in the first period. Emelin received an
outstanding back pass from Max Pacioretty for the only goal of the opening
period.
The Flyers tied the score on a fluke goal by Sean Couturier, whose pass
from inside the left circle went off the leg of P.K. Subban and into the net
with 15:13 left in the second period.
"I got a nice pass in the slot from [Ruslan Fedotenko] and saw a chance to
put the puck on the net and got a lucky bounce off a skate," Couturier said.
"And I will take it."
The Flyers took a brief, 2-1 lead when Simon Gagne scored on a rebound
off the boards with 4:17 remaining. Luke Schenn and Oliver Lauridsen got
the assists. For Lauridsen, it was his first NHL point.
Montreal took the lead by scoring twice in 20 seconds. Brandon Prust got
the equalizer on a wrist shot after a nice feed from Jeff Halpern with 3:31
left in the period.
David DeSharnais broke the tie, scoring from close range on a feed from
Emelin with 3:11 remaining.
The Flyers came roaring back in the third period.
Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 04.04.2013
667888
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers rally for third straight win
Posted: Thursday, April 4, 2013 12:00 am | Updated: 5:38 am, Thu Apr 4,
2013.
By Wayne Fish Staff writer
PHILADELPHIA — Another night, another resilient effort by the suddenly
no-quit Flyers.
Down by a goal with just a handful of minutes remaining, the Flyers picked
up goals from Wayne Simmonds, Erik Gustafsson and Jake Voracek to
stun the Montreal Canadiens, 5-3, at the Wells Fargo Center on
Wednesday night.
“Yeah, I’m young and obviously if there’s big names coming, my name is
always going to be thrown around,’’ he said. “I try not to think about it and
just play the game and do what I do.
“It (the drought) was tough. I think the last couple of games I’ve been
getting some good scoring chances and when you get scoring chances it’s
just a matter of time before you find the back of the net and one lucky
bounce is all I need. Hopefully I can get some more here.’’
As for his teammates, Couturier says there’s no quit in them.
“We won’t give up,’’ he said. “We still have a chance and if we keep winning
we’ll be right back in the mix. We’ve got to make our own destiny and we
still have a chance so it’s good for us.’’
For coach Peter Laviolette, his team is finally showing the character he’s
been waiting for all season.
“You change so much from year to year and certainly it’s an area that we
have not been good at up until this point,’’ the coach said. “So it’s nice to
see some results in the third period.
The win gave the Flyers their first three-game winning streak of the season,
after failing on five previous occasions.
“We’re putting games away, we’re coming back in games and getting the
points and wins that we need.’’
Down 3-2, the Flyers came roaring back. Simmonds watched a puck deflect
off his skate at 14:54. Then Gustafsson executed a brilliant fake to deliver a
goal at 16:44. Voracek put it away with an empty-netter.
Short shots
Just a few days ago, the Flyers rallied to tie Washington with nine seconds
to play in regulation and won it in overtime, so what gives? Why the sudden
turnaround, especially in the third periods, which have been a problem all
season?
“We’re playing real solid right now, good confidence,’’ said Gustafsson, who
banked a puck off Montreal defenseman Francis Bouillon for the winner. “I
think we’re coming together pretty good as a group, playing for each other,
as a unit of five, helping each other better than we did earlier in the
season.’’
Leading briefly late in the second period, the Flyers suffered one of their
frequent mental lapses and gave up a pair of goals.
But then came the rally, and the Flyers managed to stay four points out of
the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
This much we know, the Flyers haven’t given up hope.
“We played one of our best games tonight,’’ Claude Giroux said. “When
we’re hungry, that’s when we play our best.
“We’re winning battles, making better decisions with the puck. Sometimes
when we’re down, we want it so bad, we just keep working.’’
The Flyers held the lead in the second period courtesy of a Simon Gagne
goal.
But then the Canadiens came roaring back with a pair of goals just 20
seconds apart as the period was coming to a close to retake the lead at 3-2.
Gagne put the Flyers briefly in front at 15:43, when he beat Carey Price
from close range, courtesy of an Oliver Lauridsen assist (his first NHL
point).
Lauridsen’s shot actually took a friendly bounce off the end boards and right
to Gagne’s stick.
It didn’t take long for the Canadiens to recover. They made it 2-2 on a
Brandon Prust goal at 16:29. The Canadiens worked a nice odd-man rush,
with Jeff Halpern setting up Prust at the right hash marks for a shot under
Ilya Bryzgalov’s glove.
Unsettled by that goal, the Flyers allowed another on a wide-angle shot by
David Desharnais.
But the final rally erased any bad memories.
Earlier, Sean Couturier finally broke a 27-game goal drought at 4:47 of the
second period. Ruslan Fedotenko picked up the assist as Couturier scored
for the first time since Jan. 27, just his third goal of the season.
Ending the drought was quite a bit of a relief for Couturier, who had been
the subject of trade rumors leading up to Wednesday’s deadline.
Zac Rinaldo left the game with a lower body injury in the second period and
did not return. Rinaldo reportedly needed assistance to leave the Wells
Fargo Center, leading to speculation the injury is fairly serious.
Burlington County Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667889
Philadelphia Flyers
PARENT: Trades show Flyers are looking for cap space
It seems a stretch to think the Flyers have the time to determine that Mason
will be a No. 1, that they can find another competent backup goalie and that
they can eat that much cash just to send Bryzgalov and his cap hit on their
way. But this is a team that needs half of an overhaul at the blue line, and
that can only come with cap room to spare.
No matter how much it costs.
April 04, 2013
By ROB PARENT
VOORHEES, N.J. — Having managed an early skate just to reacquaint
himself with the ice Wednesday, Danny Briere had a spring in his heart if
not in his step.
“It smells like playoffs,” Briere said of the upbeat vibe in the building, or
maybe predicting when he could next play hockey.
Aside from that verbal shot of warmth, however, the news on Briere didn’t
seem much better. He says he’s still suffering symptoms from the
concussion caused by a fall into the boards during a practice March 23, but
he doesn’t know when he will next sniff a game.
Briere said he’d tried to start a real rehabilitation since he bumped his head,
but “had a couple of setbacks.” He was hoping to avoid another one after
this skate, but remains out indefinitely.
“You get to the point where you feel OK, and so you push it a little bit more
every day,” Briere said. “And if that’s fine, you push a little bit more.”
You get the idea that he won’t have any problem pushing hard if the Flyers
go on some kind of April dash despite their long playoff odds. But what’s not
so clear about Briere’s status is what will become of him after the season.
He’s likely on a Flyers farewell tour right now, and it’s possible goalie Ilya
Bryzgalov is going to take a bow with him if the Flyers decide to eat a ton of
cash to say goodbye.
For clarity, look at Paul Holmgren’s actions at the trade deadline
Wednesday. From the looks of things, he traded one backup goalie for
another, and picked up a journeyman forward off the waiver wire. But you
could also see Holmgren’s acquisition of goalie Steve Mason as a precursor
to an offseason rebuild.
You can especially see that when you see how the Flyers can’t possibly go
into another season with a team lacking so much and so strapped by a
couple of contracts, those of Briere and Bryzgalov.
Briere is an obvious candidate for a compliance buyout under the so-called
“amnesty clause included in the collective bargaining agreement that was
painfully hashed out in January. His cap hit is $6.5 million for each of the
next two years, though his actual salary is only a total of $5 million for those
two years.
If the Flyers included him as one of the two amnesties they’re allowed to
exercise over the next two offseasons, all of Briere’s money would come off
the cap and the Flyers would only have to pay him two-thirds of the
remaining salary on his contract ($3.3 million), then give him a grateful
handshake and send him on his way.
It’s possible that Briere’s concussion complicated matters, since teams are
not allowed to use the compliance buyout on injured players. The Flyers
would not be able to use the amnesty clause on him until he got cleared by
a doctor. Whether that means a team doctor or Briere’s personal choice
isn’t something clear in a CBA apparently still being printed into nice little
books in the NHL offices.
Either way, the Flyers likely will be able to move Briere in that fashion,
which will get $6.5 million off the cap books for next season. That done, a
decision will have to be made: Can Steve Mason become this team’s
starting goalie?
If so, the Flyers would be able to erase another $5.6 million off their cap
next year and six years after that by calling an amnesty on Bryzgalov. But
that will truly come at a cost, since, let’s see ... Bryzgalov has $35.5 million
in salary left on his deal.
How’s a nice $23.3 million severance check sound, Bryz?
“We like Steve as a young goalie,” Holmgren said of his new backup goalie,
a guy just four years removed from winning a Calder Trophy as the league’s
top rookie. “I still think there’s tremendous upside there.”
Delaware County Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667890
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers swap Michael Leighton for Blue Jackets’ Steve Mason
April 04, 2013
By ROB PARENT
VOORHEES, N.J. — Picking up right where he left off last June at the NHL
draft, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren again made a goalie trade
with the Columbus Blue Jackets and thereby may have ignited a lot of
goalie gossip going forward.
Beating the 3 p.m. trade deadline by about a half-hour, Holmgren
Wednesday acquired Steve Mason from the Blue Jackets in exchange for
backup goalie Michael Leighton and a third-round draft pick in 2015. It was
the marquee move of the day for Holmgren, who aside from making a few
other minor moves in the days leading up to the deadline stood pat with the
core of his team despite holes up and down the Flyers’ roster.
Also acquired Wednesday was veteran checking line forward Adam Hall,
plucked off waivers from Tampa Bay. Saturday Holmgren had traded for
Detroit defenseman Kent Huskins (for a conditional 2014 pick) and Monday
sent minor leaguer Harry Zolnierczyk to Anaheim for fighter Jay Rosehill.
At least bringing in Mason is an intriguing move. Still only 24, he was the
2009 NHL Rookie of the Year, going 33-20-7 in 61 appearances with a 2.29
goals-against average and .916 saves percentage for a typically bad Blue
Jackets team.
That breakout first season came after Mason was hailed as a hockey hero
in leading Team Canada to the gold medal at the 2008 World Junior
Championships. Since those early successes, his career has dovetailed.
The low point came this season, as he lost his starting position to former
Flyers backup Sergei Bobrovsky, who was traded to Columbus at the NHL
draft in June for three draft picks.
In 13 games this season, Mason has a 3-6-1 record with a 2.95 GAA and
.899 saves percentage, while Bobrovsky has been claiming player of the
week and month honors while leading the Blue Jackets to the verge of
respectability. That put Mason, a pending restricted free agent, on the verge
of delight that he was getting out.
“With the way that Sergei has played, he’s taken the ball and really run with
it,” Mason said in an interview with TSN at the deadline. “Every goaltender
wants to be able to have a fresh start. Nobody likes sitting on the bench.
Myself, going to a new organization and re-establishing my career, I’m
looking forward to that.”
Mason played with Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Luke Schenn on
that gold-medal winning Canadian junior tourney team and he said he’s
“more than thrilled” to be renewing old acquaintances.
When asked what he thought went wrong with the Blue Jackets, Mason
added, “I put a lot of expectations on myself. When one bad thing
happened, it seemed to have a snowball effect, and I just couldn’t get out of
it. Now, with a fresh start, you just forget about all the negative things.”
But Mason’s presence and stature could represent something negative to
starting goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Making his 20th straight start Wednesday
night against the Montreal Canadiens, Bryzgalov has been relatively solid
this season. But when you consider the Flyers were likely to put a player
like Andrej Meszaros on long-term injured reserve just so they could clear
space for roster additions, there are implications going forward about a
rebuilding job being hampered by the $5.66 million salary cap hit
Bryzgalov’s contract calls for in each of the next seven years.
With Mason on board, speculation will likely increase that the Flyers may
make Bryzgalov one of two cap compliance buyouts the Flyers are allowed
to exercise this offseason and next.
Holmgren said he had not spoken to his starting goalie about the Mason
move.
“His job is to stop the puck while he’s in the net,” Holmgren said. “It’s not to
worry about other things like that.”
Asked if Mason would naturally be considered the backup goalie, Holmgren
said only, “We see him as one of our two goalies, not only for the rest of this
year, but moving forward.”
For now, though, Holmgren is fine with the fate that his team’s
inadequacies, slow start and recent injuries have dealt it. He was not going
to gamble any of his young assets at the deadline in a blind attempt to alter
his team’s present course.
“We like our young group,” Holmgren said. “I still think we can make a little
push here. We’ll see what happens over the final 13 games, but we have a
lot of good, young players that we like and I think a lot of other teams like
them, too. We didn’t want to do anything to disrupt that. We’ll ride out the
rest of the year and try to make a playoff push.”
Holmgren said he’s already spoken with Mason’s agent about a contract
extension. His current deal is paying him $3.2 million salary with a $2.9
million cap hit in this, the final year of the deal. He is scheduled to be a
restricted free agent, and considering Bryzgalov’s $5.6M hit, the Flyers
could be looking at $9 million or so of what’s expected to be a $64 million
payroll limit next season dedicated to two goalies. Or not?
“I don’t think it will be $9 million,” Holmgren said. “I think there’s a way you
can work with Steve and his agent to get his salary down a little bit. I don’t
think that will be an issue.”
NOTES: Nick Grossmann practiced Wednesday but still seems at least a
couple of game days from playing. He’s likely the only Flyer of the current
injured group (Max Talbot, Danny Briere, Meszaros, Braydon Coburn,
Grossmann) that will be able to return this regular season. ... Holmgren
confirmed Talbot’s fractured left leg ends his season. For that reason, Hall
was picked up off waivers. “He’s a good kid, works hard and can play any
position,” Holmgren said.
Delaware County Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667891
Philadelphia Flyers
Win, new goalie have Flyers looking toward the future
April 04, 2013
By JACK McCAFFERY
PHILADELPHIA — By day, the Flyers gave indication Wednesday that they
were edging toward reshaping their next season. By night, they would
continue to try to salvage this one.
With three goals in the final 5:06, the Flyers would earn a 5-3 victory over
the Montreal Canadiens at the Wells Fargo Center, good for their first threegame winning streak of the season, and for continued hope that the
fractured season may last beyond their final 12 scheduled games.
That was only hours after they’d put themselves in position for a major
offseason personnel shift by trading for another capable goaltender and the
possibility of new salary maneuverability.
The Flyers entered the game in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, yet
finished what was felt to be a season-defining five-game homestand at an
encouraging 3-1-1.
“Any time you play at home, in front of your fans, you have to get those
wins,” captain Claude Giroux said. “Obviously, it is not a secret our record is
not too good on the road. So we have to focus here.”
Wayne Simmonds was rewarded for his focus in front of Carey Price at
14:54 of the third, when he redirected a Bruno Gervais attempt and forged a
3-3 tie. And 2:30 later, Erik Gustafsson was credited with the game-winning
goal on a deflected pass to Matt Read in front. Jake Voracek’s goal with 39
seconds left added the flourish.
Sean Couturier and Simon Gagne each scored odd goals to help build a 21 lead in the second period, but Montreal answered with two goals within 20
seconds.
Zac Rinaldo left with a lower-body injury during the game. The Flyers
offered no deeper explanation.
The first period ended with 20 seconds of tension between Brayden Schenn
and P.K. Subban. After a collision in the Montreal zone, the two skated
back around toward the Flyers’ bench where, at the horn, Schenn elbowed
Subban, who crashed into the boards and tumbled. The crowd was
delighted, the authorities were not, and Schenn was smeared with a twominute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
By then, the Canadiens had built a 1-0 lead. With Brendan Gallagher
screening and Luke Schenn providing minimal help, Alexei Emelin would
send a 20-yard wrist shot past Bryzgalov at 13:13.
But Couturier answered at 4:47 of the second with a flip that hit Price, then
ricocheted off the leg of a stunned Subban and into the net. The goal was
Couturier’s third of the season and first since Jan. 27, a span of 27 games.
The Flyers made it 2-1 on another fluke goal at 15:43 of the second. That’s
when Luke Schenn shot way wide of the net, only to have the puck pingpong off the back boards and directly to an unattended Gagne, who
redirected it past a shocked Price.
“It was good work by our line,” said Gagne, of his third goal of the season.
“There was good cycling of the puck and keeping the puck on the wall. I got
a lucky rebound from the board right on to my tape. I think Carey Price was
looking at the other side, so I had a pretty much open net. It was a lucky
bounce, but I’ll take it.”
The Flyers took the goal, the lead and what should have been momentum.
But just 46 seconds later, Brandon Prust hustled into the zone, accepted a
pinpoint pass from Jeff Halpern and scored to even it up. And 20 seconds
after that, David Desharnais took a shot from the deep right-wing circle that
deflected off of Brayden Schenn’s stick and so startled Bryzgalov that he
lifted his arms above his head as if unable to see the puck, which promptly
sailed past him for a 3-2 Montreal lead.
If not necessarily for any of those such reasons, but just because of the way
the money and the opportunities are shuffled about the NHL, it was the
Flyers’ activity earlier in the day that indicated a more lasting goaltending
shift. That’s when Paul Holmgren moved Michael Leighton and a thirdround 2015 draft choice to Columbus for goalie Steve Mason, a former
rookie of the year. The quick analysis was that it at least gives the Flyers a
cushion should they choose to buy Bryzgalov out for the cap relief, an
option that came with the new bargaining agreement.
But with Bryzgalov making his 20th consecutive start Wednesday, and an
ordinary one at that, Mason could be an appealing net alternative for a club
with continuing postseason hopes.
“He’s a young goaltender who has had some success in the league,” Peter
Laviolette said before the game. “I’m sure he is looking to get here and get
going with us for a fresh start for him. So we’re excited. He’s a big
goaltender that has had a lot of success in the league.”
With those 12 games left in the regular season, the Flyers will play their
next five on the road, beginning tonight in Toronto.
They are not talking about the playoffs, but a successful five-game
homestand earned them the option to start thinking that way.
“We have just been talking about our games, and less about what other
teams are doing around the league,” Laviolette said. “We just focus on our
opponent and on being ready to play when we have to. The only thing we
can control right now is our games and making sure that we win them.”
Delaware County Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667892
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers claim Hall off waivers
One day after the Carolina Hurricanes sent forward Adam Hall and a
seventh-round draft pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for Marc-Andre
Bergeron, the Lightning put Hall on waivers ... and the Flyers made him
theirs today.
That's been the extent of their Trade Deadline Day activity so far, picking up
the veteran Hall off waivers. They also apparently have kept defenseman
Kurtis Foster, who was to be on waivers until 12 noon. There has been no
word of him being claimed.
Hall is 32, hasn't scored a goal this year but provides needed depth with
both Max Talbot and Danny Briere both likely out for at least the balance of
the regular season.
Hall is rather well traveled. He has 591 career NHL games under his belt,
including stints with Pittsburgh, Minnesota, the Rangers, Nashville, Carolina
and Tampa twice.
He has 65 career goals and 147 career points.
As for Briere, who has been out the past 10 days with a concussion, he told
the Daily Times today that he's still experiencing rather severe symptoms
and only now is starting light exercise again after suffering a few setbacks.
Briere is not optimistic of a return to action anytime soon. More on this later.
posted by Rob Parent
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667893
Philadelphia Flyers
Instant Replay: Flyers 5, Canadiens 3
April 3, 2013, 10:00 pm Sarah Baicker
It took five tries, but the Flyers finally managed to win three consecutive
games, and they did it in front of the home crowd.
Wednesday’s effort at the Wells Fargo Center was certainly mixed. There
were highlights, sure, but lowlights too, as the Flyers once again fell victim
to bad luck while also slipping into some of the same bad habits that have
plagued them all throughout this lockout-shortened season.
They fought through it, however, besting the Montreal Canadiens, 5-3.
The Habs are a fast team, and entered Wednesday’s game in the midst of a
rather hot streak – they had won their last three in a row, including a big 3-0
shutout of the New York Rangers. If ever there were a time for the Flyers to
prove they could play with desperation for a full 60 minutes, this was it.
They did start the game with some jump, claiming the first three shots on
net of the evening, but the pace began to decline as the period went on.
And it took only until the unlucky time of 13:13 of the first period for the
Canadiens to strike. Defenseman Alexei Emelin got lucky on a shot from
the point, as Ilya Bryzgalov was screened.
The Canadiens carried their 1-0 lead into the second stanza, which the
Flyers started on the penalty kill thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty on Brayden Schenn. Schenn allowed Habs defenseman P.K.
Subban to do what he does very well – draw a needless penalty.
They killed that penalty off, and followed it up with a back-to-back fights,
injecting some energy into what had been becoming a listless effort. First,
Wayne Simmonds took on Travis Moen in a short-but-sweet match that saw
Simmonds land one good punch before the two toppled to the ice.
As soon as play resumed, Zac Rinaldo squared off with Brandon Prust –
though Rinaldo was on the losing end of the tussle.
He later left the game with a lower-body injury, and didn’t return.
Moments later, Sean Couturier tied it up for the Flyers. A strange bounce off
of what appeared to at first be a pass hit Montreal goalie Carey Price before
bouncing off of Subban’s leg and deflecting into the net, but even the ugly
ones count.
It was Couturier’s first goal since Jan. 27.
The Flyers added to Couturier’s tally when Simon Gagne picked up a puck
that had bounced off the boards behind Price and whipped it home.
“It was good work by our line,” Gagne said. “There was good cycling of the
puck and keeping the puck on the wall. I got a lucky rebound from the board
right on to my tape. I think Carey Price was looking at the other side, so I
had a pretty much open net. It was a lucky bounce, but I'll take it.”
Unfortunately for the Flyers, however, their 2-1 lead lasted less than a
minute.
To make matters worse, it took a mere 20 seconds for Brandon Prust to tie
the game at 2 and center David Desharnais to return the lead to the
Canadiens, who carried the 3-2 score into the third period. While he can’t
bear all the fault for Prust’s tally, Bryzgalov appeared to duck as
Desharnais’ shot flew at him.
The Flyers picked up the pace in the third period, peppering Price with a
handful of solid shots. Claude Giroux even got in the mix, getting physical in
a small scuffle with Habs center Lars Eller.
Wayne Simmonds tied the game at 3 when he camped out on Price’s
doorstep to get a piece of a point shot from Bruno Gervais with his skate.
The crowd, newly reinvigorated, got to its feet and got loud.
Just seconds later, Erik Gustafsson gave the Flyers the 4-3 lead.
Jakub Voracek then sealed the victory with an empty-net goal to make it a
5-3 final.
(more coming...)
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667894
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers keep core of young players intact as deadline passes
April 3, 2013, 5:45 pm Tim Panaccio
“Don’t do anything rash.”
“Don’t waste our young kids on a has-been.”
Those words came directly from a couple of Flyers scouts, who said they
would speak their mind on trade deadline day to keep their younger players
from being moved.
To that end, the Flyers were entirely successful during Wednesday’s NHL
trade deadline. They didn’t move Sean Couturier or Matt Read or Scott
Laughton, or even any minor-league prospect in any deals.
That said, the Flyers remained unable to fortify their rather gaping holes on
defense for the remainder of the season, but that wasn’t surprising.
Their entire defense can be tackled in the offseason. By then, the Flyers
could also have a very high first-round draft pick, depending upon where
they finish in the final Eastern Conference standings, to assist them in dealmaking.
The only actual trade the Flyers made today was sending backup goalie
Michael Leighton to Columbus for backup Steve Mason (see story).
The Flyers had lost confidence that Leighton could actually spell Ilya
Bryzgalov and get a win.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren feels Mason can do that, although
his stats over the past three years really don’t suggest he can be effective
with a goals-against average over 3.00.
“I think he’s bounced back a little bit better this year,” Holmgren said,
meeting with reporters late Wednesday afternoon.
“Sergei [Bobrovsky] has taken over the spot there. Steve is still a young
goalie and has a lot of upside. Jeff Reese, our goalie coach, studies a lot of
goalies and likes Steve, thinks something is there. Moving forward, he’s a
guy we had an interest in.”
Holmgren dodged the question of whether he saw Mason as simply the
backup to Ilya Bryzgalov.
“We see him as one of our two goalies,” he said. “Not only for the rest of
this year, but moving forward. We’ll just leave it at that for now.”
Mason is a restricted free agent earning $2.9 million. Given his poor
numbers, the Flyers will look to re-sign him for less money.
It’s hard to see the Flyers spending in excess of $8.5 million next season on
Mason and Bryzgalov ($5.66 million) combined – assuming Bryzgalov is
here.
“There’s a way you can work with Steve and his agent, to get his salary
down a little bit,” Holmgren replied, all but saying Mason will have to take a
pay cut.
“I don’t think that will be an issue.”
A former Calder Trophy winner, who enjoyed considerable success in junior
– 2008 gold medal for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships
and MVP – Mason didn’t shine on a number of poor Blue Jacket clubs.
The Flyers feel he’ll do better here. Then again, the Flyers have to improve
themselves on defense to really have an impact on any goalie right now.
“I don’t know what’s gone on there [in Columbus], but we liked Steve as a
young goalie,” Holmgren said. “I still think there’s tremendous upside there.
We’ll bring him in, work with him and try to achieve his goals of being a
better goalie, as well.”
In an unrelated move, the Flyers picked up 32-year-old forward Adam Hall
off waivers from Tampa Bay (see story). This was an obvious depth move
that cost them nothing.
“Max Talbot is out for the year,” Holmgren said, in explaining why Hall is
here. “It was an easy decision. Adam’s been around. He’s bigger guy who
can play left wing, center, right wing. It’s depth and experience.”
Talbot has a broken left leg.
You sensed the Flyers weren’t going to be terribly active on trade deadline
day, and although they made a number of calls to teams looking toward the
future, they didn’t make any impact moves.
“We did a lot of whistling the last few days, but didn’t push hard for anything
to happen,” Holmgren said.
Actually, the Flyers were in it to the end for Ottawa goalie Ben Bishop
before he was moved to Tampa Bay. They also inquired about Phoenix
defenseman Keith Yandle, a player who was available at last summer’s
NHL draft on the very day the Flyers made the JVR trade for Luke Schenn.
An Ottawa source said the Senators wanted Sean Couturier for Bishop, a
price the Flyers felt was too high. Indeed, it was because the Flyers may
very well need to move Couturier this summer for a defenseman.
“We like our young group,” Holmgren said. “I think we can still make a little
push here [in the standings] and we’ll see what happens over the final 13
games.
“We have a lot of good, young players that we like and I think a lot of other
teams like them, too.”
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667895
Philadelphia Flyers
Roughly an hour before the deadline, the Ottawa Senators dealt Bishop – a
player the Flyers had definite interest in acquiring – to Tampa Bay for
talented rookie Cory Conacher and a fourth-round pick this summer.
Flyers acquire goalie Steve Mason from Columbus
Conacher immediately became the Sens’ No. 1 points guy with 24.
April 3, 2013, 2:30 pm Tim Panaccio
The Flyers were in it till the end on Bishop. One Ottawa source said
Senators general manager Bryan Murray was asking for Sean Couturier.
Given they got Conacher from the Lightning, it would make sense that
Ottawa wanted Couturier.
They couldn’t get Ben Bishop.
So the Flyers settled on trading for Columbus goalie Steve Mason on
Wednesday at the NHL trade deadline.
Not even an hour after Ottawa traded Bishop to the Tampa Bay Lightning,
the Flyers went out and got Mason in exchange for Michael Leighton and a
2015 third-round draft pick.
A goalie, you ask? Not a defenseman? Yep.
The only other move the club made Wednesday was claiming 32-year-old
veteran forward Adam Hall off waivers from Tampa Bay (see story).
Mason carries a $2.9 million cap hit. He’ll be a backup to Ilya Bryzgalov
right now but, what happens this summer when he’s up for renewal as a
restricted free agent?
Don’t be surprised if the Flyers go after another goalie this summer as their
new starter and amnesty Bryzgalov with Mason as the backup.
General manager Paul Holmgren was vague on Bryzgalov's role with the
team in the future when asked if he saw Mason as simply a backup goalie.
“We see him as one of our two goalies,” Holmgren said. “Not only for the
rest of this year, but moving forward. We’ll just leave it at that for now.”
It’s hard to imagine the Flyers will invest over $8.5 million into one position
given Bryzgalov's cap hit is $5.66 million.
The Russian has been worn down this season without an adequate backup
that coach Peter Laviolette feels can win on any given night after being a
healthy scratch for games in succession.
Mason can certainly do that, but his numbers have been awful for three
straight seasons.
“I’m really excited and going to a new organization with a fresh opportunity
to play with some players I have a history with from World Juniors there.
Just really looking forward to meeting the new guys and starting off fresh,”
Mason said in an interview with TSN.
“I’m more than thrilled to have this new opportunity. With the way Sergei
[Bobrovsky] has played, he’s taken the ball and really run with it.
“Every goaltender wants a fresh start and not be sitting on the bench. I’m
going to a new organization to re-establish my career and really looking
forward to that.”
Mason has been poor in Columbus, posting a 2.95 goals against average
and .899 save percentage for the Blue Jackets in 13 games.
Ironically, the former Flyer Bobrovsky took his job.
Think about it. The Flyers trade their backup goalie to Columbus; he
becomes a star; then the next season, the Flyers trade for the Blue Jackets'
backup, who lost his job to the ex-Flyer backup.
This stuff can only happen in Flyerdom.
The 24-year-old is a former Calder Trophy winner as NHL Rookie of the
Year (2008-09), when he won 33 games for Columbus with a 2.29 goals
against average and .916 save percentage under ex-Flyers coach Ken
Hitchcock.
“I put a lot of expectations on myself and when bad things happen and
seem to snowball, I just couldn’t get out of it,” Mason said of his play since
2008-09. "You forget all the negative things and go into a new, positive
situation and try to make the most of it.
“Going to Philadelphia and working with Bryzgalov, I’m looking forward to
working with him and moving forward with things.”
The Flyers felt that price was too high.
The team needs to restock its blue line after the season and find a young,
franchise defenseman -- if it can. Those are the toughest deals in hockey,
as the Flyers found out last summer with Ryan Suter and Shea Weber.
For now, the Flyers are holding onto the very few valuable chips they have
until the summer when they reshape the club.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667896
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers claim forward Adam Hall off waivers
April 3, 2013, 12:45 pm
Tim Panaccio
Having lost Max Talbot for the remainder of the season with a broken left
leg, the Flyers added depth today at the trade deadline off waivers.
Veteran forward Adam Hall, who’s gone through waivers a few times this
season already, was claimed from Tampa Bay.
In March, he had previously been claimed by the Hurricanes from Tampa
Bay, then traded back to the Bolts for Marc-Andre Bergeron on Tuesday.
A 1999 draft pick of Nashville, Hall has bounced around the NHL. This will
be his seventh club.
He played 20 games with four assists for Tampa Bay this season and six
games with Carolina and registered no points.
Hall, a center who wins more than 50 percent of his draws, might also be
used on the penalty kill, which was one of Talbot’s specialties.
His cap hit is $650,000 and he is a unrestricted free agent this summer.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667897
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers staying alive, vying for season-best streak
April 3, 2013, 11:00 am Tim Panaccio
A season first.
That’s what is at stake Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center as the
Flyers host the Montreal Canadiens (see game notes).
Peter Laviolette’s club is attempting to win three games in succession for
the first time this year.
“Montreal has been playing very good this year,” Flyers captain Claude
Giroux said. “It’s going to be a good test for us. They’re a fast team. They
find a way to win a lot of games.”
On Sunday, the Flyers were two points behind the eighth-seeded Rangers.
Since then, the standings have changed again in the Eastern Conference
as the Flyers have fallen further behind.
The Islanders now occupy the eighth seed, six points ahead of the Flyers.
“It’s nice to win two in a row,” Scott Hartnell said. “It’s been a long time
since that happened. We’re feeling good where we are. Our play is a lot
better in the last couple games.”
There is different feel lately in the Flyers' dressing room. Confident smiles
have replaced concerned brows.
Though the Flyers may not be in a playoff spot and their chances still
remain slim, they believe they’ve straightened some things out and are
actually competing in games, despite the staggering loss on the back end
with defensemen Andrej Meszaros and Braydon Coburn done for the
season, while Nick Grossmann remains day to day with an upper body
injury.
“It’s do or die right now and it’s fun hockey – this is what it is all about,”
Hartnell said. “Focus on catching teams ahead of us in the standings.
“Seems every night we will have a chance tie or pass a team it’s such a
close race. This is where you decipher between boys and men, and
hopefully we come out on top.”
Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov will make his 20th consecutive start tonight.
“Bryz looks good,” Laviolette said. “We’ve tried our best to give him some
rest. We understand where we’re at as a group. Bryz has played well for us.
“We don’t have the luxury of picking games or looking at back-to-back sets
where maybe [we] can get Michael [Leighton] in there. Every game is so
important to us right now.
“We have to get Bryz back out and have tried to manage his time as best as
we can on the ice with practices and days off.”
Bryzgalov, who has started all but two games, is third in the NHL in minutes
played at 1,899:31.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667898
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers-Canadiens: What you need to know
April 3, 2013, 9:30 am Tim Riday
Flyers vs. Canadiens – 7:30 p.m., CSN
Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Records
Flyers: 15-17-3 (Last in Atlantic Division, 13th in Eastern Conference)
Canadiens: 23-7-5 (First in Northeast Division, second in Eastern
Conference)
Last meeting
In the last matchup between these two clubs, the Canadiens handled the
Flyers in a 4-1 win in Montreal on Feb. 16. Danny Briere potted the Flyers’
lone goal, while four different Canadiens found the back of the net. Brendan
Gallagher, David Desharnais and Tomas Plekanec each beat Ilya
Bryzgalov before Rene Bourque sealed the victory for the Habs with an
empty-net marker.
Wednesday will mark the second of three meetings between the Flyers and
Canadiens this season. The two teams will play once more in 2013 on April
15 in Montreal.
Previous games
Ruslan Fedotenko scored for the second time in as many games and the
Flyers rallied for a furious 5-4 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals
on Sunday. The Flyers went down 4-2 in the third period, but Claude Giroux
and Kimmo Timonen each scored before Fedotenko ended the game in OT
with his third tally of the season. The win did come at a cost, however, as
Max Talbot, who scored the Flyers’ first goal, suffered a broken leg in the
second period.
After scoring just one goal in 12 contests, Max Pacioretty tallied two
markers to help the Canadiens upend the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1, on
Monday. Habs netminder Carey Price turned aside 18 saves in his 300th
career NHL game. After beating Carolina, Montreal has won all 10 games
its played against Southeast Division opponents this season.
Who's hot
Claude Giroux has been playing like a man possessed over the past six
games. The Flyers’ captain has recorded three goals and six assists during
that span and has vaulted himself into a tie with Jakub Voracek for the
team-lead in points with 35.
For Montreal, P.K. Subban has posted six points in his past three games.
The Canadiens’ defenseman has 10 goals and 18 assists for the Habs this
season and is tied with Minnesota’s Ryan Suter and Pittsburgh’s Kris
Letang for the league lead in points amongst defenseman with 28.
Who's not
A year after scoring a career-high 37 goals, Scott Hartnell has struggled
offensively in this lockout-shortened season. The winger has tallied just
three points – all goals – in his last 10 contests and is on pace to record
seven markers and 12 points in 2013.
Price hasn’t had much success against the Flyers as of late. In his last six
starts versus the orange and black, he’s gone 1-5 with a 3.38 goals-against
average.
Keep an eye on...
Time is running out for the Flyers. They have 13 games left to put together
a run for a playoff position and enter Wednesday trailing the New York
Islanders by six points – with two games in hand – for the eighth seed in the
East.
Montreal, which is currently riding a three-game winning streak, holds a
one-point lead over the Boston Bruins for the top spot in the Northeast
Division. The Habs also enter this contest with one of the NHL’s best road
marks at 12-3-2.
The Flyers, who have won two games in a row five times this season but
have yet to put together a three-game winning streak, will complete a fivegame homestand on Wednesday night. They have gone 2-1-1 in their last
four contests at the Wells Fargo Center and have won two straight after a 02-2 skid.
The NHL’s top power-play unit will be facing off against one of hottest
penalty-kill units on Wednesday. The Flyers have gone 6 for 9 on the man
advantage in their last five games and are a league-best 24.8 percent on
the PP. Montreal, however, has been lights out while a man down,
successfully killing off 21 of their past 23 penalties.
Did you know?
The Flyers have outscored the Canadiens 15-6 while winning their last four
matchups in South Philly against Montreal.
Injuries
Flyers: Another game, another injury for the orange and black. Talbot will
be out indefinitely after sustaining a broken left leg on Sunday.
Briere (concussion), Braydon Coburn (separated left shoulder), Jody
Shelley (left hip surgery) are all on injured reserve and are also out
indefinitely.
Nicklas Grossmann, who has missed the last five games with an upperbody injury, is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.
Andrej Meszaros (left shoulder) is expected to miss the remainder of the
season.
Canadiens: Ryan White has missed Montreal’s last five games and is
questionable to play against the Flyers on Wednesday.
Bourque (concussion), Colby Armstrong (lower-body), Yannick Weber
(knee) and Raphael Diaz (concussion) are all on IR.
Sound off
Will the Flyers win their season-best third straight game?
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667899
Philadelphia Flyers
Couturier scores first in Flyers win
Apr. 3, 2013 10:18 PM
Written by Dave Isaac Courier-Post Staff
PHILADELPHIA — The double fist pump and a yell from the lungs of
second-year player Sean Couturier spoke…well, screamed volumes.
His shot deflected off the stick of Montreal defenseman Lars Eller. Then off
goalie Carey Price’s arm. Then off P.K. Subban’s left skate and into the
Canadiens’ net.
A 27-game goalless drought was over and Couturier got the Flyers on the
board for the first time on the night in a 5-3 Flyers win, their third in a row.
Both Couturier and the Flyers are schneid.
Five other times this season the Flyers had won two in a row, but came up
short when going for the third consecutive victory. This is the first time all
year they’ve done it.
Couturier’s goal tied the game at one apiece at 4:47 of the second period,
when the Flyers decided to take over. They outshot Montreal 12-4 in the
second stanza and got going thanks to a couple of tough guys.
Wayne Simmonds and Zac Rinaldo tried to put some fight in the game by
dropping the gloves.
Simmonds fought Travis Moen off a faceoff and on the ensuing draw,
Rinaldo dropped the gloves with Brandon Prust.
Two minutes and 32 seconds later, Couturier got the Flyers on the board.
Simon Gagne put the Flyers up a goal at 15:43 of the second period off a
back-boards pass from Ruslan Fedotenko.
“It was good work by our line,” Gagne said. “There was good cycling of the
puck and keeping the puck on the wall. I got a lucky rebound from the board
right on to my tape. I think Carey Price was looking at the other side so I
had a pretty much open net. It was a lucky bounce, but I'll take it."
The win for the Flyers is the second consecutive come-from-behind effort.
They did it Sunday against Washington, too.
Montreal threatened with two goals in 20 seconds from Prust and David
Desharnais in the waning minutes of the second period.
Third periods haven’t been kind to the Flyers, but they scored three goals in
five minutes to put the Canadiens, the Eastern Conference’s second seed,
to bed.
Goals by Simmonds at 14:54, Erik Gustafsson at 16:24 and an empty netter
by Jake Voracek at 19:21, gave the Flyers three consecutive wins for the
first time all season.
Empty netters
Rinaldo didn’t return to the game after his fight with a lower-body injury. …
Nick Grossmann practiced with the team in the morning skate, but missed
his sixth consecutive game with an upper-body injury. … Center Danny
Briere missed his sixth as well with a concussion, but he skated by himself
Wednesday morning. …Former captain Chris Pronger was in attendance as
a guest in GM Paul Holmgren’s suite.
Reach Dave Isaac
Courier-Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667900
Philadelphia Flyers
Notes: Flyers' Plan B is a goaltender
Apr 4, 2013 | Written by Dave Isaac
Courier-Post Staff
PHILADELPHIA — Paul Holmgren did a lot of listening as Wednesday’s
trade deadline approached. When the clock ticked closer and closer toward
the 3 p.m. deadline, the Flyers general manager decided to pull the trigger.
He’d been working on a deal for two weeks. When Ottawa traded highly
coveted goalie Ben Bishop to Tampa Bay, Holmgren went with Plan B.
He picked up a goalie from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
But he didn’t trade for the guy he let go last year for a second-round draft
pick and a pair of fourths. He acquired Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup in
exchange for a 2015 third-round pick and Michael Leighton.
Steve Mason, 24, was the NHL’s rookie of the year in 2008-09, but has
struggled since. In 13 games this season, Mason has a 2.95 goals-against
average and .899 save percentage. He carries with him a $2.9 million cap
hit and is a restricted free agent after this season.
So, he’s got to be the backup, right?
“We see him as one of our two goalies,” Holmgren said. “Not only for the
rest of this year, but moving forward.”
How did Ilya Bryzgalov react to this when he was told? The Russian
goaltender is under contract until 2020.
“I didn’t know it was gonna happen,” Holmgren said. “And to be honest, if I
knew, I wouldn’t have talked to him anyway. His job is to stop the puck
while he’s in the net. It’s not to worry about other things like that.”
What the new goalie is worried about is reviving his career. He’ll have some
friends around as he tries. He played with Claude Giroux, Luke Schenn and
Wayne Simmonds on the 2008 gold-medal-winning Canadian World Junior
team. Jake Voracek was a teammate in Columbus.
“He’s got great talent and great potential,” Voracek said. “Everybody knows
he hasn’t had the same year as he did the first year. Obviously he’s a great
goalie and a big guy and he was working really hard when I was in
Columbus.”
As a restricted free agent-to-be, Mason’s qualifying offer is $3.2 million, but
Holmgren thinks he can get a discount. He’s already begun working on an
extension with Mason’s agent.
“I think there’s a way you can work with Steve and his agent to get his
salary down a little bit,” Holmgren said. “I don’t think that will be an issue.”
Earlier in the day, Holmgren didn’t need to make a trade call for what he
thinks is a valuable short-term addition.
Future unrestricted free agent Adam Hall was waived by the Tampa Bay
Lightning Tuesday and the Flyers picked him up to help offset the loss of
Max Talbot, who is out for the year with a broken left leg. Both Holmgren
and Peter Laviolette know the center from Kalamazoo, Mich. through USA
Hockey.
“We don’t really have that player that’s ready internally, we believe, so this
was an easy decision to make today,” Holmgren said.
There were a few calls, though, that Holmgren didn’t return. Many NHL
teams were interested in young forwards on the Flyers’ roster like Sean
Couturier. Although Holmgren said he was open to improving his team, he
wasn’t open for a fire sale.
“We like our young players, both today and moving forward,” Holmgren
said. “You’d like to keep them all together to grow and see where it takes
you. That’s been the plan. … This year, maybe the expectation levels
haven’t been met but I haven’t changed our plan because of that.”
Courier-Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667901
Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers: 'Comeback kids' grab another late victory
Written by Dave Isaac
Courier-Post Staff
PHILADELPHIA — The double fist pump and a yell from the lungs of
second-year player Sean Couturier spoke…well, screamed volumes.
His shot deflected off the stick of Montreal defenseman Lars Eller.
Then off goalie Carey Price’s arm.
Then off Montreal defenseman, P.K. Subban’s left skate and into the
Canadiens’ net.
A 27-game goalless drought was over and Couturier got the Flyers on the
board for the first time of the night in a 5-3 Flyers come-from-behind win,
their third in a row.
“I was talking to him on the bench,” said Simon Gagne, who assisted on the
goal. “He felt relief. Sometimes you just need that one to get going. Even
before that, he was playing much better, but after that first goal, he started
to skate with the puck, be a little more confident and it’s gonna be a big plus
for us.”
“It was good for the confidence to get the monkey off the back,” Couturier
added. “It’s been a while and it’s nice to find the back of the net.”
Couturier, 20, was the subject of trade rumors for weeks and after
Wednesday’s trade deadline came and went and he was still wearing
orange and black, he felt relieved and relaxed.
“I’m glad to be here,” he said. “I try to control what I can control, and trades,
you can’t really control what’s going to happen.”
All of a sudden, both Couturier and the Flyers are off the schneid.
Five other times this season the Flyers had won two in a row, but came up
short when going for the third consecutive victory. This is the first time all
year they’ve done it.
“It feels good,” Couturier said. “We need these wins, especially at this time.
We’re a little behind in the standings and every game is a must-win for us.
We’re just trying to get two points every night.”
With the win, the Flyers are four points back of most of their division rivals.
The New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders all
have 39 points and are occupying the seventh, eighth and ninth seeds
respectively in the Eastern Conference.
For a change, it was resilience in the third period that got the Flyers the allimportant win. Entering the night, the Flyers had been outscored by
opponents 41-25 in the final stanza. Wednesday, they scored three goals in
4:27 to win the game.
“We’re winning battles and making better decisions with the puck,” said
Claude Giroux, who had an assist on the game-winning goal by Erik
Gustafsson. “I think it’s huge. We’re having more fun playing that third
period. We just want it so bad that we keep working and we got a couple
bounces in. It feels good to get another big win like this.”
The Flyers outshot the Canadiens 26-6 over the last two periods of the
game and 14-2 in the third period alone. The Flyers say luck was on their
side as a product of firing pucks at the net.
Gagne’s goal in the second period came off a deflection off the back
boards, giving him an empty net to shoot at. Wayne Simmonds’ goal at
14:54 deflected off his left skate and Gustafsson’s game-winner was
actually intended to be a pass to Matt Read.
“They got four pretty lucky goals in my opinion,” Price said. “That’s the
difference.”
It wasn’t all good news for the Flyers, though. Zac Rinaldo fought Brandon
Prust at 2:15 of the second period. After he served his penalty in the box,
he skated off the ice for the last time.
He left the game with a lower-body injury and reportedly won’t even make
the trip to face the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight. He was seen after the
game in a walking boot.
It’s Another injury for the Flyers, but they’re finding their form, albeit late in
games. Wednesday was the second come-from-behind victory in as many
games.
“We called ourselves ‘The Comeback Kids’ last year and we are kind of
back on that same page,” Read said. “You play with confidence and when
you’re down one or two goals you just fight back and it’s another comeback.
‘The Comeback Kids’ win again tonight.”
Courier-Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667902
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes decide time to sell is now, even with playoff hopes still
flickering
By Sarah McLellan, columnist Wed Apr 3, 2013 7:08 PM
The Coyotes haven’t been able to yank down the for-sale sign for almost
four years, but they had no problem finding buyers at the NHL trade
deadline for their on-ice goods.
They advertised grit, speed and experience and got returns on all three,
dealing forwards Raffi Torres, Matthew Lombardi and Steve Sullivan for a
compilation of draft picks and a prospect.
Even a win Tuesday night against the defending Stanley Cup champion Los
Angeles Kings that, at the time, moved the Coyotes two points back of the
eighth seed in the Western Conference couldn’t convince the Coyotes
brass to remove the seller tag that probably began to stick in the midst of
that crippling seven-game losing streak.
But hope for a fourth straight playoff berth hasn’t been extinguished. The
Coyotes still have a chance, albeit a slim one, because despite the heavy
subtraction, the core of the team was untouched.
“The balancing act that we tried to do today was maximize the return on
some of our unrestricted players right now without impacting our roster as
best we could,” said Assistant General Manager Brad Treliving, who was
manning the phone at the team’s headquarters on Wednesday while
General Manager Don Maloney dealt with the recent death of his father.
The exodus at the deadline was uncharacteristic during coach Dave
Tippett’s watch, but the reasoning behind it was actually the same one
that’s guided the Coyotes amid ownership uncertainty.
Take the safe approach and do more with less.
That’s what the Coyotes did in dealing away three impending unrestricted
free agents, recouping assets instead of letting all three sign elsewhere
once free agency opens July 5.
“You cannot continually get to a point at the end of the season where
people walk away from your team and you get nothing in return,” Treliving
said.
As much as the Coyotes tried to alleviate Sullivan’s responsibilities by not
labeling him as a wholesale replacement for veteran Ray Whitney’s
offensive production, Sullivan never could shake that comparison. With five
goals and only 12 points, he underperformed, and since the Coyotes had
no plans to re-sign him, they sent Sullivan to the New Jersey Devils for a
seventh-round pick in 2014.
“We would both agree it probably didn’t go as well as we all hoped,”
Treliving said.
Same can be said for Lombardi, who landed with the Anaheim Ducks in
exchange for minor-leaguer Brandon McMillan.
Lombardi joined the team three days before the season started and
seemed to solve the Coyotes’ ongoing problem at center but never
recaptured the effectiveness he had during his first stint with the team, from
2009-10.
A shoulder injury further complicated his transition, and he was also unlikely
to return after this season.
“He never really seemed to get a rhythm,” Treliving said.
Torres’ departure is the hardest to digest because not only is it to a Pacific
Division rival — the San Jose Sharks, who will face the Coyotes two more
times this season — but his value only rises as the playoffs approach.
That no doubt made him one of the more coveted Coyotes on deadline day,
with the Coyotes eventually pulling a 2013 third-round pick (the market
price for a depth forward) away from the Sharks. The pick is actually
Florida’s, handed off to San Jose via the New York Rangers in Tuesday’s
Ryan Clowe swap, so the chance of it translating into an impact player is
decent.
The Coyotes were unsure if they’d be able to agree on a new contract with
Torres, and his physicality and energy and quick release, packaged within
the rules of the game after a reforming 21-game suspension, will be
missed.
But to feel encouraged, look at the deals that weren’t consummated.
The defense wasn’t razed with Keith Yandle and Derek Morris still intact
and very much vital pieces on the blue line.
And the Coyotes retained two other upcoming unrestricted free agents,
goalie Mike Smith and center Boyd Gordon despite, again, running the risk
of having them leave for free agency in the summer.
“Neither of those players do we have anything done or imminent, but they’re
important parts of our team,” Treliving said. “Those are guys that we want to
have with us beyond this year, and we’ll continue to work at that.”
The Coyotes recalled forwards Chris Brown and Chris Connor from their
American Hockey League affiliate with McMillan reporting for duty there.
It’ll be somewhat of a patchwork effort to end the season, but the Coyotes
have had successful stretches as a rag-tag bunch.
That isn’t a guaranteed precursor to a magical finish, but today’s roster
does more closely resemble the one that went to the Western Conference
finals.
“We know it’s a tough climb here the remainder of the season,” Treliving
said. “But we hope our group can continue to push forward.”
Arizona Republic LOADED: 04.04.2013
667903
Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes trade away Raffi Torres, Matthew Lombardi and Steve
Sullivan
By Sarah McLellan azcentral sports Wed Apr 3, 2013 12:53 PM
After adding players on or before the NHL trade deadline in the last three
seasons, precursors to three straight playoff berths, the Coyotes took a
different approach at Wednesday’s deadline by trading away forwards Raffi
Torres, Matthew Lombardi and Steve Sullivan.
All were pending unrestricted free agents, and the Coyotes secured a return
rather than letting these players walk for nothing in the summer.
The Coyotes sent Torres to Pacific Division rival San Jose in exchange for
a third-round pick in 2013. Lombardi will go to Anaheim, another division
opponent, and the Coyotes receive center Brandon McMillan in that deal.
McMillan, taken in the third round by the Ducks in 2008, has played six
games with the team this season after splitting time the last two seasons
with the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate.
And the Coyotes took a seventh-round pick in 2014 from the New Jersey
Devils in exchange for Sullivan, who signed a one-year contract with the
Coyotes last summer as a free agent. The 38-year-old winger never really
panned out, unable to fill at least part of the offensive void left by Ray
Whitney. Sullivan scored five goals – including a hat trick – and added
seven assists.
The Coyotes honored him for becoming the 285th player to reach the
1,000-game milestone before Tuesday’s game.
Lombardi was another pick-up before the season that didn’t help the
Coyotes like they hoped. The center seemed to give the team the depth up
the middle they’ve constantly been looking for, but Lombardi struggled after
an early-season shoulder injury. He had four goals and four assists in 21
games and was recently a healthy scratch after falling down the depth
chart.
That was surprising because he had the best season of his career in 200910 with the Coyotes, scoring 19 goals and 53 points.
Torres’ tenure with the Coyotes was more effective. In 107 regular season
games with the team, he scored 20 goals, 38 points and 96 penalty
minutes. Of course, his time with the Coyotes will be synonymous with a
21-game suspension handed down in the first-round of the 2012 playoffs for
his hit on Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Sharks will be the seventh stop for Torres, who will add grit, a physical
presence and scoring ability to their playoff push.
Arizona Republic LOADED: 04.04.2013
667904
Phoenix Coyotes
Slow start builds to a fast finish at the trade deadline for Coyotes
Sarah McLellan
The Coyotes management staff convened at 5 a.m. Wednesday at their
office in Glendale to start entertaining and placing calls on potential deals,
but all three of their transactions weren’t completed until right before the
noon trade deadline hit.
“Each year the supply of players gets less and less and as the day goes on
and you get closer to the witching hour, the prices in a lot of cases start to
get more defined and people that were maybe kicking tires throughout the
day either pick up or drop off and things come into a little more focus,” said
Assistant General Manager Brad Treliving, who was the team’s mouthpiece
on deadline day with the recent passing of General Manager Don
Maloney’s father.
The Coyotes were active sellers, moving forwards Raffi Torres, Matthew
Lombardi and Steve Sullivan for two draft picks and prospect Brandon
McMillan.
Torres, Lombardi and Sullivan were all set to become unrestricted free
agents at the end of the season.
“You’d like to get those commitments from those players in terms of a
contract extension prior to the trade deadline,” Treliving explained. “The
uncertainty still surrounding our team — some players are still not prepared
to commit. They don’t know if the team will actually still be in Phoenix or if
it’s going somewhere else, how is it all going to work? So it’s been a
challenge. You have to do what you think is right for your organization.”
For the Coyotes, that was obtaining a third-round pick in this year’s draft
from San Jose (Torres), a seventh-round pick in 2014 from New Jersey
(Sullivan) and forward Brandon McMillan from Anaheim (Lombardi).
The third-round pick from San Jose is actually Florida’s, and it was flipped
to the Sharks via the Rangers in the deal that sent Ryan Clowe to New York
Tuesday. With Florida sitting in the basement in the Eastern Conference,
it’s a promising pick.
“We didn’t know if we were going to be able to re-sign (Torres) come the
summer time, and we think we’ve got a really good asset,” Treliving said.
“That third-round pick, again, depending on how things turn out can turn
into an excellent asset for us. It opens up opportunity, and I know the
players that are going to come up here are going to inject some energy and
we hope that we can get on a little bit of a run here and push forward.”
After the trades, the Coyotes recalled forwards Chris Brown and Chris
Connor from the American Hockey League. The development of the youth
there was another reason why the Coyotes were able to move three
forwards.
“The recalls are not guys you’re going to sit here and say, ‘You’re going to
be our savior,’” Treliving said. “They can add to different parts of the game.
Offense is obviously a part we think some guys can bring to the table, but
we think we can add some energy. We think getting (goalie) Mike (Smith)
back, that’s a big thing for us. Trying to get our No.1 goalie back is going to
make us a better team, but we can’t just rely on people coming up from
Portland to be the answer. We need a little more from everybody in the
room here. The group this year, right now, we need a little more from
everyone that’s here, and we’re going to hope and push the people that
come up from Portland bring some energy, offense and, again, anybody
that follows our team, we don’t rely on one or two guys. We’re going to
need everybody.”
Among the players dealt, Torres seemed like the most likely to return with
the Coyotes beyond this season and moving him to a division opponent,
especially one that the Coyotes will encounter twice in their final 12 games
while they battle for a playoff spot, seemed peculiar. But it was the
strongest return they were offered.
“There’s a reason why we went out and got Raffi and liked him here,”
Treliving said. “Maybe it’s not ideal that you put him in your division. He’s a
UFA at the end of the year. We’ll see where that goes but, again, as we
completed this, it was to get the best asset we could.”
The Coyotes didn’t have any other possible trades on the table.
“I wouldn’t say we were close on anything else or anything was framed up
that went away,” Treliving said.
Speculation built in the days leading up to the deadline that the Coyotes
would deal a few of their other impending UFAs, most notably Smith and
center Boyd Gordon, but the team is still hopeful it will be able to re-sign
both players.
Regarding Smith, Trelivign said, “We hope that Mike is going to continue to
be with us for a long time.”
And as far as McMillan, he’s in his third-year pro and has split time between
the Ducks and their AHL affiliate all three seasons. He’s been in six games
with the Ducks this season, adding an assist.
McMillan scored 11 goals and 21 points his rookie season and is a versatile
forward that adds depth to the Coyotes organization.
“He has a lot of attributes that we value,” Treliving said. “He’s a competitive
player, plays fast and we really like him going back to his draft year.”
Arizona Republic LOADED: 04.04.2013
667905
Phoenix Coyotes
Uncertainty looms for Coyotes on trade deadline day
Sarah McLellan
The Coyotes made one final plea to remain intact past today’s NHL trade
deadline by beating the Kings 3-1 Tuesday, jumping up a spot into 12th in
the Western Conference and sitting only two points behind the eighthseeded St. Louis Blues.
“The biggest thing is we’ve got a pretty close group of guys here,”
defenseman Derek Morris said. “You never want to see anyone go
anywhere, that’s for sure. Obviously the other part of it there’s nothing we
can control. Whatever management does is what they think will make this
organization and this team better but that being said, we don’t want to see
anybody in this locker room move.”
With a crew of nine impending unrestricted free agents, including all three
goalies used this season, it’s highly unlikely General Manager Don Maloney
is inactive. Based on his track record, his staff can usually be counted on to
make a move. The Coyotes didn’t pull a deadline-day trade last year, but
they acquired center Antoine Vermette five days before that.
“It can be exciting, and it might not be exciting for a lot of teams around the
league,” goalie Jason LaBarbera said. “Everybody’s interested in what
happens and what goes on. It’s part of the business, and everybody knows
what day it is. It’s just a matter of what happens.”
Leading candidates to be dealt include winger Raffi Torres, who has
reformed his style this season after a 21-game suspension and yet is still a
gritty agitator with a scoring touch, and center Boyd Gordon, a faceoff
specialist that kills penalties and blocks shots. Gordon, however, would like
to stay in Phoenix.
Morris is another player being batted around in trade rumors, but he’s also
hopeful he remains with the Coyotes. Unlike Torres and Gordon, who would
be classified as rental acquisitions, Morris is under contract for next season
with a $2.75 cap hit.
“It’s nothing I can control about it,” Morris said. “If they feel they can better
their team by moving me, then I’m sure that they’ll do it. I think that’s the
way Donnie looks at it. He looks at an opportunity to improve this team at all
times and whatever happens happens.”
Morris has a limited no-trade clause, but he has a list of eight teams he’ll
waive it for submitted to management.
“Last time I’ve had a list of teams before, too, and it’s never worked,” he
said with a laugh. “Obviously, I love it here. Everybody knows that, and I
hope to stay here but whatever happens with this team and whatever
Donnie chooses, he’s the GM and he has to do what he feels best for his
team.”
Arizona Republic LOADED: 04.04.2013
667906
Phoenix Coyotes
LaBarbera finds comfort zone for Coyotes
Craig Morgan
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Jason LaBarbera was gushing with a long-forgotten
feeling Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Confidence.
“It’s gratifying to get that feeling again,” said LaBarbera, who stopped 39
shots in a 3-1 win at Jobing.com Arena. “It’s been a while since I’ve had
that.”
In a condensed season where numerous Western Conference teams have
employed a two-goalie approach to keep things fresh, LaBarbera has been
a mainstay at the end of the Coyotes bench, waiting and wondering when
his next chance would come.
Following a three-game stretch early in the season where he replaced an
injured Mike Smith and went 1-2 while allowing nine goals on 87 shots,
LaBarbera made just one start over the next 26 games.
Was it the right move?
On the one hand, LaBarbera’s shaky play early this season may have felt
like a carryover from last season’s so-so performance, understandably
shaking the coaching staff’s confidence in him.
Coyotes goalie coach Sean Burke and coach Dave Tippett have stood fast
by the notion that playing Smith regularly gives the team the best chance to
win. But Smith’s struggles this season have been well-chronicled, and he
has talked openly about the mental challenge of playing so regularly.
Other goalies -- Vancouver’s Cory Schneider, Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick
and Chicago’s Corey Crawford -- have espoused the two-goalie approach
in this lockout-shortened season because it has allowed them to stay at the
top of their game.
So if the Coyotes didn’t have confidence in LaBarbera, why didn’t they
acquire another backup to share the load? And if they didn’t feel it was
necessary to give Smith more help, will they rethink that belief at the end of
the season if they miss the playoffs?
All of this analysis is easier in hindsight, of course, but after watching
LaBarbera shine on Tuesday, it is fair to wonder what would have
happened if the staff hadn’t been so quick with the hook on its longtime
backup.
“Barbs is a battler,” Tippett said. “He’s in there trying hard. Barbs was really
good.”
LaBarbera made his fifth consecutive start on Tuesday with Smith still on
injured reserve with what has been reported as whiplash-like symptoms.
LaBarbera is 2-1-2 in that stretch and has stopped 170 of 184 shots (92.4
percent).
With the Coyotes needing a win in the worst way to have anything close to
a realistic shot at the playoffs – and to give general manager Don Maloney
pause before he sells off pieces at the Wednesday trade deadline -LaBarbera was at his best, stopping every shot except one that deflected
off defenseman Michael Stone’s chest and into the net.
L.A. had scored 15 goals in its last four games, but given a chance to
establish a rhythm by playing several consecutive games, LaBarbera said it
was easier to rise to the task.
“It’s way easier,” he said. “It’s tough when you play once a month and you
put a lot of pressure on yourself.
“That’s been my role for the last few years. I’ve had ups and downs at it, but
it’s kind of been nice the last week and half to get some games and feel
good about yourself.
“It kind of makes me feel like I did when I was a little bit younger and I
played a lot.”
foxsportsarizona.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667907
Pittsburgh Penguins
Listless Penguins drop 2nd consecutive game
By Josh Yohe
April 3, 2013, 10:27 p.m.
Updated 5 minutes ago
NEW YORK — The Penguins don't lose often, but when they do, they
follow a familiar script.
Like 24 hours earlier, the Penguins took untimely penalties, failed to kill
them and looked generally lifeless in a 6-1 setback Wednesday against the
New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Winners of 15 straight in March, the short-handed Penguins were
outclassed for a second consecutive game. Buffalo snapped the Penguins'
win streak with a 4-1 victory Tuesday at Consol Energy Center.
In their 10 losses this season, the Penguins have been outscored, 45-19.
The Penguins, still the leaders of the Eastern Conference by five points
because of Montreal's loss in Philadelphia, will look to avoid a three-game
losing streak when they host the Rangers on Friday night.
They should be better equipped by then.
New center Jussi Jokinen — acquired in a trade from Carolina on
Wednesday — is expected to be in Friday's lineup. So, too, might
defenseman Mark Eaton, who missed Wednesday's game because of an
illness.
Star defenseman Kris Letang (broken toe) also could be back in the lineup
shortly.
Although the Penguins are missing obvious star power — center Sidney
Crosby remains out — the competitiveness that was so evident during their
winning streak has been lacking during the past two games. During their
streak, the Penguins seemingly created turnovers at will and rarely
committed mental lapses.
The opposite has taken place during the past two games.
Center Evgeni Malkin and left wings Chris Kunitz and Matt Cooke took
penalties that led to Rangers power-play goals.
The Penguins were outmuscled in front of the net on all three power-play
goals. Dan Boyle and two new Rangers — Derick Brassard and Ryane
Clowe — scored. Clowe scored twice, his first two goals of the season.
When the Penguins lose, they spend time in the penalty box.
In their 28 wins, the Penguins killed 86 percent of their penalties. In their 10
setbacks, their penalty kill dipped to 69 percent.
The Penguins find themselves short-handed five times per game when they
lose but three times per game when they win.
Of course, they weren't much better during five-on-five play.
After Boyle had given the Rangers a 1-0 lead midway through the first, a
defensive lapse allowed Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh to skate
toward the net untouched from the right point and bury a shot over
goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury's glove.
Two minutes later, another defensive miscue led to another New York tally.
Defenseman Brooks Orpik had possession of the puck to Fleury's right but
was ridden out of the play by center Derek Stepan. Clowe gathered the
loose puck and beat Fleury with a backhand shot to give the offensively
challenged Rangers a sudden 3-0 advantage.
The Penguins never recovered.
Josh Yohe
Tribune Review LOADED: 04.04.2013
667908
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins notebook: Crosby endures another dental procedure
By Josh Yohe
April 3, 2013, 8:27 p.m.
Updated 11 minutes ago
Sidney Crosby had an outpatient dental procedure in Pittsburgh on
Wednesday, an anticipated follow-up from his surgery to repair a broken
jaw, his agent Pat Brisson said.
There remains no timetable for Crosby's return, mostly because of the
uncertain nature of his recovery — an infection could delay his return.
Crosby has gone four days without concussion symptoms since taking a
puck to the mouth during the Penguins' home win over the New York
Islanders on Saturday.
There are no symptoms of post-operative infection, and Crosby remains in
good spirits, Brisson said.
Coach Dan Bylsma did not offer an update regarding Crosby's health.
• Bylsma also did not offer details about the recoveries of defenseman Kris
Letang (broken toe) and defenseman Paul Martin (broken bone in hand).
Letang has skated numerous times this week, and his return could be
imminent. Along with the toe injury, he has been dealing with a sore groin
for the past few weeks. Martin remains a possibility to return when the
postseason starts.
• Defenseman Mark Eaton was not in the lineup against the Rangers on
Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. Eaton was not feeling well during
the Penguins' 4-1 loss against the Sabres on Tuesday, prompting the
Penguins to leave the veteran in Pittsburgh. Eaton has surprised many with
his play since being signed in February, and the coaching staff has been
pleased with his penalty killing.
• Defenseman Robert Bortuzzo finally made it back into the lineup
Wednesday. He had not played an NHL game since Feb. 28. Bortuzzo
played three games during March in a conditioning assignment in WilkesBarre.
• Root Sports Pittsburgh's broadcast of the Penguins-Buffalo game
Tuesday generated a 15.01 rating, according to Nielsen Media Research.
About 450,300 local television viewers tuned into the broadcast, which was
the eighth-highest rated Penguins regular-season game in Root Sports
Pittsburgh history.
— Josh Yohe
Tribune Review LOADED: 04.04.2013
667909
Pittsburgh Penguins
Behind the scenes: Following the big Penguins trade
By Justin LaBar
April 3, 2013, 5:00 p.m.
Updated 6 hours ago
It's always fun getting to know or see something that most normally can't.
Every practice, every game, every trade and every injury-you see the press
conferences at the podium, quotes from the players and analysis from the
reporters.
The Penguins have been busy as the NHL trade deadline was quickly
approaching. Our TribLIVE cameras followed Penguins beat reporter Rob
Rossi on another day at the office, or arena, while covering the big trade
that brought Jarome Iginla to Pittsburgh.
See the behind the scenes of covering the team, plus some fun interactions
with players such as Evgeni Malkin and James Neal.
Tribune Review LOADED: 04.04.2013
667910
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins add Carolina forward Jokinen
By Rob Rossi
April 3, 2013, 1:54 p.m.
Updated 6 minutes ago
Jussi Jokinen is a Penguin because of Sidney Crosby's broken jaw.
The Penguins acquired Jokinen, a versatile forward, on Wednesday
because Crosby is out indefinitely, general manager Ray Shero said.
Also, Jokinen's former club, Carolina, agreed to paying part of his salary
next season, the last on a contract that counts $3 million against the salary
cap.
The Penguins will not be on the hook for all of that cap hit because, under
the new labor agreement, clubs can retain salary and cap cost for a traded
player.
“It made it more appealing for us,” Shero said, declining to identify how
much Jokinen will cost the Penguins next season.
The Penguins swapped a conditional sixth- or seventh-round pick in the
upcoming NHL Entry Draft for Jokinen.
Jokinen, 30, was third on the Hurricanes, trailing only centers Erik and
Jordan Staal, with 283 faceoffs. He won 168 of those draws (59.4 percent).
Faceoff wins are not a Penguins strength without Crosby, who has claimed
54.3 percent of his draws.
Center Joe Vitale, who rarely plays on the penalty kill, leads the Penguins
at 63 percent, but he has taken only 211 draws.
Jokinen is a candidate to fill the top-line center role until Crosby returns.
The Penguins had tried right winger Tyler Kennedy, but Shero said playing
Kennedy out of position is “not something we'd love to keep doing.”
Upon Crosby's return, and pending the availability of the top three centers,
Jokinen could work on a fourth line — just as wingers Pascal Dupuis and
the combination of Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan did for the Penguins
during their 2009 playoff run to the Stanley Cup.
“It's always been my strength,” Jokinen said of his versatility. “At junior I
played center every other year, and it's been that way since I got to the
NHL. Offensive role, defensive role, it's something I've always be able to
do.”
Jokinen did not play Wednesday night.
He is scheduled to join the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Thursday for practice.
Rob Rossi
Tribune Review LOADED: 04.04.2013
667911
Pittsburgh Penguins
Second loss in a row as Rangers defeat Penguins, 6-1
April 3, 2013 10:32 pm
By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers defeated the Penguins, 6-1, at
Madison Square Garden tonight.
The loss was the second in two nights for the Penguins, who had won 15 in
a row before being beaten at home, 4-1, by Buffalo Tuesday night.
They are 28-10 and remain in first place in the Eastern Conference, but
Montreal and Boston, both of the Northeast Division, remain within striking
distance.
The Rangers took control of the game during the first period, building a 3-0
lead.
Brian Boyle put New York up, 1-0, during a power play at 10:01, when a
Brad Richards shot from just inside the blue line deflected off him and past
goalie Marc-Andre Fleury while Penguins winger Chris Kunitz was serving a
slashing minor.
The goal initially was credited to Richards, whose shot appeared to glance
off penalty-killer Pascal Dupuis before eluding Fleury.
Ryan McDonagh gave the Rangers a two-goal cushion by beating Fleury
from above the right hash at 12:19 and Ryane Clowe, acquired from San
Jose in a trade Tuesday night, made it 3-0 two minutes later.
Clowe, who did not have a goal in 28 games with the Sharks, collected the
puck after teammate Derek Stepan knocked Penguins defenseman Brooks
Orpik off it, then threw a backhander by Fleury from the left side of the
crease.
The Rangers' rampage continued early in the second period, when Derick
Brassard, acquired earlier in the day from Columbus, scored on a
backhander from the right hash to swell New York's advantage to four.
The Penguins finally broke through at 2:27, as Dupuis beat Rangers goalie
Henrik Lundqvist from the inner edge of the left circle for his 18th of the
season. Robert Bortuzzo and Brenden Morrow got assists.
If that goal gave the Penguins a lift, it didn't last for long, because Clowe
struck again during a power play at 11:52 to restore New York's four-goal
advantage.
Defenseman John Moore, acquired in the same deal that made Brassard a
Ranger, made it 6-1 at 9:47 of the third.
The Penguins and Rangers will play Friday at 7:08 p.m. at Consol Energy
Center.
First Published April 3, 2013 10:20 pm
Post Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667912
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins continue to deal, add forward Jokinen from Carolina
April 3, 2013 1:41 pm
By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Penguins have acquired forward Jussi Jokinen from Carolina for a
conditional draft choice.
The choice will be a seventh-rounder unless Jokinen appears in at least half
of the Penguins' playoff games this spring and they win the Stanley Cup, in
which case it becomes a sixth-rounder.
Jokinen was on waivers last week, but went unclaimed.
Jokinen, who turned 30 two days ago, has six goals and five assists in 33
games this season.
His most productive season was 2009-10, when he had 30 goals and 35
assists.
Although the Penguins were believed to be in the market for a fourth-line
forward today, there's no guarantee Jokinen will be used there.
He is versatile and skilled and a good faceoff man, going 168-115 this
season.
Those qualities are of particular value to the Penguins since there is no
word on when injured center Sidney Crosby will return to the lineup.
Jokinen also has a history of scoring in shootouts, although there are none
of those during the playoffs.
He is not a classic rental player, because he has one year -- with a cap hit
of $3 million -- remaining on his contract.
The Hurricanes will assume responsibility for some of Jokinen's salary in
both this season and 2013-14, although precisely how much wasn't
immediately known.
Post Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667913
Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins Notebook: Jokinen deal adds depth at forward
April 4, 2013 12:32 am
By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NEW YORK -- If Sidney Crosby were healthy, there's little chance Jussi
Jokinen would be on the Penguins' payroll today.
But it turns out that Jokinen, acquired from Carolina Wednesday for a
conditional draft choice, won't just be taking Crosby's place on the roster.
He will be moving into Crosby's spot on the No. 1 line, between Chris Kunitz
and Pascal Dupuis.
Which doesn't mean Jokinen sees himself trying to fill the entire void
created when Crosby was forced out by a broken jaw.
"I don't think I can try to be a player like Sidney Crosby," he said. "There's
only one Sidney Crosby in the world."
Jokinen, however, has no problem with temporarily moving into Crosby's
spot.
"Obviously, [Kunitz and Dupuis] are two pretty good hockey players," he
said.
Putting Jokinen, who is scheduled to join the team today, in the middle will
allow the Penguins to shift Tyler Kennedy back to right wing, a position for
which general manager Ray Shero believes he is "better suited."
Jokinen, who turned 30 Monday, put up 30 goals and 35 assists in 2009-10,
but has managed just six goals and five assists in 33 games this season.
The Hurricanes put him on waivers last week, but he went unclaimed, at
least in part because of his $3 million salary-cap hit, which runs through
next season.
Carolina agreed to pick up a portion of his salary for what remains of this
season and all 2013-14, although neither team would divulge precisely how
much. The Hurricanes couldn't have done that if the Penguins, or any other
club, had claimed him on waivers.
"The price to get him is worth it," Shero said.
Actually, the Penguins won't pay any price at all if they don't have serious
success this spring.
They won't have to give Carolina anything unless they reach the Stanley
Cup final and Jokinen appears in at least 25 percent of their playoff games,
in which case the Hurricanes would get a seventh-round draft pick. That
choice will be upgraded to a sixth-rounder if the Penguins win the Stanley
Cup and Jokinen appears in at least half of their postseason games.
The Penguins initially inquired about Jokinen several weeks ago with his
ability to work in any forward position the primary attraction.
"He's a versatile guy," Shero said. "Depth is important at this point."
Coach Dan Bylsma said that when Crosby comes back, "you could see
[Jokinen] being a guy playing on a fourth line and fill[ing] specific roles on
your team, be it faceoffs, be it on the power play. A faceoff guy on the fourth
line, as well.
"There are various roles he could fill at that point in time where you get
everybody healthy. He's not just a guy who's here for one specific thing,
then out of the lineup."
Jokinen played with Brandon Sutter in Carolina and Brenden Morrow in
Dallas, so he won't be walking into a locker room full of strangers.
Not that fitting in figures to be much of an issue, anyway.
"He's pretty quiet, for the most part, but a great guy," Sutter said. "He gets
along with everyone. No concern there."
Facing a different lineup
The New York Rangers team the Penguins faced at Madison Square
Garden Wednesday night was a lot different than it would have been 24
hours earlier.
New York acquired rugged forward Ryane Clowe from San Jose Tuesday
night, then dealt winger Marian Gaborik to Columbus shortly before the
trade deadline Wednesday afternoon.
Both moves might have seemed a bit perplexing, given that the Rangers
entered the game averaging a league-low 2.26 goals per game and that
Clowe did not have a goal in 28 games with the Sharks this season and
Gaborik was one of New York's few big-time offensive talents.
Gaborik's game did not mesh with coach John Tortorella's style, however,
and New York was looking to add the rugged edge Clowe can provide. In
addition to Clowe, forward Derick Brassard, and defenseman John Moore,
both acquired in the Gaborik deal, were in the lineup.
"They're changing pitchers on the fly here on you," Bylsma said a few hours
before the game. "At our meeting this morning, in terms of what to be ready
for, a good portion was about Gaborik."
Tip-ins
Penguins defenseman Mark Eaton missed the game because of illness. ...
The Penguins and Rangers are involved in a relatively rare home-andhome series, with the rematch scheduled Friday night at Consol Energy
Center. ... The Penguins traded minor league goaltender Patrick Killeen to
Columbus for considerations.
The New Guy
Season and career statistics for newly acquired Jussi Jokinen, a 30-yearold left winger acquired from Carolina:
Category ... 2013 ... Career
Games ... 33 ... 569
Goals ... 6 ... 121
Points ... 11 ... 346
Plus/minus ... --8 ... --11
Post Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667914
Pittsburgh Penguins
If Dupuis' goal gave the Penguins a boost, it didn't last for long, because
Clowe struck again on a power play at 11:52 to restore New York's fourgoal advantage.
Hungry newcomers lead desperate Rangers past Penguins, 6-1
Defenseman John Moore, who went to New York in the deal that made
Brassard a Rangers player, made it 6-1 at 9:47 of the third.
April 4, 2013 12:32 am
By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Moore's goal came at even-strength, but manpower wasn't a key variable at
any point. New York had its way five-on-five, on the power play and while
short-handed.
NEW YORK -- This is, at least for the moment, not much more than a
hiccup.
"The Rangers were very desperate, hungry," Iginla said. "We didn't match
it."
The challenge for the Penguins will be to prevent it from turning into a
hemorrhage.
The Penguins seem to understand that that must change. And that they
can't count on any miracle recoveries by injured teammates to make it
happen.
Their 6-1 loss against the New York Rangers Wednesday night at Madison
Square Garden was their second lopsided defeat in as many nights. And
while this isn't the first time the Penguins have lost consecutive games this
season, it is the first time they've done so after winning 15 in a row.
The momentum they built while charging through March without a defeat
has dissipated, and the reality of having to compete without the likes of
Sidney Crosby, Paul Martin and Kris Letang in their lineup seems to be
setting in.
Hard.
Although the Penguins, as currently constituted, hardly are devoid of skill,
the holes the injuries to those three have left in their lineup make the
Penguins look far more vulnerable than they did just a few days ago. Still,
the most troubling thing is not that they've lost the past two games, but how
it has happened.
They did not compete against the Rangers at anything approaching their
usual level. They lost more individual confrontations than usual and didn't
appear interested in getting involved in some others.
"They beat us [in] battles," left winger Matt Cooke said. "That's
unacceptable.
"Obviously, we know the right way to win and the way we did win. For the
last two games, we haven't been even close to that level, that execution.
And that needs to change."
Coach Dan Bylsma didn't pull goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, perhaps
because he recognized early that most of the 18 guys in front of Fleury
were the ones who deserved to be replaced.
The Penguins played with no hint of desperation, while the Rangers fought
with the fury of a team in genuine peril of sitting out the Stanley Cup
playoffs. Which, not coincidentally, they are.
The Rangers, who never led in three previous games against the Penguins
this season -- all three-goal defeats -- never trailed Wednesday night.
Or were in real danger of falling behind, at least after the initial few minutes.
New York took control of the game in the first period, building a 3-0 lead
after Chris Kunitz and Jarome Iginla of the Penguins hit goalposts on an
early power play.
Brian Boyle put New York in front to stay on a power play at 10:01, when a
Brad Richards shot from just inside the blue line deflected off him and past
Fleury while Kunitz was serving a slashing minor.
Ryan McDonagh gave the Rangers a two-goal cushion by beating Fleury
from above the right hash at 12:19 and Ryane Clowe, acquired from San
Jose in a trade Tuesday night, made it 3-0 two minutes later.
Clowe, who did not have a goal in 28 games this season with the Sharks,
collected the puck after teammate Derek Stepan knocked Penguins
defenseman Brooks Orpik off it, then threw a backhander by Fleury from
the left side of the crease.
The Rangers' rampage continued early in the second, when Derick
Brassard, acquired earlier in the day in the trade that sent Marian Gaborik
to Columbus, scored on a backhander from the right hash to swell New
York's advantage to four.
The Penguins finally broke through at 2:27, as Pascal Dupuis beat Rangers
goalie Henrik Lundqvist from the inner edge of the left circle for his 18th of
the season. Robert Bortuzzo and Brenden Morrow got assists.
"It's going to have to be the guys in this locker room," Dupuis said. "Sid's
not going to come back Friday, and [Letang] and Paul Martin are not going
to be here.
"It's the guys who are in here. It has nothing to do with the skill level or
whatever you want to talk about. It has to do with battle level, and wanting it
more."
A lot more, it seems, than the Penguins have in the past two games.
Post Gazette LOADED: 04.04.2013
667915
San Jose Sharks
Hockeytown 2.0: San Jose a top spot for the icy winter sport
By Mark Emmons
Posted: 04/03/2013 04:08:51 PM PDT
Updated: 04/03/2013 05:37:00 PM PDT
Meanwhile, the San Jose Jr. Sharks youth system has grown to become
one of the country's 10 largest. The program celebrated a milestone this
week when 22-year-old defenseman Matt Tennyson, of Pleasanton,
became the first local to skate for the Sharks.
"It wasn't until I retired and started spending time at the other side of the
rink with my kids that I realized just how big the operation has become,"
said former Shark Curtis Brown, a Saskatchewan native who now is the Jr.
Sharks director. "It's not only the Shark Tank where people are cheering.
Holy moly, there are these huge grass-roots programs that are building
interest."
There's enough interest that last fall a professional minor league team even
was launched as the San Francisco Bulls began playing at the Cow Palace.
When Sharks star Patrick Marleau arrived in 1997 as a 17-year-old rookie,
it never dawned on him that San Jose still was relatively new to hockey.
"Maybe it was because the fans always were here and so supportive,"
Marleau recalled. "Everybody always seemed to like the sport."
Now, as girls' and women's players from around the country have
descended this week upon the Bay Area for marquee tournaments, there's
no denying what Marleau sensed way back then. Yes, the nickname of
Hockeytown already is claimed by Detroit. But San Jose quietly has
become a strong hockey town in its own right -- even with our flip-flops
weather, swaying palm trees and lack of long history with the wintry game.
And it goes beyond the fact that the popular Sharks are riding a 128-game
sellout streak as spectators have made HP Pavilion one of the NHL's
loudest arenas. The Bay Area now is home to the country's largest number
of adult-league players. Demand for ice time is so high throughout the
region that there are plans to add two more rinks to the sprawling Sharks
Ice complex in San Jose.
Those facilities help explain why this week about 2,200 players are in San
Jose, Fremont and Oakland for the USA Hockey Girls' and Women's
National Championships. The events, the biggest ever hosted by the Bay
Area, are the latest examples of how the game has established a strong
toehold in a sun-kissed locale that can seem so out of place with the icy
sport.
"We really
Hockey also is big business. This week's tournaments are resulting in more
than 6,000 hotel room nights with the South Bay alone receiving an
estimated $1.13 million in visitor spending, according to Team San Jose,
which serves as the city's convention and visitors bureau.
Sharks Ice events, which will pump about $5.3 million into the local
economy this fiscal year, often bring visitors to town on weekends and
holidays -- dates when hotel rooms can go vacant in business-traveloriented Silicon Valley.
"It's a huge bonus for us to tailor a sales pitch that says: '300 days of
sunshine a year and you can come play hockey,' " said Meghan Horrigan,
Team San Jose's director of communications. "That's a hard selling point to
beat."
Earlier this week, teenagers from the powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary's prep
school in Minnesota were lounging outside Sharks Ice, catching some rays
before practice. So was coach Gordie Stafford.
"It's so important for hockey that we grow in these nontraditional markets,"
he said. "That's why it's great that California hockey is coming on. The
Sharks have raised the profile of this area throughout the country."
It might even be time for someone to come up with a catchy nickname for
San Jose.
"Everybody around the NHL knows this is a hockey town now," Marleau
said. "Maybe we're almost-Hockeytown."
are a poster child for the nontraditional hockey market," said Jon Gustafson,
general manager of Sharks Ice Properties, which manages three local
recreational venues. "The city just fell in love with the Sharks, and the sport
started to grow from there."
Contact Mark Emmons at 408-920-5745. Follow him at
Twitter.com/markedwinemmons.
Hockey also has become an engine for the local economy. In addition to the
"thwack" of slap shots, you might be hearing the sound of cash registers
ringing. All those players and their families are filling up hotel rooms and
restaurants.
The Sharks Ice at San Jose facility is the largest west of Mississippi River.
But even those visiting for the first time are aware that the game has
bloomed in the Bay Area.
San Jose Jr. Sharks youth program is one of the country's 10 largest.
"When you're in our world, you know where there's strong interest in
hockey," said Glenn Patrick, coach of the Keweenaw Storm girls' team from
the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan. "So people know all about San Jose
and how it supports the sport."
Oh, and you better believe teams from northern climates -- where winter
continues to drag on -- are happy to be playing in a place where you don't
need a parka.
"It's not snowing and I'm kind of like, 'Wait a minute, it's not hockey
weather!' " added Phoebe Manchester, coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Elite. "It's weird not needing a jacket and only wearing a T-shirt. People are
lucky here where they can play hockey and then wear shorts."
That was the idea behind the NHL's if-you-freeze-it, they-will-come strategy
of Sun Belt expansion that gave rise to the Sharks in 1991. Even though the
Bay Area has transplants from traditional hockey country and previously
had an NHL team (the Seals) from 1966 through 1976, the Sharks made a
conscious effort the last two decades to build a base of new fans from the
ground up, teaching them the game.
The recreational venues overseen by the Sharks serve as what Gustafson
calls a "fan factory." The main center in San Jose, an 188,000-square-foot,
city-owned facility featuring four rinks, is the largest west of the Mississippi
River under one roof. The adult leagues -- which have almost 5,000
participants -- play games past midnight each night, which is why more
rinks are on the drawing board.
Sharks have sold out every game at HP Pavilion since Dec. 3, 2009.
Sharks Ice has the nation's largest adult-league program with nearly 5,000
players.
Matt Tennyson just became first former Jr. Shark player to skate for the
Sharks.
Minor league San Francisco Bulls began play this season at Cow Palace.
Sharks Ice is second only to San Jose Convention Center for booking hotel
nights.
San Jose was voted by Bleacher Report as 10th best hockey city.
San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667916
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks see him adding veteran depth at a position where two rookies
are now in the starting lineup while Jason Demers recovers from a head
injury.
New Shark Raffi Torres hopes to make amends with San Jose fans
"Scotty's been here before — we understand his character and how he
carries himself around the rink and around the locker room and
By David Pollak
The San Jose Sharks have re-acquired defenseman Scott Hannan.
Posted: 04/03/2013 02:50:13 PM PDT
we thought he'd be a very good fit to come in and be a mentoring
defenseman," coach Todd McLellan said.
Updated: 04/03/2013 03:50:40 PM PDT
SAN JOSE -- The Sharks decided Wednesday that the way to improve their
chances for playoff success was to put Raffi Torres, a longtime villain
known for his often reckless style of play, into a teal jersey.
"San Jose fans have been pretty tough on me the past couple years, but I
get it," Torres said. "It's the way I play. Hopefully once I get starting on the
body and scoring a couple goals they'll turn into fans."
General manager Doug Wilson acquired the left wing from the Phoenix
Coyotes for a third-round pick in the 2013 draft minutes before the
Wednesday NHL trade deadline. Earlier in the day, he added former San
Jose defenseman Scott Hannan to the roster by sending a conditional
seventh-round pick to the
Nashville Predators.
Neither of the new Sharks will be in the lineup against the Minnesota Wild
on Wednesday night when San Jose tries to extend its winning streak to
seven games.
Wilson said that Torres -- though somewhat reformed since a 21-game
suspension for hitting Chicago Blackhawk Marian Hossa in the head during
the 2012 playoffs -- brings a toughness the team lost with the trade that
sent Ryane Clowe to the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
What about Torres's reputation?
"That's exactly what you want," Wilson said. "You hate playing against him.
You want him on your side."
But he stressed that Torres, 31, is not a one-dimensional player.
"People certainly know when he's on the ice, but he can play,
too," Wilson said. "He can play the game and he can get in there. The
speed to his game is a big part of it. You want your physical presence to
have speed. . . . He can play with good players. I think he has five goals this
year, so he can shoot the puck, too."
Torres has done some serious damage to San Jose's playoff chances in the
past. In a 2006 second-round series against Edmonton, his open-ice hit to
Milan Michalek's head became the turning point as the Sharks were
eliminated 4-2 in a series they once led 2-0. Playing for the Vancouver
Canucks in Game 4 of the 2011 Western Conference finals, Torres
delivered a hard but clean hit on Joe Thornton that separated his shoulder
and limited his mobility in Game 5.
Torres said the 21-game suspension for the hit on Hossa led the left wing to
clean up the dirtier aspects of his game.
"You know what?" Torres said. "I knew my game, prior to the suspension,
was at a place where I didn't want to end up hurting someone. My game
was a little bit reckless. My problem was that I got a little too caught up in
the moment... I was running around and it was almost kind of deteriorating
my overall game.
"I'm at a point now where I'm not really looking for the big hit. . . . I will not
back down from trying to run someone over to change momentum, but I
think I just do it a little more cautiously now."
The acquisition of Torres overshadowed Hannan's return to San Jose
earlier in the day.
Hannan, 34, had 25 goals and 102 assists in 508 games with the Sharks
from 1998 to 2007 before leaving as a free agent. Since then, he has
played for the Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames
and Predators.
Wilson said that Hannan is hobbled by a neck injury, but suggested he
could be given a clean bill of health within the next week.
Both new Sharks will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667917
San Jose Sharks
Busy San Jose Sharks get Raffi Torres from Phoenix
By David Pollak
Posted: 04/03/2013 12:22:40 PM PDT
Updated: 04/03/2013 12:41:36 PM PDT
SAN JOSE -- The Sharks have acquired forward Raffi Torres -- one of the
NHL's most feared and physical players — from the Phoenix Coyotes for a
third-round draft pick.
The move right at the NHL noon Wednesday trade deadline comes less
than a day after the Sharks sent one of their more physical players, Ryane
Clowe, to the New York Rangers.
"Our guys have played well enough that they deserve an addition," Sharks
general manager Doug Wilson said, acknowledging Torres will bring some
of the toughness lost with Clowe.
In picking up Torres, the Sharks get a player with a history of suspensions,
including one for 21 games last spring for a hit on Chicago Blackhawks
forward Marian Hossa. Torres also has
ST PAUL, MN - MARCH 27: Tom Gilbert #77 of the Minnesota Wild and
Raffi Torres #37 of the Phoenix Coyotes go after a loose puck during the
second period of the game on March 27, 2013 at Xcel Energy Center in St
Paul, Minnesota. (JpgHannah Foslien/Jpg
hurt San Jose in the past as his hit on forward Milan Michalek during a 2006
playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers is considered the turning point
that sent the Sharks down to defeat.
Torres, 31, is in the final year of a contract paying him a pro-rated $1.75
million this season.
San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667918
San Jose Sharks
Sharks re-acquire Scott Hannan for a draft pick
By David Pollak
Posted: 04/03/2013 10:38:45 AM PDT
Updated: 04/03/2013 11:06:53 AM PDT
SAN JOSE -- The Sharks are bringing Scott Hannan back to where the
defenseman's career began 15 years ago.
General manager Doug Wilson sent a conditional seventh-round draft pick
to the Nashville Predators for Hannan just hours before the NHL trade
deadline of noon Wednesday. If Hannan plays in a postseason game for
San Jose, that pick becomes a sixth-round selection.
Hannan, 34, is in the final year of a contract that pays him a pro-rated $1
million this season.
Wilson had said on March 25 that he didn't expect to be adding rental
players this season, but that was before defenseman Jason Demers was
injured in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Sharks currently have
two rookies on the blue line,
The San Jose Sharks have re-acquired defenseman Scott Hannan, who
played 508 games with the Sharks from 1998 to 2007 before leaving as a
free agent.
and this provides added depth at that position.
Hannan played 508 games with the Sharks from 1998 to 2007 before
leaving as a free agent. He had 25 goals and 102 assists before going on to
play for the Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames and
Predators.
San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667919
San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks win sixth in a row, 4-2 over Minnesota Wild
By David Pollak
Posted: 04/03/2013 10:25:09 PM PDT
Updated: 04/03/2013 11:43:41 PM PDT
SAN JOSE -- Sharks coach Todd McLellan talked about the need for his
team to make hay on this season-long, seven-game homestand. Maybe it's
time to build a bigger barn.
Wednesday night, the Sharks got goals that ranged from a beautiful end-toend rush by Dan Boyle to a fluky bounce that went Joe Thornton's way to
dispose of the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in a friction-filled game that ended with
Marc-Edouard Vlasic and former teammate Dany Heatley scuffling on the
ice.
"The last shift both teams were cross checking, slashing, slew foot," said
Vlasic, who earned a minor and game misconduct penalties at the finish.
"He took a swing at me and missed. I took a swing at him and got him.
That's what it is."
The Sharks are now a perfect 5-0 during this stretch at HP Pavilion as they
extended the NHL's longest current win streak to six games. With 44 points,
the Sharks leapfrogged the Los Angeles Kings into fifth place in the
Western Conference standings.
In addition to Boyle and Thornton, the Sharks got goals from Marty Havlat
and TJ Galiardi, with Antti Niemi making 31 saves for the win. Two players
with San Jose connections -- Charlie Coyle and Heatley -- accounted for
the Minnesota scoring.
Havlat's goal at 1:34 of the first period gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead, but it
was Boyle's less than four minutes later that really impressed the sellout
crowd.
With two Wild players in the penalty box, Boyle hauled the puck the full
length of the
ads not by this site
ice, faked out All-Star defenseman Ryan Suter and tucked a backhand shot
behind Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom.
Boyle said the decision to make it a one-man show was spontaneous.
"I was going to drop it, probably at the red line," he said, "but I just changed
my mind and I'm glad I did."
But in the second period, Minnesota got two goals 25 seconds apart to tie
the game.
Onetime San Jose prospect Coyle tapped in a rebound of a shot by Zach
Parise at 10:33, and on the next shift Heatley launched a 56-foot slap shot
that eluded Niemi.
Thornton got what turned out to be the winning goal at 14:42 of the period
when what appeared to be a centering pass banked off Wild defenseman
Clayton Stoner and into the Minnesota net.
"You just want to funnel pucks close to the net," Thornton said. "You never
know what can happen."
The insurance goal came at 6:55 of the third period when Galiardi, getting
rare power-play time, camped out in front of the Wild net and got to a loose
puck before anyone else.
The Sharks rewarded rookie defenseman Matt Irwin with a two-year
contract extension Wednesday that will pay him $900,000 the first year and
$1.1 million the second.
San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667920
San Jose Sharks
Sharks make trades, beat Wild 4-2
Associated Press
Updated 11:58 pm, Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Dan Boyle scored on a spectacular end-to-end rush with a two-man
advantage to help the San Jose Sharks win their sixth straight game, 4-2
over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night at HP Pavilion.
"I've had a lot of highlight rushes, but I never seem to finish it with a goal,"
Boyle said. "It was nice to put it away and get a little momentum for our
team."
Marty Havlat got the scoring started for San Jose, and Joe Thornton broke
a tie with a goal off the skate of a Minnesota defender late in the second
period. TJ Galiardi also scored, and Antti Niemi made 31 saves to help the
Sharks move into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference.
Charlie Coyle and Dany Heatley scored for the Wild, who lost for the third
time in four games following a seven-game win streak.
Both teams made moves earlier in the day before the trade deadline with
the Sharks getting forward Raffi Torres from Phoenix and defenseman
Scott Hannan from Nashville, and Minnesota acquiring forward Jason
Pominville from Buffalo. The Coyotes received a third-round pick in this
year's draft for Torres; the Predators will get either a sixth- or seventhrounder for Hannan.
After starting the lead-up to the trade deadline by dealing bruising
defenseman Douglas Murray, physical forward Ryane Clowe and center
Michal Handzus, general manager Doug Wilson made some additions to
help a team move up from ninth place.
"This group earned that equity by their performance," Wilson said. "They
earned the ability and the need to add these type of guys who are playofftype guys and give you the depth that you need."
Minnesota overcame a slow start to tie the game with a pair of goals in a
25-second span midway through the second period.
The Sharks went back ahead after the Wild kept turning the puck over as
they tried to clear the zone. The last turnover came when Brent Burns took
the puck from Jared Spurgeon and fed it to Thornton, whose pass back to
Burns hit off Clayton Stoner's skate and into the net to give San Jose a 3-2
lead heading to the third.
Galiardi scored his first power-play goal since 2009 early in the third when
he poked in a rebound with Cal Clutterbuck out for hooking Andrew
Desjardins.
The Sharks scored twice in the opening period. Burns beat Jonas Brodin to
the puck deep in the Minnesota zone and got it to Thornton behind the net.
Thornton fed Havlat, who beat Niklas Backstrom with a one-timer from the
circle to make it 1-0 just 1:34 into the game.
Boyle then delivered his breathtaking goal with the Sharks on a two-man
advantage when Stoner shot the puck over the glass for a delay of game
with Kyle Brodziak already in the box for hooking. Minnesota won the faceoff and cleared the puck.
Boyle retrieved it deep in San Jose's zone and started his rush from behind
the goal. He went straight up the middle and juked Ryan Suter inside the
blue line before stickhandling past Backstrom to knock in the backhand to
make it 2-0.
San Francisco Chronicle LOADED: 04.04.2013
667921
San Jose Sharks
Exclusive: Sharks sign Matt Irwin to extension
April 3, 2013, 6:30 pm
Staff
SAN JOSE - The Sharks have signed defenseman Matt Irwin to a two-year
contract extension, a source confirmed to CSNCalifornia.com. The Sharks
made it official later on Wednesday.
Irwin will receive $900,000 in the first year of the deal in 2013-14, and $1.1
million in 2014-15, according to his agent.
“We’re very excited to have Matt Irwin for the next two years. We think he
has a bright future,” Doug Wilson told CSNCalifornia.com.
Irwin, 25, was due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
In 26 games, Irwin has five goals and four assists for nine points and four
penalty minutes. The six-foot-two-inch British Columbia native was
originally signed by the Sharks as a free agent on March 23, 2010.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667922
San Jose Sharks
Wilson adds depth on deadline day
April 3, 2013, 2:00 pm
Staff
SAN JOSE – One is a veteran defenseman that spent the entirety of his
early career in a Sharks uniform, and a player that will provide depth and
some size on the blue line.
The other is one of the most reviled players in recent franchise history.
Raffi Torres, of course, is the latter. The Sharks sent the third round pick
they acquired from the New York Rangers on Tuesday for Ryane Clowe to
Phoenix, in exchange for Torres, who is set to become an unrestricted free
agent this summer. He’s expected to arrive in San Jose on Thursday.
Defenseman Scott Hannan, who spent his first eight years in the NHL with
the Sharks from 1999-2007, was acquired from Nashville for a conditional
seventh round pick. It would become a sixth round pick if he plays in a
single playoff game, and he, too, has an expiring contract.
Regarding Torres, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said the 31-yearold could help fill the void left by Clowe’s departure.
“That’s exactly what you want. You hate playing against him; you want him
on your side,” Wilson said. “He can skate, people know when he’s on the
ice, and he can play, too. With Ryane moving on to New York, having that
physical presence I think is very important. He’s a guy that we’re all very
familiar with, but he can play the game and get in there. The speed to his
game is a big part of it. You want your physical presence to have speed.”
Torres was surprised by the move to a division rival.
“That definitely surprised me going to San Jose,” he said. “At the end of the
day, I love playing in San Jose. It’s an electric building, it’s loud, and it’s
something I think can help my game. I get energy off the crowd and that
gets me excited, so I’m looking forward to it.”
[RATTO: Wilson 'refreshes' roster, keeps core together]
There are two hits in particular that Torres is known for in the Bay Area.
While playing for Edmonton in the playoffs in 2006, he hit then-Shark Milan
Michalek with an elbow to the head. A few years later with Vancouver in
2011, he leveled Joe Thornton with a clean check that separated
Thornton’s shoulder. The Sharks went on to lose both series.
“San Jose fans have been pretty tough on me the past couple years, but I
get it,” Torres said. “It’s the way I play. Hopefully, once I start getting on the
body and score a couple goals, they’ll turn into fans.”
More recently, Torres is known for his dirty check to the head of Chicago’s
Marian Hossa in the playoffs last season while with Phoenix. That hit
resulted in a 25-game suspension that ended his playoff run with the
Coyotes, who went on the Western Conference finals. The suspension was
eventually reduced to 21 games, and forced him to sit for the first eight
games this season.
This year, Torres has just 13 penalty minutes in 28 games. What changed?
“Well, my bank account changed,” Torres joked. “I knew my game, prior to
the suspension, was at a place...I didn’t want to end up hurting someone.
My game was a little bit reckless. My problem is I get a little too caught up
in the moment, and I feel like I need to go out there and throw that big hit.
I’d run around, and it was deteriorating my overall game.
“I think I’m at a point now where I’m not really looking for the big hit. I’m
trying to work on stick-on-puck, and taking away the puck and taking the
body. I will not back down from trying to run someone over to change the
momentum, I think I just do it a little more cautiously now.”
Wilson compared him to another player that has seemingly altered the way
he plays after a number of suspensions.
“I think you’ve seen Matt Cooke do it in Pittsburgh, too,” Wilson said.
“These guys can play the game and they can skate. They are not the three
or four minute, one-dimensional players. That’s what you’re looking for. All
your physical guys have to have the element of making the other people
nervous.”
Hannan’s arrival will give the Sharks some insurance on the blue line, and
allows San Jose to keep Brent Burns at forward, where he’s been a more
effective player. Hannan has a minor neck injury, according to Wilson, but
he’s expected to be ready “within the week.”
“He’s a guy coming in here to help the depth of our defense,” Wilson said.
“Our guys know him very well and he’s a veteran guy that come playoff
time, that’s what you’re looking for.”
Brad Stuart played with Hannan during his first stint with the Sharks.
“Good veteran guy that can step in and play an important role, I think,”
Stuart said. “If you’re going to make a [playoff] run, you’ve got to have an
abundance of defensemen that can play and has experience in those types
of situations. He does, and it’s a good addition.”
Torres will wear uniform number 13, while Hannan will wear 27. Neither will
play on Wednesday night when the Sharks continue their homestand
against Minnesota.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667923
San Jose Sharks
Wilson 'refreshes' roster, keeps core together
April 3, 2013, 1:15 pm
Staff
The Sharks enter Wednesday's tilt with Minnesota at sixth place in the
Western Conference.
Programming note: Coverage of Sharks-Wild begins at 7:00 PT with Sharks
Pregame Live on CSN California.
So in the end, Doug Wilson sanded a bit at the ends, traded two low picks
for two higher picks, Douglas Murray for Scott Hannan, and Ryane Clowe
for Raffi Torres. If that’s “refreshing” the Sharks’ roster, then so be it.
It does reinforce the long held belief that Wilson as general manager still
believes in the true core of his team as a Stanley Cup contender. He has
always been an active but conservative trader in that way, and confronted
with the opportunity to make a loud statement, he preferred to whisper.
It is interesting, though, that the chip people pointed to the most, Clowe,
netted only draft picks. It leads to one of the major disconnects between the
outside world and the reality – Clowe was a favorite everywhere except in
the marketplace. Indeed, the marketplace clearly wonders if he might not
simply be on the back few holes of his career.
He could thrive in New York under John Tortorella. He could find a place
and role that fits his current skill set better than his place in San Jose. This
could turn into quite the deal for the Rangers.
But the picks say otherwise. Between his struggles the past couple of
seasons and his unrestricted status, that fact is hard to avoid.
Hannan, of course, came west for a sixth-round pick and is equally free
come summer, so one could make a similar argument for him. But Wilson’s
decision there is a simple one – he decided the Sharks still need what
Murray used to be able to do, and concluded that Hannan was the best buy
in a restricted market for that.
And Torres, the little ball of other people’s hate, will chafe a lot of purists, is
designed to be the less banged-up version of Clowe. He is still the classic
disturber, and if he can stay within the guidelines of play that everyone else
in the game has generally agreed upon, he could have a value down the
stretch.
He might also needlessly consume a lot of teammates’ energies if he
cannot.
In sum, the Sharks changed their shows and hat but not their overall look,
and the only real ways that this can end badly are if (a) Hannan and Torres
provide less than Murray and Clowe and the team finishes poorly . . .
. . . or (b) if head coach Todd McLellan is forced to play them both when he
desires otherwise. There is no indication that Wilson has ever imposed his
will on McLellan’s lineups, and this would be an odd time to change their
interpersonal dynamic. In addition, it is unlikely that McLellan objected
strenuously to either deal or could not see the values in Hannan and
Torres, so the daily decisions on their presence among the 18 won’t be acts
of self-justification.
So no, the Sharks were not remade. They did not make a play for Marian
Gaborik or Jason Pominville or Blake Comeau or Ryan O’Byrne because
Wilson still wanted to keep the working heart of the group together.
Whether this decision will pay off in May – or if there will be a May –
remains to be seen. But for the moment, this is what Doug Wilson calls
“refreshment.”
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667924
San Jose Sharks
Sharks acquire LW Torres from Coyotes
April 3, 2013, 12:00 pm
Staff
Programming note: Coverage of Sharks-Wild begins at 7:00 with Sharks
Pregame Live on CSN California.
The Sharks have acquired 31-year-old left wing Raffi Torres from the
Phoenix in exchange for a third round pick in the 2013 draft, the team
announced Wednesday afternoon.
The 6-foot, 210-pound left wing has five goals and seven assists for 12
points and 13 penalty minutes in 28 games. Torres is set to become an
unrestricted free agent this summer, as he’s in the final year of a two-year
deal worth $3.5 million.
The trade came just before the noon NHL trade deadline.
Torres was given a 25-game suspension by the league for his illegal hit on
Chicago’s Marian Hossa in the playoffs last April. That was later reduced to
21 games, and carried over to the first eight games of this season.
In 619 career NHL games over parts of 11 seasons with the Islanders,
Oilers, Blue Jackets, Sabres, Canucks and Coyotes, Torres has 132 goals
and 117 assists for 249 points and 486 penalty minutes. He was drafted in
the first round (fifth overall) by the Islanders in the 2000 draft.
The move caps a busy 10 days for the Sharks. They acquired defenseman
Scott Hannan for a conditional sixth round pick earlier on Wednesday, and
sent right wing Ryane Clowe to the Rangers for three draft picks on
Tuesday. On March 25, defenseman Douglas Murray was traded to
Pittsburgh for two draft picks.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667925
San Jose Sharks
Former Sharks D Hannan returning to San Jose
April 3, 2013, 9:45 am
Staff
The Sharks have acquired 34-year-old veteran defenseman Scott Hannan
from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a conditional sixth/seventh
round draft pick, the team announced Wednesday morning.
The deal is for a seventh round selection but could become a sixth round
selection in the event Hannan plays in one playoff game in 2013.
Hannan, 34, has played in 29 games for Nashville this season, posting one
assist and 20 penalty minutes. He spent the 2011-12 season with Calgary,
notching 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) and 38 penalty minutes in 78
games.
“Scott Hannan is a player we are very familiar with and gives us an added
veteran depth presence on defense,” said Wilson.
Hannan spent the first eight years of his career in San Jose, playing 508
games which ranks him 10th all-time among Sharks players. His +45 rating
ranks him 5th all-time.
San Jose Sharks media services contributed to this report.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667926
San Jose Sharks
Boyle authors Goal of the Year nominee for Sharks
April 3, 2013, 11:45 pm
Staff
SAN JOSE – Right about center ice, and with the puck on his tape, Sharks
defenseman Dan Boyle had a decision to make with his team on a two-man
advantage.
He could drop a pass to a teammate and wait for it to be brought into the
offensive zone, or keep it, and continue charging ahead. He chose the
latter.
The result was the prettiest goal the Sharks have scored all season, as
Boyle went end-to-end and walked Wild defenseman Ryan Suter in the high
slot before sliding it past Nicklas Backstrom. Boyle’s sixth marker – and fifth
on the power play – gave the Sharks a 2-0 first period lead at 5:19.
“I was going to drop it probably by the red line, and I just changed my mind.
I’m glad I did,” Boyle said.
Suter, a potential Norris Trophy candidate after signing a $98 million deal
with the Wild in the offseason, will probably want to avoid seeing replays
that are sure to be repeated on various networks nationwide.
“Obviously, he’s a great defenseman and doesn’t get beat too many times,”
Boyle said. “It’s probably not something that happens to him very often.”
Todd McLellan was asked what the reaction was like on the Sharks' bench
following Boyle’s beautiful rush.
“Wow,” McLellan said. “You could feel the excitement for him. There was a
lot of ‘wows.’ It was a pretty impressive individual rush.”
The Sharks have scored five goals on a two-man advantage this season,
four by Boyle, including this one.
Boyle, who was the subject of several trade rumors leading up to
Wednesday’s noon deadline, ranked it second on his list of the best goals
of his career.
His favorite came when he was in Tampa against a player whom he now
calls a teammate.
“The nicest one I scored is actually against Minnesota years ago, when I
was in Tampa. [Brent Burns] was on defense, and I kind of undressed him,”
Boyle said with a smile. “If you guys can look that one up, that was my
favorite one.”
The Sharks surrendered the two-goal lead, but markers by Joe Thornton
and TJ Galiardi broke the 2-2 tie and gave San Jose its sixth consecutive
victory. So far, the Sharks are 5-0 on a season-long seven-game
homestand.
They jumped over Los Angeles with the win and now sit in fifth place in the
Western Conference.
“We’ve got to start catching some teams and separating ourselves from that
final playoff spot,” Boyle said. “We’re doing good things, but we saw last
month how quickly that can go the other way if you start cheating.”
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667927
San Jose Sharks
Kurz's Instant Replay: Sharks 4, Wild 2
April 3, 2013, 9:30 pm
Staff
Joe Thornton and Marty Havlat had a goal and an assist, while Dan Boyle
and TJ Galiardi added power play goals in a 4-2 Sharks win over Minnesota
at HP Pavilion on Wednesday night.
San Jose continued its steady ascent in the standings, jumping over Pacific
Division rival Los Angeles into fifth place in the Western Conference. The
Sharks have won six in a row, including all five on their current homestand,
and are a league-best 13-1-4 at their home rink.
The game was tied 2-2 in the second period when the Sharks took
advantage of some sloppy play by the Wild in their own zone. Minnesota
failed to get the puck out numerous times, and Jared Spurgeon turned it
over to Brent Burns. Burns gave the puck to Thornton, whose attempted
pass deflected off of Clayton Stoner’s skate and past Niklas Backstrom at
14:42 to give the Sharks a 3-2 lead at the intermission.
Galiardi gave them some insurance with a power play goal at 6:55 of the
third period. Scott Gomez deflected a Brent Burns’ shot towards the net,
and Galiardi deposited the loose puck for just his second goal.
The Sharks finished 2-for-5 on the power play, and had to kill off just 53.3
seconds of power play time to Minnesota at the end of the game. The game
got nasty at that point the Wild on the power play, looking to close the gap.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Heatley exchanged slashes and wrestled at the
side of the net, and the result was Heatley leaving the ice clutching his left
arm/wrist area.
The Sharks saw a 2-0 lead evaporate in the second.
Minnesota’s offense was dormant for much of the game until former Sharks
draft pick Charlie Coyle got on the board. Coyle feathered a pass to Zach
Parise who put it on net, and Coyle tipped in a loose puck behind Antti
Niemi at 10:33 of the middle frame to make it 2-1.
It didn’t take long for the Wild to tie it. Just 25 seconds later, Thornton’s
clearing attempt up the wall went right to Dany Heatley’s stick, and the
former Shark blasted a shot inside the far post for his 11th goal.
Stoner’s ill-advised delay of game penalty in the first period led to the
Sharks taking a 2-0 lead. The defenseman carelessly shot the puck into the
stands from his own zone, putting the Sharks on a two-man advantage.
Dan Boyle went coast-to-coast on a rush from behind his own goal line,
sidestepping Ryan Suter in the process, and slid home his sixth goal on
what may have been the highlight-reel goal of the year for San Jose at 5:19.
Havlat gave the Sharks an early lead with his fifth goal at 1:34 on a pass
from Thornton, after Burns skated the puck in deep.
The Sharks and Wild will play the rubber match of their three-game season
series on April 18 at HP Pavilion. The Sharks snapped a four-game losing
streak to the Wild.
Special teams
Boyle’s goal was his fourth five-on-three goal of the season, setting a new
team record. Five of his six goals have come with a man advantage.
Galiardi’s power play goal, the third of his career, was his first since Dec.
15, 2009 when he was with Colorado.
The Sharks have had to kill off just three penalties in their last four games.
James Sheppard’s hooking minor at 19:06 of the third period was the only
time they were shorthanded.
In goal
Niemi made his 14th straight start, and 23rd in the last 24 games. He made
31 saves for his 18th win.
Backstrom, who pitched a 33-save shutout of the Sharks on March 23
made 29 saves on 33 shots.
Lineup
The Sharks acquired defenseman Scott Hannan and winger Raffi Torres
earlier Wednesday, but neither played. Both are expected to arrive and
practice with the team on Thursday.
The Sharks lineup was the same from their 3-2 win over Vancouver on
Monday, as Jason Demers remained out with an undisclosed injury and
Matt Tennyson played his second career NHL game on defense.
Demers is expected to return in the “next couple of days,” according to
general manager Doug Wilson.
Up next
The Sharks’ close out their homestand with the Calgary Flames on Friday
night and Dallas Stars on Sunday afternoon. A four-game road trip begins
on April 9 in Columbus.
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667928
San Jose Sharks
Vlasic, Heatley get nasty after final horn
April 4, 2013, 12:00 am
Staff
SAN JOSE – Marc-Edouard Vlasic was still in a feisty mood after an
altercation with former teammate Dany Heatley at the end of the Sharks’ 42 win on Wednesday night at HP Pavilion.
The Wild were on a power play with the clock winding down, and had a sixon-four advantage with the goalie pulled. At the side of the net next to Antti
Niemi, Heatley and Vlasic exchanged some slashes, shoves and punches,
and the result was Heatley skating off of the ice in pain with what looked to
be a left arm or wrist injury.
Vlasic gave a succinct interpretation of how events unfolded.
“He took a swing at me and missed. I took a swing at him and got him.
That’s what it is,” Vlasic said.
Where did Vlasic hit him?
“I don’t know. He just swung at me and I swung at him. He could have
easily hit me. I wasn’t intending to hurt him. I just wanted to slash him,
because he took a swing at me and missed. He got me the shift before.
“If he’s going to slash me, I’m going to defend myself and just swing back,
and unfortunately I got him. I didn’t want to hurt him. If he’s going to slash
me I was just defending myself, and swung back.”
Vlasic was issued a five-minute major for slashing and a game misconduct
at the 20-minute mark of the third period, while Heatley got a minor for
roughing. Vlasic indicated that the game took a nasty turn in the third
period.
“The last couple of shifts, you can watch the video. [Joe Pavelski] got slew
footed, I got cross checked by [Heatley] in front. I gave him a cross check
back. Guys were battling in front. If you’re going to get a cross check, I
assume you can give one back. That’s what happened in the last shift.
Unfortunately, I got him in the wrist or shoulder. I’m not sure where I got
him. That was not my intent. My intent was just to defend myself.”
According to a tweet from Mike Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Wild
coach Mike Yeo “indicated Heatley will be out for awhile.”
Todd McLellan said of the game: “There were some battles and that type of
stuff, but it was emotional. It gets right down to the end when we’re down
six-on-four…competitive teams and competitive players, on both sides.”
Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 04.04.2013
667929
St Louis Blues
Hockey Guy: West gets wilder at trade deadline
6 hours ago • BY JEFF GORDON
The already crazy Western Conference got even nuttier before the NHL
trade deadline hit this afternoon.
While the Blues did a little housekeeping — sending extraneous
defenseman Wade Redden to Boston for a seventh-round pick in 2014 —
some of their immediate rivals muscled up.
(The Blues did make a nice addition for the long-term, signing power
forward prospect Dmitrij Jaskin to an entry-level deal. He starred at the
World Junior Championships and tore up junior hockey, so he could be
something in a few years. For now he is a Riverman.)
Perhaps the biggest surprise came when the rebuilding Columbus Blue
Jackets took on disgruntled New York Rangers winger Marian Gaborik.
New general manager Jarmo Kekalainen made a splash with that move,
citing Gaborik as “a long-term solution, not just a short-term fix” according
to the Columbus Dispatch.
So much for the notion that Columbus was starting over from scratch with
younger players. The Blue Jackets will try to extend Gaborik's contract this
summer and make him the new Rick Nash.
The Rangers got back forwards Derek Dorsett and Derick Brassard and
defensive prospect John Moore. Columbus replaced the disappointing
Brassard by adding Blake Comeau from Calgary for a fifth-round pick.
The Blue Jackets also did some housekeeping by moving No. 2 goaltender
Steve Mason to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Michael Leighton and
a third-round pick in 2015.
Here were some other moves of note:
• The Minnesota Wild sent two prospects, Matt Hackett and Johan Larsson,
plus first- and second-round draft picks to Buffalo to land skilled winger
Jason Pominville -- who scored 25 points in 37 games this season.
Pominville will give the Wild some badly needed secondary scoring.
The San Jose Sharks added agitating Raffi Torres from the Phoenix
Coyotes, spending a third-round pick for the pending unrestricted free
agent. Torres will fill the slot vacated by Ryane Clowe’s departure to the
Rangers in an earlier deal. Will Raffi regain his reckless playing style after
taking it easy this season in the Valley of the Sun? Brendan Shanahan
hopes not.
San Jose added journeyman defenseman Scott Hannan from Nashville
for a conditional seventh-round draft pick. That gives them a bit more
insurance for the blue line.
The Anaheim Ducks added offensive depth, getting center Matthew
Lombardi from the Coyotes. The Coyotes also shipped 900-year-old winger
Steve Sullivan to the New Jersey Devils
The Canucks tried to ditch Roberto Luongo and his onerous contract, but
the Toronto Maple Leafs took a pass. Luongo told reporters that he would
redo his 12-year deal if it allowed him to become a No. 1 goaltender again.
“I’d scrap it right now if I could,” he said.
Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was much less eager to move. He will finish
out the season in Calgary and then retire. So that’s that.
Our Town’s Ben Bishop got a chance to become a No. 1 goaltender,
moving from Ottawa to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Senators did well in
that deal, getting skilled rookie winger Cory Conacher and a fourth-round
pick.
The Predators moved winger Martin Erat, a fixture on the Nashville
hockey scene, to Washington with Michael Latta for prospect Filip Forsberg.
Toronto got a little tougher be spending a fourth-round pick to get Ryan
O’Byrne from Colorado.
St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667930
St Louis Blues
Blues move Redden at trade deadline
6 hours ago • By Dan O'Neill
The Blues made a move to address their glut on left defense today by
trading veteran Wade Redden to the Boston Bruins before the trade
deadline expired at 2 p.m.
The team received a conditional seventh-round pick in 2014 from Boston in
return. If Redden appears in one or more playoff games for the Bruins this
season, the compensation becomes a sixth-round pick.
Redden, 35, played in 23 games with the Blues, scoring two goals, three
assists and accumulating a minus-2. The Blues signed Redden to a oneyear, $800,000 contract on January 18, after he was was waived and
bought out of the remaining two years of his contract with the New York
Rangers.
Redden got off to a terrific start in St. Louis, scoring goals in two of his first
three games. Then on Feb. 17, the Blues honored Redden at Scottrade
Center as he played in his 1,000th career game.
But in the past few days, the team has made trades to acquire defensemen
Jordan Leopold and Jay Bouwmeester. Like Redden, both are lefthanded
shooters. In addition, the Blues also have lefthanded defenders Barret
Jackman, Kris Russell and Ian Cole on their roster.
In Boston, Redden will be reunited with his former teammate and defense
partner Zdeno Chara. The two were blue-line standouts for the Ottawa
Senators in the early 2000s, a team that played in the Stanley Cup finals in
2007.
The Blues also announced they have signed Dmitrij Jaskin (dih-MEE-tree
YEAH-skihn), the team's second-round selection in the 2011 NHL draft, the
41st player chosen overall.
Jaskin, 20, agreed to a three-year entry level contract. He will report to the
Blues’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Peoria. But it is possible
the 6-foot-3, 205 pound forward could see NHL time before the season
ends.
“Jaskin is an NHL-ready combination of size and skill,” Blues’ director of
player development Tim Taylor said. “His offensive prowess, physicality and
hockey sense give him the versatility to play up and down the lineup and
contribute in a variety of roles.”
Jaskin played in 51 games for Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey
League. He led the Wildcats with 99 points, including 46 goals and 53
assists, and collected 73 penalty minutes.
A native of Omsk, Russia, Jaskin was named the QMJHL’s first star of the
month for November 2012 and January 2013.
Prior to 2012-13, Jaskin spent two seasons with Slavia Praha HC of the
Czech Extraleague collecting 12 points (four goals, eight assists) and 32
penalty minutes in 63 games.
St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667931
St Louis Blues
Blues updates: Trade deadline, Bouwmeester's status, Halak injury
8 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford
While the Blues did a little housekeeping, some of their immediate rivals
muscled up. Read more
There is less than one hour left before the NHL trade deadline. It should
come as no surprise that Blues players, as they came off the practice ice
this morning, said they hope the roster stays intact and this group finishes
out the regular season and perhaps beyond.
“We’ve shown that the core in here has got what it takes to be good on a
regular basis and win games and win a playoff round,” Blues captain David
Backes said. “That being said, we’re not satisfied with those results. We’ve
got to keep growing and keep progressing or else I think changes may be
made. But the group in here is a group of character guys that put it in every
single day. We need to stick together and bring it every night, and when we
do, we like our chances.”
The instant rebuttal, which has been heard in recent weeks, is that this core
group has not done anything other than win one playoff round last year. I
asked defenseman Barret Jackman for his response to that sentiment.
“You’ve got to start from somewhere,” Jackman responded. “Every team
hasn’t done anything until they win. You look at other teams around the
league and nobody is satisfied until they’ve won the Stanley Cup, and if
they don’t win it, they’re disappointed. There’s always expectations on a
team. We expect to win and until we do that, it’s going to be disappointing.
“I really hope (this is the group). It’s a group that’s been together for quite a
few years now with the exception of a few pieces. But we’ve been in the
slums together and last year we were at a high and then back down to a
low in the playoffs. We’d love to ride a high all the way to the prize.”
BOUWMEESTER UPDATE
New Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was not on the ice this morning.
On Tuesday, he was seeking a work visa and had hoped to meet the club
soon and be in Thursday’s game against Chicago.
“I don’t know where the visa stuff is right now,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock
said. “As soon as I get through with (the media), I’ll go back and see where
that’s at. The assumption is that if (Jarome) Iginla can get in Pittsburgh in
that period of time from Calgary, then we’re hoping Jay can get in quick
too.”
HALAK'S STATUS
Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who left Monday’s 4-1 win over Minnesota
in the first period, has a groin injury and is out indefinitely.
Some rumblings are that Halak didn’t re-aggravate the injury that caused
him to miss eight games earlier this season, but rather it’s a new injury in
the groin.
“Halak is out,” said Hitchcock, who indicated the goalie may be put on
injured reserve. “He’s out … that’s the best way I can describe it. I’ll let you
know when he’s in.”
Asked if Halak will play at all the remainder of this season, Hitchcock
replied: “I can’t tell you that right now.”
Is there a guarantee? “No,” Hitchcock said.
After his 20-save relief effort in Minnesota, picking up his first victory since
Jan. 31, Brian Elliott will get the start Thursday against Chicago. Elliott said
that he’s better equipped for the job today than in early February, when his
poor performance forced the Blues to turn to Jake Allen.
“We’re deeper into the season, we’ve played some games and seen a lot of
pucks,” Elliott said. “I think as a team, we’ve gotten a lot more in control and
into the way we want to play. I think guys are more comfortable on the ice in
each position. Going into a big game, we need to have everybody and be
comfortable, trusting each other.”
Hitchcock was complimentary of Elliott’s performance in Minnesota, but
said not to read too much into it as far as how the netminder will play
Thursday.
“I think you have to be careful on that evaluation,” Hitchcock said, “because
there’s a difference between relieving and starting. Starting is a different
mindset. You go in at the start of the game and there’s a different set of
anxieties that go on with that. Let’s make an evaluation after the Chicago
game.”
OSHIE ON IR
Blues forward T.J. Oshie, who was placed on IR Tuesday, is not eligible to
return to the lineup Friday. But Hitchcock indicated today that Oshie, who is
believed to have suffered a bruised left foot blocking a shot against Los
Angeles, could be out longer.
“When a guy goes on IR like Osh, now you’re in week to week,” Hitchcock
said. “Osh can come off on Friday, but we’ll see. He certainly hasn’t been
able to skate yet and I doubt he’ll be able to skate tomorrow.”
When asked if Oshie had more than a bruise, Hitchcock replied: “No, that’s
what it is.”
JASKIN SIGNS
The Blues announced the signing of forward Dmitrij Jaskin (6-foot-3, 205) to
a three-year entry-level contract today. Jaskin has been assigned to the
Peoria Rivermen.
“Jaskin is an NHL-ready combination of size and skill,” Blues director of
player development Tim Taylor said in a statement. “His offensive prowess,
physicality and hockey sense give him the versatility to play up and down
the lineup and contribute in a variety of roles.”
Jaskin, 20, led the Moncton Wildcats and was fifth in the Quebec Major
Junior Hockey League with 99 points (46 goals and 53 assists) this season.
He was the Blues’ second-round pick (41st overall) in 2011
St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667932
St Louis Blues
Blues-Blackhawks matchup box
4 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford
BLUES AT BLACKHAWKS
When • 7:30 tonight
Where • United Center
TV, radio • FSM, KMOX (1120 AM)
Blues • The Blues are 0-2 against Chicago this season and 0-4-4 in their
last eight games at the United Center. They enter tonight’s game on a high
after winning 4-1 over Minnesota on Monday. The game will be the Blues
debut for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who was acquired in a trade
Monday. Brian Elliott will be in net against the Blackhawks, starting in place
of the injured Jaroslav Halak. The Blues’ penalty-killing unit has not allowed
a goal in three games (nine for nine).
Blackhawks • Chicago is in first place in the Western Conference with 27
victories. The Blackhawks are coming off a 7-1 win over Detroit and a 3-2
shootout victory over Nashville, and Blues coach Ken Hitchcock says the
team is playing as well as it has in a month. The Blackhawks are expected
to get Marian Hossa back in their lineup tonight after the winger missed six
games with an upper-body injury. The team added former Blue Michal
Handzus at the trading deadline.
Injuries • Blues — G Jaroslav Halak (groin) and RW T.J. Oshie (lowerbody injury), out. Blackhawks — RW Marian Hossa (upper-body injury) and
RW Patrick Kane (illness), probable; C Dave Bolland (lower-body injury),
questionable; LW Patrick Sharp (shoulder), out.
St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667933
St Louis Blues
Hitchcock: Blues feel sense of obligation to management
4 hours ago • By Jeremy Rutherford
CHICAGO • The Blues were like many NHL clubs that partook in this year’s
trade-deadline deals, in that the “heavy lifting” was done before the final
day.
Seventeen trades were consummated around the league Wednesday, and
just one involving the Blues. They sent defenseman Wade Redden to
Boston for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014, trimming their
defensemen to a manageable group of eight.
Outside of Marian Gaborik going to Columbus, deadline day lacked the
quality of names that fans have seen change sweaters in the past several
days, such as Jarome Iginla to Pittsburgh and Jay Bouwmeester to the
Blues.
But teams like the Blues, who added Jordan Leopold last week, believe
they have done enough for the stretch drive — and what a wild one it
should be. In addition to the 16 teams that were holding a playoff spot
Wednesday, seven more were within three points of a postseason ticket
before Wednesday’s games.
“I think we were looking all year to improve the team and looking at ways
we could do it that made sense, but making sense means we also know
what’s on the horizon,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We know that
there’s a lot of younger players that we’re going to have to make decisions
on long-term. I don’t think we wanted to go and do anything panic-wise.”
“We got Leopold really for the stretch run, take a hard look at him, and then
we got Jay to be part of the group for long term. I like the fact that
management is committed to making us better. They’re not just sitting and
watching the group. I think the players are impressed by this. They feel an
even higher sense of obligation to try to help out as much as management
is helping them.”
Sitting in the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference before Wednesday, with
14 more regular-season games remaining, the Blues are set.
Bouwmeester, the latest addition, was expected to arrive in Chicago tonight
and make his debut wearing No. 19 against the Blackhawks. Leopold will
play in his second game after posting a plus-1 rating in 16 minutes, 43
seconds of ice time in Monday’s 4-1 win over Minnesota.
“I thought he played really well in the third period, really composed,”
Hitchcock said.
But will the recent changes improve the Blues’ overall game? While they’ve
added, they’ve also subtracted.
The team will move forward without goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who went
down in the first period of Monday’s game with a groin injury. The best-case
prognosis for the netminder’s return is several weeks.
“He’s out ... that’s the best way I can describe it,” Hitchcock said.
The coach couldn’t guarantee that Halak would return this season,
however, saying, “I can’t tell you that.”
Tonight the Blues will turn to Brian Elliott following his 20-save performance
in relief of Halak on Monday, in which he picked up his first victory since
Jan. 31.
Elliott believes he’s better-equipped to handle the assignment than he was
in early February, when Halak missed eight games with a groin injury and
Elliott’s 0-4-1 run forced the Blues to insert rookie Jake Allen.
“We’re deeper into the season, we’ve played some games and seen a lot of
pucks,” Elliott said. “I think as a team, we’ve gotten a lot more in control and
into the way we want to play.”
After his two-game conditioning stint in Peoria, Elliott seemed more reliable
Monday against the Wild. But Hitchcock said not to read too much into that
performance.
“I think you have to be careful on that evaluation,” he said, “because there’s
a difference between relieving and starting. Starting is a different mind-set.
You go in at the start of the game and there’s a different set of anxieties
that go on with that. Let’s make an evaluation after the Chicago game.”
The Blues will also be without T.J. Oshie, who the team said suffered a
bruise blocking a shot last week against Los Angeles. He was replaced on
injured reserve Tuesday, and Hitchcock said, “When a guy goes on IR like
‘Osh,’ now you’re in week to week.” Hitchcock also said the injury has not
been found to be more than a bruise.
That leaves it up to the rest of the post-deadline Blues, who tonight will face
conference-leading Chicago, which knocked off Detroit 7-1 on Sunday.
“We’ve shown that the core in here has got what it takes to be good on a
regular basis and win games and win a playoff round,” Blues captain David
Backes said. “That being said, we’re not satisfied with those results (last
season). We’ve got to keep growing and keep progressing or else I think
changes may be made.
“But the group in here is a group of character guys that put it in every single
day. We need to stick together and bring it every night, and when we do, we
like our chances.”
Jaskin signs
The Blues announced the signing for forward Dmitrij Jaskin to a three-year,
entry-level contract Wednesday. He has been assigned to play with Peoria
in the American Hockey League. Jaskin (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) was a
second-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft. He led the Moncton Wildcats and
was fifth in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 99 points (46
goals) this season.
St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 04.04.2013
667934
St Louis Blues
Jackman said the motivation of Bouwmeester making his first playoff
appearance should light a spark.
Blues perform defensive makeover; now it's up to players
"He's going to really enjoy having a chance to possibly be in the playoffs for
the first time in over 700 games," Jackman said.
By NORM SANDERS
Leopold and Bouwmeester once had their rights traded for each other, so
their names have been linked before. Now they are teammates.
Leopold said the Blues' system and structure is a bit different than what he
experienced in Buffalo, but he's making a quick transition.
ST. LOUIS — In the span of three days, the St. Louis Blues performed a
defensive makeover they hope will lead them to postseason success.
For now, nailing down a playoff spot has been made a bit more attainable
with the addition of veteran defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan
Leopold.
"This is an addition where part of it is to help us win now, but part of it is
also to augment the team for (the) future," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said.
"I like the fact that management is committed to making us better. They're
not just sitting and watching the group, they're doing their own level of work,
too.
"The players are impressed by this, I think they feel an even higher sense of
obligation to help out as much as management is helping them."
Blues veteran defenseman Barret Jackman agreed, saying the time for
excuses is over.
"We've got two great players that are going to come in here and make us
that much better," Jackman said. "If you look around our dressing room we
have every piece that we need. Now we have to put that on the ice and win.
They're definitely showing their faith in this team."
Blues captain David Backes said the players appreciate the commitment,
but now must work even harder to reward it.
"No excuses in here, we just need results," Backes said. "We've shown that
the core in here's got what it takes to be good on a regular basis, win
games and win a playoff battle.
"That being said, we're not satisfied with those results. We've got to keep
growing and keep progressing or else I think it changes the outlook. We
need to stick together and bring it every night. Then we like our chances."
Bouwmeester, 29, was expected to join the Blues Wednesday night in
Chicago once his immigration paperwork cleared. He is expected to make
his Blues debut Thursday against the Blackhawks and will wear No. 19.
Known as one of the top skaters in the NHL, Bouwmeester also adds a
talented left-handed partner on the No. 1 defense pairing with Alex
Pietrangelo.
Bouwmeester also provides a steadying influence on the back end.
"Hopefully we can use him in the areas where he's most effective,"
Hitchcock said. "He can really play against top players and he eats up a lot
of minutes. He's a real good addition."
So is Leopold, who played his first Blues game on Monday in Minnesota.
"Any time you get moved, there's a want and a need from that team you get
moved to," said Leopold, who came in a Saturday trade from the Buffalo
Sabres. "It's something to be excited about and obviously they've showed
some confidence in my game that there's a role to be filled."
Leopold will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, but
Bouwmeester's contract runs through 2013-14.
"He's an addition made long term," Hitchcock said of Bouwmeester. "He's
an addition for this year, for next year...this is building something that we
want to build. We want to make the playoffs like everybody else does, but
we're trying to build a team here that's going to win long term and he's a
good fit for us."
Bouwmeester already has a friend on the Blues in fellow defenseman
Jackman. The pair played together on several Canadian national teams.
"We've known each other and crossed paths quite a few times over the
years," Jackman said. "I had a great time with him over in Russia and
Sweden. He's a great personality and a great guy that really is going to fit in
well in our dressing room."
"I've been through it a few times, working with a new partner that I'm not
real familiar with," he said. "The concept, the way we play is different than
what I'm accustomed the past few years. I'm making the transition but right
now I'm a sponge.
"I'm taking it all in and trying to get up to speed."
Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 04.04.2013
667935
St Louis Blues
With a glut of defense depth, they traded veteran Wade Redden to Boston
for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2014.
Blues trade Redden, sign rookie forward prospect
The 35-year-old Redden has two goals and five points in 23 games. Those
goals came in his second and third games after joining the team.
Published: April 3, 2013 Updated 5 hours ago
The Blues also signed forward prospect Dmitrij Jaskin to a three-year entrylevel contract and assigned him to the Peoria Rivermen.
By NORM SANDERS — News-Democrat
The 20-year-old Jaskin (6-3 205), a second-round draft pick from Russia,
had 46 goals and 99 points in 51 games for Moncton this season in the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
ST. LOUIS — With starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak out indefinitely with a
lower-body injury, the St. Louis Blues' playoff hopes may hinge on the
performance of Brian Elliott and rookie Jake Allen.
He spent the previous two seasons with the Slavia Prava HC of the Czech
Elite League, scoring four goals and 12 points in 63 games.
After practice Wednesday, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock made it sound like
Halak may not make a rapid return. ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported the
injury could keep Halak out for at least three weeks.
Asked whether Halak will play again this season, Hitchcock's response was
"I don't know about that. I can't tell you that right now."
Halak missed time earlier this season with a groin injury.
Hitchcock said Elliott, who relieved Halak after Halak's injury against
Minnesota, will start Thursday in Chicago.
"We're on a one-game basis," Hitchcock said. "We'll see how he plays
Thursday, then we'll evaluate Friday."
Elliott went 3-4 in the playoffs last season after Halak was injured in Game
2 of the first round.
This season went Halak went down again, Elliott's struggled and created an
opportunity for Allen. The rookie responded by winning eight of his first nine
decisions.
Elliott will be watched closely Thursday with each point precious in the final
14 regular season games.
"I think you have to be careful on that evaluation because there's a
difference between relieving and starting," Hitchcock said when asked to
rate Elliott's relief performance against Minnesota. "Starting's a different
mindset...there's a different set of anxieties that go on with that, so let's
make an evaluation after the Chicago game."
Elliott went 1-1 in two starts with Peoria during a conditioning assignment in
the minors. Before Monday, he had not won at the NHL level since Jan. 31.
Elliott was asked if he feels different about replacing Halak than he did
earlier.
"We're deeper into the season and we've played some games, I've seen a
lot of pucks over the time since (then)," he said. "I think as a team we've
gotten a lot more in control and getting into the way we want to play. Going
into a big game we know we need to have everybody and be comfortable
and trust each other."
A year ago Elliott led the NHL in goals-against average and save
percentage, but hasn't been able to recapture the magic.
"You always try to go back to what's given you success, whether it's tying
your left skate before your right or doing something on the ice," he said.
"Your game evolves and changes over the course of the year and the game
changes so you have to adjust. Those adjustment periods happen quick,
especially in a short season."
Elliott praised Allen's work this season.
"He's given a lot of confidence to the guys. You always want to just get
back in there and I'm sure he's itching to the do the same. In every position,
guys want to be out there and want that responsibility."
Blues winger T.J. Oshie remains in injured reserve with a bruised foot and
isn't eligible to return Friday, but Hitchcock said he doubts if Oshie can
begin skating Thursday.
Another trade, another signing
While the Blues made their major trade deadline moves before the deadline
with the acquisition of defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold,
they were still busy Wednesday.
"Jaskin is an NHL-ready combination of size and skill," said Blues' Director
of Player Development, Tim Taylor. "His offensive prowess, physicality and
hockey sense give him the versatility to play up and down the lineup and
contribute in a variety of roles."
Scouting the Hawks
The Blues have lost their last eight games in Chicago, not winning at United
Center since Feb. 3, 2010. The Blackhawks are 27-5-3 and show no signs
of slowing down, recently adding former Blues forward Michal Handzus to
the mix.
After hammering Detroit 7-1 on Sunday, the Blackhawks beat Nashville 3-2
in a shootout on Monday.
"We'll have our hands full and we know that," Hitchcock said. "They've been
in the best team in the NHL right from day one. I would say the last two
games they played are the best they've played in a month. They were
terrific in Detroit in that bombing there and I though for 2 1/2 periods they
were unbelievable against Nashville."
Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 04.04.2013
667936
Tampa Bay Lightning
Former Bolts coach Boucher speaks out about firing
By Ira Kaufman | Tribune Staff
Published: April 3, 2013
- BRANDON – In the first public appearance since his dismissal 10 days
ago, former Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher lavished praise on
the organization and denied any friction with general manager Steve
Yzerman on the direction of the struggling franchise.
“I wanted to let my emotions settle down and I didn’t want to be a
distraction,’’ Boucher said Wednesday at Tampa Bay’s alternate practice
rink in explaining his silence since he was sent home from Winnipeg on
March 24 after a 5-3 setback at Ottawa. “My story is very simple – I’m very
grateful to have had an opportunity to coach in the NHL and in such a great
organization. It’s truly been an incredible ride, one we’re going to cherish for
the rest of our lives.’’
Since Boucher was replaced behind the bench by minor-league coach Jon
Cooper, he has watched an array of NHL games on television. Boucher has
chosen not to watch the Lightning’s recent games, including a 3-2 shootout
loss at home to the Panthers Tuesday night.
For Boucher, the emotions are still too raw.
“It was a shock,’’ he said of the short conversation with Yzerman, informing
Boucher he had coached his final game with the Lightning. “But that’s the
business and you have to deal with it. The last three Stanley Cup champion
coaches have all gone through it. It’s something you have to deal with and it
puts a lot of things in perspective. This is difficult. It’s a tough one, but
adversity makes you grow.’’
Boucher said he didn’t notice any change in his relationship with Yzerman
in the weeks leading up to his dismissal as Tampa Bay struggled to contend
for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
“Steve and I had had a brief conversation that day and he said he wanted to
make a change,’’ Boucher said. “We didn’t have any problems. We stuck
together as a team and as a staff and made a lot happen. You can’t control
injuries and you can’t control personnel that’s available and not available.’’
Boucher guided the Lightning to within one win of the Stanley Cup finals in
his first season as an NHL coach, but the last two years were disappointing
as Tampa Bay was undermined by mediocre goaltending and some key
injuries.
On the same day Boucher spoke his mind, the Lightning traded for Ottawa
backup goaltender Ben Bishop to compete against 24-year-old Anders
Lindback for the No. 1 job.
“Whether it’s a forward, a defenseman or a goalie, there’s a growth
process,’’ Boucher said. “Anders Lindback is a terrific individual. He’s a
young guy that’s growing and he’s going to become a good goaltender in
this league. But expectations have to go with the moment and the
circumstances that you’re in.’’
Tampa Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667937
Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning trade F Conacher, pick for G Bishop
By Erik Erlendsson | Tribune Staff
Published: April 3, 2013
TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired goaltender Ben Bishop from
the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday in exchange for rookie forward Cory
Conacher and a fourth-round draft pick in 2013.
The acquisition of Bishop creates competition for the No. 1 goaltending job
with Anders Lindback, who was acquired from Nashville in June. Lindback
is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain.
“I am extremely excited to be part of the Lightning organization,” Bishop
said in a statement issued by the Lightning. “They have a lot of great
players and hopefully we can win a lot of hockey games this season and
moving forward.”
Bishop was a strong fill-in for injured Craig Anderson with the Senators this
season. In 13 games with Ottawa, Bishop was 8-5 with a 2.45 goals against
average and .922 save percentage.
The Senators acquired Bishop from St. Louis last season for a secondround pick.
Conacher, second in the NHL rookie scoring race with 24 points, burst onto
the scene with five multi-point games among his first seven this season
while playing on a line with captain Vinny Lecavalier.
In recent games, however, Conacher saw his ice time dip as he dropped to
a lower-line role, playing less than 10 minutes twice in the past three
games.
He is looking forward to getting started with Ottawa.
“They are a team that wants me,” Conacher said. “I’ve talked to the
organization down there and they are a team that wants me, so it’s a new
start and it’s going to be fun. They are a team on the rise and hopefully we
will get on a nice little playoff run this year.’’
Conacher found it hard to leave the organization that gave him his first
opportunity.
“I was a little shocked, I didn’t expect that,’’ Conacher said of the trade. “It’s
something that a lot of guys never expect, to be traded. But it’s the way the
hockey world works.”
Undrafted out of Canisius College, Conacher signed with the Lightning as a
free agent. He went on to earn Most Valuable Player in the American
Hockey League last season while helping lead Tampa Bay affiliate Norfolk
to the Calder Cup championship.
“Tampa Bay wanted Bishop and Ottawa wanted me, so it’s straight up and
that’s how it works. I love Tampa, I love the organization and they have
done so many good things for me, but now it’s time to start fresh in
Ottawa.’’
Tampa Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667938
Tampa Bay Lightning
Fennelly: Bolts trade an admission from GM
By Martin Fennelly
Published: April 4, 2013
BRANDON It was the height of irony, and we mean height.
Wednesday afternoon, former Lightning coach Guy Boucher spoke publicly
for the first time since he was fired by Bolts GM Steve Yzerman. Oh, and
about 15 minutes before that, the Lightning announced that they’d traded
for … a goaltender.
It’s Ben Bishop, who came from Ottawa just before the trade deadline,
though at a hefty price: Lightning rookie playmaker Cory Conacher.
If you’re Boucher, you had to be thinking, “Ah, now the goalies aren’t good
enough.”
I like the deal, but it had better work. The Lightning need the help if Anders
Lindback’s inconsistency is any indication, and it is.
Bishop kept the Senators winning even after No. 1 Craig Anderson, the best
goalie in the NHL this season, at least statistically, went down with an
injury. Bishop owns a 2.45 goals-against average and a .922 save
percentage. That beats Lindback’s 2.88 and .903, which helped seal
Boucher’s fate.
And there’s the towering trivia of it all. The Lightning now have the highest
goaltending tandem in NHL history as the 6-foot-7 Bishop (the tallest man
ever to play goal in an NHL) joins the 6-6 Lindback, two tape-measure jobs.
The Bolts now possess 13 feet, 1 inch of goalies. Right now this team
would take a 4-foot guy hopping out of a circus car if he could play between
the pipes.
The long and short of it is that Yzerman, who has made his mistakes, is
basically admitting that the goalie he brought in hasn’t been up to speed —
enough to trade Conacher, the second-leading rookie scorer in the league
when he wasn’t falling down, though not enough to give Boucher a pass.
The new coach, Jon Cooper, gets the help.
Yzerman has entirely mixed reviews when it comes to goaltender. Dan Ellis
was his guy, but, no go, at least here, then Dwayne Roloson rode to the
rescue in his Fountain of Youth pumpkin carriage. Then Roloson bombed
last season, you know, after Mike Smith had opted to go to Phoenix, where
he flourished. Then came Lindback, and so on and so on. A lot of times,
goalies are where GM’s jobs go to die.
Still, I like Bishop. It’s a great deal if he can be the guy. Lindback is a great
deal if he turns out to be the guy. But one of these guys better be the guy. I
know Redwoods don’t yield fruit, but these two better or this organization
will be deep in the forest.
The Lightning could have grabbed Bishop for less last offseason. They
picked up Lindback. Now they have both, with Yzerman giving up
Conacher, two second-round picks, a third-round pick and a fourth-round
pick — all for two goaltenders who have a combined 95 games of NHL
experience.
Then again, Bishop, 26, is two years older than Lindback. That should
count for something, growth wise. On the other hand, in Bishop’s first game
this season, he allowed five goals on 30 shots in a loss against … the
Lightning. Yes, Wednesday was an open skating session for irony.
It’s not about this season, no matter what Cooper says. You can’t be
serious about the playoffs when you can’t win at home against Florida. No,
this is about speeding up the future. It’s a great deal if Ben Bishop does
that. Or if anyone else does. Once again, this team needs a stopper.
Lightning history teaches us that finding one is usually a very tall order.
Tampa Tribune LOADED: 04.04.2013
667939
Tampa Bay Lightning
Ex-Lightning Boucher takes high road
Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 4:43pm
Pretty interesting that on the same day Guy Boucher spoke publicly for the
first time since being fired as coach of the Lightning, the team traded for a
hotshot young goalie.
If general manager Steve Yzerman had brought in a goalie a month ago,
maybe Boucher would still have a job today.
When asked about the timing of such a trade, Boucher didn't say a word.
He just smiled.
That's what you do when you're taking the high road. That's what Boucher
took Wednesday inside the Brandon Ice Sports Forum.
He thanked Yzerman. He thanked owner Jeff Vinik. He thanked the entire
front office. He thanked his coaches. He thanked the players. He thanked
the fans. He thanked everyone but the Zamboni driver.
"No regrets," said Boucher, fired March 23 after 21/2 seasons. "I'm grateful
for getting the chance to coach in the NHL and to be surrounded by quality
people. It has truly been an incredible ride, one that I will truly cherish."
Yeah, yeah, yeah. On it went. Blah, blah, blah. Boucher saying nice things
about Yzerman. Boucher complimenting the players. Boucher talking about
the good times.
You just knew it was going to be like this. Boucher wants to work again in
the NHL. The last thing he is going to do is get into a spitting match with a
hockey legend such as Yzerman.
But for the record, no, Boucher said, there was nothing personal between
he and Yzerman.
Yes, Boucher said, the players played hard for him.
No, Boucher said, no one on the team quit.
So, what then? If everything was hunky-dory with Yzerman and the players
played hard, why was Boucher in Brandon while his former team was flying
to Carolina with another coach in his seat?
"I think when we started the year, we had all the hopes possible," Boucher,
41, said. "But it's like every season. Once the season starts, different things
come into play; whether it's at forward, defense or a goaltender. There's a
growth process there. Sometimes, you're asking people to do things they
can't do consistently yet. …Expectations have to go with the moment and
the circumstances that you're in.
"I want to respect the process of the young goaltender. I don't want to point
fingers. I don't want to do that."
You don't have to be Lord Stanley to figure out what Boucher meant.
Anders Lindback, acquired to be the Lightning's No. 1 goalie, simply wasn't
ready for that role.
There's more. Ryan Malone got hurt. Vinny Lecavalier got hurt. Third-line
players weren't ready to be second-liners. Too many rookies were forced
into the lineup. The defense wasn't nearly as good as everyone thought it
would be. The shortened season heightened urgency. Losses piled up.
Those are facts.
But I also think the relationship between Yzerman and Boucher soured
quickly. Boucher and Yzerman both admit to "philosophical differences,"
although neither has said anything more than that.
If I had to guess, Yzerman and Boucher differed on the style of play.
Now this is where the story gets complicated. Something clearly changed
and caused a major difference of opinion between the first-time NHL coach
and the first-time NHL GM. Yzerman or Boucher got stubborn. Maybe both
did. There are always two sides to every divorce.
But either Yzerman urged Boucher to play a system Boucher didn't want to
or Boucher ignored Yzerman's suggestions. Whatever the case, this was
not the same system the team played during Boucher's successful rookie
season. The results were no longer there, and a change was made, a
change that Boucher said surprised and stung him. He has watched a lot of
hockey on TV since his firing but has yet to watch a Lightning game
because it remains too painful.
"I have nothing but respect for Steve Yzerman,'' Boucher said. "Like I said, I
will not point fingers.''
Ultimately, a good goalie would've solved everything. Everyone, including
Yzerman, agrees Lindback needs more time to develop into a reliable No. 1
goalie. And this is where you can't help but feel a bit for Boucher.
Yzerman cannot have it both ways. You can't preach patience with your
young goalie then fire the coach when you lose too many games because,
mostly, your young goalie isn't ready.
Which brings us back to Wednesday. Give Yzerman credit for acquiring
goalie Ben Bishop from Ottawa. You have to give up something to get
something, and Yzerman had to give up Cory Conacher, a nice young
player. But don't get too worked up over losing Conacher. He's small and
has cooled off after a fast start. Besides, the Lightning needs a goalie way
more than another small forward.
The trade says the Lightning isn't convinced Lindback can be a No. 1
goalie. At worst, it now has two youngsters to fight it out for the top spot
and, at best, they'll end up with two pretty good goalies.
It's a great move. Too bad it happened too late for Boucher.
Tom Jones can be heard from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on WDAE-620
Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667940
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning acquires goalie Ben Bishop for Cory Conacher, pick
Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 2:24pm
The Lightning pulled off a bold move an hour before Wednesday's trade
deadline by acquiring goaltender Ben Bishop from the Senators for rookie
left wing Cory Conacher and a fourth-round draft pick.
The move to get Bishop was not a complete surprise as Tampa Bay has
been struggling with goaltending all season and having Bishop to take
some of the pressure off Anders Lindback is probably smart. The surprise
was letting go Conacher, who was at practice and worked out on
Wednesday.
Bishop, 26, a 2005 third-round draft choice by the Blues, is 8-5-0 this
season 2.45 goals against average and .922 save percentage. Interestingly,
it was believed the Lightning passed on Bishop last season because it
believed the price was too high.
But the Lightning has so improved its depth at forward through the draft and
player development that it was able to deal from strength.
Still, Conacher, 23, had a huge impact on the Lightning this season. Is 24
points are second in the league among rookies and his 15 assists are tops.
He also was tied for the team lead with two game-winning goals.
Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667941
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning G prospect Jarolsav Janus says he wants to play in North
America
Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 10:13am
While we wait to see if the Lightning can perhaps grab a goalie before
today's 3 p.m. trade deadline, let's talk about a goalie who might figure into
the team's future. Prospect Jaroslav Janus said Wednesday he has no idea
where the story came from that he will stay in the KHL next season with HC
Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia.
"They made it up, like a rumor or something," Janus said from Sweden,
where he is with the Slovak national team.
Janus said he still wants to play next season in North America.
"If Tampa still wants me I would love to go back, that's for sure," he said.
And Tampa Bay clearly wants Janus back, especially after last season's
stellar performance in which he helped HC Slovan to the KHL playoffs with
five shutouts, a 2.17 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.
Lightning assistant general manager Julien BriseBois said it is his
understanding Janus, 23, drafted 162nd overall in 2009, has a buyout
clause in his contract that runs through 2013-14. The sticking point for
Tampa Bay might be Janus' preference for a one-way deal. The Lightning
prefers Janus play with AHL Syracuse, though he would get a look at
training camp.
But all that is still to be figured out. The bottom line for now, Janus said, is
that the story of his return to HC Slovan next season, which ran on the
team's web site, is not, at the moment, accurate.
"I read it and my friends keep asking me and, 'What is this about?' It's news
for me as well," Janus said. "It's pretty funny. They just keep making stories
up."
Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
Leafs stay mostly quiet after chasing Kiprusoff and Luongo
you in this business, it doesn’t hurt. That was something that we had looked
at. That was one of our goals. But if it wasn’t going to come to fruition, it
wasn’t a devastating blow to us. We weren’t crushed today that we weren’t
able to get Kiprusoff because we felt we had two quality guys here.”
JAMES MIRTLE
Nonis also offered praise for the rest of his lineup on Wednesday, noting
that despite being the lone deadline day addition, O’Byrne wouldn’t
necessarily be guaranteed a spot in the lineup every night.
667942
Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO — The Globe and Mail
Published Wednesday, Apr. 03 2013, 8:35 PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, Apr. 03 2013, 8:53 PM EDT
He fielded call after call – including several late breaking ones from the
Vancouver Canucks on Roberto Luongo – and came close to a deal for a
depth centre.
In the end, however, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis was one of the
quieter execs around the league on deadline day, making just one small
deal for depth defenceman Ryan O’Byrne with his team on the verge of its
first playoff appearance in nine years.
For all the talk of gaining experience in goal or down the middle the past
two weeks, the truth was the Leafs brass were fairly content with the status
quo.
But it never hurts to know what’s available.
“We were close on a few other things, but not really until late in the day,”
Nonis said. “Some of the [experienced players] that were available to us
today were quality guys who would have been good adds four or five years
ago but weren’t players that would get in the lineup [regularly].”
The most intriguing part of Toronto’s day by far was in their pursuit of two
veteran goaltenders.
The first option, Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff, scuttled a deal that was in place
early when he informed both teams he would like to remain with the Flames
and his newborn in the city he’s played in since 2003.
Talks around the second – Roberto Luongo and the nine years remaining
on his enormous contract – heated up late, with the Canucks making
repeated offers in the final hour before the deadline according to TSN’s
Darren Dreger.
Vancouver was apparently willing to accept as little as backup goalie Ben
Scrivens and draft picks or prospects in return, but Nonis still wasn’t biting.
“I’m not going to speak specifically about any player other than Miikka
because that was out there and we had permission to talk to him,” Nonis
said. “But any player that we bring in has to make sense for us long term
and you couple that with the assets you have to give up to get that player.
“With Miikka, it would have been a different story in terms of length of term
and the amount of money we would have had to pay... The benefit of
bringing Kiprusoff in would have been we weren’t moving either of our
goalies out.”
Ultimately the day was a mild vote of confidence for Leafs starter James
Reimer and Scrivens, who have posted the NHL’s seventh best team save
percentage and been a big part of Toronto’s 20-12-4 record this season.
While they have started only a combined 116 NHL games and have no
playoff experience, they also have shown enough promise that either one
could potentially be a solid No. 1 for many more years.
The Leafs – led by new goalie coach Rick St. Croix – remain very high on
Reimer, in particular, and didn’t want all of the deadline talk to take away
from what they’ve accomplished.
“We have two quality goalies,” Nonis said. “These guys have earned the
right to play.”
Nonis added that he had sat down and talked to Reimer earlier in the day,
pointing out that the team’s pursuit of a veteran wasn’t as a result of his
play or the organization’s views of his potential.
“He’s still a young goaltender,” Nonis said. “It’s not about his ability. In fact,
his play has been exceptional. It was just about getting some experience to
help him. There’s nothing more to it than that… “Having someone mentor
The 6-foot-5, 235 pound Victoria native has been a regular on the Colorado
Avalanche blueline the last three years and played extensively with Leafs
veteran John-Michael Liles two years ago. He brings the sort of size and
toughness coveted by coach Randy Carlyle but is also noted for being
somewhat slow and penalty prone.
It’s expected O’Byrne and Liles will initially be partnered together as part of
a new look third pairing, taking away some of the ice time that Jake
Gardiner, Mike Kostka and Mark Fraser have been logging on the Leafs
back end.
That the organization only made the one minor addition was more reflective
of where Toronto sits in its evolution more than anything. Not in the position
to contend for a Stanley Cup or to begin a rebuild, Nonis was tasked with
finding the middle ground of trying to add useful pieces without giving up
much from his roster.
That included hanging onto pending unrestricted free agents like Tyler
Bozak and Clarke MacArthur – two forwards who may yet re-sign before the
summer – and left the 2014 fourth-round pick they gave up for O’Byrne the
only asset they lost.
“There’s a lot to be said for keeping this group together,” Nonis said. “The
guys have battled with heart, and it was important to us to not take anyone
out of the lineup unless we were getting someone significant back… “I think
we’re still in a position to keep adding assets [in the future]. Some of the
deals we were presented today were about moving players within our
system, but we’re trying to build that up… We’re still developing; we’re still
growing as an organization. We need to add more pieces and we’re in a
good position to do that.
“There was never a notion of moving a young player, a Nazem Kadri, for
another established guy. That was never something we discussed at all
because if we’re going to have long term success we need to add to that
group.”
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013
667943
Toronto Maple Leafs
13.45
Leafs acquire O’Byrne from Avs
-0.163
JAMES MIRTLE
TORONTO — The Globe and Mail
-8.2
Published Wednesday, Apr. 03 2013, 3:28 PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, Apr. 03 2013, 4:49 PM EDT
1.8
The Toronto Maple Leafs have added a Randy Carlyle-type player just in
time for their playoff drive.
50.4
2009-2010
Leafs GM Dave Nonis finished off a quiet trade deadline day on
Wednesday by shipping a 2014 fourth-round pick to the Colorado
Avalanche near the 3 p.m. deadline in exchange for Ryan O’Byrne, a 28year-old right-handed blueliner who is set to become an unrestricted free
agent this summer.
MTL
O’Byrne, a Victoria native, is huge at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds and
generally plays a simple shutdown game.
55
His best season recently was 2010-11 alongside Leafs defenceman JohnMichael Liles when both were together in Colorado, and it’s expected that
pairing will be reunited in Toronto.
13.71
O’Bryne can also kill penalties and fight, much like current Leafs
defenceman Mark Fraser and much to the liking of Carlyle, who likely saw
him play in the Western Conference quite a bit.
-0.304
His arrival likely means that Jake Gardiner and Mike Kostka have a much
harder time getting into the lineup.
-5.5
The Leafs went into the deadline searching for both a veteran goaltender
and depth on defence but came away with only one of those desires filled
after Calgary Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff chose not to leave and the
asking price for Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo was still too high.
Here’s a closer look at some advanced statistics related to O’Byrne over the
past five seasons. Detailed explanations of their meaning are available at
behindthenet.ca:
1.4
47.2
2010-2011
SEASON
COL
TEAM
67
GP
16.96
TOI
0.888
Qual Comp
-3.7
Corsi Rel
1.4
PIM/60
42.3
Zone Start
2011-2012
2008-2009
COL
MTL
74
37
15.74
0.523
-18.4
1.0
32.8
2012-2013
COL
34
15.82
0.471
-15.1
1.2
48.0
Basically, the last three years in Colorado, the coaching staff has been
using O’Byrne in fairly difficult minutes, playing him against first and second
lines and often in the defensive zone. Possession wise (Corsi Rel), he has
had middling success, with his numbers in the red the most the last two
seasons as he and the Avs have struggled.
The other thing worth noting is that he takes quite a few minor penalties
given his ice time, which is another sign he’s being beaten by some of
those offensive players.
In a depth role, as a fifth or sixth defenceman, O’Byrne may be fine,
especially if he regains some of his chemistry with Liles. They played
roughly 60 per cent of their minutes together in what looks like O’Byrne’s
best season.
At the very least, he gives Toronto some injury insurance going into the
playoffs. The Leafs have been remarkably lucky with injuries on the back
end this season and that may not continue the rest of the way.
O’Byrne does have 300 games regular-season and 19 games playoff
experience, which is a lot more than at least three members of Toronto’s
current blueline (Fraser, Gardiner and Kostka).
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013
667944
Toronto Maple Leafs
Grabovski
Leafs’ cap situation key reason to avoid pricey goalie
Frattin
JAMES MIRTLE
TORONTO — The Globe and Mail
$5.5-mil
Published Wednesday, Apr. 03 2013, 11:30 AM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, Apr. 03 2013, 12:12 PM EDT
$925k
It is, by far, the most neglected element when it comes to the notion the
Toronto Maple Leafs pursuit of a veteran goaltender.
McLaren
His cap hit.
McClement
And, more specifically, the Leafs cap situation next season.
Now, the salary cap is expected to drop to $64.3-million for 2013-14, which
will put a lot of teams in a bind and needing to shed salary. At first glance,
Toronto looks fairly safe from all that with roughly $19-million in space and
a buyout-in-waiting for Mike Komisarek, but the tricky part is the number of
free agents they’ll have to sign.
Komarov
$696k
Cody Franson needs a contract, and he’s having a breakout season. Carl
Gunnarsson also needs a contract, and he’s played big, important minutes
for this team the past two years.
$1.5-mil
And, most significantly, Nazem Kadri is due a huge raise given the
incredible season he is having.
$900k
By my estimates, those three are all probably going to sign in the $3-million
a season range, give or take $500,000 either way depending on the term in
the deal.
If you then fill in the organization’s other restricted free agents with cheap
deals and you add Miikka Kiprusoff’s $5.83-million cap hit next season,
you’re left with about $6.7-million in cap space and four or five roster spots
to fill – including two gaping holes in your forward lineup where Tyler Bozak
and Clarke MacArthur (both UFAs) once were:
Gunnarsson
Phaneuf
$2.75-mil
Van Riemdsyk
$6.5-mil
-- empty --
Kessel
Fraser
$4.25-mil
Franson
$5.4-mil
$800k
Lupul
$2.8-mil
Kadri
Kulemin
Gardiner
$5.25-mil
Liles
$3.2-mil
$1.12-mil
$2.8-mil
$3.88-mil
-- empty -Reimer
Kiprusoff
$1.8-mil
$5.83-mil
That is only a skeleton roster of 18 players so for argument’s sake let’s add
in the two extra bodies at $1.5-million.
That leaves about $4.5- to 5-million to either re-sign Bozak or MacArthur
(not both) or replace those two 50-point players to bring the team’s skaters
basically back to the level they were at last season.
That likely means no upgrades on the blueline, other than from within, and
no significant upgrades down the middle, other than whatever
improvements Kadri can bring after a dream first full season.
Adding Kiprusoff (or Luongo) in other words, comes at the direct expense of
upgrading elsewhere on the roster via trade or free agency. The Leafs
would be able to replace Bozak or MacArthur with perhaps a better player,
but they wouldn’t be able to add to what they have.
And given one of the team’s most pressing needs is a top four defenceman,
which can get pricey, it would leave likely as many question marks as they
had this season.
(There’s a reason most contending teams have more than one blueliner
committed to a big contract.)
Add in the fact that Kiprusoff may not be that big of an upgrade over
Scrivens and that you may lose that young goaltender, and there are more
than enough warning signs against adding a big ticket in goal.
There are other ways to free the necessary salary room to make
improvements, with trades for Mikhail Grabovski or John-Michael Liles two
ways to accomplish that. But, in both cases, that would be selling low and
would open other holes in the lineup.
If the goal here is to progress this team up the Eastern Conference in the
next two or three years, GM Dave Nonis has to pick a window to win in and
go with that. The summer is the perfect time to add another key piece to the
blueline or up front to help them take the next step before Phil Kessel and
Dion Phaneuf’s contracts come up for renewal.
The cap is likely to rise quickly starting in 2014-15 and beyond, but
especially for next season, it makes little sense to commit so much to an
area (goaltending) where the Leafs have had stability this season.
The better bet is to continue to go cheap in goal, hope that both youngsters
continue to develop into No. 1 goalies and spend the available cap space
elsewhere.
Because, for all of the Leafs success this season, the rest of the roster
could certainly use the upgrades.
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013
667945
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo admits huge contract
prevented him being traded
By: Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
Roberto Luongo wasn’t traded, and neither was Miikka Kiprusoff.
So nothing materialized with the two goalies the Maple Leafs had pursued
leading up to the NHL trade deadline Wednesday.
That deadline passed at 3 p.m. with 10 moves made.
The Leafs, though they did not acquire Luongo or Kiprusoff, will likely reapproach their goalie situation in the off-season.
Luongo, in a candid and emotional press conference shortly after the
deadline, said he was relieved that all the trade speculation was ending,
and admitted his monster contract was the sticking point in him being
moved out of Vancouver.
“My contract sucks,” said Luongo, who is on the books for nine more
seasons with a cap hit in excess of $5 million (U.S.)
“That’s what the problem is . . . unfortunately it is a big (factor) in trading for
me. I’d scrap it right now if I could.”
The Leafs were confirmed to be one of the three or four teams seriously in
the Luongo sweepstakes. Other teams were said to be Washington and
Tampa, but Tampa swung a deal (sending Cory Conacher to Ottawa) that
brought them a solid young goalie in Ben Bishop.
Luongo admitted he’s been frustrated and emotional leading up to trade
deadline day, and ever since he arrived at a decision to ask out of
Vancouver last spring when Cory Schneider upstaged him as the club’s top
goalie.
“I’ve had a whole year to think about it,” Luongo said.
“It’s (contract) been good for some things, not good for others. That
decision (to sign the deal) was made when we signed it and we will have to
find a solution now. It’s a tough situation for everyone, we’re all trying to
make the best of it and make something that is best for both sides. The time
wasn’t now, so we’ll have to wait.”
Luongo was also asked if the difficulties in getting out of the contract were
fully explored when he signed the deal, and he was asked if he had
personally changed his stance since, several months ago, he said he could
dictate a trade out of town on his own circumstances.
“That’s a good question and a tough one to answer,” Luongo said.
“I was never approached with a trade somewhere else . . . obviously, other
teams were interested but nothing ever materialized to the point where I
would have to waive off or not (no trade clause).
“If I’d taken a different approach as to the way I conducted myself things
might be different. I’m not disappointed in the way I handled myself, I didn’t
create negative energy around the team. I don’t regret the way I handled
this.
“I’m 100 per cent dedicated to this team the rest of the year, I love this team
and I love this city, and the goal is the Stanley Cup and I will give myself
100 per cent to that.”
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013
667946
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL trade deadline: Toronto Maple Leafs trade for Ryan O’Byrne
By: Kevin McGran Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
The Maple Leafs acquired defenceman Ryan O’Byrne from the Colorado
Avalanche on Wednesday as the NHL trade deadline passed.
With Miikka Kiprusoff deciding to stay put in Calgary, Maple Leafs GM Dave
Nonis found himself shut out on the goaltending front.
But he had also been looking for a defenceman with playoff experience and
found one in O’Byrne at the cost of a fourth-round pick in 2014.
O’Byrne is 28 and a former draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens. He is 6-5
and 234 pounds with 19 playoff games — all with Montreal — to his credit.
A shutdown defensive-type defenceman, he has played the last three
seasons in Colorado.
The Leafs talked with Kiprusoff, who decided against moving his family to
Toronto. He hinted he would retire as a Calgary Flame rather than extend
his career as a backup in Toronto.
The Leafs were also talking to Vancouver about Roberto Luongo, who
remained a Canuck.
But Nonis said he’s OK with the idea of standing pat with James Reimer
and Ben Scrivens.
“We feel they’ve done a good job and are going to be with us for a long
time,” Nonis told TSN.
The Leafs have had talks with Tyler Bozak’s agent on a possible contract
extension for the pending unrestricted free agent.
“If the dollars made sense,” said Nonis. “We’re not shopping Bozak. He’s
been a good player for us.”
Luongo had left Vancouver’s practise early — about 15 minutes before the
deadline hit — just in case he was traded.
“It’s been an emotional ride,” Luongo said in Vancouver. “I love it here.”
Luongo was asked why he thought he remained in Vancouver after having
been promised to be traded when Cory Schneider took over as the No. 1
goalie.
“My contract sucks. It’s a big factor in trading me,” he said.
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013
667947
Toronto Maple Leafs
Kiprusoff staying put in Calgary: report
By: Damien Cox Hockey, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
It’s like a blind date, with one of the partners hemming and hawwing over
whether this is really a good idea.
That would be Miikka Kiprusoff, the Calgary goaltender, who knows the
Maple Leafs would like him to twin with James Reimer and give the young
Toronto squad some much-needed post-season experience.
Reports out of Calgary on Wednesday say the goalie is firm in his refusal to
report to any team he is traded to and he will not come to Toronto as a
result.
GM Dave Nonis pitched Kiprusoff on the idea of coming to Toronto on
Tuesday, and then began discussions with agent Larry Kelly on the
possible parameters of an extension.
That would have had to have been a gentleman’s agreement, as an actual
extension to Kiprusoff’s deal can’t formally be done until the summer. It’s
likely the Leafs would have been willing to pay Kiprusoff in the
neighborhood of $5.5 million for one more season after his current contract
expires after next year.
Nonis and Kelly are expected to talk again in the hours before today’s 3
p.m. NHL trade deadline.
With 10 notable players moving over the past seven days, all is currently
quiet on the NHL trade front, with movement expected to kick in shortly
after noon. Last year, the first trade on the final day occurred at 10:35 a.m.,
with Andrei Kostitsyn moving to Nashville from Montreal.
We all know how that turned out for the Predators. So maybe it’s better to
wait until lunch.
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013
667948
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL trade deadline: Columbus acquires Gaborik
By: Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired sniper Marian Gaborik from the New
York Rangers shortly after trading goalie Steve Mason to Philadelphia
Wednesday.
Columbus sent three players — Derek Brassard, Derek Dorset, and John
Moore — and a sixth-round pick to the Rangers for Gaborik. Dorset is out
for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
With basically four low-on-the-radar players being moved up until 90
minutes to deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins spiced things up a bit by
acquiring Jussi Jokinen from Carolina for a conditional draft pick.
Jokinen adds more veteran presence to the Penguins in their drive to return
the Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh. Jokinen is a noted shootout specialist, and is
over 50 per cent career on the faceoff. The Penguins are adding as much
depth as possible at the deadline, and with Sidney Crosby out with a broken
jaw.
Crosby was released from hospital Tuesday and despite his broken jaw and
dental surgery, he’s expected to return to the lineup by the end of the month
when the playoffs are set to open.
This deal is important for our financial flexibility moving forward,” Hurricanes
GM Jim Rutherford posted on his twitter account.
Columbus sent former rookie of the year goalie Steve Mason to
Philadelphia.
The Hurricanes recently signed Alex Semin to a seven year, $35 million
deal, and have six Ufa-eligible players after next season when the cap
drops from $70 million to $64.3 million. The club also has seven core
players signed through 2015-16.
“I’m super excited to get into Philadelphia, the fans expect a lot out of their
goaltenders there, and it’s a lot like the junior markets I played in London,”
Mason told Sportsnet.
Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman — facing a crossroads with his aging
hockey team — made a solid move in acquiring young goalie Ben Bishop
from the Ottawa Senators.
Columbus has also picked up Blake Comeau from Calgary for a fifth-round
pick.
Tampa is now looking at Bishop to realize his potential with the Lightning,
and likely replace Mathieu Garon as the club’s top goalie. Bishop was third
on the depth chart in Ottawa, behind Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner.
Bishop has held high expectations in the NHL ever since he emerged as
one of the top goalies in the AHL last season.
The Minnesota Wild, who have been strongly mentioned in talks for Buffalo
captain Jason Pominville, completed a trade for him just before the
deadline. The Wild sent Johan Larsson and Matt Hackett to Buffalo — with
an additional draft pick expected as well.
The move bolsters the Wild, who are battling with Vancouver for first place
in their division.
The Canucks only deadline move remains the acquisition of Derek Roy;
they did not manage move goalie Roberto Luongo.
The Leafs, who were actively in pursuit of goalies Roberto Luongo and
Miikka Kiprusoff, made a last minute deal, acquiring added toughness in
Ryan O’Byrne from Colorado for a fourth-round pick.
The trade deadline’s first deal came up just after noon Wednesday, with
Boston trading winger Maxime Sauve to Chicago for centre Rob Flick.
Flick was the Blackhawks’ fourth-round pick in 2010 from the former
Mississauga-St. Mike’s Majors, and he built a reputation as an enforcertype player the past two years with Rockford in the AHL. He comes to a
Boston team that was looking for added grit after trading Lane MacDermid
to the Stars in the Jaromir Jagr trade.
Sauve was Boston’s second rounder in 2008. The native of Tours, France,
played in the Quebec junior league for Quebec and Val d’Or. He’s played
158 games in the AHL the past two seasons, and a lone game in the NHL
with Boston.
In a slightly bigger movie, San Jose picked up Scott Hannan from Nashville.
The defenceman had previously played for the Sharks for seven seasons in
his career.
Hannan was dealt for a conditional draft pick in 2013, believed to be a sixth
or seventh rounder. That pattern — player for draft pick — was followed in
the second move of the day when Florida sent Jerred Smithson to
Edmonton for a fourth rounder.
Hannan returns to San Jose, which originally drafted him in the first round,
23rd overall, in 1997. The 34 year old forward comes to San Jose on the
heels of a deal that saw the Sharks send veteran tough guy Ryan Clowe to
the Rangers. Both Hannan and Clowe have yet to score this season, but
Clowe does present some playoff pedigree for the Rangers.
Clowe has 45 points in 68 career playoff games in San Jose. He is
expected to play on a line with Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards. The
Rangers are looking for some grit from Clowe and have obviously lost that
element from their game when they lost Brandon Prust and Mike Rupp in
the off season.
Smithson has been a third-fourth line winger in Florida, and is expected to
provide some spark in Edmonton. Undrafted, Smithson, a graduate of the
Calgary juniors, scored the game winning goal for the Predators over the
Ducks in game five of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Ottawa gets Cory Conacher and a fourth rounder in return for Bishop.
Conacher, a teammate of Leafs defenceman Mike Kostka with the AHL
championship-winning Norfolk Admirals last season, is a solid second- to
third-line forward who grew up and starred in the Burlington minor hockey
league system. His is a distant relative of Hockey Hall of Famers Charlie,
Roy, and Lionel Conacher.
Conacher, with nine goals and 15 assists in 35 games in Tampa, now
becomes the highest scorer with the Senators.
In a late deal, Phoenix traded Raffi Torres to San Jose for third-round pick.
According to TSN, the Leafs are in the early stages of discussions on a
potential contract extension for first-line forward Tyler Bozak.
Bozak and the Leafs reported to practice Wednesday morning in a business
as usual fashion — there seems to be a mood of calm over the team,
especially goalies James Reimer and Ben Scrivens, who have been the
centre of trade talks surrounding the Leafs the past month.
But Kiprusoff ended all speculation just before noon Wednesday when he
declared he would decline all trades. Kirpusoff’s wishes are now to remain
in Calgary and he will likely retire at the end of this season.
The Leafs, while saying they made and fielded dozens of calls, were all but
standing pat, aside from the deal with Colorado, after falling short in their
bid for Kiprusoff.
“From where we stand right now, I don’t see us doing anything …” Leafs
GM Dave Nonis said with an hour to go before the deadline.
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013
667949
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL trade deadline: Look at the last five seasons
doing during their burnout era. Deluding yourself that you’re a playoff
contender is dangerous.
2009/10: Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup
Deadline: March 3, 2010.
By: Kevin McGran Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
If you think the players are nervous at trade deadline day, just think about
how on edge the folks in the front office are.
“For me it’s about making sure you dot your i’s and cross your t’s,” said
Leafs assistant GM Claude Loiselle. “It’s a time a year that stresses me out
a little bit. You’re aware. It could be a trade with 15 minutes left. You’ve got
to go over your roster, you’ve got to go over your cap, you’ve got to go over
your projections.”
Their moves — or lack thereof — will be picked apart by analysts and fans
alike. Some GMs will look aggressive. Some stand pat. Some, in retrospect,
look smart. Others, not so much.
Here’s a look at select moves made on the NHL’s trade deadline day over
the last five years:
What the cup winner did: The Hawks were quiet on the day of the deadline
and were mostly quiet all year in terms of trades. The most significant
moves came in February, adding depth in Michael Frolik and Chris
Campoli.
Seller’s remorse: The Boston Bruins acquire defencemen Dennis
Seidenberg and Matthew Bartkowski from the Florida Panthers for forwards
Craig Weller and Byron Bitz and a 2010 second-round draft pick. There’s a
reason the Panthers are usually at or near the bottom of the standings, and
it’s a history of trades like this one. Seidenberg is a B’s top-four D-man.
Bartkowski was almost traded for Jarome Iginla. Weller is in Germany.
Buyer beware: The Phoenix Coyotes acquire forward Wojtek Wolski from
the Colorado Avalanche for forwards Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter. It
looked like a clean slate would be just the thing for Wolski and Mueller.
Both played their way off their new teams and further down the depth charts
on others.
2011/12: L.A. Kings won the Stanley Cup
Meh: The Atlanta Thrashers acquire forward Clarke MacArthur from the
Buffalo Sabres for a 2010 third-round draft pick and a 2010 fourth-round
draft pick. This trade worked out great — for the Maple Leafs.
Deadline: Feb. 27
2008/09: The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.
What the cup winner did: The Kings were silent on trade deadline day,
having made their biggest moves prior — hiring coach Darryl Sutter and
acquiring centre Jeff Carter (Feb. 23) from Columbus.
Deadline: March 4.
Buyer beware: The Nashville Predators acquire Andrei Kostitsyn and a
2013 fifth-round draft pick from the Montreal Canadiens for 2013 secondround draft pick. One could argue that Kostitsyn did more damage than
good to the Predators’ Stanley Cup hopes, staying out late during the
playoffs and getting benched by the team. He was anything but a Barry
Trotz kind of player, and his presence might have been bad for team
chemistry. It remains to be seen what Montreal does with Nashville’s two
picks, both up this summer, but subtracting Kostitsyn seems like a good
addition for Montreal.
Seller’s remorse: The Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Mark Fraser from the
Anaheim Ducks for Dale Mitchell. Mitchell was never highly regarded by the
Leafs and Anaheim thought so much of their new acquisition, he played the
year in Europe this year. Anaheim wanted Fraser’s salary off the books.
Fraser has worked wonderfully on the Leaf blue line, a true Randy Carlyletype stay-at-home and fight defenceman.
Meh: The Vancouver Canucks acquire Zach Kassian and Marc-Andre
Gragnani from the Buffalo Sabres for Cody Hodgson and Alexander Sulzer.
The Canucks didn’t win the Cup. Kassian was just dispatched to the minors.
Gragnani long gone. The Sabres got a potential No. 1 centre in Hodgson.
Down the road, the Sabres will be the happier team.
2010/11: Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup
Deadline: Feb. 28
What the cup winner did: The Bruins made only a small trade on deadline
day — getting goaltender Anton Khudobin from the Minnesota Wild for
defenceman Jeff Penner and the rights to forward Mikko Lehtonen. The
Bruins significant moves were made earlier, getting Chris Kelly (Feb. 15)
from Ottawa and Rich Peverley (Feb. 18) from Atlanta to form a
tremendous shutdown third line.
Even Steven: The Los Angeles Kings acquire forward Dustin Penner from
the Edmonton Oilers for defenceman Colten Teubert, a 2011 first-round
draft pick (Oscar Klefbom) and a conditional 2012 third-round draft pick.
Both teams were happy with the package. Penner was integral to Kings
Cup win a year later.
Seller’s remorse: The Washington Capitals acquire defenceman Dennis
Wideman from the Florida Panthers for forward Jake Hauswirth and a 2011
third-round draft pick. Wideman blossomed in Washington. Can’t imagine
what Florida was thinking, a selling team getting an ECHL player in return.
Buyer beware: The Calgary Flames acquire forward Fredrik Modin from the
Atlanta Thrashers for a 2011 seventh-round draft pick. Even though it was a
late pick, this is just the kind of trade the Flames should not have been
What the cup winners did: The Penguins pulled off a series of minor trades
— acquiring Andy Wozniewski from St. Louis and adding veteran Bill
Guerin from the Islanders.
Buyer beware: Historic underachiever Patrick O’Sullivan moved from the
Kings to Carolina (for Justin Williams) then shipped to Edmonton (for Erik
Cole and late pick.) Williams and Cole remain solid producers. The Carolina
Hurricanes acquire Patrick O’Sullivan and a 2009 second-round draft pick
from the Los Angeles Kings for Justin Williams. O’Sullivan mostly toiled
around the minors.
Player’s remorse: The Buffalo Sabres acquire Dominic Moore from the
Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2009 second-round draft pick. Moore turned
down a contract extension from the Leafs, where he had a chance to be a
No. 1 centre. He ended up signing for less elsewhere. The Leafs used that
pick to draft Jesse Blacker.
2007/08: Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.
Deadline: Feb. 26
What the cup winners did: The Red Wings acquire defenceman Brad Stuart
from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2008 second-round draft pick and a 2009
fourth-round draft pick.
Not what you think: The Pittsburgh Penguins acquire forwards Marian
Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from the Atlanta Thrashers for forwards Colby
Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a 2008 first-round draft
pick (Daultan Leveille). A signal that the Penguins meant business, this
trade worked out — only later and in an odd way. The Pens didn’t win the
Cup that year. Hossa jumped ship, to Detroit, then to Chicago (where he
finally got his cup). The lasting effect of this trade was Dupuis, a stalwart in
Pittsburgh. He was thought to have been the throw-in.
Even Steven: The Dallas Stars acquire forward Brad Richards and
goaltender Johan Holmqvist from the Tampa Bay Lightning for forwards
Jussi Jokinen and Jeff Halpern, goaltender Mike Smith, and a 2009 fourthround draft pick. In retrospect, this trade didn’t work out for either team.
Toronto Globe And Mail LOADED: 04.04.2013
667950
Toronto Maple Leafs
Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs: Thursday NHL game preview
By: Mark Zwolinski Sports reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
AIR CANADA CENTRE
FACEOFF: 7 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet RADIO: TSN Radio 1050
WEB: Follow the Star’s live updates during Thursday’s game at
TheStar.com/sports
LEAFS INJURIES
Leo Komarov (upper body)
Clarke MacArthur (lower body)
FLYERS INJURIES
Maxime Talbot (broken leg)
Braydon Coburn (lower body)
Andrej Meszaros (knee)
Nicklas Grossman (lower body)
Danny Briere (concussion)
NOTES
Flyers played in Montreal on Wednesday night and were gunning for their
first three-game win streak of the season. They are six points out of the final
playoff spot in the East, so every game is a must-win situation for them. . . .
This game also represents a huge opportunity for the Leafs: they are 11
points ahead of the Flyers, and a win should all but ensure that Philly has
no chance of catching Toronto in the standings.
UP NEXT
Saturday at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Toronto Star LOADED: 04.04.2013
667951
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL trade deadline: Connolly a healthy scratch with Marlies
By: Kevin McGran Sports Reporter Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
Let the speculation begin.
With a 3 p.m. trade deadline looming, Tim Connolly was to be a healthy
scratch for the AHL Marlies for their day game Wednesday.
“My decision,” said Marlies coach Dallas Eakins.
Even so, Leafs GM Dave Nonis had said earlier this week he'd try to get
Connolly back in the NHL with another team, and is probably happy a
possible trading chip won't get hurt in game action prior to his last chance to
move him.
Connolly, a 31-year-old 12-year NHL veteran, had never played in the
minors until the Leafs cut him at training camp this year. Connolly carries a
$4.75 million cap hit and is due about $700,000 in actual cash before
becoming a free agent this summer.
Moves were at a premium Wednesday morning after a busy Tuesday that
saw the Boston Bruins acquire Jaromir Jagr from Dallas, the New York
Rangers get Ryan Clowe from San Jose and the Vancouver Canucks
acquire Derek Roy from Dallas.
Toronto Star LOADED: 04.04.2013
667952
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs Clarke MacArthur remains anxious as trade deadline nears
By: Bob Mitchell Sports Reporter, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
At least nobody was called off the ice during practice so the Maple Leafs
remained intact on Wednesday following their skate at the MasterCard
Centre.
But winger Clarke MacArthur won’t feel any relief until the 3 p.m. deadline
passes, and he’s still a Leaf.
He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer so the Leafs could get
nothing for him if they don’t sign him before then so he is an interesting
piece that could be traded.
“I could be moved. You just never know what’s going to happen,” said a
subdued MacArthur in the Leafs dressing room after practice. “We’ll see
what happens. It’s one of those days where there is always a lot of hype
and never a lot of relief. We’ll see how it goes.”
MacArthur has been traded once before at the deadline, going from Buffalo
to Atlanta in 2010 for two draft picks.
“I’m sure there will be some stuff going on, but hopefully we’ll be able to
keep as much as we can because we’ve been on a good roll here. It’s out
of everybody’s control here.
“This is a good group of guys. We’ve been building it for the last two years
that I’ve been here. We’ve been pretty sound the last three games. “
MacArthur has been nursing an upper body injury since being hit late in last
week’s game in Boston. He could be ready to play Thursday at home
against the Philadelphia Flyers, provided he’s still with the Leafs.
Forward Fraser McLaren was the only player, who didn’t practice on
Wednesday. But he had the flu.
With word out of Calgary that goalie Miikka Kiprusoff had decided to stay
there, it appears as if the Leafs will ride the season with James Reimer and
Ben Scrivens, something the majority of Leaf Nation seemed to want based
on the number of calls to Toronto sports radio talk shows on Wednesday
morning.
That’s not to say GM Dave Nonis won’t swing a deal by the time the 3 p.m.
deadline ends. The Leafs scratched Tim Connolly from Wednesday’s
Marlies game at the Ricoh Coliseum. Nonis will move the veteran centre if
he can find a willing taker so Connolly was scratched as a precaution.
“We’re not in a sell off mode. We will add players if we can,” Nonis told
Sportsnet TheFan 590 on Wednesday morning.
Nonis thought he would have “something to consider” by the end of the day
although he wasn’t close to any deals.
Many Leafs planned on keeping track of the deadline on their cell phones.
Reimer has been hearing goalie rumours since training camp when a deal
for Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo was believed all but done. Although
he insists he would be “honoured” to work with either Luongo or Kiprusoff,
there’s no doubt he dearly wants to finish the job and will be relieved one
way or the other when the deadline passes.
“It’s status quo … I’m definitely not going to sit by the TV. Whatever
happens, happens,” Reimer said after practice. “As an athlete you want to
do your best and work hard and so far Ben (Scrivens) and I have done that.
“But management has the right to do what they want. They gave us the
opportunity to play here. If they want to take that away, it’s their right. I feel
blessed for the opportunity given to me so far.”
There had also been some speculation that Tyler Bozak could be moved
because of his unrestricted free agent status, but the latest word is that the
Leafs and his agent are trying to work out an extension that will keep him
with the Leafs beyond this season.
Toronto Star LOADED: 04.04.2013
667953
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs should go with status quo in net: Feschuk
By: Dave Feschuk Hockey, Published on Wed Apr 03 2013
Here’s something worth thinking about if you’re of the mind that the Maple
Leafs have a burning need for a proven playoff goaltender.
Consider that, in matters of goaltending, one man’s definition of “proven” is
another’s salary-cap poison. And consider these numbers. If you combine
the 10 NHL teams with the largest goaltender-related salary-cap
commitments this year, their average save percentage is about .910. The
typical NHL team’s save percentage is, give or take, around .910.
That means that even the NHL teams that have thrown a bundle of money
at what they once believed to be superior goaltending aren’t typically getting
superior goaltending. In other words, betting on puckstoppers is a gamble
that’s hard to win. Just when an NHL GM thinks he’s got himself a gamechanging goalie, it’s just as likely he has bought himself an average one (or
worse) with a not-so-attractive price tag.
That is but one of the key reasons why the Leafs would be wise to stick with
the status quo in goal as Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline approaches.
The Leafs, if they choose to skip making a deadline deal for a new net
presence, will avoid risking precious salary-cap resources at what amounts
to a craps table. They’ll be better off for it, both now and down the road.
Which is not to say they’re bound to take the prudent course. As of Tuesday
evening the Leafs appeared to be engaged in ongoing discussions to
acquire a veteran net presence, with Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff the most
likely target.
Certainly one can understand the urge. Ours is a brand-crazy society where
household names hold weight. People know Kiprusoff mostly because he
won a Vezina Trophy back in 2006, and because he carried the Calgary
Flames to a Stanley Cup final in 2004. People know Roberto Luongo
because he’s played 61 playoff games for the Vancouver Canucks (and
won 32 of them); he has also been among the league’s top handful of
goaltenders for most of the past decade.
And people know what the Leafs have lately been synonymous with:
specifically, sieves in net. In four of the previous five seasons, Toronto’s
team save percentage has been one of two things: the very worst or the
second-worst in the NHL
But this season, if you haven’t been paying attention, there’s been a distinct
upgrade in the blue-and-white’s blue ice. James Reimer and Ben Scrivens,
far from being the dregs of the league, have actually been an above-grade
tandem. Yes, 36 games is a small-ish sample size. And yes, neither man
has ever played in an NHL playoff game.
But certainly both guys have been exposed to an endless barrage of
implied criticism for most of the past year, as rumours of Luongo’s
impending arrival in Toronto swirled and swirled. And certainly both guys
have responded with more-than-respectable performances in the pressure
cooker. Heading into Tuesday’s games, Toronto sat eighth in team save
percentage. No one would accuse Reimer or Scrivens of perfection. Both
have struggled at times. But both, too, have had their moments of
convincing solidity. The Leafs have plenty of weaknesses, including a lack
of high-end talent at most positions on the roster. But there isn’t an
argument to be made that goaltending should sit atop anyone’s priority list.
Perhaps the same can’t be said of the Calgary Flames, owners of the
NHL’s worst team save percentage despite Kiprusoff’s $5.8-million cap hit,
which, should the Leafs acquire him, would be on Toronto’s books next
season.
Kiprusoff, who reportedly would be interested in playing in Toronto if he
could negotiate a contract extension beyond the remaining year on his
current deal, is 36. He is four years removed from his last playoff game and
nine years removed from winning a playoff series. On Monday night he was
pulled by the Flames after allowing three goals on five or six shots.
His save percentage is a career-worst .868, which suggests there is
precisely no evidence, other than ancient history, that he is still a viable
prime-time puckstopper. There is more evidence that Reimer and Scrivens,
playing amid a Toronto media churn that Brian Burke always called
“murder” for the Leafs, are capable of rising to the psychological challenge
of the post-season even though they’ve never been there before.
The NHL’s lore is festooned with stories of playoff neophytes making good
in goal. No one’s saying Reimer and Scrivens are poised to carry the Leafs
as deep as, say, Felix Potvin in 1993, when the post-season first-timer
backstopped Toronto to within a win of the Stanley Cup final. But the
current Leafs ooze chemistry and energy. It’s a squad that has
overachieved, and Reimer and Scrivens, if you’re being fair in your
assessment, have over-delivered.
With their collective $2.4 million cap hit, they’re one of the great bargains in
the game. And since when have the Leafs been accused of getting great
value out of a key cog in a playoff-bound roster? There’s a first time for
everything, and this would be a good time for the Leafs to avoid a perilous,
pricey roll of the dice for a performer who is proven in name only.
Toronto Star LOADED: 04.04.2013
667954
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs wise to stand pat in goal
By Terry Koshan
,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 10:12 PM EDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 11:29 PM EDT
No Miikka Kiprusoff, no Roberto Luongo.
Not even Nikolai Khabibulin.
So no hope, then, for the Maple Leafs?
No way.
The Leafs haven’t ascended this season to fifth place in the Eastern
Conference because they have been lucky with their goaltending. They
haven’t laid waste to just about every pre-season prediction that had them
missing the playoffs with goaltending that has been mediocre.
General manager David Nonis went looking for experience in net and
thought he had Kiprusoff, until the 36-year-old Finn said no, his heart was
not really in it. The dance with Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis
regarding Luongo went down to the wire on Wednesday. But, when the
National Hockey League trade deadline passed, Luongo remained a
Canuck and, in a news conference, lamented the term of his contract, which
expires in 2022.
Nonis tried to improve his team and he can’t be faulted for that. Had he not
tried to do so until the NHL mandated that teams no longer could make
trades, he would not have been doing his job properly.
The dust settled and the Leafs’ crease looked the same as it was when
everyone went to bed on Tuesday night.
James Reimer and Ben Scrivens. Perhaps it’s true that the pair will have a
bit of a neglected feeling when it sinks in that Nonis tried really hard to
acquire an established goalie.
But both are confident. Give either one the start in Game 1 of the first round
of the playoffs — we’re pretty close to the point where participation in the
Stanley Cup tournament will be a certainty for the Leafs — and there’s no
way he will want to relinquish the crease.
And both, though Reimer especially, are at the point where starting in the
playoffs is the next natural step in development. As Nonis said more than
once on Wednesday, the only way one or both gets post-season
experience is by playing the games.
Reimer has shrugged off a knee injury suffered in February. In the past two
months, he has lost just once in regulation. Overall, he has a 13-4-4 record,
a .920 save percentage and a 2.52 goal-against average. Sure, there are
kinks in his game, but that’s not unusual with any 25-year-old goalie.
When his teammates say they have no problem with him as their main guy
in the nets, there is no reason not to believe them.
It’s the same with Scrivens, who would have been bound for Vancouver had
Gillis convinced Nonis it was the deal to make.
Scrivens’ won-lost record is average at 7-8, but with a .918 save
percentage and a 2.59 goal-against average, he is not far off Reimer.
What’s good for both now, with just 12 games remaining in the regular
season and the Philadelphia Flyers at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday
night, is that any distraction is gone. Reimer acknowledged on Tuesday that
trade speculation, whether the Leafs were going to acquire Kiprusoff or
Luongo, had been weighing on him mentally.
That hurdle has been cleared, and it should be with a fresh mindset that
Reimer looks ahead. If anything, all the talk that didn’t come to fruition
should, the hope would go, make him stronger.
There would have been no guarantee with Kiprusoff or Luongo that the
Leafs would have achieved playoff success. Neither has been lighting up
the NHL with consistently stellar performances this season, and both are on
the downside of their respective careers. Has anyone considered that
adding one or the other might have set Reimer and/or Scrivens back?
And there’s no guarantee now, whether it’s Reimer or Scrivens or Drew
MacIntyre, who probably would get the call if one of the incumbents is
injured, that the Leafs will have a long playoff run.
But it’s time for Leafs management and the rest of the organization to find
out whether Reimer, or Scrivens in the event of an injury, is capable. With
Nonis failing to land a veteran on Wednesday, there is no other choice, and
that is not a bad thing.
Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667955
Toronto Maple Leafs
Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo deserved better than this
He probably could have had one last summer. But reports from the left
coast indicated Gillis wanted too much. There were some suggestions that
the Canucks were seeking a Nazem Kadri-Tyler Bozak-first round pick
package. Good luck with that.
By Mike Zeisberger ,Toronto Sun
Dave Nonis was the man who, while the GM of the Canucks, brought
Luongo to Vancouver in a one-sided 2006 trade with Florida, but even he
was smart enough not to be fished in to overpay for the veteran goalie.
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 10:21 PM EDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 10:26 PM EDT
Now, given the fact that the Canucks will be pressed up against a salary
cap that will drop to $64.2 million next season, perhaps their only option is a
mutual agreement between player and team to walk away from the
remaining $40 million of the deal come the summer.
On his phantom twitter account @Strombone1, Roberto Luongo
commented on the Blue Jays’ 4-1 home opening loss to the Cleveland
Indians on Tuesday, a game soiled by wild pitches and passed balls.
Until then, Luongo, who has shown grace under pressure, will still be the
focus of this Luongo-Cory Schneider soap opera.
Tweeted @Strombone1: “Maybe the Blue Jays need a goalie to catch RA
Dickey? Just sayin.......”
On Wednesday, for example, Luongo left practice with 10 minutes
remaining. Management claims it was done in case a transaction involving
him took place just before the deadline.
Maybe @Strombone1 — a.k.a. Luongo — believed he was heading to
Toronto in a trade and figured he might moonlight as a catcher for the Jays
once he got here. After all, once you’ve plucked a Taylor Hall slapshot out
of the air, how hard can it be to snare one of those fluttering Dickey
knucklers?
Alas, Roberto Luongo isn’t going anywhere in the near future. Other than
that seat at the end of the Vancouver Canucks’ bench, that is.
Thursday is Roberto Luongo’s birthday. As a present, he would have loved
to be shipped out of Vancouver to a place where he was wanted, a place
where he could be a No. 1 goalie.
The Canucks did try to make him a Maple Leaf.
As the clock ticked down toward the 3 p.m. trade deadline Wednesday,
there reportedly were numerous calls from the left coast to the Air Canada
Centre.
All for naught.
And in his own words, there is a good reason why he wasn’t dealt to
Toronto or anywhere else.
“My contract sucks,” Luongo said Wednesday evening. “That’s what the
problem is. It’s a big factor in trading me and probably why I’m still here.”
Luongo, who has a no-trade clause in his pact, has 10 years remaining on a
12-year contract that’s worth $64 million (U.S.). He’ll be 44 by the time the
deal runs out.
Those are the types of numbers that likely had any potentially interested
general managers agreeing that, yes, it does “suck.”
“I’d scrap it if I could right now,” Luongo said. “It’s a hit on your pride that
teams aren’t willing to give up much. Obviously, that doesn’t mean it’s a
knock on me, but my situation with my contract. It’s a tough spot to be in for
myself, for the organization and for everyone involved.
“Obviously, the time isn’t now and we have to wait.”
Wait for what?
For Canucks GM Mike Gillis, who must shoulder much of the blame for this
mess, to finally pull the trigger on a deal he hasn’t been able to make since
last summer?
Good luck with that.
Told of Luongo’s “my contract sucks” comment, Gillis suggested Luongo
take “a deep breath,” then come talk to him personally.
“These days are very emotional for everybody,” Gillis said. “When you have
a day like this where your whole life can be turned upside down and then
you speak to (the media) right after, there’s a chance for things to be said
that in the clear light of day might not be reflective of how he really feels.”
Or maybe, just maybe, Luongo’s comments were exactly reflective of how
he really feels.
Luongo admitted having a queasy feeling in his tummy Tuesday night.
Deep down, that likely was a symptom of a guy who finally thought he’d be
escaping the asylum and getting a new start.
Either way, the optics were bad. Luongo’s departure from the ice ignited a
Twitter frenzy suggesting he had been traded, perhaps to Toronto.
In the end, it didn’t happen. And for Roberto Luongo, that “sucks.”
Just like his contract.
And just like the way he has been treated by the Canucks.
Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667956
Toronto Maple Leafs
Nonis lays off playoff experience
By Rob Longley
,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 10:21 PM EDT
On a perfect trade deadline day, Dave Nonis would have acquired some
more playoff experience and that, in itself, marks a significant culture shift
for this developing Maple Leafs team.
In defenceman Ryan O’Byrne, the Toronto GM did get a defenceman with
19 post-season games on his resume from his time with the Montreal
Canadiens. As for the rest, Nonis and coach Randy Carlyle will have to rely
on roughly half of the current Leafs roster learning on the job.
Nonis said that tracking down players with some post-season pedigree was
on management’s mind as Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline approached,
but the options weren’t the right fit.
“Those players are pretty hard to come by,” Nonis said. “There are a couple
(of players presented to the Leafs) who had playoff experience but weren’t
capable of helping us. The one thing that a player with playoff experience
has to be able to do is get into the lineup or else he’s not going to help you.
“Some of the ones that were available to us were quality guys who would
have been good adds four or five years ago, but wouldn’t necessarily get
into the lineup (now.) Having that experience (and being unable to use it) is
really useless.”
The Leafs aren’t completely void of playoff-tested bodies. Red-hot Joffrey
Lupul leads the team with 39 games (and 23 post-season points) followed
by forward James van Riemsdyk and defenceman John-Michael Liles with
36 each.
One option that did present itself on Wednesday was one that Nonis was
able to resist — teams looking for draft picks in return for depth roster
players.
“We were close on a few things, but not really until late in the day when the
logjam breaks and things start happening and the prices become
reasonable,” he said. “But there wasn’t a lot we had to consider.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667957
Toronto Maple Leafs
It's up to new Maple Leaf Ryan O’Byrne to make impression
By Lance Hornby
,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 09:26 PM EDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 09:31 PM EDT
TORONTO - The Maple Leafs finally can take their 2013 team picture, now
that they’ve added another tall kid to the back row.
Ryan O’Byrne, who once played for the arch-rival Montreal Canadiens, fits
the team’s rock-em, sock-em style, but just because he’s a Randy Carlyle
type player, it doesn’t automatically mean he’ll play for Carlyle right away.
“He’ll be one of eight defencemen,” said general manager Dave Nonis, who
parted with a 2014 fourth-rounder to get the 6-foot-5, 234 pounder from the
Avalanche. “He’s a depth player. We felt we needed that.”
Nonis said where the 28-year-old fits in is up to the coaches, but there
should be a place for him, especially with clubs such as Thursday’s
opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers, always carrying big forwards. Lack of
reserve stay-at-home defencemen (Korbinian Holzer and Mike Komisarek)
prompted the trade as the Leafs eye a potential playoff berth. Offensiveminded Jake Gardiner was the healthy scratch on the blue line before the
Leafs took a four-day schedule break, but Mike Kostka might have the
hardest time getting back in if O’Byrne makes an impression in coming
days.
O’Byrne was playing almost 19 minutes a game with Colorado. He had a
goal, three assists and 54 penalty minutes, third on that team. He should be
familiar to Toronto Marlies fans from his days playing for Montreal’s AHL
team, the Hamilton Bulldogs. He has 19 playoff games with the Habs in
parts of three seasons, but wasn’t headed to any post-season action with
sagging Colorado.
“Toronto is a team that’s right in the (playoff) mix and I’m excited to be
joining them,” O’Byrne told TSN. “From my days in Montreal, I always
enjoyed playing in Toronto.
“I was pretty surprised (at the trade), but my contract is up next year, so I
had a feeling something might happen.”
He’s from Victoria, B.C., which will make him popular in the Western
flavoured Leafs room and he played college hockey at Cornell, where club
chairman Larry Tanenbaum attended, as did goalie Ben Scrivens.
The Leafs were not successful dealing centre Tim Connolly and the last of
his $4.75 million US contract, holding him out of Wednesday morning’s
Marlies game just in case there was a late deadline trade. They did settle a
formal contract with goalie Drew MacIntyre, who cleared NHL waivers and
will resume No. 1 duties on the farm.
That move likely means the end here for goalie Jussi Rynnas, who played a
bit with the Leafs the past two years. He will be out a month or more with an
ankle injury and with his contract done, it’s expected he’ll return to play in
Finland unless he gets a one-way next year.
Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667958
Toronto Maple Leafs
With trade deadline past, Leafs can move forward now
By Rob Longley
,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 07:30 PM EDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 07:37 PM EDT
Could anything prepare him — and the rest of the team for that matter —
for what it’s going to be like around here in four weeks? It sure looks like
we’re going to find out.
“There’s a lot of potential in the room here right now,” Leafs forward Clarke
MacArthur said following Wednesday’s practice. “The way we play, too, I
feel like it would be a great playoff style. I feel confident with our group.”
Apparently, the Leafs management team agreed.
LEAFS HAVE NEW PIECES TO PLAY WITH
Dave Nonis didn’t bring in many new bodies for his coach, but Randy
Carlyle still has options down the stretch.
In James Reimer they trust.
And Tyler Bozak.
And for the most part, a defensive unit that is still a hold-your-breath work in
progress on some nights.
And in a roster that has just 10 players with NHL playoff experience.
The trade dud-line came and went on Wednesday and barely made an
impression on the Leafs. But at this point in the development of the
franchise as a whole, as much as the roster that returns to action Thursday
night against the Flyers, it’s tough to pick apart Dave Nonis’ work in his first
trade deadline as the Leafs’ general manager.
With his team safely inside the playoff bubble and only a dozen games left
to protect and/or enhance that spot, Nonis and coach Randy Carlyle have
some very meaningful short-term preparations in front of them. But with a
young roster and prospect-heavy organization, the long-term plan is at least
as important.
So rather than dismiss the value of just squeaking into the playoffs, this
team will use what’s left of the 12 remaining regular-season games and a
likely playoff visit both as a developmental tool and opportunity to see what
it has now.
“You’ve got to get experience somehow,” Nonis said a couple hours after
the 3 p.m. deadline had expired. “(The players on the roster) have done a
lot of good things so far. There’s a lot to be said about keeping that group
together, the guys that have battled this hard.
“It was important for us not to take anyone out of the lineup unless we were
getting somebody significant back.”
Factor in that there wasn’t much significant out there, with those
predetermined parameters it doesn’t sound like it was difficult for Nonis to
stick to the plan.
The growing confidence and rise up the standings has served the young
Leafs well to this point, allowing them to climb to fifth place and a relatively
comfortable seven-point cushion on the final playoff spot. With a threegame win streak and 13 points in their past 10 games, only the Pittsburgh
Penguins and Montreal Canadiens have more over that stretch in the
Eastern Conference.
Nonis acknowledged that those results certainly had an impact on his
mindset as the deadline approached. And given that selling off players for
prospects was never in the plan, limiting himself to the lone depth move of
acquiring big Colorado defenceman Ryan O’Byrne suited him fine.
“When your team is playing well, it can affect some of the decisions you are
going to make,” Nonis said. “The coaching staff has done a very good job
with this team in terms of getting them ready to play and asking them to do
certain things.
“The last two or three weeks, we’ve played some very good hockey and it
was not our intention to alter that group and take some of those players that
have worked hard to put points up on the board, to take them out of the
lineup. That wasn’t something we really had an interest in.”
If there was a concern about Reimer and his ability to lead the team into the
playoffs, Nonis was unable to address it at the deadline. More likely, he
wasn’t willing to pay a huge price to do so, given that the team seems fine
with allowing Reimer the chance to face up to the playoff heat.
But there’s another factor to consider: Sure, Reimer has yet to play in the
NHL post-season, but his time in Toronto hasn’t exactly been pressure-free.
From winning the starting job as a rookie, to being anointed the team’s
starter the next fall to the injury-related slide that followed, he’s certainly
seen his share of expectations.
With 12 games remaining and a potential playoff run after that, the Leafs
general manager likes the options he has provided for Carlyle, including the
acquisition of defenceman Ryan O’Byrne and the imminent return of injured
forwards Clarke MacArthur and Leo Komarov.
“Randy’s got some pieces that he can move around,” Nonis said on
Wednesday. “That is important to him and it’s important to the players, too,
for a number of reasons. There’s pressure to perform because you know
that someone else is there. Also, the players that we have, the guys who
have sat out various nights, we haven’t had any issues at all.
“Everyone understands we have a lot of players on the roster, but this
group is very close.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667959
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs' James Reimer must feel like chopped liver
By Steve Simmons
,Toronto Sun
setting in behind the net on a dump in. Reimer has difficulty doing this
regularly. The more difficulty he has, the more a target of forecheck the
Leafs become.
That may not matter on a fast-forward regular season with no time to
breathe. But it will matter in a best-of-seven playoff series where an
opponent has studied the nuances of the Leafs goalie.
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 06:18 PM EDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 09:50 PM EDT
That’s a problem for Reimer, as are his puck control around the net and his
rebound control. He allows too many loose pucks and, again, come playoff
time, when the intensity is amped up, that kind of mistake can lead to an
inadvertent goal.
It is James Reimer’s job for now and he will smile beneath his mask,
because that’s what he does.
What Reimer needs to do now is work on the areas of concern, continue to
be solid in net, and take the job Leafs management wasn’t sure he ready
for.
But, inside, he has to know better.
Inside, there has to be a little hurt, a little disappointment, that as well as
he’s played and as much as he has been a part of the Leafs’ success, it
didn’t seem like enough to those who manage the decisions with the
hockey club.
Inside, he has to know that general manager Dave Nonis and the Maple
Leafs’ staff made every possible effort to bring Miikka Kiprusoff to Toronto.
And not just make him part of the Leafs, but sign him up for two more years.
And when Kiprusoff finally made the difficult decision Wednesday morning,
a decision that is was time to say goodbye rather than change uniforms, the
Leafs didn’t stop there. They made one final lunge at the Vancouver
Canucks, hoping to determine if their improbable pursuit of Roberto
Luongo, and the contracts that “sucks,” was in any way possible for the
Leafs.
Kiprusoff didn’t happen and Luongo didn’t happen for the Leafs and now
they turn back to a goaltender who is younger, cheaper, and statistically
better.
For now, the Maple Leafs’ management and coaching staff will hold their
breath, say all the right things and indicate this wasn’t a slight at Reimer or
Ben Scrivens. But, clearly, the opposite was at play here.
You don’t pursue Kiprusoff, even at this stage of his career, even after this
terrible season, to wear a baseball cap on the bench and play the good
soldier. You pursue him because you believe he is an upgrade, even now,
with the playoffs — those ever-elusive playoffs — this close.
And you don’t pursue Luongo, with that twisted contract that he would like
to walk away from, unless there is every belief he will be your goaltender for
today and for the next many years.
So here is James Reimer today, the first-string goalie without portfolio,
without consensus backing, and if every move wasn’t scrutinized before, it
will be now. He is like that song from The Police: “Every single day, every
word you say, every game you play, every night you stay, I’ll be watching
you.”
Reimer understands, but it doesn’t mean he has to like it. He understands
this season has been all about first among equals and he is winning that
competition. He has put the Leafs in a position to make the playoffs and the
best way to define a goaltender isn’t necessarily by statistics: The Grant
Fuhr axiom works best in this case.
Did you give your team a chance to win? If you do that, you’re doing your
job.
Reimer, for the most part, has done that — and still the Leafs were looking.
They wanted more than him. They wanted better than him. They wanted a
veteran — they will say — to teach the kid. Montreal didn’t care much about
that when Patrick Roy is a kid, but nobody is about to call Reimer the next
Roy. And the Leafs didn’t care much about Felix Potvin playing as a kid and
beating out the Hall of Famer Fuhr when the time was right.
With Reimer, though, no one was willing to say the time is right. There are
still parts of his game that concern the Leafs, and probably should concern
them.
He’s had trouble with his catching glove and around the league that’s
becoming a point of focus. Everybody shoots high glove on Reimer and
they will continue to do so until he makes more saves in that area.
It isn’t just the glove. It’s the way in which he handles pucks dumped into
the Maple Leafs’ zone. Goalies, these days, are expected to handle the
puck better. And if they can’t handle it, at least they should be adept at
It won’t be easy. But he has to do it with the knowledge the very people who
now trust him were working to replace him just a day ago.
Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667960
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leafs land Ryan O'Byrne from Avalanche
By Lance Hornby
,Toronto Sun
First posted: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 03:43 PM EDT | Updated:
Wednesday, April 03, 2013 10:21 PM EDT
TORONTO - If he couldn’t get insurance in the net, Dave Nonis opted to
add someone who can clear the front.
And in acquiring big defenceman Ryan O’Byrne as Wednesday’s NHL trade
deadline closed, the Maple Leafs’ general manager gave a vote of
confidence to his incumbent goalies and the gratitude of most players who
didn’t want the band broken up. The surprising Leafs now head into their
final 12 games and a possible playoff appearance without losing anyone
from the roster, just as the players hoped would be the case before the 3
p.m. bell sounded across the league.
“We can definitely make a run with the guys we have here,” leading scorer
Nazem Kadri said earlier in the day. “We haven’t been in this position in a
long time and we’re still hungry for more.”
Not to say that Nonis didn’t try to add some grey power to the goalie mix
after scooping the 6-foot-5 O’Byrne from Colorado for a fourth-round pick in
2014. He delved into the Calgary Flames’ fire sale and went hard after 36year-old stopper Miikka Kiprusoff to bolster James Reimer and Ben
Scrivens. That discussion, with counterpart Jay Feaster, player agent Larry
kelly and, ultimately, Kiprusoff himself, went deep into Tuesday night and
resumed Wednesday morning.
“The benefit of bringing Miikka in was that we wouldn’t have been moving
either of our goalies out. We’ve always said if we could get a veteran
presence to help them get experience and tips, it would’ve been ideal. I had
that conversation with Miikka directly. Part of him was excited about that,
part of him was not having his heart in it 100%, coming here and then
letting us down.”
Kiprusoff’s wife just gave birth and, even if he took a contract extension
from Nonis, there was doubt the Finn wanted to stay in the NHL beyond this
season, especially if he’s changing cities.
“He didn’t want to take the extension (which the Leafs would have had to
work on in July) if he wasn’t fully committed,” said Nonis. “I appreciated him
giving us the heads up early in the day as opposed to us making the deal
and not having it work out.”
TSN reported the Vancouver Canucks came back to the Leafs three times
in the closing hour of the deadline to revive the Roberto Luongo trade, but
Nonis wouldn’t meet their price, even though it was likely reduced from the
summer. Nonis wouldn’t comment on Luongo specifics.
“We’ve also said that we’re happy with our goaltending, it’s quality
goaltending,” Nonis said. “And that if we couldn’t (add someone), these two
guys have earned the right to play. I know there is a big deal about
goaltending and always has been in this market. But you look at what
James has done (a .920 save percentage). We expect him to grab the net
and go with it. He’ll play the majority of the games.
“I know (coach) Randy Carlyle has confidence in him. We have a quality
goaltending coach (Rick St. Croix) whom we bring into a lot of decisions on
our goalies and future goalies. He has a lot of time for James and that
factors into our decision.”
Reimer, expected to start Thursday’s home game against the Flyers, was
relieved he won’t have to field questions about everyone from Luongo to
Jonathan Bernier to Kiprusoff taking his job. Though there have been holes
in the plan to institute a cleaner defensive game to take pressure off of
himself and Scrivens, he’s done what Carlyle asked — keep the Leafs in
games.
“We have some great character in this room,” Reimer said. “Everyone who
has played has been deserving. When that happens, you feel good
because you know no one has been cheated. It’s been a fun run this year.”
O’Byrne should help keep Reimer’s front stoop free of traffic. About two
weeks ago, Nonis initiated talks about the former Montreal Canadiens
defender. The Avalanche were not keen on bringing him back after his $1.8
million (U.S.) contract runs out this year.
“The price tag we had early was not to our liking,” Nonis said. “As the week
went on, it became something we were comfortable with. He’ll be one of
eight defencemen. He won’t come in here and take over the defence, but
he can play with good players, play with John-Michael Liles, with Jake
Gardiner, with Mike Kostka. How much he plays, that’s up to the coaching
staff.”
Holding all of his picks for the 2013 draft heading into the deadline, Nonis
acknowledged he could have used them to pick up more veterans. But
without naming names, Nonis said their “best before” date stamp was long
past. It might be the Leafs revisit some in the free-agent market next
summer.
“We added one player today we think can help us and, as we get healthy,
we’ll have five full lines up front. The message to our team was we’re happy
with their play. This wasn’t about trading draft picks for (rental player) UFAs,
this was about keeping the team together.”
Toronto Sun LOADED: 04.04.2013
667961
Toronto Maple Leafs
Roberto Luongo’s contract hurts both him and Canucks
Bruce Arthur | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 11:00 PM ET
Roberto Luongo was always going to be the star of this deadline one way or
the other.
“My contract sucks,” said Roberto Luongo, live on national television.
“That’s what the problem is. It had been an odd NHL trade deadline to that
point, first a ghost town and then a busy intersection. Also, there was the
moment a little later when Jay Feaster said his owner expected the Calgary
Flames to be in the playoffs next season, but we’ll get to that masterpiece
of delusion in a minute.
The best of the NHL trade deadline
But Luongo was always going to be the star of this deadline one way or the
other, and his news conference in Vancouver was a strange thing, an oddly
electric thing, because it’s not every day an NHL superstar comes out and
says he hates his 12-year, US$64-million contract, and wishes, two years
after reaching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, that he could start all over
again.
“I’d scrap it if I could, right now,” said Luongo, who admitted it had been an
emotionally difficult time. When it was reported he had been pulled off the
ice with minutes to go before the deadline everyone’s ears perked up, and
when it was announced he had not been traded, the balloon went pop.
For Luongo too, clearly. He said that if any trade had gotten to the point
where he would have been asked to waive his no-trade clause, “Obviously I
would have said yes.” He said he had to gather himself. He seemed to
intimate that he could have conducted himself differently since the club
chose Cory Schneider over their 33-year-old warhorse as the team’s No. 1
goaltender, but instead chose not to create negative energy. There was a
weariness to him, an exhaustion, flickers of deep disappointment.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported the Canucks made three last-ditch offers to
Toronto between 2 and 3 p.m., asking for Ben Scrivens and multiple draft
picks, and that the final one led to Luongo being yanked off the ice in case
he had to waive his no-trade clause. That clearly meant they had gotten
close, but something in the contract — the prospect of Vancouver retaining
some of Luongo’s salary, Vancouver’s softening but still significant
demands, something about the golden anvil — must have derailed it.
It was the messiest part of the day’s Canadian hockey landscape. The
plummeting Winnipeg Jets watched idly as Washington burned a top
prospect for help right now in the Southeast Division, and Edmonton and
Montreal didn’t change their very different situations, and Ottawa managed
to snag a new leading scorer in Cory Conacher, Tampa’s 23-year-old, 24point rookie, in exchange for surplus goaltender Ben Bishop.
Oh, and in Calgary the fire sale more closely resembles an actual fire.
Feaster told reporters “[Owner] Murray Edwards told me last evening that
he expects to be in the playoffs next year, so there’s my marching order.”
The Flames appear to be taking their nickname too seriously, and Edwards
appears to be fiddling as it burns. Between Columbus stepping on the gas
in its playoffs run by acquiring star Marian Gaborik from the New York
Rangers and Murray Edwards saying he wants to make the playoffs next
year, Calgary wins the up-is-down derby without breaking a sweat.
But Luongo was the potential franchise-changer for two Canadian teams,
and afterwards he looked like a basset hound who had been kicked.
He’s not a tragic figure, obviously, but it’s easy to feel sympathetic for the
guy, even if you don’t follow his delightful semi-anonymous alter ego on
Twitter, @strombone1. The NHL had always warned that the long-term,
long-tail deals that were splashed around during the life of the last collective
bargaining agreement would be subject to penalty, and Luongo is the first
one to feel its effects.
Under the new CBA, the team that signed and the team that trades for a
long-contract player will be penalized under the salary cap if that player
retires before the contract ends. Luongo’s big money stops in 2018. There
are four seasons left after that.
Unless he plays until he’s 43, the contract is going to hurt somebody.
But still, they got close, and the contract came between them, and the
Canucks were left to pretend otherwise. Vancouver general manager Mike
Gillis said there had been discussions with five teams over the last six
months, and “there’s been changes to the CBA that affect these situations,
and it isn’t like when we signed the contract. There are significant changes
to how they’re dealt with … at the time it was done it was very favourable to
the organization, and very favourable for Roberto.
“And the top teams in the league that were competing for Stanley Cups did
contracts like this for franchise players, and since that has occurred there
have been a number of changes. It’s a fluid industry.”
My contract sucks. That’s what the problem is
Gillis protested that the contract was not as big an impediment as some
people thought, which sounds like spin followed by an audible record
scratch, but this summer he will get another chance to be proven right.
A compliance buyout would seem like a dangerous request for almost any
GM — imagine going to your owner and saying you have made a US$40million mistake. It means he’s going to have to trade his obviously unhappy
goaltender, and that contract with it.
The Canucks, meanwhile, have to hope they can knit their injured and
aging core back into a contender in under a month, and hope that Luongo
can wait without it getting ugly. Not Calgary-ugly, but then, that sort of thing
takes years.
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667962
Toronto Maple Leafs
contending for the Stanley Cup. So the plan was to try to add some depth
without disrupting the current lineup or giving away the future.
Leafs pin hopes on young goalies after relatively quiet trade deadline
“I didn’t see a blockbuster,” Nonis of the trade landscape available to him. “I
think everyone that made some deals made some modest improvements.
And that’s all that was available to most teams.
Michael Traikos | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 7:09 PM ET
“The message [to the Leafs] is: We’re happy with their play. They’ve put us
in a good position.”
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
TORONTO — It was not exactly a vote of confidence. More like a lukewarm
endorsement.
In an ideal world, the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to add a goaltender at
Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline. Not to necessarily replace James
Reimer or Ben Scrivens, but to augment the inexperienced duo. They had
received permission to talk with Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff and tried
desperately to convince him to waive his no-trade clause. They reportedly
talked again to Vancouver about acquiring Roberto Luongo.
The best of the NHL trade deadline
But by the time the 3 p.m. ET deadline rolled around, Toronto’s only move
was bringing in 28-year-old depth defenceman Ryan O’Byrne from
Colorado in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2014. And so, with 13
games remaining and the team sitting in fifth place in the Eastern
Conference standings, the Leafs will continue with most of the same group
that got them this far.
“Nothing changed at all,” general manager Dave Nonis said in a news
conference at Air Canada Centre. “I know there was a big deal about
goaltending. There always has been in this marketplace. The benefit of
bringing Miikka Kiprusoff in would have been we weren’t moving any one of
our goalies out. And we always said that if we could get some veteran
presence to help these guys along and give them some experience and
some tips, that it would have been an ideal situation.
“I had that discussion with Miikka directly. I think that part of him was
excited about that, and part of his apprehension was not having his heart in
it 100% and coming here and letting us down. That was the direction we
wanted to head.”
Instead, a 25-year-old (Reimer) and a 26-year-old (Scrivens) with a
combined 123 NHL games and zero NHL playoff experience will lead the
team.
That might not be necessarily a bad thing. Reimer, who has won his last
three games and has not lost in regulation in his last seven starts, has a
better save percentage (.920) this season than Luongo (.904) and Kiprusoff
(.868) and as many wins (13) as both combined.
“We’re happy with the goaltending,” Nonis said. “We have two quality
goaltenders. We’re not trying to move one of them out. We wanted to add to
that group. But if we couldn’t, those guys have earned the right to play.
“[Reimer is] still a young goaltender. It’s not about his ability. We’re fine with
his ability. His play has been exceptional. It was just about getting him
some experience to help him. There was nothing more to it than that.”
We have two quality goaltenders. We’re not trying to move one of them
out. We wanted to add to that group. But if we couldn’t, those guys have
earned the right to play
While the Leafs were unable to add that experience in net, the team beefed
up its blue line with the acquisition of O’Byrne. The 6-foot-5 and 240-pound
defenceman, who ranks second on the Avalanche in hits and is fourth in
blocked shots, has appeared in 19 playoff games.
“He’s going to be one of our eight defencemen,” said Nonis, who added that
O’Byrne would likely play on the second defensive pairing alongside former
Avalanche teammate John-Michael Liles, Mike Kostka or Jake Gardiner.
“He’s not going to come in here and take over our defensive corps. He’s a
defensive defenceman. We feel he can play with good players.”
It was a small move. But for where this team is, both in terms of age and in
the standings, it was probably the right one.
David Zalubowski/The Associated Press
Nonis said that this is the first year in his Leafs tenure in which the club is in
playoff mode as opposed to selling off players for draft picks. At the same
time, he knows that the team is not one or two pieces away from
667963
Toronto Maple Leafs
The best of the NHL trade deadline
Canadian Press and National Post Wire Services | 13/04/03 | Last Updated:
13/04/03 6:18 PM ET
Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo blames contract for trade troubles
Oilers pick up centre Jerred Smithson from Panthers
The Edmonton Oilers have acquired centre Jerred Smithson from the
Florida Panthers in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year’s NHL
Entry Draft.
The 34-year-old native of Vernon, B.C., has five points in 35 games this
season. Smithson made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings in the
2002-’03 season. The undrafted forward spent parts of seven seasons with
the Nashville Predators. He was dealt to Florida last season.
Smithson has recorded 95 points (38 goals, 57 assists) in 578 career NHL
regular-season games.
After learning he had not been traded before the NHL-mandated deadline,
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo stood behind a lectern
and, with brutal honesty, blamed his long-term contract for preventing a
deal: “I’d scrap it if I could, right now.”
The 33-year-old has nine years remaining on a 12-year contract, carrying a
cap hit of US$5.3-million through the 2021-22 season. He has been tied to
trade speculation for months, long before the NHL ended its lockout in
January.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are adding another veteran forward for the playoff
run. The Penguins have acquired Jussi Jokinen from the Carolina
Hurricanes for a conditional sixth- or seventh-round pick in this year’s NHL
Entry Draft. Jokinen has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 33 games this
season.
The Ottawa Senators have traded goalie Ben Bishop to the Tampa Bay
Lightning for rookie centre Cory Conacher and fourth-round pick.
The Penguins enter play Wednesday night with a five-point lead on secondplace Montreal in the Eastern Conference standings.
The 26-year-old Bishop was acquired by Ottawa from the St. Louis Blues
last season in exchange for a second-round pick.
Jokinen has recorded 346 points (121-225) in 569 career regular-season
NHL games with Carolina, Tampa Bay and Dallas.
Ottawa had a crowded crease this season with Bishop, No. 1 goalie Craig
Anderson and rising star Robin Lehner all seeing action.
Veteran blue-liner Scott Hannan returns to Sharks
Anderson suffered an ankle injury early in February, forcing both Bishop
and Lehner to shoulder the load.
But with Anderson set to return, Bishop was the odd man out.
Leafs pick up Ryan O’Byrne before the deadline
An hour after telling a TSN reporter he did not expect his team to complete
a last-second trade — before adding the addendum “that can change
quickly” — Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis acquired a
large defenceman who could fill out one of the team’s top two pairings.
Blue Jackets add Marian Gaborik, send goaltender Steve Mason to Flyers
The Columbus Blue Jackets have shown they’re serious about making the
playoffs, acquiring forward Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers.
Gaborik has had an off-year offensively in New York with nine goals and 10
assists in 35 games. But he is a proven scorer and is just one year removed
from a 41-goal, 35-assist campaign in 2011-12.
Pittsburgh has landed forwards Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow and
defenceman Douglas Murray in deals over the last two weeks.
Veteran defenceman Scott Hannan is returning to San Jose. The Nashville
Predators have dealt Hannan to the Sharks for a conditional seventh-round
pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Hannan has one assist in 29 games this
season.
The 34-year-old Richmond, B.C., native spent parts of eight seasons with
San Jose. He has also played for the Colorado Avalanche, Washington
Capitals and Calgary Flames. Hannan has 198 points (33 goals, 165
assists) in 937 career NHL regular-season games.
The seventh-round pick would change to a sixth-round selection if Hannan
appears in the playoffs.
Bruins acquire Wade Redden from Blues, Rob Flick from Blackhawks
The Boston Bruins have acquired defenceman Wade Redden from the St.
Louis Blues and centre Rob Flick from the Chicago Blackhawks.
The trades came before the NHL’s trade deadline Wednesday and one day
after the Bruins obtained five-time NHL scoring champion wing Jaromir Jagr
from the Dallas Stars.
The left-wing from Trencin, Slovakia, has 333 goals and 333 assists in 757
career games with Minnesota and New York. His best statistical season
was in 2009-10, when he had 42 goals and 44 assists in his first season in
New York.
Redden, who has played in 1,017 NHL games, was obtained for a
conditional seventh-round draft pick next year that becomes a sixth-rounder
if he plays in at least one game during this year’s playoffs. He as two goals
and three assists in 23 games this season.
Sabres trade captain Pominville to Wild
Flick was traded for forward Max Sauve in a deal involving AHL players.
Flick has three goals, two assists and 97 penalty minutes for Rockford.
Sauve has 10 goals and 13 assists for Providence.
A person familiar with trade talks has confirmed the Buffalo Sabres have
agreed to deal captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the trade has not
yet been approved by the NHL. French-Canada’s RDS sports network first
reported the deal Wednesday, before the NHL’s trade deadline hit. RDS
reported the Sabres were to receive rookie forward Johan Larsson and
rookie goalie Matt Hackett in return.
Both Wild players were pulled off the ice earlier in the day before their game
at San Jose.
Pominville is an eight-year NHL veteran, and a six-time 20-goal scorer.
Predators trade Martin Erat and Michael Latta to the Capitals for Filip
Forsberg
It was the last trade of the day — The Predators sent Martin Erat and
Michael Latta to Washington for Filip Forsberg.
The Predators picked up Forsberg to be “mindful of the long-term.” He
spent this season in the Swedish league.
“In Filip Forsberg, we are adding one of the top rated young forwards in the
world,” the Predators said in a release. “We are excited to have him join our
other emerging young talent and solid veterans at the position.”
Coyotes trade Matthew Lombardi to Ducks for Brandon McMillan
The Phoenix Coyotes have traded centre Matthew Lombardi to the
Anaheim Ducks for left wing Brandon McMillan.
Lombardi returned to Phoenix this season after being traded from Toronto
during training camp. He missed 12 games early in the season with an
upper-body injury and didn’t provide the Coyotes with the scoring punch
they had hoped.
Lombardi had four goals and four assists in 21 games with Phoenix and
was a healthy scratch on March 25 against Detroit after failing to register a
point in seven straight games.
McMillan played six games with the Ducks this season and had one assist.
He had eight goals and five assists in 41 games with Norfolk of the AHL.
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667964
Toronto Maple Leafs
Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo blames contract for slow trade talks
Sean Fitz-Gerald | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 5:12 PM ET
Roberto Luongo said he was pulled aside because there were only 10
minutes left to the 3 p.m. ET deadline, and the team wanted him nearby, in
case he needed to sign off on a deal.
After learning he had not been traded before the NHL-mandated deadline,
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo stood behind a lectern
and, with brutal honesty, blamed his long-term contract for preventing a
deal: “I’d scrap it if I could, right now.”
Relive the NHL trade deadline
The 33-year-old has nine years remaining on a 12-year contract, carrying a
cap hit of US$5.3-million through the 2021-22 season. He has been tied to
trade speculation for months, long before the NHL ended its lockout in
January.
And after the deadline passed Wednesday, he looked and sounded
disappointed. He said he started getting “weird feelings” in his stomach,
nerves, on Tuesday night. Luongo said it was the first time in the whole
process that he felt that way.
The Canucks pulled him off the practice ice early, fuelling speculation that
he had finally been moved. Luongo said he was pulled aside because there
were only 10 minutes left to the 3 p.m. ET deadline, and the team wanted
him nearby, in case he needed to sign off on a deal.
In a press conference with reporters, Luongo was asked what he viewed as
the primary obstacle in facilitating a move.
“Uh,” he said, “my contract sucks. That’s what the problem is.
Unfortunately, it’s a big factor in trading me, and it’s probably why I’m still
here.”
Youtube
Luongo has a no-trade clause in his contract. He said he was never
approached with a trade that he declined: “There were obviously some
teams that were interested, and nothing ever really materialized to the
point where I had to give a decision whether I was going to waive or not.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs were long rumoured to be one of the teams
interested in adding Luongo. Vancouver’s asking price was often cited as
the stumbling block.
My contract sucks. That’s what the problem is. Unfortunately, it’s a big
factor in trading me, and it’s probably why I’m still here
Cory Schneider has become the team’s starting goaltender. Luongo has
appeared in 16 games with the Canucks this season, winning in only seven.
His save percentage (.904) and goals-against average (2.44) are both
weaker than Schneider’s (.922 ands 2.27).
“Obviously, in the last couple of weeks, things have been a little bit
emotionally tough for me, as far as where I’m going or whatnot,” Luongo
said. “But now I can really make sure that I’m focusing on the right thing.”
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667965
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs make a last-minute move at the deadline with Ryan O’Byrne
Sean Fitz-Gerald | 13/04/03 3:33 PM ET
The Leafs acquired Ryan O’Byrne in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche
not long before the NHL trade deadline tolled at 3 p.m. ET.
An hour after telling a TSN reporter he did not expect his team to complete
a last-second trade — before adding the addendum “that can change
quickly” — Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis acquired a
large defenceman who could fill out one of the team’s top two pairings.
As first reported by TSN, the Leafs acquired Ryan O’Byrne in a deal with
the Colorado Avalanche not long before the NHL trade deadline tolled at 3
p.m. ET. The 28-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent this
summer, with a cap hit of US$1.8-million this year.
O’Byrne averaged 18 minutes 51 seconds in 34 games with the Avalanche
this season. He has one goal and three assists. According to TSN, the
Leafs sent a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft to the Avalanche.
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667966
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs are ‘not close to anything’ before NHL trade deadline
Sean Fitz-Gerald | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 2:48 PM ET
Dave Nonis was also asked whether he was concerned at the prospect of
heading into the stretch drive of the season with James Reimer and Ben
Scrivens (pictured) in goal. Neither goaltender has experience in the NHL
playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis does not expect the
team to complete a trade before the deadline tolls on Wednesday
afternoon.
“We’ve made a lot of calls, and we’ve fielded quite a few,” Nonis told TSN
Wednesday, about an hour before the 3 p.m. ET deadline. “But it’s been
pretty slow, at least to this point. There’s not a lot of movement, there’s not
a lot of players available.”
There’s always going to be a flurry at the end. believe that will be the
case again today. But again, we’re not close to anything.
Four trades had been completed to that point. According to the NHL, an
average of about 22 trades had been completed on the previous 10
deadline days.
“There’s always going to be a flurry at the end,” Nonis told TSN. “I believe
that will be the case again today. But again, we’re not close to anything.”
Nonis, who replaced Brian Burke as general manager on the eve of the
lockout-shortened season, said the team was not shopping centre Tyler
Bozak around the market. Bozak, 27, is in the final year of a contract that
carries a cap hit of US$1.5-million.
“He’s been a good player for us,” Nonis said. “Unless we got a player back
who would help us down the stretch, Tyler will be here. At the end of the
day, we’ll see what makes sense, financially, in terms of a long-term deal
for him.”
He was also asked whether he was concerned at the prospect of heading
into the stretch drive of the season with James Reimer and Ben Scrivens in
goal. Neither goaltender has experience in the NHL playoffs.
The Leafs had been tied to a possible trade with Calgary for veteran Miikka
Kiprusoff, but the 36-year-old reportedly told the Flames he does not want
to leave the team.
“It’s not a concern in that we think we have two quality NHL-calibre
goaltenders,” Nonis told TSN. “We feel that they’ve played that way all year.
They’ve done a good job, and they’re going to be with us for a long time.”
So what will the Leafs do before 3 p.m. ET?
“As we sit right now, I don’t see us doing anything,” he told TSN. “That can
change quickly. Usually it does. There’s often something that happens in
the last half-an-hour, at least something to think about. We’ll see what is put
in front of us and make a decision at that time.”
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667967
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL trade deadline brings different mood for Leafs
Michael Traikos | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 1:53 PM ET
For Clarke MacArthur, this trade deadline feels a bit different if only
because of the mood in the dressing room. In the past, the Leafs would
normally be on the outside looking in at a playoff spot.
James Reimer shoved his skates in the bag and shouted, “My bags are
packed.”
It was meant as a joke. As though the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender had
just been traded. But as of noon — three hours before the NHL’s trade
deadline went into effect — the entire roster was still intact.
And if many players inside the dressing room had their wish, it would
remain that way.
The Leafs, who have won their last three games and have gone their last
eight games without a loss in regulation time, are sitting in fifth place in the
Eastern Conference standings. Left intact, they will likely make the playoffs.
That does not mean that they could not use an upgrade. The team lacks an
experienced goaltender, depth on the backend and would benefit from
another centre. But if management decides to sit quietly, the players would
appreciate the message being sent.
“I feel personally that we’re pretty comfortable in this room and think that
we could definitely make a run with the guys we have in this dressing rom
who have been battling since Day 1,” said forward Nazem Kadri. “It’s
always unfortunate when you have to move someone who gets you into this
position.”
“It’s just a good group of guys,” forward Clarke MacArthur said of the Leafs.
“We’ve been kind I’ve building this for the last two years. The team has had
success. That being said, there’s a lot of work to be done here for the last
12 games or so. But it’s a good group here. A group we’d like to keep
together.”
For MacArthur, this trade deadline feels a bit different if only because of the
mood in the dressing room. In the past, the Leafs would normally be on the
outside looking in at a playoff spot and would be in the process of
dismantling the roster. Now, there appears to be optimism.
“It’s actually been real quite this year,” said MacArthur. “Usually it’s
‘dynamite the team’. It’s not as fun for you guys when we’re doing so well.
“There’s a lot of potential in the room here. And with the way we play, I think
it would be a good playoff style.”
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667968
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL trade deadline: Miikka Kiprusoff will reportedly stay with Flames
Sean Fitz-Gerald | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 12:00 PM ET
It was rumoured the Leafs might make a deal for Miikka Kiprusoff, but a
new report says he is staying with the Flames this season.
Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff appears to have made the
most impactful move of the NHL’s trade deadline day … by indicating he
wants no part of a trade.
NHL trade deadline 2013 live: Tracking the latest deals
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the 36-year-old is leaning toward
remaining with the Flames. It has been widely reported that the Toronto
Maple Leafs had spoken with him — or his representation, at least — about
a potential contract extension after a trade.
His apparent decision to remain in Calgary shifts the focus back to where it
began when the lockout-shortened season opened in January. Vancouver
Canucks veteran goaltender Roberto Luongo is still on the market, though
his contract situation diminishes his value to a team like the Leafs.
Kiprusoff only has one year left on his six-year deal. And since it was a
back-diving deal, it would only pay him US$1.5-million next year. According
to capgeek.com, Kiprusoff does not have a no-trade clause in his deal, but
his leverage came from the threat he would not report to a team that
acquired his rights, unless he gave prior consent.
Luongo is a different case. The 33-year-old has nine years remaining on his
contract, which carries an annual cap hit of US$5.3-million.
“We’re on a three-game winning streak and the team is playing well,” Leafs
assistant general manager Claude Loiselle said on Tuesday. “The guys are
feeling good about themselves. And so, absolutely, there’s no urgency to do
anything.”
Both Toronto regulars, James Reimer and Ben Scrivens, have a better
save-percentage than Kiprusoff and Luongo. With the Leafs on the verge of
ending their long playoff drought, the concern related more to their overall
lack of experience.
The guys are feeling good about themselves. And so, absolutely, there’s
no urgency to do anything
Barring a move for Luongo — which seems like a long-shot at this point —
Reimer and Scrivens will likely get their playoff experience this spring.
(Scrivens was asked about the rumours on Tuesday, about how Kiprusoff’s
name seemed to have replaced Luongo’s as the dominant topic of
speculation.)
“I guess that newspaper story wasn’t selling as well, so they had to switch
up the face,” he said with a smile. “Honestly, we can’t control any of that
stuff. And my answer was the same over the summer: All I can control,
personally, is what I do on the ice.”
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667969
Toronto Maple Leafs
“I didn’t see a blockbuster,” Nonis of the trade landscape available to him. “I
think everyone that made some deals made some modest improvements.
And that’s all that was available to most teams.
Leafs pin hopes on young goalies after relatively quiet trade deadline
“The message [to the Leafs] is: We’re happy with their play. They’ve put us
in a good position.”
Michael Traikos | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 7:09 PM ET
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
TORONTO — It was not exactly a vote of confidence. More like a lukewarm
endorsement.
In an ideal world, the Toronto Maple Leafs wanted to add a goaltender at
Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline. Not to necessarily replace James
Reimer or Ben Scrivens, but to augment the inexperienced duo. They had
received permission to talk with Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff and tried
desperately to convince him to waive his no-trade clause. They reportedly
talked again to Vancouver about acquiring Roberto Luongo.
The best of the NHL trade deadline
But by the time the 3 p.m. ET deadline rolled around, Toronto’s only move
was bringing in 28-year-old depth defenceman Ryan O’Byrne from
Colorado in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in 2014. And so, with 13
games remaining and the team sitting in fifth place in the Eastern
Conference standings, the Leafs will continue with most of the same group
that got them this far.
“Nothing changed at all,” general manager Dave Nonis said in a news
conference at Air Canada Centre. “I know there was a big deal about
goaltending. There always has been in this marketplace. The benefit of
bringing Miikka Kiprusoff in would have been we weren’t moving any one of
our goalies out. And we always said that if we could get some veteran
presence to help these guys along and give them some experience and
some tips, that it would have been an ideal situation.
“I had that discussion with Miikka directly. I think that part of him was
excited about that, and part of his apprehension was not having his heart in
it 100% and coming here and letting us down. That was the direction we
wanted to head.”
Instead, a 25-year-old (Reimer) and a 26-year-old (Scrivens) with a
combined 123 NHL games and zero NHL playoff experience will lead the
team.
That might not be necessarily a bad thing. Reimer, who has won his last
three games and has not lost in regulation in his last seven starts, has a
better save percentage (.920) this season than Luongo (.904) and Kiprusoff
(.868) and as many wins (13) as both combined.
“We’re happy with the goaltending,” Nonis said. “We have two quality
goaltenders. We’re not trying to move one of them out. We wanted to add to
that group. But if we couldn’t, those guys have earned the right to play.
“[Reimer is] still a young goaltender. It’s not about his ability. We’re fine with
his ability. His play has been exceptional. It was just about getting him
some experience to help him. There was nothing more to it than that.”
We have two quality goaltenders. We’re not trying to move one of them
out. We wanted to add to that group. But if we couldn’t, those guys have
earned the right to play
While the Leafs were unable to add that experience in net, the team beefed
up its blue line with the acquisition of O’Byrne. The 6-foot-5 and 240-pound
defenceman, who ranks second on the Avalanche in hits and is fourth in
blocked shots, has appeared in 19 playoff games.
“He’s going to be one of our eight defencemen,” said Nonis, who added that
O’Byrne would likely play on the second defensive pairing alongside former
Avalanche teammate John-Michael Liles, Mike Kostka or Jake Gardiner.
“He’s not going to come in here and take over our defensive corps. He’s a
defensive defenceman. We feel he can play with good players.”
It was a small move. But for where this team is, both in terms of age and in
the standings, it was probably the right one.
Nonis said that this is the first year in his Leafs tenure in which the club is in
playoff mode as opposed to selling off players for draft picks. At the same
time, he knows that the team is not one or two pieces away from
contending for the Stanley Cup. So the plan was to try to add some depth
without disrupting the current lineup or giving away the future.
667970
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs make a last-minute move at the deadline with Ryan O’Byrne
Sean Fitz-Gerald | 13/04/03 3:33 PM ET
An hour after telling a TSN reporter he did not expect his team to complete
a last-second trade — before adding the addendum “that can change
quickly” — Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis acquired a
large defenceman who could fill out one of the team’s top two pairings.
As first reported by TSN, the Leafs acquired Ryan O’Byrne in a deal with
the Colorado Avalanche not long before the NHL trade deadline tolled at 3
p.m. ET. The 28-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent this
summer, with a cap hit of US$1.8-million this year.
O’Byrne averaged 18 minutes 51 seconds in 34 games with the Avalanche
this season. He has one goal and three assists. According to TSN, the
Leafs sent a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft to the Avalanche.
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667971
Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs are ‘not close to anything’ before NHL trade deadline
Sean Fitz-Gerald | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 2:48 PM ET
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis does not expect the
team to complete a trade before the deadline tolls on Wednesday
afternoon.
NHL trade deadline brings different mood for Leafs
“We’ve made a lot of calls, and we’ve fielded quite a few,” Nonis told TSN
Wednesday, about an hour before the 3 p.m. ET deadline. “But it’s been
pretty slow, at least to this point. There’s not a lot of movement, there’s not
a lot of players available.”
There’s always going to be a flurry at the end. believe that will be the
case again today. But again, we’re not close to anything.
Four trades had been completed to that point. According to the NHL, an
average of about 22 trades had been completed on the previous 10
deadline days.
“There’s always going to be a flurry at the end,” Nonis told TSN. “I believe
that will be the case again today. But again, we’re not close to anything.”
Nonis, who replaced Brian Burke as general manager on the eve of the
lockout-shortened season, said the team was not shopping centre Tyler
Bozak around the market. Bozak, 27, is in the final year of a contract that
carries a cap hit of US$1.5-million.
“He’s been a good player for us,” Nonis said. “Unless we got a player back
who would help us down the stretch, Tyler will be here. At the end of the
day, we’ll see what makes sense, financially, in terms of a long-term deal
for him.”
He was also asked whether he was concerned at the prospect of heading
into the stretch drive of the season with James Reimer and Ben Scrivens in
goal. Neither goaltender has experience in the NHL playoffs.
The Leafs had been tied to a possible trade with Calgary for veteran Miikka
Kiprusoff, but the 36-year-old reportedly told the Flames he does not want
to leave the team.
“It’s not a concern in that we think we have two quality NHL-calibre
goaltenders,” Nonis told TSN. “We feel that they’ve played that way all year.
They’ve done a good job, and they’re going to be with us for a long time.”
So what will the Leafs do before 3 p.m. ET?
“As we sit right now, I don’t see us doing anything,” he told TSN. “That can
change quickly. Usually it does. There’s often something that happens in
the last half-an-hour, at least something to think about. We’ll see what is put
in front of us and make a decision at that time.”
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667972
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL trade deadline brings different mood for Leafs
Michael Traikos | 13/04/03 | Last Updated: 13/04/03 1:53 PM ET
For Clarke MacArthur, this trade deadline feels a bit different if only
because of the mood in the dressing room. In the past, the Leafs would
normally be on the outside looking in at a playoff spot.
James Reimer shoved his skates in the bag and shouted, “My bags are
packed.”
It was meant as a joke. As though the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender had
just been traded. But as of noon — three hours before the NHL’s trade
deadline went into effect — the entire roster was still intact.
NHL trade deadline 2013 live: Tracking the latest deals
And if many players inside the dressing room had their wish, it would
remain that way.
The Leafs, who have won their last three games and have gone their last
eight games without a loss in regulation time, are sitting in fifth place in the
Eastern Conference standings. Left intact, they will likely make the playoffs.
That does not mean that they could not use an upgrade. The team lacks an
experienced goaltender, depth on the backend and would benefit from
another centre. But if management decides to sit quietly, the players would
appreciate the message being sent.
“I feel personally that we’re pretty comfortable in this room and think that
we could definitely make a run with the guys we have in this dressing rom
who have been battling since Day 1,” said forward Nazem Kadri. “It’s
always unfortunate when you have to move someone who gets you into this
position.”
“It’s just a good group of guys,” forward Clarke MacArthur said of the Leafs.
“We’ve been kind I’ve building this for the last two years. The team has had
success. That being said, there’s a lot of work to be done here for the last
12 games or so. But it’s a good group here. A group we’d like to keep
together.”
For MacArthur, this trade deadline feels a bit different if only because of the
mood in the dressing room. In the past, the Leafs would normally be on the
outside looking in at a playoff spot and would be in the process of
dismantling the roster. Now, there appears to be optimism.
“It’s actually been real quite this year,” said MacArthur. “Usually it’s
‘dynamite the team’. It’s not as fun for you guys when we’re doing so well.
“There’s a lot of potential in the room here. And with the way we play, I think
it would be a good playoff style.”
National Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667973
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks’ Jannik Hansen says trade deadline moves will take time to digest
By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun April 3, 2013
“It was mostly English at the house but when I was five years old they put
me in French school and I went all the way through high school in French,”
he explained. “It worked out well because I have a lot of French buddies
who can hardly speak English. It’s also good when you travel to be able to
speak a couple of languages. But in the house, we watched English movies
and TV and all that stuff except for watching the Montreal Canadiens on
RDS.”
Roy added that the family name, given its French roots, is actually
pronounced ‘roi’, as in Patrick Roy.
VANCOUVER — From the perspective of his five years in the National
Hockey League, Vancouver Canuck right-winger Jannik Hansen summed
up the league’s trade activity Wednesday like a man just finishing a large
dinner.
“It’s hard to digest right now,” said the Dane. “It’s going to be a little easier
to see once the guys actually get settled and everything. Some good
players are coming into our conference but some good ones are going the
other way, too. Teams are trying to find a way to optimize their rosters.”
Hansen will likely find himself skating alongside one of those player coming
west, Derek Roy, when the Canucks return to action Thursday to face the
Edmonton Oilers. Hansen, Roy and Chris Higgins were a line in practice
Wednesday. Roy was obtained Tuesday from the Dallas Stars for a 2013
second-round pick and minor-league defenceman Kevin Connauton.
“Obviously Derek is extremely skilled and he seems like he has a really
good feel for the puck,” said Hansen, who enters the Edmonton game as
the Canucks’ third-leading scorer with 21 points.
“It was Derek ‘Roi’ but I’m happy with Derek Roy,” he smiled. “Whatever.”
WAKE-UP CALL: Rookie Nicklas Jensen’s NHL debut Monday in San Jose
created a minor dilemma for his parents back home in Denmark. The game
began at 4:30 a.m. Danish time and, according to Nicklas, they had to make
the big decision whether to stay up late or get up early.
“They went to bed and woke up early,” said Jensen, whose father Dan is a
Canadian from Toronto. “I’m not sure how they saw the game, whether they
bought it online and hooked it up to the TV, but I talked to them and they
definitely found a way to watch it. My dad just told me ‘good job.’ He was
proud. He knows it’s tough in your first game but, obviously, he had a few
tips for me to work on.”
Jensen spent most of the night skating with the Sedin twins, a line that saw
much of Joe Thornton’s unit.
“We were pretty much against them the whole game so, obviously, it was
hard but it was also a great experience,” he summed up.
SOUR PLAY: In their last 20 games, the Canucks are 2-for-52 on the power
play, which computes to a ghastly 3.84 per cent. In those 20 games, they’ve
had two chances eight times, one chance once and zero chances twice,
most recently Monday in San Jose. The other 0-for-0 night occurred last
Thursday. On Wednesday, they were ranked 29th in the league.
QUOTABLE: “Well, we’re going to try and get a save on the first couple of
shots. That should help.” – A chuckling Canuck coach Alain Vigneault when
asked what type of challenge the Oilers would present. Edmonton scored
on its first three shots and four of the first five in last Saturday’s 4-0 victory
over the Canucks.
“Well, you can’t score on the power play unless you get them,” general
manager Mike Gillis said dryly when asked if he was shocked at being No.
29.
“I caught him at the right time where you get a player’s attention and he just
listens to what he has to do and that’s what he does. We’re very fortunate
that he agreed to stay here for another four years.” – Vigneault on versatile
forward Chris Higgins re-upping with the team.
The GM did admit the power-play outage was not acceptable. In the same
20-game span, the opposition is 12-for-61, or 19.67 per cent. The Canucks
had the league’s best power play two seasons ago and were fourth in 201112.
“A lot of teams have copied our power play over the last couple of years
because of the success we’ve had so every day in practice they’re
defending the same things,” Gillis said. “We’ve made some changes and
we’re getting more shots to the net. I really think it’s a product of how the
game is being played today. When you shoot the puck 80 times at the
opposition net and you get 32 on net, that’s what we’re facing. We have to
find ways to be better.”
Henrik Sedin, who quarterbacks the power play, conceded the lack of
production is getting to him and brother Daniel. Henrik enters Thursday’s
game with 31 points while Daniel has 29. They each have seven points on
the power play but Daniel had five of those in the team’s first four games.
“That bothers us,” Henrik said. “Usually at this time of year, we have 15, 16
or 17 points on the power play and, if you add those numbers to our point
totals, we’re top five or top 10 in the league. So that’s the only thing that
weighs on us. If we get that going, no one would be talking about our
points.
“We still have time to get it going here,” he added. “I’m sure it’s going to be
OK.”
SICK BAY WATCH: The Canucks’ lengthy injury list now sits at five –
excluding Manny Malhotra (vision) — but it could be down to just one by
next week. Centre Ryan Kesler (broken foot) is expected to begin skating
Thursday, left-winger Mason Raymond (shoulder) is also supposed to skate
this week while right-winger Dale Weise (shoulder) did skate Wednesday
and defenceman Keith Ballard (foot) is close to skating as well.
That would leave just David Booth, gone for the season with ankle surgery,
out long term.
FRANKLY SPEAKING: New Canuck Derek Roy can handle himself in both
official languages thanks to a francophone father (Felix) and a French
education. His mother (Colleen) is English from the Kingston-Gananoque
area. Derek was raised in Ottawa.
Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667974
Vancouver Canucks
Luongo, Canucks mired in lose-lose situation
By Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun columnist April 3, 2013
“Since that occurred, there have been a number of changes (in NHL
dynamics). It’s a fluid industry; things do change. There have been a lot of
shifting sands and we’re going to have to deal with it as we move down the
road.
“I do feel obligated to trade Roberto and get him into a position where he’s
happy and competing the way he likes to and at the level he’s accustomed
to. The need of our team also plays a role and trying to balance them are a
difficult thing.”
VANCOUVER — It wasn’t Roberto Luongo’s contract last summer that
undermined the Vancouver Canucks’ attempt to trade him, but his singular
focus on going to the Florida Panthers.
If Luongo is serious about escaping his contract, he can withhold services,
which would allow the Canucks to terminate the deal. But the team would
first have to place him on waivers, meaning Luongo would have no input on
where he plays and could be claimed for a fee of $125.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs, run back then by Brian Burke, were ready
to negotiate a trade, Luongo reiterated his desire to play only in South
Florida.
It was hard not to feel sorry for him on Wednesday. He has been humbled
and embarrassed, a totem chopped to the ground.
Wednesday, with the goaltender desperate to go somewhere he can start,
the Maple Leafs reportedly rejected Canuck trade offers three times in the
final hour before the National Hockey League dealing deadline.
At least new Toronto general manager Dave Nonis answered the phone.
It would make a delicious storyline if Nonis, who always felt Canuck general
manager Mike Gillis stuck a shiv in him five years ago, exacted revenge by
leaving his successor stuck with Luongo.
But it was likely the goalie’s $64-million contract that scared the Maple
Leafs as it certainly has other teams.
“I think it’s more, honestly, a hit on your pride that teams aren’t willing to
give up much,” he said of his feelings. “I don’t think disappointment is the
right word. It’s been an emotional ride, the last year. I think it’s more the
unknown that has gotten to me more than anything else. I’m human and
sometimes it gets to you.”
Luongo has never seemed more human than during the last year, when he
has maintained dignity, his sense of humour and loyalty to Schneider and
the Canucks when the goaltending situation could have become toxic
enough to choke the entire team.
Luongo would probably like a do-over on last summer.
“I’m going to gather myself for the rest of the day,” he said, “and make sure
when I come to work tomorrow, I’m going to be 100 per cent dedicated to
this team the rest of the year, no matter what that capacity is.”
A lot of this is his fault.
How would he write his saga?
But there’s no sport in battering someone who’s down, and Luongo was
never lower than on Wednesday when he was whisked from the ice to
management offices at Rogers Arena and informed the Canucks could find
no taker for him.
“TBD – to be determined.”
In the emotional 12 months since he was deposed in goal by Cory
Schneider, Luongo has felt many things. But unwanted was probably not
one of them until Wednesday.
Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
Luongo looked beaten.
“My contract sucks,” the 34-year-old told reporters, his anguish evident, his
fall complete. “That’s what the problem is. Unfortunately, it’s a big factor in
trading me and it’s probably why I’m still here.
“I’d scrap it if I could right now.”
Luongo has nine seasons and more than $40-million left on his 12-year
deal. He would give that up for a chance to be a starter again in a city of his
choosing?
“I think he was very emotional,” Gillis said. “These days are emotional for
everybody. Where you have a day like this, where your whole life could be
turned upside down ... I think there’s an opportunity for things to be said
that in the clear light of day might not be reflecting how you really feel.
“I think he said that in a highly emotional state. I think that as Roberto
settles down and we get through decompressing ... we’ll have a discussion
about the future with him again.”
It’s hard to see how the market gets better for Luongo.
The National Hockey League economy – at least as it relates to players –
shrinks after this season when the salary cap dives to $64.3 million from
$70.2 million. Luongo’s albatross of a contract isn’t going to be any more
appealing in the summer.
The consequences for the Canucks are more immediate. While trying to win
a Stanley Cup this spring, they have $5.33 million of payroll invested in a
guy sitting on the bench when that money could have significantly upgraded
the team at other positions.
This is a lose-lose for player and team.
“At the time it was done, it was very favourable for this organization and it
was very favourable for Roberto,” Gillis said of the contract negotiated in
2009. “The top teams in the league that were competing for Stanley Cups
did contracts like this for franchise players.
Still.
Today is Luongo’s birthday. Bet he has never felt older.
667975
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks GM Mike Gillis gets no deals done, but touts 'pretty strong lineup,'
on NHL trade deadline day
have a good team. So I think we have a good team, we need great
goaltending and we need to get some luck. You can emerge from the West
if you get those things, but everything does have to go perfectly for you to
win the Stanley Cup."
Later in the day, the Canucks did recall Kassian from the Chicago Wolves.
The big winger played just one game after being sent down on Sunday.
By Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun April 3, 2013
After finishing second in the pursuit of Clowe on Tuesday, the Canucks
again were bridesmaids in an attempt to reacquire Raffi Torres from the
Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday.
VANCOUVER — Mike Gillis says teams need a lot of luck to win the
Stanley Cup.
"We were talking to them about Raffi for some time now," Gillis said. "He is
a player we are familiar with. He was a good player here and we were
talking to them all day today and it didn't work out for us."
The Vancouver Canucks now must hope they get a lot more of it than their
general manager did on Wednesday.
Gillis and the Canucks came up empty on trade deadline day and are now
gambling that Tuesday's acquisition of centre Derek Roy and the impending
return of injured centre Ryan Kesler will be enough to carry the team deep
into the playoffs.
Gillis went down swinging on a couple of potential deals Wednesday,
leaving the Canucks with at least one significant hole on their roster and
one unhappy goalie.
Not only did Gillis fail to deal Roberto Luongo, he also was unable to add
any more offensive punch to a team that has had real trouble scoring goals
this season.
The Canucks should be buoyed by Kesler's return, likely some time next
week, but Gillis was unable to add a proven winger to complement Kesler
on Vancouver's second line.
"We made a big pitch to get Ryane Clowe, we didn't end up with him
because of personal reasons," Gillis told a news conference at Rogers
Arena. "He was a player we were after."
Seventeen deals were made on a relatively quiet trade deadline day
involving 30 players. The Canucks were not in on any of them, but Gillis
said it was not from a lack of trying.
"We were in every deal we could possibly get in," he said. "They often don't
work out, so you just have to keep staying in them and staying in them.
With our lineup the way it is now, I think we are strong down the middle, our
defence is strong, our goaltending is strong. We need to get some support
from our wingers and score more goals. I think we have a pretty strong
lineup."
Gillis maintained the team accomplished its main goal heading into the
week by acquiring Roy from the Dallas Stars on Tuesday for a secondround pick and minor-league defenceman Kevin Connauton.
"That was our primary focus, to get a third-line centre," Gillis said.
Roy skated between Jannik Hansen and Chris Higgins in Wednesday's
practice. Presumably, Mason Raymond will join Kesler on the second line,
but who else?
If coach Alain Vigneault knows, he wasn't saying on Wednesday after he
spent the morning in the team's trade deadline day war room.
"I think we'll address that situation when Ryan is back with the team,"
Vigneault said. "Now we've got 12 healthy forwards and seven healthy
defencemen so we are going to try and come up with a plan that is best
suited for that group that we have right now. When those guys do come
back we'll see how the pieces fit. We don't have a lot of time, we have 12
regular-season games left. We have to make some good decisions."
In hindsight, assistant general manager Laurence Gilman may regret saying
in a radio interview after the Roy trade on Tuesday that the Canucks
weren't done dealing and were going "all-in" in an attempt to chase a
Stanley Cup.
A day later, with no new additional reinforcements, Gillis suggested the
Canucks lineup is good enough, with some luck, to compete for the Cup.
"I think with the addition of Derek we filled a real need that we have and
with Ryan coming back, Zack (Kassian) will be coming back, Mason
(Raymond) will be back, Dale Weise will be coming back, so we are going
to fill out our roster with good players," Gillis said.
"I think to win in the Stanley Cup playoffs, you need two things: You need
goaltending and you need some luck. And the third thing is you have to
The Sharks got Torres for a third-round pick. The Canucks were also
believed to be offering a third-rounder. The Sharks won out because their
third-round pick is one they acquired from the Florida Panthers and hence a
much higher pick than the Vancouver's.
The Canucks were also in the market for another right-hand shot depth
defenceman, but again came up empty.
The Minnesota Wild, the team the Canucks are chasing in the Northwest
Division, added some significant offence Wednesday when they acquired
Jason Pominville from the Buffalo Sabres.
The Canuck players now know exactly what their team is as the season
winds down. Captain Henrik Sedin thinks the addition of Roy and the return
of Kesler should give the team a big boost.
"I think Derek is a great pickup for us," Henrik said. "We played
shorthanded for the most part this year, missing Kes and (David) Booth and
other guys with injuries. Those are big holes to fill. I don't think people
realize that a lot of other teams have gotten better and, from injuries, we
have gotten worse. And we're still where we are. We've been winning
games and we know we can play better and that's going to come with
getting guys back."
That view was echoed by winger Chris Higgins.
"Kes is going to be a big addition," Higgins said. "We have gone almost the
whole season without him so it is kind of like getting a new player back with
him."
Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667976
Vancouver Canucks
Chat it to Bulis: The 2013 PITB NHL trade deadline day livechat
extravaganza
Daniel Wagner,
Normally, NHL trade deadline day is massive bore, with nothing happening
for most of the day until the very last minute, particularly when it comes to
Mike Gillis, who usually treats deadlines the same way a college freshman
treats studying for a final exam: last minute cramming.
We expect this year’s trade deadline will be completely normal.
But PITB will be here all day, from 5 AM in the morning until there’s no
chance that Gillis snuck in a last-second fax to the NHL head offices. We’ll
give you up-to-the-minute updates and analysis, not just of the various
trades throughout the day, but also of James Duthie’s bad jokes, Aaron
Ward’s tie, and Bob McKenzie’s on-air cell-phone use. If past livechats are
an indication, we’ll also talk about penguins, what we’re eating for
breakfast, and Batman.
The Canucks have one big piece to move, Roberto Luongo, and numerous
needs, so it’s entirely possible that the Canucks will do something big and
crazy that will shake the world to its core. Either that or the Canucks will do
nothing and an angry mob will storm Rogers Arena with pitchforks and
torches. Or, at the very least, pitchfork and torch apps on their
smartphones.
It’s going to be a good time. So please, join us. Otherwise we’ll just be
talking to ourselves for 8 hours, which would be really depressing. The fun
starts at 5 AM Pacific.
Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667977
Vancouver Canucks
More wackiness for WHL Giants and grads; Connauton traded and then
has place to stay dealt away, too
Steve Ewen
It’s been a strange season for the Vancouver Giants and many of their
grads.
Sure, Brendan Gallagher is adapting to the NHL with the Montreal
Canadiens and Milan Lucic and Evander Kane are once again key players
with the Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets, but things take a turn from there.
The current Giants finished last in the entire CHL. Grads Mark Fistric
(Edmonton), Jon Blum (Nashville) and Tomas Vincour (Dallas) were all
healthy scratches when coming through Vancouver with their NHL teams.
And when the Vancouver Canucks dealt Kevin Connauton to Dallas as part
of the Derek Roy swap on Tuesday, he became one of six former Giants
traded as part of an NHL deal this season.
Connauton, a defenceman, had been with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the
Chicago Wolves, and was re-assigned to Dallas’ farm team in that league,
the Texas Stars. One of the first people he contacted when he found out
about the trade was former Giants winger Tomas Vincour, who had just
been sent back to the Texas after a stint in Dallas.
The AHL Stars are based in Cedar Park, Texas, and Vincour had kept a
place in nearby Austin and said that Connauton was welcome to stay with
him.
Connauton relaxed. He hung up the phone. At least he had that. That would
make things easier.
No sooner had that thought shot through his mind when the Twitter on his
phone went off — Dallas had traded Vincour to the Colorado Avalanche.
The plans were quickly changed.
Connauton, 23, said that heard about the deal from Canucks’ vice-president
of player of personnel Lorne Henning and admitted that he was “grateful,”
that he was moved to a club where he might have a better opportunity.
Connauton is a left-handed puck mover, and Vancouver is already locked in
longer term to guys like that in Alexander Edler, 26, and Jason Garrison,
28.
“I really liked it there,” said Connauton on Wednesday. “I really wanted to
be there.
“You can’t always be in the perfect situation.”
The Canucks drafted Connauton, an Edmonton native, in the third round in
2009 out of Western Michigan University. They suggested that he jump to
the Giants the following season, figuring that a more pro-like schedule was
what he needed to develop quicker. He was adept offensively immediately,
and went on to score 24 goals, but he struggled defensively and showed
that he had plenty to learn in his own end.
He did improve, and he maintains that he’s gotten even better defensively
in his three years in the AHL. His numbers slipped this year (he had seven
goals and a minus-12 rating in 60 games with Chicago this year after
putting up 13 goals and a minus-three in 73 games with Chicago in 201112) but he attributed that to a “slow start.”
“I’ve taken a lot of heat and been pigeon-holed as a defensively liability, but
I would have not been playing in the situations that I have been playing in
— last minute of the period, penalty kill — if that was really the case,” he
said. “I’m confident in where my game is going.”
Connauton did admit that being used as a forward for a time at Canuck
training camp this year made him realize that he wasn’t likely in
Vancouver’s long-term plans.
“Right then and there, it was pretty obvious that I wasn’t going to be around
much longer,” he said.
Besides Connauton and Vincour, other former Giants to be traded this year
include Fistric (Dallas to Edmonton), Spencer Machaeck (Winnipeg to
Columbus), Matt Kassian (Minnesota to Ottawa) and Kale Kessy (Phoenix
to Edmonton). As well, James Wright (Florida to Winnipeg) shifted teams on
waivers.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667978
Vancouver Canucks
With Roy and Kesler in the middle, maybe Canucks can flip that playoff
switch
April 3, 2013. 4:16 pm • Section: The White Towel
“Smart. Savvy,” he said. “He makes really good passes over the blueline
and makes that pass when some players have to chip it in — he can make
that and wins a lot of puck battles.”
Kesler is out of his protective boot and was doing off-ice drills Wednesday.
He’s expected to skate soon and Raymond’s status is list as day-to-day.
And if Kassian can develop more professionalism, who knows what may
develop in this bunch?
Ben Kuzma
“When we’re healthy we’re a good team,” said Canucks coach Alain
Vigneault. “Sometimes your personnel permits you to play one way or it
permits you to play another way to win games.”
First came The Coin. Now comes The Switch.
The improving roster is starting to dictate an up-tempo approach is on the
horizon. And with the Edmonton Oilers here Thursday, maybe it’s time to
mash that gas pedal and get off the brakes.
From deciding which goaltender to play to deciding what style of play would
allow the injury-ravaged Vancouver Canucks to withstand their version of
Survivor, the club can look at the newly-acquired Derek Roy and the newlyhealed Ryan Kesler and look at the game differently. From passive to
pushing the pace. From defence first to offence. To drawing penalties and
actually converting those opportunities. Imagine that?
“For sure,” suggested winger Chris Higgins, who signed a four-year, $10
million extension Tuesday that has a partial no-movment clause. “Look at
all the points Kes and Derek have put up in the past and that will help get
our offence going. And that little breath of fresh air with Derek, it should be
interesting to see how it develops. It’s a lot more fun when you’re scoring
goals and we’re not used to putting up one or two a game and only coming
out on top if our goalies play well.”
With Roy centring Higgins and Jannik Hansen at practice Wednesday and
Kesler working between Mason Raymond and either Alex Burrows or Zack
Kassian — when the former Selke Trophy winner returns for the stretch
drive after fracturing his right foot and Raymond mends a shoulder strain —
the Canucks believe they can contend in the wild west. Even without
physical wingers Ryane Clowe and Raffi Torres, who they tried to land at
the NHL trade deadline. And even with conference rivals adding to their
arsenals with Jason Pominville going to Minnesota and Marian Gaborik to
Columbus.
“Pominville was our captain in Buffalo and is a great leader and a good
player with a good shot and Gaborik obviously has tremendous speed,”
said the diminutive Roy, and unrestricted free agent who was acquired from
Dallas on Tuesday for a second-round 2013 draft pick and minor-league
defenceman Kevin Connauton. “They’re two good players and that might
give them a resurgence.”
The Canucks hope they can say the same. In Roy, they get a small but
quick and crafty playmaker who had four goals and 22 points in 30 games
with the Stars this season. Although far removed from 32, 28 and 22-goal
seasons with the Sabres, the 5-foot-8 centre has played in 41 playoff
games and knows what awaits.
“It’s a grind and you have to stay even-keeled,” said the 29-year-old Ottawa
native. “It’s mostly about how hard are you going to work at the system and
how you’re going to listen to the coach. I just have to play my game. Set up
plays and score, use my linemates, get to the net and do all the little things
that win games.
“I played against Higgins a lot when he was in Montreal and he’s a good
player who works hard, makes nice moves and finds his linemates. We’re
going to have to talk a lot and keep a lot of communication lines open and
know what we’re doing on the ice.”
Roy worked the second power-play unit Wednesday with Higgins and
rookie Nicklas Jensen and anything to improve the 29th-ranked power play
is a plus. Henrik Sedin was between Burrows and Hansen on the first unit
with Daniel Sedin and Jason Garrison on the points.
“Derek is going to be a big help to us on the power play and five-on-five,”
predicted Henrik. “Getting Kes back and with Derek, they’re point-a-game
guys and it’s also going to put guys back into positions where they feel
comfortable. We’ve played shorthanded most of the year and people don’t
realize what we’ve been through. Through injuries we got worse.”
The Canucks now believe they’re better. How much better remains to be
seen. They need Kesler’s two-way dominance and Kassian’s single focus
after being recalled Wednesday from the Chicago Wolves in what the
Canucks called more “seasoning”. They need more great goaltending and a
better overall push. Roy is a step in the right direction, according to Higgins.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667979
Vancouver Canucks
A dash of salt, pepper and reality as Kassian recalled after “seasoning” stint
Ben Kuzma
A dash of this and a pinch of that.
Zack Kassian has been recalled by Vancouver Canucks after the young,
impressionable and wayward winger was re-assigned to the Chicago
Wolves on Sunday for what coach Alain Vigneault called “seasoning” after
he missed eight of nine games with a back ailment. Well, it’s not Kassian’s
game that needed work in the AHL, it was his approach to being a
consummate professional on and off the ice in the Vancouver fishbowl. If
the Canucks have to keep Kassian on a short leash to get the most out of a
big, physical winger who could bring a playoff presence to the top-six mix,
so be it. And if they have to give it a yank once in a while, all the better.
Anything to get his complete attention.
With five goals in his first seven games on the top line, Kassian played with
power, poise, feistiness and finish. He became a fan favourite and was the
toast of the town. However, for a 22-year-old still learning the challenges of
collecting a big cheque and unrelenting attention of the faithful, it can come
with pitfalls. Everybody knows your name. Everybody knows your game.
And it seems everybody has a camera phone where your image can
change in one click.
“Definitely, especially in a market like this,” Kassian told The Province last
week. “It’s not Buffalo. “There are a lot of people who are fans a lot of
people who are always watching. You definitely want to be pro on and off
the ice. We have an older team and everybody expects a lot from each
other and guys are going to have your back. It’s kind of the way we work.
“I’m really focused in helping the team have a good stretch. I believe I’m a
playoff player and I can show people what I can do. I’m really excited.”
So are the Canucks. If Kassian lines up with Henrik and Daniel Sedin in the
postseason, Ryan Kesler could work between Mason Raymond and Alex
Burrows. That would put Derek Roy between Chris Higgins and Jannik
Hansen. Ryane Clowe or Raffi Torres could have helped that mix and the
Canucks tried to add a physical presence at the NHL trade deadline, but
Kassian could provide that.
As long as his head is on straight and his game is ramped up.
OF NOTE — Winger Bill Sweatt has be re-assigned to the Wolves.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667980
Vancouver Canucks
Roberto Luongo would scrap his contract if he could
April 3, 2013. 12:55 pm • Section: The White Towel
Jason Botchford
Millions, who needs millions?
Turns out, Roberto Luongo doesn’t. At least not all of them.
Luongo said he would kill his $64 million contract if he could.
Today, anyway, the 12-year deal feels more anchor than financial security.
Dollar bills don’t buy happiness. Or playing time.
His contract may have looked like the best in hockey a few years ago. To
Luongo now, it may as well be the worst.
The onerous contract was the big reason why the trade deadline came and
went and Luongo is still a Canuck. And a backup at that.
“My contract sucks,” Luongo admitted. “That’s what the problem is.
Unfortunately, it’s a big factor in trading me. And it’s why I’m still here.”
“It’s good for some things. But not so good for others. That’s a decision me
and management made a few years ago when we signed it.
“We’re going to have to find a way to find a solution.”
“I’d scrap it if I could right now.”
Well, he can’t, meaning he has to embrace life for the rest of this year which
he may spend, mostly, sitting on the bench playing behind Schneider.
A month ago, Luongo said: “If I really wanted to be traded that bad, I could
have done other things, and I would have been gone a long time ago.”
Luongo was asked about that Wednesday.
“What I meant by that is if I took a different approach, from the end of last
year to now as how I conduct myself, I think things would have been
different,” he said.
Basically, if he was malcontent and was public about it, he’d be a starter
somewhere right now.
“I’m not disappointed in the way I handled the situation. I tried to handle it
the right way and not create any negative energy around the team.
“Whether that (impacted) the trade or not, I mean, I don’t regret the way I
handled things.”
Luongo said he is focused on the rest of the year, and not thinking about
what could happen in the summer when we get to do all this again.
In the offseason, Luongo thought there would be a bidding war for his
services but it never materialized.
There was interest, but no one was ever willing to pay general manager
Mike Gillis’s price.
“I wouldn’t call it frustrating,” Luongo said. “Honestly, it’s a hit on your pride
that teams are not willing to give up much.
“It doesn’t mean it’s a knock on me, more my situation with my contract.
“It’s a tough spot to be in for myself, for the organization and for everyone
involved.”
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667981
Vancouver Canucks
Gallagher: On dull NHL trade deadline day, fisticuffs tales from McSorley,
May brighten things up
Jonathan McDonald
Province Sports columnist Tony Gallagher reports from Rogers Arena,
where the Canucks are practising and team management continues to
hunker down behind closed doors on trade deadline day …
With all the deals made in the last couple of days, you certainly could have
predicted that both TV networks covering this trade deadline day the way
they do would be in the situation of having so very little happen for so long.
They both seemed to know it was coming, as well, so both have had the
cast of War and Peace on hand to kill time and tell stories, and both
seemed to have had some good and bad sections, as well you might.
Grading them is about all that’s left for most people who might have been
hoping for hard news and, if you were a Vancouver fan, only some of the
material was ill-informed and generally outrageous, as opposed to most of
it, given they are 2,500 miles away.
TSN was saved by Ray Ferraro, who is outstanding at what he does. But
it’s a good thing they did have a fellow so familiar with the Canucks given
how the “Reporters” seemed to have very little idea of the history of the
Roberto Luongo saga. None seemed to be aware that Lui turned down one
trade to Toronto back in June, and Bruce Arthur of the National Post kept
focusing on Vancouver as a poor team right now when in fact they’ve been
riddled with injuries. What matters is what they’ll be like when Ryan Kesler
and Derek Roy get into the lineup. Like they generally do, TSN had the
upper hand on calling the trades slightly ahead, but really that doesn’t
matter to the enjoyment of the telecast. No matter who breaks it, the other
has it an instant later.
Clearly the most amusing stories of the day were told by the Sportsnet
tough guys, Brad May talking about his many fights with Kris Barch, and
Marty McSorley going over his big fight with Wendel Clark during the 1993
playoffs, when the Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings played each other in
the semifinals.
May and Barch clearly loved fighting each other. May related how he was
older and would get tired a little earlier, and that during the fights Barch
would encourage him, saying: “Come on, Brad, keep going, keep going. We
want to be the top pair!” That of course was a reference to the long league
tradition fighters aspired to of being the most watched fighting pair, as was
the case for years with, for instance, Bob Probert and Tie Domi. May and
Barch, of course, never got close to that status but it certainly didn’t stop
them from trying; and the stories certainly generated some laughs.
McSorley and Clark went through their fight and talked about why it
happened, the situation at the time and what both parties were trying to
achieve; the big Kings defenceman ran over the Leafs’ Doug Gilmour,
resulting in Clark challenging him.
All good stuff to people who remember those incidents, certainly as
interesting as the movement of Scott Hannan again. Although, perhaps,
younger people were left somewhat at a loss to figure out how the game
was played in those days.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667982
Vancouver Canucks
Toilet Flushing: Luongo on the ice, and Nonis says nothing happening.
April 3, 2013. 11:08 am •
Jason Botchford
The possibility of a Luongo trade is getting flushed, if you are to believe
Toronto GM Dave Nonis, anyway.
With an hour to go before the trade deadline, Nonis on TSN said:
“As it sits right now, I don’t see us doing anything.”
Of course, that could change late. But Roberto Luongo is on the ice skating
in Rogers Arena this morning and the only other NHL goalie the Canucks
have signed after the big two, is Joe Cannata who started the year in the
ECHL.
And really, if the Leafs were honestly going to bring Miikka Kiprusoff in via
trade, they’re backup plan can’t be Roberto Luongo.
You’d be hard pressed to find two paths more different than the Kiprusoff
and Luongo paths. One, would be playing a year or two more. The other
has nine years left on his contract.
Nonis suggested he’s willing to ride James Reimer into the playoffs.
“(Goaltending) is not a concern. We feel we have two NHL quality
goaltenders,” Nonis said.
Too bad.
Because it would have been one helluva fit.
This has been going on for 11 months: Toronto, Vancouver, and Luongo
There’s a reason for it. It looked like it would have been an ideal place to be
for Luongo, and the Canucks and the Leafs would both be better off for it.
As of now, it appears that will never happen.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667983
Vancouver Canucks
Cross Jokinen off Canucks list
April 3, 2013. 10:46 am •
Jason Botchford
Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero is being hailed for yet another move by acquiring
Jussi Jokinen and getting the Carolina Hurricanes to eat some of his salary.
This is a player who is creative on the power play, can kill penalties and can
win you some face-offs. Oh, and he has a rep for being a shootout savant.
And he’s 29 years old.
You think that could have helped the Canucks?
The Canucks management team have been open the past 24 hours, after
acquiring Derek Roy, about an intriguing option they’d like to explore
regarding the regularly hurt Ryan Kesler.
Vancouver GM Mike Gillis suggested a way the team could produce more
offend would be pulling the trigger on an interesting option, moving Kesler
to wing and playing him on a second line centred by Roy.
Just one problem.
Who centres your third line? Max Lapierre?
Definitely not the best option when you consider the team thought Samme
Pahlsson last year was better.
Maybe the Canucks will have an answer for that. But they could have had
Jokinen essentially for free if they claimed him off waivers, before the
Penguins traded for him.
Jokinen is owed $3 million next year, which isn’t a wild amount, especially if
you consider the Canucks believe a player like Chris Higgins could have
commanded a $3.5 million a year salary on the open market.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667984
Vancouver Canucks
Canucks Hat Trick: Raymond rumours, adios Kipper, get Zack back
April 3, 2013. 9:12 am
Ben Kuzma
Three things to ponder as we await the noon NHL trade deadline on the
Left Coast:
1. DOES EVERYBODY LOVE RAYMOND?: We’re told that Mason
Raymond suffered a shoulder strain Saturday in Edmonton. We know the
speedy winger is a pending unrestricted free agent, who was taken to cutdown arbitration in the offseason by the Vancouver Canucks. The sobering
$325,000 US pay cut put a chip on his shoulder to get a one-year deal for
$2.275 million. And instead of sulking, Raymond found his stride, shot and
confidence to such a degree that he is an attractive commodity.
Raymond is in line for a hefty pay raise next season. But where? You can
argue that the best time to deal any player is when he has the most playing
worth — and the Canucks could lose him for nothing in the offseason —
and roster curiosity and a speed need are paramount now with Raymond.
But any team acquiring the winger must be confident enough that drawing
up a new deal would just be a formality and not a drawn-out process —
even with the salary cap ceiling dropping to $64.3 million US next season.
Raymond had been effective on a Canucks speed line with Jordan
Schroeder and Jannik Hansen, but the acquisition of centre Derek Roy
changes the dynamic. So does the postseason. And there’s the rub.
Raymond has but seven goals in 51 playoff games but is this his playoff
breakout spring? You can also see him on a second line with Ryan Kesler
and Alex Burrows, while Zack Kassian skates with Henrik and Daniel Sedin.
You can also see him somewhere else next season and hitting a home run
in free agency. One thing we didn’t see is Raymond being moved at the
trade deadline. Maybe he goes home to Calgary in the offseason and plays
for the Flames. One thing is certain. He won’t take a pay cut.
2. ADIOS, KIPPER: With Miikka Kiprsuoff announcing today that he’s going
to play out his existing contract with the Calgary Flames and probably retire
at the end of the season, the goalposts in a possible Roberto Luongo trade
have shifted once again. If the Toronto Maple Leafs are serious about
acquiring a proven starter — they talked at length to Kiprusoff about the
parameters of coming to the Maple Leafs as a UFA and also discussed a
contract extension — then any talks before the deadline with the Vancouver
Canucks will change. General manager Mike Gillis got his centre, but
basically needs to replace the picks he coughed up because the deal cost
him a second rounder and Kevin Connauton was a third-round pick. The
Canucks could use size, they could use a depth defenceman with Keith
Ballard out with a foot fracture and Kevin Bieksa playing through
bothersome groin strains. Luongo has arrived for practice at Rogers Arena.
In the end, the Canucks tried to move Luongo but couldn’t. They tried to
land Ryane Clowe and Raffi Torres but couldn’t.
3. GET ZACK BACK: What can Zack Kassian learn in Chicago on his
current “seasoning” stint in the AHL? Probably nothing. If the hulking winger
has fallen out of favour with the Canucks for his lack of professionalism on
and off the ice, deal with it and move on and get him out of there. The
Canucks need Kassian in the postseason. They need him back on the top
line with the Sedins where he scored five goals in his first seven games this
season. They didn’t land Ryane Clowe or Raffi Torres, so the Kassian
dynamic is a much bigger one now. Players will tell you it’s easier to play in
the NHL than the AHL. You have to do your job and somebody else’s in the
minors where there’s such a wide range of skill. In the NHL, you do your job
and that’s where Kassian needs to hone his game before the playoffs. Do it
in Vancouver. Not Chicago.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667985
Vancouver Canucks
Willes: Gillis’ price too high; will the Canucks end up paying for it?
By Ed Willes, The Province April 3, 2013
It isn’t often you hear a hockey player curse his $64-million contract or see
a general manager frustrated over his inability to trade a three-time All-Star,
but as you may have surmised, the Roberto Luongo soap opera isn’t
exactly a routine situation.
Routine, in fact, left town about 10 months ago when the Vancouver
Canucks decided to trade the best goalie in the franchise’s history. On
Wednesday, the trade deadline came and went, producing 17 deals
involving six goalies and, of course, the biggest news of the day was the
‘keeper who didn’t move: our man Luongo.
That development, in turn, produced drama by the truckload; emotionally
charged press conferences with Luongo and Gillis; and enough sound bites
to keep everyone in the media happy until Canada Day.
What it didn’t produce, however, was a trade and, as much as we’re a fan
of Wednesday’s theatre, the Canucks’ problem remains the same today, as
it was yesterday and as it was back in the summer.
How do they trade the goalie with a millstone of a contract?
Check that. The real problem is how do they trade the goalie with a
millstone of a contract and get something back? Gillis say Luongo’s deal
hasn’t been an issue in any trade discussions.
Luongo said: “My contract sucks. That’s what the problem is. Unfortunately
it’s a big factor in trading me, and it’s a big factor in why I’m still here.”
So which characterization is accurate? Well, if Luongo’s contract isn’t the
problem, you can ask why hasn’t he been traded? And that’s the question
which will continue to be asked until this mess is resolved.
“I think he was very emotional and I think these days are emotional for
everybody,” Gillis said in response to Luongo’s bombshell of a quote.
“When you have a day like this when your whole life could be turned upside
down and you speak to you guys right after, I think there’s an opportunity
for things to be said that, in the clear light of day, might not be reflective of
how he really feels.”
Or maybe all that emotion burned through the filters and the result was an
honest answer. It’s hard to say. What isn’t hard to say is Luongo is still a
Canuck and that creates more than a few issues for the organization.
Gillis, of course, understands everything in play. He clearly wants to do right
by Luongo, but he also wants a return for the organization. As the GM said,
the two don’t always line up.
“We’ve been doing that for six months; trying to put him in the best
situation, trying to put our team in the best situation,” Gillis said.
“Occasionally, they’re in conflict.”
But how does that change this summer? Who’s going to step up and make
a hockey trade for Luongo in July who wouldn’t in March? The Canucks
maintain there is a market and if they can get a respectable return for
Luongo, it will be a massive home run for the organization.
But if that market doesn’t materialize and Luongo hasn’t been moved by
July, this could get ugly.
On Wednesday, Luongo seemed to indicate he’d welcome a move almost
anywhere at this point.
“I was never approached about a trade and said no,” Luongo said. “If that
would have happened I would have said yes, obviously.”
Later he said: “Nothing ever materialized to the point where I had to make a
decision whether or not I was going to wave (his no-trade clause).”
Luongo’s agent Gilles Lupien said the same thing on Wednesday before he
declined to discuss the matter in further detail.
Gillis, for his part, said Luongo has been involved in the process and there
have been discussions. It’s probably all a matter of semantics — What’s a
discussion? What’s a formal offer? — but it also leaves the parties in
exactly the same place.
The sense here is Gillis could have traded Luongo at the deadline if he was
willing to come down — OK, way down — on his asking price. He didn’t,
and that’s left the Canucks with the highest-paid backup goalie in the game.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. On Tuesday, Gillis swung a killer deal for
Derek Roy that addressed the Canucks’ greatest need. Over the next 10
days, the team will also be getting back Ryan Kesler, Zack Kassian and
Dale Weise which should make for a formidable lineup.
A Luongo trade wasn’t going to add anything meaningful to the team for this
playoff run. Will it this summer?
You just hope that question is finally answered.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667986
Vancouver Canucks
Money can't buy Luongo's happiness
By Jason Botchford, The Province April 3, 2013
A $64-million contract can buy a player a lot of things, but playing time isn’t
one of them.
Neither is happiness.
Roberto Luongo is lacking both, something he detailed in an awkwardly
human, emotionally raw press conference that he handled like he’s handled
everything else this year — beautifully.
In a few days, the humiliation of feeling unwanted will fade. In a few
months, he will be traded — we think — and all of this will be a bitter
memory, one he will use to fuel the next chapter of his career.
There was something wrong about seeing Luongo Wednesday at the
podium, humbled and forced to explain what it felt like not to be traded. It
couldn’t have been easy explaining that no one really wanted him.
His honesty was exhilarating, however, especially when he declared he’d
annul his contract if the CBA allowed for it.
“My contract sucks,” he said. “That’s what the problem is. Unfortunately, it’s
a big factor in trading me. And it’s why I’m still here.
“I’d scrap it if I could right now.”
Despite all the millions he’s made, and will make, to hear him describe his
12-year, $64-million deal as an anchor provided a keyhole into his heart
and soul.
He wants to play, desperately so, and who among us who has ever played
a sport at any level can’t relate with that?
It was hard not to feel some sympathy for Lu, especially when he admitted
his pride was dented because the bidding war he expected in the offseason
never materialized. Not then, and not on Wednesday before the noon
deadline.
It leaves a situation no one wanted, or thought possible, a year ago. Luongo
will be a Canuck for the rest of the season.
Of course, things could have been different. Maybe if he was less loyal, and
more of a malcontent he’d have what he craves. Maybe if was more about
himself and less about the team, he’d be a clear-cut starter again.
“I’m not disappointed in the way I handled the situation,” Luongo said. “I
tried to handle it the right way and not create any negative energy around
the team. I don’t regret the way I handled things.”
The Canucks put on a big push to move him in the final hour, making
several calls to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But every time they called, the
Leafs changed what they were willing to give up for him. One time it was
nothing but a prospect. On the next call, it was only a player. Then it was
just draft picks.
In the end, the Canucks asked for backup goalie Ben Scrivens and two
second-round draft picks. Toronto still said no. That offer leaked out hours
later.
As if Luongo’s pride hasn’t taken enough of a hit.
It leaves you wondering how serious the Leafs were, and if a lot of their
alleged interest in Luongo was really a put on or a long con. If it was, and
they were sure to always keep the dialogue going, that’s quite the emotional
mudslide they dragged Luongo through.
“It has been an emotional ride the last year,” he said. “I think it is more the
unknown that has gotten to me more than anything else. I’m human, and
sometimes it gets to you.”
Both Luongo and GM Mike Gillis held press conferences when it was over,
making Wednesday possibly the first time ever there were duelling pressers
in Rogers Arena to explain why a player wasn’t traded.
Something in them felt a little cheap when it turned into ‘he said, he said’
territory over the issue of Luongo’s no-trade clause.
Luongo said he was never presented with a trade. But Gillis said they did
have discussions about whether he’d be willing to waive his NTC,
suggesting it was actually a bigger issue than his contract.
“I’ve never been told there was a stumbling block (with his contract),” Gillis
said. “The discussions we’ve had didn’t surround a stumbling block, they
surrounded players, draft picks, places where he might go. Those were
bigger hurdles than discussions about his contract.”
Really, they were both right. At the draft, talks between the Canucks and
the Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets were moving past toddler stage, and
Vancouver wanted to know if Luongo would be willing to waive. At the time,
he still believed Florida was going to come hard for him, and said no. It
essentially ended talks at the draft with any team but the Panthers.
Months later, when the Florida push never materialized, Luongo was open
to places like Toronto. But even then Toronto and Vancouver could never
consummate a deal.
It may never have been possible.
“Obviously, in the last couple of weeks things have been emotionally tough
for me as far as where I’m going,” Luongo said. “But now I can really make
sure I’m focusing on the right thing.”
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667987
Vancouver Canucks
Kuzma: Canucks make switch from mundane to high octane
The Canucks now believe they’re better. How much better remains to be
seen. They need Kesler’s two-way dominance and Kassian’s single focus
after being recalled Wednesday from the Chicago Wolves after he got what
the Canucks called more “seasoning.” They need more great goaltending
and a better overall push.
Roy is a step in the right direction, according to Higgins.
By Ben Kuzma, The Province April 3, 2013
First came The Coin.
Now comes The Switch.
From deciding which goaltender to play, to deciding what style of play
would allow the injury-ravaged Vancouver Canucks to withstand their
version of Survivor, the club can look at the newly acquired Derek Roy and
the newly healed Ryan Kesler and look at the game differently.
From passive to pushing the pace; from defence first to offence first.
To drawing penalties and actually converting those opportunities.
Imagine that?
“For sure,” said winger Chris Higgins, who signed a four-year, $10-million
extension Tuesday that has a partial no-movement clause.
“Look at all the points Kes and Derek have put up in the past, and that will
help get our offence going. And that little breath of fresh air with Derek, it
should be interesting to see how it develops.
“It’s a lot more fun when you’re scoring goals, and we’re not used to putting
up one or two a game and only coming out on top if our goalies play well.”
With Roy centering Higgins and Jannik Hansen at practice Wednesday —
and Kesler working between Mason Raymond and either Alex Burrows or
Zack Kassian, when the former Selke Trophy winner returns for the stretch
drive after fracturing his right foot and Raymond mends a shoulder strain —
the Canucks believe they can contend in the wild West.
Even without physical wingers Ryane Clowe and Raffi Torres, who they
tried to land at the NHL trade deadline. And even with conference rivals
adding to their arsenals, with Jason Pominville going to Minnesota and
Marian Gaborik to Columbus.
“Pominville was our captain in Buffalo and is a great leader and a good
player with a good shot, and Gaborik obviously has tremendous speed,”
said the diminutive Roy, an unrestricted free agent who was acquired from
Dallas on Tuesday for a second-round 2013 draft pick and minor-league
defenceman Kevin Connauton.
“They’re two good players, and that might give them a resurgence.”
The Canucks hope they can say the same. In Roy, they get a small but
quick and crafty playmaker who had four goals and 18 assists in 30 games
with the Stars this season. Although far removed from 32-, 28- and 22-goal
seasons with the Sabres, the 5-foot-8 centre has played in 41 playoff
games and knows what awaits.
“It’s a grind, and you have to stay even-keeled,” said the 29-year-old
Ottawa native.
“It’s mostly about how hard are you going to work at the system, and how
you’re going to listen to the coach. I just have to play my game. Set up
plays and score, use my linemates, get to the net and do all the little things
that win games.
“I played against Higgins a lot when he was in Montreal, and he’s a good
player who works hard, makes nice moves and finds his linemates. We’re
going to have to talk a lot and keep a lot of communication lines open and
know what we’re doing on the ice.”
Roy worked the second power-play unit Wednesday with Higgins and
rookie Nicklas Jensen, and anything that improves the 29th-ranked power
play is a plus. Henrik Sedin was between Burrows and Hansen on the first
unit with Daniel Sedin and Jason Garrison on the points.
“Derek is going to be a big help to us on the power play and five-on-five,”
predicted Henrik. “Getting Kes back and with Derek, they’re point-a-game
guys and it’s also going to put guys back into positions where they feel
comfortable. We’ve played shorthanded most of the year, and people don’t
realize what we’ve been through. Through injuries we got worse.”
“Smart. Savvy,” he said. “He makes really good passes over the blueline
and makes that pass when some players have to chip it in — he can make
that and wins a lot of puck battles.”
Kesler is out of his protective boot and was doing off-ice drills Wednesday.
He’s expected to skate soon and Raymond’s status is list as day-to-day.
And if Kassian can develop more professionalism, who knows what may
develop in this bunch?
“When we’re healthy we’re a good team,” said Canucks coach Alain
Vigneault. “Sometimes your personnel permits you to play one way or it
permits you to play another way to win games.”
The improving roster is starting to dictate an uptempo approach is on the
horizon. And with the Edmonton Oilers here Thursday, maybe it’s time to
mash that gas pedal and get off the brakes.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
667988
Vancouver Canucks
Gallagher: Scrap that sucky contract? Not likely for Luongo
Given the Canucks weren’t going to get the solid winger they had hoped to
land Wednesday in this deal anyway, handing him away for nothing now
made no sense as long as Lui stays professional.
And evidently they’re pretty confident that will be the case.
Vancouver Province: LOADED: 04.04.2013
By Tony Gallagher, The Province April 3, 2013
VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 31: A male fan of Roberto Luongo of
the Vancouver Canucks holds a sign n the stands during the game against
the Minnesota Wild at General Motors Place on January 31, 2009 in
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Minnesota won 4-3 in overtime.
When Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis said that Roberto Luongo may
have said some things that in the light of day he might not express the
same way in less stressful conditions, he may have had a point.
Luongo said he would “scrap” his contract if he could, and that his “contract
sucks” given the situation he found himself in Wednesday afternoon when
he remained a Canuck when he probably had high hopes his situation
would clear up and he’d be able to take over as a starter with another team.
Of course, there is a way Lui could actually have a chance to have his bluff
called and scrap his contract. It won’t happen, but if this contract were in
fact as onerous as people claim it is, Luongo could get himself free.
It could (but it won’t, of course) happen this way. Lui could tell the Canucks
he’s fed up and that he won’t be reporting this summer, or even now were
he so disposed. The Canucks could then put him on $125 unconditional
waivers for purposes of his release and wait. If nobody claimed him (as so
many doomsday types think could happen) they could send him notice that
his contract has been terminated and he would then be an unrestricted free
agent. Ergo, his contract is scrapped.
Won’t happen for a myriad of reasons of course, but Lui had perhaps be a
little more careful about his livelihood, because if his contract is as sucky as
he and so many of Wednesday commentators were saying, it’s not
completely impossible he would have that opportunity.
In reality, if Luongo didn’t want to face another season of this and refused to
report, the team would suspend him, not have to pay him, and wait until he
got tired of waiting. So he won’t be doing that, it would take all the financial
pressure off Vancouver. But if he wanted to be true to his emotional word of
Wednesday, he could do it.
In reality, if worse comes to worse, the Canucks can put him on regular
waivers this summer because he does not have a “no movement” clause
and he would almost certainly be claimed. If somehow the goaltending
market became so clogged with unrestricted free agents Mike Smith, Niklas
Backstrom and other cheaper bodies floating around that he wasn’t
claimed, the Canucks could always take difficult contracts back. The whole
notion of buyout which keeps being mentioned is so far down the pecking
order it’s laughable.
“At the time it was done, it was very favourable for this organization and
very favourable for Roberto,” Gillis said of the contract.
“The top teams in the league that were competing for Stanley Cups did
contracts like this for franchise players. I still don’t think it’s as hard as
people want to make it out to be. As we move along, I think we’re going to
be able to accommodate Roberto’s needs and our needs.”
Gillis has been saying this now for a long, long time, and there’s no
question he’s misread the market. The lockout and subsequent short
season, the league’s obsession with parity where everyone is all in a gaggle
after just 30 games hasn’t helped of course, but asking less sooner was
clearly the way to go. But hindsight is easy.
But as much as this may have been a blow to Luongo’s ego that the teams
haven’t been lined up to grab him, it’s been Gillis’ respect for him as a
goalie which has caused him always to try to get for the team for what he
thought Lui was worth.
It’s clear the rest of the league isn’t as high on the player as Gillis is against
the backdrop of this contract, no matter what anyone thinks of it.
And he’s been dealing with strange teams too. The Leafs had trouble
making a decision, and how else do you explain Philly going for Steve
Mason in their never-ending quest for goaltending?
667989
Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals trade for Martin Erat, part with prospect Filip Forsberg
By Katie Carrera,
Thirty-six games into this shortened season, the Washington Capitals sit in
a rather unremarkable position, having only just reached the NHL’s version
of .500. But while their year has largely been defined by inconsistencies,
injuries and various other roadblocks, over the past two weeks the Capitals
have begun to see the potential they believed was there from the beginning.
Predominantly healthy for the first time all season, Washington went 5-1-1
in its seven games prior to the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday, and
catapulted itself from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings to
two points out of the Southeast Division lead.
So when the deadline arrived, General Manager George McPhee opted not
to subtract a single player, but to trade a top prospect and add a top-six
winger. The move made the clear statement that the Capitals believe they
have a shot at winning in the present, even if this season so far hasn’t gone
the way they scripted it.
“You’re here to win. We’ve been in that mode for a while. This is six years
of trying to win a Cup,” McPhee said. “We had our rebuild phase, we sort of
rebuilt things on the fly here, but we’d like to continue to make the playoffs
while we’re doing it.”
Washington traded highly regarded 2012 first-round draft pick Filip Forsberg
to the Nashville Predators for veteran winger Martin Erat, who has recorded
at least 49 points in eight consecutive seasons prior to this shortened year,
and a minor-league prospect, Michael Latta.
Shipping out Forsberg, 18, the organization’s second best prospect, is at
odds with what has been McPhee’s long-view approach since the 2004-05
lockout of building through the draft and carefully grooming young players.
But in this case, future risk was worth bolstering Washington’s present
depth at wing, McPhee said.
“They’re never easy decisions. It takes some guts to do deals sometimes,”
McPhee said. “With respect to giving up young players, you’ve got to be
careful doing that, but we’ve drafted well enough that we can do it. And I
wanted to help this team now.”
Erat, 31, should do just that. The Czech native, who was tied for Nashville’s
scoring lead with 21 points and recorded no less than 49 points in each of
the past eight seasons, will ideally slot into a top-six role for the Capitals.
He has two years remaining on his current contract with a salary cap hit of
$4.5 million per season.
Erat waived a no-movement clause in order to join the Capitals, saying he
wants to play for a team that’s a contender.
“I was getting older,” said Erat, who could wind up as Washington’s top-line
left wing. “I don’t have seven, eight years to wait for another chance.”
McPhee said he “wasn’t interested” in trading any of Washington’s pending
unrestricted free agent —, including veteran center Mike Ribeiro or gritty
Matt Hendricks — because he didn’t believe it would send the message,
publicly or to the team, that the goal is to win now.
Those postseason aspirations and expectations are the same things the
players hold for themselves. Before the trade deadline passed, several
Capitals said they hoped management would show the confidence in the
current roster to help it fight for that opportunity.
“I think we have a good thing going here. Close to our division, close to
making the playoffs,” said Ribeiro, who has confidence in Washington’s
improved play. “We know how good we can be and how to play when we
win and now it’s just a matter of keep doing it.”
Ribeiro, 33, was confident earlier in the day Wednesday that he wouldn’t be
traded but added that he wasn’t on the verge of re-signing with Washington.
He isn’t focused on a contract extension now, though, but simply helping
the Capitals find a way to succeed.
“I hope to go all in because I don’t ever want to write off a season or
anything like that,” defenseman Karl Alzner said. “The fact that we’re on the
upswing right now and playing good hockey, it doesn’t matter where we
finish.”
As the Capitals and the entire NHL have learned in recent seasons, where
a team ends up in the regular season isn’t necessarily an indication of how
it might fare in the postseason. Find a way into the playoffs, and anything is
possible.
With 12 games remaining, a sixth consecutive postseason berth seems well
within Washington’s reach. The Capitals not only sit two points back of
division-leading Winnipeg, but they also have two games in hand, making a
fifth division title in the past six years a genuine possibility.
Washington’s remaining regular season games include plenty of winnable
matchups — four games against teams currently out of the playoff picture,
along with games against fellow bubble teams the New York Islanders and
Winnipeg Jets. Even though they face teams comfortably in a playoff spot
six times, given the way the Capitals appear to be finding their stride under
Coach Adam Oates, winning two out of every three games the rest of the
way doesn’t seem all that far fetched.
Certainly not to McPhee at least. After his deadline-day addition of Erat, his
directive is in full view — win now.
“As players, that’s our only priority is this year — right now and making the
playoffs,” Troy Brouwer said. “We squeezed into the playoffs last year and
had a good opportunity to make a deep run. . . . This year is no different; I
think we have a better team this year than we did last year. I think we
sputtered a little bit at the beginning of the season, but we have all the
pieces that we need to be a good, competitive team in the playoffs.”
Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667990
Washington Capitals
Capitals trade top prospect Filip Forsberg to Nashville for Martin Erat
(Updated)
Posted by Katie Carrera on April 3, 2013 at 5:00 pm
In a late-day move, the Capitals have traded top prospect Filip Forsberg to
the Nashville Predators for veteran winger Martin Erat and a minor league
prospect.
Erat, 31, has two years remaining on his current contract with a salary cap
hit of $4.5 million per season and had to waive a no-movement clause in
order to join Washington.
Although he has traditionally played right wing, Erat is left handed and
should slot into the left wing spot on either of the top two lines. In 35 games
for the Predators this season, Erat has recorded four goals and 17 assists.
In 10 NHL seasons, Erat’s career high in goals is 23 and points is 58.
The minor league prospect who is coming to the Capitals organization in
addition to Erat is American Hockey League center Michael Latta, 21. Latta
has nine goals, 26 assists and 184 penalty minutes in 67 games for the
AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season.
It’s something of a surprising move, considering how highly regarded
Forsberg, 18, is, and how the Capitals have preferred to build their roster
through the draft rather than acquiring veteran players through trades in
recent years. For all of Forsberg’s potential, though, it’s uncertain when he
would have been ready to play in the NHL.
“I wanted to help this team now,” General Manager George McPhee told
reporters.
When McPhee met with local reporters last Friday, he said the organization
had encouraged Forsberg to play for the AHL’s Hershey Bears following the
conclusion of his season in the second-tier Swedish league Allsvenskan.
The plan is for Erat to be in Washington on Thursday morning, but it’s
unclear whether he will be on the ice for the morning skate.
Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667991
Washington Capitals
Martin Erat on trade to Capitals: ‘I just want to win’
Posted by Lindsay Applebaum on April 3, 2013 at 7:24 pm
Martin Erat waived his no-trade clause to leave the Nashville Predators
because he wanted to give himself a better chance to win a Stanley Cup,
the newly acquired Capitals winger said Wednesday.
“I’ve been in Nashville for 11 years and it’s hard to leave the city when
you’ve been here for so long, but I’m so excited for the opportunity and to
play for the Stanley Cup,” Erat said in a conference call with reporters.
In a late trade deadline day move, Washington shipped top prospect Filip
Forsberg to Nashville in exchange for Erat, 31, and prospect Michael Latta.
Erat said he asked Nashville General Manager David Poile for a trade
because the Predators were “going in a younger direction.”
“I’m getting older, and I don’t have seven, eight years to wait for another
chance,” Erat said.
After rallying last night against Carolina, the Capitals sit two points back of
the Southeast Division lead with two games in hand on the Winnipeg Jets,
and are four points behind the eighth-place New York Islanders. They’re still
in the playoff race, and that was part of the appeal for Erat.
An endorsement from former Capital Roman Hamrlik, a good friend from
the Czech Republic, also helped convince him to go to D.C., Erat said.
Asked about his hopes for the last 12 games of the regular season, Erat
said: “Just make the playoffs. It doesn’t matter if you’re first or eighth. You
start from zero-zero in the playoffs.”
Erat has two years remaining on his current contract with a salary cap hit of
$4.5 million per season. In 35 games for the Predators, he has recorded
four goals and 17 assists. He recorded a career-high 58 points (19 goals,
39 assists) last season and has eclipsed the 50-point plateau in five of the
last six seasons.
While he has typically played right wing, Erat, who is left handed, said he’d
be happy wherever the Capitals decide to put him in the lineup.
“I really don’t care if I play right or left, or first or third line,” he said. “I just
want to win…”
Erat said he will arrive in Washington in at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667992
Washington Capitals
Mike Ribeiro: ‘I don’t really see myself move or sign today’
Posted by Katie Carrera on April 3, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Mike Ribeiro said that he doesn’t expect to be traded before the NHL’s
trade deadline at 3 p.m. but that he also doesn’t anticipate signing a
contract extension with the Capitals Wednesday, either.
“Not really nervous. I think we have a good thing going here. Close to our
division, close to making the playoffs,” Ribeiro said. “I don’t really see
myself move or sign today. We’ll just get focused for the game tomorrow.”
Ribeiro, 33, is in the final year of five-year, $25 million contract and is set to
become an unrestricted free agent on July 5 and he has said he is seeking
a long-term deal, which the veteran center defines as four or five years.
The Montreal native said he isn’t concerned about being able to sign a
contract for next season, whether with the Capitals or elsewhere. For now,
Ribeiro is glad to know that he appears to be staying in Washington for at
least the remainder of the season.
“The relief is more about staying here or not staying. It was more that than
my contract,” Ribeiro said. “Contract I don’t think I’m worried if I’m going to
sign for next year’s season. That will happen. It was more to know if I was
staying here or not. With our last two weeks or so I think you can see our
potential, what we can do. I’m happy here and hopefully we can keep
winning here and make the playoffs.”
Over the past several days, whether General Manager George McPhee
would trade or re-sign Ribeiro prior to the trade deadline was one of the
largest questions looming for the Capitals.
As Washington captured five of six points on its recently completed road trip
and moved within two points of the Southeast Division lead, though, it
seemed unlikely that McPhee would trade away the team’s second-line
center and second-leading scorer.
“I still have the rest of this year of my contract so nothing changes,” Ribeiro
said. “I still have a lot of time after today if they want to sign me or not. So
for me it’s to keep playing and make the playoffs and at some point we can
talk and get things done and see where it goes from there.”
Ribeiro remaining in Washington also sends a clear message to the rest of
the team that the focus is on succeeding this season.
“He’s a very, very important piece of this team right now,” Troy Brouwer
said. “With him not being moved, guys know that we have that second-line
center that adds another element of dangerous ability to put the puck in the
net and be a solid two-way player behind Nicky. He’s been phenomenal for
us all year long. Guys are still hoping that if he doesn’t get traded here that
they’ll find a way to keep him here for a while.”
Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667993
Washington Capitals
NHL trade deadline: Blue Jackets acquire Marian Gaborik; Jason Pominville
to Minnesota
Posted by Katie Carrera on April 3, 2013 at 9:59 am
>> Capitals trade top prospect Filip Forsberg to Nashville for Martin Erat
>> Update 3:18 p.m.: The Colorado Avalanche have sent defenseman
Ryan O’Byrne to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fourth-round pick.
>> Update 3:02 p.m.: Friendly reminder that while the 3 p.m. deadline has
passed but deals can still be announced anywhere from a half hour to 45
minutes afterward as the paperwork is processed by the league.
Meanwhile, Phoenix has traded Raffi Torres to the San Jose Sharks for a
third-round pick.
>> Update 2:58 p.m.: Columbus has acquired forward Blake Comeau from
the Calgary Flames for a fifth-round pick.
>> Update 2:45 p.m.: Buffalo has traded Jason Pominville to the Minnesota
Wild for goaltender Matt Hackett and forward prospect Johan Larsson.
>> Update 2:38 p.m.: According to multiple reports the New York Rangers
have traded Marian Gaborik to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Derick
Brassard, right wing Derek Dorsett, defensive prospect John Moore and a
sixth round pick.
>> Update 2:32 p.m.: The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded goaltender
Steve Mason to the Philadelphia Flyers for goaltender Michael Leighton and
a third-round pick.
>> Update 2:10 p.m.: Via TSN’s Bob McKenzie Tampa Bay has acquired
goaltender Ben Bishop from the Ottawa Senators as it continues to try and
find a true No. 1 goaltender to anchor their team. The Lightning will send
winger Cory Conacher and a fourth-round pick back to Ottawa for Bishop.
>> Update 2:01 p.m.: Mike Ribeiro said Wednesday afternoon at KCI that
he doesn’t expect to be traded or sign a contract extension today. “I think
we have a good thing going here. Close to our division, close to making the
playoffs,” Ribeiro said. “I don’t really see myself move or sign today.”
Check out Ribeiro’s full comments here.
>> Update 1:34 p.m.: TSN is reporting that Carolina has sent center Jussi
Jokinen to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional seventh round pick.
According to Bob McKenzie, the Hurricanes will be retaining some of
Jokinen’s $3 million salary in the trade.
>> Update 1:20 p.m.: A few minor trades happened as the Capitals came
off the ice for practice. Nashville sent Scott Hannan (Anyone remember that
line change in the 2011 playoffs against Tampa Bay?) to the San Jose for a
conditional seventh-round pick. If Hannan plays in the postseason that turns
into a sixth-round pick. And Edmonton acquired Jerred Smithson from the
Florida Panthers for a fourth-round pick.
>> It could be a day with little movement around the league considering that
many of the available big-name players have already been moved in the
week leading up to Wednesday’s deadline.
To name a few: Jarome Iginla went to Pittsburgh as did Brenden Morrow
and Douglas Murray, Jaromir Jagr was traded to the Boston Bruins, Ryane
Clowe was sent to the New York Rangers, Jay Bouwmeester was shipped
to the St. Louis Blues, Robyn Regehr went to the L.A. Kings and Derek Roy
was traded to the Vancouver Canucks.
Capitals center Mike Ribeiro is one of the more interesting cases with the
deadline just a few hours away. He’s made it clear he’s looking for a longterm deal and Renaud Lavoie of RDS reported earlier Wednesday that
Ribeiro is willing to take a four-year deal as opposed to his previous
preference for a five-year deal.
While Ribeiro could draw interest as a rental in a deadline day deal, with
Washington in the midst of a playoff hunt it seems unlikely McPhee would
be willing to trade away the team’s No. 2 center and second leading scorer
(35 points) even if the two sides aren’t close to reaching an agreement on a
new deal.
>> One other Capitals name that popped up on Wednesday as a possible
trade candidate according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun is veteran winger Jason
Chimera.
The 33-year-old left wing has one year remaining on his current contract
after this season with a salary cap hit of $1.75 million. It’s been a rough
season for Chimera offensively. After recording his first career 20-goal
season in 2011-12 but in 32 games this season he has just one goal and
eight assists.
>> The Washington Capitals embarked on a road trip last Friday knowing
that how they fared in three games against Buffalo, Philadelphia and
Carolina would not only impact their postseason chances but could sway
the organization’s approach at the trade deadline.
Wednesday they return to Arlington for practice having obtained five of a
possible six points in their past three games. The Capitals sit two points
back of the Southeast Division lead with two games in hand on the
Winnipeg Jets and four points behind the eighth-place New York Islanders.
The Southeast Division title and a sixth-consecutive postseason berth are
very much within Washington’s reach. Given that the Capitals seem to be
finding a rhythm under Coach Adam Oates winning two out of every three
games through the final 12 contests of the regular season, which would
secure a playoff spot according to most projections, doesn’t seem all that
farfetched given their remaining schedule.
So will General Manager George McPhee look to add any complementary
players for a playoff push or largely stand pat with this group that reached
hockey’s version of .500 with their win over Carolina Tuesday night?
Stay tuned for updates on whatever moves the Capitals make and whatever
deals occur around the league as the 3 p.m. trade deadline approaches.
Washington Post LOADED: 04.04.2013
667994
Washington Capitals
Capitals’ deadline decisions make goal clear: Win now
By Stephen Whyno
The Washington Times
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
George McPhee watched as his Washington Capitals climbed to within two
points of first place in the Southeast Division but all along figured he wanted
to add another top-six forward. No matter the recent results, the general
manager made one thing clear: “We weren’t going to be sellers.”
That’s why he didn’t trade impending free agent center Mike Ribeiro or gritty
forward Matt Hendricks. And that’s why the Caps traded highly touted
prospect Filip Forsberg to the Nashville Predators for top-line winger Martin
Erat just before Wednesday’s trade deadline.
On the precipice of the playoff picture, McPhee didn’t raise the white flag on
the 2013 season. Instead he did the opposite, mortgaging a piece of the
future for a 31-year-old who could help the Caps right away.
“You’re here to win; we’ve been in that mode for a while,” McPhee said.
“This is six years of trying to win a Cup. We had our rebuild phase. We sort
of rebuilt things on the fly here, but we’d like to continue to make the
playoffs while we’re doing it.”
Playoffs or bust now and in the near future is how McPhee approached this
move. In the 18-year-old Forsberg, the Caps gave up their second-best
prospect and top pick in last year’s draft.
“With respect to giving up young players, you’ve got to be careful doing
that,” McPhee said. “But we’ve drafted well enough that we can do it.”
It was done with eyes on the final 12 games of the regular season, the
upcoming playoffs and the next two years, as Erat has two seasons left on
his contract at a $4.5 million annual cap hit.
Adding Erat, who was tied for the Nashville lead with 21 points, beefs up
the Caps’ forward ranks at a time when they’re clicking.
“The players have been playing really well,” McPhee said. “I think we’ve
proven that when we’re healthy we’re pretty good. I just tried to make them
a little bit better.”
That’s what these players wanted. After going 5-1-1 in their past seven, the
Caps wanted to show this group was good enough to make a run in the
playoffs.
But they had no idea how McPhee would approach the deadline.
“I don’t know what the mindset is for a guy like him when you’re kind of right
on the bubble of making it,” defenseman Karl Alzner said earlier
Wednesday afternoon. “Do you go all-in or do you back off? I don’t know
how you look at that. For me, I hope to go all-in because I don’t ever want
to write off a season or anything like that.”
Right wing Troy Brouwer said within the locker room that “our only priority is
this year, right now, and making the playoffs.”
McPhee did nothing to dispel that notion, that the expectations for this team
did not dip after a 2-8-1 start and struggles that had them in the basement
of the Eastern Conference. It’s about getting into the playoffs.
In that vein, McPhee said he never considered trading Ribeiro or Hendricks,
neither of whom signed contract extensions before Wednesday’s deadline
passed. Dumping them would have sent the wrong message to the rest of
the players.
“They’ve played well for us this year and we have lots of time to talk,”
McPhee said. “We’ll see what the future brings. I just didn’t think it would be
the right thing to do for our team or our fan base.”
Ribeiro was confident well before 3 p.m. that he wasn’t getting traded but
also knew he wasn’t signing a deal immediately. The 33-year-old will worry
about the contract later and concentrate now on being one of the Caps’ top
offensive weapons.
“I think we have a good thing going here: close to our division [lead], close
to making the playoffs,” Ribeiro said.
Brouwer said he believed this group was better than last year’s team, which
made it to Game 7 of the conference semifinals against the New York
Rangers. Having Ribeiro around has a lot to do with that.
“He’s a very, very important piece of this team right now,” Brouwer said.
“With him not being moved, guys know that we have that second-line center
that adds another element of dangerous ability to put the puck in the net
and be a solid two-way player behind [Nicklas Backstrom]. He’s been
phenomenal for us all year long.”
McPhee’s hope is that Erat will be able to step in and contribute in a top-six
role right away. Erat had to waive a no-movement clause to come to
Washington, and it’s possible he slides onto the top line at left wing
opposite Alex Ovechkin.
“The nice thing is we’re getting healthy and we have some options,”
McPhee said. “We like the player a lot. He’s a real good veteran player,
terrific speed, good sense, plays the game right.”
Erat has recorded at least 49 points in the past eight seasons, including a
career-high 58 last year. And his desire to win now fits well with the Caps’.
“For me, I was getting older,” Erat said. “I don’t have seven, eight years to
wait for another chance.”
With Erat, the Caps have parts of three seasons, with Backstrom and
Ovechkin each still in their prime, to get the job done. But of course it came
with McPhee gambling the future for a better chance in the present.
“You’re playing on your instincts and experiences as a manager,” he said.
“If I do this, does it make us better now, does it make us better in the
future?”
Washington Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667995
Washington Capitals
Capitals notes: Matt Hendricks played through scratched cornea
By Stephen Whyno
The Washington Times
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
That Matt Hendricks is a tough hockey player was never in question. The
Washington Capitals forward Tuesday simply added another chapter to his
tale of playing through injuries.
Hendricks suffered a scratched cornea in his left eye against the Carolina
Hurricanes and lost his vision at first, but he came back to play.
“I still feel it; it feels a little sore and a little burning sensation in there,”
Hendricks said after practicing Wednesday. “But for the most part I’m good.
It was probably more scary than anything.”
Hendricks took a glove to the eye from Hurricanes forward Tim Brent as
some pushing and shoving was going on. His vision was “a little disrupted”
and he saw spots, but drops and a contact lens allowed him to continue
about his business.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Hendricks said. “I couldn’t see anything out
of it right away. Kind of like somebody poked you in the eye real good and
you kind of see black here. But it came back quickly and I was able to play,
and that’s all that really matters.”
Hendricks played just four shifts in the final two periods of the 5-3 victory,
but the fact that he came back at all was a testament to his stubbornness to
play through just about anything.
“It takes a lot to get that guy out of the lineup,” center Jay Beagle said. “For
him not to come back, he’s got to be almost half-dead. We know that he’s a
hardworking guy and a heart guy. That’s what he does.”
Hendricks is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and is
believed to be looking for a commitment to re-sign with the Caps. His agent,
Michael Wulkan, said Tuesday he was “cautiously optimistic” about getting
a deal done, but nothing happened before Wednesday’s trade deadline.
Hendricks will be 32 by the start of next season. He fills multiple roles for
coach Adam Oates‘ team, from penalty killing and faceoffs to a little bit of
enforcement.
Schmidt sent to Hershey
The Caps sent Nate Schmidt to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey
League a day after signing the defenseman as a college free agent out of
the University of Minnesota. Schmidt practiced in Arlington with the team
Wednesday and called it a “no-brainer” to sign with the team, but the
playing time he’ll get in the immediate future will be in the minors.
“We like him a lot. Real good player,” general manager George McPhee
said. “Sort of the guy we targeted this year.”
After demoting Schmidt, the Caps were back to having eight healthy
defensemen.
Washington Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667996
Washington Capitals
Martin Erat traded to Capitals for prospect Filip Forsberg
By Stephen Whyno
The Washington Times
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The Washington Capitals acquired winger Martin Erat and a minor leaguer
from the Nashville Predators for top prospect Filip Forsberg.
Erat, 31, is a left-handed shot who has played right wing. Coach Adam
Oates could move him to left wing on the first line opposite the right-handed
Alex Ovechkin.
Erat has two years left with an annual cap hit of $4.5 million. He has four
goals and 17 assists in 36 games this season for the Predators.
Forsberg was the Caps’ No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft, No. 11 overall. He’s
projected as a top-six winger in the NHL.
Forsberg, 18, was considered the second-best prospect in the Washington
organization, behind only Evgeny Kuznetsov.
The Caps also got 21-year-old center Michael Latta, a 2009 draft pick who
has played in the American Hockey League for the Milwaukee Admirals. He
will report to AHL Hershey.
This move signals general manager George McPhee’s desire to win now at
the expense of the future.
“As players that’s our only priority is this year, right now and making the
playoffs,” right wing Troy Brouwer said hours before the trade was
announced.
“I hope to go all in because I don’t ever want to write off a season or
anything like that,” defenseman Karl Alzner said.
Washington Times LOADED: 04.04.2013
667997
Washington Capitals
Capitals get winger Martin Erat in deadline deal
April 3, 2013 | 7:00 pm | Modified: April 3, 2013 at 7:10 pm
Brian McNally
The Washington Examiner
The Capitals acquired forward Martin Erat and a prospect from the
Nashville Predators at the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday in exchange
for top prospect Filip Forsberg.
Erat, 31, is a right wing who has scored four goals and 17 assists this
season for Nashville. He is