UPDATES AROUND THE NHL

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

* Mats Sundin has officially announced his retirement from the National Hockey League after 18 seasons. The former Maple Leaf captain has registered career numbers of 564 goals, 785 assists for 1, 349 points, while playing in 1, 346 games.

* The Carolina Hurricanes and goaltender Cam Ward have agreed upon a six-year, $37 million contract extension.

* The Montreal Canadiens have suspended forward Sergei Kostistyn for refusing to report the clubs AHL affiliate in Hamilton. It has been reported that Kostistyn, 22, has now asked for trade.

* Washington Capitals' winger Chris Bourque has been claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

***THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY***

UPDATES AROUND THE NHL

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

*UPDATE* The Phoenix Coyotes have a deal in place with veteran forward Robert Lang on a one-year contract. However, the deal is pending a physical.

*The Atlanta Thrashers have signed winger Maxim Afinogenov to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $800, 000.

*After being released by the Blue Jackets, the Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenceman Martin Skoula to a one-year contract.

* The Vancouver Canucks have returned centre Cody Hodgson to the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League.

* The Tampa Bay Lightning have placed Adam Hall, Ryan Craig, and Brandon Bochenski on waivers.

*The Ottawa Senators have placed Christoph Schubert on waivers.


From Monday, September 28, 2009

*Theoren Fleury has announced his retirement from the National Hockey League.

* The Calgary Flames have traded defenceman Anton Stralman to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a third round draft pick in 2010.

* The Atlanta Thrashers have released goaltender Manny Legace. Forward Dan Fritsche was also released by the club.

* The Vancouver Canucks have demoted goalie Cory Schneider and forward Michael Grabner to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.

* The Edmonton Oilers cut five players. Kip Brennan, Taylor Chorney, Devan Dubnyk were all assigned to the AHL, while Jordan Eberle was returned to the juniors. Rob Schremp was also cut, however he was plucked off waivers by the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

***THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY***

SCHREMP CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS BY ISLANDERS

TSN Reports: The New York Islanders have claimed defenceman Rob Schremp off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers.

After not making the Oilers, the club had hoped to send him to Springfield of the AHL, however, this year he was forced to clear waivers for that to happen.

KINGS SEND SCHENN BACK TO JUNIORS

The Los Angeles Kings have decided to be patient with Brayden Schenn, after sending him back to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

It was just one year ago that Brayden, 18, watched his brother Luke, 19, surprise the NHL by cracking the Maple Leafs roster. Luke Schenn is now a top four blueliner for the Leafs after having a fantastic season with the club last year.

There's no question that Brayden will have his shot, but he will have to wait at least another year.

PENGUINS SIGN BAYDA TO ONE-YEAR DEAL

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Ryan Bayda to a one-year, two-way contract on Monday.

Bayda, 28, was invited to training camp by the Penguins on a tryout basis.

HOLLWEG SIGNS WITH COYOTES

According to TSN, the Phoenix Coyotes have signed forward Ryan Hollweg to a one-year contract.

Hollweg was attending the Coyotes' training camp on a tryout basis.

HEJDUK SIGNS EXTENSION WITH AVALANCHE

According to TSN, the Colorado Avalanche have signed forward Milan Hejduk to a one-year contract extension on Thursday.

The 33-year-old led the Avalanche in goals last season with 27.

In 783 career games, the veteran has recorded 312 goals and 345 assists.

RETURN OF THE JAGR?

RDS.ca is reporting that star forward Jaromir Jagr has instructed his agent to contact teams in the NHL about a possible comeback next season. However, Jagr is also trying to negotiate a new contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, whom he signed a deal with last season after leaving the NHL.

He is keeping his options open, but should he seriously consider a return to the NHL next year, there's no question that he could recieve a lot of interest, especially from teams like the Edmonton Oilers.

BRISEBOIS SET TO ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT

Following an 18-year career, veteran defenceman Patrice Brisebois is set to announce his retirement from the National Hockey League, reports TSN.

The 38-year-old has spent the majority of his playing career with the Montreal Canadiens, spending 16 of his 18 seasons with the club.

Brisebois has played in 1, 008 career games, posting 98 goals and 322 assists for 420 points.

VIGNEAULT SIGNS EXTENSION

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that the club has signed head coach Alain Vigneault to a contract extension through the 2012-13 season. Vigneault, whose current contract was set to close at the end of this upcoming season, has spent the last 3 years behind the bench of the Canucks.

GRETZKY RESIGNS AS HEAD COACH

The Phoenix Coyotes saga took yet another turn on Thursday. According to TSN, Wayne Gretzky has resigned as head coach of the troubled Coyotes hockey team.

Gretzky signed a five-year contract in August of 2005, which he would continue to serve as part-owner, alternate governor, and become head coach the following season.

KINGS SIGN CLIFFORD TO ENTRY-LEVEL DEAL

The Los Angeles Kings have signed 2009 2nd round pick Kyle Clifford to a three-year entry-level deal on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old spent last season with the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts, where he scored 16 goals and added 12 assists with 133 penalty minutes in 60 games.

SOURCE: BABCHUK SIGNS WITH KHL TEAM

Recent reports stating that defenceman Anton Babchuk was on his way to Russia once again appear to be true. According to a source, the former Hurricane blueliner has officially signed a contract with Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.

BURISH SIDELINED FOR SIX MONTHS

Chicago Blackhawks forward Adam Burish will miss the next six months after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during pre-season action against Minnesota on Sunday.

Burish will require reconstructive knee surgery and the team's physician said the team expects the 26-year-old to make a full recovery.

AROUND THE NHL: SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

As the start of the regular season draws closer, teams are looking to put the final touches on their rosters. Here are the latest news and rumours around the NHL today:

Babchuk headed to the KHL again?
It appears as though defenceman Anton Babchuk is on his way to the Kontinental Hockey League yet again. According to the News and Observe, the former Carolina Hurricane is close to signing a contract with Avangard Omsk, although neither Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford or agent Don Meehan would confirm it.

Bourque on the move?
The Boston Globe reports the Washington Capitals have informed forward Chris Bourque that they will trade him if they cannot find room for him on the roster. However, Bourque himself has denied this report.

Blackhawks and Kings talking trade?
Various sources have reported on the recent rumour that has the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks in trade discussions involving Alexander Frolov. Chicago Now reports the Kings would deal Frolov in exchange for Kris Versteeg and Cam Barker. However, it is unlikely the Hawks would trade Barker unless they were getting a good puck moving defenceman in return. Perhabs someone like Jack Johnson?

TNL NOTE: This rumour seems a little far-fetched in my opinion. Don't bank on this being a truthful report. I don't see the Kings trading Frolov anytime soon, and same goes for the Blackhawks and Barker, and even Versteeg for that matter. I'll be very surprised if this trade were to actually happen.

BOUILLON SIGNS ON WITH PREDATORS

According to TSN, the Nashville Predators have sigend free agent defenceman Francis Bouillon to a one-year, $750, 000 contract.

In 485 career games, the 33-year-old has recorded 21 goals and 81 assists with 371 penalty minutes. Bouillon had a brief stint with the Predators back in 2002 after being claimed off waivers. He played just 4 games with the club before being picked up again off waivers by the same team that placed him there, the Montreal Canadiens, whom he has spent the majority of his career with.

DUBINSKY INKS TWO-YEAR DEAL

The New York Rangers announced today that the club has re-signed restricted free agent Brandon Dubinsky to a two-year, $3.7 million contract.

Dubinsky, 23, recorded 13 goals and 28 assists in 82 games with the Rangers last season.

LEAFS SIGN KESSEL TO FIVE-YEAR DEAL

The Toronto Maple Leafs wasted no time in getting a deal done with forward Phil Kessel. The club announced today that they have signed the 21-year-old to a five-year, $27 million contract.

Earlier today, the Leafs dealt two first round picks and a second round pick to the Boston Bruins for the rights to Kessel.

The Leafs may have finally found that young sniper they were looking for, as Kessel is expected to add a bit of a jump on offence. However, the club won't get a good look at him until at least November as he is sidelined after undergoing rotator cuff surgery this off-season.

In 70 games last season, Kessel scored 36 goals and added 24 assists with a plus-23 rating. He also put up 6 goals and 5 assists in 11 playoff games with the Bruins in the 2008-09 campaign.

LEAFS, BRUINS REACH AGREEMENT

Brian Burke finally got his wish. On Friday, the Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins reached an agreement on a deal that would send forward Phil Kessel to Toronto. In exchange, the Bruins will receive a first and second round pick in 2010, along with a first round pick in 2011.

It has been widely known that Leafs general manager Brian Burke has been pursuing the young star for a while now. The team originally had a deal in place at the draft, a deal that would've seen defenceman Tomas Kaberle as part of the deal. Now not only does the Leafs get to keep Kaberle, they get Kessel as well for just three draft picks, although one may argue two first round picks may be a steep price, it was a price Burke was willing to pay.

This trade ends months of rumours involving the 21-year-old who is coming off a career year in which he recorded 60 points in 70 games, including 36 goals.

DEFENCEMAN HEDICAN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Veteran defenceman Bret Hedican announced on Wednesday his decision to retire from the National Hockey League.

The 39-year-old St. Paul, Minnesota native spent 17 season in the NHL, posting 55 goals and 239 assists for 294 points in 1039 career games.

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