Around the NHL - Thurs 9 Oct

Posted by admin on 9th, 2008

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Injury Updates:

Pascal Leclaire: Ready to go
Leclaire (ankle) returned to practice Tuesday and declared himself ready for the season opener, the Columbus Dispatch reports. (Yahoo! Sports)

League Updates:

Hockey great Bobby Orr revisits pain of many knee surgeries in new TV ad
It’s hard not to wince watching Bobby Orr’s latest TV commercial, which highlights the many scars on his knees from the injuries that shortened his Hall of Fame hockey career. “When I first saw it, I thought ‘I’m not going to be a leg model,”’ the former Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks superstar joked in a telephone interview on Wednesday. “I asked my wife what she thought and she was choked up. “There were some tough times, but there were good times, too.” (Yahoo! Sports)

Signings, Transactions & Acquisitions:

Penguins send LW Pesonen, G Curry to minors
The Pittsburgh Penguins reached the 23-man roster limit Wednesday by assigning goaltender John Curry and left wing Janne Pesonen to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Both players accompanied the Penguins to Stockholm, Sweden for their season-opening, two-game series against the Ottawa Senators but did not appear in either contest. (Yahoo! Sports)
Bruins assign C Sobotka to Providence
The Boston Bruins on Wednesday assigned center Vladimir Sobotka to Providence of the American Hockey League. Sobotka scored one goal and added six assists in 48 games with Boston last season. He also notched 10 tallies and 20 points in 18 contests with Providence. (Yahoo! Sports)
Canucks send three forwards down to AHL
Veteran Vancouver Canucks forwards Matt Pettinger, Jeff Cowan and Jason Krog were sent down to the American Hockey League after clearing waivers on Wednesday. Pettinger, who has played 354 NHL games over seven seasons and is making US$1.1 million this season and Krog were both sent to Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. Cowan, a tough guy who has played more than 400 NHL games since 2000, was sent to Peoria, the affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. (Yahoo! Sports)
Isles claim C Thompson from Bruins
The New York Islanders added a center Wednesday, claiming Nate Thompson off waivers from the Boston Bruins. A sixth-round pick in 2003, Thompson was placed on waivers by Boston on Tuesday. The 24-year-old native of Anchorage, Alaska made his NHL debut with the Bruins in 2006-07, appearing in four games without recording a point. (Yahoo! Sports)
Ducks recall G LeNeveu from minors
The Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday recalled goaltender David LeNeveu from Iowa of the American Hockey League. (Yahoo! Sports)
Coyotes demote D Jones, C Murray
The Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday demoted a pair of players and placed defenseman Jonas Ahnelov on injured reserve. Defenseman Matt Jones and center Garth Murray were assigned to San Antonio of the American Hockey League by the Coyotes, who trimmed their roster to the 23-man limit for Saturday’s season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets. (Yahoo! Sports)
View more NHL and Minor League transactions at NHL.com

Trades & Rumours:

From spectorshockey.net (click to view the full report):

PIONEER PRESS: Tom Powers reports multiple sources claim Marian Gaborik and his agent rejected a ten-year contract offer worth over $8 million per season from the Minnesota Wild. Powers suggests to GM Doug Risebrough that if he can’t re-sign Gaborik soon he needs to trade him fast otherwise the worse it’ll be when he finally does decide to move him.
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports sources claims Senators owner Eugene Melnyk met with former Toronto Maple Leaf Mats Sundin last weekend in Sweden during the Senators weekend games there against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Melnyk apparently told Sundin of the sincerity of GM Bryan Murray’s interest in signing Sundin, who has yet to make a decision as to his future. Garrioch also reports Sundin is rumored unlikely to return to the Maple Leafs if he does decide to return, preferring to sign with a Cup contender.
COURIER POST ONLINE: Chuck Gormley reports Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren spent most of Wednesday shopping around for an experienced defenseman to replace injury blueliner Ryan Parent but had nothing yet to report.
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS: David Pollak reports the Sharks demoted veteran defenseman Kyle McLaren to the minors yesterday after he cleared waivers, being unable to find any interest in him on the trade market. Forward Jeff Friesen meanwhile remains in limbo as he and the club attempt to work out a contract but GM Doug Wilson suggested his status could be resolved soon.
SPORTING NEWS: Craig Custance reports Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has decided to report to the club’s minor league affiliate.
MIAMI HERALD: George Richards reports the Florida Panthers continue to negotiate a contract with defenseman Jassen Cullimore. If he’s signed fellow blueliner Cory Murphy, who recently cleared waivers, could be a roster casualty.
TAMPA TRIBUNE: Erik Erlendsson reports the Lightning weren’t interested in the defensemen on yesterday’s waiver wire but suggests it’s possible they might claim somebody off re-entry waivers.
DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Mike Heika reports the Stars placed defenseman Doug Janik on waivers, where he was claimed by the Chicago Blackhawks, then re-acquired him via trade, exchanging a conditional seventh round draft pick with the Blackhawks.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: reports forward Kris Beech has refused to report to the minors and been placed on unconditional waivers, where if he’s unclaimed and fails to report to the minors within two weeks his contract can be terminated.

Game Results:

No games held today

Source: Yahoo! Sports | TSN.ca | ESPN | NHL.com

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