The NHL Minute – 4 Dec

Avery Alert: With so much news surrounding the Sean Avery situation, our new section “Avery Alert” will bring you all the news comments you need in one handy location.  Don’t worry though, this section will only last a short time and will stop once we all get sick off hearing about Avery.

• Avery gets 6 game suspension
  The National Hockey League came down hard on Dallas Stars superpest Sean Avery Thursday, handing him a six-game suspension for making inappropriate public comments prior to the Stars’ game in Calgary on Tuesday.  (The Full Story on TSN)

News

• Burke offers front office job to Nonis
  Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke has made an attempt to strengthen his front office, offering Dave Nonis the position of Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations. (The Full Story on TSN)

Trades & Transactions:

• None

Injuries:

• Raffi Torres (LW -Blue Jackets) Out 4-6 weeks after knee surgery.
• Patrick Kaleta (RW – Sabres) Placed on indefinite IR.
• Brad Lukowich (D – Sharks) Left game early with lower body injury.

Rumours & Gossip:

• Havlat on the block?
  After recent changes which ended up with Martin Havlat being demoted to the teams 3rd line, speculation suggests the Hawks could be looking to move him at some stage.

Scores:

• New Jersey 3 – 2 Philadelphia (Overtime)
• Pittsburgh 5 – 2 Carolina
• NY Islanders 2 – 5 Washington Capitals
• NY Rangers 2 – 6 Montreal Canadiens
• Boston 3 – 1 Tampa Bay
• Vancouver 5 – 6 Detroit
• Buffalo 1 – 2 Florida
• Colorado 2 – 3 Nashville
• Toronto 3 – 6 Phoenix
• Columbus 2 – 3 San Jose

Source: NHL.com, Yahoo! Sports, TSN

Jagr leaves NHL… and more

After nearly 20 years in the NHL, Jaromir Jagr has decided to leave the NHL to play for team Avangard Omsk in Russia. The move comes just a day after splitting from the New York Rangers.

In his career in the NHL Jagr has put up phenominal numbers, collecting 646 Goals, 953 Assists for 1599 Points in 1273 Games, better than a point a game over his NHL career, which has seen him play for 3 teams; Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers.

“It was the toughest decision in my life, hockeywise. … No question about it. I hate making changes,” Jagr told The Canadian Press.
- Yahoo! Sports

Other action around the league saw a number of players change homes.

A day after the San Jose Sharks acquired Rob Blake on the blue line, they have acquired another top defenseman in a 4-player trade. The Sharks acquired Dan Boyle and Brad Lukowich from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Matt Carle, prospect Ty Wishart, a 2009 first-round pick and a 2010 fourth-round pick. The Sharks also acquired 2nd round Draft picks in 2009 and 2010 from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Craig Rivet and a 2010 7th round pick.

The Vancouver Canucks acquired a replacement forward for Markus Naslund today by acquiring Steve Bernier from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft and a 2nd round pick in 2010.

The Pittsburgh Penguins showed their faith in their goalie today by locking up M.A. Fleury to a 7 year, $35 Million dollar deal.

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

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