The NHL Minute – 30 October

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2mins Player of the day:

• Tobias Stephan (G – Stars) earns our player of the day for his win over the Minnesota Wild.  Stephan played in only his 2nd ever NHL game.   His last game, almost a year ago was on the road in Chicago, a game where he played solid but lost the game in overtime.  A year is a long time to wait to prove you can play at this level, but Stephan did that today. 

Stars of the day:

• Teemu Selanne (Ducks), got his game on with a hat trick against the Detroit Red Wings
• Tobias Stephan (Stars) made his NHL debut for 2008 with a 4-2 win over the Wild
• Ryan Getzlaf (Ducks) had 5 assists in the Ducks win over the Red Wings
• Matt Stajan (Maple Leafs) scored 2 goals in the Leafs shootout win over the Devils
• Pavel Datsyuk (Red Wings) scored a pair against the Ducks

…and there were none:

• Going into todays game the Wild had no suffered a regulation loss this season, the only team remaining to do so.  Tobias Stephan and the Stars put and end to that with a solid 4-2 win over the travelling team.

Demoted:

• Jordan Staal has been demoted to the third line during Wednesday’s Penguins practice.

Trade Deadline moved:

• The NHL has announced that the Trade Deadline will be moved back to March 4.  The change has been approved by both the NHL and the NHLPA.

oh, they’re hurt:

• Sergei Zubov (Stars) should be back in the Stars lineup this Saturday.
• Randy Jones (Flyers) could resume skating in 2 weeks and should be back on the team before Christmas.
• Jere Lehtinen (Stars) is rumored to begin skating again soon.
• Tim Connolly (Sabres) is unlikely to play this weekend with a back injury.
• Pascal Leclaire (Blue Jackets) is looking at a second opinion after his MRI revealed just a sprained ankle.
• Bryan McCabe (Panthers) began skating on his own Monday.
• Rick DiPietro (Islanders) will not be on the upcoming road trip.

He shoots… the scores:

• Toronto Maple Leafs 6 – 5 New Jersey Devils (shootout)
• Dallas Stars 4 – 2 Minnesota Wild
• Anaheim Ducks 5 – 4 Detroit Red Wings (overtime)

Technorati Tags: ice hockey, nhl teams, nhl, nhlpa, hockey results, sports, sporting teams

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Around the NHL – Sun 12 October

Note: Due to not posting an update yesterday today’s will include information and results from both Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October.

Injury Updates:

• Canucks D Bieksa leaves game with knee injury
  Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa left Saturday’s 5-4 overtime victory over the Calgary Flames in the first period with a left knee injury.  Bieksa attempted to check the 6-3, 230-pound Wayne Primeau against the boards, but the blue-liner quickly fell to the ice.  He did not return and will be re-evaluated on Sunday. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Flyers D Jones to be sidelined 3-4 months
  Defenseman Randy Jones will have surgery on a labrum in his hip, and while the 27-year-old estimated he would be sidelined only six to eight weeks, Holmgren had a different assessment. (Yahoo! Sports)
• New York Islanders defenceman Radek Martinek knocked out of game
  New York Islanders defenceman Radek Martinek left with an undisclosed injury in the first period, following a hard hit behind the net, and didn’t return to the home opener Saturday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Bruins RW Kobasew out indefinitely with fractured leg
  Boston Bruins right wing Chuck Kobasew is out indefinitely with a fractured left leg, an injury he suffered in the team’s season-opening victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.  Kobasew, who notched two assists and eight penalty minutes in the 5-4 win, said in a published report that a teammate’s dump-in shot in the second period caught him on the ankle, causing the fracture. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Bryan McCabe: (Back) MRI Reveals No Fractured Vertebrae
  An MRI on Saturday revealed that McCabe (back) did not suffer a fractured vertebrae as initially feared, TSN.ca reports. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Rick DiPietro: Issues with Surgically Repaired Knee
  DiPietro has swelling and fluid around his surgically repaired left knee, TSN.ca reports. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Sabres C Connolly sidelined with injured back
  Buffalo Sabres center Tim Connolly will be sidelined at least one week after tests revealed that he has a hairline fracture of a vertebra in his back, according to coach Lindy Ruff.  Connolly dressed for the pregame skate but did not play in the Sabres’ 2-1 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. (Yahoo! Sports)
• Nathan McIver: Personal
  Questionable for Oct 12 vs Phoenix (Sportsline)
• Rhett Warrener: Shoulder
  IR. Out indefinitely (Sportsline)
• Niklas Hjalmarsson: Upper body
  Questionable for Oct 13 Vs Nashville (Sportsline)

Suspensions:

• Michael Peca suspended for bumping official
  Columbus Blue Jackets centre Michael Peca has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL for making contact with an on-ice official.  The team and league announced the suspension on Saturday. Peca was automatically suspended per Rule 41, Physical Abuse of Officials, Category 2.  He was assessed a game misconduct penalty at 5:21 of the second period of the Blue Jackets’ season opener on Friday night at Dallas, which they went on to win 5-4 on Rick Nash’s goal in overtime. (Yahoo! Sports)

League Updates:

• Sarah Palin drops first puck at Flyers’ home opener
  To a mixture of boos and cheers, Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin dropped the ceremonial first puck Saturday night at the Philadelphia Flyers’ home opener against the New York Rangers.  The Alaska governor and self-described “hockey mom” heard a few boos when she walked onto the ice, but that soon turned to polite applause as she headed to centre ice with Mike Richards of the Flyers and Scott Gomez – from Alaska – of the Rangers. (Yahoo! Sports)

• Devils play opener despite arena code dispute
  The New Jersey Devils played their home opener as scheduled Friday night despite a construction code dispute that closed the Prudential Center down this summer.  The team obtained a temporary certificate of occupancy to enable it to play the opener against the New York Islanders, and was closing in on a permanent solution. Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek said the paperwork required for a permanent certificate was submitted to the City of Newark last week.  “The city is reviewing those documents and we’re both close to getting it done,” Vanderbeek said in a telephone interview. “We could hear back from them as early as next week.” (Yahoo! Sports)
• Hull among four inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
  The Dallas Stars surely can forgive Brett Hull for missing the team’s 2008-09 season opener.  The co-general manager of the Stars, Hull skipped the club’s first game of the campaign Friday in order to be one of four players inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.  Also inducted during the ceremony at the Magness Arena were Brian Leetch, Mike Richter and Cammi Granato, who was the first woman to receive the honor. The addition of the quartet gives the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame 138 members. (Yahoo! Sports)

Signings, Transactions & Acquisitions:

• Anze Kopitar: Inks 7-Year Extension with Kings
  The Kings signed Kopitar to a seven-year, $47.6 million contract extension on Saturday, TSN.ca reports. (Yahoo! Sports)

• View more NHL and Minor League transactions at NHL.com

Trades & Rumours:

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

• TSN.CA reports the Detroit Red Wings have placed defenseman Kyle Quincey on waivers.

• COURIER POST ONLINE/PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: reports Flyers defenseman Randy Jones is facing hip surgery which could sideline him for between six-eight weeks. With Ryan Parent also sidelined by injury GM Paul Holmgren is examining his options, which includes shopping for a veteran defenseman, which Holmgren suggests could cost him a forward. Holmgren also noted that he didn’t claim veteran blueliner Kyle McLaren off waivers as the Flyers have salary cap issues.
• PIONEER PRESS: John Shipley reports the contract impasse between the Minnesota Wild and Marian Gaborik officially becomes a distraction for the club when the puck drops on their season opener Saturday. Shipley reports the contract talks have stalled and the Gaborik camp is waiting for the Wild to reignite them.
• USA TODAY: Kevin Allen reports veteran NHL defenseman Bryan Berard is considering his options, which includes possibly signing with a team in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.
• EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples reports Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin confirmed he rejected an $11 million contract offer from his former Russian team to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, telling them “I’m not (Alexander) Radulov”.
• MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan reports Detroit Red Wings forward Darren McCarty is eligible to come off short term injury reserve in a week, leaving management with three options. One is demoting McCarty, trading defenseman Kyle Quincey or placing him on waivers.
• EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE: reports the Phoenix Coyotes have traded forward Mike Zigomanis to the Pittsburgh Penguins for future considerations. 
• The San Jose Sharks have released forward Jeff Friesen.

Game Results:

Montreal vs Toronto	Final
Montreal	6
Toronto	1
NY Rangers vs Philadelphia	Final
NY Rangers	4
Philadelphia	3
Chicago vs Washington	Final
Chicago	2
Washington	4
St. Louis vs NY Islanders	Final
St. Louis	2
NY Islanders	5
Atlanta vs Florida	Final OT
Atlanta	2
Florida	3
Detroit vs Ottawa	Final
Detroit	3
Ottawa	2
New Jersey vs Pittsburgh	Final OT
New Jersey	2
Pittsburgh	1
Carolina vs Tampa Bay	Final OT
Carolina	4
Tampa Bay	3
Dallas vs Nashville	Final
Dallas	1
Nashville	3
Boston vs Minnesota	Final
Boston	3
Minnesota	4
Columbus vs Phoenix	Final
Columbus	1
Phoenix	3
Los Angeles vs San Jose	Final
Los Angeles	1
San Jose	3
Vancouver vs Calgary	Final OT
Vancouver	5
Calgary	4

(Game results courtesy of Yahoo! Sports)

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

Technorati Tags: nhl, ice hockey, game results, trade rumours, trade rumors, nhl contracts

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NHL Today: Leafs Trade McCabe and Preds suspend Radulov

The Toronto Maple Leafs did what many said they couldn’t… they successfully traded veteran defenseman Bryan McCabe, and by doing so, removed their biggest contractual obligation. The trade sees Bryan McCabe and a 4th round draft pick go to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Mike Van Ryn. McCabe waived his no trade clause to make this trade possible.

“We are very pleased to have acquired a player with Bryan’s talent level and playing experience,” Panthers general manager Jacques Martin said in a statement. “Bryan is a big, strong, hard-hitting defenseman who also possesses the ability to be a goal-scorer and play on special teams. He will be counted on to play an integral role on our defense and to help bring future success to our franchise.”

The Alexander Radulov saga in Nashville may be finally coming to and end. The Nashville Predators today suspended Radulov without pay after the forward refused to return to the NHL from his Russian KHL team. Radulov was the Predator’s third leading scorer last season with 58 points.

“At some point, we hope Alex will have a desire to return to the NHL and compete in the best league in the world, with and against the best competition. We will re-visit his status at that time,” Poile said. Until then, we are focused on the players who are representing the Predators and providing them the necessary support and guidance. We will not allow Alex’s situation to be a distraction and, as such, will have no further comment on Alex or his situation.”

The Vancouver Canucks have traded forward Ryan Shannon to the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Lawrence Nycholat. Shannon was a member of the 2007 Anaheim Ducks Stanley Cup winning team, and was traded to the Canucks that summer. In his time with the Canucks Shannon put up 5 goals and 13 points in 27 games.

Source: Yahoo! Sports | TSN | NHL.com

Technorati Tags: toronto maple leafs, florida panthers, anaheim ducks, ottawa senators, vancouver canucks, nhl, ice hockey, hockey

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NHL Trade & Free Agent Rumours

It’s that time of year people, and the rumour mills are running wild. On the eve of the NHL Entry Draft, rumours about trades and free agency are starting to heat up. Here is a brief rundown of a few of the latest.

• The Sedin Twins. Although Canucks GM denies it, the rumours are rampant.
• Markus Naslund will apparently become a free agent, and will not be re-signed.
• Toronto acquired Jamal Mayers from the Blues for a 3rd round pick.
• Bryan McCabe is rumoured to be on the block in Toronto. Cliff Fletcher, GM of the Leafs denies all.
• Tampa Bay are rumoured to be trying to tie up top line centre, Vinnie Lecavalier to a multi-year deal.
• The San Jose Sharks are rumoured to be contemplating shopping the rights to Brian Campbell before the draft.
• The LA Kings are rumoured to have put Mike Cammalleri on the block.
• The Ottawa Senators are rumoured to be wanting to trade Ray Emery, however there is also talk of a buy-out if a trade can not be found.
• Wade Redden will most probably be leaving Ottawa if rumours prove to be true. Senators GM Brian Murray has confirmed he is open to the idea.
• Pavel Kubina’s NTC is no longer an issue, so he may change teams before the season starts.

And what of the 2 most popular trade rumours?

• Patrick Marleau has been talk of the town for a few years now, so trade rumours about the Sharks shipping him are not unheard of. At over $6 million a year, and declining offensive numbers it may be harder than it appears.
• Florida captain Olli Jokinen apparently wants out of Florida, and is rumoured to have made it clear to Panthers management he wants a trade. Olli would be a positive addition to most NHL teams… but which one?

Article Sources: NHL – Yahoo! Sports | Slam Canoe | NHL.com

Technorati Tags: ice hockey, nhl, florida panthers, ottawa senators, san jose sharks, carolina hurricanes, pittsburgh penguins, toronto maple leafs