Posted by admin on 5th, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—Markus Naslund wrapped up a 15-year NHL career when he retired Monday after just one season with the New York Rangers.
Naslund, who left the Vancouver Canucks last summer as a free agent, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million with the Rangers but decided to skip the final season when he will be 36.
The five-time All-Star spent parts of 12 seasons with the Canucks and was brought to New York by general manager Glen Sather after the Rangers failed to re-sign captain Jaromir Jagr.
Naslund played all 82 games this season, recording 24 goals and 46 points, but he had only one goal and two assists in the Rangers’ seven-game loss to Washington in the first round of the playoffs.
“I would like to sincerely thank Glen Sather and the New York Rangers for giving me the opportunity this past season in New York,” Naslund said. “I would also like to thank the Vancouver Canucks and all of their fans for their support over the 11-plus seasons I was a part of their organization, as well as to the Pittsburgh Penguins where I began my NHL career.”
Naslund scored a career-high 104 points—including 48 goals—during the 2002-03 campaign when he won the Lester B. Pearson Award as the NHL’s most outstanding player as chosen by his peers, but his numbers went down each of the next five seasons.
Naslund, who served as captain of the Canucks for eight seasons, was chosen with the No. 16 overall pick in the 1991 draft by Pittsburgh and spent three seasons with the Penguins before being traded to Vancouver in 1996.
The announcement by the Swedish left winger will help the salary-cap challenged Rangers, who will now have more flexibility to add to an anemic offense that scored only 11 goals in the postseason loss to the Capitals.
In 1,117 regular-season NHL games, Naslund had 395 goals and 869 points. He reached the 40-goal mark three times and scored at least 30 in six seasons.
Naslund played in 52 postseason games, recording 14 goals and 36 points.
This article is re-published from Sports.Yahoo.com . All ownership belongs to Yahoo!
Posted by admin on 10th, 2008
News
- Quinn denies report Sabres are looking for a buyer
Buffalo Sabres minority owner Larry Quinn denied a report on Monday saying majority owner Tom Golisano is looking to sell the NHL club. A story to be released in Western New York Hockey magazine later this week says – citing an unnamed source – that talks are in the exploratory stage and that Golisano is listening to offers. The story adds that Quinn is actively looking to find a buyer, and that Research in Motion co-founder Jim Balsillie has been approached. (The Full Story on TSN)
- Hicks meets with front office Wednesday to discuss Avery’s future.
Sean Avery’s fate with the Dallas Stars could be decided as soon as Wednesday. And it doesn’t sound too good for the NHL’s super pest. The team’s brass will meet on Wednesday afternoon and discuss the Avery situation in depth. (The Full Story on TSN)
- Canadiens skate for first time in new practice facility
BROSSARD, Que. – It is a nondescript glass and brick building by a highway in a particularly soulless part of the suburbs, but the Montreal Canadiens love it. (The Full Story on TSN)
Suspensions:
- Blackhawk’s Versteeg suspended, Quenneville fined
Chicago Blackhawks rookie forward Kris Versteeg has been suspended for one game and head coach Joel Quenneville fined $10,000 for Versteeg being assessed an instigator penalty in the final seconds of last night’s 7-1 win over Phoenix. (The Full Story on TSN)
Trades & Transactions:
Injuries:
- Stephane Yelle (C – Bruins) Left game early with an upper body injury after colliding with an official.
- Marco Sturm (Bruins) Will not play Monday against the Lightning, the Boston Globe reports.
- Marc-Andre Fleury (G – Penguins) Practiced with the team on Monday for the first time since getting hurt back on Nov. 15
- Roberto Luongo (G – Canucks) Should return Saturday Vs the Oiles.
Rumours & Gossip (from spectorshockey.net):
- Minnesota have demoted C Krys Kolanos, possibly in anticipation of Gaborik’s return.
- James Gordon reports Florida Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester remains noncommittal over his future and if his plans include the Panthers. The Senators are rumored to be a potential destination for Bouwmeester if the Panthers shop him.
- Bob McKenzie reports the Mats Sundin sweepstakes have entered its final week, with Sundin expected to make a decision by December 15th. It’s believed Vancouver, Montreal, Chicago and the NY Rangers are the prime candidates for his services.
Scores:
- Tampa Bay 3 – 5 Boston
- Buffalo 4 – 3 Pittsburgh
- Florida 4 – 3 Ottawa (Overtime)
- NY Islanders 2 – 4 Toronto
- Nashville 3 – 6 St. Louis
Source: NHL.com, Yahoo! Sports, TSN
Posted by admin on 8th, 2008
Todd Bertuzzi will be shopping for a place to live after the Calgary Flames signed him to a 1 year $1.95 million contract today. Bertuzzi, who had 14G 26A for 40Pts last season for the Anaheim Ducks brings a solid power-forward role to the Flames.
Other moves around the NHL:
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center R.J. Umberger to a 4-year deal. Umberger was acquired by the Jackets on June 20 along with a draft pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for 2 picks. In 3 years with the NHL, Umberger has scored 49G and 67A. Financial terms were not released.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed RFA Matt Stajan to a 2-year $3.5 million contract on monday. Stajan has scored 56G and 71A in 314 games for the Leafs.
The Carolina Hurricanes have reached a deal with defenseman Dennis Seidenberg for a 1-year $1.2 million contract. Seidenberg played 47 games for the Hurricanes last season and collected 15 assists.
The Philadelphia Flyers have given GM Paul Holmgren a 3-year extension that ensures he stays with the team through 2011-2012.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Technorati Tags: ice hockey, hockey, nhl, todd bertuzzi, calgary flames, anaheim ducks, philadelphia flyers, columbus blue jackets, toronto maple leafs
Posted by admin on 18th, 2008
As the off season heads towards the NHL Entry Draft we start to hear a lot about the top draft picks, the best placed teams in the draft and that all common question “will Stamkos go #1?”.
If you’re not aware, Steven Stamkos, center from the OHL’s Sarnia Sting is the rumoured #1 pick.
Today on Yahoo! Sports, Puck Daddy blog, Greg Wyshynski posts a lighthearted look at the draft and lists the top 5 reasons you don’t want to draft Steven Stamkos.
Here’s the basic summary:
- Hype. Remember Alexandre Daigle?:
- More hype… have you seen seenstamkos.com yet?
- Stamkos adores Carrie Underwood!
- His fave show is “One Tree Hill”!
- He dreams of playing for the Maple Leafs.
For the full blog, including all the laughs, head to Puck Daddy – NHL – Yahoo! Sports
Posted by admin on 25th, 2008
Those who had hopes of their NHL team picking up veteran scorer, Mats Sundin will have to wait til possibly next year after the Maple Leaf Forward today refused to waive his no trade clause.
Sundin, a Maple Leaf all his professional hockey career does not want to leave the team he has dedicated his life to for the last 13 seasons.
“I have always believed I would finish my career as a Toronto Maple Leaf so the actual request was still a very difficult one for me to contemplate,” Sundin said in a statement released by his agent J.P. Barry on Sunday night. “I have spoken to and listened to my family and those closest to me about this issue. In the end, there is no right decision in a situation like this one.”
– NHL @ Yahoo
The Toronto media has not been easy on Sundin over recent weeks, with some sources claiming his refusal to waive his no trade clause will damage the team in the future. The fact is, while the media and fans may complain about his refusal to be traded, they are forgetting that Mats Sundin IS the face of that franchise, and he has more than earned his right to stay in Toronto.
Due to his age, a trade would have put Sundin as a rental player, something Sundin himself completely disagrees with.
“I have never believed in the concept of a rental player. It is my belief that winning the Stanley Cup is the greatest thing you can achieve in hockey but for me, in order to appreciate it you have to have been part of the entire journey and that means October through June. I hope everyone will understand and respect my decision.”
- NHL @ Yahoo
The club now faces a major decision to make during the upcoming off-season. Do they opt to re-sign Sundin, or let him go into the Free agent market? Realistically, the best option for the Leafs would be to sign him for another year and let him finish out his career with the team he knows and loves.
Posted by admin on 13th, 2008
In 2 weeks the NHL will face the much talked about Trade Deadline. Like every year, there have been big names mentioned, some of which may surprise you.
Yahoo Sports columnist Chuck Gormley wrote an article recently on the trade deadline, and section in particular really makes you sit back and wonder “what can we expect”…
Last February 27, overzealous general managers orchestrated 25 deals involving 44 players and 28 draft picks in the hours leading up to the trading deadline.
In the 26 days of February before that frenzied finale, another 24 trades involving 47
- Chuck Gormley, NHL@ Yahoo
It is perfectly safe to assume that we can expect a similar frenzy over the next 2 weeks. We’ve already seen one multi-player trade, with Ottawa sending Joe Corvo & Patrick Eaves to Carolina in exchange for Mike Commodore and Cory Stillman.
The big names this year however feature players whom people would least expect to be traded, such as Toronto’s Mats Sundin. He may be the heart and soul, and the leader of that team but it looks like he may be shopping for a new home come late February.
Rob Blake of the L.A. Kings, Brian Campbell off the Buffalo Sabres and Olli Jokinen of the Florida Panthers are 3 others whom many are shocked to see on the block.
Atlanta may be forced to trade Marian Hossa, knowing that he does not intend to stay come the end of the season. As they do have a shot to make the playoffs, trading Hossa could be a shot in the foot. If they keep him however, they risk not getting anything in return when he packs his bags as a Free Agent.
Mike Comrie is rumoured to be on the block in New York and Martin St Louis, who has been in many a trade discussion over the recent weeks is said to be a possible mover in Tampa Bay.
The Anaheim Ducks, who have struggled defensively even with Schneider, Neidermayer and Pronger on the blueline are said to be interested in Rob Blake.
Talk of the early season, the Dallas Stars may end up doing very little in the coming weeks, with the team having found it’s scoring touch and with Marty Turco tearing it up between the pipes.
One thing is for sure, we’re in for a fun ride over the coming weeks.
Posted by admin on 8th, 2008
The 2008-2009 NHL season will go down in the history books as one of controversy and debate, and nothing sparks greater debate this season that the use of the Free Agency Market.
At the center of many of these debates are the defending champions, the Ahaheim Ducks and their re-signing of Teemu Selanne and Scott Neidermayer. Neidermayer of course was not a free agent, and not really valid in discussion.
Selanne however has created quite an uproar among fans over the last few weeks. Added to that we now have news that Peter Forsberg wants back in the NHL and is once again fresh meat hanging in the free agency marketplace.
The great debate centers around a single question.
Should free agents who have “retired” or are “thinking about retiring”, who don’t sign with a team at the start of the season be allowed to jump back into the league mid-season when they get the urge?
Of course, let’s be honest here. The reason fans are so upset isn’t that Selanne has returned. It’s the way that both Selanne and Neidermayer waited until such a time that the Ducks could fit them into the salary cap. To many, this is seen as using the salary cap in a way that is neither ethical nor right.
Forsberg is a different story however, as his decision not to play this season was not by choice, but by force due to injuries. So should he be granted asylum to this argument?
Something to ponder, that’s for sure.
