Bertuzzi signs with Flames… and other moves

Posted by admin on 8th, 2008

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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

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5 Reasons you don’t want to draft Steven Stamkos

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:

  1. Hype. Remember Alexandre Daigle?:
  2. More hype… have you seen seenstamkos.com yet?
  3. Stamkos adores Carrie Underwood!
  4. His fave show is “One Tree Hill”!
  5. He dreams of playing for the Maple Leafs.

For the full blog, including all the laughs, head to Puck Daddy - NHL - Yahoo! Sports


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Sundin Refuses To Trade

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.


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Trade Talks Heat Up

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.


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Free Agency (ab)Use

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.


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