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News:
The Montreal Canadiens could be for sale as part of a plan by owner George Gillett to sort out his varied holdings.
“The Gillett family has retained the services of financial advisers to assess various strategic alternatives to optimize the value of its corporate assets,” team president Pierre Boivin said in a statement on Monday. “In Canada, the family has retained the services of BMO Capital Markets and the process is under way.”
Montreal La Presse reported that BMO will study all financial avenues, including selling the club, financial restructuring or bringing in new investors.
Gillett owns 80.1 percent of the team and the Bell Centre.
He also owns 50 percent of English soccer giant Liverpool, and owns the Gillett Evernham NASCAR team, event promoter Gillett Entertainment Group, ski resorts, car dealerships and agricultural companies.
Boivin told the newspaper that the recession spurred Gillett to hire financial companies in Canada, the United States and Europe to review his holdings.
Last November, BlackBerry maker Jim Balsillie said the Canadiens were for sale, a report vehemently denied by Gillett at the time.
In December, Sports Business Journal reported that Gillett was looking to refinance a $75 million loan he took out to guarantee his involvement in the purchase of Liverpool FC, which he co-owns with Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks.
Gillett bought the Canadiens and their arena, then called the Molson Centre, in 2001, for $275 million with the help of $140 million in loans from two banks and the Quebec pension fund.
Boivin said the league’s oldest franchise is no danger of going out of business.
Transactions:
Calgary Flames – David Van der Gulik (LW) – Called up from minors (from Quad City-AHL)
Edmonton Oilers – Jordan Eberle (RW) – Signed (Three-year contract)
Los Angeles Kings – Kevin Westgarth (RW) – Sent to minors (Manchester-AHL)
Montreal Canadiens – Max Pacioretty (LW) – Sent to minors (Hamilton-AHL)
New York Rangers – Mike Sauer (D) – Called up from minors (from Hartford-AHL)
Phoenix Coyotes – Al Montoya (G) – Called up from minors (from San Antonio-AHL)
Injury Updates:
Patrick Elias (LW – Devils) Sits out against Flyers.
Michal Rozsival (D – NY Rangers) Out 7-10 days with lower body injury.
Mikko Koivu (C – Wild) Could miss the rest of the season with knee injury.
Rob Blake (D – Sharks) Out with lower body injury.
Brad Richards (C – Stars) To miss 4 – 6 weeks after hand injury.
There were 28 new Hockey videos added to the site today, including game highlights from the days NHL matches, some great fights and a fantastic interview with Alexander Ovechkin (below).
1st Period – 11/8/08: The Washington Capitals beat the New York Rangers 3-1 to remain unbeaten at home. Brooks Laich and Tom Poti scored for the Capitals in the first period.
My
salute to the losers from Vancouver, the Canucks. Still waiting on that
first Stanley Cup! Some of the photos aren\’t that great of quality,
but you get the point.
The Leafs overcame their third period struggles as they came back to win 4-3 in a shootout over the Blues. Pavel Kubina and Luke Schenn scored in the shootout. Video Courtesy: mapleleafs.com
This pack contains all NHL/AHL Intros/Goal Songs plus a large offplay track list and team specific songs for use with NHL 09 for the Xbox 360. More info at: http://www.thebreakaway.net/forums/sh…
Check out the crowd…. exactally! this has to be the oldest ice hockey vid i have ever seen!! team canada vs england, england relly went downhill at hockey since this, tag time… Ice Hockey canucks canada maple leafs montreal canadians winnipeg jets toronto ottowa senators new york islanders NHL SM liiga ilves jokerit jyp jaakeikko maali
D Liles takes stick to eye Liles had to leave Saturday’s exhibition game against Los Angeles after taking a stick below the eye, the Denver Post reports. (read more)
Jason Blake leaves game with foot injury Blake left Saturday’s game against Buffalo late in the third period with a foot injury.(read more)
DiPietro to be re-evaluated early next week DiPietro (hip/knee) is slated for re-evaluation in the early part of next week, according to the Islanders’ Blog by Newsday. (read more)
NHL Updates:
Penguins land in Sweden The Pittsburgh Penguins arrived in Sweden after an eight-hour flight from the United States, then hit the practice rink a few hours later Sunday. “It wasn’t too bad,” captain Sidney Crosby said after the workout. “A lot of us have been through similar situations before. You usually don’t expect the sharpest practice, but these guys out there were awake and getting adjusted.” (read more)
Signings & Acquisitions:
Ducks re-sign Teemu Selanne The Anaheim Ducks re-signed right wing Teemu Selanne on Sunday, bringing back the club’s all-time leading scorer for his 16th NHL season. The team did not officially disclose terms of the contract, but the Los Angeles Times reported that the deal is worth $5.25 million over two years. (read more)
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli “has made it no secret he’d like to acquire another veteran defenseman via trade”. Harris reports of “whispers” Chiarelli might be interested in a major deal for a number one defenseman, although such a move could cost him one or more of their top forwards, although they do have depth and “substantial upside” with several promising young players up front.
Jean Lefebvre reports that when Flames blueliner Adrian Aucoin looks around the dressing room and sees ” eight one-way contracts worth a total of $25 million, he realizes something has to give.” Aucoin admits he’s heard the trade rumors about himself but finds them enjoyable.
Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic dismisses talk that this season could be his last.”Who said this is my last year? I won’t evaluate until the season is over”, said Sakic.
Petr Nedved admits his NHL career is likely over after being cut by the NY Rangers this past week. He has a contract to play for his hometown team in the Czech Extraliga.
Ottawa Senators have signed defenseman Luke Richardson to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Dallas Stars acquired right wing Lauri Tukonen from the Los Angeles Kings today in a trade which sends left wing Richard Clune to L.A. Tukonen was the Kings first round selection (11th overall) in the 2004 NHL entry draft. The Stars allegedly wanted Tukonen in that draft, so this trade brings a player they have scouted and been watching for a few years.
In other movements around the league…
The Minnesota Wild have agreed to a one-year contract with Stephane Veilleux, avoiding salary arbitration. Danish center Frans Nielsen has agreed to a 4-year contract with the New York Islanders worth $2.1 million. Th New Jersey Devils have signed center Fedor Fedorov, younger brother of Sergei Federov. Fedor has spent the last 2 years playing in Europe collecting 12G and 14A in 49 games. The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed Jeff Taffe to a 1-year contract. The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to a 4-year extension for forward Joffrey Lupul, who had 20G and 26A in 56 games last season. The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed netminder Jimmy Howard and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to 3-year contracts. Howard and Ericsson will earn $600k and $550k next season respectively.
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?
Peter Pocklington is well known in hockey circles, being the owner of the Edmonton Oilers during their glory days of the 80’s.
At an auction recently, Pocklington sold off a range of hockey memorabilia at auction. The value of the sales is believed to be worth $294,269 US.
Included in the sale are 5 Stanley Cup Rings (84, 85, 87, 88 & 90), 3 Edmonton Trappers PCL Rings (84, 96 & 97), a 1987 Clarence Campbell Bowl replica and a 1985 Miniature Stanley Cup.
“It’s just memorabilia,” Pocklington told the Edmonton Journal. “I remember being there in real life and those memories will last forever.
“To look at a hunk of gold, that I keep in a safe most of the time anyway, every five years, doesn’t make much sense,” he said. “I’d just as soon use that money and the interest on it to look after my grandchildren.” - Pocklington auctions off his Stanley Cup rings
Pocklington isn’t new to the sales game of course. He is the man who sold Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings, and in past years has sold other items at auction, including another Stanley Cup miniature and a replica of the Clarence Bowl.
After a conference low 71 points last season, the Los Angeles Kings have given head coach Marc Crawford his marching orders.
Crawford, who’s record over his 2 seasons with the Kings is a dismal 59-84-21. Last season the Kings tied with Eastern Conference bottom feeders, the Tampa Bay Lightning on points.
“In the end it just comes down to fit,” Lombardi said in a conference call Tuesday afternoon. “It’s just a gut call on fit.” - Yahoo! Sports
In a division that includes strong teams such as the Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, the Kings need to do far better to compete.
Peter Pocklington is well known in hockey circles, being the owner of the Edmonton Oilers during their glory days of the 80’s.
After a conference low 71 points last season, the Los Angeles Kings have given head coach Marc Crawford his marching orders.
