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 19th, 2009
With a few games gone, we’re starting to get an idea of how the first round of the Playoffs will play out. Here are how things stand right now.
Eastern Conference:
Boston Bruins Vs Montreal Canadiens
Games played: 2
Boston lead the series 2-0
NY Rangers Vs Washington Capitals
Games played: 2
NY Ranges lead the series 2-0
Carolina Hurricanes Vs New Jersey Devils
Games played: 2
Series tied 1-1
Pittsburgh Penguins Vs Philadelphia Flyers
Games played: 2
Pittsburgh lead the series 2-0
Western Conference:
San Jose Sharks Vs Anaheim Ducks
Games played: 1
Anaheim leads the series 1-0
Detroit Red Wings Vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Games played: 2
Detroit lead the series 2-0
Vancouver Canucks Vs St Louis Blues
Games played: 2
Vancouver lead the series 2-0
Calgary Flames Vs Chicago Blackhawks
Games played: 2
Chicago lead the series 2-0
Posted by admin on 16th, 2009
As many of you know, each year TSN brings out Maggie the Monkey to make her picks for the playoffs. This year is no different. So who then, did Maggie pick? From TSN:
While the Detroit Red Wings were the most popular pick to be the Stanley Cup champion on the NHL on TSN’s Playoff Preview Show, there was some good news for two of the three Canadian teams in the post-season. The Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks were both picked as first round winners by Maggie the Monkey, TSN’s famous prognosticating primate.
The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, did not get a favourable spin of Maggie’s lucky wheel. She predicted the Boston Bruins would beat the Habs in their first round series.
Detroit was the pick for Stanley Cup champion for three of the six hockey experts assembled for the preview show. Pierre McGuire, Bob McKenzie and James Duthie all picked the Red Wings over the Boston Bruins in the Cup Final.
Read all of Maggies picks over at TSN by clicking here!
Posted by admin on 16th, 2009
TORONTO – The Maple Leafs are going to aggressively pursue a top NHL entry draft spot, perhaps even the No. 1 pick owned by the New York Islanders, says GM Brian Burke.
Going into the draft lottery Tuesday night, Toronto was seventh in the selection order and could have moved up a maximum of four spots if it won the weighted draw.
The Islanders finished last in the league this season and had the best odds of landing the No. 1 pick.
That’s exactly what happened when deputy commissioner Bill Daly announced the results of the draw, giving the Isles the top pick for the first time since 2000. Toronto remained in seventh spot.
Earlier Tuesday, Burke said he intends to be wheeling and dealing before the top teen talent is dispersed in Montreal with an eye on landing highly touted forward John Tavares.
“We’ll immediately attempt to move up,” Burke said during a morning news conference. “We’re going to talk to everyone between us and the first pick and see what the landscape is.
“We’re going to see what it costs and we’re going to try and move up.”
Anybody on his roster, with the exception of standout rookie defenceman Luke Schenn, might go in a package that would be required to get a higher position.
“No player is untradeable,” said Burke. “Wayne Gretzky got traded.”
Burke has a history of draft coups, most notably the ones that landed him Chris Pronger when he managed the Hartford Whalers and maneuverings that procured the services of the Sedin twins for the Vancouver Canucks. So, teams will be ready for his spiel this time.
“I don’t think we’re going to sneak up on anyone,” he said. “They’ve seen that movie.”
He wouldn’t necessarily need the No. 1 spot to draft Tavares, he said.
“I’m not confident every team has John Tavares as No. 1,” said Burke.
Toronto finished 12th in the Eastern Conference for the second year in a row and hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2004, but that was long before Burke was handed the reins. There were some positive developments this season, he said.
The development of “our young guns” was encouraging and the recent signings of top U.S. college prospects Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak provides talent depth. Pitches have been made to land defenceman Matt Gilroy of the NCAA-champion Boston Terriers and free-agent Swede Jonas Gustavsson, who Burke considers the top goalie outside the NHL.
Burke also says he’ll be active in seeking unrestricted free agents once they become available July 1.
Vesa Toskala, who played in pain much of the season, should be fit enough in the autumn to retain the No. 1 goaltending job, says Burke. Gustavsson would be backup if the Leafs land him.
“The goal for next year is to make the playoffs,” Burke said. “If that’s not the goal of every GM, they should get out of the business.
“We’re building here to win a championship and the first step is to make the playoffs.”
The Leafs might have qualified for the post-season had they won some of the close ones they dropped during the winter, he said.
“If we had better goaltending and found a way to win those games, we’d be right there,” Burke said. “We could have traded Luke Schenn this year and made the playoffs” but that wouldn’t have been in the team’s long-range interests.
Burke said he and head coach Ron Wilson have progressed in their attempt to end the “culture of entitlement” some players feel when they play for the Leafs.
“Anyone who thinks he’s on this roster because he has a contract is sadly mistaken,” he said, adding a mention that the buyout option kicks in July 1.
Burke, as he has in the past, stressed that his only concern is to bring the Leafs a championship.
“I want to make the playoffs and have a parade here,” he said. “I have no ego involved in this.
“I’m not trying to put any personal stamp on the team. I just want to win.”
There remains no timetable to select a captain, he added: “This is the Toronto Maple Leafs so that decision has to be made with great care.”
Wilson said he expects to have a fitter team next season that won’t get worn down by opponents as was often the case this past season. Workout regimens have been distributed.
“We have a system in place where we’ll be able to monitor everyone’s progress on a week-to-week basis,” he said.
Toronto had the league’s worst goals-against average. Goaltending, injuries and conditioning were to blame, said Wilson.
Like Burke, he backed Toskala.
“I’m confident Vesa is going to bounce back next season,” said Wilson.
It was clear that Wilson expects Burke will be making numerous personnel changes this summer.
“This environment is going to change and I expect it to be changing rapidly,” he said.
Wilson picked the previous team he coached, the San Jose Sharks, to win the Stanley Cup. Adding Rob Blake and Dan Boyle to their power play was a big boost.
“They have to find a way to score 5-on-5 and if they can do that they should be able to win the whole thing,” Wilson said. 20:48ET 14-04-09
Original Article on TSN
Posted by admin on 11th, 2009
News and events:
- 1 year on from the accident that almost ended his NHL career, Richard Zednik put up 2 goals in the Panthers 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- As predicted, the Dallas Stars waived Sean Avery to the AHL yesterday. The New York Rangers have agreed to take him on in their farm team, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Many believe the Rangers may agree to take Avery off re-entry waivers if he performs well in Hartford.
- Andy McDonald returned to the Ice today after a 36 game break due to a fractured leg, and did so with a 2 point outing, putting up a goal and an assist in the Blues 6-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
- Coyotes hope to end slide against the re-hot Stars as the struggling team travel to Dallas today.
- Boston Bruins lose Petteri Nokelainen and Chuck Kobawew to injuries after todays 5-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Nokelainen was high-sticked by Shark’s Dan Boyle and immediate left the ice. Boyle did not receive a penalty on the play. Kobasew left he ice early with an apparent leg injury.
- St Louis Blues LW Paul Kariya underwent a second surgery on his hip today. It is unsure if he will return this season.
- Toronto Maple Leafs put Mike Van Ryn on IR today. Van Ryn had an MRI Monday, but no major damage was found. The team is purported to be playing it safe.
Video of the day:
Photo of the day:
St. Louis Blues‘ Chris Mason, right, shoves Vancouver
Canucks‘ Steve Bernier away from the crease in the
third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 10,
2009, in St. Louis. The Canucks beat the Blues 6-4.
ice hockey, hockey, nhl, san jose sharks, boston bruins, sean avery, dallas stars, sports, winter sports
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Posted by admin on 19th, 2008
It’s been 6 months since we last saw Mats Sundin on the ice. Sundin fans will not have to wait much long though after news today that Sundin has signed a 1-year $7mm deal with the Vancouver Canucks.
“I am truly excited to be joining the Canucks,” said Sundin in a team statement. “Once I made the decision to return to play a few weeks ago, the Vancouver opportunity was simply the best overall fit. I want to thank Mike Gillis and the entire Canucks organization for their professionalism throughout this entire process.”
Sundin brings the Canucks a solid playmaker and scorer and will surely bolster their offence.
