Here are some of the latest rumors from Eklund The Anonymous Hockey Blogger. I have seen this guy right like once and that was during the Toews signing, go figure.
First off, IF the Wild trade Marian Gaborik they better get a boat load of draft choices and prospects; in my opinion Boston has little to give in the way of prospects. If the Minnesota Wild trades the face of their organization away, Minnesota Wild fans will not be very forgiving if the organization doesn’t get a lot in return. Gaborik although a often hurt player I a dynamic offensive player that does bring a lot to the table, replacing his 40-50 goals in the line up would be very hard. I am all for getting rid of perimeter player PMB. I don't see the Wild trading Gabby.
As a Bruins fan I would love to see Hossa and Gaborik on the same team along with Savard, however, wouldn't the Wild also be in the mix as well? Brian Rolston is one of my favorite all-time American born players in the NHL and I would love to see him end his career with the Minnesota Wild.
Rolston A few sources are telling me that Brian Rolston, one of the more attractive UFAs due to his solid two-way play, is looking likely to return to Minnesota. That is not to say that other teams aren't going to make pitches that may make this decision a tough one for Brian, but most of my sources are leaning towards Brian returning due to the fact he really loves playing in Minnesota.
Gaborik Although some sources are saying pretty much the same thing regarding Gaborik's desire to remain a "Wild" (?) reports are that some very serious trade offers may make things complicated including a mega offer from a "team in the Northeast" that I believe to be either Buffalo or Boston. There is one scenario where Boston would attempt to unite Hossa and Gaborik in Boston.
Umberger for Suter? From all I am hearing Jeff Carter wants to and will indeed be a Flyer for years to come. However, the Flyers are in an interesting spot with RJ. While it is hard to imagine a Vanek-like offer sheet coming in for RJ, it is entirely possible that Holmgren and Poile (two long-time friends) could make a move that would clear up issues for each of them.
The New England Sports Network reported during the Boston Red Sox pre-game show last night that Boston College Eagles goalie and Sioux Nemesis Corey Schneider is going to sign with the Vancover Canucks. I guess the Fighting Sioux won't have Corey Schneider around to score on anymore.
Ecklund from HockeyBuzz.com is reporting that Willie Mitchell is headed back to Minnesota. Although a lot of what Ecklund reports doesn't come true this is a free agent pick up that I would really applaud and hope happens.
To take a phrase from Glen Beck this is what we do know: Sioux Forward Jonathon Toews is still a member of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey team, that's as of this moment. This could change at any time. However, Eklund from hockeybuzz.com-- Ouch, I stubbed my Toews!
For those of you unaware, Jonathan Toews name is pronounced "Taves," not Toes...I continue to hear that a deal has indeed already been struck with Toews and the Hawks, and in today's story with the Daily Herald, Tim Sassone writes, The Jonathan Toews era is about to begin for the Blackhawks. Not since Jeremy Roenick decided college wasn't for him after attending a few classes in 1988 has the arrival of a Hawks rookie been so anticipated. Hawks general manager Dale Tallon says he is close to signing the 19-year-old Toews, the third player taken in the 2006 draft. How close? It could happen in the next couple weeks. Toews apparently has decided to leave the University of North Dakota and accept what could be millions from the Hawks, who desperately need him to be Roenick-like in ability and fan appeal. If Toews was undecided over going pro, his head-turning effort in the recent World Championships as the only non-NHL player on Canada let him know he was ready for the big time.
"Why Two Weeks Eklund?" you may ask. I am told it is all about marketing and timing...but it is in fact done.
Really; the Hawks are going to pay Toews millions. The Rookie max is $850,000.00 per season per the CBA, that would mean his contract would be filled with incentives. The rookie max signing bonus is also something like $85,000.00. To get millions it would be as a result of incentives.
Hawks general manager Dale Tallon says he is close to signing the 19-year-old Toews, the third player taken in the 2006 draft. How close? It could happen in the next couple weeks.
Toews apparently has decided to leave the University of North Dakota and accept what could be millions from the Hawks, who desperately need him to be Roenick-like in ability and fan appeal.
If Toews was undecided over going pro, his head-turning effort in the recent World Championships as the only non-NHL player on Canada let him know he was ready for the big time.
Tallon said he wasn't surprised by the performance, which impressed many with his poise and offensive skills.
"I think he's going to be better as a pro than he was in college," Tallon said. "I don't think he got enough credit for his offense because of how good he is defensively.
"He's sneaky with his skills. He has awareness of where the puck is going to be instead of where it was. Not a lot of guys can figure that out."
If Toews is the real deal, the Hawks could have a dynamic new look, assuming the prospect they pick first overall in the draft can play right away and Tallon signs the right free agents.
This is what I find confusing. If Toews told Brad Schlossman that he hasn't made a decision yet. Where are all of these other writers getting their information from? Seems like an honest question. Tallon trying to get Blackhawks settled By Bob Foltman Tribune staff reporter
On a day when the Blackhawks announced the signing of a new assistant coach and one of their prospects, two key questions remain unanswered—but perhaps not for much longer—regarding Jonathan Toews and Michal Handzus.
Of perhaps the most significance, Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said Tuesday he hopes to sign Toews, the highly touted first-round pick from last summer, perhaps this week. -----snip-------- Some thought if Toews had a strong tournament that would seal his decision to leave the University of North Dakota and join the Hawks. Pat Brisson, Toews' family adviser, did not return a phone message.
Oh well we will see. Like I have said many times, him signing isn't and wouldn't be a shock to any of us here in Grand Forks. The fact that he has taken this long to sign a professional contract give most of us just a small flicker of hope. With or without Toews the Sioux will be the favorite to win the WCHA tilte and would be a factor in the end for an NCAA title. The fact that the family advisor didn't return the call might mean something.
Lastly if it sounds like I am not excited about Toews playing for the Chicago Black Hawks; I am not. If this was any other team say like the Wild, the Boston Bruins, Phoneix, or Toronto Maple Leafs, or any other NHL organization I would probably be estactic, I would be very happy for Toews. We are talking about the Chicago Black Hawks, an second rate organization that has been run into the ground to by a horrible owner Bill Wirtz. Chicago is going to use Toews to try to sell seasons and put butts in seats in the form of ticket packages. You can't even watch a Chicago Black Hawks game on TV becaus of the black outs that hang over every Chicago home games. It's sad.
Interesting Fact I found in the article linked above and another reason to stay in school longer.
Maybe time for Plan C? Brophy joins the endless list of future Hawks prospects.
Tallon called the first-round elimination of Norfolk in the American Hockey League playoffs very disappointing. The Hawks were counting on a long postseason run in which their prospects would get a taste of winning.
Instead, whispers that their prospects may not be as good as the Hawks had hoped may have gained some validity. Jack Skille,the seventh overall pick in 2005, played in just three of the six games with no points. Troy Brouwer,who had 41 goals in the regular season, had just one goal and one point in six games and was a minus-4.
The leading scorer in the series for Norfolk was Jonas Nordqvist,25, with seven points. He was followed by five points each from Carl Corazzini,28, and Craig MacDonald,30, neither of whom would be considered prospects at this point in their careers.
TSN Picture EK from hockeybuzz.com is reporting that Toews has signed. Kind of funny since TSN and NHL.comand don't have anything iknformation on the Toews signing as of yet.
UPDATE:Brad Schlossman Grand Forks Herald sports writer for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux has confirmed that Toews has not signed a contract as of yet and the rumor was incorrect.
I got off the phone with Toews a little bit ago and he was surprised to hear about the report. After seeing it for himself he said, "Jeez, I can confirm that's not true."
Toews just returned home yesterday and will finally get his first real chance to go over the decision with his parents in the coming days. It has been a whirlwind for him since the final couple weeks of the season.
Unfortunately, many rumors get tossed around at this time of year. Many people dislike the use of anonymous sources because of accuracy issues. Well, in this instance, not only is the source anonymous... so is the reporter.
The best place to hear it from will be Jonathan himself. He is always completely honest about everything. He didn't mislead anyone last year when he was going through the same process. He'll be open about everything again this year, too.
Also, many have wondered about the lengthy period of class he missed to go to Moscow. Toews said that his teachers have been very helpful and are giving him extensions, allowing him to take incompletes for now while he makes up the work.
Hum; seems that there are few people in hockey world and as well as Canada that have an aweful case of wishful thinking, in fact my advice to the Hawks back up and let him make his decision. Toews is a tight college team that has a good chance of winning an NCAA title, the only thing Chicago has a chance of is finishing in the bottom half of the league standings . Seriously folks, the decision will be coming soon I am sure. It kind of makes a person wonder who was behind this rumor and how accurate it was.
TSN Picture