This summer has been slower hockey news wise than last summer – not a lot has happened this summer – last summer the college hockey world blew up, with the formation of the NCHC. Another two leagues, merged to form the nWCHA.
A lot of people are also watching the 2012 Summer Olynpics... I also must admit, that I have not watched any of the Olympics except for the woman's volleyball game yesterday between the USA and Brazil.
Looks like former Boston College Eagles Cory Schneider is going to be the man between the pipes for the Vancouver Cancuks and
Roberto Luongo could be headed to South Florida. The fact the Panthers aren’t going to trade Gopher forward
Nick Bjugstad also show how much they like the young forward.
Kevin Allen, USA Today --- 2. Roberto Luongo hasn't been traded: The Florida Panthers are the best fit for the Vancouver Canucks goalie, but GM Dale Tallon won't give up prized prospect Nick Bjugstad to land him. The Panthers are as excited about his potential as they are about Jonathan Huberdeau. Bjugstad is playing at the University of Minnesota and seems ready to play in the NHL. Luongo was popular when he played in Florida before, plus he could be the lift the team needs to offset big moves by the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning. Canucks GM Mike Gillis is acting as if he is willing to go into the season with Luongo on his roster. But that would clearly be an uncomfortable situation with Cory Schneider seemingly set to be No. 1. Plus, no GM wants a $5.333 million cap hit as his backup goalie. Keep in mind that the Toronto Maple Leafs still are interested in upgrading their goaltending.
Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson is coming back to the Ottawa Senators for a 17th season, Alfredsson is 39-years-old and will turn 40 on December 11, 2012.
Redwing77’s favorite over-hyped goalie Cristobal Huet wants to play in the NHL after spending two
seasons playing hockey in Europe.
Nail Yakupov, the Edmonton Oilers first round draft pick is going to play in the
2012 Canada-Russia Challenge in Yaroslavl and Halifax, N.S., in August. The Oilers have gotten the first over-all pick in the past three drafts.
David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail asked the question if revenue sharing is the only way to avoid a lockout?
It is clear from union sources that whenever it is made, the players’ proposal will suggest far more revenue sharing between the league’s richest and poorest teams.
“It’s a key component of the system we have now and will be a key component of any system we have in place,” said former player Mathieu Schneider, special assistant to NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr. “If the overall goal is the health of the entire league, then there needs to be some meaningful revenue sharing.”
When he was head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Fehr was the architect of the revenue sharing that was introduced in 1996. Now, 48 per cent of the revenue of MLB teams is subject to revenue sharing, which includes 31 per cent of the richest teams` local revenue.
It will be interesting to see if the bigger/richer teams will buy into revenue sharing or not?
Former SCSU Husky
Matt Hendricks and former Fighting Sioux forward
Zach Parise both think highly of the Capitals new head coach Adam Oates. The former Boston Bruins and RPI forward was an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils last season.
Katie Carrera, Washington Post --- Matt Hendricks, who resides in his native Minnesota during the offseason, said he’s eager to work with the Hall of Famer. Before the hiring was even official, Hendricks received a strong endorsement of Oates from fellow Minnesotan Zach Parise when the two played in a charity game together.
Parise “said he had an incredible time working with him and that he learned a lot,” Hendricks said in a phone interview this month. “That’s definitely a good and impressive thing to hear coming from Zach Parise.”
Hendricks added that everything Oates said about ratcheting up the offensive game and playing a style similar to what the Devils and Kings displayed in the Stanley Cup final is appealing.
A Tradition of Excellence has the former Fighting Sioux players and who is left to be signed. Looks like Jason Blake and Mike Commodore are the two remaining players yet to be signed both are unrestricted free agents.
Jason Blake Anaheim UFA
Taylor Chorney Edmonton UFA St. Louis 1 Year, 2-Way Contract
Mike Commodore Tampa Bay UFA
Matt Frattin Toronto RFA Toronto 2 Years, $1.7 Million
Chay Genoway Minnesota RFA Minnesota 2 Years, 2-Way Contract
Brian Lee Tampa Bay RFA Tampa Bay 2 Years, $2.3 Million
T.J. Oshie
St Louis RFA St. Louis 5 Years, $20.9 Million
Zach Parise New Jersey UFA Minnesota 13 Years, $98 Million
Chris Porter St Louis UFA St. Louis 1 Year, 2-Way Contract
Chris VandeVelde Edmonton RFA Edmonton 1 Year, 2-Way Contract
Matt Watkins Phoenix UFA NY Islanders 1 Year, 2-Way Contract