I just hope he Sykora can put 20+ goals behind the goalie this season and doesn't end up being that player that only played in 7 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. On the flip side of that equation, if Sykora can score 20-25 he could fill a void the Wild lack through the forward lines. There isn't many in the Wild line up that have the ability to score 25 goals.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)—The Minnesota Wild have signed right wing Petr Sykora(notes) to a one-year contract.
Sykora skated with the team on a tryout basis for two practices. His deal was done on Thursday.
The 32-year-old ranked fourth on the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins last season with 46 points in 76 games. He had 25 goals, giving him 300 over his 14-year career. Sykora has played in the Stanley Cup finals five times.
The Czech Republic native has played for five other teams, first with the New Jersey Devils in 1995 after they made him their first-round draft pick.
I have to link this blog post because it is awesome, it hits the ball out of the park, it's an ensemble that hit all the right notes. This blog is also one of my personal favorites and I love the banter back and forth between Badger fans and Gopher fans.
I like Gandalf the Red was kind of taken back by the CHN poll because the College Hockey News has been known in the past as being the counter balance for INCH, usually have been pretty good, "emphasis mine." I don't get the logic and I can't imagine that CHN is hurting for hits. None the less, Gandalf the Red really hammers home a point that I have and a few others been making for years, beating crappy EZAC teams and racking up wins against the weak sisters of the poor proves nothing other than you can beat crappy teams. Your stats mean nothing. That is the flaw with the current RPI/PWR ranking system, your better off stacking up wins against crappy teams because you're rewarded for it in the end.
None of this really matters, its just fun for discussion's sake. Reading the comments over at CHN and on Goon's blog, no one really sees the ECAC worthy of three teams in the top 10. I'd have to agree, simply because the PWR favors three good teams from the same bad conference doesn't mean they belong in the top 10 of any poll or in the NCAA tourney. Does an ECAC fan really want to debate that Cornell, Yale and Princeton all belonged in the NCAA tourney last year over Wisconsin and minnesota? See when you play a panzy ass schedule like the ECAC (or the CCHA) the PWR favors you because you can rack up wins against bad teams, only facing tough competition on occasion. In the WCHA, where are the bad teams? Oh sure Tech and UAA and Mankato are regularly at the bottom, but while they are bad by WCHA standards they are still better than any team outside of the top 3 in the ECAC, and probably just as good as those. Last season Wisconsin had something like 30+ games against TUC's in the PWR, I think Yale or Princeton had just enough (10) to use the criteria in the ranking. So they skate in w/ just enough TUC's, meaning that 2/3 of their games were against teams not in the PWR top 25, and that is suppose to be impressive?
This doesn't even bring in the KRACH rankings from last season. Yale ranks 10th, Cornell 17th and Princton 20th. Wisconsin was 11th, BC was 12th, the gophers 13th and UMASS Lowell 14th. So you really want to tell me that these ECAC teams are better than those four teams and Cornell and Princeton deserved spots in the tourney over them?
I wasn't even planning on going on that tangent until I started in and realized once again the facts are there, and the ECAC has no business getting the respect it does, playing the weak ass schedules they do.
Also the analysis on the Gophers being ranked 6th Gandalf is also spot on. The Gophers lose almost 50 points from their line up with Ryan Stoa (24g-22a-46pts)signing a professional contract and apparently that has no bearing what so ever on the pre-season rankings? Give me a break. This is almost as silly as suggesting that UAA is going to finish in the top five of the WCHA standings. Granted the Gophers get a few recruits that have blue chip numbers, that could make an immediate impact but they aren't seasoned veterans. I still don't think their defense is going to be that great either, it will be improved.
6. minnesota:A usual NCAA postseason staple, the gophers fell short of expectations last season, but if their late-season run showed anything, it was that they'd be back with a vengeance in 2009-10. They lose top scorer Ryan Stoa to the pro ranks, but return Jordan Schroeder, who excelled as a freshman, and Jay Bariball on a deep offense that will be complemented by a defense led by Cade Fairchild and Aaron Ness, both of whom matured nicely as the roller coaster season continued. The biggest piece of the puzzle will be seeing which Alex Kangas shows up in net -- the one who gave up 42 goals in a 12 game mid-season stretch, or the one who allowed just 19 over the final nine matches of the season.
I was unaware that INCH fired all their idiots and CHN gave them jobs. Late season run? You mean the three games in a row they won before losing to Duluth at the Final Five play-in game? I guess they forgot about them going 2-7-2 in the 11 games before that; quite the late season surge. They almost blew home ice by losing to Tech on the last friday of the regular season and they were making a run? That was Tech's second win in WCHA play.
I don't really care who is in any top 10, the only rankings that matters is first the WCHA standings, and second the PWR after the last buzzer sounds to end conference tourneys, but I expect a little more out of CHN, since someone is paying this writer to put this together, they at least should qualify an absurd statement like "late season run," especially when one didn't happen. They are spot on about Kangas though, like poison in a well.
This thing is starting to drag on and on and we have heard this before. It would be nice to get some closure on this before the season begins.
Because of the looming threat the Bruins will not be able to match an offer sheet for free agent Phil Kessel, two well-placed sources in Toronto said the team is close to pulling off a blockbuster trade involving the 21-year-old sniper. [sportsnet.ca]
When I saw this CHN poll I thought you have got to be kidding me? This is a joke right? I mean seriously we have three EZAC teams in the top ten. The same three teams that if you put them in the WCHA would be struggling to make the top five to gain home ice for the WCHA playoffs. I know there are many that feel the same way as I do.
Maybe your league should win an national title in this decade and then maybe you will get the props you deserve. This is the same league that went 1-3 in the 2009 NCAA tourney. Please! I think UND and Wisconsin deserved to be in the top ten. I don't have a problem with the top three teams but I am to believe that Cornell is fourth best team in division one hockey.
Some very good news came out of Spirit Lake Today. Now hopefully we can get a resolution from Standing Rock. This is just one step in the process. Nothing is over yet.
[Tu-Uyen Tran, Grand Forks Herald] ----- The Spirit Lake Tribal Council has approved a resolution recognizing the tribe’s support of UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname.
According to nickname opponent Terry Morgan, whose mother is tribal Chairwoman Myra Pearson, confirmed that the council did make the decision. He said that rather than embracing the nickname, the council simply acknowledged the vote.
In the tribe’s April election, 67 percent of tribal members voted to support the nickname.
It was part of an effort by nickname supporters to win the council’s blessings for the controversial nickname. The settlement between UND and the NCAA, which consider American Indian nicknames to be hostile and abusive, requires the university to win formal support from councils at Spirit Lake and Standing Rock.
Morgan said he doesn’t believe the resolution is the support UND needs at all.
The resolution itself has this to say:
“Now therefore be it resolved that the Tribal Council goes on record to officially accept election results of April 23, 2009, for University of North Dakota logo and name retention.”
“Be it further resolved that the Tribal Council concurs with the wishes of the Spirit Lake people.”
The resolution also said that “a significant majority of the membership voted in favor of allowing UND to continue using the Fighting Sioux name and logo.”
Nickname supporters at Spirit Lake say they think the resolution is exactly what the NCAA wanted. State Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who negotiated the settlement with the NCAA, concurs
It would be interesting to see if the Supreme court would actually hear their case or not. Your starting to get into first amendment issues. With the current make up of the court I would doubt they would rule in their favor. This goes back to the issue that not all native Americans are offended by Native American caricatures/logos. What is going to happen next? Are these groups going to go after sports teams that are named sacred animals such as Eagles, Wolves, Bears, Owls, Bison?
WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of American Indians who find the Washington Redskins name offensive wants the Supreme Court to take up the matter.
The group on Monday asked the justices to review a lower court decision that favored the NFL team on a legal technicality.
The seven Native Americans have been working through the court system since 1992 to have the Redskins trademarks declared invalid. A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office panel ruled in their favor in 1999. But they’ve been handed a series of defeats from judges who ruled that the plaintiffs waited too long to bring their suit in the first place.
A lawyer for the group says he’d like to see the highest court decide whether the Redskins name defames Native Americans.
Former BU defenseman Matt Gilroy is looking good in the practice as well as on the ice for the New York Rangers.
The 25-year-old rookie took his first turn in a Blueshirt Tuesday night as the Rangers opened their preseason schedule against the Bruins at the Garden. The Rangers got a glimpse of where their blue-line future lies, what with 19-year-old Michael Del Zotto also in the lineup, along with the returning Marc Staal. Of all of them, Gilroy has created the most buzz.
"I definitely got chills," Gilroy said of his first Blueshirt experience, a 2-1 loss to the Bruins. "And to hear that first goal song go off, even though I'm on the bench, it was pretty cool, too."
The Fargo Force have an all-UND flavor to them. Head coach Steve Johnson and assistants Chad Johnson and Mark Pivetz. Maybe they will send UND a few recruits. [UND hockey blog]
dggoddard from Lets Go DU has some all stirred up again with a recent blog post. Remember before you get too personal it's supposed to be humor, I guess I could see the humor. If you don't like don't like what he has to say about UND don't read it. DU is one of our rivals and little smack talk doesn't hurt. [Lets Go DU]
Gandalf The Red has predicted the Golden Gophers to finish 5th in the WCHA this season. I think the ranking is about right. Maybe this year the Gophers can make the NCAA tourney. Baby steps. [60 Minutes, No Alibis, No Regrets]
Gandalf The Red the red also has Gopher fans all worked up with a debate over their two teams recruiting policies. Can we all just get along? [60 Minutes, No Alibis, No Regrets]
Bentley Picked Seventh in AHA Preseason Coaches' Poll. Yawn! I am surprised they are picked to finish that high. [Bentley Falcons]
Former SCSU defenseman Brett Hedican will hang up the skates and retire. Hedican played in the NHL for 17 seasons. Hedican played with Mike Commodore in 2006 when the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. [Star Tribune]
UNO just got a major donation from the Sokol family.
OMAHA, Neb. – The UNO athletic department announced today the receipt of a major financial gift from the family of David and Peggy Sokol.
“As an institution and as a department, we are humbled by the generosity of the Sokol family,” said Trev Alberts, UNO’s Director of Athletics. “David and Peggy Sokol have such a distinguished history of giving to the greater Omaha community, and we are grateful that they have seen fit to support our mission of making UNO athletics one of the premiere programs in the country.
“The Sokols’ gift will be applied to the improvement of training and competition facilities for UNO student-athletes. Those students continue to give their best on the playing field, and it is up to our department to provide them with the means to succeed. This gift will go a long way toward fulfilling that goal.”
The Sokols’ donation is begin given in honor of their late son, D.J. Mr. Sokol is a graduate of UNO and a former student-athlete himself as a member of the UNO football team.
I really like the facial expressions of these two hockey players in this Boston Globe picture of former Gopher Blake Wheeler and former Fighting Sioux hockey player Jason Blake.
Significant NHL Dates
Oct. 1: Start of the regular season Nov. 9: Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Dec. 26 - Jan. 5: World Junior Championship in Regina/Saskatoon Jan. 1: 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park Feb. 15 - Mar. 1: Olympic Break Apr. 11: Last day of regular season Apr. 14: Start date of Stanley Cup Playoffs May 7 - 23: IIHF World Championship in Germany
I would like to extend my condolences to Fred Cusick's family as we lost a great hockey announcer. I got to listen to a lot of games done by Cusick on NESN and WSBK TV 38 when I lived in Ayer Mass during 1988 till 1990. RIP Fred you will be missed.
Fred Cusick, the popular play-by-play voice for the Bruins for more than 40 years, has died, his family confirmed to the Globe this afternoon. He was 90 years old.
Cusick, who is scheduled to be inducted to the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame tomorrow night, was a signature voice of the Bruins during their 1970s heyday.
His simple trademark call of "Score!" whenever Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Cam Neely and countless other Bruins put the puck in the net served as familiar punctuation on their goals.
Upon returning from a stint with the Navy during World War II, Cusick began his career with the Bruins in 1952, handling the play-by-play on their radio broadcasts until 1970.
In 1963, he led the push to get the Bruins on television, editing and voicing over tapes of the Bruins' Saturday night games, which would then air on Sundays. The replays were popular enough that the games aired on live TV within a couple of years.
Cusick called the Bruins' 1970 Stanley Cup championship for WBZ-FM (1030), then moved to television in '71, taking over play-by-play duties at Channel 38 and holding that position until 1997, when he retired after 45 years calling Bruins games.
He also was the play-by-play voice of the Bruins on NESN from 1984 to '93. [Boston Globe]
The Bruins and Leafs are still talking trade and draft picks. It will be interesting to see how long this plays out? Looks like the Leafs are also regretting signing former SCSU Husky Jeff Finger to that rather large contract. There is no way that he is worth 3+ million a season.
Burke continues to probe middle ground with the Bruins to acquire Kessel for a package of draft picks. The Boston Globe echoed reports of the past few days that the Leafs are dangling two first-round picks and a second-rounder and would want at least a third-rounder coming back, but despite his salary cap crunch, GM Peter Chiarelli might also take a player from the Leafs.
Burke played down speculation that the Leafs are trying to force Boston's hand by insisting a deal gets done in a couple of days, before they go the offer sheet route. Boston could match a Leafs offer, but would then need to move other players to get under the cap to accommodate Kessel. A trade would net a better return for Boston.
To get his own house in order, Burke also said he will demote some players to the Marlies if they don't play to potential at camp, but that rarely has been an issue with White.
He beat the odds to stay with the Leafs last season, making the team as a right winger. He won the club's Bill Masterton Trophy nomination for his perseverance.
"Unfortunately, Whitey's in that group," Wilson said of the limbo Leafs. "When you have eight or nine NHL defenceman, they get to a point where they say: 'Do I have to prove myself again'? But there's nothing wrong with that. That's the way it should be."
Finger, signed to a four-year, $14-million US contract by the previous regime, also is looking over his shoulder.
"The competition should bring out the best in us," he said. "If it doesn't, I won't be playing much."
Being 150 miles south of Winnipeg, the Jets were a very convenient trip north up I29 across the border to Hwy 75. I can still remember going to a few games during that final 1995-1996 season. During that final season I went to games between the Flyer's vs Jets, but also the Blackhawks and Jets. It was doubly hard to watch the Jets leave Winnipeg because a few years earlier I had watched another one of my favorite team the North Stars leave Minneapolis shortly after making a run at the Stanley Cup and then relocate to Dallas because of Norm Greed. Now we have a mess in Phoenix and you have to wonder if the Jets would have been better off playing in Winnipeg than the black hole known as Glen Dale.
Chris from Western College hockey gave UND the kiss of death. While I think UND is going to be very good hockey team this season I don't know if they are going to finish in the top spot. It's not outside the realm of possibility. I think DU is going to finish there based on who didn't leave for the NHL and who they have coming in this season. Funny no mention of the law mower throwing incident.
1. North Dakota
The Sioux are the defending MacNaughton Cup champs, and had it not been for a couple terrible starts to their season, they would probably have two or three more in recent years.
Last year North Dakota was a bit different from previous Sioux teams in that they didn’t have much in the way of superstar NHL prospects—it’s probably telling that nobody left school early for the pros last summer—but they were a much deeper team, and that seemed to serve them better over the long haul of the season(though it also produced their shortest postseason run in years).
This year’s North Dakota team looks similar, though they’ll probably have less scoring at the top, and more scoring throughout the rest of the lineup. Chris VandeVelde is one of the strongest players in the WCHA, but probably isn’t going to score at much than a point per game pace. Jason Gregoire could be due for a breakout season as a sophomore.
On defense, they return Chay Genoway, who some thought was the WCHA’s player of the year last season, and they have a solid goalie in Brad Eidsness.
They’re going to be a tough, physical team from top to bottom, and hopefully more consistent than in year’s past. It might take more points to win the league than it did last season, but with their goaltending situation settled, and a more experienced lineup, I don’t see North Dakota having the struggles they did early last season.
The Pre-Season Preview went like this... 1. North Dakota 2. Denver 3. Wisconsin 4. Minnesota 5. Minnesota-Duluth 6. St. Cloud 7. Colorado College 8. Minnesota State 9. Alaska-Anchorage 10. Michigan Tech
Here is an interesting interview that was on NESN.COM.
I didn't like this guy before but now KDP is really starting to piss me off. Why would a sports writer have an agenda to get a player run out of town? I mean really first it was Big Joe Thornton now Kessel. I would suppose that next year is he going to focus on Marc Savard, because he is tough enough and doesn't check people through the boards. Fan unrest a lot of Bruins fans are upset with the way this has been handled. This is mind boggling. Can we trade sports writers?
Based on fan unrest over Phil Kessel’s status expressed on Internet sites, especially boston.com, those who plan to attend may be asked to empty their pockets of tomatoes and eggs as they report for the 6:30 p.m. start. Fans love scoring, because it’s the most obvious of the game’s multiple, complex arts. Three years ago, prior to Zdeno Chara’s arrival, the Bruins couldn’t dream of letting Kessel go. But now, with a winning and defense-first game plan in place, it’s a club that can take the calculated risk of moving on without him. The hardest micro-decision in keeping Kessel is whether or not to deal away the 29-year-old Michael Ryder instead. Ryder makes $4 million, and something around $5 million would likely be enough to take care of the 21-year-old Kessel. But for now, Chiarelli & Co. seem intent on keeping Ryder over Kessel.[Boston Globe]
Former Fighting Sioux hockey player Drew Stafford was an RFA and just signed a new deal with the Buffalo Sabres. Actually Drew had reported to camp even though he didn't have a deal in place. Almost unheard of in this day and age. I am wondering if I am the only one that thinks Stafford was low balled on his contract? Seems like he would be worth more than he got.
Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- The Sabres didn't have to make a decision today if Drew Stafford could practice or not because he signed a two year deal before hitting the ice. The winger will make $1.5 million this season and $2.3 million next year. Stafford was with the practice group today. He said, "I'm very excited to get a deal done. I was here yesterday skating and being with the guys and wasn't sure yet, but we were able to get it done and I couldn't be happier." Lindy Ruff added, "I think a lot of times a player gets caught in a bad spot. I think in his case he knew he had to be here and made a decision. Being in camp for a couple of weeks and being on pace with the other players is important. I think he realized that."
Stafford scored 20 goals in 79 games last season, but was very inconsistent in his play. It's something he's addressing this year, "I've come here with the mind set of trying to get better, trying to do what I can to contribute, work on my consistency most importantly and just wanting to be part of the solution."
I think the Wild were smart to wash their hands of this guy, just think 7.5 million dollars a year and an amazing talent when he is healthy. Emphasis on when Gabby is healthy we laid out his injury report. Gaborik has played in 502 (219 goals - 218 assists - 437 pts)and has missed a significant number of games and I wouldn't recommend having him on your fantasy hockey team.
22-Mar-09 Missed 38 games (hip surgery). 24-Dec-08 Groin, sidelined indefinitely. 17-Dec-08 Missed 27 games (back injury). 16-Oct-08 Back injury, day-to-day. 15-Nov-07 Missed 3 games (groin). 05-Nov-07 Groin, day-to-day. 01-Nov-07 Missed 2 games (groin). 27-Oct-07 Groin, day-to-day. 06-Jan-07 Missed 34 games (groin strain). 02-Jan-07 Groin strain, day-to-day. 21-Oct-06 Groin strain, sidelined indefinitely. 05-Jul-06 Re-signed as a restricted free agent by the Minnesota Wild to a three-year contract. 23-Nov-05 Missed 11 games (hip flexor). 25-Oct-05 Hip flexor, sidelined indefinitely. 19-Oct-05 Missed 6 games (groin). 04-Oct-05 Groin, mid-October. 28-Sep-05 Groin, day-to-day. 02-Feb-04 Missed 5 games (hip flexor). 22-Jan-04 Hip flexor, day-to-day. 31-Oct-03 Re-signed by the Minnesota Wild to a multi-year contract. 30-Jun-03 Minnesota Wild tendered a qualifying offer. 17-Dec-02 Missed 1 game (flu). 15-Dec-02 Flu, day-to-day. 28-Dec-01 Missed 3 games (groin). 22-Dec-01 Groin, day-to-day. 07-Oct-01 Missed 1 game (hernia). 01-Oct-01 Hernia, day-to-day. 08-Apr-01 Missed the last 4 games of the regular season (abdominal strain). 02-Apr-01 Abdominal strain, day-to-day. 30-Nov-00 Missed 6 games (left leg injury). 17-Nov-00 Left leg injury, day-to-day. [TSN] If I was a member of the Rangers management I might be a little concerned because Gabby is already experiencing tightness in his groin.
Marian Gaborik did not participate in today's scrimmage but he did participate in his squad's practice, taking it somewhat easy in the drills but skating very well in the conditioning laps. The high-scoring right wing, who missed the majority of last season due to hip surgery, said his hip is fine, he's just experiencing tightness in his groin.
Gaborik said he hoped to play in the preseason - though he would not specify how many of the seven games he hoped to play in - but said he would not push himself, preferring to take it "day by day" and said it was very unlikely he would play either tomorrow night against the Bruins or Wednesday night against the Devils.
"It's a little tightness," Gaborik said. "The start of training camps are critical and a lot of times, the first couple of days it's tough skating. I don't want to push too hard, too quick." [Rander Rants]
Pucks Gone Wild is reporting (confirmed by Russo) that the Minnesota Wild have invited Petr Sykora to try out for the Minnesota Wild. I would imagine he will make the Wild this season. I am hoping he is taking Benoit Pouliot's spot on the roster who has been anything but a disappointment.
Stanley Cup winner Petr Sykora, that’s who. And just what we needed, a guy who consistently scores. Word has it he’s coming to St. Paul on Tuesday for a tryout. When he makes the team he’s expected to sign a 1 year deal worth around $1.25m. Whose roster spot does he take? My best guess…Colton Gilles and/or Benoit Pouliot.
Self professed Phil Kessel hater Kevin Paul Dupont aka "KDP" is all giddy with the prospects of Kessel going to the Maple Leafs. I don’t understand why the Boston Globe keeps this clown on their staff because he is half the writer Minnesota Wild beat writer Michael Russo is. Come on KDP It’s called professionalism and he is letting his bias get in the way of a good story. I don’t understand Dupont's angle other than Phil being the shy type must have not give him the interview he wanted one time and since then has had a burr in is saddle for this kid.
What is going to happen next season when Lucic and Savard start negotiating for their next contracts; both are good players that are going to want good money to stay in Boston, who is going to be KDP's whipping boy next? Check some of the crap that he says in this article. Just for the record this is not like the Dany Heatly situation, Heatly had a contract and decided he didn't want to play for the Senators anymore, Kessel was given one contract offer and told to take it or leave it, or at least this is what I have gleamed from reading this on going mess. So it looks like Kessel could be playing with former Fighting Sioux hockey player Jason Blake who was the Leafs top scorer last season.
Just hours before the Bruins skated yesterday at the Garden for their first bona fide training camp workout, the ever-active rumor mill in Toronto had the Maple Leafs tabling the best offer yet for Boston free agent Phil Kessel. To wit: for a pair of first-round picks and one second-round pick, Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli could be free at last from his summer ’09 migraine, and the 21-year-old Kessel could call southern Ontario home.
Partially true,’’ said one source familiar with the talks between the teams, which have been going on for more than two weeks. “Toronto also wants a third-rounder along with Kessel.’’
Meanwhile, Kessel’s agent, Wade Arnott, attended the Leafs’ workout in Toronto. No, he did not have Kessel at his elbow, wearing a raincoat, skimmer, and sunglasses. But Arnott was spotted talking to GM Brian Burke’s top lieutenant, Dave Nonis, who now has the charge of handling the trade talks with Chiarelli.
For the moment, and possibly well on into November, Kessel holds the cards as a restricted free agent. If Chiarelli were to make a deal with, say, the Predators, Nashville GM David Poile would only give up assets if he is assured Kessel will sign in Tune Town. Likewise, the Leafs won’t flip picks and/or players Boston’s way unless Chiarelli already has inked Kessel to a sign-and-trade.
All signs point to Kessel preferring the Leafs over the Predators, which, if nothing else, proves he did learn something during his year at the University of Minnesota. Decent team, the Preds, but there is only one Toronto (unless Jim Balsillie succeeds in divvying up the hockey mecca).
The dynamic of the Kessel proceedings will shift as late November approaches because Kessel, per the collective bargaining agreement, cannot play in the NHL this season unless he has signed a deal by Dec. 1. But with Toronto so aggressively in the hunt, it’s doubtful it will play out that long. Clearly, Burke is trying to consummate a deal rather than extend Kessel an offer sheet, which had to be the context of the discussions between Chiarelli and Burke when they were spotted across from the Garden at The Four’s two weeks ago, according to a source inside the Canal St. eatery.
Asked yesterday if he cared to comment on the Kessel situation, Chiarelli said via email, “No, but thanks for asking.’’
Burke, reached via phone in Toronto last night, said, “The Maple Leafs cordially decline your request.’’
Everyone is just too polite for words, which makes your faithful scribe think the whole thing could get Bob Probert nasty in short order.
Chiarelli has what Burke wants, and Kessel’s agent already has informed the Bruins that he is done negotiating with the Spoked-B franchise. Both Kessel and Arnott have shot down that impasse, which was reported here first last week, but that’s only because they don’t want Kessel’s reputation in Boston to morph into what Dany Heatley’s became in Ottawa when he requested out over the summer (a wish that was granted Saturday when Heatley was dished to the Sharks) [read the rest of the article here]
This is the statement that I think is interesting and is a complete head scratcher. I would like to ask the Bruin's management if they are on drugs? My next question is going to be; where the 25-45 goals are going to come from? Who is going to pick up the slack? I keep hearing Marco Sturm and Patrice Bergeron. Only one player was close to scoring 36 goals last season and that was Michael Ryder with 27, Sturm who is 10 years older than Phil has never scored more than 28 goals in a season and that was during the 2002-2003 season. Patrice Bergeron has had two concussions in the past two season and is a check away from ending his hockey career and has only played 82 games in a season once and that was during the 2005-2006 season.
In the Boston front office, they’ve spent months warming to the idea that they can win without Kessel, and they are probably right, given that they have the Norris Trophy winner in Zdeno Chara and the Vezina Trophy winner in Tim Thomas. In the Boston cookbook, most of its tasty concoctions based on defensive ingredients, Kessel is viewed as that little sprig of parsley that makes the plate look better but really doesn’t factor into whether the meal is a true success.
Former Fighting Sioux forward Drew Stafford has signed a new 2 year contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The terms of the contract have not been released yet but I am sure that we will know in the near future how much Stafford will make.
Buffalo, NY -- (Sports Network) - The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed forward Drew Stafford to a two-year contract.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Stafford notched career highs last season with 20 goals, 25 assists and 45 points in 79 games for Buffalo.
The Milwaukee native, who will turn 24 years old in October, has 49 goals and 61 assists for 110 points in 184 NHL games over three seasons. The Sabres selected him with the 13th overall pick of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
Rangers fans should get used to this, it is going to be a reoccurring theme with prima donna Marian Gaborik. Wild fans seen this song before and know the words quite well. Good luck with your new teams and I give it a week or two before Marry Ann is on the IR.
Gaborik does not skate --- Marian Gaborik went through the medical testing today but did not participate in the sprint tests. Gaborik has taken part in some of the Rangers' informal skates but John Tortorella said he was held out of today's testing as a precaution.
"We just want to be careful, he's a little tender," Tortorella said. "He was skating the other today, he's just a little sore from that. We don't want to do anything stupid."
Gaborik already was not going to participate in tonight's three-mile run as the Rangers try to be smart with the injury-prone Gaborik, who played just 17 games last season due to hip surgery before signing a five-year, $37.5 million deal to come to the Rangers from Minnesota.
It would obviously be bad news, then, if Gaborik is hurting already to start the season. But it's too early to issue any dire warnings. Tortorella said Friday the Rangers will be in close contact with Gaborik's doctor to make sure he's given every chance to remain healthy. [Ranger Rants]
Former Wisconsin Badgers star Dany Heatley has finally been traded. From looking at the deal it would appear that that Senators got a whole lot better because they got rid of a potential locker room cancer and got two pretty good players in left-winger Milan Michalek and right-winger Jonathan Cheechoo. Also it's hard to imagine in the days of the salary cap that Joe Thornton and Dany Heatly are on the same team, that is going to make the Sharks the beast in the west. Heatley also joins former Badger Joe Pavelski.
OTTAWA — As soon as Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray talked to Dany Heatley on Friday, he knew he had to trade the disgruntled left-winger.
Heatley was so adamant about being moved that Murray knew he couldn’t have him around poisoning the dressing room. Nothing was going to make Heatley change his mind and Murray knew it.
“When I looked him in the eye, I knew the minute he walked out the door that I had to trade him,” said Murray.
“I didn’t think there was any chance. I just felt that we had to move him. As I said to (Senators captain) Daniel Alfredsson, ‘What we should care about here is the core of this hockey team and how we can help the guys become a competitive team again.’ ”
Alfredsson had also come to the same conclusion. He and defenceman Chris Phillips had sat down to talk with Heatley about his frame of mind coming into camp. Alfredsson left knowing there was nothing he could do or say to change Heatley’s mind.
“He was pretty clear about his stance,” said Alfredsson.
So Murray talked to Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and told him that, for the sake of the team, he had to trade Heatley for whatever he could get.
Murray landed left-winger Milan Michalek, 24, right-winger Jonathan Cheechoo, 29, and a second-round draft pick next year for Heatley and a 2010 fifth-round pick
