Dany Healtey signed by the Ducks

#490231783 / gettyimages.com

The Ducks have signed former Wisconsin Badgers and Minnesota Wild forward Dany Heatley to a one year contract. According to Darren Dreger , it's for 1 million dollars. The former Wild forward is coming off a tough season, where he spent time in the press box and on the fourth line.  

NHL.COM -- The Ducks have signed left wing Dany Heatley to a one-year contract through the 2014-15 NHL season. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Heatley, 33 (1/21/81), has recorded 372-419=791 points with a +41 rating in 863 career NHL games with Atlanta, Ottawa, San Jose and Minnesota. A two-time 50-goal scorer, Heatley has been named to the NHL All-Star Game four times, named a First Team All-Star in 2007, a Second Team All-Star in 2006 and winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2002.

"Over the years, he’s been a guy I’ve always liked," said Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Murray. "He’s intriguing because he’s a pure goal scorer, and he’s actually much better away from the puck than people think he is. He struggled the last couple years for different reasons. A great opportunity presented itself. It was a good match."

Chicago Blackhawks: Toews and Kane get paid

#494772349 / gettyimages.com

For their efforts, former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are now locked into some nice, fat contracts that will make them very rich men. In my opinion, this is what a post 2013 lockout contract will looks like. It will be interesting to see what kind of issues the Blackhawks have with salary cap.

Chris Kuc, Tribune reporter -- Two of the NHL’s top players aren’t going anywhere after Toews and Kane agreed to terms on identical eight-year, $84 million contract extensions Wednesday, likely ensuring the Hawks will be Stanley Cup contenders for the next decade or so.

Hawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz, President John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman and the rest of the Hawks’ hierarchy recognized and rewarded their young forwards’ rare talent with contracts that will carry salary-cap hits of $10.5 million per year apiece — the highest in league history — when they kick in beginning with the 2015-16 season.

That combined $168 million dedicated long term to two players carries cap implications that Bowman will have to work his way through when he assembles future rosters.

Toews and Kane: Blackhawks through 2023. Both agree to an eight year, $84 million contract extension. #Hawkstalk pic.twitter.com/EAtkKTHONv
— Crosstown Tickets (@crosstowntix) July 9, 2014

Zane Gothberg is going Camping with the Bruins

Joe Haggerty of CSNNE had this to say about UND goalie Zane Gothberg who's going to the Boston Bruins development camp. Notice, Haggerty referred to the University of North Dakota as the Fighting Sioux.

Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.Com --- Zane Gothberg – Goaltender, 2010 sixth round pick (165th overall): Gothberg helped lead the University of North Dakota to the Frozen Four, and set a school record with his .926 save percentage last season. The longtime development camp attendee should be one of the standouts after his 1.99 goals against average and three shutouts in 33 games for the Fighting Sioux last season.

B's ready to welcome plenty of hockey promise to development camp. Here's a rundown on 23-player roster http://t.co/aoBGbrxHfO #BruinsTalk
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) July 8, 2014

Related articles

• Z is for Zane (Gothberg)
• A few things - Zane Gothberg goes to camp
• UND Hockey: Zane Gothberg NCHC Goaltender of the Week

Hilary Knight 'puck naked' for ESPN

Thx @ESPNMag for a chance to show beauty in the human body & convey muscle is not only strength & power but beautiful pic.twitter.com/uXgNmmHabh
— Hilary Knight (@Hilary_Knight) July 8, 2014

U.S. Women's Hockey Olympic star Hillary Knight, posed for ESPN the Magazine. The Knight issue will be available on Jul 11, 2014.

Hilary Knight gets 'puck naked' for ESPN Body Issue, in stores July 11th. #USA pic.twitter.com/epjRhTvCYX
— NHL EXPERT PICKS (@NHLexpertpicks) July 8, 2014

Brendan O'Donnell Goes Camping

#484200993 / gettyimages.com

Sounds like UND forward Brendan O'Donnell is doing alright at the Tampa Bay Lightning development camp. Hopefully a healthy O'D will be impressing the UND faithful this season. O'Donnell has been slowed by injury the last couple of seasons.

Joe Smith, Tampa Bay Times -- Then, LW Brendan O'Donnell helped finish it off, smashing the glass with another shot.

It was fitting, considering the duo had breakthrough performances during the three-on-three tournament at the Lightning's development camp, helping lead Team Filppula to the championship on the final day Sunday in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

O'Donnell, 22, a senior at North Dakota next season, led the two-day round-robin competition with eight goals, and Costello, 24, a Notre Dame senior last season, had seven, with a camp-high-matching 13 points.

Combined with 2014 first-round draft pick D Anthony DeAngelo (six goals, seven assists), '14 pick C Brayden Point (four goals, five assists) and late addition D Dylan Blujus (wining shootout goal in the semifinals), Team Filppula went undefeated and playfully celebrated with the trophy like it was the Stanley Cup.

Stltoday, Schmaltz hopes for battle of brothers in NHL

#484200741 / gettyimages.com

Here’s a good article in the St Louis Post-Dispatch about UND defenseman Jordan Schmaltz who’s currently at the St. Louis Blues development camp.

Jeremy Rutherford, stltoday.com -- He is a 6-foot-2, 193-pound puck-moving defenseman, who despite being considered a reach when the Blues drafted him No. 25 overall, has made considerable strides in two seasons at UND.

“It’s a great hockey program there, it’s a pressure school, and he’s succeeded there,” said Bill Armstrong, the Blues’ director of amateur scouting — who drafted Schmaltz and has watched him an estimated dozen times the past two seasons.

“I really liked his final game. He was just an outstanding player, creating offense and not giving up anything on the defensive side. We’re happy with his progression. He’s still got a long way to go to be a pro. But he’s got what you can’t teach, and that’s the elite hockey sense.”

As a sophomore in 2013-14, Schmaltz had six goals and 24 points in 41 games at North Dakota, earning him second-team honors in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

But in that final game that Armstrong alluded to, UND fell 2-1 in the NCAA semifinals to Minnesota, which netted the game-winner while shorthanded with 0.6 seconds remaining in regulation.

Minnesota Wild Development Camp Roster (College Hockey Connections)

#482705993 / gettyimages.com

The Minnesota Wild are holding their development camp on July 9-14. There will be a scrimmage on the 14th of July.

2014 MINNESOTA WILD DEVELOPMENT CAMP ROSTER

FORWARDS (College Hockey Connections)

40 Tyler Sheehy 5-10 185 Right 11/20/95 Burnsville, Minnesota Minnesota Big 10  

41 Alex Iafallo 6-0 176 Left 12/21/93 Eden, New York U. Minn. Duluth NCHC 

43 Mario Lucia 6-3 195 Left 8/25/93 Fairbanks, Alaska Notre Dame  Hockey East 

50 Vinni Lettieri 5-9 170 Right 2/6/95 Excelsior, Minnesota U. Minnesota Big 10 

52 Alex Tuch 6-3.5 218 Right 5/10/96 Baldwinsville, New York Boston College HE 

57 Adam Gilmour 6-4 192 Right 1/29/94 Albany, New York Boston College HE 

59 Eric Scheid 5-9 163 Left 5/5/92 Coon Rapids, Minnesota Penn State Big 10 

62 Avery Peterson 6-3 200 Left 6/20/95 Grand Rapids, Minnesota Nebraska-Omaha
70 Adam Phillips 6-0 195 Right 8/11/90 Farmington Hills, Michigan UMass- Amherst HE 

71 Brooks Bertsch 5-11 185 Right 5/10/90 Dubuque, Iowa St. Cloud State NCHC 

73 Tanner Kero 5-11 175 Left 7/24/92 Hancock, Michigan Michigan Tech WCHA 

79 Grant Opperman 6-0 185 Right 11/15/93 Wayzata, Minnesota Dartmouth ECAC 

DEFENSEMEN (With College Hockey Connections)

5 Christian Folin 6-3 210 Right 2/9/91 Gothenburg, Sweden UMass-Lowell HE 

44 Gustav Olofsson 6-4 191 Left 12/1/94 Boras, Sweden Colorado College NCHC

60 Carson Soucy 6-5 200 Left 7/27/94 Viking, Alberta U. Minn. Duluth NCHC

72 Hunter Warner 6-2 202 Right 9/21/95 Eden Prairie, Minnesota Minn. State Mankato 

75 Zach Palmquist 5-11 175 Left 12/9/90 South St. Paul, Minnesota Minn. State Mankato WCHA 

80 Louie Belpedio 5-10 190 Right 5/14/96 Skokie, Illinois Miami U. NCHC 

GOALTENDER
86 Michael Shibrowski 6-1 199 Left 11/15/90 Andover, Minnesota U. Minnesota Big 10

Related articles

• NCAA Hockey: 62 Players Selected in the 2014 NHL Draft
• NCHC Forges New Standards for Officiating
• NCHC Hockey: Colorado College Defenseman Gustav Olofsson not Bolting for the WHL
• NCHC Hockey: No Second Thoughts or Regrets

Top-10 UFA's?

#478263087 / gettyimages.com

According toLuke Fox of Sports Net, these are the top-10 available UFA players.

10. Andre Benoit, Age: 30, 2013-14 team: Colorado Avalanche
9. Devin Setoguchi, Age: 27, 2013-14 team: Winnipeg Jets
8. Martin Brodeur, Age: 42, 2013-14 team: New Jersey Devils
7. Mike Ribeiro, Age: 34, 2013-14 team: Arizona Coyotes
6. Lee Stempniak, Age: 31, 2013-14 team: Pittsburgh Penguins
5. Derek Roy, Age: 31, 2013-14 team: St. Louis Blues
4. Michael Del Zotto, Age: 24, 2013-14 team: Nashville Predators
3. Tomas Vokoun, Age: 38, 2013-14 team: Pittsburgh Penguins
2. Steve Ott, Age: 31, 2013-14 team: St. Louis Blues
1. Daniel Alfredsson, Age: 41, 2013-14 Team: Detroit Red Wings

Minnesota Wild: Justin Fontaine files for arbitration

#490242273 / gettyimages.com

Former UMD Bulldog and current Minnesota Wild RFA forward Justine Fontaine has filed for salary arbitration. EDIT: Came from Hockey Wilderness blogger-> Apparently, the former Bulldog wants 2.75 million a year. So, I would say, it's probably going to be less than the above number.

This past season, Fontaine scored (13G-8a—21pts) in 66 games. Just for comparison sake, Fontaine was 4th on the Wild in goal scoring, so he isn't total hack making outrageous demands. It will be interesting to see what kind of a contract he signs. I don't think his salary demands are all that unreasonable.

Russo's Rants -- Wild right wing Justin Fontaine was the only one of the Wild's restricted free agents to file for arbitration by today's 4 p.m. deadline. He's one of 20 to do so in the NHL.

Fontaine's agent, Neil Sheehy, will continue to try to negotiate a contract with the Wild. He can do so up until the hearing, which will be scheduled from July 20 to August 4 in Toronto in front of an independent arbitrator. Most of the time, a contract is worked out prior to the hearing. By any player filing for arbitration, it ensures he can't be signed to an offer sheet by another club and it ensures no holdout from training camp.

Related articles

• Minnesota Wild: Putting it all into perspective
• Minnesota Wild: Revisiting the Justin Fontaine Question: Oh yeah! He's scores again (Video)
• Minnesota Wild: Former UMD Bulldog Justin Fontaine scores hat-trick against the Coyotes
• Justin Fontaine's Wild NHL Opportunity in Minnesota

Updated Uneventful Free Agency

Pretty light free agent action during the holiday weekend. In my opinion, this has been an uneventful free agency signing so far. Looking at the list, there's not a lot of attractive options out there. 

Alyn McCauley with the Cup

Los Angeles Kings pro scout Alyn McCauley with the Cup in Gananoque, Ontario. That looks like a good pace.

Paul Stastny gives St. Louis Blues depth

#487565547 / gettyimages.com

One of my fellow writers from the Hockey Writers has an interesting piece on the St. Louis Blues signing former Denver Pioneer Paul Stastny. With the signing, the Blues have added some great depth to their lineup.

Jeff Ponder, KSDK Sports -- Not only has this signing allowed the Blues to appear more menacing on paper, it also provides head coach Ken Hitchcock more wiggle room in developing lines. David Backes, who scored his career-high 31 goals and 62 points while playing on right wing (2010-11), now has the option to move back to his natural position.

"I see a scenario where Paul plays with [Alexander] Steen and Backes," GM Doug Armstrong said on Tuesday. "That gives us quite a bit of strength on the wing, [and] the size with Backes. And then you have [Patrik] Berglund with [Vladimir] Sobotka and maybe [T.J.] Oshie as another line. [Jori] Lehtera has a history with [Vladimir] Tarasenko from the KHL."

Without taking a second look, you can see this lineup will threaten more often than what the team rolled out at the beginning of last season.

This past season, the Western Conference was a death march. The west is going to be even tougher this season, with the moves that have been made in the offseason.

Brady Skjei will return for Junior season

From @NYRangers prospect camp, @BradySkjei has confirmed his return to the #Gophers. Story: http://t.co/1yWldNMZcc pic.twitter.com/SgFXyLC1pS
— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) July 3, 2014

Now that the development camps are in full swing, the Minnesota Gophers got some good news. Defenseman Brady Skjei will return for his junior season.

By Brian Deutsch (GopherSports.com) - Gopher Hockey defenseman Brady Skjei has confirmed he will return to the University of Minnesota for his junior season in 2014-15.

The Lakeville, Minn., native is currently participating at the New York Rangers Prospect Development Camp at Madison Square Garden Training Center and informed the National Hockey League (NHL) organization of his decision on Thursday.

Updated: Free Agent Signing

#482792745 / gettyimages.com

Santorelli, Mike, C, Vancouver, Toronto, 1.5M, one year

Strachen, Tyson, D, Washington, Buffalo, 600K, one year

Fiddler, Vernon, C, Dallas, Dallas, 2.5m, two years

Gleason, Tim, D, Toronto, Carolina, $1.2M, one year

Vrbata, Radim, RW, Phoenix, Vancouver, $10M, two years

Stortini, Zack, RW, Anaheim, Philadelphia, n/a, one year

McClement, Jay, C, Toronto, Carolina, $1M, one year  

Fiddler, Vernon, C, Dallas, Dallas, $2.5M, two years

Schultz, Nick, D, Columbus, Philadelphia, $1.25M, one year

Kulemin, Nikolai, RW, Toronto, Islanders, $16.75M, four years

Grabovski, Mikhail, C, Washington, Islanders, $20M, four years
  

Minnesota Wild: Say no to Steve Ott

#487318047 / gettyimages.com

The Wild need toughness, and I agree that they need to get tougher. However, let's hope the Wild don't sign this piece of dog excrement. I am not in favor of this move whatsoever.  Ott is one of those players that you would definitely hate, and don't ever want to see him on your team, either.

Russo's Rants -- Here’s a look at how the Wild is shaping up to look like next season. This will change undoubtedly throughout the summer as the Wild add and delete players.

Remember, at some point, the Wild’s expected to acquire a physical defenseman to replace Clayton Stoner. It may also look to replace the gritty element up front of Cody McCormick. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun -- the great Pierre LeBrun, I may add -- reports the Wild has shown interest in Steve Ott, the former Dallas Stars agitator/smack talker and Sabres captain who was dealt with Ryan Miller to St. Louis last season. He once fought Cal Clutterbuck twice in the same game after Ott ran Josh Harding either that game or the game before, I can't remember (video of that incident on bottom of blog). Ott can play center and wing and kills penalties.

Toronto has also shown interest in Ott, I have heard.

In my opinion, the Wild already have an agitator in Matt Cooke. They need a forward that can kill penalties, chip in offense and stick up for teammates. Ott has played in 696 NHL games for three different teams, he’s scored (103g-164a—267pts) and has accumulated 1,355 penalty in minutes.

Disclaimer: Of course my opinion on this matter is going to be jaded, I am both a Wild and Bruins fan and I wasn't impressed with his antics when he was with the Buffalo Sabres. I admit that.

Sharks sign Road Cone John Scott

#483142281 / gettyimages.com

Western Conference team beware, especially if you're one of those players that skates with their head down. The San Jose Sharks have signed UFA road cone John Scott. The former Michigan Tech Husky inked a one year deal worth 750 thousand dollars.

One thing Scott will never be accused of is being dumb. Anyone that is this bad of a hockey players, and has been able to get paid this much money to play hockey in the best league in the world, has to be a genius.

Scott who has no redeeming quality other than he can fight, has played in 236 NHL games and scored a minuscule (2g-4a—6pts) and racked up an impressive 430 penalty minutes. In his second to last game of the season, Scott was assessed 24 minutes in penalties. Good thing that the Mr. Anger Management has a degree from MTU to fall back on when he's done with hockey.

SAN JOSE, CA - San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed free agent forward John Scott to a one-year contract. Scott, 31, ranked 13th in the NHL with 125 penalty minutes in 56 games during the 2013-14 campaign, leading the Buffalo Sabres in that category."John brings a physical, no-nonsense element to our lineup," said Wilson. "As we integrate more younger players to our team, John's presence alone can act as a deterrent and help keep teams and opposing players honest."

Claude Giroux busted for grabbing cops buttocks

#487436735 / gettyimages.com

Ruh, roh! Claude Giroux was arrested for grabbing the buttocks of an Ottawa police officer. This is a story made for the tabloid news. Also, alcohol was a factor.

Danielle Bell,Ottawa Sun -- Philadelphia Flyers star Claude Giroux has been released from jail after being arrested for allegedly grabbing the buttocks of a police officer.

Sources say Giroux was arrested for repeatedly grabbing the male police officer's butt during an incident at a downtown Ottawa bar. Alcohol is believed to have been involved.

A witness and sources say the incident occurred at The Great Canadian Cabin in the Byward Market club district.

NHL Free Agency signing

#134295588 / gettyimages.com

Campbell, Andrew, D, Los Angeles, Phoenix, n/a, n/a, n/a

Conner, Chris, RW, Pittsburg, Washington, n/a, one year

McKenna, Mike, G, Columbus, Phoenix, n/a, 1, n/a

Goc, Marcel, C, Pittsburg, Pittsburgh, 1.2M, one year

Biega, Alex, D, Vancouver, Vancouver, $600K, one year

Bickel, Stu, D, NY Rangers, Minnesota, $600K, one year

Desjardins, Cedrick, G, Tampa Bay, NY Rangers, $1.2M, two years

Jones, Blair, C, Calgary, Philadelphia, n/a, one year

Conner, Chris, RW, Pittsburgh, Washington, n/a, one year

Skille, Jack, RW, Columbus, NY Islanders, n/a, one year

Quincey, Kyle, D, Detroit, Detroit, $8.5M, two years  

Jason LaBarbera, G, Chicago, Anaheim, $750K, one year

MacIntyre, Drew, G, Toronto, Carolina, $600K, one year

Leggio, David, G, Washington, Islanders, n/a, one year

Chorney, Taylor, D, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, $550K, one year

Jones, Blair, C, Calgary, Philadelphia, n/a, one year

Skille, Jack, RW, Columbus, Islanders, n/a, one year

Now They're all on the Same Team

So cool pic.twitter.com/FquugYYSIO
— Jeff Dubay (@jeffdubay) July 1, 2014

Now all three are on the same team.  Anyone else excited about Thomas Vanek being a member of the Minnesota Wild?

NCAA Hockey: 62 Players Selected in the 2014 NHL Draft

#451391348 / gettyimages.com

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers. This past weekend, the NHL held its 2014 Entry Level Draft. A total of 62 current and or committed college hockey players were selected in the 2014 NHL draft. Over half of the teams in college hockey were represented during the 2014 NHL Draft, 31-of-59 division I teams had players that were drafted (.525).

Four college bound players were selected in the first round of 2014 NHL Draft. That’s an increase over last year.

In the 2013 NHL Draft, there was one college bound player selected in the first round, Michael McCarron, the former Western Michigan recruit was selected 25^th overall by the Montreal Canadians. After the 2013 NHL Draft, McCarron decommitted from Western Michigan, and signed a contract with the London Knights of the OHL.