Month: June 2008

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Martin Straka has decided to leave the NHL and return to his former Czech club, a team official said Thursday.Straka, an unrestricted free agent in the NHL on July 1, played the last three years with the New York York Rangers.

Movements in the world of hockey Wednesday:National Hockey LeagueCHICAGO BLACKHAWKS-Named Paul Goodman strength and conditioning coach.COLORADO AVALANCHE – Signed Scott Parker to one-year contract.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks kept three players away from free-agent waters Wednesday, re-signing centres Joe Pavelski and Jeremy Roenick and goaltender Brian Boucher.

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers have made qualifying offers to seven of their restricted free agents.Panthers general manager Jacques Martin said Wednesday that the club made offers to Jay Bouwmeester, Gregory Campbell, Drew Larman, Martin Lojek, Stefan Meyer, Rostislav Olesz and Anthony Stewart.

The Sudbury Wolves have confirmed they will select sixth overall NHL pick Nikita Filatov first overall in the Canadian Hockey League’s import draft Thursday in a move that would have to classify as high risk-high reward.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes acquired tough guy Brian McGrattan from the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2009.

VANCOUVER – Kyle Wellwood hopes switching coasts improves his hockey fortunes.The Vancouver Canucks are gambling that adding the former Toronto Maple Leafs forward to their roster adds some punch to their offence.

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks claimed forward Kyle Wellwood off NHL waivers on Wednesday.The 25-year-old Wellwood no longer fit into the plans of the Toronto Maple Leafs after a disappointing season.

The new owners of the Tampa Bay Lightning are moving a million miles a minute, not wasting a moment ever since their purchase of the NHL club was officially approved last Wednesday.

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning and Vincent Lecavalier are closing in on a nine-year contract extension that will all but ensure the star centre will play his entire NHL career with one team.

EDMONTON – Former Edmonton Oilers tough guy Kelly Buchberger is returning to the copper and blue as an assistant coach.The NHL team said Wednesday that Buchberger, 41, will join Craig MacTavish’s coaching staff for the upcoming season.

According to Canadian sports network TSN, Vincent Lecavalier has signed a long-term $77 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The cap hit is expected to be $8.

Movements in the world of hockey Tuesday:National Hockey LeagueNHL-Suspended Henry Samueli, Anaheim Ducks owner, indefinitely from any involvement with the team and the NHL after pleading guilty to one count of making a false statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The NHL has opened negotiations with a new Russian-based professional hockey league to establish a temporary agreement to prevent either league from signing players under contract.

MONTREAL – It is a busy week for Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey, between work on his family charity foundation and trying to land plum free agent Mats Sundin.

According to a report, the Toronto Maple Leafs have bought out Darcy Tucker’s contract.

The gritty forward had three years left on his current deal.

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche signed Scott Parker to a one-year deal and Marty Sertich to a multi-year contract on Tuesday.The team also acquired forward Matt Hendricks from the Boston Bruins for defenceman Johnny Boychuk.

NEW YORK – Sean Avery squeezes between two tables full of diners, careful to avoid jostling anyone. He quickly skims the menu at a favourite SoHo eatery and orders: the pizza with black truffles, please.

NEW YORK – Sean Avery squeezes between two tables full of diners, careful to avoid jostling anyone. He quickly skims the menu at a favourite SoHo eatery and orders: the pizza with black truffles, please.

Wade Redden has a backup phone ready to go July 1 just in case his first one is busy.
The soon-to-be unrestricted free agent wants to make sure all lines of communication are open so he can hear all the updates from his agent Don Meehan when the market opens next Tuesday.