Month: June 2008

WASHINGTON – Red alert! A young Russian has free reign of the nation’s capital!”Today is a big day,” said Alex Ovechkin, standing on the front steps of city hall.

PITTSBURGH – All-star centre Evgeni Malkin hopes to work out a new contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins by next month – and he says he won’t seek Alex Ovechkin-type money.

PITTSBURGH – The Penguins made certain goalie Marc-Andre Fleury won’t become a restricted free agent July 1, choosing to offer salary arbitration to one of the key players of their Stanley Cup playoff run.

MIAMI – The Florida Panthers hired Peter DeBoer as their new coach Friday, giving him a multi-year deal on his 40th birthday.DeBoer – a highly touted junior coach from the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers – also was courted by Ottawa and met with the Senators this week.

MIAMI – The Florida Panthers have hired Peter DeBoer as their new head coach.The Panthers announced Friday that DeBoer, a highly touted junior coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, would take over for Jacques Martin behind the bench.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Metro Nashville Sports Authority will give the Nashville Predators’ owners group time to deal with the bankruptcy filings of a minority partner before taking any action against the team.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes signed a five-year lease extension that will run through 2025.Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford said the extension announced Friday demonstrates the owners of the RBC Center have confidence in hockey’s future in Raleigh.

OTTAWA – Craig Hartsburg was named head coach of the Ottawa Senators on Friday, signing a three-year contract with the NHL team.Hartsburg takes over from Senators general manager Bryan Murray, who finished the season behind the Ottawa bench after coach John Paddock was fired in late February.

OTTAWA – Craig Hartsburg is the new head coach of the Ottawa Senators.The team introduced him at a news conference today. Hartsburg takes over from Senators general manager Bryan Murray, who finished the season behind the Ottawa bench after coach John Paddock was fired in late February.

Craig Hartsburg is expected to be named the new head coach of the Ottawa Senators today at a 10:00 a.m. press conference.

The Sault Star reports that Hartsburg met with owner Eugene Melnyk Thursday to discuss the position.

TORONTO – The NHL announces its award winners Thursday night at its annual gala. The Canadian Press gives hockey fans a sneak peak by trying to predict the winners:Hart Memorial Trophy (most valuable player to his team) – Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames was dynamite and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins saved his team’s season when Sidney Crosby was out.

TORONTO – The Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation announced that Roy Hysen will be the GM of the Canadian Deaflympic hockey team on Thursday.

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueSAN JOSE SHARKS-Named Todd McLellan as head coach.International Hockey LeagueFLINT GENERALS-Named Peter South coach and assistant general manager of business and hockey operations.

TORONTO – All that’s missing now is the biggest trophy of them all.Washington Capitals superstar winger Alexander Ovechkin capped a magical season Thursday night by capturing the two most prestigious individual awards in hockey, winning the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Lester B.

TORONTO – Once Martin Brodeur finally got his hands on the Vezina Trophy, he’s been reluctant to let it go.The New Jersey Devils goaltender won the award for the fourth time in the past five seasons on Thursday, edging Evgeni Nabokov of the San Jose Sharks and Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.

TORONTO – Bobby Orr and Doug Harvey may soon have company.Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings captured his sixth career Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman, moving him alone all-time ahead of Ray Bourque (5) and only two behind Orr’s eight and one behind Harvey’s seven.

TORONTO – A year ago, pundits debated whether a skinny skid named Patrick Kane could crack the NHL as an 18-year-old after being the first overall pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in the entry draft.

TORONTO – All of the long bus trips during coaching assignments in places like Muskegon, Fort Wayne and Lowell were worth it.Bruce Boudreau took a long journey to the NHL but made the most of his opportunity this season with the Washington Captials.

TORONTO – And the Lady Byng Trophy goes to …. Pavel Datsyuk again.The Detroit Red Wings star forward became the first player in 73 years to win the award three seasons in a row, going back to Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers from 1933 to ’35.

TORONTO – The NHL awards kicked off the way it should Thursday night, with more hardware for Alexander Ovechkin.The Washington Capitals superstar winger took home the Lester B.