Month: October 2008

The bar is set high for Steven Stamkos.The last three forwards chosen first overall in the NHL entry draft – Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin – were impact players immediately in the NHLKane and Ovechkin won the league’s rookie award – the Calder Trophy – in their freshman years.

TORONTO – Highly touted defenceman Luke Schenn will start the season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.General manager Cliff Fletcher confirmed the decision Monday, adding that the NHL team has also put forward Mark Bell on waivers.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker is expected to be sidelined for six weeks after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left hand.

The Vancouver Canucks have acquired defenseman Shane O’Brien and forward Michel Ouellet from Tampa Bay in exchange for defenseman Lukas Krajicek and forward Juraj Simek.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed Mark Bell on waivers.

The 28-year-old was acquired by the Leafs two summers ago in a deal that brought goaltender Vesa Toskala to town.

Movements in the world of hockey Sunday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Claimed D Nathan McIver off waivers from Vancouver. Assigned D Brett Festerling to Iowa (AHL).

VANCOUVER – Defenceman Nathan McIver’s breakaway goal 22 seconds into overtime gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in NHL pre-season action Sunday night.

VANCOUVER – Defenceman Nathan McIver’s breakaway goal 22 seconds into overtime gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in NHL pre-season action Sunday night.

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Brad Lukowich and Patrick Marleau scored 53 seconds apart late in the second period and the San Jose Sharks closed out the pre-season with a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night.

VANCOUVER – Roberto Luongo is sporting a C after all.The Vancouver captain, forbidden by NHL rules from wearing the letter on his jersey because he is a goaltender, sported a new C on his mask Sunday night as the Canucks hosted Anaheim in the final 2008-09 pre-season game for both clubs.

DALLAS – Jason Strudwick’s tiebreaking goal early in the third period lifted the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday night in the pre-season finale for both teams.

CHICAGO – Ryan Smyth’s power-play tip-in at 3:07 of overtime lifted the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-3 pre-season win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks signed Cody Hodgson, their top pick in the 2008 draft, to an NHL entry-level contract Sunday.Hodgson, chosen 10th overall, has one assist and six penalty minutes in three pre-season games with the Canucks.

DETROIT – Red Wings coach Mike Babcock admitted that Detroit is not yet in regular-season form.Don’t worry. The Stanley Cup champions will get there soon enough.

WASHINGTON – Phil Kessel and Patrice Bergeron scored shootout goals, carrying the Boston Bruins to a 5-4 win against the Washington Capitals on Sunday night that wrapped up each team’s pre-season schedule.

TORONTO – The dress rehearsal is over. And the final act wasn’t pretty.The Toronto Maple Leafs blew a two-goal lead late in their final exhibition tuneup and watched as the Columbus Blue Jackets completed the comeback in a shootout, walking away with a 5-4 victory on Sunday.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Ray Whitney and Eric Staal both scored to lift the Carolina Hurricanes to a 2-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Sunday in the final pre-season game for both teams.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Dany Heatley scored two more goals and Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson had two assists for the Senators, who beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 to split their opening weekend series in Sweden.

TEMPE, Ariz. – Players in the Central Hockey League have lifted their strike after the league agreed to meetings with Professional Hockey Players’ Association officials this week in Denver.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Wade Redden and Scott Gomez each scored second-period goals as the New York Rangers rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 Sunday to sweep their two-game season-opening series in Europe.