Articles by Doug Stolhand

CHICAGO – The first welcome for two of the newest Blackhawks, Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky, came on the way to the United Centre from the airport

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Right wing Jed Ortmeyer is among five players who agreed to one-year contracts with the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.Ortmeyer spent the past two seasons in the Nashville Predators’ organization after three years with the New York Rangers

The Calgary Flames have claimed Nigel Dawes off waivers.

 

Dawes, a native of Winnipeg, Man., has 133 games of NHL experience split between the New York Rangers and the Phoenix Coyotes scoring 25 goals and 51 career points

PHOENIX – Wayne Gretzky has agreed to give a deposition in the fight in U.S. Bankruptcy Court over who will own the Phoenix Coyotes and where the team will play

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes have signed defenseman Keith Yandle to a two-year contract.Financial terms weren’t disclosed Thursday. The 22-year-old Yandle had four goals and 26 assists in 69 games with Phoenix last season

A probe into the death of New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov has concluded that team doctors are not to blame for the sudden passing of the 19-year-old

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Thrashers have agreed to a new deal with restricted free agent forward Colby Armstrong, one day after the team announced it has re-signed goalie Kari Lehtonen

DENVER – Matt Duchene has his first professional hockey contract.The Colorado Avalanche signed the third overall pick in this year’s draft to a three-year entry level deal Thursday

ARLINGTON, Va. – Defenceman Jeff Schultz signed a US$715,000, one-year contract to stay with the Washington Capitals.The 23-year-old Schultz has played the past three seasons with the Capitals

OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada has thrown the final punch in the fight over ownership of the Vancouver Canucks and Francesco Aquilini will remain the owner of the NHL team

ATLANTA – The Thrashers say they have re-signed Kari Lehtonen, the team’s career leader among goalies in games played, wins and shutouts.Terms of the deal for the restricted free agent were not disclosed when the deal was announced Wednesday by Thrashers general manager Don Waddell

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Hosting the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver will force the Canucks on an Olympic-sized road trip next season.The Canucks will have an NHL-record 14-game road trip sandwiched around the 2010 Games

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed defenceman Shaone Morrisonn and forwards Eric Fehr, Chris Bourque, Kyle Wilson and Steve Pinizzotto

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes signed newly acquired left wing Lauri Korpikoski to a two-year contract.Financial terms were not disclosed Wednesday

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes have added some needed size to their blue-line.The Eastern Conference finallist agreed to a two-year, US$2

BOSTON – The NHL and NBC have agreed to a two-year extension of their television contract that will keep the league on the network from the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park through the end of the 2010-11 season

Joe Sakic’s No. 19 will be retired at the Pepsi Centre in Denver when the NHL opens its regular season Oct. 1 with four games.The league’s schedule, released Wednesday, has four clubs starting the season in Europe and the Boston Bruins playing the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day in the 2010 Winter Classic

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks have signed centre Scott Nichol, adding veteran depth to their changing lineup.Nichol spent the past four seasons with the Nashville Predators, scoring 10 points in 43 games last season while missing extensive playing time with a concussion

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Guillaume Latendresse and defenceman Shawn Belle to one-year deals Wednesday.

Latendresse scored 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) and served 45 penalty minutes in 56 games with Montreal last season

BOSTON – Another historic baseball stadium will host a National Hockey League game.The NHL announced Wednesday that the Boston Bruins will entertain the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park in the third Winter Classic