Articles by Doug Stolhand

LOS ANGELES – Junior hockey phenom John Tavares has found a new agent.He’s signed on with Los Angeles-based Creative Artists Agency a little over a month after splitting ties with Bryan Deasley.

OTTAWA – The NHL’s entry draft is the showcase event but make no mistake, the league’s 30 GMs arrive in Ottawa this week for another reason as well.

TORONTO – The wait is finally over for Igor Larionov and Glenn Anderson.The Russian centre and the former Edmonton Oilers sniper were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Tuesday along with former linesman Ray Scapinello and builder Ed Chynoweth.

TORONTO – The wait is over for Igor Larionov and Glenn Anderson.The Russian centre and the former Edmonton Oilers sniper were elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, along with builder Ed Chynoweth and former linesman Ray Scapinello.

TORONTO – Glenn Healy is leaving television to work for the NHL Players’ Association.The NHLPA announced Tuesday that it had hired Healy as director of player affairs.

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks named Ryan Walter an assistant to head coach Alain Vigneault on Tuesday.Since retiring after the 1992-93 season, Walter has earned a masters of arts degree in leadership/business, worked with professional athletes and executives on techniques to maximize their potential and done some motivational speaking.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting the Blue Jackets are close to a deal for the negotiating rights with Ryan Malone and could be announced as early as Tuesday.

According to a report in the Boston Globe, Blake Wheeler will sign with the Bruins July 1.

"More than 20 NHL teams were interested in Blake, and this was a very tough decision," Wellesley-based agent Matt Keator told the Globe.

Movements in the world of hockey Monday:National Hockey LeagueFLORIDA PANTHERS-Signed Peter DeBoer, coach, to a multiyear contract.NASHVILLE PREDATORS-Signed D Ryan Suter to a four-year contract.

MONTREAL – Ray Getliffe, the man credited with dubbing Maurice Richard “The Rocket,” was a hard-hitting forward who slammed NHL opponents on his way to a pair of Stanley Cups.

A year ago Igor Larionov ended up the odd man out when the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee had to consider a once-in-a-generation class of candidates.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Predators signed defenseman Ryan Suter to a US$14-million, four-year contract on Monday.Suter is the latest to benefit from the Predators’ desire to keep as many of their young, talented players off the free agent market as possible.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Peter DeBoer’s reputation had preceded him.Shortly after officially signing a multi-year contract as coach of the Florida Panthers, DeBoer’s first question from a reporter Monday touched on his fiery coaching style, which has been described as capable of putting the “fear of God” in a player.

The Nashville Predators have locked up 23-year-old defenseman Ryan Suter with a four-year, $14-million contract.

Suter, who was eligible to become a restricted free agent July 1, is coming off his best offensive NHL season.

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Al Coates as their player-personnel director Monday.The move will serve to further fuel speculation that Anaheim Mighty Ducks general manager Brian Burke will become the Leafs’ GM once his deal with the Ducks expires next summer.

ZURICH, Switzerland – The NHL’s transfer agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation expired Monday, ushering in a new era for the movement of players between Europe and North America.

Russian forward Maxim Mamin was suspended by the International Ice Hockey Federation Monday from all competition authorized or organized by the IIHF for two years.

The distance between Europe and North America just got slightly wider.

The player transfer agreement between the National Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation has expired, leaving no deal in place for the coming NHL season.