Puck Podcast

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks have signed free-agent centre Manny Malhotra to a contract.The team did not announce terms of the deal Wednesday

GLENDALE, Ariz. – New Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Dave King has been released from a Seattle-area hospital after undergoing a battery of tests

TORONTO – Los Angeles Kings defenceman Sean O’Donnell has been suspended five games, including the first two of the regular season, for a match penalty during a pre-season game against the New York Islanders

PITTSBURGH – Last season was joyfully long, the off-season far too short. The Pittsburgh Penguins were toting the Stanley Cup to their hometowns to celebrate only a few weeks ago, now a new season is nearly here

MONTREAL – Injury struck at the wrong time for Montreal Canadiens prospect Max Pacioretty.The 20-year-old was doing well on the top line with Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta in an NHL pre-season game against Pittsburgh when he was taken out by a hit from Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik

PHOENIX – Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie has pledged to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale this season if he wins an auction for the financially troubled club

TORONTO – Veteran goaltender Olaf Kolzig is retiring after 14 seasons in the NHL.The 39-year-old former Vezina Trophy winner – known as “Olie The Goalie” – spent most of his career with the Washington Capitals

STOCKHOLM – Peter Forsberg is set to play for his hometown team Modo in a Swedish Elite League home opener against Frolunda on Thursday in yet another comeback attempt following a lingering foot injury

EVERETT, Wash. – Jeff Halpern had two goals for Tampa Bay and James Wright added two assists as the Lightning defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 in pre-season play Tuesday night

DALLAS – Scott Clemmensen made 26 saves, Clay Wilson and Kamil Kreps scored power-play goals in the second period and the Florida Panthers beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 Tuesday night in pre-season play

Movements in the world of hockey Tuesday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Assigned D Matt McCue to Manitoba (AHL).BUFFALO SABRES-Assigned F Tyler Ennis, F Paul Byron, F Brad Larsen, F Maxime Legault, F Mark McCutcheon, F Kyle Rank, F Travis Turnbull, F Derek Whitmore, D T

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kevin Westgarth did his best calf-roping impression, flinging New York’s Michael Haley to the ice by his jersey. Brett Westgarth one-upped his older brother, squaring off with Kings winger Raitis Ivanans twice in the first period

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nikita Filatov and Antoine Vermette scored in the shootout to lift the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night

PHILADELPHIA – James van Riemsdyk, vying for a roster spot at left wing, scored two goals to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to their first pre-season win, 5-2 over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night

TORONTO – The kid sure is stubborn.Nazem Kadri knows that his chances of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season are extremely slim, but that hasn’t kept him from showing a real sense of occasion during training camp

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche will be without Tom Preissing for four to six weeks after the defenceman had a scope done on his right knee.The Avalanche acquired Preissing, along with defenceman Kyle Quincey, in a deal that sent Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings during the off-season

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Sabres have assigned former first-round draft pick Tyler Ennis and 13 other players to the minors.Ennis’ demotion to AHL Portland was announced Tuesday, a week after the forward signed a three-year contract

Even though Joel Quenneville knows that business trips in Europe were tough on NHL coaches last season, he has no qualms about heading there with his Chicago Blackhawks

EDMONTON – The first cuts might be the deepest, but now is when the trimming gets tough as Edmonton Oilers coach Pat Quinn and his staff pare down the roster in preparation for the start of the season

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Senators returned defenceman Jared Cowen to the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League on Tuesday.The 18-year-old Saskatoon native was selected by the Senators with the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft