Puck Podcast

OTTAWA – Bryan Murray isn’t worried at all about Alex Kovalev’s reputation for dazzling talent but inconsistent effort.The Ottawa Senators general manager gave the slick Russian winger a US$10-million, two-year deal Monday, believing Kovalev will bring a dimension to his team that was sorely lacking last season

NEW YORK – The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with Chris Higgins, a restricted free agent acquired last week in a six-player trade that sent Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens

VANCOUVER, B.C. – It’s been a wild ride for goaltender Andrew Raycroft, going from a can’t-miss rookie in Boston to being booed unmercilessly in Toronto

LONDON – Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin, winner of the NHL’s most valuable player award the past two seasons, is offering his help to organizers of the first Winter Olympics in his native Russia

VOORHEES, N.J. – Chris Pronger expects to help Philadelphia win a Stanley Cup this season and beyond.Working out a contract extension with Philadelphia before the potential free agent plays his first game with the Flyers is already a priority for the former NHL MVP

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens named Pierre Groulx goaltending coach and Perry Pearn assistant coach to round out their coaching staff Monday

MONTREAL – Alex Kovalev’s days with the Montreal Canadiens are over.General manager Bob Gainey has told a Montreal radio station that the smooth-skating Russian won’t be playing for the team next season

TORONTO – New York Rangers winger Nikolai Zherdev and forward Jiri Hudler of the Detroit Red Wings are among 20 players who have elected salary arbitration, the NHL Players’ Association announced Sunday night

LOS ANGELES – Captain Canada is going Hollywood.The Los Angeles Kings have acquired left-winger Ryan Smyth from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defencemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing and a fifth-round draft pick in 2010, the team announced Friday

Movements in the world of hockey Friday:National Hockey LeagueBOSTON BRUINS-Signed RW Mark Recchi to a one-year contract.COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS-Signed LW Rick Nash to an eight-year contract extension

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Rick Nash and the Blue Jackets have reached agreement on an eight-year contract extension that will keep the star winger with the team through the 2017-18 season

ST. PAUL, Minn. – When Chicago would no longer give him a long-term contract, Martin Havlat turned his focus to Minnesota.He was intrigued by the Wild’s hockey-savvy fans, well-regarded arena, young core players and new up-tempo style, enough that he was willing to take a little less money than offered elsewhere to leave general manager Chuck Fletcher salary-cap flexibility

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes signed defenceman Shaun Heshka to a one-year contract Friday.Financial terms were not disclosed.The 24-year-old Heshka was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for the Coyotes’ seventh-round draft choice (187th overall) in last month’s NHL draft

PITTSBURGH – Turns out more than one player is willing to take a hometown discount to stay with the Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH – Tom Fitzgerald is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ front office in the newly created position of assistant to general manager Ray Shero

BOSTON – Mark Recchi wants one last chance to win another Stanley Cup.The 41-year-old Recchi, who signed a US$1-million, one-year deal to return to the Bruins on Thursday, said during a conference call Friday that he’ll likely call it quits after next season

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Mikael Samuelsson is the latest player to leave the Detroit Red Wings.The free-agent winger signed a three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Friday

NEW YORK – Tyler Arnason signed a two-way contract with the New York Rangers on Friday.The 30-year-old spent last season with the Colorado Avalanche, scoring five goals and 22 points in 71 games