News

Movements in the world of hockey Thursday:National Hockey LeagueANAHEIM DUCKS-Named Lauren O’Gorman media and communications manager.CALGARY FLAMES-Waived F Marcus Nilson, D Anders Eriksson and D Rhett Warrener.

TAMPA, Fla. – Steven Stamkos welcomes the expectations that come with being the first pick in the NHL draft.The speedy 18-year-old forward knows comparisons to others selected first overall, including Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin and Patrick Kane, are inevitable.

DALLAS – Left-wing Loui Eriksson was one of six restricted free agents who received qualifying offers from the Dallas Stars on Thursday.The Stars also extended qualifying offers to right-wings B.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Left-winger Gregory Campbell has signed a two-year contract with the Florida Panthers.Terms of the deal were not disclosed.Florida Panthers General Manager Jacques Martin on Wednesday called the 24-year-old a “high character individual.

Cliff Fletcher got a phone call from Bob Gainey on Thursday.Status quo on the Mats Sundin front, the Montreal Canadiens GM told the Toronto Maple Leafs GM.

Viktor Kuzkin, a former defenseman who played for CSKA Moscow and the Soviet national team for nearly two decades starting in 1958, died of heart failure at the age of 67 earlier this week.

CALGARY – Forward Marcus Nilson and defencemen Anders Eriksson and Rhett Warrener were put on NHL waivers by the Calgary Flames on Thursday.Nilson, 30, has one more year on his contract at $1 million.

NEW YORK – The NHL’s salary cap is on the rise for a fourth consecutive season.
Each team will have a maximum of US$56.7 million to spend for the 2008-09 season, both the NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced Thursday.

NEW YORK – The NHL’s salary cap is on the rise for a fourth consecutive season. Each team will have a maximum of US$56.7 million to spend for the 2008-09 season, both the NHL and NHL Players’ Association announced Thursday.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Scott Niedermayer is coming back for another season.The Anaheim Ducks star defenceman will honour the final year of his contract after once again contemplating retirement.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Martin Straka has decided to leave the NHL and return to his former Czech club, a team official said Thursday.Straka, an unrestricted free agent in the NHL on July 1, played the last three years with the New York York Rangers.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Martin Straka has not signed a contract with HC Lasselsberger Plzen, his agent said Thursday, despite an announcement to the contrary from the Czech club.

Movements in the world of hockey Wednesday:National Hockey LeagueCHICAGO BLACKHAWKS-Named Paul Goodman strength and conditioning coach.COLORADO AVALANCHE – Signed Scott Parker to one-year contract.

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks kept three players away from free-agent waters Wednesday, re-signing centres Joe Pavelski and Jeremy Roenick and goaltender Brian Boucher.

SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers have made qualifying offers to seven of their restricted free agents.Panthers general manager Jacques Martin said Wednesday that the club made offers to Jay Bouwmeester, Gregory Campbell, Drew Larman, Martin Lojek, Stefan Meyer, Rostislav Olesz and Anthony Stewart.

The Sudbury Wolves have confirmed they will select sixth overall NHL pick Nikita Filatov first overall in the Canadian Hockey League’s import draft Thursday in a move that would have to classify as high risk-high reward.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Phoenix Coyotes acquired tough guy Brian McGrattan from the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2009.

VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks claimed forward Kyle Wellwood off NHL waivers on Wednesday.The 25-year-old Wellwood no longer fit into the plans of the Toronto Maple Leafs after a disappointing season.

VANCOUVER – Kyle Wellwood hopes switching coasts improves his hockey fortunes.The Vancouver Canucks are gambling that adding the former Toronto Maple Leafs forward to their roster adds some punch to their offence.

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning and Vincent Lecavalier are closing in on a nine-year contract extension that will all but ensure the star centre will play his entire NHL career with one team.