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Wade Belak is now a Florida Panther and David Koci is now a member of their hated rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Wade keep your sweater on man.
“I’m excited about coming here,” McCabe said. “There’s a great group of
young guys here and a good mix of talent.”
“Jacques was the ‘D’ coach (at the Olympics) so I got to spend some time
with him,” McCabe said. “Jacques went out of his way to bring me here and I’m
happy to be wanted. Jacques has done a great job (in Florida). He’s got good
young talent. And, obviously, the acquisitions this summer have been great.
“Bringing in Cory
Stillman, a guy with two Stanley Cups…guys like that are few and far
between. And the acquisitions of (Keith) Ballard and (Nick) Boynton is a big
upside. With myself added, and Jay
Bouwmeester, who is one of the best defensemen in the league, hands down, I
think we have one of the best defensive units out there. Plus you have an
All-Star goalie.”
Panther GM Jacques Martin described McCabe as a “big, strong, hard-hitting
defenseman who also possesses the ability to be a goal scorer and play on
special teams.”“He will be counted on to play an integral role on our defense
and to help bring future success to our franchise.”
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=246953&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_nhl
The Columbus Blue Jackets got some shocking news on Tuesday when they
learned that prospect Stefan Legein has
decided to quit playing hockey.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Blue
Jackets were informed of Legein's decision by his agent Doug Woods, telling them
he won't be at training camp and has decided to hang up his skates at the age of
19.
Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson confirmed the report to the
Dispatch but when contacted by the newspaper, Legein's mother said she hadn't
heard the news while his father denied the report.
"Until September 20th
(when training camp opens), he hasn't quit anything," Legein's father
said.
In response to the speculation about his future, Legein offered the
following statement:
"I'd like for everyone to stop bashing my father, my
family, and me personally," said Legein. "My family has been amazing. They
have supported me and never forced me to do anything and to say its their fault
is ridiculous."
"Take the time to talk to me before you accuse me of being
addicted to anything, even if it's coffee," Legein continued. "I realize
you're going to speculate but please don't bash my character and especially my
family."
Legein is a second round pick, 37th overall, of the Blue Jackets in
the 2007 Entry Draft.
He registered 24 goals and 13 assists for 37 points
with 80 penalty minutes and was a plus- 12 in 30 games with the Niagara IceDogs
of the Ontario Hockey League this season. He ranked fourth on the club in goals
and tied for sixth in points, while his eight power play goals ranked third and
four shorthanded goals were tied for second.
Legein made his international
debut with Canada at the 2007 Canada-Russia Super Series, scoring three goals in
helping Canada wrap of the series with the championship. He also helped Canada
win its fourth-straight gold medal at the Under-20 tournament in January.
He registered 24 goals and 13 assists for 37 points with 80 penalty minutes
and was a plus- 12 in 30 games with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey
League this season. He ranked fourth on the club in goals and tied for sixth in
points, while his eight power play goals ranked third and four shorthanded goals
were tied for second.
Thanks to fellow Panthers message board poster 'oscarsandstrom' for making this video. Love Nieds dropkicking the Ranger jersey.
Nice job...
http://proicehockey.about.com/od/waynegretzky/a/gretzky_records.htm
Wayne Gretzky holds or shares 61 NHL records: 40 for the regular season, 15 for the Stanley Cup playoffs and six for the NHL All-Star Game.
CAREER RECORDS
MOST POINTS:2,856 (1,485 games, 894 goals, 1,962 assists)Second: Mark Messier - 1,855 (1,756 games, 694 goals, 1,193 assists)
MOST POINTS, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS:3,238 (2,856 regular season and 382 playoff)Second: Mark Messier - 2,180 (1,885 regular season and 295 playoff)
MOST GOALS:894Second: Gordie Howe, 801
MOST GOALS, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS:1,016 (894 regular season and 122 playoff)Second: Gordie Howe, 869 (801 regular season and 68 playoff)
MOST ASSISTS:1,962Second: Mark Messier, 1,171
MOST ASSISTS, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS:2,222 (1,962 regular season and 260 playoff)Second: Mark Messier, 1,357 (1,171 regular season and 186 playoff)
MOST GOALS BY A CENTER:894Second: Marcel Dionne, 731
MOST ASSISTS BY A CENTER:1,962Second: Mark Messier, 1,171
MOST POINTS BY A CENTER:2,856Second: Mark Messier, 1,855
MOST 40-OR-MORE GOAL SEASONS:12Second: Marcel Dionne, 10
MOST CONSECUTIVE 40-OR-MORE GOAL SEASONS:12 (1979-80 to 1990-91)Second: Mike Bossy, 9 (1977-78 to 1985-86)
MOST 50-OR-MORE GOAL SEASONS:9 (tied with Mike Bossy)Second: Guy Lafleur, 6
MOST 60-OR-MORE GOAL SEASONS:5 (tied with Mike Bossy)Second: Phil Esposito, 4
MOST CONSECUTIVE 60-OR-MORE GOAL SEASONS:4 (1981-82 to 1984-85)Second: Mike Bossy, 3 (1980-81 to 1982-83)
MOST 100-OR-MORE POINT SEASONS:15Second: Mario Lemieux, 10
MOST CONSECUTIVE 100-OR-MORE POINT SEASONS:13 (1979-80 to 1991-92)Second: Six players tied with 6
MOST THREE-OR-MORE GOAL GAMES:50 (37 three-goal games; nine four-goal games; four five-goal games)Second: Mike Bossy, 39 (30 three-goal games, nine four-goal games)
MOST OVERTIME ASSISTS:15Second: Doug Gilmour, 13
HIGHEST ASSISTS-PER-GAME AVERAGE:1.321 (1,962 assists in 1,485 games)Second: Mario Lemieux, 1.183 (881 assists in 745 games)
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS
MOST POINTS, ONE SEASON:215 (1985-86, 80-game schedule)Next (fifth): Mario Lemieux, 199 (1988-89, 80-game schedule)
MOST POINTS, ONE SEASON, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS:255 (1984-85; 208 points in 80 regular season games and 47 points in 18 playoff games)Next (sixth): Mario Lemieux, 218 (1988-89; 199 points in 76 regular season games and 19 points in 11 playoff games)
MOST GOALS, ONE SEASON:92 (1981-82, 80-game schedule)Second: Gretzky, 87 (1983-84, 80-game schedule)
MOST GOALS, ONE SEASON, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS:100 (1983-84, 87 goals in 74 regular season games and 13 goals in 19 playoff games)Second: Gretzky, Lemieux and Brett Hull tied at 97
MOST GOALS, 50 GAMES FROM START OF SEASON:61 (1981-82 and 1983-84)Third: 54 - Mario Lemieux (1988-89)
MOST ASSISTS, ONE SEASON:163 (1985-86, 80-game schedule)Next (eighth): 114 - Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky (1988-89, 80-game schedule)
MOST ASSISTS, ONE SEASON, INCLUDING PLAYOFFS:174 (1985-86, 163 assists in 80 regular season games and 11 assists in 10 playoff games)Next (tied for 11th): 121 - Mario Lemieux (1988-89, 114 assists in 76 regular season games and seven assists in 11 playoff games)
MOST POINTS BY A CENTER, ONE SEASON:215 (1985-86, 80-game schedule)Next (fifth): 199 - Mario Lemieux, 1988-89, 80-game schedule
MOST GOALS BY A CENTER, ONE SEASON:92 (1981-82, 80-game schedule)Next (third): 85 - Mario Lemieux (1988-89, 80-game schedule).
MOST ASSISTS BY A CENTER:163 (1985-86, 80-game schedule)Next: Gretzky holds first through fifth positions
MOST THREE-OR-MORE GOAL GAMES:10 (1981-82, six three-goal games; three four-goal games; one five-goal game)(Tied in 1983-84, six three-goal games, four four-goal games)Next (third): 9 - Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux
LONGEST CONSECUTIVE ASSIST-SCORING STREAK:23 games - 48 assists (1990-91)Second: Adam Oates - 18 games - 28 assists (1992-93)
LONGEST CONSECUTIVE POINT-SCORING STREAK:51 games - 61 goals, 92 assists for 153 points (Oct. 5, 1983 to Jan. 28, 1984)Second: Mario Lemieux - 46 games - 39 goals, 64 assists for 103 points (1989-90)
LONGEST CONSECUTIVE POINT-SCORING STREAK FROM START OF SEASON:51 games - 61 goals, 92 assists for 153 points
HIGHEST GOALS-PER-GAME AVERAGE, ONE SEASON:1.18 (1983-84, 87 goals in 74 games)Second (tied): 1.15 - Mario Lemieux (1992-93, 69 goals in 60 games) and Wayne Gretzky (1981-82, 92 goals in 80 games)
HIGHEST ASSISTS-PER-GAME AVERAGE, ONE SEASON:2.04 (1985-86, 163 assists in 80 games)Next (eighth): 1.52 - Mario Lemieux (1992-93, 91 assists in 60 games)
HIGHEST POINTS-PER-GAME AVERAGE, ONE SEASON (AMONG PLAYERS WITH 50-OR-MORE POINTS):2.77 (1983-84, 205 points in 74 games)Next (third): 2.67 - Mario Lemieux (1992-93, 160 points in 60 games)
SINGLE GAME RECORDS
MOST GOALS, ONE PERIOD:4 (Tied with 10 other players)Feb. 18, 1981, third period (Edmonton 9, St. Louis 2)
MOST ASSISTS, ONE GAME:7 (tied with Billy Taylor)Feb. 15, 1980 (Edmonton 8, Washington 2)Dec. 11, 1985 (Edmonton 12, Chicago 9)Feb. 14, 1986 (Edmonton 8, Quebec 2)Second: 6 - 23 players
MOST ASSISTS, ONE ROAD GAME:7 (tied with Billy Taylor)Dec. 11, 1985 (Edmonton 12, Chicago 9)Second: 6 - four players
MOST ASSISTS, ONE GAME, BY A PLAYER IN HIS FIRST NHL SEASON:7 - Feb. 15, 1980 (Edmonton 8, Washington 2)Second: 6 - Gary Suter, April 4, 1986 (Calgary 9, Edmonton 3)
CAREER RECORDS - PLAYOFFS
MOST PLAYOFF GOALS:122Second: 109 - Mark Messier
MOST PLAYOFF ASSISTS:260Second: 186 - Mark Messier
MOST PLAYOFF POINTS:382 (122 goals and 260 assists)Second: 295 - Mark Messier (109 goals and 186 assists).
MOST GAME-WINNING GOALS IN PLAYOFFS:24Second: 19 - Claude Lemieux
MOST THREE-OR-MORE GOAL GAMES IN PLAYOFFS:10 (eight three-goal games, two four-goal games)Second (tied): 7 - Maurice Richard (four three-goal games, two four-goal games, one five-goal game) and Jari Kurri (six three-goal games, one four-goal game)
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS - PLAYOFFS
MOST POINTS, ONE PLAYOFF YEAR:47 (1985, 17 goals and 30 assists in 18 games)Next: 44 - Mario Lemieux (1991, 16 goals, 28 assists in 23 games)
MOST ASSISTS, ONE PLAYOFF YEAR:31 (1988, 19 games)Next (fourth): 28 - Mario Lemieux (1991, 23 games)
MOST POINTS IN FINAL SERIES:13 - three goals and 10 assists (1988, four games plus suspended game vs. Boston)Second: 12 - four players
MOST ASSISTS IN FINAL SERIES:10 (1988, four games, plus suspended game vs. Boston)Second: 9 - three players tied
MOST ASSISTS IN ONE SERIES (OTHER THAN FINAL):14 - 1985 Conference Finals (six games vs. Chicago)(tied with Rick Middleton)Second: 13 - Doug Gilmour, 1994 Conference Semifinals (seven games vs. San Jose) and Wayne Gretzky, 1987 Division Semifinal (five games vs. Los Angeles)
MOST SHORTHANDED GOALS, ONE PLAYOFF YEAR:3 (1983, two vs. Winnipeg in Division Semi-Finals; one vs. Calgary in Division Finals)(tied with five other players)
SINGLE GAME RECORDS -PLAYOFFS
MOST ASSISTS, ONE PLAYOFF GAME:6 - April 9, 1987 at Edmonton (Edmonton 13, Los Angeles 3)(tied with Mikko Leinonen) Next: 5 - 11 players tied
MOST POINTS, ONE PLAYOFF PERIOD:4 (1 goal, 3 assists) - April 12, 1987 at Los Angeles, third period (Edmonton 6, Los Angeles 3)(tied with nine other players)
MOST ASSISTS, ONE PLAYOFF PERIOD:3 - Three assists by one player in one period of a playoff game has been recorded on 70 occasions. Gretzky has had three assists in one period five times. (Ray Bourque, three times; Toe Blake, Jean Beliveau, Doug Harvey and Bobby Orr, twice.)
MOST SHORT-HANDED GOALS, ONE PLAYOFF GAME:2 - April 6, 1983 at Edmonton (Edmonton 6, Winnipeg 3)(tied with eight other players)
NHL ALL-STAR GAME RECORDS
MOST ALL-STAR GAME GOALS:13 (in 18 games played)Second: 11 - Mario Lemieux (in eight games played)
MOST ALL-STAR GAME GOALS, ONE GAME: 4 (1983 Campbell Conference)/b>(tied with three players)
MOST ALL-STAR GAME GOALS, ONE PERIOD: 4 (1983 Campbell Conference, third period)br>
MOST ALL-STAR GAME POINTS, ONE PERIOD:4 (1983 Campbell Conference, third period)br> (tied with Mike Gartner and Adam Oates)
MOST ALL-STAR GAME POINTS, CAREER:25 (13 goals, 12 assists in 18 games)Second: 22 - Mario Lemieux (11 goals, nine assists in 8 games)
MOST ALL-STAR GAME ASSISTS, CAREER:12 (tied with four players)Second: 10 - Paul Coffey
As the world's greatest hockey player, Wayne Gretzky already
knew all there was to know about composure.
He had it as a six-year old
playing on a team of ten-year olds in his hometown of Brantford, Ontario. He had
it when he played under the spotlight with the Ontario Hockey League's Sault
Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the World Hockey Association's Indianapolis Racers and
Edmonton Oilers. And he had it when he led the young and promising Oilers into
the National Hockey League.
But on this day 20 years ago, The Great One - for
one moment in his career - just couldn't hold it together. The 27-year-old, who
had spent almost his whole life fending off jealous hockey parents, tough
opponents and harsh critics, broke down after reading off just a few words at
Edmonton's Molson House.
"For the benefit of Wayne Gretzky, my new
wife and our expected child in the new year, I thought it was beneficial to all
involved if they let me play with the Kings," he said to the shock of everyone
in the room. "It's disappointing having to leave Edmonton, but there comes a
time when."
With that, Gretzky wept behind the mess of microphones, coming
face-to-face with the reality that he was no longer an Edmonton Oiler. "I
promised Mess I wouldn't do this," he said sheepishly as he wiped his eyes. Just
three months after leading them to their fourth Stanley Cup in five seasons, the
only NHL team Wayne
Gretzky ever played for, the team he loved, had traded him away.
On
August 9, 1988, Oilers owner Peter Pocklington did the unthinkable when he
traded Gretzky, along with defenceman Marty McSorley and forward Mike
Krushelnyski to the Los Angeles Kings for centre Jimmy Carson, winger Martin Gelinas, three
first-round draft picks and $15 million in cash. It was a move that stunned the
sports world and numbed hockey fans across Canada.
For Pocklington, it was
strictly a business move for an owner who needed more cash than championships.
At a time when Canadians knew little about the boardroom's side of hockey,
however, it was nothing short of an emotional letdown. Canada's favorite son was
gone.
In Edmonton, fans marched to Northlands Coliseum burning Pocklington
in effigy. Tabloid papers grilled The Great One, calling him a traitor and
dubbing his wife, 'Jezebel Janet' amid their own speculation that he engineered
the deal to move to Hollywood to further her acting career. 'The Trade' even
made it to Question Period at the House of Commons, as NDP House Leader Nelson
Riis demanded that the Mulroney government block it from happening.
"At the
time I was doing it, I don't think I really got it," said former Kings owner
Bruce McNall, who helped orchestrate the trade. "Looking back, now I see it had
a big, big impact."
For the NHL, the deal gave the league that much more
exposure south of the border. With No. 99 in the lineup, the Kings were an
instant draw at home and on the road - and a winning team. They made the
playoffs for four straight seasons, culminating with their first Stanley Cup
Final berth in 1993. Gretzky also continued to re-write the NHL's record books.
Wearing the Kings' black and silver, he broke Gordie Howe's NHL record of 1,850
points (in Edmonton of all places), became the first player to break the
2,000-point plateau, and passed Mr. Hockey's career mark for goals.
But The
Great One also took great pride in being a big factor off the ice.
"I
remember the first weekend I was in L.A.," he told TSN. "I was going by these
tennis courts and I stopped the car and told my friend, 'If we were in Canada,
people would be playing inline and ball hockey here.' A year later there was a
sign on the fence that read, 'No Inline Hockey Allowed.' It's come a long way;
there are minor hockey teams in California now and in Arizona that can compete
with the top teams in Canada and they're very good. There aren't as many, but we
are getting to that point."
The trade, arguably the biggest ever made, also
reinforced the notion that nothing is forever in professional sports. Recent
deals involving superstars like Alex Rodriguez, Shaquille O'Neal and even Brett
Favre are certainly surprising, but not that shocking to most sports fans. If
Gretzky could go, anyone could go.
"There's no player in any sport that isn't
trade bait," explained McNall.
TSN.ca commemorates the historic deal as Ryan Rishaug looks back at the day
that The Great One said goodbye to Edmonton and the Oilers dynasty.
The four-person United States Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 2008 -- announced on Tuesday morning -- is appropriately Olympian, given the events of the day.
It also is groundbreaking.
Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, Brett Hull and Cammi Granato officially will be inducted at a dinner and ceremony on Oct. 10, held in conjunction with the next night's University of Denver-Notre Dame Hall of Fame Game at DU's Magness Arena. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is in Eveleth, Minn.
The three men were obvious choices for the selection committee, a group assembled by USA Hockey in the wake of its takeover of the voting process last year (Editor's note: Frei serves on the panel).
The final slot -- a maximum of four inductees are allowed each year -- was no less of a no-brainer. Granato's trailblazing efforts on the women's hockey front in the U.S., coupled with the explosion of the women's and girls' games, were unique, noteworthy and crucial -- and not only because she was captain of the 1998 U.S. Olympic team that won the first women's gold medal.
Her older brother, Tony, played with Richter at the University of Wisconsin and also with both Richter and Leetch on the 1988 U.S. Olympic team at Calgary and with the Rangers.
So the Colorado Avalanche's head coach, while not a part of this class, is the common thread. Tony Granato never has been sheepish about the fact that in some corners, his sister is more famous than he is.
"It's special for me because I remember her playing hockey with all the boys," Tony Granato said. "I remember her changing her name to Carl to play in a tournament because girls weren't allowed to play. I saw her putting her ponytail under her helmet so nobody would know she was a girl. I saw all that. There's someone who plays hockey for the love of the game.
"And it's not just Cammi, but all the girls who played in the first Olympics and world championships. They didn't play for any other reason except they loved the game. What they did for the women's game and women's sports, you can't take your hats off enough.
"They didn't listen to, 'No, you can't do this.' Cammi's answer always was, 'Why not?' When she was a little girl, she said, 'I'm going to play for the Blackhawks.' 'What do you mean, you're going to play for the Blackhawks?' 'Well, why not?'
"She heard, 'You can't play in the tournament.' She said, 'Well, why not, I'm a good player.' So all along, that's the way it was. She taught me a lot about the fire inside, the drive to motivate yourself."
The Belleville, Ontario-born Hull first played for the U.S. in major international competition in 1986 at the World Championships, shortly after he left the University of Minnesota-Duluth and made a playoff cameo with the Flames to open his NHL career. After that, he was on the American team twice in the World Cup and twice at the Olympics.
Hull, the current Dallas Stars co-general manager, won the Hart Trophy in 1991, and his 741 NHL career goals are behind only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe on the all-time list -- and 131 ahead of his father's NHL total, although Bobby tossed in an additional 303 in the World Hockey Association.
Richter, born and raised in Pennsylvania, had 301 wins in his Rangers career, which ended prematurely because of concussion problems. He and Leetch were cornerstones of the 1994 Rangers team that finally broke through to end a 54-year Stanley Cup drought.
Leetch was one of the prototypes of the hybrid defenseman, winning the Norris Trophy twice and finishing with 247 goals and 781 assists in an 18-season career that ended with the Bruins.
Current rules don't allow for choices in something along the lines of the Hockey Hall of Fame's builder category. That will make it difficult, if not impossible, for nonplayers to make the cut for induction. In addition, many deserving players are backlogged, such as goaltender Tom Barrasso and others who will become eligible in the next few years.
That likely will shut out many deserving choices from beyond the ranks of the relatively contemporary former players. One example: longtime USA hockey administrator Art Berglund, who, along with Cammi Granato, recently was inducted in the International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame.
BY GEORGE RICHARDS
grichards@MiamiHerald.com
After
multiple wrist surgeries, defenseman Mike Van Ryn said he feels 'awesome' and
expects to get back to top form.
Mike Van Ryn's wrists have been through a
lot the past few years.
The Panthers defenseman has endured four surgeries --
three on his right wrist alone -- as he has tried to regain the strength and
power that fueled his slapshot and helped him become one of Florida's top
players at the position.
Van Ryn missed 62 games last season after having his
second surgery on his right wrist in less than a year.
He said the time off
has helped him heal, and his wrist feels as good as ever. The Panthers hope Van
Ryn is right.
''I feel awesome now,'' said Van Ryn, who spent last week
helping coach a youth camp in Coral Springs. ``I look at other guys around the
league. It took [Edmonton Oilers defenseman] Sheldon Souray a while to get his
right. It can be a difficult surgery. I'm just excited to play, try and
contribute and help the Panthers win some games.''
The past two seasons have
been rough on Van Ryn. He had surgery on both wrists last summer, only his right
wrist was never fully fixed. After the team's first practice of training camp,
Van Ryn was forced to strap ice bags to his wrist, an early indicator something
was wrong.
Van Ryn had played through pain in 2006-07 and had a subpar
season. Last year, it was apparent he couldn't do that again. In November, just
20 games into the season, he shut things down and went to a different
specialist.
Baltimore's Dr. Thomas Graham found a number of problems with Van
Ryn's wrist and suggested more surgery. At the time, Van Ryn struggled with the
decision on whether to have surgery again. If the procedure did not work, he
said at the time, his career might be over.
INTENSE TRAINING
Van Ryn said
he doesn't have those fears anymore. He has spent the summer working out with
noted trainer Pete Bommarito in Davie, training with fellow athletes such as
teammate Nathan Horton, former teammate Ed Belfour, New York Giants wide
receiver Plaxico Burress and San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore. He
said the intense workouts have helped him on the ice.
''I feel better than I
have in a long, long time,'' he said. ``This is a totally different deal. I know
what I can do, and people who have been here know what I can do. I've been
frustrated with my play the past two years. But it was never a lack of effort. I
was incapable of playing the way I had in the past.''
This offseason, the
Panthers traded captain Olli Jokinen for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick
Boynton, and currently have eight NHL-caliber defensemen on the active
roster.
''Competition sometimes brings out the best in people,'' general
manager Jacques Martin said.
It's no secret Martin would like to move one or
two of his extra defensemen, perhaps to add some scoring, and Van Ryn could be
traded. Karlis Skrastins also has been mentioned as a trade
possibility.
''It's a possibility I could move one of them down the road,''
Martin said. ``But there is no one in particular. If we could get a forward in
return, well, that's something I would look at. But it's not necessarily
Mike.
``Look at the role he played before he got hurt. He was an important
part of our team. Hopefully the surgery was a success. He feels good about it.
He did a lot of [rehabilitation] last year, with all the time now, I think it's
positive he feels so good.''
`NOTHING I CAN DO'
Van Ryn doesn't want to
leave the Panthers, but knows his game is also a business. A member of the
Panthers since coming south in a trade with St. Louis in 2003, Van Ryn has seen
many friends leave the team over the years.
''Rumors are rumors,'' Van Ryn
said. ``Jacques has never said he is looking to trade me, but it's part of the
game. This is obviously where I want to be. I want to win here. I've been here
forever now, but if I'm traded, it's something I can't control. I'm going about
my business the same every day. There's nothing I can do about it. I'm just
trying to get ready for the season. I hope it's here.''
Martin, who wouldn't
confirm rumors he is shopping Van Ryn, might have to trade someone else before
Van Ryn's wrists are strong enough to endure the NHL. Van Ryn's salary of $3.35
million per season through 2009-10 also could be a hindrance. Of course, if Van
Ryn returns to past form, his contract might look like a bargain.
''I'm not
worried about things,'' Van Ryn said. ``I've had plenty of time to let the wrist
heal. I've had time off and let the wrist heal the way it should.''
This is a new poster being installed at the Bank Atlantic Center, outside of section 124. It's my friend Murphy's hand ringing the very first cowbell ever brought to a Florida Panthers Game! A friend of his who works for the Panthers took this photo of the poster with his iPhone and sent it to Murph! He was TOTALLY surprised by it and can't wait for he and his wife Vanessa to have their picture taken in front of it next season!
Still getting settled from our move(s). Were finally in our own place and things are somewhat getting back to normal. Thanks to everyone for continuing to check in.
Radim Vrbata has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning as they stay active on their re-build. Some risky signings, but you don't go places if you don't take some risk. We'll see how this works for them next season.
The Bruins have signed Blake Wheeler. Wheeler declined to sign with the Phoenix Coyotes, who drafted him, making him a free agent.
Carolina has sent forward Eric Cole to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Jani Pitkanen
Chicago sent forward Rene Bourque to Calgary for a 2nd round pick in next years draft
Cujo has gone back to the Toronto Maple Leafs
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11353 You can also follow the free agent signings through this link.
12:04PM
Anaheim re-sign forward Corey Perry to a five-year deal worth
$26.625-million which will average $5.325-million a
year.
11:58AM
Pittsburgh Penguins sign forward Pascal Dupuis to a
three-year deal which will average $1.4-million per year.
11:58AM
Detroit
Red Wings and veteran defenseman Brad Stuart have agreed to terms on a 4 year
contract that averages 3.75 per year.
11:35AM
New Jersey re-signs forwards
Jay Pandolfo (undisclosed) David Calrkson (undisclosed) and Barry Tallackson
(undisclosed). Declines option on forward Sergei Brylin.
10:21AM
New
Jersey agrees to terms with defenceman Bryce Salvador to a four-year deal worth
$11.6 million (average of $2.9 million per season).
8:45AM
Washington
re-signs defenceman Mike Green to a four-year deal worth $21 million (average of
$5.25 million per season).
Monday, June 30
TIME
(ET)
TRANSACTION
6:53PM
Detroit Red Wings re-sign defenceman Andreas
Lilja to a two-year contract.
6:45PM
Buffalo Sabres re-sign forward Paul
Gaustad to a four-year, $9.2 million contract.
6:39PM
San Jose Sharks
re-sign forward Jody Shelley to a two-year contract.
5:55PM
Tampa Bay
Lightning sign forward Vaclav Prospal to a multi-year
contract.
8:03AM
Tampa Bay Lightning sign forward Gary Roberts to a
one-year contract.
Sunday, June 29
TIME
(ET)
TRANSACTION
9:20PM
Colorado Avalanche sign defenceman John-Michael
Liles to four-year, $16 million contract.
9:20PM
Colorado Avalanche sign
defenceman Adam Foote to an undisclosed contract.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been very active before Free Agency started by re-aqcquiring the rights to and re-signing Vaclav Prospal.
They also sent a 3rd round draft pick (in a very deep draft) to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the rights to and signed Gary Roberts and Ryan Malone.
They also acquired the rights to Brian Rolston, but Rolston told them this morning that he's going to test the Free Agent market.
The Edmonton Oilers have traded Raffi Torres to the Columbus Blue Jackets for 21 year old center Gilbert Brule.
They also sent forward Jarret Stoll and defenseman Matt Greene to the LA Kings for defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky.
The Free Agent frenzy gets under way today starting at noon. Unfortunately, I'm moving today and won't be able to do nearly as much with this as I'd like, as has been the story the past month or so.
I'll do what I can, thanks for everyone's patience.
Bobby Suvoy had Lou Gehrig's Disease, and it was vicious. He'd been a boy
who liked to swim and skate and catch fish, always looking for something to do.
Now here he was at 16, paralyzed, with a breathing machine inflating his lungs.
Chris Terry was Bobby's idol, his favorite hockey player. The team arranged
for Terry to meet him, and it was a thrill; one of the few things Bobby could
still do was smile, and he hardly stopped from the moment Terry walked in.
Then Terry dropped by the Suvoys' house in Redford Township a few more
times, on his own. And when Bobby died in early May, Terry came down from his
home in Brampton, Ontario, for the funeral, driving four hours in his big green
Isuzu Rodeo.
The Suvoys dressed Bobby for burial in the official jersey
Terry autographed for him. Bob Suvoy Sr. wanted to show him, so he approached
Terry the moment he walked into the visitation.
"Are you ready to go up
there?" Suvoy asked.
"No," Terry said, honestly, and Suvoy understood.
"You've got to remember," Suvoy says now, "he's just a kid."
Chris
Terry, hero to a dying teenager, was all of 18 years old.
A mature
teenager
At least he was when they met. Terry turned 19 in April, and it's a
mature 19, honed by three years in Junior A hockey. He has finished high school
and started at Schoolcraft College while living with host families and playing
center for the Plymouth Whalers, where his teammates range from 15 to 21.
The Whalers play in the Ontario Hockey League, a league of great promise,
long bus rides, heavy responsibilities and tiny paychecks. Terry's Isuzu is a
'98, a hand-me-down from his parents.
You wonder what it's like for a young
man to commit to that life in hopes of someday skating in the NHL. And you
wonder what it's like for someone whose body has brought him so far to spend
time with someone like Bobby, whose body betrayed him.
Daunting, you
discover, at least at first. But then inspiring and enriching. Educational, in a
way. And certainly humbling.
Only a few years ago, Terry had Steve Yzerman
posters on the walls of his bedroom. Suddenly, he's comforting someone who owns
framed pictures of Chris Terry.
"I guess I really wasn't prepared for what
condition he was in," Terry concedes. "It was an intense time." But there was
something in Bobby, and something in himself, that brought him back.
Though
Bobby couldn't form many words -- he mostly said "thank you" and "hello" -- he
was upbeat most of the time, and he made it clear how much the visits meant.
Phone conversations were out of the question, but Terry would text Bobby's two
older sisters every day, just checking in, and they would tell Bobby that the
Whalers' leading scorer had asked about him again.
"Such a terrible thing,"
says Terry, who's back in Brampton with his family for the summer. "He was my
sister's age. It's too young."
Community becomes family
There's a lot
more to the story and at the same time, it's simple.
Lou Gehrig's Disease,
or ALS, typically attacks 40- to 60-year-olds. Nobody survives it. From
diagnosis to funeral home, Bobby lasted less than two years.
Knowing his
time was limited, the Suvoys adopted a simple philosophy: Whatever Bobby wants,
Bobby gets. Hockey tickets, no problem. A Chris Terry jersey, $200 including the
cost of getting the name and No. 20 on the back, no problem.
The Make-A-Wish
Foundation bought Bobby a 42-inch high-definition television with surround
sound. Whalers games are streamed online, and the Suvoys would connect a laptop
to the big screen and gather 'round.
Suvoy, 50, is a machinist. His wife,
Patrice, is a secretary with the Redford Township schools. Financially and
otherwise, he says, "People came out of the woodwork to help us with this."
A friend's friend painted their little fishing boat, though Bobby
deteriorated so quickly he was never able to use it. Their church put on a
spaghetti dinner. One of Suvoy's softball buddies stopped knocking; he'd just
stroll in two nights a week, head to Bobby's room and chat for a few hours.
Some friends are throwing another fundraiser for the family Thursday,
helping to chip away at the leftover medical expenses. It's $15 per ticket for
an 8 p.m. stand-up show at Joey's Comedy Club in Livonia. Call the Whalers at
(734) 453-8400 for information.
The Suvoys didn't even know about it until
the fliers had been printed. As for Terry, he won't be there: It's for
21-and-older.
Bobby's impact on Terry
The Whalers played the Sarnia Sting
the night Bobby and Terry met. Bobby was supposed to go, but his health bottomed
out that week and he couldn't.
Instead, he asked Terry to score a goal for
him. Terry, in turn, wrote a message for Bobby on the tape at the top of his
stick: "Do It 4 Bobby."
"I've got to be honest with you," says Pete Krupsky,
the Whalers' play-by-play broadcaster, "when we talked about it on the air, I
was breaking up."
Then the Whalers went out and lost, 5-4, and Terry was
held without a goal. Life works that way sometimes.
Bobby didn't care. When
Terry scored a few games later, he just assumed that one was his.
Seven
weeks later, he was gone. The clip from Krupsky's broadcast played in a loop at
the visitation, and Krupsky, a retired chemist, dissolved again.
Since then,
the Suvoys have turned Bobby's bedroom into a den. The décor is the same, with
all the hockey pictures. They just took out the hospital bed.
Terry will be
back with the Whalers come fall. Drafted last year by the Carolina Hurricanes,
he's a step closer to the NHL.
Bob Suvoy finds himself reflecting sometimes
on a conversation he had with Terry one of the times he stopped by. "He said we
need to appreciate what we have," Suvoy says. "He said we should all be
thankful, every minute of our lives."
Terry probably understood that before
he met Bobby, because that's the kind of 19-year-old he is. But chances are
he'll never forget it, because that's the kind of impact Bobby had.
I'm WAY behind the 8 ball...long couple days. Had some things to do that I wasn't aware would come up.
This is from TSN.ca...I'll talk more on some of them later. (Especially the Jokinen trade.
Back in 1994, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Quebec Nordiques grabbed the spotlight
from Florida's No. 1 overall selection Ed Jovanovski by
completing the infamous Wendel Clark-Mats Sundin
trade.
And 14 years later, it could be argued that the wheeling and dealing
has taken the headlines once again from Tampa's No. 1 pick Steven Stamkos.
The
2008 NHL Entry Draft kicked off in Ottawa with 13 first-round trades on Friday
night, and the Calgary Flames led the way early with two major deals.
The
first move saw general manager Darryl Sutter acquire forward Mike Cammalleri from the
Los Angeles Kings in a three-team deal that also involved the Anaheim Ducks.
Calgary sent its 17th overall pick and their 2009 second round pick to the Kings
for Cammalleri, and the Kings then shipped that pick and the 28th overall
selection to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the Ducks' 12th overall draft
pick.
The 26-year-old Cammalleri endured an injury-plagued season last year
that still saw him score 19 goals and 28 assists in 63 games. In 283 career
games all with the Kings, the Richmond Hill, Ontario native has 93 goals and 112
assists.
Flames general manager Darryl Sutter thinks that Cammalleri will fit
in well with the Flames.
"I think he'll bring the offence that Alex (Tanguay)
provided for us, but he's a little bit younger and a little bit less money,"
Sutter told TSN.
The Flames also sent ripples towards hockey-mad Montreal,
sending forward Alex
Tanguay and a 2008 fifth-round pick to the Canadiens for the 25th overall
selection and a 2009 second-round pick.
"I'm very excited," Tanguay told
TSN's sister station in Quebec RDS on Friday. "I'm really like the style the
Canadiens play and I believe it fits my style of play." A Ste-Justine,
Quebec native, Tanguay is coming off a disappointing season that saw him score
only 18 goals and 40 assists in 81 games while hearing his name mentioned almost
constantly in trade rumours.
"Alex Tanguay was not
comfortable with the Calgary Flames," general manager Bob Gainey told RDS. "He
was on our list of coveted players and was always available. At 28 years of age,
I think could be on our team for several seasons."
Tanguay was acquired by
the Flames on draft day in 2006 from the Colorado Avalanche for defenceman Jordan Leopold.
He
enjoyed his first year in Calgary, where he scored 81 points in 81 games.
In 609 career games, Tanguay has 177 goals and 362 assists. He helped capture
the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in the 2000-01 season.
Tanguay has one
year left on his current contract at $5.25 million.
The Florida Panthers
finally parted ways with captain Olli Jokinen, sending
the Finnish pivot to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for defencemen Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton and the
49th overall selection.
The move had been long rumoured as there were reports
out of Florida that Jokinen and general manager Jacques Martin have had a
strained relationship.
Jokinen scored 34 goals and 37 assists last season
while playing in all 82 games. He has two years left on his contract following
this season that will pay him another $10.5 million.
The Columbus Blue
Jackets were the next team to get in the mix, acquiring forward R.J. Umberger and the
119th pick overall from the Philadelphia Flyers for the 19th and 67th
picks.
Umberger, who attended Ohio State University in Columbus, was drafted
by Vancouver in the first round, 16th overall, in 2001.
He was traded to New
York Rangers by Vancouver with Martin Grenier for Martin Rucinsky on March
9, 2004 and then signed as a free agent by Philadelphia three months
later.
This past season, Umberger had 13 goals and 37 assists after scoring
20 goals in his rookie season. He also enjoyed an excellent playoff campaign,
scoring 10 goals and five assists in 17 games.
The Flyers weren't done
dealing from there, capping off the night by acquiring defenceman Steve Eminger and the
84th overall pick from the Washington Capitals for the 27th overall
selection.
//
Guess this means Waddell is still running the show at GM?? Doesn't make any sense.
The Atlanta Thrashers hired John Anderson as their new head coach on
Thursday, promoting him from their American Hockey League affiliate in
Chicago.
Anderson has won four minor-league titles as a head coach, including
the 2008 Calder Cup with the Wolves earlier this month.
Anderson, 51, also
guided the Wolves to the Calder Cup in 2002 and the International Hockey
League's Turner Cup in 1998 and 2000.
Toronto's first pick (11th overall) in
the 1977 amateur draft, Anderson played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League
with the Maple Leafs (1977-1985); Quebec Nordiques (1985-86); and Hartford
Whalers (1986-1989).
From TSN.ca:
The Philadelphia Flyers announced Wednesday that they have traded the
rights to forward Vaclav
Prospal to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a seventh round pick
in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional pick in the 2009 NHL Entry
Draft.
"Vinny really didn't express much of an interest in coming back and
playing for us next season," said General Manager Holmgren in making the
announcement. "His heart is elsewhere."
Prospal, 33, recorded four goals and
10 assists for 14 points and six penalty minutes in 18 regular season games for
the Flyers this past season. He added 13 points in 17 playoff games as the
Flyers advanced to the 2008 Eastern Conference Final.
He was re-acquired by
the Flyers from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenceman Alexandre Picard and a
second round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on Feb. 25. Prospal registered 29
goals and 28 assists for 57 points and 39 penalty minutes in 62 games for the
Lightning prior to joining the Flyers.
In 792 career regular season games
over 11 NHL seasons with the Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, Tampa
Bay and Anaheim Ducks (1996-97 through 2007-08), Prospal has registered 179
goals and 375 assists for 554 points and 421 penalty minutes.
Former Kitchener Rangers GM and Head Coach Peter Deboer has been named the new head coach of the Florida Panthers. I'm happy with this signing as a Panther fan.
Thanks to Safir for this info:
Peter DeBoer:
Current Winning Percentage: 67%
Number of Years in hockey: 21 years
Number of Years as head coach: 13 years
Number of Winning seasons: 12
Number of Years in NHL: 0
Number of Championships: 2(OHL)
Players coached that are currently at the NHL level:
-Mike Richards(Philadelphia Flyers)
-Derek Roy(Buffalo Sabres)
-Steve Eminger(Washington Capitals)
-Greg Campbell(Florida Panthers)
-Bryan Berard(New York Islanders)
-David Legwand(Nashville Predators)
-Paul Mara(New York Rangers)
-Jason Ward(Tampa Bay Lightning)
-Justin Williams(Carolina Hurricanes)
-Stephen Weiss(Florida Panthers)
-James Wisniewski(Chicago Blackhawks)
-Chad Larose(Carolina Hurricanes)
-Karl Stewart(Tampa Bay Lightning)
-David Clarkson(New Jersey Devils)
-Boris Valabik(Atlanta Thrashers)
-Matt Lashoff(Boston Bruins)
-Steve Downie(Philadelphia Flyers)
