NHL FanHouse

Puck Talk: Can the Penguins Repeat?

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup last June, and returned in October with most of their core intact. So far, so good for the Pens, who have battled through injuries on their way to a good start this season. The team's good start has us wondering what their chances are for a repeat of last season. For help, we turned to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Seth Rorabaugh, who writes the Empty Netters blog.

Listen after the jump.

Listen to the podcast above, or click here to download the file.

Puck Talk: Can the Penguins Repeat? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kovalchuk Practicing, May Play Thursday

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Thrashers, Eastern, NHL Injuries

The Atlanta Thrashers have played six games without star and team captain Ilya Kovalchuk. Any reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated, as they have gone 3-3 since Kovalchuk was lost to a broken foot.

Initial reports had Kovalchuk missing four to six weeks, but he practiced Tuesday, and there is confidence that he will return to action Thursday.

Coach John Anderson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he is "95 percent" sure Kovalchuk will be in the lineup Thursday at Madison Square Garden, when Atlanta battles the New York Rangers.

General manager Don Waddell essentially confirmed the report in a Tuesday appearance on NHL Live!, which was broadcast from the general managers' meetings in Toronto. He told hosts E.J. Hradek and Craig Button that he was confident Kovalchuk would play "this weekend," but he didn't specify a target date for the captain's return. Waddell noted that Atlanta plays three games over four days starting Thursday (they host Los Angeles Friday and Edmonton Sunday), so it would be great to have Kovalchuk back in the lineup.

Kovalchuk had nine goals in eight games before he was injured. The Thrashers are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference, two points out of eighth.

Kovalchuk Practicing, May Play Thursday originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders' Okposo Diagnosed with H1N1

Christopher Botta — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, Eastern

According to team officials, New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo has been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu.

The 21-year-old Okposo did not travel accompany the team on its flight on Tuesday afternoon to Washington, where they face the Capitals on Wednesday. The team did not release any further details on Okposo's illness or a timetable for his recovery.

Okposo will likely miss at least the first three games this week on a road trip that also takes them to Carolina on Friday, Florida on Saturday and Boston on Monday. In 17 games this season the 6-0, 200-pound right wing has three goals and seven assists for ten points. He is also widely considered a solid candidate for a spot on the United States Olympic team.

The Islanders also announced that captain Doug Weight has an upper-body injury that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks. The 39-year-old Weight missed action two weeks ago with the swine flu.

Islanders' Okposo Diagnosed with H1N1 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2-on-1: Turning Around the Hurricanes

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hurricanes, Eastern, NHL Coaching

Every Monday during the season two of our hockey writers will debate one topic. It's the 2-on-1. This week, Bruce Ciskie and Christopher Botta talk about the sudden struggles of last year's playoff darlings, the Carolina Hurricanes.

More Coverage: Carolina Signs Legace to Fill Void in Net

Bruce Ciskie: We know it's early. Yes, the Hurricanes have 66 games left. However, to say they're struggling is simply a gross understatement. Carolina is in trouble here, and it's not that much like last year, when a mediocre team changed coaches and caught fire.

This isn't a mediocre team in any way right now. They're bad. Last in the East in goals scored, last in the NHL in goals allowed. They've won precisely zero of their last 12 games.

I'm struggling, Chris, to find any reason to think Carolina can turn this one around. It's not that they've dug themselves too deep of a hole. It's that they have looked so bad in doing it.

"One thing to look out for: GM Jim Rutherford will not quit on the season. He will make a trade, maybe even the first semi-big trade in the league before American Thanksgiving. Contrary to the cliche, sometimes you do have to make a trade for the sake of making a trade."
--Christopher Botta Christopher Botta: I hear ya, Bruce. The only reason I can't count them out is because there are more than 60 games left in the regular season and chances are just about every team in the East may still be able to sniff the seventh and eighth seeds in the East at the start of the Olympic break.

Three weeks ago, well before the 'Canes became a 2-11 embarrassment, our FanHouse editor assigned me to Newark for the Carolina-New Jersey rematch. On the train, I called one of my hockey gurus -- big-time Canadian influencer with a finger on the pulse of the NHL. This guy is right far more often than he is wrong.

I ran my take by him, that Carolina was just a half-step below the the perceived cream of the East -- Pittsburgh, Washington, maybe Philadelphia. I was looking at writing a column about how they're one of the league's unheralded very good teams. My guy stopped me in my tracks. "They have no secondary scoring," he said. "I'm not talking about a little secondary scoring. I mean zilch. They're in big trouble." Okay ...

Sure enough, the Hurricanes had nothing against New Jersey. Lost 2-1. I focused on Cam Ward instead. Says a lot about how bad this team is that they have this record and it's with getting quality goaltending almost every night from Ward.

Do you figure there's no way they'll get back to .500, Bruce? How about if they shake it up and give the head coaching reins to Ron Francis?

Ciskie: In today's NHL, it's really hard to make up for a lack of secondary scoring. As I type, Eric Staal has five points in 13 games. He could have gotten five points in half that time last year without even trying. Now, everyone knows he's the only threat.

Jussi Jokinen is not a consistent 30-goal threat. Erik Cole certainly isn't. Guys like Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney are on their last legs, and shouldn't be expected to contribute any notable scoring totals. Matt Cullen and Tuomo Ruutu are nice players, but they're grinders.

There are pieces in place on defense with guys like Joe Corvo and Joni Pitkanen, but neither has done anything so far.

You might be right that a coaching shakeup could work. It's worked for this franchise in the past. However it leads me to wonder how many more times a team can tune out coaches during a season before the obstacles to a recovery become too great.

The bottom line is that you can blame Paul Maurice all you want (generally speaking, Chris, not saying you're blaming the coach), but this team's major offseason acquisitions were Aaron Ward and Tom Kostopoulos. That's asking for trouble.

Botta: No, you won't hear me blame Paul Maurice. I'm a fan. Maurice, like Tom Renney, falls into that category of good teachers, good coaches and good men who look bad when their GMs fail and their players bail. And it's all because they don't put on a big show behind the bench. The only good thing is Maurice was given a three-year contract, so when the inevitable happens he'll be well taken care of. I suspect he'll stay with Carolina this time in player personnel.

One thing to look out for: GM Jim Rutherford will not quit on the season. He will make a trade, maybe even the first semi-big trade in the league before American Thanksgiving. Contrary to the cliche, sometimes you do have to make a trade for the sake of making a trade. I doubt Rutherford will mortgage a first round draft pick, but he'll make a two-for-two trade that might not seem like much. Sometimes getting rid of two players and bringing in fresh faces shakes up the room and leads to winning streaks.

Any theories on what's up with Eric Staal? Is this about the lack of much of a supporting cast, or is a big part of this on him?

Ciskie: Honestly, I haven't seen enough of the Hurricanes to break down Staal's game, but I will say this:

This team played a lot of extra hockey last season. I'm not about excuses, but Carolina had to win emotional seven-game series just for the right to get a mudhole stomped in them by Pittsburgh. Along the way, Staal played insane minutes, was out there for virtually every high-pressure situation, and played at an extremely high level. Throw in there the pressure of trying to cement a spot on the Canadian team for the Olympics, and you're putting a lot on the plate of a player who is still pretty young (25).

Oh, and he's not really getting any help. So, yeah.

I agree that Rutherford will do something. He signed Jokinen off the scrap heap last year, and that worked pretty well. The theory about shaking up the room is a strong one, and it's about time for Rutherford to follow through on something if it's at all possible for him to do so.

Botta: Rutherford will. Start the rumor mill!

So in summary, we believe the Hurricanes need a trade and will make a trade, Paul Maurice could also pay the price (but get paid) and Carolina needs to put two or three wins together soon to be in the playoff conversation in March.

Do we even want to get into what a freefall could do for attendance in Raleigh? Nah.

Let's end on a happy note. Favorite Hurricane/Whaler of all time? I'm going with Ray Neufeld. Do you know what 27 goals and 40 assists would get you today? Four mill a year.

Ciskie: Kevin Dineen, no question. I don't even have to think about that one.

As for the Hurricanes, we agree on pretty much everything. I respect Rutherford's work a lot, so I have faith he'll figure out a way to turn this thing around. I'm just not sure it can be done in a way that gets this team into serious playoff contention.

2-on-1: Turning Around the Hurricanes originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hockey Talk: NHL Fanhouse Live Chat

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Kings, Rangers, Eastern, Western, NHL Live Blogging, NHL Discipline

There's a lot of action around the NHL tonight, and we'll break it all down in our weekly NHL FanHouse chat. There are surprise teams, surprise players, and injuries to discuss. Not only that, but the first major disciplinary decisions of the season have been made by the NHL. As usual, they come with some controversy. Join us at 2 p.m. ET as we break it down with you.

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;altcast_code=1c848386ae" &amp;gt;NHL FanHouse Live Chat&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Hockey Talk: NHL Fanhouse Live Chat originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cherry Goes After Ovechkin Again

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Eastern, NHL Videos

After Alex Ovechkin scored his 50th goal last season, he had a rather unique celebration. Even before that happened, Ovechkin's celebrations had drawn the ire of CBC Hockey Night in Canada legend Don Cherry.

Yes, Cherry certainly tends to wear his Canadian heart on his sleeve. However, people generally listen to what he has to say, no matter the potential biases involved. After Ovechkin basically got away with a slew-foot earlier in the week, Cherry was very pointed in his comments on Coach's Corner Saturday night. Video after the jump.

Ovechkin did get off too easy when it comes to his hit on Rich Peverley. It's not about the slew-foot being an automatic suspension. Anyone who watches hockey can ascertain that Evgeni Artyuhkin is a much dirtier player than Ovechkin will ever be.

However, Cherry does have a point when it comes to the superstar. Ovechkin plays the game hard, which no one will ever question. That doesn't give him license to plow people from behind, or hit them in the knee. As Cherry notes, there is a reputation developing, and it isn't necessarily a good one.

At some point, Ovechkin will be asked to drop the gloves and stand up for his style of play. It might not be a desirable thought for Capitals fans, but it's one that is likely to become reality very soon if Ovechkin doesn't tone down his hits a little bit.

Cherry Goes After Ovechkin Again originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jeff Schultz Beats Ondrej Pavelec With 175-Foot Shot

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Thrashers, Eastern, NHL Videos

Vesa Toskala has more company.

A couple years ago, Toskala allowed an improbable goal from over 190 feet away against the New York Islanders. Since then, guys have allowed bad goals left and right, but few have come close to duplicating Toskala's feat until Thursday night in Atlanta. It was there that Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec was fooled by a puck with a mind of its own. Video after the jump.

The Capitals took a 3-2 lead on this goal, which was credited to Jeff Schultz, who was probably standing around 175 feet away from Pavelec when he shot.

It was the start of a string of three goals by Washington in just 1:28, which was enough to chase Pavelec in favor of Johan Hedberg.

Video: Jeff Schultz Beats Ondrej Pavelec With 175-Foot Shot originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Puck Talk: Returning to New Jersey

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Devils, Eastern, FanHouse Exclusive

This week, our Puck Talk podcast chats about the Devils. We're joined by radio analyst Sherry Ross, who returned to the booth in 2007, just in time to watch Brian Rolston return to the ice, and eventually Jacques Lemaire return to the bench. Seems like everyone ends up going back there at some point.

We talk with Sherry about this year's team, how Lemaire is adjusting to his young talent, and what kind of workload goalie Martin Brodeur will face this season. Check out this week's podcast after the jump.

Listen to the podcast above, or click here to download the file.

Puck Talk: Returning to New Jersey originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boston GM Peter Chiarelli Says Phil Kessel Wanted Out

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Maple Leafs, Eastern

Now that Phil Kessel is officially a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins can move forward. They knew that Kessel would be tough to bring back, especially given their salary cap issues. What general manager Peter Chiarelli wasn't necessarily prepared to hear was that Kessel didn't want to return under any circumstances.

Enter Toronto general manager Brian Burke, who gave up two first-round picks, along with a second-rounder, for the right to pay Kessel some $27 million for the next five years.

Chiarelli made it abundantly clear that Kessel didn't want to be there, and he also said it was his choice to allow Kessel to move on. Chiarelli went so far as to say the club could have stashed Kessel on long-term injury for the entire season if they wanted to.

From the Bruins' perspective, the deal only happened because Kessel wanted out. Throughout his opening remarks and for much of his near 20-minute press conference, Chiarelli refused to refer to Kessel by name, instead saying "the player" or "this player" to describe the fourth-year player, who scored a career-high 36 goals last season.

"At the end of the day," Chiarelli said, "we want players who want to be here. This player is a good player. He can skate and shoot the puck. But we want players who want to be here, we want to build around them."

Chiarelli only got three draft picks in return for a high-level young player (Kessel is on the verge of turning 22). He tried to spin this into a good thing, however.

"These picks are significant," Chiarelli said, "especially in light of the strength of the amateur draft coming up."

While Chiarelli was obviously displeased at the events that led him to this moment, Burke was practically giddy. He praised Chiarelli for driving a hard bargain for Kessel.

"It's a very high price," Burke said Friday night. "But it's one that we feel makes sense for us."

Burke noted that his organization has signed some key free agents, such as Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson, and goalie Jonas Gustavsson, who will all play a role moving forward. He felt that allowed him the flexibility to give up draft picks for Kessel.

"By stocking the cupboard, we can take some of the cans off the shelf for the future," Burke said.

Kessel's shoulder injury won't allow him to play until November.

"He brings tremendous footspeed, goal scoring ability, and should improve our power play," Burke said. Kessel instantly becomes the best right wing on the Leafs' roster once he's healthy.

Burke also noted that Kessel is pleased with the events, saying the former Minnesota Gopher is "walking on air." Chiarelli mentioned his talk with Kessel on Friday, after the deal was done, and said Kessel was "disappointed" that things didn't work out in Boston.

While Boston would have needed to clear significant cap space for Kessel's contract, Toronto will not. They will need to make a minor move to clear salary before Kessel can be activated in November, or whenever he's healthy.

The Bruins will have to find a way to replace a 36-goal scorer, but Chiarelli is confident in his team's ability to improve.

"I think we have some player who will fill in those goals," Chiarelli said.

Burke has made his big move. Now, it's time to hope all his tinkering works well on the ice.

Boston GM Peter Chiarelli Says Phil Kessel Wanted Out originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Phil Kessel No Longer Negotiating With Boston Bruins

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Eastern, NHL Rumors

While fans eagerly await the start of the 2009-2010 NHL season, there is one high-profile player who still doesn't know what team he will spend it with.

Phil Kessel had a breakout season in 2008-2009, scoring 36 goals and picking up an impressive plus-23 rating. He was solid on the power play and dangerous in the clutch, finishing second on his team with six game-winning goals. That team, the Boston Bruins, doesn't have enough cap room to sign Kessel, and it sounds like the fourth-year pro is tired of waiting around.

The Boston Globe is reporting that Kessel has cut off negotiations with the Bruins, preferring instead to sign an offer sheet with a different team. Of course, the Bruins would have the right to match any offer sheet the restricted free agent signs, but that doesn't necessarily mean he won't get an offer.

Kessel's desire for a contract believed to be in the range of $4 million per season doesn't jive with the Bruins and their $1.7 million in cap space. This isn't the NFL, where teams can pass off cap charges to later seasons. The average annual salary of an NHL contract is the player's cap number.

With rumors flying that the Toronto Maple Leafs could try to sign an offer sheet with Kessel, this latest development only intensifies the chatter. Will Brian Burke set aside his previous philosophy on offer sheets, in an effort to acquire a badly-needed top-six forward for his team? Not only that, but he could damage a division rival at the same time.

After all, it's not like Burke would have to reset the market to make this deal happen. Kessel wanting $4 million isn't unrealistic or some sort of extraordinary demand. He's a good player, doesn't turn 22 until early October, and his huge 2008-2009 season suggests more is to come.

What happened in Anaheim stays in Anaheim. Burke is staring at a depth chart that includes Lee Stempniak, Nikolai Kulemin, and Alexei Ponikarovsky among his top wingers. He might be trying to do the right thing by some sort of invisible general managers' code, but his loyalty is to the Maple Leafs, not Peter Chiarelli.

Report: Phil Kessel No Longer Negotiating With Boston Bruins originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovechkin Willing to Risk Suspension to Play in 2014 Olympics

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Eastern, Olympic Hockey

We're still a few months away from the 2010 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver. The NHL is allowing players to take part in the Games for a fourth time, but this may be the last.

The idea of shutting down the NHL season for two weeks does not sit well with some owners, and commissioner Gary Bettman wants to talk with the union about the concept before agreeing to send players to the Olympics in 2014. Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin doesn't seem pleased about the idea of missing the Games in his home country.

In an interview with ESPN.com, Ovechkin says he's going to play in the 2014 Games -- scheduled for Sochi, Russia. He doesn't care what the league says.

Ovechkin's pledge to defy his own contract and go AWOL if the NHL decides not to take part in future Olympics ups the ante considerably on both sides of the debate.

"I don't care," Ovechkin defiantly stated. "I'll go play in the Olympic Games for my country. If somebody says to me you can't play, see ya."

Even if it meant the Washington Capitals would suspend him?

"I don't care," he said.

... Ovechkin said it was likely other Russians would have a similar mindset toward playing on their home soil in 2014.

"Who can say you can't play for your country in the Olympic Games? I think it's ..."

Unfair?

"It's not unfair, it's stupid," he said. "Somebody don't like it, see you next year."

So, if you're the Washington Capitals, do you just let the guy go for two weeks, or do you put your foot down?

Ovechkin might be a star who isn't worth upsetting, but he also ties up a good chunk of salary cap space ($9 million in the 2013-2014 season) for the team.

The league and players' union need to come together on this issue. There is no real reason to continue the arrangement from a business standpoint. Sochi is nine hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone, meaning games played in the evening there would have to air in the midday in order to get live coverage on U.S. television. Diehard hockey fans will definitely tune in, but the league isn't likely to see much increase in overall interest from the players participating. The loss of momentum that comes from a two-week shutdown is likely not worth it.

However, there's no real doubt that the players love this. That support means the owners would likely have to give up something to get out of the Olympics. It's likely to be a contentious negotiation, but the owners could be better off -- despite the potential pitfalls from the business perspective -- staying in the Games.

Meanwhile, it'll be interesting in the coming months to see if any other players share Ovechkin's sentiments, and would be willing to at least talk big about taking part in 2014.

Ovechkin Willing to Risk Suspension to Play in 2014 Olympics originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bruins Sign Defenseman Derek Morris

Bruce Ciskie — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Eastern, NHL Free Agency

The Boston Bruins traded a veteran defenseman to Carolina Friday. That deal -- involving Aaron Ward -- appeared at the time to be a salary cap maneuver.

While that's not terribly inaccurate, a subsequent signing by the Bruins shows that the deal wasn't about clearing cap space as much as it was about attempting to upgrade the position. Boston moved on from Ward quickly, signing Derek Morris to a one-year deal.

The Bruins say Morris -- who ran the Rangers' second power play unit after a deadline deal rescued him from Phoenix -- has a "good offensive skill set". Morris is definitely perceived to be stronger than Ward in the offensive game, even though he only had two more goals than Ward last season.

Morris is a pretty good fit on a Boston team that already has two solid offensive defensemen in captain Zdeno Chara and Dennis Wideman.

This move will be questioned some, if only because the up-against-the-cap Bruins are paying Morris nearly $1 million more than Ward was scheduled to make. Theoretically, Boston isn't done dealing for good, because if they wish to re-sign forward Phil Kessel, they're going to have to make a move somewhere on the roster.

Bruins Sign Defenseman Derek Morris originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aaron Ward, Former Scott Walker Punching Bag, Now His Teammate

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Hurricanes, Eastern

During the Carolina Hurricanes' run to the Eastern Conference Finals, forward/pest Scott Walker made headlines for the wrong reason.

As the Bruins polished off a win over Carolina to stay alive in Game 5, Walker got mixed up with Boston defenseman Aaron Ward, a skirmish that ended with Walker punching Ward in the face. The incident didn't draw Walker a suspension, but he was forced to try to explain himself. Now, Walker and Ward will be coming face to face a bit more often.

On Friday, the Bruins traded Ward to the Hurricanes. The deal was in exchange for forward Patrick Eaves -- who played his college hockey at Boston College -- and a fourth-round pick in 2010. The Bruins then waived Eaves and will buy out his remaining contract, meaning they essentially dealt an effective, valuable defenseman for a fourth-round pick.

As David Lefort notes, the Bruins may have done this to clear salary cap room so they can get forward Phil Kessel signed. They may also be trying to deal Kessel for a top defenseman. With Ward gone, there is still only a small amount of cap space available, so Boston isn't done making moves.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, pick up a steady, veteran defenseman who has three Stanley Cups to his credit (Ward was on the 2006 Carolina team that won it all). The 36-year-old isn't a dynamic offensive threat, but he won't back down from anyone, and he doesn't make a ton of mistakes in his own zone. He's a great fit on a Carolina team that has their share of puck-moving blue-liners.

One has to think that the Walker-Ward dynamic is nothing more than a bit of irony. While it might seem a bit awkward, the two shook hands like gentlemen after the Boston-Carolina series ended, and there's no reason to think they won't get along just fine, at least as teammates.

Aaron Ward, Former Scott Walker Punching Bag, Now His Teammate originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lemaire Returns to Devils Bench

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Devils, Eastern, NHL Coaching

UPDATE: The Devils have made it official.

It's a story that really isn't all that shocking at all. The only surprise might be how long it took for the move to be made.

The New Jersey Devils are going to replace coach Brent Sutter -- now with the Flames -- with a very familiar face. Former Devils coach Jacques Lemaire, who led New Jersey to the Stanley Cup in 1995, is reportedly set to make his return to the club as head coach.

The 63-year-old Lemaire spent nine seasons as head coach of the Minnesota Wild. He led the Wild to three playoff appearances, including a stunning run to the Western Conference Finals in 2003. For much of that time, he was chided for encouraging a "boring" style of hockey, even though he often was able to take lesser-talented Minnesota teams and make them competitive against the league's best.

Lemaire looked to see the writing on the wall after the 2008-2009 season, and he resigned shortly before general manager Doug Risebrough, who had brought Lemaire to Minnesota, was fired. Thanks to injuries that affected guys like now-former Minnesota star Marian Gaborik, this past season's Wild team might have been one of the worst since the expansion team. Instead of letting them flounder at the bottom of the Western Conference, Lemaire kept the Wild in contention for a playoff spot in what could have been his best coaching job yet.

While there were reports of clashes with some Wild players, there's no question Lemaire can still coach. Reunited with good friend and former boss Lou Lamoriello, Lemaire will likely have to adapt a little bit.

The Devils were more of a wide-open team under Sutter. How will centers Zach Parise and Travis Zajac feel about a system that would likely take away some of their creativity? On the bright side, Lemaire has a likely ally in Brian Rolston, who was signed as a free agent from Minnesota in the summer of 2007. Rolston always seemed to appreciate Lemaire's coaching, and his departure may have paved the way for some of the acrimony that was reported this past season.

For Devils fans, it's a bit of a double-edged sword. Lemaire's teams were always well-prepared and ready to play, and they were usually successful. However, the stigma he carries with them can make life difficult for a fan, especially if the team isn't winning.

Lamoriello is taking a bit of a risk. If Lemaire can relate to his younger, faster team, things should go well. If things go sour, will Lamoriello figure it out before it's too late?

Lemaire Returns to Devils Bench originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leafs Coach Wilson's Comments Lead to Tampering Investigation

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST

Filed under: Canucks, Maple Leafs, Eastern, NHL Free Agency

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Brian Lawton could very well be smarter than Toronto head coach Ron Wilson.

After all, Lawton has been able to convince everyone that he and the agent for Mattias Ohlund, J.P. Berry, negotiated a complex player contract and finalized details in less than 20 minutes July 1. Wilson, meanwhile, couldn't resist making comments on the radio about Vancouver's Sedin twins before free agency began. Take a guess which team is potentially in hot water with the NHL.

That's right. Lawton gets off scot-free for what seems to be obvious tampering, while Wilson's vague remarks about two players who never entered free agency are drawing scrutiny.

Leafs general manager Brian Burke confirmed yesterday that the NHL has informed him that the league will examine potential tampering because of remarks made by the Leafs coach in an interview with a Toronto radio station last week.

"The league has indicated that they are looking into it, so we will have no public commentary at this time," Burke said yesterday when asked to respond to a column published by the Vancouver Province last weekend in which an unnamed NHL executive remarked that what Wilson said was a "clear-cut case of tampering."

Last Tuesday, less than 24 hours before the Sedin twins re-signed with the Vancouver Canucks, Wilson told the Fan 590 in Toronto, "You're hearing right now, and this sounds very contradictory but, there's a real possibility, I would think, that we would be going after the Sedins. Let's just speculate there."

I get that Wilson should know better. Everyone working in the NHL should know better.

But this is ridiculous.

There's no evidence to support an argument that the Lightning tampered with Ohlund, except for the terms of his contract and the fact that it was announced when the signing period had just started. Reality, however, is that Ohlund indeed did sign with the Lightning, and you're naive if you believe that Lawton and Berry had no contact whatsoever regarding Ohlund before free agency began.

Wilson's comments were not smart, but they were made about two players who eventually chose to re-sign with their current team, and never made it to the open market.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Globe and Mail that the Canucks have not filed charges, which also adds intrigue to the story. If Vancouver doesn't feel they were victimized in either case, then why is the league investigating in the first place?

Does Wilson's crime really rise to a level where it doesn't matter if the "victim" feels like a victim?

Leafs Coach Wilson's Comments Lead to Tampering Investigation originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Busy Leafs Sign 'Monster' Goalie

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Maple Leafs, Eastern, NHL Free Agency

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't get what they wanted (John Tavares) during the NHL Draft. They also didn't get the forwards (the Sedins) that were likely their top target in free agency.

None of this, however, has stopped general manager Brian Burke from being a very busy guy since the Stanley Cup Finals ended. The Leafs have made a notable trade, signed two big defensemen (Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin), and have now picked up a "Monster" to help them out in goal.

Burke spent time in Sweden last week, and it wasn't just to try to lure the Sedins to Toronto. He also took a shot at Swedish goalie Jonas "Monster" Gustavsson, who had made clear he was going to sign in the NHL. Among the suitors were Dallas and San Jose, but Gustavsson accepted a one-year deal from the Leafs.

Gustavsson posted impressive numbers last season in the Swedish Elite League, leading Farjestad to a championship. He had a .932 save percentage during the regular season, drawing a ton of attention from the NHL.

The one-year, $900,000 deal gives Gustavsson a chance to compete for a starting job on a team that is low on top young goaltenders. To say that the seven-game run of Justin Pogge was a disappointment (.844 save percentage, 4.36 goals against) would be a crass understatement. No way that he is handed anything during training camp, especially with Gustavsson around.

With a few moves, Burke has totally reshaped the defensive core of the Maple Leafs. Assuming they keep Tomas Kaberle in the fold, Toronto now has Kaberle, Komisarek, Beauchemin, Jeff Finger, and young phenom Luke Schenn as his top five defensemen. Gustavsson, even if only half as good as advertised, is an immediate upgrade in goal.

There's a good chance Toronto will still experience some issues when it comes to generating consistent offense. On the bright side, they now know they won't get torched in their own zone on a regular basis. It's one more step for Burke in his effort to restore the Leafs into a playoff contender.

Busy Leafs Sign 'Monster' Goalie originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canadiens Will Not Re-Sign Kovalev

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EST

Filed under: Canadiens, Eastern, NHL Free Agency

Update: Kovalev Signs With the Senators

When NHL free agency launched on Wednesday, there was near-immediate speculation that the Montreal Canadiens had come to a two-year agreement with forward Alexei Kovalev. Nothing was ever announced, and it quickly became clear that Montreal had no such agreement.

The Canadiens moved quickly on Wednesday, signing forwards Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, and making it clear through that action that Kovalev wasn't a lock to return.

The Canadiens made it official Monday, announcing Kovalev would not return to the team.

General manager Bob Gainey told Montreal radio station CJAD that the team made an offer to Kovalev last week, but the Russian winger took to long to consider the deal, forcing the Canadiens to go in another direction.

Kovalev spent four full seasons in Montreal, tallying 103 of his 394 career goals while a Canadien. The 36-year-old is likely the biggest name left among the free-agent forwards, along with 34-year-old former Montreal teammate Saku Koivu.

As for Montreal, they moved on pretty effectively with the signings of Cammalleri and Gionta, along with the trade for former Ranger Scott Gomez.

Kovalev struggled under the weight of expectations this past season, but that could be said for the entire team, which barely made the playoffs and was decisively swept out by Boston.

Gainey better hope Gomez doesn't suffer a similar failure while playing under the intense pressure that comes with being part of the Canadiens franchise.

Canadiens Will Not Re-Sign Kovalev originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marian Gaborik Signs With Rangers

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, Wild, Eastern, Western

When Marian Gaborik turned down a ten-year, $78 million offer from the Wild last summer, it was clearly not just about the money.

After all, a $7.8 million annual average was about as much as he could possibly hope to earn, especially if he got a ten-year deal. Instead, this was about a fresh start for Gaborik. That fresh start will happen in New York, after Gaborik agreed to a five-year deal with the Rangers Wednesday evening.

The deal won't give Gaborik the $7.8 million annual average, or the $78 million overall value, that the Wild offer would have netted him.

However, it gets him under the big-city lights of New York, playing for a Ranger team desperately seeking a star, and it gets him -- according to the TSN report -- $7.5 million per year.

Gaborik was injured for much of the 2008-2009 season, but came on late in the year to end with 13 goals and 23 points. The 42 goals and 83 points he had the year before represent career highs in both categories. While Gaborik struggled in the 2008 playoffs against Colorado, he was great for the Wild in their run to the Western Conference Finals back in 2003.

If he's healthy, there's no question Gaborik can be a difference-maker for the Rangers. The groin issues he's had in the past create serious question marks, and it's always different when you move from a place like Minnesota to New York.

This deal probably leaves Dany Heatley with Ottawa, unless he changes his mind and approves a deal to Edmonton (assuming, of course, that Edmonton still wants him).

Marian Gaborik Signs With Rangers originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mattias Ohlund Signs With Lightning

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Canucks, Lightning, Eastern, Western, NHL Free Agency

Just mere minutes after the NHL free agency period started Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning jumped in the pool.

Looking for a veteran defenseman to help tutor rookie Victor Hedman, the second overall pick in the NHL Draft last weekend, the Lightning apparently found their target quite quickly. They had to head all the way to Vancouver to do it, but they have signed Mattias Ohlund away from the Canucks, according to multiple reports.

USA Today's Kevin Allen was first to break the news, as he reported a deal was one on his Twitter feed. From there, we got word from TSN's Bob McKenzie that Ohlund is being paid quite handsomely to move from the west coast of North America to the west coast of Florida.

McKenzie says Ohlund got a seven-year deal worth $3.75 million annually.

Yes, the Lightning just gave a 33-year-old defenseman a seven-year deal.

With the salary cap expected to fall next year, this kind of deal actually makes some sense. Ohlund is likely to make more than $3.75 million in the first few years of the contract. While the cap hit is stretched out over seven years, the team's out-of-pocket expense will probably fall in the last couple years of the deal.

Of course, the Lightning may very well regret this when they're stuck with a $3.75 million cap hit for a 39- or 40-year-old.

Hilariously, all of this comes after general manager Brian Lawton told Erik Erlendsson that the team would be cautious in free agency. If by "cautious," Lawton meant "insane," then he was absolutely right.

Mattias Ohlund Signs With Lightning originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL Free Agency Live Chat

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eastern, Western, NHL Free Agency, NHL Live Blogging

When the noon hour hits in the Eastern time zone on Wednesday, veteran NHL players whose contracts have expired will be able to sift through offers and pick a new (or old) team to play for. While some big deals have already happened, there are still some very talented free agents for teams to pick from. Join NHL FanHouse NOW, as we set up what you can expect when the free agents are turned loose.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=29e7578586" &amp;amp;gt;NHL Free Agency Preview&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

NHL Free Agency Live Chat originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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