NHL FanHouse

Nikita Filatov Trade Could Bring Bounty For Blue Jackets

Christopher Botta — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST

The Columbus Blue Jackets drafted a super-skilled freelancing forward a year ago and are now wondering why he's not developing into Jere Lehtinen. So on Tuesday, Nikita Filatov took his sticks and went home to Russia and the KHL -- as the Blue Jackets always knew he could.

Now the big question is, where do the Blue Jackets and their "prized" prospect go from here?

Columbus can continue to live in denial and hope Filatov and head coach Ken Hitchcock meet in the middle next season. (No doubt Hitch will have to design that play). Or they can deal with reality.

The Blue Jackets will likely listen to offers for Filatov between the end of the holiday transaction moratorium and the trade deadline on March 3. Think of the package of veterans general manager Scott Howson might be able to acquire to help put his team over the top. One forward and one defenseman to excel in Hitchcock's system could place Columbus in the top tier of the Western Conference.

It was only five months ago The Hockey News ranked Filatov as the top prospect in the game. While this latest saga does not upgrade his reputation among old school hockey executives -- the kind of guys who'd rather have a grinder from Saskatoon than a 40-goal scorer from Moscow -- don't think for a second that Filatov has been written off as a bust.

As an 18-year-old living on his own last year as a minor leaguer in Syracuse, Filatov had 16 goals and 16 assists in just 39 games with the Crunch. He was one of the standout players with bronze medalist Russia at last year's World Junior Championships. The most intriguing aspect of his trip home is that he'll get to prove himself all over again against players his age at this year's WJC. The better Filatov performs, the more the Blue Jackets' price increases.

And they will trade him. It's just a matter of time. If they don't get equal value before March 3, maybe Filatov will play more games for Columbus next season before everyone realizes there's no turning back. But his best value figures to be in the aftermath of the WJC.

There are no villains in this story, perhaps only mis-managers. Hitchcock has been the best thing to happen to the Blue Jackets organization since it opened shop. It just so happened he was the worst possible fit for Filatov. When you consider what Hitchcock has accomplished in the game -- 1,000 games coached and counting -- and how he helped developed champions in Dallas after introducing them to the defensive side of the ice, no one is blaming him. Filatov, without question, has some growing up to do. He's 19 years old.

When Filatov was learning the North American game in Syracuse last winter, I asked Hitchcock about his young student. "Nik's one of those players who come around maybe once every 10 years," said the coach. "He's a gifted, gifted player. If you give him an opportunity, he's going to score every time. How many guys do you know that can score from the top of the circles?"

I remember thinking at the time that Hitchcock so lathered on the praise, it sounded like advertising. A year later, Filatov is back in Russia and the Blue Jackets are forced to consider dealing him. If they wait too long, they could have another Nik Zherdev situation. If they play this right, they can move off their failed gamble at sixth overall in 2008 and become a much better team in the next three months.

Let the bidding begin.

Nikita Filatov Trade Could Bring Bounty For Blue Jackets originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amidst the Trade Rumors, Martin Biron Smiles and Stops Pucks

Christopher Botta — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, NHL Rumors

As if being a goalie in the National Hockey League is not difficult enough. As if 6-3 power forwards standing in front of you on power plays is not enough of a distraction.

From now until the day he is dealt -- and he almost definitely will before the March 3 deadline -- Martin Biron is going to hear his name in trade rumors. This is what happens when you're on a one-year contract at a very reasonable $1.4 million. This is what happens when your team has an established No. 1 goalie (Dwayne Roloson) under contract through 2010-2011 and their best netminder (Rick DiPietro) in the fold for another eleven years. This is also what happens when you're low-maintenance, talented, accomplished and respected.

The Islanders goaltender gets the media thing, the rumor game. He's even done some guest commentating himself for TSN. Most vital of all, the Quebec native is equipped with a sense of humor and perspective.

"I hear the rumors like everyone else that there has been some interest," Biron told FanHouse Monday, "and the way I view it is, heck, that's definitely better than nobody wanting me."

"My first choice would be here, with the Islanders, because they gave me this opportunity when not too many teams were knocking on the door. You want to be in the playoffs. That's where you make your name."
-- Martin Biron on His Uncertain Future The former goalie with Buffalo and Philadelphia knew what he was getting into when he signed the one-year deal with the Islanders on July 22. He led the Flyers to the conference final in the first of two strong seasons in Philadelphia and was in search of a long-term deal when the unrestricted free agent market opened on July 1. When the game of goaltender musical chairs ended, Biron was the one goalie without a place to settle down.

The 32-year-old was grateful when Islanders GM Garth Snow extended the one-year offer with no promises other than a fair chance to battle Roloson for starts. "I was fortunate," said Biron. "There was a point in the summer when I didn't know if I'd have a team. I would have signed up for 25 games in the NHL at that point. We're only a month into this season and I've already played nine. So yes, I'm thankful."

He gets along well with Roloson, a former teammate in Buffalo. He supports DiPietro, who could return to NHL by mid-December. "Of course I'm rooting for Ricky to be fully healthy again," said Biron. "He's a teammate, a friend and a really good goalie." He's optimistic about the Islanders' recent 4-0-2 stretch that has them at .500 (6-6-5) and believing. "Do I think this team will compete for a playoff spot? Yes, I do," said the goalie with the 2.83 GAA and .920 save percentage.

The jovial, glass-is-always-half-full Biron only has one trouble: he dearly misses his family. With the likelihood of only one year on Long Island -- it could last less than six months -- Biron and his wife Anne Marie decided the family should stay in their home in Buffalo. The Birons have three children: a 5-year-old boy, and girls ages 3 and 1. Anne Marie, a Buffalo native with family nearby, is expecting their fourth child.

"We have our home in Buffalo and have not yet sold our house outside Philadelphia," said Biron. "Of course, if I signed somewhere for three or four years, we would have moved together. But with the one-year deal and all the uncertainty, the decision was for our children to stay in Buffalo. I should focus on hockey and do the best I could to help the Islanders win and put myself in position to earn a contract with security -- whether it's here or somewhere else down the line."

Biron knows the best avenue to a long-term deal is as the No. 1 goaltender on a playoff team. While he does not rule out scenarios in which he stays an Islander -- "anything can happen in this business and I really love it here," he says -- he knows teams are watching.

The Detroit Red Wings could make a move for him. Montreal needs help in goal, and Biron was not only raised in Quebec but seems born to be a Canadien. A return to Buffalo -- where he received an enormous ovation when he subbed for Roloson mid-game two weeks ago -- is a possibility. So is Philadelphia. A serious injury to any of the 65-game goalies around the NHL could change everything in an instant. At a pro-rated $1.4 million, Biron is a bargain.

His only wish? "I hope to get to play and play in the playoffs," said Biron, who led the Flyers to a conference final two years ago. "My first choice would be here, with the Islanders, because they gave me this opportunity when not too many teams were knocking on the door. You want to be in the playoffs. That's where you make your name."

For now, he smiles at the daily cracks of "Where's Marty going to go today"? He knows the rumors will likely continue for another three or four months.

"I'm a sports fan, I understand all the talk," said Biron. "I could write a blog about all this."

Amidst the Trade Rumors, Martin Biron Smiles and Stops Pucks originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seat Already Warm for Some Coaches

Kevin Schultz — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:21:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Rumors, NHL Coaching

The NHL season is almost upon us. That means the weather is getting colder, leaves are falling off trees and coaches are ever closer to getting the proverbial axe. Last year, it took only four games for the Chicago Blackhawks to fire Dennis Savard. The Penguins let Michel Therrien go with 25 games left in the season and it was just what the doctor ordered. The team went 18-3-4 under Dan Bylsma the rest of the season on their way to a Stanley Cup victory. Here, I'll be taking a look at the coaches most likely to end up like Savard -- coaches who are starting the season on the hot seat.

NHL FanHouse Season Preview:
Season Predictions | Other Predictions
Hot Seat Coaches | Coaches in Waiting
Ray Shero Discusses Life After the Stanley Cup
The John Tavares Handbook

Rick Tocchet, Tampa Bay (19-33-14): Tocchet is the obvious choice to start this list off with. He replaced Barry Melrose on Nov. 15 and the circus ... er ... team continued to struggle under his watch. With owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie still at the helm anything is possible, heck probable, especially considering the feud the two owners are involved in. Hey, at the circus anything goes. If the Lightning struggle out of the gate, don't be surprised if Tocchet is looking for a new job come November.

Joel Quenneville, Chicago (45-22-11): The Chicago Blackhawks had a rough offseason, thanks to their star player punching a cabbie, their former GM Dave Tallon almost botching qualifying offers to their RFAs and then his getting fired in a sketchy manner anyway. The team has added a few big names this offseason, among them Marian Hossa and John Madden, and this year could be the team's best opportunity at a title. After this season Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith become RFAs and will likely take up a much, much larger chunk of the team's cap space. If the Hawks don't contend for the division in the first half -- in addition to the fact that Quenneville is now under new management (GM Stan Bowman) -- look for the Hawks to make a move and shake up the locker room. Considering the Pens did it and went on to win the Cup, I wouldn't be surprised to see a few copycats out there.

John Stevens, Philadelphia (107-98-33): Stevens has had a solid team for a few seasons now and has had a good share of regular season success, finishing fifth and sixth in the conference the last two seasons. However, the Flyers have been bounced in the playoffs by the Penguins both times. After the additions of Chris Pronger and Ray Emery not to mention a possibly healthy Simon Gagne (although that's asking a lot), Stevens could be in a similar situation as Quenneville. If things aren't going as planned, the Flyers may look for someone to shake things up for the stretch run.

John Anderson, Atlanta (35-41-6): Does anyone outside of Atlanta remember that the Thrashers won the Southeast in 2006-07? Probably not because they got swept by the Rangers in the playoffs that year and have yet to recover. They finished at the bottom of the conference the last two years and one has to think that GM Don Waddell should be out sometime soon. Anderson was not very successful in his first season in Atlanta and is now facing a big season as Ilya Kovalchuk will be unrestricted at year's end. If Kovy isn't re-signed -- which looks doubtful -- Waddell and Anderson could be on the outs.

Andy Murray, St. Louis (101-85-32): The Blues made the playoffs for the first time post-lockout last year. Under Murray's leadership they finished the year 9-1-1 to sneak in the backdoor of the playoffs and likely save Murray's job. However, they proceeded to get swept by Vancouver in four games. If Murray can't find the magic the team had to finish last year, he could go.

Jacques Lemaire, New Jersey (0-0-0): Lemaire is one of the least likely candidates to get fired this season but as long as Lou Lamoriello is in charge in New Jersey, I'm obligated to put the Devils' head coach on this list.

Honorable Mentions: Ken Hitchcock, Columbus; Terry Murray, Los Angeles.

Many times the coach that gets fired first is the one whose team gets off to the worst start. For what it's worth, my pick in that regard is Rick Tocchet in Tampa Bay. Chances are, there will be a surprise firing or two before Christmas. But here are a few folks who I think are rock solid and not going anywhere this season:

Randy Carlyle, Anaheim
Paul Maurice, Carolina
Scott Gordon, Islanders
Todd McLellan, San Jose
Ron Wilson, Toronto

Seat Already Warm for Some Coaches originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patrick Marleau, Doug Wilson Talk About False Trade Report

Susan Slusser — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Senators, Sharks, NHL Rumors

SAN JOSE -- Patrick Marleau doesn't always pay attention to trade rumors, but Thursday night's report on ESPN that he'd been traded to the Kings was a little different because his phone started ringing non-stop.

Marleau, the Sharks' all-time leading scorer, knew there was no three-way deal with San Jose, Ottawa and Los Angeles. He has a no-trade clause and no one had asked him to waive it.

"When I know something, you'll know something," he told reporters at the Sharks' practice facility on Friday morning, adding of trade rumors in general, "That's just something for people to write about or make up. I don't worry about it. I just have to worry about getting ready for camp."

Marleau has been the subject of trade speculation much of the summer in the wake of San Jose's first-round flop to the the eighth-seeded Ducks. When the NHL's best team in the regular season bowed out so quickly, there was immediate speculation that the Sharks would make some major moves. Then GM Doug Wilson moved Brad Lukowich and Christian Ehrhoff late last month, creating more salary cap flexibility, and the rumors about very available Ottawa wing Dany Heatley sprang to life again.

Wilson was none too pleased with ESPN's false report, which he immediately denied on Thursday night, calling it "complete bull."

On Friday morning, when asked by FanHouse if the Sharks had been involved in talks of any substances with any other clubs, Wilson said, "We take every call from every team. That's the way we do business. ... When we find something that fits for us, we do it. Out of respect for the parties involved, what happened yesterday is not the way we do business."

Wilson has a strict policy of not discussing other teams' players in the media, and of course there are rules about that which were put in place to guard against tampering. But beyond that, Wilson feels a responsibility not to break his trust with his players. Unless and until the Sharks finalize a deal and announce it, he's not going to toss around names. It's a confidential process, he said.

He did note that the team is now in a position to be more flexible if an opportunity should arise, but he doesn't make a habit of denying each and every rumor that comes down the pike as a result. He felt he had to on Thursday night, considering the trade - which ESPN reported would send Alexander Frolov and Jarret Stoll to Ottawa along with Heatley to San Jose and Marleau to L.A. - was being characterized as completed.

Earlier in the day Thursday, this space had speculated about the possibility of the Sharks acquiring Heatley and sending Marleau to Los Angeles; Marleau, whose wife is from San Jose, might be more amenable to Los Angeles than to some other spots, while San Jose's assistant GM, Wayne Thomas, is friendly with the Heatley family and played with Heatley's father, Murray, at Wisconsin.

Wilson reiterated Friday that he has not asked Marleau to waive his no-trade clause, and Marleau confirmed that.

Asked if he believes he'll be in San Jose to start the season, Marleau said, "I'm planning on it. I'll take it one day at a time."

Marleau's teammates are all well aware of the rumors this summer and particularly on Thursday night.

"Paddy's been in 18 different trades," Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle said with a smile. "Last night, I turned on ESPN and sure enough, he was going to L.A. I called him and his wife said it's not true.

"We expect him to be here when the season starts. Obviously, he's a great player, he had a great season last year, and if he's here, great. If not, there's a good player coming in. We'll see. He's a great guy and we'd love to have him around."

Patrick Marleau, Doug Wilson Talk About False Trade Report originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Theo Fleury Cleared to Return to NHL

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, NHL Free Agency, NHL Rumors, Team Canada

The NHL could be home to quite the comeback story this season.

Longtime star forward Theo Fleury faded away a few years back, thanks in part to a track record of substance abuse that led to his suspension from the NHL. Recently, word got out that Fleury wanted to play again. Now, the 41-year-old, who played in 455 games over his NHL career and took part in eight international competitions as a member of Team Canada, has been cleared by the NHL to come back.

TSN's Darren Dreger got reaction from Fleury.

"Just to get to this point in my life, to even be considered for reinstatement is a miracle," Fleury told TSN.

"To go through what I went through, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I didn't at least try."

Now comes the hard part. He has to find a team to play for.

Fleury told Dreger that teams are interested, but he wouldn't identify them. Since he lives in Calgary, and had a prosperous career with the Flames, it makes sense to suggest that a forward-thin Calgary team would take a flier on Fleury, who is bound not to cost too much money if he can make an NHL team.

Someone of Fleury's experience -- if he can skate and play at a high level -- could be valuable to a younger team like Edmonton or Los Angeles. He could also fill a role with San Jose, who had two aged veterans -- Jeremy Roenick and Claude Lemieux -- on the roster.

For Fleury, the story of his recovery (chronicled in a book due out next month) is worth noting, no matter how his comeback attempt fares. If he can find a team and make an NHL roster, it becomes all the more significant.

Theo Fleury Cleared to Return to NHL originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharks, Heatley Rumblings Increasing

Susan Slusser — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Senators, Sharks, NHL Rumors

The San Jose Sharks are often linked to Dany Heatley, like many other teams this offseason, but the latest whispers out of San Jose are that this time, something might happen.

No one is denying anything, and while that doesn't guaranteed a deal is struck, it makes it highly likely that talks are ongoing.

California teams are thought to rank highly on Heatley's list when it comes to his trade demand, plus Sharks assistant general manager Wayne Thomas was teammates with Heatley's father, Murray, at Wisconsin, and he is close to the Heatley family.

The Sharks could use Heatley -- not many teams would say no to a top goal-scorer -- but even more so, the team probably would welcome a means to move Patrick Marleau, most likely to Los Angeles.

Marleau, recently stripped of his captaincy, has a no-trade clause, but because his wife is from San Jose, he might be more amenable to staying within the state rather than going to one of the other rumored destinations this summer, such as Montreal or New Jersey.

When I spoke to Sharks GM Doug Wilson on Monday at the team's rookie game against Anaheim, Wilson said he hadn't asked Marleau to waive the no-trade this summer. It's possible that wouldn't be broached until a trade is solidly in place first; why ask someone to waive the no-trade for something that ends up falling through?

It's also possible that the topic has come up unofficially at some point. Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov, for instance, recently told the San Jose Mercury News that he would waive his no-trade clause if the Sharks ever asked him to, because he wouldn't want to play for a team that doesn't want him. (So why have the no-trade clause in the first place? Just add a big bonus in the event of a trade.)

There was speculation when the Sharks moved Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich to Vancouver that the salary cap space was being cleared in the event of a Heatley deal. When I talked to Wilson on Monday, I asked if the current team was the one the Sharks would go into training camp with and he responded by saying that there might be deals right up until March 3.

Something is afoot in San Jose. It now seems as if there is a very real chance of seeing Dany Heatley in teal this season, and that Marleau will move on after failing to take the league's top regular-season team beyond the first round last April. File this one under Definite Maybe.

Sharks, Heatley Rumblings Increasing originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:15:00 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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'The Monster' Impressive In Debut; Kessel to Leafs Rumors

Adam Gretz — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Maple Leafs, NHL Fans, NHL Fights, NHL Rumors

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our daily look at the previous night's action. During the offseason, it's our occasional link dump that looks at some of the storylines and moves taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

One of the most intriguing moves made by the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason was the addition of free agent goaltender Jonas Gustavsson. On Sunday, the Swedish prospect, nicknamed "The Monster," made his first appearance for the Maple Leafs in the 2009 rookie tournament and stopped 35-of-36 shots in a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. According to Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun, Gustavsson "looked steady, if not spectacular," and flashed a quick glove hand on an Eric Tangradi shot. Sportsnet referred to him as being "nearly unbeatable" as the Penguins peppered him with shots during the second and third periods.

... Also noteworthy from the Penguins-Maple Leafs rookie game? The first fights of the season including a bout between Richard Greenop and Ryan Schnell, and a fight involving Alex Berry and Zack Sill. Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski describes the two bouts as only he can: "Seeing a prospect hockey fight on Labor Day is like hearing a roadie play the first few notes of a classic song during a sound check: Technically unrefined, but just enough to make you crave the real thing." [Puck Daddy]

... Sticking with Toronto for a moment, a seemingly innocent trade involving the Maple Leafs and Blackhawks on Saturday has led to speculation that Brian Burke could be plotting a move to acquire Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins, something he reportedly tried to during the NHL draft back in June. On Saturday, the Leafs reacquired their own second-round pick in the 2010 draft from Chicago, which would give Burke the required draft picks to sign Kessel, a restricted free agent, away from Boston. From Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe:

If Burke were to hand Kessel something around $4.5 million a year or more via an offer sheet, then the Bruins would have to match the deal or take the compensation that would include first-, second-, and third-round picks. Until his deal yesterday, Burke didn't have the necessary draft picks to be in position to make Kessel an offer.

... Finally, for some non-Leafs related news, check out the new paint job for Nikolai Khabibulin's mask. [The Goalie Guild]

'The Monster' Impressive In Debut; Kessel to Leafs Rumors originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dany Heatley Breaks Silence, Talks About Trade Demands

Adam Gretz — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, Senators, NHL Rumors

Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley finally broke his silence and spoke on a conference call about his trade demands from his home on Friday afternoon. The basic gist of his demands: it's a hockey decision and has nothing to do with his contract, the coaching staff or the fans in Ottawa. He also stated -- multiple times -- that he never wanted the demand to go public, and that he still wishes to be dealt from the Senators.

After the jump, some highlights from the two-time 50-goal scorers conference call on why he asked for a trade and why he rejected a trade that would have sent him to Edmonton.

On when he decided to ask for a trade:

"It's not something that I woke up one day and was in my bed and said I was ready to ask for a trade," said Heatley. "I think it was brewing, and something I thought of privately for a long time. I waited until after the season to, you know, just really be sure. I really thought about it at that time, and I think in the middle of May we verbally communicated to the Senators that I'd like to be traded."

On turning down a trade to Edmonton:

"It has nothing to do with Edmonton personally. When we asked for a trade and started to talk to Ottawa about the trade we wanted to go about it together. We wanted some options. And to this date there has only been one option. At the time the one option was Edmonton, and I just wasn't ready to make a decision at that time."

He also added that Edmonton is a great hockey city and that "it has nothing to do with the city of Edmonton."

On speculation about head coach Cory Clouston being the reason for the trade demand:

"I think the main reason is definitely not Cory solely, I think the main reason for me is when I signed In Ottawa two years ago, I was supposed to be an integral part of the team. I think over the last two years, and more recently over the past year, I feel that my role has diminished. Especially this past season I think it diminished a lot more. And again, it's something that I've been thinking about for a long time. Again, Diminished role is the biggest thing. I feel that I'm a player that can play in a lot of different situations. I'm an offensive guy, but I do take pride in all aspects of the game and I don't feel that I was given that role on the team."

On waiting so long to speak and what he owed the fans in Ottawa:

"I really think, first of all, I love the fans In Ottawa. I think it's a great city. That's why I signed long-term there. The reason I didn't speak until now is simply because there's a process that has to take place. In all fairness to Ottawa and the other teams involved, I didn't feel it was necessary or purposeful to come out publicly and create more of a circus than it already was. It's unfortunate again that it became public. That's not what I wanted. The main reason is to just not complicate things and out of respect to the teams involved."

On why Edmonton is not an option and his perception among Canadian hockey fans:

"I know hockey fans in Canada are passionate. I love that about Canadian hockey fans, I love playing for Canada, I love playing in Canada. It has nothing to do with Edmonton, it has everything to do with the options. That's the bottom line. To this day there has only been one option, and I know there's other teams out there."

Pressed on the Edmonton Issue again:

"Again, because it's the only option. I don't feel I can make the right decision until there are a few options and I can make the proper decisions for myself and my career."

Reporter: "so they were never really an option then?"

"They were not on our initial list of teams that I gave the Senators to talk to. When that trade came up it came as a big surprise and I wasn't ready at that time, nor am I now, to make that decision."

On what happens at training camp if no trade is made:

"I'll be in camp if I'm still a Senator and I'll be ready to go."

That question came from Don Brennan and it also included him asking whether or not Heatley would be willing to turn in the Assistant Captain's 'A'. Heatley did not address that aspect of the question.

Outside of a brief flirtation with San Jose a couple of weeks ago, the rumor mill has been completely silent, and it's looking like him opening training camp with the Senators is a pretty good possibility. Especially since he seems to have no desire to even entertain the idea of playing in Edmonton. Should be an interesting season if he's still sporting the red and black when the puck drops in October.

Dany Heatley Breaks Silence, Talks About Trade Demands originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coping With the Offseason: Tall Tales and Mirages of August

Kevin Schultz — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Coyotes, NHL Rumors

The temperature was over 90 degrees here on Long Island for the second day in a row. So, about two months late, summer has finally arrived in my neck of the woods. Glad to see that it could take the time to finally stop by. But along with the heat comes a weird time in the hockey news cycle. Basically, anything and everything is a story. Alright, so the Patrick Kane twenty-cent-cabbie-punch thing is a pretty big deal, even if he ends up getting acquitted. But other than that the hockey media -- myself included -- is really just grasping at straws to write about which reminds me, has training camp started yet?

Let's start with Theo Fleury. It's all well and good that the 41-year old with a long history of off-ice issues that derailed an otherwise successful career is trying to give it another go. You can't hate on a guy for giving it a shot. But let's realize the hurdles that Fleury left for himself to jump.

First and foremost, he's 41 and hasn't played in the NHL since 2003. Getting back into game shape is one battle. Another is the indefinite suspension that current hangs over his head after violating the NHL's substance abuse policy. So he's got to get a pass from the commissioner before he can suit up for anyone, which leads us to the next issue -- actually getting a chance to play for an NHL team.

But to be honest, I do wish Fleury the best. When he was at his best he was one of the most exciting players in the league to watch. He's just got a heck of a hill to climb. Earlier this year 41-year old Claude Lemieux made a comeback to play about 10 minutes a night down the stretch for the Sharks. The word on the street was that Lemieux had always kept himself in great shape. So that's the kind of odds Fleury is up against. Not insurmountable, but very, very tough not including the suspension. The reality of it is that it's likely more a summer dream than anything that will become a reality during the winter

Then there is the tale involving a young Blackhawk in Buffalo. Being that it's a matter of the law -- I am no lawyer -- and it's a matter of an altercation in a cab at 4 AM (a cab I was not in), I can't say who's telling the truth here. But sometimes -- and hear me out on this one -- folks in the media can blow things out of proportion a bit. However, athletes are prone to making the same mistakes that us regular folks are, so who knows. Either way, it's another black eye the Hawks don't need after the cloud of smoke that surrounded Dave Tallon's dismissal earlier in the summer.

And then there is the most interesting tall tale of them all this summer. The soap opera that is the Phoenix Coyotes. In the latest installments Jim Balsillie tries to probe the NHL owner's unanimous rejection of his bid (good luck with that one) and Jerry Reinsdorf claims to have an agreement with the Coyotes' second largest debtor who, in fact, is not Wayne Gretzky nor Shane Doan. So the big ball of crazy in the desert keeps on rolling and we're still no more sure about where it's all going than we were last week or last month. But hey, it sure is something to talk about, huh? And those distant dreams of another Canadian team aren't that bad, either.

So there you have it: bizarre arrests, longshot comeback stories and bankruptcy court ownership battles. Those are the hottest hockey stories in mid-August. They all leave me with the same question in mind; "Is it time for hockey season yet?"

Coping With the Offseason: Tall Tales and Mirages of August originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Theo Fleury Wants to Play

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Rangers, NHL Rumors

Despite only being five-foot-six, forward Theo Fleury created a plethora of highlights over a stellar NHL playing career.

Unfortunately, that career was cut short. In 2003, he was suspended indefinitely by the NHL, unable to recover from a long history of substance abuse. Since he was in his mid-30s, it was assumed he would fade away and never play in the NHL again.

Fleury has other ideas. TSN's Darren Dreger reports Fleury is attempting a comeback.

After playing senior hockey last season, Fleury decided in February he was fit enough to give the NHL another try, so he hired a personal trainer and has been working diligently since.

Those close to him say he didn't leave the National Hockey League the way he wanted, which is fueling his desire to return.

The 41-year-old has been sober for almost four years and has been skating daily in Calgary in the hope that an NHL team is willing to invite him to training camp.

Because of the indefinite suspension, Fleury will have to work with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on his comeback effort.

Fleury was a fixture in the NHL, as well as international play. He represented Canada eight times in competitions over his career, including two Olympics and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

While he has 455 NHL regular-season goals to his credit, his most famous tally happened during a 1991 playoff series against Edmonton. In Game 6, Fleury's Flames were trying to force a deciding game, and their game in Edmonton went into overtime.

Back in Calgary, Edmonton would take the seventh game in overtime, 5-4.

Report: Theo Fleury Wants to Play originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Dany Heatley Rumors; What Will Rangers Do With Zherdev?

Adam Gretz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rangers, Senators, Sharks, NHL Rumors

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our daily look at the previous night's action. During the offseason, we'll look at some of the storylines and moves taking place around the league three times per week. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

The Heatley Rumor Mill Continues To Spin

The Edmonton Oilers have finally given up on the idea that disgruntled Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley will waive his no-trade clause to play for their team, and with that comes the rumor of a potential deal involving the Senators, San Jose Sharks and Montreal Candiens.

Joe Thornton feeding passes to Dany Heatley? Yes, please.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun started the rumor mill this weekend, and quotes Senators general manager Bryan Murray as saying, via e-mail, that he has "an option" to finally move Heatley. Assuming this actually happens, the question then becomes: will Heatley accept the trade this time around?

Nikolai Zherdev Gets $3.9 Million In Arbitration

Newsday's Steve Zipay reported on Sunday night that Rangers forward Nikolai Zherdev was awarded just under $4 million ($3.9 million, to be exact) in his arbitration hearing; slightly more than the Rangers offered him, slightly less than what Zherdev asked for. The Rangers must now decide if they want pay him, dump him, or trade him. Zipay feels a trade could be in order to any number of Western Conference teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, where former Rangers coach, Tom Renney, is currently an assistant. Oilers blog Lowetide takes it upon itself to offer up Dustin Penner for Zherdev.

Loose Pucks

... Blue Shirt Banter counts down the Top-10 Jerseys of all time. A nice mix of original six teams (Montreal, Rangers, Blackhawks) and now-defunct NHL franchises (the Cleveland Barons!).

... Puck Daddy's Sean Leahy asks if Ilya Kovalchuk will stay in Atlanta.

... Jiri Hudler still plans on playing in Russia this season.

More Dany Heatley Rumors; What Will Rangers Do With Zherdev? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Offseason Roadmap: Pacific Division

Adam Gretz — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Free Agency, NHL Rumors

It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Pacific Division.

San Jose saw its Presidents' Trophy campaign come to a surprising end in the first round of the NHL playoffs, Los Angeles is still the perfect spot for Dany Heatley, and is there any hope for success on the ice in Phoenix?

San Jose Sharks. The best regular season in franchise history ended with disappointment, once again, as the Sharks were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the No. 8 seed Anaheim Ducks. Heading into the offseason, San Jose has $46 million committed to 13 players for 2009-10, while the key free agents include veterans Rob Blake, Jeremy Roenick (still deciding if he's going to play or not), Mike Grier, Travis Moen, and Claude Lemieux. Obviously, not any of the core players.

Ryane Clowe is headed to restricted free agency for the first time, while reports surfaced prior to the draft that the Sharks were actively shopping the 26-year-old forward. Could Jonathan Cheechoo be available as well? The one-time 50-goal scorer has seen his production drop, across the board, for a third consecutive season and the Sharks are currently on the hook for a $3 million cap hit the next two years.

Anaheim Ducks. Perhaps one of the strongest No. 8 seeds we've seen in quite some time, the Ducks, after sneaking into the postseason with 91 points, managed to eliminate division rival San Jose, and then push the defending champion (and eventual Stanley Cup runner up) Red Wings to a seventh game. Second-year goaltender Jonas Hiller burst onto the scene with a strong regular season performance, and essentially stood on his head during the postseason, registering a .943 save percentage, leading all playoff goaltenders by a rather sizable margin. In the process, he made Jean-Sebastien Giguere a $6 million backup.

The biggest free agent is probably defenseman Francois Beauchemin, while veteran Chris Pronger is entering the final year of his deal making Ryan Whitney the future of the Ducks' blueline.

There's also the annual waiting game with Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer.

Dallas Stars. What a bizarre season in Dallas. The Stars stumbled out of the gate, Sean Avery cracked a few jokes, the NHL -- and the Stars -- banished him because of it, things started to turn around, and then in late February everything just sort of fell apart as they lost 18 of their final 25 games, missing the playoffs for the first time in five years.

The Stars' cap situation is looking relatively solid, as the team has $40 million committed to 17 players for next season, though, the team's budget may not allow them to spend anywhear near the cap.

Meanwhile, long-time Stars Jere Lehtinen and Sergei Zubov are headed to free agency and first-year general manager Joe Nieuwendyk has said he plans to speak to their agents and get an idea of what it will take to keep them. Unfortunately, bringing them back might just be a case of holding onto the past, as Lehtinen has played just 48 games in each of the past two seasons, while Zubov, now 38, has played just 56 games combined. Great careers, but it might be time to go in your seperate directions.

Goaltender Marty Turco is entering the final year of his contract -- and coming off the worst season of his career -- while the Stars have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Swedish prospect Jonas Gustavsson.

Still, the biggest offseason additions for the Stars will come from within as they'll be getting forwards Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards back from injury. Morrow played just 18 games for the Stars in 2008, while Richards missed nearly 30 games with a wrist injury and a broken hand (suffered in his first game back from the wrist injury).

Los Angeles Kings. The Kings are loaded with young talent, have plenty of cap space, and could use a big-time offseason addition to return to relevance in the Western Conference. We've already been over it, and this could make the entire offseason for Los Angeles, but it's the perfect team to make a legitimate offer for disgruntled Senators forward Dany Heatley.

Jonathan Quick played well for the Kings in his first real taste of NHL action, posting a .914 save percentage in 41 starts during the season. Los Angeles also has one of the top goaltender prospects in the NHL with 20-year-old Jonathan Bernier.

Phoenix Coyotes. And then there's the Coyotes. Everything associated with this team the past month has been centered around Jim Balsillie and where they're going to be playing in 2009-10, which is kind of a shame, because there's some intriguing talent in the desert. Phoenix made a big splash at last year's draft by acquiring Olli Jokinen from Florida, and the season never really went according to plan resulting in Jokinen being shipped to Calgary at the trade deadline.

Phoenix already started its offseason by moving free agent-to-be Steven Reinprecht to Florida in exchange for Stefan Meyer, while the Coyotes also re-signed Petr Prucha to a two-year deal. Off-ice problems aside, this really isn't a terrible team, at least in terms of young talent and potential: Kyle Turris, Peter Mueller, Mikkel Boedker, Viktor Tikhonov, Zbynek Michalek, and, of course, one of the most underrated players in the NHL, Shane Doan ... all they need now is a settled ownership situation and a head coach.

Offseason Roadmap: Pacific Division originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Flyers Will Play Bruins at Fenway

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Flyers, Eastern, NHL Rumors

It's not always a bad thing when a television network has too much influence over a sports league's schedule. Sometimes, doing things for the sake of ratings is good.

However, I'm pretty sure most hockey fans would agree it is not a good idea to pander to a television network when that network wants to avoid the two-time Hart Trophy winner. That appears to be what the NHL has done for NBC, and it involves the league's signature regular-season event, the Winter Classic.

A report out of The Daily Times (based in Delaware County, Penn.) says the Philadelphia Flyers have been chosen to play the Boston Bruins on New Year's Day 2010 at Fenway Park.

This is a defensible decision. The two teams aren't terribly far apart, have intense, loyal fanbases, and have played some tough games against one another over the years. There is plenty of tradition associated with each franchise.

However, this decision was not made for any of those reasons. As the Times article points out, it was made to give NBC what they wanted.

Despite springtime reports that the Flyers were out of the running as Boston's foe in the next outdoor game, they recently were brought back into the discussion by NBC, which will broadcast the contest.

The NHL lobbied to pit the Washington Capitals against the Bruins in an effort to showcase Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin and his exciting, young team.

However, sources say NBC trumped that decision, telling the NHL it wanted the Flyers instead of the Caps in order to draw a better television audience and increase advertising revenue.

This is illogical, right? How could the Flyers be more marketable on this stage than a two-time league MVP, widely recognized as one of the faces of the sport?

The answer can be found in the Nielsen ratings from the 2009 playoffs, according to Joe Haggerty.

Surprisingly the 1.4 rating for NBC's Game 1 between the Capitals/Penguins was 18% below the 1.7 that Penguins/Flyers Game 3 drew on the network just two weeks prior in the first round of the 2008-09 postseason.

A single Nielsen point is supposed to equal one percent of TV households, or about 1.15 million. Using that number, some simple math will tell you that NBC chose the Flyers over the Capitals over a difference of around 300,000 viewers. When you think about the fact that there are close to 115,000,000 television households in the country, this is a very petty decision by NBC.

It also stinks for a couple of reasons. For starters, this is an extremely small sample size. Using these ratings to imply that there is more national interest in the Flyers than there is in the Capitals is a terrible misuse of the Nielsen system. However, that appears to be what NBC is doing. After all, when you start fiddling with tenths of percentage points in a national survey, you're asking for trouble.

Second, it shows that the NHL is yielding too much power to a television partner that continues to not pay a rights fee to air the games. While it's very important for the NHL to have an over-the-air partner, they're getting whipped around by NBC, and they get virtually nothing but the exposure in return for it.

Were NBC paying hundreds of millions (or even tens of millions) of dollars for the broadcast rights, one could probably be more understanding of decisions like this one. Instead, we're left to scratch our heads.

Report: Flyers Will Play Bruins at Fenway originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: NHL Considering Additional Winter Classic in 2010?

Adam Gretz — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Rumors

The NHL has its fair share of critics for its overwhelming inability to successfully market its sport, and nine times out of 10, that criticism would be accurate (unfortunately). The one exception? The NHL's recent experiment with the Winter Classic, and it may be on the verge of screwing that up, as well.

After successfully selling out Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo and historic Wrigley Field in Chicago, reports are indicating that this year's game will take place at Fenway Park in Boston, though the league has yet to make an official announcement.

If we're to believe ESPN's E.J. Hradek, there could be a second outdoor game on January 1, 2010.

From Hradek:

The NHL is hoping to double down on the success of its Winter Classic by planning a second outdoor game for Jan. 1, 2010, according to multiple league sources. The back-end of the outdoor doubleheader would be hosted by the Flames in Calgary's McMahon Stadium, the site of the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1988 Winter Olympics. The opponent is unknown but figures to be one of the other five Canadian-based franchises.

There's no denying the success of the first two classics, not only in terms of ticket sales, but also in terms of television ratings, especially when you consider it's going up against the behemoth that is college football bowl games. The problem with a second game, however, is you run the risk of having the novelty of the event wear off. Once a year seems like the perfect number. Any more than that and it's possible it could become "just another game" on the schedule ... and no longer "a classic."

To this point, the league has played three regular season outdoor games, while the first was the Heritage Classic between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens in 2003. In 2007-08, the Penguins and Sabres played in Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium in front of 71,000 fans, while the Red Wings and Blackhawks packed Wrigley Field this past season.

I'm not against the idea of Calgary (or any Canadian city, for that matter) getting a crack at this year's game. Frankly, I like that idea better than Fenway Park. Not because I don't think Boston wouldn't respond well (because it most definitely would) but mainly because we've already done the classic baseball stadium theme (and please, for the love of all that is holy, no "Take Me Out to the Hockey Game" this time around).

At this point nothing is official, but please, NHL, let's not ruin a good thing.

Report: NHL Considering Additional Winter Classic in 2010? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who Should Want Dany Heatley? How About the Los Angeles Kings

Adam Gretz — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Senators, NHL Fans, NHL Rumors

Word surfaced earlier this week that Ottawa Senators forward, and two-time 50-goal scorer, Dany Heatley requested a trade after four seasons in Canada's capital city.

The news has resulted in a firestorm of debate and commentary across the Canadian media, including a rather scathing article by Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun that goes as far as to compare Heatley to another former Senators forward, Alexei Yashin. Harsh. And it's unfortunate, for Ottawa's sake anyway, that Mike Milbury is no longer in charge of running an NHL team into the ground. Think of the possibilities!

Brennan continued:

Anyway, the Senators are better off without him. Heatley doesn't have the spine to fight through the checking done by the Penguins and Wings these days. Anyone who has watched him play can see he doesn't have the jam or desire to excel in the Stanley Cup final.

I don't know, Heatley may very well be the malcontent softy that Brennan paints him to be (or it could just be an over-the-top case of sour grapes) but you're going to have an awfully hard time convincing me that a team, like Ottawa, coming off a season where it ranked 23rd in the NHL in goals is going to somehow be magically better without a 50-goal scorer -- its leading goal-scorer this season -- and a guy that can still light the lamp 39 times (tied for ninth most in the NHL) in a "down year." Especially when said team has absolutely no secondary scoring to speak of. And bringing up his trade request in Atlanta, like Brennan did, seems incredibly unfair considering the circumstances surrounding his exit from the Thrashers, something James Gordon of the Hockey Capital blog mentioned on Thursday when writing about how fans in Ottawa will react to Heatley's most recent request.

As for not having the "jam or desire to excel in the Stanley Cup final," Heatley is a career point-per-game player (35 points, 34 games) in his postseason career, including 22 points in 20 games when the Senators went to the final in 2006-07.

As should be expected anytime a big-money, high-profile player hits the trade market, the New York Rangers have to at least get a mention as a possible destination. The Manic Ranger is already pondering whether or not Glen Sather should place a call, while Blue Shirt Banter even puts together its own hypothetical trade offer.

It's all probably a futile effort, though, as Heatley has a no-movement clause and can dictate where he plays (of course, if he wants out of Ottawa that bad he should be willing to play anywhere, right?). The early reports seem to suggest that he's interested in playing in the Western Conference, something the Senators would probably prefer.

Having said that, the perfect team for a potential trade, for my money, has to be the Los Angeles Kings.

The Kings have the perfect balance of available cap space (roughly $43 million committed to 20 players in 2009), young assets that would interest the Senators, and the need/desire to bring in a big-time player this offseason. They've already been mentioned in the same sentence as Ryan Smyth and Scott Gomez (and Vincent Lecavalier) in trade rumors and trade speculation.

Who Should The Kings Target?
Player	Remaining Contract (Approx.)	08/09 Points	Pts/Minute
Dany Heatley	$35 million/5 years	73	.045
Vincent Lecavalier	$85 million/11 years	67	.042
Ryan Smyth	$16.5 million/3 years	59	.037
Scott Gomez	$33.5 million/5 years	58	.035

As far as Smyth and Gomez are concerned, if you're willing to spend that much money on an offseason acquisition, you might as well just go all out and spend a similar amount on a player that is still in his prime and can still score goals like a $7 million per year player should.

The Kings haven't qualified for the playoffs in six seasons, while adding a legitimate front-line winger to a team that's already loaded with young, up-and-coming talent could be what they need to end that drought.

Who Should Want Dany Heatley? How About the Los Angeles Kings originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: NHL, NBC to Renew TV Deal

Kevin Schultz — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Media Watch, NHL Rumors, NHL Economics

Since the NHL returned from the 2004-05 lockout it has had only one broadcast television partner, NBC. The league has not been paid for the broadcast rights to NHL games -- despite getting money from Versus -- and if a report from the Globe and Mail is true, these trends are going to continue.

So whether or not you like NBC's coverage get used to it because we are likely stuck with it for another two seasons. That means potentially another two years of awkward intermission exchanges between Mike Milbury and Pierre McGuire as well as, hopefully, more great Winter Classic moments.

One of the best things to come out of the NHL's deal with NBC -- and no I'm not talking about Milbury, whom I still have trouble watching on TV as hockey's version of Matt Millen -- has been the Winter Classic. The network pushed for it the last time the contract was up after the 2006-07 season. As you have probably heard, those have been a huge success and should continue for at least the next two seasons, as that's how long Bruce Dowbiggin reports the league and the network will re-up for.

Now, NBC and the NHL are set to announce an extension to their relationship for another two years, past the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Stanley Cup playoffs.

It will likely be a continuation of the no-money-down/split-revenues-after-costs arrangement that has existed since the two sides fell into each other's arms after the NHL lockout in 2004-05.

As Dowbiggin notes, the league has not been paid for rights to the games by NBC. The two have an agreement where NBC reoups all of its costs from televising the games and the remaining revenue is split 50/50 between the two.

Report: NHL, NBC to Renew TV Deal originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Capitals Strike Back on Steroid Report

Eric McErlain — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Rumors

Wednesday afternoon, the NHL and the Washington Capitals issued statements in response to allegations made Tuesday night by a man arrested for possession of steroids that he had sold performance-enhancing drugs to members of the Capitals and Washington Nationals.

First, here's NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly (pictured above right): "The Washington Capitals have no knowledge of any aspect of this allegation. Capitals players were subjected to no-notice testing three times in each of the past two seasons pursuant to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and there was no indication of any improper conduct or wrongdoing. Even though there are no specifics provided in the story and we have no reason, at this point, to believe the allegations are true, the National Hockey League takes all matters of this nature very seriously and will conduct a prompt investigation."

And here's Washington Capitals President, Dick Patrick (above left): "We have no reason to believe there is any merit to this story, but the National Hockey League and the Washington Capitals take all such allegations seriously. Capitals players have fully participated in the NHL's random drug testing program, and at no point has a Capitals player tested positive. In addition our players have been tested at international events, such as World Championships and Olympics. We welcome and will fully cooperate with the NHL's investigation."

Meanwhile, in separate interviews, members of the team have been stepping forward to deny the allegations.

Back in Washington, Tarik El Bashir of the Washington Post got Washington's NHLPA rep, Brooks Laich, on the record to talk about the story, while also talking to ex-Caps defenseman Steve Eminger. Both denied having any knowledge that any member of the team had ever used steroids or any other performance-enhancing drug, while also stressing that the team had been subject to regular testing -- three times per year -- for some time now. The word was much the same from Capitals winger Eric Fehr, who went on the record with Corey Masisack of the Washington Times.

Capitals Strike Back on Steroid Report originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patrick Roy Turns Down Avalanche

Kevin Schultz — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, NHL Rumors, NHL Coaching

For the past week there has been a lot of speculation as to whether or not Patrick Roy would return to the Colorado Avalanche under the coach/GM role they offered the team's former goalie.

On Wednesday came a conclusion to the story. Roy explains that he has turned down the Avalanche offer for family reasons.

Roy has three sons in their late teens and early twenties and told the Denver Post that he thought it was important to be around them during this time. He did, however, leave the door open to a possible job in the NHL down the road.

"I felt pretty comfortable moving up, but the family situation is just not quite there for me right now," Roy said. "When it comes to family, it's always easier to make a decision. But don't get me wrong here, I have the Avalanche at heart... But the door is not closed, that's for sure."

The Avalanche will now continue their search for a GM with their top choice out of the running. And then there's also this: they still have Tony Granato, who has been caught in the middle of all of this, on board as their coach. That's got to be an awkward situation. It can't be fun to come into work knowing your boss is actively searching for your replacement.

For a team that crashed and burned down the stretch in epic fashion, this is another scar that isn't going to heal soon. And, more importantly, think of all the fun that we are going to miss out on without Roy behind the bench. That's the real downer in this story. But since he's still in charge of the Quebec Remparts, all is not lost.

Patrick Roy Turns Down Avalanche originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 13:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suspect in Florida Steroids Bust Implicates Capitals and Nationals

Eric McErlain — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:19:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Rumors

Late on Tuesday night in Florida, law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of a suburban Tampa couple on multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute illegal steroids. But the news that's going to reverberate around the country, and especially in the nation's capital, is that one of the suspects in the bust is crowing that he's supplied steroids to athletes across a number of professional sports, including to members of the NHL's Washington Capitals and MLB's Washington Nationals.

Update: Capitals, NHL Comment on Allegations

The story, which was just posted over at Tampa Bay Online (click here for the video from WFLA-TV in Tampa), is short on details. What we know now is that Richard Thomas and his wife, Sandra, both of Lakeland, Florida, were arrested yesterday after local authorities acted on a tip provided by the Philadelphia office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

When the pair were arrested, they were found with an estimated $200,000 worth of steroids (click here for pics of the haul). But much to the surprise of the Polk County Sheriff, rather than clam up, Thomas started bragging that he had supplied steroids to athletes all over the country. When pressed further, Thomas would only say that he had supplied steroids to members of the Capitals and Nationals, though he refused to name any individual players.

During the press conference, Sheriff Grady Judd went to pains to point out that he was simply passing on what Thomas had told him, not that he had uncovered any evidence that any member of either team had either purchased or used steroids. Said Judd, "I can tell you this, there will be a whole lot of people puckered up after the morning news."

Indeed. Stay tuned for more details.

Suspect in Florida Steroids Bust Implicates Capitals and Nationals originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 01:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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