NHL FanHouse

Rick Nash Gets Contract Extension

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

Once he was drafted, Rick Nash quickly became the centerpiece of the Columbus Blue Jackets. It didn't take him long to prove himself worthy of such a label.

Now the Blue Jackets' captain, Nash has blossomed into one of the best players in the NHL. Coming off the team's first-ever appearance (albeit a short one) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Nash was about to enter his final season before unrestricted free agency. Instead, he's become the highest-paid player in franchise history.

Rick Nash Gets Contract Extension originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fedotenko Joins Guerin, Takes Less Money to Stay With Penguins

Adam Gretz — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Penguins, NHL Free Agency

I don't know how Penguins general manager Ray Shero pulled it off, but he managed to not only retain the services of Ruslan Fedotenko and Bill Guerin, two of the teams top-six forwards from their Stanley Cup winning team, but he did so while getting them to take paycuts.

After signing Guerin to a one-year deal on Monday, the Penguins announced that they agreed to terms with Fedotenko Friday afternoon. Rob Rossi of the Tribune Review reports the deal as being worth $1.8 million, down from the $2.25 million he made a season ago.

Fedotenko Joins Guerin, Takes Less Money to Stay With Penguins originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Selanne Will Retire After Next Season

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Ducks, Western

The Anaheim Ducks still have plenty of veteran presence on their team, despite the trade of defenseman Chris Pronger to Philadelphia.

Captain Scott Niedermayer and forward Teemu Selanne have both said they will return. For Niedermayer, the future is uncertain beyond next season. Selanne, meanwhile, says 2009-2010 will be his last year in the NHL.

Selanne Will Retire After Next Season originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will New Faces, Old Strategy Help Spending-Happy Rangers?

Kevin Schultz — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EST

by Kevin Schultz

Filed under: Rangers, NHL Free Agency

Ah yes, another July 1 passes and the Rangers make another splash in the free agent market. This year they signed the oft-injured and cranky Marian Gaborik to a five-year deal worth $37.5 million, and tough guy Donald Brashear for two years and $2.8 million. Also, former big July 1 signing, Scott Gomez, was shipped off to Montreal in a seven player deal that brought back forward Chris Higgins, among others.

But will all the superstar swaps and signings pay off for the Rangers? They've made similar moves for the past two years and have a grand total of eight playoff wins and a mid-season coaching change to show for it. So is this summer different, or are the Rangers sticking to the same big money strategy that has failed them before?

Will New Faces, Old Strategy Help Spending-Happy Rangers? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scott Niedermayer Is a Happy Duck

Susan Slusser — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

by Susan Slusser

Filed under: Ducks, FanHouse Exclusive

Scott Niedermayer had to take some time after Anaheim's grueling seven-game loss to the Red Wings to think about his future. He'll be 36 next month, and the defenseman wanted to make sure he still had the fire to play another full NHL season, with all the time and energy and sacrifices that entails. It's a decision he grapples with on a semi-annual basis.

All it took was watching the Penguins and the Red Wings play for the title to get Niedermayer in the right frame of mind to say "yes" to the Ducks and their one-year, $6 million offer. He officially agreed to the deal on Wednesday, the first day of free agency.

"The Stanley Cup Finals obviously gets you excited to get back on the ice," Niedermayer told FanHouse by phone from Vancouver.

Scott Niedermayer Is a Happy Duck originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kubina, Antropov Give Thrashers Fans Some Hope

Adam Gretz — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Thrashers, NHL Free Agency

Hockey fans in Atlanta have known nothing but losing and front office incompetence since the Thrashers joined the NHL a decade ago. Even the best season in franchise history, the 2006-07 campaign that saw the Thrashers qualify for their first and only playoff appearance, ended in disappointment as they were quickly swept under the rug in four games by the New York Rangers.

In the two seasons following that trip to the postseason, the Thrashers have returned to their sub-80-point ways, toiling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Thanks to a couple of shrewd moves at the start of the offseason, and some returning young talent, this year's version of the Thrashers looks like it has a chance to make some noise.

Kubina, Antropov Give Thrashers Fans Some Hope originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Martin Havlat Twitter: 'There's Something to Be Said For Loyalty and Honor'

Adam Gretz — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:50:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Blackhawks, Wild, NHL Fans

The Minnesota Wild had quite the busy day in free agency on Wednesday, signing shot-blocker Greg Zanon from the Nashville Predators, and swapping one oft-injured, yet supremely talented forward (Marian Gaborik) for another oft-injured, yet supremely talented forward (Martin Havlat). There was also a report from Michael Russo of the Star Tribune that the team was working on a deal with Saku Koivu.

Havlat, 28, signed a six-year, $30 million deal in Minnesota late Wednesday night, and followed it up by voicing his displeasure with the negotiating process in Chicago ... via Twitter.

Martin Havlat Twitter: 'There's Something to Be Said For Loyalty and Honor' originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Look at Montreal's Roster Overhaul

Adam Gretz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:30:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Canadiens, NHL Free Agency

The Montreal Canadiens entered the offseason with the always dangerous combination of salary cap space and open roster spots. It didn't take Bob Gainey long to start reconstructing his roster, making the head-scratching trade for Scott Gomez and his gigantic contract on Tuesday, a move that was panned by pretty much every analyst/blogger/and fan outside of New York City.

On Wednesday, when the free agent frenzy officially opened, Gainey continued his roster overhaul, and essentially cornered the market on small, undersized forwards, and reunited Gomez with one of his former teammates from his New Jersey glory days.

A Look at Montreal's Roster Overhaul originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:30:00 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

by Bruce Ciskie

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.

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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Pavel Kubina Traded to Atlanta; Toronto Signs Mike Komisarek

Adam Gretz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Maple Leafs, Thrashers, NHL Free Agency

Late last week, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke made it clear that his team would not be pushed around this upcoming season. Based on his first moves this offseason, he wasn't kidding. After signing tough-guy Colton Orr to a four-year, $4 million deal earlier on Wednesday, the Leafs sent defenseman Pavel Kubina, and the rights to Tim Stapleton, to the Atlanta Thrashers for Garnet Exelby and Colin Stuart.

On the surface, it's a woefully lopsided trade in favor of Atlanta, and nothing more than a salary dump for Toronto.

The plus side? Just moments after the deal was made, word surfaced that defenseman Mike Komisarek had signed with the Maple Leafs.

Pavel Kubina Traded to Atlanta; Toronto Signs Mike Komisarek originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oilers Sign Nikolai Khabibulin

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EST

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Blackhawks, Oilers, Western, NHL Free Agency

We weren't far into the annual craziness of NHL free agency when the Edmonton Oilers suffered a significant loss.

Goalie Dwayne Roloson was a rock for this team over his three-plus seasons in northern Alberta. After practically carrying the Oilers to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, he performed well over the new contract he signed that summer in Edmonton. The 39-year-old wanted a two-year deal when he got to free agency this year, but Edmonton didn't offer that. With Roloson gone to the Islanders, Edmonton moved very quickly to find a new starter.

Oilers Sign Nikolai Khabibulin originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marian Hossa Signs With Chicago

Adam Gretz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Blackhawks, NHL Free Agency

For the second year in a row Marian Hossa has left the Stanley Cup runner-up in free agency. Unlike a year ago when he signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings, multiple media outlets are reporting on Wednesday that Hossa has signed a long-term, 12-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. The contract reportedly carries a cap hit of just over $5 million per season.

Marian Hossa Signs With Chicago originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 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

by Bruce Ciskie

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.

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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Sedin Twins Staying in Vancouver

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:15:00 EST

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Canucks, Western, NHL Free Agency

Not even an hour before the start of NHL free agency, the first hammer fell.

TSN's Darren Dreger reported that twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin have agreed to matching five-year contracts, and they will be staying with the Vancouver Canucks.

Sedin Twins Staying in Vancouver originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:15:00 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

by Bruce Ciskie

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.

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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Apparently Beggers Can Be Choosers: Heatley Rejects Trade to Edmonton

Adam Gretz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:45:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Oilers, Senators, NHL Fans

Dany Heatley put the Senators in a rather difficult position earlier this offseason when he surprisingly requested a trade out of Ottawa. General manager Bryan Murray, naturally, worked to make that request a reality, and after several weeks of rumors and speculation, it appeared as if the two-time 50-goal scorer was finally traded to the Edmonton Oilers late Tuesday night for the somewhat underwhelming return of Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid.

Apparently, Edmonton wasn't good enough of a destination for Heatley, as he ultimately rejected the deal by refusing to waive his no-trade clause after hours of waiting (which led to fans losing their collective minds on the Hockey's Future message boads).

To recap: Heatley requests trade, Senators trade him, Heatley rejects trade. Yeah. That seems about right.

Apparently Beggers Can Be Choosers: Heatley Rejects Trade to Edmonton originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jay Bouwmeester Signs Five-Year Deal With Calgary

Adam Gretz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:05:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Flames

After acquiring his negotiating rights from the Florida Panthers during this past weekend's NHL Entry Draft, TSN is reporting on Tuesday night that the Calgary Flames have signed defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to a five-year contract with a $6.6 million salary cap hit. With Bouwmeester now locked in for the long haul, the Flames, on paper, have a rather scary looking defense with Dion Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr and Bouwmeester.

Trouble is, the salary cap situation is looking rather scary as well.

Jay Bouwmeester Signs Five-Year Deal With Calgary originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let the Spending Begin: Scott Gomez Traded to Montreal

Adam Gretz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Canadiens, Rangers

Give Rangers general manager Glen Sather credit; he found somebody to take on one of the team's ugly contracts when he sent Scott Gomez to the Montreal Canadiens for Chris Higgins, Doug Janik, Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko on Tuesday afternoon. Gomez, 29, signed a seven-year, $51 million deal with the Rangers prior to the 2007-08 season, and the signing proved to be a mistake from the very beginning.

Let the Spending Begin: Scott Gomez Traded to Montreal originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL Free Agency Preview: Goalies

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Eastern, Western, NHL Free Agency

July 1 is a significant day in the National Hockey League. It's the day that unrestricted free agents are finally able to negotiate with any team they want. Even with a fading economy, it's a safe bet that money will be spent, and it will probably be spent freely by at least some teams. With this big day in mind, FanHouse offers up a position-by-position look at the top free agents, as well as some guys you may want your team to avoid.

More Free Agency Previews: Forwards | Defensemen

NHL Free Agency Preview: Goalies originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida Panthers Fans 'Hire' Drew Rosenhaus to Negotiate Ticket Prices

Adam Gretz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Panthers, NHL Fans

The Florida Panthers are no strangers to unique marketing campaigns in an effort to put butts in the seats. Earlier this season, with the team fighting for its first playoff berth since 1999-00, the team introduced The Panthers Promise Plan, offering free tickets during the 2009-10 season if they failed to make the playoffs, which they eventually did. According to the team, all free tickets that were promised will be honored next season.

Now, it appears as if the Panthers are bringing NFL super-agent Drew Rosenhaus into the marketing mix.

Florida Panthers Fans 'Hire' Drew Rosenhaus to Negotiate Ticket Prices originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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