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SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/6/2014

Arizona Coyotes 747434 Coyotes' Brandon McMillan elects for salary arbitration

Boston Bruins 747435 Matt Bartkowski Files for Salary Arbitration 747436 Bruins Prospect Profile: Ryan Fitzgerald

Buffalo Sabres 747437 Hackett signs Sabre offer sheet 747438 Trottier dies at 73 747439 Deal with the rejection, Toronto hockey fans

Calgary Flames 747440 Calgary Flames prospect had wheely good time last year 747441 Calgary Flames forward Joe Colborne files for arbitration 747442 Calgary Flames taking it easy with Pat Sieloff 747443 Calgary Flames prospect John Gaudreau looks to take next NHL step

Carolina Hurricanes 747444 Analyzing the Canes: Are they playoff ready?

Colorado Avalanche 747445 Jarome Iginla hopes to follow in Ray Bourque's Avalanche footsteps

Columbus Blue Jackets 747446 Around the NHL: Ex-Penguins center Brian Gibbons signs with Jackets

Dallas Stars 747447 NHL Players Association announced 20 players have filed for arbitration, including Antoine Roussel and Cameron 747448 Stars will do nothing on defense this summer; Jim Nill says it's all part of his plan

Detroit Red Wings 747449 Detroit Red Wings trade talk: Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers could fill major void 747450 Detroit Red Wings brass pleased with first scrimmage at annual development camp 747451 Anthony Mantha has a job with the Detroit Red Wings, if he can take it

Edmonton Oilers 747452 Oilers goaltending prospect Laurent Brossoit sees upside of footloose season 747453 Oilers prospect Mitch Moroz recovering from Oil Kings championship run, looks to impress

Los Angeles Kings 747454 Dwight King files for salary arbitration 747455 Player evaluation: Muzzin

Minnesota Wild 747468 Justin Fontaine files for arbitration 747469 Defenseman Dougherty sees Nashville selection as 'dream come true'

Montreal Canadiens 747470 Two Habs file for salary arbitration 747471 Subban and Eller file for salary arbitration

Nashville Predators 747472 Olli Jokinen attracted by Predators‘ focus on offense 747473 James Neal expects fresh start with Predators 747474 Mattias Ekholm files for salary arbitration 747475 Could Legwand open Lecavalier to Nashville?

New Jersey Devils 747476 How did Devils do in NHL Draft? TSN's Craig Button gives them 'A,' compares top pick to Adam Henrique 747477 New-look Devils atarting to take shape

New York Rangers 747478 NY Rangers‘ Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider all elect salary arbitration 747479 Rangers‘ Brassard, Zuccarello, Kreider file for arbitration 747480 Restricted Rangers free agents file for arbitration 747481 Three Rangers file for arbitration 747482 Brassard, Kreider, Zuccarello file for salary arbitration

Ottawa Senators 747483 Sens camp helping prospect Ben Harpur prepare for world junior tryout 747484 Top 5 unforgettable Ottawa Senators to leave 747485 Ottawa Sens draftee enjoying every minute of camp

Philadelphia Flyers 747486 Flyers: Hextall should talk to Giroux 747487 Hextall should tell Giroux to act like a leader

Pittsburgh Penguins 747488 New Penguins winger Spaling files for arbitration 747489 Penguins' forward Spaling files for salary arbitration

San Jose Sharks 747490 Sources: Wingels, Sharks agree to three-year deal 747491 Sharks' Demers among 20 filing for salary arbitration

St Louis Blues 747492 Some of the Blues' top prospects on display for Development Camp

Tampa Bay Lightning 747493 Lightning Notes: Pieces coming together 747494 Bolts fan‘s boyhood dreams realized at camp 747495 Slater Koekkoek ready to make impact with Lightning 747496 Koekkoek ready to put shoulder injuries behind him

Vancouver Canucks 747497 Tanev latest Canuck to sign 747498 CANUCKS: Defenceman Chris Tanev signs one-year deal for $2 million 747499 Botchford: Tanev signs, but can‘t cash in quite yet 747500 A lot‘s on Vey if Vancouver is to go a long way SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129

747434 Arizona Coyotes

Coyotes' Brandon McMillan elects for salary arbitration

Sarah McLellan, 3:19 p.m. MST July 5, 2014

Coyotes winger Brandon McMillan has elected for salary arbitration, the NHL Players' Association announced Saturday.

The restricted free agent was issued a qualifying offer by the Coyotes before the league deadline last Monday, enabling the Coyotes to hold onto McMillan's negotiation rights. That offer was for $744,975, according to capgeek.com.

Last season, McMillan appeared in 22 games for the Coyotes, compiling two goals and four assists.

The deadline for team-elected salary arbitration is July 6. Hearings will be held in Toronto July 20-Aug. 4.

Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.06.2014

747435 Boston Bruins

Matt Bartkowski Files for Salary Arbitration

Jeff Pini

Up for a new contract as a restricted free agent, Bruins defenseman Matt Bartkowski has elected to go through Salary Arbitration.

The NHLPA released a list on Saturday of 20 players that have chosen to take that route in negotiating new contracts with their respected teams. Bartkowski is the only Bruins player that appears on the list.

Bartkowski signed a one-year, one-way contract for the 2013-14 season that paid him $650,000, the first one-way deal of his four-year pro career in the Bruins organization. He was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round of the 2008 NHL Draft; he came to the Bruins in 2010 in a deal with the Panthers that also brought Dennis Seidenberg to the Boston.

Bartkowski played 64 games for the Bruins in the 2013-14 regular season, scoring no goals and tallying 18 assists. He has totaled no goals and 20 assists in 84 career NHL regular season games, though he does have one goal and two assists in 15 NHL playoff games.

Hearings between teams and players that have filed for arbitration will be held in Toronto from July 20- Aug. 4. Teams and players are allowed to continue to negotiate up until the date of their scheduled hearing.

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.06.2014

747436 Boston Bruins

Bruins Prospect Profile: Ryan Fitzgerald

Evan Sporer

With the Bruins announcing their Development Camp roster, we‘re taking a look at some of the prospects who will be attending this year's practices. After breaking down defenseman Matt Grzelcyk yesterday, today, we travel up Comm. Ave. to focus on Boston College‘s Ryan Fitzgerald.

Ryan Fitzgerald may not have been the most visible forward on Chestnut Hill last season, but that was hardly his fault. Playing on a roster with seven NHL forwards (including himself), behind the likes of Hobey Baker winner Johnny Gaudreau and some of BC‘s other top-tier guys, it probably says more about Fitzgerald that he didn‘t miss a beat.

A local product out of North Reading, Fitzgerald hopped right into the action for one of the top programs in all of college hockey and was a difference maker. In the early parts of the season, he played next to Kevin Hayes, the second-leading point scorer in the nation just a year ago. But Fitzgerald showed no signs of nerves of freshman-jitters, using his quick hands and creativity on the puck to be effective.

Later in the season when the Eagles really found their groove, head coach Jerry York juggled his lines, putting Fitzgerald with senior captain Patrick Brown, and fellow first-year Austin Cangelosi. In that role, the 2013 fourth round pick was able to produce good secondary scoring, notching 13 goals and 16 assists in 40 games played.

Fitzgerald also proved he‘s not afraid of big moments. With BC‘s season on the line in an NCAA regional final against conference foe UMass Lowell, the freshman scored a highlight reel goal early in the third period to pull the Eagles even. Fitzgerald knifed through the defense before flipping the puck onto his backhand and stuffing it past the River Hawks goalie. Boston College would go on to win the game and advance to the Frozen Four.

It could be a sign of things to come for the 19-year-old.

Returning for his sophomore season under York, Fitzgerald will be called upon to play a much bigger role for the 2014-15 Eagles. With the likes of Gaudreau and three other NHL forwards gone, even with a strong recruiting class, Fitzgerald will be much more in the picture in his second year.

For the 15th-leading freshman scorer in the nation, more responsibilities shouldn‘t be a problem. Fitzgerald is a highly-skilled player who can beat his opponents in a number of ways.

The development task currently for Fitzgerald is what it is for many college players: get bigger, faster, stronger (very important for the smaller Fitzgerald), and more accountable in all three zones.

York helped the aforementioned Gaudreau get better in the defensive zone, an area in which Fitzgerald needs to improve. Last year, playing next to Brown, perhaps the best two-way player in all of college hockey, Fitzgerald had an anchor to lean on. This year, however, he‘ll more than likely have to shoulder a greater defensive load, meaning more chances to grow in that area of his game.

And if Fitzgerald is looking for an environment to grow as an undersized forward, he‘s in the right place at Kelley Rink. Smaller Eagle forwards before him like Gaudreau (5-foot-8), Nathan Gerbe (5-foot-5), and Brian Gionta (5-foot-7) are all success stories to have come through York‘ program. At 5-foot-9, Fitzgerald doesn‘t tower above any of those BC-turned-NHL players, but is a bit taller, and certainly dangerous when the puck is on his stick.

College hockey players often take three years to make a big jump in development. With a bigger role in Boston College‘s offensive game plan, Fitzgerald could make that leap this season, and is certainly in a good place to mature at Conte Forum.

Boston Globe LOADED: 07.06.2014

747437 Buffalo Sabres

Hackett signs Sabre offer sheet

on July 5, 2014 - 11:27 PM

Staff

Goalie Matt Hackett will be back with Buffalo Sabres this fall.

According to several media reports, Hackett accepted a qualifying offer from the team and agreed to a one-year, $750,750 contract for the upcoming season.

Hackett took a turn in the Sabres‘ net last season, when the team was in the midst of a run of injuries to its goaltenders, such as Jhonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth. He had a 1-6-1 record with a 3.10 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.

However, his season ended prematurely when he suffered a knee injury in a game against the Boston Bruins.

Hackett came to the Sabres in April, 2013 with two draft choices and Johan Larson. Jason Pominville and a draft choice were dealt to the Wild in the transaction.

Buffalo News LOADED: 07.06.2014


Trottier dies at 73

on July 5, 2014 - 11:27 PM

Staff

Guy Trottier, a star on the Buffalo Bisons‘ American Hockey League teams of the late 1960s, recently passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 73.

Trottier was the top offensive star on the 1969-70 Bisons team that won the Calder Cup as AHL champion. He scored 55 goals and 33 assists for 88 points. The right winger had played for the Bisons in 1967-68 and 1968-69 as well.

Trottier went on to play 113 games in the National Hockey League, mostly with Toronto, and 166 games in the World Hockey Association. He finished his career with the Buffalo Norsemen in the North American Hockey League in 1975-76.

According to the Dayton Daily News, Trottier returned to Dayton, Ohio, after his hockey career, where he played and coached minor-league hockey. He spent 20 years working with ABF Freight Systems in Dayton before retiring.



Deal with the rejection, Toronto hockey fans

By Donn Esmonde on July 4, 2014 - 4:25 PM

Rejection hurts.

We know.

We‘ve felt it often enough.

Slights, insults, disses, denunciations – we‘ve taken them all.

And often.

So when the joke is on someplace else, when Buffalo is selected instead of spurned, heck yeah we feel good about it.

We feel especially good when the city passed over in our favor is our neighboring cross-border megalopolis

Yup. For all Toronto has going for it, it wasn‘t enough for coveted hockey player Josh Gorges. After rejecting a trade Tuesday to the Maple Leafs, Gorges left the Montreal Canadiens for the Sabres.

That‘s right. He – for various reasons – liked Buffalo better than Toronto.

Aside from anything else, Gorges just took the early lead in the unofficial balloting for Our Favorite Sabre.

Judging by the sputtering disbelief of a Toronto Sun sports columnist, our northern neighbors aren‘t happy about it.

Wrote Steve Simmons: [Gorges] selected living in Buffalo and playing for quite possibly the worst team in the NHL, to living in Toronto and playing in the so-called center of the hockey universe. He chose the armpit of America over one of world‘s great cities.

Imagine that.

I‘m not happy about the ―armpit of America‖ shot. In terms of anatomic metaphors, I prefer to think of us more as the nation‘s heart, soul or spine. But I can understand how someone equally befuddled and apoplectic over a seemingly counterintuitive choice would reflexively reach for the civic-insult bag. The big, shiny, glass-skyscrapered metropolis got passed over by an object of its affection for a cozy, underappreciated, just-reviving, mid-sized American burg. For many Torontonians, it does not compute.

It particularly stings when the desirable commodity is an NHL player. Hockey is a passion here. It‘s a religion there.

But there it is: The fourth-largest city in North America got rejected for a suitor one-tenth its size, with about 1/100th its economic muscle.

It‘s the 98-pound weakling kicking sand in the hunky lifeguard‘s face. It‘s the most popular girl in school turning down a prom invitation from the star quarterback and going instead with the quiet computer geek. It‘s the movie star turning down a weekend in Cannes with Miss Universe for ice cream sundaes and a round of Putt-Putt with the girl next door.

It‘s … well, you get the idea.

Simmons: He made that decision of supposedly sound mind, or so we are informed. … It‘s one thing to say no. Another thing to pick Buffalo.

That‘s right. Chew on it.

OK, I don‘t want to sound snarky. But we‘ve been on the opposite end of these choices often enough to have perfected the art of gracious deflection. Laugh it off, move on and know that – ultimately – whoever spurned, dissed or dismissed us doesn‘t know what he or she is missing. That‘s the way to go. Not to get all huffy-indignant and reach for the ―armpit‖ cliche. It only makes you look petty.

Gorges cited various reasons for the decision, chief among them not wanting to play for the Canadiens‘ bitter rival. He told The News he was excited about the Sabres‘ rebuild, felt Buffalo was a good fit for his family, and liked coach Ted Nolan. Some speculated he didn‘t relish Toronto‘s intense media glare, coupled with the team‘s relative lack of success. The Leafs haven‘t won the Stanley Cup since 1967, three years before the Sabres were born.

Or maybe Gorges just thought Buffalo was a cooler city.

Sorry, Torontonians, I couldn‘t resist.

And to think that we‘d lately been getting along so well with our northern neighbor. Toronto‘s media was graced in recent months with stories of Buffalo‘s resurgence, filed by reporters who treated the two-hour journey down the QEW like an anthropological expedition. We were happy to share our charms, hidden and otherwise. They were gracious enough to chronicle a litany of pleasant surprises. On the flip side, Buffalonians have long appreciated Toronto‘s cosmopolitan appeal.

But all has not gone smoothly. Nobody was pleased to hear that a Toronto investment group, fronted by rocker Jon Bon Jovi, is reportedly poised to buy and move the Bills. And Gorges‘ choice is sweet payback for the sting delivered two years ago by the Maple Leafs‘ Joffrey Lupul. He tweeted a photo from his hotel room of a winter-beset downtown Buffalo, with a caption longing for a ―window-less room.‖

Hey, Joffrey: The last I heard, Buffalo is Gorges.


747440 Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames prospect had wheely good time last year

By RANDY SPORTAK ,Calgary Sun

First posted: Saturday, July 05, 2014 09:56 PM MDT | Updated: Saturday, July 05, 2014 10:03 PM MDT

Tim Harrison has waited a year for another trip to the Calgary Stampede.

It finally comes for the Calgary Flames prospect Sunday.

It‘s not that Harrison, the 2013 sixth-round draft choice, is a rodeo or chuckwagon fan, but it‘s because he wants to duplicate his success at the carnival.

Last year, Harrison won not one, but two of the mini-motorbikes at a game that required throwing a ball to knock down blocks. He sold them both and has orders to fill if he can do it again.

―Hopefully, the game‘s there,‖ Harrison said Saturday after his on-ice session at the Flames summer development camp at WinSport at Canada Olympic Park. ―Part of me is praying it‘s not there so I don‘t have to win any, but I want to go back there.‖

The story followed him home to Massachusetts and Colgate University, where the 6-foot-3, 200-lb. winger collected five assists in 31 NCAA games as a freshman.

―My dad was crying because he was laughing about it. He saw the video the team did and said, ‗It‘s not about hockey. It‘s all about the Stampede,‘‖ Harrison said. ―It was a cool story. It was fun.‖

Harrison‘s pitching prowess aside, he‘s also excited to show the Flames how far he‘s come in a year and more of the high-energy game he had during last year‘s camp, including a celebrated run-in with Sven Baertschi during a scrimmage.

The Flames are looking for players with size and snark, and Harrison hopes he can develop enough to fit the bill.

―I‘ve heard (president of hockey operations) Brian Burke and the word ‗truculence,‘‖ Harrison said. ―That‘s the type of player he likes, which is good. It‘s an opportunity for myself to mould myself into the type of player he and the organization wants.‖

Ice Chips

GM Brad Treliving says

G Jonathan Gillies and C Mark Jankowski are not participating due to hip injuries, and D Adam Ollas Mattsson is out due to a foot injury. RW Emile Poirier is out due to off-season shoulder surgery.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.06.2014


Calgary Flames forward Joe Colborne files for arbitration


First posted: Saturday, July 05, 2014 09:53 PM MDT

Two on One Joe Colborne in action last season against the Winnipeg Jets. Colborne filed for arbitration on Saturday but general manager Brad Treliving says it's just part of the process and the two sides will continue to talk.

Joe Colborne and the Calgary Flames will head to arbitration if they can‘t agree to a new contract.

Colborne, the restricted free agent who became a full-time NHLer this past season after the Flames acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs, filed for arbitration, which was announced Saturday.

―To me, it‘s part of the process. We‘ll continue to talk,‖ Flames GM Brad Treliving said. ―It‘s been a busy few weeks for everyone. The fact that we haven‘t got anything done before him filing is no indication of us not wanting to get a deal done or vice-versa from his side.

―We‘ll continue to talk and, hopefully, get something done sooner than later.‖

Colborne, 24, collected 10 goals and 28 points in 80 games during which he had a US$600,000 salary.

By electing for salary arbitration, Colborne can‘t sign an offer sheet with another team. The Flames can elect for the arbitrator to award a one- or two-year contract.

That said, very few cases actually go to arbitration.

―It can be a tough process, but right now, we‘re not focused on the case as much as getting a deal done,‖ Treliving said. ―That being said, once filed, the end result is there could be an arbitration case. If we‘re not able to get a deal done, that‘s the process. We‘re prepared to go through the process, but we‘ll see what the next few days hold.

―I never anticipate problems. Until these deals are done, they‘re never done, but I don‘t anticipate any problems.‖

The Flames‘ other RFAs are forwards Lance Bouma and Ben Hanowski, defenceman Mark Cundari and No. 3 goalie Joni Ortio.



Calgary Flames taking it easy with Pat Sieloff


First posted: Saturday, July 05, 2014 09:18 PM MDT

Taking it slow Pat Sieloff during Flames summer development camp. The Flames are taking it slow with the Sieloff due to a staph infection he got last year.

The blue jersey donned by Pat Sieloff wasn‘t a fashion statement.

In fact, it was a disappointment for the Calgary Flames prospect.

The sweater was a sign to all the others on the ice for the team‘s summer prospects camp that Sieloff is off-limits for excessive contact as he completes his recovery from a scary staph infection which shut down last hockey season after only two games.

―I do understand,‖ the big defenceman said Saturday. ―When I walked in and saw the blue jersey it was like, ‗OK, what‘s going on here? I don‘t like this. I‘ve had enough.‘

―Then, I got it explained to me. It makes total sense. They‘re looking out for me. That‘s the best thing I can ask for and shows they care about me.‖

Sieloff has been given a green light to go all-out in his quest to make the NHL.

It‘s the team that‘s keeping on the training wheels during the camp at the WinSport facility at Canada Olympic Park.

―It‘s July,‖ GM Brad Treliving said. ―We all know the season he‘s been through, and the good news is he‘s progressed so well through the course of the last little bit. The next progression for him was to get out and skate and get involved. He‘ll participate that way, but I didn‘t want him getting involved in any contact. There‘s no reason to be having any setbacks July 5th when he‘s taken all the steps forward.‖

Sieloff has taken a lot of steps. He‘s just had to go through a few walls for them.

Drafted 42nd overall in 2012, Sieloff‘s ‘13-14 season first derailed during the pre-season when he suffered a fractured cheekbone during a fight.

Even with that malady, the team decided he‘d be best served playing the AHL instead of returning to junior. However, after just two games he suffered a staph infection, which required him to be attached to an intravenous and on antibiotics for months.

By the time he was back in shape, the season was over.

―I‘m fully comfortable. I feel great. I feel awesome,‖ said the gregarious 20-year-old. ―I haven‘t felt this great in a long time. But they just want to do what‘s best for me. They‘re not going to let me go in the scrimmages, just to get my feet under me and in a team environment.

―I‘m just doing what I‘m told.‖

That all followed an early end to his ‘12-13 season due to a hip injury.

All things considered, Sieloff can count himself lucky to be this close to returning to pro hockey.

Sure, he had the ―why me?‖ moments, but he knows his situation could have turned out worse.

―Sometimes you take life for granted. You take a step back and realize I‘ve got to enjoy this,‖ said the 6-foot-1, 215-lb. blueliner. ―I was so hard on myself, and now I take it day by day. I‘m lucky to be here. It‘s a gift I‘m here, and I‘ve earned wherever I‘m going to be.

―People have asked me where I‘ll end up starting (the NHL or the AHL), and I don‘t know, but I don‘t really care. My goal is to be in the NHL, and I‘m on my two feet right now feeling healthy. I‘m going to continue to get better, and wherever it lands me at the end of the year, that‘s my goal.‖



Calgary Flames prospect John Gaudreau looks to take next NHL step


First posted: Saturday, July 05, 2014 06:11 PM MDT | Updated: Saturday, July 05, 2014 06:17 PM MDT

The Hobey Baker Award has a spot on the mantle.

So does the puck from John Gaudreau's first NHL goal.

Now the Calgary Flames prospect may have to make space for an ESPY Award, too.

―That's exciting. I'm up there against four pretty talented athletes,‖ said Gaudreau, who's among the finalists for the ESPN honour as the top male college athlete. ―It's just great to be recognized. I'm gonna be excited to get out there and meet the other guys.‖

The way things have gone in the last year, it's easy to think the honour is a slam dunk for Gaudreau, who was an offensive dynamo with 36 goals and 80 points in 40 games for Boston College before turning pro for the Flames season finale.

Besides, it seems like he's collected every other award he could.

―I'm sure there's a lot of awards I haven't won,‖ Gaudreau said with humility. ―The most important was the Frozen Four, that we didn't win. It was a good season by our team this year, but came a little short.‖

The ESPY Awards will be handed out July 16, which will essentially completely close out Gaudreau's college career.

Looking forward, the winger who'll celebrate his 21st birthday next month, has a legitimate shot to be a full-time NHLer as early as this coming season.

Sure his size is an issue – the Flames are fooling nobody by listing him as 5-foot-9 – but Gaudreau's wizardry with the puck can't be denied.

After scoring a goal in his NHL debut, Gaudreau joined the U.S. team for the world championships and racked up two goals and 10 points in eight games.

―It gave me a lot more confidence,‖ Gaudreau said Saturday after his first on-ice session of the Flames summer development camp. ―I learned a lot out there playing with NHL guys, playing against NHL guys. Getting to play against (Alex) Ovechkin and (Jaromir) Jagr – I think Jagr was playing in the NHL before I was even born – is something pretty special.

―I think it's going to help me in the long run.‖

So will chats with other players who have managed to overcome the NHL's aversion to smaller players and excelled.

―I've talked to a lot of small guys in the NHL, and my agent has a few smaller guys in the NHL, like (Martin) St. Louis. I've got a lot of great advice,‖ said Gaudreau, Calgary's fourth-round pick, 104th overall, in the 2011 NHL Draft. ―I've just got to make sure I follow in their footsteps and do what they've been doing.‖

Advice such as what?

―They said you need to be strong in your legs, definitely work out your legs,‖ he relayed. ―And you don't need to be too big in your upper body because you won't be able to stickhandle that well. Just a lot of great pointers from a lot of great guys and I really appreciate it.‖

During Saturday's session at the WinSport facility at Canada Oympic Park, among the noteworthy moments with Gaudreau was him working with the club's 2014 first-round pick Sam Bennett during a two-on-two game, and when he went head-to-head against Hunter Smith – the 6-foot-7 winger drafted in the second round this year – in a drill to develop angling puck-carrying players into the boards.

Even Gaudreau and Smith were laughing at the size difference.

―We said it probably wasn't the greatest pair to match up in that drill,‖ Gaudreau said with a smile. ―He took it easy on me, not too many big hits.‖


747444 Carolina Hurricanes

Analyzing the Canes: Are they playoff ready?

By Chip Alexander

July 5, 2014

RALEIGH — Peter Karmanos Jr. turned heads a few days ago when he said the Carolina Hurricanes were a ―very good hockey team.‖

Karmanos is the Canes‘ owner, and a little hubris is to be expected. But the Canes have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past five seasons. They were 13th last season in the NHL‘s Eastern Conference. They had a woeful power play and were only a little better at home than on the road.

Karmanos‘ belief is that a new coaching staff and new system, a healthier team and the continued development of younger players will translate into more wins next season. General manager Ron Francis is another believer, generally standing pat in free agency this past week while other Metropolitan Division rivals made significant signings.

Francis noted the Hurricanes finished 10 points out of playoff position in the East. In his mind, had goalies Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin not been out with injuries; had forwards Jiri Tlusty, Eric Staal and Alexander Semin not had slow starts because of injuries; had the power play been more potent, the Canes could have been a playoff team.

―We didn‘t think it was necessary to kind of blow everything up,‖ Francis said. ―We still think we have a lot of good pieces. I know people are going to shake their heads a little bit when you say that. … When you don‘t make the playoffs everybody wants to see change.‖

Francis said he got a ―fresh opinion‖ on the players from new coach Bill Peters. The management team weighed in. Karmanos, who writes the checks, had his say.

―At this point we felt we had a good enough team to compete and make the playoffs,‖ Francis said. ―Now it‘s up to us to get on the ice and start winning hockey games, and I think that‘s the best way to convince anyone.‖

Can the Canes do it? Here‘s a team breakdown:

Forwards

Karmanos says he likes the Canes‘ forwards. Francis says he likes the Canes‘ forwards.

As for Peters, Francis said, ―He loves our group of forwards and what he thinks we can do. He thinks there‘s more there in the goal-scoring department.‖

The Canes need more. Carolina was 22nd in scoring last season (2.50 goals a game), finishing 28th on the power play (14.6 percent). The Canes also failed to score many goals early or late in games, finishing 27th in first-period scoring and 28th in third-period goals (sixth in second period).

Jeff Skinner had a career-high 33 goals last season and has the potential to score 40, many agree. Semin, despite a wrist injury in preseason that bothered him all season, finished with 22 goals and Jiri Tlusty and Nathan Gerbe each had 16.

A lot could hinge on a healthy – and possibly recharged – Eric Staal. He turns 30 early in the season and must consistently produce, both five-on-five and on the power play. The Canes captain had one power-play goal and no game-winning goals last season, surely a blow to his pride.

More is expected from Jordan Staal. One can‘t overlook his plus-2 rating last season despite facing the other teams‘ best forwards, but the Canes‘ No. 2 center needs to improve his 15-goal, 40-point production for the Canes to be playoff-cailber.

Elias Lindholm, the Canes‘ No. 1 draft pick last year, began to look more comfortable and was more effective late in the season. The adjustment period – to the NHL, to a smaller rink size, to leaving Sweden – is over and he should come to camp bigger and stronger.

The Canes‘ fourth line will have a more physical look with the addition of free agents Jay McClement and Brad Malone. But there should be a lot of competition for forward spots in preseason training camp.

Zach Boychuk led the American Hockey League with 36 goals last season and at 24 it might finally be his time. ―He‘s a guy that we feel has earned the opportunity,‖ Francis said.

Peters will insist on strong two-way play from the forwards, saying he wants 200-foot competitors. That‘s a must for the Canes.

• Pros: Four potential 30-plus goal scorers when healthy (E. Staal, Skinner, Semin, Tlusty); strength up middle.

• Cons: Net presence has been lacking; not imposing physically.

Defensemen

Who knew when the Canes traded Tim Gleason on New Year‘s Day that he would be back so soon and John-Michael Liles a teammate?

Gleason was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Liles and a defensive prospect. Bought out by the Leafs, Gleason signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract Thursday with the Canes.

The Canes can only hope Gleason, 31, plays with his old snarl. A low-risk signing, Gleason would be a boost to a back end that has changed little from last season.

The Canes re-signed Ron Hainsey. Returning are Justin Faulk, Andrej Sekera, Jay Harrison, Liles … in short, basically the same crew minus Brett Bellemore.

―I think you‘re always looking to improve your back end, but Faulk and Sekera can arguably play against anybody as a 1-2 pair,‖ Francis said. ―Ron Hainsey can play 21 minutes a game. John-Michael Liles, I think he‘s got more to bring. Jay is coming off probably a little bit of an off-year and hopefully he bounces back.‖

Ryan Murphy, the Canes‘ first-round pick in 2011, may be ready to keep a roster spot for a full season. He has the offensive tools and can help the power play, but must be tougher and better in the defensive zone.

Haydn Fleury, this year‘s first-round selection, will be given the chance to make the big team but might need another year of junior hockey.

The Canes‘ back end needs to help out more offensively – Sekera had a career-high 11 goals but no other D-man had more than five. But Francis called it a ―pretty good group‖ adding, ―They‘re mobile, they can move the puck and that‘s important in today‘s game.‖

• Pros: Good blend of age and experience; capable puck-movers.

• Cons: Not a lot of size; need for a power-play quarterback.

Goaltenders

Ward and Khudobin will draw $8.7 million in salary next season and most Canes fans know how that‘s divided – Ward will get $6.7 million, Khudobin $2 million.

But if the Canes can get the production to match the salaries, if the two goalies can push each other for the No. 1 spot, a playoff spot could be a possibility.

Khudobin‘s ankle injury and Ward‘s recurring groin issues hit the Canes hard last season. In an 11-day span in October, the Canes lost both, and for extended periods.

―There isn‘t any team in the league who had their No. 1 and No. 2 goalies out, that made the playoffs, for the length of time we had our goalies out,‖ Karmanos said. ―We don‘t need any help in goal. We have two outstanding goalies.‖

Justin Peters, who stepped in and played well last year when the two were hurt, has signed a free-agent deal with Washington. The Canes have signed Drew MacIntyre, coming off a strong season with the AHL‘s Toronto Marlies, as the No. 3 goalie.

Ward, 30, would like to have one injury-free season. Khudobin would like to be the No. 1 guy.

―Hopefully they‘re back, they‘re hungry, they‘re ready to go and they‘re healthy the whole year for us,‖ Francis said.

• Pros: At their best, both can perform like elite goaltenders; competition level should be high.

• Cons: Ward can‘t seem to stay healthy for a season; MacIntyre, if needed, is new to the organization.

Playoff hopes: A lot of things probably will need to go right: a strong season from Eric Staal, another strong season from Sekera, Ward being Ward again ... it‘s a long list. A lot will be asked from Bill Peters, who needs to get the right players in the right spots and have the right system in place.

News Observer LOADED: 07.06.2014

747445 Colorado Avalanche

Jarome Iginla hopes to follow in Ray Bourque's Avalanche footsteps

By Adrian Dater

Posted: 07/05/2014 10:23:23 PM MDT

Updated: 07/05/2014 10:33:12 PM MDT

He comes to Colorado via Boston, in search of his first Stanley Cup after nearly two decades in the NHL. He is considered one of the game's classiest players, which makes it hard not to root for him as a sentimental favorite. Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy will help try to get him that first Cup.

This is the story line for Jarome Iginla, almost identical to the one Ray Bourque had when he came to the Avs in 2000 from the Bruins. A year after his acquisition, Bourque was handed the Cup by Sakic after the final game of his career, the definition of the storybook ending.

If Iginla ever raises a Stanley Cup with the Avs, he probably would receive the handoff from team captain Gabe Landeskog — just as Sakic did for Bourque after Game 7 of the 2001 Finals.

"That's a hope one day," Iginla said after signing a three-year, $16 million contract with the Avs last week.

But is it just a fantasy? Iginla wouldn't have chosen the Avs over several other suitors — including the Eastern Conference regular-season champion Bruins — if he thought it was.

"With this group, I think the sky is the limit," Iginla said. "When I think of some of the teams that have had success in the NHL in the last five or six years, I think of Chicago; they were a very young, very talented team that moved up very quickly, that had a very talented young core when they won.

"Pittsburgh was pretty young when they won. Boston had a pretty young core when they won, too. I think Colorado has a lot of young guys, whether in their first year or third or fourth year or whatever, they've been confident and been able to play their way and just keep getting better. I'm excited to be able to come for three years and be part of that, and grow with the guys."

Three years an important part of deal

Jarome Iginla, who played for the Boston Bruins last season, is considered a future Hall of Fame player based on prolific scoring and many other

Let's be clear: The Avs will remain seen by most pundits as outside shots to win the Cup this coming season, especially playing in the brutal Western Conference. They lost a key forward, Paul Stastny, to a division rival, St. Louis, and failed to sign any of the bigger-name defensemen on the open market. The replacements for Stastny and P.A. Parenteau were two players 36 or older — Iginla and Daniel Briere. The biggest addition to a defense that needed help was 34-year-old Brad Stuart.

Let's also not be naive and say the Avs' contract offer, particularly the three-year term, had nothing to do with Iginla's choice of Colorado. Even Iginla admits that.

"It was important, from one side, for my family and I to have that stability, to be able to buy a house and set some roots down again," Iginla said. "You don't want to come and just have one shot at it, on a one-year deal."

But Iginla said he is sincere in his belief that the Avs offered the best hockey option among his suitors, that being able to check off the box of "Cup contender" made him sign.

"Next year, the year after, I think they just keep getting better and better," said Iginla, who has scored 560 goals, including 30 or more in 12 of the past 13 seasons. "I expect to be good for the guys. I won't be taking it easy. I expect to be contributing."

Can Iginla, 37, still keep up in the faster-paced Western Conference?

"I'm excited to back to the West. As far as a different style of hockey, east to west, I don't know if I noticed that much of a difference. I would say the West seems to be a little bit more physical, but the (difference) wasn't as big as I thought," he said. "As far as being able to fit in, I believe I can. I felt better as the year went on in Boston. Not to be arrogant or anything, but I still believe I

can be very good, and not be able to contribute offensively and be a good player."

From Edmonton to archrival

Iginla, whose full name is Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla, is the son of a Nigerian-born lawyer father, Elvis, and former music teacher mother, Susan. He grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, but spent the first 17 years of his career with the nearby rival Calgary Flames.

He is a part owner of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, the junior team he played on, and is known as a tireless champion of charitable causes everywhere he plays. While in Calgary, he gave more than $700,000 to KidSport Calgary, a foundation that helps underprivileged children play sports.

Among the people Iginla has most looked up to in his career is Sakic, the Avs' executive vice president of hockey operations. They were linemates on the 2002 Team Canada Olympic club that won its first gold medal in 50 years, and while Iginla said he didn't name one of his three children Joe specifically because of Sakic, "it didn't hurt."

Sakic said he called Iginla when the June 25 period for talking to free agents started, and believes his signing best addresses areas of need up front in the wake of Stastny's departure.

"Jarome was always tops on our list to replace (Stastny)," Sakic said. "He's a big power forward on the right side who brings leadership. He's a proven winner. He might not be in his prime, but he's still got a lot. Our core guys are all young, and you want to surround them with great veteran leadership."

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.06.2014

747446 Columbus Blue Jackets

Around the NHL: Ex-Penguins center Brian Gibbons signs with Jackets

By Aaron Portzline Saturday July 5, 2014 5:41 AM

The Blue Jackets added another candidate to play on their fourth line yesterday, signing former Pittsburgh Penguins center Brian Gibbons to a one-year, two-way contract.

Gibbons, 26, had five goals, 12 assists and a plus-5 rating in 41 regular-season games with the Penguins last season. He also had two goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs, both scored against the Blue Jackets — 54 seconds apart in Game 2 — in their first-round series.

―I‘m going to get an opportunity, which is all I‘m asking for,‖ Gibbons said. ―They told me to come to camp ready to play and compete, that the best guys are going to play.‖

Center Mark Letestu and right wing Jared Boll are the only fourth-line players with one-way, NHL-only contracts. The battle for the other spot should be intense, with Gibbons joining Jerry D‘Amigo, Corey Tropp and Simon Hjalmarsson on two-way contracts.

Gibbons, 5 feet 8, 170 pounds, said he had offers from other clubs but chose the Blue Jackets.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.06.2014

747447 Dallas Stars

NHL Players Association announced 20 players have filed for arbitration, including Antoine Roussel and Cameron Gaunce

MIKE HEIKA

Published: 05 July 2014 04:41 PM

Updated: 05 July 2014 05:08 PM

The NHLPA announced today that 20 players have filed for salary arbitration, including Stars forward Antoine Roussel and defenseman Cameron Gaunce.

The move is simply one that allows the players to have leverage in negotiations, and most players settle on contracts before their arbitration hearing. Mark Fistric and Richard Bachman filed in 2012. Fabian Brunnstrom filed in 2010. All three agreed to contracts before their hearings.

Antti Miettinen filed in 2007 and was awarded $885,000 in arbitration.

There is a good chance both Roussel and Gaunce will settle before their hearings. If not, the Stars are expected to accept the arbitration decision, and the players will remain with the team.

Here is the press release:

TORONTO (July 5, 2014) - 20 players have elected Salary Arbitration:

Arizona Coyotes

Brandon McMillan

Boston BruinsMatt Bartkowski

Calgary Flames

Joe Colborne

Dallas Stars

Cameron Gaunce

Antoine Roussel

Florida Panthers

Jimmy Hayes

Los Angeles KingsDwight King

Minnesota Wild Justin Fontaine

Montreal Canadiens

Lars Eller

P.K. Subban

Nashville Predators

Mattias Ekholm

New York Islanders Kevin Poulin

New York Rangers

Derick Brassard

Chris Kreider

Mats Zuccarello

Ottawa Senators

Derek Grant

Pittsburgh Penguins

Nick Spaling

San Jose Sharks

Jason Demers

Toronto Maple Leafs

Cody Franson

James Reimer

The deadline for Club-Elected Salary Arbitration notification is July 6, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. Hearings will be held in Toronto from July 20 to August 4, 2014.

Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.06.2014

747448 Dallas Stars

Stars will do nothing on defense this summer; Jim Nill says it's all part of his plan

MIKE HEIKA



Like a wine stain on a wedding gown, the Stars‘ defense still has many fans seeing red.

While general manager Jim Nill put some zing in his second line and added an admirable project at backup goalie this week, he didn‘t touch the defense. That‘s right, nothing. And haven‘t you been hearing for the last four years that the blueline is where this team needs the most attention?

But Nill said he has a plan, and it‘s to trust the kids. His changes will come in the form of Jamie Oleksiak, Patrik Nemeth, John Klingberg, Jyrki Jokipakka and Cameron Gaunce. Nill is betting that at least two of those youngsters will take a step forward, and that the remaining defensemen will be as good or better than last season.

―I‘m excited about our defense,‖ Nill said. ―We‘ve got three or four young kids that are knocking on the door from the Calder Cup championship down in Texas. We think we‘ve got lots of different options. We know they‘re all going to get better. We think we‘re going to be just fine.‖

Part of the reason for that is the fact Nill and coach Lindy Ruff saw impressive improvement from Alex Goligoski and Trevor Daley as last season progressed. The two Stars veterans have struggled at different times in their careers. Goligoski had a rough start when partnered with Sergei Gonchar last season. Daley has battled to find the right line of offensive aggression in his career. But something clicked around midseason.

―I think when those two started playing together and started playing big minutes, they formed a chemistry and just took off,‖ said Nill. ―You look at the end of last season and you look in the playoffs, and I thought they were exceptional.‖

Goligoski was a huge key to the team‘s turnaround. He started the season with no points and went minus-10 in the first eight games while averaging under 20 minutes of ice time. He finished the season with a 13-game stretch where he had nine points and went plus-14 while averaging more than 25 minutes a game.

―I think we all had to get comfortable with one another, and I think if you look at those two at the end of the season, they were comfortable,‖ coach Lindy Ruff said. ―They learned what to expect from us, and we learned how to use them better.‖

Goligoski‘s biggest problem in Dallas has been a lack of confidence. When he makes mistakes, he starts to question his game. But with Ruff preaching an attacking style, mistakes are almost expected. If you‘re going to push the pace, you‘re going to make turnovers. Ruff simply asks that when you do, you hustle back and recover.

That fit perfectly for Goligoski and brought out more of the skill game from Daley, who was drafted as a speedy defenseman but was turned into a conservative one.

So if the top pair is set, then why can‘t the Stars rotate a group of talented (if unproven) defensemen below that?

Brenden Dillon has established himself as an NHL regular at 23. Jordie Benn and Kevin Connauton have grabbed NHL jobs after working up through the minors. Oleksiak, Nemeth, Jokipakka and Gaunce helped the Texas Stars win the AHL championship. And Klingberg is the mysterious unicorn of blueliners — a skilled, right-handed defenseman who might be a future home-grown No. 1.

Klingberg is only 21, is coming off hip surgery and has not yet played in the NHL, so he might not be ready to deliver. But the Stars believe he will be ready soon, and they‘re more than ready to give him a chance.

And, if that doesn‘t work, then Nill can look at the trade market or at free agency next summer — after all, there are a ton of contracts coming off the books by then.

So maybe that wine stain can be covered with a corsage, or maybe Nill can remove it completely.

After all, he‘s kind of becoming the Martha Stewart of GMs with all the craftiness he‘s shown so far.

Fresh faces on defense

After the Stars added Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky to the top-six forward group, their fans are worried the defense might still need a makeover. GM Jim Nill disagrees, and expects to go forward with this group:

RETURNING VETERANS

Player

Notable

Jordie Benn

Led Stars defensemen in regular-season plus-minus at plus-16

Kevin Connauton

Slick skater ready to battle for a regular job at age 24.

Trevor Daley

Ranked 14th in playoff time on ice at 25:48, was plus-5 in six games.

Brenden Dillon

Led Stars in hits with 168 in 80 games, physical force at 6-3, 225.

Alex Goligoski

Ranked 5th in NHL playoff time on ice at 28:30, was plus-7 in six games.

Sergei Gonchar

Just turned 40, but Stars are hoping to squeeze one more year out.


747449 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings trade talk: Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers could fill major void

July 6, 2014

By Helene St. James

The Red Wings were unable to lure that right-shot defenseman they want from the free-agent market, leaving a trade as the only option to make a significant upgrade on the back end.

One possible candidate: Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres.

Myers stands a towering 6-feet-8, the only D-man who can look Boston‘s Zdeno Chara in the eye without craning his neck. Myers is only 24, but already he has played 318 NHL games since joining Buffalo in 2009-10, the season he took home the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year on the strength of 48 points in 82 games.

He is good offensively (he has hit or come close to 10 goals four out of five seasons) and valuable on the power play, where he has 13 of his 41 career goals.

In 2013-14, Myers had nine goals and 22 points in 62 games, averaging just under 22 minutes per game. He is a very good skater, plays in all situations and can serve as a shut-down guy. Myers makes mistakes (like everyone else), but he has franchise defenseman written all over him, and he is still two or three years removed from even entering his prime.

Two years ago, the Sabres signed Myers to seven years for $38.5 million, working out to a very amenable $5.5-million annual salary cap hit. He has already made $18 million, making the rest of his contract all the more attractive as the most he‘ll pull in salary is $5 million a season.

The downside of having to trade instead of signing a free agent is the internal cost. Myers is Buffalo‘s top defenseman and the asking price is going to start with one of Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar or Tomas Jurco. Buffalo might well ask for Anthony Mantha, but the Wings aren‘t relinquishing him. One player alone wouldn‘t do it, though — there would likely be a high draft pick involved, too, maybe even a second player, someone in his mid-20s.

That‘s a considerable cost, but the Wings have to consider that as they stand right now, they don‘t match well against division mates like Boston, Tampa bay and Montreal, much less the teams that stalk the Western Conference. A trade for an impact defenseman would make things look a whole lot rosier.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.06.2014


Detroit Red Wings brass pleased with first scrimmage at annual development camp

Brendan Savage on July 05, 2014 at 7:07 PM, updated July 05, 2014 at 7:29 PM

TRAVERSE CITY – The Detroit Red Wings were looking for some specific things Saturday during the first scrimmage of their annual development camp.

"We wanted to see speed," said director of player development Jiri Fischer. "We wanted to see guys making plays. We didn't want to see fighting. We wanted to see guys committed, finishing checks, fighting for pucks.

"We wanted to see goalies making big plays."

Mission accomplished.

Fischer was pleased with what he saw in Team Yzerman's 3-2 victory over Team Lidstrom considering the players had only skated for one day before scrimmaging.

Camp invites Alex Globke and Justin Hicketts – from Lake Superior State and Victoria of the WHL, respectively – scored for Team Yzerman along with 2014 sixth-round draft pick Julius Vahatalo.

Tomas Nosek, signed as a free agent from the Czech Republic, and 2014 fourth-round draft pick Christoffer Ehn scored for Team Lidstrom.

"I thought there was good intensity," said Jeff Blashill, the Grand Rapids Griffins head coach who is directing the development camp. "I thought it looked real. It was fairly real hockey for early July. There was some physicality.

"Some of the concepts we talked about as far as angling people and taking away their space, I thought we did a good job of that. It looks like a group of good young prospects."

Anthony Mantha at Red Wings development camp Red Wings top prospect attempts to score in post-scrimmage shootout

Fischer was pleasantly surprised with how well the scrimmage went considered the players didn't hit the ice for the first time until Friday morning.

The scrimmage was the first of two scheduled for the camp. The other will be Tuesday morning after a pair of workouts on and off the ice both Sunday and Monday.

More will obviously be expected in the final scrimmage but at the same time the development camp isn't necessarily about the players showing what they can do on the ice. It's about teaching them what it takes to be a pro hockey player.

"In the development camp, we in general try to compare where guys are at versus where they were at in the development camp a year ago," Fischer said. "It's the middle of the summer. Not everybody skates, not everybody is on the ice. We understand that.

"Comparing where guys are at compared to where they were during the season to where they were at the prospects tournament, that's not fair. We want to make sure guys come here, they get educated on the ice, they get educated off the ice, media, life skills, culinary classes.

"Hopefully, they leave the camp and are using that information for the rest of the summer and get better (to be) the best they can."

• Axel Holmstrom, Detroit's seventh-round pick (196th) overall in last month's draft, is no relation to former Red Wings great Tomas Holmstrom. But he did honor his namesake by wearing No. 96 in the development camp.

• Defenseman Alexey Marchenko, who was an AHL All-Star last season for Grand Rapids and played one game with the Red Wings, is at the camp after undergoing ankle surgery. He had the screws removed last week and said he hopes to skate for the first time Sunday.

• Mike McKee and Richard Nedomlel are not only two of the biggest players in the camp at 6-foot-5, but they also delivered the two biggest checks of the day in the scrimmage.

• Dean Chelios, another camp invitee, is wearing his father Chris' No. 24.

• Top prospect Anthony Mantha didn't figure in the scoring but he didn't disappoint either. Mantha was one of the speediest players – as well as one of the best – on the ice and is also among the biggest at 6-5.

• Andreas Athanasiou, who scored 49 goals for the OHL's Barrie Colts last season, scored a nifty goal in the shootout that followed the scrimmage.

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.06.2014


Anthony Mantha has a job with the Detroit Red Wings, if he can take it

By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily

Posted: 07/05/14, 4:56 PM EDT |

DETROIT >> For Anthony Mantha it comes down to one thing: If he wants to make the Detroit Red Wings‘ roster this season, he has to beat someone out.

―He‘s going to have to beat someone out,‖ Wings general manager Ken Holland said in a phone interview Thursday. ―I think everybody has potential, some have more than others. If you don‘t live up to that potential it really doesn‘t matter.‖

And it‘s not just one of the 12 forwards Detroit dresses on a nightly basis, but one that‘s slotted to be in the top six.

―When we open with Boston (on Oct. 9) and the coach says to me he wants Mantha in the lineup he‘s in the lineup,‖ Holland said. ―If he‘s in the lineup it‘s because basically we think he‘s going to be a top six forward. I don‘t know we‘d put him on the fourth line and play him eight minutes.‖

With Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk as locks on one of the top two lines, the skaters he‘ll have to beat out to make the jump from juniors to the NHL are the likes of Johan Franzen, Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar and Tomas Jurco.

―And does he do something special, bring some ingredients that complement the Zetterbergs and Datsyuks that the coach says to me that we need him to win the first game against Boston and I want him in the lineup,‖ Holland said. ―If that‘s not the case, he goes to Grand Rapids and we‘ll go through the development process and develop him into that guy.‖

Mantha, who‘ll turn pro this season, has done all that he could in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League totaling 107 goals and 102 assists over the last two regular seasons, while adding 29 goals and 21 assists in the playoffs.

He also received the Michel Briere Trophy as the QMJHL MVP this past season.

―It appears he can score,‖ Holland said. ―You don‘t score as much as he has over the last couple of years. Not many can score as he‘s scored in his tier group and he‘s produced at the world juniors.‖

But playing at that level is much different than playing in the NHL.

―Lots of times in those leagues scores are 5-4 or 6-5, while we play a lot 2-1 and 3-2 games,‖ Holland said. ―So if you don‘t score what else do you bring to the table? If you don‘t score can you kill a penalty, are you good defensively, can you win physical battles, can you protect the puck down low, can you forecheck and force the defense to make mistakes.

―It‘s more than just can you score,‖ Holland continued. ―Unless you can score 80 goals, and nobody scores 80 goals let alone 50 goals.‖

The Wings appear ready to give Mantha, won‘t turn 20 until September, every opportunity to make the team out of camp.

―I know Mike Babcock wants to give Mantha some opportunities with Datsyuk, Zetterberg, with our best players,‖ said Holland, who selected Mantha 20th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. ―We have eight exhibition games and I know we want him to play five or six. After we‘ve watched him play for three weeks and we get to the end of September or early October, he‘s got to take somebody‘s job.‖

Mantha is in Traverse City attending his second development camp that runs through Tuesday.

―They gave us the message to be every-dayers starting last year and that‘s what I‘m trying to do this year,‖ Mantha said. ―It‘s just about being calm, coming out here and doing what I should be doing here. If I‘m doing the right things then I‘ll get my chance. I‘m not trying to put too much pressure on myself.‖

And he continues exude that level of confidence he did at last year‘s training camp.

―I came here last year with that mentality and I‘ll go to the main camp with the same mentality because you want to be an NHLer one day in your life, and as soon as that can come I will make every little step that I can do get there,‖ Mantha said.

Last year, Babcock didn‘t take long to burst Mantha‘s bubble of making the team out of training camp.

―I don‘t want to break the news to him but he ain‘t making the team,‖ Babcock said last training camp. ―He‘s got to go back to juniors and learn to be an every-dayer. When you compete every day and when you compete on every puck, get strong enough, live it every day and one day you get to play here; in the meantime you get to play juniors or the American League.‖

Macomb Daily LOADED: 07.06.2014

747452 Edmonton Oilers

Oilers goaltending prospect Laurent Brossoit sees upside of footloose season

By Robert Tychkowski,Edmonton Sun

First posted: Friday, July 04, 2014 07:01 PM MDT | Updated: Friday, July 04, 2014 07:46 PM MDT

JASPER - Laurent Brossoit had two choices: Make the most of it or go insane.

So, despite spending his first year as a pro bouncing around from team to team like some kind of hockey orphan, the equipment guys never once had to switch his arm pads for a straight jacket.

―To play on five different teams, three different leagues, was an experience,‖ grinned the 21-year-old goaltender.

―It was frustrating at times but that‘s part of it.‖

Brossoit started out with the Abbotsford Heat, then the Alaska Aces, getting virtually no game time, before coming to Edmonton in the Ladislav Smid trade and playing for Oklahoma City Barons and Bakersfield Condors.

It was tough, but he worked as hard as he could to find the bright side of it all.

―This was my biggest year in terms of development,‖ said Brossoit, who even got called up to Edmonton, but didn‘t play, after Viktor Fasth was injured in practice.

―I met so many different people, so many coaches, so many different opinions on how the game should be played. It‘s nice to take a piece from everything.‖

Still, he admits there were times when it got to him a bit, living out of a suitcase, not knowing where he‘d be tomorrow.

―I knew that wherever I was I wasn‘t going to be there long. Everything seemed temporary, that was the hardest part, that any day now I could just be shipped anywhere. But I‘m stronger for it.‖

It helped that he really found a groove in Bakersfield, going 24-9-2 with a 2.14 and .923 save percentage on Edmonton‘s ECHL team.

―It worked out in the end. I had a lot of success and had a great year. I couldn‘t be happier with my first year pro.‖

Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.06.2014


Oilers prospect Mitch Moroz recovering from Oil Kings championship run, looks to impress



JASPER - Winning hurts.

Long championship drives that run deep into summer will break down the body and eat away at the off-season recovery time, leaving a player physically beaten and emotionally numb.

That‘s why they‘re so awesome.

For Mitch Moroz, the sore knee and troubled shoulder that are refusing to let him fully participate in Oilers orientation camp might as well be badges of honour.

They came with a Memorial Cup championship, so he considers it pain well spent.

―We didn‘t know how bad it was till we sorted it out with medicals after, but I‘d do it all over again,‖ said the 6-foot-3, 214-pound former Edmonton Oil Kings winger, who is moving into the next phase of his hockey career.

―It was a heck of ride. Any time you go on a run like that and you‘re part of a championship team it‘s the most important thing for your development. I would never give up the season we had.

―But now it‘s time to get healthy and start thinking about next season. In the next few weeks I‘m going to try to hop back in the gym and start up with the workout program these guys have set up in Edmonton. It‘s exciting. It‘s definitely a new chapter.‖

For any kid who‘s been playing the game for the love of it since before he could tie his own skates, just saying the words ―professional hockey player,‖ is enough to get the heart rate into triple digits.

For Moroz, it‘s the culmination — almost — of everything he‘s ever worked for. So it‘s a job description he doesn‘t take lightly.

―It‘s awesome, I‘m really excited going into this summer,‖ said the 20-year-old, adding there‘s more to being a pro than the paycheques.

―It‘s a different mindset. You‘re not as comfortable as going into a junior camp. It‘s a job now. You can‘t really look at it as work, but it‘s your career now and you have to take it more seriously, take a lot of pride in it.

I‘m really excited for that.‖

Moroz is setting his sights on becoming the Cinderella story of training camp — the second-round pick who makes it straight out of junior on his first try.

―I want to be able to give myself the best opportunity to go into camp and make them have a hard decision,‘‖ he said.

―Everybody kind of expects that in your first year you go down to Oklahoma, but if I can force their hand a bit and make them sweat it a bit, that‘s my goal. You want to give yourself the best chance possible.‖

That means acting like a pro, long before you ever play your first pro game. It‘ll be a short summer for him, given the long Oil Kings run and time needed to recover from the wear and tear, but fighting through obstacles like that is part of the job now.

―You want to come in in the best shape you can. I want to work on my quickness, that‘s probably my biggest area of improvement this summer, getting quicker, a little leaner and just be able to compete against men now. If I can do that and play my game the way I finished off last season, I know it‘s a big jump but some guys have done it. I‘m confident in myself, I don‘t see why not me.‖

There is certainly a niche for the type of player Moroz can be. A 214-pound winger who put up 63 points and 156 penalty minutes in 70 games? Yeah, Edmonton could use a guy like that one day.

―The last few years it‘s been brought up and tossed around,‖ Moroz said of his potential to fill a void here. ―Now it‘s time to turn that corner and make the most of that opportunity. The spot for a big power forward is there. I don‘t want to let that slip away. I want to come in and try to play that role.‖


747454 Los Angeles Kings

Dwight King files for salary arbitration

Posted by JonRosen on July 5, 2014

Left wing Dwight King was one of 20 NHL players to file for salary arbitration on Saturday.

This is not a major development. King is free to continue to negotiate a contract with the team up until his arbitration date. If he signs, the hearing will not take place.

Last year, Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez, Jordan Nolan and Trevor Lewis filed for arbitration on July 10. Muzzin signed a two-year contract on July 12, Martinez signed a two-year contract on July 14, Nolan signed a two-year contract on July 19, and Trevor Lewis signed a one-year contract on July 23.

King is coming off a two-year, 1.5-million dollar contract signed in July, 2012. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound forward set career highs across the board with 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points and a plus-16 rating.

The Kings have 22 players signed for the upcoming season, totaling 66.8 million dollars of salary cap payroll. They will need to have 23 players on the active roster whose contracts‘ cumulative average annual values add up to less than 69 million dollars by the start of the 2014-15 season. Defenseman Brayden McNabb and forward Andy Andreoff are unsigned restricted free agents.

Arbitration hearings will be held in Toronto from July 22 to August 6. If negotiations with King end up in a hearing (which is unlikely), both sides will submit a proposed salary, and the arbitrator can choose one of the salaries or pick a salary somewhere in the middle.

Teams are also able to file for salary arbitration against players – as Colorado has done with Ryan O‘Reilly. For more on salary arbitration, Article 12 of the CBA (located here, beginning on page 57) will answer all questions.

Also filing for arbitration:

Arizona Coyotes – Brandon McMillan

Boston Bruins – Matt Bartkowski

Calgary Flames – Joe Colborne

Dallas Stars – Cameron Gaunce, Antoine Roussel

Florida Panthers – Jimmy Hayes

Minnesota Wild – Justin Fontaine

Montreal Canadiens – Lars Eller, P.K. Subban

Nashville Predators – Mattias Ekholm

New York Islanders – Kevin Poulin

New York Rangers – Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello

Ottawa Senators – Derek Grant

Pittsburgh Penguins – Nick Spaling

San Jose Sharks – Jason Demers

Toronto Maple Leafs – Cody Franson, James Reimer

More on salary arbitration, courtesy of McSorley‘s Stick

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.06.2014


Player evaluation: Muzzin


This season: 76 games, 5 goals, 19 assists, 24 points, 58 penalty minutes, +8 rating, 19:02 time on ice.

The good: Jake Muzzin took ―a step‖ in 2013-14, and after a regular season that improved as the year unfolded, engineered a postseason campaign that was the antithesis of his performance in the spring the year prior. Showing poise, athleticism, and gifted with a strong first pass out of the zone and extremely high possession rates, the burgeoning and versatile 25-year-old defenseman served as a very workable complement for Drew Doughty and saw his ice time leap up over four full minutes in the playoffs to a workhorse-esque 23:24, in which he recorded six goals, 12 points and a plus-six rating while seeing the ice against the first and second lines of the Sharks, Ducks, Blackhawks and Rangers. Other than a high offensive zone start percentage, Muzzin graded quite well in advanced stats both within and outside of the Doughty defensive pairing. His 61.1% Corsi-for rating in the regular season was the highest individual rate on the league‘s top possession team and only one tenth of a percentage point behind the league leader, Patrice Bergeron. There are reasonable expectations for Muzzin to better his offensive numbers; his 2.9% shooting percentage on an impressive 175 shots on goal yielded only five goals in 76 games in 2014-15. He scored only once on 37 power play shots, and twice on 126 five-on-five shots. The production recalibrated itself in the postseason as Muzzin scored on 12.5% of his shots, ultimately bagging six goals in 26 games. Muzzin‘s biggest strides came in the defensive and neutral zones, where he was much less of a high risk entity while still providing ample reward. Armed with a terrific hockey body and with the ability to close in on players quickly and efficiently, he proved himself to be a difficult player to play against and capable of separating body from pucks with heavy open ice hits as his game continued to smooth out. More than anything else, Muzzin made strides in the pace and mental fortitude needed to play heavy minutes in the NHL. He was quicker to dismiss mistakes and played with greater confidence over his first 82-game season.

The bad: Muzzin can be mistake prone, and there are the occasional pinches that may lead to scoring chances in the other direction. This is more of a byproduct of being a young defenseman who possesses an array of offensive attributes and is fully learning how to apply them at a high stage rather than any inherent flaw in his game. We‘re not privy to what‘s exchanged in the room – and this is certainly a method of continuing to get every last ounce out of Muzzin‘s skill set – but in evaluations that Darryl Sutter shared with the press, there wasn‘t often satisfaction or contentment in where Muzzin‘s game was at. As recently as January 11, Sutter said that Muzzin was ―still very inconsistent in his game – his five-on-five play,‖ while referencing the ―Baptism by fire‖ the team was undertaking due to the defenseman‘s lack of experience. Muzzin had 142 shots blocked in 2013-14, the most on the Kings and the 15th most in the NHL. That‘s not necessarily a bad thing, as Eric Karlsson, Alex Ovechkin, P.K. Subban, Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson round out the league‘s top five skaters in that statistic. There had been concerns expressed in the past with his confidence and poise – as there are for many young defensemen – but Muzzin allayed those fears with a fine postseason.

Going forward: Given the minutes he provided in a top even-strength pairing with Drew Doughty, the numbers he produced in helping catalyze the league‘s best postseason offense, and the all-around improvements in experience, poise and versatility, an argument could be made that Los Angeles doesn‘t win the Stanley Cup if Muzzin doesn‘t offer a resoundingly positive answer to virtually every question asked of his game heading into his second Stanley Cup Playoffs. Though he‘s still relatively green with 132 regular season games (and 43 playoff games) under his belt, he is a Stanley Cup champion who showed significant improvement, both cerebral and tangible, in his first full NHL season. Another 82-game season should continue to allow the 6-foot-3, 214 pound defenseman to refine all on and off-ice aspects of his game, and should he continue to develop and help the team win hockey games at his current pace, he‘ll be in line for a significant increase in pay 12 months from now, when he‘ll be a restricted free agent. Muzzin, who slipped through Pittsburgh‘s fingers after having been drafted in the fifth round in 2007, has been nothing short of a steal for Los Angeles, with whom he signed as a free agent in 2010 while also considering Anaheim‘s advances. There are the occasional hiccups in his game, but if you‘re looking

for players to maximize their ability – the staple of playing for Darryl Sutter – Muzzin did just that at the most important time of the year.


747456 Carolina Hurricanes

Analyzing the Canes: Are they playoff ready?

By Chip Alexander

July 5, 2014

RALEIGH — Peter Karmanos Jr. turned heads a few days ago when he said the Carolina Hurricanes were a ―very good hockey team.‖

Karmanos is the Canes‘ owner, and a little hubris is to be expected. But the Canes have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past five seasons. They were 13th last season in the NHL‘s Eastern Conference. They had a woeful power play and were only a little better at home than on the road.

Karmanos‘ belief is that a new coaching staff and new system, a healthier team and the continued development of younger players will translate into more wins next season. General manager Ron Francis is another believer, generally standing pat in free agency this past week while other Metropolitan Division rivals made significant signings.

Francis noted the Hurricanes finished 10 points out of playoff position in the East. In his mind, had goalies Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin not been out with injuries; had forwards Jiri Tlusty, Eric Staal and Alexander Semin not had slow starts because of injuries; had the power play been more potent, the Canes could have been a playoff team.

―We didn‘t think it was necessary to kind of blow everything up,‖ Francis said. ―We still think we have a lot of good pieces. I know people are going to shake their heads a little bit when you say that. … When you don‘t make the playoffs everybody wants to see change.‖

Francis said he got a ―fresh opinion‖ on the players from new coach Bill Peters. The management team weighed in. Karmanos, who writes the checks, had his say.

―At this point we felt we had a good enough team to compete and make the playoffs,‖ Francis said. ―Now it‘s up to us to get on the ice and start winning hockey games, and I think that‘s the best way to convince anyone.‖

Can the Canes do it? Here‘s a team breakdown:

Forwards

Karmanos says he likes the Canes‘ forwards. Francis says he likes the Canes‘ forwards.

As for Peters, Francis said, ―He loves our group of forwards and what he thinks we can do. He thinks there‘s more there in the goal-scoring department.‖

The Canes need more. Carolina was 22nd in scoring last season (2.50 goals a game), finishing 28th on the power play (14.6 percent). The Canes also failed to score many goals early or late in games, finishing 27th in first-period scoring and 28th in third-period goals (sixth in second period).

Jeff Skinner had a career-high 33 goals last season and has the potential to score 40, many agree. Semin, despite a wrist injury in preseason that bothered him all season, finished with 22 goals and Jiri Tlusty and Nathan Gerbe each had 16.

A lot could hinge on a healthy – and possibly recharged – Eric Staal. He turns 30 early in the season and must consistently produce, both five-on-five and on the power play. The Canes captain had one power-play goal and no game-winning goals last season, surely a blow to his pride.

More is expected from Jordan Staal. One can‘t overlook his plus-2 rating last season despite facing the other teams‘ best forwards, but the Canes‘ No. 2 center needs to improve his 15-goal, 40-point production for the Canes to be playoff-cailber.

Elias Lindholm, the Canes‘ No. 1 draft pick last year, began to look more comfortable and was more effective late in the season. The adjustment period – to the NHL, to a smaller rink size, to leaving Sweden – is over and he should come to camp bigger and stronger.

The Canes‘ fourth line will have a more physical look with the addition of free agents Jay McClement and Brad Malone. But there should be a lot of competition for forward spots in preseason training camp.

Zach Boychuk led the American Hockey League with 36 goals last season and at 24 it might finally be his time. ―He‘s a guy that we feel has earned the opportunity,‖ Francis said.

Peters will insist on strong two-way play from the forwards, saying he wants 200-foot competitors. That‘s a must for the Canes.

• Pros: Four potential 30-plus goal scorers when healthy (E. Staal, Skinner, Semin, Tlusty); strength up middle.

• Cons: Net presence has been lacking; not imposing physically.

Defensemen

Who knew when the Canes traded Tim Gleason on New Year‘s Day that he would be back so soon and John-Michael Liles a teammate?

Gleason was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Liles and a defensive prospect. Bought out by the Leafs, Gleason signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract Thursday with the Canes.

The Canes can only hope Gleason, 31, plays with his old snarl. A low-risk signing, Gleason would be a boost to a back end that has changed little from last season.

The Canes re-signed Ron Hainsey. Returning are Justin Faulk, Andrej Sekera, Jay Harrison, Liles … in short, basically the same crew minus Brett Bellemore.

―I think you‘re always looking to improve your back end, but Faulk and Sekera can arguably play against anybody as a 1-2 pair,‖ Francis said. ―Ron Hainsey can play 21 minutes a game. John-Michael Liles, I think he‘s got more to bring. Jay is coming off probably a little bit of an off-year and hopefully he bounces back.‖

Ryan Murphy, the Canes‘ first-round pick in 2011, may be ready to keep a roster spot for a full season. He has the offensive tools and can help the power play, but must be tougher and better in the defensive zone.

Haydn Fleury, this year‘s first-round selection, will be given the chance to make the big team but might need another year of junior hockey.

The Canes‘ back end needs to help out more offensively – Sekera had a career-high 11 goals but no other D-man had more than five. But Francis called it a ―pretty good group‖ adding, ―They‘re mobile, they can move the puck and that‘s important in today‘s game.‖

• Pros: Good blend of age and experience; capable puck-movers.

• Cons: Not a lot of size; need for a power-play quarterback.

Goaltenders

Ward and Khudobin will draw $8.7 million in salary next season and most Canes fans know how that‘s divided – Ward will get $6.7 million, Khudobin $2 million.

But if the Canes can get the production to match the salaries, if the two goalies can push each other for the No. 1 spot, a playoff spot could be a possibility.

Khudobin‘s ankle injury and Ward‘s recurring groin issues hit the Canes hard last season. In an 11-day span in October, the Canes lost both, and for extended periods.

―There isn‘t any team in the league who had their No. 1 and No. 2 goalies out, that made the playoffs, for the length of time we had our goalies out,‖ Karmanos said. ―We don‘t need any help in goal. We have two outstanding goalies.‖

Justin Peters, who stepped in and played well last year when the two were hurt, has signed a free-agent deal with Washington. The Canes have signed Drew MacIntyre, coming off a strong season with the AHL‘s Toronto Marlies, as the No. 3 goalie.

Ward, 30, would like to have one injury-free season. Khudobin would like to be the No. 1 guy.

―Hopefully they‘re back, they‘re hungry, they‘re ready to go and they‘re healthy the whole year for us,‖ Francis said.

• Pros: At their best, both can perform like elite goaltenders; competition level should be high.

• Cons: Ward can‘t seem to stay healthy for a season; MacIntyre, if needed, is new to the organization.

Playoff hopes: A lot of things probably will need to go right: a strong season from Eric Staal, another strong season from Sekera, Ward being Ward again ... it‘s a long list. A lot will be asked from Bill Peters, who needs to get the right players in the right spots and have the right system in place.

News Observer LOADED: 07.06.2014

747457 Colorado Avalanche

Jarome Iginla hopes to follow in Ray Bourque's Avalanche footsteps

By Adrian Dater

Posted: 07/05/2014 10:23:23 PM MDT

Updated: 07/05/2014 10:33:12 PM MDT

He comes to Colorado via Boston, in search of his first Stanley Cup after nearly two decades in the NHL. He is considered one of the game's classiest players, which makes it hard not to root for him as a sentimental favorite. Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy will help try to get him that first Cup.

This is the story line for Jarome Iginla, almost identical to the one Ray Bourque had when he came to the Avs in 2000 from the Bruins. A year after his acquisition, Bourque was handed the Cup by Sakic after the final game of his career, the definition of the storybook ending.

If Iginla ever raises a Stanley Cup with the Avs, he probably would receive the handoff from team captain Gabe Landeskog — just as Sakic did for Bourque after Game 7 of the 2001 Finals.

"That's a hope one day," Iginla said after signing a three-year, $16 million contract with the Avs last week.

But is it just a fantasy? Iginla wouldn't have chosen the Avs over several other suitors — including the Eastern Conference regular-season champion Bruins — if he thought it was.

"With this group, I think the sky is the limit," Iginla said. "When I think of some of the teams that have had success in the NHL in the last five or six years, I think of Chicago; they were a very young, very talented team that moved up very quickly, that had a very talented young core when they won.

"Pittsburgh was pretty young when they won. Boston had a pretty young core when they won, too. I think Colorado has a lot of young guys, whether in their first year or third or fourth year or whatever, they've been confident and been able to play their way and just keep getting better. I'm excited to be able to come for three years and be part of that, and grow with the guys."

Three years an important part of deal

Jarome Iginla, who played for the Boston Bruins last season, is considered a future Hall of Fame player based on prolific scoring and many other

Let's be clear: The Avs will remain seen by most pundits as outside shots to win the Cup this coming season, especially playing in the brutal Western Conference. They lost a key forward, Paul Stastny, to a division rival, St. Louis, and failed to sign any of the bigger-name defensemen on the open market. The replacements for Stastny and P.A. Parenteau were two players 36 or older — Iginla and Daniel Briere. The biggest addition to a defense that needed help was 34-year-old Brad Stuart.

Let's also not be naive and say the Avs' contract offer, particularly the three-year term, had nothing to do with Iginla's choice of Colorado. Even Iginla admits that.

"It was important, from one side, for my family and I to have that stability, to be able to buy a house and set some roots down again," Iginla said. "You don't want to come and just have one shot at it, on a one-year deal."

But Iginla said he is sincere in his belief that the Avs offered the best hockey option among his suitors, that being able to check off the box of "Cup contender" made him sign.

"Next year, the year after, I think they just keep getting better and better," said Iginla, who has scored 560 goals, including 30 or more in 12 of the past 13 seasons. "I expect to be good for the guys. I won't be taking it easy. I expect to be contributing."

Can Iginla, 37, still keep up in the faster-paced Western Conference?

"I'm excited to back to the West. As far as a different style of hockey, east to west, I don't know if I noticed that much of a difference. I would say the West seems to be a little bit more physical, but the (difference) wasn't as big as I thought," he said. "As far as being able to fit in, I believe I can. I felt better as the year went on in Boston. Not to be arrogant or anything, but I still believe I

can be very good, and not be able to contribute offensively and be a good player."

From Edmonton to archrival

Iginla, whose full name is Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla, is the son of a Nigerian-born lawyer father, Elvis, and former music teacher mother, Susan. He grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, but spent the first 17 years of his career with the nearby rival Calgary Flames.

He is a part owner of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, the junior team he played on, and is known as a tireless champion of charitable causes everywhere he plays. While in Calgary, he gave more than $700,000 to KidSport Calgary, a foundation that helps underprivileged children play sports.

Among the people Iginla has most looked up to in his career is Sakic, the Avs' executive vice president of hockey operations. They were linemates on the 2002 Team Canada Olympic club that won its first gold medal in 50 years, and while Iginla said he didn't name one of his three children Joe specifically because of Sakic, "it didn't hurt."

Sakic said he called Iginla when the June 25 period for talking to free agents started, and believes his signing best addresses areas of need up front in the wake of Stastny's departure.

"Jarome was always tops on our list to replace (Stastny)," Sakic said. "He's a big power forward on the right side who brings leadership. He's a proven winner. He might not be in his prime, but he's still got a lot. Our core guys are all young, and you want to surround them with great veteran leadership."

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.06.2014

747458 Columbus Blue Jackets

Around the NHL: Ex-Penguins center Brian Gibbons signs with Jackets

By Aaron Portzline The Columbus Dispatch • Saturday July 5, 2014 5:41 AM

The Blue Jackets added another candidate to play on their fourth line yesterday, signing former Pittsburgh Penguins center Brian Gibbons to a one-year, two-way contract.

Gibbons, 26, had five goals, 12 assists and a plus-5 rating in 41 regular-season games with the Penguins last season. He also had two goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs, both scored against the Blue Jackets — 54 seconds apart in Game 2 — in their first-round series.

―I‘m going to get an opportunity, which is all I‘m asking for,‖ Gibbons said. ―They told me to come to camp ready to play and compete, that the best guys are going to play.‖

Center Mark Letestu and right wing Jared Boll are the only fourth-line players with one-way, NHL-only contracts. The battle for the other spot should be intense, with Gibbons joining Jerry D‘Amigo, Corey Tropp and Simon Hjalmarsson on two-way contracts.

Gibbons, 5 feet 8, 170 pounds, said he had offers from other clubs but chose the Blue Jackets.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.06.2014

747459 Dallas Stars

NHL Players Association announced 20 players have filed for arbitration, including Antoine Roussel and Cameron Gaunce

MIKE HEIKA



The NHLPA announced today that 20 players have filed for salary arbitration, including Stars forward Antoine Roussel and defenseman Cameron Gaunce.

The move is simply one that allows the players to have leverage in negotiations, and most players settle on contracts before their arbitration hearing. Mark Fistric and Richard Bachman filed in 2012. Fabian Brunnstrom filed in 2010. All three agreed to contracts before their hearings.

Antti Miettinen filed in 2007 and was awarded $885,000 in arbitration.

There is a good chance both Roussel and Gaunce will settle before their hearings. If not, the Stars are expected to accept the arbitration decision, and the players will remain with the team.

Here is the press release:

TORONTO (July 5, 2014) - 20 players have elected Salary Arbitration:

Arizona Coyotes

Brandon McMillan

Boston BruinsMatt Bartkowski

Calgary Flames

Joe Colborne

Dallas Stars

Cameron Gaunce

Antoine Roussel

Florida Panthers

Jimmy Hayes

Los Angeles KingsDwight King

Minnesota Wild Justin Fontaine

Montreal Canadiens

Lars Eller

P.K. Subban

Nashville Predators

Mattias Ekholm

New York Islanders Kevin Poulin

New York Rangers

Derick Brassard

Chris Kreider

Mats Zuccarello

Ottawa Senators

Derek Grant

Pittsburgh Penguins

Nick Spaling

San Jose Sharks

Jason Demers

Toronto Maple Leafs

Cody Franson

James Reimer



747460 Dallas Stars

Stars will do nothing on defense this summer; Jim Nill says it's all part of his plan

MIKE HEIKA



Like a wine stain on a wedding gown, the Stars‘ defense still has many fans seeing red.

While general manager Jim Nill put some zing in his second line and added an admirable project at backup goalie this week, he didn‘t touch the defense. That‘s right, nothing. And haven‘t you been hearing for the last four years that the blueline is where this team needs the most attention?

But Nill said he has a plan, and it‘s to trust the kids. His changes will come in the form of Jamie Oleksiak, Patrik Nemeth, John Klingberg, Jyrki Jokipakka and Cameron Gaunce. Nill is betting that at least two of those youngsters will take a step forward, and that the remaining defensemen will be as good or better than last season.

―I‘m excited about our defense,‖ Nill said. ―We‘ve got three or four young kids that are knocking on the door from the Calder Cup championship down in Texas. We think we‘ve got lots of different options. We know they‘re all going to get better. We think we‘re going to be just fine.‖

Part of the reason for that is the fact Nill and coach Lindy Ruff saw impressive improvement from Alex Goligoski and Trevor Daley as last season progressed. The two Stars veterans have struggled at different times in their careers. Goligoski had a rough start when partnered with Sergei Gonchar last season. Daley has battled to find the right line of offensive aggression in his career. But something clicked around midseason.

―I think when those two started playing together and started playing big minutes, they formed a chemistry and just took off,‖ said Nill. ―You look at the end of last season and you look in the playoffs, and I thought they were exceptional.‖

Goligoski was a huge key to the team‘s turnaround. He started the season with no points and went minus-10 in the first eight games while averaging under 20 minutes of ice time. He finished the season with a 13-game stretch where he had nine points and went plus-14 while averaging more than 25 minutes a game.

―I think we all had to get comfortable with one another, and I think if you look at those two at the end of the season, they were comfortable,‖ coach Lindy Ruff said. ―They learned what to expect from us, and we learned how to use them better.‖

Goligoski‘s biggest problem in Dallas has been a lack of confidence. When he makes mistakes, he starts to question his game. But with Ruff preaching an attacking style, mistakes are almost expected. If you‘re going to push the pace, you‘re going to make turnovers. Ruff simply asks that when you do, you hustle back and recover.

That fit perfectly for Goligoski and brought out more of the skill game from Daley, who was drafted as a speedy defenseman but was turned into a conservative one.

So if the top pair is set, then why can‘t the Stars rotate a group of talented (if unproven) defensemen below that?

Brenden Dillon has established himself as an NHL regular at 23. Jordie Benn and Kevin Connauton have grabbed NHL jobs after working up through the minors. Oleksiak, Nemeth, Jokipakka and Gaunce helped the Texas Stars win the AHL championship. And Klingberg is the mysterious unicorn of blueliners — a skilled, right-handed defenseman who might be a future home-grown No. 1.

Klingberg is only 21, is coming off hip surgery and has not yet played in the NHL, so he might not be ready to deliver. But the Stars believe he will be ready soon, and they‘re more than ready to give him a chance.

And, if that doesn‘t work, then Nill can look at the trade market or at free agency next summer — after all, there are a ton of contracts coming off the books by then.

So maybe that wine stain can be covered with a corsage, or maybe Nill can remove it completely.

After all, he‘s kind of becoming the Martha Stewart of GMs with all the craftiness he‘s shown so far.

Fresh faces on defense

After the Stars added Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky to the top-six forward group, their fans are worried the defense might still need a makeover. GM Jim Nill disagrees, and expects to go forward with this group:

RETURNING VETERANS

Player

Notable

Jordie Benn

Led Stars defensemen in regular-season plus-minus at plus-16

Kevin Connauton

Slick skater ready to battle for a regular job at age 24.

Trevor Daley

Ranked 14th in playoff time on ice at 25:48, was plus-5 in six games.

Brenden Dillon

Led Stars in hits with 168 in 80 games, physical force at 6-3, 225.

Alex Goligoski

Ranked 5th in NHL playoff time on ice at 28:30, was plus-7 in six games.

Sergei Gonchar

Just turned 40, but Stars are hoping to squeeze one more year out.



Detroit Red Wings trade talk: Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers could fill major void

July 6, 2014

By Helene St. James

The Red Wings were unable to lure that right-shot defenseman they want from the free-agent market, leaving a trade as the only option to make a significant upgrade on the back end.

One possible candidate: Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres.

Myers stands a towering 6-feet-8, the only D-man who can look Boston‘s Zdeno Chara in the eye without craning his neck. Myers is only 24, but already he has played 318 NHL games since joining Buffalo in 2009-10, the season he took home the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year on the strength of 48 points in 82 games.

He is good offensively (he has hit or come close to 10 goals four out of five seasons) and valuable on the power play, where he has 13 of his 41 career goals.

In 2013-14, Myers had nine goals and 22 points in 62 games, averaging just under 22 minutes per game. He is a very good skater, plays in all situations and can serve as a shut-down guy. Myers makes mistakes (like everyone else), but he has franchise defenseman written all over him, and he is still two or three years removed from even entering his prime.

Two years ago, the Sabres signed Myers to seven years for $38.5 million, working out to a very amenable $5.5-million annual salary cap hit. He has already made $18 million, making the rest of his contract all the more attractive as the most he‘ll pull in salary is $5 million a season.

The downside of having to trade instead of signing a free agent is the internal cost. Myers is Buffalo‘s top defenseman and the asking price is going to start with one of Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar or Tomas Jurco. Buffalo might well ask for Anthony Mantha, but the Wings aren‘t relinquishing him. One player alone wouldn‘t do it, though — there would likely be a high draft pick involved, too, maybe even a second player, someone in his mid-20s.

That‘s a considerable cost, but the Wings have to consider that as they stand right now, they don‘t match well against division mates like Boston, Tampa bay and Montreal, much less the teams that stalk the Western Conference. A trade for an impact defenseman would make things look a whole lot rosier.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.06.2014


Detroit Red Wings brass pleased with first scrimmage at annual development camp

Brendan Savage

on July 05, 2014 at 7:07 PM, updated July 05, 2014 at 7:29 PM

TRAVERSE CITY – The Detroit Red Wings were looking for some specific things Saturday during the first scrimmage of their annual development camp.

"We wanted to see speed," said director of player development Jiri Fischer. "We wanted to see guys making plays. We didn't want to see fighting. We wanted to see guys committed, finishing checks, fighting for pucks.

"We wanted to see goalies making big plays."

Mission accomplished.

Fischer was pleased with what he saw in Team Yzerman's 3-2 victory over Team Lidstrom considering the players had only skated for one day before scrimmaging.

Camp invites Alex Globke and Justin Hicketts – from Lake Superior State and Victoria of the WHL, respectively – scored for Team Yzerman along with 2014 sixth-round draft pick Julius Vahatalo.

Tomas Nosek, signed as a free agent from the Czech Republic, and 2014 fourth-round draft pick Christoffer Ehn scored for Team Lidstrom.

"I thought there was good intensity," said Jeff Blashill, the Grand Rapids Griffins head coach who is directing the development camp. "I thought it looked real. It was fairly real hockey for early July. There was some physicality.

"Some of the concepts we talked about as far as angling people and taking away their space, I thought we did a good job of that. It looks like a group of good young prospects."

Anthony Mantha at Red Wings development camp Red Wings top prospect attempts to score in post-scrimmage shootout

Fischer was pleasantly surprised with how well the scrimmage went considered the players didn't hit the ice for the first time until Friday morning.

The scrimmage was the first of two scheduled for the camp. The other will be Tuesday morning after a pair of workouts on and off the ice both Sunday and Monday.

More will obviously be expected in the final scrimmage but at the same time the development camp isn't necessarily about the players showing what they can do on the ice. It's about teaching them what it takes to be a pro hockey player.

"In the development camp, we in general try to compare where guys are at versus where they were at in the development camp a year ago," Fischer said. "It's the middle of the summer. Not everybody skates, not everybody is on the ice. We understand that.

"Comparing where guys are at compared to where they were during the season to where they were at the prospects tournament, that's not fair. We want to make sure guys come here, they get educated on the ice, they get educated off the ice, media, life skills, culinary classes.

"Hopefully, they leave the camp and are using that information for the rest of the summer and get better (to be) the best they can."

• Axel Holmstrom, Detroit's seventh-round pick (196th) overall in last month's draft, is no relation to former Red Wings great Tomas Holmstrom. But he did honor his namesake by wearing No. 96 in the development camp.

• Defenseman Alexey Marchenko, who was an AHL All-Star last season for Grand Rapids and played one game with the Red Wings, is at the camp after undergoing ankle surgery. He had the screws removed last week and said he hopes to skate for the first time Sunday.

• Mike McKee and Richard Nedomlel are not only two of the biggest players in the camp at 6-foot-5, but they also delivered the two biggest checks of the day in the scrimmage.

• Dean Chelios, another camp invitee, is wearing his father Chris' No. 24.

• Top prospect Anthony Mantha didn't figure in the scoring but he didn't disappoint either. Mantha was one of the speediest players – as well as one of the best – on the ice and is also among the biggest at 6-5.

• Andreas Athanasiou, who scored 49 goals for the OHL's Barrie Colts last season, scored a nifty goal in the shootout that followed the scrimmage.

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.06.2014


Anthony Mantha has a job with the Detroit Red Wings, if he can take it

By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily

Posted: 07/05/14, 4:56 PM EDT |

DETROIT >> For Anthony Mantha it comes down to one thing: If he wants to make the Detroit Red Wings‘ roster this season, he has to beat someone out.

―He‘s going to have to beat someone out,‖ Wings general manager Ken Holland said in a phone interview Thursday. ―I think everybody has potential, some have more than others. If you don‘t live up to that potential it really doesn‘t matter.‖

And it‘s not just one of the 12 forwards Detroit dresses on a nightly basis, but one that‘s slotted to be in the top six.

―When we open with Boston (on Oct. 9) and the coach says to me he wants Mantha in the lineup he‘s in the lineup,‖ Holland said. ―If he‘s in the lineup it‘s because basically we think he‘s going to be a top six forward. I don‘t know we‘d put him on the fourth line and play him eight minutes.‖

With Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk as locks on one of the top two lines, the skaters he‘ll have to beat out to make the jump from juniors to the NHL are the likes of Johan Franzen, Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar and Tomas Jurco.

―And does he do something special, bring some ingredients that complement the Zetterbergs and Datsyuks that the coach says to me that we need him to win the first game against Boston and I want him in the lineup,‖ Holland said. ―If that‘s not the case, he goes to Grand Rapids and we‘ll go through the development process and develop him into that guy.‖

Mantha, who‘ll turn pro this season, has done all that he could in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League totaling 107 goals and 102 assists over the last two regular seasons, while adding 29 goals and 21 assists in the playoffs.

He also received the Michel Briere Trophy as the QMJHL MVP this past season.

―It appears he can score,‖ Holland said. ―You don‘t score as much as he has over the last couple of years. Not many can score as he‘s scored in his tier group and he‘s produced at the world juniors.‖

But playing at that level is much different than playing in the NHL.

―Lots of times in those leagues scores are 5-4 or 6-5, while we play a lot 2-1 and 3-2 games,‖ Holland said. ―So if you don‘t score what else do you bring to the table? If you don‘t score can you kill a penalty, are you good defensively, can you win physical battles, can you protect the puck down low, can you forecheck and force the defense to make mistakes.

―It‘s more than just can you score,‖ Holland continued. ―Unless you can score 80 goals, and nobody scores 80 goals let alone 50 goals.‖

The Wings appear ready to give Mantha, won‘t turn 20 until September, every opportunity to make the team out of camp.

―I know Mike Babcock wants to give Mantha some opportunities with Datsyuk, Zetterberg, with our best players,‖ said Holland, who selected Mantha 20th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. ―We have eight exhibition games and I know we want him to play five or six. After we‘ve watched him play for three weeks and we get to the end of September or early October, he‘s got to take somebody‘s job.‖

Mantha is in Traverse City attending his second development camp that runs through Tuesday.

―They gave us the message to be every-dayers starting last year and that‘s what I‘m trying to do this year,‖ Mantha said. ―It‘s just about being calm, coming out here and doing what I should be doing here. If I‘m doing the right things then I‘ll get my chance. I‘m not trying to put too much pressure on myself.‖

And he continues exude that level of confidence he did at last year‘s training camp.

―I came here last year with that mentality and I‘ll go to the main camp with the same mentality because you want to be an NHLer one day in your life, and as soon as that can come I will make every little step that I can do get there,‖ Mantha said.

Last year, Babcock didn‘t take long to burst Mantha‘s bubble of making the team out of training camp.

―I don‘t want to break the news to him but he ain‘t making the team,‖ Babcock said last training camp. ―He‘s got to go back to juniors and learn to be an every-dayer. When you compete every day and when you compete on every puck, get strong enough, live it every day and one day you get to play here; in the meantime you get to play juniors or the American League.‖

Macomb Daily LOADED: 07.06.2014


Oilers goaltending prospect Laurent Brossoit sees upside of footloose season



JASPER - Laurent Brossoit had two choices: Make the most of it or go insane.

So, despite spending his first year as a pro bouncing around from team to team like some kind of hockey orphan, the equipment guys never once had to switch his arm pads for a straight jacket.

―To play on five different teams, three different leagues, was an experience,‖ grinned the 21-year-old goaltender.

―It was frustrating at times but that‘s part of it.‖

Brossoit started out with the Abbotsford Heat, then the Alaska Aces, getting virtually no game time, before coming to Edmonton in the Ladislav Smid trade and playing for Oklahoma City Barons and Bakersfield Condors.

It was tough, but he worked as hard as he could to find the bright side of it all.

―This was my biggest year in terms of development,‖ said Brossoit, who even got called up to Edmonton, but didn‘t play, after Viktor Fasth was injured in practice.

―I met so many different people, so many coaches, so many different opinions on how the game should be played. It‘s nice to take a piece from everything.‖

Still, he admits there were times when it got to him a bit, living out of a suitcase, not knowing where he‘d be tomorrow.

―I knew that wherever I was I wasn‘t going to be there long. Everything seemed temporary, that was the hardest part, that any day now I could just be shipped anywhere. But I‘m stronger for it.‖

It helped that he really found a groove in Bakersfield, going 24-9-2 with a 2.14 and .923 save percentage on Edmonton‘s ECHL team.

―It worked out in the end. I had a lot of success and had a great year. I couldn‘t be happier with my first year pro.‖



Oilers prospect Mitch Moroz recovering from Oil Kings championship run, looks to impress



JASPER - Winning hurts.

Long championship drives that run deep into summer will break down the body and eat away at the off-season recovery time, leaving a player physically beaten and emotionally numb.

That‘s why they‘re so awesome.

For Mitch Moroz, the sore knee and troubled shoulder that are refusing to let him fully participate in Oilers orientation camp might as well be badges of honour.

They came with a Memorial Cup championship, so he considers it pain well spent.

―We didn‘t know how bad it was till we sorted it out with medicals after, but I‘d do it all over again,‖ said the 6-foot-3, 214-pound former Edmonton Oil Kings winger, who is moving into the next phase of his hockey career.

―It was a heck of ride. Any time you go on a run like that and you‘re part of a championship team it‘s the most important thing for your development. I would never give up the season we had.

―But now it‘s time to get healthy and start thinking about next season. In the next few weeks I‘m going to try to hop back in the gym and start up with the workout program these guys have set up in Edmonton. It‘s exciting. It‘s definitely a new chapter.‖

For any kid who‘s been playing the game for the love of it since before he could tie his own skates, just saying the words ―professional hockey player,‖ is enough to get the heart rate into triple digits.

For Moroz, it‘s the culmination — almost — of everything he‘s ever worked for. So it‘s a job description he doesn‘t take lightly.

―It‘s awesome, I‘m really excited going into this summer,‖ said the 20-year-old, adding there‘s more to being a pro than the paycheques.

―It‘s a different mindset. You‘re not as comfortable as going into a junior camp. It‘s a job now. You can‘t really look at it as work, but it‘s your career now and you have to take it more seriously, take a lot of pride in it.

I‘m really excited for that.‖

Moroz is setting his sights on becoming the Cinderella story of training camp — the second-round pick who makes it straight out of junior on his first try.

―I want to be able to give myself the best opportunity to go into camp and make them have a hard decision,‘‖ he said.

―Everybody kind of expects that in your first year you go down to Oklahoma, but if I can force their hand a bit and make them sweat it a bit, that‘s my goal. You want to give yourself the best chance possible.‖

That means acting like a pro, long before you ever play your first pro game. It‘ll be a short summer for him, given the long Oil Kings run and time needed to recover from the wear and tear, but fighting through obstacles like that is part of the job now.

―You want to come in in the best shape you can. I want to work on my quickness, that‘s probably my biggest area of improvement this summer, getting quicker, a little leaner and just be able to compete against men now. If I can do that and play my game the way I finished off last season, I know it‘s a big jump but some guys have done it. I‘m confident in myself, I don‘t see why not me.‖

There is certainly a niche for the type of player Moroz can be. A 214-pound winger who put up 63 points and 156 penalty minutes in 70 games? Yeah, Edmonton could use a guy like that one day.

―The last few years it‘s been brought up and tossed around,‖ Moroz said of his potential to fill a void here. ―Now it‘s time to turn that corner and make the most of that opportunity. The spot for a big power forward is there. I don‘t want to let that slip away. I want to come in and try to play that role.‖



Dwight King files for salary arbitration


Left wing Dwight King was one of 20 NHL players to file for salary arbitration on Saturday.

This is not a major development. King is free to continue to negotiate a contract with the team up until his arbitration date. If he signs, the hearing will not take place.

Last year, Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez, Jordan Nolan and Trevor Lewis filed for arbitration on July 10. Muzzin signed a two-year contract on July 12, Martinez signed a two-year contract on July 14, Nolan signed a two-year contract on July 19, and Trevor Lewis signed a one-year contract on July 23.

King is coming off a two-year, 1.5-million dollar contract signed in July, 2012. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound forward set career highs across the board with 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points and a plus-16 rating.

The Kings have 22 players signed for the upcoming season, totaling 66.8 million dollars of salary cap payroll. They will need to have 23 players on the active roster whose contracts‘ cumulative average annual values add up to less than 69 million dollars by the start of the 2014-15 season. Defenseman Brayden McNabb and forward Andy Andreoff are unsigned restricted free agents.

Arbitration hearings will be held in Toronto from July 22 to August 6. If negotiations with King end up in a hearing (which is unlikely), both sides will submit a proposed salary, and the arbitrator can choose one of the salaries or pick a salary somewhere in the middle.

Teams are also able to file for salary arbitration against players – as Colorado has done with Ryan O‘Reilly. For more on salary arbitration, Article 12 of the CBA (located here, beginning on page 57) will answer all questions.

Also filing for arbitration:

Arizona Coyotes – Brandon McMillan

Boston Bruins – Matt Bartkowski

Calgary Flames – Joe Colborne

Dallas Stars – Cameron Gaunce, Antoine Roussel

Florida Panthers – Jimmy Hayes

Minnesota Wild – Justin Fontaine

Montreal Canadiens – Lars Eller, P.K. Subban

Nashville Predators – Mattias Ekholm

New York Islanders – Kevin Poulin

New York Rangers – Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello

Ottawa Senators – Derek Grant

Pittsburgh Penguins – Nick Spaling

San Jose Sharks – Jason Demers

Toronto Maple Leafs – Cody Franson, James Reimer



Player evaluation: Muzzin


This season: 76 games, 5 goals, 19 assists, 24 points, 58 penalty minutes, +8 rating, 19:02 time on ice.

The good: Jake Muzzin took ―a step‖ in 2013-14, and after a regular season that improved as the year unfolded, engineered a postseason campaign that was the antithesis of his performance in the spring the year prior. Showing poise, athleticism, and gifted with a strong first pass out of the zone and extremely high possession rates, the burgeoning and versatile 25-year-old defenseman served as a very workable complement for Drew Doughty and saw his ice time leap up over four full minutes in the playoffs to a workhorse-esque 23:24, in which he recorded six goals, 12 points and a plus-six rating while seeing the ice against the first and second lines of the Sharks, Ducks, Blackhawks and Rangers. Other than a high offensive zone start percentage, Muzzin graded quite well in advanced stats both within and outside of the Doughty defensive pairing. His 61.1% Corsi-for rating in the regular season was the highest individual rate on the league‘s top possession team and only one tenth of a percentage point behind the league leader, Patrice Bergeron. There are reasonable expectations for Muzzin to better his offensive numbers; his 2.9% shooting percentage on an impressive 175 shots on goal yielded only five goals in 76 games in 2014-15. He scored only once on 37 power play shots, and twice on 126 five-on-five shots. The production recalibrated itself in the postseason as Muzzin scored on 12.5% of his shots, ultimately bagging six goals in 26 games. Muzzin‘s biggest strides came in the defensive and neutral zones, where he was much less of a high risk entity while still providing ample reward. Armed with a terrific hockey body and with the ability to close in on players quickly and efficiently, he proved himself to be a difficult player to play against and capable of separating body from pucks with heavy open ice hits as his game continued to smooth out. More than anything else, Muzzin made strides in the pace and mental fortitude needed to play heavy minutes in the NHL. He was quicker to dismiss mistakes and played with greater confidence over his first 82-game season.

The bad: Muzzin can be mistake prone, and there are the occasional pinches that may lead to scoring chances in the other direction. This is more of a byproduct of being a young defenseman who possesses an array of offensive attributes and is fully learning how to apply them at a high stage rather than any inherent flaw in his game. We‘re not privy to what‘s exchanged in the room – and this is certainly a method of continuing to get every last ounce out of Muzzin‘s skill set – but in evaluations that Darryl Sutter shared with the press, there wasn‘t often satisfaction or contentment in where Muzzin‘s game was at. As recently as January 11, Sutter said that Muzzin was ―still very inconsistent in his game – his five-on-five play,‖ while referencing the ―Baptism by fire‖ the team was undertaking due to the defenseman‘s lack of experience. Muzzin had 142 shots blocked in 2013-14, the most on the Kings and the 15th most in the NHL. That‘s not necessarily a bad thing, as Eric Karlsson, Alex Ovechkin, P.K. Subban, Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson round out the league‘s top five skaters in that statistic. There had been concerns expressed in the past with his confidence and poise – as there are for many young defensemen – but Muzzin allayed those fears with a fine postseason.

Going forward: Given the minutes he provided in a top even-strength pairing with Drew Doughty, the numbers he produced in helping catalyze the league‘s best postseason offense, and the all-around improvements in experience, poise and versatility, an argument could be made that Los Angeles doesn‘t win the Stanley Cup if Muzzin doesn‘t offer a resoundingly positive answer to virtually every question asked of his game heading into his second Stanley Cup Playoffs. Though he‘s still relatively green with 132 regular season games (and 43 playoff games) under his belt, he is a Stanley Cup champion who showed significant improvement, both cerebral and tangible, in his first full NHL season. Another 82-game season should continue to allow the 6-foot-3, 214 pound defenseman to refine all on and off-ice aspects of his game, and should he continue to develop and help the team win hockey games at his current pace, he‘ll be in line for a significant increase in pay 12 months from now, when he‘ll be a restricted free agent. Muzzin, who slipped through Pittsburgh‘s fingers after having been drafted in the fifth round in 2007, has been nothing short of a steal for Los Angeles, with whom he signed as a free agent in 2010 while also considering Anaheim‘s advances. There are the occasional hiccups in his game, but if you‘re looking

for players to maximize their ability – the staple of playing for Darryl Sutter – Muzzin did just that at the most important time of the year.

2013 Muzzin evaluation

2011 Muzzin evaluation

488087951AB003_DUCKS_KINGS

2014 Player Evaluations

#2 – MATT GREENE

How would you grade Muzzin?

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747468 Minnesota Wild

Justin Fontaine files for arbitration

Blog Post by: Michael Russo

July 5, 2014 - 4:30 PM

Wild right wing Justin Fontaine was the only one of the Wild's restricted free agents to file for arbitration by today's 4 p.m. deadline. He's one of 20 to do so in the NHL.

Fontaine's agent, Neil Sheehy, will continue to try to negotiate a contract with the Wild. He can do so up until the hearing, which will be scheduled from July 20 to August 4 in Toronto in front of an independent arbitrator.

Most of the time, a contract is worked out prior to the hearing. By any player filing for arbitration, it ensures he can't be signed to an offer sheet by another club and it ensures no holdout from training camp.

Darcy Kuemper and Jon Blum, the Wild's other two restricted free agents with the right to file for arbitration, did not do so. Restricted free agents Nino Niederreiter and Jason Zucker don't have arbitration rights yet.

Fontaine, 26, tied for fourth on the Wild last season with 13 goals and tied for 12th amongst NHL rookies. His 13 goals were the third-most ever by a Wild rookie. He also had 21 points in 66 games, was plus-6 and had a goal and assist in 12 playoff games.

Star Tribune LOADED: 07.06.2014

747469 Minnesota Wild

Defenseman Dougherty sees Nashville selection as 'dream come true'

By PATRICK JOHNSON, Special to the Star Tribune

07/05/2014, 10:25pm CDT

Jack Dougherty, who played youth hockey in Cottage Grove, was drafted by Nashville.

Ryan McDonagh, Matt Niskanen, Nick Leddy, Paul Martin, Erik Johnson, Alex Goligoski, Jordan Leopold.

Minnesota has been producing some top-notch hockey defensemen lately.

Where will Jack Dougherty, selected in the second round of the NHL draft by the Nashville Predators on June 28, fit in?

―I want to be the next one,‖ said Dougherty, who was born in Cottage Grove and played high school hockey for St. Thomas Academy.

Dougherty, who skipped his senior year at St. Thomas to play for the under-18 U.S. national team development program this past season, was picked 51st overall in the draft.

―Every second I get happier about it,‖ Dougherty said. ―It‘s a dream come true.‖

Dougherty, 18, grew up a fan of Detroit Red Wings great Nicklas Lidstrom. More recently, though, former Predators and current Wild star Ryan Suter was his favorite player to watch.

But, now that they will be rivals in the Western Conference‘s Central Division — Nashville finished sixth last season, two places behind the Wild — things apparently have to change.

―They told me I can‘t be a fan of his anymore,‖ Dougherty said.

Dougherty said Nashville, which took four forwards and three defensemen in the draft, was ―a good place with good young players.‖

―I love country music, so it should work out,‖ Dougherty said.

The 6-2, 185-pound Dougherty scored six goals and added 18 assists in 55 games for the U.S. U18 team last season. He also helped the United States win gold at the under-18 world championship in April, notching two goals and two assists in seven games.

Dougherty, 18, is a big two-way defenseman with a strong all-around game and skating ability. He was ranked 29th among North American prospects in Central Scouting‘s midterm rankings before the draft.

―In terms of defending, he‘s hard to play against, he‘s got some fight to his game,‖ said David Westby, the Predators‘ North American amateur scout. He reminds me a little bit of Matt Niskanen. He‘s a good athlete on skates and a solid hockey player.‖

Before he hits the NHL, Dougherty will play for the University of Wisconsin.

He has been in Madison the past three weeks, skating during summer school to get ready for his first college season.

Despite growing up a University of North Dakota fan and being from Minnesota, Dougherty said the Badgers‘ campus ―felt like home.‖

―It‘s a great team and a great coaching staff,‖ Dougherty said. ―I hope to contribute right away and win a national championship.‖

Dougherty grew up playing in the Cottage Grove Athletic Association. At St. Thomas Academy, he played on teams that won the Class 1A state championship during his sophomore and junior seasons.

―It was a great spot and a good school,‖ Dougherty said. ―It made me a good player and a good young man. Deciding to leave was the toughest thing I‘ve had to do.

―Developmentally, the national team was the thing I wanted to do. It opened eyes of NHL teams. I‘m extremely grateful for the opportunities I‘ve had.‖

More than 230 Minnesotans have been selected to play in the NHL. Dougherty is expected to add to the list in the near future.

When he does get to Nashville, Dougherty likely will have one of Minnesota‘s finest in his corner. South St. Paul native Phil Housley, the highest-scoring American-born defenseman and fourth-highest scoring defenseman in NHL history, is an assistant with the Predators.

Dougherty said what sets his state apart is the passion for the game among Minnesotans.

―There‘s just something special about Minnesota,‖ Dougherty says. ―It runs in the blood.‖

Star Tribune LOADED: 07.06.2014

747470 Montreal Canadiens

Two Habs file for salary arbitration

By Pat Hickey, The GazetteJuly 5, 2014

MONTREAL - The Canadiens' negotiations with restricted free agents P.K Subban and Lars Eller entered a new stage Saturday when they were two of 20 NHL players who filed for salary arbitration.

Both players are in line for raises next season after strong performances in the Canadiens' playoff run.

Subban is expected to sign a longterm contract worth upwards of $7 million a season. He earned $3.75 million last in in the final year of a two-year bridge contract. He won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman in 2013 and was the team's best defenceman as Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference final. He led the team with 14 points and averaged 27:26 a game.

Eller stepped up in the playoffs and was the leading scorer among Montreal forwards with five goals and 13 points and he was a minus-6. He earned $1.5 million in each of the past two seasons.

Arbitration hearings will be held in Toronto between July 20 and Aug. 4 but the two sides are free to reach an agreement before the hearings. The process calls for each side to submit a salary figure and the arbitrator decides on the salary. Teams are permitted to walk away from a ruling but, in that case, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.06.2014

747471 Montreal Canadiens

Subban and Eller file for salary arbitration

Posted by Brenda Branswell

July 5, 2014

Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban and forward Lars Eller are among 20 NHL players who have filed for salary arbitration.

The hearings are scheduled from July 20 to Aug. 4 in Toronto, according to the NHL Players‘ Association, which released the list late Saturday afternoon after the filing deadline.

Players and teams can continue to negotiate until an arbitration hearing. And, as The Gazette‘s Pat Hickey has noted in the past, players who file for arbitration typically reach a deal before they have to present their case.

Subban and Eller are restricted free agents.

The Canadiens‘ contract talks with Subban aren‘t expected to be easy because of the big pay hike the 25-year-old defenceman is headed towards. Subban signed a two-year, $5.75 million deal with the Habs in January 2013 after missing training camp because of the contract dispute. He went on to win the Norris Trophy that season as the NHL‘s top defenceman.

Eller, 25, earned $1.5 million this past season–his fourth with the Canadiens. He posted totals of 12-14-26 in 77 games. He was second in scoring for the Habs during their deep playoff run with 13 points, just behind Subban who led the team with 14.

If a player opts for salary arbitration–and if it goes to a hearing–the club can ask for a one or two-year salary-arbitration award.

The arbitration route also excludes the possibility of offer sheets from other clubs.

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.06.2014

747472 Nashville Predators

Olli Jokinen attracted by Predators‘ focus on offense

Josh Cooper , 6:19 p.m. CDT July 5, 2014

When Predators general manager David Poile hired Peter Laviolette to guide Nashville into a new era, he hoped the new head coach‘s offensive system would push players to the organization.

A prime example of this was in Nashville on Saturday when forward Olli Jokinen met with reporters for the first time since signing a one-year $2.5 million contract Wednesday.

―Obviously with the excitement and the passion about the game and ideas of how he was going to coach this team, that was one of the biggest reasons I decided to come here,‖ Jokinen said. ―Speaking with him, I got excited. I wanted to start playing tomorrow.‖

Laviolette pushed for Nashville to pursue the 35-year-old centerman, and his pitch paid off with the 6-foot-2 Jokinen deciding on the Predators.

Jokinen has never played for Laviolette in the past, though his best years in Florida came when Laviolette was a divisional foe as head coach with the Carolina Hurricanes.

―I think playing against his teams, as a player you were like ‗I‘d love to play for this guy. I‘d love to play for his teams,‘ ‖ Jokinen said. ―His teams have always been high-tempo with good skating and they create a lot of chances and a lot of offense. At the same time his teams were hard to play against. They were very organized and stuck with their gameplans.‖

Jokinen had 18 goals and 25 assists last season in 82 games with the Jets. He is just two seasons removed from a 61-point campaign with Calgary.

Poile‘s relationship with former coach Barry Trotz was one of Nashville‘s main strengths as an organization. Though Poile ultimately had the final say on hockey decisions, there were few times where Trotz — at least publicly — wasn‘t on board.

Working with Laviolette on this move shows the first time the two sides held a true partnership on a personnel decision.

―I was just trying to reinforce that the coach is totally on board,‖ Poile said when the move was announced Wednesday. ―The longer we‘ve been together, he knows more and more about our team.‖

Jokinen multi-position: Jokinen said he could play both wing or center for the Predators.

―Doesn‘t matter. I‘ve been playing most of my career at center,‖ Jokinen said. ―It‘s more finding the chemistry with certain players.‖

Tennessean LOADED: 07.06.2014


James Neal expects fresh start with Predators

Josh Cooper ,5:10 p.m. CDT July 5, 2014

New Predators winger James Neal understands that he needs an image reboot in Nashville. Known as gruff, being difficult to deal with, and even a risk on the ice during his four years in Pittsburgh, Neal comprehends that he needs to make some changes to both his game and his attitude.

―Your emotion gets the better of you,‖ Neal, a former 40-goal scorer, said of his style of play. ―There were things that have happened in my game that you regret. I have to change and be better for it. I've changed as a player, I've grown as a player. I'm still young, I have a very long way to go. Mistakes happen and I'm going to be better for it and move forward and not let that stuff happen again.‖

With athletes, it‘s tough to sometimes get a read on them. We know them only in certain areas – in locker rooms or on display in arenas. Rarely do we know them away from these spots. This is what makes them complex, and why Neal, still just 26 years old, is very much a mystery.

PREVIOUSLY:James Neal teleconference highlights

PREVIOUSLY:Kudos to Preds for thinking offense first

―I don‘t think James deserves the reputation he has because he‘s himself and not processed,‖ said Rob Rossi, who covered Neal for the last four seasons for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. ―He sometimes rubs people the wrong way who are some politically correct guys.‖

That would include new Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford, who was not exactly complimentary when he dealt Neal to Nashville during the June 27 NHL Draft. When asked about Neal‘s character he said, ―Everything comes into play when we‘re possibly looking at moving a player.‖

This makes sense from a general manager‘s perspective. Neal has been suspended three times in his career for three reasons: intent to injure, kneeing another player in the head along with head hunting. Translation: Neal is not exactly known as a clean player.

Also, Neal has scored just two goals in his last 13 postseason games, making him seem like a player who disappears when games mean the most.

―Discipline problems on the ice earned him several suspensions or fines,‖ said Seth Rorabaugh, who covered Neal for parts of four seasons for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Also, his production in the postseason was never at the same level as it was in the regular season. Finally, he was occasionally a surly person to deal with when it came to media, team employees or even teammates.‖

But this doesn‘t take away the fact that Neal has one major component to his game. He has one of the best one-timers in the NHL and can score a lot of goals. In 2011-12 he notched 40 goals. This past season, he had 61 points in 59 games.

―I think James is a legitimate first-line winger,‖ Predators general manager David Poile said. ―I think he‘s one of the best goal scorers in the league. I think his record supports that. I like his speed, I like the fact he‘s dangerous all the time he is out there.‖

And for a team like Nashville, in desperate need of scoring and an image reboot, it‘s important to take some risks. And Neal is about as easy a risk as they come, simply because he produces.

―I'm aware of how he plays,‖ Poile said. ―I like taking players for what they are and what they do. I'm not big on trying to change players. If I wanted to change a guy, I probably wouldn't trade for him. I think there are strengths and weaknesses. Maybe it's bad habits, but that's one of the things that makes James Neal pretty good. He plays hard all the time.‖

Also, Neal is just 26 years old. He‘s still growing and maturing both on and off the ice. Sometimes we expect more out of pro athletes in both areas, but many of them are still just kids, trying to grow up in plain view.

―He was a guy who was trying to be a better presence in the room and a better guy off the ice this past season,‖ Rossi said. ―I saw evidence he was continuing to be aggressive without putting his team in bad situations.‖

JAMES NEAL FILE

• Age: 26

• Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 208 pounds

• Birthplace: Whitby, Ontario

• How acquired: At the 2014 NHL draft from Pittsburgh for Nick Spaling and Patric Hornqvist

• By the numbers: 161 goals, 154 assists, 315 points in 413 games.

• Career year: 2011-12, when Neal had 40 goals and 41 assists in 80 games with the Penguins.

• Last season: Notched 27 goals and had 34 assists, 61 points in 59 games. Missed 23 games with a mixture of an ―upper-body‖ injury and a concussion.

• Contract: Three years left on a six-year, $30 million deal. Cap hit is $5 million per year, as is his salary per year.



Mattias Ekholm files for salary arbitration

Josh Cooper , 4:27 p.m. CDT July 5, 2014

The NHLPA came out with its list of players who filed for salary arbitration, and out of the 20 restricted free agents, one Predator was one of the names: Defenseman Mattias Ekholm.

This is normally a move done by the player in order to gain some leverage if negotiations aren't going so well, and force an end date.

We don't have a schedule of the arbitration cases, but they are held in Toronto from July 20-Aug. 4. The schedule will likely be released soon.



Could Legwand open Lecavalier to Nashville?

Josh Cooper , 11:24 a.m. CDT July 5, 2014

The news that former Predators forward David Legwand signed an accord with the Ottawa Senators on Friday probably takes away one potential suitor for Philadelphia center Vincent Lecavalier.

Until then, it seemed as if the Predators and the Senators were the only two teams in on the former 50-goal scorer.

Because of this, it could further open the possibility that Nashville could snag Lecavalier. It also more importantly means the Predators have all the leverage and power in negotiations, which likely involve the Flyers taking some of Lecavalier's salary.

Lastly if the Predators are negotiating against themselves, it could bring a level of patience into this game. If Nashville is the only team that is serious about acquiring the center, why rush a deal?

Again, stay tuned ...


747476 New Jersey Devils

How did Devils do in NHL Draft? TSN's Craig Button gives them 'A,' compares top pick to Adam Henrique

Randy Miller/NJ.com

on July 05, 2014 at 11:00 AM, updated July 05, 2014 at 11:09 AM

TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button sounded excited talking about what the Devils did at the top of the NHL Draft last weekend.

Here's Button's opinion of top pick John Quenneville, a center who picked 30th overall who played in the WHL last season for Brandon:

"He's a really good two-way center man," the former director of scouting for the Dallas Stars and general manager for the Calgary Flames told NJ.com in a phone interview. "He's a lot like Adam Henrique. Getting a player like Adam Henrique at that point in the draft? I think it's a real solid pick. He's a second-line center, and at the very worse a third-line center."

A third-round pick in 2008, Henrique is a center/left wing known for being a strong two-way player who led the Devils with 25 goals this past season.

Button is even higher on Devils' second-round pick Josh Jacobs, a 6-foot-2, 194-pound defenseman who played last season for Indiana Ice in the USHL.

"Love Josh Jacobs, I love him," Jacobs said. "No flash. Last year (in the second round) the Devils drafted Steven Santini, a right-shot defenseman who is tough and defensive and competitive. Josh is more of that really well-rounded defenseman. He's not going to get tons of points, but he's going to be a 20-minutes-a-game player who competes really well.

"He's a really good skater, a really good player. I just think at that pick in the draft, it was an excellent pick."

Button also likes Devils' third-round pick Connor Chatham, a 6-foot-2, 224-pound OHL right winger whom he had ranked as the 89th-best prospect in the draft.

"The Devils made some 'A' moves," Button said. "When you're talking about a top-2 centerman and a top-4 defenseman with your first two picks, I think you did really well."

ESPN didn't think the Devils did quite that well, as it graded their draft a ‗C.‘

―I'm not the biggest fan of the Devils' draft, as while I do think they got talent, given the slot and who was available, they could have left Philadelphia with more of it,‖ ESPN hockey prospect writer Corey Pronman wrote. ―I do think it's good they picked a forward with their top pick, though, as their pipeline needed scoring talent badly.

―John Quenneville is strong in puck possession, can make quick decisions with the puck and works hard to get to the net and win battles. Scouts describe him as a very dangerous player from the hash marks in. John's skating needs some work, as his first few steps aren't the best. He's improved a fair amount defensively and has become a fine penalty killer.

―Jacobs is an above-average if not a high-end skater and also has a good frame and doesn't shy away from the physical parts of the game. While Jacobs has good flashes of defensive value in the USHL, there are concerns about his defense going forward. His hockey sense is below-average, regularly making bad decisions with the puck or missing assignments.

―Chatham has speed, hustle and size to his game and that can make him appealing in projecting him as a potential bottom-six forward. However, I'm bearish on his offensive potential, as I don't see the hands or the creativity to produce at the pro level.‖

Star Ledger LOADED: 07.06.2014

747477 New Jersey Devils

New-look Devils atarting to take shape

July 5, 2014 Last updated: Saturday, July 5, 2014, 1:16 AM

By TOM GULITTI

The Devils still have more than two months to go until the start of training camp and more than three months left before their 2014-15 season opener Oct. 9 in Philadelphia. What further roster changes will be completed before then remain to be seen, but they took some important steps in the last week to make sure this team will have a different look going forward.

The biggest splash was Tuesday‘s signing of unrestricted free agent left wing Mike Cammalleri to a five-year, $25 million contract.

The Devils also added right wing Martin Havlat on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. If Cammalleri, 32, delivers in the 25-goal range and Havlat, 33, gets back to being the 20-goal scorer he was three seasons ago, that‘s a significant boost to a Devils team that struggled a lot of nights to score more than twice.

The Devils are still an old team up front, though, with 42-year-old Jaromir Jagr as their leading scorer and just four of their 13 forwards on one-way contracts under the age of 30. Adam Henrique is their only forward younger than 28.

General manager Lou Lamoriello is looking to move a forward or two to either acquire some youth up front or, more likely, make room for a younger forward already in the organization (Stefan Matteau, Reid Boucher) to get a chance.

There‘s suddenly room to get younger on defense, however, with Monday‘s move to buy out Anton Volchenkov, 32, and the loss of Mark Fayne, 27, via free agency to Edmonton. Now there are spots for Eric Gelinas, 23, Jon Merrill, 22 and Adam Larsson, 21, all to play regularly – a necessary shift for this organization.

The Devils took another necessary step in committing to Cory Schneider as their unquestioned No. 1 goaltender. Although Martin Brodeur remains unsigned, the Devils made it clear that the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer isn‘t coming back by signing Scott Clemmensen to compete with rookie Keith Kinkaid for the backup job behind Schneider.

Lamoriello already had been working on a contract extension with Schneider, 28, that he hopes to have "done in the very near future." If he can get Schneider locked up long term and Gelinas, Merrill and Larsson prove ready to be significant contributors, the Devils will be well on the way to transitioning to their future.

Bergen Record LOADED: 07.06.2014

747478 New York Rangers

NY Rangers‘ Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider all elect salary arbitration

BY Pat Leonard

Saturday, July 5, 2014, 9:39 PM

Rangers restricted free agents and top-six forwards Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider all elected salary arbitration prior to the Saturday afternoon NHL deadline, affording themselves a safety net for next season as they negotiate re-signing with the Blueshirts‘ front office.

A fourth restricted free agent, John Moore, 23, does not have arbitration rights. Like Kreider, though, Moore is coming off his entry-level contract, and since he‘s a third-pair defenseman, the Rangers shouldn‘t have much trouble signing him to the type of modest, two-year bridge deal they prefer to give players on their second NHL contracts.

Kreider, 23, on the other hand, was a top-six forward with 17 goals and 37 points in 66 games and therefore could argue he should be the exception to the rule. But his initial ask seemed to have miffed Rangers GM Glen Sather.

Sather mentioned Kreider as one of several Rangers free agents who had to ―pull their horns in‖ when he took out his frustration on the NHL‘s lower-than-expected $69 million salary cap on June 28 at the NHL draft in Philadelphia. Sather reminded that ―Kreider started the year in the minors,‖ forgetting perhaps that the Rangers started 2-5-0 with Kreider in the AHL.

Brassard, 26, who was often the Rangers‘ No. 1 center in 2013-14, is expected to receive the largest contract of the four restricted free agents. He made $3.2 million per season on his previous, four-year deal.

Zuccarello, 26, meanwhile, is due a significant raise from his $1.15 million salary after leading the Blueshirts with 59 regular-season points and continuing as one of their most consistent forwards in the playoffs. His agent, Craig Oster of Newport Sports, reiterated his optimism about the progress of their negotiations with the Rangers when speaking with the Daily News Wednesday.

NHL player negotiations rarely reach arbitration, since the process allows a third party to decide a salary that both club and player must accept. This summer, NHL arbitration hearings will begin on July 20 and end on Aug. 6.

Sather only has approximately $15 million to use on these four players and on any other roster moves, which is why the Rangers have remained quiet since re-signing center Dominic Moore and inking unrestricted free agent defenseman Dan Boyle and grinder Tanner Glass when the market opened on Tuesday.

New York Daily News LOADED: 07.06.2014


Rangers‘ Brassard, Zuccarello, Kreider file for arbitration

By Brett Cyrgalis

July 5, 2014 | 8:01pm

In an expected move, the Rangers had three restricted free agents file for salary arbitration before Saturday‘s deadline.

Forwards Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider all got their paperwork in on time, which does not stop them from negotiating with the club before the case gets in front of an arbiter.

Each will soon have a hearing date set, likely for late-July, and if no deal can be reached by then, the case would be heard.

All three were given qualifying offers, one-year deals that equal their previous season‘s salary. The fourth NHL-level players who is a restricted free agent is defenseman John Moore, and he is not arbitration eligible.

Brassard, 26, is coming off a four-year, $12.8 free million deal, so his offer was for $3.7 million. Zuccarello, 26, got an offer for $1.15 million following a regular season when he led the Rangers with 59 points. Kreider, 23, was technically coming off his rookie season, and after his entry-level deal expired, he got an offer for $850,500.

General manager Glen Sather is adamant about certain restricted free agents getting two-year ―bridge deals,‖ yet the goal will be for at least Brassard and Zuccarello to be wrapped up to longer-term deals. If either were to take the one-year deal the arbitration awarded, they would become unrestricted free agents the following offseason and likely create an even more unenviable situation for Sather and his salary-cap management.

The Rangers are approximately $14 million under the $69 million salary-cap ceiling.

New York Post LOADED: 07.06.2014


Restricted Rangers free agents file for arbitration

July 6, 2014 Last updated: Sunday, July 6, 2014, 1:21 AM

Andrew Gross

Rangers restricted free agent forwards Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider filed for salary arbitration prior to Saturday‘s deadline. Arbitration cases will be heard in late July and early August and the sides can continue to negotiate until then. All three received qualifying offers from the Rangers.

Though they‘ve had RFAs file for arbitration on a yearly basis, the Rangers have not had a player make it to an arbitration hearing since Nikolay Zherdev in 2009. The Rangers walked away from Zherdev‘s $3.9 million ruling, making him an unrestricted free agent.



Three Rangers file for arbitration

Posted by Andrew Gross on 07/05 at 02:43 PM

Saturday, July 05, 2014

Restricted free agents Chris Kreider, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello all filed for salary arbitration by today‘s deadline, moves that are not unexpected and do not preclude a deal being reached before their cases would be heard, either later this month or in early August.

The Rangers‘ fourth RFA, defenseman John Moore, was not arbitration eligible.

Brassard, 26, is coming off a four-year, $12.8 million deal and was arguably the Rangers‘ No. 1 center last season with 18 goals and 27 assists. His qualifying offer was $3.7 million and if he and the Rangers can‘t agree on a lucrative, long-term deal, he may opt for a one-year deal to get him to unrestricted free agency next summer.

Zuccarello, qualified at $1.15 million, set career highs with 19 goals and 40 assists on a one-year deal worth $1.15 million. The 26-year-old Norwegian could triple his salary. Zuccarello and the Rangers avoided arbitration last summer when Zuccarello agreed to his one-year contract.

Kreider, 23, had 17 goals and 20 assists in what was considered his rookie season. His qualifying offer is $850,500 coming off a three-year, $3.975 million entry-level deal.

More than likely, the sides will be able to reach an agreement without reaching the arbitration process. If memory serves, the Rangers have not had a player go to arbitration since Nikolay Zherdev in 2009, and the Rangers walked away from Zherdev‘s $3.9 million award, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Here‘s the NHL‘s full list:

Arizona Coyotes

Brandon McMillan

Boston Bruins

Matt Bartkowski

Calgary Flames

Joe Colborne

Dallas Stars

Cameron Gaunce

Antoine Roussel

Florida Panthers

Jimmy Hayes

Los Angeles Kings

Dwight King

Minnesota Wild

Justin Fontaine

Montreal Canadiens

Lars Eller

P.K. Subban

Nashville Predators

Mattias Ekholm

New York Islanders

Kevin Poulin

New York Rangers

Derick Brassard

Chris Kreider

Mats Zuccarello

Ottawa Senators

Derek Grant

Pittsburgh Penguins

Nick Spaling

San Jose Sharks

Jason Demers

Toronto Maple Leafs

Cody Franson

James Reimer




Brassard, Kreider, Zuccarello file for salary arbitration

Saturday July 5, 2014 5:02 PM By Steve Zipay

Not a huge worry here, not unexpected, but notable.

Rangers forwards Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello -- restricted free agents who were eligible for salary arbitration -- filed before Saturday‘s 5 p.m. deadline. No date for the arbitration hearings have been set and talks on new contracts will continue. In general, a large majority of hearings never take place; there's an agreement before that date.

Brassard had a $3.2-million cap charge last season; Kreider, $1.325 million and Zuccarello, $1.15 million. All received qualifying offers from the club, including RFA defenseman John Moore ($965,000), who is not arbitration eligible.

For the record, the salary figures for some of the Rangers signees that may have been missed: Petr Zamorsky, $925,000 per (two years), Mike Kostka ($650,000, one year); Matt Hunwick ($600,000, one year), Calle Andersson ($661,667 per, three years). Forwards: Chris Mueller, $600,000 (one year), Chris Bourque ($600,000, one year). Goalie: Cedrick Desjardins, $600,000, two years).

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend . . . More tomorrow . .

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.06.2014

747483 Ottawa Senators

Sens camp helping prospect Ben Harpur prepare for world junior tryout

By Chris Hofley,Ottawa Sun

First posted: Saturday, July 05, 2014 04:40 PM EDT | Updated: Saturday, July 05, 2014 06:23 PM EDT

Ben Harpur still has no control of the grin that spreads across his face when asked about being selected to Team Canada's world junior camp this summer.

The 19-year-old Ottawa Senators prospect was floored when he got the call that Hockey Canada wanted to have a closer look at him and the thrill hasn't worn off.

"I got the call on Saturday, they told me I was going to be named to the roster on Monday. I didn't know what to say," said Harpur during an on-ice practice at the Bell Sensplex Saturday, his second Sens development camp since being drafted in the fourth round (108th overall) in the 2013 NHL entry draft.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake native, who will return to the OHL's Guelph Storm for a fourth season this year, is one of countless kids who have grown up dreaming about representing Canada on the internal stage. Harpur's dream just happens to be a bit closer to coming true and the defenceman plans to make the most of the opportunity.

"It's every kid's dream, you grow up watching the world juniors and to even be considered to have a chance to represent my country is a great honour," Harpur said.

Harpur had three goals and 13 assists in 67 games last season to go along with an impressive +34 rating with Guelph and helped guide the Storm to an OHL championship, so it should come as no surprise he is at least in consideration for a spot on the team.

Harpur, one of four Guelph players to get the nod, is adamant he's not just looking at the camp invite as another learning experience in his already impressive young career. He's also one of three Sens prospects, along with recently-acquired Nick Paul and Memorial Cup champion Curtis Lazar, to be invited.

"I'm going there with the mindset I can make the team," he said. "I got invited for a reason, they obviously like the way I play. I've got to go there, nothing to lose, and just leave a good impression."

In the meantime, he's getting a good luck from the Senators coaching staff in his second prospects camp, which he acknowledged Saturday was less intimidating than it was after being drafted last summer.

"I remember last year after the draft, I think it was two days after I came (to camp) and I was kind of in awe at first," Harpur said. "Coming back for my second year, I know a lot of the guys returning from last year, so you reconnect with them and it's a lot of fun."

Working under the guidance of Binghampton Senators head coach Luke Richardson will go a long way in helping him improve his game before an OHL season where he will be a leader on a much younger Storm team.

"We're not going to have an older group like we had in Guelph last year so I'm going to be one of the older guys, one of the leaders," he said. "I'm going to have to bring some of the young kids along and take that team as far it can go."

Until then, Harpur has a busy summer to impress both the NHL club that drafted him and those who decided if he'll get to wear the maple leaf next winter.

Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.06.2014


Top 5 unforgettable Ottawa Senators to leave

By Bruce Garrioch,Ottawa Sun


Top 5 exits from Ottawa Senators

1. Daniel Alfredsson, July 5, 2013

Signed with Detroit Red Wing as UFA

Jason Spezza isn‘t the first player to pave his way out of the capital, and he won‘t be the last. The Senators have been down this road before. They have done it with other players either through trade or free agency. And not all the exits have been pretty.

Bruce Garrioch takes a look at five departures in club history that are unforgettable:

1. Daniel Alfredsson, July 5, 2013 - Signed with Detroit Red Wing as UFA

He was the longest-serving member of the Ottawa Senators. The captain. The leader. The man everybody expected to be a lifer and, instead, he walked away to sign a one-year deal in Detroit.

Alfredsson felt he'd been shunned by the organization in contract talks. He felt the club didn't live up to a promise to pay him accordingly after playing out the final year of his contract at $1 million.

The divorce was ugly. It turned into a he said, he said.

"In late June, I decided I had it in me to play at least one more season," said Alfredsson at a press conference in mid-August in Ottawa. "I told management that I was willing to return, and I reminded them of our agreement from the year before. But, to my disappointment, negotiations again quickly stalled."

GM Bryan Murray wasn't happy and told the Sun he felt Alfredsson "thrown him under the bus."

"I think in every shape and form we wanted this man back to be the captain of our hockey team and it didn't work out," said Murray. "Sometimes in negotiating, all the facts aren't maybe presented to the player the right way, but we certainly feel bad that Daniel reacted the way he did."

2. Zdeno Chara, July 1, 2006 - Signed with Boston Bruins as UFA

Until Alfredsson left, this one may have stung the most. The Senators had to choose between Wade Redden and Zdeno Chara that summer, GM John Muckler changed the future of the franchise.

Instead, Chara accepted a deal with the Boston Bruins, a place where former assistant GM Peter Chiarelli had accepted the top job.

"I wanted to stay here," Chara told the Sun. "I'm very disappointed. I thought Ottawa would be really aggressive and they would really show it. In the last nine days before July 1st, we never received a phone call. Myself and (agent) Matt (Keator) were just sitting there and making all the calls. We told them, 'Let's talk and let's negotiate.' They said:' 'Six million, you sign it or we're going to go the other way.' They did. They chose Wade (Redden). That's great. He's an unbelievable player and a great guy. He's a good leader and they made the right decision. They are saying that Wade took less to stay in Ottawa, but we both got offered $6 million and he didn't take less because he took $6.5 million."

Losing Chara was a blow. Yes, they made the Stanley Cup final the next spring, but it changed the face of the organization. The Senators didn't have that guy on the back end who could be a difference maker.

3. Marian Hossa, Aug. 23, 2005 - Dealt to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for Dany Heatley and Greg de Vries

Marian Hossa played hardball in negotiations with the Senators as a RFA. He told Muckler he wanted the kind of money that Jarome Iginla was making in Calgary, approximately $7 million per-year.

The Senators didn't want to go there after Hossa thumbed his nose at a five-year, $25 million deal. All seemed fine after he negotiated a three-year, $18 million contract to avoid arbitration.

Then, in a flash, Hossa was gone. Dealt to the Thrashers in exchange for Heatley, who had asked for a trade.

"I understand that this is a business and that's what this contract was all about is business. The Senators have to do what they feel is best for their team and they got a great player in a guy like Dany Heatley," said Hossa.

"I'm going to go to a place where they have a team that wants to improve. I have to go home and get ready for that. I haven't talked to the Atlanta Thrashers and I'm getting on a plane so that is probably something that will happen in the next couple of days. I just have to get ready for camp."

The Senators made no apologies. They wanted a North American in the lineup. You wonder where they would be if this deal had never happened.

4. Dany Heatley, Sept. 12, 2009 - Dealt to the San Jose Sharks for Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo

Murray's hands were tied. Heatley wanted out. He no longer wanted to be here. He refused a trade to Edmonton earlier in the summer and showed up for camp without changing his attitude.

He had to go. So, the Senators gave him his wish and got the two-time 50-goal scorer out fo town. Ottawa wasn't pleased with the deal, but thre didn't seem to be a lot they could do.

"I don't know whether I'm pleased to announce (the trade), but I'm okay to announce that we've traded Dany Heatley," said Murray. "I did spend some time with him and when I looked him in the eye and talked to him, I knew the minute he walked out the door that I had to trade him.

"I just felt that we had to move. I felt right after the meeting, I called (owner) Eugene (Melnyk) and I told him we've had a good many talks about this and I think we have to do it. If I can get a little something more out of this deal, we have to do it."

Heatley, who had breakfast with Alfredsson and defenceman Chris Phillips, was pleased to put the trade demand behind him.

"There's a few things. I'm not going to get into specifics. There's some personal things and I just felt the change was the best thing for everybody involved," said Heatley.

5. Alexei Yashin, June 23, 2001 - Traded to the N.Y. Islanders in exchange for the No. 2 pick overall, RW Bill Muckalt and Chara

The Senators had finally had it with the first pick ever in franchise history. The contract holdouts, the indifferent play and the demands for money meant it was time to make a move.

It signalled a new direction and in the deal the Senators used the pick to take top centre Jason Spezza.

―We‘ve turned the page,‖ Ottawa GM Marshall Johnston said that day.

―Alexei was with our franchise, contributed to the early success of our franchise and we wish him the best.‖

All the Senators needed was to find the right fit.

The organization didn‘t feel it could deal with Yashin any longer and decided to move on. Chara was a raw talent with plenty of upside.

Then Islanders‘ GM Mike Milbury, not known for making the best decisions, decided to defend his move.

―Mother Theresa would have a bad reputation in Ottawa,‖ said Milbury.



Ottawa Sens draftee enjoying every minute of camp

By Chris Hofley,Ottawa Sun


It's been a long week for Shane Eiserman and his fellow Senators prospects.

If they aren't on the ice, they're working out in the gym and if they are on the ice, chances are they are being asked to skate with a parachute strapped and a number of other drills that would make the rest of us tired to simply watch.

Eiserman, the Senators' 100th overall pick in this summer's draft, is enjoying every minute of it.

"I wish I could do this all summer," the 18-year-old left winger said of his first Senators development camp.

"It's been awesome. It's tough days but I feel like I'm getting a lot better."

As hardcore and non-stop as this week's camp has been for the prospects -- the players are together from about 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day -- Eiserman is well-aware of how important the experience is to developing his game when he begins his collegiate career at the University of New Hampshire next year.

Eiserman can also boast he had probably one of the louder receptions of the latter rounds of the draft, thanks to his four very proud brothers, including William, 21, Chris, 20 and seven-year-old twins, Cole and Caden.

"I was actually with them all (when he was drafted)," he said. "When they called my name they just stood up and yelled. Everybody heard us, we've got a pretty rowdy family."


747486 Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers: Hextall should talk to Giroux

Posted: Saturday, July 5, 2014 5:31 pm | Updated: 9:01 pm, Sat Jul 5, 2014.

Wayne Fish

Testing me early, eh?

That‘s what Ron Hextall must have been thinking on Wednesday morning when the Flyers‘ general manager found out his captain had just spent a night in an Ottawa jail cell.

Hextall has been on the job less than two months and already he‘s facing his first issue involving team leadership.

What Claude Giroux did (playfully grab a police officer‘s behind) really wouldn‘t be that big of a deal — if he didn‘t happen to be wearing the C in Philadelphia.

Believe it or not, the captaincy of the Flyers is a bit of a sensitive subject, going back to the brief tenure of Mike Richards.

When Richards, captain of the Flyers, was sent packing to Los Angeles in June 2011, sources within the organization confirmed that there were ―maturity issues‘‘ involved.

What the Flyers don‘t want to see is Giroux exhibiting similar behavior.

The incident in Ottawa marked the second straight summer Giroux has been involved in controversy.

Last August, there was the ―accident‘‘ while playing golf that cost Giroux a chance to participate in Canada‘s Olympic tryout camp and perhaps contributed to his snub from the team roster (which ultimately won the gold medal at Sochi) when it was announced on Jan. 1.

Now Hextall has to make the announcement that the Flyers will deal with this current matter ―internally.‘‘

Does that mean a reprimand? A warning that it can‘t happen again? A suggestion that this is not the way the captain of a hockey team should act in public during his idle hours?

The bottom line is this: Giroux is a grown man at the age of 26 and should know better. He‘s one of the top players in the National Hockey League (he was a finalist for the Hart Trophy/MVP last month) and, in an age when headline stars are under the social media spotlight, can‘t afford to mess up.

Giroux is known for his fierce competitive nature, his drive to want to win.

Well, if that‘s the case, this is part of the process. When you‘re one of the highest-paid athletes in the sport, you can‘t be acting like a college kid on spring break.

Everyone in Philadelphia is watching: Teammates, team chairman Ed Snider, fans, media and, most important of all, Hextall.

The GM really shouldn‘t have to say a word. Just call the captain into his office, put a look of disappointment on his face and then show him the door.

If Giroux truly is cut out to be a captain, that should be enough.

No Senators for Vinny

The trade rumors were flying fast and furious the other day that the Flyers were in discussions with Ottawa for the possible trade of Vinny Lecavalier.

The speculation cooled the next day when the Senators signed free agent David Legwand to a two-year deal worth $6 million.

That move will help fill a void left by the ―forced‘‘ trade of veteran Jason Spezza to the Dallas Stars.

So the hunt for another destination continues. The Flyers just hope it‘s a place where they can deal away some of their payroll. Currently they‘re reportedly a couple million over the salary cap.

Free-agent frenzy

It was a busy week of free-agent signings, although the Flyers had to stay relatively quiet (inking seventh defenseman Nick Schultz to a one-year deal).

Here in the Atlantic Division, the Capitals caught our eye by committing $11 million per year to two ex-Penguins defensemen, Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik.

In the short term, this should make Washington a bit more solid defensively. But with $28.7 million (highest in the NHL) committed to defense now, these guys better produce right off the jump.

The Rangers, like the Flyers, had some salary cap issues, so Benoit Pouliot was let go (he signed with Edmonton) and fellow free agents Anton Stralman and Brian Boyle (to Tampa) followed. New York did sign defenseman Dan Boyle to fill the Stralman vacancy and retained Dominic Moore. The Rangers still will be a force next season.

Burlington County Times LOADED: 07.06.2014

747487 Philadelphia Flyers

Hextall should tell Giroux to act like a leader

Posted: Saturday, July 5, 2014 4:24 pm

Wayne Fish

Testing me early, eh?

That‘s what Ron Hextall must have been thinking on Wednesday morning when the Flyers‘ general manager found out his captain had just spent a night in an Ottawa jail cell.

Hextall has been on the job less than two months and already he‘s facing his first issue involving team leadership.

What Claude Giroux did (playfully grab a police officer‘s behind) really wouldn‘t be that big of a deal – if he didn‘t happen to be wearing the C in Philadelphia.

Believe it or not, the captaincy of the Flyers is a bit of a sensitive subject, going back to the brief tenure of Mike Richards.

When Richards, captain of the Flyers, was sent packing to Los Angeles in June, 2011, sources within the organization confirmed that there were ―maturity issues‘‘ involved.

What the Flyers don‘t want to see is Giroux exhibiting similar behavior.

The incident in Ottawa marked the second straight summer Giroux has been involved in controversy.

Last August there was the ―accident‘‘ while playing golf which cost Giroux a chance to participate in Canada‘s Olympic tryout camp and perhaps contributed to his snub from the team roster (which ultimately won the gold medal at Sochi) when it was announced on Jan. 1.

Now Hextall has to make the announcement that the Flyers will deal with this current matter ―internally.‘‘

Does that mean a reprimand? A warning that it can‘t happen again? A suggestion that this is not the way the captain of a hockey team should act in public during his idle hours?

The bottom line is this: Giroux is a grown man at the age of 26 and should know better. He‘s one of the top players in the National Hockey League (he was a finalist for the Hart Trophy/MVP last month) and, in an age when headline stars are under the social media spotlight, can‘t afford to mess up.

Giroux is known for his fierce competitive nature, his drive to want to win.

Well, if that‘s the case, this is part of the process. When you‘re one of the highest-paid athletes in the sport, you can‘t be acting like a college kid on spring break.

Everyone in Philadelphia is watching: Teammates, team chairman Ed Snider, fans, media and, most important of all, Hextall.

The GM really shouldn‘t have to say a word. Just call the captain into his office, put a look of disappointment on his face and then show him the door.

If Giroux truly is cut out to be a captain, that should be enough.

No Senators for Vinny: The trade rumors were flying fast and furious the other day that the Flyers were in discussions with Ottawa for the possible trade of Vinny Lecavalier.

The speculation cooled the next day when the Senators signed free agent David Legwand to a two-year deal worth $6 million.

That move will help fill a void left by the ―forced‘‘ trade of veteran Jason Spezza to the Dallas Stars.

So the hunt for another destination continues. The Flyers just hope it‘s a place where they can deal away some of their payroll. Currently they‘re reportedly a couple million over the salary cap.

Free-agent frenzy: It was a busy week of free-agent signings, although the Flyers had to stay relatively quiet (inking seventh defenseman Nick Schultz to a one-year deal).

Here in the Atlantic Division, the Capitals caught our eye by committing $11 million per year to two ex-Penguin defenseman, Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik.

In the short term, this should make Washington a bit more defensively. But with $28.7 million (highest in the NHL) committed to defense now, these guys better produce right off the jump.

The Rangers, like the Flyers, had some salary cap issues so Benoit Pouliot was let go (he signed with Edmonton) and fellow free agents Anton Stralman and Brian Boyle (to Tampa) followed. New York did sign defenseman Dan Boyle to fill the Stralman vacancy and retained Dominic Moore. The Rangers still will be a force next season.

Burlington County Times LOADED: 07.06.2014

747488 Pittsburgh Penguins

New Penguins winger Spaling files for arbitration

By Josh Yohe

Saturday, July 5, 2014, 6:15 p.m.

Updated 8 hours ago

Penguins right wing Nick Spaling has filed for salary arbitration.

He was one of 20 NHL restricted free agents to file before the 5 p.m. deadline on Saturday.

The other Penguins' restricted free agents — center Brandon Sutter, defenseman Simon Despres, right wing Jayson Megna, defenseman Philip Samuelsson and forward Bobby Farnham — opted against the arbitration process.

Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said earlier this week that he hopes to ink Sutter, the Penguins' third-line center, to a contract extension of multiple years.

Should the Penguins and Sutter only agree on a one-year deal this summer, the 25-year-old center will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2015. The Penguins watched as millions were spent around the NHL when the free agency period opened earlier this week and would prefer Sutter not reach the open market.

Spaling is no stranger to this process. The physical winger, acquired along with right wing Patric Hornqvist in a trade for right wing James Neal during the NHL Draft, filed for arbitration last season as well.

However, Spaling's case never reached a hearing; he and the Nashville Predators agreed on a $1.5 million deal.

Spaling is coming off the finest season of his career in which he scored 13 goals. He also was one of Nashville's better penalty killers last season and is capable of playing all three forward positions.

Spaling, 25, is a veteran of five NHL seasons, all played with Nashville.

The only Penguins player to file for arbitration last season was defenseman Robert Bortuzzo, but his situation was resolved before the hearing process.

Some big names around the NHL filed for arbitration on Saturday, including Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban, Toronto goalie James Reimer and Rangers standouts Mats Zuccarello, Derick Brassard and Chris Kreider.

Boston defenseman Matt Bartkowski, a Mt. Lebanon native, also filed for arbitration.

Rutherford, while stopping short of saying he would sign all of the restricted free agents on the Penguins roster, said he isn't concerned about the situation.

―At some point, we'll have them signed,‖ he said.

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.06.2014

747489 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins' forward Spaling files for salary arbitration

July 5, 2014 5:31 PM

By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Penguins forward Nick Spaling filed for salary arbitration.

Three other Penguins forwards who also are restricted free agents -- Brandon Sutter, Jayson Megna and Bobby Farnham -- were eligible, but did not request it.

Defensemen Simon Despres and Philip Samuelsson are restricted free agents, but weren't arbitration-eligible.

In arbitration, the player and team propose a salary for the coming season, then argue their case before a neutral third party, who decides on the player's salary. The club gets to say whether it wants the agreement to cover one season or two.

Teams also have the option to "walk away" from the awarded salary, in which case the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Spaling, acquired from Nashville in the James Neal trade June 27, is free to negotiate with the Penguins until his hearing, the date of which has not been set, and it's possible he will have a contract before a hearing takes place.

Spaling also requested arbitration as a member of the Predators last summer, but worked out a one-year deal worth $1.5 million -- a $400,000 raise from his previous contract -- before his hearing was held.

A total of 20 players filed for arbitration by the deadline at 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the NHL Players' Association. Boston defenseman Matt Bartkowski, a Mt. Lebanon native, is one of them.

Post Gazette LOADED: 07.06.2014

747490 San Jose Sharks

Sources: Wingels, Sharks agree to three-year deal

July 5, 2014, 3:00 pm

(AP)

In three seasons with the Sharks, Tommy Wingels has 24 goals and 36 assists.

Programming note: For all the day‘s sports news, tune in to SportsNet Central tonight and every night at 6, 10:30 p.m. and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area

Restricted free agent Tommy Wingels, 26, has agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Sharks, CSN California has learned.

The fourth-year center tallied 16 goals and 22 assists in 77 games for the Sharks in 2013-14.

Wingels just finished a two-year contract that paid him a total of $1.55 million.

On June 30, the Sharks extended a qualifying to Wingels.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.06.2014

747491 San Jose Sharks

Sharks' Demers among 20 filing for salary arbitration

July 5, 2014, 2:45 pm

ProHockeyTalk

The NHLPA released a list of 20 players filing for salary arbitration this summer, with San Jose Sharks defenseman Jason Demers among the names.

According to a report from Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada, the deadline for clubs to elect arbitration is Sunday, July 6 at 2 p.m. PT.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.06.2014

747492 St Louis Blues

Some of the Blues' top prospects on display for Development Camp

By NORM SANDERS

News-DemocratJuly 5, 2014 Updated 12 hours ago

Several of the St. Louis Blues top young prospects, along with the club's recent draft class, will be participating in the annual Development Camp Monday through Wednesday at the St. Louis Outlet Mall's Ice Zone.

The Blues are bringing in 22 prospects for the camp, including 2012 first-round pick Jordan Schmaltz, 2013 second-rounder Thomas Vanelli and 2014 top picks Robby Fabbri and Ivan Barbashev.

The on-ice sessions are free and open to the public. Players will be on the ice at 3 p.m. Monday and 2 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Here's a look at the prospects that will participate in the camp:

Forwards: Ivan Barbashev (second round, 2014); Cody Beach (fifth round 2010); Samuel Blais (sixth round, 2014); Chris Caissy (undrafted), Jaedon Descheneau (fifth round, 2014); Jacob Doty (undrafted); Robby Fabbri (first round, 2014); Sam Kurker (second round, 2012); Maxim Letunov (second round, 2014); Mackenzie MacEachern (third round, 2012); Zach Pochiro (fourth round, 2013); Austin Poganski (fourth round, 2014); Ryan Tesink (sixth round, 2011); Dwyer Tschantz (seventh round, 2014); C.J. Yakimowicz (sixth round, 2014).

Defensemen: Petteri Lindbohm (sixth round, 2012); Colton Parayko (third round, 2012); Santeri Saari (sixth round, 2013); Jordan Schmaltz (first round, 2012); Thomas Vannelli (second round, 2013); Jake Walman (third round, 2014).

Goaltender: Niklas Lundstrom (fifth round, 2011).

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 07.06.2014

747493 Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning Notes: Pieces coming together

Erik Erlendsson

BRANDON — When the dust settled following the frenzied first hours of free agency, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper felt fine about the moves made by general manager Steve Yzerman.

The additions of G Evgeni Nabokov, C Brian Boyle and D Anton Stralman, combined with the trade acquisition of D Jason Garrison and re-signing of RW Ryan Callahan, provide Tampa Bay with more stability on the blue line, a steady backup goaltender and some size up front among a relatively small group of forwards.

―I‘ve never seen a team on paper win a Stanley Cup, but we‘ve had a plan all along and I think Steve has done an unbelievable job and not rushing everything along,‘‘ Cooper said. ―He‘s slowly putting pieces to the puzzle together to create the big picture. And we‘ve been selective as to who we want to bring in to our mix. And we needed to shore up our back end a little bit, and I think we did that.

―I don‘t think we went into the summer thinking we were going to land two defensemen that can walk right into our lineup, and we did. So we are excited. I like what we have done.‘‘

With a roster still filled with young forwards, Tampa Bay might still be in the market to add a veteran top-six caliber winger — the Lightning reportedly were a finalist to acquire veteran Jarome Iginla.

―We are young up front. We like our depth, but we are young,‘‘ Yzerman said.

Tournament time

The annual 3-on-3 tournament started Saturday, and four players are tied at the top of the scoring race with seven points — 2014 first-round pick Anthony DeAngelo (3 goals, 4 assists), Brian Hart (4G, 3A), Jeff Costello (4G, 3A) and Brendan O‘Donnell (4G, 3A).

D Ben Thomas is tied with Hart, Costello and O‘Donnell for the lead with four goals. LW Jonathan Drouin, the third overall pick in 2013, has two goals.

Andrei Vasilevskiy leads all goalies with a .933 save percentage, followed by invitee Clay Witt (.822), Adam Wilcox (.792) and Kristers Gudlevskis (.754).

Team Filppula — which includes Brayden Point, Costello, DeAngelo and O‘Donnell — won all three games to open round-robin play.

The tournament resumes at 10:50 a.m. today with three more games to complete round-robin play in the five-team tournament. The semifinals begin at 11:50 a.m. The championship game is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m.

All of today‘s games will be streamed live on the team website at www.tampabaylightning.com with Dave Mishkin and Bobby ―The Chief‘‘ Taylor providing the call.

Three players are not participating in the 3-on-3 games — Adam Erne and Slater Koekkoek because of injuries, and Johnathan MacLeod, who left camp to get settled in at Boston University, where he will play in the fall.

On Point

Point proved to be an offensive force last season with Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League with 36 goals and 91 points in 72 games, but he had to wait until the fourth round to hear his name called in last week‘s draft. He was not rated higher due to his 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame.

Point understood the reasoning from scouts, but as he‘s watched the likes of Tyler Ennis, Tyler Johnson and Marty St. Louis enjoy success, Point knows there can be a place for him in the NHL.

―When I was picked at the draft, I was really happy, especially going to a team like Tampa that has smaller guys in their system that have done well,‘‘ Point said.

After Point finishes with development camp, the 18-year-old will return to his home in Calgary and get ready to attend Team Canada World Junior Evaluation Camp in Montreal and Sherbrooke, Quebec, from Aug. 3-8, before returning to Tampa for Lightning training camp.

Peca update

C Matthew Peca is not participating in any on-ice activities after surgery to repair a labrum in his shoulder, which was needed at the end of the season. A potential Hobey Baker candidate at Quinnipiac University, Peca will return to school for his senior season and hopes to lead the Bobcats to the Frozen Four, which he did in 2012.

―There is still a lot I need to improve on, but I feel that I‘ve matured as a player,‘‘ said Peca, a seventh-round pick in 2011. ―We‘ve had two good seasons the last two years (at school), but we haven‘t won anything. We‘ve been to the Frozen Four, but we didn‘t win anything, so as a team we have a lot to prove.‘‘

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 07.06.2014


Bolts fan‘s boyhood dreams realized at camp

By Erik Erlendsson

BRANDON — The visionary inside Lightning founder Phil Esposito once stated somebody born and raised in Florida would one day make it to the NHL.

Brandon native Clay Witt might be the first.

Witt, 22, is one of four goaltenders participating in the Lightning‘s development camp this week at the Ice Sports Forum, the same rink at which Witt first started to skate and play hockey as an 8-year-old, the same rink he used to come to with his parents to watch the Lightning practice, the same rink in which his father‘s company, Witt Fence Co., has an advertisement on the dasher boards as well as the Zamboni.

Though Witt, a free-agent invitee, intends to head back for his redshirt senior season at Northeastern University, the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is a solid pro prospect after a strong season as a junior.

In 32 games, Witt went 17-12-3 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage in his first full season as a starter and was named a finalist for the inaugural Mike Richter award as the top goaltender in college hockey.

―He‘s there. He‘s at the point where he‘s able to take the step into pro hockey,‘‘ Lightning goaltending coach Frantz Jean said. ―He had a very good year last year, so that gives you the indication that he‘s able to dominate (in college) and that usually indicates that he‘s ready to make the next step in his career.‘‘

That‘s quite a step for a kid who grew up a Lightning fan near Bloomingdale High and started out playing in-line hockey as a 7-year-old before moving to ice skates a year later.

After a year on the ice, Witt convinced his parents that he wanted to become a goaltender and, unknowingly, a potential trail-blazing path was ignited.

―I don‘t know if I would say I‘m a pioneer. I‘m just trying to get through the steps as far as you can,‘‘ said Witt, who graduated with a business degree and will begin working on his MBA in the fall.

The first step came after his eighth-grade year when Witt garnered attention while playing for travel teams in tournaments throughout North America and was recruited to play Junior B hockey with the South Boston Bruins in Marlboro, Mass., where he played for two seasons.

Witt then heard his name called during the United States Hockey League draft by Sioux Falls, where he played for two seasons and wound up being courted to play college hockey.

Witt hopes that next step takes him into the professional ranks, but for the time being he is enjoying the experience of being part of a camp run by a professional organization that just happens to be the same team he cheered for growing up, the same team he watched play in person during the 2004 Stanley Cup finals when he was 12.

―I don‘t know if I would call it a dream moment. It‘s something I expected after the season I had to be invited to a development camp,‘‘ Witt said. ―I‘m just glad that I was able to come to this one.‘‘

It has been a strong showing for Witt during camp, and his play stood out as the 3-on-3 tournament began Saturday. He stopped 37 shots and posted an .822 save percentage, second-best of the four goalies in camp.

―I like what I see,‘‘ said Stacy Roest, the Lightning‘s director of player personnel. ―If you watched him in the (3-on-3) games, he did really well. The goalie drills are the goalie drills, but the games ... our scouts really like him. Now we get to know each other and we‘ll see where it goes.‘‘

Or where it leads.

Tampa Tribune LOADED: 07.06.2014


Slater Koekkoek ready to make impact with Lightning

Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, July 5, 2014 8:54pm

BRANDON — Considering the hard luck D Slater Koekkoek has had with injuries, it would be easy for him to be down.

But after Koekkoek's past three seasons ended with shoulder surgeries — two on his left, the latest on his right — he and the Lightning have to look on the bright side.

"The good news is he only has two shoulders," GM Steve Yzerman said. "He can't hurt another one."

Koekkoek, 20, taken 10th overall in the 2012 draft, is feeling good entering what will be his first professional season, most likely with AHL Syracuse. Koekkoek has participated in noncontact drills during the Lightning development camp that ends today at the Ice Sports Forum but has been held out of the three-on-three tournament as a precaution.

Koekkoek (pronounced KOO-KOO) believes he'll be 100 percent by training camp, his shoulders finally not an issue.

"It's hard," he said. "I've gotten the same questions for how long now? But maybe I got them fixed up now and I'll be good for the next 20 years. It's something I had to deal with. It's not my fault or anything; just had a bad break. And I'm just going to move forward."

Koekkoek was playing well for Windsor in the Ontario junior league last season, racking up 15 goals and 38 assists in 62 games. He believes he really improved his defensive zone coverage, not jumping into every rush.

"I thought he was the best defenseman in the (league)," director of player development Stacy Roest said. "At the (trade) deadline, teams wanted him. He made some big strides. It was fun to watch his game evolve."

But Koekkoek's season ended with a fight that came while defending a teammate. Protecting his left shoulder, Koekkoek hurt his right one following through on a punch.

"Bad break," he said. "You've got to live with it."

Yzerman believes with the procedures Koekkoek had, his shoulder problems should be over and he can resume his promising career.

"He's a great prospect," Yzerman said.

ON A ROLL: Team Filppula ruled the first day of the three-on-three tournament, going 3-0.

The group is made up of 2014 first-round draft pick D Anthony DeAngelo (three goals, four assists), Notre Dame F Jeff Costello (four goals, three assists), LW Brendan O'Donnell (four goals, three assists) and 2014 third-round pick F Brayden Point (three goals).

"We had really good chemistry," Costello said. "But the big day is (today)."

RW Jonathan Drouin, the third overall pick in 2013, had two goals. G Andrei Vasilevskiy had the best save percentage (.933), stopping 28 of 30 shots.

LOCAL FLAVOR: G Clay Witt, a Brandon native, has made a good impression during camp, including during three-on-three play. It includes a shutout in the first game and going 38-of-45 overall on save chances. Witt, a Northeastern University senior, is a free agent. Tampa Bay has a glut of goaltenders.

"He gets to measure himself against three pretty good prospects," Roest said. "I like what I see, for sure."

SPECIAL TREAT: The Lightning's prospects enjoyed go-karting Friday afternoon in a team-building exercise.

"I was awful. I was last in every race," said 2014 sixth-round pick F Cristiano DiGiacinto. "But it was fun."

The highlight, however, was a tour of the Tampa Bay Times Forum, including the dressing room.

"It was incredible," 2014 fourth-round pick D Ben Thomas said. "Going into the dressing room is amazing.

"Thinking about that being my room is pretty exciting if that'll ever happen."

MISCELLANY: 2014 second-round pick D Johnathan MacLeod returned to Boston University, so he did not compete in three-on-three play. … Only Koekkoek and D Adam Erne (wrist) were held out.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.06.2014


Koekkoek ready to put shoulder injuries behind him

Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, July 5, 2014 9:02am

Considering the hard-luck D Slater Koekkoek has had with injuries, it‘d be easy for him to be down.

But after Koekkoek‘s last three seasons have ended in shoulder surgeries – two on his left, the latest on his right – he and the Lightning have to look on the bright side.

―The good news is, he only has two shoulders,‖ general manager Steve Yzerman said. ―He can‘t hurt another one.‖

But Koekkoek, 20, taken 10th overall in the 2012 draft, is feeling good entering what‘ll be his first professional season, most likely with Syracuse in the American Hockey League. Koekkoek joked he got into trouble the first day at this week‘s development camp for challenging his non-contact status in practice. And Koekkoek believes he‘ll be 100-percent by training camp, his shoulders finally not an issue.

―It‘s hard,‖ he said. ―I‘ve gotten the same questions for how long now? But maybe I got them fixed up now then I‘ll be good for the next 20 years. It‘s something I had to deal with, it‘s not my fault or anything, just had a bad break. And I‘m just going to move forward.‖

Koekkoek was playing very well for the Windsor (Ontario Hockey League), racking up 15 goals and 38 assists in 62 games. Koekkoek felt he really improved his defensive zone coverage, not always jumping into every rush. ―I thought he was the best defenseman in the OHL,‖ Lightning director of player development Stacy Roest said. ―At the deadline, teams wanted him. He made some big strides. It was fun to watch his game evolved.‖

But Koekkoek season-ended abruptly with a fight. Protecting his twice surgically-repaired left shoulder, Koekkoek hurt his right one following through on a punch. ―Bad break,‖ he said. ―You‘ve got to live with it.‖

Yzerman thinks that with the procedures Koekkoek had, his shoulder problems should be over, and he can resume his career. ―He‘s a great prospect,‖ Yzerman said.

Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.06.2014

747497 Vancouver Canucks

Tanev latest Canuck to sign

July 5, 2014. 3:07 pm

elliottpap

Defenceman Chris Tanev became the latest Vancouver Canuck to sign a new contract when he agreed Saturday to a one-year deal for $2 million.

Tanev, a restricted free agent with salary arbitration rights, opted to take the one-year pact from GM Jim Benning although he did admit he was initially seeking a longer term. He made $1.5 million last season.

―I would have liked a longer term deal but, with a new GM this year and a new coach, they didn‘t know me too well,‖ Tanev, 24, explained from his off-season home in Toronto. ―So the team elected to offer us a one-year deal and we went from there. We went over our arbitration case and we thought that potentially we might be able to get a little bit more but we also might get a little bit less.

―Arbitration is something you want to avoid as much as possible so we decided this was a good number at the one year they offered,‖ Tanev added. ―Obviously I‘m going to have to go out and show that I can play like I did last year.‖

The deadline for filing for salary arbitration was 2 p.m. Saturday. Tanev is represented by Vancouver-based agent Ross Gurney, who called the new deal a ―prove-it contract.‖ Tanev was also on a ―prove-it contract‖ last season and proved to be the Canucks‘ most consistent defenceman. He had 17 points and a plus-12 rating in 64 games. He also twice broke bones in hand blocking shots.

―Ultimately every player is looking for term and, with term, comes security,‖ stated Gurney. ―But you can‘t do a term deal that doesn‘t make sense financially. One year made the most sense for Chris based on the feeling of his case had we gone to arbitration. The key stats in arbitration are games played, minutes played, points and things like that but Chris is all about hockey intelligence and you and I don‘t have a stat for that.

―First pass, puck retrieval, puck distribution, instincts… those are Chris‘s skill set and it kept coming back to the fact that maybe Jim Benning doesn‘t know what he has in this player yet. When we realized it was a one-year deal, we attempted to get to the ceiling of what our arbitration case would have been without going through the arb.‖

Last summer, Tanev didn‘t sign until late August and he was happy to avoid that situation again. He is training in Toronto under former NHL star Gary Roberts.

―I‘m excited to get this over with and start working even harder this summer,‖ said Tanev, who will again be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July 1. ―Obviously there are some guys gone from last year‘s team and there are some new pieces coming in and I think we are definitely going to be competitive next year. That is something everybody is excited about.‖

The Canucks also announced Saturday the signing of minor-league defenceman Peter Andersson, who received a two-way deal that will see him make $600,000 at the NHL level and $80,000 in the minors. Andersson spent last season in the American League

Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 07.06.2014


CANUCKS: Defenceman Chris Tanev signs one-year deal for $2 million

By Elliott Pap, Vancouver SunJuly 5, 2014

VANCOUVER — Defenceman Chris Tanev became the latest Vancouver Canuck to sign a new contract when he agreed Saturday to a one-year deal for $2 million.

Tanev, a restricted free agent with salary arbitration rights, opted to take the one-year pact from GM Jim Benning although he did admit he was initially seeking a longer term. He made $1.5 million last season.

―I would have liked a longer term deal but, with a new GM this year and a new coach, they didn‘t know me too well,‖ Tanev, 24, explained from his off-season home in Toronto. ―So the team elected to offer us a one-year deal and we went from there. We went over our arbitration case and we thought that potentially we might be able to get a little bit more but we also might get a little bit less.

―Arbitration is something you want to avoid as much as possible so we decided this was a good number at the one year they offered,‖ Tanev added. "Obviously I‘m going to have to go out and show that I can play like I did last year.‖

The deadline for filing for salary arbitration was 2 p.m. Saturday. Tanev is represented by Vancouver-based agent Ross Gurney, who called the new deal a ―prove-it contract.‖ Tanev was also on a ―prove-it contract‖ last season and proved to be the Canucks‘ most consistent defenceman. He had 17 points and a plus-12 rating in 64 games. He also twice broke bones in hand blocking shots.

―Ultimately every player is looking for term and, with term, comes security,‖ stated Gurney. ―But you can‘t do a term deal that doesn‘t make sense financially. One year made the most sense for Chris based on the feeling of his case had we gone to arbitration. The key stats in arbitration are games played, minutes played, points and things like that but Chris is all about hockey intelligence and you and I don‘t have a stat for that.

―First pass, puck retrieval, puck distribution, instincts… those are Chris‘s skill set and it kept coming back to the fact that maybe Jim Benning doesn‘t know what he has in this player yet. When we realized it was a one-year deal, we attempted to get to the ceiling of what our arbitration case would have been without going through the arb.‖

Last summer, Tanev didn‘t sign until late August and he was happy to avoid that situation again. He is training in Toronto under former NHL star Gary Roberts.

―I‘m excited to get this over with and start working even harder this summer,‖ said Tanev, who will again be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next July 1. ―Obviously there are some guys gone from last year‘s team and there are some new pieces coming in and I think we are definitely going to be competitive next year. That is something everybody is excited about.‖

The Canucks also announced Saturday the signing of minor-league defenceman Peter Andersson, who received a two-way deal that will see him make $600,000 at the NHL level and $80,000 in the minors. Andersson spent last season in the American League with the Utica Comets where he had 13 points in 58 games.

Vancouver Sun: LOADED: 07.06.2014


Botchford: Tanev signs, but can‘t cash in quite yet

By Jason Botchford, The ProvinceJuly 5, 2014

Chris Tanev signed his second-straight one-year deal with the Canucks on Saturday — for $2 million, far below his value on the open market — and is still three years away from being an unrestricted free agent.

Chris Tanev got his new contract but still isn‘t feeling the love from the Vancouver Canucks.

Vancouver signed Tanev, who established himself as a top-four defenceman last season averaging 20:44 in 64 games, to a bargain-basement $2-million, one-year deal.

The signing came hours before the deadline to file for salary arbitration.

There was a feeling from Tanev‘s side that $2 million would be his ceiling in an arbitration award because he‘s not a big-time producer in measurable stats like points. But it‘s sure nowhere near what the 24-year-old would get on the open market.

The key statistic in arbitration for defensive defencemen, however, is time on ice, and there are two RFA D-men who‘ve signed in the past year which are in Tanev‘s wheelhouse.

Ottawa‘s Jared Cowen, who has played 158 career games to Tanev‘s 156, averaged 13 fewer seconds than Tanev this past year and put up 15 points — two fewer than Tanev. And he did it playing against weaker competition and with significantly more offensive zone starts.

The Senators signed Cowen in September to a four-year, $12.4-million contract.

Another comparable is Washington‘s Karl Alzner, who averaged 12 fewer seconds and had one more point than Tanev last season.

He just finished the first year of a four-year, $11.2 million, albeit signed last offseason when he had played 100 more games than Tanev has now.

The Canucks never came close to offering those kinds of deals to Tanev.

It‘s the same thing that happened last summer when Tanev agreed to a one-year, $1.5-million deal.

There are a couple of reasons there is frustration from the player‘s side that a legitimate multi-year offer has never been tabled from the Canucks.

One is because Tanev remains three years away from unrestricted free-agent status, leaving the Canucks in control of most of the leverage until then.

And two, Tanev wasn‘t drafted. He had other options when he signed as an undrafted free agent. He chose the Canucks because they had the most interest. But now, their perception is that the Canucks aren‘t confident in Tanev. At least not confident enough to commit financially long-term.

Tanev‘s top assets are his consistency and intelligence, colloquially known in the NHL as ―hockey sense.‖

The Canucks contend it‘s difficult to quantify and they told Tanev they want to see a wider body of work, something GM Jim Benning acknowledged when explaining why the team wanted a one-year deal.

―He had a good season last year,‖ Benning said. ―He had a couple of injuries along the way, but he kind of took the next step. He‘s still a young player.

―We wanted to see another full season, another body of work this next season.

―If he has another good season, then we‘ll try to lock him up long-term.‖

As of now, Tanev‘s side could pass on that, seemingly determined now to test free agency in three years. But lots can change before then.

Tanev‘s signing was announced a day after Zack Kassian agreed to a two-year, $3.5-million deal, wrapping up what was one of the most furious nine days of transactions in Canucks history.

During that span, Benning has obviously initiated a new ―get ‗er done‖ resolve in Vancouver, which earned a plodding, passive reputation under Mike Gillis.

As an example, the Tanev situation this summer is nearly identical to what it was last off-season, but under Gillis he wasn‘t signed until Aug. 22. And both negotiations where led by assistant GM Laurence Gilman.

―I don‘t know what their approach was before I got here,‖ Benning said. ―I like to try to get things done so we know where we stand, and the players know where they stand, so they can concentrate on getting ready for the season and they don‘t have things to worry about.‖

The Tanev and Kassian signings leave the Canucks with $2.1 million in cap space and just RFA Linden Vey still to sign. Vey‘s qualifying offer was $735,000.

That cap space will bump up to more than $3 million when the Canucks work out the Jacob Markstrom situation. It‘s believed Markstrom, who wants to play in the NHL with his $1.2 million cap hit, asked for the Canucks to trade him if they can after the Ryan Miller signing.

The Canucks have explored trades and there is interest from at least three teams.

―That situation could work itself out over the summer,‖ Benning said. ―The teams that are interested may have to move out another guy.

―We‘re exploring that for Jacob. But if that doesn‘t happen, Jacob comes to camp. He has a good attitude. He understands the situation.

―Look at Minnesota last year. They went through about five goalies.‖

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.06.2014


A lot‘s on Vey if Vancouver is to go a long way

By Tony Gallagher, The ProvinceJuly 5,

With Vancouver general manager Jim Benning saying he‘s pretty much done this summer and the team is set to start the season with its present roster, Vancouver hockey fans had best hope the new guy has pulled off one of the great steals in team history when he lifted Linden Vey from the L.A. kings for just a third-round draft choice.

While the club‘s prospects were certainly helped by the signing of Radim Vrbata this week, particularly if he does develop some chemistry with the Sedins or is able to aid the Swedish brothers in getting back somewhere near the form we are used to seeing, Vey is almost certain to be a vital member of the Canucks.

With luck, they already have the Wakaw, Sask., native signed for the upcoming season and are just waiting to announce his deal, because if his agent is bright enough to figure out the strength of his client‘s position, he‘s likely to drive a lot harder bargain than did Zack Kassian‘s compliant rep.

By virtue of the Ryan Kesler deal and Jordan Schroeder‘s departure, Vey has become the only right handed centre available for those crucial defensive zone faceoffs, which will be occurring to the right of Ryan Miller when the club is trying to protect a lead or a deadlock at critical points in hockey games.

Unless you‘re going to throw Kassian, Vrbata or Jannik Hansen into that kind of a pressure situation, Vey is the man — which is a pretty nice position to be in for a guy who has been undergoing some very slow cooking since he led the Western League in scoring in 2010-11, a year he would have been eligible to play in the AHL.

Since then he has spent the majority of another three years in the AHL with the Kings farm team in Manchester after being taken in the fourth round of the 2009 draft, and in 18 games with the Kings this past season he managed five assists but no goals.

He didn‘t get a sniff of the ice in the playoffs and the Kings decided they had to off-load him or risk losing him in the waiver draft, so turned him over to a divisional rival for a virtual lottery ticket, which either shows how little they think of Vey or how little they think of the Canucks.

Vey‘s virtual guarantee of becoming one of the club‘s centres leaves at least a couple of Canucks wondering what their roles might be. If you give Henrik Sedin the top centre spot and Nick Bonino the second-line job, the latter already stated bluntly by Benning who clearly has very set ideas of what he wants his team to look like, then you‘re left asking some questions.

What is to become of Bo Horvat? Is he destined for another endless season playing for nothing in London, because he‘s not eligible to go to Utica yet? The kid will suicide. But he doesn‘t fit the profile of a fourth-line centre and the only way around it is to play Vey on the wing somewhere and trot him out for centre duty on those draws at the crucial times, which is a lot to ask of a guy who will still be a rookie.

Shawn Matthias and Brad Richardson are both hanging around as strong candidates for that role as fourth-line centre, so Horvat either plays third-line centre, starts his career out of position — hardly the way to develop your young talent — or he goes stir-crazy in junior.

The fact Richardson is comfortable on the wing makes things a little easier, but there‘s no question with Vey in like Flynn, there‘s a possible logjam and it‘s not looking terribly good for the young players period.

For sure, Brendan Gaunce would now have to make it as a winger, and that would be a miracle. And unless Nicklas Jensen lights it up pretty early, it seems most of the top six wing spots are spoken for if Burrows and Kassian are to flank Bonino on the second line.

Now once a season gets going, injuries will kind of thin out the picture a little bit, so there is some depth both up front and on the back with the re-signing of Yannik Weber and Luca Sbisa coming in. But it‘s the quality of this depth which has to be a concern.

After all, you‘re not in the Northwest division anymore, the group of death the Canucks find themselves in nowadays, the exact opposite of the rollicking

good times they used to enjoy when paired with Edmonton, Calgary and the then-lame Minny and Colorado franchises.

If the Canucks are to make the playoffs, some guys are really going to have to step forward, Vey foremost among them.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.06.2014

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