[panoo]

Wednesday, July 5-2006

• Jaroslav Spacek's agent told the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday afternoon that his client had another offer that he was going to accept. The word was that it wasn't a decision based on money and Spacek, who had been one of Edmonton's off-season priorities, had no concerns about the city, but decided to move on. - Edmonton Sun

• The Stars are expected to sign free agents Jeff Halpern and Matthew Barnaby today. Stars general manager Doug Armstrong confirmed that he was in discussions with the two players and said talks are "well down the road." Barnaby's deal is said to be one year for $625,000; Halpern is said to be ready to sign a four-year deal worth $2 million per season. - Dallas Morning News/Fort-Worth Star-Telegram

• Free agent goaltender Ed Belfour is expected in Detroit today. The Red Wings want to put him through a rigorous physical because he's 41 and coming off back surgery... Dominik Hasek, 41, is also on the market, and if the Wings decide to go the trade route, there's Buffalo's Martin Biron. San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov is the best of the available goaltenders, but because he just signed a four-year extension worth $21.5 million in February, the Wings would have to trade away a player of near-equal money to keep enough salary-cap room to fill other holes. The Wings have 13 players signed to contracts totaling $31.287 million against next season's $44-million cap. - Detroit News

• Panthers coach Jacques Martin said he spoke with Gary Roberts again on Tuesday and that there was no development on the left winger's request for a trade back to Toronto for family reasons. Citing a source, the Toronto Star reported that Roberts has told Panthers General Manager Mike Keenan if he isn't traded to the Maple Leafs, he will retire and return to Toronto. Martin would neither confirm nor deny Roberts expressed that to the team. Keenan added that he would expect Roberts or his agent to call him personally "if there was an ultimatum or a decision of that kind." If Roberts, 40, retires, the Panthers would not have to pay his $2.25 million salary for 2006-07 but it would count against their salary cap. - Sun Sentinel

• With Wednesday's 5 p.m. deadline looming for restricted free agents to file for arbitration, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello began negotiating Monday with center Scott Gomez's father/agent Carlos on a possible long-term deal. Lamoriello is also trying to find cap room to re-sign restricted free agent right wing Brian Gionta, who, like Gomez, can be unrestricted next year. The problem is the Devils already have more than $41 million committed toward the $44 million salary cap for next season. Teams can go as much as 10 percent over the cap until the first day of the regular season, but even that doesn't leave Lamoriello much wiggle room with restricted free agents David Hale and Paul Martin also to be re-signed (and also arbitration eligible) and the backup goalie spot still vacant. Gomez, 26, earned $2.204 million last year while Gionta, 27, earned $627,000 - Bergen Record

• While the Coyotes have been active in signing unrestricted free agents, they are not close in coming to terms with their own restricted players. The biggest name out there who has yet to re-sign is Ladislav Nagy. Nagy is arbitration eligible but his agent says playing in Europe next season is one of the options he and the 27-year-old forward are considering. Nagy made $1.976 million last year. The Coyotes made him a qualifying offer for the same amount last month. He is believed to be seeking a substantial raise, likely in the $3 million-$4 million range. - East Valley Tribune

• Yanic Perreault's agent, Jay Fee, says he has had "some preliminary talks" with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He added that several other clubs have expressed interest, but no front-runner has emerged. Andre Savard, the Penguins' new assistant coach, was the general manager who signed Perreault for Montreal in 2001, and Michel Therrien coached him with the Canadiens. And when Perreault had a solid 2004-05 season in Nashville, Ray Shero, the guy now charged with assembling the Penguins' roster, was the Predators' assistant GM. - Post Gazette

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Thursday, July 6-2006

Thursday, July 6-2006

• Flyers forward Simon Gagne did not file for arbitration. "We want a long-term contract and the Flyers want a long-term contract," Gagne said from Quebec, "We started talking last week, and hopefully we will find a solution." Bob Sauve, who represents Gagne, rejected the Flyers' initial four-year proposal last week and countered with his own. Gagne is seeking about $5 million per season. - Philadelphia Inquirer

• The Detroit Red Wings have offered forward Brendan Shanahan one- and two-year deals each worth approximately $4 million per season, almost double the $2.28 million Shanahan made last year. Other teams interested are reported to be Boston, the New York Rangers, Montreal and Los Angeles. - Detroit Free Press and Detroit News

• The Red Wings put prospective goaltender Ed Belfour through a three-hour physical Wednesday at the Detroit Medical Center. Afterward, Belfour met again with general manager Ken Holland, then left for the airport. Holland did not return a phone call, but if Belfour, who is coming off back surgery, passes the medical tests, the Wings will offer him a contract. The Panathers are also reportedly interested in Belfour as a backup. - Detroit News and Detroit Free Press

• Former Penguins right winger Aleksey Morozov, coming off two excellent seasons in the Russian Super League, still is a candidate to return to the NHL this winter. but it doesn't look like it will be with the Penguins. General manager Ray Shero said this week that Morozov is "not [in] my price range." Morozov, an unrestricted free agent, is believed to be seeking at least $3 million per season, although his precise contract demands are not known. - Post Gazette

 

[shanny14]

thanks for the info!

 

[panoo]

thanks for the info!

Your very welcome!!!

Glad to see people are reading it!

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Friday, July 7

Friday, July 7-2006

• The Maple Leafs are reportedly talking to Michael Peca, who is willing to take a pay cut on his $4 million salary to go to Toronto. - Toronto Star

• Before signing Denis Arkhipov on Thursday, Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon said he spoke with representatives for both Yanic Perreault and Mike Peca. As it stands now, the Hawks have Mark Bell, Arkhipov and Patrick Sharp as their top three centres. Tuomo Ruutu could also be a centre, and Bell is, according to the Daily Herald, believed to be one veteran they are trying to trade. - Chicago Daily Herald

• According to a knowledgeable source, the possibility of free agent winger Brendan Shanahan signing with the Bruins is now dead. Reportedly, St. Louis and Detroit are in the running for the 37-year-old's services. - Boston Herald

• The Red Wings got the results of free-agent goalie Ed Belfour's physical Thursday. And they liked what they saw. General manager Ken Holland said the tests showed Belfour's rehabilitation from back surgery in April has been successful. Belfour could be signed in the next couple of days - Detroit News

• Mark Recchi's agent Rick Curran said Thursday that he had spoken with general manager Ray Shero about a possible return to Pittsburgh - Tribune Review

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Saturday, July 8-2006

Saturday, July 8-2006

• Ed Belfour has made it clear Detroit is where he'd like to end up. His agent, Ron Salcer, reiterated that Friday, saying the Wings are the veteran free-agent goaltender's No. 1 choice. Wings general manager Ken Holland told Salcer on Friday he'll let him know Monday whether he's prepared to make Belfour a contract offer. - Detroit News

• Brendan Shanahan is believed seeking a two-year deal at $5 million a season. Various newspapers differ on which teams are still in the hunt for him and which teams are not, with the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings all in the mix. - Montreal Gazette

• Senators GM John Muckler continues to shop Martin Havlat, but his insistence on a one-year deal is hampering attempts to move him. - Ottawa Citizen

• Rangers assistant GM Don Maloney claims his team is still considering 'moderately priced veterans' who can fit well into the team's roster. He said the club is in contact with the agents for Petr Sykora and Martin Rucinsky and would like to re-sign them for the right price. - Star Ledger

• Dallas Stars GM Doug Armstrong "is likely done with major signings in free agency." Armstrong reportedly wants to start the season with a $40 million payroll to provide flexibility for trades. - Fort Worth Star Telegram

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, June 10

Sunday, June 10-2006

• Ed Belfour has made it clear Detroit is where he'd like to end up. His agent, Ron Salcer, reiterated that Friday, saying the Wings are the veteran free-agent goaltender's No. 1 choice. Wings general manager Ken Holland told Salcer on Friday he'll let him know Monday whether he's prepared to make Belfour a contract offer. - Detroit News

• Senators GM John Muckler continues to shop Martin Havlat, but his insistence on a one-year deal is hampering attempts to move him. - Ottawa Citizen

• Dallas Stars GM Doug Armstrong "is likely done with major signings in free agency." Armstrong reportedly wants to start the season with a $40 million payroll to provide flexibility for trades. - Fort Worth Star Telegram

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Monday, July 10-2006

Monday, July 10-2006

• The Brendan Shanahan signing means Petr Sykora won't be back witht he Rangers, but Martin Rucinsky is expected to be re-signed to a one-year deal. - NY Post, NY Daily News

• The Blueshirts are considering bringing back former New York Rangers blueliner Brian Leetch. - Toronto Sun

• The Red Wings have cap room to bring in a possible replacement for Brendan Shanahan, with $13 million to spend. Wings GM Ken Holland also says he'll make a decision soon regarding his goaltending, where it's believed he may make a contract offer to Ed Belfour. Holland also suggested Dominik Hasek is in the mix. - Detroit News

• Predators GM David Poile is likely finished making forays into the UFA market, but with his depth at forward could explore a trade. - The Tennessean

• Rangers defenceman Sandis Ozolinsh underwent successful knee surgery in Colorado. GM Glen Sather expects Ozolinsh to be on the ice for training camp in September.- NY Post

 

[oilers]

THANKS ALOT.... thnaks panoo

 

[panoo]

THANKS ALOT.... thnaks panoo

Your very welcome oilers!!

Enjoy the reading!!

 

[administrator]

yes, very cool. Peca a leaf, that would be great. Keep up posted.

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Tuesday, July 11-2006

Tuesday, July 11-2006

• Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals' top draft pick last month, informed the club Monday he won't be coming to Washington next season but will instead continue playing in his native Sweden for another year. - The Washington Post

• Battaglia, a prominent part of the Hurricanes team that defeated the Leafs in the 2002 Eastern Conference final, played for the Toronto Marlies last season on an American Hockey League contract and could not be called up to the big team. But the Maple Leafs last week signed Battaglia to a two-way NHL deal. The 30-year-old Battaglia, who has played 458 career NHL games, will likely be used as an injury fill-in for the Leafs, but he will be given a chance to win a job in training camp. - The Toronto Star

• Brian Leetch's next Garden game could come as Blueshirt. Barring a medical miracle, Sandis Ozolinsh not only won't be ready for training camp, he'll miss a chunk of the 2006-07 season, potentially leaving room for the Rangers to make Leetch their power play quarterback. - NY Daily News

• The Hawks would like to sign Kyle Calder to a long-term contract, but it's believed he wants a one-year deal in order to test the free-agent market next summer. - Arlington Heights Daily Herald

• The agent for goaltender Ed Belfour sounded optimistic that a deal could be announced as soon as today. "We are moving towards our mutual goal of making Ed Belfour a Red Wing," Ron Salcer, Belfour's agent, said Monday evening. - Detroit Free Press

• Michael Rupp signed a one-year contract yesterday to return to the Devils, the team with which he started his NHL career. He's less than four months removed from surgery to correct an abnormality in his heart's electrical system. He suffers from Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. - Newark Star-Ledger

• While still unconfirmed, it's likely the Panthers will play the Rangers in an exhibition game Sept. 23 in Puerto Rico. - South Florida Sun-Sentinel

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Wednesday, July 12-2006

Wednesday, July 12-2006

• Predators G Tomas Vokoun has stopped taking the blood-thinning drug coumadin in anticipation of his visit to the Mayo Clinic on July 24. If Vokoun is able to stay off the blood thinning medication, he could be ready for training camp in September. - Tennessean

• The Boston Bruins have added another promising prospect, signing free agent LW Chris Collins to a two-year contract. The Boston College standout, who was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award last season, tallied 63 points, including 34 goals which tied for the most in the nation with Minnesota's Ryan Potulny - The Boston Globe

• Blackhawks D Duncan Keith is close to signing a new four-year contract. - Arlington Heights Daily Herald

• Avalanche D John-Michael Liles avoided salary arbitration Tuesday when he signed a two-year contract, according to a source close to the situation. - Rocky Mountain News

• G Ed Belfour's contract talks have stalled with the Red Wings, but Belfour's agent remains optimistic that a deal can be worked out. - Detroit Free Press

• G Manny Legace says that he has been contacted by the St. Louis Blues, who are set to start the season with Curtis Sanford as their number one. - Belleville News Democrat

• The Oilers have cut the cord with veterans Rem Murray and Todd Harvey, knowing that all NHL teams have to start plugging in kids on the third and fourth lines. For now, the Oilers want to look at Jean-Francois Jacques, Brad Winchester, Marc-Antoine Pouliot and Swedish forward Jonas Almtorp as fourth-liners - Edmonton Journal

• Panthers GM Mike Keenan said Tuesday he expects LW Gary Roberts will remain with the Panthers, adding that Roberts' agent has confirmed to him the 40-year-old won't retire now. "I don't know if it's dead, but we're not making any progress, so we're putting it to rest as far as we're concerned," Keenan said about a potential trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs - Palm Beach Post

 

[administrator]

[*]G Ed Belfour's contract talks have stalled with the Red Wings, but Belfour's agent remains optimistic that a deal can be worked out. - [I]Detroit Free Press[/I][/LIST][/QUOTE]

Hah, figures. Sounded too good to be true :)

 

[panoo]

Hah, figures. Sounded too good to be true

It's great to see that people are reading this!! Thanks to all!!!

Maybe they are going to go after Toskala in stead? Just a thought!!

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Thursday, July 13-2006

Thursday, July 13-2006

• Agent Rich Winter, said that Sykora didn't want to return to the Rangers and therefore didn't feel squeezed out by their signing of Brendan Shanahan. "We eliminated the Rangers a while back," Winter said. "That scenario wasn't in Petr's best interests to return to the Rangers. So we haven't talked to them." : Winter also represents Michal Rozsival and said he is not convinced the Rangers want to bring back the defenseman who enjoyed a breakout 2005-06 season. "Glen (Sather) and I talked early on, but there really have been no developments," Winter said. "I'm not sure, from what we've seen, if they want to re-sign him." - New York Daily News

• Don't expect Michael Peca to make a grand return to Ottawa any time soon. Even after dealing winger Martin Havlat and centre Bryan Smolinski to Chicago on Sunday, the Senators have shown no interest in the unrestricted free-agent centre. What it really means is the Senators just don't have enough money in the kitty to take a serious run at the former 67's star. The Sabres and Islanders are both believed to be looking at Peca as well, but it appears Toronto would be his first preference. - Ottawa Sun

• Despite rumors to the contrary, Coyotes GM Mike Barnett said the Coyotes have not made a contract offer to Eric Lindros, an unrestricted free agent. - Arizona Republic

• Kansas City continues to sweeten its bid for a National Hockey League franchise - possibly the Penguins. The city sold all 72 luxury suites in Sprint Center, its new arena, and will start selling 1,800 club-level seats by fall. The publicly funded arena is scheduled to open in October 2007 and is trying to lure a hockey or basketball team. - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

• Former Penguins RW Mark Recchi, who won a Stanley Cup with Carolina last month and is an unrestricted free agent, is on vacation and probably won't sign with anyone until after this week, said his agent, Rick Curran. - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Friday, July 14-2006

Friday, July 14-2006

• Bruins top draft pick Phil Kessel will likely be playing at least one more year of college hockey at Minnesota. - St. Paul Pioneer Press

• Negotiations are not going well with Avalanche RW Marek Svatos, one of Colorado's top goal scorers last season. "We're at a point where it's tough to say where it goes from here," Svatos' agent Rich Evans said. "(Talks) could have gone better; otherwise, we'd have a deal by now." - Denver Post

• Unrestricted free agent C Greg Johnson has piqued the interest of the Ottawa Senators. - Ottawa Sun

• Sovietsky Sport, the bible of all things hockey in Russia, says the six-foot-five Mikhnov is leaving his Russian club team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, presumably to make his way across the pond to sign with the Oilers. But Oilers assistant general manager Scott Howson says a Mikhnov sighting is a tad premature. "We have had discussions with his agent (Don Meehan) and Mikhnov would like to come over, but we haven't even offered a contract," Howson said on Thursday. - Edmonton Journal

• The Edmonton Oilers are denying reports that Eric Lindros may be meeting with general manager Kevin Lowe in a tour of NHL cities to talk about a possible contract. - Edmonton Journal

• Eric Lindros has made visits to Dallas to listen to a pitch from Stars management and to Edmonton to discuss a possible future with the Oilers. The New York Islanders also are believed to have interest in No. 88. - Globe & Mail

• Seven NHL teams are interested in Oiler free-agent right winger Radek Dvorak. - Edmonton Journal

• Jiri Tlusty, who was selected 13th overall by the Maple Leafs at the entry draft in June, signed a three-year deal with Toronto that could see him playing major junior hockey for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds next season. - Toronto Star

 

[administrator]

Lindross on the move again, no surprise.

 

[panoo]

Lindross on the move again, no surprise.

That's for sure!!! I think a team takes a great risk signing him, when they could fill the hole with a healthy body!!! I know he has all these clauses for this and that, but these teams build a team with him in the roster, and, if he's a no show, where are they? I'm sure Toronto could tell you all about it!!!

 

[panoo]

Ice Chips for Saturday, July 15-2006

Saturday, July 15-2006

• Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon says he is done looking for a power play quarterback because of rookie Cam Barker's strong play at prospects camp. However, those plans could change again if Barker shows in the preseason he is not ready. - Daily Herald Times

• The Stars visited with Eric Lindros and are trying to woo the free agent into becoming their second-line centre. Lindros earned $1.55 million last season. - The Dallas Morning News

• Wings general manager Ken Holland said Friday the club made a contract offer to Ed Belfour's agent, Ron Salcer, earlier this week. Holland said he expects to hear from Salcer before the weekend is over. In the past few days, Holland, too, has had his phone ring with trade options in case the Belfour negotiations don't materialize. Jean-Sebastien Giguere or Ilya Bryzgalov, of Anaheim, Vesa Toskala or Evgeni Nabokov, of San Jose, and Martin Biron, of Buffalo are among them. But signing an unrestricted free agent such as Belfour, and not losing anything in a trade, is preferable. - Detroit News

• Jason Arnott will make his Predators debut in jersey No. 19. Arnott wore No. 7 during his 41/2 seasons in Edmonton, No. 25 during his 41/2 seasons in New Jersey and No. 44 for his three-plus seasons in Dallas. - Tennessean

• Penguins forward Colby Armstrong and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury have until 5 p.m. today to accept their qualifying offers, and general manager Ray Shero said Friday that he didn't know which way either was leaning. He planned to call the agents for both players last night. - Tribune Review

• The process of selecting a bidder for the Penguins is expected to continue into next week, two people familiar with the situation said yesterday. Although it was thought one of the five bidders would be picked to enter into a letter of intent to buy the club by yesterday, Allen and Company, the New York firm brokering the sale, apparently is still analyzing details of the offers. The price for the team is expected to top $150 million, with bids from those looking to move the team believed to be higher than the rest. - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette