40#1Fan

Red Wings GM Ken Holland gets a twiddle account while waiting for Marian Hossa's final answer Posted by George James Malik June 30, 2009 13:03PM Red Wings GM Ken Holland told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun that free agent-to-be Marian Hossa and his agent, Ritch Winter, have yet to inform the Red Wings of their intentions: June 30, ESPN: Red Wings GM Ken Holland also told us through a text-message report that there was "nothing happening" on the Marian Hossa front. The star winger remains unsigned with the hours slipping away toward free agency (Wednesday, noon ET). The Wings are holding their pre-free-agency organizational meetings today, so Holland remains busy, but on the Hossa front, thumb-twiddling applies. http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/06/re...lland_gets.html

In agreement about our part of the line. We are hooking up with some of the folks in September for drinks (the couple behind us) and we are sitting by the couple in front of you on Tuesday.

Hey, hey, I might be a talker, but I do think our section of the line had a good time and it made the three and a half hours go by faster. I wonder about those two little old ladies too. They need to go back to charm school. See you in September!

We got in line at 8:00 a.m. and were shocked at the folks already in line. Next year we will be in line by 6:00 a.m. We were able to get tickets for all three events. Feel for all those folks in line behind us.

via Jeremy Rutherford of the Morning Skate at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Blues today bought out the final year of defenseman Jay McKee’s contract. McKee was due to make $4 million for the 2009-2010 season, completing a four-year, $16 million contract he signed in 2006. “I was at the gym and missed some calls,†McKee said. “I saw my agent and Larry Pleau called, so I assumed something was up. It’s not something I expected, especially after my most productive season in St. Louis. But I understand they had a decision to make and I was one of them. … “The bottom line is, I didn’t fit in their depth chart and my salary was probably a hindrance to their payroll,†McKee added. “They have their reasons and I accept that.†http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hock..._buy_out_mckee/

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hock..._with_khl_team/ via Tarik El-Bashir of Capitals Insider, According to three reports out of Russia this morning, Sergei Fedorov’s NHL career is officially over. The 39-year-old has ended more than a month of speculation about his future and reportedly signed a two-year deal with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL.... The deal is reportedly for two years at $3.8 million per season. Magnitogorsk has also announced the signing on their website

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Detro...915926-sun.html MONTREAL- The Detroit Red Wings are waiting for an answer from winger Marian Hossa. The talk in NHL circles is the Wings have a made a lucrative long-term offer to the UFA winger and are waiting to see whether he'll accept the deal or test the market July 1. Hossa, who signed a one year deal worth $7.45 million (all terms US) last season, will be the most sought after free agent on the market if he keeps his UFA status. That decision should be made in the next couple of days.

SI's Kelley: Red Wings have given Marian Hossa their take-it-or-leave-it offer Posted by George James Malik June 25, 2009 15:38PM Despite Red Wings GM Ken Holland's protestations to the contrary, Sports Illustrated's Jim Kelley lends credence to Bruce Garrioch's report that the Red Wings have made their final offer to Marian Hossa: June 25, Sports Illustrated: Sources say the Detroit Red Wings have put their best and likely final offer on the table for forward Marian Hossa, a genuinely good player who was a genuine disappointment in the playoffs. Remember all those pundits who pretty much awarded the Red Wings the Stanley Cup last offseason once Hossa agreed to spurn a multi-year offer from the Penguins? Those were the same people who said Hossa's move to a one-year deal with Detroit was brilliant in that he would win the Cup and thus position himself for long-term free-agent riches afterward. That isn't happening. Detroit's offer is rumored to be a good one, but not in the "highest-paid in the league" category. There likely will be interest in Hossa if he spurns it, but not at nearly the amount envisioned at this time last season. Hey, he rolled the dice and lost. It won't be a crap-out loss, but it will be a smaller number just the same -- likely smaller than what the Penguins were offering. Had Hossa re-signed there, he just might have ended up with the Cup rather than watching his old team hold it over him while he stared at a cut in projected pay. http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/06/si..._have_give.html

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/9721362...plans-Wednesday DETROIT (AP) - Chris Chelios has a plan to talk about his future. The 47-year-old defenseman says he will host a news conference Wednesday morning at Cheli's Chili Bar and Restaurant in Detroit to answer questions just days after the Red Wings confirmed he will not be offered a contract to stay. Chelios has said he wants to play next season. He played in six of 23 playoff games this year for the runner-up Red Wings, extending his NHL records by appearing in his 24th postseason and 266th playoff game. He played 28 regular-season games. Chelios is a three-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman and 11-time All-Star. The Chicago native and former Blackhawks player won Stanley Cups with Detroit and Montreal.

Former Red Wing Brett Hull says he's received the Hockey Hall of Fame's call Posted by George James Malik June 23, 2009 06:41AM Former Red Wing and current member of the Dallas Stars' front office Brett Hull told the Dallas News's Mike Heika that he received confirmation from the Hockey Hall of Fame that he's part of its 2009 induction class: June 23, Dallas News: The Stars executive vice president and alternate governor confirmed he will be announced today as one of four selections in the Hockey Hall of Fame's Class of 2009. The announcements are officially kept secret, but as the third-leading goal scorer of all-time, Hull is a slam dunk on his first eligible ballot. "It's a great honor, it's really unfathomable," Hull said. "I mean, when you're a kid, you dream about someday playing in the NHL or someday winning the Stanley Cup, but you just don't think about this, so it's hard to prepare yourself." Hull and Steve Yzerman are expected to be announced for sure, and Brian Leetch probably will also be named in his first year of eligibility. However, other first-timers such as Luc Robitaille, Dave Andreychuk and Alexander Mogilny will be battling with players who still have not been named, including Adam Oates, Doug Gilmour, Steve Larmer, Dino Ciccarelli and Pavel Bure

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hock...f_the_playoffs/ Well, that’s all folks; another NHL season come and gone. (What are we going to do with ourselves?) Sure, we’ve got the NHL awards this week, the draft next weekend and free agency July 1, but by the second week of July we’re into the dog days of summer. Reflecting on the 2009 playoffs, we feel it’s fair to say they were the best in years. We witnessed the highest-scoring skater since Wayne Gretzky in 1993; some great star-on-star battles; six seven-game series, including the 15th such final in history; and, finished it all off with a battle royale between the closest thing the NHL has had to a dynasty since Edmonton in the 1980s and the closest thing the NHL has to its next dynasty. In a nod to the great post-season that was, we’re listing our 10 best players of the playoffs. As per usual, we like to avoid repetition, so there can only be one player per team, which means 10 of the 16 qualifiers are represented. 10. Zach Parise, LW, New Jersey The Devils fell to the Hurricanes in seven games, but Parise did all he could to stop it from happening. His modest stat line – three goals and six points, including a power play goal and a game-winning marker – does not do his dynamic play justice. His 19-plus minutes of ice time per game also led New Jersey forwards far and away. 9. Claude Giroux, RW, Philadelphia He played 42 regular season games for the Flyers this year, but Giroux’s coming-out party came during the playoffs. The shifty speedster led his team in scoring with two goals and five points in six opening-round games versus the Penguins. And despite his youth, Giroux, 21, proved himself to be a more than capable penalty-killer and was counted on in that role throughout the series. 8. Henrik Sedin, C, Vancouver For a guy who normally passes and nets assists, the post-season showed Henrik can score when he wants to. He finished fourth on the team in shots and his four goals tied for first with his brother, Daniel. He was his usual dominant self down low, using his ability to cycle and protect the puck to score at a point-per-game pace over 10 games in two rounds. 7. Marc Savard, C, Boston An argument can be made for Zdeno Chara, but with the B’s falling to the Canes in Round 2 thanks in large part to Eric Staal’s ability to fight through the defensive blanketing of the big Slovak, Savard is our choice. The 31-year-old paced the Bruins with six goals and 13 points, had three power play goals, two game-winners, won 51.9 percent of his draws and played nearly two minutes more per game than any other forward. ‘Nuff said. 6. Simeon Varlamov, G, Washington Alex Ovechkin was electric with 11 goals and 21 points in 14 games, but the Caps wouldn’t have made it to the second round if Varlamov had not played as well as he did. After taking over from Jose Theodore, the 21-year-old was lights out, winning seven of 13 starts and finishing with a 2.53 goals-against average and .918 save percentage en route to the breakout performance of the post-season. 5. Cam Ward, G, Carolina The 2006 Conn Smythe winner looked to be having a repeat performance through two rounds. Heading into the conference final, Ward was at the top of most pundits’ MVP lists. Unfortunately, the sixth-seeded Canes ran out of gas against the eventual Cup champs, bowing out in four straight games to Pittsburgh. 4. Martin Havlat, RW, Chicago After a season in which the injury-prone sniper played the most games of his career (81) and led the Hawks in scoring, Havlat was primed for his first return to the playoffs since ’05-06 – and he didn’t disappoint. The 28-year-old Czech was a dynamo for Chicago, finishing with five goals and 15 points in 15-and-a-half games – he was concussed early in Game 3 against Detroit in the conference final by a Niklas Kronwall shoulder to the head. After the hit, Havlat played less than eight minutes more during the series. 3. Jonas Hiller, G, Anaheim They say goaltending wins in the playoffs and Hiller was the big reason the Ducks upset San Jose in Round 1 and took Detroit to the brink in the second stage. The 27-year-old Swiss native was third in the league with a 2.23 GAA and his .943 SP was tops in the post-season. Along the way, Hiller also faced an average of 40-plus shots per game, proving that without his heroics Anaheim would have had their duck cooked much earlier. 2. Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Malkin’s 36 points were the seventh-most in NHL playoff history. When running mate Sidney Crosby was shut down or slowed by injury, the 22-year-old Art Ross and Conn Smythe winner stood up and was counted (which also included laying down to block shots). After an abysmal playoff in 2008, Malkin proved himself to be capable of leading a team at both ends of the ice. 1. Henrik Zetterberg, C, Detroit Speaking of both ends of the ice, Zetterberg was the post-season’s master. He finished third in playoff scoring with 11 goals and 24 points in 23 games and was a plus-13 – second only to teammate Dan Cleary in the league. But when the Wings needed him most as Sidney Crosby’s shadow in the final, he took his game to another level. In seven games against the Pens, Zetterberg played 155:43, most of it against Crosby. The Kid managed just a goal and three points with a minus-3 rating and was obviously frustrated early by the defensive brilliance of Zetterberg. Detroit netminder Chris Osgood may have been Detroit’s MVP frontrunner, but the work of Zetterberg was, in a word, masterful.

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hock...g_on_from_cujo/ The Toronto Maple Leafs will not bring Curtis Joseph back for the 2009-10 season, reports the Toronto Sun. General manager Brian Burke told the newspaper the Maple Leafs will look for another option as their backup goaltender in the coming season. “Great service as a Leaf,†Burke told the Sun on Monday. “But we are moving on.â€

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/glr/...with_ray_emery/ From Ed Moran at the Philadelphia Daily News: His name is Ray Emery. The Flyers and Emery have come to terms on a deal that reportedly will pay him $1.5 million for 1 year. The deal can’t be signed until July 1, when free agency starts. But the team is expected to announce the deal sooner. It means the end of Biron’s time as a Flyer, and another player - a goalie - the Flyers are going to take a chance on. Like Emery, every one of those other goalies was supposed to deliver the Flyers back to the “Promised Land,†but they were all big parts of teams that didn’t get there.

Pavel Datsyuk game-time decision; Justin Abdelkader out as Kris Draper returns by Ansar Khan Thursday June 04, 2009, 11:44 AM Update from Thursday's morning skate: Coach Mike Babcock said Pavel Datsyuk (foot) will be a game-time decision tonight. Datsyuk skated a long time this morning, for about an hour after most his teammates were finished. "I feel much better, I can make more turns,'' Datsyuk said. "I'll go pregame skate and make a decision.''

Pavel Datsyuk game-time decision; Justin Abdelkader out as Kris Draper returns by Ansar Khan Thursday June 04, 2009, 11:44 AM Update from Thursday's morning skate: Coach Mike Babcock said Pavel Datsyuk (foot) will be a game-time decision tonight. Datsyuk skated again this morning during an optional practice. Babcock said Kris Draper is replacing Justin Abdelkader in the lineup tonight. Abdelkader scored a goal in each of the first two games of the finals. But with Draper back at the fourth-line center, Babcock elected to keep Ville Leino in (though he'll likely be scratched if Datsyuk is in) because he is better on the wing than Abdelkader, whom Babcock said is much more effective at center.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2009060...906030435/1361/ Pavel Datsyuk looks 'good' in practice, Holland says Associated Press Pittsburgh -- The Red Wings might get some help when they play the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday night. Pavel Datsyuk practiced with the Wings on Wednesday, a day after a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh cut their lead to 2-1 in the series. "I feel more comfortable," he said. Wings general manager Ken Holland said Datsyuk "looked good," adding his status would be determined after Thursday's morning skate. Holland added that Datsyuk will be healthy enough to play at some point in the Cup Finals if he isn't cleared to play in Game 4. Datsyuk has missed five games with a foot injury. Coach Mike Babcock said Kris Draper will play in Game 4, but did not know who he would scratch. Draper had been cleared to play after being sidelined by a sore groin, but Babcock was reluctant to make changes after Detroit beat the Penguins in the first two games of the series. The Wings will count on Draper -- and hope to have Datsyuk back -- to help their weakness of killing penalties. They gave up two power-play goals in Tuesday's loss

Q. Has Draper been cleared to play by doctors and if so, will he play tonight? COACH BABCOCK: Yeah, he was cleared before last game. Don’t know if he’ll play tonight. It will be based on Samuelsson. Samuelsson didn’t take the morning skate, so we’ll see what happens there. Q. Second injury, we just saw Pavel out on the ice. Just your thoughts on him and how does he look today? COACH BABCOCK: Well, I guess he had his best overnight experience that he’s had. And he seemed to have a big turn around. So he was real optimistic here today. I don’t assume that affects today’s game whatsoever, but it could really affect the following game.

Update on Wings' injuries Coach Mike Babcock just said that that it looks like Pavel Datsyuk won't play tonight but that he had a big improvement which could help him in a return for Thursday's Game 4. Kris Draper might play tonight, according to Babcock, but only if Mikael Samuelsson doesn't play. Draper skated this morning and Samuelsson did not because of an undisclosed injury. If Samuelsson plays, Draper will sit. That means that the fourth line of Abdelkader, Maltby and Leino is together again tonight.

Red Wings' Mikael Samuelsson game-time decision; Pavel Datsyuk possible for Game 4by Ansar Khan Tuesday June 02, 2009, 11:56 AM PITTSBURGH -- Update from Tuesday's morning skate: Mikael Samuelsson did not practice. Kris Draper took Samuelsson's spot on the line with Darren Helm and Dan Cleary. Coach Mike Babcock said Samuelsson's status will be determined at game time. If he can't play, Draper will replace him. Otherwise, Draper is out. Pavel Datsyuk didn't practice with the team but skated briefly on his own afterward. He didn't seem to be moving well, but Babcock said Datsyuk actually made significant progress overnight and might be ready to play in Game 4. Here's the lines they skated with: Franzen-Zetterberg-Hudler Holmstrom-Filppula-Hossa Draper-Helm-Cleary Leino-Abdelkader-Maltby McCarty-Downey (scratches) Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericsson-Lebda Chelios-Meech-Kindl (scratches) Osgood Conklin Howard

Practice lines Here's what the Wings are working out of today ... Franzen-Zetterberg-Hudler Cleary-Filppula-Hossa (Datsyuk working in) Holmstrom-Helm-Samuelsson Leino-Abdelkader-Maltby (Draper working in) Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Lebda-Lilja Meech-Chelios Osgood Conklin Howard Here's what jumps out ... Lidstrom is working out of a spot that says he's definitely playing in Game 1 of the SCF. Datsyuk is just subbing on a line. Babcock is prepping the team for a game without Pavel. On the blue line, Lilja is partnered with Lebda. Two things might be going on. First, Lilja might be back in the lineup with Chelios out. Second, and I think this might be more reasonable, Lilja is a place-holder for Ericsson, who might return from appendicitis surgery. UPDATE: Datsyuk isn't taking part in drills. He's out there working on skating and stickhandling.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...ers_pave_1.html Update from the start of Wings practice: Captain Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper are practicing. Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, who had an appendectomy on Wednesday, is not skating. It is the first time Datsyuk (bruised foot) has skated with his teammates since Game 2 of the last round against Chicago, the first time Lidstrom (lower-body injury) has practiced since last Saturday, and the first time Draper has been on the ice since Game 3 vs. the Blackhawks. General manager Ken Holland said yesterday that Lidstrom likely will play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals Saturday. And Lidstrom looks to be moving well out there. Here is the lines they're working with: Franzen-Zetterberg-Hudler Cleary-Filppula-Hossa (Datsyuk working in) Holmstrom-Helm-Samuelsson Leino-Abdelkader-Maltby (Draper working in) Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Lebda-Chelios Meech Osgood Conklin Howard

Nikolai Khabibulin, Martin Havlat out for Blackhawks by Ansar Khan Wednesday May 27, 2009, 11:40 AM Update from the Blackhawks morning skate: Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin (lower-body injury) and right wing Martin Havlat are not playing tonight in Game 5, coach Joel Quenneville said. Khabibulin practiced and Quenneville said he is "progressing,'' but Cristobal Huet will make his second straight start in net. Colin Fraser will replace Havlat in the lineup. Quenneville said a few other players who didn't skate today, including Samuel Pahlsson, are playing.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420301&...vid=DL|NHL|Home Steve Mason, the brilliant young goalie of the Columbus Blue Jackets, could become only the fifth NHL player to win the Vezina and Calder trophies in the same year. But he'll have to beat out the Minnesota Wild's Niklas Backstrom, and Tim Thomas, whose league-leading goals-against average was a driving force for the Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins this season.

http://capitalsoutsider.com/2009/04/27/mik...ded-for-game-7/ Norris Trophy Candidate, Mike Green, might also be suspended. Hearings this afternoon.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/More...8701/story.html - It’s no surprise that Johan Franzen is getting an 11-year, $43-million contract that runs until 2021 to spread out the cap hit ($1 million the final two, years when he’ll be 38 and 39 years old). Same story with Henrik Zetterberg ($6.1 million cap hit over 12 years). They may eventually close that loophole, but Wings’ GM Ken Holland is simply playing by the rules now. And Franzen’s average cap hit of $3.95 million is actually close to what a veteran agent thought he’d get last week. Franzen will get $36 million in the first seven years, starting at $5.5 million next season — his salary more in tune with his tremendous goal-scoring ability. “Let’s see now, we have an 11-year contract and a 12-year contract, so I guess Marian will take 10 or 13 years,†laughed Hossa’s agent Ritch Winter, who talked to Holland about numbers Saturday, although Holland won't be able to sign Hossa until June because of their cap situation. Hossa is going nowhere. His cap hit will be in the $6-million range. “I will tell you this: despite what people are saying, the salary cap in Detroit will definitely be no impediment to Marian signing there,†said Winter.