ICE Report

I would like to say Happy Fathers Day to all of the fathers out there, including my father who has played a significant role in my life and has helped me grow as a person throughout the years.

Updated Free Agent Chart – Tough rugged winger on the Penguins radar?; Sens winger Chris Neil seeking a 4 year deal?

There continues to be a movement for teams moving towards an up-tempo system as the Minnesota Wild hired Todd Richards this week and Flyers GM Paul Holmgren indicating that the Flyers will move towards a more aggressive system with an emphasis on hunting the puck at all times

At mid-season, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers were the latest examples of teams making coaching changes and moving away from a conservative approach and becoming more aggressive in the neutral zone, offensive zone.

*The Atlanta Thrashers will announce the hiring of Rick Dudley as assistant GM early this week.  

*The NHLPA has expressed a strong interest in the NHL returning to ESPN while Gary Bettman likes the current set up of Versus and NBC.

A move to ESPN would be the best move for exposure reasons and there could be a way to use all three media outlets (ESPN, NBC, Versus)

What the NHL needs to consider is using Versus as the “TNT” of the NHL, giving them a game of the week and exclusive playoff rights to select games, with ESPN/ESPN2 being major carrier for the league and NBC having a game of the week on the weekend.

*Penguins General Manager Ray Shero wants Bill Guerin to return and there is mutual interest but sources tell me it is wishful thinking from fans who think

Guerin is going to sign for the same kind of deal that Keith Tkachuk signed for ($2.1 million)

I was told this morning that Guerin will not take a significant discount for “nobody”.

A salary under $4 million he will accept but not a salary of $2 million per season.

Talks will pick up this week.