NHL: Devils looking to add another forward? Reese to Columbus?
****Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the three women who lost their lives in the LA Fitness Health Club (Bridgeville, PA) shootings Tuesday night.*** The New Jersey Devils have been rather quiet this off-season, mostly impart due to financial troubles. The Devils officially brought back Brendan Shanahan yesterday and the team has offers on the table to Petr Sykora and Mike Grier. Both offers are believed to be under $1.5 million per season. Sykora remains in talks with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers are his first choice but need to create some cap space. Ryan Malone continues to push hard for the Lightning to sign Sykora. Sykora is seeking a
Sunday’s NHL Report
Sidney Crosby has felt the effects of a left knee injury he suffered in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final all summer but Crosby will be able to begin his full training regiment next month. Rest has been the best cure for the injury and he is near 100% health. Rangers head coach John Tortorella is pushing hard for the Rangers to sign puck-moving defenseman Sergei Zubov. Zubov has been in talks with a number of teams including the Blue Jackets, Blues, Devils and Red Wings. Columbus and St. Louis have significant interest in Zubov but both teams are near their cap ceilings. On the trade front, the Blue Jackets have approached the Sharks, Panthers, Penguins to gauge interest
Latest NHL Buzz: Heatley to join Rick Nash in Columbus?
A sleeper team in the Dany Heatley sweepstakes are the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets have expressed significant interest early in the process. Adding a top flight scorer alongside Rick Nash is a priority for Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson. Two names that have come up in talks are forward R.J. Umberger and prospect/defenseman Cody Goloubef according to league sources. It is believed that the Jackets first round pick is also in play. The Senators also like Nikita Filatov but the Jackets don’t want to move Filatov. Senators GM Bryan Murray is looking to move Heatley to the Western Conference with a numbers of teams including the Canucks, Kings, Sharks, Wild and Oilers already expressing interest. Despite internet speculation linking
Blue Jackets, Leafs, Avalanche, Senators in Tyler Bozak’s top 5
University of Denver forward Tyler Bozak has received over 20 offers but a source close to Bozak indicates he has trimmed his list down to 6 teams with the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs leading the pack. Colorado, Anaheim and the Blue Jackets are two of the other six teams Bozak is considering. Bozak is expected to sign by Friday. Pittsburgh
The M.V.P. Debate Poll
The M.V.P. Debate Poll We recently polled six NHL writers on the M.V.P. debate and who they would vote for on other major awards. First up are three writers from the Western Conference we polled this week Questions 1. Who would receive your M.V.P. vote if you had to vote today? 2. In order of 1-3, who are your top three Hart Trophy finalists 3. Norris Trophy Winner 4. Vezina Trophy Winner 5. Calder Trophy Winner 6. If you had to pick one player to build your team around who would that be? The Writers David Staples РEdmonton Journal M.V.P Vote 1. Pavel Datsyuk Top Three Hart Trophy Finalists 2. Pavel Datsyuk, Alexander Ovechkin, Zach Parise Norris Trophy 3. Nicklas Lidstrom, Zdeno Chara, Mike
The Latest Penguins Buzz
Great turnout from Penguins fans last night in Columbus. The place was electric when the Penguins tied the game at 3-3 late in the third period. Thanks to the traveling Penguins fans, the BlueJackets set a record for attendance with over 19,000 fans in attendance. The Penguins have 10 come from behind wins this season when trailing in the third period and after being down 3-0 to Columbus, the Penguins were fortunate to get a point out of last night‚Äôs game. If overtime in the regular season was longer than 5 minutes, the Penguins win last night’s game. They controlled the play for the final 15 minutes of the game including overtime. BlueJackets goaltender Steve Mason is the real deal.
NHL Trade Deadline Chart
Photo courtesy of Kaatiya 1. C Vincent Lecavalier Suitors: MTL, ATL, LAK, CHI, EDM, OTT % of trade (5%) Reportedly 6 teams have inquired about Lecavalier 2. D Jay Bouwmeester Suitors: WAS, PHI, TOR, VAN, NJD, BOS, EDM, ANA,  OTT, CAL % of trade: (55%) Top D-Man on the market 3. D Chris Pronger, Suitors: FLA, VAN, TOR,  PHI, NJD, BOS, SJ, STL % of trade (70%) One year left on his contract. 4. Scott Niedermayer Suitors: PHI, NJD, VAN, BOS % of trade (45%) 5. D Tomas Kaberle Suitors: PHI, VAN, LAK, WAS, NJD, BOS, FLA % of trade (45%) 6. LW Martin St. Louis Suitors: PIT, MIN, NYR, VAN, EDM, SJ % of trade (10%): Asking price: Two top
Predators, Jackets, Oilers among teams to inquire about Kovalev
Alexei Kovalev is saying all the right things tonight, indicating he wants to return to Montreal but it has been no secret that Canadiens GM Bob Gainey has been shopping Kovalev for the past couple weeks.
Source: “Management doesn’t see Antropov as a good fit”
A few tidbits I’ve been able to gather today Sources tell me Leafs forward Nik Antropov is not on the Penguins radar, he is not seen as a good fit. Columbus, Boston, Florida, Buffalo, Chicago, and LA are among the teams that are currently pursuing Antropov. Check out the NHL Trade Deadline Chart for the rest. The Chicago Sun-Times reports, the Chicago Blackhawks and left winger Martin Havlat have conducted discussions on a long-term extension. I’m hearing a two-three year deal worth $4 million per season has been discussed. Havlat is in the last year of a 3 year – $18 million deal he signed three seasons ago. The surging Kings and Panthers along with the Buffalo Sabres are among
The Latest “Chatter”
The Race for the Playoffs Eastern Conference 6-10 6. New York Rangers | 54 GP | 63 PTS | 7. Buffalo Sabres | 54 GP | 62 PTS | 8. Florida Panthers | 53 GP | 60 PTS | 9. Carolina Hurricanes | 54 GP | 59 PTS | 10. Pittsburgh Penguins | 53 GP | 57 PTS | The Florida Panthers have won five out of seven and beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4¬†in overtime Tuesday night to jump ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes and move into eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 60 pts. They’re a team that won‚Äôt be going away. The Penguins meet the Panthers three more times this season. The Panthers currently have two