NHL: Talbot, Asham are Pittsburgh’s Plan B?

Friday’s NHL Rumor Mill: How interested will the Lightning be in a Brad Richards reunion; MacTavish front runner over Therrien, Yeo in Minnesota? Talbot, Asham are Pittsburgh’s Plan B Some Rumblings around the league….

Latest NHL Buzz: Agents in no rush to establish market

Around the NHL *Several agents and GM’s (including Pens GM Ray Shero) are in Slovakia for the World Championships and discussions are going on but don’t look for a flurry of signings for impending free agents to happen in the next couple weeks. With it being early May, there is no incentive for agents to establish the market. Most agents like to wait until after the draft to engage in serious negotiations with a players current team before July 1 hits. The reason is there’s so much tampering that goes on during draft weekend, agents often get a good idea which teams are going to be hot after their client. *The Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers each getting swept in

O’Sullivan among four players placed on waivers

Minnesota Wild forward Patrick O’Sullivan is among four players placed on waivers today, Bob McKenzie of TSN.CA reports. Also on waivers is Devils defenseman Anssi Salmela, Av’s Greg Mauldin and Canucks winger Jonas Andersson. O’Sullivan continues to disappoint at the NHL level as concerns have centered around his drive to play in the NHL. O’Sullivan had 2 goals and 6 assists in 31 games played for the Wild.

Petr Sykora’s stint in Minnesota not going well; Orpik out;

Pre-game Buzz Pittsburgh Penguins (28-17-1) @ Minnesota Wild (22-20-3) Petr Sykora’s stint with the Minnesota Wild is following the pattern of his final couple months with the Pittsburgh Penguins; In the Press Box. The 33 year old winger has two goals and one assist on the season in 13 games played. Sykora is averaging 12:01 of ice game, playing mostly in a 4th line role. Sykora has been a healthy scratch the past two games and has not played since January 5th, after being a combined -4 in his previous three games. Sykora will not get a chance to face his former team tonight. Sykor will be a healthy scratch for the third straight game and has been benched in

Wild @ Penguins: Sykora to play against former team

Minnesota Wild (4-9-0) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (11-2-0) What to Watch For: For the ninth time this season, the Minnesota Wild will be looking for their first road win of the season. Minnesota is coming off a 3-2 win against the Rangers Friday night and are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games. Key Stat: Pittsburgh – Goals per Game: 3.3 Minnesota – Goals Per Game: 2.15 Pre-Game Notes Friday morning it was up in the air whether Minnesota Wild right winger Petr Sykora would be in the lineup against his former team. Sykora was a healthy scratch Wednesday night and then was called out by his coach the following day. For one night, Sykora answered the bell. In the Wild’s 3-2

NHL: Sykora falling out of favor in Minnesota?

Word out of Minnesota is that Petr Sykora has not been a good fit and has not been committed to playing the defensive zone. Sykora has 1 point in six games and has fallen out of favor with head coach Todd Richards. Things have been so bad for Sykora that he was benched (healthy scratch) Wednesday night against Nashville in favor of enforcer Derek Boogaard. ***Read more for the latest on Sykora*** According to Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune, Richards indicated after practice today that he was just trying to put the best team on the ice, when asked about Sykora being a healthy scratch. More From Russo Richards On Sykora: “He is a proven scorer, but there’s so much

Steelers vs Vikings pre-game buzz: Harvin active

Minnesota Vikings (6-0) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) Winfield out, Harvin active Antoine Winfield (foot), Minnesota’s probowl cornerback traveled with the Vikings but is inactive and according to reports could be sidelined for up to 6 weeks. The Steelers are prepared to take a number of chances down the field in the passing game. *Rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin (shoulder) will play and return kicks today. Sweed, Frazier inactive

NHL: No movement on the Heatley Front

It has been nearly 2½ months since it became public knowledge that Senators forward Dany Heatley wanted out of Ottawa. Despite the club’s best efforts to deal him, a trade is not close according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com “There’s still nothing happening,” Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray told ESPN.com. “I wish I had something new to say, but there’s really nothing.” With training camps to open in less than 4 weeks, Dany Heatley may be forced to start the season in Ottawa. Murray told ESPN.com that he will continue to seek a trade but to this point, there hasn’t been an offer worthwhile for the Senators. “I plan to continue to talk to teams, but I think fairly soon

NHL: Wild have their eye on Fedotenko, Scuderi

Defenseman Rob Scuderi will test free agency tomorrow afternoon, and while Pittsburgh remains in talks Ruslan Fedotenko, the Minnesota Wild have both players at the top of their radar. Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher tried to acquire the rights for Fedotenko prior to the draft but Pittsburgh had no interest in moving Fedotenko’s rights. When the clock strikes noon on Wednesday, Fletcher will be contacting Stephen Barlett and Allan Walsh within minutes. Fedotenko is seeking a