March 2017 - Hockey Wiretap

Capitals Won't Make Major Moves In Offseason

May 31, 2017 12:38 PM

The Washington Capitals won't make any major changes this offseason.

"I don't think it makes sense in my mind just to blow it up or make a major change," GM Brian MacLellan said. "It's a lot easier to make this team worse than it is better."

The Capitals won the Presidents' Trophy in back-to-back seasons but haven't advanced past the second round during the Alex Ovechkin era.

"I think we're going to be a good team still," MacLellan said. "I don't know that we'll be at this level. We'll be competitive. I'm not sure what happens."

ESPN

Tags: Washington Capitals, Misc Rumor

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Scott Gomez Hired By Islanders As Assistant Coach

May 31, 2017 12:36 PM

Scott Gomez has joined the New York Islanders as an assistant coach.

Gomez retired from the NHL following the 15-16 season.

"Scott brings an immense amount of hockey knowledge to our coaching staff," Doug Weight said in a statement. "His offensive instincts, expertise on the power-play and the way he could control the game with his skating and smarts, are all key elements that we want implemented into our group. He played in the league as recently as the 2015-16 season so he can relate to today's NHL player in an effort to bring out the best in each member of the team."

Gomez was a two-time All-Star.

ESPN

Tags: New York Islanders, Misc Rumor

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Capitals To Play Leafs In Outdoor Game At Naval Academy

May 28, 2017 10:31 AM

The Washington Capitals will play the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 17-18 season at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

It's the first game at a service academy though the NHL has preliminary plans to host games at West Point and the Air Force Academy.

This is the third outdoor game for the Capitals and Maple Leafs and the first in the Washington area since the 2015 Winter Classic downtown at Nationals Park.

Capitals-Maple Leafs at the Naval Academy will be one of at least three outdoor games next season. The Ottawa Senators will host the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic on Dec. 19, and the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres will play in the Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Citi Field in New York.

ESPN

Tags: Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals

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Tobias Rieder Undergoes Successful Ankle Surgery

May 28, 2017 10:29 AM

Tobias Rieder had successful surgery on his ankle and should be ready for the 2017-18 season, the team announced Saturday.

The team said Rieder will need eight to 12 weeks to recover from the procedure.

Rieder suffered the injury playing for Germany in the world championships earlier this month.

ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Coyotes, Injury

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Blackhawks Sign Michal Kempny To One-Year Deal

May 28, 2017 10:28 AM

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a one-year contract with defenseman Michal Kempny.

Kempny was set to become a restricted free agent July 1. The extension runs through the 2017-18 season.

Kempny had two goals and six assists in his first season with the Blackhawks.

ESPN

Tags: Chicago Blackhawks, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Penguins Open As Favorites To Win Stanley Cup

May 31, 2017 12:36 PM

The Pittsburgh Penguins open up as -150 favorites to win the Stanley Cup with the Nashville Predators listed as a +130 underdog.

Pittsburgh defeated the Ottawa Senators in a double-overtime Game 7.

Pittsburgh opened the playoffs tied with the Anaheim Ducks and the New York Rangers with the fourth-best odds to win the Stanley Cup at 10-1.

Ben Fawkes/ESPN

Tags: Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins

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Predators Hope Mike Fisher Plays In Game 1 Of Stanley Cup Finals

May 26, 2017 11:42 AM

The Nashville Predators hope Mike Fisher will play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Fisher hasn't played since Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the Ducks after taking a knee to his head.

"I think there's a real good chance of that," Poile told reporters Wednesday. "I'm pretty sure you'll see him on the ice [Thursday during practice]. ... I'm optimistic that he will be available."

ESPN

Tags: Nashville Predators

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Coyotes Hire Craig Cunningham As Pro Scout

May 25, 2017 11:39 AM

The Arizona Coyotes have hired Craig Cunningham as a pro scout and say he will assist with player development.

Cunningham collapsed on the ice with a cardiac disturbance before a game Nov. 19 while playing for the American Hockey League's Tucson Roadrunners and required emergency life-saving care. He had part of his left leg amputated and saw his playing career end.

Cunningham is just 26.

Chayka called Cunningham a "smart, hard-working player with an incredible passion for the game" that he believes will translate to his new job.

AP

Tags: Phoenix Coyotes

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Senators Win To Force Game 7

May 25, 2017 11:40 AM

Just when the Ottawa Senators look as if they're done, they find a way to keep going. 

Facing elimination, they did it once again in beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 to force a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference finals, this time wiping out an early deficit to push the Penguins to their second elimination game of the postseason.

ESPN.com

Tags: Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Game Recap, Misc Rumor

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Predators Advance To Their First Stanley Cup Final

May 24, 2017 2:24 AM

Pekka Rinne stopped 38 of Anaheim's 41 shots Monday night in a 6-3 victory that sent the Predators to their first Stanley Cup Finals, which begins next Monday in Pittsburgh or Ottawa.

ESPN.com

Tags: Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Game Recap, Misc Rumor, Team Achievement

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Penguins In Dominant Game 5 Win
The Penguins defeated the Senators by the score of 7-0, the second-largest playoff win in NHL history.

ESPN.com

Predators' Aberg Scores Go-Ahead Goal, Then Evaluated For Concussion
The Predators beat the Ducks by the score of 3-1 on Saturday to take a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference finals.

ESPN.com

Sharks' Joel Ward Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
Sharks forward Joel Ward is expected to be completely healed before the start of the next NHL season.

ESPN.com

Predators Lose Ryan Johansen For Rest Of Playoffs
Ryan Johansen suffered a left thigh injury in Game 4 on Thursday night.

ESPN.com

Penguins To Start Matt Murray In Goal
The Penguins had started Marc-Andre Fleury for every playoff game after Matt Murray's injury in Game 1 of the first round.

ESPN.com

Pens Will Decide Starting Goalie On Friday
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan will announce the starting goalie on the morning of game day.

ESPN.com

Coyotes Name Steve Sullivan Assistant GM
Steve Sullivan will oversee the amateur player development staff and serve as GM of the AHL Roadrunners.

ESPN.com

Wild Owner 'Happily Surprised' By Old Predators Team
Craig Leipold helped bring the Predators into the NHL almost 20 years ago.

ESPN.com

Chiarelli, Dorion, Poile Finalists For Top GM
The NHL announced the finalists for the general manager of the year on Tuesday night.

ESPN.com

Rangers Name Chris Drury GM Of AHL Wolf Pack
Chris Drury has been an assistant GM with the Rangers for the past year.

ESPN.com

Ryan Kesler Won't Let Up On Ryan Johansen
Ryan Kesler has managed to rattle Ryan Johansen as they both prepare for Game 3 in their playoff series.

ESPN.com

Andrej Sekera Out Six To Nine Months With Torn ACL
Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera is scheduled for surgery this Thursday.

ESPN.com

Capitals May Face Changes After Playoff Failure
Some of the Capitals' unrestricted free agents won't be back next season.

ESPN.com

Sharks Sign Melker Karlsson, Joonas Donskoi To New Deals
Both Melker Karlsson and Joonas Donskoi could have been restricted free agents this summer.

ESPN.com

Stars Sign Ben Bishop To Six-Year, $29.5M Deal
The Stars acquired the rights to Ben Bishop in a trade with the Kings less than a week ago.

ESPN.com

Ovechkin Played With Injury During Playoffs
Russian hockey officials said that Alex Ovechkin would not be able to play at the world championships because of the lower-body injury.

ESPN.com

Sabres Hire Jason Botterill As GM
Jason Botterill is leaving the Penguins as associate GM to build the Sabres into a contender.

ESPN.com

Rangers, Sabres To Play 2018 Winter Classic At Citi Field
The Rangers will take on the Sabres at Citi Field on January 1, 2018.

ESPN.com

Kings Trade Ben Bishop To Stars For Draft Pick
The Kings now have a total of eight picks in this year's NHL Draft on June 23-24.

Press Release

Ilya Kovalchuk Interested In Returning To NHL
Ilya Kovalchuk is on the NHL's voluntary retirement list, and could only sign with the New Jersey Devils.

ESPN.com