Canucks rookie Luc Bourdon owned a motorcycle only several days before dying when the bike veered into the path of a truck, close friend Kris Letang of the Penguins said Friday, according to an Associated Press report.

Luc Bourdon, 21, a promising rookie defenseman with the Canucks, was killed Thursday when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer in a crash near his hometown, according to an Associated Press report. His death was confirmed by sister Eve Bourdon and stepmother Maryse Godin. Both declined further comment when reached at the family?s home in Shippagan.

The Rangers will have to pay forward Bobby Holik, currently with the Thrashers, $3.5 million because of a contract dispute in 2004-05, according to a report on TSN of Canada's website. New York must also pay an undisclosed amount to Jed Ortmeyer, currently with Nashville. The team argued that Holik needed to play to earn his signing bonus after the lockout that canceled the 2004-05 season, but an arbitrator disagreed.