April 2009 - Hockey Wiretap
Rangers Trade Scott Gomez To Montreal
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired forward Chris Higgins and defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forwards Scott Gomez and Tom Pyatt, and defenseman Mike Busto.
Ducks Sign Bodie To Two-Year Extension
The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed right wing Troy Bodie to a two-year contract extension through the 2010-11 NHL season. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
Bodie, 24 (1/25/85), appeared in four games with Anaheim last season, going scoreless. Signed as a free agent on July 22, 2008, Bodie made his NHL debut on Jan. 16 at Pittsburgh, recording 6:44 TOI. He spent the remainder of the 2008-09 season with Anaheim?s then-primary developmental affiliate in Iowa, scoring 15-12=27 points with 105 penalty minutes (PIM) in 71 games.
A native of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Bodie has appeared in 153 career AHL games, earning 24-19=43 points with 275 PIM. The 6-4, 215-pound winger spent the 2007-08 season with Springfield (AHL), recording 9-6=15 points in 62 contests. He logged 108 PIM with the Falcons, finishing third on the team. Originally selected by Edmonton in the ninth round (278th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Bodie made his professional debut in 2006-07, splitting the season with Stockton (ECHL) and Hamilton (AHL).
Jackets Want To Sign Nash To Long-Term Deal
Rick Nash has one year left on his contract with the only team for which he has played, and the Blue Jackets want to sign him to a long-term deal before he can become an free agent next summer, according to an Associated Press report on Tuesday.
One of the top forwards in the league, it?s not just a wild rumor that the Maple Leafs covet the kid who grew up in suburban Brampton.
Blake Signs One-Year Deal To Stay In San Jose
San Jose defenseman Rob Blake has agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Sharks, as reported by ESPN on Tuesday.
Blake was scheduled to become a free agent when the period opened at midnight Wednesday.
The deal is worth $3.5M in base salary, plus bonuses.
Blake had 45 points and a plus-15 rating in 73 games with the Sharks last season, when he earned $5 million.
Blake has 747 points (233 goals, 514 assists) in 1,200 career regular-season games in 18 NHL seasons.
Jackets Hire Rook As Goaltending Coach
The Columbus Blue Jackets have hired Dave Rook as the club?s goaltending coach, General Manager Scott Howson announced today. Rook, who served as a goaltending consultant for the St. Louis Blues from 2006-09, began working with the club during this week?s Development Camp.
?We are very pleased to welcome Dave to our coaching staff,? said Howson. ?He is an experienced coach who helped Steve Mason become a prolific goaltender in the Ontario Hockey League, which has led to his success in the National Hockey League. We feel that Dave can work with the goaltenders in our system and take them to a higher level.?
In addition to his work with St. Louis? affiliates and goaltending prospects, Rook has spent the past six years as the goaltending coach for the OHL?s London Knights, where he worked with current Blue Jackets netminder Steve Mason. In 2006-07, Mason was named the OHL Goaltender of the Year and a year later he was again one of the league?s top players and earned Most Valuable Player and Top Goaltender honors helping Team Canada win the gold medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships.
A native of London, Ontario, Rook played professionally in Europe for five seasons from 1991-96 before embarking on his teaching and consulting career. He worked for the London (Ontario) Nationals Junior B team from 1996-2003 before joining the Knights for the 2003-04 season and later helped London win the Memorial Cup championship in 2004-05.
Blues Buy Out Final Year Of McKee's Contract
The Blues are cutting ties with Jay McKee, buying out the final year of the defenseman's contract, according to an ESPN report on Monday.
McKee signed a four-year, $16M free agent contract in 2006 and was due $4M for next season. The Blues are responsible for two-thirds ($2.64M) of McKee's salary, which will be spread out the next two seasons.
Hurricanes, Jokinen Agree To Two-Year Deal
The Hurricanes are keeping forward Jussi Jokinen, agreeing to a two-year deal on Monday, according to an ESPN report.
Jokinen's new contract will pay him $1.5M next season and $1.9M in 2010-11. Jokinen could have become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.
Bolland Gets Five-Year Deal With Blackhawks
The Blackhawks on Monday re-signed forward Dave Bolland to a five-year deal, locking up one of the team's consistent performers last season, according to an ESPN report.
The new contract is worth $16.875M for an average of $3.375M per year.
Guerin Signs $2M Deal With Penguins
The Penguins made a move to retain a key piece of their championship team on Monday, agreeing to terms with winger Bill Guerin, according to an ESPN report.
Guerin who would have become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, signed for $2M, accepting a pay cut to stay with the team after making $4.5M last season with the Islanders and Penguins.
"There's a lot of good teams I could have played for but this obviously was the best fit," Guerin told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun late Monday.
Tortorella, Gordon Join USA Olympic Staff
Ron Wilson's coaching staff for the U.S. Olympic team has added John Tortorella and Scott Gordon as assistants.
Tortorella coaches the Rangers and Gordon coaches the Islanders.
Sharks Move To Cut Ties With Goc, Plihal, Kaspar
The Sharks have begun reshaping their roster by declining to make qualifying offers to Marcel Goc, Tomas Plihal and Lukas Kaspar.
Lightning Make Qualifying Offer To 9 Players
The Lightning made qualifying offers to C Blair Jones, RW Martins Karums, D Lukas Krajicek, D Matt Lashoff, D Mike Lundin, G Karri Ramo, D Matt Smaby, LW Radek Smolenak and RW Lauri Tukonen.
Holland: It'll Be Hard For Wings To Retain Hossa
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has admitted that it will be tough for the team to re-sign winger Marian Hossa.
Burke Sets Price Tag For Kaberle
Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke is believed to be looking for an established defenseman and a high pick for Tomas Kaberle.
McPhee Hints Caps Don't Need Enforcer
Capitals general manager George McPhee has hinted that the club doesn't necessarily need an enforcer.
Getting Boyle Cost Rangers A Chance For Kessel
Trading for center Brian Boyle appears to have cost the Rangers a shot at Boston's Phil Kessel.
Coyotes Acquire Lepisto From Caps, Heshka From Canucks For Draft Picks
The Coyotes on Saturday acquired D Sami Lepisto from the Capitals for a 2010 draft pick, and also obtained D Shaun Heshka from the Canucks in exchange for their 7th round choice in the 2009 draft.
Rangers Get Boyle From Los Angeles
The Rangers on Saturday acquired F Brian Boyle from the Kings in exchange for a third round pick in the 2010 draft.
Coyotes Trade Prust To Flames For Vandermeer
The Coyotes on Saturday acquired D Jim Vandermeer from the Flames for RW Brandon Prust.
Wild Obtain Brodziak From Oilers For Draft Picks
The Wild on Saturday acquired C Kyle Brodziak from the Oilers in exchange for Minnesota's 4th and 5th round picks in this year's draft.
Selanne Will Return To Anaheim Next Season
The Ducks announced on Saturday that Teemu Selanne has elected to return to play for the club next season.
Second, Third Round NHL Draft Results
The second and third rounds of the 2009 NHL Draft are complete.
Flames Get Bouwmeester From Panthers
The Flames have acquired highly coveted defenseman Jay Bouwmeester from the Panthers.
Complete First Round Draft Results
The first round of the 2009 NHL Draft was completed in Montreal on Friday night.
Reinsdorf Makes $148M Bid For Coyotes
A group headed by Jerry Reinsdorf has made a $148 million bid to buy the Coyotes.
Kings Select Brayden Schenn With 5th Overall Pick
The Kings on Friday night selected C Brayden Schenn in the first round with the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Rangers Select Chris Kreider With 19th Pick
The Rangers on Friday night selected F Chris Kreider with the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Flyers Get Pronger From Ducks
The Flyers acquired D Chris Pronger on Friday from the Ducks for F Joffrey Lupu, D Luca Sbisa, and draft picks.
Tavares, Hedman, Duchene Go In NHL's Top-3
The first three selections in the 2009 NHL entry draft went as expected on Friday night.
Claude Lemieux Becomes U.S. Citizen
Canadian-born NHL veteran Claude Lemieux took the U.S. citizenship oath before a federal judge in Phoenix.