March 2015 - Hockey Wiretap

Las Vegas Ticket Drive Moving Forward

Apr 3, 2015 12:59 PM

The drive to bring an NHL franchise to Las Vegas is entering a second phase with the league's blessing, prospective owner Bill Foley said Monday.

Although Foley would not discuss numbers with ESPN.com, several sources said the trial season ticket drive that had been green-lighted by the NHL late last year and began in early February had exceeded its original target of 10,000.

"We've done really, really well," Foley said.

ESPN.com

Tags: Misc Rumor

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NHL Names Dubnyk, Atkinson, O'Reilly 'Three Stars'

Apr 3, 2015 12:59 PM

Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk, Blue Jackets right wing Cam Atkinson and Avalanche center Ryan O’Reillyhave been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 29.

FIRST STAR – DEVAN DUBNYK, G, WILD

Dubnyk went 4-0-0 with a 1.22 goals-against average and .962 save percentage to lead the Wild (44-25-7, 95 points) to four consecutive victories, including their franchise-record 10th straight on the road. 

SECOND STAR – CAM ATKINSON, RW, BLUE JACKETS

Atkinson shared first in the NHL with four goals, ranked second with seven points and led the League with a +6 rating as the Blue Jackets (36-35-4, 76 points) won all three of their games, including their franchise-record eighth consecutive on the road.

THIRD STAR – RYAN O’REILLY, C, AVALANCHE

O’Reilly led the NHL with seven assists and eight points to power the Avalanche (35-28-12, 82 points) to two victories in four starts. He set up both goals in a 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames March 23.

Press Release

Tags: Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, Misc Rumor, Personal Award

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Kris Letang Has Concussion, Listed Day-To-Day

Apr 3, 2015 12:59 PM

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was released from a hospital Sunday but has been diagnosed with a concussion as a result of a scary hit he received Saturday from Coyotes captain Shane Doan.

"Like anything else, we'll just take it as a day-to-day thing and we'll see how he reacts and recovers from it," coach Mike Johnston said.

ESPN.com

Tags: Pittsburgh Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Bruins Spoil Henrik Lundqvist's Return To Net

Apr 3, 2015 1:00 PM

Veteran Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was back in action for the first time since Feb. 2, and he fell to 25-12-3 with a 4-2 loss to the Bruins on Saturday at TD Garden.

Lundqvist, who missed 25 games due to a serious vascular injury, finished with 26 saves against the Bruins.

"It was a tough start. Obviously, not the start I was looking for," Lundqvist said. 

ESPN.com

Tags: New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Game Recap, Injury

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Study: Many Hockey Helmets Are Unsafe

Apr 13, 2015 10:47 PM

More than a quarter of all helmets worn by hockey players, from the NHL to youth leagues, are unsafe, according to a study provided to "Outside the Lines" that ranked hockey helmets based on their ability to reduce concussion risk.

Out of 32 helmets in the marketplace that were tested by researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State U., nine failed to earn a single star on a five-star scale and were classified as "not recommended." Just one helmet, made by Warrior Sports, received three stars. The rest received one or two stars.

"In general, they're low performers," said Stefan Duma, the head of Virginia Tech's department of biomedical engineering and mechanics.

ESPN.com

Tags: Legal, Misc Rumor

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Kris Letang Hospitalized After Scary Hit

Mar 29, 2015 7:55 PM

The Penguins lost defenseman Kris Letang on a hit Saturday that required a trip to the hospital.

Letang left with 4:45 to play in the second period after a hit from Coyotes captain Shane Doan. Letang, in the corner behind his net, was shoved backward by Doan after flipping the puck out of the zone.

"I just went to make sure I got a piece of him so he couldn't jump by me and he obviously went into the boards awkward," Doan said. "You never ever want to see anyone like that, especially a guy with his caliber and everything he's went through in the past couple years.

"You feel awful as a player when something like that happens."

ESPN.com

Tags: Pittsburgh Penguins, Phoenix Coyotes, Game Recap, Injury, Misc Rumor

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Trotz: Despite The Win, One Of Our 'Sloppier' Games

Apr 1, 2015 12:57 AM

Even if a win is a win is a win, Capitals coach Barry Trotz gave a rather blunt and unflattering assessment of his team's performance in this particular victory.

"I didn't think we had a real hard work ethic, weren't diligent on our responsibilities, and that was probably one of our sloppier games," Trotz said.

Trotz said the Capitals "got two lucky goals" en route to beating the Devils 3-2 on Thursday night.

ESPN.com

Tags: Washington Capitals, Misc Rumor

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Pronger Now Eligible For Hockey Hall Of Fame

Apr 1, 2015 12:56 AM

Chris Pronger is officially eligible for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, according to an ESPN.com report.

The Hockey Hall of Fame's general voting members ratified new bylaws Wednesday which, among other things, introduced new language for the three-year waiting period for eligible players.

The new language resolved any ambiguity as it pertained to players who haven't played in three years but might still be getting paid and haven't officially retired due to salary-cap reasons in the NHL. Pronger, 40, is a prime example, having last played in November 2011 and whose career ended earlier than expected because of post-concussion issues.

ESPN.com

Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Misc Rumor, Personal Award

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Judge Denies NHLs Motion To Dismiss Concussion Litigation

Apr 12, 2015 1:35 PM

A judge in U.S. District Court in Minnesota denied the NHL's motion for dismissal in the current concussion litigation facing the league.

The suit was brought on behalf of several former NHL players. It alleged the NHL to be responsible for the "pathological and debilitating effects of brain injuries" caused by concussions that the former players suffered in their careers.

The NHL attempted to get the case thrown out by arguing both time-sensitivity and jurisdictional issues. The league also claimed the suit was not "adequately pled."

 

 

ESPN.com

Tags: Legal, Misc Rumor

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FBI Investigates Threats Against Nick Leddy

Apr 12, 2015 1:01 AM

The FBI is investigating social media threats made against Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy.

FBI spokesman J. Peter Donald confirmed the investigation in an email Wednesday to The Associated Press.

Islanders spokesman Kimber Auerbach said Leddy and his family are safe and the NHL has been alerted to the situation.

ESPN.com

Tags: New York Islanders, Legal, Misc Rumor

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Avs Sign Mason Geertsen To Entry Deal
Mason Geertsen just completed his 2014-15 season with the WHL's Vancouver Giants.

Press Release

Henrik Lundqvist Hopes To Play This Weekend
Henrik Lundqvist skated and faced shots for about an hour on Tuesday.

ESPN.com

Canucks Sign Chris Tanev To Extension
The Canucks have signed Chris Tanev to a five-year, $22.25 million extension.

ESPN.com

Pascal Dupuis Ruled Out For Season
Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis hasn't played since beginning treatment for blood clots in November.

ESPN.com

Kings Bring Back Mike Richards From AHL
Mike Richards played 16 games with the Kings' AHL affiliate.

ESPN.com

Maple Leafs Sign Casey Bailey To Two-Year Entry Deal
Casey Bailey, 23, scored 22 goals in 36 games this season for Penn State.

Press Release

Trembly: Arresting Officer "Was Being Petty" Like Subban
Mario Trembly said the arresting officer was making a poor decision during a DWI stop.

Leafs Sign Nikita Soshnikov To Entry Deal
Nikita Soshnikov skated in 57 games with Moscow Oblast Atlant this season, scoring 14 goals.

Press Release

Jagr Moves Into Fifth On Career Goal List
Jaromir Jagr scored the 718th goal of his NHL career on Thursday night.

ESPN.com

Lundqvist Practicing, But Will Need Another Week
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist feels he will need a least another week of practice before playing in a game.

ESPN.com

NHLPA Will Consider Three Potential Major Rule Changes
Three-on three OT, coach's challenges, and a new face-off rule could begin with the 2015-16 NHL season.

ESPN.com

NHL Suspends Nazem Kadri Four Games
Nazem Kadri has been suspended four games for his hit to the head of Matt Fraser.

ESPN.com

Sharks GM Wilson Backs Thornton
Sharks GM Doug Wilson says that Joe Thornton will remain in San Jose.

ESPN.com

Henrik Lundqvist Medically Cleared To Practice
Henrik Lundqvist has missed the last six weeks with a vascular injury to his neck.

ESPN.com

NHL May Introduce 3-On-3 OTs, Coach's Challenge
The overtime rules must be approved by the NHL's competition committee.

ESPN.com

NHL GMs Discuss Goaltender Interference, Diving
Penguins GM Jim Rutherford said his small group is open to implementing change.

ESPN.com

NHL Names Jackets' Scott Hartnell 'First Star' Of The Week
Scott Hartnell scored five goals in four games last week to lead the Jackets to a 3-1-0 record.

Press Release

Thornton, Sharks Owner, GM Clear The Air
Joe Thornton and Sharks GM Doug Wilson have reconciled on a professional basis.

San Jose Mercury News

GMs To Discuss Goaltending, Three-On-Three OT
The NHL general managers will meet in Boca Raton to discuss video review of goaltender interference and 3-on-3 overtime.

Yahoo.com

Kadri Ready To Move On From Three-Game Ban
Nazem Kadri says he was "humiliated" but has learned from the ordeal.

ESPN.com