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New York Islanders forward Thomas Vanek confirmed to Newsday on Tuesday that he has turned down a contract extension from the team.
Newsday reported Monday that Vanek rejected a seven-year, $50 million extension from the club, a decision that means the Islanders now will look to trade Vanek prior to the March 5 NHL Trade Deadline rather than risk losing him to unrestricted free agency in July.
"I'm sure people will look at it and say, 'Wow, that's crazy by him,' or whatever," Vanek told Newsday on Tuesday. "As I've told Garth [Snow, general manager] before … it's like a breakup: It's not you, it's me. And it really is me wanting to explore this."
Vanek is in the final season of a seven-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Buffalo Sabres prior to the start of the 2007-08 season. He said the chance at age 30 to explore free agency is something he isn't ready to pass up.
"It's just me being a little selfish, I guess, and wanting to get to July 1 and seeing what's out there," he said. "It has nothing to do with this team and where we are in the standings. I think this team has a tremendous upside. Is it the right move? I don't know. But it's something me and my family want to explore one time and see how it goes."
The Islanders acquired Vanek from the Sabres on Oct. 27 in a trade for forward Matt Moulson, a 2014 first-round pick and a 2015 second-round pick. In 41 games with the Islanders, the 30-year-old has 15 goals and 38 points. He'll captain Austria's team at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
The Sabres opted to trade Vanek rather than lose him during the summer. The Islanders now are in the same situation, and Vanek said he understands he might be on the move again.
"Even if I would like to avoid it you can't, so you do think about it," Vanek said of a possible trade. "But I hope we put three wins together here [before the Olympic break], get closer to where we need to be, and after that there's not much I can say anyway. I can go anywhere. There's no reason for me to sit and speculate on what's going to happen because I don't know what's going to happen."
Thomas Vanek rejects New York Islanders' offer, trade could be next - NHL-com - News
Newsday reported Monday that Vanek rejected a seven-year, $50 million extension from the club, a decision that means the Islanders now will look to trade Vanek prior to the March 5 NHL Trade Deadline rather than risk losing him to unrestricted free agency in July.
"I'm sure people will look at it and say, 'Wow, that's crazy by him,' or whatever," Vanek told Newsday on Tuesday. "As I've told Garth [Snow, general manager] before … it's like a breakup: It's not you, it's me. And it really is me wanting to explore this."
Vanek is in the final season of a seven-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Buffalo Sabres prior to the start of the 2007-08 season. He said the chance at age 30 to explore free agency is something he isn't ready to pass up.
"It's just me being a little selfish, I guess, and wanting to get to July 1 and seeing what's out there," he said. "It has nothing to do with this team and where we are in the standings. I think this team has a tremendous upside. Is it the right move? I don't know. But it's something me and my family want to explore one time and see how it goes."
The Islanders acquired Vanek from the Sabres on Oct. 27 in a trade for forward Matt Moulson, a 2014 first-round pick and a 2015 second-round pick. In 41 games with the Islanders, the 30-year-old has 15 goals and 38 points. He'll captain Austria's team at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
The Sabres opted to trade Vanek rather than lose him during the summer. The Islanders now are in the same situation, and Vanek said he understands he might be on the move again.
"Even if I would like to avoid it you can't, so you do think about it," Vanek said of a possible trade. "But I hope we put three wins together here [before the Olympic break], get closer to where we need to be, and after that there's not much I can say anyway. I can go anywhere. There's no reason for me to sit and speculate on what's going to happen because I don't know what's going to happen."
Thomas Vanek rejects New York Islanders' offer, trade could be next - NHL-com - News
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Two more NHL stars are pulling out of the Olympics with injuries, one expected and the other potentially devastating.
Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin's absence with a rib injury is a major blow for Team Sweden.
The injury, the result of a cross-check, caused him to miss six games recently, ending his ironman streak at 679 games. He did return but has been ruled out of the Canucks' last two pre-Olympic games.
"I'm disappointed not to be physically able to represent my country at the Winter Olympic Games," Sedin said in a statement released by the Canucks. "This is a difficult decision but ultimately the best decision for me personally, Team Sweden and the Vancouver Canucks."
His absence will cause issues for Sweden, which was considered a prime medal contender at the Olympics. Sweden's greatest strength was its depth at center and now Sedin and the Detroit Red Wings' Johan Franzen (concussion) are out. Sedin has tremendous chemistry with twin brother, Daniel, who has been held to one point in the 10 games since Henrik was cross-checked. Both were on Sweden's gold-medal team in 2006.
"I wish my teammates the best and look forward to returning to play," Henrik said.
Reports out of Sweden said the Calgary Flames' Mikael Backlund would get the call, but he tweeted that he had heard nothing yet. The other injury is to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Marian Gaborik, who suffered a broken collarbone on Dec. 21 and has been out since. He had been named to the Slovakian team.
"Marian has worked extremely hard and done everything possible to rehabilitate his injury and return to the ice with the hope of representing his country in Sochi," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. "We share his deep disappointment that he will not be able to do so, but are optimistic that he will be fully recovered very soon."
More NHL players drop out of Sochi
Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin's absence with a rib injury is a major blow for Team Sweden.
The injury, the result of a cross-check, caused him to miss six games recently, ending his ironman streak at 679 games. He did return but has been ruled out of the Canucks' last two pre-Olympic games.
"I'm disappointed not to be physically able to represent my country at the Winter Olympic Games," Sedin said in a statement released by the Canucks. "This is a difficult decision but ultimately the best decision for me personally, Team Sweden and the Vancouver Canucks."
His absence will cause issues for Sweden, which was considered a prime medal contender at the Olympics. Sweden's greatest strength was its depth at center and now Sedin and the Detroit Red Wings' Johan Franzen (concussion) are out. Sedin has tremendous chemistry with twin brother, Daniel, who has been held to one point in the 10 games since Henrik was cross-checked. Both were on Sweden's gold-medal team in 2006.
"I wish my teammates the best and look forward to returning to play," Henrik said.
Reports out of Sweden said the Calgary Flames' Mikael Backlund would get the call, but he tweeted that he had heard nothing yet. The other injury is to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Marian Gaborik, who suffered a broken collarbone on Dec. 21 and has been out since. He had been named to the Slovakian team.
"Marian has worked extremely hard and done everything possible to rehabilitate his injury and return to the ice with the hope of representing his country in Sochi," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. "We share his deep disappointment that he will not be able to do so, but are optimistic that he will be fully recovered very soon."
More NHL players drop out of Sochi
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Like watching NHL players in the Olympics?
Well, be sure to stay glued to your screens for the next week, because this could be the last time that players from the world’s top league take part in the event.
That suggestion comes from NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, in an interview with QMI Agency’s sister sports channel, TVA Sports.
Reached in his New York office, Daly said no final decision had been taken on the matter, adding that there’s an important reason why the NHL isn’t yet ready to let its players go to the 2018 Games in South Korea.
“Obviously, location of the Olympics is always one of the factors you consider in determining whether it’s the right call to go to the Olympics,” said Daly. “While Sochi is a long way away, obviously we know that hockey is a big sport in Russia, it’s very important to our Russian players, as well as other players.”
The sport has grown significantly since 1998 when the IOC first agreed to let NHLers take the ice in Nagano, Japan. But Daly says the NHL has to balance the boost that NHL players give to international hockey against the mid-season disruption to the NHL’s schedule.
“The reality is that we must halt our activities for 17 days,” he said. “That’s unheard of for us. We lose the rhythm of the season and the impact is different for each team. Some teams send 10 players and others only two.”
If you read between the lines, there won’t be any NHL players in Pyeongchang in 2018. The IOC has also reiterated this week that it’s out of the question to pay the NHL for players to take part.
Money is at the heart of the war. Expect the return of the World Cup of Hockey, perhaps even as early as 2015. The tournament was last held in 2004.
The NHL could keep the revenues from a World Cup tournament, which is not the case for the Olympic event. But so far there’s no formal agreement with the NHL Players’ Association to determine how any potential income would be shared.
Bill Daly makes no promises about NHL in next Olympics | Hockey | Sochi 2014 | Toronto Sun
Well, be sure to stay glued to your screens for the next week, because this could be the last time that players from the world’s top league take part in the event.
That suggestion comes from NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, in an interview with QMI Agency’s sister sports channel, TVA Sports.
Reached in his New York office, Daly said no final decision had been taken on the matter, adding that there’s an important reason why the NHL isn’t yet ready to let its players go to the 2018 Games in South Korea.
“Obviously, location of the Olympics is always one of the factors you consider in determining whether it’s the right call to go to the Olympics,” said Daly. “While Sochi is a long way away, obviously we know that hockey is a big sport in Russia, it’s very important to our Russian players, as well as other players.”
The sport has grown significantly since 1998 when the IOC first agreed to let NHLers take the ice in Nagano, Japan. But Daly says the NHL has to balance the boost that NHL players give to international hockey against the mid-season disruption to the NHL’s schedule.
“The reality is that we must halt our activities for 17 days,” he said. “That’s unheard of for us. We lose the rhythm of the season and the impact is different for each team. Some teams send 10 players and others only two.”
If you read between the lines, there won’t be any NHL players in Pyeongchang in 2018. The IOC has also reiterated this week that it’s out of the question to pay the NHL for players to take part.
Money is at the heart of the war. Expect the return of the World Cup of Hockey, perhaps even as early as 2015. The tournament was last held in 2004.
The NHL could keep the revenues from a World Cup tournament, which is not the case for the Olympic event. But so far there’s no formal agreement with the NHL Players’ Association to determine how any potential income would be shared.
Bill Daly makes no promises about NHL in next Olympics | Hockey | Sochi 2014 | Toronto Sun
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The prevailing wisdom is that N.H.L. teams sending a large number of players to the Olympics will stumble when the regular season resumes because their Olympians have endured too much travel, too much pressure and too many games. But at least one person disagrees.
“I’m not worried about post-Olympics like some people talk about,” said Blues Coach Ken Hitchcock, who has nine players heading to the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. “When you’re there, you get a lot of rest. You don’t travel at all to the games; it’s a five-minute walk to the rink. You’re in a very central, localized atmosphere.”
About 140 of the N.H.L.’s best will participate in the men’s Olympic hockey tournament starting Wednesday, with preliminary rosters including at least two players from every league club. Anaheim, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, the Rangers, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Vancouver are sending seven or more. Hitchcock, who is part of Canada’s coaching staff for the fourth consecutive Olympics, said that travel to and from Sochi would be a grind and that each N.H.L. team must monitor its Olympians when they return to make sure they are sufficiently rested.
“But when you get a chance to play in anything that’s a big game, I think that’s going to do nothing but help you,” he said.
Yet Bill Daly, the league’s deputy commissioner, told The Associated Press last month that he worried because the 16-day break could affect the teams with the most players in Sochi. He was concerned that the break and the travel might combine with injuries sustained during the Games to interrupt the momentum of N.H.L. clubs.
Daly’s comments reflected concerns among team owners like the Philadelphia Flyers’ Ed Snider, who sounded off against the Olympics last week. They are worried not only about their star players, but also about losing games in their arenas in the valuable period after the Super Bowl, and before baseball’s exhibition schedule and the N.C.A.A. men’s basketball tournament.
And the Ottawa Senators’ owner, Eugene Melnyk, has not forgotten 2006, when goalie Dominik Hasek was injured playing for the Czech Republic at the Olympics in Turin, Italy, and never returned to the lineup. He said he believed Hasek’s absence cost Ottawa the Stanley Cup. The Senators were eliminated by Buffalo in the second round.
Melnyk said in January that he had commissioned a study to determine the effects of the Olympics on N.H.L. teams. He said the results showed a reverse correlation — that the more players a team sent to the Olympics, the worse the team did in that season’s playoffs. He attributed that to the Olympians’ fatigue while the rest of the N.H.L. players had time to heal nagging injuries. The statistical model Melnyk’s study used was not disclosed, but the 2010 figures on participants at the Vancouver Olympics do not entirely support his conclusion. For example, Montreal and Philadelphia, which met for the Eastern Conference championship that year, each had four Olympians, an average number. In the Western Conference championship, San Jose had eight Olympians and Chicago had six.
Nevertheless, Melnyk’s objections are consistent with some owners’ reluctance to pause the season every four years, as they have done since 1998.
The N.H.L.’s Sochi experience will add fuel to their argument or confirm Hitchcock’s.
The Hemispheric Games
Canada is favored to successfully defend the Olympic men’s hockey title. That is understandable, given a talent pool that could replace an injured player of Steven Stamkos’s stature with a Martin St. Louis.
Yet Canada rarely wins outside the Western Hemisphere.
Since the N.H.L. began participating in the Olympics in 1998, Canada has won the gold medal twice, in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2010. But in Nagano, Japan, in 1998, the Canadians finished fourth (the Czech Republic won gold); in Turin in 2006, Canada finished seventh (Sweden took the gold).
The Canadians have done a little better overseas in the annual world championship, winning three of the 15 tournaments in Europe since 1998. But they also have only two silvers and no bronzes from those events in Europe, illustrating their vulnerability outside North America.
Rink size may not matter as much as some think. Canada’s gold at Salt Lake City was won on a European-size rink, 100 feet wide rather than 85. The problem could be more a matter of playing far from home.
Similarly, the United States has not fared well overseas compared with its showings in North America. The Americans played Canada for the gold medal in Salt Lake City and in Vancouver, but they finished sixth in Nagano and eighth in Turin.
Absent for Sweden
The Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist will play for Sweden, and any team with him in goal has a chance to do well. But the announcement Thursday that Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin would miss the Games is a further blow to that country’s hope of winning a gold medal, as it did in 2006.
The Swedes had lost another top forward, Detroit’s Johan Franzen, who had 9 points in seven games the last time he represented his country, at the 2012 world championship.
In addition, Daniel Sedin, Henrik’s twin, is mired in the worst slump of his career, with 2 points in the 15 games before the Canucks’ game on Saturday in Toronto. Henrik Sedin was not in the lineup for six of those games.
www-nytimes-com/2014/02/09/sports/hockey/nhl-weighs-effects-of-olympics-html?_r=0
“I’m not worried about post-Olympics like some people talk about,” said Blues Coach Ken Hitchcock, who has nine players heading to the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. “When you’re there, you get a lot of rest. You don’t travel at all to the games; it’s a five-minute walk to the rink. You’re in a very central, localized atmosphere.”
About 140 of the N.H.L.’s best will participate in the men’s Olympic hockey tournament starting Wednesday, with preliminary rosters including at least two players from every league club. Anaheim, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, the Rangers, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Vancouver are sending seven or more. Hitchcock, who is part of Canada’s coaching staff for the fourth consecutive Olympics, said that travel to and from Sochi would be a grind and that each N.H.L. team must monitor its Olympians when they return to make sure they are sufficiently rested.
“But when you get a chance to play in anything that’s a big game, I think that’s going to do nothing but help you,” he said.
Yet Bill Daly, the league’s deputy commissioner, told The Associated Press last month that he worried because the 16-day break could affect the teams with the most players in Sochi. He was concerned that the break and the travel might combine with injuries sustained during the Games to interrupt the momentum of N.H.L. clubs.
Daly’s comments reflected concerns among team owners like the Philadelphia Flyers’ Ed Snider, who sounded off against the Olympics last week. They are worried not only about their star players, but also about losing games in their arenas in the valuable period after the Super Bowl, and before baseball’s exhibition schedule and the N.C.A.A. men’s basketball tournament.
And the Ottawa Senators’ owner, Eugene Melnyk, has not forgotten 2006, when goalie Dominik Hasek was injured playing for the Czech Republic at the Olympics in Turin, Italy, and never returned to the lineup. He said he believed Hasek’s absence cost Ottawa the Stanley Cup. The Senators were eliminated by Buffalo in the second round.
Melnyk said in January that he had commissioned a study to determine the effects of the Olympics on N.H.L. teams. He said the results showed a reverse correlation — that the more players a team sent to the Olympics, the worse the team did in that season’s playoffs. He attributed that to the Olympians’ fatigue while the rest of the N.H.L. players had time to heal nagging injuries. The statistical model Melnyk’s study used was not disclosed, but the 2010 figures on participants at the Vancouver Olympics do not entirely support his conclusion. For example, Montreal and Philadelphia, which met for the Eastern Conference championship that year, each had four Olympians, an average number. In the Western Conference championship, San Jose had eight Olympians and Chicago had six.
Nevertheless, Melnyk’s objections are consistent with some owners’ reluctance to pause the season every four years, as they have done since 1998.
The N.H.L.’s Sochi experience will add fuel to their argument or confirm Hitchcock’s.
The Hemispheric Games
Canada is favored to successfully defend the Olympic men’s hockey title. That is understandable, given a talent pool that could replace an injured player of Steven Stamkos’s stature with a Martin St. Louis.
Yet Canada rarely wins outside the Western Hemisphere.
Since the N.H.L. began participating in the Olympics in 1998, Canada has won the gold medal twice, in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2010. But in Nagano, Japan, in 1998, the Canadians finished fourth (the Czech Republic won gold); in Turin in 2006, Canada finished seventh (Sweden took the gold).
The Canadians have done a little better overseas in the annual world championship, winning three of the 15 tournaments in Europe since 1998. But they also have only two silvers and no bronzes from those events in Europe, illustrating their vulnerability outside North America.
Rink size may not matter as much as some think. Canada’s gold at Salt Lake City was won on a European-size rink, 100 feet wide rather than 85. The problem could be more a matter of playing far from home.
Similarly, the United States has not fared well overseas compared with its showings in North America. The Americans played Canada for the gold medal in Salt Lake City and in Vancouver, but they finished sixth in Nagano and eighth in Turin.
Absent for Sweden
The Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist will play for Sweden, and any team with him in goal has a chance to do well. But the announcement Thursday that Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin would miss the Games is a further blow to that country’s hope of winning a gold medal, as it did in 2006.
The Swedes had lost another top forward, Detroit’s Johan Franzen, who had 9 points in seven games the last time he represented his country, at the 2012 world championship.
In addition, Daniel Sedin, Henrik’s twin, is mired in the worst slump of his career, with 2 points in the 15 games before the Canucks’ game on Saturday in Toronto. Henrik Sedin was not in the lineup for six of those games.
www-nytimes-com/2014/02/09/sports/hockey/nhl-weighs-effects-of-olympics-html?_r=0
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Enjoy watching NHL players at the Sochi Olympics because it's likely they won't be at the 2018 Games in South Korea.
The NHL won't make its decision about future Olympic participation until after it assesses what happens in Sochi. But it seems clear league officials aren't enamored with the idea of going to Pyeongchang, where hockey terms are a foreign language.
Players love going to the Olympics, and fans love having them there. But the relationship between the NHL and the Olympics has been troubled for a long time.
As much as NHL officials like the romance of participating in the Games, they have never liked shutting down the league 16 days to make it happen.
Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider said suspending the league schedule to play in the Olympics was "ridiculous." And he's not the only owner who feels this way.
This is the time of year when NHL attendance is strongest, and some markets have had trouble re-acquiring their fan base after the shutdown. Fans find other ways to spend their money. Walk-up sales aren't as strong for some teams after the Olympics.
Owners also worry about injuries affecting their playoff run. A major injury could cost a team millions of dollars in potential playoff revenue.
The NHL and the NHL Players' Association also are planning to resurrect the World Cup of Hockey, which would be scheduled before the NHL season.
Obviously, NHL officials would prefer to have that become a major event on the league calendar because they would be in control of the product and the league and players would reap the financial benefit.
The concept of "control" long has been an issue between the NHL and International Olympic Committee. It bothers the NHL and NHLPA that it doesn't have more say at what happens with the hockey tournament at the Games.
The NHL and NHLPA negotiated a better deal for the 2014 Games, but it is fair to say the NHL believes it deserves a larger voice given the talent it provides.
When you add up all of those issues, then factor in that Asia is not a hockey area, you understand why the NHL might pull the plug on Olympic participation. Hockey games in Pyeongchang will be live in the middle of the night in America.
In the past, the NHL has tried to be non-committal about Olympic participation, but everyone in hockey knew, or least expected, the league was going to be there. This lack of commitment feels much different. This time, it feels as if league officials are truly wondering if it is worth the trouble to go to South Korea.
The players are wild cards in this equation. They overwhelmingly support going to the Olympics. And those who don't go love having a rare in-season vacation, a chance to heal from injuries.
Olympic participation isn't in the collective bargaining agreement, but the NHL is keenly aware of how players feel about it.
Plus, the league has a 10-year deal with NBC, and network officials undoubtedly would prefer to have NHL players at the Olympics. Will they lobby aggressively enough?
If you like NHL players at the Games, which most of us do, the real hope is that the NHL rediscovers the passion it had when it first allowed its players to go to the Olympics in 1998.
At that time, the idea was simply to help grow the sport internationally.
It hasn't seemed as if the NHL has figured out how to take advantage of how much interest non-hockey fans have in the sport during the Olympics. Maybe that's the next mission for NHL chief operating officer John Collins, who has transformed outdoor hockey into one of the league's best marketing ideas.
In men's soccer, the World Cup seems more important than the Olympics. But no matter how hard the NHL and NHLPA work at building up the World Cup brand, it won't draw Olympic-like attention any time soon.
In 1992, a minor-league U.S. goalie named Ray LeBlanc had the world talking about his acrobatic heroics. At the time, USA Hockey official Art Berglund said, "Today, more people in the U.S. know LeBlanc than Brian Leetch." Hockey has grown considerably since, but in the 2010 Olympics, many Americans marveled at Ryan Miller's goaltending and had no idea he played for the Buffalo Sabres.
Olympic athletes sell their sport with their performances. That's why NHL officials could still decide to send players to South Korea.
Could Sochi be end of NHL run at Olympics?
The NHL won't make its decision about future Olympic participation until after it assesses what happens in Sochi. But it seems clear league officials aren't enamored with the idea of going to Pyeongchang, where hockey terms are a foreign language.
Players love going to the Olympics, and fans love having them there. But the relationship between the NHL and the Olympics has been troubled for a long time.
As much as NHL officials like the romance of participating in the Games, they have never liked shutting down the league 16 days to make it happen.
Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider said suspending the league schedule to play in the Olympics was "ridiculous." And he's not the only owner who feels this way.
This is the time of year when NHL attendance is strongest, and some markets have had trouble re-acquiring their fan base after the shutdown. Fans find other ways to spend their money. Walk-up sales aren't as strong for some teams after the Olympics.
Owners also worry about injuries affecting their playoff run. A major injury could cost a team millions of dollars in potential playoff revenue.
The NHL and the NHL Players' Association also are planning to resurrect the World Cup of Hockey, which would be scheduled before the NHL season.
Obviously, NHL officials would prefer to have that become a major event on the league calendar because they would be in control of the product and the league and players would reap the financial benefit.
The concept of "control" long has been an issue between the NHL and International Olympic Committee. It bothers the NHL and NHLPA that it doesn't have more say at what happens with the hockey tournament at the Games.
The NHL and NHLPA negotiated a better deal for the 2014 Games, but it is fair to say the NHL believes it deserves a larger voice given the talent it provides.
When you add up all of those issues, then factor in that Asia is not a hockey area, you understand why the NHL might pull the plug on Olympic participation. Hockey games in Pyeongchang will be live in the middle of the night in America.
In the past, the NHL has tried to be non-committal about Olympic participation, but everyone in hockey knew, or least expected, the league was going to be there. This lack of commitment feels much different. This time, it feels as if league officials are truly wondering if it is worth the trouble to go to South Korea.
The players are wild cards in this equation. They overwhelmingly support going to the Olympics. And those who don't go love having a rare in-season vacation, a chance to heal from injuries.
Olympic participation isn't in the collective bargaining agreement, but the NHL is keenly aware of how players feel about it.
Plus, the league has a 10-year deal with NBC, and network officials undoubtedly would prefer to have NHL players at the Olympics. Will they lobby aggressively enough?
If you like NHL players at the Games, which most of us do, the real hope is that the NHL rediscovers the passion it had when it first allowed its players to go to the Olympics in 1998.
At that time, the idea was simply to help grow the sport internationally.
It hasn't seemed as if the NHL has figured out how to take advantage of how much interest non-hockey fans have in the sport during the Olympics. Maybe that's the next mission for NHL chief operating officer John Collins, who has transformed outdoor hockey into one of the league's best marketing ideas.
In men's soccer, the World Cup seems more important than the Olympics. But no matter how hard the NHL and NHLPA work at building up the World Cup brand, it won't draw Olympic-like attention any time soon.
In 1992, a minor-league U.S. goalie named Ray LeBlanc had the world talking about his acrobatic heroics. At the time, USA Hockey official Art Berglund said, "Today, more people in the U.S. know LeBlanc than Brian Leetch." Hockey has grown considerably since, but in the 2010 Olympics, many Americans marveled at Ryan Miller's goaltending and had no idea he played for the Buffalo Sabres.
Olympic athletes sell their sport with their performances. That's why NHL officials could still decide to send players to South Korea.
Could Sochi be end of NHL run at Olympics?
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2006/12/07
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Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson will have a phone hearing Tuesday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for a third-period slash on New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen on Saturday night.
Nielsen was skating for a loose puck in the Avalanche's zone when Johnson slashed him on the wrists with 7:54 left in the third period. Johnson was given a two-minute penalty on the play.
The following grounds for the proposed supplemental discipline are being considered: slashing. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to these infractions accordingly upon further review.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson to have phone hearing with NHL Department of Player Safety - Department of Player Safety News
Nielsen was skating for a loose puck in the Avalanche's zone when Johnson slashed him on the wrists with 7:54 left in the third period. Johnson was given a two-minute penalty on the play.
The following grounds for the proposed supplemental discipline are being considered: slashing. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to these infractions accordingly upon further review.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson to have phone hearing with NHL Department of Player Safety - Department of Player Safety News
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A decision on whether to send National Hockey League players to the 2018 Olympics will be made in about six months, the NHL said on Tuesday.
It took nearly four years of intense negotiations with the International Olympic Committee before the NHL finally agreed to shut down its league for two weeks so its players could compete in the Sochi Games.
But NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told reporters gathered in Russia for the 12-team men's ice hockey tournament that he expects a much quicker resolution regarding the Pyeongchang Winter Games in South Korea.
"It should not take all that long, but I would have said the same thing coming out of 2010," Daly said on the eve of the men's competition.
"We will have a broader discussion with the players' association on international competition and what we are doing internationally.
"That discussion is under way so I would anticipate a quick resolution in respect to the Olympics, maybe six months."
Key sticking points during the last round of negotiations focused on insurance, travel, access to players and hospitality for players' and owners' families.
While those same issues are likely to be on the table in the coming months, Daly also seemed to suggest that shutting down the NHL so players can compete in the Olympics may not make sense considering the growth in the league.
The NHL has a much higher profile and is more successful as a business model now than when its players first competed in the Olympics at the 1998 Nagano Games, two factors Daly said will be considered in making the decision regarding 2018.
"We are much more visible on the worldwide stage so we are at a different stage in our evolution and development than we were in 1998," said Daly.
"That is a factor that you throw into the mix when you consider whether the Olympics makes sense for you going forward."
Growing the NHL brand in Asia is a key part of the league's business plan, but that does not make participation in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, or any other future Olympics, a guarantee.
"There are a lot of negatives that come along with the Olympics," said Daly.
"The fact is we are guests here and it is not our tournament and it is someone else's tournament. In terms of making it as good as it can be, we do not have control over that. There are positive and negatives."
Sochi 2014 - CBC Sports - NHL expects ruling on 2018 Olympics within six months
It took nearly four years of intense negotiations with the International Olympic Committee before the NHL finally agreed to shut down its league for two weeks so its players could compete in the Sochi Games.
But NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told reporters gathered in Russia for the 12-team men's ice hockey tournament that he expects a much quicker resolution regarding the Pyeongchang Winter Games in South Korea.
"It should not take all that long, but I would have said the same thing coming out of 2010," Daly said on the eve of the men's competition.
"We will have a broader discussion with the players' association on international competition and what we are doing internationally.
"That discussion is under way so I would anticipate a quick resolution in respect to the Olympics, maybe six months."
Key sticking points during the last round of negotiations focused on insurance, travel, access to players and hospitality for players' and owners' families.
While those same issues are likely to be on the table in the coming months, Daly also seemed to suggest that shutting down the NHL so players can compete in the Olympics may not make sense considering the growth in the league.
The NHL has a much higher profile and is more successful as a business model now than when its players first competed in the Olympics at the 1998 Nagano Games, two factors Daly said will be considered in making the decision regarding 2018.
"We are much more visible on the worldwide stage so we are at a different stage in our evolution and development than we were in 1998," said Daly.
"That is a factor that you throw into the mix when you consider whether the Olympics makes sense for you going forward."
Growing the NHL brand in Asia is a key part of the league's business plan, but that does not make participation in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, or any other future Olympics, a guarantee.
"There are a lot of negatives that come along with the Olympics," said Daly.
"The fact is we are guests here and it is not our tournament and it is someone else's tournament. In terms of making it as good as it can be, we do not have control over that. There are positive and negatives."
Sochi 2014 - CBC Sports - NHL expects ruling on 2018 Olympics within six months
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New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow is not happy his team lost its best player to a season-ending injury in the Olympics. John Tavares suffered tears to the MCL and meniscus in his left knee during Canada's quarterfinal win Wednesday and will miss the rest of the NHL season.
Snow said it's a "joke" that the IIHF and International Olympic Committee can use NHL players without reimbursing their teams when they get hurt. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has yet to commit the league's players to the 2018 Winter Games, and Tavares' injury provides a talking point for those who want professional players out of the Olympics.
"This is probably the biggest reason why NHL players shouldn't be in the Olympics, it should just be amateurs," Snow told Newsday. "And it could have happened to anyone; it just happened to be us that lost our best player."
Snow played for the United States in the 1994 Olympics, the last before NHL players were allowed to participate. He told Newsday he doesn't blame players for wanting to play for their countries, "but NHL players just shouldn't be over there. There's too much at stake."
The Islanders' playoff hopes were all but dashed with a poor stretch heading into the Olympic break, and any hope remaining had to be extinguished by the loss of Tavares. But Snow told Newsday that the injury will affect more than the team's record.
"A lot of people pay to see John play," he said. "It wouldn't matter if we were 10 points clear of a playoff spot or 10 points out. We lost our best player and he wasn't even [injured while] playing for us."
New York Islanders GM Garth Snow wants NHL players out of Olympics - ESPN New York
Snow said it's a "joke" that the IIHF and International Olympic Committee can use NHL players without reimbursing their teams when they get hurt. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has yet to commit the league's players to the 2018 Winter Games, and Tavares' injury provides a talking point for those who want professional players out of the Olympics.
"This is probably the biggest reason why NHL players shouldn't be in the Olympics, it should just be amateurs," Snow told Newsday. "And it could have happened to anyone; it just happened to be us that lost our best player."
Snow played for the United States in the 1994 Olympics, the last before NHL players were allowed to participate. He told Newsday he doesn't blame players for wanting to play for their countries, "but NHL players just shouldn't be over there. There's too much at stake."
The Islanders' playoff hopes were all but dashed with a poor stretch heading into the Olympic break, and any hope remaining had to be extinguished by the loss of Tavares. But Snow told Newsday that the injury will affect more than the team's record.
"A lot of people pay to see John play," he said. "It wouldn't matter if we were 10 points clear of a playoff spot or 10 points out. We lost our best player and he wasn't even [injured while] playing for us."
New York Islanders GM Garth Snow wants NHL players out of Olympics - ESPN New York
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NHL players wanted to play at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and got their wish, but the league’s participation at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea is far from certain.
One man who believes NHL players should take part in the next Winter Games is Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, who played for Team Canada at the 1998 and 2002 Olympics in Nagano and Salt Lake City, respectively.
“When we grew up as kids we dreamed of winning the Stanley Cup. That was a goal that if you made the NHL you couldn’t play in the Olympic Games,” Gretzky said Friday during an appearance on Hockey Night in Canada radio. “So if I had a vote, I would vote to go because I love the Olympic Games and I think there’s no bigger honor, there’s no bigger thrill than representing your country and being part of Team Canada. It’s something you can’t even describe how special of a feeling it is to know that you get to put that red and white jersey on.”
The decision on whether the league will send its players to South Korea doesn’t appear to be on the agenda in the immediate future, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman noted in Sochi earlier this week.
“It’s nothing that’s been discussed. It’s nothing that will be discussed while we’re here in Sochi,” Bettman said. “It’s not anything we’re focused on or dealing with right now.
“None of this moves forward at all, if it moves forward at all, if the players don’t want to play,” he added. “The reason we’re here in the first instance is this is a game with a history and tradition of international competition and our players, NHL players, love representing their countries. And so, if the players ever said, ‘We’re not interested,’ we’re not going to ever force them to go.”
Based on the players’ willingness to play at the last five Winter Olympics, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them express a desire to compete in South Korea.
Gretzky thinks NHL players should play in Olympics | FOX Sports on MSN
One man who believes NHL players should take part in the next Winter Games is Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, who played for Team Canada at the 1998 and 2002 Olympics in Nagano and Salt Lake City, respectively.
“When we grew up as kids we dreamed of winning the Stanley Cup. That was a goal that if you made the NHL you couldn’t play in the Olympic Games,” Gretzky said Friday during an appearance on Hockey Night in Canada radio. “So if I had a vote, I would vote to go because I love the Olympic Games and I think there’s no bigger honor, there’s no bigger thrill than representing your country and being part of Team Canada. It’s something you can’t even describe how special of a feeling it is to know that you get to put that red and white jersey on.”
The decision on whether the league will send its players to South Korea doesn’t appear to be on the agenda in the immediate future, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman noted in Sochi earlier this week.
“It’s nothing that’s been discussed. It’s nothing that will be discussed while we’re here in Sochi,” Bettman said. “It’s not anything we’re focused on or dealing with right now.
“None of this moves forward at all, if it moves forward at all, if the players don’t want to play,” he added. “The reason we’re here in the first instance is this is a game with a history and tradition of international competition and our players, NHL players, love representing their countries. And so, if the players ever said, ‘We’re not interested,’ we’re not going to ever force them to go.”
Based on the players’ willingness to play at the last five Winter Olympics, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them express a desire to compete in South Korea.
Gretzky thinks NHL players should play in Olympics | FOX Sports on MSN
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The banned substance that cost Nicklas Backstrom a chance to play in the gold-medal game on Sunday won't keep him from playing for the Washington Capitals when the NHL season resumes.
Backstrom was a surprise scratch before the game for Sweden against Canada and later it was revealed it was because he failed a drug test. The banned substance found in his body came from allergy medication Zyrtec D, something Backstrom says he has been taking for years.
It was a devastating bit of news for Backstrom and Sweden, which couldn't muster any goals against Canada in the gold-medal game. Sweden officials have certainly not been pleased, frustrated at the timing, the fact that he can't take allergy medicine ... all of it.
However it won't be a factor in the NHL. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and the league issued a statement on Sunday explaining the situation in regards to his day job with the Caps.
"We understand that Nicklas Backstrom tested positive for a substance banned 'in competition' by the International Olympic Committee. It is our further understanding that the positive test was the result of a common allergy medication taken by the player knowingly, with the approval of the team doctor and without the intention of gaining an illegal or improper performance-enhancing benefit. In addition, the specific substance that resulted in the positive test is not currently on the League's Prohibited Substances List."
"Subject to confirmation of the facts as we understand them, and given the fact that the substance is neither prohibited in the NHL nor was used in an improper manner here, we do not anticipate there being any consequences relative to Nicklas' eligibility to participate in games for the Washington Capitals."
The Capitals had a statement at just about the same time on the matter.
Nicklas Backstrom did not participate in Team Sweden's Olympic gold-medal game on Sunday due to the allergy medication he has been taking intermittently for seven years, including this season while playing for the Washington Capitals to combat severe allergies. The medicine was approved by the Swedish national team. It is not anticipated that this will impact his participation in NHL games.
While it's good for him and the Capitals that this will have no impact on his NHL job, it makes it just that much more frustrating to see that his suspension from the gold-medal game was over something that the NHL doesn't deem to be an illegal substance.
Nicklas Backstrom likely won't face NHL discipline for banned substance - CBSSports-com
Backstrom was a surprise scratch before the game for Sweden against Canada and later it was revealed it was because he failed a drug test. The banned substance found in his body came from allergy medication Zyrtec D, something Backstrom says he has been taking for years.
It was a devastating bit of news for Backstrom and Sweden, which couldn't muster any goals against Canada in the gold-medal game. Sweden officials have certainly not been pleased, frustrated at the timing, the fact that he can't take allergy medicine ... all of it.
However it won't be a factor in the NHL. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and the league issued a statement on Sunday explaining the situation in regards to his day job with the Caps.
"We understand that Nicklas Backstrom tested positive for a substance banned 'in competition' by the International Olympic Committee. It is our further understanding that the positive test was the result of a common allergy medication taken by the player knowingly, with the approval of the team doctor and without the intention of gaining an illegal or improper performance-enhancing benefit. In addition, the specific substance that resulted in the positive test is not currently on the League's Prohibited Substances List."
"Subject to confirmation of the facts as we understand them, and given the fact that the substance is neither prohibited in the NHL nor was used in an improper manner here, we do not anticipate there being any consequences relative to Nicklas' eligibility to participate in games for the Washington Capitals."
The Capitals had a statement at just about the same time on the matter.
Nicklas Backstrom did not participate in Team Sweden's Olympic gold-medal game on Sunday due to the allergy medication he has been taking intermittently for seven years, including this season while playing for the Washington Capitals to combat severe allergies. The medicine was approved by the Swedish national team. It is not anticipated that this will impact his participation in NHL games.
While it's good for him and the Capitals that this will have no impact on his NHL job, it makes it just that much more frustrating to see that his suspension from the gold-medal game was over something that the NHL doesn't deem to be an illegal substance.
Nicklas Backstrom likely won't face NHL discipline for banned substance - CBSSports-com
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Chicago Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg is an experienced veteran now, but he'll never forget the game he played as a rookie Jan. 1, 2009 at Wrigley Field.
Versteeg took the ice that day with the Blackhawks to face the rival Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. He wound up scoring the game's first goal 3:24 into the first period in what turned out to be a back-and-forth game won by Detroit 6-4 in cold, overcast conditions.
As the Blackhawks prepare to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at Soldier Field (8 p.m. ET, NBC) in the final game of the 2014 Coors Light Stadium Series, Versteeg and others who played at Wrigley are reminded of that game five years ago.
"I remember a lot," Versteeg said Monday. "I remember getting ready in the locker room and coming out side-by-side with Detroit. It was kind of like soccer ... how they come out holding hands [with youth players] and then all of a sudden they're enemies." He also recalls the feeling in his legs as fighter jets roared past during the pregame build-up, not to mention his excitement at scoring the game's first goal.
"It was a pretty overwhelming experience," Versteeg said. "The first goal was pretty exciting too. Everyone was like, 'Who's going to score it? [Patrick] Kane? [Jonathan] Toews? [Pavel] Datsyuk? [Henrik] Zetterberg? ... Versteeg? What the [heck]?' It was just a great experience overall. Obviously it wasn't the result we wanted so hopefully we can change that against the Penguins."
They also would like to change the weather forecast. It's currently calling for frigid temperatures for the 7 p.m. local time puck drop, but Versteeg knows the chill won't keep the fans away.
"I don't know how much I'd like sitting out in the freezing cold, but people love it and I can see why," he said. "I know my brother and my family came last time [to Wrigley] and they loved it even though they were freezing."
They liked it so much, in fact, that it didn't take long for Versteeg's brother to mention the Soldier Field game after he was re-acquired by the Blackhawks in a trade with the Florida Panthers.
"That was one of the first things my brother brought up, the [game] that will be coming up," Versteeg said. "He actually reminded me about it right away, right when I got traded. That was pretty much the first thing he told me so obviously I had to get him a ticket."
Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook also is looking forward to going back outside for some hockey. Seabrook played at Wrigley in 2009, but now he has a wife, Dana, and young son, Carter.
The family skate at Soldier Field prior to this game might be even more meaningful to him than last time.
"I think so," Seabrook said. "I think getting Carter out there will be fun, to have him out on the ice and whatnot with my wife. It will be cool. Dana wasn't with me for the first game so she'll be able to share it this time and it'll be fun."
It will be yet another installment in the scrapbook of his career, which he and those closest with him can share as memories.
"The whole thing was a great experience," Seabrook said of playing at Wrigley. "From practice day to being there early and looking out to see the crowd fill up, some of the memories my friends have from their vantage point and stuff like that is just cool to think back on and listen to every once in a while in the summer when we talk about stuff. The whole thing was a lot of fun. It was a great event and I think everybody's looking forward to Soldier Field."
Seabrook played a big part in one of the most memorable moments from the 2009 Winter Classic, one that nearly gave Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville a bad memory. Asked what stands out most about that game, Quenneville began with Seabrook's early hard check on Detroit forward Daniel Cleary that sent Cleary toppling into the Chicago bench.
"Right off the bat, [Seabrook] hitting their guy right into the bench ... I almost got hit in the head with a skate or a stick there," Quenneville said. "That was right off the bat. The pace was real. [We] had a great first period, obviously an ugly second period, but at the end of the day it was the coolest game you could be a part of. I think this [game] will definitely make it go to the next level."
Seabrook concurred, pointing out that Soldier Field holds about 20,000 more people than Wrigley Field.
"It'll definitely be different," he said. "When you play the game sometimes you don't really hear that. You're focused on the game and what you're doing, but it's definitely cool when there's a whistle or a TV timeout. You look up and see the crowd and see how many people are there. I've watched football games there and I've been on the field and stuff. It's pretty neat to see all the people."
It's an experience Quenneville relishes.
Quenneville said all involved in these games should cherish the opportunity to take it outdoors, even if they do it multiple times. Not everybody gets to experience it in their NHL careers, but both teams Saturday will have a number of people who have done it before. It will be the second outdoor game for the Blackhawks, the third for the Penguins.
"It's almost like you wish everybody that's in the League or coaches in the League could get a chance to be a part of a game in a setting like we had [at Wrigley Field]," Quenneville said. "So it's going to be a special day [at Soldier Field]. We'll get to feel it on Friday as well [for practice] ... and it's going to be nippy [then], as well."
As for the challenges presented by conditions outdoors, Quenneville is hoping for snow instead of wind. There wasn't much of either in 2009, but gusting winds off nearby Lake Michigan on Saturday could make it a tough day for everybody involved.
"Not being out there in that environment with the snow, I just think that it would be a very fun environment for everybody if it does snow," Quenneville said. "The wind is probably not much fun
Versteeg took the ice that day with the Blackhawks to face the rival Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. He wound up scoring the game's first goal 3:24 into the first period in what turned out to be a back-and-forth game won by Detroit 6-4 in cold, overcast conditions.
As the Blackhawks prepare to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at Soldier Field (8 p.m. ET, NBC) in the final game of the 2014 Coors Light Stadium Series, Versteeg and others who played at Wrigley are reminded of that game five years ago.
"I remember a lot," Versteeg said Monday. "I remember getting ready in the locker room and coming out side-by-side with Detroit. It was kind of like soccer ... how they come out holding hands [with youth players] and then all of a sudden they're enemies." He also recalls the feeling in his legs as fighter jets roared past during the pregame build-up, not to mention his excitement at scoring the game's first goal.
"It was a pretty overwhelming experience," Versteeg said. "The first goal was pretty exciting too. Everyone was like, 'Who's going to score it? [Patrick] Kane? [Jonathan] Toews? [Pavel] Datsyuk? [Henrik] Zetterberg? ... Versteeg? What the [heck]?' It was just a great experience overall. Obviously it wasn't the result we wanted so hopefully we can change that against the Penguins."
They also would like to change the weather forecast. It's currently calling for frigid temperatures for the 7 p.m. local time puck drop, but Versteeg knows the chill won't keep the fans away.
"I don't know how much I'd like sitting out in the freezing cold, but people love it and I can see why," he said. "I know my brother and my family came last time [to Wrigley] and they loved it even though they were freezing."
They liked it so much, in fact, that it didn't take long for Versteeg's brother to mention the Soldier Field game after he was re-acquired by the Blackhawks in a trade with the Florida Panthers.
"That was one of the first things my brother brought up, the [game] that will be coming up," Versteeg said. "He actually reminded me about it right away, right when I got traded. That was pretty much the first thing he told me so obviously I had to get him a ticket."
Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook also is looking forward to going back outside for some hockey. Seabrook played at Wrigley in 2009, but now he has a wife, Dana, and young son, Carter.
The family skate at Soldier Field prior to this game might be even more meaningful to him than last time.
"I think so," Seabrook said. "I think getting Carter out there will be fun, to have him out on the ice and whatnot with my wife. It will be cool. Dana wasn't with me for the first game so she'll be able to share it this time and it'll be fun."
It will be yet another installment in the scrapbook of his career, which he and those closest with him can share as memories.
"The whole thing was a great experience," Seabrook said of playing at Wrigley. "From practice day to being there early and looking out to see the crowd fill up, some of the memories my friends have from their vantage point and stuff like that is just cool to think back on and listen to every once in a while in the summer when we talk about stuff. The whole thing was a lot of fun. It was a great event and I think everybody's looking forward to Soldier Field."
Seabrook played a big part in one of the most memorable moments from the 2009 Winter Classic, one that nearly gave Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville a bad memory. Asked what stands out most about that game, Quenneville began with Seabrook's early hard check on Detroit forward Daniel Cleary that sent Cleary toppling into the Chicago bench.
"Right off the bat, [Seabrook] hitting their guy right into the bench ... I almost got hit in the head with a skate or a stick there," Quenneville said. "That was right off the bat. The pace was real. [We] had a great first period, obviously an ugly second period, but at the end of the day it was the coolest game you could be a part of. I think this [game] will definitely make it go to the next level."
Seabrook concurred, pointing out that Soldier Field holds about 20,000 more people than Wrigley Field.
"It'll definitely be different," he said. "When you play the game sometimes you don't really hear that. You're focused on the game and what you're doing, but it's definitely cool when there's a whistle or a TV timeout. You look up and see the crowd and see how many people are there. I've watched football games there and I've been on the field and stuff. It's pretty neat to see all the people."
It's an experience Quenneville relishes.
Quenneville said all involved in these games should cherish the opportunity to take it outdoors, even if they do it multiple times. Not everybody gets to experience it in their NHL careers, but both teams Saturday will have a number of people who have done it before. It will be the second outdoor game for the Blackhawks, the third for the Penguins.
"It's almost like you wish everybody that's in the League or coaches in the League could get a chance to be a part of a game in a setting like we had [at Wrigley Field]," Quenneville said. "So it's going to be a special day [at Soldier Field]. We'll get to feel it on Friday as well [for practice] ... and it's going to be nippy [then], as well."
As for the challenges presented by conditions outdoors, Quenneville is hoping for snow instead of wind. There wasn't much of either in 2009, but gusting winds off nearby Lake Michigan on Saturday could make it a tough day for everybody involved.
"Not being out there in that environment with the snow, I just think that it would be a very fun environment for everybody if it does snow," Quenneville said. "The wind is probably not much fun
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David Backes went to Sochi hoping to bring back some stories. Instead, he brought back a couple of stray puppies.
The St. Louis Blues' captain, who played for the U.S. in the 2014 Winter Olympics, and his wife Kelly rescued the dogs from the streets of the Russian city with members of the Canadian team's entourage. Now in quarantine in St. Louis, the dogs will eventually be given to good homes.
"We're just trying to widen our scope to help animals across the (U.S.) and across the world, and doing what we can," Backes said Tuesday.
Backes said he and his wife did not originally intend to bring any animals back. They were hoping to create awareness about shelters that have been set up in Sochi to help hundreds of stray dogs that have received international media coverage.
"She doesn't take no very lightly," he said. "So when she saw those two pups and a few more, she said we've gotta do something to get these out of here and tell their story and broaden the awareness of some of the mistreatment of animals - and just the difference in (how) they treat their companion animals and we treat ours."
The Backes, who have four rescue dogs and two rescue cats in their home set up their own foundation, Athletes for Animals, last November, received helped from Canadian winger Jeff Carter's girlfriend Megan Keffer and defenceman Drew Doughty's girlfriend Nicole Arruda and others. The three-to-four-month-old pups, named Sochi Junior and Sochi Jake, were brought back to the U.S. on an Air Atlas charter to Newark and another flight to St. Louis.
Read more: NHL player David Backes brings back stray dogs from Sochi | News and Blogs - CTV News at Sochi 2014
The St. Louis Blues' captain, who played for the U.S. in the 2014 Winter Olympics, and his wife Kelly rescued the dogs from the streets of the Russian city with members of the Canadian team's entourage. Now in quarantine in St. Louis, the dogs will eventually be given to good homes.
"We're just trying to widen our scope to help animals across the (U.S.) and across the world, and doing what we can," Backes said Tuesday.
Backes said he and his wife did not originally intend to bring any animals back. They were hoping to create awareness about shelters that have been set up in Sochi to help hundreds of stray dogs that have received international media coverage.
"She doesn't take no very lightly," he said. "So when she saw those two pups and a few more, she said we've gotta do something to get these out of here and tell their story and broaden the awareness of some of the mistreatment of animals - and just the difference in (how) they treat their companion animals and we treat ours."
The Backes, who have four rescue dogs and two rescue cats in their home set up their own foundation, Athletes for Animals, last November, received helped from Canadian winger Jeff Carter's girlfriend Megan Keffer and defenceman Drew Doughty's girlfriend Nicole Arruda and others. The three-to-four-month-old pups, named Sochi Junior and Sochi Jake, were brought back to the U.S. on an Air Atlas charter to Newark and another flight to St. Louis.
Read more: NHL player David Backes brings back stray dogs from Sochi | News and Blogs - CTV News at Sochi 2014
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It hasn't seemed to matter who his linemates are, or what kind of teammates he's been on the ice with. All Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby has done is produce and help his team win games.
And with a daily injury report that has at times read like an all-star game roster, and a Penguins roster that at times has featured as many American Hockey League players as NHL, Crosby has shown this season why he's the best -- and most valuable player -- in the League.
The easiest place to start is with the most general stats. At the Olympic break, Crosby led the League with 50 assists and 78 points. That puts him on pace for 110 points, which would be the second-most he's had in his nine seasons. With 28 goals, he's going to hit 30 for the sixth time; he's on pace for 39, so it wouldn't be a stretch to see him get to 40 for the second time.
Crosby has had a hand in 42.8 percent of his team's 182 non-shootout goals, and he's been just as good at home (12 goals, 40 points in 28 games) as on the road (16 goals, 38 points in 30 games).
He's reached those numbers while averaging 22:01 of ice time per game, second among all NHL forwards. And when he's been on the ice it has been against the hardest competition the opposition has thrown at Penguins forwards, according to advanced metrics at BehindtheNet.ca. Though he's started 50.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, he's finished 52.8 percent of his shifts there, a sign he can create offense from anywhere on the ice.
Crosby also has been used as a penalty killer (0:34 per game) and won 52.3 percent of his faceoffs, a respectable success rate for a player who's taken 1,392 faceoffs, the most in the League.
Though Crosby is the clear pick right now to win his second Hart Trophy, there are a number of outstanding performers keeping themselves in contention for the honor.
FINALISTS
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks -- The Ducks captain has been the best player on the best team in the Western Conference. Getzlaf entered the Olympic break second in the League in scoring to Crosby with 67 points in 56 games, and his 29 goals are tied for fourth. He's had a hand in 34.5 percent of the Ducks' 194 non-shootout goals, and his seven game-winning goals are second in the League.
He has a plus-24 rating while averaging 21:02 of ice time per game; his 2:13 of shorthanded ice time is a career best and second among Ducks forwards.
And Getzlaf has accomplished all this while facing the toughest competition among any Ducks forward. Maybe just as impressive is that only 45.8 percent of Getzlaf's shifts have started in the offensive zone according to BehindtheNet.ca, fewest among Ducks forwards; however, 49.8 percent of his shifts have ended there.
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning -- At age 38, regardless of who his linemates are, the Lightning's dynamo forward hasn't seemed to miss a beat. At the Olympic break, St. Louis ranked in the top 12 in the League in goals (29) and points (56). He has a plus-15 while ranking third in average ice time per game among forwards at 21:45; of the 26 forwards to average at least 20 minutes per game, only four have a better plus/minus than St. Louis.
St. Louis also has been the go-to offensive player for the Lightning for the majority of the season while teammate Steven Stamkos has been recovering from a broken right leg. Despite the absence of Stamkos and playing mostly on a line with rookies Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, St. Louis has continued to produce at a high level.
He also weathered the storm of questions that have surrounded the team during Stamkos' recovery and bid for a spot on Canada's team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, as well as St. Louis' own omission from the original list of players selected and then his subsequent addition to the team when Stamkos wasn't cleared medically to go to Russia. Between Jan. 7, the day the Canadian Olympic team was announced, and the Olympic break, St. Louis had eight goals and 18 points in 16 games, and at least one point in 14 of the 16 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby remains Hart Trophy favorite - NHL-com - Trophy Tracker
And with a daily injury report that has at times read like an all-star game roster, and a Penguins roster that at times has featured as many American Hockey League players as NHL, Crosby has shown this season why he's the best -- and most valuable player -- in the League.
The easiest place to start is with the most general stats. At the Olympic break, Crosby led the League with 50 assists and 78 points. That puts him on pace for 110 points, which would be the second-most he's had in his nine seasons. With 28 goals, he's going to hit 30 for the sixth time; he's on pace for 39, so it wouldn't be a stretch to see him get to 40 for the second time.
Crosby has had a hand in 42.8 percent of his team's 182 non-shootout goals, and he's been just as good at home (12 goals, 40 points in 28 games) as on the road (16 goals, 38 points in 30 games).
He's reached those numbers while averaging 22:01 of ice time per game, second among all NHL forwards. And when he's been on the ice it has been against the hardest competition the opposition has thrown at Penguins forwards, according to advanced metrics at BehindtheNet.ca. Though he's started 50.3 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, he's finished 52.8 percent of his shifts there, a sign he can create offense from anywhere on the ice.
Crosby also has been used as a penalty killer (0:34 per game) and won 52.3 percent of his faceoffs, a respectable success rate for a player who's taken 1,392 faceoffs, the most in the League.
Though Crosby is the clear pick right now to win his second Hart Trophy, there are a number of outstanding performers keeping themselves in contention for the honor.
FINALISTS
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks -- The Ducks captain has been the best player on the best team in the Western Conference. Getzlaf entered the Olympic break second in the League in scoring to Crosby with 67 points in 56 games, and his 29 goals are tied for fourth. He's had a hand in 34.5 percent of the Ducks' 194 non-shootout goals, and his seven game-winning goals are second in the League.
He has a plus-24 rating while averaging 21:02 of ice time per game; his 2:13 of shorthanded ice time is a career best and second among Ducks forwards.
And Getzlaf has accomplished all this while facing the toughest competition among any Ducks forward. Maybe just as impressive is that only 45.8 percent of Getzlaf's shifts have started in the offensive zone according to BehindtheNet.ca, fewest among Ducks forwards; however, 49.8 percent of his shifts have ended there.
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning -- At age 38, regardless of who his linemates are, the Lightning's dynamo forward hasn't seemed to miss a beat. At the Olympic break, St. Louis ranked in the top 12 in the League in goals (29) and points (56). He has a plus-15 while ranking third in average ice time per game among forwards at 21:45; of the 26 forwards to average at least 20 minutes per game, only four have a better plus/minus than St. Louis.
St. Louis also has been the go-to offensive player for the Lightning for the majority of the season while teammate Steven Stamkos has been recovering from a broken right leg. Despite the absence of Stamkos and playing mostly on a line with rookies Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, St. Louis has continued to produce at a high level.
He also weathered the storm of questions that have surrounded the team during Stamkos' recovery and bid for a spot on Canada's team for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, as well as St. Louis' own omission from the original list of players selected and then his subsequent addition to the team when Stamkos wasn't cleared medically to go to Russia. Between Jan. 7, the day the Canadian Olympic team was announced, and the Olympic break, St. Louis had eight goals and 18 points in 16 games, and at least one point in 14 of the 16 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby remains Hart Trophy favorite - NHL-com - Trophy Tracker
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If Nazem Kadri doesn’t wish to be moved prior to the March 5 NHL trade deadline, perhaps he needs to get wind of the rumour mill churning like it was in mid-January.
Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis sparked reports at that time that the 23-year-old centre was being shopped around, telling a Toronto sports radio station that there had been “a lot of interest” in Kadri, who had recorded only 14 points in his previous 31 contests.
“Would we be willing to trade him? Yes, we’d be willing to trade him,” Nonis said. “But there’s a big difference between willing to and trying to.”
Kadri, who had piled up 13 points in 14 games in October, responded to the January trade rumours by posting 14 points in 11 outings leading to the just-completed Sochi Olympic break.
“It would be terrible,” Kadri, a native of London, Ont., told reporters in January at the thought of being traded. “This is my home and this is where I want to be. … Nobody expects more [from me] than I expect from myself.”
Toronto plays three games prior to the 3 p.m. ET deadline on March 5, so the window for Kadri and others like defenceman Jake Gardiner to sway Nonis has shrunk.
There are several other names across the league linked to trade rumours, so it’ll be interesting to see which players actually get moved. Only the New York Islanders, Florida and Buffalo appear to be out of the Eastern Conference playoff mix.
In the West, Calgary and Edmonton are well back of eighth-place Dallas and probably sellers over the next week.
The above photo gallery shows 10 players from Canadian teams who soon could be changing hockey addresses.
NHL trade deadline: 10 players who may be dealt - NHL on CBC Sports - Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings
Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis sparked reports at that time that the 23-year-old centre was being shopped around, telling a Toronto sports radio station that there had been “a lot of interest” in Kadri, who had recorded only 14 points in his previous 31 contests.
“Would we be willing to trade him? Yes, we’d be willing to trade him,” Nonis said. “But there’s a big difference between willing to and trying to.”
Kadri, who had piled up 13 points in 14 games in October, responded to the January trade rumours by posting 14 points in 11 outings leading to the just-completed Sochi Olympic break.
“It would be terrible,” Kadri, a native of London, Ont., told reporters in January at the thought of being traded. “This is my home and this is where I want to be. … Nobody expects more [from me] than I expect from myself.”
Toronto plays three games prior to the 3 p.m. ET deadline on March 5, so the window for Kadri and others like defenceman Jake Gardiner to sway Nonis has shrunk.
There are several other names across the league linked to trade rumours, so it’ll be interesting to see which players actually get moved. Only the New York Islanders, Florida and Buffalo appear to be out of the Eastern Conference playoff mix.
In the West, Calgary and Edmonton are well back of eighth-place Dallas and probably sellers over the next week.
The above photo gallery shows 10 players from Canadian teams who soon could be changing hockey addresses.
NHL trade deadline: 10 players who may be dealt - NHL on CBC Sports - Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings
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Once the shock and emotions of leaving Buffalo and the Sabres began to wear off, goalie Ryan Miller began looking forward to the challenge he and Steve Ott will face in living up to the St. Louis Blues' expectations.
Sabres no more, Miller and Ott are going from the NHL's worst team to a bona fide Stanley Cup contender after being traded to the Central Division-leading Blues (39-13-6) in a five-player, two-draft-pick deal Friday night.
"It's definitely humbling and flattering that they would make that kind of move and bring us in with the intention of giving them some help to push for a Stanley Cup," Miller said. "We're excited for the opportunity there. But also, it's about the responsibility we have to that organization to show up and get up to speed and compete as hard as we can to live up to the trade."
With his voice at times cracking with emotion, Miller spoke at a news conference during the first intermission of the Sabres' game against the San Jose Sharks. The deal was made about an hour before the game, and marks the first significant move since Tim Murray took over as general manager in January.
In exchange for trading away Miller and Ott, their captain, the Sabres acquired goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a 2015 first-round pick and a 2016 third-round pick.
The Central Division-leading Blues shored up their goaltending in an attempt to avoid another disappointing playoff run after being eliminated by Los Angeles in successive seasons.
Miller was expendable in Buffalo because the 33-year-old was in the final year of his contract and the Sabres were concerned he'd have little interest re-signing with a team early into its rebuilding stage.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made the deal with a more short-term objective in mind.
"The deal was made on the here and now. We'll worry about the future after the season," Armstrong said during a telephone conference call. "Obviously, Ryan Miller's resume speaks for itself. It gives us a better chance for success."
Miller won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie in 2010, the year he was the Most Valuable Player of the Olympic tournament in Vancouver, and is Buffalo's franchise leader with 284 victories and 540 games. This season, he's 5-22-3 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. He's 284-186-57 with a 2.60 GAA and .916 save percentage overall.
Armstrong noted the trouble the Blues had against the Kings and goalie Jonathan Quick during the playoffs and believes Miller can make a difference.
'Antagonistic player'
Ott has credentials as a leader and provides the Blues a gritty two-way forward.
"He's an antagonistic player," Armstrong said about Ott. "He's a player that has that playoff pedigree."
Sabres coach Ted Nolan was set to start Miller on Friday night against San Jose, but the goalie and Ott did not take the ice for warm-ups and were scratched.
The Sabres acquired Ott from Dallas along with defenceman Adam Pardy in exchange for Derek Roy on July 2, 2012. Ott had 18 goals and 26 assists in 107 games for Buffalo.
Halak was in his fourth season with the Blues after spending his first four years with Montreal. He has a 24-9-4 record with a 2.23 goals against average, a .917 save percentage and four shutouts this season.
Stewart has 15 goals and 11 assists in 58 games for the Blues this season, and 115 goals in a six seasons with Colorado and St. Louis.
The 19-year-old Carrier was the Blues' second-round pick in 2013.
Though aware he was on the trade block, Miller had difficulty coming to grips with leaving a team and a city, which he regarded as home for 12 years.
"I don't know if I'll make it through this, so let's keep it quick," Miller said, his voice already quaking. "I'm really going to miss this part of the world."
Ott had preferred to stay in Buffalo, but understood that he was likely to be traded by a team seeking to rebuild.
He was particularly excited to be joining the Blues with Miller.
"It's amazing. This guy right here is the best goalie in the world," Ott said. "He has been our best player, our MVP in Buffalo in a tough, tough season. To have that opportunity to go along with Ryan for myself, I know how great he is. Both of us want to live up to expectations."
Because the trade was so completed so close to game time, the Sabres had to scramble to find a backup to Jhonas Enroth.
They signed Ryan Vinz, a former high school goalie, who is employed as the director of hockey technology of the Sabres-backed HarborCenter facility, which is being constructed across the street from the team's arena. The complex will feature two rinks and a hockey academy. Vinz was a walk-on at Clarkson, but never played and wound becoming the school's video co-ordinator.
Sabres trade Ryan Miller, Ott to Blues for Jaroslav Halak - NHL on CBC Sports - Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings
Sabres no more, Miller and Ott are going from the NHL's worst team to a bona fide Stanley Cup contender after being traded to the Central Division-leading Blues (39-13-6) in a five-player, two-draft-pick deal Friday night.
"It's definitely humbling and flattering that they would make that kind of move and bring us in with the intention of giving them some help to push for a Stanley Cup," Miller said. "We're excited for the opportunity there. But also, it's about the responsibility we have to that organization to show up and get up to speed and compete as hard as we can to live up to the trade."
With his voice at times cracking with emotion, Miller spoke at a news conference during the first intermission of the Sabres' game against the San Jose Sharks. The deal was made about an hour before the game, and marks the first significant move since Tim Murray took over as general manager in January.
In exchange for trading away Miller and Ott, their captain, the Sabres acquired goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a 2015 first-round pick and a 2016 third-round pick.
The Central Division-leading Blues shored up their goaltending in an attempt to avoid another disappointing playoff run after being eliminated by Los Angeles in successive seasons.
Miller was expendable in Buffalo because the 33-year-old was in the final year of his contract and the Sabres were concerned he'd have little interest re-signing with a team early into its rebuilding stage.
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong made the deal with a more short-term objective in mind.
"The deal was made on the here and now. We'll worry about the future after the season," Armstrong said during a telephone conference call. "Obviously, Ryan Miller's resume speaks for itself. It gives us a better chance for success."
Miller won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie in 2010, the year he was the Most Valuable Player of the Olympic tournament in Vancouver, and is Buffalo's franchise leader with 284 victories and 540 games. This season, he's 5-22-3 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. He's 284-186-57 with a 2.60 GAA and .916 save percentage overall.
Armstrong noted the trouble the Blues had against the Kings and goalie Jonathan Quick during the playoffs and believes Miller can make a difference.
'Antagonistic player'
Ott has credentials as a leader and provides the Blues a gritty two-way forward.
"He's an antagonistic player," Armstrong said about Ott. "He's a player that has that playoff pedigree."
Sabres coach Ted Nolan was set to start Miller on Friday night against San Jose, but the goalie and Ott did not take the ice for warm-ups and were scratched.
The Sabres acquired Ott from Dallas along with defenceman Adam Pardy in exchange for Derek Roy on July 2, 2012. Ott had 18 goals and 26 assists in 107 games for Buffalo.
Halak was in his fourth season with the Blues after spending his first four years with Montreal. He has a 24-9-4 record with a 2.23 goals against average, a .917 save percentage and four shutouts this season.
Stewart has 15 goals and 11 assists in 58 games for the Blues this season, and 115 goals in a six seasons with Colorado and St. Louis.
The 19-year-old Carrier was the Blues' second-round pick in 2013.
Though aware he was on the trade block, Miller had difficulty coming to grips with leaving a team and a city, which he regarded as home for 12 years.
"I don't know if I'll make it through this, so let's keep it quick," Miller said, his voice already quaking. "I'm really going to miss this part of the world."
Ott had preferred to stay in Buffalo, but understood that he was likely to be traded by a team seeking to rebuild.
He was particularly excited to be joining the Blues with Miller.
"It's amazing. This guy right here is the best goalie in the world," Ott said. "He has been our best player, our MVP in Buffalo in a tough, tough season. To have that opportunity to go along with Ryan for myself, I know how great he is. Both of us want to live up to expectations."
Because the trade was so completed so close to game time, the Sabres had to scramble to find a backup to Jhonas Enroth.
They signed Ryan Vinz, a former high school goalie, who is employed as the director of hockey technology of the Sabres-backed HarborCenter facility, which is being constructed across the street from the team's arena. The complex will feature two rinks and a hockey academy. Vinz was a walk-on at Clarkson, but never played and wound becoming the school's video co-ordinator.
Sabres trade Ryan Miller, Ott to Blues for Jaroslav Halak - NHL on CBC Sports - Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings
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Jaromir Jagr became the seventh player to score 700 NHL goals, reaching the mark in the second period on Saturday in the New Jersey Devils' game against the New York Islanders.
The New Jersey forward moved into this elite group when he netted his 19th goal of the season. The Islanders have been Jagr's favourite target in his 20 NHL seasons. He has 61 goals and 88 assists in 101 career games.
Jagr stickhandled from the right wing boards into the slot and then slid a shot along the ice that eluded New York goalie Evgeni Nabokov at 3:31 of the second to give New Jersey a 2-0 lead.
Jagr was surrounded by his teammates who were on the ice with him and then skated across the front of the bench, patting gloves along the way. He received a nice ovation from the crowd when his milestone was announced.
The Islanders are the only team from the old Patrick Division for which Jagr, a recent Czech Republic Olympian, has never played. This is his first season with New Jersey.
Jagr is only eight goals behind Mike Gartner, who is sixth on the NHL career list. Wayne Gretzky holds the record of 894. Jagr is seventh in career points with 1,740.
Gretzky netted his 700th goal on Long Island on Jan. 3, 1991, while with the Los Angeles Kings. Marcel Dionne, then of the New York Rangers, also reached the mark against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, hitting the milestone on Oct. 31, 1987. Dionne is fourth on the list with 731 goals.
Jagr later set up Marek Zidlicky's power-play goal that pushed the Devils ahead 4-1 in the second period. It was Jagr's 1,040th assist, tying him with Dionne for ninth place in NHL history.
Jaromir Jagr becomes 7th NHL player to score 700 goals - NHL on CBC Sports - Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings
The New Jersey forward moved into this elite group when he netted his 19th goal of the season. The Islanders have been Jagr's favourite target in his 20 NHL seasons. He has 61 goals and 88 assists in 101 career games.
Jagr stickhandled from the right wing boards into the slot and then slid a shot along the ice that eluded New York goalie Evgeni Nabokov at 3:31 of the second to give New Jersey a 2-0 lead.
Jagr was surrounded by his teammates who were on the ice with him and then skated across the front of the bench, patting gloves along the way. He received a nice ovation from the crowd when his milestone was announced.
The Islanders are the only team from the old Patrick Division for which Jagr, a recent Czech Republic Olympian, has never played. This is his first season with New Jersey.
Jagr is only eight goals behind Mike Gartner, who is sixth on the NHL career list. Wayne Gretzky holds the record of 894. Jagr is seventh in career points with 1,740.
Gretzky netted his 700th goal on Long Island on Jan. 3, 1991, while with the Los Angeles Kings. Marcel Dionne, then of the New York Rangers, also reached the mark against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, hitting the milestone on Oct. 31, 1987. Dionne is fourth on the list with 731 goals.
Jagr later set up Marek Zidlicky's power-play goal that pushed the Devils ahead 4-1 in the second period. It was Jagr's 1,040th assist, tying him with Dionne for ninth place in NHL history.
Jaromir Jagr becomes 7th NHL player to score 700 goals - NHL on CBC Sports - Hockey news, opinion, scores, stats, standings
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Pat LaFontaine resigned his position as president of hockey operations with the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and will return to the NHL. He had served as vice president of development and community affairs for the League.
LaFontaine joined the Sabres on Nov. 13, 2013, after general manager Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolston were fired. He hired Tim Murray as general manager in January. “Terry Pegula hired me in November and my primary objective was to lead the Sabres organization through a time of transition,” LaFontaine said in a statement issued by the team. “I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish in a short period of time and want to thank Terry and Kim Pegula for the opportunity and their support during my time with the Sabres. I also want to convey my best wishes to all of the players in the Sabres organization and to wish them the best of success in the future. Most importantly, I want to convey my heartfelt appreciation to the great fans of the Sabres for the way I have been treated here as a player and as an executive.”
The move caught several of the Sabres' players by surprise.
“It’s a shocker," defenseman Henrik Tallinder told the Buffalo News. "When he got hired, you thought he would be here for a long time."
Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff told the the paper that "I was shocked and very surprised. I thought Patty did a very good job."
The move comes one day after the Sabres traded goaltender Ryan Miller and center Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues. The Sabres received goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, forward prospect William Carrier, a first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, and a conditional pick.
LaFontaine was not in attendance for the Sabres' game against the San Jose Sharks on Friday; the deal was announced around the time the puck was dropped to start the game.
“I would like to thank Pat for all he has done for the organization," Sabres owner Terry Pegula said in a statement. "Pat joined us at a very difficult time and helped transition the organization down a new path. Tim Murray will continue as general manager and Craig Patrick will continue as a senior hockey adviser. As has been the case since I bought the team, we’ll continue to do whatever is needed to rebuild the organization and keep it on path towards our ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup."
Pat LaFontaine resigns from Buffalo Sabres, rejoins NHL - NHL-com - News
LaFontaine joined the Sabres on Nov. 13, 2013, after general manager Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolston were fired. He hired Tim Murray as general manager in January. “Terry Pegula hired me in November and my primary objective was to lead the Sabres organization through a time of transition,” LaFontaine said in a statement issued by the team. “I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish in a short period of time and want to thank Terry and Kim Pegula for the opportunity and their support during my time with the Sabres. I also want to convey my best wishes to all of the players in the Sabres organization and to wish them the best of success in the future. Most importantly, I want to convey my heartfelt appreciation to the great fans of the Sabres for the way I have been treated here as a player and as an executive.”
The move caught several of the Sabres' players by surprise.
“It’s a shocker," defenseman Henrik Tallinder told the Buffalo News. "When he got hired, you thought he would be here for a long time."
Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff told the the paper that "I was shocked and very surprised. I thought Patty did a very good job."
The move comes one day after the Sabres traded goaltender Ryan Miller and center Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues. The Sabres received goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, forward prospect William Carrier, a first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, and a conditional pick.
LaFontaine was not in attendance for the Sabres' game against the San Jose Sharks on Friday; the deal was announced around the time the puck was dropped to start the game.
“I would like to thank Pat for all he has done for the organization," Sabres owner Terry Pegula said in a statement. "Pat joined us at a very difficult time and helped transition the organization down a new path. Tim Murray will continue as general manager and Craig Patrick will continue as a senior hockey adviser. As has been the case since I bought the team, we’ll continue to do whatever is needed to rebuild the organization and keep it on path towards our ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup."
Pat LaFontaine resigns from Buffalo Sabres, rejoins NHL - NHL-com - News
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Doug Armstrong of the St. Louis Blues got a jump on his fellow general managers with a big-name trade acquisition in the form of goalie Ryan Miller on Feb. 28.
Florida’s Dale Tallon, Philadelphia’s Paul Holmgren and Anaheim’s Bob Murray followed on the eve of this week's NHL trade deadline, while Glen Sather of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay’s Steve Yzerman, Montreal’s Marc Bergevin and Minnesota’s Chuck Fletcher later contributing to an exciting deadline day in which 20 deals were consummated.
Here's a rundown of the most notable deadline moves, the motivation behind them, and the price teams had to pay.
RYAN CALLAHAN
The trade: Tampa Bay acquires the right-winger from the New York Rangers for right-winger Martin St. Louis, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a conditional second-round in 2014.
2013-14 statistics: 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points in 45 games, two game-winning goals.
Why did the Lightning acquire him? Callahan immediately fills the leadership and goal-scoring void left by St. Louis’s departure. At 28, Callahan is in the prime years of his career and 10 years St. Louis’s junior. He should help the Lightning improve a penalty-killing unit that ranks 25th in the 30-team NHL.
What did Tampa Bay give up? The league’s reigning top scorer and a player still producing at near a point-a-game pace (61 points in 63 games) at age 38. St. Louis's presence might also be good for former Lightning centre Brad Richards, who tops New York with 44 points.
MARIAN GABORIK
The trade: Columbus trades the right-winger to Los Angeles for forward Matt Frattin, a second-round draft pick in 2014 or 2015 and a conditional third-rounder.
2013-14 statistics: Six goals, eight assists, 14 points in 22 games
Why did the Kings acquire him? Put simply, they needed some scoring punch, and Gaborik, a three-time 40-goal scorer, could help immensely should he play alongside elite centre Anze Kopitar over the Kings’ final 19 games. But will he play responsible defence for demanding coach Darryl Sutter? And can the oft-injured forward stay healthy?
What did the Kings give up? A 26-year-old bottom-six forward in Frattin, who didn’t pan out after being acquired from Toronto in the Jonathan Bernier trade, providing just two goals and six points in 40 games. The lost picks could hurt L.A. if Columbus drafts wisely.
JAROSLAV HALAK
The trade: Washington picks up the goaltender and a 2015 third-round draft pick from Buffalo for goalie Michal Neuvirth and defenceman Rostislav Klesla.
2013-14 statistics: 24-9-4 record in 40 games, 2.23 GAA, .917 save percentage, four shutouts
Why did the Capitals acquire him? Because they require more consistency in goal than Braden Holtby has provided this season (3.03, .909). Washington is in the mix for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, so that should be a motivator, and Halak has a good post-season resume (2.42, .923).
What did Washington give up? A 25-year-old goalie in Neuvirth who may have some untapped potential but doesn’t possess the experience Halak brings for a playoff push. The Caps flip Klesla, whom they acquired on Tuesday from Phoenix in the Martin Erat trade, a defenceman that hasn’t lived up to his high draft position (fourth overall in 2000).
ALES HEMSKY
The trade: Edmonton ships the right-winger to Ottawa for a 2014 fifth-round draft pick and a 2015 third-rounder.
2013-14 statistics: Nine goals, 17 assists, 26 points in 56 games.
Why did the Senators acquire him? To add a top-six forward and potential linemate for top centre Jason Spezza as the team looks to make a playoff push. Few have questioned Hemsky’s skilled hands and overall talent and maybe he just needs a change of scenery. He’s never played a full 82-game season, so durability is a question.
What did Ottawa give up? Nothing off its roster or anyone in the minor league system, so that’s a win on its own.
DAVID LEGWAND
The trade: Detroit acquires the centre from Nashville for forwards Patrick Eaves and Calle Jarnkrok and a 2014 third-round draft pick.
2013-14 statistics: 10 goals, 30 assists, 40 points in 62 games.
Why did the Red Wings acquire him? To offset long-term injuries to centres Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Darren Helm. Legwand brings size (six-foot-two, 205 pounds) and a good offensive mind to the Red Wings, who know the 13-year NHL veteran well from their days as Central Division opponents.
What did Detroit give up? An injury prone Eaves, whom the Wings waived earlier this season, but one of their better prospects in Jarnkrok, who had 13 goals and 36 points in 53 games this season with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. But there’s talk he might return to Sweden to play professionally.
ROBERTO LUONGO
The trade: Vancouver trades the goaltender and forward Steven Anthony to Florida for netminder Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias.
2013-14 statistics: 19-16-6 record, 2.38 GAA, .917 save percentage.
Why did the Panthers acquire him? To have a proven No. 1 NHL goalie around past this season as Tim Thomas, traded to Dallas for backup stopper Dan Ellis on Wednesday, is an impending unrestricted free agent. Luongo’s salary-cap hit of $4.5 million US next season will also help Florida reach the cap floor.
What did Florida give up? The six-foot-six Markstrom, who some would say has a ton of potential but has yet to establish himself as a No. 1 goalie in the NHL in his fourth season in North America (3.52 GAA, .874 save % in 12 games with Panthers this season). Matthias, 26, is a solid bottom-six forward.
ANDREW MacDONALD
The trade: The New York Islanders send the defenceman to Philadelphia for a 2014 third-round pick, a 2015 second-rounder and defenceman Matt Mangene.
2013-14 statistics: Four goals, 21 assists, 25 points in 64 games.
Why did the Flyers acquire him? MacDonald, a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent, leads the NHL in blocked shots (198), plays nearly 26
Florida’s Dale Tallon, Philadelphia’s Paul Holmgren and Anaheim’s Bob Murray followed on the eve of this week's NHL trade deadline, while Glen Sather of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay’s Steve Yzerman, Montreal’s Marc Bergevin and Minnesota’s Chuck Fletcher later contributing to an exciting deadline day in which 20 deals were consummated.
Here's a rundown of the most notable deadline moves, the motivation behind them, and the price teams had to pay.
RYAN CALLAHAN
The trade: Tampa Bay acquires the right-winger from the New York Rangers for right-winger Martin St. Louis, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a conditional second-round in 2014.
2013-14 statistics: 11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points in 45 games, two game-winning goals.
Why did the Lightning acquire him? Callahan immediately fills the leadership and goal-scoring void left by St. Louis’s departure. At 28, Callahan is in the prime years of his career and 10 years St. Louis’s junior. He should help the Lightning improve a penalty-killing unit that ranks 25th in the 30-team NHL.
What did Tampa Bay give up? The league’s reigning top scorer and a player still producing at near a point-a-game pace (61 points in 63 games) at age 38. St. Louis's presence might also be good for former Lightning centre Brad Richards, who tops New York with 44 points.
MARIAN GABORIK
The trade: Columbus trades the right-winger to Los Angeles for forward Matt Frattin, a second-round draft pick in 2014 or 2015 and a conditional third-rounder.
2013-14 statistics: Six goals, eight assists, 14 points in 22 games
Why did the Kings acquire him? Put simply, they needed some scoring punch, and Gaborik, a three-time 40-goal scorer, could help immensely should he play alongside elite centre Anze Kopitar over the Kings’ final 19 games. But will he play responsible defence for demanding coach Darryl Sutter? And can the oft-injured forward stay healthy?
What did the Kings give up? A 26-year-old bottom-six forward in Frattin, who didn’t pan out after being acquired from Toronto in the Jonathan Bernier trade, providing just two goals and six points in 40 games. The lost picks could hurt L.A. if Columbus drafts wisely.
JAROSLAV HALAK
The trade: Washington picks up the goaltender and a 2015 third-round draft pick from Buffalo for goalie Michal Neuvirth and defenceman Rostislav Klesla.
2013-14 statistics: 24-9-4 record in 40 games, 2.23 GAA, .917 save percentage, four shutouts
Why did the Capitals acquire him? Because they require more consistency in goal than Braden Holtby has provided this season (3.03, .909). Washington is in the mix for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, so that should be a motivator, and Halak has a good post-season resume (2.42, .923).
What did Washington give up? A 25-year-old goalie in Neuvirth who may have some untapped potential but doesn’t possess the experience Halak brings for a playoff push. The Caps flip Klesla, whom they acquired on Tuesday from Phoenix in the Martin Erat trade, a defenceman that hasn’t lived up to his high draft position (fourth overall in 2000).
ALES HEMSKY
The trade: Edmonton ships the right-winger to Ottawa for a 2014 fifth-round draft pick and a 2015 third-rounder.
2013-14 statistics: Nine goals, 17 assists, 26 points in 56 games.
Why did the Senators acquire him? To add a top-six forward and potential linemate for top centre Jason Spezza as the team looks to make a playoff push. Few have questioned Hemsky’s skilled hands and overall talent and maybe he just needs a change of scenery. He’s never played a full 82-game season, so durability is a question.
What did Ottawa give up? Nothing off its roster or anyone in the minor league system, so that’s a win on its own.
DAVID LEGWAND
The trade: Detroit acquires the centre from Nashville for forwards Patrick Eaves and Calle Jarnkrok and a 2014 third-round draft pick.
2013-14 statistics: 10 goals, 30 assists, 40 points in 62 games.
Why did the Red Wings acquire him? To offset long-term injuries to centres Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Darren Helm. Legwand brings size (six-foot-two, 205 pounds) and a good offensive mind to the Red Wings, who know the 13-year NHL veteran well from their days as Central Division opponents.
What did Detroit give up? An injury prone Eaves, whom the Wings waived earlier this season, but one of their better prospects in Jarnkrok, who had 13 goals and 36 points in 53 games this season with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. But there’s talk he might return to Sweden to play professionally.
ROBERTO LUONGO
The trade: Vancouver trades the goaltender and forward Steven Anthony to Florida for netminder Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias.
2013-14 statistics: 19-16-6 record, 2.38 GAA, .917 save percentage.
Why did the Panthers acquire him? To have a proven No. 1 NHL goalie around past this season as Tim Thomas, traded to Dallas for backup stopper Dan Ellis on Wednesday, is an impending unrestricted free agent. Luongo’s salary-cap hit of $4.5 million US next season will also help Florida reach the cap floor.
What did Florida give up? The six-foot-six Markstrom, who some would say has a ton of potential but has yet to establish himself as a No. 1 goalie in the NHL in his fourth season in North America (3.52 GAA, .874 save % in 12 games with Panthers this season). Matthias, 26, is a solid bottom-six forward.
ANDREW MacDONALD
The trade: The New York Islanders send the defenceman to Philadelphia for a 2014 third-round pick, a 2015 second-rounder and defenceman Matt Mangene.
2013-14 statistics: Four goals, 21 assists, 25 points in 64 games.
Why did the Flyers acquire him? MacDonald, a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent, leads the NHL in blocked shots (198), plays nearly 26
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Newly signed Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov will make his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.
A crowd of about 50 gathered at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Sunday to watch as the 21-year-old Kuznetsov skate for 40 minutes with head coach Adam Oates and strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish.
He went through a brief shooting regimen and performed a few drills along the boards before signing autographs and speaking to reporters.
He says: "Every hockey player wants to play in the NHL and wants to win the (Stanley) Cup. It's my dream to play in the NHL."
Kuznetsov was a first-round draft pick by the Capitals in 2010. He played five seasons for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL.
Capitals F Kuznetsov ready for NHL debut
A crowd of about 50 gathered at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Sunday to watch as the 21-year-old Kuznetsov skate for 40 minutes with head coach Adam Oates and strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish.
He went through a brief shooting regimen and performed a few drills along the boards before signing autographs and speaking to reporters.
He says: "Every hockey player wants to play in the NHL and wants to win the (Stanley) Cup. It's my dream to play in the NHL."
Kuznetsov was a first-round draft pick by the Capitals in 2010. He played five seasons for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL.
Capitals F Kuznetsov ready for NHL debut
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Diaz, 28, had 11 assists and was third on the team with 100 blocked shots while averaging 18:53 of ice time in 46 games, but had been a healthy scratch for seven straight games. He will play for Switzerland at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
An undrafted free agent who signed with the Canadiens in September 2012, Diaz had four goals and 41 points in 128 NHL games. He is in the final season of a two-year, $2.45 million contract and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in July.
Weise, 25, has three goals and nine assists averaging 7:45 of ice time in 44 games.
Selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round (No. 111), of the 2008 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound wing has 10 goals and 26 points in 162 games with the Rangers and Canucks. He can become a restricted free agent after the season.
"A young veteran with 162 games of experience at the NHL level, Dale Weise is a winger with a physical style of play who brings additional toughness and grit to our group of forwards," Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said in a release.
Vancouver Canucks acquire Raphael Diaz from Montreal Canadiens for Dale Weise - NHL-com - News