Kukla's Korner

Qualifying Offer Mistake By Chicago May Cost Them

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

07/04/09 at 06:38 PM ET | Comments (13)

from Darren Dreger of TSN,

According to both the NHL and the NHLPA, the investigation into how and why the Chicago Blackhawks bungled a number of their qualifying offers is ongoing.

Neither side will comment, however since this story broke Friday evening on TSN.ca, interest into how the league and players association will respond is significant.

If the NHL grants leniency and attempts to sweep this issue away, it’s expected the NHLPA will swiftly file a grievance and the matter will go to a hearing.

Sources with hands on knowledge of how qualifying offers have to be filed say as innocent as this mistake may have been, there is no excuse for it, and the league should follow through with the ultimate penalty and declare all players who didn’t received proper notification, unrestricted free agents.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, NHL Talk, NHLPA | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

All Ryan Smyth

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

07/04/09 at 04:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

Ryan talks about his decision to waive his NMC and a few other topice with Rich Hammond of Inside the Kings,

Question: You talked about some of the discussion with your family. What were some of the factors you weighed?

SMYTH: “Obviously we have a beautiful home in Colorado, so we had to weigh the factors of all that stuff, and moving. Then you look at the hockey front. (The Avalanche) came to me and said they wanted to rebuild, and money was an issue, and obviously that goes hand in hand with my issue and my contract. It was mutual at the end of the day, and I have nothing but great things to say about Colorado.’’

Question: Playing in Colorado, you’ve had a chance to get a decent look at the Kings. What are your impressions?

SMYTH: “Watching these young kids play, and to see the energy and excitement and the direction the organization is going in, there’s nothing but upside. I’m honored to be a part of it and I hope I can contribute a lot.’’

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Ryan+Smyth,

Saku Koivu May Be Concerned With Playing With Mikko

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

07/04/09 at 03:31 PM ET | Comments (3)

from Michael Russo of the Star Tribune,

The team continues to be patient as free-agent center Saku Koivu takes his time deciding where he will sign. It’s not looking good with Minnesota, and it doesn’t appear to be so much about money as a concern about playing with his brother, Mikko.

“We’ve put a lot of conversations and time into it,” GM Chuck Fletcher said. “Whatever decision he makes, I’m sure they’ll be for good reasons.”

If Saku Koivu doesn’t sign and Fletcher can’t make a trade, coach Todd Richards believes Pierre-Marc “Bouchard can be that guy” at No. 2 center.

more Wild talk…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Minnesota Wild | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Saku+Koivu,

If Yotes Stay In Phoenix, It Will Be Long-Term

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

07/04/09 at 11:54 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Rebekah L. Sanders of the Arizona Republic,

If a new owner keeps the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, the team will stay for the long haul, a top National Hockey League executive says.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told The Arizona Republic in an exclusive interview this week that sports mogul Jerry Reinsdorf’s investment group, which has offered $148 million to buy the team, will not negotiate a short-term lease at Jobing.com Arena.

Glendale struck a 30-year deal with the Coyotes when it spent $180 million to build the facility in 2003.

Reinsdorf’s bid, however, hinges in part on renegotiating the terms of that lease.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Enjoy The 4th of July

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

07/04/09 at 10:00 AM ET | Comments (1)

Hope everyone has a great Independence Day!!!

For the next three days, the KK Hockey section will be in lite-posting mode while I enjoy some party time with family and friends. 

Filed in: KK Website Business | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Defenseman biggest priority remaining for Shero & Penguins

Blog: The Confluence By Tony F

07/04/09 at 09:57 AM ET | Comments (13)

GM Ray Shero and the Penguins received some welcome news on Day Three of free agency when UFA winger Ruslan Fedotenko not only accepted terms on a new one-year contract, but took a $450K pay cut along with it.

But now with the Pens’ available cap space approximately at the $3M mark now, Shero most likely will have to get a little creative in order to fill the vacancy left by Rob Scuderi’s departure to the Left Coast.

Continue Reading »

Filed in: | The Confluence | Permalink
  Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,

Putting The Nash To Toronto Talk To Bed

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

07/04/09 at 09:12 AM ET | Comments (0)

One of the postives coming out of the Rich Nash signing, we no longer have to hear Nash headed to Toronto…

from Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun,

After efforts by the Maple Leafs to land the Sedin twins and Richmond Hill native Mike Cammalleri fell short earlier this week, there were hopes throughout the city that Brampton’s Rick Nash might somehow be wooed to Toronto when he became eligible to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010.

Columbus Blue Jackets officials were said to be well aware of the chatter north of the border—talk spearheaded by FAN-590/Sportsnet analyst Doug MacLean, the man who drafted Nash first overall in 2002—suggesting a marriage between Nash and the Leafs would make perfect sense down the road.

So much for those aspirations.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Rick+Nash,

How Good Was The 2008 All UFA Team?

Blog: The Puck Stops Here By PuckStopsHere

07/04/09 at 03:33 AM ET | Comments (3)

One question I have tried to think about is how good a team would be if they could sign unrestricted free agents in order to completely fill their roster.  This summer and last summer I made 23 man all star rosters of UFA players.  Assuming one team signed all of those players in a given year, how good would they be?  22 of the 23 players on the 2008 team signed in the NHL (with Jaromir Jagr signing in the KHL).  They had a total salary cap hit of a little over $101 million for the season.  Given a $56.7 million NHL cap this team is clearly unfeasible as an NHL club.

In order to get a bit of a handle on how good this team might have been, we can look at their 2008/09 NHL numbers

Continue Reading »

Filed in: | The Puck Stops Here | Permalink
 

Smyth A King

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

07/03/09 at 11:18 PM ET | Comments (8)

from TSN,

The Colorado Avalanche have traded Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings.

The 33-year old posted 26 goals and 33 assists in 77 games last season.

Smyth spent most of the first 12 seasons of his career with the Oilers, but after failing to reach a contract agreement, was dealt to the New York Islanders at the trade deadline in 2007.

In that off-season he signed a five-year, $31.25 million deal with the Avalanche.

continued

added 11:25pm, via Darren Dreger’s Twitter,

Ryan Smyth to Los Angeles for D Kyle Quincey, D Tom Priessing and a 5th round pick

added 11:53pm,

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that it has acquired defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing, along with a fifth round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Ryan Smyth. The trade is conditional upon the players passing a physical.

“We are pleased to be adding two quality NHL defensemen,” said Avalanche General Manager Greg Sherman.  “Kyle and Tom are both versatile players who can contribute at both ends. They will add defensive depth to our lineup.”

added 7/04/09 12:05am, via Adrian Dater of All Things Avs,

By the way, there has been a report that Alex Tanguay will re-sign with the Avalanche to replace Smyth. That will NOT happen. Tanguay is not coming back to the Avalanche, period.

My sources tell me Tanguay could be signing with the Phoenix Coyotes. But that is not a done deal at this point.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Kyle+Quincey, Ryan+Smyth, Tom+Preissing,

Teams Still Have Work To Do

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

07/03/09 at 08:01 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Scott Burnside of ESPN,

Here’s a look at some teams that still have some work to do, or give the impression of having unfinished business, as the free-agency period quickly gives way to the dog days of summer:

San Jose Sharks
GM Doug Wilson promised change after the Sharks’ annual playoff dive in April, and word on the street is he did try to move forward Ryane Clowe at the draft but couldn’t. Clowe ended up signing a four-year deal with San Jose worth north of $3.5 million a year. Out of the Sharks’ big pieces, it was largely believed Wilson might have tried to move captain Marleau. Yet Marleau, too, remains in the fold....

New Jersey Devils
Devils maestro GM Lou Lamoriello is like the Alfred E. Neuman of the hockey world this summer—what, me worry? Lamoriello’s coach flees town. One of his top forwards, Brian Gionta, bolts to Montreal, and his best defensive forward, John Madden, heads to Chicago. Gone, too, is Scott Clemmensen, the backup goalie who saved the Devils’ season when Martin Brodeur went down with injury.

But Lamoriello insists all is well....

more

Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11          Next »