Monday, February 02, 2009

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Feb 3, 2009

According to CBC, the NHL is tentatively set to kick off the 2009-10 regular season in Europe, with six teams playing in 3 cities. The Calgary Flames would play the San Jose Sharks in Helsinki, Finland, the Detroit Red Wings would take on the St. Louis Blues in Stockholm, Sweden and the Chicago Blackhawks would face the Florida Panthers in Prague, Czech Republic. Source

RDS is reporting that the Montreal Canadiens could be looking for an experienced, offensive centre with Robert Lang out with an injured Achilles tendon. Possibilites could include St. Louis Blues forward Keith Tkachuk, Washington Capitals centre Michael Nylander and New York Islanders centre Doug Weight. Brochu's take: If there's one thing about GM Bob Gainey, he's quite decisive about personnel decisions. If he feels there's a need for an experienced centreman, he will go and get him. Source

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Mike McKenna to an NHL contract. McKenna was playing for Tampa's AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals.

According to Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault has the next two games to pull the team out of its losing streak, or he will be fired. Brochu's take: Speculation continues to mount over Vigneault's future. Could he go the way of Hartsburg?

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Shane O'Brien fired back at his coach and GM Monday, claiming that he was asked to fight more. O'Brien was a healthy scratch on Saturday and will likely be scratched on Tuesday as well. GM Mike Gillis has denied that he told the player to fight, only that he played "harder." Source

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