NHL and Hockey Rumors for May 27, 2009

The Edmonton Oilers have named Pat Quinn as head coach and Tom Renney as associate coach. Both Quinn and Renney agreed to 3-year contracts with an unwritten understanding, assuming all parties remain employed at the end of their contracts, Renney will have an opportunity to take over as head coach if Quinn retires. The move reunites the pair with GM Steve Tambellini, who along with Quinn and Renney spent time with the Vancouver Canucks organization. Brochu's take: Tambellini definitely looked up his rolodex to fill these jobs. This brings up an even more intriguing rumor. We all know Jaromir Jagr would love to play with the Oilers. Could the hiring of Renney, his old coach in New York, expediate the process? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, a few hours down Highway 2 in Calgary, GM Darryl Sutter admits that if he can't find someone better than himself, he will become the next coach of the Calgary Flames. Sutter revealed that he's looking at three candidates, but all are currently employed by NHL teams. Sutter also announced that assistant coaches Rich Preston and Rob Cookson and goalie coach David Marcoux will not have their contracts renewed when they expire June 30. Brochu's take: A clean house! Meanwhile, Jim Playfair gets the shaft once again.

Jim Balsillie's offer to buy the Phoenix Coyotes comes with an expiry date. The Canadian billionaire is only willing to put up US$212.5-million for the NHL team until June 30, according to documents filed in a U.S. bankruptcy court on Tuesday.

Geoffrey E. Molson, vice-president of marketing for the Molson Coors Brewing Co., said in a statement Tuesday he's interested in submitting a bid to buy the hockey team.

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed forward Jay McClement to a multi-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

The Washington Capitals have signed undrafted free agent forward Jake Hauswirth to a three-year entry-level contract. The 21-year old Hauswirth has spent the last two seasons with the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL).

The New York Rangers have signed defenseman Michael Del Zotto to a three-year, entry-level contract. Del Zotto was the Rangers 1st round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Source

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

According to RDS, Washington Capitals forward Viktor Kozlov has signed a deal with Salavat Yulaev of the KHL. Source

RDS is also reporting that eporting that Caps forward Sergei Fedorov is about to agree to a two-year, $7.6 million contract with Russia's Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Fedorov would be joining his younger brother Fedor on the Metallurg Magnitogorsk roster. Brochu's take: I smell another Fedorov brothers rap album! Source

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Radek Smolenak has left the organization and signed with KHL team Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL. Brochu's take: That Russian team is serious need of vowels. Source

Anaheim Ducks forward Petri Kontiola has left the organization and signed with KHL team Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for May 22, 2009

The Minnesota Wild will officially name Chuck Fletcher as the next GM of the team. Fletcher will replace Doug Risebrough, whose contract as president and general manager of the team was not renewed after the regular season ended. Fletcher is currently the assistant GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the team has said they will not stand in the way. Brochu's take: It is kind of weird to see a team still in the playoffs lose their assistant GM. I wonder who broke this story on TSN...could it be Pierre "El Kabong" McGuire, who was a finalist for the job? Source

The Los Angeles Kings have signed forward Dwight King to a three-year, entry-level contract. King was the Kings' fourth round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Phoenix Coyotes minority partner John Breslow has formed a group interested in submitting a bid for the team, his lawyer Scott Cohen said Wednesday. Breslow currently owns 2% of the Coyotes. It's believed he's filed paperwork with the NHL to table a formal offer. Brochu's take: I find it odd that we hear news about all these "potential" offers from other parties, and yet Jim Balsillie's offer is still the only official and signifcant offer. Redfield Baum, the bankruptcy judge, has repeatedly stated that his only obligation is to the creditors, which would make you believe that Balsillie has an edge.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Washington Capitals forward Donald Brashear is rumored to be signing with a KHL team, possibly Vityaz Podolsk/Chekhov. Brashear's agent is currently in Russia in contract talks. Source

Russian reports are indicating that KHL team Avangard Omsk have targeted Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Frantisek Kaberle and Washington Capitals forward Michael Nylander for the 2009-2010 season. Brochu's take: Kaberle's a UFA this summer, so it's possible. Nylander still has a couple seasons left in his contract so I don't see him doing a Radulov. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for May 18, 2009

Chuck Gormley of the Courier-Post is reporting a rumor that the Philadelphia Flyers would trade either Daniel Briere or Joffrey Lupul and a top prospect (either James van Riemdyk, Luca Sbisa or a 2009 1st round pick) to the Montreal Canadiens for goalie Carey Price and the rights to impending UFA defenseman Mike Komisarek. Another rumour has the Flyers sending a package to the Vancouver Canucks for goalie Roberto Luongo and the rights to Mattias Ohlund. Gormley also adds the Canucks are interested in acquiring forward Jeff Carter. Brochu's take: First, this is completely ludicrous, but since it's quiet in the NHL rumor mill, I might as well have a stab at analyzing it. Briere has a no movement clause, and if he really wanted to be in Montreal, he could have signed there a few years ago. The rights to Mike Komisarek is only worth a 2nd rounder, so this trade would signicantly benefit Montreal. As for Luongo, he's not getting traded, despite all the made-up media speculation coming from Vancouver. Source

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told officials with the Phoenix Coyotes in early April that the NHL would consider moving the team to Winnipeg but not Hamilton, court filings show. Bankruptcy proceedings are expected to continue on Tuesday. There has also been rumors that Las Vegas could play into the equation. Brochu's take: The Vegas bid for an NHL team has been on the backburner since the arena deal fell through, but the Phoenix situation may stoke the fires again. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for May 14, 2009

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke has refuted rumors that he has entered draft negotiations with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Speculation was rampant on Tuesday that the Lightning were willing to send the 2nd overall pick and forward Ryan Malone to the Leafs in exchange for the 7th overall pick. There was also a rumor that the Leafs would consider sending Luke Schenn and Tomas Kaberle and the pick to the Bolts for the 2nd overall pick. Burke still stands that he would try to get John Tavares at the draft. Brochu's take: I think this story will continue to simmer and heat up once the draft rolls around. I really don't think Burke will give up Schenn. Source

The Globe and Mail is reporting that Jim Balsillie has reached an agreement with the city of Hamilton for “an option on a 20-year lease” for Copps Coliseum, Hamilton Place and the convention centre. In the meantime, it has been revealed that Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf's offer to buy the Phoenix Coyotes is valued at around $130 million, significantly less than Balsillie's $212.5 million. Brochu's take: The bankrupty hearing is still ongoing, but you really have to wonder if the judge is going to look at both offers and see which one is better for the creditors. It doesn't take a genius to see that Balsillie's offer puts more money in the creditors' pockets. There's also rumors that Reinsdorf's offer isn't really "official" and that he was more or less kicking the tires on the whole deal. Source

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed forward Mitch Fadden to a three-year, entry-level contract. Fadden was the Bolts' 4th round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

The Montreal Canadiens have signed defenseman P.K. Subban to a three-year, entry-level contract. Subban was the Habs' 2nd round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

The Canadiens have also re-signed defenseman Andre Benoit, who played the last two seasons with Sodertalje in Sweden, to a one-year, two-way contract.

The Boston Bruins have signed forward Jamie Arniel to a three-year, entry-level contract. Arniel was the B's 4th round pick in 2007.

NHL and Hockey Rumors for May 6, 2009

Research-in-Motion CEO Jim Balsillie has made a formal offer of $212.5 million dollars to buy out the suddenly bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes, and move them into the southern Ontario market. It's believed that Balsillie would put the team in Hamilton for the time being. But late Tuesday night the NHL signalled its intention to fight Balsillie every step of the way and insisted it — not the Coyotes' current owner — will determine the fortunes of the team. The NHL has removed Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes from all positions of authority with the club. Brochu's take: If you've been reading my blog over the years, you know I'm a supporter of Balsillie. I think commissioner Gary Bettman should step aside and stop blocking Balsillie. It's unfortunate for Coyotes fans, but I think a profitable team in the greater Toronto area would increase even more interest in the NHL. More on this over the next few days as the story develops. Source

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel to a three-year, entry-level contract. Pierro-Zabotel was the Pen's third round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

The New York Rangers have signed free agent forward Jordan Owens to a contract.

The Dallas Stars have signed forward Michael Neal to a three-year, entry-level contract. Neal was Dallas’ fifth-round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

The Canadian Press is reporting that Alexander Medvedev, the billionaire owner of Russia's KHL is interested in buying an NHL franchise. "We have considered 10 opportunities, we have short-listed three and we continue to look at these three teams," Medvedev said Tuesday at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. "We will just make our due diligence. It's a very strange situation when real hockey [cities] like Quebec don't have an NHL team." Medvedev is expected to meet with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly next week. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Nov 8, 2008

The Montreal Canadiens have denied a report in a Montreal newspaper that the team was up for sale and billionaire Jim Balsillie was interested in buying the team. Balsillie has issued an apology to the Canadiens for any misunderstandings he might have caused, and has flatly denied the rumour.

Mike Brophy of Sportsnet reported a player in the Dallas Stars team has told him that no one in the organization other than GM Brett Hull wanted Sean Avery on their team. Hull recently defended his decision to sign Avery, which has caused a split in the dressing room. Brochu's take: Mike Modano's recent comments would add fuel to that fire. How long will it take NHL GMs to realize that Avery causes more headaches than positives?

The Los Angeles Kings have re-claimed forward Matt Ellis off waivers from the Buffalo Sabres.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Forward Dany Roussin has left the ECHL Bakersfield Condors (Los Angeles Kings affiliate) and signed with HC Briançon in France. Brochu's take: Roussin was once Sidney Crosby's linemate with the Rimouski Oceanic, and put up huge numbers. He's never been able to translate those numbers into the NHL or at the pro level.

Balsillie's next target: Atlanta?

According to the Toronto Star, Jim Balsillie's dream of owning an NHL team may still be alive. It's possible that the Atlanta Thrashers may be put up for sale, as there is an ongoing battle between the owners of that team. Arthur Griffiths, whose family owned the Vancouver Canucks from 1988-97, had this to say:

"If someone is going to join the NBA or NHL as a partner and their first foray is to say they don't care about your rules, it doesn't bode well for the long term. The fact is, there are a lot of people who can sign cheques. If Balsillie wants in that club, he really has to go and say, `Look, I went about this the wrong way. I believe in your leadership.' He has to suck up." Source

The Buffalo News is reporting that the Teppo Numminen suspension was purely "business." "There's a clause explicitly in the contract that states the player must pass the physical and be fit to play," GM Darcy Regier said. "It's the collective bargaining agreement and in no way is it personal to Teppo. I had the conversation with Teppo. He understands it's business. It has a lot of implications on the salary side, on the cap side." Numminen is expected to have surgery soon for his heart condition and will be out four to six weeks. Source

Edmonton's favourite official, Mick McGeough, will be retiring after this season. McGeough's on-ice antics have had the fans give him nicknames such as "Mr. Magoo" and "McGoof." Source