NHL and Hockey Rumors for April 3, 2009

The Boston Bruins have re-signed goalie Tim Thomas to a four-year, $20 million contract. Brochu's take: That's a lot of money for an older goalie. What's going to happen to Tuukka Rask? Source

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed free agent forward Tyler Bozak to a two-year, entry-level contract. The contract could be worth up to $4 million if reaches all the bonuses. Source

The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Joe Finley to a two-year, entry-level contract. Finley has spent the past four seasons with the University of North Dakota and was the Caps' first round pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Source

The Pittsburgh Penguins have free agent goalie Brad Thiessen from Northeastern University. Source

The Los Angeles Kings have signed free agent forward Patrick Mullen to a two-year entry-level contract. Mullen is the son of NHL Hall of Famer Joey Mullen, and has spent the past four seasons with the University of Denver. Source

The Dallas Stars have signed forward Luke Gazdic to a three-year, entry-level contract. Gazdic has spent the past three seasons with Erie in the OHL. Source

The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Aaron Palushaj to an entry-level contract. Palushaj, 19, was drafted in the second round, 44th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for April 2, 2009

According to the LetsgoDU blog, Denver University free agent forward Tyler Bozak will be signing a contract with an NHL team in the next day or two, and the teams on the top of his list are the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche and the New York Islanders. The Columbus Blue Jackets were in the running, but the Bozak camp has told them he is not interested. Source

The NHL have disciplined the Toronto Maple Leafs for their handling of defenseman Jonas Frogren last summer. Sources say the Leafs have been fined $500,000 for paying Frogren a $755,000 signing bonus which violated the CBA. The Maple Leafs will also have to pay an additional penalty in the form of a fourth draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Frogren's contract will not be affected. Brochu's take: What a cruel April Fool's joke on the Leafs, except it's no joke and a very serious matter. Source

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed forward James van Riemsdyk to a three-year, entry-level contract. He had been playing at the University of New Hampshire for the past two seasons and was the Flyer's 2nd overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Source

The Washington Capitals have signed forward Stefan Della Rovere to a three-year, entry-level contract. Della Rovere was the Caps' seventh-round choice, 204th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Source

The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Matt Generous to a one-year, entry-level contract. Generous has played the past four seasons with St. Lawrence University and was the Sabres' seventh-round pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Source

The Los Angeles Kings have signed free agent forward Corey Elkins to a one-year entry-level contract. Elkins spent the past four seasons with Ohio State University. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Mar 30, 2009

The San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman Nick Petrecki to a three-year, entry-level contract. Petrecki, the Sharks first round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, has played the last two seasons with Boston College. Brochu's take: This isn't "official", but will be announced this week. Source

According to Darren Dreger's blog on TSN, free agent forward Tyler Bozak is expected to sign a contract this week. Up to 26 NHL teams are interested in the University of Denver forward. Brochu's take: Your guess is as good as mine, but if you want my opinion, he'll go to a team that will offer an immediate spot on their roster. He will sign a two-year entry-level contract with bonuses.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

There's a rumor from Sweden that Boston Bruins forward P.J. Axelsson will leave the organization in the summer and sign with SEL club Frolunda. Axelsson will be a UFA this summer. Source

New Jersey Devils defenseman Niclas Havelid is also rumoured to be leaving for Sweden and signing with Vasteras in the summer. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Mar 27, 2009

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Jamie McBain to a three-year, entry-level contract. McBain was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and played for the University of Wisconsin for the past three seasons. Source

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed free agent goalie Johan Backlund to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old Backlund has appeared in 49 games with Timra of the Swedish Elite League this season, posting a 2.56 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and four shutouts. Source

There's a rumor that the Columbus Blue Jackets are among the top teams in the running for coveted free agent forward Tyler Bozak.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Finnish defenseman Mikko Lehtonen is getting interest from several NHL teams. Lehtonen plays for Timra of the SEL, and had 15 goals and 15 assists in 41 games this season. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Dec 3, 2008

The has suspended Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery indefinitely. He will have a hearing with commissioner Gary Bettman Wednesday. Avery made some derogatory remarks in reference to Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf's girlfriend and Avery's ex, Elisha Cuthbert. "I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada," Avery said on camera this morning in Calgary. "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. Enjoy the game tonight." Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks also said he would have suspended Avery if the NHL did not step in. Brochu's take: The hockey media have speculated that Avery has played his last game with Dallas. However, there are few options for the Stars, as Avery is hated around the league and has a relatively big contract.

Stefan Legein will return to the Columbus Blue Jackets organization. Legein had retired at the age of 19 earlier this summer because he was no longer interested in playing hockey. Legein has been working out at home in Ontario and will try to make to to the BJ's AHL affiliate in Syracuse in January. Brochu's take: Perhaps Legein thought making it in the NHL is better than working at a pizza shop. Source

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, 26 teams, including all six Canadian teams, are interested in 22 year old University of Denver Pioneer forward Tyler Bozak. Bozak has seven goals and 18 points in 15 games this season. NHL scouts are also looking at Boston University defenseman Matt Gilroy, who refused 20 NHL offers last year to complete his degree at BU. The 25 year old has one goal and 9 points in 13 games this season. Brochu's take: Dreger calls this the "Brunnstrom Buzz", in reference to the media fury about Fabian Brunnstrom. BTW, Dreger did NOT start the Brunnstrom buzz. Ken Campbell from The Hockey News was the first to report about the Swedish forward. I'm just a bit tired of TSN and Dreger taking "credit" for discovering him. Source

Newday is reporting that New York Rangers forward Petr Pruch has refused a 10-day conditioning assignment with the Rangers AHL affiliate. Writer Steve Zipay believes the Rangers should trade Prucha to free up some cap space, possibly to sign Mats Sundin. Brochu's take: Rumors of trading Prucha have been around all year, but it seems no one wants him. I believe Prucha would really benefit from a new team if given more ice time. Source