Weekend rumor roundup for April 18-19, 2009

Sorry about the lack of updates, I've been watching the playoffs!

The New York Rangers have signed free agent defenseman Matt Gilroy to a two-year, $3.5 million contract. The highly sought after free agent won the Hobey Baker award as the best college player in the NCAA.

The Nashville Predators have signed forward Colin Wilson to a three-year, entry-level contract. Wilson was the Preds' first round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Source

The Predators have also signed GM David Poile to a one-year contract extension. There have been rumors of Poile joining former owner Craig Leipold in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Wild also fired GM Doug Risebrough on Thursday. According to Darren Dreger of TSN, owner Craig Leipold had asked the Toronto Maple Leafs for permission to talk to assistant GM Dave Nonis, but were flatly denied by GM Brian Burke.

The Buffalo Sabres have decided to retain both coach Lindy Ruff and GM Darcy Regier for the 2009-2010 NHL season.

The Sabres have also signed defensemen T.J. Brennan and Drew Schiestel to three-year, entry-level contracts. Both Brennan and Schiestel were 2nd round picks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for April 13, 2009

The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed forward Johan Franzen to a 11-year, $43 million contract extension, with an annual $3.9 million salary cap hit. Brochu's take: The contract is front-loaded, with the last few years of the contract at around $1 million. These long term contracts do scare me though. We've seen a few now, but there's no knowing what these players will be 5-6 years down the road. Source

According to the New York Post, the New Jersey Devils are frontrunners to land free agent defenseman Matt Gilroy. Gilroy just won the NCAA championship this weekend with Boston University, and is now free to have contract talks with NHL teams. Source

Minnesota Wild coach Jacques Lemaire has stepped down as head coach. Lemaire has said he wants to remain in hockey and will seek another position in the NHL. He will not be returning to the Wild in any capacity. Brochu's take: There have been rumors that the players were no longer paying any attention to him. Source

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

The Toronto Star is reporting that the Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars are the "leading contenders" to sign free agent goalie Jonas Gustavsson. Gustavsson led Farjestad to the Swedish Elite League title this season. The 6-foot-3, 24-year-old goalie had a 1.96 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in 42 games. Source

According to Russian sources, St. Louis Blues goalie Manny Legace has received offers from two KHL teams, but wants to secure an NHL job for the 2009-2010 season. Source

Reports in Sweden are saying that SEL club Rogle may be interested in signing San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Vesce for next season. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for April 6, 2009

According to Ken Campbell of The Hockey News, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks are the frontrunners for the services of free agent defenseman Matt Gilroy. Gilroy cannot sign with an NHL team until his Boston University is eliminated from the Frozen Four tournament. Brochu's take: Any team wishing to sign Gilroy should be wary. He is 24, which excludes him from entry-level contracts, thus making him a free agent. While there has been more focus on college free agents this year (cough cough Toronto media), the vast majority of signings don't pan out. Source

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Joe Vitale to a one-year contract. Vitale was the Pen's seventh round pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Source

The Vancouver Canucks have signed free agent defenseman Evan Oberg to a three-year, entry-level contract. Oberg has spent the past two seasons with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Source

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Colorado Avalanche forward Per Ledin is rumored to be signing with Swedish club HV71 this summer. Source

Washington Capitals defenseman Staffan Kronwall is rumored to be signing with Timra once his contract expires this summer. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Jan 16, 2009

Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg denied a report by CBC's Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman that he's turned down a 10-year, $75-million contract offer from the team. "No, it's not (accurate)," Zetterberg said Thursday. "Usually I don't want to comment on that, but that's not true. I haven't turned down an offer of $75 million." The Red Wings and their Swedish star have been negotiating on and off since last June, but there has been no sense of urgency from either side. Brochu's take: Interesting that Zetterberg took the time to dismiss the report. A deal will be done, it's just a matter of time. Source

According to the Toronto Star, Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is still looking to make trades, but nothing has been interesting. Burke was in Boston watching defenceman Matt Gilroy of the Boston University Terriers, probably the most sought-after U.S. college free agent available this spring. Burke wants to sign around five college free agents, hoping two will make it. On the NHL front, the Leafs are rumored to be shopping defenseman Anton Stralman. Brochu's take: FYI, this blog will be updated frequently AFTER the trade deadline, when college free agents are usually signed (March-April). Other rumor sites tend to shut down by then, but not here. Source

The New York Islanders have signed goaltender Wade Dubielewicz to a one-year, $500,000 pro-rated contract. Brochu's take: I believe he still has to clear waivers before he can play for the Islanders.

In other Islanders news, the team has agreed in principle with the Los Angeles Kings to play an exhibition game in Kansas City in September for the 2009-2010 NHL season. However, according to league sources this game could be perceived as a veiled threat of potential relocation if plans for a new arena on Long Island aren’t soon finalized. Brochu's take: Kansas City has been in the running for an NHL franchise for years, ever since they offered free rent to the Pittsburgh Penguins a few years ago. They have an arena with no anchor tenant. Source

The Ottawa Senators announced Thursday that goaltender Martin Gerber has been send down to the AHL's Binghamton Senators on a two-week conditioning assignment. Brochu's take: We may have seen the last of Gerber in a Sens uniform.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Free agent defenseman Keith Carney has signed with SC Bern of the Swiss Nationalliga A. Carney had "retired" from the NHL earlier 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